Aura Clash

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<div class="achievement-score">Achievement Points: <<= setup.getTotalAchievementPoints()>></div> <<if typeof setup.getCategorizedAchievements === 'function'>><<set _achData = setup.getCategorizedAchievements()>><<else>><<set _achData = {unlocked: [], locked: [], hiddenCount: 0}>><</if>>\ <<if _achData.unlocked.length > 0>><div class="achievement-section"><h3>🏆 Unlocked Achievements (<<= _achData.unlocked.length>>)</h3><ul class="achievement-list"><<for _i = 0; _i < _achData.unlocked.length; _i++>><<set _ach = _achData.unlocked[_i]>><li class="achievement-item unlocked"><div class="achievement-content"><div class="achievement-name"><<= _ach.name>></div><div class="achievement-desc"><<= _ach.description>></div></div><div class="achievement-points"><<= _ach.points>></div></li><</for>></ul></div><<else>><div class="achievement-section"><h3>🏆 Unlocked Achievements (0)</h3><p style="text-align: center; color: #666; font-style: italic; padding: 10px; margin: 0;">No achievements unlocked yet. Keep playing to earn your first achievement!</p></div><</if>> <<if _achData.locked.length > 0>><div class="achievement-section"><h3>🔒 Locked Achievements (<<= _achData.locked.length>>)</h3><ul class="achievement-list"><<for _i = 0; _i < _achData.locked.length; _i++>><<set _ach = _achData.locked[_i]>><li class="achievement-item locked"><div class="achievement-content"><div class="achievement-name"><<= _ach.name>></div><div class="achievement-desc"><<= _ach.description>></div></div><div class="achievement-points"><<= _ach.points>></div></li><</for>></ul></div><</if>> <<if _achData.hiddenCount > 0>><div class="achievement-section"><div class="hidden-counter">🔍 <<= _achData.hiddenCount>> Hidden Achievement<<if _achData.hiddenCount > 1>>s<</if>> Remaining</div></div><</if>> <<page "Return to Game" $return>>\

<<if ($honor gte 48)>>\ "FOR THUNDERFALL!" You shout at the sentry, diving with a flying kick. You don't get to see his expression, he jumps from the shock and takes your kick to the back before he can even turn around. The blow knocks him into the second sentry and they both crash through the wall of an outhouse. Either the impact or the smell knocks them unconscious. <<else>>\ "Hey shitass!" You shout at the sentry after maneuvering behind him at top speed. He turns around just in time to see your fist eclipse his eye. The man drops like a rock that you quickly grab and throw at the second patrolling sentry, crashing their heads together. They crumple to the ground unconscious. <</if>>\ The other two bandits guarding the barn jump to attention, drawing clubs that don't do much good when you bound across the grounds and ram into them. You don't know when you became so much stronger than unpowered yet fully grown adult men, but all you do is grab their faces, one in each hand, and shove their heads three feet back into the barn door. They drop too. "Behind you!" Kosuke yells as a fifth sentry tumbles out from behind some crates with a crossbow in hand. <<var $combatstat "agility">>\ <<combatcheck 2>>\ <<if ($passcheck is true)>>\ It might as well be a bouquet. You dodge the first shot and \ <<else>>\ The hidden fifth sentry lets loose his bolt before you can get to him. <<var $combatstat "fortitude">>\ <<combatcheck 3>>\ <<if ($passcheck is true)>>\ Luckily your skin is tough enough to take the hit. You \ <<else>>\ <<woundcheck 1 true false>>\ <<if ($pblocktech isnot "")>>\ Luckily your skin is tough enough to take the hit. You \ <<else>>\ It pierces through your side inflicting far more pain than you expected. In revenge you \ <</if>>\ <</if>>\ <</if>>\ charge the man, grab him by the chest and ram him through the window of the tavern. Unfortunately in the heat of the moment you didn't let go. His weight and your momentum drag you through the window close behind him. The two of you crash into the main hall of the Rolling Rock Tavern in an impressive rain of glass shards that interrupts the songs and merriment of the men inside. The bandit takes the brunt of the landing and doesn't move. You rise to your feet just as Kosuke opens the front door, out of breath and shocked at your audacity. <<cap $bffheshe>>'s not the only one. Over a dozen bandits stare at you in a mix of insult and confusion, rising from their seats at the rows of tables against the walls. Each draws a weapon of some kind and the mood of the tavern noticeably darkens. <<include "ch2-shittalking">>\

<div class="settings-page"> <div class="fightingfont">Settings</div> <h3>Display Settings</h3> <div class="settings-section"> <label class="setting-item"> <input type="checkbox" id="dark-mode-toggle"> Dark Mode <span class="setting-description">Night-reader friendly dark theme</span> </label> <label class="setting-item"> <input type="checkbox" id="enlarge-text-toggle"> Enlarge Text <span class="setting-description">Make game text larger</span> </label> <label class="setting-item"> <input type="checkbox" id="shrink-text-toggle"> Shrink Text <span class="setting-description">Make game text smaller</span> </label> <label class="setting-item"> <input type="checkbox" id="fullscreen-toggle"> Full Screen <span class="setting-description">Toggle fullscreen mode</span> </label> </div>\ <h3>Game Settings</h3> <div class="settings-section"> <label class="setting-item"> <input type="checkbox" id="disable-portraits-toggle"> Disable Portraits <span class="setting-description">Hide character portrait images</span> </label> <label class="setting-item"> <input type="checkbox" id="smut-mode-toggle"> Smut Mode <span class="setting-description">Enable spicier romance scenes and pictures</span> </label> <label class="setting-item"> <input type="checkbox" id="reset-achievements-toggle"> Reset All Achievements <span class="setting-description">Permanently delete all achievement progress</span> </label> </div>\ <<page "Return to Game" $return>>\ </div> <<script>> setTimeout(function() { initializeSettings(); // Also ensure fullscreen checkbox is properly bound if (window.setupFullscreenCheckbox) { window.setupFullscreenCheckbox(); } }, 100); <</script>>

<<image "https://www.auraclash.com/assets/images/opening.jpg">>\ //''Spiritual Cultivation.''// It is the path to power that all beings may walk: the ability to absorb life-energy known as "Chi" from the environment and infuse it into your body, mind, and soul to gain supernatural might. It is the reason a man can start a fire merely with his will, the reason a child can outmatch a bear in physical strength, and the reason elders can live longer than the most ancient of trees. In this world chi is power, and power is authority. But what do you do in life when you start near the bottom of the food chain in a land of mythical warlords, a land of hungering Spirits, a land of colossal Beasts? For those living in areas low on natural energies, where harnessing chi and gaining power is made that much harder, what can they do to get ahead of their peers? Or even their betters? This is not a hypothetical question. Not for you. <<page "Continue" "Startup2">>\

<<image "https://www.auraclash.com/assets/images/burningchildhood_village.jpg">>\ It's the question you ask yourself while your village burns. Smoke fills your lungs as you sprint through the rubble, every panting breath bringing you closer to the coughing fit that could be your last. Screams of battle and death echo all throughout the town but you can't risk giving them your attention. You have to stay focused on that dark silhouette moving toward you through the flames. Your opponent. <<page "Continue" "Startup3">>\

<div class="fightingfont">Chapter One</div>\ //''In which a childhood is lived,''// //''A rivalry is formed,''// //''And a new thread of fate is woven.''// Every great event is preceded by stories of lesser consequence. The battlefield inferno that blazes through your village is preceded by the story of an ordinary child who wanted to be something more. Your story. <<choose "ch1-opening">> #10 Years earlier... (Play through your childhood) #3 Years earlier... (Skip Chapter 1, not for first-time players) -> ch2alt-opening <<var $firstchapter 2>>\ <</choose>>

<<set $title to "Aura Clash">> <<if not $gameStartTime>> <<set $gameStartTime = Date.now()>> <<set $characterId = "AuraClash_" + $gameStartTime + "_" + Math.floor(Math.random() * 10000000000000)>> <</if>> <<set $name to "John Auraclash">> <<set $clan to "">> <<set $fullname to "">> <<set $titletype to "">> <<set $titlename to "">> <<set $style to "Freestyle">> <<set $stylerank to 0>> <<set $foundation to "">>\ <<set $aurapressure to 0>> <<set $allocatedap to 100>> <<set $power to 1>> <<set $powspent to 0>> <<set $powdiscount to 0>> <<set $powexp to 0>> <<set $powsurge to 1>> <<set $agility to 1>> <<set $agispent to 0>> <<set $agidiscount to 0>> <<set $agiexp to 0>> <<set $agisurge to 1>> <<set $fortitude to 1>> <<set $forspent to 0>> <<set $fordiscount to 0>> <<set $forexp to 0>> <<set $forsurge to 1>> <<set $soul to 1>> <<set $solspent to 0>> <<set $soldiscount to 0>> <<set $solexp to 0>> <<set $solsurge to 1>> <<set $health to 1>> <<set $wounds to 0>> <<set $chipool to 0>> <<set $chispent to 0>> <<set $element1 to "None">> <<set $element1rank to 0>> <<set $element2 to "">> <<set $element2rank to 0>> <<set $darknessrank to 0>> <<set $earthrank to 0>> <<set $firerank to 0>> <<set $icerank to 0>> <<set $lightrank to 0>> <<set $stormrank to 0>> <<set $waterrank to 0>> <<set $windrank to 0>> <<set $alchemy to 0>> <<set $athletics to 0>> <<set $craft to 0>> <<set $deception to 0>> <<set $handseals to 0>> <<set $insight to 0>> <<set $lore to 0>> <<set $perception to 0>> <<set $persuasion to 0>> <<set $stealth to 0>> <<set $survival to 0>> <<set $thievery to 0>> /* Temp variables to use across chapters */ <<set $val to 0>> <<set $val2 to 0>> <<set $pick to 0>> <<set $page to 1>> <<set $txt to "">> <<set $potential to "">> <<set $background to "">> <<set $himher to "him">> <<set $hisher to "his">> <<set $hishers to "his">> <<set $heshe to "he">> <<set $ymaster to "Young Master">> <<set $boygirl to "boy">> <<set $manwoman to "man">> <<set $bffhimher to "her">> <<set $bffhisher to "her">> <<set $bffhishers to "hers">> <<set $bffheshe to "she">> <<set $sondaughter to "son">> <<set $age to 20>> <<set $race to "">> <<set $subrace to "">> <<set $raceadjective to "">> <<set $patriarch to "">> <<set $japannaming to false>> <<set $auracolor to "grey-white">> <<set $bodytype to "">> <<set $haircolor to "">> <<set $hairlength to "">> <<set $beardlength to "">> <<set $eyecolor to "">> <<set $yokaitrait1 to "">> <<set $yokaitrait2 to "">> <<set $spiritbrandcolor to "">> <<set $spiritbrandloc to "">> <<set $animaltype to "">> /* connections */ <<set $thunderfallrep to 50>> <<set $bffrep to 50>> <<set $brorep to 50>> <<set $sisrep to 50>> <<set $churep to 40>> <<set $maorep to 30>> <<set $taiorep to 10>> <<set $bffromance to 0>> <<set $commerce to 0>> <<set $kosukecombat to 0>> <<set $kosukeaura to false>> <<set $rincombat to 0>> <<set $rinaura to false>> <<set $jincombat to 0>> <<set $jinaura to false>> <<set $jackcombat to 10>> <<set $gorocombat to 10>> <<set $brasstigercombat to 10>> <<set $sakuracombat to 10>> <<set $clowncombat to 10>> <<set $shadecombat to 10>> <<set $jackromance to 0>> <<set $jackrep to 30>> <<set $roccombat to 2>> <<set $rocname to "">> <<set $fangcombat to 6>> <<set $fangromance to 0>> <<set $fangrep to 50>> <<set $descombat to 5>> <<set $desromance to 0>> <<set $desrep to 50>> <<set $guirencombat to 5>> <<set $guirenromance to 0>> <<set $guirenrep to 45>> <<set $angelocombat to 10>> <<set $angeloromance to 0>> <<set $angelorep to 60>> <<set $leonacombat to 7>> <<set $leonaromance to 0>> <<set $leonarep to 50>> <<set $foxromance to 0>> <<set $nohalrep to 50>> <<set $lellarep to 50>> <<set $bocombat to 5>> <<set $borep to 40>> <<set $keikorep to 55>> <<set $keikoromance to 0>> <<set $eldrarep to 50>> <<set $eldraromance to 0>> <<set $taiocombat to 12>> <<set $pwt_player to false>> <<set $pwt_fox to false>> <<set $pwt_leona to false>> <<set $pwt_des to false>> <<set $pwt_fang to false>> <<set $pwt_kosuke to false>> <<set $pwt_merch to false>> <<set $pwt_mina to false>> <<set $pwt_nina to false>> <<set $pwt_moon to false>> <<set $pwt_kagura to false>> <<set $pwt_jahi to false>> <<set $pwt_lella to false>> <<set $pwt_sunhana to false>> <<set $pwt_1 to false>> <<set $pwt_2 to false>> <<set $pwt_3 to false>> <<set $pwt_4 to false>> <<set $pwt_5 to false>> <<set $pwt_6 to false>> <<set $pwt_7 to false>> <<set $pwt_8 to false>> <<set $pwt_9 to false>> /* "Ghost" "Ally" "Enemy" */ <<set $qingstatus to "">> /* "Desdemona" "Desdemona_Cursed" "Desdemona_Turned" "Leona" "Fang" "Kosuke" "Guiren" "Angelo" "Bo Lo" "Qing" "Food" "Nothing" */ <<set $roomscene to "">> /* whoever helps in ch8 */ <<set $jackhelp to "">> /* akai sects */ <<set $sect_waverunner to 35>> <<set $sect_sunbringer to 10>> <<set $sect_thousandlantern to 40>> /* aoyu sects */ <<set $sect_choralline to 40>> <<set $sect_devanic to 40>> <<set $sect_lostsiren to 35>> /* kii sects */ <<set $sect_dreamriver to 50>> <<set $sect_fourclover to 35>> <<set $sect_whisperingcrane to 40>> /* kuro sects */ <<set $sect_hiddencoil to 50>> <<set $sect_hauntedfist to 35>> <<set $sect_callousclan to 35>> /* mido sects */ <<set $sect_thunderfall to 40>> <<set $sect_mountainhazard to 40>> /* light element sect */ <<set $sect_newdawn to 40>> /* water element school */ <<set $sect_endlessbeating to 35>> /* wind element sect */ <<set $sect_windrising to 35>> /* generated by choices, filler for additional options */ <<set $sect_1 to 50>> <<set $sect_2 to 50>> <<set $sect_3 to 50>> <<set $sect_4 to 50>> <<set $sect_5 to 50>> <<set $sect_6 to 50>> <<set $sect_7 to 50>> <<set $sect_8 to 50>> <<set $sect_9 to 50>> <<set $sect_10 to 50>> /* boon writs, something you can use to call a favor from a Sect */ <<set $boon_thousandlantern to 0>> <<set $boon_hauntedfist to 0>> <<set $boon_fourclover to 0>> <<set $boon_choralline to 0>> <<set $boon_waverunner to 0>> <<set $boon_mountainhazard to 0>> <<set $boon_lostsiren to 0>> <<set $boon_endlessbeating to 0>> <<set $boon_newdawn to 0>> <<set $boon_whisperingcrane to 0>> <<set $boon_yomijin to 0>> <<set $boon_shieldedhull to 0>> <<set $boon_northernarmy to 0>> <<set $boon_1 to 0>> <<set $boon_2 to 0>> <<set $boon_3 to 0>> <<set $boon_4 to 0>> <<set $boon_5 to 0>> /* Items */ <<set $healingelixir to 0>> <<set $powelixir to 0>> <<set $forelixir to 0>> <<set $agielixir to 0>> <<set $solelixir to 0>> <<set $replenisherpill to 0>> <<set $commonpoison to 0>> <<set $cursedpoison to 0>> <<set $blessedwater to 0>> <<set $bosstalisman to 0>> <<set $lgforpill to 0>> <<set $lgpowpill to 0>> <<set $lgagipill to 0>> <<set $lgsolpill to 0>> <<set $shards to 0>> <<set $silver to 0>> <<set $gold to 0>> /* 1 = taio the scholar, x1 = taio the bandit, xx1 = mao */ <<set $itempainting to 1000000000>> <<set $itemyangcrest to 0>> <<set $itemyincrest to 0>> <<set $whitebelt to 0>> /* x1 = yellow, xx1 = orange, xxx1 = purple, xxxx1 = blue, xxxxx1 = green, xxxxxx1 = brown, xxxxxxx1 = red, xxxxxxxx1 = black */ <<set $martialbelt to 100000000000000>> /* x1 = white gi, xx1 = black gi, xxx1 = */ <<set $radiantacc to 100000000000000>> <<set $factotummask to "icebelt">> <<set $godbelt to 0>> <<set $clancolors to "">> <<set $clancrest to "">> <<set $crimebelt to 0>> <<set $icebelt to 0>> <<set $equippedbeltbonus to 10000000000>> <<set $weaponcrate to 0>> <<set $equippedbelt to "">> <<set $equippedoutfit to "">> <<set $equippedaccessory1 to "">> <<set $equippedaccessory2 to "">> <<set $equippedaccessory3 to "">> <<set $equippedweapon to "">> <<set $equippedweapon2 to "">> <<set $asurawepname to "">>\ <<set $asurawepcode to 1000000000>>\ <<set $reaperwepname to "">>\ <<set $reaperwepcode to 1000000000>>\ <<set $weaponbonus to 1000000000>> <<set $weaponbonus2 to 1000000000>> <<set $dualwield to false>> <<set $armorytrophy to 0>> <<set $sabretoothtrophy to 0>> <<set $caravantrophy to 0>> <<set $lightbringertrophy to 0>> <<set $mawchargertrophy to 0>> <<set $quadrafangtrophy to 0>> /* 1 = used the wyrmtrophy, 2 = made a weapon out of the wyrmtrophy, 3 = got cinnabar to use on the wyrm, 4 = used cinnabar on wyrm, 5 = used cinnabar on wyrm without getting it from eunoch */ <<set $wyrmtrophy to 0>> <<set $shakengaratrophy to 0>> <<set $draketrophy to 0>> /* sharkfin from dessy's quest */ <<set $soultreasure_1 to 0>> <<set $soultreasure_2 to 0>> <<set $soultreasure_3 to 0>> <<set $soultreasure_4 to 0>> <<set $soultreasure_5 to 0>> <<set $soultreasure_6 to 0>> <<set $soultreasure_7 to 0>> <<set $soultreasure_8 to 0>> <<set $soultreasure_9 to 0>> <<set $soultreasure_10 to 0>> <<set $alchemyreagents to 0>> <<set $ritualcomponents to 0>> <<set $skillmanual to 0>> <<set $stylemanual to 0>> <<set $coremanual to 0>> <<set $elemmanual to 0>> <<set $armguardname to "">> <<set $earthlyprowess to 0>> <<set $weightedclothing to 0>> <<set $outfit_1 to 10000000000>> <<set $outfit_2 to 10000000000>> <<set $outfit_3 to 10000000000>> <<set $outfit_4 to 10000000000>> <<set $outfit_5 to 10000000000>> <<set $outfit_6 to 10000000000>> <<set $outfit_7 to 10000000000>> <<set $outfit_8 to 10000000000>> <<set $outfit_9 to 10000000000>> <<set $outfit_10 to 10000000000>> /* 2 = Bands of Decimation, +2 Power and +1 Kii Mastery, from dessy's quest */ <<set $accessory_1 to 10000000000>> <<set $accessory_2 to 10000000000>> <<set $accessory_3 to 10000000000>> <<set $accessory_4 to 10000000000>> <<set $accessory_5 to 10000000000>> <<set $accessory_6 to 10000000000>> <<set $accessory_7 to 10000000000>> <<set $accessory_8 to 10000000000>> <<set $accessory_9 to 10000000000>> <<set $accessory_10 to 10000000000>> /* 2 = have goro's token, 3 = gave goro's token to mao, x1 = goro's path manuals, xx1 = bank keystone, xxx1 = bound ice elemental, xxxx1 = outer south trade goods */ <<set $junkitem to 100000000000000>> <<set $item_1 to 0>> <<set $item_2 to 0>> <<set $item_3 to 0>> <<set $item_4 to 0>> <<set $item_5 to 0>> <<set $item_6 to 0>> <<set $item_7 to 0>> <<set $item_8 to 0>> <<set $item_9 to 0>> <<set $item_10 to 0>> <<set $weight to 1>> <<set $weightcount to 0>> <<set $combatgitf to 0>> <<set $sabrepelt to 0>> <<set $sabrecloak to 0>> <<set $lanternweights to 0>> <<set $cpiratehat to 0>> <<set $lethaltrap to 0>> <<set $nonlethaltrap to 0>> <<set $weaksoultreasure to 0>> <<set $clothes to "">> /* x1 = "red and gold Cathayan hanfu", xx1 = "white and black hakama", xxx1 = "white and red hakama", xxxx1 = "Blue and Pink Yukata", xxxxx1 = "Brown Travel Cloak and Straw Hat", xxxxxx1 = "White Tobi Pants and Black Small-Sleave Shirt", xxxxxxx1 = "Purple Administrative Robe", xxxxxxxx1 = , xxxxxxxxx1 = , xxxxxxxxxx1 = , xxxxxxxxxxx1 = , xxxxxxxxxxxx1 = , xxxxxxxxxxxxx1 = , xxxxxxxxxxxxxx1 = , xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx1 = , xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx1 = , */ <<set $wardrobe to 100000000000000>> <<set $wardrobe2 to 100000000000000>> <<set $richwardrobe to 100000000000000>> <<set $clothnum to 0>> <<set $customclothing_1 to "">> <<set $customclothing_2 to "">> <<set $customclothing_3 to "">> <<set $customcolors to "">> <<set $customcrest to "">> /* first number is how many of each weapon you have, second number is the quality, third number is material, fourth and fifth numbers are enchantments, 6 is stat bonus from mythic crafting but that shuts off the option to get the stat bonus from enchantment, have to use a different enchant, 7 is element rank boost */ <<set $itemclaws to 100000000>> <<set $itemclaws_1 to 100000000>> <<set $itemclaws_2 to 100000000>> <<set $itemqiang to 100000000>> <<set $itemqiang_1 to 100000000>> <<set $itemqiang_2 to 100000000>> <<set $itemgreataxe to 100000000>> <<set $itemgreataxe_1 to 100000000>> <<set $itemkunai to 100000000>> <<set $itemkunai_1 to 100000000>> <<set $itemkunai_2 to 100000000>> <<set $itemmeteorhammer to 100000000>> <<set $itemmeteorhammer_1 to 100000000>> <<set $itemmeteorhammer_2 to 100000000>> <<set $itemkatana to 100000000>> <<set $itemkatana_1 to 100000000>> <<set $itemkatana_2 to 100000000>> <<set $itemkatana_3 to 100000000>> <<set $itemkatana_4 to 100000000>> <<set $itemkatana_5 to 100000000>> <<set $itemkusarigama to 100000000>> <<set $itemkusarigama_1 to 100000000>> <<set $itemkusarigama_2 to 100000000>> <<set $godsword to 100000000>> <<set $itemjian to 100000000>> <<set $itemjian_1 to 100000000>> <<set $itemjian_2 to 100000000>> <<set $itemtanto to 100000000>> <<set $itemtanto_1 to 100000000>> <<set $itemtanto_2 to 100000000>> <<set $itembostaff to 100000000>> <<set $itembostaff_1 to 100000000>> <<set $itembostaff_2 to 100000000>> <<set $itemyumi to 100000000>> <<set $itemyumi_1 to 100000000>> <<set $itemyumi_2 to 100000000>> <<set $itemhandwraps to 100000000>> <<set $itemhandwraps_1 to 100000000>> <<set $itemhandwraps2 to 100000000>> <<set $itemhandwraps2_1 to 100000000>> <<set $itemiceblade to 100000000>> <<set $itemchiblade to 100000000>> <<set $waverunnerarmor to 0>> /* 1 = quantity of cannons, x1 = ammunition, xx1+ = modifiers? */ <<set $combatcannon to 1000000>> <<set $weptype to "">> <<set $memorywell to 0>> <<set $key to false>> /* globals */ <<set $combatval to 0>> <<set $timepass to 0>> <<set $kikel to 0>> <<set $fightcount to 0>> <<set $weighcount to 0>> <<set $coreadvancement to false>> <<set $armed to false>> <<set $honor to 50>> <<set $ruthless to 50>> <<set $prestige to 0>> <<set $infamy to 0>> <<set $skilljournal to false>> <<set $roc to 0>> <<set $armguardpow to 0>> <<set $armguardfort to 0>> <<set $an to "an">> <<set $incatker to "">> <<set $incatktype to "">> <<set $incatkcolor to "">> <<set $justloaded to false>> <<set $parentdeath to false>> <<set $fighting to false>> <<set $firstchapter to 0>> <<set $naturesgift to 0>> <<set $sawgran to false>> <<set $infused to 0>> <<set $demonheshe to "">> <<set $demonhisher to "">> <<set $passcheck to false>> <<set $combatdiff to 0>> <<set $cmod to 0>> <<set $powcurse to "">> <<set $forcurse to "">> <<set $agicurse to "">> <<set $solcurse to "">> <<set $failcurse to "">> <<set $failcursemod to 0>> <<set $combatspent to "">> <<set $combatspent2 to "">> <<set $combatstat to "">> <<set $combatstat2 to "">> <<set $combatsurge to "">> <<set $combatsurge2 to "">> <<set $combatskill to "">> <<set $combatexp to "">> <<set $player to "">> <<set $dualcultivation to 0>> <<set $debt to 0>> <<set $taint to 0>> <<set $whitetigerchi to 0>> <<set $alchemydiscount to 0>> <<set $sealdiscount to 0>> <<set $underlings to 0>> <<set $apval to 0>> <<set $apregionmax to 800>> <<set $stripped to false>> <<set $chapter to 1>> <<set $jadedragonfoundation to false>> <<set $mortallimits to false>> <<set $chistoring to 0>> <<set $chistoring2 to 0>> <<set $tails to 1>> <<set $weapontest to false>> <<set $portraitpics to true>> <<set $sonarmode to false>> <<set $spareval_1 to 0>> <<set $spareval_2 to 0>> <<set $spareval_3 to 100000>> <<set $spareval_4 to 0>> <<set $spareval_5 to 0>> <<set $spareval_6 to 0>> <<set $spareval_7 to 0>> <<set $spareval_8 to 0>> <<set $spareval_9 to 0>> <<set $spareval_10 to 0>> <<set $sparestr_1 to "">> <<set $sparestr_2 to "">> <<set $sparestr_3 to "">> <<set $sparestr_4 to "">> <<set $sparestr_5 to "">> <<set $sparestr_6 to "">> <<set $sparestr_7 to "">> <<set $sparestr_8 to "">> <<set $sparestr_9 to "">> <<set $sparestr_10 to "">> <<set $dmg to 0>> <<set $fightbonus to 0>> <<set $woundbonus to 0>> <<set $corenum to 0>> <<set $elemhitter to "">> <<set $alchyboost to 0>> /* clan assets */ <<set $flagshipname to "">> /* merchant = more cargospace and better locks, transport = faster and hold more people, combat = ballista and training */ <<set $flagshiptype to "">> <<set $flagshipbase to 0>> /* each digit of flagshipboost is a different enhancement */ /* 1 = seals, 2 = seals again, 3 = alchemy, 4 = hull, 5 = soul treasure rudder, 6 = spirit guardian [xxxxx1 = shakengara earthquake fish], 7 = Beasts on board, 8 = mercs, 9 = weapons, 10 = cats */ <<set $flagshipboost to 1000000000>> <<set $flagshipstrength to 1>> <<set $flagshipspeed to 0>> <<set $shipcount to 0>> <<set $shipsleft to 0>> <<set $fleetdamaged to 0>> <<set $busyships to 100000000000000>> <<set $retainers to 0>> <<set $martial_retainers to 0>> <<set $retainer_morale to 50>> <<set $retainer_strength to 0>> <<set $loot to 0>> <<set $supplies to 0>> <<set $allegiance to "Thunderfall">> /* cross-chapter vars */ <<set $smut to false>> <<set $safeloc_swamp to false>> <<set $safeloc_graveyard to false>> <<set $safeloc_squiger to false>> <<set $safeloc_ally to false>> <<set $safeloc_elem to false>> <<set $safeloc_hagmabel to false>> <<set $nuthaunted to false>> <<set $prevknowledge to 0>> <<set $beatjack1 to 0>> <<set $beatjack2 to false>> /* 0 = dont have it, 1000 = used it */ <<set $desnuke to 0>> /* ON ALL BELOW "MET" VARIABLES, IGNORE THE FIRST DIGIT */ /* 2 = failed the lie check, x1 visited thunderfall sect in nanhou, xx1 = warned you about clown, xxx1 he is investigating your style trainer (for better or worse) */ <<set $metmao to 10000000000>> /* x1 beat jack by stabbing, x2 beat jack by cliff, x3 beat jack by bird, x4 beat jack by technique, xx1 killed his cat, xxx1 = scandaled a fake romance */ <<set $metjack to 10000000000>> /* mettaio 2 = rejected taio, 3 = exorcised the Taio essence, 4 = ???, 5 = ??? 6 = taken taio as a mentor, x1 = learned clue about 3rd taio, xx1 = lost fight against 2nd taio and got corrupted to win, xxx1 = told about the graveyard, xxx2 = trained in the graveyard and betrayed Sun Hana, xxx3 = trained in the graveyard and worked with Sun Hana, xxx4 = trained in the graveyard and fugged Sun Hana, xxxx1 = caught using demonic chi [lightbender], */ <<set $mettaio to 10000000000>> /* 1 = neutral in trials, 2 = enemy in trials, 3 = ally in trials, x0 = didn't meet, x1 = enemy for siding with desdemona, x2 = saw but left, x3 = allied against desdemona, xx1 = killed kennui, xxx1 = demanded money to let him go, xxx2 = demanded date, xxxx1 = used the talisman, xxxx2 = didn't use talisman, xxxx3 = didn't use talisman and lied, xxxx4 = didn't use talisman and lied and HE KNOWS, xxxxx1 = turned down offer in harehama, xxxxx2 = took offer and succeeded, xxxxx3 = took offer and failed, xxxxx4 = stopped assassin, xxxxx5 = got hit by assassin, xxxxxxxxxx1 = cockblocked on the boat, xxxxxxxxxx2 = slept with in nanhou, xxxxxxxxxx3 = lover, xxxxxxxxxx4 = concubine, xxxxxxxxxx5 = married */ <<set $metguiren to 10000000000>> /* x1 = met in chapter 3, xx1 = slept with mina, xxx1 = he knows you used demonic gate, xxx2 = he knows you used demonic gate and LIED, xxxx1 = teased, xxxx2 = tried to kiss, xxxxx1 = you know he lied about how he survived torture, xxxxxx1 = destroyed the shrines, xxxxxx2 = saw gazhurra's memories, xxxxxx3 = prayed at the shrines, xxxxxx4 = prayed to the deep one, xxxxxx5 = left the shrines, xxxxxx6 = prayed to the deep one and killed it, xxxxxxxxxx1 = cockblocked on the boat, xxxxxxxxxx2 = slept with in nanhou, xxxxxxxxxx3 = lover, xxxxxxxxxx4 = concubine, xxxxxxxxxx5 = married */ <<set $metangelo to 10000000000>> /* 1 = neutral in trials, 2 = enemy in trials, 3 = ally in trials, x1 = enemy for siding with guiren, x2 = saw and left, x3 = allied against guiren, x5 = swore revenge [desrepair], x6 = made peace, xx1 = kissed dreamdemona, xxx1 = kissed at the boat exit, xxxx1 = citrus flavored pills, xxxx2 = meat flavored pills, xxxxxxxxxx1 = cockblocked on the boat, xxxxxxxxxx2 = slept with in nanhou, xxxxxxxxxx3 = lover, xxxxxxxxxx4 = concubine, xxxxxxxxxx5 = married */ <<set $metdesdemona to 10000000000>> /* 1 = friendzoned, 2 = window, 3 = macked it, 4 = everyone in nanhou saw you doing it, 5 = everyone in nanhou saw you doing it AND she's catching feelings-feelings, x1 = secretly slept with you during the siren call, xx1 = hidden cargo on boat, xxx1 = catching feelings, xxxxxxxxx1 = cockblocked on the boat, xxxxxxxxx2 = slept with in nanhou, xxxxxxxxx3 = proposed, xxxxxxxxx4 = concubine, xxxxxxxxx5 = married */ <<set $metleona to 10000000000>> <<set $leonatat to false>> /* for fang, x1 = beat her, x2 = lost, x3 = diplomacy, x4 = ran away, xx1 = spit on her, xxx1 = turned down spar in harehama, xxx2 = lost spar, xxx3 = won spar, xxxxxxxxxx1 = cockblocked on the boat, xxxxxxxxxx2 = slept with in nanhou, xxxxxxxxxx3 = lover, xxxxxxxxxx4 = concubine, xxxxxxxxxx5 = married */ <<set $metfang to 11000000000>> /* 1 = havent met in nanhou, 2 = met in nanhou, x1 = signed contract, x2 = robbed him, x3 = robbed him and got caught, x4 = turned down offer, x5 = improved trade, xx1 = signed deal with Windrising Sect, xx2 = received reward for making the deal */ <<set $metnohal to 10000000000>> /* 1 = no element, 2 = learned darkness element, 3 = learned kurokonton, x1 = romanced, x2 = had talk, xx1 = broke you out of jail, xxx1 = has a sword, xxxx1 = won the duel, xxxxx1 = remet at port, xxxxxx1 = bounty open, xxxxxx4 = bounty resolved, xxxxxxxxxx3 = lover, xxxxxxxxxx4 = concubine, xxxxxxxxxx5 = married */ <<set $metkosuke to 10000000000>> /* x1 = swore to assist, xxxxxxxxxx1 = kissed, xxxxxxxxxx2 = banged */ <<set $metbo to 10000000000>>\ /* x1 = released, x2 = exorcised, x3 = couldn't help, xx1 = got kissed */ <<set $metjahi to 10000000000>> /* 2 = blew up his ships, x1 = flirted, x2 = successfully flirted, xx1 = destroyed cache and boasted, xx2 = destroyed cache secrety, xx3 = gave away cache, xx4 = robbed cache, xx5 = left cache, xxx1 = first hint of callous clan secret, xxx2+ = additional hints, 1 = proposed and rejected, 2 = proposed, 3 = engaged, 4 = married+banged */ <<set $metgoro to 10000000000>> /* 2 = met, 3 = cant use mistchamber, x1 = flirted, xx1 = beat clone, xx2 = got beatup by clone & didnt learn secret, xx3 = got beatup by clone & learned secret, xxx1 = best friends + he's paying your bill for mist chambers, xxxx1 = helped Rufus in dragon trial, xxxx2 = robbed rufus, xxxx3 = "saved" rufus after dropping roof on him, xxxx4 = killed rufus */ <<set $mettiger to 10000000000>> /* 2 = killed, 3 = arrested, 4 = handed over to authorities, 5 = pressganged, 7 = soulbound+recovered, x1 = learned of her secret white aura early, xx1 = considering your offer, xxx1 = married off to jin, xxxx1 = handed over to yang for training as a conscript */ <<set $metsakura to 10000000000>> /* 2 = met */ <<set $metkeroth to 10000000000>> /* x1 = banged, x2 = banged at nanhou and failed to make concubine, x3 = banged at nanhou and rejected, x4 = banged at nanhou and lied, x5 = banged at nanhou and became bf, x6 = banged at nanhou and made concubine, xx1 = got free holy water, xxxxxxxxxx3 = lover, xxxxxxxxxx4 = concubine */ <<set $metmina to 10000000000>> <<set $metclown to 10000000000>> <<set $metshade to 10000000000>> /* wind spirit you can meet in the dragon trial */ /* 2 = met the vessel, 3 = possessing you, x1 = kept it to sell, x2 = kept it to give to retainer, xx1 = possessing retainer */\ <<set $metvessel to 10000000000>> /* x1 = rejected by wukong, x2 = fled, x3 = learned mist clone, xx1 = revealed that he trained you */\ <<set $metwukong to 10000000000>> /* 1 = angelo, x1 = guiren, xx1 = li sun, xxx1 = mao, xxxx1 = dockmaster */\ <<set $owekosuke_m to 1000000000000>> /* 1 = leona, 2 = has a sword, x1 = desdemona, xx1 = fang, xxx1 = mina, xxxx1 = kitsune, xxxxx1 = merch */\ <<set $owekosuke_f to 1000000000000>> /* x1 = guiren interactions, xx1 = desdemona interactions, xxx1 = fang interactions, xxxx1 = angelo interactions */ /* x1 = spared the Lightbringer, x2 = tried to kill but failed, x3 = killed */\ <<set $gazget to 10000000>> /* 2 = determines if you know planetary force */\ <<set $menufun to 10000000000>> /* 1 = no element, 2 = learned wind element, 3 = learned midorikatai, x1 chastised poison, x2 encouraged poisoning,, x3 chastised poisoning and pissed him off, xx1 = got him job at shipyard, xxx1 = I'm Batfan, xxxxxxxxx1 = equipped with decent gear */\ <<set $metjin to 10000000000>> /* 1 = no element, 2 = learned earth element, 3 = learned kiihakai, x1 = caught her kissing that guy, xx1 = got her job at barbers, xxxxxxxxx1 = equipped with decent gear */\ <<set $metrin to 10000000000>> /* 1 = female sora, 2 = male sora, x1 = meditated while they were wiped out, x2 = , xx1 = know sora's name, xxx1 = full loyalty from the Steel Thread Alliance */\ <<set $metsta to 10000000000>> <<set $banditchoice to "">> <<set $technaming to true>> <<set $hellscape to 0>> <<set $janken to "">> <<set $crimeopp to 0>> /* 1 = went to the coast in chapter 6 and met the endless beating school, 2 = went out to sea in ch6 and met the lost siren sect */ <<set $voyagechoice to 100000000000000>> <<set $buoyball to 0>> /* x1 = special trade, xx5 = special dock available due to cutting giant hole by the sea, xx6 = using special dock */ <<set $clanblossom to 100000000000000>> /* recipes and rituals */ <<set $trialbrand to "">> <<set $trialbranddescription to "">> <<set $brandspent to false>> <<set $casttime to 0>> <<set $healingrecipe to 100>> <<set $replenisherpillrecipe to 100>> <<set $poison1recipe to 100>> <<set $lgpowpillrecipe to 100>> <<set $lgforpillrecipe to 100>> <<set $lgagipillrecipe to 100>> <<set $lgsolpillrecipe to 100>> <<set $nltrapritual to 100>> <<set $northwindritual to 100>> <<set $northwindritualtarget to "apval">> <<set $southwindritual to 100>> <<set $southwindritualtarget to "apval">> <<set $eastwindritual to 100>> <<set $eastwindritualtarget to "apval">> <<set $westwindritual to 100>> <<set $westwindritualtarget to "apval">> <<set $wep1enchantritual to 100>> <<set $wep2enchantritual to 100>> <<set $wep3enchantritual to 100>> <<set $countersealritual to 100>> <<set $powsealritual to 100>> <<set $forsealritual to 100>> <<set $agisealritual to 100>> <<set $solsealritual to 100>> /* lordboost counts which of the lordseals above are active */ <<set $lordboost to 10000>> <<set $solagiswapritual to 100>> <<set $solforswapritual to 100>> <<set $solpowswapritual to 100>> <<set $powagiswapritual to 100>> <<set $powforswapritual to 100>> <<set $powsolswapritual to 100>> /* use runesealritual first digit to determine if it's active (3 for available), use the next 12 to determine which buffs it gives to skills, use the next 4 for what buffs it gives to Cores. */ /* first digit used for tracking. 2 = intro event, 3 = went to investigate, 4 = learned */ /* x1 = athletics, xx1 = alchemy, xxx1 = craft, xxxx1 = deception, xxxxx1 = handseals, xxxxxx1 = insight, xxxxxxx1 = lore, xxxxxxxx1 = perception, xxxxxxxxx1 = persuasion, xxxxxxxxxx1 = stealth, xxxxxxxxxxx1 = survival, xxxxxxxxxxxx1 = thievery, xxxxxxxxxxxxx1 = ???, xxxxxxxxxxxxxx1 = ??? */ <<set $runesealritual to 100000000000000>> /* x1 = power, xx1 = fortitude, xxx1 = agility, xxxx1 = soul */ <<set $runesealcores to 100000000000000>> <<set $rune_enhanced to false>> <<set $reinforceritual to 100>> <<set $wardingritual to 100>> <<set $hungryspiritritual to 1>> /* x1 = Yomijin Hell Bargain to execute ghosts, xx1 = dead mountain's glaive to execute people, xxx1 = bloodfuel to spend health for chi */ <<set $demonpowers to 1000000000000000>> /* Special Techniques */ <<set $techslotcode to [9000000000000000,9000000000000000,9000000000000000,9000000000000000,9000000000000000]>> <<set $techslotname to ["Placeholder","","","",""]>> <<set $knowntechname to [""]>> <<set $knowntechcode to [0]>> <<set $knowntechdesc to [""]>> <<set $tech to {}>> <<set $energytide to false>> <<set $buffersbarrier to false>> <<set $flashstep to false>> <<set $ironbody to false>> <<set $thunderfall to false>> <<set $tftype to "">>\ <<set $tfboost to 0>>\ <<set $malocchio to false>> <<set $souldomain to "">> <<set $titan to false>> <<set $asura to false>> <<set $godhand to false>> <<set $reaper to false>> <<set $limitbreaker to "">> /* use tfused to determine which Transformation is currently in use */ <<set $tfused to "">> <<set $flighttech to "">> <<set $clonetech to "">> <<set $pblocktech to "">> <<set $eblocktech to "">> <<set $immortality to "">> <<set $guardtechname to "">> <<set $guardtech to 0>> <<set $guardspent to false>> <<set $weaponboost to 0>> <<set $techdiscount to 0>> /* have slot/unslot script set these and call them to add flavor/counters to combat scenes */ <<set $atk_phys_melee to "">> <<set $atk_energy_melee to "">> <<set $atk_phys_ranged to "">> <<set $atk_energy_ranged to "">> <<set $atk_phys_area to "">> <<set $atk_energy_area to "">> <<set $ult to "">> <<set $ulttype1 to "">> <<set $ulttype2 to "">> <<set $styleswapper to "">> <<set $elem1swapper to "">> <<set $elem2swapper to "">> /* x1 = dual core cycling, xx1 = cloistered mind, xxx1 = quickening, xxxx1 = bladebarrier, xxxxx1 = kinetic outburst, xxxxxx1 = sacred breathing, xxxxxxx1 = imbued bodyhammer, xxxxxxxx1 = conjuration, xxxxxxxxx1 = combat seals, xxxxxxxxxx1 = evil eye, xxxxxxxxxxx1 = evil eye, xxxxxxxxxxxx1 = meteor slam, xxxxxxxxxxxxx1 = berserker, xxxxxxxxxxxxx1 = dark horizon, xxxxxxxxxxxxxx1 = shroud */ <<set $bought_tech1 to 100000000000000>> /* x1 = buried secrets, xx1 = mountain king, xxx1 = burning rage, xxxx1 = glorious blaze, xxxxx1 = ice manipulation, xxxxxx1 = hoarfrost, xxxxxxx1 = solar flash, xxxxxxxx1 = starlight enforcement, xxxxxxxxx1 = electrifying gaze, xxxxxxxxxx1 = energy thief, xxxxxxxxxxx1 = swirling spirit purification, xxxxxxxxxxxx1 = watchful mist, xxxxxxxxxxxxx1 = inner hurricane core, xxxxxxxxxxxxxx1 = sonic boom */ <<set $bought_tech2 to 100000000000000>> <<set $dancingdefense to "">> <<set $combatcurse to 0>> <<set $combatcurse2 to 0>> /* HEAVENLY ASCENSION TRIALS */ <<set $currenttrial to "Tiger">> <<set $countdown to 3>> <<set $score_misc to 0>> <<set $score_bladed to 0>> <<set $score_wild to 0>> <<set $score_sacred to 0>> <<set $score_mystic to 0>> <<set $score_cursed to 0>> <<set $score_dragon to 0>> <<set $score_tiger to 0>> <<set $score_stallion to 0>> <<set $score_snake to 0>> <<set $score_boar to 0>> <<set $score_rabbit to 0>> <<set $score_ram to 0>> <<set $score_monkey to 0>> <<set $score_crane to 0>> <<set $score_rat to 0>> <<set $score_wolf to 0>> <<set $score_ox to 0>> <<set $rinscore to 0>> <<set $jinscore to 0>> /* TRIAL VARIABLES */ /* 1 = registered as clan for trials, 2 = registered as thunderfall, 3 = registered as clan but working with thunderfall, x1 = fuyu out to get you, x2 = fuyu neutral, x3 = fuyu aids you, x4 = owe debt, xx1 = can do piracy, xx2 = has done piracy already, xxx1 = failed to free jin and rin, xxx2 = freed jin and rin, xxxx1 = jin+rin+bo killed the drake, xxxxx1 = intend to pit top 5 against each other */ <<set $trialdeets to 100000000000000>> /* x1 = got bodytype hint for tiger trial (to tell sibs), xx1 = got hint for snake trial */ <<set $trialclues to 100000000000000>> /* 1 = cycled darkness gate, 2 = cycled demonic gate, x1 = found salvage ship, xx1 = fishers found soul treasure, xxx1 = pirates captured ship, xxxx1 = femmc met kosuke in casino, xxxxx1 = banned from casino, xxxxxx1 = blew up tavern, xxxxxxx1 = got first orphanage donation reward, xxxxxxxx1 = banned from adopting kids to your ships, xxxxxxxxx1 = beat daichi, xxxxxxxxxx1 = FREE, xxxxxxxxxxx1 = told about weak soultreasures, xxxxxxxxxxxx1 = penis cursed to explode if touched */ <<set $eventfun to 100000000000000>> /* x1 = told the akuma lords you're one of them, x2 = told the akuma lords you're a deputy archon, xx1 = saved the other contestants by dispel, xx2 = saved the other contestants by stalling, xx3 = saved the other contestants by jdf, xxx1 = told khan+chu about sakura's Shiroyaksa, xxxx2 = blessed by Sacred Lands, xxxx4 = have a death curse you can use from the Cursed Lands */ <<set $bigevents to 100000000000000>> /* x1 = flying salamanders enemy [1=burned clothes,2=attacked knife wielder in tunnel,3=both], xx1 = endless beating, xxx1 = lost siren, xxxx1 = Steel Thread Alliance (attacked in dragon trial) */ <<set $enemiesgained to 100000000000000>> /* x1 = four leaf clover sect [1 = helped in tunnel], xx1 = endless beating, xxx1 = lost siren [1=learned song, 2=fixed ship, 3=let them go], xxxx1 = Mountain Hazard (ferried but charged, ruined relations), xxxx2 = Mountain Hazard (ferried), xxxxx1 = Steel Thread Alliance (tentative, no tea), xxxxx2 = Steel Thread Alliance (passable, tea), xxxxx3 = Steel Thread Alliance (loyal, protected), xxxxx4 = Steel Thread Alliance (sworn to you) */ <<set $alliesgained to 100000000000000>> /* 1 = available, 2+ = active, 5 = success for 2, 6 = success for 3, 7 = success for 4, 8 = failed, 9 = concluded, don't show anymore */ <<set $investments to 1100000000000>> <<set $investmenttimer to 1000000000000>> /* x1 = 50 bank, xx1 = 100 bank, xxx1 = 200 bank, xxxx1 = 300 bank, xxxxx1 = 500 bank, xxxxxx1 = 80 alchemy outpost, xxxxxxx1 = 300 alchemy outpost, xxxxxxxx1 = kosuke, xxxxxxxxx1 = harehama docks, xxxxxxxxxx1 = magistrate's fine, xxxxxxxxxxx1 = medical debt */ <<set $debtnote to 100000000000000>> /* x1 = orphanage ready, x2 = used orphanage, xx1 = found the well, xx2 = used the well, xxx1 = welcomed to the emporium, xxx2 = told about the Lord seals, xxxx1 = been to sage alley, xxxxx1 = been to nakamoto foundry, xxxxxx1 = been to dock work for crews, xxxxxxx1 = been to bloodpits, xxxxxxxx1 = been to bid on trials, xxxxxxxxx1 = been to casino, xxxxxxxxxx1 = been to shipyard, xxxxxxxxxx2 = got discount at shipyard, xxxxxxxxxxx1 = been to the weavers (set to 2/3/4 for visiting other sections), xxxxxxxxxxxx1 = been to the temple, xxxxxxxxxxxx2 = used hotsprings, xxxxxxxxxxxxx1 = auction house, */ <<set $placevisit to 100000000000000>> /* x1 = met w/ leona, x2 = turned leona down, x3 = gave up on leona's quest, x4 = got beaten up by guards in leona's quest, x5 = let her keep both swords and threw her, x6 = let leona keep the swords and kissed, x7 = let leona keep the swords and wingmanned, x8 = did quest and got warning about bomb, x9 = took both swords */ /* xx1 = met w/ guiren, xx2 = turned guiren down, xx3 = did quest, loyalty ending, xx4 = did quest, mutiny ending */ /* xxx1 = met w/ desdemona, xxx2 = turned desdemona down, xxx3 = did quest */ /* xxxx1 = met w/ tian fang, xxxx2 = turned fang down, xxxx3 = did quest */ /* xxxxx1 = met w/ angelo, xxxxx2 = turned angelo down, xxxxx3 = did quest, xxx4 = fixed paperwork, xxx5 = use clan workaround, xxx6 = asked fuyu to fix caste records, xxx7 = didnt fix Warrior issue, fixed Desdemona's charges */ <<set $compquest1 to 100000000000000>> <<set $guirendisarmed to false>> <<set $compquest2 to 100000000000000>> <<set $compquest3 to 100000000000000>> <<set $compquest4 to 100000000000000>> /* x1 = took them to beast training in woods, xx1 = took them to adrenal training in woods, xxx1 = took them to fruit harvesting in woods */ <<set $sibsquest to 100000000000000>> /* x1 = desdemona likes flowers and creamfilled pies, xx1 = */ <<set $compquirks to 100000000000000>> /* x1 = know about barriers, xx1 = know about spirits, xxxxxxxxxxxxxx1 = know how to scry */ <<set $knowledge to 100000000000000>> <<set $bankcash to 0>> <<set $bankinterest to 0>> <<set $fatewish to 0>> <<set $casinomax to 500>> <<set $companion to "">> <<set $crates4sale to 5>> <<set $bossresearch to 0>> <<set $boughtelixir to false>> <<set $elixirboost to 10000>> <<set $gamble_bloodpits to 0>> <<set $gamble_dice to 0>> /* 1 = number of times you helped orphans, x1 = angelo helped, xx1 = fang helped, etc, xxxxxxxx1 = lella seduction */ <<set $orphanhelper to 100000000>> /* set to 1 if available, 2 if already trained with. 1 = yourself, x1 = kosuke, xx1 = jin, xxx1 = rin, xxxx1 = guiren, xxxxx1 = desdemona, xxxxxx1 = fang, xxxxxxx1 = angelo, xxxxxxxx1 = leona, xxxxxxxxx1 = bo lo */ <<set $trainingpartner to 100000000000000>> /* x1 = have third accessory, xx1 = soul reconstruction, xxx1 = conqueror's aura, xxxx1 = explosive cores, xxxxx1 = x100 weight training, xxxxxx1 = yin weaving, xxxxxxx1 = yang weaving, xxxxxxxx1 = dragon nest, */ <<set $specialtraining to 100000000000000>> <<set $district to "">> <<set $techdays to 3>> <<set $prayercheck to 11>> <<set $endday to false>> <<set $days to 0>> <<set $haremevents to 100000000000000>> /* x1 = kosuke and mina at a cafe, */ <<set $haremchats to 100000000000000>> <<set $haremchats2 to 100000000000000>> <<set $crimedetection to 0>> <<set $bubblebrew to 0>> /* Achievements section, loaded separately from variables */ /* still nees to be in StoryInit */ <<set $achievementData = [ { name: "Jacking Off", points: 10, lockedDesc: "Defeat your childhood bully without using chi.", unlockedDesc: "Defeated your childhood bully, Crusher Jack, as an unpowered mortal." }, { name: "Dog Fight", points: 10, lockedDesc: "Defeat another sect's prized pupil.", unlockedDesc: "Defeated Tian Fang in a battle for Thunderfall's storm aura." }, { name: "Dog Whisperer", points: 10, lockedDesc: "hidden", unlockedDesc: "Calmed Tian Fang down and worked together inside the Heavenly Gate." }, { name: "Grim Adventures", points: 10, lockedDesc: "Slay a monster from beyond the grave.", unlockedDesc: "Exorcised the Grim on the mountaintop before the Shrinemaidens arrived." }, { name: "Big Bang", points: 10, lockedDesc: "Rain fire on your enemies.", unlockedDesc: "Skipped a load of trouble by blowing up a tavern holding two dozen bandits." }, { name: "Maiden Heaven", points: 5, lockedDesc: "hidden", unlockedDesc: "Successfully seduced Shrinemaiden Mina in the Devanic Temple." }, { name: "King of the Dwarves", points: 5, lockedDesc: "Follow the path of most resistance.", unlockedDesc: "Chose to be a short man when given every opportunity to avoid such a fate. Stay strong, King." }, { name: "Escape Artist", points: 10, lockedDesc: "Escape from a dangerous cult without needing rescue.", unlockedDesc: "Successfully escaped from the blood cultists in Ebikowa without needing rescue." }, { name: "Witchy Woman", points: 5, lockedDesc: "Side with Lady Desdemona at the tavern.", unlockedDesc: "Sided with Lady Desdemona against Dai Guiren at the tavern." }, { name: "Debt of Gratitude", points: 5, lockedDesc: "Side with Dai Guiren at the tavern.", unlockedDesc: "Sided with Dai Guiren against Lady Desdemona at the tavern." }, { name: "Cat Fight", points: 5, lockedDesc: "Slay a certain Beast that interrupts your sleep.", unlockedDesc: "Slayed the Sabretooth Beast that attacked you on the trail to Nanhou." }, { name: "Money Maker", points: 5, lockedDesc: "hidden", unlockedDesc: "Improved Dou Nohal's merchant caravan with your mercantile knowledge." }, { name: "Sword and Bored", points: 5, lockedDesc: "hidden", unlockedDesc: "Defeated Leona without breaking a sweat." }, { name: "Perfection", points: 15, lockedDesc: "hidden", unlockedDesc: "Scored 6 or higher in all 12 Heavenly Ascension Trial." }, { name: "Speak No Evil", points: 10, lockedDesc: "hidden", unlockedDesc: "Kept Taio from receiving any useful information in the torture room." }, { name: "Mortal Combat", points: 10, lockedDesc: "Live under the same limited Aura Pressure as everyone else.", unlockedDesc: "Played the game on higher difficulty by suffering the mortal AP limits." }, { name: "Another One Bites the Dust", points: 10, lockedDesc: "hidden", unlockedDesc: "Defeated the second Clone of Taio you came across without losing consciousness." }, { name: "Happy People", points: 5, lockedDesc: "hidden", unlockedDesc: "Your entire crew returned to your service." }, { name: "Marsial Arts", points: 5, lockedDesc: "hidden", unlockedDesc: "Had your retainer Mars win his duel against an actual Martial Artist." }, { name: "The Dog Days Are Over", points: 5, lockedDesc: "hidden", unlockedDesc: "Completely defeated Tian Fang or three contestants in the dueling ring of Harehama." }, { name: "There's Always a Bigger Fish", points: 5, lockedDesc: "Win a fishing contest.", unlockedDesc: "Won the fishing contest in Harehama." }, { name: "Godslayer", points: 10, lockedDesc: "Execute a questionably divine enemy.", unlockedDesc: "Killed the wounded Lightbringer, child of the Wild God Gazhurra." }, { name: "Dynamic Entry", points: 10, lockedDesc: "Enter Nanhou (quickly) without suffering a scratch.", unlockedDesc: "Entered Nanhou (quickly) without suffering a scratch." }, { name: "Jade-Skinned Beauty", points: 5, lockedDesc: "Become the most beautiful Oni in Imperial Rasen.", unlockedDesc: "Became the most beautiful Oni in Imperial Rasen." }, { name: "Rule of Cool", points: 5, lockedDesc: "hidden", unlockedDesc: "Used Flash Step to escape Crusher Jack's grand entrance." }, { name: "The Dark Side", points: 5, lockedDesc: "hidden", unlockedDesc: "Embrace the power of Demonic Cultivation." }, { name: "Hollow Purple", points: 5, lockedDesc: "Spend too much money on frivolous clothing.", unlockedDesc: "Achieved the divine brilliance of the Royal Purple Suite." }, { name: "Hunters Hunted", points: 10, lockedDesc: "hidden", unlockedDesc: "Slay the Drake at the start of the Rabbit Trial." }, { name: "Death From Above", points: 5, lockedDesc: "Defeat a powerful shinobi.", unlockedDesc: "Defeat Ozaki Manzo without needing help from Guiren's men." }, { name: "Heavenly Savior", points: 10, lockedDesc: "Rescue the outnumbered fighters high in the clouds.", unlockedDesc: "Stopped an Akuma Lord from killing contestants inside the Soul Domain." }, { name: "Celestial Bureaucracy", points: 5, lockedDesc: "Distract mighty foes in the sky.", unlockedDesc: "Distracted the abducting Akuma Lords before they could cause any problems." }, { name: "Contender", points: 10, lockedDesc: "Become a member of the Top Five.", unlockedDesc: "Became a member of the Top Five (for now)." }, { name: "Top Five", points: 10, lockedDesc: "Finish the game as a member of the Top Five.", unlockedDesc: "Finished the game as a member of the Top Five." }, { name: "Double Trouble", points: 5, lockedDesc: "Help Rin and Jin pass the first three Heavenly Ascension Trials.", unlockedDesc: "Helped Rin and Jin pass the first three Heavenly Ascension Trials." }, { name: "Grand Debut", points: 5, lockedDesc: "hidden", unlockedDesc: "Knocked out Crusher Jack in the Dragon Trial." }, { name: "Unbound", points: 10, lockedDesc: "hidden", unlockedDesc: "Remove your Mortal Limits by any means necessary." }, { name: "Bat Fan Begins", points: 10, lockedDesc: "hidden", unlockedDesc: "Unleashed a mysterious dark vigilante upon the world." }, { name: "Jinpossible", points: 5, lockedDesc: "Have you brother succeed in his mission.", unlockedDesc: "Have Jin successfully infiltrate Sakura's lair." }, ]>>

<<widget "trialcounter">>\ <<if ($countdown is 0)>>\ ''[The <<cap $currenttrial>> Trial is beginning!]'' ''[Proceed to the Entertainment District!]'' <<else>>\ ''[$countdown Days Until the <<cap $currenttrial>> Trial]'' <</if>>\ <</widget>>\ <<widget "weaponbonuses">>\ <<if ((((((((((((($equippedweapon isnot "Bo Staff") and ($equippedweapon isnot "Chiblade")) and ($equippedweapon isnot "Greataxe")) and ($equippedweapon isnot "Handwraps")) and ($equippedweapon isnot "Claws")) and ($equippedweapon isnot "Iceblade")) and ($equippedweapon isnot "Jian")) and ($equippedweapon isnot "Kunai")) and ($equippedweapon isnot "Katana")) and ($equippedweapon isnot "Meteor Hammer")) and ($equippedweapon isnot "Qiang")) and ($equippedweapon isnot "Yumi")) and ($equippedweapon isnot "Tanto"))>>\ <<var $weppy $equippedweapon>>\ <<else>>\ <<var $weppy "your " + $equippedweapon>>\ <</if>>\ <<if (dig($weaponbonus, 6) is 1)>>\ <<var $power + 1>>\ <<elseif (dig($weaponbonus, 6) is 2)>>\ <<var $fortitude + 1>>\ <<elseif (dig($weaponbonus, 6) is 3)>>\ <<var $agility + 1>>\ <<elseif (dig($weaponbonus, 6) is 4)>>\ <<var $soul + 1>>\ <<elseif (dig($weaponbonus, 6) is 5)>>\ <<var $power + 2>>\ <<elseif (dig($weaponbonus, 6) is 6)>>\ <<var $fortitude + 2>>\ <<elseif (dig($weaponbonus, 6) is 7)>>\ <<var $agility + 2>>\ <<elseif (dig($weaponbonus, 6) is 8)>>\ <<var $soul + 2>>\ <</if>>\ <<if (dig($weaponbonus, 4) is 1)>>\ <<var $power + 1>>\ <<elseif (dig($weaponbonus, 4) is 2)>>\ <<var $fortitude + 1>>\ <<elseif (dig($weaponbonus, 4) is 3)>>\ <<var $agility + 1>>\ <<elseif (dig($weaponbonus, 4) is 4)>>\ <<var $soul + 1>>\ <<elseif (dig($weaponbonus, 4) is 5)>>\ <<var $chipool + 1>>\ <<elseif (dig($weaponbonus, 4) is 6)>>\ <<var $health + 1>>\ <<elseif (dig($weaponbonus, 4) is 7)>>\ <<var $fightbonus + 3>>\ <<elseif ((dig($weaponbonus, 4) is 9) and ($reaperwepcode isnot $weaponbonus))>>\ <<if ($chistoring isnot 1)>>\ <<var $chistoring 2>>\ <</if>>\ <</if>>\ <<if (dig($weaponbonus, 5) is 1)>>\ <<var $athletics + 1>>\ <</if>>\ <<if (dig($weaponbonus, 5) is 2)>>\ <<var $handseals + 1>>\ <<elseif (dig($weaponbonus, 5) is 3)>>\ <<var $insight + 1>>\ <<elseif (dig($weaponbonus, 5) is 4)>>\ <<var $perception + 1>>\ <<elseif (dig($weaponbonus, 5) is 5)>>\ <<var $stealth + 1>>\ <<elseif (dig($weaponbonus, 5) is 6)>>\ <<var $thievery + 1>>\ <<elseif (dig($weaponbonus, 5) is 7)>>\ <<var $survival + 1>>\ <<elseif (dig($weaponbonus, 5) is 8)>>\ <<var $deception + 1>>\ <</if>>\ <<if (dig($weaponbonus, 7) isnot 0)>>\ <<if (dig($weaponbonus, 7) is 1)>>\ <<if ($element1 is "Darkness")>>\ <<var $element1rank + 1>>\ <<elseif ($element2 is "Darkness")>>\ <<var $element2rank + 1>>\ <</if>>\ <<elseif (dig($weaponbonus, 7) is 2)>>\ <<if ($element1 is "Earth")>>\ <<var $element1rank + 1>>\ <<elseif ($element2 is "Earth")>>\ <<var $element2rank + 1>>\ <</if>>\ <<elseif (dig($weaponbonus, 7) is 3)>>\ <<if ($element1 is "Fire")>>\ <<var $element1rank + 1>>\ <<elseif ($element2 is "Fire")>>\ <<var $element2rank + 1>>\ <</if>>\ <<elseif (dig($weaponbonus, 7) is 4)>>\ <<if ($element1 is "Ice")>>\ <<var $element1rank + 1>>\ <<elseif ($element2 is "Ice")>>\ <<var $element2rank + 1>>\ <</if>>\ <<elseif (dig($weaponbonus, 7) is 5)>>\ <<if ($element1 is "Light")>>\ <<var $element1rank + 1>>\ <<elseif ($element2 is "Light")>>\ <<var $element2rank + 1>>\ <</if>>\ <<elseif (dig($weaponbonus, 7) is 6)>>\ <<if ($element1 is "Storm")>>\ <<var $element1rank + 1>>\ <<elseif ($element2 is "Storm")>>\ <<var $element2rank + 1>>\ <</if>>\ <<elseif (dig($weaponbonus, 7) is 7)>>\ <<if ($element1 is "Water")>>\ <<var $element1rank + 1>>\ <<elseif ($element2 is "Water")>>\ <<var $element2rank + 1>>\ <</if>>\ <<elseif (dig($weaponbonus, 7) is 8)>>\ <<if ($element1 is "Wind")>>\ <<var $element1rank + 1>>\ <<elseif ($element2 is "Wind")>>\ <<var $element2rank + 1>>\ <</if>>\ <</if>>\ <</if>>\ <<if ((dig($weaponbonus, 8) is 1) and ($reaperwepcode isnot $weaponbonus))>>\ <<if ($combatcurse isnot 2)>>\ <<var $combatcurse 1>>\ <</if>>\ <</if>>\ <</widget>>\ <<widget "weaponbonuses2">>\ <<if ((((((((((((($equippedweapon2 isnot "Bo Staff") and ($equippedweapon2 isnot "Chiblade")) and ($equippedweapon2 isnot "Greataxe")) and ($equippedweapon2 isnot "Handwraps")) and ($equippedweapon2 isnot "Claws")) and ($equippedweapon2 isnot "Iceblade")) and ($equippedweapon2 isnot "Jian")) and ($equippedweapon2 isnot "Kunai")) and ($equippedweapon2 isnot "Katana")) and ($equippedweapon2 isnot "Meteor Hammer")) and ($equippedweapon2 isnot "Qiang")) and ($equippedweapon2 isnot "Yumi")) and ($equippedweapon2 isnot "Tanto"))>>\ <<var $weppy2 $equippedweapon2>>\ <<else>>\ <<var $weppy2 "your " + $equippedweapon2>>\ <</if>>\ <<if (dig($weaponbonus2, 6) is 1)>>\ <<var $power + 1>>\ <<elseif (dig($weaponbonus2, 6) is 2)>>\ <<var $fortitude + 1>>\ <<elseif (dig($weaponbonus2, 6) is 3)>>\ <<var $agility + 1>>\ <<elseif (dig($weaponbonus2, 6) is 4)>>\ <<var $soul + 1>>\ <<elseif (dig($weaponbonus2, 6) is 5)>>\ <<var $power + 2>>\ <<elseif (dig($weaponbonus2, 6) is 6)>>\ <<var $fortitude + 2>>\ <<elseif (dig($weaponbonus2, 6) is 7)>>\ <<var $agility + 2>>\ <<elseif (dig($weaponbonus2, 6) is 8)>>\ <<var $soul + 2>>\ <</if>>\ <<if (dig($weaponbonus2, 4) is 1)>>\ <<var $power + 1>>\ <<elseif (dig($weaponbonus2, 4) is 2)>>\ <<var $fortitude + 1>>\ <<elseif (dig($weaponbonus2, 4) is 3)>>\ <<var $agility + 1>>\ <<elseif (dig($weaponbonus2, 4) is 4)>>\ <<var $soul + 1>>\ <<elseif (dig($weaponbonus2, 4) is 5)>>\ <<var $chipool + 1>>\ <<elseif (dig($weaponbonus2, 4) is 6)>>\ <<var $health + 1>>\ <<elseif (dig($weaponbonus2, 4) is 7)>>\ <<var $fightbonus + 3>>\ <<elseif (dig($weaponbonus2, 4) is 9)>>\ <<if ($chistoring2 isnot 1)>>\ <<var $chistoring2 2>>\ <</if>>\ <</if>>\ <<if (dig($weaponbonus2, 5) is 1)>>\ <<var $athletics + 1>>\ <</if>>\ <<if (dig($weaponbonus2, 5) is 2)>>\ <<var $handseals + 1>>\ <<elseif (dig($weaponbonus2, 5) is 3)>>\ <<var $insight + 1>>\ <<elseif (dig($weaponbonus2, 5) is 4)>>\ <<var $perception + 1>>\ <<elseif (dig($weaponbonus2, 5) is 5)>>\ <<var $stealth + 1>>\ <<elseif (dig($weaponbonus2, 5) is 6)>>\ <<var $thievery + 1>>\ <<elseif (dig($weaponbonus2, 5) is 7)>>\ <<var $survival + 1>>\ <<elseif (dig($weaponbonus2, 5) is 8)>>\ <<var $deception + 1>>\ <</if>>\ <<if (dig($weaponbonus2, 7) isnot 0)>>\ <<if (dig($weaponbonus2, 7) is 1)>>\ <<if ($element1 is "Darkness")>>\ <<var $element1rank + 1>>\ <<elseif ($element2 is "Darkness")>>\ <<var $element2rank + 1>>\ <</if>>\ <<elseif (dig($weaponbonus2, 7) is 2)>>\ <<if ($element1 is "Earth")>>\ <<var $element1rank + 1>>\ <<elseif ($element2 is "Earth")>>\ <<var $element2rank + 1>>\ <</if>>\ <<elseif (dig($weaponbonus2, 7) is 3)>>\ <<if ($element1 is "Fire")>>\ <<var $element1rank + 1>>\ <<elseif ($element2 is "Fire")>>\ <<var $element2rank + 1>>\ <</if>>\ <<elseif (dig($weaponbonus2, 7) is 4)>>\ <<if ($element1 is "Ice")>>\ <<var $element1rank + 1>>\ <<elseif ($element2 is "Ice")>>\ <<var $element2rank + 1>>\ <</if>>\ <<elseif (dig($weaponbonus2, 7) is 5)>>\ <<if ($element1 is "Light")>>\ <<var $element1rank + 1>>\ <<elseif ($element2 is "Light")>>\ <<var $element2rank + 1>>\ <</if>>\ <<elseif (dig($weaponbonus2, 7) is 6)>>\ <<if ($element1 is "Storm")>>\ <<var $element1rank + 1>>\ <<elseif ($element2 is "Storm")>>\ <<var $element2rank + 1>>\ <</if>>\ <<elseif (dig($weaponbonus2, 7) is 7)>>\ <<if ($element1 is "Water")>>\ <<var $element1rank + 1>>\ <<elseif ($element2 is "Water")>>\ <<var $element2rank + 1>>\ <</if>>\ <<elseif (dig($weaponbonus2, 7) is 8)>>\ <<if ($element1 is "Wind")>>\ <<var $element1rank + 1>>\ <<elseif ($element2 is "Wind")>>\ <<var $element2rank + 1>>\ <</if>>\ <</if>>\ <</if>>\ <<if (dig($weaponbonus2, 8) is 1)>>\ <<if ($combatcurse2 isnot 2)>>\ <<var $combatcurse2 1>>\ <</if>>\ <</if>>\ <</widget>>\ <<widget "unequipweapon1">>\ <<var $equippedweapon "">>\ <<if (dig($weaponbonus, 6) is 1)>>\ <<var $power - 1>>\ <<elseif (dig($weaponbonus, 6) is 2)>>\ <<var $fortitude - 1>>\ <<elseif (dig($weaponbonus, 6) is 3)>>\ <<var $agility - 1>>\ <<elseif (dig($weaponbonus, 6) is 4)>>\ <<var $soul - 1>>\ <<elseif (dig($weaponbonus, 6) is 5)>>\ <<var $power - 2>>\ <<elseif (dig($weaponbonus, 6) is 6)>>\ <<var $fortitude - 2>>\ <<elseif (dig($weaponbonus, 6) is 7)>>\ <<var $agility - 2>>\ <<elseif (dig($weaponbonus, 6) is 8)>>\ <<var $soul - 2>>\ <</if>>\ <<if (dig($weaponbonus, 4) is 1)>>\ <<var $power - 1>>\ <<elseif (dig($weaponbonus, 4) is 2)>>\ <<var $fortitude - 1>>\ <<elseif (dig($weaponbonus, 4) is 3)>>\ <<var $agility - 1>>\ <<elseif (dig($weaponbonus, 4) is 4)>>\ <<var $soul - 1>>\ <<elseif (dig($weaponbonus, 4) is 5)>>\ <<var $chipool - 1>>\ <<elseif (dig($weaponbonus, 4) is 6)>>\ <<var $health - 1>>\ <<elseif (dig($weaponbonus, 4) is 7)>>\ <<var $fightbonus - 3>>\ <<elseif (dig($weaponbonus, 4) is 9)>>\ <<var $chistoring 0>>\ <</if>>\ <<if (dig($weaponbonus, 5) is 1)>>\ <<var $athletics - 1>>\ <</if>>\ <<if (dig($weaponbonus, 5) is 2)>>\ <<var $handseals - 1>>\ <<elseif (dig($weaponbonus, 5) is 3)>>\ <<var $insight - 1>>\ <<elseif (dig($weaponbonus, 5) is 4)>>\ <<var $perception - 1>>\ <<elseif (dig($weaponbonus, 5) is 5)>>\ <<var $stealth - 1>>\ <<elseif (dig($weaponbonus, 5) is 6)>>\ <<var $thievery - 1>>\ <<elseif (dig($weaponbonus, 5) is 7)>>\ <<var $survival - 1>>\ <<elseif (dig($weaponbonus, 5) is 8)>>\ <<var $deception - 1>>\ <</if>>\ <<if (dig($weaponbonus, 7) isnot 0)>>\ <<if (dig($weaponbonus, 7) is 1)>>\ <<if ($element1 is "Darkness")>>\ <<var $element1rank - 1>>\ <<elseif ($element2 is "Darkness")>>\ <<var $element2rank - 1>>\ <</if>>\ <<elseif (dig($weaponbonus, 7) is 2)>>\ <<if ($element1 is "Earth")>>\ <<var $element1rank - 1>>\ <<elseif ($element2 is "Earth")>>\ <<var $element2rank - 1>>\ <</if>>\ <<elseif (dig($weaponbonus, 7) is 3)>>\ <<if ($element1 is "Fire")>>\ <<var $element1rank - 1>>\ <<elseif ($element2 is "Fire")>>\ <<var $element2rank - 1>>\ <</if>>\ <<elseif (dig($weaponbonus, 7) is 4)>>\ <<if ($element1 is "Ice")>>\ <<var $element1rank - 1>>\ <<elseif ($element2 is "Ice")>>\ <<var $element2rank - 1>>\ <</if>>\ <<elseif (dig($weaponbonus, 7) is 5)>>\ <<if ($element1 is "Light")>>\ <<var $element1rank - 1>>\ <<elseif ($element2 is "Light")>>\ <<var $element2rank - 1>>\ <</if>>\ <<elseif (dig($weaponbonus, 7) is 6)>>\ <<if ($element1 is "Storm")>>\ <<var $element1rank - 1>>\ <<elseif ($element2 is "Storm")>>\ <<var $element2rank - 1>>\ <</if>>\ <<elseif (dig($weaponbonus, 7) is 7)>>\ <<if ($element1 is "Water")>>\ <<var $element1rank - 1>>\ <<elseif ($element2 is "Water")>>\ <<var $element2rank - 1>>\ <</if>>\ <<elseif (dig($weaponbonus, 7) is 8)>>\ <<if ($element1 is "Wind")>>\ <<var $element1rank - 1>>\ <<elseif ($element2 is "Wind")>>\ <<var $element2rank - 1>>\ <</if>>\ <</if>>\ <</if>>\ <<if (dig($weaponbonus, 8) is 1)>>\ <<var $combatcurse 0>>\ <</if>>\ <<var $weaponbonus 200000000>>\ <</widget>>\ <<widget "unequipweapon2">>\ <<var $equippedweapon2 "">>\ <<if (dig($weaponbonus2, 6) is 1)>>\ <<var $power - 1>>\ <<elseif (dig($weaponbonus2, 6) is 2)>>\ <<var $fortitude - 1>>\ <<elseif (dig($weaponbonus2, 6) is 3)>>\ <<var $agility - 1>>\ <<elseif (dig($weaponbonus2, 6) is 4)>>\ <<var $soul - 1>>\ <<elseif (dig($weaponbonus2, 6) is 5)>>\ <<var $power - 2>>\ <<elseif (dig($weaponbonus2, 6) is 6)>>\ <<var $fortitude - 2>>\ <<elseif (dig($weaponbonus2, 6) is 7)>>\ <<var $agility - 2>>\ <<elseif (dig($weaponbonus2, 6) is 8)>>\ <<var $soul - 2>>\ <</if>>\ <<if (dig($weaponbonus2, 4) is 1)>>\ <<var $power - 1>>\ <<elseif (dig($weaponbonus2, 4) is 2)>>\ <<var $fortitude - 1>>\ <<elseif (dig($weaponbonus2, 4) is 3)>>\ <<var $agility - 1>>\ <<elseif (dig($weaponbonus2, 4) is 4)>>\ <<var $soul - 1>>\ <<elseif (dig($weaponbonus2, 4) is 5)>>\ <<var $chipool - 1>>\ <<elseif (dig($weaponbonus2, 4) is 6)>>\ <<var $health - 1>>\ <<elseif (dig($weaponbonus2, 4) is 7)>>\ <<var $fightbonus - 3>>\ <<elseif (dig($weaponbonus2, 4) is 9)>>\ <<var $chistoring2 0>>\ <</if>>\ <<if (dig($weaponbonus2, 5) is 1)>>\ <<var $athletics - 1>>\ <</if>>\ <<if (dig($weaponbonus2, 5) is 2)>>\ <<var $handseals - 1>>\ <<elseif (dig($weaponbonus2, 5) is 3)>>\ <<var $insight - 1>>\ <<elseif (dig($weaponbonus2, 5) is 4)>>\ <<var $perception - 1>>\ <<elseif (dig($weaponbonus2, 5) is 5)>>\ <<var $stealth - 1>>\ <<elseif (dig($weaponbonus2, 5) is 6)>>\ <<var $thievery - 1>>\ <<elseif (dig($weaponbonus2, 5) is 7)>>\ <<var $survival - 1>>\ <<elseif (dig($weaponbonus2, 5) is 8)>>\ <<var $deception - 1>>\ <</if>>\ <<if (dig($weaponbonus2, 7) isnot 0)>>\ <<if (dig($weaponbonus2, 7) is 1)>>\ <<if ($element1 is "Darkness")>>\ <<var $element1rank - 1>>\ <<elseif ($element2 is "Darkness")>>\ <<var $element2rank - 1>>\ <</if>>\ <<elseif (dig($weaponbonus2, 7) is 2)>>\ <<if ($element1 is "Earth")>>\ <<var $element1rank - 1>>\ <<elseif ($element2 is "Earth")>>\ <<var $element2rank - 1>>\ <</if>>\ <<elseif (dig($weaponbonus2, 7) is 3)>>\ <<if ($element1 is "Fire")>>\ <<var $element1rank - 1>>\ <<elseif ($element2 is "Fire")>>\ <<var $element2rank - 1>>\ <</if>>\ <<elseif (dig($weaponbonus2, 7) is 4)>>\ <<if ($element1 is "Ice")>>\ <<var $element1rank - 1>>\ <<elseif ($element2 is "Ice")>>\ <<var $element2rank - 1>>\ <</if>>\ <<elseif (dig($weaponbonus2, 7) is 5)>>\ <<if ($element1 is "Light")>>\ <<var $element1rank - 1>>\ <<elseif ($element2 is "Light")>>\ <<var $element2rank - 1>>\ <</if>>\ <<elseif (dig($weaponbonus2, 7) is 6)>>\ <<if ($element1 is "Storm")>>\ <<var $element1rank - 1>>\ <<elseif ($element2 is "Storm")>>\ <<var $element2rank - 1>>\ <</if>>\ <<elseif (dig($weaponbonus2, 7) is 7)>>\ <<if ($element1 is "Water")>>\ <<var $element1rank - 1>>\ <<elseif ($element2 is "Water")>>\ <<var $element2rank - 1>>\ <</if>>\ <<elseif (dig($weaponbonus2, 7) is 8)>>\ <<if ($element1 is "Wind")>>\ <<var $element1rank - 1>>\ <<elseif ($element2 is "Wind")>>\ <<var $element2rank - 1>>\ <</if>>\ <</if>>\ <</if>>\ <<if (dig($weaponbonus2, 8) is 1)>>\ <<var $combatcurse2 0>>\ <</if>>\ <<var $weaponbonus2 200000000>>\ <</widget>>\ <<widget "swapem">>\ <<set $coretype to $args[0]>>\ <<set $styletype to $args[1]>>\ <<if ($styletype is "style")>>\ ''[<<cap $styleswapper>> Surge Decreased]'' <<if ($styleswapper is "power")>>\ <<var $powsurge - 1>>\ <<elseif ($styleswapper is "fortitude")>>\ <<var $forsurge - 1>>\ <<elseif ($styleswapper is "agility")>>\ <<var $agisurge - 1>>\ <<elseif ($styleswapper is "soul")>>\ <<var $solsurge - 1>>\ <</if>>\ <<var $styleswapper $coretype>>\ <<elseif ($styletype is "elem1")>>\ ''[$elem1swapper Surge Decreased]'' <<if ($elem1swapper is "power")>>\ <<var $powsurge - 1>>\ <<elseif ($elem1swapper is "fortitude")>>\ <<var $forsurge - 1>>\ <<elseif ($elem1swapper is "agility")>>\ <<var $agisurge - 1>>\ <<elseif ($elem1swapper is "soul")>>\ <<var $solsurge - 1>>\ <</if>>\ <<var $elem1swapper $coretype>>\ <<elseif ($styletype is "elem2")>>\ ''[$elem2swapper Surge Decreased]'' <<if ($elem2swapper is "power")>>\ <<var $powsurge - 1>>\ <<elseif ($elem2swapper is "fortitude")>>\ <<var $forsurge - 1>>\ <<elseif ($elem2swapper is "agility")>>\ <<var $agisurge - 1>>\ <<elseif ($elem2swapper is "soul")>>\ <<var $solsurge - 1>>\ <</if>>\ <<var $elem2swapper $coretype>>\ <</if>>\ <<if ($coretype is "power")>>\ <<var $powsurge + 1>>\ <<elseif ($coretype is "fortitude")>>\ <<var $forsurge + 1>>\ <<elseif ($coretype is "agility")>>\ <<var $agisurge + 1>>\ <<elseif ($coretype is "soul")>>\ <<var $solsurge + 1>>\ <</if>>\ ''[<<cap $coretype>> Surge Increased!]'' <<unset $coretype>>\ <<unset $styletype>>\ <</widget>>\ <<widget "fuuinjutsudescription">>\ <<if $handseals is 1>>\ ''[Fuuinjutsu Unlocked!]'' ''[Fuuinjutsu is the ability to store mundane objects into rectangular strips of paper called Seal tags. By invoking the right finger formations over an object and inscribing the right sigils onto a piece of paper nearby, the object vanishes into the paper Seal tag and can be summoned back at any time by ripping the Seal tag in half.]'' <</if>>\ <</widget>>\ <<widget "apboost">>\ <<var $elementalsync (0.01*$stylerank)>>\ <<if ((($race is "Yokai") or ((($bodytype is "Muscular") or ($bodytype is "Ogre")) or ($bodytype is "Dommymommy"))) and ($style is "Midorikatai"))>>\ <<var $elementalsync + (0.01*$stylerank)>>\ <<elseif ((($race is "Human") or ($honor gte 70)) and ($style is "Akakiru"))>>\ <<var $elementalsync + (0.01*$stylerank)>>\ <<elseif ($style is "Kiihakai")>>\ /* High requirement, high potential */\ <<if (($lore+$handseals) gte 10)>>\ <<var $elementalsync + (0.025*$stylerank)>>\ <<elseif (($lore+$handseals) gte 8)>>\>>\ <<var $elementalsync + (0.015*$stylerank)>>\ <<elseif (($lore+$handseals) gte 6)>>\>>\ <<var $elementalsync + (0.01*$stylerank)>>\ <</if>>\ <<elseif (($style is "Aoyusumu") and (($ruthless lte 30) or (($hellscape gte 400) and ($ruthless gte 70))))>>\ /* Saintly or Fallen Staint */\ <<var $elementalsync (0.01*$stylerank)>>\ <<elseif ($style is "Kurokonton")>>\ <<if ($stealth gte 5)>>\ <<var $elementalsync (0.02*$stylerank)>>\ <<elseif ($stealth gte 3)>>\ <<var $elementalsync (0.01*$stylerank)>>\ <</if>>\ <</if>>\ <<if ($element1 is "Darkness")>>\ <<var $elementalsync + (0.025*$element1rank)>>\ <</if>>\ <<if ($element1 is "Ice")>>\ <<if ((($heshe is "she") and (($bodytype isnot "Dommymommy") and ($bodytype isnot "Ogre"))) or ($race is "Oni"))>>\ <<var $elementalsync + (0.03*$element1rank)>>\ <<else>>\ <<var $elementalsync + (0.025*$element1rank)>>\ <</if>>\ <</if>>\ <<if ($element1 is "Water")>>\ <<var $elementalsync + (0.025*$element1rank)>>\ <</if>>\ <<if ($element2 is "Water")>>\ <<var $elementalsync + (0.025*$element2rank)>>\ <</if>>\ <<if ($element1 is "Earth")>>\ <<var $elementalsync + (0.025*$element1rank)>>\ <</if>>\ <<if ($element2 is "Fire")>>\ <<if (($ruthless gte 75) or ($race is "Oni"))>>\ <<var $elementalsync + (0.03*$element2rank)>>\ <<else>>\ <<var $elementalsync + (0.025*$element2rank)>>\ <</if>>\ <</if>>\ <<if ($element2 is "Storm")>>\ <<var $elementalsync + (0.025*$element2rank)>>\ <</if>>\ <<if ($element2 is "Wind")>>\ <<if ($roc gte 1)>>\ <<var $elementalsync + (0.03*$element2rank)>>\ <<else>>\ <<var $elementalsync + (0.025*$element2rank)>>\ <</if>>\ <</if>>\ <<if ($element2 is "Light")>>\ <<if ($ruthless lte 35)>>\ <<var $elementalsync + (0.03*$element2rank)>>\ <<else>>\ <<var $elementalsync + (0.025*$element2rank)>>\ <</if>>\ <</if>>\ <<if (($element1 is "Earth") and ((($bodytype is "Muscular") or ($bodytype is "Ogre")) or ($bodytype is "Dommymommy")))>>\ <<var $elementalsync + (0.025*$element1rank)>>\ <</if>>\ <<if (typeof $args[0] is "string")>>\ <<set _expression to $args[0].replace(/\$(\w+)/g, 'State.variables.$1')>>\ <<set $widgetval to eval(_expression)>>\ <<else>>\ <<set $widgetval to $args[0]>>\ <</if>>\ <<if ($jadedragonfoundation is true)>>\ <<if ($aurapressure lte 2500)>>\ <<var $widgetval Math.round($widgetval * 1.3)>>\ <<elseif ($aurapressure gte 4000)>>\ <<var $widgetval Math.round($widgetval * 0.8)>>\ <</if>>\ <<elseif ($mortallimits is true)>>\ <<if ($aurapressure gte ($apregionmax * 1.5))>>\ <<var $widgetval / 4>>\ <<var $widgetval Math.round($widgetval)>>\ <<if ($widgetval lt 1)>>\ <<var $widgetval 1>>\ <</if>>\ ''[AP Gain Decreased by 75%]'' <<elseif ($aurapressure gte $apregionmax)>>\ <<var $widgetval / 2>>\ <<var $widgetval Math.round($widgetval)>>\ <<if ($widgetval lt 1)>>\ <<var $widgetval 1>>\ <</if>>\ ''[AP Gain Decreased by 50%]'' <</if>>\ <<elseif ((($aurapressure*$elementalsync) gte 1500) and ($apregionmax lte 1000))>>\ <<var $widgetval Math.round($widgetval * 0.85)>>\ <<elseif ((($aurapressure*$elementalsync) gte 2000) and ($apregionmax lte 1200))>>\ <<var $widgetval Math.round($widgetval * 0.75)>>\ <<elseif ((($aurapressure*$elementalsync) gte 2500) and ($apregionmax lte 1500))>>\ <<var $widgetval Math.round($widgetval * 0.625)>>\ <<elseif ((($aurapressure*$elementalsync) gte 3000) and ($apregionmax lte 2000))>>\ <<var $widgetval Math.round($widgetval * 0.5)>>\ <</if>>\ ''[Aura Pressure +$widgetval]'' <<var $aurapressure + $widgetval>>\ <<var $widgetval 0>>\ <</widget>>\ <<widget "aploss">>\ <<if (typeof $args[0] is "string")>>\ <<set _expression to $args[0].replace(/\$(\w+)/g, 'State.variables.$1')>>\ <<set $widgetval to eval(_expression)>>\ <<else>>\ <<set $widgetval to $args[0]>>\ <</if>>\ <<if (($mortallimits is true) and (($aurapressure - $widgetval) gte $apregionmax))>>\ <<var $widgetval / 2>>\ <<var $widgetval Math.round($widgetval)>>\ <<if ($widgetval lt 1)>>\ <<var $widgetval 1>>\ <</if>>\ ''[Regional AP Limit Exceeded, AP Loss Decreased by 50%]'' <</if>>\ ''[Lost $widgetval Aura Pressure]'' <<var $aurapressure - $widgetval>>\ <</widget>>\ <<widget "timepass">>\ <<if (($weight gte $chapter) or (dig($specialtraining, 6) is 1))>>\ <<if (($mortallimits is true) and ($aurapressure gte $apregionmax))>>\ <<var $aurapressure + Math.round($athletics/2)>>\ <<else>>\ <<var $aurapressure + (1+(Math.round($athletics)))>>\ <</if>>\ <<if ((($bodytype is "Agile") or ($bodytype is "Legs")) or ($bodytype is "Petite"))>>\ <<var $agiexp + 1>>\ <<elseif (($bodytype is "Bodacious") or ($bodytype is "Manlet"))>>\ <<var $forexp + 1>>\ <<else>>\ <<var $powexp + 1>>\ <</if>>\ <<if (dig($specialtraining, 6) is 1)>>\ <<var $aurapressure + 4>>\ <</if>>\ <</if>>\ <<if (((($equippedoutfit is "Weighted Clothing") or ($equippedaccessory1 is "Weights of the Flowing Lantern King")) or ($equippedaccessory2 is "Weights of the Flowing Lantern King")) or ($equippedaccessory3 is "Weights of the Flowing Lantern King"))>>\ <<var $weightcount + 1>>\ <</if>>\ <<if ($buffersbarrier is true)>>\ <<if ($mortallimits is true) and ($aurapressure gte $apregionmax)>>\ <<var $aurapressure + 1>>\ <<else>>\ <<var $aurapressure + 2>>\ <</if>>\ <</if>>\ <<if ($chistoring is 1)>>\ <<var $chistoring 2>>\ <</if>>\ <<if ($chistoring2 is 1)>>\ <<var $chistoring2 2>>\ <</if>>\ <<if ($wounds gte 1)>>\ <<if ((dig($weaponbonus, 4) is 8) or (dig($weaponbonus2, 4) is 8))>>\ <<var $wounds 0>>\ <<else>>\ <<var $wounds - 1>>\ <</if>>\ <</if>>\ <<if ($chispent gte 1)>>\ <<var $chispent - 1>>\ <<if (($chispent gte 3) and ($style is "Kiihakai"))>>\ <<var $chispent - 1>>\ <</if>>\ <</if>>\ <<if ($combatcurse gte 2)>>\ <<var $combatcurse 1>>\ <</if>>\ <<if ($combatcurse2 gte 2)>>\ <<var $combatcurse2 1>>\ <</if>>\ <<if ($style is "Aoyusumu")>>\ <<if ($agility lt $soul)>>\ <<if ($agispent gte 1)>>\ <<var $agispent - 1>>\ <</if>>\ <<elseif ($solspent gte 1)>>\ <<var $solspent - 1>>\ <</if>>\ <</if>>\ <<if ($rune_enhanced is true)>>\ <<if (dig($runesealritual, 2) gte 1)>>\ <<var $athletics - dig($runesealritual, 2)>>\ <</if>>\ <<if (dig($runesealritual, 3) gte 1)>>\ <<var $alchemy - dig($runesealritual, 3)>>\ <</if>>\ <<if (dig($runesealritual, 4) gte 1)>>\ <<var $craft - dig($runesealritual, 4)>>\ <</if>>\ <<if (dig($runesealritual, 5) gte 1)>>\ <<var $deception - dig($runesealritual, 5)>>\ <</if>>\ <<if (dig($runesealritual, 6) gte 1)>>\ <<var $handseals - dig($runesealritual, 6)>>\ <</if>>\ <<if (dig($runesealritual, 7) gte 1)>>\ <<var $insight - dig($runesealritual, 7)>>\ <</if>>\ <<if (dig($runesealritual, 8) gte 1)>>\ <<var $lore - dig($runesealritual, 8)>>\ <</if>>\ <<if (dig($runesealritual, 9) gte 1)>>\ <<var $perception - dig($runesealritual, 9)>>\ <</if>>\ <<if (dig($runesealritual, 10) gte 1)>>\ <<var $persuasion - dig($runesealritual, 10)>>\ <</if>>\ <<if (dig($runesealritual, 11) gte 1)>>\ <<var $stealth - dig($runesealritual, 11)>>\ <</if>>\ <<if (dig($runesealritual, 12) gte 1)>>\ <<var $survival - dig($runesealritual, 12)>>\ <</if>>\ <<if (dig($runesealritual, 13) gte 1)>>\ <<var $thievery - dig($runesealritual, 13)>>\ <</if>>\ <<if (dig($runesealcores, 2) gte 1)>>\ <<var $power - dig($runesealcores, 2)>>\ <</if>>\ <<if (dig($runesealcores, 3) gte 1)>>\ <<var $fortitude - dig($runesealcores, 3)>>\ <</if>>\ <<if (dig($runesealcores, 4) gte 1)>>\ <<var $agility - dig($runesealcores, 4)>>\ <</if>>\ <<if (dig($runesealcores, 5) gte 1)>>\ <<var $soul - dig($runesealcores, 5)>>\ <</if>>\ <<var $rune_enhanced false>>\ <</if>>\ <<if ($lordboost isnot 10000)>>\ <<if (dig($lordboost, 5) gte 1)>>\ <<var $lordboost - 1>>\ <<var $soul - 1>>\ <</if>>\ <<if (dig($lordboost, 4) gte 1)>>\ <<var $lordboost - 10>>\ <<var $agility - 1>>\ <</if>>\ <<if (dig($lordboost, 3) gte 1)>>\ <<var $lordboost - 100>>\ <<var $fortitude - 1>>\ <</if>>\ <<if (dig($lordboost, 2) gte 1)>>\ <<var $lordboost - 1000>>\ <<var $power - 1>>\ <</if>>\ <<var $lordboost 10000>>\ <</if>>\ <<if (dig($radiantacc, 4) gte 2)>>\ <<var $radiantacc - 100000000000>>\ <</if>>\ <<set $chances to 0>>\ <<if ($forspent gte 1)>>\ <<rand $chances 1 4>>\ <<if ($style is "Midorikatai")>>\ <<var $forspent - 1>>\ <</if>>\ <<if (($chances is 4) and ($forspent gte 1))>>\ <<var $forspent - 1>>\ <</if>>\ <</if>>\ <<if ($powspent gte 1)>>\ <<rand $chances 1 4>>\ <<if ($style is "Akakiru")>>\ <<var $powspent - 1>>\ <</if>>\ <<if (($chances is 4) and ($powspent gte 1))>>\ <<var $powspent - 1>>\ <</if>>\ <</if>>\ <<if ($agispent gte 1)>>\ <<rand $chances 1 4>>\ <<if ($style is "Kurokonton")>>\ <<var $agispent - 1>>\ <</if>>\ <<if (($chances is 4) and ($agispent gte 1))>>\ <<var $agispent - 1>>\ <</if>>\ <</if>>\ <<if ($solspent gte 1)>>\ <<rand $chances 1 4>>\ <<if ($style is "Kiihakai")>>\ <<var $solspent - 1>>\ <</if>>\ <<if (($chances is 4) and ($solspent gte 1))>>\ <<var $solspent - 1>>\ <</if>>\ <</if>>\ <<if (((($guardtechname isnot "") and ($guardtechname isnot "Armor Bonus 1")) and ($guardtechname isnot "Armor Bonus 2")) and ($guardtech lt (Math.round($soul / 3))))>>\ <<var $guardtech + 1>>\ <<elseif (($guardtechname is "Armor Bonus 1") and ($guardtech lt 1))>>\ <<if ($craft gte 2)>>\ <<var $guardtech 1>>\ <</if>>\ <<elseif (($guardtechname is "Armor Bonus 2") and ($guardtech lt 2))>>\ <<if ($craft gte 3)>>\ <<var $guardtech 2>>\ <<elseif ($craft gte 2)>>\ <<var $guardtech 1>>\ <</if>>\ <</if>>\ <<if ((($westwindritualtarget is "athletics") or ($westwindritualtarget is "insight")) or ($westwindritualtarget is "persuasion"))>>\ <<run State.variables[$westwindritualtarget] -= 1>>\ <<var $westwindritualtarget "apval">>\ <</if>>\ <<if ((($eastwindritualtarget is "alchemy") or ($eastwindritualtarget is "handseals")) or ($eastwindritualtarget is "lore"))>>\ <<run State.variables[$eastwindritualtarget] -= 1>>\ <<var $eastwindritualtarget "apval">>\ <</if>>\ <<if ((($southwindritualtarget is "deception") or ($southwindritualtarget is "stealth")) or ($southwindritualtarget is "thievery"))>>\ <<run State.variables[$southwindritualtarget] -= 1>>\ <<var $southwindritualtarget "apval">>\ <</if>>\ <<if ((($northwindritualtarget is "craft") or ($northwindritualtarget is "perception")) or ($northwindritualtarget is "survival"))>>\ <<run State.variables[$northwindritualtarget] -= 1>>\ <<var $northwindritualtarget "apval">>\ <</if>>\ <<if ($brandspent is true)>>\ <<if ($trialbrand is "Tiger")>>\ <<var $athletics - 1>>\ <<var $handseals - 1>>\ <<elseif ($trialbrand is "Snake")>>\ <<var $alchemy - 1>>\ <<var $deception - 1>>\ <<elseif ($trialbrand is "Boar")>>\ <<var $survival - 1>>\ <<var $perception - 1>>\ <<elseif ($trialbrand is "Rat")>>\ <<var $stealth - 1>>\ <<var $thievery - 1>>\ <<elseif ($trialbrand is "Ox")>>\ <<var $craft - 1>>\ <<var $persuasion - 1>>\ <<elseif ($trialbrand is "Rabbit")>>\ <<var $lore - 1>>\ <<var $insight - 1>>\ <</if>>\ <<var $brandspent false>>\ <</if>>\ <<var $bankcash Math.round($bankcash * (1 + ($bankinterest/100)))>>\ <<var $timepass + 1>>\ <<var $apval 0>>\ <</widget>>\ <<widget "transform">> <<set $tftype to $args[0]>>\ <<if ($tftype is "Limitbreaker")>>\ <<if ($technaming is true)>>\ ''//"Transformation Technique: Limitbreaker!!"//'' <<else>>\ ''//"Limitbreaker!!"//'' <</if>>\ Energy whips around you in rising bursts of continuous $auracolor \ <<if ($limitbreaker eq $haircolor)>>\ power. <<else>>\ power. Your \ <<if ($hairlength is "bald")>>\ eyebrows stain \ <<else>>\ hair stains \ <</if>>\ $limitbreaker from the overbearing spiritual energy. <</if>>\ Wave after wave of energy rise from your feet to the air above your head. The high tension of such power converges at your fists, ready to unleash through your attacks. ''[All Core Surges Increased by +1]'' ''[+1 Power, +1 Health, +10 AP from all Battle Victories]'' <<var $powsurge + 1>>\ <<var $forsurge + 1>>\ <<var $agisurge + 1>>\ <<var $solsurge + 1>>\ <<var $fightbonus + 10>>\ <<elseif ($tftype is "Malocchio")>>\ <<if ($technaming is true)>>\ ''//"Cursed Transformation: Malocchio!!"//'' <<else>>\ //''"Malocchio!!"''// <</if>>\ Your eyes warp into pitch black voids of pure Yin Chi. From within them, supernovas of Cursed Energy erupt into rings of burning purple irises. ''[+2 Agility, +1 Fortitude, +1 Chi Point]'' ''[Ability Activated: Technique Copy]'' <<var $chipool + 1>>\ <<var $agility + 2>>\ <<var $fortitude + 1>>\ <<elseif ($tftype is "Soul Domain")>>\ <<if (($technaming is true) and ($souldomain is "Fist"))>>\ ''//"Mystic Transformation: Soul //'' <<else>>\ //''"Soul ''//\ <</if>>\ <<if ($souldomain is "Darkness")>>\ //''Domain: Bottomless Void."''// <<elseif ($souldomain is "Earth")>>\ //''Domain: Jagged Cavern."''// <<elseif ($souldomain is "Fire")>>\ //''Domain: Burning Forest."''// <<elseif ($souldomain is "Ice")>>\ //''Domain: Frozen Tundra."''// <<elseif ($souldomain is "Light")>>\ //''Domain: Solar Flare."''// <<elseif ($souldomain is "Storm")>>\ //''Domain: Eye of the Storm."''// <<elseif ($souldomain is "Water")>>\ //''Domain: Sunken Depths."''// <<elseif ($souldomain is "Wind")>>\ //''Domain: Heavensward."''// <<else>>\ //''Domain."''// <</if>>\ Your fingers interlock in a complex handseal that releases the spiritual chains holding your inner world at bay. <<if ($souldomain is "Darkness")>>\ An ocean of dark ink spills out from under your feet and wraps the battlefield into a pitch-black pocket realm. Distant stars appear beneath your feet, as if caught under a glass floor, only to be sucked into the black hole at the base of your Soul Domain. <<elseif ($souldomain is "Earth")>>\ The world around you sucks into a single point, like a curtain being ripped away by its center. With the curtain pulled back, your new surroundings are an underground cavern of jagged rock surrounding the battlefield from above and below. <<elseif ($souldomain is "Fire")>>\ Fires erupt from the ground and burn away your surroundings as if they were a painting of reality. When they scorch to ash you're now standing in a forest of burning trees. <<elseif ($souldomain is "Ice")>>\ A blizzard of snow whips around you and overtakes the battlefield, blocking all vision. When it fades a second later your surroundings have vanished, replaced with a frozen tundra covered in monumental glaciers. <<elseif ($souldomain is "Light")>>\ A blinding sun's worth of light bursts out from your soul. When the flare ends, your surroundings have disappeared and been replaced. You now stand on a massive stone structure expanding as far as the eye can see. Two suns fill the sky, each closer than the real one could ever be. <<elseif ($souldomain is "Storm")>>\ Lightning flashes out from your soul in all directions, electrocuting the view of your surroundings as if the real world were mere cloth. The world around you burns away to reveal a different world behind hit: a rocky badlands caught mid-thunderstorm with a hundred steel poles surrounding your battlefield. <<cap $auracolor>> lightning bolts crash onto each pole by the second, illuminating the sky with a thundrous roar. <<elseif ($souldomain is "Water")>>\ Water pours out from your body in all directions until it encapsulates the battlefield. By the time the sand of an ocean floor materializes beneath your feet, the view of the outside world has faded away. <<elseif ($souldomain is "Wind")>>\ Clouds rush out from your feet to fill the horizon. In a flash that very horizon is cutoff by a hundred-foot radius of darker clouds spinning with category five hurricane winds. Within your storm's eye sanctuary sanctuary, the winds do not touch you. Soft white clouds sit beneath your feet and blue sky is visible above. <<else>>\ Instead of imbuing any element into your Domain to create a proper pocket realm, you seize all that energy and wrap it over yourself. You no longer glow with an aura around your body. You glow with an aura ''as'' your body. Your skin, your clothes, your eyes, your \ <<if ($hairlength is "bald")>>\ lack of \ <</if>>\ hair, they all become impossible to see as you become a glowing beacon of $auracolor energy. <</if>>\ ''[Soul Domain Transformation!!]'' ''[+2 Soul, +1 Power, +2 Chi Points] ''[All Attack Types are considered Focused within your Soul Domain.]'' <<var $power + 1>>\ <<var $soul + 2>>\ <<var $chipool + 2>>\ <<elseif ($tftype is "Reaper")>>\ //''"Reaper - Reijin Kengen."''// Ten swords of $auracolor energy manifest in a flying circle behind you. They spin in an arc and you hold your hand out, \ <<if ((((((((((((((($equippedweapon is "Tanto")) or ($equippedweapon is "Katana")) or ($equippedweapon is "Muramasa")) or ($equippedweapon is "Greataxe")) or ($equippedweapon is "Qiang")) or ($equippedweapon is "Kunai")) or ($equippedweapon is "Jian")) or ($equippedweapon is "Iceblade")) or ($equippedweapon is "Chiblade")) or ($equippedweapon is "Kagutsuchi")) or ($equippedweapon is "Ikazuchi")) or ($equippedweapon is "Shishido")) or ($equippedweapon is "Godslayer")) or ($equippedweapon is "Musashi"))>>\ placing $weppy in their path. All ten \ <<else>>\ catching one. The other nine \ <</if>>\ collide into your blade with the sound of a hammer on an anvil. With each hamering gong, another spirit sword fuses into the blade in your hand. When all ten have fused you draw \ <<if (((((((((((((($equippedweapon is "Tanto")) or ($equippedweapon is "Katana")) or ($equippedweapon is "Muramasa")) or ($equippedweapon is "Greataxe")) or ($equippedweapon is "Qiang")) or ($equippedweapon is "Kunai")) or ($equippedweapon is "Jian")) or ($equippedweapon is "Iceblade")) or ($equippedweapon is "Chiblade")) or ($equippedweapon is "Kagutsuchi")) or ($equippedweapon is "Ikazuchi")) or ($equippedweapon is "Shishido")) or ($equippedweapon is "Godslayer"))>>\ $weppy \ <<else>>\ your spirit sword \ <</if>>\ back and hold its new form: larger, stronger, and infused with stylized $auracolor chi flowing across its edge. ''[Reaper Transformation!!]'' ''[+2 Power, +1 Agility, +1 Health]'' ''[Doubled bonuses from your Bladed mainhand weapon.]'' <<var $power + 2>>\ <<var $agility + 1>>\ <<var $health + 1>>\ <<if (((((((((((((($equippedweapon is "Tanto")) or ($equippedweapon is "Katana")) or ($equippedweapon is "Muramasa")) or ($equippedweapon is "Greataxe")) or ($equippedweapon is "Qiang")) or ($equippedweapon is "Kunai")) or ($equippedweapon is "Jian")) or ($equippedweapon is "Iceblade")) or ($equippedweapon is "Chiblade")) or ($equippedweapon is "Kagutsuchi")) or ($equippedweapon is "Ikazuchi")) or ($equippedweapon is "Shishido")) or ($equippedweapon is "Godslayer"))>>\ <<var $reaperwepcode $weaponbonus>>\ <<var $reaperwepname $equippedweapon>>\ <<if (dig($reaperwepcode, 6) is 1)>>\ <<var $power + 1>>\ <<elseif (dig($reaperwepcode, 6) is 2)>>\ <<var $fortitude + 1>>\ <<elseif (dig($reaperwepcode, 6) is 3)>>\ <<var $agility + 1>>\ <<elseif (dig($reaperwepcode, 6) is 4)>>\ <<var $soul + 1>>\ <<elseif (dig($reaperwepcode, 6) is 5)>>\ <<var $power + 2>>\ <<elseif (dig($reaperwepcode, 6) is 6)>>\ <<var $fortitude + 2>>\ <<elseif (dig($reaperwepcode, 6) is 7)>>\ <<var $agility + 2>>\ <<elseif (dig($reaperwepcode, 6) is 8)>>\ <<var $soul + 2>>\ <</if>>\ <<if (dig($reaperwepcode, 4) is 1)>>\ <<var $power + 1>>\ <<elseif (dig($reaperwepcode, 4) is 2)>>\ <<var $fortitude + 1>>\ <<elseif (dig($reaperwepcode, 4) is 3)>>\ <<var $agility + 1>>\ <<elseif (dig($reaperwepcode, 4) is 4)>>\ <<var $soul + 1>>\ <<elseif (dig($reaperwepcode, 4) is 5)>>\ <<var $chipool + 1>>\ <<elseif (dig($reaperwepcode, 4) is 6)>>\ <<var $health + 1>>\ <<elseif (dig($reaperwepcode, 4) is 7)>>\ <<var $fightbonus + 3>>\ <</if>>\ <<if (dig($reaperwepcode, 5) is 1)>>\ <<var $athletics + 1>>\ <</if>>\ <<if (dig($reaperwepcode, 5) is 2)>>\ <<var $handseals + 1>>\ <<elseif (dig($reaperwepcode, 5) is 3)>>\ <<var $insight + 1>>\ <<elseif (dig($reaperwepcode, 5) is 4)>>\ <<var $perception + 1>>\ <<elseif (dig($reaperwepcode, 5) is 5)>>\ <<var $stealth + 1>>\ <<elseif (dig($reaperwepcode, 5) is 6)>>\ <<var $thievery + 1>>\ <<elseif (dig($reaperwepcode, 5) is 7)>>\ <<var $survival + 1>>\ <<elseif (dig($reaperwepcode, 5) is 8)>>\ <<var $deception + 1>>\ <</if>>\ <<if (dig($reaperwepcode, 7) isnot 0)>>\ <<if (dig($reaperwepcode, 7) is 1)>>\ <<if ($element1 is "Darkness")>>\ <<var $element1rank + 1>>\ <<elseif ($element2 is "Darkness")>>\ <<var $element2rank + 1>>\ <</if>>\ <<elseif (dig($reaperwepcode, 7) is 2)>>\ <<if ($element1 is "Earth")>>\ <<var $element1rank + 1>>\ <<elseif ($element2 is "Earth")>>\ <<var $element2rank + 1>>\ <</if>>\ <<elseif (dig($reaperwepcode, 7) is 3)>>\ <<if ($element1 is "Fire")>>\ <<var $element1rank + 1>>\ <<elseif ($element2 is "Fire")>>\ <<var $element2rank + 1>>\ <</if>>\ <<elseif (dig($reaperwepcode, 7) is 4)>>\ <<if ($element1 is "Ice")>>\ <<var $element1rank + 1>>\ <<elseif ($element2 is "Ice")>>\ <<var $element2rank + 1>>\ <</if>>\ <<elseif (dig($reaperwepcode, 7) is 5)>>\ <<if ($element1 is "Light")>>\ <<var $element1rank + 1>>\ <<elseif ($element2 is "Light")>>\ <<var $element2rank + 1>>\ <</if>>\ <<elseif (dig($reaperwepcode, 7) is 6)>>\ <<if ($element1 is "Storm")>>\ <<var $element1rank + 1>>\ <<elseif ($element2 is "Storm")>>\ <<var $element2rank + 1>>\ <</if>>\ <<elseif (dig($reaperwepcode, 7) is 7)>>\ <<if ($element1 is "Water")>>\ <<var $element1rank + 1>>\ <<elseif ($element2 is "Water")>>\ <<var $element2rank + 1>>\ <</if>>\ <<elseif (dig($reaperwepcode, 7) is 8)>>\ <<if ($element1 is "Wind")>>\ <<var $element1rank + 1>>\ <<elseif ($element2 is "Wind")>>\ <<var $element2rank + 1>>\ <</if>>\ <</if>>\ <</if>>\ <</if>>\ <<elseif ($tftype is "Titan")>>\ <<if ($technaming is true)>>\ ''//"Transformation Technique: Titan!!"//'' <<else>>\ //''"Titan!!"''// <</if>>\ <<cap $auracolor>> Wild Chi pumps through your veins, glowing. You throw both fists to your sides and scream a battlecry to the Heavens when your skin, muscles, bone, and tendons tear at the seams to let their larger counterpart burst forth. Steam erupts off your body and your weight increases a hundred-fold when you expand, mostruously, \ <<if ($subrace is "Monkey")>>\ into sixty-foot-tall giant monkey \ <<else>>\ up to sixty-foot-tall \ <</if>>\ in a flash of $auracolor light. ''[Titan Transformation!!]'' ''[+2 Fortitude, +1 Power, +2 Health]'' ''[Always trigger bonus damage in combat checks]'' <<if ($subrace is "Monkey")>>\ ''[Giant Monkey Variant: +5 AP from winning Battles]'' <<var $fightbonus + 5>>\ <</if>>\ <<var $fortitude + 2>>\ <<var $power + 1>>\ <<var $health + 2>>\ <<elseif ($tftype is "Asura")>>\ <<if ($technaming is true)>>\ ''//"Transformation Technique: Asura!!"//'' <<else>>\ //''"Asura!!"''// <</if>>\ Your skin, muscles, bone, and tendons tear at the seams, growing larger than ever before. Wild Chi pumps through your blood like an animal, turning you into a savage built for nothing but battle. Your muscles expand, your height grows by\ <<if ((($heshe is "he") or ($bodytype is "Bodacious")) or ($bodytype is "Dommymommy"))>>\ //another// \ <<else>>\ an entire \ <</if>>\ foot, and a second set of powerful arms rips out from behind your shoulder blades. ''[Asura Transformation!!]'' ''[+2 Power, +1 Fortitude, +1 Health]'' ''[Melee Attacks are always considered Focused]'' ''[Unlock Dual Wielding]'' <<var $fortitude + 1>>\ <<var $power + 1>>\ <<var $health + 1>>\ <<var $dualwield true>>\ <<unequipweapon2>>\ <<var $equippedweapon2 $asurawepname>>\ <<var $weaponbonus2 $asurawepcode>>\ <<weaponbonuses2>>\ <<elseif ($tftype is "Godhand")>>\ <<if ($technaming is true)>>\ ''//"Transformation Technique: Godhand."//'' <<else>>\ ''//"Godhand."//'' <</if>>\ A halo of $auracolor kinetic chi expands in a circle over your head. Two more haloes, smaller but with more power, form over your wrists. They fluctuate with intensely compressed Sacred Chi, pressing the blunt power together from all angles so tightly that it crackles like lightning. In a flash of power illuminating the battlefield, the ring-like haloes over each wrist surge their bright energy up your arms and behind your back in long blasts. That kinetic energy does not disperse; the large blasts remain in place, flatten, and form into a pair of wings made of pure chi. ''[Godhand Transformation!!]'' ''[+1 Soul. +1 Agility. +1 Fortitude. +1 Health. +1 Chi Pool.]'' ''[Heal to full Health upon Transformation.]'' <<var $wounds 0>>\ <<var $soul + 1>>\ <<var $agility + 1>>\ <<var $fortitude + 1>>\ <<var $health + 1>>\ <<var $chipool + 1>>\ <</if>>\ <<if ($aurapressure lt 2000)>>\ <<var $tfboost 500>>\ <<else>>\ <<var $tfboost (250 + Math.round($aurapressure/8))>>\ <</if>>\ <<var $aurapressure + $tfboost>>\ ''[Cultivation Understanding: +$stylerank Aura Pressure]'' <<var $aurapressure + $stylerank>>\ <</widget>>\ <<widget "untransform">>\ ''[$tftype Transformation Deactivated]'' <<var $aurapressure - $tfboost>>\ <<if ($tftype is "Limitbreaker")>>\ <<var $powsurge - 1>>\ <<var $forsurge - 1>>\ <<var $agisurge - 1>>\ <<var $solsurge - 1>>\ <<var $power - 1>>\ <<var $health - 1>>\ <<var $fightbonus - 10>>\ <<elseif ($tftype is "Malocchio")>>\ <<var $chipool - 1>>\ <<var $agility - 2>>\ <<var $fortitude - 1>>\ <<elseif ($tftype is "Soul Domain")>>\ <<var $power - 1>>\ <<var $soul - 2>>\ <<var $chipool - 2>>\ <<elseif ($tftype is "Reaper")>>\ <<var $power - 2>>\ <<var $agility - 1>>\ <<var $health - 1>>\ <<if (dig($reaperwepcode, 6) is 1)>>\ <<var $power - 1>>\ <<elseif (dig($reaperwepcode, 6) is 2)>>\ <<var $fortitude - 1>>\ <<elseif (dig($reaperwepcode, 6) is 3)>>\ <<var $agility - 1>>\ <<elseif (dig($reaperwepcode, 6) is 4)>>\ <<var $soul - 1>>\ <<elseif (dig($reaperwepcode, 6) is 5)>>\ <<var $power - 2>>\ <<elseif (dig($reaperwepcode, 6) is 6)>>\ <<var $fortitude - 2>>\ <<elseif (dig($reaperwepcode, 6) is 7)>>\ <<var $agility - 2>>\ <<elseif (dig($reaperwepcode, 6) is 8)>>\ <<var $soul - 2>>\ <</if>>\ <<if (dig($reaperwepcode, 4) is 1)>>\ <<var $power - 1>>\ <<elseif (dig($reaperwepcode, 4) is 2)>>\ <<var $fortitude - 1>>\ <<elseif (dig($reaperwepcode, 4) is 3)>>\ <<var $agility - 1>>\ <<elseif (dig($reaperwepcode, 4) is 4)>>\ <<var $soul - 1>>\ <<elseif (dig($reaperwepcode, 4) is 5)>>\ <<var $chipool - 1>>\ <<elseif (dig($reaperwepcode, 4) is 6)>>\ <<var $health - 1>>\ <<elseif (dig($reaperwepcode, 4) is 7)>>\ <<var $fightbonus - 3>>\ <</if>>\ <<if (dig($reaperwepcode, 5) is 1)>>\ <<var $athletics - 1>>\ <</if>>\ <<if (dig($reaperwepcode, 5) is 2)>>\ <<var $handseals - 1>>\ <<elseif (dig($reaperwepcode, 5) is 3)>>\ <<var $insight - 1>>\ <<elseif (dig($reaperwepcode, 5) is 4)>>\ <<var $perception - 1>>\ <<elseif (dig($reaperwepcode, 5) is 5)>>\ <<var $stealth - 1>>\ <<elseif (dig($reaperwepcode, 5) is 6)>>\ <<var $thievery - 1>>\ <<elseif (dig($reaperwepcode, 5) is 7)>>\ <<var $survival - 1>>\ <<elseif (dig($reaperwepcode, 5) is 8)>>\ <<var $deception - 1>>\ <</if>>\ <<if (dig($reaperwepcode, 7) isnot 0)>>\ <<if (dig($reaperwepcode, 7) is 1)>>\ <<if ($element1 is "Darkness")>>\ <<var $element1rank - 1>>\ <<elseif ($element2 is "Darkness")>>\ <<var $element2rank - 1>>\ <</if>>\ <<elseif (dig($reaperwepcode, 7) is 2)>>\ <<if ($element1 is "Earth")>>\ <<var $element1rank - 1>>\ <<elseif ($element2 is "Earth")>>\ <<var $element2rank - 1>>\ <</if>>\ <<elseif (dig($reaperwepcode, 7) is 3)>>\ <<if ($element1 is "Fire")>>\ <<var $element1rank - 1>>\ <<elseif ($element2 is "Fire")>>\ <<var $element2rank - 1>>\ <</if>>\ <<elseif (dig($reaperwepcode, 7) is 4)>>\ <<if ($element1 is "Ice")>>\ <<var $element1rank - 1>>\ <<elseif ($element2 is "Ice")>>\ <<var $element2rank - 1>>\ <</if>>\ <<elseif (dig($reaperwepcode, 7) is 5)>>\ <<if ($element1 is "Light")>>\ <<var $element1rank - 1>>\ <<elseif ($element2 is "Light")>>\ <<var $element2rank - 1>>\ <</if>>\ <<elseif (dig($reaperwepcode, 7) is 6)>>\ <<if ($element1 is "Storm")>>\ <<var $element1rank - 1>>\ <<elseif ($element2 is "Storm")>>\ <<var $element2rank - 1>>\ <</if>>\ <<elseif (dig($reaperwepcode, 7) is 7)>>\ <<if ($element1 is "Water")>>\ <<var $element1rank - 1>>\ <<elseif ($element2 is "Water")>>\ <<var $element2rank - 1>>\ <</if>>\ <<elseif (dig($reaperwepcode, 7) is 8)>>\ <<if ($element1 is "Wind")>>\ <<var $element1rank - 1>>\ <<elseif ($element2 is "Wind")>>\ <<var $element2rank - 1>>\ <</if>>\ <</if>>\ <</if>>\ <<var $reaperwepcode 200000000>>\ <<var $reaperwepname "">>\ <<elseif ($tftype is "Titan")>>\ <<var $fortitude - 2>>\ <<var $power - 1>>\ <<var $health - 2>>\ <<if ($subrace is "Monkey")>>\ <<var $fightbonus - 5>>\ <</if>>\ <<elseif ($tftype is "Asura")>>\ <<var $fortitude - 1>>\ <<var $power - 2>>\ <<var $health - 1>>\ <<var $dualwield false>>\ <<unequipweapon2>>\ <<elseif ($tftype is "Godhand")>>\ <<var $soul - 1>>\ <<var $agility - 1>>\ <<var $fortitude - 1>>\ <<var $health - 1>>\ <<var $chipool - 1>>\ <</if>>\ <<var $tftype "">>\ <</widget>>\ <<widget "wepdisplay">>\ <<set $wepvar to $args[0]>>\ <<set $wepname to $args[1]>>\ <<set $itemlist to $args[2]>>\ <<if ($wepvar isnot 100000000)>>\ <<if ($itemlist is true)>>\ 1 \ <</if>>\ <<if ((dig($wepvar, 2) is 1) and ($wepname isnot "Muramasa"))>>\ Improved \ <<elseif (dig($wepvar, 2) is 2)>>\ Superior \ <<elseif (dig($wepvar, 2) gte 3)>>\ Mastercrafted \ <</if>>\ <<if (dig($wepvar, 3) is 1)>>\ Jade \ <<elseif (dig($wepvar, 3) is 2)>>\ Beastbone \ <<elseif (dig($wepvar, 3) is 3)>>\ Snowsteel \ <<elseif (dig($wepvar, 3) is 4)>>\ Truegold \ <</if>>\ $wepname \ <<if (dig($wepvar, 6) is 1)>>\ [+1 Power] \ <<elseif (dig($wepvar, 6) is 2)>>\ [+1 Fortitude] \ <<elseif (dig($wepvar, 6) is 3)>>\ [+1 Agility] \ <<elseif (dig($wepvar, 6) is 4)>>\ [+1 Soul] \ <<elseif (dig($wepvar, 6) is 5)>>\ [+2 Power] \ <<elseif (dig($wepvar, 6) is 6)>>\ [+2 Fortitude] \ <<elseif (dig($wepvar, 6) is 7)>>\ [+2 Agility] \ <<elseif (dig($wepvar, 6) is 8)>>\ [+2 Soul] \ <</if>>\ <<if (dig($wepvar, 4) is 1)>>\ [+1 Power] \ <<elseif (dig($wepvar, 4) is 2)>>\ [+1 Fortitude] \ <<elseif (dig($wepvar, 4) is 3)>>\ [+1 Agility] \ <<elseif (dig($wepvar, 4) is 4)>>\ [+1 Soul] \ <<elseif (dig($wepvar, 4) is 5)>>\ [+1 Chi] \ <<elseif (dig($wepvar, 4) is 6)>>\ [+1 Health] \ <<elseif (dig($wepvar, 4) is 7)>>\ [Soulstealing] \ <<elseif (dig($wepvar, 4) is 8)>>\ [Regenerating] \ <<elseif (dig($wepvar, 4) is 9)>>\ [Chi Storing] \ <</if>>\ <<if (dig($wepvar, 5) is 1)>>\ [+1 Athletics] \ <<elseif (dig($wepvar, 5) is 2)>>\ [+1 Handseals] \ <<elseif (dig($wepvar, 5) is 3)>>\ [+1 Insight] \ <<elseif (dig($wepvar, 5) is 4)>>\ [+1 Perception] \ <<elseif (dig($wepvar, 5) is 5)>>\ [+1 Stealth] \ <<elseif (dig($wepvar, 5) is 6)>>\ [+1 Thievery] \ <<elseif (dig($wepvar, 5) is 7)>>\ [+1 Survival] \ <<elseif (dig($wepvar, 5) is 8)>>\ [+1 Deception] \ <</if>>\ <<if (dig($wepvar, 7) isnot 0)>>\ <<if (dig($wepvar, 7) is 1)>>\ [Darkness Mastery] \ <<elseif (dig($wepvar, 7) is 2)>>\ [Earth Mastery] \ <<elseif (dig($wepvar, 7) is 3)>>\ [Fire Mastery] \ <<elseif (dig($wepvar, 7) is 4)>>\ [Ice Mastery] \ <<elseif (dig($wepvar, 7) is 5)>>\ [Light Mastery] \ <<elseif (dig($wepvar, 7) is 6)>>\ [Storm Mastery] \ <<elseif (dig($wepvar, 7) is 7)>>\ [Water Mastery] \ <<elseif (dig($wepvar, 7) is 8)>>\ [Wind Mastery] \ <</if>>\ <</if>>\ <<if (dig($wepvar, 8) is 1)>>\ [Cursecasting] \ <</if>>\ <<if (($equippedweapon is $wepname) and ($itemlist))>>\ [EQUIPPED] <<else>>\ <</if>>\ <</if>>\ <<unset $wepvar>>\ <<unset $wepname>>\ <<unset $itemlist>>\ <</widget>>\ <<widget "focuscore">>\ <<set $techname to $args[0]>>\ <<set $techcode to $args[1]>>\ <<set $coresetter to $techcode.toString().charAt(0)>>\ <<if ($techslotcode[dig($techcode, 1)] isnot 1000000000000000)>>\ <<unfocuscore $coresetter>>\ <</if>>\ <<set $techslotname[dig($techcode, 1)] to $techname>>\ <<set $techslotcode[dig($techcode, 1)] to $techcode>>\ <<if ((dig($techcode, 2) is 1) or (dig($techcode, 2) is 6))>>\ <<if (dig($techcode, 3) is 1)>>\ <<var $powsurge + 1>>\ <<elseif (dig($techcode, 3) is 2)>>\ <<var $forsurge + 1>>\ <<elseif (dig($techcode, 3) is 3)>>\ <<var $agisurge + 1>>\ <<elseif (dig($techcode, 3) is 4)>>\ <<var $solsurge + 1>>\ <<else>>\ ''[THE HEAVENS BETRAY YOU! (Error: Wrong Surge Value)]'' <</if>>\ <<elseif ((dig($techcode, 2) is 2) or (dig($techcode, 2) is 7))>>\ <<if (dig($techcode, 3) is 1)>>\ <<var $power + 1>>\ <<elseif (dig($techcode, 3) is 2)>>\ <<var $fortitude + 1>>\ <<elseif (dig($techcode, 3) is 3)>>\ <<var $agility + 1>>\ <<elseif (dig($techcode, 3) is 4)>>\ <<var $soul + 1>>\ <<else>>\ ''[THE HEAVENS BETRAY YOU! (Error: Wrong Core Being Increased)]'' <</if>>\ <<elseif (dig($techcode, 2) is 3)>>\ <<if (dig($techcode, 4) is 1)>>\ <<var $element1rank + 1>>\ <<elseif (dig($techcode, 4) is 2)>>\ <<var $element2rank + 1>>\ <<elseif (dig($techcode, 4) is 3)>>\ <<var $stylerank + 1>>\ <<else>>\ ''[THE HEAVENS BETRAY YOU! (Error: Wrong Element Rank Increased)]'' <</if>>\ /* Only one of these should be slottable, the rest should be passive */\ <<elseif (dig($techcode, 2) is 4)>>\ <<var $pblocktech techname>>\ <<elseif (dig($techcode, 2) is 9)>>\ <<var $eblocktech techname>>\ <<elseif (dig($techcode, 2) is 8)>>\ <<if (dig($techcode, 10) is 1)>>\ <<var $chipool + 1>>\ <<elseif (dig($techcode, 10) is 2)>>\ <<var $health + 1>>\ <<elseif (dig($techcode, 10) is 3)>>\ <<var $chipool + 2>>\ <<elseif (dig($techcode, 10) is 4)>>\ <<var $health + 2>>\ <</if>>\ <</if>>\ <<if (((dig($techcode, 2) is 5) or (dig($techcode, 2) is 6)) or (dig($techcode, 2) is 7))>>\ <<if (dig($techcode, 5) is 1)>>\ <<var $alchemy + 1>>\ <<elseif (dig($techcode, 5) is 2)>>\ <<var $athletics + 1>>\ <<elseif (dig($techcode, 5) is 3)>>\ <<var $craft + 1>>\ <<elseif (dig($techcode, 5) is 4)>>\ <<var $deception + 1>>\ <<elseif (dig($techcode, 5) is 5)>>\ <<var $handseals + 1>>\ <<elseif (dig($techcode, 5) is 6)>>\ <<var $insight + 1>>\ <</if>>\ <<if (dig($techcode, 6) is 1)>>\ <<var $lore + 1>>\ <<elseif (dig($techcode, 6) is 2)>>\ <<var $perception + 1>>\ <<elseif (dig($techcode, 6) is 3)>>\ <<var $persuasion + 1>>\ <<elseif (dig($techcode, 6) is 4)>>\ <<var $stealth + 1>>\ <<elseif (dig($techcode, 6) is 5)>>\ <<var $survival + 1>>\ <<elseif (dig($techcode, 6) is 6)>>\ <<var $thievery + 1>>\ <</if>>\ <</if>>\ <<if (dig($techcode, 7) is 7)>>\ <<var $dualwield true>>\ <</if>>\ <<if ((dig($techcode, 7) is 9) and ($guardspent is false))>>\ <<var $guardtech Math.round($soul/3)>>\ <<var $guardtechname $techname>>\ <</if>>\ <<unset $techname>>\ <<unset $techcode>>\ <<unset $coresetter>>\ <</widget>>\ <<widget "unfocuscore">>\ <<set $emptiedcore to $args[0]>>\ <<set $codeofcore to $techslotcode[$emptiedcore]>>\ <<if ((dig($codeofcore, 2) is 1) or (dig($codeofcore, 2) is 6))>>\ <<if (dig($codeofcore, 3) is 1)>>\ <<var $powsurge - 1>>\ <<elseif (dig($codeofcore, 3) is 2)>>\ <<var $forsurge - 1>>\ <<elseif (dig($codeofcore, 3) is 3)>>\ <<var $agisurge - 1>>\ <<elseif (dig($codeofcore, 3) is 4)>>\ <<var $solsurge - 1>>\ <<else>>\ ''[THE HEAVENS BETRAY YOU! (Error: Wrong Surge Value)]'' <</if>>\ <<elseif ((dig($codeofcore, 2) is 2) or (dig($codeofcore, 2) is 7))>>\ <<if (dig($codeofcore, 3) is 1)>>\ <<var $power - 1>>\ <<elseif (dig($codeofcore, 3) is 2)>>\ <<var $fortitude - 1>>\ <<elseif (dig($codeofcore, 3) is 3)>>\ <<var $agility - 1>>\ <<elseif (dig($codeofcore, 3) is 4)>>\ <<var $soul - 1>>\ <<else>>\ ''[THE HEAVENS BETRAY YOU! (Error: Wrong Core Being Increased)]'' <</if>>\ <<elseif (dig($codeofcore, 2) is 3)>>\ <<if (dig($codeofcore, 4) is 1)>>\ <<var $element1rank - 1>>\ <<elseif (dig($codeofcore, 4) is 2)>>\ <<var $element2rank - 1>>\ <<elseif (dig($codeofcore, 4) is 3)>>\ <<var $stylerank - 1>>\ <<else>>\ ''[THE HEAVENS BETRAY YOU! (Error: Wrong Element Rank Increased)]'' <</if>>\ <<elseif (dig($codeofcore, 2) is 4)>>\ <<var $pblocktech "">>\ <<if ((dig($techslotcode[1], 2) is 4) and ($emptiedcore isnot 1))>>\ <<var $pblocktech techslotname[1]>>\ <<elseif ((dig($techslotcode[2], 2) is 4) and ($emptiedcore isnot 2))>>\ <<var $pblocktech techslotname[2]>>\ <<elseif ((dig($techslotcode[3], 2) is 4) and ($emptiedcore isnot 3))>>\ <<var $pblocktech techslotname[3]>>\ <<elseif ((dig($techslotcode[4], 2) is 4) and ($emptiedcore isnot 4))>>\ <<var $pblocktech techslotname[4]>>\ <</if>>\ <<elseif (dig($codeofcore, 2) is 9)>>\ <<var $eblocktech "">>\ <<if ((dig($techslotcode[1], 2) is 9) and ($emptiedcore isnot 1))>>\ <<var $eblocktech techslotname[1]>>\ <<elseif ((dig($techslotcode[2], 2) is 9) and ($emptiedcore isnot 2))>>\ <<var $eblocktech techslotname[2]>>\ <<elseif ((dig($techslotcode[3], 2) is 9) and ($emptiedcore isnot 3))>>\ <<var $eblocktech techslotname[3]>>\ <<elseif ((dig($techslotcode[4], 2) is 9) and ($emptiedcore isnot 4))>>\ <<var $eblocktech techslotname[4]>>\ <<elseif ($race is "Lunargoth")>>\ <<var $eblocktech "Indomitable Will">>\ <</if>>\ <<elseif (dig($codeofcore, 2) is 8)>>\ <<if (dig($codeofcore, 10) is 1)>>\ <<var $chipool - 1>>\ <<elseif (dig($codeofcore, 10) is 2)>>\ <<var $health - 1>>\ <<elseif (dig($codeofcore, 10) is 3)>>\ <<var $chipool - 2>>\ <<elseif (dig($codeofcore, 10) is 4)>>\ <<var $health - 2>>\ <</if>>\ <</if>>\ <<if (((dig($codeofcore, 2) is 5) or (dig($codeofcore, 2) is 6)) or (dig($codeofcore, 2) is 7))>>\ <<if (dig($codeofcore, 5) is 1)>>\ <<var $alchemy - 1>>\ <<elseif (dig($codeofcore, 5) is 2)>>\ <<var $athletics - 1>>\ <<elseif (dig($codeofcore, 5) is 3)>>\ <<var $craft - 1>>\ <<elseif (dig($codeofcore, 5) is 4)>>\ <<var $deception - 1>>\ <<elseif (dig($codeofcore, 5) is 5)>>\ <<var $handseals - 1>>\ <<elseif (dig($codeofcore, 5) is 6)>>\ <<var $insight - 1>>\ <</if>>\ <<if (dig($codeofcore, 6) is 1)>>\ <<var $lore - 1>>\ <<elseif (dig($codeofcore, 6) is 2)>>\ <<var $perception - 1>>\ <<elseif (dig($codeofcore, 6) is 3)>>\ <<var $persuasion - 1>>\ <<elseif (dig($codeofcore, 6) is 4)>>\ <<var $stealth - 1>>\ <<elseif (dig($codeofcore, 6) is 5)>>\ <<var $survival - 1>>\ <<elseif (dig($codeofcore, 6) is 6)>>\ <<var $thievery - 1>>\ <</if>>\ <</if>>\ <<if (dig($codeofcore, 7) is 7)>>\ <<if ((((((dig($techslotcode[1], 7) is 7) and ($emptiedcore isnot 1)) or ((dig($techslotcode[2], 7) is 7) and ($emptiedcore isnot 2))) or ((dig($techslotcode[3], 7) is 7) and ($emptiedcore isnot 3))) or ((dig($techslotcode[4], 7) is 7) and ($emptiedcore isnot 4))) or ($reaper is true))>>\ <<var $dualwield true>>\ <<else>>\ <<var $dualwield false>>\ <<if ($equippedweapon2 isnot "")>>\ <<unequipweapon2>>\ <</if>>\ <</if>>\ <</if>>\ <<if (dig($codeofcore, 7) is 9)>>\ <<var $guardtechname "">>\ <<if ((dig($techslotcode[1], 7) is 9) and ($emptiedcore isnot 1))>>\ <<var $guardtechname techslotname[1]>>\ <<elseif ((dig($techslotcode[2], 7) is 9) and ($emptiedcore isnot 2))>>\ <<var $guardtechname techslotname[2]>>\ <<elseif ((dig($techslotcode[3], 7) is 9) and ($emptiedcore isnot 3))>>\ <<var $guardtechname techslotname[3]>>\ <<elseif ((dig($techslotcode[4], 7) is 9) and ($emptiedcore isnot 4))>>\ <<var $guardtechname techslotname[4]>>\ <<else>>\ <<var $guardtech 0>>\ <</if>>\ <</if>>\ <<var $techslotname[emptiedcore] "">>\ <<var $techslotcode[emptiedcore] 1000000000000000>>\ <<unset $codeofcore>>\ <<unset $emptiedcore>>\ <</widget>>\ <<widget "discount">>\ <<set $stylement to $args[0]>>\ <<set $bpvalue to $args[1]>>\ <<if ((($style is $stylement) or ($element1 is $stylement)) or ($element2 is $stylement))>>\ ''[$stylement Event: +$bpvalue Battle Prowess]'' <<var $cmod + $bpvalue>>\ <<elseif ($background is $stylement)>>\ ''[$stylement Background Event: +$bpvalue Battle Prowess]'' <<var $cmod + $bpvalue>>\ <<elseif (($bodytype is $stylement) or (($stylement is "Muscular") and (($bodytype is "Dommymommy") or ($bodytype is "Ogre"))))>>\ <<if ($stylement is "Legs")>>\ ''[Swift '' <<elseif (($stylement is "Muscular") and ($bodytype is "Dommymommy"))>>\ ''[Muscular '' <<elseif ($stylement is "Ogre")>>\ ''[Ogre '' <<elseif ($stylement is "Manlet")>>\ ''[Short '' <<else>>\ ''[$stylement '' <</if>>\ ''Bodytype Event: +$bpvalue Battle Prowess]'' <<var $cmod + $bpvalue>>\ <<elseif ($race is $stylement)>>\ ''[$race Racial Event: +$bpvalue Battle Prowess]'' <<var $cmod + $bpvalue>>\ <<elseif (($subrace is $stylement) and ($stylement isnot "Human"))>>\ ''[$subrace Yokai Racial Event: +$bpvalue Battle Prowess]'' <<var $cmod + $bpvalue>>\ <<elseif ($mentor is $stylement)>>\ <<if ($mentor is "Yang")>>\ ''[Zhao Yang Battle ''\ <<elseif ($mentor is "Kaito")>>\ ''[Okada Kaito Battle ''\ <<elseif ($mentor is "Eldra")>>\ ''[Lady Eldra Harmonic ''\ <<else>>\ ''[$mentor Battle ''\ <</if>>\ ''Training: +$bpvalue Battle Prowess]'' <<var $cmod + $bpvalue>>\ <</if>>\ <</widget>>\ <<widget "attack">>\ <<set $stylement to $args[0]>>\ <<var $atkpvalue 0>>\ <<var $rank 0>>\ <<if ((($stylement is "Melee") or ($tftype is "Asura")) or ($tftype is "Soul Domain"))>>\ /* melee attacks */\ <<if ((dig($techslotcode[1], 16) is 1) or (dig($techslotcode[1], 16) is 3))>>\ ''[//$techslotname[1]!!//'' \ <<if (dig($techslotcode[1], 14) isnot 0)>>\ <<var $atkpvalue dig($techslotcode[1], 14)>>\ <<attack-elemcheck>>\ <<elseif (dig($techslotcode[1], 15) isnot 0)>>\ <<if ((dig($techslotcode[1], 15) is 7) and ($stylerank gt 1))>>\ <<var $rank ($stylerank - 1)>>\ <<else>>\ <<var $rank $stylerank>>\ <</if>>\ <<attack-stylerun>>\ <</if>>\ <<elseif ((dig($techslotcode[2], 16) is 1) or (dig($techslotcode[2], 16) is 3))>>\ ''[//$techslotname[2]!!//'' \ <<if (dig($techslotcode[2], 14) isnot 0)>>\ <<var $atkpvalue dig($techslotcode[2], 14)>>\ <<attack-elemcheck>>\ <<elseif (dig($techslotcode[2], 15) isnot 0)>>\ <<if ((dig($techslotcode[2], 15) is 7) and ($stylerank gt 1))>>\ <<var $rank ($stylerank - 1)>>\ <<else>>\ <<var $rank $stylerank>>\ <</if>>\ <<attack-stylerun>>\ <</if>>\ <<elseif ((dig($techslotcode[3], 16) is 1) or (dig($techslotcode[3], 16) is 3))>>\ ''[//$techslotname[3]!!//'' \ <<if (dig($techslotcode[3], 14) isnot 0)>>\ <<var $atkpvalue dig($techslotcode[3], 14)>>\ <<attack-elemcheck>>\ <<elseif (dig($techslotcode[3], 15) isnot 0)>>\ <<if ((dig($techslotcode[3], 15) is 7) and ($stylerank gt 1))>>\ <<var $rank ($stylerank - 1)>>\ <<else>>\ <<var $rank $stylerank>>\ <</if>>\ <<attack-stylerun>>\ <</if>>\ <<elseif ((dig($techslotcode[4], 16) is 1) or (dig($techslotcode[4], 16) is 3))>>\ ''[//$techslotname[4]!!//'' \ <<if (dig($techslotcode[4], 14) isnot 0)>>\ <<var $atkpvalue dig($techslotcode[4], 14)>>\ <<attack-elemcheck>>\ <<elseif (dig($techslotcode[4], 15) isnot 0)>>\ <<if ((dig($techslotcode[4], 15) is 7) and ($stylerank gt 1))>>\ <<var $rank ($stylerank - 1)>>\ <<else>>\ <<var $rank $stylerank>>\ <</if>>\ <<attack-stylerun>>\ <</if>>\ <<elseif ($tftype is "Asura")>>\ ''[Asura Four-Armed Flurry: +$stylerank Battle Prowess]'' <<var $cmod + $stylerank>>\ <<elseif ($tftype is "Soul Domain")>>\ ''[$souldomain Domain: +$stylerank Battle Prowess]'' <<var $cmod + $stylerank>>\ <</if>>\ <<elseif (($stylement is "Energy Melee") or ($tftype is "Soul Domain"))>>\ /* melee-energy attacks */\ <<if ((dig($techslotcode[1], 16) is 2) or (dig($techslotcode[1], 16) is 3))>>\ ''[//$techslotname[1]!!//'' \ <<if (dig($techslotcode[1], 14) isnot 0)>>\ <<var $atkpvalue dig($techslotcode[1], 14)>>\ <<attack-elemcheck>>\ <<elseif (dig($techslotcode[1], 15) isnot 0)>>\ <<if ((dig($techslotcode[1], 15) is 7) and ($stylerank gt 1))>>\ <<var $rank ($stylerank - 1)>>\ <<else>>\ <<var $rank $stylerank>>\ <</if>>\ <<attack-stylerun>>\ <</if>>\ <<elseif ((dig($techslotcode[2], 16) is 2) or (dig($techslotcode[2], 16) is 3))>>\ ''[//$techslotname[2]!!//'' \ <<if (dig($techslotcode[2], 14) isnot 0)>>\ <<var $atkpvalue dig($techslotcode[2], 14)>>\ <<attack-elemcheck>>\ <<elseif (dig($techslotcode[2], 15) isnot 0)>>\ <<if ((dig($techslotcode[2], 15) is 7) and ($stylerank gt 1))>>\ <<var $rank ($stylerank - 1)>>\ <<else>>\ <<var $rank $stylerank>>\ <</if>>\ <<attack-stylerun>>\ <</if>>\ <<elseif ((dig($techslotcode[3], 16) is 2) or (dig($techslotcode[3], 16) is 3))>>\ ''[//$techslotname[3]!!//'' \ <<if (dig($techslotcode[3], 14) isnot 0)>>\ <<var $atkpvalue dig($techslotcode[3], 14)>>\ <<attack-elemcheck>>\ <<elseif (dig($techslotcode[3], 15) isnot 0)>>\ <<if ((dig($techslotcode[3], 15) is 7) and ($stylerank gt 1))>>\ <<var $rank ($stylerank - 1)>>\ <<else>>\ <<var $rank $stylerank>>\ <</if>>\ <<attack-stylerun>>\ <</if>>\ <<elseif ((dig($techslotcode[4], 16) is 2) or (dig($techslotcode[4], 16) is 3))>>\ ''[//$techslotname[4]!!//'' \ <<if (dig($techslotcode[4], 14) isnot 0)>>\ <<var $atkpvalue dig($techslotcode[4], 14)>>\ <<attack-elemcheck>>\ <<elseif (dig($techslotcode[4], 15) isnot 0)>>\ <<if ((dig($techslotcode[4], 15) is 7) and ($stylerank gt 1))>>\ <<var $rank ($stylerank - 1)>>\ <<else>>\ <<var $rank $stylerank>>\ <</if>>\ <<attack-stylerun>>\ <</if>>\ <<elseif ($tftype is "Soul Domain")>>\ ''[$souldomain Domain: +$stylerank Battle Prowess]'' <<var $cmod + $stylerank>>\ <</if>>\ <<elseif (($stylement is "Ranged") or ($tftype is "Soul Domain"))>>\ /* ranged attacks */\ <<if ((dig($techslotcode[1], 16) is 4) or (dig($techslotcode[1], 16) is 6))>>\ ''[//$techslotname[1]!!//'' \ <<if (dig($techslotcode[1], 14) isnot 0)>>\ <<var $atkpvalue dig($techslotcode[1], 14)>>\ <<attack-elemcheck>>\ <<elseif (dig($techslotcode[1], 15) isnot 0)>>\ <<if ((dig($techslotcode[1], 15) is 7) and ($stylerank gt 1))>>\ <<var $rank ($stylerank - 1)>>\ <<else>>\ <<var $rank $stylerank>>\ <</if>>\ <<attack-stylerun>>\ <</if>>\ <<elseif ((dig($techslotcode[2], 16) is 4) or (dig($techslotcode[2], 16) is 6))>>\ ''[//$techslotname[2]!!//'' \ <<if (dig($techslotcode[2], 14) isnot 0)>>\ <<var $atkpvalue dig($techslotcode[2], 14)>>\ <<attack-elemcheck>>\ <<elseif (dig($techslotcode[2], 15) isnot 0)>>\ <<if ((dig($techslotcode[2], 15) is 7) and ($stylerank gt 1))>>\ <<var $rank ($stylerank - 1)>>\ <<else>>\ <<var $rank $stylerank>>\ <</if>>\ <<attack-stylerun>>\ <</if>>\ <<elseif ((dig($techslotcode[3], 16) is 4) or (dig($techslotcode[3], 16) is 6))>>\ ''[//$techslotname[3]!!//'' \ <<if (dig($techslotcode[3], 14) isnot 0)>>\ <<var $atkpvalue dig($techslotcode[3], 14)>>\ <<attack-elemcheck>>\ <<elseif (dig($techslotcode[3], 15) isnot 0)>>\ <<if ((dig($techslotcode[3], 15) is 7) and ($stylerank gt 1))>>\ <<var $rank ($stylerank - 1)>>\ <<else>>\ <<var $rank $stylerank>>\ <</if>>\ <<attack-stylerun>>\ <</if>>\ <<elseif ((dig($techslotcode[4], 16) is 4) or (dig($techslotcode[4], 16) is 6))>>\ ''[//$techslotname[4]!!//'' \ <<if (dig($techslotcode[4], 14) isnot 0)>>\ <<var $atkpvalue dig($techslotcode[4], 14)>>\ <<attack-elemcheck>>\ <<elseif (dig($techslotcode[4], 15) isnot 0)>>\ <<if ((dig($techslotcode[4], 15) is 7) and ($stylerank gt 1))>>\ <<var $rank ($stylerank - 1)>>\ <<else>>\ <<var $rank $stylerank>>\ <</if>>\ <<attack-stylerun>>\ <</if>>\ <<elseif ($tftype is "Soul Domain")>>\ ''[$souldomain Domain: +$stylerank Battle Prowess]'' <<var $cmod + $stylerank>>\ <</if>>\ <<elseif (($stylement is "Energy Ranged") or ($tftype is "Soul Domain"))>>\ /* ranged energy attacks */\ <<if ((dig($techslotcode[1], 16) is 5) or (dig($techslotcode[1], 16) is 6))>>\ ''[//$techslotname[1]!!//'' \ <<if (dig($techslotcode[1], 14) isnot 0)>>\ <<var $atkpvalue dig($techslotcode[1], 14)>>\ <<attack-elemcheck>>\ <<elseif (dig($techslotcode[1], 15) isnot 0)>>\ <<if ((dig($techslotcode[1], 15) is 7) and ($stylerank gt 1))>>\ <<var $rank ($stylerank - 1)>>\ <<else>>\ <<var $rank $stylerank>>\ <</if>>\ <<attack-stylerun>>\ <</if>>\ <<elseif ((dig($techslotcode[2], 16) is 5) or (dig($techslotcode[2], 16) is 6))>>\ ''[//$techslotname[2]!!//'' \ <<if (dig($techslotcode[2], 14) isnot 0)>>\ <<var $atkpvalue dig($techslotcode[2], 14)>>\ <<attack-elemcheck>>\ <<elseif (dig($techslotcode[2], 15) isnot 0)>>\ <<if ((dig($techslotcode[2], 15) is 7) and ($stylerank gt 1))>>\ <<var $rank ($stylerank - 1)>>\ <<else>>\ <<var $rank $stylerank>>\ <</if>>\ <<attack-stylerun>>\ <</if>>\ <<elseif ((dig($techslotcode[3], 16) is 5) or (dig($techslotcode[3], 16) is 6))>>\ ''[//$techslotname[3]!!//'' \ <<if (dig($techslotcode[3], 14) isnot 0)>>\ <<var $atkpvalue dig($techslotcode[3], 14)>>\ <<attack-elemcheck>>\ <<elseif (dig($techslotcode[3], 15) isnot 0)>>\ <<if ((dig($techslotcode[3], 15) is 7) and ($stylerank gt 1))>>\ <<var $rank ($stylerank - 1)>>\ <<else>>\ <<var $rank $stylerank>>\ <</if>>\ <<attack-stylerun>>\ <</if>>\ <<elseif ((dig($techslotcode[4], 16) is 5) or (dig($techslotcode[4], 16) is 6))>>\ ''[//$techslotname[4]!!//'' \ <<if (dig($techslotcode[4], 14) isnot 0)>>\ <<var $atkpvalue dig($techslotcode[4], 14)>>\ <<attack-elemcheck>>\ <<elseif (dig($techslotcode[4], 15) isnot 0)>>\ <<if ((dig($techslotcode[4], 15) is 7) and ($stylerank gt 1))>>\ <<var $rank ($stylerank - 1)>>\ <<else>>\ <<var $rank $stylerank>>\ <</if>>\ <<attack-stylerun>>\ <</if>>\ <<elseif ($tftype is "Soul Domain")>>\ ''[$souldomain Domain: +$stylerank Battle Prowess]'' <<var $cmod + $stylerank>>\ <</if>>\ <<elseif (($stylement is "Beam") or ($tftype is "Soul Domain"))>>\ /* beam attacks/beambattles */\ <<if (dig($techslotcode[1], 16) is 9)>>\ ''[//$techslotname[1]!!//'' \ <<if (dig($techslotcode[1], 14) isnot 0)>>\ <<var $atkpvalue dig($techslotcode[1], 14)>>\ <<attack-elemcheck>>\ <<elseif (dig($techslotcode[1], 15) isnot 0)>>\ <<if ((dig($techslotcode[1], 15) is 7) and ($stylerank gt 1))>>\ <<var $rank ($stylerank - 1)>>\ <<else>>\ <<var $rank $stylerank>>\ <</if>>\ <<attack-stylerun>>\ <</if>>\ <<elseif (dig($techslotcode[2], 16) is 9)>>\ ''[//$techslotname[2]!!//'' \ <<if (dig($techslotcode[2], 14) isnot 0)>>\ <<var $atkpvalue dig($techslotcode[2], 14)>>\ <<attack-elemcheck>>\ <<elseif (dig($techslotcode[2], 15) isnot 0)>>\ <<if ((dig($techslotcode[2], 15) is 7) and ($stylerank gt 1))>>\ <<var $rank ($stylerank - 1)>>\ <<else>>\ <<var $rank $stylerank>>\ <</if>>\ <<attack-stylerun>>\ <</if>>\ <<elseif (dig($techslotcode[3], 16) is 9)>>\ ''[//$techslotname[3]!!//'' \ <<if (dig($techslotcode[3], 14) isnot 0)>>\ <<var $atkpvalue dig($techslotcode[3], 14)>>\ <<attack-elemcheck>>\ <<elseif (dig($techslotcode[3], 15) isnot 0)>>\ <<if ((dig($techslotcode[3], 15) is 7) and ($stylerank gt 1))>>\ <<var $rank ($stylerank - 1)>>\ <<else>>\ <<var $rank $stylerank>>\ <</if>>\ <<attack-stylerun>>\ <</if>>\ <<elseif (dig($techslotcode[4], 16) is 9)>>\ ''[//$techslotname[4]!!//'' \ <<if (dig($techslotcode[4], 14) isnot 0)>>\ <<var $atkpvalue dig($techslotcode[4], 14)>>\ <<attack-elemcheck>>\ <<elseif (dig($techslotcode[4], 15) isnot 0)>>\ <<if ((dig($techslotcode[4], 15) is 7) and ($stylerank gt 1))>>\ <<var $rank ($stylerank - 1)>>\ <<else>>\ <<var $rank $stylerank>>\ <</if>>\ <<attack-stylerun>>\ <</if>>\ <<elseif ($tftype is "Soul Domain")>>\ ''[$souldomain Domain: +$stylerank Battle Prowess]'' <<var $cmod + $stylerank>>\ <</if>>\ <<elseif (($stylement is "Area") or ($tftype is "Soul Domain"))>>\ /* area attacks (7 for physical, 8 for energy) */\ <<if ((dig($techslotcode[1], 16) is 7) or (dig($techslotcode[1], 16) is 8))>>\ ''[//$techslotname[1]!!//'' \ <<if (dig($techslotcode[1], 14) isnot 0)>>\ <<var $atkpvalue dig($techslotcode[1], 14)>>\ <<attack-elemcheck>>\ <<elseif (dig($techslotcode[1], 15) isnot 0)>>\ <<if ((dig($techslotcode[1], 15) is 7) and ($stylerank gt 1))>>\ <<var $rank ($stylerank - 1)>>\ <<else>>\ <<var $rank $stylerank>>\ <</if>>\ <<attack-stylerun>>\ <</if>>\ <<elseif ((dig($techslotcode[2], 16) is 7) or (dig($techslotcode[2], 16) is 8))>>\ ''[//$techslotname[2]!!//'' \ <<if (dig($techslotcode[2], 14) isnot 0)>>\ <<var $atkpvalue dig($techslotcode[2], 14)>>\ <<attack-elemcheck>>\ <<elseif (dig($techslotcode[2], 15) isnot 0)>>\ <<if ((dig($techslotcode[2], 15) is 7) and ($stylerank gt 1))>>\ <<var $rank ($stylerank - 1)>>\ <<else>>\ <<var $rank $stylerank>>\ <</if>>\ <<attack-stylerun>>\ <</if>>\ <<elseif ((dig($techslotcode[3], 16) is 7) or (dig($techslotcode[3], 16) is 8))>>\ ''[//$techslotname[3]!!//'' \ <<if (dig($techslotcode[3], 14) isnot 0)>>\ <<var $atkpvalue dig($techslotcode[3], 14)>>\ <<attack-elemcheck>>\ <<elseif (dig($techslotcode[3], 15) isnot 0)>>\ <<if ((dig($techslotcode[3], 15) is 7) and ($stylerank gt 1))>>\ <<var $rank ($stylerank - 1)>>\ <<else>>\ <<var $rank $stylerank>>\ <</if>>\ <<attack-stylerun>>\ <</if>>\ <<elseif ((dig($techslotcode[4], 16) is 7) or (dig($techslotcode[4], 16) is 8))>>\ ''[//$techslotname[4]!!//'' \ <<if (dig($techslotcode[4], 14) isnot 0)>>\ <<var $atkpvalue dig($techslotcode[4], 14)>>\ <<attack-elemcheck>>\ <<elseif (dig($techslotcode[4], 15) isnot 0)>>\ <<if ((dig($techslotcode[4], 15) is 7) and ($stylerank gt 1))>>\ <<var $rank ($stylerank - 1)>>\ <<else>>\ <<var $rank $stylerank>>\ <</if>>\ <<attack-stylerun>>\ <</if>>\ <<elseif ($tftype is "Soul Domain")>>\ ''[$souldomain Domain: +$stylerank Battle Prowess]'' <<var $cmod + $stylerank>>\ <</if>>\ /* make 9 for weapon */\ <</if>>\ <</widget>>\ <<widget "attack-elemcheck">>\ <<if ($atkpvalue is 1)>>\ <<if ($element1 is "Darkness")>>\ <<var $rank $element1rank>>\ <<elseif ($element2 is "Darkness")>>\ <<var $rank $element2rank>>\ <</if>>\ <<elseif ($atkpvalue is 2)>>\ <<if ($element1 is "Earth")>>\ <<var $rank $element1rank>>\ <<elseif ($element2 is "Earth")>>\ <<var $rank $element2rank>>\ <</if>>\ <<elseif ($atkpvalue is 3)>>\ <<if ($element1 is "Fire")>>\ <<var $rank $element1rank>>\ <<elseif ($element2 is "Fire")>>\ <<var $rank $element2rank>>\ <</if>>\ <<elseif ($atkpvalue is 4)>>\ <<if ($element1 is "Ice")>>\ <<var $rank $element1rank>>\ <<elseif ($element2 is "Ice")>>\ <<var $rank $element2rank>>\ <</if>>\ <<elseif ($atkpvalue is 5)>>\ <<if ($element1 is "Light")>>\ <<var $rank $element1rank>>\ <<elseif ($element2 is "Light")>>\ <<var $rank $element2rank>>\ <</if>>\ <<elseif ($atkpvalue is 6)>>\ <<if ($element1 is "Storm")>>\ <<var $rank $element1rank>>\ <<elseif ($element2 is "Storm")>>\ <<var $rank $element2rank>>\ <</if>>\ <<elseif ($atkpvalue is 7)>>\ <<if ($element1 is "Water")>>\ <<var $rank $element1rank>>\ <<elseif ($element2 is "Water")>>\ <<var $rank $element2rank>>\ <</if>>\ <<elseif ($atkpvalue is 8)>>\ <<if ($element1 is "Wind")>>\ <<var $rank $element1rank>>\ <<elseif ($element2 is "Wind")>>\ <<var $rank $element2rank>>\ <</if>>\ <</if>>\ <<if ($rank is 0)>>\ ''[ERROR: Technique used has the wrong modifier!]'' <<else>>\ ''+$rank Battle Prowess]'' <<var $cmod + $rank>>\ <</if>>\ <</widget>>\ <<widget "attack-stylerun">>\ <<if ($rank is 0)>>\ ''[ERROR: Technique used has the wrong modifier!]'' <<else>>\ ''+$rank Battle Prowess]'' <<var $cmod + $rank>>\ <</if>>\ <</widget>>\ <<widget "replenish">>\ <<if ($wounds gte 1)>>\ <<if ((dig($weaponbonus, 4) is 8) or (dig($weaponbonus2, 4) is 8))>>\ <<var $wounds 0>>\ <<else>>\ <<var $wounds - 1>>\ <</if>>\ <</if>>\ <<if ($chispent gte 1)>>\ <<var $chispent - 1>>\ <<if (($chispent gte 3) and ($style is "Kiihakai"))>>\ <<var $chispent - 1>>\ <</if>>\ <</if>>\ <<if ($style is "Aoyusumu")>>\ <<if ($agility lt $soul)>>\ <<if ($agispent gte 1)>>\ <<var $agispent - 1>>\ <</if>>\ <<elseif ($solspent gte 1)>>\ <<var $solspent - 1>>\ <</if>>\ <</if>>\ <<var $chances 0>>\ <<if ($forspent gte 1)>>\ <<rand $chances 1 4>>\ <<if ($style is "Midorikatai")>>\ <<var $forspent - 1>>\ <</if>>\ <<if (($chances is 4) and ($forspent gte 1))>>\ <<var $forspent - 1>>\ <</if>>\ <</if>>\ <<if ($powspent gte 1)>>\ <<rand $chances 1 4>>\ <<if ($style is "Akakiru")>>\ <<var $powspent - 1>>\ <</if>>\ <<if (($chances is 4) and ($powspent gte 1))>>\ <<var $powspent - 1>>\ <</if>>\ <</if>>\ <<if ($agispent gte 1)>>\ <<rand $chances 1 4>>\ <<if ($style is "Kurokonton")>>\ <<var $agispent - 1>>\ <</if>>\ <<if (($chances is 4) and ($agispent gte 1))>>\ <<var $agispent - 1>>\ <</if>>\ <</if>>\ <<if ($solspent gte 1)>>\ <<if ($style is "Kiihakai")>>\ <<var $solspent - 1>>\ <</if>>\ <<if (($chances is 4) and ($solspent gte 1))>>\ <<var $solspent - 1>>\ <</if>>\ <</if>>\ <</widget>>\ <<widget "janken">>\ <<set $opponent to $args[0]>>\ <<if $args[1] is true>>\ "Fists first!" You both shout, fists shaking in front with each syllable. "Jan-Ken-Pon!" <</if>>\ <<set $janken to "">>\ <<set $throw1 to 0>>\ <<set $throw2 to 0>>\ <<set $throwname1 to "">>\ <<set $throwname2 to "">>\ <<set $insightoverride to 0>>\ <<rand $throw1 0 2>>\ <<rand $throw2 0 2>>\ <<if ($throw1 is 0)>>\ <<set $throwname1 to "rock">>\ <<elseif ($throw1 is 1)>>\ <<set $throwname1 to "paper">>\ <<else>>\ <<set $throwname1 to "scissors">>\ <</if>>\ <<if ($throw2 is 0)>>\ <<set $throwname2 to "rock">>\ <<elseif ($throw2 is 1)>>\ <<set $throwname2 to "paper">>\ <<else>>\ <<set $throwname2 to "scissors">>\ <</if>>\ <<rand $insightoverride 0 (5+$insight)>>\ <<if (($style is "Aoyusumu") and ($stylerank gte 2))>>\ <<set $insightoverride to $insightoverride + ($stylerank - 1)>>\ <</if>>\ <<if ($insightoverride gte 7)>>\ ''[Randomized High Insight Event: Results Overridden]'' <<rand $throw1 0 2>>\ <<if ($throw1 is 0)>>\ <<set $throwname1 to "rock">>\ <<set $throwname2 to "scissors">>\ <<set $throw2 to 2>>\ <<elseif ($throw1 is 1)>>\ <<set $throwname1 to "paper">>\ <<set $throwname2 to "rock">>\ <<set $throw2 to 0>>\ <<else>>\ <<set $throwname1 to "scissors">>\ <<set $throwname2 to "paper">>\ <<set $throw2 to 1>>\ <</if>>\ <</if>>\ ''[You throw $throwname1 and $opponent throws $throwname2.]'' <<if (((($throw1 is 1) and ($throw2 is 0)) or (($throw1 is 2) and ($throw2 is 1))) or (($throw1 is 0) and ($throw2 is 2)))>>\ ''[Janken Event: Victory!]'' <<set $janken to "Victory">>\ <<elseif ($throw1 is $throw2)>>\ ''[Janken Event: Tie!]'' Frustrated, you both try again. "Fists first! Jan-Ken-Pon!" <<janken $opponent false>>\ <<else>>\ ''[Janken Event: Defeat]'' <<set $janken to "Loss">>\ <</if>>\ <<unset $throw1>>\ <<unset $throw2>>\ <<unset $throwname1>>\ <<unset $throwname2>>\ <<unset $insightoverride>>\ <</widget>>\ <<widget "spendall">>\ <<set $corenum to $args[0]>>\ <<set _exhaustivetraining to $args[1]>>\ <<set $solDiff to ($soul - $solspent)>>\ <<set $powDiff to ($power - $powspent)>>\ <<set $agiDiff to ($agility - $agispent)>>\ <<set $forDiff to ($fortitude - $forspent)>>\ <<if (($corenum is 1) or ($corenum is 0))>>\ <<for _i to 0; _i lt $powDiff; _i++>>\ ''[1 Power Chi Spent]'' <<set $powspent to $powspent+ 1>>\ <<if _exhaustivetraining is true>>\ <<set $powexp to $powexp + 1>>\ <</if>>\ <</for>>\ <</if>>\ <<if (($corenum is 2) or ($corenum is 0))>>\ <<for _i to 0; _i lt $forDiff; _i++>>\ ''[1 Fortitude Chi Spent]'' <<set $forspent to $forspent+ 1>>\ <<if _exhaustivetraining is true>>\ <<set $forexp to $forexp + 1>>\ <</if>>\ <</for>>\ <</if>>\ <<if (($corenum is 3) or ($corenum is 0))>>\ <<for _i to 0; _i lt $agiDiff; _i++>>\ ''[1 Agility Chi Spent]'' <<set $agispent to $agispent + 1>>\ <<if _exhaustivetraining is true>>\ <<set $agispent to $agispent + 1>>\ <</if>>\ <</for>>\ <</if>>\ <<if (($corenum is 4) or ($corenum is 0))>>\ <<for _i to 0; _i lt $solDiff; _i++>>\ ''[1 Soul Chi Spent]'' <<set $solspent to $solspent + 1>>\ <<if _exhaustivetraining is true>>\ <<set $solspent to $solspent + 1>>\ <</if>>\ <</for>>\ <</if>>\ <<unset $solDiff>>\ <<unset $powDiff>>\ <<unset $agiDiff>>\ <<unset $forDiff>>\ <<unset _exhaustivetraining>>\ <<var $corenum 0>>\ <</widget>>\ <<widget "learntech">>\ <<for _counter = 0; _counter < 25; _counter++>>\ <<if _counter gte _maxCounter>>\ ''[You know too many Techniques!]'' <<break>>\ <<elseif $knowntechname[_counter] is $args[1]>>\ ''[You already know the $args[1] Technique!]'' <<break>>\ <<elseif $knowntechname[_counter] is "">>\ <<set $knowntechcode[_counter] to $args[0]>>\ <<set $knowntechname[_counter] to $args[1]>>\ <<set $knowntechdesc[_counter] to $args[2]>>\ ''[$knowntechname[_counter] Technique Acquired!]'' <<if ((dig($knowntechcode[_counter], 2) isnot 3) and (dig($knowntechcode[_counter], 4) isnot 0))>>\ <<if (dig($knowntechcode[_counter], 4) is 1)>>\ <<set $element1rank to $element1rank + 1>>\ <<elseif (dig($knowntechcode[_counter], 4) is 2)>>\ <<set $element2rank to $element2rank + 1>>\ <<elseif (dig($knowntechcode[_counter], 4) is 3)>>\ <<set $stylerank to $stylerank + 1>>\ <</if>>\ <</if>>\ <<if ((((((dig($knowntechcode[_counter], 2) isnot 1) and (dig($knowntechcode[_counter], 2) isnot 2)) and (dig($knowntechcode[_counter], 2) isnot 6)) and (dig($knowntechcode[_counter], 2) isnot 7)) or (dig($knowntechcode[_counter], 1) is 5)) and (dig($knowntechcode[_counter], 3) isnot 0))>>\ <<if (dig($knowntechcode[_counter], 3) is 1)>>\ <<set $power to $power + 1>>\ <<elseif (dig($knowntechcode[_counter], 3) is 2)>>\ <<set $fortitude to $fortitude + 1>>\ <<elseif (dig($knowntechcode[_counter], 3) is 3)>>\ <<set $agility to $agility + 1>>\ <<elseif (dig($knowntechcode[_counter], 3) is 4)>>\ <<set $soul to $soul + 1>>\ <</if>>\ <</if>>\ <<if (dig($knowntechcode[_counter], 6) is 7)>>\ <<if (dig($knowntechcode[_counter], 5) is 1)>>\ <<set $alchemy to $alchemy + 1>>\ <<elseif (dig($knowntechcode[_counter], 5) is 2)>>\ <<set $athletics to $athletics + 1>>\ <<elseif (dig($knowntechcode[_counter], 5) is 3)>>\ <<set $craft to $craft + 1>>\ <<elseif (dig($knowntechcode[_counter], 5) is 4)>>\ <<set $deception to $deception + 1>>\ <<elseif (dig($knowntechcode[_counter], 5) is 5)>>\ <<set $handseals to $handseals + 1>>\ <<elseif (dig($knowntechcode[_counter], 5) is 6)>>\ <<set $insight to $insight + 1>>\ <</if>>\ <</if>>\ <<if (dig($knowntechcode[_counter], 5) is 7)>>\ <<if (dig($knowntechcode[_counter], 6) is 1)>>\ <<set $lore to $lore + 1>>\ <<elseif (dig($knowntechcode[_counter], 6) is 2)>>\ <<set $perception to $perception + 1>>\ <<elseif (dig($knowntechcode[_counter], 6) is 3)>>\ <<set $persuasion to $persuasion + 1>>\ <<elseif (dig($knowntechcode[_counter], 6) is 4)>>\ <<set $stealth to $stealth + 1>>\ <<elseif (dig($knowntechcode[_counter], 6) is 5)>>\ <<set $survival to $survival+ 1>>\ <<elseif (dig($knowntechcode[_counter], 6) is 6)>>\ <<learnthievery 1>>\ <</if>>\ <</if>>\ <<if (dig($knowntechcode[_counter], 9) isnot 0)>>\ <<set $widgetval to parseInt($knowntechcode[_counter].toString().charAt(8))>>\ <<set $widgetval to $widgetval * 5>>\ <<set $aurapressure to $aurapressure + $widgetval>>\ <</if>>\ <<if ((dig($knowntechcode[_counter], 2) isnot 8) and (dig($knowntechcode[_counter], 10) isnot 0))>>\ <<if (dig($knowntechcode[_counter], 10) is 1)>>\ <<set $chipool to $chipool + 1>>\ <<elseif (dig($knowntechcode[_counter], 10) is 2)>>\ <<set $health to $health + 1>>\ <<elseif (dig($knowntechcode[_counter], 10) is 3)>>\ <<set $chipool to $chipool + 2>>\ <<elseif (dig($knowntechcode[_counter], 10) is 4)>>\ <<set $health to $health + 2>>\ <</if>>\ <</if>>\ <<if (dig($knowntechcode[_counter], 11) isnot 0)>>\ <<if (dig($knowntechcode[_counter], 11) is 1)>>\ <<set $sealdiscount to $sealdiscount + 1>>\ <<elseif (dig($knowntechcode[_counter], 11) is 2)>>\ <<set $alchemydiscount to $alchemydiscount + 1>>\ <<elseif (dig($knowntechcode[_counter], 11) is 3)>>\ <<set $sealdiscount to $sealdiscount + 2>>\ <<elseif (dig($knowntechcode[_counter], 11) is 4)>>\ <<set $alchemydiscount to $alchemydiscount + 2>>\ <</if>>\ <</if>>\ <<if (dig($knowntechcode[_counter], 7) isnot 0)>>\ <<if (dig($knowntechcode[_counter], 7) is 1)>>\ <<if ($flighttech is "")>>\ <<set $flighttech to $knowntechname[_counter]>>\ <</if>>\ <<elseif (dig($knowntechcode[_counter], 7) is 2)>>\ <<set $fightbonus to $fightbonus + 5>>\ <<elseif (dig($knowntechcode[_counter], 7) is 3)>>\ <<set $woundbonus to $woundbonus + 3>>\ <<elseif (dig($knowntechcode[_counter], 7) is 4)>>\ <<set $commerce to $commerce + 3>>\ <<set $widgetval to (200 * $soul)>>\ ''[Item Gained: $widgetval Silver]'' <<set $silver to $silver + $widgetval>>\ <<set $widgetval to 0>>\ <<elseif (dig($knowntechcode[_counter], 7) is 5)>>\ <<set $clonetech to $knowntechname[_counter]>>\ /* TODO see about a loop to automatically generate the name */\ <<elseif (dig($knowntechcode[_counter], 7) is 6)>>\ <<set $immortality to $knowntechname[_counter]>>\ <<elseif ($techname is "Twin Fang")>>\ /* every other dual wielding option must be equipped */\ <<set $dualwield to true>>\ <<elseif (dig($knowntechcode[_counter], 7) is 8)>>\ <<set $weaponboost to $weaponboost + 1>>\ <</if>>\ <</if>>\ <<if (dig($knowntechcode[_counter], 12) isnot 0)>>\ <<if (dig($knowntechcode[_counter], 12) is 1)>>\ <<set $techdiscount to $techdiscount + 1>>\ <<elseif (dig($knowntechcode[_counter], 12) is 2)>>\ <<if ($styleswapper is "power")>>\ <<set $powsurge to $powsurge + 1>>\ <<elseif ($styleswapper is "fortitude")>>\ <<set $forsurge to $forsurge + 1>>\ <<elseif ($styleswapper is "agility")>>\ <<set $agisurge to $agisurge + 1>>\ <<elseif ($styleswapper is "soul")>>\ <<set $solsurge to $solsurge + 1>>\ <</if>>\ <<elseif (dig($knowntechcode[_counter], 12) is 5)>>\ <<set $failcurse to $techname>>\ <</if>>\ <</if>>\ <<run $knowntechcode.push(0)>>\ <<run $knowntechname.push("")>>\ <<run $knowntechdesc.push("")>>\ <<break>>\ <</if>>\ <</for>>\ <</widget>>\ <<widget "statcheck">>\ <<set $maxchi to ($chipool + Math.floor($soul / 2))>>\ <<set $maxhealth to ($health + Math.floor($fortitude / 2))>>\ <<set _wdisplayhealth to "">>\ <<for _i to 0; _i < ($maxhealth - $wounds); _i++>>\ <<set _wdisplayhealth to _wdisplayhealth + "●">>\ <<if (_i + 1) % 5 is 0 and (_i + 1) < $maxhealth>><<set _wdisplayhealth to _wdisplayhealth + " ">><</if>>\ <</for>>\ <<for _i; _i < $maxhealth; _i++>>\ <<set _wdisplayhealth to _wdisplayhealth + "○">>\ <<if (_i + 1) % 5 is 0 and (_i + 1) < $maxhealth>><<set _wdisplayhealth to _wdisplayhealth + " ">><</if>>\ <</for>>\ <<set _i to 0>>\ Health: _wdisplayhealth <<set _wdisplaychi to "">>\ <<for _i to 0; _i < ($maxchi - $chispent); _i++>>\ <<set _wdisplaychi to _wdisplaychi + "●">>\ <<if (_i + 1) % 5 is 0 and (_i + 1) < $maxchi>><<set _wdisplaychi to _wdisplaychi + " ">><</if>>\ <</for>>\ <<for _i; _i < $maxchi; _i++>>\ <<set _wdisplaychi to _wdisplaychi + "○">>\ <<if (_i + 1) % 5 is 0 and (_i + 1) < $maxchi>><<set _wdisplaychi to _wdisplaychi + " ">><</if>>\ <</for>>\ <<set _i to 0>>\ <<if $maxchi > 0>>\ Chi: _wdisplaychi <<else>>\ Chi: Empty <</if>>\ <<set _wdisplaypower to "">>\ <<for _i to 0; _i < ($power - $powspent); _i++>>\ <<set _wdisplaypower to _wdisplaypower + "●">>\ <<if (_i + 1) % 5 is 0 and (_i + 1) < $power>><<set _wdisplaypower to _wdisplaypower + " ">><</if>>\ <</for>>\ <<for _i; _i < $power; _i++>>\ <<set _wdisplaypower to _wdisplaypower + "○">>\ <<if (_i + 1) % 5 is 0 and (_i + 1) < $power>><<set _wdisplaypower to _wdisplaypower + " ">><</if>>\ <</for>>\ <<set _i to 0>>\ <<set _wdisplayfortitude to "">>\ <<for _i to 0; _i < ($fortitude - $forspent); _i++>>\ <<set _wdisplayfortitude to _wdisplayfortitude + "●">>\ <<if (_i + 1) % 5 is 0 and (_i + 1) < $fortitude>><<set _wdisplayfortitude to _wdisplayfortitude + " ">><</if>>\ <</for>>\ <<for _i; _i < $fortitude; _i++>>\ <<set _wdisplayfortitude to _wdisplayfortitude + "○">>\ <<if (_i + 1) % 5 is 0 and (_i + 1) < $fortitude>><<set _wdisplayfortitude to _wdisplayfortitude + " ">><</if>>\ <</for>>\ <<set _i to 0>>\ <<set _wdisplayagility to "">>\ <<for _i to 0; _i < ($agility - $agispent); _i++>>\ <<set _wdisplayagility to _wdisplayagility + "●">>\ <<if (_i + 1) % 5 is 0 and (_i + 1) < $agility>><<set _wdisplayagility to _wdisplayagility + " ">><</if>>\ <</for>>\ <<for _i; _i < $agility; _i++>>\ <<set _wdisplayagility to _wdisplayagility + "○">>\ <<if (_i + 1) % 5 is 0 and (_i + 1) < $agility>><<set _wdisplayagility to _wdisplayagility + " ">><</if>>\ <</for>>\ <<set _i to 0>>\ <<set _wdisplaysoul to "">>\ <<for _i to 0; _i < ($soul - $solspent); _i++>>\ <<set _wdisplaysoul to _wdisplaysoul + "●">>\ <<if (_i + 1) % 5 is 0 and (_i + 1) < $soul>><<set _wdisplaysoul to _wdisplaysoul + " ">><</if>>\ <</for>>\ <<for _i; _i < $soul; _i++>>\ <<set _wdisplaysoul to _wdisplaysoul + "○">>\ <<if (_i + 1) % 5 is 0 and (_i + 1) < $soul>><<set _wdisplaysoul to _wdisplaysoul + " ">><</if>>\ <</for>>\ <<set _i to 0>>\ Power: _wdisplaypower Fortitude: _wdisplayfortitude Agility: _wdisplayagility Soul: _wdisplaysoul <</widget>>\ <<widget "combatcheck">>\ <<if setup.shouldSkipWidgetExecution('combatcheck_' + $args[0])>>\ <<= setup.getCachedWidgetOutput('combatcheck_' + $args[0])>>\ <<else>>\ <<set _outputLines to []>>\ <<if (typeof $args[0] is "string")>>\ <<set _expression to $args[0].replace(/\$(\w+)/g, 'State.variables.$1')>>\ <<set $combatdiff to eval(_expression)>>\ <<else>>\ <<set $combatdiff to $args[0]>>\ <</if>>\ <<if ($mortallimits is true)>>\ <<rand $combatdiff $combatdiff ($combatdiff+1)>>\ <</if>>\ <<if ($combatstat is "agility")>>\ <<var $combatspent "agispent">>\ <<var $combatsurge "agisurge">>\ <<var $agiexp + 1>>\ <<elseif ($combatstat is "soul")>>\ <<var $combatspent "solspent">>\ <<var $combatsurge "solsurge">>\ <<var $solexp + 1>>\ <<elseif ($combatstat is "power")>>\ <<var $combatspent "powspent">>\ <<var $combatsurge "powsurge">>\ <<var $powexp + 1>>\ <<elseif ($combatstat is "fortitude")>>\ <<var $combatspent "forspent">>\ <<var $combatsurge "forsurge">>\ <<var $forexp + 1>>\ <<elseif ($combatstat is "")>>\ <<run _outputLines.push("''The Heavens Frown Upon You! (Bug Found: The $combatstat variable is empty!)''")>>\ <<else>>\ <<run _outputLines.push("''The Heavens Frown Upon You! (Bug Found: The $combatstat variable is incorrectly set to " + $combatstat + "!)''")>>\ <</if>>\ <<if (($failcursemod gt 0) and ($failcurse isnot ""))>>\ <<run _outputLines.push("''[" + $failcurse + " Activated, Difficulty -" + $failcursemod + "]''")>>\ <</if>>\ <<if ($combatskill isnot "")>>\ <<set _checker to 0>>\ <<if (((((((((((($combatskill isnot "athletics") and ($combatskill isnot "alchemy")) and ($combatskill isnot "craft")) and ($combatskill isnot "deception")) and ($combatskill isnot "handseals")) and ($combatskill isnot "insight")) and ($combatskill isnot "lore")) and ($combatskill isnot "perception")) and ($combatskill isnot "persuasion")) and ($combatskill isnot "survival")) and ($combatskill isnot "stealth")) and ($combatskill isnot "thievery"))>>\ <<run _outputLines.push("''[Error! combat skill \"" + $combatskill + "\" is not a real Skill!]''")>>\ <<else>>\ <<if (((State.variables[$combatstat] + State.variables[$combatskill])+$cmod) gte $combatdiff)>>\ <<run _outputLines.push("''[" + window.cap($combatstat) + " + " + window.cap($combatskill) + " " + $combatdiff + " Check Passed]''")>>\ <<var $passcheck true>>\ <<elseif ((((State.variables[$combatstat] + State.variables[$combatskill])+$cmod) gte ($combatdiff - State.variables[$combatsurge])) and ((State.variables[$combatstat] - State.variables[$combatspent]) gte ($combatdiff - ((State.variables[$combatstat] + State.variables[$combatskill])+$cmod))))>>\ <<set _checker to ($combatdiff - ((State.variables[$combatstat] + State.variables[$combatskill])+$cmod))>>\ <<if (_checker > 1)>>\ <<run _outputLines.push("''[" + _checker + " " + window.cap($combatstat) + " Cores Spent]''")>>\ <<else>>\ <<run _outputLines.push("''[" + _checker + " " + window.cap($combatstat) + " Core Spent]''")>>\ <</if>>\ <<run State.variables[$combatspent] += _checker>>\ <<run refreshCaption()>>\ <<run _outputLines.push("''[" + window.cap($combatstat) + " + " + window.cap($combatskill) + " " + $combatdiff + " Check Passed]''")>>\ <<var $passcheck true>>\ <<elseif ((((State.variables[$combatstat] + State.variables[$combatskill])+$cmod) gte ($combatdiff - State.variables[$combatsurge])) and ((State.variables[$combatstat] - State.variables[$combatspent]) lt ($combatdiff - ((State.variables[$combatstat] + State.variables[$combatskill])+$cmod))))>>\ <<run _outputLines.push("''[Not Enough " + window.cap($combatstat) + " Chi Remaining]''")>>\ <<run _outputLines.push("''[" + window.cap($combatstat) + " + " + window.cap($combatskill) + " " + $combatdiff + " Check Failed]''")>>\ <<var $passcheck false>>\ <<else>>\ <<run _outputLines.push("''[" + window.cap($combatstat) + " + " + window.cap($combatskill) + " " + $combatdiff + " Check Failed]''")>>\ <<var $passcheck false>>\ <</if>>\ <</if>>\ <<elseif ($combatstat2 isnot "")>>\ <<set _checker to 0>>\ <<set _secondchecker to 0>>\ <<if ($combatstat2 is "agility")>>\ <<var $combatspent2 "agispent">>\ <<var $combatsurge2 "agisurge">>\ <<var $agiexp + 1>>\ <<elseif ($combatstat2 is "soul")>>\ <<var $combatspent2 "solspent">>\ <<var $combatsurge2 "solsurge">>\ <<var $solexp + 1>>\ <<elseif ($combatstat2 is "power")>>\ <<var $combatspent2 "powspent">>\ <<var $combatsurge2 "powsurge">>\ <<var $powexp + 1>>\ <<elseif ($combatstat2 is "fortitude")>>\ <<var $combatspent2 "forspent">>\ <<var $combatsurge2 "forsurge">>\ <<var $forexp + 1>>\ <<else>>\ <<run _outputLines.push("''The Heavens Frown Upon You! (Bug Found: The combatstat2 variable is incorrectly set to " + $combatstat2 + "!)''")>>\ <</if>>\ <<if (((State.variables[$combatstat] + State.variables[$combatstat2])+$cmod) gte $combatdiff)>>\ <<run _outputLines.push("''[" + window.cap($combatstat) + " + " + window.cap($combatstat2) + " " + $combatdiff + " Check Passed]''")>>\ <<var $passcheck true>>\ <<elseif (((((State.variables[$combatstat] + State.variables[$combatstat2])+$cmod) gte ($combatdiff - State.variables[$combatsurge])) or (((State.variables[$combatstat] + State.variables[$combatstat2])+$cmod) gte ($combatdiff - State.variables[$combatsurge2]))) and (((State.variables[$combatstat] - State.variables[$combatspent]) + (State.variables[$combatstat2] - State.variables[$combatspent2])) gte ($combatdiff - ((State.variables[$combatstat] + State.variables[$combatstat2])+$cmod))))>>\ <<set _switchcores to false>>\ <<set _corecost to ($combatdiff - ((State.variables[$combatstat] + State.variables[$combatstat2])+$cmod))>>\ <<for _corecost; _corecost > 0; _corecost-->>\ <<if (_switchcores is false) and ((State.variables[$combatstat] - State.variables[$combatspent]) gte 1)>>\ <<var _checker + 1>>\ <<var _switchcores true>>\ <<else>>\ <<var _secondchecker + 1>>\ <<var _switchcores false>>\ <</if>>\ <</for>>\ <<if (_checker gt 0)>>\ <<if (_checker gt 1)>>\ <<run _outputLines.push("''[" + _checker + " " + window.cap($combatstat) + " Cores Spent]''")>>\ <<else>>\ <<run _outputLines.push("''[" + _checker + " " + window.cap($combatstat) + " Core Spent]''")>>\ <</if>>\ <</if>>\ <<run State.variables[$combatspent] += _checker>>\ <<run refreshCaption()>>\ <<if (_secondchecker gt 0)>>\ <<if (_secondchecker gt 1)>>\ <<run _outputLines.push("''[" + _secondchecker + " " + window.cap($combatstat2) + " Cores Spent]''")>>\ <<else>>\ <<run _outputLines.push("''[" + _secondchecker + " " + window.cap($combatstat2) + " Core Spent]''")>>\ <</if>>\ <</if>>\ <<run State.variables[$combatspent2] += _secondchecker>>\ <<run refreshCaption()>>\ <<run _outputLines.push("''[" + window.cap($combatstat) + " + " + window.cap($combatstat2) + " " + $combatdiff + " Check Passed]''")>>\ <<var $passcheck true>>\ <<elseif (((((State.variables[$combatstat] + State.variables[$combatstat2])+$cmod) gte ($combatdiff - State.variables[$combatsurge])) or (((State.variables[$combatstat] + State.variables[$combatstat2])+$cmod) gte ($combatdiff - State.variables[$combatsurge2]))) and (((State.variables[$combatstat] - State.variables[$combatspent]) + (State.variables[$combatstat2] - State.variables[$combatspent2])) lt ($combatdiff - ((State.variables[$combatstat] + State.variables[$combatstat2])+$cmod))))>>\ <<run _outputLines.push("''[Not Enough " + window.cap($combatstat) + " Chi and/or " + window.cap($combatstat2) + " Chi Remaining]''")>>\ <<run _outputLines.push("''[" + window.cap($combatstat) + " + " + window.cap($combatstat2) + " " + $combatdiff + " Check Failed]''")>>\ <<var $passcheck false>>\ <<else>>\ <<run _outputLines.push("''[" + window.cap($combatstat) + " + " + window.cap($combatstat2) + " " + $combatdiff + " Check Failed]''")>>\ <<var $passcheck false>>\ <</if>>\ <<elseif ((($weapontest is true) and ($equippedweapon isnot "")) and (($equippedweapon2 isnot "") or (dig($weaponbonus, 1) gte dig($weaponbonus2, 1))))>>\ <<set _checker to 0>>\ <<if ((((State.variables[$combatstat] + dig($weaponbonus, 2))+$cmod) + $weaponboost) gte $combatdiff)>>\ <<run _outputLines.push("''[Weapon Quality + " + window.cap($combatstat) + " " + $combatdiff + " Check Passed]''")>>\ <<var $passcheck true>>\ <<elseif (((((State.variables[$combatstat] + dig($weaponbonus, 2))+$cmod) + $weaponboost) gte ($combatdiff - State.variables[$combatsurge])) and ((State.variables[$combatstat] - State.variables[$combatspent]) gte ($combatdiff - (((State.variables[$combatstat] + dig($weaponbonus, 2))+$cmod) + $weaponboost))))>>\ <<set _checker to ($combatdiff - (((State.variables[$combatstat] + parseInt($weaponbonus.toString().charAt(1))) + $weaponboost)+$cmod))>>\ <<if (_checker > 1)>>\ <<run _outputLines.push("''[" + _checker + " " + window.cap($combatstat) + " Cores Spent]''")>>\ <<else>>\ <<run _outputLines.push("''[" + _checker + " " + window.cap($combatstat) + " Core Spent]''")>>\ <</if>>\ <<run State.variables[$combatspent] += _checker>>\ <<run refreshCaption()>>\ <<run _outputLines.push("''[Weapon Quality + " + window.cap($combatstat) + " " + $combatdiff + " Check Passed]''")>>\ <<var $passcheck true>>\ <<elseif (((((State.variables[$combatstat] + dig($weaponbonus, 2))+$cmod) + $weaponboost) gte ($combatdiff - State.variables[$combatsurge])) and ((State.variables[$combatstat] - State.variables[$combatspent]) lt ($combatdiff - (((State.variables[$combatstat] + dig($weaponbonus, 2))+$cmod) + $weaponboost))))>>\ <<run _outputLines.push("''[Not Enough " + window.cap($combatstat) + " Chi Remaining]''")>>\ <<run _outputLines.push("''[Weapon Quality + " + window.cap($combatstat) + " " + $combatdiff + " Check Failed]''")>>\ <<var $passcheck false>>\ <<else>>\ <<run _outputLines.push("''[Weapon Quality + " + window.cap($combatstat) + " " + $combatdiff + " Check Failed]''")>>\ <<var $passcheck false>>\ <</if>>\ <<elseif (($weapontest is true) and ($equippedweapon2 isnot ""))>>\ <<set _checker to 0>>\ <<if ((((State.variables[$combatstat] + dig($weaponbonus2, 2))+$cmod) + $weaponboost) gte $combatdiff)>>\ <<run _outputLines.push("''[Weapon Quality + " + window.cap($combatstat) + " " + $combatdiff + " Check Passed]''")>>\ <<var $passcheck true>>\ <<elseif (((((State.variables[$combatstat] + dig($weaponbonus2, 2))+$cmod) + $weaponboost) gte ($combatdiff - State.variables[$combatsurge])) and ((State.variables[$combatstat] - State.variables[$combatspent]) gte ($combatdiff - (((State.variables[$combatstat] + dig($weaponbonus2, 2))+$cmod) + $weaponboost))))>>\ <<set _checker to ($combatdiff - (((State.variables[$combatstat] + parseInt($weaponbonus2.toString().charAt(1))) + $weaponboost)+$cmod))>>\ <<if (_checker > 1)>>\ <<run _outputLines.push("''[" + _checker + " " + window.cap($combatstat) + " Cores Spent]''")>>\ <<else>>\ <<run _outputLines.push("''[" + _checker + " " + window.cap($combatstat) + " Core Spent]''")>>\ <</if>>\ <<run State.variables[$combatspent] += _checker>>\ <<run refreshCaption()>>\ <<run _outputLines.push("''[Weapon Quality + " + window.cap($combatstat) + " " + $combatdiff + " Check Passed]''")>>\ <<var $passcheck true>>\ <<elseif (((((State.variables[$combatstat] + dig($weaponbonus2, 2))+$cmod) + $weaponboost) gte ($combatdiff - State.variables[$combatsurge])) and ((State.variables[$combatstat] - State.variables[$combatspent]) lt ($combatdiff - (((State.variables[$combatstat] + dig($weaponbonus2, 2))+$cmod) + $weaponboost))))>>\ <<run _outputLines.push("''[Not Enough " + window.cap($combatstat) + " Chi Remaining]''")>>\ <<run _outputLines.push("''[Weapon Quality + " + window.cap($combatstat) + " " + $combatdiff + " Check Failed]''")>>\ <<var $passcheck false>>\ <<else>>\ <<run _outputLines.push("''[Weapon Quality + " + window.cap($combatstat) + " " + $combatdiff + " Check Failed]''")>>\ <<var $passcheck false>>\ <</if>>\ <<else>>\ <<set _checker to 0>>\ <<if ((State.variables[$combatstat]+$cmod) gte $combatdiff)>>\ <<run _outputLines.push("''[" + window.cap($combatstat) + " " + $combatdiff + " Check Passed]''")>>\ <<var $passcheck true>>\ <<elseif (((State.variables[$combatstat]+$cmod) gte ($combatdiff - State.variables[$combatsurge])) and ((State.variables[$combatstat] - State.variables[$combatspent]) gte ($combatdiff - (State.variables[$combatstat]+$cmod))))>>\ <<set _checker to ($combatdiff - (State.variables[$combatstat] + $cmod))>>\ <<if (_checker > 1)>>\ <<run _outputLines.push("''[" + _checker + " " + window.cap($combatstat) + " Cores Spent]''")>>\ <<else>>\ <<run _outputLines.push("''[" + _checker + " " + window.cap($combatstat) + " Core Spent]''")>>\ <</if>>\ <<run State.variables[$combatspent] += _checker>>\ <<run refreshCaption()>>\ <<run _outputLines.push("''[" + window.cap($combatstat) + " " + $combatdiff + " Check Passed]''")>>\ <<var $passcheck true>>\ <<elseif (((State.variables[$combatstat]+$cmod) gte ($combatdiff - State.variables[$combatsurge])) and ((State.variables[$combatstat] - State.variables[$combatspent]) lt ($combatdiff - (State.variables[$combatstat]+$cmod))))>>\ <<run _outputLines.push("''[Not Enough " + window.cap($combatstat) + " Chi Remaining]''")>>\ <<run _outputLines.push("''[" + window.cap($combatstat) + " " + $combatdiff + " Check Failed]''")>>\ <<var $passcheck false>>\ <<else>>\ <<run _outputLines.push("''[" + window.cap($combatstat) + " " + $combatdiff + " Check Failed]''")>>\ <<var $passcheck false>>\ <</if>>\ <</if>>\ <<if (($weaponbonus.toString().charAt(2) is 1) or ($weaponbonus2.toString().charAt(2) is 1))>>\ <<if ($powspent gte $power)>>\ <<var $powspent ($power - 1)>>\ <</if>>\ <<if ($solspent gte $soul)>>\ <<var $solspent ($soul - 1)>>\ <</if>>\ <</if>>\ <<if (($weaponbonus.toString().charAt(2) is 2) or ($weaponbonus2.toString().charAt(2) is 2))>>\ <<if ($forspent gte $fortitude)>>\ <<var $forspent ($fortitude - 1)>>\ <</if>>\ <<if ($agispent gte $agility)>>\ <<var $agispent ($agility - 1)>>\ <</if>>\ <</if>>\ <<if (($weaponbonus.toString().charAt(2) is 3) or ($weaponbonus2.toString().charAt(2) is 3))>>\ <<if ($forspent gte $fortitude)>>\ <<var $forspent ($fortitude - 1)>>\ <</if>>\ <<if ($solspent gte $soul)>>\ <<var $solspent ($soul - 1)>>\ <</if>>\ <</if>>\ <<if (($weaponbonus.toString().charAt(2) is 4) or ($weaponbonus2.toString().charAt(2) is 4))>>\ <<if ($powspent gte $power)>>\ <<var $powspent ($power - 1)>>\ <</if>>\ <<if ($agispent gte $agility)>>\ <<var $agispent ($agility - 1)>>\ <</if>>\ <</if>>\ <<var $failcursemod 0>>\ <<if (($passcheck is false) and ($failcurse isnot ""))>>\ <<var $failcursemod + 1>>\ <<if (($failcursemod is 1) and (($style is "Kurokonton") or (($element1 is "Darkness") or ($element2 is "Darkness"))))>>\ <<var $failcursemod + 1>>\ <<if (($failcursemod is 2) and (($style is "Kurokonton") and (($element1 is "Darkness") or ($element2 is "Darkness"))))>>\ <<var $failcursemod + 1>>\ <</if>>\ <</if>>\ <</if>>\ <<var $weapontest false>>\ <<var $combatdiff 0>>\ <<var $cmod 0>>\ <<var $combatstat "">>\ <<var $combatstat2 "">>\ <<var $combatskill "">>\ <<var $combatsurge "">>\ <<var $combatsurge2 "">>\ <<var $combatspent "">>\ <<var $combatspent2 "">>\ <<set _finalOutput to _outputLines.join("\n")>>\ <<run setup.cacheWidgetOutput('combatcheck_' + $args[0], _finalOutput)>>\ <<= _finalOutput>> <</if>> <</widget>> <<widget "woundcheck">>\ <<set _pain to $args[0]>>\ <<set _pblockable to $args[1]>>\ <<set _eblockable to $args[2]>>\ <<set _woundy to 0>>\ <<if ($woundbonus isnot 0)>>\ <<set _woundy to (_pain * $woundbonus)>>\ <<var $aurapressure + _woundy>>\ ''[Battle Hardening: +_woundy Aura Pressure]'' <</if>>\ <<if ((_pblockable is true) and ($pblocktech isnot ""))>>\ ''[Attack blocked by your $pblocktech!]'' <<elseif ((_eblockable is true) and ($eblocktech isnot ""))>>\ ''[Attack blocked by your $eblocktech!]'' <</if>>\ <<if (($guardtech gt 0) and (((_pblockable is false) or ($pblocktech is ""))) and ((_eblockable is false) or ($eblocktech is "")))>>\ <<set $countguard to 0>>\ <<for _i to 0; _i < _pain; _i++>>\ <<if ($guardtech gt 0)>>\ <<var _pain - 1>>\ <<var $guardtech - 1>>\ <<var $countguard + 1>>\ <</if>>\ <</for>>\ ''[$guardtechname Technique: $countguard Damage Prevented!]'' <</if>>\ <<if ((_pain gt 0) and (((_pblockable is false) or ($pblocktech is ""))) and ((_eblockable is false) or ($eblocktech is "")))>>\ <<var $wounds + _pain>>\ <<if (_pain is 1)>>\ ''[_pain Wound Suffered]'' <<else>>\ ''[_pain Wounds Suffered]'' <</if>>\ <<if (($mentor is "Kaito") and ($fightcount isnot $flayedgodcount))>>\ ''[Flayed God Foundation: _pain Wounds Healed]'' <<var $wounds - _pain>>\ <<var $flayedgodcount $fightcount>>\ <</if>>\ <<deathcheck>>\ <</if>>\ <</widget>>\ <<widget "deathcheck">>\ <<if ((($health + ($fortitude / 2)) - $wounds) lt 1)>>\ <<if ((($immortality isnot "") or ($mentor is "Kaito")) and ((($chipool + ($soul/2)) - $chispent) gte 1))>>\ <<var _counter 0>>\ <<var $chitotal (($chipool + ($soul/2)) - $chispent)>>\ <<for _i = 0; _i < $chitotal; _i++>>\ <<set $chispent += 1>>\ <<set $counter += 1>>\ <</for>>\ <<for _j = 0; _j < $counter and ((($health + ($fortitude / 2)) - $wounds) < 1); _j++>>\ <<if ($mentor is "Kaito")>>\ <<set $wounds -= 2>>\ <<else>>\ <<set $wounds -= 1>>\ <</if>>\ <<set $counter -= 1>>\ <</for>>\ <<unset $chitotal>>\ <<if ((($health + ($fortitude / 2)) - $wounds) lt 1)>>\ <<if ($mentor is "Kaito")>>\ ''[Not enough chi! Flayed God Foundation Failed!]'' <<else>>\ ''[Not enough chi! $immortality Technique Failed!]'' <</if>>\ <<include "death">>\ <<halt>>\ <<else>>\ <<if ($mentor is "Kaito")>>\ ''[Flayed God Foundation Activated]'' <<else>>\ ''[$immortality Technique Activated]'' <</if>>\ ''[Death Prevented!]'' <<if ($mentor is "Kaito")>>\ <<if ((($health + ($fortitude / 2)) - $wounds) gte 5)>>\ ''[Restored to 5+ Health, 2 Chi Points Recovered]'' <<var $chispent - 2>>\ <<elseif ((($health + ($fortitude / 2)) - $wounds) gte 3)>>\ ''[Restored to 3+ Health, 1 Chi Point Recovered]'' <<var $chispent - 1>>\ <</if>>\ <</if>>\ <<if ($wounds lt 0)>>\ <<var $wounds 0>>\ <</if>>\ <</if>>\ <<elseif ($chapter is 5.5)>>\ ''[Health Depleted!]'' The damage proves too much. Everything goes black. <<page "Defeat..." "ch5-possessed">>\ <<halt>>\ <<elseif (($chapter gte 8) and ($chapter lte 8.2))>>\ The damage proves too much. Everything goes black. <<page "Defeat..." "ch8-tiger-rabbit-triallost">>\ <<halt>>\ <<elseif (($chapter gt 8.2) and ($chapter lt 8.6))>>\ ''[Health Depleted!]'' The damage proves too much, and darkness overtakes you. <<page "Damn it..." "ch8dragon-knockoutblossom">>\ <<halt>>\ <<elseif ((($chapter gte 8.6) and ($chapter lt 9)) and ($clonetech isnot ""))>>\ The damage proves too much and darkness overtakes you. ...Or does it? ''[$clonetech Event]'' Your body bursts into a laughing puff of smoke, with the real you leaping from the smokecloud. <<var $val Math.round($wounds / 2)>>\ <<var $wounds - $val>>\ ''[$val Health Restored]'' <<elseif (($chapter gte 8.6) and ($chapter lt 9))>>\ ''[Health Depleted!]'' The damage proves too much. Your body crumples, and Jack grins down at you with menacing delight. <<page "No, not yet!" "ch8dragon-returntojackfight0">>\ <<else>>\ <<include "death">>\ <<halt>>\ <</if>>\ <</if>>\ <</widget>>\ <<widget "learnthievery">>\ <<set _thiefbonus to $args[0]>>\ <<var $thievery + _thiefbonus>>\ <<var $commerce + _thiefbonus>>\ ''[Thievery +_thiefbonus]'' <<if ($thievery is 1)>>\ ''[You can now consume Pills during combat.]'' <<elseif ($thievery is 2)>>\ ''[You can now cast handseals during combat.]'' <<elseif ($thievery is 3)>>\ ''[Sticky Fingers Bonus: Commerce increased by +5.]'' <<var $commerce + 5>>\ <<elseif ($thievery is 4)>>\ ''[You can now change equipment during combat.]'' <<elseif ($thievery is 5)>>\ ''[You can now brew elixirs during combat]'' <</if>>\ <</widget>>\ <<widget "fightexp">>\ <<var $fighting false>>\ <<var $fightcount + 1>>\ <<var $dmg 0>>\ <<var $fightval 0>>\ <<var $fightboost $args[0]>>\ <<if $fightboost lte 0>>\ <<var $fightboost 5>>\ <</if>>\ <<var $calcfight Math.round($fightboost + ((((($chispent+$forspent)+$agispent)+$solspent)+$powspent)*0.3))>>\ <<var $fightval $calcfight>>\ <<if ($woundbonus isnot 0)>>\ <<var $fightval - $wounds>>\ <</if>>\ <<if ($mortallimits is true)>>\ <<var $fightval (Math.round($fightval / 2))>>\ <</if>>\ <<apboost $fightval>>\ <<var $fightval 0>>\ <<if (($weight gte $chapter) or (dig($specialtraining, 6) is 1))>>\ <<var $weightcount + 1>>\ <<weightexp>>\ <</if>>\ <<if ($fightbonus isnot 0)>>\ <<var $fightval $fightbonus>>\ <</if>>\ <<if ($fightbonus gt 0)>>\ <<if (($mortallimits is true) and ($aurapressure gte $apregionmax))>>\ <<var $fightval (Math.round($fightval / 2))>>\ <</if>>\ ''[Enemy Aura Pressure Absorbed: $fightval]'' <<var $aurapressure + $fightval>>\ <</if>>\ <<if ((dig($weaponbonus, 4) is 8) or (dig($weaponbonus2, 4) is 8))>>\ <<if ($wounds gt 0)>>\ <<var $wounds - 1>>\ <</if>>\ <</if>>\ <<unset $fightval>>\ <<unset $fightboost>>\ <<unset $calcfight>>\ <</widget>>\ <<widget "weightexp">>\ <<if ($weight gte $chapter)>>\ <<var $wbonus 0>>\ <<var $powexp + 1>>\ <<if $args[0] !== undefined>>\ <<var $wbonus $args[0]>>\ <<else>>\ <<var $wbonus Math.round(($weight - $chapter) + 1)>>\ <</if>>\ <<if ($wbonus lt 3)>>\ <<var $wbonus 3>>\ <<elseif ($wbonus gt 8)>>\ <<var $wbonus 8>>\ <</if>>\ <<if (($weight gte 9) and ($chapter gte 6.5))>>\ <<var $wbonus + 1>>\ <</if>>\ <<if (($element1 is "Earth") or ($element2 is "Earth"))>>\ <<var $wbonus + 1>>\ <</if>>\ <<if ($background is "Blacksmith")>>\ <<var $wbonus + 1>>\ <</if>>\ <<if ((($bodytype is "Muscular") or ($bodytype is "Dommymommy")) or ($bodytype is "Ogre"))>>\ <<var $wbonus + 1>>\ <</if>>\ <<if ($style is "Midorikatai")>>\ <<if ($stylerank gte 1)>>\ <<var $wbonus + $stylerank>>\ <<else>>\ <<var $wbonus + 1>>\ <</if>>\ <<var $wbonus + Math.round($athletics/2)>>\ <</if>>\ <<var $wbonus + Math.round($athletics*1.4)>>\ <<if (($mortallimits is true) and ($aurapressure gte $apregionmax))>>\ <<var $wbonus (Math.round($wbonus / 2))>>\ <<if ($wbonus lt 3)>>\ <<var $wbonus 3>>\ <</if>>\ <</if>>\ <<if (dig($specialtraining, 6) is 1)>>\ <<var $wbonus * 2>>\ <</if>>\ ''[Weighted Clothing Bonus: Aura Pressure +$wbonus]'' <<var $aurapressure + $wbonus>>\ <<unset $wbonus>>\ <</if>>\ <</widget>>\ <<widget "costcalc">>\ <<if (typeof $args[0] is "string")>>\ <<set _expression to $args[0].replace(/\$(\w+)/g, 'State.variables.$1')>>\ <<set $payment to eval(_expression)>>\ <<else>>\ <<set $payment to $args[0]>>\ <</if>>\ <<set $dosh to 0>>\ <<set $nosh to 0>>\ <<if ($techdiscount gt 0)>>\ <<var $payment ($payment - (Math.round((0.1 * $techdiscount) * $payment)))>>\ <</if>>\ <<if ($shards gte $payment)>>\ <<var $shards - $payment>>\ ''[$payment Shards Spent]'' <<elseif (($shards + ($silver / 10)) gte $payment)>>\ <<if ((($silver / 10) % 1) gte 0.5)>>\ <<var $silvercost ((Math.round($silver / 10)) - 1)>>\ <<else>>\ <<var $silvercost (Math.round($silver / 10))>>\ <</if>>\ <<if (($payment - $silvercost) lte 0)>>\ <<var $silver - ($payment * 10)>>\ <<var $dosh ($payment * 10)>>\ ''[$dosh Silver Spent]'' <<else>>\ <<var $payment - $silvercost>>\ <<var $dosh ($silvercost * 10)>>\ ''[$dosh Silver Spent]'' <<var $shards - $payment>>\ ''[$payment Shards Spent]'' <</if>>\ <<elseif ((($shards + ($silver / 10)) + ($gold * 10)) gte $payment)>>\ <<var $goldcost ($gold * 10)>>\ <<if (($gold * 10) gte $payment)>>\ <<var $goldcost - $payment>>\ <<if ((($payment / 10) % 1) is 0)>>\ <<var $nosh ($payment / 10)>>\ <<else>>\ <<if ((($payment / 10) % 1) gte 0.5)>>\ <<var $nosh ((Math.round($payment / 10)) - 1)>>\ <<else>>\ <<var $nosh (Math.round($payment / 10))>>\ <</if>>\ <<var $bosh (Math.round((($payment / 10) % 1) * 10))>>\ ''[$bosh Shards Spent]'' <<var $shards - $bosh>>\ <</if>>\ ''[$nosh Gold Spent]'' <<var $gold - $nosh>>\ <<else>>\ ''[$gold Gold Spent]'' <<var $payment - ($gold * 10)>>\ <<var $gold 0>>\ <<if ((($silver / 10) % 1) gte 0.5)>>\ <<var $silvercost ((Math.round($silver / 10)) - 1)>>\ <<else>>\ <<var $silvercost (Math.round($silver / 10))>>\ <</if>>\ <<if (($payment - $silvercost) lte 0)>>\ <<var $silver - ($payment * 10)>>\ <<var $dosh ($payment * 10)>>\ ''[$dosh Silver Spent]'' <<else>>\ <<var $payment - $silvercost>>\ <<var $dosh ($silvercost * 10)>>\ ''[$dosh Silver Spent]'' <<var $shards - $payment>>\ ''[$payment Shards Spent]'' <</if>>\ <</if>>\ <<else>>\ ''[The Heavens betray you! (Error: Couldn't actually afford item costing $payment Shards.]'' <</if>>\ <</widget>>\ <<widget "bankcalc">>\ <<set $payment to $args[0]>>\ <<set $bankword to $args[1]>>\ <<set $dosh to 0>>\ <<set $nosh to 0>>\ <<if ($techdiscount gt 0)>>\ <<var $payment ($payment - (Math.round((0.1 * $techdiscount) * $payment)))>>\ <</if>>\ <<if ($shards gte $payment)>>\ <<var $shards - $payment>>\ ''[$payment Shards <<cap $bankword>>]'' <<elseif (($shards + ($silver / 10)) gte $payment)>>\ <<if ((($silver / 10) % 1) gte 0.5)>>\ <<var $silvercost ((Math.round($silver / 10)) - 1)>>\ <<else>>\ <<var $silvercost (Math.round($silver / 10))>>\ <</if>>\ <<if (($payment - $silvercost) lte 0)>>\ <<var $silver - ($payment * 10)>>\ <<var $dosh ($payment * 10)>>\ ''[$dosh Silver <<cap $bankword>>]'' <<else>>\ <<var $payment - $silvercost>>\ <<var $dosh ($silvercost * 10)>>\ <<var $silver - $dosh>>\ ''[$dosh Silver <<cap $bankword>>]'' <<var $shards - $payment>>\ ''[$payment Shards <<cap $bankword>>]'' <</if>>\ <<elseif ((($shards + ($silver / 10)) + ($gold * 10)) gte $payment)>>\ <<var $goldcost ($gold * 10)>>\ <<if (($gold * 10) gte $payment)>>\ <<var $goldcost - $payment>>\ <<if ((($payment / 10) % 1) is 0)>>\ <<var $nosh ($payment / 10)>>\ <<else>>\ <<if ((($payment / 10) % 1) gte 0.5)>>\ <<var $nosh ((Math.round($payment / 10)) - 1)>>\ <<else>>\ <<var $nosh (Math.round($payment / 10))>>\ <</if>>\ <<var $bosh (Math.round((($payment / 10) % 1) * 10))>>\ ''[$bosh Shards <<cap $bankword>>]'' <<var $shards - $bosh>>\ <</if>>\ ''[$nosh Gold <<cap $bankword>>]'' <<var $gold - $nosh>>\ <<else>>\ ''[$gold Gold <<cap $bankword>>]'' <<var $payment - ($gold * 10)>>\ <<var $gold 0>>\ <<if ((($silver / 10) % 1) gte 0.5)>>\ <<var $silvercost ((Math.round($silver / 10)) - 1)>>\ <<else>>\ <<var $silvercost (Math.round($silver / 10))>>\ <</if>>\ <<if (($payment - $silvercost) lte 0)>>\ <<var $silver - ($payment * 10)>>\ <<var $dosh ($payment * 10)>>\ ''[$dosh Silver <<cap $bankword>>]'' <<else>>\ <<var $payment - $silvercost>>\ <<var $dosh ($silvercost * 10)>>\ ''[$dosh Silver <<cap $bankword>>]'' <<var $shards - $payment>>\ ''[$payment Shards <<cap $bankword>>]'' <</if>>\ <</if>>\ <<else>>\ ''[The Heavens betray you! (Error: Couldn't actually afford item costing $payment Shards.]'' <</if>>\ <</widget>>\ <<widget "unequiparmor">>\ <<if (($equippedoutfit is "Thunderfall Combat Gi") or ($equippedoutfit is "Black Combat Gi"))>>\ <<var $health - 1>>\ <<elseif ($equippedoutfit is "White Combat Gi")>>\ <<var $chi - 1>>\ <<elseif ($equippedoutfit is "Weighted Clothing")>>\ <<if (($weight gte 9) and ($chapter gte 6.5))>>\ <<var $power + 1>>\ <</if>>\ <<var $agility + 1>>\ <<var $weight - 5>>\ <<elseif ($equippedoutfit is "Waverunner Armor")>>\ <<if (($weight gte 9) and ($chapter gte 6.5))>>\ <<var $power + 1>>\ <</if>>\ <<var $agility + 1>>\ <<var $weight - 7>>\ <<var $health - 1>>\ <<if ($guardtechname is "Armor Bonus 1")>>\ <<if (dig($techslotcode[1], 7) is 9)>>\ <<var $guardtechname $techslotname[1]>>\ <<elseif (dig($techslotcode[2], 7) is 9)>>\ <<var $guardtechname $techslotname[2]>>\ <<elseif (dig($techslotcode[3], 7) is 9)>>\ <<var $guardtechname $techslotname[3]>>\ <<elseif (dig($techslotcode[4], 7) is 9)>>\ <<var $guardtechname $techslotname[4]>>\ <<else>>\ <<var $guardtechname "">>\ <<var $guardtech 0>>\ <</if>>\ <</if>>\ <</if>>\ <<var $equippedoutfit "">>\ <</widget>>\ <<widget "unequipbelt">>\ <<if ($equippedbelt isnot "")>>\ <<if ($equippedbelt is "White Belt")>>\ <<var $prestige - 1>>\ <<var $chipool - 1>>\ <</if>>\ <<if ($equippedbelt is "Yellow Belt")>>\ <<var $prestige - 1>>\ <<var $chipool - 1>>\ <<var $agisurge - 1>>\ <</if>>\ <<if ($equippedbelt is "Orange Belt")>>\ <<var $prestige - 1>>\ <<var $chipool - 1>>\ <<var $forsurge - 1>>\ <</if>>\ <<if ($equippedbelt is "Purple Belt")>>\ <<var $prestige - 2>>\ <<var $chipool - 1>>\ <<var $solsurge - 1>>\ <</if>>\ <<if ($equippedbelt is "Blue Belt")>>\ <<var $prestige - 2>>\ <<var $chipool - 1>>\ <<var $powsurge - 1>>\ <</if>>\ <<if ($equippedbelt is "Green Belt")>>\ <<var $prestige - 2>>\ <<var $chipool - 1>>\ <<var $agility - 1>>\ <</if>>\ <<if ($equippedbelt is "Brown Belt")>>\ <<var $prestige - 2>>\ <<var $chipool - 1>>\ <<var $fortitude - 1>>\ <</if>>\ <<if ($equippedbelt is "Red Belt")>>\ <<var $prestige - 2>>\ <<var $health - 1>>\ <<var $soul - 1>>\ <</if>>\ <<if ($equippedbelt is "Black Belt")>>\ <<var $prestige - 4>>\ <<var $chipool - 1>>\ <<var $health - 1>>\ <<var $power - 1>>\ <<var $powsurge - 1>>\ <<var $agisurge - 1>>\ <<var $forsurge - 1>>\ <<var $solsurge - 1>>\ <</if>>\ <<if ($equippedbelt is "Godthreaded Belt")>>\ <<var $prestige - 5>>\ <<var $soul - 1>>\ <<var $retainer_strength - 3>>\ <<var $health - 2>>\ <<var $kosukecombat - 1>>\ <<var $jincombat - 1>>\ <<var $rincombat - 1>>\ <<var $leonacombat - 1>>\ <<var $guirencombat - 1>>\ <<var $descombat - 1>>\ <<var $angelocombat - 1>>\ <</if>>\ <<if ($equippedbelt is "Northern Icebelt")>>\ <<var $prestige - 3>>\ <<var $soul - 1>>\ <<var $fortitude - 1>>\ <<if ($element1 is "Ice")>>\ <<var $element1rank - 1>>\ <<elseif ($element2 is "Ice")>>\ <<var $element2rank - 1>>\ <</if>>\ <</if>>\ <</if>>\ <<var $equippedbelt "">>\ <</widget>>\ <<widget "unequipacc1">>\ <<if ($equippedaccessory1 isnot "")>>\ <<if ($equippedaccessory1 is $armguardname)>>\ <<var $power - $armguardpow>>\ <<var $fortitude - $armguardfort>>\ <<var $armguardpow 0>>\ <<var $armguardfort 0>>\ <</if>>\ <<if ($equippedaccessory1 is "Bands of Decimation")>>\ <<var $power - 2>>\ <<if ($style is "Kiihakai")>>\ <<var $stylerank - 1>>\ <</if>>\ <</if>>\ <<if ($equippedaccessory1 is "Sabretooth Cloak")>>\ <<var $power - 1>>\ <<var $persuasion - 1>>\ <</if>>\ <<if ($equippedaccessory1 is "Cathayan Pirate Hat")>>\ <<var $thievery - 1>>\ <<var $agility - 1>>\ <<var $commerce - 2>>\ <</if>>\ <<if ($equippedaccessory1 is "Crest of Elemental Yang")>>\ <<var $element2rank - 1>>\ <<if ((((($element2 is "Fire") or ($element2 is "Storm")) or ($element2 is "Wind")) or ($element2 is "Light")) or ($element2 is "Water"))>>\ <<var $power - 1>>\ <</if>>\ <<if ($equippedaccessory2 is "Crest of Elemental Yin")>>\ <<var $agility - 1>>\ <<var $health - 1>>\ <</if>>\ <</if>>\ <<if ($equippedaccessory1 is "Crest of Elemental Yin")>>\ <<var $element1rank - 1>>\ <<if ((($element1 is "Ice") or ($element1 is "Earth")) or ($element1 is "Darkness"))>>\ <<var $fortitude - 1>>\ <</if>>\ <<if ($equippedaccessory2 is "Crest of Elemental Yang")>>\ <<var $soul - 1>>\ <<var $chipool - 1>>\ <</if>>\ <</if>>\ <<if ($equippedaccessory1 is "Weights of the Flowing Lantern King")>>\ <<if ($element1 is "Light")>>\ <<var $element1rank - 1>>\ <<elseif ($element2 is "Light")>>\ <<var $element2rank - 1>>\ <</if>>\ <<var $perception - 1>>\ <<var $weight - 10>>\ <</if>>\ <<if ($equippedaccessory1 is "Factotum Mask")>>\ <<run State.variables[$factotummask] -= 1>>\ <</if>>\ <<if ($equippedaccessory1 is "Midnight Lenses")>>\ <<var $soul - 1>>\ <<var $agisurge - 1>>\ <</if>>\ <<if ($equippedaccessory1 is "Mountain King's Jinbaori")>>\ <<var $fortitude - 1>>\ <<var $powsurge - 1>>\ <</if>>\ <<if ($equippedaccessory1 is "Burning Mitsugake Gloves")>>\ <<var $power - 1>>\ <<var $agisurge - 1>>\ <</if>>\ <<if ($equippedaccessory1 is "Frozen Prayer Beads")>>\ <<var $fortitude - 1>>\ <<var $solsurge - 1>>\ <</if>>\ <<if ($equippedaccessory1 is "Rising Dawn Hachimaki")>>\ <<var $soul - 1>>\ <<var $powsurge - 1>>\ <</if>>\ <<if ($equippedaccessory1 is "Thunderguard Kote")>>\ <<var $power - 1>>\ <<var $forsurge - 1>>\ <</if>>\ <<if ($equippedaccessory1 is "Waverunner Sandals")>>\ <<var $agility - 1>>\ <<var $forsurge - 1>>\ <</if>>\ <<if ($equippedaccessory1 is "Howling Sensu Fan")>>\ <<var $agility - 1>>\ <<var $solsurge - 1>>\ <</if>>\ <<var $equippedaccessory1 "">>\ <</if>>\ <</widget>>\ <<widget "unequipacc2">>\ <<if ($equippedaccessory2 isnot "")>>\ <<if ($equippedaccessory2 is $armguardname)>>\ <<var $power - $armguardpow>>\ <<var $fortitude - $armguardfort>>\ <<var $armguardpow 0>>\ <<var $armguardfort 0>>\ <</if>>\ <<if ($equippedaccessory2 is "Bands of Decimation")>>\ <<var $power - 2>>\ <<if ($style is "Kiihakai")>>\ <<var $stylerank - 1>>\ <</if>>\ <</if>>\ <<if ($equippedaccessory2 is "Sabretooth Cloak")>>\ <<var $power - 1>>\ <<var $persuasion - 1>>\ <</if>>\ <<if ($equippedaccessory2 is "Cathayan Pirate Hat")>>\ <<var $thievery - 1>>\ <<var $agility - 1>>\ <<var $commerce - 2>>\ <</if>>\ <<if ($equippedaccessory2 is "Crest of Elemental Yang")>>\ <<var $element2rank - 1>>\ <<if ((((($element2 is "Fire") or ($element2 is "Storm")) or ($element2 is "Wind")) or ($element2 is "Light")) or ($element2 is "Water"))>>\ <<var $power - 1>>\ <</if>>\ <<if ($equippedaccessory1 is "Crest of Elemental Yin")>>\ <<var $agility - 1>>\ <<var $health - 1>>\ <</if>>\ <</if>>\ <<if ($equippedaccessory2 is "Crest of Elemental Yin")>>\ <<var $element1rank - 1>>\ <<if ((($element1 is "Ice") or ($element1 is "Earth")) or ($element1 is "Darkness"))>>\ <<var $fortitude - 1>>\ <</if>>\ <<if ($equippedaccessory1 is "Crest of Elemental Yang")>>\ <<var $soul - 1>>\ <<var $chipool - 1>>\ <</if>>\ <</if>>\ <<if ($equippedaccessory2 is "Weights of the Flowing Lantern King")>>\ <<if ($element1 is "Light")>>\ <<var $element1rank - 1>>\ <<elseif ($element2 is "Light")>>\ <<var $element2rank - 1>>\ <<var $perception - 1>>\ <<var $weight - 10>>\ <</if>>\ <</if>>\ <<if ($equippedaccessory2 is "Factotum Mask")>>\ <<run State.variables[$factotummask] -= 1>>\ <</if>>\ <<if ($equippedaccessory2 is "Midnight Lenses")>>\ <<var $soul - 1>>\ <<var $agisurge - 1>>\ <</if>>\ <<if ($equippedaccessory2 is "Mountain King's Jinbaori")>>\ <<var $fortitude - 1>>\ <<var $powsurge - 1>>\ <</if>>\ <<if ($equippedaccessory2 is "Burning Mitsugake Gloves")>>\ <<var $power - 1>>\ <<var $agisurge - 1>>\ <</if>>\ <<if ($equippedaccessory2 is "Frozen Prayer Beads")>>\ <<var $fortitude - 1>>\ <<var $solsurge - 1>>\ <</if>>\ <<if ($equippedaccessory2 is "Rising Dawn Hachimaki")>>\ <<var $soul - 1>>\ <<var $powsurge - 1>>\ <</if>>\ <<if ($equippedaccessory2 is "Thunderguard Kote")>>\ <<var $power - 1>>\ <<var $forsurge - 1>>\ <</if>>\ <<if ($equippedaccessory2 is "Waverunner Sandals")>>\ <<var $agility - 1>>\ <<var $forsurge - 1>>\ <</if>>\ <<if ($equippedaccessory2 is "Howling Sensu Fan")>>\ <<var $agility - 1>>\ <<var $solsurge - 1>>\ <</if>>\ <<var $equippedaccessory2 "">>\ <</if>>\ <</widget>>\ <<widget "unequipacc3">>\ <<if ($equippedaccessory3 isnot "")>>\ <<if ($equippedaccessory3 is $armguardname)>>\ <<var $power - $armguardpow>>\ <<var $fortitude - $armguardfort>>\ <<var $armguardpow 0>>\ <<var $armguardfort 0>>\ <</if>>\ <<if ($equippedaccessory3 is "Bands of Decimation")>>\ <<var $power - 2>>\ <<if ($style is "Kiihakai")>>\ <<var $stylerank - 1>>\ <</if>>\ <</if>>\ <<if ($equippedaccessory3 is "Sabretooth Cloak")>>\ <<var $power - 1>>\ <<var $persuasion - 1>>\ <</if>>\ <<if ($equippedaccessory3 is "Cathayan Pirate Hat")>>\ <<var $thievery - 1>>\ <<var $agility - 1>>\ <<var $commerce - 2>>\ <</if>>\ <<if ($equippedaccessory3 is "Crest of Elemental Yang")>>\ <<var $element2rank - 1>>\ <<if ((((($element2 is "Fire") or ($element2 is "Storm")) or ($element2 is "Wind")) or ($element2 is "Light")) or ($element2 is "Water"))>>\ <<var $power - 1>>\ <</if>>\ <<if (($equippedaccessory2 is "Crest of Elemental Yin") or ($equippedaccessory1 is "Crest of Elemental Yin"))>>\ <<var $agility - 1>>\ <<var $health - 1>>\ <</if>>\ <</if>>\ <<if ($equippedaccessory3 is "Crest of Elemental Yin")>>\ <<var $element1rank - 1>>\ <<if ((($element1 is "Ice") or ($element1 is "Earth")) or ($element1 is "Darkness"))>>\ <<var $fortitude - 1>>\ <</if>>\ <<if (($equippedaccessory2 is "Crest of Elemental Yang") or ($equippedaccessory1 is "Crest of Elemental Yin"))>>\ <<var $soul - 1>>\ <<var $chipool - 1>>\ <</if>>\ <</if>>\ <<if ($equippedaccessory3 is "Weights of the Flowing Lantern King")>>\ <<if ($element1 is "Light")>>\ <<var $element1rank - 1>>\ <<elseif ($element2 is "Light")>>\ <<var $element2rank - 1>>\ <</if>>\ <<var $perception - 1>>\ <<var $weight - 10>>\ <</if>>\ <<if ($equippedaccessory3 is "Factotum Mask")>>\ <<run State.variables[$factotummask] -= 1>>\ <</if>>\ <<if ($equippedaccessory3 is "Midnight Lenses")>>\ <<var $soul - 1>>\ <<var $agisurge - 1>>\ <</if>>\ <<if ($equippedaccessory3 is "Mountain King's Jinbaori")>>\ <<var $fortitude - 1>>\ <<var $powsurge - 1>>\ <</if>>\ <<if ($equippedaccessory3 is "Burning Mitsugake Gloves")>>\ <<var $power - 1>>\ <<var $agisurge - 1>>\ <</if>>\ <<if ($equippedaccessory3 is "Frozen Prayer Beads")>>\ <<var $fortitude - 1>>\ <<var $solsurge - 1>>\ <</if>>\ <<if ($equippedaccessory3 is "Rising Dawn Hachimaki")>>\ <<var $soul - 1>>\ <<var $powsurge - 1>>\ <</if>>\ <<if ($equippedaccessory3 is "Thunderguard Kote")>>\ <<var $power - 1>>\ <<var $forsurge - 1>>\ <</if>>\ <<if ($equippedaccessory3 is "Waverunner Sandals")>>\ <<var $agility - 1>>\ <<var $forsurge - 1>>\ <</if>>\ <<if ($equippedaccessory3 is "Howling Sensu Fan")>>\ <<var $agility - 1>>\ <<var $solsurge - 1>>\ <</if>>\ <<var $equippedaccessory3 "">>\ <</if>>\ <</widget>>\ <<widget "disrobe">>\ <<if ($clothes isnot "")>>\ ''[<<cap $clothes>> Removed]'' <</if>>\ <<if ($clothes is "tight red cheongsam")>>\ <<if (($bodytype is "Hourglass") or ($bodytype is "Bodacious"))>>\ <<if ($persuasion gte 3)>>\ ''[Clothing Bonus Removed: Persuasion -1]'' <<var $persuasion - 1>>\ <<else>>\ ''[Clothing Bonus Removed: Deception -1]'' <<var $deception - 1>>\ <</if>>\ <</if>>\ <<elseif (($clothes is "red dragon-emblazoned kimono") or ($clothes is "gold dragon-emblazoned kimono"))>>\ <<if ($race is "Human")>>\ ''[Clothing Bonus Removed: Prestige Decreased]'' <<var $prestige - 1>>\ <</if>>\ <<elseif ($clothes is "whitefur-collared brown leathers")>>\ <<if ($race is "Lunargoth")>>\ <<var $prestige - 1>>\ ''[Clothing Bonus Removed: Prestige Decreased]'' <<if ($style is "Midorikatai") and ($stylerank gte 3)>>\ ''[Clothing Bonus Removed: Chi -1]'' <<var $chipool - 1>>\ <</if>>\ <</if>>\ <<elseif ($clothes is "goldfur-collared black leathers")>>\ <<if ($race is "Lunargoth")>>\ <<var $prestige - 1>>\ ''[Clothing Bonus Removed: Prestige Decreased]'' <<if ($style is "Midorikatai") and ($stylerank gte 3)>>\ ''[Clothing Bonus Removed: Chi -1]'' <<var $chipool - 1>>\ <</if>>\ <</if>>\ <<elseif ((((((((($clothes is "green, red, and white jūnihitoe") or ($clothes is "blue and black sokutai")) or (($customclothing_1 isnot "") and ($clothes is $customclothing_1))) or (($customclothing_2 isnot "") and ($clothes is $customclothing_2))) or (($customclothing_3 isnot "") and ($clothes is $customclothing_3))) or ($clothes is "sacred cerulean chakkri")) or ($clothes is "sacred cerulean kesa")) or ($clothes is "mystic yellow shenyi")) or ($clothes is "bladed scarlet kamishimo"))>>\ ''[Clothing Bonus Removed: Prestige Decreased]'' <<var $prestige - 1>>\ <<elseif ((($clothes is "royal purple kimono") or ($clothes is "royal purple hakama")) or ($clothes is "royal purple haori"))>>\ <<var $prestige - 2>>\ <<var $retainer_morale - 5>>\ ''[Clothing Bonus Removed: Prestige Decreased]'' ''[Clothing Bonus Removed: Retainer Morale Decreased]'' <<elseif ($clothes is "cursed purple shozoku")>>\ ''[Clothing Bonus Removed: Stealth -1]'' <<var $stealth - 1>>\ <<elseif ($clothes is "cursed purple kunoichi outfit")>>\ ''[Clothing Bonus Removed: Deception -1]'' <<var $deception - 1>>\ <<elseif $clothes is "Onmyōji robes">>\ ''[Soul -1]'' <<var $soul - 1>>\ ''[Insight -1]'' <<var $insight - 1>>\ <<if ($style is "Kiihakai")>>\ ''[Kiihakai Mastery Decreased]'' <<var $stylerank - 1>>\ <</if>>\ <</if>>\ <<var $clothes "">>\ <</widget>>\ <<widget "chitype">>\ <<set $elemvalue to $args[0]>>\ <<if (dig($elemvalue, 14) is 1)>>\ <<var $elemhitter "Darkness">>\ <<elseif (dig($elemvalue, 14) is 2)>>\ <<var $elemhitter "Earth">>\ <<elseif (dig($elemvalue, 14) is 3)>>\ <<var $elemhitter "Fire">>\ <<elseif (dig($elemvalue, 14) is 4)>>\ <<var $elemhitter "Ice">>\ <<elseif (dig($elemvalue, 14) is 5)>>\ <<var $elemhitter "Light">>\ <<elseif (dig($elemvalue, 14) is 6)>>\ <<var $elemhitter "Storm">>\ <<elseif (dig($elemvalue, 14) is 7)>>\ <<var $elemhitter "Water">>\ <<elseif (dig($elemvalue, 14) is 8)>>\ <<var $elemhitter "Wind">>\ <<elseif (dig($elemvalue, 15) is 1)>>\ <<var $elemhitter "Bladed">>\ <<elseif (dig($elemvalue, 15) is 1)>>\ <<var $elemhitter "Sacred">>\ <<elseif (dig($elemvalue, 15) is 1)>>\ <<var $elemhitter "Mystic">>\ <<elseif (dig($elemvalue, 15) is 1)>>\ <<var $elemhitter "Cursed">>\ <<elseif (dig($elemvalue, 15) is 1)>>\ <<var $elemhitter "Wild">>\ <<elseif (dig($elemvalue, 15) is 1)>>\ <<var $elemhitter "Demonic">>\ <<else>>\ <<var $elemhitter "raw">>\ <</if>>\ <</widget>>\ <<widget "shipgains">>\ <<set $sgval to 0>>\ <<if (dig($busyships, 2) isnot 0)>>\ ''[<<= dig($busyships, 2)>> Traveler ''\ <<if (dig($busyships, 2) gt 1)>>\ ''Ships'' \ <<else>>\ ''Ship'' \ <</if>>\ ''Reported Results:]'' <<var $sgval (15 * dig($busyships, 2))>>\ <<if (($flagshiptype is "transport") or ($flagshiptype is "junk"))>>\ <<var $sgval + (10 * dig($busyships, 2))>>\ <<if (dig($busyships, 2) gte 3)>>\ ''[Transport Ship Bonus: Prestige Increased]'' <<var $prestige + 1>>\ <</if>>\ <</if>>\ ''[$sgval Shards \ <<if (dig($busyships, 2) gte 9)>>\ ''Gained, 3 Passengers Join as Retainers]'' <<var $retainers + 3>>\ <<elseif (dig($busyships, 2) gte 5)>>\ ''Gained, 2 Passengers Join as Retainers]'' <<var $retainers + 2>>\ <<elseif (dig($busyships, 2) gte 3)>>\ ''Gained, 1 Passenger Joins as Retainer]'' <<var $retainers + 1>>\ <<else>>\ ''Gained]'' <</if>>\ <<var $shards + $sgval>>\ <</if>>\ <<if (dig($busyships, 3) isnot 0)>>\ ''<<= dig($busyships, 3)>> Rescue ''\ <<if (dig($busyships, 3) gt 1)>>\ ''Ships'' \ <<else>>\ ''Ship'' \ <</if>>\ ''Reported Results:]'' <<var $honor + 1>>\ <<var $sgval (10 * dig($busyships, 3))>>\ <<if (($flagshiptype is "transport") or ($flagshiptype is "junk"))>>\ <<var $sgval + ((5 + 3) * dig($busyships, 3))>>\ <</if>>\ ''[$sgval Shards Gained, \ <<if ($infamy gt 0)>>\ ''Infamy Reduced,'' \ <<var $infamy - 1>>\ <<if (dig($busyships, 3) gte 4)>>\ <<var $infamy - 1>>\ <</if>>\ <</if>>\ Waverunner Reputation Increased]'' <<if (dig($busyships, 3) gt 4)>>\ <<var $sect_waverunner + 5>>\ <<else>>\ <<var $sect_waverunner + (1+dig($busyships, 3))>>\ <</if>>\ <</if>>\ <<if (dig($busyships, 4) isnot 0)>>\ ''<<= dig($busyships, 4)>> Fishing ''\ <<if (dig($busyships, 4) gt 1)>>\ ''Ships'' \ <<else>>\ ''Ship'' \ <</if>>\ ''Reported Results:]'' <<var $sgval (15 + dig($busyships, 4))>>\ ''[$sgval Shards Gained, ''\ <<var $sgval (1+(Math.round(dig($busyships, 4)/2)))>>\ <<if (dig($busyships, 4) gte 4)>>\ <<var $sgval + 1>>\ <</if>>\ ''$sgval Ritual Components Gained]'' <<var $ritualcomponents + $sgval>>\ <<var $sgvalmax Math.round(10 - (dig($busyships, 4)*1.2))>>\ <<if ($sgvalmax lte 2)>>\ <<var $sgvalmax 3>>\ <</if>>\ <<rand $sgval 1 $sgvalmax>>\ <<if ((dig($eventfun, 3) is 0) or ($sgval is 1))>>\ <<if (((($flagshiptype is "combat") or ($flagshiptype is "junk")) or ($retainer_strength gt 25)) and (dig($busyships, 4) gte 3))>>\ <<if (dig($eventfun, 3) is 0)>>\ <<var $eventfun + 1000000000000>>\ <</if>>\ ''[Special Event! Soul Treasures Harvested!]'' ''[Aura Pressure +8, +1 Weak Soul Treasure]'' <<var $aurapressure + 8>>\ <<var $weaksoultreasure + 1>>\ <<if ($retainers gt 0)>>\ ''[1 Retainer's Aura Unlocked]'' <<var $retainers - 1>>\ <<var $martial_retainers + 1>>\ <<var $retainer_strength + 1>>\ <</if>>\ <<elseif ($sgval gte 8)>>\ ''[Sea Beast Attack! 2 Retainers Lost, Morale Decreased]'' <<var $retainers - 2>>\ <<var $retainer_morale - 4>>\ <</if>>\ <</if>>\ <</if>>\ <<if (dig($busyships, 5) isnot 0)>>\ ''[<<= dig($busyships, 5)>> Salvage ''\ <<if (dig($busyships, 5) gt 1)>>\ ''Ships'' \ <<else>>\ ''Ship'' \ <</if>>\ ''Reported Results:]'' <<var $sgval (Math.round(1.5*dig($busyships, 5)))>>\ ''[$sgval Gold Gained,'' \ <<var $gold + $sgval>>\ <<var $sgval (Math.round(1+(dig($busyships, 5)/2)))>>\ <<if (dig($busyships, 5) gte 4)>>\ <<var $sgval + 1>>\ <</if>>\ <<if (($flagshiptype is "merchant") or ($flagshiptype is "junk"))>>\ <<var $sgval + 1>>\ <<if (dig($busyships, 5) gte 5)>>\ <<var $sgval + 1>>\ <</if>>\ <</if>>\ ''$sgval Crates of Loot Salvaged]'' <<var $loot + $sgval>>\ <<var $sgvalmax Math.round(10 - (dig($busyships, 5)*1.2))>>\ <<if ($sgvalmax lte 2)>>\ <<var $sgvalmax 3>>\ <</if>>\ <<rand $sgval 1 $sgvalmax>>\ <<if ((dig($eventfun, 2) is 0) or ($sgval is 1))>>\ <<if (($craft gte 3) and (dig($busyships, 5) gte 4))>>\ <<if (dig($eventfun, 2) is 0)>>\ <<var $eventfun + 10000000000000>>\ <</if>>\ ''[Craft 3 Check Passed, 4+ Ships Check Passed]'' ''[Special Event! Entire Ship Salvaged and Repaired!]'' <<var $shipcount + 1>>\ <<var $shipsleft + 1>>\ <<var $retainer_morale + 2>>\ <<elseif ($sgval is 1)>>\ <<if ($craft gte 3)>>\ ''[Craft 3 Check Passed, 4+ Ships Check Failed]'' <<elseif (dig($busyships, 5) gte 4)>>\ ''[4+ Ships Check Passed, Craft 3 Check Failed]'' <<else>>\ ''[Craft 3 Check Failed, 4+ Ships Check Failed]'' <</if>>\ ''[Special Event Failed: Salvagable Ship not Recovered]'' <</if>>\ <</if>>\ <</if>>\ <<if (dig($busyships, 7) isnot 0)>>\ ''[<<= dig($busyships, 7)>> Alchemist ''\ <<if (dig($busyships, 7) gt 1)>>\ ''Ships'' \ <<else>>\ ''Ship'' \ <</if>>\ ''Reported Results:]'' <<var $sgval (15 * dig($busyships, 7))>>\ <<if ($commerce gte 25)>>\ <<var $sgval + (4 * dig($busyships, 7))>>\ <</if>>\ <<var $shards + $sgval>>\ ''[$sgval Shards Gained,'' \ <<if (dig($busyships, 7) gte 3)>>\ <<var $retainer_strength + 1>>\ <<if (dig($busyships, 7) gte 6)>>\ <<var $retainer_strength + 1>>\ <</if>>\ ''Retainer Strength Increased,'' \ <</if>>\ <<var $sgval (1+(Math.round(dig($busyships, 7)/2)))>>\ <<if (dig($busyships, 7) gte 4)>>\ <<var $sgval + 1>>\ <</if>>\ ''$sgval Reagents Gained]'' <<var $alchemyreagents + $sgval>>\ <<var $sgvalmax (4 - (dig($busyships, 7)))>>\ <<if ($sgvalmax lte 2)>>\ <<var $sgvalmax 3>>\ <</if>>\ <<rand $sgval 1 $sgvalmax>>\ <<if (($sgval is 1) or (dig($busyships, 7) gte 4))>>\ <<rand $sgval 1 6>>\ ''[Item Refined: 1'' \ <<if ($sgval is 1)>>\ ''Low Grade Power Pill]'' <<var $lgpowpill + 1>>\ <<elseif ($sgval is 2)>>\ ''Low Grade Fortitude Pill]'' <<var $lgforpill + 1>>\ <<elseif ($sgval is 3)>>\ ''Low Grade Agility Pill]'' <<var $lgagipill + 1>>\ <<elseif ($sgval is 4)>>\ ''Low Grade Soul Pill]'' <<var $lgsolpill + 1>>\ <<elseif ($sgval is 5)>>\ ''Chi Replenisher Pill]'' <<var $replenisherpill + 1>>\ <<else>>\ ''Healing Elixir]'' <<var $healingelixir + 1>>\ <</if>>\ <<else>>\ ''[Bad Batch, No Pills Acquired]'' <</if>>\ <</if>>\ <<if (dig($busyships, 8) isnot 0)>>\ ''[<<= dig($busyships, 8)>> Merchant '' \ <<if (dig($busyships, 8) gt 1)>>\ ''Ships'' \ <<else>>\ ''Ship'' \ <</if>>\ ''Reported Results:]'' <<var $sgval ((250 + ($persuasion * 10)) * dig($busyships, 8))>>\ <<if (($flagshiptype is "merchant") or ($flagshiptype is "junk"))>>\ <<var $sgval + (50*dig($busyships, 8))>>\ <</if>>\ <<var $commerce + Math.round(dig($busyships, 8)/2)>>\ <<var $commerce + 1>>\ <<var $sect_choralline + dig($busyships, 8)>>\ ''[$sgval Silver Gained, Commerce Increased]'' <<var $silver + $sgval>>\ <</if>>\ <<if (dig($busyships, 9) isnot 0)>>\ <<var $ruthless + 2>>\ ''[<<= dig($busyships, 9)>> Pirate ''\ <<if (dig($busyships, 9) gt 1)>>\ ''Ships'' \ <<else>>\ ''Ship'' \ <</if>>\ ''Reported Results:]'' <<var $sgval (($retainer_strength) * dig($busyships, 9))>>\ <<if (($flagshiptype is "combat") or ($flagshiptype is "junk"))>>\ <<var $sgval + 50>>\ <</if>>\ ''[$sgval Shards Gained,'' \ <<var $shards + $sgval>>\ <<var $sgval 1>>\ <<if (dig($busyships, 9) gte 4)>>\ <<var $sgval + 1>>\ <<var $honor - 2>>\ <<if (dig($busyships, 9) gte 7)>>\ <<var $sgval + 1>>\ <<var $ruthless + 2>>\ <</if>>\ <</if>>\ <<var $infamy + $sgval>>\ <<if (dig($busyships, 9) gt $stealth)>>\ <<var $sect_waverunner - 3>>\ <</if>>\ <<if (($flagshiptype is "combat") or ($flagshiptype is "junk"))>>\ <<var $sgval + 1>>\ <</if>>\ ''Infamy Gained, $sgval'' \ <<if ($sgval is 1)>>\ ''Retainer'' \ <<else>>\ ''Retainers'' \ <</if>>\ '''Recruited']'' <<var $retainers + $sgval>>\ <<var $sgvalmax Math.round(10 - (dig($busyships, 9)*1.2))>>\ <<if ($sgvalmax lte 2)>>\ <<var $sgvalmax 3>>\ <</if>>\ <<rand $sgval 1 $sgvalmax>>\ <<if (((dig($eventfun, 4) is 0) or ($sgval is 1)) and ((($retainer_strength + $martial_retainers) gte 27) and ($deception gte 3)))>>\ <<var $eventfun + 100000000000>>\ ''[Retainer Strength 27 Check Passed, Deception 3 Check Passed]'' ''[Special Event! Enemy Ship Captured and Remodeled!]'' <<var $shipcount + 1>>\ <<var $shipsleft + 1>>\ <<var $retainer_morale + 2>>\ <</if>>\ <</if>>\ <</widget>>\ <<widget "elixircleanse">>\ <<if (dig($elixirboost, 2) isnot 0)>>\ <<var $power - dig($elixirboost, 2)>>\ <<var $elixirboost - (1000 * dig($elixirboost, 2))>>\ <</if>>\ <<if (dig($elixirboost, 3) isnot 0)>>\ <<var $fortitude - dig($elixirboost, 3)>>\ <<var $elixirboost - (100 * dig($elixirboost, 3))>>\ <</if>>\ <<if (dig($elixirboost, 4) isnot 0)>>\ <<var $agility - dig($elixirboost, 4)>>\ <<var $elixirboost - (10 * dig($elixirboost, 4))>>\ <</if>>\ <<if (dig($elixirboost, 5) isnot 0)>>\ <<var $soul - dig($elixirboost, 5)>>\ <<var $elixirboost - (1 * dig($elixirboost, 5))>>\ <</if>>\ <</widget>>\ <<widget "trialchart">>\ <<var $trialscore (((((((((((($score_misc + $score_tiger) + $score_stallion) + $score_dragon) + $score_snake) + $score_boar) + $score_rabbit) + $score_ram) + $score_monkey) + $score_crane) + $score_rat) + $score_wolf) + $score_ox)>>\ ''[Trial Scores:]'' <<if ($currenttrial is "Stallion")>>\ ''[Tiger: <<print $score_tiger>>/7, Rabbit: <<print $score_rabbit>>/7, Dragon: <<print $score_dragon>>/7, Snake: <<print $score_snake>>/7]'' <<elseif ($currenttrial is "Ram")>>\ ''[Tiger: <<print $score_tiger>>/7, Rabbit: <<print $score_rabbit>>/7, Dragon: <<print $score_dragon>>/7, Snake: <<print $score_snake>>/7, Stallion: <<print $score_stallion>>/7]'' <<elseif ($currenttrial is "Monkey")>>\ ''[Tiger: <<print $score_tiger>>/7, Rabbit: <<print $score_rabbit>>/7, Dragon: <<print $score_dragon>>/7, Snake: <<print $score_snake>>/7, Stallion: <<print $score_stallion>>/7, Ram: <<print $score_ram>>/7]'' <<elseif ($currenttrial is "Crane")>>\ ''[Tiger: <<print $score_tiger>>/7, Rabbit: <<print $score_rabbit>>/7, Dragon: <<print $score_dragon>>/7, Snake: <<print $score_snake>>/7, Stallion: <<print $score_stallion>>/7, Ram: <<print $score_ram>>/7, Monkey: <<print $score_monkey>>/7]'' <<elseif ($currenttrial is "Boar")>>\ ''[Tiger: <<print $score_tiger>>/7, Rabbit: <<print $score_rabbit>>/7, Dragon: <<print $score_dragon>>/7, Snake: <<print $score_snake>>/7, Stallion: <<print $score_stallion>>/7, Ram: <<print $score_ram>>/7, Monkey: <<print $score_monkey>>/7, Crane: <<print $score_crane>>/7]'' <<elseif ($currenttrial is "Rat")>>\ ''[Tiger: <<print $score_tiger>>/7, Rabbit: <<print $score_rabbit>>/7, Dragon: <<print $score_dragon>>/7, Snake: <<print $score_snake>>/7, Stallion: <<print $score_stallion>>/7, Ram: <<print $score_ram>>/7, Monkey: <<print $score_monkey>>/7, Crane: <<print $score_crane>>/7, Boar: <<print $score_boar>>/7]'' <<elseif ($currenttrial is "Ox")>>\ ''[Tiger: <<print $score_tiger>>/7, Rabbit: <<print $score_rabbit>>/7, Dragon: <<print $score_dragon>>/7, Snake: <<print $score_snake>>/7, Stallion: <<print $score_stallion>>/7, Ram: <<print $score_ram>>/7, Monkey: <<print $score_monkey>>/7, Crane: <<print $score_crane>>/7, Boar: <<print $score_boar>>/7, Rat: <<print $score_rat>>/7]'' <<elseif ($currenttrial is "Wolf")>>\ ''[Tiger: <<print $score_tiger>>/7, Rabbit: <<print $score_rabbit>>/7, Dragon: <<print $score_dragon>>/7, Snake: <<print $score_snake>>/7, Stallion: <<print $score_stallion>>/7, Ram: <<print $score_ram>>/7, Monkey: <<print $score_monkey>>/7, Crane: <<print $score_crane>>/7, Boar: <<print $score_boar>>/7, Rat: <<print $score_rat>>/7, Ox: <<print $score_ox>>/7]'' <<elseif ($chapter gte 12)>>\ ''[Tiger: <<print $score_tiger>>/7, Rabbit: <<print $score_rabbit>>/7, Dragon: <<print $score_dragon>>/7, Snake: <<print $score_snake>>/7, Stallion: <<print $score_stallion>>/7, Ram: <<print $score_ram>>/7, Monkey: <<print $score_monkey>>/7, Crane: <<print $score_crane>>/7, Boar: <<print $score_boar>>/7, Rat: <<print $score_rat>>/7, Ox: <<print $score_ox>>/7, Wolf: <<print $score_wolf>>/7]'' <<else>>\ ''[Tiger: <<print $score_tiger>>/7, Rabbit: <<print $score_rabbit>>/7, Dragon: <<print $score_dragon>>/7]'' <</if>>\ ''[Imperial Score: $trialscore]'' <<standard-bar "Bladed Favor" $score_bladed>>\ <<standard-bar "Divine Favor" $score_sacred>>\ <<standard-bar "Mystic Favor" $score_mystic>>\ <<standard-bar "Cursed Favor" $score_cursed>>\ <<standard-bar "Wild Favor" $score_wild>>\ <</widget>>\ <<widget "trialchange">>\ <<var $boughtelixir false>>\ <<if (dig($placevisit, 2) gte 2)>>\ <<var $placevisit - 10000000000000>>\ <</if>>\ <<if (dig($placevisit, 3) gte 2)>>\ <<var $placevisit - 1000000000000>>\ <</if>>\ /* reset hotsprings with placevisit#13 later, make sure not to trigger for those who slept with mina */\ <<if (dig($eventfun, 7) isnot 0)>>\ <<var $eventfun - 100000000>>\ <</if>>\ <<rand $crates4sale 5 9>>\ <</widget>>\ <<widget "scrying">>\ <<if $scryarray is undefined>>\ <<set $scryarray to [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30]>>\ <</if>>\ <<if $scryused is undefined>>\ <<set $scryused to []>>\ <</if>>\ <<if CONDITION and !$scryused.includes(31)>>\ <<set $scryarray.push(31)>>\ TODO <</if>>\ <<set $scrypick to $scryarray.pluck>>\ <<image "https://www.auraclash.com/assets/images/ac-linebreak-top.png">>\ <<if $scrypick is 1>>\ You witness Tian Fang biting her tongue in focus as she wraps a present in festive papers, presumably for a relative. Watching her attempt such a task takes up your whole fifteen minutes of scry-casting. She never finishes. It was a small box, too. <<set $scryused.push(1)>>\ <<elseif $scrypick is 2>>\ An attractive Oni woman leaves the back door of a mansion. She fixes her dress as if she had just put it back on. Magistrate Fuyu shooes her out faster, making sure no one is looking. <<set $scryused.push(2)>>\ <<elseif $scrypick is 3>>\ You witness Desdemona sitting in her room, alone, \ <<if ($desromance gte 2)>>\ bed while looking over a scrying orb of her own. <<else>>\ sitting at a table while eating apple slices. She looks bored at first. <</if>>\ Suddenly she looks up, confused, and sees you looking at her. You look closer at her orb and she's scrying yourself from the right, so you look to your right to make sure she sees you looking back at her too. <<var $solexp + 2>>\ <<set $scryused.push(3)>>\ <<elseif $scrypick is 4>>\ You see one of Guiren's \ <<if (dig($metguiren, 1) gte 3)>>\ minions, Wencheng, \ <<else>>\ minions \ <</if>>\ look both ways before stashing his stolen bonus share of loot under a bridge. <<set $scryused.push(4)>>\ <<elseif $scrypick is 5>>\ Angelo sits beside an old woman lying on a bed in a medical ward. It is clear by her withered body that she is dying of age. She recants her life to him, a simple life, and he smiles softly as he listens. <<set $scryused.push(5)>>\ <<elseif $scrypick is 6>>\ Bo Lo trains in Thunderfall Tower against nunchuck girl and one Oni with two sai. You don't think he should be fighting 2 on 1; they beat the crap out of him. <<var $agiexp + 3>>\ <<set $scryused.push(6)>>\ <<elseif $scrypick is 7>>\ Big Chu faces a tavern's challenge to eat a whole pig. It's a trick challenge. The 'pig' in question is a Boar beast wider than the table. He eats it all anyway. They give him a voucher for the free meal and beg him not to return. He informs them he will be back tomorrow for another pig. <<set $scryused.push(7)>>\ <<elseif $scrypick is 8>>\ TODO <<set $scryused.push(8)>>\ <<elseif $scrypick is 9>>\ TODO <<set $scryused.push(9)>>\ <<elseif $scrypick is 10>>\ TODO <<set $scryused.push(10)>>\ <<elseif $scrypick is 11>>\ TODO <<set $scryused.push(11)>>\ <<elseif $scrypick is 12>>\ TODO <<set $scryused.push(12)>>\ <<elseif $scrypick is 13>>\ TODO <<set $scryused.push(13)>>\ <<elseif $scrypick is 14>>\ TODO <<set $scryused.push(14)>>\ <<elseif $scrypick is 15>>\ TODO <<set $scryused.push(15)>>\ <<elseif $scrypick is 16>>\ TODO <<set $scryused.push(16)>>\ <<elseif $scrypick is 17>>\ TODO <<set $scryused.push(17)>>\ <<elseif $scrypick is 18>>\ TODO <<set $scryused.push(18)>>\ <<elseif $scrypick is 19>>\ TODO <<set $scryused.push(19)>>\ <<elseif $scrypick is 20>>\ TODO <<set $scryused.push(20)>>\ <<elseif $scrypick is 21>>\ TODO <<set $scryused.push(21)>>\ <<elseif $scrypick is 22>>\ TODO <<set $scryused.push(22)>>\ <<elseif $scrypick is 23>>\ TODO <<set $scryused.push(23)>>\ <<elseif $scrypick is 24>>\ TODO <<set $scryused.push(24)>>\ <<elseif $scrypick is 25>>\ TODO <<set $scryused.push(25)>>\ <<elseif $scrypick is 26>>\ TODO <<set $scryused.push(26)>>\ <<elseif $scrypick is 27>>\ TODO <<set $scryused.push(27)>>\ <<elseif $scrypick is 28>>\ TODO <<set $scryused.push(28)>>\ <<elseif $scrypick is 29>>\ TODO <<set $scryused.push(29)>>\ <<elseif $scrypick is 30>>\ TODO <<set $scryused.push(30)>>\ <<else>>\ TODO <</if>>\ <<image "https://www.auraclash.com/assets/images/ac-linebreak-bottom.png">>\ <<if (($scrypick is 2) and ($honor lt 60))>>\ ''[Dishonor Check Passed]'' You decide to send a retainer to blackmail him. The old bastard haggles your man down to 40 Shards. ''[Item Gained: 40 Shards]'' <<var $shards + 40>>\ <<elseif $scrypick is 4>>\ <<if ($honor gte 60)>>\ The theft doesn't sit right with you. You send a retainer to "collect" the hidden cache and teach him a lesson. Choosing not to be a thief yourself, you tell the retainer to keep it. ''[Retainer Morale Improved]'' <<var $retainer_morale + 2>>\ <<else>>\ You decide to teach him a proper listen about not getting caught, even though you are cheating. Your retainers collect the cache that very night and keep half. ''[Item Gained: 120 Silver]'' <<var $silver + 120>>\ ''[Retainer Morale Improved]'' <<var $retainer_morale + 1>>\ <</if>>\ <</if>>\ With the scrying orb dying out, you \ <</widget>>\

<<var $prevknowledge 0>>\ Jin and Rin are overjoyed when you show them what you can do. Hyper is a better word for it. In fact, they won't shut up. The two incessantly babble about becoming Martial Artists for weeks on end even though you had to blow more than your year's allowance just to cycle once. You make sure to warn them just how difficult of a road it's going to be unless they come across a massive chest of treasure. They should cycle just the once, like you did to get a bit healthier. Each time after that is even more expensive. Your family is just too poor to waste money on full-time cultivation. The Twins ignore your warning. Typical. Things settle down for the next year while you continue to play with your village friends, hang out with Kosuke, and work under Father to become a proper $background. It's a good childhood. <<var $age + 1>>\ <<var $shards + ($commerce * 2)>>\ ''[Item Gained: 1 Years Allowance (12 Shards)]'' <<var $shards + 12>>\ ''[Aura Pressure +2]'' <<var $aurapressure + 2>>\ But as you grow into a young $manwoman your routine solidifies and you begin to realize this really is all that you'll ever have. Though you try to deny it, something is missing in your life. Power. The power to do what you see on that fateful day. <<page "Continue" "ch1-I-NEED-MORE-POWER2">>\

''"VILLAGERS! TO THE FIELDS!"'' The shout forces your bed to shake, rousing you from sleep early in the morning, and you're not the only one. The booming call is heard all throughout the village. "What's going on?" Asks Rin, running out of her bedroom in her yukata. Jin's behind her holding a candlestick like a sword. He looks excited. "Is it an invasion?" "Calm down, all three of you." Demands Father from near the window. Sure, you didn't say anything, but why not lump you in with the siblings. Figures. "Something's going on outside. Kids, get your robes on. We're going to investigate." "Is that wise?" Asks Mother, drowned out by the twins cheering and rushing out the door. She looks to you, shrugs in resignation, and follows. A crowd has gathered in the streets outside and it's moving towards the gates, down into the eastern fields. Like lemmings you all follow, curiosity working as the bait to draw out an entire town. When you arrive at the field you see...nothing. Just a large crowd of most of the village surrounding one of the Thunderfall Sect's practice fields. <<page "Continue" "ch1-I-NEED-MORE-POWER3">>\

Two hundred villagers exit the woods and surround the practice field, your eyes transfixed on the vast grass field that stretches out before you. The villagers whisper, their eyes filled with anticipation and anxiety. You try to hear what some are so excited about but there's too much murmuring. "Father, what's going on?" You ask. "What's everyone talking about?" "A challenge." Father says gravely. "The Sunbringer Sect is here." That's when you notice that the other side of the field isn't filled with your villagers, it's filled with strangers. The opposing crowd is a hundred strong and at its center stands two dozen men and women in silver and yellow combat gi. Not the Thunderfall uniform of dark blue and black. Sunbringers. Outsiders. "Enemies." Father says, as if confirming the thoughts you all had. A sudden surge fills the air, the unmistakable prickle of concentrated chi, refined and potent. The crowd parts like a sea and two figures emerge from opposing sides. From your side comes a man you all recognize: Crusher Mao, Master of the Thunderfall Sect and defender of Thunderfall Village. <<if ($portraitpics is true)>>\ <<image "https://www.auraclash.com/assets/images/crushermao.jpg">>\ <</if>>\ A giant of a man with a raging aura of power. His eyes sharp as daggers, his muscles strong and unyielding like the mountains. Green energy swirls around his body, growing deeper and more vibrant with every step he takes into the field. And the other... The other figure, his opposite, is a lean man with a golden goatee and angled eyebrows meant for royalty. His eyes burn with fire and his aura shines around him in a beacon of golden light. Even at this distance his presence radiates warmth and power. "Master Bangle!" Shouts Crusher Mao. The crowd silences as the two figures approach the center of the field. "What brings you to my superior village?" "You know why I am here, Master Mao. The Mystic Lands claimed these mountains when they built Sunbringer Village and yet your settlement from the Wild Lands persists in mockery of their claim. Only one nation can have the resources of this province. You have rebuked diplomacy at every turn, blocked my peaceful acquisition of neutral land, and intercepted vital supplies from the trade caravans." Crusher Mao laughs deeply. "And here I thought there were no jesters in Outer West! What you mean to say is that the Wild Lands claimed these mountains when they built Thunderfall Village and your usurper Sect remains as an annoyance. I refused to surrender my farmers to you so you sent raiders, I killed them so you sabotaged trade routes. Now you come here to whine when I've sabotaged your trade routes in return." "Slander all you wish, Mao, but our rivalry ends today. Thunderfall has stood in the way of Sunbringer prosperity for too long, I have come to finish this." "Yes." Says Crusher Mao, all laughter gone. "You have." <<page "Continue" "ch1-I-NEED-MORE-POWER4">>\

Concussive waves roil through the air in a spectacle of martial prowess and chi manipulation. Mao and Bangle trade blows with the force of thunderclaps, swift as lightning and just as devastating. Mao's chi-infused muscle meets Bangle's glowing strikes with enough power to shake the earth beneath their strength. Master Mao leaps above Master Bangle and strikes nothingness, causing sheer wind pressure to push Master Bangle into the ground hard enough to form a small crater. Mao charges after him but barely dodges a counterattack beam of golden energy that singes his shoulder. You watch, awestruck, as the two Masters act out their dance of death, muscle against energy, their movements fluid and swift. Your eyes struggle to keep up until the world seems to slow, their every motion imprinted in your mind. ''[Aura Pressure +2]'' <<var $aurapressure + 2>>\ With a deafening roar Master Bangle blasts Mao with enough raw energy to launch him across the field. In that reprieve Master Bangle leaps forty feet off the ground and //stays there//, standing on the very air itself. His blazing aura of golden light doubles in area and he places both open hands to the side of his face. "This is over, Mao! I've come prepared with a Technique the likes of which you could never comprehend!" "Don't be so cocky, I've mastered a new one of my own!" Mao calls back. "Then come!" Shouts Master Bangle, "Taste the-" ''//"THUNDERFALL!"//'' Master Mao's roar reverberates through not just the training field but the entire mountain range. In that very instant he disappears from the ground and appears in front of Master Bangle swinging his fist with the weight of the world behind it. The very air around his arm shudders in thick crackling lines of energy that blur your vision, like streams of lightning made of heat haze. The deafening roar of thunder amplifies not just his voice but the impact sound of his fist striking Master Bangle. The mirage-like cracks in the air around Master Mao's fist impact Master Bangle and rupture his golden aura like shattered glass exploding over their battlefield. Master Bangle's eyes are wide and bloodshot, unable to even look down to see Mao's fist inside his gut. With the entirety of his Aura Pressure blown away in that attack, the Sunbringer Master's body falls limply and silently to the ground. Thunderfall Village's Master Mao has won. <<var $choiceflag 111111111111>>\ <<page "Continue" "ch1-I-NEED-MORE-POWER5">>\

Your side of the field erupts into cheers while rushing the field to lay even a single hand on the glory of Crusher Mao. The Sunbringer side screams in chaos, realizing their routing loss and fleeing just as the lesser Thunderfall Disciples give chase. Crusher Mao lands on his feet and stands tall, his chest swelling with pride. But amidst the cheers and applause you notice a glint in his eyes, a hint of more than just vanity beneath the triumphant exterior. A hint of something predatory. You push the thought away. In that moment you're preoccupied by a spark kindling within you. A flame, a desire to be like them - a Martial Artist. You want to command the power of chi, to stand tall like a mountain, be as swift as the wind, strike as strong as thunder. <<if $race is "Kitsune">>\ "<<cap $name>>!" Father whisper-shouts, grabbing your arm. "Your eyes are shining, calm yourself." You realize then that \ <<if $yokaitrait2 is "sharp fangs">>\ your fangs are \ <<else>>\ you're \ <</if>>\ salivating at the idea of power. "Sorry Father." You whisper, keeping the sensation down. You had no idea it would bring out your Kitsune nature but you can't help it, the goal has infected you like a virus. <<elseif $race is "Yokai">>\ You realize then that \ <<if $yokaitrait2 is "sharp fangs">>\ your fangs are \ <<else>>\ you're \ <</if>>\ salivating. The Beast inside you yearns for this power. <</if>>\ You want to be a savior, a conqueror, a hero. Little do you know that heroes aren't always what they seem, and the path of Martial Arts is filled with more than just strength and power. But for now you bask in the awe and the dream, inspired by the dueling spectacle under the rising eastern sun. You swear to yourself then and there that you aren't going to sit around and feel sorry for yourself as a Laborer anymore, you're going to do something about it! You're going to become somebody! If that means you need a fortune of Shards then so be it, you'll make a fortune! <<if $race is "Kitsune">>\ And if it means you expose yourself by growing extra tails, then screw it, you'll grow all nine and become a legend! <<else>>\ Hells, you'll make //two// fortunes! <</if>>\ The very next day you take your first steps down this dangerous path by filling your early mornings with sparring matches amongst your friends, and your evenings with a secondary job where you... <<var $careerpath 0>>\ <<include "ch1-gigs">>\

You envisioned blacksmithing to be a noble warrior's craft of forging unstoppable blades and invulnerable armors. As it turns out, blacksmithing means fetching bucket after bucket of water from the river and going nearly blind staring at a fire in some large shed's forge while you father smiths his ten millionth nail. You are so sick of nails. Every day it's nails, nails, fix a farm tool, nails, hinge, nails, and more nails. After months of nonstop nailsmithery father notices how glum you seem and takes you outside to talk, sitting on a pair of stumps. "<<cap $sondaughter>>, you don't seem to be enjoying yourself." You nod. "I get it, this isn't the most exciting adventure, but it helps pay for your mother and you kids to live your lives. When your grandfather worked this forge he specialized in spearheads, breastplates, and anchors, but those were days of war. We're in peacetime now, so here I am, making nails. Hell, the carpenters I know in Thunderfall use wood-joinery to build houses so there isn't even much need for nails around here. As it turns out, it's the shipwrights down the mountains that can't get enough of them. They ''yearn'' for the nail." He lets out a heavy exhale and looks at the sky. After a moment of pondering he continues, "I'm not going to rope you into some talk about the trade deals or the Magistrate's orders or lessons in how the village is one unit or-" Your eyes glaze over as he continues saying adult things for a while longer, then he puts his hand on your shoulder. <<page "Zzz..." "ch1-blacksmith2">>\

"What I'm trying to say is," You snap back to reality. "This job is hard and boring, but it's important. You're going to have to make a lot of different important things when they're needed, and you're going to have to get used to just making the same thing over and over most days too." He snaps his fingers as if he has an idea, "Actually, tell you what, I've got an idea for a version of both you can do." He gets up and enters the house. You twiddle your thumbs for a few minutes waiting, then he emerges holding two different stacks of paper. "I've got a whole lot of design plans you can study up, and I've also got maps you can use to start doing deliveries. Just local stuff; carrying metal shipments to neighboring towns is too much even for me." Finally, something besides water duty and nails. Something new. You perk up and weigh your options. <<choose "ch1-blacksmith4">> #Carry heavy shipments throughout the village. [Increase Athletics] <<var $athchoice 1>>\ You spend the next six months carrying crates of nails, hinges, farm tools, and ingots around town. Sometimes you even go to the Magistrate's pagoda to pick up orders, but you only interact with the front guards. Your arms and legs are constantly aching and tired but mother's medicinal soups keeps you strong enough to keep going week after week. Slowly, it gets easier. ''[Athletics +1]'' <<var $athletics + 1>>\ ''[Aura Pressure +2]'' <<var $aurapressure + 2>>\ <<page "Continue" "ch1-blacksmith3">>\ #Research smithing design plans. [Increase Lore] You spend the next six months reading up on your father's collection of smithing designs and metallurgy notes. There's more math involved than you expected. Most designs incorporate angles, lengths, weight, and heating temperatures. Mother brings out some of your reading scrolls to research bigger words and teaches you a few tricks to help with all the addition and subtraction. What really helps is that your father gets occasional orders where he walks you through what all those numbers and notes actually mean. You'd read off the steps and he'd show you how they're done. Slowly, it becomes second nature. <<var $lore + 1>>\ <<apboost 1>>\ ''[Lore +1]'' Some days your father even has you perform the simpler orders yourself, measuring component lengths before hammering off the rebar to make them....mostly nails. Until one day when you enter your father's forge shack and your notes are gone. Instead father sits on a chair reading the morning paper. Next to him is a box filled with a couple of steel ingots, a tied brown sack, come colorful purple cloth, and cuts of magnolia wood. When you enter he looks up from his paper and smiles. <<page "Continue" "ch1-blacksmith4">> <</choose>>\

Oddly enough, hearing customer complaints and questions about specific parts, or flaws, or options turns out to be a better educational tool for blacksmithing than actually watching the forging process. You start out not knowing a single answer, but you keep forwarding the questions and complaints to Father who gives you the answers for the next run. You repeat the responses to yourself to memorize them and find it's much easier to remember something when it has a chance of lowering the amount of times you get yelled at by customers in a day. Some days your father even has you fix issues yourself, straightening the nails that had bent at the bottom of a shipment crate. Until one day you enter your father's forge shack and he has nothing for you to deliver. Instead he sits on a chair reading the morning paper. Next to him is a box filled with a couple of steel ingots, a tied brown sack, come colorful purple cloth, and cuts of magnolia wood. When you enter he looks up from his paper and smiles. <<page "Continue" "ch1-blacksmith4">>

<<if $athchoice is 1>>\ "<<cap $name>>, we're going to do something a little special today. We've been at this for a year so I set aside your allowance, and I noticed we had a few spare parts and funds lying around, what with all the money you saved me on shipments, so I'd like you to take these." <<else>>\ "<<cap $name>>, we're going to do something a little special today. We've been at this for a year so I set aside your allowance, and I noticed we had a few spare parts and funds lying around, what with all the scraps from the projects we've been trying out together, so I'd like you to take these." <</if>>\ <<unset $athchoice>>\ He slides the box over to you with his foot. Inside the sack is 12 Shards, seaglass-like coins that hold a small fraction of Chi in them. Your year's allowance. You had heard that a Martial Artist's soul, one that could generate an aura of chi to empower the warrior and make him stronger, was made up of the force of thousands or even hundreds of thousands of Shards. You smile at your first collection of power. Yet Shards aren't the only objects in the box. "You're wondering what those parts are for, eh? Well...I told you we only make things because people want them, but today's customer wants something special. <<cap $sondaughter>>, today's customer is you. We're gonna make you the most impressive knife you've ever seen." You're not sure how high the heavens reach, but you're sure that your smile is visible from the top. <<page "Continue" "ch1-blacksmith5">>

You and your father work the forge for the entire day as he walks you through the process step by step. Initial heating, flattening, straightening, sanding, fullering, sharpening, reheating, quenching, and then fitting, carving, and staining the hilt and sheath before adding the decorative crisscrossing cloth strip. After 13 demanding hours you stare down at the coolest toy- "I know that look, stop staring at it like it's a toy." Father says through an exhausted exhale. You stare down at the coolest //item// owned by any child in the village. ''[Craft +1]'' <<var $craft + 1>>\ ''[Item Gained: Tanto]'' <<var $itemtanto 200000000>>\ ''[Item Gained: Year's Allowance (12 Shards)]'' <<var $shards + 12>>\ <<var $misfitopen "With your smithing career well on its way and looking promising, your parents give you a bit more leeway with your time.">>\ <<page "Continue" "ch1-misfits">>\

''[Enter your Clan name in the text box below then click 'Continue']" <<textbox "$clan" "Auraclash">> <<page "Continue" "ch1-pickclan2">>\

Energy flows through Shards in your hands. You can feel it. Concentrating on a mental command you call out to that power to push itself out. It's different than you expected. It feels like puffing out your chest and lungs with air to help lift a heavy object, only this time you're applying the pressure to a phantom sensation outside your body. It works. Light emits from both your hands and the Shards simultaneously. The Shards dissolve slowly into a glowing mist of raw chi that weighs on you more than you expected. Somehow the mist gives off the impression of a heavier weight than the Shards ever did. You grasp that sensation and envision the weighted mist spinning clockwise while shrinking, compressing itself at the center. The chi responds to your will and rotates. Faster and faster you will it into a whirlwind the size of your chest and compress it down, pushing the center towards your torso, giving the chi a path of least resistance. A cool and shocking sensation fills your solar plexus and, more alarming, your entire back, as the chi touches upon your very soul. You knew in theory that chi was made of the essence of a soul and souls were made of living essence of chi, but it's only now that you truly understand it. Chi is not a soul. Your soul is not just chi. It's closer to the relation between your physical body and food: you are a complex living being that needs to eat other living beings like plants and meat to grow. Your soul is no different. These Shards and any other source of chi are food for your soul. The sensation of spiritual hunger is gone the second you feel it, filled immediately with your spirit's first meal, but the small spiral of chi energy you formed is only half depleted. There is much more left to take. This is it. This is the secret. <<page "Push!" "ch1-cycle3">>

Shakes and aches overtake your body as you force the rest of the chi into your soul, and it //stretches//. <<apboost 10>>\ ''[Do not forget to save on occasion!]'' To say chills run down your spine is an understatement. The feeling is so much more disorienting. Your tiny fraction of Aura Pressure is so small that this surge expands your sense of self right out of your body. Your soul grows too large. It doesn't feel like chills going down your spine, it feels like chills going down a space three inches further back than where your spine actually is. As if your nerves are connected to the air around you. Your body falls over as your spirit expands and your awareness goes with it. You try to stay up by tensing your abs to steady yourself, but your nerves send the order to an area two inches in front of your stomach instead. Your mind is treating your body as if it is 30% bigger than it actually is and you collapse from a total loss of motor control. Across from you, Kosuke suffers the same struggle on the ground. You see grey steam around $bffhisher chest and, with focus, see the same around yourself. It's not an aura, yet. The glow will fade for good once it's absorbed, but it's your first step forward. A real step forward. You both laugh on the ground feeling simultaneously more energized and more exhausted than ever before. <<var $wounds 0>>\ <<var $chapter 1.4>>\ ''[Ability Unlocked: Cycling]'' ''[You can now cycle Shards or other mystic objects/energies to absorb their power by going to the Cultivation menu.]'' Kosuke looks over to you, sweating on the ground and radiating a weak white steam. <<if ($bffheshe isnot $heshe)>>\ "You're glowing." <<cap $bffheshe>> says. <<choose "ch1-I-NEED-MORE-POWER">> #"The first time of many." I say, "We're gonna be legends." <<var $aurapressure + 1>>\ #"Look who's talking." I tease. <<var $ruthless - 1>>\ <<var $bffrep + 4>>\ #"Worked like a charm," I reply, "and now to show the twins." <<var $shards + 3>>\ <<var $honor + 1>>\ <</choose>>\ <<else>>\ "Finally," $bffheshe says, "we're gonna be legends." <<choose "ch1-I-NEED-MORE-POWER">> #"Hell yeah we are." I say. <<var $aurapressure + 2>>\ <<var $ruthless + 2>>\ #"Maybe you will," I reply, "we lost a dozen Shards from this. I'd rather keep my money and be the world's best $background." <<var $shards + 3>>\ <<var $ruthless - 2>>\ #"Worked like a charm," I reply, "and now to show the twins." <<var $aurapressure + 1>>\ <<var $honor + 1>>\ <</choose>>\ <</if>>\

<<if $leftovershards gt 0>>\ ''[Item Gained: $leftovershards Shards]'' <<var $shards + $leftovershards>>\ <</if>>\ With all the secrets of cycling at your disposal, the only question left is how you will go about it. You now know the basics of spiritual cycling from an academic standpoint and \ <<if $wounds > 0>>\ Kosuke saw a great real life example when you were busy being attacked. The Shards need to be envisioned and willed as a bright grey swirl of energy funneling into your torso like water down a drain. That's what the spiral part was all about: it pressurizes the chi to push it into your body. <<else>>\ you've seen an example in-person. <</if>>\ You have the Shards, you have the knowledge, and you have the means. All that's left are the final preparations. <<choose "ch1-cycle2">> #I brew potions to prepare my body. [Increase Alchemy] Neither of you know what could go wrong from compressing chi and forcing it into your body, but you both figure the list of possibilities is high. That's why you decide to brew muscle-ache and stomach-ache remedies to prepare for the troubles that could distract you. After hours of searching through the nearby woods you've collected the right mushrooms, herbs, and roots to brew some potions. Kosuke supplies the cooking pot and water, you start the fire. It's important to burn out any impurities; you did collect this stuff from the dirt. ''[Alchemy +1]'' <<var $alchemy + 1>>\ You chug the concoctions and steady your nerves. <<page "Here goes nothing..." "ch1-cycle2">> #I practice with other people's Shards. [Increase Thievery] There's no preparation quite like trying the process multiple times. You and Kosuke work on a bit of "supply procurement", as $bffhisher father calls it, in which one of you bumps into someone and apologizes while the other picks their pocket from behind. It's a smooth operation and you come out with a decent bit of Shards and Silver, which Kosuke runs off to trade in for more Shards. <<learnthievery 1>>\ When $bffheshe gets back you both sit down take a handful from the pile and sit down cross-legged to practice your cycling. You hold the Shards against your chest and focus. It's a strange feeling, trying to sense the Shards, but you're calm throughout the process because you know it isn't important. You can try again if it doesn't work. That careless serenity actually does help. Dull light comes from your chest as the Shards slowly dissolve. It's slower than what you witnessed earlier. You hold your hands out as a crutch to focus your will over the "cloud" of glowing grey chi that the Shards became. It doesn't work. Your focus slips and the chi fades into the ground, but you //do// feel what you were supposed to do. You open your eyes and see Kosuke already has the hang of it, forming a spiral out of the chi cloud in front of $bffhimher, eyes closed. Good, more Shards for you then. You grab the last fistful of ill-gotten gains and steady yourself. <<rand $leftovershards 3 6>>\ ''[Item Gained: $leftovershards Shards]'' <<var $shards + $leftovershards>>\ <<page "Here goes nothing..." "ch1-cycle2">> #I meditate deeply to feel out the flow of the aura. [Increase Insight] A calm mind is a healthy mind. You've been practicing a feel for aura in the past and almost succeeded, but now that you have so much of it around you and saw what to look for, it's easier to reach your mind and spirit out to "feel" the presence of the Shards in your lap. Kosuke imitates your practice across from you, chest slowly rising with each breath. Your mind is as calm as it can be. Your posture relaxed. Your spirit prepared. The wind is cool upon your hair and the earth solid below your body. You can actually feel your connection to the natural energies of the Earth. Slightly. ''[Insight +1]'' <<var $insight + 1>>\ <<page "Here goes nothing..." "ch1-cycle2">> #I'm tough enough, I force it and rely entirely on my muscles. [Increase Athletics] All these preparations are for people trying to make up for their weaknesses. You and Kosuke have been "preparing" for this your entire lives with constant physical exercise. Games, chores, free time, it didn't matter. Your legs were always on the move, and you were always carrying something. ''[Athletics +1]'' <<var $athletics + 1>>\ You slap your cheeks to get hyped up and jump twice in place. It's now or never. Hopefully you don't explode. <<page "Here goes nothing..." "ch1-cycle2">> <</choose>>\

Despite all evidence pointing to the contrary, you and Kosuke are capable of taking the safe and reasonable option. One long walk down the eastern road brings you to the lower clearings designated for combat training. Bursts of cannonfire and fireworks fill the air, but you see no smoke. It's the sound of chi blasts and empowered fists colliding. Realization hits you both that today must be a day for active combat drills and you can barely contain your excitement, this was perfect. You run the rest of the way and join a small crowd to watch the fights. There are five glowing Martial Artists facing off in the field. Each fighter is ignited in different swirls of color. One burns with bright red as if he was on fire, another is covered in a thick violet steam, and two are radiating blue pulses of light from their bodies. The fifth is a red-skinned Oni covered in a simple white glow. He seems to be the weakest. Yet even the weakest is performing miracles on the battlefield. You see him dash across half the field in a burst of speed so swift that he leaves a trail of white light behind him. At times he forms white orbs of raw power in his hands and throws them at the other training combatants. The crowd cheers when a missed orb turns around midair from behind one blue-glowing combatant and hits her from behind. It seemed to be a tracker Technique. Simple, and a fan-favorite. <<page "Pull out some snacks and keep watching" "ch1-disciples2">>

The blue pair shoot beams of freezing energy from their arms that leave waist-sized lines of ice wherever they hit the ground. The violet steam wielder forms crystal swords from nothing over her shoulders and launches them with her mind. The red aura-wielder you actually recognize: Crusher Mao, master of the Thunderfall Sect in your village. His physical power is insane. The man's strikes leave craters in the ground when an opponent dodges, and when he lands the next hit his opponent is knocked into the air and out of the field. It mattered not, in seconds his target rejoins the fray in a blur of light just like that Technique the white aura wielder had used. It's incredible. You've never seen anything so amazing in your life, with good reason. You aren't supposed to be so close at your age. Your ears ring from the shockwaves when their fists clash, and pain shoots through your eyes from the flashes of light when they launch blasts or beams of raw chi. ''[Aura Pressure +3]'' <<var $aurapressure + 3>>\ <<if $bffheshe is "she">>\ Kosuke takes your hand when it gets too much for her and runs to hide behind some trees up the road. "We can talk to them when they leave!" she shouts over the shockwaves of the fight, "I'm sure they'll want some Shards to refresh after that fight, we can offer them for advice!" <<else>>\ Eventually it's too much. You and Kosuke retreat up the trail and rest behind a tree to wait for the fights to end. After such a display of power the combatants must be low on chi. You plan to bribe them with Shards to teach you about cycling. <</if>>\ <<page "Twenty minutes of mock battles later..." "ch1-disciples3">>\

Excitement dies down when the sounds and flashes slow to a halt. It seems the fight is over. Only one of the combatants actually leaves through the regular trail with the crowd, the Oni with a pure white aura. Not yet a master, but far greater than the fresh recruits if he was allowed to fight alongside Master Mao. He's perfect for your needs. "Hey mister!" Kosuke shouts, running from behind a tree. "My friend here has a question to ask you." You glare at Kosuke. That \ <<if $bffheshe is "she">>\ witch \ <<else>>\ jerk \ <</if>>\ just threw you under the wagon. The red-skinned Oni looks down at you, rubbing a towel over his hair. "Yeah? I've got somewhere to be, what is it?" Now's your chance. You reach into your bag of Kosuke's stolen Shards to make your pitch and... <<choose "ch1-disciples4">> #Offer him a handful and keep the rest. <<if (($persuasion gt 0) or ($thievery gt 0))>>\ <<rand $leftovershards 13 19>>\ <<else>>\ <<rand $leftovershards 5 8>>\ "We want to learn how to absorb Shards," you say while pulling out a handful. "We were hoping you'd show us if we gave you a few." The Oni martial artist looks down on you with pity. "Ah that's rough, little ones, but this isn't enough. The stronger you get the more Shards you need for a single cycling." Kosuke reaches in and grabs another handful from your bag. "How about this much?" <</if>>\ #Offer two handfuls and keep the rest. <<rand $leftovershards 6 9>>\ #Offer the whole pile. <<var $leftovershards 0>>\ <<var $honor + 3>>\ <<var $ruthless - 2>>\ <</choose>>\

The Oni man looks over you both with concern and suspicion. "You sure you want me to take your money in exchange for watching me absorb some Shards?" You both nod. "Well that's hard to argue against." he says, taking your Shards and sitting cross-legged on the grass. "Pay close attention to the spiral pattern." ''[Persuasion +1]'' <<var $persuasion + 1>>\ With eyes closed, he holds the Shards up to his chest and seems to focus hard, crushing them with his hand. You cringe at the sight of so much money being destroyed, but then you remember it's not yours, it's Kosuke's. Actually, $bffheshe stole it. It's the weaver's. Grey glowing mist emits from the broken Shards and the man's breathing changes. He motions with one hand to imitate a spiral and points to that hand with his other. You get the impression this isn't part of the process, rather him pointing out what to focus on. The glowing mist forms into a pool in front of his torso then begins to swirl in a spiral, falling into the man's torso at its middle like water down a drain. His whole body glows a little brighter than it did during the fight. Then his eyes open. "And that's the gist. The Shards shatter into energy, and you need to focus on it like your imagination is gripping a cloud in front of you. Then you spin it to compress the chi and use that pressure to push the chi in the center into your body until you've absorbed it all. Got it?" You nod in astonishment. Before you can ask any follow-up questions he vanishes with another streak of white light left behind. He really did have somewhere to be. With a newfound understanding of cycling and cultivation, you both head back to the village for the final \ <<if $leftovershards gt 0>>\ step. On the way, you fiddle with the leftover Shards in your bag. Seems you and Kosuke got to keep a bonus. <<include "ch1-cyclemethod">>\ <<else>>\ step. <<page "Continue" "ch1-cyclemethod">>\ <</if>>\

Khan nods and writes out your family's entry. <<if ($heshe is "he")>>\ <<var $patriarch "Patriarch">>\ <<else>>\ <<var $patriarch "Matriarch">>\ <</if>>\ It feels like you're dreaming when he records your Clan under the Warrior Caste. It feels even more surreal to see him add your name as its $patriarch. You're not sure how Father is going to take that. "Congratulations on your newfound prosperity, $fullname." Magistrate Khan says when he finishes writing, "Bear in mind at all times that this is no gift. It is an obligation. Hard work brought you to this point and I expect much more of it from you. Now get out." <<page "Time to go home." "ch1-end2">>\

Father and Mother are gone when you exit the Magistrate's grand pagoda. Cold winds bite at your skin during the walk home until you remember you're above that now. With a mental command and a spiritual flex you channel white energy to burn around your body and warm your bones. How many small problems in life only existed because you lacked power? You'll soon find out. The lights are on when you get home so you slide the door open to see Mother and Father sleeping on a tatami mat in the living room, waiting for their $sondaughter. <<choose "ch1-end3">> #"You'll never guess what happened." Your parents stir. Mother groggily wipes some drool from her mouth, then notices you. "<<cap $name>>! Oh goodness, what happened?" #"Apologies for the delay." Mother's eyes flutter open and she smiles warmly at you. "No need at all, my brave young $sondaughter." #"Clan subordinates, at attention!" <<var $ruthless + 1>>\ "Wha-?" asks Mother, stirring from her rest. "<<cap $name>>! What happened?" "That's $fullname," you reply, "and a lot." <</choose>>\

Mother wakes Father and you explain the whole story to them, from Mao's mockery to Khan's judgment. You hesitate when explaining your new Clan's hierarchy since you just usurped them both. Father has raised you and taken care of you, Jin, Rin, and Mother your whole life. A regular man doing everything he can to provide for you all. Like most laborers he could have worked to unlock an aura over his decades of hard work if he wanted to, but he turned it down to save every Shard for his family and avoid unwanted attention upon his house. And here you come, recklessly Advancing to a weak aura, and now replacing him as head of the family because of it. It was an unexpected turn and you aren't sure how Father will feel. You aren't sure how //you// feel. Hesitation won't do you any good so you simply tell your parents the final details. Your family becoming an official Clan, the Clan's leadership, and the Caste you've been assigned. Father's stoney expression cracks. He starts to laugh. He continues to laugh. He falls over laughing. When Father recovers he wipes tears from his eyes and looks upward. "Heavens rain fortune down in such unpredictable storms. <<cap $sondaughter>>, could you paint Mao's expression for me? To see the look on that bastard's face when he realized he was fooled would be worth every \ <<if ($background is "Trapper")>>\ pelt I've ever skinned." <<elseif ($background is "Blacksmith")>>\ nail I've ever smithed." <<elseif ($background is "Herbalist")>>\ herb I've ever picked." <<else>>\ item I've ever sold." <</if>>\ <<if ($craft gte 1)>>\ ''[Craft 1 Check Passed]'' You actually think you can. It's burned into your memory well enough. ''[Item Gained: Portrait of Mao's Bewildered Face]'' <<var $itempainting + 1000000>>\ <</if>>\ "Careful darling," Mother says, "it is poor form to insult a //fellow// member of //our// Caste." You and Father pause, stare at Mother, then all three of you laugh together. What was at first one of the worst days of your life has become the start of a joyful new era for your family. The $clan family. <<page "Chapter 2" "ch2-start">>\

Father gives you a heavy lecture about picking fights and how cultivation can only lead to more troubles like what you faced tonight. Mother is busy applying a poultice to $fightfren's nose. When she's done she \ <<if $fightfren is "Kosuke">>\ sends $bffhimher home for the night, then \ <</if>>\ spanks you worse than Jack ever did for getting your \ <<if $fightfren is "Kosuke">>\ friend \ <<elseif $fightfren is "Jin">>\ brother \ <<elseif $fightfren is "Rin">>\ sister \ <</if>>\ in danger. This is bullshit, why do you always take the blame? Being the oldest kid in the house is the worst. It takes another hour of lecturing before you get to rest from such a long night, and only after promising your parents that you understand the dangers of cultivation. Technically you never said you'd stop. Just that you understood the dangers. Jack has thrown the gauntlet, and you're going to answer his challenge. You're driven to work even harder \ <<if $jackfight gt 0>>\ after a week of recovery \ <</if>>\ and spend the next year on another side job where you... <<include "ch1-gigs">>\

Breaking into the jail would be no easy feat, you thought, until you broke into the jail. It's a barn-sized building with two layers of cold-iron bar cells on both sides of a short hall and a desk seated near the door and the back where guards can sit. You only ever hear of the cells being used to host thieves or drunks. Highwaymen tended to get executed. Kosuke scoped out the building for half an hour until you braved a peak through the jail window and doors only to find it empty. The cells looked empty too, so the guard on shift must have snuck off. Whoever the slacker guard was, you liked him already. You and Kosuke enter the building when no one is on the road to witness. ''[Stealth +1]'' <<var $stealth + 1>>\ Light comes in through the windows and reveals you weren't correct on your initial assessment. The cells aren't all empty. In the back corner one of the cells has an even smaller cell inside of it, stopping its inhabitant from reaching out to passersby. You can imagine why. When the prisoner rises from the ground you can make out its features more clearly and confirm it isn't humanoid. Not anymore. Standing in the thinner cell inside a cell, barely wide enough to let it lay down, is a man with pale paper-thin skin covered in open wounds that leak no blood. His eyes have no iris and his teeth ooze black saliva. <<if ($portraitpics is true)>>\ <<image "https://www.auraclash.com/assets/images/ghoul.jpg">>\ <</if>>\ A Ghoul. <<if $bffheshe is "he">>\ "Sick, it's real!" shouts Kosuke, running up to the first set of bars to get a closer look. "I'll bet the Magistrate threatens to feed people to it...Awesome. Quick, <<else>>\ "That's so messed up that something like this is kept in our town." Kosuke says, "Don't their bites turn people into ghouls too? Let's get out of here as soon as we can, <</if>>\ toss it the Shards." <<page "Surely this can't be a bad idea" "ch1-ghoul2">>\

You reach into your bag and throw a handful of Kosuke's stolen Shards at the ghoul's feet. It doesn't react, staring instead at your general direction. Not good. If someone comes in and sees the pile of Shards they're going to ask questions, and these //are// stolen Shards. "Uh...throw more?" Kosuke says, doublechecking the doors. You try tossing another handful. No reaction. <<if $bffheshe is "he">>\ "Hold on, I have an idea." Kosuke scratches $bffhisher gum until it bleeds and spits blood on the pile of Shards. <<else>>\ "Maybe it doesn't like pure chi? These things eat people so what if you put some blood on it?" You think for a second and scratch your gums with your fingernail, then spit blood onto the pile. <</if>>\ Finally the ghoul reacts. Its knees give out. Undead skin crashes into the pile as the creature's face drops into the Shards. It starts chewing the bloodstained seaglass-like coins until the Shards crack open. Bright gray energy swirls in a thick visible mist around the chewed up Shard pieces. The ghoul turns over onto it's back and exhales more of the glowing mist until the energy rests inches above its torso like a thick cloud of mist. Slowly the energy begins to turn like a wheel until its center swirls down into the creature's stomach like water going down a drain. ''[Aura Pressure +2]'' <<var $aurapressure + 2>>\ So that's it, you realize. That's what the spiral of cycling was about: it pressurizes the chi to push it into your body. You realize the creature's eyes are now locked with yours, and glowing with renewed power, renewed understanding. Slowly it places two hands on the jailcell bars...and pulls. A loud creak echos through the jail as the bars bend ever so slightly. "Oh SHIT!" you and Kosuke shout together. With a newfound understanding of cycling and cultivation achieved, you both flee the jail before someone investigates your loud noise. You check your bag while running and find at least you have leftover Shards for you two to split. <<rand $leftovershards 6 9>>\ <<include "ch1-cyclemethod">>\

<<var $age + 1>>\ <<var $shards + 2>>\ <<var $careerpath + 1>>\ <<if ($careerpath is 1)>>\ After that entire year of two jobs you find yourself locked in your room sitting cross-legged, eyes closed in concentration on your <<print $age>>th birthday. In your lap is a pile Shards rapidly dissolving into a glowing grey mist as you cycle. Once again, you push the spiritual energy called Chi into the core of your soul and feel your sense of self stretch out. Your body heats with fever but the strain is gratifying, like sore muscles earned from a tough fight. ''[Aura Pressure +10]'' <<var $aurapressure + 10>>\ You wake on the floor minutes later, soaked in sweat, and smile. After all that hard work you've finally made progress. Father notices your absence during the evenings but allows it; it's not impacting your work. In fact, the increased aura pressure is helping you function every day. You have no powers yet but you've become a little less tired, a little more alert, a little faster, a little stronger. You can keep going, and you do. ''[Aura Pressure +2]'' <<var $aurapressure + 2>>\ ''[Item Gained: Allowance (12 Shards)]'' <<var $shards + 12>>\ The next year you decide to... <<include "ch1-gigs">>\ <<elseif ($careerpath is 2)>>\ After all that effort another year has passed and you have enough Shards for another cycling. Unfortunately, this time it takes up your entire allowance too. Father notices you've saved less money now at $age than when you were younger. He disapproves, but your spirit is requiring more and more Shards to force its growth. ''[Aura Pressure +10]'' <<var $aurapressure + 10>>\ Life gets easier beyond that point. Your Aura Pressure is higher than most adults in the village and the only one in your friend group that can keep up with you anymore is... <<choose "ch1-gigend2">> #My friend Kosuke. The roughhousing you and your friends used to do slowly devolves as no one else can keep up with you anymore. Well, no one else except Kosuke. That's why the wrestling games have been almost entirely replaced with one-on-one duels between you two. Everyone else sits on the sidelines and cheers for whoever seems like the underdog at the time. It gets close \ <<if ($heshe isnot $bffheshe)>>\ sometimes, normally ending with a grapple for dominance on the ground. <<else>>\ more often than not, but you're determined to change that in your favor. <</if>>\ <<var $kosukecombat + 1>>\ Neither of you have unlocked your auras yet so you don't have the explosive mystic power of a Martial Artist, but you're both punching well above your weight. After a few months of sparring you figure either of you can now take on a normal adult. #My little brother Jin. An odd sensation - pride? - fills you when Jin somehow stands up to you whenever you're roughhousing. You can still whip him around because of size difference, but it's not easy. His hits are a little stronger, his skin a little tougher, and his reflexes a little faster than they should be. You both know the difference when your auras unlock will be explosive in comparison, but you never knew having similar aura pressures could nearly close the gap on age or body size. <<var $jincombat + 1>>\ You're glad it does. #My little sister Rin. You're as surprised as anyone when Rin's Aura Pressure catches up to yours. She can't beat you in a fight, yet, but she tries....and it's gotten close more than once. Her hits are a little stronger, her skin a little tougher, and her reflexes a little faster than they should be. You both know the difference when your auras unlock will be explosive in comparison but you never knew having similar Aura Pressures could nearly close the gap on age or body size. <<var $rincombat + 1>>\ You're glad it does. It's nice to be able to roughhouse without hurting her. <</choose>>\ <<elseif ($careerpath is 3)>>\ <<include "ch1-jackpre">>\ <<else>>\ Turning $age was supposed to mark you as an adult, but instead it's marked you as a failed Martial Artist even with your cycling shortcut. No amount of passion increased the amount of Shards you made and it only got worse when Jack and his friends gained their first Advancement last season. You stagnated working wage jobs while their professional training helped them become full aura-wielding Martial Artists. The Magistrate threw a grand parade to celebrate. You didn't attend. You're an adult now and you failed to cultivate enough chi for a single Advancement. Annual cycling is a thing of the past and at this rate you're going to be \ <<if $background is "Herbalist">>\ an \ <<else>>\ a \ <</if>>\ $background for life. <<if $background is "Herbalist">>\ ''[Alchemy +1]'' <<var $alchemy + 1>>\ <<elseif $background is "Merchant">>\ ''[Persuasion +1]'' <<var $persuasion + 1>>\ <<elseif $background is "Blacksmith">>\ ''[Craft +1]'' <<var $craft + 1>>\ <<elseif $background is "Trapper">>\ ''[Survival +1]'' <<var $survival + 1>>\ <</if>>\ ''[Item Gained: 25 Shards]'' <<var $shards + 25>>\ Autumn has come and, although cultivation has become too expensive, you did take some advice to heart; you and \ <<if $kosukecombat is 0>>\ <<if $jincombat > 0>>\ Jin \ <<else>>\ Rin \ <</if>>\ learned that fighting at full strength with strikes gave better results than your old method of sparring with grapples. ''[Aura Pressure +7]'' <<var $aurapressure + 7>>\ Neither of you have any real power yet but the matches are getting more intense. You're starting to feel like a real fighter, though Mother and Father are growing sick of tending to your bruises. Unfortunately you can't spar tonight, you're hanging out with Kosuke pretty soon. <<else>>\ Kosuke learned that fighting at full strength with strikes gave better results than your old method of sparring with grapples. ''[Aura Pressure +7]'' <<var $aurapressure + 7>>\ Neither of you have any real power yet but the matches are getting more intense. Mother is refusing to treat your bruises these days since she says you seek them out and waste her money on ungents. Kosuke's response was to steal some medical supplies off a caravan as an excuse to keep training. Mother didn't agree, but Kosuke still comes around. <</if>>\ In fact, $bffheshe should be at your house any minute. <<page "[Knock knock]" "ch1-jack">>\ <</if>>\

''[Aura Pressure +4]'' <<var $aurapressure + 4>>\ It's good for your Aura Pressure, but it isn't enough. Between the sparring and your main job you know you're advancing too slowly. That's why you take another side job where you... <<include "ch1-gigs">>\

<<choose "ch1-gigend">> #use-if (dig($choiceflag, 1) eq 1) Gather herbs and roots for the apothecary. [Increase Alchemy] <<var $choiceflag + 100000000000>>\ There's no such thing as useful weeds. Any root, leaf, fruit, or seed that has alchemical properties has long since been harvested, eaten, or moved inside someone's garden centuries ago. At least that's how Mother explains why you shouldn't have taken the job you did. But she's not unsupportive. She gives you her guide for medicinal plants. You spend the first couple weeks searching for anything useful in the nearby woods during the day. It brings in minimal results. You know the good stuff wouldn't be around people so you need to hit the trails between the villages. The problem is, those woods are dangerous. Beasts and worse prowl them at night. You'll need hired protection, or better, someone else's hired protection. It takes a couple more weeks to get the timing right but your insidious plan comes to fruition and pays off. Merchants travel between villages constantly in large groups of wagons called a caravan, and they always have Martial Artists as guards. No merchant would let you travel with them for free, but that didn't matter. You scoped out the trail and memorized all the popular caravan schedules. Then you jogged a quarter mile in front of them. There's nothing illegal about following a trail and the caravans can't demand that you leave because you're already leaving; they're the ones following you. You know your plan works flawlessly because you continuously see shadows of mysterious predators fleeing through the woods. They all retreat when they sense the combined Aura Pressure of the caravan's approaching Martial Artists. You take that chance to harvest from the more dangerous areas away from town in relative safety. <<var $val ((4 + $perception) + $insight)>>\ ''[Alchemy +1]'' <<var $alchemy + 1>>\ ''[Item Gained: $val Alchemy Reagents]'' <<var $alchemyreagents + $val>>\ <<var $val 0>>\ The apothecaries in town, a family of Oni, appreciate your work and pay well enough, but ask you to please retire. The Magistrate's clerks sent word that there have been complaints from the caravan merchants. According to them, you're distracting the guards they paid good money to employ. So much for the free market. <<if $race is "Oni">>\ At least the apothecaries paid you a bit extra. They say you Oni need to watch out for each other. You stash the bulk of your payment away for cycling and pocket the change. ''[Item Gained: 10 Shards]'' <<var $shards + 10>>\ <</if>>\ <<page "Those merchants will rue the day!" "ch1-gigend">> #use-if (dig($choiceflag, 2) eq 1) Deliver parcels around the village. [Increase Athletics] <<var $choiceflag + 10000000000>>\ Your name is <<cap $name>>, and you are the fastest $boygirl alive. Well, the fastest in your village...if you don't count Martial Artists. At first it was too much, jogging nonstop for your deliveries every evening after your shift working with Father, but day by day it gets easier. Your legs toughen up and your lungs get used to the exercise. Before you know it, the job becomes almost a joy. You get addicted to the thrill of speed. It's obvious to you that this feeling isn't normal. This kind of running and lack of sleep should wear you down, not build you up, and you know what's caused the change. It's not just your body growing into the task. It's your Aura Pressure. The fruits of your cycling are beginning to show themselves. ''[Athletics +1]'' <<var $athletics + 1>>\ ''[Aura Pressure +4]'' <<var $aurapressure + 4>>\ Unfortunately, people notice. Kids around the village become envious of how you found a way to get paid //and// get stronger, and they all form competing delivery services. Most quit early, but enough stay that it's not just wages that plummet, it's available jobs. There just aren't enough deliveries to make it worthwhile anymore. You end up quitting while you're ahead and looking for something more worthwhile. <<page "The market has spoken." "ch1-gigend">> #use-if (dig($choiceflag, 3) eq 1) Weave rugs with Rin. [Increase Craft] -> "ch1-gigs-display" <<var $choiceflag + 1000000000>>\ When you first started looking for sidejobs you were thinking like everyone else: what makes money fast. It's a surprise when Rin proposes that you help do the heavy lifting for a longterm project she's wanted to do. You don't like the idea of splitting money with your sister, especially since you taught her to cycle. Nobody wants their siblings getting stronger than them. Still, she has a good plan. Many laborers are competing for the quick money gigs. The market for longterm projects has less competition and thus less people bringing the price down. It also has almost guaranteed customers. Supply and demand and all that. The two of you split your funds to invest in the materials. "What kind of rugs do you think we should make?" Rin asks as you both walk home. "Expensive ones." You say. "Yeah, duh!" she shouts, causing the box of fabric in her hands to bounce, "but do we want small ones or big ones? Big ones are harder to make, I'm not sure if I know how to make em but the small ones wouldn't pay as well...But they'd be easy to make!" <<var $sisrep + 5>>\ She looks up at you, "What do you think, big \ <<if $heshe is "he">>\ brother?" <<else>>\ sister?" <</if>>\ #use-if (dig($choiceflag, 4) eq 1) Beg with Kosuke. [Increase Deception] <<var $choiceflag + 100000000>>\ <<var $honor - 2>>\ It isn't honest work, but by the Heavens does it finally scratch that itch to live a day in the life of Kosuke's profession. <<cap $bffheshe>> teaches you every trick in the book to tug on people's heartstrings inside and outside the market square, and you get //good// at it. ''[Deception +1]'' <<var $deception + 1>>\ <<var $bffrep + 5>>\ Unfortunately begging isn't all it's cracked up to be, and you get mocked or spit on more often than you expected. You could fight back but that would blow your cover, which, inevitably, it does. One day some bigger kid from out of town kicks Kosuke for bothering him and you beat the crap out of them before even realizing what you're doing. ''[Aura Pressure +1]'' <<var $aurapressure + 1>>\ He accuses you of being in the Thunderfall Sect, which isn't true, but sheds enough attention on you that your con of being a helpess kid falls apart. <<page "Aw nuts" "ch1-gigend">> #use-if (dig($choiceflag, 5) eq 1) Apprentice to the wicked old mystic lady outside of town. [Increase Handseals] <<var $choiceflag + 10000000>>\ Nobody likes Hag Mabel. You suspect she read children's tales about evil old women and decided to take notes. Cranky attitude, high pitched cackle, hunched back, long nose complete with a wart, she is a textbook old witch. She also is constantly booked with appointments. Any Martial Artist worth their salt can make elixirs and potions out of Beasts or spirits or high quality herbs, but your village has very few of those available. Your section of Outer West is low in natural aura. Hedge witches like Hag Mabel are the celebrities of such low aura environments. While Martial Artists can hunt some house-sized fiery badger to grind its teeth into a potion of great power, Hag Mabel can grow mundane herbs and collect newt eyes to make potions of meager power. Her works have two massive advantages over the Martial Artist's: they are affordable, and they are plentiful. <<page "Continue" "ch1-gigs-display2">>\ #use-if (dig($choiceflag, 6) eq 1) Work as a junior desk clerk for the Magistrate. [Increase Insight] <<var $choiceflag + 1000000>>\ You thought being a clerk would be a test of intelligence. Clerks always come off as brainy types who are well-read. In truth your clerical work is almost entirely spent trying to get people to calm down and stop yelling at you. Almost nobody goes to the Magistrate's clerks with good news, and so you hear nothing but complaints from the townsfolk. And boy do they complain. From pests to borders to thieves to feuds, plus divorces and building requests and law changes and farming rights. You don't have the authority to solve almost any of these issues. All you can do is try to see through the rants and find out what people are actually angry about. ''[Insight +1]'' <<var $insight + 1>>\ ''[Your knowledge of Bureaucracy has increased. Could this be helpful later in life?]'' <<var $commerce + 2>>\ One day you finally have enough and yell back at a villager who is screaming his head off that your village is nothing but a bandit outpost if you won't stop his neighbor from planting strawberries uphill of his cabbages, because it ruins his soil when it rains. It is so stupid, and he is yelling so loudly. When a senior clerk tells you to calm down you truly let them both have it. "Shut UP!" You scream. "You older clerks don't interact with the villagers at all, you don't deal with the constant screaming every day, and you don't have to keep apologizing for things you didn't do like I have to. You just sit back and read up on the problems that //I// write down for you. This entire operation is a joke, it's like my entire job is to be yelled at!" "Well, yes." replies a senior clerk in beige robes and glasses, calmly, "That is why we hired you." "Oh." You say without a good follow-up, "I quit." <<page "Old people suck." "ch1-gigend">>\ #use-if (dig($choiceflag, 7) eq 1) Give reading lessons to younger kids. [Increase Lore] <<var $choiceflag + 100000>>\ <<var $honor + 1>>\ <<var $prevknowledge 1>>\ Teaching little children how to read and write is a noble goal. A noble goal that you are doing for money. Mother had enough time in the day to teach you, Jin, and Rin, but not all families have the free time, or mothers that can read. That's where you come in. You get a few different families worth of kids together and meet them by the well after your shifts with Father, where you teach them the basics of the alphabet, calligraphy, and pronunciation until dark when you all return home. ''[Lore +1]'' <<var $lore+ 1>>\ After months of study you decide the kids are ready to start reading full-sized scrolls for practice. You swing down to the Magistrate's clerks and borrow a few scrolls about Imperial Rasen. <<page "Take a seat, kids, it's story time!" "ch1-gigs-display3">>\ #use-if (dig($choiceflag, 8) eq 1) Exterminate pests with Jin. [Increase Perception] <<var $choiceflag + 10000>>\ Looking into ways to make money leads you down quite the rabbit hole. You expected to find competition in all your ventures and you were right, but exterminating pests only has one child to compete with: Jin. You had no idea your little brother was out there murdering bugs and mice to get some extra spending money, but you're proud of him. And as the elder sibling, you also have a thing or two to show him. "Hey Jin." You say as he gets breakfast one morning. "Uhhhh yes?" Jin asks, hesitantly holding the last peach. "Nice exterminator business. You work for me now." "Aw man." Jin says before running off before you can steal his fruit too. <<page "Continue" "ch1-gigs-display4">> #use-if (dig($choiceflag, 9) eq 1) Run your own juice stand. [Increase Persuasion] <<var $choiceflag + 1000>>\ Why break the mold when the model works so well. You're a child, you need money, children run juice stands. It only makes sense, and your competition is small for some reason that isn't related to Jin and Kosuke running shakedowns on smaller juice stands. Strawberry juice in the spring, lemonade in the summer, ice water by the forges, hot chocolate in the winter, Father's weird-smelling burning drink for the caravan guards, whatever the situation you have a drink for it and business is booming. Business ideas seem hard at first, but you learn it all comes down to offering people a product they want in a time when they have money to spend. ''[Persuasion +1]'' <<var $persuasion + 1>>\ <<var $commerce + 1>>\ ''[Item Gained: 12 Shards]'' <<var $shards + 12>>\ Then you find out there's something called "permits". You do not have one, and are too young to purchase one. The guards make sure you know that is a problem. Your beverage mogul days come crashing to a halt. <<page "Or have they...?" "ch1-gigend">> #use-if (dig($choiceflag, 10) eq 1) Hunt for pelts in the woods. [Increase Survival] <<var $choiceflag + 100>>\ <<if $background is "Trapper">>\ There wasn't much to say about your side job when it was also your main job. You and Father set traps and hunt for pelts in your usual spots during your shift with Father, then you try some unusual areas on your own after-hours. It's still relatively safe, you keep Father's bow on you and don't have an aura that would attract spirits or Beasts. Your hunts are fruitful for a year, but after one close call with a mountain lion you realize why Father sticks to his usual trails. ''[Item Gained: 5 Shards]'' <<var $shards + 5>>\ ''[Survival +1]'' <<var $survival + 1>>\ A near-death experience is enough to convince you to stick to Father's areas and find your secondary income elsewhere. <<page "Continue." "ch1-gigend">>\ <<else>>\ Hunting is an old profession that involves an incredible amount of killing. The amount of woodland creatures that you remove from this mortal coil cannot be counted even by the most diligent of clerks. May the Heavens have mercy on your soul. The same mercy you did not have on the fluffy animals whose skin you sell for money. ''[Survival +1]'' <<var $survival + 1>>\ At least that's the spiel some random woman gives you one day when she's reporting you to the Magistrate's office for disrupting the local wildlife. You know it's a ruse, her dad is probably a hunter too, but getting reported makes the family look bad. Reluctantly, you drop the case and move on to another profession. <<page "She must be in the pocket of Big Pelt." "ch1-gigend">>\ <</if>>\ #use-if (dig($choiceflag, 11) eq 1) Rob shops after dark. [Increase Stealth] <<var $choiceflag + 10>>\ <<var $honor - 3>>\ <<if $heshe is "he">>\ Breaking into merchant shops requires a massive set of balls that you apparently have. <<elseif $heshe is "she">>\ Breaking into merchant shops is not your safest option but it //is// the highest paying option. A girl's got to eat. <</if>>\ Months of practice on homes and shacks prepare you for the big leagues. In theory the stores of the market square are off-limits and unrobbable. Martial Artist guards, protective seals, and good ole fashioned locks ward off any greedy hand. Only the talented or the stupid would even try to break in. And here you are, breaking in. Hopefully you're talented. While every other thief is trying to find a way around the empowered guards, the protective rituals, the mystic alarm seals, and the high grade locks, you think up a better route. <<if $background is "Merchant">>\ You walk into Father's main competitor <<else>>\ You walk into the general store <</if>>\ during business hours and hide under a draped table. By the Heavens, you think, you're such a genius. ''[Stealth +1]'' <<var $stealth + 1>>\ When business hours are over the girl working behind the counter counts the profits and starts closing up. After thirty minutes you hear her walk outside and recite some sort of ritual chant outside to secure the building before she leaves. <<if $insight gt 0>>\ Now that your Aura Pressure has come along, you actually feel the chi of the area snap into place like a dome around the building. Cool. ''[Aura Pressure +1]'' <<var $aurapressure + 1>>\ <</if>>\ <<page "Time to get to work." "ch1-gigs-display5">>\ #use-if (dig($choiceflag, 12) eq 1) Pickpocket at the marketplace. [Increase Thievery] <<var $choiceflag + 1>>\ <<var $honor - 3>>\ Picking pockets is about finding the right target and creating the right opportunity. It takes practice with Kosuke but you get good enough at it that you don't get caught, at least not by anyone who matters and not for anything they can prove. <<learnthievery 1>>\ You keep the rouse up for most of the year, feigning as a customer or scared child. It pays off some weeks more than others until \ <<if $thievery gte 2>>\ you find the big score. When you decided on a life of crime you figured you could snag a few Shards worth of pocket change to fuel your cultivation. You didn't expect the find gold. Actual gold. While 1 Shard is worth 10 silver, 1 gold is worth 100 silver. Every tiny gold coin is like 10 Shards, almost a year's worth of your allowance. After trading them to a merchant for Shards you've made a pretty bonus on top of your usual haul. <<var $shardgain ($thievery * 10)>>\ ''[Item Gained: $shardgain Shards]'' <<var $shards + $shardgain>>\ <<unset $shardgain>>\ You decide to quit while you're ahead. Whoever you took these from will be looking for them and you don't intend to be around the market square when it happens. <<page "[whistle innocently]" "ch1-gigend">>\ <<else>>\ the guards get enough reports that you've been causing trouble. One of them, a middle aged Thunderfall Sect woman with a deep blue aura that feels "heavy" in your mind, catches you in the act and spanks you in front of everyone before dragging you home by the ear. <<var $infamy + 1>>\ ''[Infamy Increased]'' Mother answers the door, thanks her, and spanks you before Father gets home. Then Father gets home and spanks you too. <<page "Couldn't sit for a week..." "ch1-gigend">>\ <</if>>\ <</choose>>

<<choose "ch1-gigend">>\ #Small rugs, we're here to make sales. And make sales you most certainly do. Over the next year you and Rin pour over the fabrics you've purchased and build up enough rugs to make your money back and more. You even start to get recognized at the market as legitimate rug sellers, which is weird, because you never have a market stall, but great, because you don't have to pay for a market stall. With all those savings you put the bulk into your cycling funds and pocket the change. ''[Craft +1]'' <<var $craft + 1>>\ ''[Item Gained: 5 Shards]'' <<var $shards + 5>>\ Everything comes to a halt when the guards shoo you away from the markets, much to the booing of some other regulars. Apparently a market stall permit is mandatory to sell at the market square. Oh well. Rin is getting drafted into more reading lessons with Mother these days anyway and you have no intention to weave the rugs yourself. <<page "Yeah, you can't fire me, I QUIT!" "ch1-gigend">>\ #One giant rug, we're here to make a masterpiece. <<if $craft gte 1>>\ And a make a masterpiece you most certainly do. It takes nearly a year but you do finally complete a rug fit for a proper living room complete with blue and golden coloring to show a lion roaring into the sky. You and Rin both learn a thing or two and turn a pretty profit when a wandering mystic purchases your rug at the market. He even gifts you a berry that he says contains some chi within, as a tip for fine quality. ''[Item Gained: 10 Shards]'' <<var $shards + 10>>\ ''[Aura Pressure +2]'' <<var $aurapressure + 2>>\ ''[Craft +1]'' <<var $craft + 1>>\ Unfortunately, your business does come to a close. You've peaked. Every time you try and start a new rug stitching, you're haunted by the realization it will never be as good as your masterpiece. With great melancholy you retire from the world of floor-art. <<page "The brightest candles burn out twice as fast." "ch1-gigend">>\ <<else>>\ The whole project ends up a bit too much. In the end the rug is woven properly and functional, but the design is sloppy with frayed edges. You make a decent amount of silver for the trade, but not enough to make up for a whole year's worth of effort. ''[Craft +1]'' <<var $craft + 1>>\ With your "masterpiece" done, it's time to move on. This was a good side project but not good enough to keep your attention. Rin seems fine with it and says she can continue the business on her own. <<page "Continue" "ch1-gigend">>\ <</if>>\ <</choose>>\

It seems that every adult in your village comes to Hag Mabel at some point. Most want curses, love potions, or remedies. A rare few want her advancement elixirs, and an even rarer few came by to ask her to train them. That latter category was you. Just you. Every other child thought she would eat them if they asked. She still might. You'll find out the hard way. Hag Mabel hires you on to use a few basic protection rituals on her pre-made elixirs and pills. The rituals and sealing tags should keep them safe from the elements. <<var $val ((3 + $deception) + $persuasion)>>\ ''[Handseals +1]'' <<var $handseals + 1>>\ <<fuuinjutsudescription>>\ ''[Item Gained: $val Ritual Components]'' <<var $ritualcomponents + $val>>\ <<var $val 0>>\ You accidentally break two over the course of a few months and she doesn't mind too much, just yells at you for a bit and hits you with her cane. It gives you an idea... What if you tell her you "broke" another one, but put it into your bag instead? <<choose "ch1-gigend">> #No, I keep my focus on doing my job and learning the proper seals. <<var $honor + 3>>\ Ever a $boygirl of honor, you stick adamantly to your handsealing practice. It becomes easier and easier to execute the 12 hand seals for the mild protection ritual that keeps the jars fresh and protected from the elements. You wonder why. ''[Aura Pressure +3]'' <<var $aurapressure + 3>>\ On the anniversary of your hiring date Hag Mabel approaches you with a piece of paper and saunters back to her garden. You look down at the slip hoping for a bonus or a raise and read it: "Thanks for the work. It is done now. You can leave." Oh, you've been laid off. <<page "Tough economy" "ch1-gigend">> #Yes, I deserve it after all my hard work. <<var $honor - 3>>\ You slip a pill into your bag and break two jars by "accident", one filled with water and one that was supposed to have your pill sealed into it. When Hag Mabel finds out she sends you out to collect a nice hickory stick and beats you with it. ''[Item Gained: Healing Elixir]'' <<var $healingelixir + 1>>\ Also, you're fired. <<page "Tough economy" "ch1-gigend">> <</choose>>\

It never hurts to brush up on your geography and politics. You sit the kids down and have them read out lines about the ''//GLORIOUS//'' Rasen Empire in which you all have the privilege to meagerly live. <<image "https://www.auraclash.com/assets/images/imperialrasen.jpg">>\ You cover most of the basics for them so they know what words or themes to expect in their reading. You don't go over the hundreds of settlements and colonies in Imperial Rasen's outer ring where you live, that would be a bore and those territories change every year. There's always new ones forming or old ones overrun by Beasts, spirits, bandits, or worse. But you do cover the other basics. You educate on how your empire is shaped into an unassailable spiral in the Grand Sea, how the natural aura (and people) gets richer the further inland you go, and you cover the three sectors. The Outer Lands in which you live cover the biggest territory, circling the Inner Sea to protect from outside threats. The Inner Kingdoms make up the second sector; five large landmasses of the Inner Sea competing in a five-way rivalry. The capital island at the center of Imperial Rasen is the third and most vital sector, the island-nation of Azuma Honsha, which hosts the greatest city in all the world that spreads across its entire coast. With its vast riches and host of powerful Martial Artists the capital is able to combine all the best traits from the Inner Kingdoms around it: a Samurai police force from the Bladed Lands, Beasts and slaves from the Wild Lands, blessings and ships from the Sacred Lands, the wonders of chi sorcery from the Mystic Lands, and an inescapable spy network of Shinobi from the Cursed Lands. You're more interested in the imperial law enforcers known as the Archons, stationed on Azuma Honsha as guardians of peace, but the kids seem more interested in the nobility. Magistrate Khan is the only Noble Caste in your entire town, you know almost nothing of the Noble Caste living so far away as the capital. There hasn't been an imperial family for hundreds of years and you can't find any modern scrolls about the current Exalts who rule Azuma Honsha as a council. However, if they're anything like the members of the past then they have enough power to shape the entire continent. After all, someone had to form it into a spiral. You get heavily booed for failing to provide details. Oh well. One full year of teaching kids to read and write ends in a problem: you finished the job. Now they can almost all read and write, and there aren't enough new kids to teach. You're out of customers. While technically a success, you're forced to move on to other ventures. <<page "Suffering from success." "ch1-gigend">>

As a pair you're both able to finish more jobs to completion. Whenever one mountain roach would sneak around Jin, it would be sneaking towards you and get caught. Whenever you set smoke to get icemice to flee from under some floorboards, Jin would be able to get them while you made sure the smoke didn't burn the house down. In the end, working as a pair lets you use better techniques and develop a more keen eye, together. ''[Perception +1]'' <<var $perception + 1>>\ <<var $brorep + 5>>\ It's a shame Mother doesn't see it that way when Jin gets bit by a badger. She cuts off your secondary family business and grounds you both. The end of an era of \ <<if $heshe is "he">>\ brotherly \ <<else>>\ sibling \ <</if>>\ bonding and/or indentured servitude, depending on how Jin looks at it. <<page "It was just a badger..." "ch1-gigend">>

You come out from the under table and check behind the counter for - bingo - a sack of Shards and silver. The shop's emergency pile of change. You take it and replace it with a bag of rocks. Child's play. Literally, since you're still seen as a child. After grabbing a few more items from the shelves, mostly things that would go unnoticed, you head back under the table to sleep. It's a risky plan if you snore, but it works. Someone comes by to open the shop and when enough customers are perusing the wares you slip out and mix into the crowd until you feel safe enough to head back home. Your success causes a bit of a scandal. The guards tell Magistrate Khan that the seals around the building weren't broken, so whoever got in must have been a handseals specialist. The Magistrate vows that the Thunderfall Sect will track down whoever this mystic thief is and have him executed in the public square. You decide it's best to retire for a while. <<var $shardgain ((5 * $perception)+(5 * $stealth))>>\ ''[Item Gained: $shardgain Shards]'' <<var $shards + $shardgain>>\ <<unset $shardgain>>\ <<page "Who says crime doesn't pay?" "ch1-gigend">>\

The life of an Herbalist was not what you expected. You had seen your father sell potions at the market by the southern roads and they always amazed you. You didn't know exactly what most did, but they were bright and colorful and you were told some had power to heal others with just a sip. You wanted to make that power. Instead you find yourself in the wetlands down the slopes west of town, trudging through muddy water up to your knees every day surrounded by a labyrinth of dead looking trees. It turns out Father stays in business by only collecting ingredients from the areas no one else wants to tread. Your legs always ache, your feet are always cold, and your clothes are always dirty. Yet somehow, every few days, it's worth it. Your father keeps a bright smile through it all and when you find the exact Koppo Roots or Sundown Lilies he's looking for, you both celebrate the great victory earned from hours of searching for nature's hidden treasures. <<page "Continue" "ch1-herbalist2">>\

Once every week your father gathers his most potent herbs, roots, and powdered minerals to brew some potions with your village's fresh spring water. The process has excited you and you've even begun to pick up on why he does some of what he does. You now know a few basics, like how long to boil roots and obviously you know you can't mix a wet lily into the potions, it has to be dried and crushed. After months of observation at your young age it's started to become second nature. ''[Alchemy +1]'' <<var $alchemy + 1>>\ By the time six months have passed, you've begun to pick out a flaw in your father's process. He keeps leaving shavings of all his ingredients on his tools when he asks you to wash them, but these are all materials that can be dissolved in water. If he used minimal water to wash them instead, he could then boil out the water to keep the shavings or keep the water as an ingredient itself...Yes....He could do that... And so could you. <<choose "ch1-herbalist3">> #I tell Father how he could save up spare ingredients. [Increase Insight] <<var $honor + 2>>\ Father looks at you quizzically as you interrupt his weekly root grinding in the yard. You explain your plan to him how, with the right amount of time and shavings, you could make an extra couple potions every year or so. "Hmm," your father places a stained hand on his chin and stares at the clouds, "it would be too bitter without the freshness, and the texture wouldn't be right if we're using leftover Koppo Root, but it could work. I can't sell it, of course. If you get a reputation for selling discount potions, that's it for business. No one pays full price twice to a shoddy craftsman. But...we could use it if we run into trouble, or gift it to someone." He looks over to you. "<<cap $sondaughter>>, how would you like a potion?" You beam. <<page "Continue" "ch1-herbalist3">>\ #I collect the ingredients to do it myself. [Increase Thievery] <<var $honor - 2>>\ With a wicked smile you begin to collect the spare shavings and store them in small pouches and clay jars in your room. After another six months have gone by, you have enough to begin your experiment. <<learnthievery 1>>\ <<page "Continue" "ch1-herbalist6">>\ <</choose>>\

You and your father work diligently over the next six months to collect all the scrapings needed after work, but with his assistance at your back you feel energized to stay later at the swamps than usual. Something deep within you just seems to know where to look, when not to quit, like a tugging urge to keep going because you //know// there's something more out there if you give it just a little more effort. Your father takes note of your luck and stops you both on your trek one day. "<<cap $sondaughter>>, you've been finding a lot more than normal. Frankly we're not just going to make a potion of scraps, we're going to make more professional potions too." You smile. "But I worry." You frown. "I think that what you're feeling, what's dragging you across these murky waters to find the right spots...I think it's the traces of chi that these particular plants soak up. If you're already able to sense that at your age....It's dangerous. The reason we've been alive in the swamps this long is because anything big enough to eat us gets pushed out by hunters, usually, but that's just the normal animals. There are other things, dangerous things in this swamp. They don't eat plants and meat like you and I, they eat chi. And I mean eat, $sondaughter. They track down whoever has chi and they eat their souls. Our village's Martial Artists don't travel these swamps, and for a good reason." He kneels down and puts his hands on your shoulders. "<<cap $sondaughter>>, I appreciate all your help, but if you keep using that sense you're developin', if you get too good at this, you might develop an aura of chi yourself. If that happens you need to tell me, because it means no more swamp walks. It might give you some power, but not enough for this. Only enough to make you a target." He looks off through the twisting trees, "It won't be safe for you anymore." You nod, but don't listen. Your father thinks you might one day control mystic power like the disciples of the Thunderfall Sect. You can't wait. ''[Insight +1]'' <<var $insight + 1>>\ <<apboost 1>>\ <<page "Continue" "ch1-herbalist4">>\

The process of actually brewing your own potion is relatively easy with your father's help, but he lets you handle all the details. 1 cauldron 1 gallon of mountainpeak water 4 lengthy Sundown Lilies (dried, crushed) 1 cup assorted mineral dust (purified) 1 large Koppo Root You mix all the ingredients, start the fire, and adjust the heat according to the instructions. You're only missing one ingredient when the final moment to fuse everything together comes: chi. The power generated from a Martial Artist's soul. <<page "Continue" "ch1-herbalist5">>\

Your soul isn't powerful enough to store any chi, but neither is your father's and he makes these all the time. You just have to use the currency of the realms, the Shards that store a tiny fraction of power. Luckily he's given you 12 Shards as your allowance for this year. You hold the opaque seaglass-looking coins over the cauldron but before you can drop the Shards into your potion your father grabs your hand. "I've got more than enough extra money from the ingredients you found, let's say you keep your allowance this year and this one will be on me." Sometimes you love your father. Not when he wakes you to walk through the swamps at dawn, but right now you do. Your father hands you a few Shards and you dump them into to the boiling concoction. The pot flashes with a bright red puff of smoke and the water churns clockwise, swirling into a rose red luminous whirlpool as the rest of the ingredients get sucked into the center of the pot and melt rapidly. The boil intensifies until there's nothing left of the concoction but a spoon's worth of vibrant red liquid at the bottom, glowing like the warmth of the setting sun. You pour it into a pill mold and it dries into that which you've always fantasized about: An elixir pill. ''[Item Gained: Healing Elixir]'' <<var $healingelixir + 1>>\ ''[Item Gained: Year's Allowance (12 Shards)]'' <<var $shards + 12>>\ <<var $safeloc_swamp true>>\ <<var $misfitopen "With your father's business doing so well, your parents allow you a bit more leeway and free time.">>\ <<page "Continue" "ch1-misfits">>

You sit in your parents' kitchen at night looking over your boiling cauldron by the candlelight, and grin. Your Sundown Lilies are already dried and powdered, your water is fresh from the mountain peaks, your mineral dust is purified, and you've got leftover water from overboiled Koppo Roots. From what you've seen over the last year, you're only missing one ingredient: chi. The power generated from a Martial Artist's soul. Your soul isn't powerful enough to store any chi, but neither is your father's and he makes these all the time. You just have to use the currency of the realms, the Shards that stores a tiny fraction of power. Your allowance this year has been 12 whole Shards and you've saved it for this moment. You withdraw one of the opaque seaglass-like Shards and add it to the boil. In a flash the Shard dissipates throughout the boiling cauldron and you are filled with awe when the rest of the ingredients start to glow. The steam from the pot takes on a beautiful red that fills the room, until it fizzles out abruptly. You stare at the pot, dumbfounded. It looks more like a soup than a potion. <<page "Continue" "ch1-herbalist7">>\

With a spark of panic and inspiration you jump for your allowance sack nearby and take out every Shard you have, dumping the pile into your concoction and praying to the messengers of the Heavens that you did not just waste a year of your time and money. An entire year might as well have been your whole childhood. The pile of shards explode in a puff of smoke that nearly knocks you off your feet. Some water boils out of the cauldron, but the remaining water churns clockwise, swirling into a rose red luminous whirlpool as the rest of the ingredients get sucked into the center of the pot and melt rapidly. The boil intensifies until there's nothing left of the concoction but a cup's worth of vibrant red liquid at the bottom, glowing like the warmth of the setting sun. A potion. Better than that, without your father taking his cut you've actually made enough for two. You hear a creak of wooden floorboards from behind you and spin around. <<page "Oh no." "ch1-herbalist8">>\

In the sliding paper doorway of the kitchen stands your father. "Put those shavings to work, did you?" He says and walks up to the cauldron, leaning over you to examine its contents with a stern look. Your heart pounds as he places his calloused hand on your head. He's silent for a moment. Then he looks down at you. You open your mouth to speak, but nothing comes out. "Shhhh," your father says while his strong left hand holds you in place by the skull. "You should be ashamed of hiding a chance of prosperity from your family." He leans further forward and looks down at the cauldron, then ponders for a moment, "But this looks like a good potion for your age. You'll make a fine herbalist." He ruffles your hair and walks to the doorway before pausing. "Oh, and don't tell your mother you stained her cooking pot." ''[Item Gain: Healing Elixir x2]'' <<var $healingelixir + 2>>\ ''[Aura Pressure +2]'' <<var $aurapressure + 2>>\ <<var $misfitopen "With your father's business doing so well, your parents allow you a bit more leeway and free time.">>\ <<page "Continue" "ch1-misfits">>

Like most of the people on the planet, and especially your village, you are a Human. Your brown almond-shaped eyes and black hair are typical in local Zenshin culture, or maybe you descend from the similar Cathayans inhabiting the fallen empire to the west, but that doesn't matter. What matters is the Human body is designed perfectly for cycling chi; Oni only exist because spirits want a human form, and Yokai only exist because animals want a human form. It feels good to be born as the world's most sought-after natural body, even if being a dragon would have looked cooler. Still, you're proud to feel a connection to your people and your lands. History says it was your people who rebuilt this world after the last Calamity, and history will continue to say it is your people that forge its destiny. Long live the Rasen Empire. ''[Racial Bonus: Lore +1]'' Are you sure you and your family are Humans? <<choose "ch1-job">> #Yes, me and my family are Humans. <<var $haircolor "black">>\ <<var $eyecolor "brown">>\ <<var $race "Human">>\ <<var $lore + 1>>\ <<var $raceadjective "human">>\ #No, we're something else. -> "ch1-raceselect" <</choose>>\

<<var $jackbird false>>\ <<var $jackstabbed false>>\ <<var $jackfall false>>\ Kosuke's panting in your doorway and something is wrong. <<cap $bffheshe>>'s sweating heavily with a thick black bruise around $bffhisher eye. "They have Jin!" <<cap $bffheshe>> barks through heavy breaths, "by the northeast bluffs!" <<cap $bffheshe>> starts running to show you where. You grab your travel robe and sprint through the eastern side of the village after Kosuke. You both head up the forested uneven hills and down the narrow trail winding around the northeastern cliffs. You're moving as fast as you can, with no room in your lungs to ask who "they" are, so your mind flashes with images of spirits, bandits, or Beasts that could have taken your brother. When you get there, you see something worse: Martial Artists. Four older teenagers wearing dark blue martial arts gi with black trim, their bodies each glowing different swirling colors; auras showing off that they can control chi to empower themselves. You recognize that uniform. They're disciples of the Thunderfall Sect. Worse, you recognize their faces: three useless stooges from the Warrior Caste... And Jack. <<page "Continue" "ch1-jack2">>\

Jack's grown even taller and stronger since you last saw him, and the red flames of energy surrounding his body only compounds that gap in ability between the two of you. Cultivation has been kind to him. You wish the same could be said about you. The four Martial Artists stand by a switchback on the mountainside trail, laughing at a bruised and crying Jin curled up on the ground between them. Jack is kicking him in the face repeatedly as Jin cries, his face bleeding. Nearby, \ <<if $rincombat gte 1>>\ two other Thunderfall Students are \ <<else>>\ another of the Thunderfall Students is \ <</if>>\ holding Rin still and making her watch. "This is what you get you piece of-" their dark-haired leader stops kicking Jin's \ <<if $jincombat gte 1>>\ body \ <<else>>\ quivering body \ <</if>>\ for a moment and turns his head, noticing you, "Oh look what we have here boys, it's <<cap $name>>! I've been looking forward to the next time I'd find you outside of town. Lucky day. And as a bonus, now we've got the whole set of your Clanless family of trash." He picks Jin up by the hair. "You're in real trouble this time. My old man's senses warned us that this shitstain here was trying to cycle the chi from this mountain's Heavenly Gate just before it reached its peak tomorrow," Jack tsks, "this place barely lets out a trickle of aura every season and he has the audacity to try and take it for himself. Let's make one thing clear." He drops Jin and stomps on his hand for emphasis. Jin yelps. "Natural aura belongs to the students of the Thunderfall Sect, not to Laborers like you." <<page "...What did he say?" "ch1-jack3">>\

A Heavenly Gate? He was beating Jin bloody over a trickle of aura? You know about Heavenly Gates by now, they say it's when the power of the Heavens reaches down into the mortal world, but on paper it's just what happens when elemental aura is too active, like a particularly bad earthquake or forest fire or storm. It's just a bit of chi being released into the environment. You even absorbed some power from a Heavenly Gate last year when a bad blizzard struck your camping site. ''[Aura Pressure +6]'' <<var $aurapressure + 6>>\ That's why you know absorbing natural aura this far from town isn't against any rule. Jack isn't here to protect the Thunderfall Village's resources from thieves. He's here to stop his personal competition, no matter how weak they are. Which means this isn't just some bullying. Jin is already beaten, already humiliated, and already bleeding on the ground, but when you came in Jack was still kicking him in the face. "Jack, step away from Jin," you say firmly, ever the elder sibling. "Now." "Nah, I don't think so," Jack says, "He still has both arms. You've been an annoyance before but trying to take an Heavenly Gate in my territory? I think it's time we set an example for your family." You were right. He's going to cripple your brother. That realization rocks through your body like a lightning bolt and you begin to shake with rage. Your legs stomp forward before you even realize what you're doing. Your hands form into fists on reflex, nails digging deep into the skin of your palms. You look between Jack's smug grin and your baby brother's broken nose and bleeding lips. You've never felt so much rage in your entire life. It burns. Jack recognizes the look on your face and motions for his friends to back up, then beckons for you to come closer, smiling, eyes filled with satisfaction like a cat toying with its prey. How could he be so smug about beating an unpowered kid? Beating your brother bloody while your little sister is forced to watch? Your vision blurs red as your body releases a near lethal amount of adrenaline. You... <<choose "ch1-jackpunch">> #Beat that stupid look off Jack's face. [Increase Perception] #Charge Jack off the cliff. [Increase Lore] -> "ch1-jackcliff" #Taunt him to chase me away from my brother. [Increase Athletics] -> "ch1-jackchase" #Cast a set of handseals to lay a vicious curse on him. [Increase Insight] -> "ch1-jackcurse" <</choose>>\

The world comes back into focus in your mind. What are you doing? Fighting him isn't important, the important thing is saving Jin. You shake the cloudy feelings from your head and copy Jack's arrogant smirk, stop mid-step, and nod your head back to the trail leading away from the village. Then you sprint. Hopefully Jack takes the challenge and follows you. There's no time to look over your shoulder and check, so just for good measure you toss in a comment about his mother. You can tell it works from a red glow coming behind you now. You leap to the side and keep running as a swirl of fire hits the ground where you were going to be. You hear the stomp of footsteps begin a good distance behind you now. Good, he hesitated long enough to give you a lead. As you turn the corner around a different downhill switchback the trail flattens into a steep wooded forest. With panting breath you break out into a full sprint through the trees hoping to lose your pursuer. ''[Athletics +1]'' <<var $athletics + 1>>\ <<if ($background is "Trapper")>>\ <<var $metjack + 3000000000>>\ And lose him you will, but not until you've dropped him off exactly where you want him to be. You've been traversing these woods and mountains for as long as you can remember, catching game and hunting prey as your father had before you and his father before him. Jack may be empowered with an aura, but that only brought him onto the scale of a bear. You've trapped and killed bears before. Pain and panic try their best to slow your legs but you keep them moving, weaving, dodging any attacks and keeping an eye on your pursuer as Jack crashes through weaker trees or leaps over obstacles. Every time you pass behind a large tree or drop down a rocky ledge you turn before disappearing, to project a different direction than the one you actually take, then turn back when you're out of sight. Jack is faster than you by far, and you can tell it infuriates him that he's not catching up. ''[Aura Pressure +5]'' <<var $aurapressure + 5>>\ <<page "Continue" "ch1-jackchase2">> <<else>>\ But such things are tales for heroes, not for $background kids picking a fight with empowered Martial Art students. As you run through the trees and turn to see how close Jack could be, all you see is a large fist in front of your face. Your vision cuts out with a flash of white, black, and red as his chi-empowered knuckles impact against your skull at full force. <<aploss 2>>\ Unconsciousness grips you... ...for mere moments, until you awake to a dragging sensation on your legs. Dried blood in your mouth lets you know time has passed. "Look what I found." Jack announces to his pals back at the cliffside. He throws you twenty feet, next to Jin. The airborne sensation is nice, but landing is worse than you imagined. The rocky sand scrapes your skin all over and you hear Jack running behind you to deliver a telling blow when you land. <<page "Defeat..." "ch1-jackedup">>\ <</if>>\

You come to a river blocking your path. You could jump in, but you stop to catch your breath instead. That's when you hear a frustrated shout and the breaking of wood. Jack. The disciple of the Thunderfall Sect, your pursuer, the older teenager that beat Jin bloody over the most greedy tantrum you've ever seen, emerges from the tree line. His face is twisted in a snarl. He comes at you with a mighty leap, kicking the base of a tree on his way into the clearing in a show of force. The tree shatters behind him. Jack lands ten feet from you and looks into your eyes with a vein of rage showing on his forehead, his face red with as much exhaustion as yours. "I knew I'd catch up with you, fucking peasant!" He shouts through panting breaths. "You're going to pay for pissing me off." You look Jack dead in the eyes to not give him a clue of what's about to happen. To not give him a chance to prepare himself. At this time of day the sun isn't in position to give you both a warning of the predator overhead, which is exactly why it hunted this territory at this time. And you know that, because you have been tracking its movements since childhood. You never forgot the eagle Beast from all those years ago. The thunderbird. Jack forms a burning red glow around his fist and pulls it back to start his attack, but he hesitates. He senses something off. Too late. <<page "Goodbye, Jack." "ch1-jackchase3">>\

You leap over the thorny bushes you hid in as a child and jump into the rapid river. Or so it seems. In secret, the overhang dropping into the river is filled with roots growing from top to bottom. You grab thorny roots growing out the bottom of the overhang and pull yourself close against the river's ledge, barely covered by dirt outcropping, to hide yourself from aerial predators. The same trick your Father used so many years ago. Jack chases you to the water in one mighty battledash, some kind of Technique, but it pulls him through all the thorns of the bushes and throws him off balance. He vaults over your head without seeing you. Rocks explode on the opposite ledge of the rapids when Jack collides into them feet-first, looking around for you in the river below. That's when lightning pours from the sky like a waterfall. ''[Aura Pressure +5]'' <<var $aurapressure + 5>>\ Jack freezes in place, stunned. The stream of lightning hits him full force and knocks his paralyzed body into the water. He glides down the rapids like a ragdoll, hitting rocks without even responding. Water splashes your face when the massive eagle lands in the rapids beside him. Waves crash in all directions from its massive size. With one talon on the rocks, it grips Jack in the other and flaps its enormous wings three times, taking off into the air and out of sight, gone just as fast as it arrived. It never noticed you. <<achieve "Jacking Off">>\ <<var $jackcombat + 1>>\ ''[Stealth +1]'' <<var $stealth + 1>>\ One down, three to go. After several minutes pass you pull yourself back up over the small ledge hanging over the rapids, check the skies, and march back through the woods. You find multiple sets of trails among yours and Jack's, it seems the other Thunderfall Sect disciples are looking for him somewhere. Maybe they'll be in time to stop him from being bird food, maybe not. You keep a low stance and avoid running into them on your way back to the cliffside where Rin and Kosuke are tending to Jin's injuries. You wave when you see them and grin. That's when something snaps in the world around you. <<var $jackbird true>>\ <<page "The ground shakes beneath your feet." "ch1-jackedoff2">>

You embrace the exhilaration rushing through your body and charge straight at Jack. He sneers and raises a fist with burning red energy. Not good. He's still ten feet away from the edge of the cliff, by the time you could get him over the edge he'd have you beaten to death with that Technique he's charging, that's why you... <<choose "ch1-jackcliff2">> #Pull his pants down. <<var $honor - 2>>\ You rush forward as if to attack and Jack's collection of red energy around his fist shoots forward, aimed directly at your center mass. A good idea for an amateur fight, but you're no amateur. You've been sparring with Kosuke for years, and stolen one of $bffhisher off-limits techniques. Instead of fighting him head on, you've leaped forward and ducked to the very ground as soon as you got near him. With the force of your fall you pull his pants down with you. Two of his friends burst out laughing. Jack straightens up and sneers down at you, thinking his attack landed and they're laughing at your injured body on the ground. It's not until he looks down that he sees his own pants around his ankles. His face turns red. Perfect. You use that shock and embarrassment to jump up, headbutt his chin off-balance, then grab him by the shirt and run forward towards the cliff, shoving him with all your might. Both of you are equally shocked when he actually does go over the edge and start falling. The look on his face is priceless as he realizes this is more than just some easy fight, and that he might die. You know how he feels, since you're in the same predicament. He kept a grip on your arm when you were shoving him. You're falling together. <<if $healingelixir gte 1>>\ <<page "AAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHH!" "ch1-jackcliff3">>\ <<else>>\ <<page "AAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHH!" "ch1-jackcliff2">>\ <</if>>\ #Shout "Jack, get down!" and wave as if there was something behind him. <<var $honor - 2>>\ <<var $ruthless - 1>>\ <<if ($deception gt 0)>>\ It actually works. What a complete and utter moron. <<apboost 1>>\ Jack turns around and you pick up speed, colliding your shoulder into his back and pushing him off the cliff. Holy shit, you think, you're a God. Wait. No. No no no no no. Why are you moving toward the cliff? You look down and see his Martial Artist white belt wrapped around your leg. Unfortunately for both involved, Jack is older and much heavier than you. His weight makes the belt wrapped too taught around your ankle and you can't unwrap it in time, but at the same time he doesn't save himself by using you as an anchor. Instead you get a first-person look at Jack's predicament when the cliff's edge comes closer and closer until you're dragged straight off it with him. You both plummet. <<else>>\ It doesn't work out quite as planned. Jack rolls his eyes and grips your arm, then lifts his hand to hammer down on your head. He still seems taken aback when he's pulled towards the edge of the cliff. When he grabbed your arm he never expected you to be able to lift him off the ground and keep running. He tries to strike you after regaining his balance but it's not fast enough. You're still charging, all the way to the edge. You can't see where it is with his body blocking your view and, with the suicidal grudge that pure anger causes, you don't care. You both plummet off the side of the cliff with a duet of wild screams. <</if>>\ <<if $healingelixir gte 1>>\ <<page "AAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHH!" "ch1-jackcliff3">> <<else>>\ <<page "AAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHH!" "ch1-jackcliff2">> <</if>>\ #Turn to the side and jump off the cliff, taunting him to follow. <<var $honor + 1>>\ <<var $ruthless + 3>>\ You are dumb. You are so, so, so stupid, you think to yourself as you turn away from Jack and sprint towards the edge that every sane person would avoid. "Fight me at the bottom you pathetic coward!" You shout at Jack while running to the cliff and flipping him off. Two of his fellow students gasp and the girl actually laughs. Jack's face grows ugly with anger and he charges after you, foolishly, as you actually follow through with your insane plan to leap off a fucking cliff. Heavens, why? <<if $healingelixir gte 1>>\ <<page "AAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHH!" "ch1-jackcliff3">>\ <<else>>\ <<page "AAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHH!" "ch1-jackcliff2">>\ <</if>>\ <</choose>>\

You're falling faster and faster until your body smashes into rocks jutting out of the cliffside 40 feet down that you had jogged your memory so desperately to remember. It was a miracle you managed to place yourself above them before concocting this plan. Funny how fast and efficient the mind works just before certain death. ''[Lore +1]'' <<var $lore + 1>>\ You and Jack hit the rocky outcropping, breaking so many bones in your body that you're not sure if you can count that high. Jack's aura explodes in a crimson hue when he lands, breaking his fall with an audible crack of thunder. But after that explosion his aura doesn't come back. You're both lying next to each other as he catches his breath. His mouth and nose are leaking blood but you're worse off by far. Neither of your legs will move. Jack gets up slowly and dusts himself off. Black gaps in his vicious smile reveal that he's lost some teeth. You probably have too.

<<include "ch1-jackcliff-reuse">>\ "Can't believe you almost got me." he says, "You're going to wish you never tried." His elbow drops into your face before you can react, and the world fades to darkness in a snap. <<apboost 5>>\ When your eyes next open, you've been dragged up to the top of the cliff. It seems Jack wants to embarrass you in front of the others more...or throw you off the whole cliff, rather than just most of it. <<page "Defeat..." "ch1-jackedup">>\

<<include "ch1-jackcliff-reuse">>\ "You're insane," he says, "And you're going to pay for that." He looks over the edge of the rock formation you two rested on. "Heh. I don't know how I'm getting down, but I know how you're getting down." He reaches down to grab you by the shirt... <<choose "ch1-jackcliff4">> #Drink my healing elixir. #Look at all the pretty stars floating around my head. Jack grabs you by the collar and lifts you off your feet. "Can't believe you almost got me." he says, "You're going to wish you never tried." His elbow drops into your face before you can react, and the world fades to darkness in a snap. <<apboost 5>>\ When your eyes next open, you've been dragged up to the top of the cliff. It seems Jack wants to embarrass you in front of the others more...or throw you off the whole cliff, rather than just most of it. <<page "Defeat..." "ch1-jackedup">>\ <</choose>>\

He reaches down to grab you by the shirt... ...But you have a trick up your sleeve. Your fast fingers guzzled your healing elixir when he was looking over the edge. For a trained warrior it would heal some aura and health, but to an unpowered child like you it's a Heavensent miracle, potent enough to restore your body back to health in seconds. Jack doesn't notice your supernatural recovery until it's too late. ''[Item Lost: Healing Elixir]'' <<var $healingelixir - 1>>\ <<learnthievery 1>>\ <<var $wounds 0>>\ With Jack leaning over to grab your shirt you have all the range you need to kick him in the face. One swift boot to the mouth sends him tumbling over the edge and down the rest of the cliff. His aura may have saved him from the first fall, but it's noticeably absent after taking so much damage. Let's see how he likes experiencing that drop the way you did. ''[Aura Pressure +10]'' <<var $aurapressure + 10>>\ After catching your breath you peak over the edge just to make sure he- <<var $jackfall true>>\ <<var $metjack + 2000000000>>\ Oh. Wow, yeah, he landed bad. He's likely still alive if he has a Martial Artist's resilience but...damn. You look away from the roadkill that is Jack and stare up the cliff instead, where four shocked faces look down at you. Kosuke is baffled, eyes wide open with a grin, like $bffheshe wants to laugh but is too excited for noise to come out. The three Thunderfall students are right next to $bffhimher staring openmouthed in disbelief, switching their gaze between Jack at the bottom of the cliff and you standing triumphantly on the rocky outcrop 40 feet down. <<choose "ch1-jackcliff5">> #"Who's next?" <<var $ruthless + 1>>\ <<var $honor + 1>>\ None of them answer, heads pulling back from the dangers of the ledge. #Flip them off. <<var $honor - 1>>\ The skinny one flips you off back and opens his mouth to say something, but when he notices his two friends have fled, he joins them. #Throw a rock at them. <<var $ruthless + 1>>\ All three pull back and start running. <</choose>>\

<<achieve "Jacking Off">>\ <<var $jackcombat + 1>>\ You start climbing, slow and steady, to get back up to the others. The Thunderfall students are long gone by the time you reach the peak. Rin and Kosuke stare at you as if you were either insane or a God. "That was the dumbest idea I have ever seen work." says Kosuke while you pick Jin off the ground. "But it did work." You add. The four of you start to leave and- <<page "The ground shakes beneath your feet." "ch1-jackedoff2">>\

<<if ($handseals is 0)>>\ ''[Handseals Check Failed]'' You honestly have no idea what you're doing. You're no scholar, you're no wandering sage, and you're certainly no mystic. But neither are these morons. You've seen the village sage and a few clerks performing rituals before with various handsigns, often to summon illusions or bless the village, so you know what it looks like. With reckless abandon you imitate the mystical handsigns by whipping out the wildest looking set of crisp finger combinations you've ever seen. You push your senses to try and detect which handseals have actual power and repeat those more than the others. ''[Insight +1]'' <<var $insight + 1>>\ <<include "ch1-jackcurse-reuse">>\ <<else>>\ ''[Handseals Check Passed]'' You memorized a few simple rituals but nothing meant for combat. Handseal rituals require lengthy castings and are used for slower tasks like soaking an object in chi to make it stronger, or spending a minute to generate as much light as a lantern using your surrounding's chi instead of your own. Once combat starts, there are no rituals you've heard of that would be any use. If they're cast correctly. But if cast //incorrectly//... A fast skill-enhancing ritual you know could make your target sick by misdirecting their internal energies. You know this because you've messed it up on yourself and had diarrhea for days. It's not as strong as a real attack, and takes time to kick in like a flu, but that sounds exactly like a curse to you. You feel out for the power within the handseals to make sure you're enacting the right ones, and begin your "curse". ''[Insight +1]'' <<var $insight + 1>>\ <<if $itemmysticscroll gt 0>>\ Or....you could use Father's mystic scroll to cast one of it's forbidden //real// curses. You know using real combat techniques against fellow villagers is against the law, but Hells, beating your younger brother half to death is against the law too. <<choose "ch1-jackcurse2">> #I control myself, he's not worth the dishonor. #I unleash the forbidden curse. Eat shit, Jack. -> "ch1-jackcurse3" <</choose>>\ <<else>>\ <<include "ch1-jackcurse-reuse">>\ <</if>>\ <</if>>\

Jack sees your display and drops back into a battle stance, taking two steps back cautiously. His cronies follow suit. Then you feel something odd. Something intrusive. A tingle in your back between your shoulderblades. Jack's expression relaxes and you get a good hint at what happened: he scanned your spirit. A Martial Artist's technique to detect the aura of others. You've now learned what that feels like. And when he senses no aura, no chi, no serious power, you also learn what his fist in your face feels like. ''[Aura Pressure +4]'' <<var $aurapressure + 4>>\ You collapse to the ground from the shock of the blow. <<page "Defeat..." "ch1-jackedup">>\

You connect your hands in a quick succession of mystic hand signs and pray to the Heavens. Not that the ritual requires prayer. You're praying to keep all your teeth after this whole ordeal since your hands aren't free to protect your face. <<include "ch1-jackcurse-reuse">>\

<<var $honor - 2>>\ <<var $metjack + 4000000000>>\ "Eat shit, Jack." you shout as you withdraw Father's mystic scroll in one hand and begin chanting an incantation. Your other hand's fingers flex into the mystic handseals needed for a proper attack. They glow purple. "What are you doing?" Jack says. "Cut that shit out." He starts marching toward you. The other Thunderfall students back away instead, which causes Jack to hesitate midstep. They sense something wrong. You've formed no Combat Cores inside your soul needed for battle and you don't have the sufficient aura pressure to maintain them, but the scroll does. You wondered why Father stressed how expensive it was at first. After years of studying it you've learned it's not just some instructions on paper. The scroll itself is a Soul Treasure, an item of power. Yours is infused with the chi needed to fuel a single casting of its more dangerous curses. You've chosen the Spirit Cutter. ''[Aura Pressure +4]'' <<var $aurapressure + 4>>\ <<page "Let's end this" "ch1-jackcurse4">>

A black and grey swirl of aura temporarily surrounds you as you recite the mystic Kurokonton-style energy attack. Jack had time to stop you earlier but his hesitation will be his undoing. You kept your focus. He didn't. Your scroll dissolves into energy and light that hardens around your arm into a vambrace of black and purple, with a single black crossbow bolt of energy lined down your wrist held by a taut energy string. The sensation of the scroll's actions are familiar...like the tingle in your soul when alchemical components dissolve into a potion. ''[Alchemy +1]'' <<var $alchemy + 1>>\ The Spirit Cutter technique finishes forming and a glowing wrist-crossbow of hardened energy rests on your arm. A single bolt lies loaded in the manifested crossbow, its tip burning with blackfire. You aim the blackbolt at the bastard who beat your brother bloody in front of your crying sister. He looks bewildered at what's happening. He's supposed to be the one with power, not you. <<choose "ch1-jackcurse5">> #"Never come near my family again." <<var $ruthless + 1>>\ <<var $honor + 1>>\ #"You brought this on yourself." #"No one beats my brother but me!" <<var $ruthless + 1>>\ <<var $honor - 1>>\ #"You're weak, Jack. The weak should fear the strong." <<var $ruthless + 2>>\ #I say nothing, he's not worth the words. <<var $ruthless - 1>>\ <<var $honor + 1>>\ <</choose>>\

You unleash the bolt. Jack tries to dodge but fails; the scroll's power is greater than his burgeoning abilities. Your bolt of pure black chi expands mid-launch and hits him like a battering ram that pierces through his torso. His shirt and aura explode but his skin doesn't break, it only blackens where the attack pierced through the center of his chest. He stares down in bewilderment at his shredded shirt, then clutches the burn mark and falls to the ground. The burning red hues of his aura around his body shatter into sparks as he drops. The sensation of power dissipating through the air is so prevalent even you can feel it. ''[Aura Pressure +6]'' <<var $aurapressure + 6>>\ <<page "It's over..." "ch1-jackedoff">>\

<<achieve "Jacking Off">>\ <<var $jackcombat + 1>>\ You've won. Jin's safe and Jack lies unmoving on the hard stone ground. <<if ($jackstabbed is true)>>\ Jack's friends run over to help him and immediately kneel in a circle around his bleeding body. Light shines from their hands when they recite some unfamiliar incantation and pose a set of mystic handseals to presumably stop the bleeding. Huh, you didn't know a handseal ritual could be cast by multiple people. ''[Handseals +1]'' <<var $handseals + 1>>\ <<fuuinjutsudescription>>\ You walk past them and check on Jin. He's breathing. Kosuke guides Rin over to you now that the teen who was holding her is busy trying to keep Jack alive. Before you can say some final line to the three jackasses, their ritual finishes and one shouts "Get him to the healers!" They \ <<else>>\ His friends run over to help him and don't even acknowledge you when they lift Jack off the ground. "Get him to the healers!" One of them shouts, and they \ <</if>>\ run in unison, carrying Jack down the trail back towards the village. Either they don't want to mess with you or Jack is hurt badly enough that every second counts. It stings that they move too fast for you to get the final word in, but it doesn't matter. It's over now. You turn back to Kosuke and your siblings then pick up Jin in both arms until you feel...something. "Kosuke, take Jin." "Why?" <<cap $bffheshe>> asks, taking Jin immediately without waiting for the answer. "There's something here. I think it's that Heavenly Gate Jack was talking about. Right over...there." A 30 pace jog takes you to the odd sensation in the air, a ripple that you can barely make out. You sit down in a meditative pose and try to cycle the ripple as if it were energy, lacking any instructions on a better idea. Your soul gives off a dangerous tremor you've never felt before. <<page "The ground shakes beneath your feet." "ch1-jackedoff2">>

An intense sensation stabs into your gut and you grip your stomach in pain, pulling one knee inward to brace yourself. Out of caution you use your amateur senses to feel around for some chi trap left behind by the Thunderfall students. That's when you detect it. Something is off. The natural energy of your surroundings feels imbalanced, unstable, even overflowing. Both Jack and Jin thought this area's natural energies were ready to be harvested for a free cycling and they were right, but it feels too...solid. Like you can't take a piece, only the whole thing. The leaking natural energies from this surge of chi seek out a receptacle, the path of least resistance. The highest nearby Aura Pressure. You. Haze rises from the ground and spins around you, a leak of natural power that flows into your soul. You feel amazing! But it doesn't stop, or even slow down. The Shards in your pocket sizzle into chi faster than they ever have during your cycling. ''[Item Lost: $shards Shards]'' <<var $shardgain Math.round($shards/5)>>\ <<if ($shardgain gte 8)>>\ ''[Aura Pressure +$shardgain]'' <<var $aurapressure + $shardgain>>\ <<else>>\ ''[Aura Pressure +8]'' <<var $aurapressure + 8>>\ <</if>>\ <<var $shards 0>>\ <<page "More!" "ch1-jackedoff3">>

Your body starts convulsing, and your soul shakes with it. You fall backwards onto the ground and try to hold all the energy in. A whirlwind of glowing emerald streaks fills the air of your cliffside as if a massive brush had painted them into the sky. Potent winds dissolve to glowing translucent wind chi and pile into your soul, knocking your prone body back and forth as if you were trapped in the water of a jug being violently shaken. <<apboost 20>>\ <<page "MORE!!" "ch1-jackedoff4">>

Cracks form in the ground beneath your body. Amber light emits from the fissures and funnels into your midsection through your back. The atmospheric pressure that was pushing into your core from above is now matched by the same sensation from below, crushing you between two impossible weights. <<var $apgain 30>>\ <<if (100 > ($aurapressure + $apgain))>>\ <<var $apgain (100 - $aurapressure)>>\ <</if>>\ <<apboost $apgain>>\ It all happens too fast for you to comprehend. Your vision blurs in a swirl of colors and your soul threatens to crack under so much pressure. Then it does crack. Power erupts from your body like water bursting from a dam and something changes in the center of your soul. All this time you had focused your willpower towards consuming energy, forming a core of absorbent yin at your spirit's center. Now that you've taken in too much chi you can feel that spiritual yin core //crack// and make way for an equal sized aspect of outward yang energy. What was once a soul that could only bring chi in has now become a soul that can exude chi out. Your first Advancement. The two aspects of energy connect at the center of your spirit and reject each other, spinning in place as a yinyang that pushes your internal energy outside of your body. It doesn't hurt. Only enough of your spirit leaks out to form a burning glow around you, then the leak slows to a trickle once you're surrounded by an aura of white haze. It reminds you of oil slowly fueling a lantern. You look down at your hands, blazing with white energy. ''[Chi Pool Unlocked]'' ''[You can now use Techniques and Combat Cores to resolve situations both in and out of combat.]'' <<var $chapter 1.5>>\ <<var $auracolor "grey-white">>\ It doesn't feel like you imagined, it feels like... <<choose "ch1-jackedoff5">> #An extension of muscular force all around me. [Power Core] The power around you feels as if it's an addition to your strength in every way. Your kicks use your leg muscles and your aura. Your punches use your arms and back, and your aura. Even your steps use your aura to make yourself light as a feather. With this new power you know exactly how Martial Artists feel when they punch through trees without a care. Hells, you're aching to try it out on a tree right now. ''[Combat Cores Unlocked]'' ''[Power Core +1]'' <<var $power + 1>>\ #Impossible density throughout my whole body. [Fortitude Core] The power around you feels like as if it's soaked into your skin, muscle, and bones and replaced your parts with steel. Your hands are more steady, your lungs more capable, your skin unbreakable. The fatigue melts from your aching body. That was a sensation for the way you used to be, not the perpetual engine you've become. ''[Combat Cores Unlocked]'' ''[Fortitude Core +1]'' <<var $fortitude + 1>>\ #Nonstop energy coursing through my veins. [Agility Core] The power around you feels compact, like the taught string of a bow, ready to snap into action with explosive results. Even without utilizing it you feel lighter on your feet and your thoughts come faster. The world feels just a fraction slower than it was before, and you are more ready for it. ''[Combat Cores Unlocked]'' ''[Agility Core +1]'' <<var $agility + 1>>\ #External power, as if the energy around me was a part of my body. [Soul Core] The power around you feels more complex than the purified chi within the Shards. More capable. You feel its power as a fuel, a utility, a tool that can be wielded in an infinite number of ways. All you have to do is discover them. ''[Combat Cores Unlocked]'' ''[Soul Core +1]'' <<var $soul + 1>>\ <</choose>>\

<<var $chipool 1>>\ <<var $val 0>>\ You pant for breath and steady yourself. Your own mystic power...Amazing. After a second you try to dismiss the aura, but you don't yet know how. Instead you do your best to calm yourself then look over to Rin and Kosuke, who is holding Jin on $bffhisher back. Rin is speechless. Kosuke is beaming. <<if ($heshe is "he")>>\ "Ancestors above," \ <<else>>\ "Ancestors below," \ <</if>>\ $bffheshe says, "When Jack recovers he's gonna shit his pants." <<choose "ch1-jackedoff6">> #"After all this, I might too." #"He already did. You should have seen it." <<var $honor - 1>>\ "Nice!" Kosuke shouts. <<cap $bffheshe>> goes to highfive you but stops short and pulls $bffhisher hand back. "Uh, sorry but you're steaming. Or smoking." "That I am." You confirm, "I'm still working on turning that off." #"Let's just go home." <<var $ruthless - 2>>\ Rin nods, thankful. Kosuke shrugs. #"He can shit his pants from a jailcell. I'm still reporting this." <<var $honor + 1>>\ <</choose>>\

<<if $val is 2>>\ "Nice!" Kosuke shouts. <<cap $bffheshe>> goes to highfive you but stops short and pulls $bffhisher hand back. "Uh, sorry but you're steaming. Or smoking." "That I am." You confirm, "I'm still working on turning that off." <<elseif $val is 3>>\ Rin nods, thankful. Kosuke shrugs. <</if>>\ The four of you make your way back down the mountain pass trail together, Jin sleeping in your arms and Rin resting on Kosuke's back. You march through the forests and get to the safety of your village gates, legs aching more with each step. By the time you get home Father is still at the markets. Mother opens the door and screams at the sight of Jin's injuries. She rushes you inside and demands the whole story from all of you. You don't bother lying, Rin would tell her the whole story too, and that girl wouldn't be able to keep a lie together if her life depended on it. <<if ($race is "Kitsune")>>\ And that's saying something, because she's a Kitsune in a village where they're hunted. Her life //does// depend on it. Nevertheless, \ <<else>>\ <</if>>\ Mother listens intently while fetching bandages and poultices from the washroom cupboard. You try to protest that you're fine but she points out stressed abrasions all of your body. When did those get there? Now that she mentions it, you //do// hurt all over. Heavens above, how did you even walk home? Mother covers all four of you in wrappings and pastes, even Rin, and forcefeeds you the vilest blackened leaf soup you've ever tasted. She calls it medicine. You call it burnt. <<include "ch1-recoveryprep">>\

Jack stands over you triumphantly, his leg reared back for a kick to your head. <<if ($kosukecombat gt 1)>>\ Kosuke is on the ground being kicked by two of the others, one of which has a bleeding hand. It seems Kosuke bit through his tough skin. Good for Kosuke, you think, as \ <<else>>\ Kosuke is held back in a chokehold by one of the Thunderfall students. <<cap $bffheshe>>'s stomping on the disciple's foot to no avail. \ <</if>>\ Jack's foot swoops down and cracks you in the jaw. Pain lances through your teeth as your vision is snapped to the side where you see Jin's unconscious bloodied face mere feet from your own, and Rin is weeping across from him. Something in the center of your abs has you pinned to the ground. You try your best to get up, to protect your family, to save the day, but you can't even move. Yet you ''need'' to move. You ''will'' move. Jack rears his foot back for another kick. The growing pressure on your abs feels like a great weight dropping onto you, like something sucked in the atmosphere and shoved it all through your gut. It feels dangerous. It feels familiar. It feels...Like a cycling. ''[Item Lost: $shards Shards]'' <<var $shardgain Math.round($shards/5)>>\ <<if ($shardgain gte 8)>>\ ''[Aura Pressure +$shardgain]'' <<var $aurapressure + $shardgain>>\ <<else>>\ ''[Aura Pressure +8]'' <<var $aurapressure + 8>>\ <</if>>\ <<var $shards 0>>\ <<page "More!" "ch1-jackedup2">>

Your body starts convulsing, and your soul shakes with it. Your vision hazes from the white smoke flowing out of your body. Jack jumps back a step as a haze of emerald energy spirals through the air of the cliffside. "Jack!" Shouts the fat disciple, "The Heavenly Gate, it's happening!" All three of the other disciples drop to meditative stances. Kosuke gets released but falls flat on $bffhisher face, unconscious from the chokehold. Jack remains standing near you but holds his hands together over his core, fingertips touching, and you can see the emerald swirls of natural wind energy moving towards them. "No!" You shout in desperate defiance, forcing shaky hands over your own core to mimic Jack's method. "Mine!" They're already so far ahead of you. You cannot let them have this. "''//IT'S MINE!!//''" The wind energy quickens and emerald light fills the air like a verdant dawn. The pressure on your core increases tenfold as the natural chi of the Heavenly Gate shakes in place, torn between the call of so many Martial Artists, until it bends to the strongest will. The strongest desire. The hungriest soul. Yours. "Oh shit!" Shouts the fat one in the group, "Jack, get back!" Jack opens his eyes and you see a flash of anger quickly get replaced with fear as the dangerous natural energies of the Heavenly Gate blast past him and into you. The haze of green surrounding you all compresses into streaks of emerald wind chi that dissolve as they lance into your center, piling into your soul one after the other, knocking your prone body back and forth as if you were trapped in the water of a jug being violently shaken. <<rand $apgain 15 20>>\ <<apboost $apgain>>\ <<page "MORE!!" "ch1-jackedup3">>

Cracks form in the ground beneath your body. Yellow light emits from the fissures and funnels into your midsection. The atmospheric pressure that was pushing into your core from above is now matched by the same sensation from below, crushing you between two impossible weights. <<rand $apgain 23 30>>\ <<apboost $apgain>>\ It all happens too fast for you to comprehend. Violent shakes overtake your body as your injuries mend instantly and painfully. Colors swirl across your vision and your soul threatens to crack under the pressure of foreign energy. Then it does crack. Power erupts from your body like water bursting from a dam and something changes in the center of your soul. All this time you had focused your willpower towards consuming energy, forming a core of absorbent yin at your spirit's center. Now that you've taken in too much chi you can feel that spiritual yin core //burst// and make way for an equal sized aspect of outward yang energy. What was once a soul that could only bring chi in has now become a soul that can exude chi out. Your first Core. Your first Advancement. The two aspects connect at the center of your spirit and reject each other, eternally separated as they're meant to be, spinning in place as a yinyang that pushes your internal energy outside of your body. Oddly enough it doesn't hurt. Not compared to everything else going on in your body. Only enough of your spirit leaks out to form a burning glow around you, then the leak slows to a trickle once you're surrounded by an aura of glowing white haze. Like oil slowly fueling a lantern. ''[Chi Pool Unlocked]'' ''[You can now use Techniques and Combat Cores to resolve situations both in and out of combat.]'' <<var $chapter 1.5>>\ <<var $auracolor "grey-white">>\ Your eyes shoot open with vibrant white light. Jack's eyes shoot open with surprise. <<var $val 0>>\ <<choose "ch1-jackedup4">> #Grip his ankle and throw him off the cliff. [Power Core] <<var $page 4>>\ Raw strength flows through your veins in a surge of confidence and action. Still on the ground, you grip Jack's leg that he had so kindly offered your jaw seconds earlier and swing your whole bodyweight towards the ledge so hard that it lifts you to your feet. You throw the older teenager like you would throw a big stick for a dog. Jack launches more than a dozen feet horizontal, clear off the cliff with no chance to catch anything. His screams can be heard for longer than you'd expect. Then they stop when he hits the rocks below. <<var $power + 1>>\ ''[Power Core +1]'' #Stand tall and charge him into the ground. [Fortitude Core] <<var $page 4>>\ Resilience. Hardness. Solidity. The power of the Earth flows through you temporarily and you feel its aspects. You feel invincible, like your body is made of steel. With a quick leap to your feet you kick off the ground and charge at Jack, headbutt his forehead, and wrap your arms around his torso while he's still in shock. A battlecry forces its way out of your throat as you lift Jack off his feet and slam him into the hard stone ground. He coughs as your shoulder crushes him between the steel toughness of your body and literal rock, but still he breathes. He lifts an elbow and hammers it into your back, to no avail. You pull his entire body back up like you're moving a rolled rug and slam him right back into the stone. Again. And again. And again. And again. And again. His flails and strikes weaken as you knock the wind out of him, then the fight out of him, then the blood out of him. Jack's friends look on in horror. When finally his body is limp and pathetic as Jin's, you drop him to the ground and stomp his knee for good measure. <<var $fortitude + 1>>\ ''[Fortitude Core +1]'' #Dash behind him and deliver a sneak attack to his neck. [Agility Core] <<var $page 4>>\ The world around you slows to a halt. You slide to your feet in a whirl of motion that carries you all the way behind Jack, grabbing his shoulder for leverage so you don't go too far. It's as if he doesn't even see you, his head moving slowly to follow your movements but not fast enough to actually look at you. In his mind, you must have completely disappeared. Funny. He's about to disappear too. You raise your arm back as you arc behind the person who beat your brother bloody. The wild heat of raw chi flows through your forearm as you drive it against the back of Jack's neck until you hear a satisfying crack and his body crumples to the ground. <<var $agility + 1>>\ ''[Agility Core +1]'' #Unleash this raw unfamiliar power into his face. [Soul Core] <<var $page 4>>\ An outstretched hand. A focus of will. A grasp on the energy surrounding your body, like a new limb shaking off the feeling of pins and needles. Then a push. That was all it took. It was so easy, how had you never figured it out before? White flashing chi erupts from your arm like cannonfire and blasts Jack's entire face and chest with burning energy. The force of it launches him into the air like a ragdoll. Smoke emits from his scorched face when he hits the ground, wheezing. He stays down. <<var $soul + 1>>\ ''[Soul Core +1]'' <</choose>>\

<<var $chipool 1>>\ <<var $chispent + 1>>\ The other Thunderfall students flee at the sight of your assault. Cowards. But even you can't believe it. You've won against the heir of the Thunderfall Sect, against a proper Martial Artist, and as you look down at the burning white energy surrounding your entire body, you realize you've joined their ranks. You laugh and shout- No. You try to laugh or shout...but nothing happens. Your mouth won't move. Your lungs won't even make the attempt. In seconds you worry that the fleeing Thunderfall students have all turned around and started flying in a crescent formation, only to realize they're still running away like they were before, it's your vision that's gone wrong. Everything is blurring in such a dizzying upward swirl that your body must be falling sideways to the ground. Rin shouts your name several times as the toll of your actions catches up to your body and soul. You hit the ground, hard, and the world fades to black. <<page "My body..." "ch1-jackedup5">>\

Bitter smells and the warmth of the fireplace eventually wake you. There's sheets around your body. Tight sheets. You tilt your head up to look and see that there's actually no sheets at all, rather your entire body is wrapped in bandages. Probably made from sheets. Some of them are stained red with blood. And you're home. You must be in Rin's bed because Mother is sitting between you and another mattress where Jin is laid out with only his face and one arm wrapped up tight. She has her back turned to you and both her and Rin are slowly feeding Jin spoonfuls of Mother's trusted medicinal burnt-leaf soup. Jin's lucky he's still unconscious. That stuff tastes like bile. <<if ($bffheshe is "he")>>\ On the floor there's a neatly wrapped human-shaped package that's probably Kosuke. Apparently he'd taken a beating when you were fighting. Only his eyes are visible through his new facemask of wrappings, which you think looks kind of cool. Judging by the smug look in his eyes, he does too. <<elseif ($bffheshe is "she")>>\ Kosuke sits across the room with a bandaged wrist and ungent pastes on her cheeks, but otherwise she seems healthy. You're glad. <</if>>\ <<page "Home at last" "ch1-jackedup6">>

When mother sees that you're awake she demands to know what happened and why the guards found Kosuke and Rin sweating buckets while dragging the two of you to the gates. You don't bother lying, she would ask Rin too, and that loudmouth can't keep an alibi together if her life depends on it. Mother listens intently and forcefeeds you some warm soup that tastes like burnt bread and feels like stomach acid on your tongue. You struggle to fight it but your bandages keep you restrained as she tortures your tastebuds. <<include "ch1-recoveryprep">>\

Four Human strangers stand in a line by the empty garden, all dressed in white martial arts gi. Three boys and a girl. They seem a little older than you and they're waiting for something. You, it seems. One notices your approach and smiles. "You must be <<cap $name>>", says the black-haired older teen with a chiseled jaw. Something's off-putting about his smile. It doesn't reach his eyes. "We've been looking for you." One of Father's customers maybe? \ <<if $background is "Herbalist">>\ "That's me. I don't have any herbs on me right now but I can take an order." <<elseif $background is "Blacksmith">>\ "That's me. Are you looking for nails? I can write an order down." <<elseif $background is "Trapper">>\ "That's me. Looking for a specific pelt?" <<elseif $background is "Merchant">>\ "That's me. Looking to sell something?" <</if>>\ "No, I don't give a shit about your Laborer business," the older boy says with a yawn, "I care more about you meddling in my Warrior business. See, the name's Jack. Crusher Jack. And me and my friends here heard a disturbing little rumor." You hear a groan from behind the four, in the garden. "We heard some Laborer Caste brats were absorbing Shards to unlock their auras. That's no good. Makes us look bad. See, my old man forbids us from doing that at such an easy level." His old man? You think back to the name...Crusher Jack...Why does it sound so familiar? That's when it hits you. Crusher Mao, the leader of the Thunderfall Sect. This must be his son. Jack keeps talking while you process the revelation. "Me and the boys are forced to train the old fashioned way until we get our auras, to prove ourselves." He runs a hand through his hair and smiles wider, squinting. "So you see, that's a big problem for us if some peasant Laborer reaches an Advancement before we all do. Other peasants might get the wrong idea. You're going to give up on cultivating chi, immediately, or me and my friends are going to break your arms." The source of the groan rises from behind some herbs in the garden. Over Jack's shoulder you see your \ <<if $kosukecombat is 0>>\ <<if $jincombat > 0>>\ brother Jin \ <<else>>\ sister Rin \ <</if>>\ <<else>>\ friend Kosuke \ <</if>>\ shakily stand with a swollen cheek and black eye. You quickly realize how much danger you're in. ''[You have no Aura, no Combat Cores, and no Techniques. Your only option in combat at this point will be utilizing your skills.]'' <<choose "ch1-jackfightscene">> #Suck it up and fight. Anger seeps into your heart, but it's the resolve that truly drives you. <<var $page 1>>\ These four don't even have auras yet. Who the //fuck// do they think they are to challenge you? And four against one? Assholes //and// cowards. #Run. -> "ch1-jackfightscene" "NOPE!" You scream, turning 180 degrees and booking it back the way you came. "What the-" It seems Jack didn't account for this strategy, but he recovers soon enough, "Grab $himher!" He shouts to the other three. <<var $revealedchucks false>>\ <<if (($athletics + $stealth) gte 2)>>\ ''[Athletics + Stealth 2 Check Passed]'' You sprint between two houses stationed near the garden and slam on their windows while running through to get as many witnesses as possible. The girl lunges for your arm at one point and nearly catches you but you pull away and she tumbles. The skinnier guy from their group leaps over her and dashes toward you just in time to get a handful of dirt to the face. "Gkah!" He gaffs, spitting the dirt out and tumbling into the side of a house with the help of your trusty fist to his temple. The third one is still running through the alley behind the tumbled girl that's getting up. You're not worried about him, he's fat. Together the three of them chase you out of the alleyway and down the cobblestone street, all four of you pushing your leg muscles as fast as you can possibly go, but it's futile. For them. ''[Aura Pressure +3]'' <<var $aurapressure + 3>>\ Once you lose the trio you look around for any guards you can find, locate a pair by the Market Square, and give them some line about vegetable thieves by the garden. You doubt they'd help you against the heir to the Thunderfall Sect if they knew the truth. "Vegetable thieves?!" One of them shouts, unsheathing his tonfa. "Not on my watch!" "I'll bet it's that damned beggar child." The other one says. They both nod to each other. <<if $fightfren is "Kosuke">>\ "Probably." You say. They're not far off the mark, Kosuke //is// down there. "This way." "Uh yes, we know the garden is this way." Says the first guard. "We live here." "Oh, right." The second guard just looks at you and shakes his head. <<else>>\ Rude but fair. <<if $thievery gte 1>>\ You and Kosuke \ <<else>>\ Kosuke \ <</if>>\ did rob the community garden last week. You don't consider it robbing though; how could it be a community garden if members of the community can't have it? Idiots. <</if>>\ The three of you arrive to find no sign of the Thunderfall students nor $fightfren. <<page "Continue" "ch1-jackencounter2">>\ <<else>>\ ''[Athletics + Stealth 2 Check Failed]'' You run as fast as your strong legs will take you but get cut off by the girl of the group who somehow bolted past you and cuts off your exit between two rows of houses. <<if $heshe is "he">>\ That's fine, you think. You can take a girl. Except she \ <<else>>\ You think you're about to have it easy until she \ <</if>>\ reaches into her gi and withdraws a pair of nunchucks. What the fuck man, who carries nunchucks? <<var $revealedchucks true>>\ You pivot quickly, turn around, and try to juke past the other two chasing you but don't make it in time. The skinny one grabs your shirt and throws you back a ways and you avoid falling over by tumbling into a run. It's too late before you realize you're running //toward// Jack. The other three come up behind you, snickering. "We could have done this the easy way." Jack says, cracking his knuckles. "Now we do it the fun way." Panic crawls up your throat but you push the sensation down. You need a strategy. <<include "ch1-jackfightscene">>\ <</if>>\ #Kowtow and surrender. <<var $ruthless - 6>>\ <<if $heshe is "she">>\ <<var $jackromance + 1>>\ <</if>>\ "I deeply apologize." You say while dropping to your knees and pressing your forehead against the dirt in a deep kowtow. "I will end my cycling immediately to bring satisfaction to the Thunderfall Sect." Jack steps forward and presses his heel against the back of your head. "And?" His friends stifle their laughter behind him. "And I beg forgiveness from the future leader of the Thunderfall Sect for my \ <<if $kosukecombat is 0>>\ <<if $jincombat gt 0>>\ brother \ <<else>>\ sister \ <</if>>\ <<else>>\ friend \ <</if>>\ wasting your time as well." "Hm, a tough choice," Jack says to his friends, "what do you think boys, should we forgive $himher?" "What about a black eye fist?" Says the skinny one. "I say we break a finger." Says the only girl in the group. "At least rob $hisher pockets." Says the fat one. Jack holds up a hand and they all fall silent. "No, I like the way $heshe begs. We should encourage the natural order of things, like Laborers being on their knees. Come on, let's stop wasting time on this filth and head back to the \ <<if $heshe is "he">>\ dojo." <<else>>\ dojo. I've got some excitement to work off." <</if>>\ The four of them head off, laughing. When a full minute has passed and you can't hear them anymore, you raise your head and run over to \ <<if $kosukecombat is 0>>\ <<if $jincombat > 0>>\ Jin. He looks at you with...hate? "Why didn't you fight them?!" He spits blood at the ground. "They didn't know I was back up, we could have taken them out!" "Grow up," you reply defensively, "that was Crusher Mao's son, the entire Sect would have destroyed not only us but Mother, Father, and Rin too." Jin goes pale at that. "That's not fair." He says. "Life's not fair." The two of you go home in shame to get his injuries taken care of. <<else>>\ Rin. She looks up at you with tears in her eyes. "I don't know why they did it." She breaks down into a full cry, "What did I do wrong? My nose hurts so much, why did they do this?" She begins to weep, openly and loudly. "It's okay, it's okay!" You say on reflex trying to console her, "we'll figure something out. Let's get you home and get you taken care of." <</if>>\ <<else>>\ Kosuke. <<cap $bffheshe>> looks at you incredulously, wincing through the pain. "Maybe I should have tried that instead of all the things I said about their mothers. I honestly never thought backing down would work." "Me neither." You say. "Let's go home and never talk about this again." And you do. Kosuke goes to your house to get $bffhisher cuts and bruises tended by your Mother. You both lie that $bffheshe fell off a roof. <</if>>\ <<page "Continue" "ch1-jackencounter3">> <</choose>>\

"Ahhh I see." Says one of the guards. "Trying to distract us so your friends can rob the market eh?" You're thrown completely \ <<if $thievery gte 1>>\ off-guard. That's such a good idea. Why didn't you think of it before? <<else>>\ off-guard. \ <</if>>\ "Uh...No?" "We'll see about that!" Says the second guard, taking you home and reporting this possible fake crime to your parents, a fate worse than death. Father answers the door and you see $fightfren inside being treated with some bandages and fed some of Mother's awful burnt-leaf medicinal soup. You're glad \ <<if ($fightfren is "Rin") or (($fightfren is "Kosuke") and ($bffheshe is "she"))>>\ she \ <<else>>\ he \ <</if>>\ made it back safely. Likewise, it seems, when \ <<if ($fightfren is "Rin") or (($fightfren is "Kosuke") and ($bffheshe is "she"))>>\ she \ <<else>>\ he \ <</if>>\ waves with a relieved smile. "Evening guardsmen, can I help you?" Father asks. "We found your $sondaughter amongst the gardens and the market. Possibly a vegetable thief. Possibly an actual thief." "Possibly nothing!" You shout quickly, to no avail. "I see..." Father says, staring a death sentence into your soul. "Are there any charges?" "None yet." Says the first guard, "We need to investigate the state of the garden and have the merchants double check their inventory in the morning." "Understood." Father says, "I'll make sure $heshe is properly disciplined." "Do." Says the second guard, shoving you towards your future spanking. Father's belt is once again called to service that night, but at least $fightfren is safe and you made it home. A week later, when you can walk, you ignore Jack's stupid threat and continue your cultivation quest for the following year. Your war chest of Shards grows further from another side gig where you... <<include "ch1-gigs">>\

You keep your word about not cycling again...For now. The fact that you continue to take on secondary jobs is just for the income, of course. At least that's your excuse if anyone asks. For now, you start a new job where you... <<include "ch1-gigs">>\

<<var _revealedchucks false>>\ Your foot inches under an unattended hand trowel someone left out. It's bladed but unwieldy as a throwing weapon, only useful if they don't see it coming. Jack's thugs walk closer and you weigh your options fast. <<choose "ch1-jfightscene2">> #Throw the trowel before they notice it. #show-if ($background is "Blacksmith") Throw your Tanto to take one of them out immediately. [Automatic Success] -> "ch1-jfightscene6" #show-if ($background isnot "Blacksmith") use-if ($background is "Blacksmith") Use a real weapon. [Requires Blacksmith Background] -> "ch1-jfightscene6" #Punch the fat one directly. -> "ch1-jfightscene7" <</choose>>\

<<if ($page is 1)>>\ <<if $survival gte 1>>\ ''[Survival 1 Check Passed]'' You've been wrestling against bigger animals since you were a kid. Half the prey you've trapped weren't nearly as dead as they looked and you know how to take them seriously. Jack has you by the waist so your vantage point is already good. With your full might you grab him by the armpits, press your feet against his abdomen, and twist to the side to knock him off balance and send you both tumbling down. You always anticipate an attack from a wild animal, they're never done attacking until they're dead. That's why you're ready when he throws a rock just as he's landing, tricky bastard that he is. You've already leaped far back, expecting it and dodging in advance. ''[Aura Pressure +2]'' <<var $aurapressure + 2>>\ <<elseif ($lore gte 1)>>\ ''[Lore 1 Check Passed]'' By the ancestors, you recognize this technique! You and Kosuke had tried this grapple on each other dozens of times when you first started cycling, and you know exactly how to break out! He has you just above the hips, so rather than try to slip out of his grip or loosen it, you grab his arms and pull yourself //down//, not up, moving your center of gravity so he can't swing you anymore. You come to nearly eye-level with him and shoot your leg between his as he runs, tripping you both. He kicks you as you're both falling but without any footing to ground his attack it only knocks you away, dealing superficial damage. ''[Aura Pressure +2]'' <<var $aurapressure + 2>>\ <<else>>\ ''[Survival/Lore 1 Check Failed]'' Your knowledge of grappling moves and your experience wrestling down stronger opponents are both found lacking. Jack slams your body into the dirt so hard that you slide upside down for several feet. ''[Lost 3 Aura Pressure]'' <<var $aurapressure - 3>>\ <<var $jackfight + 1>>\ <</if>>\ <<elseif ($page is 2)>>\ <<var $ruthless + 1>>\ <<if (($deception gte 1) or ($handseals gte 1))>>\ <<if $handseals gte 1>>\ ''[Handseals Check Passed]'' You practice handseals every single day, the stiffness of your finger joints is absolute. <<elseif $deception gte 1>>\ ''[Deception Check Passed]'' It takes a complete bastard to go for the eyes in a fight, someone that doesn't hesitate for even a fraction of a second to do what's best for themselves. Thank the heavens you qualify for that description. <</if>>\ Jack wraps his arms around your waist with a running leap and pulls you back to slam your skull into the ground, but you twist in midair to get a good vantage point. You place both hands on the side of his face, trace your thumbs over his eyes... And //push//. Jack screams, having no hands free to stop you, and throws you away from himself instinctively. ''[Aura Pressure +2]'' <<var $aurapressure + 2>>\ <<else>>\ ''[Deception/Handeals Check Failed]'' Flailing hands rub over Jack's face and he bites one, holding your fingers in place. You scream from the growing panic as he slams your body into the dirt so hard that you slide upside down for several feet. ''[Lost 3 Aura Pressure]'' <<var $aurapressure - 3>>\ <<var $jackfight + 1>>\ <</if>>\ <<elseif ($page is 3)>>\ <<if $alchemy gte 1>>\ ''[Alchemy 1 Check Passed]'' Potions and poisons have always been a fascination of yours, but you've never needed the poisons. And you're not carrying any. But you //are// carrying the vials you'd use for them. Glass vials. Just as Jack raises you up to slam your body into the ground, you rummage through your pockets and find a few small glass vials that you yank out and shove into his mouth, then punch his jaw. ''[Aura Pressure +2]'' <<var $aurapressure + 2>>\ "AAAGGGHHH!" Screams Jack between coughs. He throws you airborne in a rage while broken glass shards embed in his gums. <<elseif $craft gte 1>>\ ''[Craft 1 Check Pased]'' People truly underestimate steel. Martial Artists constantly boast about having skin or fists as strong as steel, but a steel ingot weighs vastly more than a human hand. That's why you're glad you picked up supplies for a side project before your sparring with $fightfren and didn't get a chance to go home with them yet. As Jack lifts you into the air he may not even notice that you weigh 20 pounds extra. He's a strong opponent. But you //do// weigh 20 pounds extra, because you have a steel ingot in your jacket's inner lining. You take it out and bash it into the top of his head. ''[Aura Pressure +2]'' <<var $aurapressure + 2>>\ "AAAGGGHHH!" Screams Jack, throwing you airborne like a ragdoll. You spin so hard that the ingot flies out of your hand and lands somewhere in the garden, hidden amongst the herbs. Shit, that's worth 4 Shards! Jack pants while holding the growing lump on his head and stares you down with the rage of a charging bull. <<else>>\ ''[Alchemy/Craft Check Failed]'' You scream through the rush of being whipped through the air. This would be a fantastic time to pull out some sort of item you had just for the occasion. You really wish you had one. Yeah, you think to yourself as the ground comes to meet your face, that would have been awesome. ''[Lost 3 Aura Pressure]'' <<var $aurapressure - 2>>\ <<var $jackfight + 1>>\ Jack slams you head-first into the dirt so hard that you slide upside down for several feet. <</if>>\ <</if>>\ You skid to a \ <<if $jackfight gte 1>>\ halt, bleeding, \ <<else>>\ halt \ and pick up the other half of $fightfren's gardening stake in a hurry. <</if>>\ <<cap $fightfren>> slashes \ <<if (($fightfren is "Jin") or (($fightfren is "Kosuke") and ($bffheshe is "he")))>>\ his \ <<else>>\ her \ <</if>>\ half at Jack's skinny friend nearby, who gets up and chases \ <<if $kosukecombat is 0>>\ <<if $jincombat gt 0>>\ him \ <<else>>\ her \ <</if>>\ <<else>>\ $bffhimher \ <</if>>\ through the garden. That leaves you, two unconscious losers, and the pissed off heir to the Thunderfall Sect. <<choose "ch1-jackfightscene3">> #show-if ($jackfight is 0) "Want some more?" <<var $page 1>>\ "Want some more?" You taunt at Jack ten feet away. "You think you're hot shit?" growls Jack, "Keep talking like that and I'll do more than end your cultivation, I'll end your life!" "I'd like to see you try." Jack's mouth tightens and he shakes his head in quick succession, shaking to contain his anger, and failing. "YOU'RE DEAD!" With a berserker's scream he charges at you. <<page "Continue" "ch1-jackfightscene3">>\ #show-if ($jackfight isnot 0) "I'm not done yet!" <<var $page 2>>\ "I'm not done yet!" You boast. "Good." Says Jack, "I'm not done toying with you yet." He flexes both arms and adopts a proper battle stance, then charges. You try to mimic his stance and the battle continues. <<page "Continue" "ch1-jackfightscene3">>\ #"You don't have to do this, Jack!" <<var $page 3>>\ "You don't have to do this, Jack!" <<var $ruthless - 3>>\ "Oh I don't have to do anything," Jack says, "I choose to do this. This town is mine, and if I say you end your cultivation, you fucking end it." He stomps the ground and a surprising amount of sand launches upward. "I'll show you what happens to people who don't listen to me!" Through the sand, he charges. <<page "Continue" "ch1-jackfightscene3">>\ #"I expected better from a Sect leader's son." -> "ch1-jacktaunt" #"GUARDS, INTRUDER IN THE VILLAGE GARDEN!" I shout for everyone to hear. "GUARDS!" You scream loud enough for half the village to hear, "INTRUDER IN THE VILLAGE GARDEN!" Crop thieves get 5 lashes. <<var $honor - 2>>\ "Wh-" Jack blurbs hesitantly, suddenly looking around in panic, "Shut up you fool! Do you want the guards to interfere?!" "Yes!" You shout, "That's why I'm shouting!" "How can you be such a coward!?" Screams Jack, "This is between us! You have no honor!" "Between US? You brought three friends, you dick!" He charges at you with what little opportunity he has left. <<page "Continue" "ch1-jackfightscene3">>\ <</choose>>\

The two of you clash outside the village gardens. His body is larger and stronger than yours, his hits land more painfully, and he's faster than you. You're on the backfoot as his assault turns your blocks into a retreat; each strike has enough force to knock you back several steps...but a true warrior comes prepared. That's why he's foolishly unarmed while you've got a hefty bit of wood in your hand. A laugh escapes your mouth at the absurdity of it all as you swing at him with your stake-club repeatedly until he responds with a punch at your face. <<if ($insight gte $jackdiff)>>\ ''[Insight Check Passed]'' Keen senses save you from a world of hurt. Throughout the skirmish you're able to predict the flow of the fight. When he swings a punch at your face, you catch it with the club using both hands on both ends and feel it snap in half to block the blow. Now you're holding two pieces of wood, each just big enough to hold in your fist and add some weight to your punches. ''[Aura Pressure +2]'' <<var $aurapressure + 3>>\ And it's your turn. <<page "Continue" "ch1-jackfightscene4">> <<else>>\ ''[Insight Check Failed]'' You don't catch it in time, and his strike connects directly with your left eye. ''[Lost 3 Aura Pressure]'' <<var $aurapressure - 3>>\ <<var $jackfight + 1>>\ <<page "Continue" "ch1-jackfightscene5">> <</if>>\

"GAH!" Jack holds his hand in pain, long enough for you to swing at him with a heavy fist. The first clips him in the head but he reacts in time to knock your arm away before you can put any weight behind it. With your advantage gone, you look for a flaw in his guard and... <<if $perception gte $jackfight>>\ ''[Perception Check Passed]'' Find it, as well as notice the fat martial artist crawling on the ground behind you, hoping to catch you unaware. With a quick leap you land on his jaw with all your weight and elicit a scream from him as his jawbone pops out of place. Jack tries to close the gap but he's too distracted by his friend's sudden scream. You kill two birds with one stone by spinning on your heel, digging into the fat martial artist's face even further and knocking Jack back with a surprise spin kick to his own jaw. He hits the ground, hard, with a baffled look on his face. ''[Aura Pressure +3]'' <<var $aurapressure + 3>>\ <<else>>\ ''[Perception Check Failed]'' Fail to spot the fat martial artist crawling behind you on the ground. You don't notice until his hand is already around your ankle. You look down in shock at the interruption and don't even have time to look back before Jack clocks you with a brutal haymaker that breaks your nose open. ''[Lost 4 Aura Pressure]'' <<var $aurapressure - 4>>\ <<var $jackfight + 1>>\ You hit the ground, hard, with a baffled look on your bloodied face. <</if>>\ <<page "Continue" "ch1-jackfightscene6">>

As you falter to the ground Jack leaps on top of you, preparing an assault, but he fails to pin your arms with his knees. This is your last chance to turn the tide or you're in trouble. You reel back both fists, look for an opening in his guard, and- <<if $perception gte $jackdiff>>\ ''[Perception Check Passed]'' Strike! Jack's defense is solid but not solid enough. He's holding both forearms to guard his face and swings at you with one fist at a time. That's when you punch him right in the solar plexus, causing his defending arm to drop in defense, and that's when you strike his face that he just stopped defending. Your fist connects with his eye socket to the sound of a satisfying crunch and you know he'll have a black eye. So will you, but that's not the point. You strike again, hitting a kidney, then again, swinging for his ear. ''[Aura Pressure +3]'' <<var $aurapressure + 3>>\ Again and again you strike where he's not defending, and again and again he abandons another body part to defend the one you just struck. He's on full defense and that's when you shove him off, rolling to your feet and gasping to catch your breath. <<else>>\ ''[Perception Check Failed]'' Get the shit beaten out of you so hard that your ancestors feel it. ''[Lost 4 Aura Pressure]'' <<var $aurapressure - 4>>\ <<var $jackfight + 1>>\ The next ten seconds are filled with thirty or more strikes to your arms, shoulders, ears, and face, <<if $jackfight gte 3>>\ <<var $beatjack1 4>>\ until the sweet embrace of unconsciousness takes you away from it all. You wake up at home wrapped in tight bandages. Father and Mother notice you're awake and look so mad that they skip right over the part where they're concerned, jumping directly to the part where they yell at you for the next hour. <<include "ch1-fatherstalk">>\ <<else>>\ until finally he tires out and you shove him off with every last ounce of your strength, rolling away and standing from the ground. You gasp to catch your breath and hear a worrying wheeze. A trail of blood follows you the whole way, leaking from your nose, mouth, busted cheek, and even your ears...but still you stand. <</if>>\ <</if>>\ <<page "Continue" "ch1-jackfightscene6">>

<<if $jackfight is 0>>\ "Are you done?" You ask Jack from your standing position, looking down on him where he lay in the dirt. "Because if not we can end a cultivation tonight after all: yours." "You dare?" Jack whispers. "You...You peasant!" He tenses both fists and slams the ground hard enough that your feet shake. "YOU PEASANT!!" His fists spark with the violent dance of flames. That...shouldn't be possible yet. Neither of you have auras. <</if>>\ "What's going on here?!" Shout a pair of guards. Their approach can be heard from around a pair of buildings by the rattling of splintmail. They both turn the corner and peer at you, then the martial artists on the ground, then Jack. "Looks like we have an unsanctioned spar on our hands." <<if ($jackfight is 0)>>\ The red glow dissipates from Jack's hands and he \ <<else>>\ Jack curses, looking back at the guards, then \ <</if>>\ glares at you. "There's nothing to see here, guardsmen." "We'll be the judge of that!" One of them says. You can't tell if they can't see who Jack is or they just don't care. Hopefully the latter. <<choose "ch1-jackfightscene7">> #use-if ($jackfight lt 2) "Unsanctioned spar?! He tried to kill me!" "Unsanctioned spar?! He tried to kill me!" <<var $ruthless - 2>>\ "Not the way I see it." says the first guard. "Typical cultivator aspirants, picking fights over who knows what." "A damned shame to see it happening on our streets." says the second guard. The first guard shakes his head and gets between you and Jack. "That's enough horsing around you two. If you want a proper duel you need to schedule it. Disturb the peace any longer and you'll have me to answer to." "You think I'm scared of you?" Jack says, "I'm-" #use-if ($jackfight lt 2) "That's right, guards! Jack and his Warrior Caste friends performed an unsanctioned spar against cap($name) the Laborer, their rival. Make sure to write that rival part down." <<if ($jackcombat lte 10)>>\ <<var $jackcombat + 1>>\ <</if>>\ "That's right, guards!" You boast with pride. "Jack and his Warrior Caste friends performed an unsanctioned spar against <<cap $name>> the Laborer, their rival. Make sure to write that rival part down." Jack eyes you with enraged furor, but it's too late. Witnesses have arrived. One of the guards withdraws a scroll and starts to scribble down notes as the other gets between you and Jack. "That's enough horsing around you two. If you want a proper duel you need to schedule it. Disturb the peace any longer and you'll have me to answer to." "You think I'm scared of you?" Jack says, "I'm-" #show-if ($heshe is "she") use-if ($jackfight lt 2) "Sorry mister guardsman, it's just a lover's quarrel." <<var $ruthless - 1>>\ <<var $jackromance + 1>>\ "He's right mister guardsman, it's just a lover's quarrel."\ <<if $jackfight is 1>>\ You spit the blood out of your mouth and give your most convincing innocent smile. <</if>>\ One guard looks to the other, neither seeing Jack's mouth drop open as he's caught completely off-guard. His wide shoulders lift and his eyebrows scrunch together in confusion so strongly that they almost touch. "Oh, well then that's different." The first guard clears his throat, looking from \ <<if $jackfight is 1>>\ your bruises to Jack's. \ <<else>>\ your pristine condition to Jack's bloodied face. \ <</if>>\ "Though back in my youth we were less...passionate. Make sure to keep it indoors next time." The second guard jots down notes, and you and Jack both realize he's recording the lover's quarrel between you. A mischievous grin spreads across your smug face. "That's not what happened!" Jack shouts out. "This was a battle! An honorable battle!" The second guard raises an eyebrow. "I should hope not, son, or else you \ <<if $jackfight is 1>>\ didn't do so well." <<else>>\ took the worst of it by far." <</if>>\ "SHUT YOUR MOUTH!" Jack screams, slamming a fist on the ground hard enough to send a cloud of dirt into the air. He stomps out through that cloud and grabs the guardsman by the collar, barking in his face. "Do you have any idea who you're speaking to? I AM-" #show-if ($jackfight gte 2) "Hnnrarf garbmn, gedmm." "Hnnrarf garbmn, gedmm." You mumble out, deliriously beaten with what is likely a broken jaw. One of the guards shakes his head and gets between you and Jack. "That's enough horsing around you two. If you want a proper duel you need to schedule it. Disturb the peace any longer and you'll have me to answer to." "You think I'm scared of you?" Jack says, "I'm-" <</choose>>\

"In deep shit when I tell your father about this." Replies the guard. Jack pauses with his mouth half open, lower teeth showing as he thinks it through, then he spits at the guard and storms off. "Always pleasant, Sect heirs." The guard says while watching Jack pick up his friends and leave. He turns to you. \ <<if $jackfight gte 2>>\ <<var $beatjack1 3>>\ "Are you alright kid? You look like shit." "Ihm fline." You say through two fattened lips, spitting blood with each word and flinching as you bite your tongue \ <<if $heshe is "she">>\ mid-sentence. Your usual tricks of using makeup to cover bruises might not work with this one. <<else>>\ mid-sentence. <</if>>\ "Good enough for me. Tell that line to your parents and get off the streets." <<elseif $jackfight gte 1>>\ <<var $beatjack1 2>>\ "Are you alright kid? It looks like you took a beating." "I'm fine." You say on reflex. "Good enough for me. Tell that line to your parents and get off the streets." <<else>>\ <<var $beatjack1 1>>\ "I'd ask if you're alright but you look plenty fine to me. Get home and don't make this a habit, I'm not dealing with politics or Sects any more than I have to." <</if>>\ You head home with $fightfren, \ <<if $fightfren is "Kosuke">>\ laughing about making \ <<else>>\ happy to make \ <</if>>\ it out alive. Mother and Father panic at \ <<if $jackfight gte 2>>\ your \ <<elseif $fightfren is "Jin">>\ his \ <<elseif $fightfren is "Rin">>\ her \ <<elseif $fightfren is "Kosuke">>\ $bffhisher \ <</if>>\ injuries when you get through the door. <<include "ch1-fatherstalk">>\

<<var $jackfight 0>>\ <<var $jackdiff 1>>\ Another whole year of hard work...but not another year of progress. Your <<print $age>>th birthday is a sour one. Sure, your day job is going well and you have more Shards, but not enough. It now costs more than a year's worth of two jobs to handle an extra cycling per year. <<if $kosukecombat is 0>>\ <<if $jincombat gt 0>>\ Jin \ <<else>>\ Rin \ <</if>>\ <<else>>\ Kosuke \ <</if>>\ has hit a similar slump, so the two of you are meeting by the village gardens at night for sparring. You'd use the sparring ring but only the Warrior Caste can reserve it for free. When you get to the gardens one night you immediately know something is wrong. <<if $kosukecombat is 0>>\ <<if $jincombat gt 0>>\ <<var $fightfren "Jin">>\ <<else>>\ <<var $fightfren "Rin">>\ <</if>>\ <<else>>\ <<var $fightfren "Kosuke">>\ <</if>>\ Where's $fightfren, and who are these people? <<page "Continue" "ch1-jackencounter">>\

<<if ($background is "Blacksmith")>>\ You sprint through the goonies and lunge at Jack, swinging at him to knock that stupid look off his face...but is it your fist that delivers the strike? Your crafted tanto rests under your jacket, unnoticed by the thugs. You could draw it in time to even the playing field, but risk dealing more than just an injury. <<choose "ch1-jackpunch2">> #My fist will do the job. You sprint through the goonies and lunge your fist at Jack, swinging at him to knock that stupid look off his face... \ <<if (($background is "Blacksmith") or ($athletics gte 1))>>\ and it hits, much to his surprise. Your aim is better than either of you thought. ''[Perception +1]'' <<var $perception + 1>>\ He's not the only one surprised. You expected your clean punch to knock Jack out, or at least knock him back. You're the strongest kid in your friend group. But Jack stands solid and grabs your fist after it's connected. He glares at you through a bloody nose. Burning red hues fill your vision as his body glows with the power of a Martial Artist's aura. "You're going to regret that." He says, and the next thing you see is a flash of white, black, and red swirling colors as his fist strikes your face back at full force. ''[Aura Pressure +5]'' <<var $aurapressure + 5>>\ The blow launches you airborne. You land several paces away head-first feeling like your whole body is fractured into paste. Your nose certainly is. <<else>>\ and then all you see is the sky overhead. You don't see him dodge, you don't see him grab your arm, and you don't see him flip you over his shoulder. All you see while that happens is a blur, then a flashing of stars when your skull hits the ground and unconsciousness grips you to the sound of his friends laughing. Your first experience against a Martial Artist is a humiliating yet vital one. <<aploss 3>>\ ''[Perception +1]'' <<var $perception + 1>>\ The world comes back into focus and you're not back home. Much worse, you're still in the fight. Seconds have passed. <</if>>\ <<page "Defeat..." "ch1-jackedup">> #This is why weapons are made. Damn you Jack, I draw my blade. <</choose>>\ <<elseif ($athletics gte 1)>>\ You sprint through the goonies and lunge at Jack, swinging at him to knock that stupid look off his face...and it hits, much to his surprise. Your aim is better than either of you thought. ''[Perception +1]'' <<var $perception + 1>>\ He's not the only one surprised. You expected your clean punch to knock Jack out, or at least knock him back. You're the strongest kid in your friend group. But Jack stands solid and grabs your fist after it's connected. He glares at you through a bloody nose. Burning red hues fill your vision as his body glows with the power of a Martial Artist's aura. "You're going to regret that." He says, and the next thing you see is a flash of white, black, and red swirling colors as his fist strikes your face back at full force. <<apboost 2>>\ The blow launches you airborne. You land several paces away head-first feeling like your whole body is fractured into paste. Your nose certainly is. <<page "Defeat..." "ch1-jackedup">> <<else>>\ You swing at his stupid face...and then all you see is the sky overhead. You don't see him dodge, you don't see him grab your arm, and you don't see him flip you over his shoulder. All you see while that happens is a blur, then a flashing stars when your skull hits the ground and unconsciousness grips you to the sound of his friends laughing. Your first experience against a Martial Artist is a humiliating yet vital one. <<aploss 3>>\ ''[Perception +1]'' <<var $perception + 1>>\ The world comes back into focus and you're not back home. Much worse, you're still in the fight. Seconds have passed. <<page "Defeat..." "ch1-jackedup">> <</if>>\

<<var $metjack + 1000000000>>\ All of this started because Jack thought your blacksmith family was beneath his Warrior Caste family. Laborers, he says. Let him see the results of your labor when you bury it into his chest. You draw your tanto from underneath your shirt and leap at Jack, shouting... <<choose "ch1-jackpunch3">> #"You'll rue the day you were born!" <<var $ruthless + 1>>\ #"Nobody touches my family!" <<var $ruthless - 1>>\ #"Show me a good time, Jack!" <<var $honor - 1>>\ #Nothing, he's not worth the words. <<var $honor + 1>>\ <</choose>>\

Jack tries to leisurely bat your punch out of the way, not realizing in time that it's not a punch. Not realizing you drew a blade. Not realizing the reach it gives you. Your attack hits him square in the chest before his lazy deflection can stop it. It hits deep. Too deep. Your aim is better than either of you thought. ''[Perception +1]'' <<var $perception + 1>>\ Wow. You think you just killed Jack. ''[Aura Pressure +10]'' <<var $aurapressure + 10>>\ He looks down at the handle sticking out of his chest with shock and bewilderment. He thinks you just killed him too. You try to bury any feelings of guilt as he looks up to say something and nothing comes out but blood. There can be no sympathy after what he tried to do to Jin. Jack collapses to the ground, where he belongs. <<var $jackstabbed true>>\ <<page "It's finally over..." "ch1-jackedoff">>

"I expected better from a Sect leader's son." You say, completely serious. <<if $jackfight gte 1>>\ Jack snickers. "As if I care what some Laborer trash says. You've already proven you're not a threat. I've hardly broken a sweat while you look half dead." Your bleeding lips form a smug smile. "Only half? And you call yourself a Martial Artist?" "Oh very funny," Jack says, "Let's end this." You hold onto the garden stake and brace yourself. The real struggle is about to begin. <<page "Continue" "ch1-jackfightscene3">>\ <<else>>\ "What the Hells did you just say?" Jack demands, glaring. His fists tighten and he adopts a true battle stance. <<choose "ch1-jackfightscene3">> #Mock him with taunts. "I said you're a bitch, Jack. Your dad knows you're a bitch, and when I'm done with you, the whole town will know you're a bitch. Is that clear enough?" "It's clear." He says coldly, "Clear that you're fucking dead." Jack's eyes flicker with literal embers, just for a second, as some semblance of chi sparks within him. Not a full aura, but enough to be a concern. You take on your own battlestance and prepare for trouble. ''[You have enraged Jack, the fight will now be more difficult.]'' <<page "Continue" "ch1-jackfightscene3">>\ #show-if ($jackfight gt 0) use-if ($jackfight is 0) Mock him with the truth. [Requires 0 Injuries] -> "death" #show-if ($jackfight is 0) use-if ($jackfight is 0) Mock him with the truth. [Requires 0 Injuries] "I said you're the son of a Sect Master and you're struggling against a self-taught $background. You even brought three friends and that wasn't enough. It's pathetic." "Shut the fuck up!" Jack shouts back. "Why? I've proven you can't make me." ''[You have demoralized Jack, the fight will now be easier.]'' <<var $jackdiff - 1>>\ <<if ($jadedragonfoundation is true)>>\ <<var $jackcombat + 1>>\ <</if>>\ Jack acts like he's catching his breath but you can see hesitation across his face. It takes him a moment to collect his thoughts and walk towards you. He shakes his head violently for a moment and picks up into a run, and as he raises a fist and gets closer he lets out a battlecry to stir himself to action. <<page "Continue" "ch1-jackfightscene3">>\ #[Attack] <<var $ruthless + 1>>\ Jibes are for fun, not for a fight. You steady your hold on the garden stake and charge at Jack to end this farce. <<page "Continue" "ch1-jackfightscene3">>\ <</choose>>\ <</if>>\

You shift your foot under the trowel for leverage without looking and flip it into the air, grabbing the handle just as the skinny guy and the girl shrink back from the surprise weapon. The fat one's reactions are too slow so he won the lottery: you throw it at him blade-first. <<if ($stealth gt 0) or ($thievery gt 1)>>\ <<if $stealth gt 0>>\ ''[Stealth 1 Check Passed]'' <<elseif $thievery gt 1>>\ ''[Thievery 2 Check Passed]'' <</if>>\ He doesn't see it flying into his shoulder until a gush of blood lets him know it's too late. The scream he lets out before dropping to the ground is worse for them than it is for you. They're about to have an audience. ''[Aura Pressure +2]'' <<var $aurapressure + 2>>\ Jack's eyes widen at your defiance but he doesn't hesitate. "Grab $himher, and make it hurt!" He shouts, and the other two lunge at you. The skinny guy leaps for your legs \ <<if _revealedchucks is true>>\ and the girl swings at your face with her nunchucks. <<else>>\ but you're already preparing a strike for the girl, that is until she reaches into her gi and withdraws a pair of nunchucks. What the fuck, who carries nunchucks? <</if>>\ <<page "Continue" "ch1-jfightscene3">>\ <<else>>\ ''[Stealth 1 Check Failed]'' And feel a sense of dread when you miss. He dodges out of the way and charges at you. A one-on-one you can handle, maybe, but the other two look to Jack for orders. Jack nods, scowling. "Grab $himher, and make it hurt." All three rush you in unison and beat the shit out of you. ''[Lost 4 Aura Presure]'' <<var $aurapressure - 4>>\ <<var $jackfight + 1>>\ <<page "Contunue" "ch1-jfightscene4">> <</if>>\

Before the girl's nunchucks can be introduced to your face you're saved by the Heavens. Or rather, saved by $fightfren screaming like a raging barbarian and slamming the nunchuck girl over the head from behind with a thick wooden gardening stake. The stake cracks in two. Her head almost does too. A grimace of incredible pain stretches her face, mouth open in a silent stuttering scream, and her eyes roll into the back of her head from $fightfren's attack. <<if $fightfren is "Rin">>\ "That's for ruining my makeup you tramp!" Rin shouts as her unfortunate choice of battlecry. <<elseif $fightfren is "Jin">>\ "Who's the cheapshotter now?!" Jin screams, blood dripping from his swollen lip. "You're all fucking dead!!" He looks incredibly pissed for such a little kid. <<elseif $fightfren is "Kosuke">>\ <<if $bffheshe is "she">>\ "There's only room for one bitch in this fight!" Kosuke screeches through teary eyes and a bloodied nose, "And that's me!" <<else>>\ "Don't turn your back on me!" Kosuke shouts and takes on a samurai battlestance with his remaining half of a gardening stake. <</if>>\ <</if>>\ Now it's two against two. You jump five feet vertical to dodge the skinny one and feel Jack crash into you midair with a running leap, grabbing onto your waist and trying to slam you into the ground. <<choose "ch1-jackfightscene2">> #Wrestle out of Jack's grip. <<var $page 1>>\ #Jab your thumbs into Jack's eyes. <<var $page 2>>\ #Cheat with whatever's in your pockets. <<var $page 3>>\ <</choose>>\

But you give as good as you get. The girl grabs your arms from behind and tries to make your shoulders meet behind you. The pain is worse than you expected as your shoulders nearly dislocate. All the while the skinny one is punching your lower torso, aiming for organs, and the fat one keeps reaching for your head to hold you still for a headbutt. You're pretty pissed about the embarrassing miss and your rage guides you to spit in the fat one's face and crack a foot across his lower jaw when he backs up to wipe it off. Your kick drops him like the giant bag of rice he probably eats every morning. It's a shortlived victory. The skinny martial artist reels his fist back for a face shot. <<page "Continue" "ch1-jfightscene5">>\

At the last moment you're saved by the Heavens. Or rather, saved by $fightfren charging forward with a wooden gardening stake and screaming like a wild barbarian loud enough to get the skinny guy to dodge out of the way. You angle your head to the side and give $fightfren a clear shot at the girl holding you from behind. <<cap $fightfren>> takes the shot and cracks the gardening stake over her head, hard enough to snap the stake in two. A grimace of incredible pain stretches across the girl's face, mouth open in a silent stuttering scream and eyes rolling into the back of her head. <<if $fightfren is "Rin">>\ "That's for ruining my makeup you tramp!" Rin shouts as her unfortunate choice of battlecry. <<elseif $fightfren is "Jin">>\ "Who's the cheapshotter now?!" Jin screams, blood dripping from his swollen lip. "You're all fucking dead!!" He looks incredibly pissed for such a little kid. <<elseif $fightfren is "Kosuke">>\ <<if $bffheshe is "she">>\ "There's only room for one bitch in this fight!" Kosuke screeches through teary eyes and a bloodied nose, "And that's me!" <<else>>\ "Don't turn your back on me!" Kosuke shouts and takes on a samurai battlestance with his remaining half of a gardening stake. <</if>>\ <</if>>\ That's two down. Two to go. Just as the fight turns in your favor, Jack charges into you like a raging Beast and grabs you around the waist, lifting you into the air with clear intention to slam you back down into the ground, face first, with the full force of his charge. <<choose "ch1-jackfightscene2">> #Wrestle out of Jack's grip. <<var $page 1>>\ #Jab your thumbs into Jack's eyes. <<var $page 2>>\ #Cheat with whatever's in your pockets. <<var $page 3>>\ <</choose>>\

The trowel would be an unwieldy weapon. Not your style. Luckily you have a wieldy weapon. You draw your tanto from it's sheath and see a look of surprise on the girl's face. The skinny guy near her has better reflexes and jumps to the side, he must have noticed your grip isn't for melee combat. You're not waiting for them to approach you; this bad boy is going into one of them before they even close the gap. And since the fat one didn't react in time he just won the lottery. ''[Item Check Passed]'' He doesn't see it flying into his shoulder until a gush of blood lets him know it's too late. The scream he lets out before dropping to the ground is worse for them than it is for you. They're about to have an audience. ''[Aura Pressure +2]'' <<var $aurapressure + 2>>\ Jack's eyes widen at your defiance but he doesn't hesitate. "Grab $himher, and make it hurt!" He shouts, and the other two lunge at you. The skinny guy leaps for your legs \ <<if _revealedchucks is true>>\ and the girl swings at your face with her nunchucks. <<else>>\ but you're already preparing a strike for the girl, that is until she reaches into her gi and withdraws a pair of nunchucks. What the fuck, who carries nunchucks? <</if>>\ <<page "Contunue" "ch1-jfightscene3">>

Fat fighters always think they're tough. You know he's packing muscle under all that bulk and his legs must be stronger than even Jack's if he's constantly moving that much weight around. But they're not fighting fair and so neither do you. You jump forward with a mock-kick to the groin, like they'd predict, and he tries to close his legs together and block with his hands. Now he's in the worst possible position to jump back. Good. You land close in front of him, grab his shirt and twist your forearm to pin both his hands down, then swing a hook at his jaw with all your might. <<if (($athletics is 0) and ($survival lt 2))>>\ ''[Athletics 1 Check Failed]'' And feel a sense of dread when you miss. He leans back much farther than you thought he could to dodge and you realize you're surrounded. A one-on-one you can handle, maybe, but the other two look to Jack for orders. Jack nods, scowling. "Grab $himher, and make it hurt." All three rush you in unison and beat the shit out of you. ''[Lost 4 Aura Presure]'' <<var $aurapressure - 4>>\ <<var $jackfight + 1>>\ <<page "Continue" "ch1-jfightscene4">>\ <<halt>>\ <<elseif ($athletics gte 1)>>\ ''[Athletics 1 Check Passed]'' <<else>>\ ''[Survival 2 Check Passed]'' <</if>>\ It doesn't matter that he sees it coming, there's nothing he can do to stop it with your other arm pinning his hands onto his gi and his friends too surprised by your ferocity. Your hook connects to his jaw and knocks a spray of saliva out of his mouth. His body collapses and his knees hit the ground, then you release his shirt so his face flops into the dirt too. ''[Aura Pressure +2]'' <<var $aurapressure + 2>>\ Jack's eyes widen at your defiance but he doesn't hesitate. "Grab $himher, and make it hurt!" He shouts, and the other two lunge at you. The skinny guy leaps for your legs \ <<if _revealedchucks is true>>\ and the girl swings at your face with her nunchucks. <<else>>\ but you're already preparing a strike for the girl, that is until she reaches into her gi and withdraws a pair of nunchucks. What the fuck, who carries nunchucks? <</if>>\ <<page "Contunue" "ch1-jfightscene3">>\

<<var $tummydraw false>>\ <<var $shardgain 0>>\ Your $race parents clap while you duel hours longer with energy the likes of which you didn't know you had. But all the other kids are fighting with that same energy. While none of you are as bad off as the Slave Caste, most of your friends are fellow peasants of the Laborer Caste so this is the first time almost any of you have had spirit-enhancing elixirs, even if it was "just" a luxury juice. None of you are from the Warrior or Noble Castes that claim your land's natural aura. A little boost goes a long way for peasants as weak as you are. After getting a black eye in your final duel, which you win against a fisherman's son, you walk over happily to the spectator benches where your parents bring out pastry treats for everyone and wish a happy birthday to their precious little... <<choose "ch1-job2">> #Boy. <<var $page 2>>\ <<if $yokaitrait2 is "cow ears">>\ <<var $yokaitrait2 "bull ears">>\ <</if>>\ #Girl. <<var $page 2>>\ <<var $himher "her">>\ <<var $hisher "her">>\ <<var $hishers "hers">>\ <<var $heshe "she">>\ <<var $boygirl "girl">>\ <<var $ymaster "Young Mistress">>\ <<var $sondaughter "daughter">>\ <<var $manwoman "woman">>\ <</choose>>\

Their precious little $boygirl who they named... <<if $heshe is "he">>\ <<if ((($race is "Human") or ($race is "Yokai")) or ($race is "Kitsune"))>>\ <<choose "ch1-job3">> #Ronin <<var $name "Ronin">>\ #Genji <<var $name "Genji">>\ #Kenzo <<var $name "Kenzo">>\ #Xin <<var $name "Xin">>\ #Ryuu <<var $name "Ryuu">>\ #Something else [Enter Name] -> "ch1-job4" <<var $name "Custom">>\ <</choose>>\ <<elseif ($race is "Oni")>>\ <<choose "ch1-job3">> #Brand <<var $name "Brand">>\ #Soren <<var $name "Soren">>\ #Fane <<var $name "Fane">>\ #Kozael <<var $name "Kozael">>\ #Aoyin <<var $name "Aoyin">>\ #Something else [Enter Name] -> "ch1-job4" <<var $name "Custom">>\ <</choose>>\ <<else>>\ <<choose "ch1-job3">> #Roderic <<var $name "Roderic">>\ #Cade <<var $name "Cade">>\ #Evander <<var $name "Evander">>\ #Bremet <<var $name "Bremet">>\ #Godwin <<var $name "Godwin">>\ #Something else [Enter Name] -> "ch1-job4" <<var $name "Custom">>\ <</choose>>\ <</if>>\ <<else>>\ <<if ((($race is "Human") or ($race is "Yokai")) or ($race is "Kitsune"))>>\ <<choose "ch1-job3">> #Jade <<var $name "Jade">>\ #Mira <<var $name "Mira">>\ #Kiyoko <<var $name "Kiyoko">>\ #Akane <<var $name "Akane">>\ #Sakura <<var $name "Sakura">>\ #Something else [Enter Name] -> "ch1-job4" <<var $name "Custom">>\ <</choose>>\ <<elseif ($race is "Oni")>>\ <<choose "ch1-job3">> #Ozra <<var $name "Ozra">>\ #Ember <<var $name "Ember">>\ #Lilith <<var $name "Lilith">>\ #Ansila <<var $name "Ansila">>\ #Eyri <<var $name "Eyri">>\ #Something else [Enter Name] -> "ch1-job4" <<var $name "Custom">>\ <</choose>>\ <<else>>\ <<choose "ch1-job3">> #Eve <<var $name "Eve">>\ #Luna <<var $name "Luna">>\ #Aurora <<var $name "Aurora">>\ #Violet <<var $name "Violet">>\ #Nessa <<var $name "Nessa">>\ #Something else [Enter Name] -> "ch1-job4" <<var $name "Custom">>\ <</choose>>\ <</if>>\ <</if>>\

"Happy birthday, $name!" Your friends and family shout together before digging into the sugar-filled pastries. You join them and sink your teeth into a chewy mochi dough filled with a confectionary sugar paste. Life is good. Sure, you have occasional chores and a reading lesson or two, but not on your birthday. On other days you finish them up fast enough and then play pretend with the other children of the village. Yet all good things must come to an end. With the fights over your friends leave for the evening. Mother waves them goodbye and Father approaches you. "Hey there birthday $boygirl, did you have fun?" "I sure did!" you shout through a fat lip. You're sore, but it's so rare that lower Caste children are allowed to use the official sparring ring. You feel like bruised royalty. "Good!" He smiles with relief, "That's good, this party was to celebrate a new part of your life, I truly wished for it to be special." Father puts a hand on your shoulder. "$name, you're the eldest of your siblings, and that means taking on responsibility. We wanted you to enjoy your childhood to the fullest because it's become time to start your training." Father hands you your birthday gift, a Path Manual! Secrets to the Martial Arts! You open it hastily and read through. Something is wrong. "It's not a Path Manual." Father says when he sees the look on your face, "It's a Skill Guide I got for your career skills. I want to train you in the family business so you can inherit it one day." ''[Skill Guide Unlocked]'' <<var $chapter 1.2>>\ ''[The Skill Guide in the "Journal" section of your stats page will explain the twelve non-combat skills and their uses.]'' Mixed feelings flood through your mind. You ''know'' you'll do a wonderful job being in charge of anything. Better than Rin or Jin would, at least. But on the other hand...no Martial Arts? Plus this sounds like Father is using a roundabout way to say he's giving you more chores. You know it, and you are right. You end up spending the next few months following your father around and picking up some tricks of the trade as a... <<choose "ch1-blacksmith">> #Blacksmith [Increase Craft] <<var $background "Blacksmith">>\ #Herbalist [Increases Alchemy] -> "ch1-herbalist" <<var $background "Herbalist">>\ #Merchant [Increases Persuasion] -> "ch1-merchant" <<var $background "Merchant">>\ #Trapper [Increases Survival] -> "ch1-trapper" <<var $background "Trapper">>\ <</choose>>\

Your parents are more inventive with names than most, and as such they've named you... ''[Enter your name in the text box below then click 'Continue']" <<textbox "$name" "John">> <<page "Continue" "ch1-job3">>\

Your Gothic family is an oddity in the small village of Thunderfall. While native humans have black or brown hair and brown eyes before absorbing enough chi that might change such traits, your people are born with a cascade of colors. Lunargoths possess lighter skin with more round eyes in shades of blue, green, grey, or amber, and a variety of hair colors from pitch black to white, yellow, orange, or red. Your father sports short golden hair with green eyes and your mother has long and curly bright-red hair with dark blue eyes. You hear there are more of you somewhere else. Not just the major cities that have a bit of everything, but in lands beyond this world filled with darkstone Gothic architecture. They say your people came down centuries ago from the Moon, which is awesome. You want to go to the Moon one day. ''[Racial Bonus: Craft +1]'' Are you sure you and your family are Lunargoths? <<choose "ch1-lunargoth-race2">> #Yes, me and my family are Lunargoths. <<var $craft + 1>>\ <<var $race "Lunargoth">>\ <<var $raceadjective "gothic">>\ #No, we're something else. -> "ch1-raceselect" <</choose>>\

Like most Lunargoths you're born with coloration in your hair and eyes. In particular, your hair is... <<choose "ch1-lunargoth-race3">> #Pitch black. <<var $haircolor "black">>\ <<var $page 3>>\ #Shades of light brown. <<var $haircolor "brown">>\ <<var $page 3>>\ #Dirty blonde. <<var $haircolor "dirty blonde">>\ <<var $page 3>>\ #Golden Blonde. <<var $haircolor "blonde">>\ <<var $page 3>>\ #Pure white. <<var $haircolor "white">>\ <<var $page 3>>\ #Burning orange. <<var $haircolor "orange">>\ <<var $page 3>>\ #Deep red. <<var $haircolor "red">>\ <<var $page 3>>\ <</choose>>\

And your eyes are... <<choose "ch1-job">> #Black <<var $eyecolor "black">>\ <<var $page 1>>\ #Brown <<var $eyecolor "brown">>\ <<var $page 1>>\ #Grey <<var $eyecolor "grey">>\ <<var $page 1>>\ #Deep blue <<var $eyecolor "blue">>\ <<var $page 1>>\ #Pale Blue <<var $eyecolor "pale blue">>\ <<var $page 1>>\ #Amber <<var $eyecolor "amber">>\ <<var $page 1>>\ #Verdant green <<var $eyecolor "green">>\ <<var $page 1>>\ #Pale green <<var $eyecolor "pale green">>\ <<var $page 1>>\ #Hazel <<var $eyecolor "hazel">>\ <<var $page 1>>\ <</choose>>\

Fatigue is a funny thing. You thought you were staying alert in case anything bad happened, yet you awaken to find yourself on Father's back, walking through town. Apparently you'd slept through most of the walk already. Mother is there too and the three of you are walking towards the largest building in town, the Magistrate's grand pagoda at the center of the Market Square. "Honey, $heshe's awake." Mother whispers. "Good morning \ <<if ($heshe is "he")>>\ champ, \ <<elseif ($heshe is "she")>>\ little bun, \ <</if>>\ have a good nap?" Father teases as he puts you down. You get your balance, since one of your legs is still asleep, and you groggily ask what's going on. "We spoke to Magistrate Khan and Crusher Mao. Mao's not happy seeing as your Mother-" "He deserved it." Mother cuts in, crossing her arms and raising her nose. "-shot him. In the back." Father finishes. "We're still discussing details on the situation, just separately now." He stops as you get to the Pagoda entrance, a large tall set of sliding doors to the first of six stories that make up the grand pagoda. Mother and Father grip the indented handholds for the door and pull. "The Magistrate asked for you." your Mother says, hesitantly. "...Alone." "Don't worry <<cap $name>>," says Father, "it's all going to be alright. Head up the stairs to the top floor. We'll be right out here." You nod and march through the tall doorway into the grand pagoda. If the Magistrate wants your side of the story then you're more than happy to give it to him. Maybe Jack can spend some time in a cell. <<page "Continue" "ch1-magistrate-2">>

<<cap $name>> here is not a //slave//. I declared $heshe must serve you, and so $heshe must. After all, you are the leader of the Thunderfall Sect." Mao puts his gourd down and glares cautiously. "What does that have to do with it?" "Everything, Master Mao." Magistrate Khan moves his stern gaze from Mao to you. "<<cap $name>> the Clanless, you have turned your soul into a combat asset for this village without instruction. As Magistrate of Thunderfall, I hereby elevate you, and your family under you, into the Warrior Caste. Like all empowered Warrior Caste of Thunderfall Village, you will be enlisted into the Thunderfall Sect. You will indeed serve under Master Crusher Mao...as one of his students." <<page "WHAT?!" "ch1-magistrate-11">>

"WHAT?!" you and Crusher Mao shout simultaneously. This is insane. Is the Magistrate trying to anger Mao on purpose? "KHAN!" Winds explode into the room as if to answer when Crusher Mao backhands the nearest wall. It shatters into splinters flying out over the night sky. Harsh winds funnel into the room and you get a good look at all the glowing lights of Thunderfall's homes below. "You insult me to my face, Khan! The Sect is mine, not yours! You're a FOOL to prioritize this Clanless $boygirl over your only protectors! Think carefully!" Magistrate Khan does not blink at the wall's explosion, or even Mao's impossibly loud shouts. He merely bows his head ever so slightly towards Crusher Mao. "I know not what you mean, Master Mao. I have already thought //very// carefully. You swore to adhere to my ruling and I swore to prioritize the Thunderfall Sect's disciples to the greatest possible extent. I have gifted your disciples a peer that has proven quite capable, defeating even your star pupil. And with that done, I cannot impose any further penalties upon this young $boygirl." Magistrate Khan picks his tea up from the table, takes another sip, and looks back up to Crusher Mao with a cold smile. "After all, I must prioritize $hisher needs. <<cap $heshe>> is a Thunderfall Sect disciple." <<page "Continue" "ch1-magistrate-12">>

Mao fumes. He slams one giant foot down on your side of the table and shatters the tea kettle hard enough to cover your shirt and face in the steamed liquid. Mao's head burns red even without any aura active; a vein of pure rage appears on his forehead right above his bulging eyes. It looks like he's so mad he's going to explode. Hells, he might. But as the seconds crawl by, ever so slowly while you feel the looming threat of death, his anger fades to disbelief when realization dawns on him. Khan gets up and wipes the sawdust from his lap. "You're a smart man, Crusher Mao. I do not have to spell out that harming your new student, or orchestrating events to lead to $hisher harm, would go against my ruling. As would abandoning your post so long as $heshe is a disciple of the Sect. My ruling you swore upon your soul to uphold. A dangerous thing, such soulbinding oaths. Odd of you to demand one of me." The remaining anger slowly fades from Mao's face, replaced with resignation. All tension leaves the room and you realize it wasn't just a tense sensation; Mao had spread his chi throughout the room and was ready to use it until now. A Technique. He was preparing to kill you. But the giant man releases his Technique. His shoulders slump and his eyes cast downward. "This isn't over." Mao growls, then disappears in a flash of green light blurring out through the missing wall. A distant woman's surprised scream can be heard where he likely landed in someone's yard. Magistrate Khan chuckles and brushes a hand through his long beard. "That will teach him who rules and who serves." He turns to you, a renewed vigor in his voice. "Now, shall we retire to the library? The winds of change blow ever onward, but I do not need to feel them upon my neck." He tilts his head towards the giant hole in the wall. <<choose "ch1-magistrate2">> #"Magistrate Khan, what just happened?" The Magistrate smiles as you descend the stairs together. "A sly old man used a $boygirl of dubious luck to get what he wanted." #"As you wish, Magistrate." <<var $honor + 2>>\ #"I only wish I could have had shown that look on his face to the whole world." <<var $honor - 2>>\ "Do not test your luck. I bound him with a soul oath to protect you but he is not one to give up easily." #[Sip tea] Mao already took your cup and destroyed the kettle, so you realize too late that you're sipping from the Magistrate's cup. Magistrate Khan stares at you in disbelief. "S-such insolence..." He whispers. <<page "Continue" "ch1-magistrate2">>\ <</choose>>\

The bottom floor is mostly empty this time of night. It's a large hall with desks lining the perimeter. A lantern rests on the wall between each desk and one unlucky scribe is still writing notes in the corner. You pass through the room to the stairwell in the backmost wall and wander to the second and third floors, the Martial Artist barracks. All you see of either barracks is a locked door in the stairs for an entrance, so you continue up the stairs. <<if ($lore is 0)>>\ The fourth floor is a library, which surprises you. You feel shame for almost never visiting it. <<else>>\ The fourth floor is the library that you've visited several times. <</if>>\ Scrolls and tomes of various size line shelves and racks throughout the messy chamber. You're not here to read though. You continue on. The fifth floor is similar to the first but with much more decorations. Fine incense fill the air and murals of cranes adorn the walls. Each town typically has one elderly specialist for all things occult, a sage, and this was the office for yours. She isn't at her office so you continue up to the sixth floor, the smallest floor at the top of the building. The Magistrate's office. It's a single square room built within a bigger square room. The result is a small square hallway looping around the actual office adorned only with sitting mats for visitors to wait comfortably. The inner room has one sliding wooden door. It slides open. Out walks Jack. <<if ($jackbird is true)>>\ It seems his friends saved him from the Beast eagle after all, but not unharmed. He's wearing a fresh dark blue gi but his face and hands are covered in bandages, including an eyepatch over his left eye. <<elseif ($jackstabbed is true)>>\ He's wearing the bottom pants of a dark blue gi but his upper torso is covered in bandages. They're red with blood where you stabbed him through the chest. <<elseif ($jackfall is true)>>\ He's wearing a fresh dark blue gi but you hardly notice it over the fact that he's covered in even more bandages than you. His face isn't even visible from the mask of bloody wrappings around his head. <<else>>\ He's wearing a fresh dark blue gi so you only see his face. Or at least you would, if it wasn't covered in bandages. There's a distinct limp in his stride. <</if>>\ He looks you up and down, your body wrapped tightly to contain the abrasions all over your skin. "Nice bandages." <<choose "ch1-magistrate-3">> #"Look who's talking." "Look who's talking," you reply, "I can't even tell it's you under there." "Psht." He regards you with a sneer, rolls his eyes, and limps \ #Give a short, respectful bow. "Well fought." <<var $honor + 2>>\ He regards you for a short moment, says nothing respectful, says nothing disrespectful, and limps \ #"Hah! Nice Martial Arts." [Sarcasm] <<var $honor - 1>>\ "Hah!" You say in equal sarcasm, "Nice Martial Arts. I thought that trainer you're always bragging about was your dad, you should've told me it was your mom." "You shitty little cretin!" His eyes boil with anger but he controls himself, barely. "Gah, no. No." He slowly calms down and takes on a wolfish grin, as if he knows something you don't. "Nice try peasant, but you're not worth it. Not anymore." He limps \ <</choose>>\

past you, bumping your shoulder with his. As he wanders down the stairs and you don't have the chance to follow; your attention is taken by the man standing in the doorway where Jack had just left. <<page "Magistrate Khan..." "ch1-magistrate-4">>

<<if ($portraitpics is true)>>\ <<image "https://www.auraclash.com/assets/images/OldKhan.jpg">>\ <</if>>\ It's not the first time you've seen Magistrate Khan. The spry old Human man has looked ancient since you were born, but moves with the confidence and flexibility of a man in his 40s, though some quirks of age cannot be hidden. The old man's beard has grown so stiff he tucks it into his robes. To the adults he is imposing due to his office and power. To you, he is imposing because of his stare. You were an unpowered child before, and he always regarded you as such. It was clear as day on his face whenever he briefly made eye contact with you throughout your life: you were nobody of importance. You were nothing. That changes today. Today he looks at you with a powerful gaze, measuring your worth. Two mats and a tea set on a short table are all that decorates the office behind him. Magistrate Khan steps backwards, still staring at you, and sits by one end of the table. "<<cap $name>>," he says as a matter of fact, "sit." While you take a seat opposite of him, Magistrate Khan reaches for a steaming tea cup and takes a sip of the hot liquid. He smiles warmly, and motions for you to take a cup. "Please, drink. It is good for the nerves, and calming to the mind." His voice is calm. He speaks slowly and clearly. It's soothing, but you've heard him speak that same manner all your life. He had the same tone when sentencing a murderer to death. Dark green liquid and floating leaf particles fills your tea cup. Poorly filtered. It feels much too hot on your tongue when you take a sip. Magistrate Khan's wrinkled brow does not betray his inner thoughts while he stares down at his cup. "The sage in my employ claims to read tea leaves for answers from the Heavens. I find the practice is good for the soul...But I see no message here. A pity." He looks up from his tea and locks eyes with you. His expression hardens. "You have brought a problem to my doorstep, young \ <<if ($race is "Human")>>\ $manwoman." <<elseif ($race is "Kitsune")>>\ Yokai." <<else>>\ $race." <</if>>\ <<choose "ch1-magistrate-5">> #"Honored Elder, I only defended my family." <<var $page 5>>\ <<var $honor + 1>>\ "That may be how you see it, but your young eyes do not see the forest for the trees. Crusher \ #"Honored Elder, I only defended my family's honor." <<var $page 5>>\ <<var $honor + 2>>\ "A noble goal, but your young eyes do not see the forest for the trees. Crusher \ #"I did what was right." <<var $page 5>>\ "Foolish child, life is not about what is //right//, life is about what is //needed//. Crusher \ #Jack brought the problem upon you. He deserved what he got and worse." <<var $page 5>>\ <<var $ruthless + 2>>\ "You foolish child, life is not about what is //deserved//, life is about what is ''needed''. Crusher \ #"My sincere apologies, Honored Elder." <<var $page 5>>\ <<var $ruthless - 2>>\ <<var $honor + 1>>\ He stares at you quizzically but only sighs. "Crusher \ #[Sip tea] <<var $page 5>>\ The Magistrate stares at you patiently, waiting for you to stop sipping. When you are done, he continues. "Crusher \ <</choose>>\

Jack is a Martial Artist of the Thunderfall Sect." Magistrate Khan says between sips of his tea. "He is a resource to this village and an integral part of its future safety. More than that, his father is the Master of my village's Martial Arts Sect. Master Mao is unhappy with your events. I warn you, it is utterly foolish for me to side against Crusher Mao in such a trivial matter." He takes another sip of tea. "You have picked a losing fight." "He was going to cripple Jin!" You protest. Magistrate Khan doesn't bat an eye. "Irrelevant. Our village needs the strong to exist, it does not need the weak. You were a fool to challenge Crusher Jack, for in doing so you challenged Crusher Mao. You should have prostrate yourself before Mao's son when you learned your families had crossed paths. You should have offered him tribute. You should have..." He sighs, "You should have just stayed out of the way." The tension and energy leaks out of him as he slouches, resting an elbow on the table and burying his cheek in one hand. For the first time that you've seen, the Magistrate looks his age. "I do not wish to be in this predicament. You force me to balance justice against the future of the village." That thought hadn't crossed your mind at all. Was Crusher Mao so disloyal that he would retaliate against the village over a children's fight? "Crusher Mao is not a kind man." Says Magistrate Khan as if reading your expression, "His is a temperament built for war, yet he stays within our civilized village because he lives like royalty here, his every whim catered." Khan stares past you, as if thinking to himself. "And I have wasted enough talk on this. Truth be told, I am old, <<cap $name>>. This all tires me. I had prepared quite a speech about your uselessness as a non-resource compared to Jack or Mao when I was told of these events. However, your first Advancement, the formation of your aura, changes things slightly. I will not judge you as some child. You have earned more respect than that." Hope returns for the first time since you stepped through the door. Maybe things will be okay after all. You were worried for a minute, but the Magistrate seems to be coming around- "That is why I grant you the right to face your accuser. Master Crusher Mao, enter." The door behind you slides open. <<page "Oh fuck." "ch1-magistrate-6">>

Looming in the doorway is a man of massive stature. Crusher Mao himself. Slaughterer of bandits, slayer of Beasts, devourer of the bloodspirit that plagued your town's well. A man of uncontested might among your entire Province. Sure, you hear he's a small-timer compared to Masters of the Inner Kingdoms or Imperial powers like the Archons, but around here there are no Inner Masters. No Archons. Only Mao. He grins as his bulky frame lurches through the doorway, his leg the width of your torso. "Thank you Khan," Mao says in his deep guttural voice, "I knew you'd right this wrong." Fear grips your heart. Fear, and a little anger. What wrong? Jack was the one who was wrong! You and your family are the victims. Why is Mao even here? Jack started a fight and you finished it, end of story. Magistrate Khan only nods solemnly as Mao takes one big stride into the room, grabbing your tea cup as he passes over you. He drinks it in one gulp. "Ah, tastes like shit." He sits down on a third side of the table and meets your gaze with an unconvincing smile. "So, you're <<cap $name>>." His eyes look wild, his smile too fake. "I hear you took out my son with a deceptive cheapshot." <<page "Continue" "ch1-magistrate-7">>

You look for the exit, but Crusher Mao only laughs. "Not bad, kid, not bad at all. I did the same in my youth. Everyone's gotta start somewhere, and who says you have to lose just because they're stronger? Strategy is important! Hell even without chi involved, it must have been quite a show to take on a bigger kid surrounded by his friends too, that takes serious guts." He reaches over to ruffle your hair, you think, until his hand grips your head like an eagle's talon. "I'd like to see those guts." Mao's grip compresses your head with so much pressure that your eyes feel it. Your ears start to ring and one of his fingers crushes the top of your left ear. Blood trickles down your cheek and you do your best not to move in the face of an overwhelming predator. His smile only widens, his eye contact intense, as your skull approaches the point of fracturing. "Master Mao." says the Magistrate calmly, "Our agreement." He releases your head. You pant and shrink back towards the door by reflex only to find it locked. You turn back to see Magistrate Khan slowly take a scroll from his robes and hand it to Crusher Mao. "Of course, Khan." Crusher Mao says with a wicked smile, accepting the scroll and standing. He reads the next words off the parchment. "I, Crusher Mao of the Thunderfall Sect, Master of the village's Warrior Caste, swear upon my honor and soul to adhere to Magistrate Khan's ruling, in the case of <<cap $name>> the Clanless against Crusher Jack, written upon this binding contract." Something in the air snaps into place. You think you feel chi. A Technique? A ritual? Crusher Mao hands the scroll back to Magistrate Khan who recites without looking. "And I, Magistrate Khan, swear upon my honor and soul to prioritize Crusher Mao's disciples over all others in my ruling of this case, regardless of my personal beliefs of justice." <<page "What?!" "ch1-magistrate-8">>

Crusher Mao laughs at your expression. Literally pointing at you while he laughs. He takes a gourd from behind his back and starts drinking something in between hearty, deep-belly chuckles. "Welcome to the real world kid! What, you thought you'd get off with a warning? You embarrassed my son, MY son, the only reason I stick around this dump. I'm not even going to bury you, you worthless Laborer shit, I'm going to make your own leader bury you for me. This was all arranged before you even got in the room." You look to Khan. "Magistrate, what is he saying?" Magistrate Khan closes his eyes at Mao's vicious mockery and ignores you. When Mao occupies himself with drinking in earnest, Khan's eyes open and look upon you anew. His gaze of pity reminds you of when Father had to explain to Rin that her pet fox had died. "I will not ask forgiveness," he says wearily, "and you should not grant it." <<choose "ch1-magistrate-9">> #"I won't, because this is absurd!" <<var $honor + 1>>\ Khan nods respectfully. \ #"Do what you must, Honored Magistrate." I won't give them the satisfaction of breaking my honor. <<var $honor + 2>>\ <<var $ruthless - 1>>\ Khan nods respectfully. \ #"To the Hells with you, let's get this over with." I'm tired of hearing these geezers talk. <<var $honor - 2>>\ <<var $maorep + 5>>\ Mao keeps drinking but nods his head in agreement. Khan sighs and straightens himself to pass his judgment. \ #[Stay silent] <<var $honor + 1>>\ Khan sighs and straightens himself to pass his judgment. \ #[Sip tea] <<var $ruthless - 1>>\ The Magistrate blinks at you expectantly, but instead looks on with concern as you sip tea. Mao had already taken your cup, and so you have poured hot tea into your cupped hand. After some time in silence, broken only by your sips, he shakes his head. \ <</choose>>\

"<<cap $name>> of Thunderfall Village, for your ambush of Crusher Jack I hereby place you in servitude to Crusher Mao, Master of the Thunderfall Sect." Mao smiles from ear to ear and celebrates by slamming his hand down on the table in front of you. You jump. Damn it, why did you jump? Khan shakes his head at your display. "Furthermore, as the highest Aura Pressure of your immediate family I appoint you as their House Head. Your family will join you in servitude under Mao." Servitude? Like slavery? You close your eyes and try to wake up. This can't be happening. Mao mock-claps to the Magistrate while giving you a shit-eating grin. "He really is a devious old man, isn't he? Well done, well done Khan! I graciously accept this family as my slaves. I'm sure $hisher mother could have some \ <<if ($heshe is "he")>>\ uses." <<else>>\ uses, and she'll be a looker herself in a couple years too." <</if>>\ Your blood freezes. <<choose "ch1-magistrate-10">> #"Magistrate, you can't allow this!" "Silence!" Khan shouts. "My verdict is final and irrevocable." Mao barks out a laugh and takes another swig. Magistrate Khan turns to him, "Cease your mocker Mao, your spirits are too high in more ways than one. My verdict lays responsibility on you as well." "Don't worry old man, I know how to break in my slaves."\ Khan raises an eyebrow. "You confuse me, Master Mao. What is this talk of slaves? Young \ #"Touch my mother and I'll gut you!" <<var $ruthless + 3>>\ <<var $maorep - 10>>\ Mao steps back, shocked at your audacity. "You //insignificant// little-" He raises a hand to slap you, but Khan raises a hand for silence before Mao gets riled up. "''Hold your place'', both of you. Mao, threatening powerless mothers is beneath the leader of the Thunderfall Sect. And <<cap $name>>, such insults to your superior bring dishonor to your house." Mao nods himself out of his anger, "That's right, yeah, that's right. You're going to have to learn to respect your superior, little slave." "Slave? You keep saying that word, Mao, what is this about slaves?" Magistrate Khan tilts his head, blatantly feigning confusion. "Why, Master Mao, young \ #[Cycle my chi to attack Mao] <<var $ruthless + 1>>\ Khan's hand slams down on your shoulder from across the table- No. From behind you. When did he move? The sensation of a spiritual wave pushes down on your body and your chi stops cycling. "We will have none of that. And Mao, you will have no more talk of slaves. Young \ #[Stay silent] <<var $ruthless - 1>>\ "Slaves?" Magistrate Khan tilts his head, blatantly feigning confusion. "Why, Master Mao, young \ #[Sip tea] Mao had already stolen your cup when he entered, and so you shakily drink from the tea kettle to calm your nerves. Khan looks disgusted but continues. "Slaves?" Magistrate Khan tilts his head, blatantly feigning confusion. "Why, Master Mao, young \ <</choose>>\

<<var $page 1>>\ You both make your way to the library where the Magistrate lights a lantern with a gesture of his wrist and sits down. "Fetch me the Caste records. It was no jest to say you've troubled me with paperwork." You get them, and Magistrate Khan retrieves a quill and ink. "Now, let us get to business. No foolish ears remain to hear the truth so we can be blunt," He taps the quill and looks up at you. "Mao demanded we use a soul oath to secure your absolute punishment and intended for me to be his puppet in his childish ploy. Such a lack of respect towards my office could not be forgiven. I used your situation to secure Mao's service with his own plan. He is now forced to continue leading the Thunderfall Sect so long as you live, with no more appeasement necessary on my part. Do your best to survive so my time is not wasted, and thank the Heavens that it was convenient for me to grant you more opportunity than your birth allowed." It's odd to hear all the ceremony drop from the old man's manner of speech. He sounds...younger. Khan recites some notes in the Caste registry then stops, squints, and sighs. "Damned Hells, you are actually Clanless? I thought that was just Mao's insult. These Caste documents require a Clan entry for Merchant Caste and above...Cursed with more errands. Fetch me the family registries." He points to some larger set of scrolls across the hall and you bring them to him. Khan unrolls the family records and rubs the bridge of his nose. "How unfortunate for me, and fortunate for you. Were I you I would accept your incredible luck, tell the old man in front of you what you want to name your Clan, and promptly leave so that he can sleep." "My Clan?" Khan looks at you with growing annoyance. "Yes $boygirl, you cannot be Clanless in the Warrior Caste, so you will no longer be Clanless. I will not have my successful scheme undone by bureaucracy. Minor Clans are of little consequence, by all accounts joining the Thunderfall Sect is a perfectly acceptable justification to create one." A Clan name? It wasn't a thought you'd ever entertained before. Peasants are peasants, they don't create Clans. Sure, \ <<if ($heshe is "he")>>\ Rin could marry into a Clan, maybe, but for you and Jin being Clanless wasn't even a question. After all, it \ <<else>>\ you could marry //into// a clan, but that's a heavy price to pay. After all, being Clanless \ <</if>>\ was good enough for Father <<if ($heshe is "she")>>\ and Mother \ <</if>>\ so- Oh. Khan is staring at you. It seems you really have overstayed your welcome. A Clan name, huh. <<include "ch1-magistrate3">>\

For a Clan name, you like the sound of... <<include "ch1-pickclan">>\

The life of a merchant is awesome. You're almost mad at father for not taking you to work sooner. Market stalls outside have cool new foods and weapons and baubles to look at every day during lunch break but father's store is even better. The shop is lined with shelves filled to the brim with new items every day and the basement is a collection of crates and barrels holding even more secret goodies. Toys, spices, weapons, potions, furniture, cooking supplies, scrolls, glowing gems, weighted clothing, ceremonial robes, tents, plants; Father sells it all. He says he has a lot of "debt" in exchange for his inventory since he's Laborer Caste trying to compete with the Merchant Caste, so he needs to sell everything, but you haven't found this "debt" on any of the shelves yet. Maybe it's in the crates downstairs. Father's tasks for you are simple at first. You spend the next six months rearranging items on shelves, finding things in the basement crates, carrying inventory inside whenever the supply caravans arrive, and bothering people at the market stalls outside. Father calls this last part "customer poaching". <<page "Continue" "ch1-merchant2">>\

It's difficult to talk to strangers at first but Father gives you a few tips. Within weeks you take to the trade quite well, picking out specific targets travelling through the market stalls and saying how their shoes look unpolished, or their sheath looks outdated, or if they're so well off that they'd come to the market so often, why don't they have a luxury tree planter? All the rich customers have one. Father told you to constantly push on people about what they're lacking that the store has and....it works. A lot. It's either easy, or you're just that good at it. Almost....too good. ''[Persuasion +1]'' <<var $persuasion + 1>>\ <<page "Continue" "ch1-merchant3">>\

After a brief but tense situation your heckling career ends when you... <<choose "ch1-merchant4">> #Sell another child 3 "magic beans" in exchange for his family's large pouch of money. It turns out Father's magic beans cost him double what you sold them for. #Offer the baker's overweight wife some freshly delivered vegetables to fix her "problem". She isn't happy. Neither is her husband. You entire family gets banned from the pastry store for years. #Slander a competing market stall so badly that the guards investigate for fraud, theft, murder, and tax evasion. When they find nothing, they charge Father for their wasted manhours. #Tell one of Thunderfall Sect disciples that I can fix his robes by selling him ones meant for men. Father tries to talk him down and ends up with a black eye. <</choose>>\

Father is mad. Madder than you've seen him in a long time. How could he be mad at your methods when he's the one who taught you? Parents make no sense sometimes. Either way, one severe spanking later and you're exiled to the front desk at the shop. <<page "Continue" "ch1-merchant5">>\

You spend the next few months taking money from customers at the front desk, occasionally handing back small silver coins as change in exchange for the main currency of the realms: Shards, seaglass-like coins that hold a small fraction of Chi in them. Father explains that a Martial Artist's soul, one that can generate an aura of chi to empower the warrior and make him stronger, is made up of the force of thousands or even hundreds of thousands of Shards. One day you ask Father why he doesn't have an aura since he gets so many Shards in a day. He doesn't lecture you with some adult speech about taxes or debts or inventory costs or property upkeep. He merely chuckles to himself and says, "You kids are expensive." <<var $commerce + 2>>\ <<page "Continue" "ch1-merchant6">>\

One day sticks out in your year-long study under your Father. You stand behind the front desk counting the Shards you have and the coupons you've handed out as Father gives some lecture you've tuned out. That's when you notice someone is still in the store. A customer. Or at least they would be a customer, if they weren't trying to leave with a precious scroll without paying. The thief turns at the door and locks eyes with you over your father's shoulder. You freeze. His eyes widen when he sees you've caught him and he holds a single finger over his mouth, asking for silence, and he pulls a small bag of Shards from his pocket and places them behind the door where you can collect them later. A bribe. A bribe to let him rob your own father's store. Then again....Father doesn't pay you. <<choose "ch1-merchant7">> #Warn Father about the thief. [Increase Handseals] #Keep quiet and collect the money later. [Increase Deception] -> "ch1-merchant8" <</choose>>\

Your Father is not a Martial Artist, you know this. He is just a merchant with no aura to call upon, no way to enhance his body with chi for superhuman abilities. Yet you're still shocked by how quickly he turns, grabs a sack of Shards on the desk, and throws them immediately at the thief trying to leave out the doorway. The throw hits, and the thief's head knocks into the doorframe. He crumples to the ground. The situation de-escalates from there. Father calls on some guards from the market outside who drag the thief off, and Father kneels down and puts his hands on your shoulders. "<<cap $sondaughter>>, I thank the heavens you noticed him when you did. He wasn't just stealing some cooking recipe, this scroll is worth ten times its weight in Shards. If we lost this we'd be behind by weeks. It's...." Father pauses and furrows his brow. The room is silent for longer than you're comfortable with. Finally he seems to come to a conclusion, "It's a perfect reward." He gets up, dusts off his knees, and tosses the scroll into the air just above your head. You scramble to catch it and unfold the contents where the title reads: //A Beginner's Guide to Mystic Handseals// "Memorize it, record it if you have to, and return it within a year. Oh, and take your allowance out of that sack I threw at the loathsome bum." ''[Handseals +1]'' <<var $handseals + 1>>\ <<var $itemmysticscroll 1>>\ <<fuuinjutsudescription>>\ ''[Aura Pressure +2]'' <<var $aurapressure + 2>>\ ''[Item Gained: Year's Allowance (12 Shards)]'' <<var $shards + 12>>\ <<var $misfitopen "With your aptitude at the shop proving to be up to Father's standards, you're given a bit more leeway with your free time.">>\ <<page "Continue" "ch1-misfits">>\

The thief quietly slips through the door and winks at you as he disappears into the market crowd. You look back to your Father telling you about the differences between dust mite damage and mold damage. Lectures like this are probably why you let the thief go. The money didn't hurt either. Father doesn't notice the missing scroll for days, and when he does he's furious. The guard is called for a full investigation but they don't find anything of note. Luckily by that time your Shards are already safely buried in the backyard, so no one asked questions about your sudden wealth. There were less Shards than you expected in the bribe but still more than you have ever personally owned. Father always says it's good to have emergency funds. Now you do. ''[Deception +1]'' <<var $deception + 1>>\ ''[Aura Pressure +1]'' <<var $aurapressure + 1>>\ ''[Item Gained: 30 Shards]'' <<var $shards + 30>>\ <<var $misfitopen "With your aptitude at the shop proving to be up to Father's standards, you're given a bit more leeway with your free time.">>\ <<page "Continue" "ch1-misfits">>\

$misfitopen <<unset $misfitopen>>\ <<var $age + 1>>\ <<var $shards + ($commerce * 2)>>\ <<var $checkit "1">>\ As you are now a young $boygirl of $age years old, you of course have chosen the perfect way to spend it. No, not with your siblings. Your younger brother and sister, the twins Rin and Jin, are a burden upon your day, your mood, and society in general. Instead you waste your days away on a much better venture, your friends. You have many friends in the village but only one is your best friend. You couldn't imagine a fun day without Kosuke, the... <<choose "ch1-misfits2">> #Beggar's daughter #Beggar's son <<var $bffhimher "him">>\ <<var $bffhisher "his">>\ <<var $bffhishers "his">>\ <<var $bffheshe "he">>\ <</choose>>\

<<var $bffrep 50>>\ <<if (($portraitpics is true) and ($bffheshe is "he"))>>\ <<image "https://www.auraclash.com/assets/images/boy-kosuke.jpg">>\ <<elseif ($portraitpics is true)>>\ <<image "https://www.auraclash.com/assets/images/girl-kosuke.jpg">>\ <</if>>\ You keep hearing from your parents that Kosuke has a hard life but you simply don't see it. They say $bffhisher dad uses $bffhimher to get more sympathy when begging, but from what you've seen Kosuke is doing a fine job begging on $bffhisher own when $bffhisher dad is gone, so he must be teaching $bffhimher the tricks of the trade just like your father does for you. Besides, Kosuke uses $bffhisher begging skills to get Shards, food, water, and clothes just handed to $bffhimher! In fact, Kosuke owns more than you do. And $bffheshe even gets to camp in the woods every night! When you first met Kosuke you asked your parents if you could learn the beggar trade instead of the $background trade. Your father looked sad, and your mother responded by smacking you good. Then your father smiled. So much for your luxurious begging career, over before it began. Parents can be so cruel. But at least you can still hang out together. You and Kosuke spend most of your early years... <<choose "ch1-twins">> #Catching frogs and salamanders down by the river. [Increase Stealth] -> "ch1-misfits3" #Picking pockets at the market. [Increase Thievery] <<if $bffheshe is "she">>\ You're surprised at Kosuke's affinity for picking pockets and she only smiles coyly whenever you ask where she learned it. She shows you the steps and tricks so you can try it yourself. <<elseif $bffheshe is "he">>\ According to Kosuke, pickpocketing is a big component of $bffhisher father's begging career, and Kosuke is a natural. <<cap $bffheshe>> shows you the ropes and tricks of the trade. <</if>>\ After $bffheshe walks you through the process of the "bump and lift", you try it out on a shopper in the marketplace. You're nervous at first but by trusting the process you walk away with a couple trinkets. By the end of the summer you've both collected enough to split the pot, sell everything, and cash out of your lucrative crime careers while you're ahead. <<if $background is "Merchant">>\ It didn't hurt that you had your father's store to fence all the stolen goods. ''[Item Gained: 20 Shards]'' <<var $shards + 20>>\ <<else>>\ ''[Item Gained: 10 Shards]'' <<var $shards + 10>>\ <</if>>\ ''[Aura Pressure +2]'' <<var $aurapressure + 2>>\ <<learnthievery 1>>\ <<page "Continue" "ch1-twins">>\ #Talking to strangers at the gates. [Increase Persuasion] -> "ch1-misfits5" #Trying to talk to ghosts at the graveyard. [Increase Handseals] It was common knowledge that ghosts are real. The dead must be put to rest by proper burial and rite or there was a chance their souls would return to complete unfinished business. You don't think that sounds so bad. You would want to finish your business. The graveyard outside of town is objectively spooky. Acre upon acre of tombstones and family crypts surrounded by an iron fence, with woods surrounding the gates to block any view of the safety of town. You and Kosuke spend night after night inside for months. You love it. The two of you use every myth, legend, and ritual you've ever heard of to try and get in contact with ghosts and see what amazing stories they have to tell. It's a constant obsession to knock at death's door. On one full moon night, you get an answer. <<page "Continue" "ch1-misfits6">> <</choose>>\

Catching things at the river is a time-honored tradition for Thunderfall kids. The competition uses the river inside town, or up river if it's too busy, but Kosuke knows the best places are the smaller streams from the woods. Not only does $bffheshe show you where to hunt, but $bffheshe even has a great idea. You both spend one summer catching an entire collection of pets to have them go to war when the summer ends. You choose... <<choose "ch1-misfits4">> #To collect salamanders After a few months of fun at the stream you lower the barrel-enclosure you've been keeping your salamanders in while Kosuke does the same. Your salamanders all scurry out to sunbathe. You win the war by default since Kosuke's frogs hop off the second they get free. #To collect frogs After a few months of fun at the stream you lower the barrel-enclosure you've been keeping your frogs in and they all scatter in every direction. You look up to see Kosuke cheering in victory, since $bffhisher army of salamanders crawled out and started sunbathing on the battlefield. #To find a big old snake! Mother catches you one day and yells at you for endangering the household. You plead your case that you need true warriors to win this war, and she responds by cooking your snake. Kosuke asks to come over for dinner and have some. ''[Item Gained: Common Poison (1 Dose)]'' <<var $commonpoison + 1>>\ <</choose>>\

The war may be a bust, but you can always try again next year. You've gotten pretty good at sneaking up on critters. <<apboost 2>>\ ''[Stealth +1]'' <<var $stealth +1>>\ <<page "Continue" "ch1-twins">>\

Mother and Father always tell you not to talk to strangers outside of work so that's what you and Kosuke spend most of your unmonitored time doing. You actually end up learning a lot about the outside the world. Trade caravans of beast-led wagons are commonly stopped outside the gates. The merchants and their assistants often tell you tales of foreign cities, sea monsters, pirates, nature spirits, and cursed ruins. Some of it was even true. Talking with strangers is a cautionary tale for most kids but for you, it becomes a hobby. ''[Persuasion +1]'' <<var $persuasion + 1>>\ One day you and Kosuke find a man in a combat gi like the Thunderfall Sect disciples, but brown and gold. Your town's protectors wear dark blue and black. The man is broad shouldered wearing wristguards in a mix of black iron and silver. Apparently the two guards at your village gate were making him wait for someone before entering. You take this chance to ask him... <<choose "ch1-misfits6">> #"Hey mister, what's the coolest thing you ever fought?" The man stands as tall and still as a mountain, ignoring your request. You ask again. Kosuke asks. You ask again. Kosuke asks. You ask again. Kosuke asks. A chuckle escapes from the guards at the gate, and the man groans. Finally the mountain relents and pulls a weapon seemingly from nowhere, an enormous spear with an ivory spearhead longer than your torso. After a moment you realize it's a tooth. "A tiger had Advanced into a Behemoth, a tavern-sized beast. The monster used its two heads to devour multiple commoners from my nephew's village at the same time. I removed its fangs and used them to sever both heads from its body." He shoves the spear into the ground to punctuate his victory. You and Kosuke cheer ecstatically. Finally, a good tale that was probably even true. Eventually the guards let the man in and you don't bother to follow, instead play-sparring with Kosuke who pretended to be a tiger Behemoth. <<apboost 3>>\ <<page "Continue" "ch1-twins">>\ #"Hey mister, can you show us some special powers?" The armored man scoffs. He doesn't even look at you as he speaks, staring at the gate instead. "Child, the Techniques of my Sect's Path of Mountain Hazard are not toys for display." Kosuke groans, "Awww man, another loser! Come on <<cap $name>> we'll try again tomorrow." You both go to leave and realize you can't. Your feet are secured to the ground by rock boots that weigh more than your entire body. You stare up in astonishment at the Martial Artist, who is being let into the town by Thunderfall Sect disciples. You and Kosuke spend the next five hours chipping away at the rock with some other, smaller nearby rocks. Your reputation as a gate heckler does you no good this day: none of the guards help. <<apboost 3>>\ <<page "Continue" "ch1-twins">>\ #"Hey mister, how many people have you killed?" "Martial Artists?" The armor-clad man grunts, "A handful. Two hands perhaps." He turns to the guards who are making him wait outside the village. "But nameless soldiers? Hmph." One guard shuffles uncomfortably. "Hundreds." Eventually the guards let the man in and you don't bother to follow. You and Kosuke spend the rest of the day, and many more after that, trying to pick a fight with the guards. You assume you can beat ten if this man beat hundreds, so two should be easy. After months their patience runs out and they tie you both to a tree. <<apboost 3>>\ <<page "Continue" "ch1-twins">>\ #"Hey mister, what are you doing here?" The man stands as tall and still as a mountain, ignoring your request. You ask again. Kosuke asks. You ask again. Kosuke asks. You ask again. Kosuke asks. A chuckle escapes from the guards at the gate, and the man groans. Finally the mountain relents and turns to you, "Your Magistrate is in a dangerous situation. I have come to offer my services, for a fee, or threaten to aid his rivals." Kosuke raises an eyebrow and says, "If you're strong enough to solve problems that the Thunderfall Sect can't solve, why are you waiting here? Can't you just jump over the wall?" The man shakes his head. "Honor dictates-" "Cause I bet I could jump over the wall!" Kosuke interrupts. The two of you spend the next hour trying to jump over the wall with a running start. You never succeed. The armored stranger is eventually let in, but you spend the rest of the month still trying to jump over that damned wall. It turns out jumping is hard. <<apboost 3>>\ <<page "Continue" "ch1-twins">>\ <</choose>>\

As the two of you get to the center of the graveyard and wonder which area to try next, you hear the withered voices of multiple old women in unison speaking from nowhere. "Hello little dearies," says the voices. "How would you like to help out some old ladies in need?" <<if ($bffheshe is "he")>>\ "Hells yeah!" You and Kosuke shout in unison. A real ghost! You highfive. "Excuse me?" says the disembodied conjoined voices from beyond the shroud of life and death. "Oh uh," Kosuke pauses, "nothing miss...misses?" "It's Mrses, dearie. You may call us by the name....Ole Gran. And so you know, it's rude to leave an old lady's question waiting without an answer." Kosuke nudges you. \ <<if ($heshe is "he")>>\ "$name, answer her!" <<else>>\ "Go on, answer her!" <</if>>\ <<else>>\ Kosuke yelps and jumps. <<cap $bffheshe>> crouches behind you and pushes you forward. "Go on, answer her!" <</if>>\ "Yes indeed," says the disembodied conjoined voices from beyond the shroud of life and death, "answer the poor old ladies, little one. And please, call us Ole Gran." <<choose "ch1-misfits7">> #Grab Kosuke and sprint out of the graveyard as fast as you can. You two dash out of the haunted graveyard faster than you ever thought you could. When you both get to your house for safety you explain everything to Mother and Father who proceed to spank you. With that over, Mother leaves for an hour and comes back with a selection of scrolls to read. "These are what the Magistrate's sage has given us to avoid whatever curses you've brought into this home. Get reading, both of you, because I do //not// slave over this household to keep it clean just so you two can recklessly see it haunted." As an odd form of grounded, you both end up having to learn good luck charms for the next month. ''[Handseals +1]'' <<var $handseals + 1>>\ <<fuuinjutsudescription>>\ ''[Aura Pressure +3]'' <<var $aurapressure + 3>>\ Your ghost hunting days sadly come to an end. <<page "Continue" "ch1-twins">>\ #See if I can help the ghost(s?) of the old lady. "Oh how dear of you, sweeties." The voices say, "You see, we've been bound here for quite some time. Ohhh unfinished business and all that, great regrets. Truly great. In order for us to move on we need something special. We need to pass on our ancient secret rituals." You and Kosuke exchange excited looks. You spend the next few weeks learning a secret set of mystic handseals that Ole Gran says would give you the power of a ghost. When the full moon returns, the two of you excitedly cast the ritual with Ole Gran smiling with approval at your work. Nothing happens. <<var $taint + 1>>\ <<page "Continue" "ch1-misfits7">>\ <</choose>>\

"Wha..." says Ole Gran's many voices and Kosuke in unison. All that time wasted. Ole Gran's face twists into a grimace. When next she speaks her voice is filled with fury. "Oh you stupid, stupid brats! You lazy idiots! Do you not have auras? Hm? Have you not been harnessing chi from the elements?" You both shrug. "How am I supposed to possess you if you have no connection to the elements?!" You both shrug. "I just....Go. Leave my graveyard. Just get out." <<var $safeloc_graveyard true>>\ ''[Handseals +1]'' <<var $handseals + 1>>\ <<fuuinjutsudescription>>\ ''[Aura Pressure +3]'' <<var $aurapressure + 3>>\ Your ghost hunting days sadly come to an end. <<page "Continue" "ch1-twins">>\

Oni descend from spirits or demons who managed to manifest a physical form, normally by stealing the body of a human and warping it to fit their desires. You and your family are recognizable by the Oni hereditary spiritual taint: red skin. Most oni also possess white hair and black or yellow eyes. Your kind is distrusted in most rural areas where you're considered thieves or cultists. Oni families like yours aren't rare in your village, but if they were, you'd be in trouble. Luckily there have been enough Oni in Thunderfall Village for generations, to the point that co-existing was easy by the time you were born. You hear things are worse elsewhere, sometimes much worse. You also hear things are better in the major cities where many of your kind control banks and trade. As an Oni you have no additional spiritual powers or the ability to bargain for souls like a true demon, but you are pretty good at turning a conversation in your favor when you're in trouble. ''[Racial Bonus: Deception +1]'' Are you sure you and your family are Oni? <<choose "ch1-oni-race2">> #Yes, me and my family are Oni. <<var $deception +1>>\ <<var $race "Oni">>\ #No, we're something else. -> "ch1-raceselect" <</choose>>

Oni always have natural pitch-black or snow-white hair. Your family in particular displays... <<choose "ch1-oni-race3">> #White hair. <<var $haircolor "white">>\ #Pitch-black hair. <<var $haircolor "black">>\ <</choose>>\

Additionally, Oni often display only two variations of eye color. Your father is a yellow-eyed Oni while your mother is a black-eyed Oni. You happen to be a... <<choose "ch1-job">> #Yellow-eyed Oni. <<var $eyecolor "yellow">>\ #Black-eyed Oni. <<var $eyecolor "black">>\ <</choose>>\

<<var $firstchapter 1>>\ <<var $age - 10>>\ <<var $chapter 1.1>>\ <<var $leftovershards 0>>\ <<var $cheapskateshard 0>>\ <<var $athchoice 0>>\ <<image "https://www.auraclash.com/assets/images/childhood_village.jpg">>\ Life in Thunderfall Village is quiet and comfortable amongst the forested mountains. Your parents aren't wealthy but you always have food on your plate, clothes on your back, and a roof over your head. More importantly, it's your 10th birthday and it's the best you've ever had! Every day the village children spectate on wooden benches around the sparring circle, watching Martial Artists of the Thunderfall Sect duel in fair combat, but today is different. Today your parents managed to reserve the sparring circle for you and your friends to actually spar! You've been in unarmed duels against children of the village all morning already and it's been a blast. The noontime break arrives and Mother and Father bring out rejuvenating spirit-fruit juices for you, your friends, and your siblings, the twins Jin and Rin. Such a rare treat catches your attention, you've never had any spirit-enhancing elixirs before. It's sweet and citrusy on your tongue. Your tummy feels like there's a warm lightning cloud inside, but only for a minute. ''[Aura Pressure +1]'' <<var $aurapressure + 1>>\ You and the twins finish your glasses with a content sigh and beam up at your parents. The five of you make up a happy family of... <<choose "ch1-human-race">> #Humans #Oni -> "ch1-oni-race" #Yokai -> "ch1-yokai-race" #Lunargoths -> "ch1-lunargoth-race" <</choose>>

<<if ((($race is "Human") or ($race is "Yokai")) or ($race is "Kitsune"))>>\ <<choose "ch1-pickclan2">> #Kazurai <<var $clan "Kazurai">>\ #Akira <<var $clan "Akira">>\ #Maki <<var $clan "Maki">>\ #Saitomoto <<var $clan "Saitomoto">>\ #Hakura <<var $clan "Hakura">>\ #Something else [Enter Name] -> "ch1-customname" <<var $clan "Custom">>\ <</choose>>\ <<elseif ($race is "Oni")>>\ <<choose "ch1-pickclan2">> #Ammon <<var $clan "Ammon">>\ #Sin <<var $clan "Sin">>\ #Valoren <<var $clan "Valoren">>\ #Hellfire <<var $clan "Hellfire">>\ #Magnus <<var $clan "Magnus">>\ #Something else [Enter Name] -> "ch1-customname" <<var $clan "Custom">>\ <</choose>>\ <<else>>\ <<choose "ch1-pickclan2">> #Jaeger <<var $clan "Jaeger">>\ #Novak <<var $clan "Novak">>\ #Vulcan <<var $clan "Vulcan">>\ #Hyperion <<var $clan "Hyperion">>\ #Sieghart <<var $clan "Sieghart">>\ #Something else [Enter Name] -> "ch1-customname" <<var $clan "Custom">>\ <</choose>>\ <</if>>\

<<if ($clan is "Crusher")>>\ Magistrate Khan stares at your entry in the archives and blinks. "...Crusher." "Yes, Magistrate." You reply. <<if (($name is "jack") or ($name is "Jack"))>>\ "When you and its heir are both named Jack." "Yes, Magistrate." You reply. He rolls up the Clan archive entries and smacks you in the head with them. "I forbid it. One Crusher Jack is enough trouble for me, I will not suffering two." <<else>>\ He rolls up the Clan archive entries and smacks you in the had with them. "You are not stealing the Crusher Clan's name. I have enough trouble without you antagonizing our Sect Master directly." <</if>>\ Curses. With your //genius// plan foiled, you instead consider... <<include "ch1-pickclan">>\ <<elseif ($clan is "Big")>>\ Magistrate Khan reviews your work. "The 'Big' Clan." He says thoughtfully. "You wish to falsify relations to Big Chu?" "Yes, Magistrate." You reply. "He was the first to train me." "Is he aware of this intention?" "No, Honored Magistrate." "A potential annoyance for Big Chu, one any reasonable child would be ashamed to bring upon their mentor." He tsks four times, "Yet it is his problem, not mine. You may proceed." <<page "Continue" "ch1-pickclan3">>\ <<elseif ($clan is "Khan")>>\ Khan looks at your work and frowns. "Khan." He says bitterly. "You wish to deceive others with a false relation to my Noble Caste clan. How unfortunate." "No, Honored Magistrate!" You reply quickly, suddenly realizing that you would be committing a crime. "I simply wished to...thank you, for the opportunity." "And you may." Khan says, his old eyes staring you down. "By choosing a different name." Curses. With your //genius// plan foiled, you instead consider... <<include "ch1-pickclan">>\ <<else>>\ <<include "ch1-pickclan3">>\ <</if>>\

Humans and most Yokai say their Clan name first and then their given name, but Lunargoths and most Oni say their given name first and then their Clan name. <<var $page 1>>\ You decide to pronounce it... <<if $firstchapter is 2>>\ <<choose "ch2alt-arrival">> #cap($clan) cap($name), it has a nice ring to it. <<var $japannaming true>>\ <<var $fullname $clan>>\ <<var $fullname + " ">>\ <<var $fullname + $name>>\ #cap($name) cap($clan), it has a nice ring to it. <<var $fullname $name>>\ <<var $fullname + " ">>\ <<var $fullname + $clan>>\ #Pick something else. -> "ch2alt-pickagain" <</choose>> <<else>>\ <<choose "ch1-end">> #cap($clan) cap($name), it has a nice ring to it. <<var $japannaming true>>\ <<var $fullname $clan>>\ <<var $fullname + " ">>\ <<var $fullname + $name>>\ #cap($name) cap($clan), it has a nice ring to it. <<var $fullname $name>>\ <<var $fullname + " ">>\ <<var $fullname + $clan>>\ #Pick something else. -> "ch1-magistrate3" <</choose>> <</if>>\

<<choose "ch1-potentialquestion">> #Bladed Potential [Unlocks Akakiru Style, the Art of Blades] <<var $style "Akakiru">>\ <<if ($sonarmode is true)>>\ ''[Akakiru Style]'' <<else>>\ <<image "https://www.auraclash.com/assets/images/Akakiru2.png">>\ <</if>>\ Akakiru practitioners are famous for their scarlet auras and legendary swordsmanship, but Akakiru can be used for any bladed or slashing weapon. Whether it's daggers, scythes, axes, spears, fangs, or claw gauntlets, all weapons with a point or edge can channel the specialty slicing-chi that Akakiru cultivates. While any Martial Artist can use a weapon, most treat them as disposable assets. A basic sword cannot channel the powers of chi and weapons made from Soul Treasures are stuck at the same Aura Pressure, eventually left behind or replaced as their wielder grows stronger. To get around these limits, Akakiru fighters train to cultivate an edge-attracted type of chi that allows them to empower basic weapons with the full might of their Aura Pressure. With even a dull iron blade Akakiru Martial Artists are capable of cutting through the strongest defenses and, with great mastery, can cut through enchantments such as rituals or possession. At the highest mastery Akakiru wielders can even cut through the fabrics of space, connecting two points with a portal for surprise attacks. #Cursed Potential [Unlocks Kurokonton Style, the Art of Ninjutsu] <<var $style "Kurokonton">>\ <<if ($sonarmode is true)>>\ ''[Kurokonton Style]'' <<else>>\ <<image "https://www.auraclash.com/assets/images/Kurokonton2.png">>\ <</if>>\ The most feared of the styles, Kurokonton teaches its practitioners to excel as spies, infiltrators, assassins, and hexcasters. Rigourous training goes into the specialized combat style of ninjutsu, but it's their spiritual energy that allows the shinobi of Kurokonton to excel in their art. Their yin aura is hard to detect even when generating Techniques, for yin embodies entropy and absorption. Only when fighting at full power or willingly exposing their aura does a shinobi reveal their purple aura wreathed in the shadow of black fire. Moreso than simply stealth, ninjutsu, and speed-based combat training, the curse-ninjas of Kurokonton are famous for their special eyes. The Malocchio Eyes. By attuning their eyes to the power of Yin chi the curse-ninjas are able to absorb pieces of an enemy's aura simply by looking at them. This fraction of aura can be used as a catalyst to inflict instant curses on the victim, or to copy their Techniques for the shinobi to use. Older legends say it can be used to absorb the target's behaviors, appearance, and even memories. #Sacred Potential [Unlocks Aoyusumu Style, the Art of Minds] <<var $style "Aoyusumu">>\ <<if ($sonarmode is true)>>\ ''[Aoyusumu Style]'' <<else>>\ <<image "https://www.auraclash.com/assets/images/Aoyusumu2.png">>\ <</if>>\ The practice of Aoyusumu imparts a calming cerulean aura on its robed fighters and is most attributed to the exorcist-monks of the Devanic Temple, vigilant in their crusade against Fiends and all things unnatural. Aoyusumu is a style of retribution, utilizing the powers of the mind to psionically steal an attacking opponent's kinetic force and use it against them. But that is just the surface. The further one walks the path of Aoyusumu, the more one advances their mental powers. Thought-reading, precognition, calming emotions, telekinesis, forcefields, all are powers that make up the Aoyusumu Martial Artists. And a Martial Art it remains; these abilities are not parlor tricks or rituals, they are fast acting Techniques woven into an exorcist-monk's elusive physical combat style. #Mystic Potential [Unlocks Kiihakai Style, the Art of Sorcery] <<var $style "Kiihakai">>\ <<if ($sonarmode is true)>>\ ''[Kiihakai Style]'' <<else>>\ <<image "https://www.auraclash.com/assets/images/Kiihakai2.png">>\ <</if>>\ The practice of Kiihakai turns the user's aura into a potent blazing golden light and teaches how to tap into the infinite energy of yang chi, known by lesser minds as chi sorcery. Kiihakai sorcerers utilize their mystic secrets to create wonders and alter reality in subtle ways with their incantations. Many mystics practice the art of Kiihakai to scry their master's lands, bind spirits to a town's bidding, empower objects or places with runes, or change fate in subtle ways. But for all the magic in their arsenal, these sorcerers are still Martial Artists at their core. The Kiihakai Style's chi sorcery is useful, but easily crushed upon the pressure of strong auras in the field of battle when utilized alone. The true purpose of the Kiihakai Style is not to delve into mysticism but to discover, utilize, and combine all secrets of yang chi into optimizing the Martial Artist's energy blasts. The ideal Kiihakai martial artist is encased in an impenetrable shield of chi, striking with focused energy explosions at close range, and erupting entire enemy fortresses with unending long range energy beams bringing down the full fury of the sun. #Wild Potential [Unlocks Midorikatai Style, the Art of Beasts] <<var $style "Midorikatai">>\ <<if ($sonarmode is true)>>\ ''[Midorikatai Style]'' <<else>>\ <<image "https://www.auraclash.com/assets/images/Midorikatai2.png">>\ <</if>>\ The practice of Midorikatai abandons flashy effects to focus entirely on the physical hardness and strength of its wielder's body, exactly the same way that a Beast uses chi. Attuning to Midorikatai leads to a green aura and continued growth in both height and muscle, which you think explains Crusher Jack's late growth spurt towards his father's massive physique. While seeming basic to start, mastery of the Midorikatai Style is equally astonishing and devastating. The pure physical strength and durability above and beyond other Martial Artists allows the wielder to break empowered limbs, shatter the ground of battlefields, leap over entire villages, dig through stone walls with one's bare hands, and survive even a volcanic eruption. To walk the path of Cultivation is to improve one's body, mind, and soul beyond the mortal realm. Midorikatai practitioners spit upon that distractingly divided goal, knowing the only important aspect is the body. #use-if (($mortallimits is false) and ($jadedragonfoundation is false)) Whatever my potential, I also possess the Jade Dragon Foundation. [Cheat Mode, Disables Most Achievements] -> "ch1-pickstyle-jdf #use-if (($mortallimits is false) and ($jadedragonfoundation is false)) Whatever my potential, I also suffer from this world's Mortal Limits. [Increased Difficulty] -> "ch1-pickstyle-ml" <</choose>>\

The Jade Dragon Foundation is a legend among legends, said to embody the reincarnation of twelve ancient dragons who took human form. Those born with the Jade Dragon Foundation possess a perfected physical form and a direct spiritual connection to the Heavens. Usually only seen in the lost Royal Family of the Cathayan Empire, this perfected body and soul grants incredible power and unlimited potential to its wielder who will surely shape the world. ''[This choice will disable most achievements, but allow you to gain unrivaled power that guarantees success in almost all rolls.]'' ''[Several problems in the journey may not make sense at your level of power, it is not recommended for first time players.]'' <<choose "ch1-pickstyle">> #Yes, I possess the legendary Jade Dragon Foundation. <<var $jadedragonfoundation true>>\ Merely a handful of entities are known to possess the Jade Dragon Foundation at this time, each counting themselves as elites among elites. Legends and armies in their own right. Walking nations. Now a new legend has been revealed. <<if ($firstchapter is 2)>>\ Your legend. <<else>>\ The Legend of <<cap $name>>. <</if>>\ ''[Aura Pressure +800]'' <<var $aurapressure +800>>\ <<var $allocatedap + 800>>\ ''[800 AP spent on +2 to all Combat Cores]'' <<var $power + 2>>\ <<var $fortitude + 2>>\ <<var $agility + 2>>\ <<var $soul + 2>>\ ''[+2 to all Skills]'' <<var $alchemy + 2>>\ <<var $athletics + 2>>\ <<var $craft + 2>>\ <<var $deception + 2>>\ <<var $handseals + 2>>\ <<var $insight + 2>>\ <<var $lore + 2>>\ <<var $perception + 2>>\ <<var $persuasion + 2>>\ <<var $stealth + 2>>\ <<var $survival + 2>>\ <<var $thievery + 2>>\ <<if ($thievery is 2)>>\ ''[Thievery 1: You can now consume Pills during combat.]'' <</if>>\ <<if (($thievery is 2) or ($thievery is 3))>>\ ''[Thievery 2: You can now cast handseals during combat.]'' <</if>>\ <<if (($thievery is 4) or ($thievery is 3))>>\ ''[Thievery 3: Commerce increased by +5.]'' <<var $commerce + 5>>\ <</if>>\ <<if (($thievery is 4) or ($thievery is 5))>>\ ''[Thievery 4: You can now change equipment during combat.]'' <</if>>\ <<if (($thievery is 5) or ($thievery is 6))>>\ ''[Thievery 5: You can now brew elixirs during combat]'' <</if>>\ Not only do you possess the legendary Jade Dragon Foundation that marks you as one of the mightiest natural creatures on the planet, comparable to early Upper Disciples despite being at your earliest stage, but you also possess a natural talent for one of the five chi types. #No, I climb to the Heavens on my own merit. The hundreds of Sects throughout Imperial Rasen all lean heavily on one of the five Martial Arts Styles, each formed from mastering a type of chi utilization. Though you possess no legendary Foundation to elevate you as a superior being, you do possess a minor potential in one of the five chi types. Namely your spirit possesses an affinity for... <</choose>>\

It's a tough reality that spiritual cultivation is not easy in Outer West. The natural aura of the Outer provinces is weaker than any of the Inner Kingdoms. With a poorer supply of ambient chi the plants and herbs aren't able to harness as much, the spirits are weaker, and the Beasts are weaker. With only weaker sources to harness, the Martial Artists of Outer West suffer the same limitations and find great difficulty surpassing what is known as the "Mortal Limit", a level of Aura Pressure difficult to push through. You're no exception to that rule. As you grow more powerful, you'll find it harder and harder to increase your Aura Pressure while in Outer West (Region's Mortal Limit: 800AP). ''[Any Aura Pressure gained after your region's Mortal Limit will be capped at 50% of the usual increase.]'' ''[Any Aura Pressure gained beyond 150% of the Mortal Limit will be capped at 25% of the usual increase.]'' <<choose "ch1-pickstyle">> #Of course I suffer the Mortal Limits, doesn't everyone? [Experience Mortal Limits] <<var $mortallimits true>>\ <<achieve "Mortal Combat">>\ Of course you suffer the Mortal Limits, you're a peasant from a backwoods mountain Sect. Worse, you're not even //from the Sect//, you just live near it. Still, you're not going to let that stop you. You may not have some legendary talent or destined birth but who cares? You have guts and, more importantly, you have fists. The Martial Arts aren't about talent they're about skill, otherwise Path Manuals wouldn't exist to teach them. You keep your mind focused on the next goal in life and the next opportunity, something you might be able to build off of with your minor talent in... #Limited chi? It doesn't feel that way to me. [Avoid Mortal Limits] Something about you rejects the Mortal Limits, soaking up chi like a sponge whenever you get the chance. Perhaps it's a fluke of your birth or perhaps it's from your desperate upbringing, hunting for chi all your life and simply wanting it more than your peers. Willpower is a strong component of cultivation, after all. Whatever the reason, you do //not// suffer from the region's Mortal Limits. You are not the only one, but it is still a useful gift to have. Much like your natural potential in... <</choose>>\

The $style Martial Art is not where your destiny lies. Instead you feel the currents of your spirit hint at chi attuned towards... <<include "ch1-pickstyle">>\

Are you certain your latent potential rests with the $style Style? <<choose "ch1-potentialyes">> #Yes, I'm certain my soul is attuned to the $style Style. #No, my spirit potential rests in a different Style. -> "ch1-potentialno" <</choose>>

<<var $val 1>>\ <<if ($style is "Akakiru")>>\ <<var $powexp + 20>>\ <<var $agiexp + 10>>\ <<if ($background is "Blacksmith")>>\ ''[Special Event: Background & Style Synchronized]'' Your $background Background has prepared you for the $style Style your entire life. Every sharpened object forged, from a meager nail to a sharpened blade, lead to a better understanding of weaponry and its purpose. Without ever realizing it, your connection to Bladed Chi had already begun to form. <<apboost 15>>\ <</if>>\ <<elseif ($style is "Aoyusumu")>>\ <<var $solexp + 10>>\ <<var $forexp + 10>>\ <<var $agiexp + 10>>\ <<var $powexp + 10>>\ <<elseif ($style is "Kiihakai")>>\ <<var $solexp + 20>>\ <<var $powexp + 10>>\ <<if ($background is "Herbalist")>>\ ''[Special Event: Background & Style Synchronized]'' Your $background Background has prepared you for the $style Style your entire life. Herbalism and elixir refinement require precise control over the flow of chi and an intricate balance of measurement control and potency estimation. The Mystic Chi of the Kiihakai Style requires a highly academic approach of the Martial Arts that you've already been working towards without even knowing. <<apboost 15>>\ <</if>>\ <<elseif ($style is "Kurokonton")>>\ <<var $agiexp + 20>>\ <<var $solexp + 10>>\ <<if (($background is "Merchant") and ($handseals gte 1))>>\ ''[Special Event: Background & Style Synchronized]'' Your $background Background has prepared you for the $style Style through odd twists of fate. Every time you practiced the handseals in the scrolls found in Father's shop you were unknowingly studying Curse-style handseals and attuning your newly-developing spirit towards the Cursed Chi wielded by the ninjas of the Kurokonton Style. Luckily Father didn't know that, as he likely wouldn't have let you touch the scroll. <<apboost 15>>\ <</if>>\ <<elseif ($style is "Midorikatai")>>\ <<var $forexp + 20>>\ <<var $agiexp + 10>>\ <<if ($background is "Trapper")>>\ ''[Special Event: Background & Style Synchronized]'' Your $background Background has prepared you for the $style Style your entire life. Every animal you killed, every night spent in the wilds, and every day that you pushed your developing body further on those long unforgiving hikes, it all slowly called on your spirit to grant physical growth directly like Beasts do. Without even knowing it, you've already taken your first steps towards attuning your spirit towards the Wild Chi of the Midorikatai Style. <<apboost 15>>\ <<var $val 2>>\ <</if>>\ <</if>>\ <<if (($chapter is 1.6) and ($val is 2))>>\ <<page "Continue" "ch2alt-suspicious">>\ <<elseif $chapter is 1.6>>\ <<include "ch2alt-suspicious">>\ <<elseif $val is 2>>\ <<page "Continue" "ch1-magistrate">>\ <<else>>\ <<include "ch1-magistrate">>\ <</if>>\

You and the twins finish your glasses with a content sigh and beam up at your parents. The five of you make up a happy family of... <<choose "ch1-human-race">> #Humans #Oni -> "ch1-oni-race" #Yokai -> "ch1-yokai-race" #Lunargoths -> "ch1-lunargoth-race" <</choose>>

"Let me get this straight." Father shouts after hearing your summary of events, rummaging through the closet and throwing objects out of the way angrily as he rants, "Crusher Mao finds my little Jin so threatening that it warrants violence." Father tosses a broom out of the closet and keeps searching, "And so he sends his accident of a son to do his dirty work, alongside three other EMPOWERED disciples, against my little fifteen year old?" A sandal rack soars through the air as father throws it behind him without looking, still rummaging through the closet's contents. "Then when they're caught being the delinquents they are, instead of apologizing honorably, his son and lackies try to pretend they have committed no wrong because...what, his family is better than mine?" Father finds what he was looking for in the closet. He turns around holding a crossbow. "Let's see how that's possible when he has no family left." <<page "Continue" "ch1-recovery2">>\

"Or," your Mother says quickly, coming out of the kitchen with another bowl of hot disgusting medical soup, "We could use our voices like proper folk. You say he should have talked things out, so let's do that. Let's talk things out." Father balks, raising one arm wildly in the air. "Oh, just talk! That's such a good and even reaction to them beating our son half to death." "Our families //are// even, considering our eldest beat theirs half to death in response." Mother walks up to Father and gives him a peck on the cheek, gently lowering his arm. "After all, I didn't say we use our words with Crusher Mao. Jack is nineteen. Last I checked, nineteen is considered a man grown, and fifteen is not. This is a serious crime and the Magistrate should be informed," she turns to you and adds, "by us. You should stay here." "Yes, yes, of course," agrees Father a little too quickly, "<<cap $name>>, stay here and watch over your brother and sister." He hands you the crossbow. ''[Item Gained: Crossbow]'' "That's not what I meant!" shouts Mother, putting down her bowls and taking the crossbow out of your hands. ''[Item Lost: Crossbow]'' While she was distracted with you, Father had already marched out the front door with a skinning knife in hand. "Honey!" calls Mother, pleading in a fake sweet voice, "No weapons at the Magistrate's!" She grabs a thicker robe by the door to wrap herself with, "Oh goodness, children please behave. We'll be back. I love you." She runs out the door to catch up to Father...Still holding the crossbow, you notice. An hour passes while they're gone. Jin wakes up and you tell him the whole story, turning your aura on and off a few times when he doesn't believe you. It stings in the back of your head. You think your soul needs a rest. Rin forcefeeds Jin more of the medical soup only because he can't fight back, and eventually you fall asleep on the floor of their room. Nerves should have kept you up all night, but the sweet embrace of sleep is a tempting offer after such an exhausting day. The pillow feels like a world of comfort. Advancement takes a lot out of the human body and it's not an immediate process; the powers you have unlocked continue to drain your stamina in order to draw out your inner potential. Your... <<include "ch1-pickstyle">>\

Eventually Kosuke leaves for the night, still bandaged like the rest of you, to tell the story to $bffhisher father. Yours comes home shortly after. He's not happy. <<page "Continue." "ch1-recovery">>\

You don't know what Kosuke means by a "good one". <<cap $bffheshe>> won't specify as you descend the mountainous village and head off the beaten trails through two miles of forest. Your hairs stand on end when you get further from your village's elevation and the trees grow taller and more dense. Soon enough their branches blot out the sky. In your mind you know it's daytime, but nobody told that to the trees. ''[Survival +1]'' <<var $survival + 1>>\ Then you see it: a graveyard of skulls. Bird skulls. Kosuke's step snaps a twig, and a branch above you shakes. You look up to see a creature wake from slumber and raise its head in majesty, surveying who dare trespass in its domain. A Beast. <<page "By the Heavens..." "ch1-squiger2">>\

<<if ($portraitpics is true)>>\ <<image "https://www.auraclash.com/assets/images/Squiger.jpg">>\ <</if>>\ A squiger! You'd heard of animals Advancing into human form, \ <<if $race is "Yokai">>\ Hell, as a Yokai you're part Advanced animal yourself, \ <</if>>\ but you never thought about animals choosing to Advance into another animal. This creature was either a tiger who consumed so many squirrels that its Beast Advancement turned it into one to track them better, or it was a squirrel who Advanced into a tiger to change from prey to predator. Either way, it's the size of a housecat, and adorable. <<if $bffheshe is "he">>\ "Didn't I tell you?" says Kosuke excitedly. "It's awesome! Quick, throw the Shards." <<else>>\ "It's so adorable!" squeals Kosuke, "A Squiger!" <</if>>\ One sniff is all the squiger needs to detect Kosuke's stolen Shards in your satchel. <<choose "ch1-squiger3">> #Toss one and keep the rest. <<if $subrace is "Cat">>\ <<var $cheapskateshard true>>\ <<rand $leftovershards 15 21>>\ <<var $page 5>>\ <<else>>\ <<var $page 3>>\ <</if>>\ #Toss a handful and keep the rest. <<rand $leftovershards 13 19>>\ <<if (((($survival > 1) or ($athletics > 0)) or ($deception > 0)) or ($subrace isnot "Cat"))>>\ <<var $page 5>>\ <<else>>\ <<var $page 3>>\ <</if>>\ #Toss two handfuls and keep the rest. <<rand $leftovershards 6 9>>\ <<var $page 5>>\ #Toss the whole pile to please the Beast. <<var $honor $honor + 3>>\ <<var $ruthless - 2>>\ <<var $page 5>>\ <</choose>>\

<<if ($page is 3)>>\ The squiger jumps down towards the Shar-WAIT NO IT'S JUMPING AT YOU. A whirl of fluff is upon you before you can react. Its cute and tiny little paws extend cute and tiny little claws glowing violently with the white light of combat chi. You raise your hands too late as the miniature predator swipes through your nose and bites into your chin. Momentum from its leap into your face knocks you into a tree head-first. ''[1 Wound Suffered!]'' <<var $wounds + 1>>\ ''[Aura Pressure -2]'' <<var $aurapressure - 2>>\ <<page "NOT THE FACE! NOT THE FACE!!!" "ch1-squiger4">> <<else>>\ One majestic leap drops the squiger from its high branch to the ground. It lands atop \ <<if $cheapskateshard is true>>\ your Shard and rolls on it \ <<else>>\ your pile of Shards and rolls in them \ <</if>>\ until its belly is up in the air. You and Kosuke lean forward, stepping closer to see what happens. Slowly, a grey glow surrounds both the squiger and the \ <<if $cheapskateshard is true>>\ Shard until it starts \ <<else>>\ Shards until the Shards start \ <</if>>\ to chip apart, physical pieces dissolving into a swirling pool of mist hovering over the squiger until it all suddenly falls into the squiger's belly like water down a drain. ''[Aura Pressure +2]'' <<var $aurapressure + 2>>\ So that's it, that's what the spiral of cycling was about: it pressurizes the chi to push it into your body. With a newfound understanding of cycling and cultivation, you both flee the squiger's territory before it finishes its meal. <<if $leftovershards gt 0>>\ While running you feel a weight in your bag and are thankful that there's even leftover Shards for you two to split. <<include "ch1-cyclemethod">>\ <<else>>\ <<page "Continue" "ch1-cyclemethod">>\ <</if>>\ <</if>>\

A whimper escapes your throat as your eyes flutter open. You're back home. Mother is tending to your cuts with some stinging liquid on a towel and Father is shaking Kosuke hard shouting how stupid you both were. Your head is covered in bandages after getting absolutely eviscerated by that tiny fluffy murderer. Mother tells you that you're //incredibly// grounded and Father tells Kosuke that $bffheshe's not allowed over for a month. Worse, the squiger consumed the rest of the Shards after it took you down. But.... There's still a job to do. The next day you sneak out and meet Kosuke at the town compost pile where you could have some privacy, just like you two had discussed. <<cap $bffheshe>> has another 4 Shards for each of you, and you don't ask from where. It's time for the final step. It's time....to cycle. <<var $leftovershards 0>>\ <<var $shards + 4>>\ ''[Item Gained: 4 Shards]'' <<page "Continue" "ch1-cyclemethod">>\

The life of a Trapper is sometimes boring and sometimes exhilarating. Father takes you walking through the woods or the mountains with a small backpack of trailmix and trap parts, which is a lot of fun at first until you realize he recycles the same routes every seven days. Occasionally he has the two of you hide low while he gets his bow out if he hears anything nearby; you see him score two dozen deer over the next six months this way. Father says a good trapper stays active to score more pelts. But the main attraction is the traps he uses. Father sets up a few different types of traps here and there and shows you how they work: net traps in a river, bear traps outside a cave, cage traps in grass fields, and snares around berry bushes. Every other night for six months he sets traps in a wide, wide circle, then the two of you camp in the middle to scare any nearby critters into fleeing towards his traps. Come morning your campfire is long gone and new critters return to collect food, where Father's remaining traps can catch them too. You have a respect for Father, he seems like a king of the woodlands. As you learn from him, slowly, you become one too. ''[Survival +1]'' <<var $survival + 1>>\ ''[Aura Pressure +1]'' <<var $aurapressure + 1>>\ <<page "Continue" "ch1-trapper2">>\

After months more apprenticing to Father you two are marching home from a new trail, back up a miles-long hill dotted with brambleberry bushes to your left and a rapid river to your right. It's no good for trapping fish; the current is too fast, but upstream is calmer and that's where father's fish nets are waiting for you, ripe with food if you're lucky. And lucky you certainly feel: Father has recently paid your first year's allowance from selling all his pelts. You happily bounce a sack of Shards in your hand, seaglass-like coins that hold a small fraction of Chi in them. You had heard that a Martial Artist's soul, one that could generate an aura of chi to empower the warrior and make him stronger, was made up of the force of thousands or even hundreds of thousands of Shards. You smile at your first collection of power. Father stops. "<<cap $name>>, duck down into the bushes and stay there." He says. You don't see a deer nearby, but Father must. Still, you don't want to back up into these bushes, they're covered in thorns and barely up to your head so you'd have to duck. As you motion to protest you notice Father is not drawing his bow like he always has when he senses a deer...He's lowering himself to the ground. He doesn't even look at you as he withdraws his tent covering and pulls it over his body. <<page "Continue" "ch1-trapper3">>\

You push your way into the thorny bushes and keep quiet as minutes pass by. Finally, footsteps approach through other bushes up ahead. Thank goodness, you think as you see the creature, it's just a deer after all. Then lightning strikes. <<page "Continue" "ch1-trapper4">>\

The deer explodes when lightning pours from the sky like a waterfall. The flash nearly blinds you, but through watering eyes you see a massive shadow swoop in: an eagle with a body the size of a wagon, and wings even larger. It crashes to the ground and snaps up the scorched venison chunks in its beak. <<if ($portraitpics is true)>>\ <<image "https://www.auraclash.com/assets/images/roc.jpg">>\ <</if>>\ Father had warned you about these creatures, animals who had absorbed enough chi to gain power. Most don't develop auras of power like humans do, instead their body grows larger and larger to store the excessive chi energy. Beasts. Father's tarp falls to the ground in tatters near the avian Beast and only then do you realize it had been blasted into the air from the lightning attack. The massive eagle is staring directly at Father who is frantically rushing to his feet. "STAY HIDDEN!" Father screams as he leaps over the bushes and dives into the water. The bird takes flight and the world flashes again. Lightning crashes into the rapids mere feet downhill from your hiding place. <<page "Continue" "ch1-trapper5">>\

You don't know how much time has passed when the shock leaves your system and you're able to even think again, but it's getting dark. The Beast is long gone, chasing the stream, but Father has not returned. You need to find your way home without getting eaten. You rely on... <<choose "ch1-trapper6">> #My senses to guide me. [Increase Perception] You've learned all the signs of animals nearby, even predators. It was always a game of cat and mouse, quite literally with the mountain lions Father would fend off with some sort of odor dust. You simply had to think like the hunter you were, and imagine what you would want to see. With a keen eye on any possible predators and a solid knowledge of the woods and mountains, you traverse to a safe path unharmed. It isn't that no predator is after you, it's that almost all ambush predators are cowards. As long as you recognize where they are coming from you can counter them so they'll have to expose themselves a from long distance in order to pursue you. Fields, rivers, across trees, whatever you need, you know where it is. ''[Perception +1]'' <<var $perception + 1>>\ <<apboost 2>>\ #The shadows to hide me. [Increase Stealth] You've grown adept at remaining unseen when you approach traps or Father attempts to hunt game. It's always tickled in the back of your mind how there are only really two types of places in the world: the places people will see, and the places they will not. It seems so natural to you as you wander through bushes and across tree shadows. ''[Stealth +1]'' <<var $stealth + 1>>\ <<apboost 2>>\ <</choose>>\

Halfway home you find the main road; the Thunderfall Sect's disciples patrol this trail. You don't know the specifics but Father says anything with an aura can sense that this trail has the scent of powerful humans, and that scares off most predators. Thank the Heavens, you think, and your trip home becomes that much easier. <<page "Continue" "ch1-trapper7">>\

Another quarterway home and you see the first patroller: a soaked and exhausted man marching up the path towards you. You should evade him, Father always taught you that desperate men are dangerous men and- Oh. It's Father. He's covered in scrapes, and his wrist is wrapped in bloodsoaked bandages, but he //isn't// covered in scorch marks. Somehow he had evaded the monster and its lightning. He smiles from ear to ear with relief and joy when he sees you up the path. His walk hastens into a run and he crashes into you with a big, strong hug. At last, you feel safe again. He lifts you up onto his shoulders and you both return home together. <<var $misfitopen "When you and Father return triumphantly to Thunderfall Village, Father explains the adventure to your family and stresses to Mother how proud he is of your survival skills. Mother stresses to Father how he is not sleeping in the bedroom for the next month. It seems your Trapper career is on hold until you're older, so you have some newfound free time.">>\ <<page "Continue" "ch1-misfits">>\

A year goes by without incident. ''[Item Gained: 1 Year's Allowance (12 Shards)]'' <<var $shards + 12>>\ ''[Aura Pressure +2]'' <<var $aurapressure + 2>>\ <<var $age + 1>>\ <<var $val ($commerce * 2)>>\ <<var $shards + $val>>\ Unless you count an angry blood spirit manifesting in the village well as an incident, which you DON'T. The stupid adults wouldn't even let you see the well until after the Bloodwalker had been "exercised". Why did a spirit need exercise anyway? These are the kinds of insightful questions you and Kosuke talk about late one night, well past your bedtime, when you hear a knock at the window. You both stare over in fear. "It's a ghost." says Kosuke. "No it isn't." You reply resolutely, because that would mean your bedroom is haunted. Kosuke may be able to leave but you'd have to live here and deal with it. Cautiously you hold a candle up and open the wooden windowslide with a quick jerk. Standing in the darkness, in your family's garden right outside your window, is a calamity worse than ghosts: The twins. Jin and Rin, your siblings two years younger with a penchant for getting you in trouble. Both are outside for some reason when they should be in bed. As should you be. And you and Kosuke would continue getting away with it if Jin and Rin weren't knocking on your damned window. "What do you want?!" You're not in the mood to be grounded again. Jin beams up at the window, oblivious. "Everyone's talking-" "Quieter!" You hiss. "-about how Master Mao //ate// the spirit in the well, sooo cool! We decided we want to be adventurers-" "-but they all have big colorful auras!" Rin adds way too damn loud. "-so we want you to teach us how to get all colorful." Jin finishes. "You know, with an aura!" "Why not ask Father?" You ask with a flat stare. "We did, just this morning!" chirps Rin, "He told us we could get back to the laundry or get back to being grounded." Sounds like Father. Kosuke speaks up in a sharp whisper, "There you have it, no adventuring! Now get back inside before you blow our cover, we don't even have auras!" "But you know how to get em!" Jin protests, "You know lots of stuff!" Hmm, he's right. You do know lots of stuff. Rin nods excitedly in agreement. "Yeah, we heard Papa talking to you about how Shards have chi, and he gives you Shards, so you must know how to make them into chi. Teach us! Or we'll tell Mama that you're still up!" <<page "Ransoming little brats!" "ch1-twins2">>

Fine, if you have no choice then you'll have to tell them. ...Oh Hells. You actually don't know how to make Shards into your own chi either. You've saved up your allowance religiously over the last couple years but you just assumed using Shards was an issue for the future. Do you have enough? Can you use them now? How do you even do that? Your eyes drift to Kosuke for help. <<cap $bffhisher>> thin-lipped nervous smile betrays that $bffheshe's in the same predicament, and you realize neither of you know how to use your Shards to gain power. Were your parents hiding it so you wouldn't blow your money? Probably. That sounds like adults, making decisions for you without asking. <<page "Blurt something out" "ch1-twins3">>

"We'll tell you tomorrow." You say off the top of your head to avoid looking ignorant in front of your siblings. You're the eldest, you always know the answer. "Yeah, and it'll cost you!" Adds Kosuke hastily. Jin and Rin thankfully suppress their cheer, instead they shake in excitement and frolic back into the shadows, //hopefully// looping back around the house to sneak in and go to bed. You and Kosuke try to get some sleep of your own after that and fail. Theories and fantasies take up half the night. Restful slumber takes a back seat to your ponderings on how you turn a few pieces of spiritually infused not-glass into the ability to punch through walls or shoot lightning out of your eyes. There has to be steps involved, and you don't know the first. You and Kosuke agree on a 3-step plan: 1. Find a source of information on how to absorb Shards. 2. See the process get performed. 3. Perform the process yourself to make sure you've figured out the right steps. It's vital that you do it yourself first so your instructions can be clear, you can't have Jin or Rin messing it up and exploding. Mother would spank you. Plus, you like the idea of getting stronger than the other kids. The next morning Kosuke splits off to go find leads for Step 2, leaving you to gather information for Step 1 by... <<choose "ch1-twins4">> #Researching tomes at the library. Knowledge is power. [Increase Lore] The library is your go-to solution for most problems that can be solved with knowledge. It makes sense, and it never hurts to know more about the world. ''[Lore +1]'' <<var $lore + 1>>\ You spend most of the morning flipping through pages of tomes and unwinding scrolls for beginner Martial Artists and sure enough you do find some rudimentary guides on Shard consumption. They refer to the process as "cycling" and hint that the Shard's energy needs to be swirled around inside of you in a spiral pattern after being held against the chest and willed into essence. It's not clear what "willed into essence" means. At least the spiral design is clearly shown on the scroll; you draw a copy on your stomach to help visualize it. <<var $tummydraw true>>\ So the "cycling" notes were simple after all: physical touch, willpower, and a spiral design. Easier said than done, but it was a good first step. <<page "One step down, two to go." "ch1-twins4">>\ #Spying on villagers who already have auras. [Increase Perception] There are more Martial Artists in town than just the Thunderfall Sect students. Most of them are merchants or outdoorsmen which made sense. Both were dangerous fields. Outdoorsmen would be on constant lookout for monsters and merchants would be on constant lookout for drunk outdoorsmen. You decide to spy on the merchants since they were inside the village and you're allowed to wander through their stores and market stalls without raising suspicious. ''[Perception +1]'' <<var $perception + 1>>\ To your surprise, you actually do get a few tidbits of information that help when one merchant scolds his son for doing it wrong. Apparently the process is called "cycling" and involves holding Shards tight against your chest or stomach. It has something to do with meditation since the users always have their eyes closed. The merchant keeps mentioning a spiral where his son made the mistake the first time, shouting that he must "stir" the chi through his body. So the "cycling" notes were simple after all: physical touch, willpower, and a spiral design. Easier said than done, but it was a good first step. <<page "One step down, two to go." "ch1-twins4">>\ #Trading tales with the elder fishermen who are so old that they must have seen everything by now. [Increase Deception] Marching down the woodsy trail outside the village is more pleasant than you expected. It's a nice spring day and the gentle wind licks your hair on your way to a fishing pond where some of the oldest villagers spend their leisure years. Before even arriving you hear a cacophony of old men saying the most ridiculously made up stories you've ever heard in your life. You begin to think the men just came here to drink and talk, since their voices are so loud that they scare most animals away. Maybe the real fish is the friends we made along the way? Nevertheless, you had to prove yourself to these dinosaurs if you wanted to get their precious (likely inaccurate) information. You wish you had traded places with Kosuke, $bffheshe was better at making up stories that get a reaction out of strangers. Once again you find yourself wishing you were raised as an illustrious Beggar instead of a filthy $background, but at least you have a chance to practice. ''[Deception +1]'' <<var $deception + 1>>\ The old men are impressed with the stories you tell of saving young princesses, breaking deals with demons, and travelling to fake places all over the world. Most call them crap, but they still listen when you talk. You think that's a good sign. When half of them are giving up on the fish to go home you get approached by an appreciative couple that tells you how they managed to absorb shards in their youth. They see doubt in your eyes and flex, emitting a true aura of deep-water blue energy all over their bodies. You're shocked to find old fishers telling the truth. After a stunned silence you take notes on their suggestions to press the Shards close to your body and imagine them as water in your hand, then picture the water splashing against you and swirling into your body in a spiral. They say it's called "cycling". So the "cycling" notes were simple after all: physical touch, willpower, and a spiral design. Easier said than done, but it was a good first step. <<page "One step down, two to go." "ch1-twins4">>\ #Working for the market's caravans in exchange for information. [Increase Craft] Sometimes the direct choice was the best choice. Caravans came through Thunderfall constantly with wagons of goods and plenty of empowered guards who had auras of their own. They were businessmen, and businessmen had to follow through on their deals. They also had a need for menial labor. You go through the market offering to help turn their crates into tables during setup in exchange for tips from the guards. Eventually, you find a merchant that agrees to the free labor. You're not sure why it even took two tries. There's no pleasing some people. ''[Craft +1]'' <<var $craft + 1>>\ After a few hours of removing nails from crate boards and then nailing them back into the same boards to form tables, the guards explain the process of "cycling" to you as thanks. They even leave you a generous tip. ''[Item Gained: 4 Shards]'' <<var $shards + 4>>\ They say you need to try and melt the Shards against your skin with your pure will, then wish them into your body in a spiral so badly that it actually happens. So the "cycling" notes were simple after all: physical touch, willpower, and a spiral design. Easier said than done, but it was a good first step. <<page "One step down, two to go." "ch1-twins4">>\ <</choose>>\

With the main concept for this "cycling" acquired, you meet up with Kosuke at the town well and tell $bffhimher what you've found. \ <<if (($tummydraw is true) and ($bffheshe neq $heshe))>>\ Then you lift your shirt to show the spiral design. Kosuke stares, open mouthed. Probably impressed with your drawing skills. After enough time for Kosuke to memorize the design you put your shirt down. <<cap $bffheshe>> snaps out of it and pulls out $bffhisher own notes. <<var $bffrep + 5>>\ <<else>>\ Then you lift your shirt to show the spiral design. <</if>>\ "Okay, cycling." Kosuke says after you explain it, "Makes sense, cool. I learned something too: There's four types of creatures that have auras and they say all of them are a threat to your coinpurse, so if "cycling" Shards is what we'd do, then they should all be able to do it too." "That's good news!" you say, this plan is coming together, "Now we just need to get some funds. If we want to watch something perform a whole cycling, we'll need to offer a bunch of Shards." You and Kosuke lock eyes suspiciously. You think it's to decide who has to give up some Shards, but you see $bffhimher stifling a mischievous laugh. Then it clicks in your mind. "Oh." you say, "How many did you steal?" Kosuke grins slowly, "Enough to get noticed, so don't visit the weaver's hall for a while." <<cap $bffheshe>> tosses you a scroll that you open up. It describes the four types of creatures you're looking for. "Got a guard to write this down too, told him one of the merchants demanded it, so don't go near the western gate for a bit either." At this rate you'll be avoiding half the village by winter. Still, the note is useful. <<page "Open the note and read..." "ch1-twins5">>

<<image "https://www.auraclash.com/assets/images/ac-linebreak-top.png">>\ //Yu Sing,// //I don't know why you have an interest in Spiritual Cultivation, but if you want to go dumping Shards into your aura's development then be my guest. Here's the list you asked for. I expect that generous discount your messenger promised next time I swing by.// //First, there's Beasts. You've probably seen some in the trophies of massive monsters we've caught. Animals can Advance into these "Beasts" by absorbing enough natural energy from their prey, or territory, or plants. It's our job to kill the ones that get a taste for humans, but even the tamest might eat you if it's convenient. Stick to the roads.// //Second, there's Spirits. Living energy that represents nature, places, or objects...Usually. Most Spirits are aggressive or unpredictable. The only ones I recommend are water spirits; superstitious fishermen offer them tribute for good luck all the time. They're used to people.// //Third, there's humans with auras. Martial Artists. It's an all-or-nothing lifestyle. If you achieve an aura you can be sensed by predators that want to harness your chi. For Beasts that means eating you. For spirits that means ripping pieces off your soul. The only reason you've been safe all this time is because they can't detect you from a distance. When you unlock your aura that will change.// //And for the last type...Well just ignore the last one.// //They're the things we keep locked away or burned to ash. Fiends. Creatures warped outside of the natural order. Ghouls, bloodwalkers, the grim. Undead and worse. Sure, aggressive Beasts and Spirits are a threat, but these things are horrors. They hunt humans, normal humans....and cycle them, as if human flesh and blood were a source of chi.// //It ain't right. Do not interact with these things. Call the Thunderfall Sect to send an extermination team instead. I mean it. We're still studying the ghoul we have locked in the jail and even that is giving me the creeps.// //Anyway, that's the list. Obviously I suggest the Thunderfall Sect disciples, but if your Path or Style requires spiritual or bestial aura, then goodluck out there with the others.// <<image "https://www.auraclash.com/assets/images/ac-linebreak-bottom.png">>\ Huh... You've never heard it explained so formally but it all makes sense. Every myth and rumor you know fits into the categories you read. Now it's time to pick your target... <<choose "ch1-squiger">> #Beasts. Kosuke says $bffheshe knows a "good one" in the woods. [Increase Survival] #Fiends. If this "ghoul" is locked away safely then it's perfect. [Increase Stealth] -> "ch1-ghoul" #Martial Artists. Disciples of the Thunderfall Sect all know how to cycle. [Increase Persuasion] -> "ch1-disciples" #Spirits. Cycling is about chi, why not learn from something made of chi? [Increase Handseals] -> "ch1-waterelemental" <</choose>>\

Water elemental spirits are the easiest option to handle but not the easiest to find. The pros and cons are simple. For the pros, water spirits are less dangerous than some other options, they won't snitch on you, and they are made of visible chi so you should be able to see the entire cycling process inside them. For the cons, they have perfect camouflage in water and you don't know of any water spirits in your lakes or rivers. This means a lot of walking to find distant bodies of water that might have formed a spirit. You're looking at days of searching, possibly even weeks. If you were a chump. Since you're not a chump, you and Kosuke head to the mystic's shop to feed one of the bound elementals they keep in the back. It was an easier task than you expected. You both walk into the store of glass cases containing various scrolls and potions. You nod to each other, and Kosuke touches one then starts screaming. Panic erupts from the customers and the mystic's apprentice comes running from behind the front desk. While she runs to Kosuke to see what was wrong, you slip to the back of the store where the good stuff is stored. Mystic weapons and armor, cases containing petrified pieces of monsters, and three stone wells dug into the ground in the back. Bingo. You walk up to the wells and look inside each. One glows blue, one glows red, and one glows green. You hold Kosuke's stolen Shards up to the blue pool which //should// have the water spirit, and spend the next two minutes frantically mimicking the hand signs you're supposed to use to wake it up. Both of you prepared for this and studied Mother's handsealing lessons for hours, but the actual execution was harder than you remembered. ''[Handseals +1]'' <<var $handseals + 1>>\ <<fuuinjutsudescription>>\ Eventually the blue glow of the well intensifies as the spirit stirs. Water sprays upward and stays there, a pillar looming just short of six feet tall. It looks like a geyser at first, but the end of it actually curls and "looks" toward your Shards. That's when you notice the deeper blue dots. Its eyes. It's now or never, you... <<choose "ch1-waterelemental2">> #Offer one Shard and keep the rest. <<if $race is "Oni" or $race is "Kitsune">>\ <<var $cheapskateshard true>>\ <<rand $leftovershards 15 21>>\ <<var $page 5>>\ <<else>>\ <<var $page 2>>\ <</if>>\ #Offer a handful of Shards and keep the rest. <<rand $leftovershards 13 19>>\ <<if (((($survival > 1) or ($athletics > 0)) or ($deception > 0)) or ($subrace isnot "Cat"))>>\ <<var $page 5>>\ <<else>>\ <<var $page 2>>\ <</if>>\ #Offer two handfuls of Shards and keep the rest. <<rand $leftovershards 6 9>>\ <<var $page 5>>\ #Offer the whole pile to please the spirit. <<var $honor + 3>>\ <<var $ruthless - 2>>\ <<var $page 5>>\ <</choose>>\

<<if ($page is 2)>>\ The water elemental grows in length and hungrily surges towards your satchel of Shards-WAIT NO IT'S COMING FOR YOU! Panic takes over, but not fast enough. You're trapped. Water soaks your clothes and buffets your face as the elemental completely "consumes" you, surrounding your entire body in its churning line of water chi and spinning you in circles. You throw up into it, but the barf ejects from the torrent and launches all over the backroom. The sound must have attracted people because while spinning you see the shop attendant in the doorway, horrified. Kosuke is behind her chewing on $bffhisher tongue while taking notes. A bright grey glow comes from your satchel. The elemental is eating your entire collection of Shards inside and attempting to drown you. You hope Kosuke gets good notes on the spirit's cycling process, because you're about to die for them. ''[1 Wound Suffered!]'' <<var $wounds + 1>>\ ''[Aura Pressure -2]'' <<var $aurapressure - 2>>\ <<page "Hrrbbbrrrbblllll!!!" "ch1-waterelemental3">> <<else>>\ Two subtle white lights form in the water spirit and you realize they are eyes. A third light glows below them and stretches outward and up....is it smiling at you? You take one step forward and hold up your offering to the spirit. It dips its "head" \ <<if $cheapskateshard is true>>\ over the Shard and sucks it into its body where you can see the Shard dissolve into a small glowing mass. <<else>>\ into the pile of Shards and sucks them into its body where you can see them dissolve into a glowing mass. <</if>>\ You walk in a circle around the serpentine pillar of water to get a better look and see exactly the clue you were hoping to find. The glowing mass isn't just spinning inside the spirit, the energy in the center is being compressed and pushed into the spirit's Core as if the energy were water flowing down a drain. So that's it, that's what the spiral of cycling was about: it pressurizes the chi to push it into your body. With a newfound understanding of cycling and cultivation, you both head back to the village for the final step. <<if $leftovershards gt 0>>\ On the way, you fiddle with the leftover Shards in your bag. Seems you and Kosuke got to keep a bonus. <<include "ch1-cyclemethod">>\ <<else>>\ <<page "Continue" "ch1-cyclemethod">>\ <</if>>\ <</if>>\

... Nothingness.... Your consciousness drifts through the fading blank spaces of your mind... Peace at last. No more will you worry about earthly issues of thought, hunger, pain. Your soul is released from such troubles, as you - actually, that stings. Ouch! OUCH!! <<page "Stop it!" "ch1-waterelemental4">>

Your eyes shoot open to find you're already back home. You must have passed out, because Mother is pressing some medicine-soaked towel against a bulging cheek bruise you didn't know you had. Father is shaking Kosuke hard shouting how stupid you both were. Your head is covered in bandages after getting treated like laundry by that angry spirit and you grow bitterness towards the guard who's notes said they were peaceful. Mother tells you that you're //incredibly// grounded and Father tells Kosuke that $bffheshe's not allowed over for a month. But.... There's still a job to do. So the next day you sneak out and meet Kosuke at the town compost pile where you can have some privacy, just like you two had discussed. <<cap $bffheshe>> has another 4 Shards for you, and you don't ask from where. It's time for the final step. It's time....to cycle. <<var $leftovershards 0>>\ <<var $shards + 4>>\ ''[Item Gained: 4 Shards]'' <<page "Continue" "ch1-cyclemethod">>\

Kitsune are the least common of all races as they are not quite Yokai but rather a cross of Beast, Spirit, and Man. Their mysterious essence and mischievous nature have earned Kitsune a reputation as dangers to society, far more trouble than they're worth, and many Sects do not even classify them as a race but rather as hostile trickster spirits. For this reason, your parents have masqueraded as Wolf Yokai while settling down in the safety of Thunderfall Village. Should you ever grow too powerful or live past your first century this will be a problem when you grow additional tails that would ruin your disguise, but that's not something you're worried about. While your family may be hiding their true nature, they are not hiding their true power. You really are Laborer-caste workers with no powers to your names. All the better to hide your nature, Father and Mother say. It's safer that way. ''[Kitsune Racial Bonus: Insight +1]'' Are you sure you and your family are Kitsune? <<choose "ch1-yokai-kitsune2">> #Yes, me and my family are Kitsune. <<var $race "Kitsune">>\ <<var $insight + 1>>\ #No, we're something else. -> "ch1-raceselect" <</choose>>\

As a Kitsune you're not //technically// a Yokai, or even a Mortal, but you look the part. You've always been prone to a bit of trickery and the best so far is your Wolf Yokai "disguise", because the disguise is you walking around in broad daylight and just calling yourself a Wolf. A single-tailed kitsune looks strikingly similar to a Wolf Yokai, although obviously better looking in your opinion. Just like the Yokai, you're born with a fluffy tail, but only some Yokai have ears and fangs while every Kitsune is blessed with such traits. You're able to hide the sharp teeth and ears with a minor natural talent in illusions that you've (so far) only been able to use for that one purpose. That's not to say you //do// hide them. You present yourself with... <<choose "ch1-yokai-kitsune3">> #Just a single fox tail. #A single fox tail and fox ears. <<var $yokaitrait1 "fox ears">>\ #A single fox tail and pronounced canine fangs. <<var $yokaitrait2 "sharp fangs">>\ #A single fox tail, fox ears, and pronounced canine fangs. <<var $yokaitrait1 "fox ears">>\ <<var $yokaitrait2 "sharp fangs">>\ <</choose>>\

Your //glorious// tail is the same color as your hair which is... <<choose "ch1-yokai-kitsune4">> #Red <<var $haircolor "red">>\ #White <<var $haircolor "white">>\ #Black <<var $haircolor "black">>\ #Golden <<var $haircolor "golden">>\ #Orange <<var $haircolor "orange">>\ <</choose>>\

While your eyes are... <<choose "ch1-job">> #Amber <<var $eyecolor "amber">>\ #Brown <<var $eyecolor "brown">>\ #Blue <<var $eyecolor "blue">>\ #Green <<var $eyecolor "green">>\ <</choose>>\

When animals absorb enough chi to transform into a more powerful body they are called Beasts. But not all animals choose to become larger predators. For various reasons, some empowered animals spend immense spiritual energy to advance their intelligence and spirit by taking on the form of a human body. Such beings are known as Yokai. Yokai that are formed from this transformation, this variation of "Advancement", are all extremely powerful, but your family isn't like them. Like the vast majority of Yokai, you just descend from one or more animals who Advanced a long time ago, probably a few great-great-great-grandparents. Most yokai keep some animalistic traits from their predecessor such as eyes, fangs, or ears, and almost all have a tail. You happen to descend from... <<choose "ch1-yokai-race2">> #Felines <<var $subrace "Cat">>\ #Canines <<var $subrace "Wolf">>\ #Reptiles <<var $subrace "Reptile">>\ #Monkeys <<var $subrace "Monkey">>\ #Bovines <<var $subrace "Bovine">>\ <</choose>>\

<<if $subrace is "Cat">>\ Panthers, Tigers, Bobcats, Lions, Cougars, even some housecats, they're all master hunters and so they're some of the most common animals to Advance into a Beast or a Yokai. Many cat Yokai have ears of a cat on the head of a human: fluffy and twitching, growing through their hair closer to the top of their head. Your real prized trait is your tail, soft and flexible. <<elseif $subrace is "Wolf">>\ Wolves and dogs are man's closest friend in the animal kingdom. It's no surprise that some wolf or dog Beast ancestor of yours was around powerful humans long enough that it chose to Advance into a human body. Your ears are those of a wolf, tufted and soft, growing through your hair near the top of your head. Your tail is large, and oh so fluffy. <<elseif $subrace is "Reptile">>\ Being cold-blooded stops many reptile Beasts from Advancing into Yokai, the change is just too fundamental. It requires too much chi. For that reason, those who manage the process are incredibly frightening creatures. Whatever the reptile was when it was born, by the time your ancestor had enough power to Advance into a Yokai it had probably already Advanced into a massive tunneling Wyrm or some other variant of Dragon. Your thin scaled tail has an arrowhead tip. <<elseif $subrace is "Monkey">>\ Monkeys are fairly close to humans and are one of the easiest transitions for Beasts to make, barring the tailless Apes. Something about a tail seemed to be vital for Yokai Advancement. As such, Monkey Yokai are the most human-looking. Often the tail is the only trait exposing them as Yokai at all. You wrap yours to wear it like a belt sometimes, like Father and Mother do. <<elseif $subrace is "Bovine">>\ Most cattle are docile creatures, kept in a confined space away from aura-rich hidden treasures of nature. In such captivity cows and bulls are never capable of Advancement...by accident. On purpose however, is another story. Almost all cattle that Advance into a Beast do so because their owner purposefully prepared them for it. Cattle herds are prime targets for the powerful Beasts roaming the wilds, and replacing guards or attack dogs with powerful bovine Beasts is an expensive but worthwhile status symbol for rich farmers, or farmers working for rich nobles. Somewhere up the family tree one of your ancestors was prized enough to Advance not just to a Beast, but again later on into an intelligent Yokai with their own rights under the Rasen Imperial Government. They must have been very long-lived. Your tail is short, only growing down to your knees, with a tuft of hair at the end. You could hide it if you wanted. <</if>>\ Animalistic instincts flow through your mind now and then. You find they can be leaned on for an edge in the natural world. <<if $subrace is "Cat">>\ ''[Cat Yokai Racial Bonus: Perception +1]'' <<elseif $subrace is "Wolf">>\ ''[Wolf Yokai Racial Bonus: Survival +1]'' <<elseif $subrace is "Reptile">>\ ''[Reptile Yokai Racial Bonus: Stealth +1]'' <<elseif $subrace is "Monkey">>\ ''[Monkey Yokai Racial Bonus: Thievery +1]'' <<elseif $subrace is "Bovine">>\ ''[Bovine Yokai Racial Bonus: Athletics +1]'' <</if>>\ Are you sure you and your family are $subrace Yokai? <<choose "ch1-yokai-race3">> #Yes, me and my family are $subrace Yokai. <<var $race "Yokai">>\ <<var $raceadjective "animalistic">>\ <<if $subrace is "Wolf">>\ <<var $survival $survival + 1>>\ <<elseif $subrace is "Cat">>\ <<var $perception $perception + 1>>\ <<elseif $subrace is "Reptile">>\ <<var $stealth $stealth + 1>>\ <<elseif $subrace is "Bovine">>\ <<var $athletics $athletics + 1>>\ <</if>>\ #No, we're something else. -> "ch1-raceselect" <<var $subrace "">>\ #show-if ($subrace is "Wolf") People only think we're Wolf Yokai. In truth we are Kitsune fox spirits. -> "ch1-yokai-kitsune" <<var $subrace "">>\ <</choose>>\

<<if ($subrace isnot "Monkey")>>\ All Yokai have a tail but some $subrace Yokai deal with other changes to their base human form, \ <<if $subrace is "Cat">>\ such as cat ears and vertical pupils. You happen to have... <<choose "ch1-yokai-race4">> #Just a cat tail. #A cat tail and cat ears. <<var $yokaitrait1 "cat ears">>\ #A cat tail and cat eyes. <<var $yokaitrait2 "cat eyes">>\ #A cat tail, cat ears, and cat eyes. <<var $yokaitrait1 "cat ears">>\ <<var $yokaitrait2 "cat eyes">>\ <</choose>>\ <<elseif $subrace is "Wolf">>\ such as wolf ears or pronounced canine fangs. You happen to have... <<choose "ch1-yokai-race4">> #Just a wolf tail. #A wolf tail and wolf ears. <<var $yokaitrait1 "wolf ears">>\ #A wolf tail and pronounced canine fangs. <<var $yokaitrait2 "sharp fangs">>\ #A wolf tail, wolf ears, and pronounced canine fangs. <<var $yokaitrait1 "wolf ears">>\ <<var $yokaitrait2 "sharp fangs">>\ <</choose>>\ <<elseif $subrace is "Reptile">>\ such as reptilian eyes and a forked tongue. You happen to have... <<choose "ch1-yokai-race4">> #Just a thin arrowhead-tipped tail. #A thin arrowhead-tipped tail and forked tongue. <<var $yokaitrait1 "forked tongue">>\ #A thin arrowhead-tipped tail and reptilian eyes. <<var $yokaitrait2 "reptilian eyes">>\ #A thin arrowhead-tipped tail, reptilian eyes, and a forked tongue. <<var $yokaitrait1 "forked tongue">>\ <<var $yokaitrait2 "reptilian eyes">>\ <</choose>>\ <<elseif $subrace is "Bovine">>\ such as a pair of horns. You happen to have... <<choose "ch1-yokai-race4">> #Just a tail. #A tail and horns. <<var $yokaitrait1 "horns">>\ #A tail and bonive ears. <<var $yokaitrait2 "cow ears">>\ #A tail, horns, and bovine ears. <<var $yokaitrait1 "horns">>\ <<var $yokaitrait2 "cow ears">>\ <</choose>>\ <</if>>\ <<else>>\ <<include "ch1-yokai-race4">>\ <</if>>\

<<if $subrace is "Cat">>\ Your tail is the same color as your hair which is... <<choose "ch1-yokai-race5">> #White <<var $haircolor "white">>\ #Black <<var $haircolor "black">>\ #Brown <<var $haircolor "brown">>\ #Orange <<var $haircolor "orange">>\ #Peach <<var $haircolor "peach">>\ <</choose>>\ <<elseif $subrace is "Wolf">>\ Your tail is the same color as your hair which is... <<choose "ch1-yokai-race5">> #White <<var $haircolor "white">>\ #Grey <<var $haircolor "grey">>\ #Black <<var $haircolor "black">>\ #Brown <<var $haircolor "brown">>\ #Red <<var $haircolor "red">>\ <</choose>>\ <<elseif $subrace is "Reptile">>\ Your tail is the same color as your hair which is... <<choose "ch1-yokai-race5">> #Black <<var $haircolor "black">>\ #Green <<var $haircolor "green">>\ #Red <<var $haircolor "red">>\ #Brown <<var $haircolor "brown">>\ #Yellow <<var $haircolor "yellow">>\ <</choose>>\ <<elseif $subrace is "Monkey">>\ <<learnthievery 1>>\ Unlike other Yokai types, Monkey Yokai do not suffer other animalistic traits. You've got your tail on an otherwise human body, and that's it. The only other noticable difference is your coloration may come from primates instead of the base human form. Your tail and hair in particular are... <<choose "ch1-yokai-race5">> #White <<var $haircolor "white">>\ #Black <<var $haircolor "black">>\ #Brown <<var $haircolor "brown">>\ #Red <<var $haircolor "red">>\ <</choose>>\ <<elseif $subrace is "Bovine">>\ Your tail is the same color as your hair, which is... <<choose "ch1-job">> #Black <<var $haircolor "black">>\ #Brown <<var $haircolor "brown">>\ #Red <<var $haircolor "red">>\ #White <<var $haircolor "white">>\ #Shades of black and white. <<var $haircolor "black and white">>\ <</choose>>\ <</if>>\

<<if $subrace is "Cat">>\ While your eyes are... <<choose "ch1-job">> #Black <<var $eyecolor "black">>\ #Amber <<var $eyecolor "amber">>\ #Green <<var $eyecolor "green">>\ #Hazel <<var $eyecolor "hazel">>\ #Blue <<var $eyecolor "blue">>\ #Brown <<var $eyecolor "brown">>\ <</choose>>\ <<elseif $subrace is "Wolf">>\ While your eyes are... <<choose "ch1-job">> #Black <<var $eyecolor "black">>\ #Yellow <<var $eyecolor "yellow">>\ #Orange <<var $eyecolor "orange">>\ #Brown <<var $eyecolor "brown">>\ #Hazel <<var $eyecolor "hazel">>\ #Blue <<var $eyecolor "blue">>\ <</choose>>\ <<elseif $subrace is "Reptile">>\ While your eyes are... <<choose "ch1-job">> #Black <<var $eyecolor "black">>\ #Brown <<var $eyecolor "brown">>\ #Green <<var $eyecolor "green">>\ #Orange <<var $eyecolor "orange">>\ #Red <<var $eyecolor "red">>\ #Grey <<var $eyecolor "grey">>\ #Blue <<var $eyecolor "blue">>\ <</choose>>\ <<elseif $subrace is "Monkey">>\ While your eyes are... <<choose "ch1-job">> #Brown <<var $eyecolor "brown">>\ #Black <<var $eyecolor "black">>\ #Red <<var $eyecolor "red">>\ #Orange <<var $eyecolor "orange">>\ #Yellow <<var $eyecolor "yellow">>\ #Hazel <<var $eyecolor "hazel">>\ #Blue <<var $eyecolor "blue">>\ <</choose>>\ <</if>>\

You take one step outside the next morning, ready to start your new life, when a voice interrupts you from behind. <<include "ch2-merger">>\

A one-sided match, but while it's been going on you've been putting the time to use. <<page "Continue" "ch2-afterkos2">>\

Gathering up all your unaligned energy into condensed swirls of chi and linking them to the right focus is easy on paper. Yet in reality, you're not just aiming for a location on a body-sized map and throwing chi at it. You're trying to change that energy from natural chi into something else. You need to mentally forge it, permanently dedicating massive amounts of spiritual power towards a singular goal. While Kosuke's fighting you're weaving through the trees to evade stray energy blasts. The scene makes for poor meditation but you look inward all the same. The sounds of Kosuke's battle don't add stress to your mind, oddly enough, they add serenity. The idea that you have mere seconds to figure this out only makes you trust your first full instinctive thought on what is missing: //Purpose// ...Nope. Your spirit doesn't respond to that revelation. Shit. Then what is the missing component? Ownership? You've gathered up enough of the world's energy but that could be the problem. It's the world's energy, not yours. It's an addition to your actions instead of a part of your actions. There's only so much you can control quickly and that's always come from your Mortal Cores, any big displays using all your inner chi are too slow since you need time to shape the chi's working in your mind. If only you could control your inner chi more quickly, like you control your body, then it could answer to your call like a reflex. Well okay then, you think to yourself, what is a reflex? To you it's always been an automatic response. But a response to what? An event? A situation? No, that doesn't sound right. Reflexes in combat have more to it than that. There's always a sense of //desperation// to make your body react before your mind, something that triggers immediately when it's needed. Could that be it? Could it be so simple? ...A need? Tremors shake through your soul when your revelation completes and you instinctively know you've solved the puzzle. You feel the call of your Power Core, answering the needs of force and rage. Your Agility Core radiates to answer the needs for speed and precision. Calmly your Soul Core lends its response to your will, focused on the needs of analysis and control. And lastly your Fortitude Core stands firm, as it always has, in its lifelong quest to solve the needs of stability and survival. All four an extension of your willpower, all four connecting in your mind and spirit to your urgent needs in battle. At that exact moment Kosuke's \ <<if ($bffheshe is "she")>>\ screech \ <<else>>\ howl \ <</if>>\ of pain echoes through the night as $bffheshe's blasted into the stables, letting you know that time's up. Swift footsteps crash through the trees as you do your best to channel your chi. In mere seconds Taio is upon you, cutting off your escape with a grim expression and his fist surging with crimson power. <<if ($explosives isnot 2)>>\ "Behold, men, as I add this fools blood to my power!"\ <<else>>\ "It's time you pay back the lives you cost me, I will add your blood to my power!"\ <</if>>\ His attack descends toward your head with a scream. In response you grit your teeth and flex your spiritual power with the desperation of life and death. You condense every ounce of energy inside of you into four places at once with the full weight of your Aura Pressure that you've honed from a lifetime of struggle. You don't know when you started smiling maniacally, but you know you are now. The words leave your lips all too easily. ''//"IMMORTAL CORE ADVANCEMENT!!"//'' Nothing inside you breaks. Not like your first Advancement. Instead it's //the world// that caves this time, losing the last of its claim on the energy inside you. With a spiritual snap, your inner chi is no longer a pool of untyped energy connected to nature. Your willpower seizes on it with an iron grip and wrests the last bit of control, forging that energy into a reserve of personal power bound directly to your reflexes. ''[Ability Unlocked: Immortal Core Advancement]'' <<var $chapter 2.7>>\ <<var $val 0>>\ <<var $immortalcount 0>>\ <<include "ch2-immortalcorecheck">>\

<<woundcheck 1 false false>>\ "Is this all they send?" Taio taunts over you while you try to come back to your senses. "This is what the Thunderfallers have to offer? No wonder the Sunbringers think they can take their town! Hells, //we// can take their town!" His men let out a rallying cheer. You roll away desperately and stand on shaky feet. "You're not taking anything." You say through gritted teeth, "This fight isn't over yet." "Isn't over? You can't even fight a fraction of my power!" <<page "Continue" "ch2-mergeboast">>\

"Sorry Mr. Donkey!" Kosuke shouts while sprinting towards the street. "Sorry sorry sorry sorry!!" Kosuke bellows, sprinting directly at your donkey tied to a roadside tree and your cart. The beast notices Kosuke's distress and, more importantly, that Kosuke is sprinting directly at him. Panic sets into the donkey's gut as Kosuke reaches him and leaps. A white glow fills the darkness of night around the cart when Kosuke powers up $bffhisher meager aura, ascends ten feet in $bffhisher leap, and reaches a sturdy branch just above the donkey. Kosuke pushes off that branch with both hands and all the power of what you assume is a developed Power Core. <<cap $bffheshe>> launches down onto the connector of your cart like a seesaw. \ <<if ($explosives is 2)>>\ The sixth manure barrel, the last of your haul, \ <<else>>\ One of your explosive manure barrels, still left on the donkey car, \ <</if>>\ launches like a catapult directly at Taio on top of the tavern roof. 'Master' Taio doesn't even turn, sensing no chi except Kosuke's aura at a distance. It's not until the sound of a midair approaching object is too close that he finally turns from his charging energy attack and sees the barrel. <<if ($explosives is 2)>>\ "No." The bandit leader whimpers. "No, not again!" <</if>>\ Kosuke's manure barrel crashes into Taio's Technique with a fiery concussive explosion engulfing that entire section of the roof. "I got him!" Kosuke shouts in cheer. "I actually got him! YAHOOO!! Come on out <<cap $name>> you're not even needed, Kosuke's got your back this time. Hells I have been waiting for a win like that, ugh, it feels so good." <<cap $bffheshe>> rubs $bffhisher cheeks with both hands in glee. "Soooo g-" <<cap $bffhisher>> eyes bulge out of $bffhisher head and $bffheshe lets out a \ <<if ($bffheshe is "he")>>\ shout \ <<else>>\ scream \ <</if>>\ with the last of $bffhisher breath. One minute Kosuke was cheering, the next Taio stands directly in front of $bffhimher, skin charred on one side of his face, his fist embedded into Kosuke's gut. Crimson chi rocks through the weakened enemy's fist and into your friend, blasting Kosuke twenty feet back into the stable. <<include "ch2-afterkos">>\

More than just the hair on your head, the hairs of your face have come in. The beard hasn't grown as much as your hair has but whether you let it grow out or trim it down, the time to shape it is now. <<var $page 1>>\ You decide to... <<choose "ch2-towel">> #Grow out a long beard. <<var $beardlength "long">>\ #Grow out a long beard and braid it. <<var $beardlength "long braided">>\ #Grow out a modest beard. <<var $beardlength "medium-length">>\ #Grow out a modest beard and braid it. <<var $beardlength "medium-length braided">>\ #Keep a short beard. <<var $beardlength "short">>\ #Trim it to a goatee. <<var $beardlength "goatee">>\ #show-if ($race is "Lunargoth") Trim it to a sharp goatee with twirled mustache. <<var $beardlength "devilish goatee">>\ #show-if ($race is "Oni") Trim it to just the mustache. <<var $beardlength "mustache">>\ #show-if ($race is "Human") Trim it to a fu manchu mustache. <<var $beardlength "fu manchu">>\ #Shave it clean. <<var $beardlength "">>\ <</choose>>\

<<if ($portraitpics is true)>>\ <<image "https://www.auraclash.com/assets/images/big-chu.jpg">>\ <</if>>\ As you open the door back out into the dojo you are blocked by a boulder of a man, an excessively large and fat Human. His stomach bumps into you and he looks down as if noticing you for the first time. "Ah, you must be <<cap $name>>. I am Big Chu. Master Mao has instructed me to train you \ <<if ($firstchapter is 1)>>\ only \ <<else>>\ if you survived your initiation trial, but only \ <</if>>\ to the point that you do not embarrass us." Only to the point that you don't 'embarrass' them? <<if ($honor lt 50)>>\ "How very Mao-like." You say with an eyeroll. "Let's get this started." Big Chu shrugs. "Indeed. We will begin in the library, follow me." <<else>>\ It doesn't matter. You'll use this to Advance your Cores and work from there. You bow respectfully, one hand forming a fist and the other overlapping it. "Thank you, Sensei Chu. I would be grateful for any instruction." <<var $churep +3>>\ Big Chu nods and turns. "Proper respect was not mentioned in your report. I find it refreshing. Follow me and we will begin your training in the library." <</if>>\ <<page "Continue" "ch2-trainingtalk">>\

lesson, student! To think you are the only one dictating what happens in a fight will only lead to defeat behind every corner." Big Chu points an accusing finger at you. "Be certain to not be trapped in your own perceptions! For every action you take, your enemies will have a reaction ready that you cannot predict." He's right of course. In every fight between equals your opponent will set the pace of the battle just as much as you will. But what is he suggesting you do about it? You cannot simply close all your weaknesses...but maybe there are Techniques that can? <<page "Continue" "ch2-chufighton">>\

<<if ($heshe is "he")>>\ As a man you've grown into your full physique that's most noticeably... <<choose "ch2-hair">> #Lean and agile, like a wolf. [Increase Athletics] <<var $page 1>>\ <<var $athletics + 1>>\ <<var $bodytype "Agile">>\ #Large and muscular, like a warrior. [Increase Survival] <<var $page 1>>\ <<var $survival + 1>>\ <<var $bodytype "Muscular">>\ #Defined and handsome, like a hero from the tales. [Increase Persuasion] <<var $page 1>>\ <<var $persuasion + 1>>\ <<var $bodytype "Handsome">>\ #Short and stocky, like a builder. [Increase Craft] <<var $page 1>>\ <<var $craft + 1>>\ <<var $bodytype "Manlet">>\ <<achieve "King of the Dwarves">>\ <</choose>>\ <<else>>\ As a woman you've grown into your full physique, most noticeably with... <<choose "ch2-hair">> #A runner's build with shapely legs. [Increase Athletics.] <<var $page 1>>\ <<var $athletics + 1>>\ <<var $bodytype "Legs">>\ #A lean and petite build. [Increase Stealth] <<var $page 1>>\ <<var $stealth + 1>>\ <<var $bodytype "Petite">>\ #An eye-catching hourglass figure. [Increase Persuasion] <<var $page 1>>\ <<var $persuasion + 1>>\ <<var $bodytype "Hourglass">>\ #More muscle than I ever expected! [Increase Craft] <<var $page 1>>\ <<var $craft + 1>>\ <<var $bodytype "Dommymommy">>\ #show-if ($subrace is "Bovine") The need for a bigger bra. A MUCH bigger bra. [Requires Female Bovine Yokai] [Increase Persuasion and Deception] <<var $page 1>>\ <<var $persuasion + 1>>\ <<var $deception + 1>>\ <<var $bodytype "Bodacious">>\ <</choose>>\ <</if>>\

<<choose "ch2-bosschoice2">> #Catch the blade. <<var $combatstat "fortitude">>\ <<var $combatstat2 "power">>\ <<combatcheck 5>>\ <<if ($passcheck is true)>>\ <<apboost 2>>\ You catch the blade with the expertise of a warrior trained. Because you are a Warrior and you have been trained. With a half-second's surprise, you get the chance to press your advantage in a counterattack. <<include "ch2-bosssplit1">>\ <<halt>>\ <<else>>\ You catch the blade with your chest instead of your \ <<if ($pblocktech is "")>>\ hands. \ <<else>>\ hands, only your $pblocktech stopping the mistake from injuring you. \ <</if>>\ A poor tactical move. Taio looks almost as surprised as you do. <<woundcheck 1 true false>>\ "No, <<cap $name>>! Your Acid Blood Technique is forbidden!" Kosuke shouts from the door. Taio hears that and jumps back, eyes wide, creating some room for your counterattack. \ <</if>>\ #Duck the attack. <<var $combatstat "agility">>\ <<combatcheck 3>>\ <<if ($passcheck is true)>>\ <<apboost 2>>\ With quick thinking you duck under the blade at a sharp angle and position yourself perfectly for a counterattack. <<include "ch2-bosssplit2">>\ <<halt>>\ <<else>>\ You crouch low, duck too slow, and take a sword slash to the back. The sharp pain screams through your shoulder blade, a bleeding slice forming up and down the upper right of your back. <<woundcheck 1 false false>>\ "No <<cap $name>>, your Acid Blood Technique is forbidden!" Kosuke shouts from the door. The cult leader hears that and jumps back, eyes wide, creating some room for your counterattack. \ <</if>>\ #Blind him with a wide chi blast. Big Chu taught you the basic of hostile chi blasts. The secret is to take your inner energy, cycle it through your spirit's core a few times, then use that momentum to launch it out of your body through your hands. But you have a better idea for how to wield such a power. Both sets of your fingers interlock to press your chi out of each arm at once. Rather than launching the most potent blast you can, you take the faster route and charge your inner spiritual energy to maximum intensity without a care for trajectory or heat. You don't need a strong blast that takes a while to charge, you need a //bright// blast that can charge instantly. <<var $combatstat "soul">>\ <<combatcheck 3>>\ <<if ($passcheck is true)>>\ <<apboost 2>>\ A new dawn rises through room in the form of your attack, casting a blinding sphere upon your enemies that would make the Sunbringer Sect seethe with envy. Taio covers his eyes from the blinding assault and flails his sword at your general direction. <<include "ch2-bosssplit3">>\ <<halt>>\ <<else>>\ The explosion in your hands //is// instant, but in your haste it's pointed the wrong way. Your own chi blast burns into your chest and shreds a good bit of your clothes. <<woundcheck 1 false true>>\ Taio covers his face to guard against your explosion but when he opens his eyes and sees your injuries he only grins. \ <<if ($heshe is "she")>>\ Actually, he grins quite a bit. A quick glance down makes you realize where the creepy old man is staring. OH HELLS, your shirt! Your face blushes bright red and the embarrassment fuels your next attack. <<apboost 2>>\ <<else>>\ "They were fools to send an amateur like y-"\ <</if>>\ <</if>>\ <</choose>>

<<choose "ch2-winningfight">> #Grab his midsection and suplex his head through the floor. <<if (($fortitude + $lore) gte 3)>>\ <<var $combatstat "fortitude">>\ <<else>>\ <<var $combatstat "power">>\ <</if>>\ <<var $combatskill "lore">>\ <<combatcheck 3>>\ <<if ($passcheck is true)>>\ <<apboost 2>>\ With immaculate form you wrap one arm around his waist and one around his arms. "What do you think you are you doing?!" He shouts, "Unhand me!" Wordlessly you lift him high overhead like a sack of grain you're about to launch behind you, but you keep your grip on his body and instead swing him in a full circle down into the wooden floorboards, face-first. His head takes the brunt of the impact and breaks through the floor with a deafening crash. His body tenses up but ceases movement, his limbs hanging loosely from his rigged but unmoving form, dangling like a willow tree. <<var $an "suplex">>\ <<else>>\ Grappling maneuvers are not your strong suit, a fact you remember just as you lift Taio off his feet. You raise the man too high, turning him completely upside down in your arms. When his feet reach the ceiling he grabs your shoulders and kicks off to collapse you into the ground where your head slams into the floor. Pain disorients your five senses as the world shifts out of focus and blinding lights flash through your vision. <<include "ch2-banditleadergloat">>\ <<halt>>\ <</if>>\ #Run hostile chi over your fingers and stab his pressure points. Each unpowered bandit only sees a cascade of flashing lights obscuring your movements as you run scorching chi over your index and middle fingers. <<var $combatstat "soul">>\ <<var $combatskill "thievery">>\ <<combatcheck 3>>\ <<if ($passcheck is true)>>\ <<apboost 2>>\ You knock Taio's arms wide open and unleash a dozen soul-shredding stabs into his spirit and flesh simultaneously. 'Master' Taio convulses on his feet with each strike hitting into his nerves and forcing the fight out of him. When you finish smoke rises from the puncture wounds and Taio's eyes have rolled into the back of his head. "Too easy." You say, pushing him over. He teeters on his feet, leans back ever so slowly, and falls to the ground without a word. <<else>>\ What they don't see is when you //burn the shit out of your own hands// by messing up the impromptu attack and screech out in pain. Taio presses that advantage by smacking you in the face with alternating hands then jumping off the nearby wall and using the leverage for a final full-force blow knocking you into the ground. <<include "ch2-banditleadergloat">>\ <<halt>>\ <</if>>\ #Deliver a combo of strong punches. -> "ch2-combobreaker" #show-if ($armed is true) Run him through with the blade. <<var $agiexp + 1>>\ <<var $powexp + 1>>\ "Your swordplay is weak!" You say to the 'Master' Taio with a swing at his midsection. He leaps back to evade the first strike. "As if you'd know better, fool! You can't even-" Your high kick to his jaw snaps his head back midsentence. His stance loses balance and you ready his own sword to strike. "Let me give you a tip." Then you pierce your new blade through his midsection so fiercely that it drives him back and pins him to the wall. The man looks down at his wound in shock, but you just look into his eyes and boast. "Don't talk when you're losing." He tries to say something, but all that comes out of his mouth is blood. <<var $an "sword">>\ <</choose>>

The closest table of brutes tries their luck first. Four men surround you and draw their knives. <<var $combatstat "power">>\ <<combatcheck 2>>\ Combat chi crudely courses through your spirit like blood through your veins. You catch two of them by the neck and slam their heads together just in time before the back two come in range with their blades. Your fist strikes one in the adam's apple before he can strike, and in the same motion your leg works as a counterweight to slam your full power into the face of the last attacker with a side kick. All four lie on the ground bleeding and acting as a frame for the rest of them to see a perfect view: you, a glowing Martial Artist, flanked on all sides by their defeated men. There is no second wave. The bandits pull back in hesitation and look to a larger chair in the back of the tavern's main hall, and their leader who sits upon it. <<page "Continue" "ch2-bossfight2">>\

<<if ($portraitpics is true)>>\ <<image "https://www.auraclash.com/assets/images/demonicleader.jpg">>\ <</if>>\ A bald man resembling a monk in his early 20s, this 'Master' Taio rises from his chair and dusts off his ceremonial robes. There's no smile or mockery in his face like you've grown used to from your opponents. He doesn't look down on you. He doesn't expect your submission. He expects a fight. "You have made a mistake this day, Martial Artist." The bald man says. "My operations are not to be interrupted." "Master Taio, I presume." You reply. "You're the one who's been interrupting Thunderfall's operations. This is your only chance to surrender." His men step back against the walls. A clear pathway forms for the two of you to fight. "Not a chance on your life, $boygirl." His top lip curls up with disgust. "My ambitions do not end here, they've only begun. I don't know who at Thunderfall had the gall to send you after me, but they'll regret it when I send you back in pieces. Especially after what you've done to my men." You look down on his bleeding bandits who attacked you first. First Jack and his father act like spoiled brats when you defend yourself and now this bandit gang does too. What do they put in the drinking water around here? "These bandits steal and enslave \ <<if ($ruthless gte 55)>>\ that which rightfully belongs to my Sect \ <</if>>\ with no remorse. They have not even begun receiving the beating they deserve. And as their leader..." You take on a battle stance and breathe calmly to cycle your inner chi. All that training has lead up to this. Prepared you for this. //Designed// you for this. A swirling haze of hot white steam surrounds your body. "You will take that punishment in their place." <div class="fightingfont">Thunderfaller vs Master Taio</div>\ Spiritual energy fuels your leg muscles and you kick off across the main hall like a loosed arrow. Taio staggers back two steps in surprise and draws a sword. <<include "ch2-bosschoice1">>\

<<choose "ch2-bosschoice2">> #Headbutt him. <<var $combatstat "power">>\ <<var $combatskill "survival">>\ <<combatcheck 3>>\ <<if ($passcheck is true)>>\ <<apboost 1>>\ Your forehead slams into the bridge of his nose much the same as a hammer slams into a piece of hot metal at a forge: loudly. Taio screams when your skull shatters his nasal system. He grabs his bleeding face with both hands and staggers back, giving you time to push your assault. \ <<else>>\ Your head crunches into his own but you would never call it a headbutt. A headbutt targets his weak nose with your strong skull. In your infinite wisdom and immaculate aim you've crashed your hard forehead into his hard forehead. Your head bounces off with the blinding light of a concussion. <<woundcheck 1 true false>>\ The two of you wobble on your feet, stunned. "Should we..." Says one of the bandits just as you recover first and make your next move before any of them get funny ideas. \ <</if>>\ #Steal the sword. <<var $combatstat "agility">>\ <<var $combatskill "thievery">>\ <<combatcheck 3>>\ <<if ($passcheck is true)>>\ <<apboost 1>>\ <<var $armed true>>\ You spin the sword out of his hands and deliver a wide slice across Taio's stomach. He jumps back to lessen the damage but finds your foot wrapped behind his heel, pulling him off balance and allowing a free slice at his thighs instead. His blade - no, //your// blade - slices cleanly across his legs and inflicts noticeable damage. "Gahhh!" He screams, grabbing both legs with both hands. He's on the defensive, now's your chance. \ <<else>>\ The sword spins over your hands similar to the showboating of a master swordsman. The difference is you are not a master swordsman, you are not doing this on purpose, and after a second of spinning the sword launches off into the distance. Both you and Taio look over at the unlucky bandit who just found out he's dead, staring down at the sword in his heart. Then you get back to your fight. \ <</if>>\ <</choose>>

<<choose "ch2-bosschoice2">> #Uppercut him. <<var $combatstat "power">>\ <<combatcheck 3>>\ <<if ($passcheck is true)>>\ <<apboost 1>>\ Your fist flies up with a twist and catches his chin from below in a perfect connection, knocking him off his feet and sending his blade flying. He's stunned and falling back to the floor which gives you room to... \ <<else>>\ Your fist surges up just past his face, nicking him on the chin enough that he jumps back but not hard enough to wound. He throws his sword at you but you expertly duck again and close the gap to... \ <</if>>\ #Chi-blast his groin at point-blank range. Big Chu taught you the basic of hostile chi blasts. The secret is take your inner energy, cycle it through your spirit's core a few times, then use that momentum to launch it out of your body through your hands. And that's exactly what you do. <<var $combatstat "soul">>\ <<combatcheck 3>>\ <<if ($passcheck is true)>>\ <<apboost 1>>\ Your scalding hostile chi launches out of your palm like a campfire fired out of a catapult. The blast collides into Taio's groin and you don't actually hear anything at all from his reaction. His mouth opens but nothing comes out. Miles away, dogs are barking. \ <<else>>\ To the both of you. Your chi-blast comes out more concussive and scalding and blows the two of you away from each other, crashing into tables and landing on your backs. <<woundcheck 1 false true>>\ You're surprised to see he gets up after you, but then remember you were merely blasted in the hands. His blastzone was center-mass. You close the gap as he shakily stands and... \ <</if>>\ <</choose>>

<<choose "ch2-bosschoice2">> #Kick his own sword into his chest. Taio's blind, wild swings are fast and unpredictable. They make it hard to close the gap and his vision is recovering soon enough. Luckily his sword is single-edged. You wait for him to swing to the left instead of the right, so the blade is facing himself at the cusp of his swinging arc. <<var $combatstat "power">>\ <<combatcheck 3>>\ <<if ($passcheck is true)>>\ <<apboost 1>>\ Then you kick the blade into his arm. "GYAAHHH!!" He screams as his own sword slices deep into his own bicep. His bloodshot eyes shoot open, forcing chi into them to force a recovery sooner. The fact that they're still bloodshot proves it's not a real healing Technique, just desperation, but your blast wasn't a real blinding Technique either. His eyes do restore to proper vision, but only just as you... \ <<else>>\ you kick the pommel by accident and send the damn sword flying into a nearby wall. So much for that plan. He reaches out to grab you but misses and you realize with luck that he's still partially blind. An advantage you intend to press. \ <</if>>\ #Sweep his leg. Taio's blind, wild swings are fast and unpredictable. A blur of desperate bladework swinging death in your general direction. You don't have time for it. You crouch low, place a palm on the ground for quick stability, and swing both legs //hard// against Taio's knees. <<var $combatstat "agility">>\ <<combatcheck 3>>\ <<if ($passcheck is true)>>\ <<apboost 1>>\ His knees give out and his body collapses mid-swing, sword falling and cutting his shoulder on its descent. You kick the blade away and press the advantage for your next attack. \ <<else>>\ He jumps just in time, having heard your palm slap against the ground, and swings down blindly in your general direction with all his might. "DIE, INTERLOPER!" Taio screams as his blade slices down your thigh. <<woundcheck 1 false false>>\ Pain racks through your body and you roll out of the way with such urgency that he has to jump again to avoid being tripped. You get up behind him, pain shooting through your bleeding leg when it supports your weight, but your conviction gives just enough time to... \ <</if>>\ <</choose>>

You dip to the side to avoid the axe. <<var $combatstat "agility">>\ <<combatcheck 3>>\ <<if ($passcheck is true)>>\ <<if ($agility lt 3)>>\ And you succeed, by pushing your Agility Core to the limit, \ <<else>>\ And you succeed, even without pushing your Agility Core to the limit, \ <</if>>\ ducking under the fast moving projectile that embeds into a wooden bench of the stands behind you. You close the gap between yourself and Big Chu fast and deliver a swift kick to his neck, but he blocks it and pushes you backward. "You have impressive speed, but \ <<else>>\ And fail, feeling the axe graze over your shoulder and leave a shallow but painful slice through your flesh. ''[1 Wounds Suffered]'' <<var $wounds + 1>>\ <<if ($woundbonus gt 0)>>\ ''[Battle Hardening: +$woundbonus Aura Pressure]'' <<var $aurapressure + $woundbonus>>\ <</if>>\ Big Chu closes the gap between you both but you counter with a swift kick to his neck. A counterattack he blocks easily and pushes you away. "We've seen your 'speed', \ <</if>>\ now witness the speed of Big Chu!" <<page "Continue" "ch2-chubattleagility2">>

Your large sensei blurs amber and green, then disappears from view. Dozens of Chu-sized swirls of amber and green shoot around the ring, but you can't discern which streams are just after-effects and which stream of colored aura is trailing just behind the real Big Chu. He's moving almost too fast to see. This must cost a lot of energy, so he can't be giving you too long to figure it out. His attack will come soon and you need to detect him in time before it does. <<var $combatstat "soul">>\ <<var $combatskill "insight">>\ <<combatcheck 3>>\ <<if ($passcheck is true)>>\ There! With a bend of the knees and all your might pushed into both hands, you manage to catch Big Chu's fist and let it shove you four feet back, sliding you across the ground while still standing instead of taking the hit directly. "Good, Good!" Big Chu shouts as he jumps back, "I see you've already caught onto the \ <<else>>\ But it's too fast. His fist impacts your gut and knocks the wind out of you, lifting you off your feet where he roundhouse kicks you to the side of the ring. The strike hits so hard that even your aura feels it. <<var $chispent + 1>>\ "Let that be a \ <</if>>\ <<include "ch2-bigchufight2">>\

With nerves of steel you charge directly at the axe flying towards you. Big Chu is expecting a counterattack from any angle that you could have after dodging. A radius around the arch of the axe. You doubt he's expecting you to not dodge at all. <<var $combatstat "fortitude">>\ <<combatcheck 3>>\ <<if ($passcheck is true)>>\ The axe bounces off your body that's been hardened into the strength of steel \ <<if ($fortitude < 3)>>\ by pushing your Fortitude Cores to the limit. <<else>>\ without even surging a Fortitude Core. <</if>>\ Big Chu's eyes register surprise when you keep charging through and throw a punch at his face. He dodges to the side but you've got him on the ropes. <<else>>\ OH ANCESTORS, WHAT A TERRIBLE IDEA! That's the thought going through your mind as Big Chu's axe cleaves into your shoulder. ''[1 Wounds Suffered]'' <<var $wounds + 1>>\ <<if ($woundbonus gt 0)>>\ ''[Battle Hardening: +$woundbonus Aura Pressure]'' <<var $aurapressure + $woundbonus>>\ <</if>>\ Pain nearly overtakes your body and you drop to the ground, bleeding. The crowd hushes to silence. Big Chu walks over to you. "Student? Uh...Student, you were supposed to dodge. I-" You kick at his ankle, destabilizing his stance, and flip up to deliver a punch with your one good arm. Paid had //nearly// overtaken you, not completely, and Big Chu fell for your feint. <</if>>\ <<page "Continue" "ch2-chubattlefortitude2">>

A swing to the jaw, a kick to the knee, a bite at the flailing fingers, your assault pushes Big Chu back in surprise. But he is no amateur. Your sensei, an upper disciple of the Thunderfall Sect, quickly recovers his resolve and responds in kind. He launches a rush of quick jabs and trip attempts back at you, maneuvering you around the ring to gain leverage. <<var $combatstat "agility">>\ <<combatcheck 3>>\ <<if ($passcheck is true)>>\ But you're quick enough to stay ahead of the beating. A parry here, a weave there, a jump to dodge a trip, a double-arm block to protect against a headbutt. You're launched backward across the ring with minimal damage inflicted and Big Chu nods in approval. "Good, Good!" He shouts, "I see you've already caught onto the \ <<else>>\ And you can't keep up. He toys with you between the trips, shoves, and slaps, but it adds up and you're disoriented before you realize it. Finally Big Chu spins, a miracle with his weight, and kicks you in the chest so hard that even your aura feels it. You fly across the training circle and land in the mud. <<var $chispent + 1>>\ "Hah!" Mocks Big Chu, "Let that be a \ <</if>>\ <<include "ch2-bigchufight2">>\

Catching the axe is one problem, but stopping the immense power behind it is another matter entirely. Big Chu's casual toss is as powerful as a student's mightiest throw. You'll have to be at peak mortal strength just to stop the attack. <<var $combatstat "power">>\ <<combatcheck 3>>\ <<if ($passcheck is true)>>\ And you \ <<if ($power lt 3)>>\ are, by pushing your Power Core to the limit. <<else>>\ are, even without pushing your Power Core to the limit. <</if>>\ All momentum of the battleaxe stops immediately when you grab its handle out of the air. A blast of wind blows your \ <<if ($hairlength is "bald")>>\ clothes against your body \ <<else>>\ hair back \ <</if>>\ from the force of the impact. Your hand tingles, \ <<else>>\ But you're not. The attack slices through the thin flesh between your fingers and pushes on with great force, cutting through the top of your shoulder too and sticking into a wooden bench in the stands behind you. The crowd erupts in cheer. The pain in your shoulder is maddening, but the pain in your hand is enraging. You march to the edge of the sparring ring and grab the axe. Pain may be wrecking your brain, \ <</if>>\ but you can't help but smile. Because now you have an axe. And Big Chu doesn't. <<page "Continue" "ch2-chubattlepower2">>

You charge in at your sensei with the bladed weapon. If it was safe enough for him to throw at you, it's safe enough for you to swing at him. "You dropped this, Sensei!" You shout with the axe held in both hands raised over your head. You swing down at Chu and- <<page "Continue" "ch2-chubattlepower3">>

Get gut-punched so hard that you gain an aerial view of the sparring ring. <<var $combatstat "fortitude">>\ <<combatcheck 3>>\ <<if ($passcheck is true)>>\ You manage not to throw up as you sail twenty feet into the air, hearing the crowd cheer at the amazing spectacle of an airborne \ <<if ($race is "Kitsune")>>\ Wolf Yokai, at least that's what you look like to them. No need to announce to a crowd that you're an illegal Kitsune. <<else>>\ $race. <</if>>\ Landing isn't as bad as taking off, since your feet and knees take the brunt of the blow instead of your insides. You shakily adopt a battle stance and Big Chu applauds slowly. "Good, Good!" He shouts, "I see you've already caught onto the \ <<else>>\ You throw up as you sail twenty feet into the air, raining vomit onto the arena in what is sadly the best attack you've performed yet. Big Chu grimaces at the acidic rain of rice pudding. <<var $chispent + 1>>\ The ground comes back to meet you and you're thankful it's a dirt arena. After crumbling to the ground you stand shakily and adopt a proper fighting stance again. Big Chu barks victoriously. "Let that be a \ <</if>>\ <<include "ch2-bigchufight2">>\

Seething white energy forms in your veins, channeling your own internal chi into weaponized power. You pull both hands together and force that energy outward, erupting a chi blast explosion the size of your \ <<if ($soul is 1)>>\ fist \ <<elseif ($soul is 2)>>\ head \ <<elseif ($soul gte 3)>>\ torso \ <</if>>\ when the axe comes within range. <<var $combatstat "soul">>\ <<combatcheck 3>>\ <<if ($passcheck is true)>>\ <<var $axethrow true>>\ <<if ($soul lt 3)>>\ You succeed, by pushing your Soul Core to the limit. <<else>>\ You succeed, even without pushing your Soul Core to the limit. <</if>>\ Even the forceful throw of Big Chu couldn't stop your full powered energy blast. The axe flies upward and the blinding light of your assault causes Big Chu to hold a hand over his face, giving you a shot at a counterattack. Or so you thought. When you get within range, Big Chu pulls his hand away and slaps you. "Fool, I could detect your spirit approaching!" He stomps at you with one mighty foot, kicking against your torso. <<else>>\ But the forceful throw of Big Chu is too much. His axe slices through your blast and cuts into your shoulder, gliding through with a grazing wound and disappearing over the crowd. ''[1 Wounds Suffered]'' <<var $wounds + 1>>\ <<if ($woundbonus gt 0)>>\ ''[Battle Hardening: +$woundbonus Aura Pressure]'' <<var $aurapressure + $woundbonus>>\ <</if>>\ Some random villagers jeer at you, "You thought that would stop the power of Big Chu?! Such arrogance!" Oh great, he has fans. "A foolish choice, student!" Shouts Big Chu as he advances across the sparring ring. "You should utilize your strengths, not your weaknesses! Like this!" He jumps at you with one mighty foot out and stomps horizontally against your chest. <</if>>\ <<page "Brace yourself!" "ch2-chubattlesoul2">>

You try to catch it with both arms- <<var $combatstat "power">>\ <<combatcheck 3>>\ <<if ($passcheck is true)>>\ And succeed, shoving his foot away. He swings a fist but you jump back. "Good, Good!" Big Chu shouts, "I see you've already caught onto the \ <<else>>\ And fail. His foot crashes into you and knocks you across the ring so hard that your aura flutters. <<var $chispent + 1>>\ "Let that be a \ <</if>>\ <<include "ch2-bigchufight2">>\

<div class="fightingfont">Thunderfaller vs Big Chu</div>\ <div class="fightingfont">Victory!</div>\ <<statcheck>>\ "People of Thunderfall Village!" Big Chu shouts to the crowd while shaking you like a prized trophy, "A new Warrior is born in the ring! The Thunderfall Sect recognizes <<cap $fullname>>!" The villagers explode into cheer, someone even throws a bouquet that hits you in the face. Victory. At last. But something tickles the back of your mind. A growing sensation of fatigue, like the concept of being tired instead of actually being tired. The more you notice it, the more your real fatigue grows. That thought is interrupted when Big Chu leaps over the crowd while still holding your wrist. You find yourself flying over the stands and the cheering crowd. Wind flutters fiercely against your clothes and hair. The sound of gusts crashing against your ears is interrupted only by Big Chu's booming voice. "Congratulations, <<cap $name>>! I knew I trained you well!" He cushions you with his other hand when you both land some sixty feet away, then puts you down. "You have completed every aspect of your training against my expectations and graduated into a proper disciple of the Thunderfall Sect. It's important to remember that one's personal training is never truly over, only delayed, but that's not your concern for today. For today..." He reaches into his gi and withdraws a notebook. "You should focus on rest, relaxation, and good eating!" ''[Item Gained: Big Chu's Cook Book]'' You stare at the scribbled notebook. It's written in chi like a Path Manual but the contents are nothing but recipes with specific herbal or Beast-meat ingredients. "Sensei, what is this?" "A graduation gift! A little something I've worked on through some, let's say," he pats his enormous stomach, "trial and error. Every Martial Artist must find their own cultivation methods in this world, and I learn better through food. Prepare the meals in there as instructed and you'll not regret it." <<choose "ch2-chucongrats2">> #"Thanks Sensei, for everything." <<var $honor + 1>>\ <<var $ruthless - 1>>\ A personal copy of Big Chu's handwritten recipes. Food's obviously important to him and you can tell this means a lot to the old man. "Thanks Sensei," you say with a warm smile, "for everything." <<var $churep + 5>>\ "Bah, don't go calling me sensei anymore!" He laughs, "I'm student-free and back to my life as an eligible bachelor! #"Oh great, now I'll get fat too. <<var $honor - 1>>\ "Oh great," you say with dripping sarcasm, "now I'll get fat too." <<var $churep - 3>>\ Big Chu slaps his belly merrily with one hand and claps you on the back with the other. "You should only be so lucky! Young disciples like yourselves need to put more meat on your bones or even the Beasts won't want you! <</choose>>\

Now head on home, you must be feeling the mental and spiritual strain after surging your Cores for the first time." <<if ($ruthless gte 55)>>\ "The only thing I feel is victory." You reply with pride. As if a true Martial Artist would ever admit fatigue. But yes, you're exhausted. "I see, ever the impassioned one. Good for you, but for \ <<else>>\ You most certainly do. "Is that what it is? My mind's been feeling...fuzzy since the fight. And heavy." "As expected, it will get easier with time. For \ <</if>>\ now I order you to go home and rest before the rush wears \ <<if ($jadedragonfoundation is true)>>\ off." He leans a little closer this time, more embarrassed than anything as he cups a hand around his mouth and whispers. "And thank you, my student, for going easy on me." <<else>>\ off. Don't worry about the crowd, there's nothing worse than sullying a victory by passing out in front of everyone." He stares off into the distance and shudders. "Trust me." <</if>>\ You nod through increasingly heavy eyelids. His words don't quite register, your mind is preoccupied with how comfortable the ground would be if you curled up and laid down right here. <<page "Go home and rest." "ch2-chuend">>

<<var $powspent 0>>\ <<var $forspent 0>>\ <<var $agispent 0>>\ <<var $solspent 0>>\ <<var $chispent 0>>\ <<var $wounds 0>>\ You cannot thank the Heavens hard enough when you get home that night and collapse into bed, free from witnesses. <<if ($jadedragonfoundation is true)>>\ <<include "ch2-chuendjdf">>\ <<else>>\ <<include "ch2-chuendnormie">>\ <</if>>\

The last year was more effort than you've ever put into anything, though your Jade Dragon Foundation made the last year of training easier than it should have been. You responded in kind by... <<choose "ch2-chuendnormie">> #Pushing myself to the absolute limit. [Increased Cheat Mode] ''[Aura Pressure +1200]'' <<var $aurapressure + 1200>>\ <<var $allocatedap + 1200>>\ ''[+3 to all Cores]'' <<var $power + 3>>\ <<var $fortitude + 3>>\ <<var $agility + 3>>\ <<var $soul + 3>>\ <<var $alchemy + 1>>\ <<var $athletics + 1>>\ <<var $craft + 1>>\ <<var $deception + 1>>\ <<var $handseals + 1>>\ <<var $insight + 1>>\ <<var $lore + 1>>\ <<var $perception + 1>>\ <<var $persuasion + 1>>\ <<var $stealth + 1>>\ <<var $survival + 1>>\ <<var $thievery + 1>>\ ''[+1 to All Skills]'' <<if ($thievery is 1)>>\ ''[Thievery 1: You can now consume Pills during combat.]'' <<elseif ($thievery is 2)>>\ ''[Thievery 2: You can now cast handseals during combat.]'' <<elseif ($thievery is 3)>>\ ''[Thievery 3: Commerce increased by +5.]'' <<var $commerce + 5>>\ <<elseif ($thievery is 4)>>\ ''[Thievery 4: You can now change equipment during combat.]'' <<elseif ($thievery is 5)>>\ ''[Thievery 5: You can now brew elixirs during combat]'' <</if>>\ #Finishing each day early to see my friends. -> "ch2-chuendmerge" Each day you finished up early, a secret you hid well from Big Chu, and hung out with some of your friends in town. Few friends could keep up with you so most of your time was spent with Kosuke and your twin siblings. It was great to have constant socializing and everyone seemed more energetic whenever you were playing with them, though you're not quite sure why. ''[Persuasion +1]'' <<var $persuasion + 1>>\ ''[Deception +1]'' <<var $deception + 1>>\ ''[Insight +1]'' <<var $insight + 1>>\ ''[Jin, Rin, and Kosuke's Combat Prowess Increased]'' <<var $kosukecombat + 3>>\ <<var $jincombat + 3>>\ <<var $rincombat + 3>>\ The only problem is your direly needed 'relaxation' wasn't actually relaxing at all, it's as if playing with them was just as draining as training with Big Chu. Not to mention that you didn't leave nearly enough time for sleep. Which brings you to now, your sweet, sweet victory. <<var $val 77>>\ <</choose>>\

Mental and physical exhaustion melt away at the promise of rest as you lay on your soft tatami mat for sleep. Something you needed far more than you received lately. The only thing keeping your mind intact was that you were able to spend \ <<if ($val is 77)>>\ extra \ <<else>>\ occasional \ <</if>>\ time over the last year with... <<choose "ch2-chuendmerge2">> #My family. Er, I mean my Clan. #show-if ($firstchapter is 1) My friend Kosuke. -> "ch2-kosuketrain" <<var $bffromance 0>>\ #show-if ($firstchapter is 2) My friend Kosuke. -> "ch2-kosukefirstchap" #show-if (($heshe neq $bffheshe) and ($firstchapter is 1)) My...more than friend, Kosuke. -> "ch2-kosuketrain" <<var $bffromance + 1>>\ #show-if (($heshe neq $bffheshe) and ($firstchapter is 2)) My...more than friend, Kosuke. -> "ch2-kosukefirstchap" <<var $bffromance + 1>>\ #"Rely on?" I rely on my training! <<var $ruthless + 3>>\ You're god damn right, and you know it. Mother didn't raise no weakling. ''[Aura Pressure +25]'' <<var $aurapressure + 25>>\ You're training in your living room alone one night, mere days after your easy defeat of Big Chu, sparring against a wooden training dummy that he lent you from the Thunderfall Sect armory. You swore to break the damn thing permanently but still had no luck, it's pulls chi from your strikes to repair cracks in the hardened wood. "Ahem." says a voice at your open doorway. You turn around to see someone you've been avoiding for quite some time. <<page "Hello, Jack." "ch2-jack">> <</choose>>\

It was still strange being the $patriarch of a Minor Clan but it didn't mean much to your everyday life, except you pay taxes now. That takes a few hours with Father to understand. He mostly laughs at you. Speaking of Father, he demands you divvy up the family's tasks now that you're $patriarch. He is a better $background than you as long as you aren't using your powers, so you have him keep his job as usual. Mother's bringing in some Shards with a few laundry jobs as well now that the twins are getting older. <<rand $val 22 32>>\ ''[Item Gained: $val Shards]'' <<var $shards + $val>>\ <<var $val 0>>\ That was an important point too. The Twins. As a Clan, even a minor one, it's bad form to only have one Martial Artist. An heir is needed. You don't have kids and you almost die on a monthly basis, so one of your siblings needs to be ready. In the end, you decide it's better to train... <<choose "ch2-jack">> #Rin, she's more feisty. After entire seasons of instruction and training, Rin forms her white blazing aura mere days after your match against Big Chu. It seems seeing you in action lit a fire under her ass or gave her some new revelation for what she was missing. You're proud of her and rightly tell her so. "Now THAT is an aura!" You shout with a smile. "I did it!" Rin shouts, jumping a little to close to the ceiling with joy, "I did it, I did it, I did it! Now I don't have to pay that hag anymore!" "Yes, now you're a proper Martia-uh? What hag?" Rin lands and fixes her ruffled clothing. "Hag Mable, you know, the old woman in the woods? I've been paying her to infuse my perfumes with chi, now I can finally do it myself." "Rin that...Doesn't do anything." "Well we'll see if that's true because now I can sense chi, duh. Besides if it really doesn't do anything then I'll just go visit her and take my Shards back." She cracks her knuckles, "With //force//!" ''[Your mentorship has unlocked Rin's aura.]'' <<var $rinaura true>>\ <<var $rincombat + 2>>\ <<if ($athletics gte 2)>>\ <<var $rincombat + 1>>\ <</if>>\ You've created a monster. She runs out of the garden and jumps the wall giggling but you have no time to address that, there's a knock at the front door. With an internal groan you answer it and see a face you've been avoiding for quite some time. <<page "Hello, Jack." "ch2-jack">> #Jin, he can have heirs with the $clan name. It takes entire seasons of instruction and training but finally Jin's white blazing aura forms cleaner than yours originally did, mere days after your match against Big Chu. It seems seeing you in action lit a fire under his ass or gave him some new revelation for what he was missing. ''[Your mentorship has unlocked Jin's aura.]'' <<var $jinaura true>>\ <<var $jincombat + 2>>\ <<if ($athletics gte 2)>>\ <<var $jincombat + 1>>\ <</if>>\ "Now THAT is an aura!" You say with pride. "Finally, the fletcher's boy will rue the day he crossed me!" Jin grabs a pile of fruit from the kitchen to celebrate and runs off to his room, talking about writing some sort of formal duel declaration. Whatever, you don't have time to address that. There's a knock at the door. You answer and see a face you've been avoiding for quite some time. <<page "Hello, Jack." "ch2-jack">> #use-if ($lore gte 2) Both of them. I've read plenty of sensei guides and they're always training multiple students. [Requires Lore 2] Choosing is for suckers. You decide to have it all. By pitting them against each other for sparring practice you help them grow together. By making them each copy different pages of the same Path Manual you write for them, you're able to help them memorize its contents and avoid writing a second copy yourself. Saving all this extra time helps all three of you and after multiple seasons of hard work they both emit a bright white aura like yours, mere days after your match against Big Chu. ''[Your mentorship has unlocked Jin's aura and Rin's aura.]'' <<if ($athletics gte 2)>>\ <<var $jincombat + 3>>\ <<var $rincombat + 3>>\ <<else>>\ <<var $jincombat + 2>>\ <<var $rincombat + 2>>\ <</if>>\ <<var $jinaura true>>\ <<var $rinaura true>>\ "I'm proud of you losers." You say after examining the pair. "Shut up, old $manwoman!" Rin shouts with an excited smile. "Yeah, we're in charge of the $clan Clan now!" Says Jin. "And we're turning this Clan into a makeup crafters!" Rin adds excitedly. "What?" Asks Jin, "No, we're forming a mercenary band!" "A mercenary band that sells makeup!" Rin shouts with a fist raised. Jin accepts and joins her in a unified chant of 'Makeup Mercenaries!' as they run out the back door and jump the garden wall together. Well, that demanding attitude was cuter when they were little. You'd hope they'd grown out of it by now. \ <<var $val ($age - 2)>>\ They're $val years old and it's unfortunately time to show them that you //won't// be handing over the Clan. And you can show them by introducing their faces to the floor before they get away. You crack your knuckles and- <<var $val 0>>\ Hear a knock at the door. Damn it all. You leave the twins and answer the door where you see a face you've been avoiding for quite some time. <<page "Hello, Jack." "ch2-jack">> <</choose>>\

Both your body and spirit have advanced past the peak of mortal limits, and you've finally been accepted as a full disciple, but all this "prosperity" nearly came at the cost of your sanity. Some weeks you put in 60 hours of aching effort only to walk away with an infected wound and \ <<if ($jadedragonfoundation is true)>>\ a meager 20 or 30 Aura Pressure. Big Chu says it was incredible growth, but to you it was infuriatingly sluggish. <<else>>\ 2 or 3 more Aura Pressure. It almost didn't seem worth it. <</if>>\ But it's over now. <<include "ch2-chuendmerge">>\

<div class="fightingfont">Thunderfaller vs Big Chu</div>\ <<statcheck>>\ Big Chu's body suddenly blazes with amber power and the crowd goes wild. Yet even through their cheers you can hear his booming voice clearly. "Now that the warm-up is over, we shall push you to your limits! I've readied myself and will no longer hold back, only your best will even affect me. So show me your best!" Oh you'll show him your best alright. With all your focus of will you pull the chi from your Combat Cores and suffuse it into your body and spirit. Then you launch your grand assault. <<include "ch2-chufinale">>\

<<choose "ch2-chutestfinale">> #use-if ($power gt $powspent) Hit Chu with a full-power flying doublekick. <<var $page 1>>\ #use-if ($fortitude gt $forspent) Harden your skull with chi and charge in for a headbutt. <<var $page 2>>\ #use-if ($agility gt $agispent) Execute a combo of precise strikes. <<var $page 3>>\ #use-if ($soul gt $solspent) Unleash a relentless volley of energy blasts. <<var $page 4>>\ <</choose>>\

Then he grabs your wrist and yanks it into the air, lifting you off your feet. <<page "Continue" "ch2-chucongrats">>

"Not good enough!" Big Chu shouts, knocking you backwards across the sparring ring with his giant fist. It's a superficial blow but you feel the amber chi of his attack rip away your energy. <<if ((($chipool + ($soul / 2)) - $chispent) gte 1)>>\ ''[Chi Point Lost]'' <<var $chispent + 1>>\ <<else>>\ ''[Chi Pool Depleted]'' <<aploss 1>>\ <</if>>\ You catch your breathing as he addresses the crowd and urges them to chant with him, "Not good enough! Not good enough!" //We'll see about that//, you think as you prepare another attack. <<include "ch2-chufinale">>\

<<if ($page is 1)>>\ With all the might of your Power Cores focused into your legs you launch at Big Chu and flip to send a devastating kick into his midsection. When you get close enough you see him shake his head in disappointment and reel back a fist. <<var $combatstat "power">>\ <<combatcheck 4>>\ <<if ($passcheck is true)>>\ "Not good enough!" You shout, launching yourself forward with the force of your chi. The unnatural surge in speed catches Big Chu off-guard. Not just because you're moving faster, but because the burst of energy changed your trajectory. Both your empowered legs crash feet-first into Big Chu's face and bowl him over, crashing him against the wooden single-panel fence marking the edge of the dueling ring. He catches himself and turns back around only in time to receive a roundhouse kick to the face after you've landed. The spin finishes him off, knocking the unbalanced mentor to the ground. You try to climb on top of him but feel your legs give out. By reflex you stiffen your knees so you don't collapse, and feel your heart tighten when the arena is filled with the amber glow of Big Chu's growing aura. He stands slowly and your spirit screams a warning of danger, but he holds up a hand for peace. <<include "ch2-chuover">>\ <<else>>\ <<var $powspent + 1>>\ ''[Power Chi Spent]'' <<include "ch2-churetry">>\ <</if>>\ <<elseif ($page is 2)>>\ <<var $combatstat "fortitude">>\ <<combatcheck 4>>\ <<if ($passcheck is true)>>\ Dirt kicks up behind you as you sprint at your sensei. He shakes his head in disappointment at your head-on assault. "You will never break my guard, fool! You should analyze your opponent bett-" His hands shoot to his face to block the dirt you throw at his face, and that's when you leep over him, lifting your legs from behind so you're upside down over your sensei. You grab his face from behind when your arch brings you just over the back of his head. And you //''pull''//. The immovable object meets not an unstoppable force, but another immovable object. Both of your chi-hardened skulls collide as you yank his face backwards and put him off-balance, crashing the top arch of your forehead into the soft top of his skull. Neither of your skeletons relent, but your brains sure do. Chu falls backwards and you go with him, crashing into the dirt. You quickly rise to your feet, disoriented. The world is spinning. You look around at the cheering crowd wondering which of them is Big Chu. Are they all Big Chu? Are //you// Big Chu? If you are Big Chu, you're supposed to be training $fullname. You should make sure he's not concussed. Wait no, no, //you// are $fullname. And you //are// concussed. The real Big Chu rises suddenly with the amber glow of his potent aura. Your mind screams of danger, but Chu holds up a hand for peace. <<include "ch2-chuover">>\ <<else>>\ ''[Fortitude Chi Spent]'' <<var $forspent + 1>>\ You harden your skull with all the chi you can muster from your Fortitude Cores and rush at him in a frontal assault. <<include "ch2-churetry">>\ <</if>>\ <<elseif ($page is 3)>>\ <<var $combatstat "agility">>\ <<combatcheck 4>>\ <<if ($passcheck is true)>>\ <<var $chusuccess true>>\ The chi stored in your Agility Cores drains from your spirit and surges into your physical form, enhancing your movement to truly supernatural levels. Your heart beats at eight times the normal rate. With a rush and a scream, you charge at Big Chu and slam your foot against his knee at an angle, trying to break it, but it only trips the large man. Before the angle of his fall is even decided you've already jabbed him in the neck twice, elbowed his wrist to deflect a counterattack, and kneed the back of his head to force him back up before he has the chance to finish his fall. His face transforms from a calm mentor to a scowling opponent just as you combine both your hands together, leaping into the air and smashing them down onto his face to rocket him into the dirt of the ring. Big Chu hits the ground face-first with an audible boom. You turn to the crowd with panting breaths expecting a roar of applause but stop when you realize there's an intense amber glow coming from behind you. You turn around in time to see Big Chu rising, eyes glowing. Your spirit screams a warning but he only holds a hand up for peace. <<include "ch2-chuover">>\ <<else>>\ ''[Agility Chi Spent]'' <<var $agispent + 1>>\ You rush in for a trip but he twists his knee in time. You swing for a jab but he guards his jaw. A kick to the ribs has no effect through his fat, and a double-handed downward swing at his head misses when he weaves to the side. <<include "ch2-churetry">>\ <</if>>\ <<elseif ($page is 4)>>\ <<cap $auracolor>> chi flows from your Soul Cores into your arms. They glow hot with the surging force of your \ <<if ($soul gte 3)>>\ potent \ <<var $solexp + 3>>\ <</if>>\ spirit and you aim them both up at Big Chu, holding them close together to act as a cannon of energy. "If you want my best attack, Sensei, then have it!" You unleash a stream of scalding white energy blasts, an extension of your spirit formed into hostile energy. The blasts explode when they crash into Big Chu in a constant stream, forming a cloud of smoke and debris. <<var $combatstat "soul">>\ <<combatcheck 4>>\ <<if ($passcheck is true)>>\ <<var $chusuccess true>>\ Through your superior senses you can feel Big Chu approaching you through the debris cloud. He probably thinks it will unease you to see your attacks aren't hurting him but you're unphased, you planned for this. A quick duck dodges Chu's punch as you continue your volley of energy blasts, then you leap backwards and shoot the ground under him. Just as expected, Big Chu detects your intent and leaps high over the hole you blasted in front of him. He comes to crash in on you from the sky like a meteor. Just as planned. <<page "Continue" "ch2-chutestfinale2">>\ <<else>>\ ''[Soul Chi Spent]'' <<var $solspent + 1>>\ You keep up your assault until you see Big Chu's hand reach out of the smokecloud. More accurately, you see his hand curled into a fist. <<include "ch2-churetry">>\ <</if>>\ <</if>>\

All your attacks so far had only been half your power: the blasts sent from your left hand. With your right hand you've been building up a single layered and powerful energy blast. Now that Big Chu is airborne and unable to dodge, you unleash that massive blast held in your hand. Not as a projectile, but as an explosion attached to your fist as you reel back and meet Chu's surprised face. Your blast-containing punch detonates in close range and knocks the two of you to opposite sides of the sparring ring. It takes longer than you wanted to admit to focus after that, and your right arm won't stop buzzing, but Big Chu is one the ground, face-first, and still breathing. By all accounts this is a massive win. You turn to the audience and expect a cheering crowd but instead feel a warning of danger from your spiritual senses. The sparring ring erupts in amber light and Big Chu is suddenly standing in front of you, eyes blazing with amber energy. You try take one step back. <<include "ch2-chuover">>\

<<var $combatstat "agility">>\ <<var $combatstat2 "power">>\ <<combatcheck 3>>\ <<if ($passcheck is true)>>\ <<apboost 1>>\ You slam your fist into Taio's gut to knock the man off-balance. He deflects it but takes a hard hit to the hip. <<var $combatstat "agility">>\ <<var $combatstat2 "power">>\ <<combatcheck 4>>\ <<if ($passcheck is true)>>\ <<apboost 1>>\ Taio protects his face from your next swing only to take your follow-up hook to the left cheek. The impact knocks him two steps to the side and he tries to turn around before you can follow through. <<var $combatstat "agility">>\ <<var $combatstat2 "power">>\ <<combatcheck 5>>\ <<if ($passcheck is true)>>\ <<apboost 2>>\ He fails. Your last punch lands a haymaker with your full weight behind it. He takes the punch right to the nose and drops to the ground where he quickly develops two black eyes. <<page "Continue" "ch2-winningfight">>\ <<else>>\ He succeeds and dodges your haymaker with a cross-punch, catching you directly in the nose and giving you two black eyes. <<include "ch2-banditleadergloat">>\ <</if>>\ <<else>>\ Taio protects his face from your next swing and blocks your follow up hook, catching both your hands at once and headbutting you in the face. Your nose crunches as he gives you two black eyes at once. <<include "ch2-banditleadergloat">>\ <</if>>\ <<else>>\ He blocks your very first punch and you begin to think the Martial Arts might not be for you. "The Martial Arts are not for you." He confirms, punching you in the face repeatedly until you fall to the ground with two black eyes. <<include "ch2-banditleadergloat">>\ <</if>>\

After a full year of training Big Chu summons you to the sparring ring in town to face a disciple and prove your worth. There's a crowd huddling around the sparring ring when you arrive but you muscle through and enter, where Big Chu is waiting in the center to mediate. He sees you and flares his nostrils. "My diligent student arrives!" He speaks merrily as if giving a toast, "$fullname, you have completed my training. Rejoice!" He raises his hands to the heavens and the crowd applauds, but he quickly lowers his arms and they stop. "And prepare yourself. Your final lesson is one that can only be learned in real Martial Arts combat. All will see how well you can surge your Cores when pushed beyond your limits-" That sounds good. "-and to do that you will face none other than me, Big Chu!" That sounds bad. The crowd erupts in cheer. By the ancestors, did someone from the crowd just toss him an axe? Who the Hells would toss him an axe?! <<if ($perception gte 1)>>\ ''[Perception Check Passed]'' <<apboost $perception>>\ <<if ($honor gte 50) and ($ruthless gte 51)>>\ You make a mental note to pummel your siblings later \ <<elseif ($honor lt 50) and ($ruthless gte 51)>>\ "TWINS, YOU'RE DEAD!" You shout at your siblings, \ <<else>>\ Of course it's them, you think to yourself, \ <</if>>\ seeing the twins both cheering for Big Chu after they lobbed his giant axe into the ring. <<else>>\ ''[Perception Check Failed]'' <</if>>\ Chu hefts the giant weapon over his shoulder and motions for silence. The crowd dulls to a murmur. "I'm not much of a speaker, <<cap $name>>. I eat and I fight. Your training took up much of my time that could have been spent on both, how will you prove it was not wasted?" <<choose "ch2-continuechu2">> #"With victory, sensei!" "With victory, sensei!" \ <<var $honor + 1>>\ #"By bringing glory to the Thunderfall Sect!" "By bringing glory to the Thunderfall Sect!" \ <<var $honor + 2>>\ <<var $ruthless - 1>>\ #"By beating the weight off you, old man." "By beating the weight off you, old man." \ <<var $honor - 2>>\ #"By destroying my sensei in front of this entire crowd!" "By destroying my sensei in front of this entire crowd!" \ <<var $ruthless + 2>>\ <</choose>>\

You shout triumphantly. <div class="fightingfont">Thunderfaller vs Big Chu</div>\ <<statcheck>>\ The crowd cheers at your bravado and Big Chu nods with a savage smile. "Good, good!" He lifts his giant axe into the air with one hand. "Let us see if your fists can defend the power of your words!" He throws the axe at you. <<choose "ch2-chubattlepower">> #Catch it. #Ignore the axe and charge Big Chu. -> "ch2-chubattlefortitude" #Dodge! -> "ch2-chubattleagility" #Blast it out of the sky -> "ch2-chubattlesoul" <</choose>>\

<<if ($portraitpics is true)>>\ <<image "https://www.auraclash.com/assets/images/gothgf.jpg">>\ <</if>>\ The intense violet and golden light comes off a bored and insulted looking Lunargoth woman in dark robes, her pale face accentuated with pale makeup and her lips coated in purple as she stands in the doorway with arms crossed. "Took you long enough." Another woman in purple combat gi, dark shoulder-length hair, and glasses runs up from behind her with arms outstretched as if presenting. "Behold, Sunbringers, a mistress of power worthy of your alliance!" Behind them both sit dozens of peasants chained to the walls looking terrified and confused. "We're not Sunbringers!" Kosuke shouts, covering $bffhisher eyes with \ <<if ($kosukeinjured is true)>>\ $bffhisher one good hand \ <<else>>\ both hands \ <</if>>\ and grimacing. "Put the light show away!" "You're not Sunbringers...?" Both women ask. The shining one reverts to an exaggerated pout and drops her aura. "Well then where are the Sunbringers?" "Hell, hopefully." You and Kosuke reply simultaneously. "Then who are you two?" "Who are YOU?" You counter in exasperation. "We belong here, we're from the Thunderfall Sect," you point at the farmers behind her, "they're the hostages," you point behind you, \ <<if ($explosives is 2)>>\ "and they just got executed \ <<else>>\ "and they're under arrest \ <</if>>\ for taking hostages. Everyone involved is supposed to be here but you." The girl's head arcs back as if she's been slapped. Another 'hostage' runs up behind her, a younger man also in purple gi and glasses looking just as offended as the others. "Why, this is Lady Desdemona of the Midnight Swamps, the most skilled Kiihakai practitioner to grace this year's Heavenly Ascension Trials!" "You should be bowing before her!" Shouts the young woman who presented Desdemona in the first place. Desdemona cuts them off with a wave of her hand and looks to you. "Hold on. There's been a misunderstanding here. Thunderfallers, you should go while you can. This is Sunbringer territory-" "No it isn't." Kosuke interrupts. "I can assure you it is, we've been monitoring the Sunbringer troops rounding up these rebelling slaves to draft for the Trials. Myself and my apprentices infiltrated the draftees with our cunning plan to impress whatever talent judges the Sunbringers are to send." She holds another hand up, to you this time. "And before things get violent, know that we only intend to infiltrate your rivals long enough to run off with their secretive handseal rituals, so long as you don't get in our way." "I don't care about that," You say plainly, "What I care about is that this isn't Sunbringer territory, it's Thunderfall territory, and those aren't rebelling slaves, they're free Thunderfall men and women that the Sunbringers tried to abduct." "What? No, that can't be right. We passed through the western pass right in the..." Desdemona snaps her fingers and the woman in purple combat gi pulls out a map. All three of them stare at it intensely and you notice manacles around their wrists with loops of chains dangling off them, the ends burnt through. They really did get captured on purpose. <<if ($perception gte 1)>>\ ''[Perception 1 Check Passed]'' <<apboost 2>>\ You notice something else too, \ <<else>>\ Kosuke must have noticed something else, \ <</if>>\ stepping forward and grabbing the map out of her hands. "Wha-Don't you dare put your filthy hands on my-!" Desdemona starts in protest, until \ <<if ($perception gte 1)>>\ you turn \ <<else>>\ Kosuke turns \ <</if>>\ the map upside down and \ <<if ($perception gte 1)>>\ place \ <<else>>\ places \ <</if>>\ it back into her outstretched hands. Her anger dissipates to worry, then realization as she stares at the map. "Oh no..." Desdemona whispers to herself, eyes darting back and forth. She squints, pulls the map closer to her face, and squints harder. "No..." She says a little louder, looking up at the mountains around the valley, then back down to the map she's been reading upside down. "No! No! No! No! No!" She looks around nervously to get her bearings and suddenly bursts into full sprint towards the northern road with one arm holding her robe closed. "I-I forbid you from telling anyone about this!" Unfortunately for her, she's racing down the wrong road again. The Sunbringers are to the east. You look to her two stunned followers as they watch their leader run off in panic. <<choose "ch2-dessygone">> #"She wants that road." [Point East] <<var $ruthless - 3>>\ <<var $honor + 1>>\ You look to Desdemona's followers in purple gi with pity as their leader takes the wrong road again. "She wants that road." You jab a thumb towards the eastern road instead. They each sigh in unison. "Thank you young \ <<if ($heshe is "he")>>\ master, \ <<else>>\ mistress, \ <</if>>\ we'll go tell her." And they sprint off after their leader. <<var $descombat + 1>>\ <<var $desrep + 3>>\ #"Have a safe trip." [Let them get lost] <<var $ruthless + 1>>\ <<var $descombat - 1>>\ They both wave and thank you as they run after Desdemona. Neither catches on that they're going the wrong way. Whatever ritual they hoped to learn from the Sunbringers, they're not learning it anytime soon. #"That will be a 10 Shard toll." [Rob them] <<var $honor - 2>>\ <<var $desrep - 3>>\ <<var $descombat - 1>>\ "That will be a 10 Shard toll." You say to the man. "Each." Adds Kosuke. The young man in purple reaches for his beltpouch, seeming to not even notice he's being robbed. "Ancestors, this economy!" He groans while handing over 30 Shards. The young woman in matching purple gi beside him shakes her head in astonishment and the two take off after Desdemona, going down the wrong road. Whatever ritual they hoped to learn from the Sunbringers, they're not learning it anytime soon. ''[Item Gained: 30 Shards]'' <<var $shards + 30>>\ <</choose>>

<<if $explosives gte 2>>\ <<page "Continue" "ch2-usedbombs">>\ <<else>>\ <<page "Continue" "ch2-freehostages">>\ <</if>>\

Footsteps approach and you turn to see Kosuke \ <<if ($kosukeinjured is true)>>\ with $bffhisher right arm hanging limply to $bffhisher side. <<cap $bffhisher>> face is marred with \ <<else>>\ grinning with \ <</if>>\ a bleeding cheek that extends up to a gnarly black eye swollen shut. It looks like $bffheshe crashed into something metal in the stable face-first. "Mission accomplished?" <<cap $bffheshe>> \ <<if ($kosukeinjured is true)>>\ asks wearily. <<else>>\ asks. <</if>>\ "Mission accomplished." You say, rising to your knees and then to your feet with an exaggerated grunt. <<if ($bffhimher is "him")>>\ "Eh, you sound like a forty year old, grunting while standing, but...I couldn't agree more. \ <<else>>\ "Oh Ancestors I couldn't agree more with that grunt. \ <</if>>\ My everything hurts too." Kosuke says. "Let's visit the healer's hut when we get back. Thunderfall Disciples get in for free right?" "Yeah but you don't." You reply while the two walk over to the barn. Kosuke shrugs. "Steal me an extra gi and I'll slip out the window after the old ladies wrap me up." "They're not going to fall for that a fourth time." "That's what you said about the //third// time." The two of you finally reach the barn doors and take a steadying breath. Your body aches from your own Advancement more than the fight, but at least it's all over now. With a sturdy grip you open the barn doors only to see a clash of violet and golden light emanate from inside. An aura. "Oh come on!" Kosuke groans out loud through the flashing light. <<page "Continue" "ch2-dessy">>\

It's over. You've won. <<page "Continue" "ch2-fightend2">>\

<div class="fightingfont">Thunderfaller vs Master Taio</div> <div class="fightingfont">Victory!</div>\ <<fightexp 10>>\ Exhaustion hits you like an avalanche. Your body collapses to the ground with the exception of a single fist raised in the air in victory. "I did it..." You say to yourself in exhausted glee, chest shaking from pained laughter. "I'm a Martial Artist." Yet the eerie crimson glow from Taio's body does not fully dissipate, even though his own aura has shattered from your fight. Curiosity and caution drag you to his unconscious form on the ground where you realize the luminescence is coming from that odd leather Path Manual of his, the one with a screaming human face on the front. Its glow resonates emotions in your spirit, concepts that you feel in the back of your mind just from the sight of the tome. Barters. Promises. Tribute. <<var $tomeuse 0>>\ It calls to you, offering power... <<choose "ch2-dessyprep">> #Pocket it for now, to trade to the Thunderfall Sect for a common but less risky item. <<var $tomeuse 1>>\ This Path Manual is obviously haunted, cursed, demonic, or otherwise just a bad idea. A perfect gift for the other Thunderfallers to deal with. "Haunt or curse me and I'm throwing you into a fire." You say to the face on the cover of the eerily glowing Path Manual, just for good measure. A trick of the light convinces you that it frowns at that as you jam it into your satchel. <<page "Continue" "ch2-dessyprep">>\ #Siphon what power you can from the strange Path Manual. -> "ch2-siphonmanual" #Destroy the eerie Path Manual. <<var $tomeuse 3>>\ Wow, a haunted Path Manual. You could not imagine a more stupid decision than letting this thing continue to exist. "Begone." Is all you say to the cursed object as you hold up one hand glowing with hostile chi and punch down on the tome with all your remaining strength. <<var $powexp + 2>>\ <<var $solexp + 2>>\ A trick of the light makes you think the face on the cover looks afraid just before your fist smashes through it. Of course it does, you think to yourself, it's a haunted Path Manual. ''[Special Event: Having Common Sense]'' <<if ($lore gte 2)>>\ <<if ($insight gte 2)>>\ ''[Survival +1]'' <<var $survival + 1>>\ <<else>>\ ''[Insight +1]'' <<var $insight + 1>>\ <</if>>\ <<else>>\ ''[Lore +1]'' <<var $lore + 1>>\ <</if>>\ <<page "Continue" "ch2-dessyprep">>\ <</choose>>

The next twenty minutes go by seamlessly as you free the hostages. "Oh thank you, thank you, and thank you again!" Shouts the last farmer as you free him from his manacles. "I'm going to name my first \ <<if ($heshe is "he")>>\ great-grandson \ <<else>>\ great-granddaughter \ <</if>>\ after you, regardless of what my grandson wants!" He's the last of the abducted farmhands and families to be freed, with over 60 in total crammed into the barn like cattle. They all stand outside now as if waiting for your edict while this particularly old farmer hugs you a little too long. You \ <<if ($ruthless lte 52)>>\ gently \ <</if>>\ push him away and step out to address the crowd. "I am $fullname of the $clan Clan and on behalf of the Thunderfall Sect you can all return to your homes effective immediately, the Sunbringer issue has been dealt with from the top \ <<if ($explosives is 2)>>\ to the bottom." They all glance over to the burning remains of the exploded tavern and nod their heads in agreement. \ <<else>>\ level. Their master is in my custody."\ <</if>>\ "But what will you do with the others?" Asks one of the children in the back. "The scary men that took us from our homes?" An excellent question. \ <<if ($underlings gte 1)>>\ You turn to the bandit you've personally taken as a personal captive. \ <<if ($capturedbandits is 0)>>\ As he's the last survivor of the entire lot you've only got one bandit hostage to deal with, besides their leader that you intend to turn in. You grab him by the neck and he jumps in fright. "I have taken a single bandit hostage and killed the rest. Let this be a lesson to our enemies!" The older farmers cheer in riotous applause, a boisterous hurrah that continues down the road as they all return to their homes to drink to your health and hopefully take a bath. ''[Prestige Increased]'' <<var $prestige + 1>>\ <<page "Continue" "ch2-missionsuccess">>\ <<else>>\ "Round up the other bandits with Kosuke, and remember what happens if you disobey me." "You heard $himher, slave!" Kosuke boasts, \ <<if ($kosukeinjured is false)>>\ cracking $bffhisher knuckles. \ <<else>>\ with forced malice through $bffhisher broken arm. \ <</if>>\ "You're on Kosuke time now, so until <<cap $name>> sees $hisher pile of bandits packed neatly in a row, you're my bitch." Your underling shivers in fear and nods, leaving with Kosuke to round up the others. The farmers refuse to leave in the meantime, \ <<if ($explosives is 2)>>\ staying in the warmth of the burning tavern while \ <</if>>\ waiting to see the judgment of their captors. \ <</if>>\ <<else>>\ You turn to Kosuke. "Gather the bandits here, I'll go get their boss." Kosuke's eyes deliver more sass than you're willing to deal with right now. "Fine, //please// gather the bandits here." A smile stretches across Kosuke's mouth in response. "You got it boss!" <</if>>\ It doesn't take long. With how your luck is going you expected Taio to have recovered and escaped, but his unconscious body still rests where you left it. Shortly after dragging him to the tavern lawn and punching him in the face again (just to be sure) Kosuke arrives with all $capturedbandits bandits and a pile of rope. Volunteers from the farmers take joy in binding the bandits hands and feet in the safety of your presence. None of your prisoners try anything after seeing their empowered leader bleeding on the ground. <<var $freepirates false>>\ <<choose "ch2-packup">> #Bring them to town to face justice. <<var $honor + 5>>\ "Listen up, all of you." You announce to the bandits bound before you. "Yeah, and //bow// like the prisoners you are!" Adds Kosuke, getting into character. <<cap $bffheshe>>'s reminding you of when the two of you would play Good Guard - Bad Guard to get Jin or Rin to confess to something. Unfortunately you're in no mood to be the good guard. "The hostages you captured are wards of the Thunderfall Sect, which means you've all transgressed against Thunderfall Village. Each of you will march with me back to town where the Sect and the Magistrate will decide your fate. Anyone caught fleeing will increase their chance of getting a death sentence when they're dragged in for sentencing, and you //will// be dragged. Do I make myself clear?" A few of them mumble half-hearted agreement. Kosuke throws an apple at one and nails him right in the forehead. "Answer your betters with enthusiasm, maggots!" "Crystal clear!" Shout a few of the now-frightened bandits with enthusiasm. Kosuke corrals them into a circle and binds their hands to each other while you help the farmers get back to their homes in peace where they all chatter about sharing a drink and hopefully taking a bath. Each thanks you in cheer and expresses their gratitude that the Sect is looking out for them, many offer you a share of their crops, and more than a few offer you their \ <<if ($heshe is "he")>>\ daughter. <<else>>\ son. <</if>>\ Life is good for the Warrior Caste. <<var $banditchoice "Justice">>\ <<var $sect_thunderfall + 10>>\ #show-if ($hustle is true) Recruit them as farmhands and guards. -> "ch2-persuadebandits" #show-if ($hustle is false) use-if ($persuasion gte 1) Recruit them as farmhands and guards. [Requires Persuasion] -> "ch2-persuadebandits" #show-if ($hustle is true) Pressgang them into raiding Sunbringer territories. -> "ch2-pressgangbandits" <<var $freepirates true>>\ #show-if ($hustle is false) use-if ($deception gte 1) Pressgang them into raiding Sunbringer territories. [Requires Deception] -> "ch2-pressgangbandits" #use-if ($taint gt 10) Sacrifice them all according to the eerie Path Manual's instructions. [Requires Corruption] -> "ch2-masssacrifice" #Let them go. <<var $honor + 2>>\ <<var $freepirates true>>\ <<var $ruthless - 2>>\ "You're free to go." "What?" Says Kosuke. "What?" Demands the farmers. "What?" Asks the bandits. "I said you're free to go. You were hired for a job, you failed, and now you're free to go. The leader here is my target, the rest of you are just a tool he used. Get out of here." One farmer finds more courage than most. "You can't do this, they meant to ruin my life! I will..." His courage fades from the look you're giving him. He shuffles back into the crowd without a word. You expected a gentle elbow from Kosuke and for $bffhimher to want to know what got into you, but when you look over $bffheshe is instead filling a burlap sack with apples. That was quick. The bandits slowly get to their feet, eye the farmers, and both parties slowly separate at the road. You hope to never hear from either side again. <<var $banditchoice "Freedom">>\ <</choose>>

<<var $underlings - 1>>\ <<var $ruthless - 4>>\ "Really?" Asks Kosuke and your \ <<if ($underlings gte 2)>>\ prisoners \ <<else>>\ prisoner \ <</if>>\ simultaneously. <<if ($honor gte 50)>>\ "Yes, I have no use for you. Remember that you served a master who overstepped his bounds, and do not repeat that mistake again." <<var $honor + 2>>\ <<else>>\ "Yep." You cut the ropes binding his hands together without ceremony. "Now piss off." <</if>>\ The freed \ <<if ($underlings gte 2)>>\ men stare at their hands dumbfounded, then look around at Thunderfall Village's market shops. Finally one speaks up. \ <<var $prestige + 3>>\ <<else>>\ man stares at his hands dumbfounded, then looks around at Thunderfall Village's market shops. \ <<var $prestige + 1>>\ <</if>>\ "Can I...Stay here? Inside the walls?" You point across the market square. "Town clerks are that way, go ask for a job." <<page "Continue" "ch2-processend">>\

Your body isn't the only thing that's grown. Unkempt $haircolor hair has grown passed your waist from the transformation's rapid maturity. You've kept it like this for your mission but now you decide to... <<if ($heshe is "he")>>\ <<choose "ch2-beard">> #Keep it that long. <<var $hairlength "waist-length">>\ <<var $page 1>>\ #Keep it that long and tie it back. <<var $hairlength "long and tied">>\ <<var $page 1>>\ #Cut it to chest-length. <<var $hairlength "chest-length">>\ <<var $page 1>>\ #Cut it chest-length and tie it back. <<var $hairlength "tied-back">>\ <<var $page 1>>\ #Cut it to shoulder-length. <<var $hairlength "shoulder-length">>\ <<var $page 1>>\ #Cut it to shoulder-length and tie it back. <<var $hairlength "short and tied-back">>\ <<var $page 1>>\ #Cut it short. <<var $hairlength "short">>\ <<var $page 1>>\ #show-if (($alchemy gte 1) or ($firstchapter is 2)) Cut it short and spike it up with alchemical treatments. <<var $hairlength "spiked">>\ <<var $page 1>>\ ''[Your continuous use of alchemical preparation each morning has improved your understanding of cultivation.]'' <<apboost 2>>\ #Cut it down to a mere quarter-inch. <<var $hairlength "short-trimmed">>\ <<var $page 1>>\ #Shave it all off. <<var $hairlength "bald">>\ <<var $page 1>>\ <</choose>> <<else>>\ <<choose "ch2-towel">> #Keep it that long. <<var $hairlength "waist-length">>\ <<var $page 1>>\ #Keep it that long and tie it back. <<var $hairlength "long and tied">>\ <<var $page 1>>\ #Cut it to chest-length. <<var $hairlength "chest-length">>\ <<var $page 1>>\ #Cut it chest-length and tie it back. <<var $hairlength "tied-back">>\ <<var $page 1>>\ #Cut it to shoulder-length. <<var $hairlength "shoulder-length">>\ <<var $page 1>>\ #Cut it to shoulder-length and tie it back. <<var $hairlength "short and tied-back">>\ <<var $page 1>>\ #Cut it short. <<var $hairlength "short">>\ <<var $page 1>>\ #show-if (($alchemy gte 1) or ($firstchapter is 2)) Cut it short and spike it up with alchemical treatments. <<var $hairlength "spiked">>\ <<var $page 1>>\ ''[Your continuous use of alchemical preparation each morning has improved your understanding of cultivation.]'' <<apboost 2>>\ <</choose>> <</if>>\

<<var $val + 1>>\ ''[Go to your Stats Page, then navigate to the Cultivation page and "Advance" a Combat Core to increase its rating permanently.]'' ''[When you have less than 100 unallocated AP remaining, click "Continue" below.]'' <<button "Continue">>\ <<if (($aurapressure - $allocatedap) lt 100)>>\ <<run Engine.play("ch2-immortality")>>\ <<elseif ($val gte 4)>>\ <<for $immortalcount to 0; ($aurapressure - $allocatedap) gte 100; $immortalcount++>>\ <<set $allocatedap to $allocatedap + 100>>\ <</for>>\ ''[<<print $immortalcount>>00 Aura Pressure Allocated to Increase Power by +<<print $immortalcount>>]'' <<set $power to $power + $immortalcount>>\ <<run Engine.play("ch2-immortality")>>\ <<else>>\ <<run Engine.play("ch2-immortalcorecheck")>>\ <</if>>\ <</button>>

<div class="fightingfont">Thunderfaller vs Master Taio</div>\ <div class="fightingfont left">Battle Report</div>\ <<statcheck>>\ <<var $val 0>>\ Newfound energy rocks through your very spirit. Everything around you is pushed back as you release a primal scream accompanying your second Advancement. Not the scream of fear or even the battlecry of a warrior, but the groundshaking roar of a $manwoman forcing their own soul past its limits in defiance of the natural world, then pushing even further beyond. A roar so powerful the impact of it knocks Taio off his feet and back nine yards. Blood shoots from between his clenched teeth when his back collides into a tree. You stare up at your prey with the eyes of a hunter. <<choose "ch2-fightend">> #use-if ($power gte 3) Charge him with a soul-infused power fist. <<var $combatstat "power">>\ <<if (($power - $powspent) gte 1)>>\ <<combatcheck 4>>\ <<apboost 5>>\ <<elseif ($power gte 3)>>\ <<combatcheck 3>>\ <<apboost 3>>\ <</if>>\ You charge low and push all your power into one fist that you drag behind you as if carrying a great weight. Once you get within range of Taio you don't just swing your fist for a punch, you detonate the chi around your fist with all the might of your Power Core to speed up your attack and slam through his guard. The blow connects with his face in an explosion of $auracolor chi that launches him through the tree behind him with an echoing ''CRACK'' that can be heard throughout the valley. A rain of wood splinters falls around you and even you are amazed at your own work. As the sounds of battle quiet down you can finally hear your own gasping breaths; that attack took everything out of you. After several attempts you stand and hobble over to inspect the damage. When you get to Taio's unconscious body you find his nose has been completely inverted and you've shattered his top row of teeth. #use-if ($soul gte 3) Enhance your roar with scorching chi. <<var $combatstat "soul">>\ <<if (($soul - $solspent) gte 1)>>\ <<combatcheck 4>>\ <<apboost 5>>\ <<else>>\ <<combatcheck 3>>\ <<apboost 2>>\ <</if>>\ The power of your roar comes from deep within your soul. Deep within the soul you have finally strengthened. Every fiber of your being focuses on that wasted power spilling out and focuses it, shaping the concussive blast of your Advancement's outburst into a cone and filling it with the scorching power of hostile chi. The result is a wide streaming blast of white chi-fire coming from your mouth. The breath of a dragon. Your assault continues for several seconds before dissipating and leaving a smoking crater where the tree once was. Taio stands on shaky feet, his skin blackened and his clothes burnt to a crisp. When he opens his mouth to speak, weakened and wobbling in a daze, only smoke comes out. He collapses to the ground unconscious. #use-if ($agility gte 3) Deliver a devastating five-point heartstrike. <<var $combatstat "agility">>\ <<if (($agility - $agispent) gte 1)>>\ <<combatcheck 4>>\ <<apboost 5>>\ <<else>>\ <<combatcheck 3>>\ <<apboost 2>>\ <</if>>\ The world slows around you as $auracolor light crawls over your body. Not just the mist of your old aura but snaking lines of bright light looping all around you. Taio raises a hand to charge you with more of his crimson energy but you close the gap before he can, striking his arm in a vital nerve and watching it fall to his side. He responds with a knee that you sidestep, striking a vital nerve in his knee as well. He falters, slipping from the disorientation, and you palm strike his chin to keep him up. Then you leash chi to your fingertips, combine all five fingertips on each hand into piercing tools, and strike Taio's heart with the speed and precision of a cobra. His aura faulters. You strike his heart again, his eyes shoot wide open. You strike his heart again, blood spurts from his mouth. You strike his heart again, his entire aura explodes in an effort to keep him conscious with the last of its energies. You strike his heart again. He falls. #use-if ($fortitude gte 3) Headbutt him the rest of the way through the tree. <<var $combatstat "fortitude">>\ <<if (($fortitude - $forspent) gte 1)>>\ <<combatcheck 4>>\ <<apboost 5>>\ <<else>>\ <<combatcheck 3>>\ <<apboost 2>>\ <</if>>\ "Stop!" Taio shouts as you leap upon him and grip his throat in one hand and the tree behind him in another, rearing your head back for a crushing blow. "Stop at once! I ORDER YOU TO STOP!" All your chi weaves through your skull until it hardens like steel. Then you crash your head on his skull a guillotine with so much force that shatters the tree behind him. Miniscule remnants of wood rain through the air from the circular explosion of concussive force caused by your attack. You pant desperately for breath and when the debris clears you see the whites of the man's eyes as he's laid unconscious on the orchard ground, bleeding from his eyes, nose, ears, mouth, and forehead. <</choose>>

"Please don't hurt me!" Shouts the last farmhand. "I'll tell you everything!" Kosuke sighs. "Damn, another one doesn't want to talk. We'll have to get the boiling water." The farmhand's eyes widen in fear. "Wait no, please! I-I have good information! Valuable information!" "I don't know," You say while walking towards the kitchen, "If you had good information you'd lead with details instead of //saying// you have good information. Where do you guys keep your boiling pots?" "Sunbringers!" The man screams in desperation, "W-We're working for the Sunbringer Sect! You didn't know that, right? Up until a few months ago we were just a group of men trying to make a living on other people's money, you know, like any normal bandit or-or tax collector." He laughs but neither you nor Kosuke let up. You're both too young to truly hate taxes yet. "Okay well, it all changed when this bald Martial Artist shows up, kills our old boss, and tells us he's brokered work for us with the Sunbringers. We would have avenged our old boss, we're good men like that, but they're paying more in a week than we used to make in a season! The new boss says he'll even teach us cultivation to anyone who proves themselves. We took the job and figured the outlying farms were a safe first target." That //is// useful information. "And what have you been doing with the missing farmers and their families?" "Well...Selling them. The Sunbringers are supposed to pay a premium for Thunderfall slaves." <<page "Continue" "ch2-interrogation2">>\

Taking your people is one thing you cannot ignore. You look down on this man, hostile chi coursing through your hand and ready to strike in anger, but one thing doesn't add up. "If your gang has a Martial Artist to train them then why are all three of you so weak?" He blinks back tears when Kosuke increases the pressure on his arm again. Softly he whimpers, "Our new leader, our 'Master' now that he treats us like his own personal Sect, he's a harsh man. Says none of us are worthy yet, but I don't mind. I'm just here for the money, that book of his-" "Path Manual." "-That Path Manual of his looks haunted something fierce. The men whisper that it's made of human skin." "Does he have a name?" Kosuke asks. "He tells us to call him Taio, says it's Old Cathayan for "Great Man." Master Taio's laying low at the Rolling Rock Tavern. Your farmers are under heavy guard in a barn next to the tavern until the Sunbringers come to collect at dawn." "And how many men does he have, total?" You ask. "About twenty throughout the valley, we're supposed to meet him at the tavern tonight to prepare for the slave auction tomorrow morning. Now I've told you all I know, isn't that worth my life?" <<choose "ch2-prepstart">> #Tie him and the other bandits up to face justice. <<var $ruthless - 3>>\ Your mission will go better with a cowardly living witness who's already surrendered. "Kosuke, tie him and the others up." <<if ($bffheshe is "she")>>\ "With pleasure." Kosuke says through a sinister grin. She finds enough rope around the house and gets to work tying each of them up, but only after snapping the rope like a whip in front of the cowering bandit. <<else>>\ "Consider it done." Kosuke says, scouring the house for rope and coming back with enough to tie down a small village. "Go figure that slavers have a surplus on rope." He crouches down and looks the conscious bandit in the eyes. "I'll find a way to use it all." <</if>>\ <<page "Continue" "ch2-prepstart">>\ #use-if ($persuasion gte 2) "No, your life is //mine//. You work for me now." [Requires Persuasion 2] <<var $capturedbandits - 1>>\ "No." You reply, denying the bandit his mercy. "Your life is //mine//. You work for me now." He audibly gulps and nods silently, tears swelling up. The fool thinks a blubbering act will pull your heartstrings when he's been abducting your village's people to sell into slavery. That fresh thought floats through your mind and you crouch down, grab the bandit by the hair, and pull his face up to meet your eyes. "In case you get any ideas, I've sensed your spirit now. If you try to run, or betray me, or disobey my orders in any way, I will find you. I will find you and I will castrate you. By hand. Are we clear?" He nods so fast that he might concuss himself. "Yes, absolutely, anything you say!" ''[1 Underling Acquired]'' <<var $underlings + 1>>\ Kosuke ties up the other \ <<if ($capturedbandits is 19)>>\ bandit \ <<else>>\ bandits \ <</if>>\ to turn in later. You have no use for the wounded. <<var $honor - 2>>\ <<page "Continue" "ch2-prepstart">>\ #Break his neck. <<var $ruthless + 4>>\ "Worth your life?" You ponder the man's words out loud. "It sounds like you're offering your life as payment." The man looks from you to Kosuke and back, unsure what to say. You grab his hair and hoist his head up to look into his eyes. "I accept your payment." With a quick twist you snap his neck in one swift motion. His head falls limply to the ground with a lifeless thud. ''[Aura Pressure +3]'' <<var $aurapressure + 3>>\ <<var $capturedbandits - 1>>\ <<page "Continue" "ch2-prepstart">>\ <</choose>>

<<if ($portraitpics is true)>>\ <<image "https://www.auraclash.com/assets/images/jack.jpg">>\ <</if>>\ <<var $norobbery false>>\ Jack's grown since you last saw him, which isn't fair since he was already large. Now he stands over most of the villagers and holds a physique closer to his father's ridiculous warrior-frame. The two of you haven't spoken since your fight yet now here he stands, in full training gi, expecting something. "Hello, Jack." You say with no particular tone. "Yeah yeah." Is all he gives back. A tingle between your shoulders tells you he's scanning your spirit. <<if (($insight gte 1) or ($soul gte 3))>>\ <<if ($insight gte 1)>>\ ''[Insight 1 Check Passed]'' <<else>>\ ''[Soul 3 Check Passed]'' <</if>>\ ''[Aura Pressure + 2]'' <<var $aurapressure +2>>\ Offended, you scan him back. It wasn't a hard trick to learn and you've had all year. You extend your sense of self out into the ambient aura all around you and brush those spiritual senses over Jack to feel out his Aura Pressure. Let's see...Eight Mortal Cores, the peak of natural human power, just like what you unlocked under Big Chu's teachings \ <<if ($jadedragonfoundation is true)>>\ and...five Immortal Cores. Shit, you haven't gotten another Immortal Core since your Jade Dragon Foundation manifested. You have to figure out the trick before he pulls back ahead of you. <<else>>\ and...five Immortal Cores?! Shit, you haven't gotten another Immortal Core since your first Advancement. His Aura Pressure must be over 500. Damn it all, even with Big Chu's relentless training you still haven't caught up to whatever special treatment and elixirs Mao must be feeding Jack. \ <</if>>\ Worse, you remember his aura was burning red before while yours is still a basic white. His spirit has already bonded to an Element like an Upper Disciple's. You're still on the fundamentals. <<else>>\ ''[Insight Check Failed]'' You try to brush your spiritual senses over him in return but can't get past some sort of veil he put over his spirit. Or you're just bad at sensing aura. Big Chu barely covered spiritual senses and said you had no talent for it. Quality education. <</if>>\ Jack finishes and shakes his head. "Big Chu could have done better. It'll have to do. You //might// survive a real punch." "Funny." You reply dryly, "Want a rematch?" "In your dreams," Jack looks at you with doubtful amusement, "I stopped ignoring my Fortitude Cores, your cheapshots won't work anymore. And no, I'm here because my old man is calling for all students to attend the dojo tomorrow. He wants these delivered to each of you," he holds up a letter, "and I came by to drop off a personal message too, before my big mission." Red light flashes your world into an eruption of blinding pain and wooden splinters. <<page "Wha-" "ch2-jack2">>\

<<var $combatstat "fortitude">>\ <<if ($style is "Aoyusumu")>>\ ''[Aoyusumu Potential: Reduced Difficulty]'' <<var $cmod + 1>>\ <</if>>\ <<combatcheck 4>>\ <<if ($passcheck is true)>>\ <<include "ch2-jackpass">>\ <<else>>\ <<include "ch2-jackfail">>\ <</if>>\

The world stops spinning long enough for you to hear your ears ringing. Your eyes open to see the family house's support beams from below. There's a deep crack in the wall leading up to the ceiling. It takes a moment to realize you're on the ground, on your back, and can taste blood. Your little brother Jin stands over you looking uncharacteristically concerned. "Thank the ancestors, I was worried you weren't waking up." says Jin. "What...What happened?" You ask, struggling to put the words together. "Where's everyone else?" "Rin ran off earlier talking about perfume ingredients, Mother and Father are out shopping, and what happened is I almost inherited the Clan. One moment I'm enjoying my morning mango, the next moment there's a hot flash of light throughout the house like it was on fire. I run in here expecting a fire and find that asshole Jack in the doorway, laughing about knocking you across the room. Probably how you got //that//." He points to your abdomen where a hole has been blown through the bottom of your shirt. Underneath is a dark black bruise that's starting to gain more hues of blue, purple, and red. The pain increases now that you're aware of the wound, and it keeps getting worse. ''[1 Wounds Suffered]'' <<var $wounds + 1>>\ <<if ($woundbonus gt 0)>>\ ''[Battle Hardening: +$woundbonus Aura Pressure]'' <<var $aurapressure + $woundbonus>>\ <</if>>\ <<var $val (11 - ($fortitude * 3))>>\ ''[Lost $val Aura Pressure]'' <<var $aurapressure - $val>>\ <<var $val 0>>\ <<var $forexp + 2>>\ "Bastard suckerpunched me after all," You pant out through pained breaths, "Hells, it's bad...What did he do when I was out?" "Not much. I spit on the fool but it burned up in his aura. He left a letter for you and went home saying you deserved a cheapshot 'back', like he didn't \ <<if ($firstchapter is 1)>>\ ambush me last year with all his friends there to help. \ <<else>>\ pick on us when he had power and neither of us did. \ <</if>>\ I don't think he even remembers my face." Jin ponders for a moment, "Hells he probably //doesn't// remember my face. I bet I can kill his cat and get away with it." <<choose "ch2-jackfail2">> #"Heavens' sake Jin, have some mercy on the cat. It has to deal with Jack even more than we do." <<var $ruthless - 3>>\ Jin rolls his eyes and \ #"No. We settle this with our fists." <<var $honor + 2>>\ "Maybe //you// will. I'm still miles behind." Jin sighs and \ #"He won't be alive for you to get a chance. No one makes a fool of cap($fullname)!" <<var $ruthless + 2>>\ <<var $brorep - 3>>\ Jin nods, remembering his place, and \ #"It's okay Jin. Next time he's out of town we'll kill his cat together, as a family." <<var $metjack + 100000000>>\ <<var $honor - 2>>\ Jin smiles warmly. "I'd like that." <<var $brorep + 3>>\ He pats your shoulder and \ <</choose>>\

leaves the room to find a recipe book for mother's awful medicinal burnt leaf soup, much to your chagrin, leaving you with the letter that Jack delivered. It has torn paper at its center as if some seal was already removed. It says... <<page "Continue" "ch2-trialannouncement">>\

<<apboost 5>>\ The air itself ripples in waves around Jack's fist, which is now twenty feet away from you. Across the house. He's still standing in the doorway, unmoved. It takes a moment to realize that you've been hit. Your stomach tells you he's struck you in the gut with some sort of Technique, and the fact that your body is embedded in your house's wall across the room tells you it worked. Yet you still stand. Jack stares at you for a brief moment, looking braindead, as if he hasn't registered that the two of you are making eye contact. "Ancestor's tits!" He shouts suddenly when the realization hits him, "You're a Fortitude specialist now? Chu be damned, maybe you're worthy of being my punching bag after all." You try to step forward but answering his challenge becomes too much, you're not even sure you can stand right now. You place a hand on your lower abdomen where the blow struck to find it's already bruising. <<if ($jadedragonfoundation is true)>>\ How is this possible?! You have the Jade Dragon Foundation! Refusing to back down, you do your best to mock the bastard while getting your bearings. <<else>>\ Your only weapon now is words. <</if>>\ <<choose "ch2-jackpass2">> #use-if ($beatjack1 lt 3) "Fat talk for someone who's never beaten me." <<var $page 1>>\ <<var $ruthless + 1>>\ His face reddens but he forces his mouth straight and shrugs, "I don't need to prove anything to someone Advancing so slowly. The Trials will prove who's better." #"Attacking someone outside the dueling ring is a crime you moron, you're going to jail!" <<var $page 1>>\ <<var $ruthless - 1>>\ "Attacking someone outside the dueling ring is a crime you moron," you say, "you're going to jail!" Jack snickers, "Who are you going to tell, the Magistrate? Of this meager village? I'm off to train with our allies in the Mountain Hazard Sect, I don't need to care what that old man has to say. After that I'll be moving to the capital when I win the Trials, so yes, go ahead and cry to him." #"I thought your childish grudge was over, I guess I was wrong." <<var $page 1>>\ "I thought your childish grudge was over," You say with disappointment, "I guess I was wrong." <<var $ruthless - 2>>\ "Then you're a fool." \ #"Mao hit harder." [Persuasion Check] <<var $page 1>>\ "You call that a Technique?" You ask, "Mao hit harder with a simple push." <<if ($persuasion gte 2)>>\ ''[Persuasion Check Passed]'' <<apboost 2>>\ He scowls and looks away for a moment, probably cursing to himself. "You always have something to say, but it's not going to save you now. Read this." With a look of contempt, \ <<else>>\ ''[Persuasion Check Failed]'' "I //know// he did," Jack replies with a scoff, "he's the Master of the entire Sect and my father. I'm proud of his strength. Did you think you could get to me with such stupid words? You're too dumb for to do that." <</if>>\ #They're unneeded. I stare him down. <<var $page 1>>\ <<var $honor + 1>>\ <<var $ruthless + 1>>\ You glare at him and he glares back. He waits for you to answer. You dare for him to blink. Both of you stand in silence, waiting for the other to make a move. <<if ($perception gte 1)>>\ ''[Perception 1 Check Passed]'' <<apboost 3>>\ He blinks first. You smile slowly and he knows he's lost. "Bah! Shit." He spits on the ground of your doorway. "Enjoy your childish victory, I'll have the real prize at the Trials." <<else>>\ ''[Perception Check Failed]'' You blink first. Shit. "Hah!" he shouts victoriously. "Once a loser always a loser." \ <</if>>\ #show-if ($heshe is "she") "If you wanted to touch my midriff so badly all you had to do was ask." [Female Check Passed] <<var $page 1>>\ <<var $jackromance + 1>>\ <<var $pick 6>>\ <<var $norobbery true>>\ "I-wait, wait...huh?" Jack blinks twice and looks down at his fist that just touched your smooth stomach. "No that-that's not what-shut up, okay? I was attacking you!" "Uh huh." "I was! It wasn't anything se-It wasn't anything else!" "Oh of course, my strong village champion." You nod at an angle condescendingly, "Keep going Jack, you're cute when you're flustered." Jack scowls and stomps the ground of your doorway, cracking a cobblestone. "Gah! Fuck you, you <<if ($subrace is "Cat")>>\ overgrown cat! <<elseif (($subrace is "Wolf") or ($race is "Kitsune"))>>\ mangy wolf! <<elseif ($subrace is "Bovine")>>\ stupid cow! <<elseif ($subrace is "Monkey")>>\ dirty monkey! <<elseif ($race is "Oni")>>\ succubus! <<elseif ($race is "Lunargoth")>>\ pale witch! <<else>>\ snake! <</if>>\ Just take the damn letter! You're lucky I'm leaving for the year or I'd-" "Find another excuse to touch me?" "SHUT UP!" He crumples up an envelope and throws it at the wall beside you. It makes no impact. No matter how strong someone is, crumpled paper is still just crumpled paper. Before it hits he's already disappeared in a blur of flames, surging an Agility Core to escape from you. Well, you think to yourself, that worked. Maybe you should tease Jack more often? You reach down and uncrumple the envelope. <</choose>>\

<<if $pick isnot 6>>\ Jack tosses the letter from earlier to you like a playing card. It glides across the room and lands at your feet. "See you later, Laborer." Jack says, "I've got a special mission to get even stronger for the next year, so if you're lucky you won't see me until I win the Trials." Jack disappears in a blur of flames after that, but just before he leaves you see a flicker of doubt in his eyes. Worry. Unease. Fear. He may have acted tough, but you can tell he never expected you to stay conscious after that secret Technique of his. <<var $jackcombat + 1>>\ You smile through the pain and pick up the envelope. <</if>>\ <<var $norobbery true>>\ It has torn paper at its center as if some seal was already removed. It says... <<page "Continue" "ch2-trialannouncement">>

forbidden for good reason. Using Demonic cultivation eventually taints the user's soul and body, warping them beyond recognition into Fiends like ghouls, shades, or bloodwalkers. They endanger us all for short-term gain. Only death awaits such foolishness." Mao looks back to Taio. "So that's what I sensed on this guy, Fiend essence." "Worse." Khan adds, stepping up and placing two fingers on the bandit leader's forehead. "Demonic Sects steal power from the blood of their enemies. This man cannot become a true Fiend..." Khan pushes chi into his two fingers and the captured man, the demonic cultist you fought so hard against, completely disappears in a puff of smoke. "...For he is no man at all." "Kurokonton Style..." Master Mao mumbles to himself. "The Cursed Lands' Art of Ninjutsu." Mao and Khan both look at each other in silent concern. "I don't get it," you say to break the silence, "what does this mean?" Crusher Mao is the first to speak. "The person you fought wasn't real. They were a Clone Technique, a temporary copy of someone much stronger. It's an advanced Technique used by the shinobi of the Cursed Lands, one of the five Inner Kingdoms." Khan nods, rubbing a hand down his beard and nudging an unconscious Kosuke with his foot, "What's worrying, young <<cap $name>>, is there are no Cursed Lands settlements in this region of Outer West. The demonic cultist is either a proficient Martial Artist from the Inner Kingdoms where the natural chi is much stronger, or he killed one and stole their power. Either way he is powerful, well traveled, and still out there somewhere." He looks to Crusher Mao. "The Inner Kingdoms..." There's only one Martial Artist from the Inner Kingdoms that you've ever met and that's Crusher Mao. When you look to him, squatting on the ground where the cultist's clone was laid out just a moment ago, you see a hint of doubt in his stony expression. Crusher Mao has always been a big fish in a small pond. Another big fish has arrived. "So what do we do?" You ask. "//You// do nothing." Khan says, "//I// will reach out to our allies to inform them of the threat. The Heavenly Ascension Trials begin soon, and while the Imperial Archonate and Inner Kingdoms may not often care for the dangers facing Outerland settlements like our own, they may assist against a threat to their prospective recruits." With a quick double-tap of his cane against the ground Magistrate Khan vanishes from sight in a swirl of golden energy. You had no idea he could do that. <<page "Continue" "ch2-khantalk2">>\

Crusher Mao huffs, standing and stretching his arms wide. "That old fart finally whips out the chi sorcery theatrics. He must be feeling insecure." "What about you?" Regret floods through your mind the second you ask, but Mao doesn't seem insulted for once. "Tch, I'm excited. Haven't had a good fight since I crippled 'Master' Bangle. Should've let him use that new Technique, now I'll never see it..." He looks down at you with a sideways glance. "Another lesson, kid. Crushing your enemies is exhilarating but running out of enemies is a problem I wouldn't wish on any warrior. Even you." He looks into the sky with an oddly hopeful expression. "That's why I envy you right now. Whoever this mysterious cultist is, you made him lose face when you beat his clone and ruined his operation. That's got to earn you a spot on his shitlist." He lets out a prolonged sigh. "Now that's an enemy worth having, it should have been me....Ah well, I release you from any duties for the next year. Obviously I can't have you training with Tian Fang and the other lower disciples as well." "WHAT?!" You blurt out. "That was the entire point of doing this mission!" "Welcome to real life, kid. There's a target sign on your back now that I can't spread to the other weaklings. You did what you were supposed to and it didn't work out, life sucks. Move on." Your fists shake and you look upon Mao with hatred, the bastard screwed you over again. Yet your composure holds. Mastering Immortal Core Advancement already put you above most of those other lower disciples anyway, who says you need them? All you need is results. "Fine. But \ <<if ($banditchoice is "Justice")>>\ what about the other captives I acquired? Dragging them all here was a lot of work and \ <</if>>\ I've earned payment for completing the \ <<if ($tomeuse is 1)>>\ mission and acquiring that cursed Path Manual for the Sect." <<else>>\ mission." <</if>>\ Mao rubs his temple in exasperation. \ <<if ($banditchoice is "Justice")>>\ <<var $prestige + 1>>\ "Nobody cares about a \ <<if ($capturedbandits gt 1)>>\ bunch of captured, unpowered failures." \ <<else>>\ single unpowered criminal." \ <</if>>\ He looks over at the \ <<if ($capturedbandits gt 1)>>\ $capturedbandits captured bandits. "How many of you want to be slaves? Raise your hands." <<else>>\ captured bandit. "Do you want to be a slave? Raise your hand." <</if>>\ <<if ($capturedbandits gt 1)>>\ None raise their hands. <<else>>\ Your prisoner stays stiff as a board, unmoving. <</if>>\ "There you have it." Mao says. \ <<if ($capturedbandits gt 1)>>\ "They're useless then, kill each one with an unraised hand." <<else>>\ "He's useless then, kill him." <</if>>\ <<if ($capturedbandits gt 1)>>\ Every one of them immediately raises their hands. <<else>>\ The prisoner immediately raises both hands. <</if>>\ "Sure, whatever. \ <<if ($capturedbandits gt 1)>>\ Kid you can have one, deliver the rest to the town clerks and they'll sort it out." ''[Commerce Increased]'' <<var $commerce + 1>>\ ''[Prestige Increased]'' <<var $prestige + 2>>\ <<else>>\ Kid you can have him. Sell him, enslave him, eat him, I really don't care." <</if>>\ <<var $underlings + 1>>\ <<else>>\ "I'd normally beat you for the attitude but we've both had a long day." <</if>>\ He throws a sack of shards at you that you just barely catch before it can smack you in the face. <<if ($tomeuse is 1)>>\ The second item he throws, a thick book, //does// smack you in the face. <</if>>\ ''[Item Gained: 100 Shards]'' <<var $shards + 100>>\ <<var $prestige + 1>>\ <<if ($tomeuse is 1)>>\ ''[Item Gained: Skill Manual]'' <<var $skillmanual + 1>>\ <</if>>\ "There's your pay. More than most other Laborers make in a month." You notice he still refuses to acknowledge that you're Warrior Caste. "And no more missions for you until the Heavenly Ascension Trials are over." Unlike Khan's exit, Mao leaves in a normal human fashion: stomping off while grumbling. "Can't believe kids these days, Advancing in the middle of a fight. No fucking respect. Send $himher on another mission and $heshe'll learn how to write ship blueprints in the middle of a grapple or some shit. Ancestors, what is this world coming to." <<if ($craft gte 3)>>\ ''[Craft 3 Check Passed]'' <<apboost 10>>\ You actually do know how to write ship blueprints. <</if>>\ <<page "Continue" "ch2-nearend">>\

"So what are you doing later?" "Resting." You say honestly. "My second Advancement is still sending growing pains throughout my muscles and I haven't slept in my own bed since before the mission." "I, too, have not slept in your bed since before the mission." Kosuke adds with a \ <<if ($bffheshe is "he")>>\ devious grin <<else>>\ devilish smile. <</if>>\ <<choose "ch2-processend">> #Head back to your room with Kosuke. The two of you head back to your house for some much needed relaxation, all the while your \ <<if ($underlings gte 2)>>\ underlings follow \ <<else>>\ underling follows \ <</if>>\ behind, cringing. Your room is not soundproofed. <<apboost 3>>\ <<var $bffromance + 1>>\ <<var $forexp + 1>>\ <<var $bffrep + 3>>\ <<page "Continue" "ch2-processend">>\ #Take the night to rest. "Maybe another time." You hiss slowly from the ache of every sore muscle. "My legs feel like they got run over." <<var $solexp + 2>>\ <<var $bffrep - 2>>\ "Understandable, I feel the same way. My eye needs a healer and sleeping on the cart made me feel as out of shape as Big Chu looks. Catch you tomorrow?" "You got it." The two of you head to your respective homes for the first relaxing night in what feels like forever. <<page "Continue" "ch2-processend">>\ <</choose>>

<<choose "ch2-tavern1">> #"Sweet Ancestors yes." [Seduction] -> "ch2-kosukekiss" Kosuke, the irredeemable trickster and con artist, sits up before you with her chest puffed out and her cheeks blushing redder than the setting sun, shy as a chaste shrinemaiden. You've been sneaking more and more glances at her ever since her body started developing and wrestling was getting harder and harder to get away with, in multiple ways. Yet here she is now, asking for exactly what you've always wanted. Internally you thank every Ancestor you've ever had. You reach out with one nervous but eager hand and... Feel her grab your wrists and shove both hands against her well-developed chest, a squeal escaping her mouth as she closes her eyes. Panicking at thinking you may have hurt her you lurch forward to stop the squeal and find your instincts kick in. With both hands busy against her breasts your lips are drawn to hers, interlocking instantly. Her face heats up almost as much as yours, your heartbeat racing at a thousand beats per minute, yet the world seems to reach perfection when she wraps her arms around you. "Yes!" She shouts as she pulls away and comes back in, her lips meeting yours between each word. "Yes, yes, yes, yes!" <<var $skipheartbeat true>>\ #"I want to touch a pillow and go to sleep." There goes Kosuke, making things weird again. You throw a pillow at $bffhimher and get some rest. ... <<page "Continue" "ch2-tavern1">> <</choose>>

''[Kosuke's Training Check Passed]'' <<var $powexp + 1>>\ <<var $agiexp + 1>>\ <<var $kosukecombat + 1>>\ All your sparring together in childhood pays off. Kosuke puts $bffhisher thieving skills to work by sneaking up behind the bandit sentry and, oh Heavens, snaps the poor bastard's neck. <<cap $bffheshe>> gently lays their body on the ground, takes their weapon, and brains the next sentry while the bandit was enjoying an apple. <<cap $bffheshe>> looks over to you through the trees and gives you a thumbs up next to the corpses. <<var $capturedbandits - 2>>\ <<choose "ch2-kosgo1-2">> #"Calm it down Kosuke, damn." <<var $ruthless - 4>>\ "Calm it down Kosuke, damn." You mouth through the tree line. "Sorry." <<cap $bffheshe>> mouths back, then steals one of the victims bag of shards and loops around the tavern. You lose sight of $bffhimher for five minutes until you hear a crunch behind you. When you turn you see Kosuke chewing on an apple cheerily. "Knocked \ #"Nice." <<var $capturedbandits - 3>>\ <<var $ruthless + 1>>\ "Nice." You say, returning the thumbs up to $bffhisher wise choice. Lethal force is a permanent solution. Kosuke beams and sneaks around the tavern. You lose sight of $bffhimher for five minutes until you hear a crunch behind you. When you turn you see Kosuke chewing on an apple cheerily. "Took \ <</choose>>

out the two at the barn, and one hiding behind some barrels with a crossbow." <<cap $bffheshe>> hefts the crossbow in $bffhisher left \ <<if ($kosukecrossbow is true)>>\ hand while balancing $bffhisher own crossbow in $bffhisher right. "I'm dual-wielding." "You can't dualwield crossbows." <<var $agiexp + 1>>\ "Maybe //you// can't dualwield crossbows." $bffheshe says, holding both up with horrible form. <<cap $bffheshe>> admires both crossbows with the widest smile you've ever seen on $bffhimher. <<var $bffrep + 5>>\ "Alright, alright, good \ <<else>>\ hand. "I'm keeping it."\ <<var $kosukecrossbow true>>\ <</if>>\ <<page "Continue" "ch2-stealthsuccess">>

''[Kosuke's Training Check Failed]'' Feel a spike of alarm when $bffheshe goes to take out the first guard with a chokehold and takes an elbow to the gut that knocks the wind out of $bffhimher. "We've got an intruder!" The sentry shouts while grappling with Kosuke. Oh shit. Time to act fast. <<include "Next_swingin">>\

<<choose "ch2-tavern1">> #Interesting. "Alright then tough guy, give me your best shot." [Seduction] -> "ch2-kosukekiss" "Alright then tough guy," You laugh, reaching your face teasingly close to $bffhisher own. "Give me your best shot." Your tantalizing gaze meets his own in the pale light seeping through the closed shutters. Without hesitation $bffheshe leans down, hand against your cheek, and presses his lips against your own with a passion built on years of longing. It catches you off-guard. You've never been kissed before. #"Years ago? Damn man, you shouldn't have even done it //tonight//." [Go to sleep] There goes Kosuke, making things weird again. You throw a pillow at $bffhimher and get some rest. ... <<page "Continue" "ch2-tavern1">> <</choose>>

Kosuke has been your best friend since childhood. A partner in crime for your earlier antics, a friend who was always there for you when things were down, and a scrappy fighter that helped you train up to your first Advancement. But to the rest of the village, Kosuke is just... <<choose "ch2-kosuketrain">> #use-if ((($bffromance is 1) and ($bffheshe is "she")) or ($bffromance is 0)) The beggar's daughter. <<var $bffhimher "her">>\ <<var $bffhisher "her">>\ <<var $bffhishers "hers">>\ <<var $bffheshe "she">>\ #use-if ((($bffromance is 1) and ($bffheshe is "he")) or ($bffromance is 0)) The beggar's son. <<var $bffhimher "him">>\ <<var $bffhisher "his">>\ <<var $bffhishers "his">>\ <<var $bffheshe "he">>\ <</choose>>\

<<var $metkosuke + 1000000000>>\ <<var $bffromance + 1>>\ <<var $metkosuke - dig($metkosuke, 11)>>\ <<var $metkosuke + 3>>\ The warm feeling of $bffhisher lips against yours floats through your mind so dizzyingly that you don't even notice $bffhisher hand longingly reaching out until \ <<if ($bffhisher is "her")>>\ her soft \ <<else>>\ his strong \ <</if>>\ fingers interlock with yours. <<cap $bffhisher>> chest eagerly presses against your own and you hold each other closely, rolling onto a single mat in unison. <<if ($skipheartbeat is true)>>\ You're both lost in bliss. \ <<else>>\ Your heart is beating faster than it ever did during training. <</if>>\ Your best friend, the \ <<if ($bffheshe is "she")>>\ girl \ <<else>>\ boy \ <</if>>\ you grew up with, passionately kissing you in a secluded home so often shared by married couples. It's an unreal dream you never knew you had...but $bffheshe's not a \ <<if ($bffheshe is "she")>>\ girl \ <<else>>\ boy \ <</if>>\ anymore. <<cap $bffheshe>>'s a \ <<if ($bffheshe is "she")>>\ woman, \ <<else>>\ man, \ <</if>>\ and you're a $manwoman. Growing up together made your feelings for $bffhimher appear so slowly, so naturally that you never noticed the change, but in this moment they've grown so strong that you can't deny them. Your other hand runs through $bffhisher hair and you lean into the embrace. Neither of you pull away for a long, long time. <<apboost (1+($kosukecombat*2))>>\ <<page "Continue" "ch2-tavern1">>

<<if (($bffheshe isnot $heshe) and ($bffromance is 0))>>\ After everything you close the farmhouse's shutters and lay on the tatami mat to get some rest before the mission. Rest that is immediately interrupted when you hear floorboards creaking under Kosuke as $bffheshe lays down next to you. <<if ($bffheshe is "she")>>\ "So..." Kosuke says. "You um...You...I've been..." A heavy gulp comes from the darkness and Kosuke laughs nervously. <<if ($kosukeaura is true)>>\ "So my first Advancement really helped me uh, grow up, you know, and I've been thinking about what to do about it..."\ <<else>>\ "So I know my Martial Arts haven't developed as well as yours but, uh, my body has! And that's got me thinking about..." <</if>>\ Ancestors, Kosuke's being weird. This is the kind of babbling you expect from Jin before he asks for something. Your eyes open in the dark room. "Are you okay?" Kosuke's quickened breathing is the only sound in the empty farmhouse as she suddenly turns over and sits up, gripping her upper shirt. "Do you...want to touch them?" "..." <<include "ch2-kosgirl">>\ <<else>>\ "So..." Kosuke says, propping his head up on one arm. "You, me...A quiet getaway with no one around to hear us..." You look over to Kosuke and narrow your eyes. What's he playing at? Ah, he's taking off his shirt. Hm. Nice abs. You sit up, curiosity peaked. "Kosuke, are you trying to make a move?" "I am." <<cap $bffheshe>> answers confidently. "I should have years ago." <<include "ch2-kosguy">>\ <</if>>\ <<else>>\ <<include "ch2-tavern1">>\ <</if>>\

<<if ($portraitpics is true) and ($bffheshe is "he")>>\ <<image "https://www.auraclash.com/assets/images/Kosuke-M.jpg">>\ <</if>>\ <<if ($portraitpics is true) and ($bffheshe is "she")>>\ <<image "https://www.auraclash.com/assets/images/Kosuke-F.jpg">>\ <</if>>\ <<if $firstchapter is 2>>\ Which is why $bffheshe has so much free time. In the end $bffhisher poverty and Clanless station is a blessing in disguise. Kosuke's free time all these years has meant the two of you could constantly train after your workday with Father ended. On days off you both hunted down hundreds of rumors of spirit-enhancing opportunities, about four of which even turned out to be true. <</if>>\ <<var $kosukecombat + 1>>\ You and Kosuke had spent the last year up to your usual pranking antics. <<cap $bffheshe>> taught you how to whistle like a messenger bird and you particularly enjoyed getting people to come outside to look for new messages every five minutes. A few nights after your match against Big Chu, you and Kosuke both sit on the edge of a river dock. The full moon shines overhead and you're joking over how different "adult" life is at the old and wizened age of $age. "Honestly it would be weirder if it wasn't different!" Kosuke says between laughs, "Imagine how it would look if you had an aura back then, the Sect would be sending some glowing ten year old running death-defying errands all the time." <<cap $bffheshe>> uses two index fingers to mimic a puppet of baby-you running around on the dock. "Oh noooo," $bffheshe makes baby-you say, wiggling $bffhisher fingers over the dock to mimic $bffhisher hand running, "the sky is raining! They told me I have to collect it all, only the Sect deserves the rain!" You bat $bffhimher away, "Come on, it's not just the Sect. The Magistrate gets his cut too." "It's not that bad?" $bffheshe tilts $bffhisher head at you incredulously, "Last week they had you dig a moat with your //bare hands//." "Shovels are expensive." You say with a shrug. You keep chuckling but notice Kosuke doesn't. You turn over and see $bffhimher gloomily looking down at $bffhisher hands. "Yeah," Kosuke sighs, "so is cycling. My physical training is filling the gaps but it's so slow that I still haven't had my first Advancement. Getting Shards isn't as easy when you don't know where your next meal is coming from." Kosuke sighs and for the first time in a long time you're reminded of the hardships $bffheshe always hides with $bffhisher smile. "Feels like every day I fall farther and farther behind." A moment's hesitation tells you not to say it, but you realize that's just the mental scars of what you keep going through. You bury that feeling deep down and look over to $bffhimher with a grin. "Want to see a Path Manual?" <<if ($bffheshe is "he")>>\ "Hells yeah I do, but how am I going to read it? I can't see aura." <<else>>\ "Pft, more than anything. But even if I had one I couldn't read it. I can't see aura, remember?" <</if>>\ You stare dumbfounded at Kosuke, the renowned schemer, and wonder if all $bffhisher clever ideas were just dumb luck. "//I// can see aura, dummy. Go get me some ink. Some normal ink." Scribing the notes takes the better part of the evening, but when you're done you hand a regular-ink Path Manual to Kosuke. "One cheater's guide, as ordered." You say with a devious grin. <<if ($bffromance gte 1)>>\ "Oh Ancestors, come to \ <<if ($bffheshe is "he")>>\ papa."\ <<else>>\ mama."\ <</if>>\ <<cap $bffheshe>> grabs the book out of your hands and \ <<if ($bffheshe is "she")>>\ squeals. \ <<else>>\ laughs maniacally. \ <</if>>\ "This is incredible. I can't believe it. This, I mean, this is real! This changes everything!" You chuckle a bit at that. "You know, that's exactly what I said when I got them." "<<cap $name>> I swear, I could kiss you." <<page "Continue" "ch2-kosuketrainkiss">>\ <<else>>\ ''[Your mentorship has unlocked Kosuke's aura.]'' <<page "Continue" "ch2-kosuketrain2">>\ <</if>>\

<<var $kosukeaura true>>\ The next week you \ <<if ($bffromance gte 1)>>\ happily \ <</if>>\ wake up and prepare to check on Kosuke's progress with your hand-transcribed Path Manual, but a knock at the door interrupts your plans. You answer in your sleeping robes and see a face you've been avoiding for quite some time. <<page "Hello, Jack." "ch2-jack">>

Then $bffheshe does. It catches you off-guard. You've never been kissed before. The warm feeling of $bffhisher lips against yours floats through your mind so dizzyingly that you don't even notice $bffhisher hand longingly reaching out until \ <<if ($bffhisher is "her")>>\ her soft \ <<else>>\ his strong \ <</if>>\ fingers interlock with yours. <<cap $bffhisher>> chest eagerly presses against yours and you hold each other close under the beauty of the pale moonlight. Your heart is beating faster than it ever did during training. Your best friend, the \ <<if ($bffheshe is "she")>>\ girl \ <<else>>\ boy \ <</if>>\ you grew up with, passionately kissing you on a moonlit dock. It's an unreal dream you never knew you had...but <<print $bffheshe>>'s not a \ <<if ($bffheshe is "she")>>\ girl \ <<else>>\ boy \ <</if>>\ anymore. <<cap $bffheshe>>'s a \ <<if ($bffheshe is "she")>>\ woman, \ <<else>>\ man, \ <</if>>\ and you're a $manwoman. Growing up together made your feelings for $bffhimher appear so slowly, so naturally that you never noticed the change, but in this moment they've grown so strong that you can't deny them. Your other hand runs through $bffhisher hair and you lean into the embrace. Neither of you pull away for a long, long time. ''[Your mentorship has unlocked Kosuke's aura.]'' <<page "Continue" "ch2-kosuketrain2">>\

''["Walking Dragon" Technique Acquired]'' ''[Certain Techniques must be "Focused" to gain their full benefits. To focus a Technique you must attune it to a specific Core by choosing to "Meditate upon your Techniques" in your Menu's Cultivation Page.]'' Unlike other racial powers, Reptile Yokai gain the benefit of their ancestor's draconic power directly. Rather than employing some sort of trick, they evolve toward the final form of their lineage's might and become //better//. The lineage you call upon is... <<choose "ch2-continuechu">> #Drakes, four-legged fiery Beasts known for hoarding wealth. [+1 Power Core] <<learntech 5010000100000000 "Walking Dragon (Drake)" "Passively increases Power Core by +1.">>\ ''[Certain Techniques must be "Focused" to gain their full benefits. Though 'Walking Dragon' does not require this, in the future, you can focus a Technique to a specific Core by choosing to "Meditate upon your Techniques" in your Menu's Cultivation Page.]'' #Wyrms, subterranean tunnelers responsible for earthquakes. [+1 Fortitude Core] <<learntech 5020000100000000 "Walking Dragon (Wyrm)" "Passively increases Fortitude Core by +1.">>\ ''[Certain Techniques must be "Focused" to gain their full benefits. Though 'Walking Dragon' does not require this, in the future, you can focus a Technique to a specific Core by choosing to "Meditate upon your Techniques" in your Menu's Cultivation Page.]'' #Sea Serpents, rulers beneath the waves. [+1 Agility Core] <<learntech 5030000100000000 "Walking Dragon (Sea Serpent)" "Passively increases Agility Core by +1.">>\ ''[Certain Techniques must be "Focused" to gain their full benefits. Though 'Walking Dragon' does not require this, in the future, you can focus a Technique to a specific Core by choosing to "Meditate upon your Techniques" in your Menu's Cultivation Page.]'' #Celestial Dragons, messengers from the Heavens. [+1 Soul Core] <<learntech 5040000100000000 "Walking Dragon (Celestial)" "Passively increases Soul Core by +1.">>\ ''[Certain Techniques must be "Focused" to gain their full benefits. Though 'Walking Dragon' does not require this, in the future, you can focus a Technique to a specific Core by choosing to "Meditate upon your Techniques" in your Menu's Cultivation Page.]'' <</choose>>\

that's not really how it works. Mortal Core Advancement is about using the inner chi you've built through hard work, while Immortal Core Advancement is about seizing absolute control of the chi you've absorbed from the world. There's a hundred ways to do it and they all come down to willpower. You both imagined some visual aid for your idea that it's linked to areas of the body or desires or whatever. The confidence of thinking you're right increased your willpower. Just like how it's easier to lift a heavy object if you've lifted it before, because you //know// you can lift it." Mao waves his hand over the horizon as if tracing a rainbow. "Confidence. In reality your Combat Cores are all in your spirit's center, not scattered throughout your body. You were wrong but it worked anyway, so consider this a good lesson, kid. Much of the mystical side of cultivation is based on believing you're right more than being right. That's why it's hard to teach." Huh...You never thought of it that way. This is the first time you've ever heard a real lesson from Mao. It's insightful but off-putting. Mao dusts off his hands and looks around the market square before continuing. "Nothing either of you did is that unusual, except that Immortal Core Advancement is not a temporary power up, it's permanent." He looks back down on your prisoner. "If this enemy knew how to do it the whole time but refused to then he was crippling himself for who knows how long just to avoid detection. That's strange, and I don't like strange. \

<<var $honor - 3>>\ <<var $taint + 15>>\ The Path Manual in your hands offered great power in many ways that you couldn't utilize at first, one being a mass sacrifice. You obtained the ingredients for //that// far sooner than you expected. But there are far too many witnesses. "The bandits will be coming with me to face justice." You say to the crowd. "Farmers, disperse to your homes immediately. That's an order." Despite your commanding tone many of them are still thankful, bowing and offering free food to you and yours (Kosuke takes note) before leaving to celebrate together with many a drink and hopefully a bath. Once they've all cleared out you whisper to Kosuke. <<choose "ch2-masssacrifice2">> #Tell $bffhimher about your plan. "None of these guys are making it to Thunderfall Village." "Nice." Says Kosuke. "I'm going to sacrifice them to their boss's Path Manual for power." "I already said nice." Replies Kosuke. It seems taking a beating has left $bffhimher feeling as hungry for revenge as you feel. <<var $bffrep + 2>>\ <<var $val 1>>\ #Dismiss $bffhimher to keep it a secret. "Go patrol the roads, I'm going to execute these guys in secret and can't risk anyone finding me." "Nice." says Kosuke, who then takes off to discourage any travelers from discovering your actions, though $bffheshe's oblivious to what those actions are. <<var $val 0>>\ <</choose>>

With \ <<if ($val is 0)>>\ Kosuke gone \ <<else>>\ Kosuke's help \ <</if>>\ you setup the blood ritual according to the eerie Path Manual's instructions, invoking the correct handseals on top of splatters of blood you leave in a circle around the bandits. Between \ <<if ($val is 0)>>\ yourself \ <<else>>\ yourself, Kosuke, \ <</if>>\ and 'Master' Taio you find no shortage of bleeding injuries. "What's that for?" Asks one of the smarter bandits while you invoke handseals while walking around them. "It's to make sure you don't escape. Now shut up before I beat you." He stays quiet, being one of the smarter bandits. It doesn't serve him well in the end. Your handseal ritual finalizes and the eerie glow from before envelopes the entire large circle around the tied bandits. Tendrils of crimson power rise from the edges of the circle and slither inward, piercing into the souls of each restrained bandit. The screaming begins. Wails of the dying bandits buffet your mind as the ritual ages them in seconds, sucking out their life force to the point that their physical bodies wither to dust and disappear. With each lost bandit the crimson glow of the ritual grows brighter and so too does the rush that you feel when the ritual pushes not just their chi but their very essence into you. The power and potential of the bandits' shattered souls flows through your body, the shards of their lifeforce wreathing around your soul like armor. Slowly the wails of the damned fade to nothing and the eerie glow dies out as this new power settles. You feel invigorated more than ever in your... <<choose "ch2-masssacrifice3">> #Body [+1 Health] <<var $health + 1>>\ Every breath you take makes you feel more //solid// as your body is filled with potence and rebuilt sturdier than ever. #Soul [+1 Chi] <<var $chipool + 1>>\ All the colors in your vision grow more vivid as your spiritual capacity increases and you feel a deeper connection to the natural chi of the world. <</choose>>

<<if ($race is "Oni")>>\ ''[Race Event: Oni]'' You feel a deeper satisfaction from the absorption of human souls and you don't quite know why, but you //like it//. <<apboost 15>>\ <</if>>\ <<if ($val is 1)>>\ <<var $kosukecombat + 2>>\ Kosuke even benefits from the ritual too, having been standing outside the circle just as you had. <<cap $bffhisher>> eyes are closed and $bffhisher face tilts upward in satisfaction at the feeling of power rushing through $bffhimher. It's good to have an accomplice that's equally as guilty. <</if>>\ <<if ($underlings gte 1)>>\ <<if ($val is 1)>>\ That reminds you... <</if>>\ A quick glance at your underling shows him cowering by the barn door in a silent scream. You'd better make sure he doesn't run his mouth. "Tell no one what you saw here today, or you're next." The cowering man drops to a kowtow immediately. His head presses against the floor and his voice cracks. "Y-Yes of course master! Of course! Anything you say!" It appears the man has pissed himself. <</if>>\ <<var $banditchoice "Sacrifice">>\ <<page "Continue" "ch2-missionsuccess">>\

"-And once I resold that contract for the third batch of theoretical new inventory rights I had enough to pay off that sixth loan from the town's treasury. That's when the caravan's banker sees my notes on the table. After reviewing the paper work and realizing I never even had to sell the store for real, he makes me an offer to buy a five percent cut of his Trade Sect's caravan businesses in Outer West if I help with their paperwork." Father flails his hands in the air. "It was too good to pass up! I did pass it up, of course, and haggled us an advance payment of the first year's profits." "Uh yes Father, very good." You stifle a yawn and try to leave before he keeps going. "Where are you going $boygirl? Didn't you hear me? You need your cut of the profits!" ''[Item Gained: 4000 Silver]'' <<var $silver + 4000>>\ <<var $commerce + 4>>\ Your eyes nearly pop out of their sockets as he drops bag of money into your hand that's heavy enough to use as a murder weapon. Next time you'll pay a bit more attention when he explains how he got it. <<page "Continue" "ch2-startlife">>\

He reaches into his robes and withdraws a leather Path Manual with the cover of a screaming face. "You've merely defeated a fraction of my power. My masters have trained me to contain what power I've earned into this Soul Treasure to avoid your Sect's detection, but it's pointless if \ <<if ($explosives is 2)>>\ my men are dead and my operation is ruined. \ <<else>>\ they're already sending whelps. \ <</if>>\ Your Sect will surely detect me once I reclaim my might but I'll ensure you won't be alive to see how that ends." He opens the Path Manual's pages and the entire room illuminates in an eerie crimson glow. "Behold my power unleashed, the power of a true Martial Artist beyond the limits of regular men! ''//Immortal Core Advancement!!//''" Crimson power swirls around him with whipping winds of force strong enough to cause an indoor \ <<if ($explosives is 2)>>\ hurricane that extinguishes the flames all throughout the tavern. <<else>>\ hurricane. Swirling gusts knock cups, plates, knives, and debris all throughout the tavern hall. His underlings duck under the tables in fear. <</if>>\ Acid fills your mouth. You nearly vomit from the sensation coming off of this man. Taio's aura gives off the impression of invasive sickeningly-sweet decay, like a bucket of rotting, coagulating blood sliding down your throat. Sensing the chi coming off of him revolts your soul to a level you didn't know possible; it takes every ounce of your resolve to keep your lunch down. <<if ($perception gte 1)>>\ ''[Perception Check Passed]'' <<var $val 1>>\ Then he charges you at speeds you've never faced before. <<else>>\ ''[Perception 1 Check Failed]'' <<var $val 0>>\ Then your opponent disappears from your sight. <</if>>\ <<page "Continue" "ch2-mergeboast2">>\

In the blink of an eye he's upon you. Not with some pose, but with his fist already in your face. You're blown into the wall and the impact knocks the wind out of your lungs. He kicks those lungs in the next instant, then delivers a second kick to your abs forcing you to bend over in pain. From there he grabs you by the collar and throws you over his shoulder to the opposite end of the tavern he just came from, where you crash \ <<if ($explosives is 2)>>\ through a burnt \ <<else>>\ into a \ <</if>>\ staircase. <<var $combatstat "fortitude">>\ <<if ($val is 1)>>\ <<var val2 3>>\ <<else>>\ <<var $val2 4>>\ <</if>>\ <<combatcheck $val2>>\ <<if (($passcheck is true) or (($perception gte 1) and ($pblocktech isnot "")))>>\ <<if ($passcheck is false)>>\ Only your $pblocktech Technique stops his blow from crushing your face. <<apboost 3>>\ <<else>>\ <<apboost 3>>\ <</if>>\ You're bleeding and bruised but everything still works. With quick adaptation you \ <<if ($explosives is 2)>>\ break through the burnt wood \ <<else>>\ get to your feet \ <</if>>\ and look upon your powered up opponent across the main hall. <<else>>\ <<woundcheck 1 false false>>\ You're bleeding and bruised, and something in your chest isn't working quite right. Breaths come out ragged and your vision blurs as you \ <<if ($explosives is 2)>>\ crawl out of the burnt wood to \ <</if>>\ stare upon the \ <<if ($explosives isnot 2)>>\ changed \ <</if>>\ man before you. <</if>>\ 'Master' Taio is now covered in swirls of crimson chi that feel sickening in your spiritual senses. The flow of power is so dense that you don't need to scan him to know what he's doing, it's visible in plain sight. Crimson spiritual energy swirls into condensed 'orbs' that churn like millstones, cycling in his aura and shoving this new chi deep into distinct locations. Four distinct sources of chi. Four distinct cyclings at once to restore his power. Your understanding clicks into place. One pool of chi for Soul over the mind, the source of all understanding and will. One for Power over the dominant hand, the focus point of force projection. One for Fortitude over the heart, the center point of vitality. One for Agility over the naval, the source of one's balance. All four swirls of energy mix into Taio's aura slowly as if being ground up with each spiraling rotation and shoved into his spirit, filling him with power as you fight. The sight is hypnotic. Big Chu only ever toughened you up in what he called "raising your Mortal Cores". Peak physical fitness. What you're witnessing now, this direct injection of chi into four abstract parts of the soul, it's something else. Something beyond the natural body. Something you've only done once by accident back in your first Advancement. "Scanning people is rude, Thunderfaller." Taio mocks in the middle of one mighty leap across the tavern. "Let me teach you some manners!" He kicks you again but you block with both arms just in time to protect your head from total destruction. \ <<if ($explosives is 2)>>\ There's no remaining wall where his blow launches you through the air so you \ <<else>>\ Only your toughened skin protects you from glass lacerations as you're launched through the nearest window and \ <</if>>\ bounce off the soft earth several times outside. The world spins in your perception while your body tumbles toward the tree line. Yet the nauseating pain can't interrupt your new obsession. The risk of death is right before you, yet you're almost ashamed at how...excited you are. There's nothing special about this man's transformation after all, except that he's using odd chi from some item. You may not have a tool like his but you have something just as good: a well of inner energy cultivated within your soul, slowly built over years of effort. If it's as easy as condensing huge masses of power towards the right skillset in the right place, why can't you do it now? "Kosuke!" You yell while ungracefully landing on a tree's trunk, \ <<if ($agility isnot 3)>>\ barely \ <</if>>\ managing to impact it with your feet and crouching to soften the blow, "Distract him for me, I have an idea! We can win!" <<if ($bffheshe is "he")>>\ "Easier said than done!" Kosuke yells back, sprinting \ <<if ($explosives is 2)>>\ to the scene from the safety of the nearby well to help you. <<else>>\ to the back of the tavern from the front door to help. <</if>>\ <</if>>\ Taio leaps \ <<if ($explosives is 2)>>\ through the weakened roof of the tavern and lands on a remaining set of tiles. \ <<else>>\ out of the tavern. Not through the hole he knocked you through, but his own hole he blows through the roof. \ <</if>>\ "Stupid fools, I can hear you! I'll not fall for some distraction when I can end this between us right now!" His hand pulses with more sickening crimson energy and he throws it at you with two hands as if hurling a boulder overhead. <<if ($bffheshe is "she")>>\ "You want me to distract THAT?!" Kosuke screams back, running \ <<if ($explosives is 2)>>\ to the scene from the safety of the nearby well. <<else>>\ around the tavern to get to your fight. <</if>>\ "YES!" You demand while sprinting \ <<else>>\ You sprint \ <</if>>\ behind a tree for cover from the energy blast coming at you. Excess power and heat explodes through the wood and nearly scorches your left side but you roll out of the way in time. "Uhhhhhhhhhhhhhh" Kosuke says, deciding to go with... <<choose "ch2-afterkos">> #use-if ($kosukecrossbow is true) Shooting Taio with a crossbow. "Distract this!" Kosuke shouts while firing a crossbow bolt at your enemy. Taio catches it with ease then goes back to charging another two-handed energy blast, only to be interrupted again by catching another crossbow bolt. "Give up, powerless mook! I can catch these all day." Kosuke fires again and the man catches the bolt with ease again. "It's pointless!" Taio shouts, returning to charge his energy attack with both hands. He has to stop to catch a fourth bolt and his irritation becomes palpable. "Pest, cease interrupting me or I will come down there and rip y-" His irritation turns to infuriation at the fifth bolt. In his anger he gets sloppy, catches it by the tip, and cuts his hand. The sphere of energy he'd been preparing dissipates from his loss of focus. He turns to Kosuke with a snarl. "YOU ARE DEAD!" Taio screams, launching a weaker one-handed attack at Kosuke that hits $bffhimher at centermass. Kosuke \ <<if ($bffheshe is "he")>>\ shouts \ <<else>>\ screams \ <</if>>\ and tries to block the attack with the wood of the crossbow, only to have the weapon explode on impact and the remaining force of the attack blows $bffhimher twenty feet back into the stables. #show-if (($kosukeaura is true) and ($explosives is 2)) Tossing the last explosive barrel. -> "ch2-barrelboom" #show-if ($explosives isnot 2) use-if (($kosukeaura is true) and ($explosives is 1)) Tossing an explosive barrel. -> "ch2-barrelboom" #use-if (($kosukeaura is true) and ($kosukecombat gte 2)) Launching $bffhisher first energy blast. "Okay, okay, okay." Kosuke says to <<print $bffhimher>>self, taking several calming breaths. <<cap $bffheshe>> cycles $bffhisher chi in several circles just like you taught $bffhimher, looping the power faster and faster to build momentum and fill the power with hostile intent before loosing it into $bffhisher arms. And then out. A glowing orb of power shoots out of Kosuke's outstretched hands and goes wide, missing Taio by fifteen feet and crashing into the tavern. "Hah, what an amateur!" Taio laughs in return and turns back to you, finishing the charge of his two-handed energy attack prepared to destroy the entire orchard you've been weaving through to buy time. Then, for seemingly no reason, he sees the night sky directly above him. His thoughts before dropping into tavern and having his left arm impaled on roofing nails is, "Why am I looking up?" Kosuke never missed. <<cap $bffheshe>> hit the support beam of Taio's remaining section of roof. But Kosuke's celebration is cut short, as Taio releases his attack on $bffhimher instead. The mass of hostile crimson chi rips through the entire debris of the tavern and slams into Kosuke, who lets out a \ <<if ($bffheshe is "he")>>\ shout \ <<else>>\ scream \ <</if>>\ as the attack shatters $bffhisher aura and launches $bffhimher thirty feet back into the stables. #With no better option, giving the Martial Arts a try. Kosuke is not a Martial Artist, more like a brawler. Most of $bffhisher fights have been spars against you and your siblings. <<cap $bffhisher>> only real use for combat chi has been hunting in the woods to save money on food. And Taio is a much bigger target than some poor wild goat. Still, $bffhisher friend is in danger so Kosuke climbs the tavern debris swiftly to engage the enhanced Martial Artist in hand to hand combat. <<if ($kosukecombat gte 2)>>\ ''[Event Check Succeeded: Kosuke's Training]'' ''[Kosuke has avoided injury!]'' A swift kick launches debris at Taio's eyes and then actually lands just as the man protects his vision, hitting him in the throat. A couple punches land but inflict little damage, only for Kosuke to duck a blind swing and trip Taio off his feet then bullrush him off the roof in the confusion. They both fall. The thirty foot drop is nothing to Taio who spins mid-air and lands on his feet, but it's a whole lot more to Kosuke who lands on $bffhisher elbow. More precisely, Kosuke lands on Taio's head //with// $bffhisher elbow. A thirty foot diving elbow is nothing to scoff at, for either party. "GAHH!" Taio screams in shocked frustration, staggering back with both hands on the top of his head where a welt is quickly forming. "AAAAHHH!!" Screams Kosuke, hitting the ground with the rest of $bffhisher body. All the breath is knocked out of $bffhimher; with all focus on offense $bffheshe suffers the consequences of hitting the ground chest-first after such a fall. The man walks up to your friend as Kosuke tries to roll to safety but it's not enough. Taio grips Kosuke by the neck and pinches down with chi to paralyze $bffhimher and hisses out, "I'm going to come back for you when I have your little friend's head." He throws Kosuke through the wall of the stables twenty feet away. \ <<else>>\ ''[Event Check Failed: Kosuke's Training]'' Taio turns and sees Kosuke coming in time to sidestep $bffhisher first punch, then dodge a kick and knock Kosuke's feet out from under $bffhimher. Kosuke tumbles off the roof but saves <<print $bffhimher>>self in the last second by grabbing onto the ledge. "Pathetic." Says Taio, returning to charge his next energy blast with both hands so he can destroy the entire orchard you're weaving through. "I'm not done yet!" Kosuke shouts, pulling a piece of wood off a nearby crumbling wall in one hand and lifting <<print $bffhimher>>self up with the other. <<cap $bffheshe>> charges Taio from behind with the impromptu wooden stake, illuminated by the crimson light of the man's energy attack that Kosuke has to stop. Just as Kosuke gets within reach Taio turns again, annoyed. In one swift motion he snatches the wooden stake out of Kosuke's hand and stabs $bffhimher with it in the gut. "Not done yet?" The bandit leader mocks. "You never started." ''[Kosuke has been injured!]'' <<var $kosukeinjured true>>\ <<var $kosukecombat - 1>>\ <<if ($kosukecombat lt 0)>>\ <<var $kosukecombat 0>>\ Then he grips Kosuke by the collar and throws $bffhimher off the thirty foot roof, all the way through the stables across the tavern grounds. Kosuke's had a tough life, and pain is nothing new. <<cap $bffheshe>> rips the wooden stake out of $bffhisher own gut midair, now wrapped in $bffhisher own life essence in the form of blood, and throws it into the charging mass of chi that Taio is preparing for an attack. You're not sure if Kosuke even knows or if it was a guess; chi attacks are designed to harm the living. The blood triggers the attack. Its eruption of crimson energy engulfs Taio just as Kosuke collides through the stable wall with a blood-curdling \ <<if ($bffheshe is "he")>>\ howl. \ <<else>>\ scream. \ <</if>>\ <</if>>\ <</if>>\ <</choose>>

You groan impatiently. "<<cap $name>>, wait!" Father calls, closing the door behind him so the rest of the family can't hear. "I've got something for you." He pulls a gift wrapped in old curtain out from behind his back in both hands. His expression is an odd one, you'd call it...embarrassed. "I already packed a lunch." You say. "It's not that, and be silent. I have a lecture to give." <<page "[Let out a second, more powerful groan.]" "ch2-nowmerged">>\

<<var $clue2 true>>\ Two shrieks assault your ears when you open the barn door. One is the rusted hinges of the large barn door; the other is a young boy around ten years of age who's shivering with fear. He's holding a crossbow pointed directly at your stomach. <<choose "ch2-mission-barn3">> #Calm the boy down. -> "ch2-mission-barn2" #Rip the crossbow out of his hands. The boy cries out as you reach for his crossbow. You callously rip it out of his hands just as he pulls the trigger and fires at your midsection. <</choose>>\

<<var $ruthless - 3>>\ "Easy now," you say in your most soothing voice. "I'm not going to hurt you." <<if ($persuasion gte 1)>>\ ''[Persuasion 1 Check Passed]'' ''[Aura Pressure +1]'' <<var $aurapressure + 1>>\ The boy gently lowers the crossbow. "You promise?" "I promise. My name is $fullname, I've come from the Thunderfall Sect to stop the disappearances. Can you tell me what's been happening?" The boy sniffs, wipes his snotty nose on his wrist, and nods. "I saw em take ma and pa, six scary men." "Did you see where they went? What they were wearing? Did they say anything useful?" "N-No \ <<if ($heshe is "he")>>\ sir, \ <<else>>\ ma'am, \ <</if>>\ I'm afraid I don't know nothin about that. I mean, I did see Ole Darin among the raiders. He's a farmhand at the Sai Farm down the road so maybe you can get clues there?" "That's perfect, I'll go check with them. You wait here and I'll send someone to pick you up when it's safe." The boy nods eagerly as you leave, but his paranoia hasn't died down. He closes the barn doors behind you. <<include "ch2-mission-checkfarm">>\ <<else>>\ ''[Persuasion 1 Check Failed]'' The boy stumbles back in fear of your menacing outline against the blinding morning light filling the barn from the newly opened door. His crossbow fires a single bolt at too close a range to dodge, striking your midsection. <<include "ch2-mission-barn3">>\ <</if>>\

<<if ($txt is "arrowcatch")>>\ ''[Special Event: Arrow Catching]'' <<var $agiexp + 5>>\ Memories flash through your mind of catching arrows under Big Chu's training. Your hand snatches the arrow midair before it grazes your shirt and <<elseif ($fortitude is 1)>>\ ''[Fortitude 3 Check Failed]'' Oh no. Oh no that's not supposed to be there. Both you and the little boy stare bewildered at the bolt sticking out of your chest and the blood shooting out of your wound around it. Daaaaaaamn. That's right in your heart. <<woundcheck 1 false false>>\ Kosuke's voice comes in from behind the barn. "Hey <<cap $name>> I thought I heard something." <<cap $bffheshe>> runs in to see you standing there with a bolt in your chest. "HELLS! Does...Does that hurt?" "Much." You say through gritted teeth. After ripping it out with a pained twist \ <<else>>\ <<var $combatstat "fortitude">>\ <<combatcheck 3>>\ The bolt bounces off your skin and \ <</if>>\ you look down on the child with judgment. "P-Please don't hurt me!" He shrieks, "I'd make a great slave instead!" You still haven't decided how to pay him back for shooting you but something he said perks your interest. "Slaves? What's this about slaves?" "The...I mean, aren'tcha with the slavers? The ones that took ma and pa?" "I'm with the Thunderfall Sect, so I fight these 'slavers'. Do you know where they went?" The boy's face lights up at the news but then reverts to sadness. "N-No \ <<if ($heshe is "he")>>\ sir, \ <<else>>\ ma'am, \ <</if>>\ I'm afraid I don't know nothin about that. I mean, I did see Ole Darin among the raiders. He's a farmhand at the Sai Farm down the road so maybe you can get clues there?" "That's perfect, I'll go check with them. You wait here and I'll send someone to pick you up when it's safe." The boy nods eagerly as you leave, but his paranoia hasn't died down. He closes the barn doors behind you. <<include "ch2-mission-checkfarm">>\

<<if ((($clue1 is true) and ($clue2 is true)) and ($clue3 is true))>>\ <<page "Continue" "ch2-mission-saifarm">>\ <<else>>\ <<choose "ch2-mission-fields">> #use-if ($clue1 is false) Check the fields. #use-if ($clue2 is false) Check the barn. -> "ch2-mission-barn" #use-if ($clue3 is false) Check the house. -> "ch2-mission-house" <</choose>>\ <</if>>\

<<var $clue1 true>>\ The rice fields are useless and wet, giving you nothing but mud soaked into your boots, but the abutting field of taro and adzuki beans proves useful in more ways than one. Not only do you find a free lunch from the abandoned crops, you also find- <<if ($survival gte 1)>>\ ''[Survival 1 Check Passed]'' ''[Aura Pressure +1]'' <<var $aurapressure + 1>>\ Signs of a scuffle in the field. From the footprints it seems a fight broke out here where multiple men took out one poor sap, likely the abductors or bandits beating a farmhand. There are also two distinct tracks of people being dragged from inside the house by these same attackers. From what you can tell, they were dragging the farmer and his wife out of the house when the farmhand intervened and paid for it. <<if (($survival gte 2) or ($perception gte 1))>>\ <<if ($survival gte 2)>>\ ''[Survival 2 Check Passed]'' ''[Aura Pressure +2]'' <<var $aurapressure + 2>>\ <<else>>\ ''[Perception 1 Check Passed]'' ''[Aura Pressure +1]'' <<var $aurapressure + 1>>\ <</if>>\ Upon closer inspection, the field shows //fake// signs of a struggle. The farmhand working the field seems to have pretended to fight, or at least pretended to be injured. His knee imprints are deeper than the rest of his body and so are both of his hand imprints. No one falling over from being attacked actually falls in perfect form like that, he braced his fall completely, afraid of hurting himself. From the looks of things, he was working with the bandits and they pretended to attack him to keep up the ruse. All to fool the farmers...or the investigator. ''[Clue Obtained: Farmhand Collaboration]'' <<var $farmhandcollab true>>\ <</if>>\ <<else>>\ ''[Survival 1 Check Failed]'' A free dinner for later. No clues though. Clues would have been nice. <</if>>\ <<include "ch2-mission-checkfarm">>\

<<var $clue3 true>>\ The farmer's house contains only two rooms. One holds a well-stocked pantry and multiple tables covered in supplies for preserving herbs and pickling vegetables, and the other room has a slightly elevated floor with tatami mats for sleeping. Kosuke is gorging <<print $bffhimher>>self in the pantry while you look for clues. <<if ($perception gte 1)>>\ ''[Perception 1 Check Passed]'' ''[Aura Pressure +1]'' <<var $aurapressure + 1>>\ Sure enough, there's a bloodstain by the beds but not enough for a head wound. A broken nose probably. Seems the farmers were attacked in their sleep and taken prisoner, or taken hostage. One other detail sticks out to you: When you move the farmer's tatami mat you find a lockbox built into the floor, facing up. The mad farmer must have the worst back pain in all of the Thunderfall territories to sleep on top of this every night and yet he did, all to cleverly hide his valuables from prying eyes like yours. <<choose "ch2-mission-checkfarm">> #Leave the man's belongings behind. <<var $honor + 4>>\ <<var $ruthless - 1>>\ Some things just aren't right, like robbing a man you were sent to save. You leave the house with Kosuke as $bffheshe whines, finally noticing the safe and having to be dragged out by $bffhisher collar. "But it's free money!" Kosuke says for the third time. "It's not free and it's not ours. It belongs to a hardworking man that may need our help." <<var $forexp + 5>>\ #Crack into the lockbox. <<var $honor - 2>>\ <<if ($thievery gte 1)>>\ ''[Thievery 1 Check Passed]'' <<apboost 2>>\ With a flourish you grab tools from the kitchen and begin tinkering with the box's lock. They're not ideal lockpicks but they serve your purpose for such a crude lock. The device clicks open and you pocket the uncut gold nuggets inside. The farmer must have found them over years of digging through so much land in the mountains. ''[Item Gained: 11 Gold]'' <<var $gold + 11>>\ <<else>>\ ''[Thievery 1 Check Failed]'' With a flourish you grab tools from the kitchen and Kosuke looks at you with a shake of $bffhisher head. "Come on, you know that's not going to work." "It could work." You say defiantly as you run over to the lockbox and try to crack the lock. Forty minutes of tinkering later you give up and motion to punch the damn thing with all your might before Kosuke stops you. "Come on," $bffheshe says, withdrawing a collection of proper lockpicks from $bffhisher pants, "you brought a criminal with you for a reason." "I didn't bring you with me." You correct while Kosuke cracks the lock in seconds. <<cap $bffheshe>> looks over to you with a grin and hands you 6 gold nuggets. "But aren't you glad I came along anyway?" ''[Item Gained: 6 gold]'' <<var $gold + 6>>\ <</if>>\ <</choose>>\ <<else>>\ ''[Perception 1 Check Failed]'' "Damn." You say after searching the small house thoroughly. "Nothing." "Speak for yourself." Kosuke says through a mouthful of pickled daikon. "I found a treasure trove of flavor." <<cap $bffheshe>> hands the jar to you and you sigh, taking a pickled treat out and biting into it. Hm. Pretty good. <<include "ch2-mission-checkfarm">>\ <</if>>\

The trip to the Sai Farm passes by over a dozen likewise abandoned farms and you begin to wonder if there's anyone left in the valley at all. With gusto your donkey hauls you through a large persimmon orchard with one wide road leading through the trees to your destination, all the while it eyes the bountiful trees hungrily. The wagons of your cart roll down that road without issue and you tie your donkey to a nearby tree once again when you come in sight of the Sai Farmhouse, this one substantially larger than the last. The donkey reaches up for a ripe persimmon as you leave. You and Kosuke approach the two-story farmhouse and find it guarded from the inside by three men with knives leering through a window. They refuse to open up until you announce you're from the Thunderfall Sect. "The Martial Artists up the mountain have finally sent one of their own? Well why didn't you say so!" The door shoots open immediately and reveals a balding farmer in his mid 40s. "Come in stranger, please come on in. We've been on edge ever since the disappearances got serious a few weeks back." He snaps his fingers at the other two, his farmhands, "go and get our guests some tea, and bring out the spirit fruits." "But we've only got-" protests a farmhand. "I don't care what we've got, you bring it out!" He shakes his head after the two farmhands leave to the kitchen. "I apologize, good help is hard to find." "Speaking of help," you say as you enter, "I'm looking for someone named Ole Darin." "I'd hope so, bastard tried to kill us." Your eyebrows involuntarily raise. "Go on." <<page "Continue" "ch2-mission-saifarm2">>\

The farmer walks with you to the dining room while you two talk. "A few nights back, Ole Darin comes up to us in the fields with sword in hand. Bastard says he's been given a new job in some crew and we could either join or become part of the 'merchandise'. Probably talking about slavery." The farmer spits on the ground. "Damn fool thought he was so tough with a real sword for once. Forgot it was three against one. We buried him out back." <<if ($insight gte 2)>>\ ''[Insight 2 Check Passed]'' ''[Aura Pressure +3]'' <<var $aurapressure + 3>>\ You prepare for trouble, because he's lying. \ <<var $farmhandcollab true>>\ <</if>>\ Kosuke slinks through the doorway and sits down at the dining room table. "So it's a recruiting gang after all. Did he say anything else?" You ask, taking a seat next to \ <<if (($insight+$perception) gte 2)>>\ Kosuke and pretending to fall for the man's ruse, \ <<else>>\ Kosuke, \ <</if>>\ "Or did he have any possessions on him that looked suspicious? I'm trying to find their leadership and put an end to this." "I wish I could say he did." The farmer says, and just then the farmhands return with a bowl of sweet-smelling peeled lychee and a cup of steaming hot tea. The farmer's mood picks up. "Finally! Honored Guest, could I interest you in these spirit-fruits and tea? They've been the prize of our valley. I've been saving them for a bad winter but they're better suited aiding you in stopping these abductions." <<if ($insight gte 1)>>\ ''[Insight Check 1 Passed]'' <<var $aurapressure + 2>>\ ''[Aura Pressure +2]'' A light brush of your spiritual senses tell you there is indeed power stored within the lychee fruit they've offered. <</if>>\ <<choose "ch2-saiyesplease">> #"Yes please." #"No thank you." -> "ch2-sainoty" <</choose>>

<<var $wounds 0>>\ <<var $agispent 0>>\ <<var $forspent 0>>\ <<var $powspent 0>>\ <<var $solspent 0>>\ <<var $chispent 0>>\ <<var $capturedbandits 20>>\ <<if ($val is 78)>>\ After half an hour of calming down and obliterating a wooden target dummy with your fists, you spend another next three hours packing up and getting halfway down the road to the southern valley farms. <<else>>\ Three hours later you're all packed up and halfway down the road to the southern valley farms. <</if>>\ Father was busy \ <<if ($background is "Trapper")>>\ setting traps \ <<elseif ($background is "Herbalist")>>\ gathering herbs \ <<elseif ($background is "Blacksmith")>>\ working the forge \ <<elseif ($background is "Merchant")>>\ running the shop \ <</if>>\ with Jin so it was surprisingly Rin who provided your journey's supplies by pestering the neighbors until one agreed to lend you a cart and donkey. You sit in the cart's front seat, holding a carrot on a stick, as the donkey continues onward and drags you through the forested karst hills to your goal. You're not sure if the carrot-and-the-stick bit actually works, or if the donkey is just being professional about it. He seems a veteran of the cart-hauling profession with no love for small talk so your journey towards the lower valley is quiet and peaceful. Until you hit a bump, hear a groan from the back, and roll your eyes. No one was under the cart's tarp when you packed it but you'd recognize that groan anywhere. "Come on out, Kosuke." <<var $clue1 false>>\ <<var $clue2 false>>\ <<var $clue3 false>>\ <<if (($firstchapter is 2) and ($kosukeaura is false))>>\ <<page "Continue" "ch2-missionkosuke2">>\ <<else>>\ <<page "Continue" "ch2-missionkosuke1">>\ <</if>>\

Kosuke peaks out from under the canvas covering your cart. "Are we there yet?" "Halfway." You say. "Well what's the mission?" $bffheshe crawls out of the tarp and sits down \ <<if ($bffromance gte 1)>>\ next to \ <<if ($bffheshe is "she")>>\ you, holding your arm. She feels warm. <<else>>\ you, placing his arm over your shoulder. <</if>>\ <<else>>\ across from you. <</if>>\ "People disappearing at the southern farms. Looks like bandits." "Oh that's easy enough, the farmers are probably all dead." <<cap $bffheshe>> grabs $bffhisher throat and mock-dies. "Let's sell the farms to the bandits. Then we'll have farmers that can actually fight, plus we can inflate the prices and keep the change." <<var $page 1>>\ <<var $hustle false>>\ <<choose "ch2-missionstart">> #"Let's get down there and figure out what's going on before turning my first big mission into an extortion ring." #"Hm...Might work." <<var $hustle true>>\ <</choose>>\

<<if ($portraitpics is true) and ($bffheshe is "he")>>\ <<image "https://www.auraclash.com/assets/images/Kosuke-M.jpg">>\ <<elseif ($portraitpics is true) and ($bffheshe is "she")>>\ <<image "https://www.auraclash.com/assets/images/Kosuke-F.jpg">>\ <</if>>\ <<include "ch2-missionkosuke-true">>\

Kosuke has been your best friend since childhood. A partner in crime for your earlier antics, a friend who was always there for you when things were down, and a scrappy fighter that helped you train up to your first Advancement. But to the rest of the village, Kosuke is just... <<choose "ch2-missionkosuke2-2">> #The beggar's daughter. <<var $bffhimher "her">>\ <<var $bffhisher "her">>\ <<var $bffhishers "hers">>\ <<var $bffheshe "she">>\ <<if ($portraitpics is true)>>\ <<image "https://www.auraclash.com/assets/images/Kosuke-F.jpg">>\ <</if>>\ #The beggar's son. <<var $bffhimher "him">>\ <<var $bffhisher "his">>\ <<var $bffhishers "his">>\ <<var $bffheshe "he">>\ <<if ($portraitpics is true)>>\ <<image "https://www.auraclash.com/assets/images/Kosuke-M.jpg">>\ <</if>>\ <</choose>>\

<<if ($portraitpics is true)>>\ <<image "https://www.auraclash.com/assets/images/Kosuke-F.jpg">>\ <<elseif ($portraitpics is true)>>\ <<image "https://www.auraclash.com/assets/images/Kosuke-M.jpg">>\ <</if>>\ Which is why $bffheshe has so much free time. In the end $bffhisher poverty and Clanless station is a blessing in disguise. Kosuke's free time all these years has meant the two of you could constantly train after your workday with Father ended. On days off you both hunted down hundreds of rumors of spirit-enhancing opportunities, about four of which even turned out to be true. <<include "ch2-missionkosuke-true">>\

<<var $chapter 2.2>>\ <<unset $norobbery>>\ <<var $kosukeinjured true>>\ <<image "https://www.auraclash.com/assets/images/ac-linebreak-top.png">>\ ''Mission Report:'' Bandit Uprising //Several farmers in the valley south of Thunderfall Village have gone missing in the past month. Most empty farms have been ransacked of valuables and no noticeable Aura Pressures have been detected in the area. Current suspicion is widespread banditry. ''Objective:'' End the disappearance threat permanently. ''Secondary Objective:'' Return or replace the lost farmhands. ''Mission Rank:'' C// <<image "https://www.auraclash.com/assets/images/ac-linebreak-bottom.png">>\ Crusher Mao stands resolutely, staring down at you with that wicked grin and waiting for your reaction. The menacing glint in his eye floods your mind with memories of the day he sought to enslave your family last year. Hells, your first guess is that Mao took the poor farmers. <<choose "ch2-missiondepart" "Continue">> #"Is there anything else I should know?" <<var $honor + 1>>\ <<var $maorep + 3>>\ "Is there anything else I should know?" You ask, alone with Commander Mao. "Yes," Mao says with a dismissive wave, as if you passed some test, "don't show weakness to anyone you talk to. Beasts and spirits don't rob houses. The problem should be people; either desertion, or bandits that think they can take on the Thunderfall Sect. The clerks say there's no report of Aura Pressure or Techniques but I don't buy it. Regular people should be too scared to do this. Someone has a trick up their sleeve. Find it." <<var $val 411>>\ <<page "Continue" "ch2-missiondepart">>\ #"Consider it done." <<var $honor + 3>>\ #"Beat up some bandits? Nice." <<var $ruthless + 2>>\ <<var $maorep + 5>>\ "So I'm supposed to beat up some unpowered bandits?" "Probably." Mao replies. "You're likely to break some limbs since they don't have auras." "Nice." "Niiice." Crusher Mao says back. It's the only time in your life you've understood each other. <<page "Continue" "ch2-missiondepart">>\ #"No, do your own dirty work. <<var $ruthless - 3>>\ "Do your own dirty work." You say defiantly. "What was that?" Mao asks with glee. "Did you just talk back to your Master?" Your chi cycles quickly but not quickly enough to stop his gut punch. The man takes one long stride forward and slams his enormous fist into your torso. <<if ($jadedragonfoundation is true)>>\ <<aploss 10>>\ <<else>>\ <<aploss 4>>\ <</if>>\ Both your breath and your breakfast leave your mouth. You crumple to the ground where Mao crouches down and grabs you by the head, lifting you up so his eyes can meet yours. "You're a Sect member now. I don't know why you thought that made you tough or special, but what it really makes you is //mine//. When I give you an order, you do it. When I give you a mission, you do it. If this mission isn't done within the month I will personally sell your siblings into slavery, seperately, and far away from here." He spits in your eye once for good measure and leaves. <<var $val 78>>\ <<page "Continue" "ch2-missiondepart">>\ <</choose>>\

<<if ($hustle is false)>>\ <<var $honor + 4>>\ You look \ <<if (($bffheshe is "she") and ($bodytype isnot "Petite"))>>\ down \ <<elseif (($bffheshe is "he") and (($bodytype is "Manlet") or ($heshe is "she")))>>\ up \ <</if>>\ at $bffhimher doubtfully. "Incredible diplomacy skills, I'm sure bandits would love hard labor." "Hey, crime is harder than I make it look." You shake your head. "Let's get down there and figure out what's going on before turning my first big mission into an extortion ring." <<else>>\ <<var $honor - 1>>\ <<var $hustle true>>\ "Hm...Might work." You say. "I could use the Shards, cultivation costs a fortune." <</if>>\ <<cap $bffheshe>> nods \ <<if ($hustle is true)>>\ <<if ($bffheshe is "she")>>\ eagerly \ <<else>>\ confidently \ <</if>>\ <<else>>\ reluctantly \ <</if>>\ and rests $bffhisher head \ <<if (($bffromance gte 1) and ($bffheshe is "she"))>>\ on your lap. \ <<else>>\ back. \ <</if>>\ "You're the Boss. Wake me when we get there." <<page "Continue" "ch2-missionstart2">>\

<<var $farmhandcollab false>>\ <<var $clues 0>>\ Reaching the southern valley reveals a sanctuary of emerald-green fields amidst the rugged peaks that extends for miles. Majestic mountains stand as silent sentinels around the valley border, sheltering it from harsh winds and embracing it with a sense of tranquility. The sprawling fields, meticulously irrigated by a network of canals, reflect the tireless efforts of farmers who have transformed this rugged terrain into an agricultural paradise. And there's trouble in paradise. You and Kosuke dismount at the first farm, a rice field, and approach the farmhouse only to find its lock broken and no inhabitants inside. You've already reached the crime scene. The two of you look for clues while your donkey is tied around a tree as, quite frankly, you don't know how to park a donkey. <<include "ch2-mission-checkfarm">>\

The journey back to town takes longer than the journey out of town. Mostly because \ <<if ($banditchoice is "Justice")>>\ you're corraling $capturedbandits bound \ <<if ($capturedbandits gt 1)>>\ prisoners \ <<else>>\ prisoner \ <</if>>\ on a long march and \ <<if ($capturedbandits gt 1)>>\ none of them are \ <<else>>\ he isn't \ <</if>>\ in a hurry despite the occasional threat. It doesn't help that \ <</if>>\ your donkey cart is going uphill and there's a third body in the back, the bound up unconscious body of 'Master' Taio. Considering his strength you used enough rope to cover most of his body and then added chains for good measure. A feeling of relief washes over you when you pass through the Thunderfall Village gates without issue, nodding to the guards on duty. "Hail, Disciple." Says one of the guards. "Anything to report?" For once, you do have something to say to the guards. It feels unnatural, normally you and Kosuke are avoiding them instead. "Summon Master Mao and Magistrate Khan to the town center, I've captured \ <<if ($banditchoice is "Justice")>>\ slavers that were abducting our peasants."\ <<else>>\ the Martial Artist behind our missing peasant problem."\ <</if>>\ The guard nods and does exactly as he's told, which is surprising and refreshing. Ten minutes later Master Mao meets you in the town center. He approaches with a confident stride and a scowl. "Mission reports are done in private, Disciple, not in the town square for everyone to see." You suppress an urge to retort back and instead keep things professional. "Apologies //sir//, but the abductions have been dealt with. It was bandits working for the Sunbringers to cause instability for Thunderfall Village. I've brought \ <<if (($banditchoice is "Justice") and (($capturedbandits is 19) or ($capturedbandits is 20)))>>\ them all \ <<elseif ($banditchoice is "Justice")>>\ the survivors and their leader \ <<else>>\ their leader \ <</if>>\ here for judgment." "Sunbringers eh? Sounds typical, I figured they'd quiet down after I finished off Master Bangle but they've only gotten dirtier. Now let's see who we have here." You feel a powerful sensation press down on your spirit. A quick glance at Kosuke's pained expressions tells you that $bffheshe feels it too. Mao's massive Aura Pressure is scanning the entire market square. Yet rather than lean closer to the heavily tied unconscious bandit leader, his face snaps in //your// direction. "...Why the fuck do you have \ <<if ($element2 is "Fire")>>\ Fire Chi in your \ <<if ($jadedragonfoundation is true)>>\ soul and an Aura Pressure in the thousands?" "I was born special?" You say, and try to leave it at that. He doesn't budge, keeping his eyes burrowing into you. "A special birth doesn't mean jack shit for enlightened Advancement, why do you have //Immortal Cores?//" <<else>>\ soul?" You begin to sweat profusely, not helped by the burning energy in your spirit. "I uh....I did a lot of burning people." "Hah!" Mao slaps you on the back to a degree that //almost// doesn't hurt. "Kid, burning Sunbringers isn't something to be ashamed of. Hell, have a drink on me for it." He flips you a gold coin from seemingly out of nowhere. ''[Item Gained: 1 Gold]'' <<var $gold + 1>>\ You catch it, getting used to this new Mao, and then freeze with a chill down your spine when you feel his nose pressed against your cheek, his eyes burrowing into you uncomfortably close. "C-Can I help you, Sect Master?" "Why does your spirit have Immortal Cores?" <</if>>\ <<elseif ($jadedragonfoundation is true)>>\ an Aura Pressure in the thousands?" "I was born special?" You say, and try to leave it at that. He doesn't budge, keeping his eyes burrowing into you. "A special birth doesn't mean jack shit for enlightened Advancement, why do you have //Immortal Cores?//" <<else>>\ Immortal Cores?"\ <</if>>\ "I saw him make them," you point to \ <<if ($banditchoice is "Sacrifice")>>\ Taio and omit the mention of the haunted Path Manual, \ <<else>>\ Taio, \ <</if>>\ "I figured I could do it too. So I \ <<if ($jadedragonfoundation is true)>>\ uh, \ <</if>>\ did." Mao looks unconvinced. "That's a training technique we teach after years of study. Half the lower Disciples can't do it." "Then $heshe's better than half the lower disciples." Kosuke smugly retorts with crossed arms. Mao tightens his scan onto Kosuke who immediately drops unconscious from the spiritual pressure. "That's better." Mao \ <<if ($jadedragonfoundation is true)>>\ says, pulling away from you. \ <<else>>\ says. \ <</if>>\ "And this is suspicious. Highly suspicious. Nobody uses Immortal Core Advancement //during// a fight. If you know how to do it, you do it during training and then get used to your new power. You're sure he used it during battle? Tell me he didn't announce its name like a combat Technique." "He did." "Hah!" Mao snorts out a quick laugh. "What a loser." He shakes his head looking down on the captured prisoner, then looks over to you only to notice your deadpan expression. "...Did //you// announce its name like a combat Technique?" <<if ($deception gte 2)>>\ ''[Deception 2 Check Passed]'' <<apboost 3>>\ "Give me more credit than that, Mao." "That's //Master// Mao." He replies, focused more on his vanity than your lie. "But \ <<else>>\ ''[Deception 2 Check Failed]'' "Uh....No?" <<var $metmao + 10000000000>>\ Mao cringes. "If anyone asks at the Trials, you're not from Thunderfall. But \ <</if>>\ back to my point, this doesn't add up. Let's say he did use Immortal Core Advancement in the middle of combat. Then what, you just figured it out from seeing it once?" He studies your face. "Who's been teaching you? Whoever it was, they're not from Thunderfall." An ominous green power glows around his body. "That's a problem." You're genuinely confused so it's not hard to look the part. "I don't know what to say. He used \ <<if ($tomeuse is 2)>>\ it during the fight and I kind of...felt out what was happening. He was attuning his chi to four purposes that match the four Cores, like tying them to a reflex, and I did the same." You leave out mention of the haunted Path Manual he used to do it, since you used it too. No need to invite trouble. Finally he relents scrutinizing your face and waves a dismissive hand with a sigh. "Eh, \ <<include "ch2-maoexplains">>\ <<elseif ($tomeuse is 1)>>\ some strange Path Manual that powered him up. It highlighted the right four areas to focus on for him, so I worked off that idea. Why don't you tell people the secret if all they have to do is focus their chi towards a specific desire per Core?" "Because \ <<include "ch2-maoexplains">>\ Show me that Path Manual you mentioned." You raise the haunted Path Manual out of your satchel, its leatherbound screaming face on the cover available for display. Mao rips the Path Manual from your grasp and his nose wrinkles. "Ancestors above, this thing //reeks// of Fiend essence. You didn't use it did you?" "No." You say definitively, and judging by Mao's expression you're feeling grateful you didn't. "Good, you'd be on your way to becoming something rotten if you had. A ghoul or a grim, or just shedding your skin and bones to become a bloodwalker." He looks down at Taio and tilts his head inquisitively. "Just what the Hells kind of enemy were you facing?" Before you can open your mouth he holds a hand up, "Nevermind, kid. I was thinking out loud, I don't actually care what you have to say. I'll get all the details out of him myself because \ <<elseif ($tomeuse is 3)>>\ some strange Path Manual on himself, made four glowing crimsons orbs of power that highlighted the right areas to focus on, and I figured it was a clue that each Core represents a type of desire. Then I just...did it. It's not hard, why don't you teach people earlier if it's such a simple concept?" "Eh, \ <<include "ch2-maoexplains">>\ Show me that Path Manual you mentioned." "I destroyed it." <<var $maorep + 3>>\ Crusher Mao's expression relaxes. "Good. It sounds like the thing was a Soul Treasure he was using to store his power, which I've never heard of so who knows what other weird shit that Path Manual might have held. Destroying it makes sure he can never get that power back. Now move, \ <</if>>\ I'm taking our guest here to the torture chambers for questioning." An elderly voice interrupts him. "I doubt that would bring anything useful, Master Mao." Crusher Mao closes his eyes as if to suppress for a headache. "Magistrate Khan, so good of you to join us." The Village Magistrate approaches the scene with a limp steadied by a cane in his right hand. You've never seen him need one before. "It is the market square, after all. I believe anyone could join us." He looks down on the captured and bound form of Taio, then back to you and Crusher Mao with worry in his aged eyes. "Ah. I see. Such a terrible thing to bring to our doorstep. How much do either of you know about Demonic Sects?"\ <<choose "ch2-khantalk">> #"Like a Martial Arts Sect of all Demons?" What the hell is a demonic Sect? "You mean like a Martial Arts Sect of all Demons?" Damn, that sounds scary. Magistrate Khan looks to Sect Master Mao as if he's to blame for your ignorance. Mao's massive shoulders respond with a single shrug. "No." Says the Magistrate. "A Demonic Sect is a group, or rarely an individual, who partake in forbidden cultivation Techniques that allow them to harness power from the blood of even the most powerless peasant. Most Demonic Sects are pathetic dredges who borrow power from malignant spirits at their formation and use that borrowed power to capture and drain their victims. Such Demonic cultivation is \ #use-if ($lore gte 2) "Quite a bit." [Requires Lore 2] ''[Lore 2 Check Passed]'' <<apboost 2>>\ "Demonic Sects use forbidden knowledge to harness power from human sacrifice, right?" You jog your memory from your time at the library and, a bit more shamefully, the time when you and Kosuke researched how to get strong fast. "Most of the time they form from evil spirits lending some power to angry peasants." "Very good." Says Khan, "And that is why we kill such cults whenever they form; their practice is heavily \ <</choose>>

Without such an insanely high Aura Pressure focused on $bffhimher anymore, Kosuke wakes up shortly after Mao's departure. "Hnnnggg...My head..." The two of you are in the center of the market square with people finally starting to enter now that the Magistrate and Sect Master have left. Kosuke lies flat on $bffhisher back and looks up at you with eyes half-open. "What'd I miss?" "A lot." You hold up a finger with each new revelation. "Taio was a Clone created with a Technique, the real version is so strong that he killed, or is, an Inner Kingdom shinobi as strong as Mao, he's part of a cult that uses people's blood for power and might turn into Fiends, and \ <<if ($banditchoice is "Justice")>>\ <<include "ch2-slave-end">>\ <<else>>\ <<include "ch2-normal-end">>\ <</if>>\

Mao mentioned a torture chamber at one point." "We have a torture chamber?" "We do now." You shrug. "Cool." Kosuke closes $bffhisher eyes again and relaxes in the sun. "What a wild day. I don't envy you making an enemy of someone on Mao's level. Heh, goodluck." You eye Kosuke wondering if $bffheshe took brain damage. "You fought him too." <<cap $bffhisher>> expression changes from relaxed to horrified. "Oh Hells, you don't think I'm on his list too do you?" "Absolutely." "...I'm changing my name." <<page "Go home to rest." "ch2-processend">>\

<<var $val 0>>\ Father takes a deep breath. "First I want to say, I was so afraid of bringing bad kinds of attention onto this family that I never even entertained pursuing power, so when you did it I was madder then a crazed \ <<if ($name is "Asura")>>\ Asura-" "But //I'm// a crazed Asura." You say, being named Asura. <<var $solexp + 2>>\ "Don't think I won't spank you. But let me finish. Picking \ <<elseif ($clan is "Asura")>>\ Asura-" "Wouldn't //we// be the crazed Asura?" You ask, being the Asura Clan and all. <<var $solexp + 2>>\ "Don't think I won't spank you. But let me finish. Picking \ <<else>>\ Asura. I mean, picking \ <</if>>\ a fight with the Crusher family? Ancestors know I was fuming, but once I'd come to my senses I accepted the truth. That fight started before you arrived. Your brother is the idiot, not you - oh and don't tell him I said that." You nod. You'll save that ace up your sleeve in case you and Jin get into an argument someday. Father continues. "Truth be told, you saved your brother and that should be rewarded. Joining the Thunderfall Sect? Making us Warrior Caste? Those are pretty titles, nothing more. They were given, they can be taken away. But you did the most important thing in the world when you made sure your family //wasn't// taken away. I'll trust your decisions from now on, odd as it may feel seeing as I raised you so I've seen you make plenty of bad decisions, but first I want one last chance to be your Father. To be the man responsible for you. One last thing I can give you before you've grown so much that there's nothing I can do to help." He hands over the curtain-wrapped object. "What I'm saying is, while you've been resting I \ <<if $background is "Trapper">>\ went out and got something I've had my eye on. I've got no use for it, too dangerous for me, but I think you can use it well." Father removes the curtain-wrapping to reveal a giant egg almost as big as your chest. Your eyes bulge. "Is that a..." <<if ($firstchapter is 1)>>\ "Yep, one of that Thunderbird's eggs. <<else>>\ "Yep, one of that giant bird's eggs. Grabbed it out on my trapping route when the mother was away. <</if>>\ She's probably trying to follow my aura's trail to track me down this very minute but...shucks, ain't got one." ''[Item Obtained: Roc Egg]'' <<var $roc 1>>\ He rubs the back of his neck as you take the skull-sized egg. "Don't know a single thing about taming or rearing it, that life ain't for me, but if there's anything that can help you with your new journey, it's this. I hope you like it." <<choose "ch2-startlife">> #"This is fantastic! Thank you Father!" [Keep the egg] <<var $ruthless - 1>>\ #"Yes! All the skies will fear the combined might of $fullname and Egg!" [Keep the egg] <<var $ruthless + 1>>\ #"I can't, it's irresponsible to bring another monster into this world. [Sell the egg to alchemists] <<var $page 1>>\ <<var $honor + 3>>\ <<var $roc 0>>\ <<var $silver 6000>>\ <<var $prestige + 5>>\ ''[Prestige Increased]'' ''[Item Gained: 6,000 Silver]'' #"Ew." [Sell the egg to the highest bidder] <<var $page 1>>\ <<var $silver 7000>>\ <<var $prestige + 3>>\ <<var $honor - 3>>\ <<var $ruthless + 2>>\ <<var roc 0>>\ ''[Prestige Increased]'' ''[Item Gained: 7,000 Silver]'' <</choose>>\ <<elseif ($background is "Herbalist")>>\ spent my time brewing something up." You remove the curtain-wrapping to find a wooden rack of preserved alchemy ingredients and one blue pill glowing inside a vial of purple liquid. ''[Item Gained: 20 Alchemy Reagents]'' <<var $alchemyreagents + 20>>\ ''[Item Gained: 1 Earthly Prowess Pill]'' <<var $earthlyprowess 1>>\ "The powders and herbs are good for any occasion, but the real joy is the pill. Normally they're too expensive. Gathering the materials takes years of searching. Heh." Father brushes his shoulder nonchalantly, "I've had plenty of years. There's also the real trouble, being that it needs to steep for so long in natural aura. An unreal amount of chi has to go into these to fake it, but you make your own chi now that you're a Martial Artist, and you've got time. Keep putting power into this pill and when it's finished you'll have something beautiful that'll make any disciple cry with envy." He shoves the collection into your arms. "And I do mean cry." <<page "Continue" "ch2-startlife">>\ <<elseif ($background is "Blacksmith")>>\ hammered out something in the forge, you'll find it more useful than my usual craftsmanship." You remove the curtain-wrapping and find a pair of padded metal vambraces with a light amber glow in your spiritual senses. Father looks down on his work with pride. "Third Soul Treasure I've ever worked with. They're imbued with a simple Earth-aligned Core, the only one I could get my hands on. Damned shortage these days, but it should be able to add some weight so you can take a punch or dish one out. Nothing flashy, but slow and steady wins the race." ''[Item Gained: Empowered Armguards]'' <<var $armguardname "Empowered Armguards">>\ ''[The Armguards are an Accessory-type item that provides a bonus while equipped.]'' ''[They can be equipped from the Inventory page]'' <<choose "ch2-startlife">> #"Father, these are amazing!" "Aw shucks." Father says, "I mean sure they're...Hells," He drops the facade. "I know they're amazing. Honestly they're incredible. I can't believe it actually worked when I got the damned thing bound together. Had to bribe an alchemist with a crate of nails. They're my Heaven-sent masterpiece and I cannot //wait// to see you punch some rich disciple in the face with my creation." He pulls you in for a big hug. "I'm so damned proud of you, <<cap $name>>." <<page "Continue" "ch2-startlife">>\ #Punch the ground to test them out. The ground cracks against your blow. Not in some grand earthquake, but with a few broken cobblestones and far more of a crunch than it should have landed, especially since your hand doesn't hurt at all. Oh yes, these will do nicely. <<page "Continue" "ch2-startlife">>\ #"Put nails on them." <<var $ruthless + 2>>\ <<var $armguardname "Empowered Armguards (Spiked)">>\ You look to Father while holding his masterpiece creation. "I appreciate the armguards, Father," You say, "and I appreciate the gesture, but they're not done. We need one final adjustment." "And that is?" "Nails." Father sighs with relief. "I thought you'd never ask." The two of you head down to the forge and bond over your love of nails as you transform your new armguards from an aesthetic piece of armor into a //more// aesthetic piece of armor. When you're finished the two of you look upon your creation with pride. "Nailed it." You both say in unison. <<page "Continue" "ch2-startlife">>\ <</choose>>\ <<elseif ($background is "Merchant")>>\ worked out the paperwork and purchased a partnership with a Caravan Sect from Outer South." You stare at Father in bewilderment. "A Caravan Sect? Like, a Sect that runs multiple caravans? How could you afford it?" "How? I'm a businessman damn it!" Father proclaims with righteous indignation, "I've been trying to sell my debt-ridden trap of a store for years but couldn't find a good deal \ <<if ($firstchapter is 1)>>\ due to our Caste. As soon as you got us jumped up a notch to Warrior Caste \ <<else>>\ since everyone thought we'd be downgraded to Laborers soon. Once you fixed that bad reputation \ <</if>>\ I had more people willing to deal with me, and that gave me some ideas." He withdraws a pile of inventory listings, contracts, and Bills of Sale and flips through them. "First I took out a lower interest loan to pay off my higher interest loans and that made the whole shop more appealing on records. Offered it to seven local buyers and got their offers on paper, took the highest one to eight caravans over a season to get a competing offer until one offered me thirty percent more. Then I took //that// offer as a proof of value so I could get a new loan from a different caravan, renovated the storefront, got a NEW offer-" He goes on a bit as you zone out and cycle your own chi. It doesn't give you any power since you're not adding anything into your spirit but it's a good practice to keep your soul "in shape". A few minutes later you realize he's still going and you snap back to reality. <<page "Continue" "ch2-merchpause">>\ <</if>>\

<<page "Continue" "ch2-missionsuccess">>\

<<if ($persuasion is 0)>>\ <<apboost 2>>\ <<else>>\ <<var $val (1 + ($persuasion * 2))>>\ <<apboost $val>>\ <<var $val 0>>\ <</if>>\ <<var $banditchoice "Farmhands">>\ <<var $sect_thunderfall + 10>>\ <<if ($persuasion gte 2)>>\ <<var $sect_thunderfall + 5>>\ <</if>>\ <<var $ruthless - 2>>\ <<var $commerce + 1>>\ "All I see before me is two groups of people. One who worked hard to make something from this mountainous valley and one who sought to take something from this mountainous valley. The way I see it, we can't have peace until there's only one group left." Some of the bandits hang their heads, others look up in horror. A few look around for a way out. \ <<if ($element2 is "Fire")>>\ red flames flow \ <<else>>\ white haze flows \ <</if>>\ around your body, even though the effect of flexing your aura strains you painfully after your fight. Still, the dramatic effect is needed. You look down on the bandits and proclaim your edict: "That's why I'm recruiting you as farmers and guards. You'll be expanding the farmlands and irrigation routes for these farmers until you've paid off your debt." You turn to the farmers. "Every head of household, come pick an indentured servant to work for you. And every bandit, keep in mind what happened to your leader." With a grunt you lift the unconscious, bloodied bandit leader up by the back of the neck. "I am giving you all a chance to learn useful skills instead of being beheaded in the town square. //Do not make me regret this.//" It takes hours to sort out the details but eventually every farming family leaves with an indentured servant. It's a pleasant sight to see the farmers equipped with the bandits' armor and weapons. "You think this will work out?" Kosuke asks as you watch the last family leave. <<if ($ruthless gte 53)>>\ "It better, for their sake." You crack your knuckles for emphasis. "Plus it's poetic justice, these assholes wanted to enslave our Laborers and now they're basically Slave Caste themselves. I think a win for the Laborers has a nice ring to it."\ <<else>>\ "I hope so. Most of those men were just shitty kids a few years back, like we were. I want them to have a chance to be better. Not everyone slips and falls into a Heavenly Gate and a Caste promotion like I did."\ <</if>>\ "Ain't that the truth." Says Kosuke of the Laborer Caste. <<var $bffrep + 3>>\ <<page "Continue" "ch2-missionsuccess">>\

Every face turns to a scowl and they charge you in unison. <<page "Continue" "ch2-bossfight">>\

<<choose "ch2-prepchoices">> #use-once use-if ($survival gte 1) Gather herbs from the farms. [Requires Survival 1] Not all farmed herbs are useful, but nearly all useful herbs are farmed. With the surplus of abandoned farms in your surroundings the two of you are able to collect a plethora of useful ingredients for later. <<var $val (2 + $alchemy)>>\ ''[Item Gained: $val Alchemy Reagents]'' <<var $alchemyreagents + $val>>\ #use-once use-if (($alchemy gte 1) and ($alchemyreagents gte 3)) Refine a Healing Elixir pill. [Requires Alchemy 1 and 3 Reagents] With so many other ingredients and rich soil you've got nearly everything you need to brew a potent Healing Elixir pill. Between the pantry in the house and the lychee spirit fruits as a base you only need a minimal amount of ingredients from your personal collection. ''[Lost Item: 3 Alchemy Reagents]'' <<var $alchemyreagents - 3>>\ ''[Item Gained: Healing Elixir]'' <<var $healingelixir + 1>>\ "Cool." Says Kosuke, looking over your shoulder at your stained fingers and the glowing red pill. It shines in your hand until you drop it into an opaque vial to mask its presence. #use-once use-if ($craft gte 1) Build a weapon for Kosuke. [Requires Craft 1] Chi blasts are well and good but they're loud, spiritually speaking, and extremely bright. You want something more stealthy for this mission. The child's weapon earlier gives you the idea. Using the surplus of materials and workshop in the barn you and Kosuke put together a crossbow and a few bolts that should give $bffhimher the silent element of surprise. It works surprisingly well for your first design, firing accurately through the persimmon that your donkey was reaching for. He hangs his head in defeat when it disappears off the tree. <<var $kosukecrossbow true>>\ #use-once use-if (($perception + $thievery) gte 2) Locate any hidden valuables. [Requires Perception + Thievery 2] You're no saint. Kosuke doubly so. If these three were bandits then there's no way they haven't hidden a cache of stolen goods somewhere around here. The two of you check the most obvious places first. Which isn't to say the most obvious to everyone, but the places you would hide things. Together you knock on each floorboard in less-traveled spaces until you find a hollow one against the wall, just under a four-legged side table where no one would be walking. The perfect spot for a cache. Bingo. <<rand $val 420 580>>\ ''[Item Gained: $val Silver]'' <<var $silver + $val>>\ <<if ($alchemy gte 1) and ($alchemyreagents lt 3)>>\ ''[Item Gained: 3 Alchemy Reagents]'' <<var $alchemyreagents + 3>>\ <<else>>\ ''[Item Gained: 4 Ritual Components]'' <<var $ritualcomponents + 4>>\ <</if>>\ #use-once use-if ($insight gte 2) Detect spirit fruit from the lychee trees. [Requires Insight 2] Like any Advancement Elixir, your body can only process so much spirit fruit at once. Especially spirit fruits of the same type. Luckily you have a second use for them: Kosuke. You waltz through the orchard and reach out with your spiritual senses to find which trees have any noticeable chi stored within them, then narrow down that sensation until you can find the lychee that have absorbed the most. By the end you have two dozen spiritually-infused lychee. "Bottoms up!" Kosuke shouts, eating a handful. <<if ($bffromance gte 1) and ($heshe neq $bffheshe)>>\ "Make sure to swallow, no spitting." You say as $bffheshe motions to spit out the seed. "Oh very funny." <<cap $bffheshe>> says with an eyeroll. \ <</if>>\ Then something incredible happens. Kosuke's \ <<if ($kosukeaura is true)>>\ second \ <<else>>\ first \ <</if>>\ Core begins to form. "Oh shit!" You shout in alarm, "Sit down and cycle, like we did before! Compress all that energy into your center as tense as it will go. You want to push it until it breaks through and you form the yang aspect of your Core to compliment your current Yin aspect." "I don't know what any of that means!" Kosuke yells back, dropping into a meditative state and trying to figure out what to do with $bffhisher hands. The chi-infused fruit was just barely enough to make the difference so unlike your near-instant Advancement in a \ <<if ($firstchapter is 2)>>\ fight, \ <<else>>\ Heavenly Gate, \ <</if>>\ Kosuke's is a grueling ten-minute process of you shouting instructions and Kosuke clenching $bffhisher teeth, sweating through the strain. ''[Your Mentorship has ''\ <<if ($kosukeaura is false)>>\ ''unlocked ''\ <<var $kosukeaura true>>\ <<else>>\ ''improved ''\ <</if>>\ ''Kosuke's aura.]'' Finally the Core is formed and a white mist rises around Kosuke's soaked body, which is lying facedown on the ground. "This sucks." <<cap $bffheshe>> whines, unable to raise $bffhisher arms. "Advancement sucks. How did you fight like this?" "Some of us are naturals. Take a ten minute break." You leave to let Kosuke rest there on the ground. On your way out you swipe the last of the lychee spirit fruit. They can't help as much as they did before, but that's never stopped you from seizing an advantage. <<var $kosukecombat + 1>>\ <<apboost 3>>\ #show-if (($lore + $alchemy) gte 3) use-once Fill your cart with barrels of explosive manure. [Requires Lore+Alchemy 3] <<if ($subrace is "Wolf")>>\ Your nose twitches from the proximity to so much crap. Why did your great-great-grandparent have to be a wolf? <<var $forexp + 1>>\ <</if>>\ "Hear me out." You say for the third time while dropping a sixth empty wooden barrel on the ground. "No." Replies Kosuke, standing next to the compost pit of a neighboring cattle farm. The last four games of rock-paper-sword to decide who has to dig the dung for your genius plan have ended in a tie. You've devolved into diplomacy. "If the manure is packed into a sealed barrel and treated properly the gas build up could be our greatest weapon! Don't you want to see a massive explosion?" "Not //this// badly." "Look someone's got to do it and I'm the one who has to get up and close for battle, I can't have them smelling me a mile away." <<if ($bffheshe is "he")>>\ "...Fine." Kosuke finally gives in. "But only because I'm no quitter, and I don't trust \ <<if ($heshe is "she")>>\ a //woman// to do it right." "Thattaboy." You reply, not taking the obvious bait to make you do it instead. \ <<if ($bffromance gte 1)>>\ "And make sure to do it shirtless!" You spend the next hour watching him work, upwind. <<else>>\ Better luck next time, Kosuke. <</if>>\ <<else>>\ you to do it right." <</if>>\ "You got me." You say with relief, "I'm a terrible shit shoveler." <<else>>\ "No." <</if>>\ <<if ($underlings gt 0)>>\ "Alright alright, we have a backup plan." You turn to the barn where your new underling is relieving himself. "MINION! Get over here and dig up these barrels of cow crap!" "You got it boss!" Shouts your pressganged bandit with gusto. <<elseif ($bffromance gte 1) and ($bffheshe isnot $heshe)>>\ "Well damn. Looks like if I want something done right then a man's got to do it." You reply, praying she disagrees. "Damn right." Kosuke says, "and he should do it shirtless, too." "You going to ogle me while I shovel cowshit?" She backs up and lays down on the grass. "From upwind, yeah." <<else>>\ "You know, if Jin were here he'd love the idea. I thought you would love blowing stuff up too." Kosuke narrows $bffhisher eyes at you. "That's different since Jin always smells anyway, no loss to him. Besides, I know what you're doing." "And?" "And it's working. Just give me the damned shovel." <</if>>\ Hours later you've got six barrels filled to the brim with pungent cow \ <<if ($alchemy gte 1)>>\ dung, treated with a few powders, \ <<else>>\ dung \ <</if>>\ and ready to be used as explosives. You're sure this could not possibly backfire as you load them all together onto your donkey's cart. <<var $explosives 1>>\ #use-if ($powspent gt 0) Meditate to restore 1 spent Power Core. [Ends Preparations] -> "ch2-tavern1" <<var $powspent - 1>>\ <<var $powexp + 1>>\ #use-if ($forspent gt 0) Meditate to restore 1 spent Fortitude Core. [Ends Preparations] -> "ch2-tavern1" <<var $forspent - 1>>\ <<var $forexp + 1>>\ #use-if ($agispent > 0) Meditate to restore 1 spent Agility Core. [Ends Preparations] -> "ch2-tavern1" <<var $agispent - 1>>\ <<var $agiexp + 1>>\ #use-if ($solspent > 0) Meditate to restore 1 spent Soul Core. [Ends Preparations] -> "ch2-tavern1" <<var $solspent - 1>>\ <<var $solexp + 1>>\ #Get some sleep. [Ends Preparations] -> "ch2-kosukequestion" <</choose>>

Kosuke finishes tying the \ <<if (($underlings is 1) and ($capturedbandits is 19))>>\ unconscious bandit \ <<elseif ($capturedbandits is 18)>>\ last unconscious bandit \ <<else>>\ unconscious bandits \ <</if>>\ to a sturdy tree outside, making sure to bind \ <<if ($capturedbandits is 18)>>\ his \ <<else>>\ their \ <</if>>\ hands and feet as well. The two of you look out over the orchard farm around you, at the barn full of who knows what, and at the forested mountains from which you arrived. You have a battle coming and you need to prepare. "So," You say after a big stretch, "One enemy Martial Artist, twenty career bandits, dozens of hostages, and trained Sunbringers arriving tomorrow morning." "Easy enough." Kosuke replies nonchalantly. "What's the plan?" <<var $kosukecrossbow false>>\ <<var $explosives 0>>\ <<var $skipheartbeat false>>\ <<var $an "an">>\ <<include "ch2-prepchoices">>\

<<var $honor - 2>>\ <<if ($deception gte 1)>>\ ''[Deception 1 Check Passed]'' <<var $val ($deception * 2)>>\ <<apboost $val>>\ <<var $val 0>>\ <</if>>\ The bandits sit before you in silence awaiting your verdict. All possible punishments flash through your mind and a smile stretches slowly across your lips. Crusher Mao has always had spies looking into the Sunbringer activity but was never one for subtlety. His raids against them were always Martial Artists whose auras could be detected. You have an unpowered, undetectable fighting force in front of you. "Tell me, criminals, what did you hope to gain by enslaving our people for the Sunbringers?" None respond. "It's not a fake question. What did you really wish to gain? Wealth? Power? Protection? Prestige?" None respond. "Well I have good news for you. I'm offering a chance to get all of these things and more." //That// finally gets their attention. Some of the farmers take a concerned step away from you. One speaks up. "Forgive me, Disciple, but what are you saying? Do you intend to let these men go?" "Yes." You respond casually. "But not to go free. I'm going to let them go do what they do best." You turn to the bound bandits with arms wide open. "I'm sending you back into the world to be bandits. Better bandits. //My// bandits. You're going to raid the Sunbringer Sect and give a share of the profits to these farmers and myself." ''[Commerce Increase]'' <<var $commerce + 2>>\ "But-" Says one of the bandits before Kosuke kicks him in the forehead and sends him tumbling. It's always good to have a right-hand \ <<if ($bffheshe is "he")>>\ man \ <<else>>\ woman \ <</if>>\ who knows the right time to act. "No buts." You reply as he stops rolling and groans. "You. Work. For. Me. Don't worry about the Sunbringers catching you or what areas you're going to raid. I'll supply you with their warehouse locations and guards' travel routes from the Thunderfall Sect intel records, you'll hit their local merchants on the roads and bring me a share of what you get in exchange for the next month's intel. The bonus is you'll be the least likely suspects because everyone's going to say you all died here today." You look to the farmers with an intimidating leer and they nod in agreement. "You see that? Everyone agrees. Congratulations on your fresh start." <<var $banditchoice "Raiders">>\ <<include "ch2-packup">>\

//You find yourself in the middle of a bustling marketplace, far from home in an unfamiliar city. The smiles of travelers greet you and children chase each other around the market in circles, their laughter ringing through the air. Suddenly the laughter turns to screams when the bright day turns to a night as dark as ink. The people around you drop to their knees, looking to the sky where their sun has been swept away, and their bodies wither as if drained of life.// //You run towards them, desperate to help, but as soon as your fingers graze their skin they turn to ash. The entire city, once vibrant and full of life, is now silent and empty. You are left alone in the midst of the destruction that, deep down, you know you have wrought.// And then you awake. <<page "Chapter 3" "ch3-start">>\

The grueling training combined with Big Chu's weekly corrections does its work to fix the flaws of your Martial Arts basics. More than anything, however, it helps to advance your spirit towards something deep within that you never quite understood. One night you rush to Big Chu's house in the village, feeling something unsettling in spiritual Core. "Sensei!" You shout. "Something's wrong with my aura!" He rips the door open after your incessant knocking, displeased. A tingle runs between your shoulders as he spiritually scans your aura and nods. "You're developing your first Technique. As I have given you no Technique Manuals, it is almost assuredly built into your lineage. A Racial Technique. Now get out of my doorway." "But what does that mean?" You plead, wondering what the growing feeling throughout your body implies. "All creatures possess potential for a natural Technique. Dragons breathe fire, Phoenixes are immortal, and Kitsune steal your money. Your spirit has matured from a minnow to a carp, and so you are manifesting your natural Technique." A young woman's head pokes out from behind his door and he quickly closes it more to block her view of you. "Congratulations student. Now get ''out!''" <<var $eblocktech "">>\ <<var $pblocktech "">>\ <<var $page 1>>\ <<if ($subrace is "Cat")>>\ <<learntech 3230740100000000 "Apex Predator" "Passively increases Stealth by +1. Increases Agility Core by +1 when focused.">>\ ''[Apex Predator increases your Stealth by +1. In addition, when focused to your Agility Core, it increases your Agility Core by +1.]'' <<elseif ($subrace is "Wolf")>>\ <<learntech 1210720100000000 "Apex Hunter" "Passively increases Perception by +1. Increases Power Core by +1 when focused.">>\ ''[Apex Hunter passively increases your Perception by +1. In addition, when focused to your Power Core, it increases your Power by +1.]'' <<elseif ($subrace is "Reptile")>>\ <<include "ch2-lizardspecial">>\ <<halt>>\ <<elseif ($subrace is "Bovine")>>\ <<learntech 2500050112000000 "Natural Armor" "Passively increases Aura Pressure by +5. Passively increases Health Pool by +1. Increases Survival by +1 when focused.">>\ ''[Natural Armor increases your Health Pool by +1 and your Aura Pressure by +5. In addition, when focused to your Fortitude Core, it grants +1 Survival.]'' <<elseif ($subrace is "Monkey")>>\ <<learntech 3800003103000000 "Eternal Warrior" "Passively increases AP by +3 when suffering a Wound and your Wounds no longer subtract from AP gained when defeating an enemy. Increases Chi Pool by +2 when focused.">>\ ''[Eternal Warrior increases your Aura Pressure by +3 whenever you suffer a Wound. In addition, Wounds no longer subtract from the AP you gain when defeating an opponent. Lastly, when focused to your Agility Core, it grants +1 to your Chi Pool.]'' <<elseif ($race is "Kitsune")>>\ <<learntech 5000470010100000 "Fox Charm" "Passively increases Aura Pressure by +5. Passively reduces the cost of Seals by 1 Component. Passively increases Deception by +1.">>\ ''[Fox Charm passively reduces the cost of all your Seals by 1 Ritual Component. It also passively increases your Deception by +1 and Aura Pressure by +5.]'' <<elseif ($race is "Oni")>>\ <<learntech 4500600111000000 "Spiritblood" "Passively increases Aura Pressure by +5. Passively increases Chi Pool by +1. Increases Insight by +1 when focused.">>\ ''[Spiritblood increases your Chi Pool by +1 simply by learning the Technique. While focused to your Soul Core it also grants +1 Insight.]'' <<elseif ($race is "Human")>>\ <<learntech 3500036110000000 "Human Spirit" "Passively increases Aura Pressure by +5. Passively spends all available chi to prevent death. Increases Persuasion by +1 when focused.">>\ ''[Human Spirit grants 5 Aura Pressure when learned, increases Persuasion by +1 when Focused to the Agility Core, and passively spends all of the user's Chi to ignore wounds when brought to the brink of death.]'' <<elseif ($race is "Lunargoth")>>\ <<learntech 5000000100000000 "Indomitable Will" "Passively blocks certain energy attacks automatically.">>\ <<var $eblocktech "Indomitable Will">>\ ''[Indomitable Will forms a shield of chi around your skin to automatically block certain energy attacks made against you.]'' <<else>>\ ''[The Heavens betray you! (Error: Unknown race $race)]'' <</if>>\ ''[Certain Techniques must be "Focused" to gain their full benefits. To focus a Technique you must attune it to a specific Core by choosing to "Meditate upon your Techniques" in your Menu's Cultivation Page.]'' <<page "Continue" "ch2-continuechu">>\

"What are you doing?" says a heavy man's voice from behind. Spinning around you see an excessively large and fat Human in combat armor. He notices the open treasury cabinet in front of you and grimaces. "You would rob the bounty earned by Big Chu?!" <<if ($portraitpics is true)>>\ <<image "https://www.auraclash.com/assets/images/big-chu.jpg">>\ <</if>>\ Oh shit. You think of something, fast. <<if ($deception gte 2)>>\ ''[Deception Check Passed]'' "Honored Warrior, what are you talking about?" You feign ignorance and concern, "I was ordered by a caravan merchant to bring this out due to the Trade Agreements." Big Chu glares down at you, his eyes shifting to the hall. "Hmph. I'll check on that later. For now, follow me to the library. I know who you are, <<cap $name>>, Master Mao has instructed me to train you to the point that you do not embarrass <<if ($firstchapter is 1)>>\ us." <<else>>\ us now that you've proven yourself in the initiation trial." <</if>>\ You eye him questioningly. "Are we to fight in the library?" "If you question my every order then we will fight wherever we go." Big Chu says with an uncaring shrug. He turns and leaves, motioning for you to follow him. You do of course, but only after grabbing the closest sack on a cabinet when he's no longer looking. ''[Item Gained: 50 Shards]'' <<var $shards + 50>>\ <<page "Continue" "ch2-trainingtalk">>\ <<else>>\ ''[Deception 2 Check Failed]'' <<var $honor - 3>>\ "Uh...No?" <<include "ch2-robbercaught2">>\ <</if>>\

Suddenly, you are airborne. The wall rushes in to meet your face when Big Chu slaps you with his meaty hand. ''[Lost 2 Aura Pressure]'' <<var $aurapressure - 2>>\ <<var $forexp + 1>>\ <<page "Blackout" "ch2-robbercaught3">>\

Water splashes against your face, washing away your unconscious state. Some of it goes up your nose. The room is dark and the sensation of drowning takes hold when you realize you're upside down on a reclining table with a towel over your face. Big Chu's large hand is on your shoulder and he seems to be trying to wake you up. "I'm up!" You shout through panicked coughing fits. "I'm awake!" "I know." Says Big Chu while waterboarding you. "Master Mao instructed me to give you the basic \ <<if ($firstchapter is 1)>>\ lessons. \ <<else>>\ lessons if you survived your initiation trial. \ <</if>>\ Consider this the first." As soon as you finish blowing the water from your nostrils another stream pours in. "The armory's supplies are rewards for success, worm. You lack the strength to seize them, so do not touch what you have not earned." After another few minutes of simulated drowning he finally relents. "That should do it. You may stand, student. It is time to train you to the point that you do not embarrass us." Bright light fills the room when he takes the towel off. You rise on shaky feet. It takes more effort than you expected to regain your composure and pretend you weren't embarrassed. "Right...Right. So, what's-" you snort out more water from your nose involuntarily, "what's the first lesson?" Big Chu opens the door of the armory. "We're going to the library." <<page "Continue" "ch2-trainingtalk">>

"No thank you." You say with a raised hand. The farmhand bows his head. "Of course Honored Guest, but I am sorry to say this is all we can offer to aid you in your journey. Are you sure you do not want it?" If all you're getting out of this bonus reward is a few Aura Pressure, it would be a shame to waste it... <<choose "ch2-saiyesplease">> #Accept the spirit fruits and tea. #"I'm sure." "I'm sure." You say with total resolution. "I see, well in that case let's discuss the bandit problem." The farmer says, dismissing his farmhand to the kitchen. <<page "Continue" "ch2-sainoty2">>\ <</choose>>\

<<if (($perception gte 1) or ($farmhandcollab))>>\ <<if ($perception gte 1)>>\ ''[Perception 1 Check Passed]'' <<else>>\ ''[Special Event: Farmhand Collaboration Clue]'' ''[Aura Pressure +2]'' <<var $aurapressure + 2>>\ <</if>>\ The dismissed farmhand returns to the kitchen at full sprint with a knife in-hand. With swiftness only seen among trained Martial Artists you grab a plate off the table and throw it at the charging 'farmhand', knocking the knife out of his grip and staggering him towards the door. \ <<else>>\ ''[Perception 1 Check Failed]'' You don't see the farmhand return with a knife in hand until he's already upon you. <<var $combatstat "agility">>\ <<combatcheck 2>>\ <<if ($passcheck is true)>>\ Quick reflexes let you narrowly dodge the knife strike as the dismissed farmhand sprints back into the room with a scream. You only dodge by leaning forward in your chair, then grab his arm and twist the wrist until something pops. He drops the knife and staggers back toward the doorway, looking down at the small bone now protruding from his skin. <<else>>\ ''[Failing such an easy check was meant to be impossible. You have achieved greatness in this loss.]'' <<aploss 5>>\ <</if>>\ <</if>>\ "What is the meaning of this?!" You shout to the farmer as he jumps out of his chair in alarm. Not at the farmhand. At you. <<if ($farmhandcollab)>>\ Just as you had suspected, you've found the bandits responsible. <<else>>\ It all clicks into place, a little too slowly. You've found the bandits responsible. <</if>>\ <<include "ch2-saiy3">>\

and- <<if ($val is 411)>>\ ''[Mao's Warning Activated]'' <<var $powexp + 1>>\ <<var $agiexp + 1>>\ <<var $forexp + 1>>\ <<var $solexp + 1>>\ <<elseif ($farmhandcollab)>>\ ''[Special Event: Farmhand Collaboration Clue]'' <<var $forexp + 3>>\ <<else>>\ ''[Perception + Alchemy 3 Check Passed]'' <<var $solexp + 2>>\ <<var $forexp + 1>>\ <</if>>\ -is poisoned?! Oh Hells. You gently place the tea down and look at the three 'farmers' in the room. It becomes painfully obvious that you've found some of the bandits you've been looking for. <<choose "ch2-interrogation">> #Forcefeed your tea to the farmer. "Host, I would be delighted if you tried my tea for me. My culinary etiquette for this region is lacking, I'd like to see you do it first." All three of them freeze. "Honored Guest, I could never-" "You can, and you will." An aura of white haze rises from your body ominously. <<if ($persuasion gte 1)>>\ ''[Persuasion 1 Check Passed]'' ''[Aura Pressure +2]'' <<var $aurapressure + 2>>\ <</if>>\ <<var $solexp + 1>>\ The farmer and his two farmhands look to each other and scowl. "Honored Guest, please. I can't-" Events turn to violence, as they always do, but this time it's because of you. <<page "Continue" "ch2-saiy3">>\ #Slam your chair into a farmer's head. Events turn to violence, as they always do, but it's you who causes it this time. Quickly thinking you pull your chair out from under you and break it over the head of the farmhand by the door. The other two jump to intervene but Kosuke leaps from $bffhisher seat and intercepts the second farmhand, dropping them to the ground with an armbar hold. The farmer himself draws a dagger that doesn't do much good when you punch him in the lung so hard that his feet leave the ground. He crashes into the wall and crumples to the floor, unconscious. <<var $powexp + 1>>\ It's over before it begins. You look over to the only conscious bandit remaining, the one Kosuke has in a hold on the ground. You walk up and place a foot on the man's neck. "I think it's time we get to know each other. Why don't you tell me about yourself and all your friends?" <<page "Continue" "ch2-interrogation">>\ <</choose>>

and you let out a content sigh. Finally, some good food. After your first three sips you notice the others looking at you in silence. "The tea is delicious." You say to ease their worries. They must be deeply concerned of your opinion of them. After all, you are a Martial Artist here to save them. That's why they're still looking at you with such concern. With such...expectancy. Oh, you've been poisoned. <<var $combatstat "fortitude">>\ <<combatcheck 3>>\ <<if ($passcheck is true)>>\ ''[Poison Resisted]'' <<else>>\ <<woundcheck 1 false false>>\ <</if>>\ "Now!" Shouts the farmer. One farmhand grabs Kosuke around the waist while another seizes you around the shoulders. The poison works its way through your system but it's crude, only affecting the body and not your inner chi. Power cycles through your Cores in reaction, spinning rapidly to build momentum. The farmer pulls a woodcutter's ax off the wall just as your scorching hostile chi within your Cores builds enough force to launch out of your hands in a bright chi blast. <<choose "ch2-interrogation">> #Blast the farmer. <<var $powexp + 1>>\ White hot energy erupts from your hands so hard that it knocks your chair backwards into the kitchen wall. The farmhand behind you takes the brunt of the blow as your chair crushes his sternum against the wall and knocks him unconscious. The farmer doesn't do so well. Your chi blast of scalding hot hostile energy blasts through his shirt and blisters his skin immediately. Smoke comes from his mouth and he can barely let out a stutter before falling out of his own chair. That just leaves the one holding Kosuke, who immediately releases $bffhimher and holds his hands in the air after seeing what could have happened to him. "I surrender!" "Good!" Shouts Kosuke, leaping from the floor and placing the bandit in an armbar hold out of revenge. The two drop to the floor together. Every inch of your body aches from the poison coursing through your veins as you walk up to the grappled bandit and put your foot on his neck. "I'm tired, I'm poisoned, and I am not happy. Start talking." <<var $val to 33>>\ <<page "Continue" "ch2-interrogation">>\ #Carefully shoot the farmhand holding Kosuke. <<var $solexp + 1>>\ <<var $bffrep + 3>>\ White hot energy erupts from your hands so hard that it knocks your chair backwards into the kitchen wall. The farmhand behind you takes the brunt of the blow as your chair crushes his sternum against the wall and knocks him unconscious. "Oh shit, oh shit, OH SHIT!" Kosuke shouts as your blast of hostile combat chi the size of a campfire shoots just above $bffhisher head, crashing into $bffhisher captor and knocking them off. Well, not really knocking them off. The blast was more scalding than concussive. It's more like you burned all the hair and skin off their face, knocked them unconscious from the shock, and they fell off. The just leaves the farmer, who immediately drops the axe and holds his hands in the air after seeing what could have happened to him. "I surrender!" "The Hells you do!" Shouts Kosuke, leaping from the floor and placing the farmer-bandit in an armbar hold. The two drop to the floor together. Every inch of your body aches from the poison coursing through your veins but its effects are slowing and you've got a job to do. You walk up to the grappled bandit and put your foot on his neck. "I'm tired, I'm poisoned, and I am not happy. Start talking." <<page "Continue" "ch2-interrogation">>\ <</choose>>

Quickly thinking you pull your chair out from under you and break it over the head of the farmhand by the door. The other two jump to intervene but Kosuke leaps from $bffhisher seat and intercepts the second farmhand, dropping them to the ground with an armbar hold. The farmer himself draws a dagger from his boot that you swat away with ease and grip him by the jaw. You lift the man who tried to poison you off the ground, holding him by his jaw, and look him in the eyes. This man tried to truly kill you. It's a first. A first you haven't forgiven. You slowly raise your teacup off the table and pour its poisoned contents down his throat. The man screams, writhing in pain, and you let go to watch him drop to the floor. In seconds a white froth comes from his mouth, quickly turning red, and in mere seconds more he dies. It's a gruesome sight. <<var $ruthless + 4>>\ <<var $capturedbandits - 1>>\ You crouch down to the only conscious bandit remaining, the one Kosuke has in a hold on the ground. "That was not very good tea." You say. "I have questions about bandits, and you either have answers or you have your own cup to drink." <<page "Continue" "ch2-interrogation">>\

A single bite is all it takes to know these spirit fruits are the real deal. Each succulent lychee produces a juicy burst with a softly sweet taste and sour aftershock. The tree from which they grew has clearly soaked in ambient chi for generations. ''[Aura Pressure +8]'' <<var $aurapressure + 8>>\ <<var $powexp + 1>>\ Likewise the tea's citrusy aroma soothes your tired bones \ <<if (((($perception + $alchemy) gte 3) or ($val is 411)) or ($farmhandcollab is true))>>\ <<include "ch2-saiy1">>\ <<else>>\ <<include "ch2-saiy2">>\ <</if>>\

<<if $pick is 1>>\ It's time for some unspoken benefits. You wander across the hall to the treasury of the armory and gaze at the wonders. The weapons are locked away and are probably ritually-sealed seeing as even the dojo's sound was sealed away, but after close inspection you find many of the lesser items are unprotected. <<choose "ch2-sectrobbery2">> #Take one of the trophies <<var $pick 1>>\ #Take some of the alchemy reagents. <<var $pick 2>>\ #Take some of the ritual components. <<var $pick 3>>\ #Take one of the Path Manuals. <<var $pick 4>>\ <</choose>>\ <<elseif $pick is 2>>\ <<var $honor + 5>>\ <<var $solexp + 3>>\ <<var $powexp + 3>>\ <<var $forexp + 3>>\ <<var $agiexp + 3>>\ <<include "ch2-bigchu">>\ <<elseif $pick is 3>>\ <<if (($thievery + $stealth) gte 4)>>\ <<var $honor - 2>>\ ''[Stealth + Thievery 4 Check Passed]'' <<var $skillmanual + 1>>\ ''[Item Gained: Path Manual - Skill]'' <<rand $val 18 25>>\ <<var $ritualcomponents + $val>>\ ''[Item Gained: Ritual Components ($val)]'' <<rand $val 18 25>>\ <<var $alchemyreagents + $val>>\ ''[Item Gained: Alchemy Reagents ($val)]'' <<rand $val 400 500>>\ <<var $armorytrophy + $val>>\ ''[Item Gained: Soul Treasure ($armorytrophy AP)]'' ''[Soul Treasures can be cycled in the Cultivation Page to increase your Aura Pressure by a fraction of their power.]'' <<var $val 0>>\ You've had your fair share of mischief and robberies in the past but you've never had access to a bounty like this, and you have no intention of missing out on it. By the time you finish looting the armory's less secured treasures your gi is stuffed with perfectly balanced loot so it doesn't look like you're a thief. It simply looks like you're fat. <<page "Continue" "ch2-bigchu">>\ <<else>>\ ''[Stealth + Thievery 4 Check Failed]'' <<var $honor - 3>>\ <<include "ch2-robbercaught">>\ <</if>>\ <</if>>\

<<if $pick is 1>>\ <<if ($stealth gte 1) or ($thievery gte 1)>>\ ''[Stealth/Thievery 1 Check Passed]'' <<rand $val 350 500>>\ <<var $armorytrophy + $val>>\ ''[Item Gained: Bestial Soul Treasure]'' ''[Soul Treasures can be cycled in the Cultivation Page to increase your Aura Pressure.]'' <<else>>\ ''[Stealth/Thievery 1 Check Failed]'' <<include "ch2-robbercaught">>\ <<halt>>\ <</if>>\ <<elseif $pick is 2>>\ <<if ($stealth gte 1) or ($thievery gte 1)>>\ ''[Stealth/Thievery 1 Check Passed]'' <<rand $val 18 25>>\ <<var $alchemyreagents + $val>>\ ''[Item Gained: Alchemy Reagents ($val)]'' <<else>>\ ''[Stealth/Thievery 1 Check Failed]'' <<include "ch2-robbercaught">>\ <<halt>>\ <</if>>\ <<elseif $pick is 3>>\ <<if ($stealth gte 1) or ($thievery gte 1)>>\ ''[Stealth/Thievery 1 Check Passed]'' <<rand $val 18 25>>\ <<var $ritualcomponents + $val>>\ ''[Item Gained: Ritual Components ($val)]'' <<else>>\ ''[Stealth/Thievery 1 Check Failed]'' <<include "ch2-robbercaught">>\ <<halt>>\ <</if>>\ <<elseif $pick is 4>>\ <<if ($stealth gte 1) or ($thievery gte 1)>>\ ''[Stealth/Thievery 1 Check Passed]'' <<var $skillmanual + 1>>\ ''[Item Gained: Path Manual - Skill]'' <<else>>\ ''[Stealth/Thievery 1 Check Failed]'' <<include "ch2-robbercaught">>\ <<halt>>\ <</if>>\ <</if>>\ Your brother Jin always says the greedy fish becomes a meal. You don't know where he heard it, but he mumbles it whenever he gets caught and spanked. You take his bad example to heart and quit while you're ahead. <<page "Continue" "ch2-bigchu">>\

"Gentlemen." You say after adjusting your outfit and scanning the grizzled faces throughout the tavern hall. The faces of your enemies. "On behalf of the Thunderfall Sect... <<choose "ch2-preboss">> #"You're all under arrest." You look upon the two dozen bandits with the cold nerves of authority. From your travel pack you withdraw a truly unreasonable amount of rope and toss it into the center of the room. It lands with a heavy 'thud' as you announce your verdict. <<var $honor + 2>>\ "Start binding your hands or you will be beaten. You are all under arrest." #"I'm going to kill everybody in this room." You look upon the two dozen bandits with smug superiority, as you've earned, and announce your verdict. "I'm going to kill everybody in this room." <<var $ruthless + 3>>\ <</choose>>

You take the Path Manual in shaky hands and grin. It's obviously not a regular Path Manual but also some sort of Soul Treasure; you witnessed first-hand when Taio used it to consume some sort of power. "Give it to me." You say while opening the tome, hoping to activate the effect somehow. "Give me everything you have left." A trick of the light makes you think the front cover of the Path Manual smiles ever so slightly. Then its crimson light leaves the Path Manual and enters your aura, swirling effortlessly to your Cores like water down a drain. <<var $taint + 30>>\ <<var $tomeuse 2>>\ <<if ($race is "Oni")>>\ As an Oni you feel more whole, as if your spirit were a shadow of its true self and you've taken a step towards manifesting your real potential. \ /* gain gravitas, an increased level of Presence that makes your deeds seem greater. */\ <<var $prestige + 1>>\ <</if>>\ <<apboost 30>>\ Memories flood into you as well, memories of Taio's life. Yet for some reason none pertain to his past, they are instead memories of actions. Picking locks, forging documents, sneaking up on targets for murder, crafting a dozen fake identities, and deceiving his crew to believe they would ever be given a fraction of his Path Manual's power. All these memories flood into you, but the ones that stick out the most are... \ <<if ((($thievery gte 2) and ($deception gte 2)) and ($stealth gte 2))>>\ <<choose "ch2-dessyprep">> #The lies. [Increase Deception] <<var $deception + 1>>\ <<var $honor - 2>>\ #The murders. [Increase Stealth] <<var $stealth + 1>>\ <<var $ruthless + 2>>\ #The thefts. [Increase Thievery] <<learnthievery 1>>\ <<var $honor - 1>>\ <</choose>> <<else>>\ <<choose "ch2-dessyprep">> #use-if ($deception lte 1) The lies. [Increase Deception] <<var $deception + 1>>\ <<var $honor - 2>>\ #use-if ($stealth lte 1) The murders. [Increase Stealth] <<var $stealth + 1>>\ <<var $ruthless + 2>>\ #use-if ($thievery lte 1) The thefts. [Increase Thievery] <<learnthievery 1>>\ <<var $honor - 1>>\ <</choose>> <</if>>\

You keep your eyes closed and meditate to pass the time, focusing on all your lessons in life and the skills they have brought you. All of them will be needed for your journey ahead. In particular, you're thankful that you picked up some tricks in... <<var $val (11 - $skillgain)>>\ <<if ($skillgain > 1)>>\ ''[$val Choices Remaining]'' <<else>>\ ''[$val Choice Remaining]'' <</if>>\ <<if ($val isnot 0)>>\ <<include "ch2-skillpick2">>\ <</if>>\

<<choose "ch2-skillpick3">> #use-if ($alchemy lt 3) Alchemy <<var $alchemy + 1>>\ #use-if ($athletics lt 3) Athletics <<var $athletics + 1>>\ #use-if ($craft lt 3) Craft <<var $craft + 1>>\ #use-if ($deception lt 3) Deception <<var $deception + 1>>\ #use-if ($handseals lt 3) Handseals <<var $handseals + 1>>\ #use-if ($insight lt 3) Insight <<var $insight + 1>>\ #use-if ($lore lt 3) Lore <<var $lore + 1>>\ #use-if ($perception lt 3) Perception <<var $perception + 1>>\ #use-if ($persuasion lt 3) Persuasion <<var $persuasion + 1>>\ #use-if ($stealth lt 3) Stealth <<var $stealth + 1>>\ #use-if ($survival lt 3) Survival <<var $survival + 1>>\ #use-if ($thievery lt 3) Trickery <<var $thievery + 1>>\ <</choose>>\

<<var $skillgain + 1>>\ <<if ($skillgain is 11)>>\ <<include "ch2alt-gotomerge">>\ <<else>>\ <<include "ch2-skillpick">>\ <</if>>\

Mao gave the captured bandits the choice of slavery or death, they chose slavery." You take a long breath after such a run-on statement. "I get to keep one." Kosuke closes $bffhisher eyes again and relaxes in the sun. "What a wild day. I don't envy you making an enemy of someone on Mao's level though. What a short straw, goodluck." You eye Kosuke wondering if $bffheshe took brain damage. "You fought him too." <<cap $bffheshe>> freezes, not even breathing for a moment. "Oh Hells, you don't think I'm on his list do you?" "Absolutely." Kosuke buries $bffhisher face in $bffhisher hands. "I'm going to have to change my name." <<cap $bffheshe>> widens $bffhisher hand and peeks through two fingers. "You gonna keep the slave?" <<choose "ch2-smackem">> #"Only until he's repaid his debt to society for what he's done." "I'll only keep him as a servant until he's paid his debt to society for what he's done." <<var $ruthless - 2>>\ <<var $honor + 2>>\ "Oh yeah?" Says your prisoner, stepping too close to you for comfort. The shaggy ex-bandit's breath and beard smell heavily of booze. "Is that how you see it? Who gets to decide how long I have to 'serve', //you?// Some form of justice that is." He spits on your boots. "You're no better than me!" #"A free slave? Hell yeah I'm keeping him." "A free slave?" You look over to the bound bandit like he's a pile of walking gold. "Hell yeah I'm keeping him." <<var $honor - 2>>\ <<var $ruthless + 1>>\ "Keep me?!" Shouts your captured slaver. "That makes you no better than me! I thought you were supposed to be some sort of hero?" #"Nah, he's free to go." -> "ch2-freeslave" With one last glance at your slave you give a slow shake of the head. "Nah, he's free to go." #show-if ($underlings gte 2) "Nah, he's free to go. And so is my other underling." -> "ch2-freeslave" With one last glance at your slaves you give a slow shake of the head. "Nah, he's free to go. And so is my other underling." #"I'd rather sell him at the market." <<var $underlings - 1>>\ <<var $shards + 120>>\ ''[Item Gained: 120 Shards]'' Selling your captured slaver into slavery turns out to be more lucrative than you expected, giving 10 years worth of your old allowance. "Wow, no wonder you guys were selling people." Kosuke says as you sell your enemy for a heavy sack of Shards. "You're worth a fortune." Rather than enjoy the irony, you simply finish the trade and go home to rest. It's been such a long couple of days and your body is still reeling from your Advancement. Sleeping in your own bed sounds //amazing// right now. <<page "Continue" "ch2-processend">>\ #show-if ($underlings gte 2) "I'd rather sell both my underlings at the market." <<var $underlings - 2>>\ <<var $shards + 240>>\ ''[Item Gained: 240 Shards]'' Selling the two slavers turns out to be more lucrative than you expected, giving 20 years worth of your old allowance. "Wow, no wonder you guys were selling people." Kosuke says as you sell your enemy for a heavy sack of Shards. "You're worth a fortune." Rather than enjoy the irony, you simply finish the trade and go home to rest. It's been such a long couple of days and your body is still reeling from your Advancement. Sleeping in your own bed sounds //amazing// right now. <<page "Continue" "ch2-processend">>\ <</choose>>

<<choose "ch2-processend">> #Elbow him in the nose. -> "ch2-smackem2" #"Quit your whining and clean your spit off my boot." "Quit your whining and clean your spit off my boot." You say to the captured slaver, meeting his angered face with an impassive stare. "I-" He raises a fist to your face and pauses, suddenly remembering what you did to his boss. You see recognition in the man's eyes and catch on that, somehow, in the middle of his tirade, he forgot that you're an empowered Martial Artist and he is not. "-Will go find a rag." "Your shirt will do." Kosuke \ <<if (($bffromance gte 1) and ($bffheshe isnot $heshe))>>\ says before turning back to you. <<include "ch2-kosflirt">>\ <<halt>>\ <<else>>\ says. "But seriously, ready to get out of here? Because I can use a healer's hut." "Agreed." You say while your new servant shines your shoe. "Thanks for the assist." "Don't mention it." Kosuke replies. "No really, don't mention it. Rin wanted me to collect honey for her makeup while we were down there and I forgot. If she asks, I never went." <<page "Continue" "ch2-processend">>\ <</if>>\ #"Fine, then go free and prove you're a better man." -> "ch2-freeslave" "Fine," you say to the enslaved bandit, "then go free and prove you're a better man." <</choose>>

<<var $ruthless + 1>>\ Blood spurts from the man's nose as you crack your elbow up faster than his eyes can track. Some of the blood rains down on your gi. Ugh, Rin will have to wash these. The captured slaver screams and holds his nose with bound hands but you grab him by the collar and lift him off the ground. "Arrogant prick, you tried to enslave ''my people'' and now you complain when it happens to you? If you think this is up to debate then a broken nose will be the least of your concerns. Do we understand each other?" He nods so quickly that more blood spills onto your sleeve. <<if (($bffromance gte 1) and ($bffheshe neq $heshe))>>\ //Hot.//" Kosuke whispers at your side, stepping closer and placing $bffhisher \ <<if ($heshe is "he")>>\ arms around your shoulders. \ <<else>>\ hands on your waist. \ <</if>>\ <<include "ch2-kosflirt">>\ <<else>>\ "Damn, where did that come from?" Kosuke asks. Turning to $bffhimher takes the look of anger off your face when you see <<print $bffheshe>>'s almost laughing. "Heh...Yeah I may need sleep." You drop the prisoner-bandit and he crumples to the floor. "I think my Advancement's still reeling through my body. Ancestors above, I miss my bed." "Heh, I feel the same way. My eye needs a healer and sleeping on the cart made me feel as out of shape as Big Chu looks. Catch you tomorrow?" "You got it." The two of you head to your respective homes for the first relaxing night in what feels like forever. <<page "Continue" "ch2-processend">>\ <</if>>\

<<unset $cheapskateshard>>\ <<unset $leftovershards>>\ <<unset $tummydraw>>\ <<unset $shardgain>>\ <<unset $athchoice>>\ <<var $chapter 2>>\ <div class="fightingfont">Chapter Two</div>\ //''In which a Warrior begins $hisher Path,''// //''An announcement shakes the core of society,''// //''And the innocent disappear.''// Dynasties are forged, every one of them, in a series of important victories. Yours is no different. The fledgling $clan Clan enters the world under young leadership and a new life stands before you. But such peace is an illusion. As your power finally becomes a reality, so too do the dangers of this world. You have been noticed. <<page "Continue" "ch2-start2">>\

<<var $chispent 0>>\ <<var $powspent 0>>\ <<var $forspent 0>>\ <<var $agispent 0>>\ <<var $solspent 0>>\ <<timepass>>\ A new day, a new era! Sunlight shines down on your village through the rolling fog of the mountain peaks. It's a day for celebration: after a week of constant itching and imbibing Mother's horrendous medicinal soup you've finally removed your bandages. A few groggy steps take you into the kitchen for some real food; drinking nothing but burnt acidic leaves for days does a blow to the stomach. Father, Mother, Jin, and Rin all sit around the family table when you enter. They audibly gasp at the sight of you. "What's wrong?" You ask, taking a quick sniff to see how bad you smell. Pretty bad. "Not that." Rin says. "It's worse" Jin adds. "No, not worse," Mother says between giggles, "just...different." Father gets up and beckons you to a reflective glass in the washroom. "Why don't you see for yourself?" He says. You're a bit put off when he stands, he seems...shorter. You walk to the reflective glass and peer in. <<cap $eyecolor>> \ <<if ($yokaitrait2 is "cat eyes")>>\ feline \ <<elseif ($yokaitrait2 is "reptilian eyes")>>\ reptilian \ <</if>>\ eyes stare back through the face of a $manwoman a few years older than you. More mature, more defined. It takes a long pause before you accept you're looking at your own reflection. You were on the cusp of adulthood already but it looks like you leaped to the good end. No wonder your body had been sore and itching so fiercely while you healed, it was growing! You look at the mirror and marvel at what your first Advancement must have done to your body. <<if ($heshe is "he")>>\ As a man you've grown into your full physique that's most noticeably... <<choose "ch2-start3">> #Lean and agile, like a wolf. [Increase Athletics] <<var $athletics + 1>>\ <<var $bodytype "Agile">>\ #Large and muscular, like a warrior. [Increase Survival] <<var $survival + 1>>\ <<var $bodytype "Muscular">>\ #Defined and handsome, like a hero. [Increase Persuasion] <<var $persuasion + 1>>\ <<var $bodytype "Handsome">>\ #Short and stocky, like a builder. [Increase Craft] <<var $craft + 1>>\ <<var $bodytype "Manlet">>\ <<if ($jadedragonfoundation is false)>>\ <<achieve "King of the Dwarves">>\ <</if>>\ <</choose>>\ <<else>>\ As a woman you've grown into your full physique, most noticeably you have... <<choose "ch2-start3">> #A runner's build with shapely legs. [Increase Athletics.] <<var $athletics + 1>>\ <<var $bodytype "Legs">>\ #A lean and petite build. [Increase Stealth] <<var $stealth + 1>>\ <<var $bodytype "Petite">>\ #An eye-catching hourglass figure. [Increase Persuasion] <<var $persuasion + 1>>\ <<var $bodytype "Hourglass">>\ #More muscle than I ever expected! [Increase Craft] <<var $craft + 1>>\ <<var $bodytype "Dommymommy">>\ #show-if ($subrace is "Bovine") The need for a bigger bra. A MUCH bigger bra. [Requires Female Bovine Yokai] [Increase Persuasion and Deception] <<var $persuasion + 1>>\ <<var $deception + 1>>\ <<var $bodytype "Bodacious">>\ <</choose>>\ <</if>>\

Your body isn't the only thing that's grown. Your unkempt $haircolor hair has traveled past your waist from the transformation, you decide to... <<if ($heshe is "he")>>\ <<choose "ch2-start4">> #Keep it that long. <<var $hairlength "waist-length">>\ #Keep it that long and tie it back. <<var $hairlength "long and tied">>\ #Cut it to chest-length. <<var $hairlength "chest-length">>\ #Cut it chest-length and tie it back. <<var $hairlength "tied-back">>\ #Cut it to shoulder-length. <<var $hairlength "shoulder-length">>\ #Cut it to shoulder-length and tie it back. <<var $hairlength "short and tied-back">>\ #Cut it short. <<var $hairlength "short">>\ #show-if (($alchemy gte 1) or ($firstchapter is 2)) Cut it short and spike it up with alchemical treatments. <<var $hairlength "spiked">>\ ''[Your continuous use of alchemical preparation each morning has improved your understanding of cultivation.]'' <<apboost 2>>\ #Cut it down to a mere quarter-inch. <<var $hairlength "short-trimmed">>\ #Shave it all off. <<var $hairlength "bald">>\ <</choose>>\ <<else>>\ <<choose "ch2-start5">> #Keep it that long. <<var $hairlength "waist-length">>\ #Keep it that long and tie it back. <<var $hairlength "long and tied">>\ #Cut it to chest-length. <<var $hairlength "chest-length">>\ #Cut it chest-length and tie it back. <<var $hairlength "tied-back">>\ #Cut it to shoulder-length. <<var $hairlength "shoulder-length">>\ #Cut it to shoulder-length and tie it back. <<var $hairlength "short and tied-back">>\ #Cut it short. <<var $hairlength "short">>\ #show-if (($alchemy gte 1) or ($firstchapter is 2)) Cut it short and spike it up with alchemical treatments. <<var $hairlength "spiked">>\ ''[Your continuous use of alchemical preparation each morning has improved your understanding of cultivation.]'' <<apboost 2>>\ <</choose>> <</if>>\

More than just the hair on your head, the hairs of your face have come in. The beard hasn't grown as much as your hair has but whether you let it grow out or trim it down, the time to shape it is now. You decide to... <<choose "ch2-start5">> #Grow out a long beard. <<var $beardlength "long">>\ #Grow out a long beard and braid it. <<var $beardlength "long braided">>\ #Grow out a modest beard. <<var $beardlength "medium-length">>\ #Grow out a modest beard and braid it. <<var $beardlength "medium-length braided">>\ #Keep a short beard. <<var $beardlength "short">>\ #Trim it to a goatee. <<var $beardlength "goatee">>\ #show-if ($race is "Lunargoth") Trim it to a sharp goatee with twirled mustache. <<var $beardlength "devilish goatee">>\ #show-if ($race is "Oni") Trim it to just the mustache. <<var $beardlength "mustache">>\ #show-if ($race is "Human") Trim it to a fu manchu mustache. <<var $beardlength "fu manchu">>\ #Shave it clean. <<var $beardlength "">>\ <</choose>>\

After that you take a long steaming bath and finally make your way to the kitchen again where you can enjoy a proper meal of peaches and porridge with your family. It's the first thing you've tasted besides burnt leaf soup in half a week and it is wonderful. When you're done Jin and Rin get to their chores and you steady your nerves to prepare for your new life as disciple of the Thunderfall Sect, whatever that entails. You open the door, fill your lungs with a breath of thin yet crisp mountain air, take one eager stride outside, and step on something. A parcel. Thankfully the package isn't damaged. It only contains a letter and a palm-sized, smooth, oval rock with handseal runes etched around its center. A keystone. You haven't used one before but you've seen merchants use them all the time to get through their ritual-locks. <<page "Read the letter." "ch2-start6">>

<<image "https://www.auraclash.com/assets/images/ac-linebreak-top.png">>\ //This will get you into the lower barracks.// //Take a martial arts gi and belt from the armory.// //You'll be trained by a lower sensei.// //Do not fuck up.// //-Master Mao// <<image "https://www.auraclash.com/assets/images/ac-linebreak-bottom.png">>\ That was almost polite. You wonder how many tries it took him to write that. Mao was terrifying at first. Not just his presence and demeanor, but the very idea of him. Discovering that your safety had always been dependent on a glorified bandit's demands. However, between Magistrate Khan's scheme and the passage of time you've gotten over the shock. You take one step out the door when you're stopped again, this time by a voice from behind. <<include "ch2-merger">>\

Nothing else interrupts your trip to the Magistrate's. That surprises you. All this time you had imagined some revenge duel against Jack at the grand pagoda's entrance but instead there's only the hustle and bustle of regular villagers going to the clerks or the library. It's surreal to see life go back to normal after everything you've been through. You enter and ascend the stairwell to the second floor where Warrior Caste's lower barracks lie behind a single locked door, the place where they store equipment and rest between missions. With a deep breath you hold up the keystone and it begins to glow. The door slides open. You're shocked when you see what's been going on inside the barracks all this time: Everybody was kung fu fighting. <<page "Continue" "ch2-startlife2">>

No wonder you never found out where the Thunderfall combat dojo was, they've been hiding it inside the pagoda! A blur of auras clash as four Martial Artists fight five others, all garbed in dark blue martial arts gi with black trim and white belts. Fists, elbows, kicks, weapons, and blasts of chi volley throughout the wide featureless room that resembles a dojo far more than a barracks. You see in particular a man with a spear launch flames from its tip towards an elderly woman in leather armor. She deflects the attack with two glowing arms and charges at him with a flying kick, but she's not what gets your attention. You're more alarmed about the fire she redirected towards a wall. It's going to burn the place down! <<page "Continue" "ch2-startlife3">>

At least, you thought it would burn the place down. When the flames splash against the wall they do nothing. A soft blue glow of ritual-seals emits from the wall, extinguishing the fires and sending lines of glowing energy from the impact site down to the mat that covers the entire room's flooring. <<if ($handseals gte 1)>>\ ''[Handseals 1 Check Passed]'' Some sort of ritual to conserve chi, you think. It gives you an idea to try later. <<var $val (3+$handseals)>>\ <<if $val lt (3+$insight)>>\ <<var $val (3+$insight)>>\ <</if>>\ <<apboost $val>>\ <<var $val 0>>\ <<else>>\ ''[Handseals Check Failed]'' You don't really get how it works. <</if>>\ You wonder if the clerks downstairs know that there are deadly attacks being launched just twenty feet above them. You //know// the commoners don't know they're happening. More importantly they don't //hear// that they're happening. But the second you opened the door all that noise from roaring flames, thunderous impacts, enhanced kiais, and metal on metal suddenly burst into the stairwell and out the town's main square. A ritual-seal must have been blocking the noise too. Opening the door seems to have interrupted it and everyone inside notices. "By the Heavens, $boygirl," says the older woman in leather armor, "don't just stand there dumbfounded!" "You're letting the sound out!" barks a middle-aged man resembling a lumberjack. "Think of the peasants!" "The door! Shut the damned door!" shout three younger students in plain martial arts gi. One of them you even recognize from the fiasco with Jack earlier. <<choose "ch2-startlife4">> #I calmly shut the door behind me and bow respectfully. "You may continue." <<var $honor + 2>>\ Sneers come from the younger disciples but the older lady nods in approval. "You must be <<cap $name>>," she says, "welcome to the Sect. See to the armory in the back." #Oh Heavens. Oh crap. I shut the door as quickly as possible to protect the people's eardrums downstairs. <<var $ruthless - 2>>\ There's a steady grumbling but the (fellow?) Thunderfall Sect disciples get back to their dueling positions. You work your way around the room until you see it: #"Silence you idiots! You're making it worse!" I shout while slamming the door behind me. <<var $ruthless + 3>>\ <<var $honor + 1>>\ The room grows dark as their stares turn icy. One of the younger disciples steps up to you, a Human girl with a flat face. "Who do you think you are, to talk to me with such disrespect? Face me in a duel or acknowledge your cowardice!" "Fuck off." You say and waltz past her with a shoulder-check. She's lost for words. The lumberjack laughs. You've been in the Thunderfall Sect for a week, any extra rivals can wait until you've learned the bare basics. #What a bunch of whiners. I leave the door open and waltz past them. <<var $honor - 1>>\ You roll your eyes and stroll across the room. If the sound is such a problem and the door is so important to them then they can close it. You aren't the one who's been secretly launching murder techniques within ten paces of children. None of them bother you as you walk past, they're too busy racing to the doorway. <</choose>>\

On the opposite end of the dojo floor is another door to the actual barracks, which must be about as big as a wide hallway since the dojo section takes up most of the second floor. You open the door and step in, seeing a minor treasury of Martial Arts artifacts. The rightmost hall is lined with trophy showcases displaying weapons, glowing plants, jars of powders, sealed cursed objects, Beast trophy parts like claws and fangs, and a few Path Manuals. The leftmost hall contains a few resting mats and a wardrobe full of white cloth belts and sleeveless blue martial arts gi with black outer trim. The official Thunderfall uniform. <<page "Disrobe and don your new Combat Gi." "ch2-startlife5">>

Unexpected energy rushes through your body and spirit when you finish tying the knot of your new white belt. \ <<if ($firstchapter is 1)>>\ It takes a moment to realize the capital B in "Belt" wasn't a mistake from Crusher Mao's letter. \ <</if>>\ No one ever trained you so you don't know the specifics, but your energy seems to run more smoothly through your body with this White Belt on. ''[Item Gained: Combat Gi]'' <<var $combatgitf 1>>\ <<var $equippedoutfit "Thunderfall Combat Gi">>\ <<var $health + 1>>\ ''[Combat Gi equipped, adding +1 to Health]'' ''[Item Gained: White Belt]'' <<var $whitebelt 1>>\ <<var $equippedbelt "White Belt">>\ <<var $prestige + 1>>\ <<var $chipool + 1>>\ ''[White Belt equipped, adding +1 to Chi]'' With that it's time to get back home and figure out your burgeoning powers in private. ...or... Everyone else is back in the dojo, unable to see you, and those treasures in the leftmost hall look oh so tempting. <<choose "ch2-sectrobbery">> #Just one wouldn't hurt, I am a disciple of this Sect after all. <<var $pick 1>>\ #I am a Martial Artist now, I am above such petty needs. <<var $pick 2>>\ #I take everything that isn't nailed down! <<var $pick 3>>\ <</choose>>\

With the sentries gone you sneak to the barn and peek inside. The sight before you is exactly what you expected to see, but it still hits your gut to witness it. Dozens of men, women, and children, YOUR people, shackled to the walls inside. If you free them now it would alert the enemy and the hostages would be in danger, so it's time to take care of the main forces: the bandits inside the tavern and their leader. <<choose "ch2-stealthsuccess2">> #Waltz right in. It's time to end this, fist-to-fist. -> "ch2-shittalking" You kickdown the door to the tavern with such force that it flies off its hinges, slamming into one of the bandits hard enough to knock him off his seat. All cheer and merriment dies down as the men see you entering the room. #use-if ($explosives is 1) Blow up the entire tavern. [Requires Explosive Barrels] Parking the donkey cart so far away from the tavern was a poor choice. After twenty minutes of setting up you finally have your prepared barrels located where they need to be. "Hey, Sunbringer lackeys!" You and Kosuke shout in unison from a safe distance down the road. The chatter and merriment from inside the tavern abruptly stops. Moments later a couple lightly armored men come through the door with knives drawn to investigate. They wrinkle their nose at the sudden smell. "Who the Hells are you?" Shouts one bandit inside the doorway. A half dozen more can be seen peeking through the open doorway to see what the interruption is about. "I am $fullname, $patriarch of the $clan Clan. On behalf of the Thunderfall Sect you are all under arrest for abduction of our peasants. Come out with your arms bound or face annihilation." The second bandit chuckles as he raises a crossbow, pointed directly at you. "You must have a death wish kid. Hey boss, come check this out." Kosuke lets out an audible tsk tsk. You draw a piece of flint and aim for a well-placed pile of oil-soaked rocks you assembled on top of one of the barrels. "Your disobedience has been noted." <<var $explosives 2>>\ <</choose>>

<<page "Continue" "ch2-stealthsuccess">>

<<image "https://www.auraclash.com/assets/images/exploded-inn.jpg">>\ <<if ($jadedragonfoundation is false)>>\ <<achieve "Big Bang">>\ <</if>>\ <<var $capturedbandits - 12>>\ <<var $eventfun + 100000000>>\ Five barrels explode simultaneously in a chain reaction around the tavern. A blinding orange and red detonation is followed by a deafening boom, the concussive blast blows your clothes against you body when tavern walls erupt inward from both directions and the blaze engulfs everyone inside. Even the tavern becomes a weapon once the supports fail in the explosion and parts of the second story fall onto the screaming burning bandits in large sections of heavy burning timber. The essence of fire is so all-consuming in the area that your body even absorbs fractions of the heat's power as if it were a Heavenly Gate. <<apboost 7>>\ You shield your eyes from the debris and light until it fades into 'just' a tavern-sized inferno. The screams have slowly silenced to nothing. "Do you think we got them?" Kosuke asks redundantly, looking over to you with a sly smirk. <<cap $bffhisher>> face is covered in soot. Oh Heavens you hope that's soot, because it's on your face too and those explosives were manure barrels. Please be soot. "Let's find out." You say confidently to hide your inner turmoil, marching to the flames. It's time to collect the leader's body. <<page "Continue" "ch2-stealthsuccess3">>\

Searching through the debris is harder than you thought because you really let this tavern have it. The damn thing will be on fire for hours if not days. Kosuke's getting water from the nearby well to see what can be done while you take care of the hard part: suppressing the flames around you with waves of your own natural chi. It's not a real Technique you've mastered and, as such, barely works. ''[1 Chi Point Spent]'' <<var $chispent + 1>>\ Tremors of your inner energy push the flames away from your body with middling success as your spiritual senses feel out for their leader. He should still be alive, Martial Artists are notoriously hard to kill in one hit, but that explosion was pretty damn big... Your search is solved in the worst possible way a moment later when the orange glow of the fires turn darker. Too dark to be the red of fire chi and too light to be the scarlet of Akakiru's bladed chi. No, this color is the unmistakable crimson of blood. "Of all the fools in this world, I never expected a child to tread upon my plans." A voice echoes through the wreckage. "Yet I have never hesitated from killing a child." Urgency fills your mind and you send up a haze of white energy around you, forming your aura while looking around for the source of danger. <<if ($insight gte 1)>>\ ''[Insight 1 Check Passed]'' <<var $val 1>>\ <<apboost 2>>\ You feel the attack coming just in time to raise your guard. <<else>>\ ''[Insight 1 Check Failed]'' <<var $val 0>>\ You don't see the attack coming until it's too late. <</if>>\ <<page "Continue" "ch2-stealthsuccess4">>\

<<if ($portraitpics is true)>>\ <<image "https://www.auraclash.com/assets/images/demonicleader.jpg">>\ <</if>>\ <div class="fightingfont">Thunderfaller vs Master Taio</div>\ As the only Martial Artist reported in the group you can piece together that the bald monk who looks like he just stepped out of a demonic cult must be Master Taio. He's upside down in the air above you before you can even react, dropping a kick down deep into your shoulder. <<var $combatstat "agility">>\ <<combatcheck (4-$val)>>\ <<if ($passcheck is true)>>\ You catch his leg with both arms and tighten your grip. "Master Taio I presume." One heavy throw launches the man back into the fires. "Did you think that would work?" You taunt back, hoping people can still hear when they're on fire. No one's ever tested it that you know of. "YOU taunt //ME//?!" The voice screams from the blaze. "You should be thanking me for trying to execute you in one blow, FOOL! You've ruined everything!" "You're enslaving my \ <<if ($ruthless gte 54)>>\ peasants, \ <<else>>\ people, \ <</if>>\ don't expect sympathy from me." Suddenly the crimson power around him intensifies. "The only thing I expect from you is your demise. I don't know who sent you-" "Crusher Mao." You interrupt without hesitation. Worst case scenario you die and he seeks revenge on your bastard of a Sect Master. "-But I will ensure they receive your corpse in PIECES!" The man stomps through the fires and you swear the flames follow him, changing to a darker red and swirling around his body in a display of power. Yet upon closer look his ears are bleeding from the blast. His hands are scorched. Hell, he might have even had hair before the fire. "That's a nice trick," You say dismissively, "but you're already half dead. \ <<else>>\ Pain rocks down the left side of your body as his kick comes down so hard that your feet break through the brittle burnt flooring. He spins in place and grabs your shirt as a counterbalance, throwing you through a support beam and tumbling into the fires. <<woundcheck 1 false true>>\ <<if ($eblocktech isnot "")>>\ The impact is painful but the protective energies of your $eblocktech prevents the flames from damaging your skin. Yet the smoke is still lethal. \ <<else>>\ The pain of the impact is immediately replaced with the pain of the flames. No air enters your lungs, all of it burnt by the all-consuming flames, and the pain of the fire blinds your eyes shut. \ <</if>>\ With the last breath in your lungs you leap out of the fire with no care for direction, desperate to escape the smoke and heat. A hand catches your face and throws you backward. "You're not leaving yet!" Taio barks. You hit a surviving table thankfully outside of the flames and rise to your feet just in time to block one of the man's basic chi blasts and charge up your own. He follows his up with a charging kick but has to give up his attack to defend from your blast, jumping back and skidding to a halt fifteen feet away. The man, presumably this Master Taio, regards you with a dismissive sneer. "So, it seems you can fight back after all, perhaps this won't end so quickly." "Don't worry Taio," You say through the pain. "It will be over quickly-" "Doubting yourself? You've a big Aura Pressure." "-For you. \ <</if>>\ I am $fullname, $patriarch of the $clan Clan and here to take you in on behalf of the Thunderfall Sect." "Hmph. A pup grows teeth and thinks itself a wolf." \ <<include "ch2-mergeboast">>\

<<var $armed false>>\ Before long the sun is setting across the valley. The bandits gather at night but the Sunbringer Sect will arrive with real Martial Artists by dawn. If you want this done right then your window of opportunity is short, and the time to strike is now. Through the gentle cover of night you guide your donkey \ <<if ($explosives is 1)>>\ cart, packed with explosive manure barrels, \ <<else>>\ cart \ <</if>>\ down the rough dirt road past a few pig farms with their farmhouse doors broken in. Finally the soft red glow of windows up ahead serve as an ominous beacon that you've reached the Rolling Rock Tavern. Parking down the street to avoid unwanted attention, you and Kosuke \ <<if ($underlings gt 0)>>\ and your minion \ <</if>>\ dismount and dip in through an orchard behind the tavern to approach the scene, the crunch of dried leaves beneath your feet drowned out by the distant cacophony of revelry. The moonlight flickers through the trees casting long, eerie shadows that seem to dance along the ground. You peer through the gnarled branches of an apple tree, your eyes taking in the cruel tableau laid out before you. The tavern is alive with merriment, the air filled with raucous laughter and the clinking of mugs audible even from out here. Yet just a stone's throw away from such a sight lies a grim, weather-beaten barn in stark contrast to the joyous scene. Two men with clubs stand guard at the door and \ <<if ($underlings gt 0)>>\ your minion \ <<else>>\ the blabbering bandit \ <</if>>\ already told you why. Within that barn's cold, wooden confines the farmers and their families lie shackled, huddled together, their freedom to be sold to the highest bidder. <<choose "ch2-tavern2">> #show-if ($underlings gte 1) No one should face such cruelty (except my underling)! <<var $ruthless - 2>>\ Morality is subjective, only the strong decide what is or is not justice. These men have seized citizens from the strong (you) and so they will pay dearly (justice). #show-if ($underlings is 0) No one should face such cruelty! <<var $ruthless - 4>>\ This world is a cruel place, and only the strong can change that. Tonight you will be the strength that brings about such change. #These bandits will pay. <<var $honor + 3>>\ Abducting your people is a crime that cannot go unpunished. You will be their punishment tonight. #By the time this night is done, I will have the farmers selling the bandits! <<var $honor - 1>>\ An eye for an eye is a perfectly reasonable justice system, in your opinion, and it's only the opinion of the strong that matters. These bandits will wish they never set foot in your territory. #Typical peasants. Ah well, time to work. <<var $ruthless + 1>>\ <</choose>>

A twig snaps twenty steps to your left and you see a man patrolling the tavern ground's perimeter with knife in hand. He stares through the orchard trees scrutinizingly, scanning for anything suspicious - nope, wait, he's looking for the perfect apple on the tree in front of him. Picking apples while on duty. Typical. You don't know why you expected discipline from some highwaymen. Another sentry follows him five paces behind. That's four bandits outside the barn in total, and you'll need to get rid of them if you want to continue unseen. <<choose "ch2-stealthsuccess0">> #Sneak up on them. You double-back through the darkness and the obfuscation of the trees, silently stalking your prey of the two patrolling bandits. <<var $combatstat "agility">>\ <<var $combatskill "stealth">>\ <<combatcheck 3>>\ <<if ($passcheck is true)>>\ The darkness of night masks you from their senses, in two short minutes you've silently maneuvered behind the first bandit and struck him with a single neckchop that knocks him out. Damn, you can't believe that actually works. That bandit sentry's partner notices nothing, eagerly crunching into what he appears to believe is the perfect apple he's just picked from the tree. You give him a swift neck chop as well and he drops to the ground soundlessly. Now your only problem is approaching the two bandits guarding the prisoners. They have torches illuminating the entire front of the barn, sneaking up is not an option. So you throw an unripe apple at each of them, one with each hand, at full force. The fruits slam into the unsuspecting bandits' temples with precise accuracy; one crumples to the ground but the other only staggers, barely injured. So you hit him with a second apple, a third, and a fourth. The concussive headshots keep him delirious and he barely makes more than a grunt as the fruits explode against his head. Finally he drops to the ground. Kosuke lets out a soft clap. "They teach applejutsu in the Thunderfall Sect?" "Laugh all you want, it worked." You take one final fruit off the branch and eat it. <<include "ch2-stealthsuccess0">>\ <<else>>\ A branch snaps under your foot. Both sentry heads turn in your direction immediately. "We've got an intruder!" One of the sentries shouts in alarm, charging into the tree line with weapon drawn. Shit. Time to act fast. <<page "Continue" "Next_swingin">>\ <</if>>\ #show-if ($kosukecombat gte 2) Send Kosuke to take them out. -> "ch2-kosgo1" <<if ($stealth is 0)>>\ Stealth isn't your strong suit so you send Kosuke \ <<else>>\ If Kosuke is going to accompany you then $bffheshe needs to get some experience. You send $bffhimher \ <</if>>\ to silently take out the sentries and... #show-if ($kosukecombat lt 2) Send Kosuke to take them out. -> "ch2-kosgo2" <<if ($stealth is 0)>>\ Stealth isn't your strong suit so you send Kosuke \ <<else>>\ If Kosuke is going to accompany you then $bffheshe needs to get some experience. You send $bffhimher \ <</if>>\ to silently take out the sentries and... #show-if ($explosives is 1) Charge in and start swinging. [Forfeits the explosives plan] -> Next_swingin #show-if ($explosives isnot 1) Charge in and start swinging. -> Next_swingin #use-if ($kosukecrossbow is true) "Kosuke, take them out with your crossbow." [Automatic Success] <<var $capturedbandits - 4>>\ Kosuke closes $bffhisher eyes, silently relishing the moment. "I love when a plan comes together." <<cap $bffheshe>> draws the crossbow from off $bffhisher back and loads a bolt. The first target, the bandit watching the apple picker, gets one swift shot to the head and drops. The slight noise of the crossbow alerts the apple picker just in time for him to know something is wrong before Kosuke shoots him too. You're quickly reminded that Kosuke spends most days and nights on the streets and you wonder if this is the first time $bffheshe has killed a person. It doesn't seem to bother $bffhimher at all. The two bandits guarding the barn have the same situation. One slumps over after Kosuke shoots them and the other notices something is wrong just in time to go down themselves. Kosuke blows on the crossbow as if it were a smoking cannon and grins victoriously at you. "Four down from the safety of an apple orchard." <<cap $bffheshe>> grabs an apple off the tree and tosses it your way. "Celebrate with a treat?" You catch it, take a bite, and twist your face in displeasure. "It's unripe." Kosuke hangs $bffhisher head. \ <<if ($bffheshe isnot $heshe)>>\ "The mood is ruined." <<else>>\ "So close, yet so far." <</if>>\ <</choose>>

With a towel wrapped around \ <<if ($heshe is "he")>>\ your waist \ <<elseif ($heshe is "she") and (($hairlength isnot "Short") and ($hairlength isnot "Spiked"))>>\ your torso and another for your hair, \ <<else>>\ your torso \ <</if>>\ you head back to the kitchen to enjoy a nice meal with your family. You'll need the food and the rest, tomorrow's going to be a big day. <<if ($jadedragonfoundation is true)>>\ <<var $alchemy + 1>>\ <<var $athletics + 1>>\ <<var $craft + 1>>\ <<var $deception + 1>>\ <<var $handseals + 1>>\ <<var $insight + 1>>\ <<var $lore + 1>>\ <<var $perception + 1>>\ <<var $persuasion + 1>>\ <<var $stealth + 1>>\ <<var $survival + 1>>\ <<var $thievery + 1>>\ ''[Jade Dragon Foundation Event]'' ''[+1 to All Skills]'' <<include "ch2alt-gotomerge">>\ <<else>>\ But it's harder to fall asleep than you expected. <<var $skillgain 0>>\ <<include "ch2-skillpick">>\ <</if>>\

Big Chu's awful advice helps. The field is so large that you have weeks to work up your muscles on the smaller rocks until you're ready for the tree stumps and medium rocks, then after months more you're able to dig out and roll the biggest boulders. You're no legendary powerhouse hoisting giant house-sized rocks, but you're strong enough to dig out a ramp and shove them. ''[Power Core +1]'' <<var $power + 1>>\ When the season ends you've finished excavating the soil, plowing the lines, and building a large simple stone wall around the premises with all your spare rocks. The farmers are pleased. <<include "ch2-training2">>\

Throughout the season you grow into your new body and your aura pressure begins to swell. <<apboost 25>>\ The tasks grow a bit easier from then on, no matter the problem. Each season of your training seems to melt by faster, starting with Summer where you get a new mission that has you... <<choose "ch2-training3">> #Lifting sunken boats from the deepest lakes. [Increase Power] Boats are heavy, and you can't breathe water. Two problems Big Chu completely ignores when he tells you to get back to it. So you do. Starting with the cargo, then the smaller vessels, you work your way up to dragging the biggest fishing boats through the thick mud of the lake beds with only one breath's worth of air in your lungs. The urgency pushes your Power Core to fuel your strength more and more every time. ''[Power Core +1]'' <<var $power + 1>>\ #Patroling the town gates. [Increase Fortitude] Guards stationed at the town gates are often supplemented with Thunderfall Sect members. For the spring, you've been hired out as one of them and your mission is to patrol for issues along the gate. Usually teenagers sneaking in or out, but if that was allowed then your enemies would send teenagers as spies. Any weakness in policy will be exploited. That's what you tell yourself, anyway, to give purpose and meaning to the fact that you're jogging in village-wide circles nonstop for twelve hours a day, seven days a week, in fifty pounds of steel scale mail for the guard uniform. Your lungs constantly burn and your muscles ache, but after months of routine your stamina builds into something greater. ''[Fortitude Core +1]'' <<var $fortitude + 1>>\ When the season ends you're let off duty and some other poor sap has to take the job. Later you learn that two people take the job, and it's supposed to be six-hour shifts. Damn it all. #Racing through forest fires to rescue travelers. [Increase Agility] What was supposed to be a one-time task becomes a season long issue. Your Agility Core gets a good workout almost every other day with the massive amount of forest fires until some upper disciple of the Thunderfall Sect catches the culprit. Not even a Beast or a spirit, just some arsonist kid. That explains why you never sensed an enemy aura. It's for the best, you decide. Thanks to you no one got hurt, and the threat of innocent deaths pushed your Agility Cores to their limits. ''[Agility Core +1]'' <<var $agility + 1>>\ #Adding chi to potions mixed by powerless alchemists. [Increase Soul] Herbalists collect the herbs, alchemists mix the herbs into potions, and you imbue your chi into the potions to activate their power. A steady process that leads to a successful trove of mystical potions for the armory and the village. Plus a good workout for your control of internal chi. ''[Soul Core +1]'' <<var $soul + 1>>\ ''[Item Gained: 3 Alchemy Reagents]'' <<var $alchemyreagents + 3>>\ <<if ($background is "Herbalist")>>\ It's a pleasant process since you get to hang out with Father all day, him being an Herbalist and all. He tells relentless jokes about Big Chu's weight when you get home every night. You have no clue where he gets them all. <<var $alchemyreagents + 2>>\ ''[Additional 2 Alchemy Reagents Gained]'' <</if>>\ <</choose>>\

<<apboost 25>>\ True to his word Big Chu checks on you multiple times per week, ensuring you're following the proper forms and techniques for your combat training whenever you finish your day's tasks. Autumn comes with a new mission where you're forced to... <<choose "ch2-training4">> #Deliver 55 gallon barrels of water throughout the village. [Increase Power] It was a pleasant problem where no danger was involved, but by the Hells, nobody told you that 55 gallons meant over 400 pounds. Your first delivery takes 5 hours. Your tenth takes 2 hours. Your fiftieth takes 20 minutes. ''[Power Core +1]'' <<var $power + 1>>\ #Collect spirit-enhancing honey from empowered bees' nests. [Increase Fortitude] Insects rarely form into Beasts except for spiders and bees. Lucky you, there are nearby bees. Big Chu has you collect their honey every day and return after 30 seconds of digging through their house-sized nest. Then you spend hours drinking curative tonics and meditate to suppress screams while their enhanced venom attacks your body and spirit. Shockingly, your Fortitude Core grows used to it. By the end of Autumn the first few stings stop bothering you at all. ''[Fortitude Core +1]'' <<var $fortitude + 1>>\ ''[Item Gained: Common Poison]'' <<var $commonpoison + 1>>\ #Catch arrows for specialty archers. [Increase Agility] Many of the guards and even some Thunderfall Sect students are trained to practice in specialty arrowheads tipped with explosives or Soul Treasure components that inflict elemental explosions, but they weigh the arrows down and require retraining to become proficient. The problem is, most of these arrowheads are ruined upon impact with the target. So you're the target. Big Chu trains you in catching arrows by blunting the tips of his and shooting you for weeks until you're ready. You body soaks up Mother's medicinal soup like a dry towel and you learn the most important trick: try to catch it to the side, not in front of your chest. By the time you're sent to catch the enchanted or explosive arrows you catch enough to call the duty a success. ''[Agility Core +1]'' <<var $agility + 1>>\ <<var $txt "arrowcatch">>\ #Empower ritual seals along the village walls. [Increase Soul] The village's sage designs ritual seals that are placed every ten feet along the walls, but powering them with her own chi would be costly. That's why she has someone else do it. Big Chu decided someone else was you. At first you're able to make good progress down the wall in a single day, until you realize just how long the wall really is. After an entire season of expending your entire chi reserves daily, you have a bigger pool of chi to work with and better mastery over what you have. ''[Item Gained: 3 Ritual Components]'' <<var $ritualcomponents + 3>>\ ''[Soul Core +1]'' <<var $soul + 1>>\ <</choose>>\

<<apboost 25>>\ <<var $page 1>>\ Finally Winter comes, with Big Chu giving you a mission to... <<choose "ch2-training5">> #Dig through an old collapsed mine to recover equipment. [Increase Power] Collapsed mines are collapsed for a reason. You spend three entire months just to confirm that the mine is screwed, as every time you move a set of rocks a new set falls in its place. At least you're able to find some useful nuggets of gold while you're at it. Eventually the broken support beams get replaced (by you) and after week over week of progress you finally get 50 feet into the tunnel, just to have it collapse again behind you. Digging your way out before your oxygen runs out pushes your already tired Power Cores to their absolute limits and then even further. ''[Power Core +1]'' <<var $power + 1>>\ ''[Item Gained: 2 Gold]'' <<var $gold + 2>>\ #Meditate under the constant pressure of a freezing waterfall. [Increase Fortitude] You think Big Chu is pulling your leg, no one pays to have someone else meditate, but it turns out there's a risk of an ice spirit forming from this waterfall due to too much chi being softly leaked into the area, like the world's slowest Heavenly Gate. <<if ($subrace is "Reptile")>>\ You lash your dragontail and try to plead with him that this training would work better for anyone else. Anyone that doesn't have your ''COLD BLOODED'' ancestry, but he seems adamant that the increase in danger will only help you more. <<apboost 6>>\ It sucks that he's right. <<else>>\ ...Well he doesn't have to tell you twice. <</if>>\ Days and off-nights are spent battered by freezing water falling on you from one hundred and fifty feet above your head, crashing against your body every second. The feeling is pure soul-shredding agony. But it's free chi. Your stubbornness keeps you on your task, and your task gifts you with a bit of the excess power that the village wanted removed from the area. ''[Fortitude Core +1]'' <<var $fortitude + 1>>\ #Perform deliveries through Beast territory. [Increase Agility] Big Chu signs you up to deliver to hermits on the other side of a mountain peak, but the peak itself is grounds to a massive Beast eagle that's absorbed enough Storm aura to gain power over lightning. A thunderbird. The winter is leaving it hungry for new prey. <<if ($background is "Trapper")>>\ You actually know this thunderbird from your Trapper days. You've got its routine memorized already so this one is easy for you, you perform it much faster each week and finally have free time to spend with your family. <<var $brorep + 5>>\ <<var $sisrep + 5>>\ <<else>>\ Evading the beast is easy enough at first but the second you sense the tiniest spark of Storm chi you surge your Agility Cores and run like hell. It's almost a weekly occurrence, and you've grown faster from the sprinting exercise. <</if>>\ ''[Agility Core +1]'' <<var $agility + 1>>\ #Burn through an avalanche with energy attacks. [Increase Soul] When an avalanche claims a mountainous trade-road, Big Chu signs you up as one of the volunteers to clear it out. The forest is thick and the snow piles up to ten feet on the road, there's no room on the sides to shovel it out so your only hope is burning it away. Big Chu trains you in the art of pushing your energy outside of your body, focusing it into hostile scorching chi. You wrap your hands in the blazing power and he points to the snow. "Congratulations, you did it. Now dig." Your hands melt the snow with a touch and the water trickles downhill before refreezing. It's slow going at first but more and more of the snow succumbs to your attack as you keep pushing the power of your soul into your hands, day after day. ''[Soul Core +1]'' <<var $soul + 1>>\ <</choose>>\

<<apboost 35>>\ <<var $chapter 2.1>>\ <<timepass>>\ <<page "Continue" "ch2-racial">>\

A quick breather and you're back at it. This time for 24 seconds. Another quick breather and a drink of the cold water and you last 29 seconds. By the end of the day your record is 31 seconds. The next day you last 37 seconds. Three days after you last 58 seconds. Days turn to weeks and your seconds turn to minutes. Weeks turn to months and you realize it's not about exponential progress, it's about balancing yourself once you're strong enough. Like increasing the speed of your sustainable jog rather than learning to sprint longer. Finally you're able to keep your aura going for hours. One day Big Chu tells you to stop showing up at the lake because the mission is over. You don't really understand what the mission even was, until he explains that Beasts normally use chi to grow, not to gain auras, so they're trying to "seed" the lake with chi to push for bigger fish in the area. It may have cost your internal chi for an entire season but it built up your capacity to use and control that chi. ''[Soul Core +1]'' <<var $soul + 1>>\ <<include "ch2-training2">>\

Two flights of stairs lead you to the library. Big Chu covers each flight of stairs with a single leap that shakes the building. "Coming?" He calls back. You ascend after him and find yourself in the town's library, the 4th floor of the Magistrate's grand pagoda. Rows of wooden shelves and scroll racks fill the room and line the walls, but Big Chu doesn't bother with any of them. He sits you down at a desk. "I have a question before we begin. You must answer it honestly." You nod. "Why are you weak?" <<choose "ch2-trainingtalk2">> #"Because I'm only getting started." "That is a good mindset to have, but I am not speaking of mindsets. You see, \ #"Because supporting my family was more important than personal strength." <<var $ruthless - 2>>\ <<var $churep + 5>>\ "Honorable, but also a comforting excuse for those who refuse to improve. You're weak because \ #"The traditions dictate we prioritize the Warrior Caste so we all survive." <<var $honor + 2>>\ "That is a reaction to the real reason, \ #"Fuck you, pig, why are //you// weak?" <<var $ruthless + 2>>\ <<var $churep + 2>>\ Chu laughs. "At least you have a warrior's spirit, even if it's a tiny one. You're weak because \ #show-if ($survival gte 1) "Because the natural aura of our region is weak". [Survival Check Passed] ''[Survival Check Passed]'' ''[Aura Pressure +4]'' <<var $aurapressure + 4>>\ "I was not expecting the correct answer." Big Chu sits down across from you, clearly bothered. "Yes, \ #show-if ($jadedragonfoundation is true) "I'm not." [Jade Dragon Foundation] "I'm not." You reply simply, as a matter of fact. A tingle runs down your spine, just between your shoulders, as Big Chu scans your spirit. "You're...by the Ancestors, your spirit and body are magnificently aligned. Very well. I...hm..." Big Chu coughs into his hand and shakes his head in silence for a moment. "For the sake of my pride, I ask you still follow my instructions as if you //were// weak. Learning the fundamentals of the Martial Arts is always important, even to those blessed by the heavens to such an absurd degree." Big Chi scans your spirit one more time and shakes his head. "In truth, unlike you, \ <</choose>>\

<<if ($firstchapter is 2)>>\ Every single additional Martial Artist in the Sect is a liability unless they bring in more power than they take. None of the other disciples are pleased with your Advancement giving them another rival." "Isn't there more strength in numbers?" You ask. "For the Sect, yes, but for the individual? Let's say a Heavenly Gate happens, where the environment surges with natural energy and we can harness it to increase our power. What do you think happens when we bring an additional Martial Artist to the surge?" <<if (($lore is 0) and ($background isnot "Merchant"))>>\ ''[Lore Check Failed]'' "We each get...more?" You guess. "What? By the Heavens, no. No. Who taught you such terrible math skills? Or even basic thinking." "Nobody did." You answer with a downcast frown. "Ancestors save me...Very well, we each get //less//, which makes everyone //less// happy. \ <<else>>\ ''[Lore 1 Check Passed]'' <<apboost 2>>\ "Everyone would get less, right?" You assume. It makes enough sense. "Correct. There's a finite amount of free chi released during a Heavenly Gate. \ <</if>>\ So while Khan and the higher authorities dictate we accept every local Warrior into the Sect, that does not mean you are wanted." Big Chu takes a turkey leg out of his gi, somehow, and takes a bite. "In fact," he says while chewing with an open mouth, "you'll have a harder time than anyone. Jack is likely martialing his friends against you. Even if he isn't, our Master Mao is displeased with your squabble. That bodes poorly for your health." <<include "ch2-trainingtalk3">>\ <<else>>\ this entire region is weak. The leylines do not cross each other in most of Imperial Rasen's outer lands, so we get our chi from what limited sources we have. Your cycling of the mountain's Heavenly Gate during your fight with Jack ruined half of what that corner of our territory emits in a year, and you took it a day before it was at full power. We were scheduled to march there the next morning." "Why wait?" You ask. "Because we needed it to be at peak conditions to not waste even a Shard's worth. We need every edge we can get." Big Chu exhales. "You ruined that. It was a grievous crime in the eyes of many, so I want you to understand how you're viewed amongst the students." <<choose "ch2-trainingtalk3">> #Apologize <<var $pick 1>>\ #Move on <<var $pick 2>>\ #Mock the Sect <<var $pick 3>>\ <</choose>>\ <</if>>\

<<if $firstchapter isnot 2>>\ <<if $pick is 1>>\ <<var $ruthless - 2>>\ "I had no idea." You give a light bow. "My apologies, Warrior Chu." He waves a hand dismissively. "Such trivialities mean nothing. You cannot make it up to the others. Luckily you can make it up to me by succeeding in the martial world. I will be your first true trainer, your success will be my success." He \ <<elseif $pick is 2>>\ <<var $honor + 2>>\ <<var $churep + 4>>\ You're supposed to be a Martial Artist now so you try your best to impersonate some sort of wiseman. "I cannot undo what has happened, I can only make myself an asset for the future." Big Chu assess you, testing your sincerity, but only nods. It seems that was the correct answer. He \ <<elseif $pick is 3>>\ <<var $churep - 2>>\ <<var $ruthless + 1>>\ "Cry me a river." You sneer and raise a palm dismissively. "A bunch of empowered Martial Artists lost a resource race to a $age year old $boygirl. Boohoo. Do better." Big Chu stares at you with a disgusted expression, but he is disciplined like a true warrior against insults, so instead he- No. Wait. You were wrong. His discipline caves as his giant hand grabs you by the back of your head and slams your face into the reading table, knocking a couple braincells loose. ''[Lost 2 Aura Pressure]'' <<var $aurapressure + 2>>\ <<var $forexp + 1>>\ He covers your mouth with one giant hand and waves to the others in the library as you try to scream obscenities. Your nose might be broken. It takes a while for you to calm down, but you can't break out of his \ <<if ($jadedragonfoundation is true)>>\ grip without making a massive scene, \ <<else>>\ grip, \ <</if>>\ so calm down you must. It's not like you can fight your way through the entire Thunderfall Sect...yet. When you've calmed he \ <</if>>\ drops four notebooks on the table. "I will train you in the foundations of Martial Arts. Beyond that, avoid the Thunderfall Sect. For your safety." "But I'm a student of the Thunderfall Sect, why would I turn down a lifetime of real training?" Big Chu cringes, "Student...No, <<cap $name>>, you must understand your situation. Heavenly Gates are dangerous to established bases, they interfere with long-range spiritual scanning. They're the best time for our enemy Sects and Clans to attack us. The Inner Kingdoms and our ally sects would not detect an ambush against us until it was too late. Every time we detect an incoming Heavenly Gate we put great effort into procuring a messenger system or alarm system or requisition our allies to send scouts, and in exchange they ask the same of us. We didn't just lose that Heavenly Gate to some upstart, we lost many resources in preparation and, worse, our allies' scouts witnessed us fail." This is the first time anyone told you that you caused an interregional incident. It seems an important detail to leave out. "That can't be right," you protest, "all I did was absorb some chi. That's not even against the rules." "Indeed it's not, that's the point. You were fair competition. //Civilian// competition. Jack and his friends were supposed to protect the resource from any rivals. It was a formal mission given to our students and they failed. The Gate occurred just outside our territory, and we failed to claim it, beaten by an unpowered novice child. Worse, we didn't just lose what you absorbed; your fight triggered the Heavenly Gate early. It finished within two hours and ended before most of us even got to it." Big Chu pulls a turkey leg out of his gi, somehow, and takes a bite. "Personally, I don't think you understand how hated you are right now." <</if>>\ "So then...What do I do?" <<if $firstchapter is 2>>\ He drops four notebooks on the table in front of you. \ <</if>>\ "You study, you train, and you grow strong enough that you're not worth killing. We will begin with Mortal Core Advancement which brings out the power inherent in the body already. Essentially, exercise. Here." Big Chu grabs your head with his greasy hand and aims it down towards the notebooks. "These are Path Manuals, get acquainted with them well. I will be testing you against their lessons in the coming months." You try to ignore the gross feeling of turkey grease on Big Chu's fingers and pick up one of the Path Manuals. It's empty. <<page "Continue" "ch2-trainingtalk4-1">>\

The next year seems to go by in a haze of blood, sweat, and tears. <<var $age + 1>>\ <<var $val ($commerce * 10)>>\ <<var $shards + $val>>\ Every minute drags on with a grueling exercise pushing your body and soul to its limits, yet every day ends far too soon with so much left to do. You take that frustration with you to your next training session every day like a $manwoman possessed. Big Chu's lessons and tests are cruel but productive. In the Spring he signs you up for your first mission where you're forced to... <<choose "ch2-training2">> #Plow rocky fields with your bare hands. [Increase Power] With crops season starting the Thunderfall Sect has been commissioned by some local farmers to build a new field. These are mountains. There's no such thing as new fields. There is only rocks. Big Chu accepts the job on your behalf and has you digging through a deforested patch to rip out tree stumps and boulders, using only your hands, and the soil hasn't finished softening from the cold winter. "You're doing good work, keep it up!" Big Chu shouts while laying down half a mile away at the other edge of the "field", eating strawberries. Of course he thinks you're doing good work. Your enabling the creation of more food. "This is impossible!" You shout back at him, "Some of these rocks are longer than my body! Isn't there some secret to moving them?" "Of course there is," Big Chu replies after a sip of some sort of juice, "start with the smaller ones!" Sure, as if that will help. <<page "Continue" "ch2-training">>\ #Train unpowered Warrior Caste. [Increase Fortitude] All Warrior Caste children are expected to train for an aura on their own without wasting Shards or siphoning Heavenly Gates, two things you definitely did. You get a glimpse of the proper way to do it when you're sent to the dueling ring to fight younger teenagers. You're a proper Martial Artist, so clobbering them is easy. For the first four hours. Per day. Then your stamina runs low and the fresher kids start landing hits with their staves and clubs. After three months of beating up unpowered fourteen year olds, and getting beaten up by an endless horde of wooden instruments, you become one with your bruises. A single, walking bruise. Which is exactly why Big Chu signed you up for it. ''[Fortitude Core +1]'' <<var $fortitude + 1>>\ #Catch birds for a new messenger aviary. [Increase Agility] With winter gone there is no time like the present to collect potential messenger birds from the wilds so their eggs will be laid in captivity. Messenger birds are an important resource in difficult terrain like Thunderfall's surrounding mountains. Collecting them is a noble task that's often done at night when they're asleep. And yet. Big Chu is making you catch them only in the morning, when they're most active. With your hands. Your progress is minimal at first. You don't catch a single one for weeks. But eventually you //do// catch one. Then two. Then five. Eventually your eyes catch on to their fast movements, their flight paths, their reaction speeds. You learn to focus your muscles towards the explosive speed needed to capture your prey by the dozens. ''[Agility Core +1]'' <<var $agility + 1>>\ #Fill an entire lake with your chi. [Increase Soul] "I want you to stand in the shoreline and exert your aura as hard as it can go." Big Chu says while sitting on a chair on the large lake's beach. He wears a straw hat to block the sun and sips some alcoholic pear wine from a gourd. Asking 'why?' seems natural, but it's your first training task so you give it a try anyway. You walk into the cold waters of the idyllic clear mountain lake and push your aura around yourself until it forms a thick white mist. A second push surges your internal energies harder and your aura burns like white fire, shaking the water away from you in a soft boil. "More." says Big Chu. \ <<if ($soul gte 2)>>\ It would've broken your concentration but you're quite proud of how strong your Soul Core is. <<else>>\ He almost breaks your concentration. <</if>>\ Extra power goes into your aura until its releasing tremors of white light out from your body, shoving the water away from you by several inches. Big Chu nods in appreciation at your efforts. "That's good." Thank ancestors, you're done. Keeping this up was aching on your soul and causing your whole body to sweat. You drop your aura and take a breath before your next test. "What are you doing?" Big Chu asks, "we need to keep that going until dusk. I meant that //pace// was good." You last 27 seconds. <<page "Continue" "ch2-trainingcont">>\ <</choose>>\

"Sensei, it's-" "Empty, to your mortal eyes," says Chu. "Use your spiritual senses instead." <<if ($insight gte 1)>>\ ''[Insight Check Passed]'' ''[Aura Pressure +2]'' <<var $aurapressure + 2>>\ You push chi from your Cores into your vision, envisioning the flow of life energy swirling around your pupils and willing it so. Glowing letters appear on the pages. <<else>>\ ''[Insight Check Failed]'' "My what?" You ask. "Your senses. Your sense of chi. Path Manuals are written in faint traces of chi to keep the unpowered out and-" "How the hell do you //see// chi?" Big Chu's mouth hangs open, then he covers his face in one big hand. "This is going to be a long night." <<var $churep - 2>>\ Four hours of study later, you finally envision your own chi swirling around your pupils and see the trace outlines of words on the manual. Damn, your eyes //hurt//. <<aploss 2>>\ <</if>>\ The title reads "Martial Advancement of Heavenly Might". From what you can tell, it's meant to enhance one's Power Core. The other three are for the Fortitude Core, Agility Core, and Soul Core. So much to learn in such a small package. The 15-page notebooks contain footnotes and philosophies but it's the quantity of technical content that stuns you. Breathing methods, chakra alignments, flexibility exercises, feng-shui for your sleeping area, specific strength training, willpower visualizations, balancing of different chi intakes, and all sorts of other requirements per Technique quickly point out just how impossible it would have been to guess the correct way to cultivate the mystical side of Martial Arts without instruction. "Impressed?" Chu says and you realize you've been reading with your mouth agape. "We will meet every other day to ensure your Mortal Cores are forming correctly. I can't have you embedding any mistakes into your routine." You nod and pack the notebooks away. Now that you have real resources you realize just how blind you've always been. This changes //everything//. ''[Choosing your Combat Cores will determine how successful certain rolls are in combat.]'' ''[Power Cores increase damage dealt and improve your choices focused on brute force.]'' ''[Fortitude Cores give +0.5 health and improve your choices focused on physical resilience.]'' ''[Agility Cores can evade ambushes and improve your choices based on speed.]'' ''[Soul Cores give +0.5 chi and improve your choices based on energy or mental resilience.]'' <<page "Begin your new life" "ch2-trainingtalk4">>\

<<image "https://www.auraclash.com/assets/images/ac-linebreak-top.png">>\ //Young Martial Artists of the Outer Provinces,// //Kowtow with tears of joy before the graves of your ancestors and thank them for your birth, for you have been chosen!// //The Exalted Council, in their infinite and transcendent wisdom, have chosen the Outer West town of Nanhou to host the next Heavenly Ascension Trials! With the war in the north victoriously concluded by Imperial Rasen's great warriors, it is up to a new generation to replenish the ranks of the Archons.// //Those under 25 from among the Warrior Caste who have talent, drive, and exceed mortal expectations, this is your chance to prove yourselves worthy. Succeed and the gold inside this package is the least of your treasures, for you shall be accepted into the Archonate and trained in ''true'' Martial Arts with abilities above and beyond the wildest imagination of your impoverished lands.// //Fail and become a stepping stone for your betters. May their success push you to be greater than the failure you are now.// //Signed and Sealed,// //Kotetsurugi Akiko// //Imperial Scribe - Central Division// <<image "https://www.auraclash.com/assets/images/ac-linebreak-bottom.png">>\ <<if ($lore is 0)>>\ ''[Lore Check Failed]'' What the Hells? You live in an Empire? Why has no one ever brought that up? <<if ($norobbery is false)>>\ And you \ <</if>>\ <<else>>\ ''[Lore Check 1 Passed]'' The Heavenly Ascension Trials?! They haven't been held since before you were born! Rumors say the capital funds them to replenish their police force, the Archons, using a series of dangerous tests designed to siphon the prodigies from lesser territories. Mere rumor of such a mythical opportunity is what pushed you to work so much harder all this time. <<var $apval ($lore * 2)>>\ <<apboost $apval>>\ <<if ($norobbery is false)>>\ But you do \ <</if>>\ <</if>>\ <<if ($norobbery is true)>>\ To your surprise the mention of gold was correct, several pristinely minted gold coins fall out of the envelope. ''[Item Gained: 5 Gold]'' <<var $gold + 5>>\ <<else>>\ notice a distinct lack of mentioned gold inside the envelope. Someone took it. Fucking Jack. <</if>>\ <<page "Continue" "ch2-trialannouncement2">>\

''[Big Chu's Cooking Bonus: Aura Pressure +3]'' <<apboost 3>>\ Power fills the lower barracks the following morning. Every young disciple is busy between fighting strenuous duels, attacking training dummies to master new Techniques, mixing advancement elixirs or poisons, and crafting with every Soul Treasure stored in the armory. You'd never seen all two dozen lower disciples in one place before, and everyone is giving it their all. Including you. The training dummy in front of you bears the scars of your savage assault. Sweat covers your gi as if you're underwater but you do not relent. <<var $val ($athletics + $thievery)>>\ <<if ($val is 0)>>\ <<var $val 1>>\ <</if>>\ <<apboost $val>>\ This Trial is your way to close the gap, to make up for lost time. All you have to do is reach out and seize it. You will //not// lose. Everyone around you freezes as you continue to beat at the training dummy. The room is silent except for the impact of your fists on empowered wood for seconds longer until you catch on that something's happened. You turn to look where they're all facing: the entrance, where Crusher Mao stands. Staring at you. "The Students greet Master Mao!" The other disciples shout in unison. "Disciples, to formation!" Mao demands as he walks in. Every lower Disciple rushes into lines ordered by descending Aura Pressure, so you join in. You don't visit often so you get your place wrong. Four times. It's jarring to get told to move so many times while multiple people scan your spirit. Reluctantly, the students in the back actually push you into a line closer to the front. <<if ($jadedragonfoundation is true)>>\ The actual front. As in, number one. Oh Ancestors, are you seriously at the front? Why?! Have these people never trained?!?! Their envious, covetous eyes burning into your back and in this moment you can't help but remember that every single person here has access to the poisons in the trophy room. You take four steps to the side and push three disciples in front of you. <<else>>\ It seems you're in the middle by now. Did they not all have their eight Mortal Cores unlocked? <</if>>\ "Pay attention, Lower Disciples! This is the part where I say 'At ease', but that's not going to happen. //None// of you should be at ease. Every one of you under 25 has received the letters by now. The Heavenly Ascension Trials are a mandatory draft for the strong and a death sentence for the weak. The last time they were held thirty years ago, thousands went in and hundreds came out. It's my job to make sure those of you with a shred of talent don't waste it making stupid mistakes." "The students thank the Master!" All other lower disciples shout in unison. You miss your cue, but you're not sure if you would have said it anyway. Mao continues, "I've called a transfer program with our allies in the Mountain Hazard Sect. Complacent little shits like you will never improve fast enough unless you realize how far behind the competition you really are, so Jack's been sent off to train their students. In return Mountain Hazard's elders sent their star pupil to train you sorry lot. Ladies, gentlemen, meet your new drill master for the next year." <<page "Continue" "ch2-trialannouncement3">>\

<<if ($portraitpics is true)>>\ <<image "https://www.auraclash.com/assets/images/Tian-Fang.jpg">>\ <</if>>\ A young barefoot Yokai woman in white fur robes enters the room behind Mao and bows. Her snow white hair falls over her face as she leans, and when she reaches the bottom of her bow you notice her fluffy white wolf's \ <<if ($subrace is "Wolf")>>\ tail, just like yours. <<else>>\ tail. <</if>>\ "I am honored to greet the fellow disciples," the Yokai girl says as she rises from her bow and looks upon you all, "My name is Tian Fang, the youngest upper disciple of the Mountain Hazard Sect. It is my hope that our training together will be mutually beneficial and bring great honor to us all in the Trials ahead." Crusher Mao nods, "Yeah, what she means is we'll be pumping you and her full of medicinal elixirs so she can beat the shit out of you all every hour of the day." Tian Fang shuffles in the doorway nervously. Mao continues, "It's good for her cultivation, and great for yours. Jack's doing the same over at Mountain Hazard's dojo so I expect you to land a real hit on Fang before they land one on Jack." Fang furrows her brow, "This one does not mean to insult, Master Mao, but I do not think that will happen. The disciples of my Sect are far stron-" "Hah!" Barks Crusher Mao, clapping Fang on the back so hard that she burps. "Good spirits, kid, keep that attitude when you hammer these whelps into something worth sending off to the capital." Tian Fang nods swiftly, determined. "Yes, sir! I will hammer them like a nail ripe for the hammering!" "Sure. Whatever." Mao wades through the crowd of disciples and stops in the back doorway to the armory. "You all get acquainted while I collect some crap back here." He closes the door behind him and the whole dojo turns to Tian Fang. <<page "Continue" "ch2-trialannouncement4">>\

From what you've seen you thought she'd be embarrassed from all the attention, but she doesn't hesitate. "You heard your Master!" She shouts, "Everyone please get into formation, I must examine you all for potential." Each disciple stands stiff as a board as Tian Fang walks from student to student, sniffing them over the shoulder. She nods at a few, mostly the ones in front with the highest Aura Pressure, and shakes her head at a few others. When she gets to you her hair tickles your neck when she sniffs over your shoulder. <<if ($heshe is "he")>>\ You stiffen like a board to not react. "Hmm...There is something off about you. Something wrong, or just different? <<else>>\ "Hey quit it, that tickles!" You protest. "Oh, my most highest of apologies." Fang says and pulls back. "I had to be sure. There is something off about you. Something wrong, or just different? <</if>>\ Yes, that's it! Your body's Foundation is different from the others. Did you take any odd elixirs before your first Advancement?" <<if ($jadedragonfoundation is true)>>\ Can she detect your Jade Dragon Foundation? Hopefully not, you're suppressing your power as much as you can and had been hoping to keep that a secret until you're older. At this rate Mao shouldn't even be a threat to you in a few years...But for now, he is. Hopefully she doesn't spill the secret too soon. <<elseif ($background is "Herbalist") or ($lore gte 2)>>\ <<if ($background is "Herbalist")>>\ ''[Background Check Passed: Herbalist] <<apboost 5>>\ <<else>>\ ''[Lore 2 Check Passed]'' <<apboost 3>>\ <</if>>\ You actually know about Foundations from \ <<if ($background is "Herbalist")>>\ Father's job. \ <<else>>\ all your time in the library. \ <</if>>\ Martial Artists are always preparing their bodies with specialty elixirs or trainings before their first Advancement to develop a specialization in combat, growth, or ability. You're not quite sure what your Foundation is, maybe you don't have one? <<else>>\ You've never heard of a Foundation but by context clues she's talking about the quality or substance of your pre-Advancement training. <</if>>\ <<choose "ch2-trialannouncement5">> #"I joined the Sect after my first Advancement so I have no idea what the others even did." "Ah." She says, planting a finger on her lips and thinking. She looks to the others. "Is this one actually in the Sect?" "No." Says half the Sect. "Yes." Mumbles the other half quietly. "Most interesting, we will have to come back to that but I suggest you remember the names and faces of everyone who said no and devise a strategy to subjugate them most quickly." All the naysayers stare at her, mouth open. "What?" She says, shrugging at half the room, "I am giving you each your most vital assessment. <<cap $hisher>> most important weakness is dissenters." A few grumble but their own turns come up when she \ #"I ate some burnt leaf soup?" "Ew." She says with a wrinkled nose, "The recipe with extra cloves? It is considered a torture method and prison food in Outer South." "Sounds right." She nods, giving you a look of pure sympathy like she just heard of your tragic orphan origin story, and \ <<var $fangrep + 2>>\ #"I cycled half a Heavenly Gate." "Oh! That may be the difference in scent, though I do not know about any Gate-based Foundations. You will have to study that on your own." She releases you and \ #"Nah, that's just my natural scent." <<var $fangrep + 2>>\ "That is very funny." She says not even sarcastically. "Perhaps your mental focus on quick wit lead to a humor-based Foundation?" "Do those actually exist?" "No! And now it is you who has fallen for one of my own jokes! Haha!" No one laughs. She smiles and \ #"None of your business, mutt." <<var $fangrep - 4>>\ "I see." She says, ears lowering. She leaves you quickly and \ <</choose>>\

moves on to the rest of the students to give them a concerning sniff and assessment of their abilities, as well as what they may be lacking. When the whole process is complete she stands at the front and claps her hands together. "All done! Many of you have fundamental problems, mostly weak lineages or unstable first Advancements, but you can be fixed with proper training. You," she points to the student at the back, "fetch healing elixirs from your sage. And you!" She points to the student at the front with the highest Aura Pressure, "Guide us all to your village's training fields. We shall begin our training immediately, so start running!" "Yes, Honored Guest!" They shout in unison. Everyone evacuates the room so fast you'd think it was on fire, following the lower disciple \ <<if ($jadedragonfoundation is true)>>\ you shoved to the front. Finally, you think to yourself, real training. You have the talent but you don't have the tricks. While your body may be ideal for Spiritual Cultivation, it's the Martial Arts where you're lacking. But no longer. Finally, //finally// your real training can begin. <<else>>\ with the highest Aura Pressure. It should be you. If only you hadn't wasted so much time in your early life. But no more. You're going to get down there and show everyone the power you've earned through hard work. <</if>>\ With a sprint you follow the fellow Thunderfall students out of the dojo doors and- "Where do you think you're going?" Mao says. He grips your shoulder from behind just as you get to the stairwell. <<choose "ch2-trialannouncement6">> #"To train for the Trials. "I'm going to train for the Trials, isn't that what we're supposed to do?" <<var $honor + 3>>\ "Oh don't make me laugh. I'm sworn to accept you into the Sect and treat you like a proper student. Fine. But did you really think I'd put you up with my best students for free?" Mao's \ #"The...washroom?" "I'm going to...the washroom?" <<var $ruthless - 2>>\ "Not yet you're not." Mao's \ #"Where I please." "I go where I please." You stare at his hand on your shoulder. Are you going to have to remove it? <<var $ruthless + 2>>\ <<var $maorep + 5>>\ "We'll see about that you little shit." Mao's \ #Say nothing. You don't answer. <<var $maorep + 2>>\ "Smart." Mao says. His \ <</choose>>\

iron grip pulls you back to position himself between you and the exit. "Every disciple out there has proven themselves for the Sect, while you haven't done jack shit besides initiation. You haven't earned the right to train with the rest." The gears turn slowly in your head as you try to understand what he's saying. ...No training? The entire point of joining the Sect was to get trained! The Heavenly Ascension Trials are coming! You've never heard such bullshit since....since the last time you heard Crusher Mao talk. "That's not fair." You say flatly. "And who are you to say? You are the student, I am the master. If you want to prove that you deserve specialty training then make yourself useful. Kill some Sunbringers, do some guard duty for a few years, or..." Something across the hall catches his attention, "Oho, that's even better." Master Crusher Mao waltzes across the room and rips a piece of paper off the mission board. "Perfect. Can't go leaving our chores ignored while the brats are getting pummeled by some pedigree she-bitch." He crumples the paper and throws it at your forehead. "Here, I am a generous Master. Have your first training tip on me: go kill some troublemakers. Standard stuff." You catch the crumpled paper before it hits you and read the contents in a local clerk's handwriting. <<page "Mission Report:" "ch2-missionreport">>

After the three disciples leave you feel a buzzing sensation in the air. The hairs on the back of your neck spring up and a heat builds up in your core like a campfire's warmth getting dangerously close. You look into the barn of prisoners to see who could be causing this but they each stare back in confusion until several shout in alarm, pointing at a glow coming from your solar plexus. "Cycle!" Shouts Kosuke, shaking you by the shoulders and trying to help you to the ground. That's when it hits you: the fire. With so many enemies destroyed in the burning blaze the flames were fueled with the minor chi of two dozen souls, forming the barest hint of a Heavenly Gate that you'd already accepted into your soul. Now the power of the flame wants in. You feel none of Taio's corrupted essence from the burning sensation boiling up inside you and realize it's simply the aspect of Fire itself: it was //made// to consume. To destroy. To burn. If you just reach out, the power of fire could be yours... ''[Elements can be used to solve several problems by spending Chi. Most Martial Artists can only learn 2 Elements in one lifetime.]'' <<choose "ch2-usedbombs2">> #Embrace the power of the flames. [Learn the Fire Element] <<var $auracolor "red">>\ <<var $element2 "Fire">>\ <<var $element2rank 1>>\ Instead of fighting the invasive burning force in your spirit you embrace it, letting the red Fire-attuned chi burn throughout your very Cores. The power of fire doesn't harm your soul so much as it //fuels// your soul, turning you into an engine of raw energy. Your punches burn up the fire inside to hit harder, your hostile chi can use your targets as fuel to burn hotter. The very flames around you call out in your senses and you realize you can see the heat of distant torches even through the trees by sensing the flames around you. ''[Element Acquired: Fire]'' You reach out with a touch of your will to extinguish some nearby smoldering boards from the burning tavern with a thought, and it works. Then you push a fraction of chi into your hands and release new flames into the world, sending a stream at a different pile of debris to light it aflame. They burn up quickly, just as you desired. The feared power of the flame rests inside your soul, and when you release it your old white haze aura is replaced with a red inferno wrapped around your body. It's beautiful. Kosuke is staring at you open-mouthed, $bffhisher look of shock twisting into exaggerated disappointment. "No fair, why didn't I get cool fire powers?" "Great question for later," you reply through a cough of black smoke, "let's get these people free first." #Deny the call of fire, your elemental affinity lies elsewhere. Spiritual cycling pushes your Aura Pressure down onto the burning sensation and snuffs it out, allowing you to walk freely without burning up. <<apboost 2>>\ While an element would be nice to have, you have other ideas beyond a basic offensive element like Fire. "Close call," Kosuke asks, inspecting the hole in your shirt where you were almost burned through. "What happened?" "I think it was the energy from the fire." "What the heck, then why didn't I get any?" "Great question for later," you reply through a cough of black smoke, "let's get these people free first." <</choose>>

<<page "Continue" "ch2-freehostages">>\

"Heh. Hehe. HehahAHAHAHA!" You turn to your opponent in time to block his flying arc of crimson chi that knocks you skidding across the hall. Taio \ <<if ($an is "sword")>>\ rips the sword out of his gut and tosses it aside. <<elseif ($an is "suplex")>>\ grips the floor with both hands and rips his head out, sending a cloud of splinters into the air around him. <<else>>\ rises to his feet with an effortless single flip. <</if>>\ Both his swollen lips part into a smile. "You've pushed me to desperation. Impressive. Yet do not think yourself strong." <<page "Continue" "ch2-mergeboast">>\

A hushed silence fills the tavern main hall. Every bandit stands dumbfounded, unsure what to do. They gawk in unified horror at their leader's body, the empowered man strong enough to dictate their lives, lying defeated at the hands of a young Martial Artist. One by one their weapons fall to the floor and they kneel in submission. You catch your breath and nod, pleased with the outcome. Mission complete. <<page "Continue" "ch2-usedbombs3">>\

"Oh! The kid from the baker's incident," says the second guard, who you detect a hint of power from. "you were away on mission, correct? The clerks will want to speak to you. Go report in to the Grand Pagoda." The Grand Pagoda is easy enough to find, it's the only six-story building in town and wide enough to fit multiple houses per floor. Plus it's the centerpiece of the town's market square. The top two floors are forbidden, they belong to the Magistrate and his sage who advises him on all things mystical. Below that is the library, and two floors below that are locked barracks that belong to the Thunderfall Sect. The bottom floor is a large hall with desks lining walls where clerks hear complaints or requests of the common folk. It's this floor where you find yourself talking to some stuttering new clerk who looks about your age. <<page "Continue" "ch2alt-arrival-2">>\

"It-it-it's good to see you r-r-return, Disciple." says the clerk in glasses. "It's good to be back," you say, trying to appear nonchalant. "I've finished the mission to burn down the Sunbringer warehouse. Mao said to report to the dojo when I'm done but I'm not really sure where that is." "The initiation trial, corr-rect?" He walks to someone else's desk, exchanges whispers, and comes back with a scroll that he unrolls. With brush and ink in hand, he records your successful mission. "I'm pleased to w-w-welcome you to the Thunderfall Sect. Now that you've c-completed your initiation mission you're to be given a set of combat gi and this-" He hands you a shining golden rock the size of your palm, layered in handseal sigils around its center. A keystone to bypass mystic locks. "This k-keystone will let you enter the dojo tomorrow, after we add its chi signature to the d-d-door's seal." The two of you stare at each other for an awkward moment. "Is th-there anything else?" He asks. "Yeah, where is the dojo?" "Oh," he leans in and whispers, "second floor." <<page "Continue" "ch2alt-arrival-3">>\

You head back home for a well-deserved bath. Mother and Father's house wasn't much to look at but you had your own bedroom and the twins didn't, which meant all was well in the world. "I'm home!" You shout as you enter, clothes caked in dirt and sweat. From the kitchen you can hear Rin and Jin arguing over who has to skin a hare for dinner. Mother peaks out and sees you. "<<cap $name>>, you're home! I was so worried!" She runs up to hug you with one hand while still holding Rin and Jin by the ear with the other. Rin's been keeping her hair shorter lately, like a dusting brush, and you've heard through the grapevine that she's trying to steal the boyfriend of some short-haired Thunderfall Sect girl. <<var $val ($age - 2)>>\ Jin on the other hand has shaved his head since you went away. Weird. He looks tougher but his neck isn't thick enough to pull it off. He has time, they're both only $val. <<var $val 0>>\ Your first Advancement that unlocked your capacity for chi-enhanced Martial Arts probably got them both jealous and their hair paid the price. While you'd be happy for them if they Advance too, it wouldn't be a bad thing if Jin fails. Father had been training you in the family business for years, and now that you're a student of the Thunderfall Sect your younger brother will be needed to replace your apprenticeship as a... <<choose "ch2alt-arrival-4">> #Blacksmith <<var $craft + 2>>\ <<var $background "Blacksmith">>\ <<var $itemtanto 100000000>>\ <<var $powexp + 10>>\ <<var $forexp + 10>>\ <<var $agiexp + 5>>\ <<var $solexp + 5>>\ #Herbalist <<var $alchemy + 2>>\ <<var $background "Herbalist">>\ <<var $healingelixir + 1>>\ <<var $powexp + 10>>\ <<var $forexp + 5>>\ <<var $agiexp + 5>>\ <<var $solexp + 10>>\ #Merchant <<var $persuasion + 2>>\ <<var $background "Merchant">>\ <<var $shards + 40>>\ <<var $powexp + 5>>\ <<var $forexp + 5>>\ <<var $agiexp + 10>>\ <<var $solexp + 10>>\ #Trapper <<var $survival + 2>>\ <<var $background "Trapper">>\ <<var $powexp + 5>>\ <<var $forexp + 10>>\ <<var $agiexp + 10>>\ <<var $solexp + 5>>\ <</choose>>\

Speaking of the resident $background... "There, I did it my own damn self!" shouts Father from the backyard. He enters the house, hands covered in rabbit blood and a scowl on his face, until he sees you. The gruff old bastard smiles from ear to ear when he sees his prodigal $sondaughter returned home. "My $sondaughter, the Warrior! I knew you'd make it, I told you all, didn't I?" He says to the others, "Bring it in here!" You're a Martial Artist and faster than normal humans. Your father is not. Yet his bloody-handed hug catches you before you can react. "I won't say I was worried, didn't have a doubt in my mind, but I will say I'll sleep better now that you're back. And-...oh." "Yes, I noticed too." says Mother looking apologetic. "Noticed what?" Asks you and Jin. "That you STINK!" Shouts Rin covering her nose. Mother does too, albeit with a more sympathetic expression. You suppose you could use a bath... <<page "Continue" "ch2alt-bath">>\

<<var $powspent 0>>\ <<var $forspent 0>>\ <<var $agispent 0>>\ <<var $solspent 0>>\ <<var $chispent 0>>\ <<var $wounds 0>>\ After a good twenty minutes of fetching water from the river, filling the tub, and setting a fire under it, you finally disrobe in the bathtub and throw your soiled gi into the trash rather than the hamper. It's a beginner's gi and you'll be getting a real one tomorrow. A quick dip into the hot bath soothes your aching muscles and washes away the rest of the grime that you couldn't get out in the river. No idiot would ruin a drawn bath by going in filthy. Several minutes of scrubbing and relaxing pass and you look down at your body, marveling how the Advancement process seems to have aged you a couple years in the best possible way. <<include "ch2-bodytype">>\

You close your $eyecolor \ <<if (($yokaitrait2 is "cat eyes") or ($yokaitrait2 is "reptilian eyes"))>>\ $yokaitrait2 \ <<else>>\ eyes \ <</if>>\ and brace for impact from the burning Technique being launched behind you. The glow is so bright that it must be the entire Sect launching blasts at your exhausted body. ...Wait. If it's an attack using chi, and as a Martial Artist you can sense chi, then why can't you sense anything behind you? Slowly you open your eyes and turn around to see the source of the orange glow matching the light and fire auras of the Sunbringer Sect Martial Artists: the dawn. It's just the damn sunrise, behind you to the east. You must have run through the entire night. Tension melts off your shoulders and you laugh in the face of your death that never came. How oddly freeing. You take a drink of the puddle in front of you and rest for two minutes before rising on shaky legs and continuing your march home. It's time to turn in your mission. <<page "Continue" "ch2alt-finishrace2">>

<<image "https://www.auraclash.com/assets/images/childhood_village.jpg">>\ Life in the forested mountain-village of Thunderfall is an easy one, and quite comfortable, but it comes at a cost. The Martial Artists of the Thunderfall Sect make heavy demands of the village as its ruling Caste, lead by a massive warrior from foreign lands named Crusher Mao. It's hard for you to like Crusher Mao, or his lookalike son Crusher Jack. They don't like you either. Your $raceadjective family consists of yourself, your parents, and the younger twins Rin and Jin. You descend from members of the Laborer Caste, those born to work crafts and menial labor for the good of the Warrior Caste and Noble Caste. Never one to accept your fate, you worked tirelessly to master the basics of the Martial Arts to elevate your family into the Warrior Caste, but no matter how hard you worked it never seemed enough to catch up to your peers born into the role. Crusher Jack and his friends bullied you about it relentlessly, calling you a Laborer for most of your childhood until your training finally paid off and you Advanced...in the middle of a fight with Jack. He was already a Martial Artist by that point, toying with you when you dared to harness chi from a spiritually-infused weather event called a Gate. He already had an aura and his own burgeoning chi powers, so you held nothing back. That day, when your body glowed with white chifire for the first time, your fist crashed into Jack's jaw and launched his whole body ten feet back into a cliffside as if you'd fired him from a cannon. You spent that following winter working for the local baker to make up for the damages to his wall. Jack hasn't forgiven you for embarrassing him. Neither has his father. <<page "Continue" "ch2alt-styleloop">>

Rest finally takes over and you dream of great battles and greater fame. In the morning, your new life awaits. <<page "The next day..." "ch2-actuallymergetho">>

Like most of the people on the planet, and especially your village, you are a Human. Your brown almond-shaped eyes and black hair are typical in local Zenshin culture, or maybe you descend from the similar Cathayans inhabiting the fallen empire to the west, but that doesn't matter. What matters is the Human body is designed perfectly for cycling chi; Oni only exist because spirits want a human form, and Yokai only exist because animals want a human form. It feels good to be born as the world's most sought-after natural body, even if being a dragon would have looked cooler. Still, you're proud to feel a connection to your people and your lands. History says it was your people who rebuilt this world after the last Calamity, and history will continue to say it is your people that forge its destiny. Long live the Rasen Empire. ''[Racial Bonus: Lore +1]'' Are you sure you're a Human? <<choose "ch2alt-finishrace">> #Yes, I'm a Human. <<var $haircolor "black">>\ <<var $eyecolor "brown">>\ <<var $race "Human">>\ <<var $lore + 1>>\ <<var $raceadjective "human">>\ #No, I'm something else. -> "ch2alt-raceselect" <</choose>>\

Kitsune are the least common of all races as they are not quite Yokai but rather a cross of Beast, Spirit, and Man. Their mysterious essence and mischievous nature have earned Kitsune a reputation as dangers to society, far more trouble than they're worth, and many Sects do not even classify them as a race but rather as hostile trickster spirits. For this reason, your parents have masqueraded as Wolf Yokai while settling down in the safety of Thunderfall Village. Should you ever grow too powerful or live past your first century this will be a problem when you grow additional tails that would ruin your disguise. It's been a fear of yours ever since the first time you manifested your aura. ''[Kitsune Racial Bonus: Insight +1]'' Are you sure you're a Kitsune? <<choose "ch2alt-kitsune2">> #Yes, I'm a Kitsune. <<var $race "Kitsune">>\ <<var $insight + 1>>\ #No, I'm something else. -> "ch2alt-raceselect" <</choose>>\

As a Kitsune you're not //technically// a Yokai, or even a Mortal, but you look the part. You've always been prone to a bit of trickery and the best so far is your Wolf Yokai "disguise", because the disguise is you walking around in broad daylight and just calling yourself a Wolf. A single-tailed kitsune looks strikingly similar to a Wolf Yokai, although obviously better looking in your opinion. Just like the Yokai, you're born with a fluffy tail, but only some Yokai have ears and fangs while every Kitsune is blessed with such traits. You're able to hide the sharp teeth and ears with a minor natural talent in illusions that you've (so far) only been able to use for that one purpose. That's not to say you //do// hide them. You present yourself with... <<choose "ch2alt-kitsune3">> #Just a single fox tail. #A single fox tail and fox ears. <<var $yokaitrait1 "fox ears">>\ #A single fox tail and pronounced canine fangs. <<var $yokaitrait2 "sharp fangs">>\ #A single fox tail, fox ears, and pronounced canine fangs. <<var $yokaitrait1 "fox ears">>\ <<var $yokaitrait2 "sharp fangs">>\ <</choose>>\

Your //glorious// tail is the same color as your hair which is... <<choose "ch2alt-kitsune4">> #Red <<var $page 19>>\ <<var $haircolor "red">>\ #White <<var $page 19>>\ <<var $haircolor "white">>\ #Black <<var $page 19>>\ <<var $haircolor "black">>\ #Golden <<var $page 19>>\ <<var $haircolor "golden">>\ #Orange <<var $page 19>>\ <<var $haircolor "orange">>\ <</choose>>\

While your eyes are... <<choose "ch2alt-finishrace">> #Amber <<var $eyecolor "amber">>\ #Brown <<var $eyecolor "brown">>\ #Blue <<var $eyecolor "blue">>\ #Green <<var $eyecolor "green">>\ <</choose>>\

You're an oddity in the small village of Thunderfall. While native humans have black or brown hair and brown eyes before absorbing enough chi that might change such traits, your people are born with a cascade of colors. Lunargoths possess lighter skin with more round eyes in shades of blue, green, grey, or amber, and a variety of hair colors from pitch black to white, yellow, orange, or red. Your father sports short golden hair with green eyes and your mother has long and curly bright-red hair with dark blue eyes. You forgot to say goodbye to them before you mission. You wish you hadn't forgotten. It is said there are more Lunargoths like you somewhere else. Not just the major cities that have a bit of everything, but in lands beyond this world filled with darkstone Gothic architecture. They say your people came down centuries ago from the Moon, which is awesome. You always wanted to go to the Moon one day. ''[Racial Bonus: Craft +1]'' Are you sure you're a Lunargoth? <<choose "ch2alt-lunargoth2">> #Yes, I'm a Lunargoth. <<var $craft + 1>>\ <<var $race "Lunargoth">>\ <<var $subrace "Human">>\ <<var $raceadjective "gothic">>\ #No, I'm something else. -> "ch2alt-raceselect" <</choose>>\

Like most Lunargoths you're born with coloration in your hair and eyes. In particular, your hair is... <<choose "ch2alt-lunargoth3">> #Pitch black. <<var $haircolor "black">>\ #Shades of light brown. <<var $haircolor "brown">>\ #Dirty blonde. <<var $haircolor "dirty blonde">>\ #Golden Blonde. <<var $haircolor "blonde">>\ #Pure white. <<var $haircolor "white">>\ #Burning orange. <<var $haircolor "orange">>\ #Deep red. <<var $haircolor "red">>\ <</choose>>\

And your eyes are... <<choose "ch2alt-finishrace">> #Black <<var $eyecolor "black">>\ #Brown <<var $eyecolor "brown">>\ #Grey <<var $eyecolor "grey">>\ #Deep blue <<var $eyecolor "blue">>\ #Pale Blue <<var $eyecolor "pale blue">>\ #Amber <<var $eyecolor "amber">>\ #Verdant green <<var $eyecolor "green">>\ #Pale green <<var $eyecolor "pale green">>\ #Hazel <<var $eyecolor "hazel">>\ <</choose>>\

Oni descend from spirits or demons who managed to manifest a physical form, normally by stealing the body of a human and warping it to fit their desires. You are recognizable by the Oni hereditary spiritual taint: red skin. Most oni also possess white hair and black or yellow eyes. Your kind is distrusted in most rural areas where you're considered thieves or cultists. Oni families like yours aren't rare in your village, but if they were, you'd be in trouble. Luckily there have been enough Oni in Thunderfall Village for generations, to the point that co-existing was easy by the time you were born. You hear things are worse elsewhere, sometimes much worse. You also hear things are better in the major cities where many of your kind control banks and trade. As an Oni you have no additional spiritual powers or the ability to bargain for souls like a true demon, but you are pretty good at turning a conversation in your favor when you're in trouble. ''[Racial Bonus: Deception +1]'' Are you sure you're an Oni? <<choose "ch2alt-oni2">> #Yes, I'm an Oni. <<var $page 2>>\ <<var $deception + 1>>\ <<var $race "Oni">>\ <<var $raceadjective "demonic">>\ #No, I'm something else. -> "ch2alt-raceselect" <</choose>>\

Oni always have natural pitch-black or snow-white hair. Your family in particular displays... <<choose "ch2alt-oni3">> #White hair. <<var $haircolor "white">>\ <<var $page 3>>\ #Pitch-black hair. <<var $haircolor "black">>\ <<var $page 3>>\ <</choose>>\

Additionally, Oni often display only two variations of eye color. Your father is a yellow-eyed Oni while your mother is a black-eyed Oni. You happen to be a... <<choose "ch2alt-finishrace">> #Yellow-eyed Oni. <<var $eyecolor "yellow">>\ <<var $page 1>>\ #Black-eyed Oni. <<var $eyecolor "black">>\ <<var $page1>>\ <</choose>>\

<<var $firstchapter 2>>\ <<var $chipool 1>>\ <<var $shards 80>>\ <<var $aurapressure 140>>\ <<var $kosukecombat 1>>\ <<var $age - 3>>\ <<var $chapter 1.6>>\ Smoke billows out of the large wooden structure secluded in the forest, a warehouse hidden from the roads. You stand atop its roof and feel the night's cold wind blowing against your white arts gi that marks you as an uninitiated Martial Artist. A free agent. Or in your case, an unproven recruit. The Sunbringer Sect's disciples thought they could hide their ill-gotten gains from the raid they performed on your village's trade caravan. They were wrong. After lighting fire to their warehouse you crouch low on the rooftop and wait for the guards in the surrounding woods to enter the building to investigate. That's when you make your move and leap from the roof. With any luck the roar of the fires will mask the impact of your body landing on a sturdy tree branch twenty feet out. Both your ankles threaten to break when you impact the branch, but the wood gives out first. You crash to the ground, and the Sunbringer guards in their silver and yellow combat gi sound the alarm behind you. Only one word echoes through your mind. //Run.// <<page "Continue" "ch2alt-opening2">>

Blasts of fire and light crash throughout the forest as you weave between trees in a chase of life and death. One Martial Artist in Sunbringer combat robes catches up to you, jumping out at you from behind a tree you planned to dodge behind. He swings his leg out in a powerful kick enhanced with chi. <<var $txt "You keep running using your head start to stay ahead of him and leave every other Sunbringer disciple further behind.">>\ You have less than a second to react when you notice it, three inches from your face and closing fast. <<choose "ch2alt-opening3">> #Swing a punch at his crotch. [Increase Power] <<var $page 1>>\ <<var $power + 1>>\ Power surges through your forearm and fist and you swing right for the man's crotch. He may land his hit, but so will you. He shrinks back and dodges, protecting his groin more dearly than you protected your own life. Coward. $txt <<page "Continue" "ch2alt-opening3">>\ #Headbutt his shin to break it. [Increase Fortitude] <<var $page 1>>\ <<var $fortitude + 1>>\ His kick lands with full impact, albeit 2 inches too high. Instead of crunching through your nose his shin comes in contact with your forehead as you lean into his attack, and you feel his shin break under the impact. You expect to be an immovable object meeting an unstoppable force, but that isn't what happens. His force is stoppable. $txt <<page "Continue" "ch2alt-opening3">>\ #DODGE! [Increase Agility] <<var $page 1>>\ <<var $agility + 1>>\ With inhuman speed you surge your Agility Core and nearly disappear in a blur of white light, moving at triple speed for just a moment. You duck under his kick, grab his other leg, and pull it forward as you dash further away. You hear him swear as he twists in the air behind you and crashes to the ground. $txt <<page "Continue" "ch2alt-opening3">>\ #Blast him with chi. [Increase Soul] <<var $page 1>>\ <<var $soul + 1>>\ Both your hands shoot forward in a desperate bid to survive. You push the very power of your soul outward, unrefined as it may be, and emit a scorching hot surge of white chi akin to a bonfire launched with the speed of a firework. The blast hits his other leg and destabilizes him, causing his kick to lose its grounding and deal superficial damage to your head. His leg gives out and he crumbles to the ground, swearing. $txt <<page "Continue" "ch2alt-opening3">>\ <</choose>>\

Six hours pass. Six hours of nonstop running until you collapse from exhaustion. You can't know if you've lost them all, even with your supernatural ability to sense other Martial Artists' auras. Too many have trained to hide their Aura Pressure to avoid spiritual detection. But it doesn't matter. If they're still following you then you're dead no matter what, because you can't go on. You drop to the ground, exhausted, over a puddle on the outskirts of the woods leading up the mountains. It takes every ounce of willpower to catch yourself before your face hits the water. If you must die here then you will die with dignity. After several seconds of gasping breaths you see both the puddle and your glistening sweat illuminate with an orange glow, coming from behind, and you know it's over. The Sunbringer Sect has caught up to you after you burned their stolen loot to the ground. You take one last look at the reflection in the puddle. Damn, what a gorgeous... <<choose "ch2alt-raceselect">> #Man <<var $himher "him">>\ <<var $hisher "his">>\ <<var $hishers "his">>\ <<var $heshe "he">>\ <<var $ymaster "Young Master">>\ <<var $boygirl "boy">>\ <<var $sondaughter "son">>\ <<var $manwoman "man">>\ <<var $patriarch "Patriarch">>\ #Woman <<var $himher "her">>\ <<var $hisher "her">>\ <<var $hishers "hers">>\ <<var $ymaster "Young Mistress">>\ <<var $heshe "she">>\ <<var $boygirl "girl">>\ <<var $sondaughter "daughter">>\ <<var $manwoman "woman">>\ <<var $patriarch "Matriarch">>\ <</choose>>\

Your Clan name is... <<include "ch1-pickclan">>\

The world's going to lose a perfect specimen of a... <<choose "ch2alt-human">> #Human, native and most common inhabitants of the world. #Lunargoth, a pale human with rounder eyes. -> "ch2alt-lunargoth" #Oni, a red-skinned descendant of demons. -> "ch2alt-oni" #Yokai, a descendant of animals who Advanced their bodies into human form. -> "ch2alt-yokai" <</choose>>\

Magistrate Khan is the one who saved you from reprisal. He's a wizened old man with a long thin beard who appeared ancient before you were born, and his job is to administer the people of your village. Crusher Mao demanded that Khan punish you to the full extent of the law for bringing shame to his son. His excuse was that the Thunderfall Sect couldn't be seen losing to a Laborer peasant. Magistrate Khan agreed, and indoctrinated you into the Thunderfall Sect as a new member of the Warrior Caste. The dispute was resolved, he claimed, as the Thunderfall Sect now technically won that fight. Crusher Mao did not take that well. After your winter of baking reparations had finished Master Mao gave you an initiation mission to prove yourself like all Thunderfall Sect disciples were forced to do. That was three days ago. Your life's been changed so quickly that your body has barely had time to adjust to your first Advancement, the rejuvenating process that unlocked your aura, chi powers, and latent potential for one of the Martial Arts. It turns out your spirit was attuned to have... <<include "ch1-pickstyle">>\

You're suspicious that Master Mao's mission for you was a suicide mission, being ordered to go to a rival Sect's territory and burn one of their warehouses of Soul Treasures and supplies. And yet you've succeeded. The bastards deserved it too, most of those supplies were stolen from your village. You waltz up to the town gates victoriously and nod to the two guards at the gate. "Hold it." Says one of the guards, an unpowered man in splint mail armor, "I recognize your uniform, traveler, but not your face. State your name and Clan." <<if $heshe is "he">>\ <<if ((($race is "Human") or ($race is "Yokai")) or ($race is "Kitsune"))>>\ <<choose "ch2alt-suspicious2">> #Ronin <<var $name "Ronin">>\ #Genji <<var $name "Genji">>\ #Kenzo <<var $name "Kenzo">>\ #Xin <<var $name "Xin">>\ #Ryuu <<var $name "Ryuu">>\ #Something else [Enter Name] -> "ch2alt-custom" <<var $name "Custom">>\ <</choose>>\ <<elseif ($race is "Oni")>>\ <<choose "ch2alt-suspicious2">> #Brand <<var $name "Brand">>\ #Soren <<var $name "Soren">>\ #Fane <<var $name "Fane">>\ #Kozael <<var $name "Kozael">>\ #Aoyin <<var $name "Aoyin">>\ #Something else [Enter Name] -> "ch2alt-custom" <<var $name "Custom">>\ <</choose>>\ <<else>>\ <<choose "ch2alt-suspicious2">> #Roderic <<var $name "Roderic">>\ #Cade <<var $name "Cade">>\ #Evander <<var $name "Evander">>\ #Bremet <<var $name "Bremet">>\ #Godwin <<var $name "Godwin">>\ #Something else [Enter Name] -> "ch2alt-custom" <<var $name "Custom">>\ <</choose>>\ <</if>>\ <<else>>\ <<if ((($race is "Human") or ($race is "Yokai")) or ($race is "Kitsune"))>>\ <<choose "ch2alt-suspicious2">> #Jade <<var $name "Jade">>\ #Mira <<var $name "Mira">>\ #Kiyoko <<var $name "Kiyoko">>\ #Akane <<var $name "Akane">>\ #Sakura <<var $name "Sakura">>\ #Something else [Enter Name] -> "ch2alt-custom" <<var $name "Custom">>\ <</choose>>\ <<elseif ($race is "Oni")>>\ <<choose "ch2alt-suspicious2">> #Ozra <<var $name "Ozra">>\ #Ember <<var $name "Ember">>\ #Lilith <<var $name "Lilith">>\ #Ansila <<var $name "Ansila">>\ #Eyri <<var $name "Eyri">>\ #Something else [Enter Name] -> "ch2alt-custom" <<var $name "Custom">>\ <</choose>>\ <<else>>\ <<choose "ch2alt-suspicious2">> #Eve <<var $name "Eve">>\ #Luna <<var $name "Luna">>\ #Aurora <<var $name "Aurora">>\ #Violet <<var $name "Violet">>\ #Nessa <<var $name "Nessa">>\ #Something else [Enter Name] -> "ch2alt-custom" <<var $name "Custom">>\ <</choose>>\ <</if>>\ <</if>>\

"It's <<cap $name>>," You say to the guard who has a plot right next to yours in the communal gardens, "You really don't recognize me?" The guard grunts. "I can't be expected to recognize every face. State your Clan." <<include "ch1-pickclan">>\

When animals absorb enough chi to transform into a more powerful body they are called Beasts. But not all animals choose to become larger predators. For various reasons, some empowered animals spend immense spiritual energy to advance their intelligence and spirit by taking on the form of a human body. Such beings are known as Yokai. Yokai that are formed from this transformation, this variation of "Advancement", are all extremely powerful, but your family isn't like them. Like the vast majority of Yokai, you just descend from one or more animals who Advanced a long time ago, probably a few great-great-great-grandparents. Most yokai keep some animalistic traits from their predecessor such as eyes, fangs, or ears, and almost all have a tail. You happen to descend from... <<choose "ch2alt-yokai2">> #Felines <<var $subrace "Cat">>\ #Canines <<var $subrace "Wolf">>\ #Reptiles <<var $subrace "Reptile">>\ #Monkeys <<var $subrace "Monkey">>\ #Bovines <<var $subrace "Bovine">>\ <</choose>>\

<<if $subrace is "Cat">>\ Panthers, Tigers, Bobcat, Lions, Cougars, even some housecats, they're all master hunters and so they're some of the most common animals to Advance into a Beast or a Yokai. Many cat Yokai have ears of a cat on the head of a human: fluffy and twitching, growing through their hair closer to the top of their head. Your real prized trait is your tail, soft and flexible. <<elseif $subrace is "Wolf">>\ Wolves and dogs are man's closest friend in the animal kingdom. It's no surprise that some wolf or dog Beast ancestor of yours was around powerful humans long enough that it chose to Advance into a human body. Your ears are those of a wolf, tufted and soft, growing through your hair near the top of your head. Your tail is large, and oh so fluffy. <<elseif $subrace is "Reptile">>\ Being cold-blooded stops many reptile Beasts from Advancing into Yokai, the change is just too fundamental. It requires too much chi. For that reason, those who manage the process are incredibly frightening creatures. Whatever the reptile was when it was born, by the time your ancestor had enough power to Advance into a Yokai it had probably already Advanced into a massive tunneling Wyrm or some other variant of Dragon. Your thin scaled tail has an arrowhead tip. <<elseif $subrace is "Monkey">>\ Monkeys are fairly close to humans and are one of the easiest transitions for Beasts to make, barring the tailless Apes. Something about a tail seemed to be vital for Yokai Advancement. As such, Monkey Yokai are the most human-looking. Often the tail is the only trait exposing them as Yokai at all. You wrap yours to wear it like a belt sometimes, like Father and Mother do. <<elseif $subrace is "Bovine">>\ Most cattle are docile creatures, kept in a confined space away from aura-rich hidden treasures of nature. In such captivity cows and bulls are never capable of Advancement...by accident. On purpose however, is another story. Almost all cattle that Advance into a Beast do so because their owner purposefully prepared them for it. Cattle herds are prime targets for the powerful Beasts roaming the wilds, and replacing guards or attack dogs with powerful bovine Beasts is an expensive but worthwhile status symbol for rich farmers, or farmers working for rich nobles. Somewhere up the family tree one of your ancestors was prized enough to Advance not just to a Beast, but again later on into an intelligent Yokai with their own rights under the Rasen Imperial Government. They must have been very long-lived. Your tail is short, only growing down to your knees, with a tuft of hair at the end. You could hide it if you wanted. <</if>>\ Animalistic instincts flow through your mind now and then. You find they can be leaned on for an edge in the natural world. <<if $subrace is "Cat">>\ ''[Cat Yokai Racial Bonus: Perception +1]'' <<elseif $subrace is "Wolf">>\ ''[Wolf Yokai Racial Bonus: Survival +1]'' <<elseif $subrace is "Reptile">>\ ''[Reptile Yokai Racial Bonus: Stealth +1]'' <<elseif $subrace is "Monkey">>\ ''[Monkey Yokai Racial Bonus: Thievery +1]'' <<elseif $subrace is "Bovine">>\ ''[Bovine Yokai Racial Bonus: Athletics +1]'' <</if>>\ Are you sure you're a $subrace Yokai? <<choose "ch2alt-yokai3">> #Yes, I'm a $subrace Yokai. <<var $race "Yokai">>\ <<var $raceadjective "animalistic">>\ <<if $subrace is "Wolf">>\ <<var $survival + 1>>\ <<elseif $subrace is "Cat">>\ <<var $perception + 1>>\ <<elseif $subrace is "Reptile">>\ <<var $stealth + 1>>\ <<elseif $subrace is "Monkey">>\ <<var $thievery + 1>>\ <<elseif $subrace is "Bovine">>\ <<var $athletics + 1>>\ <</if>>\ #No, I'm something else. -> "ch2alt-raceselect" <<var $subrace "">>\ <<var $page 1>>\ #show-if ($subrace is "Wolf") People only think I'm a Wolf Yokai. In truth I'm a Kitsune fox spirit. -> "ch2alt-kitsune" <<var $subrace "">>\ <</choose>>\

<<if $subrace isnot "Monkey">>\ All Yokai have a tail but some $subrace Yokai deal with other changes to their base human form, \ <<if $subrace is "Cat">>\ such as cat ears and vertical pupils. You happen to have... <<choose "ch2alt-yokai4">> #Just a cat tail. #A cat tail and cat ears. <<var $yokaitrait1 "cat ears">>\ #A cat tail and cat eyes. <<var $yokaitrait2 "cat eyes">>\ #A cat tail, cat ears, and cat eyes. <<var $yokaitrait1 "cat ears">>\ <<var $yokaitrait2 "cat eyes">>\ <</choose>>\ <<elseif $subrace is "Wolf">>\ such as wolf ears or pronounced canine fangs. You happen to have... <<choose "ch2alt-yokai4">> #Just a wolf tail. #A wolf tail and wolf ears. <<var $yokaitrait1 "wolf ears">>\ #A wolf tail and pronounced canine fangs. <<var $yokaitrait2 "sharp fangs">>\ #A wolf tail, wolf ears, and pronounced canine fangs. <<var $yokaitrait1 "wolf ears">>\ <<var $yokaitrait2 "sharp fangs">>\ <</choose>>\ <<elseif $subrace is "Reptile">>\ such as reptilian eyes and a forked tongue. You happen to have... <<choose "ch2alt-yokai4">> #Just a thin arrowhead-tipped tail. #A thin arrowhead-tipped tail and forked tongue. <<var $yokaitrait1 "forked tongue">>\ #A thin arrowhead-tipped tail and reptilian eyes. <<var $yokaitrait2 "reptilian eyes">>\ #A thin arrowhead-tipped tail, reptilian eyes, and a forked tongue. <<var $yokaitrait1 "forked tongue">>\ <<var $yokaitrait2 "reptilian eyes">>\ <</choose>>\ <<elseif $subrace is "Bovine">>\ such as a pair of horns. You happen to have... <<choose "ch2alt-yokai4">> #Just a tail. #A tail and horns. <<var $yokaitrait1 "horns">>\ #A tail and bonive ears. <<var $yokaitrait2 "cow ears">>\ #A tail, horns, and bovine ears. <<var $yokaitrait1 "horns">>\ <<var $yokaitrait2 "cow ears">>\ <</choose>>\ <</if>>\ <<else>>\ <<include "ch2alt-yokai4">>\ <</if>>\

<<if $subrace is "Cat">>\ Your tail is the same color as your hair which is... <<choose "ch2alt-yokai5">> #White <<var $haircolor "white">>\ #Black <<var $haircolor "black">>\ #Brown <<var $haircolor "brown">>\ #Orange <<var $haircolor "orange">>\ #Peach <<var $haircolor "peach">>\ <</choose>>\ <<elseif $subrace is "Wolf">>\ Your tail is the same color as your hair which is... <<choose "ch2alt-yokai5">> #White <<var $haircolor "white">>\ #Grey <<var $haircolor "grey">>\ #Black <<var $haircolor "black">>\ #Brown <<var $haircolor "brown">>\ #Red <<var $haircolor "red">>\ <</choose>>\ <<elseif $subrace is "Reptile">>\ Your tail is the same color as your hair which is... <<choose "ch2alt-yokai5">> #Black <<var $haircolor "black">>\ #Green <<var $haircolor "green">>\ #Red <<var $haircolor "red">>\ #Brown <<var $haircolor "brown">>\ #Yellow <<var $haircolor "yellow">>\ <</choose>>\ <<elseif $subrace is "Monkey">>\ <<learnthievery 1>>\ Unlike other Yokai types, Monkey Yokai do not suffer other animalistic traits. You've got your tail on an otherwise human body, and that's it. The only other noticable difference is your coloration may come from primates instead of the base human form. Your tail and hair in particular are... <<choose "ch2alt-yokai5">> #White <<var $haircolor "white">>\ #Black <<var $haircolor "black">>\ #Brown <<var $haircolor "brown">>\ #Red <<var $haircolor "red">>\ <</choose>>\ <<elseif $subrace is "Bovine">>\ Your tail is the same color as your hair, which is... <<choose "ch2alt-finishrace">> #Black <<var $haircolor "black">>\ #Brown <<var $haircolor "brown">>\ #Red <<var $haircolor "red">>\ #White <<var $haircolor "white">>\ #Shades of black and white. <<var $haircolor "black and white">>\ <</choose>>\ <</if>>\

<<if $subrace is "Cat">>\ While your eyes are... <<choose "ch2alt-finishrace">> #Black <<var $eyecolor "black">>\ #Amber <<var $eyecolor "amber">>\ #Green <<var $eyecolor "green">>\ #Hazel <<var $eyecolor "hazel">>\ #Blue <<var $eyecolor "blue">>\ #Brown <<var $eyecolor "brown">>\ <</choose>>\ <<elseif $subrace is "Wolf">>\ While your eyes are... <<choose "ch2alt-finishrace">> #Black <<var $eyecolor "black">>\ #Yellow <<var $eyecolor "yellow">>\ #Orange <<var $eyecolor "orange">>\ #Brown <<var $eyecolor "brown">>\ #Hazel <<var $eyecolor "hazel">>\ #Blue <<var $eyecolor "blue">>\ <</choose>>\ <<elseif $subrace is "Reptile">>\ While your eyes are... <<choose "ch2alt-finishrace">> #Black <<var $eyecolor "black">>\ #Brown <<var $eyecolor "brown">>\ #Green <<var $eyecolor "green">>\ #Orange <<var $eyecolor "orange">>\ #Red <<var $eyecolor "red">>\ #Grey <<var $eyecolor "grey">>\ #Blue <<var $eyecolor "blue">>\ <</choose>>\ <<elseif $subrace is "Monkey">>\ While your eyes are... <<choose "ch2alt-finishrace">> #Brown <<var $eyecolor "brown">>\ #Black <<var $eyecolor "black">>\ #Red <<var $eyecolor "red">>\ #Orange <<var $eyecolor "orange">>\ #Yellow <<var $eyecolor "yellow">>\ #Hazel <<var $eyecolor "hazel">>\ #Blue <<var $eyecolor "blue">>\ <</choose>>\ <</if>>\

The muscles of your legs thrum with power as you rush down the road passing any travelers and houses, faster and faster. Wind from your passage knocks robes off clotheslines as you accelerate down the village road in a cloud of dust. \ <<if ($agifirstchoice)>>\ You cross the finish line so quickly that both Kosuke's and Tian Fang's hair blow back. \ <<else>>\ As Bo's foot comes to land on the finish line you barrel through the gap between you two and overtake him at the last second. \ <</if>>\ You've won. <<var $borep + 2>>\ Kosuke leaps and cheers, "Yes! Eat butt Tian Fang you owe me ten Shards!" Tian Fang remains sitting, tail calmly wagging back and forth as she looks at you. "That I do." She says. <<page "Victory!" "ch3-winrace">>\

You sit Kosuke, Jin, and Rin down in the middle of the woods and go over the practical applications of Buffer's Barrier, how its meant to be the equivalent of "bruising" your spirit so it heals by growing back stronger. It takes longer than you thought. Jin always complains about ants, Rin always sneaks ants \ <<if ($race is "Yokai")>>\ onto Jin's tail, \ <<else>>\ down Jin's shirt, \ <</if>>\ and Kosuke skulks away constantly to look for bigger ants. After a week of this you realize you're essentially just hanging out with them all during lunch break. It's fun, but you have Trials of life and death coming. You don't need fun. You need results. When you quit they beg you to come back and promise to take it seriously. Eventually the trio does figure out the principles and how to pull it off. You walk them all through the process and it's worth it in the end when their Aura Pressures noticeably rise the very next week. <<apboost 10>>\ <<var $jincombat + 1>>\ <<var $rincombat + 1>>\ <<var $kosukecombat + 2>>\ <<var $months - 1>>\ <<var $shards + ($commerce * 2)>>\ <<page "Continue" "ch3-trainingseason">>\

<<var $demonheshe "Exorcised">>\ <<var $demonhisher "Exorcised">>\ It was never intended that you contest a spirit's will as a mere student, your real job is to activate a large ritual seal inscribed onto a scroll from the armory. The scroll unravels on the floor and you recite the incantations while invoking its 7-symbol handseal rotation 88 times, all the while the entity screams and shakes the room in pain. At the 88th casting it stops. Your senses reach out and detect no presence of the entity any longer. Many trials in this world come with complications that you could never have predicted, but not this one. You report to the family outside with a confident stride. "Threat neutralized." ''[Item Gained: 250 Shards]'' <<var $shards + 250>>\ <<include "ch3-earnfundsend">>\

The markets are bustling with tradesmen, caravans, and the most important ingredient: customers. Silver and shards exchange hands across a hundred transactions the minute you step foot towards the Caravan Stalls filling the market square. As you approach you hope they have something useful for you. Then you freeze. Multiple auras rise in your spiritual senses, behind you. Six other Thunderfall disciples are approaching the market in full combat gi, as well as Tian Fang in her usual winter robes looking around casually. "Look who it is!" Jeers one of the Thunderfall students in a nasally voice as they get close. It takes you a moment to recognize him as Jack's skinny friend. "$fullname taking a break from $hisher Laborer training to grace us with $hisher presence. \ <<if ($background is "Herbalist")>>\ Shouldn't you be picking flowers somewhere?" \ <<elseif ($background is "Blacksmith")>>\ Shouldn't you be making my horseshoes" \ <<elseif ($background is "Trapper")>>\ Shouldn't you be skinning puppies somewhere?" \ <<else>>\ Shouldn't you be behind a shop counter?" \ <</if>>\ <<choose "ch3-borace2">> #I shrug and ignore them, continuing to the market. <<var $ruthless - 2>>\ <<var $racercool true>>\ They attempt a few more pointless insults but you just march on to the Market Square. What are they going to do, attack you in front of the guards? Not a chance. These dogs are always more bark than bite. <<page "Continue" "ch3-market-caravan">>\ #"Have some dignity and save it for the Trials." <<var $honor + 2>>\ You respond to his barbs with a disappointed stare. "Have some dignity and save it for the Trials." "As if you know anything about dignity," the girl next to the skinny disciple says. "I do." You say, "Because I didn't attack an unpowered child with the help of three other friends last year." The girl scoffs and knocks her head back an inch incredulously. The fat one speaks up. "That was an official mission, idiot! One that //you// ruined for everyone!" Oh not this again. Everyone keeps trying to act like defending your unpowered brother was a crime. Well fuck them. "You hurt my brother and you expect an apology? You expect me to, what, feel sorry for you? Dishonorable //and// stupid. You're lucky Jack was the only one I hurt that day." "Oh you're going to regret that." The skinny one says, powering up his aura of white energy in the middle of the street. Passersby quickly scurry out of the way. "Is that a challenge?" You ask, cycling your own chi and powering up. <<cap $auracolor>> light grows in intensity around your \ <<if ($auracolor is "grey-white")>>\ body to match his. <<else>>\ body. <</if>>\ "You'd better believe it!" With a sudden leap he's already crossed half the distance between you with a flying kick. <<page "Continue" "ch3-borace2">>\ #I smile casually. "I've got the day off. How's your training with Fang going?" [Persuasion Check] <<var $ruthless - 2>>\ "I've got the day off." You say, "How's your training with Fang going?" <<if ($persuasion gte 1)>>\ ''[Persuasion Check Passed]'' <<apboost 2>>\ The skinny one's sneer faulters from your off-putting attempt at genuine conversion. He looks to the others but they all shuffle nervously. Being in a pack does that. Makes you hide behind others. <<if ($ruthless gte 54)>>\ Fools. \ <</if>>\ One of the girls finally pipes up, "It's tough but worth it, we've only trained strikes before so now we're learning a lot about energy manipulation and grapples." "Shut up you idiot!" Hisses the skinny one. "Don't give $himher our secrets!" "Oh fuck off Bo," the girl says back, "If you've got such a grudge why don't you two duke it out already?" "I thought you'd never ask." Says the skinny one, cracking his knuckles. <<else>>\ ''[Persuasion Check Failed]'' "Wouldn't you like to know, loser." Says the fat one. The rest laugh and a few of them give him highfives. Undeserved highfives in your opinion; that wasn't even a good line. "Yeah, I would." You say flatly, "That's why I asked." Ugh, you wish you were good with words. Or had a crew to highfive you. "Well too bad." Says the girl in the group. "Tian Fang's special training secrets are only for Sect members, right Lady Fang?" "Hm?" The wolf Yokai girl says, looking around absentmindedly, "Oh yes, that is correct...Though isn't $heshe in your Sect as well? I did not understand why Master Mao prohibited $himher from training with the rest of you." "Because $heshe's a disgrace." Says the skinny one. "Look who's talking." You say, face reddening, "I remember you all running for the hills when Jack lost to me." "Jack only lost because of your trickery!" The skinny one shouts louder. Suddenly his aura of white energy powers up around him like a spiraling haze of light. Passersby quickly scurry out of the way. "Is that a challenge?" You ask, cycling your own chi and powering up. <<cap $auracolor>> light grows in intensity around your \ <<if ($auracolor is "grey-white")>>\ body to match his. <<else>>\ body. <</if>>\ "You'd better believe it!" With a sudden leap he's already crossed half the distance between you with a flying kick. <</if>>\ <<page "Continue" "ch3-borace2">>\ #"Ah, the amateurs. Come for Martial Arts lessons? I charge by the hour." <<var $ruthless + 1>>\ <<var $fangrep + 4>>\ "Ah, the amateurs." You say, "Come for Martial Arts lessons? I charge by the hour." Tian Fang snickers, tail wagging slightly. The other six turn to her. "What?" She says defensively, "I appreciate a barb that is most accurate. You //do// need lessons. That is why I am here." The skinny one looks back to you with a reddening face and flares his nostrils. "You think you're funny, huh? A real clown? Well we'll see who needs training." A white glow surrounds his fist. A few of the other Martial Artists back up, but you only laugh. "Am I supposed to be scared? What, are you the new discount version of Jack?" You lean towards him in mockery as he marches towards you. "Don't expect my full effort if you're only giving me half the opponent." He reels his fist back and lunges. <<page "Continue" "ch3-borace2">>\ <</choose>>

<<var $combatstat "soul">>\ <<var $combatskill "handseals">>\ <<combatcheck 4>>\ <<if ($passcheck is true)>>\ You explode into the village with a burst of mystic force that ignores gravity, shooting in a straight line at a forty-five degree angle. You wanted a thirty-foot lead but it looks like you're getting a three thousands foot lead as you soar ever higher. With a nimble twist in the air you turn around to look back at Bo. He isn't even running. He's just staring at you, open mouthed, just like most villagers around him. <<if ($honor lte 49)>>\ You flip him off with a smile. \ <<else>>\ You give him an apologetic bow as you ascend. \ <</if>>\ Tough luck, Bo. Luckily you do start descending eventually and it's over the finish line. You pass over Tian Fang's icy marker and crash into the ground with enough force to gently shake nearby fences. <<woundcheck 1 false false>>\ You rise with a cracked lip and a //very// sore shoulder to see Kosuke jumping and cheering back at the finish line. "Eat it!" <<cap $bffheshe>> shouts at the other Thunderfall students, "Absolutely eat it, losers! <<cap $name>> the Flying God \ <<if ($bffheshe is "he")>>\ wins!" He finishes his victory cheer by mooning them. "And \ <<else>>\ wins and \ <</if>>\ Tian Fang you owe me ten Shards!" Tian Fang remains sitting, tail calmly wagging back and forth as she looks at you. "That I do." She says. <<page "Victory!" "ch3-winrace">>\ <<else>>\ Something went wrong in your casting, or maybe it needed more power than your Soul could provide, or maybe it just can't be done. All you know is that the explosion of your ritual was less concussive and more...fiery. You succeed in distracting Bo but fail to gain a head start. All your ritual does is explode between your hands and bellow out a twenty-foot cloud of black smoke around you. <<woundcheck 1 false true>>\ You recover quickly and start sprinting out of the cloud at the same time that Bo does, both coughing up a lung. You may have been the one to take the damage of the casting but at the same time, you were expecting it. The surprise slowed Bo down just as much as the pain slowed you down. The two of you blast off out of the smoke cloud and down the street running twice the speed a mortal can maintain. Your bodies glow with chi through the dust storm formed from your fast movement. <<if ($agility gte 4)>>\ ''[Agility 4 Check Passed]'' Soon it's clear that your ritual was never needed. You pass Bo and create a bigger gap with each second. <<var $agifirstchoice true>>\ <<include "ch3-agi4win">>\ <<else>>\ ''[Agility 4 Check Failed]'' Soon it's clear that you needed that ritual to succeed. He passes you and creates a bigger gap with each second. <<page "Damn it all." "ch3-loserace">>\ <</if>>\ <</if>>\

"Bo, Hold!" Tian Fang shouts. The skinny disciple, Bo apparently, freezes. "Stay your hand, both of you. Is this not the marketplace of your town? In Mountain Hazard we would never allow our grudges to make us look divided in front of the workers." "But <<capall $heshe>> is a worker!" Bo shouts back. "<<cap $heshe>> shouldn't even be here! <<cap $hisher>> family constantly cheats by absorbing Shards before their first Advancement, which Master Mao forbids for us, $heshe steals Heavenly Gates we are supposed to reserve for the upper disciples, and $heshe pulls in favors with the Magistrate to force <<print $himher>>self into our Sect like it's some sort of reward for ignoring our rules!" Bo spits at the ground between your feet and glares into your eyes with palpable hatred. "Everything about you is an insult!" "Okay." You say with a shrug. Is he done yet? \ <<if ($heshe is "she")>>\ You've got shopping to do. <<else>>\ You want to get to the markets before dark. <</if>>\ He looks to Tian Fang, "Do you see this disrespect?! How do you expect me to let this pass?!" "You can fight after the Trials." Fang says, "but if you fight now it will reflect poorly on me. I am sorry Bo but I cannot allow it." "Then how about a race?" Says a random bum sitting by the road, who happens to be your \ <<if ($bffromance gte 1)>>\ <<if ($heshe is "he")>>\ girlfriend \ <<else>>\ boyfriend \ <</if>>\ <<else>>\ childhood friend \ <</if>>\ Kosuke. "A race?" Asks the girl next to Bo, one of Jack's other friends. Kosuke chows down on some sort of fried balls and talks with $bffhisher mouth open. "Yeah, why not? There's slim pickings at the market this morning, \ <<if ($bffheshe is "he")>>\ ladies and gentlemen. \ <<else>>\ folks. \ <</if>>\ Prices are up, supply is down, the only people buying anything good are the ones who can throw around real Shard piles. If you all want to compete with <<cap $name>> so badly then why not have a race for, let's say, 120 Shards?" Kosuke takes another bite. "Loser gets weaker, winner gets stronger. You should love it." "Ew," says Bo, "is the pauper talking to me?" His friends snicker. "Perfect." Says Tian Fang. "The two Thunderfallers will have a race from the Western Gate to this exact spot." "Great idea Lady Fang!" Says the fat Martial Artist immediately. What a suck-up. Yet all the other Martial Artists slowly nod along as if they thought it was a good idea the whole time too, even Bo. "It is, is it not?" Tian Fang says with an absent smile, then she glides across the road on one foot as if skating and a trail of frost forms on the ground below her until she reaches the other side of the road. She sits down beside Kosuke. "This will be the finish line. The rest of you can clear out the road while I remain here to determine the winner." Kosuke hands her one of the snacks. "Millet ball?" "Are they tasty?" Fang asks. "No." "I will take three." <<page "Continue" "ch3-borace3">>\

You glare cautiously at Bo as the two of you march to the Western Gate. He starts to walk a little faster than you, so you walk faster than him, and the march to the starting line quickly devolves into a race of its own. \ <<if (($agility + $athletics) gte 4)>>\ With smug satisfaction you pass him and easily win that race, so the next will be easy. This idiot never once checked in on your speed training. \ <<elseif (($agility + $athletics) gte 3)>>\ Unfortunately for you both, it ends in a tie. \ <<else>>\ A race that he wins. Bo looks all too pleased with himself; you're going to have to play dirty if you want to win. \ <</if>>\ You both catch your breath and line up at the town gate and one of the other disciples, a wideset Martial Artist, catches up after a few moments to begin the count down. "Are you both ready?" He says more to Bo than to you after catching his own breath from following behind. "Yes." You both say simultaneously in your gruffest voices. "Three." The counter announces. You steady your nerves. "Two." You shift your foot for traction. Tension in the air grows so thick you could cut it with a Shard. "One." ''[Agility Chi Spent]'' <<var $agispent + 1>>\ <<choose "ch3-winrace">> #Dash for the market. <<var $combatstat "agility">>\ <<var $combatskill "athletics">>\ <<combatcheck 4>>\ <<if ($passcheck is true)>>\ <<var $agifirstchoice true>>\ The two of you blast off down the street running twice the speed a mortal can maintain. Your bodies both glow with chi through the dust storm formed from your fast movement. You're in your element. Bo tries his best to surge even more chi out of his Agility Cores but it's not enough and you pass him with a bigger and bigger lead with each passing second. No short term burst can make up for your long-term training. <<include "ch3-agi4win">>\ <<halt>>\ <<else>>\ The two of you blast off down the street running twice the speed a mortal can maintain. Your bodies both glow with chi through the dust storm formed from your fast movement but it's not enough. You can see Bo pulling ahead. His lead grows with every passing second. You try your best to squeeze more chi out of your Agility Cores but come up short. No amount of short term burst can make up for long-term training. <<page "Damn it all." "ch3-loserace">>\ <</if>>\ #Blast off with chi. The village gates are engraved with handseal sigils that are meant to repel invaders or Beasts in times of emergency, it's never been a secret. What is a secret is how they work. And it's a secret you've learned over your years of study. When the countdown began so too did your handseals. Your fingers blur into motion as you combine your hands together to form the two-handed finger sigils of the gate's ritual casting in reverse. By the time the countdown gets to "One" you've completed your casting. ''[1 Chi Point Spent]'' <<var $chispent + 1>>\ <<page "Continue" "ch3-borace-blastoff">>\ #Strike Bo when no one is looking. <<var $ruthless + 2>>\ The two of you blast off down the street running twice the speed a mortal can maintain. Your bodies both glow with chi through the dust storm formed from your fast movement and before Bo can make a lead you push yourself for one explosive dash to land a leg sweep against his knee. <<var $combatstat "power">>\ <<var $combatskill "stealth">>\ <<combatcheck 4>>\ <<if ($passcheck is true)>>\ <<var $racemethod "Strikeworked">>\ The hit sweeps both his legs out from under him with enough explosive force to spin him off the road and into a nearby house's clothesline. You continue sprinting down the road and passed Fang's icy finish line to the applause of three onlookers who have no idea what's going on and Kosuke who is over the moon with excitement. "Eat it!" <<cap $bffheshe>> shouts at the other Thunderfall students. "Absolutely eat it, losers! <<cap $name>> wins and that means Tian Fang owes me ten shards!" <<if ($bffheshe is "he")>>\ He finishes his victory cheer by mooning one of the guys. \ <</if>>\ Tian Fang remains sitting, tail calmly wagging back and forth as she looks at you. "That I do." She says. <<page "Victory!" "ch3-winrace">>\ <<else>>\ <<var $racemethod "Strikefailed">>\ You swing with all your might but there isn't enough power behind your initial dash. Bo detects your attack in time and hops, dodging the leg sweep, then sprints out of reach as you tumble to the ground. <<if ($agility gte 4)>>\ ''[Agility 4 Check Passed]'' With no time to lose you get up with an energizing shout and kick off the ground with a burst of power. ''[1 Agility Chi Spent]'' <<var $agispent + 1>>\ <<include "ch3-agi4win">>\ <<halt>>\ <<else>>\ ''[Agility 4 Check Failed]'' You get up and try your best to catch up to him but his lead is too far. <<page "Damn it all." "ch3-loserace">>\ <</if>>\ <</if>>\ <</choose>>\

<<choose "ch3-market-caravan">> #use-once Purchase the fishbone Soul Treasure. [75 Shards] <<var $val Math.round(75 * $discount)>>\ <<costcalc $val>>\ <<if (($element1 is "None") and ($element2 is ""))>>\ <<apboost 5>>\ <<else>>\ <<apboost 15>>\ <</if>>\ <<var $lastsoultreasure false>>\ #Go back. <</choose>>

<<choose "ch3-earnfunds">> #show-if ($months gte 3) use-once Train with Jin [3 Months] -> "ch3-jintrain" #show-if ($months gte 3) use-once Train with Rin [3 Months] -> "ch3-rintrain" #show-if ($months gte 2) use-once Train with Kosuke [2 Months] -> "ch3-kostrain" #show-if (($months gte 1) and ($buffersbarrier is true)) use-once Teach Buffer's Barrier to Kosuke, Rin, and Jin. [1 Month] -> "ch3-alltrain" #show-if (($months gte 1) and ($skillgain lte 2)) Improve upon your Skills. [1 Month] -> "ch3-improve-skill" #show-if ($heshe is "he") use-if (($months gte 4) and ($noshugendo is true)) Attune your soul to an Element. [2-4 Months] -> "ch3-temple" #show-if ($heshe is "she") use-if (($months gte 3) and ($noshugendo is true)) Attune your soul to an Element. [2-3 Months] -> "ch3-temple" #Earn Funds [1 Month] #show-if (($buffersbarrier is true) and ($bbuffed is false)) Train Alone Using Buffer's Barrier [1 Month] -> "ch3-training-buffer" #show-if (($buffersbarrier is false) or ($bbuffed is true)) Train Alone [1 Month] -> "ch3-training" #show-if ($months gte 2) use-once Hunt for Soul Treasures [2 Months] -> "ch3-treasure-hunt" #Visit the Market [0 Months] -> "ch3-market" #Visit the Library [0 Months] -> "ch3-library" <</choose>>

Getting home isn't the serene reprieve that you'd been dreaming of this last week out in the wilderness. Night after night spent wrapped in a blanket on the hard stone ground of various caves left you dreaming of your tatami mat by the fireplace. <<if ($roc gte 1)>>\ $rocname didn't make it any easier. You suspect she's part rooster with how loud the damned roc is in the early morning. <</if>>\ Unfortunately, after all that you finally return home only to find a crime scene. An Upper Disciple of the Thunderfall Sect, an elderly woman in leather armor over a blue gi, is speaking to your parents while guards plunder through your house. "And you're certain $heshe hasn't returned home?" "Obviously-oh, obviously not." Says Father, changing from annoyed to relieved when his eyes meet yours further up the road. The Upper Disciple turns to see you. "Well well, $fullname shows $hisher face at last." One glance is all it takes to tell you the situation, from the Upper Disciple questioning your parents to the guards searching through your house. They don't mean well for your family. <<choose "ch3-departure-askabouthouse">> #"Is there a problem, Upper Disciple?" <<var $ruthless - 2>>\ <<var $honor + 2>>\ <<var $solexp + 1>>\ <<var $sect_thunderfall + 3>>\ "Is there a problem, Upper Disciple?" You ask politely with a short bow. They may mean trouble, but manners come for free. The white-haired woman, deceptively strong if your spiritual senses are to be believed, shallowly bows back to you. "Yes, Lower Disciple, we've had an issue of a great theft." #"What's the meaning of this?" "What's the meaning of this?" You ask to the Upper Disciple questioning your parents. The white-haired woman, deceptively strong if your spiritual senses are to be believed, waves a hand in the direction of your house. "We're running a search through the property of all suspects in a theft investigation." #"Get those buffoons out of my house before I start removing limbs." -> "ch3-departure-fight" <<var $honor - 1>>\ <<var $ruthless + 2>>\ You glare at the three intruders. "Get those buffoons out of my house before I start removing limbs." The butt of the elder's spear rushes at your face with such speed that her entire body seems to blur. <<page "!!!" "ch3-departure-fight">>\ <</choose>>

"A theft?" You ask. This sounds \ <<if (($honor gte 51) or ($wounds gt 0))>>\ like trouble. <<else>>\ juicy. <</if>>\ "Yes, and one of great concern: an armory theft. Crusher Mao and half our Upper Disciples began escorting the Lower Disciples to the Heavenly Ascension Trials two days ago, a secret that should not have left this village. Someone who knew about our schedule and plans abused the situation to break into the Lower Armory where they stole everything not used up in the Trial preparations. Ritual components, alchemical reagents, Soul Treasure weapons, sealed forbidden objects, even all our spare gi and belts." <<if ($honor gte 51)>>\ "That's unfortunate, but \ <<else>>\ "That's not my problem, \ <</if>>\ I was out of town. Who do you suspect, Rin and Jin?" "My children are no thieves!" \ <<if ($thievery gte 1)>>\ Lies father. <<else>>\ Says father. <</if>>\ "Naturally we don't suspect \ <<if ($japannaming is true)>>\ $clan Rin or $clan Jin," \ <<else>>\ Rin $clan or Jin $clan," \ <</if>>\ the old woman retorts as if stating the obvious, "they had already left with Crusher Jack before the thefts." You blankly stare from the Upper Disciple to Father and back. "...What?" <<page "Continue" "ch3-departure-askabouthouse2">>\

When did Jack even get back from Mountain Hazard? And Jin and Rin can't be entering the lethal Heavenly Ascension Trials, they're just kids! "That Jack boy," Father mumbles to the ground, "He came looking for you. Demanded a rematch, said it would be 'fun'. Jin and Rin told him off but he had his Father's men take them away. We...We couldn't stop them." "There was //no need// to stop them." Replies the old woman through a distant ringing in your ears. You can't believe what you're hearing. "Your siblings are Warrior Caste with auras, are they not? The Heavenly Ascension Trials call for all Martial Artists under 25." <<if (($jinaura is false) and ($rinaura))>>\ "Jin doesn't have an aura." He's supposed to be running Father's business, how could he have found the time to cultivate power at the same age you did without using a Heavenly Gate? "I don't know what to tell you, young $manwoman, he does now. \ <<elseif (($jinaura) and ($rinaura is false))>>\ "Rin doesn't have an aura." She's turned into a girly girl over the years, pining after boys and trying to make her own tablecloths or homemade makeup to sell. How could she have unlocked an aura at the same age you did without a Heavenly Gate? "I don't know what to tell you, young $manwoman, she does now. \ <<else>>\ "This is insane," You protest, "they've barely developed their auras at all." Jin's been busy with Father's business and Rin's grown into a girly girl, pining after boys and knitting tablecloths to sell. "They can't be in the Trials, that's sending them to their deaths!" The old woman's face scrunches up in conflicting emotions. She knows it's an unnecessary risk as much as you do. "I'm sorry young $manwoman, it's out of my hands. \ <</if>>\ Crusher Jack was adamant they be added to the Sect before he'd let the caravan leave. He wouldn't take no for an answer. Unfortunately I am not here to talk about them, I am here to talk about the Lower Armory's grand theft. We have a handful of suspects but the primary targets are you and that beggar \ <<if ($bffheshe is "he")>>\ boy \ <<else>>\ girl \ <</if>>\ you're always hanging around, Kosuke I \ <<if ($kosukeaura is true)>>\ believe. Always suspicious when the poor cultivate auras. The threats in the wilds make them desperate and I do not trust the desperate." <<else>>\ believe." <</if>>\ "Kosuke isn't an idiot, $bffheshe wouldn't risk death stealing from the Sect." Damn it all, Kosuke is exactly the kind of idiot to risk stealing from the Sect. "That's what your Mother said, but what about you? Why have you not gone with the rest of the Sect in their pilgrimage to the Trials? Do you intend to disobey Imperial Decree?" "I didn't know everyone had left yet. I've been training in the mountains for the last week." "Hm...Just long enough to remain for the Heavenly Gate's energies that I sense coursing through you. Most suspicious that you knew it was coming, and most forbidden if you contested our Honored Guest, Tian Fang, for her reward." The guards behind the spry old woman draw their tonfas. She holds a hand up to stop them. "However, it also alleviates you of guilt. The theft was just before dawn and if you had such unprocessed Storm energies in your core at the time then you would have been detected. Come men, we're on to the next suspect." "Yes, Upper Disciple!" The group of splint mail armored guards shout in salute before following the spry old woman away. When they disappear down the road Father finally grumbles. "Bastards come in here, make a mess, ''abduct my children'', and won't even clean up after themselves." Mother comes out of the house holding several pots and pans she was hiding from the guards to avoid them seeing her dirty dishes. "Oh they'll be alright darling. Rin will fail out on purpose or find a boy to protect her, and Jin can look after himself. But do you really think the thief was-" "Kosuke? Let us hope not." Father says, staring down the road where the guards had already disappeared. "A crime like this is punishable only by death." <<page "Continue" "ch3-departure-askabouthouse3">>\

The next hour is spent running around general shops in a hurry collecting everything you'll need for your journey. Bandages, clothes, soap, dried foods, a bedroll, flint, rope, knives, belt pouches, fishing nets, empty sacks, candles, a reinforced travel lantern, more bandages, unguents, waterskins, and some treated herbs Mother uses for her burnt leaf soup that you throw out when she's not looking. <<if ($handseals gte 1)>>\ ''[Handseals 1 Check Passed]'' ''[Travel Inventory Sealed in Fuuinjutsu Tags]'' <<apboost 3>>\ <</if>>\ <<if ($underlings gte 1)>>\ Mother and Father rent out your \ <<if ($underlings gte 2)>>\ slaves \ <<else>>\ slave \ <</if>>\ to a merchant caravan heading to Nanhou. Bringing \ <<if ($underlings gte 2)>>\ them \ <<else>>\ him \ <</if>>\ with you personally would slow you down, and it never hurts to rake in some extra Shards. <<rand $val ($underlings * 18) ($underlings * 25)>>\ <<var $val + ($commerce * 3)>>\ ''[Item Gained: $val Shards]'' <<var $shards + $val>>\ <<var $val 0>>\ <</if>>\ There's no sign of Kosuke on your way out of town. When you get to the gates you find not just Mother and Father but most of your childhood friends too. The struggles of spiritual cultivation have kept you so busy, so focused on the next Advancement, that you nearly forgot you had so many friends. Most have grown up into their own craft by now and //so many// have beards. They surround the gate out of town and cheer for you alongside their parents or, in some cases, spouses. Oh Ancestors, some of them are carrying babies. "Go show them how we do things in Thunderfall." Says the baker's son, now just 'the baker', while giving you a strong handshake for a man without chi. He showed you and Jin how to hook worms when you were six. The weaver's son claps you on the back as you walk by. "If anyone gives you trouble let me know, I'll have some of my guys visit some of their guys." Him and his seven brothers were the last crew to keep up with your family and Kosuke in the old sparring games. "I heard the Sect took Jin with them." Says the barber/dentist's daughter. She used to beat you at tag so badly that you and Kosuke practiced uphill sprints for months just to stop losing. "Bring him home in one piece or I'll have your head." "Yeah, and we're counting on you to bring Rin back too!" Begs the carpenter who immediately gets slapped by the young woman you assume is his wife. After saying your goodbyes to everyone you hug Mother and Father then walk through the gates of Thunderfall Village for the longest journey of your life, alone but not abandoned. It takes a village to raise a child and a village is what you had. Everyone here helped shape you into the $manwoman you are today: a Martial Artist contending in the Heavenly Ascension Trials. Now to prove you were worth it. <<page "Chapter 4" "ch4-start">>\

<<var $combatstat "power">>\ <<var $combatskill "perception">>\ <<if ((($element1 is "Earth") or ($style is "Midorikatai")) or ($element1 is "Water"))>>\ <<if ($element1 is "Earth")>>\ ''[Element Event: Earth (Difficulty Lowered)]'' <<elseif ($style is "Midorikatai")>>\ ''[Style Event: Midorikatai (Difficulty Lowered)]'' <<elseif ($element1 is "Water")>>\ ''[Element Event: Water (Difficulty Lowered)]'' <</if>>\ <<combatcheck 5>>\ <<else>>\ <<combatcheck 6>>\ <</if>>\ <<if ($passcheck is true)>>\ <<if ($element1 is "Earth")>>\ The skin of your arms hardens reactively. <<elseif ($style is "Midorikatai")>>\ Your muscles harden with Wild Chi reactively. <<elseif ($element1 is "Water")>>\ Your body moves on its own as if following the flow of an unseen tide. <</if>>\ Faster than a normal eye can see, you catch the butt of the spear in one hand and use the other to strike the weapon at its center where it snaps in half. The Upper Disciple's eyes widen in response and she leaps twenty feet down the road with a sudden sense of danger. You toss the bottom half of her spear aside and cycle chi to generate your $auracolor aura, blazing from the power of the Heavenly Gate. "I said get out of my house. Now." Credit to the Upper Disciple, she adjusts quickly. "You heard $himher, men. The search is over." "But Honored Disciple, we-" "I said it's over." She turns to you and gives a slight bow. "I underestimated your ability. Please allow me to explain myself, we are not here to hassle your good family. We are investigating a theft against the Thunderfall Sect." <<else>>\ Her weapon connects to your nose with a spray of blood shooting from your face in all directions, your nose sufficiently shattered. <<if ((($health + ($fortitude / 2)) - $wounds) gte 2)>>\ <<woundcheck 1 false false>>\ <<else>>\ <<aploss 5>>\ <</if>>\ Your vision spins from the sudden shock of the old woman's attack and you curl over in pain, gripping the pulp of your nose. "Show some respect, lower disciple, you are in the presence of a superior. You ''will'' cooperate with us while we investigate this theft." <</if>>\ <<page "A theft?" "ch3-departure-askabouthouse">>\

<<page "Continue" "ch3-departure">>\

A messenger's scroll awaits you when you get home, sealed in black wax. <<image "https://www.auraclash.com/assets/images/ac-linebreak-top.png">>\ //<<print $fullname>>,// //My name is Li Sun, brother of Li Moon and disciple of Lady Desdemona. You met the three of us at a tavern months back and put us on the right direction to get to the Sunbringer Sect. We arrived on time, earned their trust, and learned their handseal formations before we had to leave for other ventures. Lady Desdemona has trouble showing it, but she is quite thankful for your help. Unfortunately, she swore upon her very soul to never disclose the Sunbringer's handseals to the enemies, namely your Sect. So Our Lady has instead asked //me// to disclose the handseals to you, and thus break no vow.// //Please find the handseal ritual formations attached, may they aid you in the Trials to come.// <<image "https://www.auraclash.com/assets/images/ac-linebreak-bottom.png">>\ Underneath the letter, on the same scroll, is an intricate set of finger formations needed to form the right handseals as well as the proper chi infusions from each Core needed during each handseal. From the inscriptions, it appears the Seals inscribed are designed to temporarily improve your aptitude in specific skills. Useful for when you know what you're getting into. <<if ($eastwindritual is 100)>>\ ''[Handseal Ritual Learned: Auspicious Eastern Seal]'' <<var $eastwindritual (6 - ($sealdiscount + $handseals))>>\ <<elseif ($westwindritual is 100)>>\ ''[Handseal Ritual Learned: Auspicious Western Seal]'' <<var $westwindritual (6 - ($sealdiscount + $handseals))>>\ <<else>>\ ''[Both Seals Already Known!]'' Unfortunately, you already know both of these ritual Seals. The Auspicious Eastern Seal and Auspicious Western Seal are useful but you were hoping for something more esoteric. It's surprising to find you're more knowledgeable in mystic seals than a Sect based around mystic seals, but not unheard of. You've been surprising yourself a lot lately. <<apboost 10>>\ <</if>>\ <<var $desletter 1>>\ <<page "Continue" "ch3-trainingseason">>\

"This sucks." Says Jin, who you //did not invite//. "Nobody said there'd be so much snow, and how many mountain peaks do we have to pass through? I'm tired of getting my hopes up. If the temple isn't on a certain peak then why don't we go around it?" "No one told you to come." You say for the eighteenth time. "And we don't know which mountain holds the Devanic Temple. We have to check them all." <<if ($underlings gt 0)>>\ <<if ($underlings gte 2)>>\ One of your underlings \ <<else>>\ Your underling \ <</if>>\ scoffs at Jin, "And what are you complaining for anyway, brat? \ <<if ($underlings is 1)>>\ //I'm// the one who has \ <<elseif ($underlings gte 2)>>\ //We're// the ones who have \ <</if>>\ to carry everyone's supplies." Jin stares daggers at the servant. "Who said you can talk?" <<if ($underlings gte 2)>>\ They look to you \ <<else>>\ Your underling looks to you \ <</if>>\ expectantly. <<if ($underlings is 1)>>\ "//Neither// \ <<else>>\ "//None// \ <</if>>\ of you should talk." You say to \ <<if ($underlings is 1)>>\ both of them. <<else>>\ everyone involved. <</if>>\ <<else>>\ "Them's the breaks." You reply, stepping up another steep incline. <</if>>\ This was supposed to be your \ <<if ($underlings gt 0)>>\ (mostly) \ <</if>>\ solitary pilgrimage for an important spiritual journey. Unfortunately, you have a brother. It had already been dusk of the first night by the time you noticed he was following you, apparently his plan was to try and get accepted into the Devanic Temple as a monk. Not a bad idea, but one that will piss off Father who spent so much time training Jin to be a $background. Poor Father. Training two \ <<if ($heshe is "he")>>\ sons \ <<else>>\ heirs \ <</if>>\ and neither takes up the family business. Jin would be in danger of predators if you made him return home alone that night, so you've been stuck on-foot together ever since. Twelve more days have passed since then and he's clearly been pushing himself too hard to keep up. <<if ((($survival+$craft) gte 3) or ($underlings gt 0))>>\ <<if ($underlings gt 0)>>\ ''[Event Check Passed: Servants]'' <<var $powexp + 2>>\ <<var $forexp + 1>>\ <<var $agiexp + 1>>\ <<var $solexp + 1>>\ It's not your fault he didn't abduct \ <<if ($underlings is 1)>>\ a bandit \ <<elseif ($underlings gte 2)>>\ some bandits \ <</if>>\ in servitude to carry extra supplies. Maybe he should have followed your example, the idiot. <<elseif (($survival+$craft) gte 3)>>\ ''[Survival+Craft 3 Check Passed]'' <<var $forexp + 3>>\ It's not your fault he didn't pack proper clothes. <</if>>\ The two of you have already been delayed a day because you had to hunt a large takin to skin for furs just so Jin won't die of frostbite. <<else>>\ ''[Survival+Craft 3 Check Failed]'' You've been having troubles of your own, between the frigid cold and the lack of game. If you knew you'd have to traverse so many different peaks you would have packed better. <<aploss 2>>\ <</if>>\ <<page "Continue" "ch3-devanictemple2">>\

"Do you hear something?" Jin asks, sticking a finger into his ear to clear out the earwax. <<if ($heshe is "she")>>\ Gross Jin. Gross. \ <</if>>\ A quick glance around the current snowcapped peak doesn't reveal anything particularly noticeable. Unlike at a distance, mountain peaks like this one up close are more flat and wide and seem like any regular rocky hill. Ambient starlight reveals more peaks further northwest where you hope to find the Devanic Temple, but beyond that nothing stands out. <<var $combatstat "soul">>\ <<var $combatskill "insight">>\ <<combatcheck 5>>\ <<if ($passcheck is true)>>\ <<include "ch3-grim-opening-pass">>\ <<else>>\ "I don't hear anything." <<page "Continue" "ch3-grim-opening-fail">>\ <</if>>\

As a disciple of the Thunderfall Sect the village's needs come first, and any paying jobs offered through the barrack's mission board should take priority over personal work. But everyone is hungry for as much of a lead as they can get in the Heavenly Ascension Trials, meaning that missions disappear from the board as soon as they get added. You decide it's time to go freelance. <<choose "ch3-earnfundsend">> #use-once use-if (($power gte 3) or ($craft gte 2)) Build homes outside the village. [Power/Craft Check] The Magistrate has total say over what's built within the village walls and he's made it very clear that his design for Thunderfall is not to be interfered with. However, he hasn't said anything about areas outside the walls. Perfect for you. With a small crew put together you find a buyer among the travelling caravans in less than a weekend. Between your combat prowess letting you fight off mundane predators, the village's vicinity fending off supernatural predators, and your \ <<if ($power gte 3)>>\ physical might allowing you to lift the heaviest support beams and wall logs, \ <<else>>\ fine craftsmanship leading the designs, \ <</if>>\ it takes almost no time at all to finish a set of sturdy walls to secure safety for the house. Once your walls make it safe for the laborers they come in and get most of the busywork done. The house is finished up within weeks and you all take your cut. <<var $prestige + 1>>\ <<rand $val 200 250>>\ <<var $val + (($power * 10) + ($craft * 20))>>\ ''[Item Gained: $val Shards]'' <<var $shards + $val>>\ <<var $val 0>>\ #use-once use-if (($agility gte 3) or ($perception gte 2)) Scout trade routes for the merchant caravans. [Agility/Perception Check] Word of the Heavenly Ascension Trials is bringing in more and more trade caravans charging for Advancement resources at a premium and hauling off mass-sold goods bought dirt cheap from desperate Martial Artists. For most competitors of the Trials the entire caravan situation was a financial bloodbath. For you it was a job. The roads have become ripe with banditry and it's become more important to find the trouble //before// the caravans get to it, so their guards can contest the assailants while the merchandise and weaker merchants are safely out of explosion distance. That's where you come in. Your job is to scout ahead and report back any threats. It's easy money for weeks until a sniper Technique nearly takes your head off with a finger-thick beam of energy on your patrol. If it wasn't for your \ <<if ($agility gte 3)>>\ quick reflexes \ <<else>>\ keen senses \ <</if>>\ this job could have been your last. With your warning the other guards are able to loop around and kill the attacker. Turns out it's not even a bandit, just some storm elemental that didn't like the feel of your Aura Pressures in its territory. You call it quits after that and stash away your earnings in the tiny Silver coins that the caravans carry. <<var $prestige + 1>>\ <<rand $val 2000 2500>>\ <<var $val + ((($agility * 150) + ($survival * 50)) + ($perception * 100))>>\ ''[Item Gained: $val Silver] <<var $silver + $val>>\ <<var $val 0>>\ #use-once use-if (($fortitude gte 3) or ($athletics gte 2)) Dive for lost treasures under the lakes. [Fortitude/Athletics Check] Some secrets are best kept to yourself. That's what you thought when you were drudging ships up from the bottom of the lakes during Big Chu's training and found a cache of silver coins. Big Chu was timing you so you had no chance to dive down and look for more, but you always thought about that precious horde of untapped treasure. Just how many boats have sunk in your nearby lakes and rivers with merchant goods in them? Initially you were worried about aquatic Beasts but you're \ <<if ($fortitude gte 3)>>\ tough enough to deal with them by now. <<elseif ($athletics gte 2)>>\ a fast swimmer. <</if>>\ The next month is spent diving in every lake you can find and taking out anything shiny or useful to drag over to whichever merchant caravan is visiting. You can't believe the haul you take in. <<var $prestige + 1>>\ <<rand $val 2000 2750>>\ <<var $val + (($fortitude * 100) + ($athletics * 200))>>\ ''[Item Gained: $val Silver] <<var $silver + $val>>\ <<var $val 0>>\ #use-once use-if (($soul gte 3) or ($handseals gte 2)) Enchant mystic seals for the village's Sage. [Soul/Handseals Check] The local 'witch', Hag Mabel, is the usual go-to for charms, talismans, and seal tags, at least for most of your life. It feels strange when she tells you to piss off back to the Sage and that she doesn't serve upper castes or want your apprenticeship. You'd never even talked to the Sage before. In fact, your attempt to speak to the Sage gets denied. It's not until later in the night that your spiritual senses detect an oddity at your door. You open it and outside is a circular swirl of wind with two glowing eyes. A wind elemental. It spits an envelope out at you and departs into the sky. Curious and confused, you read the note. <<image "https://www.auraclash.com/assets/images/ac-linebreak-top.png">>\ //<<print $fullname>>,// //I am a busy woman. Too busy to meet.// //I appreciate your desire to aid me, your control of chi could be of use. Please find the ritual instructions attached and use them every 100 feet along the walls to reinforce our protections.// //Sage of Thunderfall// <<image "https://www.auraclash.com/assets/images/ac-linebreak-bottom.png">>\ Several dumbfounded seconds pass as you read through the letter's contents in disbelief. This is Hag Mabel's handwriting. Sigil designs and lists of handseal sets are written on a second piece of paper. You shrug and get to work, the old woman's weird ways are none of your concern. The task imposes a heavy tax on your spirit and you need to recharge every few hours, but it only takes a few weeks to line the entire city walls with the Sage's ritual enhancements. It would have taken months if not for your \ <<if ($soul gte 3)>>\ high reserves of chi. \ <<elseif ($handseals gte 2)>>\ mastery over handseals. \ <</if>>\ <<apboost 4>>\ Later that night, a bag of shards appears on your windowsill. <<var $prestige + 1>>\ <<rand $val 200 250>>\ <<var $val + (($soul * 15) + ($handseals * 15))>>\ ''[Item Gained: $val Shards] <<var $shards + $val>>\ <<var $val 0>>\ #use-once Guard Duty -> "ch3-earnfundsguard" The merchant shops and caravans are working overtime with the Heavenly Ascension Trials on their way and everyone wants a cut from the incoming foot traffic. While the rest of the work around Thunderfall has been taken already due to so many other Martial Artists trying to pile up resources, the Guard Duty options and rates have actually //increased//. You take on a few week's worth of shifts watching over a jewelry shop to keep an eye on customers, desperate Warriors, and the constantly revolving guests from the caravans that fill the Merchant Square. <<var $val ((($perception * 10) + ($persuasion * 10)) + 150)>>\ ''[Item Gained: $val Shards]'' <<var $shards + $val>>\ <<var $val 0>>\ When your month-long contract finishes the shop owners approach you. "Excuse me \ <<if ($heshe is "he")>>\ Mister \ <<else>>\ Miss \ <</if>>\ $clan, we'd like to thank you for all your hard work and, if possible, we'd like to employ the protection of the $clan Clan as full-time guards." A Clan contract? Was this a Warrior Caste thing? You'd never thought of running anything like that...It's not like you have a lot of relatives to use as minions like most Clans do. But it is appealing. Obviously you can't be doing guard duty full time, you've got to prepare for the Heavenly Ascension Trials and this was supposed to be a one-time gig for some funds, but maybe... #show-if ($background is "Herbalist") use-once Brew potions -> "ch3-earnfundspotion" Father's business is profitable because he can go to the swamps where some dangerous entities hunt only for Aura Pressures. Father's business is not profitable //enough// because he doesn't have the chi to finalize any of his potions, so he usually sells the ingredients to proper alchemists. But now you have the chi, and he can still traverse the swamps. Together, you make one exclusive alchemist. As a duo you two are able to make a major profit increase in your father's business by having him collect as many materials as possible and having you spend all your daily chi on finalizing his potions and imbuing them with mystic power. You have no energy for training every day due to the massive demand of spiritual power, but what you have instead are the lion's share of profits. <<rand $val 100 200>>\ <<var $val ($val + (50*$alchemy))>>\ ''[Item Gained: $val Shards]'' <<var $shards + $val>>\ <<var $val 0>>\ <<apboost 6>>\ With your skills you're even able to keep enough ingredients to brew something for yourself. #show-if ($background is "Blacksmith") use-once Craft high-grade metals in father's forge. There's no time or resources to craft pure masterpieces for funding or use, and neither you nor Father would know where to begin on another piece of Soul Treasure equipment. What you can do, however, is infuse your chi into the metal to harden it and give it spiritual weight. Father buys and refines the ore, the two of you form the ingots together, and you push all your chi normally used for training into the ingots instead. The result is enough ingots with enhanced durability and heating point for someone else to make Soul Treasure equipment...after they pay you for your quality materials. As a good bonus, pushing your chi to its limits during the forging gives you a new kind of spiritual workout. <<rand $val 100 200>>\ <<var $val ($val + (50*$craft))>>\ ''[Item Gained: $val Shards]'' <<var $shards + $val>>\ <<var $val 0>>\ <<apboost 12>>\ #show-if ($background is "Trapper") use-once Tan Beast hides into proper leather. Every disciple of the Thunderfall Sect was out collecting Soul Treasures from any Beast they could find. Most wanted the Soul Treasure and the smart ones knew to harvest as much of the creatures as possible, such as the meat for Yokai or the bones for herbalists. Your advantage comes in when people try to sell the hides to merchants. Sure, a Beast hide is useful, but you make sure that every Warrior knows you've been trapping, skinning, and tanning since you were a child. If they wanted to make more money, they needed you. And you needed a cut. To your shock it actually works. Any sense of pride or condescension is lost the second that you're a resource to their immediate needs. Even Crusher Mao has a few pelts for you to treat. After a month of tanning you get your cut of the profits from each sale and even a few Advancement Elixirs from the armory when some Martial Artists can't pay up. <<rand $val 100 200>>\ <<var $val ($val + (50*$survival))>>\ ''[Item Gained: $val Shards]'' <<var $shards + $val>>\ <<var $val 0>>\ <<apboost 12>>\ #show-if ($background is "Merchant") use-once Father offers to sell his store. "Are you insane?!" Rin interrupts when Father proposes selling the family shop. "No, I'm investing." Father says, "Passing these Trials is our chance at untold opportunities, far more than some dinky shop, but for any of you to pass we need every edge we can get." He looks on you with pride and sincerity, "<<cap $name>>, I want to give you the advantages that I know the other Warrior parents are giving to their kids, and I can't do that by selling everyday wares. I've spoken to some of the other merchants and they're willing to buy my store from me and the whole inventory with it. Most will go towards debt payments but I want you to take the rest." "What about us?" Asks Jin. Father shrugs. "That's up to your $patriarch." He takes his dishes away, chuckling as Jin and Rin glare at you. Mother sneaks out that night to steal a brooch she likes from the store's inventory. Unfortunately, being the $patriarch means you legally have to lead negotiations. The legal terms are strange to you at first but Father helps you through the process and after weeks of back-and-forth with other Merchants, your family finally walks away storeless but with a sizeable coffer. <<rand $val 5500 6500>>\ <<var $val Math.round($val * (0.6+($persuasion * 0.2)))>>\ ''[Item Gained: $val Silver]'' <<var $silver + $val>>\ <<var $commerce - 2>>\ <<var $val 0>>\ #use-once use-if (($race is "Oni") or ($handseals gte 2)) Exorcise a spirit from a village home. [Requires Oni or Handseals 2] -> "ch3-jahi" Truthfully you only get added to a list of potential candidates for exorcism jobs. To train for it you begin practicing hand seals and inhaling specially prepared incense in a dark room for days at a time. Long nights spent imbibing the strange smoke and practicing chi control through your handseals has left your spirit feeling strained but stronger. <<if ($handseals is 0)>>\ ''[Handseals +1]'' <<var $handseals + 1>>\ <<fuuinjutsudescription>>\ <<apboost 2>>\ <<else>>\ <<apboost 5>>\ <</if>>\ Near the end of the month a messenger reports that you do in fact have a task to complete. A family's house on the outskirts of the village has been having dark nightmares and seeing strange phenomenon, and the Sage is too busy to deal with it. She wants to send you. You get to the house and enter alone, the family waiting outside. They give you the key and say they'll be waiting outside, wishing their blessings upon you. The moment you walk into the home you hear a rumbling voice in your head. <<if ($heshe is "she")>>\ <<var $demonheshe "he">>\ <<var $demonhisher "his">>\ <<elseif ($heshe is "he")>>\ <<var $demonheshe "she">>\ <<var $demonhisher "her">>\ <</if>>\ <<if ($race is "Oni")>>\ "Ah, an Oni! So glad to see a friendly face. \ <<else>>\ "Ah, a ritualist! So glad to see an expert in such a disappointing community. \ <</if>>\ Have you come to aid my possession of the young \ <<if ($heshe is "she")>>\ man \ <<else>>\ woman \ <</if>>\ in this household? The other locals certainly aren't so amiable. I believe your leaders want me dead." \ "Aid you?" You ask, not expecting this turn of events. \ "Why yes," the disembodied voice replies directly into your mind, \ <<if ($race is "Oni")>>\ "We are of the demonic source, you and I. \ <<else>>\ "And why would you not? \ <</if>>\ We are both ambitious and capable. I am in need of assistance and you are in need of Advancement. Two seeds in a garden of opportunity. We could do great things together." #Nevermind -> "ch3-trainingseason" <</choose>>

<<var $months - 1>>\ <<var $shards + ($commerce * 2)>>\ <<var $val 0>>\ <<page "Continue" "ch3-trainingseason">>

<<choose "ch3-earnfundsend">> #Choose Jin to work as a store guard. Jin doesn't make a fuss about essentially being drafted because the pay is passable. You're glad to see he buys a chain shirt with his first paycheck. At least the kid has some sense. <<var $jincombat + 1>>\ <<var $prestige + 1>>\ <<var $commerce + 1>>\ You take your cut and don't bother him, much. ''[Item Gained: 60 Shards]'' <<var $shards + 60>>\ <<if ($subrace is "Cat")>>\ ''[Race Event: Cat Yokai]'' Much to your surprise, Jin actually manages to catch a string of thieves who strike at night. They must have forgotten the guard was a Cat Yokai and could see them through the shadows just fine in moonlight. Kosuke complains at Jin for ruining $bffhisher gig and arresting $bffhisher co-workers, but you can't complain about the extra money the businesses send your way to get more of Jin's attention. ''[Item Gained: 40 Shards]'' <<var $shards + 40>>\ <<var $prestige + 1>>\ <</if>>\ #Choose Rin to work as a store guard. Rin takes to the job like an executioner. Not in some symbolic way. She spends her first paycheck on an executioner's axe. <<var $rincombat + 1>>\ <<var $prestige + 1>>\ <<var $commerce + 1>>\ You take your cut and don't ask why she got it. ''[Item Gained: 60 Shards]'' <<var $shards + 60>>\ <<if ($subrace is "Cat")>>\ ''[Race Event: Cat Yokai]'' Much to your surprise, Rin actually manages to catch a string of thieves who strike at night. They must have forgotten the guard was a Cat Yokai and could see them through the shadows just fine in moonlight. Kosuke complains at Rin for ruining $bffhisher gig and arresting $bffhisher co-workers, but you can't complain about the extra money the businesses send your way to get more of Rin's attention. ''[Item Gained: 40 Shards]'' <<var $shards + 40>>\ <<var $prestige + 1>>\ <</if>>\ #Choose Kosuke to work as a store guard. The merchants turn their nose up at Kosuke, recognizing the beggar, but $bffheshe says you're all a bunch of amateurs and that $bffheshe has spent $bffhisher entire life in the market stalls. Unlike the unprepared, $bffheshe knows exactly what to look for and exactly who not to trust in town. And it turns out $bffheshe's right. One week into the new job Kosuke catches a late night break-in and gets the thieves arrested. Your family gets a sizeable bonus from the town, it seems the thieves had a bounty on their heads. <<var $prestige + 2>>\ <<var $kosukecombat + 1>>\ <<var $commerce + 1>>\ ''[Item Gained: 100 Shards]'' <<var $shards + 100>>\ #Turn it down, you cannot speak on behalf of others. <<var $honor + 10>>\ <</choose>>

<<choose "ch3-earnfundsend">> #Brew a Healing Potion ''[Item Gained: Healing Elixir]'' <<var $healingelixir + 1>>\ #Brew a Low Grade Power Pill ''[Item Gained: Low Grade Power Pill]'' <<var $lgpowpill + 1>>\ #Brew a Low Grade Fortitude Pill ''[Item Gained: Low Grade Fortitude Pill]'' <<var $lgforpill + 1>>\ #Brew a Low Grade Agility Pill ''[Item Gained: Low Grade Agility Pill]'' <<var $lgagipill + 1>>\ #Brew a Low Grade Soul Pill ''[Item Gained: Low Grade Soul Pill]'' <<var $lgsolpill + 1>>\ <</choose>>

Tian Fang pulls you to the ground by the ankle where both of her legs wrap around your knee for a leglock. <<if (($honor gte 45) and ($heshe is "he"))>>\ "Whoa, whoa!" You shout in surprise, "At least buy me dinner first!" <<var $fangrep + 1>>\ She snarls and twists harder. <</if>>\ <<var $combatstat "fortitude">>\ <<combatcheck 4>>\ <<if ($passcheck is true)>>\ You don't have time to stop the leglock but you don't have to, knowing your body can harden like the best of the disciples \ <<if ($fortitude gte 4)>>\ without even surging a Fortitude Core. <<elseif ($fortitude gte 3)>>\ by surging a Fortitude Core. <</if>>\ When she completes her hold on your leg and twists like an animal possessed you respond by hardening your entire body like steel. Then you //stand up//, completely ignoring the strain she presses on the sides of your knees with her leg muscles. The joint holds strong and so do you as you lift her off the ground and slam her back down, her ribs caught between the stone mountaintop and your steel skin. <<var $fanghealth - 1>>\ <<else>>\ Her hold on your leg lasts only as long as your joint does, her body twisting and writhing like an animal possessed as she tries to jerk your knee into an injury. A quick bite to her fingers gets her to end her grapple but by the time she's jumped away you're having difficulty standing. ''[1 Wounds Suffered]'' <<var $wounds + 1>>\ <<if ($woundbonus gt 0)>>\ ''[Battle Hardening: +$woundbonus Aura Pressure]'' <<var $aurapressure + $woundbonus>>\ <</if>>\ <</if>>\ <<include "ch3-fangcont">>\

<div class="fightingfont">Thunderfaller vs Tian Fang</div>\ <<statcheck>>\ The two of you clash again, unrelenting. Your aura against hers, her leg to your forearm, your fist to her shinguard. Neither of you gets an advantage but both of you get a breather, testing the other's capabilities. Finally your chi and stamina recover, it's time to act. <<include "ch3-fangfightoptions">>\

<<var $chispent + 1>>\ <div class="fightingfont">Thunderfaller vs Tian Fang</div>\ There's never a time to pull your punches in real fights, so you draw on your internal reserves of \ <<if ($usefire is true)>>\ spiritual fire, igniting a burning red flame around your fist. \ <<else>>\ $element1-aligned chi and wrap it around your fist. \ <</if>>\ Tian Fang leaps back to dodge but it's too late, you weren't really using a punch. With a wide, stabilizing stance you thrust your fist forward and shoot a beam of \ <<if ($usefire is true)>>\ flames into her center that scorch against her Ice aura, burning at her spirit's energies and blasting her twenty yards back in an explosion of $auracolor energy. <<if ((($soul gte 4) or ($power gte 4)) or ($usefire is true))>>\ <<var $fanghealth - 2>>\ <<else>>\ <<var $fanghealth - 1>>\ <</if>>\ <<var $usefire false>>\ <<elseif ($element1 isnot "")>>\ $element1 \ <<elseif ($element1 is "None")>>\ $element2 \ <</if>>\ energy at her face. It connects and \ <<if (($element1 is "Light") or ($element1 is "Darkness"))>>\ blinds her long enough for you to close the gap with a \ <<if ($soul gte 4) or ($power gte 4)>>\ real fist full of chi, the attack she originally expected, and slam it into her gut sending \ <<var $fanghealth - 2>>\ <<else>>\ leaping kick to her torso that sends \ <<var $fanghealth - 1>>\ <</if>>\ her flying backwards. Your spiritual senses tell you her Fortitude Core took damage from the assault. <<else>>\ knocks her twenty yards back in an explosion of $auracolor energy. <<if ((($soul gte 4) or ($power gte 4)) or ($usefire is true))>>\ <<var $fanghealth - 2>>\ <<else>>\ <<var $fanghealth - 1>>\ <</if>>\ <<var $usefire false>>\ <</if>>\ <<include "ch3-fangcont">>\

Both of you catch your breath from the assault and circle each other, preparing your next move. That's when she throws her hands up and glows brighter, seizing control of a pool of natural energy in the air. A globe of power eight feet wide begins to form, icy blue mist coalescing into something worse. Crap. She's using a Technique. <<if ($element1 is "Storm")>>\ ''[Element Check Passed: Storm Element]'' Not on your watch. The energy doesn't need to be converted to answer your call, it's already Storm Chi. You extend your spiritual powers and seize control of the pool of chi she'd been collecting over her head, then crash it down onto her in a bright blinding flash of violet power. <<page "Continue" "ch3-fangfightwon">>\ <<elseif ($soul gte 3) or ($element1 is "Ice")>>\ <<if ($soul is 3)>>\ ''[1 Soul Chi Spent]'' <<var $solspent + 1>>\ <</if>>\ <<if ($soul gte 3)>>\ ''[Soul 4 Check Passed]'' <<else>>\ ''[Ice Check Passed]'' <</if>>\ <<var $solexp + 1>>\ "Not so fast!" You shout, pressing on your spiritual control to interrupt her. With an urgent call to the natural energies around you and a flex of your willpower forces the pool of chi to answer your command. Rather than convert to ice like her Technique would have done, the chi remains as Storm chi and crashes down onto her, shocking her body stiff long enough to let you kick her in the jaw. <<if ($power gte 4)>>\ <<var $fanghealth - 1>>\ <</if>>\ <<var $fanghealth - 1>>\ <<include "ch3-fangcont">>\ <<elseif (($element1 is "Fire") or ($element2 is "Fire"))>>\ ''[Element Check Passed: Fire Element]'' There's plenty of writings on the metaphysical duality between fire and ice. If you had read any of it, you'd know what to do. But you haven't. So instead you launch a fireball at her face while her hands are up. She looks down just in time to close her eyes and take your explosive attack to the face, knocking her hair every which way and dispersing her attack. \ <<var $fanghealth - 1>>\ <<include "ch3-fangcont">>\ <<else>>\ ''[Element/Soul 4 Check Failed]'' You try to wrest control of the aura but your mastery of chi isn't good enough. The air around you turns to tiny icy needles and shoots into your body from a hundred angles, stabbing into you and freezing up your blood. ''[1 Wounds Suffered]'' <<var $wounds + 1>>\ <<if ($woundbonus gt 0)>>\ ''[Battle Hardening: +$woundbonus Aura Pressure]'' <<var $aurapressure + $woundbonus>>\ <</if>>\ <<include "ch3-fangcont">>\ <</if>>\

<<var $chispent + 2>>\ ''[2 Chi Points spent]'' You don't have enough mastery over \ <<if ($val is 444)>>\ $element2 \ <<else>>\ $element1 \ <</if>>\ chi to pull off a massive blade of power like hers, but you can try. With a focus of will and a massive infusion of your internal chi you generate a ten foot bar of \ <<if ($element1 is "Water")>>\ nearly solid electrified water chi. \ <<elseif ($element1 is "Earth")>>\ stone glowing with amber power. \ <<elseif ($val is 444)>>\ <<if ($element2 is "Darkness")>>\ obsidian darkness. \ <<elseif ($element2 is "Fire")>>\ nearly solidified burning flames. \ <<elseif ($element2 is "Earth")>>\ amber-glowing solid stone. \ <<elseif ($element2 is "Light")>>\ nearly solidified rays of yellow light. \ <<elseif ($element2 is "Water")>>\ nearly solid electrified water chi. <<elseif ($element2 is "Wind")>>\ spinning Wind Chi. \ <</if>>\ <<else>>\ nearly solidified $element1 chi. \ <</if>>\ When she charges at you with her glowing blue blade you pull on the storm's power to enhance your attack and swing at her blade with a glowing $auracolor whip. If you were fighting with swords it would be a clash of wills, a contest of Technique mastery, and a test of the strongest Aura Pressure, but you aren't fighting with swords. Only she is. Her claymore slams into your glowing whip and bends it, causing your attack to lash in an arc around her sword, loop around it twice, and comically slap her in the face. Then its tip explodes on impact into a blinding $auracolor eruption. <<page "Continue" "ch3-fangfightwon">>\

You're in no condition for your battleplan, but you do it anyway. The power swirling through the air inside this Heavenly Gate calls out to you, acting as an extension of your own energy. With a battlecry you push your body to meet that temporarily increased limit by blowing through your chi reserves, your Cores, and your own lifeforce. Everything burns up as fuel for this one final attack. <<if ((($health + ($fortitude / 2)) - $wounds) gte 2)>>\ <<var $wounds + 1>>\ ''[1 Wound Suffered]'' <</if>>\ <<var $chispent ($chipool + ($soul/2))>>\ <<if (($chispent % 1) is 0.5)>>\ <<var $chispent + 0.5>>\ <</if>>\ ''[Heavenly Gate Special Action: Chi Pool Spent]''

A song drifts on the wind as if her blade calls out to you, begging for a true master. Your body moves on its own to the melody sinking through your mind and spirit. You clap both hands together at the exact moment that the urge passes through your mind and against all odds you actually catch her blade, \

Unfortunately it is still a seven foot long claymore, and it slashes you across the chest so hard that you're pushed ten feet back, kept alive only by the Heavenly Gate reinforcing your flesh. Blood stains your gi as it spills freely from your chest wound. ''[1 Wounds Suffered]'' <<var $wounds + 1>>\ <<if ($woundbonus gt 0)>>\ ''[Battle Hardening: +$woundbonus Aura Pressure]'' <<var $aurapressure + $woundbonus>>\ <</if>>\ <<include "ch3-fangfight-round3">>\

Hours of cycling pass and so does the storm. Every minute without an intruder is another blessing from the heavens, but now that so much time has gone a disturbing thought echoes through your mind. //Where is everyone?// Even if the Thunderfall Sect has left there's still plenty of other cultivators in the village that aren't real Martial Artists. You can't be the only one who didn't know about the village's promise to Tian Fang, so why has no one shown up to cycle this Heavenly Gate? You get up and walk home to investigate and pass by Tian Fang's resting body, looking //much// better than how you left it. An unpowered inhabitant of the Heavenly Gate's storm would have been ripped apart by stray energies but it seems a Martial Artist's body uses the potent chi to restore themselves. That explains why you feel better. ''[Wounds Healed]'' <<var $wounds 0>>\ ''[Chi Restored]'' <<var $chispent 0>>\ ''[Cores Replenished]'' <<var $powspent 0>>\ <<var $forspent 0>>\ <<var $agispent 0>>\ <<var $solspent 0>>\ The close presence of your aura wakes Tian Fang. Her eyes flutter open just as the Heavenly Gate ends and sits up, groaning. "Rrrrhhhhnnngggg...This one's head hurts." She opens her robes by a few inches and looks down at the bruises covering her torso. "In fact, it appears to be the body that hurts even more. Thunderfaller, please tell, what happened here?" <<choose "ch3-departure-prep">> #"You went feral and I put you down." I say flatly, walking passed her and returning home. "You went feral and I put you down." You say flatly, walking passed her. "Th-Thunderfaller wait, that was not me! It's a primal allergy to Heavenly Gates, I didn't mean to-" <<var $honor + 2>>\ <<var $ruthless + 1>>\ You keep walking and leave her whining on the mountaintop as you go. She can forage for scraps of energy now that you've feasted upon the storm. Nothing stands in your way as you march home victoriously, filled with new power. #"We fought. I won. Are you concussed? Do you need an escort home?" -> "ch3-nice2fang" "We fought. I won. \ <<var $honor + 2>>\ <<var $ruthless - 1>>\ <<if ($heshe is "he")>>\ <<var $fangromance + 1>>\ <</if>>\ Are you concussed? Do you need an escort home?" "No, no, this one is okay. Will be okay." #"You went feral and attacked me, what was that about?" -> "ch3-nice2fang" "You went feral and attacked me" You say, "What was that about? And are you okay now?" "That was...An illness. A curse." <<var $ruthless - 1>>\ #"We determined who was top dog around here." I spit on the $mutt. "Make sure to remember it." <<var $ruthless + 3>>\ <<var $fangrep - 5>>\ <<var $metfang + 100000000>>\ <<if ($heshe is "he")>>\ <<var $fangromance + 1>>\ <</if>>\ "You went feral and we determined who was top dog around here." You hock up snot and spit it at her. "Make sure to remember it." Your spittle slaps her right between the eyes. Her mouth opens and closes in shock, and from the tears forming she must know there's nothing she can do. You can see the hopelessness on her face. You spit on her one more time to drive the point home. She actually starts to cry. Hah! You turn your back to her and laugh all the way down the mountain. What is she going to do, attack you? You've both already seen how that ends. Nothing stands in your way as you march home victoriously filled with new power. Damn, it's good to be the best. <</choose>>

<<if ($passcheck is true)>>\ If she wants to end this then you're more than happy <<if (($soul + $power) gte 8)>>\ to, and you won't even need to surge a Combat Core. Your Soul and Power Cores are advanced enough to win this without strain by using the energy of the Heavenly Gate. <<else>>\ to. You burn through your chi reserves to surge as much power between your hands as your spirit can handle, then pull in even more from the Heavenly Gate around you. <</if>>\ <<include "ch3-fangbeamfinale2">>\ <<else>>\ <<if (((($health + ($fortitude/2)) - $wounds) gte $fanghealth) and ((($chipool + ($soul/2)) - $chispent) gte 1))>>\ <<include "ch3-fang-nocondition">>\ <<var $solspent + 1>>\ <<var $powspent + 1>>\ <<include "ch3-fangbeamfinale2">>\ <<else>>\ Glowing $auracolor power starts to form around your hands but try as you might you just can't create enough distance or focus on the power around you. Every time you try to build up enough energy for an attack you're forced to waste it knocking Fang or yourself back to avoid a dangerous strike from her glowing blade. And then you slip up. You push another layer of the storm Heavenly Gate's power in between your hands and try to harness a stronger energy blast, but when she swings this time she surges an Agility Core and you don't. Her blade catches you in between the arm and ribs, cutting both. Blood freezes your sliced bicep to your shattered rib, avoiding blood loss but immobilizing your movements. <<var $wounds + 1>>\ ''[1 Wound Suffered]'' <<if $woundbonus gt 0>>\ ''[Battle Hardening: +3 Aura Pressure]'' <<var $aurapressure + 3>>\ <</if>>\ <<page "That's a lot of blood..." "ch3-fangfightlost">>\ <</if>>\ <</if>>\

Glowing $auracolor power forms around your hands and illuminates your form: a wide stance, one foot forward, one foot back, cupping both hands together to weave the power all around you into a condensed and potent blast. Tian Fang paces back and forth, still keeping her distance and catching her breath yet grinning like a predator bearing down on its prey; she can see your attack is no better than a normal energy blast. But you don't release it. You build upon that power with another layer pulled from the storm chi swirling around you. Then another. Then another. Normally this is impossible, the layers of chi would dissipate into your surroundings, but your surroundings are already saturated with chi within the Heavenly Gate. The layers remain. "If you want a clash of Techniques, I'll give you one!" You add another layer. Suddenly Fang doesn't seem willing to play with her prey anymore, uncertainty growing in her eyes. Waiting for your display could cost her this prize. She attacks. You leap back and add another layer. She slashes at you. The blade misses but the ice chi around it stings your skin. You add another layer. She swings downward where you're going to be. You kick the flat of her blade to deflect and add another layer of energy from the Heavenly Gate around you. Her iceblade swings against the ground and emits a wave of freezing icicles thrusting at your throat. A twist of the torso has the attack crash against your shoulder. You add another layer. She leaps above you and raises her blade overhead, but you jump in a different direction and add another layer. Finally with a mighty roar her frustrations mount into action. She throws her blade at you like a javelin while you're stuck in midair. No time for more layers. <<page "Continue" "ch3-fangbeamfinale3">>\

You unleash your "Technique", an unsteady beam of $auracolor energy built from not only your own internal chi but also the environment's strongest natural energies you've ever felt in your life. The river of power you release is as wide as your house. Blinding light prevents you from seeing the impact but the explosion cracks louder than the Heavenly Gate's enhanced thunder. It takes ten long seconds for the debris to clear but you can already feel that your opponent's aura is completely diminished. <<page "Continue" "ch3-fangfightwon">>\

<<if ($passcheck is true)>>\ If she wants to end this then you're more than happy \ <<if (($agility + $soul) gte 8)>>\ to, and you won't even need to surge a Combat Core. Your Agility and Soul Cores are advanced enough to win this without strain. <<else>>\ to. You burn through your chi reserves and vibrate intensely with all the speed-aligned chi coursing through your spirit. <</if>>\ <<include "ch3-fangchiwrapfinale2">>\ <<else>>\ <<if (((($health + ($fortitude/2)) - $wounds) gte $fanghealth) and ((($chipool + ($soul/2)) - $chispent) gte 1))>>\ <<include "ch3-fang-nocondition">>\ <<var $agispent + 1>>\ <<var $solspent + 1>>\ <<include "ch3-fangchiwrapfinale2">>\ <<else>>\ Speed and energy seemed like such a good idea at the time, but you learn quickly that they're her specialties too. As your Agility Core starts to surge you see blood spray from your chest and freeze in the air, clinging to your body and draining your aura. Tian Fang's attack is already finished. She's ten feet behind you now, dust swirling around her as she skids to a halt from her burst of speed that you couldn't even see. <<var $wounds + 1>>\ ''[1 Wound Suffered]'' <<if $woundbonus gt 0>>\ ''[Battle Hardening: +3 Aura Pressure]'' <<var $aurapressure + 3>>\ <</if>>\ <<page "That's a lot of blood..." "ch3-fangfightlost">>\ <</if>>\ <</if>>\

You don't have anything flashy like her ice sword, but you've got energy and you've got speed. Vibrant $auracolor power wraps around your fist like a glowing $auracolor cocoon, weaving layer after layer until the power in your grasp hums louder than the storm. "Let's go!" You shout in defiance while Tian Fang charges recklessly. The Yokai girl surges an Agility Core to become a blur of pale blue light speeding towards you and in response you shoot your compacted chi at the ground to lift you airborne. The force of all that energy around your fist launches you over her reach as she swipes where you were standing a moment ago. She doesn't have the chance to see what happens next. You arc your glowing arm over your head and use its propulsion to shoot yourself at her in a crescent formation after your ascent. When you speed back behind her she turns just in time to take a nose-crunching direct hit to the face. <<page "Continue" "ch3-fangfightwon">>\

<<if ((($health + ($fortitude / 2)) - $wounds) lt 1)>>\ <<page "That's a lot of blood..." "ch3-fangfightlost">>\ <<else>>\ <<var $fangfightcounter + 1>>\ <<if ($fangfightcounter lt 2)>>\ <<include "ch3-fangfightoptions">>\ <<else>>\ <<page "Continue" "ch3-fangfight-round2">>\ <</if>>\ <</if>>\

<div class="fightingfont">Thunderfaller vs Tian Fang</div>\ <<statcheck>>\ The two of you clash continuously in a flurry of blows with no clear winner. Her cuts and scrapes don't seem to slow her down at all. You separate to catch your breath, but the fight's been dragging on too long. Even Tian Fang's bestial attitude has begun to slip. She's standing on two legs now, still visibly feral but more alert. Analyzing. Aware. Tian Fang \ <<if ($fanghealth lte 2)>>\ wipes blood from her mouth and \ <</if>>\ looks around the storm's dark clouds surrounding the two of you. Her chest heaves with one heavy breath, then another. "Why won't you FALL?!" She screams, eyes nearly glowing red with whatever has overtaken her senses, but she doesn't drop to all fours this time. At first you're glad that she seems to be slowly snapping out of it, from feral to just pissed, but then her hand twitches and you feel the workings of a Technique in the air. She opens her mouth and you see one last chance for diplomacy. "RRRAAAAAUUUGGHHHH!!" Nevermind. Before your very eyes the swirling pale blue aura around her coalesces in her hand and extends into a massive seven-foot claymore of pure ice. With a two-handed grip on the frozen claymore she pushes more chi into its construction and wreathes it in enough ice power to resemble blue flames. //Well shit,// You think to yourself. //I wish I knew a combat Technique.// She charges you and swings with the full power of her Iceblade, enforced with the crackling energy of the storm's Heavenly Gate. <<var $val 5>>\ <<choose "ch3-fangfight-round3">> #Leap overhead to dodge. <<var $combatstat "power">>\ <<var $combatskill "athletics">>\ <<if ((($element1 is "Ice") or ($element1 is "Wind")) or ($element1 is "Storm"))>>\ ''[$element1 Element Check Passed, Difficulty Reduced]'' <<var $val - 1>>\ <<elseif ($style is "Midorikatai")>>\ ''[Midorikatai Style Check Passed, Difficulty Reduced]'' <<var $val - 1>>\ <</if>>\ <<combatcheck $val>>\ <<if ($passcheck is true)>>\ With one mighty leap you launch yourself out of the way of her attack by leaping straight up, ascending forty feet into the air thanks to the ambient power of the Heavenly Gate leaking into your every movement. Tian Fang disappears beneath you due to the thick dark storm clouds around the two of you and you know that she can't see you either, nor can she sense you thanks to the storm chi radiating through the air. Radiating...//too much// through the air. A jerk, twist, and expulsion of chi takes you out of the path of a violet lightning bolt midair just before it crashes into the ground below. A scream from Tian Fang lets you know that the bolt chose her as the next best conductor when you moved out of the way, though the force of it still blasts you thirty feet away where you barely land on your feet on the ground below. <<var $fanghealth - 1>>\ <<else>>\ With one mighty leap you get halfway off the ground until her attack slams into your midsection. By sheer luck she hits you just below your center of gravity so your body spins when her blade's ice aura erupts in a massive explosion of freezing chi. Rather than being bisected, you're sent flying thirty feet away. The only saving grace is that Tian Fang was standing in her own explosion. ''[1 Wounds Suffered]'' <<var $wounds + 1>>\ <<if ($woundbonus gt 0)>>\ ''[Battle Hardening: +$woundbonus Aura Pressure]'' <<var $aurapressure + $woundbonus>>\ <</if>>\ <<var $fanghealth - 1>>\ <</if>>\ #Drop to the ground in a feint. <<var $combatstat "agility">>\ <<var $combatskill "thievery">>\ <<if ((($element1 is "Earth") or ($element1 is "Light")) or ($element1 is "Darkness"))>>\ ''[$element1 Element Check Passed, Difficulty Reduced]'' <<var $val - 1>>\ <<elseif ($style is "Kurokonton")>>\ ''[Kurokonton Style Check Passed, Difficulty Reduced]'' <<var $val - 1>>\ <</if>>\ <<combatcheck $val>>\ As Tian Fang's blade comes close to your face you drop to the ground and feint a kick at her leg with enough force to spin your body, causing the woman to swing downward and trace your attack to land a devastating slash to your thigh. <<if ($passcheck is true)>>\ With a quick jerk you pull your leg back in and let the momentum of your kick pull you around in a 360 degree spin just as her massive glowing sword slams into the ground where your leg would have been if you kept it fully extended and attempted the trip attack that you projected. Her blade crashes into the stone ground instead and explodes in a violent eruption launches you both a dozen feet back until you come skidding to a halt. <<var $fanghealth - 1>>\ <<else>>\ Her attack accelerates mid-swing, crashing into your leg before you have time to pull it in for your feint. All your internal chi rushes to your leg to prevent it from being cut off when her iceblade cleaves into you in an explosion of ice shards that launches you thirty feet back, bouncing against the hard stone of the mountain peak while your body writhes in pain. The only saving grace is that Tian Fang was standing in her own explosion. ''[1 Wounds Suffered]'' <<var $wounds + 1>>\ <<if ($woundbonus gt 0)>>\ ''[Battle Hardening: +$woundbonus Aura Pressure]'' <<var $aurapressure + $woundbonus>>\ <</if>>\ <<var $fanghealth - 1>>\ <</if>>\ #Catch it. Tian Fang's seven-foot glowing claymore of frostfire chi comes down on you with the fury of an enraged Beast and you try to catch it in your hands. <<if (($style is "Akakiru") and ((($element1 is "Ice") or ($element1 is "Fire")) or ($element2 is "Fire")))>>\ ''[Special Event: Akakiru Style + '' <<if ($element1 is "None")>>\ ''$element2'' <<else>>\ ''$element1'' <</if>>\ ''Element]'' <<include "ch3-fang-swordsong">>\ <<if (($element1 is "Fire") or ($element2 is "Fire"))>>\ burning the ice power off her forged Technique in an instant by releasing chi-fueled roaring flames between your palms. <<else>>\ mustering your control over Ice to absorb the surging elemental power running through her blade. <</if>>\ Tian Fang grits her teeth and tenses her shoulders to wrest control of her massive sword from your grip. She screams and snarls, head whipping in every direction to pull her weapon back for another attack. All the while your muscles scream to let go but your mind screams that to let go would be to court death. With one final push of your own power, you \ <<if ($element1 is "Ice")>>\ jettison all the stolen ice chi back through the blade \ <<elseif (($element1 is "Fire") or ($element2 is "Fire"))>>\ push even more flame energy through the blade \ <</if>>\ with so much force that her sword of ice explodes outward through the handle, engulfing Tian Fang in the \ <<if (($element1 is "Fire") or ($element2 is "Fire"))>>\ fiery \ <</if>>\ eruption and launching her thirty feet back with several bounces against the hard stone. <<page "Continue" "ch3-fangfightwon">>\ <<else>>\ It's immediately obvious that was the wrong move. <<if ($element1 is "Ice")>>\ ''[Ice Element Check Passed: Reduced Damage]'' The forces of Ice call out to your inner chi and you pull them in, hoping to seize her blade by sensing its elemental aura. The desperate desire to survive aids your calling and the ice chi of her blade pulls into you, snuffing out the blue flames of her blade. ''[Restored 1 Chi Point]'' <<var $chispent - 1>>\ <<if ($chispent lt 0)>>\ <<var $chispent 0>>\ <</if>>\ <<include "ch3-fang-unfortunatesword">>\ <<elseif (($element1 is "Fire") or ($element2 is "Fire"))>>\ ''[Fire Element Check Passed: Reduced Damage]'' The forces of Fire burn through your body as you rev up your response, a full-power burst of flames enhanced by the Heavenly Gate into a fireball twice the size of your body. Your eruption explodes over Tian Fang's blade and burns through its energies, enveloping and erasing the blue iceflames of her Technique. <<include "ch3-fang-unfortunatesword">>\ <<elseif ($style is "Akakiru")>>\ <<include "ch3-fang-swordsong">>\ though the energy around her blade loses no momentum and leaves her ice claymore in a whirl of power. Without a focus, her energy explodes against your chest with freezing bursts that send you thirty feet back, skidding across the hard stones of the mountain peak. The only saving grace is that Tian Fang was standing in her own explosion too. ''[1 Wounds Suffered]'' <<var $wounds + 1>>\ <<if ($woundbonus gt 0)>>\ ''[Battle Hardening: +$woundbonus Aura Pressure]'' <<var $aurapressure + $woundbonus>>\ <</if>>\ <<var $fanghealth - 1>>\ <<include "ch3-fangfight-round3">>\ <<else>>\ Tian Fang's blade slips through your hands and cuts deep into your torso then explodes in a massive eruption of freezing energy. You're sent flying thirty feet away with a trail of blood left behind. The only saving grace is that Tian Fang was standing in her own explosion. ''[2 Wounds Suffered]'' <<var $wounds + 2>>\ <<if ($woundbonus gt 0)>>\ <<var $val2 ($woundbonus * 2)>>\ ''[Battle Hardening: +$val2 Aura Pressure]'' <<var $aurapressure + $val2>>\ <</if>>\ <<var $fanghealth - 1>>\ <<include "ch3-fangfight-round3">>\ <</if>>\ <</if>>\ <</choose>>

<<if ((($health + ($fortitude / 2)) - $wounds) lt 1)>>\ <<page "That's a lot of blood..." "ch3-fangfightlost">>\ <<else>>\ <<include "ch3-fangfight-round3-2">>\ <</if>>\

<<if ($wounds gte 2)>>\ Despite the pain relief \ <<else>>\ Relief \ <</if>>\ flows through you when you recover from being launched so far away and see Tian Fang's heaving breaths across the battlefield. Her knees tremble and exhaustion is clearly painted on her face. That attack took much out of her and her aura is weakening. This battle can be over in one final attack but only if you have what it takes to execute it. Tian Fang rears her blade back over her shoulder and lets out a roar. Without hesitation you respond with a roar of your own and the two of you meet in one final clash. <<choose "ch3-fangheadbuttfinale">> #Take the hit and headbutt Tian Fang with my chi-reinforced skull. <<var $combatstat "power">>\ <<var $combatstat2 "fortitude">>\ <<if ($yokaitrait1 is "horns")>>\ <<if ($heshe is "he")>>\ ''[Bull'' <<else>>\ ''[Cow'' <</if>>\ ''Yokai Event: Reduced Difficulty]'' <<combatcheck 7>>\ <<else>>\ <<combatcheck 8>>\ <</if>>\ #Wrap chi around my fist and dash in for a haymaker. -> "ch3-fangchiwrapfinale" <<var $combatstat "agility">>\ <<var $combatstat2 "soul">>\ <<combatcheck 8>>\ #Wrestle her to the ground. -> "ch3-fangwrestlefinale" <<var $combatstat "fortitude">>\ <<var $combatstat2 "agility">>\ <<combatcheck 8>>\ #Gather enough energy from the Heavenly Gate to launch a beam of power. -> "ch3-fangbeamfinale" <<var $combatstat "soul">>\ <<var $combatstat2 "power">>\ <<combatcheck 8>>\ #show-if (($element1 is "Ice") or ($element2 is "Ice")) use-if ((($chipool + ($soul/2)) - $chispent) gte 2) Conjure my own ice claymore. [Costs 2 Chi] [Requires Ice Element] <<var $chispent + 2>>\ ''[2 Chi Points Spent]'' You don't have a "Best Technique", but she sure does. And she activated it in a Heavenly Gate where its echo imprinted upon the natural aura all around you. Your willpower reaches out to that imprint of her Technique and you offer your internal Ice chi as fuel to pull that echo into your hand. A duplicate glowing ice claymore forges itself in your grip. Its summoning is slow, and she could interrupt it, but she's frozen with astonishment at the sight of you stealing her ultimate Technique. <<var $fangrep + 5>>\ <<var $solexp + 4>>\ Good. You channel the ice power of your summoned blade and charge it into hers. She defends at the last moment but the trajectory is on your side. Both Techniques shatter against each other in a house-sized explosion of ice-mist that launches over her thanks to your momentum advantage. It cascades into the Yokai girl like an explosive avalanche and knocks her body skyward like a spinning ragdoll. <<page "Continue" "ch3-fangfightwon">>\ #show-if (($element1 is "Storm") or ($element2 is "Storm")) use-if ((($chipool + ($soul/2)) - $chispent) gte 1) Unleash the storm. [Costs 1 Chi] [Requires Storm Element] <<var $chispent + 1>>\ ''[2 Chi Points spent]'' Rather than worry about a countering Technique, you remember you're inside a Heavenly Gate. A //Storm Aura// Heavenly Gate. You don't need to know a Technique when your elemental chi is soaking into the air all around you. Your senses reach out and spiritually seize the potent aura in the dark clouds around you. With a force of will you squeeze out every ounce of Storm Chi stored within them and pour it over your hands, generating violet arcs of lightning that a spin like wheels around your fists. "Good!" She shouts, seeming more excited than angered for once, "Iconic! Legendary! A sword against shields!" "Shields?" You ask. You're not sure what she's talking about, because these spinning disks of Storm Chi aren't shields. Both your hands clasp together and the arcing electricity from each hand combines into a massive ball of power. Power that you aim. The resulting eruption of lightning releases as a singular, body-width bolt of violet energy that blows her ice-sword, aura, and Fortitude Cores away. Even her body is blown back sixty feet up the trail and embedded into the stone hard enough to become an ornamental lawn piece. <<page "Continue" "ch3-fangfightwon">>\ #show-if ((($element1 isnot "Ice") and ($element1 isnot "Storm")) and ($element1 isnot "None")) use-if ((($chipool + ($soul/2)) - $chispent) gte 2) Forge a whip of $element1 power. [Costs 2 Chi] -> "ch3-fang-elementalwhip" #show-if ((($element2 isnot "Ice") and ($element2 isnot "Storm")) and ($element2 isnot "")) use-if ((($chipool + ($soul/2)) - $chispent) gte 2) Forge a whip of $element2 power. [Costs 2 Chi] -> "ch3-fang-elementalwhip" <<var $val 444>>\ <</choose>>

Tian Fang howls to the storm as the world around you grows darker. It takes too long for you to realize it's not a Technique she's using to bring about shadows, it's your consciousness fading from injuries. You fought valiantly inside the greatest source of natural energy of your life. <<apboost 25>>\ But you lost. <<var $metfang 12000000000>>\ <<var $fangcombat + 1>>\ <<if ($equippedoutfit is "Weighted Clothing")>>\ Perhaps a handicap like weighted clothing wasn't a good idea for a serious fight. Still, it did push you past your limits. <<apboost 15>>\ <</if>>\ <<page "Damn it..." "ch3-fangfightlost2">>\

<<var $fighting false>>\ <<var $forspent 0>>\ <<var $powspent 0>>\ <<var $agispent 0>>\ <<var $solspent 0>>\ <<var $chispent 0>>\ <<var $wounds 0>>\ ''[Wounds Healed]'' ''[Chi Restored]'' ''[Cores Replenished]'' Morning light wakes you hours later and your stiff back is propped up against the town wall. The western entrance lies ten feet to your left where two guards stand watch over the busy roads that have more foot traffic than ever now that the storm has come and gone. Dozens of travelers wander in and out carrying satchels or riding wagons on their way to Nanhou. The guards see you stir and they wave. <<if ($roc gt 0)>>\ <<cap $rocname>> sits beside you, noticeably bigger than when you last saw her. She's all the way up to your chest now and must have used all that storm aura to trigger her first Advancement. Though weaker than you, she's a real Beast now. And it seems the guards know it, as they're avoiding eye contact with your bird. \ <</if>>\ "Good morning, Honored Disciple. That Yokai girl dropped you off by the gate last night. We didn't want to wake you, \ <<if ($roc gt 0)>>\ especially after your erm...pet arrived. That and \ <</if>>\ you looked pretty beat \ <<if ($heshe is "he")>>\ up. Between the wolfgirl and the scratches we weren't sure if your night had gone poorly or //very// well." The other guard snickers under his helmet. \ <<else>>\ up and I've learned it's best to stay out of a quarrel between powerful women." The second guard snorts dismissively. "He's talking about his wives." \ <</if>>\ "Be..." You try to respond but your mouth is dry, you're not sure how much blood you lost but it was enough to need a drink and more rest. Closing your mouth to slowly salivate alleviates the pain of your dry throat ever so slightly. "Beast...The girl, Tian Fang. She was acting like a Beast." "Doesn't sound like the girl I saw." Says the first guard. "She seemed quite pleasant when leaving you here to rest, apologized and everything. Told us to ask you not to mention her allergy to anyone, whatever that means." The second guard speaks up. "Will you be attending the Trials, Honored Disciple? If so you'd best be off soon, it's a months-long journey and the rest of the Sect left two days ago." Shit, that's right. You pick your sorry butt off the ground and drag your feet back home, \ <<if ($ruthless gte 55)>>\ dismissing the guards without a word. <<elseif ($ruthless lt 50)>>\ thanking the guards for watching over you. <<else>>\ nodding to the guards in exhausted appreciation. <</if>>\ <<if ($roc gt 0)>>\ $rocname glares at them as you walk through the town gate, then jumps over the gate with a flurry of her wings and hops along the road beside you. "Storm chi looks good on you." You say to the bird. "Caw!" $rocname responds. <</if>>\ <<page "Continue" "ch3-departure">>\

<<choose "ch3-fangcont">> #use-once Shoot her with scalding blasts of chi. <div class="fightingfont">Thunderfaller vs Tian Fang</div>\ Normally you only have enough Aura Pressure to generate a few chi blasts a day, powerful enough to deflect some rocks or destroy a \ <<if ($soul gte 3)>>\ table, \ <<else>>\ vase, \ <</if>>\ but you're inside a Heavenly Gate. The free energy surrounding you fuels all of your attacks. Power surges from your Cores, through your shoulders, and down into your outstretched arms erupting outwards in explosive $auracolor chi orbs you fire at Tian Fang. Your power rains down across the rocky battlefield. <<if ($soul gte 3) or ($handseals gte 3)>>\ ''[Handseals/Soul 3 Check Passed]'' <<var $solexp + 1>>\ <<if (($soul gte 4) or ($handseals gte 4))>>\ Your mastery over chi even gives you the secrets needed to pull off your assault without surging a Soul Core. \ <<else>>\ The constant assault is taxing but manageable, it just takes a bigger push from your Soul Core. \ <<var $solspent + 1>>\ <</if>>\ <<else>>\ Energy attacks aren't your strong suit however, and it costs a heavy investment of chi and the surging of a Soul Core to keep the attack going. <<var $solspent + 1>>\ <<var $chispent + 1>>\ ''[1 Chi Point spent]'' <</if>>\ <<if (($power gte 3) or ($soul gte 4))>>\ <<var $fanghealth - 1>>\ <</if>>\ <<var $fanghealth - 1>>\ There's no room for mercy so you don't let up, continuously firing so many chi blasts that the ground around the battlefield turns to dust, blocking your vision of the girl. A mistake. Out of the dust cloud to your left flies a speeding ice-spike the size of both your arms put together. You form a blast of chi in both hands and try your best to blow the ice shard out of the sky before it rips through you. <<if (((($element1 is "Fire") or ($element2 is "Fire")) or ($element1 is "Storm")) or ($power gte 3))>>\ <<if (((($element1 isnot "Fire") and ($element1 isnot "Storm")) and ($element1 isnot "Ice")) and ($element1 isnot "Earth"))>>\ <<if ($power lt 4)>>\ <<var $powspent + 1>>\ ''[1 Power Chi Spent]'' <</if>>\ <</if>>\ ''[Element/Power 4 Check Passed]'' And you succeed, melting the spike with your own potent \ <<if (($element1 is "Fire") or ($element2 is "Fire"))>>\ scorching hot Fire \ <<elseif ($element1 is "Storm")>>\ crackling Storm \ <</if>>\ chi. <<elseif ($element1 is "Ice")>>\ ''[Element: Ice Check Passed]'' And you succeed, dispersing the physical ice into chi. It crashes into your soul attuned to the same element and harmlessly dissipates. <<elseif ($element1 is "Earth")>>\ ''[Element: Earth Check Passed]'' And you succeed, hardening your skin like a boulder by channeling the massive mountain beneath your feet. <<else>>\ ''[Element/Power 4 Check Failed]'' But you fail. It takes a half second too long to spin your Cores into action and generate the spiritual energy needed to blast the icicle away, and a half second is long enough for it to lodge into your side. ''[1 Wounds Suffered]'' <<var $wounds + 1>>\ <<if ($woundbonus gt 0)>>\ ''[Battle Hardening: +$woundbonus Aura Pressure]'' <<var $aurapressure + $woundbonus>>\ <</if>>\ <</if>>\ #use-once Rush in to deliver a dozen-strike combo. <div class="fightingfont">Thunderfaller vs Tian Fang</div>\ The savage Mountain Hazard fighter tries to create distance but you dash in close to stop her. <<var $combatstat "agility">>\ <<combatcheck 4>>\ <<if ($passcheck is true)>>\ With a quick swipe you flip her leg into the air as you catch up, knocking her off balance and letting you land four jabs at her center before the force of the blows knocks her back. She spins in mid-air and throws a kick where your head should be, but you duck on your pursuit and strike her hamstring, her kidney, and her neck. Each strike is weak, but combined they're effective enough to send her tumbling back. <<if ($power gte 4)>>\ <<var $fanghealth - 1>>\ <</if>>\ <<var $fanghealth - 1>>\ <<else>>\ Just as she hoped you would. Right when you close the gap she drops to the ground and spins, swiping your legs out from under you. She leaps on top of you as you trip, raining blows down on your head. ''[1 Wounds Suffered]'' <<var $wounds + 1>>\ <<if ($woundbonus gt 0)>>\ ''[Battle Hardening: +$woundbonus Aura Pressure]'' <<var $aurapressure + $woundbonus>>\ <</if>>\ Her tenacity distracts her enough that she doesn't notice all the power rushing to your legs. It takes agonizingly long to you, as you're taking slashes to the face while refusing to give up your concentration, but finally you build enough power store to kick off the ground with such tremendous force that Tian Fang launches across the battlefield. You're on your feet by the time she returns. <</if>>\ <<page "Continue" "ch3-fang-dozenstrike">>\ #use-once Leap into the air to deliver an axe kick. <div class="fightingfont">Thunderfaller vs Tian Fang</div>\ One mighty leap takes you high into the air above your opponent. You raise your leg towards the sky and gather the storm's energy into your muscles before dropping to the ground in a massive axe kick. <<var $combatstat "power">>\ <<combatcheck 4>>\ <<if ($passcheck is true)>>\ Dust and rocks explode out of the impact zone when you crash into Tian Fang, her guard holds strong from surging a Fortitude Core but you can tell she's taken damage. Her aura pressure is already weaker as fragments of her pale blue power scatter outward with the debris. <<if ($power gte 4)>>\ <<var $fanghealth - 2>>\ You didn't even have to surge a Power Core to do it. <<else>>\ It was well worth surging a Power Core to see the look on her face when you land hard enough to score an advantage. <<var $fanghealth - 1>>\ <</if>>\ Unfortunately she's no amateur, and recovers in time to grab \ <<else>>\ But it's not strong enough to break through her guard. While you were busy leaping into the air and crashing down upon her, the Yokai girl was surging her Fortitude Core and pushing all her hardening energy into her arms. She screams in rage as you crash into her arms, cracking the bones of your foot with an audible crunch as if falling on a steel wall from such a high drop. ''[1 Wounds Suffered]'' <<var $wounds + 1>>\ <<if ($woundbonus gt 0)>>\ ''[Battle Hardening: +$woundbonus Aura Pressure]'' <<var $aurapressure + $woundbonus>>\ <</if>>\ Before you can create distance she's already grabbed <</if>>\ your ankle. <<page "Continue" "ch3-fang-axekick">>\ #show-if ($element1 isnot "None") use-once use-if ((($chipool + ($soul/2)) - $chispent) gte 1) Unleash $an beam $element1 energy. [Costs 1 Chi] -> "ch3-fang-blast" #show-if ($element2 is "Fire") use-once use-if ((($chipool + ($soul/2)) - $chispent) gte 1) Unleash a beam of Fire chi. [Costs 1 Chi] -> "ch3-fang-blast" <<var $usefire true>>\ <</choose>>

<<if ($jadedragonfoundation is false)>>\ <<achieve "Dog Fight">>\ <</if>>\ <<var $infused 3>>\ <div class="fightingfont">Thunderfaller vs Tian Fang</div>\ <div class="fightingfont">Victory!</div>\ <<statcheck>>\ <<var $prestige + 2>>\ <<fightexp 10>>\ <<var $metfang 11000000000>>\ <<var $fighting false>>\ Tian Fang lies on the ground, bruised and defeated but still breathing. Her hair strewn about the cold stone floor and her fur robes soaked from the rain. You're glad you didn't hold back if she's this sturdy. Realization dawns on you while catching your breath: you did it. You won a real fight. Nobody's opinion can matter as much as this victory. You require no approval or permission to call this a victory, you've proven your worth with your own merit. With your own fists. In a roaring howl you laugh to the Heavens, you've won! Not against some clone and not in some race, this time you've faced another Sect's star pupil, and you won! Wiping the blood from your bruised lip never felt so good as you march up the mountaintop through the heavy winds of the storm, grinning ear to ear, then sit down to harvest the storm's Heavenly Gate. A well-earned reward that you cycle throughout the night. ''[Aura Pressure +50]'' <<set $aurapressure to $aurapressure + 50>>\ <<if ($insight gte 2)>>\ ''[Insight 2 Check Passed]'' Using meditation forms you're able to better organize your cycling methods and fill your Cores with even more power. <<var $val (5 + (3 * $insight))>>\ <<apboost $val>>\ <<else>>\ ''[Insight 2 Check Failed]'' The constant booming thunder in the air disrupts your meditation, preventing you from taking in as much as possible. <</if>>\ <<if (((($athletics gte 2) or ($bodytype is "Muscular")) or ($bodytype is "Dommymommy")) or ($style is "Midorikatai"))>>\ <<if ($athletics gte 2)>>\ ''[Athletics 2 Check Passed]'' <<elseif ($style is "Midorikatai")>>\ ''[Style Check Passed: Midorikatai]'' <<else>>\ ''[Bodytype Check Passed: Muscular Specialty]'' <</if>>\ Using your physical fitness your larger muscles are able to passively absorb the potent chi. <<var $val (5 + (3 * $athletics))>>\ <<apboost $val>>\ <<if ($equippedoutfit is "Weighted Clothing")>>\ <<var $val (3 * $athletics)>>\ <<if ($val lt 3)>>\ <<var $val 3>>\ <</if>>\ ''[Weighted Clothing Bonus: Aura Pressure +$val] \ <<var $aurapressure + $val>>\ <</if>>\ <<else>>\ ''[Bodytype/Athletics 2 Check Failed]'' Your muscles have only been increased with chi, rather than physical growth, and so you aren't able to store any additional storm aura into your physical body than normal. <</if>>\ <<if ($hungryspiritritual isnot 1)>>\ ''[Hungry Spirit Ritual]'' Using your knowledge of handseals you're able to form a quick sigil-circle on the stone ground around you that aids in storing some of the storm's chi around your aura. It will enter your Cores as soon as you've processed the surging power that's already filled them. <<if ($handseals gte 2)>>\ <<var $val (5 + (3 * $handseals))>>\ <<else>>\ <<var $val 5>>\ <</if>>\ ''[Aura Pressure +$val]'' <<var $aurapressure + $val>>\ <<else>>\ ''[Handseal Check Failed]'' It occurs to you that there might be some kind of handseal ritual to aid in aura absorption, but you've never heard of it. <</if>>\ <<if ((($element1 is "None") and ($element2 isnot "Storm")) or (($element1 isnot "Storm") and ($element2 is "")))>>\ <<include "ch3-storm-element">>\ <<elseif ($roc gt 0)>>\ <<page "What's that sensation in the air?" "ch3-stormroc">>\ <<else>>\ <<page "Continue" "ch3-fang-wakeup">>\ <</if>>\

<<if ($passcheck is true)>>\ If she wants to end this then you're more than happy \ <<if (($power + $fortitude) gte 8)>>\ to, and you won't even need to surge a Combat Core. Your Power and Fortitude Cores are advanced enough to win this without strain. <<else>>\ to. You burn through your chi reserves and rush in to meet her head-on. <</if>>\ <<include "ch3-fangheadbuttfinale2">>\ <<else>>\ <<if (((($health + ($fortitude/2)) - $wounds) gte $fanghealth) and ((($chipool + ($soul/2)) - $chispent) gte 1))>>\ <<include "ch3-fang-nocondition">>\ <<var $powspent + 1>>\ <<var $forspent + 1>>\ <<include "ch3-fangheadbuttfinale2">>\ <<else>>\ Taking a hit wasn't the best plan, you realize, as her blade shifts to pure energy and pierces through your chest. With a spiritual //heft// she lifts you off the ground and activates something within her blade. Your aura freezes in place, shattering your remaining chi and stamina from the inside of your soul. <<var $wounds + 1>>\ ''[1 Wound Suffered]'' <<if $woundbonus gt 0>>\ ''[Battle Hardening: +3 Aura Pressure]'' <<var $aurapressure + 3>>\ <</if>>\ <<page "That's a lot of blood..." "ch3-fangfightlost">>\ <</if>>\ <</if>>\

With the durability of steel and the power of a cannon you charge at her gigantic sword and take the stab directly to the chest, grabbing the blade and breaking it in your hand. It stings like a bitch. And you make sure she knows it. An enraged howl escapes your throat and you grab her head on both sides, framing her shocked expression with your hands and holding her in place for your attack. She tries to say something but you can't hear it over the heavy storm winds whipping through your ears when you slam your \ <<if ($yokaitrait1 is "horns")>>\ horns against her forehead. <<else>>\ forehead down into the bridge of her nose. <</if>>\ <<page "Continue" "ch3-fangfightwon">>\

<<if ($passcheck is true)>>\ If she wants to end this then you're more than happy \ <<if (($fortitude + $agility) gte 8)>>\ to, and you won't even need to surge a Combat Core. Your Fortitude and Agility Cores are advanced enough to win this without strain. <<else>>\ to. You burn through your chi reserves with Fortitude and Agility-aligned chi to prepare yourself for swift and uninterruptable movements. <</if>>\ <<include "ch3-fangwrestlefinale2">>\ <<else>>\ <<if (((($health + ($fortitude/2)) - $wounds) gte $fanghealth) and ((($chipool + ($soul/2)) - $chispent) gte 1))>>\ <<include "ch3-fang-nocondition">>\ <<var $forspent + 1>>\ <<var $agispent + 1>>\ <<include "ch3-fangwrestlefinale2">>\ <<else>>\ You dash in to wrestle her to the ground where her sword will be too unwieldy, but can't close the gap in time. She swings at you and lands a heavy cut to your thigh and elbow. You push through the tearing pain and grab her neck in the crook of your other arm's elbow and bicep. The momentum of your charge pulls her backwards to the ground with you, hoping to slam her head into the hard stone ground, but all you get is a second stab wound through the side from behind. <<var $wounds + 1>>\ ''[1 Wound Suffered]'' <<if $woundbonus gt 0>>\ ''[Battle Hardening: +3 Aura Pressure]'' <<var $aurapressure + 3>>\ <</if>>\ <<page "That's a lot of blood..." "ch3-fangfightlost">>\ <</if>>\ <</if>>\

First thing's first, now that she's slowed down you're not giving her a chance to use that sword. A swift charge baits her into swinging at your torso but you duck under the attack and slide behind her. With no time to lose you wrap your hands around Fang's waist from behind and lift her off her feet, over your head in a circular arc, and down into the hard ground with a bone-crunching suplex that connects the top of her skull to the rock of the mountaintop with such force that the rock explodes and makes way for her body, planting her like a radish and sending up a dust cloud engulfing the two of you. <<page "Continue" "ch3-fangfightwon">>\

<<var $fighting true>>\ Big Chu's lessons embed into your reflexes and you take on a proper battle stance, ready to seize this irreplaceable source of chi for yourself. It's the last opportunity you have before the Heavenly Ascension Trials and you're not going to give it up. But neither is Tian Fang. Her hands glow brighter and brighter until pale icicles form over her fingers to make a pair of clawed gauntlets. <<if ($fangambushyou) or ($agility lt 4)>>\ ''[Agility 4/Ambush Check Failed]'' <<var $agiexp + 1>>\ She lunges at you and rakes her energy-fueled claws against your torso. <<var $combatstat "fortitude">>\ <<combatcheck 4>>\ <<if ($passcheck is true)>>\ She finds no success. Your skin hardens to the strength of steel. The spiritual force of her attack pushes through your defenses and cuts deep into your spirit, but her claws shatter after. You use that hardness as an asset and slam your forearm against the side of her face, feeling a crunch as her skin struggles to exist between your rock-hard arm and her skull. She jumps back, bleeding from her cheek and fuming with bloodlust. <<var $fanghealth - 1>>\ <<page "Continue" "ch3-fang-beginfight">>\ <<else>>\ You try to defend yourself but her claws dig into the flesh of your arms with sharp physical force and freezing spiritual power that weakens your skin's natural defenses. She cuts through the upper skin and muscle of your forearms. ''[1 Wounds Suffered]'' <<var $wounds + 1>>\ <<if ($woundbonus gt 0)>>\ ''[Battle Hardening: +$woundbonus Aura Pressure]'' <<var $aurapressure + $woundbonus>>\ <</if>>\ <<if ((($health + ($fortitude / 2)) - $wounds) lt 1)>>\ <<page "That's a lot of blood..." "ch3-fangfightlost">>\ <<else>>\ <<page "Continue" "ch3-fang-beginfight">>\ <</if>>\ <</if>>\ <<else>>\ ''[Agility 4 Check Passed]'' <<var $agiexp + 1>>\ But you're too fast. You're able to strike first, smacking her face from side to side with a barrage of quick strikes that force her potent claws into a defensive position, which allows you to trip her to the ground. Her own Agility Core surges and she dashes twenty feet away from you in the blink of an eye. Or in her case, the blink of a black eye. <<var $fanghealth - 1>>\ <<page "Continue" "ch3-fang-beginfight">>\ <</if>>\

<<page "Prepare yourself!" "ch3-fightfang">>\

The Grim lets out a howl like a burly man with its mouth sewn shut, then skids to a halt with enough speed to kick up snow. It turns back to you and //throws// the black energy wrapped around its arms, one arm launching the chi at you and the other launched at Jin. <<choose "ch3-grim-round2">> #Dodge the Grim's putrid chi. One mighty leap is your best bet to get out of the way and you hope Jin is doing the same. <<var $combatstat "agility">>\ <<combatcheck 5>>\ <<if ($passcheck is true)>>\ A sense of alarm shoots through your mind and spirit as you motion to leap, so you push yourself harder and clear a full twenty foot vertical jump. The Grim's dark energy attack shakes as it flies under you and twists upward but it can't turn at a fast enough speed to hit. The damned thing had some sort of life-tracking effect on its attack. "JIN, IT'S A TRACKER!" <<var $val 1>>\ <<else>>\ Yet you're not fast enough and get hit with the Grim's dark energy attack anyway. Screeching pain shoots through not only your body but your aura as well and it becomes instantly apparent that something is wrong. <<woundcheck 1 false true>>\ <<var $val 0>>\ <<if ($eblocktech isnot "")>>\ The Grim's corrupted chi splashes off you thanks to the energy shielding of your $eblocktech Technique. You've never been more thankful for such a preparation in your life. <<else>>\ The Grim's corrupted chi is infecting you in a way that cannot be healthy. <<var $taint + 5>>\ You no longer hope Jin is doing the same. <</if>>\ <</if>>\ <<page "Continue" "ch3-grim-fiendthrow2">>\ #Cast a Handseal to help counterblast both attacks. Splitting a basic chi blast without losing potency requires special Techniques that you've never been trained in. On the fly all you can think to try is two different chi blasts enhanced by a repelling handseal ritual cast upon your chest in a hurry to add speed and thus force. As the screaming Grim swings both arms and launches its death energy at your little brother your hands blur together, fingers interlocking and separating in quick succession to form the required zodiac handseals while your Cores spin enough chi for two chi blasts. <<page "Here goes nothing" "ch3-grim-handseals">>\ #Jump in the way to protect Jin. Thinking fast, you leap out of the way of the Grim's attack against you and position yourself in front of your brother. You cross both arms in front of you to block the flying glob of putrid chi coming your way. <<var $combatstat "fortitude">>\ <<if ($jinaura is true)>>\ <<combatcheck 4>>\ <<else>>\ <<combatcheck 6>>\ <</if>>\ <<if ($passcheck is true)>>\ <<if ($jinaura is true)>>\ Surprisingly, Jin helps you help him. His left hand extends over your shoulder, right hand gripping his wrist for support, and he let out a battlecry (right into your ear, damn it Jin) as he launches his own weak chi blast at the Grim's attack. Jin's lantern-sized missile of white chi collides into the Grim's black chi blast right in front of you, exploding the attack before it reaches your body. The resulting eruption is easier to weather than a direct attack. "Good assist!" You shout to Jin, but this fight is beyond him. You need to end it now. In one quick breath you leap through the smoke of the exploding attacks and come out the other side in front of the Grim to press your assault. <<else>>\ The putrid essence of the Grim's energy attack collides into you like a pool of acid, dissolving most of your fur coat before your aura strengthens enough to push it back. Against all odds, your skin remains intact. Big Chu would be proud. <<apboost 2>>\ When your arms lower the Grim sees you're unharmed and takes a single step backwards. You seize upon that advantage and rush the Fiend with everything you have. <</if>>\ <<elseif ($eblocktech isnot "")>>\ //AAAAHHHHHHH!!!!// You think to yourself, calmly, as the smell of burning acid fills your nostrils. \ <<woundcheck 1 false true>>\ The panic subsides when you realize you're not actually burning, protected by the $eblocktech Technique manifesting around you. Thank the Ancestors you came prepared. Yet in only a second the Grim charges you again, arm raised to clobber down onto your head. You glare at the charging opponent with enraged bloodshot eyes from the screaming pain coursing through your body. A solitary feeling enters your mind, and it's not fear. It's not despair. It's not the pain shocking your nervous system. //It's revenge.// <<else>>\ //AAAAHHHHHHH!!!!// You think to yourself, calmly, as the smell of burning and rotting flesh fills your nostrils from the Grim's corrupted chi burning through the skin and muscle of your outstretched arms. \ <<woundcheck 1 false true>>\ The pain is unimaginable and seeps into your psyche as you know intrinsically that something is wrong. The corrupted chi has gotten into you aura and bloodstream and that cannot be good. \ <<var $taint + 5>>\ In only a second the Grim charges you again, arm raised to clobber down onto your head. You glare at the charging opponent with enraged bloodshot eyes from the screaming pain coursing through your body. A solitary feeling enters your mind, and it's not fear. It's not despair. It's not the pain shocking your nervous system. //It's revenge.// <</if>>\ <</choose>>

<<if (($jinaura) and ($jincombat gte (3-$val)))>>\ <<if ($val is 1)>>\ With your warning \ <</if>>\ Jin leaps backward while shooting his own weaker basic energy blast at the Grim's Technique, which proves to be the right move. Both attacks collide in midair and explode, sending snow flying everywhere but leaving Jin unharmed. You let out a breath of relief. Jin's smarter than you gave him credit for, he wouldn't have been able to dodge it and thank the Heavens that he realized that in time. \ <<else>>\ Jin attempts to leap out of the way but the putrid dark chi of the Grim stretches toward him in midair like a leech twisting toward its prey. The attack slams into him and burns straight through his clothes, skin, and muscle. Jin's bloodcurdling scream fills your mind with panic. ''[Jin has been injured!]'' <<var $jinjured true>>\ <<var $jincombat - 1>>\ <</if>>\ You turn to the Grim, eyes wide and body moving on its own, as you march at the creature that you have instinctively decided will die. <<include "ch3-grim-round2">>\

<<var $combatstat "soul">>\ <<var $combatskill "handseals">>\ <<combatcheck 6>>\ <<if ($passcheck is true)>>\ With no time to spare you execute the final Seal to form a repellant ritual on your fur overcoat. The ritual goes into effect and immediately shreds the material, launching you backward. This Seal is designed for sturdy walls, not clothing. The constant strain it puts on the Seal's surface proves too much for your clothing. Yet the instant the ritual lasted was enough. As the repellant ritual blasts you backwards it sends an equal amount of force away from you just as you release an orb of scorching hot $auracolor chi from each hand. Both blasts get caught in the repellant ritual and triple in speed just in time to collide with the Grim's lobbed energy, exploding in two separate chi eruptions mid-air simultaneously. The cold snow catches your back as you tumble backward before rolling to your feet. Without thinking you charge the Grim before it gets a chance to see what happened through the explosions. Excitement at your success drives you forward at incredible speeds. The Grim failed to hurt Jin. Now it's your turn to hurt the Grim. <<else>>\ What were you THINKING?! Handseals aren't meant for combat! While you're busy fingering around like a maniac the Grim's energy attacks slam into both you and Jin like a bucket's worth of acid. Fiend energy is unnatural and your spirit lets you know it. <<woundcheck 1 false true>>\ <<if ($eblocktech isnot "")>>\ It splashes against your $eblocktech and sizzles, forming an acrid smoke that forces a heavy cough out of your lungs. You try your best to hold your breath and roll out of the yellow-black smoke, begging for Jin to be okay, \ <<if ($jinaura is true)>>\ <<var $powexp + 2>>\ and see him roll out of a similar cloud of fumes. His skin shines with the $eblocktech Technique just like yours. Thank Heavens you trained him for this. Yet the fight's not over, and as Jin gives you a thumbs up he doesn't see the Grim charging at him. Without even thinking you run in to intercept the rampaging monster. \ <<else>>\ but the Heavens don't answer your prayers. Instead you see him writhing on the ground in pain, his skin sizzling. <<var $jincombat - 1>>\ ''[Jin has been injured!] <<var $jinjured true>>\ His torment attracts the Grim and you panic, running after the Fiend before it can finish off Jin. <</if>>\ <<else>>\ As the Grim's black chi slams into your body it melts through not just your flesh but even the essence of your spirit. ''[1 Chi Point Spent]'' <<var $chispent + 1>>\ <<var $jincombat - 1>>\ ''[Jin has been injured!] <<var $jinjured true>>\ Jin takes it worse than you do, dropping to the ground and screaming in pain. His torment attracts the Grim and you panic, running after the Fiend before it can finish off Jin. <</if>>\ You don't know what you're going to do but find yourself sprinting at the enemy all the same. <</if>>\ <<include "ch3-grim-round2">>\

With every ounce of your strength you charge at the Grim's tree trunk sized legs and wrap your arms around one. It doesn't try to kick you which means it must be focused on Jin who should be leaping at its face. You'll brook no counterattack against your brother. Both of your feet slam flat to the stone ground and tense as you grip the Grim's leg and //lift//, hoisting the Fiend sideways and off-balance. <<if ($power gte 4)>>\ ''[Power 4 Check Passed]'' The plan was to pull the Grim off-center so Jin can land a punch on its bonemask, but you're stronger than you thought. With the momentum of your lift you feel there's still more strength within you. Rather than just pulling the Grim's leg off-balance, you swing the leg wide and take the whole Grim with it, spinning the creature in a full 360-degree circle then slamming it into the stone ground. It collides into the mountain's peak with the back of its head at the same time that Jin lands his punch against its bonemask, crushing it further into the stone. ''[Additional Damage Dealt]'' <<var $grimdamage + 1>>\ <<else>>\ Its center of gravity shifts and the Grim falters sideways, its punch against the leaping Jin thrown wide as your brother lands on the Fiend with a direct fist to the face with Jin's full charging weight behind the strike. <</if>>\ <<var $grimdamage + 1>>\ <<if ($jincombat gte 3)>>\ <<var $grimdamage + 1>>\ <</if>>\ <<if (($agility gte 4) or ($power gte 5))>>\ <<var $grimdamage + 1>>\ <</if>>\ <<if ($grimdamage is 1)>>\ A crack appears \ <</if>>\ <<if ($grimdamage is 2)>>\ A large crack appears \ <</if>>\ <<if ($grimdamage gte 3)>>\ Several large cracks appear \ <</if>>\ on the Grim's bonemask and it screeches against the world. Immense pressure from its spirit sends you and Jin flying twenty feet back but you both twist mid-air and land on your feet. The Grim rises and while you can't see any expression from its bonemask you notice by the way its shoulders are shaking that it's uncontrollably pissed. Rather than attack, however, it charges away. A second later you realized you should have stopped it. <<include "ch3-grim-fiendthrow">>\

<<page "Continue" "ch3-grim-killed2">>\

<div class="fightingfont">Thunderfaller vs The Grim</div>\ <div class="fightingfont">Victory!</div>\ <<statcheck>>\ The Grim lies dead by your hand, its bonemask shattered, and you feel the rush of battle push your Aura Pressure even higher. <<fightexp 10>>\ <<if ($jadedragonfoundation is false)>>\ <<achieve "Grim Adventures">>\ <</if>>\ Yet as soon as the fight ends another may begin. Jin looks to the sky behind you with an open mouth and you turn around just in time to see what's taken his attention. In the silouette of the moon, flying high in the night sky, are two Shrinemaidens and a man in Devanic robes, all on the back of an enormous winged dove. <<page "Continue" "ch3-grim-killed3">>\

"I must say I am impressed!" Shouts the man, a bearded Lunargoth with long red hair. "I thought we would have to intervene. My apologies for doubting your prowess." "Hail, traveler." Says the shrinemaiden in front, though the two are nearly identical: black-haired Human women with long ponytails wearing traditional miko robes. "We sensed a Fiend attacking an \ <<if ($jadedragonfoundation is true)>>\ unfamiliar \ <<else>>\ inferior \ <</if>>\ Aura Pressure and came as fast as we could." "It seems we were unneeded." Says the man. The shrinemaiden in back looks from you to the Grim's corpse then back to the shrinemaiden in front. "I'd say we were wrong about the inferior part." She looks down at you and nods with \ <<if ($heshe is "he")>>\ a look of satisfaction. "I'd rather call $himher superior." <<var $maidenbang 1>>\ <<if ($bodytype is "Handsome")>>\ <<var $maidenbang 2>>\ <</if>>\ Is this priestess...coming onto you? That's one detail to keep in the back of your mind for later. That is, if you can tell the two apart later. <<else>>\ approval. "The girl can fight." <</if>>\ "Be that as it may," says the Shrinemaiden in front, "we patrol these areas to keep them safe for pilgrims and travelers, so I must ask: why are you on an isolated mountaintop in the middle of the night? \ <<include "ch3-temple-aramaidens">>\

"What the Hells was that?" Jin yells, looking from the corpse of the Grim and back to you. You look down at your hands and see the faintest sparks of cerulean amongst your $auracolor aura, only for a moment, before they recede. "I'm not sure but it felt...right." "Oh bullshit." Jin says, "You just close your hand all threateningly and this thing dies on command, I'll //bet// it felt right! Why don't you teach me and Rin anything like that?!" Honestly you don't even know what you did. However, you are an elder sibling. So you make something up. "You're not ready for it. Let me know when your Aura Pressure gets over 400, then we'll talk about real training." <<page "Continue" "ch3-grim-killed2">>\

//!!!// The attack slams into your back with such downward force that the massive fist shreds patches of your back's skin right off. <<woundcheck 1 false false>>\ If it weren't for your enhanced life essence as a Martial Artist you'd die just from the blood loss of the attack. Jin shouts in horror \ <<if ($jinaura is true)>>\ but recovers fast enough and takes two leaps back, igniting his weak aura of white mist and mimicking a battle stance. \ <<else>>\ and leaps back immediately, falling to the ground and rummaging through his pack for anything to use as a weapon. \ <</if>>\ You still don't even know what hit you. <<choose "ch3-grim-reveal">> #Charge your aura from the ground. <<cap $auracolor>> energy explodes around your body in a desperate surge of chi to rush your body into a battle-ready state. It's at that exact moment that you feel a momentous weight crash down onto your back. <<var $combatstat "fortitude">>\ <<if ($jincombat gte 2)>>\ <<combatcheck 5>>\ <<elseif ($jinaura is true)>>\ <<combatcheck 5>>\ <<else>>\ <<combatcheck 6>>\ <</if>>\ <<if (($passcheck is true) or (($jinaura) or ($jincombat gte 2)))>>\ <<if (($jinaura) or ($jincombat gte 2))>>\ <<if ($jinaura is true)>>\ ''[Event Bonus: Jin's Martial Arts]'' <<elseif ($jincombat gte 2)>>\ ''[Event Bonus: Jin's Training]'' <</if>>\ Shockingly Jin comes to the rescue, tackling the heavy attacker the second it lands on you. Between your potent energy and enhanced body, and Jin's <<if ($jinaura is false)>>\ unpowered \ <</if>>\ reckless assault, the enemy's back-breaking aerial execution fails and you send out a snapkick to deflect your opponent's descent sideways while rising to your feet. <<else>>\ Jin's not a lot of help at this point, you should have trained him better, but you're not the type who needs help. When your heavy opponent lands on your back with an aerial execution attacker your power surges with such repellant force that it's practically knocked airborne. You lift yourself off the ground with a pushup and twist and kick your attacker before it can gain distance. <</if>>\ <<apboost 2>>\ Your foot impacts a heavy body, a //much too heavy body//. The monstrous opponent is knocked a mere five feet away and you stand in time to get a good look at your enemy. <<else>>\ And crunch right through your bones. The distinct alarming pain of at least two snapped ribs floods through your chest and forces out a scream of pain with the last of the air in your lungs. <<woundcheck 1 false false>>\ Ancestors, injured ribs sounded like such a minor injury throughout your life, bringing up the image of someone sitting in bed with bandages around their chest. The reality is a constant Hell as your own shards of bone brush against your lungs and heart for every pained breath. Jin hits whatever crashed down onto you with \ <<if ($jinaura is true)>>\ a weak chi blast \ <<else>>\ a thrown frying pan \ <</if>>\ and thank the Heavens he does, for it takes its massive foot off of you and charges at him. Unfortunately, this is Jin we're talking. If it can hurt you then it can //kill// him. You get to your feet in excruciating pain and launch a weak chi blast at the bulky attacker as well when it's halfway between the two of you. It lands with a smoking sting and the monstrous form turns back, finally giving you a good look at your enemy. <</if>>\ #Roll out of the way. Everything's quiet. Too quiet for a battlefield. You roll out of the way and jump up at an angle to rise, immediately knowing you made the right choice when something crashes into the ground where you were laying moments earlier. Snow explodes into the air in a radius around your attacker. The only time a bulky enemy is silent is when they're airborne, you see now that you've narrowly dodged an aerial execution attack. As the snow slowly dissipates you finally get a good look at your enemy. <</choose>>

<<var $solexp + 2>>\ A chill runs down your spine and you immediately change your answer. Your mind screams at you to run and not turn around, a primal fear warning you to not look upon the source of the sensation you're feeling. Yet you are a Martial Artist. The senses throughout your mind and spirit are strictly under control; you can recognize what's real and what isn't. This fear is supernatural. A Technique is being used on you. With a quick shoving kick you knock Jin to the side and use the momentum to spin your body around with both arms ready to block whatever didn't want you turning around. That's when you see the creature before you and, for a brief moment, wish you had just run. <<page "What in the world..." "ch3-grim-reveal">>\

A hulking mockery of a man stands before you, eight feet tall with unnaturally long limbs made of twisted muscle and shadow wrapped together as if woven from a hundred ropes of burnt rotting flesh. Its face is covered in a singular bone mask that you know will never come off, for it is the source keeping this undead Fiend together. You'd recognize a Grim anywhere. <<if ($portraitpics is true)>>\ <<image "https://www.auraclash.com/assets/images/Grim.jpg">>\ <</if>>\ "What the Hells is that thing?!" Jin shouts over the howling winds of the \ <<if ($underlings is 0)>>\ peak. \ <<else>>\ peak as your \ <<if ($underlings is 1)>>\ underling bolts \ <<else>>\ underlings bolt \ <</if>>\ at the sight of such a horror. <</if>>\ "A Grim." You yell back while widening your stance. This is going to take full-body strength to fight something so large. "A Ghost that used Advancement to make a physical body." "How d-" Jin was probably going to ask how you know so much about them, and you were going to say that you and Kosuke dressed as Grim to scare the neighbors. Neither of you get the chance. The Grim has no patience for your conversation. Like all Fiends its sole focus is on extending its unnatural existence. Something it can only do by feeding on the living. <<page "Fight or Die" "ch3-grim-reveal2">>\

<div class="fightingfont">Thunderfaller vs The Grim</div>\ <<statcheck>>\ The Grim throws its arms wide and charges you like a clotheslining gorilla, its arms glowing black with corrupted power as it comes to take your life. <<var $an "">>\ <<choose "ch3-grim-fiendthrow">> #Attempt a chi blast. You rev $auracolor through your Cores and hold both hands together, extending them at the charging Grim with sheer determination. Scorching hostile chi warms your body as it cycles through your spirit and once it's ready you launch the entire bonfire-sized missile of glowing $auracolor energy at the charging Grim. <<var $combatstat "soul">>\ <<if ((($element1 is "Fire") or ($element2 is "Fire")) or ($handseals gte 2))>>\ <<combatcheck 4>>\ <<else>>\ <<combatcheck 5>>\ <</if>>\ <<if ($passcheck is true)>>\ The Fiend is blasted by your \ <<if (($element1 is "Fire") or ($element2 is "Fire"))>>\ burning chi \ <<else>>\ energy attack \ <</if>>\ right in the midsection with such force that the momentum of its dash ends immediately. <<var $grimdamage + 1>>\ <<if ($power gte 4)>>\ ''[Power 4 Check Passed, Additional Damage Dealt]'' <<var $grimdamage + 1>>\ <</if>>\ <<if ($power gte 5)>>\ ''[Power 5 Check Passed, Additional Damage Dealt]'' <<var $grimdamage + 1>>\ <</if>>\ It does not fill you with confidence. That blast was supposed to launch it twenty feet away. The abomination didn't even take a step back. <<else>>\ The Fiend takes your attack to the midsection and keeps running, only faster. Once it's six steps from you the Grim surges an Agility Core and bolts right into your body with its glowing outstretched arm. It doesn't even stop, barreling right through you and completely overtaking your defense. Your body is knocked into the air so hard that you spin four times like a tossed spatula. All breath leaves your lungs when you cough up blood. <<woundcheck 1 false false>>\ You land face-first in the snow, thankfully cushioning you from the ice and stone underneath, then rise to your feet just in time to weather the next attack. <</if>>\ #Attempt a grapple. As the undead Grim charges at you one thought goes through your head, and it's a stupid one. You think 'I'll bet I can grapple with a charging eight-foot tall undead abomination that probably doesn't feel pain.' So you try that. <<var $combatstat "fortitude">>\ <<var $combatstat2 "power">>\ <<if (($bodytype is "Muscular") or ($bodytype is "Dommymommy"))>>\ ''[Bodytype Bonus, Difficulty Reduced]'' <<combatcheck 8>>\ <<elseif ($athletics gte 2)>>\ ''[Athletics 2 Check Passed]'' <<combatcheck 8>>\ <<else>>\ <<combatcheck 9>>\ <</if>>\ <<if ($passcheck is true)>>\ It works. The unstoppable force of the Grim meets the unmovable object of $fullname and your arms crash into its biceps, ending the Fiend's momentum. The air around your clash explodes in a wind of force that nearly knocks Jin over. Before the Grim can adjust its footing or surprise you with some horror-type Technique like making a fanged mouth out of its stomach, you take the initiative and lift the undead abomination over your head and slam it mask-first into the stone behind you. <<var $grimdamage + 1>>\ <<if ($power gte 4)>>\ ''[Power 4 Check Passed, Additional Damage Dealt]'' <<var $grimdamage + 1>>\ <</if>>\ <<if ($power gte 5)>>\ ''[Power 5 Check Passed, Additional Damage Dealt]'' <<var $grimdamage + 1>>\ <</if>>\ The Fiend hits the icy ground of the mountain peak with such force that the slight decline of the peak slides it away, gouging its mask and shoulders through the layer of ice on the ground as it goes. But the fight's not over yet. <<else>>\ A smug smile crosses your lips as you brace yourself for impact and prepare your counterattack. This creature is clearly too bulky to handle itself in a real fight. Bigger equals slower, duh. You're assured to win due to your superiority speed. Once it's six steps from you the Grim surges an Agility Core and bolts right into your body with its glowing outstretched arm. It doesn't even stop, barreling right through you and completely overtaking your defense. Your body is knocked into the air so hard that you spin four times like a tossed spatula. All breath leaves your lungs when you cough up blood. <<woundcheck 1 false false>>\ You land face-first in the snow, thankfully cushioning you from the ice and stone underneath, then rise to your feet just in time to weather the next attack. <</if>>\ #use-if ($jinaura is true) Coordinate an attack with Jin. [Requires Jin's Aura] <<var $jincombat + 1>>\ Both you and Jin leap in opposite directions when the Grim gets close enough, causing it to hesitate on choosing which to follow. It ends up missing both of you on its charge and you land ten feet apart. "We can kill it if we work together." You say, turning to Jin. "Are you ready?" Jin's mouth hangs open looking upon the aberration that is the undead Grim, a ghost made of chi that's fed on so many living beings that it cultivated a new physical body, in the same way that your physical body cultivated an enhanced spirit by feeding on chi. It's a horror for even a traind Sect Disciple. But he's no weakling, he's a $clan. Jin slaps his face twice with both hands and bounces in place, exuding the white haze of an early aura around his body. "Yeah. Yes! Yes, I'm ready." "I go low, you go high." The two of you charge in sync. <<page "Continue" "ch3-grim-jin">>\ #use-if ($commonpoison gte 1) Stab the creature with a poisoned blade. [Requires Common Poison] Grim seek a physical body by feeding on the flesh of the living as if human corpses were Advancement Elixirs. The massive abomination charging you is the stuff of nightmares for every villager of the Outerlands. But you know a weakness. A Fiend of flesh is vulnerable to the weaknesses of flesh. You duck low as it charges and stab \ <<if ($background is "Blacksmith")>>\ <<var $an "tanto">>\ your $an \ <<else>>\ <<var $an "skinning knife">>\ a $an \ <</if>>\ into a vial of poison you've been holding onto. ''[Item Lost: Common Poison x1]'' <<var $commonpoison - 1>>\ <<page "Continue" "ch3-grim-stab">>\ <</choose>>

<<choose "ch3-grim-killed">> #Attempt a full-power flying kick to the Grim's mask. <<var $combatstat "power">>\ <<var $combatstat2 "soul">>\ <<if ($jinaura is true)>>\ <<combatcheck 7>>\ <<elseif ($style is "Midorikatai")>>\ <<combatcheck 7>>\ <<else>>\ <<combatcheck 8>>\ <</if>>\ <<if ($passcheck is true)>>\ <<if ($style is "Midorikatai")>>\ ''[Style Event: Midorikatai]'' <<var $powexp + 5>>\ <<var $forexp + 2>>\ Going all out against an opponent so large awakens something within you. With each sprinting step towards the Grim you feel your legs impact the ground harder and feel your arms weigh you down more, yet you also feel your leg muscles push forward with so much more force that the heavy feeling of your body is not only compensated but overcome. By the time you reach the Grim you're no longer looking up at the creature, you're looking forward. Somehow the two of you are the same size. Your entire body has grown into a powerhouse that you launch with a \ <<else>>\ A running head start turns you into an unpredictable flash as you slide over the mountain peak's icy ground, glowing $auracolor with power and speeding towards the Grim like a cannonball. You \ <</if>>\ leap at the last second and spin, leaning back to keep your full \ <<if ($style is "Midorikatai")>>\ enhanced \ <</if>>\ weight behind your leg as you snap your foot into the Grim's bonemask with enough force to crack a boulder. <<var $grimdamage + 2>>\ <<if (($style is "Midorikatai") or ($grimdamage gte 5))>>\ A satisfying crunch beneath your foot is followed by a disgusting squelching sensation when your boot, then entire leg, penetrates into the Grim's bonemask and out through the back of its head. The creature's body flails underneath you as you soar forward another ten yards from your potent and lethal flying kick, dragging the Grim's corpse as you go. When you finally land you rip your leg out of its skull and look over to Jin. <<if ($jinjured is true)>>\ Though he's heavily wounded laying on the ground, he still gives you a thumbs up. <<else>>\ "That was awesome!" Jin shouts, "When are you going to teach me to do that?" <<if ($style is "Midorikatai")>>\ Your body slowly shrinks afterward and you look down at your hands, seeing specks of green in your $auracolor aura that dissipate when you finish returning to normal size. Truth be told, you have no idea what you did. However, you are the elder sibling. You make something up. "Your body can't handle it right now; I'll teach you when your Aura Pressure gets to 400." <<if ($deception lt 2)>>\ "Oh eat shit, I can tell when you're lying." Jin says, dismissing you with a particular finger. "That's eat shit //<<cap $patriarch>>//." You correct. <<else>>\ "Four hundred?! Sure, I'll call for your secrets on my deathbed when I'm eighty, //$patriarch//" Jin says with air-quotes. "Works for me." You say rubbing snow on your pants to wipe the corrupted blood off. \ <</if>>\ <<else>>\ Oh hell no, you don't have room for an apprentice right now. "When your Aura Pressure is bigger than mine." "Oh eat shit." Jin says, dismissing you with a particular finger. "That's eat shit //<<cap $patriarch>>//." You correct. <</if>>\ <</if>>\ <<page "Continue" "ch3-grim-killed2">>\ <<else>>\ Yet the Fiend still lives. You crack its mask and bounce off, only to take two hesitant leaps back and look to Jin. Doubt fills your mind as you wonder if the two of you combined even have what it takes to kill this creature. <<page "Continue" "ch3-grim-saved">>\ <</if>>\ <<else>>\ With speed and precision you charge at the Grim on the mountainous peak and leap into the air with a momentous flying kick. One that it catches in a single hand. <<page "Aw shit." "ch3-grim-youlose">>\ <</if>>\ #Attempt to blind the Grim with snow. Rushing the hulking Grim head-on results in the Fiend pulling its fists together and raising them into the air in the hopes of crushing you into the ground with a fatal slam. "Psyche!" As you get near melee range you deny it the head-on attack and instead use your own supernatural strength to kick a sizeable wave of snow into the Grim's face. <<var $combatstat "agility">>\ <<var $combatskill "thievery">>\ <<discount "Kurokonton" 1>>\ <<combatcheck 6>>\ <<if ($passcheck is true)>>\ <<var $grimdamage + 1>>\ <<if ($power gte 4)>>\ <<var $grimdamage + 1>>\ <</if>>\ <<if ($power gte 5)>>\ <<var $grimdamage + 1>>\ <</if>>\ <<if ($style is "Kurokonton")>>\ The underhanded tactic comes so naturally that you feel a connection to something more, something ensuring your opponent will fall for it. Something masking you from its presence...No...Something withering its perception of you. A curse. ''[Style Event: Kurokonton]'' <<cap $auracolor>> light all around your body takes on a more purple hue as your spirit reaches out and grips onto the Grim, as if connecting the two of you like a magnet. The yin energy of absorption fuels your ax-kick as you seize on that connection and pull yourself down faster than you ever could have fallen, landing on the Grim with an accelerated ax-kick that cuts through the Grim's bonemask in a single slicing strike. You land on the ground as the Grim collapses behind you, truly dead, and the specks of purple energy slowly dissipate from your $auracolor aura. <<page "Continue" "ch3-grim-killed2">>\ <<else>>\ The Grim's fists slam through the snow wave too late as you leap higher than it would ever expect. As the Fiend looks around to find its prey you descend from the sky in a devastating ax-kick onto its head <<if ($grimdamage gte 5)>>\ that cleaves its bonemask in two. Without its mask, the source of its corrupted power, the Fiend is dead before it even realizes what happened. <<page "Continue" "ch3-grim-killed2">>\ <<else>>\ with enough force to stagger it, but the Fiend still lives. It slams a heavy fist into your torso that knocks you back a dozen yards. "Are you okay?!" Jin yells from his defensive position. "For now." You say, yet you've given it your all already. You're beginning to wonder if the two of you combined even have what it takes to kill this creature. <<page "Continue" "ch3-grim-saved">>\ <</if>>\ <</if>>\ <<else>>\ If your goal was to piss the Grim off, you succeeded. The mouthless creature lets out a gagged roar as it slams both arms down through the snow with speed and precision, striking your chest into the stone ground before you even know what hit you. <<woundcheck 1 true false>>\ It raises its arms to slam onto you again and you feel cold snow on your head as Jin grips you by the armpits and rips you out of the way. The Grim's second slam sends snow everywhere and it takes a second for it to realize you're gone. All the while you're racking your brain for a strategy, as it's seeming more and more likely that neither you nor Jin have what it takes to win this fight. <<page "Is this the end?" "ch3-grim-saved">>\ <</if>>\ #show-if ($style is "Aoyusumu") Attack the Grim's mask. ''[Style Event: Aoyusumu]'' You look upon the Grim with such contempt that you can barely stand it, but you focus on those feelings and actively change them in your mind. It should not be hatred, it should be more justified. Righteousness. This creature is not natural. It defies the order of life and death, it feeds on the living, and by its very existence it must have killed countless others to even Advance from a ghost into a Grim. And few Martial Artists would die to a weaker spirit like a ghost. This creature has been feeding on the unpowered. Something within you...Not so much 'snaps', but more...Accepts the truth. Accepts that this Fiend, like all Fiends, must die. Will die. Here and now. One of your hands raises on its own, your actions guided by a deeper understanding, and you can feel the Grim's bonemask despite the distance between you. Though the Grim stands twenty feet away you swear the tips of your fingers feel the cold bone of its mask that keeps it alive, from end to end, as if your hand were larger than its face. The grim grunts nervously, clawing at its head. Your phantom-hand grips down on its bonemask and your real hand closes into a fist. Before your very eyes the bonemask that the Grim uses as its face glows with cerulean light and shatters to pieces. The creature drops to the ground like a puppet with its strings cut, truly dead. <<page "Continue" "ch3-grim-maskend">>\ #show-if (($element2 is "Fire") and ((($chipool + ($soul/2)) - $chispent) gte 1)) Burn it to ash. [Fire Element, Costs 1 Chi] The Grim pivots in the snow to press its attack. You respond by cupping your hands together, kindling the spiritual power within your soul into a burning ember between your palms. The snow-capped stony field atop the mountain that serves as your battlefield has no fuel source to aid your attack so you've held your burning energies back so far, but enough is enough. You brought your own fuel and you've been kindling it this entire fight. ''[1 Chi Point Spent]'' <<var $chispent + 1>>\ Your body heats up as red and orange flames rise around you like a funeral pyre. Snow melts to water and boils on the stone ground in a five-foot radius around your glowing form. Just as your undead opponent takes a single step toward the nova of steam you're emitting you send a lance of red flame blasting through the mist, the result of all your spiritual energy condensed into a molten fireball the size of your palm. Like a shooting star your comet lances through the sky and closes the gap between you and the Grim instantaneously. The Fiend lets out a roar, surging all its Agility Cores to meet your attack in time with a slam of its glowing fist. The two attacks collide in an explosion of red and black energy as its spirit contests your own. When the swirling chi dissipates you see the Grim standing in the aftermath, its arm and head completely incinerated. The Fiend's remaining body crumples to the ground, dead by your flames. <<page "Continue" "ch3-grim-killed2">>\ <</choose>>

Two cerulean lights catch your attention before the Grim notices them. Vibrant lines of energy descending from the sky like tiny stars falling to the world. They reach your battlefield in a flash so bright it lights up the peek in blazing power as if the sun had risen in vibrant blue. Both chi attacks crash through the Grim's bonemask from above and lance through its entire body from top to bottom, killing the creature outright and peeling its corpse into three separate slabs of meat. You thank the Heavens for your good fortune. Not just for the battle assistance, but for the end of your search when you look to the sky at the source of the attack. In the silhouette of the moon, flying high in the night sky, are two Shrinemaidens and a man in Devanic robes, all on the back of an enormous winged dove. "I'm glad we made it in time!" Shouts the redhaired man. "Hail traveler," shouts the Shrinemaiden in front, though the two look identical: black-haired Human women with long ponytails wearing traditional miko robes. "We sensed a Fiend attacking an \ <<if ($jadedragonfoundation is true)>>\ unfamiliar aura \ <<else>>\ inferior Aura Pressure \ <</if>>\ and came as fast as we could." <<choose "ch3-temple-aramaidens">> #Bow respectfully. "I'm thankful for the help." -> "ch3-temple-seekingtolearn" <<var $ruthless - 2>>\ <<var $honor + 2>>\ "I'm thankful for the help." You say with a respectful bow. "Pst, Jin, bow." "Oh, right." Says Jin with a deeper bow than yours. The little shit. "We're thankful to give the help." Says the redhaired man. "Think nothing of it, traveler. It is by the grace of the Saints that we protect the weak." That...stings your pride more than you expected. The shrinemaiden in back giggles and you hope it's not because of the expression on your face. "About that...You see, we're \ #"I had it under control." <<var $ruthless + 2>>\ <<var $honor + 1>>\ "I had it under control." You say confidently. These three stole your victory and you can't exactly say you're pleased. "Of course you did." Says the shrinemaiden in the back "But we hold ourselves responsible for any Fiends in the province." The one in front speaks up next. "What brings you to an isolated mountain peak at night, traveler? \ #show-if ($heshe is "he") Look up the shrinemaidens' skirts. <<var $honor - 2>>\ Flying Shrinemaidens are the stuff of legend and, being a pervert, you're not going to pass this up. "I'm glad you came by when you did," you shout up, walking forward, "that fight got too close." Chi gathers around your eyes and you slowly walk further underneath them mid-sentence to sneakily get a better look up their skirts. <<if ($bodytype is "Handsome")>>\ ''[Bodytype Event: Handsome]'' A lance of cerulean energy lands next to your foot. "Eyes to our ours, stranger." Says the Shrinemaiden in front who launched the attack, though you notice the one in the back giggling with a mischievous smile. It seems not all of them agree on prudent standards. <<var $maidenbang 2>>\ You'll have to remember her, if you can tell them apart later. The one in front speaks again, \ <<else>>\ ''[Bodytype Check Failed]'' A lance of cerulean energy lands next to your foot. "Eyes to our eyes, stranger." Says the Shrinemaiden in front who launched the attack. <</if>>\ "Now why don't you tell us why you're out here on an isolated mountain peek in the middle of the night? \ #Sneak a piece of the Grim's bonemask into your satchel before they land. <<var $honor - 4>>\ <<var $ruthless + 2>>\ The Devanic Temple is famous for Fiend-hunting, but the Trials are coming and Fiend essence holds a power of its own, one you can harness, just with some sort of corruption you'll have to cleanse later. Or so they say. With the Trials coming there's no way you're letting them stop you from such a rare Advancement material. <<if ($stealth gte 2)>>\ ''[Stealth 2 Check Passed]'' <<var $agiexp + 2>>\ You slip shards of the bonemask behind you with one foot and dig them into the snow, then 'brush your hands' in the snow innocently, as if to clean off the blood on them. In reality you're slipping the bonemask shards up your sleeve to harness later. <<var $val (($alchemy * 3) + 7)>>\ <<apboost $val>>\ <<var $taint + $val>>\ It's at about that time that the giant dove gets low to the ground and hovers near Jin. The shrinemaiden sitting at the front speaks up. "Forgiveness for asking, weary strangers, but what brings you two travelers to an isolated mountain peek in the middle of the night? <<else>>\ ''[Stealth 2 Check Failed]'' You yawn casually and reach down to 'tie your shoes', slipping a few pieces of the Grim's bonemask into your hands and up your sleeve, when a lance of cerulean energy cuts into the ground by your foot. "I'd leave those where they are, stranger." Says the shrinemaiden in front. "We don't need any more spiritual corruption spreading among the population." "Careful." Says the redhaired man. "I don't believe she's asking." The shrinemaiden in back just laughs at you. The leading shrinemaiden speaks up again, "And what brings you to this isolated mountain peek in the middle of the night anyway? Despite your poor choice of greed I know you weren't in league with the Grim, as I witnessed it trying to kill you. <</if>>\ <</choose>>

<<if ($style is "Akakiru")>>\ ''[Style Event: Akakiru]'' Something comes over you as you slice into the Grim, digging your $an into its flesh with a coating of poison. Chi leaks from your hand and wraps over the blade with a deafening buzz and you feel the blade call to you, guide you. It even fills you with the instincts to follow through with the rest of your body, not just the hand holding the blade. When you duck low to stab the Fiend in the armpit you know immediately that you need to place your other hand on its chest for balance and leap high, carving your blade in a circular motion. Your body moves on its own, dancing to the tune of your swordsmanship as you saw the creature's entire arm off in one swing looped around its shoulder joint. The Grim doesn't miss a beat, still trying to clothesline you with its dead flesh arm as the black glow dissipates from the severed limb and it loses any force. You catch the arm with both forearms to keep a grip on your $an and throw the hefty limb at the passing Grim just as it turns around in confusion. You were supposed to be knocked forward with it in the clothesline attack. Only now does the Grim realize something is wrong when its own arm collides with its bonemask. It knocks the severed limb away with a wordless grunt and immediately sees you've already closed the distance. You're in the air right in front of the Fiend and you stab your $an into its bonemask then yank down, slicing the mask in two. The Grim doesn't move until its mask slowly slides off its featureless head of dead roped flesh in two separated pieces. Then...It dies. When did you get so strong? <<apboost 10>>\ <<page "Continue" "ch3-grim-killed2">>\ <<else>>\ <<var $grimdamage + 2>>\ <<if ($power gte 4)>>\ <<var $grimdamage + 1>>\ <</if>>\ When the Grim gets close enough you stab your poisoned blade up into its shoulder and roll to the side as the Fiend passes, leaving the knife embedded in its joint so the poison can soak in. <<if ($alchemy gte 2)>>\ ''[Alchemy 2 Check Passed]'' You personally enhanced that poison to destroy flesh rather than just paralyze your opponent. Being undead won't save the Grim from your concoction. <<var $grimdamage + 1>>\ <</if>>\ <<include "ch3-grim-fiendthrow">>\ <</if>>\

The Grim crushes your foot with a vice grip and slams you into the ground. It doesn't let up, still holding onto your leg and swinging you back up over its head to hit the ground again, then again, then again. <<woundcheck 1 false false>>\ You're seeing stars before the blood loss begins to take effect. <<page "Is this the end?" "ch3-grim-saved">>\

Learning true mastery will require better teachers, but you still have room to improve on many of your Skills with practice. Which skill do you focus upon? <<choose "ch3-improve-skill2">> #show-if ($alchemy lte 2) Alchemy Day after day, hour after hour, you labor over the Thunderfall Sect's refiner kits and alchemical grounds. You honestly didn't know that the Sect owned a garden. You'd passed by its large and expansive stone walls for years, but you merely thought it was some rich merchant's mansion. <<var $alchemy + 1>>\ ''[Alchemy + 1]'' #show-if ($athletics lte 2) Athletics Running, jumping, throwing, and swimming are a great and fun way to spend every day. For the first hour. Ancestors, you would kill for a way to hurry this along. By day twenty Rin, Jin, and even Kosuke refuse to accompany you, even for the briefest morning up the steep karst slopes of the mountains. Apparently they take something called "rest days". You consider looking those up in the library later. <<var $athletics + 1>>\ ''[Athletics +1]'' #show-if ($craft lte 2) Craft Forging \ <<if ($background is "Blacksmith")>>\ more than just nails \ <<else>>\ steel with proper equipment \ <</if>>\ is a new experience, one granted to you by your new Caste. Despite the ire of the Thunderfall Sect, in the face of the other Laborers around town, you ''are'' the Thunderfall Sect. They obey any request to train in their crafting stations without question. You almost feel like a \ <<if ($ruthless gte 60)>>\ tyrant. It's awesome. <<else>>\ tyrant, no matter how polite you try to phrase the requests. Oh well. At least you're becoming a //skilled// tyrant. <</if>>\ <<var $craft + 1>>\ ''[Craft +1]'' #show-if ($deception lte 2) Deception Magistrate Khan's clerks handle any and all legal issues, including weekly showings of all disputes and claims. When you learn that even Laborers are allowed to hire clerks to represent their cases, you realize the perfect place to figure out how to lie well. Court cases. The weekly showings open your eyes to the techniques themselves, but the prep work is where you learn the most. You're not //technically// allowed to monitor the clerks when they're doing daily preparations in the Magistrate's Pagoda, but as a Warrior Caste, nobody stops you. More importantly, you don't even learn you're not supposed to be there until a month has gone by. Nobody brought it up. <<var $deception + 1>>\ ''[Deception +1]'' #show-if ($handseals lte 2) Handseals With your own reserves of spiritual energy, handseals open a new possibility into the mystical side of Cultivation. You abuse it to the best of your ability. Every day is spent in the library studying the twelve zodiac seals and their different meanings. Depending on the timing and combination each seal could be used to adjust a casting's duration, effect, intention, target, or main property. You learn this by getting them wrong, several times. By the fourth fire in the library, an Upper Disciple "instructs" you to study something else. <<var $handseals + 1>>\ ''[Handseals +1]'' <<fuuinjutsudescription>>\ #show-if ($insight lte 2) Insight Meditation is a rarity in your hectic life. So you stop being so hectic. Avoiding the drama of the Sect, avoiding the dangers of the wilds, and avoiding the hunt for resources, you sit in your room for twelve hours a day. Every ounce of focus goes into your spiritual senses, to better feel the life essence of the world around you. <<var $insight + 1>>\ ''[Insight +1]'' #show-if ($lore lte 2) Lore Boy, do you love reading! The library serves as a treasure trove of historical, cultural, martial, mathmatical, physical, legal, geographical and spiritual knowledge. Kosuke stops by to call you a nerd. Rin stops by to also call you a nerd. Jin doesn't stop by, which hurts more. You check on him when you're done and find out he's been working double shifts at Father's work. Also, Rin and Kosuke visited him. He was wondering why you didn't. <<var $lore + 1>>\ ''[Lore +1]'' #show-if ($perception lte 2) Perception The next month is spent on Scouting duty for the Thunderfall Sect, something you didn't realize you could even do. Mao doesn't necessarily approve of you going, but the old lady in charge of the duty doesn't ask him and she doesn't reject you. The next month is spent traversing the northern mountains and writing down everything you see out of the ordinary. You do find footprints on a steep karst tower with no trail up, much to your surprise, hinting that someone could leap a sizeable distance. The day after reporting it, you sense auras clashing in battle from that direction. More surprising is you're actually paid for the work. ''[Item Gained: 950 Silver]'' <<var $silver + 950>>\ <<var $perception + 1>>\ ''[Perception +1]'' #show-if ($persuasion lte 2) Persuasion Representing the Laborers of Thunderfall against the evil and greedy merchants, you pledge yourself to haggle in place of others. Namely, others who seem like they have no idea what they're doing. After five days of watching the best and worst hagglers, you try reusing techniques of the worst on behalf of the best. It works out well enough until the Merchants ask Sectmaster Mao why he sent a Thunderfall Disciple to reduce their profits. You're gone before he arrives, thinking you are clever, until you get home and find the baker's front door embedded in your house's roof. <<var $persuasion + 1>>\ ''[Persuasion +1]'' #show-if ($stealth lte 2) Stealth There's no better way to practice stealth than to stalk a target that knows you're coming. To avoid making new enemies, you stalk Rin. She spends the next ''month'' looking over her shoulder, increasingly paranoid about seeing you everywhere, until weeks have gone by and she finally calms down after not seeing you for days. It's not that you've left her alone, it's that you got better at hiding. She has no idea you are inside the walls. <<var $stealth + 1>>\ ''[Stealth +1]'' #show-if ($survival lte 2) Survival Mother warns you about crazy madmen in the woods when you announce you'll return in a month. You give her a reassuring hug and leave anyway. You can't learn by being in a safe village. Hunting and fishing \ <<if ($background is "Trapper")>>\ are a staple of your life as a Trapper. \ <<else>>\ are semi-lucrative and supply you with everything you need. \ <</if>>\ To be able to do them all month with no interruptions lets you focus on both skills to a level you never entertained. The differences between knots, the tanning of pelts, the different types of lures and lines for different fish, the different types of traps for different prey, the alignment of the stars to navigate at night, the various edible mosses and roots and herbs to forage enough rations for a scouting party. Slowly, you become the kind of crazed mad<<print $manwoman>> that Mother warned you about. <<var $survival + 1>>\ ''[Survival +1]'' #show-if ($thievery lte 2) Thievery Going to the expert, you ask Kosuke to teach you more about picking locks, disabling traps, and picking pockets. <<cap $bffheshe>> assures you $bffheshe has no idea what you're talking about. It takes you both five days to get to a neighboring village you've never been to, for safety reasons. Kosuke insists you can't rob where you eat. Together, the two of you rob the local town of as much as you can without alerting the guards. Unfortunately, you spend almost all of it on better food and bugfree lodgings. As young adults mooching off your parents, you had forgotten those cost money. <<learnthievery 1>>\ #Nevermind -> "ch3-trainingseason" <</choose>>

<<var $months - 1>>\ <<var $skillgain + 1>>\ <<var $shards + ($commerce * 2)>>\ <<page "Continue" "ch3-trainingseason">>\

<<choose "ch3-earnfundsend">> #"No, spirit, I've come to exorcise you." -> "ch3-banishjahi" <<var $honor + 2>>\ <<var $metjahi + 1000000000>>\ #"...What will you give me?" -> "ch3-jahitempt" <<var $honor - 2>>\ The voice laughs in your head. "That is the proper question for a worthy \ <<if ($race is "Oni")>>\ demonic descendant. \ <<else>>\ practitioner of spiritual cultivation. \ <</if>>\ I will grant you my aid, and a fraction of my power, if you can protect me from the gaze of your Sect." <</choose>>

<<var $aurapressure + 100>>\ <<var $allocatedap + 100>>\ Jahi places a hand on your lower stomach gently. <<cap $demonheshe>> meets your eyes while gliding $demonhisher fingers in a circle, then leans in close to your ear, biting it while $demonheshe whispers, "You might enjoy this." Then the pain begins. You hold back a howling shriek because your clients are just outside, and Jahi knows it. <<cap $demonheshe>> looks back into your eyes and savors the expression, smiling innocently as your jaw tightens, face reddening from holding back a blood curdling scream. Jahi pushes harder. A rush of energy surges into your body, forcing your Cores into submission, crushing them to make room for another layer, and even through the pain you feel shock and concern when you detect no demonic taint from the 'blessing'. Just what did you release upon these lands? <<page "Continue" "ch3-jahicursed2">>\

Thankfully it ends as quickly as it begins and Jahi pulls $demonhisher hand back. "I hope that didn't hurt //too// much, my favorite." "No. N-hng-Not a bit." You try to say confidently. "Good. Now I think it's time we separated," Jahi says, examining $demonhisher fingernails, "for now. I will tell my 'parents' that you did such a wonderful job, and you will go on to do whatever it is you mortals do. Should I find you useful again then I will do exactly that...find you." <<if ($race is "Oni")>>\ With that \ <<if ($heshe is "she")>>\ he \ <<else>>\ she \ <</if>>\ turns to leave, pauses with a \ <<if ($heshe is "she")>>\ hand on his chin, \ <<else>>\ finger on her lips, \ <</if>>\ and turns around. "This host was inexperienced, \ <<if ($heshe is "she")>>\ his \ <<else>>\ her \ <</if>>\ mind has no recollections of seduction experience. It is a skill I will need, to achieve most goals." <<var $metjahi + 100000000>>\ "What does that-" You reply, immediately rushed by the demonic entity as \ <<if ($heshe is "she")>>\ he \ <<else>>\ she \ <</if>>\ grabs you by the collar and plants a burning kiss onto your lips. Your eyes widen when \ <<if ($heshe is "she")>>\ his \ <<else>>\ her \ <</if>>\ tongue gets involved, and \ <<if ($heshe is "she")>>\ he \ <<else>>\ she \ <</if>>\ doesn't pull away for several seconds. You freeze in fear as the creature's energy burns too close to your body. <<if ($heshe is "she")>>\ He \ <<else>>\ She \ <</if>>\ rips <<if ($heshe is "she")>>\ his \ <<else>>\ her \ <</if>>\ lips away from your mouth just as abruptly and nods in satisfaction, \ <<if ($heshe is "he")>>\ wiping a bit of her makeup off your lips. \ <</if>>\ "That will do, my favorite. I knew it was a simple matter. You are dismissed now." Feeling more dazed \ <<if ($heshe is "she")>>\ and flushed \ <<else>>\ and confused \ <</if>>\ than ever, \ <<else>>\ With the pain still fresh \ <</if>>\ you couldn't agree more and make a quick exit, receiving many thanks from Jahi's "parents" on your way out. You take your payment and head home faster than your normal pace. ''[Item Gained: 250 Shards]'' <<var $shards + 250>>\ <<var $shards + ($commerce * 2)>>\ <<include "ch3-earnfundsend">>\

<<choose "ch3-jahipossession">> #"Hm...No." [Exorcise the spirit.] -> "ch3-banishjahi" "I have a counteroffer." You say as you begin the exorcism to scatter the spirit's essence to the four winds. <<var $metjahi + 1000000000>>\ #"The best of friends." [Aid the spirit in possessing the Human.] <<var $honor - 12>>\ <<var $ruthless + 4>>\ <<var $metjahi + 3000000000>>\ It's easier than you thought. By inverting the ritual circle you were supposed to cast and hiding it under a rug, you're able to trick the young \ <<if ($heshe is "she")>>\ man \ <<elseif ($heshe is "he")>>\ woman \ <</if>>\ of the family outside into coming into the house. <<if ($heshe is "she")>>\ He's a handsome village boy \ <<elseif ($heshe is "he")>>\ She's a pretty village girl \ <</if>>\ about your age and you feed the rest of $demonhisher family a line about "familial attachment" being important for the exorcism ritual's completion. Once $demonheshe follows you in, alone, and steps over the circle $demonheshe doesn't even have time to scream when red lightning cracks through the rug and overtakes $demonhisher body. Lines of glowing crimson light project from $demonhisher mouth, eyes, and ears in a silent wail of the damned. The entire room glows an ominous dark red for that long moment while $demonhisher soul is scorched away as fuel for the demonic possession. <</choose>>

Then it stops, as quickly as it had begun. <<if ($heshe is "he")>>\ <<if ($portraitpics is true)>>\ <<image "https://www.auraclash.com/assets/images/Jahi-F.jpg">>\ <</if>>\ <<else>>\ <<if ($portraitpics is true)>>\ <<image "https://www.auraclash.com/assets/images/Jahi-M.jpg">>\ <</if>>\ <</if>>\ <<cap $demonheshe>> opens $demonhisher eyes slowly and smiles, looking down at $demonhisher hands and flexing the fingers. "Oh my, this is good. This is //very// good." The demon speaks in two voices, one a \ <<if ($heshe is "she")>>\ bold young man's \ <<else>>\ soft young woman's \ <</if>>\ and one an echoing ancient croak like stone on stone. <<cap $demonheshe>> clears $demonhisher throat and continues in only the host's mortal voice. "You've done me a great service, mortal. I am Jahi, and I always honor my deals." "As you must, being a demon and all." You reply, "I'll take that power you promised now." The attractive young \ <<if ($heshe is "she")>>\ man gives a full bodied laugh that seems so genuine. \ <</if>>\ <<if ($heshe is "he")>>\ woman laughs in a pleasant, soothing tone. \ <</if>>\ "You will indeed. We cannot have my new closest friend going out in such a dangerous world without protection. Whatever would I do without you?" <<if ($demonheshe is "she")>>\ <<cap $demonheshe>> flutters $demonhisher eyes at you and leans closer, whispering in your ear. "Choose one of your Cores, favorite mortal, and I will grant you my blessing." \ <<else>>\ <<cap $demonheshe>> steps closer to you, pressing you back with his presence, and places $demonhisher hands on your arms while keeping his stern gaze down into your eyes. \ Finally he leans in close to whisper in your ear. "Choose one of your Cores, favorite mortal, and I will grant you my blessing." \ <</if>>\ <<choose "ch3-jahicursed">> #I need more power! [Increase Power] <<var $power + 1>>\ ''[Aura Pressure +100]'' ''[Aura Pressure allocated to Power Core]'' ''[Power Core +1]'' #I want to be invincible. [Increase Fortitude] <<var $fortitude + 1>>\ ''[Aura Pressure +100]'' ''[Aura Pressure allocated to Fortitude Core]'' ''[Fortitude Core +1]'' #I will be the fastest $manwoman alive. [Increase Agility] <<var $agility + 1>>\ ''[Aura Pressure +100]'' ''[Aura Pressure allocated to Agility Core]'' ''[Agility Core +1]'' #Chi is the currency of this world, I want to strengthen my spirit. [Increase Soul] <<var $soul + 1>>\ ''[Aura Pressure +100]'' ''[Aura Pressure allocated to Soul Core]'' ''[Soul Core +1]'' <</choose>>

<<if (($alchemy gte 1) or ($handseals gte 1))>>\ <<if ($alchemy gte 1)>>\ ''[Alchemy Check Passed]'' "I have just the concoction for that." You say casually, "It can mask your demonic essence as human aura potential." \ <<elseif ($handseals gte 1)>>\ ''[Handseals Check Passed]'' "I have just the ritual for that, it should guard your presence from detection." \ <</if>>\ But you quickly wonder...do you want to? "Then by all means." Says the voice, "let us be friends." <<include "ch3-jahilastchance">>\ <<else>>\ <<var $honor - 3>>\ <<if ($ruthless lt 50)>>\ "Sorry, I \ <<else>>\ "I \ <</if>>\ don't know anything that can do that." "A pity. Well then, get on with your exorcism." "Seriously?" you ask. "You wished to aid me but are too weak. I have already been detected, my plans are foiled. The only thing I have to gain here is your advancement so that one day you may be of use. They'll send someone else if you fail, so succeed in your task and continue to infiltrate institutions for our people." Cold, calculating, and oddly refreshing. More importantly, the demon's plans benefit you. "As you wish." You reply. <<var $metjahi + 2000000000>>\ <<include "ch3-banishjahi">>\ <</if>>\

<<if ((($weightedclothing gt 0) and ($equippedoutfit isnot "Weighted Clothing")) or ($weightedclothing gt 1))>>\ Do you give Jin a pair of weighted clothing for his training? <<choose "ch3-jintrain2">> #Yes. <<var $jincombat + 1>>\ <<var $weightedclothing - 1>>\ #No. <</choose>> <<else>>\ <<include "ch3-jintrain2">>\ <</if>>\

<<var $jincombat + 2>>\ Training Jin is supposed to be a charity case in which you spend your time improving his Aura Pressure by putting him through the trials you faced under Big Chu. Instead it becomes a nonstop training course for //you// every time he messes up or trips or endangers himself, forcing you to rush in and save him time and time again. Months into his training he fails to leap an eight-foot chasm on a karst hill and falls, forcing you to surge your Agility Core and catch him. <<var $agispent + 1>>\ <<var $agiexp + 1>>\ You've had enough. If he can't survive a single basic test on his own then he can go home and hide behind the walls, and you let him know it, until you suddenly stop. Jin doesn't seem ashamed of his failures. Quite the opposite, he's laughing while you yell at him. And he's not even sweating. Oh that little shit. He's been faking it! "No. There's no way in Hell..." You say with doubt verging on anger. "Heavens above, I can't believe you fell for it so long!" Jin wheezes through his laughter, "I bet Rin I could convince you until the end, don't tell her you found out." \ <<if ($jinaura is true)>>\ The grey whisps of his aura shine brighter and he leaps back across the chasm with ease. "I've been training my aura control with you. My real workouts are at night." <<else>>\ His legs glow white as he leaps back across the chasm. "I've had an aura for months." <</if>>\ You release a slow breath through your nose. Jin's been a brat but maybe this wasn't a waste after all. "How long have you been training in secret?" Jin's eyebrows twist and his lips open in an especially stupid expression, as if you asked the obvious, and you realize you have. "Since Jack beat the shit out of me in front of my family. Duh." <<apboost (20+$jincombat)>>\ <<weightexp>>\ <<if ($jinaura is false)>>\ ''[Your(?) mentorship has unlocked Jin's aura.]'' <<var $jinaura true>>\ <</if>>\ <<var $months - 3>>\ <<var $shards + ($commerce * 6)>>\ <<page "Continue" "ch3-trainingseason">>\

<<if ((($weightedclothing gt 0) and ($equippedoutfit isnot "Weighted Clothing")) or ($weightedclothing gt 1))>>\ Do you give Kosuke a pair of weighted clothing for $bffhisher training? <<choose "ch3-kostrain2">> #Yes. <<var $kosukecombat + 1>>\ <<var $weightedclothing - 1>>\ #No. <</choose>> <<else>>\ <<include "ch3-kostrain2">>\ <</if>>\

<<var $kosukecombat + 2>>\ Training with Kosuke is a cool refreshing breeze compared to your usual training methods. The two of you simply \ <<if ($kosukeaura)>>\ power up your auras and \ <</if>>\ duel in the town's public sparring ring, like the good old days at your tenth birthday. The only difference is this time you're in the Thunderfall Sect and have the rights to claim it as many times as you want for free, and when it's taken you just use the field outside of town. When that's taken, you use the forests. <<if ($bffromance gte 1)>>\ The main benefit of the forest is you get some privacy. No wandering eyes to catch you...training together. You basically spend the entire time in the forest. <<var $bffromance + 1>>\ <<if ($weight gte $chapter)>>\ Though $bffheshe //does// complain that you refuse to take your weighted gear off. <</if>>\ <<else>>\ It's refreshing to spend time with a friend day after day, even if you do spend ninety-percent of it kicking $bffhisher ass. <</if>>\ <<apboost (22+$kosukecombat)>>\ <<weightexp>>\ <<var $val 0>>\ <<if ($kosukeaura is false)>>\ Weeks later you awake with a pounding headache to someone shouting outside at 2am. \ "Finally! My time has come!!" It's coming from your window, already opened by someone else. Your spiritual senses warn you of an unfamiliar power nearby and they're right. Kosuke is standing just outside your window covered in a blazing white aura like your first Advancement. "FINALLYYY!!!!" <<cap $bffheshe>> shouts again, laughing with a crazed look in $bffhisher eyes. "Shut up!" Shouts a waking Rin down the hall, "Some of us are trying to sleep!" ''[Your mentorship has unlocked Kosuke's aura.]'' <<var $kosukeaura true>>\ <</if>>\ <<var $months - 2>>\ <<var $shards + ($commerce * 6)>>\ <<page "Continue" "ch3-trainingseason">>\

<<if ($sealname is "Hungry Spirit Seal")>>\ <<var $hungryspiritritual + 1>>\ <<if (($race is "Oni") or ($race is "Kitsune"))>>\ <<if ($race is "Oni")>>\ ''[Racial Bonus: Oni semi-spirit nature]'' <<else>>\ ''[Racial Bonus: Kitsune semi-spirit nature]'' <</if>>\ ''[Cost to cycle Shards reduced even further.]'' <<var $hungryspiritritual + 0.3>>\ <</if>>\ <<elseif ($sealname is "Auspicious Northern Seal")>>\ <<var $northwindritual (7 - ($sealdiscount + $handseals))>>\ <<elseif ($sealname is "Auspicious Southern Seal")>>\ <<var $southwindritual (7 - ($sealdiscount + $handseals))>>\ <<elseif ($sealname is "Auspicious Western Seal")>>\ <<var $westwindritual (7 - ($sealdiscount + $handseals))>>\ <<elseif ($sealname is "Auspicious Eastern Seal")>>\ <<var $eastwindritual (7 - ($sealdiscount + $handseals))>>\ <<elseif ($sealname is "Counterseal")>>\ <<var $countersealritual (6 - ($sealdiscount + $handseals))>>\ <<elseif ($sealname is "Soulsoak Imbuement")>>\ <<var $wep1enchantritual (9 - ($sealdiscount + $handseals))>>\ <</if>>\

The library on the fourth floor of the grand pagoda is abuzz with visitors, disciples, and the usual scribes who frequent its shelves. After a bothersome wait you finally find a free table to begin your research. <<include "ch3-library-choices">>\

The first Advancement is always the biggest. This is the time when a Martial Artist generates their aura for the first time after harnessing 100 Aura Pressure. Their first Core of yin and yang energy forms and their body begins a bloody or messy process of purification. Most injuries heal, the effects of malnourishment are corrected, teeth are regrown, eyesight improves, and a majority of younger Martial Artists mature towards their prime by a few years. This is why it is encouraged not to rush a child's first Advancement. After this dramatic change there are the Core Advancements, much smaller in comparison. Each of the four Combat Cores are like layers in the spiraling center of our souls, and when we grow enough chi to form a new layer this is called a Core Advancement. They typically lead to the strong getting stronger, the fast getting faster, the tough getting tougher, and so on. Most of these early Advancements are from Mortal Core Advancement, the results of years of rigorous training, but eventually the results of such training become miniscule. At this stage Immortal Core Advancement is needed, where the user learns to seize total control upon the natural energies within their spirit and bind 100 Aura Pressure to a Core to enhance their power. Though this was technically performed during their first Advancement, it is much harder to replicate after the first time. This is why Aura Pressure is sought out so deeply in the form of Advancement Elixirs, Beast meat, Heavenly Gates, spirit fruits, special trainings, and so-on. The very idea of Aura Pressure is a falsehood, for 1 Aura Pressure really just means 1% of what is needed to enhance a Combat Core. That is why Aura Pressure is generally rounded to the lowest hundred, it measures how many Cores your opponent should have. Beyond these basic training Advancements come the stuff of legends. The three most difficult Advancements. <<page "Turn the page." "ch3-library-advancements2">>\

The three most difficult Advancements are the Style Advancements, the Art of Shugendō's Elemental Advancements, and the Transformation Advancements. First and most commonly, the Style Advancement is when a Martial Artist attunes their soul's energy towards one of the five specializations. Each of the five Inner Kingdoms represents a different Style, but without getting into details the main five are: Akakiru's Bladed Chi which controls sharpened energy that is attracted to blades. Aoyusumu's Sacred Chi which alters the mind and controls blunt kinetic energy. Kiihakai's Mystic Chi which controls living yang energy to perform acts of chi sorcery. Kurokonton's Cursed Chi which controls yin energy of the void to inflict entropic curses. Midorikatai's Wild Chi which controls bestial energies that lead to physical growth. Gaining an attunement for a specialized chi type is an important Advancement that many Sects require before acceptance or promotion, but it is only the first step. Mastering your special chi type will require multiple Advancements. I myself have mastered the Art of Kiihakai while studying in the Mystic Lands with no less than SIX (6) Style Advancements, so know that the road ahead is a long one for many of you. <<page "Turn the page." "ch3-library-advancements3">>\

Besides a Style Advancement there are also the Elemental Advancements, or the Art of Shugendō, in which one of nature's elements is bound to the Martial Artist's Spirit. "But Tai Win," you say, "Haven't we already bound our spirit to a Style's chi?" No, you fool! You have learned to utilize your chi in the //method// of a Style. Learning an Element allows you to control //aspect// of the natural world. A soul using the Akakiru's Bladed Chi does not care if it forms blades out of basic chi, burning Fire chi, or freezing Ice chi. It will simply form that chi into a blade. The material of the chi is what Shugendō changes. I will not go over the eight Elements beyond their existence, as my editor has informed me that I am running out of room. There are Fire, Lightning, Wind, Light, and Darkness Elements available in the intangible Elements. These are easier to learn and utilize but hit limits in terms of permanency. Then there are Ice, Water, and Earth in the physical Elements. These take a great deal of chi to form physical components out of one's spirit at first, so they are avoided by the weak minded. However, after a few Elemental Advancements, the difference is minimal. <<page "Turn the page." "ch3-library-advancements4">>\

Lastly there are the Transformation Advancements, the legendary Techniques of Sect Masters and calamitous monsters. A Transformation Technique can be used to completely alter the user's physical or even spiritual nature, as if the wielder had stored a second more powerful version of themselves inside of a Core and hidden it away from the world for times of trouble. Though each Style offers a specific Transformation there are many rumors of other forms available in ancient scrolls. All the world will forever remember the masters of the past who could ascend into Dragon Form. And with that, dear reader, the Advancements have been explained and your knowledge has grown. Never forget it was Tai Win who elevated you from the mindless masses. You should buy him a drink. <<page "Find another book." "ch3-library-choices">>\

<<choose "ch3-library-choices">> #Study the different Advancements. ''//The Art of Advancement//'' or ''//Advancement and You: A Martial Artist's Guide to the Many Stages of Advancement//'' ~by Tai Win //[Editor's Note: Tai Win, I beg of you to use the shorter name. This is the last time we will discuss this, and I swear upon the Heavens if you submit this to the copying scribes with that atrociously long title I will marry your sister and cheat on her with your mother.]// Hello, dear reader! You come to me, Tai Win, sage of the written word, to learn about Advancement? A wise decision, and so I shall teach you how Advancement is the heart and soul of the Martial World. "But Tai Win", you must be thinking, "I thought it was Chi that was at the heart of the Martial World?" That is because you are stupid, but fear not! You are reading my scroll to become less stupid, which places you above the dregs of this world such as the peasantry and scroll editors. While chi may be the essence that gives us power, and Aura Pressure measures how much chi our souls contain, it is our Advancements that measure how well we wield our power. All the Aura Pressure in the world won't save someone who cannot use it. But before we begin we must understand what an Advancement truly is. Though each Advancement is different, at their heart they are changes willed upon our body or soul that improve us in some way. Each has a different requirement and each is necessary to become a true Master. <<page "Turn the page." "ch3-library-advancements1">>\ #Read on the different Martial Arts. -> "ch3-library-styles" #Study Imperial Rasen, the lands in which you live. <<image "https://www.auraclash.com/assets/images/imperialrasen.jpg">>\ The Rasen Empire, or the ''//GLORIOUS//'' Imperial Rasen as it's known in high society, is a massive 3,000 mile wide spiraling continent. At its center is the capital island of Azuma Honsha where the leylines meet and natural aura is at peak strength. Legends say Azuma Honsha was once a minor outpost for the Cathayan Empire to the west millennia ago, but when the Calamity struck Cathay was shattered into hundreds of islands and the natural chi of the world went wild. Azuma Honsha isolated itself and its mighty rulers of the time raised the seabed around them as a defensive measure, creating what would become the five Inner Kingdoms. When the population grew too large another ring was formed three times as wide as the first to facilitate any future growth, at the cost of having lower natural aura in the outermost ring. The Outer Lands. Your home. Specifically, you live in Outer West. As you read further you find that technically your lands are //still// isolated, the lands beyond Rasen's coasts are barbaric or controlled by entities hostile to humans. Likewise the Outer Provinces are isolated from themselves; filled with thousands of independent settlements that change every year. No strong warrior wants their kids raised in a weaker aura territory where their growth will be stifled, so even the most successful of Outer Settlements eventually collapse from assault by bandit, spirit, Fiend, or Beast after their young talent continuously leaves to the Inner Kingdoms. The scrolls mention in particular the northern tip of Imperial Rasen faces a great trial: the land of ice and snow to its north where malignant ice and yin spirits form into demonic elemental hordes that invade Outer North relentlessly. Huh, you're glad you don't live in Outer North. Eventually the details stop getting helpful with just a few small writings about government remaining: the alliance/rivalry of the five Inner Kingdoms, how all five maintain shaky peace through a seat on the Exalted Council that rules from the capital ever since the disappearance of the Imperial family, and how the capital also hosts the Exalted Council's police force known as the Archons who keep the peace over all of Imperial Rasen. Archons are specifically needed in Outer territories, as the Inner Kingdoms tend to solve their own problems. Thunderfall Village was actually saved by an Archon once when an earthquake threatened your whole town. You were six at the time and don't know what he did, but shortly after the mysterious armored man arrived the earthquakes simply stopped. <<page "Go back." "ch3-library-choices">>\ #use-if ($buffersbarrier is false) Research Martial Arts tips. <<if ($perception gte 2)>>\ ''[Perception 2 Check Passed]'' <<var $forexp + 2>>\ Hidden notes are a common theme in libraries and you know exactly what to look for: boring scrolls. The only ones hiding secrets in a public library would be Warrior Caste leaving mischievous tests around for the next generation, and none of them would hide them in popular scrolls. No, you need to check the most boring, mundane, banal tomes and scrolls imaginable. After twenty minutes of searching you find exactly what you needed, a map showing which lots in town are zoned for farming rights and which are not. You almost pass out trying to skim through its pages when you find your bounty: A note written in faint chi traces just like your old Path Manuals. The note explains the "Buffer's Barrier" Technique, which involves a ritual circle to help the character "fold" their aura and vibrate it, to make their aura think it's being attacked. It can give a decent boost to Aura Pressure every few years. Exactly the kind of secret you were looking to find. ''[New Technique Learned: Buffer's Barrier]'' <<var $buffersbarrier true>>\ <<elseif (($insight+$lore) gte 3)>>\ ''[Lore+Insight 3 Check Passed]'' <<var $solexp + 2>>\ Hidden notes are a common theme among libraries and you know exactly what to look for, but browsing through the books for notes added by fellow Thunderfall students is a fool's errand. What you need to do is scan each bookshelf, book by book, for any Aura Pressure. Path Manuals are written in chi after all, and students wouldn't write notes as precisely as Masters would. You do, and...Bingo! A hint of Aura Pressure in a dusty map. Unrolling the map reveals a note written in faint chi traces just like your old Path Manuals. The note explains the "Buffer's Barrier" Technique, which involves a ritual circle to help the character "fold" their aura and vibrate it, to make their aura think it's being attacked. It can give a decent boost to Aura Pressure every few years. Exactly the kind of secret you were looking to find. ''[New Technique Learned: Buffer's Barrier]'' <<var $buffersbarrier true>>\ <<else>>\ You find absolutely nothing useful except some old lady's pie recipe. Damn it all, what's even the point of a library then? Obviously you do take the pie recipe, but still. <</if>>\ #use-if ($libraryelem is false) Research the Elemental Affinities. [Lore/Perception Check] <<if (($perception gte 2) or ($lore gte 2))>>\ <<if ($lore gte 2)>>\ ''[Lore Check Passed]'' <<elseif ($perception gte 2)>>\ ''[Perception Check Passed]'' <</if>>\ Studying the core essence of the elements yields great results. Official documents explain the connection between spiritual energies and the natural world, fragments of Path Manuals describe how the elemental spirits are the core inspiration for how to change one's aura towards an element, and scribbled notes give insights to the proper cycling methods and preparations needed to attune your spirit to each element. Hour by hour, day by day, your understanding grows towards a better way. <<if ($lore gte 3)>>\ ''[Lore 3 Check Passed]'' <<apboost 15>>\ By the end of it you don't //find// notes, you //write// notes. By combining everything together your understanding is so advanced that you realize multiple flaws in earlier works you've read through. The amount of detail and information missing from these Elemental scrolls is shameful \ <<if ($ruthless gte 52)>>\ and the librarian should be publicly flogged. \ <<elseif ($ruthless lte 48)>>\ and it hurts to know people have had to put up with so little knowledge for so long. \ <<else>>\ and it disgusts you. \ <</if>>\ <<else>>\ ''[Your education has aided in your understanding of Chi.]'' <<set $val to (3 * ($lore+$perception))>>\ <<if ($val lt 5)>>\ <<set $val to 5>>\ <</if>>\ <<apboost $val>>\ <<set $val to 0>>\ <</if>>\ <<var $libraryelem true>>\ <<else>>\ ''[Lore Check Failed]'' You don't find anything useful, just a bunch of big words that were probably made up by weak scribes who can't do a single pullup. Losers. <</if>>\ #Nevermind. -> "ch3-trainingseason" <</choose>>

<<choose "ch3-library-styles">> #Akakiru, the forging Style of swordsmen taught by the Bladed Lands. <<var $prevknowledge + 1>>\ ''//Akakiru: The Art of Aggression//'' Akakiru practitioners are famous for their legendary swordsmanship and red auras, but Akakiru can be used for any bladed or slashing weapon. Whether it's daggers, scythes, axes, spears, or claw gauntlets, all weapons with an edge can channel the specialty slicing-chi that Akakiru cultivates. Any Martial Artist can use a weapon, but such tools are disposable. A basic sword cannot channel the powers of chi and even though weapons made from Soul Treasures appear to be mystically enhanced, they are stuck at the same Aura Pressure as the day they were forged, forever. Their wielder will eventually outgrow them and do more damage with a punch. To get around these limits, Akakiru fighters train to create blades and other objects out of raw chi and fill them with the full power of the Martial Artist's Aura Pressure. They are capable of cutting through the strongest defenses and, with great mastery, can cut through enchantments such as rituals or possession. At the highest mastery Akakiru wielders can even cut through space, connecting two points and allowing for fast travel or surprise attacks. You don't find much on the Bladed Lands itself, beyond their focus on honor and sturdy equipment. They are also the oldest of the five Inner Kingdoms, arising from an ancient Sect that pre-dates Imperial Rasen if the legends are to be believed. <<page "Go back." "ch3-library-styles">>\ #Aoyusumu, the mental Style of exorcist-monks taught by the Sacred Lands. <<var $prevknowledge + 1>>\ ''//Aoyusumu : The Art of Serenity//'' The practice of Aoyusumu imparts a calming cerulean aura on its robed fighters. Aoyusumu is a style of retribution, utilizing the powers of the mind to psionically steal an opponent's kinetic force and use it against them. But that is just the surface. The further one walks the path of Aoyusumu, the more one advances their mental powers. Thought-reading, precognition, calming emotions, telekinesis, all are powers taught to the exorcist-monks that make up the Aoyusumu martial artists who exorcise Fiends and protect commoners across the lands. And a martial art it remains; these abilities are not parlor tricks or rituals, they are Techniques woven into an exorcist-monk's physical combat. You don't find much on the Sacred Lands itself. Just that they supposedly treat their unpowered citizens better than the other four nations and their strongest warriors, the Saints, are worshipped by large followings for their ability to "accept" unprotected thoughts across an enormous range; effectively, their ability "hear" prayers. <<page "Go back." "ch3-library-styles">>\ #Kiihakai, the mystic style of sorcerers taught by the Mystic Lands. <<var $prevknowledge + 1>>\ ''//Kiihakai: The Art of Destruction//'' The practice of Kiihakai turns the user's aura into a potent blazing golden light and teaches how to tap into the infinite energy of yang chi, known by lesser minds as sorcery. Kiihakai sorcerers utilize their mystic secrets to create wonders and alter reality in subtle ways with their incantations. Many sages practice the art of Kiihakai to scry their master's lands, bind spirits to a town's bidding, empower objects or places with runes, or change fate in subtle ways. But for all the magic in their arsenal, these sorcerers are still martial artists at their core. The Kiihakai Style's sorcery is useful, but easily crushed upon the pressure of strong auras in the field of battle. The true purpose of the Kiihakai Style is not to delve into mysticism but to discover, utilize, and combine all secrets of yang chi into the martial artist's energy blasts. The ideal Kiihakai martial artist is encased in an impenetrable barrier of chi, striking with reinforced chi explosions at close range, and erupting entire enemy bunkers with unending long range energy blasts bringing down the full fury of the sun. You don't find much on the Mystic Lands itself beyond their thirst for knowledge and rigorous hierarchal views. Many apprentices spend years of study before they're granted their first useful Tomes. A few writings also hint that the Mystic Lands hosts multiple cities of such breathtaking beauty that they rival Azuma Honsha, from a city of neverending daylight to a collection of flying towers connected by sky-rivers. <<page "Go back." "ch3-library-styles">>\ #Kurokonton, the cursed Style of shinobi taught by Cursed Lands. <<var $prevknowledge + 1>>\ ''//Kurokonton: The Art of Confusion//'' The most feared of the styles, Kurokonton teaches its practitioners to excel as spies, infiltrators, assasssins, and hexcasters. Their yin aura is hard to detect even when generating Techniques, for yin embodies entropy and absorption. Only when fighting at full power or willingly exposing their aura does a shinobi reveal the black and purple energy swirling around them. Moreso than simply stealth, ninjutsu, and speed-based combat training, the curse-ninjas of Kurokonton are famous for their special eyes. The Malocchio Eyes. By attuning their eyes to the power of Yin chi the curse-ninjas are able to absorb pieces of an enemy's aura simply by looking at them. This fraction of aura can be used as a catalyst to inflict instant curses on the victim, or to copy their Techniques for the shinobi to use. Some say it can be used to absorb the target's behaviors, appearance, and even memories. Such dangerous individuals are rarely trusted inside or outside of their Kurokonton Sects, and the Cursed Lands hosts the most powerful of them all...Supposedly. You don't actually find //any// documents about the Cursed Lands. Asking around the library gives some rumors that it was formed from a crime syndicate in the distant past, but these same rumormongers had spread lies about you in the past too. <<page "Go back." "ch3-library-styles">>\ #Midorikatai, the physical style of apex warriors taught by the Wild Lands. <<var $prevknowledge + 1>>\ ''//Midorikatai: The Art of Might//'' The practice of Midorikatai foregoes flashy effects to focus entirely on the physical hardness and strength of its wielder's body like a Beast. Attuning to Midorikatai leads to a green aura and continued growth in both height and muscle, which you think explains Crusher Jack continuing to grow closer to his father's massive physique. While seeming basic to start, mastery of the Midorikatai Style is equally astonishing and devastating. The pure physical strength and durability above and beyond other Martial Artists allows the wielder to break empowered limbs, shatter the ground of battlefields, leap over entire villages, dig through stone walls with one's bare hands, and survive even a volcanic eruption. To walk the path of Cultivation is to improve one's body, mind, and soul beyond the mortal realm. Midorikatai practitioners spit upon that distractingly divided goal, knowing the only important aspect is one's body. You don't find much on the Wild Lands itself beyond their warrior-king mentality and slave-based economy. Apparently they raid pirates and barbarians of the foreign islands even more than pirates or barbarians raid Imperial Rasen, though Wild Lands slaves are offered the chance to earn citizenship in the arenas. The final notes also mention certain Clans within the Wild Lands that prioritize an appreciation of Beasts, both raising and hunting them. <<page "Go back." "ch3-library-styles">>\ #I've read enough, [Go back] -> "ch3-library-choices" <</choose>>

If rumor is to be believed then the Archonate has master trainers from each of the five Inner Kingdoms. All five Inner Kingdoms come with centuries of tradition, myths, heroes, and accomplishments, which you're sure are nice and all, but you're not training to be a scholar. You're training to be a Martial Artist. It takes a while but you manage to compile a listing on the Martial Art Styles that each nation's Schools and Sects offers. The most important information you find is that all common Martial Art Styles teach you to change your internal chi into a special type so you can use their signature abilities and Techniques. That means you can only learn one Style. You browse through scroll after scroll and study up on... <<include "ch3-library-read-styles">>\

<<var $racercool true>>\ Sobering disappointment fills your heart when Bo passes the finish line to the applause of his friends and Tian Fang. "Pay up, Laborer!" Bo shouts as his victory speech. You're too busy panting to make a response. Your stomach hurts. Your chest hurts. Your legs hurt. "How much was the bet for again?" Tian Fang asks Kosuke. Kosuke cringes. "About 120 Shards." $bffheshe gives you an apologetic look and you remember this was all $bffhisher idea. <<choose "ch3-race-over">> #use-if ((($shards + ($silver / 10)) + ($gold * 10)) gte 120) Pay up. [Requires Funds] -> "ch3-loserace-invoice" You hang your head in shame and withdraw a sack from your belt. "Don't let it hit you on the way out." You say as you toss the pouch at Bo's head. He catches it with a smirk and looks inside to see the seaglass-like Shards. <<costcalc 120>>\ <<var $honor + 5>>\ <<var $ruthless - 3>>\ "Remember who your betters are." Bo says as he turns with a flourish that looks ridiculous on his scrawny frame. His friends follow, laughing and clapping his back in victory. Tian Fang pops the last millet ball into her mouth and cringes at the texture, smell, and taste, then rises with a stretch. "Not bad, Thunderfaller, but not good enough. It seems my career as a trainer is going well." She looks down the street at Bo walking off with his friends. "It's a pity this will make him think he is skilled. I do not think he will survive the Trials." "I agree." You say, glaring at his stupid head from behind. She smirks. "I suspect you may rig those odds in your favor." She gives a light bow. "Best of luck in your training, Thunderfaller. I must return to my charges. A pity you could not join us, it seems you need it." As she leaves, tail swishing back and forth, Kosuke hands you a scroll $bffheshe'd been writing during the race. You read through and realize it's a forged merchant invoice for 50 Shards. "Send this to Mountain Hazard for that bitch's fine dining fees." Kosuke says in a tone of pure vengeance, "I had to pick that wild millet myself." #use-if ($deception gte 1) Hand over one of your fake shardbags. [Requires Deception] <<var $borep - 3>>\ You hang your head in shame and withdraw a sack from your belt. "Don't let it hit you on the way out." You say as you toss the pouch at Bo's head. He catches it with a smirk and looks inside to see the seaglass-like Shards. Well, not really. That pouch is full of actual seaglass. "Remember who your betters are." Bo says as he turns with a flourish that looks ridiculous on his scrawny frame. His friends follow, laughing and clapping his back in victory. Tian Fang pops the last millet ball into her mouth and cringes at the texture, smell, and taste, then rises with a stretch. "Not bad, Thunderfaller, but not good enough. It seems my career as a trainer is going well." She looks down the street at Bo walking off with his friends. "It's a pity they didn't ask me to train his spiritual senses. How much did that seaglass cost?" "About 10 silver." You say. "So 1 Shard." She covers her mouth to stifle a laugh. "How wonderful. Well then, may this humbling loss of 10 silver drive your training to new levels." She winks and follows the others, tail swishing. <<if ($heshe is "he")>>\ <<var $fangromance + 1>>\ <</if>>\ Bo's fake currency will make a scene so you decide to come back to the market tomorrow. #Run for it. <<var $borep - 2>>\ <<var $honor - 3>>\ You're exhausted, surrounded, and outclassed in terms of speed. If you weren't then you wouldn't be in this mess. Yet still you must find a way out of this situation. Thankfully you grew up with the town's resident scoundrel. "Kosuke!" You scream out, "Stinkbombs!" <<cap $bffheshe>> jumps to $bffhisher feet and pulls from $bffhisher pocket a handful of yellow balls. "STINKBOMB ATTACK!" <<cap $bffheshe>> throws the balls to the ground at Bo's feet. The resulting cloud of "smoke" that covers Bo and his friends is actually a powder you both soaked in rotten vegetables and rancid meat juice. <</choose>>\

<<choose "ch3-market-caravan">> #Send the invoice. <<var $honor - 3>>\ <<var $fangrep - 5>>\ ''[Item Gained: 50 Shards]'' <<var $shards + 50>>\ #Decline. <<var $honor + 2>>\ <</choose>>

Markets are abuzz with Martial Artists and travelers after news of the Heavenly Ascension Trials hit the streets. Caravans work double-time to bring every resource, both legitimate and less so, to any village with Martial Artists willing to pay. You travel through the market square where the typical storefronts surround the bazaar of caravan stalls and weigh your options. <<choose "ch3-market-precaravan">> #Convert currencies to Shards -> "ch3-market-bank" #use-if ($bannedfromsageshop is false) Visit the Sage's Shop. -> "ch3-market-mystic" #Visit the Apothecary. -> "ch3-market-alchemy" #use-if (($race is "Yokai") or ($race is "Kitsune")) Visit the Butcher's. [Requires Yokai] -> "ch3-market-butcher" #Visit the Caravan stalls. #Leave the marketplace -> "ch3-trainingseason" <</choose>>

The Apothecary's shop is run by an Oni family that is locally famous for their intrinsic knowledge of all local saps, herbs, and roots in the surrounding wilds. It makes sense, since they planted most of them. \ <<if ($background is "Herbalist")>>\ Father once mentioned apprenticing for their family when he was young. \ <</if>>\ Shelves line the store with jars of powders and extracts, but the real goods are the potions that they mix on-order in the back. You browse through the menu to find anything of use. Many of the on-order refinable elixirs are crossed out due to high demand but there's plenty of alchemy reagents that you can use to refine your own when you get more recipes. The inventory listing at the storefront mentions healing elixirs that can cure your wounds and low grade Core Pills that can replenish your Combat Cores after you've had to exert them. <<if (($freestuff is false) and ($background is "Herbalist"))>>\ ''[Herbalist Background Event]'' "Ah, $ymaster <<cap $clan>>!" Says the Oni at the front. "Your Father had mentioned your new Caste promotion. As thanks for his years of work and our appreciation of Thunderfall's Warriors, I would like to extend a gift to you." ''[Recipe Acquired: Low-Grade Power Pill]'' ''[Recipe Acquired: Low-Grade Fortitude Pill]'' ''[Recipe Acquired: Low-Grade Agility Pill]'' ''[Recipe Acquired: Low-Grade Soul Pill]'' <<var $lgforpillrecipe (6 - $alchemy)>>\ <<var $lgpowpillrecipe (6 - $alchemy)>>\ <<var $lgagipillrecipe (6 - $alchemy)>>\ <<var $lgsolpillrecipe (6 - $alchemy)>>\ <<var $freestuff true>>\ <</if>>\ <<choose "ch3-market-alchemy">> #use-if (((($shards + ($silver / 10)) + ($gold * 10)) gte 8) or (($race is "Oni") and ((($shards + ($silver / 10)) + ($gold * 10)) gte 7))) Purchase Alchemy Reagents. [8 Shards] One of the older Oni stops asking her younger relative to open a jar when she notices you need assistance. "Purchasing our many reagents, eh?" She asks, struggling with the jar still. "How many would you like to purchase?" <<if ($race is "Oni")>>\ <<var $val2 ((($shards + ($silver / 10)) + ($gold * 10)) % 7)>>\ <<var $bingo (((($shards + ($silver / 10)) + ($gold * 10)) - $val2) / 7)>>\ <<else>>\ <<var $val2 ((($shards + ($silver / 10)) + ($gold * 10)) % 8)>>\ <<var $bingo (((($shards + ($silver / 10)) + ($gold * 10)) - $val2) / 8)>>\ <</if>>\ <<input-number $val 0 $bingo "ch3-market-alchemy-buy">>\ #use-if ($alchemyreagents gt 0) Sell Alchemy Reagents. <<var $bingo (3 + $persuasion)>>\ <<if ($race is "Oni")>>\ <<var $bingo + 1>>\ ''[Racial Discount Applied by Oni Shop Owner]'' ''[Sell Price Increased by 1 Shard]'' <</if>>\ <<if ($bingo gt 8)>>\ <<var $bingo 8>>\ <</if>>\ The Apothecary's Oni apprentice, likely their son, looks through your collection of dried plants, liquids, and mineral powders. "If the shop's ledgers are right, judging by the quality I see here I can give you $bingo Shards for each." How many would you like to sell? (Currently Owned: $alchemyreagents) <<input-number $val 0 $alchemyreagents "ch3-market-alchemy-sell">>\ #use-if (((($shards + ($silver / 10)) + ($gold * 10)) gte 100) and ($healingelixir lte 3)) Purchase a Healing Elixir. [100 Shards] ''[Item Gained: Healing Elixir]'' <<var $healingelixir + 1>>\ <<if ($race is "Oni")>>\ ''[Racial Discount Applied by Oni Shop Owner]'' ''[10 Shards saved]'' <<costcalc 90>>\ <<else>>\ <<costcalc 100>>\ <</if>>\ #use-if (((($shards + ($silver / 10)) + ($gold * 10)) gte 50) and ($lgagipill lt 2)) Purchase a Low-Grade Agility Pill. [50 Shards] ''[Item Gained: Low Grade Agility Pill]'' <<var $lgagipill + 1>>\ <<if ($race is "Oni")>>\ ''[Racial Discount Applied by Oni Shop Owner]'' ''[5 Shards saved]'' <<costcalc 45>>\ <<else>>\ <<costcalc 50>>\ <</if>>\ #use-if (((($shards + ($silver / 10)) + ($gold * 10)) gte 40) and ($lgpowpill lt 2)) Purchase a Low-Grade Power Pill. [40 Shards] ''[Item Gained: Low Grade Power Pill]'' <<var $lgpowpill + 1>>\ <<if ($race is "Oni")>>\ ''[Racial Discount Applied by Oni Shop Owner]'' ''[4 Shards saved]'' <<costcalc 36>>\ <<else>>\ <<costcalc 40>>\ <</if>>\ #use-if (((($shards + ($silver / 10)) + ($gold * 10)) gte 50) and ($lgforpill lt 2)) Purchase a Low-Grade Fortitude Pill. [50 Shards] ''[Item Gained: Low Grade Fortitude Pill]'' <<var $lgforpill + 1>>\ <<if ($race is "Oni")>>\ ''[Racial Discount Applied by Oni Shop Owner]'' ''[5 Shards saved]'' <<costcalc 45>>\ <<else>>\ <<costcalc 50>>\ <</if>>\ #use-if (((($shards + ($silver / 10)) + ($gold * 10)) gte 50) and ($lgsolpill lt 2)) Purchase a Low-Grade Soul Pill. [50 Shards] ''[Item Gained: Low Grade Soul Pill]'' <<var $lgsolpill + 1>>\ <<if ($race is "Oni")>>\ ''[Racial Discount Applied by Oni Shop Owner]'' ''[5 Shards saved]'' <<costcalc 45>>\ <<else>>\ <<costcalc 50>>\ <</if>>\ #use-if ((($shards + ($silver / 10)) + ($gold * 10)) gte 30) Purchase a Common Poison. [30 Shards] ''[Item Gained: Common Poison]'' <<var $commonpoison + 1>>\ <<if ($race is "Oni")>>\ ''[Racial Discount Applied by Oni Shop Owner]'' ''[3 Shards saved]'' <<costcalc 27>>\ <<else>>\ <<costcalc 30>>\ <</if>>\ #use-if (((($shards + ($silver / 10)) + ($gold * 10)) gte 50) and ($lgpowpillrecipe is 100)) Purchase a Recipe (Low Grade Power Pill) [50 Shards] ''[Alchemy Recipe Learned: Low Grade Power Pill]'' <<if ($race is "Oni")>>\ ''[Racial Discount Applied by Oni Shop Owner]'' ''[5 Shards saved]'' <<costcalc 45>>\ <<else>>\ <<costcalc 50>>\ <</if>>\ <<var $lgpowpillrecipe (6 - $alchemy)>>\ #use-if (((($shards + ($silver / 10)) + ($gold * 10)) gte 45) and ($lgforpillrecipe is 100)) Purchase a Recipe (Low Grade Fortitude Pill) [45 Shards] ''[Alchemy Recipe Learned: Low Grade Fortitude Pill]'' <<if ($race is "Oni")>>\ ''[Racial Discount Applied by Oni Shop Owner]'' ''[4 Shards saved]'' <<costcalc 41>>\ <<else>>\ <<costcalc 45>>\ <</if>>\ <<var $lgforpillrecipe (6 - $alchemy)>>\ #Nevermind. -> "ch3-market" <</choose>>

<<if ($val gt 0)>>\ <<var $alchemyreagents + $val>>\ ''[Item Gained: $val Alchemy Reagents]'' <<if ($race is "Oni")>>\ ''[Racial Discount Applied by Oni Shop Owner]'' ''[$val Shards saved]'' <<var $bingo ($val * 7)>>\ <<else>>\ <<var $bingo ($val * 8)>>\ <</if>>\ <<costcalc $bingo>>\ <</if>>\ <<var $val 0>>\ <<unset $bingo>>\ <<include "ch3-market-alchemy">>\

<<if ($val gt 0)>>\ <<var $alchemyreagents - $val>>\ ''[Item Lost: $val Alchemy Reagents]'' <<var $bingo * $val>>\ ''[Item Gained: $bingo Shards]'' <<var $shards + $bingo>>\ <</if>>\ <<var $val 0>>\ <<unset $bingo>>\ <<include "ch3-market-alchemy">>\

Your town lacks a proper Bank but many merchants offer conversions for a small fee. As you're of the Thunderfall Sect disciples, the locals do it for free. <<choose "ch3-market-bank2">> #use-if ($silver gte 10) Convert silver to Shards. <<var $calcsilver 0>>\ <<var $calcgold 0>>\ "Of course, Honored Warrior," says the young woman working a stall for pottery, "It takes 10 Silver to equal 1 Shard. How many Silver would you like to convert?" Current Silver: $silver <<input-number $calcsilver 0 $silver "ch3-market-bank2">>\ #use-if ($gold gte 1) Convert gold to Shards. <<var $calcsilver 0>>\ <<var $calcgold 0>>\ "Of course, Honored Warrior," says the young woman working a stall for silverware, "1 Gold is worth 10 Shards. How many Gold would you like to convert?" Current Gold: $gold <<input-number $calcgold 0 $gold "ch3-market-bank2">>\ #Nevermind. -> "ch3-market" <</choose>>

<<if ($calcsilver gt 0)>>\ <<var $bingo ($calcsilver % 10)>>\ <<var $calcsilver - $bingo>>\ <<var $silver - $calcsilver>>\ ''[Item Lost: $calcsilver Silver]'' <<var $bingo ($calcsilver / 10)>>\ <<var $shards + $bingo>>\ ''[Item Gained: $bingo Shards]'' <<else>>\ ''[Item Lost: $calcgold Gold]'' <<var $gold - $calcgold>>\ <<var $bingo ($calcgold * 10)>>\ ''[Item Gained: $bingo Shards]'' <<var $shards + $bingo>>\ <</if>>\ <<unset $bingo>>\ <<unset $calcsilver>>\ <<unset $calcgold>>\ <<include "ch3-market">>\

As a Yokai you've got a secret trick up your sleeve. Many Disciples are hunting Beasts and selling their meat after removing the Soul Treasure from its corpse, and they think that meat is just useful to replenish some lost chi. Which is true...for Humans. For you it's better. With the right quality meat your animalistic spirit can push your aura pressure beyond its limits as if you were cycling a complete set of Shards or a weak Advancement Elixir. It's not something you do often, as it's not worth the money and most Beast meats are too weak, but there's a huge hunt for Beasts going on due to the Trials. As a result, the butchers are dropping prices while increasing inventory. <<choose "ch3-market">> #use-once use-if ((($shards + ($silver / 10)) + ($gold * 10)) gte 16) Purchase the Cheshire Heart. [16 Shards] <<costcalc 16>>\ You head home to eat in privacy, no one needs to see a Yokai eating a raw heart in public. Especially because some of your competition are Yokai and you don't need them knowing your trick if they don't know already. As you sink your teeth into the heart of the massive invisible cat you feel power flow through your body. You feel ready to hunt. <<apboost 8>>\ <<var $butchered + 1>>\ <<if ($butchered lt 2)>>\ <<page "Continue" "ch3-market-butcher">>\ <<else>>\ <<page "Continue" "ch3-market">>\ <</if>>\ #use-once use-if ((($shards + ($silver / 10)) + ($gold * 10)) gte 24) Purchase the Drake Tail. [24 Shards] <<costcalc 24>>\ You head home and eat in privacy, no one needs to see a Yokai eating raw meat in public. Especially because some of your competition are Yokai and you don't need them knowing your trick if they don't know already. As you sink your teeth into the tail of the Advanced bear-sized reptile you feel power flow through your body. You feel ready to hunt. <<apboost 12>>\ <<var $butchered + 1>>\ <<if ($butchered lt 2)>>\ <<page "Continue" "ch3-market-butcher">>\ <<else>>\ <<page "Continue" "ch3-market">>\ <</if>>\ #Nevermind -> "ch3-market" <</choose>>

Merchant caravans are the number one source of commerce and trade for Outer territories, especially mountain villages like yours where the biome is different enough to provide unusual resources, and harsh enough that you need to buy from others too. It's dangerous for merchants to travel alone due to spirits, Beasts, and bandits, so Caravan Sects formed to pool merchant funds together and make it financially viable to hire Sect member bodyguards, since so many merchants were splitting the cost. One such caravan is visiting your town marketplace right \ <<if ($background is "Merchant")>>\ now. Not the one you own 5% of, they're somewhere in Outer South, you assume, while you live in Outer West. Plus they already paid you in advance for this year's profits. They're useless to you...for now. <<else>>\ now. <</if>>\ You walk through the rows of tables and stalls they've setup in the center of your town's market plaza. There are no good armors or weapons left, and most Soul Treasures have been claimed and purchased by other Sect members already, but you do find a few things of note. <<include "ch3-market-caravan-choices">>\

<<choose "ch3-market-caravan">> #use-once Haggle for a discount. -> "ch3-market-caravan" The caravan leader is a stocky man with broad shoulders and splintmail armor, carrying two axes on his back. His visage of a tough man is entirely ruined by his thin jaw's face acne. You scanned his aura and he's...a little weaker than you. But you're not here to fight. You're here to haggle. <<if ($persuasion is 0)>>\ ''[Persuasion Check Failed]'' "A discount?!" The man yells in a smoker's voice. "With the Heavenly Ascension Trials on their way? Are you out of your mind!? Damn it $boygirl, if you're not going to pay up then get out of the way for someone who will!" <<else>>\ ''[Persuasion Check Passed]'' "The Thunderfall Sect, you say?" The man says in between smoker's coughs, "I could see about a discount, as long as Khan remembers my generosity." "I assure you he will." You reply, and to your credit you actually do drop off a letter with Magistrate Khan stating how the generous merchant leader was willing to give a discount to honor the Thunderfall Sect. You doubt he'll read it, but it couldn't hurt. <<var $discount (1.0 - (0.05 * $persuasion))>>\ ''[Commerce expertise increased]'' <<var $commerce + 1>>\ <</if>>\ <<page "Continue" "ch3-market-caravan">>\ #show-if (dig($itempainting, 4) gt 0) Sell the Portrait of Mao's Bewildered Face. No painters or stalls for wall-hangings are present at the caravan so you patrol the area holding your portrait in one arm, looking for anyone that eyes it too greedily. It doesn't take long. "Now that's something I wouldn't mind over my fireplace!" Booms a tall flabby woman in an apron. "The way it captures his shock, his failed attempt to mask his indignation, why I bet it's the face he'd have if I turned down a wedding proposal!" She scoots out from behind a makeshift bakery stall, the likely culprit of her physique, and rushes up to you. "Young $manwoman, I must have it. Name your price." <<if ($persuasion gt 0)>>\ ''[Persuasion Check Passed]'' <<var $val (700 + (500 * $persuasion))>>\ "Good of you to notice quality! But I'm sorry, I can't bring myself to part with it." "Oh sure you can! You're wandering around the market with it, no coverings, surely you intend to sell? Let's skip the games, how about 400 silver?" A common tactic, by 'skip the games' you know she means 'try her game'. You let out a slow chuckle, "I'm sorry Ma'am, but this is an authentic $clan painting. I could get thousands at-" you pause, feigning thoughtfulness, "Actually, I could save on travel costs and still make a profit. Let's talk price. //Real// price." ''[Item Gained: $val Silver]'' <<var $silver + $val>>\ <<var $val 0>>\ <<else>>\ ''[Persuasion Check Failed]'' "Three-hundred?" You say with zero confidence. The woman's smile grows predatory. "In this market, during the Trials? Good luck! Everyone is trying to pawn off everything they have. The most I can do is 250 Silver." With no understanding of prices beyond that, you're grateful for the decent chunk of spare change. Just a few years ago this would have been two years allowance! ''[Item Gained: 250 Silver]'' <<var $silver + 250>>\ <</if>>\ <<var $itempainting - 1000000>>\ <<page "Continue" "ch3-market-caravan">>\ #use-if (((($shards + ($silver / 10)) + ($gold * 10)) gte (75 * $discount)) and ($lastsoultreasure is true)) Examine the last remaining Soul Treasure. -> "ch3-caravan-fish" You look down at the pathetic fish tail bone, wondering if your aura when you first Advanced felt as weak as this //thing// does right now. It's is virtually useless for increasing the Aura Pressure of anyone with an Aura already, and people without Auras will have a difficult time breaking it down to cycle it properly. What a piece of garbage. <<if (($element1 isnot "None") or ($element2 isnot ""))>>\ ....Although...It's elementally attuned to \ <<if ($element1 isnot "None")>>\ $element1 \ <<else>>\ $element2 \ <</if>>\ chi. Signs of its elemental powers almost escaped your senses because of how weak it is, but it's certainly there. This Soul Treasure //could// help give you a small boost in Aura Pressure thanks to your Shugendō powers. <</if>>\ #use-if (((($shards + ($silver / 10)) + ($gold * 10)) gte (100 * $discount)) and ($skillmanbought lte 3)) Examine the Skill Manual. -> "ch3-market-caravan-skillbook" Skill Manuals are similar to Path Manuals except they teach the tricks of any trade or craft rather than combat secrets. Unlike a simple skill guide, however, they are made from Soul Treasures and can be absorbed to gain knowledge, muscle memory, and confidence in the actions you read upon within their pages. <<var $skillcost (100 * $skillmanbought)>>\ A book that you read for information, then break down into chi and absorb for experience. The fast way to become an expert overnight. #use-if ((($shards + ($silver / 10)) + ($gold * 10)) gte (60 * $discount)) Examine the Weighted Clothing. -> "ch3-market-caravan-weights" Training with weighted clothing is a staple exercise for poorer areas like yours. You can't rely on natural aura forever, even if you thought you could at first. Absorbing Shards, landing an ideal Heavenly Gate all to yourself...You didn't realize how easy it was at first. Training under Big Chu showed you otherwise, how hard you have to work your body and spirit to get every scrap of power. Weighted Clothing makes it even harder. But they say it gives increased returns, so in the end it's worth it...Maybe. It could also get you killed if you're attacked while weakened from the excess weight. #use-if (((($shards + ($silver / 10)) + ($gold * 10)) gte (80 * $discount)) and ($factotumblessing)) Examine the Factotum's Blessing. -> "ch3-market-caravan-factotum" A single item grabs your attention more than most. A shining golden rock the size of your palm, layered in handseal sigils. It reminds you of a keystone but its power feels completely different. "Oh, you like that?" asks a badger(?) Yokai woman in her mid 40s working the stall, "Most Sect members don't confess to wanting those, so I'll keep it hush hush if you want to buy it up." "What is it?" You ask. "Ahhh, you've been putting in hard work on your life tasks I see, rare for warrior caste if you're not so offended in me saying. This thing right here is a Factotum's Blessing, an enchanted guidestone. It gives the user some experience in a subject but only the bare basics. Still, it's a permanent help and cheaper than most Skill Manuals. Interested?" ''[The Factotum's Blessing will give you +1 to any Skill in which you have 0 ranks.]'' #use-once Pickpocket fellow shoppers. [Thievery Check] <<var $honor - 3>>\ Security should be tighter than usual but it's the opposite. The exceptional guards are either training to compete in the Trials or training to be a more impressive presence when making deals at the Trial grounds. That leaves the newbies. Every Thunderfall Sect disciple is trying to get extra Shards right now to advance their Cores further and that means the guards on shift don't know what to look for. <<if ($thievery gte 3)>>\ ''[Thievery Check Passed]'' Which is why you rob the guards. You don't just walk away with some coinage, you walk away with a spirit fruit one of them must have been saving for their training. It's a mellow flavor, like a melon, and it pushes your aura pressure a little harder. <<rand $val 5 10>>\ <<apboost $val>>\ <<rand $val ($thievery * 5) ($thievery * 10)>>\ ''[Item Gained: $val Shards]'' <<var $shards + $val>>\ ''[Item Gained: 50 Silver]'' <<var $silver + 50>>\ <<elseif ($thievery gte 2)>>\ ''[Thievery Check Passed]'' Which is why you make off like a bandit. Visitors from out of town are the obvious targets but you also manage to sneak your deft hands into the pocket of some Thunderfall Sect students to weaken the competition. <<rand $val ($thievery * 5) ($thievery * 10)>>\ ''[Item Gained: $val Shards]'' <<var $shards + $val>>\ ''[Item Gained: 50 Silver]'' <<var $silver + 50>>\ <<else>>\ ''[Thievery Check Failed]'' You try to believe when the going gets tough you have what it takes to make it. But you don't. Slipping your hand into a traveler's pocket is the last time that week that you're able to use your wrist, as they slam a hardened fist against your forearm before calling the guards. You spend the week in a small steel cage wasting away until the esteemed visitor, apparently some upper disciple of another Sect, leaves. <<aploss 10>>\ Upon your release you immediately take a bath. <</if>>\ <<var $val 0>>\ <<page "Continue" "ch3-market-caravan">>\ #Go back. -> "ch3-market" <</choose>>

<<choose "ch3-market-caravan-factotum2">> #use-once Purchase the Factotum's Blessing [80 Shards] <<var $val Math.round(80 * $discount)>>\ <<costcalc $val>>\ The stone glows in your hands. You break it down with your will, cycling its spiritual essence into your spirit. [Choose which Skill to increase.] <<var $factotumblessing false>>\ #Go back. -> "ch3-market-caravan" <</choose>>

<<choose "ch3-market-caravan">> #use-if ($alchemy is 0) Alchemy <<var $alchemy + 1>>\ ''[Alchemy + 1]'' #use-if ($athletics is 0) Athletics <<var $athletics + 1>>\ ''[Athletics + 1]'' #use-if ($craft is 0) Craft <<var $craft + 1>>\ ''[Craft + 1]'' #use-if ($deception is 0) Deception <<var $deception + 1>>\ ''[Deception + 1]'' #use-if ($handseals is 0) Handseals <<var $handseals + 1>>\ ''[Handseals + 1]'' <<fuuinjutsudescription>>\ #use-if ($insight is 0) Insight <<var $insight + 1>>\ ''[Insight + 1]'' #use-if ($lore is 0) Lore <<var $lore + 1>>\ ''[Lore + 1]'' #use-if ($perception is 0) Perception <<var $perception + 1>>\ ''[Perception + 1]'' #use-if ($persuasion is 0) Persuasion <<var $persuasion + 1>>\ ''[Persuasion + 1]'' #use-if ($stealth is 0) Stealth <<var $stealth + 1>>\ ''[Stealth + 1]'' #use-if ($survival is 0) Survival <<var $survival + 1>>\ ''[Survival + 1]'' #use-if ($thievery is 0) Thievery <<learnthievery 1>>\ #Nevermind. <<var $shards + Math.round(80 * $discount)>>\ <</choose>>

<<choose "ch3-market-caravan">> #use-if ((($shards + ($silver / 10)) + ($gold * 10)) gte (100 * $discount)) Purchase Skill Manual [$skillcost Shards] <<costcalc Math.round($skillcost*$discount)>>\ <<var $skillmanual + 1>>\ <<var $skillmanbought + 1>>\ #Go back. -> "ch3-market-caravan" <</choose>>

<<choose "ch3-market-caravan">> #Purchase the Weighted Clothing. [60 Shards] <<var $val Math.round(60 * $discount)>>\ <<costcalc $val>>\ <<var $weightedclothing + 1>>\ <<if ($weightedclothing is 1)>>\ ''[Weighted Clothing Increases AP Gained in Training, Fighting, or Time Passing, at the Cost of Reducing Agility by 1.]'' ''[Certain Attributes Will Increase the Bonuses from Weighted Clothing Such as the Earth Element, a Muscular Body, High Athletics, or the Midorikatai Style]'' <<if ($equippedoutfit is "Thunderfall Combat Gi")>>\ ''[By Equipping the Weighted Clothing, You will Lose the Thunderfall Gi's Bonus to Health!]'' <</if>>\ <</if>>\ #Go back. <</choose>>

As a Laborer child you only had Hag Mabel's hut to go to for various herbal remedies and faulty charms, but as a member of the Warrior Caste within the Thunderfall Sect you and your family have access to more potent charms, scrolls, and hexes that make up the sage's side of cultivation. Incense, seal tags, holy waters, shards of cursed Beast bones, and exotic inks line the shelves of this store alongside entire rows of sealed scrolls that contain valuable instruction on various Seals. Several items catch your eye in particular: •Scrolls that teach the Auspicious Northern Seal. [+1 Temporarily to Craft, Perception, or Survival] •Scrolls that teach the Auspicious Southern Seal. [+1 Temporarily to Deception, Stealth, or Thievery] •Scrolls that teach the Auspicious Western Seal. [+1 Temporarily to Athletics, Insight, or Persuasion] •Scrolls that teach the Auspicious Eastern Seal. [+1 Temporarily to Alchemy, Handseals, or Lore] •Scrolls that teach the Soulsoak Imbuement. [Give a weapon its own chi pool for various effects] •Scrolls that teach the Counterseal. [Undo certain existing Seals or Curses] •Scrolls that teach the Hungry Spirit Seal. [Reduces the cost of cycling Shards and increases AP gained from Gates.] <<if ($bannedfromsageshop)>>\ None of that matters, because you are banned. <<page "Oh well." "ch3-market">>\ <<else>>\ <<include "ch3-market-mystic2">>\ <</if>>\

<<if ($calcer gt 0)>>\ <<var $ritualcomponents + $calcer>>\ ''[Item Gained: $calcer Ritual Components]'' <<var $calcer * 8>>\ <<costcalc $calcer>>\ <</if>>\ <<unset $calcer>>\ <<unset $bingo>>\ <<include "ch3-market-mystic">>\

<<if ($calcer gt 0)>>\ <<var $ritualcomponents - $calcer>>\ ''[Item Lost: $calcer Ritual Components]'' <<var $bingo * $calcer>>\ ''[Item Gained: $bingo Shards]'' <<var $shards + $bingo>>\ <</if>>\ <<unset $calcer>>\ <<unset $bingo>>\ <<include "ch3-market-mystic">>\

<<choose "ch3-market-mystic">> #use-if ((($shards + ($silver / 10)) + ($gold * 10)) gte 8) Purchase Ritual Components. [8 Shards] How many would you like to purchase? <<var $bingo (((($silver / 10)) + ($gold * 10)) % 8)>>\ <<var $bingo (((($shards + ($silver / 10)) + ($gold * 10)) - $bingo) / 8)>>\ <<var $calcer 0>>\ <<input-number $calcer 0 $bingo "ch3-market-mystic-buy">>\ #use-if ($ritualcomponents gt 0) Sell Ritual Components. <<var $bingo (3 + $persuasion)>>\ <<if ($bingo gt 8)>>\ <<var $bingo 8>>\ <</if>>\ The young sage's apprentice takes a moment from binding scrolls to look through your collection of expensive inks, blessed seal tags, incense, and cursed animal bones. "Hmm." She says, adjusting her spectacles. "These seem fine quality. The owner says I can't offer more than $bingo Shards for each." How many would you like to sell? (Currently Owned: $ritualcomponents) <<var $calcer 0>>\ <<input-number $calcer 0 $ritualcomponents "ch3-market-mystic-sell">>\ #use-once use-if ((($hungryspiritritual is 1) and ($handseals gte 1)) and ((($shards + ($silver / 10)) + ($gold * 10)) gte 45)) Purchase the Hungry Spirit Seal scroll. [45 Shards] <<costcalc 45>>\ <<var $hungryspiritritual + 1>>\ ''[Seal Learned!! (Hungry Spirit Seal)]'' <<if (($race is "Oni") or ($race is "Kitsune"))>>\ <<if ($race is "Oni")>>\ ''[Racial Bonus: Oni connection to spirits]'' <<else>>\ ''[Racial Bonus: Kitsune connection to spirits]'' <</if>>\ ''[Cost to cycle Shards reduced even further.]'' <<var $hungryspiritritual + 0.35>>\ <</if>>\ #use-once use-if ((($northwindritual is 100) and ($handseals gte 1)) and ((($shards + ($silver / 10)) + ($gold * 10)) gte 110)) Purchase the Auspicious Northern Seal scroll. [110 Shards, Requires Handseals 1] <<costcalc 110>>\ <<var $northwindritual (6 - ($sealdiscount + $handseals))>>\ <<if ($northwindritual lte 0)>>\ <<var $northwindritual 1>>\ <</if>>\ ''[Seal Learned!! (Auspicious Northern Seal)]'' #use-once use-if ((($southwindritual is 100) and ($handseals gte 1)) and ((($shards + ($silver / 10)) + ($gold * 10)) gte 110)) Purchase the Auspicious Southern Seal scroll. [110 Shards, Requires Handseals 1] <<costcalc 110>>\ <<var $southwindritual (6 - ($sealdiscount + $handseals))>>\ <<if ($southwindritual lte 0)>>\ <<var $southwindritual 1>>\ <</if>>\ ''[Seal Learned!! (Auspicious Southern Seal)]'' #use-once use-if ((($westwindritual is 100) and ($handseals gte 1)) and ((($shards + ($silver / 10)) + ($gold * 10)) gte 120)) Purchase the Auspicious Western Seal scroll. [120 Shards, Requires Handseals 1] <<costcalc 120>>\ <<var $westwindritual (6 - ($sealdiscount + $handseals))>>\ <<if ($westwindritual lte 0)>>\ <<var $westwindritual 1>>\ <</if>>\ ''[Seal Learned!! (Auspicious Western Seal)]'' #use-once use-if ((($eastwindritual is 100) and ($handseals gte 1)) and ((($shards + ($silver / 10)) + ($gold * 10)) gte 120)) Purchase the Auspicious Eastern Seal scroll. [120 Shards, Requires Handseals 1] <<costcalc 120>>\ <<var $eastwindritual (6 - ($sealdiscount + $handseals))>>\ <<if ($eastwindritual lte 0)>>\ <<var $eastwindritual 1>>\ <</if>>\ ''[Seal Learned!! (Auspicious Eastern Seal)]'' #use-once use-if ((($wep1enchantritual is 100) and ($handseals gte 2)) and ((($shards + ($silver / 10)) + ($gold * 10)) gte 165)) Purchase the Soulsoak Imbuement scroll. [165 Shards, Requires Handseals 2] <<costcalc 165>>\ <<var $wep1enchantritual (8 - ($sealdiscount + $handseals))>>\ <<if ($wep1enchantritual lte 0)>>\ <<var $wep1enchantritual 1>>\ <</if>>\ ''[Seal Learned!! (Soulsoak Imbuement)]'' #use-once use-if ((($countersealritual is 100) and ($handseals gte 3)) and ((($shards + ($silver / 10)) + ($gold * 10)) gte 180)) Purchase the Counterseal scroll. [180 Shards, Requires Handseals 3] <<costcalc 180>>\ <<var $countersealritual (5 - ($sealdiscount + $handseals))>>\ <<if ($countersealritual lte 0)>>\ <<var $countersealritual 1>>\ <</if>>\ ''[Seal Learned!! (Counterseal)]'' #use-once use-if ($stolenscroll is false) Steal one of the scrolls. -> "ch3-market-mystic3" Robbing a store full of mystical Seals is a great way to get cursed, but you have decided it's in your best interest. The Auspicious seals seem more plentiful and get less attention by the two shopkeepers patrolling the store, but the Soulsoak Imbuement scrolls are each kept behind glass cases. The real prize, the two Counterseal scrolls, are even kept behind the desk where the sage looks over the shop. Stealing them would take a great deal more stealth but could be worth it in the long run. Which scroll do you try to steal out from under the watchful eyes of the shopkeepers? <<var $val 5>>\ #Leave the store. -> "ch3-market" <</choose>>

<<choose "ch3-market-mystic4">> #use-once use-if ($hungryspiritritual is 1) The Hungry Spirit Seal. <<if ($val isnot 5)>>\ <<var $val 10>>\ <<else>>\ <<var $val 0>>\ <</if>>\ <<var $sealname "Hungry Spirit Seal">>\ #use-once use-if ($northwindritual is 100) The Auspicious Northern Seal scroll. <<if ($val isnot 5)>>\ <<var $val 10>>\ <<else>>\ <<var $val 1>>\ <</if>>\ <<var $sealname "Auspicious Northern Seal">>\ #use-once use-if ($southwindritual is 100) The Auspicious Southern Seal scroll. <<if ($val isnot 5)>>\ <<var $val 10>>\ <<else>>\ <<var $val 1>>\ <</if>>\ <<var $sealname "Auspicious Southern Seal">>\ #use-once use-if ($westwindritual is 100) The Auspicious Western Seal scroll. <<if ($val isnot 5)>>\ <<var $val 10>>\ <<else>>\ <<var $val 1>>\ <</if>>\ <<var $sealname "Auspicious Western Seal">>\ #use-once use-if ($eastwindritual is 100) The Auspicious Eastern Seal scroll. <<if ($val isnot 5)>>\ <<var $val 10>>\ <<else>>\ <<var $val 1>>\ <</if>>\ <<var $sealname "Auspicious Eastern Seal">>\ #use-once use-if ($wep1enchantritual is 100) The Soulsoak Imbuement scroll. <<if ($val isnot 5)>>\ <<var $val 10>>\ <<else>>\ <<var $val 2>>\ <</if>>\ <<var $sealname "Soulsoak Imbuement">>\ #use-once use-if ($countersealritual is 100) The Counterseal scroll. <<if ($val isnot 5)>>\ <<var $val 10>>\ <<else>>\ <<var $val 3>>\ <</if>>\ <<var $sealname "Counterseal">>\ #Nevermind. -> "ch3-market-mystic" <<var $stolenscroll false>>\ <</choose>>

<<var $stolenscroll true>>\ <<if ($val is 10)>>\ ''[Seal Learned!! $sealname]'' <<include "ch3-learnnewseal">>\ With a second scroll wrapped around your tail it's definitely time to get out of the shop. You can always come back later when things have calmed down, but a fire and two missing expensive scrolls means Guards are on the way. <<page "Time to go." "ch3-market">>\ <<elseif ($stealth gte $val)>>\ ''[Stealth $val Check Succeeded]'' If there's one thing a sage's shop has in quantity it's flammable material. Not wanting to damage the shop too badly you decide on the empty Seal Tags to burn, placing a few crumpled pieces underneath a stack of paper and using a flint to set them on fire without alerting any Martial Artists nearby. By the time the pile starts smoking you've already moved to a different part of the store. All it takes is for someone to shout "Fire!!" for you to get into action. All eyes will be split between the fire and the shopkeepers, so you move smoothly to always be on the other side of the store from the shop owners as they run to put out the fire. That's when you nab the $sealname scroll out from under everyone's nose. ''[Seal Learned!! $sealname]'' <<include "ch3-learnnewseal">>\ <<if (($subrace is "Reptile") or ($subrace is "Monkey"))>>\ <<if ($stealth gte $val)>>\ ''[Race Event: $subrace Tail]'' As you're leaving the store it's hard not to take advantage of the distraction. An average thief would be satisfied with their success but that's because the average thief only has two good limbs for robberies. You're better than that. You've got a flexible tail. On the way out your tail wraps around a secondary scroll and picks up... <<include "ch3-market-mystic3">>\ <</if>>\ <<else>>\ Unfortunately a fire and expensive missing merchandise is the perfect recipe for Guards to show up. You can always come back later when things calm down but for now it's time to make yourself scarce. <<page "Time to go." "ch3-market">>\ <</if>>\ <<else>>\ ''[Stealth $val Check Failed]'' <<if (($subrace is "Reptile") or ($subrace is "Monkey"))>>\ ''[Race Event: $subrace Tail]'' ''[Failure Becomes Success!]'' Despite all eyes on you and a fumbling presence, you find your prehensile tail able to wrap around one of the scrolls without anyone noticing. It helps that they keep their eyes on your hands, the fools. ''[Seal Learned!! $sealname]'' <<include "ch3-learnnewseal">>\ Unfortunately expensive missing merchandise is the perfect recipe for Guards to show up. You can always come back later when things calm down but for now it's time to make yourself scarce. <<page "Time to go." "ch3-market">>\ <<else>>\ As you stealthily maneuver through the shop you manage to slip a scroll into your satchel when you think no one is looking. Unfortunately, someone //is// looking. Just as you step out of the doorway your body seizes up, paralyzed, as a Warding Seal on the entrance activates and drains every ounce of energy from your body with hostile Yin chi. "Another theft?" Asks a female guard near the door, a Thunderfall Lower Disciple...Who turns out to be Jack's female crony. "It seems so." Says one of the shopkeepers. "A month in the prison will sort $himher out." "Let's hope so." Says the guard as she lifts your over her \ <<if (($bodytype is "Handsome") or ($power gte 5))>>\ shoulder, copping a feel as she does so. \ <<else>>\ shoulder. \ <</if>>\ "I always knew you were stupid, <<cap $name>>, I'm just glad I get to prove it. Jack's going to ''love'' hearing about this." Your paralyzed body is hauled off to the jail for the next month and despite all your goals and aspirations, steel bars are nothing to scoff at. You serve the entire month sentence against your will. Kosuke visits, which is nice, but Father and Mother visit even more which is much worse. They subject you to talks about how disappointed they are in you. <<var $months - 1>>\ <<var $chispent 0>>\ <<var $agispent 0>>\ <<var $forspent 0>>\ <<var $powspent 0>>\ <<var $solspent 0>>\ <<if ($wounds gt 0)>>\ <<var $wounds - 1>>\ <</if>>\ <<page "Continue" "ch3-trainingseason">>\ <</if>>\ <</if>>\

<<if ($racercool is false)>>\ <<include "ch3-borace">>\ <<else>>\ <<include "ch3-market-caravan">>\ <</if>>\

survey your meditation chamber in solitude. There's not much to see. Four stone walls, stone floor, stone ceiling, a single half-foot by two-feet window near the ceiling to let starlight and sunlight in, and a mat for resting and meditating. You've had better accommodations in a tree. Nevertheless, you've got weeks to kill so if meditation is what you're tasked to do then there's nothing to it but to do it. Mother and Father didn't raise a slacker. <<include "ch3-meditateincell">>\

<<var $months - 1>>\ <<if (($slavesreturned is false) and ($underlings gt 0))>>\ The best news you hear during your meditations is that Jin tracked down your escaped \ <<if ($underlings gte 2)>>\ servants and dragged them \ <<else>>\ servant and dragged him back \ <</if>>\ kicking and screaming. Good on Jin, you honestly didn't think he had it in him. Not that you didn't think he could fight \ <<if ($underlings gte 2)>>\ them, \ <<else>>\ your underling, \ <</if>>\ but rather you didn't think he'd do anything useful for you. <<var $slavesreturned true>>\ <</if>>\ <<if ($val gt 0)>>\ <<page "Continue" "ch3-meditatedone2">>\ <<else>>\ <<page "Knock Knock" "ch3-temple-shugendo">>\ <</if>>\

<<if ($val is 2)>>\ Weeks fly by without any sign of this supposed Shugendō master. Eventually impatience takes its toll and you find Shrinemaiden Nina praying in the gardens outside with a cup of steaming tea beside her. Without any other guidance to go by, you ask what you're supposed to do after reaching your conclusions on meditation. She keeps her eyes shut in prayer while answering. "There are two important tasks for you to do." Says Shrinemaiden Nina, interrupted from her tea break. "One is to choose a new path of meditation. There are many important concepts to contemplate. Enlightenment does not come quickly." "And the other?" "Hm?" Nina cracks an eye open and looks to you. "Other what?" "The other task, what's the other task I have to do?" "Ah yes, your other task is to stay the fuck away from my sister." Her scalding tea is already splashed upon your face before you notice her grab the cup. "Pig." It takes longer to clean up than one would expect. Apparently Shrinemaiden Nina likes her tea with honey. <<elseif ($val is 1)>>\ <<if ($maidenbang is 100)>>\ More weeks \ <<else>>\ Weeks \ <</if>>\ go by in mostly silent meditation. Occasionally you feel spikes of power whenever an Inner Disciple arrives from the Sacred Lands, one of the five Inner Kingdoms, but you pay them no mind except to hope they're your Shugendō master finally arriving. It never is. Jin meanwhile had taken up meditation on his purpose in life and found he was purposeless so long as he was trapped under the thumb of a tyrannical $patriarch. Very rude of him to say out loud, and \ <<if ($ruthless gte 54)>>\ he's right about your tyranny because he will pay for that later. \ <<elseif ($ruthless lte 50) and ($honor gt 50)>>\ a bold-faced lie, that honorless cow wouldn't know tyranny if you beat him with it. \ <<else>>\ not entirely untrue. \ <</if>>\ Afterwards he gave up meditation to hunt in the surrounding mountain to bring food for the Temple's communal kitchen. Everyone loves him now, while you're just seen as \ <<if ($maidenbang is 100)>>\ the local philanderer. <<else>>\ another reclusive pilgrim. <</if>>\ It's an odd reversal from your Thunderfall popularity with the other Laborers. Still, the opinions of passersby don't matter. You're here to master Shugendō and if that means weeks wasted in meditation then it's not a waste at all, it's a cost. One you'll gladly pay. <</if>>\ <<var $val - 1>>\ <<include "ch3-meditateincell">>\

<<choose "ch3-meditatedone">> #use-once Meditate on the justification of force. <<if ($ruthless gte 60)>>\ You \ <<else>>\ Hour after hour, day after day, you \ <</if>>\ sip your water and meditate on the purpose and justification of violence. Honor and ego in the Martial World cause a cold and unforgiving life for many. It's not uncommon in any province across the known world for peasants to be killed over the smallest slight against great Martial Artists and it's a miracle that Crusher Mao never removed your whole family's head. As a Laborer you were originally born on the wrong side of that equation and it's easier for you to understand the fear and uncertainty of the peasants. At the same time, you're not at the top of the ladder. Not nearly. Showing a degree of force to slights and insult is an important defense against the perception of weakness. Were a carriage rider to be late, would you forgive him? Would you mock him? Strike him? Kill him? <<if ($ruthless gte 60)>>\ ''[Ruthless Check Passed]'' The answer is a resounding "All of the above, in reverse order." Man, you wrapped that one up in minutes. This meditation stuff is easy. You smuggle some heavy rocks from outside and spend the next weeks on weightlifting in your meditation chamber instead. <<apboost 5>>\ <<weightexp>>\ <<if ($maidenbang is 100)>>\ Everything's going well in your muscle training until \ <<include "ch3-temple-okboomer">> <</if>>\ <<else>>\ The answer isn't an easy one. If you let him go unharmed you could very well lead to his entire family's death. Such leniency could easily convince him that other Martial Artists would be as forgiving, plus nearby Martial Artists may think of you as weak and see an opportunity. You could fight one or two, but cowards gang up on their targets. Is a bit of mercy to a stranger worth risking everything? Your success benefits your family, you can't be selfish and throw it away to feel good about yourself. But does that mean you have to be just as bad as everyone else? What is the right middleground to reach? Similar thoughts and scenarios, circumstance and consequences, run through your mind in silent meditation until \ <<if ($maidenbang is 100)>>\ <<include "ch3-temple-okboomer">> <<else>>\ a universal truth of violence seeps into your understanding: violence is only okay if the strong allow it. Ain't that a bitch. <</if>>\ <</if>>\ ''[Violence Comprehended, Power and Fortitude EXP Increased]'' <<var $powexp + 6>>\ <<var $forexp + 3>>\ <<var $ruthless + 1>>\ <<apboost 2>>\ #use-once Meditate on the meaning of life. The meaning of life is a tougher concept for your than the others, because Big Chu's training had you risk your own life constantly for almost no gain. What was it for? Why risk the one life you have? But try as you may, you can't feel bad about taking those risks. Life should be sacred, it should have a purpose and a goal and fulfillment, yet all you've thought of for years was your next challenge. After weeks of meditation you come to a dark yet satisfying conclusion. In this Martial World of power there are so many threats not only to you but those around you. Anything you build, anyone you know, can be in danger from pompous rivals, savage Beasts, or evil spirits. When your spiritual cultivation began you thought it was to build up enough power to be safe from these threats, but now you know better. All that grueling spiritual cultivation wasn't for a sense of security, it was to be better than them. To prove them wrong. Anything that thought it could threaten you should consider //you// the threat, and deep down you don't want to go back to a peaceful life now that you've gotten started. The reality is, you'd rather fight for your life than live it. ''[Life Comprehended, Fortitude and Agility EXP Increased]'' <<var $forexp + 6>>\ <<var $agiexp + 3>>\ <<var $ruthless - 2>>\ <<apboost 4>>\ #use-once Meditate on the existence of freedom. Being forced by others to meditate on the existence of freedom is a heavy irony that you have plenty of time to appreciate. Most scholars agree of the Heavenly Dao, a cosmic force atop the chain of the Celestial Bureaucracy that acts as the Judge over mortal life. Yet if such an entity is to be believed, are the choices that you make really your own, or is everyone guided by a Heavenly plan? It's an unsolvable debate, or so you thought at first. Each day you sit in contemplation on different sides of the argument and read different scrolls theorizing what the Dao truly is, though by the end of your meditation you reach an epiphany above the petty squabbles of 'intellectuals': The answer lies in Ascension. The most powerful Martial Artists in history have ascended to the Heavens as greater beings. If the Heavenly Dao is a very real thing that judges all mortals, then the solution is to no longer be mortal. Either the Dao can't stop individuals from ascending, or their ability to leave the mortal plane behind is within the laws of the universe. Real or not, the control of the Dao ends with Ascension and that means only one thing. "All this power..." You mumble to yourself in your meditation chamber. "All this time, it's really a journey for freedom." <<if ($underlings gt 0)>>\ "Does that mean \ <<if ($underlings gte 2)>>\ we're \ <<else>>\ I'm \ <</if>>\ free to go?" Asks your pressganged \ <<if ($underlings gte 2)>>\ underlings huddling \ <<else>>\ underling huddled \ <</if>>\ in the \ <<if ($slavesreturned is true)>>\ corner. <<else>>\ corner for the last week after Jin tracked \ <<if ($underlings gte 2)>>\ them down and dragged them back \ <<else>>\ him down and dragged him back \ <</if>>\ kicking and screaming. <<var $slavesreturned true>>\ <</if>>\ "No." <<else>>\ An apt deduction that you didn't need concepts of the Dao to reach; you've been hunting for enough power to be free from under Mao's boot for years. <</if>>\ ''[Freedom Comprehended, Agility and Soul EXP Increased]'' <<var $agiexp + 6>>\ <<var $solexp + 3>>\ <<var $honor - 1>>\ <<apboost 2>>\ #use-once Meditate on the concept of duty. Duty is split between loyalty, and that is where the meditations gain purpose. Who do you truly owe a duty to? The obvious answer is your family. Yet would any village survive if every Warrior Caste fled with their families at the sign of danger? Barring the Masters of legend, only an army can defeat an army. Every Martial Artist must be willing to risk their life for more than just their family. Even your town of Thunderfall only continues to exist because Crusher Mao and the other Martial Artists of the Thunderfall Sect occassionally risked their lives to kill a dangerous Spirit, Beast, or invaders. Without a sense of duty among the strong, weak families like yours would never have survived. You feel as if you're fighting against nature with these thoughts. Of course your family should come first, they //raised you//, yet if that's the case then why did you fight Taio? You knew you were facing a multitude of opponents alone, yet you went anyway. If you died, your family would be abandoned. Was it a sense of duty to your Village? Your Sect? Or was it a sense of duty for your own honor? Your own pride? Or was it not duty at all, perhaps you merely felt desperate to improve for the Trials. <<if ($maidenbang is 100)>>\ "Excuse me young man," says an exceedingly elderly woman with...huh, no aura. "I couldn't help but hear you mumbling in your meditations about duty, and I just want to say that's such a nice thing to see the next generation care so much." "Thank you honored elder, I-" "So next time consider that you have a duty to letting others sleep in peace, and stop making so much noise with that loud priestess at night." A few of the other meditating pilgrims chuckle at that and even more silently nod in agreement, keeping their eyes closed and pretending to meditate. <<if ($ruthless lt 50)>>\ "Thanks, y-you too." Damn, you have absolutely no defense against an old woman so frail that a gust of wind might kill her. She really did get you with that too. <<else>>\ Your teeth grind together and absolutely seethe at this old, frail lady. Any retribution you seek would kill her. Hell, a gust of wind might be the end. A vein appears on your reddening forehead as you grit your teeth and hiss out, "Th-Thank you for the advice." <</if>>\ <<else>>\ After weeks of meditation on the concept of duty you can say with certainty that it's a trait of survival. Throughout all of history the Sects that lacked a sense of duty were abandoned by their fighters. Only the cultures that prioritized duty had the unity required to conquer their scattered rivals and pass on their ways. As odd as it seems, in this Martial World of power, duty is not enforced by society. Society is enforced by duty. <</if>>\ ''[Duty Comprehended, Soul and Power EXP Increased]'' <<var $solexp + 6>>\ <<var $powexp + 3>>\ <<var $honor + 2>>\ <<apboost 2>>\ <</choose>>

<<var $age + 1>>\ <<var $shards + ($commerce * 2)>>\ <<if (($element1 is "Earth") or ($element1 is "Ice"))>>\ <<var $an "an">>\ <<else>>\ <<var $an "a">>\ <</if>>\ <<timepass>>\ It happens in the middle of a cold winter's night. You're resting in a cave dug into one of the nearby mountains. Only two days remain before you have to leave for the Trials and you're still not ready; you've been training in the wilderness relentlessly the last week for any last advantage. \ <<if ($roc gte 2)>>\ $rocname is off hunting for prey. You're quite proud of her development, she's bigger than most adult eagles despite being adolescent. But you can't watch over her all the time now that she's learned to fly, so you rest while she's out. <</if>>\ From deep within a dream you feel the impression of natural energy in the back of your mind, its aura pressure immense. There's no mistaking this feeling since it's what lead to your first Advancement. The land's natural energies have grown unstable and it's venting some of that energy out, a bounty of natural chi waiting to be claimed. A Heavenly Gate. You awaken immediately. It takes seconds to ditch your blankets and don the Thunderfall combat gi before running out into the late winter air where you're hit with heavy rain. Wait, rain? It was freezing cold when you went to bed, and what happened to all the stars? The sky is completely dark. That's when a violet bolt streaks across the horizon and illuminates the dark nimbus that blot out the moon. Storm Aura! It's a Heavenly Gate of storm aura and it's happening right over your head! <<page "Continue" "ch3-mountain2">>\

<<if ($jadedragonfoundation is false)>>\ <<achieve "dogwhisperer">>\ <</if>>\ <<var $metfang 13000000000>>\ <<var $fangrep + 12>>\ <<var $fangcombat + 1>>\ The two of you adopt meditative positions twenty feet apart, backs facing away from each other, her fluffy white wolf's tail knocking wind against you with each wag mid-meditation. Together, you cycle. Power flows through the air faster than anyone ever warned you. Storm Gates are nothing like the first one you cycled; it takes constant effort to hold enough chaotic energy in place to compress it into your spiritual cores. The entire process is made that much harder by the distracting thundercracks all around your mountaintop and the constant rain slapping you in the face. Luckily you have all night and nothing interrupts you. The storm rages for hours upon hours. You can't even tell when daybreak arrives due to the potent aura enriching the storm's dark clouds. But you hold strong and after fourteen hours of exhausting chi compression and painfully stressing your aura and Cores, it's done. You rise to your feet to bask in the glorious sun breaking through the clouds. The power is yours. <<apboost 50>>\ <<if ($element1 is "Storm")>>\ ''[Storm Element Bonus: Aura Pressure +10]'' <<var $aurapressure + 10>>\ <</if>>\ <<if ($hungryspiritritual isnot 1)>>\ ''[Hungry Spirit Ritual]'' Using your knowledge of handseals you're able to form a quick sigil-circle on the stone ground around you that aids in storing some of the storm's chi around your aura. It will enter your Cores as soon as you've processed the surging power that's already filled them. <<if ($handseals gte 2)>>\ <<var $val (5 + (3*$handseals))>>\ <<else>>\ <<var $val 5>>\ <</if>>\ <<apboost $val>>\ <<else>>\ ''[Handseal Check Failed]'' It occurs to you that there might be some kind of Seal to aid in aura absorption but you've never heard of it. <</if>>\ <<if ((($element1 is "None") and ($element2 isnot "Storm")) or (($element1 isnot "Storm") and ($element2 is "")))>>\ <<include "ch3-mountain-element">>\ <<else>>\ <<page "Continue" "ch3-storm-after">>\ <</if>>\

In the thunderous power cycling through your body and soul there lies a budding consciousness calling out to your own. An aspect of the Storm itself yearning to merge with your power. Do you answer its call? ''[Elements can be used to solve several problems by spending Chi. Most Martial Artists can only learn 2 Elements in one mortal lifetime.]'' <<choose "ch3-storm-after">> #Embrace the power of the Storm. [Learn the Storm Element] <<var $auracolor "violet">>\ <<if (($element1 is "None") and (($insight lt 2) and ($race isnot "Oni")))>>\ <<var $element1 "Storm">>\ <<var $element1rank 1>>\ <<elseif ($element2 is "")>>\ <<var $element2 "Storm">>\ <<var $element2rank 1>>\ <<elseif ($element1 is "None")>>\ <<var $element1 "Storm">>\ <<var $element1rank 1>>\ <</if>>\ Instead of contesting the Storm chi you embrace it, letting its crackling lightning burst in flashes throughout your spirit, carving new lines of power. The pain subsides quickly to make way for invigorating energy, sparks exploding all around your body. Just as you grow accustomed to the feeling a set of massive lightning bolts crash down upon you from the storm clouds, all at once. Instead of contesting the Storm chi you embrace it, letting its crackling lightning burst throughout your spirit. Every bolt carves new lines of power. The pain subsides quickly to make way for invigorating energy. Electricity jolts all around your body. Just as you grow accustomed to the feeling a set of massive lightning bolts crash down upon you from the storm clouds, all at once. Seizing up in that flash you look into the eye of the storm and it looks back upon you. You've never felt more alive. Gazing into the soul of primordial forces of nature you feel as if you stand on the highest land. That you have inside you the blood of Kings. That you have no rival, for no one can be your equal. This is true power, the power that will take you to the future as an immortal. <<page "Continue" "ch3-storm-after">>\ #Deny the call of lightning, your Elemental power lies elsewhere. <<var $val 0>>\ <</choose>>

You've been wishing for a Storm Surge for the entire year. Surges of Storm Aura are the hardest to get to, you have to enter the storm clouds to get any real results, but that's why they're the richest bounty in Thunderfall. Less competition. The natural energy in the deep western sea where the storms form is far more potent and dangerous than the natural energies of your mountainous outer Province. There are very few flying creatures in that ocean to get up to the storms and harness their power, and the rare flying coastal Martial Artists can only absorb a fraction before they have to descend. Cycling disturbs active Techniques. You, however, live in high elevation. You can climb mountains higher than the clouds and sit down within the storm, meditating for hours or days until it passes. Heavenly Gates of Storm Chi are feasts for your village, your spirit's natural prey. You just have to get to the nearest peak before anyone else does. <<page "Continue" "ch3-mountain3">>\

Dark stormy winds blow rain into your face and violet lightning cracks overhead to overpower even the sound of your own quick footsteps slapping against heavy puddles. You rush through the gravel trails and climb smaller cliffsides for shortcuts, eager to close the six miles between you and the peak that actually enters the clouds. <<if ($element1 is "Wind")>>\ There's no time like the present to test out your Elemental powers. With a focus of will you envision the air beneath your feet as condensed swirling springs, waiting for the right signal. A sliver of chi sets that signal and gusts appear under each step, bounding you through the air thirty feet at a time. <<apboost 5>>\ <<elseif ($element1 is "Light")>>\ There's no time like the present to test out your Elemental powers. A focus of will and a sustained output of chi connects your body to the property of light, which is always moving. You don't move nearly as fast as light but you do triple in running speed and leave a white outline behind you as if you were surging an Agility Core. The difference is, this isn't just a dash. It's your speed for the whole voyage. <<apboost 5>>\ <<else>>\ It's a long trek and you thank the Heavens you were already this close. For everyone else in town it's three times as long. <</if>>\ The mountain's trail finally leads you into the heavy dark clouds touching the land like a black fog. Raw power emanates through the air. "Danger." Whispers Taio. You leap in surprise and sweep your left leg in a full circle arc, hitting nothing. When you land you check your surroundings and see nothing as well. Try as you might you cannot find signs of the man. The mud around you is undisturbed save for the constant rain that blocks your vision, and the chi of the Heavenly Gate blocks your spiritual senses even worse. Minutes pass without issue while you stay on guard, searching your surroundings until you wonder if you're just hearing things. Suddenly a distant burst of violet lightning illuminates your surroundings once more. In its light you see a figure standing ahead on the steep trail, not the demonic cultivator you expected but an outsider nonetheless, one you recognize. Tian Fang. <<page "Continue" "ch3-mountain4">>\

The two of you have barely spoken in her whole year at your village. Her mission to train everyone took up all her time, and your mission was to train without her. You didn't imagine you'd have to deal with her as competition at any point before the Trials. A quick spiritual scan tells you no other Aura Pressures can be sensed from the mountain below. If you really were hearing things then this entire storm's natural energy is yours for the taking at its strongest hour. If not for Tian Fang blocking your way. <<if ($stealth gte 2)>>\ ''[Stealth 2 Check Passed]'' But what is "blocking", really, when she's occupying herself with cycling and you can just go around. A nudge of will pulls your chi inward and masks your aura pressure. You dip into the bushes to your left and sneak passed the woman quiet as can be. Trees are scarce and growing scarcer so close to the peak so you trudge a half mile further up to be safe, using the storm's dark clouds to hide you, and sit to cycle. Absorbing the storm's Heavenly Gate shocks your Cores with every spiritual inhale but you hold it steady and process as much as you can as quickly as you can. <<rand $val (7 * $stealth) (9 * $stealth)>>\ <<apboost $val>>\ <<if ($element1 is "Storm")>>\ <<var $val (4 + (Math.round($val * 0.2)))>>\ ''[Storm Element Bonus: +$val Aura Pressure]'' <<var $aurapressure + $val>>\ <</if>>\ <<var $val 0>>\ After twenty minutes of deep meditation you sense an attack and leap to the side. Pale blue icicles pierce into the earth where you were sitting a moment before. Your eyes follow the trajectory course and see your attacker. Tian Fang's horizontally raised leg glows with a pale blue light. She's \ <<else>>\ ''[Stealth 2 Check Failed]'' You step on a twig at your approach. She spins in place and sends a pale blue light of chi over her leg, raising it and <</if>>\ pointing her bare foot at you as if it were a loaded crossbow. "Hhh...Thunderfaller...The former Laborer, correct?" Her face is flush and sweating with fever. "Why do you remain days after the rest of your Sect departed for the Trials, do you believe yourself strong enough to brave the roads alone?" You've been training on this mountain for half the week and had absolutely no idea that everyone left already. "...Yes." Nailed it. She pants with strained breaths. "Apologies...you cannot be here right now. This Heavenly Gate is my payment for training the lower disciples, you need to leave. Most quickly." She leans over and grabs her chest with one hand. "As in immediately, please and kindly." "I never agreed to anything like that." You say flatly. There's no way you're surrendering such a power-up before the Heavenly Ascension Trials. "I never received your training either, so I have as much a right to be here as anyone." Her left foot inches back in preparation, arms raising. It's only now that her puppy-like facade drops and you recognize the wolf underneath. "Thunderfaller, I-hngg! A...Ack! A-AGH!" She grabs her head in both hands recoils. "Y-You need to leave! You need to leave NOW!" Immediately you see something is off with the Mountain Hazard disciple as her voice booms louder with each word. Her hair raises on edge. Her fingertips extend, thicken, sharpen. Her whole body trembles and tenses, flexing uncontrollably, and with each writhing twist of her torso she seems to grow another inch. The convulsions end as quickly as they started and she looks up at you with amber eyes instead of her natural brown. You can't help but notice the pronounced canine teeth she bares in her growl. "Fang?" You ask just before she launches an icy blast at your feet. You jump back and she drops to all fours, snarling like a Beast, with her tail horizontal and stiffly tight like a wolf about to strike. <<if ($portraitpics is true)>>\ <<image "https://www.auraclash.com/assets/images/feral-fang.jpg">>\ <</if>>\ "IT'S MINE!" She screams as if in pain, wrenching her head around with each word. "THIS STORM IS MINE!" Instantaneously she lunges twenty feet at you while you leap back twenty feet of your own, keeping the same safe distance. The two of you circle each other in the middle of the pouring rain. By the luminous constant lightning you can see it in her eyes when the rage finalizes its control over her mind. She's gone feral. <<choose "ch3-fightfang-prep">> #use-if (((($element1 is "Light") or ($element1 is "Wind")) or ($element1 is "Storm")) or ($agility gte 4)) Attack her before she can react. <<var $fighting true>>\ <<var $fangambushed true>>\ <<var $fanghealth - 1>>\ <<var $ruthless + 2>>\ <<if ($agility gte 4)>>\ ''[Agility 4 Check Passed]'' This Yokai chose the wrong disciple to threaten. You're one of the fastest students in Thunderfall and if she believed you wouldn't use that to your advantage then she's a fool. The distance between the two of you disappears immediately as you rush in and deliver a gut-punch followed by a spinning kick to the chin when she hunches over. You send her airborne but she recovers and lands on her feet, spitting blood at the ground once. She growls and her shoulders shake, seeming more bestial by the minute. You hold one hand up and motion for her to come. <<elseif ($element1 is "Light")>>\ <<var $chispent + 1>>\ She must have not seen you coming earlier because otherwise she'd know you still have your Light speed enhancement active. You charge in to close the distance fast and hit her with a palm strike to the mid-section that forces her to throw up, launching her towards a nearby boulder. ''[1 Chi Spent]'' A follow-up attack is cut off though when she twists in mid-air and lands on her feet. <<elseif ($element1 is "Wind")>>\ <<var $chispent + 1>>\ "If it's //your// Heavenly Gate then why can //I// do this?" You taunt and spend a fraction of chi from your Cores to seize control over the wind around her. A spinning globe of green power forms above the girl before she catches on, then unwinds into a singular gust that pummels her into the ground like a massive fist. ''[1 Chi Spent]'' Generating so much potent wind is for advanced fighters, but you're in a Heavenly Gate of storm chi. The wind is already there. She gets off the ground, forehead bleeding, icy glowing mist radiating off her body. With one sleeve she dabs the blood on her brow and looks at it in shock, then back to you. Her fangs seem to grow and she lets out a howl. <<elseif ($element1 is "Storm")>>\ <<var $chispent + 1>>\ A quick glance at her pale blue energy almost makes you laugh. "Is that Ice chi? Did you bring Ice to a Storm fight?" With a focus of will and push of chi you call the storm's electrical power into focus around Mountain Hazard's star pupil and shock the shit out of her, generating a field of violet lightning all over her body. She screams, violently convulsing, and her tail stiffens until the power around her is spent. ''[1 Chi Spent]'' You're about to charge in and finish this fight when she surges a Fortitude Core to recover and swipes a claw at you, but you pull back in time. This is going to be fun. <</if>>\ Both your auras surge to full power and the battle begins. #"Then I challenge you to a duel for it." "We both claim the same thing," you say while circling, "so let's settle this like Martial Artists. Tian Fang, I challenge you to a duel for this Heavenly Gate." <<var $honor + 4>>\ She examines you for a moment from on all fours, nails digging into the rocky ground with every step. She flips her hair back and looks you in the eyes more clearly. Then she smiles, wide and predatory. Challenge accepted. <<if ($element1 is "Ice")>>\ Both your auras of icy mist ignite simultaneously. \ <<else>>\ <<cap $auracolor>> chi ignites around your body when your aura activates. Her body glows with an icy blue mist in response. \ <</if>>\ She lunges at you and the battle begins. #Raise my hands. "Fang, it's okay. I'm here to help you." <<var $ruthless - 3>>\ <<if ((((($persuasion gte 1) and ($race is "Yokai")) or (($persuasion gte 1) and ($background is "Trapper"))) or ($persuasion gte 2)) or ($subrace is "Wolf"))>>\ <<if ($persuasion gte 2)>>\ ''[Persuasion 2 Check Passed]'' <<elseif (($background is "Trapper") and ($persuasion gte 1))>>\ ''[Special Event: Trapper Background, Difficulty Reduced.]'' ''[Persuasion 1 Check Passed]'' <<elseif (($persuasion gte 1) and ($race is "Yokai"))>>\ ''[Racial Check Passed, Difficulty Reduced.]'' ''[Persuasion 1 Check Passed]'' <<elseif ($subrace is "Wolf")>>\ ''[Racial Check Passed: Wolf Yokai]'' <</if>>\ <<apboost 5>>\ Her right ear twitches and she looks from side to side, expecting a trap. Sensing none, she growls gutturally, her body lowering to the ground. That's better than attacking, so you continue. "My Sect might have given up on this Heavenly Gate, but the Beasts and spirits haven't. You sit there and cycle, and I'll sit here and cycle. If anything comes to attack us it'll sense us both. Together. Nothing around here would even dare to attack our combined might. The Heavenly Gate only lasts so long, if we //both// claim this territory we can cycle for the entire storm instead of wasting time fighting every interruption." Tian Fang shifts her weight to her arms while on all fours, twitching forward and visibly stopping herself from attacking on sheer willpower every passing second. Her every movement a battle of control that's only exacerbated by the thundercracks all around you. Slowly, ever so slowly, she shifts weight to her hind legs and rolls to a seating position, folding her barefoot feet to a more-human meditative stance. The aura around her lessens and you sense natural aura spiraling around her. She's cycling. You take a seat opposite of her and do the same. <<page "Continue" "ch3-mountain-diplomacy">>\ <<else>>\ ''[Persuasion Check Failed]'' Tian Fang lunges at you with a claw extended, swiping four gashes into the legs of your pants. <<var $fangambushyou true>>\ <<woundcheck 1 true false>>\ //So much for diplomacy!// You think while rolling out of the way of a second swipe from her foot. <<if ($element1 is "Ice")>>\ Both your auras of icy mist ignite simultaneously. <<else>>\ <<cap $auracolor>> chi ignites around your body when your aura activates. Her body glows with an icy blue mist in response. <</if>>\ The battle begins. <<include "ch3-fightfang-prep">>\ <</if>>\ #"Fool, the only surge you'll be getting is my fist surging into your face!" <<var $maorep + 5>>\ <<var $ruthless + 3>>\ Your body blazes with $auracolor power as you charge at the girl, her shocked expression betraying that she really thought you'd leave. Maybe \ <<if ($jadedragonfoundation is false)>>\ her Aura Pressure is higher than yours, or maybe \ <</if>>\ she's got some specialty she's known for, or maybe she's studied you in practice from a distance. Whatever it was, whatever reason she had for being confident, it flies out the window when she gets punched in the mouth. You landed a glancing blow, only managing to bloody her lip, but it shakes her bravado. She jumps twenty feet back and spits a single mouthful of blood to the side. Both your auras surge to full power as the battle begins. #I take the loss and leave. /* like a bitch */ <<var $metfang 14000000000>>\ <<var $ruthless - 5>>\ <<var $honor - 3>>\ "Look, if it's that big of a deal then you can keep it." You say with disappointment. <<var $fangrep + 3>>\ She responds only with a howl and turns back to the dark storm clouds touching the peak like a fog. She puts one foot in front of the other and disappears behind the swirling clouds. Damn it. So close, but you shake your head reluctantly. You can't fight an ally village's star pupil, \ <<if ($honor gte 52)>>\ it would be dishonorable if she really was promised this Heavenly Gate as a payment. \ <<var $honor + 5>>\ <<elseif ($ruthless lte 48)>>\ you might hurt her. \ <<else>>\ it's too big a risk of injuy, especially with the Trials coming. \ <</if>>\ You turn around and sprint off to another peak hoping to get a shred of chi before the Heavenly Gate ends. The next peak is normally five hours away but you make it in three, exhausted beyond physical limits. <<apboost 4>>\ <<if ($weight gte $chapter)>>\ ''[Weighted Clothing Bonus: Aura Pressure +3]'' <<var $aurapressure + 3>>\ <</if>>\ After too long spent gasping for air and soaked to the bone you drop into a meditative stance to cycle the natural chi flowing all around you before it runs out. <<if ($roc gt 0)>>\ $rocname lands behind you and shakes happily, soaking in the Storm chi. "Yeah must be nice to have been able to fly this whole time." You say to her. "Caw!" She replies. "Probably been absorbing it in the sky the while I ran on the ground like a fool." "Caww!" "Nah two against one would've been rude." "Caw." You two keep chatting for a bit through the night as you cycle what you can until the morning light breaks through the thinning storm clouds. \ <<var $roccombat + 1>>\ <<else>>\ It's more difficult to cycle storm chi than you expected, but you pull in what you can little by little. Each breath feels like a spark and your nerves shout warnings constantly despite the safety granted from your Cores. Hours of intense focus and meditation pass until the morning light breaks through the thinning storm clouds. <</if>>\ <<apboost 25>>\ You fall asleep on the mountain peak and rise hours later to head home, ragged but better off than you were yesterday. <<page "Continue" "ch3-departure">>\ <</choose>>

<<var $fangrep + 5>>\ She reaches into her bra and pulls out some sort of green pill that she swallows. Fang stands, her robes muddied and soaked in the storm, and you can feel chi flowing through her veins from the fast-acting refinement pill. "That was not the real me, it was an embarrassing condition I inherited from my mother." She turns to you and bows at the waist, wet hair flopping over her head so her wolf ears stand out. "This one humbly apologizes for her actions." <<choose "ch3-nice2fang2">> #"Apology accepted." <<var $fangrep + 2>>\ "Apology accepted." You say. "Phew, thank you much." "Don't mention it." "I did not plan to!" Fang says with one finger elevated for excited emphasis. "Though I must confess this entire situation is why I had requested a Heavenly Gate alone as payment, and I ask that you keep this a secret. You see, I have an...allergy." "An allergy?" "To Heavenly Gates. They cause me to enter bestial regression, a rare Yokai disease. It's lead to many, many complications." #"Apologize? You attacked me like a rabid animal!" <<var $forexp + 2>>\ "Apologize?" You say, waving a weakened hand theatrically despite the muscle strain all over your body, "you attacked me like a rabid animal!" She kicks one leg back playfully. "Hah! <<cap $manwoman>> versus Beast, a tale as old as time. When next we meet I swear to be more cordial! I have an unfortunate allergy, you see, an allergy to Heavenly Gates. It's why I requested one alone as my payment from your Sect. I most humbly ask that you please keep this a secret." "You have an allergy...to power?" "Oh Ancestors no, that would make life much more difficult. I can handle Advancement elixirs, Beast meat, Soul Treasures, rituals, even the presence of nature spirits. But I //do// have an allergy to unrefined natural power entering my body. Spirit fruit and Heavenly Gates. It causes bestial regression, a rare Yokai disease." <</choose>>

"Does it hurt? Is it useful in a fight?" "Very much yes, and very much no! My training abandons me on such occasions as if my instincts were all I've ever had. It is //quite// vexing actually." She stretches and lets out a peep mid-stretch. "Oh that smarts most painfully. I fear my body is filled to bursting with power and my muscles are not happy over it, yet still I must be departing most hastily if I am to reach the Trials." She twists and turns, stretching her back after the beating you gave her. "I underestimated you, Thunderfaller." She looks around and sighs, "And missed an opportunity for it, by the looks of the sun ignorantly smiling upon us. Well fought." It's a surprise to see her to revert to niceties after the clobbering you both delivered to each other's face while she screamed like an animal, but it seems that's the path she's chosen. <<if ($ruthless gte 54)>>\ You nod in return. "I did fight well, didn't I?" <<else>>\ You push the awkwardness down and bow back. "Well fought." <</if>>\ <<page "Continue" "ch3-nice2fang3">>\

Fang rises from her bow and looks down at Thunderfall Village in the valley below, taking in a deep breath through her nose. "You know Thunderfaller, your village is much like mine. It possesses two or three promising disciples leading handfuls of lost souls. Far too many in the Outer Provinces only play at the Martial Arts..." She turns and meets your eyes, her amber irises returned to their natural brown. "Protect them if you can. The danger of the Trials are said to be a league above what our senseis planned for us. The weak will depend upon our strength." <<if ($jadedragonfoundation is false)>>\ You don't quite know what to say. The idea of you protecting Thunderfall Disciples sounds backwards, you're the one who's been trying to catch up for so long. <<else>>\ You're not sure how to answer such a plea. On the one hand, with your Jade Dragon Foundation, you're so far above the other Thunderfall disciples that you don't think of them much anymore. \ On the other hand, perhaps due to your draconic spirit, the idea of someone taking something away from you fills you with a cold rage. Thunderfall is your home. Whatever lies within it is not for anyone else to destroy, even if it's the Lower Disciples you've never cared for. <<if ($ruthless gte 52)>>\ Ancestors, you hope this dragon-greed doesn't make you waste time protecting those idiots. <<else>>\ Ancestors, how much of your personality is based on being a reborn dragon from thousands of years ago? You live a strange life. <</if>>\ <</if>>\ "Or do not." \ <<if ($jadedragonfoundation is true)>>\ Fang \ <<else>>\ She \ <</if>>\ says with a twitch of both ears. "I have observed they do not like you much anyway. A jealousy of your quick natural rise perhaps? If so I can understand. You //are// my rival now, after all." "I don't know if I have room for more rivals." Tian Fang smiles at that. "I'm sure you can make room." Ice manifests under her bare feet and she starts to slide downhill, accelerating from a soft glide into a full skate as she gets further down the steep mountainside opposite the village. To the west. To Nanhou. "See you at the Trials, \ <<if ($fangrep gt 50)>>\ <<cap $name>>! \ <<else>>\ Thunderfaller! \ <</if>>\ Don't be late!" <<page "Continue" "ch3-departure">>\

It's done. It's finally done! After months of painstakingly pushing all of your chi into the Earthly Prowess Pill, it finally holds a solid glow of spiritual stability when you run out of chi. You look down on your beautiful creation and cackle. The glowing blue pill has grown twice its old size and the red liquid around it is bubbling in a spiral as if it were one of your Cores. An apt description, since this pill is a Core in consumable form. Many Martial Artists speak of "Advancement Elixirs" but they mean concoctions that //help// them Advance into having a new Immortal Core. The Earthly Prowess pill is a literal Advancement Elixir, the kind you normally only see in aura-rich territories. Swallowing it immediately Advances one of your Cores. Well, unless you're unpowered. If you haven't already developed an aura there's a chance it kills you. Luckily you have. <<choose "ch3-pilldone2">> #Consume the Earthly Prowess Pill to gain +1 Power Core. <<var $power + 1>>\ ''[Aura Pressure +100]'' ''[100 Aura Pressure Allocated to Increase Power Core by +1]'' #Consume the Earthly Prowess Pill to gain +1 Fortitude Core. <<var $fortitude + 1>>\ ''[Aura Pressure +100]'' ''[100 Aura Pressure Allocated to Increase Fortitude Core by +1]'' #Consume the Earthly Prowess Pill to gain +1 Agility Core. <<var $agility + 1>>\ ''[Aura Pressure +100]'' ''[100 Aura Pressure Allocated to Increase Agility Core by +1]'' #Consume the Earthly Prowess Pill to gain +1 Soul Core. <<var $soul + 1>>\ ''[Aura Pressure +100]'' ''[100 Aura Pressure Allocated to Increase Soul Core by +1]'' #Save it for later. -> "ch3-trainingseason" <<var $earthlyprowess 2>>\ <</choose>>

<<var $earthlyprowess 0>>\ <<var $aurapressure + 100>>\ <<var $allocatedap + 100>>\ The sensation in your Cores is sharp and worrying. Your whole body shakes but not from muscle tension, it rattles as if something has grabbed a hold of your aura and whipped it back and forth. Your body simply follows the motion. After nerve-wracking minutes of attempting to control the violent tremors of your body and soul you realize it's already over, almost painlessly, and a spiritual scan shows your Cores surging brighter than moments before. This must be how royalty feels. <<page "Continue" "ch3-trainingseason">>\

<<page "Continue" "ch3-market-caravan">>\

<<if ((($weightedclothing gt 0) and ($equippedoutfit isnot "Weighted Clothing")) or ($weightedclothing gt 1))>>\ Do you give Rin a pair of weighted clothing for her training? <<choose "ch3-rintrain2">> #Yes. <<var $rincombat + 1>>\ <<var $weightedclothing - 1>>\ #No. <</choose>> <<else>>\ <<include "ch3-rintrain2">>\ <</if>>\

<<var $rincombat + 2>>\ Training with Rin is like herding cats. You tell her she needs to take a hit to the gut to toughen her Fortitude Core, and she dodges at the last second with a laugh. You want to train her Soul Core so you study tirelessly to learn how to generate a weak but sustained field of chi to batter her spirit for hours, and she purposefully gets sprayed by a skunk so you can't stand to be within range. You order her to climb a tree and catch a bird to train her Agility Core, and she throws down birdseed to bring the birds to her. You assemble a massive pile of rocks and tell her to move them across town to work her Power Core, and she has some neighborhood boys do it for her. What's baffling is her Aura Pressure is //still going up.// <<page "Continue" "ch3-rintrain3">>\

Finally one day you catch her making out behind a stable with some Oni boy, a younger Thunderfall student who joined after you. <<var $metrin + 1000000000>>\ It all clicks in your mind. She's been convincing him to give her Advancement Elixirs. <<var $val ($age - 2)>>\ In your head this would never happen, she's a peasant and a baby. It didn't really dawn on you until now that she's already $val and technically joined the Warrior Caste when you did, which means she outranks even the Merchants. At some point when you weren't looking, your sister became a catch for the boys in town. Gross. <<var $val 0>>\ You clear your throat and they both jump, startled. The Thunderfall student stutters something and dashes off in a flash of green by surging his Agility Core. As if you wouldn't recognize him at practice. "Half." You say when the boy is gone. Rin gets up and adjusts her hair, looking smug. "Half of what?" She replies, "I have no idea what you're talking about." "I want half the elixirs he's been giving you or I'm telling Mom and Dad." "You wouldn't!" She staggers back, all confidence lost. "I gladly would." <<apboost (30+$rincombat)>>\ <<weightexp>>\ <<if ($rinaura is false)>>\ ''[Your(?) mentorship has unlocked Rin's aura.]'' <<var $rinaura true>>\ <</if>>\ <<var $months - 3>>\ <<var $shards + ($commerce * 6)>>\ <<page "Continue" "ch3-trainingseason">>\

"<<cap $name>>!" Jin shouts in the middle of the night, barging into your room \ <<if ($jinaura is true)>>\ with the blurring speed of an Agility Core's surge. When did he develop an Agility Core? No matter, what's more important is he's \ <</if>>\ in his pajamas and heavily alarmed. A second later you realize why. There's a screech coming from the family sunroom. "It hatched!" He shouts as you muscle past him and sprint to your baby Roc egg. You've been keeping it in a warm nest and reading to it for weeks at night while resting your muscles, but there should be months more before it hatches. Yet there she is. Sitting in a pile of broken eggshell and blanket, covered in goo, is your new baby female Roc. She looks...so ugly. Like a naked bird the size of a child with the wrinkles of an old grandma, covered in kitchen grease. One day she will grow into a massive feathered eagle the size of your house that can aid you in combat but for now the poor animal's naked and afraid, squawking at you for food and warmth. You walk up and hold your little baby to get her used to your scent, then let your chi gently wash over the creature to get her used to your Aura Pressure. "It's okay little one." You whisper into the bird's ear. She bites your forearm. Good, you need a fighter. "Jin, bring me chopped meat. Lots of it. Little...uh, roc, here is hungry." <<var $roc 2>>\ You suppose it's time to name your bird. <<choose "ch3-roc-hatch2">> #Garuda <<var $rocname "Garuda">>\ #Anqa <<var $rocname "Anqa">>\ #Strix <<var $rocname "Strix">>\ #Munin <<var $rocname "Munin">>\ #Zu <<var $rocname "Zu">>\ #Something Else [Enter the Roc's name] -> "ch3-roc-hatch-custom" <</choose>>

Deciding that you know better than the famous names of the past, you choose to name your new pet Roc... <<textbox "$rocname" "Birb">> <<page "Continue" "ch3-roc-hatch2">>\

Father and Jin spend the next day reinforcing the roof above the living room so $rocname can play on it later without crashing through. You unfortunately have to wait until the night to go back to playing with young $rocname. There are more important preparations to make. The Trials are coming. <<page "Continue" "ch3-trainingseason">>\

/* Declare chapter's temp variables */\ <<var $earnfunds1 false>>\ <<var $earnfunds2 false>>\ <<var $earnfunds3 false>>\ <<var $earnfunds4 false>>\ <<var $earnfunds5 false>>\ <<var $earnfunds6 false>>\ <<var $earnfunds7 false>>\ <<var $earnfunds8 false>>\ <<var $earnfunds9 false>>\ <<var $earnfunds10 false>>\ <<var $demonheshe "she">>\ <<var $demonhishers "hers">>\ <<var $demonhimher "her">>\ <<var $months 12>>\ <<var $conversion 0>>\ <<var $bbuffed false>>\ <<var $librarybonus 0>>\ <<var $discount 1>>\ <<var $bingo 0>>\ <<var $skillmanbought 1>>\ <<var $libraryelem false>>\ <<var $skillgain 0>>\ <<var $sealname "">>\ <<var $racercool false>>\ <<var $freestuff false>>\ <<var $bannedfromsageshop false>>\ <<var $stolenscroll false>>\ <<var $racemethod "">>\ <<var $agifirstchoice false>>\ <<var $chubonus 0>>\ <<var $desletter 0>>\ <<var $lastsoultreasure true>>\ <<var $factotumblessing true>>\ <<var $noshugendo true>>\ <<var $deadsnake 0>>\ <<var $grimdamage 0>>\ <<var $jinjured false>>\ <<var $maidenbang 0>>\ <<var $priestbang 0>>\ <<var $slavesreturned false>>\ <<var $lifter 0>>\ <<var $butchered 0>>\ <<var $fangfightcounter 0>>\ <<var $fanghealth 5>>\ <<var $fangambushed false>>\ <<var $fangambushyou false>>\ <<var $usefire false>>\ <<var $val 0>>\ <<if ($subrace is "Wolf")>>\ <<var $mutt "lesser wolf">>\ <<elseif ($race is "Yokai")>>\ <<var $mutt "dumb mutt">>\ <<else>>\ <<var $mutt "Yokai mutt">>\ <</if>>\ /* Unset previous temp variables */\ <<unset $clue1>>\ <<unset $clue2>>\ <<unset $clue3>>\ <<unset $hustle>>\ <<script>>console.clear();<</script>>\ <<var $chapter 3>>\ <div class="fightingfont">Chapter Three</div>\ ''//In which life offers reprieve,//'' ''//A rival's hand is forced,//'' ''//And a perilous journey begins.//'' A life of weakness is a curse and a blessing. Those who live it face a meager existence plagued with danger and uncertainty. Those who leave it face a hunger pushing them onward with unrivaled determination. The future is reserved for those who fight further. <<page "Continue" "ch3-start2">>\

<<var $chispent 0>>\ <<var $powspent 0>>\ <<var $forspent 0>>\ <<var $agispent 0>>\ <<var $solspent 0>>\ <<var $wounds 0>>\ <<timepass>>\ The next morning you shake off the fading memories of a bad dream and enjoy a Beast-egg omelet prepared according to Big Chu's odd recipes that Mother insists on cooking (thanks Mother). <<if ($subrace is "Bovine")>>\ "This isn't right!" Protests Rin. "Cows don't eat eggs, they eat plants!" Mother rolls her eyes. "If you want to eat plants, honey, you can go out in the yard." Jin's ears perk up. "Whu-that's not fair! I want to go play in the yard!" ''"Go, both of you."'' Father says. When the twins finish running out the door Father gives a disapproving look and hands their portions to you. ''[Big Chu's Cooking Bonus: Aura Pressure +5]'' <<var $aurapressure + 5>>\ <<else>>\ ''[Big Chu's Cooking Bonus: Aura Pressure +3]'' <<var $aurapressure + 3>>\ <</if>>\ Afterwards you spot the twins doing some training of their own out in the yard. \ <<if ($subrace is "Bovine")>>\ Getting a better look at \ <<else>>\ Seeing \ <</if>>\ your siblings nearly full-grown and garbed in white training gi makes you almost not recognize the twerps you grew up with. Rin's been keeping her hair shorter lately, like a dusting brush, and you've heard gossip that she's trying to steal the boyfriend of some short-haired Thunderfall Sect girl. <<var $val ($age - 2)>>\ Jin on the other hand has shaved his head. \ <<if ($hairlength is "Bald")>>\ Glorious. \ <<else>>\ Weird. \ <</if>>\ <<if ((($yokaitrait1 is "cat ears") or ($yokaitrait1 is "wolf ears")) or ($yokaitrait1 is "fox ears"))>>\ <<if ($hairlength is "Bald")>>\ Except for \ <<else>>\ Especially with \ <</if>>\ his \ <<if ($yokaitrait1 is "fox ears")>>\ Kitsune \ <<else>>\ Yokai \ <</if>>\ ears. By the Ancestors, //why// did he shave the ears?! It looks...so wrong. Plus his \ <<else>>\ His \ <</if>>\ neck isn't thick enough to make him look tough yet, but at least he has time to fill out. They're both only $val. From the way they're sparring it seems your first Advancement lit a fire under their asses and their hair paid the price. <<if ($race is "Kitsune")>>\ Father is displeased at their growing power. If any of you manifest a second tail your charade is over, but you're unconcerned. You're Warrior Caste now and, oddly enough, entrenched in local politics between Khan and Mao. You doubt Khan would throw his trump card away over a technicality like you being a mythical Spirit-Beast. \ <</if>>\ You nod in approval at your siblings and leave your house to deal with... Nothing. No more chores, no more missions, no more disasters, no more distractions. Most of your childhood was spent under Father's tutelage or desperately seeking power. Once you finally had power, the Magistrate himself dictated your fate. Then Big Chu became your sensei, of a sort, and took charge of your life for the next painstaking year. There was always some adult hanging over you, but now everyone is busy preparing for the Trials with Tian Fang, who //would have// been dictating your fate as your new trainer...but you were banned from that training. Even Mao is refusing to give you missions. For the first time in a long time, you have the whole day to yourself. Probably even the whole year. You're your own $manwoman. <<include "ch3-choices">>\

After the storm subsides Tian Fang rises from behind you and wipes the mud off her soaked knees. You can see the animalistic traits clearly receding from her body, returning her to her normal self. "That was...Unusual." She says in her normal voice, then bows at the waist and lets her wet hair flop over her face. "Thank you very much for calming me down, clearly you have the wisdom of wrinkly old men." <<choose "ch3-storm-after2">> #"Don't mention it." <<var $fangrep + 2>>\ "Don't mention it." You say. "I did not plan to!" Fang says with one finger elevated for excited emphasis. "I do apologize for my behavior, it's why I had requested a Heavenly Gate alone as payment, and I ask that you keep this a secret. You see, I have an...allergy." "An allergy?" "To Heavenly Gates. They cause me to enter bestial regression, a rare Yokai disease. It has lead to many, many complications." #"Yeah that, what was that about?" "Yeah that," You say, waving a weakened hand theatrically despite the muscle strain all over your body, "what was that about? You looked ready to kill me. Not that you could." She kicks one leg back playfully. "Hah! Ever the confident one! But truly I do apologize for that behavior, I have an unfortunate allergy to Heavenly Gates. It is why I requested one alone as my payment from your Sect. I most humbly ask that you please keep this a secret." "You have an allergy...to power?" "Not truly, but to a surplus of natural power yes. It causes bestial regression, a rare Yokai disease." <</choose>>

"Does it hurt? Is it useful in a fight?" "Very much yes, and very much no! My training abandons me on such occasions. It is //quite// vexing actually." She stretches and lets out a peep mid-stretch. "Oh that smarts most painfully. I fear my body is filled to bursting with power and my muscles are not happy over it, yet still I must be departing most hastily if I am to reach the Trials." "Likewise." You say, remembering that you're two days behind the rest of the Thunderfall Sect. Tian Fang leans over to wring her hair out. Though she's soaked to the bone from the storm she looks cheery once again. "Then we leave as friends to meet again as rivals in Nanhou. I thank you again so much, Thunderfaller, you have surprised me in that you have an exceptional eye for tactics and diplomacy." <<if ($heshe is "he")>>\ <<if ($ruthless gte 55)>>\ Good to see someone understands the value of your brilliant mind. "I know," You say while wringing out the rain from your shirt, "and my name isn't Thunderfaller." <<else>>\ Wow, an almost-compliment. "Thanks," You say while wringing out the rain from your shirt, "but I have a name you know." <</if>>\ Tian Fang meets your gaze playfully, staring just a moment too long, and smiles. "I know." <<var $fangromance + 1>>\ Ice manifests under her bare feet and she starts to slide downhill backwards, \ <<else>>\ "Thanks," you say on autopilot after fourteen hours of mental and spiritual exertion, "you're not so bad yourself." "Let us hope not, the Trials will be unkind to those who are so bad themselves." Ice manifests under Tian Fang's bare feet and she starts to slide downhill, <</if>>\ accelerating from a soft glide into a full skate as she gets further down the steep mountainside opposite of the village. To the west. To Nanhou. "See you at the Trials, <<cap $name>>! Don't be late!" <<if ($roc gt 0)>>\ <<page "Continue" "ch3-storm-after2-roc">>\ <<else>>\ <<page "Continue" "ch3-departure">>\ <</if>>\

$rocname lands beside you as you watch the wolfgirl skate down the mountainside. You turn to your bird, who is noticeably bigger than this morning. After so long raising her as a baby giant eagle you'd almost forgotten she has Thunderbird in her direct lineage. "Storm chi suits you well." You say, sensing the flow of potent Storm energy surging through your pet bird that must have triggered its first Advancement to make her grow so much. "Cawwww!" $rocname replies in agreement, then takes off to find a deer to eat. She makes for poor company, but her constant hunting saves you a few Shards. \ <<var $roccombat + 1>>\ <<page "Continue" "ch3-departure">>\

<<if ($roc gt 0)>>\ <<include "ch3-stormroc">>\ <<else>>\ <<include "ch3-fang-wakeup">>\ <</if>>\

"Shit!" You curse to yourself once you sense a disturbance among the Storm aura above. A different type of chi is approaching you quickly, inhuman and potent. //Beast chi//. Numbness courses through your body when you flare your aura to life after stretching it so rapidly in the Heavenly Gate, but you have to ignore it. Beasts fight to the death. Sparks of unprocessed Storm chi shoot around you while powering up for a fight to the... A laugh escapes your lips when the presence gets closer and you let out a cheery whistle. The Beast descends from the dark clouds and lands next to you with a heavy thud. It's just $rocname, nuzzling your shoulder with her beak. "Good girl." You pat your now-much-larger bird and feel the weight of the world fall off your shoulders. No Beast fight today after all. You've spent so much time raising her as a baby giant eagle that you'd almost forgotten she has Thunderbird in her ancestry; the Storm chi is soaked into her like a sponge and must have triggered her first Advancement. She hasn't transformed into a Thunderbird proper but she has grown significantly, already up to your chest. "Storm chi suits you well." "Cawwww!" replies $rocname in agreement, then she takes off to find a deer to eat. Your Beast pet makes for poor company. At least her hunting saves you a few Shards. <<var $roccombat + 1>>\ <<page "Continue" "ch3-fang-wakeup">>\

Winning the Heavenly Ascension Trials will take more than just skill and luck. You're going to need a trump card. So far all your fights have relied on Advancing in the middle of battle to surprise your opponent. Each time was a risk and each time left you mere moments from death. Such a reactive strategy can only get you so far and not all Advancements can be done without preparation. It's time for you to stop cutting corners. It's time to be proactive. It's time to infuse your spirit with the power of an Element. The Art of Shugendō. <<if ($element2 is "Fire")>>\ The first element you mastered was through...less than savory means. Your act of brazen fiery death rained upon your enemies connected your spirit to the all-consuming heat of the element of Fire in a freak accident. It was awesome. But you want more. \ <</if>>\ Unfortunately you've never heard of a Shugendō trainer in Thunderfall Village outside of the Sect and you can't trust the ones inside the Sect. You'd have an easier time convincing a pig to fly than getting one of Mao's underlings to train Crusher Jack's rival. Luckily there's another option. <<page "Continue" "ch3-temple2">>\

You've been through much and don't deserve to be abandoned in the main hall, yet Shrinemaiden Mina is currently saving a traveler's life from frostbite. It's a noble goal, so I have no objection to donating my time in her place." <<if ($heshe is "she")>>\ A low exhale escapes your mouth as you look around pretending you have anything better to do. "I suppose it will have to do. \ <<else>>\ A waiting expression and two hands widely gesturing to the antechamber is all you offer the man in return. "It's not like I've got anything else to do. \ <</if>>\ Tour away." "Exquisite." <<page "Continue" "ch3-temple-angelo2">>\

Angelo guides you confidently to the center of the room. "This is the main chamber where we handle prayers dedicated to the Saints and, of course, dedicated to ourselves. Nine out of ten prayers are asking things of the Saints, which isn't as selfish as it sounds. People find religion when they need a guiding hand. There's nothing wrong with that." He proceeds to show you the different halls leaving the antechamber and explains their purpose. A medical wing, a wing for permanent lodgings, a wing for visitor lodgings, a more secured wing for alchemy ingredients and holy relics, and several others. When he mentions the indoor garden for foreign plants he confesses to attempting a grape vineyard and failing. As the two of you return to the antechamber Angelo begins to circle the room and you get a better look at the stone statues of various Martial Artists. Finally you simply ask, "What's with the statues?" Angelo inhales for a long while. "I pray you enjoy lectures, because that question will get you one. These are Saints of the Devanic Temple and the Sacred Lands, the most revered figures who provide our entire way of life." Angelo whispers while you pass two praying pilgrims. "Legends say that to be a Saint one must master the Sacred Land's mental-enhancing martial art of the Aoyusumu Style so proficiently that you can hear the unspoken pleas of those in need. Essentially, others can pray to you." Angelo lets out a deep sigh. "Of course that means any Aoyusumu practitioner can become one, even the less savory types. Not all Saints work for the Sacred Lands or Devanic Temple, but the title is generally attributed to us. Some of those you see here are heroes who gave their lives defending thousands, sometimes millions, and the rest are..." Angelo rubs his chin slowly, looking up at a particular statue. "The rest are what?" You ask while he stares off into space. He turns to you and, despite his large stature, seems childishly embarrassed. "I was thinking up a wise wording to say they're still alive but, for the life of me, my mind could not focus." His smile widens. "It's refreshing to admit the mistake. I used to be the kind of man who would make up an excuse." He looks down the hallway from which Shrinemaiden Mina left earlier. "Ah, she returns. Please excuse me." As Angelo walks down the hall to the medical wing you see Shrinemaiden Mina pass by him and excitedly wave to you. "<<cap $name>>!" She shouts, "Sorry that took so long!" <<page "Continue" "ch3-temple-mina">>\

Are you here seeking the Devanic teachings?" "Actually yes." Jin says before you can. You elbow him. "We're \ <<include "ch3-temple-seekingtolearn">>\

The isolated Devanic Temple is a sight to behold. Winding stairs spiral up the entire mountain until reaching the premises where several side buildings and gardens surround the grand multistory Temple building itself that puts the Magistrate's Grand Pagoda to shame. The entire complex is protected by a forty-foot stone wall that must help block the mountain's high winds. Between the powerful fighters, grand architecture, and \ <<if ($heshe is "he")>>\ attractive Shrinemaidens, \ <<else>>\ stylish miko robes, \ <</if>>\ you're beginning to understand why people turn to religion. With speed and grace the enormous dove Beast carrying you and your brother lands with a gentle flutter of its wings, releasing the two of you just above the ground. Jin tumbles to the ground and immediately rolls to his feet, "Ahem, thanks." He says trying to look composed after all that screaming mere seconds ago. It appears he's afraid of heights. "Heh. Such a good bird." He mumbles deliriously, patting the massive dove's beak before walking off at an angle. Then he falls over. The redhaired man cocks an eyebrow and leans off the side of the dove to get a closer look at Jin. "Does he need a healer?" <<if ($jinjured is true)>>\ Probably. "He was struck by the Grim's energies." "Why didn't you say so?!" The shrinemaiden in front snaps back, rushing to Jin and inspecting his wounds. "We have to get him to the healers immediately." She lifts Jin's arm and scoots under his shoulder to hoist him up. \ <<else>>\ He's probably okay, you think to yourself. "He's probably not okay, you ladies should check him for injuries." A sense of altruism flows through your soul in contentment. You're not just pawning Jin off so you can train in peace, you're pawning him off to a couple of attractive priestesses. Your good deed of the day. "I'll do it." Says the Shrinemaiden in the front, dismounting and hoisting Jin up on her shoulder. \ <</if>>\ "Dear sister, can you bring our guest here to a meditation chamber? I'll need to speak to our Shugendō sage after addressing this young one." <<if ($portraitpics is true)>>\ <<image "https://www.auraclash.com/assets/images/shrinemaidens.jpg">>\ <</if>>\ "As you wish, dear sister." Says the identical shrinemaiden from the back. She dismounts and smooths out her robes to formal standards before addressing you. "Follow me weary traveler, we will host you for as long as it takes the Shugendō master to be available." <<page "Continue" "ch3-temple-arrival2">>\

Your tour through the antechamber of the Temple reveals a high-ceiling massive circular room lined with statues of various robed Martial Artists, most with pilgrims kneeling at their likeness and meditating...or praying, you suppose. Auras radiate through the room from the concentration of dozens of pilgrims and it's not what you'd expect. You're stronger than at least half of these adults that are radiating white or cerulean chi in their meditation. "Have you noticed?" Asks the Shrinemaiden with a hint of pride. "Noticed what?" "Weak auras. Ever since coming to the Outerlands I've learned they're a death sentence in your wilderness due to Beasts in the region. Most Outerlanders are surprised when they find so many burgeoning Aura Pressures among our flock. It's because we encourage basic spiritual cultivation for all. They're safer than most because of their prayers to the Temple." The Shrinemaiden looks to one of the statues in awe as she speaks. It suddenly occurs to you that 'the shrinemaiden' isn't a name. Mother would slap you for bad manners. "Oh by the way, I'm $fullname." <<if ($maidenbang gt 0)>>\ She looks over her shoulder with a smile as she walks. "Better late than never. The other woman was my sister, Shrinemaiden Nina." "And what may I be so lucky to call you?" "How dear of you to ask," she replies playfully, "I'm-" <<else>>\ She snaps her fingers. "Oh darn it all, I was rude again wasn't I? Introductions, right. The other girl was my sister, Shrine Maiden Nina, and I'm-" <</if>>\ "Shrinemaiden Mina!" Shouts an elderly priest from the entrance of one of the many halls leading deeper into the Temple. "A traveler needs medical assistance in the southern wing!" "Coming right away!" Responds woman in front of you, Shrinemaiden Mina you presume. She turns to you first, impatiently skipping in place, "Remain in the antechamber please, I'll be back when I can and we can pick up where we left off." With that she dashes down one of the dimly lit hallways out of the main chamber. "I see I'm not alone in being left behind by our esteemed Shrinemaidens." A voice says from behind. <<page "Continue" "ch3-temple-arrival3">>\

<<if ($portraitpics is true)>>\ <<image "https://www.auraclash.com/assets/images/Angelo.jpg">>\ <</if>>\ Turning around reveals the redhaired Lunargoth that flew atop the dove with Nina and Mina. "Angelo, at your service." The man says with a short, courtly bow. "I apologize for the coarse hospitality; they left me out in the cold as well." He extends a hand offering a waterskin with blatant wine stains revealing its contents hold anything but water. "Would you partake of the holy potation with a humble pilgrim?" <<choose "ch3-temple-angelo">> #"No thank you." "No thank you." Angelo withdraws the wineskin and ties it to a belt on his robes. "Very well then, I'm afraid all I have to offer beyond drink is a tour. \ #"I don't take drinks from strangers." <<var $ruthless + 1>>\ You look down at the drink in the man's hand. "I don't take drinks from strangers." He chuckles lightly. "A lifesaving wisdom. Were you fortunate enough to inherit it from your parents?" "Among other sayings." He ties the wineskin back to his belt with no objection. "Very well. Then allow me to give you a tour of the Temple instead while we await Shrinemaiden Mina's return. \ #"It would be rude of me to decline." "It would be rude of me to decline." <<var $angelorep + 1>>\ "It certainly would," Angelo says, chuckling, "but I wasn't going to say anything." One drink from the wineskin is enough to surprise you at the quality of the drink. By the eighth gulp you're surprised by the quantity. It still feels full. "Is this waterskin enchanted with Seals?" "Afraid not, no Seal I've ever heard of could generate wine. A pity. The masses could certainly use it." He takes the wineskin back when you hand it over and enjoys a swig himself. "Shall I give you the tour of the Temple? \ #"Hell yes." <<var $honor - 1>>\ <<var $angelorep - 1>>\ "Hell yes." You say while snatching the wineskin from the redhaired Lunargoth and taking a long swig. "Can't say I'm a fan of the Hells." He says with a conflicted frown. "But at least you seem to be enjoying yourself. Shall I show you around the temple while we await Mina's return? \ #show-if ($heshe is "she") Hm, he's cute. "Only if you've got enough for the whole night." <<if (($bodytype is "Hourglass") or ($bodytype is "Bodacious"))>>\ <<var $angeloromance + 2>>\ <<var $angelorep + 4>>\ <<else>>\ <<var $angeloromance + 1>>\ <<var $angelorep + 2>>\ <</if>>\ "Only if you've got enough for the whole night." You extend a hand for him to kiss. "$fullname, the pleasure is yours." Angelo's cheeks flush and he immediately chokes on something he wasn't even drinking. "Ah-ha, right. I see you're versed in Lunargothic etiquette." He takes your hand gently, making it look small with the size of his own. The large holy man kneels and lays a light kiss brushing the top of your upper knuckles. He rises and hands you the wineskin. "Though I must say, it's mostly practiced in Outer East or the Wild Lands. Were I less traveled I'd have thought you were motioning for a handshake." "Lucky for us both that you're so well-traveled." You say, sipping his drink. "I'd like to be the same one day, coming here for Shugendō training is my farthest journey so far. What brings you to the Devanic Temple?" "Those in need." He says immediately and with purpose. His expression softens a second later. "Apologies, that sounds like preaching. In my defense, we //are// in a Temple. Where else are we to preach?" "Oh preach away," You reply playfully, "once I've finished this wineskin." Angelo hisses a cautious inhale. "We may be in danger, for that wineskin cannot be finished." You pull the drink away and notice its weight hasn't changed since you started drinking. "...Now //this// is the kind of miracle I can get behind." "You're in the right place, miracles are what we're meant to deal in. Shall I give you a tour around the Temple? \ <</choose>>

You nearly forgot that all of this was to learn the... <<choose "ch3-temple-element-darkness">> #Darkness Element for its stealth and trickery. [Stealth +1] <<var $txt "Darkness">>\ The power of Darkness is not a directly damaging Path at early levels but it is useful for debilitations and curses. Chaining an enemy to their shadow and making it run from them will throw off their control of their own body, obfuscating yourself in the shadows can hide even your aura, and conjuring yin-aspect darkness chi can let you rip through an enemy's aura to harm their soul directly. Some say the Darkness Element is evil, but you say it is effective. ''[Shugendō Elements are treated like Martial Arts Styles and will let you spend Chi to overcome certain challenges instead of relying on a Combat Cores or Skill Checks.]'' #Earth Element for its impenetrable defense. [Lore +1] -> "ch3-temple-element-earth" <<var $txt "Earth">>\ Too many Martial Artists and fantasizing children think of Paths as something you use to shoot flashy energy blasts or fight monsters. Most don't realize that it's much better to have a Path that protects you than to have one that hurts others. How many times have you tried to hurt someone in your life? How many times has Father? Compare that against how many times you've been hurt by something. The difference isn't even close. Defensive Paths are not only good for combat, but they're so much better for normal life that you feel Martial Artists on the Earth Paths are the only ones with common sense. Plus you can make cool rock armor and build objects from stone. ''[Shugendō Elements are treated like Martial Arts Styles and will let you spend Chi to overcome certain challenges instead of relying on a Combat Core or Skill Check.]'' #use-if ($element2 isnot "Fire") Fire Element for its dominating offense. [Athletics +1] -> "ch3-temple-element-fire" <<var $txt "Fire">>\ There is nothing, truly nothing, more iconic than a Fire Path. Fire is the raw energy of the world and chi is the raw energy of the soul. They go hand in hand. You can't imagine being a proper Martial Artist without having an aura of blazing fire or shooting a beam of flame at your opponents. One day you'll make it a reality. One day, your enemies will //burn//. ''[Shugendō Elements are treated like Martial Arts Styles and will let you spend Chi to overcome certain challenges instead of relying on a Combat Core or Skill Check.]'' #Ice Element for its control and utility. [Insight +1] -> "ch3-temple-element-ice" <<var $txt "Ice">>\ Ice aura is plentiful for half the year, landing mild Heavenly Gates across the land. It's the perfect choice for someone like you who needs a faster way of gaining power. Plus being able to form a sword from the ice sounds awesome, and slowing your opponents down has a multitude of uses. Oh yeah, it's all coming together. An Ice Path would do just the trick... ''[Shugendō Elements are treated like Martial Arts Styles and will let you spend Chi to overcome certain challenges instead of relying on a Combat Core or Skill Check.]'' #Light Element for its speed and support. [Perception +1] -> "ch3-temple-element-light" <<var $txt "Light">>\ Light Paths are less about hardlight like you imagined and more about actual light, and its many uses. Everyone considers the Light Element to be some symbol of hope or justice but after quick study it looks better suited for a trickster. Controlling Light chi allows you to alter your appearance, form illusions, fuse your body into a semi-Light state for speed, and blind your enemies with radiant flashes. Higher levels of mastery can even condense the Light energy to overload an enemy's aura. ''[Shugendō Elements are treated like Martial Arts Styles and will let you spend Chi to overcome certain challenges instead of relying on a Combat Core or Skill Check.]'' #Storm Element for its powerful energy. [Handseals +1] -> "ch3-temple-element-storm" <<var $txt "Storm">>\ Easily the toughest to find and the strongest for direct attacks, Storm Paths are the flashiest and most universally impressive on the list. You've heard rumors of users stunning their opponents and "riding" lightning to flash across the battlefield in an instant. Plus Storm chi can be used for its thunder aspect as well, turning what looks like a punch into a sonic blast. It's the perfect Path to make you into a legend. ''[Shugendō Elements are treated like Martial Arts Styles and will let you spend Chi to overcome certain challenges instead of relying on a Combat Core or Skill Check.]'' #Water Element for its versatility. [Deception +1] -> "ch3-temple-element-water" <<var $txt "Water">>\ While your village may be in the mountains, you know a large amount of the world is covered in water and used for shipping routes. A Path using the Water Element can be vital in traversing the seas safely, plus it can be used to enhance your physical might or use the environment's water supply against your enemies. Its only weakness is the same as its strength: its better around existing water sources. Only Advanced users can form their own chi into the massive amount of water needed for most attacks. ''[Shugendō Elements are treated like Martial Arts Styles and will let you spend Chi to overcome certain challenges instead of relying on a Combat Core or Skill Check.]'' #Wind Element for its force and mobility. [Thievery +1] -> "ch3-temple-element-wind" <<var $txt "Wind">>\ Wind Paths grant swiftness and heavy impacts that every iconic fighter is known for. You can generate immediate gusts of wind to knock opponents around, boost your own speed, move objects from a distance with rough control, throw Beasts off your scent by changing wind directions, and at advanced levels you can literally fly. It's hard to imagine how the other Elements can even compete. ''[Shugendō Elements are treated like Martial Arts Styles and will let you spend Chi to overcome certain challenges instead of relying on a Combat Core or Skill Check.]'' <</choose>>

<<choose "ch3-temple-element-learned">> #Yes, I came here to learn the Darkness Element. <<var $element1 "Darkness">>\ <<var $element1rank 1>>\ <<var $auracolor "black">>\ ''[Darkness Shugendō Bonus: Stealth +1]'' <<var $stealth + 1>>\ #No, I sought a different Element. -> "ch3-temple-element" <</choose>>

<<choose "ch3-temple-element-learned">> #Yes, I came here to learn the Earth Element. <<var $element1 "Earth">>\ <<var $element1rank 1>>\ <<var $auracolor "amber">>\ ''[Earth Shugendō Bonus: Lore +1]'' <<var $lore + 1>>\ #No, I sought a different Element. -> "ch3-temple-element" <</choose>>

<<choose "ch3-temple-element-learned">> #Yes, I came here to learn the Fire Element. <<if (($element1 is "None") and (($insight lt 2) and ($race isnot "Oni")))>>\ <<var $element1 "Fire">>\ <<var $element1rank 1>>\ <<elseif ($element2 is "")>>\ <<var $element2 "Fire">>\ <<var $element2rank 1>>\ <<else>>\ <<var $element1 "Fire">>\ <<var $element1rank 1>>\ <</if>>\ <<var $auracolor "red">>\ ''[Fire Shugendō Bonus: Athletics +1]'' <<var $athletics + 1>>\ #No, I sought a different Element. -> "ch3-temple-element" <</choose>>

<<choose "ch3-temple-element-learned">> #Yes, I came here to learn the Ice Element. <<var $element1 "Ice">>\ <<var $element1rank 1>>\ <<var $auracolor "arctic blue">>\ ''[Ice Shugendō Bonus: Insight +1]'' <<var $insight + 1>>\ #No, I sought a different Element. -> "ch3-temple-element" <</choose>>

<<var $months - 1>>\ The tiny $auracolor wisps of energy surrounding the $element1 Kami spirit dance playfully in your palm and despite the apple-sized mote having no eyes or mouth you swear it's smiling at you. "Have you noticed its presence?" Angelo asks as you gently pet the Spirit. "It's been drawn to you." <<if ($insight gte 2)>>\ ''[Insight 2 Check Passed]'' <<var $solexp + 1>>\ "I sensed something but all this time I assumed it was just natural energy." "In a way it was." \ <<else>>\ "No, has it been following me the whole time?" "It slowly grew more curious the longer you worked." \ <</if>>\ Angelo says, nodding down at the spirit with approval before waltzing to Jin. "Hup!" Angelo lets out as he hoists the boy up from the mud he'd slept on. Jin's face looks completely brown when he's supported on Angelo's shoulder, still sleeping. "Don't worry about the boy, he's gained more Aura Pressure from his meditations than he thinks but he's not ready for an Element. In truth all of this was for you specifically. It's not easy for Spirits to understand physical fatigue, so I needed you tired enough that it affects your spirit. Tired enough that the Kami understands your sacrifice." <<var $jincombat + 1>>\ "My sacrifice to what?" You doubt the Kami Spirit owns one of the rugs you've cleaned. "Its natural state. Kami are always found in civilization \ <<if ($txt is "Darkness")>>\ yet this Kami is a creature of Darkness. It embodies the dark and during the day it hides in houses." He cups a hand around the Kami spirit in your palm and his hand lets out a soft cerulean glow. "The poor thing loves people but doesn't understand our ways. All it sees is people always choosing to live in houses at night, and in those houses they almost always choose to stay on the rugs. Without rugs it fears it would be all alone. \ <<elseif ($txt is "Earth")>>\ and this one is associated to the purviews of Earth. Soil, rocks, even the plants to a small degree, though that's like saying our hair is a limb. It cannot control the plants but considers them part of its aspect." He rubs a cerulean-glowing finger over the amber Spirit in your hands. "It's seen what people do to its trees, and why they need to. When you repurposed all those fallen branches into posts the Kami realized many villagers wouldn't need to chop down a tree anymore. \ <<elseif ($txt is "Fire")>>\ and that goes double for Fire Kami. The hearth of every home is where they stay to fuel themselves and grow stronger, and that's why this little guy loves rugs so much. It knows they bring people to its workplace, and people bring fuel. It knows you've been maintaining the rugs of so many people so they can keep it company. \ <<elseif ($txt is "Ice")>>\ yet Ice Kami face a problem that most do not: they hurt people. Early or late winters lead to crop failure and freezing air leads to death, but this Kami needs to exist all year round. It feels less guilt outside the winter, but the only cold place it can stay then is indoor floors protected from the sun, but even then it gives discomfort to the people around it." He rubs a cerulean-glowing finger over the icy Spirit in your hands. "It appreciates you tending to the rugs so people can step on those instead and it doesn't have to hurt anyone. \ <<elseif ($txt is "Light")>>\ and Light Kami are some of the most approving of people. The sunrays that dry these wet rugs fall under the local Light Kami's purview and it's grown quite proud of its achievement. Light doesn't get to affect the physical very often, especially for such a minor Spirit, and its glad for the chance to do quality work. It also knows it only got the opportunity thanks to you. \ <<elseif ($txt is "Storm")>>\ but Storm Kami are the most starved. Most people have no source of lightning or thunder available to sustain a Kami spirit. The only thing it can feed upon are friction shocks, and dirty rugs don't cause them so much. All these cleans rugs will increase the amount of friction shocks generating all across the village." He rubs a cerulean-glowing finger over the purple Spirit in your hands. "An alarming but harmless sensation for the people, and a lifesaving fuel for the Kami. \ <<elseif ($txt is "Water")>>\ and that goes double for Water Kami forming in small village rivers. They tend to live in the waters used by villagers and shirk the waters upstream or downstream, an oddity that many sages study. This one in particular noticed that you constantly washed the rugs //downriver// from the village and it appreciates your etiquette in not dirtying its territory. \ <<elseif ($txt is "Wind")>>\ and Wind Kami are famous for enjoying new experiences, as they travel more than any other minor Spirit. This one's been impressed by the giant wall of floppy rugs you've laid out in so many villages, and it's been playing in them for days by blowing through them one way or the other. It's an experience this Kami has never gotten to do, which is important for wind. He cups a hand around the Kami spirit in your palm and his hand lets out a soft cerulean glow. "Wind must always be changing, or else it will fall apart. It thinks you knew that. \ <</if>>\ It thinks you've been looking out for it. Without knowing, in a way, you have been." <<choose "ch3-temple-wrapup">> #"That's stupid." "That's stupid." You say, "I'll bet you were going to come up with some rug-based allegory no matter what Element I was looking to learn." "Absolutely." Angelo says without shame. "Now hold still, despite your protests the Kami has chosen you. As you're strong enough to endure its energy and you've honored it well enough, it wants you to embody and grow its essence abroad." #use-if (($insight + $lore) gte 3) "I think I'm beginning to understand spirits." <<var $solexp + 5>>\ "I think I'm beginning to understand spirits." You say with a nod. It's all starting to make sense, they're not just auras given life and form. They're an actual part of something, and that governs what they're allowed to do or what they even want to do. Unlike living beings, their fuel isn't external, it's their lifestyle. Wind has to move and fears stagnation, Fire is in danger unless it consumes, Earth feels protective of things in its domain. Each Element isn't just a power. It's a personality. "I'm glad you're able to find not just knowledge but wisdom so easily." Angelo says with a light applause. "Now don't move, the Kami has decided that you are a person that embodies its element, and you're strong enough to do so, so it wants you to carry its essence with you." #"So what do we do with it now?" "So what do we do with it now?" You ask. "Now we do nothing. The Kami has decided that you are a person that embodies its element, and you're strong enough to do so, so it wants you to carry its essence with you." <</choose>>

<<choose "ch3-temple-element-learned">> #Yes, I came here to learn the Light Element. <<if (($element1 is "None") and (($insight lt 2) and ($race isnot "Oni")))>>\ <<var $element1 "Light">>\ <<var $element1rank 1>>\ <<elseif ($element2 is "")>>\ <<var $element2 "Light">>\ <<var $element2rank 1>>\ <<else>>\ <<var $element1 "Light">>\ <<var $element1rank 1>>\ <</if>>\ <<var $auracolor "yellow">>\ ''[Light Shugendō Bonus: Perception +1]'' <<var $perception + 1>>\ #No, I sought a different Element. -> "ch3-temple-element" <</choose>>

<<choose "ch3-temple-element-learned">> #Yes, I came here to learn the Storm Element. <<if (($element1 is "None") and (($insight lt 2) and ($race isnot "Oni")))>>\ <<var $element1 "Storm">>\ <<var $element1rank 1>>\ <<elseif ($element2 is "")>>\ <<var $element2 "Storm">>\ <<var $element2rank 1>>\ <<else>>\ <<var $element1 "Storm">>\ <<var $element1rank 1>>\ <</if>>\ <<var $auracolor "violet">>\ ''[Storm Shugendō Bonus: Handseals +1]'' <<var $handseals + 1>>\ #No, I sought a different Element. -> "ch3-temple-element" <</choose>>

<<choose "ch3-temple-element-learned">> #Yes, I came here to learn the Water Element. <<var $element1 "Water">>\ <<var $element1rank 1>>\ <<var $auracolor "blue">>\ ''[Water Shugendō Bonus: Deception +1]'' <<var $deception + 1>>\ #No, I sought a different Element. -> "ch3-temple-element" <</choose>>

<<choose "ch3-temple-element-learned">> #Yes, I came here to learn the Wind Element. <<if (($element1 is "None") and (($insight lt 2) and ($race isnot "Oni")))>>\ <<var $element1 "Wind">>\ <<var $element1rank 1>>\ <<elseif ($element2 is "")>>\ <<var $element2 "Wind">>\ <<var $element2rank 1>>\ <<else>>\ <<var $element1 "Wind">>\ <<var $element1rank 1>>\ <</if>>\ <<var $auracolor "emerald">>\ ''[Wind Shugendō Bonus]'' <<learnthievery 1>>\ #No, I sought a different Element. -> "ch3-temple-element" <</choose>>

<<if ($jadedragonfoundation is false)>>\ <<achieve "Maiden Heaven">>\ <</if>>\ <<var $metangelo + 100000000>>\ <<var $metmina + 1000000000>>\ "YOU'RE NOT SUPPOSED TO ''FUCK'' THE SHRINEMAIDENS!" Jin screams as he finds you lying motionless on your meditation chamber's sleeping \ <<if ($jinjured is true)>>\ mat. Even though he's the one covered in bandages with a sling on his arm, you're the one in worse shape. <<else>>\ mat. <</if>>\ "Wa...Water...Please..." Is all you're able to get out. Jin stomps off and returns with a bucket that he dumps over your head. A few sips enter your mouth. Precious, lifesaving water. The last three nights have been the greatest fight for survival of your life with shockingly few breaks to recover. Every minute was mindless bliss. Jin squats down and gets right in your exhausted face. "Do you have any idea how bad this is? How badly everything is ruined? No? I'll tell you." He starts holding up fingers with each reason. "Not only is your sin the talk of the Temple, not only is that Shrinemaiden on probation, and not only are we certainly //not// going to see a Shugendō master for weeks longer after the stunt you pulled, but more importantly than any of that." Jin kneels closer, holds up a fourth finger, curls all four into a fist, and slams that fist onto the stone ground near your head. "It should have been me!" He cries out. "It should have been me, not you! Damn every Saint to the ''Hells'', why did YOU get to live out MY fantasy?!" "Because..." You croak out. "You....would have...died." "I would have died HAPPY, damn it! Rrraaagghhh!" He grabs the water bucket in \ <<if ($jinjured is true)>>\ with his one good arm, \ <<else>>\ both hands, \ <</if>>\ spins, and hurls it at the wall so hard that it shatters to splinters. He then just stands there for several seconds, breathing heavily. "Feel....better?" "Yeah. Sure." Jin sighs in resignation, shoulders slumping. "That felt pretty good anyway. So...what now?" It takes three heavy breaths before you have the energy to reply. "Meditation." "In this shithole?" Jin looks around your room, a bare stone cell with a half-foot by two-foot hole near the ceiling for a window. "Do I get my own?" "Ask....Mina." "Very funny." Jin rolls his eyes and leaves out the door. Thank the Ancestors, he's finally grown up enough to not want to be around you. The sweet embrace of sleep steals you away for who knows how long before you finally feel ready to move. <<var $forspent - 1>>\ <<var $agispent - 1>>\ <<var $powspent - 1>>\ <<var $solspent - 1>>\ ''[1 of Each Core Replenished]'' <<page "Continue" "ch3-temple-maidenheaven2">>\

Bread and a bowl of water wait by your door when you awake and you sit-up on your sleeping mat. You suppose it's time to meditate, though that's not been much of your style. The only time Big Chu had you meditate was in dangerous situations or ice-cold waters. Sitting here, safe, does not feel like meditation. Nevertheless, since you're on the Temple's shitlist you might as well get to meditating. It will be a while before anyone forgives you. <<include "ch3-meditateincell">>\

Shrinemaiden Mina continues your tour until the two of you come to a steel door that she gently pushes open. Tension relaxes in your shoulders when you see there's no lock. "Here's where you'll be staying until our Shugendō master can assess you. Bread and water will be provided, but beyond that we ask that you stick to meditation while waiting for your assessment." She presses a fist to her chin, pondering. "It should be a few weeks, I think." "Weeks?!" "Unfortunately yes, but you've already come all this way haven't you? I assure you the wait is worth it, the one to assess you should be our Shugendō master but it could even be the local Saint himself." "Why can't you just assess me right now?" "All I can do is my prescribed duties and wish you a good night." She pouts. "The shrinemaidens duties do not include assessing if someone can or even should be trained." <<var $val 0>>\ <<choose "ch3-meditateincell">> #"Very well, good night Shrinemaiden Mina." -> "ch3-meditate-survey" <<var $val 0>>\ With a respectful bow you dismiss the Shrinemaiden and \ #"Isn't there something I can do to cut that time down?" -> "ch3-meditate-survey" <<var $val 1>>\ Waiting weeks is unacceptable. Especially because Jin is here and you know he'd rather latch onto you than talk to strangers. "Isn't there something I can do to cut that time down?" Shrinemaiden Mina frowns //immensely.// Her distress quickly grows into outright cringing. "Did I say something wrong?" "I'm afraid so. I'm not supposed to say this out loud but you're already being assessed and one of the traits we avoid is impatience. I'm so sorry but your wait time has already been moved forward by weeks longer." "Even more weeks?! This is outrageous!" Shrinemaiden Mina leaps in surprise at your volume and waves her hands out. "Shhh! Shh, shush! Calm down, don't make it any worse! Look I'm probably in trouble for telling you but it's not my favorite rule and I just can't stand to see people fail an arbitrary test they don't know they're taking. Please just meditate calmly for the duration and we'll have someone get to you when they can." This is such bullshit you think to yourself, out loud. Oops. Shrinemaiden Mina shakes her head in disappointment and slowly closes the door to your room, walking away before you can say something else incriminating. You're left to your own devices and \ #show-if (($heshe is "he") and ((($persuasion + $deception) gte 4) or (($maidenbang is 2) or ((($athletics gte 2) and ($maidenbang is 1)))))) "And yet you've been assessing me since we first locked eyes." [Seduction Check] "And yet you've been assessing me since we first locked eyes." You say, leaning against the room's doorframe and looking her up and down. "Are you flirting with me?" Mina asks, raised eyebrows betraying surprise and doubt. "I'm flirting //back at// you." You cup your hand under her chin and lift her eyes to meet your own. "I saw how you looked at me on the mountaintop, and I could never resist someone so majestic. Mina, the look of your beauty in the silhouette of the moon is a memory I'll carry with me for the rest of my life." <<if ($maidenbang gt 0)>>\ ''[Seduction Event Passed]'' <<else>>\ ''[Seduction Event Failed]'' ''[Persuasion + Deception 4 Check Passed Instead, You Sexy Bastard]'' <</if>>\ <<var $val 2>>\ <<var $maidenbang 100>>\ "Oh?" Shrinemaiden Mina asks, doe eyes gazing into your own. "And that's, um, that's the memory you want?" She hesitantly presses herself against you. When you give no resistance she takes one slow deliberate step into the room, pushing both of you into the meditation chamber where no one can see. Then she closes the door behind her and whispers into your ear. "Because I can give you such better memories." Suddenly she leaps upon you like a wild animal. The ravenous woman's lips hungrily meet your own while you catch her with both arms under her legs, all the better to press her against the wall as you kiss her back. She responds by wrapping her legs around you with an excited squeal and pulls her head back to meet your eyes with ferocious glee, flaring her cerulean aura with such sudden intensity that her miko robe explodes to shreds from the pressure alone. You flare your own power just to survive and push futher, shoving her aura down into submission as the two of you embrace in a violently passionate dance that tests the sturdiness of your room's stone walls all through the night. Then again the next night. And the next. <<spendall 0 true>>\ <<apboost 5>>\ <<page "Continue" "ch3-temple-maidenheaven">>\ #show-if (($heshe is "he") and ((($persuasion + $deception) lt 4) and (($maidenbang isnot 2) and ((($athletics lt 2) or ($maidenbang lt 1)))))) "And yet you've been assessing me since we first locked eyes." [Seduction Check] -> "ch3-meditate-survey" "And yet you've been assessing me since we first locked eyes." You say, leaning against the room's doorframe and looking her up and down. "Are you flirting with me?" Mina asks, raised eyebrows betraying surprise and doubt. "I'm flirting //back at// you." You cup your hand under her chin and lift her eyes to meet your own. "I saw how you looked at me on the mountaintop, and I could never resist someone so majestic. Mina, the look of your beauty in the silhouette of the moon is a memory I'll carry with me for the rest of my life." <<var $val 1>>\ "Oh, oh wow!" Shrinemaiden Mina gasps with a nervous blush, "Hold on I, I actually have something for this." She digs through her robes in some pocket you can't seem to see. "Ah, here it is!" <<var $combatstat "fortitude">>\ <<combatcheck 6>>\ <<if ($passcheck is true)>>\ Her fist cracks against your jaw to no effect and she pulls her hand back in pain. "Ow ow ow!" She hisses and leans over to blow on her knuckles. "Owwwww, I should have put more chi into that." "So that's a no, then?" You ask as she jumps up and down holding her fist with a grimace. She looks up \ <<else>>\ Her fist cracks against your skull so hard that your jaw pops out of place. There's no time to even register that pain however as your head slams into the side of the doorway and you crumple to the ground. <<if (((($fortitude / 2) + $health) - $wounds) gte 2)>>\ <<woundcheck 1 false false>>\ <<else>>\ <<aploss 2>>\ <</if>>\ Shrinemaiden Mina shakes out her fist and glares at you like she was looking at human garbage. "Sho that'sh a no, then?" You ask from the floor with a dislocated jaw. She looks down \ <</if>>\ at you incredulously. "Of course it's a no, I'm a //Shrinemaiden// and this is a //Temple//! If you wanted a brothel you didn't have to climb a mountain for it. Stop throwing away your progress and our good graces." "Noted." You say with \ <<if ($fortitude lt 4)>>\ an attempted \ <<else>>\ a \ <</if>>\ bow, trying to scrape your dignity back together. Mina begrudgingly bows back and walks away, leaving you to \ <</choose>>

one day a voice breaks your thoughts in the antechamber while you're \ <<if ($ruthless gte 60)>>\ 'enjoying' some bread on a fifteen-minute rest period. <<else>>\ contemplating before the statue of a Saint who died in a foreign Crusade. <</if>>\ "My stars, you're that disciple from Thunderfall!" The speaker is an elderly pilgrim, some meek passerby. "I heard of your troubles, it's so sad to know Sect Masters these days could abandon their own. You came to the Temple's Shugendō sage seeking wisdom, is that right?" "Sure is." You say \ <<if ($ruthless gte 60)>>\ between chews. <<else>>\ with eyes closing again for meditation. <</if>>\ "Let me give you some wisdom for free young man, if you're expecting to get help from the Temple then you shouldn't sleep with the Shrinemaidens!" He barks out a raucous laughter joined by snickers from several nearby meditators. "Have a little dignity young one, some of us were trying to sleep those nights." An epiphany finalizes your meditation: this is the perfect embodiment of violence justification. You're not supposed to hit this man for such a small slight, because \ <<if ($ruthless gte 60)>>\ the Temple priests are watching. <<else>>\ he is within his rights to judge you, at least while within the Temple that judges your actions. <</if>>\ You're supposed to hit him whenever you meet again later in life, //outside// of the Temple.

seeking to learn Shugendō elements for the upcoming Trials. We were born Laborers but have been elevated to Warrior Caste and ignored by my village's Sect Master. The Trials may be lethal without proper training so I have come here for help from the Temple." "We are at capacity \ <<if ($element2 is "Fire")>>\ unfortunately, especially for someone who has already attained control over the Fire Element by the feel of your aura," \ <<else>>\ unfortunately," \ <</if>>\ says the shrinemaiden in the back, "but if that's all true then it's as good a reason as any for admittance. I will sponsor your consideration to our Shugendō sage." "Quite decent of you." Says the redhaired man. "Very well." Says the shrinemaiden in front. "Then it is our duty to take you to the temple. Climb aboard." <<page "Continue" "ch3-temple-seekingtolearn2">>\

The dove Beast lands without the ground-shaking thud you'd expect from a Beast the size of a general store. It actually lands quite gently and looks at you warmly as if concerned for your \ <<if ($wounds gt 0)>>\ health. \ <<else>>\ well-being. \ <</if>>\ "Forgiveness ladies." Jin says, unsure where his eyes should look in the presence of two moderately attractive women who can kill him. "But where do we sit?" All three smile and the redhaired man answers first. "Apologies young one, you're not going to like the answer." The shrinemaiden in the back leans forward before the answering. "The feet." In that instant the dove leaps into the air with a flutter of its wings, grabbing you both gently in its talons. "Hold on, hold on wait!" Jin shouts just as the dove takes off into the night sky with an intense rush of wind from the majestic creature's incredible speed. Jin doesn't stop screaming until you reach the Temple on a neighboring peak. <<page "Continue" "ch3-temple-arrival">>\

"I'd say you've repented well enough." Comes a voice from the other side of your chamber's door. You open it to see Angelo with a plate of cooked fish covered in a savory yellow sauce. "And I couldn't imagine a diet of just bread for so long, so I prepared a celebratory dish." He places the plate of cooked fish down in your doorway. "When you're done we can begin training." Your mouth waters at the aroma after nothing but bread for so many weeks but you keep focused. "So the Shugendō master is finally here? I can have my assessment?" "Oh he is here, and you have been assessed." The Lunargoth nonchalantly brushes his nails against his robe. "I'm honestly not skilled at coming off as mysterious. It's me. I am your Shugendō \ <<if ($maidenbang is 100)>>\ trainer. I assume you know why I made you wait so long?" "Because I slept with-" "Because you slept with a Shrinemaiden, yes. At the least, I ask you make an //attempt// to keep your inner demons to yourself when we visit the villages down the mountain." <<else>>\ trainer." "Why didn't you just say so from the beginning? I expected the Temple to be more straightforward." "I just told you I'm not good at coming off as mysterious." He replies with a sly smile. "Therefor I needed the practice." He tosses you a bag of cleaning supplies. "Come when you're ready, we've got work to do in the villages down the mountain." <</if>>\ "What's down the mountain?" Angelo places his palms together and looks to the ceiling with satisfaction. "Exactly what you'd expect from a small village: those in need." <<page "Continue" "ch3-temple-shugendo2">>\

A quick shake of your head summons up your last coherent thought. "I don't get it, what does this have to do with the elements?" "Everything, my esteemed and temporary apprentice." Angelo takes the last rug from your hands and places it onto a drying rack. "Shugendō is not just some 'power-up' gifted to us like the Martial Arts Styles or an Advancement Elixir. It's a journey. A constant lesson needed to understand the trials and tribulations we go through and how they match or compare with the struggles and existence of natural forces." You nod along mindlessly as fatigue prevents the sentences from entering your thoughts. Angelo kicks a splash of water at your face that helps wake you up. "What I'm saying is, to truly understand the elements of Shugendō we must understand life." Before you can retaliate or answer he raises one fist palm-up and opens his hand. In its center is a small mote of energy that you swear is looking up at you. "This spirit is called a Kami, the starting form of many Spirits. Legend says they're created from our strong bonds to objects or places." Angelo holds the Kami out for you to take. "Go on, it won't bite. At least, it won't bite you." With an outstretched hand you accept the mote of energy, like a translucent dough ball glowing with the faint wisps of chi. An aura. A radiating sensation of appreciation flows through your body when the tiny Kami spirit lands on your hand. "Huh, I think it likes me." Deep down you like it as well. The little guy seems familiar, and it even reminds you of the element you came here to master in the first place. <<include "ch3-temple-element">>\

Winding trails lead you down the mountaintop from the Devanic Temple. The further you descend the more lush and green your surroundings become as the elevation level returns to the warmer atmosphere that can support life without assistance. Jin, Angelo, and yourself all follow several different map markers and trail signs until you find a small village in the valley built on both sides of a snowmelt river. It reminds you of home, if Thunderfall had no Sect and was 1/4th the size. "Let us begin here." Angelo announces, marching into what must pass for the town center. "Here ye, here ye, oh people of the village! Pilgrims have come on a great journey of humility to cleanse you of your filth." "Keep your voice down, you lout!" Shouts an old man from his window. "We're not some filthy beggars for you to pity, and we're not joining your cults!" Angelo smiles and raises his hands at the interaction. "Oh dear and honest worker, I meant no offense. It is not that these pilgrims are here to cleanse your //souls//." He looks back to you with a deceptively warm smile. "They're here to cleanse your rugs. For free." "Eh?" Says the old man, rubbing his ear. "Why would they do that?" "Because it's the right thing to do." Angelo replies without hesitation. "And because I told them to." The old man looks from Angelo to you, then back to his house. "I suppose they've gone a while without washing. Be my guest." "Wonderful." Angelo replies. "We'll do just that." <<page "Continue" "ch3-temple-shugendo3">>\

Angelo continues his pitch to the townsfolk for another hour, collecting as many rugs as possible while he has you and Jin go to the woods to collect large branches. At least six feet long and wide as your wrist. <<if ($survival gte 1)>>\ ''[Survival 1 Check Passed]'' <<var $forexp + 2>>\ It's not a difficult task. Branches fall for various reasons in these woods so you collect them without issue. <<else>>\ ''[Survival 1 Check Failed]'' You end up relying on Jin to do it for you. "Don't tell him." You threaten to Jin. "He probably already knows. Anyone can see you're lost in the woods." Jin replies, begging to be struck. <</if>>\ When you get back Angelo hands you each a knife, "Perfect timing. Whittle those down to poles. We'll need to hang these rugs out to dry when we finish cleaning." <<if ($craft gte 1)>>\ <<if ($craft gte 2)>>\ ''[Craft 2 Check Passed]'' <<var $forexp + 2>>\ <<var $agiexp + 2>>\ <<else>>\ ''[Craft 1 Check Passed]'' <<var $forexp + 2>>\ <</if>>\ <<if ($survival gte 1)>>\ Once again the \ <<else>>\ The \ <</if>>\ task is not difficult, just time consuming. It's already nightfall by the time you've whittled all the branches down and placed them into the ground, two vertical and one horizontal atop them. <<if ($craft gte 2)>>\ You even finally get an excuse to use the woodjoining techniques used in Thunderfall to <<else>>\ Jin has to help you \ <</if>>\ combine the horizontal pole to the vertical poles, forming a wooden drying rack by the river without the need for nails. <<else>>\ ''[Craft 1 Check Failed]'' Jin has to handle most of the whittling after you ruin two posts. You place them into the ground, two vertical and one horizontal atop them. To your surprise Jin carves their ends and utilizes the woodjoining techniques used by the carpenters of Thunderfall to combine the posts into a proper drying rack without the need for nails. You have no idea when he learned to do that, but it's already nightfall before the two of you are finished. <</if>>\ Angelo eventually meets you by the river and nods approvingly at your wall of wooden drying racks. "Not bad for an honest day's work. Let's move these posts further down river, outside the village." "Honest work gets paid." Jin grumbles. "You're being paid quite handsomely," Angelo replies, shredding a piece of paper in his hands. "Though not in material ways." Suddenly the torn piece of paper erupts into a giant pile of rugs \ <<if ($handseals gte 1)>>\ and you instantly recognize the practice of Fuuinjutsu, the ability to seal items into paper tags. You've used it plenty but it's always been a favorite flashy effect of yours. <<else>>\ and both you and Jin stare in awe. \ "It's called Fuuinjutsu." Angelo says from behind the pile of rugs in his hands. "The ability to store mundane items into paper tags. Practice your Handseals and you can do it too." <</if>>\ "Cool." You and Jin say simultaneously. "But what now?" You expect some sort of ancient secret but so far the training all seems like, well, chores. "Do we use the rugs for...burning? Are we learning the Fire element?" "Oh heavens no, I wouldn't forgive myself if I deceived those honest villagers." Angelo kicks a bar of soap to Jin and shoves his giant pile of rugs into your hands. "What happens now is you get to washing." <<page "Continue" "ch3-temple-shugendo4">>\

Scrubbing every rug spotlessly clean takes up the entire night and by morning your wrinkled hands are completely numb from the ice-cold water. Jin had it even worse and needed to take several breaks to warm his hands, but together you prevail and have each rug waiting on the drying rack when the morning sun rises to the east. In its silhouette, approaching you from the eastern side of the village, is Angelo. "Well done, well done! I've made sure to let the villagers know where to get their rugs when they dry, we must be going for the next task." "Thank the Heavens." Jin says with heavy sandbags under his eyes. "I never want to see a rug or a river again. What's the next task?" "Washing rugs in the river." Angelo says with an uplifting smile. "Come, other villages need our fine work." You repeat the task three more times. By the eightieth hour without rest the three of you have migrated to a neighboring mountain's village. Jin is passed out face-down in the clay deposit of a river bank. You're jealous. Unforunately, you're still awake, so you're laboriously washing yet another rug, the last for this batch. "And that's that." Angelo says from out of nowhere, suddenly behind you. "The Art of Shugendō initiated, so long as you're willing to accept it." Jin snores in response. You look over to Angelo's somehow well-rested, cheery expression with your own dead sunken eyes of a $manwoman whose spirit left their body long ago. "Whu?" Is all your mind can offer your mouth to say. <<page "Continue" "ch3-temple-shugendo-rewards">>\

The spirit bounces in place at Angelo's words and you get the impression of agreement. Alarm spikes through your soul as the Kami's energy drains into your hand and swirls up your arm, churning into your aura as if a cup's worth of strong dye were poured into a barrel of white paint. Slowly your entire soul takes on a $auracolor hue from the Kami's infusion and your aura \ <<if ($txt is "Darkness")>>\ whisks hypnotically in place like black flame. <<elseif ($txt is "Earth")>>\ grows four times heavier in your spiritual senses. <<elseif ($txt is "Fire")>>\ blazes with the power of Fire. <<elseif ($txt is "Ice")>>\ radiates the vapor of freezing ice. <<elseif ($txt is "Light")>>\ shines as bright as the dawn. <<elseif ($txt is "Storm")>>\ crackles with surges of lightning. <<elseif ($txt is "Water")>>\ swirls around you with the force of a raging river. <<elseif ($txt is "Wind")>>\ explodes outward in constant bursts of wind. <</if>>\ <<if (($element2 isnot "") and ($element1 isnot "None"))>>\ ''[You can now set your aura color in the Cultivation Page]'' <</if>>\ "It feels good, doesn't it?" Angelo asks, nodding approvingly. "It should. Shugendō only involves a lifelong journey for so many because they lack a mentor that shows instead of tells. The secret to the Art is simple, it's an understanding and acceptance between people and elements. Reaching that point on a personal level is different for each person and each elemental." "It really does feel incredible." You look down at your $auracolor-glowing hand as the Kami drifts off. It radiates a sensation that it's got work to get back to, so you let it go. Busy little guy. "There goes my new friend. Ah well." Turning to Angelo brings up a question in your mind. "Say, what happened in your journey?" For the first time the man seems to tense his shoulders, laughing little too hard and scratching his nose. "...Angelo, what happened in your journey?" "I made a childhood bet that I could walk on water. Ocean water. I thought it was an Aoyusumu Style Technique using the kinetic force of Sacred Chi." His nervous laugh tapers off as he looks into the distance and sighs longingly. "It is not. Getting that coast's powerful spirit to notice me took five years I will never get back, and fighting it took two more before we became friends. Still, I did eventually walk on water, but as a full-grown adult." "Hngggg." Jin says, groaning himself awake and wiping mud out of his eyes. <<page "Continue" "ch3-temple-wrapup2">>\

"Look who's awake." You nudge Jin with your foot to help wake him up. He pushes your foot away in a huff and rises up, still looking exhausted. "What's going on? My dream went from Shrinemaiden Nina to \ <<if ($txt is "Darkness")>>\ being lost in a forest so dark I couldn't see my own hands. \ <<elseif ($txt is "Earth")>>\ being buried alive by the guards back home. \ <<elseif ($txt is "Fire")>>\ being burned alive by demonic cultists. \ <<elseif ($txt is "Ice")>>\ freezing in the middle of the woods mid-winter. \ <<elseif ($txt is "Light")>>\ being blinded by the sun. I couldn't even look away. \ <<elseif ($txt is "Storm")>>\ getting struck by lightning in a storm. \ <<elseif ($txt is "Water")>>\ drowning in the ocean. \ <<elseif ($txt is "Wind")>>\ getting tossed around in a tornado. \ <</if>>\ I could tell it wasn't from the dream and thought I sensed-" He looks up to see your aura of $txt chi. "Oh damn it all, of course you got something while I was asleep." "Part of my natural talent." You reply. "Screw you too, where's Angelo? I want an Element." "What do you mean where's Angelo, he's right-" When you turn, Angelo is gone. "Huh. He was here a second ago." "Oh Hells no!" Jin shouts, rising to his feet with renewed energy. "I didn't join some rug-cleaning Sect for charity, tell that long-haired bum to get back here and teach me Shugendō!" You give Jin a thin-lipped smile. "What?" The gaze you cast upon your brother is one of pity. "...What?" After one long inhale you deliver the soul crushing news. "He said your Aura Pressure wasn't high enough to learn an Element." Jin throws seven heavy wet rugs clear across the river before calming down. <<page "Continue" "ch3-temple-wrapup3">>\

After a quick nap at the Temple you begin to pack your things and find Jin in your doorway, already packed. A fact he rubs in your face. It's his only victory after he learned his Aura Pressure is too low for Shugendō, \ <<if ($ruthless gte 55)>>\ but you still don't let him savor it. ''[Compassion Check Failed]'' ''[Agility Chi Spent]'' <<var $agispent + 1>>\ <<var $agiexp + 1>>\ ''[Belongings Packed Instantly]'' ''[Event: Jin Frowning]'' <<var $brorep - 3>>\ <<else>>\ so you let him savor it. <<var $solexp + 2>>\ <</if>>\ "There you are!" Shouts a familiar, angry voice. Shrinemaiden Nina marches up the hall to your room with a stomping pace that no calm person has ever used. "Where have you two been? You brought shameful dishonor to myself and Mina when you didn't show up for the Shugendō master's assessment. Why in the world would you sabotage yourselves like this?! I cannot believe we put our necks out for you and you don't even show. I hope you are ready to face the consequences of your actions, at this point we have to expel you from the Temple." You and Jin look from Shrinemaiden Nina to each other and back to the Shrinemaiden. "Did you hit your head?" Jin asks. "We've been with your Shugendō master all week." "Don't lie to me!" Nina shouts back, but she's immediately cut off from whatever retort she has when you release a fraction of your power and your aura flares the $auracolor hue of $txt rather than the steam haze of the untrained. "See?" You say, "We've been training, and I already figured out the basics. Do you have two Shugendō masters? We were with the redhaired Lunargoth visiting the lower villages." "A redhaired Lunargoth?" You feel a tingle between your shoulders as Shrinemaiden Nina spiritually scans you for confirmation. "I can tell you really have learned the Art, but how? We don't have any Lunargothic priests." <<if ($honor lt 49)>>\ "Priest, pilgrim, whatever, \ <<else>>\ "A pilgrim then perhaps, either way \ <</if>>\ his name was Angelo. Do you know where I can find him? We wanted to thank him." Jin coughs. "//I// wanted to thank him." You correct. "Well that can't be right..." Shrinemaiden Nina wrinkles her brow in thought, "We do have one Angelo, yes, but he's never left this Temple." She points across the antechamber. "Over there." Out of the corner of your eye you see Jin's face grow ghostly pale, yet you can't meet his gaze. In awe, curiosity, and the edges of horror your own vision is locked on one of the statues across the antechamber, the statue of a Saint that Angelo was staring at when he trailed off during your tour. A statue of Himself. <<var $metangelo + 1000000000>>\ <<page "Return to Thunderfall" "ch3-temple-wrapup4">>\

You and Jin spend the next couple hours searching around but find no signs of Angelo after all. No one even admits to seeing him. Worst of all, Shrinemaiden Nina and Shrinemaiden Mina swear they were alone on their dove Beast that night when you first met. A chill runs down your spine as the search grows from curious to eerie. Both you and Jin agree it's time to go home. ''[Cores Replenished, Chi Replenished, Wounds Healed]'' <<var $wounds 0>>\ <<var $agispent 0>>\ <<var $forspent 0>>\ <<var $powspent 0>>\ <<var $solspent 0>>\ <<var $chispent 0>>\ <<page "Continue" "ch3-trainingseason">>\

Legends say the elemental practice of Shugendō began through a series of meditations and spiritual journeys across perilous mountains that no longer exist, massive alps of a long-shattered Cathayan Empire across the western sea. Usually legends aren't worth much to your training but this time is an exception: Shugendō elders seeking prestige have setup their Schools and Temples all throughout the western-facing mountains of Imperial Rasen to be closer to the spiritual source of their craft. As in, the mountain ranges of Outer West. Your home. The closest is the Devanic Temple to the north-west. Religion isn't unheard of in Thunderfall Village, it's just not common. Spirits or Wild Gods may get an occasional prayer but a true Temple is noticeably absent. Yet despite such a missing component of life, even you know of the Devanic Temple's immaculate reputation. A saint-worshiping Sect of the Sacred Lands with branches all across Imperial Rasen, their practice of supporting the meek that they boast so proudly is a mere footnote to the Martial World. What Martial Artists know them for, what keeps them relevant in a world of power, is their Crusades against the inhuman threats to Imperial Rasen. You hope you can get training with one of those proper Devanic combatants rather than the preaching monks, but beggars can't be choosers. <<choose "ch3-devanictemple">> #Travel to the Devanic Temple. <<var $noshugendo false>>\ #Go back. -> "ch3-trainingseason" <</choose>>

Waterfall meditation, strength training, and speed training are good foundational skills to have, but they don't excel you like other methods might. Blood, sweat, and tears drive you forward as you fear falling behind your rivals...which are just about every empowered youth in the entire Outer West. <<var $apval (10 + $athletics)>>\ <<apboost $apval>>\ <<if ($weight gte $chapter)>>\ <<var $val (4 + ($athletics * 2))>>\ <<if ($style is "Midorikatai")>>\ <<var $val + 1>>\ <</if>>\ <<if ((($bodytype is "Muscular") or ($bodytype is "Dommymommy")) or ($bodytype is "Ogre"))>>\ <<var $val + 1>>\ <</if>>\ <<if (($element1 is "Earth") or ($element2 is "Earth"))>>\ <<var $val + 1>>\ <</if>>\ ''[Weighted Clothing Bonus: Aura Pressure +$val] \ <<var $aurapressure + $val>>\ <</if>>\ <<var $val 0>>\ <<var $months - 1>>\ <<var $shards + ($commerce * 2)>>\ <<page "Continue" "ch3-trainingseason">>\

With time to yourself you practice the Buffer's Barrier Technique gained from the hidden notes in the library. It's easier to execute than you expected. When you thought of "folding your aura" you imagined folding a piece of paper in half, but that isn't the case. The instructions instead have you grip your willpower upon the top and bottom halves of your aura, holding your lower half still and pulling the top half down over it to cause resistance where it's double-layered at the middle, like stretching a shirt down so it covers your pants. The resulting strain is instantaneous, alarming, and exactly what you want. Nerve-racking quakes rock your soul like it's suffering spiritual damage, but not in a corrosive way. Your own aura compressing itself at the middle feels similar to how your body feels when you're struck by a chi-infused blow. Hit, but not injured. You catch your breath and try again, repeatedly, and find the meditation almost as rewarding as nonstop duels. It's perfect. Meditation becomes your new norm for an entire month as you push Buffer's Barrier against your soul. <<var $val (($athletics * 2)+30)>>\ <<apboost $val>>\ <<var $val 0>>\ <<var $bbuffed true>>\ Your only regret is that the rewards dwindle as each day passes. You finally give up when your soul grows used to the sensation and no longer considers it an attack, ending your results. According to the instructions you'll be able to use this Technique again when enough time has passed. You can hardly wait. <<var $months - 1>>\ <<var $shards + ($commerce * 2)>>\ <<page "Continue" "ch3-trainingseason">>\

<<var $wounds 0>>\ <<if (($months lte 11) and ($chubonus is 0))>>\ <<timepass>>\ ''[Big Chu's Cooking Bonus: Aura Pressure +3]'' <<var $aurapressure + 3>>\ <<var $chubonus + 1>>\ <</if>>\ <<if (($months lte 8) and ($chubonus is 1))>>\ <<timepass>>\ ''[Big Chu's Cooking Bonus: Aura Pressure +3]'' <<var $aurapressure + 3>>\ <<var $chubonus + 1>>\ <</if>>\ <<if (($months lte 5) and ($chubonus is 2))>>\ <<timepass>>\ ''[Big Chu's Cooking Bonus: Aura Pressure +3]'' <<var $aurapressure + 3>>\ <<var $chubonus + 1>>\ <</if>>\ <<if (($months lte 2) and ($chubonus is 3))>>\ <<timepass>>\ ''[Big Chu's Cooking Bonus: Aura Pressure +3]'' <<var $aurapressure + 3>>\ <<var $chubonus + 1>>\ <</if>>\ <<if (($months lt 12) and ($roc is 1))>>\ <<include "ch3-roc-hatch">>\ <<elseif ((($months lt 12) and ($roc is 0)) and (($desletter is 0) and ($desrep gt 50)))>>\ <<include "ch3-desletter1">>\ <<elseif (($months lt 7) and (($desletter is 0) and ($desrep gt 50)))>>\ <<include "ch3-desletter1">>\ <<elseif ($months lte 7) and ($earthlyprowess is 1)>>\ <<include "ch3-pilldone">>\ <<elseif ($months lte 0)>>\ <<if ($roc gt 0)>>\ <<var $roccombat + $survival>>\ <</if>>\ <<include "ch3-mountain">>\ <<else>>\ Only $months months remain until the Heavenly Ascension Trials and you need to make sure you're ready for them. Your preparations may be the difference between victory and defeat. <<include "ch3-choices">>\ <</if>>\

Finding Soul Treasures is a matter of timing, scouting, and fighting. Plant-based Soul Treasures are rare and weak in your lands, and you aren't the only one suddenly looking for spirits or Beasts for their Soul Treasures. Anything with an aura around your village is suddenly being hunted by the other Martial Artists and most of them are stronger than you. With every passing day there are less to find. That problem bothers you for hours in bed at night as you ponder how to outperform your fellow warriors, since you're all suddenly rivals for the Trials. Turning weaknesses into strength sounds good as a theory, but how do you turn your literal weakness into...oh, yes, that could work. A devilish grin passes over your face. You sleep soundly with your plan in mind and approach Big Chu the next morning. <<page "Continue" "ch3-treasure-hunt2">>\

"You want us to hunt together?" Big Chu asks as you find him outside a ricebowl stand at the markets, "<<cap $name>>, I taught you the basics because I was ordered to, that's all. We are not allies nor are we family. I can hunt for Soul Treasures on my own so why would I split my spoils with you? You are weak." <<if ($ruthless gte 54)>>\ The fat bastard is starting to grate on your nerves already \ <<else>>\ A little hurtful, \ <</if>>\ but you keep going. \ <<if ($honor gt 50)>>\ <<var $churep + 2>>\ "Exactly, Master Chu. \ <<else>>\ "That's the whole point. \ <</if>>\ //Everyone// is hunting for Soul Treasures right now. Anything with an aura out in the wild is dead or in hiding, but their instincts still tell them to feed." "So do mine." Big Chu says through a mouthful of his breakfast. He doesn't add anything else, instead taking another bite after. "Don't you get it? Everything weak is getting scared off or not worth it, everything strong is too big of a problem, and those in between, the ones we //want// to hunt, are going to hide from you, all of you. Your auras are too strong and familiar." Chu looks up at you with a raised eyebrow. "But yours..." You nod, he's catching on. "Exactly, mine looks new and tasty." "So you will be the bait, and I will be the killer hiding in wait...Hm, that is not a bad plan. Not for me. Very well, we will meet outside the southern gates in one hour." <<page "Continue" "ch3-treasure-hunt3">>\

The plan works perfectly. <<var $churep + 4>>\ You spend the next four weeks wandering the wilderness two miles ahead of Big Chu. He follows your aura's trail so he can always get to you, and you flare your aura when attacked so he knows to hurry. The two of you hunt down a couple malicious wind spirits, a mud elemental, a pack of firewolves, and an enormous two-tailed monkey that Big Chu cleaves in half with his axe. He calls it quits after a close call with something that swims through the ground. You never got a good look at it, but its fangs or claws or tendrils dug into his calf from below without warning and dragged him under. By the time he broke off its hold with a ground-shaking blast of chi, he was buried 15 feet under ground and swearing up a storm. The flaw in your plan was that the stronger creatures you were avoiding took your bait as much as the midrange ones did. Still, your haul is a good one by the end of it. You spend hours cycling your half of the Soul Treasure trophies and receive a significant boost in strength. <<var $val Math.round((((($perception * 8) + ($survival * 12)) + ($insight * 8)) + ($athletics * 8)) * ($months / 9))>>\ <<if (40 gt $val)>>\ <<var $val 40>>\ <</if>>\ <<apboost $val>>\ <<weightexp>>\ <<var $val 0>>\ <<var $months - 2>>\ <<var $shards + ($commerce * 4)>>\ <<page "Continue" "ch3-trainingseason">>\

<<var $racercool true>>\ Bo catches his breath and looks to you with a reddened face from frustration or exertion, you can't tell. Then he looks to Tian Fang. "Are you really going to accept this?" He asks desperately, "You want the Sect losing funds to this outcast?" "A deal made is a deal honored." She says with a shrug. "Hand over the Shards and be done with it so we can go to the market. I seek something to eat besides these awful treats." "Awful? Then give them back!" Kosuke demands, diving to get $bffhisher fried millet balls back. "No!" Shouts Fang, "You have given them to me and it is rude to not eat a gift!" She dodges Kosuke's grab by sliding backwards on ice that forms under her feet. "That's not an expression," Kosuke yells while chasing her, "nobody says that! Most gifts aren't food!" "Then people should gift more food!" Fang yells defiantly. They keep at it for a while. You and Bo tear your eyes away from the distraction and look back to each other. "This isn't over." Bo says. <<choose "ch3-race-over">> #"Good." I nod once graciously. "I need the competition." <<var $honor + 2>>\ <<var $fangrep + 2>>\ <<var $borep + 2>>\ He lets out a huff and looks off to the distance for a moment. "Sure. Whatever." He hands a pouch of Shards over to you without making eye contact. "Come on guys." He says to his friends, "We've wasted enough time that should be spent training." ''[Item Gained: 120 Shards]'' <<var $shards + 120>>\ "Yeah," says the fat one, "especially speed training, since you lost." "Shut up." Bo replies. "He even lost //to the Laborer//." the girl in their group says. "Shut up!" Bo replies louder. They disappear into the market up ahead and you decide that's the right call; you came here for supplies after all. "Come on Kosuke, we're done here." <<if ($bffheshe is "she")>>\ "Okay!" Kosuke says from the ground. <<cap $bffheshe>> starts to slide on $bffhisher belly across the ice rink Fang had somehow formed around their scuffle. <<else>>\ "Works for me." Kosuke says from the ground before standing shakily and letting <<print $bffhimher>>self glide ungracefully out of the ice rink Fang formed across the road. <</if>>\ #"I know, it's over when you pay up." "That mouth of yours is going to get you beaten one day, Laborer." Bo says as he smacks a pouch of Shards into your hand. "One day soon." ''[Item Gained: 120 Shards]'' <<var $shards + 120>>\ "What's this?" You say, looking down at the bag and pretending to use your hand as a scale, "No tip?" "Go fuck yourself." Bo replies. Him and his friends disappear into the crowd heading to the market up ahead and you smile with satisfaction. "Come on Kosuke," You say to your struggling friend, "we're leaving." <<if ($bffheshe is "she")>>\ "Okay!" Kosuke says from the ground. <<cap $bffheshe>> starts to slide on $bffhisher belly across the ice rink Fang had somehow formed around their scuffle. <<else>>\ "Works for me." Kosuke says from the ground before standing shakily and letting <<print $bffhimher>>self glide ungracefully out of the ice rink Fang formed across the road. <</if>>\ #Forcefully rip his shard pouch off his belt. <<var $ruthless + 2>>\ <<var $fangrep - 2>>\ <<var $borep + 1>>\ Bo is flanked by three of his friends, a fact that does nothing to stop you as you walk up and rip a shardpouch off his belt. He doesn't even realize what you're doing in time because it's such a stupid move, four against one. He scoffs and pulls back too slowly, just like the race, and you raise a fist to fake a punch when he tries to stop you. He recoils. The loss of that race is already in his head. ''[Item Gained: 120 Shards]'' <<var $shards + 120>>\ "Flincher." You say, and spit on his shirt. "Come on Kosuke, we're leaving." <<if ($bffheshe is "she")>>\ "Okay!" Kosuke says from the ground. <<cap $bffheshe>> starts to slide on $bffhisher belly across the ice rink Fang had somehow formed around their scuffle. \ <<else>>\ "Works for me." Kosuke says from the ground before standing shakily and letting <<print $bffhimher>>self glide ungracefully out of the ice rink Fang formed across the road. \ <</if>>\ Bo's friends bicker behind you as he yells at each of them for not stopping you and they yell at him for losing the race. <</choose>>

The process feels invigorating at first but that surge of energy falls flat almost immediately, replaced with a heavy fatigue as your body heats up. You lean over to catch your breath but your arm braced against the ground completely gives up, collapsing you onto the hilltop's lush grass. Leona lies on the ground as well, head facedown and hair cast around her head in every direction like an absolute mess. Her thumb weakly lifts from a single closed fist. "I'm the....best..." The hand falls gently to the side as unconsciousness grips her. It's not a bad idea, you decide, and accept the embrace of sleep with nothing but excitement at the prospects of what tomorrow will br- Another presence appears. Moments later all you hear is the crunching of grass. A silver colored pantleg steps over you and snickers, lightly kicking your head with the other foot as the man passes by. A dozen more men and women follow and one men collects Leona's body, hauling the swordgirl onto the intruder's shoulder. Each of the newcomers is dressed in silver and yellow combat gi. The uniform of the Sunbringers. "A good haul." Says one of the Sunbringer men. "Indeed, not just a useful sacrifice \ <<include "ch4-taioreveal">>\

<<if ($val is 0)>>\ <<var $val + 1>>\ <<include "ch4-aka-techs">>\ <<else>>\ <<include "ch4-aka-end">>\ <</if>>\

<<if ($val is 0)>>\ the... <<else>>\ The second new power resonating through your soul comes from the... <</if>>\ <<choose "ch4-aka-techcheck">> #use-once Quickdraw Training. [Thievery Increase + Agility Surge Bonus] <<learntech 3130760000000010 "Iaijutsu" "Passively increases Thievery by +1. Increases Agility Surge by +1 when focused.">>\ ''[Learning this Technique passively increases your Thievery by +1.]'' ''[While focused to the Agility Core, this Technique lets you spend +1 Agility Core at a time to succeed at higher difficulty Agility checks.]'' #use-once Sword-aura Meditation. [Passive Health Increase] <<learntech 5000000002000010 "Battlescarred" "Passively increases Health Pool by +1.">>\ ''[This technique passively increases your Health Pool by +1.]'' #use-once Energy Sword Training. [Aura Pressure Increase + Free Weapon] -> "ch4-aka-techs-chiblade" #use-once Chi Output Training. [Melee Physical Attack + Athletics Bonus + Power Surge Bonus] <<learntech 1110270000000011 "Cleave" "Melee Physical Attack. Passively increases Athletics by +1. Increases Power Surge by +1 when focused.">>\ ''[Learning this Technique passively increases your Athletics by +1.]'' ''[While equipped to the Power Core, this Technique lets you spend +1 Power Core at a time to succeed at higher difficulty Power checks.]'' ''[While Focused, this Technique can aid you in certain melee-ranged physical attacks.]'' <</choose>>

<<learntech 5000000020000010 "Soulforge" "Passively increases Aura Pressure by +10. Creates a powerful weapon for free when learned.">>\ ''[This Technique teaches how to create a sword of pure energy. Besides the Power Core used to create it, choose which type of energy it is infused with below:]'' <<choose "ch4-aka-techcheck">> #A chi-blade forged from my Fortitude Cores. [+1 Fortitude when equipped] <<var $itemchiblade 211702000>>\ ''[Item Acquired: Soulstealing Chi Blade]'' #A chi-blade forged from my Agility Cores. [+1 Agility when equipped] <<var $itemchiblade 211703000>>\ ''[Item Acquired: Soulstealing Chi Blade]'' #A chi-blade forged from my Soul Cores. [+1 Soul when equipped] <<var $itemchiblade 211704000>>\ ''[Item Acquired: Soulstealing Chi Blade]'' <</choose>>

"How much do you know about the Akakiru Style?" Leona asks while marching down the road alongside you. Nothing but grassy plains continue on for miles. "I know it involves a lot of sword-swinging." "Yes!" Leona shouts excitedly. "That's exactly it! Every other Style tries so hard to be mysterious or complex but the Akakiru Style is simple: just swing your damned sword." That can't be right. "Then why can't anyone figure out how to do it on their own? Normal chi doesn't stick to a sword's blade, people need trainers for that." Leona waves a gauntleted hand out dismissively. "Pish posh, that's for the rabble born without talent or different natural chi. For people born with Bladed Chi it's easier to teach them. Your soul already wants to do it, so you just do it! That's how we'll be training." "And if I didn't already have Bladed Chi?" "We'd be so fucked." She snorts out a short laugh. "I've no idea how to train someone from scratch." "Small miracles." You grumble. "And why do you want me to fight Jack anyway?" Leona stretches both arms high overhead, hands meeting and fingers interlacing above her. "Because he's the strongest." "The strongest Lower Disciple in Thunderfall maybe, if he can beat \ <<if ($ruthless gt 55)>>\ me. Which he can't." <<else>>\ me." <</if>>\ "No, I mean he's the strongest fighter under 25 in all of Outer West. Maybe in all four Outer Provinces. He's favored to win the Trials." There's a short silence as you process that information, though Leona simply continues walking. Jack can't really be the strongest in the whole province, can he? He's a hometown bully that you've beaten \ <<if ($beatjack1 is 1)>>\ before, twice. \ <<else>>\ before. \ <</if>>\ Why would everyone think he's so strong? Is the rest of the region simply that weak? Not from what you've seen. Leona casually kicks a small rock off into the distance. "Did you really not know? Crusher Jack has been the talk of the caravans for weeks. Over the last year he's built fame for creating his own Techniques. If rumors are true he even sold Path Manuals on his Techniques to a Sect Master from Outer South in exchange for a treasure trove of Advancement Elixirs. It's probably true too, since the massive bastard's been on a warpath dueling Upper Disciples of every Sect on the road and //winning//. That's why I hunted you down. I can't compete with that so I need him to lose, and they say only $fullname has ever beaten Crusher Jack." <<choose "ch4-aka-training2">> #"Flatterer." "Flatterer." You reply dryly. She gives you a sharp smile. \ <<if ($leonaromance gte 1)>>\ "Only for you. \ <<else>>\ "I only flatter those that deserve it. \ <</if>>\ #"That was over a year ago, who knows how high his Aura Pressure is now." <<var $leonarep - 2>>\ "That was over a year ago, who knows how high his Aura Pressure is now." Leona frowns at you. "Is that hesitation in your voice? Pathetic. You're supposed to say that you crushed him before and you'll crush him again! \ #"Damn right, and I'll do it again." <<var $leonarep + 2>>\ "Damn right," you say, "I beat Jack once and I'll do it again." Leona pumps a fist in the air. "Now that's what I'm talking about! \ <</choose>>

Come on, we're almost at the perfect training grounds." You look around at the barren emptiness nearby, not even a hut or tree for miles, as she trots off the path and into the grassy plains. Leona looks back with a whip of the head. "Are you coming or do I have to kick you again? That Technique costs Chi you know, \ <<if (($heshe is "he") and ($leonaromance gte 1))>>\ don't make a girl work up a sweat if you're not willing to pay the price!" \ <<else>>\ don't make me waste it and just get down here!" \ <</if>>\ "Coming where? There's nothing around here." "Exactly!" She shouts back. The air fills with the slicing sound of steel as she slowly draws her katana. "We're north of the main road and Nanhou's to the south. That gives us a windswept plains without a soul in sight, the perfect place to throw around massive attacks." "I don't know any massive attacks." She draws her second blade and tosses it to you again. "You're about to." <<page "Continue" "ch4-aka-training3">>\

The sweet sound of sliding steel flows through your ears as you draw your own katana and tie the sheath to your waist. If you're going to be serious about swordfighting you need to get used to the weight of an unwieldy long piece of wood stuck to your side. "So." You say, weighing the blade. "What's first?" "Iaijutsu. Quickdrawing is the first step of any fight so it's your first step of training." She performs a set of handseals with one hand while holding her katana horizontal in the other. Scarlet chi envelopes her body and the sounds of hammer on steel can be heard with each handsign as new sigils appear on the flat of her blade. When her Seal finishes she tosses you the katana. "Switch swords and sheath this." You do as she's told, finding the swords to be matching in size. "Now try and draw it." A strength test? You rip the sword out with all your might and feel it come loose without resistance. "Too easy." "Your hand's bleeding." You look down at your own hand and see a shallow gash along the back of your hand. "What in the world..." Leona skips up to you, smiling. She leans forward and marvels at the sigils on her blade you just drew. "I bound a small Technique into it that will attack the handle when drawn. The only way around it is to draw it so fast that the attack misses. Have fun! I'll be over here reading smut romance. The //spicy// stuff." The blonde swordgirl runs off after that, ripping fuuinjutsu tags a half-mile away to reveal a chair and collection of long scrolls. You spend the next eleven hours furiously drawing the sword as fast as possible, alone in the windswept plains. Each draw cuts your hand in the same place over and over and over and over. Each slice stays the same depth so you never sustain a true injury but after a mere ten minutes the constant nagging pain pulls a new rage out from deep inside you. Finally in the low light of the setting sun you draw the blade with such vengeful anger that scarlet chi forms around your fist. As soon as Leona's Technique strikes at your hand it's repelled by your own slicing arc of chi and the blade flies out of your hand, soaring far off into the plains. ''[1 Agility Core Spent]'' <<var $agispent + 1>>\ "Good!" Leona shouts. "You finally figured out how to counter it with your own Bladed Chi!" You stare at the girl with fury unsubsided. "That's ''not'' what you said to do." "I know, it was hilarious watching you try! Anyway it wouldn't have worked until you cultivated enough Bladed Chi anyway, quickdraw comes from wrapping your sword in Bladed Chi to draw it faster. You got the same result anyway, really. You're welcome." <<page "Continue" "ch4-aka-training4">>\

The next day you awake from your tent to find Leona still asleep in her own. You track down your sword among the plains and find it oddly easy to locate, as if deep down you knew where it was at all times. Leona awakes after you've made breakfast, steals more than half, and chews with her mouth open. "Today we want to increase your Bladed Chi capacity, how many swords do you have?" You look down at her \ <<if ($background is "Blacksmith")>>\ and your tanto. "Two" <<var $powexp + 1>>\ <<else>>\ katana. "One." <</if>>\ "That won't do." Leona returns to her tent and withdraws \ <<if ($background is "Blacksmith")>>\ eight \ <<else>>\ nine \ <</if>>\ swords of various design. One of them is even overly curved which strikes you as //wrong//. "Take your favorite meditation stance." "Like cross-legged?" "Like I don't give a shit, sit down so I can put these in place." As you drop to a kneeling meditative trance Leona stabs swords all around you, edges facing against your skin. When she finally has all ten in place she dusts her hands off and looks at her handiwork with pride. "Not bad, now lets get them closer." With one eye cracking open you look back to Leona. "They're already touching me with the blades." "I know." Leona says, then all ten blades glow scarlet and press another half-inch against you, surrounding you with blades pressed into your skin and threatening to cut you open should you move a muscle. "There!" Leona shouts in satisfaction. "Now do your best to power up your Bladed Chi and //only// your Bladed Chi. Our muscles tense when powering up, so you'll cut yourself bad if you generate anything but the Akakiru aura that can control the blades. Goodluck!" "Where are you going?!" You shout as she starts running off. "To get water and healing herbs!" She shouts back. "You're about to lose //so much// blood!" She's not wrong. When your $auracolor aura charges up around your body the blades sink into your flesh simultaneously. You lose more blood in the next thirty minutes than you have since leaving Thunderfall Village. However, slowly yet surely the pain subsides and the cuts become less deep, less sharp, and less common as you get the hang of controlling your Bladed Chi. <<var $forspent + 1>>\ ''[1 Fortitude Core Spent]'' Leona returns every four hours to force-feed you some sort of medicinal soup and you thank the Heavens that it doesn't taste like Mother's. <<page "Continue" "ch4-aka-training5">>\

"TODAY'S THE DAY!" Leona screams into your ear from \ <<if ($heshe is "he")>>\ inside your tent. You leap and reflexively prepare for combat, wrapping yourself up in your own tent. With how little room there was you wrap her up too until a scarlet explosion destroys the tent in its entirety. Shreds of its tan cloth rain around you as Leona beams \ <<if (($heshe is "he") and ($bodytype isnot "Manlet"))>>\ up at you. \ <<else>>\ at you. \ <</if>>\ She enthusiastically whispers, "Today's the day." <<else>>\ right outside your tent. You leap and reflexively prepare for combat, wrapping yourself up in your own tent. A flurry of scarlet light slash through the lining until enough tent around your face has been destroyed so you can see Leona. Shreds of its tan cloth rain around you as Leona nods decisively with a wide smile. "Today's the day." <</if>>\ "What day?" You ask groggily, still barely awake. "The day we get on the road to Nanhou! A wagon came through and stopped outside our camp." She points to the road cutting through the plains, two miles off in the distance. "Your next training will be leashing your Bladed Chi to a sword, it's something you can do facing out the back of the wagon while I drive." Both of you pack up what's left of your belongings and get to the wagon only to find two horses and no driver. You've never seen such a blatant trap in your life. "Isn't this weird?" You ask Leona. "Driverless wagons don't appear out of nowhere." Leona groans. "And here I thought you were going to leave the quiet part by the wayside. I stole the wagon, obviously. \ <<if ($heshe is "he")>>\ Now turn around so a girl can change." She motions to a set of commoner clothing on the driver's seat of the wagon that must have belonged to the original owner. \ <<if ($ruthless gte 54)>>\ You snicker at the idea of some naked fool running around in distress. Heh. Commoners. <<else>>\ You sigh at the idea of some poor commoner out there; wagonless, naked, and afraid. <</if>>\ <<choose "ch4-aka-training6">> #Turn around. <<var $honor + 2>>\ <<var $ruthless - 1>>\ Ever the gentleman, you turn and leave to the back of the wagon while she changes. #Refuse to turn around. <<var $leonaromance + 1>>\ <<var $leonarep + 3>>\ Leona gives you a waiting look that slowly melts into a genuine smile, wide and everpleased. "I knew you were a man with taste." She unbuckles her breastplate and greaves while maintaining eye contact. When she tosses those aside and you haven't looked away she nods in satisfaction, carefully pulling her undershirt over her head and bending at the waist to strip out of her pants ever so slowly. You get a full look at the voluptuous woman in the reflecting light of the rising sun. It's a memory you'll be holding onto for quite some time. "Now hurry into the back." She says, halfheartedly covering herself with both arms to play coy. "You're the one learning to work a sword today, not me." <<page "Continue" "ch4-aka-training6">>\ <</choose>> <<else>>\ Now come on, we've got training to do." She unbuckles her armor and changes into what must be the former driver's clothes. \ <<if ($ruthless gte 54)>>\ You snicker at the idea of some naked fool running around in distress. Heh. Commoners. <<else>>\ You sigh at the idea of some poor commoner out there; wagonless, naked, and afraid. <</if>>\ <<include "ch4-aka-training6">>\ <</if>>\

Four more swords are stabbed into the back of the wagon and glowing with the scarlet feint wisps of Bladed Chi. "Those are for your cultivation!" Leona shouts from the front. "Cultivation blades are hard to come by so don't break them!" "Just how many swords do you have?" You call to the front of the wagon. <<if ($heshe is "he")>>\ "Never ask a girl her age or swordcount." \ <<else>>\ "A girl's got to keep some secrets." \ <</if>>\ She shouts back. "Now grab your sword and focus your Bladed Chi into it. And point the thing //away// from the wagon for Heaven's sake. With the help of those cultivation blades you should be able to channel your Bladed Chi into launching small attacks out the back of the wagon before sunset. Rest every 15 minutes for water, the back is full of barrels of the stuff. One for whiskey too but that's not until you finish." She slaps the reigns and the horses take off at a decent pace. You thought you were done cutting yourself on cultivation blades but the bumpy road proves you wrong. After fourteen hours of blowing through your chi reserves and blood supply your back is in tatters and you've managed to focus your Bladed Chi into the blade properly, using your blood as a focus at first as a joke. It worked. From there you learn to wean off the crutch and launch Bladed Chi around and off the blade in meager amounts, launching small sickles of solid chi into the dirt as you travel. <<var $solspent + 1>>\ ''[1 Soul Core Spent]'' <<page "Continue" "ch4-aka-training7">>\

When you wake the next day in the back of the wagon you find it's stopped. Getting out reveals you're on a hilltop surrounded by small farms and houses along a crossroads. At a neighboring hill Leona is coming back with two massive logs as wide as a wagon wheel held over each of her shoulders. She pouts when you see her. "I was going to drop these on you!" <<if ($honor gte 54)>>\ "You wouldn't like the result." You reply sternly. "Oof, the way you say it all serious makes me think I would have. \ <<else>>\ "You still can." You say with a shrug. "No, it's lost its appeal if you're not sleeping. \ <</if>>\ Follow me, we've got the last steps of your training today." She leads you to a flat stretch of land between the hills and drops both giant logs, you find that they're even taller than they were wide. Leona exhales hard after dropping both and looks back to you. "We need to increase your Bladed Chi output. I want you to cut through these." You examine the thick hardwood logs. "That could hurt your blade." "Hurt my...? Demon's tits <<cap $name>>, not with a //sword//, I want you to cut them with only your Bladed Chi!" She stomps one foot forward in instant frustration. "Do NOT hit the hardwood with my physical blades, is that clear?" With a heavy inhale you brush the girl aside and draw your sword back, charging it with your meager scarlet Bladed Chi as you did all yesterday. If this is what it takes to gain power then it's just another chore. You've done a million chores in your life, what's one more? Minute by minute you cycle your chi through focused breaths and sheath the blade in as much scarlet Bladed Chi as possible, then unleash your power through the air. After the first few swings you step directly in front of the logs so your airborne chi slashes lose as little power as possible, but the cuts still barely dent through the wood. By the first hour you've gotten through a few inches of bark. By the end of the night you haven't gotten a quarter of the way through one of the logs, instead eviscerating its front and your spiritual chi channels simultaneously. <<var $powspent + 1>>\ ''[1 Power Core Spent]'' "Not bad." Leona says, leaning over to look at the damaged log. The other is completely untouched. "An old trick my father taught me, play off one's pride by presenting a difficult task as a simple one. He loved to talk all that old sage shit." She nods at your work and kicks the log endearingly. "One of these logs should have been a month-long exercise, I only brought two so you'd try twice as hard." You give a thumbs up from the ground, desperately resting. "Come on." Leona says. "We're going to miss the Trials." Aw Hells. <<page "Continue" "ch4-aka-training8">>\

The two of you run through the night to get to Nanhou in time, passing more and more farms, crossroads, and walled communities as you approach the coast. Finally you crest a hill and see a sight that takes your breath away: the ocean, as beautiful as it is intimidating. Growing up in the mountains around Thunderfall Village meant you've never actually seen the ocean, only the large lakes of snowmelt that freeze early in the autumn due to your town's high elevation. To be down here, in the warm glow of the sun, where you see the vast and imposing view of the ocean continuing on farther than any sight of your life... It's majestic. And you haven't the energy to appreciate it. The moment you crest that hill your legs give out and you collapse to the ground, drained of power and lacking rest. "Finally!" Leona says, leaning over and wheezing. "I was worried you'd last the whole day too. For our //last// training I need you completely empty of power. Your body and soul have learned to produce Bladed Chi, sure, but-" She cuts off and catches her breath for a while. "But it'll be a year before you //only// produce Bladed Chi. You'll keep being diluted with that white-grey haze of unaligned chi for the entirety of the Trials...Unless we fuck with it." You groan face-down in the grass. Leona kneels next to you and sucks air through her teeth. "The only way to trick your spirit into making only Bladed Chi this early is not a fun one. We have to empty your Cores entirely and surround the raw center of your spirit with Bladed Chi, like my chi, so it takes to the idea that that's what chi is supposed to be. I won't lie, it'll hurt. You'll feel a fever and I'll take days to \ <<if ($roc gte 1)>>\ recover." Leona trails off, as if staring into the distance. "So before we do this...can I pet your bird?" "CAW!" Shouts $rocname from a distance hill. "She says 'no and fuck off'." You translate. A total guess and completely correct. "Fine." She says in the way that tells you it's not fine. "Let's get this over with. \ <<else>>\ recover. \ <</if>>\ We should never do it, it's a dangerous shortcut with no longterm benefits, but hey, Trials are a bitch and so am I." You groan into the grass again, this time in agreement. "I'm so glad we're on the same page." Leona says with a wide, yawning stretch. "Let's fuck ourselves up." The woman glows scarlet next to your body, slices of chi cutting the ground around her in a circle. She performs an unfamiliar handseal formation and you close your eyes to focus on expelling any last vestiges of chi out of your chipool. Suddenly a presence rips open in your spiritual senses, a hurricane of danger. A storm of blades. Leona's spirit. It rushes into and over you like a hundred swords pressed against your skin. You try to fight it back but feel a spark from deep within your own Cores: a parrying force. A single, tangible sword cutting through the slashing invasion. Your own Bladed Chi. The sensation of being sliced and skewered is overcome as the chaotic Bladed Chi all around you dwindles over the next ten minutes of struggle, replaced by a sharp vortex at the center of your own spirit that grows in potential, though not in size. Yet. When at last Leona's foreign chi is gone you feel that your own aura has taken on a new meaning, a new form. Your chi reserves remain empty and your aura remains weak but it feels healthy. When your power returns it should be a full aura of Bladed Chi. Yet something more calls to you. Two of the Akakiru effects that you haphazardly called upon during training solidify in your soul like new instincts, specifically from \ <<var $val 0>>\ <<var $leonarep + 5>>\ <<include "ch4-aka-techs">>\

"I see our paths cross once again." A voice calls without yelling from across the crowd, yet it reaches your ears as clearly as if the speaker were right next to you. You gaze through the mass of shoppers and stalls to see anyone familiar and by the thinnest detail between the shuffling crowds you see a man waving. Angelo. <<choose "ch4-angelo-met2">> #"Oh no, you're not going to make me clean anymore rugs are you?" <<var $angelorep + 1>>\ The sight of your one-time mentor makes your hands feel icy cold at the memories of washing so many rugs in snowmelt rivers. He approaches from across the crowd and the words escape from your mouth. "You're not going to make me clean anymore rugs, are you?" Angelo smiles and waves a hand dismissiveley, "Not a possibility I'm afraid, every village around here already has freshly cleaned flooring. You're not the only one to undergo my intensive cleanliness routine for the Trials." "Those poor souls." "Every one of them." Angelo agrees merrily. #"What's a pilgrim doing out here?" "What's a pilgrim doing out here?" You ask casually. "One cannot be a pilgrim without a pilgrimage." Angelo responds merrily, "I journey to those in need, and luckily for me they're all gathering westward in one place. Such convenience is hard to come by." You look to the western road out of the makeshift market. "The Heavenly Ascension Trials." "Indeed." #show-if ($heshe is "she") "I knew you couldn't keep away from me." <<var $angeloromance + 1>>\ <<var $angelorep + 3>>\ You try to grin confidently when seeing Angelo again but it comes off as a brimming smile of actual joy. "I knew you couldn't keep away from me." Angelo laughs lightly and maneuvers through the crowd toward you while scratching the back of his head in embarrassment. "It seems you were correct, as here we are." "Was it the good looks or the charming personality?" "What an unfair question," Angelo replies calmly. "How could one choose between a blooming rose and the sunrise?" "By picking both." "Ah of course, the world bows to your wisdom." He concedes with a friendly yet curt nod. "I assume you're on your way to the Trials?" "I am." You say with head held high, yet it lowers with each next word as if the confidence leaks out of you. "Would you...want to walk with me?" <<if ($ruthless gt 50)>>\ Terrible. You can't help but feel you botched that one, realizing a second later you could have instead lead with 'I may allow you to accompany me too, if you ask nicely.' Another opportunity ruined. Yet \ <</if>>\ Angelo's smile betrays a warmth you didn't expect. "I'd love nothing more." He replies, "Though I have my own business at the Trials keeping me busy, unfortunately." <<page "Continue" "ch4-angelo-met2">>\ <</choose>>

You originally met Angelo solely to prepare for the Heavenly Ascension Trials, and talking about them brings up the most important memory of your training. Before he can slip away again you change to a sudden accusatory tone. "Say, small talk aside, care to explain your sudden \ <<if ($angeloromance gte 1)>>\ disappearance?" You step closer. "And \ <<else>>\ disappearance? And \ <</if>>\ how you weren't really the Shugendō \ <<if ($angeloromance gte 1)>>\ master?" You step even closing, causing him to take a step back. "AND \ <<else>>\ master? And \ <</if>>\ the fact that the Shrinemaidens claim you were never \ <<if ($angeloromance gte 1)>>\ there?" You shove an accusing finger towards his face. "''AND'' \ <<else>>\ there? And \ <</if>>\ the SAINT'S statue of you in the Temple?" "Oh Heavens no," Angelo replies as if turning down seconds at dinner, "I wouldn't care to explain //any// of that. Frankly it sounds dreadful." "But are you a Saint?" He scratches his chin. "An odd question to ask with such familiarity." "But //are you// a Saint?" Angelo sighs slowly out his nose. "You don't have to give me such credit. That statue of my likeness is for a dead man, while I am quite alive." \ <<if (($heshe is "he") or ($angeloromance is 0))>>\ He claps a hand on your shoulder. \ <<elseif (($heshe is "she") and ($angeloromance gte 1))>>\ He takes your hand in both of his and you feel a blush fill your cheeks. \ <</if>>\ A soft cerulean glow surrounds his body that reminds you of a thick blanket's warmth in winter. "Spirits and Fiends may fool the unpowered, but they cannot fool us so easily. Mine is an aura of life, not that of a ghost." He pauses for a moment, looking around the market and dismissing his aura. "Where is Jin? I had assumed the two of you always accompanied each other. You were even willing to undergo such a bonding experience as visiting a distant mountain peak Temple together." Your mood darkens and Angelo notices before you even speak. "Oh. I am sorry. How did it happen?" "What? No he's not dead. Abducted." You correct. "My Sect Master's heir recruited Jin and my sister Rin days before leaving for the Trials, with no official training. I have to save them when I get to Nanhou before they get themselves killed." Angelo is silent for a moment, pausing for too long. He seems to have lost his focus after a few seconds and you're almost insulted at his blank stare. Before you can snap him out of it he comes to his senses on his own. "My apologies, that's terrible to hear. On a normal day I'd swear to help you in such an endeavor but the Trials already have me locked up in so many aid missions that I had to write them down." He pulls out two thick scrolls from a travel bag. "I mean that quite literally." "Thanks for the thought, but unless you've got more Shugendō lessons for me anyway I've got to-" A spiritual scan interrupts your senses with how deeply it probes into your soul. Such a deep spiritual scan isn't a social stigma because it's uncomfortable. It's a stigma because it's what someone does for information on an enemy. It's a challenge to a fight. You look around quickly for known enemies. Sunbringers, Beasts, Spirits, Taio, Jack, anyone hiding behind a mask. Your own spiritual scan shoots out to find a source that matches the sensation that just probed into your spirit and you find its source immediately. It was Angelo. <<page "Continue" "ch4-angelo-met3">>\

"Hold, peace! Peace!" Angelo pleads, hands up and palms forward, "I needed to confirm something and we're in luck. Your spirit does have the potential for more than just the abilities you have now, but why hasn't your Sect Master helped bring it out?" You keep your guard up but want to let it down. The idea of not getting into a fight in this crowd sounds convenient. "Family feud." "You're feuding with your Sect Master? I don't mean any offense but how are you alive? This region isn't famous for its cultural mercy." A small smile crosses your lips when you're reminded that Crusher Mao probably //wants// to kill you and can't. "Binding vow, our local Magistrate is a crafty old man." Angelo's eyebrows raise ever so slowly and continuously. "I cannot tell if you are blessed or cursed." He rubs his chin thoughtfully. "When you originally said your Sect Master merely refused to train you I never expected the situation was so dire. The Trials will offer him a way to endanger your life and the lives of your family without breaking any vow. There's only one thing I can spare the time for that might help." <<if (($element1 isnot "None") and ($element2 isnot ""))>>\ "A third element?" You ask in confusion, "I didn't think that was possible." "It's not! In theory. Most of the time. No, my once-and-now twice apprentice, I have much loftier goals in mind for your unfair advantage." \ <<else>>\ "A second Element?" You ask in high hopes. "Better, though it will be harder and more painful than cleaning rugs." \ <</if>>\ Angelo turns with a flourish of his robes and strides from the marketplace. "Come, there's a waterfall four hours from here. We can use it to pull out your most important aspect." "And what aspect is that?" He looks over his shoulder with a smile. "Your aura has hints of Sacred Chi, like mine. You're going to learn the Aoyusumu Style." <<page "Continue" "ch4-aoyu-training">>\

A neighboring exchange between Master and Apprentice catches your ear. "But Master, you can't leave me on this journey all alone!" Pleads a young bull Yokai, soft-faced to show youth yet enormous in size from his race. "What about the Beasts and Highwaymen?" A Lunargoth places his large hands on the young-yet-enormous boy's shoulders and you get a good look at the Master, a Devanic priest by the looks of his robes. <<if ($portraitpics is true)>>\ <<image "https://www.auraclash.com/assets/images/Angelo.jpg">>\ <</if>>\ "You'll be fine without me, young one. There is another matter I must attend to here and it's of most importance. Besides, the real strength was inside you all along." "Really?" The young bull Yokai asks, swelling with pride. "Of course! Probably." He hands the boy a Path Manual. "Now read this while you walk, and stay in busy crowds to avoid trouble." The bull Yokai takes the Path Manual in one large hand and stares in awe at the notebook as if it were a golden treasure trove. To most, it is. "Thank you Master Angelo, I'll put this to good use and never forget you!" Angelo pats the young man on the head. "Nor I you, young Timmy." "It's Tai Mi." "Neat." When the younger of the two skips off with his Path Manual in tow this 'Angelo' turns to you. "$fullname, I don't believe we've met." <<page "Continue" "ch4-angelo-unmet2">>\

You rush back two leaps and cycle your chi for combat. The man doesn't pursue, instead crossing his fingers and frowning in disappointment. "Do we have to do this? I don't want to do this." "Then why do you know my name? I never told it to you." "No, but \ <<if ($japannaming)>>\ $clan Jin \ <<else>>\ Jin $clan \ <</if>>\ told me enough." The flow of chi around your body ends abruptly. "You've met Jin? Where? When? Is he okay?" Angelo holds a hand up for peace. "I met him and his sister among the Thunderfall Sect earlier in my journey. We talked for hours, they are safe for now." "The Sect let a stranger walk among them? That doesn't sound like Mao." "In these crowded roads they were ecstatic over the idea. They seemed to quite love surrounding a solitary Martial Artist in some sort of intimidation tactic, and I was more than happy for the conversation. Jin is well, but distressed. \ <<if (($rincombat gte 4) and ($jincombat gte 4))>>\ Though his Aura Pressure is sufficient, and as is his sister's, his worry is reserved for you. He \ <<elseif ($jincombat gte 4)>>\ He worries for his sister, her Aura Pressure seeming insufficient for the Trials. He also \ <<else>>\ He worries for his life, I don't believe his Aura Pressure is high enough for the Trials. He also \ <</if>>\ hadn't heard from you in days before being drafted into the Trials." Angelo scratches the back of his head and stares up at the clouds for several seconds before continuing. "He suspected his Sect's heir had you attacked and killed. Truth be told, he was preparing a poison when I met him. I had to talk him down from throwing his life away attempting an assassination." Jin was going to take on Jack for you? That's almost flattering, but it doubles your concerns that he's in danger. "How far away are they?" "Days. Too far to catch up before Nanhou, but Jin's given me quite the lengthy tale of his life. You come up several times, \ <<if ($heshe is "he")>>\ Mister \ <<else>>\ Miss \ <</if>>\ Savior. Unfortunately your spirit is not ready yet if you plan to 'save' them from your own Sect this time. That's why Jin asked me to give something to you, though even he thinks you won't want it." Angelo extends a palm. "...It's empty. Is this some sort of-" "Forgive me." He slaps you in the face. <<choose "ch4-angelo-unmet3">> #Narrow your eyes. "Don't do that again." <<var $honor + 2>>\ <<var $ruthless - 1>>\ <<var $angelorep + 1>>\ You narrow your eyes at man who foolishly struck you. "Don't do that again." "Of course, my apologies. Please forgive me." He slaps you again. Screams fill the market as you strike Angelo with enough force to knock him into a distant wagon, breaking its wheel. "I'll pay for that." Angelo says abruptly into the air, slowly rising with a groan from the wagon wreckage. He hands a sack of Shards to the //very// surprised wagon rider behind him. "For the inconvenience." Then he walks back to you with a bow. "And I surrender, AND owe you an explanation." "Yes, you do." #"HEY!" "HEY!" You bark, ready to strike back. "Forgiveness, please." He slaps you again. This time you //do// strike back, punching him in the nose. "Keep your hands to yourself!" Angelo holds his bleeding nose with one hand and concedes with the other. "Well done. That should do it." He says with a nasally voice from holding his nose closed. \ #Slap him back. The second Angelo's palm strikes your face you respond with a cross-slap to his. "Apologies." He says through the reddening palm-print growing on his face. Then he slaps you again. You nearly see red at the audacity and reel your fist back with glowing $auracolor chi before he raises both hands in surrender. "I yield!" He shouts, "I yield, I think we have what we need." "We?" #show-if ($heshe is "she") Moan loudly. When Angelo's palm slaps across your cheek you let out a deep sultry moan and his face becomes a brighter shade of red than the world's most vibrant sunset. "WH-What in the world?!" "Harder." You whisper through his stammering. <<var $angeloromance + 1>>\ "Good Heavens woman, contain yourself! I was testing you for training!" "They have a different word for it where I come from." "For the love of-" Angelo stops and pinches the bridge of his nose. "I see we got off on the wrong foot. Jin had told me you train best with a grudge, he asked me to get you fired up so your training would progress faster." You lean closer to him. "I //am// fired up." <<var $angelorep + 3>>\ <<var $val 4325424>>\ "Just," he closes his eyes and leans his head back as if to stifle a headache. "Just follow me." He turns and strides away from the market, frustrated and blushing. \ <</choose>>

<<if ($val isnot 4325424)>>\ "Jin mentioned you've trained to prepare for some grudge all your life, I wanted to make sure you brought the right emotions into your training." "Congratulations on your victory, I am successfully pissed off." Angelo sighs. "It seems your brother knows you well, so well that I owe him 5 Shards. I had bet it would take 4 slaps. Rin said 1. Follow me please." Angelo turns around with a flourish of his robes and strides away from the market. <</if>>\ "There's a waterfall four hours from here. We can use it to pull out your most important aspect." <<if (($heshe is "she") and ($angeloromance gte 1))>>\ "And pray tell, what is my most important aspect?" <<else>>\ "And what aspect is that?" <</if>>\ He looks over his shoulder with a calmer smile. "Your aura has hints of Sacred Chi, like mine. We're going to learn the Aoyusumu Style." <<var val 0>>\ <<page "Continue" "ch4-aoyu-training">>\

The process feels invigorating at first but that surge of energy falls flat almost immediately, replaced with a heavy fatigue as your body heats up. You lean over to catch your breath but your arm braced against the ground completely gives up, collapsing you into the marsh island's grass. Angelo lies on the ground as well, his smile and optimism gone. "V...Victory." He croaks. One hand of his weakly lifts a waterskin to his lips. "Hm, this wine must have gone bad. It tastes...well it tastes rather like..." Thud. The pilgrim's eyes roll into the back of his head as his hand drops to the ground, spilling wine onto the grass. Moments later all you hear is the crunching of grass. A silver colored pantleg steps over you and snickers, lightly kicking your head with the other foot as the man passes over you. A dozen more men and women follow and surround Angelo's unconscious form. One of the crowd lifts him over his shoulder and you get a good look at their outfits: each of the newcomers is dressed in silver and yellow combat gi. The uniform of the Sunbringers. "A good haul." Says one of the Sunbringer women. "Indeed, not just a useful sacrifice \ <<include "ch4-taioreveal">>\

<<if ($val is 0)>>\ <<var $val + 1>>\ <<include "ch4-aoyu-techs">>\ <<else>>\ <<include "ch4-aoyu-end">>\ <</if>>\

<<if ($val is 0)>>\ the... <<else>>\ The second new power resonating through your soul comes from the... <</if>>\ <<choose "ch4-aoyu-techcheck">> #use-once First Waterfall Training. [Health Increase + Fortitude Surge Bonus] <<learntech 1120000002000020 "Sacred Armor" "Passively increases Health Pool by +1. Increases Fortitude Sure by +1 when focused.">>\ ''[Learning this Technique passively increases your Health Pool by +1.]'' ''[While focused to the Power Core, this Technique lets you spend +1 Fortitude Core at a time to succeed at higher difficulty Fortitude checks.]'' #use-once Predictive Sparring. [Insight Increase + Agility Surge Bonus] <<learntech 3130670000000020 "Danger Sense" "Passively increases Insight by +1. Increases Agility Surge by +1 when focused.">>\ ''[Learning this Technique passively increases your Insight by +1.]'' ''[While focused to the Agility Core, this Technique lets you spend +1 Agility Core at a time to succeed at higher difficulty Agility checks.]'' #use-once Zen Meditation Training. [Deception Increase + Soul Surge Bonus] <<learntech 4140470000000020 "Zen Focus" "Passively increases Deception by +1. Increases Soul Surge by +1 when focused.">>\ ''[Learning this Technique passively increases your Deception by +1.]'' ''[While focused to the Soul Core, this Technique lets you spend +1 Soul Core at a time to succeed at higher difficulty Soul checks.]'' #use-once Second Waterfall Training. [Aura Pressure Increase + Block Physical Attacks in Combat] <<learntech 2400000020000020 "Forcefield" "Passively increases Aura Pressure by +10. Automatically blocks certain physical attacks when focused.">>\ ''[Learning this Technique passively increases your Aura Pressure by +10.]'' ''[While focused to the Fortitude Core, this Technique automatically blocks certain physical attacks against you.]'' <</choose>>

"How much do you know about the Aoyusumu Style?" Angelo asks while leading you downhill on an offshoot of the main road. "I know it's about religion and mind powers." "Ouch, is that how we advertise ourselves these days?" Angelo tsks several times. "The local preachers will have to do better. The Aoyusumu martial art is about defense at its most pure and simple form." That doesn't sound right at all. "Can't they move things without touching them, control people's minds, and hear prayers? What's defensive about that?" Angelo holds a hand up. "We'll get there, but we have to understand the purpose of Aoyusumu first. It's a martial art is it not?" "It is." "And how does it fight? What does it look like in battle?" You hesitate, because you honestly don't know. The Five Styles have seemed so far away from actual combat, most of them seem more like mythical powers. Aoyusumu highest among those, it's always sounded too flashy for hand-to-hand combat. Judging from Angelo's nod he knows you don't know. "It's okay." He says. "Most don't know. Come at me first and I'll show you." He beckons you over. "Come now, hit me. I can take it...probably. I hope." <<choose "ch4-aoyu-training2">> #Punch him. You swing a fist for Angelo's neck and he weaves to the side, gripping your arm and throwing you over his shoulder. When you land he pulls your arm behind your back and sits on you, arm pinned underneath his weight. #Kick him. You kick at Angelo's torso and he catches your foot with both hands, pushing your leg back towards you until it bends mid-rise. You nearly knee yourself in the face as he shoves your leg upward with enough force to take you off your feet. While airborne he grabs your other leg and spins you hard enough that you twist two full rotations before hitting the ground where he pins your arm behind your back. #Grapple him. You grab Angelo around the waist, your head on his right side. He doesn't budge, firmly planted on the ground, and slips his left hand under your neck to pry you off while his right-hand grips you into a chokehold. From there some force hits both your legs out from under you until they point straight into the air, at which time he drops to the ground to slam your head into the dirt. As you prepare for the pain he lets go at the last second and pulls you sideways, gripping your arm from behind and landing on top of you with incredible speed as you both finally hit the ground. #Launch an energy blast at him. You cycle hostile chi through your cores and swipe one hand upward, throwing an energy blast at his chin with impressive speed. He weaves to the side to dodge the blast and kicks your legs out from under you. As you're falling he charges his own cerulean blast and holds it to your face. The moment you flinch to prepare for the pain he dismisses the energy and instead twists your arm behind you. The two of you drop to the ground, his weight landing on top of your body the moment you hit the ground. <</choose>>

<<apboost 1>>\ The wind leaves your lungs from the impact, but it's otherwise a painless loss. <<if (($honor lte 45) or (($heshe is "she") and ($angeloromance gte 1)))>>\ "Ihhhhh learned a lot." You squeek out with the last air in your body. <<var $angelorep + 1>>\ "I hope so." Angelo says while getting off you and helping you to stand. "Beating on my students is not my most beloved hobby. The \ <<else>>\ "What was the point of this?" You ask after catching your breath. "Bullying, according to my childhood mentor." Angelo says while rising and helping you to stand. "The \ <</if>>\ point of this is to see that Aoyusumu is a real Martial Art. The key to the Aoyusumu Style is to learn to redirect an opponent's energy in literal form, through harmonious combat experience, and only then can you master the mental applications of the Sacred Chi that it cultivates." If you're understanding this right, he's saying you'll have to relearn the physical martial arts entirely. Who knows how long that will take...wait why is Angelo's face red? He's holding a hand over his mouth and his chest is shaking and- "Ohhh you bastard." He cracks up and full-on laughs. "The look on your face!" Angelo says through wheezes. "I am sorry, that lecture is an old tradition from my Master. I actually believed him and trained tirelessly for weeks before he confessed he just wanted to see me struggle." He exhales happily. "Ah, it has been years." The man dusts off his robes and looks to you more seriously. "I jest and tease. Aoyusumu is a martial art, yes, but it depends on Sacred Chi to learn the forms right. The Trials will no doubt focus on flashy effects judged by arrogant rubes, so we will be focusing almost purely on the Sacred Chi over proper form." "You mean-?" "Yes." Angelo says with a warm smile. "We're going to teach you the good stuff, and we've already arrived at your training site." He moves several vines out of the way on the right side of your trail and you see a river downhill leading to a waterfall in the distance. "Let us start with telekinesis." <<page "Continue" "ch4-aoyu-training3">>\

"So I just get into the water?" You shout next to the waterfall, balancing on slippery rocks. "Do I need any preparation herbs or meditation stance?" "I'm partial to sitting cross-legged!" Angelo shouts back from outside the waterfall's splash zone, cupping his hands around his mouth so you can hear him over the roaring waterfall. "For the holy aesthetics!" After one step under the waterfall you feel the familiar pressure of the rushing rapids crash down on your head and shoulders. Cold water forces out your breath and sends a chill down your sides when it rushes down your ears. Several more carefully balanced steps bring you to the center and you take up a meditative cross-legged stance as Angelo suggested. Nothing feels colder from the icy waters than the insides of your knees, and you only now realize that they're never exposed when you're out in the snow. "WHAT NOW?" You shout into the water covering your face. "@%$#@*&$#%" Angelo says back. "WHAT??" You shout back into the waterfall. "I don't think we're going to be able to communicate clearly." Angelo says calmly and clearly, as if he's a foot from your face and the waters were silent. You have no idea how you can hear him. "I'm speaking into your mind." Ah, that explains it. Hopefully he isn't reading your mind. "I'm not." He adds hastily. "Everyone asks if I'm reading their mind after hearing my thoughts in their head, I find it humorous to answer before the question is asked." A likely story, you think to yourself. "I'm sure you've experienced waterfall training before. The gist is to meditate on some concept while the irregular impact of the water and the numbing sensation of the cold try to impede your thoughts. We'll be doing the same, but with a twist: I want you to feel out for my Sacred chi as it aids the water in crashing down upon you. Brace yourself." <<var $forspent + 1>>\ ''[1 Fortitude Core Spent]'' The waterfall's water slams into you with renewed force. A thrum of pain covers your entire right shoulder, right up to your neck which tenses like a strained muscle. It takes everything you have to keep your posture and not slide off your wet rocks, let alone to resist gasping in pain. A sharp inhale inside this much water could start a drowning fit. "Feel out the impact and recognize its shapeless power, like a slam of raw force from a distance. Not sharp and precise like a weapon but wide and accommodating like an open hand. Sacred Chi comes from the mind, the same mind that controls our movements. An open hand is how it perceives its control of the world. Feel out for that mental power in the Sacred Chi, connect with its impressions. We will continue with small attacks like this until you can't take it anymore. Hopefully all day." After $fortitude hours you finally do feel the Sacred Chi and stop perceiving it as a water attack, but rather as an intangible palm strike hidden in the water. It's at the same moment as your enlightenment that you succumb to the blunt force and pass out. Angelo drags you out and treats you with a medicinal wine only to send you back in, slightly healed and more than slightly drunk. The process repeats until well past nightfall. <<page "Continue" "ch4-aoyu-training4">>\

Radiant sunlight breaks through the lining of your tent the next morning and wakes you to a wonderful new day. Moving a single inch reminds you that you're covered in bruises, so perhaps not a //wonderful// new day. Either way you drag yourself to the river and cup your hands to take a drink before seeing your reflection. "Ancestors, I look awful." Your face and shoulders are completely black and purple with bruises. Your eyes look like you've never even imagined sleeping, and your lips are as fat as a finger. You are a walking, talking bruise in $race form. "Not to worry!" Says Angelo from across the river, cooking something in a cauldron. "I've used the fresh spring water and a recipe Jin gave me \ <<if (dig($metangelo, 2) gte 1)>>\ during your meditations back at the temple \ <<else>>\ on the road \ <</if>>\ that he swears will cheer you right up. He seemed quite excited about being able to help his \ <<if ($heshe is "he")>>\ brother." <<else>>\ sister." <</if>>\ No.... Angelo withdraws a metal spoon from the cauldron and takes a sip. "Yep, that's ready." He winces as he swallows. Then coughs from the acidic bile taste. "I believe he called it Burnt Leaf Soup." NOOOOOOOO!!!!! ''[All Wounds Healed]'' <<var $wounds 0>>\ <<page "Continue" "ch4-aoyu-training5">>\

After forcing down the soup from your mother's godawful recipe you and Angelo both place your bowls down and rise. He claps his hands together and gives a long inhale. "Our next training will be more combat oriented. Predictive training. I will strike at you, and you will learn where I am going to strike." You stare at him sideways. "If that was so easy, everyone would learn it." Angelo smiles. "Not everyone, only one fifth of the naturally talented population. I'm going to be leading my strikes with Sacred Chi and your natural affinity for Sacred Chi will pick up on the pattern. Hopefully. If we're lucky, you'll develop more of your own Sacred Chi in response to instinctively aid you in dodging. That's the Technique we're out to emulate today, Danger Sense." Before you can ask a question he shoves a palm into your chest. Just before his hand strikes you feel the impact of an unpowered punch against your collarbone as his Sacred Chi lightly hits your chest. Then the actual strike lands and you're knocked off your feet. He proceeds to open-palm slap the shit out of you for thirteen hours until you're both panting messes collapsed on the ground. You didn't successfully predict a strike until hour six. ''[1 Agility Core Spent]'' "By the Saints that was exhausting, I haven't had a workout like that in months." Angelo says cheerily from the ground between gasping breaths as if having a casual chat. "You're getting quite good!" "Hrrrrnnnnnnnnn." You reply in anguish from the jungle floor, jaw dislocated and left side of your body bright red and black. It seems Angelo is right-handed. "Of course, my apologies. Give me a moment to recover and I'll get the soup." "HRRRRNNNNNNNN!!" <<page "Continue" "ch4-aoyu-training6">>\

After your debilitating second day you're surprised to find Angelo has packed up camp before you awoke on the following morning. "Where are we going?" Angelo holds two large packs on his back. "West, Nanhou awaits and we'll continue our training on the road. Your next task will be finding Zen focus." "So focus training?" You ask while packing up your tent. "What's the difference between that and usual meditation?" Angelo starts hiking as soon as you've packed. "It's a state of empty-mindedness that refreshes the thoughts. Most people have so many thoughts they can't properly organize them. Fears, doubts, dangers, grudges, and plenty of less dramatic feelings and thoughts like chores to do later, a funny joke in the back of their mind, a desire for a specific food at dinner. It's all harmless, but Sacred Chi uses the mind for power. By learning to empty our mind of needless thoughts for a moment we expand the power we can call upon in the middle of battle." "If it increases my battle power then I'm interested. Where are we going for this Zen meditation?" "Going?" Angelo asks, turning back to you. "Your meditation starts right now, for the whole march." The two of you pass by several farms, small towns, travelers, and even get passed by a couple Sects and caravans as you march throughout the whole day. All the while you do your best to think of nothing, which proves surprisingly difficult while you have to focus on where you're walking. And yet...Something in your spirit aids in the pursuit. The Sacred Chi you've worked so hard to tap into feels closer and more plentiful as you try your best to blot out all thought, and you feel it grow in strength at certain times when your focus falls to nothingness, an absolute zero, a readiness for thought that never needs to be called upon. Angelo wakes you from the trance by placing a hand on your shoulder. "What?" You ask before looking around. What are these woods? When did it get so dark? "You've been silent for seven hours. The sun will be up in four more, we'll camp here for a nap." <<var $solspent + 1>>\ ''[1 Soul Core Spent]'' <<page "Continue" "ch4-aoyu-training7">>\

The next morning you're facing a waterfall again, glaring back at Angelo. "This isn't training." You say to the Lunargoth. "It's sadism." "I assure you my training regimen is made entirely from love!" Angelo responds. "And I would //love// for you to get back into the waterfall, if you would be so kind." "We already did this." "We already did something like this, yes. But this time I will not be doing anything. You will be the one sending forces of Sacred Chi in the water, though it will be up, not down. Your goal is to use your own energy to keep the water off of you." "That's impossible." You reply flatly. Even Crusher Mao couldn't launch nonstop energy blasts fast enough to keep falling water from landing on him. He could probably blow up the waterfall, but that's cheating. "It's impossible if you're wasting energy, but you've been growing your Sacred Chi since we started." He's right, you realize. When you power up your aura there are clearly visible motes of cerulean chi among the $auracolor energy. "I don't want you to blast the water with some invisible force, I want you to envision the palm strikes I struck you with earlier. Have your spirit interpret force the way our minds comprehend force: through the body. Tell me, when you extend your hand, does it have to shoot off your arm?" "Obviously not." "Then why does your energy blast have to leave your grip? Sacred Chi is different in that regard. It channels our mind to gain more control. An energy blast made entirely of Sacred Chi can be held still like a hand balancing the water above you. I want you to push that energy forward, hold it steady, and widen it enough to keep the water off of you. I assure you it's even harder than you're imagining but still quite possible." He gives you a perfect smile after that speech. You look to the waterfall and back. He continues smiling and simply nods. You sigh and enter the waterfall. The first three hours are spent burning through every ounce of chi you have in your system, only to be handed replenishment pills by Angelo. You've no idea where he got them. The next three hours are spent isolating your Sacred chi and sending only that amount upward in resistance to the waterfall. The water's pressure cracks your focus after seconds but you keep your hold on that chi. The next three hours you focus on holding an imprecise shapeless force pushing the water upwards, as if you had a wrist-wide geyser of your own pushing up against the raging waters. In the last three hours you're able to hold an invisible disc above your head to stop three inches worth of water, constantly fighting to keep the disc intact through the waterfall's uneven pressure. ''[1 Power Core Spent]'' <<var $powspent + 1>>\ When you leave the waterfall Angelo grins wide and tosses you an apple that stops short in front of your face as you catch it without using your hands. It glows cerulean in front of your face, held still by your Sacred Chi. "Take a bite." He encourages. "You've earned it." "I couldn't stay dry." You reply, grabbing the fruit in both pruned and soaked hands before your drained spirit gives out. "<<cap $name>>, this is supposed to be a two-year secret training method from an Aoyusumu Ice-Sect in the frozen peaks of Outer North. You've made progress on day four. Eat the victory apple." ''[Spirit Fruit Bonus: +10 Aura Pressure]'' <<var $aurapressure + 10>>\ <<page "Continue" "ch4-aoyu-training8">>\

"Here we are!" Angelo declares in victory as you both crest a hill and see the ocean, as beautiful as it is intimidating. Growing up in the mountains around Thunderfall Village meant you've never actually seen the ocean, only the large lakes of snowmelt that freeze early in the autumn due to your town's high elevation. To be down here, in the warm glow of the sun, where you see the vast and imposing view of the ocean continuing on farther than any sight of your life... It's majestic. "Is that Nanhou?" You ask, gazing upon the busy docks of a coastal town down the road. "Oh we both certainly wish, no, this is Ebikowa. Known for its lumber exports and shrimp netting, which means plenty of ships. We'll be buying passage on one to get to Nanhou after the last step of your training to make you an Aoyusumu martial artist." You look to him questioningly. "I've used Telekinesis, I'm already an Aoyusumu martial artist." "I'm afraid not." Angelo replies sadly. "You managed to //temporarily// stop an apple lightly tossed underhand. After this last step you should be able to stop a 600 Aura Pressure energy beam sent with desperate lethal force by a trueborn Warrior Caste martial artist." "You have my complete and total attention." "Then sit and empty your spirit, your apprenticeship ends here. I want you to completely expel every ounce of chi in your system into the air, and then I will infuse my own aura into you." "That's...impossible." You and Kosuke looked into that from every angle. "You can't give your aura to someone else." "Correct!" Angelo exclaims. "I am glad you paid attention in your schooling, but your aura is already learning to create Sacred Chi instead of basic spiritual energy. We cannot give you my Aura Pressure or even replenish you Cores with my chi, true, but we can 'trick' your spirit into only making Sacred Chi from now on by only surrounding it with Sacred Chi. I must stress that this only hurries the process you already started. I am //begging// you not to do this to someone else who does not have Sacred Chi, it is a dangerous and rushed trick that should almost always be replaced with simply training for another year. Yet the Trials will not give you the time, so do this we must." "What's so dangerous about it?" "Your body will reject the process even though there's nothing physical to reject. You will succumb to fever for days on end until your aura replenishes. As for me, my own Aura Pressure will not recover in the usual time because it is being consumed and battled by yours." "So in short, we're going to rent a ship looking like corpses." "Yes, and they will likely charge a premium for it. Now sit still please, we have fevers to acquire." You and Angelo sit across from each other in cross-legged meditation while he performs handseals in quiet contemplation. You close your eyes and press every ounce of chi into your aura, flaring your power up and into the sky by a dozen feet. You've never wasted energy like this before and it feels like throwing money down a well. Suddenly a presence rips open in your spiritual senses, a beacon of force and perception. Sacred Chi. Angelo's spirit. It rushes into and over you like a warm blanket hugging too tightly. You try to fight it back at the sensation of the foreign chi smothering your thoughts but feel a spark from deep within your own Cores: your own mental might. Your own force. Your own Spiritual Chi. The sensation of being restrained is overcome as the Sacred chi all around you dwindles over the next ten minutes of struggle, replaced by a calm ocean at the center of your own spirit that grows in potential, though not in size. Yet. When at last Angelo's foreign chi is gone you feel that your own aura has taken on a new meaning, a new form. Your chi reserves remain empty and your aura remains weak but it feels healthy. When your power returns it should be a full aura of Sacred Chi. Yet something more calls to you. Two of the Aoyusumu effects that you haphazardly called upon during training solidify in your soul like new instincts, specifically from \ <<var $val 0>>\ <<var $angelorep + 5>>\ <<include "ch4-aoyu-techs">>\

//That night you find yourself standing in the middle of an ocean of crimson, the punguent scent of iron invading your nostrils. Your hands are stained with the same viscous liquid clinging to your skin. Around you there are people, their bodies drained and lifeless, their faces frozen in silent scream. They are all familiar, all faces you remember saving throughout your journey, yet now they lay lifeless by your hands.// //Suddenly you feel a sharp pain in your chest, as if your heart is being squeezed by an iron grip. You look down and see your own hand embedded in your chest, clutching your heart. As you pull your hand free, instead of a heart, you're holding onto a cracked slab of stone. A gravestone.// //Your gravestone.// And then you awake. <<if ($chosewoods is true)>>\ <<page "Rise" "ch4-fourdays">>\ <<else>>\ <<page "Rise" "ch4-inn-morning">>\ <</if>>\

<<var $val 0>>\ Several miles of westward marching later you decide it's time to get some rest. The woods down the road from your grim surroundings are probably the safest place you've found in days, unfortunate as that may be. Most caravans have avoided the road leading to the crispy hamlet and any Beast in the territory would have already investigated the disturbance by now. After twenty minutes you've found your spot and \ <<if ($agispent gte 1)>>\ <<var $agispent - 1>>\ <</if>>\ <<if ($powspent gte 1)>>\ <<var $powspent - 1>>\ <</if>>\ <<if ($forspent gte 1)>>\ <<var $forspent - 1>>\ <</if>>\ <<if ($solspent gte 1)>>\ <<var $solspent - 1>>\ <</if>>\ <<if ($underlings gt 0)>>\ made your underlings setup camp, start the fire, and cook dinner. With a warm glow and a full belly you rest your head \ <<if ($agispent gte 1)>>\ <<var $agispent - 1>>\ <</if>>\ <<if ($powspent gte 1)>>\ <<var $powspent - 1>>\ <</if>>\ <<if ($forspent gte 1)>>\ <<var $forspent - 1>>\ <</if>>\ <<if ($solspent gte 1)>>\ <<var $solspent - 1>>\ <</if>>\ <<else>>\ setup camp, letting your head rest \ <</if>>\ on the repurposed tatami mat and drift peacefully into the inviting dreams of sleep. <<page "What's that noise?" "ch4-camp-after-village2">>\

Hours later the early morning greets you with a smile. Not from the warmth of the sun, but from the dozen men surrounding you. Each holds a mace in their hand and they've formed a circle around your sleeping mat, snickering as realization shows in your bleary eyes. Combat chi cycles through your Cores just as a voice breaks through the rest. "Well, well, well! \ <<if ($underlings gt 0)>>\ Weary travelers find themselves \ <<else>>\ A weary traveler finds <<print $himher>>self \ <</if>>\ in my camp." Says a bookish Human man parting through the crowd of fighters. <<if ($portraitpics is true)>>\ <<image "https://www.auraclash.com/assets/images/dounohal.jpg">>\ <</if>>\ "Or if we're both in luck I should say... \ <<if ($underlings gt 0)>>\ weary customers? \ <<else>>\ a weary customer? \ <</if>>\ Hmh. Guards!" The man claps his hands twice. "Back to work! Everyone get back to work!" All armed men as well as several onlookers disperse throughout the dozens of wagons you now notice surrounding your camp. It's easy enough to recognize the setup now that you've had a minute. It's a sight you've seen hundreds of times. A merchant caravan. "Sorry for the display," whispers one of the guards passing by, "boss wanted a dramatic entrance." "Silence!" Shouts the bookish man to the guard. "Pardon the Help, honored Martial Artist, it's hard to find good people. I am Dou Nohal and it is my pleasure to run into a representative of the..." He pauses, \ <<if ($underlings gt 0)>>\ squinting between you and your underlings. "Say, what faction do you all represent?" "These $underlings are my servants," You say with pride, "only I represent a faction." <<var $nohalrep + 2>>\ "And what faction might that be?" <<else>>\ squinting at your outfit. "Say, what faction do you represent?" <</if>>\ <<choose "ch4-caravan-entertent">> #"The Thunderfall Sect." "I'm a Disciple of the Thunderfall Sect." Hopefully the name carries weight. "BY THE HEAVENS!" The man shrinks back, "You're one of Mao's dogs?! Guards!!" Uh oh. <<page "Continue" "ch4-caravan-fight">>\ #"The $clan Clan." <<var $toldname true>>\ "$fullname, I represent the $clan Clan." You boast, getting off the ground. <<if ($prestige gte 4)>>\ <<var $val 2>>\ ''[Prestige Check Passed]'' <<var $powexp + 5>>\ <<var $nohalrep + 2>>\ <<var $mentionedclan true>>\ "Oh my, so you're that minor Clan sprouting from a feud with your own Sect, yes? I've heard it mentioned once or twice among the traders. Quite the gossip! With an Aura Pressure like yours you must be the young $patriarch." <<if ($ruthless gte 58)>>\ "Glad to see someone recognizes greatness." "It's an important skill in business!" \ <<else>>\ "You've a keen eye." "Only for business!" \ <</if>>\ The man replies with enthusiasm. "Come, come, let us speek in my wagon. I've use of someone with your talents." <<var $prestige + 1>>\ <<else>>\ <<var $val 1>>\ ''[Prestige Check Failed]'' The man frowns. "I'm afraid I've never heard of such a Clan. Is it foreign or newly established?" "New, but expect great things in the future." Dou Nohal smiles with thin lips. "You'll need to spread that name a bit. Allow me to extend an olive branch and help your Clan get off it's feet then. Follow me to my wagon, there's much the caravans have to offer, and even more they need done. We could use another Martial Artist." <</if>>\ <<page "Continue" "ch4-caravan-entertent">>\ #"None of your business." <<var $val 3>>\ <<var $nohalrep - 3>>\ "My faction is none of your business, merchant." \ <<if ($honor lt 45)>>\ You fail to resist the urge to spit on him at the end of that sentence. Your loogie splatters against his pant leg. "I...see." Dou Nohal says, taking out a handcloth and wiping his leg. \ <<var $nohalrep - 3>>\ <<else>>\ You resist the urge to spit on him at the end of that sentence. "I see." Dou Nohal says while wiping his forehead with a cloth. \ <</if>>\ "That's most unfortunate. I was seeking a Martial Artist that wanted to make money." <<if ($honor lt 50)>>\ "Whoa now," you say suddenly, "let's not get carried away. How much money are we talking?" "How much can you carry?" "Mr. Dou," You waltz up to the man and place an arm around his shoulder. "This may be the start of a beautiful friendship." <<else>>\ Damn it, you're going to need funds for the Trials, especially to find a way to save Rin and Jin. Your gaze casts from the ground to the man and you swallow your pride. "How much money?" "How much can you carry?" A heavy sigh escapes your lips. "That's an offer too good to refuse." <</if>>\ The bookish man smiles halfheartedly. "I thought as much. Follow me to my wagon and we can discuss the deals. For both our sakes I won't probe about your faction or past any longer." <<page "Continue" "ch4-caravan-entertent">>\ <</choose>>

After a week on the road, between stops at different towns to sell the caravan's wares and buy supplies, a rustle from the trees draws your attention. Teak trees are not supposed to rustle. <<page "Continue" "ch4-caravan-boarattack2">>\

"BEAST!!" Shout several caravan drivers across multiple wagons before the enormous boar crashes through the tree line on your left. Entire trees fly over your head from the rampaging charge of a massive boar taller than your wagons. Green lines of power glow along its side that assault your spiritual senses with \ <<if ($jadedragonfoundation)>>\ a heavy weight nearly strong enough to drop you to one knee. You haven't scanned any Upper Disciples back home for scale but whatever this Beast is, it's above your paygrade. Maybe above Big Chu's. <<else>>\ with a heavy presence that eclipses even some Upper Disciples of Thunderfall. <</if>>\ <<choose "ch4-caravan-boarstabbed">> #Distract it away from the caravan. <<cap $auracolor>> chi explodes around your body like a bonfire and the Beast notices, turning in place and goring for your torso. <<var $combatstat "agility">>\ <<var $combatskill "athletics">>\ <<combatcheck 6>>\ <<if ($passcheck is true)>>\ Thinking quick you grab it by the tusk and use the creature's own weaponry for leverage, pulling yourself forward and flipping over the boar's back. Then you run through the hole in the trees it just created. Luckily for every caravanner, your plan works and it chases you. Twenty minutes later you return, panting, and thoroughly shocked that the chase was so close. You were able to slide in between so many full-sized trees during the chase through the woods and the boar had Agility Cores and Power Cores to spare, bursting through the woodlands without issue and closing the gap too closely more times than you can count. But in the end the Beast wasted too much energy and you did not; Aura Pressure only matters if you know how to use it. <<apboost 5>>\ Everyone welcomes you back when you return with a cheer and a drink. <<page "Continue" "ch4-caravan-end">>\ <<else>>\ Thinking quickly you...realize that quick thoughts don't matter without a quick body. The beast's tusk stabs into your gut and slams you into one of the thicker trees along the main road. <<include "ch4-caravan-boarstabbed">>\ <</if>>\ #Calm the Beast down. <<if (($persuasion + $survival) gte 3)>>\ ''[Persuasion + Survival 3 Check Passed]'' "Easy now," you say to the rampaging beast, laying a gentle hand on the Beast. It responds by rearing back and stomping the ground, then spinning with its rear legs and kicking for your chest. Its hooves are almost the size of your entire torso and you barely dodge the battering ram of a kick. That's when you realize you need to negotiate from a better position. Like on top of its head. You leap to its forehead and grab the hair around its ears with an iron grip while the Beast thrashes, trying to lodge you into the trees. All the while you pull its hair on the left or right side to maneuver the Beast into the right direction so the caravan wagons can sneak by its rampage unscathed. <<apboost 3>>\ Hours later the Beast finally calms and sits on the ground, taking a disgruntled nap that blocks the road. It's given up trying to crush you and resorts to farting loudly instead. You're both more than happy to part ways as you catch up to the caravan, welcomed back with open arms and more than a few drink offers. <<var $powexp + 1>>\ <<page "Continue" "ch4-caravan-end">>\ <<elseif ($style is "Midorikatai")>>\ ''[Style Event: Midorikatai]'' "Easy now," you say to the rampaging Beast when suddenly one of its wild kicks cuts your shirt and nearly bisects you with its bladed hoof. "HEY SHITASS, I SAID EASY NOW!" You smack the monster's leg hard enough to ripple a wave across its muscles. It leaps from the shock and you reach high, grab its tusk, and yank its head towards you to look it in the face. "People are walking here! Get back in your damn woods!" The enraged Beast looks into your eyes and- Oh, nope, you've headbutted it in the left eye and the poor thing squeals out in pain, shying back and shedding tears. //Now// the Beast looks into your eyes, and it doesn't quite like what it sees. Meekly the massive creature backs away through the hole in the wall of trees it already made, tripping on one trunk before hurriedly getting back to its feet and running away. <<if ($ruthless gte 52)>>\ "Yeah that's right!" You shout at the retreating creature, "and stay off the road unless you're paying tolls like the rest of us! Fucking freeloader!" <</if>>\ <<apboost 8>>\ <<page "Continue" "ch4-caravan-end">>\ <<else>>\ "Easy now," You say to the boar, leaping off the wagon and patting the Beast on its hide. ''[Persuasion + Survival 3 Check Failed]'' The creature immediately responds by leaping onto its hind legs and wrenching itself backwards, slamming you into a thick tree with so much force that you're stuck in the wood. Then it turns around and stabs you with its tusk. <<include "ch4-caravan-boarstabbed">>\ <</if>>\ #show-if ($aurapressure gt 1000) Scare it off with your aura. [Requires 1,000 Aura Pressure] You flare your $auracolor aura to its full potential and feel a roar barely suppressed in the deeper recesses of your spirit. The massive boar Beast feels it too. Its eyes lock on yours, monster to monster. ''*CRACK*'' Trees explode into shrapnel when the hulking creature flees the way it came, running at full speed with surged Agility Cores. It doesn't stop for any obstacle and even noticably weakens its spirit by charging through so many trees, yet it doesn't stop. It runs until it's out of sight, and soon, even out of hearing. Half the caraveneers cheer at your victory and offer their food or drinks. The other half don't make eye contact and keep their distance. <<page "Continue" "ch4-caravan-end">>\ <</choose>>

<<if (($ironbody) and ((($chipool + ($soul / 2)) - $chispent) gte 1))>>\ ''[Use the Iron Body Technique?]'' <<choose "ch4-caravan-boarstabbed2">> #Yes. [Costs 1 Chi Point] <<var $chispent + 1>>\ ''[Damage Resisted!]'' "Is that all you've got?!" You scream to the boar, grabbing onto its tusk that fails to pierce through your iron skin. Your fingertips, likewise hardened to iron, sink into the boar's tusk like needles compared to such a massive natural weapon. The Boar feels this violation and shakes you loose, sprinting across the road and crashing through the other side of the forest to make a second hole through the trees. Its Aura Pressure is easy to scan and you can feel it continue running away in a straight line. Slowly you pull yourself out of the tree that you've been slammed into and see the caravanners cheering you on, many offering drinks as thanks. <<page "Continue" "ch4-caravan-end">>\ #No. <<woundcheck 1 false false>>\ <</choose>> <<else>>\ <<woundcheck 1 false false>>\ <<page "Hhhhggggggg" "ch4-caravan-boarstabbed2">>\ <</if>>\

"Easy now." Dou Nohal says, "Lower $himher down safely." You shoot up in bed, recovering much faster than a mortal body ever could. "Good Heavens!" exclaims Nohal while several of his caravanners drop your mattress and make far more vulgar expressions in surprise. You land on your feet and rise, dusting yourself off. "We thought we lost you for a moment." Nohal says, dismissing the Help. "Took quite the hit there, and we had to use more than a few stinking concoctions on the Beast before it stopped chewing on you." You roll your shoulder to the sound of excessive popping and eye the merchant caravan's leader. "You've had Beast repellant this whole time?" "Humbly, yes, but not enough to throw it around liberally. If you're good enough to stand though we'd very much like to get back on the road. Are you well enough to get back to work?" "I get eaten by a house shaped like a pig and you're already asking if I'll get back to work?" Dou Nohal looks at you as if you've said the dumbest thing he's heard all day, week, and month. "I'm a merchant, young $manwoman. We should both expect me to act like it." You rise out of bed, grumpily, and return to monitoring the road for the next few days. <<page "Continue" "ch4-caravan-end">>\

<<choose "ch4-caravan-boarattack">> #Scan for Aura Pressures along the route. <<if ((($insight gte 2) or (($element1 is "Light") or ($element2 is "Light"))) or (($insight is 1) and (($style is "Kurokonton") or (($element1 is "Darkness") or ($element2 is "Darkness")))))>>\ <<if ($insight gte 2)>>\ ''[Insight 2 Check Passed]'' Spiritual scanning is a specialty mastered in deep meditations, it cannot be learned in a rush like power-based abilities. Luckily you've already put the time into your meditations. <<var $solexp + 2>>\ <<elseif (($element1 is "Light") or ($element2 is "Light"))>>\ ''[Insight 2 Check Failed]'' ''[Element Event: Light]'' The Light element lends several powers that help with vision and detection. Despite your spiritual scans not being up to the task, your visual scans are able to carry the weight. <<var $solexp + 2>>\ <<else>>\ ''[Insight 2 Check Failed]'' <<if (($element1 is "Darkness") or ($element2 is "Darkness"))>>\ ''[Element Event: Darkness ]'' <<else>>\ ''[Style Event: Kurokonton]'' <</if>>\ Between your moderate prowess in spiritual scanning and your control of \ <<if (($element1 is "Darkness") or ($element2 is "Darkness"))>>\ Darkness \ <<else>>\ yin chi \ <</if>>\ you're able to sense threats and mask your caravan's presence in equal measure. <<var $solexp + 2>>\ <</if>>\ Thanks to your keen senses the caravan avoids a multitude of problems, from a besieged village to an enormous Boar Beast. Granted, your spiritual scan is what wakens and angers the Boar Beast, but you're able to do so from such a distance that the caravan changes routes and avoids the problem altogether. It's almost boring how successful you are. Over the next week or so the caravan stops safely at town after town. Each stop only consists of setting up the caravan at morning and packing up again at night to get back on the road. In between the merchants get to work and you continue keeping an eye out for threats. The only excitement you get is a single thief utilizing Darkness chi to mask his presence while stealing jewelry. You grab his wrist and suddenly his obfuscation falls away, along with his composure when the nearby guards beat him with clubs to set an example. Dou Nohal is particularly thankful for your help. <<apboost 3>>\ ''[Item Gained: 300 Silver]'' <<var $silver + 300>>\ <<var $prestige + 1>>\ <<page "Continue" "ch4-caravan-end">>\ <<else>>\ ''[Insight 2 Check Failed]'' Long range spiritual scanning is a specialty mastered in deep meditations, and deep meditation is for losers. Yet you took this job anyway because who would mess with a trade caravan? Sure, you may be garbage at reading distant Aura Pressures but that doesn't mean the caravan drivers need to know it. "You guys are good." Becomes your go-to motto whenever the caravanners ask if they can continue. And you guys aren't good. <<page "Continue" "ch4-caravan-boarattack">>\ <</if>>\ #Repair the bumpy wagon wheels. There's nothing quite like wagon repairs to lift the spirits of caravanners; no one enjoys a bumpy ride from loose or damaged wagon wheels. Unfortunately most of these parts are too heavy for people to handle without stopping and collaborating, and the only time they can do that is when they're already busy stopping at a town to make sales. Only the superior strength of a Martial Artist could handle most of these repairs in transit. That's where you come in. <<if ($craft gte 2)>>\ ''[Craft 2 Check Passed]'' <<var $forexp + 1>>\ <<var $powexp + 1>>\ You actually manage to pull off better repairs than expected, a lot of the problems turn out to be design flaws. Over the next week you fetch wide trees and cut the lumber yourself then catch up to the caravan and whittle the wheels out. The spokes you whittle from the spare wood and the hubs you're able to get from other broken wheels. Dou Nohal's merchant caravan sports eighteen wagons and you end up replacing more wheels than not. <<apboost 2>>\ In the end, the journey becomes that much faster from abandoning all the drag. Several of the caravanners thank you with their specialty herbs and scented candles they had needed to sleep due to the bumpy ride. It seems you've made them obsolete. ''[Item Gained: 11 Ritual Components]'' <<var $ritualcomponents + 11>>\ Dou Nohal praises you on saving the caravan, as reports come in of a massive boar Beast attacking the travelers an hour behind you on the road. The increase in wagon speed is the only reason your caravan was spared. He thanks you //more// for saving the budget, seeing as wagon repairs are an expected cost of business. When you ask if he'll be splitting those savings with you he says no. <<var $nohalrep + 4>>\ <<var $commerce + 1>>\ <<page "Continue" "ch4-caravan-end">>\ <<elseif (($element1 is "Earth") or ($element2 is "Earth"))>>\ ''[Craft 2 Check Failed]'' ''[Element Event: Earth]'' As it turns out, carpentry is difficult. Each repair you perform over the next week is mediocre at best, however, no one in the caravan needs to know that. Through your elemental affinity you wrap the wheels of each caravan in a thin layer of Earth chi that helps it glide more quickly and smoothly across the dirt and stone roads. It's enough to make the ride that much more comfortable and everyone seems to think it's thanks to your repairman skills. You lying bastard. <<apboost 4>>\ Several of the caravanners thank you with their specialty herbs and scented candles they had needed to sleep due to the bumpy ride. It seems you've made them obsolete. ''[Item Gained: 11 Ritual Components]'' <<var $ritualcomponents + 11>>\ Dou Nohal praises you on saving the caravan, as reports come in of a massive boar Beast attacking the travelers an hour behind you on the road. The increase in wagon speed is the only reason your caravan was spared. He thanks you //more// for saving the budget, seeing as wagon repairs are an expected cost of business. When you ask if he'll be splitting those savings with you he says no. <<var $nohalrep + 4>>\ <<var $commerce + 1>>\ <<page "Continue" "ch4-caravan-end">>\ <<else>>\ ''[Craft 2 Check Failed]'' Wheels prove to be harder to fix than anyone dared to mention. Over the next week you fetch wide trees and cut the lumber yourself, then catch up to the caravan and continuously fail to whittle the wheel correctly. The damned things always crack. It seems there's a reason people who can make them properly earn their own title as wheelwrights instead of being called carpenters. You suppose that regular woodworkers aren't up to the task of wheelsmithery. The carpenters fear the power of the wheelwright, and as of right now, so do you. <<page "Continue" "ch4-caravan-boarattack">>\ <</if>>\ #Pack more inventory away with Fuuinjutsu Handseals. <<if (($handseals gte 2) or ($style is "Kiihakai"))>>\ <<if ($handseals gte 2)>>\ ''[Handseals 2 Check Passed]'' <<var $solexp + 2>>\ <<var $powexp + 1>>\ Binding larger objects into fuuinjutsu Seals is difficult and time-consuming, but you have the time and you have the skill. \ <<elseif ($style is "Kiihakai")>>\ ''[Style Event: Kiihakai]'' <<if ($handseals is 0)>>\ You've never been one for handseals but somehow the motion comes to you naturally. It's as if the zodiac finger formations are just common sense, and the \ <<else>>\ Enacting Seals with the zodiac finger formations has been coming to you more naturally of late. The \ <</if>>\ chi used to fuel them doesn't come from your ambient surrounding \ <<if ($handseals isnot 0)>>\ anymore \ <</if>>\ like it's supposed to, instead it comes from your Cores as if you're using a Technique. With each proper finger formation a black ink brand appears on the paper tags and before you know it you're mystically branding multiple sigils at once. The sudden success is so invigorating that you push yourself to new limits and reach a record of four at a time. <<apboost 6>>\ <</if>>\ In just two days you manage to bind all the heavier objects into fuuinjutsu tags to such an efficient degree that the speed of the caravan is able to pick up pace in between stops at small villages. When they do unload at the villages they're able to do so faster since the heavy furniture that usually requires multiple movers can be handled instead with a single strip of paper. ''[Commerce Increased]'' <<var $commerce + 2>>\ It's not until your caravan sets up camp at a lake for the day that you see how important your work was. Another set of wagons approach with plentiful wounded guards, even wounded Martial Artists. They mingle with your own caravan and buy what medical supplies they can, warning of a massive boar Beast that attacked them. By Nohal's estimations, if you hadn't lightened the load of each wagon so immensely then your caravan would have been slowed down half a day. You would have run into the boar instead. <<page "Continue" "ch4-caravan-end">>\ <<else>>\ ''[Handseals 2 Check Failed]'' <<if ($handseals is 0)>>\ Signing up for this task fills your mind with a singular thought. A single question. What the Hells is Fuuinjutsu? You spend most of the next week or two reading up on any books you can find and asking around for advice on this "Fuuinjutsu" business. Eventually you learn it's the most rudimentary Handseal and it converts mundane objects into smoke that binds into a rectangular strip of paper called a "seal tag". When you break the tag it's supposed to make the object appear again in a puff of smoke. It actually sounds entertaining and useful, so for most of the journey you try your best at enacting the right zodiac finger formations to make it happen. To your surprise, you actually pull it off and seal a clay jug of water into a seal tag. Pretty cool, you think to yourself, until you realize you were supposed to have been doing this to hundreds of objects by now. Maybe thousands. Oh well. One beats none. ''[Handseals +1]'' <<var $handseals + 1>>\ <<fuuinjutsudescription>>\ <<else>>\ Fuuinjutsu is for small objects, so you bind the small objects. Easy peasy. Over the next week or so you sit in wagons and enact the right zodiac finger formations over pens, pots, prepared food, waterskins, tools, and the like. After a week has passed one of the caravanners asks where you're storing the seal tags for the barrels. <<var $solexp + 1>>\ What a stupid question, you think to yourself, Fuuinjutsu can't seal heavy objects like a barrel. Then she sits with you for twenty minutes to gather enough ambient chi and actually pulls it off, sealing an entire barrel of sake into a single paper seal tag. Oh shit. You have definitely not been doing your job right. <</if>>\ <<page "Continue" "ch4-caravan-boarattack">>\ <</if>>\ #show-if ($background isnot "Merchant") use-if ((($lore+$perception) gte 3) and ($handseals gte 2)) Work around the soul oath to rob the caravan at night. <<var $honor - 5>>\ <<var $metnohal 12000000000>>\ After a week on the road you've gotten to understand where the //good// goods are stored, and that's the wagon you're hiding in tonight. You'd like to personally thank the caravanner who loaded it up and didn't even notice the weight of the barrel you hid in. Now to deal with this troublesome soul-binding oath... ''[Lore + Perception 3 Check Passed]'' Avoiding the consequences of a soul oath is difficult business. Without knowing every detail of the agreement it's not even supposed to be possible. Luckily, you read the contract well. It was needlessly lengthy but easy enough to understand. Next comes the hard part. <<page "Continue" "ch4-caravan-heist">>\ #show-if ($background is "Merchant") Fix inventory charts, synergize deal offers, and adjust local prices. [Requires Merchant Background] <<var $metnohal 15000000000>>\ By the Heavenly Dao and the Saints who serve it, who WRITES this stuff?! The caravan's paperwork is in total disarray and their contents are even worse. Three for the price of one on long-lasting goods like pear wine just because it didn't sell well in a couple towns?! You know those towns, they have their //own pear orchards//, yet simultaneously there's no such offers on perishables(?!?!) like the crates of actual pears that will go bad in days? Idiots! Buffoons! Illiterate inbreds! Deals are supposed to offload temporary product and get customers to keep looking around for more deals, that way they accidentally find full-cost products they like while perusing. They're NOT to unload regional long-lasting product in the WRONG REGION! Gah! GAH!! Only your Fortitude Core prevents a total aneurysm when reading these inventory charts. Oh Heavens, you think you're going to throw-up at the next line. Who bought two wagons worth of bedding supplies to sell at the empire's most esteemed Martial Arts competition where the wealthy will be trying to look tough?! That's where you'll sell the //least// goosefeather pillows! If Father were here he might generate an aura purely out of rage. You spend the next week-long journey locked in one wagon, inked quill in hand, going over charts and orders to fix the grotesque abomination that Dou Nohal's administrators have been wrongfully calling a merchant caravan. <<var $commerce + 3>>\ <<if ($jadedragonfoundation is false)>>\ <<achieve "Money Maker">>\ <</if>>\ <<page "Continue" "ch4-caravan-merchant">>\ <</choose>>

<<choose "ch4-caravan-choices">> #Sign the contract. <<var $chapter 4.5>>\ <<var $metnohal 11000000000>>\ <<var $nohalrep + 2>>\ <<if ($pelt is 1)>>\ "...Deal, on one condition." Dou Nohal smiles and opens his <<if ($nohalrep gt 50)>>\ hands as if welcoming an old friend. \ <<else>>\ hands. \ <</if>>\ "Name it." You slap the heavy sabretooth tiger's pelt down onto the table. "That may be the most you can pay me for the job, but I want full market price for this Beast pelt too. It can't go over my salary limit if it's not part of the salary." Nohal rubs his chin, lifting the pelt here and there to examine the claws, lining, and fur quality. He nods appreciatively at every step. "It's decent condition. You've got yourself a deal." <<var $val (((100 + (30 * $persuasion)) + ($survival * 15)) + ($commerce * 5))>>\ ''[Pelt Bonus:: $val Shards]'' <<var $pelt 2>>\ <<var $commerce + 2>>\ <<var $shards + $val>>\ <<var $val 0>>\ <<else>>\ "Deal." <</if>>\ Signing the papers sends a coiling sensation all over your spirit. Not a restricting one, and though it's hard to envision you do manage to see an image in your mind: the sensation is similar to your spirit wearing a scarf. A noticeable but non-threatening presence. <<if ($background is "Merchant")>>\ ''[Background Event: Merchant]'' <<var $nohalrep + 10>>\ Dou Nohal jumps out of his seat when he sees your name signed onto the scroll. "$fullname!? I-I apologize \ <<if ($heshe is "he")>>\ sir, \ <<else>>\ madam, \ <</if>>\ I had no idea!" "No idea of what?" He guffaws, which only raises your sense of alarm. "That it was you! A shareholder! <<if ($mentionedclan)>>\ I didn't realize the rumored new $clan Clan was the same as our record's $clan Clan! You're its $patriarch, are you not? You personally own \ <<else>>\ Your family owns \ <</if>>\ a 5% stake in our Choral Line Sect's operations in Outer West!" Oh Holy Hells, this is the Trade Sect that Father bought a stake in! <<if ($toldname is true)>>\ You try to suppress your surprise and clear your throat, trying to come off like the $patriarch you've become. "Mister Dou, I already introduced myself earlier. Why didn't you recognize me then?" He bows at the waist. "My humblest apologies, Honored Guest, I did not recognize the name until I saw it spelled out. Why, \ <<else>>\ "Why, \ <</if>>\ I damned near had you doing monkey work!" Nohal grabs the soul-binding oath contract and rips it in half. \ <<if ($toldname)>>\ "No contract will be necessary, obviously. Please, \ <<else>>\ "My sincere apologies, please, \ <</if>>\ take my wagon for the duration of the trip. We'll see to it that you're brought safely to Nanhou. Is there anything I can get you while you wait?" Truthfully you're still staring at the shredded contract on the floor. "I'm confused. Am I getting paid for a job or not?" Dou Nohal scoffs. "You're more than welcome to aid us as you wish but, if I may be so blunt, you're a regional shareholder of my master's Trade Sect. We're paying you just to exist." ''[Item Gained: 1200 Silver]'' <<var $silver + 1200>>\ "But would I get paid more for doing other tasks?" Dou Nohal smiles at that. "Finally, someone who understands the value in multiple streams of income. I was worried you would be the type to sit around content with the money you have." A dismissive laugh escapes your lips. "Dou Nohal, come now. We've both been raised merchants! We're never content with the money we have." <<else>>\ "Wonderful!" Nohal says as he signs his own name and the spiritual sensation coils around his own spirit. He shivers and the two of you shake hands. More than the gainful employment you find yourself looking forward to the free ride on a wagon. Finally you can make some progress on your journey even while sleeping. "Now it's just a matter of what you'll actually be doing. Obviously we'll need you to flex your Aura Pressure a bit and protect us if it comes to that, but there are many tasks for the day-to-day that require a $manwoman of your caliber." <</if>>\ #Turn 360 degrees and walk away. <<var $workfordou 3>>\ <<var $metnohal 14000000000>>\ <<var $nohalrep - 5>>\ "I'll pass." You say, sliding the contract back to his side of the table. As you get up and turn around to leave Nohal slams a hand on the table. "Are you truly going to turn down such a lucrative offer? All because you're forced not to rob your own wards?!" You turn back to him. "My reasons are my own. I'll not bind my soul to anyone, and I was doing fine before you came along. I will be fine after." "Then get the hell out of my caravan!" Dou Nohal demands. "If we can't trust you then we can't host you, LEAVE!" It's never good when merchants get uppity. You keep an eye on him as you walk backwards out of his tent, then continue to keep your eyes locked on his location as you walk backwards through the whole camp. On your way out of the western side of the circle of wagons \ <<if ($underlings gt 0)>>\ you notice your $underlings underlings talking to some woman, a wagon driver by the looks of her outfit. "Hey, minions! We're getting back on the road!" They all hang their head and follow, which proves quite difficult when you \ <<else>>\ you \ <</if>>\ turn with a flourish and leap as high and far as possible down the western trail to avoid any potential traps, and to show off. In fact, you go much further than expected, soaring high above most branches. As your Aura Pressure has grown so too have your abilities, and it's been a while since you tested athleticism outside of short bursts in combat...this may be good training. You continue the long jumps for strenuous hours until the sun sets and rises again the next morning. While you're thankful to make up so much extra ground on your travels, you quickly grow annoyed at how long it takes to feel the burn of a good workout. The stamina gained from your inner chi is a blessing and a curse. <<if ($athletics gte 1)>>\ ''[Athletics $athletics Check Succeeded]'' <<var $val (5 + ($athletics * 2))>>\ <<apboost $val>>\ <<var $val 0>>\ <<if ($hungryspiritritual isnot 1)>>\ ''[Hungry Soul Bonus: +5 Aura Pressure]'' <<var $aurapressure + 5>>\ <</if>>\ <<else>>\ <<apboost 4>>\ <</if>>\ <<page "Continue" "ch4-caravan-contract-decline">>\ #use-once "If you don't have any Martial Artists, why shouldn't I just rob you and leave?" -> "ch4-caravan-contract" <<var $nohalrep - 3>>\ "If you don't have any Martial Artists, why shouldn't I just rob you and leave?" Dou Nohal doesn't even blink, but his expression does harden. "Because in the twenty minutes we spent setting up that fanciful mock-robbery around your sleeping form, you know, the lighthearted fun I offered out of the kindness of my heart, I was also having my scribes draw your likeness and uniform. We've sent messenger birds back to my Sect's outposts so they know who to send assassins after should anything happen to us." "Ah." "Indeed." Nohal's smile grows thin. "And now I know the contract is necessary for your kind." "So...Business." You look from the disappointed merchant to the soul-binding oath. <</choose>>

<<var $chapter 4.5>>\ Days later you find yourself travelling through a major town for the first time of your journey. Multistory buildings, plentiful shops, massive ramie fields to the south amid rows of vegetable fields, town gates, and the latent Aura Pressure in the air telling you that a Sect must live here. Or at least plenty of Martial Artists among the customers, seeing as four separate merchant caravans are setup in the market square when you arrive. <<page "Continue" "ch4-outpost-shop">>\

<<timepass>>\ <<if ($background is "Merchant")>>\ "Great news, my friend!" Dou Nohal shouts into your wagon one morning. Through your sleeping blindfold you can't help but notice that the wagons are moving, the portly man must have jogged alongside while yelling at you. "You can finally let your guard down at the next town!" "Why?" You ask. "Are we finally getting reinforcements?" <<include "ch4-caravan-merchant2">>\ <<else>>\ At the next stop the caravan sets up in a market square of a larger town built on the border of a forest to the north and massive fields of ramie to the south. Judging by the plentiful buildings and sideroads all surrounded by thick wooden walls you get the impression this town actually has a Sect, which would explain why three other caravans are already stationed in its town center. "Might I recommend some shopping?" Dou Nohal asks as you both dismount from your wagon in the safety of the town's market square. "Especially since you're free for the day." "The day?" "Well, free for the rest of the journey. It seems we part ways here, as the Choral Line Sect's Martial Artists are waiting for me in the tavern and we're not to use mercenaries when unnecessary." "So that's it? The reinforcements get here and my contract's meaningless?" "Oh no, it was quite binding for both parties. Your contract is not voided, it is //complete//. Thank you for your assistance and so on and some such." He withdraws two pouches from his belt and tosses them to you. "Half your earnings won't be in Shards but something a bit rarer thanks to the Trials. I made sure to procure it just for you, a personal touch by yours truly." You catch the pouches and peek inside, mood lifting at the sight of the crystalline vial. <<if ($race is "Human")>>\ ''[Item Gained: 220 Shards]'' <<var $shards + 220>>\ <<elseif ($race is "Oni")>>\ ''[Item Gained: 130 Shards]'' <<var $shards + 130>>\ <<else>>\ ''[Item Gained: 175 Shards]'' <<var $shards + 175>>\ <</if>>\ ''[Advancement Elixir: +30 Aura Pressure]'' <<var $aurapressure + 30>>\ <<var $powspent 0>>\ <<var $forspent 0>>\ <<var $solspent 0>>\ <<var $agispent 0>>\ <<var $chispent 0>>\ ''[All Cores and Chi Restored]'' Consuming the elixir instantly fills your body with an empowering glow. Rushed cultivation in the past has always felt like your body and soul being painfully stretched passed its limit, but your Aura Pressure of $aurapressure processes this high-grade elixir painlessly with a sense of total invigoration like you'd just taken the greatest rest of your life and you're ready for a brand-new day. "Incredible." You exclaim, looking down at your hands and feeling the power rush through your body and soul. "My power's growing but it doesn't hurt a bit." Dou Nohal looks to the sky abashedly, as if trying to distract himself. When he can no longer hold it in his gaze is still on the clouds, awkwardly refusing to look you in the eye as he speaks. "Advancement Elixirs are not supposed to hurt." "Oh." You're struck with the possibility that every refiner in Outer West may be bad at their jobs. <<page "Continue" "ch4-outpost-shop">>\ <</if>>\

The two of you enter a makeshift tent formed around the largest wagon in the caravan. Dou Nohal opens the flap leading inside and you follow. <<if ($underlings gt 0)>>\ "You know, loose lips sink ships, or so they say in the Cursed Lands." He nods to your underlings waiting outside. "Are they safe to keep within earshot?" <<if ($ruthless gte 54)>>\ "If they know what's good for them." You nod to the closest with a clear warning. <<else>>\ "Probably not. HEY!" You shout to your underlings. "Get lost for a bit." They nod eagerly, sprinting away. Dou Nohal sighs and snaps his fingers for some man with a bow drawn to approach. "Guard, make sure they don't escape the camp." "Yes sir." <</if>>\ <</if>>\ Nohal steps into the wagon and comes out with three pieces of paper covered in black sigils. Fuuinjutsu tags. He rips them in half and each bursts into smoke; smoke that quickly takes the form of whatever objects were sealed inside the paper. Before your eyes the smoke solidifies back to the objects' original forms: two upholstered Lunargothic thrones and a sturdy table. "Sit, please." Says Dou Nohal, "I find reclining like a King to be amenable to deals between equals." He doesn't have to ask you twice, you've been on your feet for weeks now. Sitting on the cushion of this throne chair feels like your butt is being supported by a cloud. A cloud who loves you. A firm yet masterful cloud who knows how to relax your aching lower back and glutes at the same time. "Down to business." Some voice says, interrupting your euphoria. Oh right. Dou Nohal. Business. "I'll be frank, we don't have any Martial Artists. Not one." "I'm sorry but wait, //what//?" "Yes, all gone. Most unfortunate." You blink several, several times. "This is a caravan, your coffers hold enough to employ anyone." "They did! And you're the first we found since our original guards took our coffers and ran for the Heavenly Ascension Trials to try their luck." "I don't quite understand, this //doesn't happen//, ever. Won't your guards be executed for this?" Dou Nohal laughs heartily. "I sure hope so! But it seems they think they can avoid such a grizzly fate by winning the Trials which, to their credit, would do the trick. My employers cannot afford to anger the Archonate." He withdraws a scroll from his robes, an employment contract to be precise. "I've learned my lesson, the rules have changed while the Trials are here. I wish to make you an offer: sign on to my caravan and I'll be sure you're paid the highest salary we can allow to outside mercenaries." A quick gaze to the contract shows what makes him so confident in signing you on, because you've seen one of these before with Magistrate Khan and Crusher Mao. This scroll is a soul-binding contract. <<page "Continue" "ch4-caravan-entertent2">>\

"What the Hells is this?" You ask, reading through the soul-binding contract. "A guarantee of loyalty to our Choral Line Sect. To be precise, a temporary one. You'll find that all the clauses within are quite reasonable. <<if (($lore+$perception) gte 3)>>\ ''[Lore+Perception 3 Check Passed]'' <<var $powexp + 2>>\ <<var $solexp + 1>>\ As you read on, you see Dou Nohal is correct. This is almost exactly the kind of contract you'd expect to see for normal employment. All clauses but an anti-theft clause end when you reach Nanhou, and even that clause ends two months later. Quite generous for a Sect to say 'you can go back to trying to rob us after we leave'. It even has a few extra clauses to protect both the caravan and yourself from unlikely events, like never reaching Nanhou. All in all, it doesn't appear to be a trap at all. Just a desperate security measure from a desperate man. <<else>>\ ''[Lore+Perception 3 Check Failed]'' All this legal mumbojumbo makes the contract impossible to read. It uses entire paragraphs to say vague statements that could take a sentence, you think, and it uses words no one would say in place of common words. From the looks of things it even repeats itself multiple times just to take up a lot of space. There's no way in Hell anyone talks like this, so why write like this? Suspicious. <</if>>\ At the bottom of the contract is your pay for the remaining weeks travel to Nanhou: \ <<if ($race is "Human")>>\ 350 \ <<elseif ($race is "Oni")>>\ 250 \ <<else>>\ 300 \ <</if>>\ Shards. <<include "ch4-caravan-contract">>\

Over a dozen of the armed fighters return but this time they aren't armed with simple clubs, several have taken up axes and swords radiating power. Soul Treasures. The guards surround you as Dou Nohal glares and points a single finger at your chest as if it were a weapon. "This $manwoman serves Mao. You know what to do!" <<choose "ch4-caravan-fight2">> #"I don't serve Mao!" "I don't serve Mao!" You shout \ <<if ($persuasion gte 1)>>\ before the situation escalates. ''[Persuasion 1 Check Passed]'' <<var $powexp + 2>>\ <<var $nohalrep + 1>>\ "You don't?" Asks Dou Nohal, "But does he not still run Thunderfall?" "He does, and his family and mine are feuding." "Hm...unlikely he would let you live, but also likely he would make enemies, that contemptable bastard. Allow me a guess: he killed your relative in a duel too? For me it was a niece." "His son tried. I beat him bloody and they never let the slight go." It's easy enough to convince them thanks to such a high amount of earnesty in your voice. Mao's an asshole and his son abducted your siblings. "Well that changes things!" Dou Nohal says in delight, shoulders loosening as if he no longer holds the weight of the world on them. "The enemy of my enemy is my friend. Come, I'd very much like to make a deal with you." <<var $val 5>>\ <<page "Continue" "ch4-caravan-entertent">>\ <<else>>\ in vain, as the violence has already escalated. <<var $nohalrep - 1>>\ <<include "ch4-caravan-fight2">>\ <</if>>\ #[Attack first] <</choose>>

<<var $combatstat "power">>\ <<combatcheck 5>>\ As a dozen guards rush you with glowing weapons you return the favor with glowing hands and feet, $auracolor light trailing behind your fast-moving strikes that knock their equipment out of their hands followed by palm strikes to their center, legsweeps, and lower jaw knockout blows. <<if ($passcheck is false)>>\ ''[1 Chi Point Spent]'' <<var $chispent - 1>>\ <<var $passcheck false>>\ The fight takes more out of you than you expect, but your chi reserves rush to meet the challenge. Each enemy lies on the ground, groaning. <<else>>\ In seconds they're on the ground groaning. <<var $powexp + 3>>\ <</if>>\ "B-Bravo! Bravo!" Shouts Dou Nohal, clapping. "You passed the test with flying colors!" "There was no test." You say while approaching him. "You attacked me." "If it wasn't a test then why do I have your initial payment already bundled?" The man tosses you a coinpouch. <<if ($passcheck is true)>>\ ''[Item Gained: 60 Shards]'' <<var $shards + 60>>\ <<else>>\ ''[Item Gained: 30 Shards]'' <<var $shards + 30>>\ <</if>>\ This sleazy man is obviously lying, but he's speaking the right language. "...Go on." "I'm a man of means in need of a man of <<if ($heshe is "he")>>\ power. \ <<else>>\ power, or a woman of power in this case. \ <</if>>\ As you can see my guards here are insufficient for the Heavenly Ascension Trials. Come with me to my wagon, I'd like to discuss a deal that benefits us both." <<if ($heshe is "she")>>\ Ancestors, if he tries to sleep with you you're cutting off fingers. \ <</if>>\ <<var $val 4>>\ <<page "Continue" "ch4-caravan-entertent">>\

''[Handseals 2 Check Passed]'' Your deft fingers enact the mystic handseals that allow you to temporarily avoid the results of your exact soul-binding contract by masking your spiritual signature. You feel lucky Dou Nohal missed a few clauses that should have covered this workaround, and even luckier that Magistrate Khan's contract with Mao //does// have those clauses. Probably. ...You hope. But that's a problem for later. Now is the time to collect the goods. <<page "Continue" "ch4-caravan-heist2">>\

First thing's first, a coffer change. ''[Item Gained: 1218 Silver]'' <<var $silver + 1218>>\ ''[Item Gained: 203 Shards]'' <<var $shards + 203>>\ Next a key. From all the sales of cages and manacles made to so many towns you've learned one important detail: the Choral Line Sect made a bulk order of identical manacles and cages to sell, and they all use the same key shape. Most customers will have no idea that one key fits all, but you do. And that's why it'll work. Should you ever get in trouble around here, which you may seeing as you're a blatant criminal, this key could be your ticket out of jail. ''[Item Gained: Key]'' <<var $key true>>\ Now for the real goods. You carefully jiggle the lockboxes until you find three that are poorly secured and open them, seizing the yuzu spirit fruit from within and scarfing them down. No matter what happens now, you've got a surge of power that no one can take back. Heavens above, you're such a genius. <<apboost 18>>\ <<var $powspent 0>>\ <<var $forspent 0>>\ <<var $solspent 0>>\ <<var $agispent 0>>\ <<var $chispent 0>>\ ''[All Cores and Chi Restored]'' "Hey what're you doing here?" Asks one of the guards outside your wagon. Spinning around in a panic reveals nothing, the wagon rear door is still locked. Another voice speaks up. "I sensed something odd coming from inside the wagon, I think the spirit fruit containers need repairs." Someone else here can actually sense Aura Pressures?! You're supposed to be the only Martial Artist in the caravan! Oh Nohal you lying sack of- <<page "The door opens." "ch4-caravan-heist3">>\

Lantern light shines into lengthy wooden wagon when the rear door opens up. "See anything?" Asks one voice. <<if ($stealth gte 2)>>\ ''[Stealth 2 Check Passed]'' <<var $agiexp + 2>>\ "Nothing." Says another, stepping into the wagon and over the barrel you're hiding in. "Except I was right. We must have jostled the spirit fruit containers in transit...Oh Saint's tits, we're in trouble." "How bad?" Asks the voice from outside the wagon. "Have they gone rotten?" "Worse, they've gone. Period. Must be rats." Both voices sigh. "So...we just let some rats become Beasts." "Not if we adjust the inventory charts, then it never happened." Phew. When both of them leave for the night you slip out and sneak back to your own wagon with your ill-begotten gains. Mission accomplished. <<page "Continue" "ch4-caravan-boarattack">>\ <<else>>\ ''[Stealth 2 Check Failed]'' <<var $agiexp + 1>>\ "Uh...Yes." Says the second man, an Oni with stark white sideburns, as he enters the wagon and squints. "I see $fullname. $heshe's hiding behind a barrel and staring at me. It's kind of creepy." Quick, think! You rise from behind the barrel casually and brush your shoulder off. "Good thing you came when you did, I just finished killing the rats." <<if ($deception gte 2)>>\ ''[Deception 2 Check Passed]'' <<var $agiexp + 2>>\ The oni in front closes his eyes and nods with a sigh of relief. "Aye, a minute sooner and we might be in trouble. Did the rats gain any special abilities from eating the spirit fruit?" "Just got bigger." You lie, going with the easiest option. The one in the back looks around. "Well...where are the corpses? We'll need to write this off and the higher ups will want proof." "I ate them, for the spirit fruit in their bellies." The oni looks to the man outside the wagon and back. "You...Young <<if ($heshe is "he")>>\ master, \ <<else>>\ mistress, \ <</if>>\ you're saying you ate giant chi-infused rats? In sparse moments, whole and raw?" You force out a burp. "Cultivation isn't cheap." "I...would like to go back to my wagon." Says the one in back, face growing green. The oni agrees. The three of you separate and the next morning they back up your story. <<page "Continue" "ch4-caravan-boarattack">>\ <<else>>\ ''[Deception 2 Check Failed]'' "Why is that a good thing?" Asks the caravanner in back. "Huh?" What's he getting at? "Why is it a good thing that we came? If you killed the rats, why would it matter if we showed up?" "Uh...Because, I-" <<choose "ch4-caravan-boarattack">> #Attack them. [Flee the caravan] <<var $metnohal 13000000000>>\ In the thrill of the moment you attack the two caravanners who discovered you robbing the caravan. ''[Infamy Increased]'' <<var $infamy + 3>>\ They both crumple immediately. One backhand to the face and one kick to the forehead leaves two normal mortals on the ground, unmoving. \ <<if ($ruthless lt 56)>>\ You hope they're not dead. Either way, there's \ <<else>>\ There's <</if>>\ no going back now. Before anyone else shows up you wrap your ill-gotten gains and leap from the caravan, sprinting into the darkness of the tall grass that the caravan's currently traversing. <<page "Continue" "ch4-caravan-heist4">>\ #Put the possessions back. You hold both hands up in surrender. "Alright alright, can't blame a \ <<if ($heshe is "he")>>\ guy \ <<else>>\ girl \ <</if>>\ for trying." You take the Shards and Silver out of your pockets, keeping the key, and drop the pouches back into the open coffer nearby. ''[Item Lost: 1200 Silver]'' <<var $silver - 1200>>\ ''[Item Lost: 200 Shards]'' <<var $shards - 200>>\ The man in front walks over to the coffer and looks through both pouches, then back to his partner. "We should report this to Dou Nohal." From the back you see the other caravanner shake his head. "Report that the only Martial Artist in the caravan should be arrested? Good luck with that, I like my limbs working. As far as I'm concerned, no missing inventory means no robbery." "Smart man." You say as the one in front starts to sweat, realizing that he's already within striking range. Tentatively, you separate to your own wagons and forget this ever happened. Damn it all, that would have been a great heist. You wish Kosuke was here. <<page "Continue" "ch4-caravan-boarattack">>\ <</choose>> <</if>>\ <</if>>\

Days later you've grown used to sleeping outside again, only to prove yourself wrong when temptation strikes. The journey to Nanhou has taken you by a larger town built on the border of a forest to the north and a massive plain to the south that its filled with fields of ramie Inside large wooden walls is a civilization the size of Thunderfall, complete with at least a hundred buildings and multistory shops. Judging by the size and stability of this location it must have its own Sect, but your eyes are taken more by the market square filled with several visiting merchant caravans at once. Thankfully none are Dou Nohal's. <<page "Continue" "ch4-outpost-shop">>\

<<timepass>>\ "By the miserly eyes of my Ancestors!" Dou Nohal exclaims as his \ <<if ($underlings gt 0)>>\ (and your) \ <</if>>\ underlings pack up the wagons after another day of business and he reads through the sales scrolls. "I can't believe these numbers. After your changes and //price increases// we've had a sixteen percent growth in sales across the last three towns! How do you do it?" <<var $nohalrep + 10>>\ ''[Item Gained: 50 Shards]'' <<var $shards + 50>>\ "Four towns." You say casually, eyes blindfolded from the sun as your head reclines on a wagon's front cushion. "We didn't sell more in Littlebridge." "Well Littlebridge was being held hostage by a marauding Storm Sect, it hardly counts." "It could've if we paid their toll." Dou Nohal waves a hand at you dismissively while one of his underlings brings you both a wineskin. "Nonsense! I'll bow to your wisdom on financial organization, but no one can tell a face better than Dou Nohal!" "And what did their faces tell you?" "That they would have attacked the second they realized we only had one Martial Artist." Heh...Probably. "Speaking of, aren't we meeting up with reinforcements soon?" <<include "ch4-caravan-merchant2">>\

Dou Nohal rubs his nose. "Oh that, well..." "Nohal..." You don't like when merchants put on an act. Mostly because that's your job. "It's just..." "Nohal! Reinforcements, yes or no?" He takes a long inhale and leans against the wagon in defeat. "I'd say it's more like replacements than reinforcements. The Choral Line Sect's letters arrived by crow, they were concerned that I was employing foreign mercenaries at first, quite typical of them. However when I calmly explained that it was one of our shareholders they saw things differently." You lift the blindfold and look down at Nohal from your wagon. "Differently how?" He scratches the back of his head with a giant, eyes-closed grin. "Livid! Absolutely livid, apparently if you die while protecting a caravan it looks like 'an assassination' to 'stop paying our investors'" He motions with air quotes at both phrases sarcastically. "If you ask me, it looks like an owner being a good leader! Ah well. It seems I've brought great dishonor to our Ancestors or some-such rubbish." "Sounds rough, how fired are you?" "Fair to moderate, my good $manwoman, fair to moderate. I can keep all my responsibilities and position, as well as sixty percent of my current profit share." Oof. "As for you, we're meeting reinforcements at the next town at which time you will become exceedingly fired. Please accept my condolences." "I'll //accept// my share of the profits." "Ah." He smiles the fakest smile you've ever seen. "Aha, of course. My mistake." Hesitantly and carefully, as if it pains him, Dou removes two pouches from his belt and hands them to you. One peek inside raises your spirits. ''[Item Gained: 250 Shards]'' <<var $shards + 250>>\ ''[Advancement Elixir: +40 Aura Pressure]'' <<var $aurapressure + 40>>\ <<var $workfordou 2>>\ <<var $powspent 0>>\ <<var $forspent 0>>\ <<var $solspent 0>>\ <<var $agispent 0>>\ <<var $chispent 0>>\ ''[All Cores and Chi Restored]'' <<page "Continue" "ch4-caravan-merchant3">>\

The next morning you awake to the caravan already laid out in the market square of a large town surrounded by walls hosting several other merchant caravans simultaneously. All you can see beyond the walls is that there's forests to the north and not a tree in sight to the south, likely where they keep the farms. The many sideroads and larger buildings remind you of Thunderfall and, judging by the latent feeling of Aura Pressures, you're certain this town has its own Sect. Or at the least it has Dou Nohal's reinforcements, seeing as no one woke you up to get any work done. It seems you're finally on your own again. <<page "Continue" "ch4-outpost-shop">>\

<<if (($style is "Aoyusumu") and (dig($metangelo, 2) gte 1))>>\ <<include "ch4-angelo-met">>\ <<elseif ($style is "Aoyusumu")>>\ <<include "ch4-angelo-unmet">>\ <<elseif ($style is "Akakiru")>>\ <<include "ch4-leona">>\ <<elseif (($style is "Kiihakai") and ($goldside is true))>>\ <<include "ch4-dessy-pissed">>\ <<elseif ($style is "Kiihakai")>>\ <<include "ch4-dessy-ally">>\ <<elseif ($style is "Kurokonton")>>\ <<include "ch4-guiren">>\ <<else>>\ <<include "ch4-fang">>\ <</if>>\

You rest in the local inn for the night and surprisingly find no problems. Just a nice bed, a morning tea, and an odd Lunargothic breakfast for the road called a "baguette", which looks like a stuffed bun doing its best impression of a walking stick. Speaking of walking, it's sunrise so it's time to hit the road. Not two miles outside of the large town, with the ramie fields still in view behind you, two wagons approach you from the west and stop at a pond up ahead. Several purple-clad figures get out and have already setup camp by the time you get there. "Are we ready for the sunset ritual?" Asks a familiar voice as you pass by, licking your fingers after finishing the ridiculous yet tasty baguette. Damn, did they bake cheese into it? Geniuses. "Long time no see, Desdemona." You say casually, passing by the purple-clad Dreamriver Sect with an air of mystique. There's more of them now than there was before and a couple jump in surprise when you announce yourself. Desdemona herself rises from the pond's edge, kneeling with a bowl of its water in her hands as she turns to see you. \ <<if ($purpleside is true)>>\ She //almost// smiles. "Thunderfaller, I didn't expect we'd meet again so soon. \ <<else>>\ "Ah, the $manwoman from Thunderfall. \ <</if>>\ Have you come to join in on our auspice sunset ritual?" That sounds like a distraction you don't need. \ <<if ($honor gt 53)>>\ "Apologies, I must decline. \ <<else>>\ "I'll have to pass. \ <</if>>\ I can't sit around a lake all day waiting for sunset." "What do you mean? We won't be staying out here, our shadow divination requires staying in darkness for hours on end. We've only exited the covered wagons for sunrise and sunset." She looks to the east where the sun is rising. "We can perform the sunset ritual right now." Oh no. Oh Ancestors. "Desdemona..." From inside a wagon you hear a female disciple correct you. "It's //Lady// Desdemona!" "Fine, Lady Desdemona, that's not the sunset. That's the east. It's the sunrise. When did you even have time to get closer to Nanhou and turn around?" Desdemona rolls her eyes and withdraws a clay tablet from her satchel. "I know my maps by now, Thunderfaller, look right here it says-er, it says...Oh by the Hells, not again!" She unceremoniously throws the clay tablet over the lake and blows it up with a golden energy blast. You can't see her face at this angle but from the way her long dark hair and robed shoulders shake she must be restraining a noticeable amount of violence. One of her male disciples looks from the pond to his Sect Mistress, deeply concerned. "Lady Desdemona...You did not get the directions mixed up again, did you?" "Shut up." She snaps out immediately. "Shut up right now. Who decided to use an 'E' and a 'W' when they're the same after rotating? And the same with a sharply drawn 'S' and an 'N'! Who is designing these maps?! Idiots! Fools!" This looks like a her-problem more than a you-problem. "It seems the esteemed Sect Mistress is busy. I'll see myself out." "Like HELLS you will!" She shouts out, spinning in place and pointing a finger at you in accusation. "$fullname, I've finally found you again and I demand an Alliance!" Huh? <<choose "ch4-dessy-why">> #"An alliance for what?" "An alliance for what?" You ask, cautious to bind yourself to any bad deals when you already have so much to do. "For the Trials and an important mission in Nanhou." Desdemona says more casually, noticeably calming down after her outburst and smoothing out her robe. "I want to ally my Dreamriver Sect to your small Clan, it should be a good deal for you." "...why?" #"Okay." -> "ch4-dessy-okay" <<var $val 888>>\ "Okay." You say immediately. Desdemona freezes. "Oh." She fidgets with her robe's sleeves hesitantly. "Um, that's it? Just okay? You're not going to make any demands or ask questions?" #"You'll have to talk to my Sect Master about that." "You'll have to talk to my Sect Master about that." You reply to her demands. "It's not as if I can talk on behalf of Thunderfall." "I don't care about Thunderfall." Desdemona says, calming down and smoothing out her robe, "I care about the $clan Clan. I want to ally the Dreamriver Sect to you." "...why?" <</choose>>

<<if ($heshe is "he")>>\ <<choose "ch4-dessy-why">> #"Nope, none." "Nope, none." "Huh." Desdemona looks around to her disciples as if lost and unsure where to go from here. They each shrug. "Well...Good. That's great news. Welcome to your new alliance with the Dreamriver Sect." "So what's our first goal? You must need an alliance for something specific, why'd you ask in the first place?" #"I'm not going to hesitate allying with the most beautiful woman in Outer West." <<var $desrep + 2>>\ <<if (($heshe is "he") and ($bodytype isnot "Manlet"))>>\ <<var $desromance + 1>>\ <</if>>\ "I'm not going to hesitate allying with the most beautiful woman in Outer West." Desdemona stares at you with mouth slightly open. You can't tell if she's analyzing you or simply surprised. One of her female disciples uses that chance to shout out, "Cut that out, flattery won't win over our Lady of the Dreamriver Sect!" You give the girl a quick nod. "Then I'll win her over with results." Then you turn to match Desdemona's gaze once more. "Why did you seek me out anyway? It couldn't have just been my good looks." Desdemona rolls her eyes, looking away for the briefest of moments. Finally she takes in a big breath and looks back with a serious expression. <</choose>> <<else>>\ "Nope, none." "Huh." Desdemona looks around to her disciples as if lost and unsure where to go from here. They each shrug. "Well...Good. That's great news. Welcome to your new alliance with the Dreamriver Sect." "So what's our first goal? You must need an alliance for something specific, why'd you ask in the first place?" <<include "ch4-dessy-why">>\ <</if>>\

The murmurs of the crowd slowly die out to be replaced by a single female voice, as if the world slipped away and only she remained. "By the twelve signs of the Auspicious Legends, under the Million Stars of the Ambient Night, let those with great sin meet grizzly ends, see them perish without a fight!" Oh, shit. That sounds like Desdemona's voice. And that sounds like a curse. <<page "Where did the sun go?" "ch4-dessy-pissed2">>\

Suddenly you're standing in a field near a wagon, the sun bearing down on you, with Desdemona and two of her purple-gi disciples sitting on a table covered in scrolls. The disciples look shocked in horror while Desdemona looks thoroughly \ <<if ($heshe is "he")>>\ surprised and //thoroughly// impressed. <<else>>\ surprised, holding her hands up in surrender. <</if>>\ <<var $desrep + 4>>\ <<page "Continue" "ch4-dessy-pissed-counter2">>\

"Now that's a power we could certainly use." Desdemona \ <<if (($heshe is "he") and ($bodytype isnot "Manlet"))>>\ <<var $desromance + 1>>\ says in a more sultry tone, \ <<else>>\ says, \ <</if>>\ oblivious to the danger she's in. "And what makes you think you can use me?" You take one stride forward and \ <<if ($countersealritual isnot 100)>>\ prepare a more violent incantation. <<else>>\ brace yourself to attack. <</if>>\ "By being useful, of course." Desdemona replies, withdrawing a golden tome from one of her bookbags. "I'm no fool, I already showed my hand so we can't manipulate you if we're enemies. Instead I'll offer you this: I will teach you Kiihakai, the Art of Chi Sorcery, and you will find it so useful that you will simply like me enough to aid me later in the Trials." "And if I don't?" <<if ($desromance gte 1)>>\ Desdemona laughs dismissively. "I'm not worried about that. I give good lessons." <<else>>\ Desdemona shrugs nonchalantly, looking over her shoulder as if bored. "Then I will have wasted my time." <</if>>\ You're not accustomed to being on the side of the appeased. You pause in battle-ready stance, breathing heavily from the strain of breaking the three caster's combined ritual. "So...we're not fighting? I wasn't expecting to walk out of this without fighting." Desdemona nods as if explaining something simple. "I am aware, that is why I bribed you. Now lets unlock your potential in Mystic Chi so we can both see the finals together." <<page "Continue" "ch4-kii-training">>\

Darkness envelopes your vision and something grabs onto your limbs. Before you know it you're wrapped in strange tendrils of shadow that restrict your motions like bands of rubber, the more you resist them the harder it is to move. You've no idea what happened to the market you were just standing in, but now all you see around you is a world of shadowy clouds. A voice comes from the darkness. Desdemona's voice, as if sending ice cold daggers with every word. "You thought you'd get away with crossing me, did you little $manwoman? Well now you'll learn what happens when you cross the Mistress of the Dreamriver Sect." You feel the spiritual tinge of chi sorcery in the air. "By the empathetic power of blood, with an oath of vengeance called anew, I declare your death with these words, and poison your soul's chi against you!" A soft golden spark emits near your left eye and another on your right buttcheek. They sting a bit. Things get real quiet after that for a good five seconds. "...Um." Desdemona says. The shuffling of papers can be heard through the darkness followed by some muffled whispering. "You said it was Kiihakai right?" "I'm positive $heshe has a Kiihakai aura," responds a man's whisper, "maybe it doesn't work if we use Kiihakai too?" "No no," says a second woman's hushed voice, "what if $heshe wasn't trained properly in Kiihakai? Wouldn't $heshe not have enough Mystic Chi to ignite for the ritual?" Desdemona sighs so loudly that it turns into a groan. "You there, Thunderfaller, is your soul attuned to Mystic Chi or something else?" <<choose "ch4-dessy-pissed3">> #"Mystic what?" "Mystic what?" You ask. Last time you checked mysticism comes from Handseals. No one can have an aura made from Handseals. What a \ <<if ($heshe is "she")>>\ moron. <<else>>\ stupid woman. <</if>>\ "Mystic chi," She reiterates, "the personal well of living yang energy? The source of chi sorcery and foundation of the Kiihakai martial ar-you know what, forget it. I'm wasting my time here." Her voice gets slightly quieter, as if talking to someone behind her. "<<cap $heshe>> doesn't know Kiihakai." #"You have me mistaken for someone that receives actual training." <<var $desrep + 1>>\ #"Absolutely." "Absolutely." You lie. "I've mastered mysticism of the Mystic Chi the likes of which you couldn't comprehend, now let me out of here if you know what's-" "<<cap $heshe>> doesn't know anything." Says a female voice beside Desdemona's. "Not even a basic counterseal, otherwise $heshe would be casting it." <<if ($countersealritual isnot 100)>>\ You do your best to contain your grin. She's in for quite the surprise. <<else>>\ "Hey now," you reply, trying to save your bluff, "shut up." <</if>>\ "So what do we all do now?" Desdemona asks the disembodied voices, "the only curse we brought won't work if $heshe doesn't know Kiihakai." #show-if ($heshe is "he") "My soul is attuned to that luscious, massive chest of yours." <<var $desrep - 2>>\ <<var $desromance + 1>>\ "My soul is attuned to that luscious, massive chest of yours." Is all you offer in response to the busty Lunargothic witch. If you're going to die here then why not have a good time doing it. That's what you've apparently decided. A loud thump can be heard, akin to a book falling or a forehead slamming onto a wooden table. "I told you we should have hired an assassin." "Lady Desdemona," says the man, "who would we hire? And with what money?" "UGH. Just once I want a curse to go right, why does Kurokonton get all the good curses and Kiihakai gets nothing but convoluted incantations?" <</choose>>

"If I'm getting this right," you begin to chuckle mid-sentence, "this curse only works if my Sect mentors actually cared enough to train me in a Style. Oh Ancestors, did you pick the wrong \ <<if ($heshe is "he")>>\ guy. \ <<else>>\ girl. \ <</if>>\ Besides, isn't Kiihakai from the Mystic Lands anyway? How in the world would I know it?" "Not every mentor is in the Inner Kingdoms," Desdemona corrects from the shadows, still sounding defeated, "the Sunbringers run an entire Sect of Kiihakai practitioners. Or did, until your master killed theirs." You laugh at that more than you expected. "I don't think the Sunbringers would train a Thunderfaller anyway. Hell, even the Thunderfallers aren't going to train a Thunderfaller, seeing as the bastards would rather kidnap my family." For the first time you see something besides the darkness in this curse; Desdemona steps out of the fog looking concerned and confused. "What do you mean about kidnapping your family? They're Thunderfallers too, are they not? Why would a Sect abduct its own?" Ah, another person seeking out your tragic backstory. You take in a long breath. "Pettiness. I've been in a feud with my Sect Master's son, Crusher Jack, since we were kids. I beat him in a fight that he started, the Magistrate sided with me, and Jack never got over it. He came back while I was busy training and took my brother Jin and my sister Rin to the Heavenly Ascension Trials without any preparations. They're not built for the Martial Arts, they could die out there. I'm going to Nanhou to save them." Desdemona's tone does not lighten, it does not gain sympathy, and in fact, it grows more scornful instead. "That sounds familiar. Insultingly familiar. If you're a victim of family abductions as well then why did you side with that scumbag Guiren? Didn't you feel an ounce of irony or pity or //shame// inflicting the same pain on me that you're going through yourself?" Oh. Huh. "...Would you believe me if I said I forgot about it at the time?" Desdemona scrutinizes you with pursed lips, eyes glaring deeper into your soul for a long, tense moment until she finally breaks the silence: "Are you retarded?" <<choose "ch4-dessy-pissed4">> #"It appears so." <<var $ruthless - 2>>\ You motion at your surroundings, the shifting abyssal prison in which your actions have lead you. "It appears I am retarded, yes." #[Stay silent] <<var $val 0>>\ #use-if (($power + $handseals) gte 6) "You dare speak to me with such insolence?" -> "ch4-dessy-pissed-counter" ''[Power + Handseals 6 Check Passed]'' <<var $powexp + 2>>\ <<var $solexp + 2>>\ "You dare speak to me with such insolence?" Enough is enough. The power of your $auracolor aura surges around you as your fingers, still bound under tendrils of shadow, form into the zodiac Seal formations of \ <<if ($countersealritual isnot 100)>>\ your Counterseal ritual. <<var $val 5>>\ <<else>>\ a repelling charm. <<var $val 3>>\ <</if>>\ <<apboost $val>>\ <<var $ruthless + 2>>\ With the mystic effect and brute force of your aura, Desdemona's ritual shatters and the darkness disappears. #use-if (($countersealritual isnot 100) and ($ritualcomponents gte $countersealritual)) "I've heard enough." [Cast a Counterseal for $countersealritual Ritual Components.] -> "ch4-dessy-pissed-counter" "I've heard enough." You say, invoking the zodiac handsigns of a Counterseal in quick succession. Smoke rises around you like coiling snakes, hissing at the darkness all around. The snakes open their mouths and inhale deeply, pulling the very Darkness itself into their bodies until the illusion rips away. ''[$countersealritual Ritual Components Spent]'' <<var $ritualcomponents - $countersealritual>>\ <<apboost 10>>\ <</choose>>

Desdemona hangs her head, one hand on her forehead and the other on her hip. "I don't even know what to do anymore. I can't let you go, I can't kill you, and this ritual won't hold forever." After a short silence you hear a defeated huff. "Are you willing to make a deal?" "That depends on what kind of deal." "The kind where we both get of our loved ones back from their captors, then hopefully never see each other again after." You almost bark out a laugh. "Why in the world would we trust each other?" "Because we each have something the other wants. I need an agent my enemies don't suspect, and you need a trainer in the Kiihakai martial art Style." <<if $heshe is "he">>\ She leans forward, puffs a strand of hair out of her face, and stares deep into your eyes. \ <<else>>\ She breathes in deep through her nose, pushing all irritations aside, and tries to smile. It's not convincing, but her message is. <</if>>\ <<if (($desromance gte 1) and ($heshe is "he"))>>\ Her purple lips tease a smile revealing the vibrant white of her teeth with each word. \ <</if>>\ "What do you say, Thunderfaller? How would you like the powers of Chi Sorcery?" That's a hard bargain to pass up, but who knows how many enemies you'll make helping out her Sect? Then again, you have almost nothing //but// enemies. Gaining an alliance for the first time would be a refreshing change of pace. You stare long and hard \ <<if (($desromance gte 1) and ($heshe is "he"))>>\ at her chest \ <</if>>\ in thought. "You've got yourself a deal." <<page "Continue" "ch4-kii-training">>\

"Because everyone on the road won't stop talking about Thunderfall's scion, the prodigy." Your chest puffs with pride. It hadn't occurred that you'd become famous enough to be sought out by an entire Sect, no matter how small. "Crusher Jack." Desdemona finishes. Your chest deflates. "I've heard nothing but praise about the same person for the last week as he gathers fame on the road. How he's invented his own Techniques and mastered several others, how he's beaten Upper Disciples of multiple Sects, how he's the best of our generation. But then...then I find out he's been defeated before, by one $manwoman. A $manwoman named $fullname." It's hard to feel pride after that tirade. Has Jack really gotten so strong? \ <<if ($jadedragonfoundation is true)>>\ You thought you'd left him far behind when your Jade Dragon Foundation stabilized, but if he's beating Upper Disciples then he could still be a problem...but how did he gain such power? <<else>>\ You couldn't imagine beating an Upper Disciple like Big \ <<if ($ruthless gte 53)>>\ Chu, not that you'd admit it out loud. <<else>>\ Chu. <</if>>\ <</if>>\ "Imagine my luck when I find out I've met the famous Crusher Jack's rival." Wind from the pond knocks Desdemona's hair over her face and she flips a strand over her shoulder in annoyance. "You should have told me you were that strong." "Flattering, but I beat him years ago. I haven't even seen Jack since last year, though I'm about to. That \ <<if ($ruthless gt 53)>>\ asshole \ <<else>>\ coward \ <</if>>\ abducted my siblings and I'm going to \ <<if ($ruthless gte 50)>>\ kick his ass in \ <</if>>\ Nanhou to take them back." Desdemona smiles but there's no warmth in her expression. It's a sinister smile, one of malice and ill intent. "Oh <<cap $name>>, I think we will work perfectly together. I'd like to use your power to save my friends and family \ <<if ($purpleside is false)>>\ from their own abductors in Nanhou \ <</if>>\ and, in exchange, I will teach you Kiihakai so you can save yours." <<if ($val is 888)>>\ Mystical power //and// help with your revenge? Your smile matches her own. "You've got yourself a deal." <<else>>\ That actually sounds like a noble goal. "That's a hard offer to pass up. But why do you..." "Lady Desdemona," whispers her female disciple you remember from the barn, "your smile is unnerving everyone, please do not wear that expression ever again." Desdemona gives her apprentice a side-eye glance and huffs. "You're all no fun. This is why I'm always frowning." "Please continue to do so." Begs one of the male disciples. <</if>>\ <<page "Continue" "ch4-kii-training">>\

<<timepass>>\ The next day poses no problems on the road, nor does the next night as you set up camp and rest soundlessly. Sleep comes easily, and so do the dreams. <<page "Continue" "ch4-baddream">>\

"Fourteen, no! //Seventeen// buns please!" Calls an overly enthusiastic snacker ordering from a stall of baked goods. By the Ancestors, you recognize that voice. "Tian Fang?" The whitehaired wolfgirl turns her head so fast you'd think she was an owlgirl. "<<cap $name>>! I have not seen you since \ <<if (dig($metfang, 2) eq 1)>>\ my most embarrassing defeat! \ <<if (dig($metfang, 3) is 1)>>\ The one where you-" "Where I spit on you after." "Yes! The fight where you very rudely spit on me. \ <</if>>\ How is the pride of the Thunderfall Sect here alone when the Thunderfall Sect itself passed through days ago?" That's news to you. "The whole Sect came through here? Were my siblings with them?" Fang's ears lower. "My most sincerest of apologies, my \ <<if ($fangrep gte 50)>>\ rival and friend, \ <<else>>\ rival, \ <</if>>\ but I do not know who your siblings are. Perhaps they were there? Yet you have avoided my questions all the same, why //are// you separated from your pack, like a lost whitehaired wolfgirl?" "I-" You pause when recognition kicks in, "-you're separated from your Sect too?" She nods with eyes closed as if finding true contentment. "Most unfortunately! Mountain Hazard had already left before I returned home, and so I travel alone. A lone wolf. Hah! Like the angry heroes in the stories and-Hey! You have avoided answering again!" <<if ($ruthless gte 55)>>\ "Calm yourself, girl, you're making a scene." \ <<else>>\ "Alright alright, quiet down." \ <</if>>\ You quickly look around to make sure no one is listening in. "The Crushers and I are still not in good standing, and I mean that in the worst way. They took my siblings. I plan to get my brother and sister back, whatever it takes." "Oh my," Tian Fang pouts, "abduction of family members is grounds for a duel, yet dueling against a Sect Master is a death sentence...unless..." She grabs you by the collar with both hands. "$fullname, do you intend to win the Heavenly Ascension Trials?!" Her sudden intensity throws you off-guard but the answer is an easy one. "Of course I do." "Good! Then meet me in the woods outside the walls. The great Tian Fang would like to form an alliance!" "An alli-??" She's already gone, surging an Agility Core and dashing away in an icy blue glow at top speeds, tail wagging behind her until she reaches the town gate and leaps over in one jump. You look to the caravanner who was selling the baked goods, which have now been launched in every direction from the wind force of Fang's burst of speed. Seventeen buns are noticeably missing from the wreckage. The poor baker's lost gaze meets your eyes. "Um...$ymaster, did you know that woman? Because someone has to pay for-" You are already gone. <<page "Continue" "ch4-fang2">>\ <<elseif ((dig($metfang, 2) is 2) or (dig($metfang, 2) is 4))>>\ <<if (dig($metfang, 2) is 4)>>\ our encounter \ <<else>>\ our fight \ <</if>>\ atop the lightning mountain!" Ah, one of your more embarrassing moments. Tian Fang actually blushes at the thought. "I trust you didn't tell anyone of my..." She looks to the left and right then whispers, covering her mouth on both sides. "My secret?" "I don't even know what the secret is, what happened back there? You seemed like an entirely different person. And an awful one at \ <<if (dig($metfang, 2) is 2)>>\ that. You stabbed me." <<else>>\ that." <</if>>\ "Haha! Such jokes, such a fun joking friend!" She shouts nervously, putting an arm around your shoulder and looking around to see if anyone is listening before loudly whispering in your ear. "Meet me in the woods outside the gate, we must talk with outmost secrecy about our alliance." Then she takes the buns off the caravanner's table and frolics off with the same aloof smile as usual. What a weird woman. <<page "Continue" "ch4-fang2">>\ <<else>>\ that exhausting but enjoyable night together!" <<if ($heshe is "he")>>\ The Human girl working behind the baked goods counter lets out an "Oooooh" and pulls out a basket of pink heart-shaped pastries. "For the lovely couple?" <<choose "ch4-fang2">> #"It's not like that, we cycled a Heavenly Gate together." -> "ch4-fang-notlikethat" #"Of course, two please." -> "ch4-fang-notlikethat2" <<var $fangrep + 2>>\ <<if ($heshe is "he")>>\ <<var $fangromance + 1>>\ <<else>>\ <<var $fanrep + 3>>\ <</if>>\ <<var $val 777>>\ "Of course, two please." You say, giving a smile to Fang. Fang responds with an outburst of joy. "Pink Pastries!! And you only want two?!" She slams six gold coins on the table. "We will take twenty!" The girl working the bakery stand hands the basket to you and rummages through some packages to find enough stock to fill the order. She then pulls out a rose and hands it to Fang. "For the lady, on behalf of the young master." She winks to you. Clever girl. Tian Fang takes a bite out of the rose, twists her face in disgust, and spits it on the ground. "Yuck! Plteh! Plteh!" She rubs her tongue clean with her fingers before getting close to your ear, whispering, "It is not very good. I no longer trust the pastries." She takes a second bite of the rose to be sure. Hm...Not the brightest lantern. It occurs to you that leaving might be better than staying. <</choose>> <<else>>\ The girl working the pastry stand gives you a peculiar stare. <<include "ch4-fang-notlikethat">>\ <</if>>\ <</if>>\

"It's not like that," you say defensively, "we cycled a Heavenly Gate together." "Oh." The baker says, removing a basket of pink heart-shaped pastries and withdrawing a basket of maple fist-shaped pastries. "A special treat to celebrate a rivalry?" "I'll pass." "And I will not!" Fang shouts defiantly, slamming 3 silver on the table and taking a bite from the pastry in the girl's hand. Fascinating, and a waste of time. \ <<include "ch4-fang-notlikethat2">>\

You stretch and fake a yawn. "I'd love to stop and talk but I've got to stay on the road. The Heavenly Ascension Trials aren't going to wait." "Oh but they must!" Fang says through chews. "For I have not had time to discuss my alliance." Hm...this sounds like juicy intel. Who is Mountain Hazard working with if not Thunderfall? "Alright, I'll bite." Tian Fang rips the \ <<if ($val is 777)>>\ twice-bitten rose \ <<else>>\ pastry \ <</if>>\ from the baker girl's grasp and hides it behind her, away from you. "No! It is //I// who will bite!" "...I meant, I'll hear more about your alliance." "Oh!" Fang says, returning to her usual aloof smile. "It is with you, of course." <<page "Continue" "ch4-fang2">>\

You find yourself following Tian Fang deep through the forest where the sun fears to shine. The trees here stretch higher than any building you've seen and their thick vines and leaves block out the light. You sense this area was rich with Darkness chi at one point, but whoever lives nearby must have sucked it dry for the Trials. Small shadows flicker just at the edge of your vision but it's just superstition and paranoia, or so you tell yourself. Tian Fang finally stops frolicking at top speed and turns to face you, leaning against a tree. "I am most pleased that you had the courage to follow! They say these woods are heavily, heavily, //heavily// haunted." You dismiss the thought with a wave of the hand. "Wasn't an issue. Now what did you mean about an alliance?" Tian Fang smiles wide. "I wish to crush the Crusher Jack." <<choose "ch4-fang3">> #"Why?" "Why?" It's not uncommon to hate Jack but he wasn't even home for the year Tian Fang spent in your town. What grudge could she have? "Prestige, of course! The Heavenly Ascension Trials are about skill, yes very much so, but they are about being //judged// on our skill. That means presentation is key! I wish to 'team-up', as they say, and together we can defeat the most famous contestant at the Trials: Crusher Jack." "Jack's the most likely to pass? In the entire region? He can't be that strong, I beat \ <<if ($beatjack1 is 1)>>\ him already. Twice." <<else>>\ him." <</if>>\ #"And what does that have to do with me?" "And what does that have to do with me?" It's not uncommon to hate Jack. It's just uncommon for someone to drag you into a haunted forest to talk about it. "You defeated Jack in combat! I must learn how you overcame the fear, and in exchange I can teach you how to overcome your spiritual shortcomings. If we defeat the heir of your Sect that so many believe to be unstoppable, well I am sure the brilliant $fullname knows where I am going with this caravan of thought." You actually do. If you can defeat the most famous combatant at the Trials then you'd take their place in the minds of the masses. But when did Jack become a famous combatant? "Where do I come into this? You're both 'star pupils', you can fight him yourself." Tian Fang kicks at some roots, eyes cast downward. "I saw him already, in this very town, when your Thunderfalling Sect passed through. His Aura Pressure was well-contained so I could not detect it, but I'm embarrassed to say my mother's side shone through and my survival instincts would not let me even speak to him alone. He seemed arrogant from afar, angry even. Always so angry. I do not think he would have been a graceful winner." Hearing someone put Jack on a pedestal irritates you on a level you don't want to think about. \ <<if ($ruthless lt 50)>>\ You didn't even know you were still holding such a grudge. \ <</if>>\ "You wouldn't even fight him but you felt comfortable fighting me? I beat \ <<if ($beatjack1 is 1)>>\ Jack. Twice." <<else>>\ Jack." <</if>>\ #"Damn, wolfgirl, that's all you had to say!" <<var $fangrep + 2>>\ Tian Fang leaps for \ <<if (($heshe is "he") and ($fangromance gte 1))>>\ joy and wraps her arms around your shoulders. \ <<var $fangrep + 2>>\ <<else>>\ joy. \ <</if>>\ "Oh happy day! An alliance of Tian Fang's own! Together we will crush the Heavenly Ascension Trials' most famous combatant and secure our victory!" <<if (($heshe is "he") and ($fangromance gte 1))>>\ You push her off and hold her steady by the arms, \ <<else>>\ You shut her cheering down by grabbing her along both arms, \ <</if>>\ looking into her eyes. "What did you just say? Famous combatant?" "Did you not know?" She asks in doubt, "Crusher Jack has completed many missions this year across Outer West, he is something of a celebrity now and believed to be among the strongest contestants at the Trials." That...can't be right. He's strong, sure, but the strongest in Outer West? "No they have to be wrong, Jack's manageable. I beat him by \ <<if ($beatjack1 is 1)>>\ myself. Twice." <<else>>\ myself." <</if>>\ <</choose>>

"You beat the man he was, I am not filled with joy competing against the man he is now. Fame follows his footsteps; they say he has already invented his own Techniques and crushed Upper Disciples to prove himself on the road. I saw him in this very town, and I believe the rumors. The quite-large man smelled of blood when his Sect marched through. The blood of many. However..." A tingle in your shoulders tells you that she's scanning your spirit. "If we work together I know something we can do to tip the odds in our favor, if you'd be willing to ally with the star pupil of Mountain Hazard, the great...Tian Fang!" She poses, arms up, as if this was her ultimate sales pitch. <<page "I'm in." "ch4-fang4">>\

"Come, come then!" Tian Fang shouts, grabbing your sleeve and dragging you further into the forest. "We must get to the most important of training, there is very little time in which to be doing it." "Hold on, what training?" Tian Fang inches her head towards yours, eyebrows twisted as if concerned for your health. "The Midorikatai training? Did you hit your head most painfully? Your aura holds fractions of Wild Chi like the rest of the Thunderfallers, but Crusher Mao never taught you to use it, this is true? I suspect he keeps its secrets from his pup's rival. If we wish to fix your aura's flaw in time we must act now!" You look around the darkness of the forest. This place is better suited for Darkness Shugendō than any martial art training. "Where are we going to find Midorikatai Path Manuals out here?" Tian Fang's icy blue aura rises around her body like a mist, illuminating the forest floor. "First ask yourself the vital question: why would a Sect hire a beautiful outsider like Tian Fang to train their disciples? Would it not be better to employ a local Sect member since they would know the Sect's Style? The answer is of most simplicity." Her warm smile shifts to a flashy grin more suited to a foxgirl than a wolfgirl. Suddenly her calm misty blue aura explodes with raging green energy that launches forest floor debris around her in a circle. When you look back up from shielding your eyes the woman before you glows with the same light as Crusher Mao's aura. She looks taller. Stronger. More importantly her fangs are back, yet you examine the woman closer and see understanding and restraint in her eyes. She hasn't gone feral like before. "Is that-?" "Yes!" Barks Tian Fang in pride, "It is the Wild Chi that flows through both our souls! I, Tian Fang, had already known Midorikatai!" <<page "Continue" "ch4-mido-training">>\

Several days go by without incident. You rest every two days to keep a good pace but there's one thought you can't get out of your mind no matter how tired you become. Where is everyone? So far your journey has been more than a week of crowded roads and idle gossip, mostly about the worst-kept secret, some musical festival planned midway through the Trials. Yet all chatter has disappeared. The caravans are nowhere to be found and with them you've lost the commoners who stuck to the caravans for protection. The road you walk is barren, devoid of travelers, and you constantly check your map to make sure you didn't take a wrong turn. That's when you notice for the first time what the caravans must have seen with their scouts. You never took a wrong turn. Rather, the rest of the populace must have been smart enough to avoid trouble and took a detour around what you now see climbing over the tree line. Smoke. <<page "Continue" "ch4-village">>\

You decide to spend the night at the town's inn and find accommodations without trouble. A dozen or so patrons sit around the inn main hall eating from the main course of fish and turnip soup which turns out to be surprisingly spicy. Many of the patrons beg for milk but are given only water, which makes the spice burn hotter on the tongue. Half the customers can't even finish dinner, the other half hold back tears out of pride. After that bit of entertainment you head up to your designated room and see a curious shining line in your open doorway, a reflection coming from the lantern light of the hallway. The curious thing is there's nothing there to reflect the light, until you look closer and reach out with your fingers. <<if ($insight gte 1)>>\ <<var $solexp + 1>>\ Razorwire, and if your senses are right it's charged with cursed Yin chi to pull you in closer once it touches your skin. <<else>>\ Razorwire. <</if>>\ A razorwire trap hidden at neck height. Specifically, your neck's height. Someone is trying to kill you. <<if ($goldside is true)>>\ <<page "Continue" "ch4-guiren-fren">>\ <<else>>\ <<include "ch4-guiren-enemy">>\ <</if>>\

<<choose "ch4-guiren-surprised">> #Disable the trap. <<if ($thievery gte 1)>>\ <<var $agiexp + 2>>\ ''[Thievery 1 Check Passed]'' The wire comes apart easily enough with a slice from \ <<if ($background is "Blacksmith")>>\ your tanto. \ <<elseif ($background is "Trapper")>>\ a skinning knife. \ <<else>>\ a dinner knife from downstairs. \ <</if>>\ <<if ($insight gte 1)>>\ Just as you thought, the \ <<else>>\ The \ <</if>>\ moment your knife touched against the trap \ <<if ($insight gte 1)>>\ the yin chi surrounding the wire \ <<else>>\ some sort of chi infusion you hadn't sensed \ <</if>>\ rips your blade straight through the wire in a single cut. If you had walked into the wire instead of using a blade then your neck would have been pulled straight through in a single cut. <<if ($thievery gte 2)>>\ <<var $agiexp + 2>>\ ''[Thievery 2 Check Passed]'' Additionally, your nimble fingers are able to deftly salvage the razorwire and its mountings too. These will sell nicely. ''[Item Gained: 170 Silver]'' <<var $silver + 170>>\ <</if>>\ A soft clap comes from the doorway behind you. "Well done, that was supposed to kill you. We spent a lot of money on it." "I'm not so easily killed." <<include "ch4-guiren-surprised">>\ <<else>>\ ''[Thievery 1 Check Failed]'' A single slice from \ <<if ($background is "Blacksmith")>>\ your tanto \ <<elseif ($background is "Trapper")>>\ your skinning knife \ <<else>>\ a dinner knife from downstairs \ <</if>>\ will do the trick here. You set the blade's edge against the wire and push in a sawing motion, causing the razorwire to snap and recoil in wild whipping motions. Your arm catches one of those whips and suffers deep lacerations before the wire falls flaccid. ''[1 Wounds Suffered]'' <<var $wounds + 1>>\ <<if ($woundbonus gt 0)>>\ ''[Battle Hardening: +$woundbonus Aura Pressure]'' <<var $aurapressure + $woundbonus>>\ <</if>>\ <<if ((($health + ($fortitude / 2)) - $wounds) lt 1)>>\ <<page "That's a lot of blood..." "ch4-guiren-wakeup">>\ <<else>>\ Blood leaks around your arm. The damned thing stings like you wouldn't believe, but that pain is nothing compared to a real combat injury. That's what you tell yourself when you get ready to fight, because there's a slow clap coming from down the hallway. "Well done," says the voice, "that was supposed to kill you. Cost us a fortune to get the cursed energy to stick for so long." "I'm not so easily killed." <<include "ch4-guiren-surprised">>\ <</if>>\ <</if>>\ #Search for more traps. Whoever set this trap must have set more. With so many Martial Artists on the road it's never safe to assume your target would die from a single trap... <<if ($perception gte 2)>>\ ''[Perception 2 Check Passed]'' <<var $forexp + 1>>\ <<var $agiexp + 1>>\ Sure enough you find a plethora of traps covering your room, as well as a couple loose floorboards that no doubt trigger other contraptions. Ripping one floorboard out reveals a trap made of two rubber balls in a container; should you step on the floorboard the loose board would drop and push a nail through both balloons which likely delivers some sort of explosion or knockout gas. Some materials you might keep, but the rest could sell well. ''[Item Gained: 170 Silver]'' <<var $silver + 170>>\ A soft clap comes from the doorway behind you. "Well done, that was supposed to knock you out. We spent a lot of money on it." "I'm not so easily beaten." <<include "ch4-guiren-surprised">>\ <<else>>\ ''[Perception 2 Check Failed]'' Sure enough you find another trap inside the room when you step on a floorboard and it gives way, dropping three inches and triggering something underneath. A cloud of alchemical smoke bursts from the pressure plate and provokes a coughing fit when you inhale the disgusting sulfuric contents. <<if ($element1 is "Wind")>>\ ''[Element Event: Wind]'' <<apboost 5>>\ A single flex of your spirit forms a layer of air around your skin that expands outwards and wraps around the smoke cloud, pushing the alchemical gas out the nearby window and drifting it harmlessly upward. A soft clap comes from the doorway behind you. "Well done, that was supposed to knock you out. We spent a lot of money on it." "I'm not so easily beaten." <<include "ch4-guiren-surprised">>\ <<else>>\ <<var $combatstat "fortitude">>\ <<var $combatskill "alchemy">>\ <<combatcheck 6>>\ <<if ($passcheck is true)>>\ Your lungs prove too powerful for whatever reaction the cloud is meant to have. A soft clap comes from the doorway behind you. "Well done, that was supposed to knock you out. We spent a lot of money on it." "I'm not so easily beaten." <<include "ch4-guiren-surprised">>\ <<else>>\ The fumes prove too much. The last thing you see before losing consciousness is a lizard Yokai entering your room with dagger drawn. <<page "Continue" "ch4-guiren-wakeup">>\ <</if>>\ <</if>>\ <</if>>\ #Spiritually scan for the attacker. -> "ch4-guiren-scan" The assassin has to be somewhere nearby. You peer around the room and know an expert killer must be accustomed to hiding in plain sight, but can they hide their spirit as well? The weight of your Aura Pressure spreads across the entire inn to feel out a hidden power among its inhabitants. No matter how hard you press however there's still the sensation that something lies outside of your grasp. A couple voices from the dining hall complain at your scan but this is life and death, they can wait. You press even harder and feel the sensation in your mind of a wet, wavy curtain of glass. Every time your spirit's senses brush upon...something...it slides right off. It's difficult to even pinpoint //where// the interaction happens each time, just some place in your hallway. <</choose>>

<<apboost 5>>\ "You can come out." You say, staring directly at where you sense the trio. "Well done, well done!" Declares one of them, clapping slowly. "We had expected to kill you before you even saw us, I must say this is a disappointment. I prefer my jobs to be easy." <<var $guirenrep + 4>>\ "I'm not so easily killed." <<include "ch4-guiren-surprised">>\

"Whoa, whoa, whoa!" Comes a shout from down the hall. A man walks out from the shadows of a large plant, waving his arms horizontally and shaking his head in disapproval. "Fellas, job's over! Cancel everything, nobody mentioned our target being a friend!" You never thought you'd recognize your would-be assassin. "...Guiren?" "In the flesh." The lizard Yokai smiles and snaps his fingers twice. "Sorry about the, uh, razorwire. Don't step backwards, we made that one obvious so you'd walk on the pressure plate behind you. In fact, give me a minute and don't move." He snaps his fingers twice. "Come on out boys, assassination canceled." Two of the eight doors on your hallway open and four more men in all-black clothing emerge with facewraps. "Yeah yeah, you're very mysterious." Guiren says to the men, "Now get to work and un-trap our guest's room." The shinobi-dressed underlings begin to pull up floorboards and remove spike traps or gas balloons. A couple sneak into the room to remove an assortment of snakes and hexed paper tags. "Guiren, what exactly is going on?" Guiren scratches the back of his neck nervously, \ <<if ($guirenromance gte 1)>>\ looking into the corner of the hallway and refusing to meet your gaze. \ <<else>>\ trying to laugh it off. \ <</if>>\ "Heh, so...You know how me and the boys are debt collectors for the Boss? Well, we moonlight for various dirty jobs too. Anything to fund the cultivation, I don't have to tell you how expensive //that// is." <<if ($guirenromance gte 1)>>\ "Uh huh." <<else>>\ "Stay on topic." <</if>>\ "Well me and the boys needed some extra money when a great opportunity came up, something no one else was willing to do, so we took the job while we could. It offered six spirit fruit, payable in Nanhou, and all we have to do is kill one $manwoman." "Who made you the offer?" "Never saw him, went through a peasant mediator, but we were offered soulbinding oaths for the contract so it was someone willing to drop real resources into it." A sense of danger creeps into your thoughts. "If you signed a soulbinding oath, then...You can't call off the attack." Combat chi materializes around your body on reflex. Guiren's forced you both into this fight whether he wants to or not. "Hey, hey!" Guiren shouts back, "None of that! We're good, calm down. Hells." He draws the soulbinding oath from his pocket and unravels it to show its authenticity, then rips it in half. "The Boss protects us from these things so they have to go through him to affect us. I could honestly wipe my ass with it. One of the perks of the job." He looks off to the side and frowns. "Speaking of the job...I mean it, I didn't know it was you when I set this all up." He shrugs apologetically. "Classic mistake. My bad." <<choose "ch4-guiren-fren3">> #[Shrug back] "I would have done the same." <<var $ruthless - 2>>\ <<var $guirenrep + 4>>\ It's hard to hold things against Guiren, the Heavenly Ascension Trials are coming up and any spirit fruits or Advancement Elixirs were guzzled long ago by the hundreds or even thousands preparing. If someone offered you a spirit fruit to assassinate their rival you'd probably assume they deserved it. Why else would someone be willing to offer a spirit fruit just before the Trials? "Honestly Guiren, I can't blame you. I would have done the same." The tension visibly leaves his shoulders. He stares to the ceiling and coves a hand over both eyes. "Oh thank Heavens. This was going to be such a mess if we still had to fight. Imagine if I called the guys back in after telling them to leave? Some leader that would be." "You're welcome." You reply, seizing on the guilt. "Too kind of you. So look," Guiren says, suddenly serious, \ #show-if ($heshe is "she") "So how are you going to make it up to me?" <<var $guirenrep + 2>>\ "So how are you going to make it up to me?" "Oh I can think of some ways." Guiren smirks. "How about you and I do some personal training together?" You can guess where this is \ <<if ($guirenromance is 0)>>\ going and you don't like it. \ <<else>>\ going. \ <</if>>\ "What kind of training?" "Throwing star training." Oh. You guessed wrong. "Is that code for something or-" He reaches into a beltpouch and withdraws four shuriken. "Okay, it's literal." "And that's not all." Guiren says. \ #show-if ($heshe is "he") "Honor dictates recompense." <<var $honor + 2>>\ <<var $guirenrep - 2>>\ "Honor dictates recompense, Guiren." Guiren's expression switches from apologetic to annoyed in an instant. "We're not parting with our money, if that's what you mean. Everything we have is property of the Boss, or hard-earned working for him." "You tried to kill me, do you think that's forgivable on words alone? Either you make up for it or we fight." Guiren's men freeze in the hallway, looking over to the two of you. "Then we fight." Guiren says. <<page "Continue" "ch4-guiren-fren2">>\ #use-if ($lore gte 1) "Guiren you idiot, killing a Trial aspirant is punishable by death!" ''[Lore 1 Check Passed]'' <<var $solexp + 2>>\ "Guiren you idiot, killing a Trial aspirant is punishable by death from the Inner Kingdoms! Thank the Heavens I didn't walk into that wire or we'd ''both'' be headless." <<var $guirenrep + 3>>\ Guiren's face goes pale and he looks to his Oni friend. "Is that true, Yoji?" Yoji nods. "Yeah, we knew this already. You checked the contract first to make sure it wasn't entrapping us into a death sentence, right?" Guiren's face grows paler. Great, you almost got killed by an ally who almost got himself killed too. "Forget this," you say, "If we're done pretending to kill each other then I'm getting back on the road." "Hold on, hold on." Guiren pleads, walking between you and the doorway. \ <</choose>>

"Together!" He finishes, just as your $auracolor aura has finished charging around your body. "What are you saying?" You ask, annoyed, from a solid battle-stance. You were about to jump at a wall, launch off with your feet, do a flip to land a diving kick onto a minion's head, and then blast chi behind you to stop Guiren's counter attack or even burn him if he fails to dodge. Now...You kind of want to do that. The plan's all ready. Seems like a waste not to do it. Guiren holds his hands up for peace. \ <<include "ch4-guiren-fren3">>\

"There's good reason I canceled the hit on you despite the good pay. Me and the boys have gained a reputation on the road and people are catching onto us. They see one of my men, they know the rest are coming. In short, I need a new member for the jobs in Nanhou. Someone who knows what they're doing, someone with skills, someone with Cursed Chi. Someone like you." <<if (($heshe is "she") and ($guirenromance gte 1))>>\ "Flatterer." <<else>>\ "Good eye." <</if>>\ Guiren holds up a hand. "BUT, we can't take you just on good faith. You're stronger than my men, sure, but you're missing something vital if you're going to act on the caliber that we need for the job we're planning. Why hasn't your Sect taught you to use the Kurokonton Style?" You almost laugh. "They were too busy sending me on a suicide mission, trying to arrest my childhood friend, leaving me at home when they leave to the Trials, abducting my siblings without an ounce of formal training, honestly they're a very busy Sect. As soon as I get to Nanhou I'm \ <<if ($ruthless gte 54)>>\ cracking skulls and \ <</if>>\ taking my family back." "From your Sect Master? The terrifying giant Crusher Mao?" Guiren whistles. "Damn $boygirl, even I've heard of his rampages. You've got balls. I like balls." <<if ($heshe is "she")>>\ You give the man a questioning gaze. He freezes, realizing what he said. "Oh, uh, not like that. I'm into women-" "Sure you are." "Shut up. \ <<elseif ($honor gt 46)>>\ "I'll bet." <<var $guirenrep + 1>>\ "Shut up. <<else>>\ You give him a questioning look. "You do?" "What?" "You like balls?" "Wha-NO! Not like that, damn it. \ <</if>>\ What I was going to say before you made it weird was, how would you like to learn ninjutsu of the Kurokonton Style? Mao wouldn't be expecting it, and we need someone else in our gang who can actually //use// Cursed Chi. You've got the potential, you just need the training." "Is this a serious question? You're asking if I want to learn ancient shinobi secret Techniques and mystical curses before the Heavenly Ascension Trials, or if I don't? Who would say no?" Guiren shrugs with a modest grin. "I like to give options." "Shut up with your options and get to the training." <<page "Continue" "ch4-kuro-training">>\

"Whoever hired us to kill you was trying to get us killed too. I can't have that going unpunished, gotta set an example. So I have a one-time reason to trust you on a gig: we're going to track down and assassinate whoever tried to kill us all. There's just one problem...why hasn't your Sect Master trained you to use your natural affinity for Cursed Chi? I need my team able to keep up with me on missions." "Me and the Crusher family have bad history." "Good." Guiren smiles at that, a sleazy and crude smile. "If it's public knowledge that you're untrained then no one will expect it when we teach you to use Kurokonton before the Trials." A derisive laugh escapes your lips. "You're going to teach me an entire martial arts style in a week? Are you joking?" Guiren nods confidently. "That would be a joke, because there's no way it will take us a whole week." <<page "Continue" "ch4-kuro-training">>\

<<if (($insight gte 3) or (($stealth gte 2) and ($insight gte 2)))>>\ <<if ($insight gte 3)>>\ ''[Insight 3 Check Passed]'' <<var $solexp + 1>>\ <<else>>\ ''[Stealth 2 + Insight 2 Check Passed]'' <<var $agiexp + 1>>\ <</if>>\ Yet you do not yield. The full might of your Aura Pressure is forced down on the //entire hallway//, flaring your aura to its full force and linking your spiritual senses to its weight. Finally the sensation shatters and you feel a Technique die in the air. In that very instant three auras become blatantly noticeable in the shadows. <<include "ch4-guiren-exposed">>\ <<elseif ($element1 is "Light")>>\ Yet you do not yield. The radiant force of your shining Aura Pressure rushes the hallway around you with a flare of yang-sourced Light chi and you feel it clash against something else, a source of yin chi hiding your targets. A battlecry escapes your lips as you push your aura harder, so hard that the bright light of your power flashes throughout the hallway in a blinding display. Finally the sensation shatters and you feel a Technique die in the air. In that very instant three auras become blatantly noticeable in the shadows. <<include "ch4-guiren-exposed">>\ <<elseif ($element1 is "Darkness")>>\ Yet you do not yield. The sensation in the air radiates with yin chi, a familiar sense. The yin aligned forces of Darkness flowing through your dark aura seek out the power of yin permeating through the air and you grasp upon it with a grin. Rather than crush the assassin's veil that must be hiding their aura, you seize upon it like a real curtain and slide yourself inside of it as well. You do not destroy their Technique, instead you simply join it. Apparently those of you on the inside of such a veil can see each other, since you're now able to notice three figures hiding in the shadows. <<include "ch4-guiren-exposed">>\ <<else>>\ ''[Insight 3 Check Failed]'' The distraction proves too much and it becomes quickly obvious that yours was the wrong choice. Whoever seeks your death must be a master of hiding their aura even moreso than hiding their physical presence, there's not a shred of chi in your senses at all. This entire hallway's chi signature is suppressed, even your own. And even the infused shuriken flying into your back from behind. <<if ((($health + ($fortitude / 2)) - $wounds) gte 2)>>\ ''[1 Wounds Suffered]'' <<var $wounds + 1>>\ <<if ($woundbonus gt 0)>>\ ''[Battle Hardening: +$woundbonus Aura Pressure]'' <<var $aurapressure + $woundbonus>>\ <</if>>\ Howls of anger escapes your lips and you turn around, flaring your $auracolor aura and preparing to fight. A figure emerges from the shadows, slowclapping. "Well done, I had a bet that the first volley would kill you outright." "I'm not so easily killed." <<include "ch4-guiren-surprised">>\ <<else>>\ <<aploss 5>>\ The pain proves too much and you feel your consciousness slip away. <<page "Continue" "ch4-guiren-wakeup">>\ <</if>>\ <</if>>\

You face the figure and see <<if ($purpleside is false)>>\ a lizard Yokai with green reptilian eyes remove a black face covering while stepping out from the shadows. <<if ($portraitpics is true)>>\ <<image "https://www.auraclash.com/assets/images/guiren.jpg">>\ <</if>>\ <<else>>\ Guiren remove a black face covering while stepping out from the shadows. <</if>>\ "We'll see about that." He says while drawing two daggers. Two more figures emerge from the shadows. "Someone's paid good money for your death, \ <<if (dig($metguiren, 3) is 1)>>\ and frankly I'd do it for free you piece of shit. We're going to make you pay for what you did to Kennui. \ <<elseif ($purpleside is true)>>\ and me and the boys remember how you treated us last week. We'd do it for free. \ <<else>>\ and me and the boys? We like good money. \ <</if>>\ Get $himher, boys." <<page "Continue" "ch4-guiren-surprised2">>\

"Wait Guiren!" Shouts one of the black and gold clad minions flanking you. An oni, you notice when he takes off his face coverings. "How old is $heshe?" The lizard Yokai looks to the Oni with disgust. "Yoji, who gives a shit? Follow my orders and kill the target." "Don't be stupid! If $heshe's young enough to be in the Trials we'll be executed for killing $himher by the Inner Kingdoms." You look at the two bickering and wonder where this is going. The lizardman pulls out a scroll and rolls his eyes. "Sorry about this, stranger." He says to you. "We're normally more professional than this. Hold on a second." It's far more than a second. You all stand eerily still in the hallway waiting to see if you're about to start killing people when finally \ <<if ($purpleside is false)>>\ the enemy's leader, this 'Guiren' \ <<else>>\ Guiren \ <</if>>\ stops reading the scroll and speaks up. "Aw shit, this isn't good. Not good at all." He looks up at you. "How old //are// you?" This is the chattiest assassination you've ever seen. "I'm $age, why does it matter?" "By the Ancestors that was almost a bloodbath." He looks to his men in clear frustration. "No one wanted to bring this up until now? How have we made it this long without knowing or breaking this clause?" "What are you talking about, what's going on?" You finally ask. Guiren throws the scroll at you. "Imperial Law for the Heavenly Asension Trials. Read it and weep. Killing a Trial aspirant in anything but self-defense is punishable with execution by the Inner Kingdoms. As weird as this sounds, we can't fight each other. They'd kill me and my men for killing you, and kill you for killing me or half my men." You read through the clause in the rules you hadn't heard of until now. Sure enough, you'll be executed for killing a single Aspirant. \ <<if (dig($metguiren, 3) eq 1)>>\ Your face turns pale. You already killed one of Guiren's men. "Relax asshole." Guiren says, noting your grim expression. "My friend that you murdered was twenty-eight. He wasn't in the Trials. He did have kids back home though, just so you feel like the piece of shit that you are." You don't entertain his goading. \ <</if>>\ "So what do we do now? Part ways like nothing happened?" "//I'm// parting ways, that much is certain." Says one of the black-clad minions. "This whole job is a joke. Guiren you suck, I'm getting dinner." The man walks down to the supper hall where a dark fate of spicy fish soup awaits him. Everyone involved watches the minion leave in silence, even you. It's almost stunning to see a mook with attitude. "Are all your men like this?" "I sure am," says Yoji, the Oni, "fuck you Guiren you almost got me killed over an anonymous assassination request. This was obviously a setup." He shouts for the other minion to wait for him and follows. <<if (dig($metguiren, 3) eq 1)>>\ Guiren glares daggers into the backs of his men. "Abandoning post. Cowards." He turns back to you. "So my friend's killer leaves unscathed after my own men abandon me." "That's-" "-the best possible result." Guiren interrupts you, and you're not sure where he's going with that. Your mouth pauses, half-open while he continues. "Everyone thinks I'll want you dead, and I do, but that's why we'll make a good team for one job. A job where I can ensure your loyalty." "Good luck with that." "Oh it will be easy." Guiren flaunts. <<include "ch4-guiren-pitch">>\ <<else>>\ Guiren sighs. "Good help is so hard to find." He runs a hand over his face in exasperation before regaining his composure. "Say, we're not allowed to fight each other. This is abrupt, what with the whole assassination attempt and all, but...want a job?" Of all the stupid things you've heard this year, that offer is in the top three. "Why in the world would I work with you?" "Because whoever put us up to this job tried to get me and all my asshole underlings killed. I need to track them down and make sure no one has the balls to do that again. You know, send a message. They're clearly afraid of you, so I'd want you on my team for it. And besides, I can sense you have untrained Cursed Chi." <<if ($heshe is "she")>>\ He steps closer, placing a hand on the doorway near your head. \ <<else>>\ He grins wide. \ <</if>>\ "I don't know why your Master never taught you to wield your natural yin affinity better, but that's his problem not yours. Stick with me and the guys and we'll help you unlock the Kurokonton Style before the Trials. How's that sound to make it worth your while?" "In a week? You're joking." Guiren nods confidently. "That would be a joke, because there's no way it will take us a whole week."' <<page "Continue" "ch4-kuro-training">>\ <</if>>\

<<var $wounds - 1>>\ <<if ($wounds lte 0)>>\ <<var $wounds 1>>\ <</if>>\ The afterlife isn't like what you imagined, and in fact looks more like a shabby tavern room. Your shabby tavern room. "Is $heshe awake?" Asks one darkly dressed man with a black facewrap. "I think so." Says another, slapping you gently. Reflexively your fist strikes him in the groin. The man crumples to the ground without a sound. "Yeah, $heshe's awake." Says \ <<if ($purpleside is true)>>\ a more familiar voice. Guiren \ <<else>>\ another voice from behind the others. \ <<if ($portraitpics is true)>>\ <<image "https://www.auraclash.com/assets/images/guiren.jpg">>\ <</if>>\ A lizard Yokai with green reptilian eyes \ <</if>>\ steps over his fallen comrade and analyzes your wounded body, covered in bandages and unguents. \ <<if ($purpleside is true)>>\ "Wakey wakey you piece of shit, you \ <<else>>\ "Morning stranger, the name's Guiren and I run this little crew. You \ <</if>>\ feeling good enough for training?" Your bleary eyes take the room into focus, you //are// back in your room at the inn, surrounded by \ <<if ($purpleside is true)>>\ Guiren and his men. \ <<else>>\ some stealthily dressed Sect or gang. \ <</if>>\ It seems they patched you up. "Did you see the guys who tried to kill me?" "Yeah," says an unmasked Oni man in the back, "in the mirror. An anonymous messenger delivered a hit on your head, paying with spirit fruit when everyone wants it most. We took the job." <<page "!!!" "ch4-guiren-wakeup2">>\

"No don't!" Shouts Guiren as you activate your aura to defend yourself. Several wounds immediately reopen and you seize up as your own blood soaks through your bandages. Guiren shakes his head and looks to the others. "This is why I said we need a legitimate medic, Wencheng. One power-up and $hisher wounds are bleeding. Shoddy job." One of the dark-clad men in facewrap gets defensive. "Like I told you they would! If you want quality healing then pay for some quality scrolls on healing." Guiren smacks the man with no power behind his swing, a disciplinary slap. "No talking back." The man then snaps and grabs Guiren, trying to wrestle him to the ground, until Guiren puts him in a headlock. Four other black-clad minions step back to give them room. "Cut it out damn it!" Guiren shouts. "Not in front of the client!" "Then don't freaking hit me!!" "Because you don't talk back to the leader! I'll hit you again if I want to!" You look from the lizard Yokai to some of his mock-shinobi in confusion and clear your throat. "Is anyone going to fill me in? Why did you patch me up after trying to kill me?" The two of them pause. Guiren pushes his mook away and smooths out his clothes. \ <<if (dig($metguiren, 3) is 1)>>\ "Divine intervention. If I had my way you'd be a bloody puddle by now, but while \ <<elseif ($heshe is "she")>>\ "My sincere apologies, it's not like me to keep a lady waiting. While \ <<else>>\ "Right, right. While \ <</if>>\ we were stabbing you on the ground, mission accomplished if you ask me, we found your invitation to the Heavenly Ascension Trials. I had no idea you were under 25, the contract promised you weren't." "So?" You've never heard of an assassin with honor. Being $age doesn't exactly make you a kid, and half his men look or sound like they're your age too. Hells, he might be your age. "So you're ''in'' the Trials. Killing an aspirant in the Heavenly Ascension Trials is punishable by death. And not just any death, you get hunted down like a dog by the Inner Sects." <<if (dig($metguiren, 3) is 1)>>\ Your face grows unnaturally pale. "Relax," Guiren says, "you're safe you piece of shit. Kennui was too old for the Trials by three years." \ <</if>>\ The lizard Yokai's eyes flicker to a window. "Wencheng, go setup some training dummies." "Why?" Asks another one of the black-clad minions. Guiren turns and fumes. "Holy fucking shit Wencheng, because ''I said so!'' Sheesh!" The underling glares and leaves, stomping loudly down the hallway, and Guiren turns back to you. "Listen, I don't like you and I'm sure you don't like me, but we're going to need to work together on a job." Seated, wounded, and heavily medicated as you are...you've heard worse propositions. "What kind of job?" <<include "ch4-guiren-pitch">>\

Both heavy doors to the inn open just before your hand reaches them and a stream of patrons rush out. You quickly see why. The wide hall of the inn's bottom floor is filled with tables and chairs covered in recently abandoned meals. The stairs leading up to the private rooms shows signs of spilled drinks from customers fleeing the only other attraction in the room: seven Martial Artists. Four fighters in gold combat gi are shoving back three fighters in purple combat gi. The apparent leader of the gold disciples is a lizard yokai that you sense to be stronger than the rest, a man with a top-knot and green reptilian eyes. <<if ($portraitpics is true)>>\ <<image "https://www.auraclash.com/assets/images/guiren.jpg">>\ <</if>>\ The lizard yokai speaks up while shoving back another purple disciple. "There goes your witnesses, so pay up or we'll take the price out of your hide. The Boss is done waiting." "I told you we don't have the money!" Protests a man in purple gi and you recognize him as one of Desdemona's disciples from the tavern. "The Trials are coming up, if we pass the finals we can pay you double!" An oni in gold hisses at that, "We don't give a damn about after the Trials, fool! We want the money ''for'' the Trials! You borrowed something valuable, you owe money, now pay up!" A golden fog fills the bottom of the tavern hall, just up to your feet, but the others don't react, as if they somehow missed it. "We owe you nothing." says a familiar voice. You look up at the stairs and see its source. <<page "Continue" "ch4-inn2">>\

<<if ($barfight is 0)>>\ <<var $barfight + 1>>\ <<include "ch4-inn-fightchoices">>\ <<else>>\ <<page "ENOUGH!!" "ch4-inn-fightend">>\ <</if>>\

A chokehold doesn't require as much strength as other attacks in the world of Martial Arts. Anyone within the same Aura Pressure bracket can choke each other out assuming the defender doesn't have some Technique to negate it. The problem is surviving the counterattacks. You charge into the melee between the lesser gold and purple disciples and grab one of the gold-clad Humans from behind, encircling his neck with one arm and then grabbing your own bicep to lock them into a choke. His response is immediate. <<var $combatstat "fortitude">>\ <<var $combatskill "stealth">>\ <<combatcheck 5>>\ <<if ($passcheck is true)>>\ And useless. You can feel the panic in his pulse when they realize they've been caught and aren't going to make it. They flail and flail with elbows, kicks, even a poorly executed energy blast to your face, but your body is too tough and your choke execution was too clean. His attacks grow weaker and weaker, and his allies can't come to save them now that they're outnumbered. In mere seconds his arms hang to his side and his flaring aura weakens until it stops entirely. <<var $purplepoints + 1>>\ <<include "ch4-inn-necksnappy">>\ <<else>>\ And painful. The man's elbows jab into your kidneys. His boots scrape skin off your shins, and as a finale his hands both reach out to grab your head behind him and release two scalding hot chi blasts into your ears that feel like someone's poured boiling water into your skull. <<woundcheck 1 false false>>\ You let go and shrink back just as a disciple of the purple sect divebombs your target from off a table. <<if ($barfight is 0)>>\ You've got a chance to catch your breath and evaluate the battlefield. <</if>>\ <<include "ch4-inn-checkfight">>\ <</if>>\

<<var $purpleside true>>\ <<var $metdesdemona 13000000000>>\ <<var $metguiren 11000000000>>\ <<var $fighting true>>\ All eyes turn to you. All but Desdemona. A wicked smile crosses her lips and her fingers stop executing the handseal incantation; the chi gathered on her fingertips instead flings at the gold Sect members as if she had flicked water from her hands. The result is a stream of gold and violet chi needles. The lizard yokai knocks a few away with his tail but the rest take a hit. The lizard yokai is quick to respond and runs on the walls towards Desdemona who begins a different casting, and all hell breaks loose with the three vs three fight down on the ground floor. The Oni punches one of the purple Sect members over the bar but a second purple Disciple jumps on his back and starts violently stabbing him in the shoulder with a large hairpin. A Human in gold blasts the needle out of her hand before a chair is broken over his head by a Human in purple. That same Human in purple is then grappled by the last Human in gold and slammed through a nearby table. The fight is utter chaos and the two leaders haven't even clashed yet. <<include "ch4-inn-fightchoices">>\

"I saw a chance to earn allies and I took it." "So you hope to get me into your debt?" She asks, pursing her lips and glaring into your eyes. <<if ($honor lt 50)>>\ ''[Honor Check Failed]'' <<var $desrep + 2>>\ "I mean...Aren't you in my debt already? I did save your butt." "I was in Guiren's debt too," she says with an upturned lip, "look how that worked for him." Your eyes involuntarily roll in their sockets. "Wow, normally you'd have to surge an Agility Core to get off on the wrong foot that fast." Her only response is a scowl. <<include "ch4-inn-stareback">>\ <<else>>\ ''[Honor Check Passed]'' <<var $desrep + 7>>\ <<var $powexp + 2>>\ <<var $solexp + 3>>\ "Not if you only see the world through debts. That kind of alliance sounds like an awful deal." "I...Ancestors you're serious?" She opens her mouth with a mocking sneer, shaking her head in disbelief, but stops and looks into your eyes, scrutinizingly, as if searching for something. Finally she backs down and takes a single step backwards. "It does sound like a bad deal." She agrees, then to your surprise she gives a short bow. "I apologize for my accusations. I want to..." She struggles to say the next words, "Thank...you." One of the women in purple gi walks up and places a hand on Desdemona's shoulder. <<include "ch4-inn-fightend3">>\ <</if>>\

"I could help a debt collector or a gorgeous sorceress and you're asking as if it was a hard choice." <<var $desrep + 2>>\ <<if (($bodytype is "Handsome") or (($persuasion + $deception) gte 3))>>\ <<var $desromance + 2>>\ <<var $desrep + 5>>\ "Pft, gorgeous," she mocks sarcastically, "can you not tell that most of this is makeup? Nobody should have purple lips." "Cheap paint over a masterpiece." Her eyes widen ever so slightly and for once she has nothing to say. One of the purple disciples coughs and speaks up. \ <<include "ch4-inn-fightend3">>\ <<else>>\ <<var $desromance + 1>>\ "Oh, you're a romantic." She says coldly. "That's easy enough to deal with, I suppose." Then she just stares at you, as if sizing you up. <<include "ch4-inn-stareback">>\ <</if>>\

Desdemona brushes a strand of hair out of her face and sighs before returning to her stonewall demeanor. "Fine. You saved my Disciples so I will trust you, like a fool, for their sake. I don't believe we had proper introductions back in Sunbringer-" "-Thunderfall." You correct the woman with a horrible sense of direction. "That is what I said. Back in Thunderfall territory." She holds out one pale hand. "I am Lady Desdemona, and these are my Disciples." <<choose "ch4-inn-dessytalkin2">> #Nod for her to continue. You offer no name in response and nod for her to continue. She politely nods back, accepting your choice. "Where \ #"I go by cap($name)." [Bow politely] "I go by <<cap $name>>." You say with a polite bow. <<var $honor + 2>>\ She nods with her deadpan stare. "Pleasantries aside, <<cap $name>>, where \ #"Sure thing, Dessy. The name's cap($name) by the way." "Sure thing, Dessy. The name's <<cap $name>> by the way." <<var $desrep - 3>>\ <<var $honor - 2>>\ <<if (($heshe is "he") and (($ruthless gt 50) or ($bodytype is "Handsome")))>>\ <<var $desromance + 1>>\ <</if>>\ "Don't," She holds one finger up threateningly "Ever call me Dessy again. Now where \ #"$fullname, $patriarch of the $clan Clan." Offer a handshake. "$fullname, $patriarch of the $clan Clan." You offer her a firm handshake. <<var $desrep + 2>>\ <<var $honor + 1>>\ She accepts and shakes your \ <<if ($desromance gt 0)>>\ hand with more cordial familiarity than you'd expect from her attitude so far. \ <<else>>\ hand. \ <<if ($wasadicktodes is false)>>\ Her tone is friendlier despite her resting scowl expression. \ <<var $desrep + 2>>\ <</if>>\ <</if>>\ "Well met $fullname. Now where #show-if ($heshe is "he") "$fullname, the pleasure is yours." Try to kiss her hand. "$fullname, the pleasure is yours." \ <<if ($wasadicktodes)>>\ You say while leaning over to kiss her hand. <<var $desrep - 3>>\ She pulls her hand back so fast you'd think she used a Technique. "What are you doing?" <<if ($race isnot "Lunargoth")>>\ "Is this not how Lunargoths say hello?" <<else>>\ "Saying hello in Lunargothic tradition?" <</if>>\ "Well say it to yourself." She says, pulling her hand back while looking down on you like you're living garbage. "I'm leaving." "Apologies Lady Desdemona," the youngest disciple protests, "we need time to treat our wounds." "Truly? But he tried to-" She stops when she gets a look at her injured Disciples' faces. "Fine. If we're stuck here then we can talk, but don't try anything funny. Our story...where \ <<elseif (($bodytype is "Handsome") or (($persuasion + $deception) gte 3))>>\ <<var $desromance + 2>>\ <<var $desrep + 5>>\ You give a flourishing Gothic bow and take her hand in yours, planting a kiss on the top of her knuckles. She does absolutely nothing to stop you. When you look up into her eyes her usual scowl is still in place, yet even her white makeup can't mask the fact that she's blushing. "Lady Desdemona?" Asks the skinny man in purple. "Hm? Oh, our story. Yes. Obviously." She pulls her hand back slowly and brushes a lock of hair behind her ear. "Um...where \ <<else>>\ You say while leaning over to kiss her hand. <<var $desromance + 1>>\ She pulls her hand back with a quick apologetic smile and tries to immediately change the subject "Right, our story. Where \ <</if>>\ <</choose>>

to begin...it's a mouthful. Take a seat." She walks over to a shattered table and sits on one of the remaining chairs, crossing one leg \ <<if ($heshe is "he")>>\ slowly \ <</if>>\ over the other. "I don't monologue often, seeing as that habit gets people killed, so consider this a gift." She places a fuuinjutsu tag on the table and rips it in half. In a flash of smoke a full tea set rests where the paper once was. "Tea?" <<choose "ch4-inn-dessytalkin3">> #"Yes, please." "Yes, please." You say. She hands you a cup of lavender-infused tea without any sweeteners. It's warm and soothing to the soul. <<var $solexp + 1>>\ #"No thank you." "No thank you." You reply to the steaming beverage. "Suit yourself." She says, taking a light sip and dabbing a cloth on her purple lips. <<var $forexp + 1>>\ <</choose>>

"Our Dreamriver Sect is considered a secretive and powerful coven of witches. A lie we perpetuate for safety. In truth it's only me and a few locals I decided to train." You're taken aback by such a quick confession. "But then..." "I know. Even after all my borrowed power, my Aura Pressure is around the same as your own. Calling me a Sect Master is practically a deception. But we needed that reputation to keep threats at bay. Ignorant fools who see us on our ritual hunts started calling us witches one day as an insult but we quite liked the idea. The clothes, the makeup, the moonlit castings, not to mention scaring travelers, it's been..." She struggles to say the words through her resting scowl, but manages when she meets the eyes of her fellow Sect members behind you. "It's been pleasant." The skinny man in purple gi, a Dreamriver uniform you suppose, speaks up after bandaging an ally. "But then we heard word of the Heavenly Ascension Trials and realized our folly. Everyone assumes we're a legitimate Sect. We have to attend." The youngest Dreamriver disciple cuts him off excitedly. "But we had this great idea to make it work! We'd fail out in the first few rounds and make a profit instead! Many of our rituals can help people with any sort of tasks, so why not offer them at the Trials? We'd make a fortune, and being known as mysterious witches means we can charge even more for sounding, you know, exotic. Except...our rituals don't work as well on people stronger than us..." She looks to the others. The skinny man hangs his head and tightens his fist. "And most everyone there is stronger than us, so we took out a loan." "//We// didn't make that accursed arrangement," Desdemona says with acid in her voice, "//I// did. I took out the loan through Guiren, I gained the power needed to offer our services to more people, and my disciples have been paying the price ever since. What you see isn't even half of our Sect. Guiren's been abducting my disciples one by one since we left home." <<page "A loan? At our level?!" "ch4-inn-dessytalkin4">>\

You stare, baffled, into her face to see if she's serious. "A loan for power..." There's been an Advancement Elixir shortage since the Trials were announced. No amount of money would make more appear, so..."By the Ancestors, you cycled SHARDS? At our Aura Pressure?! That's for toddlers and magnates! It would take thousands of Shards to see improvement at this point, just how many fortunes did you borrow?" "Not Shards," Desdemona says, annoyed, "Aura Pressure." Now it's your turn to scoff. "Nobody can just //lend// you Aura Pressure," If it was that easy nobody would be burning through money or risking their lives. She shakes her head and her hair tumbles back in front of her face. She pushes it up with a quick huff of breath. "Nobody around here, but Guiren's master can. And now he wants us to pay him back. As in right now, just before we start making money, because it was a scam from the very beginning. They don't care about profits, they care about our failure. When we pay Bossrozal back he only gets Shards. But if we //fail// he gets a binding right to take us as slaves instead." She looks off to the side, her voice lowering. "They already got-" "Lady Desdemona," Says the older Dreamriver woman who had been quiet up until now. "Our wounds have been treated, we need to get to Nanhou quickly. They could come back at any minute and it's the only place we'll be safe." "...Yes, you're right." Desdemona says grimly. "But we will not leave in debt." She withdraws another fuuinjutsu tag from her sleeve and rips it in half causing a notebook to appear in her hands. "I didn't see many Techniques when you fought so...here." She looks to the floor while handing you the book and a spice pouch, refusing to make eye contact. ''[Item Gained: "Energy Tide" Technique Manual]'' ''[Item Gained: 10 Ritual Components]'' <<var $ritualcomponents + 10>>\ <<if ($ruthless gte 55)>>\ "Finally, a worthy reward," \ <<else>>\ "This is incredible," \ <</if>>\ You say looking at the Technique Manual in your hands. \ <<if ($honor gte 50)>>\ You can feel the power thrum through the Path Manual. "Wait, aren't Techniques from other Sects banned?" "That depends on your Sect, but you shouldn't allow someone else to get in the way of your cultivation. Anyways just take it. \ <<else>>\ The Thunderfall Sect bans the learning of foreign Techniques but who cares? Fuck the Thunderfall Sect. "If you like it so much then our score is settled. \ <</if>>\ <<if (($desromance gte 1) and ($heshe is "he"))>>\ It-It's not like I care about your cultivation or anything, I just \ <<else>>\ I \ <</if>>\ don't want to owe another debt at the Trials." She nods to the others to start packing. When she gets to the door she looks back at you, her pout noticeably absent as she suddenly looks more human. "If you want to work together later, we'll be above the Southern Winds tea shop in Nanhou." She closes the door as the four of them leave together. Patrons slowly start streaming back in immediately after. You grab a bed of your choosing upstairs and fall asleep the second your head hits the pillow. The innkeeper never bothers you so either the Dreamriver disciples paid him or he's afraid of the only one left from the fight. Either way, you finally get some rest. \ <<if ($jadedragonfoundation is false)>>\ <<achieve "Witchy Woman">>\ <</if>>\ <<page "Zzz" "ch4-baddream">>\

The cloud of dust, splinters, and glass shards erupts around the impact site where you threw the lizard yokai into the ground. You turn to Desdemona who's staring at you with an open mouth, eyebrows screwed up in confusion and astonishment. <<var $desrep + 3>>\ Your spiritual senses scream at you just in time for you to notice a green glow in the debris cloud. "DIE YOU PIECE OF SHIT!" Shouts the lizard yokai from the ground. A green toxic energy blast the size of your entire body launches from inside the cloud of debris, and unlike him you can't run on walls to dodge. <<var $combatstat "soul">>\ <<combatcheck 4>>\ <<if ($passcheck is true)>>\ With just enough time you pull together your internal chi and place two hands out, palms up, and blow up the gold-clad yokai's attack with your own two-handed $auracolor blast of life energy. You kick off the wall to get some distance from the cloud and get your bearings at the same time that Desdemona charges in after him, one hand glowing violet and the other glowing gold. <<if ($barfight is 0)>>\ She should have it from here, but here Disciples not so much. That's why you... <</if>>\ <<else>>\ You pull together your own internal chi to deflect the attack but his is too fast. The green chi bomb crashes into you and bursts <<if ($eblocktech isnot "")>>\ into a cloud of acidic energy, \ <<else>>\ your skin open in small wounds all over your body, \ <</if>>\ sending you flying into the ceiling and then falling to the ground. <<woundcheck 2 false true>>\ <<if ($barfight is 0)>>\ This battle's not over however, and thankfully Desdemona closes the gap into the debris cloud with one hand glowing violet and the other glowing gold. You've got a breather to pick your next target. <</if>>\ <</if>>\ <<var $innlizardthrown true>>\ <<include "ch4-inn-checkfight">>\

<<choose "ch4-inn-checkfight">> #use-once Charge the lizard yokai. Gold team's leader is fast, faster than you. He's running in serpentine patterns across the walls and throwing some sort of toxic chi globs at Desdemona. There's no way you can run up to him with his swift agility, so you don't. You jump. Chi flows through your calves and quadricep muscles in a cycling pattern, surging more and more power into them until you take off like a firework through the air. One moment you're crouching on the ground by the doorway, and the next- <<if ($innlizardknocked is true)>>\ <<var $val 6>>\ <<else>>\ <<var $val 5>>\ <</if>>\ <<var $combatstat "power">>\ <<var $combatskill "athletics">>\ <<combatcheck $val>>\ <<if ($passcheck is true)>>\ You're pinning the lizard Yokai against the wall with your fist on the far side of the tavern's dining room. Blood spews from his mouth instead of any sort of scream but you feel his Fortitude Cores surge to recover. He turns to you and with a fanged snarl that swiftly changes to a look of panic when you grab his tail in both hands before your feet even hit the wall, giving you leverage to lift him overhead by the tail and throw him to the ground where a table covered in glasses breaks his fall. <<var $purplepoints + 1>>\ <<page "Continue" "ch4-inn-fightcharge">>\ <<else>>\ You're halfway through the air in an impressive display that just doesn't measure up. His speed is too much. You even lose track of him just before a body-sized chi blast of green toxic power slams into you in midair, launched from behind. <<if ($eblocktech is "")>>\ It bursts your skin open in small wounds all over your body as if you'd been covered in boiling water. \ <</if>>\ <<woundcheck 2 false true>>\ <<if ($barfight is 0)>>\ The attack blasts you back into the floor but you're not done yet. You get up in time to look around and survey your options from the battle raging around you. <<else>>\ The attack rockets you into the floor hard so hard that you're convinced you land in the basement. There's no basement. You're embedded into the ground. <</if>>\ <<include "ch4-inn-checkfight">>\ <</if>>\ #show-if ($innlizardthrown is false) use-once Shoot the lizard yokai with a layered energy blast. The gold Sect's leader is fast, very fast, and you doubt melee combat is the best response to that. You have a better idea. Desdemona and the lizard Yokai have been clashing around the stairs, floor, and walls. As the lizard Yokai runs up another wall of the tavern and throws green energy blasts at Desdemona you adopt a wide stance and begin to layer $auracolor light between your palms, pulled back to steady your attack. The two of them meet in the air and match kicks against each other, knocking them back. You add another layer. They both charge two energy blasts and throw them at each other, dodging in kind. You add another layer. Desdemona's hands glow violet and gold and she leaps at lizard Yokai but he spins in the air to kick her away. That's your chance! The counterbalance of his kick leaves him hanging in mid-air where his speed means nothing. You unleash your charged blast directly at his torso. <<var $combatstat "soul">>\ <<var $combatstat2 "agility">>\ <<combatcheck 7>>\ <<if ($passcheck is true)>>\ <<var $purplepoints + 1>>\ ''BOOM!'' Your energy attack fires out like a cannon and connects directly with the gold Sect leader, bowling him into the wall like he'd been struck by an ox. He actually has to pull himself out of the crater you formed in the wall and there's visible blood stains showing in the hole of his gi that you left on his chest. "INTERLOPER!" He screams through pained breaths, tail lashing. "You'll pay for that!" He kicks off the wall at incredible speed to get to you and gets hit with another energy blast from Desdemona who's made it back to the top of the stairs. <<var $innlizardknocked true>>\ "Turn your back on me if you want to die." She says, "I'm not done with you." She crosses her arms and fuels her aura with more chi until it grows to the ceiling. <<if ($barfight is 0)>>\ He spits and charges up the stairs at her, giving you time to... <</if>>\ <<else>>\ Oh crap, the tail! His tail whips with an unnaturally loud crack that sends him spinning and he uses that momentum to spinkick your chi blast back at you. The layered attack slams into you like a cannon, sending you into a crater in the floor that stretches six feet long and three feet across. <<woundcheck 2 false false>>\ You barely pull yourself out of the wood that melded around your <<if ($barfight is 0)>>\ body and survey the fight. That blast hit hard, almost too hard, but the fight's not over yet. <<else>>\ body. <</if>>\ <</if>>\ #use-once Choke out one of the lesser gold Sect members from behind. -> "ch4-inn-chokeout" #use-once Throw improvised weapons into the large brawl. If there's one weapon in abundance around here it's glass. From experience you know that being a Martial Artist at your level is actually worse for glass attacks. Your skin has hardened enough that the glass //will// break on impact but most of the time it's not hard enough to stop the small shards from sinking in. It was agonizing when you stepped on a glass last year when Rin left one on the floor. So you decide to agonize others. You run to each table one by one and pick up any plates or mugs and throw them at the gold-clad disciples. <<var $combatstat "agility">>\ <<var $combatskill "perception">>\ <<combatcheck 5>>\ <<if ($passcheck is true)>>\ The first table's set of glasses soar through the air and find their mark on a gold Sect Human's face. The second set of glasses fly through the air and find their mark on the Oni's face. A few you throw at the lizard Yokai to imbalance him while he tries to dodge energy blasts from the Lungargoth woman. Then you get to the bar where dozens of glasses, plates, and silverware are at your disposal. You pick one of the humans as a target and begin to throw. One, two, three embed themselves into their skin when they shatter. Faster. Four, five, six, eight, ten. Your body begins to glow. //Faster.// Fifteen, twenty, twenty five, thirty. Your arms start to blur in a glowing haze of $auracolor. //''FASTER!''// Even the projectiles you throw glow like $auracolor shooting stars as they slam into the gold Sect disciple, a handful slamming into them per second, so fast that their trajectory follows the disciple's movements even as they fall to the ground. Finally you run out of glasses and your target has run out of stamina. They stay on the ground, covered in cuts and barely breathing. <<if ($barfight is 0)>>\ The battle rages on around you and you move on to... <</if>>\ <<else>>\ The first few fly through the air without difficulty and shatter against the gold Sect disciple's outfits but the more you throw the worse your accuracy gets. You get too heated trying to keep up and fail to restrict your strength well enough, shattering two mugs in each hand and causing your own hands to bleed with a dozen small gashes from the shattered glass. One of them even cut your wrist when it exploded in your hand and boy is that a lot of blood. <<woundcheck 1 false false>>\ You wrap your hands in a tablecloth for now and hope no one saw that. <<if ($barfight is 0)>>\ Luckily both sides are busy with their fight so you decide to... <</if>>\ <</if>>\ #use-once use-if ($handseals gte 1) Seize Desdemona's abandoned ritual to form a barrier in the fight. That ritual Desdemona was casting would've formed a barrier over the doorway, but the gold-clad sect isn't paying attention to you. You could form it directly into the fight to turn the tide. With a concentration of will you pick up where the woman left off, seizing control of the energy in the mist that covers the inn's floor and leashing your own power to the fading ritual before it can dissipate. The chi answers your call and hangs in the air, ready to mold the misty chi into a solid barrier with just one more command. Now to pick a target...there! The Oni from before is holding one of the purple disciples by the skull and rearing his head back for a vicious headbutt. With a last handseal sign you execute the ritual and form an invisible plate-sized barrier over the purple disciple's face just as the Oni's head comes down like an anvil. <<var $combatstat "soul">>\ <<var $combatskill "handseals">>\ <<combatcheck 5>>\ <<if ($passcheck is true)>>\ You wince as the Oni's face splatters against your barrier. Blood and teeth launch to the sides with a sickening crunch. He drops to the ground with ragged breaths and his intended victim looks around in astonishment until she sees you and smiles. <<if ($ruthless lte 60)>>\ You wave. <<else>>\ You shake your head at her weakness. <</if>>\ <<if ($barfight is 0)>>\ This battle isn't over yet however. She launches a light energy blast at another disciple who was charging at you from behind then runs to engage him, giving you time to... \ <<else>>\ She launches a golden energy beam over your shoulder that strikes another gold-clad Martial Artist in the chest before he can reach you. \ <</if>>\ <<else>>\ You wince as the barrier shatters and the Oni's headbutt connects to the girl's face. She passes out instantly and you feel a sharp pain in your side as one of the other gold disciples uses the distraction to stab you from behind with a broken bottle. <<woundcheck 1 true false>>\ <<if ($pblocktech isnot "")>>\ Luckily you've come prepared for such weak physical attacks and \ <<else>>\ A scream of pain and rage escapes your lips and you \ <</if>>\ elbow the mook in the face, hard. <<if ($barfight is 0)>>\ Hard enough to send them flying so you have time to... <</if>>\ <</if>>\ <</choose>>

The whole room shakes with a booming voice from...Huh...where //did// it come from? <<if ($perception gte 1)>>\ ''[Perception 1 Check Passed]'' <<apboost 4>>\ You've heard the voice of everyone in this room during the fight, whether through grunts or swearing or revenge for every scored strike. It wasn't one of them. You know it. Yet no one else has entered, and you're positive that booming command came from the very center of the room. <</if>>\ Something is wrong. Then your spiritual senses shut off automatically. They aren't deactivated, rather they overload and your mind stops sensing chi instinctively to avoid damaging your soul, similar to a noise so loud that it can cause you to go deaf. Something is //very// wrong. "YOU DISHONOR ME, GUIREN." Shouts the voice, shaking the room so hard that glasses bounce off tables. "Not me, Boss! An interloper!" The lizard Yokai, Guiren apparently, screams out, "It's not my fault! I couldn't have predicted it!" "THEN YOU ARE A FOOL! \ <<if (dig($metguiren, 3) is 1)>>\ ONE OF YOUR UNDERLINGS LIES DEAD WHILE YOU STRUGGLE AGAINST A COMMON WITCH. \ <<else>>\ BETTER PREY HAS PASSED YOUR LOCATION WHILE YOU WASTE TIME AGAINST A COMMON WITCH. \ <</if>>\ I AM ''BEYOND DISPLEASED''." "It's no problem Boss, I can fix this!" Guiren starts to sweat and stare wildly at the ceiling, "I always fix it! Just give me a chan-" With an audible pop, every disciple in gold disappears from the room. <<page "What the Hells?" "ch4-inn-fightend2">>\

The fight is over, though not on your terms. <<fightexp 8>>\ Two of Desdemona's disciples get up from the ground with concerning wounds but it looks like they'll survive. None of you rush to tend to their injuries. Not even themselves. Instead eerie silence fills the room as you all process what just happened. Finally you speak up first. "What the Hells was that?" "Bossrozal, their benefactor." says Desdemona from the top of the stairs. "An ascended being if the rumors are true, which means everyone in this room is going to die." She descends the stairs slowly until she reaches the bottom and gets in your face. "But that's tomorrow's problem. Today's problem is why you got involved in my business. Have you been following me?" "Got involved-? I saved you!" "Yes, you did." She jabs an accusatory finger at your chest. "Why?" <<var $fighting false>>\ <<choose "ch4-inn-fightend3">> #"Because it's the right thing to do?" -> "ch4-inn-stareback" <<var $ruthless - 2>>\ "Because it's the right thing to do?" You say in confusion. The answer is obvious, everyone knows it. Does her head have a screw loose? She snorts dismissively, looking downcast at her Disciples and back to you. "It's the right...Are you serious? It was a debt collection. Are you going to fight every debt collector in Imperial Rasen the second you see them?" "Probably." You reply. "Wouldn't you?" \ <<if ($ruthless lt 45)>>\ <<var $desrep + 3>>\ <<if ($heshe is "he")>>\ <<var $desromance + 1>>\ <</if>>\ <<if ($bodytype is "Handsome")>>\ <<var $desromance + 1>>\ <</if>>\ <</if>>\ Her mouth opens but no words come out, she simply squints at you incredulously. #"I saw a chance to earn allies and I took it." -> "ch4-inn-dessy-earnallies" #"I have to fight strong people to grow stronger. They seemed like a better workout than your pitiful disciples." -> "ch4-inn-dessytalkin" "I have to fight strong people to grow stronger. They seemed like a better workout than your pitiful disciples." <<var $desrep - 2>>\ <<var $ruthless + 3>>\ <<var $wasadicktodes true>>\ "Wha-" She takes a step back aghast, recovers her posture mid-step, and slaps you across the face. "How dare you?!" "How dare I what, save you?" Your gesture to her defeated allies, "It was a close fight after I joined your side. If I joined theirs it would have been over in an instant and I'd have gained nothing." "So that's the kind of $manwoman you are, just looking for rewards and mocking everyone around you." "Yes, \ <<if ($heshe is "he")>>\ woman, \ <</if>>\ it's called being a Martial Artist. You should try it some time. Maybe then I wouldn't have to save you." She scowls at you, nothing new since that seems to be her resting expression, and then her dark lips curl into a wicked smile. "You know what, I'm glad you just picked a fight with Guiren's master. You deserve what he's going to do to you." You roll your eyes. "Yeah yeah, Heavens forbid I be rude and tell the truth. What's the deal with those guys anyway?" "You'll find out." Is all the Gothic woman says until the younger of the purple clad disciples speaks up. "Dessy, we should at least tell him our story. He's an honorless bastard but he saved our lives. He deserves to know what he walked into." #"Honestly? I just hate Yokai." -> "ch4-inn-yokaiprejudice" "Honestly? I just hate Yokai." <<var $desrep + 3>>\ "That-" She snorts, slipping out of her tough facade for just a moment. "That is the worst reason I have ever heard someone say out loud. You really saved us out of some sort of \ <<if (($race is "Yokai") or ($race is "Kitsune"))>>\ self-hatred?" \ <<else>>\ hatred?" \ <</if>>\ #show-if ($heshe is "he") "I could help a debt collector or a gorgeous sorceress and you're asking as if it was a hard choice." -> "ch4-inn-dessy-flirt" <</choose>>

"Lady Desdemona, if this is a trap then $heshe already knows the situation." The youngest purple disciple says, "If it's not, then $heshe's earned an explanation of what $heshe walked into, has $heshe not?" <<include "ch4-inn-dessytalkin">>\

<<timepass>>\ Warm sunlight greets you the next morning and you feel truly refreshed, the memories of a bad dream fading away quickly. The inn is buzzing with travelers in the main hall and the Technique Manual in your hand begs to be read. Your journey ahead is a long one, but if you can keep this pace then you should be able to relax well enough for one morning of civilization. You flip through the pages of the \ <<if ($purpleside is true)>>\ Energy Tide \ <<elseif ($goldside is true)>>\ Flash Step \ <</if>>\ Technique Manual while the inn's worker pours tea alongside your nice breakfast of... <<choose "ch4-inn-morning2">> #Meat dumplings. You dig into the meat dumplings greedily and don't question what kind of meat is <<if ($subrace is "Bovine")>>\ inside. //Hopefully// it's not beef. You don't want to start the morning as a cannibal but, by the Heavens, the orange sauce they put on these would almost be worth it. <<else>>\ inside because, by the Heavens, whatever orange sauce they put on these is divine. <</if>>\ #Rice porridge. Many of the guests around you are eating meat or drinking sake for breakfast because they are savages that serve no place in a civilized world. Instead you order the rice porridge, a ''breakfast food'', because it is time for ''breakfast''. These animals have no shame. <<var $honor + 2>>\ #Sake. <<var $honor - 2>>\ Drinking in the morning is heavily frowned upon by some sort of dipshits who aren't around to bother you. Bottoms up! #Whatever the worker brings me, I don't care. A nice breakfast of gruel. It tastes like fishy salted paper and fills you up. Now back to more important tasks. <</choose>>

Ambient chatter is drowned out by your study in the meantime. According to the Technique Manual the \ <<if ($purpleside)>>\ "Energy Tide" Technique is a chi specialist's wet dream. No wonder Desdemona's clique is considered a Sect of witches, this one Technique alone can be used to enrich a long list of handseal rituals and energy attacks by immediately claiming the natural energies in the air around the wielder and using them to enhance their own energy output. That's something normally only possible in a Heavenly Gate. <<else>>\ "Flash Step" Technique enables the user to align their Agility Core with the natural aura around them to push //and// pull themselves a short distance at such an incredible speed that it would look as though they had teleported, even to most onlookers with higher Aura Pressure than the user. It's not only a great Technique for combat but also a flashy one that can impress at the Trials. <</if>>\ You read through the morning and depart back on your journey. For the next 3 days you read while walking. It causes several incidents where you bump into others \ <<if ($ruthless gte 55)>>\ and tell them to fuck off. They each back down. Refreshing. <<else>>\ but no one strong enough to start a fight over it. Not with you. Not yet. <</if>>\ Obviously breaks are needed and you don't let them go to waste. Whenever you're not reading mid-march you try out the right exercises mentioned in the Manual. At night you rest beside trees surrounded by the right feng shui components that the Manual mentions. In the mornings you focus your chi in the proper chakra formations, utilize the right breathing methods, and waste your chi by pushing it into your mind's imagery of the right results. All according to the Technique Manual's guidance. At the end of the third day you're marching down a dirt road beside a rice field when you feel a satisfying soreness expand in your spirit's center. Progress. Your Cores have attuned a single step in the right direction to learn \ <<if ($purpleside)>>\ Energy Tide \ <<else>>\ Flash Step \ <</if>>\ and the Technique Manual responds just as its instructions said it would. The manual in your hands, a Soul Treasure designed for learning this very Technique, dissolves at the presence of a partially completed Technique Core and you eagerly cycle its essence into your center to finish the process. <<if ($purpleside is true)>>\ ''[Technique Learned: Energy Tide]'' <<var $energytide true>>\ <<var $solsurge + 1>>\ <<var $sealdiscount + 1>>\ ''[Energy Tide causes the natural energy around you to rise upward and boost your energy attacks or mystic effects in certain situations. It also allows you to Surge an additional Soul Core to avoid failing Soul Checks, effectively giving you up to +1 Soul when needed. In addition, by drawing on more ambient energies, it reduces the cost of Handseals by 1 Reagent.] <<elseif ($goldside is true)>>\ ''[Technique Learned: Flash Step]'' <<var $flashstep true>>\ <<var $agisurge + 1>>\ ''[Flash Step allows for short-range teleportation and allows you to Surge an additional Agility Core to avoid failing Agility Checks, effectively giving you up to +1 Agility when needed.]'' <</if>>\ A surge of solidified power rests at the center of your soul and a gratifying laugh escapes your lips as you test your new ability. <<if ($flashstep is true)>>\ One infused step forward has you suddenly appear one hundred paces down the road in front of a //very// surprised horse. You activate the Flash Step again to get further down the road and away from the consequences of your commotion. <<var $agiexp + 3>>\ <<page "Continue" "ch4-fourdays">>\ <<elseif ($energytide is true)>>\ White and grey energy rises in drifting lights from the ground all around you. With a grip on such power you pull all those lines into your hand and wrap them around a basic energy blast, launching the now torso-sized orb off into the distance where it gives a satisfying explosion that could have killed a horse. Luckily you didn't hit anything important, just some rice. \ "Hey, my rice field!" Shouts a farmer nearby, "You get back here and pay for rice!" <<choose "ch4-fourdays">> #use-if ((($shards + ($silver / 10)) + ($gold * 10)) gte 20) Pay for the damages. [20 Shards] Twenty Shards later and you're out of trouble, though the farmer still spits at the ground whenever he looks at you. <<costcalc 20>>\ <<var $honor + 6>>\ <<page "Continue" "ch4-fourdays">>\ #Run. -> "ch4-fourdays <<var $agiexp + 2>>\ <<var $honor - 1>>\ #Rob him. <<var $honor - 3>>\ "I'm not paying for anything." You say, cracking your knuckles. "But you are." The unpowered dirt farmer looks from you to the rice field behind him. He grimaces at his burnt crops and turns back to you with scorn. "No, I pay nothing." He takes his plow in both hands like a spear and prepares to defend his lands, honor, and life. You slap the crap out of him and walk off with his coinpurse. <<rand $val 9 14>>\ ''[Item Gained: $val Shards]'' <<var $shards + $val>>\ <<var $val 0>>\ <<page "Continue" "ch4-fourdays">>\ <</choose>> <</if>>\

<<choose "ch4-inn-checkfight">> #Find a new target, this battle's not over. <<var $ruthless - 1>>\ You drop the man and look for your next target. #Find a new target, there's no honor in killing a defeated opponent. <<var $honor + 2>>\ You drop the man and look for your next target. #Break his neck. <<var $ruthless + 5>>\ <<var $desrep + 5>>\ <<var $guirenrep - 10>>\ <<var $metguiren + 100000000>>\ With a quick snap you crack your target's neck and end his miserable life. It's easier than you thought. Without an active aura his Combat Cores can't fuel his body's defenses. <<apboost 5>>\ His body drops to the ground and his head hits a table on the way down with a loud thud. All eyes turn to you, sensing the snuffing of a lifeforce within the room. "Oh my god, $heshe killed Kennui!" Shouts the Oni. <<var $guirencombat + 1>>\ <<var $barfight 2>>\ "YOU BASTARD!" Screams the lizard Yokai, kicking the Gothic woman across the room with a ranged explosion of force and charging at you with seething fury. <</choose>>

<<var $metdesdemona 11000000000>>\ <<var $metguiren 13000000000>>\ <<var $goldside true>>\ <<var $guirenrep + 5>>\ The gold Sect disciples snicker and a few of them nod over to you appreciatively. "You heard $himher, whore." Says the lizard Yokai. "You would've been crushed in a fair fight and now even that chance is out the window." Desdemona glares down at you from atop the stairs, nose held high and eyes piercing cold. It's as if she was looking at \ <<if (($race is "Human") or ($subrace is "Human"))>>\ human \ <<else>>\ living \ <</if>>\ garbage. "What makes you think some reject like you will be able to make a difference?" Blazing $auracolor chi erupts around your body in a display of your full power at $aurapressure Aura Pressure. You see the hope leave her eyes. You're not sure if you're stronger than her but you know you're strong enough to turn any fair fight around. She knows it too. "Tch. Fine." She says as if she were spitting out the word. She takes out some sort of glowing red crystal orb from a pouch at her side. "This is collateral, and it will help you in the Trials if you care about that so much. That's the best we can do." She throws the glowing orb at the lizard Yokai almost too fast for you to see. Almost. He catches it and holds the object up to the inn's lamplight. Presumably it's some Soul Treasure at your best guess, and he nods with a smile. "This will do nicely. I'll want the other half in Nanhou or even more of your crew are joining the Slave market." She glares daggers at him. Her Disciples look crushed as they mope towards the door, and as she passes you she whispers in your ear. "This isn't over. I'm going to crush you, body and soul." <<var $desrep - 10>>\ And just like that, she's gone. <<page "Continue" "ch4-inn-sidewithgold2">>\

The four of them leave shortly after and patrons slowly start streaming back in. You shrug and grab a bed of your choosing. The innkeeper doesn't say a word about it. Finally, some rest. ''[1 Chi Point Rested]'' <<var $chispent - 1>>\ <<if ($jadedragonfoundation is false)>>\ <<achieve "Debt of Gratitude">>\ <</if>>\ <<page "Zzz" "ch4-baddream">>\

"Nice work!" Says the lizard Yokai, \ <<if ($heshe is "he")>>\ walking up to you and clapping you on the back. "Those filthy borrowers had been skimping on our Boss for months. Name's Dai Guiren, by the way. I appreciate you putting those women in line." "Happy to do it." You say, "For a price." "Heh, naturally. Here, most of our gear is attuned to only work for our little //family// but we've got a few confiscated items we can part with. I'll write this off as a mercenary expense." He claps his hands twice and one of the Humans in gold combat gi rummages through his satchel and withdraws something you've been hunting for quite some time: another Path Manual. ''[Item Gained: "Flash Step" Technique Manual]'' <<if ($persuasion gte 1)>>\ Guiren clears his throat. "Wencheng, give the man some cash too for crying out loud. Manuals don't buy dinner." ''[Persuasion 1 Check Passed]'' <<var $val (100 + ($persuasion * 20))>>\ ''[Item Gained: $val Shards]'' <<var $shards + $val>>\ <<var $val 0>>\ <</if>>\ "This is...Incredible, Guiren," You say looking at the Technique Manual in your hands, "but aren't Techniques from other dojos banned?" Guiren snorts. "Says who? That's a rule for rich snobs and broke Sects. Practical people know to use whatever they can get." He flourishes a hand through the air dismissively, "Besides, who has the right to tell you to limit yourself? You fought well, you're given a reward, and you use it. Anyone who gets in the way of that deserves your next best energy blast to the face." Animated images flood through your mind, images of you blasting Mao in the open mouth so hard that he flies out a window and lands in an active volcano. The image is appealing. "Take the inn for yourself tonight, me and the boys already rested up. I suspect that broad is going to be an issue in Nanhou if she can find allies, so meet up with me when you get there. We'll be at the northernmost fishing warehouse. The Boss might like to meet you." <<choose "ch4-inn-sidewithgold-end">> #"I'll think about it." "I'll think about it." You reply to the man's offer. "Cool." says Guiren. "See you then. Come on boys, we've got filthy debtor lives to ruin!" <<var $guirenrep + 3>>\ #"For this paltry pay? Hard pass." "For this paltry pay?" You let out a heavy snort. "Hard pass." The Oni in the group nods along, he gets it. Guiren shrugs. "Suit yourself. Come on boys." #"Nah, I was just doing that to piss that hot Lunargoth off. Strong women love strong enemies." "I'm going to have to decline," You reply, "I was only siding with you to piss that hot Lunargoth off. Strong women love strong enemies." "No fucking way!" Shouts Guiren with wide eyes and a wider, genuine smile, "That's exactly what got me to pick up this job too! When I heard it was a swamp witch with knockers bigger than my head I knew it was worth any risk. Ancestors be praised, it's so good to meet someone else who gets it." One of the Humans in a gold gi speaks up, "Guys, you're both stupid. She's not going to sleep with you to pay off the debt. She's obviously the proud type." "No shit you mongrel dog, I get that," Guiren says, "That's not what I'm setting up. Nah, she's not going to sleep with me to pay off the debt. She's going to sleep with me because she hates my guts." "Race you to it." You say. "You're on." You and Guiren shake hands with maniacal grins. A true brotherhood is formed. <<var $guirenrep + 10>>\ <</choose>> <<else>>\ walking up to you and bowing to kiss your hand. "Dai Guiren, at your service. It's always an honor to meet a proper lady who understands the world. We're debt collectors, she had a debt, the right side is obvious." "Quite." You say. "For a mercenary." "Oh?" Guiren winces, feigning injury, "and here I thought you were aiding us for my good looks. I'll see what can be done to...fulfill your needs. Most of our gear is customized to our little //family// but some of the things we've collected as collateral can be lost without issue. Let's see..." He looks you up and down, savoring the image. "Perfect. Wencheng," he claps twice, "the scroll!" One of the Humans in a gold combat gi rummages through a satchel and withdraws something you've been seeking for quite some time: another Path Manual. ''[Item Gained: "Flash Step" Technique Manual]'' <<var $flashstep true>>\ Guiren clears his throat. "Wencheng, I clapped twice." The Human hangs his head and drops a sack in your hand too, this one from his personal beltpouches. ''[Item Obtained: 200 Shards]'' <<var $shards + 200>>\ "That should do it. With that I'm afraid our business is concluded unless you'd like to find me in Nanhou which, obviously, you should. We're stationed in the northernmost fishing warehouse by the docks." <<choose "ch4-inn-sidewithgold-end">> #"No thanks, I'm not really into lizard guys." "No thanks, I'm not really into lizard guys." <<var $guirenrep - 5>>\ <<if ($subrace is "Reptile")>>\ ''[Race Check Passed: Reptile Yokai]'' <<var $solexp + 3>>\ You can see the rejection of his own people's women cause his soul to slowly leave his body. The light fades from his eyes as Guiren wavers, then collapses into the arms of the Oni guy next to him. "She...She hit me." He says, "She hit me deep." "Damn girl, that's cold." says one of the Humans. You wink at the human to drive the pain home harder. Guiren nearly has a stroke. "This is bad. We've got to get him to a healer!" The Oni shouts, "Now!" Two of them grab Guiren by the arms and legs then sprint for the door. <<else>>\ "Harsh." says Guiren, "But fair. I'm not too fond of \ <<if ($race is "Yokai")>>\ <<if (($subrace is "Wolf") or ($race is "Kitsune"))>>\ Wolves \ <<elseif ($subrace is "Bovine")>>\ Cows \ <<else>>\ <<print $subrace>>s \ <</if>>\ <<elseif ($race is "Oni")>>\ Demons \ <<else>>\ Humans \ <</if>>\ myself, but I'll make an exception if you will. The other offer still stands too, if you're looking for work. Come on men, we've got more debts to collect." <</if>>\ #"I'll think about it." "I'll think about it." "I'd love nothing more." Guiren says. "Come on boys, we've got filthy debtor lives to ruin!" #"For this paltry pay? Hard pass." "For this paltry pay?" You let out a heavy snort. "Hard pass." The Oni in the group nods along, he gets it. Guiren shrugs. "You're missing out on the benefits as well, namely me. We'll be there if you change you mind. Come on boys." #"I have a room right upstairs and you're going to make me wait?" <<var $guirenromance + 2>>\ <<var $guirenrep + 10>>\ Guiren coughs hard and audibly, choking on his own spit, red in the face after several hacks. "Wow, that's uh-heh-wow that's quite an offer. Hells yes I ca-" "Guiren." Says the Oni. "Come on Yoji she-" The Oni, this 'Yoji' apparently, crosses his arms as if chastising a child. "Guiren, we've got other debts to collect, and they're on the move." "But Yoji she's //right here// and she's ''//so hot//''." "And Boss wants his money." Yoji says with finality. That sparks the other two into worried action. Together they grab Guiren by the arms and back, shaking their heads as they pull him away. "Sorry man." Says Yoji to his...friend? Leader? You don't know anything about these people. Guiren reaches his hand out towards you looking like a sad puppy as the others drag him off. <</choose>> <</if>>\

You stare back. Is this normal? Is this a Martial Arts thing? Are you both supposed to keep staring? Your prayers are answered when one of the other purple disciples interrupts you both with a cough and speaks up. <<include "ch4-inn-fightend3">>\

<<choose "ch4-inn-fightend3">> #"One hundred percent." -> "ch4-inn-stareback" "One hundred percent." You say with certainty. Fuck \ <<if ($race is "Yokai")>>\ (other) \ <</if>>\ Yokai. <<var $desrep - 2>>\ "That's unfortunate. Two of my captured friends are Yokai. One's even a lizard like Guiren." "Captured?" You ask. She freezes and simply stares at you, eyes slowly narrowing, as if looking for something in your eyes. #"Nah, but imagine if I did." "Nah, but imagine if I did." <<var $desrep + 5>>\ <<if ($heshe is "he")>>\ <<var $desromance + 1>>\ <</if>>\ She snickers with the hint of a glint in her eyes but stops suddenly, shaking her head and placing a finger on her pursed lips as if to think. "That was a clever response. Charming even. It disarmed me from my mistrust and broke the ice too cleanly. That's exactly what an agent of Guiren's master would be trained to do to get close to me." She turns her back to you and withdraws some sort of unguent for her allies, then talks over her shoulder. "You have my thanks for saving my friends, but I can't trust a smooth talker." One of the women in purple gi walks up and places a hand on Desdemona's shoulder. \ <</choose>>

<<if ($portraitpics is true)>>\ <<image "https://www.auraclash.com/assets/images/gothgf.jpg">>\ <</if>>\ Lady Desdemona. A black belt adorns her midsection, barely visible over her dark purple robes. "If you were strong enough you would have seized your 'debt' already. If you were smart enough you would have stolen it while I slumbered. You're neither. You're trash. Begone." A black glow surrounds her fingers as she weaves some sort of handseal casting \ <<if ($handseals gte 2)>>\ of great complexity, but you're still able to understand it. ''[Handseals 2 Check Passed]'' <<var $val Math.round($handseals * 1.5)>>\ <<var $solexp + $val>>\ <<var $val 0>>\ She's casting a ward on the doorway so no one can enter...or leave. <<else>>\ too complex for you to understand. <</if>>\ In response the gold Sect disciples all flare their auras up to full power. You wince at their combined might and try to remind yourself that each should only be a quarter of that strength, but the shock of their four combined auras so close together shakes your spiritual senses akin to hearing an explosion just one room away. It's quite clear that a fight is about to break out, four against four. <<choose "ch4-inn-dessy">> #"If you all start a fight I'm tipping the scales for purple." [Side with Lady Desdemona] <<var $desrep + 2>>\ #"If you two start a fight I'm tipping the scales for gold." [Side with the gold Sect] -> "ch4-inn-sidewithgold" #show-if ($heshe is "he") "Hello ladies, are these eunuchs giving you trouble?" [Side with Lady Desdemona] <<var $honor - 2>>\ <<var $desrep + 4>>\ "Hello ladies, are these eunuchs giving you trouble?" #show-if ($heshe is "he") "Gentlemen, with our powers combined we could easily beat the Shards out of these women!" [Side with the gold Sect] -> "ch4-inn-sidewithgold" <<var $honor - 2>>\ #show-if ($heshe is "she") Mmm, men. "Hey there boys, is this prostitute giving you trouble?" [Side with the gold Sect] -> "ch4-inn-sidewithgold" <<var $honor - 2>>\ <<var $guirenrep + 10>>\ #Not my problem. Nope. Fuck this. <<var $metdesdemona 12000000000>>\ <<var $metguiren 12000000000>>\ You turn around and head out to the woods before Desdemona's ritual finishes. Mosquito bites are better than whatever overly dramatic feud these morons have going on. <<page "Continue" "ch4-woods">>\ <</choose>>

The process feels invigorating at first but that surge of energy falls flat almost immediately, replaced with a heavy fatigue as your body heats up. You lean over to catch your breath but your arm braced against the ground completely gives up, collapsing you onto the hilltop's lush grass. Desdemona lies facedown on the grass already, her hair wrapped in every direction as if to show she landed completely face-first on the dirt. Her Disciples stand around her in concern but their worries dwindle seconds later when her back rises and falls with steady breathing. The Disciples shout out in alarm seconds later when a bright energy blast strikes one of them. Your body weighs too much to move and all you see is more energy blasts and arrows raining down upon them from behind you. Try as you may, you can't bring yourself to move your head when her Disciples leap over your form and engage some enemy. The sound of heavy impacts and explosive chi lasts mere moments before it all falls to silence. Moments later all you hear is the crunching of grass. A silver colored pantleg steps over you and snickers, lightly kicking your head with the other foot as the man passes by. A dozen more men and women follow and collect the defeated disciples, binding them with steel manacles. Each of the newcomers is dressed in silver and yellow combat gi. The uniform of the Sunbringers. "A good haul." Says one of the Sunbringer women. "Indeed, not just useful sacrifices \ <<include "ch4-taioreveal">>\

<<if ($val is 0)>>\ <<var $val + 1>>\ <<include "ch4-kii-techs">>\ <<else>>\ <<include "ch4-kii-end">>\ <</if>>\

<<if ($val is 0)>>\ the... <<else>>\ The second new power resonating through your soul comes from the... <</if>>\ <<choose "ch4-kii-techcheck">> #use-once Fake Sun training. [Insight Increase + Fortitude Surge Bonus] <<learntech 2120670000000030 "Halo Spheres" "Passively increases Insight by +1. Increases Fortitude Surge by +1 when focused.">>\ ''[Learning this Technique passively increases your Insight by +1.]'' ''[While equipped to the Fortitude Core, this Technique lets you spend +1 Fortitude Core at a time to succeed at higher difficulty Fortitude checks.]'' #use-once Screaming. [Aura Pressure Increase + Power Surge Bonus] <<learntech 1110000020000030 "Spiritwell" "Passively increases AP by +10. Increases Power Surge by +1 when focused.">>\ ''[Learning this Technique increases Aura Pressure by +10]'' ''[While focused to the Power Core, this Technique lets you spend +1 Power Core at a time to succeed at higher difficulty Power checks.]'' #use-once Studying. [Handseals Increase + Chi Pool Increase] <<learntech 5000570001000030 "Incantations" "Passively increases Handseals by +1. Passively increases Chi Pool by +1.">>\ ''[Learning this Technique passively increases your Handseals by +1.]'' ''[Learning this Technique increases your Chi Pool by +1.]'' #use-once Combat practice. [Ranged Energy Attack + Aura Pressure + Soul Surge Increase] <<learntech 4140000020000035 "Double Arm Cannon" "Ranged Energy Attack. Passively increases AP by +10. Increases Soul Surge by +1 when focused.">>\ ''[Learning this Technique increases Aura Pressure by +10]'' ''[While focused to the Soul Core, this Technique lets you spend +1 Soul Core at a time to succeed at higher difficulty Soul checks.]'' ''[While Focused, this Technique can aid you in certain long-ranged energy attacks.]'' <</choose>>

"How much do you know about the Kiihakai Style?" Desdemona asks while sitting across from you by the calm lake waters in meditation. Two of her apprentices cast rods into the lake. You know it's the vile Sunbringer style, but that's not a good answer. "I know it's got something to do with magic and energy blasts." "Ignorance. Disgusting. That sums up how it looks to the unenlightened, yes, but for the practitioner there is so much more to know. As a martial art it is about channeling the yang-focused living energy of Mystic Chi." "Living energy like healing energy?" Desdemona shakes her head, looking off in recollection. "It can heal the body in certain ways, but it is not about //our// life. The focus in Kiihakai is that the energy itself is alive. People think of chi sorcery as some mysterious arcane study, which it is, but at the foundation it is merely a hunt for different ways to channel commands to your chi. Picture this: if you could tell your own energy to do something later, when you're not even around, what would you tell it to do?" "Get stronger." You say immediately. A twitch at the corner of her mouth threatens to turn into a smile. "And maybe it could, if you found the right way to command it. But say I know how to cook and my disciple does not." She nods to a campfire nearby where an apprentice is cooking dumpling soup in a cauldron. "Kiihakai's Chi Sorcery can aid him in that cooking because my chi has //my// will, //my// understanding. People think I cast a spell on my disciple to make him a better cook, and yes, it can be described that way, but really I leave a fraction of my Mystic Chi with him. That fraction of chi is given a bit of power and a set of commands to perform when the time is right." She flicks her hands at the campfire. Her apprentice looks up to see a soft golden glow around his cooking tools. He frowns. "Lady Desdemona, am //I// the one that you said doesn't know how to cook? I know how to cook!" Desdemona ignores him. "If I know he should let the fire get hotter, my chi can fuel the fire even if I'm not there to see it." Her disciple jumps back as the campfire expands. "If I know he has to stir whatever he's cooking, my chi will do that at the right time." The cauldron shakes clockwise as if being stirred. "And if I know it's time to take something off the fire my chi might snuff the flames." The fire dies out and her disciple looks over to you both in frustration. "That's all chi sorcery is. At advanced levels it can incorporate Handseals or Elements, but all I did this time was apply a bit of force in different ways, which any basic energy blast could do. The only difference is my chi applies that force with careful precision, planning, and purpose." "That's it?" You ask. Originally you'd envisioned reading a hundred ancient and secret tomes to learn the Kiihakai style's chi sorcery but this sounds...simple. "That is it. Chi sorcery has a million applications and the only real limit is your imagination. Though we'll be focusing on the most important use for your training, which is combat applications. This is a martial art, after all." "What kind of combat applications?" <<if ($desromance gte 2)>>\ She leans so far forward that you can see down her robes \ <<else>>\ She leans forward \ <</if>>\ and her dark gaze grows intense. "Have you ever wondered how differently an energy attack would function if it wanted to win as badly as you did? Or how useful a handseal could be if it knew how to cast itself while you fought?" Glowing golden ritual circles light up on the ground around you. "Because you're about to learn." <<page "Continue" "ch4-kii-training2">>\

When you awake you're surrounded by dark foggy clouds of various thickness obscuring your vision in all directions. \ <<if ($goldside is true)>>\ Again. \ <<else>>\ You don't remember falling asleep. \ <</if>>\ "Desdemona?" You call out. "Are we training or \ <<if ($goldside is true)>>\ is this another attack?" "Both." \ <<else>>\ not?" "Your training in Mystic Chi has already begun." \ <</if>>\ She replies as the fog parts just enough for you to see her in purple combat gi twenty feet away, standing on nothing but darkness. You look down and realize you're floating on air too. Desdemona waves her arms around to your surroundings. "This is all in your head." You gaze into the nothingness. "It's empty." "Humorous, I'm aware. I've weaved you into \ <<if ($goldside is true)>>\ another \ <<else>>\ a \ <</if>>\ dream by infusing my Mystic Chi into an inverted dreamcatcher Seal. The real you is likely asleep by the lake." "Likely?" You don't like the sound of that. "I cannot know, the woman before you is not the real me. I am a part of your dream as well," says Dreamdemona, "made to instruct you on the first two courses or we'd never make it in time for the Trials. The amount of inner chi you must spend to master Kiihakai is staggering. You simply cannot generate enough in time. That is why we're in here, so you can practice spending chi freely." A time-accelerated training? This is incredible! You could learn a thousand Techniques this way and- Dreamdemona huffs. "Don't be ridiculous, it doesn't work that way. You won't remember any of this and Techniques take specific exercises, imbibements, spiritual infusions, it's just impossible to learn anything complex in your dreams unless you're already doing it in the real world. Learning to generate Mystic Chi when you're born with a minor Mystic Chi talent is one of the few things you can actually do while asleep." You blink unexpectedly at the girl's preaching. "Desdemona, I didn't say anything." "I am a figment of your dream. Your thoughts and I are one." Oh crap, she knows you're thinking about... <<var $pup false>>\ <<choose "ch4-kii-training3">> #Puppies. <<var $pup true>>\ <<var $ruthless - 2>>\ <<var $desrep + 4>>\ <<if (($heshe is "he") and ($bodytype isnot "Manlet"))>>\ <<var $desromance + 1>>\ <</if>>\ A dozen puppies dash playfully around the dark foggy 'ground' in between your and Dreamdemona's legs, their tails wagging and some even have the longer ears that flop about as they play. She picks one up and pets it. "Finally, some quality dream material." "Glad you approve." "You should be." She hefts the puppy under one arm and raises the other. "Now pay attention." #Arson. <<var $ruthless + 2>>\ <<var $desrep - 1>>\ Sweat exudes from your pores as the area grows hotter and hotter. "Ugh." Desemona looks around in disgust, her hair suddenly soaked with sweat. She removes the top half of her gi to reveal only a black sleeveless undershirt. "Next time imagine something more enjoyable. Now get serious. It's time to begin." #Udon noodle soup with fried eggs and chili paste. <<var $honor - 2>>\ <<var $desrep + 2>>\ Both you and Dreamdemona hold a pair of chopsticks in one hand and a bowl of udon noodle soup with fried eggs and chili paste in the other as if they had always been there. Dreamdemona twirls the noodles around her chopsticks and slurps, then swallows with a look of appreciation. "Acceptable culinary imagination. Now get serious, you're here to train." "Can't I finish this first?" "No." #Completing the Trials, becoming an Archon, rising to the highest echelons of society, and instating a national draft across all four Outer Lands to raise millions of undisciplined louts into something respectable no matter how much they complain. <<var $honor + 4>>\ <<var $powexp + 4>>\ Men and women march out of the dark fog wearing gi emblazoned with a crest that looks strikingly like your face. They all hold enormous wooden shields that look more like doors, and as they circle around you they all salute and kneel. "MY LORD!" The dream-disciples shout in unison while Dreamdemona gives you a questioning stare. You can't help but think that it's getting too cramped, and the crowd responds to your thoughts. "YES, MY LORD!" They shout in unison, getting on their hands and knees while placing their shields on their backs. In seconds their close quarters and wooden shields have formed a perfectly even floor at knee-height. Dreamdemona steps on one of the minions and rises up to the new floor. "You have strange dreams." "I dare to dream." You respond, stepping up yourself. <<if (($heshe is "he") and ($bodytype isnot "Manlet"))>>\ <<var $desromance + 1>>\ <</if>>\ She nods once. "Then dream of your success." #show-if ($heshe is "he") Her. <<var $desrep + 3>>\ Her face smooths just a bit more. Her hair glistens just a bit brighter. Her lips grow just a bit fuller and threaten to nearly smile. Her gi forms a downward neckline. Dreamdemona looks down at her hands and body with disinterest. "Hm. You idolize me." "It's more of an attraction." You say in the safety of the dream. You can't tell if the light blush is from your dream perfecting her further or from her reaction. "A waste of focus. Concentrate on your training." <</choose>>

Her hand glows the golden hue of Mystic Chi until the intense light around her fist lifts into the air like a floating lantern. "You will be creating fake suns, like this one. Light and force are the easiest applications of inner energy. With Mystic Chi, you can instruct your chi to focus entirely on light, not explode, and stay in place at a certain spot. It's incredibly easy as far as sorcery goes, but I find its flashy applications to be quite useful and universally applauded." "Got it, what are the instructions?" Her head tilts and she looks down at \ <<if (($bodytype is "Petite") or ($bodytype is "Manlet"))>>\ you with disapproval. \ <<else>>\ you, despite being shorter. \ <</if>>\ "I just told you. Focus on light, tell it not to explode, and tell it to rise than stay in place. We're not going to delve into ancient secrets or Sealing glyphs; you're not going to remember any steps from inside a dream. The point of this training is repetition." You form a $auracolor sphere of energy into your hand and try your best to focus on light, not heat. The energy blast glows brighter and you throw it into the sky, where it takes off like a firework and explodes. "Again." Says Dreamdemona. Another attempt ends with the same result. "Again." Says Dreamdemona, louder. Another attempt ends with the same result, albeit with a larger explosion. "Again!" Shouts Dreamdemona. In the nightmare that is your dream, sleep and food and water are unnecessary. Chi reserves, stamina, and breath are all infinite. Your patience is not. The energy blasts you launch into the sky finally stall before exploding, with the slightest tint of gold, only after ninety-eight hours have passed. Your only saving grace is that you won't remember any of this. ''[1 Fortitude Core Spent]'' <<var $forspent + 1>>\ <<page "Continue" "ch4-kii-training4">>\

"Next we'll be increasing your Mystic Chi output." Dreamdemona says, sitting on a chair and reading a tome while wearing glasses. You don't know where she got the chair, the tome, or the glasses. The thought of doing anything differently after such a mind-numbing repetitive exercise excites you. "What do I need to do?" "Charge your aura up to full power, then focus on exuding more Mystic Chi. Like when you flex all your muscles then specifically flex a single muscle harder." "Sounds easy enough." "It is. We are in a //dream//. You are only performing basic tasks so they feel more second-nature to your waking self. Now show me your power." <<if ($aurapressure gte 800)>>\ With an Aura Pressure of over \ <<if ($aurapressure gte 2000)>>\ 2,000 \ <<elseif ($aurapressure gte 1000)>>\ 1,000 \ <<elseif ($aurapressure gte 900)>>\ 900 \ <<else>>\ 800 \ <</if>>\ <<var $solexp + 2>>\ your spirit explodes with so much $auracolor energy that Dreamdemona's glasses are blasted off her face when her chair flies backward as if someone had thrown it. She lands face-first on the ground. "Potent." She says, unaffected by physics in this dream but still not getting up. "But \ <<else>>\ Your spirit flares with $auracolor energy that reflects off the dark clouds of your dreamscape, illuminating the place. Desdemona peaks up from her tome. "A significant output, but \ <</if>>\ not the Mystic Chi we are looking for. Keep at it." You continue in silence for several hours before Dreamdemona finishes her tome, places it into a dark cloud, and withdraws another. "Try screaming, I hear screaming helps \ <<if ($heshe is "he")>>\ men \ <<else>>\ people from your village \ <</if>>\ with generating more power." Your blazing aura drops for a moment and you look over to her. "Do you think that would work? I just scream and get stronger?" She looks \ <<if ($pup is true)>>\ up, scratches the puppy by her side behind the ears, \ <<else>>\ up \ <</if>>\ and tilts her glasses down. "It's your dream, <<cap $name>>, do //you// think it would work?" Unfortunately, you do. ''[1 Power Core Spent]'' <<var $powspent + 1>>\ <<page "Continue" "ch4-kii-training5">>\

"It's time to wake you up." Dreamdemona says after \ <<if ($pup is true)>>\ playing with puppies for the who knows how long. \ <<else>>\ finishing her eighteenth book. \ <</if>>\ "Finally." You groan hoarsely from the ground, dismissing your aura. Mental and faux-spiritual exhaustion had long since caused you to lose count of the days stuck screaming in your dream. You can't even imagine having a healthy voice after so much mock rage, and so your dream-self suffers the consequences. Dreamdemona puts her books away and approaches. "Hold still, there's one surefire method to wake someone from a dream." \ <<if (($heshe is "he") and ($desromance gte 2))>>\ <<var $metdesdemona + 100000000>>\ With a flick of her fingers a makeup brush appears in the air, twisting and turning like an enchanted sword ready to defend its owner. Dreamdemona steps over you and kneels down, placing both hands on your cheeks. Her makeup brush rushes to her and re-applies the purple paint upon her lips, then she lowers her head to yours. "What are you-" <<var $deskiss true>>\ Her soft, pillowy lips press hard against your own. The dark fog of the dreamworld freezes before shattering like a glass window. <<else>>\ Both of her hands glow with an intense golden light and you stare up at her in wonder. Not in astonishment, but actual wonder. You're wondering what she's up to. She is standing //far// too close to be channeling that much energy. And it doesn't feel like the fake sun training, it feels more scorching. Almost like an atta- With one quick motions she slams her arms towards the ground and her Double Arm Cannon explodes your exhausted, depleted dreambody into chunks. <</if>>\ <<page "Continue" "ch4-kii-training6">>\

When you awake the faces of Desdemona's original two disciples from your first mission stare at you, seated around your prone body on the inside of a moving wagon. Curtains have been drawn over the windows to ensure hardly any light enters. Your eyes adjust to the darkness and- Ah! Damn it, the light! The second your eyes adjusted to the darkness the back of the wagon opens, still in transit and travelling down a shadeless road that must be between valleys or farms, because there's not a tree in sight. Desdemona leaps into the wagon beside you. "Li Moon, Li Sun, how is our guest?" "<<cap $hisher>> body is stable." Says the man, Li Sun. "Though we were not expecting $himher to be out for so long, Lady Desdemona. We cannot be sure that $hisher mind is intact." "I can hear you." You say. Li Moon, the girl in glasses, leaps in surprise high enough to hit her head on the wagon's ceiling. She yelps and holds her head where a bump is no-doubt forming judging by the crack she caused in the wood. However she recovers fast and immediately drops her face far too close to yours. "You were in a dreamscape for over two days in the real world! It must have been weeks in there! Do you remember anything?" "Just some fake sun Techniques and a lot of screaming." \ <<if ($deskiss is true)>>\ Your eyes flicker to Desdemona's lips coated in the same makeup as Dreamdemona's. You can't help but wonder if they feel the same. <</if>>\ Desdemona frowns. "You're not supposed to remember anything, you were in there too long." "Well I'm fine and ready for the next lesson." "I doubt that. Highly." Desdemona says. "No one is ready for the next lesson." You stand to show good health and release a fraction of your aura, giving off specks of golden Mystic Chi. "Give it to me anyway." Li Moon and Li Sun look to Desdemona for confirmation. Her smoldering gaze burns into you, analyzing your determination more than your spirit. Finally she submits. "Don't say I didn't warn you. Li Sun, Li Moon, educate $himher on the third step to mastering the Kiihakai Style." With a quick motion Li Moon and Li Sun jump to their feet. Your power expands as you prepare for their attack. Then they withdraw fuuinjutsu tags. They rip their tags open in unison, forming a smoke cloud that solidifies into piles of books in front of you. Li Sun pulls the curtain open to your right while Li Moon pulls the curtains open to your left. They both bow apologetically and Li Moon speaks up. "The third step is academic. Best of luck!" All three leap from the wagon and close the wagon door. The quick 'click' of metal lets you know you've been locked in with the books. A closer inspection shows the large collection to be a mix of practical Sealing guides, academic philosophy on the soul, and spiritual teachings on the essence and behavior of natural chi. Almost all of it is written so dryly that it could have only been made by scholars who tried to sound smart instead of trying to teach well. It's a long forty-hour trip before you finish reading. <<if ($lore is 0)>>\ ''[Lore +1]'' <<var $lore + 1>>\ <</if>>\ <<var $val (($lore * 3) + ($handseals * 2))>>\ <<apboost $val>>\ <<var $val 0>>\ <<var $solspent + 1>>\ ''[1 Soul Core Spent]'' <<page "Continue" "ch4-kii-training7">>\

The Dreamriver Sect's wagons stop on one of many hills around another small town. You've been passing many towns lately but you can't be sure why. Food needs farmlands and in such close proximity land is a scarcity, so many settlements can't be so close together without resource wars. Or so you, a mountain bumpkin, believed. Then when you leap from your wagon to stretch your legs you saw the source of their food. The ocean. It's as beautiful as it is intimidating. Growing up in the mountains around Thunderfall Village meant you've never actually seen the ocean, only the large lakes of snowmelt that freeze early in the autumn due to your town's high elevation. To be down here, in the warm glow of the sun, where you see the vast and imposing view of the ocean continuing on farther than any sight of your life... It's majestic. "It's majestic, isn't it?" Desdemona agrees. You almost expected Dreamdemona with how closely your thoughts aligned. "I've never seen it before, the swamps don't hold a candle to so much water. I never imagined what the world would look like without hills or darkness from the trees at every corner. So much water seems to go on forever..." She turns to you, steel determination in her eyes. "That brings me to our last training. You've cultivated a sliver of Mystic Chi on command and studied what you need to know to put it to use. But you have yet to truly put it to use." <<if ($ruthless gt 50)>>\ You like where this is going. \ <<else>>\ You don't like where this is going. \ <</if>>\ Desdemona removes her robes to reveal a Dreamriver combat gi like those worn by her Disciples. The air grows heavy around her body as it glows with a golden light. "Now you're going to fight me, using only the Kiihakai Style." "That's a heavy crutch." You reply. "I've barely cultivated any Mystic Chi and your aura is made of it." She smiles. "That's the point. Exposure breeds results." <<if (($desromance gte 3) and ($heshe is "he"))>>\ Ancestors, you'd like to breed her with results. <</if>>\ Glowing lines of chi wrap around the tops of her hands and swirl into mystic sigils. Handseals form in real-time without shattering from the spiritual pressure of combat auras. You'd almost be impressed if you weren't busy being worried, jumping to the side just as she releases a golden lance of light at your torso that shoots off into a neighboring hill with an incredibly loud sizzle. You respond from the ground, focusing your Mystic Chi into your own lines of power. The Tiger sigil forms just over your hand, on your palm, which is the wrong side of your hand. Your chi blast blows through it on the way out and Desdemona slaps the attack away. Converting chi into Mystic Chi mid-fight has a terrible ten-to-one ratio; with such a low and slow output you're performing worse than when you first generated an aura. The best thing you can do is dodge as Desdemona launches two small homing blasts at you from different angles. Even your speed has to be infused with Mystic Chi instead of normal chi if you want to train right, so every step is a slower agony. It's a long three-hour fight before you're left panting on the ground, completely depleted. ''[1 Agility Core Spent]'' <<var $agispent + 1>>\ <<page "Continue" "ch4-kii-training8">>\

Desdemona wipes sweat from her face. Makeup smears onto her wrist as she approaches your panting, exhausted body laying face-down on the grass. Li Moon brings her a tonic that she guzzles before getting to your prone form. Her other Disciples stopped watching the fight long ago, returning to their chores and preparing more charms for sale at the Trials. It was insulting to see them casually go about their day while you \ <<if ($jadedragonfoundation is true)>>\ struggled for one of the first times in your life, \ <<else>>\ had your ass kicked from hill to hill, \ <</if>>\ but every second you forcefully reminded yourself to only use Mystic Chi, not your true power. The importance was not victory. The importance was results. Desdemona grabs you by the shoulder and rolls you over, checking your pulse. "I'm fine." You say between heavy breaths. Chi swirls in her eyes as she scans your spirit closely. "You're not, but you're exactly what we need. There's one last step to unlock your Kiihakai Style Advancement. It's going to hurt." "I can take it." You say from the ground, unsure if you can take it but refusing to give up in front of a crowd. "I hope you can, because you have to do it now. You've already started generating Mystic Chi but to //only// generate Mystic Chi you'd have to keep training for a year. We don't have that kind of time. Only a week, tops. The shortcut ritual is to empty your aura of every ounce of chi you have and envelope it in a pool of Mystic Chi, like my aura." You are positive that will not work. "No one can give their aura to someone else." "I'm not giving you my power, I'm convincing the bottom of your spirit's inner well that chi should look like Mystic Chi. It doesn't do anything but help you generate purely Mystic Chi and it only works if you're already cultivating it yourself." She looks off into the distance for a moment. "Also, it's dangerous. You'll have a terrible fever for days and I'll be unable to gain my full aura back until you've expelled all my chi." <<if ($honor lt 48)>>\ "Sounds..." You catch your breath quickly. "Fun." Desdemona shakes her head condescendingly. "It won't be. \ <<else>>\ "Do it." You say without hesitation. <<var $desrep + 2>>\ Desdemona nods. "As you wish. \ <</if>>\ My Disciples will get us a boat to Nanhou to ensure we get there safely while we're incapacitated. Now sit up, if you can." You and Desdemona sit across from each other while she glows with golden light and performs an unfamiliar handseal formation in rapid succession. You close your eyes and press every ounce of chi into your aura, flaring the last specks of $auracolor energy out of your body. There's not much left to spend. Suddenly a presence rips open in your spiritual senses, a humming presence probing your soul while shining in your senses like the purest form of energy. Mystic Chi. Desdemona's aura. It rushes into and over you like a beacon of overwhelming lifeforce, drowning your soul in the ocean of its consciousness. You try to fight it back but feel a spark from deep within your own Cores: a shining well humming back. Your own inner Sprit. Your own living energy. The sensation of being drowned in the foreign energy's depth is overcome as the Mystic Chi all around you dwindles over the next ten minutes of struggle, replaced by a reactive and shining light at the center of your own spirit that grows in potential, though not in size. Yet. When at last Desdemona's foreign chi is gone you feel that your own aura has taken on a new meaning, a new form. Your chi reserves remain empty and your aura remains weak but it feels healthy. When your power returns it should be a full Kiihakai aura of Mystic Chi. Yet something more calls to you. Two of the Kiihakai effects that you haphazardly called upon during training solidify in your soul like new instincts, specifically from \ <<var $val 0>>\ <<var $desrep + 5>>\ <<include "ch4-kii-techs">>\

The process feels invigorating at first but that surge of energy falls flat almost immediately, replaced with a heavy fatigue as your body heats up. You lean over to catch your breath but your arm braced against the ground completely gives up, collapsing you into the marsh island's grass. Guiren lies on the ground as well, his eyes nearly lifeless and drained. One of his men, clad in black clothing and facewrap, prods the reptilian Yokai with his foot. Guiren doesn't move. The underling looks to the others and motions to their boss. "The big guy's knocked out like a snuffed lantern. Should I scribe a dick on his forehead?" "Trace it." Replies Yoji. Their chorus of laughter is cut short by a scream as one of the men looks down to see an arrow piercing through his abdomen. Your body weighs too much to move and half the men don't even notice until energy blasts and arrows rain down upon them from the trees. Try as you may, you can't bring yourself to move your head when Guiren's men leap around you and engage some enemy in battle. The clash of steal, impact of limbs, and explosions of chi fill the air for mere moments before it all falls to silence. Moments later all you hear is the crunching of grass. A silver colored pantleg steps over you and snickers, lightly kicking your head with the other foot as the man passes by. A dozen more men and women follow and collect the defeated bodies of Guiren's men, hauling them over their shoulders. Each of the newcomers is dressed in silver and yellow combat gi. The uniform of the Sunbringers. "A good haul." Says one of the Sunbringer women. "Indeed, not just useful sacrifices \ <<include "ch4-taioreveal">>\

<<if ($val is 0)>>\ <<var $val + 1>>\ <<include "ch4-kuro-techs">>\ <<else>>\ <<include "ch4-kuro-end">>\ <</if>>\

<<if ($val is 0)>>\ the... <<else>>\ The second new power resonating through your soul comes from the... <</if>>\ <<choose "ch4-kuro-techcheck">> #use-once Bamboo training. [Fortitude Surge Bonus + Stealth Increase] <<learntech 2120740000000040 "Crouching Tiger" "Passively increases Stealth by +1. Increases Fortitude Surge by +1 when focused.">>\ ''[Learning this Technique passively increases your Stealth by +1.]'' ''[While focused to the Fortitude Core, this Technique lets you spend +1 Fortitude Core at a time to succeed at higher difficulty Fortitude checks.]'' #use-once Rock training. [Melee Physical Attack + Chi Pool Increase + Power Surge Bonus] <<learntech 1110000001000041 "Hidden Dragon" "Passively increases Chi Pool by +1. Increases Power Surge by +1 when focused.">>\ ''[Learning this Technique passively increases your Chi Pool by +1.]'' ''[While focused to the Power Core, this Technique lets you spend +1 Power Core at a time to succeed at higher difficulty Power checks.]'' ''[While Focused, this Technique can aid you in certain melee-ranged physical attacks.]'' #use-once Shuriken training. [Ranged Physical Attack + Thievery Increase + Agility Surge Bonus] <<learntech 3130760000000044 "Wireworks" "Passively increases Thievery by +1. Increases Agility Surge by +1 when focused.">>\ ''[Learning this Technique passively increases your Thievery by +1.]'' ''[While focused to the Agility Core, this Technique lets you spend +1 Agility Core at a time to succeed at higher difficulty Agility checks.]'' ''[While Focused, this Technique can aid you in certain long-ranged physical attacks.]'' #use-once Scorpion training. [Soul Surge Bonus + Poison Recipe] <<learntech 4140000000200040 "Poisonmaster" "Passively reduces the cost of Alchemy by 1 Reagent. Increases Soul Surge by +1 when focused.">>\ <<var $poison1recipe (6 - $alchemy)>>\ ''[Learning this Technique passively reduces the cost of Alchemy by 1 Reagent.]'' ''[Learning this recipe teaches the Common Poison recipe.]'' ''[While focused to the Soul Core, this Technique lets you spend +1 Soul Core at a time to succeed at higher difficulty Soul checks.]'' <</choose>>

"How much do you know about the Kurokonton Style?" Guiren asks while sitting on a tree stump outside the market square. "I know it's what ninjas use to kill people and everyone thinks it's cursed." "Kind of, that covers the superstition but it doesn't explain how it works at all. The Kurokonton martial art is about pure yin chi, what others call Cursed Chi. It's stubborn stuff and we have to make it into a weapon. Basically, Yin is the force of absorption and entropy. Taking and ending. We'll use this kunai for example." Guiren reaches into a pouch strapped to his leg and withdraws a double-edged throwing-knife with a thin handle and no hilt. "I throw this at people and hope it hurts them, simple, right?" He waits. Is he actually expecting an answer? The waiting continues. By the Ancestors he actually is expecting an answer. "...Right." Guiren's hand flickers for just a moment and the kunai is gone. A loud 'thud' from forty feet away shows the kunai stabbed into a different tree stump further towards the town gate. To the left of his kunai is a red circle of paint, a target. "I missed." Guiren says. "But what if I didn't have to? Open up your spiritual perceptions, I'll try to make this less subtle than normal." Chi surges to your eyes and you see the world in brighter colors. A dark mist rises from Guiren with hints of purple. It expands and solidifies harder and harder until his purple aura thickens and dances at the edges as if surrounded in a black fire. He flicks one finger out, sending a sliver of his chi at the distant tree stump. It hits the red paint target and forms a needle-thin line between the target and Guiren's fingertip. He maneuvers his hand as if pulling some sort of fishing wire and you see the chi line on the tree stump drag to the center of the target. "And now..." Guiren draws three kunai and throws them all in quick succession. With your spiritual senses still open you see all three follow the chi-line he had formed between himself and the target. All three are guided into the bullseye by some pulling force. Guiren nods in satisfaction. "I leash my chi to my target and use the process of yin's absorption to 'pull' my weapon from me into my target. Turning a pull into a push by changing the source. The kicker is that now there's combat chi involved in my attack so it penetrates Martial Artists better. The same goes for backstabbing someone. Shinobi don't just stab someone from behind and it's magically better than other backstabbers, we //pull// the targets into our weapons with yin absorption and an entropy death curse. A lot of tricks work the same way. Walking on walls? Absorption to pull my feet to the wall. Catching arrows? Absorption chi spread like a web across my fingers to pull the arrow in all directions, stopping it in my open hand so I can grab it." That's impressive, and a ninjutsu secret you've never heard of. "What about entropy?" "Oh that part is much easier. Yin's entropy cancels out energy, like nullifying the speed behind someone's projectile when it hits you or nullifying the sound of your movements for stealth. The hardest are direct effects like nullifying your opponent's movements or the strength of their lifeforce. Their auras contest our yin chi's will, so we use poisons. People think ninjas use ancient secret poisons but it's all a con. The only reason a ninja's poisons work better is because we're secretly using a yin entropy Technique on our opponents at the same time that we poison them. Two effects with the same result. Splits their resistance up." Huh, so you don't need some secret ancient shinobi poison garden, just basic poisons and a good Kurokonton Technique. "And the curses? The special eyes?" Guiren grins. "The entropy part of yin covers a few of the curses, but we'll get to the rest after you learn the \ <<if ($insight gte 2)>>\ basics." ''[Insight 2 Check Passed]'' <<var $solexp + 3>>\ "So you don't know any curses, and you don't have the special eyes." Guiren's face reddens as you call his bluff. "If you're going to be \ <<if ($heshe is "he")>>\ a dick \ <<else>>\ rude on purpse \ <</if>>\ then I'm going to enjoy this training a lot more." \ <<else>>\ basics." <</if>>\ He gets up and tosses you a set of black clothing and facewrap, as well as a few pouches of weapons. "Let's go. It's time we put your new lessons into practice." <<page "Continue" "ch4-kuro-training2">>\

Ninjutsu training under Guiren turns out more physically taxing than expected. While you had envisioned stealth exercises through the large town, instead you're lead one day's march to a distant bamboo forest where you're forced to run across the sharpened tops of bamboo stalks until your feet stop bleeding from the unnerving blades of the stalks. "How do you expect to conceal your movements if they're so heavy?!" Guiren shouts while whacking one of the stalks as you sprint over it, "You should never touch the stalk for more time than it takes to blink! Speed doesn't come from wasting time on the ground!" Easy for him to say as you're the one gritting your teeth and sprinting across a 200 foot stretch of bamboo blades. "Again! Lighter!" He shouts after your hundredth dash. "Again! Lighter!" He shouts after your two-hundredth dash. "You can't expect to do this with just your body damn it, //pull// yourself to the end!" "Again! Lighter damn it!" He shouts after your three-hundredth dash. The bamboo forest, once a serene view, becomes a blood and sweat soaked Hell made manifest. And either you've stopped cutting your feet or you've run out of blood. <<var $agispent + 1>>\ ''[1 Agility Core Spent]'' <<page "Continue" "ch4-kuro-training3">>\

The next day at a quarry proves no better. What you thought was strength training turns out to be far worse. Your suspicions begin when Guiren has you carry dozens of rocks up to the ledge of a small ten-foot cliff. The suspicious part is he helps you do it. "We're going to need a lot of these." He explains through grunts, carrying an impressive pile of large rocks. "A serious quantity, put them all near the ledge." Two hours later you finish and find out why. "Okay," Guiren says finally, collapsing at the top of the ledge surrounded by a small hill of granite stones. "Now lay down at the bottom and I'll drop these on you. Your goal is to throw rocks up at them to deflect mine away." "Won't the debris drop on me?" Guiren laughs. "That's the point. Your aura is larger than your body, and your instincts know this. By the time your bruises start mounting up the Cursed Chi in your aura should start kicking in and the edges of your spirit will gradually pull the debris to the side so it stops landing on your flesh." He rubs his right cheekbone as if remembering his own training. "Spirits are hard to coax, especially our own, but survival instincts do wonders. If you ever master this you'll be harder to hit for life." <<if (($heshe is "she") and ($guirenromance gte 1))>>\ This sounds ridiculous to you. "So that's it? You're just going to drop rocks on me?" "To rush this in under a week? You bet I am." Guiren says, stretching his shoulder. "Try to protect your face, I like your smile." <<else>>\ "So you're just going to drop rocks on me and we hope my spirit starts defending me? That's insane." "We have a week, insanity is mandatory." <</if>>\ The next hour is spent exactly as you'd expect, throwing rocks and energy blasts at Guiren's falling boulders in quick succession and rolling or covering your face to avoid the falling debris from landing on tender bruises or open \ <<if ($heshe is "he")>>\ eyes. And your groin, Ancestors, why do so many land on your groin?! <<else>>\ eyes. <</if>>\ When you finally finish, bruised and beaten, Guiren jumps from his ledge and groans. You don't even have a groan left to give. "This is the part I hate." He says to himself. "Now I've got to bring all the rocks up alone." Oh Ancestors no... He drags all the rocks up to reload his ammunition and you go through the same training twice more before the sun sets. <<var $forspent + 1>>\ ''[1 Fortitude Core Spent]'' <<page "Continue" "ch4-kuro-training4">>\

Guiren's men catch up with you the next day after you and he both finish herbal healing soups along an overly loud river. Supposedly his men were off on some debt collection mission while you and Guiren continously trained and \ <<if ($underlings gt 0)>>\ travelled, and your own underlings joined them. You take your share of their cut (all of it) after expenses. ''[Item Gained: 15 Shards]'' <<var $shards + 15>>\ <<else>>\ travelled. <</if>>\ Two of his underlings provide you with a bucket of shuriken. A bucket. "Do these normally come in buckets?" You ask looking into the wide, shoddily crafted and now substantially-scratched wooden bucket. One of his minions, the oni man named Yoji, hands you a pouch with a leg-strap. "Here, you fit three hundred shuriken into a pouch and then tell me we shouldn't have used a bucket." "None of the sass!" Guiren declares, walking over with a wide bundle of iron bars tied together. "<<cap $name>>, finish your meal and we're getting to the real training. Your Cursed Chi has grown from a speck to a handful, so we're getting serious. You've practiced in the bamboo by pulling yourself to something else and practiced with the rocks by pulling something else around yourself. Now we need you to leash that Cursed Chi to your attacks." He drops the bundle of iron bars. "I'm going to stand behind these iron bars and leash my Cursed Chi to you. You're going to feel out that link and throw your shuriken at the bar. The goal is to hijack my Cursed Chi line and //pull// the shuriken through the iron bar. If you do it right you'll not only increase the force of your attack, you'll add energy damage into the impact." One of the black-clad minions speaks up. "Guiren, your only cover is an iron bar? What if $heshe misses?" You expected the reptile Yokai to say something \ <<if ($heshe is "she")>>\ smooth \ <</if>>\ like '<<cap $heshe>> won't miss' but instead he rips a fuuinjutsu tag and extracts an iron shield from the smoke. Not a good vote of confidence. The entire day is spent throwing shuriken at the iron bars and it's a refreshing change of pace. Not only because you're finally not getting hurt, but because it //works//. The purple line of Cursed Chi leading from your own body to behind Guiren's shield is more obvious in your perception now that your own Cursed Chi has grown and by the tenth throw you already cut deeper into the iron bars, infusing the shuriken with your own Cursed Chi and stealing Guiren's trajectory. By the fourth hour you and Guiren collect the shuriken back into the buckets for the fifth time and Guiren leaves to play card games with his men. He isn't needed anymore. By that point you've leashed your own cursed chi to the iron bars and used it to guide the shuriken with perfect precision and chi infusion, slicing the iron in half with such a small weapon. <<var $powspent + 1>>\ ''[1 Power Core Spent]'' <<page "Continue" "ch4-kuro-training5">>\

"I'd say you're ready for the final test." Guiren says, waking you from your hammock tied between cypress trees in a swampy marsh after another day's march. <<if ($ruthless gt 50)>>\ "Let me guess, I have to assassinate a target." <<else>>\ "I don't have to assassinate someone, do I?" <</if>>\ "Nothing so high paying." Guiren replies, holding up a jar of grey-green slime. "Ever seen this before?" <<if ($survival gte 1)>>\ ''[Survival 1 Check Passed]'' <<var $forexp + 1>>\ "Is that a jar of snails?" You ask after looking closer. <<else>>\ ''[Survival 1 Check Failed]'' "I don't even know what I'm looking at. Did an Alchemist make that?" <</if>>\ "It's a jar of snails." Guiren says with confidence. "And this is a jar of scorpions." He lifts the other, larger jar and you flinch back. Inside is a collection of hundreds of scorpions, some openly eating each other. "We bought this from a fraud who said it would produce an incredibly potent poison worth a thousand Shards when they all finished eating each other, but we're not really here for a super poison. For your training we just need a whole lot of scorpions, it was the perfect purchase." You hate this already. "I don't suppose you need me to blow these scorpions up?" Your left hand glows $auracolor with wisps of Cursed Chi mixed in. "Not yet. Your training for today is spiritual stealth. We want you to use that cursed energy's entropy aspect to nullify the sense of your own aura. Animals can detect life like we sense auras, just very poorly. I'm going to cover you in snails that scorpions love to eat, then we're going to drop the scorpions on you. Your goal for the day is not doing anything. Simple as that. Sit still and keep your aura hidden and the scorpions should think they're standing on a rock instead of a living being. Fuck up and they'll sting you instead. You're done when the last scorpion leaves. Now disrobe." <<if ($heshe is "she")>>\ <<choose "ch4-kuro-training6">> #"Turn around. Your men too." "Turn around." You command. "Your men too." "Aw come on!" Shouts one of Guiren's masked minions. "Shut up Wencheng! If the lady doesn't want to entertain us then we won't be entertained." "Screw this." Says a different minion, picking up his chair and leaving. Where did he get a chair out in this marsh? "I apologize for them." Guiren says as more of his men turn around and leave. "Take the snail jar for yourself, but I'll have to dump the scorpions after." "That's fine." You say, removing your clothes and hanging them on a tree. You retrieve the snail jar and...hesitate, if you're honest with yourself, but it's just snails. If this is important for your training then it has to happen. <<page "Continue" "ch4-kuro-training6">>\ #"Tell your men to turn around." <<var $guirenromance + 1>>\ <<var $guirenrep + 2>>\ "Tell your men to turn around." You command. "Oh? And what about me?" The left side of your mouth curls upward ever so slightly. "You may stay." "You heard the young mistress, boys! Eyes to the trees!" "Aw come on!" Shouts one of Guiren's masked minions. "Shut up Wencheng! You're giving insult to our honored guest!" "Screw this." Says a different minion, picking up his chair and leaving. Where did he get a chair out in this marsh? "I apologize for them." Guiren says as more of his men turn around and leave. "Shall I apply the sensual snail slime?" You remove your robe and expose your back to the Yokai man. "You may." <<page "Continue" "ch4-kuro-training6">>\ <</choose>> <<else>>\ All you have for undergarments today is a loincloth. "Are we going to sumo wrestle or something?" \ "No, but I'm not here to cover your //clothes// in snails and scorpions. Come on, the training only works if they're on your skin." "Seriously? Don't you have a cute kunoichi to cover me instead?" Guiren sighs longingly. "I cannot tell you how badly I wish we did. There's far too many guys in this group." "Then quit!" Shouts Yoji the Oni from the safety of the bushes. "We'll replace you with a girl!" Guiren throws a scorpion at him then hands you the jar of snails. "Cover yourself, I'm going to go add dirt to Yoji's trail rations." You remove your $clothes and begin to slather yourself in the snail ooze. <<page "This had better be worth it." "ch4-kuro-training6">>\ <</if>>\

A sharp inhale escapes your lips from the cold slimy sensation as you're coated in the snails and their slime, dressed only in your undergarments. Not even a whole breath later over a hundred scorpions are rained down upon your body, clicking their carapace legs all over your skin to steady themselves and hunt the snails. The instant the last scorpion falls you hear Guiren leap away to safety. With the focus of a $manwoman possessed, you reject the sensations on your body and focus wholly on keeping your spirit as contained as possible. It's not until two hours later, with many scorpions resting on you still, that you realize that Guiren already knows how to do this. If it really does prevent any stings, he shouldn't have had to leap away. Your heart rate elevates and you get stung. Then again. And again. By the twelfth sting you stop responding and focus your aura back down, maintaining concentration on hiding your spiritual presence. You're here to train, not to stop the stings. If you want the pain and numbing alarm of the poison to stop then you must do it the right way, by suppressing your aura, or this is all a waste. Five more stings and three hours later the last scorpion crawls off your body. \ <<if ($ruthless gte 55)>>\ You leap in victory immediately and kill every single scorpion you can see while screaming in furious revenge. ''[Item Gained: Common Poison x3]'' <<var $commonpoison + 3>>\ <<else>>\ You leap in victory as Guiren's men collect the scorpions to put their poison to good use. Afterwards they release the hundreds of well-fed scorpions on the unsuspecting swamp. ''[Item Gained: Common Poison x2]'' <<var $commonpoison + 2>>\ <</if>>\ <<var $solspent + 1>>\ ''[1 Soul Core Spent]'' <<page "Continue" "ch4-kuro-training7">>\

The next day you and Guiren reach the coast and the ocean is as beautiful as it is intimidating. Growing up in the mountains around Thunderfall Village meant you've never actually seen the ocean, only the large lakes of snowmelt that freeze early in the autumn due to your town's high elevation. To be down here, in the warm glow of the sun, where you see the vast and imposing view of the ocean continuing on farther than any sight of your life... It's majestic. "Is that Nanhou?" You ask, gazing upon the busy docks of a coastal town down the road. "Nah, just some logging town." Says Guiren. "Sit down here, there's a last step for your training and it's not a good one." "//None of them// were good ones." You correct. "Oh hah hah, what you mean to say is 'thank you Guiren, for making me into a shinobi with Cursed Energy in just five days.'" <<choose "ch4-kuro-training8">> #"Thank you Guiren, for making me into a shinobi with Cursed Energy in just five days." <<var $guirenrep + 2>>\ <<var $ruthless - 2>>\ "Thank you Guiren, for making me into a shinobi with Cursed Energy in just five days." Guiren blinks. "Oh, uh, you're welcome." "Something wrong?" "I'm too used to my men who are, at the best of times," he turns around and looks back at his underlings, "ungrateful dregs." His underlings are five feet behind the two of you, and they heard everything. "Now come on," he says, "sit \ #Remain silent. You remain silent and Guiren's men snicker. He rolls his eyes. "Whatever. Now sit \ <</choose>>

like I said, this last step is going to take a lot out of us. I was saving it until we reach the coast." "What for?" "We're going to merge auras for a moment, which sounds harmonious and peaceful. It ain't. It's going to sting like a bitch but that's what we need to trick your aura into generating only Cursed \ <<if (($element1 isnot "None") or ($element2 isnot ""))>>\ and Elemental \ <</if>>\ chi from now on. You've already started the process of generating your own Cursed Chi, which is the only reason this will work. The problem is afterwards you'll be debilitated with fever and I'll be drained to nothing, that's why my men will get us on a ship and we'll recover the rest of the way to Nanhou. Problems solved." "If it's so dangerous then let's wait to do it on the ship." "The ship might explode." Oh. It's one of //those// rituals. You and Guiren sit across from each other while he takes out some scroll and performs handseals following its instruction. Hopefully he knows what he's doing. You close your eyes and press every ounce of chi into your aura, flaring your power up and into the sky by a dozen feet. You've never wasted energy like this before and it feels like throwing money down a well. Suddenly a presence rips open in your spiritual senses, a dark and yawning void. Cursed Chi. Guiren's spirit. It rushes into and over you like a monstruous maw, consuming everything that you are. You try to fight it back but feel a spark from deep within your own Cores: your own entropy. Your own void. Your own maw. The sensation of being devoured is overcome as the Cursed yin chi all around you dwindles over the next ten minutes of struggle, replaced by a hungry void at the center of your own spirit that grows in potential, though not in size. Yet. When at last Guiren's foreign chi is gone you feel that your own aura has taken on a new meaning, a new form. Your chi reserves remain empty and your aura remains weak but it feels healthy. When your power returns it should be a full aura of Cursed Chi. Yet something more calls to you. Two of the Kurokonton effects that you haphazardly called upon during training solidify in your soul like new instincts, specifically from \ <<var $val 0>>\ <<var $guirenrep + 5>>\ <<include "ch4-kuro-techs">>\

"See anything you like?" Comes \ <<if ($heshe is "he")>>\ an inviting \ <<else>>\ a \ <</if>>\ voice from behind. <<if ($portraitpics is true)>>\ <<image "https://www.auraclash.com/assets/images/leona-aka.jpg">>\ <</if>>\ You look over your shoulder to see a blonde Lunargothic woman sporting blue armor in the Lunargothic style, different colored eyes, and two katanas on the same side of her hip. She waves a gauntleted hand over the displays. "Because I sure haven't. Finding a good sword before the Trials is like finding a virgin in a brothel." <<choose "ch4-leona2">> #Eye her two blades. "//More// swords? Leave some for the rest of us." "//More// swords?" You look at the two blades on her hip. "Leave some for the rest of us." "Hah! These things?" The swordgirl pats her blades on the hilts. "Garbage used for cultivation. Every good swordswoman uses Soul Treasures for their blades and I've yet to find any useful ones. Every Soul Treasure my Sect gets it too weak or the wrong source. I mean, who cares if you fuse a Beast's claw into a sword? All that does is cut things, and swords //already cut things//." "I never thought of it that way." "You should," she stresses, "since \ #"There's plenty of virgins in a brothel, they're called customers." "There's plenty of virgins in a brothel." You correct her analogy. "They're called customers." The swordgirl freezes in surprise and shock at your audacity to be correct. "Are you suggesting I get my swords from other people who want to buy swords?" That's not what you were saying, but damn it's a good interpretation. Makes you sound wise. You shrug and roll with it. "Name a better source for good swords than good swordsmen." She lets out a shocked laugh. "I can't believe what I'm hearing! Not that you're saying it, obviously, but that my expression accidentally worked so well." She exhales and shakes her head. "That is //wild//. Though you shouldn't make yourself a target like that." Her voice shifts to a darker tone. "Afterall, \ #"Fuck off." "Fuck off." You say //immediately//. "Whoa!" the swordgirl exclaims in exaggerated surprise, "somebody's quite the powderkeg! What nerve could I have possibly touched?" "Not interested." With a quick leap you clear half the crowd at the market and land near a different booth. The merchant of that booth doesn't flinch at all. "Welcome, honored Martial Artist, please peruse my wares of fine paintings and-" "<<cap $heshe>>'s more interested in swords." Says the same girl, suddenly behind you. This \ <<if ($heshe is "she")>>\ hag \ <<else>>\ wench \ <</if>>\ clearly isn't getting the picture so you turn and spit into her face to make your point clear. <<if ($heshe is "he")>>\ The swordgirl catches your spit in her mouth and chomps down with a smile. <<var $leonaromance + 1>>\ What. The. Fuck. She laces her fingers together and pushes both hands down in front, lifting one leg behind her and blushing coyly. "Oh goodness me, don't go flirting with strangers! You never know when it could get you in trouble with their relatives. They say dueling over honor is the number one cause of death for people like us." "...People like us?" You find yourself asking, still getting over what you just saw. "Hey, playing coy is my game! Don't go stealing it like you stole my Style. After all, \ <<else>>\ It splatters against her face and her smile doesn't even falter. "You //are// more interested in swords, aren't you? After all, \ <</if>>\ #show-if ($heshe is "he") "Oh I definitely see something I like." "Oh I definitely see something I like." This woman's figure is so out of this world that you can see it through her armor. The swordgirl's turns her right cheek to you and she fans her face with a single gauntleted hand. "I must say, young master, you certainly know how to make a girl feel appreciated. Is it because of this?" She raises her arms overhead and poses, stretching her chest forward. "Or this?" She pulls both arms down and turns to the side, pushing her hips towards you from behind and looking over her shoulder with a wink. "Or maybe it's my bladed chi? After all, \ <<var $leonaromance + 1>>\ <</choose>>

<div class="fightingfont">Thunderfaller $name vs Leona</div>\ The air around her shakes in your vision before igniting into a geyser of scarlet arcing blades of energy. Deep gashes form in the ground around her legs when she raises her blade overhead, poised to charge. "Now show me a good time, <<cap $name>>!" Your own aura explodes into \ <<if ($element1 is "Darkness")>>\ a swirling void of darkness \ <<elseif ($element1 is "Earth")>>\ a dense amber blaze \ <<elseif ($element1 is "Fire")>>\ a burning eruption of flames \ <<elseif ($element1 is "Ice")>>\ a freezing swirl of arctic blue ice vapor \ <<elseif ($element1 is "Light")>>\ the shining yellow light of the dawn \ <<elseif ($element1 is "Storm")>>\ a violet blaze of crackling lightning bolts \ <<elseif ($element1 is "Water")>>\ a swirling force of dark blue power \ <<elseif ($element1 is "Wind")>>\ a forceful explosion of emerald green energy \ <<elseif ($element1 is "None")>>\ a white blaze of potent chi \ <<else>>\ ''[Error! Incorrect element assigned!]'' <</if>>\ as she charges across the field. <<var $val 0>>\ <<choose "ch4-leona-fight2">> #I'm confident in my speed, I charge forward for the first attack. With explosive speed you charge in to meet her blade, swinging it upward from the hip to meet hers. <<var $combatstat "agility">>\ <<var $combatskill "athletics">>\ <<combatcheck 6>>\ <<if ($passcheck is true)>>\ It's not until the two of you clash that you push off with one final leap to push your blade even further. You don't meet her attack from above with an attack from below, you accelerate a stab into her kidney and wrench your blade up to meet hers after. <<var $leonadmg + 1>>\ <<var $leonarep + 3>>\ Leona staggers backwards and spits up blood. "I-Iaijutsu" She holds a hand to her side and looks down at the red liquid on her gauntlet. "Not bad for a-" You're upon her again before she can finish talking and immediately learn your mistake as her mouth opens wide and glows with a cross of scarlet energy. The power expands as it leaves her mouth until it fires out like two curved swords of solid chi speeding at your torso. \ <<page "Continue" "ch4-leona-fight-speed">>\ <<else>>\ But your speed proves not explosive enough. Leona's blade comes down on your own ''hard'' and knocks your attack back down. Her cleave continues even further and cuts deep into your shoulder before you roll out of the way to minimize the damage. <<var $wounds + 1>>\ ''[1 Wounds Suffered]'' <<if ($woundbonus gt 0)>>\ ''[Battle Hardening: +$woundbonus Aura Pressure]'' <<var $aurapressure + $woundbonus>>\ <</if>>\ <<include "ch4-leonadeathcheck">>\ "I'm disappointed!" She shouts out, "I was charging with my sword held high, it was obviously a Stance meant for Beast combat instead of duels. A //real// \ <<if ($heshe is "he")>>\ swordsman \ <<else>>\ swordgirl \ <</if>>\ would counter with the quickdraw of Iaijutsu!" You swing at her with full force to push her away and stagger back to your feet. "What the Hell is an Iaijutsu." It's not a question so much as a dismissal, yet still Leona looks shocked. "It's a basic Akakiru Technique, didn't your Sensei teach you anything about your style?" "No." You reply with one mighty leap to close the distance. <<include "ch4-leona-fight2">>\ <</if>>\ #Catch her blade. As she speeds across the field with the surge of an Agility Core you get to one knee and focus. When she's upon you with blade overhead she swings down with a maniacal grin, aiming for the shoulder. You pivot at the last second and clap your hands together against her blade. <<var $combatstat "fortitude">>\ <<var $combatskill "perception">>\ <<combatcheck 6>>\ <<if (($passcheck is true) or ($ironbody is true))>>\ <<if ($ironbody is true)>>\ ''[Special Event: Iron Body Technique!]'' The skin of your hands turns obsidian with the power of your Iron Body just in time to catch her attack. <<var $forexp + 4>>\ <</if>>\ <<var $leonarep + 3>>\ Both your hands slam down on the blade and catch it with a vice grip before she can make impact against your shoulder. You look up at Leona with a taunting grin. Huh, she has one too. Suddenly the scarlet light around her sword magnifies and it vibrates in your grip. Your spiritual senses scream in warning as her blade begins to explode in a flurry of chi-slashes, like curved flying blades of energy. The first one shoots up between your palms but the next two explode into your grip and leave gouges into your palms. Before she can continue you reach up and grab her hair, ripping her face down towards her own blade. "Ow ow o-AH!" <<var $leonadmg + 1>>\ She ends the Technique immediately after one of her own slashes gets her in the cheek and you take advantage of the distraction to... <<include "ch4-leona-fight2">>\ <<else>>\ Her blade passes through your hands, cutting meat off the side of your left palm on the way down as her sword glows scarlet and cleaves ''deep'' into your shoulder, severing vital muscles and digging inches into your collarbone before exploding into a flurry of scarlet Bladed Chi slashes in all directions that gore the side of your chest. Blood erupts from your shoulder like a faucet. <<var $wounds + 2>>\ ''[2 Wounds Suffered]'' <<if ($woundbonus gt 0)>>\ <<var val2 ($woundbonus * 2)>>\ ''[Battle Hardening: +$val2 Aura Pressure]'' <<var $aurapressure + $val2>>\ <</if>>\ <<page "[Internal Screaming]" "ch4-leona-fight-impaled">>\ <</if>>\ #show-if ($background is "Blacksmith") Parry with the blade she gave you then attack with your Tanto. -> "ch4-leona-fight-throw" The two of you meet in the middle of the field with a clash of blades. Both of you ease into a rhythm of parry and assault, dancing in the field to the tune of your own blades. Then you ruin it and stab her with your Tanto. <<var $leonadmg + 1>>\ "Wha..." She staggers back and leers down at your blade lodged in her waist just under her upper armor. "You already had a weapon?!" "Yes, now give it back." You lunge for the Tanto but have to give that up when she counterattacks. You barely deflect her blade with your own as she slices horizontally while leaping backwards. "Me give it back?! YOU GIVE ''MY'' SWORD BACK!" Her blade glows with a disturbingly strong focus of scarlet chi and she grips it in both hands, your Tanto still embedded into her as she swings the sword sideways. An enormous arc of bladed chi rips off her blade and flies through the air. The attack rushes at you in the form of a flying ten-foot scythe blade of glowing scarlet energy. #show-if (($element1 is "Fire") or ($element2 is "Fire")) use-if ((($chipool + ($soul / 2)) - $chispent) gte 1) Raise a wall of fire to block her view. [Fire Element, Costs 1 Chi] -> "ch4-leona-fight-flame" <<var $chispent + 1>>\ You channel the burning flames inside your Cores and pull out that power into the world, igniting a huge section of the grassy field into a wall of flames just as Leona charges in. Your fires engulf the madwoman and she shrieks in pain, yet you can hear her coming closer all the same. <<var $leonadmg + 1>>\ In a split second she will be outside of the flame wall and upon you. <</choose>>

<<choose "ch4-leona-fight-end">> #"Don't make this weird." "Don't make this weird." You call out. <<var $leonarep - 2>>\ "Don't tell me what to do!" Leona screams, launching a scarlet slicing arc of Bladed Chi at you before charging out of the splinter smokescreen. You knock her ranged attack out of the way and prepare to do battle once more. <<page "Continue" "ch4-leona-fight-end">>\ #show-if ($heshe is "he") "Flattery will get you nowhere." "Flattery will get you nowhere." <<var $leonaromance + 1>>\ <<var $leonarep + 1>>\ Leona walks out of the cloud of splinters with her left gauntlet deformed, blood leaking from her wrist where the metal has dug in. She maintains eye contact with you while raising that wrist to her lips and running her tongue along the wound. "Liar." <<page "Continue" "ch4-leona-fight-end">>\ #show-if ($heshe is "she") "Sounds like your village's men need lessons." "Sounds like your village's men need lessons." Leona laughs from inside the cloud of splinters. "Agreed!" Suddenly the top of the cloud erupts as she leaps through it, clearing a forty-foot vertical with sword raised overhead. "Or we just need to find better men!" <<page "Continue" "ch4-leona-fight-end">>\ #[Launch a chi blast into the cloud.] <<if ((($soul + $insight) gte 6) or ($energytide))>>\ <<var $leonadmg + 1>>\ You conjure as much power as possible \ <<if ($energytide is true)>>\ using your Energy Tide Technique \ <</if>>\ and launch a swift blast of energy at the tree she's hiding near. The explosion is wide enough to engulf the entire splinter cloud and she quickly leaps out of the blast radius, wounded and coughing. <<if ($heshe is "he")>>\ "So ruthless, so relentless! A man after my own heart!" <<var $leonaromance + 1>>\ <<else>>\ "Didn't your Mother ever teach you manners?!" <<if ($honor gte 50)>>\ "My Mother would have slapped the blonde off you by now." "Sounds like my kind of lady!" \ <<else>>\ "No, did yours?" You ask back. <<var $leonarep + 2>>\ "No!" \ <</if>>\ Leona grins as she lands, leaping immediately into a charge to resume your fight. <</if>>\ <<else>>\ You launch an energy blast into the splinter smokescreen and see Leona leap over it just as she leaves, charging at you to resume the fight. "Chi blasts? Our sword dance isn't done yet, <<cap $name>>! We're not done until I say we're done!" <</if>>\ <<page "Continue" "ch4-leona-fight-end">>\ <</choose>>

The fight continues for another ten minutes, an agonizing duration for a battle between high-speed Martial Artists. \ <<if ($leonadmg lte ($wounds + 1))>>\ Despite your early success Leona leads the pace of the fight as if she were growing faster and sharper with each exchange. <<var $val 0>>\ <<else>>\ Despite her powers and your lack of sword expertise, you continue to lead the fight. Leona seems to grow faster and sharper as the battle rages on, as if she were energized by the encounter, but you're able to keep pace and keep the woman contained. <<var $val 4>>\ <</if>>\ <<var $val + (Math.round($leonadmg * 2.5))>>\ <<apboost $val>>\ <<weightexp>>\ <<var $val 0>>\ "That's definitely enough for me." Leona finally says after \ <<if ($leonadmg lte ($wounds + 1))>>\ inflicting another chip to your blade. <<else>>\ suffering a chip to her blade. <</if>>\ <<if (($wounds is 0) and ($leonadmg gte 2))>>\ <<if ($jadedragonfoundation is false)>>\ <<achieve "Sword and Bored">>\ <</if>>\ <</if>>\ She sheathes her sword from across the field before wiping sweat and blood off her brow. Your own panting breath and \ <<if ($wounds gte 1)>>\ mounting wounds \ <<else>>\ aching muscles \ <</if>>\ makes the parlay appealing; your violent encounter has gone on so long that the trees surrounding your grove have been entirely wiped out. "Why?" You ask through gasping breaths, as you look through the decimated tree line and notice for the first time that the merchant caravans and all its customers left long ago. "Why what?" Leona asks back, exhausted but feigning innocence while taking a waterskin out of nowhere and drinking greedily. <<include "ch4-leona-why">>\

<<choose "ch4-leona-fight2">> #Headbutt her in the nose. "HYYAH!" Leona shouts while exiting the flamewall, sword raised overhead. You're two inches from her face. In the same moment she breaches the flames your forehead slams down on the bridge of her nose like a boulder and she's knocked //back into the flames//. Unfortunately you're not the only one quick on your feet. In the same moment that you slam your forehead into her skull she swipes her //unarmed// hand at you, covered in vibrating scarlet lines chi. The energy trails off her hand in spikes like a handful of knives launched at your torso. <<var $combatstat "fortitude">>\ <<combatcheck 5>>\ <<if ($passcheck is true)>>\ <<if ($ironbody is true)>>\ ''[Technique Event: Iron Body]'' ''[2 Wounds Resisted]'' <<else>>\ ''[1 Wounds Resisted]'' ''[1 Wounds Suffered]'' <<var $wounds + 1>>\ <<if ($woundbonus gt 0)>>\ ''[Battle Hardening: +$woundbonus Aura Pressure]'' <<var $aurapressure + $woundbonus>>\ <</if>>\ <<include "ch4-leonadeathcheck">>\ <</if>>\ <<else>>\ ''[2 Wounds Suffered]'' <<var $wounds + 2>>\ <<if ($woundbonus gt 0)>>\ <<var $val2 ($woundbonus * 2)>>\ ''[Battle Hardening: +$val2 Aura Pressure]'' <<var $aurapressure + $val2>>\ <</if>>\ <<include "ch4-leonadeathcheck">>\ <</if>>\ You're knocked back but recover faster than she does, //you're// not the one on fire. She exits the flame wall one more time just as you locate her spirit and close the distance to launch your next attack. #Roundhouse kick her into the flamewall, the long way. <<var $leonadmg + 1>>\ Your leg swings wide with the full power of your body and spirit. "SHIT SHIT!" Leona shouts as you slam her sideways. She hits the burning ground hard enough to bounce along the wall of your flames like a burning ragdoll. "FUCK!" She screams on the second bounce when landing on her hip and bouncing further at high speeds. Her curses only get worse with each bounce as she launches slashes of chi in all directions but fails to slice the flames and or stop her momentum. You doubt she can even see which direction is up. It's hard to see when you're on fire. Finally she hits the ground with her feet instead of her face and sends a massive swing of scarlet chi at the ground that wipes your flamewall away. Her aura seems to have protected even her hair from incineration but your spiritual senses tell you her Aura Pressure's paid a heavy toll for it. She looks at you through the disheveled hair in her face with a mix of scorn and appreciation. "That was dirty. My father would've said some serious local shit like 'your cowardly attack brings shame upon a thousand generations of your ancestors'" "Okay." You say, cycling power through your legs to press the attack. "Ugh, \ <<if ($heshe is "he")>>\ I'm so into guys that ignore me." <<else>>\ that's such a clean dismissive comeback. I'm stealing it." <</if>>\ <<if ($heshe is "he")>>\ <<var $leonaromance + 1>>\ <</if>>\ You're already upon her by the time she finishes that sentence. <</choose>>

<<var $forexp + 2>>\ <<var $solexp + 1>>\ "Holy shit!" Leona shouts, jumping back and looking suddenly panicked at your gaping shoulder-to-chest wound. "Why didn't you move out of the way?!" \ You cover the wound with a hand and try your best to keep the red liquid inside. "I was going to catch it." \ She sheathes her sword with a disgruntled slam. "No you weren't dumbass! Akakiru Style can shoot chi slashes out of a sword even if you catch it. I was trying to gauge your mastery but did your sensei even teach you //anything// about your Style?" \ "No." All you want is for her to shutup while you focus on staying conscious. If she's here to kill you then she better hurry up, if she's not here to kill you then you need to get back to the caravan for healing supplies. \ "Come on." She shuffles forward with both arms extended, maneuvering to lift your wounded body but clearly out of her comfort zone when trying to help someone, "I have medicine back at camp. Just stop fidgeting and, damn, that's so much blood." \ "I don't need any...Any..." Wow, that //is// so much blood. The last thing you see before falling to the ground is Leona taking her sword back from you with a look of disappointment. \ <<var $leonarep - 2>>\ <<if ($leonaromance gte 1)>>\ <<var $leonaromance - 1>>\ <</if>>\ <<page "Continue" "ch4-leona-wakeup">>\

<<var $combatstat "fortitude">>\ <<combatcheck 5>>\ <<if ($passcheck is true)>>\ Her energy attack crashes into your chest like two sword slashes against a rock wall. You respond in kind by swinging your sword diagonally across her breastplate and following up with a pommel strike to her temple that knocks her off her feet, tumbling to the ground. <<var $leonadmg + 1>>\ "Damn damn damn!" She shouts, leaping with a twist to rise instantly and spitting dirt out of her mouth. "You don't even know Akakiru, how the Hells are you beating me with a sword?!" "I could beat you without a sword." You reply, dashing in to close the new distance. <<else>>\ Her energy attacks crash into your chest and slices deep through your muscles and collarbone. Blood shoots from your wounds and mouth simultaneously as the force of her chi lands with //physical// weight, knocking the wind out of you just as it cuts you up inside. ''[1 Wounds Suffered]'' <<var $wounds + 1>>\ <<if ($woundbonus gt 0)>>\ ''[Battle Hardening: +$woundbonus Aura Pressure]'' <<var $aurapressure + $woundbonus>>\ <</if>>\ <<include "ch4-leonadeathcheck">>\ Smoke emits from her mouth as if she'd fired a cannon shot and she blows it with one gauntleted hand as if she ate something too hot. "You didn't really expect to surprise me without any Akakiru Techniques, right? Nothing but the best can compete with the Five Styles so-" <<if ($background is "Blacksmith")>>\ ''*SHUNK*'' Leona looks down at the Tanto you just threw, now embedded into her arm through a gap in her armor's joints. <<if ($heshe is "she")>>\ "Oh you sassy bitch..." \ <<else>>\ "Oh Hells! Ahhh! It stings! Is this what I've been doing to people?!?!" \ <</if>>\ <<var $leonadmg + 1>>\ She's so surprised by the sudden wound that she doesn't see you're already upon her. <<elseif ($background is "Herbalist")>>\ //*sniff* *sniff*// "Oh Ancestors," She gags, covering her mouth, "Oh sweet death what's that horrible sme-''*HURCK*''" Leona begins to hurl from the mix of sulfuric ingredients you dropped at her feet during the scuffle to form a stinkbomb. With great reluctance you actually got //closer// to the smell when she bent over to vomit, eyes wide with violent intent. <<elseif ($background is "Trapper")>>\ ''*CLAP*'' "What the Hells-" She looks down to her armored boot only to see a beartrap closed around it, the one you'd left in the middle of your skirmish. By the time she looks back up you've closed the distance and pressed your attack, eyes wide with violent intent. <<elseif ($background is "Merchant")>>\ ''*CLINK* *CLINK* *CLINK* *CLINK*'' "What the-" Leona shouts, spitting out a coin from your barrage of money thrown at her armor. "Stop throwing silver at me!" She doesn't realize you've been running forward with each handful of Silver thrown until you're already upon her, eyes wide with violent intent. <</if>>\ <</if>>\ <<include "ch4-leona-fight2">>\

<<choose "ch4-leona-fight2">> #DODGE! <<var $combatstat "agility">>\ <<discount "Wind" 1>>\ <<discount "Storm" 1>>\ <<discount "Light" 1>>\ <<combatcheck 5>>\ <<if ($passcheck is true)>>\ A blur of $auracolor light trails behind you as you dash at full speed to escape the massive energy blast. "Not bad!" Leona shouts, huffing and panting to catch her breath. "But what about when it comes back?" //!!!// Turning around quickly and leaping to the side you manage to dodge...Nothing. The attack doesn't turn around, it continues to gouge a line through the field and cut threw two trees before exploding on the third. Oh. You're not looking at Leona. By the time you turn around she's closed the gap between you but her face is flushed red from effort. She should've spent that time catching her breath. With superior vigor you counterattack first when you... <<else>>\ The attack cuts through the ground like a plow on its way to you and you're able to track its movements, leaping out of the way a second too late. Her deadly attack cuts into your back and separates muscle from bone like a butcher's knife. <<var $wounds + 1>>\ ''[1 Wounds Suffered]'' <<if ($woundbonus gt 0)>>\ ''[Battle Hardening: +$woundbonus Aura Pressure]'' <<var $aurapressure + $woundbonus>>\ <</if>>\ <<include "ch4-leonadeathcheck">>\ Through the searing pain you know you made the right choice. If you took this attack head-on you would have died, though that's still a possibility. Fueled by adrenalin you reach your hand to the large amount of blood leaking from your back and charge at Leona, throwing a spray of blood into her face to mask your attack. <</if>>\ #Counterblast! Even attempting to counter such a massive refined energy Technique is a death sentence. Repelling such an enormous attack made from hardened bladed chi takes an incredible amount of energy and control. But Mother didn't raise a quitter. <<var $combatstat "soul">>\ <<discount "Earth" 1>>\ <<discount "Ice" 1>>\ <<discount "Darkness" 1>>\ <<combatcheck 6>>\ <<if ($passcheck is true)>>\ Both your hands shoot forward \ <<if ($energytide is true)>>\ and the chi from all around you sucks into your arms by the call of your Energy Tide Technique. \ <<else>>\ to channel as much chi as possible. \ <</if>>\ $auracolor chi glows up and down your arms in strong concentration, \ <<if (($element1 is "Ice") or ($element2 is "Ice"))>>\ freezing the air around you until you're surrounded by a hovering aura of frozen ice crystals. <<elseif (($element1 is "Darkness") or ($element2 is "Darkness"))>>\ darkening the air around you and channeling the absorption power of primordial Yin. <<elseif (($element1 is "Earth") or ($element2 is "Earth"))>>\ causing the ground beneath you to shake and tripling the spiritual weight of your aura. <<else>>\ humming with lethal hostile power. <</if>>\ When Leona's flying chi-scythe reaches you it's met by an explosive release of your \ <<if ($element1 is "Darkness")>>\ void powers that swallow her Technique like a curtain wrapping her energy, absorbing the momentum and power of her attack's chi until there's nothing left. <<else>>\ own energy, bursting both attacks into a rainbow eruption that fills your battlefield with a shockwave strong enough to rip up all the grass out of the ground. <</if>>\ <<var $leonadmg + 1>>\ "That's so coo-" Leona's shout over the sonic boom is cut off as you \ <<if ($element1 is "Darkness")>>\ immediately close the distance to strike. <<else>>\ exit the explosion already pressing your attack. <</if>>\ <<else>>\ Maybe she should have, you think to yourself as your average chi blast gets sliced in half by her fast-approaching enormous deathscythe of bladed chi. Her attack rips into you like Jack's fat friend ripping into a pastry, shredding your forearms when you hold them up as a guard. When you give that up to avoid losing both arms you take the full brunt of the attack as it slices into your torso. <<var $wounds + 2>>\ ''[2 Wounds Suffered]'' <<if ($woundbonus gt 0)>>\ <<var $val2 ($woundbonus * 2)>>\ ''[Battle Hardening: +$val2 Aura Pressure]'' <<var $aurapressure + $val2>>\ <</if>>\ <<include "ch4-leonadeathcheck">>\ Blood spurts up between you as her downswing digs into your chest. You use that macabre distraction to ignore the life-threatening pain and... <</if>>\ <</choose>>

<<choose "ch4-leona-fight-chatty">> #Punch her in the face. <<if ((($power gte 5) or ((($element1 is "Earth") or ($element1 is "Ice")) or ($element1 is "Water"))) or (($element2 is "Ice") or ($element2 is "Earth")))>>\ <<if (($element1 is "Earth") or ($element1 is "Ice"))>>\ ''[Element $element1 Check Succeeded]'' Elemental $element1 chi swirls through your Cores and wraps around your fist in a makeshift \ <<if ($element1 is "Earth")>>\ gauntlet of rock. <<elseif ($element1 is "Ice")>>\ frozen gauntlet of ice. <</if>>\ <<var $solexp + 4>>\ <<elseif (($element2 is "Earth") or ($element2 is "Ice"))>>\ ''[Element $element2 Check Succeeded]'' Elemental $element2 chi swirls through your Cores and wraps around your fist in a makeshift \ <<if ($element2 is "Earth")>>\ gauntlet of rock. <<elseif ($element2 is "Ice")>>\ frozen gauntlet of ice. <</if>>\ <<var $solexp + 4>>\ <<else>>\ ''[Power 5 Check Succeeded]'' <<var $powexp + 2>>\ Massive amounts of $auracolor chi wrap into a ball of power around your hand layer-after-layer. <</if>>\ Leona looks more than a little surprised as your fist \ <<if ((($element1 is "Earth") or ($element1 is "Ice")) or (($element2 is "Earth") or ($element2 is "Ice")))>>\ expands to the size of her head and \ <</if>>\ cracks her nose with the full force of your spiritual and physical weight. <<var $leonadmg + 1>>\ <<var $leonadmg + 1>>\ She flies backwards across the field, skidding into a tree headfirst with a heavy crash. Immediately her taunts fill the air from inside the explosion of splinters that masks her location. "Nobody's ever fisted me like that before!" <<include "ch4-leona-fight-chatty">>\ <<else>>\ <<var $combatstat "power">>\ <<combatcheck 5>>\ <<if ($passcheck is true)>>\ You summon up all your might into one shining hand and twist to the side just in time to dodge her sword strike. Your $auracolor glowing fist collides into her face with a cross-punch that explodes against her aura. <<var $leonadmg + 1>>\ She flies backwards across the field, skidding into a tree headfirst with a heavy crash. Immediately her taunts fill the air from inside the explosion of splinters that masks her location. "Nobody's ever fisted me like that before!" <<include "ch4-leona-fight-chatty">>\ <<else>>\ Her face feels like a stone statue when your fist collides into it. In fact, you're confident you'd do more damage to a stone statue than you just did to the woman's Fortitude Core. She responds by sweeping her blade up from under you, cutting deep into your inner thigh on the way up. <<var $wounds + 1>>\ ''[1 Wounds Suffered]'' <<if ($woundbonus gt 0)>>\ ''[Battle Hardening: +$woundbonus Aura Pressure]'' <<var $aurapressure + $woundbonus>>\ <</if>>\ <<include "ch4-leonadeathcheck">>\ Hobbling backwards proves a winning strategy as you swing your sword horizontally to push the woman back. "I'd say you're about done." She taunts, bouncing her blade on a shoulderpad. You rip a piece off your torn pants and use it as a torniquet to stop the bleeding. "Not nearly." <<page "Continue" "ch4-leona-fight-end">>\ <</if>>\ <</if>>\ #Engage her in a proper melee swordfight. Parry after parry the two of your blades meet in the field, hers glowing violent scarlet and yours \ <<if (($element1 is "Wind") or ($element2 is "Wind"))>>\ glowing green, enhanced in both force and speed by the power of your Wind control. "You've infused your sword with an Element!" Leona shouts over the sound of clashing steal, "I love it, but it's not what you need!" \ <<var $solexp + 2>>\ <<elseif (($element1 is "Earth") or ($element2 is "Earth"))>>\ glowing amber, striking with a supernaturally enhanced weight by your chi's Earth aspects. "You've infused your sword with an Element!" Leona shouts over the sound of clashing steal, "I love it, but it's not what you need!" \ <<var $solexp + 2>>\ <<else>>\ glowing white with signs of scarlet sparks showing throughout your aura. "You're getting it aren't you?" Leona shouts over the sound of clashing steel. \ <</if>>\ Her blade presses against yours and she pushes you two steps back, locking eyes with menacing intensity. "The call of the sword! The fuel of your inner fire! Akakiru, the Art of the Blade! //The Art of Aggression//!" She emphasizes her last sentence with a kick to your chest. <<if ($heshe is "he")>>\ <<var $leonaromance + 1>>\ <</if>>\ <<var $leonarep + 5>>\ <<var $combatstat "agility">>\ <<var $combatskill "craft">>\ <<discount "Wind" 1>>\ <<discount "Earth" 1>>\ <<combatcheck 6>>\ <<if ($passcheck is true)>>\ A kick that you catch, grabbing her foot in one hand and ducking under her blade with the other, slamming your pommel down into her sideways knee before she can retaliate. <<var $leonadmg + 1>>\ "GAHH!" She screams out as you hammer into her joint. Suddenly her body glows a violent scarlet and your spiritual senses scream danger. You're forced to leap back before her body erupts into sickles of scarlet chi flying all around her. You thought her knee was broken and the fight was over, but after that display of remaining power...it's going to be a long day. <<else>>\ You're sent flying back into the //top// of a tree, her strike hammering you with the force of the very first kick she used to start this fight. Unfortunately that knowledge doesn't help you at all when you collide into a thick broken tree branch that impales your spleen. <<var $wounds + 1>>\ ''[1 Wounds Suffered]'' <<if ($woundbonus gt 0)>>\ ''[Battle Hardening: +$woundbonus Aura Pressure]'' <<var $aurapressure + $woundbonus>>\ <</if>>\ <<include "ch4-leonadeathcheck">>\ "Hmmff!" Is all you let yourself scream out from the surprise 'attack' by the tree. Leona jumps high towards you with sword drawn back, laughing in revelry until you cup your hand along your own bleeding wound and flick blood in her eyes on arrival. She winces and spits as you use her own sword to slice her armored chest hard. She plummets back down to the ground ungracefully. You drop down from the tree and steady your breathing while your aura of life energy steadies your bleeding. It's going to be a long fight. <</if>>\ <<page "Continue" "ch4-leona-fight-end">>\ #show-if ($flashstep is true) use-if (((($soul / 2) + $chipool) - $chispent) gte 1) Flash Step behind her for a surprise attack. [Costs 1 Chi] <<var $chispent + 1>>\ The two of you clash, sword to sword, but as you reel your blade back for another swing you disappear from sight, reappearing //behind// Leona. She doesn't catch on until it's too late and takes a piercing blade to the back that cracks into her armor. <<var $leonadmg + 1>>\ ''[1 Chi Spent]'' "AIEE!" She screams out, leaping forward with a twist to minimize the wound. "That hurt like a stinger! You're just full of tricks, aren't you?" That should have ended it, yet she's still even willing to chat mid-fight. With a wide stance you adjust your grip on the blade. This is going to take a while. <<page "Continue" "ch4-leona-fight-end">>\ #show-if ($background is "Trapper") Perform a combo attack with $rocname. Parry after parry your sword clashes with Leona's before finally maneuvering her into position. $rocname soars low to the other side of the field, unseen by your assailant, and charges her from behind. "You're not bad for a rookie!" Leona shouts, kicking you backwards when your swords intertwine. "But tricks can't make up fUUAAAHHH!!" She screams as your Roc grabs her under the armpits and pulls up, soaring her ever higher into the sky. "WHAT THE FUCK!" Leona screams, "PAUSE, PAUSE THE DUEL! BEAST ATTACK!" <<if ($honor lt 45)>>\ "You dumb bitch, that's \ <<else>>\ "That's \ <</if>>\ my Beast!" You shout back, carefully launching a two-handed chi blast just below the pair. $rocname drops the swordgirl right into your attack's path and her armor erupts in $auracolor smoke from the blast. <<var $leonadmg + 1>>\ She lands shortly after with hair disheveled, face covered in burn marks and grimacing, all whimsy gone. "Pets aren't allowed in duels." <<var $leonarep - 2>>\ "Then don't duel me." "RRRRAAAGGHH!" Leona charges in a rage. <<page "Continue" "ch4-leona-fight-end">>\ <</choose>>

Comforting warmth and the low roar of campfire wakes your aching body some unknown amount of time later. Vague memories of a dream flash through your mind, a fight against some \ <<if ($leonaromance gte 1)>>\ beautiful \ <</if>>\ unhinged woman obsessed with swords. <<var $wounds - 2>>\ ''[2 Health Restored]'' "Good, you're awake." Leona says impatiently. Aw shit, it wasn't a dream. "Why?" You ask through pained breaths, gazing over to the armored woman squatting by the fireplace looking through a satchel. "Why what?" Leona asks back, feigning innocence while taking a waterskin out from her supplies and guzzling greedily. <<include "ch4-leona-why">>\

"What do you mean 'why what'? Why did you //attack me//?" Leona spits a bit of water out. "Oh Ancestors, I meant to monologue about that! Did I forget?" Your deadpan stare seems to affect her mood more than expected. She waves two hands in front frantically, palms out. "My mistake! Well, no. Not really. Now that I think about it it's your fault for not catching on, right? I mean, it was obvious I was testing how your Akakiru training measured up to mine." <<if ($wounds gte 1)>>\ You look to your wounds and let out a heavy sigh. \ <<else>>\ You let out a heavy sigh. \ <</if>>\ If your talent is in swordsmanship then this might be your future, constant lethal fights as a form of greeting. "How'd I measure up?" "Oh //terribly//." Leona says, "Your Akakiru mastery brings shame to your entire lineage and whatever pets you once \ <<if ($leonadmg gt ($wounds + 1))>>\ had, but you make up for it in battle prowess. \ <<else>>\ had. \ <</if>>\ Luckily for you, I know a way to force a Style Advancement in a short timeframe. An old family secret." "And why would you do that for me?" Like Hell if you're going to accept help from another untrustworthy violent psychopath after your years of experience dealing with the unhinged Crusher family. "Because I want you to fight Crusher Jack." Well...If she puts it that way. <<page "Let the training begin." "ch4-aka-training">>\

you're a \ <<if ($heshe is "he")>>\ swordsman \ <<else>>\ swordswoman \ <</if>>\ too aren't you? I can sense it, just like I can sense that you're strong." She strides so close that the toes of her sabatons touch the toes of your travel boots. Her face gets in yours and your noses almost meet as her differently colored eyes gaze into yours with an unsteady intensity you've only seen in Crusher Mao. "So that leaves the question. Why haven't you finished a Style Advancement, $fullname?" You rush two leaps back and cycle your chi for battle. "What's the matter?" Asks the swordgirl, tilting her head with an exaggerated pout. "Don't you want to be my friend?" "I never told you my name." "Correct." The swordgirl announces happily, head lowering and eyes seamlessly shifting from doe-eyed prey to sharp-eyed predator. "You didn't." She draws both blades and hurls one at you hilt-first with the speed of a loosed arrow. "Mine's Leona!" Just as you catch her sword in your dominant hand she kicks your chest with such force that you're sent spinning airborne higher than the tree line. Screams fill the crowded market from the shockwave of her strike's impact as you're jettisoned towards a neighboring field. Spinning in mid-air disorients your senses but, before even landing on the field across the small cluster of trees, you rotate enough to see her again. She's leaping up to follow you, laughing. The two of you land in the field, swords drawn, and you stare in bafflement as this woman punches herself in the face with her gauntleted fist the second her feet touch the ground. Blood leaks from her nose and she grins wide, letting the crimson liquid fall between her teeth. "I hear Thunderfall is sending some monsters to the Trials, I want to see one!" <<choose "ch4-leona-fight">> #"What is ''wrong'' with you?!" "What is ''wrong'' with you?!" You shout while skidding backwards from your rough landing, gouging two lines in the field as you stay on your feet while sliding across the grass. "Me? I'm just a small-town girl who likes to dance!" #"You want a monster? I'll give you one!" [Punch your own face too.] If one thing's for sure it's that this woman is insane, and you've had enough of crazy idiots showing you up. No one will out-crazy //you//. "You want a monster?" You scream out, "I'll give you one!" <<var $honor - 2>>\ <<var $combatstat "fortitude">>\ <<combatcheck $power>>\ <<if ($passcheck is true)>>\ You crack your own fist into your face hard enough to bloody your nose but not hard enough to cause serious damage. <<var $forexp + 2>>\ <<var $powexp + 2>>\ <<else>>\ Controlling your Power Core to not overcome your Fortitude Core is harder than you thought. You crack your own fist into your face hard enough that your brain suffers some bleeding as well. ''[1 Wound Suffered]'' <<var $wounds + 1>>\ <<if ($woundbonus gt 0)>>\ <<var $aurapressure + $woundbonus>>\ ''[Battle Hardening: +$woundbonus Aura Pressure]'' <</if>>\ <<include "ch4-leonadeathcheck">>\ <</if>>\ <<var $leonarep + 5>>\ <<if ($heshe is "he")>>\ <<var $leonaromance + 1>>\ <</if>>\ "Yes!" Leona shouts out, laughing gleefully, "YES YOU GET IT!" <<page "Prepare Yourself!" "ch4-leona-fight">>\ #show-if ($heshe is "he") "Why are all the hot ones crazy?!" "Why are all the hot ones crazy?!" You shout while skidding backwards from your rough landing, gouging two lines in the field as you stay on your feet while sliding across the grass. "You've got it backwards!" Leona shouts back, recklessly using her sword-arm to flip her hair over a shoulder and waving the blade close to her face. "All the crazy ones are hot!" <<var $leonarep + 1>>\ #show-if ($heshe is "she") Oh this whore is dead. "You kicked my tit you stupid bitch!" Oh this whore is dead. "You kicked my tit you stupid bitch!" <<var $leonarep + 3>>\ Leona cackles maniacally. "And I'll kick it again, too!" <</choose>>

<<if ((($health + ($fortitude / 2)) - $wounds) < 1)>>\ <<page "That's a lot of blood..." "ch4-leona-wakeup">>\ <<halt>>\ <</if>>\

The process feels invigorating at first but that surge of energy falls flat almost immediately, replaced with a heavy fatigue as your body heats up. You lean over to catch your breath but your arm braced against the ground completely gives up, collapsing you onto the hilltop's lush grass. Fang lies on the ground as well, her eyes listless and drained as the wolves whine next to her, one licking her cheek. Your worries dwindle seconds later when her chest rises and falls with steady breathing. The wolf pack suddenly bursts into a yipping and snarling mess as a bright energy blast strikes one of them. Your body weighs too much to move and all you see is more energy blasts and arrows raining down upon the wolves from behind you. Try as you may, you can't bring yourself to move your head when the wolves leap over your form and engage some enemy. The sound of heavy impacts and explosive chi lasts mere moments before it all falls to silence. Victorious wolves are never silent. Moments later all you hear is the crunching of grass. A silver colored pantleg steps over you and snickers, lightly kicking your head with the other foot as the man passes by. A dozen more men and women follow and collect the defeated wolves, hauling them over their shoulders. Each of the newcomers is dressed in silver and yellow combat gi. The uniform of the Sunbringers. "A good haul." Says one of the Sunbringer women. "Indeed, not just useful sacrifices \ <<include "ch4-taioreveal">>\

<<learntech 4140730000000050 "Commanding Presence" "Passively increases Persuasion by +1. Increases Soul Surge by +1 when focused.">>\ ''[Learning this Technique passively increases your Persuasion by +1.]'' ''[While focused to the Soul Core, this Technique lets you spend +1 Soul Core at a time to succeed at higher difficulty Soul checks.]'' <<if ($roc gte 1)>>\ ''[Background Event: Trapper]'' ''[<<cap $rocname>>'s power has increased!]'' <<var $roccombat + 1>>\ <<if ($soul gte 4)>>\ <<var $roccombat + 1>>\ <</if>>\ <</if>>\ <<include "ch4-mido-techcheck">>\

<<if ($val is 0)>>\ <<var $val + 1>>\ <<include "ch4-mido-techs">>\ <<else>>\ <<include "ch4-mido-end">>\ <</if>>\

<<if ($val is 0)>>\ the... <<else>>\ The second new power resonating through your soul comes from the... <</if>>\ <<choose "ch4-mido-techcheck">> #use-once Centipede Fight. [Survival Increase + Agility Surge Bonus] <<learntech 3130750000000050 "Bloodhunt" "Passively increases Survival by +1. Increases Agility Surge by +1 when focused.">>\ ''[Learning this Technique passively increases your Survival by +1.]'' ''[While focused to the Agility Core, this Technique lets you spend +1 Agility Core at a time to succeed at higher difficulty Agility checks.]'' #use-once Pit Fighting. [Health Increase + Fortitude Surge Bonus] <<learntech 2120000002000050 "Chi-Hardened Skin" "Passively increases Health Pool by +1. Increases Fortitude Surge by +1 when focused.">>\ ''[Learning this Technique passively increases your Health by +1.]'' ''[While focused to the Fortitude Core, this Technique lets you spend +1 Fortitude Core at a time to succeed at higher difficulty Fortitude checks.]'' #use-once Heavy Lifting. [Melee Physical Attack + AP Increase per Combat Victory + Power Surge Bonus] <<learntech 1110002000000050 "Energy Gorge" "Passively increases AP gained from defeating enemies by +5. Increases Power Surge by +1 when focused.">>\ ''[Learning this Technique passively grants extra +2 Aura Pressure whenever its wielder defeats an enemy.]'' ''[While focused to the Power Core, this Technique lets you spend +1 Power Core at a time to succeed at higher difficulty Power checks.]'' ''[While Focused, this Technique can aid you in certain melee-ranged physical attacks.]'' #show-if ($background is "Trapper") use-once Wolf Summoning. [Persuasion Increase + Soul Surge Bonus + $rocname's Power Increases] -> "ch4-mido-tech-wolfsummon" #show-if ($background isnot "Trapper") use-once Wolf Summoning. [Persuasion Increase + Soul Surge Bonus] -> "ch4-mido-tech-wolfsummon" <</choose>>

"This is impossible." You say, staring at Tian Fang manifesting an entirely different aura as the two of you run through the woods without a trail. "If you had this power the whole time, why didn't you use it \ <<if ((dig($metfang, 2) is 1) or (dig($metfang, 2) is 2))>>\ when we fought?" <<else>>\ on the mountaintop?" <</if>>\ "I do not even remember \ <<if (dig($metfang, 2) is 1)>>\ the fight, \ <<elseif ((dig($metfang, 2) is 2) or (dig($metfang, 2) is 4))>>\ <<if (dig($metfang, 2) is 2)>>\ the fight. \ <<else>>\ that night. \ <</if>>\ I was suffering from an allergic reaction to the Heavenly Gate." "An allergic reaction??" Fang nods as she sprints with an almost smug aura. "Most indeed! It is a rare Yokai condition, Heavenly Gates cause a stirring in my soul that makes me rather irritable, rude, and possessed by the nature of Beasts. You have my sincerest of apologies. \ <<else>>\ that night. \ <</if>>\ Truth be told it is likely my feral self simply could not or would not change chi sources. I am most comfortable with ice chi more often than not. How else would I stay cool in my huggable furs?" You have no words. Tian Fang forms a fist and shakes it once, whispering 'victory' to herself before looking back to you. "How much do you know about the Midorikatai Style?" "I know it's strong and has something to do with Beasts." "In many ways certainly, that defines it perfectly to onlookers. In fact, many Midorikatai Masters simply use the Style to become physical powerhouses and ignore the Beast aspects entirely, like your Sect. At its practical core Midorikatai is simply about strength; the Style uses our inner energies in the same way a Beast would use them to grow in physical size and might. Such Wild Chi is why Tian Fang is so ferocious!" She turns around and playfully claws at the air in front of you. "But there is much more to know! When we repurpose all our natural chi into Wild Chi we gain insight into not one but three uses: strength, taming, and leadership." "Leadership?" "Oh yes, it is the aspect Tian Fang is the least skilled in! Hmhmhm!" She places both hands on her hips and puffs out her chest as if that were some accomplishment. "We will not be learning that today. Instead the easiest use of Midorikatai's Wild Chi, weaving our energy directly into our bodies to gain strength and toughness. Some gain size when powering up, some gain it permanently. This process is like weaving a hundred layers of spiritual cloth into every muscle." You've actually tried that before. It hurt. "That sounds like an easy way to pull a muscle." "So many." Fang replies wistfully. "But! It must be mastered to gain the ridiculous strength for which our Style is most famous. As for the Taming aspect, hmm...there was something my Master said...Oh! That is right!" She stops and grabs you by both shoulders. "We are //not// Beasts." "I know." You say all too easily. "We //are not// Beasts." Tian Fang reiterates. "Fang, I know." "Good! Always keep that in mind when taming. Forging the Beast within is a dangerous process, many valuable students lose themselves." You've never heard of that, and you're from a Sect of Midorikatai users. "No one's ever gone wild from my Sect." "Your Magistrate forbid me from taming, I suspect Thunderfall does not teach the practice." Tian Fang ponders for a moment. "Even if it were not discouraged or banned, anyone losing themselves around a powerful Midorikatai aura like Crusher Mao would likely be cowed, as a Beast would. And if not cowed then killed. And yet!" She holds one finger to the sky as if demanding to keep the mood cheery, "the aspect of taming is still most useful. You see, by developing your Wild Chi with a specific animal type, over time, you can gain kinship with Beasts of that type! I have of course chosen \ <<if ($roc gte 1)>>\ Wolf, while you have of course chosen bird." "Caw!" Says $rocname from the branches overhead. You didn't even know she was following you anymore. "I haven't chosen anything." You reply, reaching into your bag for some jerked meat and throwing it airborne for $rocname to catch. "My roc and I are battle partners, it's not because of Styles and chi. I just raised her from an egg." Tian Fang steps close to you and takes a half dozen sniffs around your face and neck. "Ah...Hm...It seems you are correct. You will be able to choose your own Beast affinity afterall when the time comes, //and// keep your giant bird. Tian Fang is not jealous." Her eyes turn upward toward $rocname and narrow. "Not one bit." <<var $fangrep - 2>>\ You snap your fingers near her face to get her attention. "Fang, the last use. Leadership. Focus." <<elseif ($subrace is "Cat")>>\ Wolf while you have of course chosen Cat." "What? No I haven't." Fang's head tilts to the side. "But you are of the filthy Cats, are you not?" <<var $fangrep - 2>>\ Hold on a second. "Did you just say filthy?" "Er..." She looks to the side and covers her cheek bashfully. "Nooo, no of course not! Tian Fang's wolf heart is pure and holds no grudges against other species, even if they are as untrustworthy and inherently villainous as the cats." Your tail twitches irritably as you close your eyes and hold back a sigh. "Look, can we just move on to the last use? You said it was Leadership, right?" "Of course!" \ <<else>>\ Wolf." Your own pet Beasts? That sounds incredible, like the dragon-riders of legend. "And the last use? Leadership?" <</if>>\ Fang smiles. "Hungry for even most than simply strength and ferocious pets? Most good! You will need such hunger. As Midorikatai Martial Artists we do not only weave our chi into our own bodies. When a Midorikatai practitioner has mastered the art of weaving their Wild Chi through their muscles, they can also learn to weave it into others as well. That is our leadership." Holy. Shit. "Are you saying I can control people with my muscles?!" "What? No." Tian Fang blinks several times. "I am saying the soldiers serving under Midorikatai commanders are superior to those serving any other. They are empowered, not enslaved. Why are you being silly? Do not be so silly. <<cap $name>>, your chi will be inside their very body where their will is strongest. If it were a hostile Technique they could resist it more easily than any other. Must we read over the beginner scrolls on the applications of chi?" You probably should. "No need. When do we start?" "Now." Fang holds her hands together and closes her eyes, placing her thumb tips and index finger tips together as her bottom three fingers on each hand connect knuckle-to-knuckle. The green glow around her intensifies and her muscles expand ever so slightly as if she were flexing every muscle at once. Her now-amber eyes open. "For such rushed training we will have you live like an animal until you can do at least this much." "How do I live like an animal?" Fang's ears twitch twice. "That part is most simple! Predators are most in-tuned with their instincts when fighting for survival, especially if shoved into a pit with other predators, so I had this pit dug out and threw predators inside." "You what?" "This one offers her apologies!" Fang shouts in ceremony while shoving you backwards, hard, and you realize you're falling into a pit. <<page "Continue" "ch4-mido-training2">>\

Landing on your back with a loud 'thud' isn't the most graceful start to a training exercise. "Please be nice to them!" Tian Fang shouts from the top of the twenty-foot pit. "They are most hungry!" "Who are...are..." You look around the darkness of the pit and can barely make out multiple sets of eyes, gleaming with a reflection of the low light coming through the trees. Wolves. Over a dozen of them. Fang's green glowing chi seeps down into the pit and covers the wolves, giving them each a soft Wild Chi glow. "Your training is to survive down there until dusk without harming them!" <<if ($honor lt 48)>>\ "Without har-TELL THEM NOT TO HARM ME!" "No!" \ <<else>>\ You stare at the unpowered collection of beasts, fourteen adult wolves if you're counting right, and nod. "Got it." "Good!" \ <</if>>\ Replies Tian Fang before disappearing from the ledge. "I will be back tonight! Remember, no cheating! You are here to cultivate Wild Chi!" As soon as her presence leaves your spiritual senses confirm your suspicions that she was using a Taming Technique on the wolves, because they attack. You grab the first by the jaws and hold it back as another bites into your leg, teeth rejected by your toughened skin but only barely. You kick it off and leap backwards onto the wall, jumping over the collection of wolves and pushing a leaping canine back down before hitting the opposite side. The second you land the pack paces horizontally and three more charge you. In a normal fight you'd smack their heads together, but you're forced to weave and dodge, tumbling out of the way and catching their attacks only to push them back. It's going to be a long day. <<var $forspent + 1>>\ ''[1 Fortitude Core Spent]'' When Tian Fang returns your clothes are torn, your shallow bleeding wounds have worked the wolves into a frenzy, and your twelve hours of struggle have left the wolves regretting that frenzy as you've all been pushed to exhaustion. A soft ceasefire has occurred in the pit as all you and the wolves all lay motionless, reserving your energy and starving. The wolfgirl's ears poke out over the ledge and she smiles. "Wonderful! Most wonderful work! It looks like you have grown another inch!" "Hmph." Is all you let out, too fatigued to even think. "And I brought food." Every creature in the pit jumps to their feet in excitement, you included. <<page "Continue" "ch4-mido-training3">>\

You and Fang sit at the top of the wolfpit enjoy bone-in roasted venison while the wolves down in the pit gorge on three separate deer carcasses. <<if ($honor lt 46)>>\ "Sucks to be the deer." \ <<else>>\ "It makes one glad to not be a deer." \ <</if>>\ You say between ravenous bites. "Did you kill all three and drag them here?" "Mhm." Fang nods and swallows. "Such is the fate of prey animals. They exist to be eaten alive or scavenged while dead. Such is the way of life in the wilds, and the cities are not so different. Butchers make the process cleaner but it is all the same result to the deer. Are you ready for the next step of the training?" "What's the next-" She rips fuuinjutsu tags over the pit and dirt explodes over your face. When the dirt cloud dissipates you see massive logs at the pit's bottom and a coating of dirt covering each confused wolf. Some of the logs are wider than your body. "You lift!" Fang boasts. "Midorikatai is about strength, there is no way around it. Most Midorikatai wielders have nothing to do with animals, like Crusher Mao. It is a Style of pure physical force, the fact that we achieve it the same way as Beasts is coincidence to them." "What about you?" "I am a \ <<if ($race is "Yokai")>>\ Yokai, like you." \ <<else>>\ Yokai." \ <</if>>\ She says as if it explains everything. "Now I wish for you to not only lift each log overhead, but to drop them every few minutes so the wolves feel the tremors. They must recognize you as their alpha and //you// must learn to feel the resonance of Wild Chi throughout your body. A well-worked muscle is more receptive to spiritual infusion than a muscle at rest." "Wouldn't this bind me to wolves? What if I want to tame a different beast?" Fang glows green again and performs a few handseals in quick succession. "Do not worry, that is why I coat them in my own taming Technique. It gives them a source of Wild Chi for you to mimic and keeps your spirit from bonding to them. Now get down there and impress with your muscles!" <<if ($heshe is "he")>>\ <<choose "ch4-mido-training4">> #Leap down and lift. -> "ch4-mido-training3-shirt-on" #Take your shirt off, leap down, and lift. <<var $fangromance + 1>>\ <<var $fangrep + 3>>\ You take off your shirt to reveal your sweat-soaked abs and leap back down into the dark wolfpit. Tian Fang doesn't say a word, but she doesn't leave either. She only watches contently from her seat at the pit's ledge as you get to work lifting the heavy logs surrounded by confused and cautious wolves. Their soft green glow from Fang's power resonates more clearly in your spiritual senses hours into the heavy lifting as your own aura soaks in Wild Chi. Every now and then dirt trickles down the side of the pit from Fang's tail gently wagging. ''[1 Power Core Spent]'' <<var $powspent + 1>>\ <<page "Continue" "ch4-mido-training4">>\ <</choose>> <<else>>\ <<include "ch4-mido-training3-shirt-on">>\ <</if>>\

You drop down into the pit and the wolves make way for you, cautious after your fight and content after their meal. Each log is heavier than the last but you try no tricks to complete your goal; you're not here to write a task off a checklist. You're here to sweat. You're here to //lift//. Hours into the exercise the soft green glow that Fang cast around the wolves resonates more cleanly in your spiritual senses as your own Wild Chi reserves begin to grow. <<if ($subrace is "Wolf")>>\ ''[Racial Event: Wolf Yokai]'' And boy, //what a glow//. The power mixing into your spirit from these wolves feels like a calling you've ignored all your life. <<apboost 5>>\ <</if>>\ ''[1 Power Core Spent]'' <<var $powspent + 1>>\ <<page "Continue" "ch4-mido-training4">>\

You, Fang, and the wolfpack run southwest through the forests until the following night when you reach the edge of the woods and the lands become more populated, roads dotted with houses and small patches of woodlands. "I cannot believe you forgot about the Trials!" You shout at Fang. "Tian Fang did not forget!" She barks back, "She simply did not remember that there was still so much distance to travel as well! We will sleep here for the night and continue a forced run in the morning." She snaps her fingers and the wolves assemble into a pile that serves as a surprisingly warm blanket and pillow for the next seven hours. Your rest is interrupted when the ground explodes without warning. One wolf from the center of the pack is sent flying 30 feet into the air. Fang leaps to catch the animal while you look around immediately for the Earth Path martial artist that must have attacked. A scream of danger from behind causes you to abandon that search and leap forward. The earth explodes where you were just standing too. You turn around as Tian Fang lands and regroups with you, looking upon the source of the explosions from //inside// the explosions. It was never an Earth-style attack. It was a surface breach. A massive centipede as thick as a human extends from the ground, thirty feet of its body exposed and writhing around as if searching for pieces of its targeted prey: your wolf pack. "What the hell is that thing?" You ask. "Your training!" Fang replies excitedly, glowing icy blue and adopting a battle stance. "Centipede or wolf, Wild Chi is Wild Chi. Kill it and eat its heart." The two of you dodge the creature's acid spit \ <<if ($roc gte 1)>>\ and $rocname descends from the trees. The three of you \ <<else>>\ and \ <</if>>\ engage the hundred-armed Beast in a fight that lasts over two hundred traded blows. For every four strikes you deflect another five come from the other direction as if it controlled all its limbs independently. <<var $agispent + 1>>\ ''[1 Agility Core Spent]'' <<var $roccombat + 1>>\ <<page "Continue" "ch4-mido-training5">>\

"Please don't make me do this." You say, looking at the gigantic bug's lengthy organ Fang has ripped out of its chest after three minutes of meticulously and viscerally ripping through its underbelly carapace. "Eat it." Fang says, hands covered in off-colored blood. "It is a delicacy!" "Can't we find a mammal? Or a bird? A fish even." "This is a most blessed of blessings! The odds of finding a wild Beast this close to Nanhou during the Trials are so low that...that..." She drifts off while looking behind you. You turn to see a Sect in green and grey gi searching around a distant hill, some glowing with green auras of Wild Chi. Among them are two other giant centipedes. "Oops..." You shove the Beast heart into your mouth in as few bites as possible and the two of you sprint away before they find the body. <<apboost 10>>\ <<page "Continue" "ch4-mido-training6">>\

Wild Chi courses through your veins from the Beast's heart as the two of you run for another hour. The Beast meat you've eaten in the past never pushed you towards generating more Wild Chi but according to Tian Fang your aura has already begun the process of generating the green energy on its own. Motes of Wild Chi flash through your $auracolor aura as you run, until you dismiss it at a new sight when the two of you crest a hill. The ocean. Such a body of water at an unimaginable scale is as beautiful as it is intimidating. Growing up in the mountains around Thunderfall Village meant you've never actually seen the ocean, only the large lakes of snowmelt that freeze early in the autumn due to your town's high elevation. To be down here, in the warm glow of the sun, where you see the vast and imposing view of the ocean continuing on farther than any sight of your life... It's majestic. "We lost the wolves." Fang says, looking around after catching her breath. "Your next training is to call them." "Like a howl?" "No, it is most difficult to summon them as if you were a wolf Beast when, in truth, you are not a wolf \ <<if (($subrace is "Wolf") and ($race is "Kitsune"))>>\ Beast, even if you and I look close. Instead, thanks \ <<else>>\ Beast. Thanks \ <</if>>\ to the Wild Chi you've begun to cultivate you are more like \ <<if ($race is "Oni")>>\ an Oni \ <<elseif ($race is "Kitsune")>>\ a Yokai \ <<else>>\ a $race \ <</if>>\ Beast. How would \ <<if ($race is "Oni")>>\ an Oni \ <<elseif ($race is "Kitsune")>>\ a Yokai \ <<else>>\ a $race \ <</if>>\ Beast summon its pack?" She can't really mean... "Speech?" You ask. "Wolves can't understand our speech." "They cannot! Nor can you understand wolf speech. Yet the feeling they portray through their howls is evident in your ears. You know a sad howl, you know an angered snarl. The wolves will know the same, but only if your Wild Chi carries the Leadership command on the winds." She places a hand on your shoulder and looks into your eyes sternly. "Call to them. Not with their howl, they are the underlings. Call to them with the howl of their commander." This is crazy, you think to yourself, but all the same you march up to the hilltop and channel your green motes of energy, cycling them through your spirit until enough Wild Chi gathers for one purpose. Then you force that chi to your lungs and let out a roar. <<if ($honor lt 43)>>\ ''[Honor Check Failed]'' <<var $fangrep - 1>>\ "HEY, DICKWOLVES! GET THE ''FUCK'' OVER HERE!" \ <<else>>\ "LAZY DESERTERS! RETURN TO ME ''NOW''!" <</if>>\ Half a dozen howls respond throughout the countryside, followed by more in response to theirs. One by one the pack returns. ''[1 Soul Core Spent]'' <<var $solspent + 1>>\ <<page "Continue" "ch4-mido-training7">>\

Upon marching south you and Fang come within view of a coastal town with docks filled to the brim with naval vessels. She smiles at the sight and turns to you. "We're here! Now there is only one last step to unlock your Midorikatai Style Advancement. It is the least pleasant part of your training but without it you are simply not progressing fast enough for us to defeat Jack." She closes her eyes, crosses her arms, and nods in agreement with her own statements. "What is it?" "The process of generating Wild Chi has already begun in your soul, and we can hurry it along. We must hurry it along. To do so you will have to empty your spirit of all chi and I will have to empty mine into yours." "As in, giving me your aura?" From years of study you are positive it is impossible to simply give your aura to someone else. "How in the world would that work?" Fang sighs. "It would not. You would gain nothing but a fever from it, and I will be debilitated until my chi fully returns. The only benefit will be that your spirit, once it is emptied and surrounded by Wild Chi, will be 'tricked' into generating Wild Chi completely in place of the untyped white-grey chi of the uninitiated. Essentially, this is a ritual no one should do. A year's worth of training will replace it without risk. Yet most unfortunately..." "We don't have a year." "We do not have a year! Please have a seat, it is time we both get //exceedingly// ill, after which we will board passage on a boat from one of the ships down below." You look to the wolf pack she just had you summon. "Will a ship take your wolves with you?" Fang opens a knapsack and reveals an eye-opening number of Shards. "Do not worry, friend! I have learned most humans are susceptible to bribery." You and Fang sit across from each other while she glows green and performs an unfamiliar handseal formation. You close your eyes and press every ounce of chi into your aura, flaring your $auracolor power up and into the sky by a dozen feet. You've never wasted energy like this before and it feels like throwing money down a well. Suddenly a presence rips open in your spiritual senses, a hungry stalking predator. Wild Chi. Tian Fang's spirit. It rushes into and over you like a Beast at your neck, grasping hold of your spirit's lifeline. You try to fight it back but feel a spark from deep within your own Cores: your own hunger. Your own predator. Your own Beast. The sensation of being subdued is overcome as the Wild Beast Chi all around you dwindles over the next ten minutes of struggle, replaced by an instinctual hunter at the center of your own spirit that grows in potential, though not in size. Yet. When at last Fang's foreign chi is gone you feel that your own aura has taken on a new meaning, a new form. Your chi reserves remain empty and your aura remains weak but it feels healthy. When your power returns it should be a full aura of Wild Chi. Yet something more calls to you. Two of the Midorikatai effects that you haphazardly called upon during training solidify in your soul like new instincts, specifically from \ <<var $val 0>>\ <<var $fangrep + 5>>\ <<include "ch4-mido-techs">>\

Three entire wagons of one of the merchant caravans are all connected together and surrounded with sturdy tables pitted with circular inch-deep indents. Inside most of those indents are bottles, and you realize the indents in the table are to keep the potions stable like some sort of built-in vial holder. Clever, you think to yourself, no merchant caravan needs their refined concoctions exploding in the middle of a market square. Most of the inventory is common enough, though you notice that the poison prices are exuberant. Not a good sign if so many people are buying poison on the road to the Trials. <<if ($memorywell is 0)>>\ A few items do catch your eye however: three different alchemical recipes and a strange glowing vial labeled as a "Memorywell Elixir". <</if>>\ <<choose "ch4-outpost-alchemists">> #use-if ((($shards + ($silver / 10)) + ($gold * 10)) gte 9) Purchase Alchemy Reagents. [9 Shards] <<var $bingo ((($shards + ($silver / 10)) + ($gold * 10)) % 9)>>\ <<var $bingo (((($shards + ($silver / 10)) + ($gold * 10)) - $bingo) / 9)>>\ Two novice alchemists contest to offer you their prestigious and rare ingredients, each superior to the other in vague and unlikely ways. Oddly, their powders and vials are all the same color. You suspect they're reselling from the same supplier. How many would you like to purchase? <<input-number $val 0 $bingo "ch4-outpost-alchemists-buy">>\ #use-if ($alchemyreagents gt 0) Sell Alchemy Reagents. <<var $bingo (4 + $persuasion)>>\ <<if ($bingo gt 9)>>\ <<var $bingo 9>>\ <</if>>\ The alchemist's apprentice looks through your collection of dried plants, liquids, and mineral powders. "If my Master's charts are right, judging by the quality I see here I can give you $bingo Shards for each." How many would you like to sell? (Currently Owned: $alchemyreagents) <<input-number $val 0 $alchemyreagents "ch4-outpost-alchemists-sell">>\ #use-if ((($shards + ($silver / 10)) + ($gold * 10)) gte 100) Purchase a Healing Elixir. [100 Shards] ''[Item Gained: Healing Elixir]'' <<var $healingelixir + 1>>\ <<costcalc 100>>\ #use-if ((($shards + ($silver / 10)) + ($gold * 10)) gte 50) Purchase a Low Grade Agility Pill. [50 Shards] ''[Item Gained: Low Grade Agility Pill]'' <<var $lgagipill + 1>>\ <<costcalc 50>>\ #use-if ((($shards + ($silver / 10)) + ($gold * 10)) gte 50) Purchase a Low Grade Power Pill. [50 Shards] ''[Item Gained: Low Grade Power Pill]'' <<var $lgpowpill + 1>>\ <<costcalc 50>>\ #use-if ((($shards + ($silver / 10)) + ($gold * 10)) gte 50) Purchase a Low Grade Fortitude Pill. [50 Shards] ''[Item Gained: Low Grade Fortitude Pill]'' <<var $lgforpill + 1>>\ <<costcalc 50>>\ #use-if ((($shards + ($silver / 10)) + ($gold * 10)) gte 40) Purchase a Low Grade Soul Pill. [40 Shards] ''[Item Gained: Low Grade Soul Pill]'' <<var $lgsolpill + 1>>\ <<costcalc 40>>\ #use-if ((($shards + ($silver / 10)) + ($gold * 10)) gte 40) Purchase a Common Poison. [40 Shards] ''[Item Gained: Common Poison]'' <<var $commonpoison + 1>>\ <<costcalc 40>>\ #use-if (((($shards + ($silver / 10)) + ($gold * 10)) gte 60) and ($lgsolpillrecipe is 100)) Purchase a Recipe (Low Grade Soul Pill) [60 Shards] ''[Alchemy Recipe Unlocked: Low Grade Soul Pill]'' <<costcalc 60>>\ <<var $lgsolpillrecipe (6 - $alchemy)>>\ #use-if (((($shards + ($silver / 10)) + ($gold * 10)) gte 55) and ($lgagipillrecipe is 100)) Purchase a Recipe (Low Grade Agility Pill) [55 Shards] ''[Alchemy Recipe Unlocked: Low Grade Agility Pill]'' <<costcalc 55>>\ <<var $lgagipillrecipe (6 - $alchemy)>>\ #use-if (((($shards + ($silver / 10)) + ($gold * 10)) gte 99) and ($replenisherpillrecipe is 100)) Purchase a Recipe (Replenisher Pill) [99 Shards] ''[Alchemy Recipe Unlocked: Replenisher Pill]'' <<costcalc 99>>\ <<var $replenisherpillrecipe (10 - $alchemy)>>\ #use-if (($memorywell is 0) and ($memdrank is false)) Inspect the Memorywell Elixir [???] -> "ch4-outpost-memelixir" "Excuse me." You call out to the clerk, a young woman in subtle makeup with white hair in a braid and the red skin of an Oni. "What's this elixir do?" You point to a vial of what looks to be rice wine. The clerk's face lights up. "Ah!" The Oni woman exclaims. "You have an eye for the niche and exotic! This refined miracle is a Memorywell Elixir, straight from the Mystic Lands! The white Ancestor Lillies needed to brew its unique composition are quite rare. They say the completed elixir opens the imbiber's spirit up to a connection with nature akin to months or even years worth of study in Shugendō." Your blood freezes. There's no way something could give you such a power without an extraordinary price, but to get such an advantage could tip the scales at the Trials... "How much?" You ask. "Three hundred Shards, but there's a catch...the imbiber must have been in a Gate of the Element in question. It locates, refines, expands, and stabilizes the elemental Aura Pressure that must already be inside the imbiber's spirit. Without it, no connection can be made." Shockingly that's not a problem. You've been in three Gates in your life. Most recently the Heavenly Storm Gate, but when you think back on your first Advancement atop a mountain path there was power swirling all over from the sky and the ground. It must have been a Heavenly Earth and Wind Gate. Plus the horrendous blizzard you camped in when you were even younger that turned out to be a Heavenly Ice Gate. Yet the cost for this potion is so high... #Go back. -> "ch4-outpost-shop" <</choose>>

<<if ($val gt 0)>>\ <<var $alchemyreagents + $val>>\ ''[Item Gained: $val Alchemy Reagents]'' <<var $shards - ($val * 9)>>\ <</if>>\ <<var $val 0>>\ <<include "ch4-outpost-alchemists">>\

<<var $calcsilver 0>>\ <<var $calcgold 0>>\ <<var $bingo 0>>\ <<choose "ch4-outpost-bank2">> #use-if ($silver gte 10) Convert silver to Shards. "Hmm yes these seem to be real." Says the elderly reptile yokai man, crouching and eyeing your silver through a looking glass. "It takes 10 Silver to equal 1 Shard. How many Silver would you like to convert?" Current Silver: $silver <<input-number $calcsilver 0 $silver "ch4-outpost-bank2">>\ #use-if ($gold gte 1) Convert gold to Shards. "Heavens I love the shine of proper gold." Says the Lunargothic woman working the coffers at one of the merchant caravans. "But down to business, 1 Gold is worth 10 Shards. How many Gold are you looking to hand over?" Current Gold: $gold <<input-number $calcgold 0 $gold "ch4-outpost-bank2">>\ #Nevermind. -> "ch4-outpost-shop" <</choose>>

<<if ($calcsilver gt 0)>>\ <<var $bingo ($calcsilver % 10)>>\ <<var $calcsilver - $bingo>>\ <<var $silver - $calcsilver>>\ ''[Item Lost: $calcsilver Silver]'' <<var $bingo ($calcsilver / 10)>>\ <<var $shards + $bingo>>\ ''[Item Gained: $bingo Shards]'' <<else>>\ ''[Item Lost: $calcgold Gold]'' <<var $gold - $calcgold>>\ <<var $bingo ($calcgold * 10)>>\ <<var $shards + $bingo>>\ ''[Item Gained: $bingo Shards]'' <</if>>\ <<unset $bingo>>\ <<unset $calcsilver>>\ <<unset $calcgold>>\ <<include "ch4-outpost-shop">>\

It's not until you reach one particular stall that you actually stop and stare as if noticing something for the first time: clothes. The stall before you is lined with over a dozen wardrobes encircling one wagon. Customers browse through the colorful assortment of options and chatter to each other with smiles on their faces. There's even curtains lined up to change in peace, with ladies trying on kimono and lunargothic dress and men donning different gi and some more bizarre pant and shirt combinations. In the back a seamstress is removing the empowered lining from a Martial Artist's gi and applying it to their new clothing, a process you didn't know existed. None of these will aid you in battle, but by the Heavens, some could certainly aid you in style. <<choose "ch4-outpost-clothier">> #use-if (((($shards + ($silver / 10)) + ($gold * 10)) gte 20) and (dig($wardrobe, 2) is 0)) Purchase the red and gold Cathayan hanfu. [20 Shards] <<costcalc 20>>\ The Cathayans of the past left much to your people's culture and among those the most stylish are the hanfu, alternative combat robes preferred by the Sacred Lands and Mystic Lands. The one you've chosen is a crisp mix of red and gold with black inlay. It does nothing to restrict your movements and does everything to exude a sense of majesty. Worth every Shard. <<disrobe>>\ <<var $clothes "red and gold Cathayan hanfu">>\ <<var $clothnum 2>>\ <<var $wardrobe + 10000000000000>>\ #show-if ($heshe is "he") use-if (((($shards + ($silver / 10)) + ($gold * 10)) gte 17) and (dig($wardrobe, 3) is 0)) Purchase the orange and black haori. [17 Shards] <<costcalc 17>>\ Donning the orange and black haori jacket makes you feel //crisp//. You are not travelling all the way to Nanhou for lethal Trials designed by monstrously strong Martial Artists just to look like a chump. You're representing the $clan Clan and by the Heavens you're going to look good doing it. <<disrobe>>\ <<var $clothes "orange and black haori">>\ <<var $clothnum 3>>\ <<var $wardrobe + 1000000000000>>\ #show-if ($heshe is "he") use-if (((($shards + ($silver / 10)) + ($gold * 10)) gte 16) and (dig($wardrobe, 4) is 0)) Purchase the white and black hakama. [16 Shards] <<costcalc 16>>\ Traditional garb is best when representing your region to the Inner Kingdoms and Imperial Nobles. You don a hakama with a white top and black bottom to keep flexibility without having to dress like some of the other slobs you've seen on the road. <<disrobe>>\ <<var $clothes "white and black hakama">>\ <<var $clothnum 4>>\ <<var $wardrobe + 100000000000>>\ #show-if ($heshe is "she") use-if (((($shards + ($silver / 10)) + ($gold * 10)) gte 16) and (dig($wardrobe, 5) is 0)) Purchase the white and red hakama. [16 Shards] <<costcalc 16>>\ Traditional garb is best when representing your region to the Inner Kingdoms and Imperial Nobles. Going with a white and red hakama similar to the priestess miko robes will give you flexibility without sacrificing dignity. <<disrobe>>\ <<var $clothes "white and red hakama">>\ <<var $clothnum 5>>\ <<var $wardrobe + 10000000000>>\ #show-if ($heshe is "she") use-if (((($shards + ($silver / 10)) + ($gold * 10)) gte 18) and (dig($wardrobe, 6) is 0)) Purchase the blue and pink yukata with crane and flowers design. [18 Shards] <<costcalc 18>>\ If you're going to compete against thousands of other Martial Artists you're going to do it in style. After changing behind some curtains you come out wearing a gorgeous lightweight yukata with matching obi. Not to your surprise, you attract the applause of several local villagers. <<disrobe>>\ <<var $clothes "blue and pink flowery yukata">>\ <<var $clothnum 6>>\ <<var $wardrobe + 1000000000>>\ #use-if (((($shards + ($silver / 10)) + ($gold * 10)) gte 10) and (dig($wardrobe, 7) is 0)) Purchase the brown travel cloak and large straw hat. [10 Shards] <<costcalc 10>>\ Keeping a low profile is more important than showing off so you select the most common outfit, a brown travel cloak covering your whole body and a wide strawhat to protect from the sun. The roads of your journey are littered with Martial Artists, making sure you make it to Nanhou at all is your main priority. <<disrobe>>\ <<var $clothes "brown cloak and straw hat">>\ <<var $clothnum 7>>\ <<var $wardrobe + 100000000>>\ #use-if (((($shards + ($silver / 10)) + ($gold * 10)) gte 15) and (dig($wardrobe, 8) is 0)) Purchase the baggy white tobi pants and a black small-sleave shirt. [15 Shards] <<costcalc 15>>\ If Mother and Father saw you wearing something so ridiculous they'd smack the back of your head. However, you've grown in strength to the point that you wouldn't even feel it, and with that strength comes the freedom to dress however you want. Even if that means you're wearing a carpenter's baggy pants with a shinobi's undershirt. It's not your fault no one else can understand true fashion. <<disrobe>>\ <<var $clothes "white tobi pants and black shirt">>\ <<var $clothnum 8>>\ <<var $wardrobe + 10000000>>\ #This is a waste of time. -> "ch4-outpost-shop" <<if ($clothes is "")>>\ Forget this, clothes are only important to \ <<if ($heshe is "she")>>\ fops and brats. \ <<else>>\ women and fops. \ <</if>>\ You've got more important things to do. <<else>>\ As nice as it is to finally find proper tailors on your journey, you cannot waste any more time. The Trials await. <</if>>\ <</choose>>

<<var $memdrank true>>\ You find a stable environment to drink the potion in the form of a clearing by a small stream in town, adorned only with flowers and a vine-covered pergola. A doting couple flees the scene as soon as you approach, no doubt forbidden lovers in some drama you're thankfully not involved in. Without any further interruptions you sit in a meditative position. The cloudy elixir in your hand thrums with power at your touch, as if sensing the elemental chi flowing through your spirit and veins... <<choose "ch4-outpost-drinkmemwell2">> #Drink it now. #Save it for later. -> "ch4-outpost-shop" <</choose>>

Dou Nohal was absolutely right, you realize when consuming the high quality elixir from the Mystic Lands. Advancement Elixirs really aren't supposed to hurt. Rather, upon the very first sip, you feel completely refreshed as if you'd taken the greatest rest of your life. When you finish consuming the elixir and it calms in your stomach the feeling changes, like a waterfall is pouring from your center in all directions and cleansing your spirit from the inside. It washes through the channels you normally use to cycle and you feel... <<choose "ch4-outpost-drinkmemwell3">> #use-if ((($element1 is "None") and ($element2 isnot "Earth")) or (($element1 isnot "Earth") and ($element2 is ""))) Denser, more sturdy. [Earth Element] <<if ($element1 is "None")>>\ <<var $element1 "Earth">>\ <<var $element1rank 1>>\ <<else>>\ <<var $element2 "Earth">>\ <<var $element2rank 1>>\ <</if>>\ <<var $auracolor "amber">>\ ''[Earth Element Acquired!]'' Like your skin and muscles growing more taught after a good workout, now even your spirit feels heavy and imposing. Sturdy. Powerful. The ground shakes beneath your feet as its amber energies pull from all around you, soaking into your now-dense aura with a amber hue when you call on the power of Earth. #use-if ((($element1 is "None") and ($element2 isnot "Wind")) or (($element1 isnot "Wind") and ($element2 is ""))) Lighter on your feet. [Wind Element] <<if (($element1 is "None") and (($insight lt 2) and ($race isnot "Oni")))>>\ <<var $element1 "Wind">>\ <<var $element1rank 1>>\ <<elseif ($element2 is "")>>\ <<var $element2 "Wind">>\ <<var $element2rank 1>>\ <<else>>\ <<var $element1 "Wind">>\ <<var $element1rank 1>>\ <</if>>\ <<var $auracolor "emerald">>\ ''[Wind Element Acquired!]'' Like a second wind on a perfect run, now even your spirit feels swift and free. Gusts all around you turn emerald and swirl into your aura, granting it an emerald hue on command when you call on the power of Wind. #use-if ((($element1 is "None") and ($element2 isnot "Storm")) or (($element1 isnot "Storm") and ($element2 is ""))) Invigorated. [Storm Element] <<if (($element1 is "None") and (($insight lt 2) and ($race isnot "Oni")))>>\ <<var $element1 "Storm">>\ <<var $element1rank 1>>\ <<elseif ($element2 is "")>>\ <<var $element2 "Storm">>\ <<var $element2rank 1>>\ <<else>>\ <<var $element1 "Storm">>\ <<var $element1rank 1>>\ <</if>>\ <<var $auracolor "violet">>\ ''[Storm Element Acquired!]'' Like a burst of energy during your greatest sparring, now even your spirit feels alert and charged. Crackling violet lightning forms all in the air around you as electrical shocks burst throughout your aura, granting it a violet hue on command when you call on the power of the Storm. #use-if ((($element1 is "None") and ($element2 isnot "Ice")) or (($element1 isnot "Ice") and ($element2 is ""))) Chilled. [Ice Element] <<if ($element1 is "None")>>\ <<var $element1 "Ice">>\ <<var $element1rank 1>>\ <<else>>\ <<var $element2 "Ice">>\ <<var $element2rank 1>>\ <</if>>\ <<var $auracolor "arctic blue">>\ ''[Ice Element Acquired!]'' Like a chill down your spine spreading to your entire body and cooling off every heated ache. Frost mist rises around your body in a new aura of freezing temperatures that takes on an arctic blue hue as you call on the power of Ice. #show-if ($chapter 5.5) use-if ((($element1 is "None") and ($element2 isnot "Darkness")) or (($element1 isnot "Darkness") and ($element2 is ""))) Obscured. [Darkness Element] <<if ($element1 is "None")>>\ <<var $element1 "Darkness">>\ <<var $element1rank 1>>\ <<else>>\ <<var $element2 "Darkness">>\ <<var $element2rank 1>>\ <</if>>\ <<var $auracolor "black">>\ ''[Darkness Element Acquired!]'' An emptiness fills the center of your soul, a void of Darkness that you can manipulate from within. A dark mist permeates around you and for the first time in your life you can //feel// your shadow's presence, as if it's a cloak you've been carrying all this time. It wraps around you on-command, masking your presence. #Nothing [Throw it up] You throw up the elixir back into the vial and decide never to tell anyone that you just did that, ''ever''. <<page "Continue" "ch4-outpost-shop">>\ <</choose>>

You can't help but wonder how easy cultivation is for the wealthy in the Inner Kingdoms. <<var $memorywell 0>>\ <<page "Continue" "ch4-outpost-shop">>\

<<choose "ch4-outpost-memelixir">> #show-if ($memhaggled is true) use-once use-if ((($shards + ($silver / 10)) + ($gold * 10)) gte 80) Pay the 80 Shards. You hand over the discounted funds for the miracle elixir and take the potion with glee. "Pleasure doing business with you." <<costcalc 80>>\ ''[Item Gained: Memorywell Elixir]'' <<var $memorywell + 1>>\ "Get out." The clerk growls with arms crossed. <<page "Another satisfied customer (me)" "ch4-outpost-drinkmemwell">>\ #show-if ($memhaggled is false) use-once use-if ((($shards + ($silver / 10)) + ($gold * 10)) gte 300) Pay the 300 Shards. <<costcalc 300>>\ <<var $honor + 5>>\ <<var $prestige + 2>>\ ''[Item Gained: Memorywell Elixir]'' <<var $memorywell + 1>>\ You pay the full actual cost of the miracle elixir and see the clerk's eyes light up with glee. "Thank you very much for your patronage!" She bows five times and you see several other shoppers stare at you wide-eyed that you just paid the full asking price. ''[Prestige Increased]'' <<page "Continue" "ch4-outpost-drinkmemwell">>\ #use-once "What needs to be done to bring that price down?" <<if (($persuasion + $lore) gte 3)>>\ Examining the refined elixir gives you a solution to your issue. You look up to the clerk and ask the rhetorical. "What needs to be done to bring that price down?" "Excuse me?" She asks. "What needs to be done? I'm not asking if we can bring the price down, obviously we can, but what do you need from me to bring down the price?" "$ymaster, I'm afraid this price is set in stone." ''[Lore+Perusasion 3 Check Passed]'' <<var $solexp + 1>>\ "Well clearly not." You reply. "Someone paid nothing for it." The clerk pauses, staring quizzically at you for some time. "I'm afraid I don't follow." "The Mystical Lands uses two seals for commerce." You point to the bottle's stopper, a small wax seal on its center. "One for creation, and one to confirm the creator's sale. It's an anti-theft practice. This seal is only half done, so someone stole this from the Mystic Lands." "No I...that's impossible, we purchased this on the high seas near Outer South." "From a thief." You finish. "Do the guards and the local Sect know you're fencing stolen goods?" "I-! That's not!" She looks around wide-eyed, jaw tight, and pulls you in closer. "Look, I can sell it for 80 but any less than that and my Master will be missing funds on the ledger, which is worse than anything the guards will do to me. Take the deal or just go." <<var $memhaggled true>>\ <<else>>\ Examining the refined elixir buys some time while you consider a haggle topic. You look up to the clerk and ask the rhetorical. "What needs to be done to bring that price down?" "Nothing." "Oh?" "Indeed!" She announces cheerily. "The price is already down to its lowest for such a high value item. Three-hundred shards. I do not even have the authority to haggle prices on this grade of an elixir." ''[Lore+Perusasion 3 Check Failed]'' Damn it all. <</if>>\ #use-if ($background is "Merchant") "As the cap($patriarch) of Clan cap($clan) I'll be taking out a line of credit for this purchase." [Merchant Background] You withdraw a prepared contract scroll and slap it onto the table. "As the <<cap $patriarch>> of Clan $clan I'll be taking out a line of credit for this purchase." The clerk gasps at the Clan Head insignia of a Warrior Caste document and bows four times. "Please forgive me, I was unaware I was in the presence of a Warrior Clan leader! I'll fill in the details for this right away." "In triplicate." You add, taking the potion while the clerk handles the technicalities of your new debt. While having negative money is never good for the coffers, as long as you can make the payments you've now established your Clan as someone worth doing business with. <<if ($memhaggled is true)>>\ <<var $debt 80>>\ <<var $debtnote + 100000000>>\ ''[80 Debt Gained]'' ''[Clan Commerce Increased]'' <<var $commerce + 1>>\ <<else>>\ <<var $debt 300>>\ <<var $debtnote + 10000000>>\ ''[300 Debt Gained]'' ''[Clan Prestige Increased]'' <<var $prestige + 1>>\ <</if>>\ ''[Item Gained: Memorywell Elixir]'' <<var $memorywell + 1>>\ <<page "Continue" "ch4-outpost-drinkmemwell">>\ #use-once "I'd like to put this on the Thunderfall Sect's line of credit, under Master Crusher Mao." <<if ((($race is "Oni") and ($deception gte 2)) or ($deception gte 3))>>\ <<if ($race is "Oni")>>\ ''[Oni Comraderie Event - Difficulty Reduced]'' ''[Deception 2 Check Succeeded]'' <<else>>\ ''[Deception 3 Check Succeeded]'' <</if>>\ <<var $agiexp + 1>>\ "I'd like to put this on the Thunderfall Sect's tab, under Master Crusher Mao." Heh. The woman's eyebrows rise. "By the Heavens, the Thunderfall Sect of the central mountains? Do you have permission to sign on the Master's behalf?" "Of course I do." You reply with a straight face, feigning insult. "The Trials are upon us, naturally all the Master's star pupils have access to his treasury in search of advantage." Heheh. "My sincere apologies!" Says the clerk, bowing three times. "I did not know I was in the presence of one of the Master Mao's prized pupils!" She withdraws a contract and wraps the Memorywell Elixir neatly in purple cloth for you. "Please sign here and we'll send the bill to the Glorious Master." Heheheheh. You sign the paper with the barest hint of a smile, allocating the hefty debt over to Crusher Mao's residency in Thunderfall Village where he won't even see it until after the Trials. <<var $sect_thunderfall - 5>>\ ''[Item Gained: Memorywell Elixir]'' <<var $memorywell + 1>>\ <<page "Continue" "ch4-outpost-drinkmemwell">>\ <<else>>\ <<if ($race is "Human")>>\ ''[Deception 2 Check Failed]'' <<else>>\ ''[Deception 3 Check Failed]'' <</if>>\ "I'd like to put this on the Thunderfall Sect's tab, under Master Crusher Mao." Heh. "A hundred apologies <<if ($heshe is "he")>>\ Young Master, \ <<else>>\ Young Mistress, \ <</if>>\ but we have dealt with the Thunderfall Sect many times and would recognize anyone with the authority to sign on Master Mao's behalf." Oh. Damn it all. <<include "ch4-outpost-memelixir">>\ <</if>>\ #use-once Swap the elixir that looks like rice wine with a vial of actual rice wine. "Fascinating, most fascinating." You say, swiping a less-guarded empty vial and walking off to the nearby tavern. Ten minutes of waiting for a servant boy gets the result you want, ordering a rice wine quietly in the corner while reading some Path Manual notes to avoid suspicion alone. After pouring the rice wine into your empty vial you return to the alchemy stall and wait. When another customer shows up and inquires about a recipe, you strike. While examining the potion in one hand, shaking your head, you put it down just after switching it with your rice wine vial. <<if (($stealth + $thievery) gte 4)>>\ ''[Stealth + Thievery 4 Check Succeeded]'' <<var $agiexp + 1>>\ ''[Item Gained: Memorywell Elixir]'' <<var $memorywell + 1>>\ As you walk off with the valuable elixir you wonder why anyone pays for anything. <<page "Continue" "ch4-outpost-drinkmemwell">>\ <<else>>\ ''[Stealth + Thievery 4 Check Failed]'' "Thief!" Shouts the alchemy clerk behind you. ''//"CHASM HUNTER!"//'' Shouts a guard by the well, and the air hums with the power of a Technique. Before you can act both your legs are sucked into the ground at a rapid pace, taking your body with them until only your head is left above the ground. "Guardsman, this is all a mistake!" You say as a four guards appear before you. A tingle between your shoulders lets you know you're being spiritually scanned. That's when you realize such a potent elixir probably has its own aura...which confirms you've taken it. The guards take turns kicking you in the head until the sweet release of unconsciousness takes hold. <<aploss 5>>\ ''[You have been banned from the Alchemy Stalls!]'' Waking up in the compost pile with a fat lip is not the mid-day greeting you wanted out of life. <<var $alchbanned true>>\ <<include "ch4-outpost-shop">>\ <</if>>\ #show-if (($element1 is "Light") or ($element2 is "Light")) use-if ((($chipool + ($soul / 2)) - $chispent) gte 1) Cast an illusion over the potion as you take it away. [Cost 1 Chi] As you reach for the potion you pause for a second, second guessing yourself. To the outside observer. In reality you get close enough that the potion is inside of your aura, where it's easier to affect changes to Light without getting caught. If you cast a Light Technique forty feet away anyone can sense it, but you always seem like Light chi anyway. No change registers in anyone's spiritual perception as you work your illusion. While the potion is within your close range you cast an illusion over yourself of standing still and thinking, when in reality you lift the potion up and place it into your satchel. At the same time you cast an illusory affect that should last minutes over the empty slot where the potion once was. ''[1 Chi Spent]'' <<var $chispent - 1>>\ ''[Item Gained: Memorywell Elixir]'' <<var $memorywell + 1>>\ You shake your head. "No no, that price is absurd." You tell yourself, and leave with no suspicion cast upon you. <<page "Continue" "ch4-outpost-drinkmemwell">>\ #Go back. -> "ch4-outpost-alchemists" <</choose>>

The most important stalls, in your eyes, are the merchants selling Spiritual Cultivation material. You pass by dozens of baubles and elixirs that promise health and positive karma to their imbibers, a fair amount of creative feng shui furniture, acceptable training equipment, scrolls on philosophical teachings, and a hundred charms that aid in ambient chi cultivation. They're all garbage. The good stuff is four stalls down, near the town's well. You can tell because it's guarded with six Martial Artists in white combat gi. When you approach the stall your estimation proves correct: it holds the Path Manuals for dozens upon dozens of Techniques. Many require other Techniques, certain Styles, certain Elements, or years to master. After minutes of window shopping you've recognized the ones that serve as faster-learning Soul Treasure Path Manuals and then narrowed down that list even further, pinpointing the ones that fit into your current Path. ''Fading Hand'' - Increases Thievery by +1 when focused. Increases Agility Surge by +1 when focused. ''Axe Breaker'' - Increases Survival by +1 when focused. Increases Fortitude Surge by +1 when focused. ''Eagle Eye'' - Increases Perception by +1 when focused. Increases Power Surge by +1 when focused. ''Doublechant'' - Passively decreases the cost of Seals by 1 Ritual Component. Increases Soul Surge by +1 when focused. <<if (($element1 is "Darkness") or ($element2 is "Darkness"))>>\ ''Midnight Blade'' - Requires Darkness Element. Power Technique. Increases Aura Pressure by 15. Increases Soul Surge by +1 when focused. <</if>>\ <<if (($element1 is "Earth") or ($element2 is "Earth"))>>\ ''Sandshield'' - Requires Earth Element. Agility Technique. Increases Aura Pressure by 15. Increases Fortitude Surge by +1 when focused. <</if>>\ <<if (($element1 is "Fire") or ($element2 is "Fire"))>>\ ''Inferno'' - Requires Fire Element. Soul Technique. Increases Aura Pressure by 15. Increases Power Surge by +1 when focused. <</if>>\ <<if (($element1 is "Ice") or ($element2 is "Ice"))>>\ ''Frostguard'' - Requires Ice Element. Power Technique. Increases Aura Pressure by 15. Increases Fortitude Surge by +1 when focused. <</if>>\ <<if (($element1 is "Light") or ($element2 is "Light"))>>\ ''Searing Light'' - Requires Light Element. Power Technique. Increases Aura Pressure by 15. Increases Soul Surge by +1 when focused. <</if>>\ <<if (($element1 is "Storm") or ($element2 is "Storm"))>>\ ''Shockblast'' - Requires Storm Element. Agility Technique. Increases Aura Pressure by 15. Increases Power Surge by +1 when focused. <</if>>\ <<if (($element1 is "Water") or ($element2 is "Water"))>>\ ''Wavewalking'' - Requires Water Element. Soul Technique. Increases Aura Pressure by 15. Increases Agility Surge by +1 when focused. <</if>>\ <<if (($element1 is "Wind") or ($element2 is "Wind"))>>\ ''Grand Skyfall'' - Requires Wind Element. Fortitude Technique. Increases Aura Pressure by 15. Increases Agility Surge by +1 when focused. <</if>>\ <<choose "ch4-outpost-pathmanuals">> #use-once use-if ((($shards + ($silver / 10)) + ($gold * 10)) gte 100) The "Fading Hand" Freestyle Technique [100 Shards] <<costcalc 100>>\ <<learntech 3630060000000000 "Fading Hand" "Increases Thievery by +1 when focused. Increases Agility Surge by +1 when focused.">>\ <<if ($techslotcode[3] is 9000000000000000)>>\ ''[Agility Core focused on the "Fading Hand" Technique]'' <<focuscore "Fading Hand" 3630060000000000>>\ <</if>>\ #use-once use-if ((($shards + ($silver / 10)) + ($gold * 10)) gte 100) The "Axe Breaker" Freestyle Technique [90 Shards] <<costcalc 90>>\ <<learntech 2620050000000071 "Axe Breaker" "Melee Attack. Increases Survival by +1 when focused. Increases Fortitude Surge by +1 when focused.">>\ <<if ($techslotcode[2] is 9000000000000000)>>\ ''[Fortitude Core focused on the "Axe Breaker" Technique]'' <<focuscore "Axe Breaker" 2620050000000071>>\ <</if>>\ #use-once use-if ((($shards + ($silver / 10)) + ($gold * 10)) gte 100) The "Doublechant" Freestyle Technique [85 Shards] <<costcalc 85>>\ <<learntech 4140000000100000 "Doublechant" "Passively reduces the cost of Seals by 1 Component. Increases Soul Surge by +1 when focused.">>\ <<if ($techslotcode[4] is 9000000000000000)>>\ ''[Soul Core focused on the "Doublechant" Technique]'' <<focuscore "Doublechant" 4140000000100000>>\ <</if>>\ #use-once use-if ((($shards + ($silver / 10)) + ($gold * 10)) gte 100) The "Eagle Eye" Freestyle Technique [90 Shards] <<costcalc 90>>\ <<learntech 1610020000000000 "Eagle Eye" "Increases Perception by +1 when focused. Increases Power Surge by +1 when focused.">>\ <<if ($techslotcode[1] is 9000000000000000)>>\ ''[Power Core focused on the "Eagle Eye" Technique]'' <<focuscore "Eagle Eye" 1610020000000000>>\ <</if>>\ #show-if (($element1 is "Darkness") or ($element2 is "Darkness")) use-once use-if ((($shards + ($silver / 10)) + ($gold * 10)) gte 100) The "Midnight Blade" Darkness Technique [110 Shards] <<costcalc 110>>\ <<learntech 1140000030000103 "Midnight Blade" "Melee Energy-Physical Attack. Passively increases Aura Pressure by +15. Increases Soul Surge by +1 when focused.">>\ <<if ($techslotcode[1] is 9000000000000000)>>\ ''[Power Core focused on the "Midnight Blade" Technique]'' <<focuscore "Midnight Blade" 1140000020000103>>\ <</if>>\ ''[While Focused, this Technique can aid you in certain melee-ranged energy or physical attacks.]'' #show-if (($element1 is "Earth") or ($element2 is "Earth")) use-once use-if ((($shards + ($silver / 10)) + ($gold * 10)) gte 100) The "Sandshield" Earth Technique [110 Shards] <<costcalc 110>>\ <<learntech 3120000030000200 "Sandshield" "Passively increases Aura Pressure by +15. Increases Fortitude Surge by +1 when focused.">>\ <<if ($techslotcode[3] is 9000000000000000)>>\ ''[Agility Core focused on the "Sandshield" Technique]'' <<focuscore "Sandshield" 3120000020000200>>\ <</if>>\ #show-if (($element1 is "Fire") or ($element2 is "Fire")) use-once use-if ((($shards + ($silver / 10)) + ($gold * 10)) gte 100) The "Inferno" Fire Technique [110 Shards] <<costcalc 110>>\ <<learntech 4110000030000308 "Inferno" "Area Energy Attack. Passively increases Aura Pressure by +15. Increases Power Surge by +1 when focused.">>\ <<if ($techslotcode[4] is 9000000000000000)>>\ ''[Soul Core focused on the "Inferno" Technique]'' <<focuscore "Inferno" 4110000020000308>>\ <</if>>\ ''[While Focused, this Technique can aid you in certain wide-area energy attacks.]'' #show-if (($element1 is "Ice") or ($element2 is "Ice")) use-once use-if ((($shards + ($silver / 10)) + ($gold * 10)) gte 100) The "Frostguard" Ice Technique [110 Shards] <<costcalc 110>>\ <<learntech 1120000030000400 "Frostguard" "Passively increases Aura Pressure by +15. Increases Fortitude Surge by +1 when focused.">>\ <<if ($techslotcode[1] is 9000000000000000)>>\ ''[Power Core focused on the "Frostguard" Technique]'' <<focuscore "Frostguard" 1120000020000400>>\ <</if>>\ #show-if (($element1 is "Light") or ($element2 is "Light")) use-once use-if ((($shards + ($silver / 10)) + ($gold * 10)) gte 100) The "Searing Light" Light Technique [110 Shards] <<costcalc 110>>\ <<learntech 1140000030000505 "Searing Light" "Ranged Energy Attack. Passively increases Aura Pressure by +15. Increases Soul Surge by +1 when focused.">>\ <<if ($techslotcode[1] is 9000000000000000)>>\ ''[Power Core focused on the "Searing Light" Technique]'' <<focuscore "Searing Light" 1140000020000505>>\ <</if>>\ ''[While Focused, this Technique can aid you in certain long-ranged energy attacks.]'' #show-if (($element1 is "Storm") or ($element2 is "Storm")) use-once use-if ((($shards + ($silver / 10)) + ($gold * 10)) gte 100) The "Shockblast" Storm Technique [110 Shards] <<costcalc 110>>\ <<learntech 3110000030000602 "Shockblast" "Melee Energy Attack. Passively increases Aura Pressure by +15. Increases Power Surge by +1 when focused.">>\ <<if ($techslotcode[3] is 9000000000000000)>>\ ''[Agility Core focused on the "Shockblast" Technique]'' <<focuscore "Shockblast" 3110000020000602>>\ <</if>>\ ''[While Focused, this Technique can aid you in certain melee-ranged energy attacks.]'' #show-if (($element1 is "Water") or ($element2 is "Water")) use-once use-if ((($shards + ($silver / 10)) + ($gold * 10)) gte 100) The "Wavewalking" Water Technique [110 Shards] <<costcalc 110>>\ <<learntech 4130000030000700 "Wavewalking" "Passively increases Aura Pressure by +15. Increases Agility Surge by +1 when focused.">>\ <<if ($techslotcode[4] is 9000000000000000)>>\ ''[Soul Core focused on the "Wavewalking" Technique]'' <<focuscore "Wavewalking" 4130000020000700>>\ <</if>>\ #show-if (($element1 is "Wind") or ($element2 is "Wind")) use-once use-if ((($shards + ($silver / 10)) + ($gold * 10)) gte 100) The "Grand Skyfall" Wind Technique [110 Shards] <<costcalc 110>>\ <<learntech 2130000030000804 "Grand Skyfall" "Ranged Physical Attack. Passively increases Aura Pressure by +15. Increases Agility Surge by +1 when focused.">>\ <<if ($techslotcode[2] is 9000000000000000)>>\ ''[Fortitude Core focused on the "Grand Skyfall" Technique]'' <<focuscore "Grand Skyfall" 2130000020000804>>\ <</if>>\ ''[While Focused, this Technique can aid you in certain long-ranged physical attacks.]'' #Go back. -> "ch4-outpost-shop" <</choose>>

Before heading off to Nanhou you decide to check through the multiple shops and stalls in town to restock on supplies. <<if ($firsttime is true)>>\ Oddly it's the alchemist's stalls that are the busiest, abuzz with gossip and chatter. Whatever they're selling, it must be good. <<var $firsttime false>>\ <</if>>\ <<choose "ch4-outpost-shop">> #Convert currencies to Shards. -> "ch4-outpost-bank" Many of the caravans are happy to convert your currency for you. It's almost a miracle actually, some of the visiting caravans need unpowered coinage to reduce their spiritual presence on the road. It seems they've made too many Shards. #use-if ($alchbanned is false) Visit the alchemy refiners. -> "ch4-outpost-alchemists" #Browse the cultivation stalls for Path Manuals. -> "ch4-outpost-pathmanuals" #Visit the mortal clothier's. -> "ch4-outpost-clothier" #use-if (((((($wounds gt 0) or ($powspent gt 0)) or ($agispent gt 0)) or ($forspent gt 0)) or ($solspent gt 0)) and ((($shards + ($silver / 10)) + ($gold * 10)) gte 15)) Visit the rejuvenating healing springs. [15 Shards] <<costcalc 15>>\ It's odd to hear that such a large farming town has a healing spring, where would they even hide it? You're far from the mountains. Still, mystical healing isn't an offer you can turn down. You follow the road signs to the mystical healing springs and find yourself going down residential side roads, only to find more signs pointing towards the larger town hall. When you get to the town hall, there are even more advertisements for the healing springs...of the travelling caravan. One quick maze of a journey later and you finally find the "spring", a heated barrel of water from some foreign mountain. The decrepit old man running the water wagon takes your Shards and asks you to disrobe, bringing four curtains on racks around your barrel. After such a poorly managed hunt for the springs, the false advertising, and the creepy old man, your nerves are bothered enough to crave violence. You almost hope they'll test you with one more annoyance as you undress...until you step into the barrel and feel the heated bath melt all your aches away. Damn, this is some nice water. ''[All Wounds Healed]'' <<var $wounds 0>>\ <<var $powspent 0>>\ <<var $forspent 0>>\ <<var $solspent 0>>\ <<var $agispent 0>>\ <<var $chispent 0>>\ ''[All Cores and Chi Restored]'' <<page "Back to the shops." "ch4-outpost-shop">>\ #Leave -> "ch4-companionquest" <</choose>>

<<choose "ch4-inn">> #Rest at the inn. #Camp in the woods. -> "ch4-woods" <</choose>>

/* Unset previous chapter's isolated variables */\ <<unset $earnfunds1>>\ <<unset $earnfunds2>>\ <<unset $earnfunds3>>\ <<unset $earnfunds4>>\ <<unset $earnfunds5>>\ <<unset $earnfunds6>>\ <<unset $earnfunds7>>\ <<unset $earnfunds8>>\ <<unset $earnfunds9>>\ <<unset $earnfunds10>>\ <<unset $demonheshe>>\ <<unset $demonhishers>>\ <<unset $demonhimher>>\ <<unset $months>>\ <<unset $conversion>>\ <<unset $bbuffed>>\ <<unset $librarybonus>>\ <<unset $discount>>\ <<unset $skillmanbought>>\ <<unset $libraryelem>>\ <<unset $skillgain>>\ <<unset $sealname>>\ <<unset $racercool>>\ <<unset $freestuff>>\ <<unset $bannedfromsageshop>>\ <<unset $stolenscroll>>\ <<unset $racemethod>>\ <<unset $agifirstchoice>>\ <<unset $chubonus>>\ <<unset $desletter>>\ <<unset $lastsoultreasure>>\ <<unset $factotumblessing>>\ <<unset $noshugendo>>\ <<unset $deadsnake>>\ <<unset $grimdamage>>\ <<unset $jinjured>>\ <<unset $maidenbang>>\ <<unset $priestbang>>\ <<unset $slavesreturned>>\ <<unset $lifter>>\ <<unset $butchered>>\ <<unset $fangfightcounter>>\ <<unset $fanghealth>>\ <<unset $fangambushed>>\ <<unset $fangambushyou>>\ <<unset $usefire>>\ <<var $val 0>>\ <<var $bingo 0>>\ /* Set this chapter's isolated variables */\ <<var $tmpunderlings 0>>\ <<var $tigerhurt 0>>\ <<var $tigerusedroc false>>\ <<var $barfight 0>>\ <<var $innlizardknocked false>>\ <<var $innlizardthrown false>>\ <<var $purplepoints 0>>\ <<var $wasadicktodes false>>\ <<var $chosewoods false>>\ <<var $leonadmg 0>>\ <<var $pelt 0>>\ <<var $firsttime true>>\ <<var $toldname false>>\ <<var $memhaggled false>>\ <<var $mentionedclan false>>\ <<var $memdrank false>>\ /* workfordou 1 = worked for the caravan, 2 = managed the caravan, 3 = don't go, 4 = caught stealing */\ <<var $workfordou 1>>\ <<var $conversion 0>>\ <<var $deskiss false>>\ <<var $purpleside false>>\ <<var $goldside false>>\ <<var $alchbanned false>>\ <<var $tmpunderlings $underlings>>\ <<var $underlings 0>>\ <<script>>console.clear();<</script>>\ <<var $chapter 4>>\ <div class="fightingfont">Chapter Four</div>\ ''//In which stars cross paths,//'' ''//The enemy rears its head,//'' ''//And all eyes turn to the West.//'' The scales of fortune never balance. For every step forward one mortal takes, there are those who can take two with the same effort. Yet the growth of experience is the death of doubt. No longer do you question if you compare to your peers. Now you question if they can compare to you. <<page "Continue" "ch4-start2">>\

<<timepass>>\ Lush green woods and massive karst-rock towers flank your steep, winding path until you leave the mountains in which you've lived all your life. When you were told the march to Nanhou was a month-long journey you assumed that was for powerless mortals. You were wrong. It's a month-long march taking into account the fact that a fast Martial Artist should be able to keep marching through at least one night. You've made it for two nights in a row so far without rest. ''[1 Chi Point Spent]'' <<var $chispent + 1>>\ The exhaustion is mounting up when you come upon a roadside gated inn and sigh with relief. Sleeping on a mattress sounds so tempting beyond belief, assuming you can find a room. These roads have been anything but empty. The directions on the back of the Heavenly Ascension Trials invitation say the event is being hosted in the western coastal town of Nanhou. The mountains of your village, located in the center of your province, completely bisect your region so there's no way around them. As a result travelers from the eastern half have come through Thunderfall's safe roads on their way to the Trials and that's put thousands of visitors on the same dirt roads as you. At first you thought it wouldn't be a problem, you can outpace the oxen-drawn carts and bumbling peasantry. Then it dawned on you that massive crowds had left long before you started your journey. The path ahead of you is already full. Rather than a solitary hero's journey you've been following a crowded pilgrimage with constant cart-drivers providing obstacle courses on thin forest roads. If you walk at their pace you'll never make it in time so you're weaving through crowds and thick trees all day long instead of enjoying the flat dirt roads in peace. You've passed more than a handful of equally irritated travelers saying they'd offer their firstborn for a shred of personal space. It's hard to disagree. Life would be easier if you knew a shortcut but you've never been to Nanhou. It's some shipyard town, you think. The only information your fellow Thunderfall disciples ever told you about Nanhou is a slew of mocking insults at its Waverunner Sect. You suspected they may be your rivals, though you always thought your town's rival was the Sunbringer Sect to the east. Maybe Mao just picks fights and every Sect is your rival. Speaking of other Sects, you can sense power up ahead. A buzz in the air warning you of the condensed chi that only comes from combat auras. It's coming from the inn. Damn it. You're too tired for this. You pass a half dozen more travelers before reaching the inn's unguarded gate as the warm glow of the sunset illuminates the inn's grounds. Dozens of travelers surround the tavern gardens and koi ponds. Mumbles fill the air warning of high tensions inside. Entering the inn could provide a solid respite. It could also introduce trouble from whoever is inside. Camping in the woods is always a possibility instead, assuming you can avoid any dangers that may bring. Your hesitation to act comes with a cost: an ox leading a cart behind you takes a steaming dump by your shoes while you consider your options. You wince at the smell and curse these busy roads. In the end you decide to... <<include "ch4-restchoices">>\

<<var $stylerank + 1>>\ but I've captured you a Thunderfaller as a trophy." Says a familiar voice. "A taste of your revenge to come, as promised. Carry them back to the pit." Every muscle in your neck strains as you look up and see the face of the man you know it to be. "Taio." You snarl at the crimson monk. "You bastard, how did you find me?" "Oh? We've met?" Sickening crimson-red chi forms between the man's palms as he rubs his hands together. "Belay that order everyone, bring them instead to the cages for torture." Taio crouches low and smiles wide as his glowing hand grips your neck and squeezes. Just before the darkness takes you, he looks into your exhausted eyes. "I cannot wait to learn what my other self was up to." <<page "Taio!!" "ch5-start">>\

The trade-road village before you is burnt to a crisp. The stench of black smoke and burnt meat fills the air as you draw closer. Blackened buildings with collapsed or incinerated roofs line the main street, clear work of hostile chi-wielders. Either Beast, Man, or Spirit. The buildings behind those, on the outskirt of town, have been demolished with physical force. That rules out most Spirits. You don't like where this is going. Judging by the scorch marks crossing the ground there were Storm Techniques involved in the attack, yet Fire aura dominates the surroundings in your spiritual senses so at least two Elements were used. \ <<if ($insight gte 2)>>\ Both were from different sources too, according to your keen scanning abilities. \ <<var $solexp + 4>>\ <</if>>\ The grizzly sight of three blackened corpses on their knees outside a burnt shop tells you the rest of the story; nobody begs to a Beast. These people were killed by Martial Artists. Whoever lived in this village either insulted or didn't bow to the wrong person, or they were robbed by someone who didn't want witnesses. Hells, maybe they were simply target practice for a newly learned Technique. Whatever the cause, every person in town paid the price. This world is not fair. <<choose "ch4-village-taiowhisper">> #Look for survivors. -> "ch4-village-help" <<var $ruthless - 1>>\ "Hello?" You call out to the town, "HELLO?? MY NAME IS <<capall $fullname>>, IS ANYONE HERE ALIVE?" No answer. "I'm not with whoever did this! If anyone is here, I can help!" No answer. "Good. If no one is here, I can destroy these buildings to clear this town for my Sect!" Wooden boards shuffle from behind a broken-down building and a face pops out. One of an elderly woman of such age that she's shrunken significantly. Or she was born very short. "Don't you even think about it, you arrogant upstart! I didn't let those other Martial Artists have this town, and I won't let you have it either!" You let out a sigh of relief. "Thank goodness, someone's alive. Do you have injuries that need treating?" "Injuries? Child, you were just threatening to destroy my home!" "Correct, because you weren't talking to me. So I lied. Now you're talking to me." The old woman blinks, grimaces, and shakes her head. "Such dishonor!" "Do you desire treatment or not? And are there others around here that need help?" "Pft, others $heshe says. Of course there are others! Come on out everyone, the jig is up." A parade of twenty other wounded come crawling out of various houses, though some couldn't even manage that. The lot of them are limping from broken limbs or badly treated gashes, but the worst off are the burn victims. Any eagerness to learn what happened here will have to wait if you want to save anyone. Some of these people are worse off than you imagined; they need treatment //now//, especially the burn victims. <<var $val 7 - ($alchemy * 2)>>\ <<if ($val lt 1)>>\ <<var $val 1>>\ <</if>>\ #Look for loot. -> "ch4-village-loot" <<var $honor - 2>>\ Several hours go by as you sift through houses, shops, what was probably once a tavern, and even the town's well looking for anything that hasn't been burnt black. Lockboxes, safes, hidden cellar doors, anything useful. <<if ((($perception gte 2) or (($perception gte 1) and ($thievery gte 2))) or ($subrace is "Wolf"))>>\ <<if ($subrace is "Wolf")>>\ Surprisingly, following your nose leads you to all three. \ <<var $solexp + 2>>\ <<elseif ($perception lt 2)>>\ ''[Perception 1 Check Passed]'' ''[Thievery 2 Check Passed]'' <<else>>\ ''[Perception $perception Check Passed]'' <</if>>\ <<var $agiexp + ($perception * 2)>>\ Surprisingly you find all three. Several lockboxes offer themselves up to you over the course of a few hours searching through a set of buildings you've identified as former shops. <<if (($insight gte 1) or ($thievery gte 2))>>\ Even better, you find a broken safe with some //exceedingly// sour spirit fruit inside. The red berries radiate the power of Storm and Ice and dance on your tongue like a sadist in spiked shoes. <</if>>\ <<rand $val 1460 1850>>\ ''[Item Gained: $val Silver]'' <<var $silver + $val>>\ ''[Item Gained: Low-Grade Soul Pill]'' <<var $lgsolpill + 1>>\ ''[Item Gained: Low-Grade Fortitude Pill]'' <<var $lgforpill + 1>>\ <<if (($insight gte 1) or ($thievery gte 2))>>\ ''[Spirit Fruit Consumed: +11 Aura Pressure]'' <<var $aurapressure + 11>>\ <</if>>\ <<elseif (($perception gte 1) or ($thievery gte 2))>>\ <<if ($perception gte 1)>>\ ''[Perception 1 Check Passed]'' <<else>>\ ''[Thievery 2 Check Passed]'' <</if>>\ <<var $agiexp + 2>>\ Several lockboxes offer themselves up to you over the course of a few hours search through a set of buildings you've identified as former shops. <<rand $val 560 850>>\ ''[Item Gained: $val Silver]'' <<var $silver + $val>>\ ''[Item Gained: Low-Grade Soul Pill]'' <<var $lgsolpill + 1>>\ ''[Item Gained: Low-Grade Fortitude Pill]'' <<var $lgforpill + 1>>\ <<if ($insight gte 2)>>\ ''[Insight Check Passed]'' <<var $solexp + 3>>\ That bounty is nice, but it's the cold safe built into a crumbling wall that keeps your attention. Someone went through great work to make sure the container remained cold through some sort of mystic Seal, which is how you found it with your spiritual senses. Luckily it's been damaged. You simply open it to find the bounty waiting inside: Spirit Fruits. The red berries crackle with an odd mix of chilling lightning sparks. Popping one into your mouth proves a challenge when you realize they're sourer than anything you've ever tasted, eviscerating your tastebuds with shocking flavor. It takes entire minutes of rinsing water before your tongue even recovers well enough to talk. Still, power is power. You pop another berry from the pile into your mouth and repeat the process over an hour. <<apboost 11>>\ <</if>>\ <<else>>\ It's incredible how you find almost none of that. Whoever attacked this place must have looted it too, all you manage to find is a pile of loose melted-together change surrounded by ash that was probably once a coinpouch. <<rand $val 260 350>>\ ''[Item Gained: $val Silver]'' <<var $silver + $val>>\ It's not much but taking something is better than taking nothing. It's not like the dead are going to miss it. <</if>>\ Picking through the town proves fruitful and you pack up to get on your \ <</choose>>

Words truly cannot express how thankful we are." "Honored elder there's no need for words-" "-which is why we'll be using cash." The old woman drops a pouch into your hand with an odd clink. You've heard the sounds of clinking Silver thousands of times throughout your life. This isn't Silver. It's Gold. <<page "Continue" "ch4-village-grannywords2">>\

You open the pouch to confirm and see the shining golden coins reflecting back at you from the sun's light. ''[Item Gained: $val Gold]'' <<var $gold + $val>>\ "And don't think of turning it down, whippersnapper! With more ruffians coming through I suspect we'll be picked clean by next week. I'd rather it go to someone decent." "Thank you honored elder, I just wish I could have been here to stop the attack in the first place." The old lady chuckles. "I doubt you could have done much. An entire Sect two-dozen strong is a bit much to ask of a polite young $manwoman, and their bald leader gave my spine the chills." A chill runs down your own spine too. "This bald leader, did anyone call his name?" "Why yes, when one of the attackers found our alchemist's elixir stock. She called out to him to spread the 'good' news of their murderous plunder. I believe his name was Tao, or Tayo, or Toro. It's hard to hear well at my age, especially with the house burning." Taio... Deep down, you already knew. There was no trace of his aura in the ambient chi left behind but you //knew// something like this would be his handiwork. "He didn't use a single attack, this Taio, did he? He didn't even activate his aura." The granny thinks for a moment. "Now that you mention it, no. Not that I can recall, though I only peaked through a shattered window. I did find it odd that he wasn't glowing like the others but with his fanciful robes and that decorative book-" "A screaming face on the front?" The granny shivers and looks to the ground gravely. "It sounds like you're too familiar with it already. I'm afraid you're in trouble if we both saw the same man, \ <<if ($heshe is "she")>>\ young lady. \ <<else>>\ sonny. \ <</if>>\ //That man// is trouble and his gang of killers is no better." That confirms it. Taio was here. <<var $mettaio 11000000000>>\ Worse, he's heading west to the Heavenly Ascension Trials. What is he up to? You look to the old woman and lay a reassuring hand on her shoulder. "His gang, they're called the Sunbringers. My Sect has been fighting them since before I was born. I swear to you I will-" "No, no, no. That can't be right, I'd recognize the Sunbringers anywhere." "Huh?" "We purchase lucky charms from them for calm winters and good harvests. Have been for years. These thugs didn't have the Sunbringer uniforms, I'd recognize them anywhere. No, these unrepentant cretins wore red and brown." No Sect you've heard of wears red and brown. It sounds like Taio has new allies. "If he's heading to the Trials then I have to get back on the road, fast. Is there anything else you need before I leave?" The old lady chuckles. "A thousand and one things, but don't you worry about us anymore young \ <<if ($heshe is "he")>>\ man. \ <<else>>\ lady. \ <</if>>\ You get back on that road to win your little competition before I give you a spanking for not looking out for yourself." <<page "Continue" "ch4-camp-after-village">>\

<<choose "ch4-village-grannywords">> #use-if (($alchemyreagents gte $val) and ($alchemy gte 1)) Treat the burns. [Costs $val Alchemy Reagents.] <<var $alchemyreagents - $val>>\ <<var $ruthless - 5>>\ "I can treat the wounded." You announce, pulling your satchel out front and digging through your supplies. <<if ($heshe is "he")>>\ "Sonny, \ <<else>>\ "Young lady, \ <</if>>\ please don't give these poor souls false hope. I don't mean to put a damper on things but our alchemist was slaughtered and his inventory stolen. Unless you walk around with a collection of aloe leaf and nian bile, half of our wounded are not going to see sunrise." You withdraw your jar of nian bile and rip a fuuinjutsu tag, exploding the paper into a puff of smoke that transforms into your collection of aloe leaves. ''[Item Lost: $val Alchemy Reagents]'' "Oh." The old lady says, coughing politely around the burn victims whose hopes she just wrongfully dashed. "Well, I'll see myself out." Optimism and soothing unguents fill the camp as you treat the burns of the most wounded in silence. Several hours pass before your work is done and, surprisingly, the elderly woman joins you halfway through to assist with the easier tasks like washing rags or collecting water. "That's all we can do for now," you say to the old woman after four more hours of healing. She rings her wrinkled hands and nods. "I know not whether you were sent by the Wild Gods or the Saints but I will pray to them all for your good health. \ <<if ($ruthless lt 50)>>\ <<var $val (26 + (50 - $ruthless))>>\ <<else>>\ <<var $val 27 >>\ <</if>>\ <<var $prestige + 1>>\ #Search the woods for medicinal herbs. -> "ch4-village-help2" <<var $ruthless - 3>>\ The surrounding woods are ruined on the western side where the fire continued on for who knows how long, but the north side provides you with plenty of... #use-if ($craft gte 1) Apply bandages and splints instead. <<var $ruthless - 3>>\ ''[Craft/Survival $craft Check Passed]'' <<var $forexp + $craft>>\ Treating the burns is out of the question with the supplies you have on-hand and what you're willing to lose. Though that doesn't mean you're without mercy or ability. Stripping your own travel cloak and spare blanket into cloth gives you what you need for bandages and scrounging unburnt wood from the outer buildings gives you the materials for splints. You spend the next few hours tending to cuts, scrapes, sprains, and breaks, as well as putting together canes or crutches to help the wounded travel. "That's about all I can do for now." You finally say when the last patient is treated. "It should help most of you get back on your feet." "//That's all// $heshe says, as if it were nothing. Pah!" The elder woman tsks at you several times. "Believe in yourself, \ <<if ($heshe is "he")>>\ sonny! \ <<else>>\ young lady! \ <</if>>\ You've helped us more than we'd ever expect from a stranger. <<var $val (12 + ($craft*2))>>\ #show-if ($ruthless gte 57) Discard the badly wounded and keep the rest as prisoners. -> "ch4-village-taiowhisper" <<var $ruthless + 3>>\ <<var $powexp + 2>>\ "You, you, and you, you're with me." You say to the three least wounded men who are already tending to others. "What do you mean?" Asks the closest. "I mean we're getting back on the road. Leave the rest." "Leave...? But you said you were going to help!" "I lied, fool. Be thankful that you have the //privilege// to serve the $clan Clan and follow me, there is much to be done. These other peasants will be fine on their own." "No we won't." Murmurs a prone burn victim ever so meekly. "See? She's well enough to talk. Now follow me before I start breaking things." You eye the elderly woman that you've internally named 'things'. The three men stare to each other and nod, ready to fight, until your aura of $auracolor power explodes with enough intensity to knock them on their butts. You're no Master, but compared to the unpowered peasantry you've become a Monster. "Do not make me repeat myself." With tears in their eyes, they rise to their feet and follow you away from the wounded-in-need. Their eyes do not look back to their abandoned fellow villagers. ''[3 Underlings Acquired]'' <<var $underlings + 3>>\ #Leave them to their fate. -> "ch4-village-taiowhisper" <<var $ruthless + 2>>\ <<var $honor + 1>>\ Forget this, you were hoping for some old Masters with ancient secrets, not a bunch of bumpkins. You roll your eyes at this pitiful lot and head down the main road to continue your journey to Nanhou. You're not here to save a bunch of peasants, you already spent most of your life as a peasant. If they want to improve their lot in life like you then they need to pull themselves up by their bootstraps and get to work! <</choose>>

On your way out of the village you curse yourself for failure and curse these woods for the painful itch running through your palms and between your fingers, like your skin peeling off one speck at a time. In your constant irritation, you even find yourself cursing the villagers. Why did you bother trying to save <<if ($ruthless gt 54)>>\ these peasants? \ <<else>>\ them? \ <</if>>\ What's the damned point of it all if no one benefits? What's the point if //you// don't benefit? <<include "ch4-village-taiowhisper">>\

<<if ($survival gte 1)>>\ ''[Survival 1 Check Passed]'' <<var $forexp + 1>>\ ...medicinal moss and roots useful in soothing pain or protecting skin while it restores. You head back with your bundle and hand them over to the old lady, who administers the moss paste to the burn victims and boils a root extract for the others. When she lights a campfire to boil the roots most of the survivors flinch. <<var $val 18>>\ Hours later everyone is treated and most have settled down into the same ruins of a large building. The old granny wipes sweat off her brow with a half-burnt cloth and sighs with relief. "That's all we can do for now, and thank you deary," says the old woman, "thanks to that moss paste most of the others will make it to see tomorrow. We'll need every pair of hands we can get after those savages took so many away. \ <<include "ch4-village-grannywords">>\ <<else>>\ ''[Survival 1 Check Failed]'' ...trouble. What you thought was a medicinal leaf due to its nice color pattern was actually a poisonous plant inducing itchiness and swelling all over your palms and fingers. ''[1 Agility Core Depleted]'' <<if (($agility - $agispent) gte 1)>>\ <<var $agispent + 1>>\ <</if>>\ After that fiasco you become more careful with your selection, doing your best to guess at proper medical plants. You also stop at a creak //several// times to wash your hands and kill the itch. By the time you return to the villagers several have already passed away. Your ineptitude in the woods delayed the search too long. You hand the medicine over to the old lady and she peers inside your basket with remorse. <<if ($heshe is "he")>>\ "...Sonny, \ <<else>>\ "...Young lady, \ <</if>>\ these are useless weeds." Looks of despair and loss spread across the survivors. "Oh, I uh..." She places the basket down with a slow shake of the head. "I think it's best if you just go." "...Yes, that would be best." You agree and turn 180 degrees, leaving in shame immediately. <<var $val 11>>\ <<page "Continue" "ch4-village-help-failed">>\ <</if>>\

<<var $txt "As you exit town you think about how easy it is to collect a bounty when you're strong enough to not fear other scavengers. As an unpowered child the sight of a burning town would have scared you to your core, yet as a young adult it's become the equivalent of a treasure chest.">>\ <<if ($handseals gte 1)>>\ way. ''[Do you spend 1 Chi to seal your new belongings away into Fuuinjutsu paper tags?]'' <<choose "ch4-village-taiowhisper">> #show-if (((($soul / 2) + $chipool) - $chispent) gte 1) Yes. <<var $chispent + 1>>\ ''[1 Chi Point Spent]'' With deft fingers you invoke the proper zodiac handseals over your new possessions. In a flash they disappear, mystically storing each into a paper tag with sigils on the front. When stored in the paper tag the object will have nearly no weight and can be carried in your pocket. When that paper is ripped, you'll have your possessions back. The Sealing practice does your spirit some good. <<apboost 4>>\ $txt #No. Never one to trust the mystical, you pack up like a normal person and march out of town. <<var $forexp + 1>>\ $var <</choose>> <<else>>\ way. $var <<include "ch4-village-taiowhisper">>\ <</if>>\

"You're learning." Whispers Taio. //!!!// <<cap $auracolor>> energy surges around your body, blurring when you spin in place with arm extended for a backhand fist, but it connects with nothing. There's no one behind you. A spiritual scan outward reveals no Aura Pressures beyond the ambient fire and storm aura from the village's attack, and no matter how deep or hard you press your spiritual attention on the chi traces of flames you find no power hiding in them. Two and a half hours pass by in tense, battle-ready preparation before you accept that there really is no one there. "That was...strange." Almost disappointed, you continue on your way down the main road. <<page "Continue" "ch4-camp-after-village">>\

<<var $chosewoods true>>\ <<if ($survival gte 2)>>\ ''[Survival 2 Check Passed]'' You're no amateur, sleeping near the inn is a fool's errand. Dozens of Martial Artists will be trying to save every Shard just like you and there's bound to be problems when so many proud warriors meet. On top of that, anyone who came to the same realization as you will march forward for another half hour then try the woods there. Amateurs. Even if no one else would be around you up ahead, the area itself would still be picked clean from the travelers heading to the Trials over the last few weeks. The real rewards are in the untouched woods. So you //backtrack// half an hour, away from Nanhou, to ensure you get good rest without competition. Gratification fills your smug heart when you find no tracks to indicate anyone has tried this area in quite a while, with the inn being more promising and the woods beyond it used as a backup plan for the "smart" Martial Artists. This area however is so untouched that you even manage to find a few useful herbs and spirit fruits from trees that have been absorbing ambient aura. <<var $val (($survival * 2) + ($alchemy * 2))>>\ ''[Item Gained: 5 Alchemy Reagents]'' <<var $alchemyreagents + 5>>\ <<apboost $val>>\ <<var $val 0>>\ You find a secure grove of trees so you can't be ambushed and rest soundly like a tiger in their own domain... <<page "Continue" "ch4-woods2">>\ <<else>>\ Only a fool would spend resources on comfort when you could save that money toward Cultivation. You march into the woods a ways past the inn and setup camp from your travel bags. "Who's there?" Calls a boisterous shout from behind a tree. A head pokes out and you see a bald man in some grey combat gi. "You dare steal my camp site? Go pay for lodgings like the other fools, while a true Martial Artist like me saves every shard for Cultivatio-" A second voice speaks out and another man pops up from behind some boulders in a dull yellow combat gi. "Hah! As if you have the brains to discover //my// camp site! Why don't you //both// go back to the inn like the fools you are and-" "Who goes there?" shouts a third voice, a man walking the trail behind you in brown combat gi. He drops his camping gear when he sees you all arguing. "What are you all doing here?! I just finished dueling the last moron for stealing my camp site!" Damn it all. You pack your things up and walk out of this powder keg. You're here for sleep after sixty straight hours on the road, not for a pissing contest over who can live the most frugally. You march off just as things start to get heated and auras flare. On your way out you pass a Martial Artist in black combat gi and warn him that the guys up ahead stole his camp site. <<page "Continue" "ch4-woods3">>\ <</if>>\

A Beast. <div class="fightingfont">Thunderfaller vs Sabretooth</div>\ <<statcheck>>\ You freeze still and the two of you lock eyes in the dim pale light of the night's final moments. You rise to your feet and acknowledge that one of you is experiencing their own final moments as well. The tiger pounces, reaching for your throat. <<var $fighting true>>\ <<include "ch4-woods-round1">>\

By reflex you charge an energy blast of $auracolor chi into each fist, still wrapped around the sabretooth tiger's massive fangs. You unleash the blasts into its mouth. \ <<var $combatstat "soul">>\ <<combatcheck 4>>\ <<if ($passcheck is true)>>\ With a surge of light your hands glow brighter and brighter until the sabretooth tiger stops and tries to pull back, but it's too late. You've got it by the fangs. As it backs away from you it only drags you to your feet, bloodied but unbroken, and the shining $auracolor light of your hands grows more vibrant by the second. The creatures eyes turn to panic just before you unload your two-handed blast right into its open mouth. The explosive force sends it airborne by ten feet. <<var $tigerhurt + 1>>\ <<else>>\ But its no use. Your soul is too weak and the scorching blast of your internal chi is dispersed by the energetic force being pumped through the sabretooth tiger's fangs. It continues to bite into your shoulder. <<woundcheck 1 false false>>\ Your blood curdling scream adds to your own adrenaline, forcing you to kick it off in a final desperate attempt at life. It lands ten feet away as you rise to your feet, bloodied. <</if>>\ <<page "Continue" "ch4-woods-round2">>\

<<var $combatstat "power">>\ <<var $combatstat2 "fortitude">>\ <<combatcheck 8>>\ <<if ($passcheck is true)>>\ Big Chu warned you in your training. Combat isn't all about your own choices, it also depends on the opponent's reaction in a battle of equals. You'll have no control over the sabretooth tiger's next move. If you were equals. You are not. With a heave of unnatural power you lift the Beast belly-up, high overhead, and yank its back down onto your knee with the force of a battering ram. Its spine collides into your immovable bones with a satisfying crack and the Beast spasms violently. You leap back to gain distance and know you've dealt a telling blow. This will all be over soon. \ <<var $tigerhurt + 1>>\ <<else>>\ The Beast latches onto the tree with its claws and climbs up, taking the initiative to sprint up at alarming speeds. It nearly disappears up the tree before it turns around and kicks off a branch, diving at you. Fast! <<var $combatstat "agility">>\ <<combatcheck 4>>\ <<if ($passcheck is true)>>\ But not fast enough. The red glow of its chi-infused claws help you track its movements and you leap backwards just in time to escape its reach. The Beast lands gracefully and follows up with a second set of claws but you're already on guard, spinning in place and kicking dirt into its eyes, followed up with another full spin leading to a kick to its face. The Beast flies back several feet and scrambles to its feet. <<else>>\ Your speed is no match for this Beast's prowess and it crashes into you, tumbling you both to the ground where you have two normal hands and it has four sets of claws. Claws that it uses well, gouging new lines of bleeding wounds down your limbs all over. <<aploss 4>>\ <<woundcheck 1 false false>>\ You give an amateur punch with all your might to knock it off you and surprisingly it hits, knocking the tiger back ten feet and giving you a chance to get to your feet. <</if>>\ <</if>>\ <<page "Continue" "ch4-woods-round2">>\

Blood blurs your vision from multiple forehead wounds. Not good, you think, and you can only barely make out the figure of the sabretooth Beast landing from its leap in front of you after clawing you from overhead. It turns and charges back at you, but you can't tell its limbs from its body. looking through the blood covering your eyes is difficult enough just to see the blob coming at you. There's only one option, and so you focus all your power into defense and slam yourself forward, <<if ($fortitude lte 2)>>\ hoping you'll meet the Beast's attack before it can gain momentum. <<else>>\ crashing into the sabretooth Beast like a steel anvil. <</if>>\ <<var $combatstat "fortitude">>\ <<combatcheck 4>>\ <<if ($passcheck is true)>>\ Your gambit pays off and the tiger realizes its mistake too late. Your body hardens and dashes directly into its chest head-first, colliding into the tiger's chest like a cannonball and you feel something inside break with a sickening crunch. A howling scream comes from the Tiger's mouth and it bats you away, is claws failing to cut you. <<var $tigerhurt + 1>>\ You're knocked ten feet away or so and find the blood from your forehead has stopped thanks to your enhanced Fortitude. Both your hands go up in a battle stance and the tiger crouches low, staring at you in a new light: a threat. The battle rages on. <<else>>\ Fangs cut through your thigh out of nowhere as you realize the figure was closer than it appeared and your body isn't nearly as dense as you'd hoped. Warm blood leaks down your pants and the Beast shakes its head to get a better angle with which to bite, but you turn just in time to survive the second attack with just a gash down your left ribs. <<woundcheck 1 false false>>\ The rush of battle is the only thing keeping you alive, and its that rush that pushes you to counter an incoming charge with a spinning back-kick. Your foot collides with the tiger's upper jaw and deflects the Beast to the side while pushing yourself away in the air. Both of you land a dozen paces apart. This fight's not over yet. <</if>>\ <<page "Continue" "ch4-woods-round2">>\

The Beast lands on the ground behind you with a sharp whine, its joints buckling after the beating you just gave them. It looks like you have the chance to push the offense- It opens its fanged mouth unnaturally wide and sits. Immediately you feel something is wrong. Your senses go wild: a spiritual attack! The moment you notice a flicker of red light in the Beast's mouth it's already too late; the light erupts into a river of scorching red power washing over your body. You don't have any flashy Techniques yet. There's no weapon in your arsenal to combat this Beast's energy beam but your raw power and honed control. Could a single energy blast contest with the power of a true Technique? <<var $combatstat "soul">>\ <<var $combatstat2 "power">>\ <<combatcheck 7>>\ <<if ($passcheck is true)>>\ Yes. It can. With all your will you summon up the full might of your internal energies and unleash a bonfire-size basic energy blast that you throw at the river of power, colliding into it so hard that the Technique loses form and erupts completely. But that's not all. Your attack didn't erupt. The Beast has no warning at all when your shining $auracolor blast parts its river of energy and collides into its open mouth, blasting a lined crater through the ground as the Beast is dragged back twelve paces. <<var $tigerhurt + 1>>\ You choke out a set of heavy, painful breaths and feel the hostile heat in the air almost choking you out...But the sabretooth rises shakily to its feet once again. Rest can wait until the fight is over. <<else>>\ No, it can't. The river of power collides into your body and burns into your skin, knocking you like a hose kick all over your body. You fly across the forest floor by thirty feet until you collide with a tree. <<woundcheck 1 false true>>\ Only your combat instincts from Big Chu's training save you from immediate death as you launch an energy blast the second you hit the tree. It's weak but the sensation of hostile power is enough to scare the sabretooth into stopping its charge; you knew it would be following you after that attack, and it would've gored you to death the second it caught up. Now you have a second to stand, smoke still coming off your body, and you eye the Beast through unflinching eyes. Your message is clear: This fight isn't over. <</if>>\ <<page "Continue" "ch4-woods-round2">>\

<<var $chispent + 1>>\ You stand still and focus your \ <<if ($val is 444)>>\ $element2 \ <<else>>\ $element1 \ <</if>>\ chi through your entire body. The sabretooth Beast crouches low and prepares for a pounce. Both your hands meet calmly in front of your chest, palms touching. Each breath steadies your internal energies and cycles the power of \ <<if ($val is 444)>>\ $element2 \ <<else>>\ $element1 \ <</if>>\ through your aura. The Beast closes the gap between you in an instant. You exhale and release all tension out of your body. Focus is most important. The Beast's claws extend and swipe at your unprotected throat for the kill. It's stopped by a shockwave of power when your auras touch. Your eyes shine open like two blazing $auracolor torches and an explosion of \ <<if ($val is 444)>>\ <<if ($element2 is "Fire")>>\ burning energy scorches through \ <<elseif ($element2 is "Ice")>>\ freezing energy engulfs \ <<elseif ($element2 is "Storm")>>\ shocking energy electrocutes \ <<elseif ($element2 is "Water")>>\ crushing water with the force of the deepest trench engulfs \ <<elseif ($element2 is "Earth")>>\ stalagmites shoot from the ground and pierce through the underbelly of \ <<elseif ($element2 is "Wind")>>\ razor-sharp wind slices through the chest of \ <<elseif ($element2 is "Darkness")>>\ void energy blasts through \ <<elseif ($element2 is "Light")>>\ solar energy blasts through \ <</if>>\ <<else>>\ <<if ($element1 is "Fire")>>\ burning energy scorches through \ <<elseif ($element1 is "Ice")>>\ freezing energy engulfs \ <<elseif ($element1 is "Storm")>>\ shocking energy electrocutes \ <<elseif ($element1 is "Water")>>\ crushing water with the force of the deepest trench engulfs \ <<elseif ($element1 is "Earth")>>\ stalagmites shoot from the ground and pierce through the underbelly of \ <<elseif ($element1 is "Wind")>>\ razor-sharp wind slices through the chest of \ <<elseif ($element1 is "Darkness")>>\ void energy blasts through \ <<elseif ($element1 is "Light")>>\ solar energy blasts through \ <</if>>\ <</if>>\ the sabretooth Tiger before it has a chance to howl. You can feel its aura dissipate as its body and spirit are attacked directly by a source of real power. <<var $val 0>>\ <<page "Continue" "ch4-woods-killedtiger">>\

You're pinned on the ground with a chi-infused sabretooth tiger eating you alive. This is not the fate you envisioned, and it's not a fate you'll accept. Chi of your own flows through your veins and you channel it into your free arm. <<var $combatstat "power">>\ <<combatcheck 4>>\ <<if ($passcheck is true)>>\ "BEGONE!" You scream with a bonebreaking elbow to the sabretooth's face. You can feel its cheek indent as if struck by a meteor. The Beast staggers for a moment and you seize that opportunity to strike it again, reeling back this time with a full-bodied twist into your punch. <<var $tigerhurt + 1>>\ The impact is satisfying. Under the strength of your arm the tiger not only buckles but soars, launching through the air a dozen paces. Had it not been for the sabretooth tiger's control of chi as a Beast you're positive its head would have come off. You rise to your feet, bleeding but invigorated. The tiger stands shakily and looks at you in a new light: a threat. You can do this. <<else>>\ The giant sabretooth rips your body back and forth on the ground to disrupt your chi channeling and continues to bite into your shoulder. <<woundcheck 1 false false>>\ Screams escape your mouth and blood pools under your back as the tiger stands over you and eats you alive. Your life of struggles and constant labor flash before your eyes. The training all a waste, the constant efforts under Big Chu failing to save you from a single Beast. All the Martial Arts practice in the world cannot match up to real battle experience, you might as well be another amateur kid who only knows how to kick someone in the- ... //Please, please, PLEASE be a male tiger!// You think to yourself as you swing a foot up with all your might and connect, kicking the sabretooth Beast directly in the dick and sending it sprinting away with a whining yelp. A laugh almost escapes your lips but your mouth is too full of blood to execute it. You rise to your feet and spit it out, focusing your chi into keeping your body alive and raising both hands to continue the fight. A dozen paces away the tiger has recovered. This fight isn't over. <</if>>\ <<page "Continue" "ch4-woods-round2">>\

The sabretooth tiger releases a deafening roar of pain and rage as your attack hits, interrupted when it collides with the tree behind it. But before you have time to gloat it's already gone. A blur of red energy tells you it's surged an Agility Core to move at heightened speeds. And its trail of red chi leads right behind you. <<var $combatstat "fortitude">>\ <<combatcheck 4>>\ <<if ($passcheck is true)>>\ A look. That's all it takes. You turn your head and stare into the eyes of the sabretooth tiger behind you as its jaws clamp down on your skull for the kill. In that fraction of a second your eyes meet and the sabretooth knows that death has come. Then its fangs clamp on your skull on instinct and find no purchase, even on your skin. And now its underbelly is exposed to you. You grab the beast's chest with one hand for leverage and, with the other, punch your steel-skinned fist into its heart, knocking it back so hard that it bounces off the ground twice before landing. \ <<var $tigerhurt + 1>>\ <<else>>\ <<woundcheck 1 false false>>\ You turn too late and feel its jaws close in on your skull. On reflex you push back and avoid having your head crushed like a melon, but still feel the lancing pain of its large fangs cut through your cheeks as you pull away. It tries to follow up with a second bite but you kick off with inhuman power of desperation and land ten feet away. <</if>>\ <<page "Continue" "ch4-woods-round2">>\

<div class="fightingfont">Thunderfaller vs Sabretooth</div>\ <div class="fightingfont">Victory!</div>\ <<statcheck>>\ <<var $fighting false>>\ You pant and wipe sweat from your brow with a trembling hand, adrenal shakes still rock through your body from the rush of a life-and-death battle. The large sabretooth tiger lies defeated on the forest floor, unconscious with shallow breaths, and you feel the power of true battle experience \ <<if (($subrace is "Cat") or ($subrace is "Wolf"))>>\ against an ancestral rival \ <</if>>\ flow through your <<if ($subrace is "Cat")>>\ veins. These lands only have room for one feline Beast, and that's you. <<else>>\ veins. <</if>>\ <<if ($jadedragonfoundation is false)>>\ <<achieve "Cat Fight">>\ <</if>>\ <<fightexp 10>>\ <<if ($subrace is "Cat")>>\ ''[Cat Yokai Bonus]'' <<apboost 5>>\ <<elseif ($subrace is "Wolf")>>\ ''[Wolf Yokai Bonus]'' <<apboost 5>>\ <</if>>\ It's more than that though, there's something else stirring at the center of your Cores...No, only one of your Cores. A Fortitude Core. That Beast came to consume you. To end your life and use your body to continue is own. An unforgivable insult and sin. Deep inside your mind a natural and primal fear clashed against your will to survive and stirred something inside you. Something best learned in the wilds, not the dojo. Something basic but necessary, ancient and forgotten by too many. ''[Technique Learned: Iron Body]'' <<var $ironbody true>>\ <<var $forsurge + 1>>\ ''[Iron Body can be used to make your skin as dense as metal and allows you to Surge 2 Fortitude Cores at once, effectively giving you up to +2 Fortitude for difficult checks when needed.]'' <<page "Continue" "ch4-woods-killedtiger2">>\

<<if ($tigerusedroc)>>\ $rocname lands almost-gracefully next to you with a flutter of her giant wings. You give her a treat and she nuzzles your \ <<if ($wounds gt 0)>>\ cheek, her hard beak scratching a bruise. You wince. "Easy girl, it's not every day I get hit by a giant tiger." You take a few minutes to wrap yourself in a few bandages and look \ <<else>>\ cheek. You've taken no wounds so you don't mind and give her a gentle pat before pushing her back and looking <</if>>\ over the Beast's unconscious body. $rocname reaches for it as a meal and you have to stop her. "Down girl!" You shout, arms wrapped around her neck to stop her dining lunge. "That's mine!" "Rrrreeeeeee!!" She screeches. "No! Bad bird!" It takes another five lunges but she finally relents and flies off find her own breakfast, miffed. With her gone you finally have a breathing moment to analyze the Beast's body. <<else>>\ <<if ($wounds gt 0)>>\ It takes a quick minute to your clean off using your waterskin and tend to your wounds with bandages from your pack. When you're done you stare over at the Beast's unmoving body. <<else>>\ After calming down by splashing some water on your face from a nearby stream and taking a few much-needed gulps, you stare over at the Beast's unmoving body. <</if>>\ <</if>>\ Somewhere in there is a Soul Treasure that the sabretooth Beast uses to store its power; a focus like a physical counterpart to your spiritual Cores. Likely a fang or bone, possibly an organ. \ It would be a shame to waste it...But this was the Beast's domain. You have no claim to these woods and Mother has always taught you that such authority has meaning. You were the intruder, is it right to kill the warden of this land? Or do Beasts not count as landowners? The options weigh in your mind until you finally... <<choose "ch4-woods-killedtiger3">> #Finish the Beast off and harvest what I can from its corpse. You harden your hand with the Iron Body Technique and slice down on the sabretooth's neck with an execution strike. The Soul Treasure is easier to find than you expected. One of the Beast's hind paws has an red claw that practically shines with power. You didn't notice during the fight because its front claws were a closer threat. <<rand $val 550 625>>\ ''[Item Gained: Sabretooth Soul Treasure]'' <<var $sabretoothtrophy $val>>\ You harvest some of the sabretooth's meat for breakfast as well but the taste is awful and barely increases your Aura Pressure at all. <<apboost 2>>\ <<if ($race is "Yokai")>>\ ''[Yokai Bonus: Aura Pressure +3]'' <<var $aurapressure + 3>>\ <</if>>\ Still, you pack some up to dry as jerky \ <<if ($roc gt 0)>>\ and food for $rocname \ <<var $roccombat + 1>>\ <</if>>\ so you can save on expenses. Meat is meat. All that leaves is the pelt... #Leave the noble creature and head back on the trail. <<var $ruthless - 5>>\ <<var $honor + 3>>\ <<var $powexp + 12>>\ <<var $forexp + 10>>\ <<var $solexp + 10>>\ <<var $agiexp + 12>>\ <<if ($race is "Yokai")>>\ <<var $aurapressure + 3>>\ <</if>>\ As you leave the sabretooth Beast to the mercy of the woods you can't help but feel that you're being watched. An eerie sense of judgment - and gratitude? - permeates through the air and you swear you can hear voices whispering in the trees. A quick spiritual scan reveals nothing but the feeling sends a chill down the back of your neck. On a completely unrelated note, you pack up camp immediately and sprint back onto the trail towards Nanhou. You're running because you're excited for the Trials, and that's the story you're sticking to if anyone asks. <<page "Continue" "ch4-dreamstart">>\ <</choose>>

<<choose "ch4-dreamstart">> #use-if ($survival gte 1) Skin the Beast for a sellable pelt. [Survival Check] <<var $pelt 1>>\ Ca-ching! You were wrong about the Soul Treasure, this stubborn Beast was well on its way to forming a second: its pelt. The bad news is it takes you far longer than you'd like to skin the sabretooth. The good news is this is premium material for any number of specialty items. You can get good money for this whenever you find a buyer, which should be easy in Nanhou where Martial Artists are gathering for the Heavenly Ascension Trials. You pack the giant pelt over your camping bag and march back onto the roads. <<page "Continue" "ch4-dreamstart">>\ #use-if ($craft gte 1) Skin the Beast to craft a regal cloak. [Craft Check] Lucky day! You were wrong about the one Soul Treasure, this stubborn Beast was well on its way to forming a second: its pelt. You strip the pelt off and dry it fast using salts and chi then get to trimming and sewing, ending up with a giant golden-brown fur cloak leading from your head down to your feet with the top half of a sabretooth's skull hanging over your forehead. ''[Item Gained: Sabretooth Cloak]'' <<var $sabrecloak + 1>>\ ''[Can be equipped as an Accessory in your Inventory]'' Donning your new sabretooth cloak fills you with a sense of security and command, infusing you with a fraction of the Beast's regal power. You march back to the road with pride on your journey to the Heavenly Ascension Trials in Nanhou. <<page "Continue" "ch4-dreamstart">>\ #Leave it be. What is there to be done? You've already mangled the pelt to get the Soul Treasure and meat. You leave the scene of your fight behind and pack up camp. There's a long journey ahead on your way to the Heavenly Ascension Trials in Nanhou. <<page "Continue" "ch4-dreamstart">>\ <</choose>>

<<choose "ch4-woods-catchl">> #Catch it by the fangs. <<var $combatstat "power">>\ <<var $combatstat2 "fortitude">>\ <<combatcheck 6>>\ <<if ($passcheck is true)>>\ With the might of a true warrior you catch its fangs in both hands to end its attack. But catching a Beast in midair is not enough when it still has claws available. You twist the monster's lunge into your own force and swing it to the side, slamming it into a tree with enough force to crack the giant oak and the tiger both. <<var $tigerhurt + 1>>\ The Beast releases a scream that crosses an irritated cat's screech with a true monster's guttural howl. <<page "Continue" "ch4-woods-catchw">>\ <<else>>\ You successfully grab onto its massive, razor-sharp, chi-infused fangs. That is the good news. The bad news is you did not stop their momentum. They are now in your shoulder blade. <<woundcheck 1 false false>>\ "AAHHHHHH!!!!" The blood-curdling scream of being devoured escapes your lips as the sabretooth tiger pins you to the ground by the shoulder and starts to chew. <<page "Continue" "ch4-woods-catchl">>\ <</if>>\ #Dodge for a counterattack. <<var $combatstat "agility">>\ <<combatcheck 4>>\ <<if ($passcheck is true)>>\ A quick duck is all you need in most cases, but this is a //sabretooth tiger//. If you're going to fight fast, you're going to fight dirty. You duck under its mighty leap and grab two handfuls of dirt off the ground instantly, throwing one at the Beast's eyes and one at is underbelly just before its initial leap takes it over your head. The Beast's sense of sight and sense of touch are both disrupted. It's time to attack. <<var $val ($agility * 2)>>\ It's obvious as the massive tiger flies over you that any attack will be counterattacked with one of its four massive claws, so that's what you go for. In a surge of $auracolor chi you push power into your arms and deliver a punishing flurry of blows to all four of the Beast's elbow joints, making it pull its legs in every direction instinctively to avoid the next strikes. In the fraction of a second that is quick lunge takes it over your head you manage to strike $val times. <<var $val 0>>\ <<var $tigerhurt + 1>>\ <<page "Continue" "ch4-woods-dodgew">>\ <<else>>\ With a quick dodge you've able to duck under the sabretooth Beast's bite and deliver a serious of quick blows to the sabretooth's underbelly. Where its four legs are poised to attack with razor-sharp claws. Your speed and reach prove insufficient as the Beast reacts in time and shreds your head, chest, and shoulders from above with its natural weaponry. <<woundcheck 1 false false>>\ <<page "Continue" "ch4-woods-dodgel">>\ <</if>>\ #Blast it out of the air. <<var $combatstat "soul">>\ <<combatcheck 5>>\ <<if ($passcheck is true)>>\ You've never learned a real combat Technique, but you've learned the foundations. And you've improved on them. With both hands outstretched to your sides you conjure the raw scorching power of your internal $auracolor chi, shining brighter than bonfires. When the Beast gets close you slam your hands together and direct the collision of the blasts directly into its body, knocking the Beast into the air. It's a good hit, but superficial. Then you charge up a second bonfire of chi and throw it at the airborne Beast where it can't dodge. //That// attack is not superficial, and the direct hit blows the monster back into a tree. <<var $tigerhurt + 1>>\ <<page "Continue" "ch4-woods-fight-blastw">>\ <<else>>\ You've never learned a real combat Technique and now you truly wish you had. The Beast closes in on you with its sharp fangs and you charge up a glowing sphere of $auracolor chi in each hand. But you're too slow. A savage roar imbalances the flow of your chi and the sabretooth tiger is already upon you. With one massive claw it knocks your arm aside and disrupts the chi blast, then targets the other by biting into your left shoulder. Its full weight crashes into you and knocks you to the ground, giving added force to its massive fangs that pierce your flesh while the two of you fall. <<woundcheck 1 false false>>\ <<page "Continue" "ch4-woods-fight-blastl">>\ <</if>>\ <</choose>>

<div class="fightingfont">Thunderfaller vs Sabretooth</div>\ <<statcheck>>\ The tiger paces around your makeshift camp clockwise to find a new mode of attack, growling in anger. It clearly wants its meal and it wants it now, guaranteed by the rules of nature. Rules you spit on. Before it can choose its next action you remind it who is the hunter and who is the prey. <<var $val (6 - $tigerhurt)>>\ <<choose "ch4-woods-tigerflees">> #Deliver an aerial elbow strike. It's time to end this. You sprint at the sabretooth and it rears up on its hind legs in return. Massive claws extend once again to rip you to shreds, but the animal is too close to a tree for its own good. When you come just outside its striking distance you kick off the ground hard enough to launch a cloud of dirt around you and speed towards the tree branch fifteen feet up. You twist in the air and your feet slam into the tree's sturdy branch from the bottom. To the Beast's perspective, you're squatting upside down. Then you attack. <<var $combatstat "power">>\ <<combatcheck $val>>\ <<if ($passcheck is true)>>\ The branch explodes from the impact of your downward launch, scattering a storm of splinters through the air as you dash at the tiger's back. Your elbow stiffens and connects with the back of the Beast's nape, digging hard into its sturdy coat and dividing the muscles cleanly with the force of your blow. The impact is so powerful that you not only feel its spine snap, you //hear// it. Your target's body cushions your fast descent into the ground and the two of you tumble, hard, forcing you to roll off several feet. You rise to your feet quickly. If the sabretooth survived its going to come at you with everything it has, and you can't be caught unprepared on the ground. But when you get to your feet to take up a battle stance you see your fears are unfounded. The sabretooth Beast lays still on the ground, its neck hanging at an odd angle. It won't be getting back up. <<page "Continue" "ch4-woods-killedtiger">>\ <<else>>\ The Beast turns just in time to face you and avoid a fatal blow as you kick off the branch and dive at it with a lethal elbow strike harnessing the full power of your weight and speed. Before you can strike the Beast's nape and break its spine, it turns to face you. And takes an elbow directly to the face, crunching its nose in. The force of your blow forces you to tumble over the sabretooth, crashing to the ground. You rise quickly and prepare for a counterattack but instead see the Beast running off, clearly interested in prey that won't bust its face open so badly. <<apboost 8>>\ <<var $forexp + 2>>\ After a few minutes of searching you accept that the Beast has fully fled, pack up your camp, and get back on the road. <<page "Continue" "ch4-dreamstart">>\ <</if>>\ #Execute a disorienting ten-punch combo. Enough games. No flashy moves, no secret Technique, no grand finale. This Beast tried to kill you and now it circles you like prey, as if this were some fight that belonged in nature. You're far from natural. You're a Martial Artist and this unwashed Beast will learn its mistake. You rush in and close the distance between the two of you in just an instant. The sabretooth rears its head back defensively and swings at you with its large claw but you catch the paw in your left hand while delivering a cross-punch with your right, knocking its arm off balance and slamming the tiger's jaw with your fist. Then you strike its other arm just before it swings at you. The Beast roars and tries to leap over you, in an attempt to eviscerate you with its hind legs, and you grab its neck in response and throw the creature over your shoulder instead. It collides into a collection of nearby rocks. <<var $combatstat "agility">>\ <<combatcheck $val>>\ <<if ($passcheck is true)>>\ This fight is no longer on the tiger's terms. If it wants to protect its head, you strike its head. If it wants to advance, you knock it back. If it wants to retreat, you close the distance. As you throw the Beast into a tree it lands upside down. Realization reflects in the eyes of the man-eating monster: You are the predator. It is the prey. One quick dash closes the distance before the sabretooth Beast can right itself and you start raining punches down on its underbelly and joints. Three to the gut, two to deflect attacks. //Faster.// Three to the chest, three to the hind legs, two to the head. Your arms begin to glow. //FASTER!!// Seven to the chest, four to the neck, three to deflect attacks. Your whole body begins to glow. //''FASTER!!!''// Eight to the belly, four to the groin, six to the chest, ten to the head. Vibrant flashes emit from each impact. The last sight the Beast sees before losing consciousness is a wild $race blurring in a violent frenzy of $auracolor light. <<page "Continue" "ch4-woods-killedtiger">>\ <<else>>\ <<include "ch4-woods-tigerflees">>\ <</if>>\ #Release a volley of energy blasts. This fight needs to end. You mimic the sabretooth Beast's circular prowling and charge chi through your chest and down your arms, concentrating it into your palms. You keep your breath steady and cycle your Cores to spin out as much power as you can. You're going to need it. The Beast finally takes its opportunity and pounces, charging red chi through its claws in its own final attack, but you've charged up enough power quickly. If this monster wanted to devour you for the power in your soul then it can have it. You unleash the $auracolor force of inner chi stored in your hands with a blast of hostile energy, slamming into the Beast midair. <<var $combatstat "soul">>\ <<combatcheck $val>>\ <<if ($passcheck is true)>>\ It recoils from the scorching impact of your energy blast and adjusts itself to continue its attack, and you hold back a - no. No, you don't hold back a laugh. You //laugh//. <<var $ruthless + 2>>\ <<var $val (($soul + $insight) + $handseals)>>\ Then you fire the other $val chi blasts you've been storing. A cacophony of tiger screams and explosions fill the forest as your relentless assault strikes the tiger so hard and so fast that the Beast remains in the air, battered like a ragdoll, practically juggled by the nonstop blitz of hostile blasts. Near the end you're pouring attacks out so quickly that you're not even firing them from your hands anymore, instead forming a boiling orb of chi in front of your outstretched arms and launching the blasts from the raging energy inside. When your assault finally ends the Beast falls to the ground ungracefully. Its body is sturdy, a powerful hide designed to withstand so many attacks, but everything has is limits and this monster's limit didn't measure up to your final attack. It lies on the ground, defeated. <<page "Continue" "ch4-woods-killedtiger">>\ <<else>>\ <<var $solspent + 1>>\ <<include "ch4-woods-tigerflees">>\ <</if>>\ #show-if ($element1 isnot "None") use-if ((($chipool + ($soul/2)) - $chispent) gte 1) Unleash a full-power $element1 Blast. [Costs 1 Chi] -> "ch4-woods-element" #show-if ($element2 isnot "") use-if ((($chipool + ($soul/2)) - $chispent) gte 1) Unleash a full-power $element2 Blast. [Costs 1 Chi] -> "ch4-woods-element" <<var $val 444>>\ #show-if ($roc > 0) Call down $rocname. [Requires Roc Companion] <<var $tigerusedroc true>>\ There's more than one Beast in this forest. With a whistle you summon your Roc from her resting perch high above you on the heavy branches. The tiger shrinks back at what it assumes was an attack, but recovers quickly and leaps at you again. Being airborne was the worst thing it could have done. <<cap $rocname>> uses the momentum to grab the Beast by its back with both talons and soar into the air. The sabretooth howls in pain and struggles to turn over, clawing at your Roc's legs, but it can't reach behind it far enough. Too much muscle. <<cap $rocname>> flaps her wings as hard as they'll go and you notice a slight glow around her. Huh, when did she learn to surge Power Cores? You feel a bit of pride as she ascends to nearly 500 feet in the air over a collection of boulders then drops the murderous sabretooth that tried to take her master's life. To the tiger's credit, it lands feet-first. Then its ribs when its legs collapse instantly. Then its skull when its ribs collapse instantly. Blood pools around the rocks but you remain cautious. It would take more than that to kill a spiritually-enhanced Beast. Yet even so, for now it does not rise. <<page "Continue" "ch4-woods-killedtiger">>\ <</choose>>

<<var $fighting false>>\ The Sabretooth roars in pain while shrinking back from your attack. Before you can follow-up it performs the counter you least expected: it runs. Heavy breaths steady your legs as the damned thing up and flees, dashing through the trees to escape from what was obviously not an easy meal. After a few minutes of searching around you accept that the cowardly cat is actually gone and sigh with relief. Surviving against a man-eating monster is a victory of its own. <<var $forexp + 2>>\ <<apboost 6>>\ <<page "Continue" "ch4-dreamstart">>\

...For six hours. Then you feel the presence of a //real// tiger in its domain. At the foot of your camp stalks a massive sabretooth tiger, its back the height of your chest and twice as wide. Red chi gleams off its two massive fangs the size of your forearms. <<if ($portraitpics is true)>>\ <<image "https://www.auraclash.com/assets/images/sabretooth.jpg">>\ <</if>>\ <<include "ch4-woods-beast">>\

It takes you another hour to find a camping site that //doesn't// have at least 3 Martial Artist hobos hiding behind every corner. The entire experience is exhausting and sleep takes you away to a pleasant dream the second your head rests against the ground. ''[1 Chi Point Rested]'' <<var $chispent - 1>>\ ... ... ... For about three hours, until a heavy presence approaches in your spiritual senses. You open bleary bloodshot eyes, awoken too soon. <<if ($survival gte 1)>>\ ''[Survival 1 Check Passed]'' <<var $powexp + 1>>\ ''[No Chi Points Lost]'' <<else>>\ ''[Survival 1 Check Failed]'' ''[1 Chi Point Spent]'' <<var $chispent + 1>>\ <</if>>\ And that's when you see the visitor. Not another Martial Artist asking if you'd dare steal their unmarked camp site, but an enormous sabretooth tiger with red-glowing fangs the size of your forearms. <<if ($portraitpics is true)>>\ <<image "https://www.auraclash.com/assets/images/sabretooth.jpg">>\ <</if>>\ <<include "ch4-woods-beast">>\

<<if ($val is 696969)>>\ It all shatters when you're forced to cover your ears and contort your body instead, guarding yourself from a piercing shriek that comes from deep in Ebikowa near the graveyard. The echo indicates how impossibly loud the wailing shriek must have been up close. Angelo, partially bent towards you in his arms, looks off to the town and closes his eyes. You feel a quick spiritual scan as his aura lightly pulses out in an incredible radius. "Whatever that is, it's heading away from us fast...impossibly fast. We should go." "Um...Yes." You admit. "Put me down, quickly." <<else>>\ Suddenly an inhuman shriek comes from deeper in Ebikowa, near the graveyard. All eyes turn toward the sound. Angelo closes his eyes and reaches his spiritual senses out. "Whatever it is, it's heading away from us. Fast. But we should go all the same." You couldn't agree more. <</if>>\ <<page "Continue" "ch5-askships">>\

"Who owns these ships?" You ask to the crowd. "Sunbringers came in on them." One man speaks up in the back. \ <<if ($style isnot "Akakiru")>>\ Leona nods behind the man and points to herself, mouthing the words 'I came in on them'. <</if>>\ "Then they're ours." Bo says. "The Thunderfall Sect and Sunbringer Sect are enemies. As I'm the senior Thunderfaller present, they fall to the Bo Clan." "Agreed!" Leona chirps \ <<if ($style is "Akakiru")>>\ cheerfully from under the dock, stealing who knows what. \ <<else>>\ cheerfully. \ <</if>>\ "I'm sure no Sunbringers survived and no repercussions will ever befall the Bo Clan's health or finances when they're split all the way to the coast halfway across Outer West." Bo Lo's eyes dart to the top-right of his vision as he ponders. Then he starts to sweat. Finally he nods with a nervous laugh while patting you on the back. "Congratulations on your bounty." <<if ($style is "Midorikatai")>>\ Tian Fang snickers and \ <</if>>\ Bo walks off to gather supplies while Kosuke looks upon your selection of double-masted dhows, an incredible luxury you never expected in a hundred years. \ <<if ($distraction is "Fire")>>\ That is, $bffheshe looks upon the ones that aren't //on fire//. \ <</if>>\ <<cap $bffheshe>> spits on the ground. "They're no Atakebune, but they'll do. I suppose." You throw a bag at $bffhimher. "Jealousy is a disease. May you get well soon." Kosuke rolls $bffhisher eyes with a smile. "You stole that line from the butcher's kid. I'm stealing it too if you don't use it at the Trials." <<cap $bffheshe>> looks back to the ships while \ <<if ($style is "Aoyusumu")>>\ Angelo tends to the wounded civilians. \ <<else>>\ the freed civilians finish tending to each other's wounds. \ <</if>>\ "So which ones are you thinking about? Worst case scenario we can dismantle one ship to fix another if we have problems, but only if we take the same type of ship so...What are we sailing in, boss?" You look upon the large, double-masted dhows and notice Kosuke's right. They all share the same general design and must be from the same raided shipyard; even the Reinforcement seals on their hulls to protect against chi have the same patterns. Design-wise, it's as if someone had tried to create the larger junkships and had to scale down, but there are clear differences among them. <<if ($cj is 2)>>\ With deep concern you look back to the armed civilians who robbed the Sunbringers for you. "Which ships did we put the cargo on?" "Apologies, Young Master." Says one of the men with a bloody-wrapped leg. "We knew not which ship you would desire, so we put all our loot onto the..." <<elseif ($distraction is "Fire")>>\ In the end it's a tough choice, but you're forced to pick the ones Kosuke didn't light on fire. You order everyone to get on the... <<else>>\ In the end you order everyone to get on the... <</if>>\ <<choose "ch5-askships2">> #Merchant Ships [Increased Cargo Capacity, Improved Security] <<var $flagshiptype "merchant">>\ <<var $flagshipbase + 10>>\ <<var $flagshipspeed 5>>\ #Combat Ships [Ballista, Crew Training Available] <<var $flagshiptype "combat">>\ <<var $flagshipbase + 15>>\ <<var $flagshipspeed 5>>\ #Transport Ships [Increased Speed, Increased Passenger Capacity] <<var $flagshiptype "transport">>\ <<var $flagshipbase + 10>>\ <<var $flagshipspeed 6>>\ <</choose>>

<<if ($cj is 2)>>\ <<var $loot 9>>\ <<var $loot + $perception>>\ <<if ($distraction is "Fire")>>\ It's by the grace of the Heavens that the ships holding your cargo aren't the ones Kosuke burned down. <</if>>\ <<else>>\ <<rand $loot 3 5>>\ <<var $loot + $perception>>\ <</if>>\ <<if ($flagshiptype is "merchant")>>\ <<var $loot + 10>>\ <</if>>\ "Come on everyone." You announce, choosing the $flagshiptype ships. "It's time to depart before any more trouble shows up." "You heard the Captain!" Kosuke shouts, rounding up the civilians. "Stay here with who knows what Fiends, or come on board and congratulate yourselves on your promotion to $clan retainers." Bo walks towards the ramp of one of your ships, but not the one you're getting on. "Oh Hells no! Short guy, wait!" Leona interrupts, knocking freed civilians aside to stop him. "We're all getting on the same ship or we're all getting in the same stomach!" Bo cringes. "What? What are you talking about?" "I'm talking about survival, you mountain inbred, the sea is home to Beasts bigger than whatever you're imagining." She wipes black blood off her blades and onto her pants while talking. "We need all our auras in one place to seem like a threat and not a meal. The other ships can ride close to our glory if they want to stay alive, sure, but if we're not all in one place then every ship is just fish food." <<var $val 3>>\ <<if ($style is "Akakiru")>>\ <<include "ch5-askships3-aka">>\ <<elseif ($style is "Aoyusumu")>>\ <<include "ch5-askships3-aoyu">>\ <<elseif ($style is "Kiihakai")>>\ <<include "ch5-askships3-kii">>\ <<elseif ($style is "Kurokonton")>>\ <<include "ch5-askships3-kuro">>\ <<elseif ($style is "Midorikatai")>>\ <<include "ch5-askships3-mido">>\ <</if>>\

"How do you know so much about ships?" Kosuke asks. "Aren't Sunbringers from the mountains too?" Leona smiles at the crowd innocently. "The same reason Sunbringers had ships in the first place to get here. They never told us //why// we studied the sailing craft, but we trained in it for years." She snorts in laughter, rubbing her nose and looking skyward in recollection. "We actually had a single ship in a lake and were so sure the Thunderfallers would find it. I had guard duty on that beat up glorified boat so many times over five years." "Did we ever find it?" You ask. Bo startles after a short silence when he realizes you're talking to him. "Oh, right." "Yeah, you're the only one that's really in the Sect's business." Kosuke says. "I know that, \ <<if ($bffheshe is "he")>>\ asshole, \ <<else>>\ harlot, \ <</if>>\ that was summed up by the word 'right' in the sentence 'oh, right'. And no, we didn't know they had a ship hidden away in their territory. Does your training mean you can chart the stars?" "Yes, and better." Leona adds. "We built from a smuggler's schematic, so it means I know how to build hidden cargo holds." She walks passed the crowd \ <<if ($heshe is "he")>>\ and drapes her arms around your shoulders, \ <<else>>\ and looks you dead in the eyes, \ <</if>>\ asking in front of so many witnesses. "How would you like a ship that can make some serious criminal money?" <<choose "ch5-askships4">> #"Do it." "Do it." You order. <<var $leonarep + 2>>\ <<var $metleona + 10000000>>\ Leona squeals, Bladed Chi erupting in massive slashes around the nearby dock in an instant that cuts an entire section to pieces. She leaps over and collects the freed lumber before leaping up to your ship's taffrail and turning around with a beaming smile. "You won't regret this! Unless you end up in jail, but if that happens just remember that it was your idea!" #"Helllll yes." "Helllll yes I want to make serious criminal money," you reply, "why is that even a question? Chop chop woman, get to work!" <<var $leonarep + 4>>\ <<var $honor - 2>>\ <<var $metleona + 10000000>>\ Leona squeals, Bladed Chi erupting in massive slashes around the nearby dock in an instant that cuts an entire section to pieces. She leaps over and collects the freed lumber before leaping up to your ship's taffrail and turning around with a beaming smile. "You won't regret this! Unless you end up in jail, but if that happens just remember that it was your idea!" #"I'll pass." "I'll pass." You reply. <<var $honor + 1>>\ Leona pouts and walks off, dragging her feet as if depressed. #[Push her into the water] <<var $leonarep - 3>>\ <<if ($heshe is "he")>>\ <<var $leonaromance + 1>>\ Her sultry and confident expression shifts immediately to that of a hurt and helpless kitten when you shove your palm into her armor and push her off of you, \ <<else>>\ Her confidence flies out the window and shifts to surprise and panic like a cat thrown into a bath as you shove your palm into her armor, knocking her \ <</if>>\ right off the dock and into the ocean. She sinks to the bottom and walks back to shore while everyone else gets back to work. <</choose>>

"Now now," Angelo interrupts, seated on a box and bandaging a man's ankle. "That all may be true, except for the inbred part, I assume, but we'll do quite fine on our own. Young lady, do you know of the Seal of Enlightened Passage?" Leona's mouth tightens and she looks around to Bo, Kosuke, and you. "....No." "That's quite alright, I shall have to handle the load alone but it's not an obstacle." He rises and pats the injured civilian on the shoulder. "It's a Sacred Lands traditional Seal that keeps violent thoughts suppressed, I will cast it on each ship's hull and predators will be turned away. We will all be just fine." Leona chews on her cheek, looking Angelo up and down. Finally she walks over to you in front of everyone and loudly whispers directly into your ear with her hand over her mouth. "I don't trust this monk. He solves problems too easily." "Ancestors, the horror." You respond. "He'll probably keep doing it, too." "Won't someone think of the children?!" Kosuke cries out, dropping to $bffhisher knees. The crowd of civilians crack up and even Bo breaks into laughter with them. For the first time in too long a spark of joy ignites among the residents of Ebikowa. <<var $retainer_morale + 6>>\ Angelo returns to work, bandaging another's wrist without looking at you, but the joy is interrupted when Sacred chi other than your own resonates in your spirit. Angelo's voice speaks directly into your thoughts and you prepare for bad news if he's not willing to share it with everyone else. "I'm casting a secondary Seal on the sails to make travel more effective, you'll be able to requisition an additional ship by spreading the crews thinner." Huh. That's better than bad news. "Why aren't you speaking out loud?" A hesitant inhaling hiss enters you mind from Angelo pondering his response. "It's the strangest coincidence, but I never get rest when early-morning workers know I can make their jobs easier." <<page "Continue" "ch5-askships4">>\

<<var $val + 3>>\ "My Seals can disguise our auras entirely or make them appear far larger." Desdemona steps forward, her Disciples standing in purple uniform behind her with hoods over their heads. "I'm more concerned about keeping as many of these valuable ships as possible. How many crewmen does each require at minimum?" Leona shrugs. "Twwwwelve?" She looks to the civilians for confirmation and sees one fisherman nodding slowly in the back. "Twelve." "Then it won't be a problem." Desdemona replies confidently, raising a set of fuuinjutsu tags toward Li Sun, her only disciple still holding a weapon, and the familiar girl in glasses beside him. "Disciple Sun, Disciple Moon, take six crewmen each. You can make up for the rest with your Seals and these tags." Her Disciples takes several tags from Desdemona's hands and bow at the waist. "As you wish, Lady Desdemona." Says Li Moon, the sister. "You twelve!" The brother, Li Sun, points to the leftmost selection of Ebikowan citizens. "You're with us." They both depart in a march with their new crews and you notice life slowly come back to Desdemona's eyes, as if finally being in charge again brought back a piece of her that's been missing since her abduction. Or maybe she simply feels hope again. She takes a deep, relieved sigh and turns back to you while the others pile onto your ship. "How's that for paying you back? An entire ship. Not too bad I'd say." "It's a big gift, are you sure about this?" You ask, and immediately regret it. Why are you arguing against a free ship? "Killing that...thing, was a larger gift." Desdemona replies with a \ <<if ($heshe is "he") and ($desromance gte 1)>>\ shudder before looking off to the side coyly. "And I appreciate large gifts." The corners of her mouth turn upward in what some may consider a smile, or perhaps an upside-down frown. "I'll be in my chambers studying if my Seals are to keep up. I entrust the smooth voyage to you, oh //Captain//." She turns and ascends the ramp in front of you, her hips swaying a little too wide and a little too slowly. Her other disciples stare with their mouths slightly ajar before following. <<else>>\ shudder. "I still don't understand what he really was. I'll need to consult the tomes." She gives a shrug and for once her scowl disappears as she confesses in honesty. "I'll continue to aid you because our alliance requires you to do something important in Nanhou, there is much work ahead of me if I'm to earn it." She turns and ascends the ramp with her other disciples. <</if>>\ <<page "Continue" "ch5-askships4">>\

<<var $val + 4>>\ "Alright, let's send Wencheng to keep things in order on the other ships then." Guiren nods to his underling. "Huh?" Wencheng responds, pulling off his shinobi mask of black cloth to reveal he's been chewing some sort of snack. "Why me?" "Because you have the lowest Aura Pressure, but more importantly because I said so Wencheng, Hells damn. Show some respect for your leader in front of the Laborers for once and just follow an order." "//You're// the one who made me their captain." Wencheng protests, head tilting forward with a shit-eating grin. "How about //you// show some respect to the Captain in front of his crew?" Yoji the Oni burts out laughing and puts a hand on Guiren's shoulder. "You have to admit, that's the best point he's ever going to make in his life. Let him have it." "Aw shit. Fine, I'll let him have it." Guiren grumbles, walking up the ramp to your ship with his tail whip-cracking against the flooring. "Let him have it real good when we get to Nanhou that is." <<page "Continue" "ch5-askships4">>\

"It's true!" Shouts Tian Fang. "It is most vital, and of most importance, that we keep all Aura Pressures close together! That is why my wolves must come on our main ship." She nods smugly and pats the head of two full-sized adult wolves flanking her. Their tails wag too. Eight more sit behind them. "No." Bo replies. "Hell no." Kosuke adds, reliving memories of $bffhisher nights outside the town walls. "Puppies!" Leona screams, diving forward and wrapping her arms around one. It snarls and grabs her shoulder in its fangs. She ignores its chewing and ruffles its ears in both hands. "They're so soft! So fluffy! Oh my goodness who's a good boy? //Who's a good boy?!//" Bo takes one step forward but Leona turns with a sword drawn. "''//They're coming with us.//''" "I was always on board with that." Kosuke replies. Bo offers only a deadpan stare and starts loading crates. "No one can resist the ears." Fang whispers to you as if giving advice while Leona dives into the center of the \ <<if ($heshe is "he")>>\ wolfpack. She inches closer and tilts her head tilts toward you, her wolf ears twitching gently. "//No one.//" <<choose "ch5-askships4">> #Rub her ears. <<var $fangrep + 2>>\ <<var $fangromance + 2>>\ You pat her ears and rub the soft texture of her fur between your thumb and index finger's upper knuckle. She closes her eyes in contentment, arm gripping your bicep while her foot begins to thump on the wooden dock. $retainers civilians stand around watching, very quietly. Bo finally clears his throat. "If you and my trainer are done petting each other, people are trying to get onboard the ships before more Fiends come back and kill us all." Fang's eyes open and narrow at him but she turns nonetheless and, with a green glow pulsing in a circle under her, leaps onto the ship. She turns as she lands on the banister, her hair fluttering in the wind. "Find me later, Thunderfaller! We have a long voyage ahead!" Kosuke walks by Bo while \ <<if ($bffheshe is "he")>>\ carrying six fishing rods over his shoulder. \ <<elseif ($bffheshe is "she")>>\ holding what you suspect is a bottle of sake under her shirt to look pregnant and avoid rowing. \ <</if>>\ "By 'Thunderfaller' she means <<cap $name>> not y-" "I know." Bo hisses. <<page "Continue" "ch5-askships4">>\ #Push her into the water. <<var $fangrep - 4>>\ <<var $fangromance - 1>>\ You shove her into the sea with a tremendous splash, considering her light weight. You suspect she switched to Wild Chi to make the impact heavier. "Harumph!" She shouts out at you after resurfacing. "Harumph I say!" You ignore her and get everyone back to work. <<page "Continue" "ch5-askships4">>\ #Walk away. <<var $fangrep - 2>>\ <<var $fangromance 0>>\ <</choose>> <<else>>\ wolfpack. "Shall we board the ships? I have such a fun game in mind for training the wolves, and it could help us during our journey!" You both ascend the ramp but you pause, feeling that something's off. As you turn you see two of the wolves have instinctively blocked the civilians from the ramp leading to your ship. Huh. Guard wolves. Each of your hands pats a different wolf with a green glow, channeling your Wild Chi to better communicate your commands to the animals. "Down girls. They're friends." As if supernaturally changed, the wolves stand and wag their tails, helping to herd the crew on board. Each new crewman hesitates, nervous about being stuck on a ship with a pack of wild carnivores, but enough relent and join your crew. They'll get used to the wolves all in good time, you think. Probably. <<page "Continue" "ch5-askships4">>\ <</if>>\

<<set $shipcount to Math.round((($retainers + $val) + ($martial_retainers * 2)) / 12)>>\ <<if (($style is "Kiihakai") or ($style is "Aoyusumu"))>>\ <<var $shipcount + 1>>\ <<if ($shipcount lt 3)>>\ <<var $shipcount 3>>\ <</if>>\ <<elseif ($shipcount lt 2)>>\ <<var $shipcount 2>>\ <</if>>\ <<var $retainer_strength (((Math.round($flagshipbase / 5)) * 2) + ($shipcount))>>\ <<var $prestige + 2>>\ <<var $chapter 5.7>>\ Six rushed minutes later all crews, yourself included, manage to take $shipcount ships in total. Each crew unties their moorings, unfurls their sails, and descends their paddles into the water from both sides of each ship. Under your leadership the civilian crews get to work escaping the hellscape that their town has become. <<if ($roc gt 1)>>\ Several unfortunate workers are unhappy turning your crow's nest into a literal nest for $rocname, but you assure them she's worth it \ <<if ($ruthless gte 63)>>\ and, also, that she will eat them if they don't provide quality lodgings. <<var $retainer_morale - 1>>\ <<else>>\ and helped you save them all in the first place. Plus, everyone loves a mascot. <<var $retainer_morale + 3>>\ <</if>>\ <</if>>\ Oddly it's Bo who is the last one on the docks, staring out over the destroyed town no doubt plagued with the remnants of demonic chi dispersed around it. He turns and climbs the ramp up to your ship only to look back one more time. "Something wrong?" You ask over the railing as your crew takes off, paddlers beginning the slow rowing process. "There is." He replies in his usual nasally voice. "It's something I can't get it out of my head. That Taio creature, did he say the actual words 'Transformation Technique'? Out loud? Because that is...embarrassing." <<if ($honor gte 50)>>\ "Yes." \ <<else>>\ "Yeah." \ <</if>>\ You reply, looking out over the ocean as the sun begins to rise. "The other Taio clone did that a lot too." Bo is silent for a moment, looking out at the devastation inland. "I think we only won because the Heavens killed him for it. Please don't do it too." <<choose "ch5-setsail">> #"It seemed to bug Mao, I think it's a fine tradition." "It seemed to bug Mao, I think it's a fine tradition." You reply, nodding with a content sigh. "Yeah...That'll be my signature." <<var $technaming true>>\ "Ancestors preserve us." Bo says with a groaning shake of his head. "This is going to be a long journey." "You can swim." You offer. Bo's mouth hangs open but no reply comes out. He stares at your expression without moving, gauging how serious you are. It's clear he's too used to Jack and Mao. Eventually you give him a dismissive nod and the tension leaves his shoulders. "I'll go check on the condition of the ship." He offers, leaving a little too quickly. <<page "Continue" "ch5-setsail">>\ #"I'd never do something so stupid." "I'd never do something so stupid." You assert, offended that he'd even ask. In fact, you're livid. "And you know what, Bo? Fuck you for asking." <<var $technaming false>>\ <<var $borep + 5>>\ "Respectable." Bo responds with single nod, leaving to check on the condition of the ship. <<page "Continue" "ch5-setsail">>\ #[Toss Bo overboard.] <<var $technaming true>>\ You gingerly lift the exhausted Bo Lo off his \ <<if ($heshe is "she")>>\ feet. He stares into your eyes, confused. He searches for something in your gaze, his brow furrowed, and the more his eyes look into yours the more his stern expression melts into something else. Something more. Ew. <<var $borep - 8>>\ You \ <<else>>\ feet. "What are you doing?" Bo asks. "I'm fine enough to walk." "True." You reply. "But are you fine enough to swim?" <<var $borep - 4>>\ Bo's brow scrunches in confusion until you \ <</if>>\ hoist him over the railing and drop him into the water without ceremony. <<var $spareval_7 1>>\ He breaks the surface in a wide, flailing splash and screams obscenities until another of your ships picks him up with some nets while laughing at the boy's misfortune. "Be silent, Laborer filth!" He screams, threatening them too until they raise their nets back up. They don't lower the nets back down until he apologizes. <<page "Continue" "ch5-setsail">>\ <</choose>>

<div class="fightingfont">Thunderfaller vs Tiao the Scholar</div>\ <<statcheck>>\ "AAAAHHHHHURK!!" Roars Taio, retching up what looks like black paint in impossible quantities as his skin and muscles begin to tear. His aura of raging crimson smoke twitches unnaturally and darkens, shredding in ebbs and flows, its cycle interrupted by pure Darkness Chi replacing the crimson Demonic Chi in his Cores. Your own wounds and Cores rejuvenate instantly like your Fuel Foundation always has inside of any Element's Heavenly Gate. ''[All Health, Cores, and Chi Replenished]'' <<var $chispent 0>>\ <<var $powspent 0>>\ <<var $forspent 0>>\ <<var $agispent 0>>\ <<var $solspent 0>>\ <<var $wounds 0>>\ "Get out of my body!" Taio screams, grabbing his midsection in pain, "GET OUT OF MY SOUL!" Elemental Darkness purges itself from his system like a pitch-black geyser of water erupting in all directions. You sense massive amounts of his own chi flowing out with it, drastically weakening him. In that same instant you press the attack. <<include "ch5-bossfight2">>\

<div class="fightingfont">Thunderfaller vs Tiao the Scholar</div>\ <<statcheck>>\ "AAAAAAGGHHH!!" Taio howls in bloodcurdling agony, hunched over as his skin and muscles begin to tear. His aura of raging crimson twitches unnaturally, pieces of it breaking off like broken glass that dissolve into the Demonic Gate as you absorb it. His power drastically weakens while yours recovers. ''[All Health, Cores, and Chi Replenished]'' <<var $chispent 0>>\ <<var $powspent 0>>\ <<var $forspent 0>>\ <<var $agispent 0>>\ <<var $solspent 0>>\ <<var $wounds 0>>\ Unfortunately your appetite has limits. There's no room left in your spirit for any more power, and your cycling comes to an end just as the area around you weakens to the point that it can barely be called a Gate. Without a flood of energy to trap Taio's spirit, you can't replicate the attack again. Resigned to solve this the old fashioned way, you take on a battle \ <<if (($equippedweapon isnot "") and ($equippedweapon isnot "Handwraps"))>>\ stance and draw your \ <<if ($equippedweapon is "Muramasa")>>\ cursed blade. <<else>>\ $equippedweapon. <</if>>\ <<else>>\ stance and crack your knuckles. <</if>>\ It's time to kill the only witness. <<include "ch5-bossfight2">>\

<<choose "ch5-fightover">> #use-if ($style is "Akakiru") Bisect him with a glowing Bladed Slash. [Improves Akakiru Mastery] <<if (dig($mettaio, 3) is 1)>>\ Like a $manwoman possessed you close in for the kill. <<else>>\ "You made threats, Taio. Threats I can't forgive." <</if>>\ <<if (((((((((($equippedweapon is "Tanto")) or ($equippedweapon is "Katana")) or ($equippedweapon is "Muramasa")) or ($equippedweapon is "Greataxe")) or ($equippedweapon is "Qiang")) or ($equippedweapon is "Kunai")) or ($equippedweapon is "Jian")) or ($equippedweapon is "Iceblade")) or ($equippedweapon is "Chiblade"))>>\ You \ <<if (($equippedweapon is "Iceblade") or ($equippedweapon is "Chiblade"))>>\ summon your $equippedweapon into your grip, blazing with \ <<if ($equippedweapon is "Iceblade")>>\ frozen \ <<else>>\ scarlet \ <</if>>\ energy running \ <<else>>\ draw your $equippedweapon back in both hands, coating it in $auracolor energy that runs \ <</if>>\ over the sharp edge like a series of a hundred rushing blades. <<else>>\ Fingers interlock quickly as you slam both palms together, hammering your own scarlet Bladed Chi into form. You squeeze down tightly while pushing all power into your hands and see the fruit of your labors when a massive seven-foot glowing blade extends from your grip. <<var $tempwep true>>\ <</if>>\ <<spendall 1 true>>\ Taio turns around at the sound of your blade's energy buzzing through the air. "Don't think this m-" Your blade connects against him immediately, barely blocked by his Binder's Bands. You swing twice more for his torso and he blocks one, taking the other slice to the side. With a twist of the wrist you punch him in the neck with your free hand and shove your blade downward through his foot, pinning him to the ground. Your palm strike hits him with a blast of two crisscrossed Bladed slashes of energy right into his center and you spin quickly to deliver a back-kick into his chest. "HNNNGG-" Taio screams as your kick hits his sternum and sends him flying, his foot slicing in half from your sword still in it. From deep within your Cores you summon the strength to push your blade's edge well beyond the limits you thought you had, ripping \ <<if ($equippedweapon is "Muramasa")>>\ Muramasa \ <<elseif ($tempwep is true)>>\ your glowing chi blade \ <<else>>\ your $equippedweapon \ <</if>>\ out of the wood and speeding forward. In a single rush you dash down the dock underneath his beaten body as he soars through the air from your kick. His screams of rage batter your ears as you approach and you scream out louder in exertion, both warriors refusing to give up. You pull your blade back with all your might and shoot one foot forward for a final leverage, swinging a wide arc overhead into your opponent's midsection. Neither half of his body ever hits the docks. Your sword cleaves through the blood cultist until he explodes into crimson chi; the Clone Technique sustaining his unnatural life finally coming to an end. <<var $stylerank + 1>>\ <<var $spiritbrandcolor "scarlet">>\ ''[Akakiru Mastery Improved to "Adept"]'' <<page "Continue" "ch5-fightover">>\ #use-if ($style is "Aoyusumu") Crush him under the weight of a Sacred strike. [Improves Aoyusumu Mastery] Cerulean waves vibrate off your body as you levitate to your feet, closing in on Taio in a single leap. He turns in surprise and parries your strike, then another, then another, only to find your Sacred chi collecting on his body with each strike, constraining him. What he cannot see is that his next moves come to you as if you were watching them before they happen. He enacts a foreign and unrecognizable handseal. Your Sacred chi wraps around his finger and breaks it before that truth comes to pass. He bends his right leg heavily to leap away. Your Sacred Chi manifests a brace against his hamstring, blocking him from bending that leg before his leap is even considered. He rears his right arm back for leverage to launch a desperate blast of energy. Your Sacred Chi forms a sphere around his hand, catching it and pulling his arm behind his back with an elbow-fracturing twist. You give him a swift kick to the center to knock him over, then leap back...and up. Taio gets to his feet quickly, but his eyes widen in horror and recognition as the shadow of your final attack manifests over him. <<if ($agility gt $soul)>>\ <<spendall 3 true>>\ <<else>>\ <<spendall 4 true>>\ <</if>>\ You hover fifty feet in the air, a cerulean glow over your $eyecolor eyes as you cast judgment upon him. With one calm motion you conjure the cerulean outline of a palm larger than your body, a ten-foot wide hand of Sacred chi. The docks beneath Taio's feet glow cerulean as well, forming a plate of kinetic force to hold him still when the attack descends. "YOU HAVE NO RIGHT TO DEFEAT ME!" Taio screams as if bartering, his body contorted by your telekinetic hold, "I AM A SCHOLAR! I AM A VISIONARY! THE WORLD WILL CHANGE TO MY CREATIONS! I WILL N-" A gentle shove downward with your palm causes the ten-foot wide Hand of Heaven to slam onto Taio with blinding speed, crushing his body completely into crimson mist and putting an end to the Clone Technique that sustained him all these years. <<var $stylerank + 1>>\ <<var $spiritbrandcolor "cerulean">>\ ''[Aoyusumu Mastery Improved to "Adept"]'' <<page "Continue" "ch5-fightover">>\ #use-if ($style is "Kiihakai") Charge a Mystic detonation bigger than your body. [Improves Kiihakai Mastery] Pulling all your power from your body was always so difficult, but with Mystic Chi it slides out of your entire body and spirit seamlessly. All you need do is give the command and your energy listens, giving up on sustaining your life and converting to scorching hostile chi in an instant. <<spendall 4 true>>\ Immediately you drop to one knee when life energy //pours// out of you into something that can't even be called an energy blast anymore. Hovering in the air and barely held in your spiritual grip is a miniature sun of golden chi eight feet around with enough power to illuminate the dock like a sunrise. Taio sees the night turn to day behind him and pivots in horror, erecting a shield of blood energy between you. Your golden sun blasts off at an arc. With the fine control of Mystic Chi you whip the massive attack around his frontal shield and collide through the left side of his entire body. The explosion rocks every ship in the dock with four deafening explosive pulses of golden chi. When the shining light dissipates and your eyes refocus, only Taio's legs remain. His upper body completely obliterated. In seconds even his legs dissipate into crimson mist as his Clone body falls apart. <<var $stylerank + 1>>\ <<var $spiritbrandcolor "golden">>\ ''[Kiihakai Mastery Improved to "Adept"]'' <<page "Continue" "ch5-fightover">>\ #use-if ($style is "Kurokonton") Stab a deathcurse into his chest. [Improves Kurokonton Mastery] -> "ch5-finalkurochat" Your hand vibrates with power until you remember your lessons and calm it. It's not active energy you need, it's the opposite. Yin-aspect Cursed Chi. Entropy. The end of all things. The end of your opponent. The energy around your arm radiates power, first purple and then closer to black flames as you focus your first true curse into being. The curse of entropy, the suppression of all energy and life. <<spendall 3 true>>\ Taio turns and sees you, his hands bound and his face unresponsive. When his eyes fall to your arm he begins to gain focus, returning to the battle-hardened murderer. The man you're here to \ <<if ($ruthless gt 50)>>\ kill. <<else>>\ stop. <</if>>\ He pivots to leap back and prepare a counter but you don't give him the time. <<if ($flashstep is true)>>\ ''//"FLASH STEP!"//'' <<var $agiexp + 2>>\ You scream out, vanishing from where you stood and appearing in front of Taio with your arm fully extended, hand dug deep into his chest and bisecting his heart. Before he can speak you shove your entropic curse into his body to end a Technique. <<else>>\ With a spiritual grip on the Cursed Chi you've left on him this entire fight, you //pull// yourself to him to increase your speed and vanish across the docks in an instantaneous hundred-foot step. A single crunch is all the sound made from your attack as your hand pierces through his chest and heart, filling his body with the entropic curse you infused to end a Technique. <</if>>\ The corrupted Clone Technique that he's made from. ''[Kurokonton Mastery Improved to "Adept"]'' <<var $stylerank + 1>>\ <<var $spiritbrandcolor "purple">>\ Taio's body explodes at the seams, bursting into a crimson mist like the first Taio long ago. As his form dissipates to chi and dust a whisper carries on the wind. "We will meet again...in the Hells." #use-if ($style is "Midorikatai") Channel your inner Beast into a lethal maneuver. [Improves Midorikatai Mastery] Wild Chi surges through your body without your call, for the power of Beasts is the power of instincts. Your spirit knows it is time to kill. Your muscles invigorate and expand in the roaring green glow that builds up around you, casting an unsettling shadow upon Taio as he turns around in shock. Unable to control yourself you scream a raging roar that pushes him back even from this distance. Step after step explodes the wood around you as you speed at your target like a tiger on the hunt. Taio shakes himself out of his stupor at the sight of your form incoming. Something about your scream awakens the warrior within. "Very well, <<cap $name>> the Thunderfaller, Come! I will put an end to this!" He surges chi to his feet and solidifies his stance with a high guard. In the last ten feet you pounce at him, teeth gritting in a wild grin. Your first punch slams into his guard, knocking both his hands away but stopping the force of your physical charge. Yet you do not stop moving forward. Wild Chi explodes out behind you with all the momentum of your charge all over again. Both your hands grip the left side of his neck and your body spins around his right side. You use Taio's neck like a pole to spin 360 degrees and fly back the way you came, gripping him by the throat at the last second and pulling him over your shoulder. The dock begins to destabilize as your Wild aura adds incredible weight to your physical body, storming with the weight of an elephant and the speed of a cheetah. Taio loses control over his body from the incredible shaking impact of each of your steps and he relaxes his form, a wise move while airborne. Your wrestling throughout all your childhood in Thunderfall tells you he plans to stiffen his body to twist just before you hit the ground. You are not hitting the ground. <<page "Continue" "ch5-finalmido">>\ #use-if (($element1 is "Darkness") or ($element2 is "Darkness")) Punch a condensed void into his chest. [Improves Darkness Element] <<if ($fiendish is false)>>\ With the last the artificial Gate's energies still in your body all condensed into a single fist \ <<else>>\ By conjuring all the Chi in your body into a single fist \ <</if>>\ your able to compress the Darkness to a level you could never touch on before. You rise from the ground, your hand radiating with black flames. Yet it's the core of the attack inside your palm that holds the true power, a single void pulling everything into it, contained only by your spiritual grip. <<spendall 4 true>>\ Taio turns to you, his eyes gaining focus as he sees your attack. You walk towards him as he lifts both bound arms, ready to fight. "You think the Darkness is on your side?" Taio sneers as you come closer. "I was b-" Without any flashy effects you reach him and punch for his center. He blocks your glowing black energy fist with both arms, bound as they are, and your attack penetrates through his Binder's Bands. It penetrates through his forearms. It penetrates through his robes, through his ribs, and even through his heart. You release your grip on the compounded Darkness energy and Taio's torso swirls unnaturally as if his body itself were water falling down a drain. His very form spins into the condensed black star shoved into his chest, and without another word he disappears, expending the last of the Darkness energy when it compresses him to nothing and destroys him completely. <<if ($element1 is "Darkness")>>\ <<var $element1rank + 1>>\ <<else>>\ <<var $element2rank + 1>>\ <</if>>\ <<var $spiritbrandcolor "black">>\ ''[Darkness Mastery Improved to "Adept"]'' <<page "Continue" "ch5-fightover">>\ #use-if (($element1 is "Earth") or ($element2 is "Earth")) Bury his body in stone. [Improves Earth Element] Deep under the coastal seabed you feel more than just sand, you feel a hardened crust of the Earth. With one palm on top of the other you twist your left hand to the side and curl all ten fingers to wrap each hand around the other, gripping the Earth elemental properties of sand and rock beneath your feet and reversing their locations. <<spendall 2 true>>\ Violent tremors rock the dock as hardened stone explodes all around you, launched to the surface from deep below. Before Taio can come to his senses you fly both hands forward in an immensely bright yellow glow, pulling the lifted Earth's crust against the man with so much force that it crushes him from all sides. Only his head shows as he's suddenly captured a yellow-shining coffin of rock. "You can't hold this forever!" Taio screams out in struggle. "I will not be contained! RRAAA-" His mouth emits violent red energy between his clenched teeth as he cycles all chi to his head. He looks to the sky and strains against his Binder's Bands to call the sky's swirling demonic power down to him, only to see your real attack. A massive boulder seventy feet overhead. Falling. Your own chi adds to its falling speed and density as you crash the massive rock through the stone coffin and the dock itself. Waves erupt away from you in all directions when your attack shatters Taio's Clone Technique body into a haze of crimson mist scattering amongst the sand. <<if ($element1 is "Earth")>>\ <<var $element1rank + 1>>\ <<else>>\ <<var $element2rank + 1>>\ <</if>>\ <<var $spiritbrandcolor "amber">>\ ''[Earth Mastery Improved to "Adept"]'' <<page "Continue" "ch5-fightover">>\ #use-if (($element1 is "Fire") or ($element2 is "Fire")) Launch a beam of dragon's breath. [Improves Fire Element] Burning red chi clashes around you when your aura itself ignites in flames. Taio turns around with a grimace as he senses your attack. "You think to much of yourself." He says with finality. "Unlike you, my chi reserves weren't depleted when I was bound." Despite his inability to cycle outside sources he still calls upon his inner energy and forms two crackling palms of power, charging up the same crimson beam he used on your earlier. Your own hands burn with an intense fire as well, a screech howling through the docks as your Technique burns the air itself. You swirl both hands in front of you and combine them, pulling your fists back together as their burning power compounds. The heat and flames coming off your fists burns from red, to orange, to white as the docks ignite around you. Your entire aura takes on a burning white-blue hue as the flames around you burn hotter and hotter. <<spendall 1 true>>\ The wooden boards beneath Taio's feet crack as he releases his energy beam at you. In response you pull all fire around you between your hands and throw them towards Taio, launching your own beam of white-blue fire that slams into his attack in a battle of beams. His attack barely slows yours down. The fires engulf him completely and the faintest hint of a horrified scream escapes from his throat before the flames burn away even the oxygen within his lungs. The entire dock shakes as you hold steady and maintain the beam of fire. When you finally relent, exhausted and sweating all over, there is nothing left of Taio. Only a crimson mist steam coming from the end of the corrupted Clone Technique that once sustained his existence. <<if ($element1 is "Fire")>>\ <<var $element1rank + 1>>\ <<else>>\ <<var $element2rank + 1>>\ <</if>>\ <<var $spiritbrandcolor "red">>\ ''[Fire Mastery Improved to "Adept"]'' <<page "Continue" "ch5-fightover">>\ #use-if (($element1 is "Ice") or ($element2 is "Ice")) Freeze him in a glacier of ice. [Improves Ice Element] The air all around you chills into an icy blue mist as you rise to your feet, body glowing $auracolor and \ <<if ($eyecolor is "pale blue")>>\ pale blue eyes reflecting an icy glint. \ <<else>>\ $eyecolor eyes changing to an icy blue. \ <</if>>\ icicles form down the sides of the dock. Taio realizes he can see his breath and musters his resolve in preparation of a fight. Yet he turns around only to see a launched icicle millimeters from his eye. He deflects the attack with his Binder's Bands, shattering the projectile, and in that distraction you've already closed the gap to deliver a kick to his sternum followed up by a shin kick to the head that sends him spiraling over the dock. With a spherical explosion of crimson chi he stops his descent to avoid falling into the water. That won't do. <<spendall 2 true>>\ You place your thumbs and fingertips together and channel the freezing power within your soul down to your feet and below, into the sea water under the dock. In a flash you shoot both arms forward and the water under the dock responds to your somatic movement, freezing into thousands of ice shards held together that dive up at Taio in the form of a shark-shaped ice sculpture. Your ice shark bites down on his mid-section with a sickening crunch, capturing his legs and whipping him down into water below. "Y-" Taio tries to threaten as he breaks through the water's surface. You pull all the Ice chi in your entire spirit into one hand and lob the massive blast of freezing power into the sea. Taio flashfreezes into an instant glacier and you hold out one hand from on top of the dock, your soul brushing the edges of the glacier on all sides. With one last look into his eyes you close your grip and the glacier shatters, shattering his body along with it to the sound of a thousand glasses breaking at once. Crimson smoke escapes the ice bomb and the mass murderer disappears from the world of the living. The corrupted Clone Technique that sustained him all these years finally comes to an end. <<if ($element1 is "Ice")>>\ <<var $element1rank + 1>>\ <<else>>\ <<var $element2rank + 1>>\ <</if>>\ <<var $spiritbrandcolor "white">>\ ''[Ice Mastery Improved to "Adept"]'' <<page "Continue" "ch5-fightover">>\ #use-if (($element1 is "Light") or ($element2 is "Light")) Destroy him with the Light. [Improves Light Element] Shining white light emits from your aura in all directions. Dawn forms all around you as stand on shaky legs and channel the Light's speed to aid in this battle's next attack. The final attack. Taio turns just in time to see the blinding incandescence of your form as you charge at him moving at triple speed with \ <<if ((((((((($equippedweapon is "Tanto")) or ($equippedweapon is "Katana")) or ($equippedweapon is "Muramasa")) or ($equippedweapon is "Qiang")) or ($equippedweapon is "Kunai")) or ($equippedweapon is "Jian")) or ($equippedweapon is "Iceblade")) or ($equippedweapon is "Chiblade"))>>\ your $equippedweapon drawn, \ <<else>>\ your fist \ <</if>>\ wrapped in a sheath of shining Light. He holds both arms up to block and you vanish through him, a mere projection of an image. An illusion cast with the Light. The real you is five feet behind, aiming lower now that you see where he's blocking, and you \ <<if ((((((((($equippedweapon is "Tanto")) or ($equippedweapon is "Katana")) or ($equippedweapon is "Muramasa")) or ($equippedweapon is "Qiang")) or ($equippedweapon is "Kunai")) or ($equippedweapon is "Jian")) or ($equippedweapon is "Iceblade")) or ($equippedweapon is "Chiblade"))>>\ stab \ <<if ($equippedweapon is "Muramasa")>>\ Muramasa \ <<else>>\ your $equippedweapon \ <</if>>\ into his midsection with all your energy pouring down the blade, shining to a singular point at its tip inside of Taio's chest. A \ <<else>>\ punch your fist through his sternum with all your energy pouring into Light Chi around your fist, a \ <</if>>\ growing star of power. <<spendall 4 true>>\ Taio stares down in shock and horror at the blinding luminance intensifying from inside his chest as you bury the Light deep within. With a twist of \ <<if ((((((((($equippedweapon is "Tanto")) or ($equippedweapon is "Katana")) or ($equippedweapon is "Muramasa")) or ($equippedweapon is "Qiang")) or ($equippedweapon is "Kunai")) or ($equippedweapon is "Jian")) or ($equippedweapon is "Iceblade")) or ($equippedweapon is "Chiblade"))>>\ <<if ($equippedweapon is "Muramasa")>>\ Muramasa's cursed black blade, \ <<else>>\ your $equippedweapon's blade, \ <</if>>\ <<else>>\ your shining fist \ <</if>>\ you release the cascades of energy and erupt your Light chi through his body. A physical form wouldn't suffer from such an overwhelming spiritual attack, but Taio is not a physical being. The corrupted Clone Technique that's kept him alive all these years rips at the seams as his body explodes into crimson mist under the spiritual weight of your cleansing Light. Even that mist, the last remnants of his chi, vanishes in the nova released from your soul. <<if ($element1 is "Light")>>\ <<var $element1rank + 1>>\ <<else>>\ <<var $element2rank + 1>>\ <</if>>\ <<var $spiritbrandcolor "yellow">>\ ''[Light Mastery Improved to "Adept"]'' <<page "Continue" "ch5-fightover">>\ #use-if (($element1 is "Storm") or ($element2 is "Storm")) Call down a true lightning bolt. [Improves Storm Element] Elecricity cracks in circular arcs around your body as the Storm powers within your soul exceed the limits you thought you had. With two hands focusing your will you leap fifty feet into the sky overhead and reach heavensward, calling upon the power in the natural clouds above you. Nature answers, casting a tremendous bolt of violet Storm energy between your hands. <<spendall 1 true>>\ You grip the power shredding through your spirit and look down at the astonished Taio below. <<if (($honor lt 50) and (dig($mettaio, 3) isnot 1))>>\ "CATCH!" You call down from the air. <<else>>\ You give him no final words, for an executioner never does. <</if>>\ With both shaking arms you swing the crackling power towards the ground in a deafening thunderclap accompanied by a blinding flash of violet lighting up the night sky. Taio doesn't get out a single word before he's fried into nothing, scorched by the combined powers of nature and your enhanced spirit. No monologue, no final speech, no final threats. Taio dies in an instant with his goals left unfulfilled, like all victims of the Storm. <<if ($element1 is "Storm")>>\ <<var $element1rank + 1>>\ <<else>>\ <<var $element2rank + 1>>\ <</if>>\ <<var $spiritbrandcolor "violet">>\ ''[Storm Mastery Improved to "Adept"]'' <<page "Continue" "ch5-fightover">>\ #use-if (($element1 is "Water") or ($element2 is "Water")) Channel the sea into a whirlpool. [Improves Water Element] Your body manifests a swirling dark blue aura as you rise to your feet. As you cycle the energies from deep within your Cores you find the water itself desires to cycle too, releasing from your spirit with greater ease and pushing out more chi into a single effect then you can normally ever muster. Beneath the wooden docks you sense why. The ocean calls. Taio's eyes meet you for just a moment when he turns around. Immediately after he's swallowed by the sea when your channeled Water chi manipulates the waves themselves, washing over the dock and dragging Taio down into the depths. You pull more and more water from your surroundings, forming a whirlpool around Taio that rises above the water's natural surface. His body spins uncontrollably in the whirlpool's center. Then you strike. One high leap over the whirlpool gives you the vantage you need. All the water thrashed into the air from your violent conjuration pulls around your arm and spins into a raging cyclone. You descend into the whirlpool and strike at Taio with that massive water punch spinning the opposite direction of the whirlpool's current. <<spendall 3 true>>\ The two attacks collide in an explosion of water and dense spiritual power that rocks every ship in the dock with twelve-foot swells. Within the center of that eruption you feel every single impact as your spinning waterfist crashes into his body over and over, crushing him from above and below. The corrupted Clone Technique that sustained him all these years collapses under the pressure and his screams can be heard all across Ebikowa as he explodes into a crimson mist, just like the first Taio clone you defeated. <<if ($element1 is "Water")>>\ <<var $element1rank + 1>>\ <<else>>\ <<var $element2rank + 1>>\ <</if>>\ <<var $spiritbrandcolor "blue">>\ ''[Water Mastery Improved to "Adept"]'' <<page "Continue" "ch5-fightover">>\ #use-if (($element1 is "Wind") or ($element2 is "Wind")) Plummet him to the ground from on-high. [Improves Wind Element] Emerald swirls spring around your aura with great speed, to such a violent degree that even the waves beneath the dock swirl in your presence. You grip all that Wind chi in your spirit and launch yourself forward. Taio turns around with eyes widening only in time to see your hand covering his face. The massive burst of speed helps you catch Taio by the head and launch a second enormous surge of Wind energy pulling the two of you straight into the air. Taio's muffled scream from your palm covering his mouth is made more desperate by the Wind chi you have pressing on all five of your fingers, supernaturally tightening your grip around his skull as you rip the man into the heavens at impossible speeds. You only turn around after you're both five hundred feet in the air. And then you launch a third, final, and continuous burst of Wind chi behind you, plummeting you both towards the ground. <<spendall 3 true>>\ <<if ($hairlength is "Bald")>>\ Your bald scalp freezes in the wind \ <<elseif ($hairlength is "short-trimmed")>>\ Your close-trimmed $haircolor hair does little to protect your scalp from the cold winds \ <<else>>\ Your $haircolor hair whips back from the hurricane winds \ <</if>>\ as every last ounce of energy in your spirit converts into Wind chi behind your elbow, shoving Taio forward so he takes the full impact when you both land. Taio's skull slams into the docks with such incredible force that the wood, water below, and sand below the water are all blown aside. You follow through on the charge through all three surfaces and keep your grip on his face until the back of his head collides into the dense rock underneath four feet of sand. The Clone Technique sustaining Taio all these years finally comes to an end as his body explodes into a crimson mist. <<if ($element1 is "Wind")>>\ <<var $element1rank + 1>>\ <<else>>\ <<var $element2rank + 1>>\ <</if>>\ <<var $spiritbrandcolor "emerald">>\ ''[Wind Mastery Improved to "Adept"]'' <<page "Continue" "ch5-fightover">>\ <</choose>>

Soulsearing pain rips through your center as all the remnants of the Demonic Gate from back in Ebikowa pierce through you like a hurricane, but not one that you absorb. Uncontested under Taio's control, this power tears through your spirit in gut-wrenching agony that knocks you forward off your feet. Try as you might you cannot cycle to seize the energies, your Cores disrupted by the hostile attack bursting through them. <<var $combatstat "soul">>\ <<var $combatskill "survival">>\ <<combatcheck 7>>\ <<if ($passcheck is true)>>\ <<aploss 5>>\ <<else>>\ <<aploss 10>>\ <<var $taint + 10>>\ <</if>>\ <<if ($style is "Aoyusumu")>>\ "<<cap $name>>!" Angelo shouts in distress, forced to hold the barrier up in such a storm of power or risk dozens of lives. <<elseif ($style is "Kurokonton")>>\ Guiren and his men launch their throwing stars at Taio but the weapons get caught up in the storm and spin around him, a new danger in the wind. <<elseif ($style is "Kiihakai")>>\ Desdemona casts a series of handseals but the ambient chi needed to fuel them gets swept up in Taio's storm. <<elseif ($style is "Midorikatai")>>\ Tian Fang is forced to push the last remnants of her Wild Chi into her wolves to stop them from being corrupted by the storm. She drops to one knee, growling in frustration. <</if>>\ "Suffer! Suffer at my hand!" Taio cheers as the energy continues to spear through your abdomen, a whole storm condensed into an energy beam piercing through your back from behind. The power stabbing through you charges into the mist around him, circling high into the air overhead into a crimson and black mass of thick chi swirling one hundred feet in the sky. "Finally it's ready, you talentless corpse! //You//, who dared to challenge ''me''!" Both his hands raise into the air and the sky answers. "This farce ends now, I will kill the very memory of you! Behold my grand, true form! ''//Transformation Technique: Akumatization!!//''" The massive pool of the Demonic Chi from the destroyed Fiends spins down from red clouds overhead. Its crimson power descends around Taio like a funnel of sickening energy while your body twitches uncontrollably. "You are not the only one who can heal from a Gate, interloper! With this power I will rip you all asunder and scatter your pieces to the winds, I will slaughter your families, I will burn your villages, and I will devour the flesh of everyone who has ever-" ''*click*'' The red storm swirling overhead slows to a halt. Taio's hands, raised close together toward the sky, are suddenly locked together in a pair of Binder's Bands. The energy in the sky above him abandons his call and disperses when his body loses its ability to cycle. He turns around slowly with wide, bloodshot eyes. His face is utterly stupefied as he stares open-mouthed at the culprit: Kosuke, running away down the docks and jumping into the water. Taio stares down at the bindings in disbelief. "No...No, I..." "FINISH HIM!" <<cap $fren>> screams. Behind Taio, you pull on any last remnants of spiritual energy within your soul, charging your own aura back into your Cores to waste nothing. You rise on your own power, not a Gate's. Not this time. You use no unfair advantage and instead charge headlong at your opponent only with a body and spirit honed over a lifetime of training in the Martial Arts. <<include "ch5-bossfight-finishhim">>\

<<var $chapter 5.5>>\ <<choose "ch5-bossfight2-flurry">> #Assault him with a steady flurry of blows. <<if ($fiendish is false)>>\ By sensing his location with your spirit and the retching sounds of his convulsions you're able to close the gap quickly and find him through the darkness with your fist, connecting a blow directly to his temple. <<else>>\ Without any hesitation you charge at Taio, blasting across the battlefield in a surge of $auracolor and crimson. Your momentum all channels into your fist when you slam a blow into Taio's temple. <</if>>\ <<var $combatstat "agility">>\ <<combatcheck 6>>\ #Kick his face while he's bent over. Before Taio has a chance to recover you dash \ <<if ($fiendish is false)>>\ through the darkness of the market square and reel your leg back for a devastating kick, hitting him in the face as he's bent over retching out Darkness Chi. <<else>>\ across over the market's wide opening with an excited bloodthirsty laugh, kicking Taio's face while he's bent over screaming in pain. <</if>>\ <<var $combatstat "power">>\ <<combatcheck 6>>\ <<if ($passcheck is true)>>\ <<var $firststrike true>>\ Your foot connects with his jaw hard enough to break a normal Martial Artist's teeth. Taio's body stays in one piece but the sheer force of the blow snaps his head back and sends him spiraling twenty feet into the air. One quick breath and a heavy leap brings you up to his level to push the advantage, but a crimson glow sets off danger signals in your spiritual senses. "Rrrr, coward! Fraud!" He screams, twisting in the air and shoving an arm toward you, glowing with power that he ejects as a beam of crimson energy surging at your heart. "Taste oblivion!" <<page "Continue" "ch5-bossfight2-kick">>\ <<else>>\ Your foot slams into his face with a sickening crunch when you break your three outer toes. You freeze as Taio looks over to you, a shell of blood crystal revealing itself around his face. He smiles. <<woundcheck 2 false false>>\ His uppercut catches you in the face, rattling your teeth and blasting wind through your face as you're knocked higher and higher into the sky. You sense him leaping above you and, with no time to even look, you launch an energy blast at the ground, launching you even higher than Taio intended. "Stay down!" Taio barks, eyes filled with anger as you finish closing the distance. <<include "ch5-bossfight2-staydown">>\ <</if>>\ #Lance a beam of energy through his vulnerable spirit. With Taio weakened and retching you take the opportunity to cycle $auracolor power from your own Cores to your hands. As the glow intensifies from your palms to your fingers you join both hands together to erupt a powerful arrow-like beam at high-speeds toward the blood cultist's midsection. <<var $combatstat "soul">>\ <<combatcheck 6>>\ <<if ($passcheck is true)>>\ <<var $firststrike true>>\ Your blast pierces into Taio's body and aura with enough pressure to cut through trees. His body is blasted like a ragdoll \ <<if ($fiendish is false)>>\ outside of the weakening Darkness Gate and \ <</if>>\ into the side of an iron cage that had held prisoners a moment earlier. The bars bend from his collision. His body doesn't move, trapped in an outline of iron, but you take no risks and push the offensive. One step forward is all you make before your spiritual senses scream another warning. <<page "Continue" "ch5-bossfight2-lance">>\ <<else>>\ With a sheen of crimson Taio's hand blurs and a high pitch ''*TING*'' fills the air as your piercing line of chi hits a shell of blood crystal on the back of his wrist, reflecting back at you. Your own attack <<if ($eblocktech isnot "")>>\ slams into \ <<else>>\ pierces through \ <</if>>\ your side before you know what's hit you. <<woundcheck 1 false true>>\ The pressure of your own blast knocks you off your feet, the air soaring over your face as you realize you've somehow gone airborne. It takes a moment for the pain in your side to register that you've been kicked by Taio; the roof quickly approaching breaks you out of the spell and you collide into the top of the building at an angle, flipping over onto the rooftiles. You \ <<var $val 43242>>\ <<include "ch5-bossfight2-flurryw2">>\ <</if>>\ #show-if (((((((((($equippedweapon is "Tanto")) or ($equippedweapon is "Katana")) or ($equippedweapon is "Muramasa")) or ($equippedweapon is "Greataxe")) or ($equippedweapon is "Qiang")) or ($equippedweapon is "Kunai")) or ($equippedweapon is "Jian")) or ($equippedweapon is "Iceblade")) or ($equippedweapon is "Chiblade")) Execute a heavy downward slash with your $equippedweapon. <<if ($fiendish is false)>>\ Using the sound of his retching to locate Taio in the darkness \ <<else>>\ With a smug, bloodthirsty expression \ <</if>>\ you draw your $equippedweapon and charge fast, leaping for the final steps to press your weight into \ <<if (($equippedweapon is "Tanto") or ($equippedweapon is "Kunai"))>>\ an outward shinobi slash. <<else>>\ a downward executioner's swing. <</if>>\ <<var $combatstat "power">>\ <<var $weapontest true>>\ <<combatcheck 5>>\ <<if ($passcheck is true)>>\ <<var $firststrike true>>\ The sharp edge of your $equippedweapon slices down his chest with ease, running an inch-deep chasm down what was once steel-like skin. You land on the ground and pivot, kicking him in the chest-wound twice until he tumbles backward. You expected more resistance. After slaughtering thousands, taking over your rival Sect, imprisoning you, and boasting thousands of Aura Pressure, the sight of this Taio clone reeling back covered in his own blood almost disgusts you. <<if ($honor lt 50)>>\ <<var $ruthless + 1>>\ "Fight back, Taio." You find yourself taunting as you slash at him again. He deflects your blade and leaps back. "All these deaths are because you wanted to live forever, and this is what your prolonged life is for? Boasting for days then dying like a dog? You're not worth my time like this, show me what it was all for! Show me your resolve!" You draw your $equippedweapon back for another attack. "Show me your motivation!" \ <<else>>\ <<if ($taint gt 0)>>\ <<var $taint - 2>>\ <</if>>\ "Stand up, mass murderer." You say coldly down at the man who destroyed every life in the town around you. "You killed countless innocents and never thought justice would find you? Do you know how many lost souls call for your end?" You draw your $equippedweapon back to strike again. "When I carve their revenge into you, you'll learn the true meaning of justice." \ <</if>>\ Taio snarls in disgust, face reddened with anger. "Be silent! The only thing shown tonight is YOUR DEATH!" <<page "Continue" "ch5-bossfight2-behindu">>\ <<else>>\ Your weapon bounces off Taio's face with an unnaturally high-pitched noise and your hands vibrate painfully as your attack recoils off of him. Taio doesn't move. A shield of blood crystal covers his face where your attack landed and his eyes focus on you with disdain. More blood crystals shoot from under his robe, piercing into your torso. <<woundcheck 1 false false>>\ "What's the matter?" Taio taunts, recovering from the surprise and stepping toward you as you tumble back in pain. "You spoke so proudly of how you would kill me, and this is the limit of your Martial Arts?" He closes the distance in the blur of a surged Agility Core and you leap backwards without even taking the time to look, hitting a rooftop halfway and tumbling backwards across two more buildings. <<include "ch5-bossfight2-flurryw2">>\ <</if>>\ #show-if (($equippedweapon is "Meteor Hammer") or ($equippedweapon is "Bo Staff")) Harden your grip enough to bash him over the head with your $equippedweapon. -> "ch5-bossfight2-blunt" #show-if ($equippedweapon is "Handwraps") Harden your fists enough to beat him bloody with your weighted handwraps. -> "ch5-bossfight2-blunt" #show-if ($equippedweapon is "Yumi") Draw your $equippedweapon to fill him with arrows. -> "ch5-bossfight2-arrows" <<if ($fiendish is false)>>\ Using the sounds of his retching, and the fact that it lines up with his location just before the battlefield turned dark, you pinpoint Taio's location and \ <<else>>\ A sense of excitement leaks into your smile as you look upon your opponent screaming in agony. You \ <</if>>\ draw your Yumi along with a plethora of arrows. Metal weapons can never channel anything but Bladed Chi. Wooden weapons, once holding life, can support chi poorly but break after the first use, but arrows...Arrows don't have to last passed the first use. You coat each arrow in $auracolor energy from your fingertips as you grab them and unload a volley at Taio before the string breaks under the stress of your power. <<var $combatstat "agility">>\ <<var $weapontest true>>\ <<combatcheck 5>>\ #show-if ($equippedweapon is "") use-if ($equippedweapon isnot "") Attack him with your weapon. #show-if (($fiendish is false) and (($element1 is "Darkness") or ($element2 is "Darkness"))) Seize the Darkness around you like a hammer. -> "ch5-bossfight2-darkness" <<var $val 2121>>\ #show-if (($fiendish is false) and ((($element1 is "None") or ($element2 is "")) and (($element1 isnot "Darkness") and ($element2 isnot "Darkness")))) Seize the Darkness around you like a hammer. [Acquire Darkness Element] -> "ch5-bossfight2-darkness" <</choose>>

<<if ($passcheck is true)>>\ <<var $firststrike true>>\ Three small explosions go off as the arrows catch Taio one after the other and erupt from the heavy load of spiritual energy you surge into them. "AH! HNHK! RAAHH!!" Taio screams out as each impact interrupts his purging. A massive blast of crimson chi comes straight for you but the distance of your ranged weapon gives you enough warning so you leap high and \ <<if ($fiendish is false)>>\ wide, heading out of the weakening Darkness Gate and \ <<else>>\ wide \ <</if>>\ onto a nearby roof. An explosion shakes the ground from his attack hitting a shop just as you motion to land. You're sent tumbling but manage to \ <<var $val 43242>>\ <<include "ch5-bossfight2-flurryw2">>\ <<else>>\ "Hyuy!" Taio blurts out in a focusing kiai, catching the arrow. "Hyuy! Hyuy! Hyuh!" One after the other he catches your glowing projectiles in the blink of an eye and in that same blink you realize he didn't //catch// them, he reflected them back at you. You dive backwards //hard// to avoid the attack but collide into one the steel cages that had been holding prisoners, breaking it and hurting yourself in the process. Two arrows then find your leg immediately after, striking through skin and muscle with teeth-griding pain. <<woundcheck 1 false false>>\ "What a pathetic sight!" Taio boasts, recovering from his soul-rending pain. "All your bluster and surprises and your basic Martial Arts are too weak to back them up! I will demonstrate what a real Martial Artist can do!" In the crimson glow of Taio's aura powering up you rise to your feet, and in a flash he surges at you with lightning speed, a crimson crystal sword suddenly in his hand. <<include "ch5-bossfight2-crystalsword">>\ <</if>>\

Taio spins in an instant and a seven-foot blade of crimson crystal manifests in his grip. The blade is nearly at your neck before you even have time to defend. <<var $combatstat "agility">>\ <<var $weapontest true>>\ <<combatcheck 6>>\ <<if ($passcheck is true)>>\ Your \ <<if ($equippedweapon is "Handwraps")>>\ backhand swings manage \ <<else>>\ $equippedweapon manages \ <</if>>\ to deflect his attack with no time to spare, knocking your $equippedweapon against his slash at an angle to send it over your head while you duck. \ <<else>>\ The sword cleaves into your arm. Your mind is enveloped by a gutwrenching scream of pain. <<woundcheck 2 false false>>\ Only a last-second \ <<if ($equippedweapon is "Handwraps")>>\ counterpunch from your other arm manages to push his weapon back \ <<else>>\ spin manages to split the damage with your $equippedweapon \ <</if>>\ and stop Taio from severing the limb. <</if>>\ "You dare to speak down to me? To ME?!" Taio screams in a rage as his crystal sword swings a flurry of slashes at your midsection. \ <<if ($agility lt 6)>>\ You barely \ <<else>>\ It takes your whole focus but you \ <<var $agiexp + 1>>\ <</if>>\ manage to deflect the flurry of swings. A growing sense of danger rings through your mind as you're caught on the backfoot. Taio grins down at you. "Die like the amateur you are, daring to boast on the element of surprise as if it were your victory! ARROGANCE!" He swings for your legs and you manage to leap back to the broken cages of the marketplace. In a rush of condensed chi the fight increases in danger when Taio becomes a blur of crimson speeding toward you. <<include "ch5-bossfight2-crystalsword">>\

<<if ($fiendish is false)>>\ Using the sound of his retching to locate Taio in the darkness \ <<else>>\ With a smug, bloodthirsty expression \ <</if>>\ you \ <<if ($equippedweapon is "Handwraps")>>\ wrap your hands in the weighted handwraps while closing the gap between you. When you reach upon him he's still retching in pain. Good. You slam your fists into his face in one strike after another. <<else>>\ draw your $equippedweapon and charge fast, hardening your arms and hands to keep a grip as you slam your full weight into an overhead swing. <</if>>\ <<var $combatstat "fortitude">>\ <<var $weapontest true>>\ <<combatcheck 5>>\ <<if ($passcheck is true)>>\ <<var $firststrike true>>\ <<if (($equippedweapon is "Meteor Hammer") or ($equippedweapon is "Bo Staff"))>>\ ''*SLAM*'' Your $equippedweapon crashes into his skull from overhead, slamming him into the ground. "I-" ''*SLAM*'' <<if ($equippedweapon is "Meteor Hammer")>>\ You pull the chain back and whip your weapon's macehead into \ <<else>>\ You raise your Bo Staff back and slam \ <</if>>\ the back of his head again, crushing his face into the cobblestone road. "Y-" ''*SLAM*'' <<if ($equippedweapon is "Meteor Hammer")>>\ You spin the chain around a leg this time to form a short, fast arc and catch him in the side, knocking him spinning into the air. <<else>>\ With a reckless assault you slam your left hand down to spin your Bo Staff into Taio's side before he can rise, crushing your weapon into his ribs hard enough to spin him into the air. <</if>>\ "STO-" ''*SLAM*'' Another strike from the other side catches him with all your might. He's sent flying into a straw cart so hard that it explodes in a rain of straw and timber. <<elseif ($equippedweapon is "Handwraps")>>\ ''*SLAM*'' Your weighted right fist catches Taio in the cheekbone. "I-" ''*SLAM*'' Your left fist catches him from the other side. "Y-" ''*SLAM*'' An uppercut to the gut lifts him off his feet while his face is extended from the earlier blows. "STO-" ''*SLAM*'' A hook to the throat, a grab of his robe to stop him from flying off, and a cross to his nose knocks him back into a strawcart so hard that his robe rips in your grip and the cart shatters. <</if>>\ "You're not getting out of this, Taio! <<if ($fiendish is true)>>\ You imprisoned me, abducted my allies, //thought// you abducted my siblings, idiot that you are. You were on my list already, but now you ''need'' to die. No one will know about your power I've stolen." <<var $ruthless + 1>>\ <<else>>\ You've killed too many people. It's time to face judgment." <<var $honor + 1>>\ <</if>>\ "Be silent, arrogant whelp!!" Taio barks from under the glowing pile of wood that was once a cart. You hear him spit blood. "You dare to talk of vengeance? You destroyed my creation! My will for revenge is one thousandfold that of a peasant like you!" A flash of crimson chi is your only warning before he appears behind you. <<page "Continue" "ch5-bossfight2-behindu">>\ <<else>>\ ''*SLAM*'' You close the distance with your \ <<if (($equippedweapon is "Meteor Hammer") or ($equippedweapon is "Bo Staff"))>>\ $equippedweapon \ <<else>>\ fist \ <</if>>\ pulled back for a massive attack, then hammer it into Taio's skull. Your <<if (($equippedweapon is "Meteor Hammer") or ($equippedweapon is "Bo Staff"))>>\ hands vibrate \ <<else>>\ hand vibrates \ <</if>>\ from the impact, and Taio doesn't move. A shield of blood crystal covers his face where your attack landed and his eyes focus on you with disdain. More blood crystals shoot from under his robe, piercing into your torso. <<woundcheck 1 false false>>\ "What's the matter?" Taio taunts, recovering from the surprise and stepping toward you as you tumble back in pain. "You spoke so proudly of how you would kill me, and this is the limit of your Martial Arts?" He closes the distance in the blur of a surged Agility Core and you leap backwards without even taking the time to look, hitting a rooftop halfway and tumbling backwards across two more buildings. <<include "ch5-bossfight2-flurryw2">>\ <</if>>\

<<choose "ch5-bossfight3">> #Kick a steel bar at him in a surprise attack. He no doubt has his eyes on your \ <<if (($equippedweapon is "Handwraps") or ($equippedweapon is ""))>>\ fists \ <<else>>\ $equippedweapon \ <</if>>\ and that will be his undoing. Anything sturdy enough is a weapon in the hands of a Martial Artist. In the middle of his swift flash across the open market you kick a broken steel bar directly at his neck. <<var $combatstat "agility">>\ <<var $combatskill "stealth">>\ <<combatcheck 7>>\ <<if ($passcheck is true)>>\ Your foot catches the steel bar at just the right angle and you kick it upward at Taio's neck. He doesn't notice your attack until it's too late, dodging to the right to avoid having his jugular cut. The steel bar slams into the muscle on the leftmost side of his neck and forces his body into an off-balance spin. As soon as his back turns to you, you slam your fist into the center of his spine hard enough to launch him across the market and into a disheveled general goods store. You curse under your breath when his spiritual signature disappears in your senses. With a quick sprint you get to the store and find it empty, a new hole in the wall where Taio must have broken out. After a quick and on-guard search you jump to a nearby roof to look for where the bastard's gone. <<else>>\ Your surprise attack forces Taio to duck and abandon his planned assault, yet his speed doesn't slow and he leaps up with an outward doublekick, slamming his feet into your chest with such momentum that you're blasted backward through a lamp post and further on through a shop window. Glass shatters all around you as you impact the wall behind it. <<if ($wounds gte 2)>>\ <<woundcheck 2 true false>>\ <<else>>\ <<woundcheck 2 false false>>\ <</if>>\ It takes far longer than you'd like to rise, giving Taio plenty of time to prepare his next attack... Yet there is no next attack. In fact, there is no Taio. After a second of caution you leap to the nearest safe rooftop and survey the battlefield looking for your opponent. <</if>>\ <<page "Continue" "ch5-bossfight3">>\ #Look for the perfect moment and clothesline him. Your keen eyes catch the second his blade reaches your torso and you crouch your left leg low while kicking off with your right, pulling your body to the side as you shove your right arm out and forward to catch him by the neck. <<var $combatstat "fortitude">>\ <<var $combatskill "perception">>\ <<combatcheck 7>>\ <<if ($passcheck is true)>>\ His eyes widen in realization but there's no time to stop himself as you slam your right elbow into his neck. The full weight of his intense speed and your forward fall crunch into his adam's apple, holding his head still as his lower body continues forward at an upward angle with incredible speed. He has no chance to scream with the damage you do to his neck so instead he silently flies off over the buildings, backflipping dozens of times into the air at a 45-degree angle from your clothesline. You curse under your breath when he clears the first roof and you lose sight of him. After leaping up onto the nearest building you survey the surroundings for your opponent. <<else>>\ Taio's speed proves superior as his sword stabs into and through the side of your ribcage, rending a soul-shrieking pain through your body. <<woundcheck 2 false false>>\ "HNNGG!" Your let out in a suppressed scream, all the while Taio's charge doesn't relent and his sword lifts you off your feet, charging you into a shop's window display and straight through. Glass shatters as you're forced over the furniture of the shop and slam into the opposite wall. \ You rise shakily from the floor and prepare for another attack, but no such attack comes. Cautiously you walk to the exit and leave the shop, looking for your opponent throughout the market square. <</if>>\ <<page "Continue" "ch5-bossfight3">>\ <</choose>>

<<var $firststrike true>>\ Beholden to your will, the Elemental Darkness energies of the artificial Gate rush into your body like a hurricane sucked into a jar. Yet it is not only power you're after. You crave ability. With a hardened focus you pull the Darkness in deeper, urging it into your Cores and \ <<if (($element1 is "Darkness") or ($element2 is "Darkness"))>>\ fueling your aura's existing connection to the Darkness. Immediately your aura darkens further as the Darkness of the void answers your call. <<apboost (10+$insight)>>\ <<else>>\ accepting a binding to the element within yourself. Immediately you feel the change as the forces of Yin and Darkness realign your Cores and answer to your call. ''[Element Acquired: Darkness]'' <<if ($element1 is "None")>>\ <<var $element1 "Darkness">>\ <<var $element1rank + 1>>\ <<else>>\ <<var $element2 "Darkness">>\ <<var $element2rank + 1>>\ <</if>>\ <</if>>\ And call you do, pulling the last remnants of Darkness from the air into a massive black hammer thrumming with energy. Against a Martial Artist the warhammer of Darkness in your hand would be unnerving, disrupting their chi, but not damaging. Yet Taio is no Martial Artist. He is a walking, talking Technique, and the void hungers for his chi. Just as he recovers from the gut-wrenching pain inflicted upon his soul you redouble your efforts and slam the hammer into his side with both hands, hard enough that the Dark Hammer explodes and Taio's center is moved before the rest of his body has a chance to react, breaking several ribs and knocking his entire collarbone out of place. In that one heavy slam he's launched across the plaza. "GRRAAAGGGHH!!" Taio screams, blown into a building with his body morphed unnaturally. Your weapon dissipates, your \ <<if ($val is 2121)>>\ Darkness chi absorbed by the hunger in your aura, \ <<var $val 0>>\ <<else>>\ new Darkness powers taking time to focus, \ <</if>>\ but you have other powers at your disposal. You approach the destroyed building where Taio crashed and smell charcoal in the air...and sulfur. <<page "Continue" "ch5-bossfight2-darkness2">>\

The debris in front of you explodes in a deafening eruption of black smoke. <<var $combatstat "soul">>\ <<var $combatskill "alchemy">>\ <<combatcheck 7>>\ <<if ($passcheck is true)>>\ Chi fires from your hands in response, just in time. You narrowly manage to counter the explosion around you with a wide energy blast protecting your immediate person. The street around you is destroyed. <<else>>\ Chi fires from your hands in response. You try to deflect the explosion with a wide energy blast of your own but the explosion pushes you back, breaking through your aura's power. <<if ($eblocktech is "")>>\ The concussive force hits you all at once. <<else>>\ Only your $eblocktech stops the concussive force from shredding your skin. <</if>>\ <<woundcheck 1 false true>> <</if>>\ "Did you really think you were the only one with strategies?" Taio mocks from inside the acrid black smoke cloud. With a mighty leap he soars into the sky above, only to see you burst out of the black smoke right beneath <<if ($wounds is 0)>>\ him. <<else>>\ him, bloodied and determined. <</if>>\ <<include "ch5-bossfight2-staydown">>\

<<if ($passcheck is true)>>\ <<var $firststrike true>>\ You weave backwards to avoid a counter-kick and grab his leg, whipping him over your head and down into the cobblestone ground. Once he hits the road back-first you get to work with a knee on his chest and both hands swinging for his face in strike after strike, knocking his senses out as you batter his face from side to side. <<if ($fiendish is false)>>\ In the suppressive darkness there's \ <<else>>\ There's \ <</if>>\ no warning when a body-sized fist of crimson chi manifests beneath you. <<page "Continue" "ch5-bossfight2-flurryw">>\ <<else>>\ A counter-kick from his leg knocks the wind out of you before your assault even begins. A gasp blurts out from between your lips as the air inside you is forced out, and Taio takes that chance to slam a fist into the side of your jaw while it's open and vulnerable. The blow sends you flying all the way back into the metal cages of the market square, crashing you into one so hard that it breaks into a pile of metal pipes. <<woundcheck 1 false false>>\ "I expected more!" Taio gloats. "All that bluster, such a sublime opening, and yet in the end you lack the Martial Arts to back it all up. I will demonstrate, to an amateur like you, the true Martial Arts. A crimson crystal sword appears in his hand as if from nowhere and you barely get to your feet as he charges you in a blur of speed. <<include "ch5-bossfight2-crystalsword">>\ <</if>>\

Taio's entire aura warps into a gigantic crimson fist of concussive force that slams into your whole body. You're knocked off of him with such momentum that you're sent bouncing across multiple \ <<if ($fiendish is false)>>\ rooftops away from the Darkness Gate around the market square. <<else>>\ rooftops in anger. <</if>>\ <<if ($element1 is "Earth") or ($element2 is "Earth")>>\ ''[Earth Element Event: No Damage Taken]'' The tiles of clay do nothing to your body as the natural Earth elements inside of them aid your lifeforce. <<else>>\ <<var $combatstat "fortitude">>\ <<combatcheck 7>>\ <<if ($passcheck is true)>>\ ''[Damage Prevented]'' Your tough body manages to prevent any real damage from the constant impact. <<else>>\ <<if ($pblocktech is "")>>\ You slam into each roof with bone-shaking impact and feel your bones suffer the consequences. <<woundcheck 1 true false>>\ <<var $val 43242>>\ Eventually you skid to a halt on the roof of a residential building, bleeding but alive, and \ <<else>>\ <<woundcheck 1 true false>>\ Your training protects you from damage and you manage to shake off the damage from the constant impact. <</if>>\ <</if>>\ <</if>>\ <<include "ch5-bossfight2-flurryw2">>\

<<if ($val isnot 43242)>>\ The tiles slam into you with painful but tolerable impact, like being repeatedly punched in the face, gut, and knees by a ten-year-old. You \ <</if>>\ roll to your feet at the edge of a residential home's roof just in time to notice Taio already leaping up from an alleyway between buildings right behind you. <<choose "ch5-bossfight3">> #Catch his torso in a spin, dropping you both back to the ground in a freefalling suplex. Taio's leg glows with power and swings in at your center for a devastating blow to your body and spirit. You respond by rushing in to grab him around the center and leaping off the building. <<var $combatstat "power">>\ <<var $combatstat2 "fortitude">>\ <<combatcheck 11>>\ <<if ($passcheck is true)>>\ Before his right leg's kick can land you prevent any impact by closing the gap between the two of you and twisting your body, jumping to his right so there's no distance for his swing to close. "Release me!" He shouts as the two of you fall. The force of your grapple pulls you off the roof and drags Taio to the ground with you as the two of you struggle for dominance. His arms grip your shoulders but just as you're about to hit the ground you rip your clothing's right shoulder for freedom and maneuver behind him. By the time you arc your back and whip over your head and upside-down, the ground below has caught up to you both. His head slams into the cobblestone ground in a grand suplex that delivers the full impact of your fall. A spray of rock and sand fills the alleyway between the buildings where you land and you leap out of the dust cloud before Taio gets a chance to counterattack. When two seconds pass and no surprise attack comes, you grow cautious. The cloud dissipates and Taio isn't in the small crater you two created. You leap to a nearby roof and scan the battlefield for your opponent. <<else>>\ His kick slams into you before you can close the distance, caustic chi ripping through your clothing and burning your skin. Concussive forces launches you like a cannonball off the roof but you don't have the dignity to hit the ground, instead you bounce off four more roofs before slamming through a third story window and embedding your delirious body into a dresser. <<woundcheck 2 false false>>\ Taking a moment to steady your nerves you rip one arm out of the wood and then a leg, pulling yourself out and looking through the hole in the wall created from your impact. Taio is nowhere to be found. You leap out of the hole to an opposite roof and scan the battlefield for your opponent. <</if>>\ #Flip forward and surprise him with a two-handed energy blast. You charge chi to your hands and front-flip forward to gain distance from Taio's melee attack, narrowly dodging a chi-enhanced kick with a crimson blur of energy around it. In that flip you extend your arms out in the rotation so both palms are facing your target when your airborne body becomes horizontal with the roof. <<var $combatstat "soul">>\ <<var $combatskill "stealth">>\ <<discount "Kiihakai" 1>>\ <<discount "Wind" 1>>\ <<discount "Fire" 1>>\ <<combatcheck 7>>\ <<if ($passcheck is true)>>\ Your energy blasts out of both palms in a body-sized close range explosion that launches Taio into an opposing building straight through the wall. All that pressure knocks you back as well, almost falling off the house's roof, but you catch yourself and run back across to continue the fight...only to find Taio missing. No surprise attack comes so you hop from roof to roof, looking for where your opponent has gone. \ <<else>>\ A surprise kick from Taio rips through your energy blast and slams into the back of your head, parallel as it is with the roof. Your attack is completely dispersed and his blow sends you spinning forward in gut-shaking rotations as you involuntarily flip over and over, crashing across multiple rooftops until you slam through a third story window and embed your delirious body into a dresser. <<woundcheck 1 false false>>\ Taking a moment to steady your nerves you rip one arm out of the wood and then a leg, pulling yourself out and looking through the hole in the wall created from your impact. Taio is nowhere to be found. You leap out of the hole to an opposite roof and scan the battlefield for your opponent. <</if>>\ <</choose>>

Taio's beam of crimson energy rushes toward you as you're caught in midair flying toward him from your leap. <<if ($style is "Kiihakai")>>\ ''[Style Event: Kiihakai]'' Your golden Mystic Chi catches his beam like a tube and redirects it away from you. The explosion destroys a building behind you but you don't turn around, still flying towards Taio from your leap. <<else>>\ <<var $combatstat "soul">>\ <<var $combatstat2 "fortitude">>\ <<combatcheck 11>>\ <<if ($passcheck is true)>>\ ''[Damage Prevented]'' One of your hands laced in chi smacks the beam away from you, sending its power into a nearby building that explodes behind you. You don't turn around to view the explosion, rushing toward him instead to press your counterattack. <<else>>\ <<woundcheck 2 false true>>\ <<if ($eblocktech is "")>>\ The caustic power of his demonic blast burns deeply into your chest as it barely misses a direct attack, singing your front torso while you fly toward him from your initial leap. <<else>>\ His attack does little to stop you as you fly straight toward him from your initial leap. <</if>>\ <</if>>\ <</if>>\ "Stay down!" Taio barks, eyes filled with anger as you finish closing the distance. <<include "ch5-bossfight2-staydown">>\

The ground beneath you lurches as Taio's blood across the battlefield suddenly expands into massive spikes of crimson crystal, launching toward you from all angles like an armory of spears. <<var $combatstat "fortitude">>\ <<var $weapontest true>>\ <<combatcheck 7>>\ <<if ($passcheck is true)>>\ <<if ($equippedweapon isnot "")>>\ <<if ($equippedweapon is "Yumi")>>\ By charging chi through the wood of your Yumi \ <<elseif ($equippedweapon is "Handwraps")>>\ Using your bare hands reinforced with weighted handwraps \ <<elseif ($equippedweapon is "Muramasa")>>\ By swinging Muramasa in a dazzling arc \ <<else>>\ By swinging your $equippedweapon in a dazzling arc \ <</if>>\ <<else>>\ Even without a weapon \ <</if>>\ you're able to deflect the dozens of bloodspears manifesting around the battlefield. Twisting, pivoting, deflecting several \ <<if (($equippedweapon is "") or ($equippedweapon is "Handwraps"))>>\ with your hands, \ <<else>>\ at once with your $equippedweapon, \ <</if>>\ even catching one of the sharp spikes to swing against the others leads to a quick display of acrobatics leaving you without a scratch as your body resists the glancing blows. <<else>>\ <<if ($equippedweapon isnot "")>>\ <<if ($equippedweapon is "Yumi")>>\ Despite charging chi through the wood of your Yumi \ <<elseif ($equippedweapon is "Handwraps")>>\ Despite the assistance of your weighted handwraps \ <<elseif ($equippedweapon is "Muramasa")>>\ Despite swinging Muramasa in a dazzling arc \ <<else>>\ Despite swinging your $equippedweapon in a dazzling arc \ <</if>>\ you're \ <<else>>\ Lacking a weapon makes deflecting a dozen spears made of blood crystal significantly harder. You're \ <</if>>\ quickly overtaken by the sheer volume of attacks from all angles and suffer several wounds as the spears cut through skin and muscle with each piercing blow. <<woundcheck 1 false false>>\ <</if>>\ "You think that's all?!" Taio shouts, leaping high into the air. The spears all around you begin to vibrate and resonate with demonic chi. The realization hits you that they're about to explode. All energy surges to your legs as you leap upwards towards Taio, his crystal eruption causing a massive lightshow underneath you. "Stay down!" Taio barks, eyes filled with anger as you finish closing the distance. <<include "ch5-bossfight2-staydown">>\

<<choose "ch5-bossfight3">> #Grab his arms and spin, hurtling him into a burning building. You front-flip into a feinting ax-kick, and as expected Taio lifts both arms to block. In the last tenth of a second you tuck your leg in and reach your arms out instead to grab his guarding forearms, then use the force of your flip to throw the blood cultist into a nearby burning building. <<var $combatstat "agility">>\ <<var $combatskill "survival">>\ <<discount "Fire" 1>>\ <<combatcheck 7>>\ <<if ($passcheck is true)>>\ A quick glance shows you exactly the right house to choose and you throw the blood cultists into the hottest fire, a tavern burning from its floor rather than its roof. He jettisons through the air and crashes through the tavern's wall, straight into the blazing inferno some Sunbringer had started inside. <<if ($element2 is "Fire")>>\ Burning Taio in a large tavern feels reminiscent of your first mission. It's becoming a habit. <<var $solexp + 1>>\ <</if>>\ Keeping on the offense, you charge into the tavern and find a large hole in the opposite wall where he must have escaped. Looking around reveals no clue to his whereabouts so you leap to a neighboring roof and survey the area for where your opponent's gone. <<include "ch5-bossfight3">>\ <<else>>\ A whip of crimson manifests between his hand and your leg before and you feel the force of your throw reverse as he tugs hard, pulling himself away from the burning building and sending you hurtling towards it. You crash through the charred wall without resistance, slamming into the inferno engulfing the barn's bottom floor. <<woundcheck 1 false true>>\ Your aura barely keeps you alive amidst the scorching flames but the lack of oxygen will be your undoing if you don't get out fast. With that in mind you barrel through the door and tumble to the ground in a running roll, putting the fire on your clothing out, and stand with a flourish to deflect any attack Taio sends your way. ...Yet there's no such attack. After a second of caution you leap to the nearest safe rooftop and survey the battlefield looking for your opponent. <<page "Continue" "ch5-bossfight3">>\ <</if>>\ #Maneuver above him to blast him into ground. -> "ch5-bossfight2-vortex" #show-if ((($element1 is "Wind") or ($element1 is "Water")) or ($element1 is "Earth")) use-if ((($chipool + ($soul/2)) - $chispent) gte 1) Knock him into the ground with a torrent of $element1 energy. [Costs 1 Chi] -> "ch5-bossfight2-vortex" <<var $elem $element1>>\ #show-if ((($element2 is "Wind") or ($element2 is "Water")) or ($element2 is "Earth")) use-if ((($chipool + ($soul/2)) - $chispent) gte 1) Knock him into the ground with a torrent of $element2 energy. [Costs 1 Chi] -> "ch5-bossfight2-vortex" <<var $elem $element2>>\ <</choose>>

When you close the gap you strike a decisive blow towards Taio's head. He blocks with both arms and you grab their intersection, yanking hard to pull yourself even higher above him. Taio lowers his guard to see what happened a second too late. You rise high above the blood cultist and charge a two-handed energy blast from above him, surging all your hostile chi onto him in a \ <<if ($elem isnot "")>>\ <<if ($elem is "Wind")>>\ vortex of biting Wind energy. <<elseif ($elem is "Water")>>\ torrential river of Water energy. <<elseif ($elem is "Earth")>>\ manifestation of physical rock, condensing your large yellow energy blast into a four-hundred pound boulder that you crash into him from above. <</if>>\ ''[1 Chi Spent]'' <<var $chispent + 1>>\ <<else>>\ reinforced $auracolor explosion. <</if>>\ <<var $combatstat "soul">>\ <<var $combatskill "athletics">>\ <<combatcheck 8>>\ <<if (($passcheck is true) or ($elem isnot ""))>>\ <<if ($elem is "")>>\ Your massive energy blast slams into him like a funeral pyre as you slam the scorching hostile chi into his face. He tries to lace his hands in chi to catch it with both hands and you launch a second, smaller energy blast into your first to blow it up in his face. The resulting explosion knocks him into the road below like blackpowder sending off a cannonball. <<elseif ($elem is "Wind")>>\ Your wind vortex slams into Taio and spins him in every direction as it pushes him into the ground with constant high-speed winds infused with slicing energy. He slams into the ground head-first and continues to feel the assault of your Wind powers. <<elseif ($elem is "Earth")>>\ Your boulder slams into Taio as if it were launched from a catapult, dropping him into the ground and crushing him like a meteor. You drop a second boulder on him after, just to be sure. <<elseif ($elem is "Water")>>\ Your torrent of water manifests as dark blue energy rushing like water, infused with the spirit-scorching chi of hostile energy. The river of power crashes into Taio like a watercannon as he's blasted into the road below. <</if>>\ Rocks and gravel explode all around his landing site and you land next to him, ready to press the attack. Yet when the dust settles the crater is empty. Taio is nowhere to be found. Confused, you leap to a nearby roof. You're prepared for a sneak attack as you look around for your opponent but seconds pass without a sighting. <<page "Continue" "ch5-bossfight3">>\ <<else>>\ He disappears from your view, vanishing in midair with the sort of speed that can only come from a Technique. Battle experience helps you brace all Fortitude Chi to the back of your head. Just as you reinforce your body, Taio slams a foot down onto your skull from above. You're sent flying to the ground with so much force that the cobblestones around your impact site explode around you. <<woundcheck 1 false false>>\ A $auracolor energy explodes outward from your body, dispersing the dust cloud immediately as you rise. Despite your best guess, such a wide deflection wasn't needed to stop Taio's next attack because there is no next attack. In fact, there is no Taio. After a second of caution you leap to the nearest safe rooftop and survey the battlefield looking for your opponent. <<page "Continue" "ch5-bossfight3">>\ <</if>>\

It's your spiritual senses that find him first when you sense a massive surge of \ <<if ($fiendish is false)>>\ sickening \ <</if>>\ Demonic Chi flying from building to building, towards the coast. <<page "Continue" "ch5-bossfight4">>\

Sprinting down the main streets of Ebikowa brings you passed dozens of destroyed buildings in a flash. Three Lost jump out at you and you're forced to knock them back into a building without stopping. A bloodwalker slithers up from the road, forming into a series of knives, and you can't spare the time to finish it off. You leap over the obstacle and launch an energy blast into its center to ward it off before continuing on. The city is quickly growing into a warzone. The road grows into a steep hill, dipping towards the coast as you chase Taio further. You get a view of the ocean once again, its vastness mottled by the docks and ships closer to the shoreline a dozen streets below. Taio's repulsive spirit energy can be sensed halfway down the steep main road, atop a three-story wooden building looming over the rest. You jump from roof to roof and get one building across from him before you freeze at the sight. Taio's robes flutter in the wind, crimson power crackling around him, and he looks over to you with an all too pleased expression. His hands are already charged with energy closer to the potency he had before you disrupted his spirit. Is he recovering, or did he charge the attack for longer? The power charging between his hands thickens nearly into an ooze. "Move and they all die." He says, his attack aimed at the clear view of the docks downhill. Specifically at a flurry of scarlet, white, \ <<if (($style is "Akakiru") or ($style is "Midorikatai"))>>\ and green \ <<elseif ($style is "Aoyusumu")>>\ green, and cerulean \ <<elseif ($style is "Kiihakai")>>\ green, and gold \ <<elseif ($style is "Kurokonton")>>\ green, and violet \ <</if>>\ auras where the others are fighting Fiends to get to the ships. "It's a concentrated Technique that attracts Fiends. My personal death sentence for your loved ones." Hostages. Damn it all, you thought he was too proud for this. Fighting you alone was supposed to be the perfect bait. "What happened to killing me first?" You taunt. "Are you that weak?" "You expect me to feel shame, but I am an analytical man. I do not scold myself for gauging the scenario incorrectly, I simply adapt to the situation at hand." He smiles with all the satisfaction in the world. "And I lied about my threat. They die whether you move or not." His attack pulses one more time as he releases the oozing blast. <<choose "ch5-bossfight5">> #Launch an energy attack to strike his Technique out of the air. -> "ch5-bossfight4-energy" Both hands shine with all the chi you can push out in a single breath. Without hesitation you launch an unstable rocket of \ <<if (($element1 is "Ice") or ($element2 is "Ice"))>>\ icy blue \ <<else>>\ $auracolor \ <</if>>\ life energy through the sky, praying your immediate guess is enough to aim where the attacks will collide. Taio's scowl grows as both shining meteors of energy fly through the night sky, anticipation filling the battlefield. <<var $combatstat "soul">>\ <<var $combatskill "perception">>\ <<if (($style is "Kiihakai") and ($handseals gt $perception))>>\ ''[Mystic Chi: Perception Check Changed to Handseals Check]'' <<var $combatskill "handseals">>\ <</if>>\ <<discount "Wind" 1>>\ <<discount "Storm" 1>>\ <<combatcheck 8>>\ #Jump in the way. With reckless abandon and trust in your superior physical form you leap in front of Taio's attack and take his blast directly to the chest. The energy attack collides into you and sticks to your body like hot wax, burning like acid. You take both hands and grip the ball of crackling, spiritual ooze. All you can do now is try your best to break it down. <<var $combatstat "fortitude">>\ <<var $combatskill "athletics">>\ <<discount "Light" 1>>\ <<discount "Aoyusumu" 1>>\ <<combatcheck 9>>\ <<if ($passcheck is true)>>\ Taio's Technique fails to break through your skin. The caustic power of demonic chi attack slams into your body but falls prey to your own aura of $auracolor chi, generating an intense level of spiritual power. Hot black smoke sizzles out from both hands as you grip his Technique and crush it down, leaving you standing the victor. "No!" Taio screams. "No, no, NO!" He stares back at you like a wild animal, his entire body crackling with Demonic Chi. "You will LEARN! You will LEARN what happens to those who oppose me!" The energy surging around him activates in a Technique and...he disappears. Your first spiritual scan detects where he went because it's exactly what you fear. He's already at the docks. <<else>>\ Yet it proves too much even for you. His attack burns through the skin of your palms and aura alike, destroying volumes of your lifeforce as it feeds on your aura. The attack grows larger than even your own body as it overtakes you. <<if ($fortitude lt 6)>>\ <<woundcheck 2 false false>>\ <<else>>\ <<woundcheck 1 false true>>\ <</if>>\ In a last-ditch survival instinct you put all your energy into your hands and grip the attack, brace your footing against the roof of the building, and shove Taio's blast high into the air overhead. You stare up at the attack flying off in hopes that it will detonate in the sky, yet it swerves back down toward the docks and collides into the wood with a pulse of crimson chi. \ Howls ring out around the streets of Ebikowa. \ <<if ($fiendseverity gte 6)>>\ <<var $kosukecombat - 1>>\ <</if>>\ In the struggle against such an attack and the ensuing fallout, something went missing. Taio. Your spiritual scan reveals him on your first attempt, because he's exactly where you feared. \ He's gone to the docks himself. <</if>>\ <<page "Continue" "ch5-bossfight5">>\ #show-if ($style is "Akakiru") use-if (((($soul / 2) + $chipool) - $chispent) gte 2) Sever his attack in two. [Costs 2 Chi] Seventy slicing scarlet blades of chi fly off all around you in perpetual motion as your spirit powers up to its full Bladed potential. <<if (((((((((($equippedweapon is "Tanto")) or ($equippedweapon is "Katana")) or ($equippedweapon is "Muramasa")) or ($equippedweapon is "Greataxe")) or ($equippedweapon is "Qiang")) or ($equippedweapon is "Kunai")) or ($equippedweapon is "Jian")) or ($equippedweapon is "Iceblade")) or ($equippedweapon is "Chiblade"))>>\ You point \ <<if ($equippedweapon is "Muramasa")>>\ Muramasa \ <<else>>\ your $equippedweapon \ <</if>>\ down, reverse your grip, \ <<else>>\ You pull all that wasted Bladed power in the air back into your grip between both hands, forming a sword of restlessly glowing Bladed energy in your hands. You reverse that blade, pointed down, <</if>>\ and with one quick slice you raise your blade to the sky with a single flying sickle of energy the size of your body cutting through the air. ''[2 Chi Points Spent]'' <<var $chispent + 2>>\ Your Bladed energy attack rotates with such force that it appears as a massive spinning disk, colliding into Taio's attack and severing it in half. Rather than exploding his oozing orb of crimson power separates cleanly like a ball of dough, dispersing in the air as your potent scarlet chi continues flying into the clouds. "No!" Taio screams. "No, no, NO!" He stares back at you like a wild animal, his entire body crackling with Demonic Chi. "You will LEARN! You will LEARN what happens to those who oppose me!" The energy surging around him activates in a Technique and...he disappears. Your first spiritual scan detects where he went because it's exactly what you fear. He's already at the docks. <<page "Continue" "ch5-bossfight5">>\ #show-if ($style is "Aoyusumu") use-if (((($soul / 2) + $chipool) - $chispent) gte 2) Deflect the attack with a Sacred forcefield. [Costs 2 Chi] You reach both hands out and harness wave after wave of Sacred Chi through the air, praying against all hope that your training was enough. Cerulean chi pulses down your arms like rings of power sliding forward, slowly gathering into your palms. Taio's attack soars through the air, quickly closing half the distance to everyone fighting down at the docks. The air shimmers with Sacred Chi as your forcefield begins to materialize such a long distance away but if it doesn't form in time there will be no point. Once your energy leaves your body to form the forcefield all you can do...is pray. //Please be enough.// //Please be enough.// //Please be enough!// <<page "Continue" "ch5-bossfight4-aoyu">>\ #show-if ($style is "Kiihakai") use-if (((($soul / 2) + $chipool) - $chispent) gte 2) Channel the line of Mystic Chi Desdemona left behind into a roaring dragonbeam. [Costs 2 Chi] You didn't want to call upon your trump card this early but Taio's steadily leaving the area where it can be of use. With a guttural incantation and a triplicate Tiger Seal finished with the Hare Seal you call upon the line of Mystic Chi that Desdemona left when she fled to the docks and finish the Technique she had half-way completed. The massive line of Mystic Chi she left behind, stretching down multiple streets, animates at your call and rises off the road head-first, forming into a thin but hundred-foot long outline of a dragon made of golden energy. Taio's own face stares on with an open mouth. ''[2 Chi Points Spent]'' <<var $chispent + 2>>\ The Mystic line thickens in power and grows in radiance and speed, surging through the air with a savage roar as the dragonbeam finds its target: Taio's attack. As the ball of Demonic ooze soars through the sky it's caught in the jaws of the dragonbeam and torn asunder, ripped to pieces as their collision causes a crimson and golden explosion in the night sky. The shining golden light of the detonation grows and grows and grows as the dragon's body crashes into the explosion more with each passing second, burning out Taio's Technique in a vibrant mid-air eruption that loses its crimson hue until it shines nothing but gold. You look upon the magnificent work of art, knowing every Seal that went into its creation, and only marvel that you've been able to create something so powerful and pristine. You're broken out of the trance from Taio's aura seething with fury; he leaps across the building and swiping a hand at your face. "DAMN YOU!" He screams. "Damn you and all your tricks!" He sends a kick at your midsection that you meet with both hands, causing you to only be pushed back. "I will not be denied, I will not tolerate it! YOU WILL KNOW LOSS!" Crimson lightning crackles around him and a Technique triggers, causing him to...disappear. You look around expecting him to be invisible, but a spiritual scan locates him on your first try because he's exactly where you fear. Taio has reached the docks. <<page "Continue" "ch5-bossfight5">>\ #show-if ($style is "Kurokonton") use-if (((($soul / 2) + $chipool) - $chispent) gte 2) Use the Boss's Talisman. [Costs 1 Health, Costs 1 Chi] -> "ch5-bossfight4-kuro" With no time to think you leap for Taio, reaching him only thanks to your bamboo speed training. Without any better option you grab his hands in your own, immediately feeling his crimson Demonic Chi burning into your palms and knuckles. "Give it up, Taio!" You scream in his face. "This is between us!" "The weak do not make demands!" Taio screams back. "You are a fool to contest my might directly. If you crave pain then have it! Have as much as you like!" His hands charge with even more power and your spiritual senses scream at you to let go, but you can't. If his attack gets past you there's no way out for everyone behind you. Caustic pain rips through your hands as the skin of your palms burns and breaks. Your soul screams out again and again but you refuse to relent. No more evasion. If you're to survive this fight you need to be at a level that can fight Taio directly. Yet in the middle of your gripping standoff a crimson glow surrounds Taio's head. Beams of Demonic Chi burrow out from the center of his eyes and blast into your face, pressing hard against your spirit with caustic power. <<woundcheck 1 false false>>\ He holds your grip with both hands, preventing you from moving as his energy beams explode against your skull, and he //laughs.// "Any last words!?" In the heat of the moment, with your Cursed Chi aura pushed to its limits, the talisman Guiren slipped into your pocket ''cracks''. A single-word incantation answers Taio in the otherworldly voice of The Boss. ''//"MALOCCHIO."//'' Taio gasps. The battle shifts when he hurriedly releases your grip and leaps backward. He doesn't make it. Your hands catch his wrists before he can pull away. Power surges through you like a drug and you laugh, gripping his forearms with crushing might. "WHERE ARE YOU GOING, TAIO?! WE'RE NOT DONE YET!" ''[1 Chi Spent]'' <<var $chispent + 1>>\ <<var $talisman true>>\ He sees your eyes shoot open, two orbs of darkness visible through his beam's attack. Pitch black orbs, from the iris to the sclera, and from inside those dark voids explode new irises of burning purple when Guiren's talisman temporarily releases a Transformation you never learned. #show-if ($style is "Midorikatai") use-if (((($soul / 2) + $chipool) - $chispent) gte 2) Destroy the ground beneath his feet before he can fire. [Costs 2 Chi]. ''"NO!"'' You scream with enhanced lungs, breaking glass windows on both sides of the street. With no time to stop Taio's attack the conventional way you summon the Wild Chi throughout your body and push it all to your right side. Your back, your abs, your arm, your shoulder, and its spear tip of condensed power all formed into your palm. Praying to anything that will listen, you push that physical Beast energy all into one blow and slam a palm into the side of Taio's building. All of your Wild Chi explodes out of your palm like a battering ram ripping into wall apart. What you meant as a physical blow comes out as a bull-sized blast of condensed green energy digging into the flooring and charging forward, ripping a chasm from underneath the building's foundation until it explodes at the central support beam. ''[2 Chi Spent]'' <<var $chispent + 2>>\ The entire structure falls to pieces and Taio's footing gets disrupted just in time to send his attack into the sky. Before you can press the attack further crimson \ <<if ($fiendish is false)>>\ putrid \ <</if>>\ energy radiates in your spiritual senses as Taio vanishes from inside the massive pile of debris. A second surge of Demonic Chi in the distance feels just like his aura, and you realize he's somehow teleported a short distance and dashed away at incredible speed. The pit of your stomach drops. He's already reached the docks. <<page "Continue" "ch5-bossfight5">>\ #show-if (($element1 is "Earth") or ($element2 is "Earth")) Block the attack with a rock wall. [Costs 1 Chi] Your eyes shoot wide at the danger and your chi reacts instantly to the emergency at hand, your right hand shooting out with a pulse of yellow that detects exactly what you need further out. Switching your footing to a wide, grounded stance helps balance as your heavy spirit glows yellow around you. Your arm lowers, gripping the power of Earth and giving a somatic aid to your spirit as it takes hold of that something in the distance. Taio turns to you as he feels the elemental power through the air but it's too late. With one mighty heave your lowered arm rips through the air and the object that your spirit clung to rips up as well. ''[1 Chi Point Spent]'' <<var $chispent + 1>>\ "What in the world-!?" Taio screams as a wall of Earth answers your call. Not a slab, but a literal and actual wall: the entire side of a stone building in the distance rips off its foundation and catapults into the air, slamming into his attack and dispersing it like a mosquito blown to pieces by an empowered palmstrike. "No!" Taio screams. "No, no, NO!" He stares back at you like a wild animal, his entire body crackling with Demonic Chi. "You will LEARN! You will LEARN what happens to those who oppose me!" The energy surging around him activates in a Technique and...he disappears. Your first spiritual scan detects where he went because it's exactly what you fear. He's already at the docks. <<page "Continue" "ch5-bossfight5">>\ <</choose>>

"Fear not child, it will be enough." Says a voice in your mind. Not Angelo's. Not even Taio's. An elderly voice you've never heard before. Before you can puzzle on the mystery further your forcefield materializes in the middle of the night sky in the form of a curved disk, catching the potent oozing Demonic Chi in the air and scattering it evenly in a perfect radius so no one area holds enough power to keep the Technique active. A sigh of relief is interrupted by Taio's enraged growl when he appears before you. His fist collides into your face with a sickening crunch, but not from you. The man's knuckles break on the second forcefield you prepared for this exact counterattack. Only the energy coursing through your right arm was stopping his Technique. Your left was prepared for this. Somehow you knew his intention, as if it seemed natural that he would do that next. With a swift spin you kick at his midsection you stumble through him, crimson lightning crackling around the man as he disappears completely in some sort of Technique the second your blow hits. You send a spiritual scan out and your very first attempt finds him, because he's exactly where you feared. Taio has reached the docks. <<page "Continue" "ch5-bossfight5">>\

<<if ($passcheck is true)>>\ Your attack collides into Taio's Technique and detonates it short of the intended target. His crimson oozing chi \ <<if (($element1 is "Ice") or ($element2 is "Ice"))>>\ freezes in the air and drops to the ground, shattering on the street below. <<else>>\ explodes outward on impact and scatters through the air. <</if>>\ Almost clairvoyantly you turn to punch Taio at the same time he surges an Agility Core to strike at you, your fists colliding in a crackling of power from both auras. "DAMN YOU!" He screams. "Damn you and all your tricks!" He sends a kick at your midsection that you meet with both hands, causing you to only be pushed back. "I will not be denied, I will not tolerate it! YOU WILL KNOW LOSS!" Crimson lightning crackles around him and a Technique triggers, causing him to...disappear. You look around expecting him to be invisible, but a spiritual scan locates him on your first try because he's exactly where you fear. Taio has reached the docks. <<page "Continue" "ch5-bossfight5">>\ <<else>>\ Your attack misses, flying wide toward the dark clouds above. "Hah!" Taio barks. You feel his foot collide into your lower back, sending you directly into a neighboring building while your guard was down watching the attacks nearly collide. You slam into the stone with a hard crunch. <<woundcheck 1 true false>>\ <<if ($fiendseverity gte 6)>>\ <<var $kosukecombat - 1>>\ <</if>>\ Twice you bounce between the neighboring building and the one you were standing on before finally you fall into the alley below. A bright red flash fills the sky overhead as you land, cursing. When you rise you feel a surge of demonic presences in the area as even more Fiends rush to the docks, drawn to your allies after Taio's Technique. \ Worse still, you sense the biggest demonic presence already reach the docks. Taio himself. <<page "Continue" "ch5-bossfight5">>\ <</if>>\

<<choose "ch5-bossfight4-youdare">> #Copy Taio's "Blood Crystal" [Soul Technique. Passively increases Health by +1. Increases Power Surge by +1 when focused.] He responds by opening his palms with a burst of crimson power as massive shards of crimson crystal fly out from his hands in all directions, specifically toward your face. Without thinking, you do the same. <<learntech 4110000002000061 "Blood Crystal" "Passively increases Health by +1. Increases Power Surge by +1 when focused.">>\ <<if ($techslotcode[4] is 1000000000000000)>>\ ''[Soul Core focused to "Blood Crystal" Technique]'' <<focuscore "Blood Crystal" 4110000002000061>>\ <</if>>\ Blasts of crystal shards explode from your hands and rupture his wrists, sending him reeling back in a scream of pain before his attack can hit you. #use-if ($lifesteal is false) Copy Taio's "Lifesteal" [Fortitude Technique. Passively increases AP gained from defeating enemies by +5. Increases Fortitude Surge by +1 when focused.] He responds by opening his palms with an eerie glow of crimson and you can feel your lifeforce noticeably weaken as his Demonic Chi draws on your spirit. Without thinking, you do the same. <<learntech 2120002000000062 "Lifesteal" "Passively increases AP gained from defeating enemies by +5. Increases Fortitude Surge by +1 when focused.">>\ <<if ($techslotcode[2] is 1000000000000000)>>\ ''[Fortitude Core focused to "Lifesteal" Technique]'' <<focuscore "Lifesteal" 2120002000000062>>\ <</if>>\ An eerie glow escapes from your hands and every ounce of power that Taio steals from you comes off of his own spirit and right back to yours. He grimaces from the sensation and kicks away from you, gritting his teeth. <</choose>>

"You dare?! You dare use MY TECHNIQUES against their master?!" He looks down at his mangled forearms. "Disgusting filth like you bring shame to my masteries. If you wish to insult the Martial Arts, then suffer a conventional death instead!" He vanishes from your sight and you feel the tip of a dagger against your back. <<var $combatstat "agility">>\ <<var $combatskill "alchemy">>\ <<combatcheck 7>>\ <<if ($passcheck is true)>>\ You spin out of the way just in time and backhand Taio off the roof and through the large glass window of a shop across the street. One quick scan of your outfit shows a pinprick of blood and you thank the heavens for your well-trained fortitude against poisons. The sensation of an intrusive chemical is already stiffening your back but it won't be enough to slow you down. A surge of repulsive Demonic Chi below lets you know Taio's moved again, and you don't need your spiritual senses to know where he's going: the docks. <<else>>\ Sharp pain shoots up your side as Taio grips your shoulder and pulls your body back into his blade at the same time that he shoves it forward, piercing into you. <<if (($background is "Herbalist") or ($alchemy gte 3))>>\ <<if (((($health + ($fortitude / 2)) - $wounds) gte 2) or ($pblocktech isnot ""))>>\ <<if ($background is "Herbalist")>>\ ''[Background Event: Herablist]'' <<else>>\ ''[Alchemy 3 Check Passed]'' <</if>>\ ''[Damage Reduced]'' <</if>>\ <<if ($wounds gte 2)>>\ <<woundcheck 1 true false>>\ <<else>>\ <<woundcheck 1 false false>>\ <</if>>\ <<else>>\ <<woundcheck 2 false false>>\ <</if>>\ Screaming in agony fills you with enough adrenalin to accept more pain as you twist, delivering a falling elbow strike that hits his shoulder so hard that he's knocked into the building you've been fighting on. Before you can press the attack further crimson \ <<if ($fiendish is false)>>\ putrid \ <</if>>\ energy radiates in your spiritual senses as Taio vanishes from inside the massive pile of debris. A second surge of Demonic Chi in the distance feels just like his aura, and you realize he's somehow teleported a short distance and dashed away at incredible speed. The pit of your stomach drops. He's already reached the docks. <</if>>\ <<page "Continue" "ch5-bossfight5">>

<<var $docks true>>\ Hopping from rooftop to rooftop brings you to the warehouses at the end of town. You hop off a warehouse to the road, then run over a bridge running off the seawall to the docks where a massive battle has broken out. The screech of dozens of Lost and the burble of Bloodwalkers fill the air as they crawl all over the coast. By the faint glows near the ships Bo, Leona, \ <<if ($style is "Akakiru")>>\ and Kosuke \ <<elseif ($style is "Aoyusumu")>>\ Kosuke, and Angelo \ <<elseif ($style is "Kiihakai")>>\ Kosuke, Desdemona, and her disciples \ <<elseif ($style is "Kurokonton")>>\ Kosuke, Guiren, and his underlings \ <<elseif ($style is "Midorikatai")>>\ Kosuke, Tian Fang, and her wolves \ <</if>>\ are ripping into the Fiends with a flurry of weapons and energy blasts but the tide of enemies keeps coming. It's clear even at this distance that they're wounded. They haven't had the luxury you did of being allowed to outrun the Fiends; they've been fighting the whole time to keep the corrupted corpses off of the slower freed prisoners. <<if ($distraction is "fire")>>\ To add to the chaos, several ships are on fire. Damn it, Kosuke. <<if ($cj is 2)>>\ That better not be burning the cargo you had the prisoners steal. Speaking of which, over a dozen armed peasants are attacking the Fiend along with your allies below. It seems they've gotten to most of the freed prisoners before Fiends or Sunbringers did. That's at least one piece of good news. <</if>>\ <<elseif ($cj is 2)>>\ The only bright side it seems they've met up with most of the armed prisoners you sent to steal cargo, which is a relief. <<elseif ($cj is 3)>>\ The only bright side is a large collection of armed peasants helping your allies to fight the Fiends below. It seems Bo succeeded gathering the armed civilians you left in the jail. <</if>>\ You can't see any sign of Taio but you //know// he's here. With a running head start across the bridge-ramp connecting the seawall to the docks below you kick off with a mighty leap and soar over the sands. The wind blows against your clothes and hair until you come skidding to a halt directly into the massive melee, the villagers pushed to the edge of the dock and your allies staying between them and the charging Fiends. Your landing skids to a halt as you clothesline three Lost and turn, \ <<if ($style is "Kurokonton")>>\ throwing a dozen throwing stars into their heads at once. <<elseif ($equippedweapon is "Yumi")>>\ firing a dozen shining arrows into their ranks at once with your Yumi. <<elseif ($equippedweapon isnot "") and ($equippedweapon isnot "Handwraps")>>\ swinging your \ <<if ($equippedweapon is "Muramasa")>>\ cursed blade \ <<else>>\ $equippedweapon \ <</if>>\ through their ranks with reckless abandon. <<elseif ($soul gt $agility)>>\ ripping through them with a two-handed energy blast that tramples through their ranks and blows several into the water, destroying even more. <<else>>\ charging through their ranks with a flurry of punches and kicks until all the ones in your way are in the water or dead. <</if>>\ All combatants look to you, breathing heavily. <<if ($honor lt 50)>>\ "TAIO IS HERE!" You shout out to anyone who can hear, \ <<else>>\ "The fight's not over, Taio's here!" You announce without any extra fanfare, \ <</if>>\ grabbing a piece of displaced wood and throwing it like a $auracolor glowing javelin through a bloodwalker slithering up one of the ships. It writhes for a second and dissolves. <<if ($bffheshe is "he")>>\ "Ancestor's tits!" \ <<else>>\ "Holy Hells!" \ <</if>>\ Kosuke looks you up and down and you feel an unsteady spiritual scan against your aura. "You weren't this strong back at the mansion, what happened?" <<if ($style isnot "Akakiru")>>\ "Agreed." Shouts $fren while standing between several villagers and four Lost approaching. "You weren't this strong in our training either. Were you holding back?" <</if>>\ "Fuel Foundation!" Leona barks out while parrying a Lost's metallic claws and wrestling it off the dock. <<if (($jadedragonfoundation is true) and ($style isnot "Akakiru"))>>\ "Er...sure." You say, getting a breather from a rare case of exerting yourself. It's rare because of your Jade Dragon Foundation, not your Fuel Foundation, \ <<if ($style isnot "Akakiru")>>\ and you //were// holding back at the mansion. Hells, you're holding back right now. <<else>>\ but they don't need to know that. Actually, you're kind of annoyed at Kosuke. You were absolutely this strong back at the mansion. <</if>>\ <</if>>\ <<if ($style is "Akakiru")>>\ "I don't know what that is." Kosuke says. "UGH!" Bo's green-glowing arm slams a \ <<if ((dig($metangelo, 2) is 1) or ($toldgrim is true))>>\ Bloodwalker into the dock so hard that it splatters. \ <<else>>\ Lost into the water. \ <</if>>\ "I'm surrounded by amateurs!" <<elseif ($style is "Aoyusumu")>>\ "Good." Angelo replies, striking a palm into a \ <<if ((dig($metangelo, 2) is 1) or ($toldgrim))>>\ Grim that blows its center out, then chopping its mask in two so it disintegrates. \ <<else>>\ Lost that blows a hole through its torso so wide that its arms and head separate. \ <</if>>\ "You didn't absorb the Demonic Gate, did you?" <<if ($fiendish is true)>>\ //Damn it.// You think to yourself. <</if>>\ <<include "ch5-bossfight5-angelo">>\ <<halt>>\ <<elseif ($style is "Kiihakai")>>\ "That explains it." Desdemona says. "I hope that's not the only reason you beat J-" She's forced onto the backfoot when a \ <<if ((dig($metangelo, 2) is 1) or ($toldgrim))>>\ Grim leaps \ <<else>>\ massive Lost's blades rip \ <</if>>\ through the wooden platform beneath her, but her disciples quickly come to her aid and subdue the creature with three streams of Mystic Chi blasts burning its head off. <<elseif ($style is "Kurokonton")>>\ "There are multiple Foundations?" Guiren asks, leaping to a ship to dodge a \ <<if ((dig($metangelo, 2) is 1) or ($toldgrim))>>\ Grim's black energy blast. <<else>>\ Bloodwalker's sickle-tendril. <</if>>\ "UGH!" Bo's green-glowing arm slams a \ <<if ((dig($metangelo, 2) is 1) or ($toldgrim))>>\ Bloodwalker into the dock so hard that it splatters. \ <<else>>\ Lost into the water. \ <</if>>\ "I'm surrounded by amateurs!" <<elseif ($style is "Midorikatai")>>\ "So that is what I smelled back in Thunderfall!" Fang announces, leaping to one of her wolves and freezing a bloodwalker behind it, then shattering the creature with a hard green-glowing kick. "I knew my nose would never lie!" <</if>>\ <<include "ch5-bossfight6">>\

<<choose "ch5-bossfight6">> #use-if ($fiendish is true) "No." [Lie] "No, I used the Darkness Gate he'd built his Gate upon." <<if ($deception gte 2)>>\ ''[Deception 2 Check Passed]'' <<var $agiexp + 1>>\ <<var $solexp + 1>>\ "That's..." Angelo pauses, still facing you, and a cerulean glow comes from behind the free prisoners as some Fiend dies. "That's an incredible feat. I'd love to discuss it when we have more time." <<else>>\ ''[Deception 2 Check Failed]'' "I...see." Angelo says. <<var $angelorep - 5>>\ <<var $metangelo + 20000000>>\ <</if>>\ #use-if ($fiendish is false) "No." [Truth] "No, I used the Darkness Gate he'd built his Gate upon." "That's..." Angelo pauses, still facing you, and a cerulean glow comes from behind the free prisoners as some Fiend dies. "That's an incredible feat. I'd love to discuss it when we have more time." #use-if ($fiendish is true) "I couldn't control it." Angelo grimaces, assessing you for a moment. "We'll have to visit a temple in Nanhou. This may have ruined your Path irreparably." <<var $metangelo + 10000000>>\ <</choose>>

The cheer at your arrival is eclipsed by the state of everyone's aura. \ <<if ($style is "Aoyusumu")>>\ Only Angelo seems to have any energy left. <<else>>\ Every one of them is barely showing a feint glow around their bodies. Their combat chi is nearly depleted. <</if>>\ "I don't see the bald guy!" Leona shouts up from the water to the south, the black blood of her wrestling opponent flowing in the water around her. "Are you sure you weren't seeing things?" You shake your head and call out. "I'm positive! I saw him and sensed him!" "Where?" Kosuke asks, face growing pale with a broken-sword still in $bffhisher hand. <<cap $bffheshe>> shakes a lockbox upside-down looking for more battle pills. It's empty. "THERE!" Bo shouts pointing to Taio standing in the waves, hip-deep in the water just north of the docks. You don't hesitate, changing direction and diving off the platform straight into Taio's back with a $auracolor glowing kick. <<page "Continue" "ch5-bossfight7">>\

<div class="fightingfont">Thunderfaller $name vs Taio the Scholar</div>\ <<statcheck>>\ When you close the distance and slam your foot through Taio's torso you realize immediately that this is not your opponent. It's a bald Lost wearing his robe. "Too late." Taio mocks, and the shadows under the dock behind you glow red. He appears behind you in a flash, moving so fast that water explodes around him under the pressure of his wide stance skidding to an immediate halt. Both his hands are already raised in a blinding charge of power as, for the first time in this battle, he regains the first move. "DIE, YOU INSIGNIFICANT INSECT, DIE!!" His hands release all their charged chi in a two-handed energy beam the size of your torso mere inches behind your back. <<choose "ch5-bossfight8">> #use-if ($roc is 0) ENDURE!! Lacking any time to dodge you harden your body and focus all your chi into your back, neck, and skull when the energy beam collides into your body like a relentless tide of force and acid. <<var $combatstat "fortitude">>\ <<var $combatstat2 "power">>\ <<combatcheck 14>>\ <<if ($passcheck is true)>>\ ''[Damage Reduced x2]'' Your hardened body manages to resist the bulk of the damage, but you did nothing to avoid it. The attack itself still slams into your spirit and body with its full force, enough to knock you off your feet and send you tumbling up the coast. <<if ($style is "Midorikatai")>>\ ''[Midorikatai Style Event: No Damage Suffered]'' Only your intense training and new Wild Chi aura protect you from the intensity in the center of the energy beam. <<elseif (($element1 is "Earth") or ($element2 is "Earth"))>>\ ''[Earth Element Event: No Damage Suffered]'' Only your connection to the Earth element protects you from the intensity in the center of the energy beam. <<elseif (($element1 is "Water") or ($element2 is "Water"))>>\ Only the water rushing up to defend you protects you from the intensity in the center of the energy beam. <<else>>\ <<woundcheck 1 false true>>\ <</if>>\ <<else>>\ <<var $combatstat "fortitude">>\ <<var $combatstat2 "power">>\ <<combatcheck 12>>\ <<if ($passcheck is true)>>\ ''[Damage Reduced]'' Your hardened body is able to resist the attack at first, but its constant assault digs deeper and deeper into your back until your aura gives out. All the power behind the Technique knocks you off your feet and burns away at your lifeforce as you're dragged up the coast by its terrifying potency. <<if ($style is "Midorikatai")>>\ ''[Midorikatai Style Event: Damage Reduced]'' <<woundcheck 1 false false>>\ <<elseif (($element1 is "Earth") or ($element2 is "Earth"))>>\ ''[Earth Element Event: Damage Reduced]'' Sand rushes from the ground to cushion the blow. <<woundcheck 1 false false>>\ <<elseif (($element1 is "Water") or ($element2 is "Water"))>>\ ''[Water Element Event: Damage Reduced]'' Water rushes around you to cushion the blow. <<woundcheck 1 false false>>\ <<elseif (($element1 is "Ice") or ($element2 is "Ice"))>>\ ''[Ice Element Event: Damage Reduced]'' Ice forms around you to cushion the blow. <<woundcheck 1 false false>>\ <<else>>\ <<woundcheck 2 false false>>\ <</if>>\ <<else>>\ Your body completes fails to resist the attack. Its terrifying potency burns through your aura's lifeforce in the same instant it blasts you off your feet. <<if ($style is "Midorikatai")>>\ ''[Midorikatai Style Event: Damage Reduced]'' <<woundcheck 2 false false>>\ <<elseif (($element1 is "Earth") or ($element2 is "Earth"))>>\ ''[Earth Element Event: Damage Reduced]'' <<woundcheck 2 false false>>\ <<elseif (($element1 is "Water") or ($element2 is "Water"))>>\ ''[Water Element Event: Damage Reduced]'' <<woundcheck 2 false false>>\ <<elseif (($element1 is "Ice") or ($element2 is "Ice"))>>\ ''[Ice Element Event: Damage Reduced]'' <<woundcheck 2 false false>>\ <<else>>\ <<woundcheck 3 false false>>\ <</if>>\ <</if>>\ <</if>>\ The attack continues for three real seconds, blasting you further and further into the water and sand, but when it abates you're able to rise on two shaky legs, albeit two hundred feet down the coast. Both fists tighten as you see Taio's crimson aura leap to the docks where $fren and the others are holding the line. <<page "Continue" "ch5-bossfight8">>\ #use-if ($roc is 0) DODGE! Water blocks you from moving at full speed to either side as the attack charges into your back. <<var $combatstat "agility">>\ <<var $combatskill "insight">>\ <<discount "Petite" 1>>\ <<discount "Manlet" 1>>\ <<discount "Water" 1>>\ <<combatcheck 8>>\ <<if (($passcheck is true) or (($element1 is "Storm") or ($element2 is "Storm")))>>\ <<if ($passcheck is true)>>\ You leap up just in time to avoid his attack, feeling the tremendous investment of chi surging underneath your feet. <<else>>\ ''[Storm Event: Automatic Success]'' Your entire body cracks with electricity and launches up as if you yourself were made of lightning. <</if>>\ Before you can fall back down into his beam you rear both arms back, cycle your $auracolor chi into both fists, and slam them forward as if throwing a rock overhead. Your heavy chi blast launches from your grip and collides into Taio's beam. The detonation of the attacks colliding knocks you airborne out to sea. When you land in the waters you swim up quickly and spit out water (why is it salty?) and look around for Taio. It's not your spiritual senses that find him this time, but your vision. His glowing crimson aura emits from atop the docks. <<else>>\ The attack is too close, too fast, and too powerful. You try to dodge but the beam doesn't feel like a beam at this distance, it simply feels like your back is on fire and being hit with a house. Before you can move the corrupted energy of his attack slams into you with lethal force. <<if (($element1 is "Earth") or ($element2 is "Earth"))>>\ ''[Earth Element Event: Damage Reduced]'' Sand rushes from the ground to cushion the blow. <<woundcheck 1 false true>>\ <<elseif (($element1 is "Water") or ($element2 is "Water"))>>\ ''[Water Element Event: Damage Reduced]'' Water rushes around you to cushion the blow. <<woundcheck 1 false true>>\ <<elseif (($element1 is "Ice") or ($element2 is "Ice"))>>\ ''[Ice Element Event: Damage Reduced]'' Ice forms around you to cushion the blow. <<woundcheck 1 false true>>\ <<else>>\ <<woundcheck 2 false false>>\ <</if>>\ The attack continues for three real seconds, blasting you further and further into the water and sand, but when it abates you're able to rise on two shaky legs, albeit two hundred feet down the coast. Both fists tighten as you see Taio's crimson aura leap to the docks where $fren and the others are holding the line. <</if>>\ <<page "Continue" "ch5-bossfight8">>\ #use-if ($roc is 0) FEINT! <<var $combatstat "agility">>\ <<var $combatskill "stealth">>\ <<discount "Agile" 1>>\ <<discount "Legs" 1>>\ <<discount "Water" 1>>\ <<combatcheck 8>>\ <<if (((($passcheck is true) or ($style is "Kurokonton")) or (($element1 is "Darkness") or ($element2 is "Darkness"))) or (($element1 is "Light") or ($element2 is "Light")))>>\ <<if (($passcheck is true) or ($style is "Kurokonton"))>>\ <<if ($passcheck is false)>>\ ''[Kurokonton Style Event: Automatic Success]'' <</if>>\ You jerk to the right quickly with your whole body, and just as Taio repositions his blast and releases it out to the right you spin your leg in a circular kick that catches in the water and forces you body backwards, flying to down and to the right. <</if>>\ <<if (($passcheck is false) and (($element1 is "Darkness") or ($element2 is "Darkness")))>>\ ''[Darkness Event: Automatic Success]'' Your shadow rises up and solidifies into a dark copy of you, leaping to the left while you leap to the right. Taio turns his beam at your imposter in the dim of the night. <</if>>\ His intense beam of terrifying energy launches into the sand thirty feet away and explodes with such force that the ground beneath your feet is sucked in when the waves fall into his blast's crater. When you rise from the new pool of water you look around for Taio, and it's not your supernatural senses that find him. It's your vision. His large crimson aura shines from the docks, where the others are desperately fighting off the tide of Fiends. <<page "Continue" "ch5-bossfight8">>\ <<elseif (($element1 is "Light") or ($element2 is "Light"))>>\ ''[Light Event: Automatic Success]'' Two illusionary duplicates move at the same time as you appear to become three separate copies of the same person. One dodges to the left, one dodges to the right, and the real you jumps above the blast. Taio roars in frustration, pulling his attack to the illusion that ran towards the shore. Before you can fall back down into his beam you rear both arms back, cycle your $auracolor chi into both fists, and slam them forward as if throwing a rock overhead. Your heavy chi blast launches from your grip and collides into Taio's beam. The detonation of the attacks colliding knocks you airborne out to sea. When you land in the waters you swim up quickly and spit out water (why is it salty?) and look around for Taio. It's not your spiritual senses that find him this time, but your vision. His glowing crimson aura emits from atop the docks. <<page "Continue" "ch5-bossfight8">>\ <<else>>\ The attack is too close, too powerful, and too fast. You try to fake Taio out by feinting in a different direction but the beam doesn't feel like a beam at this distance, it simply feels like your back is on fire and being hit with a house. Before you can move the corrupted energy of his attack slams into you with lethal force. <<if (($element1 is "Earth") or ($element2 is "Earth"))>>\ ''[Earth Element Event: Damage Reduced]'' Sand rushes from the ground to cushion the blow. <<woundcheck 1 false true>>\ <<elseif (($element1 is "Water") or ($element2 is "Water"))>>\ ''[Water Element Event: Damage Reduced]'' Water rushes around you to cushion the blow. <<woundcheck 1 false true>>\ <<elseif (($element1 is "Ice") or ($element2 is "Ice"))>>\ ''[Ice Element Event: Damage Reduced]'' Ice forms around you to cushion the blow. <<woundcheck 1 false true>>\ <<else>>\ <<woundcheck 2 false false>>\ <</if>>\ The attack continues for three real seconds, blasting you further and further into the water and sand, but when it abates you're able to rise on two shaky legs, albeit two hundred feet down the coast. Both fists tighten as you see Taio's crimson aura leap to the docks where $fren and the others are holding the line. <<include "ch5-bossfight8">>\ <</if>>\ #show-if (($element1 is "Water") or ($element2 is "Water")) use-if ((((($soul / 2) + $chipool) - $chispent) gte 1) and ($roc is 0)) Conjure a riptide to pull you out of the way. [Requires Water, Costs 1 Chi] As Taio's mastered energy beam surges into your back your own energy surges through the water around you. In immediate response the sea grips your legs from the ankle, the knee, and the thighs. It rips you down and to the side, swaying you out of the attack's trajectory just in time. You continue the water control and pull your whole body around Taio like a fish. When you get twenty feet behind him you turn and launch yourself forward, taking a substantial amount of the sea water with you into the air as it swirls around your leg like a spinning top the size of a watermill's wheel. Taio never sees you coming, temporarily blinded and defeaned by the light and explosive noise of his massive energy beam. Your watermill kick collides into him with the continuous force of three dozen downward punches, beating and bruising him as you crush him into the sand. He makes no sound as the water consumes him, but a bright red light through the water warns you of his counter attack. You wrap yourself in water mere moments before Taio unleashes a sphere of chi that shoves the waves away from him, taking you with them. You're sent tumbling dozens of feet out to sea unharmed thanks to your Water affinity, but your disorientation gives Taio the perfect chance to counterattack...yet he doesn't. As you right yourself and grip the ocean's power to launch yourself to the surface with you already know why. He's made it to the docks. <<page "Continue" "ch5-bossfight8">>\ #show-if (($element1 is "Ice") or ($element2 is "Ice")) use-if ((((($soul / 2) + $chipool) - $chispent) gte 1) and ($roc is 0)) Form a shield of Ice. [Requires Ice, Costs 1 Chi] Water all around your legs freezes and flies up between you and Taio, encapsulating you in a massive block of ice. His beam slams into your shield and begins melting through it immediately, yet in the same instant you pull even more water into your glacier defense. ''[1 Chi Point Spent]'' <<var $chispent + 1>>\ The tug of war begins as his massive and terrifyingly powerful energy beam tries to burn through your ice shield faster than you can recreate it. Steam fills your surroundings in a blinding haze as the battle rages on until finally the attack relents, with you covered in even more ice than ever before. The cold doesn't bother you, somehow, and you crack the glacier around your body with the same spiritual control that had created it. Yet when you emerge from your regenerating ice shield you can't find Taio in the impenetrable fog of steam. <<page "Continue" "ch5-bossfight8">>\ #show-if (($element1 is "Light") or ($element2 is "Light")) use-if ((((($soul / 2) + $chipool) - $chispent) gte 1) and ($roc is 0)) I was never here. [Requires Light, Costs 1 Chi] His attack blasts through your back and blows your body and soul into pieces that get swept up in the wide roaring beam. If it were really you. ''[1 Chi Spent]'' <<var $chispent + 1>>\ The illusion fades and the water around Taio shimmers. Your real body closes in with an uppercut aimed at his jaw. His teeth grind in total concentration as he exerts every ounce of energy into his Technique, constantly cycling power from deep within his Cores and out into his spirit before focusing it into the beam. He never sees it coming. His wide stance and total focus makes your blow land even harder when your punch knocks him ten feet into the air. You follow up by leaping airborne and spinning with a kick to his midsection, knocking him towards the water with enough force to cause ripples in the air around you. Blood shoots from his mouth as your attack slams into his stomach but his eyes betray his collected thoughts, adapting quickly to the deception. One of his hands reaches out and closes, and the blood you kicked out of him explodes between you both. He's launched toward the dock while you're launched airborne further out to sea. <<page "Continue" "ch5-bossfight8">>\ #show-if ($roc gte 1) ...What's that in the sky? Water explodes around you just before Taio's beam explodes in a deafening fallout of crimson chi. The hip-deep ocean empties around you for a hundred feet. You're sent tumbling head over heels down the coast and take in so much water in your mouth. You have //no idea// why it's salty. The spinning finally slows and you catch yourself on a one-handed flip back onto your feet, ready to throw up, and steady yourself on shaky legs. Your ears try to adjust and barely take in the sound of the waves over the new yet constant ringing, but for some reason you're unharmed. Why are you unharmed? Taio's laughter can be heard over the ocean and the dock's battle above until the crimson smoke around his detonation clears. His maniacal victory laugh putters out. You and Taio both stare at the creature standing in the fallout. A Grim. <<if ((dig($metangelo, 2) is 0) or ($toldgrim is false))>>\ An Advanced ghost that has gained enough power to achieve a physical form once again. A form made for killing. A massive fiend eight feet in height and twice as wide as a man, closer a gorilla's stature with its long tree trunk arms made of black ropes of dead flesh. A white bonemask covers its faceless head and acts as the anchor that sustains it in the world. A world this Grim is not long for. <</if>>\ Its entire central torso is missing a sphere of flesh bigger than your chest in the center where Taio's attack slammed into it, taking the blow meant for you. Its mask cracks and the Fiend crumbles to dust, contaminating the water for a time around it, and when it crumbles you see the small crater of sand around it as if it had just dropped from the sky. "How...How in the world...?" Taio asks to himself, and you wonder the same. How in the world did a Grim drop between you and Taio's attack? The answer comes from the Heavens when $rocname crashes beak-first into Taio's shoulder from a divebomb at terminal velocity, shredding his arm down the center when your Roc collides into the sand and takes much of Taio's blood with her. "YYAAHH!!!" Taio screams, leaping to the side with a face so enraged his teeth crackle with crimson energy. He explodes in a wave of demonic power and his own blood, unbalancing the dock nearby and launching $rocname into the returning waves, her wings catching in the attack like a kite in a storm. Taio charges a blast of crimson power to kill the interloper and your protective adrenal surge pushes you to act without thinking, dashing in fast and kicking his side from behind with as much force as possible. He's knocked mid-air but recovers, releasing his concussive burst of crimson chi into the air to his side, jettisoning him onto the dock, toward the others. You take a moment to find $rocname and ensure she's alive before following. <<page "Continue" "ch5-bossfight8">>\ <</choose>>

"Get the civilians onto the ships!" Bo Lo shouts in the middle of the massive skirmish, breaking a Lost's neck. "We leave when <<cap $name>> kills the ringleader!" "Why not h-" Kosuke's question is cutoff as a Bloodwalker's tendril wraps around $bffhisher wrist. <<cap $bffheshe>> \ <<if ($kosukecombat gte 5)>>\ manages to charge chi to $bffhisher hand and grip the creature, burning the tendril off without help. It surprises Kosuke more than anyone else. <<var $powexp + 2>>\ <<else>>\ gets pulled under the dock until Leona severs the tendril and grips Kosuke's ankle, pulling $bffhimher up by one leg and throwing $bffhimher back into the fight where the freed prisoners are struggling with their own Fiends. <</if>>\ "No losing on the job, slackers!" Leona screams to the others, covered in her own blood. "Don't any of you dare die here or I will fucking kill you!" <<if ($style is "Akakiru")>>\ A few of the freed prisoners seem emboldened by the speech, shoving their qiangs into the back of a Lost while Bo Lo swings an anchor at its head. Their efforts redouble when Leona charges at them from behind with her sword drawn. <<elseif ($style is "Aoyusumu")>>\ <<var $retainers + 4>>\ Angelo stands in the center of the freed prisoners, hands clasped together in focus to maintain glowing protective wards on all unpowered fighters. Each and every one of them glows with a cerulean aura as if they were Martial Artists themselves, though their attacks have no additional power. Instead its that the Fiends seem unable to even touch them while the Ebikowan citizens hack away freely at the abominations. <<elseif ($style is "Kiihakai")>>\ <<var $retainers + 2>>\ In one corner of the dock a group of freed prisoners fend Fiends back with glowing weapons, while behind them Desdemona frantically casts Reinforcement handseals to freshly empower the weapons of others in the back. She only looks up once, eyes crackling with Mystic Chi when she blasts some unseen threat out of the sky with a two-handed energy beam. Four of her Disciples are spread through the dock aiding Kosuke and Bo, though with their chi depleted they've resorted to the physical Martial Arts. <<elseif ($style is "Kurokonton")>>\ Guiren runs upside-down on the underside of the wooden platforms as he weaves around the Fiends with two blades drawn. He carves holes through several but leaves the stronger ones to his underlings. The four men in question, clad in full shinobi-garb, are overly occupied throwing various weapons and explosives against a \ <<if ((dig($metangelo, 2) is 1) or ($toldgrim))>>\ Grim \ <<else>>\ seven-foot tall Lost \ <</if>>\ trying to climb onto the dock's entrance. <<elseif ($style is "Midorikatai")>>\ Tian Fang and her pack of wolves encircle the freed Ebikowan prisoners as they all try to setup a ramp onto one of the ships. Four Lost claw their way up from underneath the dock and Fang rears back a green-glowing fist, slamming that section of the dock so hard that it breaks off from the rest. <</if>>\ All combat suddenly freezes. Even the Fiends cease their assault. Bloodwalkers shiver like water in a shaken \ <<if ((dig($metangelo, 2) is 1) or ($toldgrim))>>\ bowl, Grim turn their masks with unnatural cracks from their necks, \ <<else>>\ bowl \ <</if>>\ and the dead eyes of Lost stare in silence at the superior Fiendish presence that suddenly arrives. Taio. <<if ($style is "Akakiru")>>\ Leona finishes piercing her second sword through another Lost in a Sunbringer uniform while it's distracted, then she starts laughing. "If it isn't the great fraud himself! Looks like your big plan was to betray us all afterall. Fat surprise from a demon worshipper, are you ashamed your Gate missed some Sunbringers, or are you used to being a failure?" Taio nods along as he walks forward. "You seek death. That is good, and you will have it all in good time." He points to the Fiend her sword is embedded into. "For now, I believe you have something of mine." "This guy?" She looks at the Lost with her sword piercing its chest. "He was our disciplinary tutor, if you want his head you'll have to get in line." Taio's expression doesn't alter. "I have no more patience for theatrics." <<elseif ($style is "Aoyusumu")>>\ "Get behind me." Angelo says to the others. "I will finish this." Taio laughs as the crowd does as they're told, hiding behind the cerulean-glowing monk. "You certainly could have." Taio says with a nod and a predatory smile. "If you knew my secrets, a man like you would be a considerable challenge. But you don't. And so you have not prepared." Angelo steps through his own massive forcefield protecting the others, his cerulean aura flaring wave after wave of Sacred Chi through the air around him. "Let us test that theory." Taio shakes his head condescendingly. "Too slow, holy man." <<elseif ($style is "Kiihakai")>>\ "Dreamrivers, formation!" Desdemona commands. Her disciples flee behind her as she charges two massive orbs of golden power in her hands and leaps over the Ebikowan civilians to land in front. "Begone from my sight, demon worshipper, or I will send you to the Hells you love so much." Taio takes three tired steps forward and waves a hand at her dismissively. "A parlor trick, placing your aura into your hands. A Sunbringer favorite, in fact. You'd fit right in with my latest failures. It's clear as day your chi reserves are expended." Desdemona's upper lip curls in a scowl. "Come closer and find out." "I don't answer to others." Taio says, glancing at the Fiends littering the docks. His smile grows unnaturally wide. "Others answer to me." <<elseif ($style is "Kurokonton")>>\ "Men, get back!" Guiren shouts, withdrawing a kunai already covered in black blood. His underlings cautiously leap away from the Lost they were fighting and land in front of the scared and exhausted freed prisoners. "You're the one in charge here, right?" "Cease prattling, I can feel your aura's depleted energy." Taio responds, taking deliberate steps forward with his hands behind his back. "And I am the one in charge everywhere." "Good." Guiren says. "It looks like you killed <<cap $name>>. That's a dealbreaker for me and the boys, I'm glad I only have to kill one person and not whoever gave you the orders." He withdraws seven fuuinjutsu tags. "Aura or not, you're not leaving here alive. I fight dirty." "Hah! A man of respectable means." Taio says with an appreciative nod. "I will return the courtesy and warn you in kind: I fight even dirtier." <<elseif ($style is "Midorikatai")>>\ Fang whistles to her wolves and calls them behind her. "Pray to your demons that the Thunderfaller yet lives, shameful one! For if not then you face the wrath of Mountain Hazard!" Taio looks wearily to the dead Fiends and mounting injuries showing on the freed prisoners and Martial Artists alike. "I am in no mood to laugh, but your aura is dwindled to barely a glow, and no one has ever heard of Mountain Hazard. Know your place and die in silence." <</if>>\ Taio's bleeding hand raises a clay talisman that thrums with unnatural energy. Not his usual crimson, but black. He shouts his next words in such volume that all of Ebikowa can hear it. //''"TO ME!"''// <<page "Continue" "ch5-bossfight9">>\

The \ <<if ((dig($metangelo, 2) is 1) or ($toldgrim))>>\ Lost, Bloodwalkers, and Grim \ <<else>>\ Lost and Bloodwalkers \ <</if>>\ alike respond in howls of pain. Black and crimson demonic energy rips from their bodies and spirits, tearing them to pieces as Taio siphons their energy into swirling mist overhead. <<if ($portraitpics is true)>>\ <<image "https://www.auraclash.com/assets/images/taio-scholar2.jpg">>\ <</if>>\ "This is what it was all for!" Taio laughs, arm shaking as he forces all their power into a storm around him. "And it's working! By the Hells, it's working!!" He barks out triumphantly, face cracking under the intense Aura Pressure as if he were made of ceramic. "The Heavens and Earth smile upon this day! All my study and research will still yield results!" "No." You call from behind him, dripping wet as you land on the dock. "It won't." <<if ($style is "Akakiru")>>\ "YES!" Leona shouts and raises a sword to the sky at your arrival. She tries to cheer but her celebration is cut short by screams coming behind her. "UGH, STOP DYING!" She yells at the crowd of unpowered civilians. She gives you one decisive nod and \ <<if (($heshe is "he") and ($leonaromance gte 1))>>\ turns, her golden hair whipping back as she \ <</if>>\ starts shoving freed prisoners out of her way to slaughter whatever is attacking from the back. <<elseif ($style is "Aoyusumu")>>\ "<<cap $name>>!" Angelo calls with a smile, stepping back into his dome and casting seals to keep out the increased corruption. "Perfect timing, perfect comeback, entrance needs work! Leave the laymen to me and finish this fight!" <<elseif ($style is "Kiihakai")>>\ The weight visibly leaves Desdemona's shoulders as she sees you arrive. Her scowl reverses to a sinister smile. "It seems our alliance has paid off already." <<elseif ($style is "Kurokonton")>>\ <<if ($heshe is "she")>>\ "Way to make an entrance!" Guiren beams at seeing you're still standing \ <<else>>\ "Hah! That's what I get for doubting you." Guiren nods at your arrival \ <</if>>\ and shoves the fuuinjutsu tags back into his pocket. "I owe Yoji 50 shards." <<elseif ($style is "Midorikatai")>>\ "Hah!" Fang shouts, pointing at Taio with her nose held up and chest puffed out. "Your face showed fear, cowardly one! Most embarrassing!" <</if>>\ "Ah, $heshe comes." Taio says, ignoring $fren and turning to you with grim satisfaction in the hurricane of power around him. "I underestimated you several times, I see that now, but our roles have finally reversed back to the natural order. You see...//this// storm is controlled with my right hand. The other..." Your vision shoots to his left hand's palm and you see it thrumming with the same energy, but his palm is facing outward away from him. Facing behind you. Facing inland, where the last remnants of the Demonic Gate around Ebikowa already answered his call in-kind. It's a realization that only hits you as soon as the attack does. The inland energy storm he's been summoning stabs into you from behind like a river of fire. <<page "Continue" "ch5-bossfight10">>\

Chains rattle as you move and you realize that your wrists and ankles are bound with some sort of Sealed manacles. Sigils glow along them and you already know what they do: your spiritual powers are being bound. Not entirely, as you're able to sense chi within a few inches, so these manacles must instead be preventing you from recovering your chi after expending it all in the last step of Leona's training. Leona... Where is she? When you first woke you were alone inside this cage and assumed she was in another cell nearby, but as you look around the town square that the cages and campfires surround you don't see her in any of the other cells. It's hard to miss a girl with \ <<if ($heshe is "he")>>\ long \ <</if>>\ golden hair in this part of Imperial Rasen. \ <<if (($heshe is "she") and ((((($haircolor is "yellow") or ($haircolor is "dirty blonde")) or ($haircolor is "golden blonde")) or ($haircolor is "gold")) or ($haircolor is "golden")))>>\ For a while you thought you were the only one. <</if>>\ <<if ($honor lt 47)>>\ Maybe you'll save her on your escape, \ <<else>>\ You'll have to get her out of whatever predicament she's in when you make your escape, \ <</if>>\ if you can save yourself in the first place. "Think, <<cap $name>>, think." You recite to yourself, focusing your thoughts through the delirium of fever. "You need a plan." <<include "ch5-plan4what">>\

"Darn." Angelo says in the dim light of the cage. "I had hoped to see the future in these cards, but I am growing confident that they are in fact gambling cards. I'm afraid I don't know how to read either set." Angelo slides the cards off his lap with the sound of metal on metal. Only then do you notice the manacles around his wrists. <<if ($angeloromance gte 1)>>\ You look to his eyes and find them sternly on you. <</if>>\ "Seen our new accessories, have you?" He gives the bindings a quick shake. "Binder's Bands if my education is worth anything, useless to contain real power, but exceedingly useful to stop it from coming back. Only works on defeated enemies, reducing their power by at least half. They were either impressively lucky or frighteningly patient to find us when our spiritual reserves were completely depleted. If we were a year or two stronger these wouldn't even affect us, we could rip them off without using chi at all, but such is our fate." You look down and realize the same set around your own limbs, which explains why you can't sense any nauseating demonic chi coming off the sigils of the doors surrounding the market square. Even your spiritual senses are sealed away. "Do you have a plan?" "Not a single one." Angelo answers calmly. "These situations tend to either sort themselves out or get us killed. I am certain that time will tell. No need to rush things." <<choose "ch5-cage-angelo2">> #"How can you be so calm?" <<var $honor + 1>>\ "How can you be so calm?" You ask. "I'm actually quite livid. Many innocent died here recently." Angelo says, looking out over the town as another set of slaves march through the market square between the cages, eyes cast down as they carry a crate together. Scars mark their necks and arms. "Truth be told, I will be holding every blood cultist individually accountable when we escape. By the time this is over I may shed more blood than they have." Angelo certainly doesn't look angry. He looks as calm and serene as ever, as if a child is smelling flowers for the first time and he's watching them enjoy the experience fondly. You're not sure if his masked expression is thanks to the Aoyusumu power of the mind or simply the kind of person he is. "I think I know a way out." He says after a short pause. "I'm all ears." #"Have you ever heard of the name 'Taio'?" <<var $powexp + 1>>\ "Have you ever heard of the name 'Taio'?" You ask. "No, should I have?" You seem to have caught his attention. "He's a bald monk and blood cultist. He also knows how to make Clones through some sort of Shinobi Technique." Angelo nods. "A Kurokonton Style advanced Technique, I'm aware of it." "Well I fought one of his clones before and defeated him, I suspect this Taio who captured us now is either the original or another clone. Either way, he said he wanted to find out what his other self was up to." Angelo nods further and rests his chin on a fist. "I've an idea. Did the first clone seem like the proud type?" You think back to Taio's monologues. "Absolutely." "Then make up some of that Taio's grand successes. Make this Taio believe he's inferior to his peer." <<var $angelodeception 1>>\ "Why?" "Because people who use Forbidden Techniques have the sorts of egos seen in Emperors and two-year-olds. You're a witness to the first Taio's 'greatness'. This one will prepare some grand display to prove his superiority to you specifically, as no one else will be able to properly compare him to his copy. That will give us time to enact our escape plan." "Which is?" #"Can't you use some sort of Saint power?" <<var $solexp + 1>>\ "Can't you use some sort of Saint power to get us out of here?" You ask, eyes still adjusting to the campfire light. Angelo cocks an eyebrow. "You must have me confused with someone else. Though of course we can both use the most important power of Saints." Try as you might, cycling your chi yields no results, like trying to shove solid mud through a straw. Your new cerulean aura won't appear. "I don't think we can use Aoyusumu at all. At least I can't." "Nor can I." Angelo says with a smile and a rattle of his chains. "Yet Sacred Chi is not the most important power at our disposal." "Then what is?" #show-if (($heshe is "she") and ($angeloromance gte 1)) "I can't believe you'd leave a sick girl shivering in the cold like this." <<var $angeloromance + 1>>\ <<var $forexp + 1>>\ <<var $angelicblanket true>>\ "I can't believe you'd leave a sick girl shivering in the cold like this." You tease, though truly you are shivering with an aching fever. And in fact, it is Angelo's fault. This whole thing was his idea. Now that you think about it, you probably wouldn't even be captured if it weren't for- "Of course, how rude of me." Angelo replies with a court nod. Just as you're beginning to get mad at him he removes his pilgrim's robe, pulling it over his head slowly and splitting it in half when his manacles get in the way. The robe tears seamlessly and doesn't even slow his motions down. He stands, as much as he can in this cage, and flourishes the makeshift blanket over your prone body. You're suddenly no longer mad at him. With both hands he grabs the bars of your cage's ceiling and surveys the surrounding cages, leaning over you like a protective guardian wearing nothing but a pair of white slacks and standing //so very close//. Flickering lights of the campfires throughout the market square highlight the lines between each of his muscles and as you look up from snuggling into the warm blanket you can't help but notice the shadows never cover his cerulean eyes. The warmth of his robe radiates through your body almost instantly. Your freezing bones seem to warm at its touch and your breath comes more easily. ''[1 Fortitude Core Restored]'' <<var $forspent - 1>>\ <<var $forexp + 1>>\ ''[1 Power Core Restored]'' <<var $powspent - 1>>\ <<var $powexp + 1>>\ <</choose>>

"Prayer." Angelo says decisively. <<if ($angelicblanket is true)>>\ "Hm? Huh?" You say, suddenly trying to maintain eye contact. "Were you...saying something?" <<else>>\ "Huh?" <</if>>\ "Prayer, I believe it's our best way out of here." He says, scanning the other cages. "The Saints may hear us and send rescue. I don't know of any in the area, but I am sure the Trials have attracted at least a handful. Surely they will be able to detect our prayers over the thousands of others in these days of desperation and strife. And if not, there's always the Heavens." <<choose "ch5-plan4what">> #"You don't happen to have a better plan, do you?" "...You don't happen to have a better plan, do you?" #"If it's meant to be, then that's our best plan." "If it's meant to be, then that's our best plan." <<var $ruthless - 3>>\ <<var $honor + 1>>\ <<var $angelorep + 2>>\ <</choose>>

Now that you've come to your senses something is noticeably missing: one of your senses. Your spiritual perception is cutoff entirely. In fact, you can't even feel chi inside your own body, and you know the culprit: a pair of manacles bound around your wrist. They radiate a cold sensation that numbs your spirit and body both, preventing your recovery. "Desdemona." You whisper twice, as your first whisper is drowned out by the hooting of owls. "Did they bind your wrists too?" "Unfortunately." She \ <<if ($desromance gte 2)>>\ whispers back, right next to your ear. <<else>>\ whispers back. <</if>>\ "I'd break the damn things open but my spirit won't recover, is it my fever or are yours the same?" "The same, Binder's Bands can't suppress our chi but they can prevent us from recovering it. They only work on defeated enemies." Desdemona sighs. "It seems our captors have the funds or plunder to hold several pairs of a high enough quality for either of us, and the perfect timing to use them." "Do you know a way around the enchantment?" Somehow you can //hear// her malicious smirk without looking. "Of course I do, and they'll learn their mistake soon. Unfortunately not soon enough though, it's going to take time. The Sunbringers have been patrolling to see when we awaken. So long as we feign unconsciousness, we should buy all the time we need." <<choose "ch5-plan4what">> #"Good, I'm counting on you." <<var $desrep + 3>>\ <<var $honor + 2>>\ "Good, I'm counting on you." You say, feeling confident in the Dreamriver Mistress's powers. <<if (($heshe is "he") and ($bodytype isnot "Manlet"))>>\ <<var $desromance + 1>>\ There's a short silence and you risk turning your head to make sure she's okay. When you see her face she's staring directly at you like a deer caught in the hunter's lantern, cheeks blushing. Ever so slowly, to avoid the Sunbringer guards noticing, she pulls her hands over her face. "Th-Thanks." <<else>>\ "A wise decision." <</if>>\ More owls hoot off in the distance and Desdemona suppresses a short laugh, exhaling lightly out of her nose. "Something funny?" You whisper. "There are no owls in the swamps, and I doubt there are any owls coming to a burning town. My disciples are talking to each other in code." Oh. "Can you understand them?" "Sometimes. If I'm hearing properly they're in a legitimate prison, not a cage, and are preparing an escape." Another distant hoot interrupts her and she nods. That's the first bit of good news you've gotten since waking. If her disciples are healthy enough to communicate freely then you've got reinforcements, you just need to get out of this damned cage. "Keep me updated on the plan." #"Are your Disciples okay?" <<var $ruthless - 2>>\ <<var $desrep + 2>>\ "Are your Disciples okay?" You ask quietly. "They are well. I cannot sense them with my chi bound so, but Li Moon and Li Sun have peculiar ways of communicating with each other. A private sibling language I could never fully crack." "Such as?" The hooting of owls drowns out your hushed question again. You grind your teeth and consider eating owl when you get out, then repeat, "such as?" Desdemona suppresses a short laugh, exhaling lightly out her nose. "There are no owls in the swamps, and I doubt there are any owls coming to a burning town. My disciples are talking to each other in code." Oh. "Can you understand them?" "Sometimes. If I'm hearing properly they're in a legitimate prison, not a cage, and are preparing an escape." Another distant hoot interrupts her and she nods. That's the first bit of good news you've gotten since waking. If her disciples are healthy enough to communicate freely then you've got reinforcements, you just need to get out of this damned cage. "Keep me updated on the plan." #"I don't suppose you've hidden any medicine on you?" <<var $solexp + 2>>\ <<var $honor - 1>>\ "I don't suppose you've hidden any medicine on you?" You ask softly, eyes closed and breathing controlled to feign rest. "I had several hidden \ <<if (($heshe is "he") and ($honor lt 46))>>\ in my bra-" ''[Honor Check Failed]'' "There was room to fit?" \ <<var $desrep - 2>>\ "Silence, and thank the Heavens we're in luck. They may have found most of my supplies but \ <<else>>\ <<if ($heshe is "she")>>\ on my person \ <<else>>\ in my bra \ <</if>>\ but it seems the Sunbringers searched me thoroughly." "Likewise." You can't help but notice all your missing possessions. "Luckily \ <</if>>\ whoever searched me was inexperienced, because they missed \ <<if (($heshe is "he") and ($desromance gte 2))>>\ one." "Missed one?" You ask in hushed tones. "How could they miss one?" "It's..." Desdemona's quiet for a moment in consternation. "It was trapped under my...It was concealed, okay? Don't ask questions and just take it. You \ <<else>>\ one. Here, you \ <</if>>\ need this more than I do. Do not forget this favor." A small pill is slipped into your hand. Pleasantly surprised, you \ <<if (($heshe is "he") and ($desromance gte 2))>>\ rub your fingers over the pill to feel its shape and \ <</if>>\ slip the medicine into your mouth. Immediately your fever lessens; not entirely, but enough for you to function. ''[1 Fortitude Core Restored]'' <<var $forspent - 1>>\ <<var $forexp + 1>>\ ''[1 Agility Core Restored]'' <<var $agispent - 1>>\ <<var $agiexp + 1>>\ "Now try to sleep." She whispers. "You'll need real rest if we're to enact the plan." <</choose>>

A soft rattle catches your attention and you notice manacles around Tian Fang's hands with glowing sigils along the edges. She turns around, face covered in the shadows, and trails your vision to her wrists. "Oh, you have noticed my new jewelry have you?" She rattles the manacles again lightly. \ <<if (($fangromance gte 2) and ($heshe is "he"))>>\ "You had best be careful, it seems these Sunbringer men are purchasing Tian Fang enchanted ornaments! Hmhmhm." \ <<else>>\ "Do not be jealous, as we are the best of friends we both have a pair! And they even have Seals!" \ <</if>>\ She tries to laugh but you notice a shiver, as if she's wincing from pain the whole time. You look down and realize the same manacles weigh heavily on your own wrists. You can feel what the enchantment is: your spirit is being disrupted from recovering. <<choose "ch5-cage-fang2">> #"Have you noticed anything useful while I've been out?" <<var $honor + 1>>\ <<var $powexp + 2>>\ "Have you noticed anything useful while I've been out?" You ask Fang. Taking stock of any situation immediately is common sense. "Only that there are slaves from many areas here, most Laborers and some with low Aura Pressures. I suspect the Sunbringers have ambushed many, yet I do not know how. Mountain Hazard's reports always stated the Sunbringers were steadily weakening since the death of Master Bangle at Crusher Mao's hand." You think back to that iconic day, the duel between masters in the lower fields. The day your conviction sparked to life and you knew you wanted to be a Martial Artist...the path that put you in this cage. <<if ($honor gte 50)>>\ <<var $powexp + 3>>\ It was worth every second. "Why are you smiling?" \ <<else>>\ Mistakes were made. "Is something wrong?" <</if>>\ Fang asks, getting closer to take a look at you. \ #"Are you okay?" <<var $ruthless - 1>>\ <<var $fangrep + 1>>\ "Are you okay?" You ask, analyzing the wolfgirl more closely. "Hah, thank you much for asking but...no." She says on the verge of tears. "No, Tian Fang is not okay." \ #"Where are your wolves?" <<var $fangrep + 3>>\ <<if (($fangromance gte 2) and ($heshe is "he"))>>\ <<var $fangromance + 1>>\ <</if>>\ "Where are your wolves?" You ask, noticing the lack of the animals. "Hah." She says, more in quick exhale than a laugh. "Very kind of you to ask, they are well." "How can you tell? Do you have some mental link with them?" Fang bats a hand at you \ <<if ($fangromance gte 1)>>\ playfully \ <<else>>\ dismissively \ <</if>>\ and stands up, cupping both hands around her mouth. "Awoooooo!" She howls into the night sky. "AWWOOOOO!!" Howl back a dozen wolves, though it sounds too close as if they were in cage somewhere nearby too. \ <</choose>>

When Fang shifts her head to the side the shadow of your cage's bars no longer passes over her eyes. The light of the moon reflects off Fang's pupils and you can finally see why she's been acting so strange. Despite the manacles sealing both your chi, Fang's eyes do not show the brown pupils of Mountain Hazard's star disciple. They shine amber. The eyes of the Beast you met in the storm. She leaps back quickly when you jump to your feet. "Please, please no! I am in...in control!" Her upper lip stretches as if to shake a dental annoyance and you see why. Her fangs are back. "Fang, that's not from Wild Chi. What's happening?" "I know not, but it is," she takes a long inhale, "it is most unnerving. My mind feels as if I am trapped between the Beast and myself." She shakes her head lightly and tries to smile. "Yet it is not so bad as the Heavenly Gates, my mind will...will...." She ends the sentence there, pupils dilating. Ever so slowly her gaze shifts, looking off to the side in silent focus. Her pose reminds you of a predator sensing prey. You snap your fingers near her face. "Fang, stay with me. \ <<if (($ruthless lt 50) or ($fangromance gte 2))>>\ Please. \ <</if>>\ We need a plan." <<include "ch5-plan4what">>\

Guiren shakes the manacles on his arms as he does a single, strained diamond-pushup to rise. \ <<if (($heshe is "she") and ($guirenromance gte 1))>>\ "This isn't how I pictured waking up next to you, though the chains were always an option." "Hah. Hah." You say slowly between strained breaths. \ <<else>>\ "Looks like we're sufficiently fucked." He says through a grunt. "These manacles are the end of the line." <<if ($honor gt 49)>>\ "As if I'd give up to //Sunbringers//." You reply. \ <<else>>\ "I had a good run." You turn your neck enough to make it pop. \ <</if>>\ <</if>>\ "What are these anyway?" You look down at your own manacles and see sigils etched onto them. Now that you think about it, you don't sense any nauseating chi from the blood sigils on the buildings surrounding your cages. You don't sense any chi at all. "Binder's Bands, good for capturing enemies. They won't suppress your active powers so they're no good in a fight, but if you can beat your opponent into submission they'll stop your enemy's chi from recovering. Weakens us by about half, I'd say. Enough that cages will hold us." "So we..." "Walked into their hands by exhausting all our energy, yeah. They struck at the perfect time. Almost like they were stalking us waiting for the right moment. I respect it." You both take a moment to look out into the streets and disheveled buildings of the town, where the occasional slave is hauling crates or rolling barrels to the whipcrack of Martial Artists in Sunbringer gi. None have noticed you've woken up yet, so you turn back to Guiren. <<choose "ch5-cage-guiren2">> #"Are your men okay? Last I saw they'd broken out in a fight." <<var $ruthless - 2>>\ <<var $guirenrep + 2>>\ "Are your men okay?" You ask while sitting up. "Last I saw they'd broken out in a fight." "Ancestors I hope so." Guiren says. "The odds don't look good for them. I trained them all poorly, as a joke." "...Did you train me poorly?" "I would've, but we only had a week." \ #"Can you pick the locks?" <<var $guirenrep + 1>>\ <<var $agiexp + 2>>\ "Can you pick the locks?" You ask in hushed tones. "With my chi sealed, my hands bound, guards actively patrolling, and no tools? Of course I can pick the locks. But it's going to take me time." \ #"By the way, that Oni underling of yours was going to trace a dick on your forehead." <<var $honor + 2>>\ "By the way," you say like the snitch you are, "that Oni underling of yours was going to trace a dick on your forehead." "Pffftt." He covers his mouth to suppress a laugh. "That's genius. Think about it, I couldn't prove who did it unless I looked at each of their groins for ink stains, which is even worse." He sighs. "It's the perfect crime, I'm so proud of those idiots." Guiren looks out over the hellscape that this village has become. "I hope they're still alive." <</choose>>

He rubs his hands together and leans against the inner wall of your mutual cage, his thin prehensile tail wrapping around one of the bars. "So what's the plan?" "Plan? My plan?" "Yeah, I taught you Kurokonton for a reason, now you can break me out of here." You heave several steadying breaths through the fever burning your head up from inside. "I doubt I'm in any condition to escape from my own bed at the moment. Do //you// have a plan?" <<include "ch5-plan4what">>\

A crash comes from outside. You hop up to your cell's window hoping to see a fight or a rescue but instead see a lowly slave getting whipped within an inch of their life. At their feet is the remnants of a broken wooden crate they must have clumsily dropped. As you try to angle your head around the bars to get a good look you see marble-sized crimson orbs spilling out of the broken crate by the hundreds, all rolling down the steep street's hill towards the docks. They seem to be the same kind of orbs Taio made from your blood. Whatever they are, they must be valuable. Even more valuable than watching over prisoners, since multiple guards throughout the jail sprint out of the entrance to help pick them up when called for aid. The jail explodes into chatter and the clanging of fists on steel. The lone guard remaining jumps to his feet in a panic, running from cell to cell to stop any would-be prisonbreaks. "Now's our chance!" Hisses Bo's nasally voice from the cell across the hall. \ <<if (($leonatortured lt 2) and ($style isnot "Akakiru"))>>\ You didn't even notice he was there. \ <</if>>\ "<<cap $name>>, what's the plan?" You let out a sigh, exhaling all your fatigue to the best of your ability. "What makes you think I have a plan, //Jin//?" You ask Bo inquisitively. "Because the Heavens spoil you like their favorite child and this time I want a slice of that blessing. That's why I told them my name was \ <<if ($japannaming is true)>>\ $clan Jin \ <<else>>\ Jin $clan \ <</if>>\ when I was captured. Nobody knows the great Bo Lo, but of course things would work out for a lazy $clan like they always do." He spits at the ground. "And imagine my shock, it worked." "This whiny guy gets it." \ <<if ($style is "Akakiru")>>\ Leona says from next to Bo in the cell across the hall. \ <<else>>\ Says the blonde Lunargoth woman impersonating Rin. \ <</if>>\ "I don't know what 'it' is, but he totally gets it. \ <<var $chapter 5.1>>\ <<var $txt "brother">>\ <<if ($style isnot "Akakiru")>>\ I'm Leona by the way. Not your sister, hah! Obviously." You get a better look at her now that you're not under duress. "I'm <<cap $name>>, why did they think you were Rin?" "Oh they didn't! The Sunbringers at least. I was framed and given to Taio to get a good torture session in, a classic. If I had to guess why? Jealousy. Each of them supremely jealous of my skills, hair, calligraphy, and natural charisma. After all, how can they shine against competition like me?" \ <<if ($heshe is "he")>>\ She bats her eyes playfully. <<else>>\ She flexes an arm and scrunches her face in concentration. <</if>>\ "In the Trials?" You ask. "No, in the Sunbringer Sect. I'm a Sunbringer." "You're a WHAT?!" Bo shouts, taking three steps back. "Well I was!" She blurts out defensively. "Back when it was a good thing! Before Master Crow's crazy plan to get everyone into demonic cultivation. Look, I like spilling blood as much as the next sword artist but that doesn't mean I want to drink it." She rattles her manacles. "Told old Crow that to his face so here I am, marked for execution in Binder's Bands." She smiles wide and raises one shoulder while turning in a pose. "Not bad acting for someone who's never met your sister, huh? Especially since I didn't pick up on what was happening until halfway through." <<choose "ch5-cells-alone2">> #[Give a small applause.] You clap gently in approval of Leona's acting skills from your cell across the hall. "Thank you, thank you." She leans at the waist with both hands pressed in a bow, or maybe it's just her Binder's Bands locking her forearms together. "I do it all for my adoring fans." "Are you two going to take this seriously?!" Bo blurts out. "We could die here!" Leona gives him a side-eye glance. "We're the only two taking this seriously, as we're the only two staying in character. If you're $hisher brother and I'm $hisher sister, then you and I are //related//. You'll have to stop staring at my chest, dearest brother." #"Terrible acting, kowtow and seek forgiveness from your audience." "Terrible acting," you condemn from your cell across the hall., "kowtow and seek forgiveness from your audience." <<var $leonarep + 3>>\ <<if ($heshe is "he")>>\ <<var $leonaromance + 2>>\ <</if>>\ Leona drops to her knees and presses her forehead to the ground. "Please forgive this dishonorable cur, oh wise and exalted \ <<if ($heshe is "he")>>\ one-man \ <<else>>\ one-person \ <</if>>\ audience." "One \ <<if ($heshe is "he")>>\ man?" \ <<else>>\ person?" \ <</if>>\ Bo asks. "What about me?" "You don't count, we've been in the same cell twice already. We're basically family. In fact...If you're $hisher brother and I'm $hisher sister, then you and I are //related//. You'll have to stop staring at my chest, dearest brother." #"Just stay out of my way." "Just stay out of my way." You reply from your cell across the hall, looking for a way out of your situation. "Fine by me! As long as you can get us all out of here and..." She pauses for a moment and looks to Bo. "You know, if you're $hisher brother and I'm $hisher sister, then you and I are //related//. You'll have to stop staring at my chest, dearest brother." <<var $leonarep - 4>>\ #show-if ($heshe is "he") "Just what I needed, the first hot woman in months and she's a filthy Sunbringer." "Just what I needed." You complain from your cell across the hall, "The first hot woman in months and she's a filthy Sunbringer." <<var $leonaromance + 1>>\ "Stop flirting with the enemy!" Bo shouts out, baffled that he has to say it out loud. "No, keep flirting with the enemy!" Leona protests, pressing herself against the cage. "And you're one to talk, //Brother//." She grumbles to Bo. "You've been staring at my chest since we got in this cell. So much for our cover story of being related." <</choose>> <<else>>\ And since we're in my old Sect's stomping grounds it'll come up anyway, sooooo..." \ <<if ($heshe is "he")>>\ She bats her eyelashes several times. \ <<else>>\ She puts on her best impression of an innocent little girl, and you're not buying it. \ <<if ($bodytype is "Petite")>>\ Especially since she's taller than you. \ <</if>>\ <</if>>\ "I should probably confess by now that I'm from the Sunbringer Sect." "You're WHAT?" You shout over the loud sound of Bo shouting the same thing. He looks like he's about to strike but looks down at his manacles instead, probably realizing his aura isn't recovering. "How does that even make sense?" You ask, shaking your head. "They dragged you in pretending you're my sister Rin. I know it's false, so why would they do it if they also knew it was false?" "Because Taio didn't!" Leona cheerily responds with one finger up as if teaching. "They thought they could trick him into bloodtorturing me or something. Typical cowards, couldn't do it themselves. So relax!" She coos assuringly, holding her own manacles up to her face and leaning a cheek on them. "I was marked for execution. That makes us all friends, right?" <<choose "ch5-cells-alone2">> #"Pft, fine. Friends to the end." <<var $honor - 1>>\ "Pft, fine. Friends to the end." You say. "Seriously?" Leona asks. "Just like that?" <<var $leonarep + 3>>\ "Do you want it to be harder?" <<if ($heshe is "he")>>\ "Yes! I mean, no, I mean well, \ <<else>>\ "No, no, we're all set. Well, \ <</if>>\ that's one problem out of the way. That just leaves..." She pauses for a moment and looks to Bo. "You know, if you're $hisher brother and I'm $hisher sister, then you and I are //related//. You'll have to stop staring at my chest, dearest brother." #"It would have, if you told me when we met." <<var $honor + 1>>\ <<if ($heshe is "he")>>\ <<var $leonarep - 2>>\ <</if>>\ <<if ($heshe is "she")>>\ <<var $leonarep + 2>>\ <</if>>\ "It would have made us friends, if you told me when we met." You point out. "Oh yeah right." Leona drawls sarcastically. "If I told a Thunderfaller that I was a Sunbringer and lost the fight you could've brought my head back home for a bounty for all I knew." "And $heshe should have." Bo adds. Leona jumps into a ninety degree turn towards Bo and starts to protest until she sees where his eyes are looking. "You know, little guy, if you're $hisher brother and I'm $hisher sister, then you and I are //related//. You'll have to stop staring at my chest, dearest brother." #"I'm marking you for execution too." <<var $ruthless + 1>>\ <<if ($heshe is "she")>>\ <<var $leonarep - 2>>\ <</if>>\ <<if ($heshe is "he")>>\ <<var $leonarep + 2>>\ <</if>>\ "I'm marking you for execution too." You declare. "Oh don't be that way." Leona says with a dismissive wave of a hand. "And besides-hold on a second." She pauses for a moment and looks to Bo. "You know, if you're $hisher brother and I'm $hisher sister, then you and I are //related//. You'll have to stop staring at my chest, dearest brother." <</choose>> <</if>>\

Bo coughs too quickly. "Everyone focus." You say, swallowing to wet your dry throat. The fever hasn't gone anywhere, you've simply done your best to fight through it. "Bo, I don't like you and you don't like me. Leona, neither Bo nor me like Sunbringers-" "Neither do I." She says in exasperation while rattling her manacles. "-but we have to work together. We only have a few minutes tops before the guards come back. If we can get out of the cages and the manacles we can start recovering our power." At least they can. You leave out that your aura won't recover for days anyway thanks to $fren's ritual to put you on a full-fledged $style Path. <<if ($style is "Akakiru")>>\ Bo doesn't need to know about your temporary weakness. <</if>>\ "That's your plan?" Bo asks in disbelief. "We'd only get a fraction of our strength back. Our full power will take days and we're surrounded, they'd catch us immediately if we tried to run at low strength. Honestly I don't know why I wasted my life training if some stupid bindings can just turn it all off." Leona snorts in derisive laughter. "Are you seriously whining right now, like someone's going to take pity on you for being screwed? Ew. Aren't you a man?" "Shut it, Sunbringer!" Bo snaps back. "Mocking a Thunderfall Disciple is a danger to your health." "My health?" Leona steps back with a hand on her chest in shock. "Well aren't you a forward man, having such an interest in the condition of my body! And for the record? Binder's Bands aren't special. Stopping our chi recovery with mystic Seals is no different from giving us a hard gutpunch every hour. The bands are just a prettier way to do it. Get stronger and you can break steel without chi, problem solved. Hell, <<cap $name>> and I are already almost too strong for these pairs to work. Losers like you may be screwed long-term, but conquering the Trials will get me Archonate training potent enough that bindings on my level won't even exist." "Conquering the Trials?" Bo retorts, face reddening from the insult. "Don't make me laugh, //girl//, a lone Sunbringer couldn't conquer an empty latrine. Let's get one thing straight, if there's anyone who has a chance to get us out of here it's ''me'', so you best watch your tone." <<if ($ruthless gte 54)>>\ "Shut up, \ <<else>>\ "Calm down, \ <</if>>\ both of you." You \ <<if ($ruthless gte 54)>>\ command. \ <<else>>\ say. \ <</if>>\ <<if ($honor lt 46)>>\ Normally you'd love to goad them into a fight but your \ <<else>>\ Your \ <</if>>\ head throbs and their bickering isn't helping. "Focus on what we can use to get out." "Yes, \ <<if ($heshe is "he")>>\ //sir//," \ <<else>>\ //ma'am//," \ <</if>>\ Leona concedes. "I've been tied up a time or two so I've got some advice, these bindings only stop our recovery and cycling. We can still get our power back with the replenishment elixirs they have in that gigantic house on the \ <<if ($leonatortured gte 1)>>\ hill where they tortured us. \ <<else>>\ hill. \ <</if>>\ <<if ($leonatortured gte 2)>>\ One of the torturers said it, just before whipping me half to death. He asked if he should go //upstairs// for medicinal pills, remember?" <<else>>\ I saw one of the guards take some from a crate." <</if>>\ That catches your attention \ <<if ($style isnot "Akakiru")>>\ instantly, plus the mansion is where Crow Li is holding $fren. \ <<else>>\ instantly. \ <</if>>\ "Okay, that's the plan then. Find a way out of these chains, break out of jail undetected, get to the mansion, and steal their medicine. From there we should be strong enough to break the manacles." "Is that still all you've got?" Replies Bo with as much attitude as ever. "I thought you'd have some grand scheme but if it's just 'break out' then let's see which of us actually breaks out first." "Ohhh, a race!" Leona says, excited. <<if ($underlings gt 0)>>\ "Will you shut up already?!" Shouts one of the other prisoners. "It's bad enough I'm captured //again//, I don't need my old master barging in and making my final hours even worse." <<if ($underlings is 2)>>\ Another voice mumbles agreement from outside your view. <<elseif ($underlings gt 2)>>\ More voices mumble agreement from outside your view. <</if>>\ An old master, he says? Leona and Bo look to you questioningly. It seems neither of them own any servants. That must mean... "Holy shit." You say out loud, trying to turn your head to see into the neighboring cells. \ <<if ($underlings is 1)>>\ "Servant? You're \ <<elseif ($underlings is 2)>>\ "Servants? You're both \ <<else>>\ "Servants? You're all \ <</if>>\ stuck in here too? I was wondering what happened to you!" A heavy sigh fills the air before \ <<if ($underlings gt 1)>>\ one \ <<else>>\ he \ <</if>>\ continues. \ <<if ($underlings gte 3)>>\ "You ran off \ <<if ($style is "Akakiru")>>\ to fight that crazy tart \ <<elseif ($style is "Aoyusumu")>>\ with that tall monk \ <<elseif ($style is "Kiihakai")>>\ with that darkly dressed witch-girl \ <<elseif ($style is "Kurokonton")>>\ with those ninjas \ <<if ($style is "Midorikatai")>>\ after that peppy wolfgirl \ <</if>>\ and \ <</if>>\ <<else>>\ "Your parents sold \ <<if ($underlings gte 2)>>\ us \ <<else>>\ me \ <</if>>\ off to a caravan for grunt work while you were training. \ <</if>>\ <<if ($underlings gte 2)>>\ we \ <<else>>\ I \ <</if>>\ thought \ <<if ($underlings gte 2)>>\ we were \ <<else>>\ I was \ <</if>>\ finally rid of you when the chance came to sneak away at night, so \ <<if ($underlings gte 2)>>\ we \ <<else>>\ I \ <</if>>\ did. Fat lot of good that did for \ <<if ($underlings gte 2)>>\ us, \ <<else>>\ me, \ <</if>>\ caught by another Sect and stuck back in this cell. It ain't fair I tell you." <<if ($underlings is 2)>>\ "Here here." Adds another mopey voice. <<elseif ($underlings gt 2)>>\ "Here here." Mopey voices add from the front cells. <</if>>\ "<<cap $name>>," Leona pipes up, "It's great and all that you're having a touching reunion with your \ <<if ($underlings is 1)>>\ manslave, \ <<else>>\ manslaves, \ <</if>>\ but can we please break out of prison before the blood cult butchers us to turn our blood into aphrodisiacs or worse?" Right, you think to yourself, the escape. <</if>>\ <<page "Continue" "ch5-cells-alone3">>

Bo begins ripping strips of cloth off the bottoms of his pantlegs and tying them around the lock connecting the wall's chain to his manacles. For some reason he starts trying to twist the cloth. His face visibly reddens from the effort. Leona on the other hand bangs her face into the cell door and calls the guard over for medical attention, a new nosebleed running down her chin while she flashes an inviting smile at the young Sunbringer and waves. The guard ignores her. It's not looking like you can expect much from them. That leaves you to... <<include "ch5-escape">>\

Suddenly a massive blast of water rushes through the iron bars and drenches you both, knocking you against the stone walls of the cell. "That's enough talk!" You turn \ <<if ($leonatortured lt 2)>>\ from the now-wet ground to see the Sunbringers outside your cell \ <<else>>\ to see the six Sunbringers from the basement right outside your cell. They \ <</if>>\ part to make way for the older wrinkled Oni Sunbringer from before, Crow Li. "I trust the interrogations went well?" Crow Li asks over his shoulder. "We couldn't quite tell, Master Crow Li, but Master Taio seemed to get what he wanted." Says one of the Sunbringers in front. "And he said you're in charge while he is gone." Crow Li's wrinkled face turns ugly. "While he's gone? I am always the Master, he is but an advisor." The other Sunbringers stare at each other nervously. "Er...Master Crow Li, we thought you had discussed it already with Master Taio. It's just...His Aura Pressure is so-" "ENOUGH!" Crow Li screams. "It seems the usurper was so generous as to give me control of my own Sect for a night, like some sort of pittance. Pah. Well 'Master' Taio is not here right now. Let us see to these interrogations with my own eyes. Take the \ <<if ($style is "Akakiru")>>\ girl back to the mansion's basement." He nods to Leona. "Oh come on!" Leona shouts, throwing her hands in the air in <<if ($leonatortured gte 2)>>\ exasperation and wincing in incredible pain when her movements open the wounds on her back. <<else>>\ exasperation. <</if>>\ "Crow Li...she was already tortured by Taio. He may see a cross-examination as an affront." The wrinkled Oni frowns deeper than you thought possible. "I will not be constrained by the whims of an absent man. Move her to the cell with her weaker brother while I vent the night's frustrations." The door opens and several of the Sunbringers reach in, grabbing Leona as she bites them, kicks them, and thrashes. You try to intervene but she grabs your hand and throws you back, spinning you off-center due to the wet stone floor. You drop to the ground as they drag her out and feel genuine anger that she got in your way. You're getting so mad that your hand even hurts where she touched you, as if rejecting your help inflicted actual damage on your pride and body. Then you stop closing your fist and realize your hand //actually// hurts. You look down and see she's shoved some sort of metal shiv's handle into your grip, a torture tool she confiscated from the basement. You look back up at her in astonishment as the Sunbringers slam your cell's door shut and carry her across the hall, dropping her into Bo's cell. "Now come." Crow Li says to the others. "Let us fetch one of the other captives. My instruments yearn for use." The rest follow after the wizened Oni until only one Sunbringer remains. He takes a seat at the front desk near the jail's entrance. As Leona lands \ <<if ($leonaromance gte 2)>>\ butt-first \ <</if>>\ in her cell she looks up at you with a bleeding smile, nodding down to the shiv in your hand and then over to the Sunbringer Lower Disciple left monitoring the prison. A shiv against a Martial Artist...is she insane? <<elseif ($style is "Aoyusumu")>>\ Lunargoth to the torture mansion." "That must be me." \ <<if ($race is "Lunargoth")>>\ You and Angelo say simultaneously. Angelo chuckles and pats your shoulder then \ <<else>>\ Angelo \ <</if>>\ steps to the entrance of the cell. "Before we begin, hellservants, <<if (($botortured gte 1) or ($leonatortured gte 1))>>\ my friend here was wounded \ <<else>>\ my friend here was given a nasty cut on $hisher hand \ <</if>>\ while in your custody. I cannot allow such actions to go unpunished." Crow Li scoffs in response. "Is this the part where you threaten my life?" "There is no need, at least not for you." Angelo replies. His eyes do not shine Sacred cerulean or Water dark blue. With his Aura Pressure bound by the manacles he makes no show of power. He simply shakes his head as if witnessing an unavoidable tragedy. "It is too late for you already." "Tch." Crow Li turns to his subordinates. "Take him, and do not let your guards down." All six Sunbringers open the cell, unchain Angelo's manacles from the wall, and pull him out without resistance. Two grab each of his arms and they march him out of the jail, presumably towards the mansion acting as their main hall and torture chamber. Just before he disappears from the jail, however, he whispers something you hear as if he were standing right next to you. His last piece of advice before your separation. "Be not afraid." And so you are not. ''[1 Soul Core Restored]'' <<var $solexp + 1>>\ <<var $solspent ($soul - ($soul - 1))>>\ <<elseif ($style is "Kiihakai")>>\ round-eyed girl." He nods at Lady Desdemona. "I don't suppose we can talk this out." Desdemona replies in dry monotone. "That's exactly what we are doing," Crow Li responds with open arms and a smile, "you will be talking things out, and I, in turn, will be separating your lovely skin from your flesh." Despite the calm scowl on Desdemona's face, her breathing noticeably quickens and she looks back to you. As the Sunbringers open the iron bar door and reach to collect her she jumps frantically for the corner of the cell opposite of the entrance, hands scrabbling for the corner of the cell's uneven stone floor for leverage. Several Sunbringers laugh at her attempt before they grab her feet, undo the chains connecting her manacles to the wall, and drag her out kicking and screaming. "Come on little girl!" One of them shouts. "We'll play nice!" Taunts another. "Let go of me you idiots! Let go!" Desdemona screams. "<<cap $name>>, don't let them take me!" You motion to help her but, as the two Sunbringers drag her out by each leg, you see her panicked expression drop in an instant, returning to an unimpressed deadpan glare. Her eyes dart pointedly to the corner she was grasping at earlier. Just before they drag her out of view she mouths the word 'morons'. The door to the prison shuts and they drag Desdemona out, presumably to the torture mansion that serves as their main base in town. After several seconds, when you're sure no prison guard is watching, you check the corner she indicated and... Find a piece of dark clothing in the corner floor of your poorly lit cell. A piece of her sleeve, ripped off in the clawing and scratching. And underneath you find the cloth had covered and hidden a piece of folded paper. Something that would be easily noticed if her captor's eyes weren't glued to a desperate and entertaining prisoner instead. Clever girl. When you open the parchment you find no secret message or last words, because the piece of paper holds only a set of instructions to an ambient chi Handseal. One that she says will get you out of here. <<elseif ($style is "Kurokonton")>>\ lizard to the torture basement." Guiren crouches low into a combat stance. "Try it you shriveled ballsack, I'll dry this floor with that mutated yam you call a face." Three different beams of Light energy slam into Guiren hard enough to make him look like he's dancing. He crumples to the ground immediately after. "You fools!" Crow Li scolds. "You've played right into his hands, he can't give information if he's unconscious." The old Oni looks to the other Sunbringers behind him, their hands smoking from their Light element chi blasts. "I am surrounded by incompetents. Collect him anyway, it will be your responsibility to wake him." The Sungringers shove you out of the way as they drag Guiren out of the cell, undo the chains connecting his manacles to the wall, and drag him out of the prison. Presumably up the street to the torture mansion being used as their main base. You stare at the ground in disbelief of your situation and open your eyes wide, staring in even more disbelief at the new feature to your jail cell. Scratched into the stone floor, opposite of the entrance where the torchlight barely touches, is a detailed escape plan for you to find. Did he know he was next? It makes sense but... But half of the plan was ruined by Crow Li's water attack. You can only make out pieces, but if you're reading this right, Guiren's spent his time well. Several of his men have escaped and used disguises to impersonate the dock-worker slaves, they intend to come down to the prison to do cleanup work. Hopefully they can give you the rest of the plan...as long as you don't mistake someone else for one of Guiren's men. Desperate captives might sell you out for a chance at freedom. <<elseif ($style is "Midorikatai")>>\ wolfgirl." Tian Fang snarls at the group of them, lunging for the cell door with claws and fangs. One of the younger Sunbringers takes a pair of keys to open the cell and jumps back when Tian Fang's claw scrapes his hand. "That actually hurt!" He shouts out. "Truly?" Crow Li steps forward and inspects Tian Fang's arm reaching through the iron bar door, clawing at the group. "It seems her Wild Chi is more Beast-attuned than it should be. A fascinating find, it leaks through the Binder's Band enchantment slowly but surely. Beat her and have her dragged out, we'll need to make sure this one doesn't recover too much energy." With a hateful scream Fang kicks off the cell bars and suddenly leaps back, turning on you with her larger fangs bared. In shock you motion to block and she clamps her jaws down on your manacles, shaking her head as a wolf does its prey. Your wrist feels like it's being twisted in half and- And... Are those sparks? Tian fang's amber eyes meet yours with unexpected clarity. She growls violently as her Beast-like fangs cut into the mystic sigils of your chi-suppressing wrought iron manacles and in that moment, locking eyes with the animal in her soul, you don't feel like you're dealing with a feral monster. You feel like you're dealing with another of her wolves. The same ones you've traveled with. The Sunbringers rip the cell door open and pull her off of you with several blows to her torso and head. You attempt to push them off but are slammed back into the stone wall, weakened as you are by the fever as much as the bindings. Finally the attacks add up and Fang falls unconscious; they drag her out. The cell door slams in your face before you can react and Crow Li cups Tian Fang's chin in his hand while the others hold her up by the arms. "Quite the specimen." Crow Li says. "Bring her to the torture chamber." You watch them leave through the jail and stare in bewilderment at the bite marks digging into your manacles, right across the sigils that blocked your chi from recovering. <<var $powspent - 1>>\ ''[1 Power Core Restored]'' <</if>>\ <<include "ch5-cells-alone">>

You're dragged back through the town and passed the original cages. As the dock comes into view your captors turn to the left down a side-street and enter a long stone building that turns out to be a prison. As you're dragged in, upside down, you see the dark building holds jail cells lining both walls separated by a wide hallway. "Over here is where we want $himher." One of the Sunbringers says, opening an iron bar door and collecting a chain from inside that's bolted to the stone wall of the cell. Another Sunbringer pulls out a shiny new lock and connects your manacles to the other end of that chain before throwing you into the cold hard \ <<if ($style is "Akakiru")>>\ cell. Immediately afterwards a second pair of Sunbringers toss Leona \ <<if (($heshe is "he") and ($leonaromance gte 2))>>\ on top of you \ <<else>>\ next to you \ <</if>>\ and slam the cell door shut. Leona rolls to her feet, reaching for a sword that isn't there but quickly adapting to a hand-to-hand fighting stance. "Finally, a battle! Which of you rejects is coming in here to fight us?" <<else>>\ cell, surprisingly next to $fren who must have been transported while you were tortured. <<if ($style is "Aoyusumu")>>\ <<if (($heshe is "she") and ($angeloromance gte 1))>>\ He catches you gently with both arms, careful not to hurt you with his manacles. "Miss me?" You ask. "I did worry." He responds wistfully, though his eyes are locked on the six Sunbringers outside your cell. <<else>>\ He helps you to your feet. "I'm glad to see you're well." "I wouldn't say that." You reply, recalling tomorrow's sacrifice. <</if>>\ <<elseif ($style is "Kiihakai")>>\ She's apparently given up her plan to play dead after being transported and is meditating in a seated position, interrupted by your body being lobbed into the cell. You land with a hard 'thud' and she cracks one eye open to look at you without moving her head. "How bad was it?" \ You hold up \ <<if ($leonatortured gte 2)>>\ one of the bandages that fell off your back, covered in blood. \ <<if ($honor gte 54)>>\ "Nothing I couldn't handle." <<else>>\ "Bad." <</if>>\ <<else>>\ your bleeding hand. "The work of amateurs." <</if>>\ <<elseif ($style is "Kurokonton")>>\ He doesn't move as you're thrown into the cell, instead he simply glares at the Sunbringers. "What?" Asks one of the younger ones. "You want a piece of me?" Guiren lunges forward, held back only by the chain latched to his manacles, and hisses. "You'll be in pieces alright!" <<elseif ($style is "Midorikatai")>>\ The wolf yokai woman leaps to the side as you're tossed in and snarls at the Sunbringers, eyes nearly glowing amber at this point. She quickly dashes for the cell entrance now that it's open but the door is slammed in her face. "AWWWOOOOOOOOO!!!" She howls angrily, hand reaching through the cell door, and elsewhere in town several wolves howl back in a frenzy. <</if>>\ <</if>>\ <<include "ch5-cells-crowli">>\

You wake up on a cold stone floor illuminated with torchlight, much like the torture basement you just endured. Unlike that basement however your current surroundings aren't so spacious; you're held in a single prison cell of stone ceiling, floor, and walls with no window in sight. The most noticeable addition is a new obstacle: a chain has been locked to your manacles, connecting you to the wall of this cell and making escape even harder than the cage. The only light source you have is from the moonlight coming through the thin window and the torchlight visible through the door of iron bars locking you in. Between the bars you see a row of cells adorning the opposite wall as well, a single wide hallway separating you from the jailcells across. Through the moans and groans of other captives you hear \ <<if ($style isnot "Akakiru")>>\ two distinct whines across from your cell, telling you Bo and $an are securely locked in too and \ <<else>>\ Bo's nasally whines from directly across from your cell where he's no doubt \ <</if>>\ suffering the same disorienting pain that still plagues your spirit. <<if ($style isnot "Akakiru")>>\ Yet their cell is not the only one with multiple occupants. <<else>>\ Yet unlike his cell, yours has two occupants. <</if>>\ Next to you, \ <<if (($style is "Kurokonton") and ($heshe is "he"))>>\ Guiren is crouched low saying something about how you need a healer, but you can't hear him through the pain and delirium of blood-loss. He takes this the wrong way and shakes you back to full consciousness. "Alright, alright! I'm up!" You shout out, shoving him off and feeling your back ignite in pain. <<include "ch5-cells-crowli">>\ <<elseif (($style is "Kurokonton") and ($heshe is "she"))>>\ $fren is tending to your wounds and seems to have been for a while now. "So they moved you down here too, huh? These wounds of yours look bad." He says with genuine concern. "I'm no healer, we're going to need medicine. Soon." <<include "ch5-cells-crowli">>\ <<elseif ($style is "Akakiru")>>\ Leona wakes on the ground in just as much pain. "Uuuuunnnnhh." Leona groans into the dirt underneath your cell's bars. \ <<if ($heshe is "he")>>\ "That ruined whipping for me, forever." <<else>>\ "Next time do me a favor and kill me first." <</if>>\ <<include "ch5-cells-crowli">>\ <<elseif ($style is "Kiihakai")>>\ $fren is tending to your wounds and seems to have been for a while now. "This looks bad." She says flatly. "I'll need proper herbs to heal this." <<choose "ch5-cells-crowli">> #"Don't remind me." "Don't remind me." You sigh and try to keep your breath steady. "I got to feel how bad it was first-hand." #use-if (($thievery gte 2) and ($alchemyreagents gte 2)) Like these? [Requires Thievery 2, Alchemy Reagents x2] <<apboost 3>>\ "Like these?" You ask, ripping a false pocket in your pants to reveal a very real pocket filled with several medicinal herbs. "How in the world did you...give me a moment." She rubs them together quickly and spits, forming a makeshift unguent and rubs it into your back after gently wiping away the salt that the Sunbringers liberally applied to your cuts. ''[1 Fortitude Core Restored]'' <<var $forspent - 1>>\ ''[1 Agility Core Restored]'' <<var $agispent - 1>>\ #show-if ($heshe is "he") "I knew you cared, you softie." <<var $desrep + 2>>\ "I knew you cared, you softie." You say through hisses from her touching the fresh wounds on your back. "Wah-?! Don't be ridiculous! I only care because you're supposed to be helping me in Nanhou." "A likely story." You sigh into the ground as she tears another bandage off the bottom of her robes, then hiss as she 'gently' wipes the salt out of your wounds. <</choose>> <<elseif ($style is "Aoyusumu")>>\ $fren is tending to your wounds and seems to have been for a while now. "I'm afraid you don't look so good." <<if (($angeloromance gte 1) and ($heshe is "she"))>>\ "Yes I do." You whine in protest, your back feeling like a hot iron is pressed against it. He chuckles lightly. "Of course, of course. You always look good." <</if>>\ <<if (($heshe is "she") and ($honor lt 50))>>\ "Hrrnnnn." You whisper weakly into the stone floor, trying not to cry. <<else>>\ "Noted." You hiss through the pain. <</if>>\ <<include "ch5-cells-crowli">>\ <<elseif ($style is "Midorikatai")>>\ a soothing sensation treats the wounds on your back. You turn over to see what it is and jump when you see Tian Fang, her face covered in red. She was licking your wounds. And her eyes are still amber. She leaps back to her side of the cell with a yelp just as you jump to your feet. <<include "ch5-cells-crowli">>\ <</if>>\

The rock around you begins to crack as you press both hands down and lift with both legs, stiffening your ankles with your Fortitude Cores to avoid breaking them. "Don't listen to him!" Crow Li screams to the surrounding Sunbringers. "We are the ''Sunbringers''! We survived Mao's rampage even when Bangle left us in chaos! Reduced to Mao's bounty targets. Glorified bandits!" He half-heartedly blocks Kosuke's white energy blast from behind with his elbow. "I am the one who turned us to strength, I am the one who rose us into an army to be feared! With Taio's treasure trove we will make our new Blood Path a reality! We will kill every Thunderfaller and enter a new age!" His glare meets yours with disdain as his entire arm glows crimson. The blood marbles around you shake in response. "First you, then Jack, then Mao. Die, nameless Thunderfaller. Die and become fuel for //my// glorious ascension. //My// Blood Gate." There's no attention to spare to his threats, you focus all your power into breaking free from Jack's stone trap. When the Hells did he learn the Earth Element? In adrenal desperation the rock begins to crack and your legs finally rip out, the same second Crow Li finishes his final Seal. Your spiritual senses scream deafening alarms throughout your mind as they sense the true nature of what surrounds you. The true essence of Taio's Blood Marbles. Thousands upon thousands of lives worth of heartsblood in the Soul Treasure marbles lying around your body all spring to life at Crow Li's call, releasing multiple populations worth of power into the air at once. Power tainted with the crimson blood aura of demonic chi in quantities that shouldn't be possible to gather. Combat around the battlefield comes to a halt as all eyes, Sunbringer and ally, turn to the birth of an unnatural disaster. A Demonic Gate. <<page "Continue" "ch5-demon2">>\

The air around you thickens with the sickening smell of sulfur and ash. All around you a red glow casts upon the entire battlefield from...from... You gaze upward to realize it's not coming from anywhere on the ground. It's the sky. At the center of the swirling clouds overhead is a crimson star shining upon all of Ebikowa and you swear from the center of your soul that the glowing star is looking directly at you, as if it were the eye of a creature large beyond imagining. "Wh...What is this?" Crow Li asks as the wails of countless dead begin to drown his voice out. "WHAT IS THIS?! THIS IS NO GATE!" The ghostly image of thousands of arms reach out from the spiraling red clouds overhead and an unending tide of infectious Demonic Chi descends to the town below like a crimson blanketing mist. From the stories you've been raised to believe, Hell has come to Ebikowa. "Hrgrr-" Chokes a dead Sunbringer near you, spitting up black blood and gripping its midsection. You can only stare in shock, backed up against a crate, as the body convulses and grows dark veins. Its hands grow into thickened black claws that take on a metallic sheen and its eyes open, murky and clouded until a black glow comes from their center. The dead eyes of a Lost. All around you the defeated and wounded transform in kind, writhing and retching and turning on their allies. Sunbringers and hiding villagers alike scream throughout the town as Fiends of all kind manifest around them. Crow Li stares in horror as three of his own subordinates, wounded by Jack, rise with sharpened black claws and descend upon him. He does not fight back. He doesn't even scream. The man stares utterly stupefied at his fallen comrades while they drag him to the ground and tear him to pieces. The grizzly sight nearly distracts you from the converging mass of blood aura barely within sight through the thick fog. A Bloodwalker. The mobile pool of blood slithers along the ground directly toward your feet, tendrils reaching out with hardened tips forming into the shapes of sharpened weapons; a tendril holding an axe, a scorpion's stinger, a sword, a faceless set of sharpened teeth. The creature out of a nightmare slithers towards you and you no longer regret failing to see the malicious blood spirit that manifested in your town well so many years ago. You'd taken their rumors so lightly before, but witnessing one approach you understand why so many adults were crazed into a panic until... Until Crusher Mao killed it. //That's right.// You call out inside your mind, snapping yourself out of the fear and remembering back to when you were twelve. //That bastard killed one.// These Fiends, these eldritch horrors outside of the natural order...they can die. They can be killed by the strong. And you are not going to be killed by something Mao defeated without breaking a sweat. They may be a scourge, a plague, or even an apocalypse for mere villagers, but you are no villager. You are a Warrior. A shock of excitement runs down your spine when you look at this as not a living nightmare, but a fight. A fight you can win. Feeling returns to your limbs and a blazing aura of \ <<if ($style is "Akakiru")>>\ scarlet Bladed \ <<elseif ($style is "Aoyusumu")>>\ cerulean Sacred \ <<elseif ($style is "Kiihakai")>>\ golden Mystic \ <<elseif ($style is "Kurokonton")>>\ purple Cursed \ <<elseif ($style is "Midorikatai")>>\ green Wild \ <</if>>\ Chi ignites around your body. You are not trapped in Ebikowa with these man-eating monsters. They are trapped in Ebikowa with you. <<choose "ch5-demon3">> #Kick through the Bloodwalker's center with your leg wreathed in $auracolor chi. You call upon the excess life energy surging through your body and the chi responds, cycling from your core in a violent emergence of $auracolor light around your leg. With two hands gripping the ground's cobblestones you pull with all your might and launch yourself forward towards the unnatural Fiend. The Bloodwalker responds with a new set of sharpened tendrils. <<var $combatstat "power">>\ <<var $combatstat2 "soul">>\ <<combatcheck 9>>\ <<if ($passcheck is true)>>\ It should have responded by moving instead. Your glowing leg slams through the creature's defenses in a spray of red like a boulder slamming through a young plum blossom tree. Its tendrils explode and vaporize from your strike that follows through into the Bloodwalker's center. When your kick collides into its center the Fiend bursts from the inside and reverts to dormant chi dissipating on the ground. <<else>>\ The tendrils move too fast for you, surging around your leg with blinding speed. You push your aura up and down that shin as the abomination cuts and hacks at your spirit. <<if ((($health + ($fortitude / 2)) - $wounds) gte 2)>>\ <<woundcheck 1 false false>>\ The creature strikes at you in its final moments \ <<else>>\ <<aploss 5>>\ The creature never gets to the flesh below \ <</if>>\ as your aura burns its tendrils away in time for your leg to smash into its center, erupting with your spiritual power and blowing it apart from the inside. <</if>>\ <<page "Continue" "ch5-demon3">>\ #Catch the Bloodwalker in a crate and throw it into a distant guardtower. The slithering horror digs its clawed tendrils into the ground and lurches at you. In that same instant you tuck your feet under your prone form and kick off the ground with a front-flip to dodge. As you rise over the creature you grab an open heavy crate to the side and lift while rotating your body, scooping down to catch the Fiend in the crate. The creature responds with a slew of additional sharpened tendrils flying upwards toward you without hesitation. <<var $combatstat "agility">>\ <<var $combatstat2 "fortitude">>\ <<combatcheck 10>>\ <<if ($passcheck is true)>>\ It should have hesitated. In one rotation of your flip you scoop the Bloodwalker's whole essence into the crate before it can land a lash against your body. Your \ <<else>>\ The tendrils move too fast for you, slashing at your midsection while you swing the crate's opening at the moving crimson pool. <<if (((($health + ($fortitude / 2)) - $wounds) gte 3) or ($pblocktech isnot ""))>>\ <<woundcheck 1 false false>>\ Its tendrils slash at your abs and chest \ <<else>>\ <<aploss 5>>\ The tendrils wrap in demonic chi and cut away at your aura's life force \ <</if>>\ until your \ <</if>>\ legs hit the ground hard and you arch your back forward, pushing all the centrifugal force of your spin into your arms. With that leverage added to your sufficient strength you throw the filled crate off into the distance like a one-man catapult. The Bloodwalker within the open crate flies a good 60 yards into the distance until it crashes into a guardtower, splattering the monster into a thousand pieces. <<page "Continue" "ch5-demon3">>\ #show-if (((($equippedweapon is "Bo Staff") or ($equippedweapon is "Meteor Hammer")) or ($equippedweapon is "Greataxe")) or ($equippedweapon is "Qiang")) Spin your $equippedweapon in a deadly overhead arc. Though the air above you is thick with crimson mist you leap into it all the same, using that room to draw your $equippedweapon and \ <<if ($equippedweapon is "Greataxe")>>\ grip a leather strap at the base of its handle to \ <</if>>\ spin it overhead at rapid speeds. As you descend back to the ground and fall through the thick demonic chi hanging in the air you swing your $equippedweapon down using all your built-up momentum to slam your weapon into the creature with a meteoric smash. <<var $combatstat "power">>\ <<var $weapontest true>>\ <<if ((($equippedweapon is "Greataxe") or ($equippedweapon is "Qiang")) and ($style is "Akakiru"))>>\ ''[Akakiru Style Event: Difficulty Reduced]'' <<combatcheck 5>>\ <<else>>\ <<combatcheck 6>>\ <</if>>\ <<if ($passcheck is true)>>\ The colossal impact of your weapon crashes through the Bloodwalker's \ <<else>>\ <<if (((($health + ($fortitude / 2)) - $wounds) gte 3) or ($pblocktech isnot ""))>>\ <<woundcheck 1 true false>>\ The Bloodwalker's tendrils rise up to strike at your legs but you still slam your weapon into its \ <<else>>\ <<aploss 3>>\ The bloodwalker's tendrils spray caustic chi at your spirit but you still manage to slam your weapon into its \ <</if>>\ <</if>>\ amorphous body with enough pressure to blow it to pieces in all directions. <<page "Continue" "ch5-demon3">>\ #show-if ($style is "Aoyusumu") Exorcise the Fiend with a prayer talisman. [Requires Aoyusumu] <<var $prayertalisman true>>\ Monks and shrinemaidens of the Devanic Temple have been banishing Fiends from the Mortal world for all of written history. Angelo never showed you how, but the stories you've read described it the same way every time: the Aoyusumu master channels humanity's justice against the unnatural and the corrupted, the Fiends that pursue the innocent, and focus those desires for righteous vengeance into a single Seal on paper. Sacred Chi converts that mental sentiment into power and the wielder's aura converts that power into a cleansing force. You take an empty fuuinjutsu tag from your pocket with two fingers and channel as much Sacred Chi into it as you can cycle at once. The paper glows cerulean faintly and a much deeper blue forms Seals on the paper. It's not enough. It's not condensed. You need more. You have more. A calming wave washes over the battlefield as your Sacred Chi draws on the panic and fear of everyone around you. All their dire emotion drains from their minds and flows into your prayer talisman. The stiff paper tag blazes with a cerulean aura almost as strong as your own. <<learntech 4140000000100024 "Prayer Talisman" "Passively reduces the cost of Seals by 1 Component. Increases Soul Surge by +1 when focused.">>\ <<if ($techslotcode[4] is 1000000000000000)>>\ ''[Soul Core focused to "Prayer Talisman" Technique]'' <<focuscore "Prayer Talisman" 4140000000100024>>\ <</if>>\ The mobile pool of blood burbles and turns, sensing a natural predator. You pull the tag back and whip it through the air with the enhanced speed and aim of your telekinetic might. Despite its amorphous shape your tag homes in on its center and pierces the creature with a line of cerulean force that bisects it entirely, burning up both separated sides like a tissue caught in a bonfire. <<page "Continue" "ch5-demon3">>\ #show-if (($element1 is "Fire") or ($element2 is "Fire")) Burn it to ash. [Requires Fire, Costs 1 Chi Point] Treating the fight like a battle of life and death breaks you out of the trance that any sane person would face when the corrupted energies of Hell rise around you. Your teeth grit and your eyes focus as you aim both hands forward at the approaching, bubbling pool of blood. It should have chosen an easier target. "Begone." ''[1 Chi Point Spent]'' <<var $chispent + 1>>\ <<apboost 4>>\ A roar emits from your aura as it grows into a raging fire. You focus all that firepower between your hands and condense it into a screaming white flame beam that powerwashes the Bloodwalker off the street and evaporates it from existence, boiling it to nothing from the heat of your inner fire. <<page "Continue" "ch5-demon3">>\ #show-if (($element1 is "Ice") or ($element2 is "Ice")) Freeze the liquid monster. [Requires Ice, Costs 1 Chi Point] Your hands cease trembling. Movement is an aspect of Yang. With a slow rise to your feet an icy blue aura casts all around you and you raise \ <<if ($heshe is "she")>>\ one hand up to your mouth as the pool of weaponized blood streams \ <<else>>\ both arms up at the pool of weaponized blood streaming \ <</if>>\ toward you at an accelerated pace. Then with a soft exhale you \ <<if ($heshe is "she")>>\ blow a kiss to the abomination and the air leaving your lungs expands into the world as a \ <<else>>\ release the frozen power within as a \ <</if>>\ flash-freezing blast of pure chilling Ice Chi. Not an icicle or any manifested temporary ice, but the pure chilling power of heatdeath. The Bloodwalker stiffens immediately and freezes into a red ice-sculpture, completely immobile and trapped in the laws of the physical world. ''[1 Chi Point Spent]'' <<var $chispent + 1>>\ <<apboost 4>>\ Your foot crushes the ice statue with a heavy stomp, shattering the thing to a thousand pieces. <<page "Continue" "ch5-demon3">>\ <</choose>>

The Bloodwalker is dead, yet the battle is far from over. Screams fill the air around the battlefield as the thick crimson mist blocks your vision, smell, and even your spiritual senses with its overwhelming amount of Demonic Chi. Yet there's one source of light shining through the ominous glow of the Demonic Gate: you. Others answer to that beacon. First a Lost in Sunbringer uniform charges through the red fog, its claws swinging for your face. <<if ($equippedweapon is "Yumi")>>\ Its head is filled with your arrows \ <<elseif (((((((((($equippedweapon is "Tanto")) or ($equippedweapon is "Katana")) or ($equippedweapon is "Muramasa")) or ($equippedweapon is "Qiang")) or ($equippedweapon is "Kunai")) or ($equippedweapon is "Jian")) or ($equippedweapon is "Iceblade")) or ($equippedweapon is "Greataxe")) or ($equippedweapon is "Chiblade"))>>\ It's cut down by \ <<if ($equippedweapon is "Muramasa")>>\ your cursed black blade \ <<else>>\ your $equippedweapon \ <</if>>\ <<elseif (($equippedweapon is "Bo Staff") or ($equippedweapon is "Meteor Hammer"))>>\ Its head gets crushed by your $equippedweapon \ <<else>>\ You blast a hole through its torso \ <</if>>\ before it even closes the distance, and it falls. Second, \ <<if ($style is "Akakiru")>>\ Leona lands on the ground hard with two swords covered in black blood. "Time to go!" She shouts, spinning her head toward you so fast that her blood-soaked hair whips against her back. "I love a good party, but this a //terrible// party." Kosuke, Bo, and the rest of your freed prisoners catch up from behind her, panting hard. They each look to you. <<choose "ch5-withdraw">> #"We're not retreating with so many Fiends to kill. Prepare yourselves!" -> "ch5-vengeance" <<var $ruthless + 2>>\ #"Everyone follow me to the docks, NOW." <<var $ruthless - 2>>\ <</choose>> <<elseif ($style is "Aoyusumu")>>\ Angelo appears through the mist with a soft cerulean glow around himself as well as everyone behind him: your freed prisoners, Bo, Leona, and Kosuke. "<<cap $name>>! I am pleased to see you've retained your senses." He glances at the splatters of Bloodwalker leftover and nods approvingly. You can hear Leona laughing to the sounds of metal-on-metal somewhere in the red fog. "What's going on?!" Kosuke \ <<if ($bffheshe is "she")>>\ asks from behind Angelo, all playfulness gone from $bffhisher voice. <<else>>\ asks in a daze, gripping $bffhisher sword harder. <</if>>\ "I don't know." Bo says, sweating while charging Wild Chi to his hands. "I don't know, I don't know, I don't know!" "Calm yourselves." Angelo says with a soft exhale. "Much evil has come to this place, that is all. This will require a grand cleansing." <<choose "ch5-withdraw">> #"Then let us begin the cleansing." -> "ch5-vengeance" <<var $honor + 2>>\ <<var $ruthless + 1>>\ <<var $angelorep + 2>>\ #"Everyone get to the docks, NOW." "Everyone get to the docks, NOW." "What about the Sunbringer with the swords?" Asks Bo. Your sight and spiritual senses may fail you, but your Aoyusumu Style has seen improvement. You reach your Sacred Chi out to the beacon of Leona's mind and grip around it in the physical sense, pulling her to you with telekinetic might. Her whole body flings through the fog into your party and \ <<if (($heshe is "he") and ($leonaromance gte 1))>>\ you catch her chest in your hand, somehow landing your palm directly in the boob-window of her armor. <<var $leonarep + 3>>\ "Th-Thanks." She says, looking down at the imprint your fingers are making and blushing. Angelo clears his throat and \ <<else>>\ party. She looks around with both swords drawn and a heavy pout. "We're leaving?" "Afraid so." Angelo says. Leona frowns and sheaths her blades while <</if>>\ your whole party takes off towards the docks. <<var $ruthless - 2>>\ <<page "Continue" "ch5-withdraw">>\ <</choose>> <<elseif ($style is "Kiihakai")>>\ two golden orbs at chest-height fly through the fog and appear before you. It's Desdemona's eyes, you realize, glowing with Mystic Chi. The burning smells in the air tell you she did not get through the fog easily. "<<cap $name>>, where is Jack? I am going to flay him for that surprise attack." "You and me both, but he left." "Coward." She scowls at the surroundings. "Leaving the Fiends and cultists to us." More screams come through the fog alongside the sounds of metal on metal. "I think the Fiends and cultists are left to each other. Where's Kosuke and Bo?" You ask. "Where are your Disciples?" "I left them all together for safety and came as fast as I could. I assumed you were fighting whatever strongest hellspawn this calamity released." "One so far." You say, charging your hands with golden Mystic Chi and launching a two-handed energy beam over her shoulder that explodes a second Bloodwalker right behind her. The thing lurches up to try and envelope her like a blanket only to pop like a firework. "Two." Smoke comes off the hole in her robes by the shoulder and she stares at you deadpan. "Well...That's not fair, you don't have one behind you. How am I supposed to do the same?" Desdemona's Disciples, Kosuke, Leona, and Bo stumble out of the red fog behind the chi sorceress. "Lady Desdemona!" Shouts one of her disciples with a limp, wounded left arm. "A Grim has manifested!" Desdemona curses. "We should go." <<choose "ch5-withdraw">> #Not so fast. "Turn around everyone! We're sending these things BACK to Hell!" -> "ch5-vengeance" <<var $ruthless + 2>>\ <<var $desrep - 2>>\ #"Everyone follow me to the docks, NOW." <<var $ruthless - 2>>\ <</choose>> <<elseif ($style is "Kurokonton")>>\ Guiren appears from the sky with a dozen throwing stars launched into the mist around you. The sound of Lost groaning fills the air as his attacks land on unseen foes. "We're surrounded!" Shouts Wencheng, running out of the mist and slashing a kunai behind him where no enemy follows. Guiren lands next to you. "No you're not idiot, they're dead. <<cap $name>> even killed a Bloodwalker, just stick together and we'll be fine." "Boss, more Fiends coming from the mist!" Yoji the Oni shouts while running toward you, pulling back his own throwing stars to throw behind him. You have to jump to catch his forearm as you sense the targets coming. Kosuke, Bo, Leona, and your freed prisoners emerge from the mist behind Yoji with black blood on their weapons. Guiren looks from your hand gripping Yoji's arm, to Yoji's weapons, to your party. "Ancestors above, Yoji, I'm taking your weapons after this. You almost killed $hisher friends." "With those tiny things?" Leona scoffs, waving her swords around. "No he didn't." Behind her an exhausted looking Kosuke mouths 'yes he did'. You let out a breath of relief. Everyone's alive, for now. "Guiren, what was that earlier?" You ask. "When Jack hit the building you all disappeared. Can you do it again? Can you do it now?" "That was a one-time deal." Guiren admits, throwing his kunai into the fog behind one of your freed prisoners with a loud 'thunk' as it hits something. "A talisman with The Boss's power, I've only got one left and it does something else." "Something useful?" You ask as someone's deathscream comes from within the red mist. "No." <<choose "ch5-withdraw">> #"Then we're on our own, prepare for battle! These Fiends cannot be allowed to live!" -> "ch5-vengeance" <<var $honor + 1>>\ <<var $ruthless + 1>>\ #"Then everyone follow me to the docks, NOW." <<var $ruthless - 2>>\ <</choose>> <<elseif ($style is "Midorikatai")>>\ howls break through the sounds of screams and battle, echoing off the walls of the still-remaining buildings across the street. You see Kosuke come through the red fog unnaturally fast and realize $bffheshe's riding a green-glowing wolf. Bo, Leona, and Tian Fang follow on glowing canines of their own, with an escort of more white winter wolves and freed prisoners on their flanks. "We're getting out of here!" Kosuke shouts as the wolf $bffheshe's riding on does a quick lap around you and books it. "Oh my, did you kill that yourself?" Tian Fang asks as her wolf does the same, her finger pointing to the blood specks disappearing into demonic chi as the Bloodwalker dies. "I SAID WE'RE GETTING OUT OF HERE!" Kosuke screams, and you realize it's not a command but a plea for help. <<cap $bffhisher>> wolf is fleeing from the fight. <<choose "ch5-withdraw">> #[Whistle to rally the wolves] "Everyone take up arms, these Fiends aren't getting out of this alive!" -> "ch5-vengeance" <<var $bffrep - 2>>\ <<var $fangrep + 3>>\ #[Jump on a wolf] "Everyone to the docks, NOW." <<var $ruthless - 2>>\ <</choose>> <</if>>\

ear-piercing, inhuman shriek interrupts the cheer from the rest of the crowd, echoing across the entire town of Ebikowa. Silence falls over the docks as the villagers stare in horror in the direction of the noise. Li Moon speaks up first. "Lady Desdemona, none of the Fiends sounded like that...what did we just hear?" "Something finished manifesting. Something we shouldn't fight." Desdemona responds, eyes closing as she senses it out. "It's moving...away from us. Fast." Dozens of villagers exhale in relief but they each pick up their pace all the same. Everyone anxiously follows your lead towards the seaworthy vessels that survived the fight. <<page "Continue" "ch5-askships">>\

<<choose "ch5-escape-chain">> #use-if ($chaindone is false) Deal with the wall chain. #use-if (($celldone is false) and ($chaindone is true)) Escape from your cell. -> "ch5-escape-cell" #use-if ($celldone is true) Deal with the prison guard. -> "ch5-escape-guard" <</choose>>\

Next up comes the jail cell. Your original plan had been to break the door down but you quickly learn the bars dig at least a foot deep into the stone making up your floor and ceiling. Even with chi this would be a difficult task for Upper Disciples. Your only saving grace is there's a spare pair of keys on the guard's desk, four cells away from you, and he's preoccupied stabbing a Qian spear into random cells to get people to stop revolting. Twenty feet is a long way...this is going to be harder than you thought. <<choose "ch5-escape">> #use-if ($key is true) Use your smuggled key. Your smuggled key really is the gift that keeps on giving. The lesson here is that crime //does// pay and you will //never// regret robbing people, //ever//, no matter how much they trusted you. With care and stealth you push your arm through the bars of your cell with key in-hand, bend your arm, and press against the lock until the key finds the hole and slides right in. ''*click*'' Just like that, you're a free $manwoman and a damned genius. <<var $celldone true>>\ There's just one problem...You're not alone. You were hoping other prisoners would have broken out by now but it seems you're alone. Just down the hall the last obstacle of yours is jamming a Qian spear through one of the cell doors to keep the inmates locked inside. #show-if ($style is "Kurokonton") use-once Get Guiren's men to pick the lock. If Guiren's men really have escaped then all you need to do is find the right ones. They must have keys or lockpicks if they got out of their own cages. Then again, if Guiren's men could escape then why did they stick around? It doesn't seem like it was for Guiren, they treat him like trash. As you ponder it over a familiar face goes by your window, an Oni in chains, pulling a cart full of furs. "Hey, you!" You hiss-whisper. "You're one of Guiren's men, Yoji right? Get me out of here, I need to go save him from the mansion." The oni looks over to you. "I have no idea what you're talking about." "What do you mean y-" Oh Hells. It's the wrong oni. <<page "Continue" "ch5-escape-wrongoni">>\ #show-if ($style isnot "Kurokonton") use-if ($val is 20000) Someone else picks the lock for you. -> "death" You dare tread where no mortal eyes may pass?! Suffer for your transgressions one thousand times! #use-once Attempt to pick the lock. Picking a lock without the proper tools is a fool's errand, but with deft enough hands and enough desperation it's worth a shot. <<var $val 3>>\ <<if ($craft gte 2)>>\ ''[Craft 2 Check Passed]'' For idiots. For you the clear answer is to create your own tools. The Sunbringers may have stripped you of most everything you had, but your travel boots still hold laces and hardened leather you can peel off in thick chunks to push in the lock's tumblers. With a couple minutes of grunt work you've braided the laces of your shoes together and peeled off thick enough chunks from your boot's heel to use at the pick of the lockpick. Here goes nothing. <<var $val - 1>>\ <<var $forexp + 2>>\ <<else>>\ ''[Craft 2 Check Failed]'' If only you knew how to assemble a lockpick from mud. Oh well. Here goes nothing. <</if>>\ <<page "Continue" "ch5-escape-lockpick">>\ #use-once Fish the pair of keys off the guard's desk 20 feet away. The fact that you have to resort to the most ridiculous plan is not a good sign for your future, but you've never been one to give up. If you're going to do this right you're going to need a long string and something solid. You can throw the solid object into the loop of the keyring...if you've got the best aim in town. First thing's first you'll need a set of string twenty feet long. <<if (($craft gte 1) or ($survival gte 1))>>\ <<if ($craft gte 1)>>\ ''[Craft 1 Check Passed]'' <<else>>\ ''[Survival 1 Check Passed]'' <</if>>\ Easy enough, using Bo's idea to take the string off the edges and limbs of your clothing. Things get a bit breezy but you're still covered up. <<include "ch5-escape-fish">>\ <<else>>\ ''[Craft 1 Check Failed]'' ''[Survival 1 Check Failed]'' You can't even manage to get the string to pull off this plan. Where are your fuuinjutsu tags when you need them? <<page "Continue" "ch5-escape-cellfail">>\ <</if>>\ #show-if ($style is "Akakiru") use-once Use Leona's shiv to take out a guard and steal their key. -> "ch5-escape-shiv" You look down at the shiv in your hand and back up to Leona who is violently nodding with a big smile. This is such a stupid plan. Are you sure you want to do it? <</choose>>

"Hey, what's going on here?!" Shouts a bearded cat Yokai in Sunbringer garb from outside, head tilted at your jailcell window to get a better look at you. "It sounds like a riot in there." You turn to the window and lock eyes, frozen, as the tingle between your shoulders tells you he's scanning your spirit. "I can explain." You say calmly. "Don't bother." A flash of light is the last thing you see before being knocked out as his Sunbringer signature energy blast closes the gap instantly and sears your face. <<var $seared true>>\ <<page "Is this really the end...?" "ch5-kosuketime">>\

The chain attaching you to the wall is your biggest problem. Even if the jailcell door magically opened, you'd still be incapable of escaping. \ <<if ($ruthless gte 51)>>\ A wise double measure for imprisonment that you keep in mind for the future. It adds security and removes hope, the perfect combination...for your prisoners, that is. When used on you it's rather annoying instead. <<else>>\ A ruthless double-imprisonment likely thought up by a sadist to take hope away from prisoners. <</if>>\ <<if ($thievery gte 1)>>\ The worst part is you can't even pick the lock at this angle. Your hands are bound together and chain is locked to the bottom of your manacles, near the center of your forearm. <</if>>\ If you want release from the chains, if you want any chance at freedom, you'll need to get crafty. So you... <<choose "ch5-escape-chainremoved">> #use-if ($key is true) Use your smuggled key. Though the manacles suppressing your powers are clearly some type of custom-built Soul Treasure, the lock connecting them to your chains is well-polished and lacking any dents or scratches. A new purchase, by the looks of it. And you know who's been selling them. You are, without a doubt, the smartest $manwoman alive. How many others can say they already procured a key to their prison days in advance when they didn't even know they were being pursued? Dou Nohal is a Saint in your eyes for selling copies of the same lock and key across the region. Scummy trade practices be praised. When no one's looking you retrieve the key from a hidden pocket in your clothing and insert it into the lock, turning the key with ease. ''*click*'' #show-if ($style is "Kiihakai") use-once Use Desdemona's ritual notes. Reading through the note Desdemona left makes you feel like the bottom of your stomach just dropped, taking your hope with it. It's supposed to make the user intangible like a ghost, but it includes any Soul Treasures they have on them...soul Treasures like your manacles. And it gets worse. According to her notes and sigils, as well as the listed Zodiac handsign combinations, this ritual will take multiple casters under the same moonlight and 30 minutes to complete when using ambient chi at the level Outer West provides. You don't have 30 minutes, you need this ritual done //now// before the guard comes back. With a sigh of resignation you sit in meditative trance anyway, holding your hands at your center and initiating the handseals in accordance to Desdemona's instruction. Maybe the Heavens will smile upon you like Bo was whining about and- ''*CLANG*'' The chain and lock drop off your manacles and fall into your lap, then through your lap as if you were a ghost. Both land with a loud clang right onto the stone ground. But the ritual needs casters for... <<var $chaindone true>>\ Sweet merciful Ancestors, Desdemona's disciples must have been casting it the whole time! <<if ($honor gte 50)>>\ If Desdemona left her people's escape plan up to you, you're going to have to prove it was worth it. <<else>>\ Finally, some support. It feels good to have someone actually believe in you. You give the middle finger to Bo just to enjoy the contrast. He has no idea why and looks hurt. <</if>>\ Suddenly a sharp pain shoots up in your outer thigh. You look down and see your body already flickering in and out of intangibility, the ritual barely lasting seconds with your manacles suppressing all chi. The door! You still have to escape through the cell door! <<page "Run!" "ch5-escape-chain-dessy">>\ #show-if ($style isnot "Kurokonton") use-if ($val is 20000) Tap into a Mystic secret. -> "death" You dare read my code, you arrogant junior?! #show-if ($style is "Midorikatai") use-once Rip the chain right off thanks to Fang's fangs. -> "ch5-escape-chain-rip" Tian Fang's gambit, or wild luck, cut deep into your manacle's enchantment and you can feel a malfunction happening slowly but surely. Chi slowly cycles through your channels and into your natural energy reserves, still disturbed by the manacles enchantment but easier to tap into than before. And those reserves are made of Wild Chi, the essence of refined physical force. You step away from the wall until the chain only has a bit of slack, then step on it so there's none. You step forward twice so you're now pulling //towards// the wall where the chain is secured, using your foot like a pulley to keep the chain's resistance on your wrist instead of on the wall when you pull. That's the brains of your plan, but brains only gets you so far. It's time for the brawn. After summoning up the wisps of Wild Chi coursing through you like water trickling through a leaky roof you tense every muscle in your leg, back, abs, and arms and ''//pull//''. <<var $val 4>>\ #show-if ($style isnot "Midorikatai") use-once Rip the chain off with raw strength. -> "ch5-escape-chain-rip" You lack any advantage, special knowledge, or special circumstance to help you break out of these manacles. What you //do// have is a crippling fever. Breaking the iron bindings with what is essentially an unempowered body is nearly impossible. <<if ($ruthless gte 55)>>\ For weaklings. <<elseif ($honor lt 45)>>\ For losers. <<else>>\ For anyone else. <</if>>\ You grit your teeth, widen your stance, stomp on the chain for leverage, and flex every muscle in your back and arms, taking hold of the chain with determination and an iron grip. Then you ''//pull//''. <<var $val 6>>\ <<if (($bodytype is "Muscular") or ($bodytype is "Dommymommy"))>>\ <<var $val - 1>>\ ''[Bodytype Event: Difficulty Reduced by 1]'' <</if>>\ <<if ($subrace is "Bovine")>>\ <<var $val - 1>>\ ''[Bovine Yokai Event: Difficulty Reduced by 1]'' <</if>>\ #use-once Use your knowledge of craftsmanship to break the lock. -> "ch5-escape-chain-craft" Breaking a lock is no easy task. If even a Lower Disciple like you could do it without chi then locks wouldn't be used, and the other prisoners would have broken out by now. It's going to take more than just brute force to get you out of here, it's going to take smarts. Luckily you're a smart $manwoman. #show-if ($race is "Oni") use-once Attempt to hijack your manacle's handseals. [Requires Oni] Your usual handseals will have no effect here with your chi contained, but plenty of unpowered mortals with no auras use handseals as well by using ambient chi. Your choices are far more limited, but you have to try something. ''[Race Event: Oni]'' Now that you give the manacles a better look, there's something oddly familiar about the enchantment suppressing your chi. You're no blood cultist, but you are an Oni. Even without your spiritual senses there seems to be a kinship within the power of these Soul Treasure manacles. A Fiendish kinship. On an educated guess, you add a different handsign into the mix. Not one of the Zodiac, but a sign with your index and pinky finger up, middle and ring finger curled. <<page "Here goes nothing..." "ch5-escape-oni">>\ <</choose>>

<<if ($craft gte 2)>>\ Unfortunately, that means you know why no one else has been able to break out. Craftsmanship is all about materials and design. The design is easy enough, you need something that can take up the shape of a simple tumbler key slot. The material is more difficult. You'll need something solid but malleable, at least compared to metal. Something you can shove into the key slot and have it warp into the right shape while still being hard enough that it breaks the tumbler at the top when force is applied. The material is available...but it's not going to be fun. You truly are cursed with knowledge, you think to yourself, as you rip out one of your back molars with your bare hands and jam it into the lock root-up before slamming the lock against the stone wall to force the tooth fragments up and into the lock's mechanism, breaking the contraption and popping the lock open. This better be worth it, you think to yourself as you spit blood. ''[Craft 2 Check Passed]'' ''*click*'' Oh yeah. It's worth it. <<include "ch5-escape-chainremoved">>\ <<else>>\ ''[Craft 2 Check Failed]'' You scrape your manacles against the stone floor and walls as quickly as you can to build up stone dust and then spit on it, forming a wet sand that you shove into the lock. You then take your fingernail and push it into the sand, turning to open the lock and...and it doesn't work. The sand just moves your fingernail. It doesn't affect the tumblers further inside the lock at all. "What's all the noise?" Asks a voice from behind. You turn around to see the lone Sunbringer guard outside your cell. "I was-" Another clash of metal can be heard from elsewhere in the prison and the guard screams in annoyance, holding a hand up to you with a heavy glow of red and yellow chi. "I don't have time for this!" A flash of light slams into your face and everything fades to black. <<page "Could this really be the end...?" "ch5-kosuketime">>\ <</if>>\

<<var $combatstat "agility">>\ <<var $combatskill "athletics">>\ <<combatcheck 6>>\ <<if ($passcheck is true)>>\ With a sitting leap you slam your palm into the floor and kick off, tumbling through the prison cell door just before your intangibility effect ends. To onlookers it seems so natural but to you every hundredth of a second is exertion with your life on the line. One quarter of a second later and your body would have been inside the cell doors, likely killing you. Leona gives an excited clap and two thumbs up from inside her cell while Bo just shakes his head in astonishment that you've conquered two of the three obstacles in under five seconds. To him that seems like a mythical success, but you're more practical than that. You know the job's not done yet and there's still the biggest obstacle of them all. <<var $celldone true>>\ <<else>>\ You rise to your feet and dash for the cell door with every ounce of speed and exertion you can push through your weakened body. Faster than an unpowered warrior...but too slow for your goal. The metal bars of the jailcell ring like a bell when you charge into them headfirst, your intangibility already dispersed. Your head bounces off the metal and you tumble backward, stunned, no doubt growing a heavy lump in the near future. "Pffffftttttt." Leona shouts out, covering her mouth with one hand to cover a heavy laugh and rolling on the floor while pointing at you with the other. Bo smiles with vicious vindication until his expression shifts to a frozen look of stupidity, realizing he just lost a good chance to escape from the cell. Much like Bo, you're going to need another plan. <</if>>\ <<include "ch5-escape">>\

<<var $combatstat "power">>\ <<combatcheck $val>>\ <<if ($passcheck is true)>>\ <<if ($style isnot "Midorikatai")>>\ Against all rules of nature your depleted body dominates the strength of iron and snaps the chain near the link secured to your manacles. <<else>>\ A green glow covers your wrists and fingers as you wrench the chain off in a single snap, successfully breaking it near the link attached to your manacles. <</if>>\ Your forehead throbs from effort and your wrists are bruised, yet you did it. Mao's rival Sect working under a demonic blood cultist thought that metal was enough to keep you contained. Pride fills your chest as you break the metal chains and prove them wrong. <<apboost 3>>\ <<page "Continue" "ch5-escape-chainremoved">>\ <<else>>\ You strain and resist against the hardness of iron and the pain that your struggles inflict on your wrists, bruising them to the bone, but you refuse to give up. Then a blood vessel popping in your forehead forces you to give up. <<var $manaclefail + 1>>\ <<aploss 3>>\ <<page "Continue" "ch5-escape-chainfail">>\ <</if>>\

"Hey, what's going on here?!" Shouts a young cat Yokai in Sunbringer garb running by the jailcell windows, head tilted to get a better look at you from above. You look around your cell immediately, pretending to look for whatever he's talking about. "A blood sacrifice is what's going on?" You say as if it were obvious. "I think it's tomorrow though." He gives you a disgruntled stare in return and whistles out into the night air. Several more Sunbringers show up in a blur of white and yellow auras outside the jail. "What is it?" One of the older Sunbringers asks. "We need a bigger patrol," says the cat Yokai, "the prisoners are trying something. I say we keep more stationed in the jailcell. This was a huge security risk." "Good idea." A third says. Shit. Shit, shit, shit! You can't escape with such a large patrol keeping an eye on you! You wrack your brain for plans over the next ten minutes as more and more Sunbringers show up in the jail to inspect the prisoners. You glance to Leona and Bo for hints or clues or any form of assistance, anything at all, but they seem as stumped as you with so many Martial Artists in fighting shape keeping an active eye on them too. "Guards, guards!" You shout in desperation, trying to get one to approach. Maybe you can take a hostage? Those thoughts go out the window when one of them responds by launching an energy blast into your face. <<page "Could this really be the end...?" "ch5-kosuketime">>\

Immediately you catch the chain and lower it gently to the ground so as to not alert any passersby. You're unsure if there are more Sunbringers than you counted inside the jail, or if there are any posting guard outside, but you don't need them alerted to your success. Not until the time is right. <<var $chaindone true>>\ When you turn to Leona and Bo you see Bo staring in absolute disbelief and Leona still seated on the floor, silently laughing at Bo. He shoves her over and scowls at you. "A lucky fluke." He whispers across the hall. "I'll still get out of the cells first." "Are you guys breaking out?" Asks a fellow prisoner one cell over. "Take me with you!" "Hells be damned, Bo," Leona hisses from the floor. "Why not announce it to the whole fucking world." Great. Just great. The barking prisoners have put you on a timer before the guard catches on. Thinking quickly you decide to... <<include "ch5-escape">>\

<<if ($jadedragonfoundation is false)>>\ <<achieve "Escape Artist">>\ <</if>>\ It's then that you gaze upon the rest of the prisoners still locked in their cells. At least two dozen fighting-age men and women, all silent, all staring at the keys in your hand. A small army at your disposal. <<choose "ch5-escape-done2">> #Deliver a speech. You stand at the center of the jail's wide hallway, all eyes on you, and hold your head high in victory. <<if ($persuasion gte 2)>>\ ''[Persuasion 2 Check Passed]'' "People of Ebikowa, you have been imprisoned against your will by a seditious Sect working alongside a blood cultist. They no doubt ambushed you like the cowards they are, but fear not. The $clan Clan and Thunderfall forces have come to put a stop to this. Thunderfall has been hunting these Sunbringers so efficiently that our Master killed theirs, and as the Head of the $clan Clan I have defeated this blood cultist who calls himself 'Master' Taio before. I will defeat him again. The only advantage these Sunbringers have is numbers and chi, yet as you can see..." You motion to the defeated Sunbringer behind you. "They can be defeated even by the bound. With my help, you are not only going to stop this blood sacrifice, and you are not only going to avenge your town. With my help you are going to //reverse// this invasion. We will take from these Sunbringers everything they have brought with them. Their pills, their weapons, their ships, their very lives! Every drop of blood they seized from \ <<if ($ruthless gte 52)>>\ your people \ <<else>>\ the innocent \ <</if>>\ will be \ <<if ($ruthless gte 52)>>\ repaid tenfold, and we will rip it from their hearts! \ <<else>>\ avenged tenfold! \ <</if>>\ Are you with me?" Several of the prisoners start to cheer and bang on their cell doors. "I expect the cheers of warriors!" You stomp on the defeated Sunbringer's back for effect. "I SAID ''ARE YOU WITH ME?!''" The entire jail erupts in contagious \ <<if ($underlings gt 0)>>\ cheer, even your \ <<if ($underlings gte 2)>>\ underlings join \ <<else>>\ underling joins \ <</if>>\ in. <<else>>\ cheer. <</if>>\ You throw the keys to Bo to unlock all the prisoners and march to the front of the jail. <<if ($honor gte 50)>>\ <<var $prestige + 3>>\ <<else>>\ <<var $prestige + 2>>\ <</if>>\ <<var $retainer_morale + 2>>\ <<else>>\ "People of Ebikowa, you've been imprisoned against your will by-" ''[Persuasion 2 Check Failed]'' "Oh for crying out loud, shut up and let us out!" Shouts one of the prisoners. "More of them could be here any second!" Shouts a second. "They've got a point." Bo says. "Fine." You concede, tossing Bo the keys. "Go release the ungrateful bastards." You ignore your irritation and march to the desk at the front of the jail. <</if>>\ #Just let them out. "Bo, take the keys and let them out." You command, tossing him the keyring. "You're all free now \ <<if ($honor lt 50)>>\ and if you listen to me you might make it out of this alive." Bo gives you a look. "You're not planning on recruiting a bunch of peasants are y-" <<else>>\ my power as the $patriarch of the $clan Clan." Bo's face scrunches in disbelief. "It was the Bo Cl-" <<var $prestige + 1>>\ <</if>>\ <<var $prestige + 1>>\ Leona waltzes up fast and slaps Bo //hard//. Hard enough to knock him to the floor. "Silence, retainer! Do as your master says!" Bo grits his teeth from the floor, rubbing his cheek and checking for blood. He stands poised to attack, but instead breathes slowly, reluctantly, and returns to letting prisoners out of their cells. You nod to Leona and march to the desk at the front of the jail. <</choose>>

The time to plan your counterattack has begun. <<var $kosukecombat + 2>>\ <<page "Continue" "ch5-merge-fates">>\

<<choose "ch5-escape-done">> #Finish him off <<var $borep + 2>>\ <<var $ruthless + 2>>\ With a final slam you crunch the steel door into the Sunbringer's head and give him the same fate he wished for you. "YES! YEAH!!" Bo shouts in uncharacteristic cheer. "That's what happens when you mess with Thunderfall!" You get off the Sunbringer and wipe sweat from your brow, then take the keys off the man's belt and release Bo and Leona. #Spare him <<var $ruthless - 2>>\ <<var $honor + 1>>\ <<var $borep - 2>>\ You get off the Sunbringer and wipe sweat from your brow, then take the keys off the man's belt and release Bo and Leona. <</choose>>

Next you're going to need something solid and small. A pebble will do, luckily you can just grab one of those from the ground outside your window. You tie your string around the thumbnail-sized pebble several times and look back to the keyring lying on the guard's desk. <<if ($heshe is "he")>>\ Leona \ <<else>>\ Bo \ <</if>>\ sees you holding such a long string outside your cell, swinging the pebble in circles. \ <<if ($heshe is "he")>>\ She \ <<else>>\ He \ <</if>>\ looks from you to the desk where the keyring is stored and notices you have to throw it //passed// the guard. \ <<if ($heshe is "he")>>\ "Are you seriously going to throw that?" "Yes." Leona whistles low. "He's going to hear the keys fly past him." "Yes." "You're going to have to fight him the second you get out." "Yes." She smiles wide. "You make the best plans." <<var $leonarep + 1>>\ <<else>>\ "The guard's going to hear the key fly by him!" Bo hisses. "Are you out of your mind?!" "Yes." <<var $borep + 2>>\ <<var $honor - 1>>\ Bo stops and takes a step back, as if planning to explain why you were wrong, but he's been thrown off by you admitting the lunacy of your plan. He looks to the floor, brow furrowed, before looking back to you. "...Okay. Don't miss." <</if>>\ In that second, your throw lines up and you release the line, sending your pebble soaring across the jail towards the guard's desk at the far end of the main hall. <<var $combatstat "agility">>\ <<var $combatskill "perception">>\ <<discount "Monkey" 1>>\ <<discount "Trapper" 1>>\ <<combatcheck 7>>\ <<if (($passcheck is true) or ($style is "Aoyusumu"))>>\ <<if ($passcheck is false)>>\ ''[Style Event: Aoyusumu]'' As you see the pebble soar through the air, trailing a 25-foot line of string behind it, you can't help but feel a connection to its trajectory. It's off. The rock will land too far to the left, it needs to correct ever so slightly and it //will//. You feel a familiar sensation as the pebble glows the barest hint of cerulean and your mind feels a deeper control over its trajectory. ''[1 Soul Chi Spent]'' <<var $solsurge + 1>>\ <<else>>\ Against all odds, you succeed. <</if>>\ The pebble passes through the keychain loop, bounces off a tightly rolled scroll, and falls back into the keychain's loop one more time to make a solid wrap. You cannot believe your eyes, skill, or luck. <<var $celldone true>>\ <<var $key true>>\ <<if ($stealth gte 1)>>\ ''[Stealth 1 Check Passed]'' You immediately shush Bo, not even looking to see if he was going to say anything, because trusting him to shut up has so far been a losing strategy. As you look over to your fellow Thunderfaller you see his mouth wide open and fists held in front as if he was about to scream in disbelief, but he sees your signal. It seems you made the right move. With one quick jerk you pull the key soaring through the air towards you and catch it, reducing the amount of metal-on-metal sounds while the lone guard is busy with the others. It feels surreal to be so close to freedom when you push the keys into your cell door and it opens. Now there's just one obstacle to deal with. <<page "Continue" "ch5-escape">>\ <<else>>\ ''[Stealth 1 Check Failed]'' Apparently neither can Bo as he screams "BY THE HEAVENS!" In absolute astonishment. You curse under your breath and yank the string with all your might, sending the keys flying through the air until you catch them and scramble to find the right one and shove it into your cell door's lock. You twist the key and rush out of your cell quickly, immediately locking eyes with the Sunbringer Lower Disciple charging you with a spear. <<var $key true>>\ <<include "ch5-escape-guardfight">>\ <</if>>\ <<else>>\ Your pebble bounces too far to the right and hits the desk. Immediately the guard's head snaps to his desk, sees the line, and follows it over to you. He's outside your cell in the next two seconds. "What the hell do you think you're doing?" He asks. "I can explain-" You say, inching forward to try and strike him through the cell. He immediately leaps back and holds up a glowing hand. The Light from his Technique blasts you in the face and its brilliant light fades to darkness as you fall unconscious. <<var $seared true>>\ <<page "Is this really the end...?" "ch5-kosuketime">>\ <</if>>\

There's only two real ways out of this. Facing the very real threat of a Sunbringer guard, you decide to... <<choose "ch5-escape-guardfight">> #use-if (($key) or ($thievery gte 2)) Stealthily release other prisoners. Any Sunbringers could be within shouting distance and if they have even a shred of talent they could quickly arrive by surging an Agility Core. All your opponent needs to do is call out and your escape is over. That's why you need stealth. If you want to defeat him before he can call for help you're going to need to ambush him with overwhelming force. <<if ($stealth gte 2)>>\ ''[Stealth 2 Check Passed]'' <<var $agiexp + 2>>\ You wait until the moment is right, staying by your cell for seconds longer until the guard moves on to another cell of rowdy prisoners. That's when you sneak out and make your move. <<if ($key is false)>>\ ''[Thievery 2 Check Succeeded]'' <</if>>\ One by one you unlock several of the jail cells around yours, including the cell holding Leona and Bo. By the time the guard notices something is wrong he's bumrushed by a dozen prisoners beating him half to death with metal manacles, the free two-handed weapon supplied by your jailors. Your wrists hurt after giving him a few beatings yourself, but when you're all done you look around and realize you actually did it. You're free. <<page "Continue" "ch5-escape-done">>\ <<else>>\ ''[Stealth 2 Check Failed]'' You wait until the moment is right, sneaking through the shadows and- The moment was not right. The guard's qiang slams into the stone near your head and you leap back in surprise. Before you can even prepare for battle the jail lights up as the guard prepares a Light and Fire energy beam between two hands and releases at you like a whip. The blast connects with your face and your own lights go out. <<page "Is this really the end...?" "ch5-kosuketime">>\ <</if>>\ #Fight him head-on. Any Sunbringers could be within shouting distance and if they have even a shred of talent they could quickly arrive by surging an Agility Core. All your opponent needs to do is call out and your escape is over. You thank the Ancestors he's too arrogant to try that first. You've got one shot to take him out before he realizes he's going to lose. <</choose>>

<<choose "ch5-escape-done">> #Throw sand in his eyes. -> "ch5-escape-finish-him" As the Sunbringer guard, the last obstacle in your way, charges you with his Qiang spear you throw away any sense of honor and focus purely on victory. <<var $honor - 2>>\ That's why you had been scooping together a handful of sand for just this occasion. He closes the gap faster with a surged Agility Core and launches his qiang forward in an attempt to skewer you just as you raise a handful of sand into the air and throw it into his face. <<var $combatstat "agility">>\ <<if ($stealth is 0)>>\ <<var $combatskill "thievery">>\ <<else>>\ <<var $combatskill "stealth">>\ <</if>>\ <<combatcheck 6>>\ <<if ($passcheck is true)>>\ The cloud of dirt and dust lands in time and blinds him to your movements. His spear misses your ribs by half an inch and your foot trips him in his charge, knocking him to the ground. They may have sealed your chi, but they haven't sealed your Martial Arts. Before he can land you spin and kick him into the side of your jailcell's door, then leap onto his back and open the unlocked cell to quickly close it on his head. Then you slam the steel door on his head again. And again. And again. Finally he stops struggling and his aura of yellow and red dissipates. You've won. <<include "ch5-escape-done">>\ <<else>>\ He misses you with the blade of the spear and you go to trip him, not seeing his fist coming out of the cloud of dirt. With his speed tripled the blow strikes you hard enough to send you barreling down the jail's central hallway and into an opposing stone wall. Luckily you lose consciousness before hitting the wall, a small mercy. <<page "Is this really the end...?" "ch5-kosuketime">>\ <</if>>\ #Break the spear with your manacles. As he charges you with his spear you tense your legs, loosen your elbows, and prepare your shoulders. You only get one shot at this as the Sunbringer surges an Agility Core to move at triple speed as he tries to run you through. The second his blade gets within striking distance you loop your manacles over the top and drop to one knee, narrowly avoiding your throat being slit when his qiang stabs over your shoulder. With all your might you pull the manacles down with you as you drop to the ground, the spear caught between your metal manacles and sturdy shoulder. <<var $combatstat "power">>\ <<var $combatskill "athletics">>\ <<combatcheck 6>>\ <<if ($passcheck is true)>>\ <<var $borep + 2>>\ His qiang snaps in half and the man tumbles to the ground, tripping over you and colliding into his own large spearhead chest-first. His supernaturally enhanced speed causes him to tumble several times before coming to a stop with his own blade sticking out of his heart. You wipe sweat from your brow and can barely believe you made it, but you did. You take a single calming breath and rise, seizing the keys off the guard's belt and releasing Bo and Leona. <<include "ch5-escape-done">>\ <<else>>\ It doesn't break. You stand quickly and drop again, trying to break it one more time. It doesn't break then either. The Sunbringer holding the spear looks upon you with impatience as he takes his hand off the spear, illuminates it in a white-yellow glow, and blasts your face with enough force to knock you to the other side of the jail. You thankfully lose consciousness before your back slams into the stone wall. <<page "Is this really the end...?" "ch5-kosuketime">>\ <</if>>\ #use-if ($key is true) Throw your keys to Leona. You're not stupid enough to bet your success on a duel without chi. Before the enemy Martial Artist closes the gap with his qiang you toss your keys to Leona and brace for impact. <<var $combatstat "fortitude">>\ <<var $combatskill "perception">>\ <<combatcheck 5>>\ <<if ($passcheck is true)>>\ <<var $borep + 2>>\ You slam both arms down on his qiang the second he was about to cut you and lift yourself. Rather than skewer you with his fast movement the man simply pushes you away. He raises the qiang into the air and takes you with it, about to slam you into a stone wall, when Leona jumps on his back and starts biting his ear off. "AAHHHH!!!" The man screams as her teeth find purchase and she rips her head back, taking the ear with it. "I want the other one!" Leona screams into his remaining ear, his blood dripping from her mouth. "I WANT THE OTHER ONE!!" The Sunbringer panics and abandons his heavy qiang holding you up, using both hands to grab Leona by the hair and throw her over his shoulder at you. Before he can recover Bo slams him in the back of the head with his manacles. The man drops to one knee until you and Leona surround him, all three of you stomping on the Sunbringer until he stops moving. You gasp for air from the exertion, catching your breath. You actually did it. You're free. <<include "ch5-escape-done">>\ <<else>>\ You slam both arms down on the Sunbringer's qiang the second he was about to cut you. It doesn't have any affect on his momentum, so he does cut you. That's quite a bit of blood, you note, as the fever, exertion, and blood loss begin to add up. Your vision blurs as you look back to the Sunbringer blast your thrown keys out of the air. The last thing you see before falling unconscious is his boot closing in on your face. <<page "Is this really the end...?" "ch5-kosuketime">>\ <</if>>\ <</choose>>

<<if ($thievery gte $val)>>\ ''[Thievery $val Check Passed]'' <<var $agiexp + 2>>\ You press \ <<if ($val is 2)>>\ your makeshift lockpick \ <<else>>\ some muddied sticks you found on the ground outside your window \ <</if>>\ into the lock and even you're surprised by how smoothly the tumblers bob up and down, answering your skilled fingers with rapt attention. You slide them into their respective slots until they each click into place at once, then grip your tool and twist. ''*click*'' <<var $celldone true>>\ The door swings open. Another obstacle down. Leona stops hailing the guard over, abandoning her plan instead clapping at your success. "Not bad at all!" She exclaims. "Someone's been arrested before." "Yeah, for being a filthy Laborer //criminal!//" Bo hisses, leaning towards you and squinting in jealousy at your success. "Wow." Leona says. "You really want $himher to leave you here." Bo freezes, your situation suddenly becoming more apparent. "Uh...no." You ignore the pair, there's still one issue for you to deal with before any of you can think about freedom. <<var $val 0>>\ <<include "ch5-escape">>\ <<else>>\ ''[Thievery $val Check Failed]'' You press \ <<if ($val is 2)>>\ your makeshift lockpick \ <<else>>\ some muddied sticks you found on the ground outside the window \ <</if>>\ into the lock and curse constantly as you fail to get a solid grip on the tumblers. You can't even feel the vibrations through your makeshift tool to know if you're doing it right. Eventually the <<if ($val is 2)>>\ threads tear and the lockpick shreds to pieces inside of the lock, securing your fate. <<else>>\ sticks break and the muddied bits of wood get stuck inside the lock, securing your fate. <</if>>\ <<var $val 0>>\ <<page "Continue" "ch5-escape-cellfail">>\ <</if>>\

To your shock, the ambient chi around you responds and twitches as it does when casting any other handsign. <<apboost 4>>\ <<if ($handseals gte 2)>>\ ''[Handseals 2 Check Passed]'' <<var $solexp + 2>>\ Your handsigns pull enough ambient chi from the surroundings and force their instruction upon the manacles. Recognizing the manacles as a Soul Treasure you reverse its built-in effect for just a moment to send chi out instead of sucking it in. Using the sign of the Horse and the sign of the Rabbit you direct the location and speed, shoving all the contained chi within to the base of the manacles where a small explosion of natural energy bursts the chain's lock right off. <<include "ch5-escape-chainremoved">>\ <<else>>\ ''[Handseals 2 Check Failed]'' But despite the interesting addition of a new sign you end up trying dozens of zodiac finger formations before you give up on the plan. The ambient chi doesn't respond well enough and even when it does, it has no effect on the manacles themselves. <<page "Continue" "ch5-escape-chainfail">>\ <</if>>\

<<choose "ch5-escape">> #Hell yeah. <<var $ruthless + 1>>\ "Guard! Guard, spider bite!" You shout to the Sunbringer trying to keep other shouting prisoners in check down the hall. "Why should I care?" Replies the enemy Martial Artist without looking. "It's a blue bird-spider! If I don't get medicine I'll die before Taio can come back for more questioning! Worse, it's still in here!" The enemy Martial Artist grunts angrily and stabs his qiang into the cell he's at, eliciting a scream. "You're going to wish you were dead if you're lying. Let me see the bite." You hold your hand out of your cage on the left side, using your body to block the torchlight so your shiv hides in shadow on your right. The Sunbringer walks even closer and grabs your wrist, squinting to look for the wound. "I don't see any-" <<var $combatstat "power">>\ <<discount "Agile" 1>>\ <<discount "Legs" 1>>\ <<combatcheck 5>>\ <<if ($passcheck is true)>>\ As he stares at your arm, you jerk your other hand through the bars and up into his head with all the force you can muster. The shiv in your grip jams under his jaw so hard that it penetrates through the bottom of his mouth, the roof of his mouth, and into his brain. The man dies on the spot and crumbles to the ground. "Eeeeeeh!" Leona squeals with joy. "I knew you could do it!" "Shut up!" Bo hisses at her. "Don't alert more guards!" As the two bicker you grab the keys off the guard then quickly unlock your cell and step out, scanning for more guards. As impossible as it may sound, it looks as though you're free. <<page "Continue" "ch5-escape-done">>\ <<else>>\ As he stares at your arm, you jerk your other hand holding the shiv through the bars with all the strength you can muster, aiming for his head. Panic rushes through your mind when he grabs your wrist. "Oh we have a very, very big problem here." The Sunbringer says, eyeing your shiv. "I told you you'd regret this!" He twists your wrist so hard that it feels it will break, ripping the shiv from your grip. Your body is forced into a twist to avoid breaking your arm, and in that movement your lower jaw is exposed. His fist slams down on your head with enough force to knock the lights out of you. Your body crumples to the ground, falling unconscious. <<var $cagefail + 1>>\ <<page "Is this really the end...?" "ch5-kosuketime">>\ <</if>>\ #Hell no. <<var $ruthless - 2>>\ Thinking better of it, you consider different options first. <</choose>>

The man seems too busy with his own despair to get curious. He pays you no mind as he keeps going without another thought for you, hauling the cart of goods down to the dock. "Wow." Says a voice from the shadows of the closest destroyed building across an alley from the prison. "Just wow." Out steps another Oni, \ <<if ($race is "Oni")>>\ Yoji for sure this time. \ <<else>>\ Yoji...you think. \ <</if>>\ "Boys, I think we have an Oni-hater on our hands, thinking us Oni all look the same." You groan from within the cell. "Can we not do this? \ <<if ($race is "Oni")>>\ We're both Oni, it was just a mistake." "Oh just a //mistake// huh? I've met betrayers like you before, selling out our people to fit in with the Humans or the Lunargoths." <<else>>\ He just looked like you, okay?" <</if>>\ "Oh, he //looked like// me?" "I am //literally// trapped in a demon cult's blood sacrifice prison. Can we do this bit later?" You pinch the bridge of your nose to hold down your frustration. Are these the kind of gimmicks Guiren has to deal with all the time? Poor guy. Yoji crouches low to your window and grimaces. "What are you \ <<if ($race isnot "Oni")>>\ saying, \ <<if ($race is "Kitsune")>>\ Yokai? \ <<else>>\ $race? \ <</if>>\ <<else>>\ saying? \ <</if>>\ That I somehow have anything to do with a demonic blood cult? Why? Because I must be guilty for my ancestry?" <<if ($race is "Oni")>>\ You grab him by the shoulders and pull him against the cage. "I have the same ancestry, jackass! We're both Oni! Open the cage!" <<else>>\ "Oh for the love of the \ <<if ($ruthless lt 50)>>\ Ancestors. I'm sorry okay?" <<else>>\ Ancestors." You might rather die than keep going through this. <</if>>\ <</if>>\ "Relax, relax!" Yoji says, pulling out a pair of keys. "I'm just having some fun like I would with Guiren. You give off the impression of a leader, consider it a compliment." <<if ($ruthless gte 53)>>\ "I don't know how he doesn't kill you for it." \ <<else>>\ "I don't know how he puts up with it." \ <</if>>\ You say as Yoji tosses you the key. "Eh, it goes both ways." One of Guiren's human underlings says, stepping out of the shadows. "We deal with a lot of bleak jobs, and having all-powerful boss makes it easier to see our leader as one of the regular guys. Someone we can be ourselves around. It's just that..." "Your regular selves are assholes." You finish his thought. Both nod in agreement. Yoji looks around your cell from the window. "We're on Guiren's orders to rob the place blind, but where's Guiren? We had to go find a key for his cell and he got out himself? The nerve of some people." You shake your head. "They took him to a mansion up the hill where they \ <<if (($leonatortured is 0) and ($botortured is 0))>>\ threatened to torture \ <<else>>\ tortured \ <</if>>\ me first." The Human shivers. "That place has a menacing aura. Good luck getting him back, that's above our paygrade." <<choose "ch5-escape-wrongoni2">> #"Leave it to me." <<var $honor + 1>>\ <<var $powexp + 1>>\ You turn your vision to see if you can view the torture mansion at the edge of town where Guiren's being held. Getting him out of there will be hard but his lackeys might not be up to the task. That leaves the burden on you. "Leave it to me." You say resolutely until you see they've already 'disappeared', though now \ #"You guys are useless." <<var $honor - 1>>\ <<var $agiexp + 1>>\ <<var $guirenrep + 1>>\ "You guys are useless." You say to the duo refusing to help you fight. "We know." One of the humans says as both meld back into the shadows and 'disappear'. Now \ <</choose>>

that you're closer you can see them crouching and walking around in the building's shadow across the street. It makes for a poor exit. With them gone you pick up the key that Yoji left you and open your cell door. Leona stops waving for the guard and looks to the key in your hands with rapidly growing amusement as Bo looks at your success in disbelief. <<var $key true>>\ <<var $celldone true>>\ You still have one obstacle to deal with however... <<include "ch5-escape">>\

In the background Bo pummels his opponent into unconsciousness \ <<if ($kosukecombat gte 6)>>\ and Kosuke surprisingly defeats $bffhisher target as well through the questionable use of a cargo crate as a melee weapon, stabbing the Sunbringer with broken shards of wood in the chaotic splinter storm caused when $bffheshe broke the crate over the Sunbringer's head. <<else>>\ but Kosuke struggles with $bffhisher own opponent, wrestling on the ground and trading nasty elbows until Bo has time to assist and stomp on the Sunbringer's head. <</if>>\

<div class="fightingfont">Thunderfaller $name vs Taio the Scholar</div>\ <div class="fightingfont">Victory!</div>\ <<if (((dig($mettaio, 3) is 0)) and ($jadedragonfoundation is false))>>\ <<achieve "Another One Bites the Dust">>\ <</if>>\ <<var $fighting false>>\ <<statcheck>>\ <<var $prestige + 2>>\ <<fightexp 10>>\ <<if ((dig($mettaio, 3) is 1) or ($fiendish))>>\ The last dregs of your active demonic power are consumed in your final attack, you can only hope the others don't notice. <<if (dig($mettaio, 3) is 1)>>\ You're not entirely sure what happened yourself. One moment you were dying and the next you were beating Taio to death. Was your vision real, or just a lucid fever dream? Was the power from your Fuel Foundation using the Demonic Gate around you, or from shards of Taio's soul within? Neither bodes well. <</if>>\ <<if ($yokaitrait1 is "demon tail")>>\ //!!!// An odd sensation runs up your spine and you realize your new tail isn't going away. Thankfully it's prehensile enough and you kept your back to everyone for the fight; you loop it into your pants from behind and pray no one caught a glimpse. <</if>>\ <<page "Continue" "ch5-fightover2">>\ <<else>>\ <<include "ch5-fightover2">>\ <</if>>\

Angelo joins in with an approving applause. Cerulean sparks fly around him as his Sacred Chi forms a hundred tiny barriers that collide into themselves, forming the sound of fifty more applauding hands. "Well done!" He cheers. "You had me worried for a minute there, what with being impaled by the condensed corrupting energies of a Demonic Gate. Quite damaging to the spirit, you'll want to see a healer." You stare at him without expression. He smiles innocently. "I am sure you are wondering why I didn't assist with that." You stare at him without expression. His smile holds firm. "To be honest, I felt confident you had it under control, and there were many innocent lives to consider, so in the grand scheme of things-" You stare at him without expression. His smile holds firm. "I...Any damage to the soul from such an unprecedented affliction can likely be healed, there are worse things in the..." You stare at him without expression. His smile falters. "...You are correct." He gives a gentle bow. "I am sorry, <<cap $name>>. My overconfidence in the battle pained you dearly. I swear make it up to you, hopefully without gratuitous violence, but that is not off the table." <<choose "ch5-angelo-shrieker">> #"Deal." "Deal." You reply. "That was quite fast." Angelo replies in concern. "Are you s-" "Hey, you sat by and let me get impaled by the wailing screams of a thousand lost souls. Now you owe my enemies one of those through-a-building kicks. Fair's fair." Angelo looks off in the distance and tilts his head in resignation. "That absolution is difficult to argue, fair //is// fair." #"I'm just giving you a hard time, it was my fight." "I'm just giving you a hard time," You reply. "It was my fight." <<var $honor + 2>>\ Angelo lets out a heavy exhale. "Thank goodness, I was worried you would hold that against me. I truly didn't expect him to control an entire Gate's energies, let alone wield them as a weapon. My apologies again." "Quit being weird, big guy." Kosuke says, waltzing by with a sack of other people's possessions over $bffhisher shoulder. "If $heshe says you're good then you're good." #"I'm just giving you a hard time, no one else helped either. Lazy louts." <<var $honor - 2>>\ "I'm just giving you a hard time," you reply, "no one else helped either. Lazy louts." Angelo laughs nervously. "Yes, that does alleviate some guilt in that it's a shared sin. Though I do believe that makes it worse." "Quit being weird, big guy." Kosuke says, waltzing by with a sack of other people's possessions over $bffhisher shoulder. "If $heshe says you're good then you're good." #"Stand by while I'm ambushed like that again and I will set your hair on fire while you sleep." <<var $angelorep - 2>>\ <<var $leonarep + 3>>\ <<var $ruthless + 2>>\ You look him in the eyes and narrow your own. "Stand by while I'm ambushed like that again and I will set your hair on fire while you sleep." Angelo nods along attentively, growing mildly concerned with the levels of sincerity showing on your face. "Duly noted." #show-if ($heshe is "she") "Hmm...What else isn't off the table?" -> "ch5-tease-angelo" <<var $angelorep + 3>>\ <<var $angeloromance + 1>>\ "Hmm..." You place one finger on your pursed lips in pondering. "What else isn't off the table?" His mouth opens but nothing comes out, for once having nothing to say. In a rare occurence you've actually caught the powerful man off-guard. <</choose>>

don't look at explosions." You reply while walking past the crowd. Taio's remaining energy vanishes into the ether without even earning your notice. <<var $leonarep + 1>>\ <<var $fangrep + 2>>\ "Ooooooh!" Tian Fang and Kosuke both holler at once. "I must write that down!" Fang says, somehow withdrawing a clean scroll from her bloodied battlerobes. She begins to scribble but gets interrupted by $txt "What, what is this?!" Tian Fang shouts out while covering both of her sensitive ears, her wolves barking around her. <<include "ch5-fightover-insight">>\

<<if ($insight gte 2)>>\ ''[Insight 2 Check Passed]'' <<var $solexp + 2>>\ You close your eyes and send a pulse of your \ <<if ($style is "Akakiru")>>\ Bladed \ <<elseif ($style is "Aoyusumu")>>\ Sacred \ <<elseif ($style is "Kiihakai")>>\ Mystic \ <<elseif ($style is "Kurokonton")>>\ Cursed \ <<elseif ($style is "Midorikatai")>>\ Wild \ <</if>>\ Chi deep into the town, trying to spiritually scan such a large distance, and you feel it. Your scan brushes against something that gives the impression of a towering wall of a single wide bone, as if the creature's very soul was a collection of Death. And you realize you were holding your breath when you finally exhale in relief, sensing that it's heading away from you all. "It's nothing good." You reply. "But it's leaving. We should too." No one disagrees. <<else>>\ ''[Insight 2 Check Failed]'' You try to reach out your senses to discern what type of horror was just unleashed and can't sense anything, the chi of your spiritual scan not extending beyond the docks. "It's not good." Leona \ <<if ($style is "Akakiru")>>\ says from below, \ <<else>>\ says, \ <</if>>\ her eyes closed in concentration, "but it's heading away from us, fast." All villagers around you stop holding their breath at once, but you still know it's time to leave. "Everyone gather around!" You shout, collecting the large assembly by the ships that weren't damaged in the fight. <</if>>\ <<page "Continue" "ch5-askships">>\

Desdemona's disciples join in, their robes and gi in tatters, while she only rolls her eyes and nurses a bruised and bleeding cheek with a rag while you approach. "Looks like the worst is behind us. How does it feel to be an entire town's hero?" <<choose "ch5-dessy-ear-piercing">> #"Feels good." "Feels good." You admit. Desdemona smiles wryly, an unusual expression on her \ <<if ($heshe is "he")>>\ lips. \ <<else>>\ face. \ <</if>>\ "Well don't get used to it, my disciples and I aren't fond of being in debt. If we're to truly be allies you'll have to get in trouble so we can save you back." <<if ($heshe is "he")>>\ "Good luck with that, I haven't been in trouble since-" "Earlier this evening?" Desdemona asks, lifting up a finger holding an open pair of Binder's Bands. <<var $desrep + 1>>\ "Well played." \ <<else>>\ "I only promise to try." \ <</if>>\ You reply just before an \ #"You tell me, you kept them alive while I fought." "You tell me, you kept them alive while I fought." <<var $desrep + 4>>\ <<if (($heshe is "he") and ($bodytype isnot "Manlet"))>>\ <<var $desromance + 1>>\ <</if>>\ "Choosing the modest route are we?" Desdemona's lips nearly give a genuine smile, and her eyes actually do. "Well I wouldn't. Our alliance has been a lifesaving choice for me and my disciples. I should be seething with jealousy and you should be proud. And...I'm \ <<if ($heshe is "he")>>\ thankful we met." <<else>>\ thankful for your help." <</if>>\ "Lady Desdemona!" Shouts Li Moon, the girl in glasses. "You cannot be speaking as if you are equals with a mere beginner in the Mystic Arts!" Desdemona doesn't turn around, instead she closes her eyes in irritation, her upper lip curling as she addresses her disciple. "Li Moon, ensure you receive five lashes before we reach Nanhou." "Y-Yes Lady Desdemona." The meek disciple replies just as an \ #"I was killing the man who wronged me, everyone else was fortunate to be in my wake." <<var $desrep - 3>>\ <<var $ruthless + 3>>\ <<var $honor + 2>>\ <<var $powexp + 2>>\ "I was killing the man who wronged me, everyone else was fortunate to be in my wake." The applause from Desdemona's disciples slows to a silence as they stare uneasily at your serious demeanor. The only exception is Li Sun who nods in approval. "Wow." Desdemona replies with a distinct frown. "Most people would say 'you're welcome' and leave it at that." "I am not most people." You walk past the cheering crowd, ignoring their unnecessary praise and instead keep your focus on the remaining ships behind them. An \ <</choose>>

<<if ($heshe is "he")>>\ Guiren's men, beaten and battered, join in and Guiren himself even joins in reluctantly. \ <<else>>\ Guiren joins in, smacking his beaten and battered men to get them to cheer louder. \ <</if>>\ "That was one hell of a show, looks like you take the glory this time." Guiren says, pulling you through the crowd before whispering close. "Did you use the Talisman?" <<choose "ch5-fightover-kuro2">> #use-if ($talisman is true) "I did, it was incredible." <<var $metguiren + 1000000>>\ "Yes, it was...incredible." You admit, having stolen power from Taio directly and mastered his bizarre Technique from outside of your Path //permanently//. "I can't believe something like that exists." "//Did// exist." Guiren corrects with a prolonged sigh. "Even the opportunity to earn The Boss's tokens is incredibly rare. Hopefully he doesn't find out I used both in one day." "What exactly is The Boss if he's able to do that?" "You mean what kind of entity can hand out Transformations and Advancement?" Guiren's eyes lose the merriment he had a moment ago upon your victory. He looks back to his men who are still cheering, some even chestbumping, then looks back to you with concern. "I don't know." <<var $val 0>>\ His demeanor unsettles you but it's thrown off \ #use-if ($talisman is false) I did, sorry." [Lie] "I did use the Talisman, sorry." You lie to your Guiren's face. There's no way you're handing back this mysterious power, whatever it is, when you can probably sell it for a fortune or use it in an emergency. <<if ((($deception gte 2) and ($stealth gte 2)) and ($handseals gte 2))>>\ <<var $metguiren + 3000000>>\ <<else>>\ <<var $metguiren + 4000000>>\ <</if>>\ <<var $bosstalisman 1>>\ "Damn." Guiren says, biting a knuckle and looking off to the side. "The Boss will have my head, but at least we made it out alive. Did the bald guy have anything good on him?" "He exploded into mist." You reply sourly. Guiren sighs. "Any good Soul Treasures before that?" "A few Blood Marbles that contained Techniques, which also dissolved into mist." "Can't say I'm fond of mist right now." Guiren replies. You couldn't agree more. <<var $val 1>>\ Suddenly the conversation is interrupted \ #use-if ($talisman is false) No, didn't need it. <<var $metguiren + 2000000>>\ <<var $honor + 3>>\ <<var $agiexp + 2>>\ "No, didn't need it." "Excuse Me?" Guiren asks in doubt. "You didn't need it?" "...Yes?" He squints into your eyes for several seconds before breaking out into an exaggerated impression of you. "How. Fucking. Dare you. We were going to be even and then you go and kill him on your own? Now I look like a piece of shit for not helping! in front of my men!" "...." Guiren stops mid-rant, his hand raised in irritation. "I uh..." His arm doesn't move but his expression does. "I mean thanks. The Boss would honestly have my head if I used both his Talismans in one mission. Also thanks for, you know, killing that guy." "You're welcome." You reply with a disapproving shake of the head, tossing the Talisman back to him. Well, over his head at least. He reaches out off the dock to catch it and only avoids falling in thanks to his tail wrapping around a pole. You unwind it and push him the rest of the way. <<var $val 898>>\ The laughter broken out by the crowd around you is interrupted \ <</choose>>

by an ear-piercing shriek coming from deep in Ebikowa, near the graveyard. The crowd around you silences immediately. "Yoji," Guiren says quietly, "You're the best sensor on the team, what is that?" Yoji closes his eyes and senses out, his red Oni skin nearly paling to a Human shade. "I don't know, but it's heading..." He tenses his closed eyes, focusing. "away from us. Fast." Everyone around you lets out their held breath at once. "Let's get out of here anyway." Guiren says. You couldn't agree more. <<page "Continue" "ch5-askships">>\

Tian Fang and her wolves howl to join in on the revelry. As you approach she rises from all fours with a wide carefree smile, her hair a mess and skin covered in claw marks. "You've done it! A complete victory, absolutely and assuredly devastating!" She seems giddy with excitement, jumping up and pointing behind you. "Why do you not gloat? Gaze upon the dissipating mist that was once the man who thought himself your greater, and laugh at him!" <<var $txt "an ear-piercing inhuman shriek coming from deep in Ebikowa, near the graveyard.">>\ You consider her offer as the crowd cheers around you, the scattered remains of the demonic chi that had held Taio's clone together dissolving in the air behind you. <<choose "ch5-fightover-insight">> #[Turn around and laugh] You inhale quickly through your nose, taking in the heavy salt water. "Yeah." You reply with a relieved smile. "Why not." With a quick turn you move back through the crowd and look into the sky around you where the crimson demonic chi that held Taio's clone together is losing its form and dissolving to nothing. "I BEAT YOU!" You shout out into the air "I BEAT YOU ''//AGAIN//''!" You start to laugh, taking in the empowerment of your own words. People even clap behind you but you ignore it, this is for you. "AND IF YOU EVER SHOW YOUR FACE AROUND ME I'LL BEAT YOU A THIRD TIME AND A FOURTH! I'LL ALWAYS BEAT YOU BECAUSE-" <<if ($honor lt 50)>>\ ''[Honor Check Failed]'' <<var $honor - 1>>\ <<var $fangrep + 1>>\ You puff out your chest and throw both arms wide open, "-BECAUSE I'M AT THE TOP OF THE WORLD!!" <<else>>\ ''[Honor Check Passed]'' <<var $honor + 1>>\ <<var $fangrep + 4>>\ You pull both hands in a horse stance and scream up to the Heavens. "-BECAUSE I AM <<capall $fullname>>!" <</if>>\ "YEAH!!" Screams Kosuke behind you and the crowd joins in. You turn around to see Tian Fang clapping merrily, her wolves howling around her. She was right, actually, that did feel good. The feeling drops immediately when you hear $txt "What, what is this?!" Tian Fang shouts out while covering both of her sensitive ears, her wolves barking around her. #"I'll gloat when I find the real Taio and introduce him to his Clones in Hell." "I'll gloat when I find the real Taio and introduce him to his Clones in Hell." You reply, walking past her to prepare for departure. Her ears flop down in disappointment and her tail stops wagging. Her wolves close their mouths when they realize the revelry is over. They're right to, you know it. There's no reason to celebrate just yet. This being the second time you've run into a clone of the same man has given you the sense that you're not done with Taio or the problems he causes. "Come on, it's time to go." You walk past her and the crowd of villagers to look upon the vessels that survived the fight, massive structures bigger than most buildings. Riverboats have never been bigger than a small cabin's floor, are sea ships really supposed to be this big? The answer to your question is cutoff by $txt "What, what is this?!" Tian Fang shouts out while covering both of her sensitive ears, her wolves barking around her. #show-if ($heshe is "he") "Cool guys don't look at explosions." -> "ch5-fightover-dontlook" "Cool guys \ #show-if ($heshe is "she") "Cool girls don't look at explosions." -> "ch5-fightover-dontlook" "Cool girls \ <</choose>>

The freed Ebikowan captives look around in wonder as it dawns on them that their living nightmare has come to an end. They're finally safe. With all of the Fiends converted to power for Taio and Taio himself destroyed at your hand, several of them come out of their battle shock and begin to laugh, scream, and cheer. Many turn to each other in tight embraces, others beat their weapons into the ground and chant your name as you return from your fight and meet up with the others. <<if ($style is "Akakiru")>>\ Leona isn't among them. Concern grows in the back of your mind after thinking of all her injuries, but you calm down when you spot her in the water. It seems she's snuck off to steal all the swords of the fallen while no one is looking, only stopping to glare at Kosuke for already doing the same. An inhuman scream interrupts the cheers as it echoes from the Ebikowa graveyard. Silence falls over the crowd. "What the Hells is that?" Bo asks quietly. <<include "ch5-fightover-insight">>\ <<elseif ($style is "Aoyusumu")>>\ <<include "ch5-fightover-aoyu">>\ <<elseif ($style is "Kiihakai")>>\ <<include "ch5-fightover-kii">>\ <<elseif ($style is "Kurokonton")>>\ <<include "ch5-fightover-kuro">>\ <<elseif ($style is "Midorikatai")>>\ <<include "ch5-fightover-mido">>\ <</if>>\

<<choose "ch5-fightover">> #"Not for a thousand years." <<var $honor + 1>>\ #"You and every other Taio." <<var $ruthless + 1>>\ #"Clones don't get an afterlife." <<var $honor - 1>>\ #[Ignore him] <<var $ruthless - 2>>\ <</choose>>

From an aerial view you become a green shooting star, exploding from the docks all the way to the seawall that holds up the coastal streets and warehouses above. Wood and sand erupts outward like waves of water on both sides of your path. <<spendall 2 true>>\ One final leap launches you horizontally at the wall, trusting your own speed and force to be more damaging than gravity could ever be. "SAY GOODBYE, TAIO!" "NEVER!" He screams, manifesting flame-like crimson chi all around him, but his Technique is crushed by the overwhelming force of your Wild aura surging all around you both. Thick stone caves inward with a deafeningly low explosion. A crater forms vertically as you both collide into the seawall in a meteoric neckbreaker, your legs colliding into the rock with Taio's head pulled backward over your shoulder. His gasp is cut off mid-way when his spine snaps in half against your hardened body and his head comes with it. An explosion of crimson and black chi disperses to mist all around you as Taio's form tears apart at the seams. In the physical detonation of your maneuver, the corrupted Clone Technique that sustained the monster all these years finally comes to an end. <<var $stylerank + 1>>\ <<var $spiritbrandcolor "green">>\ ''[Midorikatai Mastery Improved to "Adept"]'' <<page "Continue" "ch5-fightover">>\

Snatching one of the rare katanas from the top weapon rack fills you with \ <<if ($race is "Human")>>\ <<var $forexp + 2>>\ <<if (($craft lt 2) and ($equippedweapon is "Katana"))>>\ <<var $itemkatana + 20000>>\ <</if>>\ a deep sense of ancenstral pride. The Katana has served to distinguish Zenshin warriors from their Cathayan progenitors for the last three millennia since the founding of Imperial Rasen. Battle after battle it was the katana that brought the Zenshin ways to rule over and protect Imperial Rasen from the domestic Beasts, western pirates, northern snow demons, and eastern desert-dwellers across the sea. Against all threats, civilized Humanity turns to the katana. Now it's your turn. \ <<elseif ($race is "Lunargoth")>>\ <<var $solexp + 1>>\ a curious feeling. This kind of blade represented the native population of this world for millennia before your people arrived, and now you hold it in your hands as if to accept their ways as your own. It's an oddly fitting sensation. If Mother's history lessons were any indication, the arriving Goths were never too stubborn to resist a new concept if it was a good one. And oh Ancestors, does this sword feel good. <<else>>\ a sense of security. Finally, a //real// weapon. You draw it quickly several times to feel its weight and speed and could not be happier with the results. It glides through the air like a graceful reaper of death. <</if>>\ <<if $equippedweapon is "Muramasa">>\ ''[Item Gained: Muramasa, the Cursed Blade]'' ''[Equipped to Weapon slot]'' As you grip the handle of the magnificent black blade before you, you suddenly feel something wrong. A second aura shoves against your own from within the hilt. A cursed blade. Your face contorts with anger immediately. //Another// obstacle? "No." You command the blade in absolution. You've had enough of obstacles today. Several prisoners leap away from you in surprise and fear as your body glows \ <<if ($style is "Akakiru")>>\ scarlet, pulling on the Bladed Chi of your recovering spirit. The floor, walls, and ceiling form small cuts as invisible slashes fly all around you \ <<elseif ($style is "Aoyusumu")>>\ in a cerulean forcefield, your aura pushing back every prisoner and weapon rack around you \ <<elseif ($style is "Kurokonton")>>\ purple with thrumming Cursed Chi, its entropic hunger stretching out all around you \ <<elseif ($style is "Kiihakai")>>\ golden, surging with wave after wave of potent life energy \ <<elseif ($style is "Midorikatai")>>\ green with the heavy pressure of Wild Chi, your spirit roaring to life \ <</if>>\ until you take that power under control and focus all of it into your dominant arm, ''shoving'' all your chi into the blade until it can't take anymore. <<var $combatstat "power">>\ <<combatcheck 6>>\ <<if ($passcheck is true)>>\ The blade submits immediately, its dominating power crushed by a superior pressure. You know cursed Blades are dangerous objects, influencing their wielder in mysterious ways, but you have no time or patience for such theatrics. If this blade wishes to contest your authority then it only endangers itself, not you. With a solid grip and a silent threat \ <<else>>\ ''[1 Chi Spent]'' <<var $chispent + 1>>\ <<var $taint + 5>>\ With a surge of power you envelope the cursed sword's aura in your own energy and keep it contained, for now. With the blade temporarily placated \ <</if>>\ you feel a well of power inside the Soul Treasure of a weapon and realize the bounty you've come across: all the power the cursed blade has ever stolen, now at your fingertips. ''[Muramasa adds +1 Power to its wielder.]'' <<page "Continue" "ch5-lost-weaponchoices2">>\ <<else>>\ You \ <<include "ch5-lost-weaponchoices2">>\ <</if>>\

<<if ($val is 5678)>>\ "It all started when I robbed the Thunderfall Sect." Kosuke says, looking through the armory for a weapon while $bffheshe talks. "It was the chance of the lifetime with everyone gone so I took what I could and got out of town for good, sold and cycled what I could manage, and then shit my pants when Mao's caravan turned around and almost caught me. \ <</if>>\ I was stowing away under a random wagon and they still tracked me. Shows how much I know about cultivation. Spiritual senses are going to make crime harder with an aura. I fled to the north and Jack sicked Bo on me. Sold off all the goods while the bastard followed me through four towns, a week of wilderness, and two close calls where he hit my tavern room with an energy blast. Imagine my surprise when he finally catches me at the Ebikowa docks only for the old Sunbringers to arrive and start killing everyone." Kosuke chuckles softly as if remembering a fond memory but it sounds forced. "What a day. Luckily I keep a pair of fake manacles on me so I slipped them on and pretended to be a slave. Nobody kills free labor. Sunbringers had me carrying cargo while dragging Bo off." <<cap $bffheshe>> turns to Bo. "It's a little trick called smarts, Bo. Which is why //I// was able to drop a crate of Soul Treasure marbles near the docks fifteen minutes ago to make an escape distraction while //you// have been uselessly giving blood donations." <<cap $bffheshe>> spits on Bo. "That's for trying to kill me. Loser." You notice minor lacerations on Kosuke's shoulder and realize $bffheshe really was the 'slave' getting whipped for dropping the marbles that made your escape possible. "Bored!" Leona suddenly declares, jumping off Bo. <<var $val 0>>\ "Oh shit." Kosuke says, jumping \ <<if (($bffheshe is "she") or ($heshe is "he"))>>\ behind you. <<else>>\ into an amateur combat stance. <</if>>\ The Thunderfall Disciple rises to his feet, spits blood on the ground, and glares from you to Kosuke between heavy breaths. Finally he closes his eyes as if suppressing something deep, deep, //deep// down. "<<cap $name>>, we can't waste time on this. You said \ <<if ($style is "Akakiru")>>\ we're going to the mansion for battle medicine. \ <<else>>\ you have an ally in the torture mansion, where the medicinal herbs are. \ <</if>>\ Is that still the plan?" Kosuke looks to Bo hesitantly then whispers to you. "I was hoping he'd make us fight him. It's his fault I didn't get to bathe for a week." This close, it smells that way. "Er...Excuse us." One of the two dozen freed \ <<if ($underlings is 1)>>\ prisoners, your old minion actually, \ <<elseif ($underlings gte 2)>>\ prisoners, one of your old minions actually, \ <<else>>\ prisoners \ <</if>>\ says politely. "But are we in that plan? We'll do anything, really, just please get us out of here." A plan...Nothing's changed, when you think about it. You need those medicinal herbs. Taio supposedly left, and the only Upper Disciple you know of is Crow Li. If the three of you can ambush him \ <<if ($style isnot "Akakiru")>>\ together, free $fren, \ <<else>>\ together \ <</if>>\ and pocket the Sunbringer's entire reserves of battle pills you could in theory fight for hours against the Lower Disciples. Long enough to push them back, escape, or even win. One thing you hadn't counted on was having an armed mob of two dozen fighting aged men and women at your command. You decide to have them all... <<choose "ch5-leavejail">> #Join you in the attack. <<var $cj 1>>\ <<var $retainer_morale - 5>>\ <<var $retainers - 2>>\ <<var $martial_retainers + 1>>\ "Prepare your weapons and steel your resolve." You accounce to the crowd of prisoners. "We're taking the fight to the enemy!" You feel an ounce of pride as they cheer. #Dress as slaves and move precious cargo onto a single escape ship. <<var $cj 2>>\ <<var $retainers - 2>>\ <<var $retainer_morale - 2>>\ "We Martial Artists will be taking the fight to the enemy." You say to the crowd, alleviating their fears. "That will give you all time to prepare our escape. I want you all to sneak your weapons into a looted house near the docks and disguise yourself as captured slaves. From there you'll blend in as crate carriers and move as much precious cargo as you can from the Sunbringers' various ships onto a single ship that we'll use for our escape." Many seem hesitant but they follow your plan, leaving out the back door a few at a time. You're not sure how many will see the next morning but if everything goes well they'll be richer, and so will you. #Feign imprisonment and take no risks, you'll take care of this without them. <<var $cj 3>>\ <<var $retainer_morale + 10>>\ <<var $retainers + 4>>\ <<var $prestige + 2>>\ "You've done well to survive up to this point." You say to the crowd. "Get back in the cells so no Sunbringers suspect anything. Leave the rest to us and we'll get you all out of this." The relief in the air is palpable. Many of them stow their weapons into the dark corners of their cells as they return or hide in the armory and close the door, making the appearance of a captured population. <</choose>>

<<var $player "Kosuke">>\ <<var $kosukehelp true>>\ <<var $metkosuke + 100000000>>\ ''[Elsewhere...]'' Your name is Kosuke, a shameless beggar from Thunderfall, and you are so, so, incredibly fucked. Everything was going according to plan after robbing the Thunderfall Sect. Well, not //everything//. When Mao's caravan turned around and almost intercepted the wagon you'd stowed away under you damn near shit yourself. Especially when Jack set fire to the northern forest that you'd escaped into just before they caught your wagon. What haunts you isn't how he burned half a forest down over the next hour, it's that he knew you'd gone into the northern forest at all. No one saw you, yet somehow he knew. He shouldn't have known. It only got worse when his crony went hunting for you: Bo, the fast bastard. He's a second-rate plaything for <<cap $name>> but for you he'd be \ <<if ($kosukecombat gte 5)>>\ a tough fight. <<var $aurapressure + 4>>\ <<elseif ($kosukecombat gte 3)>>\ <<var $aurapressure + 2>>\ a dangerous fight. <<else>>\ a fatal encounter. <</if>>\ You avoided that deceptively scrawny deadbeat fairly well until the end. Switching caravans, selling off most of the goods for Shards to cycle, and trading the Thunderfall uniforms for different outfits. All of it made up for your difference in speed by throwing him off your trail for a short while. Still, he was always just one step behind you. When he finally did catch you in this coastal town of Ebikowa a bit of 'luck' showed up just in time. The Sunbringers attacked the town, and apparently they've become a demonic sect. Now the local Martial Artists are dead, Bo lies in a cell giving blood donations, and here you are, carrying crates to the docks as a 'slave', wearing a fake pair of manacles to fit in. You had planned to hijack a cathayan kakam and sail out of here in a couple hours, but then... <<if (($heshe isnot $bffheshe) and ($bffromance gte 1))>>\ Well then you saw the idiot. Your favorite idiot. <<else>>\ Well then you saw the only person in Thunderfaller as dumb and audacious as you. <</if>>\ What the hell is <<cap $name>> doing here, and why is $heshe being dragged into a prison by a bunch of Sunbringers? \ <<if (($heshe isnot $bffheshe) and ($bffromance gte 1))>>\ Damn it all, why couldn't $heshe just be happy growing up to be Thunderfall's best $background? \ <</if>>\ Now $heshe's going to mess everything up and die. Worse, you're //both// going to die, because \ <<if (($heshe is "he") and ($bffheshe is "he"))>>\ the brotherhood code is clear. You've got to try and save the moron. <<else>>\ you're too stupid to not try and save $himher. <</if>>\ <<page "Continue" "ch5-kosuketime2">>\

The Fiend is a true monster, filled with unnatural power and designed to kill. While you...you're no Martial Artist. <<if ($kosukecombat gte 4)>>\ ''[Kosume's Combat Prowess Check Passed]'' Something that could've fooled you, as you parry the Lost's sharpened claws and slam a fist into its ribs. The creature shows no signs of pain but you've gotten strong enough: you don't need it to show pain. You just need impact. Whether the Fiend shows pain or not means nothing when your punch knocks it into the stone wall, followed-up by a running kick you slam into its neck. The Lost grips your legs with both hands and opens its mouth wide to bite down and that's when its face glows bright from the illumination of both your hands charging a chi blast. You fire it right down this thing's throat. You don't even wait for the smoke to clear. Left hook, right knee, grip an arm and break the elbow. Rip. Tear. Slam. Strike. The attacks blur into a frenzy of adrenal panic and determination to live. By the time you get ahold of yourself you're panting hard, bleeding in a few shallow cuts, propped up on your knees on the floor and surrounded by the limbs of not one Lost but two. You don't even know when the other attacked you, but as you turn down the jail's main hall you see the Sunbringer dead next to the corpses of the other two Lost, beheaded by his now-broken spear. In a one vs four vs one, you came out on top. Choke on that one, <<cap $name>>. You're not the only one who can do it. <<else>>\ ''[Kosume's Combat Prowess Check Failed]'' And it shows. The undead creature's unnaturally long claws cut into your forearm from below as you try for a punch and you're forced to resort to a kick, slamming it in the side and knocking it over. ''[Kosuke has been injured!]'' <<var $kosukecombat - 1>>\ You dive onto the Fiend and pin its arms down, trying to figure out what to do. As you look over to the Sunbringer guard you see the other three Lost claws at him as he spins his decorated Cathayan spear, a qiang, overhead. He brings it down in one heavy swing that beheads one of the Lost. Aw curses. You should've brought a qiang. With no better option and the forces of Hell pinned underneath you it's time to take desperate actions. You bite the Lost's neck with all your might, ripping out its throat and getting its black blood into your mouth. The decaying blood slides down your throat and you vomit instantly right into the face of the pinned abomination. It gurgles and convulses as it dies. \ Right after collapsing to the ground you rip some of your shirt to tie up the wound on your wrist and see the Sunbringer get impaled from behind by one of the Lost's long claws just as he kills the other. It turns its glowing red gaze to you and takes your chi blast to the face that thankfully finishes it off, because you are no longer in much condition to fight. \ Your wrist hurts and like all wounds it //keeps hurting//, throbbing with pain every few seconds. You have no idea how <<cap $name>> puts up with this life. <</if>>\ ...Oh shit, <<cap $name>>! You run over to the jailcells further down and find $himher face-down in a cell. "<<cap $heshe>> took a bad hit." Says a blonde woman from behind. You turn to see her and Bo in the same cell. "Let us out and we'll help release the rest." "I don't really care about the rest." You say honestly. "Okay???" she replies, insulted. "Let us out or I scream 'jailbreak' and get you killed?" Damn, she's a good negotiator. You unlock her cell and \ <<include "ch5-kosuketime7">>\

Your first escape plan already failed. When you took the most precious crate of cargo you could find, one with its contents rolling around with each step, you figured it'd be best to break it on the hilly road outside the jail. At first it worked better than you ever could have imagined! The Soul Treasures inside were some kind of sphere, like dark red marbles, and they rolled downhill towards the docks. You couldn't have planned things going so well when multiple Sunbringers ran out of the jail to help on cleanup duty. Even the one that whipped you for the slipup had to abandon the 'corrective discipline' when the odd marbles gained too much speed rolling downhill. Yet it's been ten minutes now and <<cap $name>> still hasn't come out. Sneaking into the shadows of the jail confirms your fears: $heshe's bound up in a cell. You'll have to clear out the whole jail. This is going to be hard. First you'll need a major distraction in order to act freely, but what could be more distracting than a fortune rolling downhill? <<choose "ch5-kosuketime3">> #Set fire to the ships at the dock. <<var $distraction "fire">>\ <<var $flagshipbase - 1>>\ <<var $sparestr_10 "fire">>\ It's obvious in hindsight that the best way to get these superpowered Martial Artists busy is by burning their ships. The problem is that ships are notoriously hard to burn. But sails aren't. With a quick rousing speech you convince three other captured \ <<if ($style is "Kurokonton")>>\ slaves, one being an oddly mouthy Oni, \ <<else>>\ slaves \ <</if>>\ to join your suicidal mission of throwing torches and lanterns all over the ropes and sails of several ships. It's surprisingly effective, you can't believe how quickly society can fall apart when you start lighting things on fire. Other slaves you didn't even talk to join in on the fun but you know to get out of sight //before// the Sunbringers arrive. Martial Artists have keen eyes. You jump overboard and swim under the dock the second you're done and hope the others are smart enough to do the same. Those whips aren't going to be kind to rebellion. When the heavy sound of impossibly fast footsteps slams on the docks overhead you swim back to shore and look back at the dozen or so glowing combatants trying to put out the fires with a nod of satisfaction. It won't hold them forever \ #Ring the alarm bells to signal an invading force. <<var $distraction "alarm">>\ <<var $retainers - 1>>\ Every town worth a Shard has emergency gongs to signal an invading force. While Ebikowa clearly failed to use theirs in time, you doubt the Sunbringers would ignore such a useful tool. If some Sect approached while they're loading their ships there's not a doubt in your mind that they'd ring the town's gongs to marshal their forces, it's a strong and universal message. So you decide to use it against them. You scrape the bolt-tips of your crossbow bolts against the ground until they've lost all edge and climb onto a watchtower at one of the town gates. Once up top you see the gong you expected and, thank the Heavens, see gongs atop the watchtowers to the south and west as well. This plan can work after all. The darkness is on your side from this height where none of the torchlight can reach you, only the reflected moonlight even lets you know that the neighboring watchtowers have gongs at all. With a steady breath and a prayer to anyone listening you fire your dulled crossbow at the western watchtower's gong, lean onto your back to reload while kicking the gong beside you, then rise to shoot the southern gong. All throughout the town of Ebikowa, an emergency is declared. You repeat this process again before leaping off the watchtower and disappearing into the alleyways between houses. Sure enough several Sunbringers rush past you on the main road and leap to the watchtower in a single jump, scanning the dark hills for an unknown enemy. It will only last an hour at most \ <</choose>>

but this distraction is easily one of your top three. Now to find someone who has a key to the jail... <<page "Continue" "ch5-kosuketime4">>\

Your new distraction works wonders, pulling Sunbringers out of the woodwork to deal with it, but the jail itself still has two guards when you check through the window. You need to lower that by //at least// one if you want to get the keys to <<cap $name>>'s cell. And by all the blessings of the Heavens above, one's a smoker walking out of the jail on a smoke break. They must have wanted to do this the whole time but couldn't because too many people were looking. Heh. You're in a similar situation. The difference is you are the luckiest person on the planet, and the smoker's not. You decide to... <<choose "ch5-kosuketime5">> #Shoot him with a crossbow. A crossbow against a Martial Artist is a fool's errand, as you already found out when Taio beat you halfway to death's door and made you feel like you could fly when he launched you into a neighboring barn. Yet you are no mere Martial Artist, for they learn their lessons. You are ''KOSUKE''. You've managed to evade learning lessons all your life and you have no intention of starting now. The Sunbringer stands smoking beneath you as you silently crouch on the two-story roof of a fletcher's shop, almost apt for what you're about to do. From this angle a headshot is easier than ever so you line up your crossbow, aim for the Martial Artist's dome from above, and pull the trigger. Then you jump. The second the bolt hits the Sunbringer's skull it penetrates a half-inch and stops. He has no time to scream or retaliate before you're upon him, foot-first, kicking the bolt the rest of the way into his skull. You never would have been able to pull this off before. A powerless peasant //cannot// kill a Martial Artist alone, unless your name is <<cap $name>>, but you're not <<cap $name>>. Then again you're not powerless either, not anymore. \ <<if ($kosukecombat gte 4)>>\ Training with the $clan family and robbing \ <<else>>\ Robbing \ <</if>>\ the Thunderfall Sect \ <<if ($kosukecombat gte 4)>>\ have \ <<else>>\ has \ <</if>>\ been good to you. A brief flare of white haze surges around your body as you drop onto the Sunbringer and kick the bolt through his skull with the force of a surged Power Core, killing him instantly with the element of surprise. You tumble to the ground after, nearly rolling your ankle and falling into a pile of debris where something metal painfully slams your shoulder out of place thanks to your two-story descent. You hear someone coming to the alleyway to investigate the loud noise and, in a panic, you grab the dead Sunbringer's keys off of him and hurl his body up onto a nearby roof. Just as the footsteps approach the alley on one side you manage to slip out the other side, disappearing into the shadows just as your chi-enhanced strength fades away. Your ankle and shoulder hurt with every step on your way to the jail. Next time you'll surge a Fortitude Core too. ''[Kosuke's Combat Prowess Increased!]'' <<var $kosukecombat + 1>>\ <<page "Continue" "ch5-kosuketime5">>\ #Pickpocket the key. Everyone seems to think murder is the way to go, but that's because they're either inept or not nearly lazy enough. First thing's first, don't get seen. It's easy to tell which direction he'll be facing when he walks into an alleyway because the moon is clearly visible from one side of the alley. Smokers love looking at the moon in silence, it's a law of the universe. You slip your shoes off and approach him from the alley entrance opposite of the moon, keeping a low but steady pace. When you wade through the shadows you see that he is indeed facing away from you, staring longingly up in the dark sky to pretend he's mysterious. Typical. You sneak right behind him without making a sound and see the keychain and a small pouch tied by a thin rope around his white Martial Artist belt. Not being an amateur, you place four fingers between the four keys on his keychain, stopping the metal parts from touching each other, then cut the rope with a blade you sharpen daily for this very purpose, then pull the keys back along with the small pouch. He doesn't notice a thing. Years of experience serve you well as you leave the way you came and open the beltpouch t-HOLY SHIT FIFTY GOLD. <<var $kold true>>\ Sweet mother of Beasts, you should be pillaging like these guys do. The pay is insane! This is so good that you could give <<cap $name>> half and still call it your richest day. In fact, to celebrate saving $himher, you //will// give $himher half. Well, maybe a little less than half. <<page "Continue" "ch5-kosuketime5">>\ <</choose>>

Now that you've got the key off that smoker guard all that's left is to infiltrate the prison and free <<cap $name>> without getting killed by the last Sunbringer guarding $himher or noticed by passersby, which would be just like getting killed by the guard only with substantially more people involved. Sneaking in doesn't prove hard. The smoker left the back door open because everyone but you and <<cap $name>> are amateurs and society is a joke. Whatever happened to professionalism? Being evil used to mean something. As you peak through the back exit of the jail you see the last Sunbringer guard stabbing a Cathayan qiang into a jailcell, screaming at the inhabitants at the far end away from you, near the front desk. Perfect! This is your chance. You silently crawl through the shadows, looking around for <<cap $name>>, and notice something incredibly wrong. In the back of the jail where you entered there are several cells filled with corpses covered in black bone protrusions showing through their skin, their eyes dull and their fingers ending in spikes made of the same black substance covering their skin in swirling patches. Of all the monsters in the world, this is the one you know the most. Lost. Mindless undead killers. A dark fairytale told to keep poor people from selling their souls. You're warned time and time again that weak, poor-blooded people like you would become Lost if you ever fell victim to the corruption of demonic cultivation, your soul disintegrating as the demonic chi finishes infecting your body until you become a low-level Fiend. 'Low-level' they say, as if Lost can't tear people to pieces. Most of these ones are even wearing Sunbringer clothing still, clearly the failures of the Sect's new methods. Why the hell are they keeping so many Lost locked up? The dangers of them getting out are...Oh who are you kidding. They probably keep them as shock troops on purpose. This isn't your problem. Some hero can come solve this, you just need to get <<cap $name>> out of here. Fast. <<page "Continue" "ch5-kosuketime6">>\

Suddenly the four corpses in the cell to your right begin to move. You curse to yourself as you realize they must have sensed your chi. Ancestors be damned, why did you have to play pretend at the Martial Arts? Life was so much easier without chi. Their faded eyes open and lock in on you, their dark claws flexing and digging into the stone wall as they shakily pull themselves to their feet. You don't even have time to be scared. Something much worse than imprisoned undead reveals itself further down the jail: stupidity. "Kosuke?!" Bo blurts out. "You dare show your face here after robbing my Sect? You are courting death!" What an insufferable //moron!// He's more lucky than he could ever know that you arrived but he throws it all away to sling insults. Anger bubbles up from \ <<if ($bffheshe is "she")>>\ your, in your opinion, amazing \ <<else>>\ your \ <</if>>\ chest and you can't stop yourself from screaming back. "Ancestor's tits, Bo! Shut up for once in your ''mistake'' of a life and stop getting in my way!" And there it is, your doom. Your kneejerk reaction to Bo's kneejerk reaction throws everything away: the Sunbringer guard down at the other end of the jail turns his face to you and sees an outsider breaking into his domain. His face turns to anger and hardens into determination, taking a battle stance as yellow and white light shines around his body. Your great escape is over. You could never win a duel against an armed demonic cultist with legitimate training in an Element and Style. ...But someone else can. <<choose "ch5-kosuketime7">> #Release the waking Lost. The guard may be fast but he has to cross the entire long hall of the jail. The Lost, on the other hand, are right next to you. It's an awful plan, probably your worst, but as the golden-glowing enemy springs into action and charges down the jail's main hall you unlock the cell containing multiple undead Fiendish killing machines. Then you back up. Four of the monsters charge out of the cell with deceptive speed, shambling slowly at times but leaping and twisting at high speed as they close distance. They exit the cage and sniff, their foggy eyes looking down the jail for the glowing Martial Artist. You almost thank the Heavens for your fortune until they charge at the Sunbringer and you see the fourth one, its black gums showing in an unsettling satisfied smile as it stares directly at you, tilting its head unnaturally far to the side. Then it attacks. <<page "Continue" "ch5-kosuketime-lost">>\ #Throw your keys to Bo. "On second thought, think fast!" You shout out, throwing your jailcell keys to Bo. He damned near misses the catch with what must be surprise, but thankfully his odd-looking thumb (why is it bleeding?) loops through the keychain and he starts to unlock himself. "Go getem, Bo!" You shout, hoping against all hope that he actually knows how to fight. His cell door slams open just as the guard charges by him on the way to kill you, though the Sunbringer Lower Disciple successfully evades the opening door and counterattacks by shoving his qiang into the cell at Bo, slamming into the Thunderfaller's manacles. That's when a blonde woman you've never seen before leaps over Bo and hammers her own manacles into the guard's head. Bo grips the qiang and forces it down with such force that the Sunbringer is dropped to the ground by its weight and the qiang breaks in half. \ <<var $bocombat + 1>>\ The Lunargoth stays on top of the Sunbringer as he falls, grinning ear to ear while she headbutts him several times until they both have bleeding foreheads. Sweet Hells, didn't anyone tell this woman you're supposed to headbutt //the nose//? Even you know that. Before the situation can get worse you run over to help, seeing actual hope in a three versus one, and start to stomp on the now-disarmed Sunbringer's left side to stop him from getting up. Bo leaps back into the fray and stomps on the man's right side as well, and as the blonde woman gets up it quickly dissolves from high-stakes Martial Arts fight into three near-strangers stomping on a prison guard several dozen times until he stops moving. Panting heavily, finally feeling safe for the first time in days, you still \ <</choose>>

feel no sense of surprise or irony when Bo lunges for you. "This is your fault!" He screams as the blonde woman tackles him to the ground first. "It's all your fault I'm in here!" You quickly realize this is your best chance to get <<cap $name>> out of here before Bo messes it up. You find $himher unconscious in the cell across from Bo's and feel supremely satisfied when your key opens its lock. <<page "Continue" "ch5-kosuketime8">>\

After several seconds Bo calms down and the blonde woman gets off him. He yanks the keys off the defeated guard, waltzing off to free some prisoners and making a few vague threats about your life, but what more did you expect from one of Crusher Jack's lackeys? "Not bad, random savior dressed like a homeless \ <<if ($bffheshe is "she")>>\ girl." \ <<else>>\ man." \ <</if>>\ Says the blonde woman holding her manacled hands out for a handshake. "The name's Leona, want to be my friend?" "Sure." You say half-heartedly, checking the guard for anything useful. "That's great!" Leona says cheerfully, squeezing her arms out front. "Then I need you to kill three Lower Disciples about to come through the front door, or they'll ruin everything." Your blood freezes as the world seems to turn to ice. Not from a Technique. From fear. Three trained fighters? Heavens, when does it end... "I'll take care of it," you say in resignation, "but I can't kill them." Leona looks at you suspiciously. "What're you, some kind of Devanic pacifist?" "I'm not even a Martial Artist." Her eyebrows shoot up faster than a lightning bolt and an incredulous smile forces its way onto her lips. "Ho-ho-holy shit." She laughs in awe. "You've got more balls \ <<if ($bffheshe is "she")>>\ than a man \ <<else>>\ than ten men \ <</if>>\ if you're breaking into a Demonic Sect's sacrificial chamber without any training. So you're going to, what, lead them somewhere and just run away?" "I'm a homeless beggar, I run away all the time." You toss her your keys. "I'm even running from this conversation." Leona catches the keys and sticks out her upper lip in an appreciative frown. "Damn, walked into that one." For the first time in your life you surge an Agility Core, the world slowing down as you slip on the unconscious(?) Sunbringer's uniform and sprint for the prison's front door, opening it quickly and slipping out. You almost slip due to the increased speed but correct yourself through sheer determination, you can't risk messing things up this close to the end. It's a good thing you ran too, because as you step out into the cool night air three Lunargothic Sunbringers, with weapons drawn, stand a mere five paces from the prison's door behind you. Four paces from your face. "We heard a commotion," states the tallest one, "what's going on in there?" Every ounce of fear is pushed down as you try to put on your best facade. You've lied with high stakes before and you can do it again. Internally you call upon every ounce of scummy deception in your core, trained over years of survival on the streets. Time to lie. Your time to shine. You tighten your throat for a burlier voice and announce, "Someone poisoned the well water and it wasn't us, the prisoners have dysentery. We need investigators and cell cleaners. One of you stay to clean shit, the other two come with me to investigate the well. We're going to find who did this and bleed them dry." The three exchange glances, no longer wondering about suspicion and instead concerned with whose night just got ruined with gallons of liquid feces. "Forget it," you say, hands raised as if unwilling to deal with an argument, "you can all come for the well. We can't risk the chance that the enemy is an Upper Disciple." Sighs of relief come from behind as you turn and all three follow you, thankful to have detective work instead of latrine duty. People are so predictable. Hopefully you can predict a way to survive. <<page "Continue" "ch5-kosuketime9">>\

<<var $player "">>\ ''[Elsewhere...]'' You are $fullname, $patriarch of the $clan Clan and currently dealing with one monster of a headache. Your eyes flitter open as someone violently forces your consciousness out of your calming dreams and back to the cold, unforgiving world of the waking. "GOOD MORNING \ <<if (($heshe is "he") and ($leonaromance gte 1))>>\ HANDSOME!" \ <<elseif ($style is "Akakiru")>>\ THUNDERFALLER!" \ <<else>>\ STRANGER!" \ <</if>>\ Leona screams in your face, shaking you like a baby she hates vehemently. "Time to get up, we're on the run!" "Hng...the run?" Ancestors, your head hurts. It still feels like you're burning up. "What are we running from?" Leona shakes her head as if you're a lost cause. "It's an expression, \ <<if ($heshe is "he")>>\ Mister \ <<else>>\ Miss \ <</if>>\ Concussion. We're breaking out of jail. Come on, Bo's got the keys and he's letting everyone else out." Did you lose the escape race to //Bo//? Hells that's embarrassing. You've gotten sloppy. The two of you rise and walk through the prison, seeing several of the prisoners loitering outside their cell or helping to open other cells with a second set of keys someone must have gotten off the front desk. Which reminds you... <<page "To the front desk!" "ch5-merge-fates">>\

You, Kosuke, Bo Lo, and Leona prepare to head out in earnest, giving a second search through the prison's side rooms first and finding a pleasant surprise: the evidence room. All your possessions lie stuffed into unlocked coffers. ''[Inventory Returned!]'' <<var $stripped false>>\ ''[Make sure to re-equip any items, you are currently in rags]'' You consider what to wear among your equipment, now that you've got a chance to breathe and strategize. More than that, however, is that you're not the only person in this prison. Meaning yours isn't the only coffer of confiscated goods. A dozen other coffers remain, each holding the possessions of the other freed prisoners. <<choose "ch5-leavejail2">> #Take the valuables, you're risking your life for these people! <<var $retainer_morale - 4>>\ <<var $ruthless - 1>>\ <<var $honor - 5>>\ <<var $leonarep + 2>>\ <<var $bffrep + 2>>\ <<rand $val 130 150>>\ ''[Item Gained: $val Shards]'' ''[Infamy +1]'' <<var $shards + $val>>\ #Take the valuables, your status grants you the right. <<var $retainer_morale - 7>>\ <<var $honor + 2>>\ <<var $borep + 2>>\ <<var $bffrep + 1>>\ <<rand $val 130 150>>\ ''[Item Gained: $val Shards]'' <<var $shards + $val>>\ #Leave the valuables, these people have been through enough. <<var $retainer_morale + 1>>\ <<var $honor + 1>>\ <<var $ruthless - 5>>\ <<var $bffrep + 1>>\ <<if ($infamy gt 0)>>\ ''[Infamy Decreased]'' <<var $infamy - 1>>\ <</if>>\ #Leave the valuables, you are no thief. <<var $honor + 4>>\ <<var $ruthless - 2>>\ <</choose>>

<<var $val 0>>\ Two minutes later \ <<if ($cj is 1)>>\ your mob is traveling up the town as a show of force, marching up the main road toward the torture mansion. Yourself, Bo, Kosuke, and Leona form a perimeter around the two dozen armed prisoners as \ <<else>>\ you, Bo, Kosuke, and Leona find yourselves sneaking through the shadows of town when \ <</if>>\ you reach the market square where you were first locked in cages. Leona's second sword soars past your ear and continues through the air, sticking through an open second-story window of a burnt building. A Sunbringer man falls out, the blade lodged through his eye. "Holy Hells." Kosuke whistles low. "You could see him?" "Nope!" Leona purrs with content, jogging to the body. "The dotard was hiding there when I was first dragged in, made fun of my eyes a lot. I figured he never moved. Heh, idiot, who's got weird eyes now?" She jostles the sword out of the dead Sunbringer's eye socket and looks around for approval on her joke but notices something else instead. "What do we do with them?" Your gaze follows her pointing sword and notices the other caged inhabitants. You weren't the only prisoners when you were first brought in, and many of the cages are still full with Ebikowan citizens. They all rise as they see your party coming through without Sunbringer uniforms. "They're the ones with auras who weren't in the local Sect." Bo says, looking on their disheveled faces. "Woodsmen, off-duty guards, arrogant hopefuls like you used to be. I saw them get wrangled together after they captured me." <<if ($style is "Midorikatai")>>\ "No, what about THEM." Leona says, pointing to a packed cage in the back. "Those are...coats?" Kosuke replies, squinting. "White fur coats?" "No." You correct with a growing smile. "They're wolves!" You run over and break the lock on their cage much to the dismay and warning of Bo and Kosuke. "Relax." You say while freeing potentially man-eating predators, "They know me." The door to their cage opens and the wolves lazily waltz out and sniff your hand, clearly subdued by starvation after barking for what must have been hours. You take out some dried rations from the centipede fight and bring some life back to the pack when they scarf the meat down. ''[Wolves Acquired]'' "What about the people?" Bo asks. "They could be of use." "Of use?" \ <<else>>\ "Let's get them out of the cages." Kosuke says. "They can help us." "Help you?" \ <</if>>\ Asks one of the caged prisoners. "You want us to fight these sadistic monsters for you?! I'm getting out of here the first chance I get!" Leona leans on one of her swords and picks her teeth with the other. "Okay, stay in the cages." "That's not what we're saying," the man pleads, "it's just not fair to expect free men and women to-" She shoves her blade through the cage's bars, its tip half an inch away from the man's chest. "I said stay in the cages." You step forward and try your best to lead negotiations instead. <<choose "ch5-leavejail3">> #"Come with me if you wish to live." "Come with me if you wish to live." You say to the congregation of freed prisoners, their meager auras in the low 100 coming back after their Binder's Bands are \ <<if (((((((((($equippedweapon is "Tanto")) or ($equippedweapon is "Katana")) or ($equippedweapon is "Muramasa")) or ($equippedweapon is "Greataxe")) or ($equippedweapon is "Qiang")) or ($equippedweapon is "Kunai")) or ($equippedweapon is "Jian")) or ($equippedweapon is "Iceblade")) or ($equippedweapon is "Chiblade"))>>\ removed with a slash of your $equippedweapon. <<else>>\ removed. <</if>>\ "That's it?" One woman asks, rubbing her wrist and looking at your crowd. "We're supposed to follow you with just that?" A scream comes throughout the town as a Sunbringer patrol must have found a survivor in hiding. "Yes." You reply. "Idiot." Adds Kosuke and Bo, both glaring at the questioner. <<var $val ($persuasion + 1)>>\ <<var $val2 (2 + ($persuasion * 2))>>\ ''[$val2 Retainers Recruited]'' <<var $retainers + $val2>>\ ''[$val Martial Retainers Recruited]'' <<var $martial_retainers + $val>>\ <<var $val 0>>\ <<page "Continue" "ch5-leavejail3">>\ #"The local Sect sent me to save you, swear under my Clan's banner and I'll get you out." "The local Sect sent me to save you, swear under my Clan's banner and I'll get you out." You lie through your teeth. You don't even know who the local Sect is...well, was. "The local Sect?" Asks one of them. Unfortunately. "Why would you say that instead of the Sect's name? I'm not swearing to an-" You grab the man by the shirt and twist his collar, slamming him into the cage behind him. "I didn't ask them when I got here and found the place on fire, fool! Sign on with the $clan Clan and earn my protection or become Fiend food, your family might care about the difference but I do not." <<if ($deception gte 2)>>\ He tries to protest, only to get a hand on his shoulder by another in blue gi. "We'll serve under Clan $clan if it means getting out of here." Your Clan's power grows. <<var $val2 (2 + ($deception * 2))>>\ ''[$val2 Retainers Recruited]'' <<var $retainers + $val2>>\ ''[$deception Martial Retainers Recruited]'' <<elseif ($deception gte 1)>>\ Most of them start running immediately in different directions but a few weaklings too scared to leave your side remain. Thankfully one woman in that crowd has an aura, her Aura Pressure registering in the low 100 area. It's a start. <<var $val2 (2 + ($deception * 2))>>\ ''[$val2 Retainers Recruited]'' <<var $retainers + $val2>>\ ''[$deception Martial Retainer Recruited]'' <<else>>\ With the exception of a few weaklings too scared to leave your side, they all break into a sprint in opposite directions. ''[Deception Check Failed]'' <<var $val2 (2 + ($deception * 2))>>\ ''[$val2 Retainers Recruited]'' <<var $retainers + $val2>>\ ''[0 Martial Retainers Recruited]'' <</if>>\ <<var $martial_retainers + $deception>>\ <<page "Continue" "ch5-leavejail3">>\ #show-if ($race is "Kitsune") Invoke the Foxcharm Technique. [Requires Kitsune] With luck on your side you notice the mildly strong ones are mostly \ <<if ($heshe is "he")>>\ women so this will be easier than usual. <<else>>\ men so this will be easier than usual. <</if>>\ <<if ($honor gt 50)>>\ Still, you've always hated doing this, especially since it risks revealing your nature, but there's no time. \ <<else>>\ You're fairly rusty on your heritage's tricks but there's no time. \ <</if>>\ <<var $honor - 2>>\ All of your Martial Arts have been about focusing on your spiritual nature, but now it's time to focus on your Spiritual nature; all Kitsune being part Spirit. With one arm against Leona's \ <<if ($heshe is "he")>>\ chest \ <<var $leonarep + 2>>\ <<else>>\ forehead \ <</if>>\ you push her back and step forward, the center of your $eyecolor eyes shining pink in a hypnotizing fox charm. "You want to come with me. You want to swear yourselves to my Clan's banner. You want to protect my allies." "We...want to serve." One says. The rest nod along. ''[5 Retainers Recruited]'' <<var $retainers + 5>>\ ''[6 Martial Retainers Recruited!]'' <<var $martial_retainers + 6>>\ Kosuke looks from the enchanted fighters to your pink glowing eyes. "You never used that on me, right?" "Haha, what? Noooo." You \ <<if ($honor gt 45)>>\ almost tell the truth. What's one extra retry \ <<else>>\ lie through your teeth. Still, what's a few extra retries (per week) \ <</if>>\ on janken between friends? Especially when it decided who had to do something tedious. <<if ($honor gt 54)>>\ It wasn't your fault. You were twelve. <</if>>\ <<page "Continue" "ch5-leavejail3">>\ #show-if ($style is "Aoyusumu") use-if ((($chipool + ($soul/2)) - $chispent) gte 1) Manipulate their minds. [Requires Aoyusumu, Costs 1 Chi] You channel your Sacred Chi in a different way. In your training you had to convert your mental power into physical force, pure untyped kinetic energy separated from the natural world, but now you duplicate and flip the process. You grasp your mental Sacred Chi and push it into the physical world around the heads and minds of the freed Warriors and then revert the process, converting it back into psionic mental essence. Mental essence attached to your desire. Attached to your will. ''[1 Chi Spent]'' <<var $chispent + 1>>\ "You want to come with me." You say, coercing their minds to save their own town. "You want to swear yourselves to my Clan's banner." You add, to keep them out of trouble later. "You want to protect my allies." You add, so they'll protect each other. At least, those are the excuses you tell yourself. "We...we will follow you." Says the one in front, his head glowing cerulean for a short moment. The rest begin to nod along. ''[5 Retainers Recruited]'' <<var $retainers + 5>>\ ''[6 Martial Retainers Recruited!]'' <<var $martial_retainers + 6>>\ "Was that Aoyusumu Style?" Bo asks, looking concerned. "Even if it doesn't increase Fiend Corruption, altering people's minds is always a Forbidden Technique." "This was the right time for it." You counter. "I'm saving their lives." "And besides!" Leona chirps in. "You didn't see anything." Bo takes a defensive step back and clenches his fist. "I know what I saw!" "Which is nothing." Leona says, her sword swinging within an inch of Bo's chest instead. <<if ($bffheshe is "she")>>\ "Measure dicks later!" \ <<else>>\ "Kill each other on your own time!" \ <</if>>\ Kosuke hisses, pushing a couple of your new fighters to the front as you all continue your march. <<page "Continue" "ch5-leavejail3">>\ <</choose>>

There's surprisingly little resistance with most of the Sunbringers preoccupied with \ <<if ($distraction is "fire")>>\ their best ships burning down at the docks \ <<elseif ($distraction is "alarm")>>\ manning the walls or scouting the fields for an enemy that isn't there \ <<elseif ($distraction is "marbles")>>\ collecting their precious blood marbles out of the shore \ <</if>>\ thanks to Kosuke. Even moving at high speeds, it would take them at least a minute to get to you. That will have to be enough. <<if ($stealth gte 2)>>\ <<include "ch5-stealthapproach">>\ <<else>>\ <<include "ch5-stealthfail">>\ <</if>>\

Screams fill the jail. Screams that could alert enemies from the outside. Cries of battle come from a commotion in the back of the prison near Bo, causing dozens of prisoners to come running towards you. "Fiends!" Screams one of them. "Fiends in the prison!" Your stomach drops. Superstition always warns that demonic cultivation brings great risk. Its corrupting energies can warp the bodies of weak-willed practitioners into any sort of mindless, ravenous Fiend. \ <<if ($kosukehelp is true)>>\ When you told Bo to release the other prisoners it \ <<else>>\ It \ <</if>>\ was assumed that only people were kept in the cells of this jail, but the Sunbringers have become a Demonic Sect. Of course they locked their mutated rejects in here with you. If they were still wearing clothes, it makes sense Bo would accidentally let them out. "Everyone in here!" Leona shouts, rushing to a sliding steel door to your left. She hefts it open and several prisoners skid to a halt in panic. "That's not the exit!" One of them shouts when the room beyond the doorway comes into view. "It's better!" Leona announces with a manic grin. She grabs that prisoner by the shoulders and throws him through the door, then turns to the rest. "It's an armory!" The stampede of prisoners thankfully doesn't hesitate, following those in front and charging as a single unit into the armory. Over their heads you see the room filled with weapon racks, its walls lined with various tools of war meant for the town guard or confiscated from prisoners. Greedy, desperate hands seize the weapons off the wall by the dozen and you realize time is of the essence if you plan to get one yourself. <<var $retainers 22>>\ <<choose "ch5-lost-weaponchoices">> #Grab a weapon. You leap over the congregation, almost weightlessly hopping from shoulder to shoulder, until you enter the room and survey your options and quality of weapons. With the Fiends chasing the back of the prisoner crowd they must be closing in fast. You reach out and quickly snatch a... #"To arms!" [Reject weapons, rally the prisoners] <<var $retainer_morale + 3>>\ <<var $retainers - 2>>\ <<var $martial_retainers + 1>>\ Several men and women look fearfully through the armory doorway as others rush passed them for weapons. If you want this threat stamped out every freed prisoner needs to be ready to fight. "To arms!" You shout to the hesitant escapees. "Do you want to give them your life for free? Did you escape just to give up?" Several more prisoners stream past you as you shout at the last few. "Don't let this last hurdle stop you from putting an end to this Hell. If these Fiends want to kill us then don't reward them, make them earn it! Make them regret it! Make them know fear!" <<if ($persuasion lt 2)>>\ ''[Persuasion Increased by +1]'' <<var $persuasion + 1>>\ <<elseif ($insight lt 2)>>\ ''[Insight Increased by +1]'' <<var $insight + 1>>\ <<else>>\ ''[Persuasion Increased by +1]'' <<var $persuasion + 1>>\ <</if>>\ You had felt out their fears and their biggest problem: a sense of security. Each one had hoped someone else would fight. Luckily your speech has roused the rest of the crowd. They stream into the armory just as several more come out fully armed in various bows, spears, and blades. And as the last of the freed prisoners stream in you stop them with a heavy fist to the one in front, hitting him in the chest and knocking him back down the hallway. They almost slipped by you in the chaos and commotion but you recognized in the last second their dead eyes, black bone-rock growing out of their skin, and sharpened black fingertips. The Fiends. Lost. Seven more follow behind the one you backhanded, raising their sharpened bone-claws at you and sniffing the air to locate your presence, blind as they are. A massive weight falls from your shoulders. No wonder you didn't know they were in the prison, Lost are the lowest of the Fiends and follow basic instincts. The fast-moving corpses with sharp claws wouldn't have made any movement or noise until an opportunity came to acquire flesh. These demonic grunts will be easier than you expected. If it were Bloodwalkers, Grim, or even the contagious Ghouls this would be a nightmare, but these people will survive against Lost. You make sure of it. The two dozen men and women stream out of the armory with weapons drawn. You lose track of Leona in the crowd as you take the front line and turn the tide. Inexperienced fighters charge in with zeal and slash, stab, and slam their weapons against the supernaturally hardened Lost. Their weapons find purchase. Unlike you most of these Lost have Aura Pressures under 200 and the sharp cuts of steel are still enough to damage them even from commoner hands. Each time a prisoner comes close to being sliced by a Lost's claws you intervene and kick them off-balance, palm-strike them into a more prepared fighter with a longer reach weapon, or directly crush the Fiend's skull with your own fists and, on one occasion, a heavy knee straight through a Lost's face. Keeping track of seven opponents would be difficult but with over twenty fighters on your side in high morale the fight goes smoothly enough that three Lost die before your first intervention. The fight ends just as quickly as it begins, black blood spilling onto the floor of the prison from the destroyed Fiends. The prisoners pant for breath and look around in disbelief at the combat victory they won over supernatural enemies. They look to you as if to queue a cheer but you hold up a hand to silence them instead. You don't need to attract any Sunbringer attention if you haven't already. <<page "Continue" "ch5-lost-done">>\ <</choose>>

Bo limps toward you from behind the dead Lost. He's covered in scratches and behind him, at the other end of the prison, you see four more Lost lying dismembered on the floor outside one of the cells. That paints the picture; \ <<if ($ruthless gte 52)>>\ the careless idiot \ <<else>>\ Bo \ <</if>>\ let the Lost out without knowing. \ <<if ($ruthless gte 52)>>\ But it was on your orders... <<else>>\ The blame might be on you for this one, it //was// on your orders. <</if>>\ All eyes are on you as Bo limps closer, a smug smile of battle victory on his face. As you gauge how best to treat him you see movement among the Lost in the back of the jail: the backdoor creaking open. A face peaks in and, seeing the chaos, quickly pushes through the doorway and closes it behind $bffhimher. You recognize the Sunbringer uniform and calm your breathing, preparing to fight for your life. Only an Upper Disciple would have the confidence to take you all on alone. With no need for etiquette, you send a strong spiritual scan across the jail and feel your wave of energy wrap around the Sunbringer...and recognize them instantly, before their face even shows through the shadows. \ <<if ($bffromance gte 1)>>\ The \ <<else>>\ A \ <</if>>\ face you'd recognize anywhere. "Kosuke?!" You blurt out. <<if ($kosukehelp is true)>>\ "Kosuke!" Bo shouts in anger, turning around like a wolf sensing its prey. <<else>>\ "Kosuke?!?" Bo shouts in alarm, turning around in disbelief. <</if>>\ <<if ($kosukehelp is true)>>\ "Oh, you survived." Leona says \ <<else>>\ "Who's Kosuke?" Leona asks \ <</if>>\ in near-boredom, stepping out of one of the prison cells while dragging a decapitated Lost behind her. <<if (($heshe is "he") and ($bffheshe is "she"))>>\ "Hi guys!" \ <<elseif ($bffheshe is "she")>>\ "Hey everyone!" \ <<else>>\ "Hey everyone." \ <</if>>\ Kosuke says, stepping over the dead Lost with a crooked smile. "Sorry I'm late." <<page "Continue" "ch5-lost-done2">>\

"I'll kill you!" Bo screams in a rage, trying to leap at Kosuke on an injured leg. Leona tackles him to the ground as he struggles and shouts. "It's your fault I'm in here! It's your fault they captured me!" <<if ($bffheshe is "she")>>\ "I didn't ask you to stalk me, creep." \ <<else>>\ "Good, I'm glad they caught you. Dick." \ <</if>>\ Kosuke says as $bffheshe walks passed the struggling pair and stops three steps from you, looking at the freed prisoners all staring at you in awe. "Ah..." Picking up cues fast, $bffheshe gives you a deep bow. "Laborer Kosuke, retainer of the $clan Clan, reporting for \ <<if ($kold is true)>>\ duty and returning your funds." <<cap $bffheshe>> hands you a pouch of 20 Gold that you don't recognize. "So what'd \ <<var $gold + 20>>\ <<else>>\ duty. What'd \ <</if>>\ I miss?" <<choose "ch5-lost-kosuke-explain">> #"Everything." [Explain your journey] You give Kosuke the quick rundown on your journey from Thunderfall to Ebikowa, including your meetup and training with $fren and your new $style aura. #"More like what did //I// miss, where have you been?" -> "ch5-kosuke-story" "More like what did //I// miss, where have you been?" Kosuke scratches $bffhisher neck. "Well, it's a bit embarrassing but you see, I sort of robbed your Sect." "I know." You reply instantly. "Huh?" Kosuke blurts out, blank stared as $bffheshe walks to the armory for a weapon. "Yeah, everyone back home assumes it was you. There are no other suspects." "Oh." Kosuke says dejectedly, "Shit. That's going to make things even harder. Well, after that, to make a short story long, Mao's caravan found me. \ #show-if ($heshe is "he") "That's 'What did I miss, //Master//.'" -> "ch5-lost-kosuke-master" #show-if ($heshe is "she") "That's 'What did I miss, //Mistress//.'" -> "ch5-lost-kosuke-master" #show-if (($bffheshe isnot $heshe) and ($bffromance gte 1)) [Open-mouth kiss Kosuke in front of everyone.] <<var $bffromance + 1>>\ After so many risks of death and so long without Kosuke you don't even process the question, closing the distance between the two of you and \ <<if ($heshe is "she")>>\ hopping onto him, wrapping your legs around his waist and your arms around his shoulders as you pull him in for \ <<else>>\ lifting her high into the air, wrapping one arm around her to press her chest against yours as your lips meet in \ <</if>>\ the most ravenous kiss of both of your \ <<if (($bodytype is "Dommymommy") or ($bodytype is "Bodacious"))>>\ lives. He collapses to the ground under your muscular weight and you don't letup. <<var $powexp + 1>>\ <<else>>\ lives. <</if>>\ Gasps come from the two dozen men and woman behind the both of you. "WOOOO!!!" Leona screams in applause, clapping as she tries to choke Bo with her \ <<if ($heshe is "she")>>\ <<var $leonarep + 5>>\ thighs. "Get it, woman!" <<else>>\ thighs. <</if>>\ <<if ($heshe is "he")>>\ <<var $leonarep + 2>>\ <<var $leonaromance + 1>>\ <</if>>\ "Disgusting!" Bo grunts in a raspy voice while Leona constricts his windpipe. "Poor people kissing?! By the Ancestors, I'm going to be sick!" You pull away from Kosuke and look on $bffhimher, all dusty and worse for wear. Scrapes and bruises, exhausted eyes, hair all disheveled, and $bffhisher \ <<if ($heshe is "she")>>\ fashion sense \ <<else>>\ sense of self-respect clearly \ <</if>>\ gone to shit in that Sunbringer uniform. "What happened to you?" Kosuke smudges a bit of Lost blood off your cheek and starts to glow white with a passable Aura Pressure, certainly higher than any beggar should have. "A lot." <<var $val 5678>>\ <<page "Continue" "ch5-kosuke-story">>\ <</choose>>

"Oh bullshit, of course you stumbled onto a new power." <<if ($honor gte 50)>>\ "You say that like it was easy." \ <<else>>\ "It wasn't stumbling!" \ <</if>>\ You say defensively. "The training was rigorous, I still have a fever, and it all got me landed in a torture chamber." "Big whoop," Kosuke replies, always arguing for fun, "People like Bo get landed in torture chambers too and instead of getting secret powers or praised by a giant crowd he's over there getting suffocated by-" Kosuke looks back to Leona who whips her head up and gives $bffhimher a warm smile. Bo struggles for air underneath her, his body prone while she kneels on his neck. "-I don't even know who that is but \ <<if (($bffheshe is "he") and ($heshe is "he"))>>\ holy Heavens look at the rack on her." "Thanks!" \ <<elseif ((($bffheshe is "she") and ($heshe is "she")) or ((($bffheshe is "she") and ($heshe is "he")) and ($bffromance lte 0)))>>\ but I want a set of armor with a boob window like hers." "It's got Seals!" \ <<elseif ((($bffheshe is "he") and ($heshe is "she")) and ($bffromance gte 1))>>\ you're prettier." "Good save!" \ <<elseif (($bffheshe is "he") and ($heshe is "she"))>>\ is she single?" "Yes!" \ <<elseif ((($bffheshe is "she") and ($heshe is "he")) and ($bffromance gte 1))>>\ but I don't trust any tart with a boob window." "It's got Seals!" \ <</if>>\ Leona says back as Bo's face turns red from lack of air. "Alright, alright." You concede to save time. \ <<if ($honor lt 50)>>\ "The living Hell that is my training is actually good fortune, fine. \ <<else>>\ "I have good fortune. \ <</if>>\ But what happened to you? Did you really rob the Thunderfall Sect?" "Yes!" Shrieks Bo's choked, raspy voice from the floor. "Yep." Says Kosuke, walking over to the armory to find a sword mid-story. "Mao's caravan nearly found me too, \ <<include "ch5-kosuke-story">>\

"That's what did I miss, \ <<if ($heshe is "he")>>\ //Master//." \ <<else>>\ //Mistress//." \ <</if>>\ You correct. <<if ($heshe is $bffheshe)>>\ You hear a soft but guttural groan from Kosuke as $bffheshe's bent in the low bow. "Come on, don't make me do the whole thing." "People are watching." You whisper back. "We could recruit <<if ($heshe is "he")>>\ a whole crew, \ <<else>>\ our own servants, \ <</if>>\ put on a show!" After a soft sigh Kosuke rises. \ <<else>>\ Kosuke's back shakes with a suppressed snicker, trying to stay serious in front of the crowd. \ <</if>>\ "Of course, my \ <<if ($heshe is "he")>>\ Master. \ <<else>>\ Mistress. \ <</if>>\ This humble servant gives $bffhisher most sincere apologies on behalf of seven generations of $bffhisher ancestors." <<if ($heshe is $bffheshe)>>\ You notice the world's quickest eyeroll and hope no one else saw it. <</if>>\ "That will suffice." You reply, nose upturned. "Thank you, most esteemed Liegelord. Back to the matter at hand, what did I miss, \ <<if ($heshe is "he")>>\ //Master?//" <<else>>\ //Mistress?//" <</if>>\ <<if (($bffheshe neq $heshe) and ($bffromance gte 1))>>\ <<var $leonarep + 2>>\ <<var $bffromance + 1>>\ "Oh just fuck already!" Leona shouts from on top of Bo, wrestling to put him in a chokehold. Ignoring her, you \ <<else>>\ You \ <</if>>\ give Kosuke the quick rundown on your journey from Thunderfall to Ebikowa, including your meetup and training with $fren and your new $style aura. <<include "ch5-lost-kosuke-explain">>\

<<choose "ch5-lost-weaponchoices2">> #Bo Staff, a Zenshin-style combat staff <<var $itembostaff 200000000>>\ <<unequipweapon1>>\ <<var $equippedweapon "Bo Staff">>\ <<include "ch5-wepqualitycheck">>\ <<if ($craft gte 2)>>\ <<var $itembostaff + 10000000>>\ <</if>>\ <<var $weaponbonus $itembostaff>>\ ''[Item Gained: Bo Staff]'' ''[Equipped to Weapon slot]'' You rip a long bo staff off the wall and spin it several times overhead to test its weight, finding it well balanced. The tips are coated in metal and its central grip is impeccably well made to ensure your hands stay in the comfort zone but can slide passed it without issue if needed. <<if ($subrace is "Monkey")>>\ ''[Monkey Yokai Event]'' Within your central spirit you feel a foreign yet familiar force, as if someone else's aura rested within your own. The presence gives off the impression of entertained approval before suddenly vanishing from your senses like a laughing puff of smoke. <<apboost 5>>\ You look around for what could have done that but see nothing. No one else even reacts, and your spiritual senses pick up no such presence lingering. With a hesitant judgment call you banish any nervousness from your mind and return to the problems of the present. <</if>>\ After one final spin you line the staff against your forearm, pointing the long end behind your back so the staff doesnt drag, and \ #Greataxe, a Gothic-style two-handed double-bladed axe <<var $itemgreataxe 200000000>>\ <<unequipweapon1>>\ <<var $equippedweapon "Greataxe">>\ <<include "ch5-wepqualitycheck">>\ <<if ($craft gte 2)>>\ <<var $itemgreataxe + 10000000>>\ <</if>>\ <<var $weaponbonus $itemgreataxe>>\ ''[Item Gained: Greataxe]'' ''[Equipped to Weapon slot]'' A large smile spreads across your face as you grab the biggest blade available, a massive Lunargothic greataxe. \ <<if (($race is "Lunargoth") and ($craft lt 2))>>\ You may not know much about local weaponry but you'd never mistake the signs of high quality gothic design. You grab the best one the armory has. ''[Weapon Improved!]'' <<var $itemgreataxe + 10000000>>\ <</if>>\ With one overhead swing you test the axe against a nearby chair, slamming it down in one clean motion that cleaves the furniture in two. A shiver of satisfaction runs down your spine. Afterwards you \ #Jian, a Cathayan-style straight sword <<var $itemjian 200000000>>\ <<unequipweapon1>>\ <<var $equippedweapon "Jian">>\ <<include "ch5-wepqualitycheck">>\ <<if ($craft gte 2)>>\ <<var $itemjian + 10000000>>\ <</if>>\ <<var $weaponbonus $itemjian>>\ ''[Item Gained: Jian]'' ''[Equipped to Weapon slot]'' The most numerous weapons available are also the most versatile. The Cathayan jian you take off a wall-mounted weaponrack proves perfectly balanced in your hand with a sharp edge, sturdy grip, and just the right amount of weight for a sizeable impact. You wave the blade through the air in several figure-eight test swings and \ #Kunai, a Zenshin-style throwing knife <<var $itemkunai 200000000>>\ <<unequipweapon1>>\ <<var $equippedweapon "Kunai">>\ <<include "ch5-wepqualitycheck">>\ <<if ($craft gte 2)>>\ <<var $itemkunai + 10000000>>\ <</if>>\ <<var $weaponbonus $itemkunai>>\ ''[Item Gained: Kunai]'' ''[Equipped to Weapon slot]'' Grabbing the kunai off the wall \ <<if ($style is "Kurokonton")>>\ <<var $agiexp + 2>>\ feels right in your hands, the Cursed Chi surging through your spirit running smoothly over its aerodynamic design. You can envision a hundred ways to control it with your Cursed Chi as if it were a part of your own body, using your chi leash like a rope or pulley to change the trajectory mid-air and surprise your opponents. In doing so, you envision several ways you can use your Cursed Chi towards acrobatic maneuvers as well. <<if ($stealth lte 3)>>\ ''[Stealth Increased by +1]'' <<var $stealth + 1>>\ <<elseif ($athletics lte 3)>>\ ''[Athletics Increased by +1]'' <<var $athletics + 1>>\ <<else>>\ <<apboost 5>>\ <</if>>\ <<else>>\ proves the right decision when it cuts the weaponrack on the way out. You never expected something so thick to be so sharp at the edges but the closer you look the more impressed you are with its design both for melee and ranged combat. <</if>>\ You test its weight, hold it outward and inward for a few mock-slashes and stabs, and nod in satisfaction. With no time left to waste you \ #show-if ((($style is "Akakiru") or ($race is "Oni")) or ($taint gte 30)) Katana, a Zenshin-style curved sword that ''//calls to you.//'' -> "ch5-katanatext" <<var $itemkatana_1 210001000>>\ <<unequipweapon1>>\ <<var $equippedweapon "Muramasa">>\ <<var $weaponbonus $itemkatana_1>>\ <<weaponbonuses>>\ #show-if ((($style is "Akakiru") or ($race is "Oni")) or ($taint gte 30)) A regular Katana, a Zenshin-style curved sword -> "ch5-katanatext" <<var $itemkatana 200000000>>\ <<unequipweapon1>>\ <<var $equippedweapon "Katana">>\ <<include "ch5-wepqualitycheck">>\ <<if ($craft gte 2)>>\ <<var $itemkatana + 10000000>>\ <</if>>\ <<var $weaponbonus $itemkatana>>\ ''[Item Gained: Katana]'' ''[Equipped to Weapon slot]'' #show-if ((($style isnot "Akakiru") and ($race isnot "Oni")) and ($taint lt 30)) Katana, a Zenshin-style curved sword -> "ch5-katanatext" <<var $itemkatana 200000000>>\ <<unequipweapon1>>\ <<var $equippedweapon "Katana">>\ <<include "ch5-wepqualitycheck">>\ <<if ($craft gte 2)>>\ <<var $itemkatana + 10000000>>\ <</if>>\ <<var $weaponbonus $itemkatana>>\ ''[Item Gained: Katana]'' ''[Equipped to Weapon slot]'' #Meteor Hammer, a Cathayan-style chained throwing-mace <<var $itemmeteorhammer 200000000>>\ <<unequipweapon1>>\ <<var $equippedweapon "Meteor Hammer">>\ <<include "ch5-wepqualitycheck">>\ <<if ($craft gte 2)>>\ <<var $itemmeteorhammer + 10000000>>\ <</if>>\ <<var $weaponbonus $itemmeteorhammer>>\ ''[Item Gained: Meteor Hammer]'' ''[Equipped to Weapon Slot]'' One object grabs your attention more than any other: the meteor hammer. Two bluntly spiked steel balls bigger than your fists attached to a long and dexterous chain. It's...it's beautiful. You grab the chain in one hand and give it a good swing, feeling the heavy weight of the metal maceheads on both ends for leverage. With a soft release you let the spinning ball of steel fly off into an opposing wall and crack the stone foundation before pulling it back in one quick jerk, catching the steel macehead in your hand. <<if ($honor lt 49)>>\ Hell yes. Helllllllll yes. <<else>>\ In an odd way, its inefficient design makes it superior. You doubt many opponents have been trained on how to defend against such a rare and strange weapon. <</if>>\ With your new favorite toy you \ #Qiang, a Cathayan-style halberd <<var $itemqiang 200000000>>\ <<unequipweapon1>>\ <<var $equippedweapon "Qiang">>\ <<include "ch5-wepqualitycheck">>\ <<if ($craft gte 2)>>\ <<var $itemqiang + 10000000>>\ <</if>>\ <<var $weaponbonus $itemqiang>>\ ''[Item Gained: Qiang]'' ''[Equipped to Weapon Slot]'' Grabbing a long qiang off the wall proves fruitful on many fronts. The impressive spear houses a multi-pronged and sturdy blade at its end as well as an awe-inspiring thick red and gold tassels for decoration. You give the spear several spins and thrust forward to test its weight and reach, finding both to be superb. With no time left to lose you \ #Yumi, a Zenshin-style bow <<var $itemyumi 200000000>>\ <<unequipweapon1>>\ <<var $equippedweapon "Yumi">>\ <<include "ch5-wepqualitycheck">>\ <<if ($craft gte 2)>>\ <<var $itemyumi + 10000000>>\ <</if>>\ <<var $weaponbonus $itemyumi>>\ ''[Item Gained: Yumi]'' ''[Equipped to Weapon Slot]'' You grab the yumi off the wall and find that, thankfully and irresponsibly, it's already been stringed. You grab more string for later and seize two quivers of arrows, slinging them around your back and waist while quickly notching an arrow. On instinct you aim towards the armory doorway and see everyone immediately part at the doorway, making way for your test shot. But it's not going to be a test shot, because as they part you see the Fiends have reached the crowd. You dash forward just in time to get a look at them before all Hell breaks loose. #Weighted Handwraps, a universal fist weapon <<var $itemhandwraps 200000000>>\ <<unequipweapon1>>\ <<var $equippedweapon "Handwraps">>\ <<include "ch5-wepqualitycheck">>\ <<if ($craft gte 2)>>\ <<var $itemhandwraps + 10000000>>\ <</if>>\ <<var $weaponbonus $itemhandwraps>>\ ''[Item Gained: Handwraps]'' ''[Equipped to Weapon Slot]'' You're a Martial Artist damn it, and that means fighting with your fists. You strip a pair of weighted handwraps off the wall, grip the tips between your index finger and thumbs, and swing them in circles while deftly maneuvering your fingers around the bands as they rotate. In under a second they're successfully wrapped around each finger and knuckle. You slam your fists together with the extra weight, nod in satisfaction, and \ <</choose>>

<<if ($equippedweapon is "Muramasa")>>\ You \ <</if>>\ <<if ($equippedweapon isnot "Yumi")>>\ sprint out of the armory doors just as the shouting crowd of prisoners parts to make way for you. And as you exit the armory you find out why such a crazed mob parted so easily. The Fiends are at the door. <</if>>\ Lost. Undead corpses housing barely-sentient demonic energy. Seven of them in total, the Lost sniff the air as they approach with unnatural twitching. Their dead eyes reflect no emotion or iris but you know it's a trick to preserve chi; the second they detect prey black or crimson energy will fill their eyes and allow them to see. Their pale skin is pierced from the inside by black bone-rock growing in several places that might be sharp but it's the black claws coming out of their fingertips that must be watched most carefully, for those are //certainly// sharp. You find yourself \ <<if ($ruthless lt 50)>>\ looking at the hushed and fearful faces behind you as the Lost close in, mere feet from the crowd. These people have suffered enough death and destruction, it needs to end here. An inner well of energy surges through you as you feel pushed to defend the prisoners. It doesn't matter if you have to kill seven Fiends at once, not one more innocent will die. Not. One. ''[Compassion Check Passed]'' <<var $apval + 10>>\ <<apboost $apval>>\ <<elseif ($honor gte 50)>>\ <<var $powexp + 2>>\ <<var $honor + 2>>\ preparing your weapon in silence, the crowd hushing as the Lost grow ever closer. Deep down you know there's no point to the hesitation. The enemy is before you. The next step is obvious. ''[Honor Check Passed]'' <<apboost 5>>\ The first movement will decide this fight. It will be yours. You close the gap with a leaping kick that sends the Fiend in front flying to the back of the prison, its jaw clearly broken. "Begin." You announce, inviting the suddenly crazed Lost to charge into their second death. <<else>>\ somehow smiling. You've been waiting for an excuse to vent some frustration all day and these abominations volunteered. "Thanks." You whisper as you punch the closest one in the face so hard that it tumbles into another. The others jump into a bloodcraze in your direction and you wouldn't have it any other way. <</if>>\ <<page "Continue" "ch5-lost-weaponchoices3">>\

<<if ($equippedweapon is "Handwraps")>>\ Charging headlong into \ <<else>>\ Using a true Warrior's weapon like your $equippedweapon in \ <</if>>\ the rush of battle with chi coursing through your body and soul reinvigorates a part of you that neither the fever nor the manacles could truly suppress: your training. Long lost is the little $boygirl struggling through the secrets of the Martial Arts. From your corrections under Big Chu to your constant successes thereafter, you've evolved into something you \ <<if (($ruthless gte 52) or ($honor gte 52))>>\ always knew you were: <<else>>\ always dreamed of but never truly envisioned: <</if>>\ Not just a fighter who can contest with the monsters of this world, but a force they should fear. <<if ($equippedweapon is "Yumi")>>\ You bless the fletcher who stringed this bow as it survives the staggering amount of drawstrength you put on it. In a single arrow you put enough force to shoot through two Lost skulls at once, causing them to drop instantly to the ground before the others can close the gap. When they lunge you spin and kick one into the ceiling as another comes at you with its claws, finding your fist in its hand. The Lost pauses for a half-second, confused as you uppercut the center of its palm and forcefully close its claw-hand harmlessly around your wrist. Before it catches on to curl its clawed fingers you headbutt it with enough force to crack its skull and throw it into two others, sending them tumbling. You draw three arrows and finish them off before they get up, then fire another arrow down the hall to finish off the Lost you sent flying. Not a single arrow gone to waste. <<elseif ((($equippedweapon is "Handwraps") or ($equippedweapon is "Meteor Hammer")) or ($equippedweapon is "Bo Staff"))>>\ You bludgeon the first two Lost in the heads with such weight that their skulls shatter. The second they drop another leaps over them only to take a heavy kick to the gut, keeping it airborne for a second longer as you headbutt the Fiend into the ground and decapitate it with a $auracolor glowing stomp to the neck. No scrolls told you that decapitation would work against a Lost; you followed a lifelong guide that decapitation almost always works. The next four take serious coordination as you strike their limbs and chest, swinging your \ <<if (($equippedweapon is "Meteor Hammer") or ($equippedweapon is "Bo Staff"))>>\ $equippedweapon in circles between hits to build momentum for the decisive strikes that finish them off. <<else>>\ fists like a crazed animal and striking with enough weight to launch the Lost into walls. Three more fall to your weighted punches before the final Lost is launched by a forceful punch so hard that it hits the bars of a cell halfway down the jail. Unlike the others, it stands back up. <</if>>\ <<elseif (($equippedweapon is "Greataxe") or ($equippedweapon is "Qiang"))>>\ As the first three Lost charge at you they're met with the heavy blade of your $equippedweapon, decapitating two in a single swing. The third gets too close too fast and you're forced to kick them back before turning your blade upward and slamming the butt of your $equippedweapon down onto its skull. Two more close in, eyes burning black and claws flailing at you, but you rush forward faster than they can move and clothesline them with your weapon, turning as you pass and sweeping downward to cut through one of their heads. You sidestep the other Lost coming up behind you and kick it onto the second one on the ground before \ <<if ($equippedweapon is "Qiang")>>\ impaling them both. <<else>>\ raising your axe up high and slamming it down onto the pair of Fiends, cleaving through them both. <</if>>\ A clicking causes you to turn and you see the last Lost, analyzing your performance. It feels unnerving for something supposedly mindless to watch your moves so closely. <<elseif (((($equippedweapon is "Jian") or ($equippedweapon is "Katana")) or ($equippedweapon is "Muramasa")) or ($equippedweapon is "Kunai"))>>\ You meet the Lost head-on by charging in faster than they can, slashing your \ <<if ($equippedweapon is "Muramasa")>>\ cursed blade \ <<else>>\ $equippedweapon \ <</if>>\ in an upward arc as you pass by one and turning just afterward to perform a downward slice on another. Immediately the situation changes from three Lost charging you first to two Lost being beheaded and the remaining five trying to circle you. "You." You declare, charging forward at the unlucky Lost before they can gain a formation. \ <<if ($equippedweapon is "Muramasa")>>\ Muramasa \ <<else>>\ Your $equippedweapon \ <</if>>\ pierces the Lost's chest with enough force to lift it off the ground. You gain solid footing and spin quickly; the sharpness of your blade slices through the Lost's midsection, spilling black blood everywhere, and your spin causes your $equippedweapon to collide into the head of the nearest Lost that was charging after you in retaliation. The next two reach you in the confusion of the skirmish and raise their claws high to attack but you kick one with so much force that both you and the Lost are launched ten feet back. In the swiftness of your blow and movement you dodge the other Lost's claw. Immediately you throw \ <<if ($equippedweapon is "Muramasa")>>\ Muramasa \ <<else>>\ your $equippedweapon \ <</if>>\ directly into that Lost's head and kick off the wall, charging fast to draw your blade back from its head and fly past it into the next Lost, beheading that one with ease as well. That leaves only the one you kicked away. It rises off the ground and analyzes you, its eyes glowing crimson. <</if>>\ The final Lost's Aura Pressure feels far above the others in spiritual senses. If you had to gauge a number it feels closer to 400 than the low 100s of the others, but it has a new weakness: it's attacking you alone. \ Without any distractions you dodge three claw strikes, \ <<if ($equippedweapon isnot "Handwraps")>>\ trip it with your $equippedweapon, \ <<else>>\ wrap your loosening handwrap around its leg and pull hard to trip it, \ <</if>>\ grab it by the leg as it falls, and spin in a circle as fast as possible. Your arms glow $auracolor as you build up speed and the Lost flails its claws outward in vain struggle. Faster you spin, faster and faster and faster, until your body appears a blur and finally you let go of your projectile opponent. The Lost is sent flying into the stone wall with so much momentum that its head nearly cracks. When your built-up chi leaves your arm in an energy blast that hits it from behind to add to the impact, its skull //does// crack. Black blood litters the jail as all Lost lie dead on the floor. ''[$equippedweapon Weapon Expertise:'' \ <<if ($equippedweapon is "Bo Staff")>>\ ''Soul + Fortitude]'' <<var $apval ($soul + $fortitude)>>\ <<elseif ($equippedweapon is "Greataxe")>>\ ''Power + Fortitude]'' <<var $apval ($power + $fortitude)>>\ <<elseif ($equippedweapon is "Jian")>>\ ''Power + Soul]'' <<var $apval ($power + $soul)>>\ <<elseif ($equippedweapon is "Kunai")>>\ ''Agility + Soul]'' <<var $apval ($agility + $soul)>>\ <<elseif (($equippedweapon is "Katana") or ($equippedweapon is "Muramasa"))>>\ <<if (($equippedweapon is "Muramasa") and (($soul + $power) gt ($agility + $power)))>>\ ''Soul + Power]'' <<var $apval ($soul + $power)>>\ <<else>>\ ''Agility + Power]'' <<var $apval ($agility + $power)>>\ <</if>>\ <<elseif ($equippedweapon is "Meteor Hammer")>>\ ''Agility + Fortitude]'' <<var $apval ($agility + $fortitude)>>\ <<elseif ($equippedweapon is "Qiang")>>\ ''Power + Fortitude]'' <<var $apval ($power + $fortitude)>>\ <<elseif ($equippedweapon is "Yumi")>>\ ''Soul + Agility]'' <<var $apval ($soul + $agility)>>\ <<elseif ($equippedweapon is "Handwraps")>>\ ''Power + Agility]'' <<var $apval ($power + $agility)>>\ <<apboost $apval>>\ <</if>>\ <<page "Continue" "ch5-lost-done">>\

<<var $val 0>>\ <<var $tempwep false>>\ <<var $fren "Leona">>\ <<var $thesecret false>>\ <<var $cj 0>>\ <<var $ritualboost false>>\ <<var $firststrike false>>\ <<var $elem "">>\ <<var $docks false>>\ <<var $beamsuccess false>>\ <<var $prayertalisman false>>\ <<var $fiendish false>>\ <<var $lifesteal false>>\ <<var $fiendseverity 6>>\ <<var $toldgrim false>>\ <<var $failedparty true>>\ <<var $talisman false>>\ <<var $cj $spareval_1>>\ <<var $spareval_1 0>>\ <<if ($sparestr_1 is "thesecret")>>\ <<var $thesecret true>>\ <<var $sparestr_1 "">>\ <</if>>\ <<var $distraction $sparestr_2>>\ <<var $sparestr_2 "">>\ <<var $prisonerval 0>>\ <<var $val3 0>>\ You all arrive at the multi-wing four-story mansion the Sunbringers have used as a torturous base of operations, its eastern and western wings curving in a U-shape so you'll have to pass by several windows to get to the front door. The perfect ambush position. "This looks like a trap." Kosuke says. "It looks like a challenge." Bo corrects. "It looks like a dump." Leona complains. \ <<if ($cj is 1)>>\ Bo, Kosuke, and most of your new troops \ <<else>>\ Bo and Kosuke \ <</if>>\ look to her in disbelief. You hold a hand for silence and steel your resolve before opening the gate further, striding across the lawn. \ <<if ($style is "Akakiru")>>\ An entire Sect worth of battle medicine was in here, Leona was sure of it, so this is where you need to be. Either it's still inside or the trail for it starts here. \ <<else>>\ <<if ($style is "Aoyusumu")>>\ <<var $fren "Angelo">>\ <<elseif ($style is "Kiihakai")>>\ <<var $fren "Desdemona">>\ <<elseif ($style is "Kurokonton")>>\ <<var $fren "Guiren">>\ <<elseif ($style is "Midorikatai")>>\ <<var $fren "Fang">>\ Crow Li took $fren here, you're sure of it. You either need to find them inside or find the trail of where they went. \ <</if>>\ <</if>>\ You reach the mansion's front entrance without issue, take one deep, steadying breath, and push the door open, ready for anything. A sword's tip appears from behind the doorway and presses against your neck. "Don't move." Says a voice in the darkness from behind the door. \ <<if ($style is "Kurokonton")>>\ "Not unless you want to get gutted by..." ''[Style Event: Kurokonton]'' "-//by the Ancestors!//" The swordsman suddenly exclaims. "You actually came back for Guiren!" The door fully opens and you recognize the pure black clothing and facewrap covering on the man, it's one of Guiren's minions. Behind him are three more. You recognize Yoji the Oni's voice. "Of course <<cap $heshe>> came back, moron, $heshe's one of us." "What are you all doing here?" You ask, surprised but relieved. "We were about to break Guiren out," says the Human with the sword, Wencheng you think. "Took too long for the three Martial Artists guarding this place to succumb to the sleeping poison we hid in their wine, we've barely been in position for a minute. From what we've found they moved Guiren upstairs instead of the basement. Fourth floor, east wing. We were trying to figure out how to get enough firepower for the ambush when you showed up." "Good. I'll take it from here." You look around at the looted dining room, the dead inhabitants noticeably missing and replaced with three dead Sunbringers. "Where is the battle medicine?" Yoji takes off his mask and grins, flipping the long dining table over to reveal a dozen opened lockboxes underneath. "We were going to take turns tumbling underneath in the middle of any fight to consume what we needed. You have no idea how rarely important people look under furniture." A sly grin comes across your face as you poke your head out to \ <<if ($cj is 1)>>\ the large crowd \ <<else>>\ the others still \ <</if>>\ on the lawn. "Everyone get in here. Our \ <<if ($ruthless gt 50)>>\ revenge \ <<else>>\ counteroffensive \ <</if>>\ begins now." It's all coming together. <<page "Continue" "ch5-mansion2">>\ <<elseif ($style is "Kiihakai")>>\ "If you value your life, you'll-" ''[Style Event: Kiihakai]'' "-it, it's //you!//" Shouts the swordsman. "You've come to help us!" You're not sure how these sorts of shakedowns usually go, but you're certain this man is doing a poor job. He pulls the door the rest of the way open and you recognize him immediately. Li Sun, Disciple of the Dreamriver Sect under Desdemona. "We were afraid you wouldn't escape the prison due to the Binder's Bands, even with the unfinished Seal we left behind." "I managed." You reply. Behind him is his sister and two other members in their signature purple gi. On the floor lie three dead Sunbringers, their throats slit. "Your doing?" "We cast an illusion Seal to paralyze them." Li Sun says, looking on the corpses of his enemies with regret. "We couldn't fight them head-on, but when we saw what they did to the family that lived here we..." His fist tightens. "We did the same to them." "Great job!" Leona exclaims far too loudly, shoving past you through the doorway. "Now who's got the battle pills? Mama's hungry for some mystical healing." <<if ($cj is 1)>>\ Your small army piles in through the doorway. <<else>>\ Kosuke sneaks in next, followed by the rest of your forces. <</if>>\ "It looks like we have enough to make a stand." Says Li Moon from a seat at the long table, adjusting her glasses and organizing ritual components in front of her. "I'm glad I prepared everything for such a large party, but I never expected you to show up with one." <<if ($heshe is "she")>>\ "Never doubt my new best friend!" Leona shouts through mouthfuls of some unfamiliar glowing moss, already gorging herself on the assortment of healing herbs. <<else>>\ "Neither did I." Says Bo in his nasally voice. "Shut up Bo." Replies Kosuke, walking in behind him and mouthing the words 'Neither did I.' to you over his shoulder. <</if>>\ <<page "Continue" "ch5-mansion2">>\ <<else>>\ "I saw what you did to that patrol. Take one more step and I'll run you through with Bladed Chi." The moonlight seeps in through the doorway and your eyes adjust to a Sunbringer uniform on a battle-scarred wolf yokai man, long fangs bared. <<if ($cj is 1)>>\ ''[Event: Armed Mob]'' <<if ($ruthless gte 54)>>\ "Men, if this filthy blade stays on my skin for more than a second I want you to rip this man's arms off and choke him to death with them." \ <<else>>\ "There's no need for violence." You offer. "Because if you get violent the men behind me are going to be very angry." \ <</if>>\ You really were ready for anything, including uppity swordsmen. The Sunbringer looks past you to see two dozen armed and vengeful residents of Ebikowa. "O-Oh." He says. "I seem to have...forgotten...something, somewhere." "I'm sure you did." You reply, unmoving. The man pulls his blade away and slowly squeezes past you through the doorway, breaking into a sprint across the lawn away from <<if ($cj is 1)>>\ your crowd. \ <<else>>\ you. \ <</if>>\ <<include "ch5-mansion-manrunning">>\ <<elseif ($style is "Akakiru")>>\ ''[Akakiru Style Event!!]'' Your eyes shift down to the blade and it begins to glow scarlet, gaining more and more Bladed Chi along its edges. The Sunbringer smirks in victory as your frozen form merely stands there, looking at his blade as its power enhancement grows. And grows. And grows. Before he can realize what's happening it's already too late. The Bladed Chi coursing through the sword is not his, it's yours, and it shoots backward through the handle like a spear thrust. Your energy pierces through his abdomen and the man drops to the ground immediately in shock. <<choose "ch5-mansion2">> #Finish him off. <<var $ruthless + 2>>\ <<if ($heshe is "he")>>\ <<var $leonaromance + 1>>\ <</if>>\ <<var $borep + 3>>\ You stomp on the man's neck with your full force and weight as you march into the torture mansion, ready to begin your vengeance on the Sunbringers for what they've done to you. The neck snaps with a single stomp, one which you use to carry yourself forward without breaking your stride. <<page "Continue" "ch5-mansion2">>\ #Hide him in the closet. <<var $ruthless - 3>>\ You catch the man as he passes out and collapses then drag him into a closet by the door. "I love hiding the bodies in closets." Kosuke whispers. "How many do you think we can get before they catch us?" "All of the rest, which is hopefully none." You whisper back. <<var $bffrep + 2>>\ The Sunbringer's aura should keep him alive but this is one opponent you won't have to worry about anymore. <<page "Continue" "ch5-mansion2">>\ #"Someone come clean this up." <<var $honor + 2>>\ <<var $ruthless - 1>>\ "Someone come clean this up." You say to Bo, Kosuke, and Leona. Bo raises his nose into the air, Leona whistles innocently, and Kosuke rolls $bffhisher eyes at them both. <<cap $bffheshe>> walks carefully through the doorway and drags the unconscious man into a closet by the entrance. The Sunbringer's aura should keep him alive but this is one opponent you won't have to worry about anymore. <<var $leonarep + 2>>\ <<var $bffrep - 2>>\ <<page "Continue" "ch5-mansion2">>\ <</choose>> <<elseif ($style is "Midorikatai")>>\ ''[Midorikatai Style Event!!]'' Fang's wolves charge from the sides of your legs and knock the man over, grabbing his heel and throat and pulling him in different directions before he has a chance to scream. It's a grizzlier sight than expected. They're wolves. "So..." Kosuke mutters over your shoulder to the sound of ripping and tearing. "Would they do that to me if I was pranking you?" "Such an astute observation." Bo grumbles, muscling past you both. The wolves turn and growl at him until he turns around, face much paler than before. "After you." He whispers as he waits his turn to enter. <<page "Continue" "ch5-mansion2">>\ <<elseif ($style is "Aoyusumu")>>\ ''[Aoyusumu Style Event!!]'' You layer a Sacred shield of kinetic force over your neck and walk into his sword until the metal shatters against the strength of your Aura Pressure. Another step closer and you're an inch from his face, staring into his eyes. "I'm sorry." You say to the man whose mouth begins to drop as his shattered sword pieces hit the floor. "I didn't quite hear what you said." "I-I-I said that I, uh..." He starts to mutter, seeing the others looking through the doorway. "You apologize and repent, that's what you were going to say, correct?" "Y-Yes!" The Sunbringer chokes out, backing up slowly and sprinting out the back door. "Yes I'm sorry!" <<include "ch5-mansion-manrunning">>\ <</if>>\ <</if>>\

Leona looks from him to you, tilting her head towards the fleeing man and drawing a finger across her throat as if to ask if you want her to kill him. <<choose "ch5-mansion2">> #Nod back. <<var $leonarep + 3>>\ <<var $ruthless + 3>>\ <<var $honor + 1>>\ She does a short jump with glee and frolics off with two swords drawn. The rest of you continue inside as the man meets a swift end. <<page "Continue" "ch5-mansion2">>\ #Shake your head. <<var $leonarep - 2>>\ <<var $ruthless - 4>>\ <<var $honor + 2>>\ Her shoulders slump and she pouts, following the rest of the crowd inside like a grounded child. <<page "Continue" "ch5-mansion2">>\ <</choose>>

Something's wrong, even with Leona gone, because she was right. Crow Li should be on you by now. You leave through the same window you dropped her through and get to the back of the roof, sending out a thin pulse of your own aura into your surroundings and pulling it back to complete your spiritual scan of the front yard. Sure enough you sense the Fire Chi, Light Chi, and Mystic Chi combination of the Sunbringers in full blaze on the street. Crow Li, most likely, but he's not advancing. He's frozen. Something else is contesting him further beyond and you sense...Earth Chi. Unimaginable amounts of Earth Chi. "Wow, that's a lot of Earth Chi." Leona says from beside you on the roof. "Who do you think it is?" You close your eyes and suppress a groan. Of course she can jump four stories. You can. "Come on." You reply. "Let's go find out. <<page "Continue" "ch5-smilingjack">>\

Once everyone's made it into the mansion you look out the window and get a quick glimpse as the shining Mystic Chi barrier around the east wing's fourth story room, sticking out of the walls unnaturally to block off all intrusions. \ <<if ($style is "Akakiru")>>\ He hasn't noticed you've already begun your attack. <<else>>\ You've still got time, but does $fren? <</if>>\ <<if ($style is "Kiihakai")>>\ Desdemona's disciples spread the battle medicine across the main table as well as a collection of herbs and ritual components, the entire trove of the Sunbringer's \ <<if ($heshe is "she")>>\ plunder. Leona occasionally shoulder-checks them away from the glowing moss which appears to be her favorite. <<else>>\ plunder. <</if>>\ "This is everything we were able to gather." Li Moon says, adjusting her glasses. "We've done what we can to optimize each dosage. These healing elixirs can help recover chi reserves as well. They were probably refined specifically with the Sunbringer's energy-based Paths in mind. That means we can save on replenishment elixirs and use them in bulk for weaker fighters to the point that they could act as Advancement Elixirs, especially with the right Seals for containment." "...What does any of that mean?" Kosuke asks. Li Sun, the other disciple taking the lead over Desdemona's troops, stabs his sword into the table and leans against its handle. "It means we've got everything we need to get back to fighting shape, and then some." Everyone in your party looks over the incredible collection of low and mid-grade cultivation resources across the dining room's long table. \ <<elseif ($style is "Kurokonton")>>\ "Since our sneakier plan isn't needed, here's everything we've got." Says Yoji the Oni while Guiren's other underlings pull several opened lockboxes from under the dining room long table and spread their contents across it. The entire Sunbringer Sect's lower treasury spills out at once. Everyone in your party looks over the incredible collection of low and mid-grade cultivation resources across the dining room's long table. \ <<else>>\ Bo and Kosuke break through crate after crate until they find one filled with lockboxes and protected in glowing Seals. "These are going to need a keystone to get through." Bo says. "Damn it, this isn't good." Leona waltzes passed him and takes a keystone out of her pocket, opening each small treasure box in one swing of her arm across all locks. You give her a questioning gaze and she points to the keystone in her hand as if advertising it for sale. "I'm a Sunbringer. They're Sunbringer locks." Bo tips the lockboxes onto the long table and everyone gathers to stare in awe at the incredible quantity of low-grade and mid-grade combat elixirs, healing pills, and advancement herbs. \ <</if>>\ Nothing here is too expensive, but combined it's enough to buy this mansion. "Ancestors." Says Kosuke. "It's so beautiful. How much do we use? How much do we //''sell?''//" "Eat it all!" Leona barks out, stuffing her face with some unfamiliar spirit fruits at the other end of the table and downing vials of glowing purple liquid. "This place is going to be a warzone, take every advantage you can get or you're just dead weight!" Kosuke's pout switches to a panic when your freed prisoners and \ <<if ($style is "Kurokonton")>>\ Guiren's men \ <<elseif ($style is "Kiihakai")>>\ the Dreamriver disciples \ <<else>>\ Bo \ <</if>>\ take Leona's advice to grab pills, vials, spirit fruits, and herbs off the \ <<if ($style is "Midorikatai")>>\ table. <<cap $bffheshe>> immediately lunges for several mysterious vials, guzzling one and pouring the other down a wolf's mouth while its tail wags. <<else>>\ table. <</if>>\ Using your alchemical knowledge you carefully pick out the correct herbs and pills to replenish your own spirit as well. <<if ($bocombat lt 5)>>\ <<var $bocombat + 1>>\ <</if>>\ <<if ($kosukecombat lt 5)>>\ <<var $kosukecombat + 1>>\ <</if>>\ <<var $chispent 0>>\ <<var $powspent 0>>\ <<var $forspent 0>>\ <<var $agispent 0>>\ <<var $solspent 0>>\ <<var $wounds 0>>\ ''[All Health, Cores, and Chi Replenished]'' <<var $apval (10 + ($alchemy * 5))>>\ <<apboost $apval>>\ <<if ($cj is 1)>>\ <<if ($alchemy gte 2)>>\ <<var $prisonerval 3>>\ <<else>>\ <<var $prisonerval 2>>\ <</if>>\ ''[$prisonerval Freed Prisoners Advanced to Martial Retainers]'' <<var $retainers - $prisonerval>>\ <<var $martial_retainers + $prisonerval>>\ <</if>>\ <<if ($style is "Kiihakai")>>\ ''[Dreamriver Sect Assistance: Elixirs Enhanced!]'' ''[Temporary Bonus: +1 Fortitude, +1 Soul]'' <<var $fortitude + 1>>\ <<var $soul + 1>>\ ''[Permanent Bonus: Aura Pressure +5]'' <<var $aurapressure + 5>>\ ''[Permanent Bonus: Kosuke's Combat Prowess has Increased!]'' <<var $kosukecombat + 1>>\ <</if>>\ The power of the Sunbringer sect's cultivation treasures streams through your body and you feel energized beyond belief. For the first time since this whole ordeal started you feel your aura manifest fully around you, stronger than you ever remembered it being. You stare down at your hands in awe, witnessing the full and powerful aura of \ <<if ($style is "Akakiru")>>\ scarlet Bladed Chi \ <<elseif ($style is "Aoyusumu")>>\ cerulean Sacred Chi \ <<elseif ($style is "Kiihakai")>>\ golden Mystic Chi \ <<elseif ($style is "Kurokonton")>>\ purple Cursed Chi \ <<elseif ($style is "Midorikatai")>>\ green Wild Chi \ <</if>>\ around you for the first time. You are whole again. In that regard you are not the only one. Scarlet power flies off Leona in wild blades forming cuts in the floor and ceiling. Dense green Wild Chi forms around Bo Lo that makes him almost look not scrawny. Kosuke \ <<if ($martial_retainers gt 2)>>\ and some of your freed fighters light \ <<else>>\ lights \ <</if>>\ up with a white haze around \ <<if ($martial_retainers gt 2)>>\ their \ <<else>>\ $bffhisher \ <</if>>\ body. Such a display of power does not go unnoticed. All eyes in the room, yours included, widen as a heavy spiritual scan brushes your spirits. You don't bother looking to Leona, Kosuke, or Bo to see if it was them; the power of the scan is so forceful that you can feel where it originates: high up on the eastern wing of the mansion. Crow Li has found you. <<page "Continue" "ch5-mansion3">>\

"Incoming!" Bo shouts, diving for a metal shield on the wall. The barrier in the east wing breaks into hundreds of motes of Mystic Chi that refine into needle-thin energy beams sent piercing through the building. Crow Li's rain of power drills through the ceiling and into your entire party. <<var $combatstat "fortitude">>\ <<combatcheck 6>>\ <<if ($passcheck is true)>>\ ''[Damage Resisted!]'' <<else>>\ <<woundcheck 1 false true>>\ <</if>>\ Everyone else ducks for cover and Leona is forced into a flurry of sword-swinging to keep most of the attacks from killing the weaker freed citizens. <<choose "ch5-mansion3-fightleap">> #Jump out the window and get a running leap into Crow Li's room from outside. You've all been found out, and if you don't act fast you'll all be killed at a distance. Without time to explain you cover your face with both forearms and leap through the nearest window, kicking sideways off the frame to launch yourself towards the east wing when you exit. Your body leaves a thick trail of $auracolor light behind as you sprint through the \ <<if ($cj is 1)>>\ grounds past your very confused troops. \ <<else>>\ grounds. \ <</if>>\ Looking up at the upper floors of this dark and foreboding mansion's eastern wing shows little, the dark clouds above barely illuminating the town around you, but your target makes itself apparent when one window erupts in the white and gold light of a Sunbringer Sect aura. Without hesitation you leap onto a nearby stone fountain and kick off with your running start, soaring across the mansion's grounds and rising to the level of the fourth floor. The window of Crow Li's room comes closer and closer... <<if (($element1 is "Light") or ($element2 is "Light"))>>\ ''[Light Element Event: Automatic Success]'' <<apboost 3>>\ And hit your target with ease, guided by the Light element's speed. <<elseif (($element1 is "Wind") or ($element2 is "Wind"))>>\ ''[Wind Element Event: Automatic Success]'' <<apboost 3>>\ And hit your target with ease, adjusting your trajectory with Wind energy. <<elseif (($element1 is "Storm") or ($element2 is "Storm"))>>\ ''[Storm Element Event: Automatic Success]'' <<apboost 3>>\ And hit your target with ease, ricocheting through the air with a trail of electricity behind you. <<else>>\ <<var $combatstat "agility">>\ <<var $combatskill "athletics">>\ <<discount "Legs" 1>>\ <<discount "Agile" 1>>\ <<combatcheck 6>>\ <<if ($passcheck is true)>>\ And hit your target perfectly. <<else>>\ But not as close as the wall. You slam into the mansion's wall with your enhanced body and supernatural speed, crashing your bare skin through the fourth story wooden supports. Your body feels as if you're being beaten with 6 clubs at once as you break through. <<woundcheck 1 true false>>\ Wooden splinters erupt around you and through the cloud you see Crow Li, teeth clenched and hands glowing in preparation for an ambush from the front door. His eyes wince at the explosion to his left and he turns towards you too slowly to stop your advance. <<page "Continue" "ch5-mansion3-fightleap">>\ <<halt>>\ <</if>>\ <</if>>\ Glass shatters around your speeding form breaking through the window and time seems to slow to a halt. You see Crow Li facing the door, teeth clenched with two hands glowing in preparation of an ambush. His eyes wince at the sound of glass shattering to his left and then widen, his head turning to notice your alternative entrance too late. <<page "Continue" "ch5-mansion3-fightleap">>\ #Rush up the stairs and barge in, confronting Crow Li directly. You leave no room for a second attack, sprinting to the circular main staircase and leaping from banister to banister in a ricochet pattern to the fourth floor. When you reach the top you kick off down the long hallway of the east wing. Shining gold and white light emit from around the closed doorway of the room at the end of the hall and you cross both arms in front of your face in preparation for something the Sunbringers would never understand. Overwhelming physical force. You focus chi into your arms, back, legs, and core as you plow into the doorway like a battering ram. The door's tough lock does nothing to stop your entrance and you break through the door itself as if it were paper. Immediately you're blasted with white and gold hostile chi scorching your entire body. <<var $combatstat "power">>\ <<var $combatstat2 "fortitude">>\ <<discount "Muscular" 1>>\ <<combatcheck 10>>\ <<if ($passcheck is true)>>\ But the blinding and burning energy of his Sunbringer blast is not enough to break through the chi you surged through your system. Smoke comes off your skin but your spirit and toughness resist the power of Crow Li's attack even as the blinding Light still surges through the room. <<else>>\ The overwhelming power of an Upper Disciple burns through the protective layer of chi you'd wrapped around your body. Your lifeforce's spirit and then your flesh itself are scorched from the attack, saved only by your preparation and pieces of the door blocking a direct hit. <<woundcheck 1 false false>>\ Yet even through the pain a thought runs through your head: Surviving a direct energy attack from an Upper Disciple, especially an energy specialist like the new leader of the Sunbringers, \ <<if ($jadedragonfoundation is true)>>\ should have been harder, even for you. <<else>>\ shouldn't be possible. Yet. <</if>>\ <<var $val 66>>\ <</if>>\ <<page "Continue" "ch5-mansion3-fightstairs">>\ #Focus all your chi into a beam that rips through the house. Tonight you've learned all your most powerful attacks have been inside of a Gate. it's time to break that habit. You're not the same rookie from before. With a wide stance and both hands cupped together you form layer after layer of brilliant $auracolor energy between your palms and cycle even more throughout your body, pulling all the chi from your toes up to your palms in a condensed battery of spiritual energy. <<if ($clothes is "red and gold Cathayan hanfu")>>\ The edges of your Cathayan hanfu flutter \ <<elseif ($clothes is "orange and black haori")>>\ The sleeves of your haori tremble violently \ <<elseif (($clothes is "white and black hakama") or ($clothes is "white and red hakama"))>>\ Your entire hakama trembles \ <<elseif ($clothes is "blue and pink flowery yukata")>>\ The lower edges of your yukata tremble \ <<elseif ($clothes is "brown cloak and straw hat")>>\ Your travel cloak trembles and your straw hat nearly flies off \ <<elseif ($clothes is "white tobi pants and black shirt")>>\ Your tight shirt survives the wind but your tobi pants flutter uncontrollably \ <</if>>\ from the power radiating through the air around you as your combat chi reaches its maximum output. With a battlecry, you release it all in one brilliant beam. <<var $combatstat "soul">>\ <<discount "Kiihakai" 1>>\ <<discount "Storm" 1>>\ <<discount "Fire" 1>>\ <<combatcheck 7>>\ <<if ($passcheck is true)>>\ <<var $beamsuccess true>>\ Leona and Kosuke leap away from you as a river of spirit energy escapes from the ball in your hands, blasting outward in a head-thick \ <<if (($element1 is "Storm") or ($element2 is "Storm"))>>\ <<if (($element1 is "Fire") or ($element2 is "Fire"))>>\ burning \ <</if>>\ lightning bolt \ <<elseif (($element1 is "Ice") or ($element2 is "Ice"))>>\ freezing ray \ <<elseif (($element1 is "Water") or ($element2 is "Water"))>>\ torrent of water \ <<elseif (($element1 is "Fire") or ($element2 is "Fire"))>>\ flamethrower beam \ <<else>>\ beam of hostile $auracolor energy \ <</if>>\ that blows through the mansion, pressurized with such force that holes half as wide as your body rip through the floors, walls, and ceilings. Your blast reaches the other end of the east wing and explodes the floor under Crow Li, slamming into his quickly erected chi shield with such an impact that he's blown clear through the roof. <<apboost 4>>\ "Ancestors..." Kosuke says while you pant, gazing through the impromptu tunnel you blasted to the fourth floor. Your eyelids suddenly feel like they weigh 100lbs but you give $bffhimher a short nod. Numbness drains your limbs from the lack of living energy remaining in your body after such a feat and you truly wish you had time to rest. Yet you do not. Instead you jump through the holes left in your attack's wake all the same. The fight's not over, \ <<if ($style is "Akakiru")>>\ you need to follow the Oni and finish the job. <<else>>\ and you need to get to $fren. <</if>>\ <<else>>\ Kosuke leaps away as you release a condensed beam of spirit energy into the roof, aiming it at the east wing. A thin but powerful \ <<if (($element1 is "Storm") or ($element2 is "Storm"))>>\ <<if (($element1 is "Fire") or ($element2 is "Fire"))>>\ burning \ <</if>>\ lightning bolt \ <<elseif (($element1 is "Ice") or ($element2 is "Ice"))>>\ freezing ray \ <<elseif (($element1 is "Water") or ($element2 is "Water"))>>\ torrent of water \ <<elseif (($element1 is "Fire") or ($element2 is "Fire"))>>\ flamethrower beam \ <<else>>\ beam of hostile $auracolor energy \ <</if>>\ crashes through floors, ceilings, and walls on its way to Crow Li, but his needle ray of golden Mystic Chi lances holes through your beam and shoulders. You try to keep your stance steady and push the energy forward but his attack redoubles on you, his thinner piercing energy beams crashing through the ceiling and stabbing into your body all over. <<woundcheck 1 false true>>\ "<<cap $heshe>>'s not going to make it!" Leona shouts to the others. Bo grits his teeth and leaps to your left as Leona comes to your right, both holding their hands close to yours and trying to surge your chi beam without having any time to build up their own. A \ <<if ($style is "Midorikatai")>>\ scarlet glow \ <<elseif ($style is "Akakiru")>>\ mild green glow \ <<else>>\ scarlet and green glow \ <</if>>\ adds to your power and your beam thickens to almost twice its width, pressurized with such force that holes half as wide as your body rip through the mansion's east wing all the way up to the fourth floor. Your combined blast explodes the floor out from under Crow Li, slamming into his quickly erected chi shield with such an impact that he's blown clear through the roof. Bo drops to one knee, gasping for air. You feel the same. "Can you hold the lower floor if someone shows up?" You ask. Leona nods, rubbing her temple from effort. "We've got things down here, plus a trove of battle pills. \ <<if ($style isnot "Akakiru")>>\ Go save your friend." <<else>>\ I'll make sure they're all prepared and meet you further up." <</if>>\ <</if>>\ <<page "Continue" "ch5-mansion3-fightbeam">>\ <</choose>>

You kick off each floor on your way through the multitude of holes your all-out beam blew through the building until you get to the top and leap upwards into the torture room where Crow Li was waiting. <<var $combatstat "fortitude">>\ <<var $combatskill "insight">>\ <<combatcheck 7>>\ <<if ($passcheck is true)>>\ You detect the trap just before it springs. A delayed explosion of chi placed on the floor that will detonate just as you pass through. You surge chi over your leg and kick outwards as you pass through the final hole in the east wing's fourth floor. Sure enough, an energy blast forms out of nowhere and erupts towards you, but your kick cuts the blast in half before it fully forms. Your leg hurts like hell but you stopped the real damage. <<else>>\ A bright white and gold flash is the only warning you get as Crow Li's Technique explodes around you. Some sort of delayed blast activates like a trap as you pass through the final floor, \ <<if ($eblocktech is "")>>\ ripping your skin off \ <<else>>\ blasting you \ <</if>>\ with scorching power. <<woundcheck 1 false true>>\ The blast envelopes your body but fails to end the fight, leaving you standing on the floor covered in black scorch marks. <</if>>\ <<weightexp 1>>\ <<if (($fightbonus gt 0) and ($beamsuccess))>>\ ''[Enemy Aura Pressure Absorbed: $fightbonus]'' <<var $aurapressure + $fightbonus>>\ <</if>>\ <<if ($style is "Akakiru")>>\ <<page "Continue" "ch5-rescue-leona">>\ <<elseif ($style is "Aoyusumu")>>\ <<page "Continue" "ch5-rescue-angelo">>\ <<elseif ($style is "Kiihakai")>>\ <<page "Continue" "ch5-rescue-desdemona">>\ <<elseif ($style is "Kurokonton")>>\ <<page "Continue" "ch5-rescue-guiren">>\ <<else>>\ <<page "Continue" "ch5-rescue-fang">>\ <</if>>\

<<var $combatstat "fortitude">>\ <<discount "Ice" 1>>\ <<discount "Earth" 1>>\ <<combatcheck 6>>\ <<if ($passcheck is true)>>\ <<if (($element1 is "Earth") or ($element2 is "Earth"))>>\ Stone envelopes your lower leg to quickly enhance your attack. <<var $forexp + 3>>\ <<elseif (($element1 is "Ice") or ($element2 is "Ice"))>>\ Ice envelopes your lower leg to quickly enhance your attack. <<var $forexp + 3>>\ <</if>>\ The full impact of your acceleration slams between Crow Li's eyes when the bottom of your boot collides into his face. <<else>>\ Your leg impacts against Crow Li's face as if he were made of stone. \ <<if ($pblocktech is "")>>\ Something important breaks inside your ankle. <<else>>\ Your $pblocktech Technique manifests between the two of you just in time to cushion the blow. <</if>>\ <<woundcheck 1 true false>>\ Your only saving grace is you refuse to bend the leg, keeping all the force of your momentum in your kick so Crow Li suffers as much impact as you do. <</if>>\ Enough force to snap a Lower Disciple's neck sends the surprised Oni tumbling through the opposite wall and at least three other walls beyond that, shaking the floor beneath you from the structural damage to the mansion. <<weightexp 1>>\ <<if ($fightbonus gt 0)>>\ ''[Enemy Aura Pressure Absorbed: $fightbonus]'' <<var $aurapressure + $fightbonus>>\ <</if>>\ <<if ($style is "Akakiru")>>\ <<page "Continue" "ch5-rescue-leona">>\ <<elseif ($style is "Aoyusumu")>>\ <<page "Continue" "ch5-rescue-angelo">>\ <<elseif ($style is "Kiihakai")>>\ <<page "Continue" "ch5-rescue-desdemona">>\ <<elseif ($style is "Kurokonton")>>\ <<page "Continue" "ch5-rescue-guiren">>\ <<else>>\ <<page "Continue" "ch5-rescue-fang">>\ <</if>>\

<<var $combatstat "agility">>\ <<var $combatskill "lore">>\ <<discount "Aoyusumu" 1>>\ <<combatcheck 5>>\ <<if ($passcheck is true)>>\ <<if ($val isnot 66)>>\ Withstanding an Upper Disciple's direct attack, especially an energy specialist's energy attack, sends alarms through your head. <<if ($jadedragonfoundation is true)>>\ It should've been harder, even for you. <<else>>\ It shouldn't be possible yet. <</if>>\ <</if>>\ You blindly reach out in anticipation that the blast was a distraction, reaching around in the intense illumination, and catch Crow Li's forearm holding a knife that he lunges at your belly. Pinning his own arm inward with your momentum gives you room to headbutt him in the nose before he can swing with his other arm, cracking down on his face with your harder forehead. It barely stalls the man. "You take me too lightly!" Crow Li laughs, his nose not even broken. He takes a single step back and twists his own arm out of your grip, pulling the knife back. With no time to hesitate and your life on the line you swing that freed arm \ <<else>>\ <<if ($val isnot 66)>>\ It doesn't register until it's too late that withstanding an Upper Disciple's energy blast, especially from an energy-based Sect, shouldn't have been that \ <<if ($jadedragonfoundation is true)>>\ easy, even for you. <<else>>\ easy. <</if>>\ <</if>>\ You don't see through the distraction until a knife stabs into your gut through the bright light filling the room. <<woundcheck 1 true false>>\ <<if ($pblocktech is "")>>\ You try to pull it out but Crow Li's hand stands firm, his strength \ <<if ($jadedragonfoundation is true)>>\ difficult to contest \ <<else>>\ superior \ <</if>>\ as an Upper Disciple. <<else>>\ The power of your $pblocktech Technique manifests just in time to catch the knife. <</if>>\ A second knife in his other hand lunges through the dissipating flare of Sunbringer energy and, in a panic with your life on the line, you don't try to block the blade. Instead you make a desperate gamble and swing your free arm \ <</if>>\ down with all your might and weight, connecting a full-body blow into his groin like a hammer slamming onto an anvil. Crow Li's mouth hangs open and his eyes bulge, his yellow pupils dilate, and the sclera around them becomes bloodshot in an instant. <<if ($subrace is "Wolf")>>\ ''[Racial Event: Wolf Yokai]'' You regret your racial birth as you're one of the few around who can hear the insanely high pitched noise coming from his mouth. In the heat of battle your spirit adapts to such a weakness and hardens the chi protections around your head like a muscle growing larger in response to heavy use. <<apboost 5>>\ <<else>>\ Though his mouth is open and you're certain he's making a sound, it's too high pitched for you to hear. <</if>>\ Before he recovers you spin twice, sweeping him off his feet in a trip then spinning 360 degrees more with a tornado kick that sends his stunned body out the nearest window like a flying ragdoll. <<weightexp 1>>\ <<if ($fightbonus gt 0)>>\ ''[Enemy Aura Pressure Absorbed: $fightbonus AP]'' <<var $aurapressure + $fightbonus>>\ <</if>>\ <<if ($style is "Akakiru")>>\ <<page "Continue" "ch5-rescue-leona">>\ <<elseif ($style is "Aoyusumu")>>\ <<page "Continue" "ch5-rescue-angelo">>\ <<elseif ($style is "Kiihakai")>>\ <<page "Continue" "ch5-rescue-desdemona">>\ <<elseif ($style is "Kurokonton")>>\ <<page "Continue" "ch5-rescue-guiren">>\ <<else>>\ <<page "Continue" "ch5-rescue-fang">>\ <</if>>\

Just as you hoped, the front desk holds keys to all sorts of confinements. The chains, the cells, and most importantly the Soul Treasure manacles suppressing your recovery. Like a $manwoman dying of thirst in the desert you seize the keys and excitedly put an end to the biggest obstacle in your way. ''*click*'' Immediately trickles of inner chi cycle through your body and spirit, the fruits of your natural state's recovery that were held back by the manacle enchantment. <<var $forspent - 1>>\ <<var $agispent - 1>>\ <<var $powspent - 1>>\ <<var $solspent - 1>>\ <<var $chispent - 1>>\ ''[1 of Each Core Replenished]'' ''[1 Chi Replenished]'' It should have been more, damned fever, but the presence of chi through your system fills you with renewed vigor all the same. Leona squeals at the sight of your manacles falling to the floor. "My turn, my turn!" While she's busy rummaging through the keys you glance over the desk and find a collection of scrolls and diagrams. It takes a moment to realize the treasure trove you've come across. You'd hoped for maps of the town or shipping routes for where the Sunbringers are planning to sail, but you find something far more telling. Plans for the sacrifice. <<if ((($lore + $handseals) gte 4) or (($style is "Kiihakai") and (($lore + $handseals) gte 3)))>>\ <<if ($style is "Kiihakai")>>\ ''[Kiihakai Bonus: Difficulty Lowered]'' <</if>>\ ''[Lore + Handseals 4 Check Succeeded]'' According to the sigils and Seals planned for use, they were looking to condense a massive amount of power into one place. There's nothing listing what it was for but this much power dropped in one spot is a hundred times more than the danger levels of uncontrolled chi. If you're looking at it correctly this goes far beyond risking a spirit's creation. It even goes beyond risking a dozen spirits' creation. This amount of blood aura they plan to release and condense into Taio's Blood Marbles is an impossible amount, but if they can actually keep producing it and release it all in one place.... You don't know. You've never read about anything like this. But it can't be good. <<var $bloodsecret true>>\ <<var $solexp + 5>>\ <<if ($handseals lt 2)>>\ ''[Handseals +1]'' <<var $handseals + 1>>\ <<elseif ($lore lt 2)>>\ ''[Lore +1]'' <<var $lore + 1>>\ <</if>>\ <<else>>\ ''[Lore + Handseals $val Check Failed]'' From what you can tell they were planning on using the power in so much blood for something and, being a Demonic Sect, you imagine it's not something good. Probably demon summoning. Ancestors, you wish you were classically trained on all these stupid sigils and seals like the other Thunderfall disciples- Oh. Bo was classically trained. <</if>>\ <<var $val 0>>\ "Leona, get Bo. We need to \ <<if ($bloodsecret is true)>>\ get out of here even sooner than we thought." <<else>>\ find out what these bastards were planning." <</if>>\ She doesn't reply. <<page "What's that noise?" "ch5-lost">>\

"A plan for what?" Asks an approaching voice. <<if ($style is "Kiihakai")>>\ Desdemona curses under her breath. <</if>>\ <<if ($style is "Kurokonton")>>\ "Aw shit." Says Guiren. <</if>>\ <<if ($style is "Midorikatai")>>\ Fang lets out a low growl. <</if>>\ You turn quickly and see five Sunbringers patrol through the main road into the market square where your cages are held. The quartet of Human Sungringers in the back wield whips but the wrinkled Oni man with white hair and a sharp beard talking in front of them holds two knives instead. He looks to you and sneers. "A plan to escape, I'd wager? Get that thought out of your mind right now, \ <<if ($race is "Oni")>>\ <<if ($heshe is "he")>>\ brother of the blood. \ <<else>>\ sister of the blood. \ <</if>>\ <<else>>\ $insult. \ <</if>>\ You stand in the presence of Crow Li, Upper Disciple and impromptu Master of the Sunbringer Sect, and I have no use for rebellious slaves. If you're good and useful then I may have mercy, break your Cores, and let you enjoy the fruits of hard labor." His ratty high pitch voice laughs at his own intentions, and several of the Sunbringers join in. <<choose "ch5-plan4what2">> #"Why are you doing this? Attacking Trial-goers is a death sentence." <<var $ruthless - 1>>\ "Why are you doing this?" You ask the old man. "Attacking Trialgoers is a death sentence by the Inner Kingdoms." Two of the Sunbringers in the back start laughing, but Crow Li speaks up first with scathing condescension. "The Inner Kingdoms are as much a false hope as any leaders. They do what benefits them and nothing more. Their command to spare all Trial-goers is simply a bluff to keep fools in line, as well as an excuse to punish or extort the arrogant few who break the rules while still attending. Did you think that calculated show of force was for anything more than to cement their authority? They are no saviors. The law only applies so long as it is convenient. We have no intention of competing in their farce down in Nanhou and so they will not even spend the manpower to come claim you out here." "We'll see about that." <<var $honor + 1>>\ The old Oni nods. "We will." He looks to the four with whips behind him. \ #"Working for Taio is only going to get you killed." <<var $honor + 2>>\ "Working for Taio is only going to get you killed." You say more to the Sunbringers in the back than to Crow Li himself. <<if (($persuasion gte 2) or (($persuasion gte 1) and ($honor gte 52)))>>\ <<var $powexp + 2>>\ <<if ($persuasion gte 2)>>\ ''[Persuasion 2 Check Passed]'' <<else>>\ ''[Persuasion 1 Check Passed]'' <</if>>\ The two in front snicker but the other two in the back exchange glances. You detect hesitation and acknowledgement in their exchange, they know they're in over their heads. <<var $martial_retainers + 1>>\ "Insolent fool, I do not work FOR him, I work WITH him. He is an advisor, nothing more." Barks Crow Li. \ <<else>>\ One of them whips the side of your cage with a sharp crack. "You've got it backwards, Thunderfaller!" He barks, "Us working for Taio is going to get //you// killed!" The others break out in laughter. Crow Li grins at the barb and nods to the rest of the Sunbringers. \ <</if>>\ #"You have ten seconds to let me go before I start killing." -> "ch5-plan4what3" <<var $ruthless + 2>>\ "You have ten seconds to let me go before I start killing." A few of the Sunbringers snicker and Crow Li drags his knife across your cell bars. "The only one you're even capable of killing in that condition is \ <<if ($style is "Akakiru")>>\ yourself. You're welcome to try, of course, after my advisor is done with you." \ <<else>>\ your friend there." \ <</if>>\ <<if ($style is "Aoyusumu")>>\ Angelo waves. \ <<elseif ($style is "Kiihakai")>>\ Desdemona continues to play dead. \ <<elseif ($style is "Kurokonton")>>\ Guiren sneers. "Why don't you come in here and try it yourself you expired-raison looking motherf-" A single blast of crimson illuminates the cage and knocks Guiren into the opposite wall. He drops to the ground, coughing up the same smoke emitting from the Oni's hand. \ <<elseif ($style is "Midorikatai")>>\ Tian Fang backs into the corner of the cell, eyes on you and crouched low like a cautious animal. \ <</if>>\ The elder Oni Sunbringer turns to his whip-wielding underlings. \ <<if ($style is "Akakiru")>>\ "Collect our guest. \ <<else>>\ "Open the door and drag out the Thunderfaller. \ <</if>>\ Master Taio's curiosity must be sated." <</choose>>

"Let us not prolong this any further. Take $himher." <<if ($style is "Aoyusumu")>>\ Angelo pipes up. "Might I convince you to repent of your sins instead? It is not too late and take up a life of farming or fishing." Crow Li spits on Angelo in response. "We'll deal with you later, outsider." <<elseif ($style is "Kiihakai")>>\ Desdemona continues to play dead. <<elseif ($style is "Kurokonton")>>\ Guiren lunges at one of them with his manacles, slamming them in the head. The Sunbringer he strikes doesn't miss a step and uppercuts your lizard Yokai ally in the gut, knocking him out cold. <<elseif ($style is "Midorikatai")>>\ Tian Fang backs into the corner as they open the door, growling and crouched low like a cautious animal. They pay her no mind. <</if>>\ <<include "ch5-plan4what3">>\

The four Sunbringers surge their mix of gold or crimson auras and drag you from your cell with insult more than injury: the whips aren't even needed. You swing at two of their heads the second they open the gate and plan to use that motion to launch yourself back so you can prepare for the other two. Instead all you achieve is a painful impact like you punched a rock. They don't even flinch. Without your chi you're no match for them, which becomes obvious as they each grab a single limb of yours and carry you down the main street upside down like a bound goat. You're dragged through the streets and see even more of this destroyed town, called Ebikowa if the cracked signs are to be believed. Entire buildings lie destroyed or marked with the same strange blood sigil on the door. Slaves push empty carts up and down the sloped streets to and from the docks, ignoring the corpses of slain villagers as they pass. What concerns you, in an odd way, is that there's nothing suspicious or malicious about the contents being carried around. You'd expect a horror-show of gore, these are blood cultists after all. You expected them to be collecting the bodies of the dead. Yet all the supplies being brought to the docks are basic goods. Cloth, lumber, nails, salted fish, wine and water barrels, lanterns, bushels of grain; the plunder looks more like what you'd expect from an explorer's expedition than a bloodthirsty demonic sect. Finally your captors reach the outskirts of town and come to a wider four-story building surrounded by a tall and decorative iron gate, likely some merchant's mansion. It doesn't exactly feel like a torture chamber. The Sunbringers drag you through the gate and into the back entrance, then through a lavish dining hall where you see the mansion's original inhabitants seated dead at the table, their throats slit. You instinctively fight against your captors at the sight but they don't miss a step in dragging you through the dining room and down the dark set of stairs into an unlit stone basement. Each step brings you further into the dark until they close the door to the stairs above, cutting you off from the only sources of light. //Now// it feels like a torture chamber. "Here is good." Crow Li says in the dark. The forceful hands gripping your numbing limbs place you upright and use chains to strap you to a vertical stone table...and then they leave. You weren't counting the number of footsteps as they ascended the stairs so it's tough to tell, but judging by the silence it seems all five have left you alone in the darkness. <<page "Continue" "ch5-torture">>\

<div class="fightingfont">Thunderfaller vs Taio the Scholar</div>\ <div class="fightingfont">Defeat</div>\ You feel your heart stop, your aura shatter, and your spirit rip to ribbons. The damage proves too great and your soul withers in tatters out of your broken body. Your vision dims to nothing, a heavy and oppressive darkness with only a speck of light at the end of a long tunnel. Yet the light does not dim. It grows instead, brighter and brighter. Closer, in fact. The light grows at an expansive pace until it shines over you and you find yourself standing in a bright white void of nothingness. Unblemished space goes as far as the eye can see, as if you were trapped in a sky painted white with no world below. <<var $mettaio + 100000000>>\ "This is pathetic." Says a voice behind you. "To call this a battle would not even be farcical. At least farces are amusing." You turn around and see the man you expected, but that still doesn't explain how he got here as well. What's Taio doing in your afterlife? "This is no afterlife." The bald monk in crimson robes responds. "Not that of the Heavens or Hells, anyway." "Then...where am I?" "That's for you to ponder, and me to pretend to know. I've been trapped in here watching helplessly while your mundane life grants you the role of a false hero. A pretender. A big fish in a small pond. You swim mindlessly in some great wave of victory through the sheer luck of constantly having a Gate at your disposal. Yet here, when surrounded by the same advantage, you ride no wave at all and choose the path toward a placid pond?" His mannerisms are all wrong. Angrier. More direct...And then it hits you, this isn't the Taio you're fighting. This is the Taio you already killed. <<var $val 0>>\ His face grows closer in your vision, more passionate, more maddened. "Did you not defeat me with your Fuel Foundation's tricks? Did you not STEAL my Demonic Gate?! Then do not make a fool of me! Do not insult my memory! Wake up and //do it again//, Thunderfaller!" <<choose "ch5-possessed2">> #"I'm trying!" "I'm trying!" You scream back into his face, heat rising in your dying veins. "You make a mockery of effort!" \ #"It is not my fault he's stronger than you." <<var $honor + 1>>\ "It is not my fault he's stronger than you." You reply. Taio doesn't bat an eye, his brow turning into a perfect V in rage. "It is your fault he's stronger than YOU!" \ #"You're not real, you're not real, you're not real." <<var $ruthless - 2>>\ "You're not real, you're not real, you're not real." You repeat to yourself. "Get a grip, fool, or you too will not be real!" \ #"Get the Hell out of my head." <<var $ruthless + 1>>\ "Get the Hell out of my head." You demand. "You think I crave this prison? You think I want my last moments to be trapped inside a dying child?!" \ #"If it's that important then shut up and help!" <<var $honor - 2>>\ <<var $val 2>>\ "If it's that important then shut up and help!" You demand. "Help? HELP?! You should not NEED help!" \ <</choose>>

He grabs your shoulders in the vision and you almost feel it as he tries to shake you. "Who are you to cry that your opponent is ready for your trickery? You are older now, stronger, do you really consider my pathetic duplicate worthy of keeping victory from my killer? Seize this fraud's Gate with your might!" He pulls his hands back in disgust, swiftly shifts into a battle-stance, and shoves a hardened palm strike //into// your chest. His blow pierces through your skin and ribs in your vision. This time, at the center of your unbeating heart, you //do// feel it. A gasp escapes your lips when his fist seizes your heart with a suffocating grip. ''"USE IT ALREADY, YOU ARROGANT FOOL! STOP. HOLDING. BACK."'' <<page "Continue" "ch5-possessed3">>\

Your eyes shoot open in explosions of crimson power that should not exist. The crunching of bones rings out like a gong as your body mends itself back together. You rise to your feet, glowing $auracolor and crimson as all the aura in the air condenses into ribbons wrapping around you like a cocoon, rebuilding your body and spirit in a dark power. <<if ($val is 2)>>\ <<var $taint + 15>>\ <<else>>\ <<var $apval 10>>\ <<var $taint + 10>>\ <</if>>\ <<apboost 15>>\ <<for _i to 0; (($health + ($fortitude / 2)) - $wounds) lt 1; _i++>>\ <<var $wounds - 1>>\ <</for>>\ One step forward vanishes your surroundings and you're suddenly \ <<if ($docks is true)>>\ twenty feet behind Taio on top of the docks. \ <<else>>\ at the docks, twenty feet behind Taio as he approaches your allies in the middle of their fight against a horde of Fiends. When did Taio get to the docks? When did //you// get to the docks? Splinters rise into the air all around you from the wood of the platform. Did you just get here? How hard did you land? Your questions lie unanswered, for your spiritual senses demand your attention. \ <</if>>\ A shiver radiates through the air, an iron-clad will currently potent enough to impose its feelings upon the world around its wielder. Not your will, but your opponent's. As Taio turns back, confused, and looks upon your demonic aura appearing out of nowhere, the feeling he radiates through the air is his own justified fear. In an instant, you strike. <<include "ch5-bossfight-finishhim">>\

With Crow Li ejected from the room you get a better look at your grim surroundings. Before you lies the body of Angelo, strapped to a torture rack and cut to ribbons, his arms covered in knives and suspended horizontally along the top of the stone slab by two sets of Binder's Bands. Blood pools around the floor beneath his unmoving form. No one could survive such a treatment. Or rather, no one should. Angelo is smiling at you. "I greatly appreciate the assistance, you're far timelier than it appears." His voice echoes through the room without moving his mouth. "I don't suppose you brought a set of medicinal battle pills in your left pocket and forgot the keys to my manacles back at the jail." You pause hesitantly. That's exactly what happened. "Quickly please," he adds. "I applaud your entrance but our host is returning shortly." <<choose "ch5-rescue-angelo-med">> #[Give him the medicine.] <<var $angelorep + 4>>\ #show-if (dig($metangelo, 2) gte 1) "No. First tell me, what //are// you?" <<if ($angeloromance is 0)>>\ <<var $angelorep - 3>>\ <</if>>\ "No." You say to what should be a dead man after so much blood loss. "First tell me, what //are// you?" "No?" He asks, still as a corpse and unwilling to even look up at you. "I must admit, I am disappointed." "No one would survive that much blood loss." You counter. "What are you really and why won't you tell me?" "I am but a man playing his part." He \ <<if ($heshe is "she")>>\ replies, head moving with great effort so his ocean deep eyes meet yours. "A man going through great pains to occupy your enemy. The simple truth is my \ <<else>>\ says. "I kept that cultist distracted for you by tempting him to discover the source of my abilities, but the truth is plain. My \ <</if>>\ Aura Pressure is advanced enough to control weak layers of chi in spite of these bindings, and I've been using an Aoyusumu telekinetic technique to force spilled blood through my veins and stay alive. I believe I've bled each drop on the floor three or four times by now." <<if ($insight gte 4)>>\ ''[Insight 4 Check Passed]'' <<var $solexp + 3>>\ ...He's lying. Why is he lying? <<var $metangelo + 100000>>\ You keep control of your facial expressions. If that's not really how he's still alive, there's something else going on here and you don't want to let him know you're onto him. Instead you offer a sheepish smile. "Well when you put it that way, I feel like a jerk." "We all do at times." Angelo replies calmly, seemingly unaware. "I would appreciate that medicine now. I \ <<else>>\ Oh. You expected something less...technical. Less possible. Something more secretive and mystical. "I would appreciate that medicine now." Angelo says calmly. "I <</if>>\ keep a serene facade but I assure you I am in incredible amounts of pain." <<page "Continue" "ch5-rescue-angelo-med">>\ #"One hundred Shards and it's yours." <<var $angelorep - 5>>\ <<var $commerce + 1>>\ <<var $honor - 3>>\ <<var $val 324>>\ ''[Commerce Increased! (But at what cost?)]'' You know a desperate customer when you see one. You withdraw the medicine from your pocket and hold it out to the injured pilgrim. "One hundred Shards and this medicine's yours." "How vile." Angelo replies with a slowly growing frown. "Yet who am I to haggle at a time like this? Very well, $name, it is clear you have me at a disadvantage so you've got yourself a de-hah!" He bites down as the pills launch from your hands and into his mouth with the cerulean glow of Sacred Chi propelling them through the air. "Wh-That was stealing!" You blurt out. "Religious types can't steal!" Angelo's blush of health returns and he rips the binding manacles and ropes off his body by taking a single step off the torture rack. "Nonsense." He replies, rotating a shoulder as the cerulean glow of his eyes grows brighter. "I prefer to think of it as saving my friend from the vice of greed." He pats a hand on your shoulder. "There is no need to thank me." "Then why'd you ask for the medicine in the first place if you could just take it?" Angelo stares at you like he's witnessing a sick puppy that likely will not recover. "Because taking things is wrong." "But you just-!" You're cut off when you sense Crow Li's power growing outside. "Aw shit." "Indeed." Angelo replies. "It seems we have an unrepentant murderer to smite. I will \ <</choose>>

<<if ($val isnot 324)>>\ You hand Angelo the battle pills and he eats them all at once, his body quickly healing from the mystical properties. The blush of health returns to his skin and a cerulean hue surrounds his body as his aura recovers. The manacles around his wrists glow in-kind and click open as if a key had been used. Simultaneously the ropes binding him to the torture rack animate themselves like snakes and come undone. "Much, much, much better." Angelo says, rubbing his wrist and stepping over the puddle of his own blood. "Now to find a cleaner and some new clothes...but first we must finish your fight." "More are coming soon." You add. "I have allies downstairs to delay the Lower Disciples but they can't last forever." "They won't have to." Angelo says confidently. "I'll \ <</if>>\ slow him down with Sacred forcefields, you take advantage of his weakened state. Have you read the Devanic teachings on battlefield mercy?" "I haven't had a chance." You admit as the room around you shakes. Light and Mystic chi scream in your spiritual perception from the heavy approaching aura. "Thank Heavens." Angelo replies. "We won't be using them." <<page "Continue" "ch5-rescue-angelo2">>\

The massive surge of Mystic, Light, and Fire chi around you dims and the room stops shaking. Angelo raises an eyebrow and looks to you, then back to each window. "What happened?" You ask. "Ah, it would be delightful if I had the answer." Angelo admits. "I do enjoy seeming all-knowing, but, hm..." A tingle between your shoulders tells you he's sending a spiritual scan beneath you. "It seems your friends are safe so that's not it. Great news. They're an interesting bunch too. A Wild Chi signature must be a fellow Thunderfaller if I'm to guess, an untyped aura is...Jin?" "Kosuke. \ <<if (($heshe is "she") and ($bffromance gte 1))>>\ We grew up together." \ <<else>>\ A friend." \ <</if>>\ You correct. "A pity, it would be nice to see your family reunited. And the Bladed Chi keeping its aura poorly hidden?" "That would be Leona. Sunbringer exile." Angelo's mouth twists a bit. "Her spirit's murderous intent feels like she's ready to kill for fun. Is she on our side?" "She is." Angelo exhales through his nose. "Another pity." He closes his eyes to sense around again and this time you join in. <<page "Continue" "ch5-sensejack">>\

With Crow Li ejected from the room you're left panting in the master bedroom being used as a torture room with its sole other resident: an unconscious Desdemona. She's held up by chains tying her to a torture slab and you notice she's bleeding from both arms, her robe burnt through at the stomach and knees with Light and Fire scorch marks. As you approach, her dark hair parts as her head rises, eyes slowly opening. "Th...Thunderfaller? How long has it been?" "About an hour." You admit, feeling odd that such a long night has taken so little time. "Thank Heavens, I cast myself into a dream where the pain couldn't reach me until someone I trust approached." You quirk an eyebrow at that. Not the trusting part, but the problems in her Sealing. "You could have been trapped in there forever if we died." Desdemona nods slowly. "A risk worth taking. Crow Li remembered me from my Sect's mission to take his handseals and run. He..." She looks down at her burnt legs. "Did not have good plans for me. Shall we get out of here and burn this Sect to the ground?" "I've never wanted something more." You reply as you break open her Binder's Bands and she drops to her knees. "You'll want these." She takes the healing pills you brought from downstairs into one of her hands and pops all three into her mouth. As her aura returns and her wounds mend she doesn't thank you, seemingly losing herself in thought instead while staring at the floor. "Are you okay?" You ask. "No...This medicine..." She continues gazing down on the floor in a growing sense of despair, even the shadows around the room answer to her woe. "It's passionfruit flavor." You're not sure how to respond to that. "Is that bad?" Her head shoots up to look you in the eyes. "It's terrific, and that's terrible for us! We didn't flavor any of our stock for the Nanhou sales! I must instruct the Disciples to fix this at once, how will we make a profit if even this simpleton cult's wares put ours to shame??" <<choose "ch5-sensejack">> #"We have bigger issues right now than medicine flavors." "We have bigger issues right now than medicine flavors." You say down at Desdemona as she crouches on the floor and writes alchemy formulae in her own puddle of blood. Inventive, but gross. "Name one issue larger than my Sect failing to pay back our massive debts!" She protests. "Dying to Crow Li's counterattack." She stops immediately, back straightening, and turns around. "The old Oni is not dead?" "He's an Upper Disciple, I just knocked him out of the room." Desdemona cringes and stands, looking around carefully. "I suppose it's a good thing you brought that battle medicine after all. But if he's still alive then why hasn't he attacked us yet?" You wish you had an answer. <<page "Continue" "ch5-sensejack">>\ #"I've got some ideas for other flavors too." "Oh crap, that's bad!" You exclaim, crouching down to look at the same spot on the floor as if you're in a planning room. "If you want to keep sales you're going to need more than just one flavor, what about..." <<if (($alchemy gte 2) or ($background is "Merchant"))>>\ <<if ($alchemy gte 2)>>\ ''[Alchemy 2 Check Passed]'' <<else>>\ ''[Merchant Background Event!]'' <</if>>\ "-all the other citrus flavors?" You finish. "Everyone thinks you need fruit juice for flavoring, but citron peel and some extract can be used to make almost any citrus fruit. And since you don't have as much sugary juice involved, your pills and elixirs won't go bad nearly as fast. It's probably what the Sunbringers used too." "Applying alchemical properties to the palate..." Desdemona snaps her fingers. "It's genius. I've spent so much time on Sealing tomes that I've neglected alchemy's fundamentals. I must say, our alliance is paying off swimmingly." "For you, maybe." You \ <<if ($ruthless lt 50)>>\ correct on reflex. Oh shit. You're too used to trash talking with Kosuke and \ <<if ($heshe is "he")>>\ Jin. \ <<else>>\ Rin. \ <</if>>\ <<else>>\ correct. <</if>>\ She looks up to you and for the first time she's utterly baffled, her mouth hanging open in blatant insult. "I-! I, er, well I never would have...Flavoring advice is not a tangible-" She pauses for a moment then huffs hair out of her face and looks off to the side, cheeks inflated. "Fine. I swear upon my soul to grant you more aid when we've settled down in Nanhou. \ <<var $metdesdemona + 1000000>>\ <<else>>\ ''[Alchemy 2 Check Failed]'' "-meat flavors?" You ask. Desdemona looks over to you slowly. "....Meat." She replies, more a dismissed statement than a question. "Think about it; these are Martial Artists, they don't want children's sweets, they want hardy stuff. When most fighters are injured they eat a lot of meat to recover, so that's the flavor they'll expect in their healing pills. You'll hook customers for life!" Desdemona presses a finger to her chin and looks to the ceiling. "It's just crazy enough to work..." She slams her right fist down on her open left palm. "That settles it. We'll coat our healing elixirs in meat-flavoring. \ <<var $metdesdemona + 2000000>>\ <</if>>\ If we survive, that is." "Survive what?" You ask, suddenly remembering Crow Li should have been on you already. Desdemona must be sensing his aura nearby. "Ah." But if he's within range, why hasn't he attacked yet? <<page "Continue" "ch5-sensejack">>\ <</choose>>

With Crow Li ejected from the room you get a better look at the master bedroom being used as a torture chamber, and a heavy growl comes from its only other resident. Tian Fang lies bound to a torture rack in the corner, her wolf ears and hair soaked with blood and her arms bound. Her claws are as visible as ever and her amber eyes shine in the lantern light of the room. She strains against her chains as you grab her Binder's Bands and break them open, hoping you don't regret this. You leap back as she drops to her knees, claws digging into the floor. Her wild eyes survey the room like a predator backed into a corner. As her gaze locks onto you her aura bursts into remnants of green Wild Chi surging around her body and you swear you hear the echo of a wolf's howl coming from her spirit. Then she charges. <<if ($heshe is "he")>>\ <<page "Continue" "ch5-rescue-fang2">>\ <<else>>\ <<choose "ch5-rescue-fang3">> #Knee her in the face. <<var $fangrep - 2>>\ <<var $ruthless + 2>>\ She dives for your mid-section and you respond with a knee to her nose. "OW!" Tian Fang screams, holding her nose with both hands. "Most \ <<if ($subrace is "Cat")>>\ rude, exactly what one would expect from a cat!" \ <<else>>\ rude!" \ <</if>>\ "Wh-You're conscious?!" "Of course I am conscious!" She shouts back. "But why would you hide my direly needed medicine in your pockets? And then attack me when I try to retrieve them? Ever so callous!" Oh. Oops. "I er...thought you were attacking me. You seemed rabid." You toss her the combat medicine and she catches it desperately, shoving the battle pills and herbs into her mouth while narrowing her eyes at you. "Well to me, you seemed rabid when you broke my nose." "Your nose looks fine to me." You say as her nose cracks back into place from the battle healing elixirs. She cracks a smile. "Well played, rival. I an most glad thankful for the healing before Crow Li's counterattack...Say, where is he?" Tian Fang stands and begins \ #Toss her the medicine. <<var $ruthless - 2>>\ You toss your stolen healing elixir-pills into the air towards the charging Beast-woman. Her eyes dart to the potent battle pills and she catches them less like a wolf and more like a cat snatching catnip out of the air. "Yay!" She announces, falling to the floor and tossing the medicine into her mouth. Thank the Ancestors, you think to yourself, she's conscious afterall. "You had me worried for a second there." "It was I who was worried more!" Fang announces while chewing the elixir pills in the fetal position and sitting up, ears perking. "My mind has been in a haze all day, like a poorly drawn picture covered in milk. Though the distraction from the torture was quite a thankful benefit as I never trained in anti-interrogation lessons. Perhaps I can teach them now? At least if we survive the counterattack that should be coming in three...two..." No attack comes. One of Fang's ears flattens and the other twitches to the side as if trying to hear better. "That's not right..." She begins \ <</choose>> <</if>>\

<div class="fightingfont">Thunderfaller vs Tian Fang</div>\ Tian Fang closes the distance between you in three quick strides on all fours and leaps through the air, twisting as she closes in. "Hup!" She announces, leaping onto you with all fours. Her legs wrap around your waist and her arms over your shoulders, meeting in a tight hug that borders on an attack. \ <<if ($subrace is "Cat")>>\ "Even though you are a filthy Cat you still came to rescue Tian Fang!" She announces \ <<else>>\ "My hero has come to save Tian Fang!" She coos \ <</if>>\ cheerily, head resting against your shoulder. <div class="fightingfont">Or not...</div>\ <<choose "ch5-rescue-fang3">> #Hug her back. <<var $fangromance + 1>>\ <<var $ruthless - 2>>\ You stand there in silence for moments before wrapping yours arms around her as well, one tightly holding her in place and the other brushing through her snow-white hair. She wiggles in delight and adjusts to fix her posture and-wait, no, she's adjusting to rifle through your pockets. She withdraws the battle medicine and starts chewing. "So good!" She announces, rubbing her head back and forth as she savors the flavor. Her tufted ears tickle your neck. "These demonic cultists flavor their healing medicine! I am ashamed to have my cooking outdone by such villains!" "You can cook?" You ask reflexively. Tian Fang hops off you, looking better already, and puts her hands on her hips triumphantly. "Tian Fang can cook //exceptionally// well! You will find out if we survive the counterattack that should be coming in three...two..." No attack comes. One of Fang's ears flattens and the other twitches to the side as if trying to hear better. "That's not right..." She begins \ #Shove her off. <<var $ruthless + 1>>\ <<var $fangromance 0>>\ You risked death to save Fang, that doesn't mean you're going to risk flees. "Fang, really, down. Bad girl." "Most sorry!" She blurts out, leaping down and bowing low. "Tian Fang offers her most courteous and professional gratitude and would like to know where you hid the battle medicine she assumes you have on you." "Gratitude accepted." You toss her the battle medicine. "Now get ready. We're still in a battle." "Oh that is right!" She shouts, chewing the flavored pills and leaping back onto her toes. She begins \ <</choose>>

surveying the different walls. A tingle between your shoulders lets you know she's scanning for enemies. Her claws are still partially out and her eyes remain amber, so you can't help but ask. "Fang, I thought you'd gone feral again, your eyes are even still changed, do you know what's happening to you?" "Not a true Gate, I believe, but we are somehow surrounded by the potential for one...It is unusual. Especially since I cannot sense any spirits or thick natural aura in the elements around us." She shifts position to scan through a different wall. "I sense three below us. Weak Wild Chi, a basic aura, and...Bladed Chi?" "That's my friend Kosuke and..." You can't call Bo a friend or an enemy really, but you remember Tian Fang actually trained him for a year. She probably knows him better than you do. "Bo from Thunderfall." "The scrawny one, a voice that grates most terribly on Fang's nice ears?" She narrows her eyes. "The same one who loudly slurps his soup?" "That's the one." You confirm. She gives a thin smile as if you've gifted her a rusty sword. "And the Bladed Chi is a Sunbringer exile named Leona, she's on our side. I think." "Fortuitous!" Fang declares, before looking back through another wall. "But...Something is most wrong. Where is Crow Li? Mountain Hazard's dossier lists him as an Upper Disciple and one of the highest ranked bounties from the Sunbringer Sect. He should be upon us by now. Ages ago, even." That's true. Something //is// definitely off. <<page "Continue" "ch5-sensejack">>\

With Crow Li ejected from the room you look to the only other inhabitant, a beaten and bloody Guiren strapped to a torture slab. "Hells that was satisfying." Guiren \ <<if ($heshe is "she")>>\ says with a longing sigh. "I love watching a strong woman beat on my enemies. Try me next." "It looks like you've already been beaten." You reply wryly. "If that's what you're into, I wouldn't want to get between you and Crow Li." "Hah. Hah. Did you bring the guys and a plan or what?" "I did." You reply with nose held high. "Battle medicine too." Guiren grows weary at your tone. "But...?" <<choose "ch5-rescue-guirencharge">> #"No buts." [Hand him the medicine] -> "ch5-rescue-guirencatch" <<var $guirenrep + 4>>\ "No buts." You reply. #"But it'll cost you." You wave two red pills in front of Guiren's face. "It'll cost you." "Do I get any guesses on what it'll cost me?" Guiren asks, looking from his chi-suppressing bindings and back to you. "Or does that take the fun out?" <</choose>> <<else>>\ says, spitting out blood where a tooth is missing. "I'm going to remember that look on his face for years." "And I'm going to remember that look on yours." You reply why you see the gap in his smile from a broken tooth. "Hah. Hah. Did my plan work? Have my men met up with you?" "Most of it got washed away, but I improvised. Your men are here, I've brought some of my own, and we've looted the Sunbringer elixir cache." "Perfect! So what are you waiting for?" Guiren asks. "Give me some healing pills and let's get moving." <<choose "ch5-rescue-guirencatch">> #"Here you go." #"100 Shards and it's all yours." "100 Shards and it's all yours." You say, holding the elixir pills hostage in your hand. <<var $metguiren + 10000000>>\ Guiren's face twists in disgust. "After all the things I've done for you, you're going to charge me?" "You're charging me too, I'm supposed to do work for your Boss in exchange for that training." "That-" Guiren closes his eyes and exhales through his nose, "That's true actually. How many pills do you have?" "Three in my hand." Guiren shrugs and lulls his head. "Sixty percent discount at that price. Fine, hand them over. Ass." "Where's my money?" "I just said." Guiren replies, his prehensile tail turning over and digging into his pants. A tearing sound comes from a fuuinjutsu tag being ripped off his body. The tail pulls the tag out and brings it to his teeth where he bites it open, causing a short burst of smoke into his mouth. When it disperses a small sack of gold coins drops in front of him. "Your Sect's rivals are the worst rookies I have ever met. They missed twelve more tags." You shrug, taking the pouch off the ground and handing him the medicine. "I already hate them, you don't have to sell me on it." ''[Item Gained: 10 Gold]'' <<var $gold + 10>>\ Guiren's aura of purple returns in full force and he rips the Binder's Bands off his arms as his body heals. Even his lost teeth return. "Get ready, the fight's not over yet." You say, preparing for Crow Li's counterattack. One that never comes. <<page "Continue" "ch5-rescue-guiren2">>\ <</choose>> <</if>>\

"Is something wrong?" Guiren asks as you look from wall to wall. "Yes." You reply. "Scan around, what do you feel?" A tingle between your shoulders lets you know Guiren is pressing his aura outward in a thin field, sending out a spiritual scan. "The guys, some Wild Chi, some untyped chi, a lot of Bladed Chi..." "Those are our allies. A Sunbringer exile, childhood friend, and a..." You wouldn't call Bo a friend or an enemy, at least not right now. "A Sect member from back home." "I'll take it." Guiren replies. "Sounds like you've had a better day than I did. What else...There! Out the front, there's a shipload of Mystic and Light chi surging but it's...Oh shit." You nod as he detects the same problem you did. Earth Chi. Unbelievable amounts of Earth Chi. "Who has so much Earth Chi around here?" Guiren asks. "A friend of yours?" "I don't know." You reply, climbing the rear window to get to the roof. "But we're going to find out." <<page "Continue" "ch5-smilingjack">>\

"Catch." You toss him the healing elixir pills from downstairs. They bounce against his chest and he stares at you deadpan. "You going to untie my arms so I can catch them first?" You shrug and rip open the Binder's Bands holding his power at bay. Purple energy begins to rise around his body at first, but when he picks up the battle pills and swallows them his aura really returns. His tooth even begins to come back. "Say what you will about these Sunbringer guys, they have a good alchemist." "I think they just plundered some other alchemist." You reply. Guiren sighs. "Can't even compliment my enemies these days. I keep the bar low and they still disappoint. You ready to kill every single one of them?" "Always." You reply, preparing for Crow Li's counterattack. One that never comes. <<page "Continue" "ch5-rescue-guiren2">>\

<<choose "ch5-rescue-guiren2">> #"150 Shards." <<var $metguiren + 10000000>>\ "One hundred and fifty Shards." You reply with smug contentment. <<var $guirenrep - 3>>\ "Oh." Guiren replies. "I guessed wrong." "Why, what did you guess?" You ask out of curiosity. "Well I mean, you're attractive, //I'm// certainly attractive, I figured you'd want to find a nice bedroom somewhere in here and-" He stops abruptly when you throw up in a nearby basket. "-WHOA, WHOA! Okay, hint taken. Ancestors above." "Don't bring your Ancestors into this too!" You blurt out, picturing four more Guirens trying the same thing. You gag again. "What the Hell Guiren, we're doing all this training in the Martial Arts and all you've been thinking about is, oh no, HYUG-" You barf again and take a second of panting to recover. "Just...Just give me the Shards, you perverted bastard." "Fine, for Hell's sake, next time just rob me. You don't have to stab me in the heart too." You hand him the battle medicine with a shaky hand as he pulls a fuuinjutsu tag out of who-knows-where and rips it, pulling out a satchel of gold. ''[Item Gained: 15 Gold]'' <<var $gold + 15>>\ Guiren eats the healing elixir pills and breaks the Binder's Bands off once his aura returns to full power. His torture wounds begin to mend and he cracks his neck, refusing to look at you as you prepare for Crow Li's counterattack. One that never comes. <<page "Continue" "ch5-rescue-guiren2">>\ #"It's going to cost you a date, a proper date, and you're going to ask me out //in front of your men//." <<var $guirenromance + 2>>\ <<var $metguiren + 20000000>>\ You get closer and leer into his eyes "It's going to cost you a date." "Oh you're devious." He smiles confidentaly. "I can do that." "No, I don't mean a nice night for you." You rest one leg on his hip and lean forward. "I'm a catch, I want a //real// date. Fine dining, fine dress, court dancing. You're going to treat me to all the classics when we get to Nanhou." His lips purse in hesitation. "A uh...woman who knows her worth I see. Deal." "Not yet, there's one more thing." You press yourself against him until he can feel your breath on his cheek. He gulps. "You're going to ask me out...//in front of your men//." "Wh-?! Oh Ancestors, why bring them into this!?!" Guiren shakes against his chains. "I've got a reputation, woman, you're just being evil!" "I'm absolutely //villainous//." You hiss gently into his ear. "Fine, fine!" He gives in, picking you up and walking from the tortur-whuh?? When did he get out of his bindings? Where did his wounds go? You open and close your hand, finding the healing pills already missing. Your eyes widen slightly and your cheeks uncontrollably blush as he carries you across the room and deposits you down back onto your feet. Only then do you see a key to his Binder's Bands held in a loop of his dragon's tail. The bands themselves are on the ground behind him. When the Hells... Guiren stretches his arms wide and drops to an exaggerated bow. "One ''official'' courting date for the refined Lady of taste, if we survive this old geezer's counterattack." A counterattack that never comes. <<page "Continue" "ch5-rescue-guiren2">>\ <</choose>>

With Crow Li ejected from the room you get a better look at your surroundings. A master bedroom adorned with three torture slabs, likely the same ones used on you earlier, and upon them are three exsanguinated corpses of unfortunate Ebikowan citizens. "Wow, that's gross." Leona says from behind you, entering through a window. "Can't believe you beat me in here though, I surged an Agility Core and everything." "I'm a natural." You reply without looking, still scanning the room for Crow Li's counterattack. <<if ($heshe is "he")>>\ "What else are you naturally good at?" Leona asks from behind, hands against your shoulders as she pulls herself closer. "Because what I see is a large comfortable bed in the corner and no one around to stop us." ....WHAT? You don't really know how to answer that other than what you're thinking. "Crow Li's still out there. We're in the middle of a fight." She swings to your front, using her arms draped around your shoulders as ballast. "And yet no counterattack has come. Something's got him busy, so why not get busy ourselves? There's no aphrodisiac like the middle of a battle." That can't be a common expression. People would go extinct. And yet...she's standing directly between you and an untouched bed larger than any you've ever owned. And she's //so close//. <<choose "ch5-sensejack">> #"People died here, show some respect to the dead!" <<var $honor + 2>>\ <<var $ruthless - 1>>\ "People died here, woman!" You push her off you with an arm threatening a backhand. "Show some respect to the dead!" "I...Wow, really?" Leona asks, looking down at her chest, the bed, and then you. "Did you actually just say no? Am I ugly or something? It's Bo, isn't it. You think me and him are together because I treat him like crap." "I don't give a damn about Bo, and to be honest, I don't think anyone does either." "Ugh." Leona rolls her eyes and kicks a bedpost hard enough to crack it. "That makes me want you more, but fine. Fine. Whatever. Even though we're the same age range, opposite sex, attractive, fit, great chemistry, compatible Bladed souls, and sticking around each other all the time, still for SOME reason we'll be...I don't know, not-lover allies? Is that a thing?" You squint at her incredulously. "Yes, Leona, it's a thing." "I don't think it is." She counters, stuffing a small towel into her armor's boob-window to cover it up. "There's not even a word for it." "The word is 'friend', you moron." Leona smacks her forehead. "Ohhhhhhhhh!" <<var $metleona 11000000000>>\ <<var $leonaromance - 1>>\ <<var $val 787>>\ <<page "Continue" "ch5-sensejack">>\ #[Toss her onto the bed.] [Seduction] <<var $metleona 13000000000>>\ <<var $leonaromance + 2>>\ <<var $honor - 2>>\ You throw Leona to the bed and see a scarlet glow emit from all seams of her upper armor. In midair her aura blasts blades of chi through every latch and buckle in every direction, stripping her armored top off in an instant. She lands with arms crossed under her massive breasts, lifting them for your view as her golden hair cascades around her from the fall. The sound of her armor pieces hitting the ground rains around you both, all in the time it took her to land on the bed. She smiles up at you, proud and content, as she purrs out the word "Surprise." In one ravenous leap you're upon her, hands exploring her body and your lips meeting hers with the ferocity of your first duel. <<if (($hairlength isnot "bald") and ($hairlength isnot "short-trimmed"))>>\ She runs her hands through your \ <<if ((($hairlength is "waist-length") or ($hairlength is "long and tied")) or ($hairlength is "chest-length"))>>\ long \ <</if>>\ $haircolor hair and moans, \ <</if>>\ "Ancestors, I've wanted this since we first \ <<if (($hairlength is "bald") or ($hairlength is "short-trimmed"))>>\ met" She moans, and as \ <<else>>\ met." Yet as \ <</if>>\ you would have predicted if you thought with your upper brain, your exploration is cut short. The entire room rocks with clashing waves of Mystic and Earth Chi. Leona's still-armored legs, wrapped around your waist, freeze from the sensation of a heavy spiritual scan. You pull back and both lock eyes. "Do you know anyone with that much Earth Chi?" You ask. "No, do you?" She replies. After a short silence her eyes acknowledge defeat and grow irritated. Her lips thin and she stares daggers in the direction of the intruder, towards the street. "I'm going to kill someone." You try to sigh but it comes out more of a low growl as you're interrupted atop the vivacious woman. "Let's get to the roof and see what's going on." Leona rubs her bare stomach as you both rise. "Wait! What am I supposed to wear?" You shrug without turning, leaving out the rear window and climbing to the back of the mansion's roof. She pouts and follows you shortly after, wearing the too-tight bloodied shirt of one of the dead tortured villagers. <<page "Continue" "ch5-smilingjack">>\ #[Toss her back out the window.] You place one hand on her lower back and another behind her knees, lifting her in your arms. "Ohhh like a damsel!" Leona giggles. "Is that what you're into? Being my hero? Then however could I repay such a valiant warrior for saving me?" While she talks you steadily walk across the room and see confusion show on her furrowed brow as you pass the bed and reach the window she came in through. "Bad girl." You say while stuffing her through the open portal. "Down." With that you let go of the woman, dropping her four stories. The entire fall she wails out "Noooooo!" <<var $metleona 12000000000>>\ <<var $ruthless + 1>>\ <<page "Continue" "ch5-mansion-throwleona">>\ <</choose>> <<else>>\ "And thank the Heavens for that!" Leona replies, walking to the large, dusty bed and tipping it over. "Swordsmanship, combat Cores, learning speed. There's a reason we're sticking together to beat the crap out of the guys on top. But there's still one thing I'll always be better at." "And that is?" She sticks a sword into the floorboards under the bed and pries them off. "Insider secrets." She beams, tilting her head to the small coffers underneath the floorboard. "A Mystic seal to make furniture look dusty and untouched, best way to hide something." <<if (((((((((($equippedweapon is "Tanto")) or ($equippedweapon is "Katana")) or ($equippedweapon is "Muramasa")) or ($equippedweapon is "Greataxe")) or ($equippedweapon is "Qiang")) or ($equippedweapon is "Kunai")) or ($equippedweapon is "Jian")) or ($equippedweapon is "Iceblade")) or ($equippedweapon is "Chiblade"))>>\ You pry \ <<if ($equippedweapon isnot "Muramasa")>>\ your \ <</if>>\ $equippedweapon's scarlet-glowing blade into the lockbox's center \ <<else>>\ You manifest a temporary blade from your scarlet aura of Bladed Chi, plunge it into the lockbox's center, \ <</if>>\ and break through the keystone's seal with your superior Aura Pressure. The lockbox pops open to reveal a hefty sum of Crow Li's private plunder. ''[Item Gained: 1150 Silver]'' <<var $silver + 1150>>\ After storing the ill-gotten gains into your pouch you look over to Leona quizzically. "I know what you're thinking." She says while tying off a beltpouch filled with her half of the funds. "Why am I showing my old Sect's secrets to the old enemy, right?" "No, I was going to ask why Crow Li hasn't attacked us back yet. He's not dead." "...Oh." Leona's spirit blazes scarlet and she looks around at each of the walls as if expecting them to turn on her. "Shit." <<page "Continue" "ch5-sensejack">>\ <</if>>\

<<if ($val is 787)>>\ After a lecture you really shouldn't have had to give, you get back to looking for Crow Li. <</if>>\ With a focus of your mind and a grip on ambient chi in your surroundings, you send out a pulse of your life energy and call it back. Your spiritual perceptions resonate with a light outline of the chi around you in \ <<if ($style is "Aoyusumu")>>\ your own \ <<else>>\ a \ <</if>>\ spiritual scan. The Sunbringer signature of Mystic, Light, and Fire chi blaze outside yet no attack comes through the walls or windows. You even sense something else outside contesting the Sunbringer combination, but it's far too powerful. "Earth Chi." $fren says, opening \ <<if (($style is "Kurokonton") or ($style is "Aoyusumu"))>>\ his \ <<else>>\ her \ <</if>>\ eyes. "Who has so much Earth Chi outside?" "Come on." You say, opening a window facing the back and pulling yourself up to the roof. "We're going to find out." <<page "Continue" "ch5-smilingjack">>\

"What a night." Kosuke says, sitting on the railing and watching the sunrise as your ships depart from the coast. "I never want to see the color red again. At least we did more damage to the Sunbringers than Mao ever did." "That'll rub him the wrong way." You reply with a content grin while watching a fish break the surface in the distance. It even does a flip. "And thank the Ancestors for that." Kosuke replies. "Can't wait to close the book on demonic cultivation and start a new life of piracy on the high seas. If we're not doing piracy just say so, but know that I will judge you for it. By the way, $fren asked me to check on your fever, do you know what \ <<if (($style is "Kurokonton") or ($style is "Aoyusumu"))>>\ he \ <<else>>\ she \ <</if>>\ is talking about?" You give a long inhale. "We used a ritual to polish up my $style training." You reply counting one symptom on each finger, "It caused fatigue, sweating, intense pain when using your aura, headache...stomach issues. It's supposed to last for days." <<if (($bffheshe is "he") or (($heshe is "she") and ($bffheshe is "she")))>>\ Kosuke claps a hand on your shoulder in support \ <<elseif ($bffheshe is "she")>>\ Kosuke offers a warm smile \ <</if>>\ and you expect some sort of big talk after $bffheshe disappeared for so long. "Ew." <<cap $bffheshe>> says with a supportive nod, then $bffheshe turns around to go pillage the pantry. "Actually." <<cap $bffheshe>> pauses, turning with a hand rubbing $bffhisher chin. "Something doesn't add up. How'd you get over a fever so fast if it lasts for days?" As your ship gains speed and you leave the proximity of Ebikowa, the last of the artificial Gate's energies spill out of your body. You take one last look at the great expanse of the ocean before replying with a sly smile, "I didn't." Finally safe, the exhaustion you'd held at bay all comes crashing down at once. You collapse to the floor in the deep rest your body so direly needs. <<if ($style is "Midorikatai")>>\ <<var $power - 1>>\ <<var $fortitude - 1>>\ <<if ($subrace is "Wolf")>>\ <<var $agility - 1>>\ <</if>>\ <<elseif ($style is "Kiihakai")>>\ <<var $fortitude - 1>>\ <<var $soul - 1>>\ <</if>>\ <<page "Chapter 6" "ch6-start">>\

"Everyone get back!" You hear Crow Li shout from a distance. "Stay behind me, I will get us through this!" From the rooftop outside you see several Sunbringers wounded in the street and the rest hiding behind Crow Li's large shining aura as the Oni stares high into the sky across the street from the mansion. Your gaze is brought to the same source: the heavy aura making the air itself thicken. In its presence your body feels one hundred pounds heavier just from being near such a massive concentration of Earth Chi. Its amber sunrise switches to an equally heavy green that illuminates the battlefield from across the street where a single man stands atop the religious pagoda opposite of the mansion. The massive form of Crusher Mao. All eyes turn upward until a shout breaks the silence. A shout from $fren beside you on the roof. <<if ($style is "Akakiru")>>\ "Ohhh so you must be Jack's dad!" Leona calls to Crusher Mao. "I hear you're a huge moron and your son wets the bed!" Your blood freezes. You can hardly believe that someone just got higher on Mao's shitlist than you. On reflex you look to Leona with wide eyes and remember at her heart she was raised a Sunbringer, no doubt vilifying the man who hunted her people all her life. Mao's arrival ruins your day, sure, but to her it means death. A death she narrowly avoids as she draws her sword in time to catch a projectile your eyes can't even follow. Chunks of rock explode around her as she's knocked eighty feet backwards off the roof. "That one had a big mouth for someone hiding behind a Laborer." \ <<elseif ($style is "Aoyusumu")>>\ "Master Crusher Mao!" Angelo announces, mood lightening as he bows. "You must be the esteemed Sect Master of Thunderfall I've heard so much about! Your assistance is most w-" Cerulean lights and shards of rock pepper your face as two separate barriers shatter around Angelo. In less than the blink of an eye the robe around his arm is destroyed, Sacred forcefields are erected and broken, and the flesh of his left forearm is ripped up when he blocks a rock flying across the distance before you could even move. Angelo grits his teeth, arm bleeding, and the cerulean glow of his eyes intensifies. "That was poor manners." "Keep your mouth shut until I tell you to talk." \ <<elseif ($style is "Kiihakai")>>\ "That's not Crusher Mao." Desdemona says, forming intricate handseals with strings of Mystic Chi wrapping around her hands as if she were crocheting. Wind whips \ <<if ((($hairlength is "long and tied") or ($hairlength is "tied-back")) or ($hairlength is "short and tied-back"))>>\ your hair so hard that the knot comes undone, releasing your hair to flow freely atop the roof of the mansion. \ <<elseif (($hairlength is "waist-length") or ($hairlength is "chest-length"))>>\ your long hair through the air atop the mansion's roof. \ <<elseif ((($hairlength is "shoulder-length") or ($hairlength is "short")) or ($hairlength is "spiked"))>>\ through your short hair atop the mansion's roof. \ <<elseif ($hairlength is "short-trimmed")>>\ through your closely-cut hair, brushing hard against your scalp. \ <<elseif ($hairlength is "bald")>>\ against your bald scalp with chilling speed. \ <</if>>\ In that instant Desdemona disappears from your side, blasted off the roof by an unseen attack. "Stay out of this, swamp witch. I'm here to clean up Thunderfall's mess." \ <<elseif ($style is "Kurokonton")>>\ "Master Crusher Mao of Thunderfall." Guiren announces across the divide. "I greet you as an ally. My men and I represent Bossrozal the Ascendant One, we request that y-" He disappears the next instant, blasted off the roof by an unseen attack. Wind whips \ <<if ((($hairlength is "long and tied") or ($hairlength is "tied-back")) or ($hairlength is "short and tied-back"))>>\ your hair so hard that the knot comes undone, releasing your hair to flow freely atop the roof of the mansion. \ <<elseif (($hairlength is "waist-length") or ($hairlength is "chest-length"))>>\ your long hair through the air atop the mansion's roof. \ <<elseif ((($hairlength is "shoulder-length") or ($hairlength is "short")) or ($hairlength is "spiked"))>>\ through your short hair atop the mansion's roof. \ <<elseif ($hairlength is "short-trimmed")>>\ through your closely-cut hair, brushing hard against your scalp. \ <<elseif ($hairlength is "bald")>>\ against your bald scalp with chilling speed. \ <</if>>\ A stain of blood drops to the ground where Guiren was just standing, his entire body flying off the roof before the droplets have time to fall. "Stay out of this, snake. I'm here to clean up Thunderfall's mess." \ <<elseif ($style is "Midorikatai")>>\ "Crusher Mao, we meet again!" Fang shouts, tail wagging. "Mountain Hazard welcomes assistance from the Thu-" Tian Fang suddenly disappears from your side. When you look back in confusion you see ten lines scraped across the rooftiles leading to her hunched-over form and realize she's been struck so hard she was blasted backward, her toes gripping the roof to stop from being knocked off the entire mansion. In her bleeding hands is a head-sized stone that was jettisoned across the distance before you could even move, slamming into her gut and barely caught in time. The lower front of her shirt is destroyed revealing a fast-forming bruise and her eyes have rolled into the back of her head, unconscious on her feet. "Shut the fuck up, mutt. I'm not here for you." \ <</if>>\ Says 'Mao', his voice carrying across the street and over the mansion grounds. In that voice a shiver running down your spine is met by a fury rising up it. This giant man pressing his power down upon the entire battlefield is not Crusher Mao. It's Crusher Jack. <<page "Continue" "ch5-smilingjack2">>\

You can hardly believe your ears as the echo of your rival's voice calls out across the destroyed town. The Sunbringers on the grounds below likewise seem unsure how to react, staring between you two cautiously. Crow Li pays no attention to you, keeping his glare on the burning green aura in the moon's silhouette. "It's been a long time, Laborer!" Jack shouts over to you. "I hear you've done nothing useful for my Sect since I've been gone, I'm not surprised." <<choose "ch5-smilingjack3">> #"Are you here to help or not?" <<var $honor + 2>>\ <<var $ruthless - 1>>\ You know by now not to answer Jack's taunts. "I'm in the middle of a Sect battle as we speak, Jack. Are you here to help or not?" "I'm here for myself. Like any sane Martial Artist." He looks down over the Sunbringers below and then \ #"Says the man who abandoned the Sect to train only for himself." <<var $ruthless - 3>>\ "Says the man who abandoned the Sect to train only for himself." You reply. "I'm the only one worth training." Jack retorts. His gaze lowers \ #"You've attacked my ally, Jack. We're not kids anymore. Stand down or I will put you down." "You've attacked my ally, Jack. We're not kids anymore. Stand down or I will put you down." <<var $honor + 3>>\ "I'd love to see you struggle and try." His gaze lowers \ #"Fuck the Sect and fuck you, Jack. These Sunbringers are mine to kill, not yours." "Fuck the Sect and fuck you, Jack. These Sunbringers are mine to kill, not yours." <<var $honor - 3>>\ <<var $ruthless + 1>>\ "That trashy language suits you." His gaze lowers \ #use-if ((($chipool + ($soul/2)) - $chispent) gte 1) Launch a surprise energy attack on the Sunbringers below. [Costs 1 Chi] <<var $ruthless + 3>>\ <<var $honor - 1>>\ <<var $fiendseverity - 1>>\ <<var $chispent - 1>>\ Jack's interruption gives you the distraction you need. All eyes are on him. Without warning you push $auracolor energy into both palms and slam them together, pressing a fast energy blast down towards two wounded Sunbringers together on the ground below. It blasts them into the ground with severe injuries. ''[1 Chi Spent]'' Your next energy attack gets deflected by a burst of green Wild Chi meeting it in the air. "Now we're talking!" Jack says, whipping his hand to disperse the green chi. "That's some serious cutthroat dishonor, I can respect that, but I didn't come here for..." His gaze falls \ <</choose>>

to the mansion beneath your feet. "Bo Lo!" Jack shouts out, looking through a window. "I sense the beggar in there. I told you to kill it, why isn't it dead?" Bo Lo opens a window shutter and looks out. "Temporary alliance." "We don't ally with trash. They're not our equals and never will be, at best they're our slaves." Rather than answering, Bo closes the window shutter. You step forward, $auracolor aura radiating from your body. \ <<if ($style is "Aoyusumu")>>\ Angelo takes the hint and leaps off the building, landing quick and dashing inside to protect Kosuke from any attack. \ <</if>>\ "Forget about them Jack, this is between us." "Is it?" Jack asks, rubbing his chin thoughtfully. "I worry you've gotten too small for me. Thunderfall sure did. Mountain Hazard sure did. After just a week under their roof I mastered their excuses for Techniques and had to travel far, far away to find any place worthwhile. Especially after our fight showed me the truth. You see, little Laborer, I found your secret to power. Something I'd never have in Thunderfall Village under my father's Path." You almost roll your eyes after the last hour of revelations. "My Fuel Foundation, I know. You're late to that party." Jack pauses, silent for a moment. "What second-rate moron told you that mattered? You didn't beat me because of the Martial Arts or some cultivation secret, you beat me because you were a broke, pathetic loser. You were //desperate// for power, every second of every day, while I had everything I ever needed all my life. The hard work I put in and the results I achieved only doubled down on my delusion that I'd never have to change. I didn't stray from father's lessons, I didn't brave the wilderness, I didn't steal, I didn't kill. I wasn't ''hungry!''" He vanishes from the pagoda. A thunderous crack fills the air and tiles shatter on the roof of the mansion's opposite wing where he appears, facing across the grounds at you. "When you defeated me it was the most important day of my life. I became the loser, the one with something to prove, and in that I gained what father could never give me. I stole your determination. When I crush you in Nanhou, when I crush EVERYONE in Nanhou, I want you to know-" He vanishes again. And appears in front of you. <<if ($heshe is "she")>>\ "-It was all for you." <<else>>\ "-It was all thanks to you." <</if>>\ You leap back when the smile vanishes from his face, replaced with the focused effort that only comes from summoning all the energy in one's body. The kind of energy needed for a massive Technique. ''//"THUNDERFALL!!"//'' <<page "Get back!" "ch5-smilingjack4">>\

The concussive burst filling the air knocks you off the roof because there //is no roof//. The town shakes as the mansion and ground beneath it explode into a cloud of debris and dust wider than the street it was on. Worse, the wind keeps coming. Even after you've been blown into the air the pressure from the attack keeps pushing you higher and higher in what feels like a never-ending realm of wind, sand, and splinters. Thankfully, you eventually start to fall to the ground. The problem in the never-ending dust cloud is you can't brace yourself to hit the ground unless you can see the ground. <<if ($survival gte 2)>>\ ''[Survival 2 Check Passed]'' <<apboost 4>>\ This isn't your first fall and it won't be your last. You press one leg down, tuck your opposite arm inward, and tilt your head down. The second you hit the ground your first leg collapses with minimal resistance, tilting you into a roll to your side. <<elseif ($perception gte 2)>>\ ''[Perception 2 Check Passed]'' <<var $apval 2>>\ <<apboost 4>>\ Your sharp eyes see through the cloud, giving up on looking for the ground and instead using the rooftops of the city around you to tell how fast you're falling and how close the ground must be. As soon as you approach the ground you bend into a roll and stop the fall from doing any harm to your enhanced body. <<else>>\ With no sense of direction you slam into the ground at an off angle and crumple, your head slamming into a pile of cobblestones that reached the ground before you did. <<woundcheck 1 true false>>\ <</if>>\ Ringing fills your ears as you rise, its sound muffled by the occasional scream. The debris acting like a thick dust fog starts to settle and you look upon the crater where the mansion used to be. Water trickles in from under the ground due to the depth of the crater and a lake slowly begins to form. On the other side of the demolition you see \ <<if ($style is "Akakiru")>>\ Leona with Kosuke over one shoulder and Bo over the other, \ <<if ($cj is 1)>>\ the freed prisoners all behind her. Her eyes look \ <<else>>\ her eyes looking \ <</if>>\ sunken and annoyed at having to save someone for once. That, and her hair is a mess. <<var $leonacombat + 1>>\ <<elseif ($style is "Aoyusumu")>>\ Angelo in a glowing dome of cerulean chi, <<if ($cj is 1)>>\ Bo, Kosuke, Leona, and the freed prisoners all \ <<else>>\ Bo, Leona, and Kosuke \ <</if>>\ thankfully unscathed inside the makeshift kinetic shield. \ <<var $angelocombat + 1>>\ <<elseif ($style is "Kiihakai")>>\ a series of twelve gold dragon-shaped lines of Mystic Chi swirling through the air, all damaged and falling apart to reveal \ <<if ($cj is 1)>>\ Desdemona's disciples, Bo, Leona, Kosuke, and your freed prisoners all \ <<else>>\ Desdemona's disciples, Bo, Leona, and Kosuke \ <</if>>\ protected behind the Mystic Technique. Desdemona herself stands at their center, collapsing to one knee as her Mystic aura fades from the exertion. <<var $descombat + 1>>\ <<elseif ($style is "Kurokonton")>>\ <<if ($cj is 1)>>\ A massive crowd manifest out of nowhere. Guiren, Kosuke, Bo, Leona, Guiren's men, and your freed prisoners all \ <<else>>\ Guiren, Kosuke, Bo, Leona, and Guiren's men \ <</if>>\ pop into existence as if they were yanked out of reality for the duration of the attack and deposited back into the world when it was over. One of Guiren's shinobi-masked underlings waves at you. Guiren slaps him in the back of the head. <<var $guirencombat + 1>>\ <<elseif ($style is "Midorikatai")>>\ Tian Fang's wolves glowing green with Wild Chi, substantially larger than normal. The wolves form a semicircle around \ <<if ($cj is 1)>>\ Bo, Kosuke, Leona, the freed prisoners, \ <<else>>\ Bo, Kosuke, Leona, \ <</if>>\ and a wounded Tian Fang that they somehow got out of the way in time. They snarl at someone behind you. <<var $fangcombat + 1>>\ <</if>>\ "Now that's how you get a party started!" Jack shouts out, standing in the middle of a dozen groaning Sunbringers on the road outside the crater. He grins and rubs a thumb against his chin in one stroke. "You're all lucky that killing you wouldn't even count as training. I don't like to waste time." "Then..." One woman in Sunbringer uniform mutters from on her knees. Her face, skin, and clothes are covered in ash-like dust from the explosion's fallout. "Then what do you want from us?" "It doesn't matter." You reply, stepping forward \ <<if ($equippedweapon isnot "")>>\ and drawing \ <<if ($equippedweapon is "Muramasa")>>\ Muramasa. \ <<else>>\ your $equippedweapon. \ <</if>>\ <<elseif (($ruthless gt 52) or ($equippedweapon is "Handwraps"))>>\ and cracking your knuckles. \ <<else>>\ ready to fight. \ <</if>>\ "He's here to fight me." "No, shut up." Jack opens his arms wide and turns away from you slowly to look upon the other combatants. "Rejoice, weaklings! You're free from my father! As of this moment, there is no rivalry because there is no Sunbringer Sect. Every Martial Artist in this town is officially my personal retainer. When we get to Nanhou you can inform your Lower Disciples of their new master too." The pressure of his aura weighs down twice as hard as he focuses it onto the battlefield, pressing weight onto everyone present. \ <<if ($jadedragonfoundation is true)>>\ Only you remain standing, the power of your Jade Dragon previous incarnation resisting the effect. \ <</if>>\ "Die or kneel. I'm a generous man, so I let you choose." What. The. Hells. Who does he think he is to ignore you after running away for a year? "H-" ''"NOO!!"'' Crow Li screams suddenly from under a pile of stone, and with his defiance comes a massive wave of golden and crimson energy that blasts the debris around him to pieces. He hovers into the air and you notice he's missing an arm. "You're not going to stop my goals! You're not the end of my potential!" Though Crow Li's aura looks dim, he is still a Kiihakai practitioner. With his chi sorcery he sends his aura itself as an attack. The golden glow leaves his body and coalesces into a giant shining missile he launches at Jack. Jack maintains eye contact with you while he backhands the body-sized energy ball in your direction. <<choose "ch5-smilingjack5">> #Deflect it back. <<var $combatstat "power">>\ <<combatcheck 7>>\ <<if ($passcheck is true)>>\ You slam the attack with your own backhand and send it flying to Jack, who smiles wide and deflects it back at you. The two of you return volleys twice before the attack breaks against his wrist. "Not bad, Laborer." Jack says, "If you trained right maybe you would have been the one to break it." <<var $val 7777>>\ The skirmish around the decimated neighborhood breaks out anew \ <<else>>\ You swing your fist against the attack and feel your own arm slam into your chest when Crow Li's full-aura bomb crushes through your power. You grab it with your other arm but it's not enough, singing through your hands. <<woundcheck 1 false true>>\ <<if ($eblocktech isnot "")>>\ Luckily it breaks upon your $eblocktech before inflicting any real damage. "Not bad." Jack says, walking toward you with his aura blazing. <<var $val 7777>>\ The skirmish around the decimated neighborhood breaks out anew \ <<else>>\ You grit your teeth in the struggle of chi but the attack loses no momentum, enchanted with the Yang power of Mystic Chi. The shoving force of your energy contest proves too much for the weight of one $manwoman and you're launched off your feet, still holding the attack as it surges you at a steep angle into the night sky. As you're launched into the air you see the skirmish below continue \ <</if>>\ <</if>>\ #Catch it! Chi surges over your hands in a constant stream as you catch the attack and try to prevent it from detonating. <<var $combatstat "fortitude">>\ <<var $combatstat2 "soul">>\ <<combatcheck 11>>\ <<if ($passcheck is true)>>\ By pressing the blast inward between both palms you're able to keep its power suppressed, but the damn thing keeps rushing you forward. The Mystic Chi behind it stops Crow Li's Technique from losing any momentum, so you turn at the last second and throw his attack behind you. It soars over the mansion, over the tree line behind it, and explodes in a blinding golden flash. "Not bad." Jack says, walking toward you with his aura blazing. <<var $val 7777>>\ The skirmish around the decimated neighborhood breaks out anew \ <<else>>\ The attack is unlike any you've faced. A full power Technique from an Upper disciple. It burns through your defense just as fast as you can produce them and singes your skin. <<woundcheck 1 false true>>\ <<if ($eblocktech isnot "")>>\ Luckily it breaks upon your $eblocktech before inflicting any real damage. "Not bad." Jack says, walking toward you with his aura blazing. <<var $val 7777>>\ The skirmish around the decimated neighborhood breaks out anew \ <<else>>\ You grit your teeth in the struggle of chi but the attack loses no momentum, enchanted with the Yang power of Mystic Chi. The shoving force of your energy contest proves too much for the weight of one $manwoman and you're launched off your feet, still holding the attack as it surges you at a steep angle into the night sky. As you're launched into the air you see the skirmish below continue \ <</if>>\ <</if>>\ #show-if ($style is "Aoyusumu") Block it with a Sacred shield. [Costs 1 Chi] You erect a shield of cerulean Sacred Chi in front of you, a combination of ten waves of kinetic energy held so close together that it appears solid. Crow Li's blast crashes into it and keeps pressing, pushing harder and harder against your shield. Before you're forced to relent you tilt your forcefield's lower edge at an angle and force the attack to fly high overhead, blasting through the tree line behind the mansion. ''[1 Chi Spent]'' <<var $chispent + 1>>\ "Not bad." Jack says, walking toward you with his aura blazing. <<var $val 7777>>\ The skirmish around the decimated neighborhood breaks out anew \ <</choose>>

when $fren attacks Crow Li with <<if ($style is "Akakiru")>>\ in a scarlet flurry of slashes. <<elseif ($style is "Aoyusumu")>>\ a single kick that knocks him into one side of a neighboring building and out the other. <<elseif ($style is "Kiihakai")>>\ a golden energy blast that comes from his own shadow. <<elseif ($style is "Kurokonton")>>\ a flurry of throwing stars that Crow Li deflects, only to find they attack him a second time from behind. <<elseif ($style is "Midorikatai")>>\ her iceblade. <</if>>\ The other Sunbringers try to interfere but they're ambushed by \ <<if ($cj is 1)>>\ your armed and freed civilians, lead by \ <</if>>\ <<if ($style is "Kiihakai")>>\ Kosuke, Bo, and the Dreamriver Disciples. <<elseif ($style is "Kurokonton")>>\ Kosuke, Bo, and Guiren's underlings. <<elseif ($style is "Midorikatai")>>\ Kosuke, Bo, and Fang's wolves. <<elseif ($cj is 1)>>\ Kosuke and Bo. <<else>>\ Kosuke and Bo launching energy blasts from across the new ravine while they guzzle the Sunbringers' own replenishment \ <<if ($kosukecombat lt 5)>>\ pills, yet the Sunbringer's counterblasts hit more accurately. ''[Kosuke has been injured!]'' <<var $kosukecombat - 1>>\ <<else>>\ pills and leap away from counterblasts. <</if>>\ <</if>>\ <<if ($val is 7777)>>\ Jack steps between you and the fight, chi radiating off even his boot with each step. "Don't you just love a good skirmish?" You can't keep the fury from showing on your face. "Get out of the way, Jack!" <<else>>\ Jack takes two steps back and allows it. None come after him. <</if>>\ <<page "Continue" "ch5-smilingjack6">>\

Crow Li withdraws several fuuinjutsu tags and rips them into clouds of smoke all around him in the middle of his fight. "Activate the Gate!" He screams as a cascade of crates pile up all around him, appearing from the smoke. "We can't, Master Crow!" Shouts a Sunbringer trading blows with Bo Lo. "The Gate is Master Taio's work and he's not here!" "To hell with Taio, I am the rightful ruler of this Sect!" Crow Li's chews some sort of pill and his aura returns as he leaps over $fren, three Sunbringers charging from underneath his leap to attack \ <<if ((($style is "Akakiru") or ($style is "Kiihakai")) or ($style is "Midorikatai"))>>\ her \ <<else>>\ him \ <</if>>\ with spears. In one fluid movement Crow Li lands in Bo's fight, dislocates Bo's arm out of its socket, and kicks him in the ribs. Bo is sent spiraling out over the yard and his opponent has time to take out their own fuuinjutsu tags, ripping them open to reveal more crates. Crow Li leaps high into the air toward you with a surged Agility Core, appearing behind you with speeding force. \ <<if ($val isnot 7777)>>\ You spin out of the way so Crow Li's own attack will hit him but it dissipates and his punch slams into your adjusted block. <<else>>\ Jack steps back and 'allows' your fight as Crow Li becomes three people, two illusions striking you at once and the third slamming a fist into your block. <</if>>\ You're sent flying \ <<if ($val isnot 7777)>>\ down \ <</if>>\ into the crates Crow Li had conjured from his fuuinjutsu tags. Wood cracks under your weight and crimson marbles fill your vision as thousands of Taio's Soul Treasures explode into the air around you from out of the crates. The small spheres glide out of the way, forming no cushion as your head-first fall slams into the stone ground with a skull-cracking impact. <<if (((($health + ($fortitude / 2)) - $wounds) gte 2) or ($fortitude gte 5))>>\ <<var $combatstat "fortitude">>\ <<combatcheck 6>>\ <<if ($passcheck is true)>>\ ''[Damage Resisted]'' You get to your feet quickly, unphased, \ <<else>>\ <<woundcheck 1 false false>>\ You get to your feet, head bleeding, \ <</if>>\ <<else>>\ You rise to your feet, legs shaking with fatigue and anger, \ <</if>>\ and feel so very tired of letting others decide the pace of this fight. That's when the ground beneath you turns into quicksand, dropping you knee-deep into the liquid dirt before solidifying into stone. You're trapped. Jack's laughter tells you exactly who did it. "Damn it Jack!" You're forced to launch a blast of scorching chi to stop a Sunbringer with a Yumi from shooting Kosuke in the back. It hits them clean in the head and you're not sure if they even have a head anymore, but you're too busy. Bo is bleeding. $fren is fighting \ <<if ($style is "Akakiru")>>\ far \ <<var $leonacombat + 1>>\ <</if>>\ too many people. \ <<if ($style is "Kiihakai")>>\ Her Disciples are losing. \ <<elseif ($style is "Kurokonton")>>\ His underlings are losing. \ <<elseif ($style is "Midorikatai")>>\ Two of her wolves are already dead. \ <</if>>\ Too much is happening. You look back to Jack. "If you're not going to help then quit getting in the way! This is life and death!" "Is this your first day?" Jack asks, unphased by the battle around him. "It's //always// life and death." "Good, Crusher, good!" Crow Li interrupts and conjures a spherical barrier of Mystic Chi around himself. "Embrace that mindset as I enforce it, for I will see your end become a reality!" Suddenly Crow Li's one remaining hand blurs into a series of handseals and the blood marbles around you all begin to glow crimson. So does Crow Li's once-golden aura. Jack doesn't even attack Crow Li's barrier. He simply grins in amusement, the same grin Mao always gave when threatened by a lesser. "That's an impressive collection of treasures. Looks dangerous. Think you can handle it?" Crow Li's eyes crackle with Mystic Chi as his handseals pick up pace. "Handle it? Do not insult me you whelp, I have mastered it!" Jack's relaxed demeanor drops, his voice growing dark. "I wasn't talking to you." In a red flash the stone ground ruptures around Jack's feet and he flies back like a shooting star, leaping out of the city in a single bound. His voice booms over Ebikowa one last time before he's gone. "This is my gift to you, <<cap $name>>. I've made you the loser again." <<page "Continue" "ch5-demon">>\

/* Set this chapter's isolated variables */\ <<script>>console.clear();<</script>>\ <<timepass>>\ <<var $chapter 5>>\ <<var $val 0>>\ <<var $underlings + $tmpunderlings>>\ <<var $val2 0>>\ <<var $cagediff 6>>\ <<var $manaclediff 6>>\ <<var $stealthdiff 6>>\ <<var $fren "">>\ <<var $shipdamage 0>>\ <<var $bloodboost 0>>\ <<var $cultists 30>>\ <<var $thesecret false>>\ <<var $kosukehelp false>>\ <<var $leonagag true>>\ <<var $bloodsecret false>>\ <<var $leonatortured 0>>\ <<var $botortured 0>>\ <<var $cj 0>>\ <<var $thebluff false>>\ <<var $silentcounter 0>>\ <<var $taioknowledge 0>>\ <<var $angelodeception 0>>\ <<var $angelicblanket false>>\ <<var $seared false>>\ <<var $distraction "marbles">>\ <<var $celldone false>>\ <<var $kold false>>\ <<var $chaindone false>>\ <<var $lostbonus false>>\ <<var $insult "">>\ <<var $oneye false>>\ <<var $manaclefail 0>>\ <<var $cagefail 0>>\ <<if ($race is "Oni")>>\ <<var $insult "hellspawn">>\ <<elseif ((($subrace is "Cat") or ($subrace is "Dog")) or ($race is "Kitsune"))>>\ <<var $insult "filthy stray">>\ <<elseif ($subrace is "Reptile")>>\ <<var $insult "coldblood">>\ <<elseif (($subrace is "Bovine") and ($heshe is "she"))>>\ <<var $insult "you outdated piece of farm equipment">>\ <<elseif (($subrace is "Bovine") and ($heshe is "he"))>>\ <<var $insult "farm equipment">>\ <<elseif ($subrace is "Monkey")>>\ <<var $insult "monkey">>\ <<else>>\ <<var $insult "trash">>\ <</if>>\ <<var $potential "">>\ <<var $infused 0>>\ <div class="fightingfont">Chapter Five</div>\ ''//In which suffering is imminent,//'' ''//Hostile plots come unveiled,//'' ''//And disaster falls upon the land.//'' No matter how much power one obtains, no matter how far one's victories lead them, all paths must come to an end. Your path faces its greatest danger yet, but it is more than death that haunts your future. For better or worse, not all paths are walked alone. <<page "Continue" "ch5-start2">>\

<<var $stripped true>>\ /* Unset previous chapter's isolated variables */\ <<unset $tmpunderlings>>\ <<unset $tigerhurt>>\ <<unset $tigerusedroc>>\ <<unset $barfight>>\ <<unset $innlizardknocked>>\ <<unset $innlizardthrown>>\ <<unset $purplepoints>>\ <<unset $wasadicktodes>>\ <<unset $chosewoods>>\ <<unset $leonadmg>>\ <<unset $pelt>>\ <<unset $firsttime>>\ <<unset $toldname>>\ <<unset $memhaggled>>\ <<unset $mentionedclan>>\ <<unset $memdrank>>\ <<unset $workfordou>>\ <<unset $conversion>>\ <<unset $deskiss>>\ <<unset $purpleside>>\ <<unset $goldside>>\ <<unset $alchbanned>>\ <<unequiparmor>>\ <<unequipacc1>>\ <<unequipacc2>>\ <<unequipweapon1>>\ <<unequipbelt>>\ <<timepass>>\ <<var $forspent $fortitude>>\ <<var $powspent $power>>\ <<var $solspent $soul>>\ <<var $agispent $agility>>\ <<var $chispent (($soul/2) + $chipool)>>\ <<var _i 0>>\ <<for _i to 0; (($health + ($fortitude / 2)) - $wounds) gte 2; _i++>>\ <<var $wounds + 1>>\ <</for>>\ It's hard to tell what wakes you first. Is it the rattle of metal chains? Is it the screams of some unknown victim? Or is it your own gasping breath? All three fill your ears at once. Air rushes through your lungs in shivering desperation as your eyes shoot open, bleary and red from an intense fever dehydrating your body. Your lips are dry and cracked, it feels as though every ounce of water in your system has spent untold hours fleeing out your pores in the form of sweat drenching through your clothes. The ailment has depleted not just your chi but your physical form; the world feels so cold, as though every bone in your body has been emptied of marrow and replaced with harsh winds biting through the hollow lining inside your skeleton. <<if ($style is "Midorikatai")>>\ <<var $auracolor "green">>\ <<var $fren "Fang">>\ "Good morning, Thunderfaller." Tian Fang whispers softly, crouched in a corner of the outdoor iron cage housing the two of you. She faces away from you and her tail stands on edge. "I do not think we are in a good place." Turning over quickly on a painful floor of iron bars reveals that you're \ <<elseif ($style is "Kurokonton")>>\ <<var $auracolor "purple">>\ <<var $fren "Guiren">>\ <<if (dig($metguiren, 3) is 1)>>\ "'Mornin, retard." Says Guiren, equally debilitated lying on the floor across from you in an outdoor iron cell. He \ <<elseif (($guirenromance gte 1) and ($heshe is "she"))>>\ "Goodmorning, bright eyes." Says Guiren, laying across from you in an outdoor iron cell with one arm propping his head up casually. From the cold sweat you can tell he's suffering too and trying to look cool. It's not really working, he \ <<else>>\ "Bad night?" Guiren asks as if you were drinking buddies, his own prone body lying helplessly across from you in your outdoor iron cell. He doesn't even bother raising his head and \ <</if>>\ looks like he hasn't slept in days. You must look worse. A quick scan of your surroundings shows you're \ <<elseif ($style is "Kiihakai")>>\ <<var $auracolor "gold">>\ <<var $fren "Desdemona">>\ "Try not to move." Whispers <<if (($desromance gte 2) and ($heshe is "he"))>>\ Desdemona, pressed against you from behind while lying down. \ <<else>>\ Desdemona from mere feet away. \ <</if>>\ "Pretend to be unconscious." You crack one eye open ever so slightly and gaze at your surroundings. The situation is not good. You're \ <<elseif ($style is "Aoyusumu")>>\ <<var $auracolor "cerulean">>\ <<var $fren "Angelo">>\ "Take things easy." Says Angelo, sitting cross-legged in the outdoor cage housing both of you. He is playing some sort of card game on his lap, with himself. "Ailments are worst at night, when the yin aspect of Darkness holds domain." Turning over slowly on a painful floor of iron bars reveals that you're \ <<elseif ($style is "Akakiru")>>\ <<var $auracolor "scarlet">>\ <<var $fren "Leona">>\ You shiver until enough warmth gets into your body to feel like you can move. An action you soon regret. When you turn to survey your surroundings you realize you're \ <</if>>\ trapped in a five foot cubic iron cage \ <<if ($style is "Akakiru")>>\ alone, \ <<else>>\ with $fren, \ <</if>>\ one of a dozen iron cages forming a circle around the many campfires that illuminate the night around the market square of this pillaged coastal town. Most of the nearby cages are filled with other moaning victims, but you envy them for having human proportion cages. The smaller cage in which you're trapped is even worse for you, feverish as you are. The close quarters are a known debilitation meant for prisoners, purposefully not long enough to stretch out or stand and specifically designed to interrupt good rest. <<if (($bodytype is "Petite") or ($bodytype is "Manlet"))>>\ ''[Bodytype Event: Short <<cap $manwoman>>]'' <<apboost 5>>\ For most people. You, on the other hand, are short. Your rest was slightly rejuvenating and direly needed. Still, it's not enough to improve your situation. <<else>>\ <<var $combatstat "fortitude">>\ <<var $combatstat2 "soul">>\ <<combatcheck 8>>\ <<if ($passcheck is true)>>\ ''[No Aura Pressure Loss]'' The night was harsh, but your body is made for harsher things. <<else>>\ <<aploss 5>>\ The night was not kind to you. <</if>>\ <</if>>\ As you look around you see dozens of slaves bound in chains, each carrying crates of goods or hauling barrels down the main road towards the docks downhill. They keep a steady pace, considering the Sunbringers in uniform whipping them into motion. It's hard to miss the fresh scars on most of the slaves, which isn't surprising when you see the state of the town. Once housing hundreds inside the safety of walls, this port town has since been looted, torched, and turned into a bloodbath. Crimson sigils line the doors of each house and shop down any road in which you look, with many of the buildings suffering destroyed roofs or fire damage. It's clear this town was taken recently. The acrid taste in the air lets you know what the sigils are drawn in. Blood. <<if ($style is "Aoyusumu")>>\ <<page "Continue" "ch5-cage-angelo">>\ <<elseif ($style is "Kiihakai")>>\ <<page "Continue" "ch5-cage-dessy">>\ <<elseif ($style is "Kurokonton")>>\ <<page "Continue" "ch5-cage-guiren">>\ <<elseif ($style is "Midorikatai")>>\ <<page "Continue" "ch5-cage-fang">>\ <<else>>\ <<page "Continue" "ch5-cage-alone">>\ <</if>>\

<<if (($style is "Akakiru") or (dig($weaponbonus, 2) gt 0))>>\ ''[Weapon Quality Test Passed]'' Charging in towards the woman in front turns out to be the right move, \ <<if ($equippedweapon is "Yumi")>>\ your Yumi firing a $auracolor arrow through her chi-charged whip hard enough to pierce through it, severing her weapon in two and impaling her through the shoulder. <<else>>\ <<if ($equippedweapon is "Muramasa")>>\ Muramasa \ <<else>>\ your $equippedweapon \ <</if>>\ <<if ((($equippedweapon is "Handwraps") or ($equippedweapon is "Meteor Hammer")) or ($equippedweapon is "Bo Staff"))>>\ crashing \ <<else>>\ cutting \ <</if>>\ through her chi-charged whip with the force of a superior weapon and \ <<if ((($equippedweapon is "Handwraps") or ($equippedweapon is "Meteor Hammer")) or ($equippedweapon is "Bo Staff"))>>\ slamming into her head with your full power. \ <<else>>\ cleaving a slash down her torso. \ <</if>>\ <</if>>\ Her aura shatters in an energy rain of gold and white as she drops to the ground. <<apboost 3>>\ <<if ($equippedweapon is "Chiblade")>>\ ''[Soulstealing Bonus: 3 AP stolen from your target!]'' <<var $aurapressure + 3>>\ <</if>>\ <<include "ch5-fightblurb1">>\ <<page "Continue" "ch5-stealth2">>\ <<else>>\ You charge in immediately with your $equippedweapon and duel against the whip-wielding woman in front, her chi-covered whip striking you with glancing blows as you trade her <<if ((($equippedweapon is "Handwraps") or ($equippedweapon is "Meteor Hammer")) or ($equippedweapon is "Bo Staff"))>>\ pummeling \ <<else>>\ slicing \ <</if>>\ blows in return. <<var $combatstat "fortitude">>\ <<var $combatskill "craft">>\ <<combatcheck 6>>\ <<if ($passcheck is true)>>\ Leona, Bo, and Kosuke defeat the weaker two opponents as you outlast yours, finally getting an opening where you <<if ((($equippedweapon is "Handwraps") or ($equippedweapon is "Meteor Hammer")) or ($equippedweapon is "Bo Staff"))>>\ slam your $equippedweapon into her head with your full strength. \ <<else>>\ cleave a slash down her torso. \ <</if>>\ Her aura shatters in an energy rain of gold and white as she drops to the ground. <<apboost 3>>\ <<include "ch5-fightblurb1">>\ <<page "Continue" "ch5-stealth2">>\ <<else>>\ But it's not enough. The sting of her whip wears you down too much until Kosuke, Leona, and Bo finish with the other two opponents. Bo then hammers the whip-wielder in the head from behind with a double-handed overhead slam. You don't suffer defeat, but you do prove that you're not the top dog in this group like you thought. That knowledge stings worse than any wound. <<var $leonarep - 2>>\ <<var $borep - 2>>\ <<if ($bffheshe isnot $heshe)>>\ <<var $bffrep - 2>>\ <</if>>\ <<page "Continue" "ch5-stealth2">>\ <</if>>\ <</if>>\

With the patrol defeated you glance up and down the street to get your bearings and scan for more enemies. After going uphill on the main road for so long you get a better view of the town upon turning around: a hundred wooden buildings, most destroyed along the central road, all packed into an extensive fifteen-foot tall town-wall leading into the ocean. A graveyard lies outside the walls to the north and a plethora of stables rest outside the wall near the southern road, visible thanks to your elevated vantage \ <<if ($distraction is "alarm")>>\ point and the shining lights from so many Sunbringers manning the wall at the southern end, clearly looking for something. Kosuke gives a nod of satisfaction at the sight of them all bundled so far away. <<else>>\ point. <</if>>\ The main road extends from your upper area down into a terrace where the market square hosts dozens of emptied cages around destroyed buildings. Further down the main road, at the water's end, lies the largest buildings: warehouses, taverns, mansions, and one crater that was no doubt once the headquarters of this town's Sect. Finally a long dock hosting over a dozen ships pushes deep into the \ <<if ($distraction is "fire")>>\ ocean, though many of those ships are burning while Sunbringers panic trying to put out the flames. <<else>>\ ocean, a sight you've never seen before. <</if>>\ You take in the view of the defeated town and feel a kinship; this is what Thunderfall would have been if Crusher Mao had lost to Master Bangle all those years ago. If not sacrificed, then at least completely conquered. <<choose "ch5-stealth3">> #It doesn't need him anymore, it has me. <<var $honor + 3>>\ <<var $ruthless + 1>>\ <<var $maorep + 2>>\ #For once I'm actually glad we had Mao around. <<var $honor + 1>>\ <<var $ruthless - 3>>\ <<var $maorep + 5>>\ #Thunderfall could still look like this if the Crushers get in my way. <<var $honor - 1>>\ <<var $ruthless + 3>>\ <<if ($heshe is "he")>>\ <<var $jackrep - 5>>\ <</if>>\ <<apboost 2>>\ #I wonder if there's any loot left... <<var $honor - 3>>\ <<var $ruthless - 1>>\ <<if (($thievery gte 2) or ($deception gte 2))>>\ ''[Event: Scheming Crook]'' ''[Your criminal skills and focus on Shards has increased your commerce!]'' <<var $commerce + 1>>\ <</if>>\ <</choose>>

Your thoughts wander while you climb atop a building, laying low to scout your surroundings. "See anyone?" Asks Kosuke from below you after hiding the defeated patrollers in the same building. "No Sunbringers." You whisper back. "Not even a spiritual scan coming out our way." You climb down and lead \ <<if ($cj isnot 1)>>\ the rest \ <<else>>\ your small army \ <</if>>\ further uphill towards the mansion, cautious but growing optimistic. When you \ <<if ($style is "Midorikatai")>>\ and Fang's wolves \ <</if>>\ reach the front gate of the mansion you see bright golden lights coming from the east wing's fourth floor. "Oooh that feels like a Barrier technique." Leona whispers. "Crow Li must have wanted privacy for his torturing. We can't get to him unless he lifts it." "That's his mistake." You reply. "Our first goal is to steal his Sect's entire supply of medicine and use it all. We won't have to go to him. By the time he realizes what we've done he'll be the one coming to us." <<var $spareval_1 $cj>>\ <<if ($thesecret is true)>>\ <<var $sparestr_1 "thesecret">>\ <</if>>\ <<var $sparestr_2 $distraction>>\ <<page "Continue" "ch5-mansion">>\

''[Stealth 2 Check Passed]'' A patrol of three Sunbringers nearly catches the party, coming down the main road holding crates of \ <<if ($perception gte 1)>>\ goods. ''[Perception 1 Check Passed]'' <<var $forexp + 1>>\ But \ <<else>>\ goods, but \ <</if>>\ <<if ($cj is 1)>>\ with an armed crowd you've got enough scouts of your own to see them coming first. <<else>>\ your group sees them coming first, hidden as you are in the shadows. The four of you position yourselves back down the road, splitting up to two different sides. Kosuke and Bo hide in opposite alleys while you and Leona crouch from opposite rooftops. <</if>>\ As the patrol passes by, you strike. Your target is a middle-aged Human of broad stature, and you \ <<if ($equippedweapon is "Yumi")>>\ unload arrows into him just as Bo closes the gap with a flying kick. <<elseif (($equippedweapon is "Handwraps") or ($equippedweapon is ""))>>\ kick off the roof and grip your left hand in your right, combining the weight of your \ <<if ($equippedweapon is "Handwraps")>>\ handwraps \ <<else>>\ fists \ <</if>>\ into an overhead slam onto the Sunbringer's head. <<else>>\ drop on him with an aerial swing of your \ <<if (($equippedweapon isnot "") and ($equippedweapon isnot "Tanto"))>>\ <<if ($equippedweapon is "Muramasa")>>\ cursed blade \ <<else>>\ $equippedweapon \ <</if>>\ into his shoulder. \ <</if>>\ <</if>>\ Your target's aura shatters instantly and he falls to the ground. Leona likewise makes short work of a woman with a whip, armed with two swords she took from the armory and laughing maniacally as she slashes her target. \ <<if ($kosukecombat gte 6)>>\ Surprisingly Kosuke defeats a Lower Disciple as well, crashing a crate over their head and kicking them when they're down. It seems all your training together was worth it. <<apboost 10>>\ <<var $val 1111>>\ <<else>>\ Kosuke struggles with $bffhisher opponent but <<if ($cj is 1)>>\ a dozen of your unpowered soldiers charge into the fray with qiangs and swords, turning the tide to end the fight quickly. <<var $kosukecombat + 1>>\ <<elseif ($martial_retainers gte 3)>>\ your new empowered fighters manage to help turn the tide. <<var $kosukecombat + 1>>\ <<else>>\ the three of you are able to help when your targets are down, ending the fight quickly. <</if>>\ <</if>>\ <<if ($val isnot 1111)>>\ <<apboost 5>>\ <<weightexp 1>>\ <<if ($fightbonus gt 0)>>\ ''[Enemy Aura Pressure Absorbed: $fightbonus]'' <<var $aurapressure + $fightbonus>>\ <</if>>\ <</if>>\ <<var $val 0>>\ After the swift attack you get a better look at the Sunbringers' faces and recognize them, the three you ambushed make up half the group that Taio had with him in the torture basement. That should leave fewer defenders at the mansion itself. This just might work out afterall. <<var $retainers + 2>>\ <<page "Continue" "ch5-stealth2">>\

''[Stealth 2 Check Failed]'' Until a patrol of three Sunbringers catches you. Ones you recognize from the basement. \ <<if ($leonatortured gte 2)>>\ Ones who whipped you. \ <</if>>\ "What are you all doing out?" One of them asks. "It doesn't matter, idiot!" Barks another, drawing her whip and charging it with chi. "Warn Crow Li that the sacrifices have escaped!" <<if ($style is "Midorikatai")>>\ Fang's wolves descend upon one without even being asked. You quickly remember they're not domesticated. That leaves the rest to you. <</if>>\ <<choose "ch5-stealth-weaponattack">> #show-if ($equippedweapon is "Muramasa") Charge in with your cursed blade. You grip the sheath of your sword and take a bracing stance. \ <<if (($style is "Akakiru") or (dig($weaponbonus, 2) gt 0))>>\ Your eyes meet the Sunbringer leading the patrol and paralyze her on the spot. <</if>>\ Then you draw your blade, and the battle begins #show-if (($equippedweapon isnot "Muramasa") and (equippedweapon isnot "")) Charge in with your $equippedweapon. #show-if ($equippedweapon is "") use-if ($equippedweapon isnot "") Charge in with your weapon drawn. [Requires Equipped Weapon] #Close the distance fast with a cannon-like punch. Stiffening your back and arm, tensing each muscle into your legs, and charging all chi into your back produces the desired effect of launching yourself instantly at your opponent, closing the gap before they can react and slamming an uppercut at the whip wielder with the force of your enhanced speed behind it. <<var $combatstat "agility">>\ <<combatcheck 5>>\ <<if ($passcheck is true)>>\ Your blow connects before she has the chance to use the whip, ramming into her stomach so hard that she throws up and her aura shatters into a rain of gold and light energy around the fight. <<apboost 3>>\ A second Sunbringer is sent sprawling as you spin a kick at their head, barely getting up before your follow-up blow. The last two are easily dispatched with the help of Leona, Bo, and Kosuke. <<else>>\ It would have been great if you hadn't missed. The distraction gives Bo the chance to clobber the woman and disarm her while Leona and Kosuke defeat the weaker two enemies. You don't suffer defeat, but you do prove that you're not the top dog in this group like you thought. That knowledge stings worse than any wound. <<var $leonarep - 2>>\ <<var $borep - 2>>\ <<if ($bffheshe isnot $heshe)>>\ <<var $bffrep - 2>>\ <</if>>\ <</if>>\ <<page "Continue" "ch5-stealth2">>\ #show-if (($cj is 1) or ($martial_retainers is 1)) Throw the nearest Ebikowan civilian. "Ready yourself!" You order the nearest large freed prisoner, a bull Yokai. "Ready for w-" He tries to ask, interrupted when you grip the collar of his shirt and twist for a better grip, then lift him off his feet with a spin so fast he becomes horizontal. You grab his bottom leg with your other hand and spin him two more times. The Sunbringer in front takes one hesitant step back as you lift the three-hundred pound man. <<if ($subrace is "Bovine")>>\ "Apologies, brother!" You call to the fellow bovine yokai as \ <<else>>\ Then \ <</if>>\ you throw him with all your might, his head-first trajectory piercing through the air like a javelin. <<var $combatstat "power">>\ <<var $combatskill "athletics">>\ <<discount "Midorikatai" 1>>\ <<combatcheck 7>>\ <<if ($passcheck is true)>>\ The patrol's leader doesn't have time to react. Before she can initiate some Technique from her glowing whip she's impaled by the horns of the Bull Yokai projectile, knocked off her feet, and pinned to the building behind her. <<apboost 3>>\ Kosuke, Bo, and Leona make short work of the other two in the same time it takes you to finish off the leader and potentially invent a new sport. You're proud of the Yokai for not screaming and giving away your position, but when you pull his horns out of the wooden wall (and your opponent) you find it's only because he's unconscious. "Damn, he's dead weight." Leona says, looking at the bull yokai's unconscious form while she wipes blood off her sword. "Should we cut him up into steaks?" "He's a person." Kosuke replies plainly. <<if (($honor gt 50) or ($race is "Yokai"))>>\ "He's a soldier." You correct resolutely, giving him a short bow as Kosuke and Bo drag him into the safety of an alleyway. The \ <<var $powexp + 1>>\ <<else>>\ Bo carries him into the safety of a dark alleyway while you scan for more attackers. With none in sight, the \ <</if>>\ rest of you continue on towards the mansion. <<page "Continue" "ch5-stealth2">>\ <<else>>\ Your throw falls short, the bull Yokai hitting the ground before even reaching the patrol's leader. She responds by leaping onto his back and kicking off hard, injuring the man's spine, and charging at you with her glowing whip. Despite your best efforts this woman's combat prowess proves too much to dispatch quickly. You block and deflect her whip as best you can, taking only minor cuts and stings, but the opening to strike here doesn't show up until Bo finishes with his target and grabs her by the legs. Before you can move in to finish the fight Leona flashes passed with two swords she took from the armory and cuts the woman in three, ending it for you. You don't suffer defeat, but you do prove that you're not the top dog in this group like you thought. That knowledge stings worse than any wound. <<var $leonarep - 2>>\ <<var $borep - 2>>\ <<if ($bffheshe isnot $heshe)>>\ <<var $bffrep - 2>>\ <</if>>\ <<page "Continue" "ch5-stealth2">>\ <</if>>\ #Leap into the air, crashing down on them fast and hard like a meteor. "You think it's you who've caught us?" You say to the three patrollers, looking back at \ <<if ($cj is 1)>>\ your small army. \ <<else>>\ your superior numbers. \ <</if>>\ With a curling flex and a pose you lock eyes with their leader, your head held high and your gaze condemning. "It's us who've caught you." <<var $combatstat "power">>\ <<var $combatstat2 "agility">>\ <<if (($style is "Midorikatai") and (($power + $agility) lt 9))>>\ ''[Midorikatai Bonus: Difficulty Lowered]'' <<combatcheck 8>>\ <<else>>\ <<combatcheck 9>>\ <</if>>\ <<if ($passcheck is true)>>\ You leap from the cobblestone main road and soar high into the sky to your right, flipping upside down and kicking off the overhanging roof of a two-story building. The patrol leader is just barely able to follow you with her eyes and spins her whip in an intricate loop to intercept you. Your speed and power prove too much for her finesse and you crash through the whip before its tip extends to damage you, your glowing $auracolor aura breaking through its glowing enhancement. The Sunbringer's body suffers a similar fate as you slam into her with both arms, crushing her into the ground like a comet and shattering her aura in a rain of white and gold energy all around you. She does not get back up. <<apboost 3>>\ <<include "ch5-fightblurb1">>\ <<page "Continue" "ch5-stealth2">>\ <<else>>\ You soar high into the sky and surge your chi into your arms and back, preparing to slam down onto them like an enraged gorilla. Unfortunately you soar too high or too slowly, because before you get a chance to fall back down your leg is caught by the glowing whip of the patrol's leader. She flings you into the cobblestone road where you crash hard into the ground, kicking up dirt and rocks, and before you can get up she leaps in close with her glowing leg reared back to kick your skull with the strength of a fully charged Technique. Her kick launches forward but in the rush of battle you take a moment to realize you suffer no damage. You suffer no impact, even. The lower half of her leg is missing. Leona suddenly stands behind the woman with a blur of scarlet, holding a new sword from the armory in one hand and the Sunbringer's shin in the other. <<if ($leonaromance gte 2)>>\ She drops it and grabs the woman's shoulder, pulling her back as she pierces her blade through the woman's chest. The patrol leader's shocked expression cements as last look on her face in life, and as the light goes out in her eyes Leona whispers in her ear. "Don't touch my man, bitch." <<else>>\ She smacks the stunned woman with her own shin, hard, sending her tumbling over. Before the patrol leader can hit the ground Leona spins her scarlet-glowing blade quickly, beheading the patrol leader in midair. She holds a hand out to you. "Crazy chicks have to stick together, am I right?" <</if>>\ <<include "ch5-fightblurb1">>\ You don't suffer defeat, but you do prove that you're not the top dog in this group like you thought. That knowledge stings worse than any wound. <<var $leonarep - 2>>\ <<var $borep - 2>>\ <<if ($bffheshe isnot $heshe)>>\ <<var $bffrep - 2>>\ <</if>>\ <<page "Continue" "ch5-stealth2">>\ <</if>>\ #Blast the closest one. You've been trying your best to avoid excessive chi usage since being imprisoned. You didn't want enemy Martial Artists detecting your escape, but now you're so close to the mansion where you're about to reek Hell anyway. This patrol is about to learn their mistake. You charge your new $auracolor power between your palms and prepare your attack, layering a heavy chi blast, when the patrol leader launches her whip directly at your nascent attack to explode it between your hands. <<var $combatstat "soul">>\ <<discount "Kiihakai" 1>>\ <<combatcheck 5>>\ <<if ($passcheck is true)>>\ Her chi-charged whip strikes your glowing ball of hostile spirit energy and <<if (($element1 is "Ice") or ($element2 is "Ice"))>>\ freezes in place. The glow around her whip changes from her golden chi to your ice blue chi in an instant, flash-frozen. Your manipulation doesn't end there, but it's too late for your opponent to realize. Your Ice chi crawls up the woman's whip in a rush of freezing power, locking her body in place and freezing her to the bone. You rip your glowing blast of freezing chi away from her frozen whip and change its nature to <<if ($style is "Akakiru")>>\ Bladed \ <<elseif ($style is "Aoyusumu")>>\ Sacred \ <<elseif ($style is "Kiihakai")>>\ Mystic \ <<elseif ($style is "Kurokonton")>>\ Cursed \ <<else>>\ Wild \ <</if>>\ Chi, launching the potent blast at the frozen woman and shattering her to pieces like an ice statue. \ <<var $apval 5>>\ <<elseif (($element1 is "Fire") or ($element2 is "Fire"))>>\ lights aflame, your potent Fire Chi overcoming her whip's enhancement as your burning flames shoot up her weapon and reach her body, engulfing her in seconds. She has no chance to scream as the oxygen is burned from her lungs and you don't give her the chance to recover, pulling back your prepared blast and launching it across the battlefield with enough power to singe her out of existence. When the smoke clears, only her boots remain. <<var $apval 5>>\ <<else>>\ disappears. The entire tip of her whip disintegrates in your potent prepared blast and the chi surrounding her whip snuffs out the second her Technique touches yours. You hold your chi blast high overhead and launch it like a cannonball up the street, blasting her in the torso hard enough to knock her into a nearby building. Her aura explodes into a rain of gold and white energy; she does not get back up. <<var $apval 3>>\ <</if>>\ <<apboost $apval>>\ <<include "ch5-fightblurb1">>\ <<page "Continue" "ch5-stealth2">>\ <<else>>\ Your own attack explodes between your palms and your chest stings with wide-spread pain all over. It takes you a moment to realize what happened. The $auracolor smoke burns from your hands and chest and you do your best to recover in time for another counterattack but see you don't need to. Leona suddenly stands behind the woman with a blur of scarlet, holding a new sword from the armory in one hand and the Sunbringer's shin in the other. <<if ($leonaromance gte 2)>>\ She drops it and grabs the woman's shoulder, pulling her back as she pierces her blade through the woman's chest. The patrol leader's shocked expression cements as last look on her face in life, and as the light goes out in her eyes Leona whispers in her ear. "Don't touch my man, bitch." <<else>>\ She smacks the stunned woman with her own shin, hard, sending her tumbling over. Before the patrol leader can hit the ground Leona spins her scarlet-glowing blade quickly, beheading the patrol leader in midair. She holds a hand out to you. "Crazy chicks have to stick together, am I right?" <</if>>\ <<include "ch5-fightblurb1">>\ You don't suffer defeat, but you do prove that you're not the top dog in this group like you thought. That knowledge stings worse than any wound. <<var $leonarep - 2>>\ <<var $borep - 2>>\ <<if ($bffheshe isnot $heshe)>>\ <<var $bffrep - 2>>\ <</if>>\ <<page "Continue" "ch5-stealth2">>\ <</if>>\ <</choose>>

<<choose "ch5-angelo-shrieker">> #"Calm down tiger, I'm just kidding." <<var $metangelo + 1000000>>\ <<var $angeloromance - 1>>\ "Calm down tiger," You say with a dismissive playful punch against his shoulder. "I'm just kidding." "Thank goodness." Angelo replies, scratching his cheek and looking off in the distance. "Relations between Student and Master are incredibly unwise." "I wouldn't call myself a Student, since I did most of the work in the fight." "And that stings even more." Angelo says with concession, still smiling. "Well played, I understand now how you grasped victory so easily." "It wasn't easy..." You turn to move on from the conversation but can't stop one last barb over your shoulder with a narrowing glare. "...seeing as you didn't help." Angelo's mouth closes and he places a hand on his heart. "The amount of salt you rub into wounds could finance a Trade Sect, and I promise you the point is most assuredly taken." #[Rest your head against his chest] [Seduction] <<var $angeloromance + 2>>\ <<var $metangelo + 2000000>>\ You rest your head against his chest, feeling his calm and steady heartbeat even after the throws of battle. It feels like a rock foundation, a constant and steady rhythm that you can depend on. It gives off the very presence and sensation of protection and reliance. Then you furrow your brow, sensing the Sacred working that's causing that impression. With a twitch you look up to him in surprise, probing deeper with your own Sacred Chi. You peer past the resonance and mental impressions he's keeping around himself with his aura and look deeper, into the true mental energies around the man. For the briefest of moments your minds connect on a surface level. //Ancestors, WHAT?!// You scream internally, jumping back. That was ''so many'' thoughts of you and him and...things! Vulgar things! This man is a priest! Or a pilgrim. Or a monk. You're not sure, but he's not supposed to be thinking anything like that! When you do jump back, an unseen Bloodwalker's tendril strikes for your heel and barely misses by pure coincidence. Angelo sweeps in low beneath you and kicks the Fiend with a blue-glowing leg. It explodes in a spray of cerulean and crimson when his foot crushes through its center and he catches you before you fall. Just as quickly, he stands at his full height, lifting you into the air in his arms. "Are you okay?" He asks, looking around in surprise when the crowd breaks out into "ooohs" and "aaahs". What did you just sign up to do //in front of a crowd//?! "H-Hah." You meant to say 'hey' and slow things down but it comes out as a warm exhale of excitement. //Damn it girl,// you think to yourself, //get it together!// The crowd's cheers fall away when your eyes meet Angelo's, your breathing quickening and your chest fluttering like butterflies. Being cradled this high up makes you realize just how incredibly //large// Angelo is. The loose robes had offset his image this whole time but as your bodies are held so close against each other you realize the man holding you up is a mountain of power that might be as large as Crusher Mao himself. Too slowly, you realize one of your arms is on his shoulder and the other is pressing against the solid muscle of his chest. You find yourself leaning in, cheeks burning red, and pulling Angelo's face closer to yours in front of this //entire// crowd. <<var $val 696969>>\ Ugggh, so forbidden. You close your eyes and purse your lips with wave after wave of acceptance and bliss washing over you. <<page "This is it." "ch5-angelo-shrieker">>\ <</choose>>

"<<cap $fullname>>." Calls a voice in the dark. "I hear you defeated Crusher Jack in your youth, a boy that interests me greatly. He interests quite a lot of people, I hear. They say he's been on a warpath from Thunderfall all the way to Nanhou, subjugating Upper Disciples in duels for their resources. Primed to win the Heavenly Ascension Trials, as the rumors circulate." A light chuckle comes from the shadows. "I must admit, I am quite interested to study the specimen who defeated him. Oh, but where are my manners? I don't believe we have been properly introduced." Six torches light the room simultaneously. Your prison-basement illuminates to show each corner adorned with a vertical stone slab like the one on which you're tied. Each is stained in blood. A set of vivisection tools rest on a table ominously close by and Taio himself stands before you hovering over the set of torture instruments, poking and prodding the sharpened tools with analytical grace. <<if ($portraitpics is true)>>\ <<image "https://www.auraclash.com/assets/images/taio-scholar1.jpg">>\ <</if>>\ He smiles as he turns to you while holding an odd grabbing contraption: a pair of pliers with the tips made of wide fingernail-shaped pieces of metal. You can guess what it's for. "I am Taio of the Akuma Lords, and you are an ambitious reject of some moderate local Sect. It is your pleasure to meet me. Twice, I believe." <<choose "ch5-torture3">> #"Things didn't end well for the first Taio to challenge me." <<var $ruthless + 1>>\ "Things didn't end well for the first Taio to challenge me." "That's why I've brought you here instead of slitting your throat." Taio says dismissively. "I'd wager the other clone was quite the brute, scheming and yelling like a boisterous fool." The man's expression darkens instantly. "I am not like him. I am different. I am better." <<if ($ruthless lt 50)>>\ "You're crazier." \ <<else>>\ "You're both trash." \ <</if>>\ You reply. "Allow me to show you the difference between myself and other clones." "Clones? Plural?" Taio glowers. "I've said too much." He shakes his head slowly, regaining his composure with a deep breath. "Let us return to the rightful process of a proper interrogation." #show-if ($style isnot "Akakiru") "Let $fren go and I'll give you what you want." <<var $ruthless - 2>>\ "Let $fren go and I'll give you what you want." You plead. It's a dangerous gambit but if you can get $fren out of here at least one of you survives. "An intriguing offer, certainly." Taio says, tapping the pliers against his knuckles. "And one only made by the deliriously desperate. I already have your friend properly bound, and I have you in my torture chamber. You will give me what I want no matter what, so why would I surrender an additional possession? Now, let us begin." #"Indeed. Surely we can talk without the chains?" <<var $honor - 2>>\ "Indeed. Surely we can \ <<if ($persuasion gte 3)>>\ //talk without the chains?//" ''[Persuasion 3 Check Passed]'' "Yes, of course." Taio replies, turning to your bindings. "It's not as if y-" He freezes and pulls his hands back, trembling as if dangerously close to a venomous snake. His head turns towards the floor, staring down in concentration, calculating the danger, then he places a palm against his eye. "What am I...why would I do that?" He steps back three times and stares at you, head inching forward even as his feet try to drag him away. "How did you do that?" <<apboost 5>>\ What's he talking about? "I just asked." You reply, confused. "You asked a ridiculous request, and yet my mind told me to perform it. Only my Blood Marbles stopped me from-" "Blood marbles?" Taio glowers. "I've said too much." He shakes his head slowly, regaining his composure with a deep breath. "Let us return to the rightful process of a proper interrogation." <<else>>\ talk without the chains?" ''Persuasion 3 Check Failed]'' "No." "Please?" "No." Pain suddenly explodes in your hand and Taio smiles at the look on your face. <</if>>\ #[Resist against your chains.] Against all logic you try to break the iron chains holding you down. Your own skin begs for sweet surrender as you press against the iron chains with only the bare minimum amount of chi pressing through your spirit and body. Bruises form along your flesh and even bone as you strain harder and harder against the chains, their taught metal links screeching out as they bend. "I wouldn't resist if I were you," Taio taunts, "with your ailment you're more likely to-" <<var $combatstat "power">>\ <<discount "Muscular" 1>>\ <<discount "Bovine" 1>>\ <<combatcheck 7>>\ <<if ($passcheck is true)>>\ The chains break just before you do. Iron links fly throughout the room like shrapnel ricocheting off the stone walls. Several pelt Taio enough that he actually guards his face. <<apboost 5>>\ You use that opportunity to lunge at the man with both manacled hands and swing for his head. This is your chance! <<page "Continue" "ch5-torture2">>\ <<else>>\ A blood vessel pops in your eye and your body seizes up the second you relent. Immediately the full repercussions of fighting against the chains reaches every limb in your body and deep pain echoes through your bruised bones. To make matters worse, your lungs feel like you've done real damage to them by straining too much pressure into your chest, all in a vain attempt to summon more strength. <<aploss 3>>\ "See?" Taio says. "You may have obtained a modicum of power, but it has not had the years to soak into you. Without access to chi reserves you are like a fresh rose: easily plucked and only a danger to the foolish." <<include "ch5-torture3">>\ <</if>>\ #[Spit at him.] <<var $combatstat "agility">>\ <<combatcheck 5>>\ <<if ($passcheck is true)>>\ Taio disappears completely as if you had blinked for too long. He was where you aimed one moment and then beside you the next. However, you recognize it has to be some sort of Technique, one that he has to activate. One that doesn't improve his reflexes. You know this because despite his instant transportation, your spit is on his face. He didn't dodge in time. /* understanding Taio's abilities */\ <<var $taiocombat - 1>>\ "You've got something on your cheek." You taunt. Taio wipes the spit from his face with his sleeve, looking down on it in disgust. "Enjoy your victory from within your chains." Taio says. "I shall enjoy mine far more." <<else>>\ You spit at the bastard and he appears to the side, as if he were where you aimed one moment and to your left the next. The dust around his feet doesn't even move. "A level of resistance, duly noted. I find it beneficial to have a baseline to judge off so I can know when the patient's pain tolerance has been reached." <</if>>\ <</choose>>

<<if (($deception gte $val) or ((($deception gte 2) and ($angelodeception is 1)) and ($thebluff)))>>\ <<var $agiexp + 1>>\ <<if (($deception lt $val) and ($thebluff))>>\ ''[Angelo's Guidance Granted]'' <</if>>\ ''[Deception $val Check Passed]'' <<var $leonarep + 2>>\ <<var $borep + 10>>\ "He doesn't make them for a //reason//. I am that reason." 'Ooohs' and 'Aaahs' fill the room from $an, Bo, and several Sunbringers. Taio nods thoughtfully, the pieces falling into place as he rubs his chin. "That would explain why Ma-" <<include "ch5-torture9">>\ <<else>>\ ''[Deception $val Check Failed]'' "Oh, well. I..." Bo and $an's eyes burrow into you expectantly, their safety hinging on the success of your bluff. "I made one myself..?" Taio shakes his head. "Wrong." \ <<include "ch5-torture-yassqueenflay">>\ <</if>>\

<<var $ruthless + 1>>\ "You really want to know how I defeated him?" You ask in \ <<if (($botortured gt 0) and ($leonatortured gt 0))>>\ amusement, ignoring the pain of your torture. \ <<else>>\ amusement. \ <</if>>\ "The same way I'll defeat you." Taio's expression remains stone-faced. "Enlighten me." <<if ($heshe is "he")>>\ "I bedded his mother until he killed himself out of shame. We were going at it front of his crew, in every position, for days at a time. Poets still write about it. Come to think of it, she was your mother too wasn't she?" <<else>>\ "I laughed at the size of his manhood in front of his men until he killed himself out of shame. He was a clone, so I assume you're the same size?" <</if>>\ <<var $leonarep + 3>>\ Bo's mouth hangs open in disbelief and despair. Two of the Sunbringers and $an whistle in astonishment at \ <<if ($heshe is "he")>>\ the size of your balls. \ <<else>>\ the audacity. \ <</if>>\ Taio dismisses them with a wave of the hand. "I was unaware we were dealing with a humorist. I look forward to seeing if your brother and sister enjoy your jokes as much as you do." \ <<include "ch5-torture-yassqueenflay">>\

<<if ($val isnot 5151)>>\ Taio releases a long, drawn-out sigh. \ <</if>>\ "Burn the boy." "Yes, Master Taio." Says two of the Sunbringers. "Mrh!!" Bo yells out through his gag. "MRHH!!" He screams louder as one of the Sunbringers walks behind his stone slab and seizes his arms from behind to steady him. Another Sunbringer stands in front of him, waving two hands together as if molding clay. Between the man's palms forms a ball of fire that he launches at Bo's midsection, hitting him in his spirit's center. When the attack hits it explodes not once, but four separate times. <<var $borep - 5>>\ <<var $botortured + 1>>\ Bo's screams fill the basement with thankfully unenforced power. They must have beaten Bo badly before capturing him to get his chi as depleted as yours, then used the same binding manacles on him that they're using on you. It's only thanks to that depowering that your ear drums don't burst from his blood-curdling scream as the fire burns into his skin. When the flashing red and orange light dissipates you see blood on Bo's gi and his head hangs low, his breathing shallow. Yet that's not your biggest concern. Your biggest concern is Taio placing a crimson marble into his mouth, crunching it with his teeth, and stepping in front of with the same fluid motions of the fire artist who attacked Bo. "I see." He says contemplatively between bites. "So that's how you do it." You struggle against your bindings as two other Sunbringers grab your arms from behind and fire forms between Taio's palms. With grim satisfaction he surges extra power into the attack, causing the molten flame to expand, then he launches it into your torso. <<page "AAHHHH!!!" "ch5-torture-handslice2">>\

The explosive pain is excruciating, shrieking through your insides and growing worse with each successive blast. Taio grins in enthralled satisfaction, erupting the blasts from his palm and through your center five separate times. <<if ($element1 is "Fire") or ($element2 is "Fire")>>\ ''[Element Event: Fire]'' Only by the grace of your body's baptism in flame do you withstand the attack with only superficial damage. It does little to lessen the pain of your body, but your spirit remains stable during the attack. ''[No Aura Pressure Lost]'' <<else>>\ <<var $combatstat "fortitude">>\ <<if ($leonatortured gt 0)>>\ <<combatcheck 6>>\ <<else>>\ <<combatcheck 5>>\ <</if>>\ <<if ($passcheck is true)>>\ ''[Reduced Damage]'' <<var $apval 3>>\ <<else>>\ <<var $apval 8>>\ <</if>>\ <<aploss $apval>>\ <</if>>\ <<if (($honor gt 54) or ($fortitude gte 5))>>\ You're proud to say you didn't scream. <<var $leonarep + 4>>\ <<var $forexp + 2>>\ <<if ($heshe is "he")>>\ <<var $leonaromance + 1>>\ <</if>>\ <<else>>\ You'd like to say you didn't scream. <<if ($heshe is "he")>>\ <<var $leonarep - 3>>\ <<else>>\ <<var $leonarep - 1>>\ <</if>>\ <</if>>\ When he's finished \ <<if ($clothes isnot "")>>\ the top of your <<if ($clothes is "White Tobi Pants and Black Small-Sleave Shirt")>>\ black shirt \ <<else>>\ $clothes is nearly \ <</if>>\ <<if (($bodytype is "Hourglass") or ($bodytype is "Bodacious"))>>\ destroyed, much to the joy of several Sunbringers. You thank the Heavens that Bo is nearly dying, otherwise he'd get a view you didn't want to give him. Speaking of Bo, you understand his \ <<else>>\ destroyed. You understand Bo's \ <</if>>\ <<else>>\ you understand Bo's \ <</if>>\ difficulty breathing; the smoke filling your lungs has locked up your ability to properly inhale. You look up to Taio and his Sunbringer minions \ <<if ($ruthless gte 55)>>\ with murderous intent \ <<else>>\ with steel determination \ <</if>>\ and do your best to hold back a coughing fit. Taio wipes his hands as if done with an honest day's work. "Next question. \ <<include "ch5-torture8">>\

<<if ($txt is "join")>>\ <<if (($deception gte 2) or (($deception gte 1) and ($angelodeception is 1)))>>\ <<var $agiexp + 1>>\ <<if ($deception lt 2)>>\ ''[Angelo's Guidance Granted, Difficulty Lowered]'' <</if>>\ ''[Deception 2 Check Passed]'' Taio concedes with a nod. "That may be true, though I wonder why he sought you out at all. I suppose he must have missed your Foundation and suspected you had some other method for defeating Jack, some other merit...or maybe he learned something I haven't. Yet." He turns back to the Sunbringers for just a moment, analyzing them, but shakes his head and turns back to you. "Next question. \ <<include "ch5-torture8">>\ <<else>>\ ''[Deception 2 Check Failed]'' Taio shakes his head. "There are gaps in your story that you lack the knowledge to understand. The other me would never accept you into the Akuma Lords if his goal was to kill the other Taios." He snaps his fingers twice to signal the Sunbringers behind him. <<var $val 5151>>\ <<include "ch5-torture-handslice">>\ <</if>>\ <<else>>\ <<if ($deception gte 2)>>\ <<var $agiexp + 1>>\ ''[Deception 2 Check Passed]'' Finally Taio relents with an expression of unamused disappointment. "How dreadfully dull. He should not have exposed the Sect at all if it were for something so banal. Next question. \ <<include "ch5-torture8">>\ <<else>>\ ''[Deception 2 Check Failed]'' Finally Taio shakes his head. "No, I doubt he would expose the Sect at all if it were something so banal." He snaps his fingers twice. \ <<var $val 5151>>\ <<include "ch5-torture-handslice">>\ <</if>>\ <</if>>\

<<var $honor + 1>>\ <<if ($silentcounter is 2) and ($honor gte 52)>>\ <<var $honor + 1>>\ Your stony expression betrays nothing. The scent of blood and smoke is heavy in the torture chamber from the attacks you've suffered so far. Yet you are a mountain, unwavering. Taio looks into your gaze without emotion, his eyes shifting from your mouth to your cheeks to your pupils as if he were bored and merely monitoring the ants outside his house. Then he turns to the Sunbringers. "We're done here. Have them brought to the prison." "We're not going to torture them?" One replies hesitantly. Taio stands and opens his palm toward you like an item on display. "A waste of energy and blood, it's clear as day this one will not talk. Have \ <<include "ch5-torture10">>\ <<else>>\ You remain silent, nonchalantly staring into the blood cultist's <<if ($silentcounter gt 0)>>\ face again. \ <<else>>\ face. \ <</if>>\ "You truly want to hide such important details from me?" Taio asks, his voice nonthreatening, his eyes sunken and dead. You don't respond, meeting his gaze in kind. \ Taio shakes his head in disappointment. "I will not be denied." \ <<include "ch5-torture-yassqueenflay">>\ <</if>>\

Taio shakes his head in disappointment. "I don't believe we're getting results. Electrocute the girl." <<cap $an>> bites through her gag and spits out, chomping at the Sunbringers holding her down by the shoulders as another of Taio's martial artists takes on a wide stand, surrounds his body with lightning, and swirls his hands in an arc. <<if ($style is "Akakiru")>>\ Leona \ <<else>>\ The fake Rin \ <</if>>\ sees the display and immediately switches tones. "Whoa whoa hey, let's not get hast-IIEEEYYAAAHHH!!" <<var $leonagag false>>\ <<var $leonarep - 2>>\ <<var $leonatortured + 1>>\ <<cap $an>> screams as her body shakes with rapid spasms, blasted with the hostile chi attack directly in her midsection where it threatens to shatter her core. In the shock of the moment your peripheral vision barely notices Taio consume some sort of crimson marble and mimic the same motions. Electricity lights up the room next to you as he conjures up the same power and blasts bolt after bolt of pain directly into your spirit and body. You're overcome with a blinding rush of sensitive pain; your face tenses to hold back screams but the effort is so demanding that veins show on your forehead. <<if (($element1 is "Storm") or ($element2 is "Storm"))>>\ ''[Element Event: Storm]'' Despite it all, your spirit does not suffer true damage. Though the lightning burns with hostile intent, your body has long since been attuned to the powers of the storm. <<else>>\ <<var $combatstat "fortitude">>\ <<combatcheck 5>>\ <<if ($passcheck is true)>>\ ''[Reduced Damage]'' <<aploss 3>>\ <<else>>\ <<aploss 6>>\ <</if>>\ <</if>>\ Taio wipes beads of sweat from his forehead and nods in satisfaction at the smoke coming off your body. "Next question." He says as \ <<if (($fortitude lt 5) and ($honor lt 60))>>\ your breathing approaches hyperventilating and \ <</if>>\ you and $an cough out smoke. <<include "ch5-torture7">>\

so I could kill other Taio clones." <<if (($deception gte 2) or (($deception gte 1) and ($angelodeception is 1)))>>\ <<var $agiexp + 1>>\ <<if ($deception lt 2)>>\ ''[Angelo's Guidance Granted]'' <</if>>\ ''[Deception 2 Check Passed]'' <<var $thebluff true>>\ Taio looks from you to the other Sunbringers. "Did you know of this?" You notice the wrinkled Oni is missing and no one else wants to step up. Crimson chi radiates around Taio. "I asked a question. Answer me." "N-No, Master Taio." Says one of the women. "We only hired that man to make trouble for Thunderfall, last we heard from him he had taken over a bandit gang and we lost track-" "You lost track of him //because// he had a coterie of bandits. A crowd too large to add your scouts onto without attracting Thunderfaller attention." Taio chastises. "You fell for a simple obfuscation which allowed him to train this upstart here with who knows what kind of tricks and information. Worse, you failed to mention it when we met." He looks back to you. "It seems I underestimated the threat you pose, despite your \ <<if ($jadedragonfoundation is false)>>\ lack of talent and \ <</if>>\ false reputation. Next question." Taio leans closer, his eyes peering into yours. <<include "ch5-torture7">>\ <<else>>\ ''[Deception 2 Check Failed]'' "Ah." Taio says dryly. "You're under the impression I can be deceived. How foolish." \ <<include "ch5-torture-taiodisappointment">>\ <</if>>\

<<if ($persuasion gte 2)>>\ ''[Persuasion 2 Check Passed]'' <<var $powexp + 2>>\ Taio opens his mouth to give the next torture order but stops, hand hovering in the air as he stares at you inquisitively. He peers into your eyes scrutinizingly and a tingling sensation between your shoulders lets you know he's scanning your weakened spirit simultaneously. Your brow furrows as you stare back, unsure what he's looking for. "Hm." He says, as if that settled things. He lowers a hand and the Sunbringers behind him put their torture instruments down. "Next question. \ <<include "ch5-torture8">>\ <<else>>\ ''[Persuasion 2 Check Failed]'' "I see. How unfortunate for your family that you resist." <<include "ch5-torture-handslice">>\ <</if>>\

He turns his neck to look at the Sunbringers. "We've wasted enough chi on them, use the whips." Several of his lackeys draw whips from their waists, hands itching with eagerness. The others turn you around and rip the clothing at your back, exposing your skin for the attacks. The sting of the whip strikes like a viper against your back, reverberating through your body with more impact than expected. The whipcracks come in rhythm, two Sunbringers striking each of you in tandem so there is no reprieve. Bo screams out by the 8th whipcrack. <<cap $an>>'s screams begin at the 18th. <<if (($fortitude gte 6) or ($honor gte 55))>>\ <<if ($honor gte 55)>>\ ''[Honor Check Passed]'' <<else>>\ ''[Fortitude 6 Check Passed]'' <</if>>\ By the 30th, you still haven't screamed. Even when they throw salt onto your wounded back, you deny them the victory. <<else>>\ ''[Honor/Fortitude Check Failed]'' <<var $val 12 + ($fortitude * 3)>>\ You scream by the \ <<if ($val is 21)>>\ 21st whipping. \ <<else>>\ <<print $val>>th whipping. \ <</if>>\ When they finish at 30 and throw salt onto your wounded back by the handful, the screams grow so loud that your hoarse voice scratches your own throat bloody. <</if>>\ <<var $borep - 3>>\ <<var $botortured + 2>>\ <<var $leonarep - 3>>\ <<var $leonatortured + 2>>\ <<if ($botortured gte 3)>>\ <<var $bocombat - 1>>\ <</if>>\ <<var $combatstat "soul">>\ <<var $combatstat2 "fortitude">>\ <<combatcheck 9>>\ <<if (($passcheck is true) or ($style is "Midorikatai"))>>\ <<if ($passcheck is false)>>\ Without access to chi it is only by the grace of your enhanced body that you partially resist the damage of the whips. <</if>>\ ''[Damage Reduced]'' <<aploss 5>>\ <<else>>\ <<aploss 10>>\ <</if>>\ The three of you are turned around as Taio looks at the scene in boredom. In his hands are six crimson marbles. Being this close, you feel a shred of your own chi inside two of them. Whatever he's doing, he's making something out of your blood. "I should have enough material to get the answers I need." Taio says. "Now have \ <<include "ch5-torture10">>\

all three of them locked in the town's prison with our excess sacrifices, put several of our Martial Artists watching over them, and of course we can't have dangerous enemies kept unchecked. One of you, give me your blood. We will use Crow Li's new Technique to ensure our prisoners know their place." One of the Sunbringers kneels to Taio and cuts her own palm with a wince, offering her bleeding hand up to him. "Allow me to be your guide, Master Taio." "I will allow it." Taio responds to the woman, holding his own palm above her own. Before your very eyes the blood in her palm rises into the air and swirls in place, condensing into another of the blood marbles Taio created earlier. He takes the small orb into his mouth and nods as if gaining an understanding, like he was hearing wise words that helped put pieces into place. "Ah, a clever application." He says, holding up two fingers. "Like this." A shining light fills the basement as a small star glows from his two fingertips. Two of the Sunbringers do the same and before you know what's happening he aims his fingers at you, just as the Sunbringers aim at Bo and $an. Taio looks you in the eyes from behind the glowing light of his hand and then nods to his underlings. "Blind them." <<page "No!" "ch5-torture11">>\

A Sunbringer steps behind each of your torture tables. One grabs your head from behind, holding it still, as another grabs Bo and another grabs \ <<if ($style is "Akakiru")>>\ Leona. <<else>>\ the Rin imposter. <</if>>\ Taio points his glowing fingers at you and you strain against the Sunbringer gripping your head. When his power comes into focus the entire room heats up with more hostile chi than you've ever exerted. The glowing light from Taio's hands shines brighter than the sun and in it you see the end of your journey. He adjusts his aim right between your eyes and //smiles//. "Another witness properly dealt with." //I must go...// Taio's eye twitches. His smile wavers. //I must go...// His expression shifts into a frown, his cheeks twitching with irritation and brow twisting in concentration. //I MUST GO!!!// "STOP!" Taio commands. Each Sunbringer in the room jerks as if their bodies are forced still, their veins noticeably bulging on their arms and faces for a second. The shining light of their signature technique snuffs out, reducing the torture chamber to the dim torchlight from before. One of the older Sunbringer's jaw tightens and his head slowly turns to the blood cultist. "Master Taio, what is the meaning of this?" All their bodies seem to release at once, each of them flexing their wrists and necks from stiffness. Taio looks from you to the stairs. "I must go, place them into the prison with the other sacrifices." "Of course Master Taio, but if I may ask why-" "You may not." Taio responds, standing with purpose and striding to the staircase. From behind its base he lifts a satchel that clacks with the sound of a hundred marbles. "This interrogation is complete. Inform Upper Disciple Crow Li that he is in charge until my return." "Yes, Master Taio!" They call back in unison. <<page "Continue" "ch5-torture12">>\

<<if ($taioknowledge is 0)>>\ <<if ($jadedragonfoundation is false)>>\ <<achieve "Speak No Evil">>\ <<var $aurapressure + 5>>\ <</if>>\ <<elseif ($taioknowledge is 3)>>\ <<var $taiocombat + 1>>\ <</if>>\ A door upstairs opens and closes, its sound signifying that Taio really has left the mansion. What in the world just happened? Nothing about this has made sense. All Sunbringers present release a sigh of relief, then they all turn to you and Bo like hungry wolves. One Human woman in her mid-40s sporting a nasty scar over one eye speaks up first. "The Heavens smile on us today with two Thunderfallers bound and bloodied. Who's up for some fun?" <<if ($leonagag is true)>>\ <<cap $an>> finishes chewing through her gag and spits it \ <<else>>\ <<cap $an>> hocks a loogey and spits it \ <</if>>\ at the back of the Sunbringer's head. "Sounds like you'd have to ask Crow Li for permission first like a good little doggy. Or are you disobeying your //Master// when he said the interrogation is \ <<if ($leonagag is true)>>\ over?" She then spits more than just her gag at the Sunbringer woman's face. <<else>>\ over?" <</if>>\ "Silence your tongue, spoiled brat!" The Sunbringer woman snarls and reels her whip back, but another grabs her wrist. "Don't let them provoke you into breaking orders. Save it for tomorrow's sacrifice." At first you're relieved when the Sunbringer woman lowers her whip, but the vicious smile on her lips tells you to feel otherwise. Plenty of customs involve leaving sacrifices of meals or incense to spirits or Beasts, but it's easy to understand that's not what they're talking about. Tomorrow's sacrifice is you. They all untie the three of you from the torture racks and carry you back to your cells. <<if ($leonatortured gte 2)>>\ <<page "Continue" "ch5-cells-tortured">>\ <<else>>\ <<page "Continue" "ch5-cells-fine">>\ <</if>>\

You find yourself back on the stone slab, bound with tendrils of blood instead of chains. There was no wind, no rush of action. The back of your head doesn't hurt like it would if you were knocked back into your table, and Taio is still flinching. It's not as if you were shot back onto the stone slab faster than you can see, it was something beyond speed. You were not on the torture rack, and then you simply were. What the Hells is going on? /* understanding Taio's abilities */\ <<var $taiocombat - 1>>\ Taio looks up to see you bound with tendrils of blood. "What \ <<if ($heshe is "he")>>\ an unruly subject. \ <<else>>\ an interesting subject. \ <</if>>\ I'll have to tread more carefully." He clacks his torture instrument twice. "If you're done with the interruptions, it is time to begin." <<include "ch5-torture3">>\

He holds up the pliers and your left pinky rings with an aching sting circling all around its tip. Taio smiles as you look closer and see your own pinky fingernail in his pliers. You never even saw him take it out. "We will start with basic tests." With a hungry look he grabs your left hand before you can even react and //squeezes// your fingers hard enough to make your knuckles crack against each other. Sharp and growing pain blazes through the hole where your fingernail used to be and spreads to the rest of your hand. <<if (($honor gte 60) or ($fortitude gte 5))>>\ <<if ($honor gte 60)>>\ ''[Honor 60 Check Passed]'' <<else>>\ ''[Fortitude 5 Check Passed]'' <</if>>\ You refuse to scream. <<var $forexp + 3>>\ <<else>>\ <<var $honor - 1>>\ ''[Fortitude 5 Check Failed]'' Against your best wishes, you do scream. <</if>>\ Taio pulls back and looks down at his palm now that it's coated in your blood. With several quick handsigns and a crimson glow he activates some Technique, causing your blood on his hand to illuminate the room. He begins to mumble to \ <<if (($honor gte 60) or ($fortitude gte 5))>>\ himself. <<else>>\ himself through your recovering breaths. <</if>>\ "Subject is roughly $age years of age..." <<if ($aurapressure gte 2000)>>\ "Over two thousand Aura Pressure, terrifying for subject's age and province..." <<elseif ($aurapressure gte 1000)>>\ <<if ($aurapressure is 1000)>>\ "One \ <<else>>\ "Over one \ <</if>>\ thousand Aura Pressure, unbelievable for subject's age and province..." <<elseif ($aurapressure gte 900)>>\ "Nine-hundred Aura Pressure, //exceedingly// impressive for subject's age and province..." <<elseif ($aurapressure gte 800)>>\ "Eight-hundred Aura Pressure, quite impressive for subject's age and province..." <<elseif ($aurapressure gte 700)>>\ "Seven-hundred Aura Pressure, impressive for subject's age and province..." <<elseif ($aurapressure gte 600)>>\ "Six-hundred Aura Pressure, showing mild talent for subject's age and province..." <<elseif ($aurapressure gte 500)>>\ "Five-hundred Aura Pressure, as to be expected for subject's age and province..." <<elseif ($aurapressure gte 400)>>\ "Four-hundred Aura Pressure, typical for subject's age and province..." <<elseif ($aurapressure gte 300)>>\ "Only three-hundred Aura Pressure, I don't even know how that's possible..." <<elseif ($aurapressure gte 200)>>\ "Two-hundred Aura Pressure...? How it's so low I cannot begin to guess." <</if>>\ <<if ($race is "Kitsune")>>\ "An interesting amount of spiritual interference in the lifeline...Oh, you must be a Kitsune. Interesting but unimportant. Let's see, what else..." <<elseif ($taint gt 0)>>\ "An interesting amount of spiritual \ <<if ($race is "Oni")>>\ corruption, even for an Oni..." <<else>>\ corruption..." <</if>>\ <</if>>\ "A recently realized talent in the $style Style's natural chi..." \ <<if (($element1 isnot "None") and ($element2 isnot ""))>>\ "A coerced infusion of both the $element1 and $element2 Elements..." <<elseif ($element2 isnot "")>>\ "A coerced infusion of the $element2 Element..." <<elseif ($element1 isnot "None")>>\ "A coerced infusion of the $element1 Element..." <</if>>\ "And...By the Hells, what's this?" <<page "What's what?" "ch5-torture4">>\

Taio steps away from you quickly, pacing the room and staring at his palm in astonishment. "I almost can't believe it. Yet it all makes sense." He pushes his palm in your face close enough that he nearly wipes your own glowing blood over your nose. "Did you know about this?" "Know about what?" You say through gritted teeth, trying to keep the blood from touching you. "Your Foundation! I was under the impression Thunderfall taught Fortitude-based Foundations, akin to an increased Fortitude Core, and yet this...why this changes my investigation. And substantially at that!" <<if ($jadedragonfoundation is true)>>\ You curse internally, hoping he didn't find out about your Jade Dragon Foundation. \ <<else>>\ Tian Fang mentioned Foundations, could yours be special? \ <</if>>\ "What are you talking about?" Taio paces more quickly, scratching his head obsessively with one hand while staring at the glowing blood in the other. "Surely you know every Martial Artist has a passive Technique built into their physical body upon their first Advancement, their Foundation if you will. I had assumed you were able to defeat the other me due to your unexpected resilience from a Fortitude-based Foundation tricking him into lowering his guard, meaning he was a //fool// for not researching the Thunderfall Sect while operating in their territory. Yet that was incorrect; you never had Thunderfall's Fortitude foundation! You have a //Fuel Foundation//!" He smiles wide and almost genuinely at you. It doesn't look right on his face. Also, you don't know what a Fuel Foundation is. After a moment his smile falters. "I see you share no love of the pursuit of knowledge. A pity." He holds his blood-covered palm up and all your blood on it floats three inches into the air, coalescing into a hardened crimson sphere that he quickly pockets. "A Fuel Foundation is a low-grade Foundation focused on absorbing Heavenly Gates. It allows the wielder to absorb more chi from them and increases their combat prowess when inside of a Gate. With how heavily populated Heavenly Gates often become, it's virtually useless. For most it means an extra hundred Aura Pressure in a lifetime and a bit more usefulness for those rare Sect battles fought over Gates, while being weaker outside of them." <<if ($jadedragonfoundation is true)>>\ That can't be right, is he unable to sense your Jade Dragon Foundation? Or do you have two? It would make sense that he can't sense your Jade Dragon Foundation, they're so rare that he probably didn't make a way to test for them. Yet yours didn't come into fruition until //after// your fight with Jack. It sounds almost like he's saying... <<else>>\ But you never felt stronger inside the Heavenly Gates...then again, it's hard to tell in the rush of battle. Your difficult fights were almost all inside of... <</if>>\ "You get it now, don't you?" Taio asks, stepping closer. "Tell me I did not explain it for nothing. Are the pieces coming together in your little mind? Your victory over Crusher Jack, the entire reason why people know your name, it was due to a temporary power increase! A fluke! Crusher Jack has become a prodigy, feared and honored among Outer West, his name on every pair of lips. When I caught you I had thought I found the one contestant who could beat him, someone worth studying, blood worth harvesting, yet it was all an \ <<if (dig($metfang, 2) eq 1)>>\ accident. You didn't even defeat Mountain Hazard's Tian Fang without the help of your situational Foundation!" <<else>>\ accident!" <</if>>\ <<if (dig($metjack, 2) neq 0)>>\ You restrain yourself from rolling your eyes. This guy might know Foundations but he doesn't know you and he doesn't know Jack. You beat Crusher Jack before any Gate even triggered when you \ <<if (dig($metjack, 2) eq 1)>>\ stabbed him. Idiot brought the raw and unbridled chi of the human soul to a knife fight. <<elseif (dig($metjack, 2) eq 2)>>\ pushed him off a cliff. It was his fault really, he shouldn't have been standing there. <<elseif (dig($metjack, 2) eq 3)>>\ fed him to a giant man-eating Thunderbird. He should have stayed out of your woods. <<elseif (dig($metjack, 2) eq 4)>>\ blasted him through the chest with the power of a cursed scroll. It was awesome. <</if>>\ Not wanting to give this bastard free information, you entertain his delusions and change the subject. <<else>>\ Hate bubbles up from your \ <<if ($ruthless gte 55)>>\ heart. <<else>>\ heart, burning hotter than you expected. <</if>>\ <<if (dig($metfang, 2) eq 1)>>\ Those victories are //yours//. They are //real//. \ <<else>>\ That victory against Jack is //yours//. It's //real//. \ <</if>>\ Yet you cannot give him the reaction he wants. You breathe in and out, twice, calmly, and try to change the subject. <</if>>\ <<choose "ch5-torture5">> #"You seem to know an awful lot about my life for someone who wasn't there." "You seem to know an awful lot about my life for someone who wasn't there." Taio smiles like he's just won a game you didn't know you were playing. "Oh I should, after all I would never trust the words of a single Martial Artist. I've already heard your life's story, this is just a..." He motions to the torture chamber around him. "A formality. A confirmation. Your tale has already been recounted to me by those who know it best." #"So you've been following me afterall. The Storm, outside the burned village, the dreams. All of it." "So you've been following me afterall. The Storm, outside the burned village, the dreams. All of it." Taio blinks. For just a moment he stares at you in genuine confusion. Then it looks as if he's trying to see past you, for something that isn't quite there, but he quickly shakes his head with a grimace as if dismissing your foolishness. "I have no idea what you're incessantly babbling about. I know about your life because I've heard it from those who know it best." <</choose>>

Those who know it best? Who? Worry soaks into your mind. If he's saying what you think he's saying... Taio nods with satisfaction as realization shows in your eyes. He claps twice and the sound of footsteps come from upstairs. "Sunbringers!" Taio shouts out to his underlings above. "Bring down the siblings!" <<page "No. No!" "ch5-torture6">>\

Shouts of resistance come from upstairs as Sunbringer Martial Artists drag two more prisoners down the stairs. Taio keeps his eyes on you the entire time. "You've been seeking \ <<if ($style is "Akakiru")>>\ your brother \ <<else>>\ your brother and sister \ <</if>>\ out if my scouts are to be believed, so allow me to reunite you with \ <<if ($japannaming is true)>>\ <<cap $clan>> Rin and <<cap $clan>> Jin." <<else>>\ Rin <<cap $clan>> and Jin <<cap $clan>>." <</if>>\ Six men and women in Sunbringer uniform that you don't recognize drag the two prisoners down and strap them to torture racks. When they part to give you a view you look with horror upon the bruised and beaten faces of your sib...lings... Those aren't your siblings. <<if ($style is "Akakiru")>>\ <<var $an "Leona">>\ <<else>>\ <<var $an "the Lunargoth woman">>\ <</if>>\ It's Bo, Jack's skinny friend, and \ <<if ($style is "Akakiru")>>\ Leona. <<else>>\ you don't even recognize the girl. <<if ($portraitpics is true)>>\ <<image "https://www.auraclash.com/assets/images/leona-no-aka.jpg">>\ <</if>>\ A blonde Lunargothic woman with different colored eyes. She has two empty sheaths at her side that likely once held swords, and she's currently sporting a bleeding lip on her left side connected to a sizable cheek bruise in multiple colors. <</if>>\ "Big \ <<if ($heshe is "he")>>\ brother!" \ <<else>>\ sister!" \ <</if>>\ $an shouts, straining against the chains with exaggerated struggle. "Please save us, you're our only hope!" <<if ($style is "Akakiru")>>\ She gives you a wink but shakes her head. What in the world is she doing? <<else>>\ Is this some kind of joke? What's going on here? <</if>>\ Bo looks through his black eye from $an to you, to Taio who's gazing at you like you've fallen into his trap, to $an's chest, and back to you. "Uh...Yeah!" He blurts out in his nasally voice. "Do something big \ <<if ($heshe is "he")>>\ brother!" <<else>>\ sister!" <</if>>\ Judging by the fear in his bruised eyes, you don't think he's playing along to any plan. Taio looks \ <<if ($race is "Human")>>\ at \ <<if ($style isnot "Akakiru")>>\ the woman, <<else>>\ Leona, <</if>>\ her appearance noticeably different from yours and Bo's. Her skin pale, her hair golden, her eyes blue and green. He frowns. "She's adopted." Says one of the Sunbringers, \ <<elseif ($race is "Lunargoth")>>\ at Bo; his skin, eyes, and hair not matching the Lunargothic traits of you and Leona. He frowns. "What's the matter with this one?" "Product of an affair." Says one of the Sunbringers, \ <<else>>\ from Bo Lo, a Human, to \ <<if ($style isnot "Akakiru")>>\ Leona, \ <<else>>\ the woman, \ <</if>>\ a Lunargoth, and to you, a \ <<if ($race is "Kitsune")>>\ Kitsune posing as a Wolf Yokai. \ <<else>>\ <<if ($subrace isnot "")>>\ $subrace \ <</if>>\ $race. \ <</if>>\ With a frown, he turns to the nearest Sunbringer for answers to his unspoken question. "Different fathers." The man says confidently, \ <</if>>\ turning back to tighten Bo's bindings. "Ah." Taio replies in disgust. "A mark of weakness on the lineage. No matter, have them gagged." The blood cultist turns back to you with fingers pressed together. "Now that I have your complete attention, we will cut to the end. I was originally interested in your spiritual composition, but I have seen it's a sham. Your body and soul are nothing \ <<if ($jadedragonfoundation is true)>>\ special beyond a high Aura Pressure. Extraordinary for where you were born, but not of interest to me. \ <<else>>\ special. \ <</if>>\ All I care now about is what you know about the other Taio." He snaps his fingers and one of the Sunbringers clamps two metal instruments onto both of Bo's thumbnails, grips the handles harder, and rips them off in one quick jerk. Bo screams louder than you thought possible. Taio smiles at the sound, cherishing it. "Every time I hear an answer that displeases me, we will make sure your siblings pay the cost. Here is your first question: when did you meet the other Taio, and what was he planning?" Bo looks at you expectantly with panic in his eyes, his teeth gritting in pain. <<cap $an>> just nods as if you're all following the same secret plan that no one told you about. <<choose "ch5-torture7">> #"He was leading a gang of bandits to enslave and sell Thunderfall's farmers." [Truth] You think back to your first and only real mission for the Thunderfall Sect. "He was impersonating a Sect Master on behalf of the Sunbringers, leading a gang of bandits to enslave and sell Thunderfall's farmers. The bandit I captured said the end goal was to weaken Thunderfall and that was the first step." <<var $taioknowledge + 1>>\ Taio tsks. "I believe you, but I doubt that was the true purpose...Unless he needed funds for some purchase he could not acquire freely. Hm...what was he after..." Taio stares to the ground, brow wrinkled in silence for too long. One of the Sunbringers coughs while idly holding a scalpel to the skin under Bo's eye. "Master Taio, he was working for //us//. We told you all of that." #show-if ($element1 isnot "None") "He trained me in the $element1 Element so I could kill other Taio clones." [Lie] -> "ch5-torture-taiotrainedme" "He trained me in the $element1 Element \ #show-if ($element2 isnot "") "He trained me in the $element2 Element so I could kill other Taios." [Lie] -> "ch5-torture-taiotrainedme" "He trained me in the $element2 Element \ #show-if (($element2 is "") and ($element1 is "None")) "He trained me in the Martial Arts so I could kill other Taios." [Lie] -> "ch5-torture-taiotrainedme" He trained me in the Martial Arts \ #"You can ask him after I kill you." -> "ch5-torture-taiodisappointment" <<var $ruthless + 1>>\ You look Taio in the eyes defiantly. "You can ask him after I kill you." #[Remain Silent] -> "ch5-torture-taiodisappointment" <<var $honor + 1>>\ You remain silent, nonchalantly staring into the blood cultist's face. If he expects you to talk then that's his problem. <<var $silentcounter + 1>>\ <</choose>>

"What did the other Taio reveal about the Akuma Lords?" <<choose "ch5-torture-lie">> #"Nothing." [Truth] -> "ch5-torture-truth" "Nothing." You say. Why wouldn't you? You've never heard of the Akuma Lords. <<var $taioknowledge + 1>>\ #show-if ($thebluff is true) "He said if we worked together I could join them." [Lie] "The Akuma Lords?" You think back to your encounter with the other Taio. He never even mentioned such a thing. Time to get creative. "He said if we worked together I could join the Akuma Lords, but he never told me what they were." Taio sneers. "You were offered entry into our secretive Sect and accepted, not even knowing our goals or what we are?" You switch to the offense, staring at Taio like he's making a fool of himself. "If you were at the bottom of your home's hierarchy with your Sect Master out to get you, would //you// have turned it down?" <<var $txt "join">>\ #show-if ($thebluff is false) "He threatened to sacrifice my blood to them." [Lie] "The Akuma Lords?" You think back to the other Taio threatening to add your own blood to his power...that sounds close enough to what this Taio probably wants to hear. With a long inhale, as if giving something up, you say, "He threatened to sacrifice my blood to them." Taio glances to his left, then to the floor, then to his left again. Calculations show in his expression and you see Bo and $an grow more nervous with each breath. #"Less than you since he had the smarts to not mention them. Moron." -> "ch5-torture-handslice" <<var $ruthless + 1>>\ "What did the other Taio reveal to me about the Akuma Lords?" You chuckle condescendingly before answering. "Less than you since //that// Taio at least had the smarts to not mention them. This is the first time I'm even hearing those words and it's your fault, you moron." The Sunbringers look from you to Taio, gauging his reaction to your challenge. #[Remain Silent] -> "ch5-torture-handslice" <<var $honor + 1>>\ You remain silent, nonchalantly staring into the blood cultist's \ <<if ($silentcounter gt 0)>>\ face again. "You wish for more pain?" Taio asks. You don't react, staring back defiantly. "Hm." <<else>>\ face. Taio shakes his head. <</if>>\ <<var $silentcounter + 1>>\ <</choose>>

When clues of another Taio clone lead me to the Sunbringers they informed me \ <<if ($thebluff is true)>>\ the Taio they worked with had already perished. How did that happen?" "I killed him." You say without emotion. Taio freezes, staring off for a moment as he thinks through your answer. "You killed your mentor?" "He's the one who raised me to kill copies of himself. I had to know my training was up to the task." <<var $leonarep + 2>>\ The blood cultist's eyebrows raise slowly and he gazes at you in a new light. The man slowly leans forward, intrigued. "How did you do it?" <<else>>\ that the other Taio they worked with was already dead, slain by your hand. How?" <</if>>\ <<choose "ch5-torture9">> #"I copied his Immortal Core Advancement method and caught him off-guard." [Truth] <<var $taioknowledge + 1>>\ <<var $taiocombat + 1>>\ "To kill the other Taio was easy." You exaggerate; as it exhausted you to near death. "We fought for a bit first, then when he released his 'real' power from a Soul Treasure tome to use Immortal Core Advancement-" "A Soul Treasure Tome?" Taio asks impatiently. "Elaborate." You give him a short stare, feigning your own impatience at being interrupted. "It was a Path Manual that released his crimson chi into the air around us. I assumed it was a Soul Treasure too; it seemed to release whatever power he stored in it. I don't have it anymore, what's important is I copied his method and unlocked my own Immortal Core Advancement during our fight. The blowback knocked him away and with the element of surprise I ended him in the next hit. From there I dragged him back to Thunderfall where we found out he was a clone." Taio shakes his head. "Immortal Core Advancement is not a Technique, it cannot be 'copied', it is a form of enlightenment reached only after intense contemplation of purpose while maintaining a certain level of Aura Pressure. Plus it makes no sense for you to defeat him in one hit even with a few meager Immortal Cores. You do not possess the Techniques or the Soul Treasures for such a decisive strike, the only-" #"I blew him apart with our village's Thunderfall Technique." [Lie] -> "ch5-torture-blew" You look Taio in the face, your cocky expression a clear threat. "I blew him apart with our village's Thunderfall Technique." "Holy shidd." Bo whispers through his gag. Taio turns back to Bo with indifference. "Your gullibility is disappointing." He leans backward and turns to you, analyzing your face, then crosses his arms and shakes his head. "I find it hard to believe you mastered such an advanced creation. According to my reports only Crusher Mao and three of his Upper Disciples have learned the relatively new Thunderfall Technique." "Your reports are wrong. The other Taio was my \ <<if ($thebluff is true)>>\ Master, \ <<else>>\ very first mission, \ <</if>>\ I couldn't have beaten him if I hadn't stolen Mao's Path Manual on the Thunderfall punch." Taio shakes his head. "You've been caught in your lie, \ <<if ($heshe is "she")>>\ little flower. \ <<else>>\ foolish boy. \ <</if>>\ Crusher Mao has not created Path Manuals since the famous debut of his Sect's new Technique years ago. My agents have checked." <<var $val 3>>\ <<if ($style is "Midorikatai")>>\ <<var $val - 1>>\ ''[Style Event: Midorikatai]'' ''[Bluff Difficulty Lowered]'' <</if>>\ #show-if ($heshe is "he") "I bedded his mother until he killed himself out of shame." -> "ch5-torture-dab" #show-if ($heshe is "she") "I laughed at the size of his manhood in front of his men until he killed himself. He was a clone, so I assume you're the same size?" -> "ch5-torture-dab" #[Remain Silent] -> "ch5-torture-silence" <</choose>>

Taio slams his own hand over his mouth, eyes uncharacteristically wide in shock. "Oh. Oh that is...delightful." He mumbles from behind his hand. "That is simply sublime. It all makes so much sense..." <<cap $an>> and Bo look from you to Taio. You return their looks with an expression of surprise, you don't know what's happening either. "Master Taio?" Asks one of the Sunbringers. "Is something wrong?" "If you had a shred of intelligence you'd know it's the opposite." Taio declares, standing to his full height. "If my new theory is correct, this subject will make an //exceptional// sacrifice, but we must take precautions. Have \ <<include "ch5-torture10">>\

<<var $taiocombat + 1>>\ You, Bo, Kosuke, \ <<if ($style is "Akakiru")>>\ and Leona \ <<else>>\ Leona, and $fren \ <</if>>\ lead the charge through the crimson mist alongside your freed prisoners \ <<if ($style is "Kiihakai")>>\ and Desdemona's disciples. <<elseif ($style is "Kurokonton")>>\ and Guiren's men. <<elseif ($style is "Midorikatai")>>\ and wolves. <<else>>\ with renewed resolve. <</if>>\ Against an organized long-range style Sect like the Sunbringers you'd be in danger but with the crimson mist masking your location and the Fiends disorganized you cut through multiple Bloodwalkers, four crazed Sunbringers, and a dozen Lost. Your assault flashes through the red fog in a \ <<if ($style is "Akakiru")>>\ show of scarlet energy and fine \ <<if (((($equippedweapon is "Jian") or ($equippedweapon is "Katana")) or ($equippedweapon is "Tanto")) or ($equippedweapon is "Muramasa"))>>\ swordsmanship as you sprint through the red fog blade-first and run your \ <<if ($equippedweapon is "Muramasa")>>\ cursed black blade \ <<else>>\ $equippedweapon \ <</if>>\ through any opponent in your way. <<else>>\ swordsmanship when you charge Bladed Chi up and down your forearm to deliver devastating strikes. <</if>>\ <<elseif ($style is "Aoyusumu")>>\ show of cerulean energy and kinetic might, enhancing your punches and kicks with the explosive force of a cannon. More than one Lost is blown into several pieces as you don't hold back, channeling your Sacred Chi into the combined vengeful will of mankind against such unnatural creatures. <<elseif ($style is "Kiihakai")>>\ show of golden energy and combat sorcery. You summon several glowing Seals mid-fight that erect barriers around you and deflect more than one Lost's claws while firing Kiihakai blasts of homing-energy. One Bloodwalker even manages to wrap around Kosuke at one point and think itself successful, only to find your flexible Yang energy cling to its body on seven different sections and pull it back in different directions, ripping the thing to shreds. <<elseif ($style is "Kurokonton")>>\ show of purple energy as you become a whirlwind of throwing stars, leashing your chi to each weapon and pulling them around you in an unending assault. More than once you use your Yin chi to launch yourself back somewhere you'd already been to \ <<if (((((((((($equippedweapon is "Tanto")) or ($equippedweapon is "Katana")) or ($equippedweapon is "Muramasa")) or ($equippedweapon is "Qiang")) or ($equippedweapon is "Kunai")) or ($equippedweapon is "Jian")) or ($equippedweapon is "Iceblade")) or ($equippedweapon is "Greataxe")) or ($equippedweapon is "Chiblade"))>>\ stab a Lost with your $equippedweapon \ <<elseif (($equippedweapon is "Bo Staff") or ($equippedweapon is "Meteor Hammer"))>>\ beat a Lost with your $equippedweapon \ <<else>>\ kill a Lost \ <</if>>\ before its claws can impale a freed prisoner or one of Guiren's men in the back of your party. <<elseif ($style is "Midorikatai")>>\ show of green energy and physical might as you grab a Lost by the hip so hard that it's hip bone cracks, then throw it with both arms into a Bloodwalker so hard that the Fiend splatters. Tian Fang and her wolves sprint by you in their own glow of Wild Chi and rip Lost apart in their fangs, piece by piece. <</if>>\ <<var $val 0>>\ <<if ($power gte $fiendseverity)>>\ ''[Power Test Passed]'' <<var $val + 2>>\ <<else>>\ ''[Power Test Failed]'' <</if>>\ <<if ($fortitude gte $fiendseverity)>>\ ''[Fortitude Test Passed]'' <<var $val + 2>>\ <<else>>\ ''[Fortitude Test Failed]'' <</if>>\ <<if ($agility gte $fiendseverity)>>\ ''[Agility Test Passed]'' <<var $val + 2>>\ <<else>>\ ''[Agility Test Failed]'' <</if>>\ <<if ($soul gte $fiendseverity)>>\ ''[Soul Test Passed]'' <<var $val + 2>>\ <<else>>\ ''[Soul Test Failed]'' <</if>>\ <<if ($kosukecombat gte 5)>>\ ''[Kosuke Combat Test Passed]'' <<var $kosukecombat + 1>>\ <<var $val + 1>>\ <<else>>\ ''[Kosuke Combat Test Failed]'' <</if>>\ <<if ($bocombat gte 5)>>\ ''[Bo Lo Combat Test Passed]'' <<var $bocombat + 1>>\ <<var $val + 1>>\ <<else>>\ ''[Bo Lo Combat Test Failed]'' <<var $bocombat - 1>>\ <</if>>\ <<if (($equippedweapon isnot "") and (dig($weaponbonus, 2) gt 0))>>\ <<var $val + dig($weaponbonus, 2)>>\ ''[Weapon Quality Test Passed]'' <<elseif ((((((((((($equippedweapon is "Tanto")) or ($equippedweapon is "Katana")) or ($equippedweapon is "Muramasa")) or ($equippedweapon is "Qiang")) or ($equippedweapon is "Kunai")) or ($equippedweapon is "Jian")) or ($equippedweapon is "Iceblade")) or ($equippedweapon is "Greataxe")) or ($equippedweapon is "Chiblade")) and ($style is "Akakiru"))>>\ <<var $val + 1>>\ ''[Weapon Test Passed: Akakiru Style + Bladed Weapon]'' <</if>>\ <<if ($fightbonus isnot 0)>>\ ''[Fighting Bonus Applied]'' <<var $val + $fightbonus>>\ <</if>>\ <<if (($woundbonus isnot 0) and ($wounds isnot 0))>>\ ''[Wound Bonus Applied]'' <<var $val + ($wounds + ($woundbonus - 1))>>\ <</if>>\ <<if ($cj is 1)>>\ <<if ($craft gte 2)>>\ <<var $prisonerval 3>>\ <<else>>\ <<var $prisonerval 2>>\ <</if>>\ <<var $val3 (6 - $prisonerval)>>\ <<if ($style is "Midorikatai")>>\ ''[Midorikatai Event: Freed Prisoners Empowered! No Casualties!]'' <<var $retainer_morale + $prisonerval>>\ <<var $val + 1>>\ <<elseif ($val3 gte 1)>>\ ''[$val3 Freed Prisoner Casualties Suffered]'' <<var $retainer_morale - $val3>>\ <<var $retainers - $val3>>\ <</if>>\ ''[$prisonerval Freed Prisoners Advanced to Martial Retainers]'' <<var $martial_retainers + $prisonerval>>\ <<var $retainers - $prisonerval>>\ <<var $val + 1>>\ <</if>>\ <<var $fiendseverity - 1>>\ <<apboost $val>>\ Eventually, at ground zero of the Demonic Gate, you do find real resistance. The Grim. <<if (dig($metangelo, 2) is 0)>>\ <<var $toldgrim true>>\ Advanced ghosts that have gained enough power to achieve a physical form once again. Forms made for killing. Each of the two Grim are massive Fiends eight feet in height and twice as wide as a man, closer to a gorilla's stature with their long tree trunk arms made of black ropes of dead flesh. White bonemasks covers their faces and act as the anchor that sustains them in the world. \ <</if>>\ Kosuke, Bo, and Leona try to take one on at the same time but the fight proves too difficult, Leona spends half her energy protecting the others. You and $fren fair better against the second Grim, but not by much. In the center of this Demonic Gate these Grim hold far more power than new creations ever should. <<if ($style is "Aoyusumu")>>\ <<if ($ruthless lt 50)>>\ ''[Aoyusumu Style Event! Compassion Check Passed]'' <<var $val + 4>>\ <<if ($prayertalisman is false)>>\ "<<cap $name>>, catch!" Angelo says, throwing a glowing stiff slip of paper to you. You grab it and charge in unison with him, \ <<else>>\ You and Angelo charge in unison, \ <</if>>\ crashing into the chest of both Grim feet-first in kinetically enhanced dropkicks. As soon as the hulks are knocked back you both launch prayer talismans through their chests. When the paper tags slip into the Fiendish flesh they explode in an eruption of kinetic Sacred Chi in all directions, ripping the Grim to pieces. <<apboost 5>>\ Leona pants in fatigue as Grim pieces rain around her, her own wounds mounting up, and she looks from Angelo to you with a heavy pout. "I wanted to be in a cool team-up attack." A third Grim approaches from the mist behind her, striking her in the back towards you. "There's no end to them." You say while catching Leona. "We'll lose innocent lives if we don't pull back." Angelo replies. "Then pull back!" You shout to the others, erecting a wall of Sacred Chi to block the Grim from approaching while your party retreats. "Everyone to the docks, now!" <<page "Continue" "ch5-withdraw">>\ <<halt>>\ <<else>>\ You and Angelo manage to kill yours with a series of Sacred blows giving your attacks the kinetic force of cannonballs, but a third appears from the red mist behind your party. <<apboost 2>>\ <</if>>\ <</if>>\ "Pull back!" $fren shouts. "There's no end to them!" You want to disagree but feel why: even Grim approach from the red mist. "That's enough everyone!" You shout back. "Get to the docks, now!" <<page "Continue" "ch5-withdraw">>\

<<if ($craft gte 2)>>\ ''[Craft 2 Check Succeeded]'' With a keener knowledge of weapon quality than most, you pick out the best $equippedweapon available. ''[Weapon Improved!]'' <</if>>\

The sound of wooden clogs on stone echoes through what should otherwise be a chaotic battlefield. Lost and Bloodwalkers fight Sunbringers and stragglers alike throughout Ebikowa, the wails of the dead rain down from the sky, and yet the noises of the disaster are all muted in your ears by the sound of wooden clogs against the ground. You and your party escape from the upper terrace with only a few Lost getting in your way, successfully breaking through the thick fog into a more manageable red mist at the town's market square. <<if ($style is "Midorikatai")>>\ Your wolves pass \ <<else>>\ Everyone passes \ <</if>>\ the cages where you first woke up and \ <<if ($style is "Midorikatai")>>\ lead you all \ <<else>>\ you lead them \ <</if>>\ down the main road to the docks. Just as you all get to the plaza's exit, the echoing footsteps get louder. Your hearing pinpoints them coming through the darkness of an alley between destroyed shops to your left. Taio emerges from those shadows, hands behind his back. He gives a tired glance at the sky. "A shame among shames, one to rival the end of Cathay." He shakes his head in disappointment. "Decades of blood collection and unrecorded experiments...I thought it so important to not leave a trail. Optimism." He withdraws three Blood Marbles from a pocket and watches them dissolve into mist, flying into the sky to join the rest of the Demonic Gate. He sighs. "All lost. This will take years to replenish at a fivefold pace, simply because an upstart of a minion figured out the activation method. Disgraceful." The scuff of Leona's boot against the ground signals \ <<if ($style is "Midorikatai")>>\ she's hopped off her wolf mount and prepared to attack. <<else>>\ her preparation to attack. <</if>>\ Taio's vision lowers at that, surveying your party with weary eyes as if staring at a list of chores after a long day. "I applaud your success against the odds I carefully calculated. Crusher Jack was a surprise, but not a problem. Obviously no witness can live to warn the Inner Kingdoms of my work here. I'll deal with your Master's prodigy before he returns to Nanhou, but for you..." Crimson and black chi leaks from the monk's body like smoke from an volcano. "Who wants to die first?" "Go." You say to the \ <<if ($style is "Midorikatai")>>\ others, stepping off your own wolf mount with a gentle pat and regretting the short duration of your ride. \ <<else>>\ others. \ <</if>>\ "Leave him to me." <<if ($cj is 3)>>\ "I'll get our troops from the jail." Bo says without even stopping his sprint, obviously grateful for the excuse to not fight the mad monk. <</if>>\ <<if ($style is "Aoyusumu")>>\ "If that's what you want, then I will protect your flock from the Fiends." Angelo replies with a decisive nod. "Do not let your journey end here." <<elseif ($style is "Kiihakai")>>\ "I'm not leaving you alone to fight this freak." Desdemona says. One of her disciples, a man with a bandaged forehead, grabs her by the arm. "Lady Desdemona, please! You are needed for the Fiends at the dock!" Desdemona glares down at him, back to Taio, and back to you. "Tch. \ <<if (($heshe is "he") and ($desromance gte 1))>>\ You had better win." <<else>>\ Don't show him mercy." <</if>>\ She turns and runs with the others, leaving a trail of Mystic Chi behind her that soaks into the road. <<elseif ($style is "Kurokonton")>>\ "Don't have to tell me twice!" Guiren says, feigning to leave yet slipping his last Talisman into your pocket from behind, your body blocking Taio's view. "Meet back at the docks when he's dead. Come on men, we're running away again!" <<elseif ($style is "Midorikatai")>>\ Tian Fang's head snaps back with insult. "You believe I would abandon an ally? You are speaking to the star pupil of a Sect most prestigious! Tian Fang is always with you!" Taio's left eyebrow raises with interest as Fang initiates a handseal combination. The green glow around her wolves brightens and leaves them, swirling through the air until it all wraps around you instead. ''[Temporary Enhancement: +1 Power]'' <<var $power + 1>>\ ''[Temporary Enhancement: +1 Fortitude]'' <<var $fortitude + 1>>\ <<if ($subrace is "Wolf")>>\ ''[Wolf Yokai Temporary Enhancement: +1 Agility]'' <<var $agility + 1>>\ <</if>>\ "Impressive, but that's quite enough." Taio says, holding up a single finger. It glows crimson as he points it at Fang...and then moves it to point toward one of her wolves. "If you don't want to wait your turn then simply say so." Fang bares her namesake at Taio and flees with the others, grabbing Kosuke's arm to drag $bffhimher as $bffheshe stares from you to Taio. <</if>>\ "But-" Says Kosuke as every single other person \ <<if ($style is "Midorikatai")>>\ and wolf \ <</if>>\ sprints downhill towards the docks. Kosuke suddenly breaks into a sprint the very second $bffheshe realizes \ <<if ($style isnot "Midorikatai")>>\ the other Martial Artists are running without hesitation. <<else>>\ even \ <<if ($cj isnot 3)>>\ Bo and Leona are \ <<else>>\ Leona is \ <</if>>\ running away without hesitation. <</if>>\ Poor Kosuke was the only aura wielder who didn't spiritually scan the ''thousands'' of Aura Pressure resonating off of Taio. <<page "Continue" "ch5-withdraw2">>\

With the others gone and no Fiends on the main road you feel at peace in this fight. More than just a sense of peace, you feel a sense of completion. A sense of //purpose//. Losing your chance to fight Jack left a yearning to test yourself. Something inside you wants to fight Taio on your own, as if completing a lifelong goal you never knew you had. "You know," Taio says, circling around you as you counter his pace to circle him back. \ <<if ($thesecret is true)>>\ "When I heard about that book the other Taio was using, everything became clear. \ <<else>>\ "You almost had me fooled, but my accounts from the other foolish lackeys, who of course now litter this town as rabid Fiends, informed me of a Soul Treasure tome that the other Taio had. One most interesting. \ <</if>>\ It makes sense the other clones would be trying to create a Demonic Gate too, but I never imagined another would come close to success. Until I take your Fuel Foundation into account." Your Fuel Foundation? What do you have to do with this? Taio holds his hand up and looks upon it with disdain. "Clone Techniques are only supposed to last hours, you see, days at the most." The sewer grate underneath your feet shakes and a liquid sickle lunges up from the sewers, hardening into a sharp blade as a Bloodwalker comes for your face. It evaporates instantly. You look over to Taio, his arm raised and hand smoking from some unseen attack. "I never appreciate interruptions." He lowers his hand and continues. "Several of us, created from the original Taio, were given free will. An experiment of sorts. The foolish died in days, the rest of us surmised to use the original's Demonic Blood Cultivation to extend our existence. Yet it's never enough. We are never quite whole, always needing more. My ultimate goal naturally became to create the purest form of blood aura that can sustain myself indefinitely, a Gate of it, but they do not exist in nature." He exhales slowly, staring once again at the red sky. "And so I toiled in experiments. Hunting for tomes, refining pills, and Sealing Fiends for decades to find the secret of forging their Gate." Taio takes a single step forward and disappears, suddenly forty feet behind you, still circling at his slow pace. "As you can see, an unbelievable amount of blood chi must be stored in one place. I created these Blood Marbles for my own Gate creation. The doppelganger you fought sounds to have used some sort of Tome instead, likely a Cathayan artifact. This brings me to the matter at hand, didn't you think it odd that you 'learned' Immortal Core Advancement simply by seeing it?" <<choose "ch5-withdraw3">> #"I'm a natural." <<var $honor - 1>>\ "I'm a natural." You say, \ <<if ($equippedweapon isnot "")>>\ readying your $equippedweapon. <<else>>\ back leg tensing to close the distance. <</if>>\ "Hardly." Taio responds with a scoff. "It's all your Fuel Foundation, lowly $boygirl. That \ #"It's not hard to do." "It's not hard to do." You reply casually. Taio chuckles. "No, no I suppose it isn't when you abuse your Fuel Foundation. You see, that \ #"Are you ready to fight yet? I've been patient enough." <<var $honor + 2>>\ <<var $powexp + 1>>\ "Are you ready to fight yet?" You say, \ <<if ($equippedweapon isnot "")>>\ readying your $equippedweapon. \ <<else>>\ back leg tensing to close the distance. \ <</if>>\ "I've been patient enough." Taio chuckles, appearing on a rooftop to your left without leaving a trace. "Is that what you \ <<if ($val is 77)>>\ did \ <<else>>\ said \ <</if>>\ to my doppelganger before you killed him? He must have been quite surprised. That \ #[Blast him with energy] <<var $ruthless + 2>>\ <<var $solexp + 1>>\ <<var $val 77>>\ Your attack gets so close to Taio's chest that it even detonates, but before the explosion can go off he appears on a rooftop to your left without leaving a trace. "Is that what you \ <<if ($val is 77)>>\ did \ <<else>>\ said \ <</if>>\ to my doppelganger before you killed him? He must have been quite surprised. That \ <</choose>>

Taio pretender failed to create a proper Demonic Gate, like all the rest, but not for you. No, your Fuel Foundation makes your Cores more sensitive. That other Taio clone released his failed Demonic Gate experiment and, to your body, it worked. You absorbed it like a sponge, taking in his power. Yet his was not a natural Gate. It was filled over the years with his own power. His own will. His wisdom. His memories. You copied his breakthrough into Immortal Core Advancement because shards of him became a part of you." You think back to your nightmares you've had since that fight. To the whispers of Taio on your journey. A chill runs down your spine in fear that what you're hearing could be the truth. Taio smiles at the look in your eyes. "Do not fear, child, it will not affect you for long." Your narrow your eyes, wary of any good news coming from this man. "It goes away?" "No, it won't be long because I'm going to kill you." Taio's power blazes into a crimson inferno around his body. His voice grows louder as the roar of his power increases. "Yet I am not without gratitude! As a reward for bringing me the answers I seek, a piece of you will live on forever in me...when I use your body as a component to reforge my own Foundation into a Fuel variant. After killing you I will finally have a physical form that can sustain itself forever on my next Demonic Gate." "I'd like to see you try." You reply, taking on a battle-stance and surging your own $auracolor aura. <<var $combatstat "agility">>\ <<var $combatstat2 "fortitude">>\ <<combatcheck $taiocombat>>\ <<if (($passcheck is true) or ($ironbody is true))>>\ <<if ($ironbody is true)>>\ ''[Iron Body Activated!]'' Your body hardens like iron and the skin of your hands and forearms turn black as obsidian when you put your defenses up. <<var $forexp + 3>>\ <</if>>\ Dust around your feet explodes out in a circle as you catch Taio's hand from behind. One moment he was standing in front of you, the next his body was behind you with his fist already reeled back. Yet the brush of air was enough to tell you all you needed. "What are you doing?" You ask, looking over your shoulder into Taio's eyes. A frown grows down his face. "I am putting you where you belong." His leg delivers a quick stomp to the road that breaks the ground from under you both. His stomp kicks him into the air as the road beneath you collapses, dropping you into an empty sewer below. <<var $val 333>>\ <<else>>\ An attack hits your neck while you're staring at Taio, rending the \ <<if ($pblocktech isnot "")>>\ muscle if not for your $pblocktech Technique. <<else>>\ muscle. <</if>>\ <<if ((((($fortitude / 2) + $health) - $wounds) gte 2) or ($pblocktech isnot ""))>>\ <<woundcheck 1 true false>>\ <<else>>\ <<aploss 5>>\ <</if>>\ You're launched toward the empty space where Taio was standing a moment ago. Somehow he's behind you, and the attack came from him slicing a hand into the back of your neck. His movements didn't even register in your vision. You collide into a small building and shatter it to pieces, quickly buried under the rubble. <</if>>\ <<page "Continue" "ch5-withdraw4">>\

A \ <<if ($style is "Akakiru")>>\ scarlet \ <<elseif ($style is "Aoyusumu")>>\ cerulean \ <<elseif ($style is "Kiihakai")>>\ golden \ <<elseif ($style is "Kurokonton")>>\ purple \ <<elseif ($style is "Midorikatai")>>\ dark green \ <</if>>\ explosion comes from the docks where the others must be fighting to get onto a ship. <<if ($val is 333)>>\ Taio lands back in the market square with a grunt. "Hm. It \ <<else>>\ "Hm." Taio grunts, looking westward. "It \ <</if>>\ would be unwise to allow them any longer of a leash. Let us end this." <<if ($val is 333)>>\ You leap from the sewer and face the man directly, both of you standing on opposite sides of the wide plaza. \ <<else>>\ You rise from the building debris and brush yourself off, fighting not to wince as gravel gets into your wounds. \ <</if>>\ "The only thing ending right now is you." <<var $val 0>>\ Taio tsks with his nose held high and boredom in his eyes. "How poetic. A rabbit boasting from the ground, hoping to unnerve the eagle circling above." You ignore his barb. As one of the few Martial Artists in all of Outer West to absorb \ <<if (dig($metfang, 2) is 1)>>\ two entire Heavenly Gates \ <<else>>\ an entire Heavenly Gate \ <</if>>\ on your own, one detail of this disaster hasn't escape your notice. Your spiritual sensitivity and experience have helped you piece together one vital secret for his Demonic Gate. The longer you've been in it the surer you are that the underlying foundation that Taio's Demonic Gate is built upon, the reason it instills a sense of dread, is not demonic chi. It is the end of all things. The entropic aspect of Yin, the void, the darkness. Natural, elemental Darkness. The atrocity around you is more delicate than it seems, for underneath the Demonic Gate you've sensed it's true nature: Taio's created a Heavenly Darkness Gate smothered in blood aura. <<var $fighting true>>\ You smile back at him, \ <<if ($wounds gt 0)>>\ blood dripping from a busted lip. \ <<else>>\ a glint in your eye. \ <</if>>\ "You're no eagle, Taio. You're just a flashy Technique that lasted too long." Your arms rise to your core and form the handseals for cycling. "And you're fighting me inside of a Gate." <<choose "ch5-bossfight2">> #Cycle the Heavenly Darkness Gate underneath to imbalance the Demonic Gate. Taio raises an eyebrow and looks to the crimson mist around you both. "The Gate? You plan to harness the Demonic Gate? In my presence?" He forms cycling seals of his own and pulls the Demonic Chi around the street into himself. "How delightfully entertaining. I will enjoy seeing the look in your dying eyes as you realize whose will is stronger. A fledgling such as yourself could never even stall me." "I'm not here to stall you, Taio." You say, taking one long stomp forward and bracing your body. Your will grasps upon the Darkness underneath Taio's artificial Gate and your aura opens up to it, spiritually inhaling every Shard worth of power. Spiraling swirls of Darkness siphon from all around the market square. They spin in wide arcs through the air like a tornado of black ink painted onto the world, all spiraling into you. <<if ($jadedragonfoundation is true)>>\ <<set $aurapressure to $aurapressure + 60>>\ ''[Aura Pressure +60]'' <<else>>\ <<set $aurapressure to $aurapressure + 30>>\ ''[Aura Pressure +30]'' <</if>>\ <<if (($element1 is "Darkness") or ($element2 is "Darkness"))>>\ ''[Darkness Element Event: Aura Pressure +10]'' <<var $aurapressure + 10>>\ <</if>>\ <<if ($hungryspiritritual isnot 1)>>\ <<var $val ($handseals * 5)>>\ <<if ($val lt 5)>>\ <<var $val 5>>\ <</if>>\ ''[Hungry Spirit Ritual: Aura Pressure +$val]'' <<var $aurapressure + $val>>\ <</if>>\ "I'm here to kill you." The street, cages, debris, and even the buildings around you erupt in black shadows of flame as the Gate's aura in a hundred-foot radius changes in nature. The rising imbalance of excessive yin chi forming around you overwhelms the blood aura throughout the air. The delicate artificial Demonic Gate collapses on itself, unraveling in your surroundings and reverting into a Darkness Gate that eclipses all light. In the center of that sphere of blackest night, with his spirit openly cycling the Demonic Gate a second before, you sense Taio's Demonic Chi that fuels his existence. You also sense it fall apart, getting caught in the imbalance and changing to Darkness Chi when the Gate shifts. The power within his unsuspecting soul warps against him. He screams. <<page "Continue" "ch5-bossfight-darkgate">>\ #Cycle the Demonic Gate to rip Taio's Demonic Chi away from him. [Increases Corruption] <<var $fiendish true>>\ <<var $eventfun + 100000000000000>>\ You've been waiting for this moment ever since the Demonic Gate began. Finally, there are no witnesses to see what you planned to do. Taio raises an eyebrow and looks to the crimson mist around you both. "The Gate? You plan to harness the Demonic Gate? In my presence?" He forms cycling seals of his own and pulls the Demonic Chi around the street into himself. "How delightfully entertaining. I will enjoy seeing the look in your dying eyes as you realize whose will is stronger. You could never even //stall// one such as me." Your will grasps upon the Demonic Chi swirling not just in the air around you, but the sky above. Spiraling swirls of crimson siphon from all around the market square and spin in wide arcs through the air like a tornado of red ink painted onto the world. Taio grins as the hurricane of power envelopes you both and he calls upon the ancient Demonic Cycling Technique he's used all his existence. His confidence ends when you do the same. "What are-? NO! IMPOSSIBLE!!" He screams as the Demonic Gate answers to your call in its entirety and not at all to his own. He was right about you absorbing pieces of the other Taio's will and memories, but the only pieces you received clearly were the ones he offered most freely, the exact actions he was performing when you absorbed shards of his will: his personal handseals and cycling methods for consuming a Demonic Gate. It seems this Taio uses the same ones. A multitude of methods designed to force the Gate into compliance activate from both your own spirit and your opponent's, but your Fuel Foundation tips the scale. "I'm not here to stall you, Taio." You boast with a wicked laugh over the roaring wails of the dead. The crimson hurricane encircling the market square forces its way into your Core in a spiraling flash of unimaginable \ <<if ($race is "Oni")>>\ power. Something deep within you resonates with the corrupting energies of the Demonic Gate and you feel //fulfilled//. More Advanced. Greater. A thin but long crimson tail sprouts from your lower back and your canines extend ever so slightly into sharper teeth. <<var $yokaitrait1 "demon tail">>\ <<if ($jadedragonfoundation is true)>>\ <<set $aurapressure to $aurapressure + 60>>\ ''[Aura Pressure +100]'' <<else>>\ <<set $aurapressure to $aurapressure + 30>>\ ''[Aura Pressure +60]'' <</if>>\ <<else>>\ power. <<if ($jadedragonfoundation is true)>>\ <<set $aurapressure to $aurapressure + 80>>\ ''[Aura Pressure +100]'' <<else>>\ <<set $aurapressure to $aurapressure + 40>>\ ''[Aura Pressure +60]'' <</if>>\ <</if>>\ <<var $taint + 45>>\ <<if ($hungryspiritritual isnot 1)>>\ <<var $val ($handseals * 5)>>\ <<if ($val lt 5)>>\ <<var $val 5>>\ <</if>>\ ''[Hungry Spirit Ritual: Aura Pressure +$val]'' <<var $aurapressure + $val>>\ <</if>>\ <<if ($race is "Oni")>>\ Your eyes open with a flash of crimson light. \ <</if>>\ "I'm here to kill you." Your attack has already begun. Taio's cycling leaves his own spirit open through the whole process. No Martial Artist's power would ever be forced out of their Cores by a Gate or a cycling Technique, it's impossible. But you know Taio is not a Martial Artist. He's a Clone Technique made of chi. Trapped in the tide of the Demonic Gate's energy, his own Demonic Chi that sustains his existence is ripped from his spirit and added to yours. He screams. <<learntech 2120002000000062 "Lifesteal" "Passively increases AP gained from defeating enemies by +5. Increases Fortitude Surge by +1 when focused.">>\ <<if ($techslotcode[2] is 1000000000000000)>>\ ''[Fortitude Core focused to "Lifesteal" Technique]'' <<focuscore "Lifesteal" 2120002000000062>>\ <</if>>\ <<var $lifesteal true>>\ <<page "Continue" "ch5-bossfight-demongate">>\ <</choose>>

''[Pirate Crew Acquired!]'' ''[+1 Ship]'' <<var $shipcount + 1>>\ <<if ($banditchoice is "Raiders")>>\ ''[Martial Retainers +5]'' <<var $martial_retainers + 5>>\ <<if (($capturedbandits - 5) gt 0)>>\ <<var $val ($capturedbandits - 5)>>\ ''[Retainers +$val]'' <<var $retainers + $val>>\ <</if>>\ ''[Commerce Increased!]'' <<var $commerce + 2>>\ <<var $banditchoice "Recruited">>\ <<elseif ($banditchoice is "Freedom")>>\ ''[Martial Retainers +2]'' <<var $martial_retainers + 2>>\ <<if ($capturedbandits gt 10)>>\ ''[Retainers +$capturedbandits]'' <<var $retainers + $capturedbandits>>\ <<else>>\ ''[Retainers +10]'' <<var $retainers + 10>>\ <</if>>\ ''[5 Weak Soul Treasure Blades Acquired]'' <<var $weaponcrate + 5>>\ ''[Certain Soul Treasures are used only to increase the Aura Pressure of a weapon's attack. While they may be useless to you, as your Aura Pressure is higher than the weapon's, they can be useful to allies.]'' <<var $banditchoice "Recruited">>\ <<else>>\ ''[Bug Report: The Heavens have betrayed you!]'' ''[Variable "banditchoice" not set to Raiders or Freedom]'' <</if>>\ <<var $spareval_2 0>>\

"If I wanted that Wild God's spawn to die, I would have finished its execution when I wounded it." The armored figure says in two different men's voices at once. His armor consists of shining Truegold gauntlets, pauldrons, boots, and plates layered over each other in a tight-fitting lamellar design that's been strapped over black undercloth, all visible beneath an opened black cloak. \ <<if ($killedgod is true)>>\ <<if (dig($metangelo, 7) is 4)>>\ <<var $metangelo + 20000>>\ <</if>>\ "Its damage was sufficient to remove it from my fight against its sire, yet you saw fit to complicate matters by killing it. \ <<else>>\ "You threatened the success of my mission when you engaged it in true combat. If that whelp had died it would reflect poorly on me. <</if>>\ Justify yourself." You look up to meet his gaze but see only a black metal plate in the pointed shape of a face, surrounded by a Truegold general's winged helmet. Two eyeholes in the otherwise smooth metal plate reveal only a shining white energy in each socket, as if the man's eyes were those of a spirit and not a mortal man. <<if ($portraitpics is true)>>\ <<image "https://www.auraclash.com/assets/images/archon-gold.jpg">>\ <</if>>\ From what he is saying, the unusual helmet, and the power pressing down on you just from his presence, you realize you're speaking to an Archon. <<choose "ch6-archon-getpoints">> #"It attacked me!" "It attacked me!" You respond, baffled that he would even ask. "And if I attack you right now?" The man asks from behind the black mask, his voices cold. "Will you fight back then, too?" The man sighs. "Everstill," \ #"Forgive me, Honored Archon." <<var $honor + 5>>\ <<var $ruthless - 2>>\ "Forgive me, Honored Archon." You say, shifting from being on all fours to uncomfortably kneeling on one leg so you may better bow in deference. The man is silent for a moment until his helmet-mask gently tips forward by a quarter-inch. "I do. Well fought." You can //feel// the tension leave your shoulders, as well as those of the crowd gathering at the edge of town. Your crew. ''[Retainer Morale Increased]'' <<var $retainer_morale + 7>>\ "Know that the Beast you fought was a threat, and though your recklessness brought complications to your betters, you show promise. Dismissively, \ #"It was out of control and had to be put down." <<var $honor + 2>>\ "It was out of control." You say, looking into the man's blinding eyes. "I don't care what people say about its kind, they're wrong. It was a rampaging Beast that had to be put down." The Archon tilts his head a quarter-inch forward. "And you think you have the right to make that decision?" You stare at him and so deeply want to say 'I know I do.', but try as you might, you can't utter another word under his scrutiny. The Archon shakes his head. "You are either a martyr of justice, or a fool. The reward for your code of honor will be nothing more than death if you are willing to challenge even the Wild Gods to enforce it." He drops a graystone crest with red emblem by your feet. "For your actions, I grant you \ <<if ($killedgod is true)>>\ three \ <<var $score_misc + 3>>\ <<else>>\ two \ <<var $score_misc + 2>>\ <</if>>\ points in the Heavenly Ascension Trials. You chose well on this day, perhaps by chance, but remember this lesson well: no matter how powerful, Beasts do not decide what is right and wrong in the realm of Man. We do." ''[Heavenly Ascension Trials: Imperial Score + $score_misc]'' <<page "Continue" "ch6-archon2">>\ #show-if ($killedgod is true) "I wanted its Soul Treasures for the Trials." "I wanted its Soul Treasures." You reply in honesty. "A strong but wounded Beast showed up and attacked people, it was the perfect opportunity to get something I'd need in the Trials. I didn't turn the opportunity down. There's nothing more to it." "What a waste." The Archon says, nudging his head toward the ocean. "Go fetch your precious trinkets if that's what you think matters." <<var $val2 1001>>\ ''[Prestige Decreased]'' <<var $prestige - 3>>\ ''[Item Gained: Weak Soul Treasure x2]'' <<var $weaksoultreasure + 2>>\ ''[Item Gained: Alchemy Reagents x10]'' <<var $alchemyreagents + 10>>\ <<apboost 25>>\ "Everstill." The Archon says as you try to collect Beast pieces out of the water. With a dismissive toss \ #"The success of your mission is your objective, not mine. Don't judge me by your performance." <<var $honor - 5>>\ <<var $ruthless + 2>>\ You look up to the Archon that dares to come after you for stopping a mass murder. At first you consider justifying yourself, but you discard the idea entirely. The very //premise// of his question is what's wrong. Your eyes narrow and you refuse to bow to this man’s reasoning. "The success of your mission is your objective, not mine. Don't judge me by your performance." ''[Audacity Event: Prestige Increased]'' <<var $prestige + 4>>\ The Archons shoulders bounce once in an amused huff. "Catty little shit, aren't you? Evertstill," \ #[Say nothing.] You don't respond, instead staring at the Archon in silence. "Hm." His helmet tilts forward as he looks at you more closely. "I expected more. A shame. Everstill," \ <</choose>>

he drops a graystone crest with red emblem by your feet. "The Beast was a threat, and you treated it accordingly. For your actions I grant you \ <<if (($killedgod is true) and ($val2 isnot 1001))>>\ two points \ <<var $score_misc + 2>>\ <<else>>\ one point \ <<var $score_misc + 1>>\ <</if>>\ in the Heavenly Ascension Trials." ''[Heavenly Ascension Trials: Imperial Score + $score_misc]'' <<page "What...?" "ch6-archon2">>\

You don't quite know what to say, but the Archon turns away from you and looks upon the Windrising Sect. With the distracting sand cloud clearing from lack of motion you get a better look at the fight. Leona has her sword in a man's torso while he has two thumbs pressing into her eyes. Neither is daring to even move their heads. A few Martial Artists you don't recognize appear to have joined the fray against the Windrising Sect but they too are frozen stiff. <<if (($style isnot "Aoyusumu") and ($metangelo is 10000000000))>>\ The monk \ <<else>>\ Angelo \ <</if>>\ lost his shirt at some point and has two daggers plunged into his left side. He holds a bloodied Sectmaster Bassui by the neck in one hand and the face of a Windrising Disciple held against a large rock in the other. Of the three, only Sectmaster Bassui dares to move. Through bloodied lips, he smiles. "This farce is at an end." The Archon announces. "Thank you for your swift arrival, Honored Archon!" Sectmaster Bassui calls on the wind. "I will hand these criminals over to you for execution. They have acted against my accord with the-" ''//"Silence."//'' The Archon takes a single step and disappears from view. You look in all directions until you see where he reappeared, four-hundred feet in the air. His echoing voices ring out like a temple gong. "Gazhurra has been pushed back, and this matter is settled. There will be no arrests, no discussions, nor continued feuds from this shameful display. There will be no schemes. There will be no assassinations. There will not be so much as a word of ill intent in all of Harehama and its surrounding territory until the Trials conclude. That is my edict, and so it is your law. All shipbound Trialgoers are to leave for Nanhou at dawn. Until then you are to return to your festivities and healers." Sectmaster Bassui's mouth twists in an ugly frown. "But the Council-!" "''//Now.//''" <<page "Continue" "ch6-archon3">>\

Everyone scatters as quickly yet orderly as possible, no one willing to move at more than a steady jog for fear of the Archon still standing in the sky. You can't blame them; your own feet are frozen to the ground. Over the next few minutes the beach clears out quite quickly. <<if ($fishscore gte 10)>>\ With great hesitation you finally find the nerve to move and collect your prize for winning the fishing tournament. The Windrising clerk glares at you as he packs up his scrolls and table, but one glance at the floating armored figure in the sky prevents him from stopping you. ''//[Item Gained: 650 Silver]'' <<var $silver + 650>>\ ''//[Item Gained: 41 Shards]'' <<var $shards + 41>>\ ''//[Item Gained: 5 Gold]'' <<var $gold + 5>>\ <<page "Continue" "ch6-archon4">>\ <<else>>\ <<include "ch6-archon4">>\ <</if>>\

With his head visible above most of the crowd, \ <<if (($style isnot "Aoyosumu") and ($metangelo is 10000000000))>>\ the mysterious monk \ <<else>>\ Angelo \ <</if>>\ marches toward you while waving. His torn robe has been knocked off his upper body and caught on his belt to look like the bottom of a thick hakama. "Ah, the $manwoman of the hour!" He wipes blood off his face with his thick forearm that's covered in burns. "Come to celebrate living to see another day? Always a grand occasion." <<if (($style is "Aoyusumu") and (dig($metangelo, 11) is 1))>>\ "I actually came to see why //I heard the screams of hundreds when we kissed.//" You say, tilting your head down while looking up at him angrily. "And why you've been suppressing my feelings without my permission." "That...is not what it looks like. Or not as ill-intent as it sounds." Angelo rubs his beard in thought. When his hand moves to do so, you notice heavy bruising around one of the daggers sticking into the V-shape of his muscular upper torso. "You are right. We've been together so often that it's safer if you do know what's been going on behind the scenes. Can we go somewhere private?" "Depends," you reply with arms crossed, "are you going to disappear again?" Angelo shakes his head. "Nothing would pain me more than being separated again." Leona comes within hearing distance while wiping blood off both her blades. She looks from you to Angelo, to you, to Angelo, to you. "Are you two //fucking//?" "What?!" You blurt out, blushing suddenly. "No! We're, I mean. We haven't-" "Damn girl, relax, I'm just teasing!" Leona's smile widens too much. "And forget about that anyway!" She jumps in front of Angelo and grabs your hands. \ <<elseif ($style is "Aoyusumu")>>\ You stare at the man with an incredulous smile. "I don't even know where to start. What happened to the people you had to go save? When did you get to Harehama? How'd you find me? How'd you fight a whole Sect?" Angelo raises four fingers and lowers them one by one. "One, they're safe. Two, their ship was docked here due to the Wild God, with me on board. Three, I sensed odd Aura Pressure and came to investigate." Down to one finger, and one question, he stares at his hand in contemplation and finally lowers the digit. "Four, I ate my vegetables when I was young." "You're an //awful// liar." You reply. "I'll bet you didn't even eat many vegetables." "I grew up near a white peach orchard." He confesses, smiling in approval. "It was mostly fruits and pork." "Forget about that!" Leona shouts, running through the crowd while sheathing two bloodied blades with a //squelching// noise. \ <<elseif ($metangelo is 10000000000)>>\ "Who //are// you?" You ask. "Not that I'm complaining, but I wasn't expecting backup." He puts one fist against the other and bows. "Angelo, a traveling pilgrim of the Devanic Temple. When I sensed a disturbance I came to investigate and must say, I did not like what I found. <<if ($killedgod is true)>>\ You did well to slay that monster. It was unworthy of the worship it received." <<var $angelorep + 4>>\ <<elseif ($savior is true)>>\ You did well to save the people on that beach." <<var $angelorep + 2>>\ <<else>>\ Many survived that would have perished, so it was a worthy intervention." <</if>>\ "Forget about that!" Leona shouts, running through the crowd while sheathing two bloodied blades with a //squelching// noise. \ <<else>>\ "I actually came to thank you." You say. "I didn't know how I was going to fight an entire Sect //and// a Wild God's spawn." He dismisses the thought with the wave of a hand. "I am sure you would have managed, but I had such a grand entrance prepared that it was hard to turn down. Do you know how hard it is to predict cloud movements hours in advance?" "Forget about that!" Leona shouts, skipping up behind him and \ <<if (($heshe is "he") and ($leonaromance gte 2))>>\ running into you with a hug. She squeezes tight, pressing her chest against you. \ <<else>>\ running up to grab your hands excitedly. \ <</if>>\ <</if>>\ "Did you see our fight? I was going to brag about this big guy here snapping two necks at once, or this spinning slash where I cut a man in three, but then I look over and see you \ <<if ($killedgod is true)>>\ give the killing blow to a Wild God's kid! \ <<else>>\ exchanging blows with a Wild God's kid! \ <</if>>\ That fish even had its own shrine, it \ <<if ($killedgod is true)>>\ had to have been \ <<else>>\ has to be \ <</if>>\ important! //Ancestors//, I wish we could trade places. I am SO jealous that you've got so many fights coming your way. Except the part where you'll probably die soon." "Now now." Angelo says. "No one is dying soon. And I didn't snap anyone's necks, they're..." He looks back to the beach where several Windrising Disciples lie unmoving. "Sleeping." "They're not sleeping." Leona whispers to you, loud enough for Angelo to hear. Your brow contorts and you look to the Lunargothic man. "I thought Devanic priests didn't kill people?" "I'm a mere pilgrim, but true, we don't." He says with a sudden sadness in his eyes. "Not mankind, at least. Yet did we truly fight mankind? You witnessed how they threw a $manwoman's life away to appease a monster. Who could sit by idly and accept that disgusting display? Traitors against mankind like them are the reason the word 'smite' exists, and it falls to the Devanic Temple to crusade against such filth." Angelo looks back to Sectmaster Bassui limping away and lifts a hand, gripping the air as if squeezing something, then throws his arms up and lets out a single exhale that sounds like a friendly, almost //cheerful// laugh. "Hah! What am I saying, holding a grudge would be disobeying the Archon's order! Silly me, I could never be so foolish." You can't help but hear a //'For now'// echo through the air in Angelo's voice, though his mouth doesn't move to make the sound. Leona, noticeably shorter than Angelo, looks up to the man and back to you. "Are we going to keep talking or can we go celebrate already? Because if the choice is talking or drinking then I choose-" "Oh Heavens, drinking please." Angelo calls while marching forward and \ <<if (($angeloromance gte 1) and ($heshe is "she"))>>\ stretching his tattered robe to cover his muscular back. \ <<else>>\ correcting his tattered robes. \ <</if>>\ "Coming $name? I guarantee dozens will want to drink to your victory. Excuses for celebration are easy to find when a tavern is nearby." "//And// it's ours for the night!" Leona adds cheerfully. \ <<if ($killedgod is true)>>\ "The Lightbringer was easily the biggest catch, so you and your crew get the tavern to yourselves." <<elseif ($fishscore gte 10)>>\ "You won the fishing tournament, so you and your crew get the tavern to yourselves." <<else>>\ "Kosuke put rocks in $bffhisher fish to win the tournament, so your crew has the tavern all to yourselves!" <</if>>\ <<choose "ch6-end-wakemeup">> #Head to the tavern and celebrate with your crew. #Gather your crew and depart early. -> "ch6-end-departure" <<replenish>>\ <<var $daysleft + 1>>\ <</choose>>

You pass by several gossiping crowds on your way to the crafter's bazaar. From what you can gather, the Mystic Lands has bound hundreds of ice and wind spirits to patrol the main trade roads leading into Nanhou. Supposedly each spirit comes from the Inner Kingdoms with at least 2,000 Aura Pressure. Your mouth almost salivates at the idea of such an army, though it makes you wonder why the Exalts who rule Imperial Rasen even needs Outerlands disciples in the Trials when their vassals can control such forces. Just how strong do they expect you to get if you become an Archon? <<page "Continue" "ch6-bazaar2">>\

Entering the crafter's bazaar is like walking into Thunderfall's market square on the busiest time of the year, if the square was crammed into a long open-air hallway. Vendor tents line the long strip of the bazaar, boxed in by shops of all kinds creating all variations of goods in real-time for the customers to see. Weavers, carpenters, sculptors, potters, cobblers, fletchers, and glassblowers fill the long street leading down to the dock where even the shipwrights are at work. Yet one problem arises when you attempt to buy anything: They're all booked. Every craftsman you speak to is filling orders for the Heavenly Ascension Trials that they've been paid for upfront, and although the bazaar seems bustling and filled to the brim with goods, you quickly learn all the displays are just for show and have already been claimed by incoming ships. You're surrounded by shopping centers and there's nothing to buy. It feels like being thirsty on the ocean. <<if ($style is "Kiihakai")>>\ <<include "ch6-forge">>\ <<else>>\ <<include "ch6-bazaar3">>\ <</if>>\

When you reach the end of the market bazaar you find it exits to the beach. Sunbathers rest on the sands to your right and left, and the road continues on through the sands all the way to the shipwrights south of town. There's nothing here for you, yet as you turn around to return to the bazaar you feel a cold presence. Slowly you turn toward the sensation and see a dark mist seeping out of one of the sunbathers. One woman lay face-down, dark bandages covering the more private areas on her pale skin. Darkness Chi leaks out of her under the rays of the sun like water leaking from a soaked towel. There isn't much exposing her identity; she lies facedown on the sands and her pale arms are folded under her face like a pillow while her dark hair covers her face. Even without sight of her signature nails and makeup, you can easily recognize the aura signature of Lady Desdemona. <<if (dig($metdesdemona, 2) is 1)>>\ You freeze in place; the last time you saw the woman, you were helping Guiren shake her down to impoverish her further. The Dark aura emanating off of her body even at rest does not give the impression of a forgiving soul. At least her lackeys aren't around, and it seems she hasn't noticed you yet. <<choose "ch6-bazaar4">> #Apologize for earlier. <<var $ruthless - 1>>\ "Lady Desdemona." You call from three feet away. \ <<if ($heshe is "he")>>\ "A pleasure to see you again." <<else>>\ "Glad to see you're doing well." <</if>>\ <<if (($portraitpics is true) and ($smut is true))>>\ <<image "https://www.auraclash.com/assets/images/desdemona-swimwear.jpg">>\ <</if>>\ The sunbathing goth turns over, her pale skin leaking Dark energies into the sands around her as her darker eyes lock onto your form in the bright sun. She squints harder and scans your spirit. When recognition flashes across her face she increases the dark mist around her into a full-blown aura, scowling as she replies with only one word: "//You.//" <<if ($persuasion gte 3)>>\ "Me." You confess, both hands up for peace. "I want to apologize for what happened back at the tavern. I know it hurt people close to you and I want to make up for it by helping you in the Trials, I think we could make a better team than enemies." Her upper lip curls in disgust. "The //audacity// to think I'd fall for something so stupid! You think I'd even want your help? Why in the world would you offer it except to trap me?" "Because it's the right thing to do?" She glares at you for a few moments, staring \ <<if ($heshe is "he")>>\ into your eyes \ <<else>>\ at your face \ <</if>>\ in scrutiny. "Do you take me for a fool? No debt collector cares about the right thing to do." "I'm not the same kind of $manwoman I was back then." You reply wistfully. "I have seen //a lot// of people die. It's put things into perspective." Desdemona scoffs with a smile meant only to mock. "You've seen enough to change how much of \ <<if ($heshe is "he")>>\ an asshole \ <<else>>\ a bitch \ <</if>>\ you are in the last two weeks?" Rather than responding, you chuckle silently to yourself and drop to your butt in the sand, looking out over the ocean. You think of all the screams in Ebikowa when the Demonic Gate was unleashed and how many hidden survivors must have died during and after your escape. "Yes." ''[Persuasion 3 Check Passed]'' "Well..." Desdemona says behind you, "that doesn't mean I...look, we're still enemies, okay? Martial Artists live and die by their codes of battle, I don't care what sort of horrible duels or raids you-" "Not Martial Artists." You interrupt. "Regular people living their lives. And it was Fiends that killed them." "Hells." Desdemona says with a sigh. "You make it depressing to hate you." <<var $ruthless - 3>>\ A few seconds pass before you even register her words. You didn't think all of those deaths hit you so hard, but you haven't had much time to consider it until now. You look back to the gothic woman and see she's sitting next to you by now, inspecting your face closely. She almost looks concerned. "Let's get your friends back." You say. "When we get to Nanhou, I mean. Let's save people." Desdemona scrunches her brow and purses her lips, but nods all the same. "I'd like that." <<if (($heshe is "he") and ((($bodytype is "Handsome") or ($bodytype is "Muscular")) or ($style is "Midorikatai")))>>\ <<var $desromance + 1>>\ <</if>>\ <<var $desrepair 2>>\ <<var $metdesdemona + 5000000000>>\ <<page "Continue" "ch6-bazaar4">>\ <<else>>\ You hold both hands up for a truce. "I know what I did was awful, which is why I came here to make peace." ''[Persuasion 3 Check Failed]'' "Tch." Desdemona looks on you with disgust. "Will peace bring back my lost Orb of Red Sun's Ascent? Will it wipe my ridiculously faulty debts to Guiren's master? Will it return my abducted Disciples you sold off to that debtslaving snake?" "...No." Her head moves forward with each shake. "Then why would I want it? I don't want peace." For the first time she smiles, bright and sinister. "I want //revenge//." You sigh. "I was hoping to resolve this peacefully." $auracolor chi surges around your body. "But fine, let's settle this the normal way." Desdemona's expression cracks as she //laughs//. A taunting, unsettling, earpiercing laughter. Lightning crackles in her eyes as her mouth opens wide with each \ <<if ($heshe is "he")>>\ pronounciation, her perfect white teeth contrasting the dark purple makeup of her lips. \ <<else>>\ pronounciation. \ <</if>>\ "You think I'll make this so easy for you? Oh no, Thunderfaller, we are far beyond such rules of old. I'm not going to fight you, and the Heavenly Ascension Trials will see you killed for attacking me. What I have in store for you and Guiren is more than a mere beating. I've decided to get far more..." The shadow energy in the sands under her feet thickens. She melts into them as if falling, disappearing feet-first into the ground while her wicked smile grows. "...//creative.//" <<var $metdesdemona + 4000000000>>\ With that last word, the lunargoth finishes disappearing into the darkness with a mocking laughter. The shadow she's melded into zips off like a dark disk on the sands. First it heads towards the ocean, then stops when it hits the water and moves east. After a short while her villainous laughter stops and she starts going south before changing course again. It seems she's lost. <<var $desrepair 1>>\ <<page "Continue" "ch6-bazaar5">>\ <</if>>\ #Sneak past her back to the workshops. With careful control in every step you return the way you came without changing your pace in any way, making sure not to interrupt your stride or the vibrations you leave in the sand. <<if ($stealth gte 3)>>\ ''[Stealth 3 Check Passed]'' <<var $agiexp + 2>>\ You keep your aura well-contained and your breathing steady, drawing no attention as you slowly slink back to the bazaar. There are enough problems on your plate without drawing the attention of a vengeful with. <<var $desrepair 2>>\ <<page "Continue" "ch6-bazaar5">>\ <<else>>\ <<var $desrepair 1>>\ "Running away, are we?" Desdemona calls from behind. "Next time you should hide your aura as well, debt collector." You curse, turning around. "Honored Desdemona!" You fake-laugh. "So good to see you again." "That's //Lady// Desdemona." The gothic woman replies, rising off the sands and forming two quick handseals with a golden spark to manifest a black robe around herself. "And did you think I wouldn't follow you? I know you and Guiren still have my Orb of Red Sun's Ascent. I //will// have it returned." Could she be talking about that item Guiren took as collateral? "Guiren has it, and we went our separate ways." You reply honestly. \ <<if ($sawguiren is true)>>\ "Last I saw he was botching a different collection." <<elseif ($style is "Kurokonton")>>\ "He had another job." <<else>>\ "We split up after the tavern." <</if>>\ "Liar!" Desdemona hisses. She withdraws a bird skull and places it on her outstretched palm. "This relic always points north in the presence of a deception, and it's pointing north now, so you can't fool me." You look at the bird skull in her palm quizzically. It's pointing West. "Are you sure about that? Because it's not pointing North." "Yes it is." She replies. "It didn't move when either of us spoke; either it doesn't work or one of us is wrong." Desdemona opens her mouth to retort, pauses, squints at you with a dark lip curled, then looks down at the bird skull in her hand. "My hair is the color red." The bird skull rotates in her palm, pointing North. "DAMN IT!" Desdemona screams, throwing it into the sand. "Hells, Hells, Hells! I-Dear Ancestors, I based so much off of that! I even-grrrahh!" She charges a golden energy blast in both palms and explodes it into the bone trinket, launching sand everywhere that covers the sunbathers all around you. In the smokescreen of the sand cloud, you make your escape back to the bazaar. <<page "Continue" "ch6-bazaar5">>\ <</if>>\ <</choose>> <<elseif (dig($metdesdemona, 2) is 3)>>\ A familar feminine voice calls from underneath the pile of raven hair. "Long time no see, Thunderfaller." <<if (($portraitpics is true) and ($smut is true))>>\ <<image "https://www.auraclash.com/assets/images/desdemona-swimwear.jpg">>\ <</if>>\ You never felt a spiritual scan while walking over. "How did you know it was me?" She slowly turns over and sits up halfway, supported by one elbow on the sand. "I'm a chi sorceress, remember? I have my ways." <<include "ch6-spellcraft">>\ <<elseif ((dig($metdesdemona, 2) is 2) or (dig($metdesdemona, 2) is 0))>>\ <<if ($heshe is "he")>>\ "It's rude to stare." Desdemona says, rolling over and brushing her hair out of her face. "Rude, and dangerous. I ought to...wait..." \ <<else>>\ "If you're here to complain about the Darkness Chi you can take it up with the guards." Desdemona says, rolling over and brushing her hair out of her face. "I already paid a disturbance fee, so take your complaints and shove them...wait..." <</if>>\ <<if (($portraitpics is true) and ($smut is true))>>\ <<image "https://www.auraclash.com/assets/images/desdemona-swimwear.jpg">>\ <</if>>\ She squints from the brightness of the sun, gazing at you closer. "I know you. You were at the barn in the Sunbringer territory-" "Thunderfall territory." You correct her. She frowns. "In the Thunderfall territories, yes. \ <<if (dig($metdesdemona, 2) is 2)>>\ If memory serves, we met briefly in a tavern before you fled the scene too." Her dark lips frown. \ <<if ($heshe is "he")>>\ "How brave." <<else>>\ "I was hoping us girls would look out for each other, but it was a proper lesson in reality." <</if>>\ <<var $desrep - 2>>\ <<else>>\ //Thank you for that reminder.//" <</if>>\ <<include "ch6-spellcraft">>\ <</if>>\

Walking back to the bazaar takes a weight off your shoulders. <<if ($ruthless gt 55)>>\ ''[Compassion Check Failed]'' You //cannot// believed that worked. You should pretend to have feelings more often. <<var $solexp - 2>>\ <</if>>\ When you reach the many shops of the main bazaar street you seek out what originally brought you here: material possessions. <<page "Continue" "ch6-forge">>\

The walk back to the bazaar is a calm one once you're in the clear. You cease worrying about vengeful <<if ($heshe is "he")>>\ women \ <<else>>\ rivals \ <</if>>\ and start focusing on something more important: material possessions. <<page "Continue" "ch6-forge">>\

The reflection in the mirror looks almost like it always has, well, like it always has since a few days after your first Advancement when you stopped looking like a teenager and started looking like a smokeshow in $hisher early 20s. There's just one difference now.

A small smile spreads on your lips against your will and you hop up to the railing of the lanternship, trying to see passed the orange glow that cuts off view of most of the surroundings. After a second you spot your ship anchored forty feet out with a few glowing auras of your allies preparing for anything. Chi flows in heavy concentration through your calves and ankles when you crouch low for a high jump. "Until next time, Foreman Gong!" "It will be an hon-" You don't hear his sentence finish as the winds of the sea rush against your face when you take off, soaring sixty feet up and eighty feet across to land on your own flagship. The rush of your descent is addicting; even this leisurely jump is so much more than you ever envisioned possible a mere four years ago. <<page "Continue" "ch6-return2ship">>\

<<var $sect_thousandlantern + 15>>\ "Our cargo." Foreman Gong repeats, waving a hand to the tower. "I did not have time to mention earlier, but stopping our cargo from waking is the very reason our crew has such a low Aura Pressure. This fiasco risked ruining our entire journey by waking our cargo, but it was, of course, a necessity. My report will show no blame falls to you." You analyze the three-story tower built around the lantership's mast and realize you might have just helped a Sect of slavers. <<choose "ch6-cargo-leave">> #"Gong, what's in the tower?" You close your eyes for a moment and inhale through your nose, \ <<if ($ruthless lt 50)>>\ concerned that you might have to un-save this entire crew. \ <<else>>\ preparing to be disappointed. \ <</if>>\ "Gong, what's in the tower?" The pudgy eunuch bows. "I apologize that I have sworn to secrecy and, thusly, cannot give away such information. However, the stress of the night has left me with terrible shakes. Please allow me a moment to write down my inventory. For my peace of mind, you understand." Gong maintains eye contact the entire time as he withdraws a scroll and somehow already-inked quill and begins writing. After he's done his hand trembles and he drops the scroll. "Curses." Gong says in monotone. "I am so clumsy, could you please hand that to me?" You stare down at the scroll and back up to Gong. "You couldn't just tell me?" Foreman Gong holds his hand out. "I have sworn to secrecy, Young \ <<if ($heshe is "he")>>\ Master, \ <<else>>\ Mistress, \ <</if>>\ I take my position and responsibilities very seriously. Now kindly //do not// read that inventory scroll while handing it back to me." You lean over and pick up the scroll, glancing at its contents. Your hand begins to tremble as you look from the tower to your side and back down to the one word written on the page: ''"WYRM."'' <<page "Continue" "ch6-cargotalk2">>\ #Don't care, money now. "That's good to hear." You respond. "But more importantly, let's talk about how the Thousand Lantern Sect can repay me." Foreman Gong's forehead begins to sweat nervously. "I'm afraid we don't have...funds, per say. At the moment." <<if ($ruthless gte 58)>>\ ''[Ruthless Check Passed]'' The eunuch sees your shoulders stiffen as you correct your posture to your full height and face him in earnest. "I'm sure you'll find something." He empties his pockets on the spot. ''[Item Gained: 122 Shards]'' <<var $shards + 122>>\ <<var $sect_thousandlantern - 4>>\ "This isn't good, Gong." You say while rummaging through the coinage. "Not good at all. I expected more from a Merchant Sect." He drops to the floor. "My most sincere apologies, Young Master, we're not carrying much meant for personal use." His forehead raises from the floor and he withdraws a scroll from his pocket. \ <<else>>\ ''[Ruthless Check Failed]'' You roll your eyes involuntarily. "Nothing at all?" Foreman Gong gives a sheepish look. "I did explain our financial situation earlier." "Yes, Gong, but you're //Merchants//. There's really nothing?" <<if ($persuasion gte 2)>>\ ''[Persuasion 2 Check Passed]'' Foreman Gong sighs and withdraws a sack of his personal funds, dropping it in your hands. "There's this. Everything else would be missing from our logs which, I assure you, leads me to a fate worse than anything the pirates had planned." ''[Item Gained: 100 Shards]'' <<var $shards + 100>>\ It's something, but for saving them from a life of slavery or a watery grave you expected more. \ <<else>>\ ''[Persuasion 2 Check Failed]'' Foreman Gong offers a sympathetic smile. It seems no good deed goes unpunished. <</if>>\ The man at least seems to take shame in the situation and withdraws a scroll from his robes. \ <</if>>\ "While lacking in proper coinage, what I can offer is a Writ of Favor on behalf of my Magistrate." ''[Item Gained: Writ of Favor (Thousand Lantern Sect)]'' <<var $boon_thousandlantern 1>>\ After unfurling the scroll and skimming through you see it's a contract for some unspecified labor or resource owed to the assignee of the Writ. From the details you see the person owing it is the "Thousand Lantern Sect", described as a Trade Sect owned personally by the Magistrate of 'Second Junsen', some small city in the northern tip of Outer West. Foreman Gong \ <<if ($ruthless gte 58)>>\ rises and \ <</if>>\ withdraws a quill that's somehow already inked. "If I may?" He asks, motioning to the scroll. "I'll need to know your name to assign the writ, embarrassing as it is to not have asked already, and then I'll need to write down the favor owed." "$fullname." You say, handing the scroll back as he jots down your information and fills the Service Received clause as 'Rescue from piracy for 1 ship (stocked), 3 Merchant Caste, and 19 Labor Caste.' With that he hands it back to you. "Congratulations are in order, $fullname. It's not hard coinage but this reward is quite the rarity. When we reach Nanhou where my Sect has two other ships stationed, any one of us will be at your beck and call for one favor of value equal to the saving of our ship and crew. We also have a few Warrior Caste competing in the Trials who may be willing to accept the Writ. Of course, Imperial decree overrides our commands to the Trial goers, but we would promote them handsomely for wiping this debt for us. It would be worth a try." Not bad, you think to \ <<if ($ruthless gte 58)>>\ yourself, but you don't let it show. ''[Ruthless Check Passed]'' <<var $powexp + 1>>\ "It will do." You say. "If there's nothing else, I need to get back to my ship and head for Nanhou myself. Oh, and flog the scout who shouted at me earlier. That ass is the reason this whole event almost lead to a shipwreck." "Of course." Foreman Gong replies with a courteous bow. "I will personally see to it that he receives the legal maximum number of lashes." Finally, some common decency. <<else>>\ yourself. There's a good deal of opportunity in having someone else able to fulfill your will when you're tied up in the Trials. While pocketing the scroll you give Foreman Gong a short bow. "This will do, I'm glad I came by when I did." "As am I." Foreman Gong says with a deep bow at the waist. "You have honored us with your presence." Psht. Flatterer. <</if>>\ <</choose>>

"YOU HAVE A-" You catch yourself screaming and forcibly lower the volume of your voice, being a mere four feet from what Gong is claiming to be an earth-style tunneling Dragon stored in the large tower of the ship. "You have a //Wyrm// on board?! Why? How?!" "It is for the Trials, a special order from the Bladed Lands." Foreman Gong replies, beckoning you with a pudgy hand to follow him to the other side of the tower. "The Beast was found comatose in a cinnabar deposit underneath an Outer settlement near the frozen north. After careful study, we learned it is allergic to the mineral. A birth defect, not the norm. My masters used that allergy to keep it in a dormant sleep-like state, but still feared high Aura Pressures would wake the monster." He reaches a ladder and begins to climb. "We had thought the trade routes to Nanhou would be safer than ever, but that mistake nearly cost us all our lives." You follow Gong up the ladder and see the top of the tower more clearly now, noticing a crease at its middle. Gong grips a handle and lifts as if the tower were a barrel with a split top. With half the roof removed you're peering down into the tower, easily illuminated by the lanterns around you, and gaze upon the endless rows of teeth from the gaping maw of the legless, scale-plated Wyrm coiled around the ship's mast. The Beast must be at least a hundred and fifty feet long with a circular mouth wider than your height, filled with row after row of teeth leading down its throat as far as you can see. Of all the types of dragons in the world, this one is the most alien and unsettling. It looks more like an armored leech than a mythical serpent. \ <<if ($jadedragonfoundation is true)>>\ Something deep within you, a part of your Jade Dragon Foundation, feels an animosity towards the Beast as if it were some mutant, an afront to the true form of a Dragon. Even still, with all your power, you take an involuntary step back \ <<else>>\ Whatevers its Aura Pressure, it's not something you are supposed to have to deal with. Beasts like this are reserved for entire Sects with detailed battle plans. Primal fear runs down your spine \ <</if>>\ when the creature breathes in. "Can it see us?" You whisper to Gong. "They have no eyes." He replies with a shake of his head. "It detects tremors and aura, though our cinnabar doses have it trapped in a dormant slumber." He withdraws a handful of red dust and tosses it into the abyssal maw of the Wyrm. "Or perhaps it is merely seasick and will awaken when it senses the ground while we dock. At such a point, we all die." A part of you wants to blast all your combat chi down this monster's throat while you have the chance. Another part wants to run. Foreman Gong closes the top of the roof and turns to you. "I told you our cargo was not sufficient to pay you for your services, now you know why." He places two pieces of paper into your hand. One a seal tag, the other a rolled scroll. "What I can give you are these." ''[Item Gained: Writ of Favor (Thousand Lantern Sect)]'' <<var $boon_thousandlantern 1>>\ <<page "Open the scroll." "ch6-cargotalk3">>\

You open the scroll and browse through its contents. "What is this?" "Have you never received one?" The pudgy eunuch looks surprised. "They are rare, of course, but seeing as you're the type to fight pirates for others on a whim..." "I don't get out of my village much." "Apologies." Gong says with a short bow. He takes his quill and points to a few lines on the parchment. "A Writ of Favor is a promise for labor, resources, or support on behalf of a faction. My Thousand Lantern Sect, in this case, and thus also the Magistrate of Second Junsen." "Second Junsen?" Gong waves his hand trivially. "A minor coastal city on the northern border of Outer West, its Magistrate also owns our Trade Sect. What matters is, our Sect now owes you a boon of value equal to the saving of our ship and crew." "So you guys will, what, pay me back later? Couldn't we do this without the paperwork?" "This Writ is a serious matter, Young \ <<if ($heshe is "he")>>\ Master, \ <<else>>\ Mistress, \ <</if>>\ it is a formal debt owed by my entire Sect. We have other agents in Nanhou for the Trials. Two ships worth, including a few Warrior Caste competing in the Trials. Of course, Imperial decree overrides any command we may give to our Trial goers, but we would promote them handsomely for wiping this debt away for us. It would be worth a try to ask for their aid in the competition, but if not, our merchants can be of great help to you instead." The more he explains it the more you realize you need more Writs like this. How many other contestants have entire Sects owing them favors at the Trials? How many political plays will people make to pull ahead of you? A new type of resource enters your life, making you keenly aware of how far behind you used to be. Used to be, but not anymore. You close your hand around the Writ and feel everything in your life coming together. "And the seal tag?" You ask, looking at the piece of paper in your other hand. Gong gives you a genuine smile, which looks fitting on the baby-faced eunuch. "Fuuinjutsu. That seal contains a crate of cinnabar to deal with the Wyrm, simply break the paper when the time comes and it will aid you well in the Rat Trial." ''[Item Gained: Cinnabar]'' <<var $wyrmtrophy 3>>\ The paper tag in your hand nearly flies off with the wind and you quickly shove it into a pocket. An ace up your sleeve against such a monstrous challenge...excitement flows through your blood. "Gong, I have to say, when your ship woke me up I didn't expect anything like this." "Likewise, Young \ <<if ($heshe is "he")>>\ Master, \ <<else>>\ Mistress, \ <</if>>\ when I asked a single Martial Artist to save my crew and shipment from piracy I did not expect such astonishing results. While I must now ask you to leave, first I would like to say..." He gives a deep bow and, surprisingly, drops to his knees midway to perform a kowtow. "You have restored the honor and lives that fate had seen fit to steal. Alongside these gifts, I give you my thanks." Psht. Flatterer. <<include "ch6-cargo-leave">>\

<<include "ch6-coast-sea-shiptalk">> You roll out of your hammock, trip over a snoring Kosuke on the floor, \ <<if ($agility gt 6)>>\ and barely catch yourself from falling. Luckily no one saw. \ <<var $agiexp + 1>>\ <<else>>\ and get back up before anyone sees. \ <</if>>\ Which is weird, because there should be plenty of rowers down here to see... <<page "Continue" "ch6-coast2">>\

<<if ($borep gte 45)>>\ ''[Bo Lo Reputation Check Passed]'' "Fine." Bo Lo says, muscling through your crowd of weaker but taller retainers. "But I want half." "Are you dense?" You reply in hushed tones, "You would look like a mercenary, they'd know you don't work for me." Kosuke pipes up from \ <<if ($bffheshe isnot $heshe) and ($bffromance gte 1)>>\ over your shoulder. \ <<else>>\ behind you. \ <</if>>\ <<if ($koshurt is true)>>\ <<cap $bffheshe>> looks beatup but conscious already and you're wondering how many Healing Elixirs $bffheshe kept from the stash of stolen Thunderfall goods. \ <</if>>\ "What if I mingle around their crowd and make my own wagers, then give Bo half of my cut? Everyone gets more, the enemy gets less." "That's pathetic trickery." Bo says. "The Trials are in a few days." You reply. "Do it." Bo lets out a disgusted tsk but brushes his hand outward all the same, signaling Kosuke to go make $bffhisher bets. <<page "Continue" "ch6-coast-bolo2">>\ <<else>>\ ''[Bo Lo Reputation Check Failed]'' "I don't work for you, Laborer." Bo says with his typically condescending nasally voice. "//I// work for the Thunderfall Sect!" You facepalm in reaction, dragging your hand down your face to see Master Suon shaking his head at you judgmentally. "These fights are between our retainers //only//, Master $clan. No outsiders." "Bo you fucking moron." You hiss back to him. You can't even bribe or reason with him since he shouted it out so absurdly, the cat's out of the bag. "I'm the moron?" Bo asks. "You're the idiot thinking you could order me around. You might be in charge of some homeless peasants until we get to a city, but you'll never be in charge of a //true// Warrior like me." <<include "ch6-coast-bolono">>\ <</if>>\

Bo Lo walks to the center of the duelist field and bows to the Endless Beating School huddled together on the opposite side. "I, Bo Lo of Thunderfall, accept this honorable challenge." One woman rises from the Endless Beating crowd, a massive lunargoth woman with a thick brow and golden braids. "I will be his opponent." She declares, looking back and daring anyone else to challenge her word. Master Suon chuckles and grants his approval. The gothic woman approaches Bo Lo and frowns down at the diminutive man. "You look like you break easy." Bo Lo glares up, has nothing clever to say, and ignites his Wild Chi aura to grow four inches taller. He's still short. "Yeah." The woman says. "Break easy." "Fighters ready?" Master Suon asks. "Then begin!" ''//"Endless Beating!"//'' The large woman roars, sucking all ambient chi into her palm and slapping Bo in the face with her giant hand. A disrespectful opening strike in all traditions, showing he's unworthy of her fist. Bo Lo's head is whipped to the side and he grabs at his cheek in surprise. His opponent starts laughing. Bo lowers his hand and looks down at it to see blood from his nose. He grits his teeth while looking up at her mocking laughter, then he flares Wild Chi around his hand, reels it back, and slaps her in the face. She grins at his attempt the whole time until it gets close enough that she can sense his Aura Pressure off the blow. She flinches back but his strike catchers her, smacking so hard that her hair whips around her head twice; her laughing stops. She spits out a lower tooth. "You'll pay for that, little man!" She screams in his face. Her hand glows blue and swirls with a rushing spiral of water and she slaps him again with the force of a small whirlpool. His head is forced to jerk back and blood drips from one of his ears, down with the rest of the water around his head. "Be silent in my presence, you third rate cow!" Bo screams back. He combines his hands and the Wild Chi of his left hand flows into his right, doubling its spiritual weight, then he slaps her again with the force of a swung hammer. Her eye pops a blood vessel. Neither opponent backs down, both refusing to accept the other as a legitimate challenge and simply slapping the shit out of each other five, ten, twenty, thirty times. <<if ($leonagone gt 0)>>\ Both sides watching the grudge match grow \ <<else>>\ With the exception of Leona, who looks excited, everyone on both sides grows \ <</if>>\ increasingly concerned as the two grunt in fury with each slap, their attacks so aggravated that their faces swell up until their eyes are almost bruised shut. Finally Bo Lo surges half his Wild aura into his hand in one devastating slap that curves up at the last minute, slapping her jaw and cheekbone at an angle like an open-hand uppercut. The sound echoes over the cliffside and out to sea; the Endless Beating muscular woman's head is twisted up and to the side. Her body follows. She spins as she's knocked back into her allies, her aura shattering as she lands among the crowd of Endless Beating students. Everyone is silent, even Kosuke. <<if ($leonagone gt 0)>>\ Well, not everyone. Leona cheers. <</if>>\ ''[Bo Lo’s Combat Prowess Improved]'' <<var $bocombat + 1>>\ <<var $borep + 3>>\ Bo spits blood and turns back to your group, marching past you and into your crowd of retainers without a single sign of victory or pride. They all make way as he glares daggers into the ground and mutters something about women. <<page "...Ok." "ch6-coast-bolo3">>\

"We have chosen our champions poorly." Master Suon says. "I am grateful no one else saw that 'fight'". <<include "ch6-coast-won">>\

<<choose "ch6-coast8">> #Ignore him. <<var $borep + 2>>\ Ah, Bo, always useless. At least you can count on him to be consistent. Oh well. #"Then get back under the flagship deck you freeloader! And that'll be 25 Shards for the trip!" <<var $borep + 2>>\ "Are you challenging my authority, Bo Lo?" You ask. "There's nothing to challenge." Bo shoots back. "I do not serve you and never have. Do not mistake your place in Thunderfall's hierarchy." "Then what the Hells are you doing up here? Get back under the flagship deck you freeloader!" You throw a rock at him as he flinches. "And that'll be 25 Shards for the trip!" Bo scowls and takes a handful of Shards out of his pocket, throwing them at you as he //leaps off the cliff.// You blink a few times in surprise; you're sure you could survive the fall just as easily, but your instincts still tell you that falling is bad. "Do you have a challenger that actually represents your Clan?" Master Suon asks while you pick the Shards up off the floor. <<var $nobo true>>\ <<var $shards + 25>>\ ''[Item Gained 25 Shards]'' #show-if ($leonagone is 0) "Leona, throw Bo off the cliff." <<var $nobo true>>\ <<var $leonarep + 3>>\ <<var $borep - 2>>\ "Leona," you call out in annoyance, "throw Bo off the cliff." "Yes!" Leona shouts back. "Yes, yes, yesss!" "Shit!" Bo shouts. The two charge agility Cores and blast off away from your retainers. You can only look on as Leona eventually catches up to the short green-glowing man, lifts him overhead with both hands, and throws him forty feet out to sea. Bo splashes into the water and screams out...you don't actually know what he screams out. It's hard to hear from up here. Probably some profanities or swears of revenge, but he swims back to your flagship all the same. <</choose>>

Master Suon and his twenty students do nothing to stop you when you turn around and \ <<if ((($element1 is "Earth") or ($element2 is "Earth")) or ($style is "Kurokonton"))>>\ walk back down the cliffside. They don't even do anything to stop you when you reach the water and swim back to your ship. In fact, thanks to the elevated water from Master Suon's Technique, you're able to swim higher up the side of your ship than normal and pull yourself aboard. <<elseif (($element1 is "Wind") or ($element2 is "Wind"))>>\ leap off the cliff, using gusts of wind to control your descent as you lower onto your flagship below. <<else>>\ climb back down the cliffside. They don't even do anything to stop you when you reach the water and swim back to your ship. In fact, thanks to the elevated water from Master Suon's Technique, you're able to swim higher up the side of your ship than normal and pull yourself aboard. <</if>>\ A crowd of retainers gathers around when you board your vessel. "What happened?" Asks the one in front. "Some \ <<if ($honor lt 46)>>\ no-name \ <<else>>\ School Master \ <</if>>\ wanted a duel and I said no." "You can say no to that kind of stuff?" Kosuke asks from the back, a position $bffheshe normally takes in crowds for the sake of pickpocketing. You look up to Master Suon on the bluffs. He shakes his head and turns from the cliff side, walking away while his students follow, then you look back to Kosuke. "It seems so." <<var $bffrep + 2>>\ "Huh. I wonder how many times we could have gotten away with that but never tried." "We'll never know." You reply as the water Technique around your ship dissipates and you continue on your journey. <<page "Continue" "ch6-halfpoint">>\

<<if ($duels lt 3)>>\ <<if ($val is 949)>>\ Before you can even process the loss further \ <<else>>\ Before you can finish enjoying your victory \ <</if>>\ <<var $val 0>>\ one of Suon's students steps forward and emits their aura. Master Suon pushes them back but nods all the same, agreeing that the fights are not over. He turns to you. "Are your fighters ready for the next duel?" He asks. "I have students yearning to deliver the Endless Beating." <<if (((($shards + ($silver / 10)) + ($gold * 10)) gte 200) and ($fruitcrate is false))>>\ <<var $wagergain "Spirit Fruit Crate">>\ <<var $wagerloss "200 Shards">>\ <<include "ch6-coast8">>\ <<elseif ((($shards + ($silver / 10)) + ($gold * 10)) gte 200)>>\ <<var $wagergain "150 Shards">>\ <<var $wagerloss "150 Shards">>\ <<include "ch6-coast8">>\ <<elseif ($endless is 0)>>\ <<var $wagergain "Endless Beating Path Manual">>\ <<var $wagerloss (("1 " + $flagshiptype) + " Ship")>>\ <<include "ch6-coast8">>\ <<else>>\ Going over what you even have left to wager, you simply give Master Suon a thin-lip strained smile. "Ah." Master Suon says. "Broke, then." "Unfortunately." "Worry not." Master Suon replies, looking back to his students. "We are no highwaymen, if there's no wager to be had then there's no duel to be had." He gives you a short but respectful bow. "Until next time, Master $clan." <<include "ch6-coast-nomore">>\ <</if>>\ <<else>>\ <<var $sect_endlessbeating + 5>>\ <<var $alliesgained + 1000000000000>>\ When you've situated yourself and checked back on your crew, you see Master Suon's students sit down in meditation instead of stepping forward for the next challenge. Suon himself strides from their crowd and approaches you. "An impressive set of bouts so far." He says. "Bloodier and more disorganized than I'd like, but all battles turn to chaos eventually. This was a good lesson for my students, yet it is in our best interest to call an end to this game." You look back to your remaining retainers that you could send out to fight and see a few desperately nodding. "I suppose we should, my retainers need a rest." "As do we all." Replies Master Suon with a very short but respectful bow. <<include "ch6-coast-nomore">>\ <</if>>\

The fight begins with both of them slamming their fists together. You recognize it as a test of strength, Kosuke recognizes it as a good opening. As soon as the punches meet $bffheshe loosens $bffhisher striking arm and rolls $bffhisher attacking shoulder back, causing the yokai to lean in and take a stiff white-glowing knee to the stomach. That one loss of breath lets Kosuke smack the yokai in the face from both sides and throw him over $bffhisher shoulder onto the ground where $bffheshe charges up an energy blast to hit them. That's when the Endless Beating wolf yokai retaliates; Kosuke's energy attacks are too slow. The wolfman leaps over the attack and strikes Kosuke in the neck, knocking $bffhimher backward, and then engages in a brutal melee by grabbing your friend's shoulder and punching $bffhisher chin repeatedly. Unfortunately, instead of getting out of the hold, Kosuke grabs $bffhisher opponent’s shoulder right back and engages in a melee. The two of them beat on each other until finally Kosuke's endurance runs out and $bffheshe leaps back, nearly falling off the cliff. The wolf yokai responds with a charging headbutt, his skull glowing with force, and as he closes the gap Kosuke spins quickly with a highkick. <<cap $bffhisher>> leg glows with all the chi $bffhisher spirit has left. You hold your breath in suspense, and Kosuke misses. <<page "Continue" "ch6-coast-kosuke">>\

Kosuke’s kick swipes right over the Endless Beating student's shoulder and the fight's over. It's clear as day the yokai's headbutting charge will hit before any counterattack, and it's going to knock Kosuke off the cliff when it does. Kosuke tried well but $bffheshe just doesn't have enough combat experience \ <<if ($kosukecombat gte 7)>>\ to- ''[Kosuke Combat Prowess Check Passed]'' Your spiritual senses trigger a warning. Nothing so serious as the threats you've faced lately, but you sense the energy in Kosuke's kick dissipate in the //wrong direction//. <<if ($nobo is false)>>\ "DUCK!!" Screams Bo, of all people. <</if>>\ Kosuke's leg, just over the student's shoulder in an awkwardly missed kick, bends its foot back and releases a basic energy blast from $bffhisher toes with immediate acceleration. The white chifire slams into the back of the student's head at an angle. An unconventional location to blast from, weakening the attack, but the effect proves worth it. The blast slams into the back of the student's skull and knocks them off balance. The student trips just as he reaches Kosuke. Worse, the attack accelerates the student's charge over Kosuke's one grounded leg. When the Endless Beating student is knocked off balance Kosuke uses that momentum to grip $bffhisher opponent's gi and push him over the cliff. At first it looks as though $bffheshe uses the cliff's drop to end the fight, typical Kosuke moment, but Kosuke surges a Power Core at the last second and grabs the Endless Beating student's foot just as he’s falling. Then $bffheshe spins $bffhisher opponent up in a circular arc and //slams// the student's head into the rocky edge of the cliffside's corner. The spray of dirt isn't nearly as big as it should be, for there's only an inch of dirt padding the blow before the student's skull collides into the rock beneath. The dirt spray is also reduced because of the spray of the Endless Beating student's aura shattering in the same vicinity. Kosuke wins. "Holy shit." You say involuntarily. <<if ($nobo is false)>>\ "NOOO!!!" Bo screams. <</if>>\ "Finish him off!" Leona cheers. "Take the head!" Kosuke whips $bffhisher hair back, stares into the sky, and breaks out into laughter. Then $bffheshe drops to $bffhisher knees and laughs some more, then even more. <<cap $bffheshe>> continues laughing the entire time that you walk up to put a hand on $bffhisher shoulder. "Uhhh Kosuke, are you okay?" <<cap $bffheshe>> turns back to you with a bruised lip, a wounded leg, and \ <<if ((($heshe is "she") and ($bffromance gte 1)) and ($bffheshe is "he"))>>\ an unsettling, wild look in $bffhisher eyes. \ <<elseif ($heshe is "he")>>\ a heavy content sigh. \ <<else>>\ a manic look in $bffhisher eyes. \ <</if>>\ "I've never been better." <<var $kosukecombat + 1>>\ <<var $metkosuke + 1000000>>\ <<var $bffrep + 5>>\ <<var $txt "koswon">>\ ''[Kosuke’s Combat Prowess Improved]'' <<page "Continue" "ch6-coast-kosuke2">>\ <<else>>\ to keep up with real Martial Artists. ''[Kosuke Combat Prowess Check Failed]'' You suppress a wince when the wolf yokai's skull slams into your friend's face because you need to keep your focus as you sprint across the battlefield, shoving the wolf yokai aside and catching Kosuke by the leg before they both fall off the cliff. White light falls around you like glowing paint sprayed onto the world as Kosuke's aura shatters. ''[Kosuke has been injured!]'' <<var $kosukecombat - 1>>\ <<var $txt "koslost">>\ "This fight is over." You announce. "Agreed." Replies Master Suon, beckoning his student to return. "Well done." <<page "Continue" "ch6-coast-kosuke2">>\ <</if>>\

<<if "koswon">>\ Kosuke limps back to your crew's side of the \ <<if ($nobo is false)>>\ cliff and points at Bo while dragging a finger across $bffhisher throat. <<else>>\ cliff victoriously, holding arms out for the retainers to worship $bffhimher. A few clap. <</if>>\ You, meanwhile, approach Master Suon. <<include "ch6-coast-won">>\ <<elseif "koslost">>\ You hand Kosuke's unconscious form to one of your retainers. "Bandage him up." You reply, then look over your shoulder to see Master Suon looking all too pleased. <<var $koshurt true>>\ <<include "ch6-coast-lost">>\ <</if>>\

<<if (($element1 is "Light") or ($element2 is "Light"))>>\ ''[Light Element Event]'' "Waverunner?" You reply questioningly, looking back to Leona. "Ah, my mistake. That's just a disguise using my Light Chi." You wave a hand and yellow Light manifests around your whole arm. Leona yelps when a yellow light appears beneath her feet that runs up her body, changing the color of her armor from blue to green. You're hoping that it looks like you're dispelling a Light-based illusion because in reality, you're creating one. Her armor really is blue. "We wanted her to be able to fit in when we get to Nanhou for...entirely legitimate purposes." Master Suon actually smiles and holds up a hand as if to stop you. "No need to explain yourself, friend. We all have our plans for the Trials. She may approach the field." "Fuck yes." Leona mutters under her breath, drawing one of her blades and skipping across the field like a ten year old girl. As she passes by you grab her by the arm and whisper, "//Where ''did'' you get a Waverunner Sect uniform?//" "//Dead body.//" She whispers back and, as she skips out of your grip, you internally hope the body was dead ''before'' she found it. <<page "Continue" "ch6-coast-leona2">>\ <<elseif ($deception gte 3)>>\ ''[Deception 3 Check Passed]'' "Waverunner?" You ask, looking back to Leona's blue armor. "From Nanhou? No, we bought that on the road for a discount. There's not a chance in the Hells that the Sect hosting the Heavenly Ascension Trials would sell us their armor for two crates of food. Who knows what kind of bad reputation they'd risk letting some random person represent them." Master Suon inspects her closely but slowly nods. "No, I suppose they wouldn't. Very well, approach the duelist field." "Fuck yes." Leona mutters under her breath, drawing one of her blades and skipping across the field like a ten year old girl. As she passes by you grab her by the arm and whisper, "//Where ''did'' you get a Waverunner Sect uniform?//" "//Dead body.//" She whispers back, and as she skips out of your grip you internally hope the body was dead ''before'' she found it. <<page "Continue" "ch6-coast-leona2">>\ <<else>>\ ''[Deception 3 Check Failed]'' "Waverunner? No. Heh. Nooo. She's not in the Waverunner Sect." You start to sweat. Why the Hells does Leona have a Waverunner outfit on?! "Leona, tell them why you're wearing that outfit." "Because I'm a Waverunner Disciple, Master <<cap $clan>>!" She announces cheerily. You slowly look back to her, dumbfounded, and can only assume your face looks similar to Father's throughout your childhood, when he gave you the subtle hint in public that you've done something wrong and he’s going to beat you later. Leona lifts her chin and smiles wider. The tart. "That's unfortunate. We're only having our //own// people fight." Master Suon replies. "Do you have any retainers or disciples available?" <<include "ch6-coast8">>\ <</if>>\

Leona stands across from her opponent, an Endless Beating man with a ponytail. She keeps one sword sheathed and holds the other over one shoulder, parallel with the ground, and the Endless Beating student she's facing responds by glowing blue and wrapping two spinning fonts of water around each leg. The water pressure is so intense that he starts hovering off the ground to disguise his footwork. "Fighters ready?" Master Suon announces. They both nod. "Then begin!" Leona surges through the student with Iaijutsu, the art of quickdrawing, and slices her sword into his leg as she dashes passed him with a surged Agility Core. She skids to a halt twenty feet behind him, moving in a flash, but the air echoes with the verbal Technique call of her opponent. ''//"Endless Beating!"//'' The man shouts as Leona cuts into him. His aura hardens around his leg and Leona sees her slash failed to penetrate. She then sees a massive amount of water appear out of nowhere when her opponent kicks an ocean geyser at her out of thin air like an energy beam. She flashes to the left to dodge and charges in, but his attack redirects from behind her as if bouncing off nothing. The water beam streams at her from behind but she turns around and cuts it in half, backflipping so her swordslash continues into a circular saw-like attack that still hits the Endless Beating student. It cuts into his shoulder this time it digs in, but he strikes her in the back to push her away before it penetrates too deep. When she's knocked ten feet back she rolls to her feet and rises, smiling like a cat playing with a mouse. The fight continues in the same pattern after that. Despite interesting uses of Water Chi and a higher resilience than you \ <<if (($element1 is "Water") or ($element2 is "Water"))>>\ expected- ''[Water Element Event: Combat Secrets]'' <<apboost 6>>\ -the \ <<else>>\ expected, the \ <</if>>\ Endless Beating student's impressive prowess is only enough to deter or deflect Leona, never enough to press the attack. She starts to giggle more and more while cutting his body and spirit time after time. It ends when he performs a front-flipping kick of his own, adding a swirl of water to his attack meant to crush down onto the Lunargothic woman. She responds by taking the attack directly to the face, closing her different-colored eyes just as his heel slams into them. Simultaneously, she manifests a scarlet sickle of Bladed Chi the size of her body behind her back. In the same instant that Leona is crushed into the ground, the scythe-blade behind her back spins upward at the man's neck, and his aura is on its last legs. The man's eyes widen in fear and it's too late before you realize she means to decapitate him. Master Suon appears between the two in a flash and catches Leona's attack with both hands, breaking the attack into dispersed chi before it can sever his student's head. "NO FAIR!" Leona screams, slamming a fist into the shaking ground. Blood drips between her teeth when she looks up and glares daggers into the foreign School Master. "He's mine! I want more! ''I wasn't done!''" "You were done." Suon replies darkly. His own blue aura surges into the air around him and your retainers struggle to stay on their feet from its spiritual weight. "Oh, okay!" Leona says with a smile, an immediate change of tone. She sheathes her blades and gently rolls away twice, then pleasantly skips back to your collection of retainers, sitting on a crate among them with her legs crossed and posture perfect as if attending children's school. "What a strange person..." Master Suon says as you approach. "You get used to it." You reply. "And I believe I won this wager." <<page "Continue" "ch6-coast-won">>\

<<var $duels + 1>>\ <<if ($wagergain is "Endless Beating Path Manual")>>\ <<var $endless 2>>\ "A ship!" Master Suon announces victoriously. "Students, rejoice, for your training has brought prosperity!" The Endless Beating students cheer excitedly and you realize how much presentation must matter at the Trials; showing up in a ship looks far more prestigious than showing up on foot. Luckily you still have \ <<if (($shipcount) gt 1)>>\ $shipcount ships \ <<else>>\ 1 ship \ <</if>>\ left, so you'll be doing the same, yet the loss of an entire vessel sends aches to your pride and heart. <<if ($honor gt 52)>>\ ''[Honor Check Passed]'' <<var $solexp + 2>>\ <<var $sect_endlessbeating + 5>>\ "I'll send word to my retainers to prepare the ship for you." You say, maintaining an air of dignity. <<else>>\ ''[Honor Check Failed]'' "I'll send word down to my retainers that they've lost their living quarters." You say, trying to keep the sour displeasure out of your voice and failing. <</if>>\ <<elseif ($wagergain is "Spirit Fruit Crate")>>\ "That was 200 Shards on the line against my crate of weak spirit fruits, correct?" Master Suon asks. "If I am not mistaken, my student's victory means I keep the spirit fruits and you surrender your funds." "That is what it means, yes." You reply dryly, handing over a bag worth over thirteen years of your old allowance. It's difficult to let the bag go as Suon grips the shardpouch. He tugs at first and your fingers refuse to release the money, but on his second tug you reluctantly let go. <<if ((($shards + ($silver / 10)) + ($gold * 10)) gte 200)>>\ <<costcalc 200>>\ <<else>>\ ''[Item Lost: 200 Shards]'' <<var $shards - 200>>\ <</if>>\ <<else>>\ "That was 150 Shards on the line for that wager, correct?" Master Suon asks. "Holy shit." Whispers a few of your retainers as you hand over the money. It stings your soul to lose such cash but it feels even worse for them to see you lose such cash. The best way to save face is to play it off like you're rich, but if you pretend to be rich then your retainers will expect a high pay. It seems you've been outmaneuvered by life, facing a situation where the solution is worse than the problem. <<if ((($shards + ($silver / 10)) + ($gold * 10)) gte 150)>>\ <<costcalc 200>>\ <<else>>\ ''[Item Lost: 150 Shards]'' <<var $shards - 150>>\ <</if>>\ <</if>>\ <<var $val 949>>\ <<include "ch6-coast-dueltalk">>\

<<choose "ch6-coast8">> #Give up on Mars. "No." You reply to Master Suon. "He has to learn to stop getting impaled." "Whyyyyy?" Mars whimpers from the ground. Suon shakes his head. "Then his duel is concluded before it started, I won't have my students fight a injured man. Do you have any other fighters at the ready?" #Give Mars a healing elixir. -> "ch6-coast-marsprep" <<if ($ruthless gt 57)>>\ You seethe, grinding your teeth, \ <<else>>\ You sigh, \ <</if>>\ looking down at Mars, thinking of how much this is going to cost <<if ($ruthless lt 50)>>\ you. It's worth it, of course. You have to protect your people...but still. <<var $retainer_morale + 2>>\ <<else>>\ you. <</if>>\ You place one foot on his ribs and grip the handle of Muramasa then //pull//, yanking the blade out of his torso. The second he tries to scream you drop a healing elixir into his mouth. Aside from nearly choking on it, he ends up alright as the mystical properties work through his system. ''[Mars's Chances Recovered]'' With that done, \ <</choose>>

"Mars, hold this." You say to the young Oni, emptying your pockets of the only small sacks of powder, wrapped herbs, and distilled vials that you didn't leave on the ship's storage. After dumping the pile in his hands, you push your Fortitude Cores to harden the skin of your left hand so it functions as a bowl as strong as steel, then harden your other hand to function as a pestle. You've never done this before, and it's a stupid idea, but stupid ideas are your specialty and they've done wonders so far. "Okay, now Mars, pour that, that, and that into my hand." "Yes, \ <<if ($heshe is "he")>>\ sir!" \ <<else>>\ maam!" \ <</if>>\ Mars replies excitedly as he pours it all in. "What exactly am I pouring?" "A steroid for low Aura Pressures." You whisper, then shift to keep your back to the Endless Beating School so they don't suspect anything, you hope, and start grinding the concoction together. "We're going to enhance your strength temporarily, to cheat. The exhausting side effects won't kick in for an hour." Mars gasps. "But Honored <<cap $patriarch>>, cheating is //wrong//!" "No it isn't." You reply as you push chi into the concoction to finish its refinement. "Oh, okay then!" Mars replies with a relieved smile. You then shove the concoction into his face before anyone sees. ''[Mars's Chances Improved]'' <<var $val + 1>>\ <<if ($background is "Herbalist")>>\ ''[Herbalist Background Event: Mars's Chances Improved Further]'' <<var $val + 1>>\ <</if>>\ With that done, \ <<include "ch6-coast-marsprep">>\

<<var $txt "but the student retaliates by smacking Mars's hand with a glowing fist hard enough to force him to drop the blade.">>\ <<if ($val gte 4)>>\ Every advantage you gave to Mars gets used up in the initial melee, wasted in seconds to deflect and reduce the initial beating. <<if (($temper is 1) or ($temper is 5))>>\ He gets one good swing in with his sword, cutting the student's pant leg and grazing their calf to block a kick, $txt <<elseif ($temper is 2)>>\ He gets one good swing in with Muramasa, slicing right past the student's guard and grazing them on the ribs, $txt <<elseif ($temper is 3)>>\ He gets a surprisingly good cut in on the student's forearm using your basic sword to feint, then uses Muramasa for the true thrust as his opponent reaches to grab the first sword, but the student retaliates by knocking both blades out of Mars's hands. <</if>>\ After that, the Endless Beating student continues the fight with a flurry of Endless Beating signature palm-strikes that beat Mars's face in, followed by a trip to the knees that drops him to the ground. Mars barely has time to get up before the student kicks him damn near off the cliff. You shout for him to get up as the Endless Beating student sprints at him to deliver a final kick, as if he were charging at a sportsman's ball to kick it over a gate. Mars mumbles, out of breath, about how he's fine. He doesn't see his opponent's mad charge in time as he tries in vain to barely get up. ''[Special Event!]'' Mars doesn't just 'barely' get up, he fails to get up. He drops back to the ground in pain just as the Endless Beating student delivers the kick. The missed kick flies too high and causes the student to stumble at high speeds, tripping over Mars's ribs. Master Suon watches in perplexity as his student trips, lurches forward, and stumbles right off the 80-foot cliff. He yells for Suon to save him for the entire fall, right up to the point when he hits the rocks below. His aura shatters. Master Suon slowly walks to the cliff's edge and looks down with in disgust. "Most unfortunate. That was pathetic for both parties involved." You step up to Mars and pat him on the back. He gives you a thumbs up but can't seem to lift his head off the ground. You look back up to Master Suon after confirming your fighter is conscious. "While that's true, history remembers victories more than it remembers details." Suon rubs his beard thoughtfully. "Hm. Wise." "Thanks." You reply. "Pay up." "Ah." Master Suon says while manipulating the water below with a blue glow around his arm, brow furrowed in concentration as he forms a bubble of air around his unconscious student. "I was hoping you would forget that part." <<var $txt "chieve-mars">>\ <<page "Continue" "ch6-coast-won">>\ <<else>>\ ''[Preparations Incomplete!]'' The ancestor-shaming beatdown that Suon's student delivers to Mars isn't something you even feel comfortable remembering. The amount of low-powered jabs used to juggle his face like a hyper child's bouncing ball can be described as nothing but disrespectful. You're fairly certain he fell unconscious before the halfway point but he was getting slapped around so fast that you couldn't tell if he was knocked out, stunned, or dead. Master Suon finally calls the fight and declares victory. It's hard to disagree. <<page "Continue" "ch6-coast-lost">>\ <</if>>\

you consider the ways in which you could rig this fight... <<choose "ch6-coast-marsprep">> #show-if ($weaponcrate gt 0) use-once Lend him a Soul Treasure blade from your crate of swords. <<var $temper + 1>>\ <<include "ch6-coast-marssword">>\ Mars says, looking down at the glowing-white sword with glee. <<if ($temper is 2)>>\ He swings both the Soul Treasure blade and Muramasa at once, then holds both swords up as they glow white and purple. "I gotta say, Honored <<cap $patriarch>>, this is just terrific." <<elseif ($temper is 5)>>\ You thought he'd be hesitant to use another sword, considering Muramasa //just// impaled him, but he swings it merrily and looks pleased as can be. You're not sure if he's stupid or simply impervious to sadness. You're almost jealous of whatever it is. <<else>>\ He takes it from you after a deep bow and gives it a few swings. "I like it!" He announces. "You...should." Master Suon says from the group of Endless Beating students huddled around him. "It's yours." "Right!" Mars says back. You smack your forehead. <</if>>\ ''[Mars's Chances Improved]'' <<var $val + 1>>\ With that done, \ #show-if (dig($itemkatana_1, 1) gte 2) use-once Lend him Muramasa. -> "ch6-coast-muramasa" <<include "ch6-coast-marssword">>\ Mars says. Reluctantly, you \ <<if ($equippedweapon is "Muramasa")>>\ draw your own sword and hand him Muramasa. <<else>>\ hand the cursed blade over to the Oni. <</if>>\ <<var $temper + 2>>\ Mars takes Muramasa in his hand and marvels at the majesty of it as he unsheathes the cursed blade. #use-once use-if ($flagshiptype is "combat") Ensure he's been using your training facilities. [Requires Combat Ship] You pull Mars aside. "Mars, the rowing mechanisms on the combat ships have a pulley system for your feet and your oar that make it harder to row but work as strength training. Please, //please// tell me you've been using the strength training." "Yes \ <<if ($heshe is "he")>>\ sir!" \ <<else>>\ ma’am!" \ <</if>>\ He replies with gumption, flexing an arm. "...Wait, you have?" "Of course, Honored <<cap $patriarch>>! Heavier oars means a less heavy ship! We all have to do our part!" His understanding of gravity is wrong to a concerning degree, but as long as he's been training...good? This was your shot in the dark, and it wasn't something you could fix immediately. You really didn't have high hopes that someone would have done their job correctly without your intervention. It's refreshing. ''[Mars's Chances Improved]'' <<var $val + 1>>\ With that done, \ #use-once use-if ((($element1 is "Light") or ($element2 is "Light")) and ((($chipool + ($soul/2)) - $chispent) gte 1)) Hide a Technique in his eyes. [Requires Light Element, Costs 1 Chi] Most Techniques can't be hidden on a person, and under the scrutiny of the Trials judges you could never get away with this, but you have figured out a secret about Light that lets you help others, sometimes. It turns out, the eyes of every living being you've come across have some aspect of the Light Element in them. You don't know why, they don't send light out or reflect it. At least, you don't think they do. You haven't studied on the phenomena yet but you're confident you can place Light Chi into Mars's eyes as long as he doesn't resist it. When the time is right, you can release it in one direction so you surprise his opponent and don't blind the poor Oni. The result will be an intense flash of Light from his eyes and, as it goes through his own aura first, it will be hard to tell that it was foreign chi. It should give him a well-hidden distraction that, if used at the right time, can make his opponent flinch or be misdirected. ''[1 Chi Point Spent]'' <<var $chispent + 1>>\ ''[Mars's Chances Improved]'' <<var $val + 1>>\ With that done, \ #use-once use-if (($stylerank gte 2) or ($athletics gte 3)) Correct his combat style mistakes. [Requires Style Advancement or Athletics 3] You're fortunate that unlike most of your Martial Retainers, Mars has \ <<if ($style is "Aoyusumu")>>\ Sacred \ <<elseif ($style is "Akakiru")>>\ Bladed \ <<elseif ($style is "Kurokonton")>>\ Cursed \ <<elseif ($style is "Kiihakai")>>\ Mystic \ <<elseif ($style is "Midorikatai")>>\ Wild \ <</if>>\ Chi. You walk him through the tips and tricks of combat now that you've gained enough experience to invent a few maneuvers of your own. ''[Mars's Chances Improved]'' <<var $val + 1>>\ With that done, \ #use-once use-if ($survival gte 3) Give him pointers about the terrain. [Requires Survival 3] Fighting someone above your Aura Pressure is a specialty of yours, and the secret is to always have tricks up your sleeve. After observing the duelist clearing atop the cliff you're able to give Mars some decent advice on what he can use. Several spots have rocky outcroppings or roots just under the clifftop that he can use to drop down and immediately jump back up, lowering his opponent's guard when they think he's fallen. It's not much, but one quick misdirection can be the difference between victory and defeat. ''[Mars's Chances Improved]'' <<var $val + 1>>\ With that done, \ #show-if ($background is "Herbalist") use-once Refine him a combat enhancement pill. [Requires Herbalist Background] -> "ch6-coast-marsalchemy" #show-if ($background isnot "Herbalist") use-once use-if (($alchemy gte 3) and ($alchemyreagents gte 3)) Refine him a combat enhancement pill. [Requires Alchemy 3 and 3 Reagents] -> "ch6-coast-marsalchemy" <<var $alchemyreagents - 4>>\ ''[Item Lost: Alchemy Reagent x4]'' #use-once use-if (($thievery gte 3) and ($healingelixir gt 0)) Slip him a healing elixir. [Requires Thievery 3 and 1 Healing Elixir] <<var $healingelixir - 1>>\ <<var $val + 1>>\ <<var $honor - 1>>\ "Here." You whisper, slipping a healing elixir pill into his mouth and shoving it up his gum lines. "Chew this if they land a hit." "But...But Honored <<cap $patriarch>>, that's dishonorable!" He hiss-whispers back. "Yes." You reply. "It's also an order." "Oh, okay!" Mars says with a big thumbs up. ''[Item Lost: Healing Elixir]'' <<var $healingelixir - 1>>\ ''[Mars's Chances Improved]'' <<var $val + 1>>\ With that done, \ #Send Mars off to fight. The time has come and you bring Mars to the front of your huddled retainers, calling fifty feet across the clearing to Master Suon. "Endless Beating School! I present to you one of my star retainers....Mars." You try to get excited for him but it just don't come out. "Very well!" Master Suon calls back. "Retainer Mars, approach the center of the duelist field and face my student." One of Suon's Human students walks out, hands wrapped in black cloth. He strides confidently to the center of the field and holds his chin high. "No names?" You ask back, expecting Suon to brag about his student's achievements. Master Suon grins. "Just because you gave your student's name away doesn't mean my student has to give his." Mars walks to the center of the field and bows to the student after they do the same. You take the initiative and make the announcement first, "Fighters, prepare yourselves!" They both don battle stances, Suon's student growing serious and Mars keeping his overeager smile. <<page "Begin!" "ch6-coast-marsfight">>\ <</choose>>

<<if ($temper is 1)>>\ "And!" You shout out, glancing back over your shoulder at the Endless Beating students in hopes that they're still buying the ruse. "Seeing as you're our finest dual wielder, I could not send you out without your //other// weapon." "Other weapon???" Mars asked. "I swear to the Heavens, Mars," you hiss, "quit blowing this and take the sword." <<else>>\ "Mars!" You shout out a little too loud so the Endless Beating School behind you can hear. "I must return your blade to you before your fight, as you are, of course, a swordsmanship specialist. And this is, of course, //your// sword." "It is?" Mars asks out loud. "Holy shit Mars, shut up." You whisper back. <</if>>\ "Yes, \ <<if ($heshe is "he")>>\ sir!" \ <<else>>\ ma’am!" \ <</if>>\

<<if ($taint gte 40)>>\ ''[Corruption Event]'' The blade glows purple and crimson in Mars's grip, then it shakes. Even while fighting Mars's grip, Muramasa spins in place like a crescent moon and shoves itself into the redskinned man's stomach. Before you can even react the Oni is impaled as if committing sepukku. "Ahhhh! My guts!!" Mars screams. "Honored <<cap $patriarch>>, it got me right in the guts!" \ <<var $temper + 3>>\ He drops to the floor and whimpers, wriggling from the blinding pain, and gives you a thumbs up the whole time while he nearly cries. ''[Mars's Chances Ruined]'' "Is he okay?" Master Suon asks. "Yes." You lie. "This happens all the time." "An unusual ritual." Master Suon replies. "As Clan <<cap $patriarch>> you're going to heal him, right?" <<if ($healingelixir is 0)>>\ You cringe. "I'm a little low on healing elixirs." Suon shakes his head. "Then his duel is concluded before it started, I won't have my students fight a injured man. Do you have any other fighters at the ready?" <<include "ch6-coast8">>\ <<else>>\ <<include "ch6-coast-mars-pill">>\ <</if>>\ <<else>>\ ''[Corruption Resisted]'' The blade glows purple and crimson for a moment, shaking as if trying to escape Mars's grip. He responds by smacking the side of the blade as if it were a dog. "Bad sword!" Mars shouts. It works. It actually works. You shake your head at Muramasa in disappointment as the sword stops resisting him. ''[Mars's Chances Improved x2]'' <<var $val + 2>>\ He gives Muramasa a few swings \ <<if ($temper is 1)>>\ alongside his Soul Treasure blade and smiles, holding up both glowing swords at once. "You know, Honored <<cap $patriarch>>, this is pretty terrific." <<else>>\ and smiles. "I like it!" He announces. "You...should." Master Suon says from the group of Endless Beating students huddled around him. "It's yours." "Right!" Mars says back. You smack your forehead. <</if>>\ <</if>>\ With that done, \ <<include "ch6-coast-marsprep">>\

<<choose "ch6-coast8">> #use-if ((($shipcount gt 1) and ($endless is 0)) and ($wagergain isnot "Endless Beating Path Manual")) Wager one of my ships for the 'Endless Beating' Path Manual. <<var $wagergain "Endless Beating Path Manual">>\ <<var $wagerloss (("1 " + $flagshiptype) + " Ship")>>\ #use-if (((($shards + ($silver / 10)) + ($gold * 10)) gte 150) and ($wagergain isnot "150 Shards")) Wager 150 Shards for 150 Shards. <<var $wagergain "150 Shards">>\ <<var $wagerloss "150 Shards">>\ #use-if ((((($shards + ($silver / 10)) + ($gold * 10)) gte 200) and ($fruitcrate is false)) and ($wagergain isnot "Spirit Fruit Crate")) Wager 200 Shards for the crate of weak spirit fruit. <<var $wagergain "Spirit Fruit Crate">>\ <<var $wagerloss "200 Shards">>\ #Go back. <</choose>>

You return the gesture. "I assume my \ <<if ($shipcount gt 1)>>\ ships are \ <<else>>\ remaining ship is \ <</if>>\ free to go?" "Of course." Master Suon replies. \ <<if ($endless is 2)>>\ "We'll set sail in our new ship later in the day, so we don't run into each other. I find that can cause issues should either of us discover a bounty at sea." "Very well." You reply. \ <<else>>\ "We have marching of our own to do, seeing as my students are still shipless, but I wish you well in your sailing all the same. May our luck be better in the Heavenly Ascension Trials." Suon reaches out a hand to shake. "We will see you there, my rival." You shake his hand but also shake your head. "I'm getting quite full on rivals." Suon exhales through his nose as if suppressing some inside joke. "Trust me, you can never have enough. I have a century's worth and here I am, still picking fights like a foolish youth." "I'll let you know if I'm doing the same a century from now." You turn back to your crew gathered behind you. \ <</if>>\ "Come, retainers, we return to our journey!" A brave few actually try climbing the cliff down with you, but most merely walk south until the cliffside flattens a few miles off. You board your ship and set sail, picking the rest of your crew up on your way out. <<page "Continue" "ch6-halfpoint">>\

Your yokai pirate swings his saber at the Endless Beating student and the Human opponent catches it in one hand, then breaks it with the other. Not to be interrupted, your retainer swings a fist at the man that misses as the student pulls his face back. Your retainer uses that missed strike to pull himself to the side and flip, sending a backwards kick to the Endless Beating student's new position and a tail at his midsection. ''//"ENDLESS BEATING!"//'' The student's aura reverberates the noise and all the ambient chi in the air surges to his palms as he strikes your retainer's leg back with one hand and crunches his center with the other palm. Your retainer doesn't take the strike well and gets knocked backward, falling to the ground. Master Suon's student leaps upon your pirate retainer with his hands still empowered and he pummels the pirate with strike after strike, battering his kidneys, chest, and face. "Enough!" Master Suon shouts. "The fight is over!" Damn it. You don't know what you expected from these idiots if you'd already beaten them before. "Is he alive?" You ask, and Suon's student looks to you with annoyance. He puts his head down to the pirate's chest and listens, but he doesn't get back up immediately. Panic slowly grows in the student's movements as he lifts his head and checks again, then knocks your retainer in the chest and shakes his head back and forth. "Master!" The student shouts. "Master Suon I think something's wrong!" <<page "Continue" "ch6-coast-pirate2">>\

You and Master Suon dash to the center of the clearing with a swear and inspect your retainer's poor condition. His face is bloodied, sure, but the blood leaking from his mouth is darker and you know enough about internal bleeding to know that's not a good thing. "His aura didn't shatter." Suon says. "I'm sure of it, he shouldn't be...shit. Shit!" Suon charges power into his hand and runs it into your retainer's chest. "GGGHHHH!!" Your retainer gasps, eyes shooting open and mouth clenching as his chest heaves. He falls back down, his tail going flat, but his breathing picks up again. "Thank the ancestors." You reply, glad not to \ <<if ($ruthless lt 52)>>\ accidentally get one of your crew killed. \ <<else>>\ lose an empowered retainer, even if they're terrible in a fight. \ <</if>>\ "I'll take him back to our crowd and make sure he's treated." "Aren't you forgetting something?" Master Suon says. He quickly pats his student and dismisses him then looks back to you with a hand open. "I believe we said 150 Shards." Damn it. <<if ((($shards + ($silver / 10)) + ($gold * 10)) gte 200) gte 150>>\ <<costcalc 150>>\ <<else>>\ ''[Item Lost: 150 Shards]'' <<var $shards - 150>>\ <</if>>\ <<page "Continue" "ch6-coast-pirate3">>\

You hand over the funds and drag the pirate back to your crew on your back, irritation growing that he cost you so much //and// he's dripping blood on your shoulder. Even worse, the blood stinks like tar. "Captain." The man whispers in your ear, his head hanging loosely on your shoulder as if unconscious. "We won." "No, you lost." You whisper back. "You lost so badly that you're internally bleeding." "It's red tobacco, Captain. Good stuff." You feel his monkey's tail gently drop something in your pocket. "Can't fight you lot, but I know a rich guy when I see one. My real fight was getting their Master up close and distracted away from his own pockets." ''[Item Gained: 38 Gold]'' <<var $gold + 38>>\ He threw the fight to pickpocket a //Sectmaster?!// ...Maybe having pirates in your employ isn't so bad after all. You drop the man off with your other retainers and many come to check on him, looking concerned as he continues to feign death. \ <<if ($koshurt is true)>>\ An injured \ <</if>>\ Kosuke rifles through his \ <<if ($leonagone gt 0)>>\ pockets. \ <<else>>\ pockets and Leona eagerly offers to put him out of his misery while licking her lips. \ <</if>>\ You leave him to his fate feeling a few gold richer, though it's a shame to lose publicly in front of your men who don't detect the rouse. <<var $val 949>>\ <<page "Continue" "ch6-coast-dueltalk">>\

Everyone with an aura is forced onto rowing duty, some even sent to the other \ <<if ($shipcount is 2)>>\ ship behind yours \ <<else>>\ ships in your fleet \ <</if>>\ to make sure everyone escapes the unapproachable battle going on. Even with your personal addition to the rear of the ship's rowers, it's exhausting work for all. You row for hours through the evening and night until finally the spiritual pressure of the hours-long duel disappears over the horizon. The fatigue rests so heavily upon your head that you don't even make it to the Captain's Cabin for the night, choosing instead to rest in one of the crew hammocks of the lower deck simply because it's closer. It's not until mid-day the next day, when you awake in a hammock, that you hear the heavy chatter above deck and know something's up.

<<if (($txt is "chieve-mars") and ($jadedragonfoundation is false))>>\ <<achieve "Marsial Arts">>\ <<var $txt "">>\ <</if>>\ <<var $duels + 1>>\ <<if ($wagergain is "Endless Beating Path Manual")>>\ <<var $endless 1>>\ Master Suon reaches into his gi and pulls out a Path Manual. You hesitate when you realize a book of that size hidden in a gi must have reached his armpit. Ew. You take it with hesitation and a sense of regret, but not as much regret as Master Suon shows when handing it over. It's easy to see why. Looking through its contents reveals the secrets of the Technique that gave his School its namesake, the "Endless Beating" Technique. A vital secret for his School. It seems to have has several variants, too. That surprises you. Each of the variants requires a different preparation of proper breathing methods, chakra alignments, dietary changes, muscle memory exercises, elemental feng shui for your sleeping area, and mental imagery needed to engrave it into your soul. When all is said and done, you choose to pursue the path of... <<choose "ch6-coast-wonpm">> #Inflicting a beating. [Bound to the Power Core] <<learntech 1110002000000071 "Palm of Endless Beating" "Passively increases AP gained from defeating enemies by +5. Increases Power Surge by +1 when focused.">>\ #Inflicting a beating. [Bound to the Agility Core] <<learntech 3110002000000071 "Palm of Endless Beating" "Passively increases AP gained from defeating enemies by +5. Increases Power Surge by +1 when focused.">>\ #Surviving a beating. [Bound to the Fortitude Core] <<learntech 2800003002000071 "Palm of Endless Beating" "Passively increases AP by +3 when suffering a Wound and your Wounds no longer subtract from AP gained when defeating an enemy. Increases Health Pool by +1 when focused.">>\ #Surviving a beating. [Bound to the Soul Core] <<learntech 4800003002000071 "Palm of Endless Beating" "Passively increases AP by +3 when suffering a Wound and your Wounds no longer subtract from AP gained when defeating an enemy. Increases Health Pool by +1 when focused.">>\ <</choose>> <<elseif ($wagergain is "Spirit Fruit Crate")>>\ <<var $fruitcrate true>>\ Master Suon tsks. "A shame to lose such a harvest." He withdraws and rips a fuuinjutsu tag, manifesting a crate of white peaches that glow faintly in your spiritual sense. "I personally picked these, did you know? Each a fruit failing to achieve what I desired for it, and each forced to leave my School." He looks to his defeated student. "An analogy someone may wish to pay attention to." <<if ($honor gt 50)>>\ ''[Honor Check Passed]'' <<var $sect_endlessbeating + 2>>\ You nod along pretending to be thoughtful and try to reply with something that a Sect Master might say. "Though each is a loss, it still serves to strengthen others." You then look to the Endless Beating students behind Suon. "An analogy many may wish to pay attention to." "Indeed." Suon says, stepping across the duelist divide and pushing the crate into your hands. "May they keep your retainers strong and healthy." <<else>>\ ''[Honor Check Failed]'' <<var $sect_endlessbeating - 2>>\ "Cool." You reply with a noncommittal shrug. "So are you handing those crates over or what?" Suon's eyelids grow heavy and he gives you a short shake of the head. "Please, accept these low-grade spirit fruits for your retainers." He closes the duelist divide and shoves the crate into your hands, a little rougher than expected. <</if>>\ You take one out to eat and feel moderately refreshed when biting into the juicy peach, but its spiritual energies are too weak to improve your power. With a frown you hand the crate off to one of your retainers, tell him to share with the others, and subtly hint at what will happen if he doesn't. <<if ($chispent gt 0)>>\ <<var $chispent - 1>>\ ''[Chi Point Restored]'' <<elseif ($powspent gt 0)>>\ <<var $powspent - 1>>\ ''[Power Core Restored]'' <<elseif ($solspent gt 0)>>\ <<var $solspent - 1>>\ ''[Soul Core Restored]'' <<elseif ($forspent gt 0)>>\ <<var $forspent - 1>>\ ''[Fortitude Core Restored]'' <<elseif ($agispent gt 0)>>\ <<var $agispent - 1>>\ ''[Agility Core Restored]'' <</if>>\ ''[Retainer Strength Increased]'' <<var $retainer_strength + 2>>\ <<include "ch6-coast-dueltalk">>\ <<elseif ($wagergain is "150 Shards")>>\ Master Suon shakes his head. "I had hoped to spend this on a celebratory meal for my students, but it appears I overestimated how much effort they put into their training." Several of his students hang their heads, others glare at the student who lost the fight and, subsequently, lost them a good meal. Suon tosses you a shardpouch filled to the brim. ''[Item Gained: 150 Shards]'' <<var $shards + 150>>\ <<include "ch6-coast-dueltalk">>\ <</if>>\

''[While Focused, this Technique can aid you in certain melee-ranged physical attacks.]'' <<if ($heshe is "she")>>\ After studying the Path Manual you can't help but frown at the name. "Wonderful." You mumble sarcastically under your breath. "I guess I'll just finish Jack off with my Palm of Endless Beating. Jin and Rin will be laughing to their graves." "What was that?" Master Suon asks. "Nothing." <</if>>\ <<include "ch6-coast-dueltalk">>\

You run up the ladder and push the hatch open, letting in the nearly-blinding light of the sun after so much time in the dark. When your vision finishes blurring you climb above deck and see your crew all gathered at the front. "There's the $patriarch!" Shouts one of your crew. "<<cap $patriarch>>, come quick, you'll want to see this!" Your spiritual senses buzz and you recognize the sensation, knowing what you're about to see even before pushing through the crowd. You've felt the mentally vibrating sensation of sensing multiple auras before so it's no surprise when you get to the front of your murmuring retainers and look to the coast you've reached. Or rather, the bluffs, as it's a sheer cliffside eighty feet high. At the top of that cliff is an entire Sect, just as you knew it would be. Twenty men and women in matching brown and blue gi. While staring at the cliff as a frame of reference you realize for the first time that your ship isn't moving. One look down shows you why: water has been lifted all around your flagship, as if you're caught in a giant bowl. You glance up at the cliff and see a middle-aged man with a dark goatee holding a palm up while in a battle stance, his aura pulsing with blue Water energy. It seems the stranger has your ship held captive in a Technique. You sense danger in the air; if he's able to do that then he's able to do much more. "What do you want?" You shout up to the man, hoping you don't have to fight an entire Sect. "An audience!" The voice shouts from the clifftops. "As Master of the Endless Beating School, I demand to speak with your leader." <<choose "ch6-coast3">> #use-if (((($element1 is "Water") and ($element1rank gte 2)) or (($element1 is "Water") and ($element1rank gte 2))) and (((($soul / 2) + $chipool) - $chispent) gte 1)) Dismiss his control of the water around your ship and leave. [Requires Water (Adept), Costs 1 Chi.] "No." You shout back to the men on the \ <<if ($honor lt 45)>>\ cliff. "I'm busy, fuck off." <<var $sect_endlessbeating - 5>>\ <<else>>\ cliff. <</if>>\ <<var $sect_endlessbeating - 3>>\ With a wave of your arm you launch a line of blue Water Chi into the ocean, crashing into the bowl of sea water risen around your ship and contesting your will against the Sectmaster's. The difference is, he's trying to control the water from eighty feet up a cliff and you're trying to set the water free of his control from ten feet away. The massive bowl of water dissolves back into the ocean and your ship lurches, continuing on its journey through the waves. Just to push the point home, you drop into a horse stance and shove both hands forward, spiritually gripping the waves behind you and pushing your ship forward with instant momentum. As your ship sets sail once again, you turn back to the Sectmaster of the Endless Beating School up on the cliff. His students look baffled that you broke free, but you and the Master simply glare at each other as you leave. <<if ($honor gt 50)>>\ He's learned his place. <<var $forexp + 1>>\ <<else>>\ You flip him off too. You've never been the bigger $manwoman. <</if>>\ ''[Prestige Increased]'' <<var $prestige + 2>>\ ''[Retainer Morale +3]'' <<var $retainer_morale + 3>>\ <<apboost 10>>\ <<page "Continue" "ch6-halfpoint">>\ #Go see what he wants. <</choose>>

<<var $txt "You've known Martial Schools exist, but you've never seen one. Like Sects, they train Martial Artists in special Techniques and Styles. Unlike Sects, they're temporary. Students pay up front, master the Techniques, and leave for their next training elsewhere. They receive no support from the School afterwards, but also owe no obligations to it. You sometimes wished Thunderfall was a School, simply so that the other disciples would eventually finish learning and go away.">>\ <<if ($ruthless gt 51)>>\ ''[Ruthless Check Passed]'' <<var $powexp + 1>>\ The Endless Beating School? That is the coolest name you have ever heard. $txt You get excited to go talk to the School's Master. <<else>>\ ''[Ruthless Check Failed]'' Of all the people to run into, why did you have to get caught by someone with such a stupid School name? $txt Reluctantly, you head off to talk to this School's Master. <</if>>\ Maybe you can push him off the cliff when you're done. <<page "Continue" "ch6-coast4">>\

<<if ((($element1 is "Wind") and ($element1rank gte 2)) or (($element2 is "Wind") and ($element2rank gte 2)))>>\ ''[Wind (Adept) Check Passed]'' You leap off your ship and press emerald Wind energy around you like a spiral, forcing you up to the top of the eighty foot cliff where you land directly in front of their Master. Several of his students step back when you do so, clearly caught off-guard. ''[Prestige Increased]'' <<var $prestige + 1>>\ "Impressive." He says as you land on the edge of the cliff and disperse the swirling emerald energies around you. \ <<elseif ($roccombat gte 5)>>\ "<<cap $rocname>>!" You call out, clicking your tongue twice. Your roc looks down from her expanded Crow's nest and sees your arm extended. "CAWWW!" She calls down as her counterpoint. You pull out some dried fish and hold it up. "CAWWWWW!!" She screeches, unfurling her wings and descending upon the deck. Your retainers leap out of the way instinctively and you throw the food up, leaping to grab <<cap $rocname>>'s legs as she passes by. She snatches the food and continues on her way up to the highest point to enjoy her meal: the cliffs. As she finishes her ascension she sees the Sect, causing her to pull up just when she gets to the top. When she does so you let go and make it look as if you've perfectly trained your Hells-forsaken lazy-ass bird. The Endless Beating students pull back when they see you flying towards them on a Beast with a fifteen foot wing span. Only their Sect Master holds his ground. ''[Prestige Increased]'' <<var $prestige + 1>>\ "Impressive." He says as you land on the edge of the cliff in front of him and $rocname takes off back to the crow's nest to eat in peace. \ <<else>>\ "I wouldn't go." Bo Lo says in his nasally voice from your left, surrounded by other retainers. "He's got our ship hostage." You reply. "Oh. Then you should go." "Thanks Bo, good talk as always." He eyes you, unsure of your sincerity, but you don't give him much time to think it over as you dive off the front of your ship and start swimming towards the cliff. You expected the Endless Beating Schoolmaster to use some sort of water bubble to bring you up to the top of the cliff but when you start swimming and look up you meet his eyes and receive nothing but patient indifference. <<if ($honor gt 50)>>\ "So that's how it is." You say to yourself calmly, \ <<else>>\ "Fuck's sake." You grumble in annoyance, \ <</if>>\ measuring your breathing as you swim the rest of the way to the cliff. Ancestors, how is there //still// salt in this water? You've sailed for days! Is there salt in //all of it//?! You try not to let the horrible taste show on your face. When you get to the cliff you look up and still get nothing from the Sect Master. Your eyes narrow and you begin to climb the eighty-foot cliffside while soaking wet. <<if (($element1 is "Earth") or ($element2 is "Earth"))>>\ ''[Earth Element Event]'' <<var $val 227>>\ <<elseif ($style is "Kurokonton")>>\ ''[Kurokonton Style Event]'' <<var $val 227>>\ <<elseif ($athletics gte 2)>>\ ''[Athletics 2 Check Passed]'' <<apboost 4>>\ The climb proves no issue and you continue your ascent swiftly, reaching the top in a couple minutes. <<else>>\ ''[Athletics 2 Check Failed]'' It proves too much at multiple points, causing you to fall back into the ocean from varying heights. Even once you get the hang of it you're still forced to stop at multiple points and reroute your ascent or stop to breathe. Still, you eventually do reach the top. <</if>>\ <<if ($val is 227)>>\ And by climb, you mean walk up vertically. You wade in the water and place both feet against the cliffside then use your \ <<if (($element1 is "Earth") or ($element2 is "Earth"))>>\ amber Earth Chi \ <<else>>\ purple Cursed Chi \ <</if>>\ to ground yourself. The end effect is that you step out of the ocean straight up, as if the cliff were a floor. Water pours off your clothes and \ <<if ($hairlength is "Bald")>>\ if you had hair it would pour out of that too, but you don't, because you are bald. \ <<else>>\ hair \ <</if>>\ for the first ten feet and then you get the hang of it, breaking into a sprint up the cliffside leaving a trail of $auracolor chi behind you as your aura ignites. ''[Prestige Increased]'' <<var $prestige + 1>>\ "Impressive." The Sect Master says as you finish the ascent with a final leap, landing in front of him. His men step back but he doesn't move an inch. \ <<else>>\ "Took you long enough." The Sectmaster says, his disciples surrounding you while you subtly catch your breath through your nose. \ <</if>>\ <</if>>\ "I am Master Suon." "And I am pissed." You reply. "I don't appreciate my ship being seized. What do you want?" "Straight to business then." The man says with an unusually appreciative tone. You notice he doesn't have the massive build you've come to expect from Sect Leaders, but his aura still resonates with a heavy weight. "Tell me stranger, are you the leader of this group?" "I am $fullname, <<cap $patriarch>> of the <<cap $clan>> Clan, so yes." You reply, then wave a hand down to your ships. "These are my retainers and we're heading to Nanhou for the Trials. Are you going to be a problem?" "It would be a dishonor if I wasn't a problem." Master Suon crosses his arms. "We want a fight." <<choose "ch6-coast5">> #"Sure. Which one of you wants to die first?" <<var $ruthless + 2>>\ <<var $honor + 1>>\ "Sure." You reply, stepping back in a battle stance and glancing between the young men and women behind him. "Which one of you wants to die first?" Murmurs break out among his students. <<var $val 576>>\ "Hold, stranger." Master Suon says, uncrossing his arms. "I mean our Disciples will be fighting. \ #"Killing Trialgoers is a crime punishable by death." <<var $honor + 2>>\ Your \ <<if ($spiritbrandloc is "eyes")>>\ $spiritbrandcolor spiritbranded \ <</if>>\ eyes grow half-lidden with impatience at the amount of people trying to kill you these days. "Killing Trialgoers is a crime punishable by death." Master Suon raises his nose a half-inch. "That is true." You tilt your head to the side by a half-inch. "So...it's your move. How is this going to go down?" Master Suon looks to the left, the right, and the left again. #[Punch him in the face] <<var $ruthless + 2>>\ <<var $honor - 1>>\ <<var $sect_endlessbeating - 3>>\ People talk too much. You charge $auracolor chi out from the center of your spiritual Cores and push it through your fist as you rush a punch at Master Suon's face. <<var $val 576>>\ <<var $combatstat "power">>\ <<combatcheck 8>>\ <<if ($passcheck is true)>>\ ''//"ENDLESS BEATING!"//'' Suon calls out, though the chant in his own voice emanates from the energy around him and not his own mouth. His rear leg turns back and his hand reaches out, swirling with power as all the ambient chi around him rushes around his palm. He catches your fist and deflects it back, but shakes his hand from strain after. "I did not mean //US//!" He shouts in your face. "This is no tavern brawl, fool, this is a fight for our Disciples! \ <<else>>\ Suon's body blurs to the side, a dark blue after-image dispersing as your fist rushes through it. He grabs your wrist, lifts it into the air, and then strikes your ribs with a palm strike that knocks the wind out of you and sends you flying back ten feet. "Not //us//!" He shouts as you roll to your feet. "This is no tavern brawl, I was clearly referring to our Disciples fighting. \ <</if>>\ #"Well I don't. Bye." -> "ch6-coast-bye" <<var $honor - 2>>\ <<var $ruthless - 4>>\ Huh, so he did all this just because he wants a fight. "Well I don't." You reply. "Bye." <</choose>>

<<if ($val is 576)>>\ By the Heavens, Masters don't spar on the road. Who would watch over our students while the loser is unconscious?" "Why would that matter to you?" You ask, unsure if that's an honorable tradition or something he just made up. Either way it shouldn't matter. "You took my ship hostage and now you care about safety?" "Hostage?" Master Suon asks, looking back down to your ship. \ <</if>>\ He pauses, opens his mouth, licks his lower teeth while furrowing his brow, and looks back to his students. "Students, where are your arrows for tomorrow's arrowcatching training?" They look to each other in confusion. "What arrows? Master Suon, you never sai-" "ARROWS!" He screams, pointing to a tree line a half mile away. "NOW." All twenty students snap to attention and bow at the waist, shouting "YES, SENSEI!" before turning and running in unison to the poor tree that's about to be demolished to make arrows. When they get out of earshot, Master Suon looks back to you. "We are alone now, so let me address our rift in understanding." <<page "What's there to understand?" "ch6-coast6">>\

"What's there to understand?" You ask. "You're holding my people hostage and I'm not going to allow it." "That is what I refer to." He replies, running a hand through his goatee and frowning. "What I did was a simple show of force, a common affair. Akin to a greeting. I show off, you show off, it is standard among Masters. How old are you?" "I'm $age, so yes, I'm in the Trials too. Don't even think about whatever you're planning." Master Suon holds up one hand, palm-forward in peace. "That is not why I asked. We Martial Artists often stay in our prime for decades, which is where my mistake lies. I assumed you were in your \ <<if ($jadedragonfoundation is true)>>\ hundreds \ <<else>>\ fifties or sixties \ <</if>>\ based on your Aura Pressure, and had thought you were transporting your Disciples to the Trials. I apologize, I didn't realize how little time you've had to learn how things work. No offense." Some taken. "If you assumed I'm so old, then how old are you?" His frown deepens. "Rude of you to ask, but I am one-hundred and two." He doesn't look a day older than Father. "I brought my students here for Shugendō training of the Wind and Water. I changed plans when I sensed an approaching small Sect, yours, but let me be clear: I am //not// abducting your people or demanding your blood be shed. These Sect competitions on the road, how often did you expect them to be to the death?" You think back to Taio, Mao, the burnt village, and Ebikowa. "Often?" Master Suon grips the bridge of his nose. "No, no, the answer is //not often//. When meeting strangers we are to fight for glory and training, like all Sects, Schools, and Clans of old. We do not fight for blood unless battling an enemy. Honor dictates we only pit our students against each other in spars to prove whose Martial Arts teachings are superior. Are your disciples up for such a task?" "Depends." You reply, slowly calming down. It has never occurred to you that you might run into someone civil. "What do I get if I win?" Master Suon looks off into the ocean and considers his options. "Since you are in the Trials, I'll offer a Path Manual for my Palm of Endless Beating technique. That has the highest chance of increasing your prosperity in life. And considering my students are stuck walking to Nanhou, you can wager one of your ships. That has the highest chance of increasing theirs." A ship for a Path Manual?! That's a //horrible// deal...unless you win. If you win, you pay nothing. "To fatten the deal." Sect Master Suon adds, "I'll offer up to 3 fights and 3 wagers. My Path Manual wagered for the ship, 150 Shards wagered for 150 Shards, or a box of four dozen weak spirit fruit wagered for 200 Shards. They're too weak for my students or you and I, but for your sailors down there that I can see but not sense, I suspect it could be a wonderful prize." <<var $wagergain "Endless Beating Path Manual">>\ <<var $wagerloss (("1 " + $flagshiptype) + " Ship")>>\ <<choose "ch6-coast7">> #"I accept the challenge, Master Suon. You're on." #"I'll have to pass." -> "ch6-coast-bye" "I'll have to pass." You reply. "My people have already dealt with enough." "Unfortunate." Master Suon says, glaring at you. "Yet we are no bandits, you are free to go." He snaps his fingers for his students to return and gives you a short, respectful bow. "May we meet in better circumstances at the Heavenly Ascension Trials." You bow back. "Time will tell." <</choose>>

First thing's first, you need to get your crew up here for the fights. After an hour of shouting down from atop the bluffs, getting your martial retainers to climb rope up to the cliffside, and helping secure the ropes and footholds for your unpowered retainers, you're able to get most of your crew that's needed up onto the clifftop. Enough retainers to look menacing as well as \ <<if ($bogone gt 0) and ($leonagone gt 0)>>\ Kosuke. <<elseif ($bogone gt 0)>>\ Kosuke and Leona. <<elseif ($leonagone gt 0)>>\ Kosuke and Bo Lo. <<else>>\ Kosuke, Bo Lo, and Leona. <</if>>\ "Is this everyone?" Master Suon asks. "Everyone that matters." You reply, bolstering the morale of the many in front of you. <<var $retainer_morale + 1>>\ "Then let us begin. Our two respective forces will remain fifty feet apart on this clifftop and we'll use the fifty-foot divide as the duelist grounds. You get to pick the wagers, as I am the challenger. Do these terms sound acceptable?" <<var $spareval_1 3>>\ Surprisingly, they do. Despite having the advantage it seems the Endless Beating School isn't willing to play \ <<if ($honor lt 44)>>\ dirty. That could be your advantage. <<else>>\ dirty. <</if>>\ <<include "ch6-coast8">>\

You look over your crews and consider your options. Whoever you select might get their ass kicked and get injured, or they might make you a pretty penny. ''[Current Wager Gain: $wagergain]'' ''[Current Wager Risk: $wagerloss]'' <<var $temper 0>>\ <<var $val 0>>\ <<choose "ch6-coast-nomore">> #use-once use-if ($temper is 0) Send your best Martial Retainer for the duel. -> "ch6-coast-marsprep" <<var $spareval_1 4>>\ <<var $val 0>>\ Sometimes it's up to the nameless peasantry to step up and save the day. You did, once upon a time, but you can no longer call yourself nameless or a peasant. Now it's someone else's turn. After looking through your martial retainers, whose names you don't even know, you select the one who looks the most promising. A young Oni with white windswept hair named Mars that seems confident enough. After selecting him it becomes swiftly apparent that he's not confident based on ability; he's just an optimist. <<if ($koshurt is true)>>\ A wounded \ <</if>>\ Kosuke has fitted the poor naive young Oni in a Thunderfall Combat Gi and White Belt, Bo Lo appears to be seething that Kosuke still has some stolen inventory, and Leona is licking her blades disturbingly while eyeing the Endless Beating students. You take the young Oni aside and look him in the eyes. "I'm proud of you for stepping up to the challenge, but we have a lot riding on this. Are you sure you can win?" "Not at all!" He replies with excitement, jogging in place. "It'll be fun though, right Honored <<cap $patriarch>>? I'm sure we'll all do our best and everything will work out //just// fine in the end!" You stare him down. "...If we play our cards wrong, we could lose everything." "Sure!" He replies. "But we'll also gain something more important than any material possession: friendship!" Oh boy. That's not a good answer. Thinking quickly, \ #use-once Send Kosuke for the duel. "Retainer Kosuke!" You call out, summoning your childhood friend from the crowd of retainers. Kosuke walks out sporting a Thunderfall Combat Gi, throwing $bffhisher hands in the air like a star pupil accepting praise. "Yes, Honored <<cap $patriarch>>!" Kosuke yells out in a fake deep voice. "Let's do this! Let's go! Kosuke is ready to ''kill!''" <<if ($nobo is false)>>\ You almost spit out a laugh when you see Bo's reaction. His face turns bright red and even his green aura blazes involuntarily with rage. You've seen a vein of anger show on someone's forehead before but you've never seen //two// veins of anger until now. You don't even think a vein should be there. He should see a healer. "That's great Kosuke." You say after controlling yourself. "But no killing allowed." <<else>>\ "Er, no." You correct $bffhimher. "No killing allowed." <</if>>\ "Right. \ <<if ($bffheshe is "he")>>\ Yeah, my bad." \ <<else>>\ Shoot, sorry." \ <</if>>\ Kosuke grumbles, jogging out of the crowd. "That's your champion then?" Master Suon asks from across the opening your groups are leaving for the sparring ground, a fifty-foot gap next to the cliff. "In that case, I've got just the student in mind." Kosuke jogs up to you so the two of you can\ <<if ($honor gt 50)>>\ make preparations on how to chea- \ <<else>>\ devise a strategy, though Kosuke's strategies usually involved cheating. You- \ <</if>>\ "Hey!" You shout as $bffheshe jogs //passed// you. Kosuke looks back and you mouth the words 'no cheating?!' as if accusing Kosuke of forgetting the most important part of $bffhisher Martial Arts. Kosuke shrugs and silently mouths back, "I want to try." Oh for the love of - NOW $bffheshe wants to try an honest fight?! When you're betting $wagerloss on the line?! Kosuke cracks $bffhisher knuckles, tilts $bffhisher neck to both sides, and approaches the center of the fighting area. Seconds later a redhaired wolf yokai man from the Endless Beating School does the same. Kosuke gives the student an exaggerated bow. "It is, an honor, young one." Kosuke says in a Magistrate Khan impression. "May our duel bring prosperity to the memory of our ancestors." "Indeed." The student replies with a returned bow, not getting the sarcasm. They both bend their back legs low in a battle stance. Master Suon motions his hand to you, giving you the honor to declare the beginning of the match. You hope you don't regret this. <<page "Fighters, BEGIN!!" "ch6-coast-kos">>\ #use-once use-if ($leonagone is 0) Send Leona for the duel. -> "ch6-coast-leona" You look to your retainers and try to decide who to send. Leona, of course, is provoking the Endless Beating students by straddling one of her swords in a mock-humping gesture while running a finger across her throat. "I choose my star retainer," you say, hoping you don't regret it. "Leona!" Leona smiles wide and clenches both fists around the two swords tied at her hip. "Yes! Finally, I haven't spilled blood in //hours!//" That concerns you a little, as she's been on your ship for days, not hours, and no one should have had their blood spilled. "Hold on, she's not your retainer!" Says one of Master Suon's students. "That's a Waverunner set of armor she's wearing. That woman works for Nanhou's Waverunner Sect!" Aw shit. #use-once Send Bo-Lo for the duel. -> "ch6-coast-bolo" "Bo, get up here and show the Endless Beating School why it chose a good name." #show-if (($banditchoice is "Recruited") and ($wagergain is "150 Shards")) use-once I send one of my recruited pirates. Hmm...A Martial Arts duel of disciples. Don't you have some bandits-turned-pirates that you recruited? They should be a cut above the woodsmen and laborers from Ebikowa if Captain Qing put them through enough fights before you usurped him. You scan through your crowd of retainers until you find the one you're looking for, a monkey yokai with a bandana tied over his head and a saber still tied to his waist. "You." You say, not sure if you should scold him for being so obviously a pirate, or thank him for making it easier to pick him out of your crowd. "I need someone to go beat a real Martial Artist, can you do it?" The man chews tobacco leaves and looks past you at the Endless Beating students. He doesn't look pleased, but he nods. "Aye Captain, I can do it." "Then show me." Your pirate retainer walks to the center of the clearing and gives an exaggerated bow with no sincerity. Master Suon looks disappointed but taps one of his students on the shoulder and whispers something in his ear, sending the young man out to face your retainer. The student, a Human man with a heavy tan, adjusts his combat gi and belt then leaps to the center of the clearing from a standing position. He returns a short bow, glaring at your retainer. "Fighters ready?" Master Suon asks. His student slides his backfoot to the side to adjust his stance. Your retainer draws his saber and spits tobacco to the side. "Begin!" Suon shouts. <<page "Continue" "ch6-coast-pirate">>\ #use-if ($duels lt 2) "I'd like to change the wager." -> "ch6-coast-newwager" "Master Suon!" You call over to the Endless Beating students and their master. The goateed man steps out from the crowd, something you're not used to since, in your mind, Sect Masters are normally tall enough to see over everyone. You suppose it's not fair to expect that, but you do. "Yes?" He asks. "I'd like to change the wager." "Very well." Suon says. "What wager do you want?" #show-if (($duels gt 0) and ($ruthless gt 50)) "No more duels, I have places to be." "No more duels." You call out to Master Suon. "I have places to be." "As do we all." Replies Master Suon with a very short but respectful bow. #show-if ($duels gt 0) "No more duels, my retainers need rest." "No more duels." You call out to Master Suon. "My retainers need rest." "As do we all." Replies Master Suon with a very short but respectful bow. <</choose>>

<<var $daysleft - 1>>\ <<if ($daysleft gt 0)>>\ <<include "ch6-themdays">>\ <<else>>\ <<include "ch6-journeysend">>\ <</if>>\

<<choose "ch6-end-angeloan2">> #"...Can I still get some soup?" <<var $roomscene "Angelo_Innocent">>\ "I am so, so sorry." You say. "I thought someone left a giant piece of furniture in my bed." Angelo beams. "How can I be upset with a compliment like that? I've always wanted to be compared to a nightstand." "Oh thank goodness." You reply with a hungover groan. "I was worried I'd keep feeling guilty, but you're being an ass so it's easier." Angelo gives you a court bow. "Pleased to be of assistance, and the honesty is always appreciated. That being said, are you feeling well? That soup was your hangover cure for last night and now it's...Well, I can't ask you to drink it off my lap." You pause and stare at his lap in contemplation. He pauses and stares at you staring. "...Can I still get some soup?" You ask. He rips a fuuinjutsu tag and produces a second bowl and third bowl. <<page "Continue" "ch6-end-angeloan2">>\ #"Oh no! I, um, I can clean it up!" [Use your blanket] [Seduction] <<var $roomscene "Angelo_Kiss">>\ "Oh no!" You shout, scrambling to gather some sheets. "I, um, I can clean it up!" You begin to dab the sheets onto the front of Angelo's pants, cleaning the soup you spilled onto them. "No that's quite alright, I can-" "It's fine, it's fine, it's my fault!" You dab more, higher up. "Truly, it's no harm done, I-" "No, no, I can fix this!" He motions to stand and you grab his pantleg with one hand and switch to a clean sheet with the other. He tries to pull away but you keep your grip strong, pressing against his thick quadricep muscle tha- That isn't a quadricep muscle. You freeze and look up into his cerulean glowing eyes, each of you staring deeper into the other, but you don't pull your hand away. Nearly frozen in the moment, you begin to sway your hand slowly, back and forth. Your mind flashes with images, impressions, feelings. Your lips, the warm heat of your breath, the blush of your neck. Your back pressed against the wall, your arms over his shoulders, the tense expression of your face pushed into the pillow right beside you. It dawns on you that these temptations of //yourself// are Angelo's thoughts, leaking through his Sacred Chi. He wants them to be real. You both do. <<page "Lean closer" "ch6-end-angeloan3">>\ <</choose>>

Four of your retainers burst into the room. "Hey Honored $patriarch! We found a cool looking frog and-" They freeze. The four of them can see Angelo seated in front of your bed, his back to the door, and you lay on your stomach upon the bed itself, playfully rocking your shins back and forth. Your upper body is obscured by Angelo and you're bobbing your head up and down in front of his lap while making a slurping noise. "Hm?" You ask, pulling back with an off-white subtance over your mouth. "I..." Begins the old man of the group. "We did not mean to interrupt!" Shouts \ <<if ($sumyungai is true)>>\ Sum Yungai, \ <<else>>\ a younger man, \ <</if>>\ trying to close the door until the cow yokai of your crew stops it with her foot and keeps watching. "I am so //insanely// jealous." She says, twirling her hair and keeping her gaze locked on the two of you. "Alright, everyone out!" Says an Oni, joining the other in closing the door. "Apologies, <<cap $patriarch>>! Won't happen again!" You look from the door to Angelo, and down to the off-white soup you're bobbing for dumplings in. "I wonder what that was about." "Beats me." Angelo says, drinking his own soup with a cupped hand. "Next time I'll bring spare spoons as well." <<var $ruthless - 3>>\ <<var $angeloromance + 1>>\ <<var $angelorep + 3>>\ <<page "Continue" "ch6-end-departure">>\

Angelo leans forward, his large hand brushing against your neck until it passes by, gripping firmly on your hair. You curl your fingers around his wrist and stand to meet him. Your hand continues to rock back and forth against him and your lips meet his own, pulling yourself into the man and wrestling his tongue with your own. Your moans challenge his growls for dominance as you rock your bodies against each other, leaning toward the bed. Then the door bursts open with four of your retainers coming through. "Hey Honored $patriarch! We found a cool looking frog and-" They pause in the doorway, frozen, staring at your forbidden embrace with a monk of the Devanic Temple. "Are we interrupting something?" One asks, refusing to blink. "We are." Another answers slowly. "Incredible." The female cow yokai in your crew whistles low in appreciation. "Honored $patriarch seduced a priest." Angelo pays them no mind, his arm lowering to secure your lower back and travelling down even further, but you crack open one furious eye and pull yourself slowly from his kiss. The retainers stumble back when you step forward. "You ruined this...over a FROG?!" <<cap $auracolor>> chi surges from your eyes and fists, growing in power with each next word. "You!" "Are!" "All!" ''"Dead!"'' Scrambling and screaming, they slam the door shut and sprint for their very lives when you break through it to chase them. <<var $angeloromance + 3>>\ <<var $angelorep + 5>>\ <<var $val 88899>>\ <<page "Continue" "ch6-end-departure">>\

<<if ($val is 88899)>>\ You and Angelo part ways after you've hog-tied the four retainers and practiced something Big Chu called 'waterboarding', though the redhaired Lunargoth promises to meet in Nanhou. You offer him a spot on your ship, specifically in your cabin's bed, but he says a prayer has come in that he can't ignore. Typical. <</if>>\ An hour later you meet the rest of the crew by your ships in preparation for your departure. Most are scattered about the dock and the rest are atop the deck of the flagship to present themselves at your arrival. \ <<if ($reinforceritual isnot 100)>>\ As a string of good news, your Reinforcement ritual proves enough to keep the ship seaworthy without having to pay the dockmaster for their sage's addition. ''[1 Chi Spent]'' <<var $chispent + 1>>\ <<apboost 3>>\ ''[Ritual Check Passed: No Fee Needed]'' <<elseif ($hullbonus is true)>>\ As a string of good news, the improvements to your hull included refreshing the Reinforcement Seals. The Sunbringers' original seals on your hull protected it from basic energy blasts and ambient chi disruptions, but they had begun to fade. Thankfully your work with the shipyard has restored them, for now. ''[Ritual Check Passed: No Fee Needed]'' <<else>>\ Unfortunately, you learn that the Reinforcement seal on your ship's hull has been depleted. Without it you’d be sinking from a single energy blast, so your crew took out a debt to get it fixed up by the dock's resident sage. ''[90 Shard Debt Acquired]'' <<var $debt + 90>>\ <<var $debtnote + 100000000000>>\ <</if>>\ "Do we have everyone?" You ask the closest retainer, \ <<if ($spareval_1 is 4)>>\ Mars, who looks \ <<else>>\ an Oni looking \ <</if>>\ embarrassed to be caught wearing two eyepatches. <<if ($spareval_1 isnot 4)>>\ You think his name is 'Mars' but if he keeps this up you're going to start calling him 'Patches'. <</if>>\ "We sure do, Captain! I mean, Honored <<cap $patriarch>>! Probably. Hold on, let me count." <<if ($retainer_morale gte 55)>>\ ''[Retainer Morale Check Passed]'' <<if ($jadedragonfoundation is false)>>\ <<achieve "Happy People">>\ <</if>>\ It seems your entire crew chose to stay, because you finish counting as Mars starts. "We have everyone, raise anchor." <<else>>\ ''[Retainer Morale Check Failed]'' <<var $val (50 - $retainer_morale)>>\ <<if ($val lt 2)>>\ <<var $val 2>>\ <</if>>\ <<if ($val gte ($retainers - 5))>>\ <<var $val ($retainers - 5)>>\ <</if>>\ "Yep, that's everyone!" Mars announces cheerfully. "We're missing $val people." You correct him. "Nope! $val people decided to stay behind. If you think about it, that's a win, because now we're missing no one!" ''[$val Retainers Lost]'' <<var $retainers - $val>>\ You look up to Mars without an ounce of cheer. He smiles back happily. "Set sail." You command. <</if>>\ "Wait!" Bo Lo calls from the crow's \ <<if ($roc gt 0)>>\ nest beside a //very// displeased <<cap $rocname>>. \ <<else>>\ nest. \ <</if>>\ "I'm almost done with our messenger bird." "What for?" You shout up. "For our crest of docking approval, fool!" Bo Lo calls down. "I want to make sure I don't look like an idiot because of your lack of confirmation, so I'm sending a messenger gull to ensure our request for $shipcount docking positions is approved." "..." Bo Lo continues scribbling on a piece of paper, rolling it up, tying it to the leg of a gull he secures in another hand, then looks down to you. His mouth opens as you make eye contact. "You never made the request." He accuses in his nasally voice. "I did not." "Oh wow!" \ <<if ($roomscene is "Leona")>>\ A pleased and flushed \ <</if>>\ Leona says while walking up the boarding ramp with a treasure chest of clothes. "Looks like we're stuck at sea waiting. How much longer do we have until the Trials start anyway?" "How should I know?" Bo Lo asks, sneering at the Lunargoth. "Like this." \ <<if ($roomscene is "Kosuke_Window")>>\ A scratched up Kosuke in a cheap robe \ <<elseif ($roomscene is "Kosuke")>>\ A pleased looking Kosuke \ <<else>>\ Kosuke \ <</if>>\ says from behind you, shouting out to the docks. "WHEN DO THE TRIALS START?" You turn around and realize that, true, a third of the other ships are loading up for departure and a majority are going to the Heavenly Ascension Trials. Hell, some of them are even Martial Artists. Kosuke receives dozens of shouts back in varying answers, with the most common being $daysleft days. "There you have it." <<cap $bffheshe>> says. "We can sail around waiting for an answer for $daysleft days." "And if we don't hear back by then?" Bo Lo asks. All eyes look to you. You shake your head with a smile. "We make one." "You heard the <<cap $patriarch>>!" Kosuke shouts. "All aboard, we sail to the deep sea!" <<page "Continue" "ch6-end-departure2">>\

Despite Kosuke's declaration, you don't sail too far out. It turns out that $bffhisher understanding of the sea's depth and length is even worse than yours. After spending nearly a full day heading straight west you still don't reach what many of your crew calls "deep sea". Of that, you're thankful. The waters in sight of the coast are too crowded with ships right now, but the deeper regions of the ocean send a shiver up your spine. You've had enough of sea monsters. <<if ($flagshiptype is "transport")>>\ ''[Your ships are fast enough to complete an extra day's worth of activity.]'' ''[Transport Ship Bonus: +1 Day]'' <<var $daysleft + 1>>\ <</if>>\ <<var $val2 $daysleft>>\ <<var $randrills 0>>\ <<var $an "drills.">>\ <<include "ch6-themdays">>\

<<if ((dig($metdesdemona, 2) is 6) or (dig($metdesdemona, 2) is 1))>>\ Next to you in bed is the pale, curvaceous, naked form of Lady Desdemona. Her dark hair covers her eyes right down to her cute button nose. Her arms barely cover her ample chest as she sleeps on her side, facing you. Her purple lips gently twist as she begins to stir. It suddenly occurs to you that this chi sorceress considers you her enemy yet, in your blackout-drunk stupor, you've somehow ended up in bed together. You have questions. Questions that must be answered at a later date, when you are outside of Cursing range. As slowly and quietly as possible, you slink away towards the door. As you cross the room you hear Desdemona's voice call out behind you. "Trying to escape?" You freeze at the door and turn to see her sitting up, covering her body with a sheet. Her hair cascades down one shoulder and her eyes cut daggers into you. "Figures. Did you even mean what you said downstairs last night?" <<if ($deception gte 3)>>\ <<var $roomscene "Desdemona_Turned">>\ ''[Deception 3 Check Passed]'' <<var $desromance + 3>>\ <<var $desrep + 5>>\ Having no idea what she's talking about, you \ <<include "ch6-end-desduction2">>\ <<elseif ($ruthless lt 45)>>\ ''[Deception 3 Check Failed]'' ''[Compassion Check Passed]'' It's not that you //want// to lie to her, but you don't even remember what happened last night. The commonly angered girl must have let her guard down for once over whatever it was you said, and you can't bring yourself to let her down. You \ <<include "ch6-end-desduction2">>\ <<else>>\ <<var $roomscene "Desdemona_Cursed">>\ ''[Deception 3 Check Failed]'' <<var $desromance + 1>>\ <<var $desrep - 10>>\ Your mind freezes and you stare forward, thinking what she could possibly be talking about. The desire to blurt out the correct answer overwhelms you so forcefully that you can't form a coherent thought, as if every attempt to think of a response is blocked by a stone wall. She notices your hesitation and her hopeful eyes shift to a signature glare, then her upper lip curls in a scowl. "You didn't." "That's not-" "You. Lying. Bastard!" She steps out of the bed, naked as the day she was born, and points a sharp fingernail at you while advancing. "You sleazy, deceptive, scoundrel!" Her finger crackles with violet electricity and she steps closer. "You oathbreaking, cheating, <<if ($subrace is "Wolf")>>\ //mangy dog!//" \ <<elseif ($race is "Oni")>>\ //vile demonspawn!//" \ <<elseif ($subrace is "Bovine")>>\ //farm equipment!//" \ <<else>>\ slimy //coward!//" \ <</if>>\ The lightning around her hands turns black as night and her eyes take on the same energy. "I should have known Guiren didn't trick you, you're even worse than he is!" "I-" "Save it, debt collector!" Her scowl turns to a wicked smile with malice in her eyes. "In fact, collect //this!//" She shoves her finger forward and blasts you with an instantaneous line of black lightning. The Technique crashes against your chest, knocking you through the door and into the adjacent hallway wall. You just barely make out a shadowy veil wrapping over Desdemona and she breaks through the room's window, disappearing out into town. When she's gone you realize that, in spite of being blasted ten feet backward with black lightning, you feel fine. You check the wound to see how hard you were hit and find a small scorch mark where she disintegrated a small patch of your clothing, but other than that you're uninjured. All four Cores are steady, \ <<if ($wounds gt 0)>>\ your wounds haven't increased, \ <<else>>\ no new wounds to see, \ <</if>>\ and your money... <<if ($shards gt 0)>>\ IS RUNNING AWAY?! <<page "Catch it!" "ch6-end-desduction3">>\ <<else>>\ <<var $val 2>>\ None of it is missing. Odd, though you didn't have any Shards to lose in the fist place. <<page "Continue" "ch6-end-desduction4">>\ <</if>>\ <</if>>\ <<else>>\ <<var $roomscene "Desdemona">>\ <<var $desromance + 3>>\ <<var $desrep + 5>>\ Refusing to get out of bed before you have to, you turn over and ignore the uncomfortable dip of the bed. You even ignore the feeling of sleeping in only your underwear, an unusual habit. Stubbornly, and with both arms, you reach out with eyes closed and find two large soft pillows next to you. Likely the source of the poor bedding. You bury your face in them to return to sleep. "Nnn, five more minutes mom." A sleeping Lady Desdemona mumbles as you squeeze her closer. Your face reddens. These aren't pillows. Desdemona's eyes flutter open with a questioning scrunch to her brow, looking around to assess the situation. She looks down to you, your face buried in her chest, and you swear her hair rises away from her face with the force of her surprise. "<<print $name.first()>>-<<print $name.first()>>-<<print $name>>?! What are you doing?!" She blurts out, slapping your face as she blushes and pulls away off the bed. The lunargothic woman rises to her knees with your sheet pulled over her body and shakes her head frantically. "We can't be together like this! We're not even married! How'd you get in my room?!" "You're in //my// room!" You shout back, rubbing your cheek and hoping you're right. "At least, I think it's my room. I can't remember much from last night..." "Oh Hells." Desdemona says, gawking at her naked form and back up to you, face reddening more each second. "Oh Hells, Oh //Hells!// I thought that was just a dreamwalk! Tell me we didn't actually-Oh no. Ancestors, what are my Disciples going to say?!" You don't reply, captivated as you are. In her panic, Desdemona's lowered the sheet and laid bare her pale, enormous, dreamworthy breasts. "Stop looking!" She screams, pulling the sheet back up. "Right, of course." You look to the ceiling and close your eyes to not make eye contact. "Even though we already did...something..." You peak one eye down to Desdemona as she frantically fixes her hair. "Do you remember what happened last night?" She \ <<include "ch6-end-desduction5">>\ <</if>>\

sit on the bed beside her meet her eyes with reassuring confidence. "I meant every word." "Tch." She sneers, looking off to the side, but her dark eyes glisten with a mix of sadness and hope. "Good. You better have." She exhales the weight of the world off her shoulders, and, just as quickly, shakes a thought out of her head before taking on her usual pursed lips and distrusting gaze. "As for last night, I was exceedingly celebrative with the drinks. If my Disciples ask then obviously nothing happened." "Of course, last night." You reply while squinting thoughtfully. "The night when we did...what? Everything's fuzzy by the time we got to the room." Desdemona \ <<include "ch6-end-desduction5">>\

You leap off the floor and chase after your Shards as they run in different directions on two pairs of shadowy legs like drawn stick figures. Whenever you get close to closing your hands around the mobile seaglass-like coins they manage to jump or change directions. Worse, they slam their bodies into the wall as soon as they're able and manage to crack open, killing themselves. The sight of your money committing suicide \ <<if ($background is "Merchant")>>\ is a new Merchant's nightmare you'd never even imagined having. \ <<else>>\ is not something you were ready for this morning. \ <</if>>\ <<if (($soul + $solsurge) gte 9)>>\ <<var $val 10>>\ <<else>>\ <<var $val ((15 - $soul) * 10)>>\ <</if>>\ <<if ($val lt $shards)>>\ <<var $val $shards>>\ <</if>>\ ''[$val Shards Lost]'' <<var $shards - $val>>\ Doors begin to open as people exit their tavern rooms to see what's causing the racket. You hurriedly collect as much of your self-destructive money as possible before reaching the final Shard trying to kill itself on the boot of a large older Martial Artist. You seize the coin from beside the man's foot, push chi through it to disperse Desdemona's effect, and look up to the bearded Warrior glaring. "It's-" You try to say to explain yourself, half naked in the hallay. "I-" "Slept with a witch?" The man asks. "I don't even remember." You confess, shoulders drooping as the tension of the situation disperses. The man claps a hand on your shoulder. "We never do, son. We never do. Go clean your face and keep your head up, a forgotten victory is still a victory." You nod and return to your room. <<var $val 1>>\ <<page "Continue" "ch6-end-desduction4">>\

<<if ($val is 1)>>\ Once the adrenaline of losing your money \ <<elseif ($val is 2)>>\ You rise from the floor and return to your room, closing the door behind you before anyone witnesses a $race in $hisher underwear. Once the adrenaline of the attack \ <</if>>\ wears off the exhaustion of the situation finally hits you, causing you to stagger on shaky legs into the washroom attached to your chambers. It feels as if all the energy has been sucked out of your center of gravity. You pull the washroom door open and feel relief to see a half-barrel tub already filled with steaming warm water. As you disrobe you catch sight of yourself in a mirror on the wall. Your face is //covered// in purple kiss marks from Desdemona's makeup. \ <<if ($val is 1)>>\ No wonder the stranger told you to clean your face. <</if>>\ Yet it's nothing compared to the surprise when you finish disrobing to step into the bath. Looking down, you see why your legs feel so shaky: <<var $val 0>>\ <<var _solDiff ($soul - $solspent)>>\ <<for _i to 0; _i lt _solDiff; _i++>>\ ''[1 Soul Chi Spent]'' <<var $solspent + 1>>\ <<var $solexp + 1>>\ <<var $val + 1>>\ <</for>>\ <<unset _solDiff>>\ <<if ($val gt 0)>>\ ''[Aura Pressure +$val]'' <<var $aurapressure + $val>>\ <</if>>\ <<var $val 0>>\ Your face isn't the only place covered in purple kiss marks. <<page "Continue" "ch6-end-departure">>\

pauses and her resting frown shifts to a neutral position. She blinks. "You...don't remember? Do you mean your memories are fuzzy, or have you truly forgotten the last ten hours?" "I remember mixing sake and baijiu, but after that, nothing." "Th-that's too bad!" She replies too quickly, getting up and dragging the sheet with her as she walks backwards towards the door. "If it falls to me to remind you, Thunderfaller, then you should know we got...foodsick. Yes, foodsick. From, um, taro. Taro...juice. And your crew bought us this room to recover and...then nothing happened." "Nothing?" You ask. "I usually sleep with my clothes on." "''NOTHING.''" She insists, mouth tight and brow V-shaped in an angered hiss. "Now go clean up in the washroom, you have purple taro juice all over your face. It looks ridiculous." "Don't you want the washroom first? You're already up." "NoI'mquitefinethankyougoodbye." Desdemona slips out into the hallway wearing nothing more than your sheet and slams the door. <<var $val 7817>>\ <<page "What a strange woman." "ch6-end-desduction6">>\

<<if ($val is 7817)>>\ Irritated, confused, and frustratingly aroused, you get out of bed after Desdemona storms out of the room. <<var $val 0>>\ <</if>>\ Eight steps brings you into the private washroom, but they are the most difficult steps you've taken since the days after your first Advancement. You stagger the whole way, your legs sore and shaking. It's as if you've been drained of stamina, and you wonder if the gothic woman cursed you on her way out. When you enter the washroom you see some servants have already brought warm water into a half-barrel bath. There's also a razor, a shelf, a bucket, and a moron. At least, the expression of one when you look in the mirror on the wall. You have the stupidest smile on your face looking at the kiss-shaped smears of purple lip makeup covering your mouth and neck. No wonder Desdemona insisted you wash the purple 'taro juice' off your face, though it seems she didn't know you'd have a mirror to see what it really is. You breathe in a single fulfilling breath of victory and let out a content sigh as you prepare a bath. When you disrobe your garments you get a good look at your lower half and see why it feels as if your lifeforce had been sucked right out of you: <<var $val ($soul-$solspent)>>\ <<spendall 4 true>>\ <<if ($val gt 0)>>\ ''[Aura Pressure +$val]'' <<var $aurapressure + $val>>\ <</if>>\ <<var $val 0>>\ Your face isn't the only place covered in purple kiss marks. <<page "Continue" "ch6-end-departure">>\

"Ancestors, look at the time!" You shout. "I need to get back to my crew, we should get up." "But it makes no sense!" Tian Fang insists, placing her hands on your shoulders and pulling her face //comfortably// close to yours. "We are sleeping in bed without food or drink, how would Tian Fang's feet get sticky? This is a mystery we must look into! What if an assassin tried to poison us with some sort of sticky, clear-white poison? What if some sort of slug Beast is in this very room?!" You begin to sweat nervously. "I-I-I think the bakery is open by now. We should get dressed and head down, they might run out of pastries soon if everyone else is leaving at dawn." "WHAT?!" Tian Fang screams, releasing you and jumping up, naked, to stand on the bed and look through the window of your room. "You speak true! There they are! My pastry competition, in line at the bakery!" You stare at her ass from behind, dumbfounded that your plan worked. Suddenly she pulls herself up and //through// the closed window, disregarding the jagged glass shards as she leaps three stories down to the outside ground without a shred of clothing on. "Wait for me, pastries!" She calls from outside. "Wait for the great Tian Fang!!" A slew of voices shout out in surprise as she lands. "Cover yourself, animal!" "You dare reveal yourself to my husband? You court death!" "No cutting in line!" "Selling cheap robes, just 30 Silver!" It takes a few seconds for your heart to calm down after she's gone. Rising on shaky legs, you head to the washroom to take a cold, cold bath. <<page "Continue" "ch6-end-departure">>\

<<choose "ch6-end-departure">> #"Oh. Wow. Thank you. You can leave now and, er, sorry." <<var $roomscene "Guiren_Innocent">>\ "Oh. Wow. Thank you. You can leave now and, er, sorry." "Thank you for //permission// to leave, your Highness." Guiren says, slipping out of bed fully-clothed. He walks to the door and opens it, looking back one last time. "I'm still going to tell the guys we did it." "Don't you dare!" You shout. "Try and stop me." His smile grows sinister as he closes the door, chest thrumming from a dark laughter building inside. When the door closes you sense the surge of an Agility Core and hear a muffled, "HEY YOJI GUESS WHO WON THE BET?" Oh that piece of shit. <<page "Continue" "ch6-end-departure">>\ #"...Well would you like to?" [Seduction] <<var $roomscene "Guiren_Bang">>\ So Guiren didn't take advantage of you, but you already have him in your bed and there's no one around. Maybe //you// could be taking the advantage here. "So I put you in a chokehold and you couldn't get me off..." You shuffle closer to him in bed, your eyes meeting as you tilt your head down to look up at him. "But would you like to?" Guiren stares down at you with his more familiar arrogant smile. He grabs you by the hips, his thumbs hooked into your pantstraps, and pulls you closer to him. "Don't tempt me, woman." "No more talk." You pull yourself up to meet his mouth, kissing him tenderly as his hands remain in place and catch on your clothing, removing your pants when you lift yourself. Just as quickly you reach down and begin to undo his gi. "I only want that tongue in one place." "Turn over." Guiren growls while sucking on your neck between warm, panting breaths. "It's time I taught you some manners." "Teach me, //please.//" <<page "Mmf♥!" "ch6-end-guirenlove2">>\ <</choose>>

<<var $metguiren - dig($metguiren, 11)>>\ <<var $metguiren + 4>>\ You get dressed after and look back to an exhausted and drained Guiren 'resting' on your bed. You catch him, seeing his eyelids flutter as his vision beneath must be shifting in some sort of thought. You tiptoe closer to the man and whisper in his ear. "Planning how to brag to your men about this?" Guiren's eyes open and he gives a closed-mouth smile. "Busted, but no. I made a bet with Yoji that I could sleep with you and...I think I'll just lose the bet. He doesn't have to know." "What, are you ashamed or something?" Guiren looks at you like you've said the dumbest thing he's ever heard. "Okay, fine, if not ashamed then...Oh Heavens, you're infatuated aren't you!" Guiren's mouth shoots open in anguish and insult. "You must think highly of yourself." "Oh Ancestors." You continue in mock-surprise. "I'll bet you even want to date!" "Are you making this weird on purpose?" You drop to your knees beside the bed and rest your head on your palms. "Heavens above, could it be that you're thinking about //marriage?!//" "It was one time!" He shouts back, pulling away from you on the bed like a cornered animal. "I can't believe this." You say, rising to pace the room. "I can't believe you didn't say 'no'! Wow. One night and you already want to marry me. You must be in //love//-love! What a scandal! I'm telling your men." "You wouldn't dare." You rush back to the bed and lean in, bringing your face close to his. "How are you going to stop me?" Soot explodes all over your room as a smokebomb goes off, blackening everything including your face. You cough and hack from inhaling the smoke and rub its contents out of your eyes, blearily looking around the room to see Guiren's disappeared. "Ran away." You grumble to yourself after a short sigh. "Typical. Oh well, I needed a bath anyway." <<page "Continue" "ch6-end-departure">>\

Kosuke stares at you, wide awake, smiling in bed right beside you. "Good morning, sleepyhead." <<cap $bffheshe>> says. "Enjoying the nice room, on the house?" <<if ($bffromance is 0)>>\ "K-Kosuke?!" You nearly shout. "When did I-when did we...//How?//" Kosuke frowns. "You don't remember? I thought the night went so well." "Maybe." You reply, checking under the covers to see that, yes, you are both naked. And sore. Oh Ancestors, you fucked your best friend. "Well we were all drinking and celebrating and cheering and you sort of, you know, gave me //the eyes//." "The eyes?" "You know, the 'come fuck me' eyes." <<if ($heshe is "she")>>\ "So you followed me up to bed and had sex with me when I was blackout drunk?" Kosuke snorts. "Oh you wish, you were the aggressor and it was so much worse. You drank a mouthful of baijiu and fed it to me with an open-mouth kiss." "No." "Everyone cheered." He tries not to laugh. "Ancestors, no! It was //in front of people?!//" "You did a lot more than that. By the time you carried me up the stairs you were down to your underwear, and only the bottom half." You gently lift a pillow and try to suffocate yourself. "So everyone saw my-" "Everything." Kosuke replies. ''[Retainer Morale +10]'' <<var $retainer_morale + 10>>\ "My reputation is destroyed." You mumble, clinging to the pillow. "All that work for nothing." "If anything, it improved. I'm the one who got carried up to be used like a plaything for hours on end." "And I don't even remember it." You sigh. <<else>>\ "The //what?//" Kosuke rolls her eyes. "Of course you don't know them, I've been giving them to you since we were fourteen and you haven't noticed." You bang your head against the pillow. "Are you saying we could have been doing this the whole time? I thought it would've been taking advantage of you, I had no idea you were-" "Desperately trying to fuck the hottest guy in the village?" She gets closer and the sheet falls off her chest, revealing her naked and well developed body. "I've been dreaming about it for years, you idiot. It's why I gave you such a special treatment last night." You wince. "And now I don't even remember it." "That's what you get for overdrinking. If you've forgotten then that's your fault, I'm not going to remind you." <</if>>\ <<else>>\ You snort. "I probably did. I don't remember a thing." "Heh, somebody drank too much." Kosuke smirks. "A hazy memory is what you get for never knowing your limits." "Uuugggh." While trying to wet your dry mouth with just your tongue, you rub your temples and exhale slowly. "Care to tell me my limit then?" "Mmmm no, I like you when you're drunk. Our relationship gets a lot more public." You blink. "How public? Not that I mind people knowing, but did we make a scene?" Kosuke throws your sheets off, revealing \ <<if ($bffheshe is "he")>>\ his surprisingly well-toned body \ <<else>>\ her surprisingly supple body \ <</if>>\ after so much Advancement, your own naked form, and the mess \ <<if ($heshe is "she")>>\ he's left all over you. \ <<else>>\ you've left all over her. \ <</if>>\ "You had me feed you baijiu with my mouth on top of the bar, in front of //everyone//. Half of our clothes are still downstairs." You burp. "Oh Ancestors. Is there anything after the bar I should know?" "A hell of a loud workout, yes. But if you've forgotten then that's your fault, I'm not going to remind you." \ <</if>>\ <<if ($heshe is "he")>>\ She smiles teasingly and suddenly presses her lips to yours, her hand running down your pants just as quickly. She rubs her body against yours while her fingers lace around you and her tongue lathers against your own. With the breaking of suction she pulls away and exhales a warm breath. "So why don't you climb atop me and remind yourself?" <<else>>\ He gives you a devilish side-eye then rolls on top of you in one swift motion, grabbing your wrists and pinning your arms to the bed. "How about I give you a demonstration instead?" <</if>>\ <<if ($bffromance is 0)>>\ <<include "ch6-end-kosduction2">>\ <<elseif ($heshe is "she")>>\ <<page "Mmf♥!" "ch6-end-kosduction3">>\ <<else>>\ <<page "Mmm" "ch6-end-kosduction3">>\ <</if>>\

<<choose "ch6-end-kosduction3">> #[Embrace $bffhimher] #[Throw $bffhimher out the window] <<var $roomscene "Kosuke_Window">>\ "If the Jin and Rin ask, this never happened." You whisper, grabbing Kosuke around the ribs and rising to a standing position. Then you throw. "ANCESTORS, WHY?!?!" Kosuke screams as you huck $bffhimher through the closed window of your room, three stories up. <<cap $bffheshe>> falls, naked, through the air in a shattering of glass that attracts the attention of everyone on the street. Voice crack out in protest and alarm as soon as Kosuke tumbles to the ground. "By the Heavens, clothe yourself!" "Avert your eyes, children!" "You told me beautiful \ <<if ($bffheshe is "he")>>\ men \ <<else>>\ women \ <</if>>\ don't fall out of the sky!" "Selling cheap robes, just 30 Silver!" With that distraction taken care of, you take a bath of shame and get dressed. <<page "Continue" "ch6-end-departure">>\ <</choose>>

<<var $roomscene "Kosuke">>\ <<if (($bffheshe is "she") and ($heshe is "he"))>>\ <<var $pwt_kosuke true>>\ <<elseif (($bffheshe is "he") and ($heshe is "she"))>>\ <<var $pwt_player true>>\ <</if>>\ <<var $metkosuke - dig($metkosuke, 11)>>\ <<var $metkosuke + 3>>\ You roll off of $bffhimher and gasp for air, not used to being able to \ <<if ($heshe is "she")>>\ <<if ($bffromance is 0)>>\ treat Kosuke \ <<else>>\ ride your boyfriend \ <</if>>\ so forcefully without breaking him. \ <<else>>\ <<if ($bffromance is 0)>>\ treat Kosuke \ <<else>>\ enjoy her body \ <</if>>\ so forcefully without breaking her. \ <</if>>\ It's certainly something you can get used to. "That good?" <<cap $bffheshe>> asks, hand on your thigh and tracing upward. "You should have robbed the Sect sooner." You reply, still feeling \ <<if ($heshe is "she")>>\ tremors quake through your legs. \ <<else>>\ pulsing waves rock through your lower body. \ <</if>>\ <<if ($bffromance is 0)>>\ "I'm not used to being able to go all-out on you." \ <<else>>\ "We wasted years where we could have been doing this." \ <</if>>\ "And?" "It's incredible." You pant, feeling fully relieved \ <<if ((dig($metleona, 11) is 1) and ($bffromance isnot 0))>>\ (without cheating) \ <</if>>\ for the first time since your \ <<if ((dig($metleona, 11) is 1) and ($bffromance is 0))>>\ questionable romp with Leona. \ <<elseif (($pwt_leona) and (dig($metleona, 11) is 0))>>\ questionable night on the siren's island. \ <<else>>\ Aura Pressure began to climb. \ <</if>>\ "Want to go again?" Kosuke \ <<if ($heshe is "she")>>\ growls out in satisfaction. \ <<else>>\ smiles devilishly. \ <</if>>\ "I have a better idea. Why don't you lay back and I'll show you a Technique I just made up." "A Martial Technique?" You ask. <<if ($heshe is "she")>>\ "A mouth technique." \ <<else>>\ "A throat technique." \ <</if>>\ <<cap $bffheshe>> replies, slinking under the covers. "HEY!" Comes a banging from the door. "I hear you in there! This room's reserved for the Haunted Fist Sectmaster, who's in there?" Startled, you look back to Kosuke questioningly. "I thought you said this room was on the house?" Kosuke throws the sheets off and breathes in slowly, looking up as if to remember something. "I didn't say it was on the house //willingly//." The door burts open just as the two of you slip out the window. <<var $bffrep + 10>>\ <<var $bffromance + 3>>\ <<page "Continue" "ch6-end-departure">>\

You awake with a woozy headache in bed. Not the bed of your Captain's Cabin on your flagship, but a less comfortable and more worn-in bed. The sheets feel newer though, freshly washed. Your blurry memory vaguely recalls a tavern. Your crew. Celebrations. A drink. A toast to your \ <<if ($killedgod is true)>>\ victory. \ <<elseif ($fishscore gte 10)>>\ fishing tournament victory. \ <<else>>\ health. \ <</if>>\ Another drink... Another drink... Another drink... Another drink... At a certain point it all becomes a blur. You must have gotten a room at the tavern and gone to bed, so at least you didn't make a fool of yourself and pass out in the dining hall. Unless you did, and someone carried you back. Your thoughts are unfocused due to the uncomfortable feeling of your bed, as if it dips too low at the center. Annoyed, you grip the blankets and turn over to see... <<choose "ch6-end-kosduction">> #show-if (($bffheshe neq $heshe) and ($bffromance gt 0)) Kosuke [Seduction] #show-if (($bffheshe neq $heshe) and ($bffromance lte 0)) Kosuke?! [Seduction] #show-if ($heshe is "he") Leona?! [Seduction] <<var $leonaromance + 3>>\ <<var $leonarep + 5>>\ In the bed beside you is the lustful body of the blonde lunargothic Sunbringer woman you've been traveling with. When you try to lift the sheets to see if your clothes are still on you find the sheets are practically stuck to you and her both, confirming any lingering doubts. In a drunken stupor, you have fucked Leona. "Oh Ancestors." "Funny, that's exactly what you were moaning last night." Leona opens her previously closed off-colored eyes and smiles at you triumphantly. "Was it good for you? I know it was, but I want to hear you say it." "I...don't even remember it." You admit, trying to think back to what could have possibly happened. "Your loss." She says with a wide yawn, both arms stretching up and pulling her chest out from under the sheets. "I wish I could fill in all the spicy details of you ravishing my slutty little sheath with your weighted longsword, but I missed plenty of the action myself when you choked me unconscious." "I did what!?" "More than once, too." Leona sighs longingly. "It was amazing. I also may have begged for it, but still, I can't believe you actually listened! So rude! You're an awful person, you know, you even left bruises all over an innocent work of art like me." She raises a long leg into the air and you can see fingergrip marks all up the outer side of her undressed thigh. <<var $roomscene "Leona">>\ You let out a low whistle. "Those look like they hurt." "I don't know, my memory's a bit fuzzy." Your sheet takes on a scarlet hue and explodes into hundreds of shreds of cloth just before Leona rolls on top of you, her thighs on each side of yours. She smiles hungrily and places both hands on your chest, her upper arms squeezing her large bare tits together as she leans forward. "Why don't you remind me how it feels?" With the way she has her hips sitting right on top of your lap, your body reacts to her request on its own. She gasps slowly and closes her blue and green eyes, savoring the feeling, then repositions to sit upon you more firmly with a better grip. Bladed chi flares across the fingernails she runs down your chest while biting her lip and moaning out in ecstasy. "Oh //fuck ''yes.''//" <<var $pwt_leona true>>\ <<var $metleona - dig($metleona, 11)>>\ <<var $metleona + 3>>\ <<page "Continue" "ch6-end-departure">>\ #show-if (($heshe is "he") and ($style isnot "Kiihakai")) use-if ($desromance gte 1) Lady Desdemona?! [Seduction] -> "ch6-end-desduction" #show-if (($heshe is "he") and ($style isnot "Midorikatai")) use-if ($fangromance gte 1) Tian Fang?! [Seduction] <<var $roomscene "Fang">>\ <<var $fangrep + 5>>\ <<var $fangromance + 3>>\ Turning over with your eyes closed, you reach out for the disturbance ruining your sleep and find a pile of fur blankets. A servant must have left them while you slept. They probably left the door open too, because you were assailed with vividly erotic dreams for hours during the night. Probably from some loud couple across the hall influencing your dreams. Idiots. With both hands you grab the large pile of soft blankets in your bed and hug them closer to try and salvage whatever sleep you can get. You rub your hands against the fur and...wonder why a cheap tavern would use expensive furs. You open your eyes to see Tian Fang in your hands. "Mmmmmmm." Fang mumbles in her sleep, pulled into your grip. She rolls over to face you and seems to wake up from the effort. Her nose twitches twice as her eyes open and her gaze meets your own, realizing she's trapped in your embrace. Her ears lower as she smiles softly, batting her eyelashes. "W-What are you doing, Thunderfaller?" "Wondering what I did to end up so lucky." You reply with every ounce of charm your hungover mind can muster. "Overdrank!" Tian Fang declares cheerily with a wobble of her head. "You and your crew celebrated most merrily, even going so far as to mix rice wine and Cathayan baijiu!" "Oh //Ancestors// no." You grown, stomach feeling queasy at the thought. "A most troublesome concoction, it is true! When the Thunderfaller fell unconscious, considering the hostilities in town, it was up to Tian Fang to carry him up to this room and ensure he was protected!" "Oh. And that's all?" You feel relieved and disappointed at the same time. "Hmph!" Tian Fang smirks, tipping her nose up confidently. "That is all. Tian Fang simply dropped the Thunderfaller off and returned to her room to sculpt large clay cylinder vases with her feet." That...doesn't sound right. "When did you get back to my room?" "Hm?" She inquires, "I did not." "Then how are you here now?" Tian Fang looks around in confusion. "How //is// Tian Fang here now? She distinctly recalls heading to her room, removing her troublesome clothing, and sculpting clay vases." "With your feet." You confirm. "Yes! Most vigorously!" Tian Fang nods confidently. "Though I do not know why. It is as if I was following the nonsensical goals of a dream...Oh!" She smacks her forehead. "Tian Fang //was// dreaming! That's why she never truly left. Hah! Although that would mean..." She removes the sheets to reveal she's completely naked. You get a full view of the enticing curve of her hips from the front, with her white wolf's tail framing the scene as it wags behind her. "Truly, it seems I have disrobed //here// before bed. What a silly night. This is not Tian Fang's bed, it is $name's!" You don't answer, staring at her unabashed nude display. "Thunderfaller?" She asks, tilting her head and lowering one wolf ear as she examines you, shuffling closer. "Are you unwell?" Her scent fills your nostrils. The heat of her body grows closer to yours, her upper and lower fangs accentuating her animalistic nature behind her alluring lips as she speaks slowly. "Do you require assistance?" "I'm good!" You shout, shifting the blankets to hide a raging erection. "I'm great." "Most wonderful!" Tian Fang announces. "Then there are no problems or mysteries remaining! Except for the vases..." "It was probably just a dream." You respond, heartbeat racing. "It was not!" Fang rolls up and on top of you, her naked legs framing each side of your lap as she cluelessly has her sex pressed against your lap. One thin layer of linen is all that stands between the two of you. Your left eye twitches uncontrollably. "The dream must have been related to real life, and it's up to Detective Fang and her Lieutenant $name to get to the bottom of this case!" "Nope!" You insist, eyes closing in frustrated restraint. "Just a dream!" She leans forward and shakes her head, her soft white hair rubbing against you like fine silk. "That cannot be so! If it were only a dream, then why are Tian Fang's feet so sticky?" It suddenly occurs to you why you had such erotic dreams, and why Tian Fang dreamt of sculpting a lengthy vase with her feet. <<page "Continue" "ch6-end-fangbang">>\ #show-if ($heshe is "she") Angelo?! [Seduction] -> "ch6-end-angeloan" With eyes closed, refusing to give up your sleep, you roll over and push on whatever is ruining your bed. From the feel, it's some large piece of furniture. You shove it with both feet but it barely moves. You try to roll over but the other side of the bed ends in a cold wooden wall. Irritated, you turn over and punch the furniture repeatedly, try to push it away twice, then slap it with your palm until something shatters. Finally you open your eyes in irritation and see Angelo's been sitting on the side of your bed, perfectly still as you beat him until the bowl of soup in his hands shattered its scolding hot contents onto his lap. "I'm glad to see you're awake." He says as steam rises from the hot meal burning into his pants. #show-if ((($heshe is "she") and ($style isnot "Kurokonton")) and ((dig($metguiren, 2) isnot 0) or (dig($metguiren, 7) isnot 0))) use-if (dig($metguiren, 2) isnot 1) Guiren?! [Seduction] -> "ch6-end-guirenlove" In your bed, slumbering soundly, is the infamous debt collector and shinobi gangleader, Dai Guiren. He awakes when you slam your pillow so hard into his face that it explodes. "WHAT?!" He screams through the goosefeather eruption. "Hells, you got some in my ear. What is wrong with you?" "You slept with me when I was drunk!" You scream, slapping him in the face. His head spins around in a near 180 arc before he looks back to you, green dragoneyes focusing through what might be a concussion. "What are you talking about, idiot? We didn't do anything. You got so drunk you could barely stand so I carried you to your room." You blink twice. "You \ <<if ($honor lt 48)>>\ give a shit \ <<else>>\ care \ <</if>>\ about that?" "About what?" His eyebrow twitches. "I'm just surprised. I mean, I'm a gorgeous woman, you're a..." He tilts his head down waiting for the compliment. "Man." You finish. "Plus being a debt collector, poisoner, and I suspect assassin for hire judging by the shinobi clothes, I didn't expect you to be a...decent person. Wait, if you didn't do anything then why am I-" Oh, you're not naked. You in fact have the same clothes on as last night, including \ <<if ($wounds gt 0)>>\ the bloodstains and \ <</if>>\ some new wine stains. Ew. "Okay, fine, but why are you in bed with me then? Try explaining that one, pervert." Guiren rubs his cheek as it reddens from your earlier slap. "You put me in a chokehold when I carried you over my shoulders. When I laid you down to bed I couldn't get you off." #show-if (($heshe is "she") and ($qingstatus is "Ally")) ...Captain Qing?! [Seduction] Next to you in bed is the Pirate Captain, Qing, of whom you thought you'd never see again. Rather than just //see// him again, it appears you've slept with him. At least...In some regard. He lies in bed, snoring loudly, with his hands down your pants. At least you have your pants on. He, in fact, is completely naked. His own fart wakes him. "Uh-hm? Huh? What happened last night?" He shakes his face in the twitch of a wild animal and looks around the room. "Aha, the hot one! Good to see Qing still brings in prime meat!" He withdraws his hand from your pants, smells it, and stands with a wide stretch as his naked butt is pointed at your face. "Qing trusts it was amazing for you." You lay there, open-mouthed and horrified. "I don't...remember." "Hah! Neither does Qing. The will of strong drink is an ever-growing enemy. The stronger we get, the more of it we FIGHT!" He flexes both arms out to the side, ripping the sheet off of you with Cursed Chi and wrapping it around himself from behind. "Here." He chucks a handful of silver backwards. They slap you in the face and bounce off. "For your inevitable child." ''[Item Gained: 12 Silver]'' <<var $silver + 12>>\ With that he walks through the doorway, grinning ear to ear and flexing both arms as he turns down the hallway shouting, "CREW, WHERE ARE YOU? QING MUST TELL YOU A TALE OF HIS CONQUEST!" ... You're never drinking again. Probably. By the blessing of the Heavens, your room has its own adjoined washroom for you to bathe in privacy and shame, only to find a mess in the mid-thigh region of your pants. You don't have to worry about pregnancy after all, the drunk moron missed. <<var $roomscene "Qing">>\ <<page "Continue" "ch6-end-departure">>\ #show-if ($heshe is "she") BO-FUCKING-LO?! [Seduction] <<var $roomscene "Bo">>\ <<var $borep + 10>>\ You open your eyes to see a bit of hair at the bottom of the pillow across from you. Confused, you pull the covers back to see a short man in bed across from you and, to your absolute horror, it's Bo. "No." You whisper at first, growing into a howl. "No. No! NOOOOOOO!" Your scream wakes the man and he covers his ears, peering up at you. "It's pronounced 'Bo', and be silent! I am trying to sleep.” "Oh Ancestors Bo, shut it or I'll keelhaul you when we get back to sea." "You practically keelhauled me last night." He grumbles. "And now you dare to wake me with your womanly screams? I am a ''Warrior!'' I require proper rest to be at peak condition in defense of the Sect." You ignore every word he says and grab his face with both hands, straining his neck as you pull him closer by the skull. "Please, please, //please// tell me we did not have sex." Bo glares at you but relents, casting his gaze off to the side. "Not sex-sex, no, when the retainers had fallen asleep you took me aside and demanded I perform 'lung training'. When I agreed, you took me back here and spent hours forcing my mouth between your le-" "OKAY." You blurt out, covering his mouth with two shaking hands. "That's enough details. 'No' would have been fine." "Then unhand me." Bo declares in muffled tones, your hand still over his lower jaw. "Or face the consequences!" "Bo, you can back your head away from my hand at any moment." He does so, leaning back into freedom. "Ah." "Ancestors, I hate you." Bo leers. "You did not hate me last night." You throw a pillow at him so hard that it explodes around his face. "It was a hatefucking, Bo! Now get out, I need to bathe the shame away." <<page "Continue" "ch6-end-departure">>\ #A platter filled with buckwheat yakisoba, marinated chicken, egg, and green onion! Resting in the bed with you is a wide platter filled to the brim with buckwheat yakisoba tossed in some local savory sauce, fried eggs, and green onion, complete with seared chicken cooked just right and cut to perfect bite-sized portions. You grab the chopsticks sticking out of the bowl and greedily dig into the meal that drunk-you must have ordered and never got around to eating. By the Ancestors, what a great morning! <<var $solexp + 1>>\ <<var $retainer_morale + 1>>\ <<var $roomscene "Food">>\ <<page "Continue" "ch6-end-departure">>\ #Nothing, just a really bad bed. Huh. The middle of the bed just dips. What a piece of junk, you hope you didn't pay full price for this. Actually, you don't even remember paying anything at all. ...//Did// you pay for it? ''[Funds Saved: 10 Shards]'' <<var $shards + 10>>\ You quickly don your clothes and sneak out the window in hopes of meeting the rest of your crew back at the ships. <<var $roomscene "Nothing">>\ <<page "Continue" "ch6-end-departure">>\ <</choose>>

Surprisingly it's the various Martial Artists stranded in town that make better currency exchanges than the shops, as they're not charging a fee. You simply ask around for who's looking for what. You're not alone. Dozens of young Martial Artists are either seeking Shards for cycling or seeking to exchange their Shards for hard currencies in order to reach Nanhou without seeming like a bigger target to spiritual scans. <<var $calcsilver 0>>\ <<var $calcgold 0>>\ <<var $calcshards 0>>\ <<var $bingo 0>>\ <<choose "ch6-town-bank">> #Convert Silver to Shards. "Thank the Heavens you came along." Says one young man in a shabby white gi. "The gambling ring only takes Silver, I need to win my belt back!" Poor sap. You look through your funds and consider how much to exchange. ''[10 Silver equals 1 Shard, how many Silver would you like to exchange for Shards?]'' ''[Current Silver: $silver]'' <<input-number $calcsilver 0 $silver "ch6-town-bank">>\ #use-if ($gold gte 1) Convert gold to Shards. "Gold, right?" A woman in twin-tails down to her knees approaches in a hurry. "I heard you tell someone you were offering gold, right? Good. I've got Shards and I'm setting sail even with that giant //thing// in the water, so I need you to take it off my hands or we're going to smell like a meal. How much can you trade?" ''[1 Gold equals 10 Shards, how much Gold would you like to exchange for Shards?]'' ''[Current Gold: $gold]'' <<input-number $calcgold 0 $gold "ch6-town-bank">>\ #use-if ($shards gte 1) Convert Shards to Silver "Yeth!" Screams an over-eager and thick-necked Lunargoth when he catches up to you, panting. His front teeth are missing and it's given him a horrible accent. "Exacthy whah I wath ooking for!" He withdraws a satchel filled to the brim with shining Silver and points to the Shards you've been showing off for trade. "Hurry, hurry! I need to thycle for my reventh!" ''[1 Shard equals 10 Silver, how many Shards would you like to exchange for Silver?]'' ''[Current Shards: $shards]'' <<input-number $calcshards 0 $shards "ch6-town-bank">>\ #Go back. -> "ch6-town" <</choose>>

<<var $guirenrep - 2>>\ Guiren gasps at the price and starts putting his black cloth face-wrap back on. "Damn woman you were right, I //can't// afford you." "Ancestors," hisses the kunai'd ninja on the floor, "this is economy is in shambles." The Oni shakes his head while wrapping his face as well. "A damned shame." The five of them back up into the tavern room from which they came and shut the door behind them, leaving you looking around in confusion. Can people just do that? Leave in the middle of a conversation? You go to open the door to scold them for such bad manners. "I can still sense you, you kno-" It suddenly hits you that you //can't// sense their auras. You open the door and look into the room but they're nowhere to be seen. A breeze brushes against your face from the open window on the other side of the room. <<if ($flashstep is true)>>\ The damned Flash Step Technique. You'll never catch them without using your own, but...you don't exactly have a reason to follow someone who can't afford to pay. <<else>>\ How they left so fast is beyond you. <</if>>\ You return to your retainers and finish your tea, exchanging stories and relaxing before heading back out into town.

<<if ($persuasion gte 2)>>\ <<var $abduction "pills">>\ "Four combat pills?!" Guiren replies, stunned. "That's worth over 200 Shards!" His mouth begins to \ <<include "ch6-extort-win">>\ <<else>>\ ''[Persuasion 2 Check Failed]'' <<include "ch6-extort-brokeboy">>\ <<page "Continue" "ch6-town">>\ <</if>>\

<<if ($abduction isnot "pills")>>\ "$abduction Shards for one job?!" Guiren says, mouth \ <</if>>\ open as if he's gagging. He actually keeps gagging and it starts getting worse. You're confident he's about to throw up. You grab him by the collar and keep him from leaning over, staring directly into his eyes. "Guiren, listen to me and listen very carefully. I am worth it, and I will stay worth it, and I will make it //worth// your while." Guiren swallows and comes out of his finance-induced stupor. He nods slowly. "Yeah...Yeah. We could use the help..." "Guiren." Says one of the Humans in annoyance. "Guiren, don't do this." Yoji the Oni says, putting a hand on Guiren's shoulder. "You're obviously being fleeced." "No no, guys, it's okay." Guiren replies, looking from them and back to you with your intense eye contact. He stares into your eyes and nods, entranced. "She's worth it, I'm sure." "I hate this job," Yoji groans, "I get 100 Shards and the new girl gets \ <<if ($abduction is "pills")>>\ pills worth over 200." <<else>>\ $abduction." <</if>>\ "100?!" Asks one of the Human shinobi. "I'm getting 70!" "You guys are getting paid?" Wencheng asks from the floor. <<page "Continue" "ch6-extort-win2">>\

Wencheng closes the door to the tavern room as you all sit around a table. It's an odd sight, with so many black-clad ninjas hunched over casually. Most of them clean weapons and prepare vials of who-knows-what in their hidden pockets. You decide to break the silence. "So what's this job actually entail?" <<include "ch6-tavern-job3">>\

<<if ($val isnot 2786)>>\ "Nooooooo!" She wails as her body soars through the air over the crowd, landing in the sand that gets all over her fur. "This bout's winner has been decided," announces the old Windrising man, "it is $fullname!" <</if>>\ The crowd applauds and you feel the thrill of victory, then come out of your battlelust and see Tian Fang through the parted crowd, facedown in the sand. Right, you remember, this was a //spar//. With a tinge of guilt you jog over to see if she's okay. <<page "Continue" "ch6-fang-over2">>\

<<if ($lostduel is true)>>\ <<var $metfang + 20000000>>\ <<var $fangcombat + 1>>\ "A great victory for Tian Fang!" She announces, throwing her fists skyward as she clears out of the ring and over the crowd in three long jumps, kicking up sand as she lands near you and blowing away even more sand with how fast her tail is wagging. "Thank you for the most beneficial of trainings, Thunderfaller!" She gives a short bow. "It is good to know Tian Fang has improved." "Congratulations." You say, trying to keep the bitterness out of your voice. "You are not burdened with glorious despair?" Fang asks, tilting her head to the side and flopping one ear down. <<if ($honor gt 50)>>\ ''[Honor Check Passed]'' "I'm fine." You say truthfully. Losing is an important part of improving, and your honorable upbringing makes it easy to acknowledge that. <<var $counter + 2>>\ <<else>>\ ''[Honor Check Failed]'' "I'm perfectly fine." You lie through your teeth, internally seething. <</if>>\ "Most grand!" Tian Fang says, clapping lightly until a nearby seashell distracts her. It's hard to see how someone so aloof could defeat you. \ <<else>>\ <<if ($jadedragonfoundation is false)>>\ <<achieve "The Dog Days Are Over">>\ <</if>>\ <<var $metfang + 30000000>>\ <div class="fightingfont">Thunderfaller vs Tian Fang</div>\ <div class="fightingfont">Victory!</div>\ <<statcheck>>\ You approach Tian Fang's defeated, unmoving form on the sandy beach and check to see if she's okay. "Fang? Are you still conscious?" Waves roll in nearby. Tian Fang's body doesn't move. "Oh shit, Fang?" You drop to your knees and roll her over. <<if ($counter gte 4)>>\ <<if ($heshe is "he")>>\ <<var $fangromance + 1>>\ <</if>>\ <<var $fangrep + 3>>\ <</if>>\ "Earth Elemental Art!" She calls out as you roll her over. "Hand of Sand!" <<if ($portraitpics is true)>>\ <<image "https://www.auraclash.com/assets/images/fang-sand.jpg">>\ <</if>>\ She throws a handful of sand in your face. As you spit the sand out she jumps into the air, energetic as ever, and laughs. "Take //that//! Tian Fang has had her revenge and now we are most even!" "Ptleh." You spout, rubbing the sand off your tongue. "Damn it Fang, it was a sparring match, don't be such a sore loser." "It is your fault Tian Fang is sore!" She barks back. "Technically true." You concede. \ <</if>>\ At least it was a good spar. You learned a few tricks and had a chance to readjust your perspective of high speed combat. <<if ($counter gte 1)>>\ <<apboost $counter>>\ <</if>>\ Tian Fang stretches wide. "That was a most enlightening fight, but Tian Fang must be going most hastefully." "You're leaving already?" "Of course! I cannot leave my wolf pack waiting." "Wolf pack?" You ask. "Wolf Yokai or actual wolves?" "Wolf Yokai //are// actual wolves!" Her tail stiffens upward as she angrily stomps forward. <<if ($subrace is "Wolf")>>\ You're glad Father didn't hear that, he always thought it was a slur for Yokai. \ <<else>>\ You reflexively put both palms out in defense. \ <</if>>\ "Okay, okay, Ancestors. I couldn't tell because you were alone when we met." "Hmph!" Fang harumphs, turns her head to the side and up, then closes her eyes with a smug smile. "Shows what you know, Thunderfaller. Tian Fang is never alone. Her wolves have been right there the whole time!" She points to an unoccupied section of the distant tree line away from the beach. "..." "..." "Are they-" "Aahhh!!" Tian Fang screams, "My wolves! My wolves are gone!! AWWOOOO!!!" She breaks into a mad sprint on all fours towards the tree line, her fluffy tail shaking with panic. You're confident she's not coming back. <<page "Continue" "ch6-town">>\

"Going somewhere?" Calls a familiar voice. You turn around to see Leona in a dirty white long-sleeved shirt and brown full-body tunic with a straw hat on her head. Behind her is an entire crowd of slobbering fools following her like lovesick puppies. "Don't mind them, they saw me changing in the street." "Into that?" You ask with a hint of mockery. "What's the occasion?" "Fishin'!" She says through a piece of straw in her mouth. "I //love// teasing a living being with hidden blades in its food, then violently ripping it into the air where it can't even breathe. Don't get me started on how satisfying it is to filet them alive by the water's edge. The look in their eyes as they can see their escape but realize they aren't going to make it is just..." She inhales with a shiver. "Intoxicating." A bright smile spreads across her face. "That's the pitch I've been giving to guilt people out of the contest. How'd I do?" <<if ($ruthless gte 56)>>\ "Needs work." You admit. "Makes me want to catch a Fish Beast for a good fight. It sounds like you mean it though, I'll give you that." <<else>>\ "You've \ <<if ($ruthless gt 44)>>\ nearly \ <</if>>\ ruined it for me so I'd say it's very convincing." <</if>>\ "Because I meant every word." She whispers too loud, then returns to her normal voice. "Probably why it's worked so well on our competition. You're welcome for thinning the herd, by the way. Nobody thanks me enough." "//Our// competition?" You ask. "I never said I was signing up for a fishing tournament." You hadn't planned on participating in a moneymaking scheme with an entry fee when you could spend your evening training instead. "But you have to join!" She \ <<if ($heshe is "he")>>\ pleads with a heavy pout. \ <<else>>\ pleads. \ <</if>>\ "Is it because of the pitch? Pretend I never said it! Come on, even Devanic monks eat fish and they're all pansies!" She picks up a piece of chewable tallgrass from a section of roadside weeds and offers it to you. \ <<if ($heshe is "she")>>\ "If you don't show up I'll be the only jade beauty on the beach. We need to stick together! Plus your \ <<else>>\ "Think of all the fun you'll be missing. Your \ <</if>>\ whole crew wants in, you wouldn't disappoint them would you?" You suddenly recognize the slobbering fools watching her strut from behind. They're //your// slobbering fools. You almost didn't recognize your retainers now that most have had a bath. "Are you not participating, Honored <<cap $patriarch>>?" Asks one of the cat yokai among your crew. "The tavern is reserved for the winner's party tonight, we can't drink well unless one of us wins!" A smile involuntarily reaches your mouth. "Very well, you drunks. Let's catch a fish." <<page "Continue" "ch6-fishing2">>\

cast your line out into the waters and \ <<if ($fishtip is true)>>\ <<var $fishscore + 2>>\ use Guiren's tip from days ago. ''[Fishing Score Improved]'' <<if ($chummed is true)>>\ Focusing your Cursed Chi into the end of your line, you leash your power to the hook and expand it outward into a web that collects the chum in a cloud around the hook. <<else>>\ You cut your thumb with a spare hook to use your own blood as chum. Once it gets in the water you focus your Cursed Chi around the blood, leashing it to your hook so you only need a minimal amount to keep a chum cloud around your lure. <</if>>\ If anything gets within the three feet, your Cursed Chi should pull it into your hook immediately. You suppose, from the fish's perspective, this is a death curse. <<elseif ($style is "Midorikatai")>>\ <<var $fishscore + 2>>\ channel your Wild Chi just like Tian Fang showed you. The green energy channels through your rods, down your line, and out into the waters with a bestial command for the fish to start eating. You're not sure if you can actually talk to fish, seeing as they don't howl like wolves do, but the waters take on an expanding green glow as you try anyway. <<elseif ($style is "Kiihakai")>>\ send Mystic Chi down your line, animating the hook to dance and swim like a small wounded fish in a wider arc so you don't have to cast more than once. <<var $fishscore + 1>>\ <<else>>\ hope for the best. <</if>>\ Ten minutes go by and you begin to lower your expectations. Dozens of shouts come from other areas where people catch noteworthy fish but nothing has taken your line. You begin to worry that you made the wrong choice when you see a shadow under the water. <<if ($yokaitrait2 is "cat eyes")>>\ ''[Cat Yokai (Cat Eye) Event]'' Your eyes lock onto the movement immediately. <<var $fishscore + 1>>\ <<if ($spiritbrandloc is "eyes")>>\ <<var $fishscore + 1>>\ <</if>>\ <<elseif ($spiritbrandloc is "eyes")>>\ ''[Eye Spiritbrand Event]'' Your eyes see past the reflection of the water's surface and notice hints of movement. <<var $fishscore + 1>>\ <</if>>\ <<if (($element1 is "Water") or ($element2 is "Water"))>>\ <<var $fishscore + 2>>\ ''[Water Event]'' Not willing to take any risks, you reach a palm out with five fingers extended and close them, forming a much larger hand of Water Chi inside the sea that you close over the fish. Before it can react you force your hook into it's mouth and pull it up, lifting a sizeable catch into the air. <<elseif (($element1 is "Storm") or ($element2 is "Storm"))>>\ <<var $fishscore + 1>>\ ''[Storm Event]'' Not willing to take any risks, you grip your rod in both hands and cycle Storm Chi out of your cores. It's difficult to suppress a scream as you rush the electricity down your rod and direct it to electrocute the fish. The creature doesn't know what hits it, dying instantly. You dive down and plant your hook into its mouth then cheer when you resurface, feigning a legitimate catch. <<elseif (($element1 is "Ice") or ($element2 is "Ice"))>>\ <<var $fishscore + 1>>\ ''[Ice Event]'' Not willing to take any risks, your eyes shine pale blue as you flash freeze the fish in the water. Everything but the creature's mouth freezes over instantly and you dive down to plant your hook in its mouth, cheering when you resurface to feign a legitimate catch. <<else>>\ You dip your lure down and wiggle the jig to attract the fish's attention several times until your gambit finally pays off and it takes the hook. It tries to steal your hook and take off but you fight the creature, your line staying secure, as you pull against it until it tires and you can pull it out of the water. <</if>>\

After minutes of ducking, weaving, and whispering about intended crimes, you lose the ability to hide yourself in the crowd anymore because there isn't much of a crowd. Too many fishers flee back home to stop potential burglars that they swear they heard, just out of sight. Kosuke bows to your cunning and runs to the other side of the emptied pier after politely informing you that $bffhisher fish is going to crush yours. Unlikely, you think to yourself, as you \ <<include "ch6-fishing-cast">>\ ''[Survival Rank Added to Fishing Score]'' ''[Deception Rank Added to Fishing Score]'' <<var $fishscore + ($deception + $survival)>>\ <<if ($lore gte 2)>>\ ''[Lore 2 Check Passed, Fishing Score Improved Further]'' <<var $fishscore + 1>>\ <</if>>\ <<page "Continue" "ch6-fishing5">>\

Cramped shops and houses flank your party as you walk down the sandstone roads. The street becomes more crowded as you approach the beach, with dozens of strawhatted Laborers coming and going from each building to buy out the local fishing supplies. Martial Artists in combat gi of all colors intermingle with the crowd on their way as well, clearly stuck on land during their trip to the Trials just like your crew. With so much to do in town you had almost forgotten that you're all beached thanks to a Wild God running amok in the sea. As you exit the shopping rows and the beach comes into view, you see just how much competition you'll be up against. Nearly one-hundred men and women line the beach with their rods and buckets, with even more crowded onto the pier to cast further out. A few are even out in the water on row boats or rafts. <<var $txt "To your left is not the blonde lunargoth, who is off talking to some Windrising clerk, but rather Kosuke dressed in a brown travel cloak and straw">>\ "So that's why they have the straw hats." You say to Leona on your left while \ <<if ($clothes is "brown travel cloak and straw hat")>>\ tilting your own straw hat to block the light. "I //did// wonder why you were dressed like a homeless vagrant." Replies a voice that is noticeably not Leona's. "But it's grown on me." $txt hat that $bffheshe's tilting to block out the setting sun. "Homeless vagrant?" You ask in insult. "I think I look more intriguing and mysterious than that." Kosuke motions to $bffhisher own outfit. "I'm a homeless vagrant and we're wearing the same thing. Checkmate. I'll give you this: it's comfier than I expected; it masks //and// breathes." "Glad you see the light." You say with a roll of the eyes. "Let's go sign up for the tournament." <<else>>\ covering your eyes from the sun setting in the west. <<if (($heshe is "he") and ($bffheshe is "she"))>>\ "Relax big guy, \ <<elseif ((($heshe is "she") and ($bffheshe is "he")) and ($bffromance gte 1))>>\ "Don't worry your pretty little head, \ <<else>>\ "Relax boss, \ <</if>>\ I brought a spare." Says a voice that is noticeably not Leona's. $txt hat. <<cap $bffheshe>> holds a fishing rod in one hand and a spare strawhat in the other. "You look like a homeless vagrant." You say jokingly. "I //am// a homeless vagrant, now take the hat." You do; the sun over the ocean's horizon is bothering your eyes. <</if>>\ Together the two of you lead the rest of your crew to find a Windrising clerk to sign up for the tournament. It's easy to find them, you simply look for the annoyingly long lines of people waiting to talk to someone. Leona cuts you in line after revealing her seduction attempt on the first clerk was a colossal failure. Once you get to the front of the smallest line in sight you're face to face with a bald man seated at a makeshift table, a wooden chest dragged to the sands. "The entrance fee is 200 Silver." Says the aging clerk in bored monotone the second you approach him. "What a charmer." Whispers Leona. "I'll bet he's a hoot at the tavern." The clerk's expression doesn't even register the insult. "The entrance fee is 250 Silver." <<choose "ch6-fishing3">> #use-if ((($shards + ($silver / 10)) + ($gold * 10)) gte 25) Pay the fine. <<costcalc 25>>\ #"Kosuke, can you cover my fee?" "Kosuke, can you cover my fee?" You ask. "<<cap $name>>, can you cover my fee?" Kosuke asks simultaneously. "Whoa." <<cap $bffheshe>> blinks and steps back in surprise. "I never thought the day would come." <<cap $bffheshe>> looks down at $bffhisher hands as if seeing them in a new light. "The beggar has become the begged." "If it's too much-" "NO!" Kosuke shouts. <<cap $bffheshe>> clears $bffhisher throat. "I mean, no. I've been living off your charity for so long, it's only fair." <<cap $bffheshe>> withdraws a surplus of Silver and drops it into the clerks hands. "Thanks, I appreciate it." You say as the clerk's hands overflow with roughly 500 Silver that the poor sap now has to count. "Don't worry about it." Kosuke says warmly, \ <<if ((($bffheshe is "she") and ($heshe is "he")) and ($bffromance gte 1))>>\ hugging onto your arm. \ <<else>>\ patting you on the back. \ <</if>>\ "I charge twenty percent interest." <<if ($background is "Merchant")>>\ ''[Debt Acquired: 30 Shards]'' ''[Merchant Background Event]'' "I'll subtract it from your tab. I'll need to run the math on that, now that I think about it. We'll start with everything you've taken from the shop when Father's back was turned." Kosuke's smile stays but $bffhisher eyes widen in alarm. "Oh, hah! Haha! Nevermind the debt, don't worry one bit. There are no debts between friends, right? Right?" <<if (($bffromance gte 2) and ($heshe isnot $bffheshe))>>\ You tilt your head and stare at $bffhimher expectantly. Kosuke begins to squirm under the pressure. "I don't suppose we can settle this debt with something more intimate? That's got to be worth at least, what, five hundred Shards? Five thousand even, really." You continue staring \ <<else>>\ You tilt your head and stare \ <</if>>\ $bffhimher down until $bffheshe slowly picks up $bffhisher fishing rod and runs away to the pier. ''[Debt Erased]'' <<else>>\ "You //suck//." ''[Debt Acquired: 30 Shards]'' <<var $debt + 30>>\ <<var $debtnote + 1000000>>\ <</if>>\ <<page "Continue" "ch6-fishing3">>\ <</choose>>

As soon as you've paid the fee you're assailed with splashes of sand from all directions when your entire crew, Leona, and Kosuke all sprint off in different directions towards the water. "Hey!" You shout out. "Every \ <<if ($bffheshe is "she")>>\ woman for herself!" \ <<else>>\ man for himself!" \ <</if>>\ Kosuke replies, running toward the pier. "Out of the way losers!" Leona shouts, surging an Agility Core to dash for the coast in a forward-leaning sprint. "That big fish is waiting for ME!" Calls the slowest retainer enthusiastically, running behind the rest of your crew as they all dash for the shore. It seems loyalty is as shallow as the coast's waters. Left alone, you analyze the area for the best place to catch a winning fish. The pier is the obvious choice, considering all the shade and ample food. It's not that there aren't bigger fish in the sea, it's that the bigger fish simply aren't within casting range of the sands. Unfortunately the pier is full of fellow fishers. You'd need to think of a way to trick them into leaving if you're to have even the smallest hope of winning. Though you notice avenues to grasp victory. It dawns on you that you //could// simply swim out into the waters and cast from there. You are stronger than most low-grade Beasts, after all. Even catching a shark doesn't concern you as dangerous anymore. It does worry you that your scent may scare the fish away, you'd need some way to mask it... There's also your docked ship that you could use to cast off multiple lines and tie them to your riggings, but you'll need to be quick with your hands to handle such multitasking. If all else fails, a rocky outcropping up the coast near the edge of the town's territories can be used as a casting range. You wouldn't have nearly as much time to fish as everyone else after wasting so much time to get there, but you'd have privacy. If your fishing skills are up to the task, it could give the best returns. <<include "ch6-fishing4">>\

<<if ($val is 4154)>>\ <<var $val 0>>\ With the fishing tournament underway there are hundreds of Laborers, Merchants, and Warriors lining the coast and piers casting into the ocean to catch their quarry while Windrising clerks oversee from further up the sandy beach. The setting sun paints a yellow-orange light from over the horizon and you decide to... <</if>>\ <<choose "ch6-fishing5">> #use-once use-if ((($persuasion gte 1) and ($nogoodlure)) and ($shards gte 15)) First, haggle with fellow fishermen for a better lure. [Persuasion Check] Finding someone willing to part of quality gear is a difficult task. Luckily there's more than one fisherman that's been threatened by a visiting Martial Artist to leave their favorite spot. You recognize the sour expression of a ruined evening on the face of an old man leaving the beach with an expensive looking rod in-hand. "Sir!" You call out, jogging up to the man. "Sir, I'd like to buy your lure if you have the time." The old man looks to you with a wrinkled and bitter expression. "First I lose my chance to come home with a fish, now you want me to go home without a lure? Kids these days have no respect, I tell you!" <<var $val (17 - ($persuasion * 2))>>\ <<if $val lt 3>>\ <<var $val 3>>\ <</if>>\ "I can overpay." You offer, holding out $val Shards. <<if ($persuasion gte 1)>>\ ''[Persuasion 1 Check Passed]'' He swallows, rubs his neck, and tightens his lips while eyeing the money. "My apologies, \ <<if ($heshe is "he")>>\ Sonny, \ <<else>>\ young lady, \ <</if>>\ you're one of the good ones." ''[Item Lost: $val Shards]'' <<var $shards - $val>>\ <<var $val 0>>\ ''[Improved Lure Acquired]'' <<var $nogoodlure false>>\ <<var $fishscore + 1>>\ <<else>>\ ''[Persuasion 1 Check Failed]'' He spits on you and leaves. <</if>>\ <<var $val 4154>>\ <<page "Continue" "ch6-fishing4">>\ #use-once use-if ($nogoodlure is true) First, assemble a good lure from my satchel's supplies. The lure on your fishing hook is a flattened hook that might as well be a nail. It doesn't fill you with confidence. You sit down on the beach and empty out your satchel of supplies you've been carrying since leaving Thunderfall Village, complete with a few tools and spare materials you've kept around for emergencies. With a gull feather nearby and the supplies you've gathered, you manage to assemble... <<if ($craft gte 3)>>\ ''[Craft 3 Check Passed]'' A fine lure that could easily be mistaken for a fleeing fish, so long as your technique in drawing the line back is correct. <<var $fishscore + 2>>\ <<var $nogoodlure false>>\ <<elseif ($craft gte 2)>>\ ''[Craft 2 Check passed]'' A better lure that a fish might actually mistake for something it should eat, so long as your technique in drawing the line back is correct. <<var $fishscore + 1>>\ <<var $nogoodlure true>>\ <<else>>\ ''[Craft 2 Check Failed]'' A piece of junk. You correct the flattened hook of your first lure and hope it works well enough. <</if>>\ <<var $val 4154>>\ <<page "Continue" "ch6-fishing4">>\ #use-once use-if (($alchemy + $survival) gte 4) First, concoct an irresistible chum. Fishing for big fish means fishing for predators. With such a short time frame to fish, you're going to need a chum to bring them to you. You scale the coast looking for discarded small fish that people haven't put in buckets, collecting them in your arms as you run through to collect even more. It //stinks//. Perfect. When the realization that you'll need a bucket strikes, you consider who to steal from until you remember that you have retainers. One of your men, the slow enthusiastic one from earlier, gives you his fourth spare bucket. He is //very// confident he'll be catching plenty of fish. Once you have the fish ready you go through your alchemical ingredients to see which ones could help the chum more appetizing to chi-seeking predators without ruining the smell. You start dumping powders into the bucket while chopping and crushing the fish, assembling a disgusting bucket's worth of... <<if (($alchemy + $survival) gte 4)>>\ ''[Alchemy + Survival 4 Check Passed]'' The best chum money can buy. You prepare the bloodied bucket and head off to your next preparation. <<var $fishscore + 1>>\ <<if ($survival gte 3)>>\ <<var $fishscore + 1>>\ <</if>>\ <<var $chummed true>>\ <<else>>\ ''[Alchemy + Survival 4 Check Failed]'' Garbage. Absolute garbage. The stuff reeks of unnatural chemicals now and you can't even be bothered to toss it into the waters, lest you anger several Martial Artists fishing nearby by ruining their chances. You don't need more feuds when the Trials are so close. <</if>>\ <<var $val 4154>>\ <<page "Continue" "ch6-fishing4">>\ #show-if (($spiritbrandloc is "hair") or ($spiritbrandloc is "hairstrip")) use-once use-if (((($hairlength is "waist-length") or ($hairlength is "long and tied")) or ($hairlength is "chest-length")) or ($hairlength is "tied-back")) First, weave a top-quality fishing line using spiritbranded hair. [Requires Long Hair] It hadn't occurred to you that a spiritbrand could be useful, but the biggest fish are going to be the ones that have consumed chi in their lifetime. Keeping that appetite in mind, you pull out a few of your $spiritbrandcolor hairs from your spiritbranded hair and braid them into the tip of your fishing line to draw the fish in. ''[Fishing Line Improved]'' <<var $fishscore + 2>>\ <<var $val 4154>>\ <<page "Continue" "ch6-fishing4">>\ #Swim out and cast in the waters. [Survival + Athletics] <<if ($stealth gte 2)>>\ ''[Stealth 2 Check Passed]'' <<var $fishscore + 1>>\ Before getting into the water you cover yourself in sand and rage your aura to full power, collecting and burning off any excess sweat to minimize the amount of a trail you leave in the waters. Several spiritual scans reach you from concerned Martial Artists but no one acts. With that done \ <<else>>\ <<var $fishscore - 1>>\ With no time to lose \ <</if>>\ you take all your supplies in one hand and use the other to swim out in front of everyone, getting hooked several times and wincing from the sting of rival barbs. A few fishermen yell at you for ruining their lines but seem unwilling to swim in after you. Once you reach deeper waters you \ <<include "ch6-fishing-cast">>\ ''[Survival Rank Added to Fishing Score]'' ''[Athletics Rank Added to Fishing Score]'' <<var $fishscore + ($athletics + $survival)>>\ <<if ($survival gte 2)>>\ ''[Survival 2 Check Passed, Fishing Score Improved Further]'' <<var $fishscore + 1>>\ <</if>>\ <<page "Continue" "ch6-fishing5">>\ #Board your ship and cast multiple lines off the side. [Survival + Thievery] Nobody has told you any rules about casting multiple lines, so you head to your flagship docked on the pier and run under the deck to get the fishing rods your crew already owns. With multiple rods in hand, you run back up to the deck and start casting them one after another to different areas. Each rod is secured by a rope you tie around it and, in theory, you should see the rod shake when it gets a catch. With just one rod left, the one you'll hold the entire time, you \ <<include "ch6-fishing-cast">>\ ''[Survival Rank Added to Fishing Score]'' ''[Thievery Rank Added to Fishing Score]'' <<var $fishscore + ($thievery + $survival)>>\ <<if ($survival gte 3)>>\ ''[Survival 3 Check Passed, Fishing Score Improved Further]'' <<var $fishscore + 1>>\ <</if>>\ <<page "Continue" "ch6-fishing5">>\ #Cast off the pier with the others. [Survival + Deception] If you can't beat them, join them. Seeing so many people on the pier tells you one thing: the pier is the best place to fish. You grab your supplies and run up to the pier with one goal in mind, which is how to get rid of all these people. <<if ($ruthless gte 60)>>\ An energy blast should do it, but the Windrising Sect is present all over the tournament \ <</if>>\ Luckily Kosuke is up here, which gives you an idea. You weave through the crowd and drop whispers hinting at criminal acts. You mention specific home locations you've passed on your way through town and imply you're telling someone in the crowd that "the boss" said to "try" that house while the owner is fishing. Kosuke's ears perk up when you try this near $bffhimher. She turns around incredulously and sees you, suppresses a laugh, and joins you in the patrols. <<page "Continue" "ch6-fishing-pier">>\ #Cast off the rocks up the coast. [Survival + Perception] Not willing to waste any time you collect your supplies and run up the coast as fast as you can. Anything coming down the coast from the north will pass by the rocks jutting into the water before they get to the other fishermen; that's your key to victory. You're going to be the first lure they find. Minutes of exertion pass until you reach the rocks miles away. It's pleasing to find you're not even out of breath. Without hesitation you hop from one wet and slippery rock to the other, balancing yourself like the Martial Artist you have become. When you get to the end you \ <<include "ch6-fishing-cast">>\ ''[Survival Rank Added to Fishing Score]'' ''[Perception Rank Added to Fishing Score]'' <<var $fishscore + ($perception + $survival)>>\ <<if ($survival gte 3)>>\ ''[Survival 3 Check Passed, Fishing Score Improved Further]'' <<var $fishscore + 2>>\ <<elseif ($survival gte 2)>>\ ''[Survival 2 Check Passed, Fishing Score Improved Further]'' <<var $fishscore + 1>>\ <</if>>\ <<page "Continue" "ch6-fishing5">>\ <</choose>>

You sprint back to the Windrising clerks judging the tournament with your sizeable fish in your hands. "I got one!" You shout. "I've got a fish!" Four Windrising clerks in their green and black robes stand around ten large pulley-scales. Contestants stand in front of the scales and place their fish on one hammock while a clerk places plated rocks on the other side until the weight evens out. You run up to an unattended scale and present your fish to the nearest clerk in both hands. "I submit this fish as my catch." The clerk looks at your fish \ <<if ($fishscore gte 10)>>\ with his eyes nearly bulging out of his head. "D-Don't just stand there, fool! Place it on the scale!" <<elseif ($fishscore gte 7)>>\ with an appreciative nod. "Not bad, come with me and place it on the scale." <<else>>\ with a bored expression. "Place it on the scale, we shall test its weight." <</if>>\ <<page "Drop your fish on the scale." "ch6-fishing6">>\

<<if ($fishscore gte 10)>>\ <<if ($jadedragonfoundation is false)>>\ <<achieve "There's Always a Bigger Fish">>\ <</if>>\ Dropping your fish on the scale causes the opposite side's hammock, the one already filled with rocks, to shoot up into the air so fast that the rocks go airborne. "We have a winner!" The clerk announces. "This surpasses any weight we've yet to see. Congratulations, young $manwoman, your catch is now the number one rival to beat for every man, woman, and child here. And we end in mere minutes when the sun finishes setting." "That's great." You say with a huff. Carrying that enormous thing over here wasn't easy, even for you. "What do I get if I win?" "Five percent of the tournament's proceeds, and a sizeable portion of your catch's meat." "//Five percent?!// And a 'portion' of something that already belongs to me?" The clerk ignores you, leaning over instead to inspect your massive catch. "Although, now that I get a closer look, something about this seems off." Your palms begin to sweat and suddenly five percent doesn't sound so bad. "What's, uh, what's off about it?" <<var $val 2232>>\ <<elseif ($fishscore gte 7)>>\ Dropping your fish on the scale causes the hammock to drop substantially, lifting the rocks on the other side. "A fine catch!" The clerk announces. He places a few more rocks onto the other hammock until the scale evens out. "The meat on this catch qualifies you for a refund, it will feed our village well." "I don't get to keep it?" The clerk doesn't even turn around to answer you as he drops a pouch of 200 Silver in your hand. ''[Item Gained: 200 Silver]'' <<var $silver + 200>>\ You count through the pouch and look back up. "I paid 250." "Irrelevant." The clerk says, removing rocks from the scale's other side so he can lower your catch's hammock to the ground and drag it away. "The fee was 200, any extra is between you and whoever you paid. Although..." <<else>>\ When you drop your fish on the scale, the other side doesn't lift one inch. Your stomach drops. Not only is your fish not the best in the tournament, it's not even better than the last fish to be weighed on this scale. <<if ($honor lt 50)>>\ "Aw shit." You groan out. <<else>>\ "What a waste." You say to yourself. <</if>>\ "Indeed, a poor catch. We'll have it taken away for cleaning." You nod and look off at the other fishers, feeling your excitement die down. <<if ($honor lt 50)>>\ "Alright, \ <<else>>\ "Very well, \ <</if>>\ at least you clean it for us." "For you?" The clerk asks. "This fish belongs to our village, the contestants don't get to keep them." This tournament sucks. "Although..." \ <</if>>\ <<if ($val isnot 2232)>>\ The clerk says, inspecting your catch closer. "Now that I get a better look, this is an odd catch." <<if ($fishscore gte 7)>>\ You begin to sweat. "What's, er...what's odd about it?" <<else>>\ You truly don't care anymore, but you entertain the man anyway. "What's odd about it?" <</if>>\ <</if>>\ He points to the scale pattern and head. "This is an amberjack, but not the yellowtailed ones that approach the coasts. It shouldn't be anywhere near the shore. What is such a fish doing so far away from deep waters...?" //!!!// An oppressive spiritual scan slams into your aura and, judging by the silence that washes over the rest of the tournament, it slams into everyone else too. <<page "Continue" "ch6-lightbringer">>\

Most shops designed for equipment customizations are taken, but eventually you find a foundry with a few open forges. After spotting one man barking orders to others, you approach the supposed-owner and inquire about renting a space to get some work done. "Money?!" The forgemaster screams over the sound of hammering metal behind him. "You think I care about money?! Kid, people are paying me quadruple rates as a //starting bid//, I've got money up to my eyeballs. I need materials! Piss off unless you have Jade." He violently flings a hand away from the bazaar, dismissing you, then turns back. "Wait. Do you have Jade? I'm not picky, I'd take Beastbone, Snowsteel, or Truegold too." "Err, no." You reply sheepishly. \ <<if ($background is "Blacksmith")>>\ <<var $forexp + 2>>\ The materials he's citing off are such high quality that Father hasn't ever even worked with them, they're reserved only for the best weapons in the lands. \ <<else>>\ "What are those?" The forgemaster's cheek twitches in irritation. "They're what I need! They're what everyone needs, you ignorant whelp! How am I supposed to make best-of-the-best's weapons and armor without the best-of-the-best materials?!" "Well I don't have anything like that." You admit. \ <</if>>\ "But I do have more common materials in \ <<if ($loot is 0)>>\ bulk." You lie. <<else>>\ bulk." <</if>>\ The forgemaster rubs his temple and looks from you to his busy and crowded foundry, twice. "Fine. You bring me those goods for my foundry, and I'll let you use a forging station. Hells, you bring me enough steel and I'll give you my grandmother." <<page "Continue" "ch6-forge2">>\

Working with Beastbone of such high quality is harder than you thought. It doesn't answer to hammers or heat, and regular sanding paper is far too weak. You manage to procure a specialized sanding paper made from centuries-old trees and fine quartz-sand, spending over an hour scrubbing the Beastbone plates down When you put your full might into it and flare your $auracolor aura, you're shocked to find the results barely improve. One thing you hadn't counted on is that high grade Beastbone means a high Aura Pressure Beast. Whatever creature this bone comes from, it was stronger than you in life. After hours of work you manage to finally get the plates prepared and properly implemented into the armguards. You pack your empowered armguards away knowing they've not only improved in power, they've also become an intergenerational masterpiece. ''[Item Lost: $armguardname]'' <<if ($armguardname is "Empowered Armguards (Spiked)")>>\ <<var $armguardname2 ($clan + " Armguards (Spiked)")>>\ <<else>>\ <<var $armguardname2 ($clan + " Armguards")>>\ <</if>>\ ''[Item Gained: $armguardname2]'' <<if ($equippedaccessory1 is $armguardname) or ($equippedaccessory2 is $armguardname)>>\ <<var $power - $armguardpow>>\ <<var $fortitude - $armguardfort>>\ <<if ($armguardpow gt 0)>>\ <<var $armguardpow + 1>>\ <<elseif ($armguardfort gt 0)>>\ <<var $armguardfort + 1>>\ <<else>>\ ''[BUG! Both armguardfort and armguardpow are at 0 or below, but armguards are equipped!]'' <</if>>\ <<var $power + $armguardpow>>\ <<var $fortitude + $armguardfort>>\ <<if ($equippedaccessory1 is $armguardname)>>\ <<var $equippedaccessory1 $armguardname2>>\ <<else>>\ <<var $equippedaccessory2 $armguardname2>>\ <</if>>\ <</if>>\ <<var $armguardname $armguardname2>>\ <<var $loot - 3>>\ If only Father could see you now. He would be //enraged.// Did you just walk away from the sanding station without sweeping it off first?! You shake your impression of Father's voice out of your head and clean up the crafting station. With that done, you get back to work. <<include "ch6-forge2">>\

<<choose "ch6-forge-craftwep2">> #Craft a standard steel and wood weapon. [Costs 0 Shards] <<var $material 200000000>>\ #use-if (((($shards + ($silver / 10)) + ($gold * 10)) gte 100) and ($craft gte 2)) Craft a Jade weapon. [Requires Craft 2, Costs 100 Shards] <<var $material 201000000>>\ <<var $matts "Jade">>\ <<costcalc 100>>\ #use-if (((($shards + ($silver / 10)) + ($gold * 10)) gte 80) and ($craft gte 3)) Craft a Beastbone weapon. [Requires Craft 3, Costs 80 Shards] <<var $material 202000000>>\ <<var $matts "Beastbone">>\ <<costcalc 80>>\ #use-if (((($shards + ($silver / 10)) + ($gold * 10)) gte 120) and ($craft gte 2)) Craft a Snowsteel weapon. [Requires Craft 2, Costs 120 Shards] <<var $material 203000000>>\ <<var $matts "Snowsteel">>\ <<costcalc 120>>\ #use-if (((($shards + ($silver / 10)) + ($gold * 10)) gte 140) and ($craft gte 3)) Craft a Truegold weapon. [Requires Craft 3, Costs 140 Shards] <<var $material 204000000>>\ <<var $matts "Truegold">>\ <<costcalc 140>>\ <</choose>>

<<if (dig($material, 3) is 0)>>\ With your lumber and steel ingots prepared, you... <<elseif (dig($material, 3) is 1)>>\ The Jade in your hands is junk-quality for jewelry but large enough to be perfect for weaponry. You prepare several files and a sturdy chisel by the kiln and polishing wheel then... <<elseif (dig($material, 3) is 2)>>\ Beastbone is far sturdier than you expected. When you purchased the excess from a busy Martial Artist he was //welding// chi-hardened bones together to form a billet before grinding it down. You decide to copy his technique then... <<elseif (dig($material, 3) is 3)>>\ At first you were worried that Snowsteel would freeze your hands, but thankfully the metal is only named for its appearance. The layers of gray, black, white, and silver in the metal ingots remind you of thick, layered black ice atop a dark lake. You... <<elseif (dig($material, 3) is 4)>>\ Truegold looks like gold. You don't know what else you expected. At first you think the tradesman has swindled you, but quickly shake off the thought. If he actually had traded this much gold for 140 Shards then you're the swindler, not him, and he's made you rich. Trusting that you didn't just make the deal of the century, and focusing on weaponry instead, you consider the best weapon for your fighting style and seek out the molds needed to... <</if>>\ <<choose "ch6-forge2">> #use-if (dig($itembostaff, 1) is 1) Craft a Bo Staff, a Zenshin-style combat staff <<var $itembostaff $material>>\ ''[Item Gained: Bo Staff]'' After sanding and polishing the strongest piece of wood you can find, you get to work on everything that makes a Bo Staff better than a stick. When you're done you spin the weapon in place and feel satisfied at how smoothly it flows. The tips are secured and weighted with metal caps and the grip and its center is impeccably well done to ensure your hands stay in the comfort zone but can slide past it without issue if needed. <<var $val 80085>>\ <<page "Continue" "ch6-forge2">>\ #show-if (dig($itembostaff, 1) gte 2) use-if ((dig($itembostaff, 3) is 0) and (dig($material, 3) gte 1)) Replace your Bo Staff with a new one made from $matts. <<var $itembostaff $material>>\ <<if ($equippedweapon is "Bo Staff")>>\ <<unequipweapon1>>\ <<var $weaponbonus $material>>\ <<weaponbonuses>>\ <</if>>\ ''[Item Gained: Bo Staff]'' After sanding and polishing the strongest piece of wood you can find, you get to work on everything that makes a Bo Staff better than a stick. When you're done you spin the weapon in place and feel satisfied at how smoothly it flows. The tips are secured and weighted with metal caps and the grip and its center is impeccably well done to ensure your hands stay in the comfort zone but can slide past it without issue if needed. <<var $val 80085>>\ <<page "Continue" "ch6-forge2">>\ #use-if (dig($itemgreataxe, 1) is 1) Craft a Greataxe, a Gothic-style two-handed double-bladed axe <<var $itemgreataxe $material>>\ ''[Item Gained: Greataxe]'' After several trips between the woodworkers and the foundry a large smile spreads across your face when you look upon your creation. A truly massive two-handed Lunargothic greataxe. With one overhead swing you test the axe's weight and need to call on your Power Cores to stop from slicing through the stone floor. It's perfect. <<var $val 80085>>\ <<page "Continue" "ch6-forge2">>\ #show-if (dig($itemgreataxe, 1) gte 2) use-if ((dig($itemgreataxe, 3) is 0) and (dig($material, 3) gte 1)) Replace your Greataxe with a new one made from $matts. <<var $itemgreataxe $material>>\ <<if ($equippedweapon is "Greataxe")>>\ <<unequipweapon1>>\ <<var $weaponbonus $material>>\ <<weaponbonuses>>\ <</if>>\ ''[Item Gained: Greataxe]'' After several trips between the woodworkers and the foundry a large smile spreads across your face when you look upon your creation. A truly massive two-handed Lunargothic greataxe. With one overhead swing you test the axe's weight and need to call on your Power Cores to stop from slicing through the stone floor. It's perfect. <<var $val 80085>>\ <<page "Continue" "ch6-forge2">>\ #use-if (dig($itemjian, 1) is 1) Craft a Jian, a Cathayan-style straight sword <<var $itemjian $material>>\ ''[Item Gained: Jian]'' After hours of work you finish perfecting the edges of the straight blade and get to work on its guard, handle, pommel, sheath, and handle-wrap. Only by the grace of Agility Cores are you able to finish before the day's over. When you're done the shining new blade resembles an imperial decorative piece with the sharpness to match an imperial executioner's piece. <<var $val 80085>>\ <<page "Continue" "ch6-forge2">>\ #show-if (dig($itemjian, 1) gte 2) use-if ((dig($itemjian, 3) is 0) and (dig($material, 3) gte 1)) Replace your Jian with a new one made from $matts. <<var $itemjian $material>>\ <<if ($equippedweapon is "Jian")>>\ <<unequipweapon1>>\ <<var $weaponbonus $material>>\ <<weaponbonuses>>\ <</if>>\ ''[Item Gained: Jian]'' After hours of work you finish perfecting the edges of the straight blade and get to work on its guard, handle, pommel, sheath, and handle-wrap. Only by the grace of Agility Cores are you able to finish before the day's over. When you're done the shining new blade resembles an imperial decorative piece with the sharpness to match an imperial executioner's piece. <<var $val 80085>>\ <<page "Continue" "ch6-forge2">>\ #use-if (dig($itemkunai, 1) is 1) Craft a Kunai, a Zenshin-style throwing knife <<var $itemkunai $material>>\ ''[Item Gained: Kunai]'' Finishing the steelwork of the properly weighted double-edged knife \ <<if ($style is "Kurokonton")>>\ <<var $agiexp + 2>>\ feels right in your hands, the Cursed Chi surging through your spirit running smoothly over its aerodynamic design. You can envision a hundred ways to control it with your Cursed Chi as if it were a part of your own body, using your chi leash like a rope or pulley to change the trajectory mid-air and surprise your opponents. In doing so, you envision several ways you can use your Cursed Chi towards acrobatic maneuvers as well. <<if ($athletics lte 1)>>\ ''[Athletics Increased by + 1]'' <<var $athletics + 1>>\ <<elseif ($stealth lte 1)>>\ ''[Stealth Increased by + 1]'' <<var $stealth + 1>>\ <<else>>\ <<apboost 5>>\ <</if>>\ <<else>>\ proves the right decision when it cuts through a throwing target outside (someone's crate). The secret to keeping it so sharp is in the curved arc of the steel before reaching the blade, and it worked perfectly. You fetch the blade, test its weight, hold it outward and inward for a few mock-slashes and stabs, and nod in satisfaction. <</if>>\ <<var $val 80085>>\ <<page "Continue" "ch6-forge2">>\ #show-if (dig($itemkunai, 1) gte 2) use-if ((dig($itemkunai, 3) is 0) and (dig($material, 3) gte 1)) Replace your Kunai with a new one made from $matts. <<var $itemkunai $material>>\ <<if ($equippedweapon is "Kunai")>>\ <<unequipweapon1>>\ <<var $weaponbonus $material>>\ <<weaponbonuses>>\ <</if>>\ ''[Item Gained: Kunai]'' Finishing the steelwork of the properly weighted double-edged knife proves the right decision when it cuts through a throwing target outside (someone's crate). The secret to keeping it so sharp is in the curved arc of the steel before reaching the blade, and it worked perfectly. You fetch the blade, test its weight, hold it outward and inward for a few mock-slashes and stabs, and nod in satisfaction. <<var $val 80085>>\ <<page "Continue" "ch6-forge2">>\ #use-if (dig($itemkatana, 1) is 1) Craft a Katana, a Zenshin-style curved sword <<var $itemkatana $material>>\ ''[Item Gained: Katana]'' After hours of folding steel you finish perfecting the edges of the curved blade and get to work on its guard, handle, pommel, sheath, and handle-wrap. Only by the grace of Agility Cores are you able to finish before the day's over. When you're done the shining new blade resembles an imperial decorative piece with the sharpness to match an executioner's blade. <<var $val 80085>>\ <<page "Continue" "ch6-forge2">>\ #show-if (dig($itemkatana, 1) gte 2) use-if ((dig($itemkatana, 3) is 0) and (dig($material, 3) gte 1)) Replace your Katana with a new one made from $matts. <<var $itemkatana $material>>\ <<if ($equippedweapon is "Katana")>>\ <<unequipweapon1>>\ <<var $weaponbonus $material>>\ <<weaponbonuses>>\ <</if>>\ ''[Item Gained: Katana]'' After hours of folding steel you finish perfecting the edges of the curved blade and get to work on its guard, handle, pommel, sheath, and handle-wrap. Only by the grace of Agility Cores are you able to finish before the day's over. When you're done the shining new blade resembles an imperial decorative piece with the sharpness to match an executioner's blade. <<var $val 80085>>\ <<page "Continue" "ch6-forge2">>\ #use-if (dig($itemmeteorhammer, 1) is 1) Craft a Meteor Hammer, a Cathayan-style chained throwing-mace <<var $itemmeteorhammer $material>>\ ''[Item Gained: Meteor Hammer]'' One set of molds describes an odd weapon: the meteor hammer. Two bluntly spiked steel balls bigger than your fists attached to a long and dexterous chain. It's...it's beautiful. You get to work forging the hundreds of chain links and maceheads, only finishing before nightfall thanks to your Agility and Power Cores and, to be honest, your Fortitude Cores once the exhaustion of such high speed, high intensity work sets in. When you're done and you grab the chain in one hand and give the weapon a good swing, feeling the heavy weight of the metal maceheads on both ends for leverage. With a soft release you let the spinning ball of steel fly off into an abandoned crate before pulling it back in one quick jerk, catching the steel macehead in your hand. <<if ($honor lt 49)>>\ Hell yes. Helllllllll yes. <<else>>\ In an odd way, its inefficient design makes it superior. You doubt many opponents have been trained on how to defend against your creation. <</if>>\ <<var $val 80085>>\ <<page "Continue" "ch6-forge2">>\ #show-if (dig($itemmeteorhammer, 1) gte 2) use-if ((dig($itemmeteorhammer, 3) is 0) and (dig($material, 3) gte 1)) Replace your Meteor Hammer with a new one made from $matts. <<var $itemmeteorhammer $material>>\ <<if ($equippedweapon is "Meteor Hammer")>>\ <<unequipweapon1>>\ <<var $weaponbonus $material>>\ <<weaponbonuses>>\ <</if>>\ ''[Item Gained: Meteor Hammer]'' One set of molds describes an odd weapon: the meteor hammer. Two bluntly spiked steel balls bigger than your fists attached to a long and dexterous chain. It's...it's beautiful. You get to work forging the hundreds of chain links and maceheads, only finishing before nightfall thanks to your Agility and Power Cores and, to be honest, your Fortitude Cores once the exhaustion of such high speed, high intensity work sets in. When you're done and you grab the chain in one hand and give the weapon a good swing, feeling the heavy weight of the metal maceheads on both ends for leverage. With a soft release you let the spinning ball of steel fly off into an abandoned crate before pulling it back in one quick jerk, catching the steel macehead in your hand. <<if ($honor lt 49)>>\ Hell yes. Helllllllll yes. <<else>>\ In an odd way, its inefficient design makes it superior. You doubt many opponents have been trained on how to defend against your creation. <</if>>\ <<var $val 80085>>\ <<page "Continue" "ch6-forge2">>\ #use-if (dig($itemqiang, 1) is 1) Craft a Qiang, a Cathayan-style halberd <<var $itemqiang $material>>\ ''[Item Gained: Qiang]'' After several trips between the woodworkers and the foundry a large smile spreads across your face when you look upon your creation. An impressive spear housing a multi-pronged and sturdy blade at its end as well as an awe-inspiring thick red and gold tassels for decoration. You give the spear several spins and thrust forward to test its weight and reach, finding both to be superb. <<var $val 80085>>\ <<page "Continue" "ch6-forge2">>\ #show-if (dig($itemqiang, 1) gte 2) use-if ((dig($itemqiang, 3) is 0) and (dig($material, 3) gte 1)) Replace your Qiang with a new one made from $matts. <<var $itemqiang $material>>\ <<if ($equippedweapon is "Qiang")>>\ <<unequipweapon1>>\ <<var $weaponbonus $material>>\ <<weaponbonuses>>\ <</if>>\ ''[Item Gained: Qiang]'' After several trips between the woodworkers and the foundry a large smile spreads across your face when you look upon your creation. An impressive spear housing a multi-pronged and sturdy blade at its end as well as an awe-inspiring thick red and gold tassels for decoration. You give the spear several spins and thrust forward to test its weight and reach, finding both to be superb. <<var $val 80085>>\ <<page "Continue" "ch6-forge2">>\ #use-if (dig($itemyumi, 1) is 1) Craft a Yumi, a Zenshin-style bow <<var $itemyumi $material>>\ ''[Item Gained: Yumi]'' Most of your work is done in the fletcher's and the woodworker's, with only your arrowheads, bowtips, and grip using any actual metal. When you're done you manage to procure plenty of tossed wood that your crew can whittle down into arrows later. You make a few yourself quickly to test the draw strength of your bow. You used the strongest wood and toughest Beast hair you could find for the string, so when you can barely pull the thing back you smile. Putting your full force into this should blow a hole through a castle. <<var $val 80085>>\ <<page "Continue" "ch6-forge2">>\ #show-if (dig($itemyumi, 1) gte 2) use-if ((dig($itemyumi, 3) is 0) and (dig($material, 3) gte 1)) Replace your Yumi with a new one made from $matts. <<var $itemyumi $material>>\ <<if ($equippedweapon is "Yumi")>>\ <<unequipweapon1>>\ <<var $weaponbonus $material>>\ <<weaponbonuses>>\ <</if>>\ ''[Item Gained: Yumi]'' Most of your work is done in the fletcher's and the woodworker's, with only your arrowheads, bowtips, and grip using any actual metal. When you're done you manage to procure plenty of tossed wood that your crew can whittle down into arrows later. You make a few yourself quickly to test the draw strength of your bow. You used the strongest wood and toughest Beast hair you could find for the string, so when you can barely pull the thing back you smile. Putting your full force into this should blow a hole through a castle. <<var $val 80085>>\ <<page "Continue" "ch6-forge2">>\ #use-if (dig($itemhandwraps, 1) is 1) Craft a pair of Weighted Handwraps, a universal fist weapon <<var $itemhandwraps $material>>\ ''[Item Gained: Handwraps]'' You're a Martial Artist damn it, and that means fighting with your fists. The only issue in preparing a weighted set of handwraps is measuring out where to fit the weights. It's essentially a pair of brass knuckles with sewn pockets of weights around the outside of the hand as well, in case you need to hammer your fist down on someone's head. After an hour of planning, procuring the proper materials, forging the weights at the right sizes, and sewing the materials together with Beast hair, you wrap the new weapon around your hands and slam a fist into an emptied crate to test. You spit out the splinters from the exploded crate and admire your work. That'll do. <<var $val 80085>>\ <<page "Continue" "ch6-forge2">>\ #show-if (dig($itemhandwraps, 1) gte 2) use-if ((dig($itemhandwraps, 3) is 0) and (dig($material, 3) gte 1)) Replace your Handwraps with new ones made with $matts studs. <<var $itemhandwraps $material>>\ <<if ($equippedweapon is "Handwraps")>>\ <<unequipweapon1>>\ <<var $weaponbonus $material>>\ <<weaponbonuses>>\ <</if>>\ ''[Item Gained: Handwraps]'' You're a Martial Artist damn it, and that means fighting with your fists. The only issue in preparing a weighted set of handwraps is measuring out where to fit the weights. It's essentially a pair of brass knuckles with sewn pockets of weights around the outside of the hand as well, in case you need to hammer your fist down on someone's head. After an hour of planning, procuring the proper materials, forging the weights at the right sizes, and sewing the materials together with Beast hair, you wrap the new weapon around your hands and slam a fist into an emptied crate to test. You spit out the splinters from the exploded crate and admire your work. That'll do. <<var $val 80085>>\ <<page "Continue" "ch6-forge2">>\ #Nevermind <<if ($background is "Blacksmith")>>\ <<var $loot + 1>>\ <<else>>\ <<var $loot + 2>>\ <</if>>\ <<if ($matts is "Jade")>>\ <<var $shards + 100>>\ <<elseif ($matts is "Beastbone")>>\ <<var $shards + 80>>\ <<elseif ($matts is "Snowsteel")>>\ <<var $shards + 120>>\ <<elseif ($matts is "Truegold")>>\ <<var $shards + 140>>\ <</if>>\ You decide against making a weapon after all and \ <</choose>>

<<var $loot - $val>>\ ''[Item Lost: $val Crates of Loot]'' <<var $soldcrates + $val>>\ <<var $val ($counter * $val)>>\ <<var $silver + $val>>\ ''[Item Gained: $val Silver]'' <<if (($soldcrates gte 5) and ($commercegained is false))>>\ You don't sell the goods one crate at a time, but rather split it between several crafters looking to fill in missing materials for their orders. By the time all of your sales are completed you've made small talk with enough merchants that your network has expanded quite a bit. Several express interest in working with the $clan vendors once again. ''[Commerce Increased]'' <<var $commerce + 2>>\ <<var $commercegained true>>\ <<else>>\ Managing to find a buyer is easy but rapid work. All you really have to do is hold up some silks or ingots and lumber and craftsmen come running, the problem is you can't sell entire crates at a time. Except the ingots. The forgemaster would buy a town of ingots if he could. <</if>>\ <<if ($loot lte 0)>>\ With the sales complete you are officially out of cargo. The forgemaster asks you to politely get out (he was not polite) and you return to Harehama's streets to see what else you can do to pass the day while waiting to hear if the sea is safe for travel once again. <<page "Continue" "ch6-town">>\ <<else>>\ <<include "ch6-forge2">>\ <</if>>\

You throw a few mock punches and kicks into the air, testing the force of your new weighted clothing on your muscles. The strain with every movement is almost unbearable. You hate it. It's perfect. With a mastercrafted set of burdening weights at your disposal, you fill your time with weighted pushups and pullups while your retainers check your ship's cargo to see if you have enough inventory to craft something else. <<var $val 707>>\ <<page "Continue" "ch6-forge2">>\

<<if ($val isnot 707)>>\ <<if $val isnot 505>>\ <<if ($val is 80085)>>\ Laborers and skilled Warrior-artisans alike work throughout the forge leaving just enough room for you to squeeze into the scorchingly hot building. <</if>>\ You send a few retainers out to check your supplies of crafting goods on your ship, hoping you have enough left to buy some time on the forge and, more importantly, enough left to supply your own materials. <<if ($desrepair is 1)>>\ ... Ten minutes later your retainers return. "Er, Honored <<cap $patriarch>>, we have news." "Is it that my crates are on a rowboat coming around?" You ask. "Because you don't appear to have any of my crates." <<if ($sumyungai is true)>>\ Sum Yungai \ <<else>>\ The retainer in the back \ <</if>>\ cringes. "We actually have //all// of your crates, Honored <<cap $patriarch>>." You scratch your head. "Are you holding them hostage? Is this some sort of coup?" "No, Honored <<cap $patriarch>>, what we're saying is that when we went to the <<if ($flagshiptype is "merchant")>>\ vault \ <<else>>\ brig \ <</if>>\ there was nothing; there were no crates at all. Merely this scroll hovering three feet off the ground. Most of the men fear it is cursed." You accept the scroll from them and recognize the aura. It might actually be cursed, but you open it anyway. <<image "https://www.auraclash.com/assets/images/ac-linebreak-top.png">>\ //$fullname of Thunderfall,// //You betrayed my trust in robbing my Sect over frivolous debts. I will never truly understand what made you choose such a foolish path, but in doing so you have cost me dearly. A cost you have yet to pay. I believe an unpaid cost is called a debt, is it not?// //To tell the truth I almost don't blame you anymore, for I see the appeal. Collecting this debt from you was ''most'' satisfying.// //Eternally your end, // //Lady Desdemona of the Dreamriver Sect// <<image "https://www.auraclash.com/assets/images/ac-linebreak-bottom.png">>\ You stare at the scroll in silence for uncomfortably long. It seems you have been robbed. ''[Item Lost: $loot Crates of Cargo]'' <<var $loot 0>>\ <<var $desrepair 0>>\ <<var $val 505>>\ <<page "Continue" "ch6-forge2">>\ <</if>>\ <<else>>\ With no materials to trade, the bazaar has gone from a crafting wonder to an embarrassing desert of opportunity. You let out a heavy sigh and dismiss your retainers. <</if>>\ <</if>>\ <<var $counter (300 + ($persuasion * 10))>>\ <<var $val 0>>\ ''[Current Trade Goods in Inventory: $loot Crates]'' <<choose "ch6-forge2">> #use-if ((($craft gte 2) and ($loot gte 2)) or (($background is "Blacksmith") and ($loot gte 1))) Craft a weapon. [Requires Craft 2, Costs 2 Crates] -> "ch6-forge-craftwep" <<if ($background is "Blacksmith")>>\ ''[Blacksmith Background Event: 1 Crate Discount]'' <<var $loot - 1>>\ <<else>>\ <<var $loot - 2>>\ <</if>>\ Having one weapon is good, yes, but with all the different adjustments and sorcerous enhancements you hear about, you'll want spares. Luckily you're a skilled \ <<if ($background is "Blacksmith")>>\ blacksmith, and years apprenticing under Father has hammered the basics into your very soul. \ <<else>>\ crafts$manwoman and no stranger to a forge. \ <</if>>\ To start the process, you look through your available materials. The foundry's forgemaster may not have any exotic materials to spare, but you're not the only outsider working the forges. Plenty of fellow Martial Artists around the foundry offer ample opportunity to purchase their superior materials that make Warrior Caste so famous. After bothering the forgemaster for a quick guide, you read the purpose behind them. //Jade - Fuels the Soul and Power Cores.// //Beastbone - Fuels the Fortitude and Agility Cores.// //Snowsteel - Fuels the Fortitude and Soul Cores.// //Truegold - Fuels the Power and Agility Cores.// ''[Weapons of the four special materials prevent their wielder from ever falling to 0 Core Chi of two certain Cores.]'' ''[For example, a wielder with 7 Soul who spends all 7 Soul Chi in combat would normally have 0 out of 7 Soul Chi remaining. With a Jade or Snowsteel weapon equipped, they will never fall below 1 out of 7 Soul Chi and can spend that last Soul Chi an infinite number of times without rest.]'' #show-if ($background is "Blacksmith") use-if (($loot gte 3) and (($armguardname neq $txt) and ($armguardname neq $clan + " Armguards"))) Improve the Armguards that Father made for you. [Costs 3 Crates] "Forgemaster!" You shout over the sound of hammering steel. "Forgemaster, I need some of your high quality materials, what do you have that could fit a pair of armguards and work with an Earth Soul Treasure?" The forgemaster removes an odd wooden mask off his face and you sense Aura Pressure coming off the item. He stares at you between heavy breaths from his work, a gigantic chain link on his anvil. "I told you, $boygirl, there's no Beastbone or Snowsteel for you here. I have none to spare!" "I know what you said." You reply haughtily. "That's why I'm overpaying." You place your foot against one of your cargo crates and shove it forward, sliding the hefty container across the foundry's stone floor towards the forgemaster. When he looks down on it he opens his mouth to protest but you snap your fingers and six retainers bring three other crates forward, each requiring two carriers lest their back give out. The forgemasters takes one big inhale through the nose, puffing his chest out as he silently looks down at the shipment. "Fine, but only because it's for a small item. I'll see if our higher quality Beastbone orders have any scraps that fit the shape you need." Perfect. "You know where to find me." In honesty, when you prepared this display you were just thinking how you didn't want to kick three crates and risk of breaking them. The end result instead is a fairly good presentation. Having other people obey you at the snap of a finger is more imposing than you realized. <<page "Continue" "ch6-forge-armguards">>\ #use-once use-if ((($craft gte 1) and ($loot gte 2)) and ($weightedclothing gt 0)) Forge heavier training weights. [Requires Craft 1, Costs 2 Crates] <<var $loot - 2>>\ Improving your Weighted Clothing is a top priority, considering your current set feels as light as a winter's robe. You get to work at the smelter using any Beastbone dust you can find to extract the carbon for your iron ingots to make steel that's heavier than usual. It's tough and tiring work, and more than once you almost come to blows with other Martial Artists who think you're trying to steal their real materials, not just the dust on the floor, but eventually you've got what you need. Thirty two sets of small, condensed, rectangular weights that you can line into your weighted clothing. ''[Weight Improved! Your Weighted Clothing increases Aura Pressure once again.]'' ''[Your Weighted Clothing now subtracts 1 Agility and 1 Power]'' <<if ($equippedoutfit is "Weighted Clothing")>>\ <<var $power - 1>>\ <</if>>\ Unfortunately a genius's work is never done. Now that you have heavier weights, it's time to stitch stronger seams to handle that burden without tearing your clothes. <<var $weight + 4>>\ <<page "One pin-pricking hour later..." "ch6-forge-weight">>\ #show-if ($hullbonus is false) use-if (($craft gte 1) and ($loot gte 5)) Craft hull reinforcements. [Requires Craft 1, Costs 5 Crates] <<var $hullbonus true>>\ Hull reinforcements should cost an arm and a leg, you had thought, but apparently the materials are as common as dirt down at the dockyard due to all the recovered wreckage from Gazhurra's warpath through the storm. By trading over 5 crates of crafter's goods to different people you're able to get a local crew to do a vast majority of the work for you. All you end up doing is securing a few riggings and pointing out exactly what areas you want improved. The rest is done by a crew that promises by the next morning \ <<if ($shipcount is 2)>>\ both of your ships \ <<elseif ($shipcount is 1)>>\ your last remaining ship \ <<else>>\ all of your ships \ <</if>>\ will be more defensible. More importantly, you're also getting the \ <<if ($shipcount is 1)>>\ ship \ <<else>>\ ships \ <</if>>\ outfitted with dual slats for the rowing holes. You already had slats to the left of each rowing hole to cover them during choppy waters, but now on the right there will be secondary slats with archery slits. The next opponent to cause problems around your ship will find themselves barraged with arrows from your entire crew while they're comfortably shielded behind your ship's improved hull. <<var $retainer_strength + 2>>\ ''[Retainer Strength Increased]'' ''[Prestige Increased]'' <<var $prestige + 1>>\ <<var $loot - 5>>\ Seeing as there's nothing else for you to do while the workers weaponize your \ <<if ($shipcount is 1)>>\ ship, \ <<else>>\ fleet, \ <</if>>\ it's time to get back to work. #show-if (dig($itemkatana_1, 1) gte 2) use-if ((dig($itemkatana_1, 2) lt ($craft - 1)) and ($loot gte 1)) Improve Muramasa. [Costs 1 Crate] <<var $loot - 1>>\ You spend the next hour in the crafter's bazaar sharpening Muramasa's blade, which proves more difficult than expected. The fucking thing keeps cutting the sharpening stones. <<var $itemkatana_1 + ((($craft - 1) - dig($itemkatana_1, 2)) * 10000000)>>\ <<if ($equippedweapon is "Muramasa")>>\ <<unequipweapon1>>\ <<var $equippedweapon "Muramasa">>\ <<var $weaponbonus $itemkatana_1>>\ <<weaponbonuses>>\ <</if>>\ ''[Muramasa Improved!]'' Task complete. #show-if (dig($itemqiang, 1) gte 2) use-if ((dig($itemqiang, 2) lt ($craft - 1)) and ($loot gte 1)) Improve your Qiang. [Costs 1 Crate] <<var $loot - 1>>\ You spend the next hour treating your Qiang with all sorts of enhancement resins and sharpening the blade. <<var $itemqiang + ((($craft - 1) - dig($itemqiang, 2)) * 10000000)>>\ <<if ($equippedweapon is "Qiang")>>\ <<unequipweapon1>>\ <<var $equippedweapon "Qiang">>\ <<var $weaponbonus $itemqiang>>\ <<weaponbonuses>>\ <</if>>\ ''[Qiang Improved!]'' Task complete. #show-if (dig($itemgreataxe, 1) gte 2) use-if ((dig($itemgreataxe, 2) lt ($craft - 1)) and ($loot gte 1)) Improve your Greataxe. [Costs 1 Crate] You spend the next hour treating your Greataxe with all sorts of enhancement resins and sharpening the blade. <<var $itemgreataxe + ((($craft - 1) - dig($itemgreataxe, 2)) * 10000000)>>\ <<if ($equippedweapon is "Greataxe")>>\ <<unequipweapon1>>\ <<var $equippedweapon "Greataxe">>\ <<var $weaponbonus $itemgreataxe>>\ <<weaponbonuses>>\ <</if>>\ ''[Greataxe Improved!]'' <<var $loot - 1>>\ Task complete. #show-if (dig($itemkunai, 1) gte 2) use-if ((dig($itemkunai, 2) lt ($craft - 1)) and ($loot gte 1)) Improve your Kunai. [Costs 1 Crate] You spend the next hour sharpening your Kunai's blade to the point that you don't even know if a sheath will hold it anymore. <<var $itemkunai + ((($craft - 1) - dig($itemkunai, 2)) * 10000000)>>\ <<if ($equippedweapon is "Kunai")>>\ <<unequipweapon1>>\ <<var $equippedweapon "Kunai">>\ <<var $weaponbonus $itemkunai>>\ <<weaponbonuses>>\ <</if>>\ ''[Kunai Improved!]'' <<var $loot - 1>>\ Task complete. #show-if (dig($itemmeteorhammer, 1) gte 2) use-if ((dig($itemmeteorhammer, 2) lt ($craft - 1)) and ($loot gte 1)) Improve your Meteor Hammer. [Costs 1 Crate] You spend the next hour sharpening the tips of your meteor hammer's maceheads and knocking out any kinks in the chain until it feels like you're swinging a rope more than a chain. <<var $itemmeteorhammer + ((($craft - 1) - dig($itemmeteorhammer, 2)) * 10000000)>>\ <<if ($equippedweapon is "Meteor Hammer")>>\ <<unequipweapon1>>\ <<var $equippedweapon "Meteor Hammer">>\ <<var $weaponbonus $itemmeteorhammer>>\ <<weaponbonuses>>\ <</if>>\ ''[Meteor Hammer Improved!]'' <<var $loot - 1>>\ Task complete. #show-if (dig($itemkatana, 1) gte 2) use-if ((dig($itemkatana, 2) lt ($craft - 1)) and ($loot gte 1)) Improve your Katana. [Costs 1 Crate] You spend the next hour sharpening your katana and receive dozens, no, //hundreds// of nods in satisfaction. It seems literally everyone appreciates watching someone sharpen a katana in Imperial Rasen. <<var $itemkatana + ((($craft - 1) - dig($itemkatana, 2)) * 10000000)>>\ <<if ($equippedweapon is "Katana")>>\ <<unequipweapon1>>\ <<var $equippedweapon "Katana">>\ <<var $weaponbonus $itemkatana>>\ <<weaponbonuses>>\ <</if>>\ ''[Katana Improved!]'' <<var $loot - 1>>\ Task complete. #show-if (dig($itemjian, 1) gte 2) use-if ((dig($itemjian, 2) lt ($craft - 1)) and ($loot gte 1)) Improve your Jian. [Costs 1 Crate] You spend the next hour sharpening your Jian and reinforcing the sheath from both sides so you can draw it quickly without issue. <<var $itemjian + ((($craft - 1) - dig($itemjian, 2)) * 10000000)>>\ <<if ($equippedweapon is "Jian")>>\ <<unequipweapon1>>\ <<var $equippedweapon "Jian">>\ <<var $weaponbonus $itemjian>>\ <<weaponbonuses>>\ <</if>>\ ''[Jian Improved!]'' <<var $loot - 1>>\ Once completed, you \ #show-if (dig($itemtanto, 1) gte 2) use-if ((dig($itemtanto, 2) lt ($craft - 1)) and ($loot gte 1)) Improve your Tanto. [Costs 1 Crate] You spend the next hour sharpening the tanto you and Father made so long ago. It's only now that you realize just how thick Father had made the original design, far thicker than a tanto needs to be. Not comically so, but a 30% increase in width and thickness is far more noticeable to a Blacksmith's eye than a layman's. As you treat the weapon at the grinding stone you realize Father knew you'd be sharpening it one day and wanted the blade to have plenty of potential for improvement, just like his \ <<if ($heshe is "he")>>\ son. \ <<else>>\ daughter. \ <</if>>\ You're not crying. You're //not// crying. <<var $solexp + 2>>\ <<var $forexp + 1>>\ <<var $itemtanto + ((($craft - 1) - dig($itemtanto, 2)) * 10000000)>>\ <<if ($equippedweapon is "Tanto")>>\ <<unequipweapon1>>\ <<var $equippedweapon "Tanto">>\ <<var $weaponbonus $itemtanto>>\ <<weaponbonuses>>\ <</if>>\ ''[Tanto Improved!]'' <<var $loot - 1>>\ Once the Tanto is sharpened sufficiently and the tears are hidden away, you \ #show-if (dig($itembostaff, 1) gte 2) use-if ((dig($itembostaff, 2) lt ($craft - 1)) and ($loot gte 1)) Improve your Bo Staff. [Costs 1 Crate] Enhancement resins for the wood and superior grade steel for the ends lead to a sturdier and stronger weapon that can cave in a higher quality of skull. <<var $itembostaff + ((($craft - 1) - dig($itembostaff, 2)) * 10000000)>>\ <<if ($equippedweapon is "Bo Staff")>>\ <<unequipweapon1>>\ <<var $equippedweapon "Bo Staff">>\ <<var $weaponbonus $itembostaff>>\ <<weaponbonuses>>\ <</if>>\ ''[Bo Staff Improved!]'' <<var $loot - 1>>\ Task complete. #show-if (dig($itemyumi, 1) gte 2) use-if ((dig($itemyumi, 2) lt ($craft - 1)) and ($loot gte 1)) Improve your Yumi. [Costs 1 Crate] Enhancement resins and oils go into the wood and string of your bow. You're not the only one improving a Yumi in the bazaar, but you //are// the only one that's enhancing four entire spools of string. Everyone else is only enhancing the string currently set on their bow. Morons. You are surrounded by morons. <<var $itemyumi + ((($craft - 1) - dig($itemyumi, 2)) * 10000000)>>\ <<if ($equippedweapon is "Yumi")>>\ <<unequipweapon1>>\ <<var $equippedweapon "Yumi">>\ <<var $weaponbonus $itemyumi>>\ <<weaponbonuses>>\ <</if>>\ ''[Yumi Improved!]'' <<var $loot - 1>>\ Task complete. #show-if (dig($itemhandwraps, 1) gte 2) use-if ((dig($itemhandwraps, 2) lt ($craft - 1)) and ($loot gte 1)) Improve your Handwraps. [Costs 1 Crate] Enhancing your weighted Handwraps is all about the quality of the weight. Using superior weavings to hold larger and heavier steel slats over each knuckle and around the edges, you're able to improve your handwraps into something capable of dishing out more damage. <<var $itemhandwraps + ((($craft - 1) - dig($itemhandwraps, 2)) * 10000000)>>\ <<if ($equippedweapon is "Handwraps")>>\ <<unequipweapon1>>\ <<var $equippedweapon "Handwraps">>\ <<var $weaponbonus $itemhandwraps>>\ <<weaponbonuses>>\ <</if>>\ ''[Handwraps Improved!]'' <<var $loot - 1>>\ Task complete. #use-if ($loot gt 0) Sell crates of goods. [$counter Silver Each] You're not the only one desperate for materials. However, you //are// the only one willing to sell to the others. How many crates of goods do you wish to sell? <<var $val 0>>\ <<input-number $val 0 $loot "ch6-forge-sell">>\ #Leave the crafter's bazaar. -> "ch6-town" <<var $counter 0>>\ <</choose>>

Swimming through the waters is easier said than done. The rain pelts your open mouth and obscures your vision, the tidal waves block all sight of the storm and the monster. Only when you're pushed to the crest of the waves can you collect your bearings, but the waters themselves constantly push you away. <<var $combatstat "power">>\ <<var $combatskill "athletics">>\ <<combatcheck 9>>\ <<if (($passcheck is true) or (($element1 is "Water") or ($element2 is "Water")))>>\ <<if (($element1 is "Water") or ($element2 is "Water"))>>\ <<if ($passcheck is false)>>\ ''[Water Element: Automatic Success]'' <</if>>\ The water around you answers to your spiritual commands as you swim through the waves and the rain without issue. <<else>>\ It takes every ounce of strength you have to swim on, but you make it. <</if>>\ <<else>>\ It takes every ounce of strength you have to swim on, and even that's not enough. The waters crash against you and force water down your lungs time and time again. <<woundcheck 1 false false>>\ <<if ((($chipool + ($soul/2)) - $chispent) gte 1)>>\ <<var $chispent - 1>>\ ''[1 Chi Point Spent]'' <</if>>\ Minutes turn to hours, every second testing you as you push through the dangerous waters until finally you make it. <</if>>\ The thundercracks grow louder and louder and you can finally see outlines of dark blue chi darting through the rising waves. Shifting shapes of blue energy with glowing white eyes slide and skitter all around you, some like serpents and others in indistinct blobs, some massive and underwater while others are small like Kami motes, floating up the raindrops slightly faster than they can fall. One is even shaped vaguely like a Human woman running on the water. Running away from you. The hiss-clicking of the distorted whalesong echoes over the sound of thunder, its scream so loud that the water around you shakes. All the waves in your vicinity suck inward, down into the ocean, and your spiritual senses pierce through your mind in an adrenaline-inducing panic. That's when the water launches upward, taking you with it, when the Beast breaks the water beneath you like a mountain rising out of the sea. <<page "Continue" "ch6-gaz2">>\

In your hurry to reach the storm and save the water Elementals, you've entered the Beast's territory. Thirty feet further and you think you would have been in its mouth, though its size is so colossal that you can't even see what its head looks like. The vague castle-sized outline of gum and teeth flash past you into the sky at impossible speeds when the Beast ascends from beneath the ocean, the momentum dragging its massive body towards the storm clouds and taking you along with it. The water sucks you against its black and green hide and bounces you off the steel-hard skin. You tumble upward along with all the water in your vicinity, an ocean spray so large that you can't tell the rising water apart from the rain and lose your sense of up and down. Seconds of disorienting panic later, lightning flashes above you to help correct your sense of direction. It does nothing to improve the horror running through your mind as you look up to see the sky swirling with blue energy like water going down a drain. Like a cycling. Your spirit trembles when the Beast uses some ingrained Technique to inhale all the ambient chi in the air, sucking in the spirits hiding in the upper rain by consuming chunks of the rainstorm itself. Things get worse when you start to fall. Despite the creature's fierce roar vibrating through your skull, you're simply too afraid to feel the fear in this moment. Your mind rationalizes that the monster is too large to target you, like a force of nature, but you snap yourself out of the thought when you remember your mission: You're not just here to survive the monster. You're here to steal its food. <<page "Focus." "ch6-gaz3">>\

You turn in the air and reach your spiritual senses out in any direction but the Beast's, seeking a surviving Water Spirit in the falling sea. That's when you spot the white glow of an Elemental's eyes twenty feet up and ten feet away. Not the woman-shaped spirit, or the serpents, or even the Motes, but one of the indistinct blobs. Water falling all around you slowly drifts up to the spirit to gather back in one pool, like a sheet of rain falling slower alongside you. <<if (dig($metangelo, 2) gte 1)>>\ Thinking back to Angelo's teachings of Shugendō, you try to become of one mind with the way of the water \ <<else>>\ Your eyes widen and you think quickly to your readings on the nature of spirits. You need to align your mindset to the alien thoughts of the elements, becoming one with their ways \ <</if>>\ and...Oh who are you kidding?! It doesn't take a sage's wisdom to know what this thing wants! "You need to get out of here!" You shout out over the volume of the rain slamming into the ocean below. You reach a hand out to the spirit. "Let me help!" In any other circumstance, in any other Shugendō journey, becoming one with the spirits and accepting each other would be an epic journey of cooperation and understanding. In this moment, when the two of you want nothing more than to not get eaten and get the Hells out of here, becoming of one mind is more than just easy. It's inevitable. The creature reaches out to you not like a tendril of water, for water is never so textured, but as a spurting stream like a broken water tower. Its body breaks down into a spurt of water that exits the blob it had been forming, releasing its Water Chi essence as a high-pressure spill that splashes through the air toward your outstretched hand. When it touches you, your souls collide. <<var $txt "A burning sensation fills your arm, as if every blood vessel is bursting from the spirit invading your body">>\ <<if ($style is "Kiihakai")>>\ ''[Kiihakai Style Event: Spiritbinding]'' Your Mystic Chi runs through the spirit's undefined body, having your will-infused Yang chi find its outline instead of relying on your eyes, and you pull as much of its essence into your Cores as you can. <<else>>\ <<var $combatstat "fortitude">>\ <<var $combatskill "lore">>\ <<discount "Water" 1>>\ <<combatcheck 9>>\ <<if ($passcheck is true)>>\ $txt, but you use all your knowledge of spirits, Cores, and cycling to push its energy in the correct areas and proper rotation, no matter how painful it is. <<else>>\ $txt, and your skin tears in spiraling lines up your arm as your body fails to properly integrate the spirit's power. <<woundcheck 1 false false>>\ Despite the pain there's nothing to do but grit your teeth and fight through it. <</if>>\ <</if>>\ The water spirit's energy floods your aura like a Gate but with too much willpower behind the power. Rather than absorb the chi flooding into your system, you feel an incompatible nature between its living energy and your physical form. The two natures conflict and it feels like gripping an enormous waterskin without being able to get to the water beneath. Then the Beast's leap ends, and it begins to fall. Only now do you both realize its shadow looms over you like a storm cloud in its own right. The spirit panics and pushes harder, like a flooded river spiraling into your Cores. You harden your will to crush its incompatible nature down into the chi your body needs. Neither side wins, but neither side loses. The spirit’s will absorbs into your aura and your chi submits to its nature. You feel every muscle in your body getting scrubbed clean at once by a raging current under your skin. <<if ($element1 is "Water")>>\ <<var $element1rank + 1>>\ <<if ($element1rank is 2)>>\ <<var $rankvar "Adept">>\ <<elseif ($element1rank is 3)>>\ <<var $rankvar "Elite">>\ <</if>>\ ''[Water Mastery Improved to "$rankvar"]'' <<elseif ($element2 is "Water")>>\ <<var $element2rank + 1>>\ <<if ($element2rank is 2)>>\ <<var $rankvar "Adept">>\ <<elseif ($element2rank is 3)>>\ <<var $rankvar "Elite">>\ <</if>>\ ''[Water Mastery Improved to "$rankvar"]'' <<else>>\ ''[Water Element Acquired!]'' <<if ($element1 is "None")>>\ <<var $element1 "Water">>\ <<var $element1rank + 1>>\ <<else>>\ <<var $element2 "Water">>\ <<var $element2rank + 1>>\ <</if>>\ <<if ($style is "Kiihakai")>>\ ''[Kiihakai Bonus: Increased Water Mastery!]'' <<if ($element1 is "Water")>>\ <<var $element1rank + 1>>\ <<elseif ($element2 is "Water")>>\ <<var $element2rank + 1>>\ <</if>>\ <</if>>\ <</if>>\ <<if ($race is "Oni")>>\ ''[Oni Event: Spiritual Body (Aura Pressure +10)]'' <<var $aurapressure + 10>>\ ''[Oni Event: All Wounds Healed]'' <<var $wounds 0>>\ ''[Oni Event: All Cores and Chi Restored]'' <<var $powspent 0>>\ <<var $forspent 0>>\ <<var $agispent 0>>\ <<var $solspent 0>>\ <<var $chispent 0>>\ <</if>>\ The deep blue light of Water Chi pulses outward from your body in waves. With this \ <<if ($element1 is "Water")>>\ <<if ($element1rank is 1)>>\ new \ <<else>>\ improved \ <</if>>\ <<elseif ($element2 is "Water")>>\ <<if ($element2rank is 1)>>\ new \ <<else>>\ improved \ <</if>>\ <</if>>\ power, your spirit reaches out and with elemental control over the rain, holding it in place with your full Aura Pressure long enough for you to kick off a single rain drop. One step brings you forward by two feet, then next brings you five, and the next launches you ten. After five quick strides you catch up to your natural pace and begin kicking off the rain at such speeds that you're running horizontally through the rain as you fall. When you reach the last few feet of air you turn and slow your descent by stepping upward, landing calmly on the water and generating more Water chi around your feet to walk carefully on the water. Then the Beast lands. Tidal waves rock the ocean around you but you maintain an impeccable balance, standing on the surface of the ocean as it rises under your feet by eighty feet. The water rises you higher and higher as the ocean is turned into a bowl of waves from the Beast's crash and there, at the height of the water's ascent with you standing atop the waves, lightning flashes across the sky. You look down into the valley of water left in the Beast's wake and see its massive form illuminated from behind while it descends and you see a tail. A tail...and massive, powerful legs. It swims deeper into the depths and you lose sight of its form in the darkness of the sea. <<page "Continue" "ch6-gaz4">>\

Hectic minutes pass as the waters 'settle'. Even without a monstrosity large enough to destroy Thunderfall Village, there's still a violent storm ravaging the waves all around you. The best you get down to is twenty foot swells before you accept that the sea is not going to get any calmer. It's time to go back to your ships. Ten steps into your water-walking journey you make it to the steep part of the wave you're on and leap across to a different wave. By the time you land, the wave you were aiming to land on has disappeared. Your stomach drops as you hit the water and see for hundreds of feet around. All the surrounding waves have disappeared too, sucked into the ocean. It's the same phenomena that happened just before the Beast surfaced last time, but now the waves seem even further away and the world loses a bit of its color when you realize why. You're standing in the center. It's coming for you. <<choose "ch6-gaz5">> #Predict its animalistic movements and leap in the opposite direction of its ascent angle. This thing may be of an unassailable size, but its supremacy is your advantage. Nothing that big relies on strategy. The last time it breached the water it charged into the sky at an angle. You just have to figure out which angle it's using this time. Your eyes dart to the waves all around and you memorize its falling pattern from before, planning out its actions like you would any other animal. There's no room to doubt yourself, so when you calculate the angle you stick to your first estimation and form a ramp of water beneath your feet, kicking off with all the strength in your legs to launch yourself in the opposite direction. <<var $combatstat "agility">>\ <<var $combatskill "survival">>\ <<discount "Midorikatai" 1>>\ <<discount "Wind" 1>>\ <<combatcheck (10-$perception)>>\ <<if ($passcheck is true)>>\ The water beneath you explodes and some part of the Beast, either a snout, forehead, or eyelid, slams into you and knocks you airborne like the last time. Your momentum and the creature's counter each other, bouncing you off its face and behind its head. You're launched into the air as the creature screams its water-shaking roaring whalesong. <<else>>\ The water beneath you explodes and you realize too late that you were wrong. Something hard slams into you and you realize it's some sort of tooth or gang, too large to even see its shape as a wall of white-yellow slams into you with a bone-breaking crunch. <<var $val 3>>\ <<if ($ironbody is true)>>\ ''[Ironbody Activated, Damage Reduced]'' <<var $val - 1>>\ <</if>>\ <<if ($pblocktech isnot "")>>\ ''[$pblocktech Activated, Damage Reduced]'' <<var $val - 1>>\ <</if>>\ <<if (($element1 is "Earth") or ($element2 is "Earth"))>>\ ''[Earth Element: Damage Reduced]'' <<var $val - 1>>\ <</if>>\ <<if ($val is 0)>>\ ''[All Damage Resisted!]'' <<else>>\ <<woundcheck $val false false>>\ <</if>>\ <<if ((($chipool + ($soul/2)) - $chispent) gte 1)>>\ <<var $chispent - 1>>\ ''[1 Chi Point Lost]'' <</if>>\ <<if ($val is 0)>>\ You can't believe how strong you've become as you're blasted into the sky by the Beast's enormous maw, its sea-shaking screaming whalesong rattling your bones. And yet you endure. <<apboost 10>>\ <<else>>\ The pain shakes through your body as the Beast's maw slams you into the sky like an arrow released heavensward. <</if>>\ Holding on for dear life, you grip the tooth/fang and pull yourself up to avoid slipping into its mouth. The world around you glows blue as it pulls in all Water energy in the air, but you're no Water Elemental. By luck and miracle, its Technique has no effect on your physical body. With one mighty pull and a desperate scream you throw yourself over the top of its maw and bounce down its face as if you were falling down an uneven tower, flying over its face and spinning into the sky high above the waves. <</if>>\ #Mask my aura and become one with the water's movements, preparing to slide out of the way. You remember the last time it breached and recall all the water coming off its face, despite its open maw. This Beast wants to eat energy, not salt water, and so you reach out to the sea's surface around you and channel your aura's Water affinity to attune your body to its flow. If it works, you should slide right off the Beast's face and fall back to the sea. With that subtle effect in place you suppress your aura as much as possible so it loses track of your water energies. A single second later the sky comes down to greet you. The water explodes into the air in all visible directions from the Beast breaching the sea beneath you, its massive maw open, and your whole body trembles as the monster releases its water-shaking aggressive whalesong. You keep your eyes ahead, frozen in fear, and... <<var $combatstat "soul">>\ <<var $combatskill "stealth">>\ <<discount "Water" 1>>\ <<discount "Kurokonton" 1>>\ <<combatcheck 8>>\ <<if ($passcheck is true)>>\ Are launched upward with the rest of the water blown off the creature's maw, 'safely' away from its jaws as you're blown into the sky from the speed of its charge. <<else>>\ Are launched upward with the rest of the water blown off the creature's maw, 'safely' away from its jaws as you're blown into the sky from the speed of its charge. Then your body shakes with pain and you feel the whole world drain around you. The creature's horrific hiss-clicking whalesong shakes the rain itself as screams at you from underneath, sucking out all the Water energies in the air, your included. \ <<spendall 0 false>>\ The creature rises through the sky towards you as you're blasted upward and it drains your energies. \ <</if>>\ #use-if (($background is "Herbalist") and ($handseals gte 1)) Dump barrels of oil around me to taint the waters. [Requires Herbalist and Handseals 1] As an Herbalist you've collected plenty of easy-to-gather materials on your journey... ''[Commerce +1]'' <<var $commerce + 1>>\ <<var $solexp + 1>>\ <<var $forexp + 2>>\ ...but you wish you collected more. You pray to the Heavens that you brought enough foul-smelling greases when you withdraw three fuuinjutsu tags with both hands and rip them apart with your teeth to save time. Smoke clouds explode all around you as three barrels appear in the world, released from their fuuinjutsu seal. You strike into the smoke before the rain can even clear it away and your fist slams through the wood multiple times, breaking each barrel and spilling their contents out into the sea. Finally you raise both hands and charge $auracolor chi between your palms, rushing both hands down to blast the spiritual energy into the barrels and get the last of their contents into the water as fast as possible. You breathe hard from the surge of activity and prepare to die if your plan doesn't work. Your rapid inhaling cause you to wrinkle your nose at the smell of the alchemical grease you just released into the water, you believe it's called "tar pit oil". The next five seconds pass like an eternity as you wait for the water below you to darken and reveal the monster. Then a wave hits your leg and throws you off-balance. You stumble and look around to see the waves returning to the area and feel the tension in your body soothe, even in the uneven crack of thunder of the storm, when you realize your plan worked. You let yourself drop into the waters to cover your clothes in the substance, then start swimming to the East. When you explain this to the others you're definitely leaving out the part where you scared the Beast off with the alchemically scaled equivalent of shitting in a predator's mouth. <<page "Continue" "ch6-gaz6">>\ <</choose>>

You don't turn around, instead spinning out of control into the sky until you spiritually grasp the water around you and kick off the rain to flee behind the monster's head. Step after step doesn't see you flying into the sky, but it helps you break even. Your desperate attempt to kick off the rain using the Water Element of your aura proves just effective enough to keep your elevation. The Beast slowly reaches its zenith and falls back to the ocean, but you continue on. Hour after hour sees you tirelessly leaping through the rain to survive, each thunderclap threatening to strike you down with natural lightning, but the Heavens smile upon you as the lightning strike never comes. Eventually you run out of storm, losing momentum and descending to the ground from the thinning rain. The ocean splashes into your clothes and mouth and reintroduces you to the salt of the sea, a distasteful difference to the rain you've been running through. Despite the fear of its return, the Beast doesn't strike again; it seems you've lost its scent. You continue your swim to the shore without issue. <<page "Continue" "ch6-gaz6">>\

After a safe distance your skin tingles and your spirit feels a sense of relief after so much tension. The water around you coagulates into an amorphous blob of glowing blue energy; the Elemental releases itself from your painful and hasty fusion. It sinks below the waves and gives off an impression of gratefulness. To your relief, your aura does not revert; your new spiritual power over Water has become a permanent addition to your arsenal. Yet even with the power of the Water Element, the rest of the swim takes longer than you expected; hours longer to get out of the storm and hours more beyond that. By the Ancestors and even //their// Ancestors, how much overly salted water is there in this 'ocean'?! Finally you get sight of a reprieve. At the top of a higher than usual wave you get a glimpse of the shore miles off, largely thanks to the faded image of mountains leagues in the distance beyond the coast. Four ships are between you and the coast, each lazily drifting and not wanting to dock for whatever reason. Pain and weariness threaten your body's progress but you push yourself past the first two ships, praying to the Heavens that each is your own. They are not. The Sect aboard one of them even threatens you to keep your distance, saying that you are courting death and asking if you wish to taste the sting of their secretive such-and-such Technique. You don't even respond and keep swimming past them. Exhaustion is a wonderful conversation ender. Yet the same exhaustion can't stop you when you see it: \ <<if ($roc gt 0)>>\ $rocname's expanded crow's nest on the top of a ship up \ <<if (($leonaromance gte 3) and ($heshe is "he"))>>\ ahead. Between that and Leona sunbathing naked on the back railing of your upper platform, you're certain you've reached your vessel. <<else>>\ ahead. <</if>>\ <<elseif (($leonaromance gte 3) and ($heshe is "he"))>>\ The one thing that truly marks your flagship and lets you tell it out from the rest: Leona sunbathing naked on the back of the upper platform. <<else>>\ Two morons drinking from an entire barrel one of them carried up to the crow's nest. You'd recognize the poor character of your ship's crew anywhere. <</if>>\ Your pace increases. When you finally reach them you form a geyser of seawater to rise onto the ship in what you think is a grand display. "Honored <<cap $patriarch>>!" One of the retainers shouts, getting the attention of the other dozen on deck. Among them, Kosuke is the next to speak up. "We were worried sick, what were you thinking when you...Look awful. Holy shit, $manwoman, it's like a Plague Spirit had an ugly baby with a Lost." "Oh wow, it is!" Leona eagerly adds \ <<if (($leonaromance gte 3) and ($heshe is "he"))>>\ while hopping down the stairs wrapped in a linen towel. \ <<elseif ($flagshiptype is "combat")>>\ from the seat of the ballista. \ <<else>>\ from the upper platform. \ <</if>>\ "You look like a corpse that lost a fight! What did the Messenger of Death look like just before she saw your face and ran away? Was she hot? I'll bet she was //smoking// hot." You march past them and collapse, soaked, into your Captain's Cabin bed. With the last fumes of your spiritual energy you channel the Water Element and remove all sea water from your clothes, bed, and skin to give yourself a clean, dry rest. Outside, you hear Leona ask, "Is $heshe dead?" <<var $val 101>>\ "Dibs on $hisher \ <<if (dig($itemkatana_1, 1) gte 2)>>\ sword." \ <<else>>\ room." \ <</if>>\ Kosuke responds. <<page "Continue" "ch6-harehama">>\

<<var $gazcontact "Supplies">>\ "Everyone prepare for rough seas!" You shout to the crew. "We sail south-west, into the storm!" <<if ($roc gt 0)>>\ "CAWWW?!" $rocname calls down from her nest. "I'm with the bird!" Kosuke shouts from the inside of a barrel $bffheshe had already climbed into. <<else>>\ <<if ($leonagone is false)>>\ "Yes! YES!!" Leona screams from the upper platform. "I can't wait to see who dies first!" <</if>>\ "Are you insane?!" Screams Kosuke, more at you than Leona, as $bffheshe climbs inside a barrel secured to the ship's railing. "This isn't courting death, this is marrying it!" <</if>>\ "An order is an order!" You reply. "Besides, we're not going into the Beast's feeding ground. We're salvaging the cargo from the sunken ships at its edge!" <<if ($persuasion gte 3)>>\ ''[Persuasion 3 Check Passed]'' <<var $powexp + 1>>\ "Can we keep any of it?" Asks one of the sailors. "You can keep what the Captain doesn't see." Kosuke replies before you can butt in. The retainer who asked looks to a couple others and they get to work expediently, securing the ship as best they can and preparing lines overboard for any lost crew men to grab onto. Despite the suicidal risks, your crew seems as eager to get rich as you do. <<elseif ($flagshiptype is "transport")>>\ ''[Persuasion 3 Check Failed]'' ''[Transport Ship Event]'' <<var $powexp + 1>>\ If you had any other ship the men might mutiny on the spot, but your transport-style ships are specifically made for storms. Instead of talking back, your men get to work making sure those specialist sails and rope allotments are ready. <<else>>\ ''[Persuasion 3 Check Failed]'' <<if ($flagshiptype is "transport")>>\ <<var $retainer_morale - 5>>\ <<else>>\ <<var $retainer_morale - 10>>\ <</if>>\ The grave faces of the men tell you all you need to know. They do their work, and they fight to secure the ship as their very lives depend on it, but they refuse to meet your eyes all the while. Your attempts to cool their nerves have clearly failed and they seem keenly aware that you're risking their death for material gain. <</if>>\ An hour later your ship has plowed through the dangerous waters and hit the storm's real waves. Your entire ship crests over one of the massive swells surging away from the storm and falls at a bad angle, facing downward as the next massive wave collides into your deck. "HOLD ON!!" You scream out, trusting in the fastening of your ropework around the ship as your vessel is temporarily submerged. <<var $txt "Saltwater rushes over you like a hundred fists striking at every weak point, but your ropes hold well enough to keep you secured to your flagship.">>\ <<if (($survival gte 3) or ($flagshiptype is "transport"))>>\ <<if ($survival gte 3)>>\ ''[Survival 3 Check Passed]'' <<else>>\ ''[Survival 3 Check Failed]'' ''[Transport Ship Event]'' <</if>>\ <<var $forexp + 1>>\ $txt Thanks to your \ <<if ($flagshiptype is "transport")>>\ transport ship's protections, \ <<else>>\ fine work, \ <</if>>\ the crew can say the same. Fortunately you navigated the ship to properly cut through the wave and minimize the damage, and your preparations with ropes around each railing holds firm. You look around and see no one's missing, though everyone is soaked and holding on for dear life. \ <<else>>\ ''[Survival 3 Check Failed]'' $txt The same cannot be said of your crew. When the water falls away and your ship rights itself you look frantically for the missing crew members but see nothing. You can't even turn the ship around to look for them; barely holding on in such a storm is a feat in and of itself, and diving in to save them would abandon everyone else on board. That wasn't the first wave and it won't be the last. Your overboard retainers are lost to the sea. ''[3 Retainers Lost]'' ''[1 Martial Retainer Lost]'' <<var $retainers - 3>>\ <<var $martial_retainers - 1>>\ <<var $retainer_morale - 4>>\ <</if>>\ Twenty more high stress minutes of cutting through the sea prove whether or not it was all worth it; you finally reach the floating debris at the storm's edge. Thunder and lightning crack overhead and an ominous horror shakes through your core, the fear deep inside telling you that the tidal Beast is right underneath you. You push that feeling deep down, for if it really is after your ship then you're already dead. Instead you tie a rope around your torso and dive overboard, collecting what you can whenever the waves permit and pulling it on board to be secured. It's tough work, with salt filling your nostrils, rain pelting your eyes, and cold chilling your bones. All the while you hear the air-shaking hiss-click and enraged whalesong as if it were right behind you. <<var $val 10>>\ <<if (($element1 is "Water") or ($element2 is "Water"))>>\ ''[Water Event: Haul Increased]'' <<var $val + 2>>\ <</if>>\ <<if (($subrace is "Monkey") or ($subrace is "Reptile"))>>\ <<if ($subrace is "Monkey")>>\ ''[Monkey Tail Event: Haul Increased]'' <<else>>\ ''[Lizard Tail Event: Haul Increased]'' <</if>>\ <<var $val + 2>>\ <</if>>\ ''[Item Gained: $val Loot Crates]'' <<var $loot + $val>>\ ''[Item Gained: Crest of Elemental Yang]'' <<var $itemyangcrest + 1>>\ Yet nothing comes. You collect everything in sight and pull yourself on board, not bothering to shake the water off thanks to the new rain soaking you all over again. "Turn the ship around!" You shout out to your retainers. "We ride the waves to shore!" By now everyone's nerves are scraped absolutely raw and they follow the instruction like automatons, doing whatever is needed to get out of the hammering storm. Your ship turns to go with the thirty-foot waves and flee to the east. <<page "Continue" "ch6-saileast">>\

<<var $daysleft 3>>\ <<var $kostied false>>\ <<var $rankvar "">>\ <<var $val 0>>\ <<var $counter 0>>\ <<var $gazcontact "">>\ <<var $conversion 0>>\ <<var $boogaloo false>>\ <<var $bingo 0>>\ <<var $lostduel false>>\ <<var $angler 0>>\ <<var $chummed false>>\ <<var $beheaded false>>\ <<var $pikt "">>\ <<var $bloody true>>\ <<var $spareval_3 100>>\ <<var $cheakskate false>>\ <<var $soldcrates 0>>\ <<var $weaponscrafted 0>>\ <<var $commercegained false>>\ <<var $leonawhipping false>>\ <<var $fishscore 0>>\ <<var $nogoodlure true>>\ <<var $killedgod false>>\ <<var $matts "Steel">>\ <<var $desrepair 0>>\ <<var $sawguiren false>>\ <<var $sawshrines false>>\ <<var $val2 0>>\ <<var $savior false>>\ <<var $weptext "">>\ <<var $cheapskate false>>\ <<var $armguardname2 "">>\ <<var $material 200000000>>\ <<var $abduction "">>\ <<var $hullbonus false>>\ <<var $chapter 6.5>>\ A haze of noise drowns out everything else as you awake and turn over in your Captain's bed with a yawn, realizing from the sound that it must be raining outside. That serene, comfortable thought disappears when the ship leans so hard that you roll off your bed and hit your forehead on a nightstand. Cursing, you get to your feet and realize what rain means when you're on the high seas: storms. Storms bring waves. You charge out of your Captain's Cabin and find crewmen running up the hatch, holding on for dear life as they skid across the wet deck on their way to the ropes that secure the mast. "The sea's angry, Captain!" One of the older retainers shouts out. "Dark clouds on the horizon!" You look out to the southwest where he's pointing and see it, a darkness covering the sky where the downpour of rain thickens into blankets of water falling from dark clouds. "A Heavenly Gate..." You whisper to yourself. "No, Captain, just a storm!" //Huh?// Your face contorts as you look back to the storm and send your spiritual perceptions out into the air, forming a bubble-like pulse of energy as thin as you can and expanding it outward as far as it will go. You barely reach \ <<var $val (100 * $insight) + ($soul * 50)>>\ <<if ($style is "Kiihakai")>>\ <<var $val + 100>>\ <</if>>\ $val feet out but the feeling in the air proves the man's right, it's not a Gate. Merely a bad storm. After the last year you'd nearly forgotten that most of the time bad weather doesn't mean spiritual power; it just means bad weather. <<page "...Darn." "ch6-halfpoint2">>\

Bad weather is nothing to fear on land, but what you see before you shows the ocean is a different challenge: the rolling waves of the sea make enough room at odd intervals for you to see multiple ships in the distance struggling to flee to the east while others have already been tipped or destroyed, their driftwood and floating cargo adding to the hazards of the water. It seems this storm has already claimed multiple lives, and you don't want it to take yours. "Everyone batten the hatches!" You shout out, "Get that sail adjusted, secure the \ <<if ($flagshiptype is "combat")>>\ ballista, \ <<else>>\ cargo, \ <</if>>\ and for the love of the Heavens only let people with auras onto the oars! We're-" Your blood freezes, just like everyone else on board, when you hear the noise. A low wail echoes in clicks through the air. You've never heard a whale's song, but you've heard the hiss-clicking of large reptiles before. The combination echoes throughout the sky in deep, aggressive, almost //angry// tones from miles away. A primordial fear shakes through you at the size a creature must have for it to sound so distant yet so loud. Reluctantly, on behalf of the retainers you're responsible for, your widening eyes follow the sound into the storm ahead. That's when you see you were wrong earlier. What you see is not rain as thick as blankets. The darkness under the storm clouds is the sea itself rising into the air as the dark outline of some impossibly large Beast crashes through the sea's suface, its size so large that its leaps and had seemed like storm-racked tidal waves at first glance. Though you cannot gauge properly in such dark lighting, it seems as if the sea itself is fleeing upward toward the clouds, climbing the rain to get away from the gargantuan Beast. What you mistook for the obfuscation of rain is a colossal battle of a Beast out of nightmares eating hundreds of water Spirits. "Ca-" Starts one crewman, trying to get your attention, but he can't muster the words. "I know." You say back to him. "I see it." Nearly every thought in your mind is screaming to sail to shore and wait out the storm, staying close to the coast on your way out to avoid whatever monster is casting the dark outline in the waves. And yet.... //Nearly// every thought isn't every thought. A piece of you recognizes the opportunity that you could find in the destroyed ships' drifting cargo before the waves claim it. You don't have to get too close to the Beast to get them, and it's busy eating...You should be able to make it, \ <<if ($weightedclothing gte 1)>>\ you think. Your weighted clothing doesn't even seem to way you down anymore so you don't fear drowning in the storm, but your men will likely be furious if you try. ''[Your Weighted Clothing is no longer heavy enough to challenge you. Seek out heavier weights to regain its benefits.]'' <<else>>\ you think, though your men will be furious. <</if>>\ <<if ((($element1 is "Water") or ($element2 is "Water")) or (($element1 is "None") or ($element2 is "")))>>\ <<if (($element1 is "Water") or ($element2 is "Water"))>>\ ''[Water Element Event]'' <<else>>\ ''[Special Event: Unbound Element]'' <</if>>\ A third thought enters your mind after so many days at sea, getting acquainted with the massive world of water that's impressed you so deeply. An intrusive thought. It must be, because the small inkling in your mind is telling you to how grateful a water spirit would be if you saved it from the Beast. It's an insane plan, you know it is, but it almost //calls// to you. Hells, your men would rather fight you to the death than purposefully enter that Beast's feeding ground, and you can't blame them. The ship wouldn't even survive in the deeper storm waters without an enormous predator coming after them. You'd have better luck sending them to shore for safety and swimming out the storm yourself; capsizing a Martial Artist is infinitely harder than capsizing a ship, but can you survive such a crazed endeavor? You honestly don't know. <</if>>\ <<choose "ch6-saileast">> #show-if ($flagshiptype is "transport") Sail into the storm to get the floating cargo. [Transport Ship Bonus: No Danger] -> "ch6-gazsail" <<var $val 777>>\ #show-if ($flagshiptype isnot "transport") Sail into the storm to get the floating cargo. -> "ch6-gazsail" #Sail to shore for the crew's safety. "Everyone to your stations!" You scream out over the sound of the storm. "We're getting the Hells out of here!" "Here here!" One of the men screams over the sound of a thundercrack. Despite the horrors of sailing in a bad storm, every retainer that you can see seems more focused and even relieved, as if given permission to do what they prayed they could do anyway. You wonder just how many thought you'd tell them to do something utterly stupid like sailing into the storm. <<var $retainer_morale + 8>>\ ''[Retainer Morale +8]'' #use-if ((($element1 is "None") or ($element2 is "")) or (($element1 is "Water") or ($element2 is "Water"))) Send your ships to shore and leap overboard, swimming directly into the storm. [Acquire/Improve Water Element] <<var $gazcontact "Element">>\ "None of you are going anywhere near that //thing//!" You shout out to your crew over the distant thunder of the storm. "Head to shore and dock for safety until the storm subsides!" "Oh thank Heavens." Kosuke shouts from inside of a barrel that $bffheshe's secured <<print $bffhimher>>self into. "You heard $himher everyone, we're getting out of here!" For old time's sake you slide across the wetted deck over to Kosuke's barrel and knock on it, correcting $bffhimher with, "No, //you're// getting out of here." "What do you mean by that?" You climb onto the railing above Kosuke's barrel and try not to laugh at the insanity, or the look Kosuke must have on $bffhisher face. "I'll meet you all back at shore. If I don't make it in two days, continue to Nanhou!" "WHAT DO YOU MEAN BY THAT?!" Kosuke's barrel shakes but it seems $bffheshe's nailed it from the inside. After saluting the rest of the crew you leap overboard, the cold storm waters giving a refreshing and freeing sensation when they finish soaking your clothes. You plunge through a wave and swim up to the surface with an uncontrollable smile. Even the taste of salt doesn't ruin the invigorating rush. It's hard to suppress a laugh as you leave everyone safely behind and feel the thrill of an independent challenge. No one else is at risk for your decisions for the first time since escaping the prison in Ebikowa, it's just you and the storm...and the tidalwave-sized Beast. And the spirits. And anything else under the water's surface. You wouldn't have it any other way. The rest of your crew stares dumbfounded at their Captain swimming up storm-racked swells in a glow of $auracolor, heading right towards a monster inside the storm and laughing like a mad$manwoman. <<page "Continue" "ch6-gaz">>\ <</choose>>

<<if ($val isnot 101)>>\ Realizing what a bad idea it is to enter new terrain while exhausted, you have everyone that's going ashore get a good night's sleep a couple miles off the coast, and you're not the only one. A half dozen ships can be seen in the surrounding waters off in the distance, each likely with their anchor down since they're not moving. You trust in your spiritual senses to warn of any trouble and get to rest yourself. <</if>>\ <<timepass>>\ The next morning you awake to the caw of \ <<if ($roc gt 0)>>\ seagulls and $rocname outside, who is likely continuing her trend of chasing and eating seagulls. You're not sure what they did to piss her off, but she's been on a vendetta since your last docking. You \ <<else>>\ seagulls outside and \ <</if>>\ rise out of bed, feeling slightly refreshed, and get dressed. <<if ($bffromance gte 1)>>\ "Are you going to do the same?" You ask to the naked and groggy Kosuke, half-covered by the sheets of your bed. "Inaminute." <<cap $bffheshe>> lies. You roll your eyes and continue outside. <<elseif (dig($metleona, 11) gte 1)>>\ "Are you going to do the same?" You ask to the curled up golden-haired Leona, half-covered by the sheets of your bed. "Not a chance." She mumbles with pride. You roll your eyes and continue outside. <</if>>\ <<if ($wounds gt 0)>>\ <<var $wounds - 1>>\ <</if>>\ Opening the Captain's Cabin door reveals an unexpected sight: you're already docked at the nearby town's port. More importantly, someone you don't know is on your ship. A man in green and black combat gi bows at your arrival and one of your \ <<if ($spareval_1 is 4)>>\ retainers, Mars actually, \ <<elseif ($sumyungai is true)>>\ retainers, Sum Yungai actually, <<else>>\ retainers \ <</if>>\ skittishly steps away from the man. "You must be the <<cap $patriarch>> of this crew's Patron Clan." The stranger states with a bow. "I am a Lower Disciple of the Windrising Sect here in the pristine settlement of Harehama. Please, do not trouble yourself by my presence. I am merely collecting fees from your retainers for their docking rights." "We shouldn't be docked." You reply. "But you must." The Windrising disciple replies. "Gazhurra has seen fit to hunt the seas on this day, and she will not be appeased until her waters are clear." "Gazhurra is the monster in the storm." \ <<if ($spareval_1 is 4)>>\ Mars adds with an absentminded smile, as if it were smalltalk. \ <<elseif ($sumyungai is true)>>\ Yungai adds with a professional bow. \ <<else>>\ Adds your retainer when he notes your expression. \ <</if>>\ "It seems we are in the territory of a Wild God." "Indeed." Replies the Windrising disciple. "The mighty Gazhurra has been known to grace us with her presence since before Sectmaster Bassui's time, and his Sectmaster before him. She is a holy creature of such importance that the Exalted Council entrusts us as her emissaries, that she may protect our sea from invaders." Nothing about that sounds correct. "What invaders?" "Exactly." The Disciple replies, smiling. "She does not attack lone ships, but no major army has been safe crossing the sea from Shattered Cathay to Imperial Rasen for centuries, lest their large concentration of aura attract Gazhurra's attention. The Exalted Council treat her as a guardian of their western coast, though the deal has had...complications, with so many Martial Artists sailing for Nanhou at once." The Windrising Disciple looks out over the ocean longingly. "Like all Wild Gods she is, first and foremost, a Beast, so it is our duty to appease her instincts, not to issue requests. These are troubling times." You don't know much about Wild Gods but now that you've \ <<if ($gazcontact is "Supplies")>>\ felt the presence of one, \ <<elseif ($gazcontact is "Element")>>\ nearly been eaten by one, \ <<else>>\ glimpsed the size of one, \ <</if>>\ you've seen enough of them for a lifetime. "I see." You reply, looking around the busy docks and seeing two dozen other ships cramped into the town's port. "So if we have to dock, when can we expect to leave?" The Windrising Disciple frowns. "Unfortunately, soon. Three strangers dressed in unusual armor arrived last night, equipped for war and radiating power. Archons. Our Sectmaster informed them in no uncertain terms that Gazhurra is vital to our Sect, environment, and way of life, but they insisted on pushing the Majestic One back for the sake of their grandiose event. If they succeed, we should hear of it by tomorrow morning." "And if they fail?" The disciple smiles. "Gazhurra feeds." <<page "Continue" "ch6-harehama2">>\

You pay the disciple your docking \ <<if ($retainer_morale gt 50)>>\ fee at first but, to your surprise, your crew covers it for you and demands you take your funds back. ''[Retainer Morale Check Passed]'' <<elseif ((($shards + ($silver / 10)) + ($gold * 10)) gte (10 * $shipcount))>>\ fee for \ <<if ($shipcount is 1)>>\ your sole remaining ship. That's the one good thing about being fleeced by the Endless Beating Sect; at least you saved on docking fees. <<else>>\ each of your ships and feel a sting of pain as each coin leaves your coffers. <</if>>\ <<var $val ($shipcount * 10)>>\ <<costcalc $val>>\ <<else>>\ fee and- Realize you cannot actually pay the fee. You don't have enough money. Red-faced and sheepish, you turn to your crew and give your most convincing yet pitiful smile. They each start emptying their pockets and grumbling. ''[Special Event: Broke Captain]'' ''[Retainer Morale -6]'' <<var $retainer_morale - 6>>\ <</if>>\ The Windrising disciple takes the payment with a modest bow. "Thank you for your patronage, Honored Guest. Might I suggest the sunset fishing contest while you're in town? Our Magistrate wishes to make everyone feel welcomed and has prepared bountiful prizes for the winner of such a contest." "That actually sounds nice." You think out loud. "There is, of course, an entry fee." The man continues. "Ah." You reply, mood soured. The disciple smiles and steps off your ship down the ramp that's already been setup. You look overboard to see some of your retainers have already departed. In fact, Bo Lo is already across the docks in a screaming match with one of the Windrising disciples over whatever it is he's chosen to yell about today. The rest of your crew follows you off the ship and you look out at the town. A line of warehouses and shops faces the docks, paved roads lead to busy streets further in, civilian beaches rest to the north and south, and two large towers rise over the line of buildings further in that should be the local Magistrate's Pagoda and the Windrising Sect Headquarters. There's even a set of banana farms visible at the distant town's end, right before the jungles beyond. A picture perfect image for a beachside vacation and retreat. <<if ($ruthless gt 50)>>\ "Everyone listen up," \ <<else>>\ "Okay everyone," \ <</if>>\ You say to your retainers, "We have twenty-four hours on land before we continue to Nanhou." You pause, realizing this is the first safe settlement they've reached since Ebikowa. "Feel free to enjoy yourselves, and if you want to stay under the $clan Clan then meet back at the docks tomorrow morning." <<if ($retainer_morale gte 50)>>\ "Yes, Honored <<cap $patriarch>>!" Several bark out, saluting before they leave. You get a good feeling that you've earned their loyalty, but time will tell. <<else>>\ They mumble and seem to leave rather quickly the second they're given the chance. Your prospects for everyone coming back are not high. <<if ($ruthless gt 50)>>\ Ungrateful bastards. <<else>>\ You don't blame them; a beachfront paradise is hard to compete with. <</if>>\ <</if>>\ Once the retainers are gone Kosuke \ <<if ($bffromance gte 1)>>\ sneaks out of your bedroom, plants a kiss on your cheek as $bffheshe passes by, and then \ <<else>>\ follows them close behind and \ <</if>>\ //sprints// off to \ <<if ($bffheshe is "he")>>\ a dice gambling game visible in a nearby alley. <<else>>\ the shopping district. <</if>>\ Behind you, up on the raised platform, Leona leaps overboard to go for a swim in her linens. \ <<if ($heshe is "he")>>\ You're put off just a bit \ <<else>>\ You take inspirational note \ <</if>>\ that, without her armor on, you can see knife sheathes covering her lower legs all the way up to the knee. She keeps them on in the water, each filled with a different style of blade. Everyone has eagerly departed for their own activities. That leaves you all alone. <<include "ch6-town">>\

The morning begins like any other; you rise out of your bed in the Captain's Cabin, wash yourself, put on your \ <<if ($clothes isnot "")>>\ $clothes, \ <<else>>\ combat gi, \ <</if>>\ and exit onto the main deck to the smell of saltwater and the sound of your crew moving about. Yet there's something different this time. Noise. Much of your crew is standing at the bow of your ship and looking east. You step onto the deck of your ship and behold the sight of land miles in the distance. Not just any land, either, but a veritable city. Docks line the coast with more ships than there are people in all of Thunderfall. Thousands upon thousands of buildings fill the horizon in different shapes and sizes, with towers and arenas spread out throughout different districts comprised of different sets of architecture. Floating fortresses hover hundreds of feet above the city in a grand display of Sect power, and the hustle and bustle of one million visitors is audible even this far out to sea. Nanhou. <<if ($portraitpics is true)>>\ <<image "https://www.auraclash.com/assets/images/nanhou.jpg">>\ <</if>>\ Yet that is not the sight captivating your crew. In front of the city, blocking your entry, is a line of uniformal junkships, three stories tall and equipped with cannons. Their sails show the emblem of a golden sun shining behind a red fist. One of your crewmen, leaning over the railing in disbelief, whispers in equal parts awe and fear. "The Callous Armada." <<unset $randrills>>\ <<page "Continue" "ch6-journeysend2">>\

"It is quite a sight to behold, yes." Says an unfamiliar voice from your upper platform. You turn around and see a woman in black robe, tied at the waist and cut down the center at the bottom to reveal black pants underneath. A veiled black Bōgu mask hides her face, and in the warm sun of the early morning the outfit looks...uncomfortably warm. She leaps over the railing and lands before you in a kneel. "Excuse me, Young \ <<if ($heshe is "he")>>\ Master, \ <<else>>\ Mistress, \ <</if>>\ would you know the owner of this vessel?" "I am the owner." You reply \ <<if ($ruthless lt 45)>>\ hesitantly. <<else>>\ confidently. <</if>>\ "Wonderful!" She exclaims. "I am an official scribe of the Heavenly Ascension Trials. Considering the unusual circumstances." She nods to the armada of ships between you and the city. "We have been dispatched to aid in any transportation troubles." "What troubles?" You ask. "Why is there a fleet of ships blocking my passage?" "It is the Callous Armada, a faction local to Outer South and participating in the Heavenly Ascension Trials. Their forces have formed a blockade against any Trialgoer ship passing through, but you may swim with me to Nanhou if you wish to surrender your vessel. If you wish to resist, the Judges of the Trials have demanded that the Callous Clan offer you a duel against one of their Trialgoers. Upon victory, your ships will have safe passage." "How can this possibly be allowed?" You ask. "Since when do the Exalts let someone else add rules to their Trials?" The Scribe gives an empathetic bow. "Apologies, Young \ <<if ($heshe is "he")>>\ Master, \ <<else>>\ Mistress, \ <</if>>\ I cannot speak on their reasoning, but in my personal opinion, the Exalts of the Council want those with power." She looks out to the line of over a hundred ships under one banner. "This is power." "More like //'This is bullshit'//" Kosuke mumbles, climbing down from the upper platform as well. The scribe bows even deeper. "Again, we humbly apologize for the inconvenience." <<page "We?" "ch6-journeysend3">>\

"We?" You ask. "There were three scribes when they first showed up." Kosuke says, "Leona dismissed hers, she's fighting over there." <<cap $bffheshe>> points a half-mile south and you see \ <<if ($shipcount gte 2)>>\ one of your ships anchored. \ <<else>>\ a dhow ship that looks like one of the many you left back in Ebikowa. \ <</if>>\ Dangerously close to that ship, the blonde Lunargoth runs across waves, stepping on debris of a destroyed rowboat with each step as her two swords clash against the stone-covered arms of a Bull Yokai man trailing behind her. Kosuke suppresses a snicker behind you. "And Bo Lo left without a fight." "Without a fight?" You ask, eyes on Leona's battle as she sends scarlet sickles of energy flying into the Yokai's conjured chain-boulder. "Why'd the Armada let him through?" The scribe stands to attention. "Lower Disciplie Bo Lo of Thunderfall claimed he owned no vessels, and chose to swim through. The Callous Clan is only blocking ships, they are not blocking Trialgoers from traveling. Seeing as any Trialgoer has the option to swim or fight of their own free will, the Judges of the Heavenly Ascension Trials have considered this display of force to be within their rules. If you wish to go to Nanhou without a fight then you may come with me and we will swim to shore together, but the Callous Clan will not allow your dhows through unless you defeat one of their champions or surrender one of your ships to them as tribute." Kosuke pipes up from behind the scribe. "You can go then. Leona's got this covered and even if she doesn't, <<cap $name>>'s not surrendering." The scribe shakes her head. "I am afraid I am here for more than concierge service, I must record your entrance into the Heavenly Ascension Trials, as well as the ownership history of your \ <<if ($shipcount gt 1)>>\ vessels." \ <<else>>\ vessel." \ <</if>>\ The scribe pulls a scroll and inked quill from seemingly nowhere. "Now, for the sake of our dock records, who are you registering under for the Heavenly Acension Trials?" <<choose "ch6-journeysend4">> #The Thunderfall Sect <<var $sect_thunderfall + $shipcount>>\ <<var $trialdeets + 100000000000000>>\ <<var $titletype "Thunderfaller">>\ <<var $titlename ("Thunderfaller " + $name)>>\ "I am $fullname of Thunderfall Village." You reply. "I fight on behalf of my Sect." #The cap($clan) Clan <<var $val 111>>\ <<var $sect_thunderfall - 10>>\ <<var $titletype $patriarch>>\ <<var $titlename (($patriarch + " ") + $name)>>\ "I am $fullname of the $clan Warrior Clan." You reply. "I fight in the Trials on behalf of my Clan." <</choose>>

"Wonderful." The scribe says, jotting some lines down. "Now I require your signature to register your 'seed' in the Trials. You'll be the second-to-last, participating in three days time. The signature will grant you ownership of these vessels in our records." "Grant me ownership?" You ask, taking the scroll from her. "I already own these." "Yes, we received word by bird that these ships were taken through legal conquest in an official Sect War between Sunbringer and Thunderfall, but our dockmaster's records need to be updated for the purpose of payments and debts. Please sign here and here, and we'll change the ownership from Sunbringer to Thunderfall." "Hmm..." You bite your tongue and think of the best way to handle this. You don't want Mao getting your ships. \ <<if ($val is 111)>>\ "Adjust ownership to the <<cap $clan>> Clan. Thunderfall Disciple Bo Lo received these ships through legal Sect War and ceded them to me, with the entire crew as witness." You're actually shocked that that's technically true. Your Clan has no official War but, by technicality, you just might be able to claim these personally anyway. <<else>>\ "Register them under the $clan Clan for now. I wouldn't want to burden my Sect with fees they didn't agree to pay." <</if>>\ "Very well." The scribe replies. "I'll need to add the $clan Clan to our dock's listings, I don't see them from our Trial registry. Please look through these Writs and make sure everything is in order." The scribe dumps a collection of documents onto you relating to your ship's ownership records. According to the Sunbringer records, two Clans and a Trade Sect had docked your flagship at Nanhou before the Sunbringers seized it. You also have the Thunderfall records and a blank document for your own Clan. And these are just five of the documents this woman had on her immediate person. These scribes are //thorough//. <<page "Continue" "ch6-journeysend5">>\

Half a mile to your right, an explosion of scarlet chi fades out to the screaming of the Callous Clan's champion. Leona leaps off the water's edge in a blur and lands on the other ship holding a large arm. In the water, blood pools around the Callous Armada's Bull Yokai champion. He holds the stump where his limb used to be. Cheers break out from the crew around Leona. The crew of the ship she landed on pulls their anchor up and drops their sail to take advantage of the good winds by accelerating immediately. "Pull anchor too, Kosuke." You say with a \ <<if ($ruthless gt 52)>>\ approving nod at Leona's ruthlessness. \ <<else>>\ disapproving shake of the head at Leona dismembering people. \ <</if>>\ "It looks like she's won, so we're good to go." "Pardon me, Honored Guest," The Imperial Scribe interrupts, "but that is not the case. The Young Mistress has only gained passage for the nearby Sunbringer Disciples." "The Sunbringers are dead." You counter firmly. "I saw it myself in Ebikowa. She's with me." "We had heard by bird of their Sectmaster's demise in Ebikowa two weeks ago, yes, but their Lower Disciples under twenty-five have been in Nanhou for months. They were some of the first to register for the Trials. Let's see here..." She rifles through a series of scrolls in her pocket and withdraws one. "Aha, here we are. After hearing the news that their Upper Disciples and Sectmaster were lost, and the Sect's Founder, Master Bangle, is deceased, we registered the Trialgoing Lower Disciples to serve under the Sect Founder's heir. In fact, it was his heir that sent the message by bird in the first place to suggest the transfer of ownership. A coup, no doubt, but an internal issue not worth our time." You feel \ <<if (($element1 is "Ice") or ($element2 is "Ice"))>>\ your icy aura involuntarily activate as a numb sensation seeps \ <<var $solexp + 1>>\ <<elseif (($element1 is "Darkness") or ($element2 is "Darkness"))>>\ your dark aura involuntarily activate as a numb sensation seeps \ <<var $solexp + 1>>\ <<elseif ($style is "Kurokonton")>>\ your Cursed aura involuntarily activate as a numb sensation seeps \ <<var $solexp + 1>>\ <<var $agiexp + 1>>\ <<else>>\ a numb sensation seep \ <</if>>\ into your core. Your fight against Crow Li in Ebikowa, his activation of the Demonic Gate, and his demise at the hands of Fiends...it was all less than two weeks ago. The scribes received word of his death before it even happened. Like it had all been planned from the start. Suspicion and paranoia claw through the back of your mind as you look up, past the row of Callous Armada warships, and see Leona turning around aboard her vessel while it passes through the blockade. Just before the warships reposition and block your view, her blue and green eyes meet yours. With blood smeared on her face, she smiles. You look down to the parchment and see Master Bangle's name scratched out, and Crow Li's scratched out above his. In their place is the name of your enemy faction's new Sectmaster. Leona Bangle. <<page "Chapter 7" "ch7-start">>\

<<choose "ch6-ship-compgone">> #Grab him by the collar and kiss him. <<var $guirenrep + 7>>\ <<var $guirenromance + 2>>\ You smile down on him with \ <<if ($ruthless gt 55)>>\ sadistic smugness, \ <<else>>\ a pleased smile, \ <</if>>\ looking at the faces of his men's surprised reactions. That'll do nicely. Then you kneel down to his level and turn your head ever so slightly to better meet your lips together. You press your kiss into him with a passionate moan and close your eyes just as his shoot open in surprise. Before he even knows what hits him your tongue intertwines with his, yet against your will you're the one that finds your cheeks blushing. Maybe you weren't ready to do this in front of the entire crew. You pull away first. "Whoa," he says with a rapid blink and a stupid smile, "not that I'm complaining but, weren't you the one who was making us wait?" Well, you can't look weak in front of the crew. You lean back in, brush your lips against his ear, and whisper. "I'm not a patient girl." Both your and his men murmur and gasp. This close together you can //feel// Guiren's reaction. And then nothing. Guiren and his entire crew vanishes, ripped away from the world to be placed somewhere else by the sudden presence of The Boss's power that vanishes just as quickly. "OH COME ON!" You shout at the sky, falling over onto the deck when his body disappears. You slam the ground in pent up frustration and close your eyes for a moment to compose yourself before the smell of messily cut dead fish enters your nostrils. You sigh and snap your fingers for your retainers to clean up the mess. You may have had your moment stolen by a mysterious entity beyond human comprehension, but at least you don't have to do your own chores anymore. <<page "Continue" "ch6-ship-compgone">>\ #Nod in satisfaction. "I'd love to." You nod in satisfaction at Guiren's proposal, he's pretty good at this. Maybe the man isn't just a sleazebag after all? "I'd love to." You reply, and you mean it. Things are looking up. Guiren rises and takes your other hand in his with a smile. "I'm glad to hear it." He says. "Afterwards we can-" With a sudden pop him and his men vanish from existence, ripped away from the world to be placed somewhere else by the sudden presence of The Boss's power that vanishes just as quickly. You stare around the open air blankly as your internal questions are left unanswered. What was he going to say? Was it a sleazy pickup line after all? Was it something sweet? Was it something important? "We can what?" You ask to the empty air around you, "WE CAN WHAT?!" Several more silent seconds pass and you let out a huff and look over to the giant dead fish they left on your deck. Reluctantly you lean over the railing to the lower deck and call out, "Can someone come clean this up please?" You may have had your moment stolen by a mysterious entity beyond human comprehension, but at least you don't have to do your own chores anymore. <<page "Continue" "ch6-ship-compgone">>\ <</choose>>

<<var $txt "This close, the illusion of lights fades and you can make out the ship more clearly. A triple decker black junk ship with three sails and an unfamiliar engraved insignia all along its hull.">>\ <<if (($merchopinion is "Damaged1") or ($merchopinion is "Damaged2"))>>\ "This is a terrible way to wake up!" Leona shouts out to you \ <<if ($style is "Akakiru")>>\ from out of nowhere, "I'll fix the holes, but if my hair gets wet people //will// die!" You notice the Lunargoth woman holding two retainers by their collars \ <<if ($merchopinion is "Damaged2")>>\ and running downstairs \ <<else>>\ and running between the rower seats \ <</if>>\ to the <<if ($flagshiptype is "Merchant")>>\ vault \ <<else>>\ brig \ <</if>>\ where your spare lumber is stored. The retainers look scared. \ <<else>>\ from \ <<if ($merchopinion is "Damaged2")>>\ inside the \ <<if ($flagshiptype is "Merchant")>>\ vault. \ <<else>>\ brig. \ <</if>>\ She wrenches the door open and pulls two retainers inside by their collars, tossing them at a crate of lumber. \ <<else>>\ downstairs. \ <</if>>\ "I'll fix the holes, but if my hair gets wet people //will// die!" <</if>>\ <<var $leonarep - 3>>\ Bo \ <<if ($merchopinion is "Damaged1")>>\ rips a bench off a rower's section and holds it against the breach, minimizing the water coming in. "Get upstairs!" He yells at you. "They could be boarding as we speak!" <<else>>\ is nowhere to be found, hopefully still downstairs and dealing with the breach as well. <</if>>\ <<var $borep - 2>>\ Kosuke meanwhile \ <<if ($merchopinion is "Damaged1")>>\ leaves to the top level with you and dives off the railing to save any retainers who fell overboard. <<else>>\ is already in the water from the collision, swimming to retainers who fell overboard and bringing them back to the ship. <</if>>\ The rest of your men fill the rower's level with their bucket line trying to get the water out as fast as possible. Despite the damages and the current emergency you feel a sense of pride in your new retainers. They must have worked on these drills in the two days you were unconscious. If they've got your ship in good hands, then it's up to you to make sure they themselves are in good hands. You <<if ($merchopinion is "Damaged1")>>\ ascend to the upper deck and \ <</if>>\ look upon the lantern ship. $txt Whoever it belongs to, they don't fear being recognized. After what they've done to your flag ship, they should. You cycle chi to your legs and leap up across the gap, over the water and through the barrier of lights, landing on the bow of the lantern ship. <<elseif (($merchopinion is "Fair1") or ($merchopinion is "Fair2"))>>\ Your \ <<if ($merchopinion is "Fair1")>>\ dense energy blast \ <<else>>\ glacier \ <</if>>\ does its work in redirecting the ship with minimal damage, ensuring that your own vessel suffers none. \ <<if ($merchopinion is "Fair1")>>\ You wipe sweat from your brow and smile in satisfaction, \ <<else>>\ You climb atop the other half of the glacier and use its solidity to leap back onto your ship, smiling in satisfaction, \ <</if>>\ until you see the lantern ship drop anchor and turn to face your ship. $txt Whoever it belongs to, they don't fear being recognized. After what they've done to your flag ship, they should. You cycle chi to your legs and leap the watery chasm between your ships, passing through the barrier of light and landing aboard the bow of the lantern ship. <<elseif (($merchopinion is "Helped1") or ($merchopinion is "Helped2"))>>\ With the collision course prevented thanks to your \ <<if ($merchopinion is "Helped2")>>\ tremendous power, you wipe sweat from your brow to the applause of your retainers. "As expected of the Honored <<cap $patriarch>>!" Chants the one in fr-oh it's Kosuke. The rest buy the bit and chant in kind. Yet their cheer for your success in saving them barely registers in your ears. You're too busy looking up at the lantern ship slowing to a tread and turning back towards you. <<else>>\ fine leadership, you wipe the sweat from your brow and release the oar. "Good work everyone. Stay down here and take a water break, I'm going up on deck to find out what's going on." "Should we prepare for battle?" One asks. "If this lantern ship is here for battle you won't have to lift a finger." You respond. "Because I'm going to sink it." You ascend the ladder up to the upper deck to look upon the larger lantern ship. <</if>>\ $txt Whatever their intentions, it's clear you're not getting out of this without a confrontation. You cycle chi to your legs and leap off your ship with enough force to rock your boat, clearing the distance between both ships in a single bound and landing on the bow of the lantern ship. <</if>>\ <<page "Continue" "ch6-lantern2">>

When you land at the bow of the lantern ship you see a three-story small tower of black wood built around the mast, hidden from view at a distance behind the bright lights of so many lanterns. You expect some sort of resistance from invading the ship but there's no one to be seen except a baby-faced fat man running around the side of the tower toward you, frantically waving his hands. You take on a combat stance and glare the man down. "You have a lot of nerve to try and sink my ship before the Trials." The man skids to a halt. "Sink your...?" His voice comes out in an awfully high pitch for his height and weight. It takes a second to recognize the man as a eunuch. "You are the ones trying to sink //our// ship! If I'm to be murdered I expect my killer to at least have the decency to own up to their actions." "Murdered...?" You ask, focusing on the disconnect in conversation. It's clear this man isn't the one you yelled at earlier, judging by his voice, so you correct your stature from a battle stance to a straightened back and lean your head to the side. "There’s no murderer here. I awoke to find your ship on a collision course with mine. If you're not attacking me then why didn't you change course?" The portly man looks up to his ship's crow's nest and slaps his forehead. "Oh Heaven's sake. I heard our scout screaming but didn't have the time to address it, truth be told \ <<if (($merchopinion is "Helped1") or ($merchopinion is "Helped2"))>>\ I did not even notice another ship at our front. Is your crew well?" "I averted the collision, yes." "Heavens be praised, not only are lives spared but Shards as well." \ <<else>>\ when I felt the crash I had thought we were under attack! Is your crew well?" <<if (($merchopinion is "Fair1") or ($merchopinion is "Fair2"))>>\ "My crew and ship are fine." You say, having prevented the collision from hitting your vessel. "Your bow took a beating though." "Damned Hells." The eunuch curses in his unnaturally soft voice. "Our budget won't like that." \ <<else>>\ "Not all of them." "Damned. A tragedy of misunderstandings, and not a cheap one at that." \ <</if>>\ <</if>>\ He gives a quick bow. "I am Foreman Gong, temporary warden of this merchant vessel on behalf of the Thousand Lantern Sect, and I offer the highest of apologies for this untimely event, but I must requisition your assistance against the very threat I mistook you for originally. That is, a larger issue of piracy." <<if ($cutterjoke is true)>>\ You feel relief that his name isn't Richard Cutter, thinking back to your conversation with Sum Yungai, then focus on what's important: <</if>>\ "What piracy?" His cheeks tremble as he rises and points a shaking hand to the back of the ship where you can spiritually sense an assortment of weak auras that must be the rest of the crew, as well as stronger auras a hundred feet behind them, closing in fast. "That piracy." <<page "Continue" "ch6-lantern3">>\

<<if ($perception gte 2)>>\ ''[Perception 2 Check Passed]'' The two of you bolt to the back of the ship and the clang of metal lets you know the eunuch has dropped something behind you. When you give it a quick glance you see he's dropped a hidden assortment of long needles that are traditionally used with poisons. You don't sense any danger from the man, his hands are moving up and down with his jog rather than poised to strike you, but you now know to keep your guard up even around the weak people on board. <<var $merchwarn true>>\ <<else>>\ The two of you bolt to the back of the ship, the eunuch trailing behind you and fumbling as he drops some of his belongings. \ <</if>>\ As you round the black wooden tower around the mast you see a crowd with torches and swords gathered at against the back railing, looking out to sea. Some hear your \ <<if (($bodytype isnot "Petite") and ($bodytype isnot "Manlet"))>>\ heavy \ <</if>>\ footsteps and give you a quick glance. You notice they're dressed in brown tunics similar to your retainers and assume it must be some sort of sailing outfit ships carry in bulk. You figured an intruder like you would get more attention, but as you look passed them you see why most don't even turn to acknowledge your entrance: cutting through the darkness comes a second ship with a dozen poorly dressed Martial Artists at the bow, their white or blue auras flared to full power. The one at the front, the tallest of them all by a head and possessing a wide mustache, takes the lead. "Ahhh a fat piggy of a ship falls into the jaws of Captain Qing! Security stretched thin to save Shards, is it? Come out and reveal your leader, fat piggy!" The eunuch Foreman Gong steps forward, steadying his shaking hands. "Y-You intrude upon the fair mercantile agreements of the Heavenly Ascension Trial staging ground! These goods are meant for Nanhou and its surrounding lands and we have already paid the fees to the Nanhou Magistrate and Callous Armada so I...I order you! Yes, I //order// you to turn around at once!" The tall thin man, Captain Qing, barks out a laugh. "The sea is for free men, fool! The orders and laws of your lands mean nothing!" "Then you will face my champion!" Gong replies, turning to you. You're caught off-guard. This is the first you're hearing of being anyone's champion. Spiritual scans flood your body but only one is strong enough to cause real discomfort. Captain Qing frowns. "Hmph. You've brought a \ <<if ($aurapressure gte 1100)>>\ fearsome bodyguard, yes...but \ <<var $powexp + 2>>\ <<var $solexp + 1>>\ <<else>>\ nice bodyguard, yes, almost as strong as Qing...but \ <</if>>\ have you paid $himher enough?" "Silence your poisonous tongue!" In an aggressive display for a eunuch, the floor around Gong carves up from several invisible slashes as his body glows with scarlet Bladed Chi. You're surprised more than anything, you didn't sense any power from him before. He looks to you pleadingly. "I cannot promise payment, we do not carry valuable cargo to spare, but I can submit a Writ of Favor request to my Magistrate when I return from Nanhou with our profits. I am sure he will reward you handsomely in good time!" Captain Qing's men snicker and he looks to them, clapping oddly and rolling his eyes. "Good, right everyone? Good! GOOD! What a hard offer to pass up, a promise to be paid later! Hah!" He turns back to you. "Do not be fooled by this fat piggy's lies, \ <<if ($race is "Human")>>\ mercenary. \ <<else>>\ $race. \ <</if>>\ Here is Captain Qing's offer instead:" He stomps a foot on the deck of his dhow, crackling lightning around his leg. "This fine ship! Unlike the gelded, lying fat-man, Qing's offer will be paid to you immediately, not in some false promise. Fight by Qing's side and he will seize the fat piggy vessel with all its plunder. In return you will leave with Qing's dhow and its rowers. A valuable offer of respect between \ <<if ($heshe is "he")>>\ men of \ <<else>>\ those with \ <</if>>\ power!" He thumps his chest twice. "So what say you to Qing's deal?" The eunuch's cheeks jiggle as his head snaps from you to Captain Qing and back. "Do not listen to him, Honored Guest, piracy is punishable by death as you must surely know. You-" "-would have no witnesses!" Captain Qing interrupts in a booming voice when violet lightning covers his body. "Captain Qing will take these new slaves to Shattered Cathay across the western sea, where the Merchant Princes will pay a high price to adorn their plantations with Rasen workers. There will be no one left to link this to you...and perhaps something these merchants are hiding will whet your appetite?" His men smile viciously at that, eyeing the increasingly worried merchant-workers like wolves circling lambs. They each draw sabers. Several make cutting motions around their throats, others stick their tongues far too far out. "Please, Honored Guest," whispers Foreman Gong beside you, "you cannot truly be entertaining this criminal's lies, yes?" <<if (($honor lt 48) or ($ruthless gt 55))>>\ You look from the fearful faces of the Merchants to the vicious smiles of the pirates. Siding with the pirates could lead to a great haul of treasures if you can plunder a Merchant vessel, but siding with the Merchants is, well, legal, and would surely come with some sort of reward...later. Maybe. Hopefully. <</if>>\ Both sides hold their breath, all eyes on you, until you... <<choose "ch6-qingfight">> #Side with the Merchants. I trust a Merchant to honor a debt more than a Pirate. <<if ($commerce lt 4)>>\ <<var $commerce + 1>>\ ''[Common Business Sense: Commerce Increased by +1 (to a maximum of 4)]'' <<else>>\ <<var $honor + 2>>\ <</if>>\ You place a hand on Foreman Gong's shoulder. "We'll discuss my payment later. For now, leave the fighting to me." The tension noticeably leaves his body in a deep and relieved sigh. "You are a fool then!" Captain Qing shouts, giving an exaggerated frown. "Expect no mercy, joyous fool, Captain Qing will not forgive this insult." He snaps his fingers twice without turning around. His men behind him grow serious. "You have chosen death!" <<page "Continue" "ch6-qingfight">>\ #show-if ($ruthless gt 50) Side with the Merchants. Piracy is a crime punishable by death and by the Ancestors, you're in the mood to punish. -> "ch6-qing-punishcriminal" <<var $ruthless + 1>>\ #show-if ($ruthless lte 50) Side with the Merchants. Piracy is a crime against the laws of Imperial Rasen. -> "ch6-qing-punishcriminal" <<var $ruthless - 2>>\ #Side with the Pirates. There's riches to be had! -> "ch6-strikethegong" <<var $honor - 5>>\ <<var $ruthless + 1>>\ "You make a hard bargain, Qing." You call out across the waters. Given the choice between risking your life for a stranger or taking the easier option for better pay you don't really feel like there's a dilemma on your hands. Besides, the "law" isn't even a real thing. You never signed a contract to agree to it. You look to Foreman Gong and smile. He smiles back. When his fearful eyes meet your own he realizes you're not smiling to reassure him. #Side with the Pirates. The eunuch dragged me into his problems without my permission, I am nobody's pawn. -> "ch6-strikethegong" <<var $honor - 1>>\ <<var $ruthless + 3>>\ You turn to Foreman Gong, frowning. "Foreman Gong, care to explain why you've introduced me as if I work for you?" Gong's face pales. "I had thought it was obvious, Honored Guest, that I was trying to scare off the threat. I-" "-assumed I was some underling, to be shuffled around?" "No!" Gong takes two quick steps back. "That's not what I am implying, Honored Guest, not at all!" "Good." #show-if (($banditchoice is "Raiders") or ($banditchoice is "Freedom")) Hold on, why do these pirates look so familiar? -> "ch6-piratetalk" <<var $txt "Captain Qing's face contorts in ugly confusion but his crew's eyes grow fearful in recognition. As they should; these are the bandits you spared back when you defeated the first Taio clone south of Thunderfall. One of them, an Oni, speaks up first.">>\ "Hold on a second..." You march past the fearful merchant crew and squint closer at Captain Qing's pirates. Something seems off, it's on the tip of your tongue...Oh Ancestors, now you remember. \ <<if ($banditchoice is "Raiders")>>\ "Don't you all work for me?" $txt "By the Hells, it's our old boss!" "Taio?" Asks another. "No, idiot, the one who killed him!" You smirk, hardly believing the odds. "How'd the raid on the Sunbringers go?" One steps forward but you hold up a hand for silence. "That's rhetorical, you lazy louts. I had to take out most of the Sunbringers in Ebikowa myself." "You...took them out?" Asks a Human woman with glowing white sword drawn. You cross your arms and tap your foot impatiently. "Someone had to, seeing as my //raiders// weren't //raiding// them." The pirate crew around Captain Qing drops to their knees and kowtows to you. "Our sincere apologies for not reporting in sooner, $ymaster!" One of the men shouts into the ship's deckboards. "We were honing our craft under this pretender's tutelage, t-to serve you better!" <<else>>\ <<if ($ruthless gte 55)>>\ A hungry grin \ <<else>>\ A judgmental frown \ <</if>>\ spreads across your mouth. "Didn't I kill your last boss?" $txt "By the Hells, it's $fullname, from the Thunderfall job! $fullname has come to kill us all!" You sneer at the lot of them. \ <<if (($ruthless gte 50) or ($honor gt 55))>>\ "You have a lot of guts challenging me again." <<else>>\ "I go through all that effort to give your lives back and this is how you spend them? Disgraceful." <</if>>\ The pirate crew around Captain Qing drops to their knees and kowtows to you while shouting out a slew of pleas. "Please forgive us!" "One more chance!" "Never again, I swear it!" <</if>>\ "What are you //doing?!//" Hisses Captain Qing, flabbergasted by the unlikely turn of events. He drags several of his crew back up by their collars but they each drop back to their knees immediately after. He looks back to you. "Qing knows not what trick is being played, but he will not stand for it!" Ignoring him, you speak to the crew on the ground. <</choose>>

A chill runs down your spine as you turn to face the source of the large spiritual pressure: the sea. Yet no threat makes itself known. Every member of the fishing crowd is hushed as you look closer for anything to rise from the waters, but as the sun continues to rise you... You... It shouldn't be sunrise, you realize. It's sunset. The red glow of the sunset expands outward and rises higher, turning brighter and brighter yellow as a blinding light reflects across the shore and illuminates the coast around you. You squint into the bright light, swearing you can see something at its center. An orb, no larger than a man. A single orb radiates the Light Chi from just above the water's surface, roughly a half-mile out, and as it gets closer you see something behind the sphere: Teeth. Row after row of hundreds of spear-sized teeth glowing with scarlet-colored Bladed Chi. The orb of light rises higher into the air to reveal the hideous serpentine monster with a mouth as wide as its body, covered in armor-like bronze scales and surrounded by a layer of blue chi as it swims through the air above the water's surface. Your eyes adjust to the blinding light to behold the fusion of eel and angler fish, one grown into a potent Beast larger than a row of elephants. <<if ($portraitpics is true)>>\ <<image "https://www.auraclash.com/assets/images/lightbringer.jpg">>\ <</if>>\ <<if ($sawshrines is true)>>\ Unsettlingly, you recognize it from Gazhurra's shrines. The Lightbringer. <</if>>\ Windrising Disciples drop to their knees at the sight of the sea \ <<if ($sawshrines is true)>>\ monster. \ <<else>>\ monster, whispering of 'The Lightbringer'. \ <</if>>\ The creature pays them no mind, instead swimming ominously on a pool of Water Chi eight feet off the sea's surface. It draws closer until it's a mere thirty feet from the fishermen frozen in fear at the shoreline. When it draws closer you see a fresh, bloody wound scraped deep down its side. The Lightbringer's jaw opens slowly, rows of seemingly infinite teeth widening, and just as its yellow glow magnifies you remember that eating Beasts to regain strength is not a one-way relationship. You recognize the design of combat gi from several of the fisherman frozen in fear before the sea monster. Weaker Martial Artists. <<var $val2 0>>\ The sea monster coils back in preparation to strike. <<page "Move!" "ch6-lightbringer2">>\

and \ <<if ($style is "Akakiru")>>\ flood it with the scarlet energy of Bladed Chi before lifting \ <<else>>\ lift \ <</if>>\ it high overhead. The Lightbringer screeches in mid-air, thrashing its head to shred you with its Bladed maw, but it's too slow. <<if ($honor gte 55)>>\ In one clean strike \ <<var $forexp + 1>>\ <<var $ruthless - 1>>\ <<else>>\ With a savage battlecry \ <<var $ruthless + 1>>\ <</if>>\ you descend your blade down onto the tendril that connects the Beast to the glowing orb above its head, the focus of its Light Chi, and cleave your blade into the flesh until the tendril goes taught. <<var $combatstat "power">>\ <<var $weapontest true>>\ <<discount "Akakiru" 1>>\ <<discount "Wind" 1>>\ <<combatcheck (8+$angler)>>\ <<if ($passcheck is true)>>\ A screech shakes the water all around you when your blade cuts through the tendril, severing the Lightbringer's source of Light Chi and splattering monster blood over your face. The sea monster writhes in agony and the Water Chi around it surges into a single wave that blasts you fifty feet back. <<var $dmg + 2>>\ <<if ($power gte (9-dig($weaponbonus, 2)))>>\ ''[Power + Weapon Quality Event: Damage Increased]'' <<var $dmg + 1>>\ <<elseif ($style is "Akakiru")>>\ ''[Akakiru Event: Damage Increased]'' <<var $dmg + 1>>\ <</if>>\ When you splash into the water all that's visible back at the scene of your fight is a pool of blood and the Lightbringer's tail disappearing beneath the waves. <<else>>\ The edge of \ <<if ($equippedweapon is "Muramasa")>>\ Muramasa \ <<else>>\ your $equippedweapon \ <</if>>\ runs against the toughened skin of the Lightbringer's tendrils, unable to penetrate the flesh. Its scales run over with Bladed Chi that deflects your weapon one moment and launch off its skin the next, sending a volley of chi needles in all directions. You kick off and flip backwards to avoid having your torso and head shredded to death, instead taking the volley of attacks to both your legs. <<if ($eblocktech isnot "")>>\ Your $eblocktech activates just in time to stop the flurry of chi needles from eviscerating you. \ <<else>>\ The needles of Bladed Chi pierce through your skin and muscle with agonizing and unrelenting force. \ <</if>>\ <<woundcheck 2 false true>>\ <<if ($eblocktech is "")>>\ By the time you fall back into the water a pool of blood surrounds you from your many wounds. You don't have time to worry about other predators sensing the weakened meal, for the Lightbringer's tail disappears beneath the waves as it swims deeper into the sea. \ <<else>>\ You splash back into the water with a flurry of Bladed Chi crashing against your $eblocktech Technique, its scattered scarlet energy blocking your vision until the Lightbringer submerges beneath the waves. \ <</if>>\ <</if>>\ <<page "Continue" "ch6-lightbringer11">>\

When the explosion of Blades subsides, the Lightbringer lies exhausted on the dry seabed surrounded by nothing but air. The very sea is absent for one thousand feet and the ocean takes precious time to fill the void. Such an incredible display of chi is reserved for legends and Wild Gods, and it's clear the calling of its ancestry took everything out of the Beast. The sea monster lifts its head, covered in the gore of dead fish, \ <<if ($txt is "swim")>>\ <<include "ch6-lightbringer-deadfish1">>\ <<else>>\ <<include "ch6-lightbringer-deadfish2">>\ <</if>>\

and \ <<if ($counter is 0)>>\ looks to the shore \ <<else>>\ looks for your corpse \ <</if>>\ with a low hiss. You're not there. <<cap $auracolor>> light shines above the creature, and it looks to the air in time to see \ <<if ($equippedweapon is "Muramasa")>>\ Muramasa in your hands. <<var $dmg + 1>>\ <<elseif (($equippedweapon isnot "") or ($equippedweapon is "Handwraps"))>>\ your $equippedweapon in your hands. <<else>>\ your two glowing fists held together in an overhead slam. <<if ($style is "Midorikatai")>>\ <<var $dmg + 1>>\ <<elseif ($style is "Storm")>>\ <<var $dmg + 1>>\ <</if>>\ <</if>>\ <<if ($power gte 8)>>\ <<var $dmg + 1>>\ <</if>>\ <<var $dmg + $val2>>\ <<choose "ch6-lightbringer-failkill">> #Scare it off, sparing the sea monster. <<var $ruthless - 4>>\ <<var $gazget 1000000>>\ Now that the fight is finally yours to decide, you lower your attack and aura. "This is over." You say to the Beast. "Leave and never-" It lunges for you anyway. #Deliver the killing blow. -> "ch6-lightbringer-killcheck" <</choose>>

and looks for your corpse. Instead it sees you standing on the sea bed directly in front of it, \ <<if ($wounds is 0)>>\ uninjured. <<elseif ($bloody is true)>>\ bleeding but still standing. <<else>>\ still standing despite your earlier wounds. <</if>>\ <<var $dmg + 2>>\ <<if ($soul gte 7)>>\ <<var $dmg + 1>>\ <</if>>\ <<if ($power gte 8)>>\ <<var $dmg + 1>>\ <</if>>\ <<if (($element1 is "Storm") or ($element2 is "Storm"))>>\ <<var $dmg + 1>>\ <</if>>\ <<if ($style is "Kiihakai")>>\ <<var $dmg + 1>>\ <</if>>\ Between your palms shines the energy attack you've been preparing, a surge of $auracolor energy densely formed around both hands, and the Lightbringer's depleted Aura Pressure gives you an opening. <<choose "ch6-lightbringer-win">> #Scare it off, sparing the sea monster. <<var $ruthless - 4>>\ <<var $gazget 1000000>>\ You release the blast as a conventional attack, shooting the energy from your palm and grazing the Lightbringer's hide. Without its Aura Pressure to protect it, the attack singes its scales with a scar-worthy line down its side. The Beast shrieks and pulls away from you in a hurry, fleeing west into the returning sea water. Your spiritual scan shows the monster continuing in a straight line as it flees. It's not coming back. <<page "Continue" "ch6-lightbringer-win">>\ #Deliver the killing blow. <<var $ruthless + 2>>\ <<if ($dmg gte 10)>>\ ''[Damage Check Passed!]'' You open both palms and release the energy blast not as a shooting beam of energy, nor as a single swift blast, but as an aimed and one-sided detonation of power that engulfs the Lightbringer's slithering torso in an eight-foot wide explosion that rocks forward in compounding blasts, as if you'd lit a house of oil barrels on fire. There is no shriek from your target. When the smoke begins to clear you see the Lightbringer's open jaws poised to strike at you, yet it doesn't move. After the smoke finishes clearing you see why: the center of the Lightbringer's torso has been blown away, splitting the monster in two and killing it instantly. The water of the sea begins to rush back in as you process that you've just killed the spawn of a Wild God. ''[Prestige Increased!]'' <<var $prestige + 3>>\ <<if ($jadedragonfoundation is false)>>\ <<achieve "Godslayer">>\ <</if>>\ <<var $killedgod true>>\ <<else>>\ ''[Damage Check Failed]'' <<var $gazget 2000000>>\ Your blast releases off-balance when the Lightbringer pulls back and your attack misses its mark, shooting down its wounded side but failing to deliver a telling blow. The sea monster shrieks and continues its retreat, slithering west to the returning sea water. You fire off a few more blasts but fail to land a killing blow as it surges Agility Chi to dodge and escape into the sea. Your spiritual senses detect the monster continuing its path in a straight line, fleeing the scene entirely. It's not coming back. <</if>>\ <<page "Continue" "ch6-lightbringer-win">>\ <</choose>>

<<if ($txt is "dodge")>>\ You turn in the air and land on your feet, surging an aura of $auracolor chi around your body. The Lightbringer wastes no time and whips its tail at you from afar, launching a series of four fangs of scarlet Bladed Chi at your torso. <</if>>\ <<var $combatstat "fortitude">>\ <<var $combatskill "insight">>\ <<discount "Akakiru" 1>>\ <<discount "Wind" 1>>\ <<discount "Darkness" 1>>\ <<combatcheck (8+$angler)>>\ <<if ($passcheck is true)>>\ <<cap $auracolor>> chi charges over both forearms and you crash them down on the tips of the chiblades, shattering each in front of you before the hits can land. The Lightbringer charges you while you're distracted but you slam both empowered forearms into its teeth, breaking one in half even as its weight and speed launch you airborne. <<var $dmg + 1>>\ <<if ($power gte 8)>>\ ''[Power 8 Event: Damage Increased]'' <<var $dmg + 1>>\ <</if>>\ <<else>>\ The blades stab against your body before you can get your guard up, stabbing into your body with enough force to blast you off your feet and send you reeling back. <<if ($eblocktech isnot "")>>\ ''[$eblocktech: Damage Reduced]'' <<woundcheck 1 false false>>\ <<else>>\ <<woundcheck 2 false false>>\ <</if>>\ <</if>>\ <<include "ch6-lightbringer3">>\

<<if ($equippedweapon is "Yumi")>>\ You fire your $auracolor glowing arrow down the Beast's head, gouging a wound through its face that looks like it will scar. \ <<elseif ((($equippedweapon is "Greataxe") or ($equippedweapon is "Qiang")) or ((((($equippedweapon is "Jian") or ($equippedweapon is "Katana")) or ($equippedweapon is "Muramasa")) or ($equippedweapon is "Chiblade")) or ($equippedweapon is "Iceblade")))>>\ You slap the Beast with the flat of your $equippedweapon, slicing its face with a superficial wound from the blade's edge running against its uneven eel-fish skull. \ <<elseif (($equippedweapon is "Kunai") or ($equippedweapon is "Tanto"))>>\ You catch its charge with the blade of your $equippedweapon, stabbing it in the top of its mouth before its jaws can open to swallow you. \ <<elseif (($equippedweapon is "Meteor Hammer") or ($equippedweapon is "Bo Staff"))>>\ You slam your $equippedweapon into the side of its head before it even opens its jaws. With its Aura Pressure so depleted, you feel teeth inside its jaw shatter against your attack. \ <<else>>\ Your slam both glowing fists into its teeth as it rises up to swallow you whole, shattering its front row in a spray of tooth-shards that run down its throat and pierce into its mouth. \ <</if>>\ The creature lets out a shriek and surges the last of its Agility Chi to pull away from you and slither west, away from shore. You feel its weakened aura continue fleeing after it reaches the returning water and swims back into the sea. <<page "Continue" "ch6-lightbringer-win">>\

<<if ($dmg gte 10)>>\ ''[Damage Check Passed!]'' <<include "ch6-lightbringer-killmove">>\ <<else>>\ ''[Damage Check Failed]'' <<var $gazget 2000000>>\ Despite your intention, the Lightbringer's strike does not offer the opportunity for a true finisher. <<include "ch6-lightbringer-failkill">>\ <</if>>\

<<var $ruthless + 2>>\ <<var $honor + 1>>\ <<if ($equippedweapon is "Yumi")>>\ Your yumi draws back at the full might of its enhanced draw strength and you overcharge $aurapressure Aura Pressure into the wood of your arrow, overpowering it and shattering the substance, yet you hold the energy into the shape of an arrow all the same. The string of your bow glows $auracolor and your arm shakes from holding so much spiritual power. The Lightbringer doesn't let up, lunging at you in a vertical strike. You release the arrow and watch in awe as it flies through the creature's mouth and down the entirety of its rising serpentine body, illuminating $auracolor light through its mouth, gills, and the cracks that form in its hide when your arrow explodes from multiple points within. The Lightbringer's body erupts to chunks, and monster gore rains down all around you as the sea trickles back in. <<elseif (($equippedweapon is "Greataxe") or ($equippedweapon is "Qiang"))>>\ You slam the flat of your $equippedweapon against the fangs of the Lightbringer's bottom jaw, knocking its head aside. It screeches as its skull is rattled and you surge your entire aura behind you like a shooting star. Before the Lightbringer can recover, you launch yourself down onto its neck with all your power behind an executioner's swing, cleaving your $equippedweapon through the hide of its neck with a flash of $auracolor. Your blade goes in one side and out the other, surging with chi that completes the Lightbringer's decapitation. The sea monster's body flails as its head is severed, spraying blood all over the battlefield until finally dropping to the ground just as the sea water floods back in. <<var $beheaded true>>\ <<elseif (((((($equippedweapon is "Jian") or ($equippedweapon is "Katana")) or ($equippedweapon is "Muramasa")) or ($equippedweapon is "Kunai")) or ($equippedweapon is "Tanto")) or ($equippedweapon is "Chiblade"))>>\ You slash \ <<if ($equippedweapon is "Muramasa")>>\ Muramasa \ <<else>>\ your $equippedweapon \ <</if>>\ in front of the Beast twice as its jaws open to swallow you whole. You feel no Aura Pressure in the Beast's aura, nor in its body when your blade cuts through its fangs effortlessly. \ <<cap $auracolor>> light shines around you as the Lightbringer's shriek of pain shakes even your aura, yet you are not deterred. You plunge into the giant monster's throat and swing \ <<if ($equippedweapon is "Muramasa")>>\ Muramasa \ <<else>>\ your $equippedweapon \ <</if>>\ down in front of you, slicing the creature from the inside all the way down to the tail in one chi-infused slash of power. The Lightbringer makes no grand action as it dies, its wounds proving too great as you open it like a sashimi chef. The spawn of a Wild God falls behind you in a rain of blood and crumples to the sea floor just as the sea water begins to rush back in. <<elseif (($equippedweapon is "Meteor Hammer") or ($equippedweapon is "Bo Staff"))>>\ You swing your $equippedweapon in a wide arc and use the centrifugal force to crack its weighted end into the Lightbringer's skull before it can even open its jaws. With its Aura Pressure depleted, the sea monster makes no grand response. No Technique, no shrieking reaction, no persistent charge. Its eyes pop out of its head as your blunt weapon caves its skull in by three feet and the spawn of a Wild God dies on the spot. You drop to the ground alongside its collapsing corpse just as the sea water rushes back in. <<else>>\ As the Lightbringer's jaws rise up to consume you, you surge all the power of your two-handed attack into your right hand and punch into its fangs before it can finish opening its mouth. With its Aura Pressure so depleted, its sword-like teeth shatter against your attack. Teeth fly around you in the air like an armory of ivory and you grab the two biggest fangs while the sea monster shrieks and writhes beneath you, shocked at the damage. It's shocked further still when you take hold of its own fangs in midair and stab them through its skull, piercing into its brain and killing it instantly. You drop to the ground alongside its collapsing corpse just as the sea water rushes back in. <</if>>\ ''[Prestige Increased!]'' <<var $prestige + 3>>\ <<if ($jadedragonfoundation is false)>>\ <<achieve "Godslayer">>\ <</if>>\ <<var $gazget 3000000>>\ <<var $killedgod true>>\ <<page "Continue" "ch6-lightbringer-win">>\

<<var $commonpoison - $val>>\ <<var $dmg + $val>>\ <<if ($val is 0)>>\ You abandon the idea, saving your poison for later and... <<include "ch6-lightbringer7">>\ <<halt>>\ <<elseif ($val is 1)>>\ 1 vial <<else>>\ $val vials <</if>>\ of potent green poison come out of your bag in one handful and you focus on the Lightbringer's path. It continues to swim upward, pushing Water Chi in front of its path while it swims higher and higher into the sky. Predicting its trajectory, you toss the poison into its way and hope your aim stays true. <<if ($val gte 2)>>\ ''[Excessive Poison Used, Damage Increased]'' <</if>>\ Just as expected, the scarlet glow of Bladed chi from its fangs makes the vials shatter easily and disperse not only the poison, but broken glass too. All straight down its gullet as it charges ever upward into the sky. The Lightbringer's path continues undeterred, but an eerie hissing scream emits from the monster that grows louder with each second as your poison and glass runs through its system. <<var $val 0>>\ <<page "Continue" "ch6-lightbringer8">>\

<<choose "ch6-lightbringer-roc2">> #Scare it off, sparing the sea monster. <<var $ruthless - 4>>\ <<var $gazget 1000000>>\ "Hold, <<cap $rocname>>!" You shout up to your Roc. You draw on your internal reserves of chi and form a damaging energy blast around your forearm, layering it with enough power to wound a rival. Then you launch it into the Lightbringer's side from above, grazing the sea monster. With its Aura Pressure so depleted, the attack singes through its scales and will certainly leave a scar. The Beast shrieks at you and flees north, slithering back into the sea as it rushes in. You sense its weakened aura continue its flight in a straight line. It's not coming back. <<page "Continue" "ch6-lightbringer-win">>\ #Deliver the killing blow. <</choose>>

<<var $ruthless + 2>>\ You don't even have to give the order. <<cap $rocname>> turns on her own, charging down to press the attack. "YES!" You scream out. "GO, <<capall $rocname>>, TAKE US DOWN TO FINISH THE FIGHT!" Your roc's talons charge forward as it prepares for a killing dive and you prepare the same, getting ready to let go with a falling kick. \ <<if ($style is "Midorikatai")>>\ You draw on Wild Chi all around your legs and it intensifies into the shape of $rocname's talons. The two of you divebomb the creature together, green spiritual energy trailing off your descending forms like falling comets. <<var $dmg + 3>>\ <<else>>\ All $auracolor chi surges to your feet, blazing with power running off your descending form like a shooting star as you and $rocname divebomb the creature together. <<var $dmg + 2>>\ <</if>>\ <<if ($roccombat gte 6)>>\ <<var $dmg + 2>>\ <</if>>\ "CAAAWWWWWWWW!!!!" "RRRAAAAHHHHH!!!!" <<if ($dmg gte 10)>>\ ''[Damage Check Passed]'' You crash through the Lightbringer like a ballista bolt, entering its body from one side and out the other in a spray of blood that disintegrates in the heat of your charged-up aura. <<var $roccombat + 2>>\ Rock explodes all around you when you slam into the ground. The sound of your landing even overpowers the death knell of the Lightbringer as it writhes in pain, clinging onto life for no more than a second from the massive blood loss of two body-sized holes through its center. You rise and dust yourself off in a rain of monster blood while the spawn of a Wild God dies by your hand. ''[Prestige Increased!]'' <<var $prestige + 4>>\ <<var $gazget 3000000>>\ <<if ($jadedragonfoundation is false)>>\ <<achieve "Godslayer">>\ <</if>>\ <<var $killedgod true>>\ <<else>>\ ''[Damage Check Failed]'' <<var $gazget 2000000>>\ Your combined kicks break something under the skin in a sickening crunch as your weights crash into the Lightbringer's giant form, but its scales prove too hard and slippery, repelling your attack sideways before you can inflict lethal damage. Both you and your roc crash into the rock of the seabed in a spray of blood, your grazing strikes forming long lines down the Lightbringer's hide that will surely scar, but it surges the last of its Agility Chi and flees west towards the returning sea before you can land a killing blow. It's not coming back. <</if>>\ <<page "Continue" "ch6-lightbringer-win">>\

<<if ($val isnot 8080)>>\ Twelve curved blades of scarlet chi charge down at you from all angles as you wrestle against the maw of the Lightbringer. <</if>>\ <<var $combatstat "soul">>\ <<var $combatskill "thievery">>\ <<discount "Akakiru" 2>>\ <<discount "Kiihakai" 1>>\ <<discount "Ice" 1>>\ <<attack "Melee">>\ <<combatcheck (8+$angler)>>\ <<if ($passcheck is true)>>\ With $auracolor chi surging around your palms you reach out and seize one of the Beast's chi-blades, \ <<if (($element1 is "Ice") or ($element2 is "Ice"))>>\ flashfreezing the others with a pulse of Ice Chi. With one swing in a wide arc, you use the twelfth blade to shatter the other eleven. <<else>>\ swinging it in a wide arc to deflect the other eleven. <</if>>\ A sense of overwhelming malice comes from the wounded Lightbringer as you start resisting it with only one arm. It takes the opportunity to spin in place and whips you with its tail. You stab its own chi blade into the wound along its side to weaken the monster's blow, yet the force is still enough to send you flying. <<var $dmg + 1>>\ <<if ($power gte 8)>>\ ''[Power 8 Event: Damage Increased]'' <<var $dmg + 1>>\ <</if>>\ <<if ($style is "Akakiru")>>\ <<if ($power lt 8)>>\ <</if>>\ ''[Akakiru Event: Damage Increased]'' <<var $dmg + 1>>\ <</if>>\ <<else>>\ The blades swerve as they stab into you, each colliding into you with from the front with piercing and concussive force. You deflect all that you can but the Bladed chi attacks overwhelm your body and aura, stabbing into you and launching you airborne. <<if ($eblocktech isnot "")>>\ ''[$eblocktech: Damage Reduced]'' <<woundcheck 1 false false>>\ <<else>>\ <<woundcheck 2 false false>>\ <</if>>\ <</if>>\ <<include "ch6-lightbringer3">>\

<div class="fightingfont">Thunderfaller vs The Lightbringer</div>\ <div class="fightingfont">Victory</div>\ <<statcheck>>\ <<fightexp 10>>\ <<var $fighting false>>\ You return to the shore after your battle, covered in blood, \ <<if ($wounds gt 0)>>\ some \ <<else>>\ none \ <</if>>\ of it yours. <<if ($killedgod is true)>>\ ''[Item Gained: Lightbringer Soul Treasure]'' <<var $lightbringertrophy 2800>>\ <</if>>\ To the north a dust storm kicks up through flashes of blue and green hues with scarlet, amber, and green sparking around the obfuscated battlefield. You run across the sand to intervene when an empty sensation overtakes you, as if the world itself were a mere trinket being dropped into a well. It feels like the very terrain under your feet is falling away and you're falling alongside it. Lost, with nothing to hold onto. You drop to your knees and the sandstorm up ahead dissipates at the same time. Through the fading sands you see everyone up ahead frozen in fear, looking your way. Sectmaster Bassui, Leona, and several Martial Artists you don't recognize are all stare at you in shock. Even greater in number are the amount of Martial Artists on both sides that are on the ground unconscious. Even \ <<if (($metangelo is 10000000000) and ($style isnot "Aoyusumu"))>>\ the monk from the clouds \ <<else>>\ Angelo \ <</if>>\ is paused mid-combat, blinking in surprise in your direction. Shallow breaths force their way through your lungs and your forehead drips with sweat, yet you do your best to focus. As you look around you see nothing is truly falling away. The sun has nearly set in the same place, the ground isn't moving, the town is unharmed. That's when it hits you. This sinking feeling, this incomprehensible sense of falling away, is the passive sensation of nearby Aura Pressure. So much energy that even being near it untethered is nearly causing you to vomit. You look to the sky and see a cloaked and armored figure. Four feet above your head. <<page "Continue" "ch6-archon">>\

<<choose "ch6-lightbringer-blade">> #Rip its jaws apart. You force a sideways grip on two separate fangs, one on the Lightbringer's upper jaw and one on its lower jaw. Through strength alone you keep the thrashing monster's jaw shut as it rises the two of you into the air from the force of its charge. When you rise twenty feet out of the water it gets control of its movement and jerks you sideways, ripping the two of you back towards the water's surface where it holds domain. At the same time, you stress the muscles of your shoulder and back to rip its rows of teeth in opposite directions. <<var $combatstat "power">>\ <<var $combatstat2 "fortitude">>\ <<discount "Earth" 1>>\ <<discount "Muscular" 1>>\ <<discount "Midorikatai" 1>>\ <<if ($equippedweapon is "Handwraps")>>\ ''[Handwrap Protection: +1 Battle Prowess]'' <<var $cmod + 1>>\ <</if>>\ <<combatcheck (14+$angler)>>\ <<if ($passcheck is true)>>\ Your muscles scream as you force both sides of its mouth in opposite directions and the Lightbringer's jaw rips open under the strain of your might. With one final heave, your right arm pulls its head to the right and your left arm rends its lower jaw off, throwing it to the side in a spray of gore. <<var $dmg + 2>>\ <<if ($style is "Midorikatai")>>\ ''[Midorikatai Style: Damage Increased]'' <<var $dmg + 1>>\ <<elseif ($power gte 9)>>\ ''[Power 9 Event: Damage Increased]'' <<var $dmg + 1>>\ <</if>>\ ''[The Lightbringer has been injured!]'' ''[It will suffer a penalty for the remainder of combat.]'' <<var $angler - 1>>\ <<else>>\ Your muscles scream as you pull on the sea monster's jaws with all your might. It doesn't budge. The Lightbringer's jaw holds strong and it jerks its head, slamming you into the water, but before you strike the surface the sea around you deforms into the shape of fangs rising up in a scarlet glow. Your back is slammed into the Water-Bladed Technique and you scream out, feeling the sharpened chi edges pierce into your flesh. <<if ($pblocktech isnot "")>>\ ''[$pblocktech Event: Damage Reduced]'' <<woundcheck 1 false false>>\ <<else>>\ <<woundcheck 2 false false>>\ <</if>>\ <</if>>\ Blood pools around you in the water and the Lightbringer disappears beneath the waves, swimming deeper into the sea. <<page "Continue" "ch6-lightbringer11">>\ #show-if ((((((((($equippedweapon is "Tanto")) or ($equippedweapon is "Katana")) or ($equippedweapon is "Qiang")) or ($equippedweapon is "Kunai")) or ($equippedweapon is "Jian")) or ($equippedweapon is "Iceblade")) or ($equippedweapon is "Greataxe")) or ($equippedweapon is "Chiblade")) Draw my $equippedweapon to sever the tendril holding up its glowing orb. You draw your $equippedweapon \ #show-if ($equippedweapon is "Muramasa") Draw Muramasa to sever the tendril holding up its glowing orb. You draw Muramasa from its sheath \ #show-if (((((((((($equippedweapon isnot "Tanto")) and ($equippedweapon isnot "Katana")) and ($equippedweapon isnot "Qiang")) and ($equippedweapon isnot "Kunai")) and ($equippedweapon isnot "Jian")) and ($equippedweapon isnot "Iceblade")) and ($equippedweapon isnot "Greataxe")) and ($equippedweapon isnot "Chiblade")) and ($equippedweapon isnot "Muramasa")) use-if ($val is 54365435326) Draw your blade to sever the tendril holding up its glowing orb. [No Bladed Weapon Equipped!] -> "death" #Deliver a glowing kick through its gill. As the Lightbringer thrashes its head you release its fangs and roll down its side, charging $auracolor chi around your leg for one mighty kick right into its gill as you tumble down its body. <<var $combatstat "agility">>\ <<var $combatstat2 "soul">>\ <<discount "Kurokonton" 1>>\ <<discount "Storm" 1>>\ <<discount "Ice" 1>>\ <<combatcheck (13+$angler)>>\ <<if ($passcheck is true)>>\ Blood explodes around you when your glowing leg pierces into the sea monster's vulnerable gill, \ <<if (($element1 is "fire") or ($element2 is "Fire"))>>\ burning its flesh in a searing blow of Fire Chi. <<elseif (($element1 is "Storm") or ($element2 is "Storm"))>>\ electrocuting its flesh from the inside in a flash of Storm Chi. <<var $dmg + 1>>\ <<elseif (($element1 is "Ice") or ($element2 is "Ice"))>>\ freezing the surrounding flesh and shattering it in a rushing blow of Ice Chi. <<var $dmg + 1>>\ <<else>>\ crushing through layers of its flesh in a rushing blow of overwhelming chi. <</if>>\ <<var $dmg + 2>>\ The Lightbringer's eyes go wild and it flails in a frenzy, launching you fifty feet away with a dislodging thrash. <<if (($element1 is "Storm") or ($element2 is "Storm"))>>\ ''[Storm Event: Damage Increased]'' <<elseif (($element1 is "Ice") or ($element2 is "Ice"))>>\ ''[Ice Event: Damage Increased]'' <<elseif ($power gte 8)>>\ ''[Power 8 Event: Damage Increased]'' <<var $dmg + 1>>\ <</if>>\ <<else>>\ Before you can strike at the sea monster it twists its neck further than you expected and snaps its jaws shut on your arm, <<if ($pblocktech isnot "")>>\ tearing at the chi infused into your $pblocktech Technique that barely saves you from dismemberment. \ <<else>>\ rending the limb when the fangs tear through the flesh and strike against the bone. \ <</if>>\ <<woundcheck 2 true false>>\ A scream of agony escapes your lips. Panicked strikes are all you can muster, slamming your free fist against the Beast's eye with your one free arm. It flails its head in anger, trying to rip off the limb, but relents and throws you fifty feet away. <</if>>\ You soar through the air before plunging into the sea, its salty water rushing up your nose and soaking your body further. After quickly resurfacing you look back to your enemy, but see only a pool of blood with no sign of the Lightbringer. <<page "Continue" "ch6-lightbringer11">>\ <</choose>>

<div class="fightingfont">Thunderfaller vs The Lightbringer</div>\ <<statcheck>>\ <<if ($style is "Kurokonton")>>\ <<var $angler + 1>>\ <</if>>\ The waves are calm yet steady, the tide growing stronger as you tread water, but underneath the surface lies a more serious threat. With the Lightbringer swimming somewhere underneath you, and the raft gone, you \ <<if (($element1 is "Water") or ($element2 is "Water"))>>\ stand upon the water's surface using Water Chi and feel an imbalance in the same elemental force all around you. With great focus, you \ <<elseif (($element1 is "Ice") or ($element2 is "Ice"))>>\ form your own raft of ice under your feet to stay out of the sea. With great focus, you \ <<else>>\ wade in the water and \ <</if>>\ use your spiritual senses to search for the Beast once again. The moment you open your spiritual senses you scream. It's as if you're struck with a nauseating torrent of sensory information, an overload of unexpected results. The sea all around you is overflowing with natural energy, a veritable ocean of Water Chi. At first your hopes ignite, sensing the Heavenly Water Gate around you, but none of the energy enters your soul. It's not ambient chi. It's been claimed by something else. The tide quickens, pulling you further away from shore, and you realize that this sea of power is a Technique. As if detecting that you've noticed the trap, the \ <<if (($element1 is "Water") or ($element2 is "Water"))>>\ Water Chi under your feet rips you under, pulling you into the sea's current as it begins to rage like a river. \ <<elseif (($element1 is "Ice") or ($element2 is "Ice"))>>\ sea around you rages like a river rapid, pulling you with it at such speeds that you can't balance any layers of ice to walk on. \ <<else>>\ sea around you rages like a river rapid. \ <</if>>\ You're pulled in cartwheeling tumbles through the salty tide and feel the Water Chi all around you spiraling into a central location, forming a one-thousand-foot wide whirlpool leading to a shining scarlet object at the bottom of the sea. The Lightbringer. Its ultimate attack made manifest, the very sea itself is pulling everything in its depths into the creature's body while its scales sprout jagged shards of Bladed Chi all over its hide in a deathtrap of evisceration. <<var $counter 0>>\ <<choose "ch6-lightbringer-win">> #Try to swim away. With your life on the line, you swim away as fast as possible. Your arms and back are pushed into every stroke, your legs are focused for the correct form in every kick, and your remaining $auracolor aura flares as you call on more and more power to fight against the raging waters around you. The rapid maelstrom that becomes of the sea pulls on you with supernatural force, sucking your body towards the Lightbringer, and you feel its energies building up toward a final effect. <<if (dig($weaponbonus, 3) gte 1)>>\ <<var $val2 dig($weaponbonus, 3)>>\ <<else>>\ <<var $val2 1>>\ <</if>>\ <<var $combatstat "agility">>\ <<var $combatskill "athletics">>\ <<discount "Agile" 1>>\ <<discount "Legs" 1>>\ <<discount "Water" 1>>\ <<discount "Light" 1>>\ <<combatcheck (9+$angler)>>\ <<if ($passcheck is true)>>\ With crazed determination and incredible muscle control you outswim //the sea//. The Lightbringer's effect pulls the entire ocean around the bay towards itself, five-hundred feet from shore, and you manage to swim to dry land before its effect reaches a crescendo. When your hands hit sand you stumble to your feet and look back to the incredible sight of the water for hundreds of yards sucking into a scarlet crystal deep out in the ocean, the Lightbringer's form, as it converts the water itself into Water Chi, then outputs it as Bladed Chi. From this safe distance you're able to appreciate the fine control and natural connection it must have to the elements. In a final pulse of Bladed Chi, the monster's crystalline effect explodes in a massive array of chi-blade shrapnel that kills every aquatic animal sucked into its Technique in a rain of blood. <<var $dmg + 1>>\ <<else>>\ Try as you might, the water underneath you is pulled by layers of water even deeper that move faster than you imagined. The riptide of the whirlpool pulls you in as the Lightbringer's effect pulls the entire ocean around the bay towards itself, five-hundred feet from the shore. When you get closer you turn and see its final killing move, the water isn't just being moved. It's being //sucked// into the Lightbringer and converted to Water Chi, then output as Bladed Chi in a scarlet crystal of Bladed shards forming all over the sea monster's body. You double your efforts, fruitlessly flailing through the waves to avoid the attack, when you're pulled even faster in the last second and the crystal around the Lightbringer's body explodes in a seemingly never-ending wall of Blades that shred into your body from behind. <<var $val 3>>\ <<if ($eblocktech isnot "")>>\ ''[$eblocktech Activated, Damage Reduced]'' <<var $val - 1>>\ <</if>>\ <<if ($pblocktech isnot "")>>\ ''[$pblocktech Activated, Damage Reduced]'' <<var $val - 1>>\ <</if>>\ <<woundcheck $val false false>>\ <<var $counter 1>>\ <<var $val 0>>\ <</if>>\ <<var $txt "swim">>\ <<page "Continue" "ch6-lightbringer-deadfish">>\ #Let it draw you closer so that you can blast it point-blank. The rapid maelstrom that becomes of the sea pulls on you with supernatural force, sucking your body towards the Lightbringer, and you feel its energies building up toward a final effect. Feeling its pull too strong to escape, you decide against evasion. Instead you focus on //revenge//. While the sea monster charges up its own final Technique, you do the same. Your feet kick to keep you above water but your hands close together in front of you, Cores cycling chi out between them in a condensing process of chi-layering to form the purest blast you can produce. Yet the water's raging torrent pulls strongly upon you, wrenching you through its whirlpool and into its center. As you close the distance to the Lightbringer you see what it's become: a serpentine crystal-statue of scarlet power covered in Bladed shards of hardened chi. The water all around you rushes into the monster and you can feel its physical self convert from seawater to Water Chi, a process you thought impossible, and the Lightbringer converts that Water Chi into Bladed Chi in an alien process your senses can't fathom. What you can fathom is the final pulse as you get within fifty feet of the Beast. Its shell of Blades explodes in a storm of mutilation. <<var $combatstat "fortitude">>\ <<var $combatskill "survival">>\ <<discount "Midorikatai" 1>>\ <<discount "Akakiru" 1>>\ <<discount "Earth" 1>>\ <<discount "Water" 1>>\ <<attack "Energy Melee">>\ <<combatcheck (9+$angler)>>\ <<if ($passcheck is true)>>\ A blinding eruption of scarlet light is accompanied by the pain of a thousand chi blades crashing into you, yet you hold firm and release just enough of your prepared energy blast to weaken the attack before it can hack you to pieces. <<if ($ironbody is true)>>\ ''[Iron Body Event: Damage Negated!]'' <<else>>\ <<woundcheck 1 true true>>\ <<if (($eblocktech isnot "") or ($pblocktech isnot ""))>>\ <<var $bloody false>>\ <</if>>\ <</if>>\ <<else>>\ Scarlet light fills your vision as a seemingly infinite barrage of blades flies at you, blinding your vision as they cut through your flesh. Your very soul suffers from the same strikes and it feels as if you’re under attack by an entire army. Something inside you cuts open, something important. Blades of chi stab into your arms, your legs, and even your torso as you suffer lacerations to your organs. <<var $val 3>>\ <<if ($eblocktech isnot "")>>\ ''[$eblocktech Activated, Damage Reduced]'' <<var $val - 1>>\ <</if>>\ <<if ($pblocktech isnot "")>>\ <<if ($eblocktech is "")>>\ <</if>>\ ''[$pblocktech Activated, Damage Reduced]'' <<var $val - 1>>\ <</if>>\ <<woundcheck $val false false>>\ <<var $counter 1>>\ <<var $val 0>>\ <</if>>\ <<page "Continue" "ch6-lightbringer-deadfish">>\ #show-if (((($element1 is "Wind") and ($element1rank gte 2)) or (($element2 is "Wind") and ($element2rank gte 2))) or (($style is "Aoyusumu") and ($stylerank gte 2))) use-if ((($chipool + ($soul/2)) - $chispent) gte 1) Fly out of the Technique. [Requires Wind Adept or Aoyusumu Adept, Costs 1 Chi] The Lightbringer's effect pulls the entire ocean around the bay towards itself, five-hundred feet from shore, and you don't wait to see what it does when it's done. <<if ((($element1 is "Wind") and ($element1rank gte 2)) or (($element2 is "Wind") and ($element2rank gte 2)))>>\ Your Cores cycle Wind Chi all over your body and expel it out of your skin like a layer of constant movement all around you. The barrier of Wind Chi \ <<else>>\ Thinking back to your fight against Taio, you pull on the more complete Sacred Chi inside your Cores and draw out its psionic energy. Your body becomes covered in a kinetic barrier that \ <</if>>\ keeps the Water Chi from touching you and removes its spiritual grasp on your body. By taking hold of your own layer of energy with your spiritual control, you pull yourself out of the water and soar into the sky. ''[1 Chi Point Spent]'' <<var $chispent + 1>>\ <<var $dmg + 2>>\ Not taking any risks, you speed up and fly to the shore where the effects of Water Chi don't hold as much sway. When you land on the sand you look back to the incredible sight of the water for hundreds of yards sucking into a scarlet crystal deep out in the ocean, the Lightbringer's form, as it converts the water itself into Water Chi, then outputs it as Bladed Chi. From this safe distance you're able to appreciate the fine control and natural connection it must have to the elements. In a final pulse of Bladed Chi, the monster's crystalline effect explodes in a massive array of chi-blade shrapnel that kills every aquatic animal sucked into its Technique in a rain of blood. \ <<var $dmg + 1>>\ <<var $txt "swim">>\ <<page "Continue" "ch6-lightbringer-deadfish">>\ #show-if (($element1 is "Ice") or ($element2 is "Ice")) use-if ((($chipool + ($soul/2)) - $chispent) gte 1) Freeze the water surface into an ice shuriken. [Requires Ice, Costs 1 Chi] The Lightbringer's effect pulls the entire ocean around the bay towards itself, five-hundred feet from shore, and you never let a weapon go to waste. While flung through the waters one hand extends out to your left and the other forward, grasping on the spin cycle of the water's surface. Ice chi pours out of your spirit and flash-freezes the sea's surface around you. ''[1 Chi Point Spent]'' <<var $chispent + 1>>\ <<apboost 5>>\ The layer breaks immediately, cracking into thousands of icycles and jagged sheets spinning into the Lightbringer's rotation. The Beast sucks in the sea like a kraken, forming a whirlpool that pulls everything in. When your hundreds of ice shards are pulled closer into the middle your other hand spiritualls grasps them, fusing them together with freezing force. All you've done is creating jagged layers of ice. The Lightbringer has itself to blame for forming them into a single, enormous, high-speed spinning shuriken of death. You hold two $auracolor glowing fingers forward and flip them heavensward. Your ice shuriken flings out of the center of the Lightbringer's whirlpool and launches high into the sky. Then, condemning your opponent, you reverse your glowing hand and launch the shuriken down. Like a spinning saw your thirty-foot wide ice shuriken carves into the Lightbringer's open mouth, cutting the Beast into it with hundreds of jagged, shredding rotations in a second. It exits out of the creature's back, cleaving it in two. ''[Prestige Increased!]'' <<var $prestige + 4>>\ <<var $gazget 3000000>>\ <<if ($jadedragonfoundation is false)>>\ <<achieve "Godslayer">>\ <</if>>\ <<var $killedgod true>>\ <<page "Continue" "ch6-lightbringer-win">>\ #show-if ($roc gt 0) "cap($rocname)!!" -> "ch6-lightbringer-roc" The rapid maelstrom that becomes of the sea pulls on you with supernatural force, sucking your body towards the Lightbringer, and you feel its energies building up toward a final effect. <<if ($style is "Midorikatai")>>\ You refuse to see what it is. Wild Chi surges into your lungs and, as the sea monster's ultimate attack sucks in the ocean all around you, you call out into the world with a bone-shaking scream: \ <<else>>\ With the sea monster's Technique pulling in the ocean all around you, there's no where to go but directly into its razor-fanged maw. If you were alone. Instead you let out a singular word, the summons to a Beast of your own: \ <</if>>\ "<<capall $rocname>>!!" In a flash of white your roc spears across the naval battlefield as if she were already waiting for your signal. With its Agility Cores surged it speeds past your location and you reach out for dear life, grasping a wrist around its leg. <<cap $rocname>> pulls up at an angle and pulls you into the sky, wrenching you from the Technique's supernatural pull. "Good girl!" You shout out, flying ever higher into the sky. "CAW!" $rocname responds. As you look down you see the view from above, the surreal image of the entire bay being sucked into a swirling whirlpool as wide as a village. At its center is a shining scarlet crystal. The Lightbringer. After a second look you realize the water isn't rushing into the Beast, it's //disappearing// into it. The Lightbringer is pulling all the ocean into its body to convert it to Water Chi, then converting it once again to output Bladed Chi in a crystalline shell of jagged shards resonating more power than you've ever imagined. Luckily you're not down there. The Lightbringer's attack reaches a final crescendo, exploding into a visceral storm of blades that kills every aquatic creature caught in its Technique in a rain of blood. When the blade storm dies down, you see no water for a thousand feet. At the center of the seabed crater is the Lightbringer, its utter exhaustion on clear display as it can't even keep an aura up after that attack. <</choose>>

<div class="fightingfont">Thunderfaller vs The Lightbringer</div>\ <<statcheck>>\ <<var $fighting true>>\ "MOVE!" You scream as the wounded Lightbringer surges an Agility Core of Light Chi and plows towards the crowd. Your own battle experience helps you calculate its Aura Pressure and trajectory, realizing you're in range of its deadly charge too. <<if ($angler is 1)>>\ ''[Special Event: Prayed to the Lightbringer]'' ''[Your Faith has strengthened the Beast's power against you.]'' <</if>>\ <<if ($equippedweapon is "Muramasa")>>\ <<var $weptext "Muramasa">>\ <<else>>\ <<var $weptext ("your " + $equippedweapon)>>\ <</if>>\ <<choose "ch6-lightbringer-dodge">> #Dodge!! The Lightbringer charges through the weaker Martial Artists at the shoreline and swallows several whole. Those that aren't eaten by the creature are instead sent flying to the side with heavy wounds and missing limbs. <<var $txt "dodge">>\ Then its charge continues, a single blurred line of yellow chi forming in an instant from the water to your location. <<var $combatstat "agility">>\ <<var $combatskill "stealth">>\ <<discount "Light" 1>>\ <<discount "Kurokonton" 1>>\ <<combatcheck (6+$angler)>>\ <<if ($passcheck is true)>>\ The Beast narrowly misses your foot as you dive to the side. The Windrising clerk measuring your fish doesn't even get a sound out as the Lightbringer snaps its jaws shut around him. <<if ($style is "Kurokonton")>>\ As you launch backward you draw six shuriken and throw them at the monster. Your Cursed Chi charges over the weapons as they stab into the raw wound scraping down the side of its body. With a snap of the fingers on both hands, you activate the Cursed Chi to //pull// five shuriken towards the one in the center. ''[Kurokonton Event: Damage Increased]'' <<var $dmg + 2>>\ Your weapons carve a path through the Lightbringer's wound like moving saws as your curse manipulates their position. \ <<else>>\ As you launch backward you charge a $auracolor blast in both hands and launch it into the wound scraping down the side of the Lightbringer's body. Your attack lands on the distracted monster and it lets out an unnatural screech. <<var $dmg + 1>>\ <<if (($element1 is "Storm") or ($element2 is "Storm"))>>\ ''[Storm Event: Damage Increased]'' <<var $dmg + 1>>\ <</if>>\ <</if>>\ <<page "Continue" "ch6-lightbringer-dodge">>\ <<else>>\ Though you try to dive out of the way, the creature is too fast. The Lightbringer's jaws close shut around your shoulder in a blitz of <<if ($pblocktech isnot "")>>\ pain. \ <<else>>\ pain and blood. \ <</if>>\ <<woundcheck 1 true false>>\ In a panic you strike your free arm against the monster's hide, slamming your fist into the wound down its side. It reels back and jerks its head, sending you flying. <<include "ch6-lightbringer-dodge">>\ <</if>>\ #use-if ($agispent lt $agility) Surge an Agility Core to stop it from killing the others. <<var $savior true>>\ As yellow Light Chi surges around the \ <<if ($sawshrines is true)>>\ Lightbringer, \ <<else>>\ creature, \ <</if>>\ your own body resonates with $auracolor Chi and vibrates from the forces of speed you push through your spirit. The clerk at the scale looks wide-eyed at you and shakes his head, but before he can even finish one tilt to the side you disappear from sight, surging down the beach at the same time that the angler Beast moves. Its fangs crash into the crowd of Martial Artists with shocking resistance, as the first body it hits is you. ''[1 Agility Core Spent]'' <<var $agispent + 1>>\ Your momentums and auras clash when you grab hold of its open fangs with both arms. <<var $combatstat "power">>\ <<discount "Midorikatai" 1>>\ <<discount "Earth" 1>>\ <<discount "Light" 1>>\ <<discount "Agile" 1>>\ <<discount "Legs" 1>>\ <<if ($equippedweapon is "Handwraps")>>\ ''[Handwrap Protection: Battle Prowess]'' <<var $cmod + 1>>\ <</if>>\ <<combatcheck (8+$angler)>>\ <<if ($passcheck is true)>>\ <<var $dmg + 1>>\ You hold two of its fangs still when the Beast crashes against you. Its serpentine body coils from the impact and sand explodes behind you, but your grip stays strong. The Lightbringer shakes twice in place, trying to dislodge you, and a hiss-roar escapes its mouth when its body takes on the scarlet glow of Bladed Chi. <<else>>\ The Lightbringer's jagged maw proves too strong, crushing through your guard from its savage and relentless bites. Blood covers your vision as its fangs dig into your forearms in three different places. <<if ($pblocktech isnot "")>>\ ''[$pblocktech: Damage Reduced] <<woundcheck 1 false false>>\ <<else>>\ <<woundcheck 2 false false>>\ <</if>>\ Clenching your teeth from the pain, you realize no one around you has even started running yet. <</if>>\ "Get out of here!" You scream to the stunned fishermen and weaker Martial Artists behind you. "Move, now!" The Lightbringer's mouth vibrates and a dozen fang-shaped blades of chi appear in the air around its mouth. All twelve swoop down to impale you at once. <<page "Continue" "ch6-lightbringer-surge">>\ #show-if ((($equippedweapon isnot "Handwraps") and ($equippedweapon isnot "Yumi")) and ($equippedweapon isnot "")) use-if (($agility gt $agispent) and (($style is "Akakiru") or (dig($weaponbonus, 2) gte 2))) Surge an Agility Core and deflect its teeth with $weptext. [Requires Akakiru or Superior-Grade Weapon] <<var $savior true>>\ As yellow Light Chi surges around the \ <<if ($sawshrines is true)>>\ Lightbringer, \ <<else>>\ creature, \ <</if>>\ your own body resonates with $auracolor Chi and vibrates from the forces of speed you push through your spirit. The clerk at the scale looks wide-eyed at you and shakes his head, but before he can even finish one tilt to the side you disappear from sight, surging down the beach at the same time that the angler Beast moves. Its fangs crash into the crowd of Martial Artists with shocking resistance, as the first body it hits is you. ''[1 Agility Core Spent]'' <<var $agispent + 1>>\ Your momentums and auras clash when your \ <<if ($style is "Akakiru")>>\ $auracolor glowing \ <</if>>\ $equippedweapon slams against its teeth. <<var $combatstat "power">>\ <<var $weapontest true>>\ <<discount "Akakiru" 1>>\ <<discount "Storm" 1>>\ <<discount "Light" 1>>\ <<discount "Agile" 1>>\ <<discount "Legs" 1>>\ <<combatcheck (8+$angler)>>\ <<if ($passcheck is true)>>\ <<var $dmg + 2>>\ A row of the Beast's fangs begin to crack against the strength you push through \ <<if ($equippedweapon is "Muramasa")>>\ Muramasa. \ <<else>>\ your $equippedweapon. \ <</if>>\ In one swing, you shatter several teeth and knock the monster away from the \ <<if ($style is "Akakiru")>>\ shore with a $auracolor slash of spiritual energy. <<else>>\ shore with a $auracolor aura manifesting around you. <</if>>\ <<if ($power gte 8)>>\ ''[Power 8 Event: Damage Increased]'' <<var $dmg + 1>>\ <</if>>\ The Lightbringer darts back from the strike but immediately returns for more. A hiss-roar escapes its mouth when its body takes on the scarlet glow of Bladed Chi. "Get out of here!" You scream to the stunned fishermen and weaker Martial Artists behind you. "Move, now!" The Lightbringer's mouth vibrates and a dozen fang-shaped blades of chi appear in the air around its mouth. All twelve swoop down to impale you at once. <<page "Continue" "ch6-lightbringer-surge">>\ <<else>>\ The Lightbringer's jagged maw proves too strong, crushing through your guard from its savage and relentless bites. Blood covers your vision as its fangs dig into your forearms in three different places. <<if ($pblocktech isnot "")>>\ ''[$pblocktech: Damage Reduced] <<woundcheck 1 false false>>\ <<else>>\ <<woundcheck 2 false false>>\ <</if>>\ Clenching your teeth from the pain, you realize no one around you has even started running yet. "Get out of here!" You scream to the stunned fishermen and weaker Martial Artists behind you. "Move, now!" The Lightbringer's mouth vibrates and a dozen fang-shaped blades of chi appear in the air around its mouth. All twelve swoop down to impale you at once. <<page "Continue" "ch6-lightbringer-surge">>\ <</if>>\ #show-if (($element1 is "Water") or ($element2 is "Water")) use-if ((($chipool + ($soul/2)) - $chispent) gte 1) Bludgeon it with an upward fist made of water. [Requires Water, Costs 1 Chi] <<var $savior true>>\ Before the monster can strike you stomp forward and flow all your Water Chi to your arm, lifting your fist in an uppercut of dark blue energy. Down at the shore, the water beneath the Lightbringer answers to your call and forms a massive fist, slamming upward at top speeds and cracking the creature's head six feet into the sky. ''[1 Chi Point Spent]'' <<var $dmg + 2>>\ <<if ($power gte 7)>>\ ''[Power 7 Event: Damage Increased]'' <<var $dmg + 1>>\ <</if>>\ The monster lets out a hissing shriek, its eyes focusing on you immediately as it dashes over the rest of the crowd and swims through the air towards you. In the last twenty feet it spins, whipping four scarlet manifestations of Bladed Chi at you in the form of fangs. #show-if (($element1 is "Light") or ($element2 is "Light")) use-if ((($chipool + ($soul/2)) - $chispent) gte 1) Spiritually grip the Light in its odd limb to ruin its charge. [Requires Light, Costs 1 Chi] -> "ch6-lightbringer-surge" <<var $savior true>>\ Before the monster can strike you reach out with a Yellow glowing hand and grasp on the Light Chi around its odd appendage, seizing the force of elemental Light and pulling it towards yourself with all the strength your Aura Pressure can muster. The Lightbringer shrieks as you wrench the light-orb attached to its back by a tendril, pulling on the limb from afar. It changes course last second and swims through the air over the crowd, charging at you with the speed enforcement of Light Chi. You do the same. All your acceleration turns to power as the two of you clash in the air, your foot slamming into the unprepared creature's side with the momentum of two Light enhancements colliding. <<var $dmg + 2>>\ <<if ($power gte 7)>>\ ''[Power 7 Event: Damage Increased]'' <<var $dmg + 1>>\ <</if>>\ Your kick slams into its side with a satisfying crunch and you feel a small crack form in its bone under your foot. The Lightbringer hisses and spins, sliding your attack off at the last second, then it continues its spin until its maw faces you. A maw of glowing, scarlet teeth filled with Bladed Chi. <<var $val 808>>\ Yet it doesn't bite down, rather twelve blades manifest in the air all around you. Chi-blades in the shape of fangs, each made from Bladed Chi. They all plunge towards you at once. <</choose>>

You flip over in the air and skid to a \ <<if ($wounds gt 2)>>\ halt, bleeding heavily. <<elseif ($wounds gt 0)>>\ halt, holding your wounds. <<else>>\ halt. <</if>>\ Panic and screams erupt around the beach as everyone finally reacts. Over one hundred men and women run for their lives in every direction, but the Lightbringer pays them no attention. It turns to you, the impression of an unsettling smile showing on its maw of razor teeth. The air all around you fills with one word: //Prey.// You shake the intrusion out of your head. Though this monster is larger than your house, it's already been wounded by someone or something. You focus on that thought to suppress your fear and cycle your aura more steadily. Your breathing is calm, your stance is true, and you allow no distractions. "Come closer." You threaten, offering your palm up and curling your fingers upward. "I'll show you which of us is the prey." <<page "Continue" "ch6-lightbringer4">>\

<div class="fightingfont">Thunderfaller vs The Lightbringer</div>\ <<statcheck>>\ While your focus is on the monster in front of you, a voice comes from the sky above. "''//Hurricane Grip!//''" Emerald bands of Wind Chi form around your limbs, dropping you to your knees. When you look up to the source of the voice you see an old man with long graying hair and beard standing on the air two-hundred feet up. "Let me go!" You shout at the elder. "I'm in the middle of a fight!" "You dare speak back to a Sectmaster in his own domain?!" The elder calls down. "Such arrogance. Disciple Jiru! Seize this bandit!" "Yes, Sectmaster Bassui!" One of the Windrising Disiples responds, running up and placing your bound form in a headlock. The man's elbow locks around your neck and \ <<if ($ruthless gte 60)>>\ your head begins to shake with murderous rage. "Get your hands off me or you'll be the first I kill." <<var $powexp + 2>>\ <<else>>\ you grit your teeth. "You're making a mistake!" <</if>>\ All around you, more and more Windrising Disciples gather to the battlefield. The Beast halts forty feet away and surprisingly doesn't eat the black and green clad Martial Artists that sprint to its aid. Rather, it floats in the air with its eyes locked on you while they apply healing unguents to the large wound on its side. The elder, this 'Sectmaster Bassui', descends to the sand nearby with a look of indifference. "I allow entertainment for you outsiders and I am repaid with betrayal. Disgraceful. Attacking a child of the Majestic Gazhurra is a crime punishable by death in my lands." "Attacking...? Are you insane?!" You shout back. "It's killing indiscriminately! The Beast is feral!" "The Lightbringer is no mere animal!" Sectmaster Bassui insists, the pressure of his voice weighing you down with a Wind Technique. "It is a holy creature to this village, protecting us from meddlers! If it kills, it kills with purpose!" "It's a Beast, not a Magistrate! It's eating people to heal!" "Pah!" Sectmaster Bassui spits on your forehead. "Gazhurra's Get are not so crass. Whatever your crimes, the Lightbringer has come to punish you for them. We will find and present the evidence to Imperial clerks after your //removal//." He looks back to the visiting Martial Artists and Sectmasters, present at the docks for the fishing tournament. "Anyone aiding this criminal will not be a savior but an outlaw, acting against the Wild God Gazhurra and the Windrising Sect's accord made directly with the Exalted Council!" Murmurs break out all along the beach. Several Martial Artists at the docks put away weapons you didn't even realize they'd drawn. Your backup disappears before it arrives, and many leave in flashes of chi with surged Agility Cores. "This will go easier if you do not resist." Sectmaster Bassui whispers as they depart. "We both know The Lightbringer has not yet manifested intelligence, but tending to the needs of a Wild God is not an easy task. Sacrifices must be made. I will ensure this is quick." Wind Chi wraps around Bassui's hand like a spinning razer. When he raises it to strike, aiming at your neck, a bright light shines behind him. He turns and you both see the Lightbringer surging with Light Chi from every scale, preparing another charge now that its wounded side is covered in healing pastes. "Of course, Honored One." Sectmaster Bassui says to the abomination. "I apologize for the intrusion. The kill is yours to take." "I can't allow that." Calls a voice from the Heavens. <<page "Continue" "ch6-lightbringer5">>\

An eerie silence breaks out all along the beach. All eyes look upwards to a lone nimbus cloud where the voice speaks from again. "Release the $manwoman. Now." "Do not interfere in our offering, Council Dog!" Sectmaster Bassui shouts to the sky. "You are bound by Imperial law! Gazhurra prevents enemy armies from crossing your precious Councilors' western ocean. So long as we act within the accord, you Archons cannot act against us!" The voice breaks into a soft laugh that echoes down. "Who said anything about Archons?" The Windrising Sectmaster looks down to his Disciples, to you, and back up to the clouds as those words settle in before the voice in the clouds speaks once more. "''//Heavenly Execution: Floating Moon//''" Sectmaster Bassui's body glows cerulean for an instant and he's launched into the sky as if by catapult. From the cloud above, \ <<if (($style isnot "Aoyusumu") and ($metangelo is 10000000000))>>\ a stranger in Devanic robes \ <<else>>\ Angelo \ <</if>>\ descends to meet him faster than any object could fall. He crashes into the Sectmaster's midsection with both feet and the two drop to the earth like a meteor of twisting emerald and cerulean light. When they crash into the beach you're set free from the bands of Wind Chi around your body, but only just before the sand reaches you; the explosion of their landing sends sand-clouds as far as you can see. Screams erupt all around the beach; the remaining commoners flee into town. <<page "Continue" "ch6-lightbringer6">>\

In the confusion you grip the wrist and elbow of the Windrising disciple holding you from behind and lurch forward, throwing him over your shoulder with all the force of your Power Cores. His body flies straight ahead and into the Lightbringer's open jaws with a sickening crunch, impaling him in two dozen places. <<if ($ruthless gte 60)>>\ "I TOLD YOU I'D KILL YOU FIRST!" You scream in vindication. <</if>>\ The monster twitches violently and shakes its teeth, trying to dislodge its follower's corpse, when a voice calls out. "You handle the abomination!" \ <<if (($style isnot "Aoyusumu") and ($metangelo is 10000000000))>>\ The stranger \ <<else>>\ Angelo \ <</if>>\ shouts from somewhere in the sand where a flash of cerulean light clashes against emerald energy. "I will handle the Sect!" "//The ''whole Sect?!''//" You shout back in disbelief. <<if (($style isnot "Aoyusumu") and ($metangelo is 10000000000))>>\ He \ <<else>>\ Angelo \ <</if>>\ doesn't respond, cut off as a Windrising disciple launches two spears of Wind Chi into the cloud. Sacred Chi explodes outward in a sphere of cerulean kinetic force that disperses the sand before he's struck. The wide-area attack knocks everyone present back with great force, including you. The concussive shove knocks you one-hundred feet out to sea. The Lightbringer follows. You bounce off the water twice and narrowly balance yourself when you land on an abandoned fishing raft. The force of your movement causes a large wave to launch from behind you as you come to a sudden stop on the vessel. Back on shore \ <<if (($style isnot "Aoyusumu") and ($metangelo is 10000000000))>>\ the mysterious monk \ <<else>>\ Angelo \ <</if>>\ presses the attack on the Windrising Sectmaster, knocking the man back fifty feet through the sand with an empowered palm strike to the chest. "To me!" Sectmaster Bassui screams in frustration while using Wind Chi to stop his tumbling. He channels spearheads of energy around each fist and launches them at \ <<if (($style isnot "Aoyusumu") and ($metangelo is 10000000000))>>\ the interloper \ <<else>>\ Angelo \ <</if>>\ with intense speed, cutting his cheek in a last-second dodge. "Kill the monk, that's an order!" The remaining disciples rise from their knees in alarm and run to fight \ <<if (($style isnot "Aoyusumu") and ($metangelo is 10000000000))>>\ the monk \ <<else>>\ Angelo \ <</if>>\ after he closes in with a kick to Sectmaster Bassui's neck, knocking their fight further and further up the coast. With the crowd dispersed and the Sect gone, the immediate battlefield is reduced to just you and the enormous advanced Beast wielding two Elements and a Style. They're not good odds, but it's no Demonic Gate. You take on a horse stance and call on your full power, $auracolor energy rising in swirls all around you. At the same time the Lightbringer dives into the water to dislodge the corpse stuck in its fangs, quickly rising back out like a waterfall running upwards. In that opportunity, you press the attack. <<include "ch6-lightbringer7">>\

<<choose "ch6-lightbringer8">> #Throw a board from the raft like a javelin into the monster's wounded side. Grabbing a board on the raft's weakest point, you rip the wooden beam out with both hands in one clean jerking motion and pull it back, throwing the lengthy lumber at the Lightbringer's wound on the side of its body as it rises higher into the sky. <<var $combatstat "power">>\ <<var $combatskill "craft">>\ <<discount "Wind" 2>>\ <<if ($perception gte 3)>>\ ''[Perception 3 Event: +1 Battle Prowess]'' <<var $cmod + 1>>\ <<elseif ($athletics gte 3)>>\ ''[Athletics 3 Event: +1 Battle Prowess]'' <<var $cmod + 1>>\ <</if>>\ <<combatcheck (8+$angler)>>\ <<if ($passcheck is true)>>\ Your projectile \ <<if (($element1 is "Wind") or ($element2 is "Wind"))>>\ becomes surrounded by the emerald glow of Wind Chi as you hold one hand out like a claw, guiding the attack and reinforcing its speed. <<var $dmg + 1>>\ ''[Wind Event: Damage Increased]'' <<elseif (($element1 is "Fire") or ($element2 is "Fire"))>>\ becomes wreathed in fire as you hold one hand out like a claw, charging the attack with Fire Chi to torch your opponent. <<var $dmg + 1>>\ ''[Fire Event: Damage Increased]'' <<elseif ($power gte 8)>>\ strikes true. ''[Power Event: Damage Increased]'' <<var $dmg + 1>>\ <<else>>\ strikes true. <</if>>\ <<var $dmg + 1>>\ The log slams into the Lightbringer's raw red wound and causes blood to rain down. The Beast writhes in the sky, screeching out with a hideous call before continuing its ascent up in a glow of blue Water Chi, swimming ever higher into the sky. <<else>>\ It speeds up as your project approaches and whips your log with its tail, sending it back to you covered in Bladed Chi. As it lands in front of you the log splits into four separate spears of wooden, perfectly shaved into points from the Bladed effect. <<woundcheck 1 false false>>\ You do your best to dodge but there's only so much you can do on a raft, taking deep scrapes from the quick projectiles that cause your blood to leak into the water. <</if>>\ <<page "Continue" "ch6-lightbringer8">>\ #Shoot it with a layered energy blast. <<if ($energytide is true)>>\ ''//"Energy Tide!//'' You shout, summoning lines of blue Water Chi from the environment and willing the energy to coalesce between your hands, fueling the energy blast you're pushing between both palms in a rising buildup of spiritual power. <<else>>\ With full concentration you press both pals together in front of your chest, cycling all your chi out between them to form the most powerful blast you can muster. <</if>>\ The Lightbringer continues flying upward, swimming into the sky on a layer of Water Chi, but its unnerving eye twitches toward you as it detects the concentration of chi. You with an overhead throw you launch the blast at that same eye. <<var $combatstat "power">>\ <<var $combatstat2 "soul">>\ <<discount "Storm" 2>>\ <<discount "Ice" 1>>\ <<discount "Kiihakai" 2>>\ <<attack "Energy Ranged">>\ <<if ($energytide is true)>>\ ''[Energy Tide Technique: +1 Battle Prowess]'' <<var $cmod + 1>>\ <</if>>\ <<combatcheck (14+$angler)>>\ <<if ($passcheck is true)>>\ Your blast of $auracolor chi strikes true, piercing through the sky in an instant and exploding upon the Lightbringer's face with a concussive explosion that rocks the air behind it. <<var $dmg + 1>>\ <<if ($energytide is true)>>\ ''[Energy Tide: Damage Increased]'' <<var $dmg + 1>>\ <</if>>\ <<if (($element1 is "Storm") or ($element2 is "Storm"))>>\ ''[Storm Event: Damage Increased]'' <<var $dmg + 1>>\ <<elseif (($element1 is "Ice") or ($element2 is "Ice"))>>\ ''[Ice Event: Damage Increased]'' <<var $dmg + 1>>\ <<elseif ($power gte 8)>>\ ''[Power 8 Event: Damage Increased]'' <<var $dmg + 1>>\ <</if>>\ The Lightbringer soars up through the cloud of yor explosion, its eye bleeding, as it forms \ <<else>>\ The Water Chi around the Lightbringer hardens beneath it and its tail slaps in your direction, using the Water Chi as a spiritual paddle to knock your own attack back into your face with blinding speed. <<if ($energytide is true)>>\ <<woundcheck 2 false true>>\ <<else>>\ <<woundcheck 1 false true>>\ <</if>>\ <<if ($eblocktech isnot "")>>\ The attack crashes against your $eblocktech Technique and your swipe a hand through the dispersed chi blocking your version to see the Lightbringer form \ <</if>>\ <</if>>\ more and more Water Chi above itself to aid in its ascent into the sky. <<page "Continue" "ch6-lightbringer8">>\ #use-once use-if ($commonpoison gte 1) Throw a vial of poison into its mouth. [Requires Poison] If this creature wants to fly around with its mouth open and its fangs begging to break anything they touch with Bladed Chi, then you're not going to correct its mistake. Reaching into your bag quickly to grab the right vials, you manage to close your fist around your collection of poisons. You pull out... <<input-number $val 0 $commonpoison "ch6-lightbringer-poison">>\ #use-if (($element1 is "Storm") or ($element2 is "Storm")) Electrocute the water-like air around it. [Requires Storm, Costs 1 Chi] With two fingers on your forehead you charge all the Storm Chi in your body into your hand, compounding it over and over in a growing cascade of $auracolor electricity surging around your hand. When it's ready, you shove your arm forward and launch a bolt of lightning at the air around the Lightbringer. The Water Chi around the Beast reacts, caving to the power of electricity and magnifying your attack as your Storm energy cooks the sea monster inside its own aura. ''[Storm Event: Damage Increased]'' <<var $dmg + 2>>\ <<if ($power gte 7)>>\ ''[Power 7 Event: Damage Icreased]'' <<var $dmg + 1>>\ <</if>>\ In a hissing-scream, the Beast surges with Yellow light and disperses the attack, but it's already smoking from the damage. It begins to fall from the lack of Water Chi in the air around it but quickly spends even more of its power to replace the lost Water effect and continue flying upward. <<page "Continue" "ch6-lightbringer8">>\ #show-if ($equippedweapon is "Yumi") Fill it full of chi-infused arrows with your yumi. [Requires Yumi] As the Beast rises into the sky, forcing more and more Water Chi in front of its path as it swims ever higher, you draw your Yumi and unload a volley of arrows into its underbelly. <<var $combatstat "agility">>\ <<var $combatskill "perception">>\ <<discount "Wind" 1>>\ <<combatcheck (7+$angler)>>\ <<if ($passcheck is true)>>\ Your arrows fly true. Lines of $auracolor fill the air as your arrows shoot into the Beast's underbelly and pierce its hide, eliciting a high pitch screech as it continues its ascent. <<var $dmg + 1>>\ <<if ($power gte 6)>>\ ''[Power 6 Event: Damage Increased]'' <<var $dmg + 1>>\ <</if>>\ <<if (dig($itemyumi, 3) gt 2)>>\ ''[Superior-Grade Weapon: Damage Increased]'' <<var $dmg + 1>>\ <<elseif (dig($itemyumi, 3) gt 3)>>\ ''[Mythic Weapon: Damage Increased]'' <<var $dmg + 2>>\ <</if>>\ <<else>>\ At least, you //aimed// for its underbelly. Your arrows either miss the mark, get caught by the pool of Water Chi around the Beast, or deflect off its scales on the side. The Lightbringer ignores your attacks, continuing to swim higher and higher into the sky by surging more Water Chi in front of itself. <</if>>\ <<page "Continue" "ch6-lightbringer8">>\ #use-if (($flagshiptype is "combat") and (($agility gt $agispent) or ($flashstep))) Shout "Fire the ballista!" to the crew at the docks. [Requires Combat Ship, Costs 1 Agility Core] "Fire the ballista!" You shout out to your ship back at the dock, praying the crew is in place and ready to fight. You're pleasantly surprised as a ballista bolt passes overhead, fired before you gave the command. You look to your flagship's siege engine and see Kosuke's terrified face as $bffheshe realizes $bffheshe just attacked the child of a God of Beasts. Behind you, in the air, the Lightbringer forms more and more Water Chi above itself to swim higher and higher into the sky. Kosuke's ballista bolt closes in on its face but the creature surrounds its left side with Bladed Chi that destroys the projectile in midair. <<if ($flashstep is true)>>\ ''//"FLASH STEP!"//'' <<var $agiexp + 2>>\ Three \ <<else>>\ ''[1 Agility Core Spent]'' <<var $agispent + 1>>\ Then, three \ <</if>>\ feet from its right side, you appear in the air. The sea monster's face twists when it detects the danger. Your $auracolor energy-infused fist slams a multi-layered chi punch into the Beast's eye, penetrating the top layer and \ <<if (($element1 is "Ice") or ($element2 is "Ice"))>>\ freezing the jelly within with Ice Chi. <<var $dmg + 1>>\ <<elseif (($element1 is "Fire") or ($element2 is "Fire"))>>\ burning the jelly within with Fire Chi. <<var $dmg + 1>>\ <<elseif (($element1 is "Storm") or ($element2 is "Storm"))>>\ electrocuting the jelly within with Storm Chi. <<var $dmg + 1>>\ <<else>>\ exploding the jelly within. <</if>>\ <<var $dmg + 2>>\ ''[The Lightbringer has been injured!]'' ''[It will suffer a penalty for the remainder of combat.]'' <<var $angler - 1>>\ Your arm shoves into the creature's eyeball up to your elbow. It screeches in horror, shaking the very air around you, and you feel power build up over its skin. Bladed Chi flows over its scales and you realize the creature's //entire body// is covered in weapons charging to dismember your arm. You rip your limb out and kick off the sea monster's skin and crash into the water, swimming back to your raft as the Lightbringer flies even higher into the sky. <<page "Continue" "ch6-lightbringer8">>\ #show-if ($desnuke gt 0) use-if ($desnuke isnot 1000) "YOU COURT DEATH!" [Unleash ''//The Last Dream//''] <<var $desnuke 1000>>\ The Lightbringer, spawn of a Wild God, rises out of the water to consume you as if you were some sort of Advancement Pill. Its followers, the Windrising Sect, offered you up like a platter. The entire situation disgusts you. None of them realize their position in the hierarchy of power. Chi funnels out of your Cores and into your lungs as you shout across the beach. "Windrisers! Wild Gods! You dare challenge the <<cap $patriarch>> of $clan Clan?!" You hold your arm outward, the orange brand glowing on it with incendiary intent. To your senses, it feels no different from the Fire Spirit you faced with Desdemona. "Know this, fools, that when you challenge my might:" Your $auracolor chi funnels into the brand and unravels the seals holding it back. //"YOU COURT DEATH!"// A small mote of fire flies from your palm, lancing through the air like a burning arrow. When it collides with the Lightbringer's mouth, the Fire Spirit's sealed fuuinjutsu tag releases and ejects Desdemona's combustible powders, explosive vials, and the full might of the Fire Spirit's strongest attack. Seventy residents of Harehama go deaf from the sound of the explosion. What was once the location of the Lightbringer becomes the location of a sphere of orange and red plasma and flames. Your chi-enhanced chemical explosion sucks the very air out of the surroundings and compounds its detonation like an armory of explosives. One hundred feet out to sea, the thermobaric explosion forms a crater in the water that goes down to the ocean's floor. When the explosion clears, only pieces of the Lightbringer remain, scattered in a mile-wide radius throughout the area. ''[Prestige Increased!]'' <<var $prestige + 4>>\ <<if ($jadedragonfoundation is false)>>\ <<achieve "Godslayer">>\ <</if>>\ <<var $gazget 3000000>>\ <<var $killedgod true>>\ <<page "Continue" "ch6-lightbringer-win">>\ <</choose>>

<div class="fightingfont">Thunderfaller vs The Lightbringer</div>\ <<statcheck>>\ Blue light fills the sunset sky as the Lightbringer soars into the air ever higher, swimming on a cloud of Chi. Water falls from the creature like a river and you can hardly believe how much energy it's expending just to move, until it reaches a zenith five-hundred feet up and stops. Its energy output changes. Blue light shifts to yellow. The massive serpentine Beast faces you with its row of horrid teeth and pulls its tendril over its head to aim its orb of yellow Light Chi at you. Power builds in the odd limb faster and faster as the creature begins to fall, and a thin line of yellow Light forms between yourself and the sea monster. As the Lightbringer's aura pulses two times and the light connecting you thickens, your spirit shakes with warning. On the third pulse, a beam of Light Chi thicker than your body launches from the Lightbringer's orb. <<if ($subrace is "Reptile")>>\ You put your guard up but the attack comes in too quickly. Shining Light blinds your world in a cascade of overwhelming brilliance as the beam slams into your aura like a falling tree, pushing the elemental force into your spirit with enough Aura Pressure to shatter your Cores. You're blasted with Beast-augmented Light Chi and... ''[Reptile Yokai Event: Cold-Blooded Ancestry]'' Feel fantastic. ''[All Wounds Healed]'' <<apboost 5>>\ <<var $dmg + 2>>\ Huh. When the blinding luminance subsides, you lower your arms and look around in confusion. The Lightbringer's face can't show emotions that you can register, but when you look up to see the falling Beast you notice its expression doesn't shift one bit while it falls. It simply looks at your uninjured body with mouth ajar for the entire plummet as it falls another three-hundred feet and crashes into the water. <<if (($element1 is "Ice") or ($element2 is "Ice"))>>\ ''[Ice Event: Damage Increased]'' <<var $dmg + 1>>\ The water it enters //after// slamming head-first into the layer of Ice you form underneath its bulky form. <</if>>\ <<page "Continue" "ch6-lightbringer9">>\ <<elseif (($element1 is "Darkness") or ($element2 is "Darkness"))>>\ ''[Darkness Element Event]'' You concentrate on the Darkness within you and force that dark energy into both palms, clapping your hands together to form a \ <<if ((($element1 is "Darkness") and ($element1rank gte 2)) or (($element2 is "Darkness") and ($element2rank gte 2)))>>\ twenty-foot \ <<else>>\ ten-foot \ <</if>>\ sphere of black Chi that you spin into place around your body. The beam slams into your sphere and fails to penetrate its true Darkness, repelled by such rapid rotation. <<if ($element1 is "Darkness")>>\ <<var $val ($element1rank * 5)>>\ <<else>>\ <<var $val ($element2rank * 5)>>\ <</if>>\ ''[Darkness Event: Aura Pressure +$val]'' <<var $aurapressure + $val>>\ <<var $val 0>>\ The Darkness is so overwhelming to the eye that the Lightbringer doesn't even see your counterattack until the black chiblast you launch from the orb strikes the creature in its face, rending shards of its spirit away with the energy of the void. <<var $dmg + 1>>\ <<if ((($element1 is "Darkness") and ($element1rank gte 2)) or (($element2 is "Darkness") and ($element2rank gte 2)))>>\ <<var $dmg + 1>>\ ''[Darkness (Adept) Event: Damage Increased]'' <<elseif ($power gte 7)>>\ <<var $dmg + 1>>\ ''[Power 7 Event: Damage Increased]'' <</if>>\ The sea monster lets out a shriek as it plummets 300-feet into the water. <<if (($element1 is "Ice") or ($element2 is "Ice"))>>\ ''[Ice Event: Damage Increased]'' <<var $dmg + 1>>\ The water it enters //after// slamming head-first into the layer of Ice you form underneath its bulky form. <</if>>\ <<page "Continue" "ch6-lightbringer9">>\ <<else>>\ The shining beam of luminous power overwhelms your widening eyes. <<if (($equippedweapon is "Bo Staff") or ($equippedweapon is "Meteor Hammer"))>>\ Without time for a proper counterbeam, you push the force of your aura over both hands and draw your $equippedweapon. It spins in your hands at blurring speeds to form a deflective barrier of \ <<if ($equippedweapon is "Bo Staff")>>\ wood and steel \ <<else>>\ steel chain \ <</if>>\ in front of you like a rotating shield. <<else>>\ Following the reflex of years of training, you push both hands forward and cycle all available chi out of your Cores into a counterbeam. You spin two orbs of $auracolor power together, weaving them simultaneously to prepare a beam faster, and just barely bring your counterbeam into existence when the incoming spirit-shattering quantity of Light Chi slams into it. <</if>>\ <<var $combatstat "power">>\ <<var $combatstat2 "soul">>\ <<discount "Kiihakai" 1>>\ <<discount "Light" 1>>\ <<discount "Fire" 1>>\ <<discount "Storm" 1>>\ <<discount "Ice" 1>>\ <<attack "Energy Ranged">>\ <<if (($equippedweapon is "Bo Staff") or ($equippedweapon is "Meteor Hammer"))>>\ <<if ($agility gt $soul)>>\ <<var $combatstat2 "agility">>\ <</if>>\ <</if>>\ <<if ((((((((((($equippedweapon is "Tanto")) or ($equippedweapon is "Katana")) or ($equippedweapon is "Muramasa")) or ($equippedweapon is "Greataxe")) or ($equippedweapon is "Qiang")) or ($equippedweapon is "Kunai")) or ($equippedweapon is "Jian")) or ($equippedweapon is "Iceblade")) or ($equippedweapon is "Chiblade")) and (($style is "Akakiru") and (dig($weaponbonus, 3) gte 2)))>>\ ''[Akakiru Bladed Event: +1 Battle Prowess]'' <<var $cmod + 1>>\ <</if>>\ <<combatcheck (14+$angler)>>\ <<if ($passcheck is true)>>\ <<if ((((((((((($equippedweapon is "Tanto")) or ($equippedweapon is "Katana")) or ($equippedweapon is "Muramasa")) or ($equippedweapon is "Greataxe")) or ($equippedweapon is "Qiang")) or ($equippedweapon is "Kunai")) or ($equippedweapon is "Jian")) or ($equippedweapon is "Iceblade")) or ($equippedweapon is "Chiblade")) and (($style is "Akakiru") and (dig($weaponbonus, 3) gte 2)))>>\ <<if ($equippedweapon is "Muramasa")>>\ Muramasa's \ <<else>>\ Your $equippedweapon's \ <</if>>\ bladed edge shines scarlet as your beam calls on all the chi in your body, //all// off it, pulling the Bladed Chi reverberating off the sharpness of your blade and siphoning that energy between your palms in a beam of $auracolor power that splits the Lightbringer's beam in half. Your slicing beam launches between your palms and up the center of the Lightbringer's beam of energy, cutting through it in an instant and slicing a gash down the Lightbringer's face. <<var $dmg + 2>>\ <<if ($power gte 8)>>\ ''[Power 8 Event: Damage Increased]'' <<var $dmg + 1>>\ <</if>>\ Blood leaks from the writhing sea monster as it plummets three-hundred feet into the water. <<elseif (($equippedweapon is "Bo Staff") or ($equippedweapon is "Meteor Hammer"))>>\ Your own spiritual energy leaks from your hands out to the weapon only to be slid off by the speed of its movements, creating a circular shield of $auracolor power that blocks the river of Light Chi from reaching you. By the time the Lightbringer's attack fades, your counterattack has already been launched. Your $equippedweapon, burning hot from the friction, soars through the air from your raft-rocking throw. The attack slams into the creature's skull hard enough to force a telling screech from inside its throat. <<var $dmg + (dig($weaponbonus, 3) + 1)>>\ <<if ($power gte 7)>>\ ''[Power 7 Event, Damage Increased]'' <<var $dmg + 1>>\ <</if>>\ <<if ($equippedweapon is "Bo Staff")>>\ You reach out to catch your Bo Staff when it bounces back to you, spinning through the air, and at the same time the \ <<else>>\ The \ <</if>>\ Lightbringer writhes like a wounded snake on its three-hundred-foot fall into the water. <<else>>\ "RRRRRRR-!" You scream out between clenched teeth, pushing every ounce of energy in your body into the attack. The Lightbringer's beam pushes against the small orb of energy in your hands as you use your own counterattack as a glorified melee shield. Then you push harder. <<cap $auracolor>> light shines out all around you as your inner chi compounds into your attack, growing the sphere of power in your palms into a beam of energy pushing against the river Light Chi. Your two forces lock in a beam battle, each side pushing against the other, until your aura reduces in size. Not because you lose the energy, but because you stop wasting it. That last shred of power adds to your struggle and overpowers your opponent. Your beam of energy breaks through the Light Technique like an axe through a log. The Lightbringer's attack splits in two and shatters as your beam of $auracolor chi travels up its center and slams into the sea monster's head with a flesh-rending explosion that sends shards of its teeth into the air. <<var $dmg + 1>>\ <<if ($power gte 8)>>\ ''[Power 8 Event: Damage Increased]'' <<var $dmg + 1>>\ <</if>>\ The grand sea monster writhes in the air as it plummets three-hundred feet into the water. <</if>>\ <<if (($element1 is "Ice") or ($element2 is "Ice"))>>\ ''[Ice Event: Damage Increased]'' <<var $dmg + 1>>\ The water it enters //after// slamming head-first into the layer of Ice you form underneath its bulky form. <</if>>\ <<page "Continue" "ch6-lightbringer9">>\ <<else>>\ The condensed river of Light Chi overcomes your counterbeam, breaking through your attack and burning its Light into your palms. The pain runs deeper than your skin, penetrating your spirit and searing your chi channels. \ <<if ($eblocktech isnot "")>>\ ''[$eblocktech Activated, Damage Reduced]'' <<woundcheck 1 false false>>\ <<if ((($chipool + ($soul/2)) - $chispent) gte 1)>>\ <<var $chispent + 1>>\ ''[1 Chi Point Lost]'' <</if>>\ <<else>>\ <<woundcheck 2 false false>>\ <<if ((($chipool + ($soul/2)) - $chispent) gte 2)>>\ <<var $chispent + 2>>\ ''[2 Chi Points Lost]'' <<elseif ((($chipool + ($soul/2)) - $chispent) gte 1)>>\ <<var $chispent + 1>>\ ''[1 Chi Point Lost]'' <</if>>\ <</if>>\ The attack overwhelms your vision in a grossly incandescent barrage of the senses. \ When it finally fades you cough up smoke, your face feels hot to the touch like a devastating sunburn, and you see the Lightbringer's tail disappear beneath the water's surface as it finishes submerging after its grand Technique. <<page "Continue" "ch6-lightbringer9">>\ <</if>>\ <</if>>\

The battlefield falls silent while you balance on your raft. To the north, \ <<if (($metangelo is 10000000000) and ($style isnot "Aoyusumu"))>>\ the monk \ <<else>>\ Angelo \ <</if>>\ continues his battle with the Windrising Sect and explosions of scarlet chi let you know Leona's joined in, hopefully on his side. You shake your head and focus on your own fight. Beneath the waves is your opponent, its Light Chi expended. You know its physical attacks will be slower without its Light enhancement; it has to charge you physically now. A way you can stop. Yet the water all around you looks calm, showing no signs of the powerful monster beneath the surface. You can't stop it if you can't find where it is. You close your eyes and reach out, visualizing a darkness beneath you with a rippling effect resonating all the way down. You spiritually scan the water. With a concentration on Bladed Chi, you send a bubble of chi out looking for any responses. You feel out for the sensation of its edge. The impression of casual danger, the sensation of a finger gently running down the edge of a knife. <<if ($style is "Kurokonton")>>\ ''[Kurokonton Event]'' Wait, what are you doing? This creature wants to play at hiding against someone trained in the powers of a //shinobi//? You leak Cursed Chi out of your aura and into seven different places. Next you focus on the void, imbuing the entropic aspect of Cursed Chi to suppress your aura down to nothing, just like you had to with the scorpions in Guiren's training. Seconds later the Lightbringer breaches the surface of the sea in a rushing spray of saltwater, its massive form crashing into the air and its man-eating jaws clamping down on... Nothing. It consumes the largest pool of Cursed Chi you leaked to your left. The sea monster's side-eye focuses on your shadowy form, standing on your raft beside it as it passes you by, and you notice a hint of alarm when it makes eye contact with your satisfied smile. The Beast is off-balance, thrown mid-air from its missed attack, and now it's your turn. ''[Difficulty in the next action reduced!]'' <<var $angler - 1>>\ Purple and black flames surround your body as your Cursed aura returns in an instant and you... <<elseif (((($insight gte 3) or (($insight gte 2) and ($race is "Yokai"))) or (($insight gte 2) and ($background is "Trapper"))) or (($insight gte 2) and ($energytide)))>>\ <<if ($insight gte 3)>>\ ''[Insight 3 Check Passed]'' <<var $solexp + 2>>\ <<elseif (($insight gte 2) and ($race is "Yokai"))>>\ <<var $forexp + 1>>\ ''[Yokai Bonus: Difficulty Reduced]'' ''[Insight 2 Check Passed]'' <<elseif (($insight gte 2) and ($background is "Trapper"))>>\ <<var $agiexp + 1>>\ ''[Trapper Bonus: Difficulty Reduced]'' ''[Insight 2 Check Passed]'' <<else>>\ ''[Energy Tide Event: Difficulty Reduced]'' ''[Insight 2 Check Passed]'' <</if>>\ A mere fifteen feet away, and closing fast! You slam your foot down with $auracolor chi surging all over your shin. The raft beneath you explodes to splinters in the same instant that the water's opaque surface clears to reveal two massive rows of teeth speeding into you on both sides of the raft. The Lightbringer's enormous jaw breach the surface and close down onto the explosion of wood. As the force of your stomp kicks you into the air, the Lightbringer's jaws shred the clothing of your leg and miss your limb by less than an inch. Grabbing onto one of its fangs for leverage, you're pulled up into the air with the Beast's rushing charge and... <<else>>\ ''[Insight 3 Check Failed]'' The raft beneath you explodes when the Lightbringer crashes through the surface beneath you at incredible speeds and closes its jaws around you, breaking the raft in one bite. You roll out of the way as fast as possible to avoid being caught, but the Lightbringer's fangs are jagged and many. One slices right down the side of your leg, gouging a nasty wound that <<if ($wounds is 0)>>\ shreds an artery. <<woundcheck 1 false false>>\ <<else>>\ gushes blood. <</if>>\ ''[Your leg has been injured! The Lightbringer will be harder to fight.]'' <<var $angler + 1>>\ Grabbing onto its fangs for dear life to pull your leg out, you try to... <</if>>\ <<include "ch6-lightbringer10">>\

This'll make things interesting at the Trials for sure though, you foxy \ <<if ($heshe is "he")>>\ bastard." <<else>>\ wench." <</if>>\ "My whole life is interesting." You say with a shrug on your way up the stairs to the platform above the Captain's Cabin, at the back of the ship. "Bragging, but true." Kosuke concedes, taking the downward hatch to the rower's level instead. <<include "ch6-spiritbrand-done">>\

<<if ($underlings gt 0)>>\ <<var $txt "Later that afternoon,">>\ <<include "ch6-underlings">>\ <<else>>\ <<var $txt "In the afternoon of the next day,">>\ <<include "ch6-nextday2">>\ <</if>>\

$txt after you 'enjoy' another meal of salted fish and hard tack which seems to be the norm on these vessels, \ <<if ($roc gte 1)>>\ $rocname in your crow's nest starts screeching incoherently. You drop what you're doing and run out the door of your Captain's Cabin, looking up to the mast. You don't normally do straight verticals without the force of chi that could injure your deck but... <<var $combatstat "power">>\ <<var $combatskill "athletics">>\ <<discount "Wind" 2>>\ <<combatcheck 8>>\ <<if ($passcheck is true)>>\ <<var $retainer_morale + 2>>\ You make an exception, leaping all the way up to the expanded crow's nest that your pet Roc is using as a nest. Your leap lands you right near the edge of $rocname's platform and you bend a knee to step forward, pulling yourself up. <<else>>\ <<var $retainer_morale - 1>>\ Nothing. But nothing. You should //continue// to not perform high vertical leaps, as you rise twenty feet without chi and fall back down. Annoyed, you grab a nearby rope and climb up to the crow's nest that's been expanded to hold your giant bird. <</if>>\ "What is it girl?" You ask the enormous bird, \ <<if ($gotmeat is true)>>\ handing her a big chunk of the Wyrm meat from earlier to calm her down. ''[$rocname Power Improved]'' <<var $roccombat + 1>>\ <<else>>\ firmly caressing her upper head feathers to calm her down. <</if>>\ "Cawwww." She whines, head hanging low near the floor and not bobbing a bit. You follow her eyes to the distance and see exactly what has her worried. <<else>>\ a retainer in your crow's nest starts shouting at the top of his lungs. "Danger! Danger ahead!!" You drop your bowl and run out of your Captain's Cabin. "Where?!" You shout, looking up to the retainer in the crow’s nest above. The man frantically points directly south, straight ahead, and your heart sinks when you see the problem. <</if>>\ What you at first mistake for a storm soon reveals itself to be an optical illusion: the swirling clouds covering the distance are completely white, not dark like those preparing for rainfall. They're not swirling due to a natural storm or even a Gate...they're swirling due to the pressure of two figures in the air. In the distance, with not a ship in sight, two Martial Artists levitate in mid-air and clash with such intensity that winds swirl around their auras. With each clash of their fists the sea caves in with whirlpooling craters. You've never seen such a display of personal power and, right now, you wish you never had. \ <<if ($perception gte 3)>>\ ''[Perception 3 Check Passed]'' <<apboost 2>>\ Your eyes are just barely able to see their movements as they dash across the sky, flashing thousands of feet away at a time. Even that small level of visual success is only from wildly glancing in different directions to catch a hint of their location when they stop moving for the next clash of fists. <<else>>\ Your eyes can't manage to track their movements, as if they disappear and reappear thousands of feet apart with each strike. <</if>>\ "That looks fun!" Leona shouts up from the \ <<if ($flagshiptype is "Combat")>>\ ballista up front. \ <<else>>\ front of the ship. \ <</if>>\ "Fun as in, a fun way to die. Those are Inner Kingdom fighters. Good ones, too. We //probably// shouldn't go near them unless you hate having working eardrums." "Why are they fighting?" Asks Kosuke, cards in hand as if some illicit gambling was just interrupted. "Lover's quarrel?" Leona asks before biting her lip with a smile as if envisioning her own fight to the death with a future husband. The wind from the distant duel finally hits your sails and lurches your ship. You're forced to leap off the crow's nest and catch two retainers who were scrubbing the decks before they fall overboard, and something's going to have to be done about your sail before it catches anymore of these gusts. It's going to be rowing for the next few hours, at least. "We need to go around!" Shouts Bo, running up from the hatch to the lower deck. "There's an Inner Kingdom battle going on to the south!" Despite being twisted in different directions from the ship lurching everyone off-guard, you all still manage to look at Bo with half-lidden eyes and disappointment. "We know!" You, Leona, and Kosuke shout at the same time. "Well...Good! Tch." Bo sneers. "If you all know so much, then you must have chosen the path around already." You have not. <<choose "ch6-coast">> #"Turn the ship south-east, we scale the coast!" <<var $spareval_1 1>>\ #"Turn the ship south-west, we head for deeper seas!" -> "ch6-sea" <<var $voyagechoice + 100000000000000>>\ <<var $spareval_1 2>>\ <</choose>>

<<choose "ch6-piratetalk2">> #use-if ($honor gte 52) "Cease this piracy and get your ship in line //immediately//. My fleet sails for Nanhou." "Cease this piracy immediately and get your ship in line //immediately//. My fleet sails for Nanhou." #use-if ($honor lt 52) "Knock this piracy crap off and get your ship in line, my fleet sails for Nanhou." "Knock this piracy crap off and get your ship in line, my fleet sails for Nanhou." #[Attack them anyway.] Your unwavering gaze looks down on the ruffians that were once the bandits you wasted your time sparing. "Letting you all live was a mistake." "You see now, you groveling fools?!" Captain Qing shouts to his crew, kicking one and raising another by the shoulders. "These are the high seas, so cease your begging and //fight// if you want to survive!" His crew rises, regaining some confidence, and grow serious as they look up at you with renewed resolve. You shake your head. Resolve means nothing when they don't have the power to stop you. <<page "Continue" "ch6-qingfight">>\ #"Relax, Qing, they're useless to me." [Side with Qing] -> "ch6-strikethegong" <<var $honor + 2>>\ "Relax, Qing, they're useless to me." You taunt down from the highground. "I've outgrown their kind." ''[Prestige Increased!]'' "Wh-Why should he relax?" Foreman Gong asks behind you in his high pitch voice. "You're going to stop him, right?" Your $auracolor chi-covered fist rushes at the fat eunuch's face. <</choose>>

<<var $recruitedpirates true>>\ "Yes, Captain!" Shouts one of the Lunargoths among the pirate crew. "MUTINY!" Shouts Captain Qing, striking the man by the jaw so hard that he spirals off the ship. "Did you think Captain Qing would allow such treason? There is only one Captain here!" He looks up to you and bares his teeth. "Qing does not know who you are, nor does he care, your life ends here and now!" His violet aura intensifies and he crouches low to leap at you, then freezes before he can take off when his crew surrounds his head with their weapons. The man's eyes dart between all the blades around him. He grimaces, staring daggers into the traitorous crew. "So this is how it ends? Pitiful." He looks up at you and glares. "Captain Qing swears on his soul, he will have his revenge for this." <<choose "ch6-cargotalk">> #"We've got some spare binder's bands, beat him and bind him for the merchants." "We've got some spare binder's bands," You call down, "beat him and bind him for the merchants." You glance back to see Foreman Gong looking particularly pleased. Two minutes of nonstop beatings later Qing lies unconscious, betrayed by his own crew, and bound sufficiently with rope, chain, and Binder's Bands. When you bring him up to the lanternship their crew even rolls him in a spare carpet for added effect. It looks extremely uncomfortable. "I cannot thank you enough for resolving this issue without violence." Foreman Gong says as his crew rolls Qing's carpeted form down a hatched staircase to the lower deck. "Except for the violence of the pirates turning on their master, of course." You nod and glance over the railing at your new additional crew. "They never turned on their master, they just forgot who they serve." <<include "ch6-acquisitions">>\ "Astute." Foreman Gong agrees in his high pitched eunuch voice. "I am still coming to terms with your swift resolution, it is truly an impressive feat. You even managed to resolve a pirate raid without waking our cargo." <<var $qingstatus "Enemy">>\ "All part of a day's work." You reply. "Of course I'll be expecting to get paid but-wait, what did you say?" #"There's only one punishment fit for a pirate captain: walk the plank!" "There's only one punishment fit for a false pirate captain," you announce from above, "Qing will walk the plank!" It takes only a couple minutes for a plank to be setup and a bound Captain Qing to be forced onto it by his crew. The entire time he shouts threats and insults at each and every one of his mutineers. You roll your eyes as the man continues his dramatic rant and your mind wonders what the big deal is. You're going easy on him just to live out a classic; swimming to shore is dangerous, sure, but no less dangerous than a fight between Martial Artists. The sooner he gets swimming the sooner he can get to shore. "You may have defeated Qing with your treachery here today," Qing announces at the end of the plank, finally bringing this to a close "but this is not the last you'll see of Qing! Great men cannot be chained to the flesh, and Qing //will// have his revenge! Qing's spirit will rise from the Hells to curse you anew!" <<if ($honor gte 50)>>\ You give the man a respectful nod. Everyone deserves a good monologue now and then, but he needs to get on with it. <<else>>\ You shoo him away towards the end of the plank. <</if>>\ "Take me now, cruel sea." Qing whispers. "You backstabbing wench." With that he takes one final step forward and falls into the water. You get ready to laugh when he starts swimming away, but seconds pass and he doesn't resurface. No one's laughing. No one's even looking around for him. An entire minute passes and you look around at the somber faces of the pirate crew. A question begins to form in your mind. You walk over to the lower railings of your new ship and look over the edge, into the darkness of the ocean depths, then back to your new pirate crew. "Can he swim?" Several shake their heads, faces paling. Only the pirate captain's hat resurfaces, the rest of him nowhere to be seen. It seems you have drowned Captain Qing. <<var $qingstatus "Ghost">>\ <<include "ch6-acquisitions">> ''[Item Gained: Cathayan Pirate's Hat]'' <<var $cpiratehat + 1>>\ <<if ($ruthless lt 45)>>\ ''[Compassion Check Passed]'' <<apboost 4>>\ "I...WHAT?!" You look around at the crew. "People, this is something to tell me BEFORE we plunge him into the water with his hands tied! By the Ancestors, why did no one bring this up?!" One reptile yokai woman speaks up. "Captain, we thought this is what you wanted." No one else replies. Reluctantly you sigh into your palm and shake your head. \ <</if>>\ "We're so cursed." You mutter, somehow not surprised by another potential supernatural problem, then leap back up to Foreman Gong's ship. <<page "Continue" "ch6-piratetalk3">>\ <</choose>>

You land back on the larger lanternship to a heavy applause as the merchant crew practically worships the ground you walk on, astounded at your work. Foreman Gong shoves passed them and bows deeply at the waist. "This one humbly thanks you for resolving the situation so swiftly and permanently." He rises and shakes your hands. "The Thousand Lantern Sect and our very crew are assuredly in your debt, especially considering the fact that you managed to stop the attack without waking our cargo." "All part of a day's work." You reply. "Of course I'll be expecting to get paid but-wait, what did you say?" <<include "ch6-cargotalk">>\

"Alright everyone, back to your stations if you're on shift and back to rest if you're not. I don't see Nanhou's docks yet and that's a problem I want solved." Your sails unfurl once again and the rowers return to work, heading south through the dark sea under the light of the moon. Your other \ <<if ($shipcount gt 2)>>\ ships follow \ <<else>>\ ship follows \ <</if>>\ close behind and Qing's new lanternship disappears to the west, its Captain as eager to continue his journey as you are to continue your own. Though yours continues from the comfort of your bed for now, this whole fiasco ruined a great dream you were having. <<page "Continue" "ch6-nextday">>\

<<var $honor + 3>>\ You look down on Qing and his grinning crew of vagrants. "The answer is obvious, fool. Piracy is a crime punishable by death. Prepare for your punishment." "Hmph." Captain Qing huffs, eyes narrowing. "How brave of you, to choose ''death!''" In a flash his crew leaps upon the merchant ship. <<page "Continue" "ch6-qingfight">>\

<<if ($gonghurt is true)>>\ "I wish the fight didn't require the sacrifice of my health, but..." He rubs a hand over his deformed eye which seems to have popped. "Such is the way." <<if ($honor gt 50)>>\ "That's the reality of battle." You reply on the defense. "It was needed, \ <<else>>\ "Yeah that...looks like it hurts." You reply sheepishly. "But we had to do it, \ <</if>>\ there's only so much I can do alone." He shakes his head. "No explanations needed. \ <<if (($style is "Kurokonton") or ($style is "Aoyusumu"))>>\ Everyone \ <<else>>\ Most everyone \ <</if>>\ is still alive thanks to you, and our cargo did not awaken. That's what matters." <<else>>\ "I must confess, I did not expect you to take on the entire crew single-handedly. More importantly, you managed not to awaken our cargo. For that you have my greatest thanks." <</if>>\ "You're welcome, though of course I'll expect payment-" You pause and raise a single eyebrow. "Come again?" <<include "ch6-cargotalk">>\

<<var $qingstatus "Ghost">>\ <<var $fighting false>>\ It seems you have drowned Captain Qing. ''[Item Gained: Cathayan Pirate's Hat]'' <<var $cpiratehat + 1>>\ ''[Prestige Increased!]'' <<var $prestige + 1>>\ <<fightexp 8>>\ The sounds of the merchant crew cheering barely registers in your ears when the remaining conscious pirates on the ground raise their hands in surrender. You don't join in on the cheering; you're still caught off-guard staring down at the water in disbelief while rubbing your temples with both hands. <<page "What the Hells just happened?" "ch6-qingdrowned2">>\

"We did it!" Cheers one of the merchant-crew, an elderly monkey yokai. "We beat the pirates!" You don't correct him that \ <<if ($val is 888)>>\ you and your siege weapons did all the work. \ <<else>>\ //you// did all the work. \ <</if>>\ <<var $val 0>>\ Instead you sit over a railing and stare out at the sea while shaking your head. Foreman Gong approaches you from behind and claps a hand on your back. "We deeply appreciate the Honored Guest's work in saving our crew and cargo. You are a credit to the integrity of Imperial Rasen." He says reassuringly. "I just..." You stare out at the darkness of the night sea. "I didn't think he'd die so easily. What kind of pirate can't swim?" "A surprising number of them." The eunuch replies as he steps forward and looks down into the water. "Most people born in coastal areas have ample job opportunities and turn to commerce, such as myself. It's often the inlanders that find such an appeal to naval theft." "I grew up in the //mountains// for two decades and even I know how to swim!" Foreman Gong shrugs. "Then perhaps he should have purchased swimming lessons from you. Do not shed a tear for the likes of him." <<if ($ruthless lt 45)>>\ You really shouldn't, but killing someone on accident feels like it leaves a scar on your soul. ''[Compassion Check Passed]'' ''[Humanity Intact: Aura Pressure +5]'' <<var $aurapressure + 5>>\ Gong notes your silence and tries his best to be comforting. He's not good at it. "Er...if \ <<else>>\ "I'm not shedding a tear for the bastard, I'm shedding a tear for //my fight!//" You shout. "That son of a bitch robbed me of my pirate fight on the high seas!" "Ah." Gong replies. "Well, if \ <</if>>\ it is any consolation, the men in my employ appreciate the fight you handled with the lesser criminals. You very likely saved their lives." He looks back to the groaning pirates on deck as his men tie them up. \ <<include "ch6-qing-victory">>\

<<var $fighting true>>\ <div class="fightingfont">Thunderfaller vs Qing's Pirates</div>\ <<statcheck>>\ Captain Qing's men light up the night around them with their mix of blue and white auras, their spiritual energy combining into a formidable force as a unit. Many let out high pitch battle-cries as they leap across the gap between ships, others hook onto the merchant ship with grappling ropes and pull themselves forward. The merchant workers around you pull back immediately, only a scarce few igniting weak white auras. Captain Qing meanwhile taps his foot and watches patiently to see how his men handle the battle; his eyes staying on you like a hawk from the bow of his ship. "Everyone get back!" Foreman Gong shouts out. Half his crew reacts in time, fleeing the back of the deck to the sides of the ship's central tower, but the white and blue aura-wielding pirates hit the deck and draws his blade in the midst of the other half before they can move. The pirates hoist their weapons overhead to attack, their eyes betraying a keen bloodlust. <<if ($ruthless gt 55)>>\ <<var $powexp + 1>>\ Yours return the same look. \ <<elseif ($ruthless lt 45)>>\ <<var $forexp + 2>>\ Violence. It always comes to violence, no matter where you go. You want to sigh to express disappointment but you can't manifest the melancholy of it. Instead you dash at the murderous robbers and prepare to give them the pain they crave so dearly. \ <</if>>\ <<var $combatstat "fortitude">>\ <<var $combatstat2 "agility">>\ <<discount "Aoyusumu" 1>>\ <<attack "Area">>\ <<if ((((((((((($equippedweapon is "Tanto")) or ($equippedweapon is "Katana")) or ($equippedweapon is "Muramasa")) or ($equippedweapon is "Qiang")) or ($equippedweapon is "Kunai")) or ($equippedweapon is "Jian")) or ($equippedweapon is "Iceblade")) or ($equippedweapon is "Greataxe")) or ($equippedweapon is "Chiblade")) and ($style is "Akakiru"))>>\ ''[Akakiru Weapon Event: Battle Prowess + 1]'' <<var $cmod + 1>>\ <</if>>\ <<combatcheck 12>>\ <<if ($passcheck is true)>>\ <<if ((($equippedweapon isnot "Handwraps") and ($equippedweapon isnot "")) and ($equippedweapon isnot "Yumi"))>>\ With \ <<if ($equippedweapon isnot "Muramasa")>>\ your \ <</if>>\ $equippedweapon swinging in wide arcs, you deflect attacks from two spear-wielding pirates and land three kicks in quick succession into the side of another that's glowing green. <<elseif ($equippedweapon is "Yumi")>>\ Two pirates lunge at you with their longspears and you slide underneath their thrusts, drawing your Yumi and firing arrows into their torsos as you do. When you finish your slide you jump to your feet and narrowly dodge a glowing low-kick from another pirate. He tries for a jab after but you grab his wrist and twist it out of place then strike him in the neck from both sides. <<else>>\ You strike the spear-wielders first, punching through the qiang of one pirate and crunching your fist into his solar plexus. The pirate beside him leaps back in alarm and throws his spear at you but you kick it out of the way and blast him in the face with $auracolor chi, then rush in for three quick jabs to alternating sides of his face. <</if>>\ You grab that man's shirt before he can fall overboard and use his body to block a chi-enforced punch from an Oni pirate behind you. The red-skinned Oni's fist impacts the spine of the pirate you use as a shield and shatters his aura. Dropping him to the ground frees your hands up to catch a counter-kick from the Oni and you headbutt him in the bridge of this nose. Two pirates rush you with daggers drawn from each side but both freeze in primal fear when their eyes come within inches of your outstretched hands humming with $auracolor energy. They leap back only for you to slam both palms into the head of the Oni pirate in a contained explosion of chi that forces all the merchant crew to drop to the ground and cover their ears. <<var $oneleft true>>\ With nothing between you anymore, you leap at one of the dagger-wielders and slap his thrust out of the way then land a blow with your full bodyweight, twisting your torso and putting your Aura Pressure into a jaw-shattering punch that knocks the man overboard. <<else>>\ You engage the pirate crew with \ <<if ((($equippedweapon isnot "Handwraps") and ($equippedweapon isnot "")) and ($equippedweapon isnot "Yumi"))>>\ <<if ($equippedweapon isnot "Muramasa")>>\ your \ <</if>>\ $equippedweapon swinging in wide arcs to deflect several of their attacks \ <<elseif ($equippedweapon is "Yumi")>>\ several shots from your Yumi bow \ <<else>>\ an energy blast to a Bovine Yokai, dropping him off the ship, \ <</if>>\ before dodging a heavy blue energy blast and closing into melee range to deliver a series of punches into one knife wielder while weaving to dodge another. That's when two spearmen catch you with their weapons, one glancing your side and the other glancing your calf. You ignore the blows and keep fighting but feel sluggish as poison from their attacks seeps into your system. ''[1 Chi Point Lost]'' <<var $chispent - 1>>\ You noticeably slow down and the others take advantage, with the knife wielders stabbing at you with their daggers. One from the front and one from the back. <<woundcheck 1 true false>>\ At the same time two other pirates laugh maniacally and set their jians aside, choosing instead to cover their palms in scorching white chi that they slam them into your body, one at the hip and one at the head. <<woundcheck 1 false true>>\ <<if (($pblocktech isnot "") and ($eblocktech isnot ""))>>\ Miraculously you put up a good defense, and \ <<else>>\ The pain adds up, but \ <</if>>\ they've made a fatal error. They're all within striking distance. The spearman that glanced your side grabs you by the neck and hafts his spear back to plunge it into your chest. "Wrong move." You curse into his face, blood spitting from your mouth. <<if ((($chipool + ($soul/2)) - $chispent) gte 1)>>\ ''[1 Chi Point Lost]'' <<var $chispent - 1>>\ <<var $powexp + 3>>\ <</if>>\ <<if (($element1 is "Ice") or ($element2 is "Ice"))>>\ Your entire body drops to subzero temperatures and takes your surroundings with it. Freezing blue ice energy forms around you, flash-freezing into a glacial ring that catches the chest and heads of each enemy. With their lungs, eyes, and mouths frozen they're unable to breathe or even truly see, but they're Martial Artists. They're not out of the fight yet. That's why you \ <<if (($pblocktech isnot "") or ($eblocktech isnot ""))>>\ rip their weapons out and \ <</if>>\ duck under the ice ring with your fists drawn back and start unceremoniously beating each and every one of them in the solar plexus, kidneys, groin, knees, and ankles. They struggle to get away but can't coordinate while frozen together. Over the next several seconds the merchant crew winces, looking on as you pommel the living daylight out of the pirate crew, an eerie silence falling over the fight while their mouths are too frozen to scream. <<elseif (($element1 is "Storm") or ($element2 is "Storm"))>>\ Your entire body erupts into a sphere of lightning that blasts each of them back two steps, except the knife wielders. The fools have metal handles and thin cloth over their weapons' grip. When your inner Storm Chi is released they're frozen in place, metal connecting you to them as a conduit while you electrocute them until their hair begins to smoke. The others start to recover just as the knife wielders fall to their knees. One of them, an Oni, pulls his qiang back and tries to rally the others. "We-" You blast him off the ship with a lightning bolt scorching into his neck. Chaos breaks out as the remaining pirates try to flee and meet the same fate as you blast each and every one of the cowards in the back. <<else>>\ Your body invigorates with a surge of $auracolor chi and you grab the two knife wielders by the head, slamming them together until you see blood. Put off by the violent display, the two energy wielders pull back and the spearmen to take their place, swinging at you with their poisoned blades again. You catch both blades with your hands and release chi blasts to blow the tips off. Then you catch both spearmen's necks with your hands and repeat the attack. White energy soars passed your ear as you narrowly dodge a beam of chi by tilting your head to the side. With an explosive kick off the deck you rush in against the two who struck you with melee blasts. One swings at you face as you close in on the other; you duck the blow and grab his elbow and wrist, breaking both, then spin 360 degrees and swing him into his ally, shattering the man's nose with the hip of his friend. When done, you look down at the whimpering bodies. <</if>>\ It's not pretty, \ <<if ($ruthless gt 50)>>\ and it's what they deserve. \ <<else>>\ but that's the reality of this world. You did what you had to do to survive. \ <</if>>\ You breathe in slowly to calm your rapidly beating heart. <</if>>\ That's when three more pirates finish climbing up the side and charge you with white glowing sabers. Soul Treasure weapons. <<choose "ch6-qingfight2">> #Cover your hands with chi to catch their weapons. All three swordsmen charge you with their white glowing weapons and swing at your legs and torso in a flurry of slashes. One low swing at your knees, one swinging for your head, and the other maneuvering around him to stab at your torso. You charge more and more $auracolor chi to your fingers and palms as their blades draw closer to your body then, in a flash, you act. Like a high speed game of pat-a-cake you catch each bladed swing and press it back as it comes, gripping the edge of each Martial Artist's sword with your fingertips and twisting the edge away from you enough to palm strike the flat of the blade. Yet defense can only get you so far, and they know it. <<var $combatstat "soul">>\ <<var $combatskill "athletics">>\ <<discount "Kiihakai" 1>>\ <<discount "Akakiru" 1>>\ <<attack "Energy Melee">>\ <<combatcheck 8>>\ <<if ($passcheck is true)>>\ Which is why you go on the offense, \ <<if ($style is "Kiihakai")>>\ your eyes glowing golden with hotter and hotter intensity. You deflect slash after strike in a flurry of movement, three against one as the glow of your eyes grows brighter and larger. By the time they catch on it's already too late. Beams of energy unleash from your eyes into the torso of one of the swordsmen and takes him by complete surprise, bursting through his aura and skin. He's launched back in a concussive explosion, but you're not done. The other two try to guard themselves in surprise but you're no amateur, this energy attack isn't meant to just hurt: you're targeting their spiritual energy. And their aura is all over their body. Your vision shifts to the legs of the two remaining pirates and overpowers their Aura Pressure as well, obliterating their aura temporarily and giving you time to \ <<else>>\ pushing the chi around your hands onto the tops of your knuckles and punching their blades instead. The change in pace puts you in the backfoot and they seem to think they have the advantage until you leap back to dodge two slashes at once. Then you punch forward into the air, releasing the chi built up on your hand and releasing it as a beam of power that blasts into one of the pirates. Your attack hits him directly in the face and knocks him overboard. The man next to him makes the mistake of looking back in shock at his fallen ally, which gives you the chance to kick him in the head right into the last attacker. Their skulls collide hard enough to disperse their auras and you \ <</if>>\ seize the swords out of their hands, flip them over to hold them by the blades, and strike both unpowered combatants in the temple with the pommel of their own swords. They drop to the ground with nothing more than a grunt. <<else>>\ A few knicks followed by an off-balance step and it becomes clear you're on the backfoot. You narrowly dodge getting impaled through the heart and take a scratch to the back of the neck when one of the pirates nearly decapitates you while you duck a different attack. When you leap back and rise you see only two armed pirates and realize the third is behind you. The realization hits your mind at the same time his blade hits your back. <<woundcheck 1 false true>>\ <<if ($eblocktech isnot "")>>\ There's no time to put up a proper defense against the physical blade, but you don't need to. Your $eblocktech prevents the weapon's chi from penetrating your body and that leaves the steel of the blade against your empowered body, which proves enough resistance to leave only a shallow cut before you can turn with a backhand strike that breaks man's jaw. <<else>>\ The glowing, vibrating blade pierces into you from behind and you let out a gasp. Your eyes turn bloodshot from so much unexpected pain, this was supposed to be an easy fight! The other two pirates close in on you, smelling blood, and you grit your teeth quickly while blood works its way up your throat. You spin a backhand blow behind you with all your might, breaking the jaw of your attacker. \ <</if>>\ With him down you turn back to the other two and slam your hands together, collecting $auracolor chi all over your hands and forearms. They don't make it to you. In their haste they've positioned themselves too close together. You unleash your chi blast into the pair and see their auras shatter in the explosion. When the chi disruption clears the two drop to the ground without so much as a grunt. \ <</if>>\ #Dodge around all three attackers at once. <<if ($spiritbrandloc is "eyes")>>\ Your eyes glow $spiritbrandcolor and you \ <<else>>\ Your body glows $auracolor and you \ <</if>>\ hold one hand out, beckoning the three to approach if they dare. They take the offer. <<var $combatstat "agility">>\ <<var $combatskill "perception">>\ <<discount "Kurokonton" 1>>\ <<discount "Akakiru" 1>>\ <<discount "Agile" 1>>\ <<discount "Legs" 1>>\ <<combatcheck 8>>\ <<if ($passcheck is true)>>\ You weave under the first slash and leap over the second. The third swordsman's grin magnifies when he sees you stuck airborne in the way of his swing. His blade closes in on your arm until you twist in the air and catch it, using the force of his swing to send you flying. Yet you don't release his blade, instead ripping it out of his grip and throwing it at him as you fly backwards. You land feet-first against the wall of the ship's tower and kick off to follow the fast trajectory of your thrown sword's wake. Two of the pirates still armed manage to deflect the sword you launched but that leaves them off-guard for your own arrival when you reel your fist back and collide into the trio like a $auracolor battering ram, punch into the face of the pirate in front with enough force to knock the pirate behind him off the deck. The third chops downward at the same time that you press your attack, planning to bisect you, and is surprised when you follow through on your punch to grab his leg. He doesn't trip, and instead is surprised when you pull yourself forward using his calf as leverage. You spin in the air and twist upside down around the man, grabbing his neck with both your legs and backflipping to throw him head-first into the side of the ship. His head crunches into the wood and his aura disperses. <<else>>\ You weave under the first slash and narrowly leap over the second, taking a small cut to your foot. You land wrong on it and barely parry a third lunge by parrying the flat of the blade. The third attack spins when you parry his attack and strikes at you with a backswing. Deflecting it doesn't save you, as the other attackers slice down your back while you're distracted in the heat of the battle. <<if ((($health + ($fortitude / 2)) - $wounds) lt 2)>>\ <<woundcheck 1 false false>>\ <<else>>\ <<if ($pblocktech isnot "")>>\ <<woundcheck 1 true false>>\ Your $pblocktech blocks the first slash but the second slips passed your defenses and cuts open your lower back. <<woundcheck 1 false false>>\ <<else>>\ The blades cleave into your back simultaneously, shredding your muscle that's only kept active by the sheer force of your enhanced spirit. <<woundcheck 2 false false>>\ <</if>>\ <</if>>\ You let out a snarl and charge forward at the third swordsman like a cornered animal, shattering his jaw with a single punch and catching his ankles when his body tries to fly off. You dig your heels into the deck and spin immediately, whirling the third swordsman behind you and slamming his skull into the head of the second swordsman. Both your target and your weapon drop to the ground. The last remaining attacker pulls his blade back and goes to lick it, as if to make some monologue, and you kick the sword into his mouth so hard that blood spurts all over his head. He drops to the ground and wraps his face in his shirt to staunch the bleeding. <</if>>\ #show-if ($style is "Akakiru") use-if ((($chipool + ($soul/2)) - $chispent) gte 1) Overpower their blades with Bladed Chi. [Requires Akakiru, Costs 1 Chi] You scan their blades and find the Aura Pressure in their Soul Treasures to be pitifully weak compared to what you've been fighting. Scarlet energy rises off your body like dozens of glowing sickles and you shake your head at the trio. They hesitate for a moment but look to each other, finding safety in numbers, and turn back to press the attack. You raise one hand up against them, palm down. "You should have brought maces." With a twist of the wrist your raise your palm to the sky and raise lines of scarlet energy from a distance up their Soul Treasure swords from hilt to end. The spiritual power within their weapons' bindings dies out as your Bladed Chi overpowers whatever Soul Treasure they were forged with. All three struggle to keep a grip on their shaking weapons until you siphon your own Bladed Chi back off their blades, a heavy stream of scarlet glowing power forming between the three blades and your aura. Yet Akakiru possesses no such streams. Only blades. <<var $chispent + 1>>\ ''[1 Chi Spent]'' You charge at the trio and spiritually grip the stream of power with your dominant hand, closing that into a fist to condense the stream into a thin bar of scarlet power. In an instant it solidifies and sharpens into a nodachi of hardened-chi thirteen feet in length. Their eyes flash with alarm and stark realization as you slice at their weapons, cutting through all three depowered blades at once and slashing against the Martial Artists holding them, all in a single wide swing. You land behind the trio and swipe your massive temporary weapon to the ground, blood splattering off its edge as the weapon dissipates back into the ether. Behind you, all three previously-armed Martial Artists fall to the ground. #show-if (($element1 is "Light") or ($element2 is "Light")) use-if ((($chipool + ($soul/2)) - $chispent) gte 1) Create an illusion to distract them. [Requires Light, Costs 1 Chi] Your hands clap together and \ <<if (($spiritbrandloc is "eyes") and ($spiritbrandcolor is "yellow"))>>\ the yellow glow of your eyes intensifies \ <<else>>\ your body glows bright yellow \ <</if>>\ as you create the image of your own body charging at the three. <<var $chispent + 1>>\ ''[1 Chi Spent]'' As expected, they attack your false clone and stumble when their weapons go right through $himher. They don't even see you behind your false image until it's too late: just as one stumbles forward his nose meets your knee, dropping him to the ground with two black eyes. The second catches himself by stabbing his weapon into the wood of the deck and tries to use its leverage to leap at you in a spin, but you're too fast. You catch his head before he can finish his leap and slam his temple back down onto the pommel of his blade, dropping him as well. The third is behind you with sword drawn. He swings. You don't see the look on his face when his blade goes through another false image; you've already looped behind him and gripped the man under both arms, lifting him over your head and leaning back quickly with a twist to slam his skull into the ship's deck. He stays down. #show-if ($race is "Kitsune") use-if ((($chipool + ($soul/2)) - $chispent) gte 2) Create an illusion to distract them. [Requires Kitsune, Costs 2 Chi] Something inside of you has changed with the development of your second tail, you can feel it, and you push that developing power into the world. Your eyes and tails glow pink with the spiritual power of fox spirits and you step behind your own body, disappearing behind the illusion you manifest: a second "copy" of yourself. The copy taunts the armed pirates by mocking their mothers in an impressive rhyme scheme before charging at them. <<var $chispent + 2>>\ ''[2 Chi Spent]'' As expected, they attack your false clone and stumble when their weapons go right through $himher. They don't even see you behind your false image until it's too late: just as one stumbles forward his nose meets your knee, dropping him to the ground with two black eyes. The second catches himself by stabbing his weapon into the wood of the deck and tries to use its leverage to leap at you in a spin, but you're too fast. You catch his head before he can finish his leap and slam his temple back down onto the pommel of his blade, dropping him as well. The third is behind you with sword drawn. He swings. You don't see the look on his face when his blade goes through another false image; you've already looped behind him and gripped the man under both arms, lifting him over your head and leaning back quickly with a twist to slam his skull into the ship's deck. He stays down. #show-if ($equippedweapon is "Meteor Hammer") Catch one with your Meteor Hammer and slam him into the other two. The three of them raise their blades in an acceptable battle stance, while you do not. You raise an enormous chain with a heavy macehead at the end. One turns and tries to run, apparently the smarter of the three as the other two charge at you. All your Aura Pressure goes behind your throw as you swing the meteor hammer at the fleeing pirate, catching him quickly. As the chain is wrapping around him you pull it taught and rip the man off his feet. He screams as you yank him towards you like a fish caught on a line. The second swordsman doesn't see what hits him. To his vision you must have thrown a chain at him and missed, he never checks behind him or hesitates for a moment in his charge, and that's how you barrel him over by slamming the first swordsman into him from behind. He stumbles into the deck and slices his own shoulder open on his Soul Treasure blade, its Aura Pressure clearly higher than his own. The third sees this and skids to a halt, putting up a guard, and you sidestep the first swordsman as his trajectory flies him towards you. He continues flying across the deck and over the railing, but you hold the chain tightly and force him to loop around, pulling more of the chain back to give his swinging a shorter radius. More importantly, you change where he's going to crash. Though the third swordsman-pirate has his guard up, there's not much guarding he can do against a high speed two-hundred pound body slamming into him with your own strength added into the mix. You swing the first pirate into the third with enough force to knock the unfortunate soul off the ship and into the water. Your tied-up victim skids to a halt after plowing through his ally, unconscious. <<apboost 4>>\ You've had buyer's remorse with certain items in the past. This Meteor Hammer is not one of them. #show-if ($equippedweapon is "Yumi") Shoot them with your Yumi before they close the distance. Soul Treasure weapons can give the power of Martial Artists to mortals, temporarily. For more practical use, they can give a weak Martial Artist the ability to punch above their weight if the Soul Treasure in their weapon has a higher Aura Pressure than they do. Fighting three of them at once would be a real problem...if you were in a swordfight. Luckily you didn't bring a sword to this fight. You brought a bow. The line of your Yumi pulls taught as you draw arrows back in quick succession, covering their wood in \ <<if ($style is "Aoyusumu")>>\ Sacred \ <<elseif ($style is "Akakiru")>>\ Bladed \ <<elseif ($style is "Kurokonton")>>\ Cursed \ <<elseif ($style is "Kiihakai")>>\ Mystic \ <<elseif ($style is "Midorikatai")>>\ Wild \ <</if>>\ Chi before releasing them into each of the swordsmen. The arrows shatter under the pressure of spiritual energy in seconds, but you don't need them to last more than one. The first two targets drop instantly without even closing the distance, their torsos pierced with glowing holes, but the third dodges your first shot and throws his sword at you just as your second shot takes him down. You try to knock a third arrow to interrupt the glowing blade coming in fast mere feet away from your face... <<var $combatstat "agility">>\ <<var $combatskill "perception">>\ <<combatcheck 7>>\ <<if ($passcheck is true)>>\ And shoot it out of the air with ease, knocking the sword skyward. <<apboost 4>>\ It flies off harmlessly into the night sky, unless one of your ships is off in the darkness. It's hard to see passed all these damned lanterns. <<else>>\ and get impaled instead, its glowing blade piercing through your shoulder. The chi vibrations it gives off damage your body and soul. <<woundcheck 1 false false>>\ You rip the sword out of your body and snarl, \ <<if ($ruthless lt 48)>>\ dropping it to the ground with a great deal of restraint keeping you from finishing off the one who threw it. <<var $solexp + 2>>\ <<elseif ($ruthless lt 52)>>\ throwing it pommel-first at the unconscious defeated pirate who hit you with it. It probably breaks a bone, but the bastard will live. For now. <<else>>\ throwing it blade-first through the chest of the pirate who hit you with it. Blood pools underneath him and you're positive that's one enemy you won't have to deal with again in the future. <</if>>\ <</if>>\ <</choose>>

The battle on the stern deck comes to a close with Captain Qing's crew groaning, bruised, and bloodied on the ground. \ <<if ($oneleft is true)>>\ Their last hope, the dagger wielding pirate you nearly blasted in the face, drops his weapon and takes the wise decision to leap overboard. \ <</if>>\ Several merchant workers raise their heads from the prone positions they took during the fight and shudder out a long-held breath as they realize they may actually be safe after all. You know differently, as you look over the edge of the ship's railing and glare down at the pirate captain. <<page "Continue" "ch6-qingfight3">>\

"Are we done?" You shout down to Captain Qing. Captain Qing looks up at you with heavy glare, violet lightning crackling around his narrowed eyes. "You've beaten my pressganged secondary crew. Do you expect congratulations?" "I expect you to leave." You reply. "Hmph." He uncrosses his arms and pulls them to his side, fists closing and muscles tensing. He crouches low and veins begin to show all over his body as he screams out a battle-cry and pushes his full power out of his spirit. Lightning crackling all over his body and his Aura Pressure starts climbing. You sense out to gauge his spiritual power and feel an estimation of his strength rising. And rising. And rising. The scope of his power grows in seconds from a middling amount of Aura Pressure to a formidable level closer to Big Chu's. <<if ($hairlength is "bald")>>\ The hair on your arms \ <<else>>\ Your hair \ <</if>>\ stands on edge and you hear shouts coming from the crew. One glance back shows several merchant crewmen huddled against the ship's tower grabbing their heads and howling in pain, the high Aura Pressure proving too much for weak fighters when unrestrained. That's unusual, even for weaklings. You've never experienced such pain despite developing your early aura within vague sensing distance of the Sect's sparring fields where even Mao would let loose some days...Shit! It's a Technique! <<page "Continue" "ch6-qingfight4">>\

<div class="fightingfont">Thunderfaller vs Captain Qing</div>\ <<statcheck>>\ Electricity charges through the air all around you. <<if ($style is "Kiihakai")>>\ ''[Kiihakai Event]'' Your hands blur into an array of combat seals and golden Mystic Chi radiates around your body like a spherical barrier of swirling sigils. Your own spirit forms into wards protecting against Captain Qing's invasive aura. Whatever he intended for you, it won't work. <<else>>\ <<var $combatstat "soul">>\ <<var $combatskill "insight">>\ <<discount "Storm" 2>>\ <<combatcheck 8>>\ <<if ($passcheck is true)>>\ You cut off your spiritual senses before any intrusive amounts of aura can leak into your spirit and cause damage. Whatever he intended to do to you, it won't work. <<else>>\ You try to cut off your spiritual senses before the assault comes but you're too late. The crackling Storm energy Qing pulls around himself radiates through the air in a hundred feet, \ <<if (($element1 is "Storm") or ($element2 is "Storm"))>>\ undetected until it's too late. \ <<else>>\ invisible to your senses. \ <</if>>\ His Storm chi permeates through your mind and blood drips from your nose. ''[Combat Difficulty Increased!]'' <<var $qingdiff + 1>>\ <</if>>\ <</if>>\ Qing stops screaming and pants heavily, his expanded aura solidifying into a more intense display of lightning around him. He relaxes his body, looking down at his hands. "Hah. Haha! It's been quite some time since Captain Qing's full might has been called upon! You pitiful Rasenites may not be used to these levels in Outer West, but Captain Qing is cut from a different cloth!" <<if ($aurapressure lt 1200)>>\ You want to correct him that Upper Disciples reach 1200 Aura Pressure all the time, but there's no point in semantics when he's stronger than you. You don't have the time anyway; he presses his attack almost instantly. <<else>>\ Before you can boast about your own strength in-kind he presses the attack. <</if>>\ "Run!!" Pleads Foreman Gong in his too-soft voice, blood running from his nose. Despite the mental strain he charges forward with the surge of an Agility Core and pulls several merchant workers away from the rear deck while Captain Qing leaps high into the air, far higher than necessary. From a standing position the pirate captain leaps over one hundred feet overhead with such force that his ship cracks and begins to sink. It's clear he has no plans to leave without this ship as he fills his fist with glowing Storm energy that grows denser and denser, forming into a violet star that reflects in the sea around you. You doubt this ship could even survive the power Qing is charging up. <<choose "ch6-qingdrowned">> #Leap up to meet the attack head-on in the air. You crouch low and concentrate $auracolor chi over your legs. Qing notices and his grin grows wide with frenzy, his body glowing brighter and brighter as Storm Chi surges over his skin in thicker waves, yet it's the free lightning condensing around his fist that gives you more concern. The spiritual energy he's concentrating to his right hand. One exhale is all it takes to call on your power. Wind flutters against your face and you kick off the deck in a burst of speed that brings you higher and higher into the air. You wrap \ <<if ((((((((((($equippedweapon is "Tanto")) or ($equippedweapon is "Katana")) or ($equippedweapon is "Muramasa")) or ($equippedweapon is "Qiang")) or ($equippedweapon is "Kunai")) or ($equippedweapon is "Jian")) or ($equippedweapon is "Iceblade")) or ($equippedweapon is "Greataxe")) or ($equippedweapon is "Chiblade")) and ($style is "Akakiru"))>>\ <<if ($equippedweapon isnot "Muramasa")>>\ your \ <</if>>\ $equippedweapon in Bladed Chi \ <<else>>\ your own fist in $auracolor \ <</if>>\ that trails behind you. "YES, COME!" Captain Qing calls from above like booming thunder. ''"COME AND SHOW QING YOUR WORTH!!"'' Your attacks clash in the air as you push all your chi into an upward swing and he rams his fist down to meet you, an explosion of crackling violet on \ <<if ((((((((((($equippedweapon is "Tanto")) or ($equippedweapon is "Katana")) or ($equippedweapon is "Muramasa")) or ($equippedweapon is "Qiang")) or ($equippedweapon is "Kunai")) or ($equippedweapon is "Jian")) or ($equippedweapon is "Iceblade")) or ($equippedweapon is "Greataxe")) or ($equippedweapon is "Chiblade")) and ($style is "Akakiru"))>>\ a flurry of scarlet slashes in all directions \ <<else>>\ $auracolor \ <</if>>\ erupting in the sky. <<var $combatstat "power">>\ <<if (($equippedweapon isnot "Yumi") and ($equippedweapon isnot ""))>>\ <<var $weapontest true>>\ <</if>>\ <<discount "Muscular" 1>>\ <<discount "Earth" 1>>\ <<discount "Midorikatai" 1>>\ <<discount "Wind" 1>>\ <<combatcheck (8+$qingdiff)>>\ <<if ($passcheck is true)>>\ <<include "ch6-qingfight4-fistcatch">>\ is close to breaking, like a breath held too long, when Qing's attack falters first and you push everything into your shoulder to slam your attack through his guard. Your attack slips through, twisting his fist aside and crunching your full-power strike into his lower ribs. You turn your wrist at the point of impact to \ <<if ((((((((((($equippedweapon is "Tanto")) or ($equippedweapon is "Katana")) or ($equippedweapon is "Muramasa")) or ($equippedweapon is "Qiang")) or ($equippedweapon is "Kunai")) or ($equippedweapon is "Jian")) or ($equippedweapon is "Iceblade")) or ($equippedweapon is "Greataxe")) or ($equippedweapon is "Chiblade")) and ($style is "Akakiru"))>>\ slash \ <<else>>\ crush \ <</if>>\ a bigger surface area and the explosion of chi fades just as Qing spits blood into your eyes. While you're temporarily blinded he performs some blur of his hands and pulls himself towards the ship, dragging you with him. The two of you struggle in a grapple until you slam into the wood of the ship after a hundred-foot fall and tumble away from each other. <<else>>\ <<include "ch6-qingfight4-fistcatch">>\ proves too much. The force of his storm punch cracks through your attack and collides into your chest with a thunderous crack. <<if ($pblocktech isnot "")>>\ <<woundcheck 1 false false>>\ Your $pblocktech does what it can to stop the physical damage but his attack proves too strong, burning into your chest with aggressive Storm chi. \ <<elseif ($eblocktech isnot "")>>\ <<woundcheck 1 false false>>\ Your $eblocktech does what it can to stop the spiritual damage but his attack proves too strong, slamming into your chest with a steel-hardened fist moving at lightning speeds. \ <<else>>\ <<woundcheck 2 false false>>\ The attack breaks through your guard and slams into your chest with boneshattering vibrations. \ <</if>>\ The sky and sea spin through your vision and you realize you're flipping backwards, over and over, until you hit the deck of the Thousand Lantern ship face-first. The sound of a heavy landing lets you know Qing has landed on the deck too, up ahead of you. <</if>>\ <<page "Continue" "ch6-qingfight4-fist2">>\ #Call on Foreman Gong for help. -> "ch6-qingfight4-help" "Gong, that attack is going to destroy the ship!" You shout out over the sound of Qing's laughter in the sky above you. His aura flashes like a lightning storm and illuminates the whole ship with violet power. "Intercept it or I can't stop him!" "WHAT?!" Gong gasps for air after shouting, his head still affected by Qing's Technique. He stands in the middle of his crewmen all huddled around the tower at the center of the ship, looking up at Qing's massive chi output. "I-I'll die!" At that moment Storm Chi explodes behind Qing and you realize you don't even have time for him to fall. He launches himself at the ship in a flash of lighting. You place both arms up in a spiritually enhanced $auracolor guard. "GONG! NOW!" "Ohhh no no no no!" Foreman Gong mutters as he surges an Agility Core and stabs two scarlet-glowing needles into his own deck, using the leverage to launch himself forward in front of you just as Qing rides the lightning down onto your ship. His attack strikes Foreman Gong square in the chest and the eunuch does nothing to stop the attack, instead swinging another oversized needle under Qing's attack and into his gut, wounding and poisoning the man. <<var $qingdiff - 1>>\ <<var $gonghurt true>>\ Teeth fly out of Gong's face as his scarlet aura shatters, his Aura Pressure not up to the job, and his body flies backwards into the ship's tower where he collides into the wall. As Gong flies back you duck under his form, rising in an uppercut towards Qing. Specks of blood fly between Qing's grinning teeth in his victorious grin until he sees your gambit play out. You adapt to Gong's partial success and aim your strike at the handle of Gong's needle embedded in Qing's abs, seeking to punch the weapon further into the man's torso. <<var $combatstat "agility">>\ <<var $combatskill "stealth">>\ <<combatcheck (7+$qingdiff)>>\ #show-if (($element1 is "Earth") or ($element2 is "Earth")) use-if ((($chipool + ($soul / 2)) - $chispent) gte 1) Shoot him with blocks of granite before he lands. [Requires Earth, Costs 1 Chi] As Captain Qing leaps high into the night sky and his fist glows brighter and brighter violet you react in-kind, taking a wide stance and pulling on your affinity for Earth Chi. ''[1 Chi Point Spent]'' <<var $chispent + 1>>\ Your fists glow brighter and brighter amber until you punch forward, launching the essence of spiritual Earth through the air and into Captain Qing's right leg before he finishes his ascent. Your dense energy slams into his shin and forms into temporarily real rock, weighing him down. You repeat the attack four times as his trajectory slows and slumps, covering the man with more stone bindings in each attack. Finally it proves too much and his leap fails to reach your ship with his newfound weight. Covered in a cage of stone, Captain Qing plummets into the water. You look over the ship's rear railing to scan for Qing's return and see one pirate still climbing up the side with a saber in his mouth. Your eyes meet. "Drop it." You command, $auracolor swirling in your palm as you aim it at him. The pirate slowly spits the saber out into the sea. Both of you look back to where Qing submerged. After a few seconds of tension, the pirate slowly raises a glowing white hand out to illuminate the sea's waves better, checking back to see if he's earned your mercy. <<if ($honor gt 55)>>\ You're not sure what level of loyalty you expected a pirate to have for his Captain but you're still disappointed that he didn't reach it. <<var $forexp + 1>>\ <<elseif ($ruthless gt 55)>>\ You decide not to tell him that he hasn't. <<else>>\ Finally, someone that understands how things work around here. <</if>>\ "What's going on?" Asks one merchant as the crew hesitantly returns to the ship's rear and peer over as a group. "The Honored Guest knocked the storm pirate into the sea, I saw it myself!" Shouts another of the workers. "You should all get back." You say, distracted as you look over the water's surface. "This fight's not over yet." "Not to doubt the Honored Guest," adds one of the workers in a dirty tunic, "But can your opponent swim?" You look down to the pirate frozen on the side of the ship for answers. His fearful eyes stay locked with yours as he solemnly shakes his head. Seconds later a few bubbles rise to the surface along with the man's hat; the rest of him is nowhere to be seen. #show-if ($flagshiptype is "combat") "Fire the ballistas!" All around you the merchant workers panic and try to flee to the front of the ship as Qing's energy surges in the sky. You and Gong remain in defense, both knowing that attack cannot go uncontested. Yet unlike Gong, you brought a solution to this problem. "FIRE THE BALLISTAS!" You call out to your ships. <<var $val 888>>\ Captain Qing pulses with energy bolts all around his body like a violet bonfire. You put up your defense and prepare to hold him still for your siege engine to strike him directly. It's not a good strategy, but he's already sunk his own ship so it's not as if you have any other target to shoot. If you can just keep him in one place, your crew should be able to get a clear shot. Or so you planned. As if it were already prepared, a bolt the size of a small tree and thicker than your head launches through the lanterns of the junk ship in the blink of an eye and crashes into Qing mid-air without you needing to hold him still at all. You don't know who on your crew has the accuracy to hit a moving target with a ballista, that is until the bolt crashes into his aura and its tip ripples with the scarlet of Leona's Bladed Chi. The massive bolt explodes against Captain Qing and cracks into splinters, yet the impact is not lost. Qing's guard does nothing to stop the force of the blow and he's launched sixty feet off-course where he plunges into the ocean and bounces off the surface four times before sinking under. Not wanting to lose the advantage, you leap onto the ship's railing and prepare to blast him the second he rises. A Martial Artist of his caliber won't die to a single hit so easily. ... ... ... Twenty seconds later and still no sign of Qing's counterattack. You send out spiritual scans and find his aura, but it doesn't feel like he's charging up any power for a counterattack. If anything, it's weakening. "Why isn't he coming back up?" You call out to some of the groaning pirates on the floor. They whimper in response. The merchant crew hesitantly returns to the rear of the ship and glance over in astonishment, surveying the water where Qing submerged. "What is he doing?" One asks. "Suffering the pain of our Honored Guest's power, no doubt!" Shouts \ <<if ($ruthless gt 55)>>\ one of the smarter members of the crew. \ <<else>>\ a suck up. \ <</if>>\ Ten more seconds pass and bubbles come back up to the surface. Foreman Gong closes his eyes and sends out a quick spiritual scan of his own. "I cannot be certain, Honored Guest, but...it appears the pirate captain cannot swim." He looks back to the water, scans again, and breathes in through his teeth when only the pirate captain's hat resurfaces; the rest of him is nowhere to be found. Gong looks to you and shakes his head. "Let me correct, Honored Guest, that he //could not// swim." You gawk in disbelief at the sea and send more spiritual scans out, feeling no aura beneath the waves. <</choose>>

<<if ($passcheck is true)>>\ "Not bad, \ <<if ($heshe is "she")>>\ harlot," \ <<else>>\ whoreson," \ <</if>>\ Qing says, rising to his feet and holding his bleeding gut. "Qing \ <<else>>\ You rise off the flooring of the ship's deck and wipe blood from your mouth. Despite the pain being dangerously close to your heart, your $auracolor aura is still flowing. That's always a good sign. \ What's not a good sign is Captain Qing standing to the side of the ship's main tower, behind the mass of merchant crewmen cowering at the tower's base. \ "Still alive?!" Qing asks in excitement when he sees you rise. "An excellent entertainment! Qing \ <</if>>\ <<include "ch6-qingfight5">>\

Two unstoppable forces clash in the air with no immovable object to contest them. As your attack impacts against Qing's fist you feel his Storm Chi surge through your arm in a numbing intense vibration. All of your focus and spirit go into artificially maintaining the power of your trajectory, leaking chi out behind you to launch yourself forward. Qing does the same, violet lightning expelling out his back as his fist grinds into your attack. Neither of you can see the face of the other, blinded by the colliding forces of chi, and your snarls are drowned out over the roar of clashing powers. The strain on your spirit \

<<if ($passcheck is true)>>\ You skid one foot forward for leverage and twist your wrist counterclockwise, turning your uppercut into a haymaker that connects perfectly with Gong's oversized needle in Qing's gut. <<cap $auracolor>> energy explodes out the back of your shoulder as you launch your physical and spiritual might behind the attack, punching the needle's handle so hard that it shoots through Qing's body and launches out the other end like an arrow, piercing through his ship's sail. Captain Qing's mouth opens in a silent gasp and his reflexes barely save him in time as he rolls to the side, letting your punch spin him to the side behind you rather than crunch through his organs. He slides across the deck all the way passed the merchant crew, stopping at the side of the ship's central tower. "That was lowly, <<if ($heshe is "she")>>\ harlot," \ <<else>>\ whoreson," \ <</if>>\ Qing says, rising to his feet and holding his bleeding gut. "Qing \ <<include "ch6-qingfight5">>\ <<else>>\ Your attack lands a hit. On his left forearm. He blocks your strike with his arm and slams his main attack into your shoulder with a sickening crunch that breaks something deep inside. Something important. <<if ($race is "Lunargoth")>>\ Your Indomitable Will manifests a layer of energy over you just in time to dull the chi of his attack but even that can't stop the reinforcement and momentum of his fist. <<woundcheck 1 false false>>\ <<else>>\ <<woundcheck 2 false false>>\ <</if>>\ You're sent tumbling back across the deck, right through the crowd of fearful merchant crewmen where you slam into the tower around the ship's mast. Qing lands on the deck and rips Gong's needle from his gut, throws it overboard, and sneers at you. "Not b-" \ Just as you kick off the tower to charge him in a surprise attack he disappears from sight. Your fist hits nothing and you turn around to see Qing standing halfway across the ship, to the side of the tower. The merchant crew is cowering halfway between you and the pirate captain and he knows his advantage. \ "Surviving Qing's Technique well enough to attempt a surprise attack, Qing \ <<include "ch6-qingfight5">>\ <</if>>\

is impressed, you handle melee well." He looks up to you with a darker burning violet chi surging around his eyes. "How do you handle more advanced Techniques?" No...The aura around him isn't violet, you realize too late. It's purple! <<page "Continue" "ch6-qingfight6">>\

''//"PUPPETMASTER!"//'' Captain Qing screams out, changing his aura from Storm's violet to Kurokonton's purple. His fists raise horizontally, palms up, and he opens all ten fingers outward with lines of purple Cursed Chi that clings to the heads of the merchant crew between you and the Captain. Each one affected gasps as their heads shoot back, their bodies stiffen, and their eyes exude purple light. "Is this your first time facing such an advanced show of power?" Asks one of the afflicted merchant crewman while rising to his feet, his eyes glowing purple with Qing's chi. More unnerving, he speaks in Qing's voice. Another speaks up next, a woman, in the same voice. "Their wills have been drained to nothing." A gothic man finishes her point. "Their minds reduced to a husk, mindlessly following Qing's orders." Qing smiles behind them, raising his nose at you when he speaks. "Yet Puppetmaster can siphon any orders but my own from their wills as well. You thought this was that fat eunuch's crew? Pah! They are Captain Qing's crew!" He raises his hands to both sides overhead. "//Everyone// is Captain Qing's crew!" "Not everyone." You reply, leaking $auracolor chi into the air above you as you approach. "You would have used that on me if you could, \ <<if (($ruthless gt 55) and ($persuasion gte 3))>>\ Qing." ''[Ruthless Check Passed]'' ''[Persuasion 3 Check Passed]'' "It doesn't matter how many idiots you throw at me, //Captain//, because I'm not here to save anyone. Your crew, Gong's crew, why do I care who I use for practice? I'm going to kill you, Qing, and I'm going to enjoy it. When I'm done I'll take that ship you offered me. Then, unless the pay is good enough, I'll take this one too. None of you are committing piracy or trade, you're all just my playthings waiting for me to show up." When you take one heavy step forward Qing reflexively takes a step back. You smile. ''[Combat Reduced Difficulty!]'' <<var $qingdiff - 1>>\ <<elseif ($ruthless lte 45)>>\ Qing. Let them go and you'll be spared, but if you drag them into this fight further and a single one of them gets hurt you're going to wish I killed you." <<var $solexp + 2>>\ <<elseif ($honor gte 55)>>\ Qing. Let them go and your death will be swift." <<var $forexp + 2>>\ <<else>>\ Qing, so let's get this over with." <</if>>\ He growls, unamused, and jerks the wires back and the merchant's rise to their feet. "Kill this arrogant fool!" Captain Qing commands, pulling back with a high jump to the top of the merchant junkship's tower. "I want $hisher gi sewn into my sail!" The merchant crew draws weapons, eyes glossed purple, and some even pick up the pirate crew's Soul Treasure blades off the floor. <<if (($style is "Aoyusumu") and ($stylerank gte 2))>>\ ''[Aoyusumu (Adept) Event]'' The possessed merchants charge you with their drawn weapons raised to your throat. Your eyes and arm glow cerulean and you wave a single hand at the one in front, cleansing his 7th chakra of the mind used to connect mental power to the spirit. A secret utilized by those of the Aoyusumu. He gently falls to the ground. Everyone behind him falls as well. You really need to balance out your power later, there's been too much growth to get used to. "What trick is this?" Qing asks, looking down as his hands where the lines of Cursed Chi begin to crumble. "You have only yourself to blame." You reply, "I don't know what you were thinking using mental Techniques against an Aoyusumu artist." "So that's it. Bah." Qing spits dismissively. "What are you boasting for? Seeking an applause?" "Why not?" You ask. A heavy applause fills the air all around as if the ship were surrounded. Qing glances to his left, his right, and behind him to see the source of the sound. Small sparks of cerulean chi pop into existence all around him as you create countering kinetic movements to simulate an audience's standing ovation. "More tricks?" Qing asks. "You won't hurt Qing with such a display, nor can he be distracted so easily!" "If you say so." You reply, swinging a punch from where you're standing twenty feet away. One of the clapping explosions blurs into the cerulean shape of your arm and fist, slamming into Qing's jaw so hard that his head rams into the side of the ship's mast-tower. You grin and swing four more times. Four more claps turn into distant fists of chi striking at the man, but Captain Qing catches onto the trick and leaps high into the air. <<elseif (($style is "Kurokonton") and ($stylerank gte 2))>>\ ''[Kurokonton (Adept) Event]'' Damn, you can do that with Cursed Chi? It almost excites you to know your Style possesses such a crazy ability, but what excites you more is that your eyes have improved enough to see its weakness with just one look. You're getting better at this. <<if ($perception lt 2)>>\ ''[Perception +1]'' <<var $perception + 1>>\ <</if>>\ "That's an incredible Technique, Qing," You shout out while drawing two handfuls of throwing stars from a beltpouch strapped to your leg. "but you're not the only Curse user in this fight." Your hands burn purple as you charge each of your throwing stars in Cursed Chi and release them at the lines Qing holds connecting him to the crew. "Wrong choice!" Qing shouts as he yanks his hands back to move the controlling lines out of the way. The floor behind him glows purple with your chi, not his, and your throwing stars change course in mid-air, gaining speed while they're //pulled// away from you towards the deck behind Qing. Each one slices one of Qing's lines of Cursed Chi and the merchant crew drops to the ground in exhaustion as his Technique loses control of them. Qing, meanwhile, is knocked to the ground as well when his body intercepts the path of your throwing stars. Seven stab into his front. "How?!" He shouts out, ripping throwing stars out of his legs and hip. "You would have had to-" "I did." You cut him off. Guiren was right, every ninja trick is exactly that: a trick, and tricks require prep time. That's why you planted lines of Cursed Chi all over the ship's deck with each step when you followed Foreman Gong across it earlier. "BAH!" Capain Qing shouts out, exploding with violet Storm power that jettisons the metal stars out of his flesh. You guard your face to deflect one throwing star while he leaps high into the air. \ <<else>>\ You shake your head angrily, taking two steps towards the charging crowd of mind-controlled sailors. It's not a fight you're worried about; a few of them have pale gray-white auras and the rest don't even have that. Your problem isn't surviving their attacks, it's knocking them out unscathed without killing them. There's no point in siding with Foreman Gong if you end up killing his crew. <<var $combatstat "fortitude">>\ <<var $combatskill "survival">>\ <<discount "Earth" 1>>\ <<combatcheck 9>>\ <<if ($passcheck is true)>>\ Luckily you're surrounded by rope. With a single chop and a pull you free one of the mast's many ropes and whip it out overboard to fling the lanterns off safely into the sea. In that time you're charged by four weapon-wielding merchant crewmen that all lunge over you as you sweep a low kick at their feet, knocking them all off balance as you lasso the four in a flourish. You pull the rope taught and tie it off before they even hit the ground. Two more throw spears at you that you catch and break in half. You close in fast against one with a glowing saber and kick it at the hilt to disarm the man then slide under a punch he throws, grabbing his shirt from behind and ripping it off of him as you slide passed. Quickly you tie the sailor's shirt around the butt of one broken spear and use the softened club to start smacking heads in relatively nonlethal safety. Armed with a blackjack, the fight ends much faster as you deflect weapons with close-ranged energy blasts and smack each merchant in the face. <<else>>\ You deflect two glowing sabers without much effort and motion to grab a piece of rope used for the sail's rigging, expecting to easily tie up the unwilling minions, when some asshole throws a knife into your calf. You reach down to pull it out only to find a glowing saber meet your eyes as some unpowered sailor activates the damn thing's Aura Pressure an inch from your face. He completely bypasses your spiritual senses because he has no spiritual power until he's already swung at your head. <<woundcheck 1 true false>>\ <<if ($pblocktech isnot "")>>\ Luckily your $pblocktech intercepts the power of such a weak Soul Treasure. The blade bounces off your face with a heavy impact that leaves nothing but a shallow cut. It stings like a //bitch// and leaves a line of blood down your face, but it's superficial. Much like the black eye and blood splatter when you headbutt the unwilling swordsman in the face and knock him across the deck headfirst. \ <<else>>\ Blood fills your vision as the sword slashes across your nose, cheek, and forehead in a slash that, while not life-threatening, is far too deep to not leave a scar without medical attention. The pain hurts almost as much as the embarrassment that one of these weaklings scored a hit on you. <</if>>\ Qing laughs. Unwilling to let this charade go on any longer you take off your shirt and wrap it around a nearby torch to make a nonlethal club. Without ceremony or flare you start angrily beating every controlled crewman in the face until they stop moving. <</if>>\ Those still uncontrolled, the remaining sailors huddled at the base of the tower watching the fight, wince every time you slam the cloth-wrapped club into their fellow crew's heads. "Pathetic." Qing says from further back on deck. He leaps into the air as he looks down on the crew. "You failed to kill a single one!" "Pathetic." You shoot back in irritation, looking instead at Qing's pirate crew scattered on the ground. "You failed to empower a single one." Qing's face turns red. \ <</if>>\ "ENOUGH OF THIS TIRESOME NONSENSE!" He screams in anger, landing on the mast-tower and drawing a glowing white saber from his sheath. "We've both shown tricks and wasted time, but none of it will win this fight! Come up here and face Qing man to $manwoman so that he may end this by carving off your face and wearing it like a crown!" As if to accentuate the threat Captain Qing sticks his tongue far out and draws his scimitar across his throat while maintaining eye contact. <<choose "ch6-qingfight6-stabbed">> #Blast him from down here. <<var $qingstatus "Enemy">>\ <<if (($style is "Kiihakai") and ($stylerank gte 2))>>\ This fight has been bothering you since it started with problem after problem. First the near-shipwreck, then fighting the entire pirate crew by yourself, then Qing trying to sink the ship you're all standing on, and now the bastard is dodging around like distance is his advantage. <<if ($spiritbrandloc is "eyes")>>\ The golden glow of your eyes triples in intensity as you \ <<else>>\ Your eyes take on a golden glow and you \ <</if>>\ pull both hands back, charging your palms with Mystic Chi and forming individual handseals on each hand. "What's the matter?" Qing calls down at your display, "Afraid to approach Qing head-on?" More power thrums around you as both hands move in quick succession. "I'm simply done playing your games, Qing. You should have challenged me to \ <<if ($honor gte 50)>>\ an honorable \ <<else>>\ a \ <</if>>\ duel when you had the chance. It's too late now." Qing tilts his head back and grins wide. "A duel? One on one from the start? How desperate!" Bolts of lightning stream up from his glowing body. "Qing has no reason to entertain your 'honor'. Qing does as he pleases! Now that he has the high ground, what pleases him is seeing you try to approach him. Do you dare?" You scoff at him, your aura growing silent so you can be heard thanks to the absolute control of Mystic Chi. "Distance isn't your advantage, Qing. It is always, and will always, be my advantage." ''[Kiihakai (Adept) Event!]'' He laughs as his body crackles with violet bolts of Storm power. "Then die down there like a do-AGH!" He recoils in pain as the first bolt around him singes his left arm. Qing pulls back but his own aura betrays him again, catching his right shoulder with a shock of scorching power that strikes through skin and muscle. He tries to dismiss the lightning around him but can't, instead swinging his arms wildly as each bolt splits into three and surrounds him in a coiling arc, refusing to dissipate. He starts to panic when the storm turns to gold. Your Mystic Chi surrounds the electricity coursing through the air and guides it like cattle, using the intense speed of lightning to add power to your Mystic Chi's strikes against his body. Golden-covered lightning surrounds the man in a hundred stolen bolts. He begins to scream, but the thunderous sound of the stolen storm drowns out his cries while growing in power until he's enveloped in a pulsing sphere of hostile golden energy. The chi-cage stretches and crackles as Qing fights back from inside, but his flails weaken with each passing second as you calmly look on while sensing the entire exchange going on inside. When the energy cracks and explodes it's not because he wins the struggle, but because the lightning from his aura dissipates at the same time that his aura shatters from all the damage. <<apboost 10>>\ Qing falls unconscious and the blinding glow of your attack fades to show his burnt-black body falling off the tower, landing on the deck beside you with a heavy ''thud''. <<page "Continue" "ch6-qingfight6-ew">>\ <<else>>\ "You know what, Qing?" You pull both arms back and cup your hands together, cycling all your condensed chi into a ball between both hands. "I don't even care if this is a trap. \ <<if ($ruthless lt 48)>>\ You've wasted enough of my time." <<else>>\ Just die already." <</if>>\ His face contorts in insult as you press both hands forward and release your beam of power at his center-mass. <<var $combatstat "soul">>\ <<var $combatstat2 "power">>\ <<discount "Light" 1>>\ <<discount "Storm" 1>>\ <<discount "Fire" 1>>\ <<attack "Energy Ranged">>\ <<combatcheck (13+$qingdiff)>>\ <<if ($passcheck is true)>>\ <<if (($element1 is "Light") or ($element2 is "Light"))>>\ By infusing Light into your beam you increase its speed threefold. \ <<else>>\ You press your beam forward with all the power you can muster and even kick off the railing behind you to close the distance more. \ <</if>>\ A thick line of $auracolor chi surges from your hands and overtakes the orange glow of the lanterns all around the ship. Qing's body is caught in the eruption of your full-power blast before he can even raise his defenses. "GGGRRRAAHHHH!!" Captain Qing screams, clashing his aura against your own in a last-ditch defense as your beam overpowers him and tears through the vigor of his body and soul. You keep pushing more and more energy into the beam until his aura shatters in a satisfying burst of violet and purple sparks raining out away from his body. He loses his footing and flies back into the mast of the ship back-first with a heavy impact. Cautiously you end your energy assault, not wanting to damage the ship, and without the constant pressure of your attack Qing's body falls to the ground. <<page "Continue" "ch6-qingfight6-ew">>\ <<else>>\ You condense the energy in your hands and launch it forward in the form of a beam, a pole-thick line of power that crashes into Qing. He blocks it with one arm and winces in pain as the force of your attack burns through his aura. Then you lose your footing. It's not until you've rapidly floated halfway up to the top of the tower that you realize you're being pulled by Qing's Cursed Chi, and worse, you're being pulled into his blade. By spinning in place, you're able to block the attack, but blocking the tip of a Soul Treasure sword with your arm is no different from being stabbed. The blade pierces through your arm and into your side. <<include "ch6-qingfight6-stabbed">>\ <</if>>\ <</if>>\ #Charge him with a flurry of blows. <<var $qingstatus "Enemy">>\ For once you agree. Too much of this fight has been displays of energy and Technique. It's time to show Qing that you're not a fighter, you're a Martial Artist. It's time to show him your \ <<if ($ruthless gt 50)>>\ fists. "You're such a nasty coward, Qing, challenging me to a brawl while you have three stories of high ground." You mock to the pirate, squatting low and charging energy to your legs. "But do you really think you're outside my reach?" Before he can answer \ <<else>>\ fists. But first... "Tell me Qing!" You shout up to the man. "Have you ever killed an innocent?" Qing shakes his head as if speaking to a moron. "Of course! Fear is a warlord's most reliable tool!" You nod in reassurance. "Good. That makes this easier." Suddenly \ <</if>>\ a circle of $auracolor energy blasts out from around you that shoots you up to the top of the tower. <<var $combatstat "agility">>\ <<var $combatstat2 "soul">>\ <<if ($athletics gte 3)>>\ ''[Athletics 3 Check Passed: +1 Battle Prowess]'' <<var $cmod + 1>>\ <</if>>\ <<discount "Midorikatai" 1>>\ <<combatcheck (13+$qingdiff)>>\ <<if ($passcheck is true)>>\ One moment you're three stories below Qing, the very next your knee is two inches from his surprised face. His blade comes within inches of your gut and you can feel the Cursed Chi drawing you into his attack. By the time you realize you've fallen into his trap it's already too late...for him, because you've moved too fast and slid right passed his blade before he can activate whatever gravitational sword technique he had planned. Your knee crunches into his nose in a geyser of blood and his body launches backward into the mast of the ship head-first. The back of the pirate captain's skull penetrates a foot into the wood. Violet and purple chi scatters all around him as his aura shatters and he falls unconscious, hanging limply from the ship's mast like an oversized ornament. <<page "Continue" "ch6-qingfight6-fw">>\ <<else>>\ As you close the gap you realize something's off. You're moving fast, faster than even you expected, but you're off target by a foot. That's when chi surges to your vision and you see wisps of purple energy connecting your torso to Qing's blade. A curse! You're being pulled in! Before you can maneuver out of the way your trajectory accelerates as you're pulled into his sword by some gravitational force at the same time that Qing thrusts his saber forward. Blood explodes out your back when Captain Qing runs his saber through your forearm and torso. <<include "ch6-qingfight6-stabbed">>\ <</if>>\ #show-if ($flashstep) use-if ((($chipool + ($soul / 2)) - $chispent) gte 1) Flash Step behind him. [Costs 1 Chi] <<var $honor - 1>>\ "I should warn you Qing, whatever trick you're planning up there isn't as bad as the tricks I'm planning down here." Qing waggles his saber with a look of mock insult. "Planning? As in a deception?! Qing would never!" Purple wisps of energy float off his feet as if to taunt you. "Your lies and debasement reflect only your own bad character." "It's true." You agree. //''"Flash Step."''// ''[1 Chi Point Spent]'' <<var $chispent + 1>>\ One moment Captain Qing is staring down at you preparing who knows what kind of trick with his easily-concealed Cursed Chi, secure in his high ground three stories above you. The next he's staring at an empty deck and feeling a cold sensation run down his spine. Your shadow looms behind him before he even turns around. <<var $qingstatus "Enemy">>\ "Nothing personal." You say as \ <<if ($equippedweapon is "Handwraps")>>\ your handwrapped arm \ <<var $powexp + 1>>\ <<var $agiexp + 1>>\ <<elseif ($equippedweapon is "Bo Staff")>>\ your bo staff \ <<var $powexp + 1>>\ <<var $solexp + 1>>\ <<elseif ($equippedweapon is "Greataxe")>>\ the butt of your greataxe \ <<var $powexp + 1>>\ <<var $forexp + 1>>\ <<else>>\ your reinforced arm \ <</if>>\ swings down on his neck, crunching his vertebrae and knocking him unconscious until his aura recovers enough to heal. <<page "Continue" "ch6-qingfight6-flash">>\ #show-if (($element1 is "Wind") or ($element2 is "Wind")) use-if ((($chipool + ($soul / 2)) - $chispent) gte 1) Swipe a gust of wind into the scimitar he's dragging across his neck. [Costs 1 Chi] Emerald chi surges through your cores and cycles out into your arm in a single breath when you swing an open hand at Qing from down on the deck. As soon as the emerald power leaves your body it manifests as a controlled and condensed gust of wind, small but focused. It blasts thirty feet forward into Qing with the strength of a hurricane only the size of a small unfurled scroll, and yet all that condensed power slams into the back of his blade with a stubborn force. ''[1 Chi Point Spent]'' <<var $chispent + 1>>\ It pushes his glowing sword two feet forward, right into his neck and out the other side. His head falls off the tower before he does. It hits the deck right beside you with a heavy ''thud''. <<var $qingstatus "Ghost">>\ <<if ($ruthless lt 59)>>\ Oh shit. That worked a little too well. \ <<else>>\ Euphoric. <</if>>\ You turn over to look at the rest of the merchant crew, \ <<if ($ruthless gte 59)>>\ <<var $powexp + 3>>\ smiling with a cheer and an arm raised in victory while Qing's blood rains down on you and ruins your clothes. They immediately kowtow in a mixture of gratitude and fear. <<else>>\ cringing with a hesitant thumbs-up while Qing's blood rains down on you and utterly ruins your clothes. <<var $solexp + 1>>\ <<var $agiexp + 1>>\ <<var $forexp + 1>>\ They immediately kowtow in a mixture of gratitude and fear. You deeply, //deeply// wish to get accustomed to your new levels of strength later. This lack of restraint is getting out of control. <</if>>\ <<page "Continue" "ch6-qingfight6-behead">>\ <</choose>>

<div class="fightingfont">Thunderfaller $name vs Captain Qing</div>\ <div class="fightingfont">Victory</div>\ <<statcheck>>\ <<fightexp 10>>\ <<var $fighting false>>\ Foreman Gong runs up to you from the crowd of merchant \ <<if ($gonghurt is true)>>\ crewmen, his face a bloodied mess, but he bows in thanks all the same when he reaches you. \ <<else>>\ crewmen and drops to a heavy bow as he reaches you. \ <</if>>\ "This one thanks the Honored Guest for such a noble and heroic victory." He says, grabbing Qing's head in both hands and passing it to one of his underlings. He then seems to relax out of the formalities. \ <<include "ch6-qing-victory">>\

<div class="fightingfont">Thunderfaller $name vs Captain Qing</div>\ <div class="fightingfont">Victory</div>\ <<statcheck>>\ <<fightexp 10>>\ <<var $fighting false>>\ Everyone is eerily silent for several seconds after your attack until the remaining uninjured merchant crewmen break out in cheer, herding around you and hoisting you into the air. "No, no, no!" Foreman Gong commands in his oddly high pitched voice. "Put $himher down!" They crew obeys and makes way for their Foreman. Gong's pudgy form comes through the crowd and bows deeply at the waist. "This one humbly thanks you, Honored Guest. On behalf of the Thousand Lantern Sect we are in your debt." He rises, snaps his fingers twice for the crew to take Qing's unconscious form away, and seems to lose the formalities. \ <<include "ch6-qing-victory">>\

<div class="fightingfont">Thunderfaller $name vs Captain Qing</div>\ <div class="fightingfont">Victory</div>\ <<statcheck>>\ <<fightexp 10>>\ <<var $fighting false>>\ Cheers erupt from the merchant crew below as Qing's body falls to the deck. You jump down among them and are greeted by Foreman Gong dropping into a deep bow. "This one humbly thanks you, Honored Guest. On behalf of the Thousand Lantern Sect we are in your debt." He rises, snaps his fingers twice for the crew to take Qing's unconscious form away, and seems to lose the formalities. \ <<include "ch6-qing-victory">>\

<div class="fightingfont">Thunderfaller $name vs Captain Qing</div>\ <div class="fightingfont">Victory</div>\ <<statcheck>>\ <<fightexp 10>>\ <<var $fighting false>>\ With Qing defeated, the remaining uninjured merchant crew below cheer at surviving another day. You grab the pirate captain by the shin and pull him out of the mast as if you were picking two-hundred pound vegetables from a garden, then you descend to the deck. Foreman Gong is the first to greet you in a deep bow. "This one humbly thanks you, Honored Guest. On behalf of the Thousand Lantern Sect we are in your debt." He rises, snaps his fingers twice for the crew to take Qing's unconscious form away, and seems to lose the formalities. \ <<include "ch6-qing-victory">>\

<<if ($eblocktech isnot "")>>\ ''[$eblocktech Activated, Damage Reduced]'' <<woundcheck 1 false false>>\ <<else>>\ <<woundcheck 2 false false>>\ <</if>>\ You grimace from the pain and expect boasting from Qing but he's grimacing himself. Both of you look down at a scarlet glowing light illuminating you from below. Qing's feet, firmly planted on the top of the merchant ship's tower around its mast, are pierced through by two large needles glowing in Bladed Chi. Each is angled awkwardly to stop Qing from pulling his feet out, and you both look up to the sails to see \ <<if ($gonghurt is true)>>\ a heavily injured \ <<else>>\ a fearfully shaking \ <</if>>\ Foreman Gong looking as surprised as you are that his sneak attack worked. Before Qing recovers from the shock you grip his hand holding the blade and pull yourself further into his sword. He looks bewildered at your attempted suicide and you get a good look at that expression when you use the close quarters to headbutt his face with all your power, slamming the man's nose into his skull. As he falters you crash your fist into his retreating face one more time with a bonecrunching impact. Despite all his success in your fight so far, your blows catch him completely off guard and knock his jaw sideways hard enough to rattle his brain. As a wise combat sage once said, everyone has a plan until they get punched in the mouth. Purple and violet chi scatters around his body from his aura shattering and he collapses at an odd angle, his back flat on the floor and his shins held up by supposedly Foreman Gong's blades. You can finally breathe easy. At least, as easy as possible with a glowing sword impaled through your gut. ''[Item Gained: Basic Soul Treasure Sword]'' <<var $weaponcrate + 1>>\ <<page "Continue" "ch6-qingfight6-stabbed2">>\

<div class="fightingfont">Thunderfaller $name vs Captain Qing</div>\ <div class="fightingfont">Victory</div>\ <<statcheck>>\ <<fightexp 6>>\ <<var $fighting false>>\ The merchant crew cheers at the sight of your victory until you turn around and they see the blade cleanly stabbed through you. After that, their cheers turn into horrified screams. "It's okay!" You lie to the crowd below. "I'm okay!" Both you and Foreman Gong descend to the deck and he inspects your wound. "We'll have to have that bandaged." He says as the most obvious statement you've heard all day. The next few minutes go by as two merchant crewmen wrench the blade from your gut and another rubs you with ungents while a fourth covers your torso in bandages. ''[1 Health Restored]'' <<var $wounds - 1>>\ All the while Foreman Gong takes stock of the ship and his other crewmen take Qing's unconscious form away. Finally when all is done he approaches you again with a deep bow. "It seems everything is in order." He wipes nervous sweat off his \ <<if ($gonghurt is true)>>\ brow and winces. \ <<else>>\ brow. \ <</if>>\ <<include "ch6-qing-victory">>\

"The hat." You say without hesitation. "Give me the precious hat." Qing smiles viciously, showing he's missing some molars, and tosses you the hat. "Qing knew you would choose looks over power. Yet you are in luck, the Captain's Hat of Qing's Pirates holds both." You catch the hat and run your hands over its fine leather. The subtle off-black coloring, the tasteful thickness of it. By the Ancestors, it even has a Water Seal. ''[Item Gained: Cathayan Pirate Hat]'' <<var $cpiratehat + 1>>\ ''[Qing's Captain's Hat increases your Agility, Commerce, and Thievery when equipped as an Accessory.]'' "And the rest belongs to Qing!" The pirate captain announces. <<include "ch6-strikethegong6">>\

"What happened up there?" Kosuke asks, $bffhisher hair \ <<if (($merchopinion is "Damaged1") or ($merchopinion is "Damaged2"))>>\ as wet as the crewmen around $bffhimher. "I spent the first few minutes getting everyone back on board but then I \ <<else>>\ still ruined with noticeable bedhead. "I tried to concentrate but only \ <</if>>\ felt a bunch of violent outbursts in the air." Bo scoffs. "If your spiritual perceptions are so crude and unrefined then why do you even bring them up?" Kosuke looks to Leona, sitting with her legs crossed on a crate and trimming her nails. "I will give you ten silver if you poison his next meal." "Deal!" Leona shouts back, perking up immediately. "Everyone calm down." You say. \ <<if ($ruthless gt 53) and ($borep lt 45)>>\ "No one but me is poisoning anyone." \ <<else>>\ "No one is poisoning anyone." \ <</if>>\ Leona and Kosuke's shoulders sulk but Bo gives no reaction, still looking at the ready. The other crewmen around you, wrapped in spare clothes to keep the chill at bay, wait eagerly for your next words. You give a slow inhale and try your best at an official's tone of voice. "There was a misunderstanding that lead to these events. The lantern ship was fleeing pirates and had most of their crew at the rear for defense, they didn't have enough workers even aware of us turn the sails in time. I boarded them, took care of the pirates, and we've been paid. Case closed." "Took care of the pirates how?" Asks one of the crew. <<if ($recruitedpirates is true)>>\ "Well, they...I...It's complicated." You look across the waters to where their ship is waiting to follow your lead. "Kosuke, remember those bandits we spared at the Thunderfall farms?" Kosuke nods cautiously, skeptical that $bffheshe's walking into a trap. "They're the pirates." Kosuke smacks $bffhisher forehead. "Fools!" Bo Lo bursts out. "You let enemies of Thunderfall go and they nearly got us killed in a shipwreck? This is why you don't spare your enemies!" You hold a hand up for silence. "And now I've forced them to drown their Captain and work for us." "Hah!" Kosuke beams and \ <<if ($bffheshe is "she")>>\ sticks $bffhisher tongue out at Bo. \ <<else>>\ flips off Bo with both hands. \ <</if>>\ "This is why you //do// spare your enemies, idiot!" <<else>>\ "How do you think?" Bo spits out. "It was obvious from the chi emanations that $heshe killed them." "Not all of them." You correct \ <<if ($ruthless gt 50)>>\ with a fond smile thinking back to the damage you dealt. \ <<else>>\ thinking back to the ones you spared. \ <</if>>\ "But yes, that's the short description. They were thieves, I treated them as such. No offense, Kosuke." Kosuke waves it off. <</if>>\ "Pirates!!" Leona squeals. "Finally!" She raises her hand and eagerly shakes it as if this were a classroom. "Yes?" You ask, a little confused. "Did they have cool eyepatches and talk like pirates?" "No." She raises an eyebrow. "Did they have peg legs?" "No." You respond again. "...Did they at least have a parrot?" "No." Leona gets up, kicks the barrel she was sitting on so hard that it flies off into the night, and leaves. "I can't believe I woke up for this bullshit." Everyone else scatters back to their places on the ship, either resting or back to their ropes and oars, and your ship begins its continued journey south to Nanhou. The Thousand Lantern's junkship takes off ahead of you with its superior sails and design and you look forward to seeing them at the Trials. Securing an ally was the last thing you expected to do tonight. <<page "Continue" "ch6-nextday">>\

Throughout the night you row and adjust your sails, using the storm's strong repelling winds to blow your ships away and inland. With you as the lead rower you make good progress; by the time the morning breaks you hear \ <<if ($roc gt 0)>>\ $rocname caw that you've reached land. <<else>>\ someone above deck shout that you've reached land. <</if>>\ You grab a waterskin on your way up to- "Who left saké by the rower's station?!" You scream out, spitting out the ricewine. \ <<if ($sumyungai is true)>>\ Sum Yungai \ <<else>>\ One of your retainers \ <</if>>\ flinches when you yell and gives you an apologetic glance backward, sweat running down his face. \ <<if ($sumyungai is false)>>\ You want to yell at him but you vaguely recall his name is "Sum Yungai" if Kosuke's word is to be believed. Life has likely punished him enough. Still, by the \ <</if>>\ Ancestors, one week on the seas and everyone around you has turned into alcoholics. \ <<if ($honor gt 50)>>\ Dishonorable. \ <</if>>\ You ascend the stairs through the hatch while shaking your head and climb up to the main deck in search of actual water and, you suppose, to see land too. As you lift the hatch the sun's rays cast down onto you and reinvigorate your tired eyes. You close the hatch behind you and join your gathered retainers on the top deck, all looking east to see a picture-perfect image of a bustling coastal town with the faded background of mountains in the far distance inland. It's not Nanhou, but after so much time in the storm it's a paradise in comparison. <<page "Finally, civilization!" "ch6-harehama">>\

<<include "ch6-coast-sea-shiptalk">> The heavier waves of the deep sea don't rock your ship and that's your first sign that trouble lies ahead. You roll out of your hammock, trip over Bo Lo asleep on the floor, and ascend the stairs to the hatch of the main deck. Pushing it open lets the warm light of the sun leak into the lower deck, glowing on your face. It also temporarily blinds you after so much time in the dark lower deck. "What's the situation?" You ask the nearest blurry figure while ascending the stairs, but he doesn't answer. Instead, he continues walking to the starboard railing and leans as far as he can without falling over. Your vision corrects slowly and you realize he's not alone, your //entire crew// is leaning over the starboard \ <<if ($bffheshe is "he")>>\ railings, even Kosuke. \ <<else>>\ railings. \ <</if>>\ "Men? Retainers? I'm asking a question." None answer. <<page "What's going on here?" "ch6-sea2">>\

<<if ($insight gte 3)>>\ ''[Insight 3 Check Passed]'' ''[Resistance Reduced Difficulty]'' A Technique! Your spirit blazes internally, protecting your mind just in time as the effects of the Song kick in, but the insidious effects still tempt you to give in to \ <<else>>\ ''[Insight 3 Check Failed]'' By the time you catch on that the Song must be a Technique it's already wrapped around your mind, coercing you to accept \ <</if>>\ its peaceful bliss and push out all other thoughts. <<choose "ch6-sea-he-lost">> #Must...resist! -> "ch6-sea-he-resist" <<var $combatstat "soul">>\ <<var $combatskill "lore">>\ <<if ($insight gte 3)>>\ <<var $cmod + 2>>\ ''[Insight 3 Check Passed, +2 Battle Prowess]'' <</if>>\ <<discount "Aoyusumu" $stylerank>>\ <<combatcheck 10>>\ #use-if ($countersealritual isnot 100) Undo their effect on your men. [Requires Counterseal Ritual] -> "ch6-sea-he-win" Your hands jump to action in quick succession. With your finger formation handseals you call upon seven of the animalistic pacts between Heaven and Earth needed to counter noncombat effects like this one. As you do so, foreign cerulean blue chi wraps around your mind as if to distract you, tempt you, call you away from such silly tasks. Luckily Mother didn't raise a slouch. Years of being beaten for unfinished chores has toughened your focus; you finish the Seal simply because finishing tasks you started has already become second nature. Snapping sounds fizzle through the air as the cerulean chi loses its effect on your mind. #So pretty... <</choose>>

Ancestors above, these women are hot. It's somehow even hotter when there's so many of them together in one place. If only you could... Could... <<page "Zzz..." "ch6-sea-he-lost2">>\

You wake up in an unfamiliar place. A makeshift hut, by the looks of the thatch ceiling. Tropical peeping frogs outside let you know that the sun must be setting. Try as you may, you cannot remember the last few hours. It's obvious that at some point you've left your ship and come onto the island yet you can't remember any of it. All you know is that you're soaked in sweat, your back stings, and every muscle in your body aches. <<var $powspent + 1>>\ <<var $chispent + 1>>\ <<var $forspent + 1>>\ <<var $solspent + 1>>\ <<var $agispent + 1>>\ ''[1 Chi Point Spent]'' ''[1 Power Core Spent]'' ''[1 Fortitude Core Spent]'' ''[1 Agility Core Spent]'' ''[1 Soul Core Spent]'' <<if (($bodytype is "Handsome") or ($style is "Midorikatai"))>>\ <<var $sect_lostsiren + 15>>\ <</if>>\ You rise and thank the Heavens that you left all your currency in your ship's brig, otherwise you'd be robbed right now. Actually...you might have been robbed anyway. With a hint of shame for falling for whatever trap you've walked into, you rise out of the hut and, groaning, leave through its cloth door. As you exit you see several other huts and some of your men leaving through them. Each looks equally exhausted. <<if ($bffheshe is "he")>>\ "Hey." Kosuke mutters, walking out of a nearby hut looking disheveled. "They got you too, huh?" "Yeah." You reply, eyelids growing heavy despite just waking. "Do you think they-" Kosuke takes three steps back and looks at your back, then awkwardly feels his around own back with his hands. He winces. "Yep, scratched to hell. Gentlemen, we have been taken advantage of." At the sound of that, even without any memories of the event, the disheveled faces of your crew grow wide with smiles. ''[Retainer Morale +8]'' <<var $retainer_morale + 8>>\ <<choose "ch6-sea-he-lost4">> #"We'll get our revenge at the Trials." "We'll get our revenge at the Trials." You declare. "These women may have taken advantage of us, but we'll be the ones getting the last laugh!" "Uhhh sure, Captain." Replies one of your retainers. "Of course, Captain." One says unconvincingly, clapping a hand on your shoulder as he walks by. Two others give wide, pleased yawns and stretches and pass by with noncommittal oaths of vengeance. "Right on it, Captain." Says another half-heartedly as he scratches his inner thigh and walks off into the jungle towards the ship. It seems none of them are as insulted by these events as you are. Kosuke stands next to you as you both watch most of your men return to their posts, trudging through the jungle and the sands of the coast. He looks to you with a shake of his head. "Come on man, learn to read a room." <<if ($honor gt 50)>>\ "Learn to read at all." You reply, giving the poorly educated bastard a quick jab to the arm. He waves a hand in the air and concedes the insult with several swears and a joke about your mother that he cuts off because he likes your mother. <<else>>\ "I thought they'd feel more violated by the whole event." You reply, mind ever caught on the affairs of Law. "By the Ancestors, $name, they're sailors." "...Ah." <</if>>\ You both walk back through the jungle towards your ship and hope your next journey fairs better. <<page "Continue" "ch6-sea-he-lost3">>\ #"Nice." "Nice." You reply, handing out highfives to the men as you all collect your clothes and wander out of the temporary village. The walk back to your ship is filled with the made up stories of your male retainers, each lying they definitely remember what happened and it was amazing. <<var $honor - 1>>\ <<var $retainer_morale + 1>>\ <</choose>> <<else>>\ "Captain!" Announces a Lunargoth in his late 20s as he sees you leave a hut. You notice, actually, that all your crew coming out of the huts are the more handsome and rugged of your retainers. "They got you too?" "Unfortunately." You reply, eyelids growing heavy despite just waking. "Do you think they-" The lunargoth glances at your back and winces, then awkwardly feels his around own back with his hands and winces harder. "Afraid so, Captain. It seems we've been taken advantage of." At the sound of that, even without any memories of the event, the disheveled faces of your crew grow wide with smiles. ''[Retainer Morale +8]'' <<var $retainer_morale + 8>>\ "There you are!" Kosuke shouts, running through the jungle with a dead snake in her hand. She stops her sprint next to you and leans over to breathe as if she's out of shape. "I woke up to find everyone gone." She wheezes once. "It was awesome." She wheezes again. "Stole some wine." One more wheeze. "Lost track of time, came running. Still drunk." After a couple more breaths she looks up to meet your eyes. "What happened to you all?" <<if ($bffromance gte 1)>>\ The men begin to mumble and grumble in your defense, giving conflicting excuses of what occurred while you don a shirt so she doesn't see your scratch marks. <<else>>\ The men begin to mumble and grumble noncommittally, giving conflicting excuses of what occurred. <</if>>\ "Oh man." Kosuke replies, still leaned over and catching her breath. "I super don't care. I shouldn't have asked." She coughs up some stomach acid after sprinting while drunk and collapses. "Someone get me back on the boat." You heft Kosuke with both arms and begin the march out of the jungle while she \ <<if ($bffromance gte 1)>>\ <<if ($beardlength is "Mustache") or ($beardlength is "Fu Manchu")>>\ plays with your mustache and \ <<elseif ($beardlength isnot "")>>\ plays with your beard and \ <</if>>\ <</if>>\ grumbles about auras not doing jack shit to stop alcohol sickness. You tell her she probably just needs more Fortitude Cores. She rolls her eyes a little too hard and has to stop moving for a moment so she doesn't throw up. <<page "Continue" "ch6-sea-he-lost3">>\ <</if>>\

You bump into your retainers at the tree line leading to the coast and muscle through the crowd, preparing for danger until you see exactly what's got them so frozen. <<include "ch6-sea-he-lost4">>\

One of the women who trapped you lies up ahead, or so you think for the smallest moment. A closer look reveals it to be Leona, dressed in only a reed skirt and a seashell bra. She sits with her legs crossed on a large rock and appears to be filing her nails down with a buzzing three-inch line of scarlet chi flying out of her opposite index finger. She corrects her posture and turns, seeming to notice you all, and hands out a coconut cut open with a reed straw in it. "Hello boys, sleep well?" Kosuke \ <<if ($bffheshe is "he")>>\ sprints forward and takes it, tossing the straw and guzzling the hydrating coconut juice. \ <<else>>\ holds out a quivering hand and Leona tosses it to her. Kosuke guzzles the hydrating juice. \ <</if>>\ The rest of your crew lets out a mix of proud but tired groans to greet Leona while you give her new outfit a questioning glance. "What happened while we were out?" <<var $spareval_1 5>>\ She gives a short laugh and beams, the setting sun reflecting off her skin. "You mean while the Lost Siren Sect played you for fools? They tried to steal your ship, obviously hoping to strand you here. Clever bitches. They would have succeeded, too, if it wasn't for yours truly kindly asking them if it was worth their lives. Aren't I amazing? You should tell me I'm amazing." "What about our loot?" Kosuke groans \ <<if ($bffheshe is "he")>>\ between gulps. \ <<else>>\ with a hand over her face to block out the light while she sips. \ <</if>>\ "Tell me they didn't touch the loot." <<if (($flagshiptype is "Merchant") or (($thievery + $craft) gte 5))>>\ <<if ($flagshiptype is "Merchant")>>\ ''[Merchant Ship Event: Vault Locks]'' <<else>>\ ''[Thievery+Craft 5 Check Passed]'' <</if>>\ "Well they certainly tried." Leona says with a reminiscent smile. "You really know how to lock up your things, $name. After losing my key even I couldn't get the damn brig open." You narrow your eyes. "Why would you be trying to get it open?" "To get rich, duh." Leona retorts, rising off the rock with a wide stretch. "Me and the island girls got along great while you were all busy nodding off." Kosuke spits out the coconut juice. "You worked with them?! \ <<elseif (dig($metleona, 4) is 1)>>\ "They certainly tried!" Leona says, turning her cheek with a smug grin. She mocks sadness with the next sentence, pouting heavily. "They couldn't seem to find it though. Almost as if someone hid it all in a hidden compartment. Oh that's right, I did!" You let out a breath of relief. "Thanks Leona, you saved our butts." Her smile brightens and she bounces cheerfully in place. "Oh don't mention it you big softie. They were upset though, it took forever to cheer them up." Kosuke squints in suspicion. "Why would you want to cheer them up? You should have been stabbing them!" <<val $var 9130>>\ Leona gasps. <<else>>\ ''[Thievery+Craft 5 Check Failed]'' <<var $val Math.round($loot/2)>>\ "Oh, yeah they did take a bunch of goods." Leona adds, rising off the rock with a wide stretch. "I think like...$loot crates worth?" \ <<var $loot - $val>>\ "That's half!" Kosuke blurts out, spitting out $bffhisher coconut juice. "You let them take half?! \ <</if>>\ <<if ($val isnot 9130)>>\ What good is a Sword Artist when she can't even stab someone that's\ <<if (($flagshiptype is "Merchant") or (($thievery + $craft) gte 5))>>\ trying to rob us?!" <<else>>\ robbing us blind?!" <</if>>\ <</if>>\ "Why would I stab them?" Leona retorts, insulted. "They were nice! We had a good chat and joked a bit. Shared drinks, stories, tips and tricks. They even gave me this!" She runs her hands under her breasts to show off the shell-bra with a dazzling smile, flipping her hair over her shoulder to pose for the crowd. "We're basically best friends now, can't wait to see them again in Nanhou. They even let me keep watch over $name to make sure nothing funny happened." You start staring in different directions of your vision, putting a few pieces together. If you're so drained, backscratched, and soaked in sweat like the other guys, but Leona was in there with you instead of the enemy... <<var $metleona + 100000000>>\ <<var $pwt_leona true>>\ <<if (($bffromance gte 1) and (dig($metleona, 11) is 0))>>\ Kosuke eyes you suspiciously while Leona \ <<else>>\ She \ <</if>>\ rubs her hands down her inner thighs once with a pleased expression and hops off the crate. "Come on, lazy bones! I'm not missing the Trials just because none of you know how to say 'no' to girls." She skips down the shore towards your ship with a noticeable pep in her step. After gathering the rest of your retainers and making sure no one died to a panther or any other mishap while you were unconscious, you board your flagship as well and continue your journey south. At least, the rowers continue your journey south. You have a bath and get some rest. <<page "Continue" "ch6-halfpoint">>\

<<if ($passcheck is true)>>\ Your $auracolor aura explodes around you and the Technique shatters against the force of your spirit and mind. <<include "ch6-sea-he-win">>\ <<else>>\ <<include "ch6-sea-he-lost">>\ <</if>>\

An hour of interrogation later, several treasure hunts goes on through the island as your men track down and dig up the hidden caches these women had hidden from each other. Throughout the whole process they each act shocked that the others were stealing from the shared loot pile and hiding it from them, only to then reveal that they had done the same. A few times you have to walk your crew through a trap disarming or lockpicking, but for the most part you're able to keep watch over the Lost Siren Sect as your fleet robs them blind. <<include "ch6-sea-sirenloot">>\ "Are you happy now?!" Their leader snaps at your retainers walking by as the other girls sulk, tied to trees for the last hour. "You've robbed a bunch of innocent girls, some big men you are." "Your Sect is made up //entirely// of thieves." You reply, handing a crate to a retainer. "None of this was ever yours in the first place." "You don't know that!" She screams back. It's hard to believe you're getting this kind of attitude from your captives. Some people have no respect. "I don't care either way." You finally reply. "I'm taking this and I'm leaving, do //not// break those ropes open until my ship is gone." "I-" Smoke comes up from the ground in front of her where your thin energy blast pierces through the ground like an arrow. She doesn't finish her sentence and takes the hint, slamming her head back against the tree a single time in frustration with a heavy grunt. It's not until you reach the coast and load up your ill-gotten gains on your flagship that you hear a final screech from the jungle. "You'll pay for this in Nanhou!!" "No I won't!" You shout back to the distance, boarding your ship and sailing south to continue your journey. <<page "Continue" "ch6-halfpoint">>\

The men around you snap out of it as you do so. Half look around in confusion and the other half keep ogling the women, not needing a Technique to do so. The women down at the beach, on the other hand, scream out in panic as they realize a real Martial Artist has arrived and they're about to face a battle of fists rather than musical notes. <<choose "ch6-sea-he-win2">> #Chase them. "Not so fast!" You scream out, leaping overboard and chasing the girls down. While using your spiritual senses to scan their Aura Pressure you notice not a single one of them is as strong as you are and, judging by their disorganized panic at the sight of a single fight, they're not going to be working together to take you down either. You're not sure when things changed, but you've become the experienced Warrior and, in the face of the danger you present, your opponents have become the amateurs. <<page "Continue" "ch6-sea-he-win2">>\ #Leave. "That's right, run!" You shout out to the women as they flee into the jungle. \ <<if ($ruthless gt 50)>>\ "Run and hide, cowards! If \ <<else>>\ "And if \ <</if>>\ I see you interfering with the $clan Clan fleet again you're not getting off so easy!" <<if (($bodytype is "Handsome") or ($style is "Midorikatai"))>>\ <<var $sect_lostsiren + 5>>\ <</if>>\ ''[Prestige Increased]'' <<var $prestige + 1>>\ Your crew reluctantly gets back to work pulling your ship back out to sea. Several grumble about not being able to dock and interact with the women, but most of them get a slap to the back of the head by their fellow retainers. ''[Retainer Morale -2]'' <<var $retainer_morale - 2>>\ As you sail south towards Nanhou, the island of entrancing women disappears over the horizon and you're left with one less problem to worry about. <<page "Continue" "ch6-halfpoint">>\ <</choose>>

After thirty minutes you have all nine of the women captured in the center of their makeshift jungle village, a set of huts and campfires built in a circle. Each of your opponents is bound with rope, a symbolic capture at best, but the weight of your Aura Pressure works well enough to stop them from trying to escape. You look through the mix of fearful gazes and hateful glares until you find the one that must be their leader. "What are you going to do with us?" Demands the woman in front, a natural auburn-haired wild beauty who keeps her hair in a mess like an owl's nest. She wears a seashell bra and a necklace and uncut jade rocks. "That depends," you reply while tightening her ropes, "what were you going to do to my men?" "Nothing." She insists. "Well not //nothing//." Says a blonde cat-yokai. If looks could kill, the others would have just killed her. "Oh." She replies sheepishly. "Nevermind!" "Fine." Their leader admits. "We were going to take whatever you had and leave on your ship. We're not really tribal, this is just a rouse we play for money. We're the Lost Siren Sect." <<var $spareval_1 5>>\ "Never heard of you." Her eyebrows tighten with anger and she leans closer. "When the Trials are over, you will." So they're trialgoers too. That crosses off execution or else you'd risk being executed yourself, but there are still other options to get your revenge... <<choose "ch6-halfpoint">> #Demand they return their goods in Nanhou. After a long thoughtful process with the tied up girls watching your every move in suspense, you snap your fingers and announce, "that's it!" They flinch at your snap. "I know exactly how you ladies can pay for trying to rob and shipwreck these poor Ebikowan citizens that just barely survived a Fiend invasion." Several of them exchange glances at that. You continue. "You're going to give back all of your stolen belongings." "All of...?" The leader says aghast, mouth open as she looks around. "We don't even know their names! How are we supposed to...No. No, I'm not going to do it." "Yes, you //are// going to make up for your constant crimes." You reply. "Because I'm in the same Trials you are; the //violent// Trials. If I find out you haven't done as I asked, \ <<if ($ruthless gte 54)>>\ I am going to find each and every one of you during the competition and, one by one, //legally// break your knees to the left and right like a chicken bone in front of the entire world." ''[Ruthless Check Passed]'' ''[Prestige Increased]'' <<var $prestige + 2>>\ "We'll return them." Their leader says, breath quickening and head rapidly shaking. "We'll return everything, I promise, I'm sorry." "Good." You lance \ <<elseif ($honor gt 50)>>\ I am going to personally make sure every one of you loses in the most embarrassing way possible." ''[Ruthless Check Failed'' ''[Honor Check Passed]'' ''[Prestige Increased]'' <<var $prestige + 1>>\ "We'll see about that." Says their leader, eyes defiant. Interrogations aren't exactly a skill of yours so you knee her in the face until she falls unconscious. The others scream while you do so, then as she falls over you look to the next one in line. "Do I need to repeat the demand?" "Nope." Says the blonde catgirl. "Return everything. Will do." "Good." You reply, though the entire encounter leaves a sour taste in your mouth. You just wanted to make them do the right thing and instead ended up having to act like...Jack. You lance \ <<else>>\ I will find each and every one of you during the competition and ensure you regret that your crimes ever fell under my notice. Do I make myself clear?" The leader's eye contact holds strong for several seconds until she sees that you're serious. She hangs her head and murmurs out, "...Yes. Crystal clear." "So you will return everything you've taken, and everything you've consumed you'll make up for." "Yes." She says, head hung low. Some of them scoff at that but she shoots them a darting glance that quiets them too. "We'll return everything." "Good." You reply, lancing \ <</if>>\ several lines of \ <<if (($element1 is "Fire") or ($element2 is "Fire"))>>\ burning flames \ <<elseif ($element1 is "Storm") or ($element2 is "Storm")>>\ electricity \ <<else>>\ $auracolor chi \ <</if>>\ through the ropes holding the Lost Siren Sect members. "I'll make sure of it in Nanhou." With that said you turn and leave, walking through the jungle and over the long sands of the coast. You return to your ship empty-handed but righteous and tell the men to continue the journey. Some want to know what happened to the women before getting back to work; those men get latrine duty. <<page "Continue" "ch6-halfpoint">>\ #Rob them of their ill-gotten gains. <<var $sect_lostsiren - 8>>\ <<var $enemiesgained + 100000000000>>\ "Tell you what," you say to the tied up gang of all-female thieves, "I don't care about honor, or the victims of your other crimes, or what you tried to do to me." The girls start to relax, tension leaving the air. "I care about money." You finish. The tension snaps back. The leader speaks up first. "We can pay y-" "No no no, you misunderstand." You cut her off. "I'm not demanding a bribe or a cut. I'm informing you that //you// have run across a robber, which is me. You're the victims now. That's why you're tied up and I'm pointing \ <<if ($aurapressure gte 1000)>>\ over a thousand \ <<else>>\ a few hundred \ <</if>>\ Aura Pressure worth of energy at your face." You charge up an energy blast and start aiming it at each of them, one by one. "Now, you're all going to start telling me where your treasure is, from left to right, and I'll send my retainers to collect it. Whoever gives me the answer worth the least is receiving this attack." <<if ($ruthless lt 60)>>\ You're bluffing, of couse, but they don't know that. <</if>>\ <<page "Continue" "ch6-sea-he-robber">>\ #Let them go. <<var $alliesgained + 200000000000>>\ "You're free to go." You say, lancing a line of \ <<if (($element1 is "Fire") or ($element2 is "Fire"))>>\ burning flames \ <<elseif ($element1 is "Storm") or ($element2 is "Storm")>>\ electricity \ <<else>>\ $auracolor chi \ <</if>>\ through the ropes holding their leader. "We're free to go?" She asks. "Just like that?" "Just like that." You motion a hand to the others and start walking off. "Untie your friends for me, I've got places to be." <<var $sect_lostsiren + 15>>\ <<if (($bodytype is "Handsome") or ($style is "Midorikatai"))>>\ <<var $sect_lostsiren + 5>>\ <</if>>\ As you're halfway out of the jungle the women behind you are still stunned until you finally hear a voice shout out. "Don't you want to know our names?" <<if ($honor gt 50)>>\ "No!" \ <<else>>\ "Nope!" \ <</if>>\ You shout back, not turning around. <<if ($athletics gte 2)>>\ ''[Athletics 2 Check Passed]'' <<var $powexp + 1>>\ Boarding your ship is only easy thanks to your enhanced body as a Martial Artist; you're able to swim out to the shallower waters and pull yourself up the side even with a slim grip. The men crowd you and seem particularly interested in your activities on the island. "Did you find them, Captain?" Asks the one in front. "I did." "And? Are they coming with us?" "They are not." Their shoulders drop at once and several return to their duties, eyes hollow. You look around and realize you're losing the morale of your crew. "But they //are// going to be at the Trials in Nanhou, where we're going. If you want to find them you should frequent the taverns and look for the Lost Siren Sect." At that, several ears perk up and hopeful smiles return to their faces. ''[Retainer Morale +3]'' <<var $retainer_morale + 3>>\ <<else>>\ ''[Athletics 2 Check Failed]'' Boarding your ship is harder than you thought. You walk to the coast and wade into the calm waters, swimming the rest of the way to your ship, but no matter how hard you try you can't get a grip on the vessel's boards. Worse, people see it when your crew looks overboard. They not only look down to see their Captain floundering, but they look behind you and see no beautiful women following. A bit of their spirit seems to diminish when they realize the adventure has passed them by. ''[Retainer Morale -2]'' <<var $retainer_morale - 2>>\ <<if ($honor gt 50)>>\ "Retainers, drop a rope!" \ <<else>>\ "Somebody toss a damned rope!" \ <</if>>\ You shout up. Someone thankfully does and you climb up, shaking the water off your clothing. You thought you'd have to give some speech or explanation with the crowd gathered around, but the men seem so disillusioned with the loss of a hot tribal encounter that they would rather work than talk. <</if>>\ Without another word your ship returns on its journey south, to Nanhou. <<page "Continue" "ch6-halfpoint">>\ #show-if ($background is "Merchant") Demand a Writ of Favor. [Merchant Background] -> "ch6-sea-writ" Growing up with Father and working with so many other Merchants means you're no stranger to contracts. \ <<include "ch6-seawrit">>\ /* codetester block */\ #show-if (($background isnot "Merchant") and ($boon_thousandlantern gt 0)) Demand a Writ of Favor. -> "ch6-sea-writ" Ever since receiving your Writ of Favor from Foreman Gong you've gained a hunger for more, and as luck would have it you've got a weak Sect at your mercy. #show-if (($background isnot "Merchant") and ($boon_thousandlantern is 0)) use-if ($lore gte 3) Demand a Writ of Favor. [Requires Lore 3] -> "ch6-sea-writ" While reading through various tomes you've come across a few legal documents that have caught your attention. <<include "ch6-seawrit">>\ /* codetester block */\ <</choose>>

You hear rustling behind you and snap your fingers twice, calling Kosuke to your side. "Kosuke, I need a scroll, ink, and quill. These ladies are going to be in our debt for sparing them." You'd feel like a real idiot if it wasn't Kosuke, but your spiritual senses have picked $bffhimher up fairly well by now. "Sure." Kosuke says, turning back around and taking off towards the ship. You make sure not to show relief on your face that it was actually Kosuke. Ancestors, you would have looked like such an idiot. Instead you look collected and professional in front of your captives. Things really paid off. <<page "Continue" "ch6-sea-writ2">>\

''[Special Event: Female]'' Ah, you notice the faint glow in the air and recognize the effects of a wide net of chi. Now that you look out around the island's coast there's actually more than a few signs of moored ships on the distant beaches and only makeshift huts further inland. Looking back at your crew, slobbering like idiots at the sight of these girls except for one female cow yokai shaking her head, it doesn't take a genius to realize these women are using some entrancement Technique that works on men. The island must be a temporary headquarters to rob them on their way to the Trials. Yet if they're resorting to trickery, they probably don't have the strength to back up such crimes the normal way. Hm... <<if ($honor gt 50)>>\ "Hey harpies!" \ <<else>>\ "Hey sluts!" \ <</if>>\ You shout out, leaning over the railing. "Quit controlling my men or \ <<if ($ruthless gt 54)>>\ I'm going to come down there and break your pretty little faces, \ <<else>>\ I'll come down there and //make// you stop, \ <</if>>\ I've got places to be!" "We know not what you mean, traveler!" One of them calls out, an auburn-haired beauty with her wild hair pinned up like an owl's nest, wearing two clam shells for a bra and a necklace of jade gemstones. "These men have chosen us as their keepers, and we wish nothing more than to oblige them. I apologize if it's caused you feelings of jealousy, Young Mistress. Though worry not, we will ensure they forget //all about you.//" Oh this bitch. <<page "Continue" "ch6-sea-she2">>\

By midnight the 'tribal' women have ditched their outfits and donned pink and white combat gi while boarding their new seaworthy vessel. Their leader climbs aboard and looks back to you standing on the sands. "This is truly incredible but...why did you do this for me?" You shrug. "People usually pay me back of their own free will." "And if I don't?" She asks. "Then you got a free ship." You shrug. "See you at Nanhou." "Yes..." The Lost Siren Sectmistress says, pondering, "you will." \ <<var $sect_lostsiren + 20>>\ She reaches into her pocket and throws a scroll down to you before turning away from the railing. "Come on girls, we sail!" You open the scroll curiously and find it to be a Writ of \ <<if ($boon_thousandlantern gt 0)>>\ Favor, the same kind of Sect-wide debt document that Foreman Gong gave you on behalf of his Magistrate. <<else>>\ Favor, an honor-bound and legally-binding document that swears a debt on behalf of an entire Sect. Essentially, it's a one-time voucher to call in a favor from an entire group of Martial Artists. A powerful tool to have with the Trials coming. <</if>>\ <<var $boon_lostsiren 1>>\ <<var $alliesgained + 200000000000>>\ Their ship leaves south and you march your men to your own ships, following a similar coarse towards Nanhou where the Trials await. <<page "Continue" "ch6-halfpoint">>\

<<if ($style is "Aoyusumu")>>\ "I'm an Aoyusumu Artist." You reply with a dismissive wave of the hand that telekinetically lifts your tea cup to your lips. You take a sip. "Oh." The Sectmistress says. "Then yes, let's get this over with so you can leave us alone already." $txt Best of all, as an Aoyusumu trick, it rests within the chakras and doesn't take up a Core. <<learntech 5000470000010000 "Siren's Call" "Passively reduces the price of most purchases by 10%. Passively increases Deception by +1.">>\ <<include "ch6-sea-she-song2">>\ <<else>>\ "That's a lie and you know it." You reply, pointing a finger to one of her underlings, a blonde cat yokai tied up to a tree. "Two of your Lost Siren Disciples were using Water element and one was using Ice, that's why you had so many shades of blue in your dance. Anyone can learn your Technique, I'd wager." The Sectmistress holds her hands up halfheartedly in surrender. "You can learn something similar but weaker, yes, but...why am I arguing?" She suddenly asks herself. "Come on, let's get this over with so you can leave us alone." $txt By the end you feel the correct Core to align it to and wrinkle your brow. You're not used to Aoyusumu and trying to adjust one of its Techniques to your style is tricky. It's not quite clear which Core the Technique wants to settle in and you're forced to push yourself, aligning it by force. <<choose "ch6-sea-she-song2">> #Learn //Siren's Call// as an Agility Technique. <<learntech 3500400000010000 "Siren's Call" "Passively reduces the price of most purchases by 10%. Increases Deception by +1 when focused.">>\ #Learn //Siren's Call// as a Soul Technique. <<learntech 4500400000010000 "Siren's Call" "Passively reduces the price of most purchases by 10%. Increases Deception by +1 when focused.">>\ <</choose>> <</if>>\

When the Technique finishes forming in your spirit you're left sweating back on your ship, not willing to perform the final steps in front of a potential enemy. You rise from your Captain's Cabin floor and leave out the front door, walking to the railing to see that the Lost Siren Sect hasn't fled after all; they're waiting on the coastal sands a couple hundred feet away. "It worked!" You shout out. "Consider us even!" "Thank the Heavens!" The Sectmistress replies. "Now go away!" You crack a smile at that and nod in agreement, snapping your fingers to signal your men to set sail to the south. "Come on crew, Nanhou isn't going to wait for us!" <<page "Continue" "ch6-halfpoint">>\

<<if ($val isnot 1187)>>\ One type in particular springs to mind when you find this weak Sect at your mercy: A Writ of Favor. According to Imperial decree, Writs of Favor can be exchanged on behalf of entire Sects, Schools, and Clans and turned in at a later time to receive aid without question. With the Trials coming up it's the perfect card to have up your sleeve. <</if>>\ <<var $sect_lostsiren + 5>>\ "I'm trying to get a feel for the situation," you say, "and now that I do, I'm going to let you off easy with a Writ of Favor." The Sectmistress takes another sip of tea, maintaining eye contact the entire time. As she lowers her cup, she calmly says, "I was hoping you didn't know about those." "Well, I do." "Shit." You quirk an eyebrow. "Was that your whole strategy?" "You don't have to point it out and be rude." She snaps back. "Bring me a scroll and ink and let's get this over with." <<include "ch6-sea-kosukecaptives">>\

You don't waste any time, jumping over your own railing and, unfortunately, splashing into the water. One spiritual scan through the dancing girls reveals the one with the biggest concentration of Sacred Chi, the leader. A wicked smile spreads across your lips when you find your target. It's the doxy that was talking trash. <<var $combatstat "power">>\ <<var $combatskill "athletics">>\ <<combatcheck 8>>\ <<if ($passcheck is true)>>\ In one burst your $auracolor aura explodes around your body. You kick off your boat and charge through both water and sand of the coast with a single movement that closes the distance between the two of you. Her look of surprise is the last reaction she gets off before you punch her right in the mouth, pushing all your momentum into that single blow. Your body stops, water flings off of you and onto her, then the sand beneath your feed bursts forward and covers her wet form. The result is a layer of sand covering her body right after you invert her nose. "UNNHH!" She screams out, grabbing her face with both hands as blood gushes out both nostrils. <<else>>\ In one burst your $auracolor aura explodes around your body. You kick off your boat and charge through both water and sand of the coast, but all the while the soft cerulean glow of the song's Sacred chi accumulates on your body while you move. By the time your reach your target, with your fist reeled back to crack her smiling face open, the glow of gentle Sacred Chi that's collected around you gains the weight of ten anvils and the sand beneath your feet collapses, crushing you into the ground and exploding a cloud of golden chi and sand outward. <<woundcheck 1 false false>>\ "Hmph." She huffs as the smoke and sand clear. "Perhaps that will teach you some manner-" Your \ <<if (($style is "Kiihakai") or ($style is "Aoyusumu"))>>\ own weighted energy blast \ <<else>>\ rising uppercut \ <</if>>\ comes from below the sand and catches her jaw mid-sentence, causing her to bite off the tip of her tongue. "NNNNGGHHH!!!" She screams out, holding both hands over her mouth as blood gushes through her lips. <</if>>\ With her undisciplined reaction leaving an opening you kick the back of her knees to sweep her onto her back, then lean down and punch her in the neck with your full bodyweight. <<if ($ruthless gt 50)>>\ "Ahhh." You say, soothed by the sight of her aura dissipating into the air. "Much better." You rise, fix your hair, and look to the others. "So, \ <<else>>\ "We could have done this the friendly way." You say to the others as your target's aura dissipates into the air. "But //somebody// had to pick a fight! Now \ <</if>>\ who's next?" You expect some sort of attack or surrender, instead what you get is eight women screaming out in panic, running in different directions. Their unorganized retreat is made that much worse because you passed them all on your way to their leader. You're between them and their huts. <<page "Continue" "ch6-sea-she3">>\

Thirty minutes later you've finished chasing down the undisciplined screaming ladies and tied them to palm trees deeper in the jungle, in a clearing where they have a set of makeshift huts as a camp. Your retainers have gathered around and brought several supplies you've asked for including a table and tea set. You're seated at one end of the table and across from you is the only tribal girl not tied up, their leader who must have snuck a healing elixir pill while you collected her underlings. "Tea?" You offer to the auburn-haired woman. One of your retainers holds multiple cups of tea on a platter as if he were a waiter. It's a good performance, you even consider tipping him. <<if (($honor lt 45) or ($ruthless gt 55))>>\ You won't, though. <</if>>\ The tribal leader looks down at her cup as your retainer places it on the table. She looks to her captured people tied to the trees nearby and back to you. "How do I know you haven't poisoned this?" It's you that's taken aback this time. "Are you insane? Have you //seen// the poison prices in this market? I can beat you up for free, I'd never waste money on it." You swear, some people think too highly of themselves. Several emotions flash across her face as she shows relief and insult in equal measure. Finally she takes the cup in both hands and chugs it as if intentionally accepting a poison. "Um...okay. That's not how you drink tea but that's fine." "I know how I'm supposed to drink tea." She snaps back. "We're not as tribal as we look, this is just our act. We're the Lost Siren Sect and if you kill us you'll face the consequences." Oh Ancestors, here we go. You take another sip. "Let me guess, you're under 25 and attending the Trials then. Fine. Why did you rob me then?" "Because we want to win, is that not obvious?" "Sure, but why the robbery?" "We can't beat anyone in a fight at our level, but Sacred Chi can coerce people to do what they already wanted to do more easily. That's how we're punching above our weight, but it wears off when the fighting starts so...we take what we need, take their ship, skip to a new island, and do it again." The plan adds up but one thing stands out. "Why do you abandon them on the island without a ship if you know about the Trials? Surely that breaks some sort of rule." The Lost Siren Sectmistress takes another sip from her second cup and looks to the side. "We don't mean to abandon them, that's a unique situation. We...lost our ship. The seas were too dangerous because of two monsters fighting over the sea." "Oh, you mean the duelists? Did you ever find out what that was about?" "Who knows." The Sectmistress replies wistfully. "You know how men can get. It's always 'you dare' this or 'courting death' that." You're pretty sure you've used both lines before but decide to keep that to yourself as she continues, "I'd say it sounds exhausting, but for some reason it only invigorates them. I think they'd wither away if they didn't have someone to hate." "Rivalries have their place." You say between sips of tea, thinking of Jack's \ <<if ($jackromance gte 1)>>\ stupid, hot \ <<else>>\ stupid \ <</if>>\ face. "Don't knock it 'til you try it." She cracks a smile but then looks back to her bound allies. "Not to ruin the mood but...what are we doing here? I tried to rob you, you bloodied my face, and then I thought you were going to kill us but instead we're chatting over tea." She holds up one hand. "Not that I'm complaining, it's good tea, I just don't understand what you want from me." You pause for a moment and consider her words. What //do// you want? You were so busy getting the situation under control that you didn't consider your end goal, which now that you think of it, is to... <<choose "ch6-sea-she-writ">> #Demand they return their ill-gotten gains in Nanhou. <<var $honor + 3>>\ "I'm trying to get a feel for the situation," you say, "but you don't have to worry about being killed. You tried to rob me, sure, but we can fix that." You take one more sip. "You're going to give back all of your stolen belongings." "All of...?" The leader says aghast, mouth open as she looks around. "Young Mistress, as far as most of our targets go, we don't even know their names! How are we supposed to...No. No, I'm not going to do it. That's crazy." "Yes, you //are// going to make up for constantly robbing people." You reply. "You tried to rob my retainers, who are mostly scared civilians that barely escaped a Fiend invasion. Who knows what other tragedies you've made worse." "Yes but-" "No buts." You say, leaning forward to let her know you're serious. "You've ruined people's chances and maybe even their lives, so let me be clear. I'm in the same Trials you are; the //violent// Trials. If I find out you haven't done as I asked, \ <<if ($ruthless gte 54)>>\ I am going to find each and every one of you during the competition and, one by one, //legally// break your knees to the left and right like a chicken bone in front of the entire world." ''[Ruthless Check Passed]'' "We'll return them." Their leader immediately, switching tone as her tea cup shakes in her hand. "We'll return everything, I promise, I-I'm sorry." "Good." You reply, taking \ <<elseif ($honor lt 50)>>\ I am going to personally make sure every one of you loses in the most embarrassing way possible." <<var $ruthless - 2>>\ ''[Ruthless Check Failed, Honor Check Failed]'' <<var $sect_lostsiren - 10>>\ "We'll see about that." Says their leader, eyes defiant. Interrogations aren't exactly a skill of yours so you reach over the table, grab her by the collar, and slam her face into the table until her aura shatters. The others scream while you do so, then as she falls over you look to the next one in line. "Do I need to repeat the demand?" \ "Nope." Says a blonde cat yokai. "Return everything. We understand. Will do." "Good." You reply, though the entire encounter leaves a sour taste in your mouth. You just wanted to make them do the right thing and instead ended up having to act like...Jack. Ugh. That leaves a sour taste in you mouth that almost ruins the moment. Almost. You won't let Jack even have this victory, damn it, good scenery is meant to be //enjoyed// and by the Ancestors, you're going to enjoy it. You take \ <<else>>\ <<var $ruthless - 2>>\ I will find each and every one of you during the competition and ensure you regret that your crimes ever fell under my notice. Do I make myself clear?" The leader's eye contact holds strong for several seconds until she sees that you're serious. She hangs her head and murmurs out, "...Yes. Crystal clear." "So you will return everything you've taken, and everything you've consumed you'll make up for." "Yes." She repeats, head hung low. Some of her tied underlings scoff at that but she shoots them a darting glance that quiets them too. "We'll return everything." "Good." You reply, taking \ <</if>>\ another sip and admiring the tropical view of the jungle and sky. "I'll make sure everything's returned in Nanhou, of course, but for now...more tea?" "No thank you, Young Mistress." You nod your head to the left, dismissing them back to their jungle huts for now. They untie each other as you finish your cup and leave back to your ship while your retainers pack up your impromptu furniture. It's good to be the Matriarch. Mere minutes after your encounter began, your journey south towards Nanhou continues. <<page "Continue" "ch6-halfpoint">>\ #Demand a cut of their stolen goods. <<var $sect_lostsiren + 5>>\ <<var $honor - 2>>\ "I'm trying to get a feel for the situation," you say, "and now that I do, I want a cut." "Hm?" The Sect Leader asks from behind her cup as she sips more of your tea. "A cut of our profits?" A twisted smile spreads across your lips. "Only a career thief would call them profits." The Sectmistress places the cup down and shrugs wide, with both hands in the air. "You've seen right through me. So what kind of a cut are we looking at?" "Thirty percent." You reply. "Especially in spiritual cultivation materials." "You drive a hard bargain, but that's less than what we could hide if you searched the island with your crew. I'll take the mercy and get you what we can. If you'd be so kind as to untie everyone?" You turn to the girls. "You can break the ropes now." Weak as they are, more than half the girls still manage to rip through the rope bindings when their auras activate. The other half manage it with help. The Lost Siren Sectmistress leads them out to collect your goods and, surprisingly, doesn't try to run or betray you. Twenty minutes of tea sipping later, with Mars congratulating you too enthusiastically the whole time, you see the girls return with a literal treasure chest filled with Shards and odd fruits. "These are dragonfruits." The Sectmistress says. "Don't let the name fool you, that's just the mundane word for the fruit itself. They're not special, except these three are Spirit Fruits too." You look at the red and yellow prickly fruits as if they were adorable kittens. "A deal's a deal. Best of luck on your next robbery." "It's more skill than luck." The Lost Siren responds, fixing her shell bra. You both give a short bow and you have Mars carry the Shard chest back to your ship while you enjoy the spirit fruits. ''[Item Gained: 101 Shards] <<var $shards + 101>>\ ''[Spirit Fruit x3: Aura Pressure +12]'' <<var $aurapressure + 12>>\ <<page "Continue" "ch6-halfpoint">>\ #use-if ($craft gte 3) Fix a beached ship for them. [Requires Craft 3] "I'm trying to get a feel for the situation," you say, "and now that I do, I think we can help each other out." "How so?" Asks the Lost Siren Sectmistress. "The Trials are coming up soon and I really don't think you have time for anymore robberies, so how about we just get you a ship out of here instead?" The Sectmistress looks off to the side. "If it were that easy we'd already be gone. The beached ships around here weren't our doing, and the best one we already tried to fix. Sailed off and it sunk a mile out, we had to swim back." You smile wide. "You didn't have a proper builder with you." Much to the Lost Siren Sect's surprise, you spend the rest of the day extracting half your crews from your ships and putting them to work on the least deteriorated vessel on the island's beaches. With your blueprints and instructions combined with the weak auras of your martial retainers and the Lost Siren Sect, you're all able to get the ship seaworthy in a single day. It's amazing the kind of productivity you can have with mythical strength and a surplus of lumber. Throughout the entire process your crew even gets to know the Lost Sirens, though you suspect some of the horny bastards got to //know// the Lost Sirens. ''[Retainer Morale +12]'' <<var $retainer_morale + 12>>\ <<page "Continue" "ch6-sea-she-craft">>\ #Ask them to teach you their voice technique. -> "ch6-sea-she-song" <<var $sect_lostsiren + 10>>\ "I'm trying to get a feel for the situation," you say, "and now that I do, I know what I'm going to do with all of you." The Sectmistress keeps her eyes on you as she sips her tea. "And what exactly have you decided?"\ <<if ($insight gte 2)>>\ You sense chi cycling in her core but not leaving, as if she's preparing for combat and trying to hide it. \ <<var $solexp + 1>>\ <<else>>\ Probably preparing for a fight. \ <</if>>\ "You're going to teach me that song of yours to repay me for attempting to rob my men." You reply. "After that we'll go our separate ways." "We can't." Replies the Sectmistress. "It's an Aoyusumu custom creation." <<var $alliesgained + 100000000000>>\ <<var $txt "You spend the next few hours going over the breathing methods, dietary changes, feng shui elemental adjustments in your sleeping area, meditations, and chakra alignments needed to perform something similar to their Siren's Song. It won't entice men without a large crowd, but it will sway the dispositions of others just enough to get what you want.">>\ #show-if ($background is "Merchant") Demand a Writ of Favor. [Merchant Background] Growing up with Father and working with so many other Merchants means you're no stranger to contracts. \ #show-if (($background isnot "Merchant") and ($boon_thousandlantern gt 0)) Demand a Writ of Favor. <<var $val 1187>>\ Ever since receiving your Writ of Favor from Foreman Gong you've gained a hunger for more, and as luck would have it you've got a weak Sect at your mercy. #show-if (($background isnot "Merchant") and ($boon_thousandlantern is 0)) use-if ($lore gte 3) Demand a Writ of Favor. [Requires Lore 3] While reading through various tomes you've come across a few legal documents that have caught your attention. \ <</choose>>

<<if (($thievery+$deception) gte 5)>>\ ''[Deception + Thievery 5 Check Passed]'' <<if ($jadedragonfoundation is false)>>\ <<apboost 6>>\ <</if>>\ Amazingly you're able to find more caches than the women even knew about. Apparently they weren't the first to use this island as a base of operations. ''[Item Gained: 12 Crates of Loot]'' <<var $loot + 12>>\ ''[Item Gained: 1040 Silver]'' <<var $silver + 1040>>\ ''[Item Gained: 242 Shards]'' <<var $shards + 242>>\ ''[Item Gained: 13 Gold]'' <<var $gold + 13>>\ ''[3 Spirit Fruit Obtained: +12 Aura Pressure]'' <<var $aurapressure + 12>>\ <<elseif (($thievery+$deception) gte 4)>>\ ''[Deception + Thievery 4 Check Passed]'' You manage to procure everything they claim to have on the island and you really do believe them. You even strip one of the better beached ships for the rare wood used in its rutter. It won't fit yours, but it's still a good piece of merchandise to sell when you get the chance. ''[Item Gained: 8 Crates of Loot]'' <<var $loot + 8>>\ ''[Item Gained: 740 Silver]'' <<var $silver + 740>>\ ''[Item Gained: 167 Shards]'' <<var $shards + 167>>\ ''[Item Gained: 8 Gold]'' <<var $gold + 8>>\ ''[2 Spirit Fruit Obtained: +8 Aura Pressure]'' <<var $aurapressure + 12>>\ <<elseif (($thievery+$deception) gte 3)>>\ ''[Deception + Thievery 3 Check Passed]'' You manage to find plenty of their goods and even get a stache that has a preserved spirit fruit from the leader. You were excited at the prospect of a 'dragonfruit' at first until you find out that it's a normal type of fruit and this one coincidentally has a bit of power in it. They need to name these things better, dragonfruit should be the most powerful fruit. ''[Item Gained: 6 Crates of Loot]'' <<var $loot + 6>>\ ''[Item Gained: 540 Silver]'' <<var $silver + 540>>\ ''[Item Gained: 57 Shards]'' <<var $shards + 57>>\ ''[Item Gained: 4 Gold]'' <<var $gold + 4>>\ ''[Spirit Fruit Obtained: +4 Aura Pressure]'' <<var $aurapressure + 4>>\ <<elseif (($thievery+$deception) gte 2)>>\ ''[Deception + Thievery 2 Check Passed]'' You manage to rob them of most of their goods but can't help but feel that they're hiding something. ''[Item Gained: 4 Crates of Loot]'' <<var $loot + 4>>\ ''[Item Gained: 340 Silver]'' <<var $silver + 340>>\ ''[Item Gained: 27 Shards]'' <<var $shards + 27>>\ ''[Item Gained: 2 Gold]'' <<var $gold + 2>>\ <<else>>\ ''[Thievery + Deception 2 Check Failed]'' Your men fail to find much at all and even when they do, you're no help in getting it opened without breaking the contents inside. Energy blasts make for poor lockpicks. ''[Item Gained: 2 Crates of Loot]'' <<var $loot + 2>>\ ''[Item Gained: 140 Silver]'' <<var $silver + 140>>\ ''[Item Gained: 1 Gold]'' <<var $gold + 1>>\ <</if>>\ <<var $agiexp + 1>>\

<<var $sect_lostsiren + 2>>\ <<if (($bodytype is "Handsome") or ($style is "Midorikatai"))>>\ <<var $sect_lostsiren + 2>>\ <</if>>\ "I'll let you keep your lives." You say to calm them down. "And your money." At that, they actually calm down. "But you're going to pay for trying to rob me, and you're going to do it the old fashioned way." The leader sighs and looks off to the side. "I'll fetch some palm oil." "What? No, you're paying me with a Writ of Favor." "Oh." She says, somewhat taken aback as the reality of an actual debt hits her. "Shit." <<include "ch6-sea-kosukecaptives">>\

<<if ($heshe is "he")>>\ Twenty minutes later you've untied the leader of this group and the two of you have filled out the Writ of Favor according to \ <<if ($boon_thousandlantern gt 0)>>\ the template used by Foreman Gong. <<else>>\ the legal customs you've seen in tomes. <</if>>\ According to the document, this "Lost Siren Sect", which apparently is their real identity, will owe you a debt of labor or resources when you call upon them, with value equal to or less than sparing the lives of eight of their members after a defensive victory. "Are you sure there's not something...else, I can do for you instead?" Their leader asks, leaning forward. Her voice echoes slightly with the Sacred Chi that made her song so enticing earlier. <<if (($bffromance gte 1) and (dig($metleona, 11) is 0))>>\ You look over to Kosuke and find her face one inch from yours, eyes staring intently into your soul. "Yeah $name." She says in silent threat. "Answer the barely dressed woman." <<else>>\ You eye the woman up and down. She's certainly attractive, like the rest of them, and in great shape...but this is a document putting her entire group in your debt. Concubines are temporary, glory is eternal. <</if>>\ "Nope." You reply, pocketing the signed and sealed Writ of Favor. "This will do fine." <<var $boon_lostsiren 1>>\ ''[Item Received: Writ of Favor (Lost Siren Sect)]'' "Damn it." The Lost Siren Sectmistress says, voice dropping all pretense of soothing Sacred Chi. She takes out a fuuinjutsu tag and rips it to reveal a pile of pink and white gi for her girls. "Gather up girls, let's get dressed and get out of here before someone else shakes us down." "Likewise." You say to \ <<if ($bffheshe is "he")>>\ Kosuke, who's spent the entire signing process shamelessly ogling the ladies. "You're no fun." Kosuke replies. "I can't believe you took the contract instead." <<else>>\ Kosuke, who had spent the rest of the signing process checking the girl's pockets for silver. <</if>>\ You and the Lost Siren Sect go your separate ways as you return to your ship and set sail, taking off to the south. When your crew asks what happened for the last half hour that you've been in the jungle out of sight with an entire Sect worth of tribal beauties, you tell them you were filling out paperwork. None of them believe you. <<else>>\ Twenty minutes later you and the Lost Siren Sect go your separate ways. They get to leave with their lives, you get to leave with a document temporarily ensnaring them to your servitude when you need it most. Another unexpected victory as your ships set sail south towards Nanhou. The Trials await. <</if>>\ <<page "Continue" "ch6-halfpoint">>\

The crowd doesn't even turn your way. That's when the sound hits you. What you mistook for chatter while below deck blossoms instead into a majestic song drifting through your ears. When you look to its source you see that you've come within beaching distance of a small jungle island, your ship slowing to a halt with the anchor dropped. <<if ($heshe is "he")>>\ You don't blame whoever dropped anchor, for you see a dreamy site on the shore of the island: Some of the most beautiful women you've ever seen, each of varying races, \ <<else>>\ You don't know which idiot dropped the anchor but they're getting disciplined first. The //others// are getting disciplined for being entranced by the obvious bait you see down on the shore: Some collection of nine attractive women of various races that you'd never see in a civilized land, \ <</if>>\ their hair wild and their clothes a mix of either furs, feather-bras, or seashells held up by nothing but thin straps. They each call out or bat their lashes at the crew in alluring poses, their bodies glowing different shades of blue and their lips in a constant shift of genuine smile or devilish grin. A thought hits you...their mouths aren't opening to say words, so who's singing the song? <<if ($heshe is "he")>>\ <<include "ch6-sea-he">>\ <<else>>\ <<include "ch6-sea-she">>\ <</if>>\

One type in particular springs to mind when you find this weak Sect at your mercy: A Writ of Favor. According to Imperial decree, Writs of Favor can be exchanged on behalf of entire Sects, Schools, and Clans and turned in at a later time to receive aid without question. With the Trials coming up it's the perfect card to have up your sleeve.

Considering the Trials are close by, you decide to visit the local Windrising Sect and see if it holds any good opportunities. <<var $txt "A dozen quick spars occur between fighters of different Sects. You see blasts, empowerments, and more subtle Techniques of all elements and Styles. What catches your attention is">>\ You pass by several gossiping crowds on your way. It's not surprising that so many are talking about the Heavenly Ascension Trials. You hadn't delved into the Trial rules before; your ears practically //burn// when hearing the juicy details. From what you're hearing, there are to be twelve Trials in total over the course of several months. Your hopes rise when you find that the top hundred aspirants are expected to become Archons, but they drop further when you discover they're expecting //thousands// of participants. You'll need to be better than ninety-five percent of the Outer Provinces, or more. It's surprising, too, to overhear strangers on the street discussing Crusher Jack. So many share what you hope are made-up tales of his grand victories against multiple Sect's top students and, on more than one occasion, even that student's insulted Sect Master. Thankfully he's not the only one on everyone's lips. As you pass by an outdoor gambling table you hear one man protest Jack's victory, claiming he would take second place at best against some Outer North war hero named Brass Tiger. A blind old woman laughs at that, claiming they both will have to fight over second place against the massive wealth put into some Merchant-turned-Warrior woman from her city in Outer East. <<if ($prestige gte 6)>>\ What's more surprising is hearing about the fourth option. One slightly drunk man swears on his life that he escaped from an enormous demonic eye in the sky and, as he was fleeing on his horse, he looked back to see the thing coalesce into a man at the town's docks. He then saw someone kill it. The drunkard swears its killer was \ <<if ($ruthless gt 65)>>\ a monster \ <<else>>\ an unmatched prodigy \ <</if>>\ of a $manwoman guaranteed to claim victory. His description sounds a lot like you. <<var $prestige + 1>>\ ''[Prestige Increased]'' <<else>>\ It seems Jack isn't the only legend on the road. <</if>>\ <<page "Continue" "ch6-sect2">>\

"Are you done?" Asks the second, angrier guard when you walk up to hand them the conditional contract offers. "Yes." You reply. "That is why I am handing these to\ <<if ($ruthless gte 53)>>\ you, fool." \ <<else>>\ you." Moron. \ <</if>>\ "Good." He says, ripping them out of your hand and shoving them against the chest of the other guard. "Then leave. Immediately." You look to the other guard who, instead of backing you up, tilts his head to signal for you to leave as well. You should have charged them higher rates. <<page "Continue" "ch6-sect3">>\

"So what are you doing here and how did you find me? I didn't expect to see you until the Trials." "Likewise!" Fang replies, returning to her bubbly mood and spinning a full circle on one foot. "I most certainly did not expect to meet any allies in such a remote village, and so when your beggar friend asked for change outside the juice stalls it was a most joyous chance to converse! <<cap $bffheshe>> told me you've been up to such fantastical adventures, did you truly kill a Fiend in the body of a twenty-foot tall bald and very, very ugly man?" \ <<choose "ch6-sect-fangeyes">> #"Absolutely." <<var $fangrep + 1>>\ <<var $honor - 1>>\ "Absolutely." You reply. "And that was just the //tallest// thing I killed. If you wanted to see a real miracle you should have seen the //widest//." "Wowww!" Tian Fang exclaims in earnest astonishment. \ #"Don't believe everything Kosuke tells you." <<var $fangrep + 1>>\ "Don't believe everything Kosuke tells you." You respond. Fang opens her mouth and looks to the sky, recounting something. You can see her jaw gently wiggle as she silently half-speaks to herself. "Are you okay?" You ask. She snaps out of it and looks to you. "I am most well! I am simply recalling all the things $bffheshe has said to me, between my time in Thunderfall and our chat at the juice stand, so that I may decide which words to believe." "And?" "I have chosen to believe the compliments!" She sniffs the air quickly. "Speaking of compliments, you have grown most impressive in strength since we last met! There's something else to your aura now, Fang's nose knows." "I have." You had no idea that \ <<if ($style is "Akakiru")>>\ Bladed \ <<elseif ($style is "Aoyusumu")>>\ Sacred \ <<elseif ($style is "Kiihakai")>>\ Mystic \ <<elseif ($style is "Kurokonton")>>\ Cursed \ <</if>>\ Chi had a smell, but there's no use in hiding it now. "It's been a hard couple months." "Hah! Indeed, Tian Fang had to defeat many challengers on the road to get this close to Nanhou. Some who would not let her pass, some who would not let her have shelter, some who would not even let her have food!" "...Fang, that's robbery. Were you robbing people?" <<var $txt "testerror">>\ She ignores you and cups one hand on her cheek and shakes her head to some other thought in her mind. "One would think Imperial decree would reduce violence, but everyone acts as if it's the opposite!" \ <<if ($heshe is "he")>>\ Suddenly she looks you up and down \ <<else>>\ You can feel the shiver in your upper back when she scans your spirit more thoroughly \ <</if>>\ and her tail begins to wag. "Hrmm...Speaking of violence. Thunderfaller, how \ #"...Something like that." <<var $honor + 1>>\ "...Something like that." You say. "In truth it was a Clone Technique used by a demonic cultivator, but it gained independence and used corrupted chi to keep itself alive for years instead of hours. From what I gathered he had been collecting blood from victims for decades and storing them in some sort of custom Seal or Soul Treasure to release it all at once and create a Demonic Gate. When the Sunbringer Sectmaster activated it-" Fang's ears lower with each word and it seems like she has no idea what you're talking about. You sigh. "Yes, I killed an ugly bald Fiend-man." "Wowww!" #show-if ($heshe is "he") "Easily. If you want to talk about it more we can go somewhere private and catch up over a couple drinks." -> "ch6-sect-fang3" <<var $fangromance + 1>>\ <<var $fangrep + 2>>\ "Easily." You boast. "If you want to talk about it more we can go somewhere more private and catch up over a couple drinks." Tian Fang tilts her head to the side and flops one ear down. "Thunderfaller, were you not listening? Tian Fang was //just at// the juice stand, mere minutes ago! She needs no drinks! She's full of juice!" "Ah."\ <<if (($yokaitrait1 is "cat ears") or ($yokaitrait1 is "wolf ears"))>>\ Your own <<if ($yokaitrait1 is "cat ears")>>\ cat \ <<else>>\ wolf \ <</if>>\ ears flatten on your head. \ <</if>>\ Flirting with this girl is like eating soup with a fork. "Though if you were to invite her to something a little more ''physical'' instead, she would be far more likely to say yes." Holy shit nevermind. "You don't have to tell me twice, let's go find a-" "-sparring ring!" She cheers, finishing your sentence incorrectly for you. She leaps up excitedly and points north up the beach, and you turn to see a ring of palm trees eighty-feet in diameter. A crowd has gathered around it and sure enough you can sense two auras clashing inside. As you're busy looking, she steps forward and bumps the side of your hip with the side of hers, lifting her fists threateningly. <</choose>>

<<if ($passcheck is true)>>\ <<include "ch6-sect-sparwin">>\ She vibrates as if you'd electrocuted her with how fast you're striking, unable to move an inch voluntarily as your strikes hit so fast that you slowly begin to juggle her in the air. Finally her aura shatters and you catch her before she lands, throwing her out of the ring with a battlecry. <<include "ch6-fang-over">>\ <<else>>\ <<var $fangrep + 1>>\ All the while the draining, numbing pain of her armor chills your fists and arms to the bone. <<if ($val gte 2)>>\ Eventually your stamina drains completely from the freezing sensation running through your body. Your last clear vision is Tian Fang's fangs showing in her smile as she reels back an ice-gauntleted fist. Her eyes look a tad amber. Colors whirl through your vision when her armored fist impacts your face and launches you off your feet, sending you out of the sparring ring. <<include "ch6-sect-sparwound">>\ You land on the sands and curse as you remember the rules of each sparring circle. Leaving the ring is a loss. <<include "ch6-sect-fangwins">>\ <<else>>\ <<include "ch6-sect-sparwound">>\ Alhough her aura eventually shatters from all the strikes, you're not sure if you can count it as a win from all the pain running through your skin-cracked hands. You can't even gracefully catch her and throw her out of the ring like you want to; your hands are too numb. You have to settle for a spinning kick to launch her out of the ring instead. <<include "ch6-fang-over">>\ <</if>>\ <</if>>\

<<if ($passcheck is true)>>\ <<include "ch6-sect-sparwin">>\ "EEP!" She screams as you slide to a standing position and drag her off her feet, using the momentum of your slide to spin in a 720 angle and build up force. "Not the tail!" She screams. "Not the taaaiiiiil!!" She howls as you throw her with all your might and spinning force, launching her as high and as far as you can. <<include "ch6-fang-over">>\ <<else>>\ "Ah!" She screams as you slide to a standing position and drag her off her feet. "Not the tail! Not the taaaiiiiil!" You begin to spin, building up speed, but your spiritual senses send out a warning and you realize you haven't spun her fast enough to keep her delirious. The yokai woman's armor slides of her like an ice cube sliding across a wet surface. //Fast.// The force of your own spin causes the jagged ice pieces to drag across your arms and hit your face and torso with the speed of a slashing dagger. <<if ($val gte 2)>>\ The pain causes you to wince, a distraction, and in that moment you hear "HUP!" from Tian Fang. You open one eye to see what just happened and see the color blue. A nice, pale, almost translucent blue. She threw an ice block at you. <<include "ch6-sect-sparwound">>\ The block slams into your face and forces you to let go as you're slammed across the sands, flipping involuntarily until you come to a halt...outside of the tree line. You've been knocked out of the ring. <<include "ch6-sect-fangwins">>\ <<else>>\ <<include "ch6-sect-sparwound">>\ You grit your teeth through the pain and let go only when you've built up enough spin to launch her into the distance. <<include "ch6-fang-over">>\ <</if>>\ <</if>>\

"It's not like that," you say defensively, "we cycled a Heavenly Gate together, and mind your own business!" They both look disappointed and motion outward with the butts of their spears. "Then move along, outsiders, you're taking up our view of the beach!" "Ah!" Fang exclaims, "That is right, the beach! Fang came here to bring you to the beach!" "Oh." You reply. "Thanks, but I didn't bring a beach outfit." "Do not be so silly, I speak of something far superior to paddling in the water!" She points to an eighty-foot ring of palm trees further north. You notice a crowd gathered around its edges. "Harehama's beachside sparring ring!" She bumps your\ <<if ($heshe is "he")>>\ hip \ <<else>>\ shoulder \ <</if>>\ from the side with her own.

"Dare you accept Fang's challenge to some friendly combat?" <<choose "ch6-sect-fang4">> #"Gladly." <<var $ruthless + 1>>\ "Gladly." You reply, accepting the challenge and walking towards the sparring ring. "Good!" Fang chirps, hopping up and raising a fist in the air then dragging it down in some sort of...dance? She whispers "Victory." to herself and starts walking too. "I should warn you the unassailable Path of Mountain Hazard is a most ferocious combat style! It would be most kind of you to forgive easily upon Fang's victory." "Nah." You say back with a grin. "I'd win." <<var $fangrep + 2>>\ Fang smiles and stretches her hands out forward while you both walk, intertwining her fingers and cracking all ten at once. She looks back to you with smug confidence. "We. Shall. See." <<page "Continue" "ch6-sect-fang4">>\ #"Race you!" "Race you!" You shout out, sprinting through the sands in an instant to get to the palm tree ring off in the distance. "No fair!" Fang shouts, breaking into a mad dash on all fours. "No fair! The sand gets in Fang's mouth! Ptah!" "Then run on two feet!" You shout back to her, pushing yourself onward. "NEVER!" <<var $combatstat "agility">>\ <<var $combatskill "athletics">>\ <<discount "Wind" 1>>\ <<discount "Light" 1>>\ <<discount "Kurokonton" 1>>\ <<combatcheck 9>>\ <<if ($passcheck is true)>>\ <<var $fangrep + 3>>\ You blast through the sand of the beach in a stream of $auracolor energy, each foot caving into the beach sands with your full weight before kicking off again. You arrive at the crowd around the palm trees seconds before Fang. "Most accursed sands!" Fang pants out as she reaches you, tumbling over and wiping her tongue. As she does so, the sand on her hands gets on her tongue too. "Nooooo!" She groans. <<else>>\ You blast through the sand as fast as you can and think you're doing great until Fang catches up, glowing green with Wild Chi and sprinting past you on all fours. She reaches the crowd first and skids to a halt, spraying sand all over them, then turns to you and raises her hind quarters in the air, her torso crouching low like a Beast prepared to strike. "The victory goes to Fang!" She shouts. "You owe me one pastry!" "What?" You ask through heavy breaths. "We never agreed on that." "Victors do not make agreements!" Fang barks back defiantly. "It is them to whomst the spoils go!" You sigh and wonder if your ships have any pastries on board. You're also positive 'whomst' isn't the right word, but that's unimportant. \ <</if>>\ The crowd around you is giving both of you stares, as you just arrived with full auras blaring and Fang is...being Fang. <<page "Continue" "ch6-sect-fang4">>\ #"I'll have to pass." <<var $fangrep - 2>>\ <<var $metfang + 10000000>>\ "I'll have to pass." You reply. "I'm saving all my tricks for the Trials, and you should too. Don't let anyone see you sparring if you can help it." "I cannot!" Fang barks back. "For I am feeling most antsy, and wish to fight!" Hm, if she's referring to her allergy... "Could there be a Gate nearby?" "No." Fang admits with a frown. "If there were, I would most likely be feral. Tian Fang's antsyness is from the juice your beggar friend was selling, $bffheshe said it would increase one's energy tenfold!" She closes both her fists close to her chest and smiles. "Ten, $bffheshe said! Ten entire folds!" "Was Kosuke selling this juice next to a juice stand? For more than the juice stand?" Fang nods eagerly. "Far more! That is how Fang knew it was of high quality!" Yep. There it is. "How fortunate." You give her a short bow. "Best of luck to you, Tian Fang. I will see you at the Trials." "That is most true!!" Fang shouts excitedly as you leave. "For everyone will see the Great Tian Fang(!) take first place!" <<page "Continue" "ch6-town">>\ <</choose>>

<<var $counter 0>>\ Fang wriggles in place with joy and you quirk an eyebrow at her behavior until you feel a tickle between your shoulder-blades and know several people are scanning your spirit. You turn to the crowd and beyond, looking into the ring where one Martial Artist stands with his hand held high and another is on the ground covered in hatchets made of Bladed Chi. The hatchets dissipate, and a wiry old man in Windrising colors enters the ring to announce, "Victory goes to Li Boqin!" "Me next!" Tian Fang screams. "Let Tian Fang and her friend fight next!" The old man looks to you and frowns. "There is a queue, contain your arrogance." "A queue as in waiting?" Fang whines. "Fang does not wish to wait, she wishes to spar most immediately! Can we not be let in for being so polite? Or pretty? Or pretty polite? Pretty please?" She sits up like a dog and gives her best impression of puppy \ <<if ($fangromance gte 2)>>\ eyes. It melts your heart. <<else>>\ eyes. <</if>>\ "No." Replies the old man. "Shoot." Fang replies, and the two of you wait for thirty minutes while watching low Aura Pressure duels before you finally get your own fight. <<choose "ch6-sect-fang5">> #Analyze each fighter's physical movements. $txt the variety of maneuvers being used that you had never considered, each countering a hold or strike that you'd had trouble facing in earlier fights and spars in your life. <<if ($perception is 0)>>\ ''[Perception Check Failed]'' <<else>>\ ''[Perception Check $perception Passed]'' <<apboost $perception>>\ <</if>>\ #Analyze each fighter's combat chi. $txt how different fighters utilize the same Element or Style in entirely different ways. You take a few notes on the $style \ <<if ($element1 isnot "None")>>\ fighters and a few inventive yet improvised uses of the $element1 Element when fighters are pushed into a corner. <<else>>\ fighters and note the way they utilize the basics of chi without relying on Techniques. <</if>>\ <<if ($insight is 0)>>\ ''[Insight Check Failed]'' <<else>>\ ''[Insight Check $insight Passed]'' <<apboost $insight>>\ <</if>>\ <</choose>>

When the next fighter falls the old man from earlier stops the winner and checks the loser's pulse as usual. He declares the winner, checks his scroll nestled on his hip, and announces the next fight as usual. "Next to fight we have...$fullname of Thunderfall and Tian Fang of Mountain Hazard!" "Yay!" Fang cheers, clapping her hands together. "Our most joyous time has come!" She seems happy, but you're not. You weren't the only one taking notes on every fight so far. "Fang." You whisper as you waltz into the ring beside her. "Don't use anything flashy, stick to basic enforcement." Her ear facing you droops down into her hair and she turns to you, whispering too loudly. "Why for, most cautious friend?" "Half the Martial Artists in this crowd aren't on the list. They're getting intel for the Trials." "Ooooh." Fang says, tapping her mouth with a finger. "That is bad. Okay then! Fang will beat you up with just her fists." She wiggles her fists at you in circular motions. "Prepare yourself!" You almost chuckle. Silly Fang, the spar hasn't even begun y- "BEGIN!" Shouts the old man. <<page "Continue" "ch6-sect-fang6">>\

<<var $val 0>>\ <div class="fightingfont">Thunderfaller $name vs Tian Fang</div>\ <<statcheck>>\ As soon as the fight starts Tian Fang lunges low at you with both her hands swiping like claws at your kidneys. <<var $combatstat "agility">>\ <<discount "Aoyusumu" 1>>\ <<discount "Wind" 1>>\ <<discount "Storm" 1>>\ <<combatcheck 8>>\ <<if ($passcheck is true)>>\ <<include "ch6-sect-sparwin">>\ You deflect the first strike with both hands and try to knee her other arm's wrist. She shoves one foot into the ground to adjust her angle and avoid your knee, her clawlike nails cutting your clothing. <<if ($style is "Aoyusumu")>>\ Your Sacred Chi slows the kinetic force of her attack in time for you to grab her wrist and flip \ <<else>>\ You respond before she lands her strike by grabbing her wrist and flipping \ <</if>>\ her over your head, with a kick to her back before she lands. "Ow ow ow!" She chants out as it takes her an entire second to fall, your kick knocking her halfway across the ring. She finally lands and turns back. "You shall pay for that most high-interestly!" "That's not a word." You reply. "It will be!" She snarls, and charges. <<else>>\ You knock one strike away and knee the other, but she switches her angle and claws at your side. It's a grazing wound that leaves marks like a line of bee stings. <<include "ch6-sect-sparwound">>\ She leaps past you and shows off her claw-like nails. "Too slow, Thunderfaller! I have gotten a taste of victory and now I am hungry like the wolf!" <</if>>\ The two of you continue to trade blows for minutes before you reel a fist back aimed at her mouth and see an icy blue glow under your feet. She squints knowingly as you notice, absurdly smug about the whole ordeal. Then ice expands up to engulf you in an instant. <<page "Shit!" "ch6-sect-fang7">>\

<<if (($element1 is "Ice") or ($element2 is "Ice"))>>\ ''[Ice Element Event!]'' Using your own control of the ice you're able to reach out with a pale-blue glowing hand and stop the effect for just long enough to jump before the growing glacier covers your feet. On the way up, you kick Fang in the nose. She yelps. "Noooo!" Fang whines. "You may have gotten the best of me this time, but-hiyah!" She launches into a flying kick at you and you dodge to the side, counterstriking with an uppercut to the gut as she passes by. <<elseif (($element1 is "Fire") or ($element2 is "Fire"))>>\ ''[Fire Element Event!]'' A glacier of ice covers your body but the raging fires of your soul burn through it as quickly as it forms, turning the effect into a steaming pound of water around yourself and Tian Fang. <<if (($element1 is "Storm") or ($element2 is "Storm"))>>\ <<var $boogaloo true>>\ ''[Storm Element Event!]'' She looks down at the deep water covering her feet and back up to you just as your aura changes to the crackling violet power of the Storm. "Aha, what fun this duel has been! Shall we, um, call a truce?" You electrocute the water and watch Tian Fang enjoy a nice long seizure, as thanks for her using an Element effect when you both agreed not to. "Enough." Says the old man in Windrising colors after a few seconds. He dashes into the circle and pulls Fang out by the hair, throwing her out of the ring and over the crowd. She lands on the soft sands two dozen feet further out. "This bout's winner is clear as a sunny day," he announces, "it is $fullname!" <<var $val 2786>>\ <<include "ch6-fang-over">>\ <<halt>>\ <<else>>\ "Noooo!" Fang whines. "You may have gotten the best of me this time, but-hiyah!" She sneaks a flying kick at you and you dodge to the side, counterstriking with an uppercut to the gut as she passes by. <</if>>\ <<else>>\ Damn it, you agreed on no flashy moves! You react as soon as you can and channel two energy blasts into both hands, throwing your hostile scorching chi down into the growing glacier to explode it before it can freeze over your entire body. The entire process takes less than a second. <<var $combatstat "soul">>\ <<combatcheck $fangcombat>>\ <<if ($passcheck is true)>>\ Your blasts explode the glacier beneath your feet and end the effect. <<include "ch6-sect-sparwin">>\ <<else>>\ <<include "ch6-sect-sparwound">>\ Your blasts fail to take the glacier out and her ice grows over your entire legs before you're forced to leap out, ripping skin against the shattering, jagged ice as you do so. <</if>>\ Tian Fang tries to take advantage of your distraction with a flying kick, but you dodge to the side and deliver an uppercut towards her gut as a counterattack. <</if>>\ ''//"Ice Armor!"//'' She screams as you go for the punch. A headless set of lamellar armor appears around her body in a flash and your fist collides into the hostile Ice Chi. Your knuckles flashfreeze with frostburn. <<var $combatstat "fortitude">>\ <<discount "Fire" 1>>\ <<discount "Ice" 2>>\ <<combatcheck 7>>\ <<if ($passcheck is true)>>\ Your skin hardens from all the Fortitude Advancements you've undergone and resists the effects of her hostile Ice Chi. That's how you interpret events. To Tian Fang, what seems to happen is that your uppercut connects and cracks a fist-shaped hole into her armor. Your punch hits with supernatural might and you twist your hips into it to launch her across the sparring ring. She surprisingly gets up immediately, bouncing in place and energized. "You are strong!" She says. \ <<if (($heshe is "he") and ($counter gte 2))>>\ <<var $fangromance + 1>>\ "//So// strong!" <<else>>\ "Really strong!" <</if>>\ <<var $fangrep + 1>>\ "And you're ignoring our deal, we said no special moves!" <<else>>\ Your hand hits the ice chi of her armor and you feel the very essence of Cold penetrate through your skin and spirit. Tian Fang uses your distracted state to twist in the air from the impact of your strike. <<include "ch6-sect-sparwound">>\ "Hmph! Hmph hmph!" Fang lands and boasts proudly <<if ($counter gte 1)>>\ with a bloodied lip. \ <<else>>\ with her hands on her hips. \ <</if>>\ "It is not so easy to break through my ingenious defense!" "Fang, I said no special moves!" <</if>>\ "Impossible!" Fang barks back playfully. "All of Tian Fang's moves are special!" You start to get angry until you see her tail violently shaking back and forth. She wants you angry, and you get the unshakable feeling she simply wants to test her armor out against your full force. If that's the case, you're happy to oblige. <<choose "ch6-sect-fang-swing">> #Deliver three dozen strikes through her armor. -> "ch6-sect-fang-strikes" <<var $fangrep + 1>>\ The two of you charge in to attack and you score the first strike, a palm to the jaw. "Bwaauuuh!" She shouts out, spitting to the side as her cheek is pressed in. You follow the momentum for a jab to the side of her armor, a punch to the greaves, a deflecting strike to her wristguard, an upper cut to her central stomach plate, three punches to the chest, a blow to the ribs, a tripping chop to the legs, and dozens more strikes all in quick succession. <<var $combatstat "agility">>\ <<var $combatstat2 "fortitude">>\ <<attack "Melee">>\ <<combatcheck 13>>\ #Grab her by the tail and spin-throw her out of the ring. <<var $fangrep - 3>>\ You charge in for a punch and she drops back into a defensive stance to catch you, tail wagging profusely. Then you duck under her guard and slide across the warm sands, grabbing her wagging tail with both hands on the way out. <<var $combatstat "power">>\ <<var $combatskill "athletics">>\ <<discount "Midorikatai" 1>>\ <<combatcheck 9>>\ <</choose>>

<<if $txt isnot "testerror">>\ <<if ($heshe is "she")>>\ Her tail wags fiercely. \ <<else>>\ Her eyes sparkle and her face gets closer to yours. \ <</if>>\ "Does that mean you've grown even stronger? Tian Fang has grown stronger too! How \ <</if>>\ would you like to test out your new strength against Tian Fang at Harehama's..." She extends both hands behind you as if presenting a prize, "sparring ring!" You squint to look further north and see a ring of palm trees eighty feet in diameter. There's a crowd gathered around the trees and two people fighting inside. Fang steps forward and bumps \ <<if ($heshe is "he")>>\ the side of your hip with the side of hers. \ <<else>>\ your shoulder with hers from the side. \ <</if>>\ <<include "ch6-sect-fang3">>\

"This bout's winner has been decided," announces the old Windrising man, "it is Tian Fang!" "Yay!" Fang cheers. <<var $lostduel true>>\ <<page "Continue" "ch6-fang-over2">>\

"Liar!" Calls a black-haired wolf yokai in purple and red gi. "Brother, tell him I'm fighting someone next!" A larger wolf yokai steps forward who looks strikingly like a taller, more muscular version of the first. "Your name’s not on the list, stranger. The next fight is my brother against his long-term rival." An Oni man steps forward across the crowd with a dagger. He glares at the younger wolf yokai, then to his brother, then to you. The older wolf yokai's fist ignites in emerald energy. "I suggest you back down immediately or face my wrath." It's unclear yet if this man realizes that facing someone's wrath is what you're actively trying to do. <<choose "ch6-sect-randos2">> #"Come then, show me all the wrath you have." [Fight 1 Opponent] <<var $ruthless + 1>>\ "Come then," you say to the older Yokai. "Show me all the wrath you have." You slip through the circular line of palm trees and step into the sandy sparring ring. He snarls, upper fangs showing, and blasts toward you in one wind-assisted leap that closes the distance. His claw swipes up at your chin. You manage to dodge, only to find it was a feint when he spins it into an overhead kick charged with emerald energy. <<var $combatstat "fortitude">>\ <<combatcheck 6>>\ <<if ($passcheck is true)>>\ You catch his shin with your bare hands and punch him in the face, knocking him back and ending his momentum. <<include "ch6-sect-sparwin">>\ <<else>>\ It penetrates the skin worse than you thought it would. <<include "ch6-sect-sparwound">>\ His elemental slashing kick slices across your chest. You grit your teeth and punch his waist to knock him back. <</if>>\ "Not bad!" He says, spitting to the side. He hovers in mid-air, recollecting himself, and charges back at you. <<page "Engage in melee" "ch6-sect-randos1">>\ #"If your brother wants to fight so badly then I'll fight him //and// his rival." [Fight 2 Opponents] <<var $ruthless + 2>>\ "If your brother wants to fight so badly then I'll fight him //and// his rival." You reply to the older yokai. He snarls, but his brother steps forward. "I'll do it." He says. Cool. "We'll do it." The oni with a knife replies. Cooler. You slip through the circular line of palm trees and step into the sandy sparring ring. The other two enter from different sides and shove their hands forward, glowing yellow- No! Golden! Energy attacks launch from both of them and \ <<include "ch6-sect-randos-energy">>\ That's when the damned Oni appears behind you with his knife, aiming for your kidneys. <<page "Dodge!" "ch6-sect-randos2">>\ #"If you three want the rights to a fight, then by all means, come take them from me." [Fight 3 Opponents] <<var $ruthless + 3>>\ "If you three want the rights to a fight," you reply to the three Martial Artists, "then by all means, come take them from me." You slip through the circular line of palm trees and step into the sandy sparring ring. The older wolf yokai looks to his brother, who nods and then looks to the oni, who nods too. All three enter the ring. "Good choice." You say, and immediately the older wolf yokai is upon you with a Wind-empowered burst of speed and a slashing wind-kick coming for your chest. //He's fast!// You think to yourself as you try to get your guard up in time. <<var $combatstat "agility">>\ <<combatcheck 7>>\ <<if ($passcheck is true)>>\ You catch his shin with your bare hands and punch him in the face, knocking him back and ending his momentum. <<include "ch6-sect-sparwin">>\ <<else>>\ His kick lands before you can dodge, ripping slicing Wind Chi across your torso. <<include "ch6-sect-sparwound">>\ You grit your teeth and punch his waist to knock him back. <</if>>\ "Not bad!" He says, spitting to the side. From behind him two golden Mystic chi blasts appear as the younger wolf yokai and the oni both press their attacks against you. The blasts both loop around the older wolf yokai and \ <<include "ch6-sect-randos-energy">>\ That's when the older wolf yokai attacks again from the sky with a piercing beam of wind energy. <<page "Catch it!" "ch6-sect-randos3">>\ #[Turn and leave] <<var $honor + 1>>\ <<var $ruthless - 3>>\ <<var $solexp + 2>>\ You look to the three of them and agree that this is none of your business. It's time to leave. "That's it?" The elder wolf yokai calls out at your back. "You're backing down from my challenge?" You turn to him with a shrug. "There's nothing to back down from. Nobody told me there was a list so I volunteered, but it turns out they weren't asking for volunteers." "Oh." The older wolf yokai says, dismissing the Wind chi from his fist. "Then I wish you safe travels." He gives a short bow. "You too!" You call back, jogging back to town. De-escalating is surprisingly easy out here. <<page "Continue" "ch6-town">>\ <</choose>>

follow you through the ring as you dodge them the first time, and the second, and the third. The Mystic Chi of Kiihakai, you realize. Of course they're rivals. They have the same damned style! When you get to the very edge of the ring you have both homing energy blasts coming from the same direction and throw your hands together, launching your own blast out to blow up their attack. <<var $combatstat "soul">>\ <<discount "Storm" 1>>\ <<attack "Energy Ranged">>\ <<attack "Area">>\ <<combatcheck 9>>\ <<if ($passcheck is true)>>\ Your $auracolor chi surges around your arms and outstretched hands, your palms joined together like a cannon. When your spiritual energy explodes outward it slams into and through both Mystic blasts and overpowers them, detonating their attacks in mid-air. <<include "ch6-sect-sparwin">>\ <<else>>\ Just as you charge your $auracolor chi out of your cores and into your arms, the Mystic blasts pick up speed and slam into you sooner than expected as if the attacks themselves were alive and chose that moment to sprint. God damn chi sorcery. <<include "ch6-sect-sparwound">>\ <</if>>\

The two of you exchange blows in a test of power as you feel out each other's Aura Pressure and combat prowess. <<var $combatstat "power">>\ <<combatcheck 6>>\ <<if ($passcheck is true)>>\ It becomes quickly apparent that he can't keep up with you. Rather than drag the fight on, you let him land a weak but fast hit to give yourself time to charge $auracolor chi all over your fist and slam him in the \ <<else>>\ Once you realize you're strong enough to end this fast you let him land a hit so you can charge $auracolor chi all over your fist and end it all. His fast, low-effort strike in the middle of your flurry of blows lands and actually cuts into you, charged last second with Wind Chi. <<include "ch6-sect-sparwound">>\ "Gah!" You scream out, enraged, and slam your glowing fist into his \ <</if>>\ solar plexus with a devastating blow. He throws up, clutches his stomach, and drops to his knees. His aura shatters around him and he finally collapses to the ground. <<include "ch6-sect-sparwin">>\ "This bout is over." Announces the old man in Windrising colors from the crowd. "The interloper is the victor. May we return to the list now?" You look around the crowd. While none were applauding before, they certainly do when they personally come under your visual scrutiny. The wolf yokai's little brother runs in to check on your defeated opponent and you don't see anyone stronger among the crowd; most of the Trialgoers here have already left and any Upper Disciples wouldn't be at the local sparring circle. There's nothing else for you here. "You may." You reply, walking out of the ring and returning to town. <<if ($counter gte 1)>>\ <<apboost $counter>>\ <</if>>\ <<page "Continue" "ch6-town">>\

<<if ($race is "Oni")>>\ "Work with me here!" You shout, leaping away from the first stab. "Us Oni need to stick together!" "Eat shit!" The asshole with a death wish shouts back. <<else>>\ The red-skinned demonic fighter's knife almost grazes you as you roll to the side. A closer call than it looks, seeing as you suspect his knife is enchanted or poisoned. <</if>>\ As soon as you roll out of the way you feel a vibration through the sand and see the younger wolf yokai sprinting around the sparring circle's edge, coming directly for you with more and more chi building around him in some sort of momentum-based Technique. The Oni stabs for you again, two opponents attacking from different directions. <<var $combatstat "fortitude">>\ <<combatcheck 6>>\ <<if ($passcheck is true)>>\ You catch the Oni's knife hand and shove it forward toward's the yokai, forcing him to leap to the side and lose the power of his Technique, then you bring the Oni's elbow down on your knee to make him drop the knife. <<include "ch6-sect-sparwin">>\ <<else>>\ You dodge the knife, assuming it to be the more deadly attack, and take a punch to the upper cheekbone that feels like something stung your facial bones in ten different places. You're knocked back across the sparring ring, kicking up sand as you get to your feet. <<include "ch6-sect-sparwound">>\ <</if>>\ "ENOUGH!" You shout out, charging $auracolor chi all over your body. "It's my turn!" Both of them surge agility cores to flee as you charge at them. <<var $combatstat "power">>\ <<var $combatskill "athletics">>\ <<combatcheck 8>>\ <<if ($passcheck is true)>>\ They don't make it in time. You catch them both by an arm and a leg and start slamming them into each other overhead with your superhuman strength. When you finally lose the rhythm you throw the Oni into the air and kick him out of the ring, then throw the yokai back into the ring and shoot him with an energy blast. He fails to dodge, and when the sand-cloud from the impact clears you can see his aura has shattered. <<include "ch6-sect-sparwin">>\ <<else>>\ You manage to catch the Oni before he can run and deliver three blows to his face before his aura shatters. You toss him out of the ring, not wishing to do permanent damage, and turn to the wolf yokai. The blurry wolf yokai. His damned momentum Technique was active while you dealt with his ally and now he's gained enough speed that it's hard to even track his- ''*CRACK!*'' You catch his shirt as he slams his fist into your nose. <<include "ch6-sect-sparwound">>\ His eyes show fear while yours show anger from the blood coming down into your \ <<if ($beardlength isnot "")>>\ facial hair. <<else>>\ mouth. <</if>>\ "I-" He says, then you headbutt him in the face and throw him into the air, blasting him with a two-handed energy explosion before he hits the ground unconscious with a shattered aura. <</if>>\ "This bout is over." Announces the old man in Windrising colors from the crowd. "The interloper is the victor. May we return to the list now?" You look around the crowd. While none were applauding before, they certainly do when they personally come under your visual scrutiny. The older yokai glares at you but doesn't make a move. "You may." You say to the old man. Cutting in line twice could provoke the local Sect and you have no intention of waiting for spars, so you head back to town. <<if ($counter gte 1)>>\ <<var $apval (1+$counter)>>\ <<apboost $apval>>\ <</if>>\ <<page "Continue" "ch6-town">>\

<<var $combatstat "fortitude">>\ <<discount "Kiihakai" 1>>\ <<discount "Aoyusumu" 1>>\ <<discount "Wind" 1>>\ <<attack "Energy Melee">>\ <<combatcheck 8>>\ <<if ($passcheck is true)>>\ <<if ($style is "Aoyusumu")>>\ You drain the attack's kinetic momentum using Sacred Chi, \ <<else>>\ You \ <</if>>\ catch his blast with both \ <<if ($style is "Kiihakai")>>\ hands charged with Mystic Chi and deflect \ <<elseif ($style is "Aoyusumu")>>\ hands, then return its momentum to the attack's force before deflecting \ <<else>>\ hands and deflect \ <</if>>\ it into his younger brother. The deflection strikes true and the younger wolf yokai is knocked out of the ring before he can reach you with whatever glowing-leg Technique he had prepared. <<include "ch6-sect-sparwin">>\ <<else>>\ You try to catch the attack with both hands, running $auracolor chi over your palms, but the Wind is too aggressive and too much of it gets past your guard, cutting into your spirit. <<include "ch6-sect-sparwound">>\ Finally you have enough and grint your teeth, accepting the pain and knocking wolf yokai's beam to the side and into his younger brother. His own emerald energy slams into his brother's gut and lifts him off his feet, knocking the literal wind out of him and sending him out of the ring. <</if>>\ "No-!" The older wolf yokai shouts, interrupted by you kneeing the sneak-attacking Oni in the gut and throwing him at the flying wolfman like a javelin. <<var $combatstat "power">>\ <<var $combatskill "athletics">>\ <<combatcheck 8>>\ <<if ($passcheck is true)>>\ The attack strikes true and your living weapon slams head first into the wolf yokai's face in a head-on-head collision. Both of them tumble out of the sky with shattered auras and fall to the ground. <<include "ch6-sect-sparwin">>\ <<else>>\ You miss. The older wolf yokai moves to the side and even kicks the Oni in the gut as he passes by, shattering his aura. He then charges at you in a flurry of enraged blows with wind charging around his fingers like claws. <<include "ch6-sect-sparwound">>\ His attacks dig into your skin and spirit, but after the first four strikes it becomes apparent that he's simply not strong enough to defeat you. You give up on defense and focus all your $auracolor spiritual energy around one fist, then deliver a devastating blow to his solar plexus. His aura shatters, he throws up, and his body collapses. <</if>>\ You \ <<if ($jadedragonfoundation is true)>>\ pant and \ <</if>>\ look around at all three knocked out combatants lying facedown in the sand. "This bout is over." Announces the old man in Windrising colors from the crowd. "The interloper is the victor. May we return to the list now?" You look around the crowd. While none were applauding before, they certainly do when they personally come under your visual scrutiny. There doesn't seem to be anyone left to challenge you; everyone strong has either left for the Trials or is simply busy elsewhere in town. "You may." You reply with a triumphant smile. It's good to test your limits and win. <<if ($counter gte 1)>>\ <<var $apval (2+$counter)>>\ <<apboost $apval>>\ <</if>>\ <<page "Continue" "ch6-town">>\

<<var $counter + 1>>\ <<if ($fightbonus gt 0)>>\ <<var $counter + 1>>\ <</if>>\ <<if ($weight gt $chapter)>>\ <<var $counter + 1>>\ <</if>>\

<<if ((($health + ($fortitude / 2)) - $wounds) gte 2)>>\ <<woundcheck 1 false false>>\ <</if>>\ <<if ($woundbonus gt 0)>>\ ''[Technique Activated: Resisted AP-Loss From Wounds!]'' <<var $counter + 1>>\ <<else>>\ <<var $val + 1>>\ <<aploss 3>>\ <</if>>\

<<choose "ch6-town">> #Physical movements. $txt the variety of maneuvers being used that you had never considered, each countering a hold or strike that you'd had trouble facing in earlier fights and spars in your life. <<if ($perception is 0)>>\ ''[Perception Check Failed]'' Nothing looks noteworthy enough to incorporate into your fighting style. <<else>>\ ''[Perception Check $perception Passed]'' <<var $apval (1+$perception)>>\ <<apboost $apval>>\ <</if>>\ A couple hours pass and everyone willing to fight has already fought. Anyone left is unpowered, like your 10th birthday's fights when you were a kid. You decide //not// to stomp on powerless children and instead return to town. <<page "Continue" "ch6-town">>\ #Applications of combat chi. $txt how different fighters utilize the same Element or Style in entire different ways. You take a few notes on the $style \ <<if ($element1 isnot "None")>>\ fighters and a few inventive yet improvised uses of the $element1 Element when fighters are pushed into a corner. <<else>>\ fighters and note the way they utilize the basics of chi without relying on Techniques. <</if>>\ <<if ($insight is 0)>>\ ''[Insight Check Failed]'' Unfortunately, they're bad notes. <<else>>\ ''[Insight Check $insight Passed]'' <<var $apval (1+$insight)>>\ <<apboost $apval>>\ <</if>>\ A couple hours pass and everyone willing to fight has already fought. Anyone left is unpowered, like your 10th birthday's fights when you were a kid. You decide //not// to stomp on powerless children and instead return to town. <<page "Continue" "ch6-town">>\ <</choose>>

<<var $counter 0>>\ The Sect headquarters are at the northern end of the town beyond the walls. The building itself turns out to be a large three story cylindrical building topped with a gabled roof of dark green and black tiles. What's more important is it's not surrounded by a wall of its own, but rather a moat. According to your spiritual senses, whatever is swimming in it has a decent Aura Pressure. "Hold!" Calls a man on the other side of the moat. You stop staring absentmindedly into the waters and look up to see two Windrising Disciples in their green and black combat gi. One actually levels his spear at you as he speaks. "The Sect is off-limits to outsiders. Turn away. Now." <<if (($background is "Merchant") and ((dig($metnohal, 2) is 5) or (dig($metnohal, 2) is 1)))>>\ <<choose "ch6-sect3">> #"That's a shame, the Choral Line Sect will have to do business elsewhere." [Requires Merchant Background] "That's a shame," you reply, recalling your 5% ownership of a certain Trade Sect's operations in Outer West. "The Choral Line Trade Sect will have to do business elsewhere." "Wait!" One of the guards shouts as you turn to leave. "Did you say Trade Sect?" "I did." "What are you doing?" Asks one guard to the other. "Be silent," hisses the first guard, "we need supplies that don't come from the sea. The Trials could have Gazhurra riled up for months." "Tch." The first guard sneers and looks the other way. The more amicable one lowers his spear. "The Magistrate is away, but my brother-in-law is a clerk at the town pagoda. Give me any offers on behalf of your Sect and I'll make sure they get to him through the right channels." "I am thankful that the honorable Windrising Sect has seen reason." You reply, then thank the Heavens when he has a servant from inside provide parchment and quill, because you weren't carrying any around. You take a quick seat at a table they place just outside the Windrising Sect headquarters and list out all the offers that include the Outer South rates and the central mountain rates of Outer West, plus transfer fees. The Choral Line Sect should be able to handle this kind of volume and thank you for the business. If not then you may be in trouble, but how much trouble can you even face from them if they can't handle a few extra trade deliveries? ''[Prestige Increased]'' <<var $prestige + 1>>\ ''[Commerce Increased]'' <<var $commerce + $persuasion>>\ <<var $sect_choralline + 5>>\ <<var $metnohal + 100000000>>\ <<page "Continue" "ch6-sect-deal">>\ #Turn and leave. <<var $ruthless - 1>>\ You shrug, not bothering with the man, and leave. #Flip him off and leave. <<var $ruthless + 1>>\ <<var $honor - 1>>\ You let out the most exaggerated groan at every single asshole picking fights with you, flip him off with both hands while blowing a raspberry, and leave. <</choose>> <<else>>\ <<if ($ruthless gt 55)>>\ "Drop the spear." You command, eyes cold. "Take it from me, invader." He replies. Invader? You're just visiting and...wait. That's right, you're just visiting. Why are you letting this guy pick a fight on his terms? Hells, you feel almost silly that you nearly let a chance pass by to enjoy the freedom of finally telling a challenger to go pound sand. A snicker escapes your mouth and you shake your head at the man, not taking his bait. <<else>>\ "A truly touching display of hospitality." You reply dryly. The Windrising guard simply glares back, but you do note his ally has his hands on his spear as well. You have no need for such hostilities and turn to leave. <</if>>\ "Where are you going?!" The man shouts as you turn to walk away. "Have you no honor?! Fight me!" "Fight yourself." You say, displaying a single finger as you walk away with a sense of relief. <<page "Continue" "ch6-sect3">>\ <</if>>\

<<if ($style isnot "Midorikatai")>>\ Before you can even finish turning around you hear a familiar voice approaching from the town. "They are quite rude, are they not?" You turn and see the wolfgirl from the Mountain Hazard Sect. "Tian Fang?" You ask, perplexed. The white-haired yokai's wolf ears perk up at hearing her own name and her pace quickens as she runs up to you. "Yes! It is I, the great Tian Fang!" She skids to a stop in front of you and wags her tail. "It is so good to see a familiar face after such a journey! \ <<if ($race is "Kitsune")>>\ How-" She stops, staring just past you. You turn to see what she's looking at and see nothing but your tail. Well, your tails. Both of them. "Fox demon!!" She shouts, leaping on top of you with her mouth open, fangs bared. "Die, facestealer!" "Fang, stop!" You shout as the two of you drop to the ground and she tries to bite your \ <<if ($heshe is "he")>>\ nose \ <<else>>\ face \ <</if>>\ off. "It's me! It's me!" Your hands barely hold her back by the \ <<if ($heshe is "he")>>\ chest \ <<else>>\ collarbone \ <</if>>\ and she stops for a moment after several failed chomps, sniffing you closer. "Hmm...you do smell the same." "Because I //am// the same!" You shout. "I'm not a Kitsune disguised as $fullname, I'm the real $name and I've always been a Kitsune." "Ohhhhh!" She rolls off you lazily and rises to her feet. "Most disappointing! Unsettling even! Perhaps gross! Tian Fang had thought you were a wolf Yokai." <<var $fangrep - 2>>\ "Everyone did." You reply. "It's going to be a fun reveal at the Trials. Great reintroduction by the way, that's not how I expected to meet for the first time since-" "Since \ <<else>>\ How have you been, my most Thunderfallible ally? I have not seen you since \ <</if>>\ <<if ((dig($metfang, 2) is 4) or (dig($metfang, 2) is 2))>>\ <<if (dig($metfang, 2) is 4)>>\ our encounter \ <<else>>\ our fight\ <</if>>\ atop the lightning mountain!" Ah, one of your more embarrassing moments. Tian Fang actually blushes at the thought. "I trust you didn't tell anyone of my..." She looks to the left and right then whispers, covering her mouth on both sides. "My secret?" "I don't even know what the secret is, what happened back there? You seemed like an entirely different person. And an awful one at \ <<if (dig($metfang, 2) is 2)>>\ that. You stabbed me." <<else>>\ that." <</if>>\ "Haha! Such jokes, such a fun joking friend!" She shouts nervously, grabbing your \ <<if ($heshe is "he")>>\ hand \ <<else>>\ arm \ <</if>>\ and dragging you out of earshot of the Windrising disciples. "The Gate, Thunderfaller! Tian Fang is talking about her allergy to the Gate!" "An...allergy?" You whisper back. "An allergy makes you go feral and attack people?" "Yes, quite right!" She says with a smile on her face and not much going on behind her eyes. "Thank you for your understanding." You blink at her and she merely smiles back. Awkward seconds pass and her tail starts to wag. It seems that's all there is to it; you change the subject. \ <<include "ch6-sect-fang">>\ <<elseif (dig($metfang, 2) is 3)>>\ that exhausting but enjoyable night together!" <<if ($heshe is "he")>>\ The two guards over by the Sect entrance look Fang up and down from a distance and give you an appreciative whistle. "Nice." One says to you. "Lucky guy." Adds the other. <<choose "ch6-sect-fang3">> #[To the guards] "It's not like that, and mind your own business!" <<include "ch6-sect-fang2">>\ /* Adding a quote so my codetester doesn't think this passage will lead to 2 passages */ #[To Fang] "How could I forget? We should do it again sometime." <<var $fangrep + 2>>\ <<var $fangromance + 1>>\ <<var $val 777>>\ "How could I forget?" You say, looking just past her to the guards as if to confirm what they think you're talking about. "We should do it again sometime." "I would love to!" She says, fists held in front of her chest and tail wagging excitedly as she recalls the Heavenly Storm Gate. "But when will we have the opportunity to do it so intensely again? That night was so electrifying that I could barely breathe, and it lasted until morning!" She holds her hands over her cheeks and closes her eyes. "Oh, to be so excited that I was scared, my body pushed to its limits. How I yearn for another such night." One of the Windrising guard's mouth is open and the other is strongly exhaling through his nose in jealousy. She \ <<if ((($bodytype isnot "Manlet") and ($heshe is "he")) or (($bodytype is "Dommymommy") or ($bodytype is "Bodacious")))>>\ rises on her tiptoes to get \ <<else>>\ gets \ <</if>>\ her face close to yours. "But enough about the past, we must discuss our future!" You gulp. "In the sparring ring!" She finishes, pointing north up the beach where an eighty-foot ring of palm trees is surrounded by a small crowd. As you're busy looking, she steps forward and bumps the side of your hip with the side of hers, lifting her fists threateningly. <</choose>> <<else>>\ The Windrising guards look from you two ladies and back to each other. "Nice." One says. "Very nice." Adds the other. <<include "ch6-sect-fang2">>\ <<include "ch6-sect-fang3">>\ <</if>>\ <<elseif (dig($metfang, 2) is 1)>>\ my most embarrassing defeat! <<if (dig($metfang, 3) is 1)>>\ The one where you-" "Where I spit on you after." "Yes! The fight where you very rudely spit on me. \ <</if>>\ Yet there were no witnesses, so no harm has been done to Fang's reputation." She waves it off with an absent-minded smile. <<if ($roc gt 0)>>\ "CAWW!" Comes a call from the sky. Tian Fang narrows her eyes at your roc circling overhead. "Fang said...no witnesses." <<cap $rocname>> should be too far away to hear that, but she changes course and flies south anyway. You clear your throat. \ <<else>>\ You look over to the two Windrising guards who just heard that. "Do they count as witnesses now?" Fang narrows her eyes at them. "They do..." One of the guards takes a slow, cautionary step back. For their sake you decide to change the subject. \ <</if>>\ <<include "ch6-sect-fang">>\ <</if>>\ <<else>>\ Before you can make it five steps away you sense a clash of combat chi nearby. The guards of the Sect, however, don't react one bit. That means they were expecting it so you scan around for the sensation and...there! Your hunch was right, it's a sight you haven't seen since Thunderfall: A sparring ring! Curiosity drags you to the eighty-foot ring of palm trees where three dozen people stand around and watch others fight. You push through the crowd \ <<if ($ruthless lt 50)>>\ as gently as you can \ <</if>>\ and reach the front to see a man with two hatchets controlling them with his chi, causing his missed throws to spin around his opponent and chase their back. His opponent's only counter is to burn them and launch flames everywhere, but it's clear the Fire Artist is at a disadvantage when trying not to incinerate the crowd. Eventually he takes one too many axe swings to the limbs and his aura shatters. "Honor and victory go to Li Boqin!" Shouts a man in ceremonial robes sporting the Windrising colors. "Who is next?" <<choose "ch6-sect-randos">> #[Watch the fights as a spectator] -> "ch6-sect-spectator" You watch the duels silently and take notes on each fight, considering what you would do in their place and how the loser of each fight could have done better. Throughout it all your main focus is on each fighter's... #[Turn and Leave] After so many life and death battles, you don't really get any sense of excitement from spars anymore. Especially watching someone else's spars. There's nothing of value here. You return to town. <<page "Continue" "ch6-town">>\ #"Me! I am next!" "Me!" You shout out, excited to fight. "I am next!" <</choose>> <</if>>\

"Harder!" You hear Leona call out over the sound of metal against wood and metal against metal. "I said HARDER, ye scallywags! Ye be disappointing me much longer and yer signin' up to walk the plank!" You ascend the stairs to the odd commotion and find a platform on top of your Captain's Cabin. A square area with benches secured into the railings on all four sides, and it currently houses several bandaged crewmen swinging swords into wooden dummies that have been hastily nailed into the floor. Nailed into your cabin's roof, technically. Leona stands behind the combatants dressed in a tricorn hat and an eyepatch, grimacing at them. She sees you coming up the stairs and beams a \ <<if ($heshe is "she")>>\ bright smile instead. \ <<else>>\ smile as bright as the sunrise. \ <</if>>\ "<<cap $name>>! I thought you were done for. You know, they say sleep claims more lives than anything." "That's not true." "Probably not," she admits, "but it sounds SO wise, right?" "So very wise." You reply, looking to the four men now bowing at the waist in your presence. Each has fresh bandages and the pale signs of bloodloss. "What's going on with the men?" "Training, Honored <<cap $patriarch>>!" They shout in unison. "Not bad, huh?" Leona \ <<if ($heshe is "he")>>\ whispers, leaning in close. \ <<else>>\ brags while stretching mid-yawn. \ <</if>>\ "I've been teaching them to worship the ground you walk on. I guess they've been learning swordplay too, if you can call it that. The filthy landlubbers." She waggles her eyepatch. "Yarr." You raise an eyebrow at that. "You've been training them...With a pirate accent? Is that a swordsmanship thing?" "Nope!" She exclaims with joy. "...Do any real pirates even talk like that?" All joy leaves her face in an instant. "Look, I'm just trying to fill the boredom." She retorts, brushing a hand through her hair absent-mindedly. "And pirates talk like that in Outer West, everyone knows it." You're actually impressed. "You've been to the other end of the Empire?" "Mmmm no." She confesses quickly. "But! I've heard impressions in nighttime stories when I was a kid. It counts! The only difference between that and a library scroll is it wasn't written down. Writing is for losers anyway." You roll your eyes. "At ease, men. You can return to your training." After they each get back to attacking their wooden targets you take a seat on one of the secured benches and look out over the waters. It's hard not to wonder if teaching someone swordplay footing while the ship rocks is a fantastic idea or a terrible idea. Leona takes a seat \ <<if ($heshe is "he")>>\ right next to you. \ <<else>>\ across from you. \ <</if>>\ "So? What do you think?" "About what?" "Your retainers. Your crew. Your \ <<if ($heshe is "he")>>\ slaves. \ <<else>>\ Man-slaves. \ <</if>>\ Whatever you want to call them. All these now-homeless bums depending on you. Doesn't it make you just." She opens and closes her hands like two eagle claws. "Feel like a God?!" <<choose "ch6-ship-aka2">> #"...Sure." "...Sure." You reply noncommittally. "Oh fine, be that way." Her eyelids half-closed as if bored. "But what \ #"No." <<var $honor + 1>>\ "No." You reply. "Not even a little?" She pouts. "I'll feel like a God when I've gained the strength of a God." "Boring." Leona groans, leaning back. After a moment she waves a hand to your retainers training on the wooden targets. "But what \ #"Hell yeah." <<var $honor - 1>>\ "Hell yeah." You reply, sweeping your eyes across the sea and your ships. <<var $leonarep + 2>>\ Leona smiles and squints, savoring the shared feeling. "Oh, by the way, what \ <</choose>>

<<var $val 99>>\ $txt \ <<include "ch6-ship-compgone">>\

<<if ((($lore + $perception) + $insight) gte 6)>>\ ''[Lore + Perception + Insight 6 Check Passed]'' <<var $solexp + 4>>\ <<var $forexp + 1>>\ "Victory!" You shout out after absolutely //crushing// Leona in mahjong. "Fuuuuuck." She groans facedown into the floorboards, her hair a mess from pulling it so much during the match. "Okay fine, you win this round, but next round I-" "Can we leave, Honored <<cap $patriarch>>?" One of the retainers asks. "Apologies for being so abrupt but we have limits. We are each exhausted and require food." "And rest." Adds another, panting as the blood of some fresh cut mixes with the sweat running down his arms. Huh, you suppose it has been quite a while. The game had taken your attention so well that you didn't even notice. With them asking permission so respectfully you nod <<else>>\ ''[Lore + Perception + Insight 6 Check Failed]'' She beats you so badly that <<if ($lore lte 1)>>\ your dumb ass actually learns something. ''[Lore +1]'' <<elseif ($perception lte 1)>>\ your blind ass actually learns to pay attention. ''[Perception +1]'' <<elseif ($insight lte 1)>>\ your gullible ass actually learns to be cautious. ''[Insight +1]'' <<else>>\ even the retainers feel bad for you. <</if>>\ "VICTORY!" Leona chants, jumping up and motioning to kick the board before she realizes how many stones she'd have to collect. \ "Oh shush." You reply while packing the board up. The men request permission to leave back down to the lower deck when you're done \ <</if>>\ and you grant it, surprised when Leona stands to leave the platform too. "Where are you going?" You ask. "Wherever." Leona replies. "Probably going to see who I can threaten into making me some riceballs. Trust me girlfriend, the Trials will be a constant pain. Have a walk around your deck, see what Bo Lo's up to, try to relax a bit. There's plenty of time to hate life later." She follows the men down and starts barking orders at some retainers on the main deck, demanding to know which man wants to cook for her. <<var $txt "With Leona down on the deck you">>\ <<var $val 99>>\ <<page "Continue" "ch6-ship-aka-done">>\

<<choose "ch6-ship-aka-done">> #"Just kidding!" <<var $honor - 1>>\ <<var $ruthless + 1>>\ <<var $retainer_morale - 3>>\ "Calm down guys, we were kidding!" You shake your head with a friendly smile. "It was a challenge to push you harder, you had to know that right? Senseis do this kind of stuff all the time. Welcome to the Martial World." One of them appears to have his spirit leave his body as he drops to the ground in exhaustion and yearns for death. The other three nod in concession and withdraw waterskins, collapsing backward into a sitting position. "Yeah, bozos." Leona says, putting her shirt back on. You didn't even notice her take it off. "I can't believe you all fell for it. Psht. Idiots." The men politely request leave on shaky legs from all their training and you grant it, surprised when Leona stands to leave the platform too. "Where are you going?" You ask. "Wherever." Leona replies. "Probably going to see who I can threaten into making me some riceballs. Trust me girlfriend, the Trials will be a constant pain. Have a walk around your deck, see what people are up to, try to relax a bit. There's plenty of time to hate life later." She follows the men down and starts barking orders at some retainers on the main deck, demanding to know which man wants to cook for her. <<var $txt "With Leona down on the deck you">>\ <<var $val 99>>\ <<page "Continue" "ch6-ship-aka-done">>\ #[Strip down.] -> "ch6-ship-aka-strippin2" <<var $ruthless - 1>>\ <<var $retainer_morale + 2>>\ <</choose>>

"Alright men." You reach down and grip the lower ends of your $clothes. "You've earned a reward." Slowly, tantalizingly you undress yourself beside Leona as she does the same. All four men pass out from nosebleeds before you even finish. \ <<if (($bodytype is "Hourglass") or ($bodytype is "Bodacious"))>>\ Two of them have smiles plastered on their faces while they twitch on the floor. They might actually need medical attention. <<var $solexp + 2>>\ <</if>>\ "Awww." Leona pouts. "I guess I'll have to get an audience from the other ship." She climbs onto the railing and lays down, curling one leg up and resting her head on one hand as she leans towards the ship trailing you by a couple thousand feet. "Can they even see us?" You ask. "The one with the spyglass in the crow's nest can. I've named him Looky." "More like 'Lucky'." You reply, climbing onto the railing and relaxing in the sun's comforting warmth. ... An hour later you wake from an involuntary nap when you almost fall overboard. The rush startles you up and, remembering that you're naked, you get dressed quickly before taking in your surroundings on the platform. The training retainers seem to have left and Leona is down on the lower deck yelling at different crewmen to see who wants the honor of cooking for her. <<var $txt "With Leona down on the deck you">>\ <<var $val 99>>\ <<page "Continue" "ch6-ship-aka-done">>\

do you think about these ones?" She asks, off-colored eyes darting to the swordsmen grunting as they strike the wooden dummies nearby. "I've been adding second-rate Advancement herbs to their diet from some things I had lying around; get their juices flowing." She waggles her eyebrows, you assume, as one is behind her ridiculous eyepatch. "I think we can make something of them if we push them hard enough, or we can enjoy the show watching them break." <<var $swordcasualties 0>>\ Hm...Increasing your Martial forces would be great, especially if Leona has already been footing the bill, but pushing too hard could get them injured or worse. You decide to... <<choose "ch6-ship-aka3">> #Tell them to take it easy. <<var $leonarep - 2>>\ <<var $leonaromance - 1>>\ <<var $retainer_morale + 3>>\ "Go easy on the training, you four." You say to the retainers. They stop mid-swing and look to you with fear and doubt. One speaks up. "Are we displeasing the $patriarch?" "Displeasing, no." You reply. "Concerning, yes. You're swinging swords you're not used to on a rocking ship in close proximity to each other. If you want to train do it on your own time when we dock, I don't want any of you accidentally killing each other. Why not go one at a time for now?" A couple inhale slowly to process their demotion and all four bow. "As you wish, Honored <<cap $patriarch>>." <<if ($heshe is "she")>>\ Leona shakes her head in disapproval at the three sitting down. "Don't look at me, boys, because I told you guys to get shirtless for her and you didn't listen. Probably why you're fired." "Likely so, Sensei." One replies, head hung low. Leona tsks again before looking at you. "Quick question though, how \ <<else>>\ "Ewwww." Leona groans, leaning over the railing and crossing her legs to catch her before she falls. "How \ <</if>>\ are they going to learn anything if they're not in danger of dying?" "By reading a book." You dismissively retort, then realize it's not a bad idea. You fish out one of your old Path Manuals and toss it to the group. "Er, Honored <<cap $patriarch>>?" One asks hesitantly. "This is empty." <<var $val 1>>\ <<var $firedhalfswordsmen true>>\ Ah. Crap. The invisible ink. Twenty minutes later you've written over the instructions in normal ink and let the retainers get to studying. They seem stricken by the depth of instructions for forming a simple Combat Core. You can relate, you felt the same way years ago. #Let Leona continue their training. <<var $val 2>>\ <<var $swordcasualties + 1>>\ You look to the hardworking retainers striking the wooden dummies in repetitive motions and then back to Leona eyeing them with approval. At least, her blue eye is eyeing them in approval. Her green eye is behind an eyepatch. Still, everything looks in order. "Good job Leona, I'm sure whatever you're doing will work out." Her head pulls back and she slowly looks over to you, a smile plastered on her face but panic growing in her eyes. "Come again?" "I said I trust you." "Thanks!" She slowly shakes her head, pirate hat included. "But that's, just, such a bad idea." You close your eyes and lean your head back on the bench, breathing in the fresh seabreeze. "Two days have passed and they're still alive. I don't see any reason to worry. You've got this." <<if ($heshe is "he")>>\ "Psshttttt." Leona replies with a sour expression. "I'll bet you say that to all the swordgirls." <<var $leonaromance + 1>>\ <<else>>\ "Girl, we NEED to work on your judgment of character." <</if>>\ <<var $leonarep + 3>>\ Leona gives a few more threats and pointers to the retainers over the next fifteen minutes as you take in the nice seabreeze. #Let Leona continue their training, but drop the stupid pirate routine. <<var $val 3>>\ <<var $leonarep - 3>>\ <<var $leonaromance - 1>>\ <<var $swordcasualties + 2>>\ <<var $honor + 2>>\ You look to the hardworking retainers striking the wooden dummies in repetitive motions and then back to Leona eyeing them with approval. At least, her blue eye is eyeing them in approval. Her green eye is behind an eyepatch. That's got to go. \ <<if ($ruthless lt 50)>>\ "I appreciate you training everyone, \ <<else>>\ "You've done well to train them so far, \ <</if>>\ but the pirate act has to go. We're not pirates." Leona's neck nearly snaps with how fast she looks at you, hair blowing in the wind and now her face. "We're not?!" "...No, of course we're not." "Yeah, heh, silly me!" She hurriedly takes off her eyepatch and pirate hat and throws them overboard. "Of course we're not going around taking everyone's money. That would be too-" You say "Dishonorable." at the same time that she says "Lucrative." "Yep! That!" She replies with a nervous laugh, kicking a second satchel under her bench so it stays out of your view. You begin to suspect that you missed something disreputable in your sleep. "HIAH!" Shouts on of the retainers, slicing slightly deeper into the wooden dummy. You're thankful that at least they're progressing. #use-if ($alchemy gte 1) Fix their herbal supplement plan. [Alchemy Check] <<var $val $alchemy>>\ <<if ($background is "Herbalist")>>\ <<var $val + 1>>\ Growing up under Father's tutelage prepared you for this. It's good to know the years of herbalism didn't go to waste. <</if>>\ <<if ($val is 1)>>\ <<var $swordcasualties + 1>>\ <</if>>\ "Give me their list of mystic herbs." You say to Leona, preparing a list in your head. "A list?" She asks. "Like, per day?" "Sure, inventory, whatever you're feeding them." Leona pulls a satchel out from under the bench and \ <<if ($heshe is "he")>>\ shoves it in your arms. \ <<else>>\ throws it at you. \ <</if>>\ "They eat a handful of this per meal." Alarms go off in your mind and you open the satchel to look through its contents, finding roots, flower petals, crushed berries, and various leaves and barks all covered in powder from what must have once been neat piles of powderized herbs. "What in the world is this? It's utter chaos!" "I added honey so it's sticky too." Leona tilts her head up and to the side as if taking a compliment. "No need to thank me." Your inner alchemist seethes, but you press it down and get to work. This collection needs so much identifying and sorting before it's even safe to give back to the retainers. Twenty minutes later you finally have each set separated into safe and optimized globlike doses, each individually wrapped in now-sticky cloth sacks. "Take these." You say to each, handing them a dose. They chew the herbal concoctions and return to their practice with renewed energy. #use-if ($survival gte 1) Correct the gaps in their defense. [Survival Check] <<var $val survival>>\ <<if ($val is 1)>>\ <<var $swordcasualties + 1>>\ <</if>>\ First thing's first, these retainers are swinging their swords with no regards to defense. Probably because these dummies don't hit back. "Stop." You command. All four cease their attacks in the dummies. "Yes, Honored <<cap $patriarch>>?" Asks the one in front while wiping sweat from his brow. "Your leaving yourself open because you have nothing to fear. I'll show you five proper stances and how to defend. After every strike I want you to mimic a parry or return your blade to a guarding position. Only two of you will strike at a time, the other two will stand behind them with clubs wrapped in cloth and give them a whack if they leave an opening." Three of them look less enthusiastic to participate now that they might be getting struck, but one seems ecstatic and runs downstairs to get clubs. Leona claps for him. Within fifteen minutes of club attacks the first pair of practicing retainers have stopped leaving openings nearly as often, and its the next two retainers' turn. #use-if ($stealth gte 1) Teach them to stop telegraphing their attacks. [Stealth Check] <<var $val stealth>>\ <<if ($val is 1)>>\ <<var $swordcasualties + 1>>\ <</if>>\ "Stop, stop, stop." You command. "You're not just learning the basics, you're embedding bad form into your attacks. None of you will ever land a real hit if you keep winding back and telling your opponent exactly where you're attacking." They all stop and catch their breath from the constant training, then give a deep bow. "Yes, Honored <<cap $patriarch>>!" They shout in unison. You can get used to this. The next few minutes are spent showing them exactly how to avoid warning their opponents of their swing trajectory. Leona even helps out with a few feint and bluff tricks of her own. <<var $agiexp + 3>>\ Within fifteen minutes they're back to practice and finally performing something that might be mistaken for a real attack. #use-if ($craft gte 1) Teach them the true purpose of the blade! [Craft Check] <<var $val craft>>\ <<if ($background is "Blacksmith")>>\ <<var $val + 1>>\ Growing up under Father's tutelage prepared you for this. It's good to know the years of blacksmithing didn't go to waste. \ <</if>>\ <<if ($val lt 3)>>\ <<var $swordcasualties + 1>>\ <</if>>\ <<if ($val is 1)>>\ <<var $swordcasualties + 1>>\ <</if>>\ <<var $retainer_strength + 1>>\ "If you're all going to learn the Blade then you're going to learn to do it right. We're not training you to have a basic aura." Leona hops up and stands on her bench \ <<if ($heshe is "he")>>\ leaning onto your shoulders. \ <<else>>\ leaning over to look at you. \ <</if>>\ "We're not?" "No. If you're going to learn to use a Blade, you're going to learn to use Bladed Chi." The four of them look hopeful. Eager smiles grow on their faces and their eyes shine with awe. "How do we do that, Honored <<cap $patriarch>>?" "The same way I did." Leona shakes her head, hair whipping in the sea's wind. "But you already had potential for Bladed Chi." "Then they'll have to try twice as hard." You take all four of their swords and stab them into the ground, positioning the first of them so he sits in the middle while the ship gently rocks. "The rest of you go get more swords from downstairs. Your real training begins now." <</choose>>

<<if ($val lt 3)>>\ <<var $swordcasualties + 1>>\ <</if>>\ <<if ($val gt 4)>>\ <<var $val 4>>\ <<var $retainer_strength + 1>>\ ''[Fleet Strength +1]'' <</if>>\ <<var $martial_retainers + $val>>\ <<var $retainers - ($val + $swordcasualties)>>\ ''[$val Retainers Converted to Martial Retainers]'' <<page "Continue" "ch6-ship-aka4">>\

After the initial work to correct their mistakes you and Leona relax while the retainers get to \ <<if ($firedhalfswordsmen is true)>>\ studying. \ <<else>>\ work training. \ <</if>>\ She claps her hands twice and another member of your crew runs up to the two of you with cups of tea. "Awesome, right?" She says while taking her own cup. It's steaming as if freshly brewed. "Sum Yungai has truly outdone himself." <<if ($sumyungai is false)>>\ "There's someone on the ship named Sum Yungai?" That can't be real. Leona opens her mouth in excited surprise as if catching you in a crime. "Why, <<cap $name>>! You should know that already, he's the one I sent to wake you up." <<if ($ruthless gt 50)>>\ "I'm not in the habit of asking the names of my Help." <<else>>\ "I may have forgotten to ask his name." <</if>>\ "Spoken like a true leader." \ <<else>>\ "I still can't believe that's his real name." You reply. "He swears by it." "A lot of people swear all the time, doesn't make them honest." "Spoken like a wise sage!" \ <</if>>\ She lets out a giddy laugh. "Cheers!" "Cheers." You both tap cups and take a sip. Hm. This tea is mediocre. Leona chugs the tea as if it were water or beer, throws the cup overboard, and sits cross-legged on the bench while leaning forward towards you. "Now, how about that elephant in the room?" "Elephant in the room?" This ship could hardly support an elephant, especially in any of its rooms. <<if ($spiritbrandloc is "eyes")>>\ "Your eyes!" She shouts, grabbing you by the head and staring directly into them. "They're all $spiritbrandcolor and kind of glowing. You know spiritbrands are signs of bad luck, right?" <<include "ch6-ship-aka4-2">>\ <<elseif (($spiritbrandloc is "hair") or ($spiritbrandloc is "hairstrip"))>>\ "Your hair!" She shouts, waving her hands forward and gesturing all around your head. "It's all $spiritbrandcolor and glows if the sun hits it. You know spiritbrands are signs of bad luck, right?" <<include "ch6-ship-aka4-2">>\ <<elseif (($spiritbrandloc is "tail and ears") or ($spiritbrandloc is "tail"))>>\ "Your tail!" She shouts, reaching for your limb but you <<if ($subrace is "Wolf")>>\ wag \ <<else>>\ swish \ <</if>>\ it away in time. "It's all $spiritbrandcolor instead of $haircolor. You know spiritbrands are signs of bad luck, right?" <<include "ch6-ship-aka4-2">>\ <<elseif ($spiritbrandloc is "horns")>>\ "Your set of horns!" She shouts, waving her hands forward and gesturing all around your head. "It's all $spiritbrandcolor and glows if the sun hits it right. You know those are signs of bad luck, right?" <<include "ch6-ship-aka4-2">>\ <<elseif ($spiritbrandloc is "skin")>>\ "Your skin!" She shouts, waving her hands in the general direction of your whole body. "I can't believe your new lackeys kept their eyes in their sockets when they saw you, I barely did! Is it some sort of Oni-specific spiritbrand? You know those are signs of bad luck, right?" <<include "ch6-ship-aka4-2">>\ <<elseif ($race is "Kitsune")>>\ She points behind you at your second tail. "THAT." "Oh. That? Those happen naturally, nothing to be worried about." "//Those happen naturally//." She groans out in a rude interpretation of you. "You never told me you were a fox spirit!" <<var $val 10101>>\ "Well you never asked, and we're not just spirits. I'm as physical as anyone. My many bruises can attest to that." You push her on the defensive. "Why does it matter?" "Because it's so cool!" She bursts out, jumping to her feet on the seat and drawing both swords. "Do you know how many people are going to pick fights with us now? We've got wholesale slaughter rights in self defense, this is going to be the best vacation ever!" She clangs her swords together twice. "Waiter, more tea!" One of your retainers comes up and delivers the beverages, the same man as before, and you begin to suspect the poor sod has been pressganged into being the ship's butler. <<page "Minutes pass." "ch6-ship-aka4-2">>\ <<else>>\ "The fact that I just ordered the drinks on YOUR ship. Come on, $patriarch, pick up some authority and order people around! It's fun, I promise." "There's no orders needed." You counter in a relaxed tone. "Everything's been fine for two days." "Uh, yeah, that's because of me. Now repay the favor and at least slap a dissenter around so I can watch." You look down to the main deck below and see a few men hard at work. "No one's dissenting." "Ugh!" Leona slams her head into the railing. "Bad help is so hard to fine. At least pick the next drink we have." <<var $val 7656>>\ <<choose "ch6-ship-aka4-3">> #Water <<var $agiexp + 1>>\ "Water." You say after careful consideration. "We're surrounded by water." Leona replies flatly. "Water without salt in it." Leona spits out the last of her tea. "All this water around us has SALT in it?!" Your retainer brings you both cups of water and you remember Leona's years of sailing practice was in a lake. You wonder how she's still alive. <<page "One drink later." "ch6-ship-aka4-3">>\ #Tea <<var $solexp + 1>>\ "Tea." You say definitely. "We already have tea." Leona retorts. "Yes but this tea sucks. I'm ordering //better// tea." "Yes!" Leona shouts. "Yesssss, that's it!" <<page "One drink later." "ch6-ship-aka4-3">>\ #Wine <<var $powexp + 1>>\ "Wine." You reply longingly. It's been so long since you've had a good drink. <<if ($heshe is "he")>>\ <<if ($leonaromance lt 2)>>\ <<var $leonaromance + 1>>\ <<else>>\ <<var $leonarep + 2>>\ <</if>>\ "A man after my own heart." Leona replies, wiping a fake tear away. \ <<else>>\ "Hells yes, you know how to party!" Leona cheers, rubbing her cheeks. "It's been so long since I've had a good drink." "Really?" "Nope! Got trashed last night." <</if>>\ Your retainer brings you two cups of wine. Both you and Leona say "Leave the bottle." at the same time. <<var $temper 99>>\ <<page "One drink later." "ch6-ship-aka4-3">>\ #Baijiu <<var $forexp + 1>>\ "Baijiu." You reply with an anticipating smile. Leona spits out the last of her tea. "Are you nuts? That's hard liquor!" "I know." You reply. "Oh okay, so you //are// nuts." She adds while rubbing her chin too vigorously. "Good." Your retainer brings you both cups of hard liquor and you prepare to get absolutely hammered. <<var $temper 99>>\ <<page "One drink later." "ch6-ship-aka4-3">>\ <</choose>> <</if>>\

"What's a spiritbrand?" She points to your $spiritbrandloc. "That. Your chi is leaking into your physical body. My father would've said you've been growing too fast and must find the time to stabilize your spirit. Personally //''I''// say it's proof you're doing better than everyone else. Stability is for mooks! Mooks!" That doesn't sound good, why have you never heard of these? ... The reason hits you immediately. It's because no one in your life has ever grown their Aura Pressure too fast. "How do I stabilize my spirit, and what happens if I don't?" "Not to brag or anything but..." She turns around, then whips her head back to you so her hair flips dramatically. "I don't know. It's not an emergency though. I'm sure it can wait until Nanhou. Probably." You pray that's Leona's actual educated guess and not her attitude. Either way it leaves you with few options. "Is there anything we do in the meantime?" She shrugs. \ <<if ($heshe is "he")>>\ "Meditate and see if it works?" <<else>>\ "Meditate and make the retainers take their shirts off?" <</if>>\ <<page "Minutes pass" "ch6-ship-aka4-3">>\

<<if ($val is 10101)>>\ You and Leona continue sipping tea as she goes over fantastical made-up scenarios of what kinds of people might try to kill you for being a Kitsune. After the eighth decapitation plan she starts to lose steam and finally leaves a gap for you to talk. <<elseif ($val is 7656)>>\ You and Leona watch your retainers go at it with their \ <<if ($firedhalfswordsmen is true)>>\ training. Well, you watch one of them go at it with their training and the other three read your Path Manual and argue over its interpretations. <<else>>\ training. <</if>>\ Eventually you get hit with a realization you hadn't expected or experienced in quite some \ <<if ($temper is 99)>>\ time, especially not while drinking. <<else>>\ time. <</if>>\ You're bored. <<else>>\ Meditating to the sounds of the ocean is harder than you thought, especially with the sounds of your retainers continuing their \ <<if ($firedhalfswordsmen is true)>>\ group study \ <<else>>\ training \ <</if>>\ <<if ($heshe is "she")>>\ nearby, shirtless. <<else>>\ nearby. <</if>>\ Even with the distractions it takes only ten minutes to balance your spirit and cycle your chi. After that you've still been sitting still and gotten //so bored//. You crack open an eye to see Leona also meditating and also cracking open an eye. <</if>>\ "So..." You reply, trying to fill the time. "So." She \ <<if ($temper is 99)>>\ replies, eagerly pouring another cup. \ <<else>>\ replies. \ <</if>>\ <<if ($heshe is "he")>>\ "Do you want to..." <<if ($leonaromance gte 3)>>\ "YES." She blurts out, "FINALLY, YES!" She rips off her breastplate and jumps into you sideways so you're forced to catch her. With both hands she grips your collar and stares into your very soul with offcolored eyes. "Take me to the Captain's room and leave the door open." <<else>>\ "Kill Bo Lo?! Yes!" She draws both her blades and rushes out a relieved sigh with such speed that it comes out as a quick smiling huff. "Finally, yes! I was worried you'd be mad if I did it without you. Being so patient and considerate //physically// hurt me. I am in pain." <</if>>\ <<choose "ch6-ship-aka-done">> #"I meant 'Do you want to start helping the crew with the sails', you nutjob." You \ <<if ($leonaromance gte 3)>>\ cringe and drop her back onto the seat. \ <<else>>\ cringe and grab her swords with your fingers, lowering them back down. \ <</if>>\ "I meant 'Do you want to start helping the crew row', you nutjob." "OH COME ON!" Leona screams out in frustration, smacking her hands into \ <<if ($leonaromance lt 3)>>\ a nearby bench, shattering it to splinters. \ <<else>>\ the bench so it shatters out from under her. \ <</if>>\ "I waited two whole days!" \ <<if ($leonaromance gte 3)>>\ She shouts while falling, hitting the ground butt-first and unperturbed. <</if>>\ "You can wait an eternity." You reply. "We've got a lot to do to prepare for Nanhou, head down to the front deck and see if anyone needs high flying knots tied." Leona roars to the sky and shakes her head in barely contained rage. "GAHHHHH! BORING! I thought things would be fun when you're awake but it's still more chores!" She \ <<if ($leonaromance gte 3)>>\ stands up and brushes herself off, looking \ <<else>>\ walks to the platform's edge and looks down to the men working the deck. \ <</if>>\ "Fine, fine! I'm going down there to see whose marriage I can ruin. Someone needs to get more drama going on this ship and I'm the //only// one putting in work for it!" She stomps off to ruin a marriage and you consider it a win that no one's getting stabbed. Getting her to calm down has been an increasing problem. <<if ($leonaromance gte 3)>>\ <<var $leonaromance - 1>>\ <</if>>\ <<var $txt "With Leona off the platform you">>\ <<page "Continue" "ch6-ship-aka-done">>\ #"I meant 'Do you want to LEAVE'." [Throw her overboard] <<var $leonarep - 5>>\ "That's not what I was going to say." You reply darkly and turn over the railing with the blonde Lunargoth still laying in both your hands. "What I was going to say is 'Do you want to LEAVE'." Leona pulls back in surprise and looks to the waters now below her as you lift her body over the railing. "No no no no wait <<cap $name>> I'm still in steel sabatons and greaves I can't swim in the-EEEEESE!!" Her shriek grows louder as she plummets to the waters below and glows scarlet, the bindings of her remaining armor cutting open all over her legs to show plain grey linens underneath. She splashes into the sea and resurfaces spitting up water, her hair a mess. Leona's makeup runs as she looks up at you deadpan. You wave. Her expressions cracks back to anger. "My gear is sinking to the bottom now you ass!" "You needed to cool off!" You shout down at \ <<if ((($leonaromance gte 3) and ($bffromance gte 1)) and ($bffheshe is "she"))>>\ her. "And for Heaven's sake, I have a girlfriend!" "So?!" Leona looks baffled as your ship continues to sail away. "She could have joined!" You'd spray her with water if she wasn't already drenched in the sea. Instead you point to your other ship following up in your wake. "Get \ <<else>>\ her while pointing to \ <<if ($shipcount gt 2)>>\ another of your ships. \ <<else>>\ your other ship. \ <</if>>\ "You'll thank me later, now get \ <</if>>\ swimming! I'll see you in Nanhou!" <<var $leonagone 1>>\ <<var $txt "With Leona taking a nice swim you">>\ <<page "Continue" "ch6-ship-aka-done">>\ #show-if ($leonaromance gte 2) Carry her to the Captain's Cabin. [Seduction] <<if ($bffromance gt 0)>>\ <<var $honor - 2>>\ <</if>>\ "You're insane." You reply immediately. "We couldn't get away with that, the crew would hear everything." She leans forward and licks all the way up your cheek until her mouth gets to your ear. "I've been Sealing your room against sound for days. No one will hear me scream." <<var $leonarep + 5>>\ <<var $leonaromance + 5>>\ <<var $metleona + 1>>\ You don't even reply. Given the last incentive needed, you grab her around the waist and pull her in close. She goes for a kiss but you hoist her over your shoulder in a single heft instead. "Oof!" She shouts as her stomach hits your shoulder. "Don't be so rough!" Her knees press against your chest and her hands reach down to rub your hamstrings. "Mmmm actually, since it's you then be as rough as you liIIIIIII-!" ''[1 Agility Core Spent]'' <<var $agispent + 1>>\ Her voice trails off as you burn an Agility Core to dash you both into the Captain's quarters and throw her to the bed. She spins in the air like a lioness in the air, landing on her feet. A predatory smile spreads across her face as she takes in the sight of your approaching form. "You've finally come to your senses." She purrs out, flexing her shoulders forward so her upper arms squeeze her chest together. "Now let's get you ready." Scarlet energy swirls into a condensed orb on the tip of her finger that she points at you like a crossbow. She releases it at you without another word. You don't hesitate and continue advancing on her as the small glowing attack splits into dozens of separate slices that tear your clothes at the seams. Your entire outfit falls to the floor and Leona giggles in delight. "It worked! My turn! My turn!" She claps excitedly and lays down on the bed, stretching out her long legs with one crossed over the other and her hands held behind her head on the pillow. "Show me what you've got, big boy." Fueled by her excitement you focus sickles of Bladed Chi into a single condensed orb on the tip of your index finger, arrange the spinning blades to the right trajectory, and pray for accuracy as you mimic her technique. The orb blasts off your fingertip and expands into two dozen slashes designed to dissipate on impact. Her clothes explode into the air in a slew of linen tatters that leaves shallow cuts all across her pristine golden-hued skin. She winces, and the magnificent view of her unbelievable nude form laid out before you is marred by red lines of thin cuts forming all over her body. Your first instinct is to apologize but she doesn't yelp, gasp, or hiss. She //moans//. Her eyes shut in concentration and her back arches on the bed. A quiver runs down her body and her legs shake in ecstasy. You get closer to make sure she's okay and her eyes open, looking drunk on pleasure. She reaches up and grips your strong arms, pulling you on top of her as she presses her lips into yours with wet kisses and passionate moans. You kiss her back, finally seizing the woman you've been teased by for so long. She pulls her mouth from yours just as abruptly as she began and whispers into your ear, breathing heavily. "No more games. Punish your little Sunbringer slut the way she deserves and fucking //conquer// me." Before you can even reply she wraps her legs around your waist and arcs her hips into yours, pressing your excitement into her. Leona trembles with delight until her shakes grow into a full-blown frenzy, her screams bouncing of the walls and vibrating everything that's not nailed down. You cover her mouth but that only seems to triple her excitement as she desperately grabs at your hand blocking her airway, pushing no Aura Pressure into her resistance and reveling in the failure to stop your strong grip. Her eyes roll into the back of her head as she bucks against you until finally she bites down on your fingers, causing you to rip your hand back and slap her on reflex. "YES!" She screams out unchained as your bodies collide, "Mmf! Yes! Right! There! MMF! //AH! YES! YYYES!!! OH ''GODDDS YESSSSSS!! SHEATHE YOUR FUCKING SWORD IN MEEEE♥♥♥!!"''// The bed, cabin, and ship itself barely survive the next hour as the two of you make love, your chi-fueled lusts elevated to such a frenzied intensity that one of the ship's rowers develops an aura from the life-and-death battle of trying to keep you all afloat. <<var $pwt_leona true>>\ <<var $retainers - 1>>\ <<var $martial_retainers + 1>>\ <<apboost 4>>\ <<page "Continue" "ch6-ship-leonabangled">>\ <</choose>> <<else>>\ "What do sailors and Captains typically do to pass the time?" You finally ask. "I can't train without risking the ship, and there's no problems to fix. I feel like I haven't sat still in months. Years, even." You stare down at both your open palms in stark realization. "I've almost forgotten how to relax." Leona starts unclipping her breastplate and greaves, showing the plain linen clothes underneath. "Girl, I feel that. Me, I'd usually get it on with red shoes over there." One of the retainers gulps. "But let me tell you a little secret I've been using when bored that suits your station better." "I'm all ears." She smiles wide, face turned slightly to the side as if divulging a genius strategy. "I sunbathe." Your right eyebrow raises in thought, then your left. "How does the sun bathe us?" "It's a word for getting a \ <<if ($race is "Oni")>>\ tan." You hold out both arms, palms up, your \ <<if ($spiritbrandloc is "skin")>>\ $spiritbrandcolor \ <<var $solexp + 1>>\ <<else>>\ red \ <</if>>\ Oni skin on display. "Too late for that." Leona shrugs. "It's still fun to tease. Come \ <<else>>\ tan. Come \ <</if>>\ on, lay down on the bench across from me and let the ocean sun's warm rays wash over us as these poor men try //so desperately// to focus on their training. You'll have to get naked though. Tan lines are an even bigger bitch than I am." You look over to the retainers trying their best to \ <<if ($firedhalfswordsmen is true)>>\ study and the one remaining retainer practicing his sword stances. \ <<else>>\ train against the wooden dummies. \ <</if>>\ They heard everything and from the looks of it they don't know if they're about to have the best view of their lives or if they're in trouble for even being nearby. <<choose "ch6-ship-aka-strippin2">> #"I'm a Clan Matriarch, not a common harlot." <<var $honor + 2>>\ You visibly cringe. "I'm a Clan Matriarch, not a common harlot." "Suit yourself." Leona says, taking her shirt off. "I on the other hand //am// a common harlot, not a Clan Matriarch." She climbs onto the railing, not the bench, and lays down in the nude. You suspect someone on the other ship is running to get their spyglass. You roll your eyes and focus on your meditation. Your spirit has had plenty of time to recover; if you can cycle your Bladed Chi in close proximity to swordplay you may be able to squeeze out a small amount of growth, no matter how menial. <<var $agiexp + 1>>\ <<var $powexp + 1>>\ <<apboost 3>>\ <<var $retainer_morale + 1>>\ Two hours pass and the scarlet glow around you fades from completion. You open your eyes when you feel no amount of further improvement. Leona and the retainers seem to have taken a break, seeing as they're down on the deck eating riceballs. <<var $txt "With Leona down on the deck you">>\ <<var $val 99>>\ <<page "Continue" "ch6-ship-aka-done">>\ #"That's stupid, let's play Mahjong instead." "That's stupid," you reply, "let's play Mahjong instead. I saw a set in the Captain's Cabin. Er, my cabin." "Mahjong?" Leona's face contorts like she's tasted something sour. "Like the old people game?" "Like the game for friends." You correct. Leona's lower lip quivers for a moment. "I've never had a friend before." <<if ($insight gte 2)>>\ ''[Insight 2 Check Passed]'' <<var $solexp + 1>>\ "Yes you have, you liar." <<var $honor + 1>>\ Leona switches immediately to a big smile. "Aw you got me! But for real, old people mahjong? I'm so in. Nobody ever asks me to play actual games anymore." "Yes they do, you liar." <<var $leonarep + 2>>\ "Damn girl, you're on a roll. Right again." Her smile shifts to a sinister predatory grin. "And that's why I'm about to destroy you in mahjong." "In your dreams." You reply, excited for the challenge. <<else>>\ ''[Insight 2 Check Failed]'' "Well you do now." You say encouragingly. "Awwwww!" Leona jumps in and gives you a hug. "My very own friend!" <<if ($shards gte 4)>>\ <<var $shards - 5>>\ <<elseif ($silver gte 40)>>\ <<var $silver - 40>>\ <<elseif ($gold gte 1)>>\ <<var $gold - 1>>\ <<elseif ($shards gt 0)>>\ <<var $shards 0>>\ <<elseif ($silver gt 0)>>\ <<var $silver 0>>\ <</if>>\ Heh, you knew she was a softie. You pat her on the back and pull away to go get your mahjong kit. "Wait right here!" You shout back. "This is going to be fun!" <</if>>\ You come back a minute later with the board and pieces and sit down across from Leona in a corner so the retainers have room to continue swinging their \ <<if ($firedhalfswordsmen is true)>>\ swords and studying. <<else>>\ swords. <</if>>\ <<page "Continue" "ch6-ship-aka-mahjong">>\ #"Sounds like fun, I'm in." <<var $retainer_morale + 10>>\ <<if (($bodytype is "Hourglass") or ($bodytype is "Bodacious"))>>\ <<var $retainer_morale + 5>>\ <</if>>\ <<var $honor - 3>>\ "Sounds like fun." You say. "I'm in." "Ugh!" Leona groans. "You're such a bad role model. I love it." You turn away from her and towards the astonished gazes of your retainers who can't believe their luck. #"Fine, if one of them shows a spark of Bladed Chi I'll do it." -> "ch6-ship-aka-strippin" "Fine." You reply flatly. "If one of these four can show a spark of Bladed Chi then I'll do it." The four men near the training dummies stare dumbfounded at you. \ <<if ($honor gt 50)>>\ You shoot them a sharp stare. "Well? Your time is running out." \ <<else>>\ You flash them a brief flicker of a smile. "Better get to it." \ <</if>>\ All four of them scramble for their swords and push themselves harder than Big Chu ever pushed you. ''[Retainer Strength + 1]'' <<var $retainer_strength + 1>>\ <<var $retainer_morale + 2>>\ <<var $ruthless - 2>>\ In merely an hour Leona's already fallen asleep and your meditations have cycled your spirit well. She wakes up when you both sense the tiniest hint of Bladed Chi manifest inside the Cores of one of your retainers. "Yessss!" Leona shous out. "Which one of you did it? Nevermind, I don't care, a deal's a deal!" Damn it, you were almost hoping they'd fail. All four of the men stab their swords into the ground and drop to one knee, utterly exhausted. They look up with the lidded eyes of men on the verge of collapse to see if their promised reward becomes a reality. <</choose>> <</if>>\

You squint from the bright sun and ascend the stairs on the side of your Captain's Cabin and come to the roof above to see several benches secured against the railings and a small crowd huddled in a circle on the floor. "Look who it is!" Shouts an Oni woman you don't recognize. "The $patriarch wakes!" You give a curt nod as everyone turns to see you. Seven crewmen you saved from Ebikowa and one out of place Devanic pilgrim, all holding clay cups of wine. Angelo is in a pair of burlap pants he didn't have in Ebikowa and is noticeably missing a shirt. Judging by his sunburn, he lost it a while ago. He turns with the rest and sees you ascend the stairs. \ <<if ($spiritbrandloc is "eyes")>>\ "Eye spiritbrands, very sporting! I've gained the same myself, though my originals were only a different shade of blue than the Sacred cerulean they are now." \ <<elseif (($spiritbrandloc is "hair") or ($spiritbrandloc is "hairstrip"))>>\ "A hair spiritbrand, quite the \ <<if ($heshe is "he")>>\ decoration! \ <<else>>\ attraction! \ <</if>>\ They say Lunargoths brought them to this world but considering the bright hair of many Yokai I find that hard to believe." \ <<elseif (($spiritbrandloc is "tail and ears") or ($spiritbrandloc is "tail"))>>\ "Ah, a \ <<if ($subrace is "Reptile")>>\ new tail, \ <<else>>\ fur spiritbrand, \ <</if>>\ not too shabby! I was wondering when \ <<if ($subrace is "Reptile")>>\ a spiritbrand \ <<else>>\ one \ <</if>>\ would start to show on you. For me it was the eyes, mine were originally a different shade of blue other than Sacred cerulean. Not much of a change, really." \ <<elseif ($spiritbrandloc is "horns")>>\ "A horn spiritbrand? Well that's a first, I have half a mind to think young Kosuke painted them, but I digress." \ <<elseif ($spiritbrandloc is "skin")>>\ "My goodness!" He shouts out. "A skin spiritbrand! That's rather rare, if the Martial Arts don't work out you could make a living posing for portraits. Mine wasn't nearly so fantastical, my blue eyes turned a different shade of blue." \ <<elseif ($race is "Kitsune")>>\ "Oh dear, that second tail will be hard to hide, but there's no problems with it among the crew, isn't that right everyone?" He looks to the others who stare, openmouthed, at you. The exposed Kitsune. Angelo's aura becomes so heavy that it grows hard to breathe as if his very presence replaces the air all around the platform. He repeats himself in a far graver tone. "//Isn't that right, everyone?//" They all nod quickly and he smiles again, aura dissipating. "Grand!" \ <<else>>\ "Ah, $heshe wakes! We were about to call for a medic, if the ocean has any, but I'm glad to see you awoke naturally." \ <</if>>\ The large Lunargoth waves a hand at a pile of cards in the middle of the seated crowd. "So, mighty $patriarch, come to play with us commoners?" Up here on the high seas you feel the wind blow through your \ <<if (($hairlength isnot "bald") and ($hairlength isnot "buzzed"))>>\ <<if ($spiritbrandloc is "hair")>>\ newly $spiritbrandcolor \ <<elseif ($spiritbrandloc is "hairstrip")>>\ $spiritbrandcolor and $haircolor \ <<else>>\ $haircolor \ <</if>>\ hair \ <<else>>\ scalp \ <</if>>\ and look down at the cards. "Shouldn't those have flown away by now?" Angelo gently taps his nose. "Not all things touched by Sacred Chi are sacred themselves. I've been keeping these sinful gambling cards from flying off by draining the kinetic force of the wind around them." "Don't worry Captain, we had the same concern." Says one of the men in a bandana. "We were hesitant to play, figured he'd be looking at our cards somehow, but he keeps losing, so we keep playing!" <<if (dig($metangelo, 2) gte 1)>>\ Honestly you're just glad for confirmation that they can all see him. You're still not sure what happened back at the temple. <</if>>\ //"I have absolutely been looking at their cards."// Angelo's voice interrupts into your mind with a hint of worry. He chuckles and pats the man beside him on the back. "What can I say, friend? I simply cannot draw a good hand to save my life!" A few of them laugh back but Angelo's voice rings out in your mind once again. //"I really can't. Please help."// "Make way for the Clan <<cap $patriarch>>!" Says the Oni woman. Several crewmen scoot over to offer you a seat in the circle. One younger Human man starts shuffling the deck. "What'll it be, Captain? It's a high stakes 10 Shard buy-in." 10 Shards each?! \ <<if ($honor lt 50)>>\ Sheesh, you think to yourself, who is paying these people so much? <<else>>\ You can't imagine who is paying these people so much. <</if>>\ Actually, you're the Clan <<cap $patriarch>>, and they're your Clan's new retainers...Ancestors, you hope it isn't you that has to pay them so much. <<include "ch6-ship-aoyu-gamble">>\

<<choose "ch6-ship-gamblingman">> #use-if ((($shards + ($silver / 10)) + ($gold * 10)) gte 10) Play a Hand. [Costs 10 Shards] <<var $honor - 1>>\ <<if ($honor gt 50)>>\ Hesitantly \ <<else>>\ Excitedly \ <</if>>\ you take a seat with the other gamblers and throw your ante into the center with everyone else's stack of money. <<costcalc 10>>\ One longhaired Human man shuffles the deck and delivers each player their hand. "Best of luck to you, Captain." "To Hells with that." Says an older gentleman enjoying his wine. "Best of luck to me!" Their words and laughter don't quite register in your ears, you're too busy turning over your cards and seeing... <<rand $temper 0 8>>\ ''[Cards Randomized]'' #use-once "How much money have you lost so far?" -> "ch6-ship-aoyu-gamble" "How much money have you lost so far?" You ask Angelo. He beams up at you from his seated position. "Oh fear not, there's no longer any need worry about losing money. I've been broke for several hours. By now I've also lost my shirt, my infinite wineskin, dozens of mystery fuuinjutsu tags, my elixirs, the set of cards we're playing with, and I've had to work two miracles. I'm surprised it took them this long to gamble for those." "You can perform miracles?" Angelo smiles warmly while staring at his hand of awful cards. "We can all perform miracles." "He made wine out of our water barrel!" Boasts one of the older sailors, raising a cup to Angelo's misfortune. Angelo nods. "I made a sweetened lemon juice too, but no one seemed to care about the lemonade when the wine came out." He sighs wistfully. "They never do." #"No gambling on board, everyone return your winnings to whoever lost them." "No gambling on board, everyone return your winnings to whoever lost them." <<var $retainer_morale - 2>>\ <<var $ruthless - 2>>\ <<var $honor + 3>>\ <<var $angelorep + 5>>\ "But-!" Starts the Oni woman across from Angelo. "No buts." You interrupt. "However," Angelo begins. "No howevers." You interrupt again. "This is my ship by right of conquest, I'll not have it become a den of poverty and animosity between crew members. If you want to gamble when we dock that's one thing, but while you're on my ship you follow my rules." "A fair rule for you to enforce," Angelo adds eyes closed and finger raised in lecture, "and yet-" "No yets." Angelo snaps his fingers, thwarted. "I do apologize everyone, it seems you'll have to return my many, many belongings you've won from me fair and square. Captain's orders." The crewmen grumble, some throw their cards down, and one older man in particular spits on Angelo as they all empty their pockets and throw a treasure trove down in front of Angelo. Tags, pouches, Shards, Silver, his own shirt, wineskins, talismans, small ornate statues, ritual components, scrolls, combs, and one of his sandals that you didn't even realize he was missing. They all storm off down the stairs, grumbling about wasted luck. "I think that went well." Angelo says as he rises. He wipes the spittle off his chest and walks to the railing to look over the rest of the crew as they descend into the cramped rower's chambers below deck. You join him and look down at the gossiping crewmen. When they finish leaving down the hatch to the lower level, Angelo turns to you with a beaming smile. "I must confess, you're getting better at this." "Better at what?" "Letting people experience the lesson instead of preaching it to them. They were all enjoying gambling because it gained them something great, and even if they lost later, some would still chase that high of winning. A trap baited with riches, often ending in poverty. By turning their big victory into a failure outside their control, you soured their temptations for years to come." You turn to Angelo and analyze his face, wind blowing against his shining eyes. He looks thoughtful, but the reasoning for it doesn't add up. <<if ($heshe is "he")>>\ "That's a bit much, isn't it? All \ <<else>>\ "Angelo, all \ <</if>>\ I did was tell them give you back your stuff. It wasn't some lesson." "Or was it?" He asks, eyes squinting and cheekbones rising. He seems all too pleased. "You wield Sacred Chi now; your thoughts and mental power are directly connected to your spirit. You may not know it, but your 'gut feelings' have begun to stem from well-thought plans you didn't even have to analyze. I didn't gamble with them to teach you this lesson, I simply felt it would be a sound idea that could lead to the right end. I followed through on it, and here we are." "Is that how you go through life? Just gut feelings that turn into grand plans halfway through?" He nods slowly. "How do you think the Heavens achieve total perfection so passively? Converting wisdom into reaction is a key part of Ascension." "Ascension?" "Hah! Did I say Ascension? I meant Advancement." He laughs quickly and claps your back. "Silly me. //Advancement// is what this helps with, and we of the Aoyusumu Style are only fortunate in that we walk that path more easily than most." As his words register, you feel something twist and turn in your Spirit. Your Aura Pressure solidifies towards a specific function. It's the same feeling you get when learning a Technique. "...No." You say in disbelief, feeling the inner workings throughout your aura. "Oh yes." Angelo replies, \ <<if ($angeloromance gte 2)>>\ hand lowering to the railing and almost touching yours until he realizes what he's doing. "Ahem. I \ <<else>>\ hand on your shoulder. "I \ <</if>>\ was just as surprised when my first Revelation struck to me too." "No, this couldn't have been an Aoyusumu lesson. All you did was gamble and lose, you said so yourself!" "I did." He says confidently, turning around and picking his shirt off the pile of gambled goods. "And the results were fantastic, weren't they? Even in this lecture of showing instead of telling, I have shown instead of told. We're not the only ones who can learn this trick of course, but our Sacred Chi helps." The more you consider the whole situation, the more you feel a change in your spirit. The more you feel that change in your spirit, the more you believe his words. But... "But I didn't even use a Path Manual!" "Sometimes you don't have to," He replies, putting the shirt on. "Heavens knows there will be Path Manuals for sale in Nanhou teaching something similar, but this is one of the lessons we Sacred practitioners can unlock naturally. Though I understand your confusion. To learn a Technique just through experience and meditation, and to do it //right//, is nearly impossible. Why, you'd need some sort of...Seventh Sense." <<learntech 4610670000000020 "Seventh Sense" "Passively increases Insight by +1. Increases Power Surge by +1 when focused.">>\ <<if ($techslotcode[4] is 9000000000000000)>>\ ''[Soul Core focused on the "Seventh Sense" Technique]'' <<focuscore "Seventh Sense" 4610670000000020>>\ <</if>>\ The feeling is subtle at first, oh so subtle, but when you stop trying to focus on it and let it come to you it's almost as if you're holding the puppet strings to your own body, maneuvering your actions and thoughts to the right dance of a silent tune. A sad tune. You look at Angelo and feel a hunch that you can't shake. The gut feeling causes you to ask at the same time he answers. "You're leaving?" You ask, confused. "I'm leaving." Angelo confirms, saddened. <<page "Continue" "ch6-ship-aoyu-leave">>\ #"Carry on, though tradition dictates a Captain's tax is in order." <<var $ruthless + 2>>\ <<var $angelorep - 2>>\ <<var $retainer_morale - 4>>\ "Carry on," you say to the crew of gambling sailors, "though tradition dictates a Captain's tax is in order." "Heh, of course Captain." Says one of your younger retainers but he only offers a smile and a nod. "I'm serious." They all exchange glances with Angelo, who shakes his head and says, "It is always a polite custom to obey the laws of the domain. If the Captain demands $hisher tribute, that is $hisher right." "Awwww!" Groans several at once. They begin emptying their pockets, offering you a few of their gathered knickknacks. You sit on a bench and enjoy the breeze as they continue for twenty more minutes, giving you their full tribute pile on the way out after outright fleecing Angelo of his hidden emergency stache of fuuinjutsu tags. ''[Item Gained: 3 Alchemy Reagents]'' <<var $alchemyreagents + 2>>\ ''[Item Gained: 1 Gold]'' <<var $gold + 1>>\ ''[Item Gained: 137 Silver]'' <<var $silver + 137>>\ ''[Item Gained: 14 Shards]'' <<var $shards + 14>>\ ''[Item Gained: 2 Ritual Components]'' <<var $ritualcomponents + 2>>\ ''[Item Gained: 1 Low Grade Agility Pill]'' <<var $lgagipill + 1>>\ As the crewmen leave Angelo rises and shakes his head, staring at the merry retainers leaving down the stairs. When they're finally gone, he turns to you. "I do believe the Heavens are punishing me for cheating at cards. Thirty-seven hands and not a single winner, I essentially owe them each a miracle and a house at this point." "Lucky crew." You reply as Angelo dons a brown pilgrim's robe. "Where'd you get the robe? I thought they took everything." Angelo barks out an honest laugh before sitting across from you. "Sorry, that hit a little too close to home." He rubs his eyes with one large hand and runs his palm down his face in disbelief. "They did take everything. This robe is on loan." You almost laugh as hard as he did. "I know, I know." Angelo says with a wave of the hand, "Lesson learned. A shame I couldn't pay it back before leaving though." <<page "Leaving?" "ch6-ship-aoyu-leave">>\ <</choose>>

"What's this about leaving?" You ask in surprise. "Where? Why? Better yet..." You look to both sides of the ship and see nothing but water on either side. "//How//?" "I'm afraid it's not optional. There is someone in need, can you feel it? <<if ($stylerank gte 2)>>\ ''[Aoyusumu (Adept) Check Passed]'' If you close your eyes just right, a sensation of desperation finds you, as if an invisible tunnel connected you to a far away place and only thanks to the soundproof walls of that tunnel can you hear the echoes of a shout for mercy. <<apboost 5>>\ "I think I actually can." You reply softly. "Then I am sorry." Angelo replies. "I never meant for this burden to fall to your shoulders so quickly. \ <<else>>\ "No, should I?" "Not yet," He says, looking to the east, "but in time you'll share the burden. \ <</if>>\ They say that to hear the pleas of the masses is to touch upon the divine. It's true, in a way. Saints are the closest stand-in for the Heavens that many will meet. But at the early stages the only divine aspect you can touch upon is divine responsibility. Knowing that every second you waste elsewhere, someone is suffering. Knowing you should intervene. Knowing that every second wasted is a death on your conscience." You look at Angelo with judgment for the first time. "Then why were you playing cards?" "Oh! Oh, no." His chest shakes from two silent snorts. "The prayer just came in, honest. Heavens, could you imagine how callous that would have been? And I didn't even win a hand, too." That sounds more like the Angelo you know. "So that's why you're leaving." He holds up a finger and a smile to correct, "That's why I //have// to leave. Helping the innocent is a Devanic tenet, one I wouldn't abandon for all the Shards in the world." He places a hand on the railing and \ <<if ($heshe is "she")>>\ looks back to you, hair blowing in the wind. "It's been quite a journey, <<cap $name>>. Thank you for the adventure, and thank you for all the lives we saved." \ <<else>>\ grins. "I'll miss our little adventures, $name. Honest. Few introduce me to a chance to combat the forces of Hell on a random weekend." You both laugh and he gives a short bow. "Really though, it's been an adventure. Thank you." \ <</if>>\ <<choose "ch6-ship-compgone">> #"And thank you, sensei, for all your training." [Give a respectful bow] <<var $honor + 4>>\ <<var $angelorep + 3>>\ "And thank you, sensei," you reply, "for all your training." You give a respectful bow and look up to see his smile shift from warm to incredulous. "Sensei?!" He blurts out in mock horror. "Heavens, now I feel old! Yet if anyone asks then of course I will claim the title. Training a Clan $patriarch with $hisher own fleet of retainers is something I'll certainly brag about. Farewell, my friend." With that he leaps overboard and your ship //''rocks''// from the portside explosion of water when he lands. Crewmen scream in panic as your entire vessel tilts to the side, nearly knocking you off the platform. Only your well-trained reflexes let you catch the railing of your ship before going overboard. When the ship rights itself after several rocks back and forth you see what caused it: the top of the sea parts in a six-foot wake in the distance as Angelo sprints across the water faster than any ship, launching waves to both sides of his sprint. "Couldn't you have landed ''away'' from my ship?!" You yell out with chi enforcing your lungs. "My deepest apologies!" He hollers back over the long distance. <<page "Continue" "ch6-ship-compgone">>\ #"Will I see you at the Trials?" <<var $angelorep + 2>>\ <<var $ruthless - 1>>\ "Will I see you at the Trials?" You ask as he looks overboard. He turns back to you with another genuine smile. "I certainly hope so. I haven't traveled all this way just to miss the spectacle. Besides, I'm sure I can handle whatever emergency is plaguing the innocents in need." "I wasn't worried about that," You respond honestly, "I'm more worried about you making it in time to see my opening act." Angelo chews his cheek thoughtfully, looking east towards the source of the prayer and south in the direction of Nanhou, days from visibility. "Yeah. I've got time." With that he leaps overboard and your ship //''rocks''// from the portside explosion of water when he lands. Crewmen scream in panic as your entire vessel tilts to the side, nearly knocking you off the platform. Only your well-trained reflexes let you catch the railing of your ship before going overboard. When the ship rights itself after several rocks back and forth you see what caused it: the top of the sea parts in a six-foot wake in the distance as Angelo sprints across the water faster than any ship, launching waves to both sides of his sprint. "Couldn't you have landed ''away'' from my ship?!" You yell out with chi enforcing your lungs. "My deepest apologies!" He hollers back over the long distance. <<page "Continue" "ch6-ship-compgone">>\ #"Do you have any last tips for me?" <<var $honor - 1>>\ "Do you have any last tips for me?" You ask, withdrawing an empty notebook and inked quill, somehow. Angelo squints sideways at the sky, rubbing his chin. \ <<if (($honor lt 45) and ($ruthless gt 55))>>\ "Be a nicer person?" \ <<else>>\ "…Don't be a bad person?" \ <</if>>\ "That's awful." You reply. "That's awful, basic, useless advice you could give to anyone for anything." He sighs in concession. "Too true, too true indeed. Very well then; when you pivot into your punches you're not using your Sacred Chi to siphon kinetic energy. You should. Just when you're about to strike, use your offhand to pull kinetic energy out of your movement in the last second and use your main hand to channel that energy into your fist. If done right, you'll stop moving the second you hit your opponent and your entire body's momentum will be added to your strike. The aesthetics of it don't hurt when you're posed perfectly still and they're sent reeling." You scribble that down quickly, surprised to get such good advice on such short notice. <<if ($honor lt 45) and ($ruthless gt 55)>>\ ''[5 Power EXP Gained]'' <<var $powexp + 5>>\ <<else>>\ ''[10 Power EXP Gained]'' <<var $powexp + 10>>\ <</if>>\ "Anything else-" You ask, looking up to see him already leaping overboard. Your ship //''rocks''// from the portside explosion of water when he lands. Crewmen scream in panic as your entire vessel tilts to the side, nearly knocking you off the platform. Only your well-trained reflexes let you catch the railing of your ship before going overboard. When the ship rights itself after several rocks back and forth you see what caused it: the top of the sea parts in a six-foot wake in the distance as Angelo sprints across the water faster than any ship, launching waves to both sides of his sprint. "Couldn't you have landed ''away'' from my ship?!" You yell out with chi enforcing your lungs. "My deepest apologies!" He hollers back over the long distance. <<page "Continue" "ch6-ship-compgone">>\ #show-if ($heshe is "she") "Are you sure we can't stay toge-I mean go together?" [Seduction] <<var $metangelo + 1>>\ <<var $angeloromance + 3>>\ <<var $angelorep + 10>>\ You weren't ready for him to leave so soon. Anxiety grips your heart like a cold steel hand and you can't find the right words to say no matter how hard you try to think. "Are you sure we can't stay toge-I, I mean go together?" Damn it, damn it, damn it! You're going to lose him again. No, no you're a Martial Artist. Overcoming hardships is nothing new. You press the feelings of anxiety deep down and force your every movement. You can do this. You cross one leg in front of the other, puff out your chest as subtly as you can, and cast your gaze off to the side with the barest hint of a pout. "I just thought that, well, maybe we could have gotten to know each other more?" You glimpse up to see his reaction. The curve of a smile reaches the side of his mouth, a good sign, but it's quickly fought back. He looks to the Heavens and inhales deeply, taking your hands in his as he meets your gaze again. "<<cap $name>>, you're an amazing, beautiful woman with more talents than any scribe can count. I have greatly enjoyed our time together, it's impossible not to; against all odds you bring a smile to people's faces when they're trapped in an invasion from the Hells." "But?" You ask, prepared for disappointment. He exhales slowly through his nose. "You're just beginning your journey, and I cannot be the one to stifle it." His eyes hold contact with yours like a dam holding back a flood, as if straining his neck not to look down at your body on display one last time. "I am sorry, <<cap $name>>. My feelings aside, it's never a good idea to have relations between Student and Master." His feelings aside? So he //has feelings//! Looking up to the handsome monk brings those befuddling sensations back in full force, as if you're 13 trying to talk to your first crush. Your every movement is sluggish, your breathing irregular, and your mind filled with a fog, but you will //not// miss this chance. You need a line, damn it. <<page "Think. Think! THINK!" "ch6-ship-aoyu-smooches">>\ <</choose>>

"...Student and Master?" You begin. Going on instinct you look up to him and bat your eyelashes three times, tilt your head back to bring your lips closer to his, and whisper the first dirty words that come to your mind. "You haven't mastered me yet." He looks into your eyes and you look back up at him defiantly, with playful invitation at the corners of your smile. Angelo's voice grows serious as he leans closer to you. "You shouldn't court danger." You tilt your head back and slowly move your lips closer to his own. "You should court me." In a rush that knocks your hair into a mess you're spun around and slammed onto the railing of the ship. You don't even feel the impact of wood against your butt and realize it's because Angelo's hands are holding you up like a seat with a //firm// grip. Before you can squeal you're pushed back by his lips crashing into yours like a tidal wave against a cliffside. Heat rises to your chest and your eyes close in delight. You kiss him back, wrapping your arms over his wide shoulders while you meticulously wrap your legs around his waist. //Victory.// Your rising carnal needs are accompanied by such a sense of pride. As if a veil were forcibly ripped off the world, your confidence comes flooding back all at once. Your sharpness, your guile, your charm, your yearning, it all returns in full force as you're held in Angelo's embrace and his hands explore your body, one hand holstered under you like a seat and the other exploring up your side on its way to your chest. You've never been offered a better idea, you think to yourself, and explore his firm and powerful body with your own hands. One brushes up his powerful arms to trace the wide forearms and incredible biceps he's been hiding under those robes and the other explores further south to see //what else// he's been hiding under those robes. Then something else comes rushing into your mind. Screams. The screams, cries, and pleading of so many unfamiliar voices hits you all at once. Desperation, urgency, and sorrow breaks into your thoughts and jolts you like a rooster's call screaming into your ear. You pull away from Angelo but can't even open your eyes, mind wracking with pain, all focus kept on blocking out the mental noise. Your own thoughts begin to get lost in the sea of foreign calls for help. Uncountable sentences shout over each other begging for every type of aid and salvation, from the despaired to the dying. Try as you might, you can't focus on any one coherent thought, yet a single word shines through the cacophony like an invocation cried out in a hundred hopeless voices: "Angelo." <<page "Continue" "ch6-ship-aoyu-smooches2">>\

The screams in your head are interrupted by a flutter of wind in the real world, like a large bird's wings taking flight. You can finally breathe again. When your eyes slowly open you find yourself leaning back on the railing of your ship, your hands holding nothing and a cerulean glow dissipating in the air. You check your left, your right, overboard, and even above you, but wherever you look one thing is for sure: Angelo is nowhere to be found. A few slow inhales and exhales manage to steady your breathing and you return to the platform's floor, meditating to gather your thoughts. You finally made out with the hot religious guy and it felt like the world was screaming into your head. It's not like him to push mind effects on you so whatever it was... ... You stop and question that detail. //Is it// not like him to push mind effects on you? You've been stumbling over yourself several times when trying to express interest, and the second he's on board with it all of that melts away. \ <<if (dig($metangelo, 4) is 2)>>\ In fact, your confidence really kicked in back on the docks, when you caught him off guard. Which would mean he didn't have a chance to use any effect that time...oh that jerk! <</if>>\ Forget hearing the screams of the downtrodden, forget disappearing mysteriously //twice//. There's a bigger issue to focus on now: you're almost positive that bastard was using Sacred Chi to suppress your feelings on purpose! You're gonna kick his butt next time you see him. His muscular, chiseled, athletic butt. This is an outrage. If he expects you to accept an apology he better bring flowers. <<page "Continue" "ch6-ship-compgone">>\

<<if ($val isnot 99)>>\ With $fren gone \ <<if ((((dig($metdesdemona, 11) gte 1) or (dig($metangelo, 11) gte 1)) or (dig($metguiren, 11) gte 1)) or (dig($metfang, 11) gte 1))>>\ in the most dramatic exit possible you take a moment to \ <<if (dig($metdesdemona, 11) gte 1)>>\ recover, wash her purple kiss marks off your face, \ <<elseif (dig($metfang, 11) gte 1)>>\ grab a scarf and hide your new hickeys. When you're done you \ <<else>>\ recover \ <</if>>\ and \ <<else>>\ you \ <</if>>\ <<else>>\ You \ <</if>>\ find yourself alone on the raised platform at the back of your ship with nothing to do. You're so used to having to squeeze every opportunity out of every second, but training would risk capsizing your ship so it seems that you're forced into taking a break. For once you can afford to just...exist. Peacefully. After a few minutes of thinking about nothing, a rare luxury you revel in, you stretch your arms and look up to the \ <<if ($roc gte 1)>>\ sky. Halfway through one big yawn you realize you're making eye contact with something up there. Your bird. The crow's nest of your ship has been expanded into a Roc's Nest, with makeshift wooden platforms stretching outward and a mess of torn wool secured somehow into a nest. <<cap $rocname>> looks down from the nest with the odd sort of expression birds exhibit by opening their mouths in varying degrees. Right now it's \ <<if (((((dig($metdesdemona, 11) gte 1) or (dig($metangelo, 11) gte 1)) or (dig($metguiren, 11) gte 1)) or (dig($metfang, 11) gte 1)) or (dig($metleona, 11) gte 1))>>\ closed, and she's judging you. "Hey there girl, I guess you \ <<if (dig($metleona, 11) gte 1)>>\ heard all that too, huh?" <<else>>\ saw that earlier, huh?" <</if>>\ "CAWWW!" Replies $rocname. "It's not my fault, I'm only Human." "CAWWWWWW!" <<if ($race isnot "Human")>>\ "<<cap $race>>, whatever. It's an \ <<if ($race is "Kitsune")>>\ expression." It feels strange to finally say your family's secret out loud, but it's out in the open now anyway. You'll need a new illusion to hide your second tail and you don't even know how you managed the first. <<else>>\ expression." <</if>>\ Your giant and still-growing Roc narrows its eyes at you. "CAW! CAWW!!" <</if>>\ "What? Not if I can help it little missy! I'm allowed to because I'm $age years old. You're, what, a little over a year?" "CAWW!" "That's because you cheated using a Storm Gate. You can't fool me, you can have a boyfriend when you're...three? Five? Whenever Rocs are adults." "caw." <<cap $rocname>> responds softly in defeat. You make a mental note to look up more Roc-specific facts, you can't keep raising her like she's an oversized eagle forever. <<else>>\ open ever so slightly, she's happy to see you. "Good to see you too, girl." You say up to the giant eagle. "Thanks for watching over me while I slept." "CAWWWW!" Replies $rocname. "I can't believe you found me in Ebikowa, were you trailing me the whole time?" "CAW!" Ancestors, what a good bird. You order a nearby retainer to get a fish or three up there for her to eat. <</if>>\ <<page "Continue" "ch6-ship-compgone2">>\ <<else>>\ sky, feeling its rays on your face, and breathe in the fresh air with a hint of salt. You're never going to get used to that. Salt in the water? Salt in //this much// water? Nature is crazy. <<include "ch6-ship-compgone2">>\ <</if>>\

<<if (dig($owekosuke_f, 2) gte 1)>>\ "Now come on!" Kosuke urges, hanging on your arm. "I want to see what's in the brig. I've had to wait two days already and the anticipation is killing me." <<else>>\ Now come on, I've been waiting two days to see what's in the brig." <</if>>\ "Two days?" You ask, confused. "You could've checked inventory while I was asleep. Even that <<if ($sumyungai is true)>>\ Sum Yungai guy \ <<else>>\ retainer waking me up \ <</if>>\ already knew the inventory." "Most could check it, yes." Kosuke corrects, thinking back. "But //apparently// I have a bad reputation. Not among the crew, they love me, but \ <<include "ch6-ship-compgone4">>\

You \ <<if (((($style is "Akakiru") and ($val is 99)) and ($leonagone is 0)) and (dig($metleona, 11) is 0))>>\ maneuver around Leona having humorously bad luck getting anyone to talk to her and \ <</if>>\ spend the next few minutes patrolling the main deck. It takes a while to thoroughly \ <<if ($flagshiptype is "combat")>>\ inspect the awesome ballista on your front, large enough to fire bolts wider than your head. You and Kosuke always pretended to have siege engines when you were little kids, and now you //actually have one//. Sure, your fists are almost siege engines at this point, but this is the real deal. It counts more. <<else>>\ inspect the many, many ropes securing the sails to the several steel fastenings all around the vessel. There's far more rope involved in sailing than you would have ever expected. None of it looks out of place. <</if>>\ Afterwards you look back behind your flagship's trail and ensure your other \ <<if ($shipcount gte 3)>>\ ships are \ <<else>>\ ship is \ <</if>>\ still following within sight, which \ <<if ($shipcount gte 3)>>\ they are. <<else>>\ it is. <</if>>\ Hm... It's such an odd feeling to not have any emergencies or urgent tasks demanding your attention. When was the last time you remember everything going right? There's still days to go before reaching Nanhou but somehow two have passed without needing any intervention or fighting for your life. It's a good feeling, but not a familiar one. You decide to finish inspecting your own ship and open the hatch leading downstairs to the rower's level and the brig. The moment the hatch rises you hear the heavy grunting of a dozen men down below. <<if (($honor lte 46) and ($heshe is "she"))>>\ Nice. <<else>>\ Not a good sign. <</if>>\ You descend the lower stairs and turn the corner to see four men in hammocks on both sides of the walkway. Each is sound asleep despite the loud noises and you can immediately see why: other men are still on shift as rowers and their work looks exhausting. Six to each side are seated on benches doing their best to maneuver their oars plunged through the rowlocks, working in unison to push your ship through the sea while their overseer cracks his whip. That overseer being Bo \ <<if ($bogone gt 0)>>\ Lo. It seems he swam back from your other ship while you were sleeping. You might have to fix that later. <<else>>\ Lo. <</if>>\ Six paces in front of you stands the short man with his whip snapping through the air between threats. You recognize it as the weapon of the patrolwoman you beat up on your way to fight Crow Li. Next to Bo is Kosuke kneeling on the ground, looking through a crate of wine on the floor and trying not to drop a bottle as the ship rocks. "Row faster, damn it!" Bo Lo shouts, "Wine breaks are for winners! Do you think the Trials care about your limits?!" <<if ($portraitpics is true)>>\ <<image "https://www.auraclash.com/assets/images/bolo-boat.jpg">>\ <</if>>\ He cracks his whip against the wall. "We're on Bo Time now and that means every one of you is my bitch! If this ship drops below 9 knots for even a moment, I swear under the Heavens I will feed you the beggar's cooking!" "Heave! Ho!" Shout the rowers in unison. "HEAVE! HO!" They each find renewed strength under duress. The floor underneath your feet slightly lurches to adjust to the new speed. "Bo, what the fuck was that?" Kosuke whispers. "I can cook just fine." "Do not fool yourself." Bo hisses back. "We all had yesterday's gruel, the threat worked for a reason." "AHEM." You clear your throat right behind the two to get their attention. They both spin around in surprise, Bo with his whip behind his back and Kosuke's eyes wide at being caught \ <<if (($bffheshe is "she") and ($bffromance gte 1))>>\ as an awful cook. <<else>>\ with your wine supply in $bffhisher hands. <</if>>\ "Labor-errr, <<cap $name>>!" Bo spits out as if trying to eat shit with a smile. "What brings you down to the rower's level?" You \ <<if (($race is "Kitsune") or ($spiritbrandloc is "skin"))>>\ catch his concerned gaze focusing on your \ <<if ($race is "Kitsune")>>\ twin tails \ <<else>>\ new skin color \ <</if>>\ and \ <<elseif (($bodytype is "Bodacious") or ($bodytype is "hourglass"))>>\ catch his off-guard eyes trying to see through your clothes and \ <<var $borep + 3>>\ <</if>>\ reprimand him with a stern look. "Down to the lower level of my own ship?" <<if (dig($metleona, 11) is 1)>>\ Bo clears his throat and raises his chin, as if to deliver a prepared line. "I simply wondered when you had time to escape the bedroom with your Sunbringer whore." "Ohhhhhhh!" Kosuke howls, waving one hand around in surprising support of Bo's retort. You eye them both to drop it. Kosuke tsks and Bo casts his eyes aside. <<else>>\ Bo hesitates but seems to have thought of nothing smarter to say. "...Yes." <</if>>\ <<choose "ch6-ship-compgone3">> #"Bo, go easy on my men." <<var $borep - 3>>\ <<var $bffrep + 3>>\ <<var $retainer_morale + 2>>\ <<var $ruthless - 2>>\ "Bo, go easy on my men." Bo's mouth twitches with the remnants of a frown. "They need this more than I do, they lack discipline!" <<if ($honor gte 50)>>\ ''[Honor Check Passed]'' "They lack whipping too, because you're on my ship and I gave you an order." <<var $borep + 2>>\ His jaw tightens at your retort but he responds only with a short bow and places the whip down, for now. He looks back over his shoulder to the rowers. "Reduce to cruising speeds for one hour, then it's back to work." <<elseif ($ruthless lte 51)>>\ ''[Honor Check Failed]'' ''[Compassion Check Passed]'' "Discipline? Bo these are rescued normal folk, not our slaves. Yell at them if they're not doing their fair share for us all to get out of here but if you whip them again I we're going to have a problem, understood?" <<var $bffrep + 1>>\ <<var $retainer_morale + 3>>\ Bo grimaces and drops the whip. "You're throwing everything away with these Laborer ideals." <<else>>\ ''[Honor Check Failed]'' ''[Compassion Check Failed]'' "Very cool, don't care. Break one of my men and I break you, got it?" Bo grits his teeth but nods reluctantly and slams the whip down on a nearby crate. He looks over his shoulder to the rowers. "Two hours at cruising speeds, drink break, then it's back to work." <</if>>\ With that he walks passed you and leave-nope, wait, he's getting in a hammock. You were hoping he'd go above deck. Now he's still right next to you even though your conversation is over. Damn it Bo, stop making things weird. <<page "Continue" "ch6-ship-compgone3">>\ #"Bo, give me the whip." [Ban whipping] <<var $borep - 5>>\ <<var $bffrep + 1>>\ <<var $retainer_strength - 1>>\ <<var $retainer_morale + 12>>\ <<var $ruthless - 4>>\ "Bo, give me the whip." You say, holding out a hand with a disapproving shake of your head. Bo Lo immediately goes on the defensive. "Why should I? They need this or they'll be slacking off all day!" "They're not slaves for Heaven's sake, they're my retainers. If you want to go around whipping people then get your own." "Get his own?" Kosuke pipes up from the ground where $bffheshe's kneeling over a wine crate. "Like get his own people? That makes it sound like they //are// slaves." "Kosuke, not \ <<if (($honor lte 45) and ($ruthless gt 54))>>\ in front of the slaves." \ <<else>>\ now." \ <</if>>\ You hiss. Bo gives you a disapproving frown and his best attempt at a glare. "You'll regret this. They need discipline or they're never going to be useful." "Whipping people for fun doesn't give them discipline, give them a break." "I wasn-" <<if ($ruthless gt 55)>>\ Your $auracolor rages to full strength and everyone but Kosuke flinches. <<if ($honor gte 50)>>\ ''[Ruthless + Honor Check Passed]'' "You heard my order. Do not make me repeat myself." <<var $borep + 2>>\ <<else>>\ "Either you give them a break, or I give you a break." <</if>>\ Without a word Bo puts the whip on a nearby crate and \ <<else>>\ You give him a firm stare. "Bo, you were practically giddy. No more whipping, I mean it." "Fine." He says, crossing his arms. "Two days of my time wasted." With that he \ <</if>>\ storms past you to the upper deck, probably because everyone down here hates him. <<page "Continue" "ch6-ship-compgone3">>\ #"Bo, give me the whip." [Show him proper whipping form] <<var $flagshipboost + 1>>\ <<var $retainer_morale - 5>>\ <<var $borep + 7>>\ <<var $ruthless + 3>>\ "Bo, give me the whip." You command. "Your technique is horrible." Bo's eyebrows lower as he considers refusing your order but curiosity seems to grip him harder. Cautiously, he hands you his whip. You reel it back like you're about to knock it through a fortress wall, then follow through with the loudest whipcrack anyone on board has ever and, hopefully to each of them, will ever hear. The whip impacts an inch and a half away from the waist of one of your slower rowers and the air burst alone cuts against his skin. The damage is almost superficial but the tremendous sound gives power to the fear instilled by the whiplash. Such fear that the rower leaps out of his seat and screams. You suspect he's shat himself. A second whipcrack hits over his head and he sits back down, hunched over in fear but rowing harder than ever. The others pick up pace too and the ship lurches again as you break your old records. You hand the whip back to Bo. "Easy as that." Bo stares down at the whip in his hands and looks back to you in awe. "I never knew you cared so much for your crew. If we keep this up we might just make something respectable out of them." <<if (($ruthless lt 53) or ($honor gte 55))>>\ Finally, someone who understands. <<else>>\ You don't know what he's talking about, you just wanted to whip some people. <</if>>\ <<page "Continue" "ch6-ship-compgone3">>\ #[Nod in approval] "Carry on." <<var $borep + 3>>\ <<var $honor + 1>>\ You look from Bo to your rowers, civilians that you saved from Ebikowa and apparently pressganged into rowing duty while a Martial Artist threatens to whip them. Seems like everything's in order. "Carry on, Bo." Bo gives a short respectful bow and turns back to the rowers. "What are you all looking at? Do you think you'll survive the next storm with that pitiful rowing performance? Get back to work!" It's nice having people around to yell at others for you. Saves a lot of time. <<page "Continue" "ch6-ship-compgone3">>\ <</choose>>

You explore the lower levels and find everything in order. The hammocks are setup securely in the back, the ship's speed is steady, and the brig up ahead is protected by \ <<if ($flagshiptype is "merchant")>>\ an incredibly well secured iron wall like a vault. You decide to give it a more thorough inspection to see if it's as waterproof as it looks. <<else>>\ an iron wall. It reminds you of the jailcell you were in mere days ago, but this one holds chests for storage rather than people. In fact, the same people that were locked in the jail's old cells now serve on your ship. <</if>>\ You walk through the rows of rowers...and wonder if that's where the word 'row' came from. How old is the practice of rowing a ship? It wasn't covered in your mountainous education. Maybe- "Wine?" Kosuke interrupts your thoughts, holding up a bottle to your right. \ <<if (dig($metleona, 11) gte 1)>>\ "I figured you'd need it after that marathon upstairs." <<if (($bffromance gte 1) and ($bffheshe is "she"))>>\ You wince in preparation for a very painful conversation. "I was hoping no one heard it." "Short odds there dumbass, I'm on the same ship. It's not //that// big." <<if (($heshe is "he") and ($honor lt 46))>>\ Through the sheer will of a Martial Artist you hold back saying 'that's not what Leona said'. Instead you \ <<else>>\ You \ <</if>>\ summon all of your resolve and try to think of how to justify cheating on your childhood girlfriend with a likely-murderous huge-chested \ <<if ($race isnot "Lunargoth")>>\ blonde Lunargoth. <<else>>\ outsider. <</if>>\ She interrupts you first. "I want a sword." "You want a...sword?" She grabs your shoulders and forces you to face her. You're actually surprised, you didn't resist but she's still got more strength than you're used to. "I. Want. A. Sword." "Is this some kind of innuendo or...?" "Maybe later." She adds, pulling you to the brig's door away from the rowers. "Look, I get it, I'm a beggar girl who needed Advancement just to grow back some lost teeth. You're a Clan <<cap $patriarch>> that's moving up in the world. I expected you to eventually go all 'concubines' on me but..." She breathes out a reluctant sigh. "The heart wants what the heart wants, and I still want my future brats to have the $clan name instead of no Clan at all. Besides, I mentally prepared for this //soulless betrayal// four years ago." You tilt your head at that. "I haven't even been a Martial Artist for four years." She rolls her eyes with a thoughtful smile. "We haven't been together for four years either, idiot. Like I said, I prepared for it. And I know these other strumpets are all going to demand to be your wife or number one concubine or some petty crap, and I'm //not// starting a rivalry with Martial Artists. So here's the deal: leave me out of that drama, give them whatever lip service you want - stop laughing, that wasn't innuendo - and instead of titles I just want cool stuff." "Y...Yeah." You concede, caught offguard. "That's disturbingly calm of you." "Don't get me wrong, my feelings are still completely crushed and I cried while you were up there, I'm just not going to give you shit for it." "Except for-" "Shit." She says, snapping her fingers. "Except for rubbing it in that I was down here sobbing while you cheated on me, yes. This will take some work to //actually// not give you shit for it. For now, let's call that the last time and leave that drama for the others. I know the Martial World is filled with unfaithful immortals, that comes with the territory of dating someone great, but if that's how it's got to be then I want the cool stuff that comes with it too." "What kind of cool stuff were you thinking?" The sadness leaves her eyes, quickly replaced with a mischievous hunger. "Welllll let's see. Protection. Utility. Scrolls that can blast people into next week. I need combat benefits more than I need romantics seeing as Mao's got a hit on my head. That's why any time you add to your collection of girls, I want to add to my collection of tools. So...seeing as you slept with Leona which, by the way, not as insecure about that as you'd think because I've seen her butt and mine's nicer, but I want a sword when we get to Nanhou. A good one, Soul Treasure and \ <<if ($background is "Blacksmith")>>\ all. Bonus points if you make it yourself, mister blacksmith." She punches you in the arm playfully. "Deal?" <<else>>\ all. Deal?" <</if>>\ Being forgiven so easily somehow hurts worse than being yelled at, but your heartbeat calms as you're awash in relief. You hold a hand out to shake Kosuke's and she rushes in for a hug instead. You shove the guilt deep down to focus on enjoying her presence as she rubs her head against your chest and you run your hand through her hair. "Deal." You reply softly. <<var $owekosuke_f + 100000000000>>\ "Awwww!" You hear from all the rowers a mere five feet away. "GET BACK TO WORK!" Kosuke screams at the crew. <<page "Continue" "ch6-ship-compgone-kostalk">>\ <<elseif ($bffheshe is "she")>>\ You wince. "I was hoping no one heard that." Kosuke shakes her head, takes a heavy swig from the bottle, and tosses it to you. "//Everyone// heard it. Congratulations on your blonde Sunbringer psycho girlfriend. \ <<include "ch6-ship-compgone-kostalk">>\ <<else>>\ You wince. "I was hoping no one heard that." "//Everyone// heard it." Kosuke retorts, nods in approval, and takes a heavy swig from his wine bottle...He keeps swigging for a while actually, then tosses it to you. "Can't say I'm not jealous. Congrats on your forbidden Sunbringer girlfriend by the way, I couldn't imagine a better way to piss Mao off. \ <<include "ch6-ship-compgone-kostalk">>\ <</if>>\ <<else>>\ "I've been saving it for the grand opening." "Grand opening?" You ask. Kosuke takes a heavy swig from the bottle and tosses it to you. "For the brig! \ <<include "ch6-ship-compgone4">>\ <</if>>\

Leona and Bo said I wasn't allowed near the treasure until you were up, they said I'd try to rob it." "Truly we live in a world of oppression and negative stereotypes." You hang your head in solace, then lift it to look Kosuke in the face. "Would you have?" "Would I have...?" "Robbed the treasury when I was asleep." "Would I rob my best \ <<if (($heshe isnot $bffheshe) and ($bffromance gte 1))>>\ friend and \ <<if ($heshe is "he")>>\ boyfriend?!" \ <<else>>\ girlfriend?!" \ <</if>>\ <<else>>\ friend?!" \ <</if>>\ Kosuke pulls back in insult, a hand on $bffhisher chest like $bffheshe's dying. "Never! Hardly! Barely! Only a little, you know? Have some faith in me, \ <<if ($heshe is "he") and ($bffheshe is "he")>>\ dick." <<else>>\ ass." <</if>>\ Typical Kosuke. "Alright, give me the key and let's see what's \ <<if ($flagshiptype is "merchant")>>\ in the vault." <<else>>\ in the crates." <</if>>\ Unsurprisingly, Kosuke produces the \ <<if ($flagshiptype is "merchant")>>\ vault's \ <<else>>\ steel gate's \ <</if>>\ key from $bffhisher pocket. The one $bffheshe's not supposed to have. You take it from $bffhimher and insert it into the door. <<page "Treasure time!" "ch6-ship-compgone5">>\

You and Kosuke open the door to the \ <<if ($flagshiptype is "Merchant")>>\ vault \ <<else>>\ brig \ <</if>>\ and step inside to behold its contents: <<if ($style isnot "Akakiru")>>\ Leona. The Lunargothic woman is unconscious on the ground in her plain linens behind an assortment of \ <<if (($flagshiptype is "Merchant") or ($loot gte 10))>>\ //many// crates filled to the brim with goods. \ <<else>>\ crates. \ <</if>>\ Her face is blush with the glow of alcohol and plastered with a drooling smile as she hugs a pricey looking bottle, snoring in her sleep. "And they say I'm the thief." Kosuke mutters. <<cap $bffheshe>> checks an opened crate to find it filled with mostly empty bottles. "Ancestors be damned. That was the good stuff too. \ <<if ($style is "Aoyusumu")>>\ She must have snuck in after Angelo came down for a bottle." "And not when you did?" You're merely guessing that Kosuke swiped one too, but $bffheshe freezes up when asked. "Ah don't worry about it." You assure. "She'd have finished it off anyway." "Which is a damned shame." Kosuke groans. "These were high quality, \ <<else>>\ No wonder she didn't let me in here, it's where she's been hiding!" Kosuke rubs the bridge of $bffhisher nose. "Sorry about this one \ <<if ($bffromance gte 1)>>\ <<cap $name>>, \ <<else>>\ chief, \ <</if>>\ <</if>>\ we were supposed to sell the whole crate off for a bucket of Shards." You look down at the drunken Lunargoth scratching her \ <<if (($heshe is "he") and ($leonaromance gte 1))>>\ oversized chest \ <<else>>\ butt \ <</if>>\ in her sleep and decide... <<choose "ch6-ship-compgone6">> #"Maybe we did sell it afterall." [Check Leona's pockets for Shards] <<var $ruthless + 1>>\ <<var $honor - 1>>\ <<var $bffrep + 1>>\ <<var $leonarep - 2>>\ That wine was pricey, and Leona's raided the other Sunbringers in Ebikowa just as much as you did. You decide to \ <<if ($heshe is "he")>>\ descend on the unsuspecting woman \ <<else>>\ sneak down \ <</if>>\ and give her Shardpouch a look to see if she'll be paying for those bottles afterall. <<if ($thievery gte 2)>>\ ''[Thievery 2 Check Passed]'' <<var $agiexp + 2>>\ Quietly you crouch down and lean in close, using four fingers to grab the rope around her Shardpouch and make it taught without pulling on her pants. Then you gently lift the pouch away from her and withdraw Shards one at a time. <<var $shards + 60>>\ ''[Item Gained: 60 shards]'' <<else>>\ ''[Thievery 2 Check Failed]'' "Let me." Kosuke says, grabbing your shoulder. You slowly exhale out your nose in annoyance but allow it. The Expert, as Kosuke calls <<print $bffhimher>>self in regards to petty crime, leans in close and uses four fingers to grip the rope around Leona's Shardpouch to make it taught without pulling on her pants. Then $bffheshe gently lifts the pouch and withdraws Shards one at a time, passing them back to you over $bffhisher shoulder and pretending $bffheshe's not pocketing a quarter of them. <<var $shards + 40>>\ ''[Item Gained: 40 shards]'' <</if>>\ Leona rolls over, causing \ <<if ($thievery gte 2)>>\ you \ <<else>>\ Kosuke \ <</if>>\ to freeze, but the blonde hugs the bottle closer and softly complains in her sleep. "//But papa, I don't ''wanna'' spare the women and children!//" <<if ($thievery gte 2)>>\ You look back to Kosuke who mouths, "What the fuck?" It's a mutual feeling. You pull back and Kosuke \ <<if ($bffromance gte 1)>>\ whispers into your ear, \ <<else>>\ whispers, \ <</if>>\ <<if (($bffheshe is "he") and ($heshe is "he"))>>\ "Dude, if \ <<else>>\ "If \ <</if>>\ <<else>>\ Kosuke looks back to you and mouths the words, "What the fuck?" before slowly slipping back and whispering, "If <</if>>\ anyone asks, you did this alone. I can’t have this maniac coming after me." "Agreed." <<page "Continue" "ch6-ship-compgone6">>\ #"Consider it her payment for keeping you all safe in the Demonic Gate." -> "ch6-ship-compgone6" "It's fine." You \ <<if ((($heshe is "she") and (($heshe isnot $bffheshe) and ($bffromance gte 1))) and (($honor lt 60) or ($ruthless gte 50)))>>\ say, and actually mean it unlike the other many times you've said 'it's fine' to your boyfriend in the past. Heh. Sucker always falls for it. \ <<else>>\ say. \ <</if>>\ "Consider it her payment for keeping you all safe in the Demonic Gate." "Psht." Kosuke shakes $bffhisher head like you're being a fool. "I was doing fine on my own, I can take on a few Fiends by now." "A Demonic Gate's worth?" "Hell no." <<cap $bffheshe>> concedes immediately. \ <<if ($bffromance gte 1)>>\ "It's not exactly romantic \ <<else>>\ "It's not exactly heroic \ <</if>>\ but I damn near shit my pants that night. Thank the Ancestors you had us steal all those healing elixirs, I had Leona and $fren getting my back and still got impaled //twice//." <<if (((($heshe is "he") and ($bffheshe is "she")) and ($bffromance gte 1)) and ($honor lt 50))>>\ ''[Dishonor Check Passed]'' "Find me another expensive wine bottle and we can make it three times tonight." <<var $bffromance + 1>>\ <<var $bffrep + 2>>\ <<var $winekos true>>\ "Yesss." Kosuke softly hisses, trying not to wake the blonde woman as she steps over her to inspect more crates. <<else>>\ You softly tsk at $bffhimher. "That's what you get for robbing a Sect and aiding their heir's disreputable rival." "Ain't that the truth." Kosuke whispers back. "Crime doesn't pay. Except all these crates we stole." Kosuke pats one of the wooden crates. "These pay." <</if>>\ <</choose>> <<else>>\ Craftsman's goods in bulk, \ <<include "ch6-ship-compgone6">>\ <</if>>\

<<if ($style isnot "Akakiru")>>\ Over the next few minutes the two of you tip toe around Leona's unconscious form to check the contents of $loot crates, finding craftsman's materials in bulk \ <</if>>\ <<if ($loot gte 16)>>\ and something you can hardly believe. Among the massive cache of treasure your ship is stocked with, you find a Trade Sect's Path Manual! "By the Ancestors." Kosuke whispers, which shows you just how impressed $bffheshe is when <<cap $bffheshe>> didn't even swear. A rare occasion. You both spend several hours taking notes on its contents and trying to memorize the instructions and effects. From what you can tell, it's a subtle form of doujutsu used to hypnotize targets in subtle ways. Perfect for a Merchant. <<if ($subrace is "Reptile")>>\ For reasons that become obvious the more you study it, you find a greater connection to the Technique inside than Kosuke ever could. <<apboost 8>>\ <</if>>\ <<var $kosukecombat + 1>>\ <<learntech 5000470000010000 "Serpent's Gaze" "Passively increases Deception by +1. Passively decreases the cost of most items by 10%.">>\ <<if ($style is "Kurokonton")>>\ Your eyes flare purple when mastering the Technique and you're not exactly sure why, but something about utilizing eye-based Techniques feels //right//. <<apboost 8>>\ <</if>>\ When you're both done you pack up to leave, minds expended on so much study while trying to \ <<if ($style isnot "Akakiru")>>\ be quiet and ignore Leona's snoring. \ <<else>>\ memorize the new breathing methods and spiritual cultivation needed to embed the Technique into your spirit permanently. \ <</if>>\ Between the Path Manual and the amazing haul of treasure you feel blessed and, more importantly, rich. Now you just need to find a buyer. ''[Total Crates of Cargo: $loot]'' <<page "The Heavens smile upon me." "ch6-ship-compgone7">>\ <<else>>\ and //only// craftsman's materials in bulk. Tools, cloth, leathers, clay, cleaning liquids, nails, lumber, tar. Not a single thing you'd want to carry on your \ <<if ($background is "Blacksmith")>>\ person, even if Father would chastise you for turning down the nails. \ <<else>>\ person. \ <</if>>\ Deep down you were hoping for some secret weapon the Sunbringers may have stored away for their plans but instead all you have is normal merchant wares. "I don't get it." You say, crouching down and opening one of the crates with your bare hands. Being a Martial Artist has its perks. "If the Sunbringers were working so hard to cause this much mayhem then why were they storing regular Laborer supplies? Did they think anyone would buy from them?" "Maybe they weren't looking to sell." Kosuke says, rubbing $bffhisher chin. "Maybe they were looking to use." Your brow furrows as you consider the implications. A mountain Sect loading all these building supplies onto ships..."They were building a new base, somewhere out in the ocean." "Not anymore." Kosuke dismisses, cracking a crate open and swearing, then sucking a splinter out of $bffhisher thumb. <<cap $bffheshe>> mumbles out the next word with $bffhisher thumb in $bffhisher mouth. "Corpses ain't building a damn thing." You cede the point and get back to checking your inventory. \ <<if ($loot lt 5)>>\ After checking empty crate after empty crate you have to accept that \ <<else>>\ Despite lacking any cultivation goods, ritual components, alchemical ingredients, armor, weapons, or talismans, \ <</if>>\ <<if ($loot gte 12)>>\ it's still a great haul, if you can find a buyer for so much loot. ''[Total Crates of Cargo: $loot]'' <<page "A //rich// buyer." "ch6-ship-compgone7">>\ <<elseif ($loot gte 10)>>\ it's still a good haul, if you can sell it all. ''[Total Crates of Cargo: $loot]'' <<page "The Shards must flow." "ch6-ship-compgone7">>\ <<elseif ($loot gte 5)>>\ it's not a bad haul, if you can find a buyer the funds for this might even pay off your retainers to get them to stay. ''[Total Crates of Cargo: $loot]'' <<page "And thank goodness for that." "ch6-ship-compgone7">>\ <<else>>\ it's an abysmal haul considering you took an entire ship. They must have just unloaded. ''[Total Crates of Cargo: $loot]'' <<page "Such is life." "ch6-ship-compgone7">>\ <</if>>\ <</if>>\

<<if ((($flagshiptype is "Merchant") and ($bffheshe is "he")) and ($style isnot "Akakiru"))>>\ The two of you turn and leave, but Kosuke runs back to the doorway and farts into the room just before closing the tightly sealed vault behind you. "..." "What?" He asks, feigning innocence. "I wasn't going to subject the rowers to it, they're doing actual work." <<var $retainer_morale + 2>>\ A few of your rowing retainers burst out with hearty laughter, probably the ones with auras. The rest are too busy gritting their teeth to keep up. \ <<if ($ruthless lt 50)>>\ Poor guys, but it's good for their development, you keep telling yourself. <<else>>\ They'll thank you later; it's good for their development. Probably. <</if>>\ <<page "Continue" "ch6-ship-compgone8">>\ <<else>>\ <<include "ch6-ship-compgone8">>\ <</if>>\

With everything taken care of you \ <<if (dig($metleona, 11) is 0)>>\ take a short bath, meditate to detect and balance any impurities in your growing aura, and \ <<else>>\ meditate to detect and balance any impurities in your growing aura and \ <</if>>\ <<if (($equippedweapon isnot "") and ($equippedweapon isnot "Handwraps"))>>\ practice a few maneuvers with your \ <<if ($equippedweapon isnot "Tanto")>>\ new $equippedweapon \ <<else>>\ trusty $equippedweapon \ <</if>>\ to pass the time. <<else>>\ practice a few martial arts maneuvers on the top deck. <</if>>\ Hours pass by and \ <<if ((((($style is "Midorikatai") and ($heshe is "he")) and ($bffromance gte 1)) and ($bffheshe is "she")) and ($spiritbrandloc is ""))>>\ you finally finish everything you need to do. Yet instead of escaping to a relaxing night of rest, you open the door to your Captain's Cabin only to see Kosuke on your bed, comfortably snugged under the blankets. "Remember back with the mirror, when you said later?" She asks, removing the covers to reveal she's wearing nothing but a smile. "It's later." You don't get much sleep during the \ <<if (dig($metleona, 11) gte 1)>>\ night and, seeing as Leona's soundproofing seals were fraudulent, neither does anyone else. <<else>>\ night and you wouldn't have it any other way. <</if>>\ <<var $bffromance + 1>>\ <<var $bffrep + 5>>\ <<var $pwt_kosuke true>>\ <<apboost 5>>\ <<else>>\ you return to your Captain's Cabin and rest in preparation of the next day. Sleep comes without incident. <</if>>\ <<page "Continue" "ch6-ship-nightmare">>\

She breaks the water's surface with an ungraceful splash next to the boat. For several concerning seconds everything is silent on the Dreamriver escape boat. Everyone breathes a sigh of relief when a golden glow slowly appears under the water's surface and travels underneath their small vessel. Yet the glow remains underwater, trailing the boat's drift. Li Sun adjusts his footing and looks overboard. "Lady Desdemona, would you like to come on board?" Desdemona's echoing voice booms from the golden illumination under their vessel. "NO, I AM FINE WHERE I AM. YOU HAVE MY PERMISSION TO ROW FASTER." Li Sun sucks in through his teeth, clearly in doubt, but simply shrugs and sits down. "You heard your Sectmistress." He says to the \

Still in the dream, you look up to see a woman sitting \ <<if ($flagshiptype is "combat")>>\ atop the end of your ballista. <<else>>\ the railing of your ship's upper platform. <</if>>\ "So this is what's been haunting you." Says Dreamdemona as she stares up to the celestial white tiger and down to the reflections below. They stop laughing. "A trick of the mind can be as dangerous as an injury to the body. Do you know who's been plaguing your dreams?" <<choose "ch6-ship-dreamdemona2">> #"They're just nightmares." "They're just nightmares." You reply. "No." She corrects you as if scolding a child. \ #"I have a lot of enemies, it could be anyone. In fact, if I throw a stone I'll bet I could hit one." "I have a lot of enemies," you reply, "it could be anyone. In fact, if I throw a stone I'll bet I could hit one." You pick up a rock that for some reason is on your dreamship and throw it into the foggy distance. "Ow!" Cries Bo Lo's fat friend, unseen in the distant fog. Heh. You forgot about him. Dreamdemona's eyes go half-lidden and her upper lip curls in disgust. "I'd take this more seriously if I were you. These visions, they're not dreams." With one hand she motions to the fake dreamworld around you. \ #show-if (dig($mettaio, 3) is 1) "I'd guess it's the clone of a bald monk haunting my soul." Dreamdemona has no connection to the real Desdemona, so you figure honesty won’t give away any of your secrets. "I'd guess it's the clone of a bald monk haunting my soul." She blinks several times, her mouth opening slightly. "Well...that's not good." "Thank you for your sage wisdom." Her scowl returns. "If it's wisdom you're looking for then thank me for fixing your curse, because these aren't just dreams." She motions to the foggy world around you. \ #show-if (dig($metdesdemona, 11) is 1) "The real you and me just made out earlier." "The real you and me just made out earlier." You reply. A drink manifests in her hand as if she was already drinking it, and she spits it out in shock. "Uh I, er, that's...we should focus on your dream." You look her up and down. "I think my focus is in the right place. Do you have any insight for what Desdemona likes in bed?" "THE DREAMS!" She screams, throwing her drink at you and covering her face in one hand. <<var $desrep + 2>>\ You catch it, easing its momentum to avoid breaking the glass. "Fine, fine." You take a quick sip. Hm. Coconut flavored. "Yes, I have nightmares a lot. What about them?" She seems to calm down and shake her head, fixing her hair before continuing. \ <</choose>>

"They're omens, past or present, else there wouldn't be enough Yang Chi for me to be here. Yang is the embodiment of activity, life, and creation. There's no purer or more unstable essence of Yang than prophetic dreams, for they branch into the infinite possibilities." "So this is some sort of vision of what's to come?" You look down at the three reflections and see them slowly sink into the sea, glaring at you as they leave. "Am I going to turn into three people and drown?" "I doubt it." She replies, checking her black fingernails and looking up into star-alignment shaped like an angry tiger. "But that one doesn't bode well. Nanhou should be built into a city by now. Were I you, I'd check their archives for any Wild Gods or calamities involving white tigers." Her hand begins to crackle, golden and violet energies manifesting around her thumb and middle finger. "As for whoever is trying to manipulate your dreams, their Technique didn't take into account that they're not the only one in your head. Sloppy work." She snaps her fingers and a single thundercrack echoes over the horizon, forming cracks all around the dreamworld as if reality had shattered. Her voice drifts in one last time before the image ends. "I'll keep your dreams safe until I dissipate, but it's time to wake up." ''[Soul EXP Increased]'' <<var $solexp + 10>>\ <<page "Continue" "ch6-ship-wakeup">>\

<<choose "ch6-ship-gamble-cheat2">> #[Swap your cards out when no one's looking] <<var $cardhand "cheated">>\ <<var $honor - 2>>\ #Accept your fate. "Well Heavens bless this day!" Says the Oni woman revealing her cards. "Looks like I beat the priest //and// the $patriarch!" <</choose>>

<<if (($thievery + $stealth) gte 4)>>\ ''[Thievery + Stealth 4 Check Passed]'' Luckily you're a disdainful, horrendous, and //skilled// cheater. You swap your cards when no one is looking for a much better set. <<include "ch6-ship-gamble-win">>\ <<else>>\ ''[Thievery + Stealth 4 Check Failed]'' <<var $honor - 2>>\ "Nice try Captain, but I saw you try to switch em out." Says one of the older, drunker retainers among your crew. "And how were you so keen as to notice?" Angelo asks. \ "Cause I was tryin to switch mine out." The old man replies. \ "Doesn't matter." Adds the Oni woman while revealing her cards. "Cause I won." \ <<include "ch6-ship-gamble-lose">>\ <</if>>\

"Well isn't that my luck." Angelo replies, leaning forward to look at her hand in scrutiny. He nods, accepting defeat. "There goes my last sandal." \ "And my 10 Shards." You add with a hung head. \ "And my last Silver." Adds a younger man. \ "What's say we end it here?" The drunk man asks, picking up his few winnings. The rest agree and gather up their things, giving their respects on their way out. Some call you $patriarch, some call you Captain, it's not too confusing for you but it seems to be for them. \ When they're gone it's just you and Angelo left on the platform above the Captain's Cabin at the back of the ship. You take a seat on the bench and breathe in the salty wind as your ship sails onward. "That could have gone better." \ "Indeed." Angelo replies. "It seems I've dragged you into my misfortunate. Perhaps the Heavens frown on us for cheating?" \ "I didn't cheat." \ <<if ($cardhand is "cheated")>>\ You lie. He sits across from you with a knowing shake of the head. "Of course you didn't." "What, are you reading my mind?" "No, but after seeing you defeat Taio I'm wondering if you've reached the level that you're reading mine." You...might have. You stare at Angelo and press your spiritual senses against him, focusing on the Sacred Chi built up around his aura and mind, the connection between your Style's power and mental thought. Angelo smiles back and waves at your scrutinizing gaze. <<if ($stylerank gte 2)>>\ ''[Aoyusumu (Adept) Check Passed]'' The force of it jolts through you like three dozens hands flicking you in the face at once. It's not painful, but it's surprising, and with it comes a flood of thoughts that's hard to parse out, but one echoes over the rest. "...You're leaving?" You ask. Angelo claps three times with a smile that quickly grows solemn. "Very impressive! But...Yes. I am." <<else>>\ ''[Aoyusumu (Adept) Check Failed]'' "Nope." You concede. "Nothing." "That's quite alright, we can't expect every ability to manifest in such a short time." Angelo says, scratching his beard and staring off. "You've already learned so much. Though it's a shame I won't be able to teach you any further." You lean forward, attention locked. "Why not?" "I have to leave." <</if>>\ <<page "Continue" "ch6-ship-aoyu-leave">>\ <<else>>\ You reply. "Oh. Well, that certainly makes me look worse." He chuckles dryly. "Some Devanic pilgrim I am, cheating at cards and leaving before the adventure's even over." <<page "Leaving??" "ch6-ship-aoyu-leave">>\ <</if>>\

"Captain wins." Says the Oni woman in defeat after a few fold and the rest show their hands. "Of course the //Honorable <<cap $patriarch>>// wins." Says one of the older retainers, eyeing you suspiciously. "My good man." Angelo butts in, "It almost sounds as if you're accusing the <<cap $clan>> $patriarch of cheating. A bold claim to make against the $manwoman who saved your life from the Fiendish hordes of the Hells incarnate." They all look wearily around the circle, eyes meeting each other and back to you until the old man speaks up again. "Er...I have misspoken." He stands and bows at the hip. "This one humbly thanks you for the game, Young \ <<if ($heshe is "he")>>\ Master. \ <<else>>\ Mistress. \ <</if>>\ I believe I've had enough drink for the evening." With that he leaves, and the others slowly get up to join him while you collect your winnings. ''[Item Regained: 10 Shard Ante]'' <<var $shards + 10>>\ ''[Item Gained: 450 Silver]'' <<var $silver + 450>>\ ''[Item Gained: 1 Low Grade Grade Soul Pill]'' <<var $lgsolpill + 1>>\ ''[Item Gained: 3 Ritual Components]'' <<var $ritualcomponents + 3>>\ "Damn..." You say as you count your returns over the next couple minutes. "I have a rich crew." "Only those few." Angelo replies, collecting his shirt from your \ <<if (($heshe is "she") and ($angeloromance gte 1))>>\ winnings. You had planned on some big charade about offering it back to him...but he just up and took it. Damn it! That was your big chance! Maybe you can bring up the debt later? Oh, oh crap. He's still talking and you're just staring. <<else>>\ winnings. <</if>>\ "It shouldn't affect the local economy too strongly," Angelo looks up, pondering. "I think. Also, they //do// possess just about every item I had on me. A crafty lot, your retainers. It's such a shame I can't see what antics they get up to on your voyage after I leave." <<page "Leave??" "ch6-ship-aoyu-leave">>\

<<if ((($ruthless lt 50) and ($temper gte 6)) or ($temper gte 7))>>\ ...Huh. You have a great hand. <<include "ch6-ship-gamble-win">>\ <<elseif ($temper gte 4)>>\ <<var $cardhand "mediocre">>\ A mediocre hand of cards. <<if (($perception + $deception) gte 4)>>\ ''[Perception + Deception 4 Check Passed]'' Luckily your solid gambler face helps you bluff your way to victory. <<include "ch6-ship-gamble-win">>\ <<else>>\ ''[Perception + Deception 3 Check Failed]'' A hand of cards you're certainly going to be stuck with, as you're not the best at keeping a good gambler's face. It never made sense to you really, how can you get people to fold when they have a better hand? It just doesn't add up. You suspect trickery at work, and you've never learned the trick. <<include "ch6-ship-gamble-cheat">>\ <</if>>\ <<else>>\ <<var $cardhand "awful">>\ An //awful// hand of cards. One so bad that bluffing won't even work; if even one person stays in the game it's over for you. <<include "ch6-ship-gamble-cheat">>\ <</if>>\

You ascend to the small platform above the captain's quarters and see several disciples sitting on benches looking out over the sea while Li Moon and Li Sun crouch on the ground, scribing some plans or designs on scrolls. Desdemona stands beside them nodding in approval. "Good morning, Honored $patriarch." Says Li Moon while you run up. "Not to boast, but I am pleased to report that with our Seals we were no longer needed on the other ships, we-" You bolt passed her, shouting "Desdemona! Please tell me we're going south!" "That's //Lady// Desdemona!" Shout five voices back as you rise. Desdemona herself looks back to you as the wind whips her hair into her displeased face. "A rude good morning to you as well, <<cap $name>>. \ <<if ($race is "Kitsune")>>\ Is that a second tail...? Oh, you're a Kitsune then. Impressive, you must be quite skilled in illusions to hide your nature even from me. That's good. Your spiritual nature should bring added benefits down the line for Kiihakai as well." "Don't change the subject!" You shout, tails lashing in anxious irritation behind you. "Are we going South?" "Of \ <<elseif ($spiritbrandloc is "")>>\ A rather impolite greeting to the allies who watched over your two days of rest, but I digress. And of \ <<else>>\ Nice spiritbrand, and of \ <</if>>\ course we're going South. That's where Nanhou is, I'd be a fool to go any other direction." Li Sun and Li Moon look up to you from behind her and shake their heads. As you reach the Dreamriver disciples, the vantage point gives you a better view of the ocean and you see...ocean. Unimaginably vast ocean without a single landmark to find your location. "Okay..." You say, breathing slowly. "Okay, as long as the sun is to the west at dusk, we're on the right course. How far out have we gone?" "Don't worry about that." Desdemona replies confidently. "We just need to make sure we adjust properly, something it seems you've forgotten about." A fraction of a victorious grin shows on the corner of her dark lips. ... "Give me the maps." You demand. "There's no need." She \ <<if ($desromance gte 2)>>\ taunts melodiously. \ <<else>>\ boasts confidently. \ <</if>>\ "I assure you I have performed the math and the directions are sound, we-" "Lost the coast." Li Sun pipes up. "And ourselves." Li Moon finishes. "Wh-?! Silence!" Desdemona shouts, more in a defensive \ <<if ($heshe is "he")>>\ pout \ <<else>>\ protest \ <</if>>\ than in anger, "Have faith in your Sectmistress!" Li Moon looks to the other woman through her glasses. "Lady Desdemona, please, we are begging you, give the Thunderfaller the maps." "Is that how you want it?" Desdemona crosses her arms, glaring down at the other woman. "I will remember this, //Disciple// Moon." Reluctantly, Desdemona pulls a few scrolls out of her satchel and hands them to you with several markings in golden chi showing where she believes you've gone so far. You scan through the charts and pray you haven't gone too far off-course. Hells, you pray you haven't gone //North//. <<page "Continue" "ch6-ship-kii2">>\

Deciding on a more original name, you go with... <<textbox "$dancingdefense" "Dancing Defense">> <<page "Continue" "ch6-ship-kii-tech">>\

<<choose "ch6-ship-compgone">> #"Yes." <<var $metdesdemona + 1>>\ <<var $desrep + 10>>\ <<var $desromance + 3>>\ "Yes." You step closer and cup her chin with one hand. "Without hesitation." She freezes up and stares into your eyes. "Desdemona, I've been infatuated with you since the moment we met, my only regret is that you left so quickly back in Thunderfall. Fate saw us meet each other again and I can't ignore that, I want to be with you." Her eyes cast down and she quietly mumbles out, "We...We can't, not when the disciples are watching." You take two steps to the side, away from the railing, and lead her by the chin to follow you. "Now they're not watching." "You..." Desdemona whispers angrily, tightening her fists by her side. She takes one step closer, her body nearly against yours. "You..." A slight resistance presses against your hand that's cupping her chin. You realize she's leaning her face closer to yours...and you pull her the rest of the way. As your faces grow closer and closer she shuts her eyes to lean against you, giving up every resistance and hungrily pressing into your kiss with her pursed and plush purple lips. \ <<if (dig($metdesdemona, 3) gte 1)>>\ You were wrong to compare her to Dreamdemona, the real thing has your heart racing a thousand beats per second \ <<else>>\ Your heart breaks into a sprint, racing a thousand beats per minute \ <</if>>\ as she whines out a dozen quick, soft, greedy moans between awkward and desperate kisses. Your arm slides around her lower waist and pulls her body closer, yearning to feel more of the tight curves she's hidden under those robes as you both make out atop your ship. You're not the only one yearning. Desdemona's hand touches your stomach in the middle of your embrace. She hesitantly pulls back the second she makes contact, then lightly touches you again, firmer, but pulls back again. Fueled on by her advances, you run your other hand up her back and through her hair, tilting her head to the side to kiss the Lunargothic beauty from a new angle. As if a spark were lit underneath her she loudly moans into it and shoves her whole body against you, pressing both legs around one of yours and trapping her hand against your abs. She squeezes with each finger, navigating your body as if to memorize its shape. You try not to hyperventilate when her hand starts exploring downward past your pantline, but you're both interrupted by the sounds of the ocean coming back into your ears when a familiar voice snaps you back to reality. "LADY DESDEMONA?" Shouts Li Moon over the waves, from the rowboat just out of view over the railing. "Is something wrong? We're having difficulty keeping pace with the ship while we wait!" You both freeze, eyes opening. Desdemona's vision darts from you to the direction of her waiting disciples. She pulls back quickly. "Nothing is wrong!" She shrieks out in a panic, quickly smoothing out her robes and clearing her throat. "Ahem, I mean that all is well, Disciple Moon. I will be down in a moment. The $clan $patriarch and I are negotiating terms to...to..." She looks back to you and holds both palms out. You raise an eyebrow. "To..." She starts waving her hands around with increasing urgency, angrily and desperately gesturing for help. "To....?!" "Devise our strategy!" You add, just coming out of the mutual daze yourself and leaning over the railing. "We're devising our strategy for the Heavenly Ascension Trials." They all stare at you open-mouthed until one of the younger disciples speaks up. "Then why is Lady Desdemona's makeup all over your face?" "NO REASON!" Desdemona squeals, pulling you back by the shoulders and using the leverage to throw herself overboard in one motion. "We depart immediately!!" She screams while falling headfirst into the sea, legs flailing while both hands cover her blushing face. <<include "ch6-ship-desgone">>\ others, looking back up to give you a short salute before he starts to row. You watch them depart at an impressive pace for a rowboat, your elbow on the railing and hand on your cheek as a long and hard sigh exits your purple-smeared mouth. You might be in love. <<page "Continue" "ch6-ship-compgone">>\ #"No." [Toss her overboard] "No." You say with a sinister glint in your eye. "I just wanted to see the look on your face." She gasps, her dark purple lips frozen open as she's lost for words. It's convenient for you then, as you get to enjoy the silence when you slide your backfoot behind her and grab the woman by the shoulders, flipping her over both your body and the railing as you toss her overboard. Your eyes make contact, yours with victorious glee and hers with confusion and, quite quickly, fury. <<var $desromance - 5>>\ <<var $desrep - 5>>\ <<var $sect_dreamriver - 5>>\ <<var $ruthless + 3>>\ "CURSE YOU THUNDERF-" \ <<include "ch6-ship-desgone">>\ others, looking back up to make sure you're not going to blow up his ship. You return a friendly wave \ <<if ($ruthless gte 60)>>\ goodbye, though your hand glows with $auracolor chi while you do so. \ <<var $powexp + 1>>\ <<else>>\ goodbye. \ <</if>>\ The Dreamriver Sect slowly departs across the waves and you get back to business on your own ship. Nanhou awaits. <<page "Continue" "ch6-ship-compgone">>\ <</choose>>

<<cap $dancingdefense>>, now that's a name! But your Cores can only handle so much, and you're already learning more than you expected, far faster than you ever anticipated. <<var $val 5354324>>\ You don't want to bind this to the wrong Core and cut yourself off from using another vital Technique, so you... <<choose "ch6-ship-kii4">> #Design $dancingdefense to be a Soul Technique <<learntech 4500109000000030 $dancingdefense "Intercepts a certain amount of damage using floating objects when focused. Increases Alchemy by +1 when focused.">>\ #Design $dancingdefense to be a Fortitude Technique. <<learntech 2500109000000030 $dancingdefense "Intercepts a certain amount of damage using floating objects when focused. Increases Alchemy by +1 when focused.">>\ #Design $dancingdefense to be a Power Technique. <<learntech 1500109000000030 $dancingdefense "Intercepts a certain amount of damage using floating objects when focused. Increases Alchemy by +1 when focused.">>\ #Design $dancingdefense to be an Agility Technique. <<learntech 3500109000000030 $dancingdefense "Intercepts a certain amount of damage using floating objects when focused. Increases Alchemy by +1 when focused.">>\ <</choose>>

<<if ($survival gte 1)>>\ ''[Survival $survival Check Passed]'' <<var $forexp + (2+$survival)>>\ <<if ($background is "Trapper")>>\ <<var $solexp + $survival>>\ <</if>>\ <<var $sect_dreamriver + 3>>\ To your surprise, these are star maps. It makes sense immediately in your mind that sailors would use star maps since they have nothing else to see as markers, but growing up in the mountains you'd never even heard about them having a unique use. To you, reading star maps is just a hobby you'd picked up as an interesting survival skill. Thank. Heavens. Judging by the time and location of the sun, you're confident her lines are wrong. You seize on the Mystic Chi and adjust the markings, showing your ships as being much further out to sea than previously believed. Luckily you've still been moving south, just south-southwest. For two days. "We're almost on course," you say with a sigh of relief, "we've only lost a day, maybe half." <<else>>\ ''[Survival 1 Check Failed]'' <<var $sect_dreamriver - 1>>\ Oh wow, these are worthless. What's with all the dots? Hm... "Hey, you there!" You shout to one of your retainers/crewmen over on the deck. At least you assume he works for you; you just woke up so there's a lot of guessing involved in your every action. "Come up here and read these maps!" "I can't read, sir!" The man replies. "Neither maps nor otherwise!" "Then send someone who can!" Two minutes later your delegation works out when older retainer, slightly drunk, is reading the maps in front of you all. "Yep, these lines definitely don't 'line' up. Heh. I mean, we'd see the shore if they did, wouldn't we?" "Y...?" You say hesitantly, looking to a few of Desdemona's disciples for confirmation. Li Sun meets your gaze and nods so you finish with confidence. "Yes." "Well there you go, Honorable \ <<if ($heshe is "he")>>\ Master." \ <<else>>\ Mistress." \ <</if>>\ The man says before descending down the stairs, probably to get more rum from Kosuke. Are they throwing a party down there? <<var $val 3>>\ <</if>>\ Desdemona looks over \ <<if ($val is 3)>>\ the sailor's \ <<else>>\ your \ <</if>>\ adjustments. "Tch, these are blatantly wrong. We've gone too far southwest from our homes, yet these new lines don't take that into account. With the rotation to make up for our shift on the map, the sun should be setting in the northwest, not the west." "No." Everyone replies. "Wha-?!" Desdemona seems taken aback from the consensus and you're not sure if anyone's ever told her how far away the sun really is. "Why, the nerve!" She rifles through some unseen pocket in her robes, withdrawing a scroll and a pair of glasses. She dons the pair and points to a section of calculations on the scroll. "Look, right here, I've personally charted our journey and it's impossible for the sun's setting point to maintain position on a flat grid when we've moved so far-" "It's not a flat grid." You reply. "Hm?" She looks up, annoyed at the interruption. "It's not a flat grid when you map the world, because the world is round." "Pft." Desdemona cracks a small smile. "Thunderfaller, that's the...It would mean that...Hm..." She looks around to her other Disciples as they give the saddest, most pitying smiles you've ever witnessed. "Oh no." She groans slowly. "No! NOOOO!" She wails out and slumps down onto one of the benches, dropping her face into her hands, elbows propped up on her knees. "No damn it, I checked the charts!" After a short silence Li Moon kneels before her Sectmistress. "Fear not, Lady Desdemona. We will follow you to the ends of the world, even if that's not where you were trying to take us." Desdemona rubs her eyes, ruining her makeup, and breathes in slowly. "Thank you, Disciple Moon." She looks up to the rest. "Let us all recover what we can from this disaster, prepare the acceleration Seals." <<page "Continue" "ch6-ship-kii3">>\

Her disciples begin ripping fuuinjutsu tags, drawing on your ship in paint, invoking handseal finger formations all over the deck, and chanting auspicious incantations. Desdemona does her best to help out, but after being embarrassed in front of everyone her version of 'helping out' is militantly barking orders and sneering at the work of her disciples as if they'd personally offended her ancestors. It motivates the Dreamriver disciplies better than you expected. You spend that time analyzing their work and trying to understand exactly what's going on. <<if ($handseals gte 2)>>\ ''[Handseal 2 Check Passed]'' The summary of their work seems to align your ship to some great force in the north and south, repelling one and seeking the other, which should make your ship temporarily travel faster to make up for lost time. As their work continues you find yourself lost in thought. If you can use Seals to repel and seek at the same time, what happens if you invoke both Seals on the same target? You know the Seal formula for your body, and the compound Seal formula for the edge of your aura....what happens to an object if you enchant it to seek and repel your body in one direction, and seek and repel the edge of your aura in another? In theory it should be trapped hovering around you, and if anything from outside your aura tried to enter that hovering space the enchanted object's balance would be thrown off, violently jerked into that foreign object to regain its balance. The long and short of it is, you think you can make a shield of floating objects around you that will intercept attacks. To anyone else this would be useless. It's just Seals, and Seals break in combat. As you've learned, that rule doesn't exist for Kiihakai. Your Mystic Chi is more stable and can automatically perform Seals for you with nothing more than a thought. Before you know it, you've begun furiously scribbling notes about what Seals would be needed to apply enough force, balance, and accuracy. From the other Path Manuals you've read you have a good idea on what's needed to make this into something real. You never would have been able to do this years ago, but fortunately you were locked in a caravan wagon for days with nothing to do but read tomes on Kiihakai's Mystic theory. It sounds crazy, but with enough practice you could embed these principles into inventing your own Technique. All that's left is to give it a name. <<choose "ch6-ship-kii-tech">> #Name your Technique "Dancing Defense". <<var $dancingdefense "Dancing Defense">>\ #Name your Technique "Ioun Blades". <<var $dancingdefense "Ioun Blades">>\ #Name your Technique "Mystic Shield". <<var $dancingdefense "Mystic Shield">>\ #Name your Technique "Heavenly Guardian". <<var $dancingdefense "Heavenly Guardian">>\ #Name your Technique something else. -> "ch6-ship-kii-custom <</choose>> <<else>>\ ''[Handseal 2 Check Failed]'' You get the basics of what they're doing, some sort of planetary connection so your ships 'repel' the north and 'attract' the south, pushing you faster for a time. The most important part, for you, is seeing so many Seals performed at once. You catch on quickly that your way of performing handseals has sloppy flaws that you can thankfully fix by example, without anyone seeing how bad you've been performing this whole time. ''[Handseals +1]'' <<var $handseals + 1>>\ <<include "ch6-ship-kii4">>\ <</if>>\

<<if ($val is 5354324)>>\ You'll need some more time and some rest to settle it into your Cores, but by the Ancestors, the sense of academic achievement is euphoric. <<var $val 99>>\ ... <</if>>\ Two hours later \ <<if ($shipcount gt 2)>>\ all $shipcount of your ships \ <<else>>\ both your ships \ <</if>>\ are glowing. Quite literally. "That should do it." Desdemona says, her chi reserves depleted along with the chi of her disciples. \ <<if ($val is 99)>>\ Your own aura is equally exhausted with all the different methods you've been testing to see if "$dancingdefense" could really work. You finally look up from your notes to see \ <<else>>\ You and Desdemona look over \ <</if>>\ the fine Seals drawn in Mystic Chi along every part of each vessel, and Desdemona's seemed to recover her confidence when ordering her disciples around to help out. "You're sure this will make up for our lost time?" You ask. "The Seal designs look sound but I've never tried anything like them." "You can doubt my directions, even though you //normally// shouldn't, but never doubt my Seals." She looks over her disciples' work with pride. "This is a Dreamriver specialty." You quirk an eyebrow. "We're both from the mountains, how is a seaworthy ship enchantment your specialty?" She looks back, a sinister smile showing white teeth behind her dark lips as she places a hand on a railing. "//Every// Seal is a Dreamriver specialty." Mystic Chi pulses from her hand and the entire ship lurches, launching out of the water for several seconds before landing in a heavy crash and taking off at nearly twice the speed it had before. Crews are sent reeling to the back of their ships below deck and you grab a railing just in time to stop yourself from being launched overboard. "WHOOOOOOOOOOOAAH!" Kosuke screams from below deck over the sound of a dozen cries. Eventually the ships stabilize in their new speed and the chaos subsides. You spend ten minutes running around to account for every retainer, cargo, and tool, making sure nothing and no one was launched overboard, then come back above deck to look on in appreciation at your new Seals. "I'll give credit where it's due." You say as Desdemona walks up beside you by the railings. "It works." "Of course it works." She responds, "But do not thank me, our additions will only last a day and were a mandatory recompense to make us even before my departure." That catches your attention. "Departure?" She looks to you with unusual excitement. "We received a message from one of my captured Disciples, he's escaped Guiren's clutches and is hiding out in a smuggler's den. Any information he has is invaluable." "Why now?" You ask. "Doesn't that sound suspicious?" She closes her eyes in acceptance and tilts her head for a second to acknowledge your point. "It would be, but it didn't just arrive. I received his message by bird yesterday. I had already told him I would be along when you awoke. We owed you that much." Her disciples gather behind her, holding fuuinjutsu tags together in a circular pattern over the side of your ship. "Lady Desdemona, the ritual is prepared!" "Good." She replies over her shoulder before looking back to you. "This is where we part ways. We'll be using valuable resources to get to Nanhou in time, but we don't have enough to transport everyone you have with you." "That's a shame." You reply in honesty. "It is." She agrees, a gust of ocean air smacking her own hair into her face again. She ignores it. "Our travels together have been a literal living Hell, but I can't say they weren't interesting." Her disciples rip their tags into smoke in unison and jump overboard through the sudden cloud bursting off the side of your ship. You peak overboard through the thinning artificial fog and see a single medium sized rowboat just big enough to fit them all hit the water, followed by her disciples gracefully landing inside. "Lady Desdemona!" Shouts one of her Disciples. "Preparations are complete!" She \ <<if ($desromance gte 2)>>\ nods and brushes a strand of hair behind her ear. \ <<else>>\ nods. \ <</if>>\ "That's my cue. \ <<if ($desromance gte 2)>>\ Look for us above the Southern Winds Teahouse. Keep in mind our victory is only assured by our combined forces, so try not to forget about our deal while you're adventuring out on the high seas." <<else>>\ Fairwell for now, Thunderfaller. We'll meet again in Nanhou above the Southern Winds Teahouse. Victory is assured in our alliance." <</if>>\ <<choose "ch6-ship-compgone">> #"I'll see you in Nanhou. We're going to win, whatever it takes." <<var $desrep + 3>>\ <<if ($bodytype is "Handsome")>>\ <<var $desromance + 1>>\ <</if>>\ "See you there." You reply. "We're going to win, whatever it takes." You give shallow bow. "Until then, Sectmistress Desdemona." Her perpetual frown falters as she gives a closed-lip smile and bows back. "$patriarch $clan" With that she leaps overboard, glowing golden to redirect her descent into the last open seat on the rowboat. "Dreamrivers, row like your lives depend on it! We're not going to leave one of our own waiting any longer!" "Yes, Lady Desdemona!" They chant back. You notice a distinct golden glow on the bottom of the ship as Desdemona accelerates the vessel and wonder if she's only making them row to build character. Clever girl. <<page "Continue" "ch6-ship-compgone">>\ #"Don't get lost, Dessy." <<var $bffrep + 3>>\ "Don't get lost," You grin devilishly. "Dessy." Desdemona squints her eyes and purses her lips. "I forgot a Seal, one moment." With one finger she traces a new design on the side of your ship's railing. When she's done she hops onto the side and her foot ignites the Mystic Chi in the Seal, causing the design to glow when she leaps off to her Sect's rowboat below. The glowing design she just added animates into a middle finger facing you. "Farewell, Thunderfaller!" Desdemona shouts as she lands weightlessly in the last open seat on her Sect's rowboat. "You'd best present a spectacle at Nanhou, or I'll steal the show presenting my own!" Her disciples begin rowing towards where the shore probably is. You notice a distinct golden glow on the bottom of the ship as Desdemona accelerates the vessel and wonder if she's only making them row to build character. Clever girl. <<page "Continue" "ch6-ship-compgone">>\ #"If our Alliance is so important, I need some ritual components before you go." <<var $desrep - 4>>\ "If our Alliance is so important, I need some ritual components before you go." One of the Lunargothic witch's eyebrows twitches and her mouth drops to a pronounced frown as she analyzes your face. "Are you being serious? We are not a rich Sect." "I'm completely serious." You reply resolutely. You're getting a little too tired of the freeloader Dreamriver 'Sect' requiring all your strength to defend. Sure, they taught you the basics of Kiihakai, but only so you'd do a better job of babysitting them. "Seals are a big part of Kiihakai and I've wasted years relying on raw power instead. If you want me at my best I need to spend some resources to get used to these new abilities." <<if ($persuasion gte 1)>>\ ''[Persuasion 1 Check Passed]'' Desdemona sighs. "True. Fair. Fine." She throws a pouch of incense, inks, and small bags of powder at you, hitting you in the chest. <<var $val (5 * $persuasion)>>\ ''[Item Gained: $val Ritual Components]'' <<var $ritualcomponents + $val>>\ "Do not waste my good graces." She says, quickly stepping over the railing and leaping overboard. The chi sorceress \ <<else>>\ ''[Persuasion 1 Check Failed]'' <<var $desrep - 3>>\ "Absolutely not." Desdemona replies, nose held high as she jumps onto the railing with one foot. "I wouldn't let Guiren shake me down, and I won't let you either." With that she finishes the leap overboard and \ <</if>>\ descends slowly with a golden glow until she lands effortlessly in the remaining empty seat on the rowboat. "Farewell, Thunderfaller, meet us in Nanhou if you're serious about our alliance. If not then...I'd say it's been nice, but Ebikowa was awful." They row off in the direction of the shore while your ship continues southbound. You wave goodbye to the witch and her disciples, eager to continue your adventure. <<page "Continue" "ch6-ship-compgone">>\ #show-if ($heshe is "he") use-if ($desromance gte 2) "As if I could forget you." [Seduction] -> "ch6-ship-kii-kiss" "As if I could forget you." You say to the Lunargothic chi sorceress. Desdemona gasps and steps back, shaking her head furiously. "You-You can't keep saying things like that!" "Why not?" She sizes you up with a cold, analyzing stare, then sneers as if lecturing a child. "Obviously because I could-no, I mean my disciples cou-" She stops, collects herself, and breathes deeply. "Look, Thunderfaller, //anyone// could take it the wrong way. We're both leaders, it is of the utmost importance we keep a stoic and responsible image. The way you talk in front of others is not only crass and brazen it, it sounds like more than casual flirting. It sounds like you're asking me out." "And if I am?" "I-Well-I mean, obviously that would-" Her scowls drop, replaced with panicked new expressions changing each second as she looks around the ship in different directions. "That would be ridiculous. We can't just-I mean we could. I'm not saying no-er, no wait, I'm not saying yes either, what I'm saying, rather, um, it's NOT that we should or shouldn't," She huffs and shakes both fists at the floor. "It's too hasty! Sure, it's true that alliances are cemented by marriage all the time but you have to remember-wait, wait, NOT that I'm talking about MARRIAGE! O-Or that-" You cross your arms and stare down at her as she plays over a dozen thoughts in her head. Finally she turns to you, hands held up as if calculating something and eyes squinting hard. "...//Are you// asking me out?" <</choose>>

You ascend the stairs leading above the Captain's quarters where you see rows of benches secured into the railings of a square platform. Guiren and his men sit in the back, facing the rear of the ship and holding fishing rods over the railing. "Got any fours?" Asks one of Guiren's facewrapped minions. "Go fish." Replies a Yoji, also while fishing. "I swear on your Ancestor’s graves," Guiren replies, fishing and grinding his teeth, "it wasn't funny the first time and it's not funny the eighth." "True," The underling responds, "but this time I get to say it in front of <<cap $name>>." <<if ($heshe is "she")>>\ "Oh-SHIT." Guiren replies, fumbling to turn around so quickly that he nearly drops his fishing rod, catches it at a bad angle, snaps it in half against the railing, and finally sits on the bench with his elbows up on the railing casually, each arm holding half a fishing rod as if he meant to do that. "Hey gorgeous." He says with suave confidence. <<if ($guirenromance gte 2)>>\ "That was kind of cute." \ <<else>>\ "Smooth." \ <</if>>\ You say. "Like a kitten getting caught stalking its prey and fumbling over onto its belly." One of Guiren's other masked underlings leans back and looks to his leader. "I think she just called you a pussy." Before Guiren can stab him in the eye with his fishing rod, the underling's line gets hooked by something heavy and the others all leap to their feet, shouting different and conflicting advice on how to reel it in. Guiren shakes his head and spits, dropping the rod pieces and standing to his feet, walking over to you. "Bad tenth impressions aside, I'm glad you're up. We got worried yesterday and stayed that way ever since. I did, I mean. The others didn't give a shit." He gives you a thorough look up and down. \ <<if ($race is "Kitsune")>>\ "Nice spiritbrand. The second tail looks goo-" He freezes. "S...Second t...tail!" He drops to one knee and grabs your tail with both hands in awe. "Second tail!!" "Hey!" You shout out, swatting at his hand. "That hurts!" "It's real!" He hollers in triumph, standing up and looking you up and down as if seeing you for the first time. "Oh thank you and thank the Heavens, I'm finally free!" You quirk an eyebrow and your face turns sour in confusion. "Free from what?" "My feelings!" He shouts out, throwing both hands into the air. "I thought I was infatuated like never before and it bothered me worse than a plague! Thank the Hells, woman, you nearly had me going mad. Why didn't you just tell me it was a Kitsune charm? We know each other well enough by now, I wouldn't be mad." <<choose "ch6-ship-kuro2">> #"...I didn't charm you." You squint at Guiren to see if he's running a fever "...I didn't charm you." Guiren snorts, still seeming to have a massive weight off his shoulders, "Sure you didn't, and Yoji pays taxes." He rolls his eyes and walks over to the others. "Good news men, it was just a Kitsune charm!" "No one cares but you!" Yoji shouts back, grabbing the middle of the other underling's rod alongside the other 3 underlings and trying to pull the heavy catch. Guiren glowers. "Whatever." He leaves the underlings and climbs up onto a corner bench on the other side of the platform, raises both hands into the sky, and breathes in the salty air with the relieved joy of a man who finally got out of jail. "I'm free..." <<page "Continue" "ch6-ship-kuro2">>\ #"I'm not even interested in you, why would I charm you?" "I'm not even interested in you," you say in honesty, "why would I charm you?" <<var $guirenromance 0>>\ "Beats me, but now I don't have to worry about it. I'm a FREE MAN!" He shouts to the sky before walking away from you, rudely, in your opinion, and clapping some of his underlings on the back as they all struggle against their large catch. "Good news, men! It was just a Kitsune charm!" "No one cares but you!" Yoji shouts back, grabbing the middle of the other underling's rod alongside the other 3 underlings and trying to pull the heavy catch. Guiren glowers. "Whatever." He leaves the underlings and climbs up onto a corner bench on the other side of the platform, raises both hands into the sky, and breathes in the salty air with the relieved joy of a man who finally got out of jail. "I'm free..." <<page "Continue" "ch6-ship-kuro2">>\ <</choose>> <<else>>\ <<if ($spiritbrandloc is "")>>\ "You look good." "I know." You reply \ <<if ($honor gte 50)>>\ as a matter of fact. \ <<else>>\ without an ounce of modesty. \ <</if>>\ "No, I mean you look healthy, I-you know what? Sure. You look good too." <<include "ch6-ship-kuro2">>\ <<else>>\ "Nice spiritbrand. \ <<if ($spiritbrandloc is "eyes")>>\ <<if ($spiritbrandcolor is "purple") or ($spiritbrandcolor is "violet")>>\ I liked your old eyes more, but these ones have a kunoichi appeal." <<elseif ($spiritbrandcolor is $eyecolor)>>\ The same color as your natural eyes, very subtle if I wasn't looking for the soft glow. Useful to avoid standing out." <<else>>\ I liked your old eyes more, but the change gives me an excuse to stare." <</if>>\ <<include "ch6-ship-kuro2">>\ <<elseif (($spiritbrandloc is "hair") or ($spiritbrandloc is "hairstrip"))>>\ Hair's easy enough to dye for anonymity." <<include "ch6-ship-kuro2">>\ <<elseif (($spiritbrandloc is "tail and ears") or ($spiritbrandloc is "tail"))>>\ The tail doesn't match your old look though, you'll need some new clothes. I can hook you up with a tailor in Nanhou." "Did you just invite me shopping? Like a girl's night out but with a guy?" "Wha-? No, as in...I mean, you were supposed to think about how I have good connections, and then, I don't know, get the idea to invite me to watch you changing-" "Stop, stop, it definitely came off like you wanted to go shopping with me." Yoji, midway through grasping the other underling's fishing rod to help pull in the heavy catch, takes one hand off to point and laugh at Guiren. Guiren throws a handful of fishing hooks at him. <<page "Continue" "ch6-ship-kuro2">>\ <<elseif ($spiritbrandloc is "horns")>>\ I've never seen someone's horns change before but it looks gnarly. Awful for keeping a low profile but, hey, if you do well in the Trials they'll be perfect to stand above the rest." He pauses and considers something. "Except me, of course." <<include "ch6-ship-kuro2">>\ <<elseif ($spiritbrandloc is "skin")>>\ I've never seen an Oni have their entire skin color change, this brings 'exotic beauty' to a new level." <<include "ch6-ship-kuro2">>\ <</if>>\ <</if>>\ <</if>>\ <<else>>\ You give them all a wave and Guiren turns around to see you. "Well well, $hisher royal highness decides to show $hisher face! We got pretty worried yesterday when you didn't get up." "I needed all that rest after such a workout." You reply, trying to fit into the gang. "It was heavy lifting when I carried you all to victory." "Oh shit!" One of Guiren's underlings says from under his shinobi face-wrap. "Ahhh shut up," Guiren says to the underling. "It wasn't that good of a barb." "No, I mean I caught something!" The others all leap to their feet at the sight of the underling's rod bending. They each grab it to prevent the thing from breaking and start shouting conflicting advice on what he should do. Guiren ignores them with an eyeroll and walks closer to examine you. <<if ($race is "Kitsune")>>\ "A second tail, well I'll be damned." You snort. "You being damned has nothing to do with me." Guiren pulls back as if insulted, one hand bracing the other as he rubs his chin and inspects the second tail swishing behind you. "Just the kind of quick-witted retort I'd expect from a Kitsune. You clever bastard, you even had //me// fooled. The Boss will like this. He complained about me killing a Kitsune once instead of recruiting them." "Is that a threat?" Guiren looks surprised. "What? No, man, give me some credit. My threats are cool, smooth, and well thought-out. That was just me talking out loud. You saved me a fortune by beating that bald guy, I plan to milk that protection plan all the way to Nanhou." <<page "Continue" "ch6-ship-kuro2">>\ <<else>>\ <<if ($spiritbrandloc is "")>>\ "You look healthy enough for someone who ate a Gate in seconds." "It's part of a Fuel Foundation's benefits." You reply. "Like Hell it is, I don't know what a Fuel Foundation is but I've seen you cycle, it's never been that quick before. You're lucky you didn't crack something trying to force that much into your Cores in such a short time." He holds up both hands for peace. "Not that I'm complaining or anything. If you didn't kill Taio I was going to have to spend resources I can't afford to lose." <<else>>\ "Nice spiritbrand. <<if ($spiritbrandloc is "eyes")>>\ Everyone loves glowing eyes." <<elseif (($spiritbrandloc is "hair") or ($spiritbrandloc is "hairstrip"))>>\ Hair's easy enough to dye for anonymity." <<elseif (($spiritbrandloc is "tail and ears") or ($spiritbrandloc is "tail"))>>\ The tail doesn't match your old look though, you'll need some new clothes. I can hook you up with a Hidden Coil Sect combat gi when we get to Nanhou, it's a sharp look anyone can pull off." <<elseif ($spiritbrandloc is "horns")>>\ I've never seen someone's horns change before but it looks gnarly. Awful for keeping a low profile but, hey, if you do well in the Trials they'll be perfect to stand above the rest." He pauses and considers something. "Except me, of course." <<elseif ($spiritbrandloc is "skin")>>\ I've never seen an Oni have their entire skin color change, you're either going to have an amazing time with the ladies or an absolutely awful one." \ "I'm not worried about it." You reply with a heavy yawn. <</if>>\ <</if>>\ <<include "ch6-ship-kuro2">>\ <</if>>\ <</if>>\

Voices interrupt you behind Guiren. "Three, two, one, PULL!" Shouts one of the shinobi as another finishes a basic reinforcement Seal on the rod. Together they surge the fishing line with chi and yank a massive fish out of the water, one bigger than your entire body. The combined strength of all of Guiren's underlings pulling the rod up rips the fish out of the ocean and over a dozen feet into the air. It's sent flying towards your platform in one quick jerk. <<var $combatstat "agility">>\ <<var $combatstat2 "power">>\ <<discount "Wind" 1>>\ <<combatcheck 12>>\ <<if ($passcheck is true)>>\ You manage to catch the enormous flying fish before it crashes into you at high speeds, holding it still and pinning it to the ground. \ <<else>>\ The massive creature slams into your face, knocking you against a railing with its bulky weight. <<woundcheck 1 true false>>\ It takes several panicked seconds to get a grip on the large aquatic animal before you're able to overcome its flopping and pin it to the ground. \ <</if>>\ "Oh Hells yes, a tuna!" Yoji shouts. "And a big one too!" <<if ($survival gte 2)>>\ ''[Survival 2 Check passed]'' <<var $forexp + 1>>\ "No." You reply, holding the large fish down and getting a good look at its coloring. "It's a bonito." Guiren jumps to help you pin the fish down but still gives you an accusatory stare. "How the Hell can you know that, \ <<if ($heshe is "he")>>\ mountainman?" <<else>>\ mountainwoman?" <</if>>\ "Scale patterns," You reply, pointing to the fading stripes, "but my first hunch is that it should be much smaller." Guiren's aura flares purple in defense as he realizes what you're saying. "You can't be serious." "I am." You start to grin. "It's a weak Aura Pressure, but we caught a Beast." <<else>>\ ''[Survival 2 Check Failed]'' You have no idea what a tuna likes like, but it shouldn't look like this. You don't even need your spiritual senses to know that this fish is unnaturally large, you can //see// the white chi leaking out of its skin as you smack the gigantic fish down onto the ground to stop it from flopping. "If tuna are this big then I don't think it's a tuna." You reply while wrestling the thing down. "Because this thing's bigger than it's supposed to be!" Guiren's eyes widen and his purple aura flares as he drops to the ground to help. "You can't be serious!" He shouts while grabbing the things tail. "I am!" You shout back. "It's a weak Aura Pressure, but we caught a Beast!" <</if>>\ "Oh shit." Yoji says, pacing the deck and looking out into the sea. "Oh shit, how many are around us? Are we in danger? Are //they// in danger? Guiren, what do we do?" "It's not my ship!" Guiren shous back as the fish slams its head into the floorboards and lifts its body up, sending Guiren off the ground as he tries to wrestle its tail down with you. "Ask the Captain!" <<choose "ch6-ship-kuro3">> #Put the fish Beast back. <<var $ruthless - 3>>\ <<var $fishhelp true>>\ "Throw it back!" You shout out in the middle of your wrestling match with a horse-sized fish. You secure your knees and grab it by the tail, lifting the heavy animal off the ground, and in one quick turn you spin the creature over the railing and off your ship. It splashes heavily into the water and disappears quickly under the surface. "What the Hells?" Guiren asks, shoving you in the shoulder. "That was a bounty, one we could have used for Nanhou!" "That was a death sentence." You reply back, ready to hit him. "Fish like that swim in a school. How many do you think surround us right now? How many would it take to sink us?" Guiren's angered face doesn't change expression. Actually, his body doesn't move either. He's damn near frozen, the only change being his skin slowly growing paler. "Oh." He finally says. "Shit." You nod along. "Oh shit is right." "My uh..." Guiren scratches the back of his head and forces a smile. It looks like he's trying out humility for the first time and doesn't like the taste of it. "My bad." <<page "Continue" "ch6-ship-kuro5">>\ #Keep the fish Beast for rations. <<var $honor + 1>>\ "What do you think we do?" You ask back. "We've caught a bounty, we enjoy it!" You reel back your fist, cover it in $auracolor chi, and slam your attack into the Fish's head to quickly put it out of its misery. It works, but is a far messier ordeal than you expected when your fist penetrates its skull. \ <<if (($equippedweapon isnot "") and ($equippedweapon isnot "Handwraps"))>>\ You need to find your $equippedweapon on board later. \ <</if>>\ You stand and shake the blood off your hand, wrist, and forearm. "Someone bring me a bucket of water and start stripping this thing. Our crew feasts tonight!" Hooting and hollering comes from below your platform, on the main deck of your ship where several crewmen were tying rope and apparently eavesdropping. "What about the Soul Treasure?" Guiren asks. "It'll be a weak one, but Nanhou's coming. Wanna janken for it?" <</choose>>

<<choose "ch6-ship-kuro3-fish">> #"Sure, it's only fair." -> "ch6-ship-kuro3-2" <<var $guirenrep + 2>>\ <<var $honor + 2>>\ <<rand $val 0 1>>\ "Sure," you reply, "it's only fair." You both prepare, staring each other down to guess at what your opponent will play. "You got this Guiren!" Yoji shouts. "Do we get a piece?" Asks another shinobi underling. "Shut up, all of you!" Guiren shouts back. "I'm concentrating on....my opponent." His green reptilian eyes narrow at you. Your \ #"Hells no, it's mine." "Hells no," you count, "it's mine." "You didn't even pull it up!" One of Guiren's minions complains. "Nah shut up." Guiren retorts. "We're on 'the Captain's' ship, $heshe gets dibs on the Soul Treasure bounty." "Then why the hell did we even fish it?!" Yoji demands. Guiren looks back to him with a smile. "To eat. Get your knives out boys, it's time to harvest a feast!" #"Hells no, I'm giving it to Kosuke." <<var $kosukecombat + 1>>\ <<var $bffrep + 5>>\ <<var $guirenrep - 3>>\ <<var $fishfactor "Kosuke">>\ "Hells no," you say, "I'm giving it to Kosuke, someone that could actually make a difference out of it." "Playing favorites I see." Guiren says with a shake of the head. "Yes." You reply, and that's that. #"Hells no, I'm giving it to Leona." <<var $leonacombat + 1>>\ <<var $leonarep + 3>>\ <<var $guirenrep - 4>>\ <<var $fishfactor "Leona">>\ "Hells no," you reply, "I'm giving it to Leona. She helped us out of Ebikowa when she could have left at any point." <<if ($heshe is "he")>>\ "Sure, //that's// the reason." Yoji says. "Nothing to do with her tits the size of your head." "Yoji I swear to the Heavens," you point a threatening finger at him, "I will make you swim." The Oni man raises both hands in surrender. <<else>>\ "Damn." Yoji replies in the back. "Helping out a Sect rival before us? That's cold. Guiren-levels of cold." <<if ($ruthless lt 53)>>\ <<var $sect_hiddencoil + 1>>\ "Sorry Yoji." You offer in condolence as Guiren gives Yoji a stink eye, wondering if that was a race joke about lizards. "Maybe next time." <<else>>\ "Get used to it." You reply as Guiren gives Yoji a stink eye, wondering if that was a race joke about lizards. <</if>>\ <</if>>\ #"Hells no, I'm giving it to Bo Lo." <<var $bocombat + 1>>\ <<var $borep + 11>>\ <<var $guirenrep - 2>>\ "Hells no," you counter, "I'm giving it to Bo Lo." "The scrawny whiner?" Guiren's face sours as if he's smelled hot garbage. "Why?" You reply with a shake of your own head. "I don't even know." #"No, it's going to a retainer." <<var $retainers - 1>>\ <<var $martial_retainers + 1>>\ <<var $retainer_morale + 2>>\ <<var $guirenrep - 1>>\ <<var $fishfactor "retainer">>\ "No," you counter, "it's going to a retainer. We need more auras on board." "Not a bad idea." Guiren admits. "Just don't expect anyone to fish much more since you're stealing the bounty." "Claiming." You correct. "Legally claiming." "Spoken like a debt collector." Guiren replies, impressed. #"No need, you can have it." <<var $guirencombat + 1>>\ <<var $guirenrep + 4>>\ <<var $fishfactor "Guiren">>\ "No need," you counter, "you can have it." Guiren's head tilts back with an eyebrow raised in suspicion. "Why?" "Why what?" "Why are you being nice to me?" You're not even sure how to take that. "I can be nice." "Not that I've seen." <<if ($ruthless gt 50)>>\ ''[Compassion 50 Check Failed]'' "I don't know what to tell you besides 'get glasses'." <<var $guirenrep - 3>>\ <<var $honor - 1>>\ "Yeah, see?" Yoji says. "That's exactly what he's talking about. "Whatever." You reply. <<else>>\ "Well everyone else thinks I'm nice, now shut up and take the gift." <</if>>\ <</choose>>

<<if ($spiritbrandloc is "eyes")>>\ newly $spiritbrandcolor \ <</if>>\ <<if ($yokaitrait2 is "cat eyes")>>\ feline eyes \ <<elseif ($yokaitrait2 is "reptilian eyes")>>\ reptilian eyes \ <<else>>\ eyes \ <</if>>\ narrow back. <<janken "Guiren">>\ <<if ($janken is "Victory")>>\ "Aw crap!" Guiren shouts out. <<var $val 6762>>\ "Boo! Boooo!" Chant his underlings. You ignore them and get your refiner's kit from the Captain's Cabin, spending a decent amount of time back on the platform grinding \ <<include "ch6-ship-kuro3-fish">>\ <<else>>\ <<if ($honor gt 50)>>\ "Hm." You say is dissastifaction. <<var $honor + 1>>\ "Hell yes!" \ <<else>>\ "Oh crap!" You blurt out, losing the bounty. "Oh yes!" \ <</if>>\ Guiren says with pride. "That'll be one Advancement Elixir. You can do the honors and brew it up for me." "Why would I refine your elixir? You're the one who won." Guiren pulls out a Kunai and nods his head over to the giant dead fish taking up a quarter of your platform. "Because I'll be busy gutting and stripping the giant fish. Unless you want to be the one covered in blood and guts." You take out your refiner kit before he even finishes his sentence. <<page "Continue" "ch6-ship-kuro3-fish">>\ <</if>>\

<<if ($val isnot 6762)>>\ Searching the Beast's corpse for the Soul Treasure takes a few minutes before you narrow it down to a tailbone. You spend a good amount of time grinding \ <</if>>\ the massive fishbone down into a powder before mixing it into an Advancement Elixir. Meanwhile Guiren and his men cut meat out of the fish, arguing and mocking each other's performance over the next twenty minutes. <<if ($janken is "Loss")>>\ When finished, Guiren walks over to look over your work. His gloves and gi are covered in blood and he smells like repugnant fish. "You can back up." You offer him, covering your nose. "By a mile." Guiren opens his mouth with a smile, ready for some sort of comeback. <<page "GUIREN!!!" "ch6-ship-kuro5">>\ <<elseif ($alchemy is 0)>>\ ''[Alchemy 1 Check Failed]'' You're not the best alchemist, and one of Guiren's masked minions has to help you through the process. It stings your pride but it's not your fault that you're not good at //everything//. Yet. <<var $apval 5>>\ <<include "ch6-ship-kuro3-fish2">>\ <<elseif (($alchemy lte 2) and ($background isnot "Herbalist"))>>\ ''[Alchemy 1 Check Passed]'' You finish and give the blue elixir a wiff. It smells...fishy. <<if ($fishfactor is "")>>\ Oh well. Bottoms up. <</if>>\ <<var $apval (5 * (3 * $alchemy))>>\ <<var $solexp + 1>>\ <<include "ch6-ship-kuro3-fish2">>\ <<else>>\ ''[Alchemy 3/Herbalist Check Passed]'' As a proper alchemist most of your time goes into countering the smell of the elixir, and hopefully the taste. Maximizing its potency was already easy enough. <<var $apval (6 * (4 * $alchemy))>>\ <<var $solexp + $alchemy>>\ <<include "ch6-ship-kuro3-fish2">>\ <</if>>\

<<if ($fishfactor is "")>>\ ''[Aura Pressure + $apval]'' <<var $aurapressure + $apval>>\ <<elseif ($fishfactor is "Guiren")>>\ "One Advancement Elixir, as ordered." You hold the blue glowing vial out to Guiren who is covered in fish blood and guts after stacking up a sizable pile of high quality meat for your crew. "Oh Hells yes." He says, reaching over and taking it out of your hands. \ <<if (($heshe is "she") and ($guirenromance gte 2))>>\ Your fingers lightly touch as he does so and you flash him a smile. He doesn't look overly confident or suave when his dragon eyes meet yours back. He just looks happy. Ugh, damn it. You're blushing. <</if>>\ With one quick gulp he consumes the elixir and his purple aura flares all around him, fully rejuvenated and a little stronger than it was before. "Thanks. I mean it." <<var $guirenrep + 2>>\ <<if ($heshe is "she")>>\ <<var $guirenrep + 4>>\ <</if>>\ <<else>>\ You wipe the sweat from your brow and look down at the blue glowing concoction in a vial. "Finally. It's done." A couple of guiren's underlings look up from the fish they're butchering and shake their heads, their own task not nearly done. You look over the railing to your ship's main deck below where a Human is loosening some knots to adjust a sail. "You there, retainer, come up \ <<if ($ruthless lt 49)>>\ here please!" <<else>>\ here!" <</if>>\ He looks surprised and checks to see if you're talking to anyone else instead, then runs up the stairs to your platform and wipes sweat off his face. "Yes, Clan $patriarch?" <<if ((($fishfactor is "Kosuke") or ($fishfactor is "Leona")) or ($fishfactor is "Bo Lo"))>>\ "Bring this to $fishfactor, wherever they are." <<if ($fishfactor is "Bo Lo")>>\ "The overseer?" \ <<elseif ($fishfactor is "Kosuke")>>\ "The booze supplier?" \ <<elseif ($fishfactor is "Leona")>>\ "The masochist?" \ <</if>>\ He asks before remembering himself. "Er, of course, Clan $patriarch. It shall be done." The man's words run through your mind as the retainer leaves down the stairs with your Advancement elixir and you wonder what exactly is going on below deck. \ <<else>>\ "Drink this." His head pulls back involuntarily, but his hand slowly extends to take the mystery elixir. "Y-Yes, Clan $patriarch." With one sip he buckles over and falls to his side, feeling a spike in Aura Pressure for perhaps the first time in his life. //Ohhhh that's right.// You realize internally; your first Shard cycling knocked you to the ground too. "Damn, that was harsh!" Yoji says, covered in fish guts. "No warning or anything." "Er...He'll be fine." You look over the railing again. "You there! Come take this man below deck to rest!" A female retainer looks over in concern but eventually does as you ask, dragging the groaning man below deck. He'll thank you eventually when he realizes how much strength he's gained. Probably. Maybe. <</if>>\ <</if>>\ <<page "GUIREN!!" "ch6-ship-kuro5">>\

''//"GUIREN!!"//'' The voice booms just overhead. Crewmen scream below deck as the voice shakes your boat and the waters around you. ''//"ANOTHER HAS FAILED TO PAY THEIR DEBTS!"//'' "Shit." Guiren says, wiping blood off his hands while carving up the giant fish. "Yes Boss! Just give us a name and location and we're on it!" ''//"XIANG CAO, MASTER OF THE HAUNTED FIST SECT IN THE CITY OF GRAVECHASM."//'' Guiren winces. "You got it Boss. We'll prepare to embark immediately." The overwhelming presence of Guiren's Boss dissipates and all five shinobi debt collectors finally exhale. "A Sect Master?" You ask when the tension leaves. "Are you guys going to be okay?" "Yeah." Guiren huffs toward the floor and picks himself up. "It's not as bad as you think. Most people just pay up, and Sect Masters have their honor on the line so we don't have to fight them directly. If he refuses to pay we'll probably kidnap a disciple or two and take them out to eat in Nanhou until the deadbeat shows his face with Inner Kingdom guards around. The problem is going to be getting to Gravechasm." He snaps his fingers. "Yoji, map." Yoji wipes his own hands off on another underling's satchel then opens his own, unrolling a wide scroll that appears to be a map. "Assuming we've sailed south at the correct speed, we should be directly west of Gravechasm. Problem is, it's inland. Far inland. Two day's march." "How are you even getting off the boat?" You ask, standing up and looking at the vast ocean in all directions. "We're so far out that it looks like there's more water in the world than land." "There is." One of Guiren's masked underlings adds. "Ancestors..." Guiren \ <<if (($heshe is "she") and ($guirenromance gte 2))>>\ catches your waist before you teeter from the mind-boggling idea. \ <<else>>\ pats you on the shoulder to steady you. \ <</if>>\ "Don't think about it too hard. And don't worry about us leaving, everything worked out in the end so far. \ <<if ($heshe is "she")>>\ Meet up with us in Nanhou and remember, this isn’t ‘goodbye’, it’s ‘see you later’." <<else>>\ Don't forget our offer though, there's lots of work for you in Nanhou. As for now, it's time we go our separate ways. Boss's orders." <</if>>\ <<choose "ch6-ship-kuro6-poppin">> #"Thanks for the training, I'll make it up to you guys." -> "ch6-ship-kuro6" "Thanks for the training," you say to Guiren and his men, "I'll make it up to you guys." "Don't worry about it." Guiren replies. \ <<if (dig($metguiren, 3) is 1)>>\ "Except for Kennui, since you can't make it up to him, because you killed him." "Wow." You reply, taken back a bit. "Are you going to keep holding that against me?" "For at least five years." Guiren replies, aiming two finger guns at you with a wink. "I'm not seeking vengeance, but he'd want me to give you shit for it." "A lot of shit." Yoji says, cutting the fish beast's organs open and leaking fish crap onto your deck. They all start snickering just as the entire crew pops out of existence; Guiren and his men all disappear from your ship in an instant. You're left on the top platform of your ship with a stripped fish carcass, a flood of crap and guts, and an enormous pile of now-tainted meat. You call someone else to come clean it up. It's good to be the Captain. <<page "Continue" "ch6-ship-compgone">>\ <<else>>\ "You're one of us now, and we take care of our own." "Except for Wencheng." Yoji adds. "Oh yeah, fuck Wencheng." Guiren says, turning around. "Hey, Kennui! You're promoted to the new Wencheng." One of his minions, a Human man, takes off his shinobi face-wrap. "What does a promotion get me?" "Nothing good." Guiren replies. "Enough distractions though." He turns back to you with a hand stretched out. "Congratulations on unlocking your Cursed power, and good job on killing that bald guy. You're a natural, seriously, meet up with us in Nanhou when you get there. We could use your talents for a few jobs." He offers his hand out. <<include "ch6-ship-kuro6-poppin">>\ <</if>>\ #"Is anyone going to tell Wencheng you're leaving?" <<var $guirenrep + 3>>\ <<var $honor + 2>>\ <<var $ruthless - 2>>\ "Is anyone going to tell Wencheng you're leaving?" You ask. Every one of them breaks out into laughter, some suddenly leaning over gripping their stomachs. Yoji recovers first and tries to speak while cracking up. "Ho-Holy shit. Holy shit I forgot he was on the other ship. Don't tell him we're leaving, Guiren." "I am absolutely not telling him." Guiren confirms. "His panicking face when he realizes we're gone is going to be priceless." "Do you think the Boss will notice he's gone?" Asks one of the masked underlings. "I doubt it!" Guiren says with a wide smile. "I mean, Hells, we didn't." #"Do your men have any fishing tips before you go?" "Do your men have any fishing tips before you go?" Guiren shakes his head slowly at you in disappointment. "If there's one thing you should have learned by now, it's that the secret is //always// to cheat." "I figured that." You reply, a bit annoyed, "but what are the specifics?" "Chum the waters, then use a small cloud of Cursed Chi on your hook to keep the chum around it. No bait needed, we used the newbie's blood instead." Now that you look at them closer, one of his underlings in black face-wrap //is// wobbling a bit. "Huh. It's not like I can just use anyone's blood though." <<var $fishtip true>>\ Guiren motions his hands around the ship. "Are you kidding? You've got a whole crew of yes-men now. Or you can use your own if you want to look like a benevolent Master. Either way, it's easy pickings. Should help keep you fed while we-" #show-if ($heshe is "she") "Aren't you forgetting something? Some sort of, say, proposal?" [Seduction] -> "ch6-kuro-date" <<var $metguiren + 1>>\ <<var $guirenromance + 1>>\ <<var $guirenrep + 3>>\ You look off in the distance and absentmindedly tap one finger against your cheek. "Hmm...There's something we're forgetting. It's on the tip of my tongue." "It'll have to wait then." Guiren says, gathering a satchel from under a bench and checking its contents. You snap your fingers in revelation. "Oh that's right! Aren't you forgetting something? Some sort of, say, proposal?" Guiren's face pales. "<<cap $name>>, come on, not here." "You're right, the atmosphere is too dull." You clap your hands. "<<cap $clan>> Clan Retainers! Up on deck!" Guiren starts waving his arms. "No no no no-shit!" More and more men come up on the platform to see what the fuss is about. "Yes, Honored <<cap $patriarch>>?" You look over your shoulder with peak smugness. "Our guest Guiren has something to say. Don't you, Guiren?" Guiren clenches his teeth. "This is cold." <<if (($element1 is "Ice") or ($element2 is "Ice"))>>\ A dry smile crosses your lips and your icy aura manifests through the air. "I'm as cold as they come." <<var $solexp + 2>>\ <<else>>\ "I think the word you're looking for is 'romantic'." <</if>>\ With a look of resignation and the barest hint of a smile Guiren gives your body a glance up and down and accepts his fate, getting on one knee and taking your hand in his. "Miss $clan, when we reach Nanhou, would you do me the honor of accompanying me on a romantic evening out on the town together?" You place a hand on your heart and look around to your crew, laughing lightly in fake surprise. "Why, Guiren, it sounds like you're asking me out on a-" "On a hot date, yeah." Guiren confesses with a forced smile after your taunting. <</choose>>

<<choose "ch6-ship-kuro6-poppin">> #[Shake his hand.] You give him a firm handshake and nod. "You can count on \ <<if ($ruthless gte 54)>>\ me. Go show that filthy debtor what happens when he messes with us." Guiren grins. "Always do." <<else>>\ me." <</if>>\ Guiren grins. "I knew we could." He looks over his shoulder to his underlings collecting their satchels and trying to wipe fish blood off their hands. "Come on men! Who knows how much time we have left before The Boss-" #"Do your own dirty work." [Bat his hand aside.] You bat his hand aside. "Do your own dirty work." Guiren looks more impressed than insulted, though his mouth still opens in a shock. "Well I'll be damned, I've trained a monster." "You've trained a natural." You reply. "Look I'm not disagreeing, I just didn't think you've be such a dick about it." "It finally happened." Yoji says in the back, wiping his bloodied hands on your railing. "You've finally met someone as rude as you." Guiren turns back to Yoji, looking far more offended than when you rebuffed him. "You too, brute?" #show-if ($heshe is "she") use-if ($guirenromance gte 2) [Kiss him instead.] <<var $metguiren + 1>>\ <<var $guirenrep + 10>>\ <<var $guirenromance + 3>>\ With one quick stride you close the distance betwen you and Guiren, slipping passed his hand and reaching both arms over his shoulders. Your eyes meet his up close and you whisper, "I can do better than a handshake." As your eyes slowly close and you press your lips against his. His men stand around in shock and Guiren hardly does better, completely stunned for a moment before his hand lowers to your waist and he returns the embrace. Up this close, you can physically feel his body's reaction. You press harder against his lips. Just as your tongues nearly meet, a ''*POP*'' emanates through the air. Guiren and his men disappear, taken by The Boss to their next job, and you can't help but feel like the near-divine bastard did it on purpose. Worse, without his body supporting your leaning posture, you're falling face-first towards the remains of the gutted fish on the floor behind where Guiren stood. "Shiiit-!" You scream out while falling. <<var $combatstat "soul">>\ <<combatcheck (8-$stylerank)>>\ <<if ($passcheck is true)>>\ Leashing an unrefined and wasteful line of Cursed Chi to the nearby railing saves you just in time. The Cursed Chi connects with the dead wood and you //pull// yourself away from the gooey, bloodied carcass before your fall finishes. You let out a breath of relief and, after a few seconds calming down your pent-up frustrations, you call up some retainers to come clean the dead fish off your deck. \ <<else>>\ Leashing Cursed Chi to the nearby deck and pulling you out of the way is the perfect solution to get out of this. That's the thought you have a second after slapping onto the ground and getting covered in fish guts. Damn. It would have been great if you thought of that earlier. \ You cough out bits of fish blood that get in your mouth and try not to gag. It takes five minutes of stealthily pulling water up using a nearby bucket to wash your head and chest without anyone noticing, and you suspect that you still smell no matter how hard you scrub. \ <<var $retainer_morale - 1>>\ Eventually you put your washed clothes back on and give up on the effort, snapping your fingers to call some retainers up so they can clean the remaining fish carcass for you. \ <</if>>\ You may have had your moment stolen by a mysterious entity beyond human comprehension, but at least you don't have to do your own chores anymore. <<page "Continue" "ch6-ship-compgone">>\ <</choose>>

With that, Guiren and his entire crew pops out of existence and disappears from your ship. You're left on the top platform with a dead fish and an enormous pile of meat, taking several seconds to take in the scene before you call someone else to come clean it up. It's good to be the Captain. <<page "Continue" "ch6-ship-compgone">>\

It's unclear how much time has passed but you know you need a drink, a bath, maybe a Temple monk, and preferably a full night's rest. The latter is out of the question since Leona's pleased and unconscious form is taking up your whole bed and snoring, loudly. You slap her on the butt and reluctantly rise. Luckily your wardrobe holds a spare shabby robe; there's no need to soil anything good before your bath. Unfortunately, all it takes is one glance at the door to you know you've got trouble. Thanks to your spiritual senses you avoid a negative situation, but it really can't be avoided in full. A heavy, slow breath of acceptance sees you striding to your cabin's door and pulling it open. You step aside as half your crew trips and stumbles in, their ears previously pressed against the wood. They heard everything. Of course Leona lied about the Seals. //Of course she did.// Yet you are their $patriarch and need to act the part; there are no embarrassing situations for you, only embarrassing situations for them when they're caught observing you. "Show's over everyone," you announce as a matter of fact, "get back to work." Surprisingly, it works. They all rush to their feet and take off to their stations without a word. <<var $txt "With your body finally clean, Leona unconscious in your bed downstairs, and some fresh clothes on, you finally have some peace and quiet with which to relax. You">>\ You spend the next five minutes bathing on the upper platform out of sight of the crew. <<page "Continue" "ch6-ship-aka-done">>\

Loud barking fills your ears as you ascend the stairs leading above the Captain's quarters. When you get to the top you see rows of benches secured into the railings of a square platform and a half dozen wolves hiding under them. In the center of the platform is Tian Fang stirring a massive pot of what smells like mouthwatering stew, though it's atop a concerning clay fireplace built on your ''wooden'' ship. She looks over to you with a pleased \ <<if ($race is "Kitsune")>>\ smile until her gaze lowers to your \ <<if ($heshe is "he")>>\ crotch and warps into a disgusted snarl. Your male instincts feel quickly insulted. <<else>>\ waist with a disgusted snarl. ...Is your belt really that unfashionable? <</if>>\ Wait, no, phew, you realize instead she's snarling at something behind you. You turn quickly and feel //two// soft impacts against the wood of the ship's railing. The unnatural sensation alerts your danger senses until you realize it's just your new tail brushing against the ship at the same time as your original tail. Oh. Wait, oh shit! "IMPOSTER!" Tian Fang screams, dropping the large ladle and charging at you on all fours. "FOX DEMON!!" She dives in a flying horizontal leap, crashing into you with her shoulder hard enough to knock the two of you straight over the railing. You both plummet overboard and she reaches her hands for your neck in midair. You bat her away and prepare a counterattack, interrupted when you both break the ocean's surface and plunge into the surprisingly cold waters. <<page "Continue" "ch6-ship-mido-kitsune">>\ <<else>>\ smile on her face and an apron over her usual furs. "Grandest of mornings, heavy \ <<if ($spiritbrandloc is "")>>\ sleeper! Come to assist in the crew's stew?" <<include "ch6-ship-mido2">>\ <<else>>\ sleeper!" She sniffs twice and waddles around the cooking station; drawing closer to you while still keeping both hands on a large ladle in the stew pot. The wolf yokai squints, examining you closer. "Is that...A spiritbrand! \ <<if ($spiritbrandloc is "eyes")>>\ Luminescent eyes at that! Do they affect your vision? I have always wanted to know." "They don't seem to." You reply. "Aww, I was hoping it bathed the world in $spiritbrandcolor." "It doesn't." She pouts, but you're more preoccupied with the scent filling the air up on this platform. Your stomach growls. <<page "What are you cooking?" "ch6-ship-mido2">>\ <<elseif (($spiritbrandloc is "hair") or ($spiritbrandloc is "hairstrip"))>>\ A hair change! I have been accused of such, but Tian Fang's white hair is most natural!" She runs one hand through her stark white hair and lifts a heavy handful. "Everstill, welcome to the beautiful snow-hair club!" "Thanks, it was a surprise but it's grown on me. Literally. What \ <<var $val 436346>>\ <<include "ch6-ship-mido2">>\ <<elseif (($spiritbrandloc is "tail and ears") or ($spiritbrandloc is "tail"))>>\ Your precious tail has been tainted!" She gasps. "Are you unwell?" You look back to your $spiritbrandcolor tail. "I thought it looked nice." "Nonsense, the chi infusion has ruined your \ <<if (($fangromance gte 1) and ($subrace isnot "Reptile"))>>\ perfect appearance!" <<var $fangromance + 1>>\ "Perfect?" "Ummmmmmm-" Fang avoids eye contact and turns slowly, withdrawing a pouch of spiced greens from her robe and tossing it into the orange gravy-stew in the pot. She looks back to the soup and stirs it a few times, looking back to you nervously and then back to the stew. Your stomach growls. <<include "ch6-ship-mido2">>\ <<else>>\ pedigree! You must demand recompense from the Heavens!" "I don't think the Heavens will listen much." "That is what I said to the Devanic Temple." Fang says, snickering with success. "Hmhmmm! Despite her Ice powers Tian Fang is still capable of delivering burns!" ...Okay. <<include "ch6-ship-mido2">>\ <</if>>\ <<elseif ($spiritbrandloc is "horns")>>\ Your mighty horns have become a spiritbrand! Your chi has leaked into them like a $spiritbrandcolor dye!" You nod in agreement. "So it seems.” "Oh." She replies timidly. "I had thought you would be worried." "Nope. I got the surprise out of the way with Kosuke's mirror downstairs. What \ <<var $val 436346>>\ <<include "ch6-ship-mido2">>\ <<elseif ($spiritbrandloc is "skin")>>\ Your very skin has become a spiritbrand?! How is this possible?" You shrug. "I'm part spirit, it makes sense I could have a big change. The real question is why did you have to squint harder to recognize my entire skin color changed?" "I was being polite and pretending it was not odd!" She boasts as if it was an impressive feat. She then retrieves a spice pouch of greens from inside her robes and pours it into the orange gravy making up the stew. Your stomach growls. <<page "What are you cooking?" "ch6-ship-mido2">>\ <</if>>\ <</if>>\ <</if>>\

"It's //awful//." You reply. <<if ($deception gte 3)>>\ ''[Deception 3 Check Passed]'' "R-Really?" Fang says with a trembling lip. She pulls the ladel up to her mouth and takes a sip. "But it tastes delightful to Tian Fang! What could be wrong?" "Maybe your tastebuds?" You say, "Have you had any weird tastes, like the water tasting salty?" She gasps. "I have!" You place a hand on her shoulder. "I'm afraid it may already be too late. If it's already this bad then your sense of taste might never recover." "Nooooooo!" She howls, dropping the ladle and plummeting onto a bench to cry. You breathe in the refreshing sea air and the nice aroma of the stew. Perhaps you'll knock it overboard before anyone can have any. <<page "Continue" "ch6-ship-mido3">>\ <<else>>\ ''[Deception 3 Check Failed]'' "Liar." Fang says, taking a sip and doing a little dance at how tasty it is. "Such a blatant liar you are! Trying to hog it all to yourself in secret! Hm, we will see what your crew thinks of this! A-And you cannot have a bowl! No bowl for you, for not appreciating Tian Fang's gifts!" <<if ($subrace is "Cat")>>\ <<var $fangrep - 6>>\ <<else>>\ <<var $fangrep - 4>>\ <</if>>\ Shit. Shit shit shit shit shit. Why did you try to bully her at the cost of a bowl of delicious soup?! Think fast. You've gotten out of worse situations. "Uhhhhhhhhhhhhh." "Hm?" Fang pulls away from you defensively and glares like an angered cat more than a wolf. "What are you scheming at, soup-not-haver?" <<var $val 13242>>\ "Captain's rights!" You blurt out in a hurry. "Yeah, Captain's rights! The Captain gets a share of everyone's food. It's nautical law. I have to get a bowl." "Hmph!" Tian Fang harumphs, crossing her arms and handing you a ladel without making eye contact. "You will have to pour it yourself, \ <<if ($race is "Kitsune")>>\ fox demon." <<var $fangrep - 2>>\ <<else>>\ lying liar who tells lies." <</if>>\ <<page "Precious soup..." "ch6-ship-mido-sip">>\ <</if>>\

"I am so, so, so, so, so sorry!" Tian Fang pleads for the third time. You're both back on the upper platform, sitting on benches and covered in blankets. \ <<if (($element1 is "Water") or ($element2 is "Water"))>>\ You don't need them, since you can remove the water with a thought, but it was a nice gesture from the crew. <<elseif (($element1 is "Ice") or ($element2 is "Ice"))>>\ Neither of you need them, as you're attuned to Ice and cold environments, but they're comfortable and you still miss the bed. <<elseif (($element1 is "Fire") or ($element2 is "Fire"))>>\ She doesn't need them, attuned to Ice as she is, and you don't need them, attuned to Fire as you are, but they're comfortable and you still miss the bed. <<else>>\ She doesn't need them, attuned to Ice as she is, but you're both certainly still uncomfortable from wetness. You're not going to get sick and you're not freezing, but you expected the water further down the mountains to be so much warmer. <</if>>\ Tian Fang wraps the blankets around her tighter. "Could you forgive this one? It was an instinct! You surprised me!" "Are you saying sorry for the bodycheck, or sorry for calling me a fox demon?" "Hmph!" She lifts her nose up and looks halfway away from you. "Only the first part! Why did you not tell me about the second part? I had thought I had found a kindred wolf spirit in an otherwise hostile community, only to find you are a not a Wolf Yokai at all but instead a lying fox! One who had lied to me, as all foxes do." "Really rubbing it on there, aren't you." <<if ($heshe is "he")>>\ She places a palm against your cheek and rubs it in circles. \ <<else>>\ She raises a hand into the air, palm facing you, and rubs it in circles as if spreading paint on a wall. \ <</if>>\ "Yes. Is the guilt accumulating most densely?" <<if ($honor lt 45)>>\ Not really, if you felt guilt for lying you wouldn't have made it this far. \ <<elseif ($ruthless gte 58)>>\ Not really. You've done a lot worse things than lying. \ "A \ <<if (($honor lt 45) or ($ruthless gte 58))>>\ bit." You lie. <<else>>\ bit." <</if>>\ "Good!" She announces, leaping out of her heavy blankets and returning to the stew pot in the center of the platform. "I will consider us even and return to my task of cooking for the crew." <</if>>\ Your stomach growls. <<page "What are you cooking?" "ch6-ship-mido2">>\

<<if ($val isnot 13242)>>\ ... <</if>>\ The meal itself turns out to be incredibly delicious and filling. Several crewmen come up to your platform and bring buckets of stew below deck for the rowers and the overseer (damn it, Bo, what are you up to down there). Kosuke also comes by for fifths and sixths which you suspect $bffheshe's selling. You don't complain about them all taking their stew and leaving, because for some reason your //entire// crew slurps. They're not even legitimate sailors, they're regular people-turned-sailors, they have no excuse and you all know it. As for you, you couldn't eat another bite. Just two bowls was enough to satiate your growing appetite. "Sooo delicious!" Fang announces in glee, slouching on a bench across from you and rubbing her tummy in satisfaction. <<choose "ch6-ship-mido3">> #"You can say that again." <<var $fangrep + 4>>\ "You can say that again." You say between content sighs as your ship gently rocks to the waves. "What's the menu for tomorrow?" <<var $val 727272>>\ Tian Fang sits up straight and opens her mouth with excitement, dinner plans already running through her mind, when she's interrupted by a desperate whine from underneath her seat. #"As expected of the great Tian Fang." <<var $fangrep + 2>>\ <<var $honor + 1>>\ <<var $ruthless - 1>>\ "As expected of the great Tian Fang." You boast for her, lathering on some compliments. It seems to work, she closes her eyes and basks in the glory. "Yesss it is true, Tian Fang is the greatest of cooks. There is not a soul that could turn down my cooking." #show-if ($ruthless lte 45) "It was so good, but I think I can make a dish that gives it a run for its money." -> "ch6-ship-mido3-no" "It was so good," you agree, "but I think I can make a dish that gives it a run for its money." #use-if ($val isnot 28) "I could do better." -> "ch6-ship-mido3-no" "I could do better." You boast, laying back on a bench with a fully belly. One of Tian Fang's wolves underneath your seat shifts nervously. <<var $fangrep - 2>>\ <<var $ruthless + 2>>\ #show-if ($heshe is "he") "This is the kind of cooking that people get married over." "This is the kind of cooking that people get married over." You say, leaning back and completely fulfilled. "It is the truth!" Fang replies, eyes closed and happily tilting her head side to side with each word. "Tian Fang has been proposed to many times." You sit up and give her a second look. "Wait, really?" "Seven!" She announces, thrusting both arms into the air and holding seven fingers up. "Two merchants, three villagers I saved on missions, and two Mountain Hazard disciples. I have turned down each one." ...//Damn.// That's an impressive record. No one's ever proposed to you, but with seven rejections you wonder just how high are her standards? "What are you looking for then, waiting until your cultivation is complete?" "Hah! Noooo." Fang dismisses slowly in a lower voice than usual. "Spiritual Cultivation is never complete, that is not why. At first I was simply hesitant, but since the Trials were announced so suddenly my mother told me to hold off such things until after the initial contests. That is when I will use my secretive trump card, dual cultivation!" You've never heard of the phrase and suspect she may be making it up. Still, you bite. "What's dual cultivation?" <<var $val 67>>\ <<var $fangromance + 1>>\ Tian Fang holds up one finger with an absentminded smile. "I do not know! I had intended to look it up in Nanhou's library. Perhaps we can research it together?" <</choose>>

Several fulfilling but unfortunately clothed minutes later, you're both interrupted by a slew of whining and growling. "Bwuh?" Tian Fang lifts her head from your chest in a daze. By this point your firm hands have traveled south and her mouth has left its mark all over your neck. "My pack!" She shouts out, jumping out of your grip and onto her feet. "I-I forgot! I must get my pack to land!" Like any fighting-aged man in this situation, you try to think of any reason why she should not interrupt what you're doing. You find no words, all blood having long since abandoned your brain. Instead you squint to appear wiser and more mature, slowly nodding. Genius. Fang quickly gathers her things and begins throwing wolves overboard as well as her satchels and a small crate. Still on the floor and watching the graceful woman chuck her belongings and companions over the railing, an inkling of an idea reaches your mind. "Can the wolves swim?" You ask as she grabs the last one under its front legs, its paws dangling helplessly. "I know not!" She asserts. "But it matters not, Tian Fang can make a raft out of ice. Ice floats, you know." "Yes but, have you already made the raft? They're in the water already." "..." She blinks several times. One of her ears twitches. "..." "OH NO!" Fang shouts, running to the side of your ship in alarm. Her aura glows arctic blue as she extends one hand and spends half her inner energy to manifest a raft for the wolves to climb atop. "Swim, my pack! Swim! Ahhhh!" It's too late to help by the time you rise to your feet; she's already leapt overboard with her last wolf. You glance over the edge to see if she's okay. Her wolves seem to be swimming above the waves, which is good news, and they all are well on their way to the ice raft. Fang on the other hand misses the vessel and hits the water with a bellyflop. You try not to laugh. <<if ($honor lt 48)>>\ ''[Honor Check Failed]'' You fail. <<var $fangrep - 2>>\ <<else>>\ <<var $forexp + 1>>\ <</if>>\ <<page "Continue" "ch6-ship-compgone">>\

You say, seeing as that's the best spiritually infused ingredient you have on you. "Truly?" Tian Fang replies, nose wrinkling at the thought. "From where would we even retrieve such an ingredient?" "My pocket." You say, withdrawing some and dropping it into the large pot. Tian Fang shrugs and stirs it in.

<<if ($val isnot 436346)>>\ "What \ <</if>>\ are you cooking?" You ask, still breathing in the savory aroma at this close of a distance. "A chicken dish with a thick tomato paste and milk of the coconut, mixed into a gravy sauce! I had to use many of my own sealed rations to make it work, but the crew has had nothing but tack, rice, and fish for the last five meals while you slept. I felt it necessary to lift everyone's spirits!" You look over the railing to see two crewmen pantomiming the chugging of booze in between some joke. "Knowing sailors, they need spirits to raise their spirits." She tilts her head and one ear twitches. "Most curious. I was going to correct you that these men and women are not true sailors, but I suppose they are now, are they not? Their homes in Ebikowa are destroyed or contaminated, and now they live in your stolen ships." "Legally salvaged." You correct. "Legally //conquered!//" She \ <<if ($heshe is "he")>>\ purrs back. \ <<else>>\ counters. \ <</if>>\ "Now would you like to try a sip of the soup? I require a tasteful tester of taste, post haste!" She lifts the ladle of steaming stew and you try a sip, your body more resilient to burns thanks to your Fortitude Cores. You really can't count the number of benefits you've received from increasing in power. Now you don't have to wait for soup to cool? Simply incredible. Speaking of incredible, the savory stew lingers on your tongue with an incredible mix. You don't know what a coconut \ <<if ($race is "Human")>>\ or a tomato \ <</if>>\ is but you need to mix \ <<if ($race is "Human")>>\ them \ <<else>>\ its milk \ <</if>>\ into more meals. More than anything though, you can sense the buzzing through your body as you consume the soup and realize just how many chi-rich ingredients she \ <<if ((((($craft + $alchemy) gte 4) or (($craft + $survival) gte 4)) or (($craft + $lore) gte 4)) or (($craft + $stealth) gte 4))>>\ used. You're almost tempted to add some of your own. It might mess with the taste a little, but you can sense this stew is so close to giving you a boost. <<else>>\ used. <</if>>\ "How is it?" Tian Fang asks, tail gently swaying and eyes attentively locked on your reaction. <<choose "ch6-ship-mido-sip">> #"It's perfect the way it is." <<var $val 28>>\ "It's perfect the way it is." You admit. "Yay!" Tian Fang cheers, kicking one leg up behind her and raising both hands into the air. "Another successful victory!" <<var $fangrep + 5>>\ <<if ($heshe is "he")>>\ <<var $fangromance + 1>>\ She doesn't close her eyes to match her beaming smile this time. Instead her gaze stays on you and lingers a little longer than you'd expect. <</if>>\ #"It's //awful//." -> "ch6-ship-mido-awful" #use-if (($craft + $alchemy) gte 4) "It needs witch hazel." [Increases Soul EXP] "It needs witch hazel." \ <<include "ch6-ship-mido-stew">>\ <<var $solexp + ($alchemy*2)>>\ /* codetester block */\ #use-if (($craft + $survival) gte 4) "It needs ligonberry." [Increases Fortitude EXP] "It needs ligonberry." \ <<include "ch6-ship-mido-stew">>\ <<var $forexp + ($alchemy*2)>>\ /* codetester block */\ #use-if (($craft + $lore) gte 4) "It needs salted water buffalo." [Increases Power EXP] Drying and salting your own meats is something you learned from the local library more than your time outside, as it's a common practice with your mountain village's long winters. <<var $powexp + ($alchemy*2)>>\ "It needs salted water buffalo." You say after a short pause. Fang looks around the ocean surrounding you. "Er...Thunderfaller, from where would we obtain salted bovine meat out here? Unless you count the cow yokai working the oards." "We can just check my pocket." You reply, pulling out your salted jerky and dropping it into the pot to soften. Tian Fang snaps her fingers. "I knew I should have checked there!" #use-if (($craft + $stealth) gte 4) "It needs tea leaves." [Increase Agility EXP] "It needs tea leaves." \ <<include "ch6-ship-mido-stew">>\ <<var $agiexp + ($alchemy*2)>>\ /* codetester block */\ <</choose>>

<<if ($val isnot 727272)>>\ A high pitch whine suddenly interrupts you from underneath one of the benches. \ <</if>>\ Several more follow and you realize it's the wolves, all still huddled under the benches of your ship's upper platform. "Oh shoot," Fang says, "I had nearly forgotten!" She leans over, laying down on her bench and reaching underneath with one arm to gently scratch a wolf behind the ears. "My poor pack cannot stay aboard this ship much longer." She grunts as she twists while leaned over, awkwardly trying to make eye contact with you again. "Which means I must leave." <<if ($val isnot 67)>>\ Her words catch you off-guard on your way to a sneak a third bowl. You turn to the Yokai and \ <<else>>\ She's leaving so soon after you woke up? With great restraint you \ <</if>>\ express your surprise as subtly and elegantly as possible. <<page "Huh?" "ch6-ship-mido4">>\

"No you cannot!" Fang protests. "Fang is the best!" "Oh yes I can." \ <<if ($ruthless lte 45)>>\ You respond \ <<if ($heshe is "he")>>\ confidently. <<else>>\ in friendly competition. <</if>>\ <</if>>\ <<if ((($craft lte 1) or ($survival lte 1)) or ($alchemy lte 1))>>\ At first there was no way you could compete with her cooking, but after seeing the whole process and everything involved, you think you've learned enough tricks that you can give her a run for her money. <<if ($craft lte 1)>>\ ''[Craft +1]'' <<var $craft + 1>>\ <<elseif ($survival lte 1)>>\ ''[Survival +1]'' <<var $survival + 1>>\ <<elseif ($alchemy lte 1)>>\ <<var $alchemy + 1>>\ ''[Alchemy + 1]'' <<elseif ($craft lte 2)>>\ ''[Craft +1]'' <<var $craft + 1>>\ <<elseif ($survival lte 2)>>\ ''[Survival +1]'' <<var $survival + 1>>\ <<elseif ($alchemy lte 2)>>\ <<var $alchemy + 1>>\ ''[Alchemy + 1]'' <</if>>\ <</if>>\ "Hmph!" Fang crosses her arms. "Then you will cook next time and we will see what is what!" <<include "ch6-ship-mido3">>\

"You're leaving?" You ask, surprised and let down. "Why?" "I have already been most rude in waiting so long." Tian Fang admits as she slides another reluctant wolf out from under the bench by its front paws. It whines but otherwise hardly reacts. "My wolves have not been doing well at sea, you see?" You do. She's been pulling them out from under the benches and plopping them into a pile in the middle of the platform. You walk up to one and inspect the beast, its eyes betraying a hazed boredom and unhappiness. "What's causing it? Can it spread?" "Spread? No, no. The problem is they refuse to eat. I believe it is the rocking of the ship combined with the Fiend blood they consumed when fighting in Ebikowa. My poor pack is simply not meant for the ocean, and they were forced onto it after their worst meal." "So where are you going to go?" "To the land, of course!" Fang says, hopping to upright posture with her hands on her hips. "Tian Fang will lead her pack to the promised land! Which is, to say, any land!" You look around the waters on both sides of your vessel and see nothing but your other \ <<if ($shipcount gt 2)>>\ ships \ <<else>>\ ship \ <</if>>\ sailing behind you by a few hundred feet. "...How?" "I worry not about the 'hows'." Fang replies looking off to the side, a smug smile on her lips. "Did you forget that water is just Ice you have not befriended yet?" "That's not an expression." Fang's smile stays but her eyebrows take on the sharp arc of a predator. "It will be!" "Okay, okay." You say, motioning for her to calm down. You can't believe she's going to try some sort of ice bridge all the way back to the land. You can't even //see// the land. Maybe you have something that can help her? "All done!" Fang announces, finishing her pile of melancholy wolves. "Now I must depart. Please wish farewells to Kosuke and Bo Lo for me!" "What about Leona?" Fang places a hand on your shoulder and speaks slower, nodding with each word. "Wish her a very bad day." With that she turns away from you in a flourish and surrounds her body in green, lifting her arms into the air and releasing her Wild Chi into the pile of wolves to give them the strength to leave. They rise up in a hurry and start howling, letting their displeasure be known. By the Ancestors, she's going to run all the way to the land with the wolves sapping her energy too? You've seen her fight, this is //far// too much. She's going to get herself drowned. Maybe you have some supplies in your Cabin that can save her from this terrible idea? <<if (($heshe is "he") and ($fangromance gte 2))>>\ "Hold on!" You try to shout over the howls. "HOLD ON!" You shout harder, filling your shout with Wild Chi. The wolves settle down and Fang turns around to inspect what you're up to. "Hm? What is it?" "Come back with me to my Captain's Cabin first." You tell her. "Empowering the wolves is too much work when you're going to need that energy for yourself." "Ehhh?" She tilts her head to the side in confusion and takes a battle pill out of her bra, chewing it while making eye contact. Her face and nose are scrunched in confusion. "Why would this one need energy when we are simply going to your bedroom...?" You freeze and realize your accidental pickup-line the same moment she does. "Oh...Oh!" She smooths out her clothes and corrects her posture as she leans up on her tiptoes with a smile growing on her innocent face. "And what would this star pupil need such energy for, oh mighty Captain?" A loud thumping comes from her tail repeatedly striking the ship's taffrail as it wags. <<else>>\ "Are you going to be okay?" You ask, drowned out by the wolves. "HUH?!" Fang asks, turning around with her usual aloof smile. "ARE YOU GOING TO BE OKAY?!" You shout, filling your voice and lungs with Wild Chi. The wolves finally calm down and Fang's ears twitch twice. "This one will be fine, of course!" She blinks several times. "Why does the Thunderfaller ask?" "Sorry, I just can't imagine having enough energy to make it all the way to shore. I can't even see any land from here." "Enough energy...?" Fang looks from you to the ocean and back, though she doesn't check the horizon. She looks directly overboard. "Thunderfaller, what did you think this one would be doing?" <</if>>\ <<choose "ch6-ship-compgone">> #"Making your ice bridge to shore. I've got some herbs or elixirs you can use to make it further." <<if ($fangromance gte 2)>>\ <<var $fangromance - 1>>\ <<else>>\ <<var $fangrep + 3>>\ <</if>>\ <<var $ruthless - 2>>\ <<var $fangrep + 2>>\ "Making your ice bridge to shore." You answer. "I've got some herbs or elixirs you can use to make it further." <<if (($heshe is "he") and ($fangromance gte 2))>>\ "Oh." Fang says, disappointed. "Wait, what good would that do? These waves would break any such bridge! \ <<else>>\ "A bridge?" Fang wrinkles her nose. "Hah! That would be quite bold! \ <</if>>\ No no, good Thunderfaller, Tian Fang intends not to make a bridge, but a boat!" "A boat?" "Yes." She says with a rapid nod that rustles her hair. "Ice floats." Huh. You suppose it does. "In fact..." She backs up for a running start and sprints to the edge of your ship, leaping overboard right over the railings. "BEHOLD!" "Wait!" You run to the side in time to see her landing on the water's surface. The moment her bare foot touches the top of a wave it freezes around her. More and more water crashes into that wave and freezes as well, forming into a floating glacier. Fang performs several handseals and reshapes the ice into a small boat over time. One with a size you'd expect from lake fishing rather than sea travel, but a sturdy one nonetheless. She looks up with pride, only to see your sailing ship is already hundreds of feet away by the time she's finished. "Ahh!!" She hollers out to you over the sounds of the high seas. "My wolves! I forgot my wolves! Most quickly, throw them overboard!" Oh shit. You run over and grab the green glowing wolves, picking them up two at a time. Thankfully they're still imbued with a bit of Fang's energy. They're going to need it. With a grunt you chuck the entire pack overboard, receiving several barks and gnawings as you do so. They all splash into the ocean and frantically kick their legs, making disgusted faces at the salty taste of the water while they swim for Tian Fang's iceboat. As you watch the panicked wolfgirl navigate alone and the panicked wolves dogpaddle to safety, you think you may have been right to be worried for them in the first place. Ah well. She keeps saying she's a star pupil, she'll be fine. <<page "Continue" "ch6-ship-compgone">>\ #"Swimming." [Hip-throw her over the railing] <<var $fangrep - 8>>\ <<if ($bodytype is "Handsome")>>\ <<var $fangromance + 1>>\ <<elseif ($fangromance gte 1)>>\ <<var $fangromance - 1>>\ <</if>>\ <<var $ruthless + 3>>\ "Swimming." You reply, grabbing her by the collar, stepping passed her in one wide stride, then lurching her body over your hip so she twists over you and the railing at the same time. "Bwaaaaaahhhh!!!" She croaks out, flailing overboard and plunging into the water below. She resurfaces and coughs out a mouthful of sea water. "My wolves!" She shouts back up at you in distress. "I can't abandon my wolves! Awooooo!!" She wails out in anguish, shaking the water out of her hair. When she's done, without the force moving it back and forth, her hair falls back in the water and gets wet again. "Good point!" You shout back. "Take your mutts with you too!" With a snap of your fingers your nearby retainers jump to attention, quickly running up the stairs and placing her seasick wolves onto your lone escape rowboat before lowering it overboard. You meant for them to drop the wolves into the water. Idiots. Sure, you didn't spell it out for them, but you shouldn't have to. Good help is so hard to find. By the time all the wolves are in the boat and it's lowered, your sailing ship has already made it two hundred feet away from Fang's quick swimming. You look down and acknowledge that, actually, the image of a bunch of wolves on a tiny boat while Tian Fang has to swim is pretty funny. You should tip your retainers for the idea. You won't though. "Come on men!" You shout to your crew. "We sail for Nanhou!" <<page "Continue" "ch6-ship-compgone">>\ #show-if ($heshe is "he") use-if ($fangromance gte 2) Take her by the hand. "Why don't I show you." [Seduction] <<var $metfang + 1>>\ <<var $fangromance + 2>>\ <<var $fangrep + 5>>\ "Why don't I show you?" You say, gently pulling her against you. Tian Fang's pale cheeks blush as you take her hand in yours. Her smile grows giddy with excitement and she looks at you like you're the most important thing in her world. Then the damned wolf woman //bites// your hand! "OW!" You yelp, pulling away quickly. You prepare to punch her face into Outer East but hesitate when you see her eyes are brown, not amber. She plants a quick kiss against your injured fist and laughs while running around you in a fast circle, her tail trailing behind her while she darts to the wolf pile. "Hahah!" She chants triumphantly, putting her hands on her hips and spinning. "It is you who thought you would kiss Tian Fang, but no! It was Tian Fang instead who has kissed you!" "Yeah and you bit me!" You shout back, rubbing your hand. "You have an awful way of showing affection." Her nose scrunches at that. "Tian Fang has a wonderful way of showing affection! Tian Fang is most playful!" "You bit me!" "A bite of AFFECTION!" She shouts in defiance, stomping one foot forward and leaning in. "Bites aren't affectionate!" You counter. "Keep up such lies and I will show you just how affectionate I can be!" "Keep biting me and the only affection you'll be getting is my fist!" "Grahh!" You both shout, charging at each other and colliding in the air. The boat rocks when your green Wild auras clash, your bodies hitting the floor quickly and grappling on the floor, rolling to the back of the platform as you wrestle for control. As soon as the two of you crash into the taffrail posts she goes to bite you on the neck and you counter by grabbing her ears in both hands. "Kh-h-h-huhhhhhhh." She moans out, eyes rolling into the back of her head. Her legs shake against yours and her mouth slowly sinks into your neck after all, albeit with only her soft lips and wandering tongue, utterly subdued. <<page "Continue" "ch6-ship-mido-smooches">>\ <</choose>>

//You wake in the middle of the night with a terrible thirst. At first you drink from the terracotta pot of water in your chambers, its contents cool, clear, and refreshing, but the thirst remains. Naturally you search for more.// //As soon as you venture out of your Captain's cabin in search of drinking water you're met with a heavy fog obscuring the ship's deck. Stepping through the blanketing mist reveals there are no crewmen on deck and, even stranger, no waves in the waters below. The ocean around you lies as flat as a mirror. Confused, you turn and leave to search the quarters below deck for your retainers and still find none. your ship abandoned, and your supplies emptied.// //The thirst grows.// //Quickly you run back above deck and search for your other// \ <<if ($shipcount gt 2)>>\ //ships// \ <<else>>\ //ships// \ <</if>>\ //yet the endless expanse of the ocean shows nothing but flat surface as far as the eye can see. Without other options, you look overboard to the obvious supply of water. The sea tempts you, calls to you, pleads to help you and slate your thirst.// //So much to drink in such close proximity...but no. Deep down you know this water lies; drinking from the tempting endless waters of salt will only lead to your death. While you contemplate this you find yourself gazing down into the abyss of the flattened ocean and, for the first time, you notice that a full moon reflects off its surface right behind your reflections.// //All three of your reflections.// //Three <<print $fullname>>s stare back at you from the mirrored waters, with only the middle looking as confused as you.// //The two on the sides begin to laugh when you notice them. It is a friendly laughter at first, a playful jest as if they'd been caught in some prank, yet their laughter continues on, louder and more forceful, until they build up to the mocking, scornful, raving laughter of madmen. As you look down at the third reflection and wonder why $heshe's not laughing too, $heshe points behind you.// //You turn and look to the sky, seeing not a full moon but ''two'' full moons, massive white eyes assessing you from the Heavens like a hunter analyzing its prey. A face forms around the eyes, a face of stars, and in its shape you see the outline of an enormous white tiger.// //Behind you, the third reflection begins to laugh.// Then you awake. <<if ($style is "Kiihakai")>>\ ''[Dream Event]'' "No." Interjects a familiar voice. "You don't." <<page "Continue" "ch6-ship-dreamdemona">>\ <<else>>\ <<page "Continue" "ch6-ship-wakeup">>\ <</if>>\

<<if ($chispent gte 1)>>\ <<var $chispent - 1>>\ <</if>>\ "INCOMING OBJECT!" Comes the boisterous shout of a man in the dead of night. "INCOMING GLOWING OBJECT!!" <<if ($roc gte 1)>>\ "CAWW!" Adds <<cap $rocname>>. It sounds like they're both in the same place. <</if>>\ You jolt up in your bed and brush off the feeling of a bad dream, its contents quickly leaving your mind. After getting dressed as quickly as possible you sprint out the door into the dark and clouded night, the sea's winds striking \ <<if ((((($hairlength is "long and tied") or ($hairlength is "tied-back")) or ($hairlength is "short and tied-back")) or ($hairlength is "waist-length")) or ($hairlength is "chest-length"))>>\ your long hair \ <<else>>\ your face \ <</if>>\ with a mist of salt water while you take stock of the situation. "There you are, Honored <<cap $patriarch>>!" Comes a call from atop your ship's \ <<if ($roc gte 1)>>\ expanded crow's nest where <<cap $rocname>> is perched next to and an //exceedingly brave// retainer. \ <<else>>\ crow's nest, his spyglass in one hand. \ <</if>>\ "It's over there! Look!" He points and you follow his finger at the same time that several crewmen rise from the lower deck and gather around you. Off in the distance, and approaching fast, is an orange glowing object on the high seas. An object larger than your ship. <<if ($perception gte 2)>>\ ''[Perception 2 Check Passed]'' <<var $powexp + 1>>\ <<var $forexp + 1>>\ Looking closer \ <<else>>\ When it gets closer \ <</if>>\ you realize the glow is too concentrated for such a large source. What you at first mistake for a burning lighthouse or a gargantuan aura is, in fact, a large ship. One covered in thousands of paper lanterns lining every inch of the many ropes holding up its oversized sails. The dazzling array of glowing lights obscures your vision of the ship beyond the lanterns. All you can make out is the bottom of the larger vessel, the rest blurred as if you were staring through a campfire. "Honored $patriarch, it's approaching fast." Warns one retainer, backing away from the railing. "Too fast!" Shouts another in panic. Several others begin backing away as well. "HAIL!" You shout over the waves as the other ship gets within two hundred feet of your vessel. "YOU ARE ON A COLLISION COURSE! CHANGE COURSE NOW!" "WHAT?" A voice comes out of the larger vessel in surprise. "WHAT ARE YOU DOING IN OUR PATH?! MOVE, FOOL, OR YOU ARE COURTING DEATH!" <<if ($ruthless lt 58)>>\ "What the Hells did he just say?" Kosuke \ <<if ($bffheshe is "she")>>\ hisses, \ <<else>>\ blurts out, \ <</if>>\ "What an asshole, tell him it's him that's courting death." You shake your head quickly. "We need to take this seriously, I-" "We don't have any time!" Kosuke counters. "Fine, fine." You place both hands around your mouth and shout back up. "IT IS YOU WHO IS COURTING DEATH!" "Now call him a fool." Kosuke whispers. "Shut up." You whisper back. <<if (($bffheshe is "he") and ($heshe is "he"))>>\ "Come on man, they love it!" <<else>>\ "I'm telling you, it works every time!" <</if>>\ "...FOOL!" You add on, shouting to the lanternship. <<else>>\ "YOU DARE?!" You scream back. Screw this guy, you didn't get woken up to act like the bigger $manwoman and de-escalate. "IT IS YOU WHO IS COURTING DEATH, ''FOOL!''" <</if>>\ The larger vessel does not answer. Its wide bow continues its approach toward your ship as the glow of thousands of lanterns illuminates the fearful, paling faces on your men. You look to Kosuke who's frantically shaking $bffhisher head. The ship grows closer and a decision has to be made before it's too late. "Damn it all." You mutter under your breath. <<choose "ch6-lantern">> #Charge an energy blast into the ship's bow. If the ship refuses to move then you'll be the one to move it. "Everyone get behind me!" You shout out to your panicking crew, planting both feet firmly on the deck and bringing your outstretched hands together in front of your chest. For once you don't need a powerful blast of scorching energy, you need a ''dense'' blast of thick energy that can push the ship off course. <<if ($handseals gte 1)>>\ A quick set of handseals and a prayer is all you can do in preparation. <<var $solexp + 1>>\ <</if>>\ <<if (($element1 is "Earth") or ($element2 is "Earth"))>>\ Amber earth chi resonates out from your body in tremors that strain the floor beneath you. \ <<elseif (($element1 is "Water") or ($element2 is "Water"))>>\ Blue water chi swirls around you like a whirlpool. \ <<elseif (($element1 is "Wind") or ($element2 is "Wind"))>>\ Emerald wind chi rushes around you like a tornado. \ <<else>>\ $auracolor power charges up all around your body as your aura elevates in pressure. \ <</if>>\ Cycling all that energy between both outstretched hands causes your arms to vibrate and your back to tense, but you hold it steady as its power builds. Then you unleash it. <<var $combatstat "soul">>\ <<var $combatstat2 "fortitude">>\ <<if ($handseals is 0)>>\ ''[No Handseals Known, -1 Battle Prowess]'' <<var $cmod - 1>>\ <</if>>\ <<discount "Aoyusumu" 1>>\ <<discount "Earth" 1>>\ <<discount "Water" 1>>\ <<discount "Wind" 1>>\ <<if ($handseals gte 3)>>\ ''[Handseals 3 Check Passed, +1 Battle Prowess]'' <<var $cmod + 1>>\ <</if>>\ <<combatcheck 12>>\ <<if ($passcheck is true)>>\ Your blast slams into the lantern ship's hull with the density of a charging elephant. The energy rams the ship off-course, crashing into its front at just the right angle and sliding down its side in a continued push. Water splashes over your entire crew as the lantern ship is pushed off-course and narrowly avoids crashing into you. Several alarms and shouts come from its deck, but not from your own. Your own people are safe. <<var $merchopinion "Fair1">>\ <<apboost 3>>\ <<else>>\ Your blast collides into the oncoming ship and blows right through the wood, piercing instead of slamming. Something inside the ship might have exploded, but it's not enough to stop what's coming. "BRACE FOR IMPACT!!" You scream to you your crew. The larger ship gets so close that it blocks out your view of the sea. For one short moment you think something else is going to stop it but your hopes are dashed when a soulwrenching crunch deafens your ears and the flooring beneath your feet rocks at a forty five degree angle from the ships crashing together. <<var $merchopinion "Damaged2">>\ <<var $sect_thousandlantern - 5>>\ <<var $retainer_morale - 5>>\ <<var $loot - 2>>\ ''[2 Crates of Loot lost]'' <</if>>\ <<page "Continue" "ch6-lantern">>\ #Try to maneuver your ship out of the way. Sailing is the logical way out of a naval collision course, and that's just what you intend to do. "TURN THE \ <<if (($survival gte 2) or ($craft gte 2))>>\ SAILS STARBOARD \ <<else>>\ SAILS \ <</if>>\ AND MAN THE OARS!" You shout to the meandering crewmen. \ <<if (($survival gte 2) or ($craft gte 2))>>\ "TWICE AS MANY ROWERS ON PORT AS STARBOARD! MOVE! \ <<else>>\ "WE'VE GOT TO MOVE, \ <</if>>\ <<if (($element1 is "Wind") or ($element2 is "Wind"))>>\ NOW!" You surround your body in Wind chi \ <<var $agiexp + 2>>\ <<var $powexp + 1>>\ <<elseif (($element1 is "Light") or ($element2 is "Light"))>>\ NOW!" You infuse your body with the neverending movement of Light chi \ <<var $solexp + 2>>\ <<var $agiexp + 1>>\ <<else>>\ NOW!" ''[1 Agility Core Spent]'' <<var $agispent + 1>>\ You surge an Agility Core \ <</if>>\ and grab two men over your shoulders, sprinting down the hatch at supernatural speeds. Kosuke does the same with one man and thankfully Bo has a crew of 6 still down here. "Row! Row like your life depends on it!" "YEAH!" Bo shouts back, raising his whip to strike the rowers, only to drop it and take a hurried seat amongst them when he realizes you were talking to him. The twelve of you push the oars through the water as fast as you possibly can, knowing the other vessel could be mere yards away. You would survive the crash, but \ <<if ($ruthless gt 50)>>\ your hard-to-replace minions may not. <<else>>\ it's not about you. Unpowered men and women are on board and you refuse to let them come to harm. ''[Compassion Check Passed]'' <<apboost 4>>\ <</if>>\ <<if ($flagshiptype is "Transport")>>\ ''[Special Event: Transport Ship]'' ''[Automatic Success]'' <<else>>\ <<var $shipdiff 5>>\ <<if (($element1 is "Wind") or ($element2 is "Wind"))>>\ ''[Wind Event: Reduced Difficulty]'' <<var $shipdiff - 1>>\ <<elseif (($element1 is "Water") or ($element2 is "Water"))>>\ ''[Water Event: Reduced Difficulty]'' <<var $shipdiff - 1>>\ <</if>>\ <<if ((($style is "Kiihakai") and ($flagshiptype isnot "transport")) and ($flagshipspeed gte 6))>>\ <<if ((($element1 is "Water") or ($element2 is "Water")) or (($element1 is "Wind") or ($element2 is "Wind")))>>\ <</if>>\ ''[Ship's Speed Seals Activated! Reduced Difficulty]'' <<var $shipdiff - 1>>\ <</if>>\ <</if>>\ <<if ((($craft + $survival) gte $shipdiff) or ($flagshiptype is "Transport"))>>\ <<if ($flagshiptype isnot "Transport")>>\ ''[Craft + Survival $shipdiff Check Passed]'' <</if>>\ "HEAVE!" "HO!" "HEAVE!" "HO!" "HEAVE!" "HO!" Trying to move the ship on your own would only lead to a snapped oar. Yet through proper sailing knowledge and crew management you're able to get everyone's musclepower positioned exactly where it needs to be just in time to avoid a catastrophic crash. The lantern ship passes yours by, missing by mere feet at the closest point. <<var $merchopinion "Helped1">>\ <<var $sect_thousandlantern + 2>>\ <<else>>\ ''[Craft + Survival $shipdiff Check Failed]'' Despite all your efforts the lower deck of your ship is launched into disarray when one of your walls cracks. Everyone else in the lower levels is launched off their seat like beans in a shaken cup. Gripping the bolted rower's seat is all you can do to stop from lethally crashing your iron-hard body into any of your retainers as your ship nearly capsizes and water fills the chamber. You didn't make it in time. <<var $merchopinion "Damaged1">>\ <<var $sect_thousandlantern - 5>>\ <<var $retainer_morale - 5>>\ <<var $loot - 2>>\ ''[2 Crates of Loot lost]'' <</if>>\ <<page "Continue" "ch6-lantern">>\ #show-if ((($element1 is "Wind") and ($element1rank gte 2)) or (($element2 is "Wind") and ($element2rank gte 2))) use-if ((($chipool + ($soul/2)) - $chispent) gte 1) Blast a wind tunnel into their sails to the other ship out of the way. [Requires Wind (Adept), Costs 1 Chi] <<if ($ruthless gt 50)>>\ Your eyebrows form a near perfect V when this glowing eyesore refuses to yield. <<else>>\ There are more lives than your own to worry about, so you can't help but feel angered when this glowing invader refuses to yield. <</if>>\ As if it had a choice. Emerald Wind chi surges around your fist in a cyclone so intense that its energy loses all transparency and looks like a swirling mass of emerald painted onto the world. With a battle-cry you launch your fist forward and blast an expanding cyclone of wind across the water and into the other ship's enormous sail. When your beam of emerald gusts impacts and inverts their sail the glowing ship lurches, knocked off course at an angle and harshly cutting through the waters. <<var $merchopinion "Helped2">>\ <<var $sect_thousandlantern + 2>>\ It narrowly avoids your dhow, all thanks to your dominance of the Wind. ''[1 Chi Point Spent]'' <<var $chispent + 1>>\ <<apboost 5>>\ <<page "Continue" "ch6-lantern">>\ #show-if (((($element1 is "Water") and ($element1rank gte 2)) or (($element2 is "Water") and ($element2rank gte 2))) or (($style is "Kiihakai") and ($stylerank gte 2))) use-if ((($chipool + ($soul/2)) - $chispent) gte 1) Manipulate the waves to move your ship out of the way. [Requires Water (Adept) or Kiihakai (Adept), Costs 1 Chi] With no time to think you vault overboard. The entire crew stares into the sky in bewilderment as their <<cap $patriarch>> abandons ship. They follow close behind and nearly leap over the railings themselves until both your arms raise overhead and \ <<if ((($element1 is "Water") and ($element1rank gte 2)) or (($element2 is "Water") and ($element2rank gte 2)))>>\ glow with intense reverberations of blue Water chi \ <<else>>\ shine with power that warps and rotates into circular Seals of golden chi \ <</if>>\ that you launch into the water with all your might, reinforcing the attack with more power even as you release it. <<if ((($element1 is "Water") and ($element1rank gte 2)) or (($element2 is "Water") and ($element2rank gte 2)))>>\ When your waves of Water chi slam into the natural sea the attack's result is amplified to shocking levels, crushing and redirecting the waves faster than a flame burns through dried paper. A bowl forms in the tide wider than either of your ships and a whirlpool begins to stir, dragging the lantern ship in one direction and safely pushing your own ship in the other. You land on the water and kick off, leaping back to your own ship and skidding across its deck, stopping at the helm. ''[1 Chi Point Spent]'' <<var $chispent + 1>>\ <<apboost 8>>\ Everyone around you stares in awe. <<else>>\ When your Mystic chi slams into the sea it activates your command. The circular Seals shape into two glowing walls of golden chi forty feet long submerged just in front of the other ship. You clap both hands together as a somatic component, latching your Will to the energy, and then rip your left hand away. The left glowing wall of energy pulls away to form a tavern-sized gap in the water. The lantern ship dips into that gap at an angle and is forced into a sharp turn away from your vessel. ''[1 Chi Point Spent]'' <<var $chispent + 1>>\ <<apboost 6>>\ You don't even realize that you were holding your breath from such exertion until you hit the water's surface, the cold plunge shocking you back to alertness after such an exhausting ability, but you're able to climb back aboard your own ship without issue. <</if>>\ <<var $merchopinion "Helped2">>\ <<var $sect_thousandlantern + 2>>\ <<page "Continue" "ch6-lantern">>\ #show-if ((($element1 is "Ice") and ($element1rank gte 2)) or (($element2 is "Ice") and ($element2rank gte 2))) use-if ((($chipool + ($soul/2)) - $chispent) gte 1) Form a glacier between your ships. [Requires Ice (Adept), Costs 1 Chi] There's no time to think and there's no Technique in your arsenal that can stop this collission, but that's never stopped you before. Icy blue mist flows off your body with increasing intensity and you jump over your ship's railing just as your aura bursts into a freezing blue flame. The moment you hit the water between both ships you unleash it all in every direction, raw and unbridled. Out here, in the vast water domain of the ocean, the power of ice within your grasp magnifies tenfold and your control over it branches out like a new limb. You flashfreeze a glacier around yourself the size of a ship. ''[1 Chi Point Spent]'' <<var $chispent + 1>>\ <<apboost 6>>\ The lantern ship crashes into your glacier and cracks it in two, ending its momentum and giving you the chance you need to spiritually grip one half of the glacier and turn it, pushing the ship like a giant hand guiding it by the front. The damaged larger vessel passes yours by and missing a bigger collision by mere feet. <<var $merchopinion "Fair2">>\ <<page "Continue" "ch6-lantern">>\ <</choose>>

<<var $sawshrines true>>\ <<if ($style is "Aoyusumu")>>\ The Wild Gods are something you've barely heard anything about. The few teachings you've read on in your Aoyusumu studies, with the limited amount of information Angelo would give you during study breaks, was that they are nearly-Ascended creatures stuck on the planet. According to him, only Dragons and mankind can Ascend to the Heavens. Everything else either needs to Advance towards a person or dragon first. A Wild God is supposedly what happens when a Beast keeps advancing but stubbornly sticks to its usual form. You didn't ask for more details than that because it wasn't an issue of importance. <<else>>\ The Wild Gods are something you know next to nothing about. You've heard of people worshiping them in secluded villages or cults, but it's lost on you what they could actually be. Thunderfall is not an overly religious community, for most of your childhood you thought the Devanic Temple //was// religion, and there was no other option. <</if>>\ However, if what the Windrising disciple said earlier was true, that Beast from last night the size of a tidal wave was a Wild God named Gazhurra, so it's suddenly an issue of //much// importance. Asking around about the Wild Gods gets you directions leading out of town and into the jungle around its outskirts. You pass by several gossiping crowds on your way past the banana farms at the town's exit. From what you can gather, the Cursed Lands has sent strike teams of Shinobi to infiltrate the Heavenly Ascension Trials on behalf of the Exalts. Anyone you work with or compete against in the Trials could be an Inner Kingdom ninja in disguise monitoring your every action. It's a surreal thought. Legends of the Inner Kingdom shinobi have been an entertaining fantasy all your life, with fireside stories of ending on a twist that a Noble lord's servant or closest ally had been replaced with an enemy shinobi in disguise. Memories of those tales send a chill up your spine now. You'd never imagined they'd be spying on //you.// <<page "Continue" "ch6-shrine2">>\

of Gazhurra. A strange sensation comes off the statues and you feel a buzzing sensation in your mind, similar to the feel of Sacred Chi or Wild Chi nearby, but when you send your spiritual senses out you find nothing. Curious. As if called to them, you \ <<if (($element1 is "Water") or ($element2 is "Water"))>>\ channel Water chi to your feet and step onto the water's surface, then \ <<var $solexp + 1>>\ <<else>>\ step into the pond, its water rising up to your waist, and \ <</if>>\ approach the wall of statues. No, that's not right, you realize. What you approach is a wall of shrines. <<choose "ch6-shrine-alone2">> #Pray to Gazhurra. [???] <<var $metangelo + 20000>>\ You kneel\ <<if (($element1 is "Water") or ($element2 is "Water"))>>\ on \ <<else>>\ in \ <</if>>\ the water and pray Gazhurra, hoping for whatever the entity can grant you. Fame, power, and health come to mind. That's what normal religious folk always ask for, you think. It's all rather new to you. Hm, you could ask for Jin and Rin's safety. You've been away for so long, having someone else look after them would be a weight off your shoulders. <<include "ch6-shrine-gazhurratalk">>\ <<page "Continue" "ch6-shrine-gaz">>\ #Pray to The Lightbringer. [Fish] <<var $animaltype "Fish">>\ <<var $angler 1>>\ <<var $pikt "The Lightbringer">>\ The Lightbringer's depiction is an enormous eel with a maw forced open from its many sword-like curved teeth, too plentiful and large to fit in its mouth. A tendril grows from its back that connects to a large orb over its head. Upon the orb are Handseal sigils meant to represent Light Chi. <<include "ch6-shrine-prayboy">> ''[Lightbringer's Gaze: Aura Pressure +2]'' <<var $aurapressure + 2>>\ #Pray to The Hunter. [Wolf] <<var $animaltype "Wolf">>\ <<var $pikt "The Hunter">>\ The Hunter's depiction is a wolf with a flame-like mane in its fur. <<include "ch6-shrine-prayboy">> <<if ($subrace is "Wolf")>>\ ''[Yokai Synergy: Aura Pressure +5]'' <<var $aurapressure + 5>>\ <<else>>\ ''[Hunter's Gaze: Aura Pressure +1]'' <<var $aurapressure + 1>>\ <</if>>\ #Pray to The Deceiver. [Cat] <<var $animaltype "Cat">>\ <<var $pikt "The Deceiver">>\ The Deceiver's depiction is a sabretooth cat with an asymetrical third eye under its left eye. <<include "ch6-shrine-prayboy">> <<if ($subrace is "Cat")>>\ ''[Yokai Synergy: Aura Pressure +5]'' <<var $aurapressure + 5>>\ <<else>>\ ''[Deceiver's Gaze: Aura Pressure +1]'' <<var $aurapressure + 1>>\ <</if>>\ #Pray to The Heir. [Drake] <<var $animaltype "Drake">>\ <<var $pikt "The Heir">>\ The Heir's depiction is a sturdy and powerful drake, a wingless quadripedal proto-dragon the size of a horse that depends on its powerful legs rather than any supernatural powers. Mostly because they're just babies. Drakes are born from the rare eggs of true Dragons, and have the privilege of being one of the relatively uncommon animal types that are born as actual Beasts. \ <<if ($roc gt 0)>>\ In that regard its not so different from $rocname, for Thunderbirds collect lightning bolts from storms and channel their power into the eggs to ensure their babies are born as greater animals. \ <</if>>\ Most other Beasts simply have unpowered offspring and must hunt aura for them in hopes of making them into Beasts as well. <<include "ch6-shrine-prayboy">> <<if ($subrace is "Reptile")>>\ ''[Yokai Synergy: Aura Pressure +5]'' <<var $aurapressure + 5>>\ <<elseif ($race is "Lunargoth")>>\ ''[Lunar Synergy: Aura Pressure +5]'' <<var $aurapressure + 5>>\ <<else>>\ ''[Heir's Gaze: Aura Pressure +1]'' <<var $aurapressure + 1>>\ <</if>>\ #Pray to The Thief. [Monkey] <<var $animaltype "Monkey">>\ <<var $pikt "The Thief">>\ The Thief's depiction is a four-armed and two-tailed ape with a strong jaw and a different type of weapon in each hand. It looks more like a brutish warrior than a thief, but looks can be deceiving. <<if ($tails is 2)>>\ You like the second tail too, you rub both of your own and acknowledge that at least the thing has style. <</if>>\ <<include "ch6-shrine-prayboy">> <<if ($subrace is "Monkey")>>\ ''[Yokai Synergy: Aura Pressure +5]'' <<var $aurapressure + 5>>\ <<else>>\ ''[Thief's Gaze: Aura Pressure +1]'' <<var $aurapressure + 1>>\ <</if>>\ #Pray to The Worker. [Bull] <<var $animaltype "Bull">>\ <<var $pikt "The Worker">>\ The Worker's depiction is a two-headed bull with rippling muscle all over its shoulders. Being near a prosperous town you've actually seen this before, a birth defect in cats and bovines that can cause them to grow two of each muscle, overlapping each other. It has an incredible look, but you can only assume it's equally incredibly painful. <<include "ch6-shrine-prayboy">> <<if ($subrace is "Bovine")>>\ ''[Yokai Synergy: Aura Pressure +5]'' <<var $aurapressure + 5>>\ <<else>>\ ''[Worker's Gaze: Aura Pressure +1]'' <<var $aurapressure + 1>>\ <</if>>\ #Turn away from the shrines. <<var $metangelo + 50000>>\ <<var $honor + 2>>\ As an Aoyusumu practitioner the Devanic Temple is your go-to religion, so you're not even sure why you're in such a heretical location. Ancestors, what a climb just to see a decent looking pond and some ugly statues. You didn't learn anything about Wild Gods at all either. You check around quickly for any tomes or writings... Nope. None of those. What a total waste of your day. Next time you want to learn about something you'll try the library. <<page "Continue" "ch6-town">>\ #Destroy the shrines. <<var $metangelo + 10000>>\ <<var $sect_windrising - 35>>\ Something about this place feels unnatural. The presence of these 'shrines', the imposed authority of these Beasts over mankind, the essence of Sacred Chi co-opted by their physical tethers. The very //smell// of it offends the senses. You charge Sacred chi around your hands and empower it further with $auracolor kinetic layers. Your hands shake with chi like bonfires and plates of force swirl around the spiritual power as if your energy blasts were explosive balls of chi and shrapnel. A faint increase in power manifests around the shrines. The essence of their accursed Wild God benefactors seem to feel your intention. "Too late." You pant, exerting yourself to draw out your full power. Then you unleash your ballistics on the statues in a rain of destruction. Chunks of rock explode into the air and water as you destroy the shrines in a cloud of dust and debris. ''[Aoyusumu Event: Aura Pressure +12]'' <<var $aurapressure + 12>>\ You wipe sweat from your forehead after such an intense conjuration of life energy and look through the dust clearing to see one stature remains. Gazhurra's. You feel a fraction of the creature's presence begin to manifest in the world around you, accompanied by an overwhelming sense of primordial anger flooding into your surroundings to subjugate its prey. And yet...the creature must be far away, for its Will does not accompany the fear Technique. A mistake against an Aoyusumu practitioner. With Sacred Chi you grasp on that unprotected but intense emotional power and channel it all through your mind chakra, funneling the waves of mental energy into your Cores and out again around your leg. The cerulean glow around your body increases to incredible brightness like a shining star. With a single flying kick, your cerulean glowing leg crashes through Gazhurra's eyes and destroys that statue too. ''[Aoyusumu Event: Aura Pressure +8]'' <<var $aurapressure + 8>>\ The creature's spiritual presence vanishes with its tether's destruction and you can't help but let out a laugh as you return to town triumphant. There is no need for Wild Gods when the world has you. <<page "Continue" "ch6-town">>\ <</choose>>

<<if ($pikt is "The Lightbringer")>>\ <<var $metangelo + 40000>>\ <<else>>\ <<var $metangelo + 30000>>\ <</if>>\ A few more minutes of prayer achieves nothing but feeding your blood to the local bugs, so you exit the pond and return to town with only the smallest understanding of Wild Gods. Next time you'll just use the library. <<page "Continue" "ch6-town">>\

A tall, redhaired, bearded Lunargothic man in traveler’s robes. <<image "https://www.auraclash.com/assets/images/Angelo.jpg">>\ Judging by his outfit, he's some sort of priest for the Sacred Lands temple that pushes for a religion of peaceful coexistence between the weak and the strong of humanity. You're not sure what this particular man is doing in their outfit; the loose clothing shows a tall and powerful physique underneath with broad shoulders and a strong jaw. You'd expect him to be running a Sect more than entertaining religious formalities. "Hail, traveler!" The monk says, "I don't suppose you've come to these nefarious Shrines to tear them down, have you? I find it bias if I do so, but the temptation remains. Unless, oh dear, I've been quite rude if you're a worshiper of the Wild God." "I don't even know what the Wild Gods are." You reply. "I've never been to a shrine before." "Never?" He asks, his face showing genuine and pleasant surprise. "Not a shrine to the natural spirits, the Dao, the Devas, the Wild Gods, the Temple, or certain yet missing historical figures? "...What's that supposed to mean?" "Nothing! Nothing important." The man says cheerily. He jumps off the wall and lands on the water, yet he does not get wet. Instead he stands on its surface and approaches to examine you closer. "Good Heavens, a true blank canvas, what a treat. I am Angelo, a traveling pilgrim of the Devanic Temple, and it truly is a pleasure to meet you." "$fullname." You reply. "<<cap $patriarch>> of the $clan Clan." "A $patriarch at such a young age, impressive!" He extends a purple-stained waterskin towards you. "I'd toast to such an achievement, can I interest you in undertaking the holy potation?" "The what?" You ask. His smile stays while he winces and pushes the waterskin out another inch. "The wine, my friend. Would you like some wine?" <<include "ch6-shrine-angelwine">>\

Angelo. "Damn it, Angelo!" You shout out, letting the combat chi seep back into your Cores. "Don't sneak up on people like that!" <<var $val 181>>\ "I would never lie to you by saying that I plan to stop." He drops from the shrine and walks across the pond's surface towards you without sinking into the water. "What brings such a dedicated pilgrim like yourself to such an interesting shrine as this? \ <<if ($tails is 2)>>\ I don't believe there are vulpine Wild Gods, as any formidable fox simply transitions to Kitsune. \ <<if (($heshe is "she") and ($angeloromance gte 1))>>\ Well done on manifesting a second tail by the way, it gives off a symmetrical air of grace." <<else>>\ Congratulations on your second tail are in order, by the way. It will only make things harder for you if you fail in the Trials. So, do not." <</if>>\ <<elseif ($spiritbrandloc is "eyes")>>\ I don't believe they can undo your spiritbrand. A wise choice on eyes, by the way, I had the same mutation. My natural eyes were already blue, but I prefer the cerulean shade a bit better." <<elseif (($spiritbrandloc is "hair") or ($spiritbrandloc is "hairstrip"))>>\ I don't believe they can undo your \ <<if ($heshe is "she")>>\ aesthetically pleasing change in hair color. \ <<else>>\ new hair color. \ <</if>>\ <<var $val 181>>\ <<elseif (($spiritbrandloc is "tail and ears") or ($spiritbrandloc is "tail"))>>\ I don't believe they can undo your new fur color. \ <<var $val 181>>\ <<elseif ($spiritbrandloc is "skin")>>\ I don't believe they can change your skin \ <<if (($heshe is "she") and ($angeloromance gte 1))>>\ back, and it would be a crime if they did." The tall lunargoth's eyes glow cerulean ever so softly and you realize he's had an eye-based spiritbrand since you first met. <<else>>\ back to the usual Oni hue. \ <<var $val 181>>\ <</if>>\ <<elseif ($spiritbrandloc is "horns")>>\ I don't believe they can undo your unique horn coloring. \ <<var $val 181>>\ <<else>>\ The power of Beasts is not strictly forbidden, per se, so do not let my presence deter you." <</if>>\ <<if ($val is 181)>>\ Spiritbrands tend to stick around on prodigies who rise too quickly." The tall lunargoth's eyes glow cerulean ever so softly and you realize he's had an eye-based spiritbrand since you first met. <<var $val 0>>\ <</if>>\ <<if ($tails is 2)>>\ "Noted." \ <</if>>\ Your heart slows to a normal rhythm and you take another look at your surroundings. "Truth be told, I'm here to learn what Wild Gods are. There's too much about the wider world that I know nothing about...like your sudden \ <<if ($angeloromance gte 1)>>\ disappearance." You step closer. "And \ <<else>>\ disappearance." You suddenly squint at the man in interrogation. "And \ <</if>>\ how you weren't really the Shugendō \ <<if ($angeloromance gte 1)>>\ master." You step even closing, causing him to take a step back. "AND \ <<else>>\ master. And \ <</if>>\ the fact that the Shrinemaidens claim you were never \ <<if ($angeloromance gte 1)>>\ there." You shove an accusing finger towards his face. "''AND'' \ <<else>>\ there. And \ <</if>>\ the SAINT'S statue of you in the Temple. Care to explain?" "Oh Heavens no," Angelo replies as if turning down seconds at dinner, "I wouldn't care to explain //any// of that. Frankly it sounds dreadful." "But are you a Saint?" "You are aware it is heresy to claim False Sainthood, correct?" Angelo asks. "I'd be in quite a bit of trouble if others overheard you." "But //are// you a Saint?" Angelo sighs. "If I had the power of a Saint, these shrines would be pointless because their owners would be long dead." That takes you aback, it's actually the first violent thing you've ever heard from the monk. "You could kill Gazhurra?" "One day, perhaps, though the locals would certainly be upset. But alas, no monster slaying rests within my immediate future. Instead I find myself travelling the roads to the Heavenly Ascension Trials and assisting endangered youths to better prepare them for the struggles ahead. It's a much slower process, but it still helps people." He withdraws a purple-stained waterskin from his belt. "Can I offer you to partake in the holy potation?" "You're still calling it a potation?" You ask. "Does anyone ever know what that means?" "Not once." He replies with a pleased closed-mouth smile. <<include "ch6-shrine-angelwine">>\

<<choose "ch6-shrine-winecont">> #"Absolutely." <<var $angelorep + 1>>\ You gladly accept the waterskin of not-water and \ <<if ($insight gte 3)>>\ feel Angelo's hand brush against yours when he surrenders his item. The second your skin touches, you feel- ''[Insight 3 Check Passed]'' A scan?! You keep your eyes from betraying your shock as a subtle spiritual scan wraps over your body. You'd been performing and receiving spiritual scans for years now, but originating one's scan from anywhere other than the mind is completely alien to how it's been taught. Rather than expose that you've caught him, you keep the knowledge to yourself and consider how to incorporate this into melee combat for a better feel of your opponents' power. <<apboost 5>>\ You maintain eye contact \ <<if ($heshe is "she")>>\ with his softly-glowing cerulean eyes \ <</if>>\ while you \ <</if>>\ take a swig of the staining liquid and, wow, it's actually quite good. Not 'smooth' good and probably not what wine enthusiasts or older adults would call good, but it's refreshing with a small punch that's subdued so long as you're still drinking. After your long hike it's positively perfect. Energizing, even. <<apboost 2>>\ You hand the waterskin back after five more gulps. "It's fantastic, what's in it?" "Grapes." Angelo responds with an air of educational wisdom. "Now correct \ #"No thank you." "No thank you." You reply, abstaining from alcoholic drinks offered on the road. Basic wisdom and manners have gotten you this far. <<var $honor + 2>>\ <<var $forexp + 1>>\ Angelo withdraws the wineskin and ties it to a belt on his robes. "Very well then, I'm afraid all I have to offer beyond drink is to get out of your way. Correct \ #show-if ($heshe is "she") "Careful, if we drink too much we won't be able to call each other just 'friends' anymore." <<var $angeloromance + 1>>\ <<var $angelorep + 3>>\ <<if (($bodytype is "Hourglass") or ($bodytype is "Bodacious"))>>\ <<var $angelorep + 1>>\ <<var $angeloromance + 1>>\ <</if>>\ "Careful," you respond playfully, "if we drink too much we won't be able to call each other just 'friends' anymore." "Because we'd be enemies?" Angelo asks, brow furrowing and head turning slightly to the side in confusion. "What? No, because-" "Relax." Angelo says, tossing you the wineskin. "I can read minds, I'm simply playing with you." "You can //what?//" You reply, almost fumbling the container in the air. "Read minds?" Angelo responds curiously. "It's an advanced Aoyusumu Technique." "Oh." You reply calmly. Very calmly. As calm as you've ever been. //Don't think about him naked, don't think about him naked, ''do not think about him naked.''// "Do not think about him naked." You say. "What?" He asks. "Haha, what?" You ask back. Oh Ancestors. Oh no. You said that out loud. You smile wide, laugh nervously, and take a drink of the wine for a distraction. <<page "*glug* *glug*" "ch6-shrine-angelwine2">>\ <</choose>>

By the Ancestors, it's //good.// Not 'smooth' good and probably not what wine enthusiasts or older adults would call good, but it's refreshing with a small punch that's subdued so long as you're still drinking. After your long hike it's positively perfect. Energizing, even. <<apboost 2>>\ You casually look away from him to avoid eye contact as you\ <<if ($honor lt 50)>>\ shamelessly \ <</if>>\ guzzle more. <<apboost 1>>\ "I'd stop at a certain point were I you." Angelo interrupts. "That wineskin has no end." You take it away from your mouth and stare into his glowing all-too-blue eyes. \ <<if (((($bodytype isnot "Hourglass") and ($bodytype isnot "Bodacious")) and ($angelorep gt 1)) or ((($bodytype is "Hourglass") or ($bodytype is "Bodacious")) and ($angelorep gt 2)))>>\ "You brought me back the endless wineskin?" <<else>>\ "As in, I can drink this forever?" <</if>>\ He nods. You take another swig. It's so damn good. "Are you unwell, Young Mistress?" <<if ($angeloromance gt 1)>>\ "I didn't think I'd ever see it again." \ <<else>>\ "I'm fine, I'm fine." \ <</if>>\ You say between drinks, wiping a tear away and looking at the stained, shabby, endless wineskin in your hand. "It's just...so beautiful." "It is also involved in a curse, but that's a long story." "What?!" You shove the wineskin back into his hands. "Why would you walk around with endlessly cursed wine?!" Angelo keeps a smile on as he raises his hands for peace. "On the contrary, some faraway vineyard just lost its best vintage because its //owner// is cursed. The wineskin simply receives his loss. Speaking of curses, correct \ <<include "ch6-shrine-winecont">>\

<<var $metangelo + 10000>>\ <<if ($heshe is "she")>>\ <<var $angeloromance + 1>>\ <</if>>\ Angelo smiles, and the two of you begin pummeling each statue to dust, starting with the faces. After a certain point it actually turns into a game. He forms a large club out of Sacred Chi and hands it to you then walks behind each sacrilegious shrine and starts kicking pieces off directly towards you. As soon as the pieces gets in range you smack them with the club at an upward angle to send the shrine pieces flying over the tree line and out into the jungle. As far as Holy Wars go, yours is probably the most fun. When you finish destroying the sixth statue only one remains, the eyes. The shrine of Gazhurra. Its eyes seem to glare into your soul and the world begins to shake. The waters of the pond grow violent like a storm. <<page "!!!" "ch6-shrine-based2">>\

"Nope! No, no. None of that." Angelo says, his hand glowing cerulean as he waves it into the air. The chaotic power in the air around you dissipates and the water of the pool begins to calm. "What in the Ancestors' name was that?" You ask, staring around cautiously at your disturbed surroundings. "We've irked the creature. Luckily it's far, //far// too distant to give us its full attention, I've dispersed its distant will." You think back to the impossibly large monster in the ocean then look to Angelo. "You can do that?" Angelo lets out a short laugh. "$name, //you// can do it. Do not let Wild Gods exert their will over humanity. They're monsters with delusions of grandeur, and monsters exist to be slain. If they didn't then we'd call them animals." Oddly enough you do feel calmer when he puts it that way. "Now," he says, stepping behind the shrine and charging Sacred Chi into his fist. "How good have you gotten with that bat? I'll bet you two spirit fruit you can't land both its eyes on top of each other." You flourish your cerulean-glowing club in a quick circle and grip it with both hands. "Too easy." Angelo punches the eyes out of the statue, one after another, and you feel Gazhurra's presence completely dissipate once its physical tether shatters. <<var $angelocombat + 1>>\ <<var $combatstat "agility">>\ <<var $combatskill "perception">>\ <<combatcheck 9>>\ <<if ($passcheck is true)>>\ <<var $val 545>>\ You slam your club into each as he knocks them at you, perfectly aiming your strikes. When you two finish up at the shrine and run down into the jungle to check, you find two piles of rock where the eye statues collided on the ground. "Perfect aim." Angelo says with a whistle. "That's another lost bet for me. I really must stop gambling." He withdraws two red bananas from out of nowhere. "The locals say these were cultivated with demonic chi, specially cultivated to consume the evils of the world and purify them through nature." "How'd you get them?" You ask, expecting some grand display of power. "Bought them at a shop. I assume they lied about the story." He tosses both bananas to you. "Your rightful reward, Young \ <<if ($heshe is "he")>>\ Master. \ <<else>>\ Mistress. \ <</if>>\ It's been a pleasure, truly, yet there are many others in need of my help and I must bid you farewell." You catch the fruit as soon as he tosses it and look back up when he says he has to leave. "Why-" You don't even get the chance to ask, for when you look back up he's nowhere to be seen. <<if ($race is "Oni")>>\ ''[Oni Spirit Fruit x2: Aura Pressure +15]'' <<var $aurapressure + 15>>\ <<else>>\ ''[Spirit Fruit x2: Aura Pressure +10]'' <<var $aurapressure + 10>>\ <</if>>\ You chew through the delicious bananas on your way back to Harehama with a suspicious and scrutinizing stare throughout the jungle, hoping to see where the Hells Angelo disappeared to. There's no signs of him. <<else>>\ Unfortunately, you don't manage to land the eyes on top of each other. It turns out to be a far more difficult task then you assumed and one of the eyes soars to the left after you slam it with your club. When it lands, somewhere out in the jungle, you hear a man's blood-curdling scream. You and Angelo both cringe and he starts running into the jungle. "I'll go treat the poor man's wounds, you should take unassuming cover back in town." Damn it. You were having so much fun too, only to have it end so poorly. "And think up an alibi!" Angelo's voice shouts out as you start jogging back down the trail to Harehama. <</if>>\ <<page "Continue" "ch6-town">>\

<<choose "ch6-shrine-based">> #"Who gives a shit about the Windrising Sect?" <<var $honor - 1>>\ <<var $sect_windrising - 35>>\ You look from Angelo back to the Wild God shrines and truly think it over as you consider his warning, then voice your final conclusion. "Who gives a shit about the Windrising Sect?" #"You're right, let's not gain more enemies if we can avoid it." <<var $sect_windrising + 5>>\ "You're right," you say, "let's not gain more enemies if we can avoid it." Angelo nods solemnly. "Then we should depart in any case. There's nothing good to be gained here, and I heard rumor that there's spirit fruits four miles north. Pink bananas, if you'll believe it. Cultivated with Kitsune chi to confuse seekers of the fruit and ward them off, though I've no clue how." "Should we search for them?" "Heavens no," He replies in disgust, withdrawing two pink bananas from behind his back and tossing one to you. "It was annoying enough the first time." <<if ($race is "Kitsune")>>\ ''[Kitsune Event: Aura Pressure +10]'' <<var $aurapressure + 10>>\ <<else>>\ <<apboost 5>>\ <</if>>\ You pull back the banana's peel and dig into the succulent fruit underneath; it tastes like strawberries with banana's texture and gives you a sense of warm bliss. You walk back to town with- ... Where the Hells did Angelo go? <<page "Continue" "ch6-town">>\ #"Good." <<var $honor + 2>>\ <<var $sect_windrising - 35>>\ You look from Angelo back to the Wild God shrines and truly think it over as you consider his warning, then voice your final conclusion. "Good." <</choose>>

You snap out of the vision with an icy chill. Your breath grows heavy, your body feeling so much smaller and your mind so much more contained. More focused. More real. More...yours. Yet when you come to your senses you're no longer at the shrines, but in the middle of Harehama's busy crossroads. You're standing aimlessly and shake your head, focusing and walking over to a nearby rock and have a seat, confused. Maybe you simply had a bad dream and were sleepwalking? When checking your pockets for anything that might signify you had purchased a room at a tavern, you only find that your clothes are mildly damp, as if they'd been drying on your legs for the last hour. <<page "Continue" "ch6-town">>\

<<if ($honor gt 55)>>\ "What just happened?" You ask calmly, only keeping your composure through years of self-control. <<var $solexp + 1>>\ <<var $forexp + 1>>\ <<else>>\ "What the Hells was that?!" You scream out. <</if>>\ "I can't know." Angelo replies. "There was a great concentration of Sacred Chi around your mind and, seeing as you're no Aoyusumu practitioner, I dispersed it. Apologies if it cut off something important." "No." You reply. "It cut off a vision, but I wasn't me. I was Gazhurra. I had her thoughts." You turn around to the shrines. "These other six, I think they're Gazhurra's children. She's collecting them for something." "Ominous!" Angelo announces enthusiastically. "A good old fashioned godlike quest, congratulations on a rare find." "You sound like you're enjoying this." "I certainly try to." He replies. "Have \ <<include "ch6-shrine-gaz3">>\

you gotten everything you needed from this experience?" "I think so." You reply. "Good. Let us return to town." He helps you up and the two of you begin marching towards Harehama, but as soon as you hit the tree line an explosion shakes the ground beneath your feet. Water and pebbles rain down in a wave all around you and you brace yourself for a bigger strike, bringing out your full power with an aura of $auracolor chi. Yet when the falling debris clears there's no threat. There are no shrines, either. A single massive handprint the size of a tavern fills the ground where the shrines and the pond once were. Angelo is looking at the shrine-crater with his face contorted, as if trying to remember someone's name. "Was that you?" You ask quietly. "No." He whispers back, looking to the air all around without moving his head. "We should run now." For once you're the one who's more accustomed to everything going bad. The benefit of experience: you've already ran fifty feet ahead of him by the time he's finished talking. You look back to see the look on his face and- ... Where the Hells did Angelo go? <<page "Continue" "ch6-town">>\

Suddenly \ <<if ($element1 is "Water") or ($element2 is "Water")>>\ you plunge into the water as if dragged down and \ <</if>>\ your mind shifts. Flashes of distant visions fill your thoughts like intricate drawings forced over your eyes. First an enormous three-headed dog, bigger than the Magistrate's pagoda, snarling at you from the frozen coast as you look down on it, finding it miniscule. Then your vision shifts again. A lunar dragon circles the skies overhead, just above its volcanic island. Not the majestic celestial dragons or deep dwelling sea serpents, but the brutish and firebreathing animalistic savages that came down with the Lunargoths centuries ago. Oversized drakes, no better than the Wyrms. Its wide wings and four powerful legs demonstrate an affront to the divine serpentine shape of true dragons meant for the Heavens, yet in their arrogance these Beasts manage to Ascend all too often anyway. Lastly the visions flash to a monkey in bin-steel armor yelling down at you from its golden city on the clouds. It doesn't want you here, it knows what you're after, and it says it's far too wise to fall for your tricks. It also gets distracted by a single banana falling from a tree 153 miles east-northeast. In each undesirable encounter you consider what Beast form you will have to take to sire their children before your fugue returns. Disgusting tasks, but vital for ''The Work''.

You kneel down and pray to $pikt, feeling a small connection to....something. You're not quite sure what, but there's a small snap through the air. It resonates with the impression of an agreement settling into place, similar to the feeling you felt when Magistrate Khan and Crusher Mao pledged their soulbinding oaths. The same sensation that loosely connects you to the shrine seems to fill the air and you reach your senses out, just barely feeling a similar connection between the smaller shrines and Gazhurra's. It's impossible to shake the impression that each of the six smaller statues are all Gazhurra's children. Though you shudder to imagine how that's possible. After several more minutes of prayer you feel a deeper connection to the shrine before the sensation cuts off.

<<if ($style is "Midorikatai")>>\ ''[Wild Chi Gained: Aura Pressure +10]'' <<var $aurapressure + 10>>\ <</if>>\ <<if ($pikt is "The Lightbringer")>>\ <<var $metangelo + 40000>>\ <<else>>\ <<var $metangelo + 30000>>\ <</if>>\ A few more minutes of prayer achieves nothing but feeding your blood to the local bugs. You rise\ <<if (($element1 is "Water") or ($element2 is "Water"))>>\ on the water's surface and walk, carefully, on the top of the pond's surface to Angelo on the other side of the water. \ <<else>>\ and trudge through the pond until you get to Angelo on the other side of the pond. \ <</if>>\ "I sensed a sliver of activity," Angelo says, "Did you learn anything useful?" <<choose "ch6-shrine-gaz3">> #"It gave me some small fraction of its power." "It gave me some small sliver of its power." You reply. "A gift? From a Beast? How delightfully ominous! I wonder what it expects of you in return." "You sound like you're enjoying this." "I certainly try to." He replies. "Have \ #"I think these six on the sides are Gazhurra's children." "I think these six on the sides are Gazhurra's children." You say. "Wild Gods in the same family? I've never heard of such Beasts working together" He rubs his beard in thought until his eyes sparkle with enthusiasm. "How delightfully ominous!" "You sound like you're enjoying this." "I certainly try to." He replies. "Have \ #"Nope." -> "ch6-shrine-gaz3" "Nope." "What a shame." Angelo sighs. "It seems there's no point in sticking around. Have \ <</choose>>

me if I am wrong, but it seems as if you were preparing to interact with the Wild God shrines. Please, do not let my presence interrupt your first time with their ilk." You gaze at the shrines behind Angelo and feel an animosity radiate from them, as if the statues were displeased by his presence. "I'd planned to, but what //are// the Wild Gods? I can feel strange energy around the shrine." Angelo's eyes glow brighter cerulean as he turns around to face the shrines. "It's Sacred Chi, unfortunately. Stolen power. Only Dragons and mankind can Ascend, you see, which is why everything else does its best to take on our forms. That's how you have \ <<if ($race is "Oni")>>\ Yokai and Oni." He motions to your \ <<if ((($spiritbrandcolor isnot "red") and ($spiritbrandloc is "skin")) and (dig($metangelo, 2) is 0))>>\ $spiritbrandcolor skin. "Nice spiritbrand, by the way, a true rarity, but back to the point: Wild \ <<else>>\ red skin. "Wild \ <</if>>\ <<elseif ($race is "Kitsune")>>\ Oni and Yokai." He pauses and looks to your two swishing tails. "Wild \ <<elseif ($race is "Yokai")>>\ Oni and Yokai." He motions a hand to your \ <<if (($yokaitrait1 isnot "") and ($yokaitrait2 isnot ""))>>\ tail, $yokaitrait1, and $yokaitrait2. \ <<elseif ($yokaitrait2 isnot "")>>\ tail and $yokaitrait2. \ <<elseif ($yokaitrait1 isnot "")>>\ tail and $yokaitrait1. \ <<else>>\ $subrace tail. \ <</if>>\ "Wild \ <<else>>\ Oni and Yokai. Wild \ <</if>>\ Gods are what happens when the one-in-a-million Beast refuses to change its form and reaches a high enough threshold of Aura Pressure that the world caves to their will, allowing them to use different types of chi, including Sacred Chi. It's their favorite, seeing as it grants them intelligence and additional power from prayer. The Saints of Beasts, so to speak." Angelo steps up to the statue of Gazhurra and places a hand on one of its eyes. "Cursed by the Heavens and forbidden from Ascension due to their bestial nature and arrogance. Pitiful yet violent creatures. Most of them jealously take up a domain with followers on the mortal world to fill the emptiness in their souls...or so the doctrines teach." Angelo's words are a lot to take in, but the last line throws you off. "I don't mean to insult, but is all of that true or merely the writings of religious myth? I'm trying to learn about something I saw in a storm, not superstition." "There's no need to ask me." Angelo replies with a fatherly smile as he steps away and motions a hand to the shrines. "You can find out first-hand." "Really?" You ask. "Aren't you going to try to get me to worship the Temple's ways instead?" "Oh I am." He replies calmly. "I believe in showing, not telling. Letting someone make a terrible decision is the best way to teach them not to do it again." He flicks his hands outward, shooing you towards the shrines. "Who knows, I could even be wrong. Perhaps arrogant monsters with power over mankind are exactly what you need in your life." You approach the shrines \ <<if (($element1 is "Water") or ($element2 is "Water"))>>\ hesitantly- ''[Water Event: +4 Aura Pressure]'' <<var $aurapressure + 4>>\ -walking on the water as Angelo did, and kneel on the water's surface before the Wild Gods' wall of shrines. <<else>>\ hesitantly, sinking waist-deep into the waters and kneeling at the base of the Wild God wall of shrines. <</if>>\ You look back to Angelo who is nodding calmly. If he swears it's okay... <<choose "ch6-shrine-prayer">> #Pray to Gazhurra. [???] <<var $metangelo + 20000>>\ You kneel \ <<if (($element1 is "Water") or ($element2 is "Water"))>>\ on \ <<else>>\ in \ <</if>>\ the water and pray to Gazhurra, hoping for whatever the entity can grant you. Fame, power, and health come to mind. That's what normal religious folk always ask for, you think. It's all rather new to you. In fact, the one thing you do know is that praying to the Wild Gods is probably sacrilege. Whoops. <<include "ch6-shrine-gazhurratalk">> //!!!// ''//"No."//'' Angelo calls, shaking the visions from your mind and snapping you back to reality. You grab your chest and breathe heavily, your body so much smaller and your mind so much more contained. More focused. More real. More...yours. <<page "Continue" "ch6-shrine-gaz2">>\ #Pray to The Lightbringer. [Fish] <<var $animaltype "Fish">>\ <<var $angler 1>>\ <<var $pikt "The Lightbringer">>\ The Lightbringer's depiction is an enormous eel with a maw forced open from its many sword-like curved teeth, too plentiful and large to fit in its mouth. A tendril grows from its back that connects to a large orb over its head. Upon the orb are Handseal sigils meant to represent Light Chi. <<include "ch6-shrine-prayboy">> ''[Lightbringer's Gaze: Aura Pressure +2]'' <<var $aurapressure + 2>>\ #Pray to The Hunter. [Wolf] <<var $animaltype "Wolf">>\ <<var $pikt "The Hunter">>\ The Hunter's depiction is a wolf with a flame-like mane in its fur. <<include "ch6-shrine-prayboy">> <<if ($subrace is "Wolf")>>\ ''[Yokai Synergy: Aura Pressure +5]'' <<var $aurapressure + 5>>\ <<else>>\ ''[Hunter's Gaze: Aura Pressure +1]'' <<var $aurapressure + 1>>\ <</if>>\ #Pray to The Deceiver. [Cat] <<var $animaltype "Cat">>\ <<var $pikt "The Deceiver">>\ The Deceiver's depiction is a sabretooth cat with an asymmetrical third eye under its left eye. <<include "ch6-shrine-prayboy">> <<if ($subrace is "Cat")>>\ ''[Yokai Synergy: Aura Pressure +5]'' <<var $aurapressure + 5>>\ <<else>>\ ''[Deceiver's Gaze: Aura Pressure +1]'' <<var $aurapressure + 1>>\ <</if>>\ #Pray to The Heir. [Drake] <<var $animaltype "Drake">>\ <<var $pikt "The Heir">>\ The Heir's depiction is a sturdy and powerful drake, a wingless quadrupedal proto-dragon the size of a horse that depends on its powerful legs rather than any supernatural powers. Mostly because they're just babies. Drakes are born from the rare eggs of true Dragons, and have the privilege of being one of the relatively uncommon animal types that are born as actual Beasts. \ <<if ($roc gt 0)>>\ In that regard its not so different from $rocname, for Thunderbirds collect lightning bolts from storms and channel their power into the eggs to ensure their babies are born as greater animals. \ <</if>>\ Most other Beasts simply have unpowered offspring and must hunt aura for them in hopes of making them into Beasts as well. <<include "ch6-shrine-prayboy">> <<if ($subrace is "Reptile")>>\ ''[Yokai Synergy: Aura Pressure +5]'' <<var $aurapressure + 5>>\ <<elseif ($race is "Lunargoth")>>\ ''[Lunar Synergy: Aura Pressure +5]'' <<var $aurapressure + 5>>\ <<else>>\ ''[Heir's Gaze: Aura Pressure +1]'' <<var $aurapressure + 1>>\ <</if>>\ #Pray to The Thief. [Monkey] <<var $animaltype "Monkey">>\ <<var $pikt "The Thief">>\ The Thief's depiction is a four-armed and two-tailed ape with a strong jaw and a different type of weapon in each hand. It looks more like a brutish warrior than a thief, but looks can be deceiving. \ <<if ($tails is 2)>>\ <</if>>\ You like the second tail too, you rub both of your own and acknowledge that at least the thing has style. <<include "ch6-shrine-prayboy">> <<if ($subrace is "Monkey")>>\ ''[Yokai Synergy: Aura Pressure +5]'' <<var $aurapressure + 5>>\ <<else>>\ ''[Thief's Gaze: Aura Pressure +1]'' <<var $aurapressure + 1>>\ <</if>>\ #Pray to The Worker. [Bull] <<var $animaltype "Bull">>\ <<var $pikt "The Worker">>\ The Worker's depiction is a two-headed bull with rippling muscle all over its shoulders. Being near a prosperous town you've actually seen this before, a birth defect in bovines that can cause them to grow two of each muscle, overlapping each other. It has an incredible look, but you can only assume it's equally incredibly painful. <<include "ch6-shrine-prayboy">> <<if ($subrace is "Bovine")>>\ ''[Yokai Synergy: Aura Pressure +5]'' <<var $aurapressure + 5>>\ <<else>>\ ''[Worker's Gaze: Aura Pressure +1]'' <<var $aurapressure + 1>>\ <</if>>\ #Turn away from the Shrines. <<var $metangelo + 50000>>\ "You're not going to pray to any of them?" Angelo asks. "Why bother?" You reply. "I came here to learn what a Wild God is, and you told me. Why in the Hells would I mess around with their shrines now when I got what I needed?" Angelo opens his mouth to speak, holds up a finger, reconsiders his words, and says, "Most people don't see things so pragmatically." You shrug. "They should." He tilts his head in concession. "Wisdom beyond your years. Can I offer you a banana as a reward for good behavior?" <<if ($subrace is "Monkey")>>\ Your monkey's tail swings out from behind you. "Why would I like a banana, Angelo?" He's half-done withdrawing a pink banana from his satchel when he sees your tail. "Oh. Oh no. I've implied a stereotype, haven’t I?" You stare him down. "Very well, no banana." "Well hold on now," you say, "that's not what I'm saying. I'm saying you owe me two-" ''*plap*'' ''*plap*'' Two pink bananas slap against your face when your guard is down, one after the other. ''[Spirit Fruit x2: Aura Pressure +12]'' <<var $aurapressure + 12>>\ <<else>>\ "Like some sort of trained animal?" You ask, mildly offended that he thinks so low of you. "Quite right!" Angelo replies, "I hadn't considered the insensitivity of offering a spirit fruit to a friend. My apologies, you don’t need these." "Whoa now, hold on. I-" He tosses you a pink banana when your guard is down. It plaps against your face. ''[Spirit Fruit: Aura Pressure +6]'' <<var $aurapressure + 6>>\ <</if>>\ After you shake the food off your face youpull back the banana's peel and dig into the succulent fruit underneath; it tastes like strawberries with banana's texture and gives you a sense of warm bliss. You walk back to town with- ... Where the Hells did Angelo go? <<page "Continue" "ch6-town">>\ #Destroy the shrines. -> "ch6-shrine-destroy" "Just so you know," Angelo interrupts as your $auracolor aura rises around your body, disrupting the water around you, "the Windrising Sect are staunch traditionalists and worship Gazhurra as if it were the Heavenly Dao." He looks up to the clouds, taps his foot twice, and looks back down to you. "They will be furious when they inevitably discover our holy war against their God." You look upon the blasphemous shrines to ravenous Beasts and look back to Angelo. <</choose>>

A beaten path leads you up hills and over makeshift bridges for a half hour even at a Martial Artist's pace. You're quite confident you've left the town's territory when you come upon a stream leading to a small pond. Dragonflies dart around pink and white flowers that flank the twenty-foot wide brook. Frogs ribbit from the stones lining the water's edge and birds sing from the trees surrounding the water. The babble of the stream makes for a serene sight in the jungle's clearing, a small paradise of a calmer life. Marring such a sight is a stone wall risen out of one side of the pond with seven statues built into it. An ominous pair of reptilian eyes with no discernable face takes up the center of the statues. Six statues of various animals surround it to the left and right: a fish with too many large fangs, a wolf, a jaguar, a drake, an ape, and a bull. Considering the size of the central eyes compared to the size of the animal statues, the center statue can be nothing other than the gaze \ <<if ($style is "Aoyusumu")>>\ <<include "ch6-shrine-alone">>\ <<else>>\ of- "Gazhurra, indeed." Says a voice from behind. "A Wild God to the locals, it seems." You turn around and see nothing, but when you turn back to the wall in the pond there's a pilgrim sitting atop the central statue. <<if (dig($metangelo, 2) is 0)>>\ <<include "ch6-shrine-angelo1">>\ <<else>>\ <<include "ch6-shrine-angelo2">>\ <</if>>\ <</if>>\

The Dark mist ceases to leak out of her and she rises to her feet. Her hands glow golden while she enacts two quick handseals that manifest a black robe around her body. "Odd that we would meet again in such a faraway place, I trust you've been training..." You feel a spiritual scan run between your shoulders and the woman's eyes widen substantially. "My word, what happened to you? When last we met you were \ <<if ($jadedragonfoundation is true)>>\ strong, yes, but not //this// strong." <<else>>\ weaker than I am. You didn't even have Styled Chi, yet now your aura is complete and its strength is magnified?" She steps closer, scrutinizing. "How?" <</if>>\ You scratch the back of your head. "It's been a wild few weeks." She scowls at the obfuscation but shakes her head reluctantly. "Fine. Keep your secrets. Envy aside, it seems you didn't come out unscathed. \ <<if ($tails is 2)>>\ I've never heard of a Yokai manifesting a second tail as a spiritbrand before. It makes you look like a...a...//!!!//" She stops and puts a hand over her mouth, then rushes one stride past you and grabs your tails in each hand. "They're real!" Her hair whips around as she looks into your eyes, seeking some pink glint of Kitsune chi. "You're a fox spirit!" "Yes!" You hiss back through gritted teeth. "And my tails feel pain, so stop gripping them!" "Hm? Oh, right, ahem." She clears her throat, releases your tails, and smooths out her robes. "Apologies, I've never seen you in your fox form before so this is...surprising. Your tail hairs are vital components, you know. We may have need of them in the future." <<if ($heshe is "he")>>\ "Well ask before shearing me. Ancestors be damned, woman." You rub your tail and grimace. \ <<else>>\ "If you shear my tail I am shearing your hair." You reply in instant deterrence, rubbing your tail and grimacing. \ <</if>>\ You haven't been in your fox form since you were, what, four? Being that small is not a comfortable experience. "A fair point." Desdemona replies, looking back to the bazaar thoughtfully. "Your unique nature aside, it's still \ <<elseif (($style is "Midorikatai") and ($heshe is "he"))>>\ <<var $desromance + 1>>\ Your physique and muscular growth has exploded to incredible proportions in a short time. Even with Wild Chi, such a hurried transition is never good for the body." Looking down at the tight fit of your clothes you can't help but defend yourself. "Most women are impressed with this physique." Desdemona looks off to the side in a restrained eyeroll. "I'm not like other girls." <<if ($perception gte 2)>>\ ''[Perception 2 Check Passed]'' <<var $forexp + 1>>\ The liar is looking at your abs in her peripheral vision, which is why she \ <<else>>\ She \ <</if>>\ pauses for a second before continuing. "It's \ <<elseif ($spiritbrandloc is "")>>\ I doubt you've made such Advancements in such a short time without a spiritbrand." "What's a spiritbrand" You ask. "Truly?" She says, attention suddenly caught. "It's a discoloration on a Martial Artist's skin, eyes, or hair. Fur or horns even, anything really. A blemish where chi leaks into the body..." She walks around you as if examining an alchemical specimen and looks you up and down. "My word, no spiritbrand at such a growth rate..." "Is that unusual? Most Martial Artists don't have one." "Most Martial Artists don't have Aura Pressures as high as ours in their first few years of cultivation." Something about her wording catches your attention. "Desdemona, do you have a spiritbrand?" "No, because I'm a chi sorceress who understands how to balance my cultivation, but I'm surprised to see a brute like you manage to pull it off." "Oh, we're insulting each other." You reach for a nonexistent scroll in your pocket. "One moment, I have a few written down." <<var $val 1131>>\ "Wait, apologies. That came out wrong." She holds a hand out for peace. "But if your spiritual cultivation has made it this far without embedded errors, despite everything you must have done to rush so much power in such a short time...How would you like to risk going a little further?" <<else>>\ Are you aware spiritbrands are signs of unhealthy cultivation? \ <<if (($style is "Midorikatai") and ($heshe is "he"))>>\ <<var $desromance + 1>>\ You may have become an impressive specimen, but-" "You think I look impressive?" "BUT, in truth such a quick reformation of the body represents \ <<elseif ($spiritbrandloc is "eyes")>>\ Your chi-enriched pupils may be pleasing \ <<if ($heshe is "she")>>\ to the eyes of men \ <<else>>\ on the \ <<if ($desromance gte 1)>>\ eyes-" "Aw, thanks." "Silence. They may be pleasing on the eyes to SOME, \ <<else>>\ eyes to some \ <</if>>\ <</if>>\ but they express \ <<elseif (($spiritbrandloc is "hair") or ($spiritbrandloc is "hairstrip"))>>\ Your chi-enriched hair may be useful as a ritual component in weave-based enchantments, but it expresses \ <<elseif ((($spiritbrandloc is "tail and ears") or ($spiritbrandloc is "tail")) and ($subrace is "Reptile"))>>\ Your chi-enriched scales represent \ <<elseif (($spiritbrandloc is "tail and ears") or ($spiritbrandloc is "tail"))>>\ Your chi-enriched fur may be useful as a ritual component in weave-based enchantments, but it expresses \ <<elseif ($spiritbrandloc is "skin")>>\ Your unique skin color may be useful to stand out in a crowd and garner the Judge's attention at the Trials, but it betrays \ <<else>>\ Your chi-enriched horns may be a useful component in rituals if ground down to a fine powder-" "Don't even think about it." You reply hastily. "-but they express \ <</if>>\ an imbalance of the soul. It's \ <</if>>\ <<if ($val isnot 1131)>>\ clear as day that you've been too risky with your rushed Advancement..." She taps a finger on her cheek and looks off in the distance as she continues. "...is what any sage would say. With the Heavenly Ascension Trials right around the corner I honestly don't believe you've been risky enough. My disciples and I could use a hand with something //exceedingly// risky, if you have the time." <</if>>\ <<choose "ch6-spellcraft3">> #"You have my attention." <<var $desrep + 2>>\ "You have my attention." You reply. "What do you have in mind, some sort of forbidden ritual?" Desdemona slowly smiles, a wicked smile of white teeth behind dark lips, the sharp corners of her mouth rising a bit too high. "Have you ever heard of the alchemical term 'thermobaric explosion'?" <<page "Continue" "ch6-spellcraft3">>\ #"I've had my fill of risks this week." "I've had my fill of risks this week." You reply with a short \ <<if (dig($metdesdemona, 2) is 3)>>\ bow. "We'll meet again in Nanhou." "If you're fortunate." She \ <<if ($heshe is "he")>>\ says wistfully, \ <<else>>\ replies in disappointment, \ <</if>>\ returning to her sunbathing as the Darkness seeps out of her. <<else>>\ bow. Desdemona blinks twice, confused by the rejection. "I can't say I'm not disappointed. Then I suppose all that's left is to say 'Heaven's blessings in the Trials' and go our separate ways." She returns to her sunbathing as the Darkness seeps out of her like a thick mist and settles into the sands. After a minute she turns over and looks to you. "That was my polite way of telling you to leave." <<var $desrep - 3>>\ <</if>>\ <<page "Return to the bazaar" "ch6-forge">>\ #show-if ($heshe is "he") "For you, anything." "For you, anything." You say to the gothic beauty. Desdemona's cheeks blush but she looks away, scowling. "I am half naked on a beach, I've had enough compliments and lies in the last hour to fill a lifetime." "Who said I'm lying?" "Fine." She snaps back quickly, glaring back at you. "If you want to play such games, then why don't you go attack the Windrising Sect? That counts as 'anything', right?" You give her a smile and look to the large tower north of town that the Windrising Sect uses as its headquarters. Your aura flares around you as you grip one fist in the other and power up an attack. "Hold on." Desdemona says, guarding her eyes from the fluttering sands. "No need to make a scene." More spiritual energy cycles out of your Cores and through your body until it thrums around your right arm, from the hand all the way up to the elbow, with your left hand holding it steady as your fist vibrates from the power contained within. "Stop, Thunderfaller!" Desdemona shouts next to you. "I said to wait!" Two emerald auras flare in front of the Sect headquarters; the guards detect your attack. Beside you Desdemona's body takes on a golden glow and she smacks the bottom of both fists against your arm. "Stop, damn it, it was a joke!" You unleash the blast, ripping up sand in all directions. "NO! YOU STUPID BRUTE OF A FOOL, YOU'VE KILLED US BOTH!" <<page "Continue" "ch6-spellcraft2">>\ <</choose>>

<<if ($heshe is "he")>>\ <<choose "ch6-spellcraft-glass2">> #Blow the glass vials. You get to work forging the molten glass with a hollowed two-handed bronze pipe and at certain points even use your hands to fix flaws in the design. To your surprise, you are //not// immune to pain from molten glass. You don't let the pain show, but you don't repeat the mistake again either. #use-if ((($bodytype is "Muscular") or ($style is "Midorikatai")) or ($power gte 7)) Blow the glass vials shirtless. "Are you serious?" Desdemona asks as you take your shirt off and wipe the sweat from your forehead with it. <<var $desromance + 1>>\ <<var $desrep + 4>>\ "You're welcome to help or leave." You reply, muscles straining under the heat as you work the molten glass. She doesn't reply, but she doesn't leave. She simply remains kneeling by the wall while analyzing your work, frowning while squinting. Minutes later there are three other women sitting beside her watching you, chatting with each other in giggling tones. Two of the strangers are even wearing combat gi. ''[Prestige Increased]'' <<var $prestige + 1>>\ Desdemona doesn't seem happy about it. By the time you finish forging the vials the crowd size has doubled and Desdemona's displeased gaze shifts between you and her own Disciple, Li Moon, who has joined in on the ogling. "What?" Li Moon asks. "I simply wanted to see the...quality...for myself." "Of the vials." Desdemona adds. "Of course, Lady Desdemona!" Li Moon replies defensively, eyes on you as you work. "//The vials.//" <</choose>> <<else>>\ You get to work forging the molten glass with a hollowed two-handed bronze pipe and at certain points even use your hands to fix flaws in the design. To your surprise, you are //not// immune to pain from molten glass. You don't let the pain show, but you don't repeat the mistake again either. <<include "ch6-spellcraft-glass2">>\ <</if>>\

When finished with all the glassblowing, you've designed the vials to be universally brittle on all sides, from every angle, so when they explode the thousands of shards of glass should disperse the powder for you. It should also fill your opponent with glass. <<var $desnuke + $craft>>\ ''[Craft Rank Added to Ritual Efficiency]'' <<page "Continue" "ch6-spellcraft6">>\

<<choose "ch6-spellcraft6">> #"Bring him to his wife instead." <<var $ruthless - 4>>\ "Bring him to his wife instead." You interrupt. Desdemona's gaze shoots daggers at you as you overrule her in front of her Disciples. "Bring who?" "The ghost." You reply. "There's an old man haunting it, he seems like he'd be at peace if he sees that his wife is okay. He's not after some dark revenge or path that could lead him to be a Fiend, he's just worried for his family. I couldn't dream of keeping them from each other if that's all he needs to pass on. Who are we to get in the way of such eternal love?" <<var $desrep + 5>>\ <<if ($heshe is "he")>>\ <<var $desromance + 1>>\ Desdemona blinks, staring wide-eyed at you. "I, er...I'll take it to her personally then." She says. "For my...Shugendō." Li Moon looks skeptical. "But Lady Desdemona, this wouldn't affect-" "For my Shugendō!" Desdemona asserts, sliding the explosive vials off the table and sprinting out the door with it just as her face begins to blush. You're the only one to notice; everyone else is too busy leaping to catch the vials before they hit the ground, explode, and kill you all. <<else>>\ "I must confess." Desdemona says. "I hadn't considered ghosts could be so easily pleased." "The newly departed ones are just people." You reply. "And if this blows up and this spirit remains, growing in power and twisting into something monstrous?" You shrug. "There's a whole Sect in town. That's their problem." <<var $desrep + 5>>\ <<var $sect_dreamriver + 3>>\ Desdemona offers a hint of a smile. "How refreshing to be in the company of a fellow pragmatist." <</if>>\ <<page "Continue" "ch6-spellcraft6">>\ #[Say Nothing] <<var $ruthless + 2>>\ You all get the explosive vials ready for the ritual as Li Moon drags the haunted table over to the cauldron fire and breaks it into pieces, tossing the kindling into the fireplace with a short prayer for the departed. <<page "Continue" "ch6-spellcraft6">>\ #show-if (($race is "Oni") or ($taint gte 20)) use-if ($handseals gte 2) "I'll do it." [Steal the ghost's power, Requires Handseals 2] "I'll do it!" You shout a little too eagerly. "Very well." Desdemona says without enthusiasm, distracted as she slowly lifts one of the explosive vials off the table with both hands. Her Disciples do the same, removing the vials so you can take the table away. You grab the wooden board and sprint off back into the labyrinth of crates for privacy because the sensation of this ghost fills you with a //hunger//. You're not sure why or how, but you know, deep within your spirit, that there's power to be had within such a simple creature. When out of sight, as if on instinct, you slap your right hand onto the center of the table and use your left hand to enact six seals in quick succession six times. Power flows through your hands and your mouth simultaneously. A pressure builds up under your teeth, a resistance like a fine steak. You bite down and feel the ghost's agony as you consume its trapped essence into your spirit. The bare fabric of its soul rips under your teeth like a waterfall rushing upside down, filling your spirit with power. ''[Corruption Increased]'' <<var $taint + 20>>\ <<apboost 20>>\ The table disintegrates to ash and a crimson hue flickers over your vision three times when your eyes flash with power. The entire process went by so quickly as if on instinct. Now that it's over everything is so unclear. How did you do it? How did you //know// you could do it? The questions circle through your mind next to the ecstasy of the kill. The rush of destroying something that thought it was safe, the fulfilling sensation of feeling its soul shred to pieces and made into a meal...it was exhilarating. You wonder what else you can do. <<page "Continue" "ch6-spellcraft6">>\ <</choose>>

Your attack explodes outwards in a brilliant display of $auracolor chi. When the dust settles Desdemona's hair is covered in sand, several sunbathers have tumbled away, and the Windrising Sect is... Completely unscathed. The purple-lipped lunargoth looks around quizzically until she finally glances up. Shining in the sky, and quickly flying away, is the energy blast you launched straight into the air. "So...So you didn't attack them after all?" Desdemona asks, staring open-mouthed at the fading attack. You respond with a casual shrug. "They didn't deserve it." "Oh. Well, um, that's good." She smooths her hair, controls her breathing, and lifts her nose at you as if she didn't just have a panic attack. "Though I had thought you said you'd do 'anything', why the sudden change of mind?" <<if ($bodytype isnot "Manlet")>>\ You lean over until your eyes are at the same level. \ <<else>>\ You walk closer to her and look into her eyes. \ <</if>>\ "//You// said to stop. That's 'anything' too." <<var $desromance + 1>>\ <<var $desrep + 4>>\ <<if (($bodytype is "Handsome") or (($style is "Midorikatai") and ($heshe is "he")))>>\ <<var $desromance + 1>>\ <<var $desrep + 3>>\ <</if>>\ "Tch." Desdemona replies, looking away so quickly that her dark hair smacks you in the face. "If you're done, I have preparations of actual importance to attend to. Are you still interested in attending, or was that all a bluff too?" "I'm all ears." You reply. "What did you have in mind? Some sort of forbidden ritual?" Desdemona slowly smiles, a wicked smile of white teeth behind dark lips, the sharp corners of her mouth rising a bit too high. "Have you ever heard of the alchemical term 'thermobaric explosion'?" <<page "Continue" "ch6-spellcraft3">>\

"When most people think of forbidden rituals," Desdemona says while guiding you through a maze of crates in a dark warehouse, "they think of dark and ancient secrets. Truthfully, forbidden rituals are simply whatever one's masters disallow. Considering the rules of the Heavenly Ascension Trials, we //are// performing a forbidden ritual. In the sense that we are breaking the rules." The warehouse Desdemona leads you through smells heavily of sulfur. The stench assails your nostrils as you walk through makeshift halls made of crates stacked higher than your head. The lunargothic woman's dark robes transmute into a purple and black combat gi with the snap of her fingers as she leads you around a corner and the sulfuric smell intensifies. Suspicions run through your mind as she leads you deeper into the building. Could they have summoned and bound a true Demon? Could they be bartering with a Demonic Sect? Could the Dreamriver Sect have somehow fallen to Demonic Cultivation just like the Sunbringers? When you're lead down a final corridor you realize the smell of sulfur wasn't a clue to anything other than that: an abundance of actual sulfur. Desdemona's turned one third of the warehouse into a makeshift alchemical workshop. Seven men and women in dark gi work mortars, pestles, and a poorly ventilated cauldron fire while motes of Mystic Chi hover in the air to illuminate the area. Around them are vials full of liquids, terracotta pots full of powders, and a series of canvas covered with formulae drawings. "Hail, Lady Desdemona!" One of the Disciples says as the two of you enter, with the others joining in immediately after. "At ease, Dreamriver Disciples." She turns to you with a bored expression. "This is where we've been handling preparations." <<if (($lore + $alchemy) gte 5)>>\ ''[Alchemy + Lore 5 Check Passed]'' <<var $solexp + 3>>\ <<var $forexp + 3>>\ "For the thermobaric explosion, right?" You reply. "I've read the theory when I was learning alchemy. It's a triple threat explosion. One concussive blast to disperse any combustible powder, a second more incendiary blast to ignite it, and then the reaction causes some unexplainable effect, as if the air is sucked out of the area, which damages the lungs...but how does it work? How do you plan to do it?" "I'm not sure on the specifics myself. It \ <<else>>\ ''[Alchemy + Lore 5 Check Failed]'' "For your Furnace Bear Explosion." You confirm, nodding with understanding. "No." Desdemona responds, her eyes burrowing into you. "The thermobaric explosion. It's what occurs when you evenly disperse a great deal of combustible powder into a cloud with one explosion, then ignite it with a second blast. I'm not sure on the specifics, but the widespread explosion scalds the target's body. At the same time, the combination sucks the air out of the blastzone and destroys the lungs of its victims. It's an attack that strikes in three separate ways." One thing doesn't sit right with you. "If you're not sure on the specifics, how do you know what it does?" "It \ <</if>>\ was an experiment Disciple Shuichi found in an old scroll from a destroyed Mystic Lands settlement." Desdemona waltzes to the canvases while she talks. "And you trust that his plans will work?" "They're not plans." Desdemona counters, leaning over to lift one canvas out of the pile and examine its alchemical calculations. "He succeeded in making it work. It was truly an incredible demonstration, far exceeding even his expectations. Unfortunately that includes the explosion's radius." All her Disciples give a short prayer to the recently departed. "I miss him every day." Says the girl in glasses who first introduced Desdemona at the barn when you met. "We all do, Disciple Moon, but he died doing what he loved. Now let us honor him well." Desdemona scribbles something on the canvas with a brush, adjusting a formula. "The steps are simple. We will seal alchemical powders and explosive vials into a fuuinjutsu seal. Releasing that will make the first explosion that disperses the powder, with our Mystic Chi ensuring it disperses perfectly." She walks to the front of her Sect, showing her canvas work and small, terrible illustrations. "After that, we will store the seal into a fire spirit who we will force into a pact." Her drawing of a fire spirit is the most adorable blob you have ever seen, she even made its cheeks blush. "Throwing bombs at your opponents is prohibited in the Heavenly Ascension Trials, but using pact abilities like Shugendō elements is fair game. If our work is sound, the attack will look and feel like an impressive fiery explosion gifted to us by a powerful spirit. In reality, the damage will come from the supplies we store inside of it." You look to the others nodding along excitedly. One closer look to Desdemona's illustrations show that the spirit's pact will leave a seal on your right palm from which you can activate the detonation. "Are you telling me you're all going to strap explosions to your hands?" "Yes." Says the girl in glasses among Desdemona's disciples. "The same explosion that killed your friend?" "Yes." Says the man in glasses from the barn. "And, to clarify, you're going to strap this //lethal explosion// to your //hands//?" "//YES!//" Several Disciples reiterate in annoyance, as if you're the one that's being unreasonable. <<choose "ch6-spellcraft4">> #"Awe inspiring, let's do it." #[Leave ''immediately''] If the Dreamriver Sect wants to blow itself up that's there business. You have far more important things to do than a colorful suicide. Desdemona scowls at you from behind as you leave but that's nothing new from the woman, you continue out and back to the bazaar. <<var $desrep - 3>>\ <<var $sect_dreamriver - 5>>\ <<page "Continue" "ch6-forge">>\ <</choose>>

"Awe inspiring," You reply to the darkly dressed sorcerous Sect planning to rig dangerous explosives to their bodies. "Let's do it. You know how crazy this plan sounds though, right?" "If you think we're crazy now," Desdemona replies, "wait until you see our shopping list. What we have is proving too unstable for our needs; we need finer grade powders and higher purity essences for the rituals." She looks to a man in glasses. "Li Sun, assist $name in acquisitions while I prepare a link to the Fire Spirit." "Yes, Lady Desdemona!" Replies the male Disicple from the barn back in Thunderfall. He approaches you with an overly respectful bow and you notice a sword at his side. "Greetings, Honored Thunderfaller. I am Li Sun of the Dreamriver Sect." "$fullname." You reply in front of the other Disciples for their benefit. "<<cap $patriarch>> of the <<cap $clan>> Clan. What do you need from me to get us better materials?" "A plan." He replies, rising and wiping his bangs from his face. "We have expensive needs and Guiren's men seized our funds before we even got on the road to Nanhou." "You've been broke that long?" You look over the large collection of not only ritual components and alchemy reagents, but the tools as well. "Then how did you buy all this?" Li Moon withdraws a jewelry box and opens it to reveal two dozen Debt Notes. "...Ah." With no Sect funds and no connections, you decide to... <<var $val (60 - ($persuasion * 10))>>\ <<choose "ch6-spellcraft5">> #Steal higher quality ritual components from the market. "Are you certain this is legal?" Li Sun asks as the two of you sneak through an alleyway leading to the sage shop's basement. "I'm certain it //isn't//." You whisper back. "Now follow me." The two of you break into the cellar door \ <<if ($thievery gte 2)>>\ after you pick the lock. \ <<var $agiexp + 1>>\ <<else>>\ after he opens the lock with some sort of Mystic Chi effect. The lock simply glows golden one moment and it's unlocked the next. \ <</if>>\ Entering the dark cellar presents shelf after shelf of preserves Beast parts, spiritual crystal cores, powdered herbs, incense, paper seals, and various other ritual components. The two of you get to work shoving everything you need into satchels and preparing to leave. <<var $honor - 4>>\ ''[Thievery Rank Added to Ritual Efficiency]'' <<var $desnuke + $thievery>>\ <<if (($thievery gte 3) or ($stealth gte 2))>>\ ''[Stealth 2 Check Passed]'' But not before taking something extra for your own supplies. <<var $val (2 + ($stealth * 2))>>\ ''[Ritual Components + $val]'' <<var $ritualcomponents + $val>>\ <<else>>\ ''[Stealth 2 Check Failed]'' <<var $desnuke - 1>>\ "Who's there?" Calls a voice coming down the stairs. "Don't try to run, I know I heard you! Move an inch and I'm calling the guards!" Li Sun freezes by the door and looks to you for guidance, but the door suddenly opens in front of him and a young Lunargothic woman walks out. "Who-" She doesn't get another word out; Li Sun smacks her in the forehead with the pommel of his sword. She collapses to the cellar door without resistance. The two of you are frozen and silent until you relax and let out a low whistle. "Aren't you all //chi sorcerers//?! I thought you were going to give her some sort of sleep spell." "I should have." He replies, not looking away from the unconscious victim. "I know one." "Then why didn't you?" He looks away from the woman and his fearful eyes meet yours with an apologetic grimace. "I panicked." You shake your head at the amateur. "Come on, let's get back to the base before you 'panic' someone else in the skull." <</if>>\ <<page "Continue" "ch6-spellcraft5">>\ #use-if ((($shards + ($silver / 10)) + ($gold * 10)) gte $val) Haggle the current supplies for higher quality ritual components at the market. [Requires $val Shards] You walk Li Sun down to the crafting bazaar and the sage's shop to haggle what you do have for the materials you need. "But why would anyone give us better things for worse things?" He asks, trailing behind you. "Complexity!" You reply, shoving a scroll and quill into his hands. "That's where you come in." "What am I to do with this?" He asks. "Accounting. We're not trading one item for one item. We're cross-trading dozens of times. Hundreds if that's what it takes. There's dozens of stranded and desparate Martial Artists in town and we're going to up-trade as many times as it takes until we get what the sages want to trade for their higher quality components." "I...don't see how that can be done." You smile at the poor fool. "That's why you're the one stuck on accounting. Leave the talking to me." <<costcalc $val>>\ ''[Persuasion Rank Added to Ritual Efficiency]'' <<var $desnuke + $persuasion>>\ Hours go by as you trade your rough ritual components for all sort of weaponry, crafting materials, currencies, livestock, ship parts, and even a small shack in town at one point. You finally sell off or trade your final products for the best ritual components from the sage's shop and the mystics at the bazaar. <<page "Continue" "ch6-spellcraft5">>\ #Lie to the local Sect that Thunderfall will trade for better quality materials. <<var $honor - 2>>\ <<var $ruthless + 1>>\ If there's one thing you love, it's getting things for free. If there's a second thing you love, it's bothering the Crusher family. You lead Li Sun to the Windrising Sect headquarters and express interest in speaking to their Sectmaster or Magistrate on behalf of Crusher Mao of the Thunderfall Sect, willing to purchase their highest quality ritual components at double market rate with promise of debt notes. They deny your request at first but you try your better luck at the Magistrate's pagoda. At the administrative pagoda, your strength works as a better bargaining chip for the clerks who manage to actually believe you. ''[Deception Rank Added to Ritual Efficiency]'' <<var $desnuke + $deception>>\ <<var $sect_thunderfall - 5>>\ As you head back to Desdemona's base in the warehouse, Li Sun quietly asks if you have a death wish. <<page "Continue" "ch6-spellcraft5">>\ #use-if ($ritualcomponents gte 10) Use the components I already own. [Requires 10 Ritual Components] <<var $desnuke + 4>>\ <<var $ritualcomponents - 10>>\ "I have fine grade powders and ritual components." You reply, removing them from your satchel and placing them on a nearby table. ''[Item Lost: 10 Ritual Components]'' "Oh." Li sun says. "//Oh.//" Desdemona says, slightly more impressed. "That's certainly one issue resolved. Since you're so efficient, how would you like to solve another problem?" <<var $desrep + 3>>\ <<if ($heshe is "he")>>\ <<var $desromance + 2>>\ <</if>>\ <<var $sect_dreamriver + 6>>\ "Only if I'm getting my own handbomb out of this." You reply. Desdemona lifts her nose at that. "Help me with this and you'll have more explosives than you could ever ask for." Clearly this woman doesn't know your appetite for power. <<var $val 621>>\ <<page "Continue" "ch6-spellcraft5">>\ <</choose>>

<<if ($val is 621)>>\ "So what's the next problem?" You ask, as Desdemona's disciples gather around a table looking downcast at their collection of vials. "Our explosives." Desdemona says with a return to her resting frown. "They have Aura Pressure." <<else>>\ When you arrive back at the Dreamriver Sect's temporary base you find the Desdemona's disciples huddled around a table looking downcast at a collection of vials. Li Sun takes the components you've procured to a side area and you stride forward. "Is something wrong?" You ask. Desdemona looks over to you with a resting frown. "Always. Our explosive vials have Aura Pressure." <</if>>\ "That's good, isn't it?" You ask. "That will help it hurt Martial Artists." She shakes her head. "These explosives aren't about damage. These ones are meant to scatter the powder for the thermobaric blast, and we're using our Mystic Chi to guarantee that it's spread correctly. If the vials have Aura Pressure, then their initial blast could disrupt our Mystic Chi effect. Whoever sold us the ingredients for our concoctions lied and included some spirit essences to amplify the effect." She scowls off to the side. "Idiots probably thought they were helping us." Looking at the problem from that angle, you get the bright idea to... <<choose "ch6-spellcraft6">> #Craft shattering-vials that will scatter the powder for you. -> "ch6-spellcraft-glass" "There's more than one way to scatter powder." You say. "Follow me, I have a plan." You lead Desdemona and several of her Disciples to a glassblowing shop in the bazaar and begin working as you explain the use of vials designed to shatter into thousands of pieces upon breaking. "Hm..." Desdemona lightly chews on her index finger's dark nail in thought. "Normally this would be a foolish idea, the vial would explode long before we need it, but with it being stored in a fuuinjutsu seal until the point of the explosion...I must confess, this can work." "Of course it can." You reply. Desdemona rolls her eyes. "Disciples dismissed, I'll oversee the process and ensure the end product actually works." #Spiritually scan the explosive vials for the source of the aura. -> "ch6-spellcraft-scan" The Dreamriver Sect has several crystals held out to measure the Aura Pressure of the explosive vials or predict its potential explosive force by reading the weaves of fate. Their sorcerous tools are beyond your understanding, but there's one thing they're clearly not trying: a good old-fashioned spiritual scan. You sit in meditative trance in front of the table with the vials on it and send your spirit out, enveloping the vials to sense their contents. A tinge of Aura Pressure is the first sign, yes, but you probe deeper. Longer. You sense a presence deeper within and push further on, melding your senses with the impressions it leaves behind. Then your eyes shoot open. It's not the impression of the elements or the forces of nature you sense within the vials. Rather, the impression you receive is that of an old man who misses his wife. Flashes and feelings run through your mind of the man collapsing upon the table, and the resonance of the aura is that of worry for his wife's good health without him to watch over her. <<var $desnuke + $insight>>\ ''[Insight Rank Added to Ritual Efficiency]'' "The vials don't have elemental essence in them." You finally say, crouching down to look into the vials. "The table they're on is haunted." "Oh thank Heavens." Desdemona says, sighing with relief. "Li Moon, have this table tossed into a fire." #Alchemically refine anti-clumping powders so Mystic Chi isn't needed. "Arrowroot extract." You reply. "Hm?" Desdemona says, looking dead ahead while her mind is elsewhere. "Arrowroot extract, that's what we need to stop the powder from clumping together. If we add that to our combustion powder, we shouldn't need Mystic Chi to evenly disperse it anymore. It will disperse well on its own." She eyes you suspiciously and walks to a corner of the room, pulling a large tome from one of the bags left there. She browses through a few pages and looks back up. "Incredible, you're actually right." She closes the tome quickly, knocking dust into her face. She blinks it out of her eyes. "Is it expensive?" "Hardly," you reply, "they use it in breads. I'll fetch some from the bakers." ''[Alchemy Rank Added to Ritual Efficiency]'' <<var $desnuke + $alchemy>>\ <<if ($alchemy gte 2)>>\ <<var $desnuke + 1>>\ <</if>>\ "I'll prepare tea for your return!" Announces Li Moon. Twenty minutes later you return without issue, having acquired some arrowroot extract and bread from the baker's shop. Desdemona has her Disciples powderize the extract more cleanly and add it to her combustible powders in varying proportions to test the perfect ratio. All the while, as you analyze their work, Desdemona analyzes you. "Is something wrong?" You ask. <<if (($heshe is "he") and (($alchemy gte 3) or ($lore gte 3)))>>\ "Yes." She confesses. "I'm not used to seeing others in a new light. At fist I assumed you were a brute, incapable of Mystic Chi, and that meant you were...academically..." "A moron." You say, finishing her sentence as Li Moon hands you some tea. "Yes, thank you." She replies with a quick nod. "Yet you've proven quite the academic. I must say, I am impressed." "Thanks." You reply, taking a sip. She steps beside you, closer until your shoulders are almost touching, and sips her own tea. You look over to see her making eye contact, but her vision quickly darts back to the Disciples when she sees you noticing her. She sips her tea harder and her face begins to blush. <<var $desromance + 1>>\ <<else>>\ "I'm simply not used to being surrounded by academics, outside of my Sect obviously." Desdemona sighs slowly. "A majority of the Martial Artists we've encountered have been..." "Morons." You say, finishing her sentence as Li Moon hands you both your tea. "Yes, thank you." Desdemona says with a relieved sigh. She takes a sip before continuing. "I am trying to be more polite, it is much easier with someone else being rude for me." "You can count on me." You reply, sipping. <</if>>\ <<var $desrep + 5>>\ <<page "Continue" "ch6-spellcraft6">>\ <</choose>>

The Dreamriver Sect stands in a circle with Desdemona at its center. You stand aside, holding eight fuuinjutsu seals containing the prepared explosives from before. All of you have a black-ink drawing of a specific flamelike seal on your palm down to your wrist. As you listen to the Dreamrivers chant in unison and invoke handseals of the monkey, boar, and phoenix, there's one thing that doesn't make sense. It must be a Kiihakai secret, because you can't figure out how they plan to bind a Fire Spirit without any Seals or binding circles. The sage's shop back in Thunderfall had bound spirits and it was covered in seals. Their chants grow heavier and their sealing hands take on the golden glow of Mystic Chi. You're forced to squint your eyes to protect from the intense red light that grows throughout the warehouse as the ritual begins in earnest. It clicks suddenly that the illumination is not coming from Desdemona's Sect. It's the wrong color. Red flames overtake the entire left side of your vision as the maze of crates erupts into fires both physical and spiritual, for your senses warn you of Fire Chi. Oppressive smoke and heat press down on you until the fires swirl inward, coalescing in the air at the center of the warehouse's ceiling into a giant disc of flames. The burning disk takes up the whole ceiling and though it continues to spin rapidly, the two white orbs on either side of its center do not move. You realize that you're looking into the eyes of a spirit, a flat red sun glaring angrily at the burning crates beneath it. In the reflection of its pure white eyes of energy you see the complex shape of the walls of crates and realize their purpose: It's a binding circle. "The Shugendō offering has been taken, the Fire Elemental has been summoned!" Desdemona shouts. "Continue the chant! We only get one chance!" Li Sun and Li Moon seize paper fuuinjutsu seals from your hands and chant a different incantation from the others, their Mystic Chi forming a golden line between themselves and the spirit. The living fire resists, and it becomes quickly apparent that it's going to break out. <<var $txt "orange brand appears on its center that looks identical to the drawing on your palms, and the drawing on your palm takes on a red coloring as Fire Chi from the spirit flows inside.">>\ <<choose "ch6-spellcraft7">> #use-if ((($element1 is "Ice") or ($element2 is "Ice")) or (($element1 is "Fire") or ($element2 is "Fire"))) Wrestle the spirit into place. [Requires Fire or Ice Element] As the Fire Elemental fights a battle on the spiritual level, you give it a fight on the physical level. "What are you //doing?!//" Desdemona screams as you cover your body in \ <<if (($element1 is "Fire") or ($element2 is "Fire"))>>\ burning flames \ <<elseif (($element1 is "Ice") or ($element2 is "Ice"))>>\ a freezing mist \ <</if>>\ and leap up to the ceiling, grabbing onto the elementals moving flames and spinning in place as it rotates its disk-like body. Once it's thrown you to the edge of its form you pull yourself upside down and slam your legs into the ceiling, grinding yourself to a halt. The Elemental's flames fail to rotate with you grabbing onto its living fire. That gets its attention. The fire spirit thrashes against you, wavering like a flat dough shaking in all directions. It blasts flame after flame at you and attempts to whip you with its other half, but you hold steady and resist as it loses the battle it had forgotten about. ''[Athletics Rank Added to Ritual Efficiency]'' <<var $desnuke + $athletics>>\ <<if ($element1 is "Fire")>>\ ''[Fire Mastery Added to Ritual Efficiency]'' <<var $desnuke + $element1rank>>\ <<elseif ($element2 is "Fire")>>\ ''[Fire Mastery Added to Ritual Efficiency]'' <<var $desnuke + $element2rank>>\ <</if>>\ <<if ($soul gt 6)>>\ <<var $desnuke + ($soul - 6)>>\ <</if>>\ Beneath you both, the Dreamriver Sect completes their ritual and the Flame Elemental shivers as their casting takes effect. An $txt <<page "The Pact has been sealed." "ch6-spellcraft7">>\ #Recall the Shugendō rules of all elemental spirits to aid in its binding. Recalling the rules of Shugendō, you invoke the spirit's purpose and fill your lungs with chi, praying that it makes any difference. "I bind you, spirit of the flames, to your purpose! I call to order the laws of the Celestial Bureaucracy, and through their commands I invoke your nature! It is not the place of fire to fight back against its attackers, for such reaction lies in the realm of Man and Beast! I call upon you to the realm of the Elements, the reactions of primordial fire! I command thee, aspect of the flame, only to //burn//. Under the judgmental eyes of Heaven, I command you, ''//burn!//''" ''[Lore Rank Added to Ritual Efficiency]'' <<var $desnuke + $lore>>\ <<if (($element1 is "Fire") or ($element2 is "fire"))>>\ <<var $desnuke + 1>>\ <</if>>\ <<var $val 8888>>\ The spirit remains in place, shaking with increased intensity and growing power. You prepare for an attack, but instead witness the entity's acceptance of its purpose. The Elemental consumes the wood of the warehouse ceiling, spinning in place and burning through the roof with the rapid speed of an intense heat. In seconds the roof is burnt away and the spinning disk of a flame Elemental hovers in the air, the clear sky visible overhead. Yet thanks to the distraction, beneath the fire spirit's grand display, the Dreamriver Sect completes their ritual and the Flame Elemental shivers as their casting takes effect. An $txt <<page "The Pact has been sealed." "ch6-spellcraft7">>\ #Add your own Seals to their control. With no time to waste you add your own Seals into the ritual. \ <<if ($handseals is 0)>>\ You may not know any, but they've been repeating the same finger handseal formations for minutes. You copy their pattern and pray to the Heavens. <<else>>\ Applying your knowledge of spirit-related Handseals, you incorporate a few that should pull the spirit's focus in different directions as well as several that should strengthen the Seals of collaborative efforts. <</if>>\ ''[Handseals Rank Added to Ritual Efficiency]'' <<var $desnuke + $handseals>>\ <<if ($handseals gte 2)>>\ <<var $desnuke + 1>>\ <</if>>\ <<if (($element1 is "Fire") or ($element2 is "fire"))>>\ <<var $desnuke + 1>>\ <</if>>\ Your hands glow $auracolor as everyone else's glows golden with Mystic Chi, and the effect shows. The two golden links connecting Li Sun and Li Moon to the fire elemental become wrapped into spiraling lines of $auracolor as your higher Aura Pressure strengthens their effect, overtaking the Fire Elemental and locking it into place for the rest of the Dreamriver Sect to complete their binding ritual. The spirit submits, losing to your combined superior power, and a spiritual snap fills the air as the ritual completes. The Fire Elemental shivers as the casting takes effect and an $txt <<page "The Pact has been sealed." "ch6-spellcraft7">>\ <</choose>>

"Release!" Desdemona shouts, and the Fire Spirit breaks free from the Mystic bindings. The entity roars with a deafening crackle of an inferno, \ <<if ($val is 8888)>>\ spinning faster in place until it flies off through the air \ <<else>>\ destroying the roof as it bursts out of the building and takes off into the sky \ <</if>>\ over Harehama. Smoke envelopes the building and everyone runs outside, cheering and laughing at their victory. When you get outside, \ <<if ($heshe is "he")>>\ a sweat-soaked \ <</if>>\ Desdemona removes her dark robe to reveal \ <<if ($heshe is "he") and ($desromance gte 3)>>\ nothing but the dark bandage wrappings over her more private areas. Her Sect grows quiet, staring. Desdemona, chest heaving as she catches her breath, looks around in confusion. "What's everyone-Oh Hells." She snaps her fingers and conjures another dark robe around her body. "Don't sully this moment with such thoughts. We should be rejoicing; we \ <<else>>\ a combat gi underneath. "I don't envy the blacksmiths who are indoors with such flames regularly." She says frankly, then looks down to the red brand on her palm. "And it seems to have worked. We \ <</if>>\ now, each of us, have one use of an extreme weapon at our disposal. //The Last Dream//." <<var $descombat + (Math.round($desnuke/3))>>\ Her Sect lets out a series of 'Ooohs' and 'Aaahs' as Desdemona names the not-so-Technique. "The Last Dream, huh?" You look down at your own palm's swirling red brand in satisfaction. "Another trump card for the Trials..." "It does not have to be for the Trials, Honored Thunderfaller." Li Sun counters. "I do not intend to win, so I will be saving mine for everyone's safety on the roads after." A few Disciples agree, sharing their plans to use them as an ultimate defense or revenge. Desdemona smiles, shaking her head slowly. "I am absolutely using mine in the Trials, on Guiren. What about you, Thunderfaller?" "I-" "That way, Sectmaster Bassui!" Shouts a voice nearby. "I saw a gigantic fire in the sky!" Desdemona's entire Sect ungracefully scatters in five directions. It suddenly occurs to you that there's no way they owned the thousands of Shards worth of cargo you all just burned in the warehouse. <<page "Time to go!" "ch6-spellcraft8">>\

In your pocket is the last fuuinjutsu scroll from the ritual that the Dreamriver's had given to you, but never needed at any point. After fleeing the scene of the crime, you open it to find spare fuel for the circle. <<if ($desnuke gte 7)>>\ <<var $val 3>>\ <<else>>\ <<var $val 2>>\ <</if>>\ ''[Item Gained: $val Crates of Loot]'' <<var $loot + $val>>\ Pleased, you make your way back to the bazaar. <<page "Continue" "ch6-forge">>\

You exit the captain's cabin to a salty gust of wind blowing against your clothes and behold your new surroundings. The sight of the ocean surrounds you on all sides and you become immediately familiar with how small your large ship feels when you're aboard. Dear Ancestors, //where is the land?!// How can a body of water be so large that you can't see any land?! You grab the railing for support as you suddenly feel dizzy and try to calm your breathing. You've mastered control of spiritual energies, you can handle...whatever this feeling is. This deep, instinctual dread of somehow losing the ground. How in the world did you lose //the entire ground//?! This 'ocean' is insanity! One deep breath in, one deep breath out. Focus, you tell yourself. You analyze the rest of the ship to distract your mind. <<page "What's onboard?" "ch6-spiritbrand2">>\

<<print $fren>>'s been waiting. <<if ($style is "Akakiru")>>\ <<page "Continue" "ch6-ship-aka">>\ <<elseif ($style is "Aoyusumu")>>\ <<page "Continue" "ch6-ship-aoyu">>\ <<elseif ($style is "Kiihakai")>>\ <<page "Continue" "ch6-ship-kii">>\ <<elseif ($style is "Kurokonton")>>\ <<page "Continue" "ch6-ship-kuro">>\ <<else>>\ <<page "Continue" "ch6-ship-mido">>\ <</if>>\

<<var $spiritbrandloc "eyes">>\ <<include "ch6-brandquote1">>\ <<if (($yokaitrait2 is "cat eyes") or ($yokaitrait2 is "reptilian eyes"))>>\ Your $yokaitrait2 \ <<else>>\ Your eyes \ <</if>>\ blink back at you in a new color with a soft glow. It's not just a trick of the light either. No matter how you try to twist the angle in the mirror your reflection still shows your once-$eyecolor eyes staring right back at you in a new $spiritbrandcolor hue. "What in the world happened to me?" You ask out loud, adjusting the mirror in disbelief. <<include "ch6-spiritbrand-kos">>\

<<include "ch6-brandquote1">>\ <<if ($subrace is "Reptile")>>\ The majestic scales of your tail have \ <<else>>\ Your (majestic and fluffy) \ <<if ($spiritbrandloc is "tail and ears")>>\ ears and tail have \ <<else>>\ tail has \ <</if>>\ <</if>>\ turned $spiritbrandcolor! "What the Hells is this?!" You ask, swishing your tail \ <<if ($spiritbrandloc is "tail and ears")>>\ and twitching your ears \ <</if>>\ in growing concern as your reflection copies your movement. That's actually you, and that's your \ <<if ($subrace is "Reptile")>>\ tail's \ <<else>>\ fur's \ <</if>>\ actual color. \ <<if ((($spiritbrandloc is "tail and ears") and ($hairlength isnot "bald")) and ($spiritbrandcolor isnot $haircolor))>>\ The $spiritbrandcolor ears stick out of your $haircolor hair and you feel like you may need a hat for the rest of your life. \ <</if>>\ "Did someone paint me in my sleep?" You give the mirror a pointed look, knowing Kosuke stands behind it. "Did //you// paint me in my sleep?" <<if (($bffromance gte 1) and ($heshe isnot $bffheshe))>>\ "If I ever paint you it's not going to be when your clothes are on," Kosuke says from behind the mirror, "and no, but I have a good guess." \ <<else>>\ "Hey don't look at me, I left my paints at your parents' house. But no, I don't think that's it." \ <</if>>\ <<include "ch6-spiritbrand-kos">>\

<<include "ch6-brandquote1">>\ <<if ($spiritbrandloc is "hair")>>\ Your $haircolor hair has changed from $haircolor to $spiritbrandcolor! Even your eyebrows and eyelashes are tinged $spiritbrandcolor. <<else>>\ One \ <<if (((($hairlength is "waist-length") or ($hairlength is "chest-length")) or ($hairlength is "long and tied")) or ($hairlength is "tied-back"))>>\ long \ <</if>>\ strip of $spiritbrandcolor runs down your $hairlength $haircolor hair! <</if>>\ "What in the world?" You ask, \ <<if ($spiritbrandloc is "hair")>>\ running a hand through your new hair. \ <<else>>\ running a hand down the new strip of $spiritbrandcolor in hair on your head. \ <</if>>\ "Mother's not going to be happy, she'll think I dyed this and take it personally. Does it look healthy? Is it supposed to happen?" "How am I supposed to know?" Kosuke asks. "Except I probably do know." <<include "ch6-spiritbrand-kos">>\

<<var $spiritbrandloc "horns">>\ <<include "ch6-brandquote1">>\ Your horns have turned $spiritbrandcolor! "What the Hell?!" You say, grabbing them with both hands. They're solid and your copy in the mirror acts just as you do. No matter how you twist or turn your reflection still shows your horns in a $spiritbrandcolor \ <<if (($heshe is "she") and ($bodytype is "Bodacious"))>>\ hue. Your actions find unexpected consequences as well. With both your hands raised up to grab your horns, you've corrected your posture and lifted your chest while performing all sorts of twisting and posing in the mirror. Several crewmen's eyes nearly bulge out of their heads as they stare in awe. You don't even notice until one falls overboard and only one other man tries to save him, the others distracted until your put your arms back down. <<var $solexp + 1>>\ <<var $agiexp + 1>>\ Men. <<if ($bffheshe is "he")>>\ Speaking of... <<else>>\ But more importantly... <</if>>\ <<else>>\ hue. <</if>>\ "Kosuke what did you do?!" You blurt out, accusing the usual suspect. "Did you paint me in my sleep?" <<if (($bffromance gte 1) and ($heshe isnot $bffheshe))>>\ "If I ever paint you it's not going to be when your clothes are on," Kosuke says from behind the mirror, "and no, but I have a good guess." \ <<else>>\ "Hey don't look at me, I left my paints at your parents' house. But no, I don't think that's it." \ <</if>>\ <<include "ch6-spiritbrand-kos">>\

<<choose "ch6-makethingsinteresting">> #use-if ((($shards + ($silver / 10)) + ($gold * 10)) gte 9) "Deal." <<var $bffrep + 2>>\ "Deal." You say, handing over a small pouch of 9 Shards. You start to wonder how you keep doing that. How many pouches do you actually own? How are they always available for every transaction? At this point it feels like you're jinxing yourself if you check. <<costcalc 9>>\ Kosuke takes the pouch and actually counts the money, the \ <<if ($heshe is "he")>>\ turd, \ <<else>>\ audacious villain, \ <</if>>\ and pockets the pouch. "Alright, we're square." You're legitimately surprised. "Really, just like that?" "Hey, we all lie about \ <<if (($bffromance gte 1) and ($heshe isnot $bffheshe))>>\ something, and the second tail looks good on you. \ <<else>>\ something. \ <</if>>\ #show-if (($background is "Merchant") and ((($shards + ($silver / 10)) + ($gold * 10)) gte 9)) "I was busy training for 1 of those years, make it 8 and you've got yourself a deal." [Merchant Background] <<var $bffrep - 2>>\ "I was busy training for 1 of those years," you counter, "make it 8 Shards and you've got yourself a deal." Kosuke's mouth hangs open at the audacity. "Are you haggling me?! I was extending an olive branch! At a discount!" "What the hell is an olive?" You ask. Kosuke pauses. "I don't actually know. It's an expression though. Maybe they're a tree in a different land? It's a branch after all." "Fascinating. Here's 8 Shards." <<costcalc 8>>\ ''[Commerce Increased]'' <<var $commerce + 1>>\ "Ohhhh you \ <<if ($heshe is "he")>>\ dick." \ <<else>>\ bitch." \ <</if>>\ Kosuke says, noticeably taking the Shard pouch and pocketing it. "Fine, all's forgiven. \ #"Hell no, there's no money between friends!" "Hell no," you counter, gently pushing $bffhimher away, "there's no money between friends!" <<var $bffrep - 3>>\ <<if (($bffromance gte 1) and ($heshe isnot $bffheshe))>>\ "We're a bit more than friends at this point." Kosuke says with a sideeye. \ <<else>>\ "Platitudes don't buy lunch." Kosuke counters halfheartedly, clearly not invested in this argument. \ <</if>>\ "But fine, a castle isn't money. I'll take a castle instead when you become an Archon. \ #"I don't even have 9 Shards." <<if ((($shards + ($silver / 10)) + ($gold * 10)) lt 9)>>\ <<var $val 77>>\ "I don't even have 9 Shards." You confess. ''[Special Event: Being Broke]'' <<var $agiexp + 2>>\ Against all odds, you're not lying. You actually don't have 9 Shards. <<else>>\ "I don't even have 9 shards." You say, lying to your best friend over a tiny sum like the greedy miser you are. <<if ($deception gte 2)>>\ ''[Deception 2 Check Passed]'' <<var $agiexp + 1>>\ <<else>>\ ''[Deception 2 Check Passed?]'' <<var $bffrep - 13>>\ <</if>>\ <</if>>\ "You're kidding." Kosuke gawks, staring at you with deep concern. "Please tell me this is a bluff." You empty your pockets right in front of \ <<if ($val is 77)>>\ $bffhimher. <<else>>\ $bffhimher, ignoring your beltpouches where your money is actually stored. <</if>>\ "By the \ <<if (($heshe is "he") and ($bffheshe is "he"))>>\ Ancestors...here man." \ <<else>>\ Ancestors...here." \ <</if>>\ <<cap $bffheshe>> hands you a pouch of coinage. "You need this more than I do." "Oh come on, don't pity me." Kosuke shakes $bffhisher head. "No, no, you lied to me for years, now you've got to get pitied and accept a donation from a broke beggar. That's the rules." "This sucks." You \ <<if ((($shards + ($silver / 10)) + ($gold * 10)) lt 9)>>\ bluff. \ <<else>>\ say. \ <</if>>\ "I hate the rules." ''[Item Gained: 10 Shards]'' <<var $shards + 10>>\ ''[Item Gained: 30 Silver]'' <<var $silver + 30>>\ Kosuke gives an uncaring shake of the head. "Take it up with the Heavens and consider us square. \ <</choose>>

Kosuke pulls the mirror back so you see $bffhisher face behind it instead. "If I had to guess, all that natural energy you've cultivated is starting to show. Like \ <<if ($style is "Midorikatai")>>\ Tian Fang upstairs, \ <<else>>\ that wolfgirl from Mountain Hazard, \ <</if>>\ I think her hair turned white from all the Ice \ <<if ($spiritbrandloc is "skin")>>\ chi. The only difference is she's not an Oni, so it didn't affect her as much as you. \ <<if (($heshe is "he") and ($bffheshe is "he"))>>\ Seriously man, you look ridiculous. Uhhhh ridiculously cool, I mean. Also keep \ <<else>>\ Keep \ <</if>>\ in mind that I'm talking out of my ass and guessing, but I think it all makes sense." <<else>>\ chi." <</if>>\ You ignore the fact that Wolf Yokai can naturally have white hair because, Kosuke's bad example aside, you look in the mirror and can't deny what you're seeing. A spiritbrand. <<choose "ch6-spiritbrand-done">> #"Cool." <<var $honor + 1>>\ "Cool." You say, marveling at your new $spiritbrandcolor $spiritbrandloc. "This could be my new signature, it'll make it easier to spread fame." "If that's what you're after." Kosuke responds casually. "Personally I wouldn't want that. Fame gets you in trouble more often than not; I'm infamous in Thunderfall now and I can't even go home anymore." "Fame and infamy aren't the same thing." You counter. "True, but they spread at the same rate. Speaking of spreading, I'm going to go spread some cheer by popping a bottle of rum open for the rowers downstairs." "We're rowing?" You ask, looking over the edge of the ship. "I thought the sails were working fine?" "They are, and we're not rowing right now, but I've refused to learn any of their names so I still call them 'the rowers'." <<if (($sumyungai) and ($dontmentionsum is false))>>\ "You should ask for their names more, one's named Sum Yungai." "No freaking way." Kosuke replies. <<if ($bffheshe is "he")>>\ "I've used that fake name a dozen times." \ <</if>>\ "He swears his family will back him up on it and we have more Sums on board." "Ain't that Sum shit..." Kosuke says wistfully. "Well then I'll crack two bottles open." "Sounds fun, catch you around." \ <<else>>\ "How incredibly Noble Caste of you." \ <</if>>\ You say as Kosuke goes down the hatch to the rower's level. You on the other hand ascend up the stairs leading to the platform above the Captain's Cabin in the back of the ship. #"Crap!" <<var $honor - 1>>\ "Crap!" You shout, staring in a panic at your new $spiritbrandcolor $spiritbrandloc. "This will make it so easy to describe me to the guards!" "Oh nooo." Kosuke replies. "That's terrible. Darn. If only you had a skilled thief friend that could disappear in a crowd. Then you could hire $bffhimher for your crimes at a reasonable rate." "Point taken." You reply. "I'm not used to you having a decent aura." Kosuke gives you a sideways smile. "You mean you're not used to me being //useful//." "Take some credit, you distracted a Taio clone that one time." "Yeah yeah, and I'm gonna go 'distract' some rum in the rowing cabins too, if you know what I mean." You didn't even know you had rum onboard. "Don't finish it off." You add as Kosuke goes down the hatch to the rower's level. You on the other hand ascend up the stairs leading to the platform above the Captain's Cabin in the back of the ship. #"That's all? Nevermind then. Cosmetics are for children, let's get back to work." <<var $honor + 3>>\ "That's all?" You ask, and Kosuke nods. "It makes sense, right? I don't think it's too unusual for it to happen, a lot of visitors at the gate had marks like yours when the Trials got announced." Thank the Ancestors. "Nevermind then. Cosmetics are only important to children, let's get back to work." "As the \ <<if ($heshe is "he")>>\ Young Master \ <<else>>\ Young Mistress \ <</if>>\ wishes." Kosuke replies, heading down the hatch to the rower's level a little too eagerly, probably to slack off, while you head up the stairs to the platform above the Captain's Cabin on the back of the ship. <</choose>>

<<var $spiritbrandloc "skin">>\ <<if ($spiritbrandcolor is "jade")>>\ <<achieve "Jade-Skinned Beauty">>\ <</if>>\ <<include "ch6-brandquote1">>\ Your skin has turned $spiritbrandcolor! "What in the Hells...?" You mumble, looking at yourself in the mirror. You want to doubt your very eyes yet no matter how you adjust the angle your Oni skin still looks \ <<if ($spiritbrandcolor is "scarlet")>>\ $spiritbrandcolor. Sure it's still a shade of red like other Oni, but it's the //wrong// red! \ <<else>>\ $spiritbrandcolor. \ <</if>>\ "Am I dying?" "I don't think so?" Kosuke replies. "We had one blue Oni pass through town once when you were training in the mountains a few weeks back." <<include "ch6-spiritbrand-kos">>\

The first thing you notice is the incredible size of the sails. Your drawings as a kid were way off. Two masts take up much of the space, their enormous triangular sails unfurled to catch the wind at an angle and offer shade against the sun in the bright blue \ <<if ($flagshiptype is "combat")>>\ sky. The ballista at the end of your ship takes up much of the rest of the space not occupied by the masts. <<else>>\ sky. <</if>>\ Several crewmen attend to the dozens of ropes securing the sails to the side of the ships for stability and the rest can be heard underneath, in the lower level where the rowers sit beside their hammocks used as their own lodgings. As you step further away from the Captain's Cabin you realize it's the only actual room on board, unless you count a small brig that even you know most ships usually have at the end of the lower level, used to secure treasure or \ <<if ($flagshiptype is "Merchant")>>\ prisoners. Your brig must be bigger and better secured than most, being a merchant vessel and all. Still, two rooms isn't much better than one. \ <<else>>\ prisoners. <</if>>\ To the left of your Captain's Cabin is a hatch leading to a staircase down. Across from it is a staircase up to a small platform on the back of the ship, atop your Captain's Cabin, where you can sense \ <<if ($style is "Akakiru")>>\ Bladed Chi. <<elseif ($style is "Aoyusumu")>>\ Sacred Chi. <<elseif ($style is "Kiihakai")>>\ Mystic Chi. <<elseif ($style is "Kurokonton")>>\ Cursed Chi. <<elseif ($style is "Midorikatai")>>\ Wild Chi. <</if>>\ "<<cap $name>>!" Kosuke shouts out from \ <<if ($flagshiptype is "combat")>>\ near the ballista at the ship's bow. \ <<else>>\ the ship's bow. \ <</if>>\ Several crewmen turn and salute with relieved smiles, which is an odd thing to get from so many strangers. You're not used to being a savior. Kosuke jumps onto the railing and runs along it, jumping over several ropes to get to you. \ <<if (($bffheshe isnot $heshe) and ($bffromance gte 1))>>\ When \ <<if ($bffheshe is "he")>>\ he does, he grabs you by the hips and lifts you into the air which you are NOT used to him being able to do. \ <<else>>\ she does, she jumps into your waist and gives you a tight hug, her legs dropped on the ground and her face pressed against your abs. \ <</if>>\ <</if>>\ "You had me \ <<if ($bffheshe is "he")>>\ <<if ($heshe is "he")>>\ worried man! \ <<else>>\ worried! \ <</if>>\ Next time you decide to enjoy a nice coma give me a heads up alright?" <<else>>\ worried! Next time you want to sleep in let us know first, okay?" <</if>>\ <<if ($style is "Kiihakai")>>\ "Will do, but I'm really in a hurry to stop-" <<else>>\ "Sure Kosuke." You reply, your groggy body still waking. "You got it, but give me a minute I need to-" <</if>>\ "Whoa, whoa, hold on, what the Hells is that?" Kosuke asks, looking at you sideways and pointing. "What is \ <<if ($yokaitrait1 is "demon tail")>>\ what?" You pray $bffheshe didn't notice your demonic tail coiled under your clothes. <<else>>\ what?" <</if>>\ Kosuke sprints passed you into your own Captain's Cabin and pulls out a mirror, shoving it in your face. "THAT!" You look in the mirror and notice... <<if ($heshe is "he") and ($style is "Midorikatai")>>\ ''[Midorikatai Male Event]'' ...that you're //ripped//! You've been in shape most of your teenage life, but now you've truly perfected each muscle. Not just that, but your bone structure expanded too. Your jaw, your neck, your skull, your ribs, hips, wrists, hands, even your height, all expanded to perfect impressive proportions. Rather than looking clumsily muscular you look //perfectly// muscular, as if your body was sculpted for this. Damn, you look good. Yet you don't think that's what Kosuke's talking about. As you look closer, you notice... <</if>>\ <<choose "ch6-spiritbrand-hair">> #use-if (($spiritbrandcolor isnot $eyecolor) and ($race isnot "Kitsune")) My eyes have turned $spiritbrandcolor! -> "ch6-spiritbrand-eyes" #show-if ($jadedragonfoundation is true) use-if (($spiritbrandcolor isnot $eyecolor) and ($race isnot "Kitsune")) My eyes have turned jade! -> "ch6-spiritbrand-eyes" <<var $spiritbrandcolor "jade">>\ #show-if ($hairlength isnot "bald") use-if (($spiritbrandcolor isnot $haircolor) and ($race isnot "Kitsune")) My hair has turned $spiritbrandcolor! <<var $spiritbrandloc "hair">>\ #show-if ($hairlength isnot "bald") use-if (($spiritbrandcolor isnot $haircolor) and ($race isnot "Kitsune")) A strip of my hair has turned $spiritbrandcolor! <<var $spiritbrandloc "hairstrip">>\ #show-if (($jadedragonfoundation is true) and ($hairlength isnot "bald")) use-if (($spiritbrandcolor isnot $haircolor) and ($race isnot "Kitsune")) My hair has turned jade! <<var $spiritbrandcolor "jade">>\ <<var $spiritbrandloc "hair">>\ #show-if (($jadedragonfoundation is true) and ($hairlength isnot "bald")) use-if (($spiritbrandcolor isnot $haircolor) and ($race isnot "Kitsune")) A strip of my hair has turned jade! <<var $spiritbrandcolor "jade">>\ <<var $spiritbrandloc "hairstrip">>\ #show-if ($hairlength is "bald") use-if ($hairlength isnot "bald") My hair has turned $spiritbrandcolor! [Impossible, you are bald.] #show-if (($race is "Oni") and ($spiritbrandcolor isnot "red")) My skin has turned $spiritbrandcolor?! -> "ch6-spiritbrand-skin" #show-if (($race is "Oni") and ($spiritbrandcolor is "red")) use-if ($spiritbrandcolor isnot "red") My skin has turned $spiritbrandcolor?! [It's already red] -> "death" #show-if (($race is "Oni") and ($jadedragonfoundation is true)) use-if (($race is "Oni") and ($spiritbrandcolor isnot "red")) My skin has turned jade?! -> "ch6-spiritbrand-skin" <<var $spiritbrandcolor "jade">>\ #show-if (($yokaitrait1 is "wolf ears") or ($yokaitrait1 is "cat ears")) use-if (($spiritbrandcolor isnot $haircolor) and ($race isnot "Kitsune")) The fur of my tail and ears has turned $spiritbrandcolor! -> "ch6-spiritbrand-fur" <<var $spiritbrandloc "tail and ears">>\ #show-if ($jadedragonfoundation is true) use-if ((($yokaitrait1 is "wolf ears") or ($yokaitrait1 is "cat ears")) and (($spiritbrandcolor isnot $haircolor) and ($race isnot "Kitsune"))) The fur of my tail and ears has turned jade! -> "ch6-spiritbrand-fur" <<var $spiritbrandloc "tail and ears">>\ <<var $spiritbrandcolor "jade">>\ #show-if (($race is "Yokai") and (($yokaitrait1 isnot "wolf ears") and ($yokaitrait1 isnot "cat ears"))) use-if (($spiritbrandcolor isnot $haircolor) and ($race isnot "Kitsune")) My tail has turned $spiritbrandcolor! -> "ch6-spiritbrand-fur" <<var $spiritbrandloc "tail">>\ #show-if (($jadedragonfoundation is true) and (($race is "Yokai") and (($yokaitrait1 isnot "wolf ears") and ($yokaitrait1 isnot "cat ears")))) use-if (($spiritbrandcolor isnot $haircolor) and ($race isnot "Kitsune")) My tail has turned jade! -> "ch6-spiritbrand-fur" <<var $spiritbrandloc "tail">>\ <<var $spiritbrandcolor "jade">>\ #show-if ($yokaitrait1 is "horns") My horns have turned $spiritbrandcolor! -> "ch6-spiritbrand-horns" #show-if (($jadedragonfoundation) and ($yokaitrait1 is "horns")) My horns have turned jade! -> "ch6-spiritbrand-horns" <<var $spiritbrandcolor "jade">>\ #show-if ($race is "Kitsune") I have a second tail! -> "ch6-spiritbrand-kitsune" <<var $spiritbrandcolor "">>\ <<var $tails + 1>>\ "Oh." You say, looking at the second Kitsune tail sprouting from your back. "OH!" You exclaim as you realize you're in full view of Kosuke and several other retainers, people who thought you were a Wolf Yokai this whole time. Especially Kosuke, who your family has been lying to FOR LIFE. "Oh n...no..." <<if (($yokaitrait1 isnot "fox ears") or ($yokaitrait2 isnot "sharp fangs"))>>\ Worse, your illusion lost control from your spiritual development and your \ <<if ($yokaitrait1 isnot "fox ears")>>\ fox ears are \ <<if ($yokaitrait2 isnot "sharp fangs")>>\ showing. Hells be damned, even your sharp fangs are showing! <<else>>\ showing. <</if>>\ <<elseif ($yokaitrait2 isnot "sharp fangs")>>\ sharp canine fangs are showing. <</if>>\ <</if>>\ "You uh, you want to tell me \ <<if ($heshe is "he")>>\ something buddy?" \ <<else>>\ something?" \ <</if>>\ Kosuke asks. "Cause you're suddenly not looking very wolfy." "Kosuke, I can explain." You rush to say, both tails twitching in caution behind you. "Oh I'll bet!" Kosuke replies with cheeks held too high, squinting with a fake smile. "So, adopted? Infiltrated the family? Or is it the whole family that didn't trust me?" "It's the whole f-" "OH MY ANCESTORS!" Kosuke shouts, sending the mirror flying overboard. "You are telling me even your parents kept this from me? Even Jin? //Even Rin//, who couldn't lie to save her life?" "In her defense, she did lie to save her life." Kosuke tilts $bffhisher head up and groans into the sky. "I'm not even-" <<cap $bffheshe>> pinches the bridge of $bffhisher nose. "I'm not mad, I'm disappointed. I get it, Kitsune aren't welcome in Thunderfall, but holy shit \ <<if (($heshe is "he") and ($bffheshe is "he"))>>\ man, \ <<elseif (($heshe is "she") and ($bffheshe is "she"))>>\ girl, \ <<else>>\ <<cap $name>>, \ <</if>>\ I robbed the entire Sect and got a death sentence and you still thought I might have snitched?" "Kosuke I swear, it just didn't come up, I was busy fighting for our lives!" "Shhh, hey, hey." Kosuke shushes and puts a hand on your shoulder, eyes empathetic. "I get it. I do. Big lies are hard to unwind, but you've got to understand...I want 9 Shards." "What?" "9 Shards, pay up." Kosuke's other hand holds out for your payment. "You lied to me for 9 years, I want 9 Shards." #show-if ($jadedragonfoundation is true) use-if ($jadedragonfoundation is false) Nothing. [Your power has grown too fast to show no signs] -> "death" #show-if (($jadedragonfoundation is false) and (($style is "Midorikatai") and ($heshe is "he"))) Nothing else. -> "ch6-spiritbrand-done" <<var $spiritbrandcolor "">>\ "Damn, I look //good//." You say in the mirror. <<if (($bffromance gte 1) and ($bffheshe is "she"))>>\ This is normally the part where Kosuke should say "Not that good." and punch you jokingly in the shoulder. You keep examining yourself in the mirror waiting for that line but Kosuke says nothing. Finally you move the mirror out of the way to see her face; she's staring straight down at your crotch. You follow her eyes and see that, huh, everything has grown. You'll need baggier pants. Awesome. "Kosuke?" You say, waving a hand in front of her drooling face. "Kosuke, my eyes are up here." "I made my choice." She replies, eyes locked and face flush. As enticing as the bedroom behind you is, you just woke up from a two day coma and have no idea about the status of your situation. You grab her by the shoulders and pull her in for a kiss on the lips, cup her butt quickly with one large hand, and pull her away. "Later, okay?" Kosuke closes her eyes and relishes the moment. "Mhm. I'm going to go downstairs and get some wine. //For later//." She stumbles woozily towards \ <<else>>\ "Almost as good as me." Kosuke replies. "Almost." "Smooth." You reply back. "Do you think this is because of Midorikatai?" <<if ($bffheshe is "he")>>\ "I'm hoping it's a side effect of that Demonic Gate in Ebikowa so I get beefy too." \ <<else>>\ "I'm hoping it's a side effect of that Demonic Gate in Ebikowa so I can get something too. I mean, not being as ripped as you, it would ruin my perfect tight figure, but something else cool." \ <</if>>\ "Or you can just learn a style like everyone else." <<if ($bffheshe is "he")>>\ "Ancestors, dude, I \ <<else>>\ "Seriously?" She raises on eyebrow. "I amazingly \ <</if>>\ go from being a homeless beggar to having hundreds of Aura Pressure by 20 and you still want more from me?" \ You give $bffhimher a smack in the arm. "//You// should want more from you." \ <<if ($bffheshe is "he")>>\ "Shit man, don't put your obsession on me. Being important looks like a massive burden." \ <<else>>\ "Nice try, //sensei//, but I'm still Laborer Caste. I get to enjoy things while all you Warrior suckers are the ones that have to go fight." \ <</if>>\ Kosuke tosses you the mirror. "I'm heading downstairs to check our wine reserves, don't wait up alright?" \ "Heh, you got it." You reply to the slacker. "I have an entire ship to check on anyway." \ Kosuke heads down \ <</if>>\ the hatch to the rower's level. At the same time, you head up the stairs on the opposite side, up to the platform atop the captain's cabin on the back of the ship. #show-if (($jadedragonfoundation is false) and (($style isnot "Midorikatai") or ($heshe isnot "he"))) use-if ($race isnot "Kitsune") Nothing. -> "ch6-spiritbrand-done" <<var $spiritbrandcolor "">>\ Nothing's changed at all. "Kosuke what are you talking about? There's nothing there. Are you okay?" Only now do you notice Kosuke's bloodshot and dilated eyes. "I may have had some mushrooms from the pantry." <<cap $bffheshe>> admits. "Between drinks." Oh no, not this again. "Were they //stored// in the pantry?" Kosuke looks down at the ground in somber confession. "They were growing out of the floor of the pantry." You take the mirror out of $bffhisher hands and put it back in your cabin. "Go drink some \ <<if ($bffheshe is $heshe)>>\ water, you bum." <<else>>\ water and take a nap." <</if>>\ "That sounds nice." Kosuke says, heading down the hatch to the rower's level. At the same time, you head up the stairs on the opposite side, up to the platform atop the captain's cabin on the back of the ship. <</choose>>

<<script>>console.clear();<</script>>\ <<var $val 0>>\ <<var $val2 0>>\ <<var $temper 0>>\ <<var $cutterjoke false>>\ <<var $fishhelp false>>\ <<var $oneleft false>>\ <<var $koshurt false>>\ <<var $duels 0>>\ <<var $fruitcrate false>>\ <<var $endless false>>\ <<var $nobo false>>\ <<var $lostship false>>\ <<var $gotmeat false>>\ <<var $betamount 100>>\ <<var $qingdiff 0>>\ <<var $recruitedpirates false>>\ <<var $firedhalfswordsmen false>>\ <<var $leonagone 0>>\ <<var $bogone $spareval_7>>\ <<var $spareval_7 0>>\ <<var $fishfactor "">>\ <<var $fishtip false>>\ <<var $swordcasualties 0>>\ <<var $merchdmg 0>>\ /* "Damaged" "Fair" "Helped" */\ <<var $merchopinion "">>\ <<var $shipdiff 0>>\ <<var $winekos false>>\ <<var $gonghurt false>>\ <<var $merchwarn false>>\ <<var $merchorpirate "">>\ <<var $cardhand "">>\ <<var $sumyungai false>>\ <<var $dontmentionsum false>>\ <<var $janken "">>\ <<var $chapter 6>>\ /* Unset chapter 5's temp variables */\ <<unset $cagediff>>\ <<unset $manaclediff>>\ <<unset $stealthdiff>>\ <<unset $shipdamage>>\ <<unset $bloodboost>>\ <<unset $cultists>>\ <<unset $thesecret>>\ <<unset $kosukehelp>>\ <<unset $leonagag>>\ <<unset $bloodsecret>>\ <<unset $leonatortured>>\ <<unset $botortured>>\ <<unset $cj>>\ <<unset $thebluff>>\ <<unset $silentcounter>>\ <<unset $taioknowledge>>\ <<unset $angelodeception>>\ <<unset $angelicblanket>>\ <<unset $seared>>\ <<unset $distraction>>\ <<unset $celldone>>\ <<unset $kold>>\ <<unset $chaindone>>\ <<unset $lostbonus>>\ <<unset $insult>>\ <<unset $oneye>>\ <<unset $manaclefail>>\ <<unset $cagefail>>\ <<unset $insult>>\ <<unset $key>>\ <<unset $potential>>\ <<unset $infused>>\ <div class="fightingfont">Chapter Six</div>\ ''//In which travelers are washed in a sea of troubles,//'' ''//A great Beast makes its presence known,//'' ''//And the journey of thousands reaches its end.//'' As the Heavenly Ascension Trials approach, thousands of prodigies spread their legends on the journey through Outer West. Some come from wealth, others from special bloodlines, and others come from grand prophecies awaiting such a Warrior. One among them, a young $manwoman of Thunderfall, comes from nothing. No grand plan, no grand lineage, and no grand purpose beyond bettering <<print $himher>>self and protecting $hisher family. Yet the threat $heshe presents to the region's prodigies grows with every passing day. The seas to the west hold uncountable dangers. As you enter its aquatic domain, that uncountable number increases by one. <<page "Continue" "ch6-start2">>\

<<timepass>>\ The soft featherbed cradles you as the room gently rocks back and forth like a hammock following the tune of the tide. You don't open your eyes just yet, and instead roll over into some sheets to savor a feeling you haven't felt in years. A familiar sensation from early childhood, a long-lost feeling that lazily drifts through your body. The feeling that you've overslept. <<var $chispent 0>>\ <<var $powspent 0>>\ <<var $forspent 0>>\ <<var $agispent 0>>\ <<var $solspent 0>>\ <<var $wounds 0>>\ ''[All Health, Cores, and Chi Replenished]'' Sweet Ancestors, you've missed this. You roll over and get a big grip on the blankets around you before a spiritual scan sends a shiver between your shoulders. You ignore it and go back to the blankets. Seconds later, another scan runs through your body. Then another. Someone's found out you're awake, and that someone snitched. A groan escapes your lips as you accept the reality that your rest is over. You sit up to see you're in the captain's cabin of one of the ships. A table, treasure chest, dresser, and bed fill the room, all secured to the floor and covered in metal clasps to prevent anything from opening in the waves. A couple of paper lanterns hang lit from the ceiling to show someone has been taking care of you. <<if ($yokaitrait1 is "demon tail")>>\ A cold chill runs up your spine that, unless it was Kosuke, you might have to kill whoever it was if they saw your new demonic tail- No, you realize, your same clothes are still on and soiled from the fight. Thank Hells. Ew, but thank Hells. <</if>>\ <<if (dig($itemkatana_1, 1) gte 2)>>\ As you try to get up something weighs heavily on your hand, as if your dominant arm is dead. You pull the sheet off and look in shock at Muramasa, the cursed blade, still in your grip. It gives off a purple glow as if its spiritual binding were active. <<var $combatstat "soul">>\ <<var $combatskill "craft">>\ <<combatcheck 7>>\ <<if ($passcheck is true)>>\ It's obvious by the raw sensation around your hand and wrist that the blade has been trying to suck the life force out of you ever since it somehow found its way into your bed. Yet your spirit stands firm. It failed. \ <<if ($honor gt 50)>>\ You glare down at the blade in its folly. "Recognize your master quickly, or this will not be pleasant for you." <<else>>\ You lean down until your face is right by the blade's hilt. "Know your place, trash." <</if>>\ The blade remains absolutely silent. <<else>>\ <<aploss 5>>\ <<var $taint + 3>>\ <<var $chispent + 1>>\ ''[1 Chi Point spent]'' Through the pins and needles running through your lifedrained arm you can tell the damned vampiric blade has been sucking out your energy! "Oh you piece of shit." You cuss, drawing the rest of your chi into your other fist and slamming the blade in its side. The sucking sensation dissipates as if the blade knows it's been caught. <</if>>\ "//That's what I// \ <<if ($honor gt 50)>>\ //thought.//" \ <<else>>\ //fucking// \ <<if ($honor lt 44)>>\ //thought, you little bitch.//" \ <<else>>\ //thought.//" \ <</if>>\ <</if>>\ You whisper into its subjugated steel. <<page "Continue" "ch6-start3">>\ <<else>>\ <<include "ch6-start3">>\ <</if>>\

You rise and find a locked box as big as your arm secured to the floor. When you open its top you realize it's a secured chamber pot. //Thank Heavens//. After doing what you must and freshening up you check the wardrobe, seeing \ <<if ($equippedoutfit isnot "")>>\ some fresh outfits stitched up and cleaned, which you don before anyone can- <<else>>\ one of Kosuke's fresh and stolen Thunderfall gi which you don before anyone can- <<if ($equippedoutfit is "")>>\ <<var $equippedoutfit "Thunderfall Combat Gi">>\ <<var $health + 1>>\ <</if>>\ <</if>>\ ''*knock knock*'' Interrupt. "Come in." You say half-heartedly. The door opens. "Honored <<cap $patriarch>>!" An unfamiliar young man announces, barging in wearing a brown sleeveless tunic over white trousers. "It is such a relief to see you recovered. We were all beginning to worry." <<choose "ch6-start4">> #"Why would you be worried?" <<var $ruthless - 1>>\ "Why would you be worried?" You ask. The man hesitantly scratches his nose. "Well, Honored <<cap $patriarch>>, as merely a single of your retainers I cannot speak for everyone else. However, I would wager it is because you did not wake yesterday. Nor did you wake the day before." "Are you telling me I've been asleep for two days? That's..." By the Ancestors, overslept is an understatement. "It doesn't matter. I'm awake now. What's the situation with the crew, the ships, and the events of the past two days?" "Of course Honored <<cap $patriarch>>." The man rises from his bow and looks down at his fingers as he counts. #"Who are you and what are you doing in my room?" -> "ch6-start3-questions" <<var $honor + 1>>\ <<var $val 1>>\ "Who are you and what are you doing in my room?" "I...work for you? Honored <<cap $patriarch>>? You accepted us as Retainers to your Clan, did you not? Your general was quite clear about that." General...? ... Damn it, Kosuke. <<var $sumyungai true>>\ "As to who I am, but a humble carpenter-turned-sailor. My name is Sum Yungai and-" #"Give yourself five lashes for doubting me, //after// explaining the situation." <<var $ruthless + 2>>\ <<var $honor + 1>>\ "Give yourself five lashes for doubting me." You let the command hang in the air for a moment, "//After// explaining the situation." The man's face pales but he nods. "Yes Honored <<cap $patriarch>>. Of course, Honored <<cap $patriarch>>. We-" "Speak to me, not the floor." The man rises from his bow sheepishly and begins counting on his fingers, sweating, to make sure he addresses all issues. <</choose>>

<<choose "ch6-start3-questions2">> #Continue listening. <<var $dontmentionsum true>>\ "-and in \ #"No the fuck it is not." <<var $honor - 1>>\ <<var $ruthless + 1>>\ "No the fuck it is not." #"What is your //real// name?" <<var $honor + 1>>\ "What is your //real// name?" <</choose>>

<<if ($dontmentionsum is false)>>\ You reply on reflex. "Pardon, Honored <<cap $patriarch>>?" The man remains bowed deeply but his head tilts up to you, worry showing in his eyes. "Have I said something wrong?" "You are not some young guy named Some Young \ <<if ($honor lte 40)>>\ Guy. What next, I run into a eunuch swordsman named Richard Cutter?" <<var $cutterjoke true>>\ <<else>>\ Guy." <</if>>\ "I-I apologize, Honored <<cap $patriarch>>, but I cannot choose my Clan or given name. There are a half-dozen other Sums on board who will attest to my naming, my mother included." You stare at him with disappointment more than suspicion and nod for him to rise. "Alright, Yungai, give me the report. What's the situation?" "Of course Honored <<cap $patriarch>>." The man rises with a breath of relief, "In \ <</if>>\ the two days you've been asleep-" "Wait, two //days//?!" "Yes, Honored <<cap $patriarch>>? You did not wake yesterday or the day before. We knew not to trouble your rest after your battle." Sweet ancestors, you think to yourself, oversleeping is an understatement. <<page "What have I missed?" "ch6-start4">>\

<<if ($sumyungai is true)>>\ It's hard to believe you've been out so long, but it's more worrying than surprising. "What have I missed? Were there any attacks? Is the crew okay? What's the status of the ships? Where are we?" Sum Yungai looks down at his fingers to count the questions. "Er, let's see, Honored <<cap $patriarch>>..." The man stats counting on his fingers as he talks. \ <</if>>\ You suspect he's from common stock, but then again, so are you. "The crew is in \ <<if ($retainer_morale gte 55)>>\ high spirits but \ <<elseif ($retainer_morale gte 48)>>\ good spirits but \ <<else>>\ poor spirits. Many lost friends or suffered injuries back in Ebikowa and \ <</if>>\ we are low on food and water. The ships \ <<if ($sparestr_10 is "fire")>>\ have suffered some damage in the mysterious fire before our prison break. \ <<var $sparestr_10 "">>\ <<else>>\ are doing well. \ <</if>>\ As for events, I'm thankful to say there's nothing to report. We have been passed by a few ships but they kept to themselves. A school of fish went by earlier and the men looked everywhere for nets, but all we found was $loot crates of junk best described as 'trade goods'." "Is any of that junk useful?" "A bit, Honored <<cap $patriarch>>, but mostly just the cloth. The rest is flint, tobacco, rubber, ceramics, stuff you'd pass by at a market." Perhaps you've spent too much time focused on the Martial World, because you didn't even consider that people might be trading regular things. You thought for sure there would be something for cultivation in there. "Is that all?" "Yes Honored <<cap $patriarch>>, except...Well, \ <<if ($style is "Kiihakai")>>\ that ravenhaired cult leader \ <<elseif ($style is "Aoyusumu")>>\ that big monk \ <<elseif ($style is "Kurokonton")>>\ that snakeman and his thugs \ <<elseif ($style is "Midorikatai")>>\ that wolfgirl \ <<elseif ($style is "Akakiru")>>\ that blonde woman with the swords \ <</if>>\ asked to see you when you awoke." Hm. So <<cap $fren>>'s still on board. "I'd better not keep \ <<if (($style is "Kurokonton") or ($style is "Aoyusumu"))>>\ him \ <<else>>\ her \ <</if>>\ <<if ($style is "Kiihakai")>>\ waiting. Where is she now?" "At the helm, steering the flagship we're currently aboard." "She's WHAT?!" Your eyes crack open and you grab the man by the shirt. "Tell me, //please// tell me, that Desdemona is not in charge of directions." <<if ($sumyungai is true)>>\ Sum Yungai \ <<else>>\ The man in your clutches \ <</if>>\ hesitates. "Hon-Honored <<cap $patriarch>>, I must point out that she assured us she knew how to get to Nanhou..." "Shit." You drop him and sprint out the Captain Cabin's door. "Shit shit shit shit!" <<else>>\ waiting." <<if ((($style is "Kurokonton") and ($heshe is "she")) and (dig($metguiren, 4) is 2))>>\ Afterall, he owes you a proposal. \ <</if>>\ Plus, you very much want to get a good look at the rest of your new ship...and find a washroom. <</if>>\ <<page "Continue" "ch6-spiritbrand">>\

<<var $combatstat "agility">>\ <<var $combatskill "stealth">>\ <<discount "Kurokonton" 1>>\ <<discount "Darkness" 1>>\ <<if ($merchwarn is true)>>\ ''[Noticed Gong's Needles: +1 Battle Prowess]'' <<var $cmod + 1>>\ <</if>>\ <<combatcheck 9>>\ <<if ($passcheck is true)>>\ Your fist slams into the eunuch's pudgy face. With a sickening crunch of skin and bone his jaw collapses and his body is lifted off its feet by the force applied to his nose. Foreman Gong flies across the deck and slams into the tower of the ship where a large indent forms against the wall. When he slumps to the ground, unmoving, several long needles fall out of his sleeves and several teeth fall out of his mouth. <<var $apval + (3 + $fightbonus)>>\ <<if ($weight gte $chapter)>>\ <<var $apval + 1>>\ <</if>>\ <<apboost $apval>>\ <<else>>\ Both of you act at the same time, Foreman Gong ramming a Bladed Chi needle up while you throw a punch forward. You catch him in the lower jaw and crunch your fist into his pudgy face, wincing as he shoves his needle through your forearm. Its scarlet bladed chi vibrates through your muscle and bone, shredding the flesh. <<woundcheck 2 false false>>\ And no doubt leaving poison in your veins. ''[1 Chi Point Lost]'' ''[2 Fortitude Cores Spent]'' <<var $chispent + 1>>\ <<var $forspent + 2>>\ But you're no rookie. Despite the pain you're not cowed. No, you're enraged. As soon as the needle pierces your skin you adjust your footing and catch him with a second strike from your other arm that connects cleanly with his lower jaw, shattering it and launching his oversized body into the small tower at the center of the ship. You rip his needle out of your arm and toss it overboard as the chi around it dies out. Snarling, you tear a strip of cloth off the shirt of a shocked merchant laborer nearby. \ <<if ((($heshe is "he") and ($ruthless lt 55)) or ($honor gt 50))>>\ He \ <<else>>\ She \ <</if>>\ doesn't even react, too afraid to move as you dress your wound. <<if ($fightbonus gte 1)>>\ <<var $apval fightbonus>>\ <<if ($weight gte $chapter)>>\ <<var $apval + 1>>\ <</if>>\ <<apboost $apval>>\ <</if>>\ <</if>>\ Next you walk over to the ship's rear railing and stare down at the pirates with smug victory. "I accept your offer, Captain Qing!" You shout out across the waters. "Let's see what these fools are hauling." You turn to the rest of the merchant ship's crew and see their stunned, panicking faces as they back away from their surprise assailant. "Well?" You ask. "Are you going to make me bring out your cargo myself? You're being robbed, have some professionalism and go fetch my merchandise." They frantically scatter throughout the ship to bring out your new loot. <<page "Continue" "ch6-strikethegong2">>\

Captain Qing and his men board the lanternship with a series of applause. "Captain Qing did not expect you to be smart!" The pirate calls out as he approaches and offers a hand. You take his forearm in yours in a powerful handshake, a Lunargothic tradition, and wonder where he learned it. "A whip?" Qing offers, withdrawing two from a couple of pirates in his crew behind him. "Qing finds it helps the workers fetch our treasure faster." <<choose "ch6-strikethegong3">> #"Don't mind if I do!" <<var $ruthless + 4>>\ <<var $honor - 1>>\ "Don't mind if I do!" You say with elation, taking the whip and cracking the shit out of Laborers for fun. Ancestors, you really were born in the wrong Caste. Oppressing people is exhilarating. Qing joins in on the fun and, minus the entire local crew who is getting whipped, everyone has a great time. The captain \ #"No." <<var $ruthless - 1>>\ <<var $honor + 1>>\ "No." You reply resolutely, staring the pirate captain down as if daring him to object. "Your loss is my gain." Captain Qing responds, passing the spare whip to another pirate. He \ <</choose>>

and his men spend the next ten minutes going about cracking open crates and barrels as the merchant crew fetches them. Most of the goods are alcohol or strange red rocks with no Aura Pressure, probably useful as jewelry or masonry. Still, there is some coinage from what must have been earlier stops by the ships. Qing kicks a few crates your way. "A pirate earns his share." ''[Item Obtained: 20 Gold]'' <<var $gold + 20>>\ ''[Item Gained: 4 Crates of Loot]'' <<var $loot + 4>>\ When all the goods are sorted through you and Qing both notice that one area was completely ignored. "Not so fast." You say, grabbing a passing merchant by the collar. "None of you have brought the tower's cargo out yet." The man's eyes grow fearful and his face pales. "We-We cannot, Young Master. Opening the cage could be death for us all." "Cage?" You and Qing ask, looking at each other in confusion. You look back to the merchant you're holding. "Show us." <<page "Continue" "ch6-strikethegong4">>\

You, Qing, and the pirate crew with auras all stand in a circle at the top of the lanternship's central tower as four of its crew are forced to pry open the top. As it turns out, the tower is no tower at all but a temporary cell to hold something inside, something that must be truly massive. The top of the 'tower' holds hinges and locks that allows it to be opened as if it were two basement doors. At your and Qing's command, the crew pries open those doors and flees down a pair of ladders. Captain Qing's pirate crew falls silent and Qing himself inhales deeply. You're not sure how you reacted because you're lost in the moment as much as the others when you stare down into the enormous maw of teeth and plated armor coiling around the master of the ship, expanding and retracting as the creature breathes in its sleep. It takes five real seconds for your eyes to adjust to its awkward angle and enormous size to recognize this creature as a Wyrm, an ugly legless dragon-like Beast that tunnels through rock with ease using its mouth as wide as its tunneling body with thousands of teeth. Anyone living in a mountain range has heard of the Wyrms, for every legend of foolhardy mountainous settlements ends in a Wyrm devouring the whole town. To even Advance into a Wyrm a Beast would need an Aura Pressure \ <<if ($jadedragonfoundation is true)>>\ that could challenge even you. <<else>>\ so high that you wouldn't even be able to sense it. You'd just feel pain. <</if>>\ "Why..." Qing whispers to the crew as they freeze on the ladder, eager to flee the sleeping dragon. "Why do you have a Wyrm?" "It's meant for Nanhou, a special order for their Trials." Whispers one of the crewmen. "It's why our crew's Aura Pressure is so low, to not wake the Beast in its dreams. If it awakens in the sea it will attract aquatic Beasts and all will be lost." You look over to the merchant crewman speaking. "How did you contain it?" "It was found comatose in an ore vein of cinnabar," the fearful sailor says, looking down to the collection of red stone you had his fellow crewmen bring to the top deck, "by the grace of the Heavens, the creature appears to have an allergy to the mineral. We feed it small amounts to keep it dormant." Your face turns devious at the same time that Qing's does. You look to the crew below. "Bring me all the cinnabar you have." <<page "Continue" "ch6-strikethegong5">>\

It takes five minutes of swift work but you all manage to cram all the cinnabar on board into different barrels and hand them off to Captain Qing's crew. You and Qing take a barrel of your own and all of you ascend to the top of the Wyrm's cage together. Without countdown or ceremony you all dump the cinnabar into abyssal maw of the enormous Beast. A low rumble comes from the massive Beast coiled around the mast by five stories, three above and two below, and its throat of teeth slowly closes down on the piles of red stone. Everyone around you begins to sweat. You wonder if your plan worked. The Beast doesn't bleed internally or have its throat close up like you hoped. Seconds more pass and no signs of weakness or reaction come at all, but soon enough you realize your mistake. It's not that the creature shows no reaction, it's that it shows no action at all. Its breathing had stopped and you were too lost in suspense to notice. The creature's heart must have seized up almost instantly. Minutes pass and you risk a spiritual scan, finding not one enormous dormant aura but three strong ones throughout the cage. Soul Treasure Cores inside the creature's body. If you can sense the Soul Treasure cores but not the Beast's aura, then that means the Wyrm really is dead. Qing bursts out into laughter. "A stolen victory, the best kind!" He hops down onto the Wyrm and grips one of its many fangs. "Yesss, a treasure worthy of Qing! This meat shall serve his crew well! And the Cores, by the Hells, the Cores!" He looks over to you, hungrily. "Qing's Cores..." "Don't even think about it." You say, flaring $auracolor energy around you. "Hmph." Qing responds as if you ruined his fun. He rubs his chin thoughtfully. "Such Soul Treasures are rare at this time, Qing is fortunate this Beast has enough to split or we would have to fight." He snaps his fingers four times and four of his crew drop their sabers on the ground. "Your share is one of the Beast's cores, yet Qing has use for each. If you leave your share, Qing offers you these blades. Each is a refined lesser treasure that can strengthen your allies, though the likes of you and Qing have grown above such weak Soul Treasures." One potent Soul Treasure, or four that can help your allies... "Or-" Qing adds in as he sees you lost in thought. "A true captain's hat." He removes his black leather tricorn hat with the top half of a red bandana sewn into the lining, so the bandana shows just underneath the rim to wrap around your head and hang down one shoulder. <<if ($honor gt 50)>>\ It's rather aesthetic. <<else>>\ Damn, you think to yourself, that's a nice hat. <</if>>\ <<choose "ch6-strikethegong6">> #"The Soul Treasure is the only irreplaceable thing here." "I'll take the Soul Treasure." You reply resolutely. <<rand $wyrmtrophy 2200 2600>>\ ''[Item Gained: Wyrm Soul Treasure ($wyrmtrophy AP)]'' <<if ($subrace is "Reptile")>>\ ''[Reptile Yokai Event: +10% to Wyrm Soul Treasure AP]'' <<var $wyrmtrophy Math.round($wyrmtrophy * 1.1)>>\ <</if>>\ "Hah! Good choice, strengthening your crew too much only leads to mutiny. The Captain must always come first." #"How in the world did you expect me to say no to a pile of glowing swords?" "How in the world did you expect me to say no to a pile of glowing swords?" You think of how many people are under your banner now and how much this can help \ <<if ((($heshe is "he") or ($style is "Akakiru")) or ($style is "Kurokonton"))>>\ them. More importantly, you think of how cool it is to have a pile of swords. <<else>>\ them. <</if>>\ ''[Item Gained: Weapon Crate - Weak Soul Treasure Blades (4)]'' <<var $weaponcrate + 4>>\ Qing snickers and snaps his fingers, signaling a nearby lackey of his to slide the crate over to you. Sifting through reveals that sure, most of these Soul Treasure enhancements are junk that are weaker than your normal attacks, but Qing either forgot or didn't mention one absolute beauty: a green blade with all of its power put to use. Unlike the other swords, where their Soul Treasures are used to artificially inflate the damage of their attacks (and not even up to the level of your fists), this jade blade's Soul Treasure feels like it's more contained. As if its power is thrumming out in small doses, at all times. It reminds you of when you spiritually scan places. <<if ($itemjian is 100000000)>>\ <<var $itemjian 211030000>>\ ''[Item Gained: Insight-Enhancing Jade Jian]'' <<elseif ($itemkatana is 100000000)>>\ <<var $itemkatana 211030000>>\ ''[Item Gained: Insight-Enhancing Jade Katana]'' <</if>>\ "A deal is struck!" Qing announces as you marvel at the jade weapon. "That leaves more power for Qing!" #"The hat. Give me the precious hat." -> "ch6-qinghat" #show-if (($element1 is "Light") or ($element2 is "Light")) use-if ((($chipool + ($soul/2)) - $chispent) gte 1) "I'll take the blades." And use an illusion to take a Soul Treasure. [Requires Light, Costs 1 Chi] "I'll take the blades." You reply, collecting the swords in a bundle. ''[1 Chi Point Spent]'' <<var $chispent + 1>>\ ''[Item Gained: Weapon Crate (4)]'' <<var $weaponcrate + 4>>\ <<var $val 737>>\ "Good!" Qing replies. "That leaves more power for Qing!" #show-if (($element1 is "Light") or ($element2 is "Light")) use-if ((($chipool + ($soul/2)) - $chispent) gte 1) "I'll take the hat." And use an illusion to take a Soul Treasure. [Requires Light, Costs 1 Chi] -> "ch6-qinghat" <<var $val 737>>\ <<var $chispent + 1>>\ ''[1 Chi Point Spent]'' <</choose>>

He stares at his pirates as if leaving a threat on the air, then turns back to you. "You are an ally of Captain Qing, and this has gone better than Qing ever expected, but two Captains cannot exist on the same ship. It is time for you to leave." "Agreed." You say, shaking the man's hand again. "My own crew is probably wondering where I \ <<if (($race is "Yokai") or ($race is "Kitsune"))>>\ am. By the way, I'll expect some of that meat." Qing looks down at the dead Wyrm. "There's plenty to go around." You roll your eyes, why did you expect a pirate to do any work? With a slash of \ <<if (((((((((($equippedweapon is "Tanto")) or ($equippedweapon is "Katana")) or ($equippedweapon is "Muramasa")) or ($equippedweapon is "Greataxe")) or ($equippedweapon is "Qiang")) or ($equippedweapon is "Kunai")) or ($equippedweapon is "Jian")) or ($equippedweapon is "Iceblade")) or ($equippedweapon is "Chiblade"))>>\ <<if ($equippedweapon isnot "Muramasa")>>\ your $equippedweapon \ <<else>>\ Muramasa \ <</if>>\ <<elseif ($style is "Akakiru")>>\ Bladed Chi \ <<else>>\ hastily condensed chi \ <</if>>\ you swipe a few slabs of meat from the inside of the Beast's throat to get around its armor. It will be tough meat, but great for your $race constitution. <<apboost 16>>\ <<var $gotmeat true>>\ When you're done eating directly in front of everyone Qing grins in approval. "If you're done slobbering on Qing's deck then go, \ <<elseif ($roc gte 1)>>\ <<var $gotmeat true>>\ am. Also, I'm going to need some of the meat from the Wyrm." You add, taking a cut from the inside behind a tooth. Thick throat meat. Ew. Qing shakes his head. "If you're done slobbering on Qing's deck then go, \ <<else>>\ am." Qing grins. "Go then, <</if>>\ and may this harsh bitch of a sea never notice you plunder her depths." Weird expression, but you let it go. "Thanks, you too." <<if ($val is 737)>>\ You make an appearance of leaving and walk by his crew as they slash their sabers into the Wyrm corpse. To onlookers you merely whistle in appreciation, but a Light illusion hides your real-self swiping the first Soul Treasure they pull out and replacing it with a scale that you fill full of temporary power. It'll wear off soon, but not until you've escaped. As you return to stand where your illusion stands you look down on the amber shining scale in your hand with nothing short of prideful avarice. It's almost too easy. <<rand $wyrmtrophy 2200 2600>>\ ''[Item Gained: Wyrm Soul Treasure ($wyrmtrophy AP)]'' <<if ($subrace is "Reptile")>>\ ''[Reptile Yokai Event: +10% to Wyrm Soul Treasure AP]'' <<var $wyrmtrophy Math.round($wyrmtrophy * 1.1)>>\ <</if>>\ <</if>>\ <<var $qingstatus "Ally">>\ With that the two of you go your separate ways, Qing sailing off in the lantern junkship and you leaping off to your own flagship that's been waiting patiently to find out what the hell happened. <<page "Continue" "ch6-strikethegong7">>\

''[1 Dhow Ship Acquired!]'' <<var $shipcount + 1>>\ ''[12 Retainers Acquired!]'' <<var $retainers + 12>>\ "What the hell happened?" Asks Kosuke as you land. \ <<if (($merchopinion is "Damaged1") or ($merchopinion is "Damaged2"))>>\ "I've spent the last ten minutes swimming around in the dark, \ <<else>>\ "I've spent this entire time standing out in the cold wind keeping my aura up, \ <</if>>\ tell me we got something out of it!" Leona and Bo are on the top of the deck as well, Bo's hair is \ <<if (($merchopinion is "Damaged1") or ($merchopinion is "Damaged2"))>>\ soaked \ <<else>>\ a mess \ <</if>>\ but Leona looks refreshed, like she's spent the last five minutes applying makeup. "A lot." You reply, dragging a nearby crate over and \ <<if ($weaponcrate gt 0)>>\ shoving your new collection of swords into it. <<else>>\ stashing your ill-gotten gains inside. <</if>>\ "Oooh, 'a lot' looks profitable." Leona says, peeking into the crate with a hungry smile. "I should do 'a lot' sometime." The crew parts as Bo steps through and comes within an inch of you. He looks angry, as you can easily tell when he looks \ <<if (($bodytype is "Petite") or ($bodytype is "Manlet"))>>\ into your eyes, probably thankful that you're the only person short enough to be eye-level with him. \ <<else>>\ glares up to your eyes. \ <</if>>\ "Our ship nearly capsizes, you disappear for far too long, and we're supposed to sit here without an explanation?" He spits on the ground to the side. "We are owed a report." <<choose "ch6-pre-continue">> #Sigh. "Fine, the ship that nearly hit us got attacked. I sided with the attackers." A prolonged sigh is your only response at first, staring up at the night sky to not be looking in Bo's stupid face. Fucking Bo, always testing you. "Fine." You finally let out. "The ship that nearly hit us got attacked. I sided with the attackers and this is my share of the spoils." "Oh." Bo replies, shoulders loosening and walking away. "That's it?" You ask as he opens the hatch to go back below deck. "Of course." Bo replies. "They inconvenienced us and you made them pay, I don't see a problem." <<var $borep + 2>>\ Leona pouts and lets out an exaggerated whimper. "I was hoping he'd commit a mutiny." Kosuke pats a hand on her shoulder. "Better luck next time." You clear your throat to attract the crew's attention. \ #//Owed?// I think not. "Overseer, give Bo five lashes." Bo Lo thinks he can question you on your own ship? It's time to remind him you're not in Thunderfall Village anymore. "Overseer, give Bo five lashes." You command. Everyone's quiet for a moment and you realize Bo has been your crew's overseer. Shit. Aw, shit. Damn it. You were this close to asserting your authority and now you look like an idiot. Thinking quickly, you... <<if ($persuasion gte 3)>>\ ''[Persuasion 3 Check Passed]'' <<var $powexp + 1>>\ Lean closer and glare back into Bo's eyes. "Well, overseer? That was a command." Bo looks from you to the rest of the crew and back, then nods. He leaves down below deck and you hold a hand for silence among the crew, listening for the sounds of whipcracks. ''*CRACK*'' ''[Prestige Increased]'' <<var $prestige + 1>>\ Satisfying. <<else>>\ ''[Persuasion 3 Check Failed]'' <<var $powexp + 1>>\ Power up your $auracolor aura with enough intensity to push most back, but an aura flaring is still just an aura flaring, not a real attack. Bo Lo, being a mediochre Martial Artist and being prepared for confrontation, doesn't move an inch. <<var $retainer_morale - 2>>\ He does lower his gaze, winning you the argument, but it feels hollow as he leaves below deck. You clear your throat and address the crew around you. \ <</if>>\ #show-if ($weaponcrate gt 0) Think of a distraction. "Who wants swords?" [Give a sword to Kosuke and Bo.] "More importantly than that stupid question is..." With all eyes on you asking what you've been up to, and what you've been up to is //crime//, you pull the crate of swords in front of you and crack it back open with a smile. "Who wants swords?!" "YES!" Kosuke and Leona shout, reaching in and grabbing a pair. You're absolutely taking Leona's back later, that girl has more swords than most villages have people, but Kosuke probably needs one more than you do. You also take one out and toss it to Bo, who is looking at you with even more suspicion than ever. ''[Lost 2 Soul Treasure Blades]'' <<var $weaponcrate - 2>>\ ''[Kosuke's Combat Prowess Increased!]'' <<var $kosukecombat + 1>>\ <<var $metkosuke + 10000000>>\ <<var $bocombat + 1>>\ Bo catches the blade by the handle and analyzes it. "So you acquired this on the ship, is that what you're saying?" Bo Lo asks, sensing out the Aura Pressure of the Soul Treasure inside. "This is too weak for me though, I might as well scrap it down." "TAKE THIS!" Kosuke hollers, swinging $bffhisher sword at Bo's blade. Bo leaps back and swats Kosuke's attack aside in shocked irritation. "You dare?!" The \ <<if ($bffheshe is "he")>>\ smaller man \ <<else>>\ Thunderfall Martial Artist \ <</if>>\ shouts. "If you wish to die, then-" he's forced to defend himself as Kosuke activates the white aura of $bffhisher Soul Treasure blade and swings again. "Come on Bo!" Kosuke shouts as the two leap away from the crew in melee. "Quit being a loser and have some fun with the new toys!" Bo catches Kosuke's swing and kicks $bffhimher in the stomach, sending your friend tumbling across the deck. "These are not toys!" "Yes they are!" Shouts Leona, who somehow snuck onto the railing of the upper deck's platform. "I've got plenty of healing elixirs so stop being a bitch and live a little! Show me some blood!" Bo looks from Leona to you, then to Kosuke who is rising off the floor and holding $bffhisher blade out again with a smirk. You give Bo the nod of approval, you did just give them swords after all. <<var $borep + 6>>\ A fraction of a smile forms on the chronically annoyed Bo Lo and he raises his own sword at Kosuke. "Fine. But don't blame me if you get hurt." The crew breaks out into hoots and hollers, quickly running up to join Leona at the upper platform. You stay on the main deck to oversee the fight. \ <<if ($kosukecombat gte 6)>>\ To Kosuke's credit, $bffheshe actually puts up a good show until Bo Lo starts using his Wild Chi. Eventually the swings grow too heavy and Kosuke gets flipped, tripped, and nearly stripped when two close calls cut $bffhisher shirt shoulders. When $bffheshe finally gets disarmed you call the battle to an end. \ <<else>>\ Sometimes you forget Bo Lo has actually trained in the Martial Arts from a young age and Kosuke has not, but this fight certainly outlines the difference. Poor Kosuke gets beaten with the flat of the blade so much that Leona even takes notes at one point. \ <</if>>\ When it's all over Kosuke gives a thumbs up from the ground and everyone heads back to their duties, seeming to actually have a bit of fun. <<var $retainer_morale + 4>>\ <<var $bffrep + 2>>\ An unexpected but welcomed side effect, considering you were only handing out swords so they'd stop investigating all the crimes you just committed against the Thousand Lantern Sect. By this point Captain Qing's new lanternship has begun to disappear over the horizon to the west and you decide it's time to disappear yourself, getting everyone back to work sailing south. Nanhou awaits. <<page "Continue" "ch6-nextday">>\ <</choose>>

You pass by several gossiping crowds on your way to the tavern. From what you can gather, many of the Martial Artists docked in Harehama are worried about a group called the "Callous Armada" that has been seen sailing from Outer South with over a hundred ships in its fleet. No one mentions anything about attacks, but all reports say they're heading to Nanhou. One woman even says their leader passed away immediately after the Heavenly Ascension Trials were declared, leaving everything to one of his sons. A son under twenty-five. <<page "Continue" "ch6-tavern2">>\

<<if ($val is 898)>>\ Wrenching yourself forward, away from the blade, elicits screams of pain up and down your body as its extracted from your organs. You lean all the way forward until its out and then twist to turn around, gripping the wrist holding the weapon before its owner can get away. \ With one mighty pull you wrench the man through the wall to see \ <</if>>\ Guiren, the lizard yokai from the tavern incident with Desdemona. "You're a dead-!" He screams in anger until you punch him right between his green dragon eyes, knocking him back through the wall. Another presence triggers in your senses and you turn to find a sixth shinobi with knife held overhead in the washroom doorway. You see him before he can move. He sees you seeing him. In an instant you reach forward for his neck and squeeze. Something slips in your hand. You look down to see not the facecloth of a shinobi, but a pair of black pants. In confusion, you look back up to see the man's hairy legs while he runs for his life. "Guiren you asshole!" The shinobi screams as he flees into the main dining hall, naked below the waist. "You said $hisher guard would be down in the washroom!" "//Obviously// I was wrong, idiot!" A pained voice shouts back from somewhere outside, the nasal tone implying you broke his nose. "Retreat to the hideout!" <<page "Continue" "ch6-tavern-attacked2">>\

<<if ($val is 898)>>\ Injured, poisoned, \ <<else>>\ Covered in splinters, \ <</if>>\ annoyed, and //not even done using the washroom yet//, you pull your own pants back on and stomp angrily to your retainers' table. "We're leaving, everyone keep your guard up." You \ <<if ($val is 898)>>\ announce, stoically bleeding onto the table. \ <<else>>\ announce. \ <</if>>\ "We're under attack by assassins." The retainers freeze mid-meal and mid-story, then look at you to determine if you're serious. "Very well, Honored <<cap $patriarch>>." One finally says. "Shall we stick around Bo Lo so he becomes the primary target?" "I'd like that." You reply. These guys are alright. You venture out to town to see what else needs doing. Guiren may be an opportunist, but you've shown he's not going to have an opportunity at you even at your worst. He'll have to wait for the Trials if he wants another chance. <<if ($val isnot 898)>>\ Not that it will do him any good. <<var $powexp + 2>>\ <</if>>\ <<var $val 0>>\ <<page "Continue" "ch6-town">>\

<<choose "ch6-tavern-job2">> #"I'm listening." A job? A //criminal// job? They've certainly got your attention. <<var $honor - 3>>\ "I'm listening." You reply. "That's a first." The oni in the back says. #"Your men need better manners, I could have killed that one." <<var $honor + 1>>\ "Your men need better manners," you say, pointing a thumb back at Wencheng, "I could have killed that one." "We'd be better off if you did." Says an Oni in the back. #"Not interested." <<var $honor + 3>>\ <<var $sect_hiddencoil - 5>>\ <<var $metguiren + 100000>>\ "Not interested." You reply, turning away from five potentially murderous assassins and walking down the hallway to the dining room of the tavern. You reach your seat without issue and finish your tea, then take off back to town before any more interruptions try to find you with your pants down. The nerve of some people. <<page "Continue" "ch6-town">>\ #show-if ($heshe is "she") Hmm...Cute, yes, but too forward. Better play coy. "I charge high rates you know, it's clear as day that you can't afford me" -> "ch6-tavern-job-extort" <<var $guirenrep + 4>>\ <<var $guirenromance + 1>>\ <<if ($guirenromance is 1)>>\ <<var $guirenromance + 1>>\ <</if>>\ You look up to the corner in thought and give a long 'hmmm' then turn back to the yokai with a smile. "Nope." His face snaps back a half inch as if you'd flicked him. "Nope? That's it, just nope?" You give a short shrug. "I charge high rates you know, it's clear as day that you can't afford me." "Guiren probably wishes he could," says one of the Human shinobi, "if you know what I-" he drops to the ground and starts groaning about the kunai that just entered his shoulder. "AHEM." Guiren says. "Our Boss has some inventory we can let loose. Name your price." <</choose>>

<<choose "ch6-tavern-job3">> #Common Poison and 100 Shards. <<var $abduction "poison">>\ "You're ninjas so I'll want poisons of course." You start. "Naturally." Guiren replies with a confident smirk. "//And// Shards, one hundred of them." You add. Guiren is no longer smirking. He looks to his men and back to you. "Deal, but I'd better see results for that kind of money or Boss will have all our heads." You smile back. "I'm always worth it. So what's the job actually entail?" #One of each Core Replenishment Pill. -> "ch6-extort-pills" "I want one of each Core Replenishment Pill." You say. "The Trials are coming up and I need resources more than money." #150 Shards. "I only need a small payment of 150 Shards." You reply. "I'm sure a big and strong group of men like you can afford it easily, right?" <<if ($persuasion gte 1)>>\ <<var $abduction "150">>\ ''[Persuasion 1 Check Passed]'' <<include "ch6-extort-win">>\ <<else>>\ ''[Persuasion 1 Check Failed]'' <<include "ch6-extort-brokeboy">>\ <<page "Continue" "ch6-town">>\ <</if>>\ #225 Shards. "I only need a small payment of 225 Shards." You reply. "I'm sure a big and strong group of men like you can afford it easily, right?" <<if ($persuasion gte 3)>>\ <<var $abduction "225">>\ ''[Persuasion 3 Check Passed]'' <<include "ch6-extort-win">>\ <<else>>\ ''[Persuasion 3 Check Failed]'' <<include "ch6-extort-brokeboy">>\ <<page "Continue" "ch6-town">>\ <</if>>\ #300 Shards. "I only need a small payment of 300 Shards." You reply. "I'm sure a big and strong group of men like you can afford it easily, right?" <<if ($persuasion gte 4)>>\ <<var $abduction "300">>\ ''[Persuasion 4 Check Passed]'' <<include "ch6-extort-win">>\ <<else>>\ ''[Persuasion 4 Check Failed]'' <<include "ch6-extort-brokeboy">>\ <<page "Continue" "ch6-town">>\ <</if>>\ <</choose>>

You approach the friendly serving girl with a wave of your hand. "Excuse me!" You say, calling her over to you. In truth, your hand holds a sliver of \ <<if ($style is "Aoyusumu")>>\ cerulean Sacred Chi \ <<else>>\ pink Kitsune Chi \ <</if>>\ that you wash over her eyes, soaking your mental will into her mind. As she approaches, you verbalize the command to drive it home. "I need you to //put this herbal remedy in the tea//, for my friends of course." <<var $taint + 2>>\ "Of course!" The serving girl exclaims happily, taking your reasoning as an excuse to wash away any inhibitions. "Just one moment please!" She takes the sleeping drug out of your hands and heads to the back room at a casual pace. After a minute you sit down with the rest of your crew to act casual and wait for the results. "Honored <<cap $patriarch>>, can I offer you more tea?" Asks one of your retainers. "No thank you." You say with a straight face, casually listening in on the conversation and waiting out your moment to see if the plan works. If everything went well, one of these patrons should be falling unconscious after their next refill. <<page "Thirty minutes later..." "ch6-tavern-job6">>\

Guiren closes his eyes in irritation. "Yoji, I swear to the Hells, one more line and I'm putting you on inventory duty for a month." The Oni closes his mouth. "As I was saying," Guiren continues, "we apologize for Wencheng's stupidity. The truth is, we have an important debt collection to perform and it's not going to be pretty. Someone didn't pay, so now they're the payment. We've been following our target for days and finally had this tavern squared off without any Upper Disciples or dangerous Trialgoers inside. It was all going according to plan, then you walked in. A witness with a high Aura Pressure." Guiren scratches the back of his head. "I'll be honest, if you decide to play hero we can't fend you off without drawing attention, so we want to hire you instead." "What's the mission entail?" You ask, \ <<if ($ruthless lt 47)>>\ skeptical right from the start. <<elseif ($honor lt 43)>>\ always available for crime. <<else>>\ trying to gauge just how bad these people really are. <</if>>\ <<include "ch6-tavern-job3">>\

Guiren clears his throat and corrects his collar. "A stealth mission. We need someone to slip the mother of all sleep elixirs into the tavern's tea." He gives a concerned squint. "Everyone's tea. Our target can change his appearance and knows we're onto him so he's being paranoid. We have to cast a wide net." "I'm not drugging //everyone's// tea!" You shout back. "My crew is drinking it, and I'd make enemies of Sects and Martial Artists for no reason." "Don't worry about it." Guiren says with a wave of the hand. He walks to the door and wraps his dragontail around the doorknob, then pulls it open so he has a door to lean against. You think it's for dramatic effect. "The Boss gave us a special talisman we used on the sleeping drug, chi sorcery stuff. Now it only works on targets that owe him money and haven't paid, some sort of Justice-based enchantment." "What happens when the tea does its work?" Guiren points his thumbs to the side, at two of the shinobi. "Two of my men put on their stolen Windrising uniforms and remove him from the tavern." "And then?" He sighs through his nose. "We sell him to a silver mine so he can work off his debt. The target's a full grown adult who took out a huge debt to buy resources for the Heavenly Ascension Trials. He plans to win and never pay us back once he's untouchable. Dishonorable scheme, dishonorable \ <<if ($abduction is "")>>\ fate. Your cut is 80 Shards and a vial of poison." <<else>>\ fate." <</if>>\ <<choose "ch6-tavern-job4">> #A job's a job. "Give me the sleeping drug." <<var $honor + 2>>\ The details don't sound too outlandish. A criminal is being apprehended, a standard procedure. Whether the Imperial Government puts him to work in a prison or a debtor puts him to work in a mine, it's all the same fate for breaking a deal. "I'm in." You say. "Give me the sleeping drug." Guiren claps his hands together once in excitement. "Alright! I knew we picked the right $manwoman. Someone give him the drug." #"Let me get this straight, you're //paying// me to knock out a tough part of the Trials competition? Damn Guiren, that's all you had to say!" <<var $ruthless + 2>>\ <<var $honor - 1>>\ "Let me get this straight," You say, "You're all //paying// me to knock out a tough part of the Trials competition? I'm not paying you for that?" Guiren nods slowly. "That's correct." "Damn, Guiren, that's all you had to say! Let's get this guy into a silver mine and out of my way." Guiren smiles. "I knew you were a kindred \ <<if ($race is "Oni") and ($heshe is "she")>>\ spirit." "Spirit?" You ask, suddenly looking upset, "Is that supposed to be some jab at Oni?" "Yes." "Relax," you say with a smirk before you realize what he said. "I'm messing with-WHAT?!" "Relax." Guiren says with a smirk. "I'm messing with you." \ <<else>>\ spirit." \ <</if>>\ He snaps his fingers twice. "Now someone give $himher the drug." #"I appreciate you guys giving me a heads up, but I can't get involved in this." <<var $ruthless - 3>>\ <<var $metguiren + 100000>>\ "I appreciate you guys giving me a heads up," You reply, "but I can't get involved in this." Guiren sulks for a moment, then looks back to you. "Understood. You go your ways and we'll go ours." You nod and leave the room slowly, exposing your back to five ninjas as you leave down the hall. Fortunately none of them try to make a move. You make it back to your retainers without issue, telling them not to try the tea anymore and that it's best if you all leave. <<page "Continue" "ch6-town">>\ #"Forget it, I don't work with slavers. Leave. Now." <<var $honor + 1>>\ <<var $ruthless - 1>>\ <<var $guirenrep - 5>>\ <<var $sect_hiddencoil - 5>>\ <<var $metguiren + 100000>>\ "Forget it," you say with scorn, "I don't work with slavers." Your $auracolor aura releases around your body, unsettling the furniture around the room. "Leave. Now." Guiren holds his hands up. "Message received. Come on men." Wencheng shakes his head. "I don't see why, I think we can take $himher." The five of them leave out the window immediately after while Wencheng complains about the black eye Guiren just gave him. You return to your retainers and suggest they don't try the tea anymore. After a few minutes of sharing stories, you leave to see what the rest of the town has to offer. <<page "Continue" "ch6-town">>\ <</choose>>

One of the Human shonobi hands you an opium pipe. Guiren takes it back out of your hands, shoves it against the Human's chest, and draws a vial from the man's belt that he hands to you. "Hold on." You pause. "If I'm doing all this work, what are you guys doing?" "The entire rest of the job." Yoji replies. "Do you think this person gets to the silver mine by magic? And that the Binder's Bands came from nowhere? And that tracking the target across Outer West worked out instantaneously? And the sleeping drug refined itself?" Guiren gives you a sympathetic look. "He's right for once, that was a question I'd expect from one of these idiots." <<page "Continue" "ch6-tavern-job5">>\

You exit the boarding wing of the tavern and return to the dining hall with the vial of sleeping drug in your hand. Your retainers spot you and wave; you wave back but motion for them to return to their business. There's work to be done before you can relax. Most tavern kitchens boil a single massive cauldron of water for their continuous tea servings, so it's the obvious choice, but how to get the drug in that cauldron is a different matter entirely. You ponder your options and decide to... <<choose "ch6-tavern-job6">> #Sneak it into the kitchen's boiling waterpot. Nothing to it but to do it. If you need this vial placed into the tea cauldron then you're simply going to put it there. When no one is looking you jump over the dining hall's bar and slip into the kitchen in the \ <<if ($stealth gte 3)>>\ back and stay low to the floor, witnessing two chefs in the cramped kitchen. One is cutting meat, the other is guzzling water from his own pitcher. A skilled $manwoman may be able to sneak into the middle of the room without the two of them noticing, but an //adept// $manwoman knows not to even try. ''[Stealth 3 Check Passed]'' You withdraw a piece of paper from your pocket and fold it into a temporary cup, pour the vial's contents inside, then folder over the top. Then you throw the paper-vial into the cauldron before it can turn soggy and fall apart. It lands in the cauldron, the paper sinks to the bottom, and the contents release into the water. Mission complete. One minute later you're back at the longtable with your retainers, casually listening to their stories and declining on any tea. Any minute now one of the Martial Artists in the dining hall should be falling unconscious after their next refill, it's only a matter of time. <<page "Thirty minutes later..." "ch6-tavern-job6">>\ <<else>>\ back- ''[Stealth 3 Check Failed]'' <<var $metguiren + 300000>>\ "Hey, what are you doing?" Asks one of the Martial Artists behind you. A dozen spiritual scans slam into your aura as a few men rise out of their seats, glaring. One of them, an enormously tall man with a shabby beard, speaks up before you can answer. "<<cap $heshe>>'s trying to steal the pork buns before they can get to us!" "GET <<capall $himher>>!" Screams another. Before you can even explain that they're charging after you for the wrong reason, you're stuck running for your life from half the traveling Martial Artists in town. You dash to the side to dodge a flying chair and run along the wall to get over a man drawing his sword. A grappler leaps at you and you're forced to duck his arms while sliding underneath, right towards a low-crouching monk aiming a staff at your face. You tumble to the side and leap for the door, kicking an oni in mid-air to keep his glowing hands at bay. Immediately after landing you open the door, which barely blocks five throwing stars that were coming for your head, and sprint out into town. They follow you. ''[Agility EXP Increased]'' <<var $agiexp + 5>>\ Ten minutes later you're panting in the shadows of an alleyway between two shops, finally losing the maddened diners, when you hear a "pst" from above. Looking up reveals Guiren on the rooftop of the cobbler's. "We missed our chance and the target got away." He hisses from the rooftop. "What the Hells happened?!" You look up and slowly shake your head at him. "Those guys //really// like pork buns." <<page "Continue" "ch6-town">>\ <</if>>\ #Convince a serving girl to do it for you. "Excuse me." You say, flagging the serving girl down from the tavern room hallway leading to the dining hall. "Excuse me, over here please." The serving girl's face twists up as she squints at you, but she comes running over after a weak spiritual scan detects your Aura Pressure. "Yes, Young \ <<if ($heshe is "he")>>\ Master? \ <<else>>\ Mistress? \ <</if>>\ How can this humble servant aid you today?" "I have a complaint about the tea, actually." You reply, withdrawing the sleeping elixir. "It needs more herbal additions, or I simply cannot enjoy my meal." "That is most unfortunate, Young \ <<if ($heshe is "he")>>\ Master, \ <<else>>\ Mistress, \ <</if>>\ but could you not add this herbal concoction to your tea cup?" "That won't do." You reply. "It needs the iron from the cauldron's lining. This must be added to the tea's cauldron or not at all." <<var $val $persuasion>>\ <<if ($style is "Midorikatai") and ($heshe is "he")>>\ ''[Midorikatai Bonus: Massive Bodytype]'' <<var $val + 1>>\ <</if>>\ <<if ($bodytype is "Handsome")>>\ ''[Handsome Bodytype Check Passed]'' <<var $val + 1>>\ <</if>>\ <<if ($honor lte 50)>>\ ''[Honor Check Passed]'' <<var $val + 1>>\ <</if>>\ <<if ($val gte 3)>>\ ''[Persuasion 3 Check Passed]'' "Well..." The serving girl says, taking the vial in her hands. "I suppose there aren't any rules against it. I'll be back at your table with a fresh cup shortly." You return to the longtable where your retainers are seated and wait for the results while glancing at all the patrons and Martial Artists in the tavern. If all goes well, one of them will fall unconscious after their tea's next refill. <<page "Thirty minutes later..." "ch6-tavern-job6">>\ <<else>>\ ''[Persuasion 3 Check Failed]'' <<var $metguiren + 300000>>\ "I see." The serving girl says, nodding in thought. "So you want me to PUT THIS IN EVERYONE'S TEA, IS THAT RIGHT?" Several scans immediately slam into your aura as Martial Artists in the dining hall rise to see what's going on. "Mission abort!" Wencheng screams from behind a nearby door. "Everyone out the window!" Guiren shouts. You hear the sound of glass breaking and sigh. Time to get out of here before she gives your description to the guards. You sprint away from the serving girl and turn into Guiren's old room, leaping through the same window and disappearing into the town's crowd. <<page "Continue" "ch6-town">>\ <</if>>\ #show-if ($style is "Aoyusumu") Mind-control a serving girl to do it for you. -> "ch6-tavern-job-mind" This is certainly not why Angelo taught you the Style of the Saints, and it //certainly// defies the ways of the Devanic Temple, but Angelo did ditch you. The way you see it, you're showing him why that's a bad idea by turning to a life of crime and manipulating the unassuming minds of the \ <<if ($angeloromance gte 1)>>\ peasantry. Next time he'll stick around more. <<else>>\ peasantry. <</if>>\ #show-if (($style isnot "Aoyusumu") and ($race is "Kitsune")) Mind-control a serving girl to do it for you. Mother and Father would certainly not want you risking the exposure of your true nature by using your internal Kitsune chi to control the minds of the peasants. They also just wouldn't want you controlling the minds of the peasants. That being said, they're not here and you already have two tails. Heavens, what a difference three years can make. #use-if ((($element1 is "Light") or ($element2 is "Light")) and ((($chipool + ($soul/2)) - $chispent) gte 1)) Sneak into the kitchen by manipulating Light Chi. [Requires Light, Costs 1 Chi] There's no better way to get into the kitchen than to belong there. ''[1 Chi Point Spent]'' <<var $chispent + 1>>\ That's why you cover yourself with an image of the serving girl while she's busy taking orders from a large table of newcomers. You sneak behind the bar and head to the kitchen in the back to find two chefs working overtime. Obstacles. With your disguise bringing no questions, you walk to the boiling cauldron used for the tea water. Getting to it is easy, but it's in the very middle of the kitchen and you'll need to slip the drug inside without being noticed. Here goes nothing. <<if ($thievery gte 2)>>\ ''[Thievery 2 Check Passed]'' <<var $agiexp + 3>>\ You pour the sleeping elixir in when the younger chef is chopping meat and the older wolf yokai chef is drinking tea. Neither sees your action, so you grab a platter of steamed buns and drop it off at your retainers. <<else>>\ ''[Thievery 2 Check Failed]'' "What was that?" Asks the younger chef, looking over to you in suspicion. "What did you just put in the tea water?" Shit. Shit shit shit. "Shut your mouth, that's what it was." Hushes the older wolf yokai chef. "It was the sound of you shutting your mouth and cutting more pork." ''[Faild Thievery 2 Check...Succeeded?]'' You quirk an eyebrow in surprise, but the younger chef protests back. "But she-" "No she didn't" "She put-" The older chef stabs his knife into the cutting board near his chopped chives. "Are you being paid enough to ask why the serving girl suddenly smells like a different person, or are you being paid enough to cook food and make it home alive?" "I...see." The younger chef bows to you. "Apologies, my eyes are troubled from the cooking fires. I must have been imagining things." You look between the two of them and the older chef doesn't give you a second glance, instead turning back to his cutting board. It's an unusual feeling, being feared as the mysterious danger in the world. You decide to reward the two of them for not giving you trouble by leaving, grabbing a platter of pork buns on the way out, and dropping it off with your retainers. <</if>>\ "On the house." You say when you hand the pork buns to your surprised and excited crew, then head to the tavern rooms and shake off the Light Chi to return to your real appearance. Now it's just a matter of waiting. You decide to head back to your retainers and abstain from the tea. Returning back to your retainers as quickly as you can, you find that those motherless bastards ate all the pork buns before you could get back. Ah well. At least if everything else went to plan, one of these patrons should be falling unconscious after drinking from their next refill. <<page "Thirty minutes later..." "ch6-tavern-job6">>\ <</choose>>

<<var $metguiren + 200000>>\ "GUIREN WHAT THE HELLS?!" You scream in the middle of the tavern floor. It doesn't matter that you're yelling, no one in the crowded tavern can hear you. They're all unconscious. "Boss promised it only worked on people that owed him money!" Guiren shouts back, locking the door while his men drag the unconscious patrons to the far ends of the room. "Yoji what happened when you used his talisman on the drug?" "Don't say my name you dumbass!" The Oni replies, pinning down the only witness who declined on the tea while another shinobi chokes him unconscious. It's not an elegant struggle. "And you never asked me!" "I swear I-" Guiren pauses. "Oh Hells, I asked Kennui." One of the shinobi pauses. "Kennui." Guiren says dryly. "Tell me you used the talisman." "I uh..." The black-clad and masked shinobi's face is completely covered, yet you can perfectly see the worry going over him by the body language alone. "I thought you were talking to Wencheng behind me." "WHY WOULD I ASK WENCHENG?!" Guiren screams back, stomping forward and lashing his tail against the wall. "I was obviously asking you! Wencheng fucks everything up!" "Not this time." Another shinobi says, Wencheng you presume, as he rifles through a merchant's pockets. "This one's on Kennui. Oh!" Wencheng pulls a piece of paper from the Merchant's robes and holds it up. It's a poorly drawn picture of Guiren. "I found the target." "By accident." Yoji adds. "I hate you all so, so much." Guiren seethes. He covers his face with a palm and shakes himself into focus. "Bind the target and get the cart ready. We're getting out of here before the Windrising Sectmaster finds out what happened and dismembers us over a piranha pool." "What about my payment?" You ask. Guiren throws a pouch at you as if he were hucking a rock at his least favorite neighbor. You catch it. <<if ($abduction is "pills")>>\ <<var $lgsolpill + 2>>\ <<var $lgpowpill + 2>>\ <<var $lgforpill + 2>>\ <<var $lgagipill + 2>>\ ''[Item Gained: Low Grade Power Pill x2]'' ''[Item Gained: Low Grade Soul Pill x2]'' ''[Item Gained: Low Grade Agility Pill x2]'' ''[Item Gained: Low Grade Fortitude Pill x2]'' <<elseif ($abduction is "150")>>\ ''[Item Gained: 150 Shards]'' <<var $shards + 150>>\ <<elseif ($abduction is "225")>>\ ''[Item Gained: 225 Shards]'' <<var $shards + 225>>\ <<elseif ($abduction is "300")>>\ ''[Item Gained: 300 Shards]'' <<var $shards + 300>>\ <<elseif ($abduction is "poison")>>\ ''[Item Gained: Common Poison]'' <<var $commonpoison + 1>>\ ''[Item Gained: 100 Shards]'' <<var $shards + 100>>\ <<else>>\ ''[Item Gained: Common Poison]'' <<var $commonpoison + 1>>\ ''[Item Gained: 80 Shards]'' <<var $shards + 80>>\ <</if>>\ "Shit, sorry." Guiren apologizes, exhaling slowly and hoisting the unconscious 'merchant' man over his shoulder. "You're the only one who did their job right." <<var $guirencombat + 2>>\ <<if ($heshe is "she")>>\ "Hey, I did my part better than any of you!" Yoji retorts, "You're only flattering the Young Mistress because you want to suffocate between her \ <<if ($bodytype is "Bodacious")>>\ massive cowtits." <<var $forexp + 1>>\ <<elseif ($bodytype is "Hourglass")>>\ massive tits." <<var $powexp + 1>>\ <<else>>\ thighs." <</if>>\ <<else>>\ "Awwww." Yoji says. "Now kiss and make up." <</if>>\ You drag your own retainers to a safe and comfortable tavern room to sleep off the drug while Yoji complains about the throwing star suddenly lodged into his leg. It's time to get out of here. <<page "Continue" "ch6-town">>\

"The washroom?!" You shout at the man in \ <<if ($heshe is "she")>>\ violated \ <</if>>\ anger. "You tried to kill me //in the washroom?!//" Your rage is interrupted by the sound of multiple men breaking out in laughter behind a door to your left. The door opens and four men pile out wearing either shinobi garb or golden combat gi. They take off their face-wraps to reveal a batch of Humans, Oni, and one reptile yokai. \ <<if (dig($metguiren, 2) is 2)>>\ You recognize them. It's the group that was shaking down Desdemona's people at the first tavern you reached after leaving Thunderfall. The yokai steps forward. <<else>>\ You scan their auras, ready to fight multiple ninjas, and find one of them easily above the others: The yokai. <</if>>\ <<image "https://www.auraclash.com/assets/images/guiren.jpg">>\ "Wencheng," says the leader, trying to keep his composure and failing. His chest shakes sporadically and his nose snorts from laughter. "Why the fuck were you \ <<if ($heshe is "she")>>\ hiding in the women's washroom, you pervert." <<else>>\ watching another man poop, you lunatic." <</if>>\ The ninja you bounced off the floor groans as he raises his head, taking off his own face-wrap to reveal he's quite Human and now has a busted lip. "You told me to get $himher alone! You set me up!" "You could have walked up and asked $himher to come meet us instead of being a filthy deviant." Replies the yokai, unable to keep an unbelieving smile at bay. He turns to you and offers a hand. "I am so sorry for my detestable underlings. Good help isn't just hard to find, it's impossible." You eye his hand suspiciously and he clears his throat. "Ah." He adds. "You haven't washed your hands." He closes his extended hand into a fist and gives a short bow instead. "I go by Dai Guiren, Trialgoer and debt collector, and these are the cheapest buffoons in my employ." "We're the only buffoons in your employ." Replies the Oni in the back. Guiren clears his \ <<if ($heshe is "she")>>\ throat and keeps his eyes on you. \ <<else>>\ throat. \ <</if>>\ "Be that as it may, I've been trying to speak to you in private for the last half hour. Wencheng may have botched introductions, but I still want to give you an offer on behalf of our employer. It's about a job." <<include "ch6-tavern-job">>\

You pause as you realize that you recognize this voice. When the assassin skids to a halt and groans on the floor, you squint to analyze him harder. That does nothing, seeing as he's covered head-to-toe in black cloth-wraps, so you simply ask instead. "Aren't you one of Guiren's men, from that fight back in the other tavern? Why in the Hells were you hiding in my washroom?" Your question is interrupted by the sound of multiple men breaking out in laughter behind a door to your left. The door opens and four men in shinobi outfits pile out, taking off their face-wraps and revealing the batch of Humans, Oni, and Guiren himself. <<image "https://www.auraclash.com/assets/images/guiren.jpg">>\ "Wencheng," Guiren says while trying to keep his composure and failing. His chest shakes sporadically and his nose snorts from laughter. "Why the fuck were you \ <<if ($heshe is "she")>>\ hiding in the women's washroom, you pervert." <<else>>\ watching another man poop, you lunatic." <</if>>\ The ninja you bounced off the floor groans as he raises his head, taking off his own face-wrap to reveal he's quite Human and now has a busted lip. "You told me to get $himher alone! You set me up!" "You could have walked up and asked $himher to come meet us instead of being a filthy deviant." Guiren replies, unable to keep an unbelieving smile at bay. He turns to you and \ <<if ($heshe is "she")>>\ gets to one knee, offering his hand out to take yours. "It's always good to see //you// again, though I had planned on a better reunion. My apologies for Wencheng, \ <<else>>\ offers a handshake. "It's good to see you again, my friend. Sorry about Wencheng, \ <</if>>\ his mother tripped a lot when she was pregnant." You eye his hand suspiciously and he clears his throat. "Ah." He adds. "You haven't washed your hands." That's not what you were trying to point out. "Guiren, I'm glad you're still kicking and closing in on the Trials and all, but what are you doing here? Why was one of your men in the washroom?" "First off," Guiren adds, "that is my fault for giving them any leeway, knowing full-well that they're the cheapest buffoons in my employ." "We're the only buffoons in your employ." Replies Yoji the Oni from the back. "Hush." Guiren hisses, then turns back to you. "I've been trying to speak to you in private for the last half hour. We were supposed to seem like we walked out of the shadows, it gives a good reputation, but that plan's shit the bed so let's just talk. It's about a job." <<include "ch6-tavern-job">>\

tea. Eventually nature calls, and so you excuse yourself to the other wing of the tavern where the rooms are located. At the far end of the hall is your target, the washroom, and you hope it's some sort of deep well or Soul Treasure effect rather than just a dark room with a chamber pot. ... It's a dark room with a chamber pot. ... Once you've finished up your business you motion to open the door and feel a shiver down your spine. Looking up, you see the shadows of the ceiling move ever so slightly. Your vision focuses on the shifting patterns of the floorboards above to see what you're really looking at: An assassin. The black-clad shinobi presses against the walls with his hands and feet to stay elevated, his dusk-black cloth-wraps all over his body helping him blend into the shadows of the room. You grab him by the arms and throw him through the door. "Ow! Ah! Ugh!" Shouts the assassin as he bounces across the floor of the tavern.

As you slide open the door to the tavern you're surprised by the noise. They must be using Seals to keep it contained to not bother those outside. You also see the source of the noise: several long table around the large tavern hall with different Sects seated, as well as two with regular rabble. One of those rabble groups is actually your retainers, and they're waving for you to sit down. "<<cap $patriarch>>!" One of them shouts. "Will you drink with us?" You smile and figure it couldn't hurt to have a seat in good company. A serving girl in an apron approaches the table and pours your tea the second you reach your chair. \ <<if ($honor lt 45)>>\ You start wondering how many Agility Cores that took and chuckle to yourself. Man, you're hilarious. \ <</if>>\ "Welcome to the Bin Weeper Tavern, Young \ <<if ($heshe is "he")>>\ Master," \ <<else>>\ Mistress," \ <</if>>\ The serving girl says, "Can I interest you in a platter for the whole table?" Ah. She sensed money. Even still, you're excited to finally get the chance for some real food. \ <<if ($style is "Midorikatai")>>\ Besides Fang's one meal and \ <<else>>\ Besides \ <</if>>\ Kosuke's unfortunate 'cooking' your crew has had nothing to eat throughout the whole journey but hard tack and salted fish. <<choose "ch6-tavern3">> #use-if ((($shards + ($silver / 10)) + ($gold * 10)) gte 30) "I would kill for some bean paste buns right now, bring enough for the table." [Cost: 30 Shards] "I would kill for some bean-paste buns right now," you reply to the serving girl, "bring enough for the table." "Of course, Young\ <<if ($heshe is "he")>>\ Master," \ <<else>>\ Mistress," \ <</if>>\ the serving girl replies. "I'll get on that right away, and you won't even have to kill anyone! Hah hah!" You give a pleasant shrug to acknowledge that she did in fact tell a joke, but can't force a laugh. It does not affect her external demeanor as she leaves to the kitchens and shortly returns with the best bean-paste buns you've ever had. Everyone at your table sinks their teeth into the doughy texture and the filling content. You can't speak for them, but you finally feel true satisfaction from a meal for the first time in years. <<var $retainer_morale + 3>>\ It dawns on you that you can never tell Mother you just had that thought. She'd beat you so bad it would make all your battles up until now look like child's play. <<page "Continue" "ch6-tavern3">>\ #use-if ((($shards + ($silver / 10)) + ($gold * 10)) gte 15) "We'll have as many fruits as you can provide." [Cost: 15 Shards] "We'll have an assortment of fruits." You reply to the serving girl. "As many as you can provide." "Looking out for scurvy, are we Honored <<cap $patriarch>>?" One of the retainer girls asks. "I knew you'd look out for us!" You warmly smile and give her an encouraging nod. What the Hell is scurvy? <<var $retainer_morale + 2>>\ Luckily the fruit arrives quickly and deflects for you as you all dig into the rich assortment of citrus and succulent fruits. Pineapple, yuzu, sliced lychee, melons, lotus fruit, diced dragonfruit, and various berries you've never seen before, each sweeter and more intriguing than the last. <<page "Continue" "ch6-tavern3">>\ #use-if ((($shards + ($silver / 10)) + ($gold * 10)) gte 40) "Ramen with chili paste." [Cost: 40 Shards] <<var $retainer_morale + 4>>\ "Ramen with chili paste." You reply. "Wonderful choice!" The serving girl says. "It's my personal favorite. We actually have a great assortment of recipes, I'll bring enough for the table!" Your retainers go back to gossiping about some sort of inside jokes that relate to their lives in Ebikowa and they seem to finally be at peace for the first time in a while. The bowls arrive and you all dig in, pleased with the flavor and aroma of the delicious soups. <<page "Continue" "ch6-tavern3">>\ #use-if ((($shards + ($silver / 10)) + ($gold * 10)) gte 10) "Do you have any...hard tack and salted fish?" [Cost: 10 Shards] You skim through a menu scroll and see nothing to your liking, so you fall back to 'ole reliable' and look up to the serving girl. "Do you have any...hard tack and salted fish?" <<var $solexp - 2>>\ <<var $forexp + 4>>\ The retainers at your table groan and cringe, one woman actually breaks down and starts to cry. \ <<if ($sumyungai is true)>>\ Sum Yungai \ <<else>>\ One of them even \ <</if>>\ leans over and pleads. "Honored <<cap $patriarch>>, we are begging you for anything else!" "You can beg me for some hard tack and salted fish, because that's what we're getting." The serving girl delivers the platter and your crew picks at it over a few minutes, faces downcast. You dig in with a smile. Ancestors be praised, this is some good salted fish. <<page "Continue" "ch6-tavern3">>\ #use-if ((($shards + ($silver / 10)) + ($gold * 10)) gte 50) "MEAT." [Cost: 50 Shards] "MEAT." You reply, not even looking at the menu scroll. The serving girl furrows her brow. "Of course, Young \ <<if ($heshe is "he")>>\ Master, \ <<else>>\ Mistress, \ <</if>>\ but we have many dishes with-" ''"MEAT!"'' You shout out. Your retainers shout it back and together you all start banging the table and chanting. "MEAT! MEAT! MEAT! MEAT!" The serving girl stumbles back in surprise, barely catching herself on a nearby table "O-Okay! Of course! Right away!" She returns later with racks of what you assume are cow ribs covered in a thick sweet black sauce. \ <<if ($subrace is "Bovine")>>\ You pause, then stare at the removed ribs of a cow. Ever so slowly, you give an expectant look back to the serving girl. "Is something wrong?" She asks. You continue to stare. She begins to sweat. "Is some...thing..." She spots \ <<if ($yokaitrait1 is "horns")>>\ your horns. The horns of a \ <<if ($heshe is "he")>>\ Bull \ <<else>>\ Cow \ <</if>>\ Yokai. You look back to \ <<else>>\ your \ <<if ($heshe is "he")>>\ bull's \ <<else>>\ cow's \ <</if>>\ tail swishing off your chair and you continue to stare between her and \ <</if>>\ the cow's desiccated carcass. "Oh Heavens. Oh no." She takes the platter away in a hurry. "I am so sorry, Young <<if ($heshe is "he")>>\ Master \ <<else>>\ Mistress, \ <</if>>\ I'll fetch the pig ribs instead, right away." She does, and you \ <<else>>\ You <</if>>\ all dig in greedily. <<var $retainer_morale + 5>>\ <<page "Continue" "ch6-tavern3">>\ #"No thank you, I brought my own bread." [Cost: 0 Shards, Your Dignity] "No thank you." You say. "I brought my own bread." <<var $retainer_morale - 3>>\ <<var $honor - 2>>\ <<var $cheapskate true>>\ The table grows ice cold as your retainers stare dead-eyed at your response. The serving girl furrows her brow and you feel a weak tingle between your shoulders. Sensing your Aura Pressure, she gives a short bow and leaves. You pull some hard tack out of your pocket and dig in as your retainers look through the menu to see what they have to buy for themselves. <<page "Continue" "ch6-tavern3">>\ <</choose>>

"Well well!" Shouts an unfamiliar voice, interrupting your meal. "What's this here, a party of food and drink?" You look up with your mouth full and see a red-eyed reptile yokai with scale patches on his neck. He's not in any combat gi but his posture suggests a Martial Artist. "Can I help you?" You ask almost accusingly. "The future will tell, my friend! The future...will tell. You see, my friends and I here," he motions with a thumb to several men and women behind him with red pinions in their hair. "We're looking for something that this tavern is sorely lacking. A little gambling, friend, but the other tables are too timid." He places a boot on your table and leans onto his knee. "That's why we're hoping your table is more courageous. A little more willing to take risks. A little more...fun. So tell me, friend, are you?" <<choose "ch6-tavern4">> #use-if ((($shards + ($silver / 10)) + ($gold * 10)) gte 80) "Illicite gambling rings? Count me in!" [Requires 800 Silver] "Count me in." You say, bringing up a few chairs for the strangers. "I'm feeling lucky." They have a seat and you all order a few drinks then proceed to gamble away all your ill-gotten gains. You play for a few hands and many of your retainers lose their bids early on, calling it quits for safer pastures. At certain points you get close to the same point, lower on funds than you'd like, but eventually you win your way back to a steady pile and knock several of the other Sect's players out of the game. Finally it's down to just you and the red-eyed reptile yokai with scale patches on his neck. And he's all-in. "Eight hundred silver." The yokai man says, pushing his large pile of coins across the table and placing his cards face-down. "Let's see what you've got." #"We will pass." [Sip tea] <<var $honor + 1>>\ <<var $ruthless - 1>>\ <<if ($ruthless lt 50)>>\ <<var $solexp + 2>>\ <</if>>\ "We will pass." You say between sips of a heated ice-mint tea. It's both hot and cool at the same time, delightful. "Tch." The yokai sneers, then licks his teeth with his reptilian tongue as if contemplating something. "Another set of losers then." You maintain eye contact and take another sip until he leaves. <<page "Continue" "ch6-tavern5">>\ #"Fuck off." -> "ch6-tavern5" <<var $ruthless + 1>>\ <<var $honor - 1>>\ "Fuck off." You reply, digging back into your meal. "Excuse me?" The Yokai asks. "Do you have any idea who you're tal-" "I said fuck off!" You shout louder and closer, spitting food all over his face. He quickly turns and steals a washcloth to clean the globs out of his nose and storms out of the tavern. Your retainers laugh. <<page "Continue" "ch6-tavern5">>\ <</choose>>

<<choose "ch6-tavern5">> #Gamble honestly. -> "ch6-tavern5-gamblehonestly" #Cheat [Thievery Check] That's a lot of coin on the line, but luckily you've been slipping a few cards under the table between hands. You wait for the waitress to approach with tea refills, dart your eyes over to her so others will do the same, then swap out the cards in your hand for the cards under the table in a sleight of hand. <<if ($thievery gte 3)>>\ ''[Thievery 3 Check Passed]'' <<var $agiexp + 1>>\ The tea refills come through and no one reacts to your stunt. You keep a grin off your face as you place your false cards down on the table face-up. <<include "ch6-tavern5-gamblelucky1">>\ <<halt>>\ <<else>>\ ''[Thievery 3 Check Failed]'' "What was that?" One of the yokai man's underlings says. You then see her pupils are dilated in some sort of Technique. "<<cap $heshe>> swapped $hisher cards." Shit. "Oh those?" You say, tossing the false cards. "They were just under the table, it was bugging me so I scratched them out." You toss the cards away and hope your real hand is good enough to win. "Two Steeds." You say, placing your remaining cards face down. The yokai places his down next. "Three rats. Looks like I win." //Shiiit.// <<if ($silver gte 800)>>\ <<var $silver - 800>>\ ''[Item Lost: 800 Silver]'' <<elseif ((($shards + ($silver / 10)) + ($gold * 10)) gte 80)>>\ <<costcalc 80>>\ <<else>>\ <<var $silver - 800>>\ ''[Item Lost: 800 Silver]'' <</if>>\ The red yokai smiles as he collects your pile of silver into a pouch. "Come on everyone, there's no money to be had around here." He looks back to you and gives the most shit-eating grin you've seen since Crusher Jack. "Not anymore." <<page "Continue" "ch6-tavern5">>\ <</if>>\ #use-if (($element1 is "Light") or ($element2 is "Light")) Cheat [Light Element, Costs 1 Chi] -> "ch6-tavern5-gamblelucky1" With a subtle control over Light Chi to avoid spiritual detection you place a glamour over your cards and change the image on their front. ''[1 Chi Point Spent]'' <<var $chispent + 1>>\ #use-if (($element1 is "Wind") or ($element2 is "Wind")) Cheat [Wind Element, Costs 1 Chi] -> "ch6-tavern5-gamblelucky1" With one hand under the table you channel the emerald energy of Wind Chi as softly as you can to avoid spiritual detection and roughly grip a few spare cards in your shoe up into your hand. ''[1 Chi Point Spent]'' <<var $chispent + 1>>\ #use-if (($style is "Aoyusumu") and ($stylerank gte 2)) Cheat [Aoyusumu Style (Adept)] You place your hand on the table and, truly, it's a terrible hand. You don't even know how you'd describe it. If you had a pair of anything, you'd say that. But you don't even have a pair. The best you have is...Maybe one Rat? Maybe one Crane? One of nothing never matters. Luckily, you don't intend to take the credit for your bad hand. "Three Cranes." You say, placing your awful cards face up. With your other hand you give a waving gesture and wash Sacred Chi over the minds of the other Sect. The yokai's eyes gloss cerulean for just a second and he looks closer. "Tch." The reptile yokai sneers, looking to his friends who have long since grown bored. "You're lucky we've got better things to do." He throws his cards at the table and storms off. ''[Item Gained: 800 Silver]'' <<var $silver + 800>>\ "You forgot to leave a tip!" One of your retainers shouts as the yokai exits the tavern. <<page "Continue" "ch6-tavern5">>\ <</choose>>

Everyone at your table continues another hour of merriment afterwards with what you're beginning to suspect is spiked \ <<if ($style is "Kurokonton")>>\ tea, though none of the crew complains. <<var $retainer_morale + 1>>\ Everyone pays their tab and leaves without any violent incidents breaking out, even among the neighboring tables. You consider marking such a rare event on your calendar. <<page "Continue" "ch6-town">>\ <<else>>\ <<include "ch6-tavern6">>\ <</if>>\

<<rand $val 0 5>>\ <<if ($val is 4)>>\ ''[Chance Event! Great cards!]'' <<if ($honor lt 50)>>\ Surprisingly, you win! It feels bizarre to win without cheating, like life decided you actually did deserve something nice for once. <<else>>\ As you expected, the path of honor yields victory in the end. <</if>>\ <<include "ch6-tavern5-gamblelucky1">>\ <<else>>\ ''[Chance Event! Bad Cards!]'' The cards are handed out and you check your odds. Hm. Nothing to do but to show your hand and hope for the best. You lower your cards onto the table. "Two Cranes." The red reptile yokai flips his cards over. "Three Rats." <<if ($honor lt 50)>>\ Unsurprisingly, playing an honest hand loses you the game. "Shit." You reply. <<else>>\ As a punishment from the Heavens for taking part in such degeneracy, you have lost the game. "Ah." You reply. "Darn." <</if>>\ <<if ($silver gte 800)>>\ <<var $silver - 800>>\ ''[Item Lost: 800 Silver]'' <<elseif ((($shards + ($silver / 10)) + ($gold * 10)) gte 80)>>\ <<costcalc 80>>\ <<else>>\ <<var $silver - 800>>\ ''[Item Lost: 800 Silver]'' <</if>>\ The red yokai smiles as he collects your pile of silver into a pouch. "Come on everyone, there's no money to be had around here." He looks back to you and gives the most shit-eating grin you've seen since Crusher Jack. "Not anymore." <<page "Continue" "ch6-tavern5">>\ <</if>>\

You lower your cards onto the table. "Three Cranes. <<if ($honor lt 50)>>\ Read em and weep, \ <<else>>\ It seems \ <</if>>\ the pot is mine." "Tch." The reptile yokai sneers, looking to his friends who have long since grown bored. "You're lucky we've got better things to do." He throws his cards at the table and storms off. ''[Item Gained: 800 Silver]'' <<var $silver + 800>>\ "You forgot to leave a tip!" One of your retainers shouts as the yokai exits the tavern. <<page "Continue" "ch6-tavern5">>\

<<if (dig($metguiren, 2) is 1)>>\ tea, though no one complains. Eventually nature calls and you depart the table to head to the tavern's other wing with all the rooms, both for beds and washrooms. The hall is empty as you walk along the wooden floorboards alone, entering the washroom and doing your business. ... <<if ((($perception gte 3) or ((($element1 is "Darkness") or ($element2 is "Darkness")) and ($perception gte 2))) or (($subrace is "Cat") and ($perception gte 2)))>>\ <<if (($subrace is "Cat") and ($perception gte 2))>>\ ''[Cat Yokai Event: Difficulty Reduced]'' <<elseif ((($element1 is "Darkness") or ($element2 is "Darkness")) and ($perception gte 2))>>\ ''[Darkness Element: Difficulty Reduced]'' <<elseif ($perception gte 3)>>\ ''[Perception 3 Check Passed]'' <</if>>\ Your eyes adapt to the light of the room and your surroundings seems unsettling, a shiver running down your spine. Your vision locks on a single part of the wall. There's something wrong with it. Without thinking, running purely on hurried instinct, you punch that part of the wall as hard as you can. <<var $val 747>>\ As soon as your $auracolor glowing fist slams into the wooden wall you feel the crunch of bones on the other side. At the same time, four \ <<else>>\ ''[Perception 3 Check Failed]'' You feel a vague, ominous feeling. Probably because of all the problems you've faced lately. Ancestors, you need a vacation. You try to let it go; you've been having ominous feelings for years and so far you've solved the problems each of them brings. It's about time you master your emotions and simply let the feeling pass. <<if (dig($metguiren, 3) is 1)>>\ "This is for Kennui, you piece of shit." Whispers the darkness. <<else>>\ "You shouldn't have crossed me." Whispers the darkness. <</if>>\ Five \ <</if>>\ hands explode from the walls around you at different points and burn with the purple-black of Cursed Chi. //''"Fivefold Death-Curse!"''// \ <<if ($val is 747)>>\ Chants four voices in unison. "Ah fuck! My hand!" Screams the fifth. <<else>>\ Chants five voices in unison. <</if>>\ <<var $combatstat "agility">>\ <<var $combatstat2 "fortitude">>\ <<if ($val is 747)>>\ ''[Eliminated Attacker: +2 Battle Prowess]'' <<var $cmod + 2>>\ <</if>>\ <<discount "Kiihakai" $stylerank>>\ <<if (dig($metguiren, 2) is 3)>>\ <<combatcheck 15>>\ <<else>>\ <<combatcheck 14>>\ <</if>>\ <<if ($passcheck is true)>>\ You grip two of the hands bursting through the walls and stomp on one more, breaking its wrist. With a quick spin you rip two attackers through the wood, cracking their faces together, then knee one back out before the splinter storm even settles. <<var $metguiren + 400000>>\ When you turn to strike the last one you see a knife in his hand and recognize who your attacker is: \ <<include "ch6-tavern-attacked">>\ <<else>>\ <<var $metguiren + 500000>>\ <<var $guirencombat + 2>>\ The \ <<if ($val is 747)>>\ four \ <<else>>\ five \ <</if>>\ concentrations of Cursed Chi seem to rip your aura away in different directions, shattering your supernatural defense. Even your muscles feel drained and empty, as if they'd shrunken or the core of your bones were made brittle. <<if ($fortitude gt $forspent)>>\ <<var $forspent + 1>>\ <</if>>\ <<if ($power gt $powspent)>>\ <<var $powspent + 1>>\ <</if>>\ <<if ($soul gt $solspent)>>\ <<var $solspent + 1>>\ <</if>>\ <<if ($agility gt $agispent)>>\ <<var $agispent + 1>>\ <</if>>\ <<if ((($chipool + ($soul/2)) - $chispent) gte 1)>>\ <<var $chispent + 1>>\ <</if>>\ ''[You have been Poisoned!]'' <<aploss 10>>\ That's when another object bursts from the wall directly behind you. Not another hand, but a knife. It pierces into your back, deeply, and blood erupts from the cursed wound. <<woundcheck 2 false false>>\ <<var $val 898>>\ <<page "Is this the end?" "ch6-tavern-attacked">>\ <</if>>\ <<elseif ((dig($metguiren, 2) is 0) or (dig($metguiren, 2) is 2))>>\ <<var $sawguiren true>>\ <<include "ch6-tavern-throwninja">> <<page "Continue" "ch6-tavern-throw">>\ <<elseif (dig($metguiren, 2) is 3)>>\ <<var $sawguiren true>>\ <<include "ch6-tavern-throwninja">> <<page "Why is his voice familiar?" "ch6-tavern-throw2">>\ <<else>>\ ''[BUG! 'METGUIREN#2' VARIABLE NOT BETWEEN 0 AND 3!]'' <</if>>\

<<replenish>>\ With only $daysleft \ <<if ($daysleft gt 1)>>\ days \ <<else>>\ day \ <</if>>\ left on your journey at sea you ponder how best to spend the time. <<choose "ch6-daycounter">> #use-if (($randrills lt 1) or ($val2 gte 4 and $randrills lt 2)) Run your men through combat $an <<var $ruthless + 1>>\ <<var $honor + 1>>\ <<var $randrills + 1>>\ <<if ($val2 gte 4)>>\ <<var $an "drills (again)">>\ <</if>>\ If there's one thing you're worried about in the coming Trials, it's your retainers. You can save Rin. You can save Jin. You can beat Jack. But you can't do it while protecting your entire crew at all times. They need to learn how to fight as a group, and they're going to need power to do it. Between you, Kosuke, \ <<if ($bogone is true)>>\ and Leona \ <<else>>\ Bo, and Leona \ <</if>>\ you all compile a good training regimen for the retainers. Several men get tied to ropes and hauled behind the ship, forcing them to swim while the rest of you watch for sharks. Others are drafted into rope-fishing to improve their archery skills. Others still are forced into 2v2 sparring sessions in what used to be their rest periods. It won't be easy, but\ <<if ($alchemy gt 0)>>\ you \ <<else>>\ Bo and Leona \ <</if>>\ refine enough unguents to treat their pain during rest. They'll thank you in the long run. "Honored <<cap $patriarch>>, please, we can't go on like this!" One of your retainers cries outside your cabin door at the end of the day, thankless in the long run. You open the door and look on the welt around his jaw. "I know it's hard, but it's basic Martial training. Everyone can do it." "No they can't!" He pleads, and several men hanging over the taffrails look up with bloodied noses or black eyes to agree with him. "Only the survivors live to say that! The dead aren't here to plead my case!" That's...true. You want to give the man advice, but saying 'training sucks, do it anyway' is the terrible adage you have followed with religious zeal all your life. It worked, but it's not exactly the kind of advice others seem keen to take. Looking around for some rebuttal, \ <<if ($bffromance gte 1)>>\ you look back into your bed where a naked kosuke is fighting to find the cool side of the pillow. \ <<else>>\ you see Kosuke up on the crow's nest \ <<if ($roc gt 0)>>\ nest next to $rocname. \ <<else>>\ nest. \ <</if>>\ <</if>>\ "Retainer Kosuke, do you have any advice for our aspiring crew members?" "Training sucks!" Kosuke shouts down. "But do it anyway or I'll steal your rations." <<if ($roc gt 0)>>\ "CAWWW!" Adds your roc. Great help. Both of them. <<else>>\ Thanks Kosuke. <</if>>\ Knowing good results will come in time, you place a sympathetic hand on the retainer's shoulder, hand him an extra bowl of healing unguent, and close your door. They'll simply have to persist because that's all that success is: persistence and luck, and you can't control their luck. ''[Retainer Strength Increased]'' <<var $retainer_strength + 1>>\ <<var $retainer_morale - 2>>\ ''[Retainer Morale -2]'' <<if (($athletics + $alchemy) gte 4)>>\ ''[Athletics + Alchemy 4 Check Passed]'' <<var $retainer_strength + 1>>\ <<if ($athletics gt $alchemy)>>\ <<var $val ($athletics - 1)>>\ <<else>>\ <<var $val ($alchemy - 1)>>\ <</if>>\ Following your strict exercise regimen and cultivation guide should be enough for them in the long run. With any luck, you'll see a few auras out of it in due time. <<if ($val gt 1)>>\ ''[$val Retainers Lost]'' ''[$val Martial Retainers Gained]'' <<else>>\ ''[$val Retainer Lost]'' ''[$val Martial Retainer Gained]'' <</if>>\ <<var $retainers - $val>>\ <<var $martial_retainers + $val>>\ <</if>>\ <<page "Another day at sea." "ch6-daycounter">>\ #use-once Beat up Bo to toughen him up. Bo needs to be stronger if he wants a chance in the Heavenly Ascension Trials. Not that you care about \ <<if ($heshe is "she")>>\ him or anything. Obviously. But, well, \ <<else>>\ the short bastard, but \ <</if>>\ he's been with you since Ebikowa and \ <<if ($heshe is "he")>>\ you feel almost responsible for \ <<else>>\ you're starting to worry about \ <</if>>\ him at this point. Unfortunately there's not much training you can do together that isn't a waste of your time...except one. There is one skill Bo Lo has been cultivating that could make him closer to your level of prowess. "Bo!" You shout down to the lower decks. "Come up on deck!" Footsteps march from below deck until Bo Lo reaches the hatch and looks up to you, his brow contorted. "What do you want?" "We're going to train together." You say. "Bring two whips." He opens his mouth to protest but shakes his head and turns around, marching back to the rower's area. A minute later he returns and ascends to the upper deck with a whip in each hand. "There, two whips. Now what kind of training are you talking about?" Your open palm extends outward. Bo's lip curls but he tosses you the whip nonetheless. You catch it and crack it out in a flourish; coincidentally your entire top-deck crew decides to head below deck at the same moment that the whip cracks. You smile. "We're going to block each other's whips with only our aura." Bo looks disgusted. "That only works for Mystic and Sacred Chi, \ <<if (($style is "Kiihakai") or ($style is "Aoyusumu"))>>\ you'd be cheating!" \ <<elseif ($style is "Kurokonton")>>\ not Wild and Cursed Chi!" \ <<elseif ($style is "Akakiru")>>\ not Wild and Bladed Chi!" \ <<else>>\ not Wild Chi!" \ <</if>>\ "Apologies, Bo, I didn't realize you couldn't do it." You sigh in disappointment, holding your whip overboard as if to drop it. "Hold, Laborer!" Bo protests defensively. "Of course I can do it, I am a true-born Warrior\ <<if (($style is "Kiihakai") or ($style is "Aoyusumu"))>>\ Caste." \ <<else>>\ Caste. I'm saying //you// can't do it." \ <</if>>\ "Great!" You say as you crack the whip across the air and strike him in the kidney. He guffaws and reels over, his right eye twitching, and several of the crew below deck peak up to see their overseer getting whipped. Leona's head pops up from behind the rafters with an overjoyed smile and she shuffles closer to watch more. Bo Lo heaves for a moment until he recovers, standing back up with an overly straightened back to appear taller. "That was another sucker punch, but I have been training in the whip. You will regret challenging me!" "I sure hope so." You reply as he reels back his whip. "That's the point of the trai-" ''*CRACK*'' <<page "AAAAAAHHHHH!!" "ch6-themdays-whip">>\ #use-once use-if ($kostied is false) Help Kosuke correct $bffhisher flaws in the Martial Arts. Kosuke's Aura Pressure has improved tremendously, all things considered. If $bffheshe punched you it would actually be painful, which is a feat for the beggar considering your meteoric rise. If only $bffheshe hadn't ignored every aspect of Martial Arts combat. <<cap $bffhisher>> sloppy form might work against predictable Fiends, but $bffheshe'll need far more practice before being able to defend <<print $bffhimher>>self while you're away. "Kosuke!" You shout up to your childhood friend in the crow's \ <<if ($roc gt 0)>>\ nest while $bffheshe feeds your pet roc. "Can it wait?" Kosuke asks down. "I'm in the middle of a breakthrough teaching $rocname how to drop rocks on people." "It cannot, and stop dropping rocks on the crew." ''[Retainer Morale +1]'' <<var $retainer_morale + 1>>\ <<else>>\ nest. "Wuzzuh?" Kosuke asks, lifting $bffhisher head up and over the railing. "I was...I was looking for land." "Sure you weren't sleeping?" Kosuke narrows $bffhisher eyes. "What brings you to my basket-sized domain?" <</if>>\ "We're going to train together." You shout up to $bffhimher. "Come on down, and get dressed in one of your stolen Thunderfall Gi." The low thrum of grinding teeth comes from below deck where Bo Lo likely heard you'd be dressing a peasant beggar in his Sect's honorable outfit, which Kosuke stole. Ignoring that, you and Kosuke head for the upper platform. <<page "Continue" "ch6-themdays-kosuke">>\ #use-once Man the harpoons and go whaling. "Good morning, Honored <<cap $patriarch>>!"\ <<if ($sumyungai is true)>>\ Sum Yungai \ <<else>>\ One of your more persistent retainers \ <</if>>\ says from the doorway of your cabin. "What glorious plan does the Young\ <<if ($heshe is "he")>>\ Master \ <<else>>\ Mistress \ <</if>>\ have in store for us on this sunny day?" Your stomach growls and your lanterns have already run out of oil from the night before. You rub your eyes and stretch, yawning, then consider how to solve both problems. Hm... "Get the harpoons from below deck and have the men adjust course southwest." You order\ <<if ($sumyungai is true)>>\ Yungai, \ <<else>>\ the young man, \ <</if>>\ "We sail for the whale." The crew adjusts the sails and prepares to hunt. After hours of venturing further out to sea, you spot water being blown into the air off the bow and a large bowhead whale breaches the water off in the distance. "There they are, men!" You call out to your crew. "These murderous bastards have had it too good for too long! It's time we avenge all the fish they've slaughtered and show them how it feels!" While your men go to work hunting the whales, no one corrects you that these whales are filter feeders and do not hunt fish. It is not a well-educated crew. You harvest what you can from your catches in the form of food, baleen, and fats that can be rendered down for soap and oil. After distributing portions to your crew for them to sell, seeing as you've almost never paid them, you take a large portion for yourself. <<var $val 0>>\ <<var $retainer_morale + 3>>\ ''[Retainer Morale +3]'' <<if ($background is "Trapper")>>\ ''[Trapper Background Event: Bounty Increased]'' <<var $val + 3>>\ <</if>>\ <<if (($element1 is "Water") or ($element2 is "Water"))>>\ ''[Water Element Event: Bounty Increased]'' <<var $val + 3>>\ <</if>>\ <<if ($survival gt 0)>>\ ''[Survival $survival Check Passed]'' <<var $val + ($survival * 2)>>\ <<else>>\ ''[Survival 1 Check Failed]'' <<var $val 1>>\ <</if>>\ ''[Item Gained: $val Crates of Loot]'' <<var $loot + $val>>\ You eat well, refuel the lanterns, tell your men to make some soap for their own good ''and'' yours, then rest for the night while your journey continues. <<page "Another day at sea." "ch6-daycounter">>\ #use-once Take up painting. <<var $ruthless - 3>>\ So much of your life has been about physical endurance, violent encounters, Martial World politics, and cultivating foreign energies with just as much strain and pain as your first cycling. Now that you have a crew at your disposal and free time to spend how you choose, you decide to take up painting instead for a more calming afternoon. After assembling the paints and creating some makeshift brushes and canvas-holders (bolted to the ship's flooring), you mix your pallet's paints and look upon the crisp bright white canvas\ <<if ($craft lt 2)>>\ with a hundred ideas flooding through your mind. ''[Craft 2 Check Failed]'' Far too many ideas, really. You change what you're trying to paint on three separate occasions and by the end it looks like a muddied brown mess where you overlapped wet paints and ruined the mixes. "Can I see?" Leona asks over your shoulder. Leaping in surprise, you throw a palm forward and release a wide energy blast, disintegrating the painting in an instant. No one must know of your lack of talent. <<page "Another day at sea." "ch6-daycounter">>\ <<else>>\ to decide what your first painting on the high seas will be. <<include "ch6-themdays-painting">>\ <</if>>\ #use-once use-if ((($athletics gte 2) or (($element1 is "Water") or ($element2 is "Water"))) or ($background is "Herbalist")) Swim alongside the ships. "Got any plans for the day?" Kosuke lazily asks, chewing on a long piece of grass by the starboard railing. "Where did you get a long piece of grass?" You ask. "Ah, dodging the question!" Kosuke tsks at you. "Only criminals do that. Like right now, when I did it? It means I am intending to commit a crime." "Well, don't? You're on my ship." You shake your head and look down at the sea. It's a warm sunny day and the waters are clear, no Beast has shown itself all day, and the only Spirit within detection is a Wind elemental moving on its way among the high winds. It paints a pretty stream of emerald light into the sky for a while before disappearing into the clouds. It's the perfect day for your dumb idea. "For your answer, I've been craving a swim." You reply, leaping on top of the railing and gazing at the majestic view of the ocean. It's a shame about the salt. Kosuke shrugs and hollers out to the crew. "Drop anchor, the Honored <<cap $patriarch>> wants to swim!" "No need!" You shout back. "I'll keep pace." //Now// you have the crew's attention, as they all turn to you like you've sprouted a second hand. An older Human speaks up first. "Keep pace with the ship, Captain? In the water?" You answer him by diving overboard. <<page "Continue" "ch6-themdays-swim">>\ #use-once Find an unsuspecting ship to start your secret career in piracy. <<var $honor - 5>>\ <<var $ruthless + 3>>\ /* trigger piracy options in Nanhou */\ <<var $trialdeets + 2000000000000>>\ Leona and Kosuke stand before you on ship's upper platform, each holding a pile of square cloths. You sit on one of its benches and look at their work with satisfaction. "This will work, they're good bandanas." "Really?" Leona asks. "I cut these with Bladed Chi in a second, they were supposed to suck." "It's true." Kosuke says. "I complained the whole time that she didn't help me with my pile. What are these for anyway?" "Wearing." You say to the two. "Over your hair or your face, it's your choice, because we're finally doing what you've both been begging for." <<if ($heshe is "he")>>\ "A threesome?!" \ <<else>>\ "Killing Bo?!" \ <</if>>\ Leona says with a delighted gasp. "Killing Bo?!" Kosuke says with a delighted gasp. "No, Ancestors, calm down." You shake your head at them in disapproval. "We're committing piracy on the high seas." "That's almost as good." Kosuke admits. "Shit!" Leona screams. "Shit! Shit! Shit! I threw my pirate outfit overboard already!" She surges an Agility Core and disappears below deck in a scarlet blur, probably to look for the materials to an eyepatch or tricorn hat. <<if ($loot gt 0)>>\ She'll figure out eventually that you've already gotten rid of all your crafting cargo. <<else>>\ Insulting stereotypes, yes, but only to pirates. Which...you're about to be. You reserve the right to be insulted later. <</if>>\ "I'll get the crew ready." Kosuke says after she's left. "This is going to be awesome. I'll \ <<if ($shipcount is 2)>>\ visit our other ship \ <<elseif ($shipcount gt 2)>>\ visit one of our other ships \ <<else>>\ check below deck \ <</if>>\ first, one of the crew captured a parrot in the Harehama jungles that we can use." <<if ($roc gt 0)>>\ "I have a better idea." You say, looking up to the crow's nest. $rocname looks down on you with the intense stare of a happy bird. You return the look with a maniacal smile. "No." Kosuke says in horror. "She can //not// fit on your shoulder." "Oh, she can." You reply with villainous intent. "And she will." <<else>>\ "Hells yes." <</if>>\ <<page "Continue" "ch6-themdays-pirate">>\ #show-if ($daysleft lte 0) Sail for Nanhou. [Ends Exploration] -> "ch6-journeysend" <</choose>>

"So what's first on the lessons?" Kosuke asks, bouncing in place as $bffheshe puts $bffhisher fists up. "Low blows? Sand in the eyes? How-to-blackmail?" "No." You reply, punching $bffhimher in the solar plexus so hard that $bffheshe falls to the ground like a crumpled mess. "We're going to fix your terrible guard." "I'm so mad." Kosuke says in a breathless voice that sounds like a 90-year-old man. "You're gonna get it." "Good." You reply. "Give it to me." \ <<if (($heshe is "she") and ($bffromance gte 1))>>\ Kosuke looks up and gives you The Eyes. "Not like that, you pervert." \ <</if>>\ You take three steps back and take a low stance. "We need to fix all your terrible forms. Street fighting isn't going to cut it anymore." "Fine, fine." Kosuke says, rising shakily to $bffhisher feet. "But I'm telling your Mother that you hit me." "I'm telling her you ate all the daifuku at Rin's twelfth birthday party." "YOU PROMISED YOU WOULDN'T!" Kosuke screams, charging you with both fists glowing white. <<page "Continue" "ch6-themdays-kosuke2">>\

Four hours of you kicking the crap out of Kosuke go by without a single hit being made on you. Each time you explain how $bffheshe could improve or what flaw $bffheshe had. <<cap $bffheshe>> hates every second of it. <<var $val 0>>\ Afterwards you bring out a wooden target dummy and have Kosuke perform sparring attacks against it, demonstrating $bffhisher form for a few hours. <<if (($athletics + $lore) gte 4)>>\ ''[Athletics + Lore 4 Check Passed]'' <<var $kosukecombat + 1>>\ ''[Kosuke's Combat Prowess Increased]'' <<var $val + 1>>\ <<var $forexp + 1>>\ <</if>>\ After that, you take $bffhimher to your Captain's Cabin where the two of you go over your four original Path Manuals you got from Big Chu, the ones relating to the four basic Combat Cores. <<if (($insight + $lore) gte 5)>>\ ''[Insight + Lore 5 Check Passed]'' <<var $kosukecombat + 1>>\ <<var $val + 1>>\ ''[Kosuke's Combat Prowess Increased]'' <<var $solexp + 1>>\ <</if>>\ Kosuke browses the pages from the floor, unwilling or unable to get up after the relentless beating and exercise. "This sucks." <<cap $bffheshe>> says. "Training sucks." "It sure does." You reply. "That's why we're better than everyone else at it, we're used to difficulty." "//You're// used to difficulty." Kosuke corrects. "My whole life has revolved around trying to make things easier." <<cap $bffheshe>> turns the page on the Fortitude Path Manual and looks to you. \ <<if (($bffromance gte 1) and ($bffheshe isnot $heshe))>>\ "Want to make out on the bed instead?" <<else>>\ "Can't we do this later?" <</if>>\ <<choose "ch6-daycounter">> #"No, focus!" "No, focus!" You shout down, throwing a sandal at $bffhisher forehead. <<var $bffrep - 5>>\ "Gah!" <<cap $bffheshe>> shouts, rubbing the quickly forming bruise. "Fine, fine, just no more shoes." The rest of the night goes well, for you, as you sleep quite soundly in a comfortable bed three feet away. Kosuke on the other hand is forced up all night reading the Path Manuals and struggling to realign $bffhisher cultivation methods. Heavens know the lout needs it. <<if ($val lt 2)>>\ <<var $kosukecombat + 1>>\ ''[Kosuke's Combat Prowess Increased]'' <</if>>\ <<page "Another day at sea." "ch6-daycounter">>\ #show-if ((($bffromance gte 1) and ($bffheshe isnot $heshe)) and ($heshe is "he")) "Get your shirt off, that's an order from your cap($patriarch)." "Get your shirt off," you reply, "that's an order from your <<cap $patriarch>>." Kosuke gets up on her knees effortlessly and excitedly disrobes. "Yes //sir//." She moans, leaning forward with pleading eyes. "Please teach this dishonorable thief the true meaning of discipline." You take her up on the roleplaying and hope it doesn't awaken something dark within you. <<if ($val is 2)>>\ <<var $kosukecombat - 1>>\ <</if>>\ <<page "Another day at sea." "ch6-daycounter">>\ #show-if ((($bffromance gte 1) and ($bffheshe isnot $heshe)) and ($heshe is "she")) "If you can wrestle me onto the bed, I'm all yours." You decide Kosuke needs motivation, and there's only one motivation men actually use. "Tell you what." You reply. "If you can wrestle me onto the bed, I'm all yours and we'll have you in a //differnet// training tonight." Kosuke's eyes shoot open with a white glow. "Now we're talking." He rises to his feet and charges you, wrapping one hand up and around the back of your neck while his other arm grips your left thigh, hoisting you off the ground as he slams you into the ship's wall. You've never wanted him more. "Someone's been working out." You say with a giggle. "I have a good trainer." He replies, exploring his firm grip up your thigh while kissing your neck. <<page "Another day at sea." "ch6-daycounter">>\ #"Fine. Tend to your bruises and get some rest." "Fine." You concede. "Tend to your bruises and get some rest." <<var $bffrep + 7>>\ <<if ($val is 2)>>\ <<var $kosukecombat - 1>>\ <</if>>\ "I'm shocked you caved so easily." Kosuke replies, getting up effortlessly and walking out of your room. "You need to toughen up your discipline or the Trials will eat you alive." "Oh you \ <<if ($bffheshe is "he")>>\ lying bastard!" \ <<else>>\ lying wench!" \ <</if>>\ You groan, throwing a shoe at Kosuke as $bffheshe escapes out the door with a laugh. <<page "Another day at sea." "ch6-daycounter">>\ <</choose>>

<<var $txt "get to work painting the intricate lines of Taio's bruised cheekbones and the ruffled tears of his blood cultist robes from the relentless ass-kicking you">>\ <<choose "ch6-daycounter">> #My first sight of the sea. The brushes get to work all on their own, with you simply following the flow of your drawing as your memory wills itself onto the canvas. The ship gently rocks to the ocean beneath your feet as you mix dozens of shades of blue to capture its depth of expanse. Your spirit feels calmed by the practice more than it ever has during meditation. <<if (($element1 is "Water") or ($element2 is "Water"))>>\ ''[Water Element: Shugendō Affinity]'' ''[Ruthlessness Decreased]'' <<var $ruthless - 3>>\ <<var $apval 10>>\ <<else>>\ <<apboost 4>>\ <</if>>\ When stepping back you gaze upon your work and find it soothing, as if the paint gently expresses the essence of grand adventure and possibilities you felt when first viewing an impossible world so different than the one you knew. It's exciting, but calming and reassuring at the same time. You like it. This one's going in the Captain's Cabin, right above the desk. <<page "Another day at sea." "ch6-daycounter">>\ #Taio's stupid face just before I killed him. <<if ($craft gte 3)>>\ ''[Craft 3 Check Passed]'' As you $txt delivered, you can't help but feel inspired. So inspired, in fact, that you take out a second canvas and get to work painting a second set to harken back to the other range of emotion you drew out of his more brutish and baffled counterpart, the first Taio, leader of the bandits. <<var $itempainting + 110000000>>\ ''[Item Gained: Portrait of Taio the Bandit's Baffled Face]'' ''[Item Gained: Portrait of Taio the Scholar's Defeated Face]'' When you finish you look upon your dual-canvas setup and consider selling the pair as a set, for they seem to be simultaneously reacting to the onlooker and looking to each other in disbelief, depending on the angle you view the pictures at. \ <<else>>\ You $txt delivered. At first you suspected the process would be difficult and racked with complications, but you don't even need a second canvas. Drawing out the look on his face when he realized you had beaten him is as easy as drawing breath. <<var $itempainting + 100000000>>\ ''[Item Gained: Portrait of Taio the Scholar's Defeated Face]'' You step back from the painting and smile on your work. <</if>>\ Damn, you are good at this. After profusely washing the paint off your hands you pack the canvases away and head to bed for the evening. <<page "Another day at sea." "ch6-daycounter">>\ <</choose>>

Scouting the seas this close to Nanhou offers plenty of ships available for raiding, some with less Aura Pressure than others. The difficulty you find, aside from apologizing to one powerful Martial Artist who shook your ship with his voice when demanding that you stop scanning his men, is locating a low Aura Pressure ship with no one else around to help them. The last thing you need is to give a vigilante justification to intervene and seize your ships after. It's not until nearly dusk when you finally spot it: a single ship in the entire ocean view, sailing too close to the coast when there are no coastal towns in sight. A ship seeking an illusion of safety. It's show time. Your ship sails ahead of the target and slows down by dropping anchor. You, Leona, and Kosuke place bandanas over your faces and stand at the back of your ship, waiting for the enemy ship to catch up and enter hearing distance. "Hold, travelers!" You shout out over the waters when the other ship enters hearing distance. "You've crossed with the daringest of pirates on the high seas, surrender your cargo or we will seize it from your sunken salvage! We can handle this the hard way, or we can handle this the easy way!" After a small commotion a voice comes back from the other ship. "We'll give you nothing, robbers! Get in our way and see what happens!" The other ship turns its sail to change coarse around you. A spike in spiritual pressure coming from the vessel lets you know someone is preparing for battle. <<if ($flagshiptype is "combat")>>\ ''[Combat Ship Event]'' "Do we use the ballista?" Kosuke asks. <<include "ch6-themdays-pirate2">>\ <<else>>\ <<include "ch6-themdays-pirate-leona">>\ <</if>>\

Leona draws her blades and slashes downward three times. Four hundred yards away, their sail shreds to tatters. "You have chosen the easy way!" You yell. The three of you dive into the water and swim to the ship, with you and Leona closing the distance and climbing aboard while your crew follows with rowboats and weapons drawn. The crew shrieks and screams as you pull yourself over the taffrails with your full Aura Pressure blazing around you in $auracolor chi. Two men run up from lower deck, an Oni and a Human, and flare violet auras. "Surrender your ship!" You shout at the two while Leona draws two blades behind you. "Don't be foolish, your supplies aren't worth your lives!" "You'll get neither!" Screams the human, charging Leona in a blur of violet Storm Chi. The younger Oni charges you simultaneously with a surged Agility core and a flying kick. <<var $combatstat "power">>\ <<var $combatskill "perception">>\ <<combatcheck 8>>\ <<if ($passcheck is true)>>\ Both you and Leona catch their attacks and slam their heads together, knocking them out. You wouldn't have even attacked this ship if you scanned a threatening Aura Pressure. <<else>>\ Leona kicks the charging man in the face with her plated boot as soon as he closes the distance, knocking her target out by using the man's momentum against him. Coincidentally, you also get kicked in the face. <<woundcheck 1 true false>>\ <<if ($pblocktech is "")>>\ With a bloody nose and a sudden spike in anger \ <<else>>\ With a sudden spike of annoyance \ <</if>>\ you grab the Oni's foot before he passes by and swing him in a full 360 circle, smacking his head into a metal stud meant for tying ropes. He drops as well. <</if>>\ The crew around you stares on, frozen in fear. "Well?" You say to them. "You're being robbed, quit lazing around and fetch my new supplies!" Several drop to their knees and recite formal apologies while others run below deck to find anything worth their lives. <<var $val 10>>\ <<page "Continue" "ch6-themdays-pirate3">>\

<<choose "ch6-themdays-pirate-leona">> #"What kind of question is that? Hells yes you use the ballista." "What kind of question is that?" You reply. "Hells yes you use the ballista." "Yes, \ <<if ($heshe is "he") and ($bffheshe is "she")>>\ sir!" \ <<else>>\ finally!" \ <</if>>\ Kosuke sprints to the war engine at the front of your ship where $bffheshe extracts a secured bolt from the side of the ship and loads it onto the war engine. You stand in front of the device and lift the locks on its swiveling platform then turn the shack-sized crossbow toward the fleeing ship. With one eye closed to aim, you line up the targeting irons and place both hands on the massive two-sided trigger, then... You fire. <<var $txt "bolt soars, and soars, and soars through the air...right into the rear side of the fleeing ship at water-level. Waves lap into the new hole and the ship begins to sink.">>\ <<var $combatstat "agility">>\ <<var $combatskill "perception">>\ <<combatcheck 7>>\ <<if ($passcheck is true)>>\ Your $txt "Direct hit!" Kosuke screams next to you. "The Heavens smile upon us!" Says a nearby crewman, and you're not sure if he even knows that you're the aggressor against an innocent civilian ship. Hopefully he does. "We've had one direct hit, yes." Leona says, tapping her foot and laying a finger against her chin. Her expression turns sinister as she leans over and \ <<if ($heshe is "he")>>\ stares into your eyes. \ <<else>>\ caresses the ballista. \ <</if>>\ "But who ever stops at one?" <<else>>\ ''[Retainer Morale -1]'' <<var $retainer_morale - 1>>\ "You missed!" Kosuke shouts in your ear. "How could you miss?! He was three hundred feet in front of you!" "I don't use crossbows, especially giant ones!" You shout back in your defense. "The damned thing doesn't shoot straight!" "Of course it doesn't, it-move, move." Kosuke scoots you out of the seat as the crew loads a second crossbow. "I use crossbows all the time, you have to account for the wind and the weight and-" "They're getting away, Captain!" Shouts one of the crewmen. Kosuke pulls the firing trigger and the $txt "Got her!" Kosuke shouts, wiping sweat off $bffhisher brow. "Direct hit!" "Thank the Ancestors." You say, the weight of failure falling off your shoulders. Commanding specialists is still a victory. "Now get her again." <</if>>\ Over the next five minutes you barrage the ship with bolt after bolt from your siege engine, piercing holes through its hull over and over until finally the vessel has taken on too much water and tips, sinking into the ocean. Plenty of cargo crates and barrels float to the surface and your men are able to dive for more thanks to the shallow depths of the battlefield. <<var $val 14>>\ <<page "Continue" "ch6-themdays-pirate3">>\ #"No, let Leona take care of it." "No," you say nonchalant, looking to your longtime freeloader. "Let Leona take care of it." "Yay!" Leona shouts. With two swift motions \ <</choose>>

<<if (dig($metleona, 4) is 1)>>\ ''[Piracy Event]'' Using the blueprints for your own smuggler's compartment that Leona added in Ebikowa, you check for similar designs on your target's ship and find their hidden caches. <<var $val + 5>>\ ''[Item Gained: 2000 Silver]'' <<var $silver + 2000>>\ <</if>>\ ''[Item Gained: $val Crates of Loot]'' <<var $loot + $val>>\ After seizing as much cargo as you can there's just one issue to address: \ <<if ($val is 14)>>\ the crew swimming away from the wreckage. Your Martial Retainers even managed to save a few that were stuck aboard the ship when it sunk. When all of them are rounded up you have twelve desperate men and women who clinging onto the rowboats you're using to store their own cargo that you very much intend to keep. <<else>>\ the ship's crew. Both of the Martial Artists are off-limits; seizing potential Trialgoers is a deathwish so you have them loaded onto the ship's rowboat and sent to shore. They can walk the rest of the way. The rest of the crew, however, are not Martial Artists. That makes them available. Your Martial Retainers rounds them up at the front deck. <</if>>\ Your captives look up with awe and fear, their gaze locked solely on you, the pirate captain with \ <<if ($roc gt 0)>>\ a Roc painfully and awkwardly clutching onto both of $hisher shoulders. <<else>>\ (someone else's) parrot glaring at them from atop $hisher shoulder. <</if>>\ <<choose "ch6-daycounter">> #"You're all free to go, I'm only after your money." [Let them escape to shore] "You're all free to go." You announce to the frightened prisoners. "I'm a pirate, not a slaver." They stay where they are, frozen in fear. "That means leave." You reiterate. A sudden scramble breaks out as they take no time at all to accept the offer, rushing over each other to \ <<if ($val is 10)>>\ return to their sailing stations and get as far away from you as possible. <<else>>\ swim to shore before you change your mind. <</if>>\ Leaving witnesses is a foolish endeavor that will no doubt increase your infamy, but Kosuke often says you can't say 'infamous' without 'famous'. You're not sure if $bffheshe knows how prefixes work. <<var $prestige + 2>>\ ''[Prestige Increased]'' <<var $ruthless - 2>>\ <<var $honor + 1>>\ <<var $infamy + 5>>\ ''[Infamy Increased]'' <<page "Another day at sea." "ch6-daycounter">>\ #"Congratulations on your new employment!" [Pressgang the crew into chained rowers] Pressganging is your typical go-to, but you can't take these people on as true retainers. You'll be in Nanhou soon, a land of laws where these people no doubt have contacts they were going to meet with. There's no way they'd stay on board, and there's no way they'd keep their mouths shut. Luckily, you are sailing on former Sunbringer ships, and blood cultists tend to have a surplus of chains. With a snap of your fingers you have the crew bound and rowed to your \ <<if ($shipcount gt 1)>>\ ships. <<else>>\ exceedingly crowded ship. <</if>>\ Once there, you have them manacled and chained to the rower's benches where you congratulate them on their new employment. Several men in the lower levels seem disturbed by this new development, but others look on with relief at the chance to do anything but rowing. ''[Acquired 12 Retainers]'' <<var $retainers + 12>>\ ''[Retainer Morale -8]'' <<var $retainer_morale - 8>>\ ''[Retainer Strength +1]'' <<var $retainer_strength + 1>>\ <<var $ruthless + 8>>\ <<var $honor - 4>>\ <<var $infamy + 2>>\ ''[Infamy Increased]'' Leona, on the opposite end of reactions, bites her lip while watching the prisoners get put in chains. <<page "Another day at sea." "ch6-daycounter">>\ <</choose>>

Wave after wave crashes into your face yet you push your body to swim harder and faster for the rest of the day. Your ship threatens to get ahead every time you catch your breath from a splash of salt to the mouth, proving the challenge to be against your psyche just as much as it is against your body. Yet even throughout the physical workout of the marathon swim, you find ways to learn. No amount of Aura Pressure helps your hand grip more water, so surprisingly it's not your Power Core that you rely on, it's your Agility Core. <<var $apval ($agility+$athletics)>>\ <<apboost $apval>>\ <<weightexp>>\ ''[Agility Core EXP Increased]'' <<var $agiexp + Math.round($power/2)>>\ <<if ($background is "Herbalist")>>\ ''[Background Event: Herbalist]'' Just before dusk hits, your nostrils are assailed with the smell of sulfur. //Sulfur.// In the //water.// You don't see any ships in sight and there's no aura within sensory range, so it's not a spill or an enemy or even a Fiend. The water's just as cold as the rest of the sea so it's not a volcanic fissure. That leaves only one natural phenomena that can make localized water smell like sulfur, and you've read about it in Father's notes. You cycle power to your lungs and shout for the ships to stop. Another hundred feet and the flagship drops anchor. It slowly turns to pick you up and you see Leona sitting cross-legged on the ship's railing. "Giving up so soon?" She asks. "Not at all." You reply. "I need a satchel and a barrel. Throw them overboard." The blonde lunargoth blinks, then she leans forward. "Don't keep a \ <<if ($heshe is "she")>>\ sister \ <<else>>\ girl \ <</if>>\ in suspense, what did you find?" "Gravekelp." You say with a victorious grin. It's one of the few ocean herbs you know of, an ash-colored weed superstitiously rumored to sprout from the Hells up to the mortal world. They're a godsend for alchemy and handseals, finding it in the wild is a blessing from the Heavens that only an obscurely trained Herbalist could even recognize. "Never heard of it." Leona says, throwing the satchel overboard with a bored expression. "Trust me," you reply confidently, "the merchants have." You hold your breath and dive deep down, collecting as much into the container as you can. <<if ($spiritbrandloc is "eyes")>>\ ''[Spiritbrand Event]'' Which is an impressive amount, thanks to the subtle glow of your eyes exposing more of the Gravekelp when you reach the dark sea floor. <<var $alchemyreagents + 15>>\ ''[Alchemy Reagents + 15]'' ''[Ritual Components + 10]'' <<var $ritualcomponents + 10>>\ <<else>>\ <<var $alchemyreagents + 10>>\ ''[Alchemy Reagents + 10]'' ''[Ritual Components + 7]'' <<var $ritualcomponents + 7>>\ <</if>>\ On your second trip down you lose your breath when something in the dark waters brushes your arm. The speed of its movement and hardness of its hide sends alarms shivering up your body. You kick away and swim to the surface as fast as possible, not willing to have an underwater fight in the crushing darkness. Then you feel a spiritual scan reach you from below. "Go!" You shout to your ships the second you resurface. "GO GO GO GO!" Adrenaline pumps through your veins and panic runs through your heart while you swim for your life back to your vessel, $auracolor aura blazing. When you finally make it and your \ <<if ($shipcount is 1)>>\ ship \ <<else>>\ ships \ <</if>>\ take off unbothered, it surprises you that nothing comes after you, but then again, you wouldn't leave a feeding ground of spiritual herbs if you were a Beast either. At least, you direly hope it was a Beast. <<else>>\ When dusk comes you make one last dash for your ship and climb aboard, unwilling to fight any mysterious sea creatures in the dark. You may have gained plenty of power in the last few years, but that doesn't mean you've lost intelligence. <</if>>\ <<page "Another day at sea." "ch6-daycounter">>\

You two whip each other back and forth for nearly an hour, each frustrated at the other and putting that frustration into the whip. No Technique magically manifests in your cores to stop the attack or numb the pain, but you do find that your natural Fortitude Cores learn to respond to it better. After the first initial lashes you manage to mitigate most of the unpowered whip's damage to be skin-deep. <<var $apval ($fortitude + (Math.round(($ruthless - 50)/5)))>>\ <<if ($apval lt 5)>>\ <<apboost 5>>\ <<else>>\ <<apboost $apval>>\ <</if>>\ <<var $bocombat + 2>>\ <<var $borep + 4>>\ ''[Bo's Combat Prowess Improved]'' At a certain point you both catch on that Leona is biting her lip while watching the show from the upper platform. You try to raise your whip to strike Bo back after a particularly painful cut across your ankle, but your fighting mood is soured by the look on Leona's face as she starts to chew her shirt while watching you both bleed. "Don't stop!" The blonde Lunargoth barks out when you lower your whip. "Keep going!" "No, the Laborer is right." Bo says, his face covered in lash cuts. He looks down at his whip and back up to the woman in disgust. "You have dishonored the craft." "I didn't!" She protests. "I really didn't! Keep going! Please!" "You're only making it weirder." You add in agreement with Bo. "Grrrah!" She slams a fist onto the upper platform railing and pulls away from view. "You're both useless!" You stop there and return to your captain's cabin to treat your many, many whipping marks. <<var $leonawhipping true>>\ <<page "Another day at sea." "ch6-daycounter">>\

With the whole town to explore, you decide to... <<choose "ch6-town-alchemist">> #Convert currencies. -> "ch6-exchange-currency" #Visit the Sage's Shop. -> "ch6-town-sage" Walking into the shop assails your vision with multi-colored plumes of smoke coming from different incense that seem to be designed for visual effect. The effect on your visuals being...blindness. You wave a hand around while moving through the shop. "Hold!" Booms the voice of what sounds like an unusually wide man. "Don't move another inch! You're about to knock over my jar of lyreflies!" "I can't see!" You shout out back. "Me neither!" Says another voice in the shop. "There were other people in here?!" Shouts another. "For how long? I've been lost for twenty minutes, I thought I was abandoned!" "Stop, each of you." \ #Visit the Alchemist's refinery. #use-once Visit the tavern. -> "ch6-tavern" #use-once Visit the crafter's bazaar. -> "ch6-bazaar" #use-once Visit the local Sect. -> "ch6-sect" #use-once Look for information about the Wild Gods. -> "ch6-shrine" #Finish up in town. [Ends Exploration] -> "ch6-fishing" <</choose>>

The local alchemist's shop is richly stocked with all assortments of powders, vials, preserved organs, and dried plants. It's odd to see Humans working the shop; you've always purchased alchemical components from Oni merchants, but it's not the only oddity of this particular refinery. Unlike the mountainous or forested terrains of most alchemy refiners you visit, this one's setup is entirely sea-based and it smells \ <<if ($subrace is "Cat")>>\ //divine.// <<var $agiexp + 2>>\ Your tail stiffens on edge and your olfactory senses are overloaded with the smell of fish and prey everywhere you look. Ancestors, what a fragrance. You might buy some of these reagents just to keep the scent around. <<else>>\ //awful.// Do they not know they don't have to live like this?! \ <<if ($subrace is "Wolf")>>\ Your tail sags from the overload of your powerful sense of smell. \ <</if>>\ You look through the wares with your fingers over your nose and hope to see something of use quickly so you can get out. <</if>>\ <<choose "ch6-town-alchemist">> #use-if ((($shards + ($silver / 10)) + ($gold * 10)) gte 9) Purchase Alchemy Reagents. [9 Shards] "One moment please!" Shouts a young man up on a ladder, collecting jars for another customer. "There is a writing scroll on the counter, record your order and I will be right with you!" You take a quill and begin recording your order. How many alchemical reagents would you like to purchase? <<var $bingo ((($shards + ($silver / 10)) + ($gold * 10)) % 9)>>\ <<var $bingo (((($shards + ($silver / 10)) + ($gold * 10)) - $bingo) / 9)>>\ <<input-number $val 0 $bingo "ch6-town-alchemistbuy">>\ #use-if ($alchemyreagents gt 0) Sell Alchemy Reagents. <<var $bingo (4 + $persuasion)>>\ <<if ($bingo gt 9)>>\ <<var $bingo 9>>\ <</if>>\ "Hmmm." The older woman behind the counter ponders over your inventory. "It lacks a certain odorous component that any true refiner would desire, but I can still offer $bingo Shards per batch." How many would you like to sell? ''[Currently Owned: $alchemyreagents]'' <<input-number $val 0 $alchemyreagents "ch6-town-alchemistsell">>\ #use-if ((($shards + ($silver / 10)) + ($gold * 10)) gte 100) Purchase a Healing Elixir. [100 Shards] ''[Item Gained: Healing Elixir]'' <<var $healingelixir + 1>>\ <<costcalc 100>>\ #use-if ((($shards + ($silver / 10)) + ($gold * 10)) gte 40) Purchase a Low Grade Agility Pill. [40 Shards] ''[Item Gained: Low Grade Agility Pill]'' <<var $lgagipill + 1>>\ <<costcalc 40>>\ #use-if ((($shards + ($silver / 10)) + ($gold * 10)) gte 50) Purchase a Low Grade Power Pill. [50 Shards] ''[Item Gained: Low Grade Power Pill]'' <<var $lgpowpill + 1>>\ <<costcalc 50>>\ #use-if ((($shards + ($silver / 10)) + ($gold * 10)) gte 50) Purchase a Low Grade Fortitude Pill. [50 Shards] ''[Item Gained: Low Grade Fortitude Pill]'' <<var $lgforpill + 1>>\ <<costcalc 50>>\ #use-if ((($shards + ($silver / 10)) + ($gold * 10)) gte 50) Purchase a Low Grade Soul Pill. [50 Shards] ''[Item Gained: Low Grade Soul Pill]'' <<var $lgsolpill + 1>>\ <<costcalc 50>>\ #use-if ((($shards + ($silver / 10)) + ($gold * 10)) gte 45) Purchase a Common Poison. [45 Shards] ''[Item Gained: Common Poison]'' <<var $commonpoison + 1>>\ <<costcalc 45>>\ #use-if (((($shards + ($silver / 10)) + ($gold * 10)) gte 55) and ($lgpowpillrecipe is 100)) Purchase a Recipe (Low Grade Power Pill) [55 Shards] ''[Alchemy Recipe Unlocked: Low Grade Power Pill]'' <<costcalc 55>>\ <<var $lgpowpillrecipe (6 - $alchemy)>>\ #use-if (((($shards + ($silver / 10)) + ($gold * 10)) gte 60) and ($lgagipillrecipe is 100)) Purchase a Recipe (Low Grade Agility Pill) [60 Shards] ''[Alchemy Recipe Unlocked: Low Grade Agility Pill]'' <<costcalc 60>>\ <<var $lgagipillrecipe (6 - $alchemy)>>\ #use-if (((($shards + ($silver / 10)) + ($gold * 10)) gte 99) and ($replenisherpillrecipe is 100)) Purchase a Recipe (Replenisher Pill) [99 Shards] ''[Alchemy Recipe Unlocked: Replenisher Pill]'' <<costcalc 99>>\ <<var $replenisherpillrecipe (10 - $alchemy)>>\ #Leave. -> "ch6-town" <</choose>>

<<if ($val gt 0)>>\ <<var $alchemyreagents + $val>>\ ''[Item Gained: $val Alchemy Reagents]'' <<var $val * 9>>\ <<costcalc $val>>\ <</if>>\ <<var $val 0>>\ <<unset $bingo>>\ <<include "ch6-town-alchemist">>\

<<if ($calcsilver gt 0)>>\ <<var $bingo ($calcsilver % 10)>>\ <<var $calcsilver - $bingo>>\ <<var $silver - $calcsilver>>\ ''[Item Lost: $calcsilver Silver]'' <<var $bingo ($calcsilver / 10)>>\ <<var $shards + $bingo>>\ ''[Item Gained: $bingo Shards]'' <<elseif ($calcgold gt 0)>>\ ''[Item Lost: $calcgold Gold]'' <<var $gold - $calcgold>>\ <<var $bingo ($calcgold * 10)>>\ ''[Item Gained: $bingo Shards]'' <<var $shards + $bingo>>\ <<else>>\ ''[Item Lost: $calcshards Shards]'' <<var $shards - $calcshards>>\ <<var $bingo + ($calcshards * 10)>>\ ''[Item Gained: $bingo Silver]'' <<var $silver + $bingo>>\ <</if>>\ <<unset $bingo>>\ <<unset $calcshards>>\ <<unset $calcsilver>>\ <<unset $calcgold>>\ <<include "ch6-town">>\

The wide shopkeeper's footsteps echo to your left through the multicolored smoke clouds. "Just tell me what you want and I'll get it for you." A piece of paper slips into your hand through the currently-magenta mist in the store and you squint, pulling it close to your face to read off a list of potent fish scales, alchemical sands, Beast fur clippings, boneshards, incense, and charms. Standing out among the rest, you note a few Scrolls teaching ritual Seals for sale. •Scrolls that teach the Auspicious Northern Seal. [+1 Temporarily to Craft, Perception, or Survival] •Scrolls that teach the Auspicious Southern Seal. [+1 Temporarily to Deception, Stealth, or Thievery] •Scrolls that teach the Auspicious Western Seal. [+1 Temporarily to Athletics, Insight, or Persuasion] •Scrolls that teach the Auspicious Eastern Seal. [+1 Temporarily to Alchemy, Handseals, or Lore] •Scrolls that teach the Reinforcement Seal. [Protect mundane items from chi damage and excessive force.] •Scrolls that teach the Counterseal. [Undo certain existing Seals or Curses] <<if ($reinforceritual is 100)>>\ One ritual stands out among the rest, the Reinforcement Seal. It doesn't dawn on you until just now that the weapons your crew has been using, and your ship itself, are running on borrowed time. They're using the Sunbringer's pre-existing Reinforcement Seals. If they didn't have them, your weapons would have broken the first time you fought a Martial Artist. Preserving them with chi enforcement is a good trick. One you consider learning yourself. <<else>>\ You decide to... <</if>>\ <<choose "ch6-town-sage">> #use-if ((($shards + ($silver / 10)) + ($gold * 10)) gte 8) Purchase Ritual Components. [8 Shards] The sage in the smoke takes your order and moves through the shop, though you can't see him through the thick cloud of alchemically pungent fumes. His footsteps echo all around as he rattles jars and shelves to collect what you need. How many ritual components would you like to purchase? <<var $bingo (((($silver / 10)) + ($gold * 10)) % 8)>>\ <<var $bingo (((($shards + ($silver / 10)) + ($gold * 10)) - $bingo) / 8)>>\ <<var $calcer 0>>\ <<input-number $calcer 0 $bingo "ch6-town-sage-buy">>\ #use-if ($ritualcomponents gt 0) Sell Ritual Components. <<var $bingo (3 + $persuasion)>>\ <<if ($bingo gt 8)>>\ <<var $bingo 8>>\ <</if>>\ The sage in the smoke takes a moment from binding scrolls to look through your collection of expensive inks, blessed seal tags, incense, and cursed animal bones. "Hmm." He says, scratching his beard. "Decent stuff. I can offer $bingo Shards for each." How many would you like to sell? (Currently Owned: $ritualcomponents) <<var $calcer 0>>\ <<input-number $calcer 0 $ritualcomponents "ch6-town-sage-sell">>\ #use-once use-if ((($hungryspiritritual is 1) and ($handseals gte 1)) and ((($shards + ($silver / 10)) + ($gold * 10)) gte 45)) Purchase the Hungry Spirit Seal scroll. [45 Shards] <<costcalc 45>>\ <<var $hungryspiritritual + 1>>\ ''[Seal Learned!! (Hungry Spirit Seal)]'' <<if (($race is "Oni") or ($race is "Kitsune"))>>\ <<if ($race is "Oni")>>\ ''[Racial Bonus: Oni connection to spirits]'' <<else>>\ ''[Racial Bonus: Kitsune connection to spirits]'' <</if>>\ ''[Cost to cycle Shards reduced even further.]'' <<var $hungryspiritritual + 0.4>>\ <</if>>\ #use-once use-if ((($northwindritual is 100) and ($handseals gte 1)) and ((($shards + ($silver / 10)) + ($gold * 10)) gte 110)) Purchase the Auspicious Northern Seal scroll. [110 Shards, Requires Handseals 1] <<costcalc 110>>\ <<var $northwindritual (6 - ($sealdiscount + $handseals))>>\ <<if ($northwindritual lte 0)>>\ <<var $northwindritual 1>>\ <</if>>\ ''[Seal Learned!! (Auspicious Northern Seal)]'' #use-once use-if ((($southwindritual is 100) and ($handseals gte 1)) and ((($shards + ($silver / 10)) + ($gold * 10)) gte 110)) Purchase the Auspicious Southern Seal scroll. [110 Shards, Requires Handseals 1] <<costcalc 110>>\ <<var $southwindritual (6 - ($sealdiscount + $handseals))>>\ <<if ($southwindritual lte 0)>>\ <<var $southwindritual 1>>\ <</if>>\ ''[Seal Learned!! (Auspicious Southern Seal)]'' #use-once use-if ((($westwindritual is 100) and ($handseals gte 1)) and ((($shards + ($silver / 10)) + ($gold * 10)) gte 120)) Purchase the Auspicious Western Seal scroll. [120 Shards, Requires Handseals 1] <<costcalc 120>>\ <<var $westwindritual (6 - ($sealdiscount + $handseals))>>\ <<if ($westwindritual lte 0)>>\ <<var $westwindritual 1>>\ <</if>>\ ''[Seal Learned!! (Auspicious Western Seal)]'' #use-once use-if ((($eastwindritual is 100) and ($handseals gte 1)) and ((($shards + ($silver / 10)) + ($gold * 10)) gte 120)) Purchase the Auspicious Eastern Seal scroll. [120 Shards, Requires Handseals 1] <<costcalc 120>>\ <<var $eastwindritual (6 - ($sealdiscount + $handseals))>>\ <<if ($eastwindritual lte 0)>>\ <<var $eastwindritual 1>>\ <</if>>\ ''[Seal Learned!! (Auspicious Eastern Seal)]'' #use-once use-if ((($reinforceritual is 100) and ($handseals gte 1)) and ((($shards + ($silver / 10)) + ($gold * 10)) gte 65)) Purchase the Reinforcement scroll. [65 Shards, Requires Handseals 1] <<costcalc 65>>\ <<var $reinforceritual (8 - ($sealdiscount + $handseals))>>\ <<if ($reinforceritual lte 0)>>\ <<var $reinforceritual 1>>\ <</if>>\ ''[Seal Learned!! (Reinforcement)]'' #use-once use-if ((($countersealritual is 100) and ($handseals gte 3)) and ((($shards + ($silver / 10)) + ($gold * 10)) gte 220)) Purchase the Counterseal scroll. [220 Shards, Requires Handseals 3] <<costcalc 220>>\ <<var $countersealritual (5 - ($sealdiscount + $handseals))>>\ <<if ($countersealritual lte 0)>>\ <<var $countersealritual 1>>\ <</if>>\ ''[Seal Learned!! (Counterseal)]'' #Leave. -> "ch6-town" <</choose>>

In the dawn of the next day you decide to board \ <<if ($shipcount is 2)>>\ both \ <<else>>\ all \ <</if>>\ your ships and see who among your retainers has an aura. None of them are Warrior Caste so you unfortunately won't be getting any fellow contestants in the Trials, but it's for the best. You leave Leona, Bo, and Kosuke on your flagship and travel to the others via plank which proves much more difficult than you thought. Waves truly do not care about your \ <<if (($element1 is "Water") or ($element2 is "Water"))>>\ plans, though luckily your spirit rages with Elemental power able to calm them enough to get everyone organized. ''[Water Element Event: Aura Pressure +4]'' <<var $aurapressure + 4>>\ <<else>>\ plans. <</if>>\ After a couple hours of shuffling crews you're on your secondary ship's deck with every retainer with an aura gathered, \ <<if (($martial_retainers is 0) or ($martial_retainers is 1))>>\ which is to say...one. \ <<elseif ($martial_retainers is 2)>>\ which is a meager two. \ <<else>>\ $martial_retainers in total. \ <</if>>\ That is, until \ <<if ($underlings is 1)>>\ a familiar face joins \ <<else>>\ <<if ($underlings is 2)>>\ a couple \ <<else>>\ a few \ <</if>>\ familiar faces join \ <</if>>\ the fray. "Well I'll be damned." You say, looking at the \ <<if ($underlings is 1)>>\ man's embarrassed face as he marches \ <<else>>\ embarrassed faces of your underlings marching \ <</if>>\ on up deck with soft white-gray light misting off \ <<if ($underlings is 1)>>\ his \ <<else>>\ their \ <</if>>\ shoulders. "I'm not just surprised you \ <<if ($underlings isnot 1)>>\ guys \ <</if>>\ pulled off an Advancement, I'm surprised you stayed." <<if ($underlings is 1)>>\ Your underling, once captured and forced into your servitude, \ <<else>>\ The one in front, a Human with a scar on his mouth, \ <</if>>\ grunts in response. "Not like there was anywhere else to go in Ebikowa, or on the ocean." <<if ($underlings isnot 1)>>\ The others nod along. <</if>>\ That's a good point. Now that you have a legitimate group of retainers and ships, it does look like you pressganged \ <<if ($underlings is 1)>>\ this man \ <<else>>\ these men \ <</if>>\ like some sort of pirate. It was fine when you were an upstart throwing your weight around, but something about being so high above \ <<if ($underlings is 1)>>\ him \ <<else>>\ them \ <</if>>\ now gives the situation a different feeling. Then again, now that \ <<if ($underlings is 1)>>\ he has an aura, he's \ <<else>>\ they have auras, they're \ <</if>>\ even more valuable to your crew. You ponder your next words carefully... <<var $val ($underlings * 20)>>\ <<choose "ch6-nextday2">> #"You're free to go when we reach port." "You're free to go when we reach port." You say, giving up your command. <<if ($ruthless lt 50)>>\ ''[Compassion Event]'' "Nah." \ <<if ($underlings is 1)>>\ He \ <<else>>\ The man in front \ <</if>>\ replies. "Nah?" You say, lips twisted as if you'd tasted a lemon. "What do you mean //nah?// You can't 'nah' a declaration of freedom." "I'm sticking around, figure there's more opportunity here. Plus you seem like a softie, there's worse bosses out there." <<if ($underlings isnot 1)>>\ The others murmur in agreement. <</if>>\ It seems you have a reverse-mutiny on your hands; they're forcing you to be your Captain. ''[Martial Retainers +$underlings]'' <<var $martial_retainers + $underlings>>\ <<var $underlings 0>>\ Life is strange. <<else>>\ You can see the tension leave the air when your \ <<if ($underlings is 1)>>\ underling finds out that he's got his freedom back. \ <<else>>\ underlings find out they've got their freedom back. \ <</if>>\ "Thank you, Young <<if ($heshe is "he")>>\ Master. \ <<else>>\ Mistress. \ <</if>>\ <<if ($underlings is 1)>>\ Truly. I was worried I'd \ <<else>>\ Truly." Says the one stepping in front, shaking your hand. "We were all worried we'd \ <</if>>\ never see another free day in \ <<if ($underlings is 1)>>\ my increasingly short life." <<else>>\ our increasingly short lives." <</if>>\ "Increasingly short?" You ask. A bead of sweat runs down \ <<if ($underlings is 1)>>\ his face. \ <<else>>\ their faces. A different one speaks up this time. \ <</if>>\ "No offense meant, Young \ <<if ($heshe is "he")>>\ Master. \ <<else>>\ Mistress. \ <</if>>\ It's just that, well...You seem to attract trouble." An involuntary snort escapes your nose. You can't even be offended by that, it's completely accurate. <</if>>\ <<var $ruthless - 4>>\ <<var $honor + 2>>\ <<page "Continue" "ch6-nextday2">>\ #use-if ((($shards + ($silver / 10)) + ($gold * 10)) gte $val) "We got off on a bad foot but there's food, lodging, and decent pay if you stay." [Costs $val Shards] You didn't expect to have to secure the loyalty of your \ <<if ($underlings is 1)>>\ underling but his aura has \ <<else>>\ underlings but their auras have \ <</if>>\ changed things. Luckily, you're not broke. "Let's make one thing clear," you say first, "we got off on a bad foot, yes, but this is a dangerous world and you've made it more dangerous for you with that weak aura. If you stay in a group it can be a blessing instead of a curse. There's food, lodging, and decent pay if you stay." "I've got more values than just money, \ <<if ($heshe is "he")>>\ sir." \ <<else>>\ ma'am." \ <</if>>\ <<if ($underlings is 1)>>\ He says, oddly respectfully. \ <<else>>\ The one in front says. \ <</if>>\ "I've been a prisoner to others too long, I want freedom." <<costcalc $val>>\ You throw a satchel of money at the floor in front of \ <<if ($underlings isnot 1)>>\ them. One of them kicks it open to see how much is inside and the one speaking \ <<else>>\ him. He picks it up and opens the string to see how much is inside and \ <</if>>\ clears his throat. "Forget I said anything." <<var $martial_retainers + $underlings>>\ ''[Martial Retainers +$underlings]'' <<var $underlings 0>>\ <<var $honor + 3>>\ <<page "Continue" "ch6-nextday2">>\ #"Aura or no, never forget that you serve me. I have plenty of men to hunt you down now, don't even think of escaping." <<var $ruthless + 3>>\ <<var $honor - 1>>\ You walk up to the \ <<if ($underlings is 1)>>\ man pressed into your service and remind him exactly where he stands in the pecking order. \ <<else>>\ line of men pressed into your service and remind them exactly where they stand in the pecking order. \ <</if>>\ "Aura or no, never forget that you \ <<if ($underlings is 2)>>\ both \ <<elseif ($underlings isnot 1)>>\ all \ <</if>>\ serve me. I have plenty of men to hunt you down now, so don't even think of escaping." <<if ($martial_retainers gte 2)>>\ You glance over to your other retainers who have unlocked auras, and they nod back in confirmation, ready to act against your underlings if need be. <</if>>\ <<var $val 3>>\ <<if ($ruthless gt 60)>>\ ''[Ruthless Check Passed: Reduced Difficulty]'' <<var $val - 1>>\ <<elseif ($ruthless lt 50)>>\ ''[Ruthless Check Failed: Difficulty Increased]'' <<var $val + 1>>\ <</if>>\ <<if ($persuasion gt $val)>>\ ''[Persuasion $val Check Passed]'' <<var $powexp + 1>>\ Your \ <<if ($underlings is 1)>>\ underling nods, eyes cast low. It's clear he knows that no amount of power will let him escape your grasp. \ <<else>>\ underlings nod, eyes cast low. It's clear they know that no amount of power will let them escape your grasp. \ <</if>>\ ''[Martial Retainers +$underlings] <<var $martial_retainers + $underlings>>\ <<var $underlings 0>>\ Pleased, you return to your ship. \ <<else>>\ ''[Persuasion $val Check Failed]'' "That's true..." \ <<if ($underlings is 1)>>\ Says your underling. \ <<else>>\ Says one of your underlings, the one on the left. \ <</if>>\ "But have you considered the fact \ <<if ($underlings is 1)>>\ that-" He surges an Agility Core and sprints off the ship. <<else>>\ that-SCATTER!!" He screams, and your underlings all surge agility cores and run off the ship. You can't believe your luck. They all have //one// immortal core and it's Agility for every one of them? Bastards. <</if>>\ <<if ($martial_retainers gte 2)>>\ "HOLD!" You shout to your martial retainers before they give chase. "They'll only be trouble if we bring them back on board, let the bastards drown. We're on the high seas anyway." <<else>>\ You don't even bother giving chase; \ <<if ($underlings is 1)>>\ he'll \ <<else>>\ they'll \ <</if>>\ only be a problem if you bring \ <<if ($underlings is 1)>>\ him \ <<else>>\ them \ <</if>>\ back on board. Plus you're on the high seas, so you take solace in knowing \ <<if ($underlings is 1)>>\ he'll \ <<else>>\ they'll \ <</if>>\ probably drown. <</if>>\ Still, the loss of \ <<if ($underlings is 1)>>\ a \ <</if>>\ potentially useful \ <<if ($underlings is 1)>>\ aura wielder \ <<else>>\ men \ <</if>>\ irks you. You storm off back to your ship, unfulfilled. <</if>>\ <<page "Continue" "ch6-nextday2">>\ <</choose>>

<<if ($ruthless gte 60)>>\ "You can go." You reply, waving the scribe off. "I need something to punch." <<else>>\ "Thank you for your assistance, Imperial Scribe, but I did not come this far to surrender." <<var $forexp + 1>>\ <</if>>\ The masked woman responds with a heavy bow. "As the $ymaster wishes." With that, she leaps overboard and begins a steady swim back to shore. You dismiss the rest of your crew below deck for their safety and approach the bow, facing the blockade of ships between you and Nanhou. "So how do we do this, should I shout over to them?" Kosuke shrugs beside you. "I'm sure they'll tell us what to do if we approach." "Or they volley us with cannonfire." You counter. "So you //don't// want me to lift anchor?" You look back to the row of warships, take a deep breath, and emanate $auracolor energy around your fists. "Lift it." <<page "Continue" "ch7-armada2">>\

Kosuke pulls anchor and your ship flows with the high tide towards the blockade. Two miles south you can see outbursts of light as two other ships have their own trialgoers fight the Callous champions to gain entry, and another flash occurs a mile north. It's surreal to realize you're not the only one facing this challenge; you're in the true Martial World now. After drifting onward for half a mile, black smoke erupts around three of the Callous Armada junkships that you're approaching. Their cannons fire into the water in front of your vessel and nearly clip your hull; you've never seen Kosuke react so fast when $bffheshe drops anchor again immediately after. "Hold, stranger!" Calls a booming voice from one of the ships. "Come no further. You should know the game by now, you're to surrender your vessel or be beaten bloody, //then// surrender your vessel. Who am I speaking to?" "<<cap $fullname>> of \ <<if (dig($trialdeets, 1) is 1)>>\ the <<cap $clan>> Clan!" <<else>>\ Thunderfall Village!" <</if>>\ "Did you say <<cap $clan>>? Don't move." You can barely make out the shape of the man leaving his post at the front of his ship. It doesn't matter, because he doesn't return. Instead an agile-bodied Oni in leather armors takes his place. <<if ($portraitpics is true)>>\ <<image "https://www.auraclash.com/assets/images/daichi.jpg">>\ <</if>>\ The redskinned man's spiked white hair and arrogant smile reflect the sun too brightly as he saunters to the tip of his ship's bow. "If it isn't the $clan $boygirl! What a treat for me, they say you're the one that beat Crusher Jack!" The man shouts, as if your childhood bouts were somehow imperial news. "That overrated coward came by land, so feel honored! You'll be the strongest fighter to be crushed by Callous Daichi!" "Are you the one in charge of this blockade?" You call back. The man laughs. "Of course not, you idiot. You don't know anything if you don't even know who runs the Callous Clan! We're a large family, one you'd do well to avoid." "I accept your offer to avoid you!" You shout back. "I'll sail around the blockade and avoid you all, as requested." Your eyebrows lower and your voice deepens to emphasize your next point. "I trust my ships will be unbothered, as I am following the orders of the great Callous Daichi." Daichi's jaw drops and he looks back to someone on his ship, then back to you. "No. No! That's not what we agreed on! You're facing me!" So close, yet so far. You sigh and try strategy number two. "Can I talk to the man in charge instead?" You ask across the wide divide between your ships, enhancing your lungs with chi. "You're not worth his time, moron!" Daichi yells louder, growing impatient. "And you're an even //bigger// moron if you want to see him! I'm more than enough to bury you, Goro is on a whole other level, don't you dare waste his time." <<if ($honor lte 40)>>\ ''[Honor Check Failed]'' "So you say." You reply. "But you seem like the type to cry for help when losing, are you //sure// we can't skip this whole skirmish and call this 'Callous Goro'? I don't want to waste my own time on two fights." "Oh you think you're funny?!" Daichi begins to hop in place, shaking his hands out and mock-laughing. "Real funny, yeah! Like a jester! We've got a real fucking clown on our hands!" With one last hop he stomps on the deck and screams out, "We'll see how funny you are when I cut your arms off and flay the stumps! Don't you ''ever'' look down on me! I am CALLOUS DAICHI you no-name trash! " ''[Your crass personality has enraged Callous Daichi, increasing the difficulty of this fight.]'' <<var $daifight 1>>\ <<var $switchword1 "My mistake, what">>\ <<var $switchword2 "Fine, you asked for it. We">>\ <<else>>\ ''[Honor Check Passed]'' So his boss's name is Callous Goro. That's some information for free. You consider your next words carefully. <</if>>\ <<if ($background is "Merchant")>>\ <<var $val ($shipcount * 90)>>\ <<else>>\ <<var $val ($shipcount * 100)>>\ <</if>>\ <<if ($daifight is 1)>>\ <<var $val + (15 * $shipcount)>>\ <</if>>\ <<include "ch7-armadachat">>\

<<choose "ch7-seajump">> #"Fine, let's settle this!" "Fine!" You shout out to the Oni ship commander. "If you want a fight then let's settle this!" "Are you serious?" Kosuke asks by your side. "The guy owns an army with cannons." "No," you correct, "his relative owns an army with cannons. Besides, I came here to fight ten thousand people. What's one more?" Kosuke blinks with $bffhisher mouth open. "That makes sense in a stupid kind of way." <<if (($honor gt 54) or ($ruthless gt 60))>>\ "It makes sense in a smart kind of way, too." \ <<var $bffrep - 1>>\ <<else>>\ "What can I say, I'm the smartest idiot I know." \ <<var $bffrep + 2>>\ <</if>>\ #use-if ((($shards + ($silver / 10)) + ($gold * 10)) gte $val) "$switchword1 if I offer this tribute instead?" [Costs $val Shards] "You offer a difficult challenge, Callous Daichi! What if I counter with this tribute instead?" You tie off a large sack of money, secure it tightly, and spin in place to throw it across the wide divide of your two ships. When you let go it soars hundreds of feet and lands soundly on Daichi's deck with a satisfying smack. <<costcalc $val>>\ $val Shards crash onto Callous Daichi's ship and spill out in all directions. You can't see his face well enough from this distance but you can see his body language, and your offer certainly gives him pause. "You should have said so sooner!" The Oni shouts across the waves, crouching down to collect the sizeable payment. "Your tribute is accepted, sail through!" ''[Item Lost: $val Shards]'' <<var $val 0>>\ ''[Commerce Increased]'' <<var $commerce + 2>>\ ''[Prestige Increased]'' <<var $prestige + 1>>\ <<if ($background is "Merchant")>>\ <<var $commerce + 1>>\ <<var $prestige + 1>>\ <</if>>\ <<var $txt "There are some things money can't buy, but it turns out this wasn't one of them.">>\ <<page "Continue" "ch7-sailthrough">>\ #use-once "<<print $switchword2>> shall face each other...in janken!" -> "ch7-janken" #use-if (($flagshiptype is "transport") or (($style is "Kiihakai") and ($stylerank gte 2))) "I don't have time for this." [Try to sail through the blockade.] "I don't have time for this." You declare, turning at the bow of your ship. "Everyone back to your stations, we're sailing through!" "Are you serious?" Kosuke asks, ducking and rising at an angle to look between your face and the cannon-armed armada behind you. "We're sailing through that? In this?" You grab a rope nearby and yank, unfurling a quarter-section of the sail. "Yes." Kosuke lets out a low whistle. "Might as well flip them off while we're dying." You cross the deck and pull another rope. "You can." "Thanks \ <<if ($bffromance gte 1)>>\ darling. \ <<else>>\ boss. \ <</if>>\ Means a lot." The rest of your crew runs up from below deck and gets to work, pulling anchor and prepping the sail. You and Kosuke run below deck to help with the oars. Quickly the ship picks up pace and starts approaching the armada, much to Callous Daichi's surprise. "What are you..." His voice trails off from across the waves until it picks back up in a frenzied outburst. "FIRE! Fire the cannons! I WANT EVERY CANNON FIRING ON THAT SHIP!" The crews must have been braced for the turbulent waves of Martial Combat instead of manning their cannoneer stations, because it takes a while for the first volleys to go off. You nearly reach a gap between blockade ships when the vessels to your right and left fire their blackpowder siege weapons at your path. <<page "FULL SPEED AHEAD!" "ch7-sailattempt">>\ #show-if ($desnuke gt 0) use-if ($desnuke isnot 1000) "I don't have time for this." [Unleash ''//The Last Dream//'' on his ship] "I don't have time for this." You say, holding up your branded hand. The fiery mark swirls across your wrist and launches forward like a flaming arrow. The attack launches faster than most, but not fast enough to move the waves. It's nothing special. Nothing a hull's Seals shouldn't defend against. <<var $desnuke 1000>>\ When it collides with the Daichi's flagship hull, the Fire Spirit's sealed fuuinjutsu tag releases and ejects Desdemona's combustible powders, explosive vials, and the full might of the Fire Spirit's strongest attack. ''*KRAKOOM*'' The two ships flanking Daichi's lose half their lower hulls from the resulting spherical explosion of red and orange swirling fire. Both sink into the oceanic bowl formed from the blinding explosion. As for your target ship, nothing remains. One moment the Callous Armada's flagship stands resolute, a potent and intimidating three-storied junkship outfitted with explosive siege engines. The next there's nothing but fire, smoke, and a quickly filling crater of water. The debris is launched so high that it won't even pelt the surrounding waters for nearly a minute. Back on Nanhou, the people shield their eyes as your blinding flash of light erases the symbol of Callous Clan power. ''[Prestige Greatly Increased]'' <<var $prestige + 5>>\ <<page "Continue" "ch7-armadadream">>\ <</choose>>

"Raise the anchor." You say calmly to Kosuke behind you. "I think they got the message." "WHAT?" Kosuke shouts. "Raise the anchor." You say a little louder. "I think th-" "WHAT?" Kosuke yells, holding $bffhisher ears and wincing from the explosion. "RAISE THE DAMN ANCHOR!" You scream back. "YOU DON'T HAVE TO SHOUT!" <<cap $bffheshe>> snaps, sticking $bffhisher tongue out at you and leaving to raise the anchor. You shake your head and remain on the bow to stare down anyone else that may get in your way. Minutes pass and your sails and rowers take you through the gaping hole in the Callous blockade. The burning rubble of the three destroyed ships is nowhere in sight, already drowned beneath the waves. You see an unconscious Daichi being dragged by survivors, but they don't resuscitate him. Instead they swim to the nearest ship which looks suspiciously further away than it was a moment ago. It seems they took the message after all. "Thank goodness." You mumble to yourself. "I thought they'd be more trouble." <<var $gorobonus 4>>\ <<var $val2 1887>>\ <<include "ch7-sailthrough">>\

<<var $element1rank + 1>>\ ''[<<cap $element1>> Mastery Improved to'' \ <<if ($element1rank is 2)>>\ ''"Adept"]'' <<elseif ($element1rank is 3)>>\ ''"Elite"]'' <<elseif ($element1rank is 4)>>\ ''"Master"]'' <<elseif ($element1rank gte 5)>>\ ''"Sage"]'' <</if>>\ <<page "Continue" "ch7-goroevent">>\

<<var $element2rank + 1>>\ ''[<<cap $element2>> Mastery Improved to'' \ <<if ($element2rank is 2)>>\ ''"Adept"]'' <<elseif ($element2rank is 3)>>\ ''"Elite"]'' <<elseif ($element2rank is 4)>>\ ''"Master"]'' <<elseif ($element2rank gte 5)>>\ ''"Sage"]'' <</if>>\ <<page "Continue" "ch7-goroevent">>\

You don't sense his aura returning. <<var $stylerank + 1>>\ ''[<<cap $style>> Mastery Improved to'' \ <<if ($stylerank is 2)>>\ ''"Adept"]'' <<elseif ($stylerank is 3)>>\ ''"Elite"]'' <</if>>\ <<page "Continue" "ch7-goroevent">>\

<<if ($val is 567)>>\ After several seconds you sense Callous Daichi charging deep into the sea to find you, but you're already on the ocean floor. If he wants to face you he'll have to come down into the darkest part of the battlefield. \ Where you're waiting. <<else>>\ The emerald energy from all around swirls inward like a Wind Gate, coalescing around Daichi like a barrier of force around his body. The Oni holds both hands up and they thrum with white chi, channeling the spiritual pressure all around him. "Time to get serious, $clan! Face my-" You're already thirty-feet below the surface, swimming down to avoid being hit by what is obviously a massive Wind Technique. Seconds later, above you, Callous Daichi charges into the sea with an incredible burst of Wind speed, launching towards your location. You're not sure if he made any clever or outraged remarks; you're underwater. What you do notice, with your spiritual perception locking onto the massive Wind Chi leaking off him as his Technique fades, is he's not coming at you in a straight line. You're too far underwater, you realize. He can't see you. <</if>>\ <<var $txt "In seconds, Daichi gets to the bottom of the sea and turns over, touching his feet onto the muddied sand.">>\ <<var $combatstat "power">>\ <<var $combatskill "stealth">>\ <<discount "Kurokonton" 2>>\ <<discount "Water" 1>>\ <<discount "Storm" 1>>\ <<discount "Darkness" 1>>\ <<combatcheck (9+$daifight)>>\ <<if ($passcheck is true)>>\ $txt Yet he doesn't see you before it's too late. From beneath the sand, covered in mud, you lurch up with an uppercut hammering into his jaw. The ambush knocks him off balance and you kick off the sands, coating your hand in $auracolor chi while chopping him in the neck. He gasps for air, dismissing the Wind Technique and grabbing his throat with both hands. Then he inhales seawater, and panics. In one desperate repose he pushes you away with a Wind shove and floats to the surface with Wind acceleration, but the water is already in his lungs. The damage is done. <<else>>\ $txt You burst from the sands beneath him, delivering an uppercut towards his jaw. Before your fist connects, a searing pain runs through your abdomen where he stabs you with the Wind Chi blade covering his forearm. <<if ($eblocktech isnot "")>>\ ''[$eblocktech Activated, Damage Reduced]'' <<woundcheck 1 false false>>\ <<else>>\ <<woundcheck 2 false false>>\ <</if>>\ You gasp from the pain, inhaling seawater, and kick off his chest to push yourself towards the surface. On your way out, he swings his other hand back to slice your leg. You snap-kick his nose, causing him to recoil just enough for you to escape. \ <<var $val 33>>\ <</if>>\ <<page "Continue" "ch7-daichiblast2">>\

The two of you emerge from the sea at the same \ <<if (($element1 is "Water") or ($element2 is "Water"))>>\ time. He gasps for air, but you were able to absorb oxygen from the water around you. <<if ($chispent gt 0)>>\ <<var $chispent - 1>>\ ''[1 Chi Restored]'' <<elseif ($solspent gt 0)>>\ <<var $solspent - 1>>\ ''[1 Soul Core Restored]'' <</if>>\ <<else>>\ time, gasping for air. <</if>>\ "Ready to surrender?" You \ <<if ($val is 33)>>\ ask, bleeding from the nose and mouth. Daichi blows seawater out of his nose, his hair \ <<if (($hairlength is "Bald") or ($hairlength is "Buzzed"))>>\ soaked. \ <<else>>\ just as soaked as yours. \ <</if>>\ "I'm not taking shit from someone who tries to hide and fails." He splashes the water around him to rise five feet higher, then shouts out, "FIRE THE CANNONS!" Behind you, the cannons on each of the armed and loaded warships adjusts their aim on your location. <<else>>\ ask as he hacks out the water. "Ne-HUK, UGH, HURR-" He vomits from the forced coughing. "N-NEVER!" He finally screams. "Fine then." You declare, glowing $auracolor all around your body. "Let's finish th-" "FIRE THE CANNONS!" He screams out to the armada of armed and loaded warships behind you. Ah. <</if>>\ You'd forgotten about those. <<page "Oh no." "ch7-daichifight-cannon">>\

<div class="fightingfont">Thunderfaller vs Callous Daichi</div>\ <<statcheck>>\ <<var $fighting true>>\ A line of water erupts ten feet into the air to your right, stretching from \ <<if ($janken is "Loss")>>\ the scene of your janken duel \ <<else>>\ Daichi's ship \ <</if>>\ all the way behind you in the same instant like a wall of water manifesting across the sea. You turn your head to see the line of water continue fifty-feet past you until it explodes with another flash of emerald light and turns, rushing at you fast. <<var $txt "A purple-glowing blade passes through the geyser-wave">>\ <<var $combatstat "fortitude">>\ <<var $combatskill "insight">>\ <<discount "Akakiru" 1>>\ <<discount "Wind" 1>>\ <<combatcheck (10+$daifight)>>\ <<if ($passcheck is true)>>\ $txt but the glancing blow leaves only a shallow cut against your hardened skin. <<else>>\ $txt when it rushes by you, slicing against your calf. <<woundcheck 1 true false>>\ <</if>>\ That's when you realize it's not a Water Technique. It's the wake of Callous Daichi's movement as he runs over the sea's surface faster than a deadly arrow. "Do you see it yet?" Daichi taunts, circling around \ <<if (((($element1 is "Water") or ($element2 is "Water")) or ((($element1 is "Wind") and ($element1rank gte 2)) or (($element2 is "Wind") and ($element2rank gte 2)))) or (($element1 is "Ice") or ($element2 is "Ice")))>>\ you \ <<else>>\ your rowboat \ <</if>>\ to form a cylindrical waterwall twenty-feet high, blocking off your escape. "//This// is what the Callous Clan represents! //This// is true power! //''This''// is overwhelming speed!" <<choose "ch7-daichifight-wind">> #Track his movements. You \ <<if ((($element1 is "Wind") and ($element1rank gte 2)) or (($element2 is "Wind") and ($element2rank gte 2)))>>\ hover in place \ <<elseif ((($element1 is "Water") or ($element2 is "Water")) or (($element1 is "Ice") or ($element2 is "Ice")))>>\ stand still \ <<else>>\ stand up on your rowboat \ <</if>>\ and flicker your vision up, down, left, right, left, and right again. With each glimpse of Daichi's shadow through the water you build a better image of his pattern. Then he strikes. <<var $combatstat "agility">>\ <<var $combatskill "perception">>\ <<if ($insight gte 3)>>\ ''[Insight 3 Check Passed: +1 Battle Prowess]'' <<var $cmod + 1>>\ <</if>>\ <<discount "Storm" 1>>\ <<discount "Light" 1>>\ <<if ($element1 is "Wind")>>\ <<discount $element1rank>>\ <<elseif ($element2 is "Wind")>>\ <<discount $element2rank>>\ <</if>>\ <<combatcheck (10+$daifight)>>\ <<if ($passcheck is true)>>\ The water behind you explodes when Daichi turns ninety-degrees and charges, both blades drawn and spearing toward you. You sidestep his lunge and grab him by the neck, enhancing your wrist and elbow with the full might of your Fortitude Cores. Rather than having to hit him back, you use the intense speed of his own charge to crush his adam's apple into your palm. His eyes bulge out of his head when you catch him, then you toss him airborne and spin-kick him anyway. He soars one-hundred feet before splashing into the sea. <<var $subm true>>\ <<else>>\ From behind?! You were so confident he'd strike from the left that you don't have time to react when he charges from the right, behind you. His wakizashi pierces through your lower back with a coating of Cursed Chi, draining your life force as blood pools into your skewered kidney. <<if ($pblocktech isnot "")>>\ ''[$pblocktech Activated, Damage Reduced]'' <<woundcheck 1 false false>>\ <<else>>\ <<woundcheck 2 false false>>\ <</if>>\ <<if ((($chipool + ($soul/2)) - $chispent) gte 1)>>\ ''[1 Chi Point Drained]'' <<var $chispent + 1>>\ <</if>>\ <<if ($powspent lt $power)>>\ ''[1 Power Core Drained]'' <</if>>\ You grab the blade with one hand and slam a $auracolor-glowing in a backward arc, hoping to hit the man, but he leaps high overhead in a vaulting jump that takes him one-hundred feet away. <</if>>\ <<page "Continue" "ch7-daichifight2">>\ #Brace for impact. Callous Daichi's running speed is so fast that you can't even see his movements. With no chance to dodge his attack, you fall back to other options. A mental game. You play out the\ <<if ($race is "Oni")>>\ fellow \ <</if>>\ Oni's best options to determine where he'll attack first and put up your guard at the opportune time for his attack, fortifying your body with defensive chi. <<var $combatstat "fortitude">>\ <<var $combatskill "lore">>\ <<discount "Earth" 1>>\ <<discount "Midorikatai" 1>>\ <<combatcheck (11+$daifight)>>\ <<if ($passcheck is true)>>\ In the split second of time you have to guard, your arms harden and cover your organs. Then, in quick realization, you shift stance and push both palms down. If Daichi's speed is this great, his perception must be improved too. He should see where you're guarding and adjust his target. Your fists connect with his weapons just as they slice down at your upper legs. You punch the flat of both blades and knock them aside to avoid being crippled by a hair's breadth when you deflect his deadly blades. His face blurs past you to the side and you knee him in the gut, sending him flying over your shoulder with a bruised abdomen as the momentum of his charge launches him one-hundred feet behind you. He tumbles over the water's surface until finally splashing under. \ <<var $subm true>>\ <<else>>\ By the time you realize your mistake it's too late. You cover your organs and press your Fortitude Cores to exude all your defensive chi to your arms, and that's when you realize that if Daichi can move this fast, he can react this fast. Seeing your guard, the Oni charges through the water and past you, slicing his wakizashi into your legs on the way. <<woundcheck 2 true false>>\ You slam your hardened fist at his retreating side the moment he cuts against you, but he blocks it with his other blade and your attack merely knocks him away, dozens of feet out to sea. \ <</if>>\ <<page "Continue" "ch7-daichifight2">>\ #show-if ($style is "Aoyusumu") use-if ((($chipool + ($soul/2)) - $chispent) gte 1) Surround yourself with a Sacred Barrier. [Requires Aoyusumu, Costs 1 Chi] An opponent so fast that you can't even see him is a frightful difficulty. For others. You throw both arms to the side and your whole body reverberates with glowing Sacred Chi. Pulse after pulse of cerulean psionic energy surges out of your body in a half-second and forms a circular barrier all around you. ''[1 Chi Point Spent]'' <<var $chispent + 1>>\ Just as quickly, Callous Daichi is upon you. The waves before you part to your right and his blades collide into your Sacred shield at incredible speeds. To your surprise, they break through. Your own barrier shatters from his Technique and he lunges at you with an invigorated laugh. "Hahahaha not enough! You're not enough!!" <<var $combatstat "agility">>\ <<discount "Legs" 1>>\ <<discount "Agile" 1>>\ <<discount "Herbalist" 1>>\ <<if ($stylerank gte 2)>>\ ''[Advanced Style Rank: +1 Battle Prowess]'' <<var $cmod + 1>>\ <</if>>\ <<combatcheck (6+$daifight)>>\ <<if ($passcheck is true)>>\ <<if ($background is "Herbalist")>>\ He stabs into a cloud of itching powder you throw into his face. From his side, your fist appears through the smokescreen and slams into his temple. <<var $powexp + 2>>\ <<else>>\ Using Sacred Chi to nudge him slightly to the right, you sidestep his lunge and punch him in the face. <</if>>\ Improvisation is key. <<else>>\ His blades graze your front and back as you turn sideways, slicing against the skin with their razor's edge. <<woundcheck 1 true false>>\ You haven't turned sideways to dodge, however. A fact the \ <<if ($race is "Oni")>>\ fellow \ <</if>>\ Oni learns when you finish twisting your torso to put your full weight into a haymaker punch. Your fist catches his face with a satisfying crunch. <</if>>\ The momentum of Daichi's charge pushes his cheek into your fist and snaps his head back. His body flies forward and he's thrown into a series of backflips hundreds of feet behind you before he splashes into the ocean. <<var $subm true>>\ "Hah!" Kosuke shouts your flagship a mile away. <<page "Continue" "ch7-daichifight2">>\ #show-if (($element1 is "Wind") or ($element2 is "Wind")) use-if (((($element1 is "Wind") and ($element1rank gte 2)) or (($element2 is "Wind") and ($element2rank gte 2))) and ((($chipool + ($soul/2)) - $chispent) gte 1)) Fly into the air. [Requires Wind Adept, Costs 1 Chi] #show-if (($element1 is "Ice") or ($element2 is "Ice")) use-if (((($element1 is "Ice") and ($element1rank gte 2)) or (($element2 is "Ice") and ($element2rank gte 2))) and ((($chipool + ($soul/2)) - $chispent) gte 2)) Flashfreeze the water around you. [Requires Ice (Adept), Costs 2 Chi] With a snap of your finger the Water Chi all around you flash-freezes. The water under your feet, the water of Daichi's water-wall, and the water ten feet below. All freezes before the power of your Ice Chi output. Daichi stands frozen in the icewall built all around him, a prison of his own design. Behind the opaque ice of your Technique you see his eyes glow white and slowly shift over to you, but it's too late. You've already leaped across the divide. Before he can break out you crack your fist into his lower jaw with a sliding uppercut, breaking him through the floating icewall and launching him one-hundred feet through the air until he splashes into the sea. Reluctantly, before he can counter with some energy blast, you leave your new ice fortress through the improvised door you just made. A shame. It's fine craftsmanship. <<var $solexp + 1>>\ <<var $subm true>>\ <<page "Continue" "ch7-daichifight2">>\ #show-if (($element1 is "Water") or ($element2 is "Water")) use-if ((($element1 is "Water") or ($element2 is "Water")) and ((($chipool + ($soul/2)) - $chispent) gte 1)) Sink below the waves. [Requires Water, Costs 1 Chi] With a focus of will you grasp the Water Chi all around you and pull yourself down, deep down, into the ocean. Daichi reacts immediately, diving deep into the waves with his two wakizashi glowing purple. He spears them toward you, but your speed isn't working off momentum like his. You're actively maneuvering through the water. While his speed helps him charge at you, your Water control pulls you deeper and deeper. When you reach the sea floor Daichi erupts with emerald chi in some sort of Wind Technique to accelerate his charge into you, but you simply look back to him the second he activates his Technique. And you smile. In all this water, a fist of Water Chi is impossible to see. Daichi charges his face into your attack with all the speed he can muster, cracking his jaw so hard that blood comes out of his nose. Yet you can't fight down here forever. Without any spectators of your victory, the Callous Armada might not let you pass. Not to mention there's an unsettling presence in the darkness of the ocean floor. You kick off the seabed and rise to the surface with the speed of a Water Specialist. <<var $subm true>>\ <<page "Continue" "ch7-daichifight2">>\ <</choose>>

Wind power swirls around Daichi, spraying saltwater into the air around himself like a shining emerald mist. He stands atop a wooden buoy and prepares another instantaneous charge with all the force of his Cores, yet now that you get a good look at his posture, it's all wrong. Who the Hell grabs their sheath to sprint? Daichi's hand, with a wakizashi in his grip, is actually touching the top of his sheath with a soft white glow of basic chi. It's as if he's activating a Soul Treasure. <<if (($lore + $insight) gte 4)>>\ ''[Lore + Insight 4 Check Passed]'' <<var $daifight - 1>>\ <<var $solexp + 2>>\ The big picture clicks. So much speed at his Aura Pressure never made sense, but it does now. He's not just using Wind, he's got a Soul Treasure of Storm and Light sealed into his sheath! Your eyes narrow and your teeth grit with determination. You have a clear path to victory now, and a target. It's time that Callous Daichi lost his trinket. <<else>>\ ''[Lore + Insight 4 Check Passed]'' You have no idea what power he's put into his sheath, but it's clear as day that you need to get rid of it. <</if>>\ <<choose "ch7-daichifight-round3">> #Steal the Soul Treasure. Sneaking up on someone in the ocean is no easy feat. Hiding your Aura Pressure, masking the sound of your movements through the water, and fighting back against the waves that imbalance your careful movements; all are obstacles that no $manwoman would want to face. What a bother. You push on through the waves to close the distance as Daichi looks around for you among the black smoke clearing from the barrage of cannonfire. As you get closer, he pauses. The man's white hair whips around as his head twitches, as if detecting something is off, and he motions to turn. You curse under your breath, caught in a mid-air lunge with your hand reaching out for the Soul Treasure sheath. <<var $combatstat "agility">>\ <<var $combatskill "thievery">>\ <<if ($stealth gte ($thievery + 2))>>\ <<var $combatskill "stealth">>\ <</if>>\ <<discount "Kurokonton" 2>>\ <<discount "Aoyusumu" 1>>\ <<discount "Darkness" 1>>\ <<discount "Wind" 1>>\ <<combatcheck (10+$daifight)>>\ <<if ($passcheck is true)>>\ You catch his sheath in your hand and rip it off, breaking his belt in the process. "WHAT ARE Y-" He screams, grabbing his pants before they can fall. That's when you activate his own Soul Treasure, flooding your body with inertia. You speed right past Daichi once, suddenly appearing one-hundred feet away in the blink of an eye. You turn around quickly and skid your feet against the water's surface, activating the Soul Treasure one more time while facing your opponent. Storm, Light, and Agility Chi flood into your body in overwhelming pulses when two walls of water are shot up around your path from the impossibly fast charge. The sheath vibrates, cracks, and shatters in your hand just as your fist collides into Daichi's face. <<if ($athletics lt 2)>>\ <<var $athletics + 1>>\ ''[Athletics +1]'' <</if>>\ <<var $apval ($athletics * 3)>>\ <<apboost $apval>>\ "-OU DOIN-" He finishes screaming. Your arm feels as if it's ripped out of its socket when your fist collides with his nose, like you'd hit a stone mountain because of how fast you're moving, yet it's not your shoulder that caves first. It's his footing. Your high-speed punch sends Daichi flying into the air with a broken nose, higher and faster with every second, all the way back to his blockade of warships. He slams into a mast of his central vessel with so much force that the wooden beam breaks in half. The raised sail of his Callous Clan's insignia, a red sun rising behind a purple fist, falls to the ocean as an explosion of splinters rises from the ship's stern. You crash into the water just after that, falling face first from your incredible speed just as his vessel teeters, leans, and sinks. <<page "Continue" "ch7-daichifight-round3">>\ <<else>>\ Your fingers reach out desperately but Daichi's hand snaps around your forearm, pulling you into the air. Your reflexes force a knee towards his core but he's faster, forcing a ring of spinning Wind Chi around his hand. And then closing it over the top of his hand, \ <<include "ch7-daichifight-steall">>\ <</if>>\ #Crush the Soul Treasure. Brute force solves almost all problems, and you're willing to bet this is one of them. Without ceremony you\ <<if (($element1 is "Water") or ($element2 is "Water"))>>\ sprint across the water and reach for Daichi's sheath, \ <<elseif (($element1 is "Ice") or ($element2 is "Ice"))>>\ form ice beneath your feet and leap up, forming more steps in an instant. You sprint across the water to reach for Daichi's sheath, \ <<elseif ((($element1 is "Wind") and ($element1rank gte 2)) or (($element2 is "Wind") and ($element2rank gte 2)))>>\ explode out of the water with your own burst of Wind Chi, flying at Daichi with \ <<else>>\ slam the water on both sides of your body with your full might, launching you at Daichi with \ <</if>>\ your hand focusing\ <<if ($survival gte 2)>>\ the full grip strength you've honed from a lifetime of climbing mountains. \ <<var $powexp + 2>>\ <<else>>\ the full grip strength of your Power Cores. \ <</if>>\ He turns around just in time to see you lunge from the water, your hand extending towards his sheath. "WHAT DO YOU-" <<var $combatstat "power">>\ <<var $combatskill "survival">>\ <<discount "Midorikatai" 1>>\ <<discount "Earth" 1>>\ <<discount "Ice" 1>>\ <<discount "Muscular" 1>>\ <<combatcheck (9+$daifight)>>\ <<if ($passcheck is true)>>\ "THIS!" You scream into his face, a mere inch from your own when you close the gap and headbutt him in the bridge of his nose. With his arms reaching for his sheath he puts up no defense. Blood the color of his own skin erupts around his face and lowers his guard to cover his now-broken nose in both hands. Seizing the advantage, you grab his Soul Treasure sheath around the middle \ <<if (($element1 is "Ice") or ($element2 is "Ice"))>>\ with one hand and flush it full of Ice Chi, flashfreezing the object to make it more brittle. \ <<var $solexp + 1>>\ <<var $agiexp + 1>>\ <<else>>\ with your Power Cores focusing chi into each finger. \ <</if>>\ In one quick squeeze, you shatter his device. Callous Daichi's eyes go wide and he screams from behind the two hands covering his broken nose. "YOU IDIOT!! THAT'S GOING TO-" The device drowns his voice out with a thunderous explosion. A sphere of Light and Storm expands in a tenth of a second, bursting into an explosion larger than your ship. The two of you are blown backwards with rough force and you slam against the waves with such speed that it feels like you're bouncing off stone. After four tumbling collisions you break through the waves at a bad angle; seawater is shoved deep into your ear. Shaking the sensation away, you immediately turn and swim to the surface. It's time to finish this fight. <<page "Continue" "ch7-daichifight-round3">>\ <<else>>\ "-THINK YOU'RE DOING?!" He screams out with a strike at your head. Wind Chi surges out of his elbow to charge his punch even faster, an effect you //feel// when his knuckles hammer into your temple. The crushing weight behind his enhanced strike sends fractures up and down your skull, rattling your brain with so much concussive force that something bursts internally. <<if ($pblocktech isnot "")>>\ ''[$pblocktech Activated, Damage Reduced]'' <<woundcheck 1 false false>>\ <<else>>\ <<woundcheck 2 false false>>\ <</if>>\ You're sent reeling back into the water, crashing against a wave at a bad angle that threatens to tear your shoulder. Seawater plunges deep into your left ear and the ache travels through your concussed senses. <<page "Continue" "ch7-daichifight-brag">>\ <</if>>\ #use-if (($element1 is "Storm") or ($element2 is "Storm")) Overload the Soul Treasure. [Storm Event: Automatic Success] -> "ch7-daichifight-stormw" You reach a hand out from a distance to grasp the ambient chi around Daichi's Soul Treasure sheath, eager to destroy it, and feel a kinship in the Storm Chi contained within. //Barely// contained within. ''[Storm Event: Automatic Success]'' You push your own spiritual Storm power through your Cores into the sheath with a single bolt of lightning, overloading the device's already optimized power output. \ #use-if (($element1 isnot "Storm") and ($element2 isnot "Storm")) Overload the Soul Treasure. -> "ch7-daichifight-overload" <</choose>>

You swim to the surface and gasp for breath. A hurried, worried glance left and right shows Callous Daichi standing on another buoy, with only one wakizashi drawn. In his other hand is his Soul Treasure sheath. "It's comical that you were so obsessed with this thing." He says, and before your very eyes he crushes the sheath in his hand. It breaks under his grip and falls to pieces, dropping into the sea under his feet. "I don't think you've grasped exactly who you're dealing with yet." "I don't care." You reply, climbing onto a nearby buoy of your own. "You're in my way." "Heh." Daichi smirks. "How about I give you a demonstration of the resources at my disposal?" He grabs his wrist and //peels//, removing a fuuinjutsu tag pained red and glued to his own arm. With a quick motion he rips the tag into a smoke cloud that forms into... Another sheath. "I have dozens of these." He brags with a shake of his head. "You were so focused on what's nothing more than a part of my uniform? It's pathetic! Do you get how //poor// you are compared to the Callous Clan?" \ <<cap $auracolor>> chi rises off your shoulders as you glare across at \ <<if ($wounds gt 0)>>\ him, the pain of your wounds forgotten in the face of a challenge. \ <<else>>\ him. \ <</if>>\ "So that's your plan? Try and buy your way to victory?" \ Daichi lets out a mocking laugh. "Of course you think preparing for a fight is cheating, you're from the backward mountains! Trash like you might lose fights, but for people like me, victory is always guaranteed. It's just a matter of how much it costs." \ He \ <<include "ch7-daichifight-laugh">>\

''[You have been enraged!]'' ''[Ruthlessness Increased]'' <<var $ruthless + 4>>\ ''[The fight against Daichi will now be easier!]'' <<var $daifight - 1>>\ Seeing absolute red, you grip his ankle with a single arm and drag him down into the water with you with enough force and ferocity to blow the water away for five feet in every direction. Daichi looks shocked but plunges his wakizashi down towards your elbow all the same. You bite it. You bite his wakizashi on the blade and headbutt your skull forward, shoving his own sword into his spleen. He screams and slashes out with his second blade; you respond by punching him in the eye with a fist full of $auracolor chi that you release like a spout, shooting unrefined energy into his eye socket. "AGH!" He howls, exploding with emerald power as the Wind blows him away from you and onto a new buoy. "What the fuck is wrong with you?!" "I'll kill you!" You scream back. "I'll rip your fucking arms off!" "You're insane!" "YOU'RE DEAD!" You roar, glowing brighter with $auracolor as you slam your arms into the water to lunge at him with teeth bared. Daichi dodges by launching overhead with another burst of Wind, noticeably shaken, and shouts out. "Fuck this! I didn't agree to fight a maniac! MEN! FIRE THE CANNONS!" The rage makes way for clemency as you turn around and realize that you're in range of an entire armada's worth of warships. <<page "Oh no." "ch7-daichifight-cannon">>\

"What in the f-" Daichi screams, covering his bleeding nose with one hand while trying to keep a hold on his blade's handle in his grip. He's interrupted by the second buoy you throw that slams into his forehead, knocking him off his feet with a potential concussion. He doesn't see you rise into the air until he lands on his back, splashing into the sea. You've already kickflipped the third buoy beneath your feet and risen into the air alongside it. You spin faster and faster as you rise, gathering as much torque as possible to try and perform the buoyball trick that Father swore he used in his youth to impress Mother. After spinning in three full rotations and turning upside down at an angle, you finally deliver a full-power kickshot to slam the third buoy down onto your opponent from the sky. //''"JET SHOT!"''// <<var $combatstat "power">>\ <<var $combatskill "athletics">>\ <<if ($perception gt ($athletics + 1))>>\ <<var $combatskill "perception">>\ <</if>>\ <<combatcheck (9+$daifight)>>\ <<if ($passcheck is true)>>\ Daichi's just dropped into the water and doesn't see the attack coming in time until it slams into his groin. A forty pound ball of solid wood crunching into his undefended nethers without resistance or warning, only a mere four inches of saltwater available to slow down the kickshot. It's not nearly enough. Bubbles come to the surface of the water from his screams flowing underwater, eyes nearly rolling into the back of his head. You splash under the water afterwards with a victorious arm pumping in the air. You finally did it. You finally pulled off Father's Jet Shot. It's especially impressive because you're almost positive he made it up. A 1080-degree spin without an aura? Yeah right, Father. Oh, right, the fight. You swim to the surface and look around for Daichi, seeing him barely staying afloat fifty feet away. His face is twisted in pain and anguish and he looks upon you with hatred mixed with...tears? "Are you crying?" You ask, a little concerned despite him being your opponent. Did your attack pop something vital? He grits his teeth so hard that one actually breaks. In a shivering rage he screams into the air, "FIRE! THE FUCKING! CANNONS!" Turning around, you see a loaded armada of warships aimed at your position. You are no longer concerned for Callous Daichi. <<else>>\ Daichi looks incredibly confused right beneath the water's surface, but he raises both blades and stabs them into the buoyball before it can hit him. The wooden buoy is sliced into three and you realize too late that his blades aren't //that// sharp, rather he's launched a slicing Wind Technique from them. The same burst of Wind Chi continues upward, gashing across your torso. <<if ($eblocktech isnot "")>>\ ''[$eblocktech Activated, Damage Reduced]'' <<woundcheck 1 false false>>\ <<else>>\ <<woundcheck 2 false false>>\ <</if>>\ You land into the water with a heavy splash, bleeding. Water fills your ears as you plunge into the sea, but it doesn't muffle your hearing enough to mask Daichi's mocking as you resurface. "I'm disappointed, $clan! I heard such good things, but this is all you have? You're not even worth my warmup. You can fight them instead." He points his sword behind you and you glance backward, not seeing anyone in particular standing on any of the Callous Armada's ships. "Who?" You ask. "All of them." Daichi responds with an obnoxious grin. Then he inhales deeply and reinforces his lungs with chi, screaming out the order. "FIRE THE CANNONS!" <</if>>\ <<page "Oh no." "ch7-daichifight-cannon">>\

<div class="fightingfont">Thunderfaller vs Callous Daichi</div>\ <<statcheck>>\ Black smoke and deafening cannonfire erupts from a dozen junkships distantly behind you, nearly a mile away. Your eyes widen and your mouth twists, baffled that they'd even try to attack from such a range. How did they expect to hit- //SHIT!!// You curse out internally as explosions rock the water all around you, blowing geysers into the sky. Without any Aura Pressure you're unable to detect the presence of the attacks, but the enhanced vision of your Martial Artist body picks up on more accurate shots closing in. Fast. Thinking quickly, you... <<choose "ch7-daichifight-cannon2">> #Try to deflect the cannonballs. <<if ($spiritbrandloc isnot "")>>\ Your $spiritbrandcolor $spiritbrandloc flashes brighter and your \ <<else>>\ Your \ <</if>>\ gaze intensifies. With an intense focus you drown out the sound and feel of the explosions around you, focusing instead of the entire view of the air in front of you for the next 400 feet. You scan through the speeding projectiles and channel chi to your hands, preparing to deflect them away with a redirecting shove that will stop them from exploding on impact. <<var $combatstat "agility">>\ <<var $combatskill "perception">>\ <<discount "Aoyusumu" 2>>\ <<discount "Kurokonton" 1>>\ <<discount "Ice" 1>>\ <<discount "Wind" 1>>\ <<discount "Fire" 1>>\ <<if ($thievery gte 3)>>\ ''[Thievery 3 Check Passed]'' ''[Bomb Diffusal: +1 Battle Prowess]'' <<var $cmod + 1>>\ <</if>>\ <<combatcheck (10+$daifight)>>\ <<if ($passcheck is true)>>\ //I see through it!// Of all the cannonballs in the volley, four rush at you with true accuracy. You tilt your head and dip your shoulder, causing one to pass you by. The next you brush with your palm, following its trajectory with your hand and brushing it aside with an adrenal focus that seems to slow time. The third and fourth you dodge by slamming your hand into the water, pushing yourself away just in time. All four erupt within 20 feet of you, threatening to burst your eardrums with their combined impact. You're sent flying into the air by their destruction, yet as you splash back into the sea dozens of yards away, you find yourself unharmed. Not willing to give the cannoneers your position, you slowly float back to the surface and find a surprise. In the confusion of dozens of explosions, Daichi must have been guarding his vision and missed the point when you were blown into the sky. Because you're behind him. The man stands on a buoy, scanning the perimeter, and he's looking the wrong way. <<else>>\ You run your hand under the first cannonball to come within melee range, trying to push it overhead before it explodes from the impact. It comes in too hot. Too fast. You chop it instead, exploding it against your hand with enough force to break bones. Two more follow as the cannon barrage continues, exploding against your head and chest in flesh-rending eruptions. <<if ($pblocktech isnot "")>>\ ''[$pblocktech Activated! Damage Reduced]'' <<woundcheck 2 false false>>\ <<else>>\ <<woundcheck 3 false false>>\ <</if>>\ You barely maintain consciousness when the black smoke clears and find yourself floating on the water, knocked out of the sea and dropped back down in a concussive burst you didn't even register. \ It seems Callous Daichi didn't register it either, because you're floating right behind him and he's looking the wrong way. \ The man stands on a buoy and must have been guarding his vision when the dozens of cannonball explosions struck nearby, because he somehow missed it when you were launched behind him by so many blasts. <</if>>\ #Try to swim below their blast range. The only security is down, and so you dive deep into the waters, too late to stop the entire barrage but soon enough to dodge the majority. You hope. <<var $combatstat "fortitude">>\ <<var $combatskill "stealth">>\ <<discount "Earth" 1>>\ <<discount "Water" 2>>\ <<discount "Darkness" 1>>\ <<discount "Midorikatai" 1>>\ <<if ($athletics gte 3)>>\ ''[Athletics 3 Check Passed, +1 Battle Prowess]'' <<var $cmod + 1>>\ <</if>>\ <<combatcheck (9+$daifight)>>\ <<if ($passcheck is true)>>\ The first few cannonballs strike too close to your body as you dive deeper down, taking glancing blows to your legs that \ <<if ($pblocktech isnot "")>>\ threaten to \ <</if>>\ shred the muscle. <<woundcheck 1 true false>>\ <<else>>\ The first few cannonballs strike too close to your body as you dive deeper down, and wincing from the pain of them shredding into your muscles with explosive shrapnel slows you down enough that a second nearby ballistic explosion shreds your back as well. \ <<if ($pblocktech isnot "")>>\ [$pblocktech Activated, Damage Reduced]'' <<woundcheck 1 false false>>\ <<else>>\ <<woundcheck 2 false false>>\ <</if>>\ <</if>>\ You kick through the pain, swimming deeper and deeper down, and hear echoes of the ballistic explosions as more and more cannonballs erupt the water's surface above you. When you get deep enough you don't even see the impact of the blasts anymore. Finally, relief. After patiently waiting out the rest of the volley, you swim back to the surface //away// from the Callous Armada, hopefully leaving their cannon's range. <<var $val 831>>\ <<page "Continue" "ch7-daichifight-cannon2">>\ #use-if (($flagshiptype is "combat") and ($shipcount gte 3)) "RETURN FIRE!" [Requires 3+ Combat Ships] Your head whips to your own fleet of ships. Callous Daichi isn't the only one that came prepared. "RETURN FIRE!" You scream out to your crew, feeling pleased but almost disappointed when $shipcount ballista bolts come into view, closing in on Callous Daichi. They'd already fired before you even gave the order. Hells, you think they fired before Daichi gave his own order. "HOW DOES IT FEEL?!" Kosuke screams from a distance. Daichi doesn't respond, slapping the water, hard and with both hands, to blast himself into the air in time to dodge the first bolt. With his new position, only one ballista bolt is still on target to strike him. He spins in the air and punches it with a savage grin, exploding the bolt to wooden splinters all around him. "TH-" He doesn't get to even finish the word. The bolt he deflects looks twice as long as it should be; impractically long. Impossibly long. It's two bolts, you realize, one in-front of the other. The second bolt, flying in the shadow of the first, lances through the cloud of splinters when Daichi is off-balance from deflecting the first. It crashes metal-tip-first into his ribs and slams him under the water with the full force of a siege engine. ''[Retainer Morale +4]'' <<var $retainer_morale + 4>>\ ''[Prestige Increased]'' <<var $prestige + 1>>\ Your smile is immediately ruined by the volley of cannonfire strikes all around you. Blackpowder explosions and shrapnel rip through the water and air, both working to blast through your flesh <<woundcheck 1 false false>>\ You barely maintain consciousness when the black smoke clears and find yourself floating on the water, knocked out of the sea and dropped back down in a concussive burst you didn't even register. It seems Callous Daichi didn't register it either, because you're floating right behind him and he's looking the wrong way. The man stands on a buoy, bleeding from the side but still up. Snarling, in fact, with both hands wielding his wakizashi again. Your ballista attack must have distracted him, because he somehow missed it when you were launched behind him by so many blasts. #show-if ($style is "Kiihakai") use-if ((($chipool + ($soul/2)) - $chispent) gte 2) Surround yourself with cannonball-tracking Mystic chi blasts. [Automatic Success, Costs 2 Chi] You cross both arms over your chest and glow with a golden power, channeling all your Mystic Chi with a complex purpose. The living energy surges out of your body of its own accord, cycling out far faster than you could push normal chi on your own. Though you can't see it, the display must be quite impressive. Sixty $auracolor orbs of chi explode out from you in a sparking display that refuses to stop. Your own firework show erupts all around you and stops twenty-feet out, forming thin links of energy between each orb as they hover in the air. The volley of ballistic cannonfire arrives just in time to crash against your satellite net of chi blasts, each actively seeking out and detonating cannonballs before they can reach you. That incredible show, available to everyone else, looks far better than how things are from your vantage point. In your eyes, you release a dome of $auracolor and suddenly feel a ringing in your ear as explosion after explosion catches your //forty-foot-diameter// net, detonating so many more cannonballs than you would have had to dodge. Over forty explosions erupt at once, nearly deafening you and shaking your head hard enough to threaten a concussion. Yet when the net fades, the cannonblasts are completely disposed of, leaving only a cloud of black smoke. And you're long gone, having already swam under the water to escape from the horrible sound. <<var $val 531>>\ <<page "Continue" "ch7-daichifight-cannon2">>\ <</choose>>

<<if ($val is 831)>>\ You breach the surface quietly, not willing to give the cannoneers your location. The moment you resurface you look up to see Callous Daichi snarling with both his wakizashi drawn. He breathes in and out, balanced on a buoy and scanning the water for you. It's hard to believe your luck, because he's looking the wrong way. <<elseif ($val is 531)>>\ You swim back to the surface after a moment andbreach the surface quietly, not willing to give the cannoneers your location. The moment you resurface you look up to see Callous Daichi snarling with both his wakizashi drawn. He breathes in and out, balanced on a buoy and scanning the water for you. It's hard to believe your luck, because he's looking the wrong way. <</if>>\ As you float just behind him, unnoticed for now, you notice something curious. <<page "What's that on his belt?" "ch7-daichifight-belt">>\

With two hands wielding your $tempwep together, you slash down with all your might and crash down upon Daichi's block, knocking him fifty feet away. Before he can recover you leap off a line of your own Bladed Chi, into the air, and seize control of the dome of Bladed arcs flying all around you. Fear registers in Daichi's eyes as the energy of every slash you've already made gathers in the air behind you. A swirling pattern of Bladed Chi coalesces to the size of his junkships. Your body acts as a dark silhouette outshined by the power building up behind you. "You weren't this strong a minute ago!" Daichi screams, gazing at the $auracolor sun. "Techniques Manuals don't give this kind of boost! What is this?!" You look down on him from the sky and level your $tempwep in his direction, fueled by the rush of battle. \ <<if ($honor lt 50)>>\ It's impossible to hold back a smile as wide as Leona's \ <<else>>\ <<var $forexp + 2>>\ <<var $powexp + 4>>\ You show no sign of emotion \ <</if>>\ while you condemn the man below. <<if ($honor lt 50)>>\ "THIS! IS! POWER!" <<else>>\ "THIS. IS. POWER." <</if>>\ <<var $styleswapper "power">>\ <<learntech 5000000000020010 "Infinity Edge" "Passive Technique. Animated blades raise the Surge value of any one Core.">>\ <<include "ch7-styleswappertext">> Hundreds of chiblades manifest from the circle of Bladed energy behind you, all launching over your shoulder at Daichi in a chi barrage that puts his cannons to shame. His dodge attempt fails when he realizes the blast range is too wide; even with all his speed, he can't escape the stream of blades that pierce into him from every angle. When the first chiblades strike, he stumbles and it's over. Sword after sword thrusts into his body and spirit with explosions of Bladed shrapnel on impact, shattering his aura in seconds. Amid the massive cloud of dispersed $auracolor chi scattering into the air from so many attacks at once, Callous Daichi falls into the sea. <<include "ch7-daichi-style1up">>\

The cerulean flash from behind forms again, and though you cannot see it, your //know// it: an eight-fold wheel of kinetic energy hovers behind your upper back. Sacred energy. A symbol of power. A symbol of correction. A symbol of Order. <<var $styleswapper "soul">>\ <<learntech 5000000000020020 "Dharmic Wheel" "Passive Technique. The eight-handled wheel of Order raises the Surge value of any one Core.">>\ <<include "ch7-styleswappertext">> ''//"Dharmic Wheel"//'' You whisper, confused at how //right// the unfamiliar mantra feels streaming out of your mouth. "Heaven's Judgment, Vector Reversal." You extend two fingers gently, prodding Daichi in the chest. Only then do you realize the rest of the world had starting moving again, but not him. Not your opponent. Not until you gave the signal. Callous Daichi reanimates in the opposite direction, flying backward with twice the speed with which he approached. He screams in horror as his pace accelerates to such a level that drops of water in the air pierce into him like caltrops. The sea nearly parts from the force of your jettisoning attack; in the blink of an eye he clears the mile-long distance to his line of ships and crashes through one. The three-story junkship explodes in a cloud of black powder with him trapped inside. <<include "ch7-daichi-style1up">>\

You breath out a sigh of relief and a dark fog emits from your mouth, like warm breath visible in the winter. <<if ($ruthless gt 52)>>\ ''[Compassion Check Failed]'' Yet you can't shake a grave insult. "Dead, Daichi." You say, inspecting the frozen-stiff man. "You said I'm already //dead//. Is this a lethal fight?" You eye his weapons that pulse with cursed energy. "I don't think you want a lethal fight." You take the wakizashi out of his hand and press it to his paralyzed throat. "See?" His eyes don't even react when you drag the razor-sharp edge across his jugular, cutting it open. "''This'' is what happens in a lethal fight." ''[Infamy Increased]'' <<var $infamy + 1>>\ <<else>>\ ''[Compassion Check Passed]'' "The fight's over!" You shout to the Callous Armada. "Announce the loss and let me pass!" "Never!" Shouts a man aboard one of the blockade's ships. "Such an effect cannot hold Daichi forever!" Your face twists in disgust. "I can slit his throat for crying out loud, call the fight!" "Master Daichi's throat remains unslit!" The man calls back. "Victory will still be his!" You run a hand over your face and feel your hold on the Darkness start to slip. Without much time to work with, you look back to Callous Daichi's paralyzed body, mid-lunge with cursed blades aimed towards you. "I'm sorry about \ <<if ($honor gt 50)>>\ this." \ <<else>>\ this, man." \ <</if>>\ You say remorsefully. "They're making me do it." Daichi doesn't react when you take the wakizashi from his grip. He doesn't even react when you run the razorsharp blades across his neck to cut his jugular open. <</if>>\ Unlike the rest of his body, his blood does still flow. It pools into the water around you both \ <<if ($ruthless lte 52)>>\ and it hurts you to see such a potentially lethal effect. You don't want to //kill// him, but you have to send a message. <<elseif ($ruthless gt 56)>>\ and you knee him in the stomach to hurry it along. <<else>>\ and you toss his blade aside. <</if>>\ While he's still frozen in mid-air, bleeding heavily, you rummage through the pouches on his belt and withdraw the medicine pills. ''[Healing Elixir +3]'' <<var $healingelixir + 2>>\ ''[Replenisher Pill +2]'' <<var $replenisherpill + 2>>\ ''[Low-Grade Power Pill +2]'' <<var $lgpowpill + 2>>\ ''[Low-Grade Fortitude Pill +2]'' <<var $lgforpill + 2>>\ <<if ($ruthless gt 52)>>\ "I win." You say to Daichi's paralyzed body. "No more tricks when I //let// you go heal yourself. It's over." Daichi's blood continues to pour out and just when he seems too pale to continue, \ <<else>>\ "It's over!" You shout to the ship. "And I hope your leader knows //you// made this as painful and humiliating as possible, \ <<if ($honor gt 50)>>\ fool!" <<else>>\ you dumbass!" <</if>>\ The man doesn't respond, instead retreating further into the ship to hide from what will probably be a public flogging, //at least.// You turn to Daichi, frustrated, but you sitll don't want the man to die. Quickly, <</if>>\ you shove a pill into his mouth and kick him into the air, soaring his limp body towards his ships and ending your effect. ''[Item Lost: Healing Elixir x1]'' <<page "Continue" "ch7-goroevent">>\

More stone forms around your fist in the confusion of your sinking dome of stone. Daichi screams in a panic, looking for an exit, and you strike his unguarded jaw so hard that it breaks. When you two reach the bottom of the sea you call up even more stone from the ocean floor and capture his legs, still beating him before he can realize what's happening. With both feet, in the darkness of your rockdome, you kick Daichi in the gut and knock the air out of his lungs. As your underwater kick pushes you away from him, your control over the Earth opens a hole in your rockdome that you swim through. Behind you he reaches out, grasping for air while water enters his lungs, but you close the hole on your way out. You resurface and breathe deeply. You feel sturdier. Stronger. More in touch with the very aspects of the stone. Beneath you, under the waves, you shrink the dome around Daichi and convert it into a skin-tight coffin. If his armada has so many champions then they can go get him. He's the one who wanted a decisive victor; you provided one. ''[Earth Shugendō Bonus: Craft +1]'' <<var $craft + 1>>\ <<if ($element1 is "Earth")>>\ <<include "ch7-daichi-elem1up">>\ <<elseif ($element2 is "Earth")>>\ <<include "ch7-daichi-elem2up">>\ <</if>>\

Daichi's eyes go wide when his Callous Armada of junkships fire their cannons all at once. Your hundreds of flares of Fire Chi from before reached their targets behind him, each expertly aimed into the loaded cannons and triggering them to fire. You reach out a hand towards the volley, feeling out for the burning sensation of explosives soaring through the air, and pull that flaming essence towards yourself. Or rather, towards the man in the way. Ten warships worth of cannonballs crash into Daichi in a single explosion before he even finishes turning around. The deafening explosions blow the water away in a massive bowl that launches you back, but you can't help but notice an emerald hue to the mushroom cloud of smoke you caused. His shattered aura. It's over. ''[Fire Shugendō Bonus: Alchemy +1]'' <<var $alchemy + 1>>\ <<if ($element1 is "Fire")>>\ <<include "ch7-daichi-elem1up">>\ <<elseif ($element2 is "Fire")>>\ <<include "ch7-daichi-elem2up">>\ <</if>>\

As the sea explodes around Daichi's insane movement you realize you have mere seconds before he's upon you. In stern concentration, you channel the Ice Chi of your spiritual Cores and fold the flowing channels of energy on themselves, pressing the chi into a denser state and forcing its thickened form to cycle through your system. With every quick breath you cycle more and more folded Ice Chi until it begins to stream out of your spirit denser and stronger. A winter's mist leaves your lungs with each breath. Lines of frost form under your body. Your left foot slides back in preparation. With a final breathing technique, you curl your index finger and thumb around your mouth and inhale deeply, channeling all your condensed Ice Chi into your lungs. <<spendall 4 true>>\ The force of your breath breaks the waves as fast as it freezes them. One-hundred feet of ocean freezes under the cloudy gale of Ice-wind your breath rush over the battlefield. Daichi's charge is caught in your attack as the water underneath him shoots up into freezing stalagmites. He crashes against them like a cavalry charge hitting a spear-wall. You can't see through the cloud of your own attack and tense up when you hear ice shattering all over. An eerie moment later, the frost-mist clears to show his wounds. Nearly frozen, Callous Daichi is caught with his leg and abdomen impaled by fist-thick sharpened columns of ice. The freezing effect runs up his skin and over the rest of his body. He looks up to you in a mix of fear and anger, trying to spit out some threat, when the ice freezes over his head. <<var $val 5463546436>>\ ''[Ice Shugendō Bonus: Deception +1]'' <<var $deception + 1>>\ <<if ($element1 is "Ice")>>\ <<include "ch7-daichi-elem1up">>\ <<elseif ($element2 is "Ice")>>\ <<include "ch7-daichi-elem2up">>\ <</if>>\

The very hundredth of a second in which Daichi's blades reach you, just when the wall of water erupts upward around you from his insane movement, you vanish. Your body leaps aside so quickly that fragments of your chi are left behind as an afterimage; an illusionary copy of yourself, standing still. <<var $styleswapper "agility">>\ <<learntech 5000000000020040 "Afterimage" "Passive Technique. Bursts of illusion-inducing speed raise the Surge value of any one Core.">>\ <<include "ch7-styleswappertext">> To Daichi's left, your foot impacts the wall of water with the solidity of stone; you're moving too fast for the water to react to your movement before you do. Your knee bends and you //pull// yourself back to your previous location, using your Cursed Chi afterimage as an anchor when Daichi's weapons skewer through it. He realizes his mistake too late, stumbling forward until you dash back in and \ <<if ($equippedweapon is "Muramasa")>>\ slash across his face with Muramasa. <<elseif (((((((((($equippedweapon is "Tanto")) or ($equippedweapon is "Katana")) or ($equippedweapon is "Muramasa")) or ($equippedweapon is "Greataxe")) or ($equippedweapon is "Qiang")) or ($equippedweapon is "Kunai")) or ($equippedweapon is "Jian")) or ($equippedweapon is "Iceblade")) or ($equippedweapon is "Chiblade"))>>\ slash across his face with your $equippedweapon. <<elseif (($equippedweapon is "Bo Staff") or ($equippedweapon is "Meteor Hammer"))>>\ spin your $equippedweapon into his face. <<else>>\ slam your foot across his face. <</if>>\ He doesn't have time to react; you turn in mid-air and bounce off the second wall of water to his right to deliver a follow-up strike to his gut. You bounce off the waterwalls and strike him again, and again, and again. A blow to the jaw to daze, a strike to the knee the cripple, a crushing elbow to the knuckles to disarm. With one final lightning-fast chi activation, you seize the dazed man's wakizashi out of his hands with your Cursed Chi, bounce off the waterwall in a backflip, and thrust them forward. Daichi's too dazed to react. You impale the weakened man with his own blades in your final charge. The force of your attack blasts him through the hallway of water he'd created, knocking him into the sea further out as if he'd fallen from a hundred-foot height. <<include "ch7-daichi-style1up">>\

Yellow light streams off your body like a shooting star and your shin burns with immediate pain. Howling agony racks through your body as you nearly crack your femur in two against a physical barrier. Yet it's Callous Daichi who screams. In front of you, immediately, is your opponent. His charge didn't finish early; you charged just as fast and met him halfway with a guillotine-kick spinning down on his elbows. You feel both his arms break at the joint. Through the combined acceleration of his Soul Treasure and your Light Advancement, his bones shatter under your kick and you turn in the air from the offsetting force of your blow, delivering a straighter flying kick forward with your other leg, pressing all the Light Chi of your spirit behind it. Yellow Light erupts off the blow when it connects. A shining beacon nearly blinds all onlookers and Daichi is blown backward half a mile, upside-down, head dunked under the water. His neck nearly breaks from the strain of such a dragging motion. It holds, barely, but his emerald aura shatters along the way. He sinks under the waves and you don't sense him returning. <<if ($lightboost is "Thievery")>>\ ''[Light Shugendō Bonus]'' <<learnthievery 1>>\ <<else>>\ ''[Light Shugendō Bonus: $lightboost +1]'' <<var $perception + 1>>\ <</if>>\ <<if ($element1 is "Light")>>\ <<include "ch7-daichi-elem1up">>\ <<elseif ($element2 is "Light")>>\ <<include "ch7-daichi-elem2up">>\ <</if>>\

<<var $ruthless + 3>>\ No flashy moves, no named attacks, no special Techniques. You grab Callous Daichi by the neck and start punching. Midorikatai is the Art of Domination, the style of the Beast, and as your hardened fists crack his jaw, break his ribs, and shatter his kneecaps, you show him exactly what that means. Blow after blow knocks his teeth into the sea and his internal blood into his organs. Each strike slams into him with the physical weight of a creature five times your size, stunning him in time to deliver the next blow. When you've had enough you lift him over your head to finish the fight for good, holding him by the back of his neck in one hand and his broken left leg in the other. "Heal this." Is all you say as you slam his back down onto your upturned knee. Your hardened kneecap snaps his vertebrae and breaks his spine in two. Daichi coughs up blood and his eyes roll into the back of his head. Unceremoniously, you drop him into the water. <<include "ch7-daichi-style1up">>\

On pure instinct, you ride the lightning. Your body becomes part-electricity as your kick connects with his chin in a satisfying crunch that knocks one of his teeth into the air. Before you know it you're looking down at that flying tooth from above, pulled upward by the lightning cage. Just as quick, you're shot back down. Electricity arcs in unpredictable ways and in this moment, your spirit follows. You seize the opportunity to drop a kick onto Daichi's cranium on your way down. The lightning cage pulls you left, right, forward, back, and you spin each uncontrollable jolt of electric speed into a physical attack against Daichi's body. An elbow to the back of the neck from behind is immediately followed with a punch to the exposed kidney from his left. A trip to the back of the knee met with a headbutt to the nose from above. A cross-punch counter from the front replaced with a knee to the spine from behind. Every attack blasts into him with the speed of an energy attack. You barely even notice when his aura shatters; the emerald hue of his devastated spirit is so overwhelmed by the $auracolor light of your own. As your lightning cage dissipates into the air, so too does Daichi's spirit. He falters, drops, and sinks under the waves. ''[Storm Shugendō Bonus: Lore +1]'' <<var $lore + 1>>\ <<if ($element1 is "Storm")>>\ <<include "ch7-daichi-elem1up">>\ <<elseif ($element2 is "Storm")>>\ <<include "ch7-daichi-elem2up">>\ <</if>>\

Folding your Water Chi in your internal spiritual system, tightening your grip on it, and condensing its power...is surprisingly easy. The Water Chi simply floods through you faster, as if you've increased the pace of a river's current. And with speed, comes force. You drop both hands low with palms facing forward, charging the newly condensed Water Chi down your shoulders and over your hands. With a spiritual grip on the water behind you for one-hundred feet, you slam both palms together in front of your chest, slide your right foot back, and force your arms forward with the full power of the ocean's natural chi. It feels as if you're not only shoving an anvil in front of you, but that you're trying to throw the damn thing. The water chi of the sea weighs so heavily on your spirit that it even weighs heavily on your body, straining your biceps as you //push//. <<spendall 2 true>>\ The sea gives out first and you disappear into a wall of saltwater rising from behind you. One massive swell lifts and surges into a forty-foot tidal wave that passes over you and catches Daichi mid-charge. It slams into him and reverses his course, sending him spiraling away in a drowning panic. With a twist you brace yourself and motion your outstretched fists in a circle, putting your bottom fist on top. The tidal wave responds by turning its charge toward the Callous Armada. Daichi's Wind Chi bursts with bright emerald light underwater to try and escape, but your spiritual hold on the water grips him like a steel cage. You lift him into the upper echelons of the tidal wave, higher and higher, until the wave reaches his blockade and bends at the top, crushing down with hammering force onto one of his own ships. Daichi is spit out at the front of your wave, landing on his ship just in time to be crushed by the wave when it lands on top of him. His ship craters in the center and sinks instantly, shoving two more ships aside. You don't sense his aura returning. ''[Water Shugendō Bonus: Insight +1]'' <<var $insight + 1>>\ <<if ($element1 is "Water")>>\ <<include "ch7-daichi-elem1up">>\ <<elseif ($element2 is "Water")>>\ <<include "ch7-daichi-elem2up">>\ <</if>>\

Daichi spins in the air and tries to get his bearings, lost in his own Element, but you know he'll recover soon. That's why you grip a claw of Wind around one of his cursed blades flying through the air and fling it into his back. He screams out when the weapon pierces into him but turns over in the air, charging himself with Wind Chi and controlling his ascent. He reaches to get the blade out and looks down- Which is the wrong direction. From above the dizzy opponent, you've followed your own Wind effect to rise into the air. You slam both hands down in a double-fist hammer against the back of his head and launch him down into the sea with all your might, then grip the Wind around him to aim and speed-up his descent. He lands skull-first into a wooden buoy, pushed faster by your Wind, and his emerald aura shatters from his skull colliding with the solid wood. His eyes roll into the back of his head, his body goes limp, and he falls into the sea. You slowly drift down onto the buoy just as he slides off. ''[Wind Shugendō Bonus: Athletics +1]'' <<var $athletics + 1>>\ <<if ($element1 is "Wind")>>\ <<include "ch7-daichi-elem1up">>\ <<elseif ($element2 is "Wind")>>\ <<include "ch7-daichi-elem2up">>\ <</if>>\

withdraws a pouch of medicinal battle pills from behind his back and empties it into his mouth. Your eyes widen from the display as you see dozens of refined combat pills drop down his throat; //thousands// of Shards worth of enhancements, replenishers, and healing elixirs, all consumed in the blink of an eye. Daichi's wounds heal instantly and his aura grows more powerful than before the fight even started. He tosses the pouch aside and laughs, harder and harder, then he draws his second blade and points it at you with his head held high. "You get it now? I was never giving you a chance to win, it was an illusion! A sport! You're not just how I prove myself, you're my //entertainment!//." You clench your fist, wondering just how many pouches of battle pills he has left. <<choose "ch7-daichifight-round4">> #"Prepare to be entertained." <<var $ruthless + 1>>\ "Prepare to be entertained." You threaten, fists tightening to prepare for a battle of attrition. <<var $powexp + 1>>\ "Tch, don't act tough. \ #"How cute, you're relying on big brother's allowance." "How cute," you say, "you're relying on big brother's allowance. Does he let you buy all your favorite dollies too?" <<var $agiexp + 1>>\ Daichi's lips tighten. "I'm going to enjoy this." Maintaining eye contact with a look of pure rage, he runs \ <<var $val 178>>\ #[Take out a waterskin and drink while he monologues] <<var $honor - 2>>\ Daichi continues babbling about how rich or powerful his family is for a bit longer, but you don't hear any of it. Instead you withdraw your waterskin and take a nice refreshing drink. Ancestors, clean water is so much better when compared to the salty sea water you keep getting splashed into your mouth. <<var $forexp + 1>>\ You miss Thunderfall's river. Finishing your drink, you put the waterskin away and check to see if Daichi even noticed. <<var $val 65463>>\ "And that's why \ <</choose>>

There's no point giving away your location by swimming up to your opponent when you have all the spiritual power you need to seize victory from right where you are. Cycling all your chi around your right lower arm, you lift it out of the water with a $auracolor glow intensifying while your attack's Aura Pressure climbs higher and higher. You send a spiritual scan out to Daichi's relic to probe for weakness and release the growing power of your attack. Daichi turns just in time to see your attack coming at his side. <<var $combatstat "soul">>\ <<var $combatskill "insight">>\ <<discount "Merchant" 1>>\ <<discount "Kiihakai" 2>>\ <<discount "Fire" 1>>\ <<combatcheck (9+$daifight)>>\ <<if ($passcheck is true)>>\ <<if ($background is "Merchant")>>\ Having worked with several Soul Treasure inventory over the years in Father's old shop, you know exactly what not to do with them. <<var $solexp + 2>>\ <<var $powexp + 1>>\ <</if>>\ Your blast fires off like a pillar of $auracolor light, slamming into his sheath with non-hostile spiritual energy. Your beam fully immerses into the Soul Treasure and floods the object with your own chi, \ <<if ((($element1 is "Storm") and ($element2 is "Light")) or (($element2 is "Storm") and ($element1 is "Light")))>>\ fully compatible with the device. When the excess force of your spirit fuses with the Soul Treasure it reverberates that power into the air and you feel it, realizing a different way to utilize your chi than ever before. <<apboost 5>>\ <<else>>\ incompatible with the device. From its constant use, and your superior spirit, the Soul Treasure's inner reserves cave to the outside pressure. <<if ($style is "Kiihakai")>>\ Your Mystic Chi seizes on the object's destabilizing aura and siphons a fraction of its Aura Pressure. <<apboost 5>>\ <</if>>\ <</if>>\ <<include "ch7-daichifight-stormw">>\ <<else>>\ Just before your attack can hit the sheath, it activates. Before you know it your arm has been nearly ripped out of its socket, dragging you one-hundred feet back as Daichi pulls you by the forearm in a blur of speed. He skids to a halt on the water's surface and the power of his Wind charge combines with the escaping power of his Soul Treasure, coalescing into a ring of swirling sharp energy around his hand. Your spiritual senses scream out when that energy closes in around your limb, \ <<include "ch7-daichifight-steall">>\ <</if>>\

You swim to the surface and grit your teeth from the nagging irritation of water pressed into your eardrum. A buoy smacks your head as you swim up and you grab it for balance, pulling yourself onboard. A second later, wind energy erupts in a column from the sea one-hundred feet away where Daichi breaks the surface and lands on a buoy opposite of you, balancing as it teeters back and forth. The water streaming down his face mixing with blood leaking from his forehead and nose. "Are you ready to surrender?" You call out. Surely you're not going to kill each other in front of whatever officials Nanhou must have watching...you \ <<if ($ruthless gt 50)>>\ think. <<else>>\ hope. <</if>>\ "Surrender?!" Daichi screams back at you. "SURRENDER?!" His voice cracks in a screeching laughter. ''//"SURRENDER?!?!"//'' <<if ($ruthless lt 50)>>\ You look to Kosuke back on your own ship and then calmly back to Daichi's hysterical outburst. "...Yeah." <<elseif ($honor lt 50)>>\ You don't entertain his personality problems. "Yes." <<else>>\ You shrug. "Yes." <</if>>\ "I don't surrender, EVER, because I don't lose! My fights aren't a question of winning or losing, just a question of how serious I have to get!" As he speaks he extends one arm down, his palm facing up. With his other arm he grips his skin and peels something off. A red fuuinjutsu tag. He shreds the paper and a smokecloud appears, quickly forming into another copy of his Soul Treasure sheath. Your senses warn you that it's just as potent as the first. "I've plundered a Sect's worth of treasures, you shardless peasant, breaking one isn't even a problem for me!" You start to roll your eyes but feel real danger when he \ <<include "ch7-daichifight-laugh">>\

<<if ($val isnot 178)>>\ I'm guaranteed to beat you for the same reason Goro is guaranteed to beat \ <<if ($val is 65463)>>\ Jack." He didn't. It seems he's finished at least, when he stops to flourish \ <<else>>\ Jack." He runs \ <</if>>\ <</if>>\ his blade down his opposing arm, cutting through an untold amount of red fuunijutsu tags hidden on his skin. "Neither of you have any idea the resources we have at our disposal, but I promise you this!" Smoke from the broken seal tags surrounds him in a giant cloud. "You'll be the first to learn." Complex chi of every color churns inside the cloud formed around Daichi. The swirling rainbow of power is unlike anything you've ever felt; your senses go haywire sensing every type of natural energy at once in such potent and controlled sources. Fire, Lightning, Wind, Ice, Beasts, Sorcery, Curses, Prayer, all forms of power radiate from the cloud around Daichi and you feel his aura changing inside it. That's when you realize what he's done. From his fuuinjutsu tag, he's released Technique Manuals infused with Soul Treasures to aid his Advancement. ''Completed'' Technique Manuals, dozens of them, all offering the man whatever he can fit into his Cores. Your eyes widen from the intense shock reverberating through your body in the presence of so much unclaimed chi in such a small area. Yet it is not a sensation of surprise or fear that runs through your veins. ''[Special Event: Fuel Foundation]'' It's power. You charge into the cloud of unclaimed energy and crash into Daichi upon his buoy, weathering the damage that the elements rage upon your spirit. <<if ((($chipool + ($soul/2)) - $chispent) gte 4)>>\ ''[4 Chi Spent]'' <<var $solexp + 8>>\ <<var $chispent + 4>>\ ''[Soul EXP Increased]'' <<elseif ((($chipool + ($soul/2)) - $chispent) gte 3)>>\ ''[3 Chi Spent]'' <<var $solexp + 6>>\ <<var $chispent + 3>>\ ''[Soul EXP Increased]'' <<elseif ((($chipool + ($soul/2)) - $chispent) gte 2)>>\ ''[2 Chi Spent]'' <<var $solexp + 4>>\ <<var $chispent + 2>>\ ''[Soul EXP Increased]'' <<elseif ((($chipool + ($soul/2)) - $chispent) gte 1)>>\ ''[1 Chi Spent]'' <<var $solexp + 2>>\ <<var $chispent + 1>>\ ''[Soul EXP Increased]'' <<else>>\ <<aploss 5>>\ <</if>>\ "How are you this naive?!" Daichi screams into your face. "You think your Will can compete with-" The cloud around you answers to the unrestrained hunger of your Fuel Foundation, supercharging you with more energy than your Cores can even touch. You release some of that pressure by kicking Daichi into the distance. "NO!" He screams, activating his renewed artifacts to cancel your attack and charge back at you. "NOT THIS TIME!" The water across from you explodes upward. Daichi dashes in supernaturally fast, closing the gap in an instant with cursed blades charging at your core. When the cloud around you is sucked into your cycling, your Cores charge back. <<if (($honor gt 55) or (($thievery gte 4) and ($perception lt 4)))>>\ <<var $lightboost "Perception">>\ <</if>>\ <<choose "ch7-daichi-style1up">> #use-if ($style is "Akakiru") Parry. PARRY. PARRY! PARRY!!! [Akakiru Advancement, +Technique] <<if (((((((((($equippedweapon is "Tanto")) or ($equippedweapon is "Katana")) or ($equippedweapon is "Muramasa")) or ($equippedweapon is "Greataxe")) or ($equippedweapon is "Qiang")) or ($equippedweapon is "Kunai")) or ($equippedweapon is "Jian")) or ($equippedweapon is "Iceblade")) or ($equippedweapon is "Chiblade"))>>\ You shift the grip of the $equippedweapon in your hand, running Bladed Chi along its edge like a series of rotating sawblades. <<var $tempwep $equippedweapon>>\ <<else>>\ You pull from your inner spirit and materialize a blade of pure chi in your hand, $auracolor and resonating with power. <<var $tempwep "Chiblade">>\ <</if>>\ Walls of water explode upward on both sides of the charging Oni like a twenty-foot hallway instantly manifested when he vanishes across the battlefield. In that burst of speed, his blades meet yours. And stop. Your $tempwep clashes against his first wakizashi, deflecting the attack with a blow so strong that its pressure slices ten feet into the ocean behind him. Without hesitation he swings his second blade and you twist your weapon down, blocking his strike with the base of your blade. Time stands still when you push your face closer to stare him in the eyes. "You're in my striking range." <<if (($element1 isnot "Water") and ($element2 isnot "Water"))>>\ In that moment, with your blades clashing, you step off the buoy and onto the bare water of the sea. <<else>>\ In that moment, swirling with the power of Water Chi, your blade takes on the strength of the sea. <<apboost 5>>\ <</if>>\ Daichi grits his teeth and his sheath surges with power. Your body does the same. <<if (($element1 isnot "Water") and ($element2 isnot "Water"))>>\ Pure speed keeps the two of you from sinking \ <<else>>\ You press the attack, running on water \ <</if>>\ as your weapons clash in a flurry of blows, Cursed Chi striking against Bladed Chi in an exchange of concussive force that only grows with each meeting of \ <<if ($tempwep is "Chiblade")>>\ your weapons. \ <<else>>\ steel. \ <</if>>\ The very air invigorates your body as you slash, pierce, lunge, parry in a seemingly endless melee. Every slash makes you feel more alive. Then you see why. Lines of $auracolor chi fly off you in a blur with each strike, not even having time to fade by the time you swing against Daichi's blades again and again and again. The longer the fight goes on, the more it looks as if a painter had drawn a hundred lines of $auracolor sickle arcs to mark your path. That Bladed Chi, the essence permeating in the air more with every attack, builds up to a crescendo you can't ignore. Daichi realizes it too late. <<page "More. Power." "ch7-daichifight-endaka">>\ #use-if ($style is "Aoyusumu") Siphon his own energy against him. [Aoyusumu Advancement, +Technique] Your Sacred Chi turns over and over in your Cores, refusing to condense. The kinetic presence resists your makeshift Advancement with its physical hardness. As Callous Daichi soars across the waves in the blink of an eye, you see real danger in the cursed enhancement upon his wakizashi. He draws closer and closer before you can even finish a breath until the tips of his blades press against your chest. Then the world slows to a halt. The mind, you realize at the last moment. The Sacred Chi in your Cores, that which you cycle, is just the result of the process. The true source of your Sacred Chi comes from the mind. You focus upon your mind's eye chakra and try the same effect. Bending the thoughts, the intentions, the reinforcing sensation of psionic power that emanates from within. Pressing it down upon itself until it's condensed, molded into something greater. A presence flashes behind you, a cerulean presence you can't seem to see. You can't move at all, actually, and realize that the entire world isn't moving. No, that's not quite right. It's more that you're thinking far too fast, tapped into some effect of Sacred Chi induced by approaching death. You grasp upon such an advanced effect to fuel your psionic might. <<page "Call upon the Eight-Fold Wheel" "ch7-daichifight-endaoyu">>\ #use-if ($style is "Kiihakai") Recreate Desdemona's attack from Ebikowa. [Kiihakai Advancement, +Technique] Your Mystic Chi expands throughout your spirit, performing the purification process for you as if it had a will of its own. The spiritual power bends, folds, and condenses to force your Cores beyond what you could achieve thus far. Throughout your journey you've seen how Kiihakai can improve upon alchemy, handseals, and incantations bordering on mystical spellwork, yet it's never felt right. Kiihakai is not meant for a sage's sanctum. Kiihakai is a Martial Art. The sea around you boils. Thousands of sparks of Mystic Chi answer your Advancement. Every ounce of power that you've used so far, every shred of chi expelled and wasted in your attacks and left to drift back to the ether, it all succumbs to your new proficiency and flies back to its creator. Spiritual $auracolor chi wraps around your body like a swirling inferno until it coalesces around your arm. Daichi's blades close in on your chest in the middle of your display and recognition flashes across his eyes. Recognition, fear, and the reflection of $auracolor light as the power around your punch forms into the roaring head of a dragon. ''//"DRAGON!!"//'' You force your lungs to shout over the sudden //eerie// roar of your own chi, ''//"FIST!!"//'' <<var $styleswapper "power">>\ <<learntech 5000000000020030 "Dragon Fist" "Passive Technique. Animated draconic chi raises the Surge value of any one Core.">>\ <<include "ch7-styleswappertext">> The energy launches off your fist like a charging celestial dragon and slams into your opponent's face, fracturing the front of his skull with a longer reach than his blades. Daichi is blasted back, further and further as the energy attack uncoils endlessly off your arm. What was once a melee attack evolves into a fully developed energy Beam streaming from your extended haymaker. Your attack expands hundreds, even thousands of feet. Your energy screams out over the ocean while plunging Daichi into one of his own ships over a mile away. The blast breaks through his flagship's hull, explodes, and sinks the ship with him in it. #use-if ($style is "Kurokonton") Vanish so quickly that your image remains behind. [Kurokonton Advancement, +Technique] It quickly proves fruitlessly impossible to force the Cursed Chi of your spirit to bend, fold, and condense in the second that you have before Daichi's wakizashi skewers you. The stubborn essence of absorption and entropy refuses to bend, refuses to mold, and refuses to amplify. Your brow tightens in anger, refusing to accept this fate, but there's nothing you c- A spark. A spark of purple, in the corner of your vision. In the tightening of your brow, in the focus on your eyes mid-cycling, your pupils react. The focal point of absorption in the human body, the eye. That which absorbs all light harnesses your Cursed Chi and condenses it properly.\ <<if ($spiritbrandloc is "eyes")>>\ Your $spiritbrandcolor eyes burn with purple chifire. <<apboost 5>>\ <<else>>\ Your eyes flicker $auracolor. <</if>>\ Daichi closes in, already a mere five steps from killing you. Yet until just now, you couldn't even see his body mid-charge. Now you can see...all of him. Every movement, every step, the distance between his blades and your torso, the wake of his footsteps over the waves. //I see it.// You think to yourself in astonishment. //I see through it!// <<var $perception + 1>>\ ''[Perception +1]'' <<page "Continue" "ch7-daichifight-endkuro">>\ #use-if ($style is "Midorikatai") FIGHT. [Midorikatai Advancement, +Technique] One breath is all you're allowed. Merely one breath before Callous Daichi's explosive charge takes him across the battlefield and his death-cursed blades plunge into your chest. With that single breath, you call upon all your Wild Chi and cycle. You ponder the very embodiment of Wild Chi. The core concepts of Midorikatai, the vital lessons and philosophies behind its teachings and what you'd need to take it to the next level in a single instant. As your opponent closes the gap, you do nothing. ''*TING!*'' A heavy pressure strikes your collarbone. Callous Daichi's face appears in your own, stopping his insane speed by crashing into your chest with both swords. Yet his manic grin changes in slow-motion into a perplexed worry. To his left and right, the top halves of his wakizashi fly off through the water walls. In his hands now are merely two handles, the blades of his weapons having shattered against your skin. His gaze turns upward to the $auracolor energy emanating off your body with twice the spiritual weight as before. Underneath the holes he cut into your clothes, your body remains uncut. <<var $styleswapper "fortitude">>\ <<learntech 5000000000020050 "Beastmight" "Passive Technique. Heavyweight energy raises the Surge value of any one Core.">>\ <<include "ch7-styleswappertext">> As his gaze rises higher, to meet your own, you \ <<if ($honor gt 50)>>\ give him a disapproving frown. <<else>>\ crack a smile. <</if>>\ <<page "Beat him within an inch of his life." "ch7-daichifight-endmido">>\ #use-if (($element1 is "Darkness") or ($element2 is "Darkness")) Paralyze his shadow. [Darkness Advancement +1 Stealth] With no time to lose you grasp the power of Darkness all around you. The ocean below, the deep water, the shadows you cast, all the Darkness already present within your soul. With all the power you're able to muster, you //fold// the Darkness within your chi channels and force it out through your cycling. "IT'S TOO LATE!" Daichi screams. "YOU'RE ALREADY DEAD!" In a flash he's already upon you. The thickened Darkness chi isn't ready, it's too far down in your chi channels, nowhere near your arms as you're interrupted mid-cycling by Daichi arriving with both blades shoving right towards your chest. So you force the chi //down//, out your feet, where it seizes control over the foreign Darkness. Daichi's shadow. <<spendall 4 true>>\ The moment that Daichi's shadow reaches your feet, it freezes. His physical body does the same. All his speed and momentous force blows past you like a strong wind, but the man himself ceases immediately. He stands before you, not even falling into the water, as he's paralyzed mid-lunge like a statue. ''[Darkness Shugendō Bonus: Stealth +1]'' <<var $stealth + 1>>\ <<if ($element1 is "Darkness")>>\ <<var $element1rank + 1>>\ ''[<<cap $element1>> Mastery Improved to'' \ <<if ($element1rank is 2)>>\ ''"Adept"]'' <<elseif ($element1rank is 3)>>\ ''"Elite"]'' <<elseif ($element1rank is 4)>>\ ''"Master"]'' <<elseif ($element1rank gte 5)>>\ ''"Sage"]'' <</if>>\ <<elseif ($element2 is "Darkness")>>\ <<var $element2rank + 1>>\ ''[<<cap $element2>> Mastery Improved to'' \ <<if ($element2rank is 2)>>\ ''"Adept"]'' <<elseif ($element2rank is 3)>>\ ''"Elite"]'' <<elseif ($element2rank is 4)>>\ ''"Master"]'' <<elseif ($element2rank gte 5)>>\ ''"Sage"]'' <</if>>\ <</if>>\ <<page "Finally, it's over." "ch7-daichifight-enddarkness">>\ #use-if (($element1 is "Earth") or ($element2 is "Earth")) Cage him in stone at the bottom of the sea. [Earth Advancement, +1 Craft] With no time to prepare you cycle Earth chi throughout your spirit, folding the naturally heavy energy in your chi channels and pushing it through twice as thick. "IT'S TOO LATE!" Daichi's voice echoes as it reverberates across the waves, his body moving as fast as the sound. You do your best to shove all that condensed Earth chi out into the world before Daichi can close the gap, but he arrives instantly. His blades stabs into you, both weapons piercing into the stone armor that you manifest over your chest, and emerald energy swirls behind his elbows to force a second acceleration. "WIND JETTI-" Daichi doesn't finish the verbal Technique activation. You smile when his face twists in confusion and horror. Everything turns dark as night all around you and water crashes in, submerging you both, cutting off all light. You don't know if he even realizes what's happening when you finish your Earth effect and manifest a three-thousand pound dome of rock around the two of you that plummets into the sea, quickly dragging you both to the bottom. <<spendall 2 true>>\ <<page "Welcome to the Stonedome!" "ch7-daichifight-endearth">>\ #use-if (($element1 is "Fire") or ($element2 is "Fire")) Rain fire upon him. [Fire Advancement +1 Alchemy] Having no time to prepare, you ignite your own aura and feel the flames all around you. When Daichi charges you with enough speed to launch the water all around him into the air by twenty-feet, you don't even hear it. The sound is drowned out by your own screams as the flames of your spirit fight the nerves of your flesh. You //fold// the flaming chi in realspace and force it back into your spirit, redoubling the potency as you cycle it back through your soul. In a final blaze you launch hundreds of flares of condensed Fire Chi in a massive cone in front of you. "IT'S TOO LATE!" Daichi screams as he closes in, weaving through the attacks with dual wakizashi stabbing into your chest. <<spendall 1 true>>\ His blades melt. The man reacts quickly, turning in the air and kicking off your chest. His boots singe in the blaze of your spirit as he's pushed away, skidding across the sea's surface until he reaches a buoy. He grins, holding up his sheath. "How many times can you keep up that energy output, $clan? Because I-" He flinches to the sound of forty explosions behind him. <<page "Just as planned." "ch7-daichifight-endfire">>\ #use-if (($element1 is "Ice") or ($element2 is "Ice")) Raise frozen stalagmites in his path. [Ice Advancement, +1 Deception] -> "ch7-daichifight-endice" #use-if (($element1 is "Light") or ($element2 is "Light")) Charge at him faster than he charges at you. [Light Advancement, +1 $lightboost] Your spiritual cycling folds the Light Chi in your system and presses it through, but finds no purchase. You try to fold it again and again, picturing a river curving in on itself and moving faster, but the Light never feels substantial. It holds no weight, and its spiritual chi is no different. Daichi dashes in and his blades seem to be at your throat, until you realize that something seems off. He's not close, yet you can see him as if he is. The whole horizon opens up before you. Everything in your vision is distorted, like you're looking at it from mere feet away. The edge of a wave. The water spray around Daichi's charging form, still one-hundred feet away. The polish of a junkship boat. A woman at the docks trying to fix the wiring of her child's fishing pole. A seagull looking down over the Nanhou coast. The foggy water vapor in the sky thickening from a distance to look like a cloud. Light Chi fuels your eyes, taking your vision far beyond and magnifying everything in your view, and with a flick of the spiritual Will, you invert its effect. Not to bring Light in, but out. <<spendall 3 true>>\ <<page "Unchain the Light" "ch7-daichifight-endlight">>\ #use-if (($element1 is "Storm") or ($element2 is "Storm")) Surround the two of you in a cagematch of lightning. [Storm Advancement, +1 Lore] Daichi closes the gap between the two of you in the blink of an eye. In that same blink, \ <<if (($handseals gte 3) or ($style is "Kiihakai"))>>\ your fingers blur to enact the eleven-Seal formation of the storm. <<apboost 5>>\ <<else>>\ you force electricity inward, through your own core. <</if>>\ <<spendall 1 true>>\ Lightning bolts pour out of your body and curve outward before coming back, forming a twenty-foot circular cage of electricity. Daichi passes through it just before it closes on him and laughs while charging in to skewer you, having dodged your energy attack. Yet you're no mystic, you don't rely on energy and flashy effects. You're a Martial Artist. Daichi lunges for your Cores with both wakizashi...and misses. From below, where your crouched form lies, your leg passes between his extended dual blades in a counter-kick. The power of your lightning cage flows through your body and spirit, not through its perimeter, and you feel its invigorating energy push your own speed far beyond what you ever imagined. Far beyond what you can control. <<page "Ride the Lightning" "ch7-daichifight-endstorm">>\ #use-if (($element1 is "Water") or ($element2 is "Water")) Crash the tidal power of the sea against him. [Water Advancement, +1 Insight] -> "ch7-daichifight-endwater" #use-if (($element1 is "Wind") or ($element2 is "Wind")) Counter his charge with an explosive gust. [Wind Advancement, +1 Athletics] Wind rushes through your aura in an emerald rush of spiritual power. The difference between Wind Chi and all others is that Wind //only// exists when it flows. You haven't stopped cycling since you first learned the Element, and you've built a grand spiritual stamina from the constant effort. Yet while you cycle to condense the Wind Chi, Daichi closes the hundred-foot gap between the two of you in the blink of an eye. His blades, covered in purple Cursed Chi, get within two inches of your chest. A grin of victory is plastered on his face as he lunges them forward. And then he's forty feet in the air. <<spendall 3 true>>\ All the surging Wind Chi cycling through your spirit is released not in a jog, not in the usual speed of your nonstop cycling, but in a sprint. The full force of your Wind reserves are pushed out at once in a massive burst of 300 MPH winds that blow everything away from you. The ocean, the blades, even your opponent. <<page "Continue" "ch7-daichifight-endwind">>\ <</choose>>\

slicing all around your forearm with dismembering power. The severing chi cuts through flesh and bone while shredding nerves and decimating your spirit. <<if ($eblocktech isnot "")>>\ ''[$eblocktech Activated, Damage Reduced]'' <<woundcheck 2 false false>>\ <<else>>\ <<woundcheck 3 false false>>\ <</if>>\ "Tough skin!" Daichi laughs, your bleeding arm still in his grip. "But who said I can only do that once?" More Wind Chi spirals around his hand and, in a panic, you twist in the air with both legs snapping a kick at his face. The blow connects and tilts his head back, but he doesn't let go. Though no one said you can only kick him once. A $auracolor glowing flurry of kicks slam into his chin, his cheek, his forehead, his neck, and his eyes. With each strike he snarls louder and his focus on Wind Chi falters. Finally you feel his nose snap with a satisfying crunch. Infuriated, he refocuses the Wind effect around his hand into a blunt force burst of power. <<if (($hairlength isnot "Bald") and ($hairlength isnot "Buzzed"))>>\ Your hair is blown back first, followed by the rest of your body as you're \ <<else>>\ You're \ <</if>>\ blasted off of him, your arm coming out of his grip, and you almost smile until the speed of his Wind blast collides you into the sea with such speed that it feels like you're hitting a stone road. Finally you break through one of the waves at a bad angle, shoving seawater deep into your ear as you plunge under the surface. <<page "Continue" "ch7-daichifight-brag">>\

The sheath begins to shake, unable to hold its own power anymore. A perfect device, crafted to utilize its materials to the fullest, has been overfilled. Daichi snarls as he feels your attack. His hands blur with two spinning disks of Wind Chi, but then he looks down at the glowing light by his side where his Soul Treasure grows instable. "YOU IDIOT!!" He screams, "THAT'S GOING TO-" The device drowns his voice out with a thunderous explosion. A sphere of Light and Storm expands in a tenth of a second, bursting into an explosion larger than your ship. The two of you are blown backwards with rough force and you slam against the waves with such speed that it feels like you're bouncing off stone. After four tumbling collisions you break through the waves at a bad angle; seawater is shoved deep into your ear. Shaking the sensation away, you immediately turn and swim to the surface. It's time to finish this fight. <<page "Continue" "ch7-daichifight-round3">>\

With a clothes-fluttering cyclone of Wind Chi you launch into the air, high above Daichi's water wall display. Once you reach a sixty-foot altitude you detect an approaching presence and pull to the side, narrowly dodging the Oni himself launching into the air towards you with both wakizashi spinning. "You didn't think you'd get away from me up here, did you?!" He shouts, flying past you thanks to his intense momentum. As you both soar ever higher, he glances down and whips one of his blade-wielding arms down at you. A beam of white chifire launches out of his outstretched hands down at you just as he reaches his flight's zenith. <<choose "ch7-daichifight2">> #Fly out of its path. ''[Wind (Adept) Event]'' In a swift burst of wind you launch higher and higher, dodging his beam. Then you reverse your effect and fall at a slant, dodging his second beam aimed at your trajectory. Both flashes of Light energy blasts past you and slam into the Water below, causing it to boil in isolated pockets. "Stand sti-!" Daichi screams as you spiritually grip the wind around him and pull him toward you face-first, kicking your shin into the bridge of his nose when he arrives and sending him plummeting. He's launched at an angle for one-hundred feet before he plummets into the sea with a satisfying splash. <<var $subm true>>\ <<page "Continue" "ch7-daichifight2">>\ #Counterblast his assault. Rather than use your Wind Chi to change course, you meet his energy beam with a blast of your own spiritual energy. <<cap $auracolor>> chi emits from your hand and wrist, coalescing into an energy blast that you launch to meet his fast-approaching beam. <<var $combatstat "soul">>\ <<discount "Kiihakai" 1>>\ <<discount "Earth" 1>>\ <<discount "Storm" 1>>\ <<combatcheck (6+$daifight)>>\ <<if ($passcheck is true)>>\ Your blast breaks through Daichi's weaker beam. The illuminance of his attack blinds him to your victory until the light of your $auracolor blast reaches his hands, exploding against his aura. "GRAH!" He screams, tensing his damaged hands as he plummets into the sea. <<apboost 2>>\ <<var $subm true>>\ You drop down towards him with a swift kick, but he leaps away with surged Agility Core and lands one-hundred feet to the right, panting. \ <<else>>\ His beam of Wind Chi cuts through your attack like a physical blade and crashes against your spirit with a soul-rending severance. <<woundcheck 2 false true>>\ The Oni closes the gap in the same instance, coming in to engage you in melee, but you grip the Wind Chi around your leg and kick him away just before his blade reaches your face. He's knocked one hundred feet back from the gust of your counter, landing on the water's surface. <</if>>\ <<page "Continue" "ch7-daichifight2">>\ <</choose>>

To your surprise, Daichi doesn't stand on the water when he \ <<if ($subm is true)>>\ resurfaces. Instead he treads water \ <<else>>\ lands. Instead he slowly sinks into the waves, wading \ <</if>>\ with both blades still in his hands. "Launch the platforms!" He shouts before you can question why. As if on cue, several cannons from the blockade fire into the sea around your fight. Water explodes all around you from dozens of entry points, then something surprises you: large wooden balls float up to the surface from each impact point. Daichi climbs atop one and smirks, balancing on it with blades pointed at you. Before your very eyes, the battlefield has become a floating obstacle course of Seal-enhanced wooden buoys. <<if ((((((($element1 is "Wind") and ($element1rank gte 2)) or (($element2 is "Wind") and ($element2rank gte 2))) or ($element1 is "Ice")) or ($element2 is "Ice")) or ($element1 is "Water")) or ($element2 is "Water"))>>\ "I didn't think you'd need a crutch." You say while \ <<if ((($element1 is "Wind") and ($element1rank gte 2)) or (($element2 is "Wind") and ($element2rank gte 2)))>>\ hovering just off the water's surface. <<elseif (($element1 is "Ice") or ($element2 is "Ice"))>>\ standing on an expanding platform of ice with your arms crossed. <<elseif (($element1 is "Water") or ($element2 is "Water"))>>\ standing on the water in a battle stance. <</if>>\ <<else>>\ You leap onto one as well, balancing on the wooden buoy and placing both fists out towards your opponent. "You shouldn't have." You call out. <</if>>\ "It's called entertainment." Daichi says, spitting into the water. "Now get ready for a show you'll never forget." He leaps from buoy to buoy in a zigzagging formation; his blades charge with more and more purple Cursed Chi as he closes in on you, face growing mad with bloodlust. <<choose "ch7-daichifight-cannon">> #Meet him head-on in melee. You dash across the water in three successive splashes, \ <<if ((($element1 is "Wind") and ($element1rank gte 2)) or (($element2 is "Wind") and ($element2rank gte 2)))>>\ disrupting the water's surface from the tailwind of your flight \ <<elseif (($element1 is "Ice") or ($element2 is "Ice"))>>\ leaping off hastily made ice platforms \ <<elseif (($element1 is "Water") or ($element2 is "Water"))>>\ sprinting across the ocean's surface \ <<else>>\ crashing from buoy to buoy \ <</if>>\ as you close the distance to Daichi sooner than he expected. <<if (($element1 is "Storm") or ($element2 is "Storm"))>>\ In a flash, your body glows violet with Storm Chi and you accelerate even faster. <</if>>\ <<var $combatstat "power">>\ <<var $weapontest true>>\ <<discount "Midorikatai" 1>>\ <<discount "Storm" 2>>\ <<if (((((((((($equippedweapon is "Tanto")) or ($equippedweapon is "Katana")) or ($equippedweapon is "Muramasa")) or ($equippedweapon is "Greataxe")) or ($equippedweapon is "Qiang")) or ($equippedweapon is "Kunai")) or ($equippedweapon is "Jian")) or ($equippedweapon is "Iceblade")) or ($equippedweapon is "Chiblade"))>>\ <<discount "Akakiru" 1>>\ <</if>>\ <<combatcheck (8+$daifight)>>\ <<if ($passcheck is true)>>\ <<if ((($equippedweapon isnot "Yumi") and ($equippedweapon isnot "Handwraps")) and ($equippedweapon isnot ""))>>\ Your $equippedweapon clashes against Daichi's first wakizashi \ <<elseif ($equippedweapon is "Handwraps")>>\ You grab his wakizashi's blade in your hand, using the hardened weights of your handwraps to stop its edge. \ Pulling him forward, you land a foot on the nearest buoy before Daichi can \ <<else>>\ You deflect his wakizashi's blade with a backhand to the flat of the metal \ <</if>>\ and your leg slams into his midsection before his second weapon can strike. The force of your blow knocks both of you away from the buoy and reach down quickly to grab onto the surprisingly heavy wooden ball. With one heft you pull yourself up and balance one foot. <<else>>\ <<if ((($equippedweapon isnot "Yumi") and ($equippedweapon isnot "Handwraps")) and ($equippedweapon isnot ""))>>\ Your $equippedweapon clashes against Daichi's first wakizashi, \ <<elseif ($equippedweapon is "Handwraps")>>\ You grab his wakizashi's blade in your hand, using the hardened weights of your handwraps to stop its edge, \ <<else>>\ You deflect his first slash by knocking his blade aside, \ <</if>>\ but a gut-punch of Wind Energy barrels you over. Before you have time to recover, his blade stabs into your forearm. <<woundcheck 1 true false>>\ <<if ($pblocktech isnot "")>>\ Your $pblocktech Technique barely stops the blow in time, but \ <<else>>\ Blood from your own wound gets into your eyes and \ <</if>>\ you nearly slip on the buoy as you both try to gain footing on such a small surface. You swing at Daichi's face with an elbow and he responds with a headbutt, but you dodge back in time and kick him away, off the buoy. <</if>>\ "Not so fast!" Daichi screams, then a burst of Wind nearly deafens your ears. <<page "Continue" "ch7-daichistab">>\ #Launch a barrage of energy blasts. "Like Hell if I'll let you close the gap!" You shout, slamming both lower-palms together and pointing your fingers outward. Your cupped hands focus all your inner energy and exude an arsenal of spiritual power in the form of $auracolor chi surrounding your lower arms. "You don't have a choice!" Daichi shouts, surrounding his body with Wind Chi and rushing at you even faster. Just as he closes in and leaps from the final buoy, you launch your assault. <<var $combatstat "soul">>\ <<var $combatskill "insight">>\ <<if (($style is "Kiihakai") and ($handseals gt ($insight + 1)))>>\ ''[Kiihakai Event, Insight Check Switched for Handseals Check!]'' <<var $combatskill "handseals">>\ <</if>>\ <<discount "Storm" 1>>\ <<discount "Water" 1>>\ <<discount "Ice" 1>>\ <<if (($style is "Kiihakai") and ($handseals lt $insight))>>\ <<discount "Kiihakai" 1>>\ <</if>>\ <<combatcheck (9+$daifight)>>\ <<if ($passcheck is true)>>\ <<if (($element1 is "Water") or ($element2 is "Water"))>>\ <<apboost 4>>\ Using the natural chi of the Water all around you as fuel, \ <<else>>\ With intense focus in converting as much life energy into hostile power as possible, \ <</if>>\ you unleash Hell upon Daichi just as his blades close in on you through some sort of Heightened Acceleration Technique he must have activated. It wasn't enough. All the chi around your body concentrates around both outstretched \ <<if (($element1 is "Ice") or ($element2 is "Ice"))>>\ palms and converts to elemental Ice, blasting Daichi with a freezing gust of ice crystals that steal the water beneath you both to fuel your attack. The constant blast of arctic blue chi is so fast and so forceful that your Oni opponent is frozen in an instant with icicles larger than your torso drifting past his body. ''[Ice Event: Next Phase Skipped!]'' With the water beneath your feet frozen, you stand steadily and carefully move his blades aside. He doesn't react, frozen like a statue, but you feel his inner spirit revving up to shatter your effect. "We can't have that." You say while reeling your fist back in a telegraphed punch that turns your whole bodyweight and Aura Pressure into pure physical force. Just as the ice around him begins to crack, you punch his jaw with so much Ice Chi that he slides across the sea for a hundred yards, freezing the water beneath him as he glides away on his back. Now //that// was satisfying. "Have you had enough?" You shout out over to the Callous Clan's representative. "I can keep going, but we don't have to do this." "frthcnn" He mumbles softly from a distance. "What's that?" You call out. "I can't quite here you." "I SAID!" Daichi's body glows with emerald chi and he unsteadily rises to his feet, shivering while his eyelashes are still covered in ice. "FIRE THE CANNONS!" You're suddenly reminded, as you turn around, that you're within firing range of an armada of warships. <<page "Continue" "ch7-daichifight-cannon">>\ <<elseif (($element1 is "Storm") or ($element2 is "Storm"))>>\ palms and converts to the elemental lightning of Storm Chi. "DIE!" Daichi screams, though you can barely hear him over the thundercrack of your attack blasting him in the chest with a violet bolt larger than his body. ''[Storm Event: Next Phase Skipped!]'' In a single second he's blown a hundred yards into the air, body so stiff that he doesn't move a muscle. No reactionary Technique, no gust of Wind, no scream, no nothing. The battlefield grows quiet as he reaches a zenith in his ascent and slowly begins to fall down to the sea. You blast him again, to be safe. <<page "Zap!" "ch7-daichizap">>\ <<else>>\ palms. Your energy blast crashes against his face and flips him over in an involuntary backflip. Your next energy attack explodes against his back, launching him backwards. The third, fourth, and fifth make sure to pile on the damage before he manages to fall into the sea. Before you can get a breather, however, he explodes outward with emerald Wind Chi in a swirling dome. "ENOUGH!" He shouts, brimming with gales of power. "It's time I show you the true power of a Callous Clan Technique!" <<page "Continue" "ch7-daichiblast">>\ <</if>>\ <<else>>\ Your energy blast rushes in at his face until he slices it in half with one of his blades. Its edge glows a mix of purple and green as he does so. Then second blade stabs through your gut with the same glow. The two of you launch off the buoy and crash across the sea's surface thirty-feet away from the sheer force of Callous Daichi's charge. His wakizashi cuts into your insides further from the impact, and he laughs while jiggling the handle to scrape your torso further. <<var $val 2>>\ <<if ($eblocktech isnot "")>>\ ''[$eblocktech Activated, Damage Reduced]'' <<var $val 1>>\ <<elseif ($pblocktech isnot "")>>\ ''[$pblocktech Activated, Damage Reduced]'' <<var $val 1>>\ <</if>>\ <<woundcheck val false false>>\ In desperation you tuck a leg in and kick him off, sending the Oni flying overhead before you splash into the sea. Then, before he can continue his assault, you swim downward, into the depths of the ocean. \ If this battlefield isn't working out for you, it's time you use a different one. <<var $val 567>>\ <<page "Continue" "ch7-daichiblast">>\ <</if>>\ #use-if ($athletics gte 2) Kick his own buoys at him. [Requires Athletics 2] Now that you're standing atop a floating spherical wooden buoy, and Callous Daichi is leaping from buoy to buoy to approach you, a deep memory unlocks from your childhood. Could this be... BUOYBALL?! <<var $buoyball + 1>>\ <<if ($craft gt $athletics)>>\ You used to make the buoys for buoyball back in Thunderfall Village! With the freezing mountain lakes being the only arenas, you never thought anyone but you, Kosuke, and Jin played! And they only did it because you demanded they test your buoys with you! \ <<else>>\ You never thought you'd get another chance for buoyball in your life! Kosuke and Jin broke your buoyball set when you made them play through a winter in the freezing lakes, you neve expected to get a chance like this again! <</if>>\ Daichi's hardened expression grows noticeably concerned when he charges in with weapons drawn and sees the pure, child-like joy on your face. You quickly climb atop a nearby floating wooden buoy and leap off to a second one, kickflipping the first with your feet in order to launch it airborne for you to catch. <<var $combatstat "agility">>\ <<var $combatskill "athletics">>\ <<if ($craft gt ($athletics + 1))>>\ <<var $combatskill "craft">>\ <</if>>\ <<combatcheck (9+$daifight)>>\ <<if ($passcheck is true)>>\ You catch the first just as you land on the second, leaping to a third and kickflipping the ball under your feet again. As you land on the third buoy Daichi changes his trajectory, dashing sideways with blades aimed directly at you. He crosses the waves with his enhanced speed and charges in for the kill. "BUOYBALL!" You scream, hucking the first solid-wood buoy at his face and crunching him in the nose. <<page "Continue" "ch7-daichifight-buoyw">>\ <<else>>\ You land on the second buoy and turn back, reaching up to catch your airborne buoy. "Buoyball!" You shout, as is customary to announce at the beginning of a game. With both hands up, you catch the buoy and prepare to face Daichi in a good old-fashioned game of- He stabs you in the chest with both wakizashi, piercing into your body while your hands are raised for catching. <<if ($pblocktech isnot "")>>\ ''[$pblocktech Activated, Damage Reduced]'' <<woundcheck 1 false false>>\ <<else>>\ <<woundcheck 2 false false>>\ <</if>>\ You collapse off your small floating platform with a forced exhale and try your best not to swallow water. "What do you think you're doing with my buoys, <<cap $clan>>?" Daichi asks as he lands on your buoy, glaring down at your bleeding form in the water. "B-Buoyball." You whisper through an injured lung. "What?" "Buoyball!" You shout in frustration. "You set up the arena and said it was entertainment!" You gasp for air, steadying your chi cycling. "Some entertainment, idiot, you didn't even use a buoyball for your attack!" Daichi looks to his left and right, then down at you. "What the fuck is buoyball?" <<page "..." "ch7-daichifight-buoyl">>\ <</if>>\ #use-if ((($element1 is "Fire") or ($element2 is "Fire")) and ((($chipool + ($soul/2)) - $chispent) gte 1)) Light the buoys on fire. [Requires Fire Element, Costs 1 Chi] You follow Daichi's pattern as he leaps from buoy to buoy and hold a palm out, twisting the natural essence of the air with the inner Fire Chi of your soul. Just before he lands on the next buoy, it explodes into a geyser of flames. "That won't stop me!" He shouts, double-jumping higher into the air with his control of Wind Chi. Recognizing the new buoy he intends to land on, you ignite that one in flames too. He responds by spinning emerald chi around his leg. "Child's play!" He yells, soaring towards the flaming buoy with his leg fully extended in some special Wind-Kick to put out the fire on the buoy. ''[1 Chi Point Spent]'' <<var $chispent + 1>>\ You shrug and blast him from behind with a flamethrowing beam of Fire Chi. "AAAHHHHHH!!!!" He screams as his clothes and skin ignite in pain. "I don't know why you focused so much on the burning buoy." You ponder out loud while \ <<if ((($element1 is "Wind") and ($element1rank gte 2)) or (($element2 is "Wind") and ($element2rank gte 2)))>>\ using Wind control to fly onto a buoy. \ <<elseif (((($element1 is "Ice") or ($element2 is "Ice")) or ($element1 is "Water")) or ($element2 is "Water"))>>\ stepping onto a buoy. \ <<else>>\ climbing on top of a buoy to dry off. \ <</if>>\ "I can make more fire at any time, you shouldn't let your guard down." "AAAAAHHHHHHHHHH!!!!" He continues, screaming over you until he falls into the sea to extinguish the flames. When he resurfaces, the screaming continues. "FIRE!" He screams out. "FIRE! FIRE! FIRE!" You begin to grow worried for the Oni. Why is he screaming about fire? Your flames have already been put out, did something happen to his brain? "FIRE!" He shouts even louder, eyes wide open while staring behind you with urgency. "FIRE! THE FUCKING! CANNONS!" <<page "Oh no." "ch7-daichifight-cannon">>\ <</choose>>

Wind energy explodes behind the Oni like a dome of emerald power channeling everything into his back. The force of the Technique launches him back at you with a second burst of speed. Daichi switches the grip of his second wakizashi and slashes at your top, middle, and bottom in a 720-spin. You dodge the first slash at your head, swerve your torso back in a bend to dodge the second slash, and leap over the third. Daichi grins at your mistake when you jump and thrusts a hand at you, grinning. "Mistake! Time to put on a show!" His hand lights up with the condensed emerald chi of a true Technique. <<var $combatstat "agility">>\ <<var $combatstat2 "soul">>\ <<discount "Kurokonton" 1>>\ <<discount "Aoyusumu" 1>>\ <<discount "Wind" 1>>\ <<discount "Water" 1>>\ <<combatcheck (14+$daifight)>>\ <<if ($passcheck is true)>>\ <<cap $auracolor>> chi glows around your hand and, in a desperate show of disrespect... You highfive Callous Daichi. Both palms slam against each other and the collision of your chi activates his Technique. With a point-blank detonation of rushing elemental force you're both blown back one hundred yards in opposite directions. <<else>>\ You cover your face with both arms to guard just in time when he launches a sphere of Wind Chi far higher in quality than anything he's worked with so far. <</if>>\ The attack slams into your arms and propels your body into the air like a firework. The emerald force follows you, slamming against you from every angle like a hundred sandstone grinders. As you're blown into the air for over one-hundred yards, its persistent Wind Chi grinds your skin and twists your limbs in bone-fracturing pressure. <<if ($eblocktech isnot "")>>\ ''[$eblocktech Activated, Damage Reduced]'' <<woundcheck 1 false false>>\ <<else>>\ <<woundcheck 2 false false>>\ <</if>>\ Salty water rushes up your nose when you crash, spinning, into the sea. As soon as you do, the water all around you rises in a twenty-foot swell created by the bowl-like temporary hole Daichi's attack blew into the sea. You see him emerge from the swell on the opposite side of the watery crater and, just before the waves rush back in to fill the void, he smiles at something behind you. Daichi's grin grows vindictive as he screams out, "FIRE THE CANNONS!" <<page "Oh no." "ch7-daichifight-cannon">>\

"Have you had enough?" You shout out to the thoroughly-electrocuted Callous Clan representative just before he splashes into the sea. After a couple seconds he surfaces and coughs out water. The man doesn't seem responsive, wading in the ocean and looking down, so you call out again. "Are we done yet? With this fight?" "I think I could use a break." Daichi shouts back. "Yeah. Yeah I could use a break." "So I'm good to leave?" You ask. "What?" Suddenly he grows more animated, more confident in his response. "No, idiot. I said //I// need a break, not you!" Your face twists with confusion from his answer. "MEN!" He shouts out into the air before you can ask for clarity. "FIRE THE CANNONS!" You're suddenly reminded, as you turn around, that you're within firing range of an armada of warships. <<page "Oh no." "ch7-daichifight-cannon">>\

<<if ($val2 isnot 501)>>\ After that fiasco you leave the plaza and follow the next-closest road through one of the open city gates into the Commerce District, marveling at the scale of a true city. <</if>>\ The once humble shipyard town has transformed into a bustling cityscape teeming with life and energy. Thousands of Martial Artists from all corners of the Outer Provinces have converged here for the Heavenly Ascension Trials and over one million spectators, slaves, laborers, and merchants have followed. Every now and then you pass by a group of Martial Artists sporting a different cultural uniform of gi, hanfu, or armor uniform of more Sects than you thought existed, and this is only from the Outer Provinces. Even then, it's only from those currently in the same District as you. You begin to suspect the world is much larger than you've imagined. As you continue you find every street lined with countless makeshift buildings, their yellow-tiled roofs adorned with vibrant banners representing various Sects, Schools and Clans. The roads are packed with travelers and carriages while the air is thick with the aroma of sizzling street food, enticing you with its mouthwatering fragrance. You follow the scent subconsciously to find rows of stalls lining the inner streets selling wares of all kinds. Merchants display an array of civilian goods alongside all kinds of weapons, Manuals, training equipment, Soul Treasures, and elixirs. Some even look legitimate. The overwhelming sights and sounds overtake your senses, being from such a humble small town all your life, and it takes several tries before you learn to weave between the crowds. Your attention is quickly seized by the clamor of voices up ahead and a quick leap shows you the sight that's got the road so packed around what should be a wide crossroads: a duel. Finally, a chance to see the competition. <<page "Continue" "ch7-exit2nanhou2">>\

Before you can break through the crowd and get to the dueling Martial Artists your spiritual senses trigger a warning. Power. Lots of it. An enormous fireball detonates in a different open arena down the street. You expect to hear screams but instead hear a booming applause fill the air all across the busy labyrinth of Nanhou's wide roads. When you go to investigate //that// you hear the clashing of metal down a different street to your left and realize duelists and practitioners are demonstrating their ability all across the city. Crowds of wide-eyed audiences cheer with awe and admiration at your rivals in every direction as you travel down the roads. It's not until you've passed a half dozen demonstrations that you catch on to the fluid movements and precise spiritual control present in every Martial Artist display. Far more practiced and mastered than \ <<if ($aurapressure gte 2000)>>\ you ever expected. <<else>>\ your own. <</if>>\ With each duel or display that you pass you feel more and more \ <<if ($aurapressure gte 2000)>>\ concerned at the caliber of opponents, \ <<else>>\ out of your depth, \ <</if>>\ the pressure of competing against such experts weighing down on you. They're nothing like the opponents you've faced so \ <<if ($jadedragonfoundation is true)>>\ far. You're a Heaven's Blessed Jade Dragon of legend reborn in mortal form, so why the ''Hells'' are there so many higher Aura Pressures around you? <<elseif ($aurapressure gte 2000)>>\ far. Your Aura Pressure is over two ''//thousand//'', so why the ''Hells'' are there so many higher Aura Pressures around you? <<else>>\ far. You can't compete with these people. Actually...that's //too// true. You can't compete with //any// of these people. <</if>>\ <<page "Continue" "ch7-exit2nanhou3">>\

Suddenly it clicks. One detail stands out in your vision, a universal trait among the combatants: The barest hint of grey hairs. Every one of these duelists and showboaters that you see is in their prime or a little beyond. At least a century old by Martial Artist standards, probably three centuries. They can't be your competition for the Trials, they're too old. These fighters are not the students competing in the Heavenly Ascension Trials after all, they're the damned Sectmasters settling grudges or showing off! A sigh of relief escapes your lips. It makes sense. Crusher Mao should be around here somewhere likewise attracting attention from merchant caravans or Inner Sects, probably to garner favor for trade and alliances. Or maybe he's trying to maim the leader of a rival Sect in a public duel, which sounds more his style. A young Human woman with too many hairpins bumps into you and doesn't apologize, so you scan her spirit forcefully as a Martial Artist's social variation of 'fuck you too'. She turns around, scowling at the sensation. "Do you mind?" Her white gi has a beige oval badge on the chest that matches the five-columns crest seen on the Trials announcement letter. You assume that marks her as a Trial contestant. Her soul resonates in your spiritual senses with a refreshing and manageable 500 Aura Pressure. You let out a deep sigh of relief. This competition won't be so troublesome after all. "No," You reply with a relieved smile, "I don't mind at all." Then you turn and continue on, leaving her throwing a hissy fit that you're not really interested in. You have to get one of those badges, and there's so much else to do. <<var $shipsleft $shipcount>>\ <<include "hub-commerce-district2">>\

"Form a perimeter for the Magistrate." One of the Samurai orders to the others. "Do not let the target escape." Four Samurai surround you with a wide 50-foot berth, pushing the crowd back while keeping one hand on their swords. Just behind them, coming from the crowd, Nanhou's Magistrate Fuyu steps forward right up to the leaking water of the fountain and examines you closer. ''[<<cap $race>> Racial Event]'' <<if ($race is "Human")>>\ <<include "ch7-fuyu2">>\ <<else>>\ <<include "ch7-fuyu4">>\ <</if>>\

"Apologies, Honored Magistrate." You give your best attempt at a steady bow, though your head is still spinning. "It seems my duel has endangered your city's innocent people." "You're quite right that it has!" The Magistrate snaps back. <<var $ruthless - 1>>\ <<var $honor + 1>>\ <<if ($persuasion gte 3)>>\ <<if ($persuasion lt 3)>>\ ''[Persuasion 3 Check Failed]'' ''[Compassion Check Passed: Failure Canceled]'' <<else>>\ ''[Persuasion 3 Check Passed]'' <<var $forexp + 1>>\ <</if>>\ <<var $trialdeets + 20000000000000>>\ "Yet..." He hesitates. "It seems you understand the proper priorities, so I will let your brazen endangerment slide only this once. Next time do your best to hold yourself to a higher standard. I know you non-Humans have trouble staying civilized, but these are the Heavenly Ascension Trials." "Excuse me?" You ask in disbelief. "Indeed, you are excused." The Magistrate responds as if he's being polite. He turns to one of the Samurai. "It's refreshing to see manners among the lesser races. Clearly they've improved the civility lessons among the Outer Sects these days. Come, we must speak to the carpenters to get that damaged dock fixed expediently." The five of them walk away and leave you in the fountain, soaked up to your knees. "Welcome to Nanhou." Says a passing \ <<if ($race is "Kitsune")>>\ Wolf Yokai \ <<else>>\ $race \ <</if>>\ man from the crowd as everyone else disperses. "He's always like that." <<page "Continue" "ch7-exit2nanhou">>\ <<else>>\ "You nearly killed innocent Humans with your \ <<if ($race is "Lunargoth")>>\ pale-skin \ <<elseif ($race is "Oni")>>\ demonic \ <<elseif ($race is "Yokai")>>\ bestial \ <<elseif ($race is "Kitsune")>>\ vulpine \ <</if>>\ antics! You're lucky I don't have you locked behind bars!" <<include "ch7-fuyubars">>\ <</if>>\

You wake up in a medical bed with vague memories of boots. So many boots. Steel boots, or some type of stronger metal, as you don't recall them denting at all when the four Samurai stomped your head to near-death. You think the crowd joined in at some point too. <<var $trialdeets + 10000000000000>>\ <<var $val 1000>>\ It seems, however, \ <<include "ch7-risinbed">>\

"I didn't do anything," You protest in truth, "I was attacked by Callous Goro!" <<if (($persuasion gte 3) or ($honor gte 65))>>\ <<if ($persuasion gte 3)>>\ ''[Persuasion 3 Check Passed]'' <<var $powexp + 1>>\ <<else>>\ ''[Persuasion 3 Check Failed]'' ''[Honor Check Passed: Failure Canceled]'' <</if>>\ "That purple-skinned upstart?" The Magistrate asks, looking up and to the side as if recalling some memory. "He's still out there?" "Yes, Honored Magistrate." Says one of the Samurai. "The Callous Clan's armada has been permitted to test prospective recruits for the Trials so long as they arrive by sea." Magistrate Fuyu grunts and walks a few feet away to get a better look down the road you arrived from, down to the docks, and out to the sea where the Callous Armada still holds their blockade. "Captain, go sink a few of his ships and tell him to come inland." The four Samurai each tilt their helmets to look at each other. "Honored Magistrate, the Judges sent by the Exalted Council said-" "They can complain to me directly, //after// you fulfill my orders." Magistrate Fuyu interjects. "Goro's blockade made for a nice decoration, but I will not sit idly by while he throws \ <<if ($race is "Lunargoth")>>\ pale-skins \ <<elseif ($race is "Oni")>>\ demonspawn \ <<elseif ($race is "Yokai")>>\ filthy animals \ <<elseif ($race is "Kitsune")>>\ two-tailed aberrations \ <</if>>\ at crowds of innocent Humans!" He pauses in the middle of his increasingly loud rant and looks back to you. "That reminds me, are you here for the Trials?" "Yes, Honored Magistrate." You reply. "I am here to compete as the $patriarch of the-" He snaps his fingers and tsks. "No chance for an arrest then. Not for this, at least. Get out of my sight." <<var $trialdeets + 20000000000000>>\ <<page "Continue" "ch7-exit2nanhou">>\ <<else>>\ <<if ($race is "Oni")>>\ "Hmph." Says the Magistrate with half-lidded eyes. "Oni-on-Oni crime. Typical. Next time keep \ <<else>>\ "Pah!" The Magistrate spits on the ground at your feet. "Non-Human duels are no excuse to bring your violent ways into my pristine city! Keep \ <</if>>\ your bandit clan feuds outside my border or your family will find nothing but ashes in the lands they call home." \ <<var $trialdeets + 10000000000000>>\ <<include "ch7-fuyubars">>\ <</if>>\

Four hours pass as you work the stone with top-quality tools and the force of your chi. Magistrate Fuyu has you supplied with all the elixirs you need to stay in top shape for the entire process. ''[Wounds Healed]'' <<var $wounds 0>>\ ''[Chi Restored]'' <<var $chispent 0>>\ ''[Cores Restored]'' <<var $powspent 0>>\ <<var $forspent 0>>\ <<var $agispent 0>>\ <<var $solspent 0>>\ <<var $sect_waverunner + 6>>\ Masons from the city cater to your every command while working under you as a team to design the perfect fusion of traditional Jizo statue ideals and Magistrate Fuyu's contrasting appearance. <<if ($craft gte 3)>>\ ''[Craft 3 Check Passed]'' <<var $forexp + 2>>\ <<var $agiexp + 2>>\ <<var $powexp + 1>>\ "Quite impressive!" Magistrate Fuyu announces when you're done, clearly pleased. \ <<include "ch7-fuyu-jizow">>\ <<else>>\ ''[Craft 3 Check Failed]'' "The nose looks like a penis." The Magistrate says, looking upon your completed statue with water coming out of the sleeve for the new fountain piece. "Surely I am not the only one to see it." "It is a penis, Honored Magistrate." Replies a Samurai. "A penis to be sure." Adds a mason. "A small one, too." Says a woman in the crowd. "N-Not that small." Replies an Oni man beside her. He gets a few looks from the crowd. <<if (($element1 is "Earth") or ($element2 is "Earth"))>>\ ''[Earth Element Event: Failure Canceled]'' "My sincere apologies." You say, thrusting a wrist forward and twisting it twice. Your hand glows amber with Earth Chi and the sculpture's nose expands and adjusts, growing out to look more like the obtuse kind of nose expected in a Jizo statue. Magistrate Fuyu harumphs. "Better." \ <<var $forexp + 1>>\ <<var $agiexp + 1>>\ <<var $powexp + 1>>\ <<include "ch7-fuyu-jizow">>\ <<else>>\ "I am so sorry." You respond, exhausted and unable to fix the phallic imagery. You already shrunk it twice. Once to fix it from looking like an eggplant at first, then again to fix a crack in the remodel. Now it's too small to even work with, and it looks like a penis. A small one. ''[Infamy Increased]'' <<var $infamy + 1>>\ "Get out of my sight." Magistrate Fuyu spits. "And expect to hear from my agents in the Trials. I will not forget this slight." "Understandable." You say, putting your tools down and leaving in shame. You really wanted this to come out well, you blew four hours of high intensity effort on it in front of a massive crowd. Noses are hard. <<var $trialdeets + 10000000000000>>\ <<page "Continue" "ch7-exit2nanhou">>\ <</if>>\ <</if>>\

He stomps into the fountain and gets a better look. "Perfect, even! It is as if I am looking into a mirror that shows a fatter version of myself. And yet no ounce of flab or rolls! Simply a marvelous, stone physique of wide stature and strong, stable gravitas. Every pound put to use. A true warrior of the sumo arts. Hmph. Yes, I always suspected I could have been, if I wanted to be, that is. You have done a fine work proving my point to others." "Huh? No that's not why Jizo statues are-" You begin to protest, but stop when the team of masons around you frantically shake their heads. "Er, yes, Honored Magistrate. That was the goal. I am pleased to hear you like it." "I do. For \ <<if ($race is "Oni")>>\ an Oni, \ <<else>>\ a $race, \ <</if>>\ you're quite a useful asset. Most of your kind are \ <<if ($race is "Lunargoth")>>\ smug layabouts, \ <<elseif ($race is "Oni")>>\ degenerate soul gamblers, \ <<elseif ($subrace is "Bovine")>>\ better suited working in the fields, \ <<elseif ($race is "Yokai")>>\ no better than animals, \ <<elseif ($race is "Kitsune")>>\ nothing but vole-munching charlatans, \ <</if>>\ yet you've managed to resist your non-Human nature and become //quite// the artisan. Perhaps I can find more uses for you in the future. And, accordingly, I will inform my network that it would be in our interest if you do well in the Trials." He pats a hand on your shoulder and makes an odd attempt at a smile, then wipes his hand off on his robe and leaves with the four Samurai guards. <<var $trialdeets + 30000000000000>>\ <<var $sect_waverunner + 10>>\ <<page "Continue" "ch7-exit2nanhou">>\

You awake a short time later on a medical bed with no indication of how you got away from the Magistrate. All there is on your bed is a bloodied sheet and a letter that- Oh, it's an indication of how you got away from the Magistrate. <<image "https://www.auraclash.com/assets/images/ac-linebreak-top.png">>\ //To the delinquent now identified as $fullname of Thunderfall Village,// //You are hereby charged with recompensation to the office of Magistrate Fuyu for your grievous destruction of city property, at a cost of 1,700 Silver Coinage to be paid at your (read: the Magistrate's) earliest convenience.// //Welcome to Nanhou. Enjoy your short stay.// <<image "https://www.auraclash.com/assets/images/ac-linebreak-bottom.png">>\ You stare at the written fine and \ <<if ($ruthless gte 60)>>\ add Magistrate Fuyu to your revenge list. Jack, Mao, Taio(s), Bo Lo depending on the day, Goro, possibly Leona for stealing a ship, and now Magistrate Fuyu. The list is getting pretty long. <<else>>\ let out a long, fulfilling sigh. You're almost //enjoying// how annoyed you are; it lets you know everything is consistent in the universe. <<var $solexp + 2>>\ <</if>>\ ''[170 Shard Debt Acquired]'' <<var $debt + 170>>\ <<var $debtnote + 10000000000>>\ <<var $trialdeets + 40000000000000>>\ While you may be getting fleeced by the government it at least seems, however, \ <<include "ch7-risinbed">>\

<<var $trialdeets + 30000000000000>>\ "I'm to believe you attacked my statue with a flying kick, eh?" The wiry rat-like Human asks while looking back down the road; your path of destruction is still evident from the docks all the way to the plaza. "And you did it while crashing into the ground all the way from the sea?" He looks back to the crowd and scowls. "Unlikely, fools! It is clear as day that this $manwoman was attacked, almost certainly by a filthy Oni or Yokai, and survived unharmed by $hisher sheer determination and superior prowess!" "...Huh?" You have to manually close your mouth after realizing your jaw has dropped. No stranger of authority has //ever// believed you before. "Let's get you out of the fountain, $boygirl! You're kneeling in mud! And the rest of you are dismissed!" The Magistrate claps his hands twice and two of the Samurai close-in to help you to your feet, dragging you out of the fountain and up to the Magistrate. The rest of the crowd disperses, grumbling, while the wiry Noble analyzes your face and features more clearly. "Hmm yes, you've got the look of a fighter about you. A strong one, for certain. Worry not about the statue, I'll have another made. What's important is you are here now, in Nanhou, and...under twenty-five, yes?" You look from the Samurai to your left, to the Samurai to your right, and to the two behind him. This is an unsettlingly welcoming shakedown. "Yes, Honored Magistrate." "Oh splendid! So you are indeed here for the Trials. Grandiose. Pleasingly grandiose. We need more Humans like you entering into the Archonate, you know. Can't have those filthy mutants policing our empire. The shame of it. Pah!" He removes a pouch from his robes, looks left and right, and places it into your hand while whispering. "Buy yourself whatever you need to recover. We Humans must look out for each other." ''[Item Gained: 300 Shards]'' <<var $shards + 300>>\ He makes an odd attempt at a smile, pats your shoulder twice, and starts marching away as quickly as he arrived. His four Samurai guards follow him while he speaks back at you without turning around, "The rest will be up to you, of course. The Human spirit must prevail on its own hero's journey!" <<var $sect_waverunner + 20>>\ You're left alone in the emptied city plaza, stunned, soaked up to your knees, <<if ($wounds gte 1)>>\ wounded, \ <</if>>\ <<if ($val gte 1)>>\ probably concussed, \ <</if>>\ and holding a hefty pouch of Shards given to you by a race-obsessed old man who didn't even ask your name. <<page "...I miss Thunderfall." "ch7-fuyu3">>\

The crowd disperses and everything returns to 'normal', minus one statue, so you \ <<if ($wounds gte 2)>>\ bandage yourself to the best of your ability and \ <</if>>\ make your way through the nearest large gates. According to the signage at the gate entrance, you're leaving the Port District and entering the Commerce District. <<var $val2 501>>\ And //what a District!// <<page "Continue" "ch7-exit2nanhou">>\

<<if ($race is "Kitsune")>>\ The Magistrate eyes you with his long nose and twitching eye. "A filthy Yokai dares to-" His frown deepens as he looks you up and down, eyes darting to your left and right, and you realize he's noticing your tails. Sometimes you forget that your secret is out of the bag. "A filthy //fox spirit// dares to attack my likeness in my own city?! Foolish arrogance!" He glances down the path of destruction your impact left, from the fountain to the roads all the way down to a destroyed pier. "And you've done your share of damage to my fine roads and docks, I see. Yet your assault on my fine, //Human// people has failed, for now I have caught you red-handed! I suppose you have some sort of lie prepared in your defense." <<elseif ($race is "Oni")>>\ His mouth twists in disgust. True, actual disgust. The way he glances at your <<if ($spiritbrandloc is "skin")>>\ $spiritbrandcolor \ <<else>>\ red \ <</if>>\ skin is the same way you imagine he'd glance at you defecating in public. "You destroyed my statue." He says as if he doesn't believe his own words. "You, a demonspawn, destroyed //my// statue. The open confession of your true nature is baffling! Truly you must be unburdened by education, to have committed your crimes so openly. Who summoned you, hm? Some demon worshipper calling you from the depths of Hell? Some merchant purchasing a cursed contract? Tell me, Fiend, who ordered you to attack my city?" <<else>>\ "A $race." Magistrate Fuyu says with distaste. \ <<if ($subrace is "Monkey")>>\ "Of course it was a Yokai. A damned MONKEY at that! \ <<else>>\ "Typical. \ <</if>>\ Causing trouble in my city and ruining the ambiance of a pleasant Human neighborhood. You are here for the Trials, I presume? Rather bold of you to attack my city, but you didn't get away with it, did you? No. My people's keen, //Human// senses were able to detect your assault before it could continue. What do you have to say in your defense?" <</if>>\ <<choose "ch7-fuyu-innocent">> #use-if ($val lt 3) "I didn't do anything, I was attacked by Callous Goro!" #use-if ($val lt 3) "Apologies, Honored Magistrate, it seems my duel has endangered your city's innocent people." -> "ch7-fuyu-apology" #use-if ($val lt 3) "Are you joking? I am an invited guest of the Heavenly Ascension Trials and you //failed// to secure my safe travel right off your coast! Get out of my sight, you incompetent fraud!" [Spit] <<var $honor - 3>>\ <<var $ruthless + 1>>\ "Are you joking?" You scream in retaliation. "I am an invited guest of the Heavenly Ascension Trials! The greatest Martial Event in the known world! Yet you feel fit to whine and complain to me about the consequences of your own //failure?!// I was attacked, you buffoon!" The crowd gasps as you scream at their Magistrate, but you keep going. "I was attacked right off the coast of YOUR city because YOU failed to provide safe travel! You're a disgrace to your office, a disgrace to your people, and a disgrace to this Empire. Get out of my sight, you incompetent fraud!" The four Samurai lean forward, hands on the hilt of their blades, but the Magistrate only stares, mouth-agape and dumbfounded at your audacity. Then you spit on him, right in the bridge of his nose so your loogey splits in half and slides into both of his eyes. ''[Prestige Increased]'' <<var $prestige + 1>>\ ''[Commerce Decreased]'' <<var $commerce - 2>>\ <<var $sect_waverunner - 10>>\ <<page "Heh." "ch7-fuyu-beatstheshitoutofyou">>\ #use-if (($val lt 3) and (($deception gte 2) and (($craft gte 3) or ($background is "Merchant")))) "When I saw how your sculptors had lied to you about proper Jizo craftsmanship, I knew I had to right this wrong." "Apologies, Honored Magistrate." You say while shakily rising to your feet and motioning to the soaking rubble around you. "But I could not control my sense of justice when I saw how your sculptors had lied to you about proper Jizo craftsmanship. I knew I had to right this wrong." "You...what?" The rat-like Magistrate asks, tilting his head questioningly. "What are you saying, $boygirl?" You sit down in a cross-legged position and lift a few pieces of rubble, doing your best to emulate a wise teacher. "Jizo statues are meant to be welcoming to travelers, a sign of wishing them well on their continued journey. Perfect for a mountain or port city; this particular statue was placed in a good location by placing it next to the tavern exits. Your choice, no doubt, but the design was completely off. It was a life-like sculpture." "Yes." The Magistrate replies flatly. "That is the point of statues, to emulate my good looks." "Not a Jizo one!" You reply in frantic caution. "They need to be wide and rounded. Bulky. Robust. They're meant to combine the likeness of a protector and the essence of mountainous stone. In fact, by demonstrating the statue as your lithe form instead of the robust traditional shape, the sculpture implied that you've depleted your ability to offer protection to travelers and children. No one trusts a narrow stone for their house's foundation. He insulted not only you, but your entire family and seven generations of your future offspring. I simply could not let such an insult stand." The Magistrate stares at you sternly for several seconds. His gaze grows scrutinizing. His brow tightens. Finally he approaches you and crouches to your eye-level. "You...are the only $race who has ever had $hisher priorities in order." You give a hesitant smile and Magistrate Fuyu nods in approval, then claps his hands together twice and looks back to the crowd. "Have the masons bring us more stone! This $manwoman will build my new sculpture!" <<page "Continue" "ch7-fuyu-jizo">>\ #show-if (($style is "Kurokonton") and ($stylerank gte 2)) I'm already gone. [Requires Kurokonton (Adept)] The //Magistrate?// Goro knocked you into the statue of the //Magistrate?!// Even worse, he did it in front of the man himself! That son of a bitch. Luckily \ <<if ($styleswapper isnot "")>>\ he was three minutes too late, and you picked up a trick when you beat his brother bloody. <<apboost 2>>\ The second you saw the crowd parting you had already activated ''//Afterimage//'' and vanished into a nearby alleyway where, if you had anything left in your stomach, you would have thrown up again. \ <<else>>\ he's not the only one with <<if ($insight gte 3)>>\ Cursed Chi \ <</if>>\ tricks up his sleeve. \ The second you saw the crowd parting you had already channeled your Cursed Chi out all around you, absorbing everything it could with its primordial Yin. In doing so, you trapped the light around your body and formed a superimposed image of yourself kneeling. \ An illusion. \ <<apboost 5>>\ Then you ran like Hell before the Light caught up to you, sprinting in a semi-invisible state into a nearby alleyway where you would have promptly thrown up //if// you had anything left in your stomach. \ <</if>>\ Moving so fast after all that spinning isn't a good idea, but at least it works. ''[Stealth +1]'' <<var $stealth + 1>>\ You catch your breath behind a stack of crates filled with painting frames and let your head stop spinning, all while Nanhou's Magistrate Fuyu berates a false afterimage, an illusion of your kneeling self, back at the fountain. After three minutes of vague threats and questionable \ <<if ($race is "Human")>>\ comments about your mother, \ <<else>>\ ethnic slurs, \ <</if>>\ Fuyu orders one of the Samurai to drop you to your knees. Seconds later gasps break out from the crowd. It seems they found out he was yelling at an illusion. "Magistrate Fuyu, the real perpetrator must be somewhere nearby!" A man's voice calls out. "Men, split up and-" "Nonsense!" Shouts the Magistrate's grating voice. "You think this is my first day as Magistrate? Pah! This illusion is blatantly from a Trialgoer of low intelligence attempting to frame their enemy. A waste of time if ever their was one. I have lived three of your lifetimes, young Samurai, so trust in me when I say there is no benefit to be found in the petty squabbles of these teenage upstarts! Come, there is much else to do." <<var $trialdeets + 20000000000000>>\ Huh...He's almost right about the situation, for entirely wrong reasons. You were being framed for destroying his statue. Good enough. Time to go. <<page "Continue" "ch7-exit2nanhou">>\ #"Nnnngggggg." [Pass Out] The world spins before you can say anything, and the cold water of the fountain rises up to meet your face as you collapse into it. ... ... ... <<page "Continue" "ch7-fuyu-knocked">>\ <</choose>>

He pauses, shuts his mouth, and looks off to the side toward his Samurai. "Actually, put this $manwoman behind bars." All four Samurai are silent for three seconds until one speaks up. "Honored Magistrate, the Heavenly Ascension Trials are beginning soon. We will need more than property damage to perform an arrest this close to the initial screening." "Pah!" The Magistrate spits on the ground. "More like the Hellish Descension Trials at this rate if we're protecting such rabble." "Good one, Honored Magistrate!" Shouts a lone man in the middle of the nearby crowd. The Magistrate nods back to him in appreciation and then turns back to you. "Remove yourself from my sight immediately..." His mouth suddenly twists into a smile, his eyes narrowing. "...and best of luck in the Trials ahead. It would be a shame if something were to //happen// to you." You raise an eyebrow and scrunch your face involuntarily. "Was that a threat?" <<var $trialdeets + 10000000000000>>\ "Yes." The Magistrate replies in front of the large crowd. "Now come, Samurai, we must speak to the carpenters to get that damaged dock fixed expediently." The five of them walk away and leave you in the fountain, soaked up to your knees. "Welcome to Nanhou." Says a passing \ <<if ($race is "Kitsune")>>\ Wolf Yokai \ <<else>>\ $race \ <</if>>\ man from the crowd as everyone else disperses. "He's always like that." <<page "Continue" "ch7-exit2nanhou">>\

Opening your eyes is an unpleasant sensation, nauseated as you are. Through the spinning sensation of the worst dizziness of your life, you manage to take in the sight of your surroundings and see you've finally stopped moving. Currently you lay on the floor, surrounded by the remains of a dozen knotted wool rugs. It seems they cushioned your landing. You're thankful that you didn't break something expensive, at least it was just some wool and not- Ah. Upon further inspection, you've broken the wall behind the rugs too. A wide crack as tall as your body and nearly as wide shines light from the crack in the wall...shouldn't. You step closer and peer through the crack. Only a single section seems to have taken any damage and it's been bent inward, like a wide sliding door. In fact, looking at the floor, you see a track for wheels that supported the doorway, yet there are no handles in sight. This is no wall, you realize. It's a hidden entrance to a secret room. Confused but intrigued, you step closer and look through the broken secret door to see \ <<if ($insight gte 3)>>\ why you landed here: \ <<else>>\ the last thing you expected to be hidden in a rug weaver's: \ <</if>>\ a small library. Scrolls encased in Sealed glass sitting atop podiums, as well as small bookshelves of various manuals. If your spiritual senses are correct, each of these Manuals is infused with a sliver of Callous Goro's chi. His secret stash. Everything begins to add up. \ <<if ($insight lte 3)>>\ The speed at which you were launched away from Goro wasn't because he had hit you hard enough to launch you away, it's because he was using Cursed Chi to pull you //towards// something. Something in the statue outside, most likely, \ <<else>>\ Your trajectory looked so certain earlier, like you were meant to hit the statue. Goro must have coated it with his Cursed Chi to try and pull you into it, \ <</if>>\ but he struck you too hard and knocked you right past it. His effect must have shifted to the second biggest focus of his Cursed Chi in the area: this hidden cache of his personal resources. Bo Lo may have been right about the Heavens smiling down on you. <<choose "ch7-goro-destroycache">> #Rob the cache. <<var $metgoro + 400000000>>\ <<var $honor - 5>>\ Ah, to be you. How splendid. All the fatigue of such a long day simply falls away as you stuff your new opponent's belongings onto a nearby carpet and tie its four corners into an impromptu bag. Most of these Path Manuals are beneath your level, but they have a bit of Aura Pressure embedded in them to help weaker people Advance. You're sure you can find a use for them. More importantly, you're sure that now Goro //can't// find a use for them. ''[Item Gained: Stack of Basic Path Manuals]'' <<var $junkitem + 10000000000000>>\ Not only do you find plenty of Path Manuals among the small hidden library, but a selection of Shards and several tomes on trade routes and tax handlings that greatly expand your knowledge of the markets. Reading through entire tomes of commerce calculations will be daunting, but you suspect the training of your mind will help as much as the training of your body. ''[Item Gained: 220 Shards]'' <<var $shards + 220>>\ ''[Lore +1]'' <<var $lore + 1>>\ ''[Commerce Increased]'' <<var $commerce + 2>>\ Satisfied, you sling the collection over your shoulder and depart out the window from which you entered. The large crowd maneuvering between shops around the fountain outside seems surprised at your speedy entrance but the shock wears off fast in the staging ground of the Heavenly Ascension Trials. <<var $val2 501>>\ You depart without issue and go to see what Nanhou has to offer. <<page "Continue" "ch7-exit2nanhou">>\ #Destroy the cache. <<var $ruthless + 1>>\ Callous Goro sought to humble you in front of the entire city. How petty. Worse than petty, it was a foolish and futile endeavor because he could //never// be as petty as you. <<if (($element1 is "Fire") or ($element2 is "Fire"))>>\ ''[Fire Element Event]'' <<var $prestige + 1>>\ <</if>>\ Dozens of spiritual scans brush against your aura as \ <<if (($element1 is "Fire") or ($element2 is "Fire"))>>\ you snap your fingers to release an expanding inferno of Fire Chi into the room. Everything it touches incinerates at once by using the Path Manuals' inner chi binding as fuel to create more fire. Nothing but ash remains. \ <<else>>\ your hands glow with more and more $auracolor energy. No one arrives in time to intervene. You rush both hands forward and blow the entire room out through the other side of the building, destroying every Path Manual and cultivation guide inside. <</if>>\ Now to make your escape. <<var $gorocombat - 1>>\ #Throw everything out the window to the crowded plaza below. <<var $metgoro + 300000000>>\ <<var $ruthless - 4>>\ You're no thief, but you're also no pushover. If Callous Goro thinks a mile-long cheapshot can scare you off, he's dumber than Jack. And Jack's an idiot. You collect the Path Manuals in your arms and walk to the open window through which you came. Looking down into the circular plaza below you can see over one-hundred men and women traveling between shops that surround the open area hosting the fountain-statue you almost struck. Most of them are looking up at you, seeing as you shot through the sky like a meteor. "People of Nanhou!" You shout out to the crowd. "I, $fullname, offer a gift to celebrate the greatness of the Heavenly Ascension Trials. Long live Imperial Rasen, and long live its people!" It sounds like a good enough speech to you, but they simply blink back. Then you chuck handfuls of Path Manuals out the window. At first, no one reacts. You're some crazy $manwoman throwing books out a window. Yet when a cabbage seller catches one and looks through it, he takes only a moment to immediately sprint and knock someone else out of the way to grab another. The crowd needs no further context clues to realize that whatever you're throwing out, it's valuable. Ten handfuls of Path Manuals are thrown out the window before you're done. It nearly causes a stampede. ''[Prestige Greatly Increased]'' <<var $prestige + 6>>\ <<page "Continue" "ch7-exit2nanhou">>\ #Leave. <<var $metgoro + 500000000>>\ <<var $honor + 5>>\ <<var $ruthless - 2>>\ <<var $forexp + 3>>\ <<var $solexp + 3>>\ You're no thief. Callous Goro may have picked a fight with you, and taken a cheap shot like a dishonorable cur, but he didn't touch your ships. Probably. Rather than robbing the hidden cultivation cache, you leave out the window and jump to the plaza below. The large crowd maneuvering between shops around the fountain outside seems surprised at your speedy entrance but the shock wears off fast in the staging ground of the Heavenly Ascension Trials. You depart without issue and go to see what Nanhou has to offer. <<page "Continue" "ch7-exit2nanhou">>\ <</choose>>

<<choose "ch7-exit2nanhou">> #[Leave out the back and disappear.] <<var $metgoro + 200000000>>\ <<if (($element1 is "Fire") or ($element2 is "Fire"))>>\ You charge through your own flames and break through the blackening wood on the opposite wall, crashing through the building and out into an alley between the rug seller and a stone wall. You \ <<else>>\ You leap through the hole that was once the hidden room's opposite wall. Sometimes it's nice to make your own doorway. Your feet skid against the stone of the city's district wall that the rug-seller's building was built against and you \ <</if>>\ skid down to the ground where you find yourself in a small alleyway. The perfect place to make your escape in a city. ''[Stealth + 1]'' <<var $stealth + 1>>\ While the crowd is busy with the \ <<if (($element1 is "Fire") or ($element2 is "Fire"))>>\ pillar of smoke \ <<else>>\ explosive debris \ <</if>>\ coming out of the building's front, you sneak away to see what Nanhou has to offer. <<page "Continue" "ch7-exit2nanhou">>\ #[Leave through the front and boast.] <<var $metgoro + 100000000>>\ You leap out the window through which you came, framed by the explosion behind you, and land among a fascinated crowd. Over a hundred people crammed into the circular plaza make way for your landing, with shocked murmurs breaking out as they form a crowd around you. No time like the present to show off. You shove one extended thumb behind you, aimed at the scene of your destruction. "Callous Goro has initiated a feud with the $patriarch of the <<cap $clan>> Clan. Let all of Nanhou know his mistake!" ''[Prestige Increased]'' <<var $prestige + 1>>\ ''[Infamy Increased]'' <<var $infamy + 4>>\ At the mere mention of his name, many of the crowd hurries away. Some look confused, but many others stare dumbfounded at your audacity. <<page "Continue" "ch7-exit2nanhou">>\ <</choose>>

You brace your Fortitude Cores just in time to crash chest-first into the solid monument, exploding it into rubble. <<var $combatstat "fortitude">>\ <<discount "Midorikatai" 1>>\ <<discount "Aoyusumu" $stylerank>>\ <<discount "Kurokonton" $stylerank>>\ <<discount "Earth" 1>>\ <<discount "Wind" 1>>\ <<discount "Ice" 1>>\ <<if ($lore gte 3)>>\ <<var $cmod + 2>>\ <</if>>\ <<combatcheck 11>>\ <<if ($passcheck is true)>>\ Your skeleton shakes as if rung like a bell, yet the only thing that truly breaks is the sculpture. <<if (($val is 0) and ($jadedragonfoundation is false))>>\ <<achieve "Dynamic Entry">>\ <</if>>\ <<else>>\ Your chest and face crunch into the stone with lip-bursting, jaw-shattering pain. The collision flattens your collarbone and compresses both your lungs and your heart. With your chi disrupted, the physical brutality of crashing into two feet of solid stone inflicts bone fractures all throughout your upper body. <<var $val + 1>>\ <<if ((($health + ($fortitude / 2)) - $wounds) gte 4)>>\ <<woundcheck 3 false false>>\ <<elseif ((($health + ($fortitude / 2)) - $wounds) gte 3)>>\ <<woundcheck 2 false false>>\ <<else>>\ <<aploss 10>>\ <<var $val + 1>>\ <</if>>\ <</if>>\ You kneel in the rubble, coughing through the cloud of stone and dust. Your whole body shakes, but you calm down when you realize you have finally, //finally// stopped moving. The ringing in your ears slowly fades and you take stock of your surroundings: you're atop a pile of cracked stone in the middle of a fountain. Water spills out of the rubble and soaks your knees. Small rocks fall around you like rain. Surrounding you is a circle of two-story shops and lodging taverns in one of the Port District's plazas. Between you and the buildings, a city-sized crowd stares at you in concern. A reasonable reaction; your entrance almost killed them. Several guards and Martial Artists still hold unpowered civilians that they pulled out of your way in the nick of time. "Did you see that?" Asks one boy in a guard's arms. "<<cap $heshe>> almost killed me!" "These younger Martial Artists are out of control..." Says a fisherman at his stall. "Is it a trend to attack fountains now? Hm?" Asks a bitter old lady. "It was a //real// wishing fountain?!" Blurts out a young \ <<if ($heshe is "he")>>\ girl. \ <<else>>\ man. \ <</if>>\ "I should have wished for a million Shards instead of a cute \ <<if ($heshe is "he")>>\ guy!" <<else>>\ girl!" <</if>>\ <<if ((($insight gte 2) or ($perception gte 2)) and ((($lore gte 2) or ($val lt 2)) or ($style is "Kurokonton")))>>\ <<if ($style is "Kurokonton")>>\ ''[Kurokonton Event]'' <<elseif ($lore gte 2)>>\ ''[Lore 2 Check Passed]'' <<elseif ($insight gte 2)>>\ ''[Insight 2 Check Passed]'' <<elseif ($perception gte 2)>>\ ''[Perception 2 Check Passed]'' <<else>>\ ''[Special Event]'' <</if>>\ Amidst the cityfolk's rambling, a purple and gold glint catches your eye in the pile of rubble beneath your knees. You reach down, digging deep into the settling sand and chunks of rock, and pull up a single gold coin glowing with //potent// Cursed Chi. This must be it, you realize. Such a small object, yet so damaging. This is the anchor Callous Goro used to launch you from a mile off shore all the way into the city. You pocket it for now. ''[Item Gained: Goro's Token]'' <<var $junkitem + 100000000000000>>\ A shrill man's voice breaks your train of thought. \ <<else>>\ A shrill man's voice shouts over the rest. \ <</if>>\ "What is the meaning of this? Who has destroyed //my// Jizo statue?" The crowd all around you parts to make way for a tall yet hunched and lanky man with a thin, wispy goatee, eyebrows that are too long on the sides, and the permanent facial expression of smelling something odious. The striking image of a sniveling bureaucrat. "That $manwoman, Magistrate Fuyu!" Shouts a young snitch from the crowd. "<<cap $heshe>> came out of nowhere with a flying kick and destroyed it! I saw it with my own eyes!" The bureaucrat, who is apparently Nanhou's Magistrate, tilts his head toward you in anger. "Surround $himher." Four guards in samurai armor march out from the crowd in unison and you almost choke on air when you realize it's not a ceremonial outfit: the Aura Pressure emanating off their blades marks them as //real Samurai.// The elite of the Bladed Lands. <<page "Continue" "ch7-fuyu">>\

<div class="fightingfont">Thunderfaller vs Callous Daichi</div>\ <<statcheck>>\ <<fightexp 10>>\ <<var $fighting false>>\ <<var $eventfun + 100000>>\ You pant heavily, shivering. The air feels thin and your Cores ache worse than any muscle. An emptiness inside, a hunger, //burns// from your navel up to your heart and some place behind your own back. Your body feels like tensing up and dying like a spider, but you resist the sensation. Though the center of your spirit may sting from overuse, it's a deeper level of a sting you recognize. The pain of growth. "Interesting." Says a smooth, calm voice from behind. "You really do Advance in the middle of battle." <<include "ch7-gorosight">>\ The skin and the belt are surprises, to be sure, but what alarms you is what's on his shoulder: Callous \ <<if ($val is 5463546436)>>\ Daichi, still bleeding but somehow thawed in seconds. <<else>>\ Daichi's barely conscious form. <</if>>\ //When did he...?// "Goro..." Daichi whimpers weakly. "Brother, I'm sorry. I-" "Pathetic." Callous Goro talks over Daichi's excuses, delivering a swift chop to the other Oni's neck. Daichi ceases moving. Goro looks back to you, bored. "The boosts from Advancement wither to half-power within seconds. How often have you leaned on such a crutch to finish your fights?" "None of your business." You reply on reflex, defensively. He tilts his head back ever so slightly and scans your spirit. \ <<include "ch7-goroquestions">>\

"You aren't what I expected. I was looking forward to your arrival, until now. Your Sect's Crusher Jack has been making so much noise that I quite enjoyed the prospect of crippling him and his rival at the same time. Publicly. Poetically. \ <<if ($gorobonus is 1)>>\ Yet if you lack the resolve to even defend your demesne then breaking you proves \ <<elseif ($gorobonus gt 0)>>\ Yet if Jack has struggled against...this." He waves a hand vaguely in your direction. "Then breaking either of you proves \ <<elseif ($jadedragonfoundation is true)>>\ Yet if that performance is all you can do, then all your Aura Pressure is wasted on a mockery of the Martial Arts. Breaking you would prove \ <<else>>\ Yet if this is the height of your power, then breaking you would prove \ <</if>>\ nothing." His lip curls in disgust. "Waiting for you was a waste of time." <<var $switchword1 "Then begone.">>\ <<include "ch7-goroquestions2">>\

<<choose "ch7-worldsplode">> #"<<print $switchword1>> My passage is already guaranteed." <<var $honor + 1>>\ "$switchword1" You say to dismiss the purple-skinned man. \ <<if ($gorobonus is 1)>>\ "I've gotten around your blockade and my \ <<elseif ($gorobonus is 3)>>\ "Your armada can no longer fire upon me without endangering the city. My \ <<elseif ($gorobonus is 4)>>\ "I've defeated your champion when I blew up his ship. My \ <<else>>\ "I've defeated your Clan's champion and now my \ <</if>>\ passage is guaranteed." "Indeed." Callous Goro replies, scanning the bustling city beyond his armada's blockade. "Yet you misunderstand my intentions. I will not stop you from reaching Nanhou." \ <<if ($gorobonus is 4)>>\ I need you to make a name for yourself before I crush you." \ <</if>>\ The tips of his mouth rise in a fraction of a smile. "In fact, I will ensure you arrive as quickly as possible." #Ah, one of these types. "Okay. Bye." <<var $ruthless - 1>>\ "Okay." You reply, turning \ <<if ($gorobonus gte 2)>>\ away and dismissing the man with a backwave of the hand. \ <<else>>\ to leave. \ <</if>>\ "Bye." "Dismissive and disrespectful." The man responds as if bored. "A poor choice, but very well. \ <<if ($gorobonus is 4)>>\ You may go, for now, to make a name for yourself so I can break you down in front of the world when the Trials begin." \ <<else>>\ I allow you to go." \ <</if>>\ The tips of his mouth rise in a fraction of a smile. "In fact, I will help you reach the docks sooner." You look to the bustling city behind his armada's blockade. "I can make the rest of the trip mysel-" #show-if (($honor lt 40) or ($wounds is 0)) [Roll eyes] "Blow me." <<var $ruthless + 1>>\ <<var $honor - 1>>\ Oh joy, more condescending strangers with unprovoked threats. You roll your eyes with a heavy, groaning sigh exhaled at such volume that \ <<if ($gorobonus gte 2)>>\ even the Callous Armada crews hear it. \ <<else>>\ your crew can hear it back at your ship. \ <</if>>\ "Blow me." ''[Prestige Increased]'' <<var $prestige + 1>>\ <<var $retainer_morale + 2>>\ <<var $bffrep + 1>>\ #"You forgot your introductory bow, Sectmaster Goro. Poor manners are unbecoming." <<var $ruthless - 1>>\ <<var $honor + 2>>\ "You forgot your introductory bow, Sectmaster Goro." You reply. "Poor manners are unbecoming." Goro's mouth twitches with irritation, but he calms it into a cooled smile. "I am a Patriarch of an esteemed Clan, not a mere Sectmaster, but you are correct. We are nothing without our honor and traditions." He presses one fist into the other and bows one half of an inch. "I am Clan Patriarch Callous Goro." You return the gesture, though you've never pulled off such a short bow before. "And I am Clan $patriarch $fullname." "And with that, we have maintained the tradition of honorable introductions." He says slowly. "Back to business." #show-if (($heshe is "she") and ((($bffromance gte 1) or ($roomscene is "Angelo_Kiss")) or ($roomscene is "Guiren_Bang"))) Is he insulting you to hope you like it? "Ew. I have a boyfriend." <<var $honor + 2>>\ <<var $ruthless + 1>>\ "Ew." You reply in the face of the mysterious man. "I have a boyfr-" #show-if ($heshe is "she") What a jawline! "Those death threats are great and all, but is there a //Missus// Callous Goro?" <<var $honor - 3>>\ <<var $ruthless - 1>>\ As Callous Goro looks down at you like you're living garbage, you look back up at him with an entirely different expression. One with more //intensity//. The tall, dark, and handsome man strikes a perfect figure with his regal robes, his piercing gaze, and his hair flowing in the wind. Oh yeah. You're not letting this one go. "Wow." You express in an attempt at genuine-sounding astonishment. Men love a suckup. \ <<if (($gorobonus gte 1) and ($gorobonus isnot 4))>>\ "Such a stylish and mysterious entrance. \ <<elseif ($gorobonus is 4)>>\ "So brooding and intimidating. Plus the way you got on this ship before I even noticed. \ <<else>>\ "Manhandling Daichi with such a mysterious entrance, it sends shivers up the spine. \ <</if>>\ You must be really fast. And rich, too. And ''strong''." You twirl your hair in one finger and lean closer. "So, those death threats of yours are great and all, but is there a //Missus// Callous Goro?" <<if ($gorobonus is 4)>>\ Goro frowns. "You kill my men, destroy my ship, and I announce my intentions. Yet your mind cannott leave the carnal realm?" "Nope." You say getting on your tiptoes to look up at him. "Can't do it." <<else>>\ Goro's condescending gaze pierces through you still, yet his hand slowly rises to rub his chin. The intent of his analysis shifts from the spiritual to the physical when he looks you up and down in a new light. <</if>>\ <<if ((($bodytype is "Bodacious") or (($bodytype is "Hourglass") and (($persuasion + $deception) gte 5))) or (($spiritbrandcolor is "jade") and ($spiritbrandloc is "skin")))>>\ <<var $metgoro + 2000000000>>\ <<if (($spiritbrandcolor is "jade") and ($spiritbrandloc is "skin"))>>\ ''[Spiritbrand Check Passed]'' Slowly, he smiles as he looks over your glistening jade skin. \ <<if ($gorobonus is 4)>>\ "You're insane, yet also a \ <<else>>\ "A \ <</if>>\ literal jade beauty. It fails to reach the metaphor for white jade, but on you...yes, it will do nicely." <<else>>\ <<if ($bodytype is "Hourglass")>>\ ''[Persuasion + Deception 5 Check Passed]'' <</if>>\ ''[$bodytype Bodytype Event]'' Slowly, he smiles. <<if ($gorobonus is 4)>>\ "You're insane, but \ <<else>>\ "Oh yes, \ <</if>>\ you'll do nicely." <</if>>\ He walks in a circle around you, eyeing your every curve. "I can see why Jack wants you as his rival. The oaf must be thinking with the wrong head. Good. That only makes it all the sweeter to take you from him. Next time you see him, tell the //boy// that your rivalry with him is over." He finishes speaking as he waltzes in front of you again, then he steps closer and cups a hand under your chin. "Because you belong to me now, //if// you prove strong enough to survive." You fidget in place uncomfortably. "Survive wh-" <<else>>\ <<var $metgoro + 1000000000>>\ "Hm." He says finally. "Fourth." "Come again?" "Fourth place. As a stepping stone for my Advancement, you are nothing. When considering you as one of my women instead, there are already three better options in Nanhou. Seek me out when you've removed one." What the Hells did he just say?! "First of all, I am at LEAST-" <</if>>\ <</choose>>

You whip around and see a long-haired \ <<if (($val is 2) or ($gorobonus is 4))>>\ man standing on your deck a mere three feet away. An Oni, and one unlike \ <<else>>\ Oni man standing on the water, a mere three feet away, though he's \ <</if>>\ unlike any you've ever \ <<if (($race is "Oni") and ($spiritbrandloc is "skin"))>>\ seen. Not since you've last looked in a mirror. <<else>>\ seen. <</if>>\ The man before you doesn't have the traditional red skin of \ <<if ($race is "Oni")>>\ your \ <<else>>\ his \ <</if>>\ kind, but rather purple skin that matches the Cursed Energy of Kurokonton. A spiritbrand. His long white hair flutters in the wind along with his elegant brocade robe of swirling gold and red, tied at the waist with a Martial Belt. <<if ($portraitpics is true)>>\ <<image "https://www.auraclash.com/assets/images/goro.jpg">>\ <</if>>\ A blackbelt, in fact. The symbol of a Master.

<<if ($daifight is 1)>>\ "Fine, you asked for it!" \ <<else>>\ "Very well, I accept!" \ <</if>>\ You shout out across the waves. "And as the challenged, I choose the battleground. As is custom. And so we will face each other...in janken!" Derisive laughter cracks up across the Callous junkship immediately. "Not a chance, <<cap $clan>>, it doesn't work that way. I decide the fight. I decide the battleground. I decide //everything//. You have only one choice to make, face me in combat or surrender your ship." "No, that's fair." You respond back. "Janken is about luck, which only the Heavens dictate. I can see why you wouldn't want to see which of us is favored by the Heavens at the //Heavenly// Ascension Trials. We won't even call it your surrender either, we'll just fight instead." <<if ($persuasion gte 3)>>\ ''[Persuasion 3 Check Passed]'' "...What are you talking about?" Daichi shouts back in growing confusion. "It's not my surrender!" "Agreed, that's what I said!" You shout back. "You're //not// surrendering, and we'll fight instead. It's fine." "You don't need to agree, fool, there's no surrendering going on!" "Look, it's over, okay? We're not going to see who the Heavens favor, we already agreed to bring skill and training into it instead. Stop embarrassing yourself." "Shut your damn mouth!!" Daichi screams back, dripping with vitriol. "I'll show you who's embarrassed! I am the one who dictates this challenge, and //''I''// say you'll eat your damn words when we settle this with the Will of the Heavens! Meet me in the center for janken, if you dare!" Next to you, Kosuke shakes $bffhisher head in disbelief. "You Rin'd him. The man leads a hundred ships and you //Rin'd// him." <<var $val 18181>>\ "Who do you think she learned it from?" <<include "ch7-seajump">>\ <<else>>\ ''[Persuasion 3 Check Failed]'' You hear an odd sound, like an arrowstring twanging from a distance. Callous Daichi's spit soars across the divide between your ships and \ <<if ($agility gte 7)>>\ nearly \ <</if>>\ slaps you in the \ <<if ($agility gte 7)>>\ face, hitting the wall behind you \ <<else>>\ face \ <</if>>\ with incredible accuracy and even greater splatter range. "Less talk!" Daichi commands. "I'm busy and worth more than your family. Meet me in the center for a fight or surrender your ships and get wet. I don't care either way!" <<include "ch7-armadachat">>\ <</if>>\

Callous Daichi meets you on a rowboat between both your vessels. He stands with arms crossed as some Soul Treasure propels the vessel toward you. "You're going to regret this." He says as you approach. "The Will of the Heavens has always favored the Callous Clan." <<if ($honor lt 40)>>\ "That was before you met me." \ <<elseif ($ruthless gte 65)>>\ "Be thankful I'm letting you lose peacefully." \ <<else>>\ "They all say that, until they lose." \ <</if>>\ You shoot back, still surprised that you got him to take this seriously. "Ready?" "I was born ready." Daichi responds. <<janken "Daichi">>\ <<if ($janken is "Victory")>>\ <<var $val 1337>>\ "Hah!" You shout at the same time that Daichi screams "Nooo!" You breathe in the fresh sea air of victory through your nose. "I trust you're a man of honor and my safe passage is guaranteed." "This...This proves nothing!" "If you're certain." You say. "Defy the Will of the Heavens that you invoked in your challenge. Surely nothing bad will happen." Daichi's fist glows with emerald Wind Chi and his eyes go bloodshot trying to contain himself. "Get...back...to your trash-heap of a ship." He turns around; his shoulders shake as he tries to hide how hard he's seething. "I'll find you in the Trials." <<choose "ch7-daichifight">>\ #Head back to your ship. You ignore his threat and the two of you return to your ships. Kosuke lowers a rope for you to climb aboard and \ <<if ($bffromance gte 1)>>\ plants a kiss right on your lips. "You are the luckiest, craziest $manwoman I know. I //cannot// believe that worked." \ <<else>>\ shakes $bffhisher head. "I'm still stunned that worked." \ <</if>>\ "It hasn't worked yet." You reply while looking back to Daichi screaming at his own ship's crew. "Let's see how much of a sore loser this man really is." <<page "Continue" "ch7-sailthrough">>\ #Suckerpunch him anyway. You chew your cheek, trying to let the man's attitude go, but you just can't. <<var $ruthless + 2>>\ <<var $powexp + 2>>\ ''*CRACK*'' Your fist slams into Callous Daichi's cheekbone with an explosion of $auracolor light. He's sent reeling backwards across the waves, flipping head over heels, until he comes to a stop with a violent eruption of emerald Wind Chi. "YOU DARE?!" He screams. "I WAS GOING TO-" "I don't care!" You bark back, cutting him off. "I felt like toying with you, it was fun, and now we fight." "I take back my taunt earlier." Daichi says darkly, a vein showing of rage showing on his forehead. "You //won't// live to regret this." <<var $daifight - 1>>\ Then he disappears in a blur of Emerald chi. <<page "Continue" "ch7-daichifight">>\ <</choose>>\ <<elseif ($janken is "Loss")>>\ "Hah!" Daichi shouts at the same time that you scream "Nooo!" You stare down at your hand in disbelief. Aren't you supposed to win? That thought distracts you from Daichi's incoming fist wrapped in emerald Wind Chi. "A fight it is!" He screams, smacking you in the cheekbone. <<woundcheck 1 false true>>\ <<var $forexp - 2>>\ Gusts of wind rush off his hand and blast you through the air. It doesn't add any pain, but you're humiliated by the fact that it pushes you two-hundred feet away. To all onlookers, it looks like he hit you as hard as Mao. <<if (($element1 is "Water") or ($element2 is "Water"))>>\ Water Chi surges around you legs as you flip in the air and land on the water feet-first, skidding back ten feet while keeping a steady stance. Scowling, you \ <<elseif (($element1 is "Ice") or ($element2 is "Ice"))>>\ Ice Chi mists around your body and you flip over in the air, landing on the ocean's surface with a single foot. A glacier forms beneath you the moment your foot touches the water's surface. You \ <<elseif ((($element1 is "Wind") and ($element1rank gte 2)) or (($element2 is "Wind") and ($element2rank gte 2)))>>\ Wind Chi bursts out of your body in all directions just before you hit the water, causing circles of thrumming energy to surge across the water's surface while you hover in place. You \ <<else>>\ You flip in the air and narrowly land on an abandoned rowboat from Leona's earlier duel then <</if>>\ wipe your wrist across your lip, \ <<if ($wounds gt 0)>>\ see a bit of blood, \ <<else>>\ see no blood, \ <</if>>\ and \ <<if ($ruthless gt 60)>>\ smile. \ <<else>>\ frown. \ <</if>>\ "So that's how you want to start this?" You shout to Daichi two hundred feet across the waves. "With a sucker punch?" "Why stop at one?" Daichi shouts back. In a brilliant flash of emerald light, he disappears. <<page "Continue" "ch7-daichifight">>\ <<else>>\ ''[ERROR! The Heavens betray you! Janken status "<<print $janken>>" should have never occurred!]'' <</if>>\

Fortunately none of the warships fire their cannons at you while \ <<if (($element1 is "Water") or ($element2 is "Water"))>>\ you run over the water's surface, leaping from wave to wave \ <<elseif ((($element1 is "Wind") and ($element1rank gte 2)) or (($element2 is "Wind") and ($element2rank gte 2)))>>\ you fly low over the water's edge \ <<elseif (($element1 is "Ice") or ($element2 is "Ice"))>>\ your ice raft races \ <<else>>\ you row your way \ <</if>>\ towards their blockade. "That's close enough!" Daichi shouts from the top of his flagship when you reach the halfway point. He draws two wakizashi from their sheaths at his side. "I hope you're ready, Thunderfaller. I haven't seen a good fight in weeks. If you put up a passable resistance I might be inclined to honor you by adding your ship as a trophy in my personal collection!" In a brilliant flash of emerald light, he disappears from his deck. <<page "Continue" "ch7-daichifight">>\

that someone has patched you up for the Trials. You're laying on a bed in a simple room of paper sliding walls. Bandages and healing pastes cover your body from head to toe and, honestly, you feel pretty great. <<if (($woundbonus isnot 0) and ($val is 1000))>>\ <<if ($wounds gt 0)>>\ <<var $val ($wounds + $woundbonus)>>\ <<else>>\ <<var $val ($woundbonus + 1)>>\ <</if>>\ ''[Wound Bonus: Aura Pressure +$val]'' <<var $aurapressure + $val>>\ <</if>>\ ''[Wounds Recovered]'' <<var $wounds 0>>\ You rise to your feet off the side of the bed, unwrap the bandages all over your body, and get dressed in your bloodied \ <<if ($clothes isnot "")>>\ $clothes \ <<else>>\ clothes \ <</if>>\ on a simple table nearby. Stretching, you slide open one of the doors and enter a hallway leading to several similar rooms on either side and an exit at the far end, judging by the light of windows. You follow the light and find a nurse in white and red robes kneeling over a low table covered in scrolls. She bows as you exit. "Recover soon, and best of luck in the Trials!" She repeats the phrase friendly enough but it's clearly rote, something she says to everyone. \ <<if ($val is 1000)>>\ That's good, it means no one is going around telling people who spit in the Magistrate's \ <<if ($honor lte 35)>>\ face. Though you'd gladly do it again. <<else>>\ face. <</if>>\ <<else>>\ You wonder how many people have been getting wounded in Nanhou if it's gotten so bad that the medical team doesn't even want to know what happened to you. Oh well. Maybe that's just how life is in the big cities. <</if>>\ <<var $val2 501>>\ You exit the building to see what Nanhou has to offer. <<page "Continue" "ch7-exit2nanhou">>\

<<if ($style is "Kiihakai")>>\ ''[Kiihakai Special Event]'' The rituals that Desdemona's Dreamriver Sect had placed over your vessel may have lost their edge, but the heat of their activation burned the Seal design into the wood. Your Mystic Chi spreads through their swirling design and recreates the ritual instantly. Intricate golden lines illuminate across your ship and your vessel lurches forward like a leaping frog. The Callous Armada cannons fire on both sides of you and, dashing out of the way, you allow both your flanking ships to strike each other. \ <<include "ch7-shipshitthemselves">>\ <<else>>\ <<var $val 0>>\ <<var $val2 0>>\ <<if ($element1 is "Wind")>>\ <<var $val $element1rank>>\ <<elseif ($element2 is "Wind")>>\ <<var $val $element2rank>>\ <</if>>\ <<if ($element1 is "Water")>>\ <<var $val2 $element1rank>>\ <<elseif ($element2 is "Water")>>\ <<var $val2 $element2rank>>\ <</if>>\ <<if ($val2 gt $val)>>\ ''[Water Event: Difficulty Reduced!]'' <<var $val $val2>>\ <<elseif ($val gt 0)>>\ ''[Wind Event: Difficulty Reduced!]'' <</if>>\ <<var $val2 (7 - $val)>>\ <<if ($flagshiptype is "transport")>>\ ''[Transport Ship Event: Difficulty Reduced!]'' <<var $val2 - 2>>\ <</if>>\ <<if (($craft + $survival) gte $val2)>>\ ''[Craft + Survival $val2 Check Passed]'' Your crew begins rowing in earnest seconds before the cannonfire begins, increasing speed just in time to take only grazing blows that pierce through railings or empty rowing slits. By the time the second volley fires, the delayed speed-increase from a proper rowing pace kicks in and the armada narrowly misses their shot. At least, they miss //you//. <<var $val 787>>\ <<include "ch7-shipshitthemselves">>\ <<else>>\ ''[Craft + Survival $val2 Check Failed]'' The devastation is palpable as you feel the boards beneath your feet warp and splinter from the siege explosives blowing through your hull and exploding. Your senses cry out from the snuff of multiple life forces just beneath your feet and your ears ring out loudly. You're positive that if you had no aura, you'd be in danger of going deaf. Some of you crew probably //does// go deaf. ''[Lost 3 Retainers]'' <<var $retainers - 3>>\ ''[Retainer Morale - 5]'' <<var $retainer_morale - 5>>\ Only your training as a Martial Artist protects you from personal injury; one of the cannonballs nearly blows through your chest but you plant your left foot firmly and deliver a kick with your right foot, arching your foot just right so the cannonball's momentum forces it to slide up at an angle and away from you. It explodes 'harmlessly' in the air sixty feet behind you. \ <<if ($kosukecombat lt 8)>>\ Kosuke isn't so lucky, having dropped to the ground to avoid the explosives but suffering several lacerations when one hits the flooring too close to $bffhisher face. ''[Kosuke has been injured!]'' <<else>>\ ''[Kosuke Combat Prowess Check Passed]'' You're not the only one, either. To your shock Kosuke mimics your movements a half-second later and leaps into the air, catching a cannonball with his foot sloped and pushing white chifire through his core and out over his leg. The cannonball rolls off his heel without shattering his leg or exploding and your mouth hangs open from seeing your childhood beggar friend deflect the attack as seamlessly as you did. \ <</if>>\ <<if ($ruthless gt 60)>>\ ''[Compassion Check Failed]'' Something inside you snaps. Rather than check on the health of your crew, you respond by charging $auracolor energy around your hands and blasting heavy chi blasts through the cannoneer windows of Daichi's ship, killing their siege operators. "HOW DOES IT FEEL!?" You scream back, frothing at the mouth. "You dare to kill my men? MY men?! I'll kill your whole crew! I'll kill your friends! I'll kill your home village! I'll kill your whole fucking family!" "Fuck you!" Daichi screams back, "No one threatens a Callous, I'll rip your face off and sew it back upside down!" You lean over your own railing and snarl at him. "Meet me back out at sea instead of hiding behind your cannons, I'll rip your teeth out and shove them into your scalp like a crown!" The two of you exchange graphic threats while your ship turns around and limps back from whence it came. Kosuke helps bandage several of the crew in the meanwhile, but you can't bring yourself to help. You're so filled with rage that the second your ship reaches a safe distance you bring the fight to Daichi by \ <<else>>\ In a panic, you run through the barrage and grip the ropes of your sail to turn it around. The assault stops when your ship begins to turn and return from whence you came. "I hope you understand what's at stake now!" Daichi screams as your ship limps back to a healthy distance out to sea. "Now come face me like a true Martial Artist!" ''[Compassion Check Passed]'' <<var $retainer_morale + 3>>\ You check on the state of your crew, tending to what wounds you can, then return above deck and glare across at Daichi's armada. If there's only one way forward, you're taking it. With one last look to Kosuke and the others, you calm your nerves and prepare to finish this by \ <</if>>\ <<if (($element1 is "Water") or ($element2 is "Water"))>>\ jumping overboard and running on the water \ <<elseif ((($element1 is "Wind") and ($element1rank gte 2)) or (($element2 is "Wind") and ($element2rank gte 2)))>>\ surrounding your body with cyclones of Wind Chi that lift you into the air, flying off and dipping low when you leave your vessel on the way \ <<elseif (($element1 is "Ice") or ($element2 is "Ice"))>>\ jumping overboard and forming your own glacial raft that you move with your Will \ <<else>>\ jumping overboard and taking a rowboat \ <</if>>\ to the middleground between your ship and the Callous blockade. <<page "Continue" "ch7-prepdaichi">>\ <</if>>\ <</if>>\

<<if ($val2 isnot 1887)>>\ <<if $txt isnot "">>\ $txt <</if>>\ <<var $gorobonus 2>>\ You pull anchor and sail your ship through the blockade, passing hesitantly between two warships with their broadside cannons aimed too close for your liking. Kosuke climbs to the upper platform to be out of their direct firing range but you stand firm on your ship's main deck, staring the siege engines down at eye level as you sail by. Fortunately they don't fire. Your ship passes through without issue. "I'm surprised." You say to Kosuke. "I expected more trouble than that." <</if>>\ "As did I." Says a smooth, calm voice behind you. <<include "ch7-gorosight">>\ <<cap $auracolor>> energy permeates around you. "Who are you and why are you on my ship?" "Me? I am...disappointed." The Oni says, looking \ <<if ($gorobonus is 4)>>\ overboard at the sunken vessels you destroyed. \ <<else>>\ off to the Armada as you sail past. \ <</if>>\ "But all of Outer South knows me as Callous Goro. The warships you \ <<if ($gorobonus is 4)>>\ destroyed \ <<else>>\ see before you \ <</if>>\ belong to me." He steps closer, \ <<if ($heshe is "she")>>\ glaring into your eyes. \ <<else>>\ staring you down. \ <</if>>\ <<if ($gorobonus is 4)>>\ "I'm pleased to see Thunderfall does indeed have two worthy fighters. Your Sectmaster's done well." The man holds up a purple hand and looks it over, closing each finger into a fist one-by-one. "You must have realized by now that dominating others has diminishing returns in the eyes of both the masses and the masters. I cannot stand out in the Trials by crushing the weak. Yet I am the only true talent of this generation, plagued with no peers." <<if ($ruthless gte 58)>>\ Your eyes narrow at the man. \ <</if>>\ You don't like where this is going. "Thankfully your Sect's Crusher Jack has been making so much noise that breaking him will finally bring the prestige I am owed. When I heard of his rival I was not hopeful, but your destruction has been sufficient to mark you as a stepping stone for my ascent. I will enjoy crippling you and Jack at the same time. Publicly. Poetically. Permanently." <<var $switchword1 "Too bad.">>\ <<include "ch7-goroquestions2">>\ <<else>>\ <<include "ch7-goroquestions">>\ <</if>>\

You reply with a \ <<if (($bffromance gte 1) and ($heshe isnot $bffheshe))>>\ sly smile. You give Kosuke a quick kiss on the lips before \ <<elseif ($bffheshe isnot $heshe)>>\ sly smile, \ <<else>>\ casual shrug, \ <</if>>\ <<if (($element1 is "Water") or ($element2 is "Water"))>>\ jumping overboard and running on the water \ <<elseif ((($element1 is "Wind") and ($element1rank gte 2)) or (($element2 is "Wind") and ($element2rank gte 2)))>>\ surrounding your body with cyclones of Wind Chi that lift you into the air, flying off and dipping low when you leave your vessel on the way \ <<elseif (($element1 is "Ice") or ($element2 is "Ice"))>>\ jumping overboard and forming your own glacial raft that you move with your Will \ <<else>>\ jumping overboard and taking a rowboat \ <</if>>\ to the middleground between your ship and the Callous blockade. <<if ($val is 18181)>>\ <<page "Continue" "ch7-janken2">>\ <<else>>\ <<page "Continue" "ch7-prepdaichi">>\ <</if>>\

As they are of uniformal design, their cannonballs strike the same height that they were fired from. Both junkships strike each other's cannon sections, as well as the contents beside them: cannonball storage and blackpowder barrels. Each ship hits the other in its most vital point and the two simultaneously explode from within like deafening shrapnel bombs. <<if ($val is 787)>>\ Your ship continues \ <<else>>\ Your ship lands back in the water and takes off \ <</if>>\ at a heightened pace towards Nanhou, undamaged, while Callous Daichi loses two ships in front of the entire staging grounds of the Heavenly Ascension Trials. <<var $val 0>>\ ''[Prestige Increased]'' <<var $prestige + 3>>\ <<page "Continue" "ch7-shipshitthemselves2">>\

"By the Heavens!" Screams one of your crew-women from below, "We did it!" "All hail the $clan Clan!" Shouts another. "DEATH TO THE PRETENDERS!" Shouts a confused but high-spirited man from the rower's level. ''[Retainer Morale +5]'' <<var $retainer_morale + 5>>\ You go to highfive Kosuke in celebration and see $bffhimher walking down from the upper level. <<cap $bffheshe>> holds the railing with one hand and $bffhisher black eye. <<cap $bffheshe>> looks up and sees you, blinks the pain away, and shrugs with a smile. "I cheered as soon as they exploded, took a rogue bit of wood to the face when my eyes were mostly closed." "I should have told you to duck." You admit. "Don't worry about it," Kosuke brushes it off. "I don't think 'exploding warship shrapnel' can be ducked." "It could if you expand your Agility Cores, I have a perfect regimen from Big Chu's lessons that could-" "Uggggghhhhhh." Kosuke groans. "I \ <<if ($bffromance gte 1)>>\ love you, I do, but I \ <</if>>\ am begging you to save the advice for later and let me enjoy my face-bruise in peace. It has been //seconds// since near-certain death." "Fine, fine. No lectures or training." You leave out the 'for now' part, look back to the armada, and see the remaining ships stopping to help survivors from the destruction. "I still can't believe we beat them so soundly. I expected more out of them." <<var $gorobonus 3>>\ <<var $val2 1887>>\ <<include "ch7-sailthrough">>\

<<script>>console.clear();<</script>>\ <<unset $cutterjoke>>\ <<unset $fishhelp>>\ <<unset $oneleft>>\ <<unset $koshurt>>\ <<unset $duels>>\ <<unset $fruitcrate>>\ <<unset $endless>>\ <<unset $nobo>>\ <<unset $lostship>>\ <<unset $gotmeat>>\ <<unset $betamount>>\ <<unset $qingdiff>>\ <<unset $recruitedpirates>>\ <<unset $firedhalfswordsmen>>\ <<unset $leonagone>>\ <<unset $bogone>>\ <<unset $spareval_7>>\ <<unset $fishfactor>>\ <<unset $freepirates>>\ <<unset $fishtip>>\ <<unset $swordcasualties>>\ <<unset $merchdmg>>\ <<unset $merchopinion>>\ <<unset $shipdiff>>\ <<unset $winekos>>\ <<unset $gonghurt>>\ <<unset $merchwarn>>\ <<unset $merchorpirate>>\ <<unset $cardhand>>\ <<unset $sumyungai>>\ <<unset $dontmentionsum>>\ <<var $val 1>>\ <<var $val2 0>>\ <<var $val3 0>>\ <<var $txt "">>\ <<var $counter 0>>\ <<var $daifight 0>>\ <<var $switchword1 "And what">>\ <<var $switchword2 "Very well, we">>\ <<var $lostship false>>\ <<var $subm false>>\ <<var $tempwep "">>\ <<var $brokesheath false>>\ <<var $lightboost "Thievery">>\ <<var $spokemao false>>\ <<var $gorobonus 0>>\ <<if ($chispent gt 0)>>\ <<var $chispent - 1>>\ <</if>>\ <<if ($powspent gt 0)>>\ <<var $powspent - 1>>\ <</if>>\ <<if ($forspent gt 0)>>\ <<var $forspent - 1>>\ <</if>>\ <<if ($agispent gt 0)>>\ <<var $agispent - 1>>\ <</if>>\ <<if ($solspent gt 0)>>\ <<var $solspent - 1>>\ <</if>>\ <<if ($chispent gt 0)>>\ <<var $chispent - 1>>\ <</if>>\ <<if ($powspent gt 0)>>\ <<var $powspent - 1>>\ <</if>>\ <<if ($forspent gt 0)>>\ <<var $forspent - 1>>\ <</if>>\ <<if ($agispent gt 0)>>\ <<var $agispent - 1>>\ <</if>>\ <<if ($solspent gt 0)>>\ <<var $solspent - 1>>\ <</if>>\ <<rand $crates4sale 10 15>>\ <div class="fightingfont">Chapter Seven</div>\ ''//In which civilization is finally reached,//'' ''//New rivals gather from across the Empire,//'' ''//And the Heavenly Ascension Trials test a new generation.//'' Every journey has its end. As you look out over the horizon, you see the grand and newly built city of Nanhou that signals the end of your own long voyage. Yet the spark in your heart does not dwindle from the completion of such a difficult journey. It burns hotter, igniting into a bonfire of resolve. The thought never settles into your mind that these incredible accomplishments bring any sense of closure. Not for one second. Your journey is only beginning. <<page "Continue" "ch7-start2">>\

<<var $janken "">>\ <<if ((dig($metguiren, 2) is 1) and ($style isnot "Kurokonton"))>>\ <<var $metguiren - (10000000000 * dig($metguiren, 1))>>\ <<var $metguiren + 20000000000>>\ <<elseif ((dig($metguiren, 6) lte 1) and ((dig($metguiren, 2) is 0) or (dig($metguiren, 2) is 2)))>>\ <<var $metguiren - (10000000000 * dig($metguiren, 1))>>\ <<var $metguiren + 10000000000>>\ <<else>>\ <<var $metguiren - (10000000000 * dig($metguiren, 1))>>\ <<var $metguiren + 30000000000>>\ <</if>>\ <<if (((dig($metdesdemona, 2) is 1) and ($style isnot "Kiihakai")) and ($roomscene isnot "Desdemona_Turned"))>>\ <<var $metdesdemona - (10000000000 * dig($metdesdemona, 1))>>\ <<var $metdesdemona + 20000000000>>\ <<elseif ((((dig($metdesdemona, 2) is 0) or (dig($metdesdemona, 2) is 2)) and ($desnuke is 0)) and ($roomscene isnot "Desdemona_Turned"))>>\ <<var $metdesdemona - (10000000000 * dig($metdesdemona, 1))>>\ <<var $metdesdemona + 10000000000>>\ <<else>>\ <<var $metdesdemona - (10000000000 * dig($metdesdemona, 1))>>\ <<var $metdesdemona + 30000000000>>\ <</if>>\ <<if ($style is "Kiihakai")>>\ <<var $metdesdemona - (10000000000 * dig($metdesdemona, 1))>>\ <<var $metdesdemona + 30000000000>>\ <</if>>\ <<if ($style is "Kurokonton")>>\ <<var $metguiren - (10000000000 * dig($metguiren, 1))>>\ <<var $metguiren + 30000000000>>\ <</if>>\ Kosuke sits on the railing of your ship, cheek resting on $bffhisher fist. "Leona was Master Bangle's kid the whole time? I mean, I knew she was a Sunbringer, but not a //Sunbringer// Sunbringer. Why did she help us against them?" "Hostile takeover." You repeat, tossing $bffhimher Leona's Ebikowa report from the scribe's pile of documents. "She was so confident Crow Li would die that she even sent a letter before it happened, and now she has the rest of the Sect working for her in the Trials. We were used." "She couldn't have known about the Demonic Gate though, right?" You suck in through your teeth and look at Kosuke with pity. <<if ($bffheshe is "she")>>\ "Ancestors...well maybe it's a good thing?" <<cap $bffheshe>> says warily. "Maybe we're still friends? There's no reason we can't still be working together, it's \ <<else>>\ "Hells, conning people is supposed to be my thing." <<cap $bffheshe>> says dejectedly. "Still though, even if she is a crazy \ <<if (($heshe is "he") or ($bffromance is 0))>>\ hot, \ <</if>>\ bloodthirsty, conniving enemy of Thunderfall, maybe we're still working together? It's \ <</if>>\ not like we're well-loved in Thunderfall or she robbed us or anything." Kosuke freezes and you run your hand over your face in exasperation. "Why did you say it." "I'll go check our supplies." <<cap $bffheshe>> hops off the railing and heads below deck. "There is no need to fear robbery." Declares the Imperial Scribe. "Sectmistress Leona Bangle and Lower Disciple Bo Lo were searched prior to their departure, we ensured they did not have any suspicious belongings on their person. We even went so far as to search the Sectmistress's servants as well." You quirk an eyebrow. "What servants?" <<if ($retainer_morale gte 63)>>\ <<var $val Math.round($martial_retainers / 6)>>\ <<elseif ($retainer_morale gte 53)>>\ <<var $val Math.round($martial_retainers / 4)>>\ <<elseif ($retainer_morale gte 38)>>\ <<var $val Math.round($martial_retainers / 3)>>\ <<else>>\ <<var $val Math.round($martial_retainers / 2)>>\ <</if>>\ <<if ($val lt 1)>>\ <<var $val 1>>\ <</if>>\ "Sectmistress Bangle's \ <<if ($val is 1)>>\ attendant? We ensured he was \ <<else>>\ $val attendants? We ensured they were \ <</if>>\ not carrying any contraband or suspicious weaponry before the swim to Nanhou." Kosuke slams a hand into $bffhisher forehead. "Leona didn't have any attendants." You send a spiritual scan through your \ <<if ($shipcount is 1)>>\ ship \ <<else>>\ nearby fleet \ <</if>>\ and confirm your suspicion. <<if ($shipcount gte 2)>>\ As well as the ship Leona left aboard, your \ <<else>>\ Your \ <</if>>\ crew is missing exactly $val empowered \ <<if ($val is 1)>>\ retainer. <<else>>\ retainers. <</if>>\ <<if ($shipcount gte 2)>>\ <<var $shipcount - 1>>\ ''[1 Ship Lost]'' <<var $lostship true>>\ <</if>>\ ''[$val Martial'' \ <<if ($val is 1)>>\ ''Retainer'' \ <<else>>\ ''Retainers'' \ <</if>>\ ''Lost]'' <<var $martial_retainers - $val>>\ <<if ($val gte 5)>>\ <<var $leonacombat + 1>>\ <</if>>\ <<page "Leona!!" "ch7-start3">>\

Rubbing your temples, you slouch against your ship's railing. "So this whole time that we were recruiting from Ebikowa for the $clan Clan, Leona was recruiting from us for the Sunbringers." "It's //always// something." Kosuke begins groaning, loudly, staring straight to the heavens like an angered \ <<if ($roc gt 0)>>\ bird. <<cap $rocname>> joins in from atop her nest, flapping her wings in irritation. <<else>>\ bird. <</if>>\ The Imperial Scribe looks from \ <<if ($roc gt 0)>>\ the two of them \ <<else>>\ Kosuke \ <</if>>\ to you. "I do not mean to interrupt, Honored Guests, but this seems like an inner-Sect dispute. I have other trialgoers to attend to shortly so a decision must be made. Will you return with me to Nanhou and surrender \ <<if ($shipcount gt 1)>>\ one of your ships, \ <<else>>\ your ship, \ <</if>>\ or will you be fighting the Callous Clan's champion?" <<if ($shipcount is 1)>>\ ''[Special Event!]'' ''[Only 1 Ship in Fleet]'' "We can avoid both." Kosuke offers. "You swim to Nanhou and I'll take the back crew up north, give the sail a paint job, and be back within a day pretending to be a merchant. I'm not in the Trials so they should let me through." <</if>>\ <<var $val ($shipcount - 1)>>\ <<choose "ch7-armada">> #Deal with the Callous Armada. #show-if ($shipcount is 1) Swim to Nanhou. [Lose 0 Ships] -> "ch7-swim2nanhou" #Swim to Nanhou. [Lose 1 cap($flagshiptype) Ship] -> "ch7-swim2nanhou" ''[Lost 1 <<cap $flagshiptype>> Ship]'' <<var $shipcount - 1>>\ ''[Lost Prestige]'' <<var $prestige - 3>>\ <<var $ruthless - 4>>\ <<var $honor - 2>>\ <</choose>>

''[This Technique can passively increase the Surge value of any one Core at a time.]'' ''[Chosen Core can be changed at anytime from the Cultivation Menu]''

Not willing to face down an Armada of Outer South warships and whatever Martial Artists they may have on board, you opt to swim to the city with the Imperial Scribe. Kosuke remains behind on your flagship and has your crew turn the ship around, heading back to the nearest docking town to have the sails and cosmetics changed out so $bffheshe can return unbothered in a few hours. The swim is a long but easy one, and you follow the Imperial Scribe as you both pass between two towering junkships fitted with armored hulls and war cannons. No one even glances overboard to look at you as you pass through. There's no need for them to say it aloud, for the message is clear. Quitters don't matter. <<page "Continue" "ch7-swim2nanhou2">>\

"Fascinating." A smooth, calm voice says from right behind you. "I had thought you would fight." You freeze mid-stroke in the water, and so does your Imperial Scribe. There can't be anyone behind you, you're swimming; you just passed by that section of the water a half-second ago. <<include "ch7-gorosight">>\ "Patriarch Callous Goro." Says your Imperial Scribe. "This trialgoer has ceded $hisher ships, if you wish for a fight you will have to register one in the dueling arena. <<cap $heshe>> has been guaranteed passage to Nanhou." "Relax, servant, I am only here to observe my competition. Unfortunately I don't see any here." Callous Goro glares down on you with his yellow eyes. <<var $gorobonus 1>>\ <<include "ch7-goroquestions">>\

''*CRACK*'' You \ <<if ($aurapressure gte 2000)>>\ grit your teeth \ <<elseif (dig($metgoro, 2) is 2)>>\ let out a scream \ <<else>>\ vomit uncontrollably \ <</if>>\ when the world around you spins //hundreds// of times. <<page "Continue" "ch7-worldsplode2">>\

Droplets of seawater batter your body like a thousand needles and the sky switch places with the ocean over, and over, and over. Every second is a dozen head-over heel rotations \ <<if (($jadedragonfoundation) or ($aurapressure gte 1500))>>\ that would disorient or even kill a lesser $manwoman. \ <<else>>\ of disorienting pain and panic blasting you away. \ <</if>>\ <<if ($perception gte 2)>>\ You curse yourself for not checking for a sucker punch. <<var $forexp + 2>>\ <<else>>\ You didn't even see when you were struck. <</if>>\ The sound of the wind and water rushing out of your path doesn't reach your ears. The world spins endlessly in a bizarre vacuum \ <<if ($jadedragonfoundation is false)>>\ of pain \ <</if>>\ with a low //whirling// replacing all the sounds of the ocean. When you scrape across the wooden siding of \ <<if ((($gorobonus is 4) or ($gorobonus is 2)) or ($val is 1337))>>\ a fishing ship closer to land, \ <<else>>\ one of the Callous Armada ships, \ <</if>>\ more than a mile away mere seconds ago, you come to the surreal, pain-racked realization that you're moving faster than the speed of sound. <<var $txt "The left side of your waist strikes a cannon jutting from the ship and knocks it askew. Your body is painfully bounced five-degrees off-course">>\ <<var $val 0>>\ <<var $combatstat "fortitude">>\ <<discount "Midorikatai" 1>>\ <<discount "Aoyusumu" 1>>\ <<discount "Wind" 1>>\ <<discount "Earth" 1>>\ <<discount "Ice" 1>>\ <<combatcheck 6>>\ <<if ($passcheck is true)>>\ <<print $txt>>, but otherwise uninjured. <<else>>\ <<var $val + 1>>\ <<if (((($health + ($fortitude / 2)) - $wounds) gte 2) or ($pblocktech isnot ""))>>\ <<woundcheck 1 true false>>\ <<if ($pblocktech isnot "")>>\ <<print $txt>>, but otherwise uninjured. <<else>>\ $txt and your ribs threaten to crack, suffering internal bruising from the steel collision. <</if>>\ <<else>>\ <<aploss 4>>\ $txt and your ribs threaten to crack, suffering internal bruising. <</if>>\ <</if>>\ No matter how you twist and \ <<if ($element1 is "Wind") or ($element2 is "Wind")>>\ turn, even using Wind Chi to try and stop, \ <<elseif ($style is "Aoyusumu")>>\ turn, even using Sacred Chi to try and stop, \ <<else>>\ turn to control your movement, \ <</if>>\ hitting the ship doesn't slow you down. Alarms scream through your mind instead as you move even faster. Adrenaline rushes through your system when you fly past the \ <<if ((($gorobonus is 4) or ($gorobonus is 2)) or ($val is 1337))>>\ fishing ship \ <<else>>\ blockade \ <</if>>\ and see it grow further and further away. Time seems to slow down enough for you to catch sight of your surroundings. The docks, you realize while flipping over and over. You've already reached the docks. <<if (($insight gte 3) or ($style is "Kurokonton"))>>\ <<page "Continue" "ch7-worldsplode2-2">>\ <<else>>\ <<page "Continue" "ch7-worldsplode3">>\ <</if>>\

<<if ($insight lt 3)>>\ ''[Kurokonton Event]'' <<else>>\ ''[Insight 3 Check Passed]'' <</if>>\ <<apboost 5>>\ Something is unnatural about your terrifying speed. Through years of honing your intense spiritual awareness, you're able to pick up traces of the effect around your body and identify its source, even despite the brain-crushing force of your constant rotations. It's Cursed Chi. You're sure of it. In an instant you realize what's at play and why you're not slowing down. You're not being knocked //away// from Callous Goro's attack, you're be pulled //towards// something else! \ <<page "Continue" "ch7-worldsplode3">>\

Nanhou's ports shine in the bright morning sun. Seagulls croon peacefully overhead, travelers step off ships excitedly, and busy dockworkers haul crates to and fro atop the solid wooden construction of the docks. The port section is obviously new and well-crafted, with sturdy boards built two inches thicker than needed. The sheer amount of quality-lumber needed to outfit an entire city's shore with such docks baffles the mind. Not your mind though. Your mind is being rattled by the hundred screaming civilians who are leaping out of the way of your arrival. As they should. Like a speeding meteor, you crash through the docks head-first with such force that you split a trench through the wood on your way inland. <<var $combatstat "fortitude">>\ <<discount "Midorikatai" 1>>\ <<discount "Blacksmith" 1>>\ <<discount "Wind" 1>>\ <<discount "Earth" 1>>\ <<discount "Ice" 1>>\ <<if ($insight gte 3) or ($style is "Kurokonton")>>\ <<var $cmod + 1>>\ ''[Cursed Chi Clue: +1 Battle Prowess]'' <</if>>\ <<combatcheck 8>>\ <<if ($passcheck is true)>>\ As soon as your head cracks into the front of the dock, splitting it down the middle for a dozen feet, you twist your body and slam both palms onto the wooden platform. The force launches you into the air at an angle where you soar, tumbling, just overhead of the crowd. As quickly as you arrived, you rush over the pier and into the port section's main street. The //crowded// main street. <<else>>\ <<var $val + 1>>\ <<if (((($health + ($fortitude / 2)) - $wounds) gte 2) and ($pblocktech isnot ""))>>\ ''[$pblocktech Activated, Damage Reduced]'' <<woundcheck 1 false false>>\ <<elseif ((($health + ($fortitude / 2)) - $wounds) gte 3)>>\ <<woundcheck 2 false false>>\ <<else>>\ <<aploss 8>>\ <</if>>\ The constant spinning of your body causes you to crash straight through the dock platform. You shred across eighty feet of the flooring boards in a flash; each impact feels more painful than the last. In a shock of panic you realize why: you're not slowing down. You're speeding up. \ <</if>>\ <<page "Continue" "ch7-worldsplode4">>\

Your breakneck speed drags you into the busy street of the port section with an explosion of splinters painting the world behind you. All heads turn towards the sudden crash of your arrival, reacting too slowly to your body barreling past them. Screams break out when you crash through a cart of straw, break through a stall of water jugs, and narrowly blast past a dozen onlookers jumping out of the way. Every impact slams new material against your skin and every spin stops you from seeing the next object you're crashing through. Each visitor either leaps or is pulled out of the way just in time, obscuring your vision until finally you come face to face with \ <<if ($insight gte 3)>>\ a source of Curse Chi: a coin embedded in the eye of a fountain's statue. <<else>>\ a fountain's statue. <</if>>\ A //wide//, ''stone'', //''ten-foot-tall''// statue of what must be the city's scraggly-looking Magistrate. <<if (($gorobonus gte 1) or (dig($metgoro, 2) is 2))>>\ <<if ($gorobonus gte 1)>>\ ''[Special Event: Avoided Combat]'' <<else>>\ ''[Special Event: Attracted Callous Goro]'' <</if>>\ You're not sure if you're supposed to hit the statue or not, but Goro hit you so hard that you stream past it instead, flying further into the air of the plaza and right through the third-story open window of a rug weaver. <<page "*puff*" "ch7-goro-base">>\ <<else>>\ <<include "ch7-gorocontinue">>\ <</if>>\

"No." The Imperial clerk responds from behind his Bōgu-mask. "Prettiest of pleases?" "No." "With sugar on-?" "Begone." Tian Fang gives a heavily exaggerated shrug and \

<<var $desrep + 4>>\ <<var $fren "Desdemona">>\ Lady Desdemona waltzes into the room at the head of her darkly cloaked disciples, the Dreamriver \ <<if ($desromance gte 3)>>\ Sect. Your heart skips a beat. Despite completing the weightlifting Trial minutes ago, her face and hair look perfect. You're not the only man to notice. Several stand at attention and correct their posture when she enters the room. <<else>>\ Sect. <</if>>\ The purple-lipped Lunargoth surveys the contestants inside the wide chamber by the stairs. Beside her, Disciple Li Moon rapidly pats her shoulder and points you out. She stares at you inquisitively, her resting scowl \ <<if ((($desrep gte 60) or ($style is "Kiihakai")) or ($desromance gte 3))>>\ threatening to break as the side of her mouth twitches in an involuntary smile. <<else>>\ replaced with a calculating glance. <</if>>\ "We meet again, Thunderfaller." She calls, giving a short bow. "For some reason, I'm not surprised." <<choose "ch8-dessy2">> #"It makes sense if they're pitting the strong against each other." <<var $ruthless + 1>>\ <<var $honor + 1>>\ <<var $desrep + 2>>\ "It makes sense if they're pitting the strong against each other." You reply. Desdemona's \ <<if ($heshe is "he")>>\ plush \ <</if>>\ lips tighten and her eyes turn to a look of pity when she glances at her Disciples. "I wouldn't say //physically// strong." "What do you mean?" "You first." She replies. "The Tiger Trial, how did you fare?" #"Good to see you too, Dessy." <<var $ruthless - 1>>\ "Good to see you too, Dessy." You reply with an innocent smile. <<var $desrep - 3>>\ <<if ($heshe is "he")>>\ <<var $desromance + 1>>\ <</if>>\ "Oh dear." Li Moon whispers. "<<cap $heshe>> said the forbidden moniker." Li Sun whispers back to her. Desdemona puts on a fake smile for the crowd, her eyes poorly masking an inner anger. "You must have me mistaken with someone else, Thunderfaller. My name is //Lady// Desdemona of the Dreamriver Sect." "That's what I said." You \ <<if ((($desromance gte 2) and ($honor lt 45)) and ($heshe is "he"))>>\ reply- ''[Dishonor Check Passed]'' -booping her on the nose with your index finger in front of fifty strangers and two Imperial authorities. "If you keep this up I'll be forced to, I'll-I'm going to..." \ <<else>>\ reply with a casual shrug. "You'll pay for that." She whisper-threatens through her fake smile. "embarrass me at the Trials and you'll find yourself embarrassed threefold." "Thank Heavens." You reply. "I've been trying to get some friendly drama going. Too many of my encounters have been to the death, I need variety." <</if>>\ Desdemona clenches both fists by her side and switches her glare from you to the two Imperial clerks growing interested in your exchange. She finally gives up, letting her shoulders droop. "Ugh!" You scoot aside as she sits down next to you in a frustrated hurry, grabbing her knees against her chest. In only a second she glances back up at you, then away, then back to you. "Well don't leave me waiting." She demands as if you'd had an agreement. "Spill it already. How was your Tiger Trial?" #use-if ($lore gte 2) "I //am// surprised. You, me, and your Disciples all together out of one-hundred seeds? The odds are terrible." [Requires Lore 2] "You may not be surprised." You reply. "But I sure am. You, me, and your Disciples all coming together out of one-hundred seeds? The odds are terrible." Desdemona quirks one eyebrow. "I simply meant-" "Think about it logically." You say, withdrawing a spare scroll and rolling it out. You hold your satchel with your teeth. Your spare hand digs through for some writing chalk. "Let's say the seed before and after mine gets to meet here. That's three out of one-hundred chance of you and me meeting. Low, but not unheard of." "<<cap $name>> I was only saying tha-" Desdemona tries to interject, but you've already begun writing numbers. A few bored nearby contestants begin looking over your notes. "Now say you bring one disciple, like Li Moon. Suddenly the odds are ''so much lower''. We multiply the denominator of our one-in-thirty-three odds with the denominator of the one-in-thirty-three odds of either of us meeting Li Moon. Now we're looking at over one in one-thousand. One-thousand and eighty-nine to be exact." "True, but inconsequential when you take into account...actually...oh wow." Desdemona crouches next to you, growing intrigued. She looks over her shoulder to one of the Imperial clerks. "Were my Disciples added to my seed by default?" "No, they weren't..." The Bōgu-masked man replies slowly, seeming to comprehend the situation himself. "So what about two disciples?" A Human man next to you asks, nudging your shoulder to continue. "Exactly!" You exclaim, pointing your chalk at Desdemona's male disciple in glasses, Li Sun. "Take into account a second Disciple and the fraction denominator is multiplied by thirty-three again." "Speak clearly!" Demands a reptile yokai woman looking insultingly confused. "Twenty-seven thousand." Desdemona says, mystified while looking over your work. "Myself, the Thunderfaller, and two of my Dreamriver disciples is one-in-twenty-seven thousand odds." By this point, the rest of the chamber's contestants walk over to see what the commotion is about. One tall Lunargoth woman peaks over the rest and mutters what everyone is thinking. "How many Disciples did you bring?" "Five." Desdemona says in astonishment, looking to the ceiling while running numbers in her own head. "But that would mean..." "One billion." You say, finishing the calculations on your scroll. "The odds of us all meeting like this are worse than one-in-one-billion." The entire chamber grows quiet at the scope of not just such low odds, but the scope of your calculations. ''[Commerce Increased]'' <<var $commerce + 1>>\ ''[Prestige Increased]'' <<var $prestige + 1>>\ <<var $mathinit true>>\ "Ancestors." Whistles a wolf yokai contestant with sideburns. "I pray this Trial isn't a math test." <<page "Continue" "ch8-lastseed">>\ #show-if ($heshe is "she") "I called in some favors, us girls have to stick together." "I called in some favors." You say with your nose held high. "Us girls have to stick together." Desdemona opens her mouth, pauses while glancing at the crowd, and nods in agreement. "Too true. Disciple Sun, could you give us some distance?" <<var $val 22>>\ "Yeah Sun," Says Disciple Li Moon behind Desdemona. "Get out of here." "Gladly." Li Sun replies to his sister, bowing at the waist when he turns to you. "$patriarch <<cap $clan>>, if you'll excuse me." As he leaves to rest along a far wall, Li Moon and Desdemona look back to you. "Tell me, how did your Tiger Trial go?" Desdemona asks. "Did you encounter any surprises?" #show-if ($heshe is "he") "Did you do something new with your hair?" "Did you do something new with your hair?" You ask, stepping closer to the pale gothic woman in front of the crowd of contestants. "What are you doing?" She whispers, shaking her head a fraction of an inch. "Not here." "Because it looks nice." You say, brushing a hand through the black silk texture of her hair. You stop by her face and place your palm against her cheek, looking deep into her eyes. "You always look nice." <<if ($persuasion gte 3) or (($persuasion gte 2) and ($bodytype is "Handsome"))>>\ <<if ($bodytype is "Handsome")>>\ ''[Handsome Bodytype Event: Difficulty Reduced]'' ''[Persuasion 2 Check Passed]'' <<else>>\ ''[Persuasion 3 Check Passed]'' <</if>>\ <<var $desrep + 3>>\ <<var $desromance + 1>>\ <<var $val 44>>\ Her eyes meet yours and her cheeks blush a glowing bright red. Her stiffened posture relaxes and her mouth opens a quarter-inch, quivering, as she struggles to maintain the air of anger that's melting away at your touch. "Uh, yeah!" Shouts a fat Human man in armor, approaching her. "Yeah I was going to say that too!" ''//"KILL YOURSELF."//'' Desdemona commands without looking away from you, surrounding her right side with an expanding circle of golden chi that barrels the fat man into the far wall. She ignores the entire interaction and takes one small step towards you when you're woefully interrupted. <<include "ch8-lastseed">>\ <<else>>\ ''[Persuasion 3 Check Failed]'' <<var $desromance - 1>>\ <<var $desrep - 5>>\ "Disciple Moon." Desdemona says coldly. "Yes, Lady Desdemona?" The disciple in glasses says, faithfully dropping to one knee. "Place a curse on <<cap $name>>'s hand that will explode his penis the next time he touches it." "Yes, Lady Desdemona." The rest of the crowd bursts out into laughter at your expense. ''[Prestige Lost]'' <<var $prestige - 1>>\ <<var $val 33>>\ The situation changes from comical to life-threatening when Li Moon's eyes glow black and gold. You immediately feel an uncomfortable sense of doom. <<var $combatstat "soul">>\ <<discount "Kiihakai" 1>>\ <<discount "Kurokonton" 1>>\ <<discount "Darkness" 1>>\ <<combatcheck 8>>\ <<if ($passcheck is true)>>\ Luckily her explosion curse fails to penetrate your aura, leaving your private parts safe for now. Not that you were planning to touch them, or anything. <<else>>\ You begin to suspect that self-love truly is off the table. Ancestors, you hope you don't scratch it absent-mindedly. <<var $eventfun + 100000000>>\ <</if>>\ <<page "Continue" "ch8-lastseed">>\ <</if>>\ <</choose>>

<<if ($score_tiger lt 3)>>\ "I'd rather not say." You mutter, thinking on your score of $score_tiger. "It was still probably better \ <<elseif (($score_tiger is 3) or ($score_tiger is 4))>>\ "Passable." You say with a shrug. "Better \ <<elseif (($score_tiger is 5) or ($score_tiger is 6))>>\ "On the higher end." You admit with a shrug. "I felt I could have done better." "Better \ <<elseif ($score_tiger is 7)>>\ "A perfect seven," you say with a sour look, <<if ($ruthless gte 55)>>\ "that bastard Brass \ <<else>>\ "Brass \ <</if>>\ Tiger stole the glory with an eight." "Better \ <<else>>\ "They told me the top was a seven, but somehow I got an eight. I don't think their math skills are very good." "Eight?" Desdemona blinks twice, slowly. "You scored...eight. Out of seven." "Yeah, is that good?" <<var $desrep + 4>>\ "Better \ <</if>>\ than ours." Says Disciple Li Moon from Desdemona's \ <<if ($val isnot 22)>>\ right. "Indeed." Says the male disciple Li Sun on Desdemona's left. \ <<else>>\ right. \ <</if>>\ "For a sorcery sect, we faced a difficult starting Trial." "Was it that bad?" You ask. "Unfortunately, yes." Desdemona confesses, huffing a strand of hair out of her face. "Only myself and Disciple Sun were able to land a passing score in physical strength. Though worry not, such poor luck won't last. I have faith our powers will shine through the next Trial." <<include "ch8-lastseed">>\

Your head hits the grass and dirt. Your senses are assaulted through both your spirit and ears when dozens of screams and aura signatures magnify around you. Trained for battle, you jump back to your feet and realize you're standing on solid ground, atop the hills overlooking the Rabbit Trial's valley. Images of sky and clouds shimmer around you like pieces of a shattered aura. Thankfully you were right about being trapped in a pocket realm; you never fell from the clouds, you appeared on the ground instantly. You're now surrounded by the remaining contestants of the Rabbit Trial from before; several are bleeding. Above you, in the air, a battle has broken out. <<if (dig($metjahi, 2) gte 3)>>\ All three \ <<else>>\ Both \ <</if>>\ Akuma Lords are nowhere to be seen, gone with their azure crystal thrones, but their acolytes fight in their stead. <<if (dig($metjahi, 2) gte 3)>>\ Nine \ <<else>>\ Ten \ <</if>>\ Akuma Acolytes fight against six masked officials. Though the five Noble Judges make quick work of their opponents, the sixth fighter on the Judges' side stands out the most. A man in black cloak and hood under pale Beastbone armor, his movements lost in a blur of speed. A bone mask obscures his face, trailing two lines of yellow light from his \ <<if ($portraitpics is true)>>\ eyes. <<image "https://www.auraclash.com/assets/images/archon-bone.jpg">>\ In \ <<else>>\ eyes. In \ <</if>>\ that uniform, and in those eyes, you recognize \ <<if (dig($bigevents, 3) is 3) or (dig($bigevents, 3) is 1)>>\ who could fight off an entire cult in the short time it took you to recover. <<else>>\ who broke you out of the Akuma Lords trap. <</if>>\ An Archon. The power you're expected to reach. <<page "Continue" "ch8-domaingone2">>\

You lean back over the edge and let yourself fall. <<if (dig($bigevents, 3) gte 1)>>\ "By the Heavens!" Shouts one of the contestants you leave behind, as they all scramble to the edge of the cloud and see \ <<else>>\ Rather than ask for assistance getting down, you allow yourself to rocket towards the city below before letting \ <</if>>\

The fight ends before it begins. The Acolytes can barely hold their ground in two-against-one fights against the shocking power of five Noble Judges. The scales tip even further when the Archon deigns to join each skirmish, ending the fight by slashing with his bone-studded armguards or running a fist through an Acolyte's hood as if their head wasn't even there. Seeing his compatriots die so quickly, the last Acolyte throws his hands into the air. "I yield!" The Acolyte screams. "I surrender!" "No." The Archon replies. "You don't." He lifts the man overhead and slams the Acolyte's back over his knee, breaking the Akuma cultist's spine. When he does, the Wind effect keeping all other Akuma Acolytes airborne ends. All drop to the ground, landing in the procession of one-hundred contestants around you. Blood splatters on your face. <<if ($ally is "Guiren")>>\ "What...the Hell?" Asks Guiren. "What the Hells is going on here? Is \ <<elseif ($ally is "Desdemona")>>\ "What is the meaning of this?" Desdemona asks to Misuka the Performer. "Is \ <<else>>\ "What in the world is going on?" Asks a Lunargoth with three daggers on one side. "Is \ <</if>>\ this part of the Trials?" "Not that I've been told." Misuka replies, running ahead of the crowd and shouting up to the floating man in the sky. "Honored Archon! We, hah, appreciate the grand display of the power promised to these aspirants! Yet this one must humbly ask, why were some of our contestants taken away into that pocket realm? And to what do we owe the performance?" "It was no performance." The Archon calls down in two overlapping voices, sounding as if he's right next to each of you. "Uninvited guests have infiltrated the Rabbit Trial. This location is compromised. No one is to step foot within ten-thousand feet until the officials have performed thorough scans, scryings, and premonitions." Misuka laughs nervously, stepping over the \ <<if (dig($bigevents, 3) is 0)>>\ corpses of both the Akuma Acolytes and the Trial Contestants you failed to save. \ <<else>>\ Acolyte corpses and the groaning, paralyzed survivor. \ <</if>>\ "U-Um, Honored Archon, the Dragon Trial is hosted in the forest behind you, we cannot just-" "Find another forest." The Wild Judge demands. The other four give one single nod of agreement, then the Bladed Judge speaks up. "The Dragon Trial will be delayed three days while we find a suitable location. You are all dismissed back to the city." <<if (dig($bigevents, 3) is 0)>>\ "All but you." The Archon interrupts, pointing your way. His armor clacks with bone-on-bone when he walks up to you, staring his sun-like eyes \ <<if (($bodytype is "Muscular") or (($heshe is "he") and ($style is "Midorikatai")))>>\ down \ <</if>>\ into yours. "You came out of there alone. Tell <<else>>\ "All but them." The Archon interrupts, pointing at the group who escaped the pocket realm. Namely, the $manwoman at their center. You. His armor clacks with bone-on-bone when he walks up to you, staring his sun-like eyes \ <<if (($bodytype is "Muscular") or (($heshe is "he") and ($style is "Midorikatai")))>>\ down \ <</if>>\ into yours. "Tell \ <</if>>\ me everything that happened in there." <<page "*gulp*" "ch8-domaingone3">>\

Misuka the Performer leads the rest of the contestants back towards the city, now visible in the distance. <<if ($ally is "Guiren")>>\ Guiren remains behind, waiting back at the hilltops, until he's personally scolded to leave. You envy him. <<elseif ($ally is "Desdemona")>>\ Desdemona remains behind, picking herbs on the hilltops, until she's personally scolded to leave. You envy her. <<else>>\ You envy them. <</if>>\ You're stuck eight thousand feet in the sky. The five Judges, along with the Archon, stand atop their fortress gate like a judicial council deciding your fate. You \ <<if (dig($bigevents, 3) gte 1)>>\ and the other contestants \ <</if>>\ kneel beneath them, at the edge of the massive flying cloud just outside their fortress. You spend the next hour explaining what happened inside of the area, over and over. The Akuma Lords, this White Tiger, and the Akuma Lords' strange goal of bringing about a new age. You leave out any connection you have to the Akuma Lords so \ <<if (dig($metjahi, 2) gte 3)>>\ far, //especially// the parts about Jahi. <<if (dig($mettaio, 1) gte 6)>>\ You don't need the ghosts of Taio's to tell you that you should hide certain things from the authorities. <<if (dig($metjahi, 2) gte 3)>>\ This is one problem you'll have to solve yourself. <</if>>\ <<else>>\ The last thing you need is to tell an Archon you're responsible for what happened, and the closer they investigate Jahi the closer they'll come to finding your involvement. This is one problem you'll have to solve yourself. <</if>>\ <<elseif (dig($mettaio, 1) gte 6)>>\ far. You don't need the ghosts of Taio's to tell you that you should hide certain things from the authorities. <<if (dig($metjahi, 2) gte 3)>>\ This is one problem you'll have to solve yourself. <</if>>\ <<else>>\ far. The last thing you need is your past with some cult making you seem like a security liability to the Archonate. \ <</if>>\ <<if (dig($bigevents, 3) gte 1)>>\ Luckily the other contestants made it out alive, thanks to your \ <<if (dig($bigevents, 3) is 3)>>\ Jade Dragon power. It's a good thing they weren't awake to see your attack; you're still holding that ace up your sleeve. As for the other contestants, most \ <<elseif (dig($bigevents, 3) is 2)>>\ quick thinking. Who knew that giving your life away to waste your enemy's time would work out so well? You did. Because you are a tactical genius. As for the other contestants, most \ <<else>>\ unraveling of Black Flower's attack. Most \ <</if>>\ of them support your story unwaveringly. ...Most. "Honored Judges!" Big Zhu shouts, kowtowing to the six figures. "Ignore \ <<else>>\ Since you weren't able to save the other contestants, no one stands by to back up your story. The only one with you is the burnt husk of Big Zhu. Unfortunately, he's still alive. He's been groaning at your report this entire time. With a wave of the Mystic Judge's hand, his body heals considerably and he immediately becomes a problem once again. "Th-The announcer!" Big Zhu croaks out, a plume of smoke releasing from his throat. He crawls to his knees and kowtows. "The announcer did it all! Honored Judges, ignore \ <</if>>\ this Laborer and take the report of a true Warrior. I, Zhu of Thunderfall's Big Clan, swear upon my soul that the attacker was none other than the Trial announcer-" "That wasn't Misuka." You correct the man with a groan. "Shut your mouth, Laborer, I know what I saw!" <<if (dig($bigevents, 3) is 1)>>\ "By the Ancestors, man." Says the stone-armored warrior. "She clearly looked like a different person when we woke up." "That's because Kitsune can change their appearance, duh!" Big Zhu shoots you both heavy, jowly sneers \ <<else>>\ "Ancestors above, Zhu, you passed out the second her chi tendril touched you. Stop interrupting me, she showed her true form //after// you passed out!" Big Zhu's face grows red. "You're interrupting //me!// She changed her form to trick you, idiot, because she thought all the other witnesses were dead!" He shoots you a jowly sneer \ <</if>>\ and looks up to the Judges. "The announcer is in on this, I know it!" <<choose "ch8-domaingone4">> #Insist that it was this 'Black Flower' woman. <<var $crimedetection 2>>\ "Honored Archon, Honored Judges, I beseech you to-" "Stop interrupting!" Big Zhu shouts. <<if ($ruthless gte 60)>>\ ''[Ruthless 60 Check Passed]'' <<var $score_wild + 1>>\ <<var $score_cursed + 1>>\ <<var $score_sacred - 1>>\ You take three steps towards Big Zhu and grab his kowtowing hair, lift his face up, and punch him hard in the jaw. You keep a grip on his hair to preventing his face from retreating, tighten your knuckles, and start punching him again, over and over. When you pull your first back for the sixth time, he flinches with a bloodied mouth, so you drop him and turn back to the Judges and Archon atop the fortress gate. \ <<else>>\ ''[Ruthless 60 Check Failed]'' <<var $score_wild - 1>>\ Your lips tighten and you glare at Big Zhu, looking up to the Judges. "Do you want my report? He seems insistent that I don't give it." "Speak." Says the Sacred Judge. <</if>>\ "It was Black Flower." You insist. "The Akuma Lord was a seven-tailed, red-eyed, black-haired Kitsune that the other Akuma Lord called 'Black Flower'. She could be going by a title or using a disguise, but that is the evidence I found." "And the other?" The Archon asks. "You mentioned two leaders who did not appear when the Domain Clash ended." "Black Flower called him Tenkairyu, some short and shrill man, probably old. He's the one who kept open \ <<if (($style is "Kiihakai") or ($lore gte 3))>>\ the pocket r-" <<if ($style is "Kiihakai")>>\ <<var $score_mystic + 1>>\ ''[Kiihakai Event]'' <<else>>\ ''[Lore 3 Event]'' <</if>>\ You catch yourself mid-word before calling it a mere pocket realm, using Misuka's Technique naming to fill in your educational gaps. "He's the one who kept open the Soul Domain. Which means he's a Kiihakai practitioner if he's using a Mystic Transformation." The Mystic Judge tilts their head ever so slightly, approving of your knowledge. <<var $score_mystic + 1>>\ <<else>>\ the pocket realm." ''[Lore 3 Check Failed]'' <<var $score_mystic - 1>>\ "The Soul Domain." Corrects the Mystic Judge. "What entrapped you was the Transformation effect of the Kiihakai Style. The ability to expand one's aura into an entire battlefield and wrap it into a temporary personal realm. The Soul Domain." "I see." You say, bowing your head in embarrassment for being corrected by a Judge. "Thank you for the correction." So much for your Mystic Lands score. <</if>>\ #Agree with Zhu to keep the Archons busy with the wrong lead. You open your mouth to protest and consider this an opportunity. "I...must concede." You say with feigned sadness. "Big Zhu may be right. \ <<if ($race is "Kitsune")>>\ As a Kitsune myself, I can attest to their ability to maintain illusions. \ <<else>>\ Kitsune are known for tricks; making a second copy of herself is certainly within Misuka's abilities. \ <</if>>\ <<if ($deception gte 3)>>\ <<var $crimedetection 0>>\ <<else>>\ <<var $crimedetection 1>>\ <</if>>\ I wanted to deny it, but deep down I know Big Zhu speaks the truth. Misuka the Performer was behind this attack. I just...didn't want to believe something like this would be possible from someone representing our glorious Empire." <</choose>>

"That settles everything." The Archon says. "I will now begin questioning the Acolyte." He turns and vanishes, swallowed up by his dark cloak when it swirls in on itself. The Bladed Judge raises his head higher in the Archon's absence. "Your report is complete. You may \ <<if (dig($bigevents, 3) gte 1)>>\ all \ <</if>>\ return to the city." <<if ((dig($bigevents, 3) gte 1) and ($score_rabbit lt 8))>>\ "With an additional point in the Rabbit \ <<if (dig($bigevents, 3) gte 1)>>\ Trial granted to $fullname." \ <<else>>\ Trial." \ <</if>>\ Interjects the \ <<if (dig($bigevents, 3) is 2)>>\ Sacred Judge. "Your ability to delay a stronger enemy's attack is a prime example of \ <<var $score_sacred + 1>>\ <<elseif (dig($bigevents, 3) is 1)>>\ Mystic Judge. "Your ability to undo powerful enchantments is a prime example of \ <<var $score_mystic + 1>>\ <<else>>\ Wild Judge. "Your ability to directly crash through powerful attacks is exactly \ <<var $score_wild + 1>>\ <</if>>\ what the Rabbit Trial was designed to test." <<var $score_rabbit + 1>>\ <</if>>\ "Thank you, Honored Ones." You reply, looking ten feet behind you where the moving cloud fortress drops off into an eight-thousand foot fall down to the Nanhou city \ <<if ((($element1 is "Wind") and ($element1rank gte 2)) or (($element2 is "Wind") and ($element2rank gte 2)))>>\ gates. ''[Wind (Adept) Event]'' <<include "ch8-domaingone-falloutboy">>\ swirls of Wind Chi wrap around your body. By the Heavens, it feels good to be able to fly. ''[Prestige Increased]'' <<var $prestige + 2>>\ You ride the wind currents down to the city and even create a few of your own, soaring down to the Dock Section to \ <<elseif (($style is "Aoyusumu") and ($stylerank gte 2))>>\ gates. ''[Aoyusumu (Adept) Event]'' <<include "ch8-domaingone-falloutboy">>\ Sacred Chi wrap around your body, siphoning the kinetic force that would normally accelerate your fall. You slow to a halt in mid-air, smile, and let yourself drop down to the city below at top speeds before siphoning it again, stopping in mid air mere feet from the ground. A crowd suddenly gasps at your approach and sighs with relief when you stop your fall just above a Port District's square. The Judges made you do this, it's not your fault for showing off. ''[Prestige Increased]'' <<var $prestige + 2>>\ After landing and walking off you let out a breath of relief, finally able to \ <<elseif ($roc gte 1)>>\ gates. ''[Trapper Event]'' <<include "ch8-domaingone-falloutboy">>\ a whistle escape your lips, calling <<cap $rocname>> to fly out from under the flying fortress and catch you on her back. "I cannot tell you how glad I am that you were already here." You say over the roar of wind while your pet Roc flies you down to the city below. "CAWWWWW!" <<cap $rocname>> says. The two of you make it down to the city's Port District, attracting more than one set of eyes when people see you flying a Beast down from the Noble Judge's flying fortress. ''[Prestige Increased]'' <<var $prestige + 2>>\ You land in an open square and dismount, patting $rocname on her neck. She takes off towards your ships, leaving you with nothing to do but \ <<else>>\ gates. "So do I-" The Bladed Judge draws a scarlet-glowing katana at his side and slices at nothing. A tear appears in the air behind you <<if (dig($bigevents, 3) gte 1)>>\ and each of the other contestants. You all turn around to see rifts in space at the edge of the cloud fortress, as if you're looking through a door, and on the other side are nine different streets in Nanhou. "Go." The Cursed Judge says. Not needing to be told twice, you walk through and find yourself in the Port District. The other candidates are nowhere to be found, wisely dropped off somewhere else. \ <<else>>\ turn around to see a tear in space at the edge of the cloud fortress, as if you're looking through a door, and on the other side is an unfamiliar street from Nanhou below. "Go." The Cursed Judge says. Not needing to be told twice, you walk through and find yourself in the Port District. No one around you reacts to your sudden appearance, and no one you recognize is nearby. It's as if it's a normal day to anyone but you. \ <</if>>\ Though surreal, you decide there's nothing more to do but \ <</if>>\ call an end to your troubles for the day. Ancestors know you've had enough of them. <<page "Rest for the night." "ch8-halfover">>\

You \ <<if (($score_tiger is 5) or ($score_tiger is 4.1))>>\ and Tian Fang \ <</if>>\ exit the Tiger Arena's grounds, entering a tunnel underneath the stands. Naturally, you expect to exit out onto the streets of Nanhou, but you do not. Instead, walking down the winding stone corridor, you find a wide room with a stone staircase leading underground, into darkness. Other competitors flank both sides of the staircase, some you recognize from your Tiger Trial and some you do not. Two Imperial clerks in their black robes and Bōgu-masks stand on either side of the room. <<if (($score_tiger is 5) or ($score_tiger is 4.1))>>\ "Names?" \ <<else>>\ "Name?" \ <</if>>\ Asks one of the scribes, holding a scroll glowing golden with Mystic Chi. <<if (($score_tiger is 5) or ($score_tiger is 4.1))>>\ "Tian Fang of-" \ <</if>>\ "$fullname, of-" "You will be in the ninety-sixth Rabbit Trial seed." The clerk \ <<if (($score_tiger is 5) or ($score_tiger is 4.1))>>\ interrupts, pointing to you. "While //you//," he points to Fang, "are in the Ninety-sixth seed coming up. In several minutes you will proceed down the stairs and continue to the other side of the tunnel." You both give short bows of respect and join one of the crowds on the side of the stairs, waiting for the next Rabbit Trial seed. It takes only a minute for Tian Fang to grow restless. "Master Imperial Clerk, can Tian Fang not simply begin her Trial now? She has no need to wait for others." <<include "ch8-bigshruggin">>\ <<if (($fangromance gte 2) and ($heshe is "he"))>>\ rests her head against your shoulder. <<else>>\ curls into her robes in a fluffy pile on the ground. <</if>>\ <<else>>\ interrupts. "We are currently filling the ninety-fifth seed with contestants from your Tiger Trial. Wait here with the rest and you will proceed down the tunnel after the //next// Tiger Trial finishes." <<if ($score_tiger lt 5)>>\ You take a seat beside a dejected looking Human girl in red hanfu and wait. It's not long before more contestants show up. A slow but steady stream of others who fail to lift the heavier plates begin showing up, followed by Tian Fang after a couple of waves. "Thunderfaller!" She shouts, waving profusely. "Are you in the Ninety-fifth Rabbit Trial seed with Tian Fang?" "Ninety-sixth." You say with a shrug. "Ah." She huffs, shooing the Human woman away to take her seat on the floor. "Most unfortunate, but I will be waiting for you at the finish line! That is...when she is done waiting //here//." She looks to one of the Imperial Clerks. "Can Tian Fang just start now? She has no need of waiting for others." <<include "ch8-bigshruggin">>\ <<if (($fangromance gte 2) and ($heshe is "he"))>>\ rests her head against your shoulder. <<else>>\ curls into her robes in a fluffy pile on the ground. <</if>>\ <<elseif ($score_tiger gt 5)>>\ "Most unpleasant!" Whines Tian Fang from the crowd of contestants already in the room. "Tian Fang is in the ninety-fifth seed. Can the Thunderfaller not be pushed forward by one seed? <<cap $heshe>> is already here." <<include "ch8-bigshruggin">>\ pats the stone ground beside her, welcoming you to have a seat. <<if (($fangromance gte 2) and ($heshe is "he"))>>\ She rests her head on your shoulder when you do, then hums to pass the time. <</if>>\ <</if>>\ <</if>>\ <<page "[Sit and wait]" "ch8-endtiger2">>\

<<if ($score_tiger gte 7)>>\ You barely have time to properly rest before a loud commotion comes from one of the only people to finish alongside you, who apparently collected a crowd of fans along the way. <<else>>\ Minutes pass by and more contestants come to join the crowd in the wide stone chamber, pouring in from the ongoing Tiger Trials, until suddenly your ears are assaulted by a booming applause. The Seal keeping the audience's sound at bay seems to have been taken down. At the same time, a closer noisy crowd approaches the large room ''loudly'' from the hall. <</if>>\ "I KNEW YOU COULD DO IT, BRASS TIGER!" "THREE CHEERS FOR THE WAR HERO OF THE NORTH!" "BRASS TIGER, SIGN MY CHEST!" "DEATH TO THOSE WHO DOUBTED THE GREAT BRASS TIGER!" The raucous continues until the crowd breaks into your room, all centered around \ <<if ($score_tiger gte 7)>>\ the Tiger Trial's main celebrity. <<else>>\ one man dressed in full jade armor. You recognize the man's horned helmet from the Tiger Trial, he was two rows ahead of you. Now that his helmet rests in his hand, you see who he really \ <<if ($mettiger isnot 10000000000)>>\ is: the same Brass Tiger you met at the docks. <<else>>\ is. <</if>>\ <</if>>\ Tan skinned, heavily battlescarred, and very much living up to his name. The man looks less like a Cat Yokai and more like a true Tiger Yokai. White hair lined with black stripes, blue eyes analyzing the crowd, sharp canine fangs shown in a wide closed-teeth smile, and a white and black striped tail swishing out from his armor. <<if (($mettiger is 10000000000) and ($portraitpics is true))>>\ <<image "https://www.auraclash.com/assets/images/brass-tiger.jpg">>\ <</if>>\ "The court is honored by the presence of Brass Tiger." Says one of the Imperial Clerks. "Congratulations on your //eight// points, out of a possible seven." <<if ((dig($mettiger, 4) is 1) and ($score_tiger gte 7))>>\ ''[Special Event]'' "How. Fucking. Dare you." Brass tiger replies, much to the shock of the room. "Everyone //knows// I'm amazing." He pushes through the crowd of his fans and towers over the clerk. "So why did you bring attention to that when there's something far more important to announce?" "I, er, I-I do not know what you mean, Honored Soldier. Is this about your services in Outer North's ice war?" "No." Brass Tiger spits, insulted. "It's about my //best friend and RIVAL// scoring a perfect \ <<if ($score_tiger is 7)>>\ seven points! \ <<else>>\ eight points!" \ <</if>>\ He shoves both hands out to the side excitedly. All heads in the room turn to the direction he's pointing. Towards you. <<if ($japannaming is true)>>\ "<<cap $name>> motherfucking <<cap $clan>>, \ <<else>>\ "<<cap $clan>> motherfucking <<cap $name>>, \ <</if>>\ Tiger Champion! It's got a good ring to it!" He runs up and grabs you by the arms with two jade-gauntleted hands. For such a big man, he gives the air of an excited child. "Ancestors be damned, it's good to see you pulling in points! I was worried I'd leave you in the dust and we'd have to write letters from afar, but damn it all, \ <<if ($score_tiger is 7)>>\ ''seven points''?! \ <<else>>\ ''eight points''?! \ <</if>>\ That's what I'm talking about! You'd better whip out that mink snare armbar in our final match!" Behind him, Brass Tiger's crowd is stunned at his display. <<if ($heshe is "she")>>\ The women glare //daggers// into you, while the men around you begin to nod their heads in appreciation of a new famous face. <<else>>\ Some begin tilting their heads, pretending to recognize you from anywhere else in order to have a new famous face to latch onto. <</if>>\ ''[Prestige Increased]'' <<var $prestige + 2>>\ <<var $txt "blind">>\ <<page "I..." "ch8-endtiger3">>\ <<else>>\ <<if ((dig($mettaio, 1) gte 6) and ($score_tiger gte 7))>>\ //He does not mention your own equal victory.// Whispers Taio the Bandit. //Kill him.// //Shh.// You think back to the demonic remnant of a Clone Technique living inside your soul. <<elseif ($score_tiger is 8) and ($honor gt 60)>>\ You keep your tongue silent, knowing full-well that this may be a test. Surely the clerk recognizes that you scored eight points as well, he must be testing your patience. <<var $score_bladed + 1>>\ <<var $score_sacred + 1>>\ <<elseif ($score_tiger is 8)>>\ You scowl at the clerk. He //must// know that you scored eight points too, and he didn't seem to care. Either he's testing your patience, or he's \ <<if ($mettiger is 10000000000)>>\ a bias fan of this 'Brass Tiger'. <<else>>\ just another Brass Tiger fan who needs to be removed from his position. <</if>>\ While you seethe, \ <</if>>\ Brass Tiger smiles wide, his pronounced fangs on display. "No congratulations needed, this is a sad day! I came looking for a challenge and all I found was some weights. There had better be a real test waiting for me in the next Trial!" "Time will tell, Honored Soldier." Says the clerk with a courteous bow. "At the least, please enjoy this respite from your services in Outer North's ice war." Brass Tiger puts one arm around two different women on both sides. "You hear that, ladies? //Respite.// Imperial orders." The girls lean into him and giggle, but you feel a brush against your own shoulder from a wolfgirl doing quite the opposite. \ <<include "ch8-endtiger3">>\ <</if>>\

<<if ($txt is "blind")>>\ Brass Tiger gives your shoulder a quick pat, promises to fight you later, and returns to his fans after that affair. You're left silent throughout it all, and for good reason. His face nearly blinds you. \ <</if>>\ "Something is not right about that man." Tian Fang whispers in a rare serious tone, her tail stiff and teeth caught in a growl. You can't help but agree. <<if ($mettiger isnot 10000000000)>>\ It wasn't like this when you met by the docks, but in this moment, every \ <<elseif ($score_tiger gte 7)>>\ It wasn't like this in the arena, but in this moment, every \ <<else>>\ Every \ <</if>>\ glance you make at the cat yokai's face is obscured by the sensation of bright white light. Hundreds of small, individual lights, all making up a singular shape that's haunted you since escaping Ebikowa. When you look at Brass Tiger, all you see is the constellation of an ominous, world-spanning white tiger from your coma-induced nightmare after leaving Ebikowa. Perhaps it's a side effect of your Fuel Foundation being exposed to demonic chi, or perhaps it's a curse placed on you by Taio, but whatever the reason, you know your nightmares so far have always been about Hells, corruption, and death. That leaves you with a question. Why did you have a nightmare about Brass Tiger? <<page "Continue" "ch8-endtiger4">>\

"Attention aspirants!" A clerk announces, breaking you both out of your train of thought. "The Rabbit Trial is about to begin. All contestants of the ninety-fifth Rabbit Trial seed, please proceed down the stairs! If you are not part of any Rabbit Trial seed, please see yourself out immediately." Brass Tiger's fans grumble and moan but he walks them out after learning from the clerks that he's in the ninety-eighth seed, not the upcoming one. <<if ((dig($mettiger, 4) is 1) and ($score_tiger lt 7))>>\ On the way out he glances back and his eyes seem to widen, as if noticing you for the first time. All bravado goes out the window when he frantically waves at you like a happy idiot, but his crowd of fawning fans push him forward. <</if>>\ Tian Fang looks away from Brass Tiger's exiting fans and rubs her cheeks with both hands, tail drooping and ears flattening against the top of her head. "It is time for Mountain Hazard's star pupil to endure this Trial alone. A most unfortunate burden." She groans, opens her eyes, and turns to you. "Care to wish a wolf good fortune?" <<if ($score_tiger is 4.1)>>\ <<var $score_tiger 4>>\ <</if>>\ <<choose "ch8-endtiger5">> #"Good luck!" <<var $fangrep + 1>>\ <<if ($heshe is "she")>>\ <<var $fangrep + 3>>\ <</if>>\ You crack a smile. "Good luck! You're going to do great." "I am, aren't I?" Tian Fang inhales the positive wishes and holds her hands in front of her chest, shaking as she breathes in. "Okay." She says. "Fang is ready." Her body grows two inches as the green glow of Wild Chi starts fuming off of her like an icy mist. One of the clerks suddenly stiffens, reaching a hand out. "You don't have to-" Fang vanishes down the staircase in a trailing burst of green chi. "-run." He finishes, hanging his head. #"No." <<var $fangrep - 4>>\ She wants you to wish her luck? You're //competitors//, why would you wish someone else luck? Luck in what, beating you? Ridiculous. "No." You exclaim, loud and clear. "Rude!" Fang shouts, jumping back and pointing at you as if catching a spy. "Rude, rude, rude! Most rude!" The Imperial Scribe she nearly bumps into pushes her forward. "Watch where you step, aspirant." "Rude too!" She shouts in astonishment, spinning around with an accusing finger pointed like a crossbow. "I am surrounded by rude!" "GO." You and both the clerks say. Even a few of the other contestants nearby join in. "Hmph!" Fang tilts her nose up at you all, turns, and dashes down the dark stairway on all fours. As she descends, you swear you can hear a vanishing mantra of "Rude rude rude rude rude ru-" #"You won't need it." "You won't need any luck." You reply. <<var $fangrep + 1>>\ <<if ($heshe is "he")>>\ <<var $fangrep + 3>>\ <</if>>\ Fang jumps to attention with both hands on her hips. "This is true! The Great Tian Fang will grasp victory with unrivaled talent and refined skill!" Her body grows two inches as the green glow of Wild Chi starts fuming off of her like an icy mist. One of the clerks suddenly stiffens, reaching a hand out. "You don't have to-" Fang vanishes down the staircase in a trailing burst of green chi. "-run." He finishes, hanging his head. #use-if (($style is "Aoyusumu") and ($stylerank gte 2)) "Go, with my blessing." [Requires Aoyusumu (Adept)] "Go, Tian Fang." You order, posing in how you assume monks often do. "Go with my blessing." Your hand stretches outward with your index and middle finger fully extended and the others curved. A soft glow comes over your hand and all the positive intent around you siphons into your working as you //will// the positive psionic energy into fuel for Fang's blessing. She glows $auracolor for a moment with your spirit's power and \ <<if ($heshe is "he")>>\ her whole body \ <</if>>\ shivers, as if a chill had been run down her spine. With astonishment, she looks down at both her hands and turns them over. "Fang feels...Fang feels great! Stronger than ever! Thank you, Thunderfaller, she will be sure to repay your kindness!" \ <<var $fangrep + 2>>\ <<var $fangcombat + 1>>\ <<if (($heshe is "he") and ($fangromance gte 2))>>\ She drapes her arms over your shoulders in a quick hug before pulling away and \ <<else>>\ She turns a jump for joy into a suddenly dash, \ <</if>>\ quickly sprinting down the staircase on all fours. "Be fearful, Rabbit Trial, a wolf has come!" You smile, watching her leave, and know you did a good thing. "Disqualified." Says the Imperial clerk next to you. Slowly, you look over to him. "Come again?" "You violated the rules of the Trial. No enhancing contestants with outside abilities." //What would Angelo do?// 'You' think. ... You manually imagine the words to speak back and think them at the intruder. //Angelo, what are you doing in my head and what ''would'' you do?// <<if (dig($mettaio, 1) gte 6)>>\ Both Taios are dead silent when the mental thought switches to Angelo's voice. \ <<else>>\ The voice shifts to Angelo's with a mental sigh. \ <</if>>\ //"I really am losing my touch if I'm that easy to catch. Threaten him with some authority higher than either of you. Make it sound like there's paperwork involved. All Bureaucrats fear the paperwork, for they know its true potential."// You straighten your posture and give a curt bow to the clerk. "Quite understandable, Honored Clerk. May I have your name so the Devanic Temple may know the source of a ban on their practices and religious doctrine?" The clerk hesitates and looks to the other masked official. All he gets for support is the other clerk silently shaking his head. The first clerk hangs his shoulders and walks away from you without another word. //"Easy as pie."// Angelo says. //"Though I have never baked a pie. I hear it's easy. I may try after this. Would you like some pie?"// //Get out of my head without permission.// You command. //"Your wish is my command."// He replies hastily. //"I'll monitor one of your competitors instead. Can't be missing the otherwise expensive frontrow seat, can I?"// <<var $val 11>>\ <<page "Continue" "ch8-endtiger5">>\ <</choose>>

Forty-nine other contestants follow Fang down into the dark tunnel to begin their Rabbit Trial. You don't sense many Technique activations or power ups, so you're left to assume the tunnel leading to the Rabbit Trial is quite long. Longer than your sensory range, at least. With \ <<if ($val is 11)>>\ Fang, Angelo, \ <<else>>\ Fang \ <</if>>\ and half the crowd gone, you're left sitting and waiting. Twenty minutes later it dawns on you that the Trials aren't fair because while you may be bored, you're at least getting the proper rest that Fang never did. <<if ($chispent gt 0)>>\ ''[1 Chi Point Restored]'' <<var $chispent - 1>>\ <</if>>\ <<if ($powspent gt 0)>>\ <<var $powspent - 1>>\ <<if ($powspent gt 0)>>\ <<var $powspent - 1>>\ ''[2 Power Cores Restored]'' <<else>>\ ''[1 Power Core Restored]'' <</if>>\ <</if>>\ <<if ($forspent gt 0)>>\ ''[1 Fortitude Core Restored]'' <<var $forspent - 1>>\ <</if>>\ <<if ($agispent gt 0)>>\ ''[1 Agility Core Restored]'' <<var $agispent - 1>>\ <</if>>\ <<if ($solspent gt 0)>>\ ''[1 Soul Core Restored]'' <<var $solspent - 1>>\ <</if>>\ <<page "[Meditate and wait]" "ch8-endtiger6">>\

A new crowd of contestants slowly pours in, roughly ten at a time, from the next Tiger Trial seed going on back in the Arena. After another ten minutes of meditation you sense a peculiar aura among the newcomers. At first you suspect it's Brass Tiger returning early, but the spiritual signature feels different. More familiar. Entering the room, you see... <<choose "ch8-lastseed">> #use-if (dig($metguiren, 1) gte 3) Dai Guiren and his henchmen. -> "ch8-guiren" #use-if (dig($metdesdemona, 1) gte 3) Lady Desdemona and her disciples. -> "ch8-dessy" #show-if ((dig($metguiren, 1) lt 3) and (dig($metdesdemona, 1) lt 3)) No one in particular. It turns out you were wrong. <<var $fren "nobody">>\ A few Martial Artists enter in various outfits enter the room from the most recent Tiger Trial. You don't recognize any, and none of them recognizes you. After a more thorough glance you do spot a couple fellow Thunderfall uniforms of people from back home, but you've never spoken to either of them. It occurs to you that you don't have many friends. <</choose>>

<<var $score_tiger 1>>\ in the Tiger Trial." Says a voice that sounds as if it's right next to you. Your face is drawn to the direction of the sound and you see one of the scribes across the Tiger Arena, near the exit. Though you cannot see through their Bōgu mask, you can tell they're looking down at their scroll as they scribble. When they stop, a small light emits from your Trial badge. It's black. The black light of a failed Trial. The scribe looks back up and, despite being across the wide expanse of the Arena and past several rows of other contestants, you hear them clear as day. "No one is disqualified until they complete the Tiger, Rabbit, and Dragon Trials, but you //must// perform better to save your placement. Continue to the Tiger Arena's northern exit and prepare yourself for the Rabbit Trial." <<page "Continue" "ch8-endtiger">>\

<<var $guirenrep + 4>>\ <<var $fren "Guiren">>\ <<if ($guirendisarmed is true)>>\ The one-armed \ <</if>>\ Dai Guiren enters the room with four henchmen behind him in full ninja garb underneath their black-and-gold combat gi. It's the first time you've seen them dressed up in a while. <<if ($heshe is "he")>>\ "Well polish my lance and call me a General!" Guiren exclaims in the middle of the chamber, getting everyone's attention while looking at you. "They'll let anyone into these things, won't they?" <<choose "ch8-lastseed">> #"They couldn't stop me if they tried." <<var $ruthless + 1>>\ "They couldn't stop me if they tried." You counter back. "From what I've heard, plenty //have// tried." Guiren whistles low. "A Wild God's kid and a whole Sect of its babysitters. Unreal. You ever get tired of all the killing?" <<if ($ruthless gt 60)>>\ ''[Ruthless Check Passed]'' "Not even a little." <<apboost 2>>\ "See this?" Guiren says to one of his underlings. "His aura just spiked from even //thinking// about fighting. Why can't you guys be like that?" Two of his underlings shrug, one doesn't react, and another is already gone into the crowd, chatting with a girl. <<else>>\ ''[Ruthless Check Failed]'' "I get tired of //everything//." You reply, having just finished a marathon of weightlifting. "I used to own a real mattress, a lifetime ago." Guiren nods solemnly. "The sacrifices we must make." "But Guiren," adds one of his underlings, "you have a great mattress back at-" "Shut UP, Wencheng." <</if>>\ #"Good to see you too, jackass." <<var $guirenrep + 1>>\ <<var $ruthless - 1>>\ "Good to see you too, jackass." You reply with a smile. "Did you make it here safely between all the shakedowns?" Guiren gives a blank-faced smile and pulls his hand across his neck, twice, tilting his head sideways towards one of the clerks. "Later." He whispers. "They went great!" Exclaims one of his underlings, not hearing the whisper. "We even captured a-" "Shut UP, Wencheng." #"It's a travesty. Things have gotten so bad they're even letting reptiles compete." <<var $guirenrep + 2>>\ <<var $honor - 1>>\ "It's a travesty." You agree. "Things have gotten so bad that they're even letting reptiles compete." Guiren pulls back with one foot, a hand on his heart as if struck. "You wound me, sir. And not just me, but the honor of all reptile yokai everywhere." "This kind of hate, even in front of all these witnesses?" Asks one of Guiren's minions, shaking his head. "Dishonor." Agrees another underling, revealing a reptile tail of his own. "Yeah!" Shouts a reptile yokai from the crowd, standing up in his green gi. "I'm tired of having my people oppressed \ <<if ($subrace is "Reptile")>>\ by..." ''[Reptile Yokai Event]'' He hesitates, confused at the sight of your own Reptilian tail. "By...my people?" <<var $agiexp + 2>>\ "Heh." Guiren snickers. "You look so stupid right now. Yoji, make a note that this guy will be an easy target in the Trial." "You got it Guiren." Replies one of his masked underlings, scribbling some notes on a scroll. The green-gi yokai's face pales. He slowly backs into the crowd and ducks low. <<else>>\ by you arrogant \ <<if ($subrace is "Wolf")>>\ Wolfmen! \ <<elseif ($race is "Yokai")>>\ <<print $subrace>>s! \ <<elseif ($race is "Oni")>>\ Oni! \ <<else>>\ <<print $race>>s! \ <</if>>\ Enough is enough!" "Whoa, whoa, my brother in scales," Guiren says to the stranger, gently placing a hand on his shoulder, "you are ruining the fun, and I hurt people who ruin the fun." <</if>>\ <</choose>> <<else>>\ "If it isn't the jewel of Thunderfall!" Guiren exclaims in the middle of the chamber, getting everyone's attention while looking at you. He approaches with a flourishing bow. "It must be my lucky day, with such a jade beauty presented at the end of my big victory. I hope the Tiger Trial wasn't too hard on your fine figure. Not to brag or anything, but I pulled off a perfect seven points." Behind him, two of his facewrapped shinobi underlings shake their heads and hold up five fingers. Guiren's tail lashes behind him as he bows, striking one of their hands and cutting a finger. He looks up to meet your gaze. "The next Trial better not be a test of beauty, I can't have you stealing first place." <<choose "ch8-lastseed">> #"Good to see you too, Guiren." <<var $guirenrep + 3>>\ <<var $ruthless - 1>>\ "Good to see you too." You say. "How was the Tiger Trial?" "Sucked." He replies in a rare display of honesty. "Half of us failed. Not me, of course, but that's still bad for business." "I said I was sorry." Adds one of his underlings. "Not now, Wencheng." #"At least buy me dinner first." <<var $guirenromance + 1>>\ <<var $guirenrep + 1>>\ "At least buy me dinner first." You reply with a huff. "Your wish is my command. Tonight?" You tilt your head away. "If you're lucky." Guiren grins. "I'll take that as a yes." Behind him, one of his underlings whispers. "No way." "Pay up." Says a different underling. They exchange 20 silver, apparently having a pre-arranged bet on Guiren's pickup lines. #"Who let you jackasses in?" <<var $guirenrep - 1>>\ <<var $ruthless + 1>>\ "Who let you jackasses in?" You ask, eliciting a snicker from several women waiting around the room as well as one of Guiren's underlings. "You wound me, woman." He says, holding a single hand over his heart. "You wound me deep." Behind him, one of his underlings whispers. "Damn it." "Pay up." Says a different underling. They exchange 20 silver, apparently having a pre-arranged bet on Guiren's pickup lines. #"Oh darling, you had me worrying for your freedom since last we parted ways! When I heard word that your wife had fallen ill my hopes had risen to the Heavens. Were there any witnesses? Did your poison work? Is she finally out of our lives forever?" <<var $honor - 3>>\ <<var $guirenromance + 1>>\ "Oh darling," You shout back urgently, getting into character, "you had me worried for your freedom since last we parted ways! When I heard word that your wife had fallen ill my hopes had risen to the Heavens. Were there any witnesses? Did your poison work? Is she finally out of our lives forever?" The room grows steadily quiet as all eyes turn to Guiren. All eyes including the two Imperial clerks who can summon the guards at any moment. ''[Infamy Increased]'' <<var $infamy + 1>>\ Two of his men break out in laughter behind him. Guiren \ <<if ($guirendisarmed is false)>>\ clasps his hands in front of him \ <<else>>\ rubs his temple with his only hand <</if>>\ and sprints over to you, crouching with his back to the curious crowd. "<<cap $name>>, honey, my divine rose pedal, //what the fuck are you doing?//" He whispers, glancing back to the Imperial clerks. "Are you trying to get me arrested?" "It would be so, so funny." You counter. "Heh." Says one of his men. "Shut up Yoji." Guiren shouts back. <</choose>> <</if>>\

<<var $currenttrial "Dragon">>\ <<trialchange>>\ <<var $countdown 3>>\ <<var $days 1>>\ <<var $district "hub-port-district">>\ <<if ((($bffromance gte 1) and ($heshe isnot $bffheshe)) and (dig($metmina, 11) gte 3))>>\ When you get back to your flagship and approach your Captain's cabin, you're surprised to find it's already occupied. Voices come from the other side of the closed door. "You're kidding." Mina chuckles. "Dead serious!" Kosuke replies. \ <<if (dig($eventfun, 7) gte 1)>>\ "Blew up the whole tavern, funniest thing I've ever seen. Couldn't get the smell out of either of our clothes for a month." <<else>>\ "You should have seen the giant fish's face when it realized it was getting its ass kicked! Funniest thing I've seen in years. The crew didn't agree though, most of them crapped their pants when it arrived. Still can't get the smell out of the ship's laundry bins..." <</if>>\ "Salted rice bran." Mina says, then from the sounds of it, takes a sip of tea. <<if (dig($eventfun, 7) gte 1)>>\ Kosuke breaks out into an incredulous laugh. "How in the world do you know how to get manure bombs out of laundry?" <<else>>\ Kosuke takes on a tone of mock-concern. "Why does a mountain priestess know how to get fish guts out of clothing?" <</if>>\ "Hospice care." Mina replies absent-mindedly, as if stuck in horrible \ <<if (dig($eventfun, 7) gte 1)>>\ flashbacks. "Old men love to fish." <<else>>\ flashbacks. <</if>>\ You open the door and enter your own over-occupied room. "I hope I'm not interrupting anything." "$name!" They shout, with Kosuke leaping forward first. "Why didn't you tell me Mina was cool?" "Oh wow." You reply, looking from your childhood girlfriend to the priestess you're also sleeping with. "I hate how you said that. What are you two up to?" "Nothing, honest!" Kosuke says. "Only deeds of the highest intention." Mina replies, sitting at your desk and sipping her \ <<if (dig($metmina, 11) is 3)>>\ tea. Though she seems calm on the surface, you notice she gives Kosuke a questioning glance when the plucky beggar girl gets too close to you. Kosuke doesn't help with how overly bouncy she's being. It occurs to you that you never told Mina you have other women. You are courting death. <<else>>\ tea. <</if>>\ "Oh of course." Kosuke \ <<if (dig($metmina, 11) is 3)>>\ says, oblivious. \ <<else>>\ says in a tone you highly doubt. \ <</if>>\ "Highest intentions!" <<page "Hm..." "ch8-halfover2">>\ <<else>>\ <<include "hub-spendday">>\ <</if>>\

You look around and notice that nothing is on fire, //but//... "What did you do?" You ask, staring Kosuke down. She smiles. "Mina helped me spiritually cleanse Rin's hair when she was asleep." "The sleeping aid did most of the work." Mina sips her tea once more. "And someone had to cleanse that dye job." Oh Heavens. You thought having a priestess around meant someone would ''stop'' the pranks, not join them! "How were the Trials?" Mina asks. "I was on shift at the Temple while they were being displayed. I didn't even know they were over yet." "They're not." You reply. "The Dragon Trial got postponed." Mina stares at you grimly. Kosuke begins to look worried. "Is that bad?" Mina puts her tea down gently and sighs. "It should not even be possible. Imperial powers would never second guess their event planning on the world stage. What happened?" You sit down on your bed and let out a heavy exhale. "Where to start..." ... The three of you talk through the night, but after such a full day it's you who falls asleep first. <<var $val 0>>\ <<if ($wounds gte 1)>>\ <<var $wounds - 1>>\ <</if>>\ <<if ($chispent gte 1)>>\ <<var $chispent - 1>>\ <</if>>\ <<if ($agispent gte 1)>>\ <<var $agispent - 1>>\ <</if>>\ <<if ($powspent gte 1)>>\ <<var $powspent - 1>>\ <</if>>\ <<if ($forspent gte 1)>>\ <<var $forspent - 1>>\ <</if>>\ <<if ($solspent gte 1)>>\ <<var $solspent - 1>>\ <</if>>\ <<if ($wounds gte 1)>>\ <<var $wounds - 1>>\ <</if>>\ <<if ($chispent gte 1)>>\ <<var $chispent - 1>>\ <</if>>\ <<if ($agispent gte 1)>>\ <<var $agispent - 1>>\ <</if>>\ <<if ($powspent gte 1)>>\ <<var $powspent - 1>>\ <</if>>\ <<if ($forspent gte 1)>>\ <<var $forspent - 1>>\ <</if>>\ <<if ($solspent gte 1)>>\ <<var $solspent - 1>>\ <</if>>\ ''[2 Health, Chi, and Cores Restored]'' <<timepass>>\ <<page "Continue" "ch8-halfover3">>\

<<var $days 0>>\ <<var $countdown 2>>\ <<if ($busyships isnot 100000000000000)>>\ <<shipgains>>\ <</if>>\ <<include "hub-port-district">>\

"THE LAST MARTIAL ARTISTS OF THIS SEED HAVE ARRIVED." Booms a two-toned voice from one of the clerks, silencing all chatter. He continues in a normal, in-door volume. "The ninety-sixth seed for the Rabbit Trial can now commence. Proceed down the tunnel." <<if ($fren is "nobody")>>\ Everyone around you jolts up and pours down the tunnel in a flurry of excited murmurs, talking amongst each other for strategy or barbs. Everyone except you, who no one wants to talk to. With a quick stretch and a crack of your \ <<if ($heshe is "he")>>\ neck, \ <<else>>\ knuckles, \ <</if>>\ you rise to enter the tunnel last. <<page "[Enter the tunnel]" "ch8-rabbit">>\ <<else>>\ <<if ($honor lt 50)>>\ "Damn, that's \ <<else>>\ "That's \ <</if>>\ my call to action." You say wistfully, packing up and leaving \ <<if ($fren is "Guiren")>>\ Guiren and his men. "Don't take too long catching up. I'll \ <<else>>\ Desdemona and her disciples. "I can't ignore this, but we'll meet again when I \ <</if>>\ see you at the finish line." "Sooner than that, I'd hope." $fren \ <<if ($val is 44)>>\ replies, recovering her posture. \ <<else>>\ replies back. \ <</if>>\ "We're in the ninety-sixth seed too." <<if ($val is 33)>>\ "Oh." You say, a little dumbfounded. "I simply figured we wouldn't be teaming up, what with the whole penis-explosion curse." She shrugs with a pleased squint. "Don't touch it then. Now come, we have a Trial to win." <<elseif ($fren is "Desdemona")>>\ <<if ($val is 44)>>\ "Lucky me." You say. "Luckier than you should be." Li Moon says from behind Desdemona, leering at you. "Li Moon." Desdemona commands. "Fetch the Disciples. It's time we win this Trial, together." <<else>>\ "Oh." You say, a little dumbfounded. "Why didn't you say so earlier?" Desdemona returns a half-smile. "I'm as surprised as you are, I simply hide it better." "So cunning, Lady Desdemona!" Disciple Li Moon says in awe. Desdemona snaps her fingers. "Li Moon, fetch the other Disciples and prepare to escort the Thunderfaller. It's time we win this Trial, together." <</if>>\ <<elseif ($fren is "Guiren")>>\ "Oh." You say, a little dumbfounded. "Well now I look like an idiot." "You get used to it." He replies, jabbing a thumb over his shoulder towards his underlings. "They sure d-" "He sure does!" One of his underlings shouts before Guiren gets the chance to finish. Guiren Flash-Steps behind the man and kicks him down the stairs. <</if>>\ <<page "[Enter the tunnel together]" "ch8-rabbit">>\ <</if>>\

in the Tiger Trial." Says a voice that sounds as if it's right next to you. Your face is drawn to the direction of the noise and you see one of the scribes near the Tiger Arena's exit. Though you can't see through their Bōgu mask, you can tell they're looking down at their scroll as they scribble. When they stop, a small light emits from your Trial badge. It's white. The white light of a passing score. <<if ($score_tiger is 4.1)>>\ "Oh, a passing score!" Fang exclaims. Her ears then droop to her head. "Though it seems we are //most// disqualified." You huff and take the weighted plates off, dropping them to the ground. "So much for that grand plan." "Fear not, Thunderfaller, for a pass is a pass! Now we must focus on the Trials ahead." <<elseif ($score_tiger lt 5)>>\ "Ohhh, a passing score!" Tian Fang whispers while looking at your crest. "Not bad, Thunderfaller!" "But not good either." You reply. "I'd wanted to win." Tian Fang shrugs. "Then simply win the next one, most unquestionably!" <<elseif ($score_tiger is 5)>>\ "Ohhh, a passing score for us both!" Fang pokes her glowing crest in delight, jumping up and down. "Unfortunate to have to stop here, but still! Five whole points! Such good luck!" "Yeah." You say, huffing from constant exertion of hard work. "Luck." <</if>>\ <<if ($score_tiger gt 5)>>\ "You pass, with a score well above the norm." \ <<else>>\ "Indeed." \ <</if>>\ Says the distant scribe, his voice clear despite being across the wide expanse of the Arena and past several rows of \ <<if ($score_tiger is 6)>>\ empty weight racks. \ <<else>>\ other contestants. "Well done, \ <</if>>\ <<if ($score_tiger is 5)>>\ contestants. \ <<else>>\ contestant. \ <</if>>\ Proceed to the North exit and prepare to face the Rabbit Trial." <<page "One Trial down, two to go" "ch8-endtiger">>\

<<choose "ch8-pickschool2">> #show-if ((dig($mettaio, 1) gte 6) or ($lore gte 2)) Get in the Crossed Red Blades line. [Bladed Lands] <<var $chosenline "Bladed">>\ <<var $score_bladed + 2>>\ <<var $score_sacred - 1>>\ <<var $score_mystic - 1>>\ #show-if ((dig($mettaio, 1) lt 6) and ($lore lt 2)) Get in the Crossed Red Blades line. <<var $chosenline "Bladed">>\ <<var $score_bladed + 2>>\ <<var $score_sacred - 1>>\ <<var $score_mystic - 1>>\ #show-if ((dig($mettaio, 1) gte 6) or ($lore gte 2)) Get in the Blue Wings line. [Sacred Lands] <<var $chosenline "Sacred">>\ <<var $score_sacred + 2>>\ <<var $score_wild - 1>>\ <<var $score_cursed - 1>>\ #show-if ((dig($mettaio, 1) lt 6) and ($lore lt 2)) Get in the Blue Wings line. <<var $chosenline "Sacred">>\ <<var $score_sacred + 2>>\ <<var $score_wild - 1>>\ <<var $score_cursed - 1>>\ #show-if ((dig($mettaio, 1) gte 6) or ($lore gte 2)) Get in the Green Fist line. [Wild Lands] <<var $chosenline "Wild">>\ <<var $score_wild + 2>>\ <<var $score_sacred - 1>>\ <<var $score_bladed - 1>>\ #show-if ((dig($mettaio, 1) lt 6) and ($lore lt 2)) Get in the Green Fist line. <<var $chosenline "Wild">>\ <<var $score_wild + 2>>\ <<var $score_sacred - 1>>\ <<var $score_bladed - 1>>\ #show-if ((dig($mettaio, 1) gte 6) or ($lore gte 2)) Get in the Golden Scroll line. [Mystic Lands] <<var $chosenline "Mystic">>\ <<var $score_mystic + 2>>\ <<var $score_cursed - 1>>\ <<var $score_wild - 1>>\ #show-if ((dig($mettaio, 1) lt 6) and ($lore lt 2)) Get in the Golden Scroll line. <<var $chosenline "Mystic">>\ <<var $score_mystic + 2>>\ <<var $score_cursed - 1>>\ <<var $score_wild - 1>>\ #show-if ((dig($mettaio, 1) gte 6) or ($lore gte 2)) Get in the Purple Eye line. [Cursed Lands] <<var $chosenline "Cursed">>\ <<var $score_cursed + 2>>\ <<var $score_bladed - 1>>\ <<var $score_mystic - 1>>\ #show-if ((dig($mettaio, 1) lt 6) and ($lore lt 2)) Get in the Purple Eye line. <<var $chosenline "Cursed">>\ <<var $score_cursed + 2>>\ <<var $score_bladed - 1>>\ <<var $score_mystic - 1>>\ #show-if ((dig($mettaio, 1) gte 6) or ($lore gte 2)) Get in the Empty Circle line. [No Affiliation] <<var $chosenline "Outer">>\ #show-if ((dig($mettaio, 1) lt 6) and ($lore lt 2)) Get in the Empty Circle line. <<var $chosenline "Outer">>\ #use-once Ask someone nearby what the symbols mean. -> "ch8-pickschool" <<var $score_mystic - 1>>\ "Pst, hey." You ask a young man passing by on his way to the Crossed Red Blades line. "What?" He asks, eyeing your Thunderfall uniform. "I don't recognize your gi. What do you want?" "I want to know what the symbols mean, which line are we supposed to get in?" <<if ($persuasion gte 2)>>\ ''[Persuasion 2 Check Succeeded]'' "Shh!" The man says without looking at you. "Keep walking forward and look confident. They're grading who figures out the system." "Oh." You reply, walking alongside the man. "What's the system?" <<var $score_cursed + 1>>\ "It's not the five Styles, it's the five Kingdoms. Get in the line with whichever Kingdom's values you think you follow. You're picking your backer." ...Archons have backers? "But how do I know which line's icon means which Inner Kingdom?" The man huffs out a quick, disgruntled sigh. "It's not the icon that matters, it's the color. Red for Bladed Lands, Blue for Sacred Lands, Green for Wild Lands, Gold for Mytic Lands, and Purple for Cursed Lands." "Thanks." You say quickly, veering off and quickly consider everything you know about the Five Kingdoms to decide which line to get into: //[Bladed Lands: Desires Honorable Actions]// //[Cursed Lands: Desires Practical Actions]// //[Mystic Lands: Desires Intelligent Actions]// //[Sacred Lands: Desires Compassionate Actions]// //[Wild Lands: Desires Ruthless Actions]// <<else>>\ ''[Persuasion 2 Check Failed]'' "How does it feel to want?" He turns his back to you and points out someone in the crowd of the plaza. You look over and see some masked official scribbling while staring in your direction. You're not positive, but you think you just had points deducted from your score. <<var $score_mystic - 2>>\ <<var $score_cursed - 1>>\ <<if ($perception is 0)>>\ Are they grading you already? Was this a test? \ <<if ($honor lte 45)>>\ Fuck! <<else>>\ Hm. Unfortunate. <</if>>\ <</if>>\ <</if>>\ #Whatever. [Get in a random line confidently] <<var $randomline 0>>\ <<rand $randomline 1 6>>\ <<if ($randomline is 1)>>\ You end up getting in the Crossed Red Blades line on a whim, an outstanding tactical move. <<var $chosenline "Bladed">>\ <<var $score_bladed + 2>>\ <<var $score_sacred - 1>>\ <<var $score_mystic - 1>>\ <<page "I'm a genius" "ch8-pickschool2">>\ <<elseif ($randomline is 2)>>\ You end up getting in the Blue Wings line on a whim, an outstanding tactical move. <<var $chosenline "Sacred">>\ <<var $score_sacred + 2>>\ <<var $score_wild - 1>>\ <<var $score_cursed - 1>>\ <<page "I'm a genius" "ch8-pickschool2">>\ <<elseif ($randomline is 3)>>\ You end up getting in the Green Fist line on a whim, an outstanding tactical move. <<var $chosenline "Wild">>\ <<var $score_wild + 2>>\ <<var $score_sacred - 1>>\ <<var $score_bladed - 1>>\ <<page "I'm a genius" "ch8-pickschool2">>\ <<elseif ($randomline is 4)>>\ You end up getting in the Golden Scroll line on a whim, an outstanding tactical move. <<var $chosenline "Mystic">>\ <<var $score_mystic + 2>>\ <<var $score_cursed - 1>>\ <<var $score_wild - 1>>\ <<page "I'm a genius" "ch8-pickschool2">>\ <<elseif ($randomline is 5)>>\ You end up getting in the Purple Eye line on a whim, an outstanding tactical move. <<var $chosenline "Cursed">>\ <<var $score_cursed + 2>>\ <<var $score_bladed - 1>>\ <<var $score_mystic - 1>>\ <<page "I'm a genius" "ch8-pickschool2">>\ <<elseif ($randomline is 6)>>\ You end up getting in the Empty Circle line on a whim, an outstanding tactical move. <<var $chosenline "Outer">>\ <<page "I'm a genius" "ch8-pickschool2">>\ <</if>>\ <</choose>>

<<var $prevknowledge 0>>\ After what feels like forever you get to the front of the line. This is it. You're finally here. Excitement pounds in your chest but you keep your emotions in check and stand before the masked official seated at the registration desk. Rather than a table on your side, there is a meditation mat. Checking to the side, you see contestants kneeling at the other tents. Taking the queue, you kneel on the mat as well. "Welcome to the Heavenly Ascension registration, Aspirant." The voice sounds like a woman in her mid 40s. "By registering at this tent \ <<if ($chosenline is "")>>\ you will forfeit a slight bonus score with any Inner Kingdom, and also avoid a penalty with any other Inner Kingdom." <<else>>\ you will receive a slight bonus score with the $chosenline Lands and a smaller penalty with their rival Kingdoms." <</if>>\ <<if ($lore gte 2)>>\ "Hm." You scrunch your brow. \ <<else>>\ "Oh." You reply with a hint of worry. \ <</if>>\ "I thought Azuma Honsha decided the Heavenly Ascension Trial scores, not the Inner Kingdoms." "Your Imperial Score is decided by dozens of Noble Caste judges from all over the Empire. //That// is your score according to the Exalted Council and it will determine if you proceed to the next Trial." Your brow furrows. "So the Inner Kingdom scores..." "Are separate. They are allowed a small say in the process. Each Inner Kingdom will be scoring your behavior and actions to determine if you exemplify what they consider to be important traits. Should your Imperial Score ever fall below the required minimum to participate in the next Trial, your highest Inner Kingdom score can replace one Trial's Imperial Score to help you qualify for the next round. //Once.//" If you're understanding her correctly, you can fail one of the twelve Trials so long as one Kingdom likes your total performance enough. <<if (($chosenline is "Outer") and ($lore gte 2))>>\ "Makes sense. \ <<if ($honor gt 50)>>\ Thank you for the explanation." <<else>>\ Cool." <</if>>\ <<elseif ($lore gte 2)>>\ "I figured as much." You reply. <<else>>\ "I...see." You reply, trying not to look surprised at this added rule. The old lady's mask doesn't show her expression but you can //feel// one of her eyebrows raising. You clear your throat. "Continue." You try to say confidently. <</if>>\ "Hmph." The scribe unfurls a registration scroll from the table. "We will begin your registration. There are many others to record today. Name?" <<if (($honor gte 50) or (dig($trialdeets, 1) is 1))>>\ "<<cap $fullname>>, <<cap $patriarch>> of the <<cap $clan>> Clan." <<else>>\ "<<cap $fullname>>." <</if>>\ She scribbles that down on a parchment in front of her. "And your Martial Arts?" <<if (($element1 is "None") and ($element2 is ""))>>\ "The $style Style." "No Elements?" The scribe asks. "None needed." You reply. <<var $score_wild + 1>>\ <<if ($style is "Midorikatai")>>\ <<var $score_wild + 1>>\ <</if>>\ <<elseif ($element1 is "None")>>\ "The $style Style and $element2 Element." <<elseif ($element2 is "")>>\ "The $style Style and $element1 Element." <<else>>\ "The $style Style, with the $element1 and $element2 Elements." <<var $score_mystic + 1>>\ <<var $score_sacred + 1>>\ <</if>>\ "Very well." The scribe scribbles a few notes on the side of your registration. "School, Clan, or Sect?" <<if (dig($trialdeets, 1) is 1)>>\ "The $clan Clan, formerly of the Thunderfall Sect." <<elseif (dig($trialdeets, 1) is 3)>>\ "The $clan Clan, ally of the Thunderfall Sect." <<else>>\ "The Thunderfall Sect of Thunderfall Village." <</if>>\ She records her notes, pauses, and looks up for a moment. \ <<if ($chosenline is "Wild")>>\ "The Thunderfall Sect, under Master Mao? They already registered for the Wild Lands yesterday. Why are you registering alone?" <<else>>\ "We've already registered the Thunderfall Sect under the Wild Lands. Why are you in line for \ <<if ($chosenline is "Outer")>>\ the unaffiliated Outer Provinces?" <<else>>\ the $chosenline Lands?" <</if>>\ <</if>>\ <<choose "ch8-pickschool3">> #"They never taught me much of anything." "They never taught me much of anything." You answer. <<if ($chosenline is "Wild")>>\ <<var $score_wild + 1>>\ "Trying to learn Midorikatai behind their backs eh? A wise move, the Style of Beasts is best learned in the wilds, not in some dojo. I'll \ <<else>>\ "An outcast eh? Well if they don't want you then your odds of Azuma Honsha wanting you are even lower. Still, if ever there was a time to prove everyone wrong, this is it. I'll \ <</if>>\ #"I walk my own path." <<var $honor + 1>>\ You look down on the woman with determination. "I walk my own path." "A wise decision." She scribbles some notes down. "Your old training was flawed, sticking to it could be your undoing." You hold back the urge to say 'what training'? The closest thing you got to Sect training was a collection of books and a year of dangerous chores. "I'll \ #"I'm insulted you'd think I associate with those dregs. I merely live in their area." <<var $honor - 2>>\ <<var $ruthless + 1>>\ You snort with a haughty expression of annoyance. "I'm insulted you'd think I associate with those dregs. I merely have the misfortune to live in their area." "Tsk tsk, where you come from that may be seen as boldness but here it is merely excessive disrespect. I'll have to deduct a point for egregious disrespect." She states as a matter of fact, "And be warned, if you're mocking your old allegiances, you'd better have the strength to back it up. I'll \ <<var $score_bladed - 1>>\ #show-if (($chosenline is "Bladed") and ($honor gt 55)) "I crave the power of the blade." <<var $honor + 1>>\ <<var $score_bladed + 1>>\ "They have nothing to teach me." You answer with a deep yearning. "I crave the power of the blade." The masked woman stares at you in silence, scrutinizing your resolve. You do not blink. "Good." She says, "You have chosen well. Act with honor and excellence throughout the Trials and you will go far. I'll \ #show-if (($chosenline is "Sacred") and ($ruthless lt 45)) "I'd rather seek Sainthood with the power of my mind." <<var $score_sacred + 1>>\ "They're too focused on basic brawling," you reply, "I'd rather seek Sainthood through the power of my mind." "Then you've chosen well." The woman says calmly. "The powers of the Sacred Lands are partnered with the Devanic Temple, so know that they value respectability, mercy to the innocent, and retribution upon the wicked. Follow these guidelines and you will garner their favor. I'll \ #show-if (($chosenline is "Mystic") and ((($lore gte 3) or ($handseals gte 3)) or ($alchemy gte 3))) "I'd rather master the power of chi sorcery." <<var $score_mystic + 1>>\ "I seek the power of chi sorcery." You answer. The dark-clad official's mask begins to glow with two orange orbs where her eyes should be. The chi-eyes form bright yellow pupils and give you a scrutinizing stare until the woman nods in approval. "Good, you have chosen well. Seek knowledge and power and you will garner the favor of the Mystic Lands in the Trials. I'll \ #show-if (($chosenline is "Cursed") and ((($honor lt 40) or ($stealth gte 3)) or ($thievery gte 3))) "I'd rather master ninjutsu." <<var $score_cursed + 1>>\ "Their methods are too basic, too easy to predict." You answer with a shrug. "I'd rather master ninjutsu." The masked woman writes a few notes at that. "Interesting. And well thought-out. If you wish to garner the support of the Cursed Lands and their Kurokonton Masters then you should exemplify the shinobi. Achieve your goals at any cost, remain unseen in your actions, and do not expose your secrets. I'll \ <</choose>>

<<if ($chosenline is "Outer")>>\ record you as having chosen no Inner Kingdom for your initial favor." <<else>>\ record you as an Aspirant under the initial favor of the $chosenline Lands." <</if>>\ She scribbles a few more notes and hands you a beige crest with the five columns on it. "Take this crest and display it with pride, young Aspirant. It holds one column for each of the Five Inner Kingdoms. When you gain favor with a certain Kingdom the color of its corresponding column will fill with the color of its Style's chi. Green for the Wild Lands, scarlet for the Bladed Lands, etcetera, but it's the bottom and top rows you should look for. They will both turn white when you have enough points for the next trial and black when your total score is too low for the next Trial." "So I go home when it's red?" You ask. "Quitters can." The scribe replies. "Like I said, you can speak to a scribe to have your highest Inner Kingdom score replace your lowest Trial Score, up to a total of eight points. Alternatively, for those failing to qualify for the next event, there may be tasks around Nanhou that can earn additional points in the downtime between Trials. Dangerous tasks worthy of merit." You accept the crest and try to place it on your gi, thankful when it automatically clings onto your clothing without any resistance. The masked lady points to one of the doorless entrances to the Tiger Arena with masked guards on both sides. "Proceed behind me into the Tiger Arena, and do not fear the name. The first three Trials are nearly-safe tests of your strength, speed, and energy output. You'd break a few bones at the worst, the Arena won't have any actual tigers." From behind you in line, a tiger Yokai woman considers correcting the scribe's choice of words. She ultimately decides to keep her mouth shut. <<if ($honor gte 50)>>\ ''[Honor Check Passed]'' "Thank you for your guidance, noble wisewoman." You say with a courteous bow. "Careful young $manwoman, flattery is a dangerous hobby." She shoos you away with a smile. "Next contestant please!" <<var $score_bladed + 1>>\ <<var $score_sacred + 1>>\ <<else>>\ ''[Honor Check Failed]'' "Thanks grandma," you say in sincerity, "much appreciated." <<var $score_bladed - 1>>\ <<var $score_sacred - 1>>\ "Grandma?!" The official leans back in shock, "Why, I've only just turned thirty-nine!" She's obviously offended, but all you can do is stare at her nervously. Your mind is coming up blank. Isn't thirty-nine an old-people age? "Ugh." She says while dismissing you with noticeable scorn. "Next Aspirant." <</if>>\ <<page "Continue" "ch8-pickschool4">>\

Squeezing your way past the Bōgu-masked officials guarding the Tiger Arena entrance is easier than you expected now that you have your badge. While passing through the wide tunnel of the Arena, you glance down at the device to check that it's working. <<trialchart>>\ You enter through the torchlit stone tunnels of the Tiger Arena and come out the other side where you're greeted by sand-covered grounds wider than Thunderfall's market square. Just as you suspected, this side of the arena's forty-foot stone walls have been carved into stands filled with thousands of spectators. From the lowliest of peasants in the back to Nobles and Inner Kingdom Sectmasters in the front rows at near-ground level, all have come to witness this new generation of Warriors. The noise is //deafening//. Even with mere idle chatter, so many people in such proximity produces an overwhelming buzz of conversation that assaults your senses. There must be Seals keeping the noise inside the Tiger Arena from spilling outside, because even the crowded street was leagues better than this. Fortitude Chi slowly accumulates in your ears for protection and you cross the threshold onto the expansive sand-covered arena floor, basking in the sun's rays as you look upon the true spectacle: your competition. Nearly one-hundred Martial Artists spread out evenly before you, a vibrant display of gi, armor, and hanfu variety all in impeccable condition. Each stands at attention in rows of 10 at the center of the arena. "Go." Whispers a Bōgu-masked guard posted on this side of the Arena's entrance. "Get in line." "Thank you most kindly!" Shouts someone entering the Arena behind you, thinking the guard was talking to her. A wolf girl with long white hair runs in front of you. <<page "Tian Fang?" "ch8-pickschool5">>\

"Tian Fang?" You blurt out, catching up to her to get into the last row of eight people. She waves while jogging, still smiling and panting with delight. Her tail wags rapidly as if seeing you here was an impossibility that's blowing her mind. "Thunderfaller!" She calls out. "I \ /* TODO add option for if you met in Nanhou already. */\ <<if (($style is "Midorikatai") and (dig($metfang, 11) is 1))>>\ have not seen you since our last duel!" Last duel? You haven't seen each other since you...your cheeks heat up when you remember when last you'd seen each other: aggressively making out aboard your flagship. Thinking back, it did start out as a scuffle. "The duel, right. How did you enjoy //the duel//?" Fang lifts her head up and to the side, closing her eyes and smiling smugly. "You will have to learn that answer in our //next// duel." With her eyes closed, she trips over her robes and bellyflops onto the sandy Arena floor, quickly scuffling onto all fours to catch up. <<elseif ($style is "Midorikatai")>>\ got my wolves to safety! They even have their own house here in Nanhou!" "Do they...//like// living in a house?" "They do not." <<elseif ($roomscene is "Fang")>>\ have not seen you since our bakery fiasco!" "What bakery fiasco?" "In Harehama, after you woke up in my bed and I rushed to get to the bakery! Everyone was quite excited and angered, most noticeably because the baker prepared //no// sweetbreads." You're positive they were more excited or angered over Fang showing up to the bakery completely naked, but you reach the closest line of Martial Artists before you can respond. <<elseif (dig($metfang, 4) isnot 0)>>\ have not seen you since our spar in Harehama! I had heard you killed an enormous fish later, you should have called for Fang and she would have come running to help!" "You'd already ran off into the woods with your wolves." You correct her. Fang looks off thoughtfully. "And what a majestic run it was." <<else>>\ looked for you in Harehama when I heard news of your arrival! How could you have missed the great Tian Fang?" "I was busy with their cult." You reply, running in place. "Something about them smelled fishy." She doesn't laugh, but nods with determination. "It is true. Ever since coming to the ocean Fang's nose has been assaulted with the scent of-oh, we made it to the line." <</if>>\ When the two of you get into formation beside a blue-armored man, Fang turns and whispers excitedly. \ <<if ($subrace is "Wolf")>>\ "With both of us here at once, you'd think they'd call it the Wolf Tria-" <<else>>\ "Though admit it, Thunderfaller, you must be //quite// surprised to find such a wolf at a Trial meant for Tiger-" <</if>>\ "THE LAST MARTIAL ARTISTS OF THIS SEED HAVE ARRIVED." Booms a two-toned voice from above, drowning out all noise and silencing the crowd of thousands. "THE TIGER TRIAL'S NINETY-SIXTH SEED WILL NOW COMMENCE." Fang frowns and looks up. Your own vision is dragged skyward, where you see a floating platform hovering just outside of the Arena grounds. <<page "Continue" "ch8-pickschool6">>\

You're thankful to see the flying platform isn't directly above you, because that would be a horror scene. The 'platform' is a stone fortress larger than the Tiger Arena itself. The fact that it floats on a cloud sends screams up and down your rational mind; such a thing should be ready to drop onto hundreds of people and crush them to death at any moment. Dark stone towers dot the walls of the fortress, one-hundred uniformed spearmen patrol the ramparts, and intricate inscriptions and inlay run over the golden door at the fortress entrance. None of it is impressive as the five figures standing at the edge of the cloud. Directly in front of the gate are five men and women in stylized robes of different colors. The colors of the Inner Kingdoms. Their faces are hidden behind masks of snowsteel; behind the eyes of those masks in nothing but shining white light leaked through the eyeholes, just like the Archon's black mask in Harehama. The combined might of the Judges is similar to the Archon's too, in that it is impossible to scan. You have no scale to understand what such a painful level of power represents. Yet the Archon's power felt...different. More real. More //solid//. <<if ($lore gte 2)>>\ ''[Lore 2 Check Passed]'' <<var $solexp + 2>>\ Their masks, you realize. They're the mythical Noble Mask, the symbol of Caste supremacy. One of the only ways to gain artificial might. Each one is supposed to raise their wearer to the power of an Inner Kingdom Upper Disciple without a single day of training or cultivation. It's an impossible advantage. Yet without the blood of the Noble Caste, that same power will be used against its wearer to melt their skull. /* TODO don't forget the swap idea */\ If all five of these people wear Noble Masks, then... <<else>>\ ''[Lore 2 Check Failed]'' At least the masks look cool. <</if>>\ "THE MARTIAL JUNIORS GREET THE IMPERIAL JUDGES!" Shouts one of the Bōgu-masked clerks behind you. All hundred of the contestants on the arena floor drop to their knees on cue. <<if ($lore gte 3) and ($honor gte 70)>>\ ''[Lore 3 Check Passed]'' ''[Honor 70 Check Passed]'' Knowing the proper etiquette of imperial laws, you perform three kowtows to the Noble-Caste judges instead of one. <<var $score_bladed + 1>>\ <<page "[Kowtow three times]" "ch8-pickschool7">>\ <<else>>\ <<page "[Kowtow]" "ch8-pickschool7">>\ <</if>>\

The robes of the five Imperial Judges flutter in the wind as they look down upon you. The gravity of the situation finally settles on your shoulders, kneeling among the others as you are: This is it. This is your time to compete for the ultimate prize under the watchful eye of authorities spanning a greater distance than you've ever dreamed. It's the Bladed Judge in scarlet robes who steps forward and speaks first. His voice carries down on the wind with a controlled volume as if he were speaking right in front of you. "Martial Artists of the Outer Provinces, you stand before the five Judges of the Tiger and Rabbit Trials. The first two of twelve tests. Be at ease, for your journey has brought you to your purpose. You have come far and worked hard, each of you, yet look to your left and your right." To your left is a man in blue armor like Leona's. The local Waverunner Sect's uniform. To your right is Tian Fang, who is looking to her own right where there's no one to be seen, seeing as she's at the end of your row. She seems incredibly confused, gently waving her hand through the empty air. "Each of these men and women have trained just as hard," continues the Bladed Judge, "if not harder, and they each possess hidden talents and Techniques to match or exceed your own. We have divided the two initial Heavenly Ascension Trials into one-hundred seeds of one-hundred contestants. As far as the numbers are concerned, out of the hundred of you in the Tiger Arena at this time, only //one// will be accepted as an Archon." The Sacred Judge steps forward and raises a single hand slowly to chest-level in front of himself. His hand shakes gently, as if he were carefully lifting the world itself. Around you, the ground //trembles//. <<page "Continue" "ch8-pickschool8">>\

Sand shakes out of the way as a five-foot by five-foot square of solid stone breaks off the ground in front of you, peeling back to make room for something rising from under the arena. In the hole left by the lifted stone rises an exercise rack in a manner similar to one you've seen in the Thunderfall barracks. The design is simple enough. A rack of steel bars used to hold weighted plates, that is, weighted plates with two pieces of short rope connecting them. You're meant to sling them over your shoulders so you're wearing one plate on your chest and one on your back, with the rope spread over your shoulders to hold the weight. Thunderfall has several for use in the Lower Barracks. These are different from the ones back home, however. For one thing, the seven sets of plates on the rack are stone, not metal. For another, they're resonating the heavy amber energy of Earth Chi. The rack rises higher into the air until it's above the five-foot square of stone. The hole in front of you then seals back up with stone, allowing the rack to descend and settle onto the ground safely. Ninety-nine other racks of weightlifting equipment and stone slabs descend comfortably in place all around you for each contestant. Over four-hundred //thousand// pounds of stone, plus enough weightlifting equipment for one-hundred contestants, all lifted by a single Technique. You look into the sky, eyes locked on the Sacred Judge in shock and awe. Noble Mask or no, this is a power you are meant to one day surpass as an Archon. "Your objective is simple." Says the Sacred Judge. "An Archon must demonstrate strength. Withstand the burden of these plates for one lap around the Arena's inner wall. Afterwards, fetch and don another plate. Repeat until you cannot. Four plates are needed for a single point in the Tiger Trial. Ten plates are required for a full score of seven points." Without warning, the cloud-fortress they stand upon begins to ascend into the sky at a rapid pace, faster than your ship at full sail. "Do not disappoint us, one-in-one-hundred." Calls the Bladed Judge as the cloud fortress pulls all five of them into the sky. "It is time to prove yourself." <<page "Continue" "ch8-tigertrial">>\

You enter the dark tunnel alongside ninety-nine other Martial Artists and find yourselves in the dark. Everyone waits around for several seconds until the people at the front realize there's room in front of them and advance. The slow shuffle down the hallway turns into a solid march within minutes. Minutes later, growing impatient, it breaks into a jog. As you move through the tunnel at a brisk pace for a Martial Artist, far faster than a full sprint for a normal man, you hear a sound over the echoing footsteps around you. A biwa, the traditional lute of the Zenshin Empire. Its melodic strings rise in volume and tempo, increasing in speed as you all begin to run faster. The harder you all push yourselves the faster and more intricate the biwa music becomes until it reaches a point that should be a crescendo. Instead, the lights come on. Flickering lights flash into being all around you in a variety of hues. Blue Yellow Red Green Purple ...Orange? There's no orange chi. "My my." Says a young woman's voice from the lights and shadows. "One hundred juicy Rabbits find themselves in my tunnel. Can you feel the excitement in the air?" Four bright beams of white light flash into being in front of your crowd from each corner of the tunnel, forcing those in front to skid to a halt. All lights point to the center where they converge on an orange-haired woman standing in the center of the hallway. An orange-haired woman with three fox tails. <<page "Continue" "ch8-rabbit2">>\

Hmm...what else //do// you need to do to escape a dangerous situation? You raise your hand, offering the answer. \

<<var $ally $fren>>\ "Desdemona!" You shout over to the Lunargothic woman when the crowd breaks into a panic. "Come with me, and bring the Dreamrivers!" "Okay!" She shouts, signaling for her Disciples to follow as she sprints away with you towards the... <<choose "ch8-rabbit-river">> #Fields -> "ch8-rabbit-field" #Woods -> "ch8-rabbit-woods" #River <</choose>>

"Guiren!" You shout over to the Reptile Yokai across the departing crowd. "Which way are you heading?" "Woods!" He shouts while leaping backwards twenty feet at a time, snapping his fingers for his underlings to follow. "Come with us, we're targeting all four points!" "Except Contestant Wencheng!" Misuka interrupts from one of her pink and golden chi orbs. "He can only score up to three after that vicious cockatrice beating!" Wencheng sprints after Guiren and shakes a fist at the scrying Technique flying beside them. "I told you, my arm's always been bleeding like \ <<if ($guirendisarmed is true)>>\ this! Guiren demands it, he's jealous that we have both arms!" "Oh screw you!" Guiren shouts back. <<else>>\ this!" <</if>>\ <<choose "ch8-rabbit-river">> #Follow Guiren to the woods. -> "ch8-rabbit-woods" <<var $ally "Guiren">>\ #"Good luck!" [Break away to the River] <<var $ally "">>\ #"Good luck!" [Break away down the field] -> "ch8-rabbit-field" <<var $ally "">>\ <</choose>>

When everyone else runs through the tunnel up ahead, only you turn around and run the opposite direction. Four of the kitsune announcer's orbs flash into being around you. "Ohohoho!" Shouts Misuka the Performer's voice through the orbs. "Spectators, we have a treat! Another $ymaster wants to try $hisher luck against the Beast! Will $heshe be eaten like the rest, or will $heshe follow in Crusher Jack's footsteps and slay the Rabbit Trial's monster? LET'S FIND OUT!" Neither you nor the Drake heed her words, charging at one another with a roar of battle and violent intent. Fire forms in the mouth of the Drake. <<if ((($element1 is "Fire") and ($element1rank gte 2)) or (($element2 is "Fire") and ($element2rank gte 2)))>>\ Hotter fires burn around your fists. <<else>>\ Your fists charge with $auracolor chi. <</if>>\ Both of you lunge at the last second and clash in midair. <<var $combatstat "power">>\ <<var $combatskill "survival">>\ <<discount "Midorikatai" $stylerank>>\ <<discount "Muscular" 1>>\ <<discount "Trapper" 1>>\ <<discount "Earth" 1>>\ <<discount "Ice" 1>>\ <<attack "Melee">>\ <<if (($equippedweapon is "Handwraps") and (dig($weaponbonus, 2) gte 1))>>\ ''[Handwrap Weapon Quality: +<<=dig ($weaponbonus, 2)>> Battle Prowess]'' <<var $cmod + dig($weaponbonus, 2)>>\ <</if>>\ <<combatcheck 12>>\ <<if ($passcheck is true)>>\ You slam one fist into Drake's massive mouth hard enough to slam it shut, forcing the Beast to swallow the ball of flame it was summoning. When it does, with your other hand, you punch it in the face so hard that its skin ripples in waves. The Beast's head slams against the stone of the tunnel and forms a crater in the wall. At the same time, the force of your own strike pushes you away and into the opposite tunnel wall, feet-first. You crouch sideways against the wall to push a second attack when the Beast's red aura expands twenty feet in every direction. A shiver runs down your spine when the Drake's aura encompasses your body, searching for weaknesses in an invasive scanning Technique. Its body seems to grow even wider, especially its maw and fangs, which it snaps at you in one surrounding bite that closes down on you. <<choose "ch8-rabbit-drakefight2">> #Endure the savage bite to strike through the roof of its mouth. You ignore the maw of fangs closing down around you and strike for the exposed roof of the Drake's mouth, just below its brain. <<var $combatstat "fortitude">>\ <<var $weapontest true>>\ <<discount "Earth" 2>>\ <<discount "Darkness" 2>>\ <<discount "Light" 2>>\ <<discount "Akakiru" $stylerank>>\ <<attack "Melee">>\ <<combatcheck 10>>\ <<if ($passcheck is true)>>\ <<if (($element1 is "Darkness") or ($element2 is "Darkness"))>>\ The power of Darkness snuffs the flames fueling the Beast's attack, giving you an opening. <<elseif (($element1 is "Light") or ($element2 is "Light"))>>\ The power of Light supercharges your body to strike fast enough to seize an opening. <</if>>\ <<if (($equippedweapon is "Handwraps") or ($equippedweapon is ""))>>\ With $auracolor chi surging around both \ <<if ($equippedweapon is "Handwraps")>>\ handwrapped \ <</if>>\ fists you strike a supercharged punch \ <<else>>\ With speed and precision you draw \ <<if ((((($equippedweapon is "Muramasa") or ($equippedweapon is "Kagutsuchi")) or ($equippedweapon is "Ikazuchi")) or ($equippedweapon is "Shishido")) or ($equippedweapon is "Godslayer"))>>\ $equippedweapon \ <<else>>\ your $equippedweapon \ <</if>>\ and \ <<if ($equippedweapon is "Bo Staff")>>\ slam its weighted top end \ <<elseif ($equippedweapon is "Yumi")>>\ beg forgiveness from your Ancestors for using a ranged weapon in melee. Then you pierce the upper tip of your bow \ <<elseif ($equippedweapon is "Meteor Hammer")>>\ spin its heavy macehead \ <<else>>\ slice an upward arc \ <</if>>\ <</if>>\ into the top of the Drake's top maw with all your force, running your $auracolor chi \ <<if (($equippedweapon is "Handwraps") or ($equippedweapon is ""))>>\ ahead of your fist in a double impact strike. <<else>>\ through the weapon like a lightning rod. <</if>>\ Your attack and chi pierce through the Beast's flesh, into its skull, and \ <<include "ch8-rabbit-drakefight2">>\ <<else>>\ <<if (($equippedweapon is "Handwraps") or ($equippedweapon is ""))>>\ You swing a punch at the roof of the Drake's mouth \ <<else>>\ Thinking fast, you draw \ <<if ((((($equippedweapon is "Muramasa") or ($equippedweapon is "Kagutsuchi")) or ($equippedweapon is "Ikazuchi")) or ($equippedweapon is "Shishido")) or ($equippedweapon is "Godslayer"))>>\ $equippedweapon \ <<else>>\ your $equippedweapon \ <</if>>\ and strike at the Beast's snapping jaws \ <</if>>\ closing down around you, but it's to no avail. The Beast's jaws snap shut faster than you can attack, <<if ($pblocktech isnot "")>>\ nearly \ <</if>>\ crushing your body when its fangs shred you from all sides in the rapid snapping of its jaws. <<var $val 2>>\ <<if ($style is "Akakiru")>>\ ''[Akakiru Event: Damage Reduced]'' <<var $val 1>>\ <</if>>\ <<woundcheck $val true false>>\ It swallows you whole in the next tenth of a second, giving no room for hope. <<page "Continue" "ch8-rabbit-eaten">>\ <</if>>\ #Blast chi down its gullet before it can swallow you. You cup both hands in front of your chest and push your inner Chi reserves out of your Cores, through your arms, and between your palms. In the flash of an eye you summon a flash of $auracolor Chi into existence and blast it between the Drake's opening jaws. <<var $combatstat "soul">>\ <<var $combatskill "survival">>\ <<discount "Kiihakai" $stylerank>>\ <<discount "Ice" 1>>\ <<discount "Water" 1>>\ <<discount "Wind" 1>>\ <<discount "Storm" 1>>\ <<attack "Energy Melee">>\ <<combatcheck 11>>\ <<if ($passcheck is true)>>\ Your attack hits the Drake's counterattack that you didn't even see coming. A plume of flames rip open from its mouth in a fiery breath, but your energy beam collides with its own attack and overpowers the Beast's spiritual power. The two attacks collide and explode inside of the monster, blowing a hole through the top of its massive mouth and \ <<include "ch8-rabbit-drakefight2">>\ <<else>>\ But it's not enough. The Beast exhales a gout of flame that matches your attack, erupting the blast in front of your chest with enough force to rip your spirit to shreds in an explosion of chaotic energy. <<woundcheck 2 false true>>\ Before the smokecloud even clears the Drake's massive maw snaps shut on your hip, readjusting to pull your entire body down its gullet. You've been swallowed whole before you could even blink. <<page "Continue" "ch8-rabbit-eaten">>\ <</if>>\ <</choose>> <<else>>\ "BY THE ANCESTORS!" Misuka shouts as the Beast speeds up at the last second, slamming its head into your side and knocking you into a tunnel wall hard enough to form a crater. The Drake grabs your entire leg in its mouth and slams you into the roof, the walls, and the floor in rapid succession. <<woundcheck 2 false false>>\ All the while Misuka describes your horrid injuries in graphic detail. \ <<if ($wounds gte 1)>>\ "Another fractured rib sticking out of the skin! And now three \ <<else>>\ "Three \ <</if>>\ full-body whips into the left wall! A triplicate centrifugal slam! I've never seen a contestant get brutalized this badly, folks! Our Drake must really have a grudge!" \ The creature tosses you spinning into the air and roars heavily when it charges forward, snapping you into its jaws in a tenth of a second with a single bite. You never even get the chance to hit the ground before it swallows you whole. <<page "Continue" "ch8-rabbit-eaten">>\ <</if>>\

out of the top of its head in a bright explosion that illuminates the tunnel on both sides. The Beast's body collapses and the air around you EXPLODES into blood and gore. From the blood and gore flying around you, only a single piece of jawbone catches your eye from its red-amber glow. ''[Item Gained: Drake Soul Treasure]'' <<var $draketrophy 1650>>\ Applause breaks out when hundreds of glowing hands manifest in the air. Alongside them, Misuka the Performer skips out of nowhere surrounded in her glowing scrying orbs. "You've seen it again, folks! Another brave Aspirant giving up their place in the race to demonstrate their strength! Congratulations to \ <<if (dig($trialdeets, 1) is 1)>>\ $name of the $clan Clan \ <<else>>\ $fullname of the Thunderfall Sect \ <</if>>\ for impressing the Wild Lands with $hisher battle prowess! As a consolation, they're even granting you one point for the race!" Oh. The race. Right. You're here for a race. Covered in blood and alone in the tunnel, you look to the kitsune's scrying orbs where hundreds, thousands, or even millions have just witnessed your choice to, probably, come in last place. "How, uh, how many points is the race worth?" Misuka smiles with her arms crossed, leaning against her own tails like some sort of chair. "Three." She vanishes into a flash of pink light, though her voice trails behind. "See you at the finish line for the next challenge! And yes, you do still have to walk to the finish line." <<var $score_wild + 2>>\ <<page "Continue" "ch8-rabbit-drakefight3">>\

You rush down the tunnel in a blurring stream of $auracolor, pushing your legs to their limit in pure solitude due to every other runner being so far in front of you. <<var $combatstat "agility">>\ <<var $combatskill "athletics">>\ <<discount "Legs" 1>>\ <<discount "Agile" 1>>\ <<discount "Kurokonton" $stylerank>>\ <<discount "Reptile" 1>>\ <<discount "Cat" 1>>\ <<combatcheck 13>>\ <<if ($passcheck is true)>>\ At first, at least. <<if (($jadedragonfoundation) or ($aurapressure gte 2000))>>\ Everyone but you is surprised \ <<else>>\ You even surprise yourself \ <</if>>\ when you see, catch up to, and pass the trained Martial Artists at the back of the race. Hopefully they feel less ashamed when you pass the people in front of them too. Even less so when you pass the runners in front of those as well. Your ricocheting speed around the competitors takes you in front of more than half the runners of the Rabbit Trial. At the very end you pass an Oni woman and cross over the finish line beside a Wind-flying human man. You exit the tunnel through a hillside cave entrance and exit into a grassy field with forested hills flanking it. Misuka the Performer's voice echoes from one of her floating scrying orbs overhead. "Thirty-eighth place, Jan Tai, two points!" "Thirty-ninth place, $fullname, three points!" <<var $rscore 3>>\ "Fortieth place, Nefari Asmodea, two points!" The Human and Oni cross the finish line and drop to the ground in panting breaths, then look to you in confusion. "Three points?" The Oni woman asks. "We only got two!" Shouts the man between panting breaths, "And I was in front of $himher!" The recovering crowd of other Martial Artists parts to show the real Misuka sitting on a wide tree stump, shaking her head. "Young $titlename received two points for the race, yes, and one for slaying the Drake." The Oni girl's face wrinkles in confusion and doubt. "The Drake was behind us though. Who would have time to kill such a giant Beast and still beat me in a race?" <<if ($fren is "Desdemona")>>\ From the other side of the crowd you hear Lady Desdemona's sharp, biting laughter. "Who indeed?" She taunts. "Disciples, educate them." Li Sun rises, red in the face from the race, and steadies his voice to speek in front of everyone. "You are looking at the pride of Thunderfall and the lone ally of the Dreamriver Sect. The $manwoman who defeated Crusher Jack and closed Ebikowa's Demonic Gate. <<cap $patriarch>> of the $clan Clan and Admiral of their <<cap $flagshiptype>> Fleet. The rightful leader of the Top Five, $fullname." Li Moon channels her inner Desdemona and huffs, scowling at the crowd. "Bow your heads and abolish all thoughts of winning this Trial." The Martial Artists all around you begin murmuring amongst themselves before taking several steps back, giving you //plenty// of space. <<var $prestige + 3>>\ <<else>>\ Murmurs break out through the crowd when she asks that question. The contestants closest to you take several steps back, giving you ample space and trying not to make eye contact. <<var $prestige + 1>>\ <</if>>\ ''[Prestige Increased]'' <<if ($fren is "Guiren")>>\ Guiren's the only one who stays where he is. Upon seeing the crowd's reaction, he laughs out loud and shuffles closer. "What a bunch of pansies." He whispers. "They wouldn't last five minutes in a Demonic Gate." <<elseif ($fren is "Desdemona")>>\ From across the crowd, Desdemona gives you half-lidded raise of her eyebrows as if to say, 'you're welcome'. <</if>>\ <<var $val 555>>\ <<page "Continue" "ch8-rabbitbirbs">>\ <<else>>\ <<var $combatstat "agility">>\ <<var $combatskill "athletics">>\ <<discount "Legs" 1>>\ <<discount "Agile" 1>>\ <<discount "Kurokonton" $stylerank>>\ <<discount "Reptile" 1>>\ <<discount "Cat" 1>>\ <<combatcheck 11>>\ <<if ($passcheck is true)>>\ With your full sprit tearing down the tunnel your feet don't touch the ground long enough to even make much noise, leaving nothing but the tear of wind resistance when you catch up to, pass by, and pull ahead of dozens of Martial Artists. A trail of $auracolor chi is all they see, as you gave too far to go to even spare the runners a glance, but in the end your opponents' lead is simply too great. You reach the finish line, the shining light at the end of the tunnel, and leap ahead of two runners to steal your final score. Your vault takes you airborne into a grassy field with dozens of runners laying down to catch their breath while a dozen of Misuka the Performer's scrying orbs emit her voice, announcing their places. In their middle, the Kitsune herself looks up with a smug grin at your grand entrance. "Fifty-eighth place!" Misuka the Performer shouts up at you. "Two points!" <<var $rscore 2>>\ Several runners lift their heads in confusion to look your way. "Two?" One Monkey Yokai asks. "I beat $himher by five places and I only scored one." Misuka holds a finger up to her cheek and grins. "One for the race, yes, and the young Thunderfaller scored one for slaying the Drake as well." The monkeyman gulps and doesn't meet your gaze. <<var $val 555>>\ <<else>>\ Over the course of the next three miles you make incredible progress, but it's not enough. Despite running two-hundred feet in the opposite direction, fighting a giant Drake Beast as wide as the tunnel, killing it, finding its Soul Treasure and harvesting it, and even stopping to talk to Misuka for several precious seconds, you still pass over a dozen runners on your way back through the race course. Not that it does you any good when you cross the finish line at the light at the end of the tunnel, emerging from a hillside cave entrance into a wide open field. Eighty-fourth place is still zero points. <<var $rscore 1>>\ "One point!" Misuka the Performer shouts as you cross the finish line, confusing a few runners in front of you who scored zero points. You don't even boast about slaying the Drake for that singular point. You're too embarrassed at your loss in the race. From a crowd of runners talking on the other side, you see Big Zhu sneer at you in smug victory. ''[Prestige Lost]'' <<var $prestige - 1>>\ <<var $val 555>>\ <</if>>\ <<page "Continue" "ch8-rabbitbirbs">>\ <</if>>\

Having fallen behind you find yourself stuck in the second rung of runners, trapped in a cramped section of twenty or so Martial Artists all refusing to give ground. Being stuck in the crowd holds you back to their level of speed, and try as you might, you can't seem to pull ahead. <<include "ch8-rabbit-fuggen2pointsmaxm8">>\

You're dropped into the Drake's cramped stomach like luggage shoved into a bag. The extreme heat of its gullet and burns up what little oxygen you had in your body. Fire Chi scorches your spirit while its somach acid \ <<if ($eblocktech isnot "")>>\ threatens to scorch \ <<else>>\ scorches \ <</if>>\ your skin. <<var $val 2>>\ <<if (($element1 is "Fire") or ($element2 is "Fire"))>>\ ''[Fire Element: Damage Reduced]'' <<var $val 1>>\ <</if>>\ <<woundcheck $val false true>>\ The world around you fades to black. <<page "Continue" "ch8-rabbit-eaten2">>\

Consciousness returns in a bright flash of light and a wet ''//*PLOP*//'' when you're unceremoniously dropped onto the ground, still covered in Drake stomach juices. Your eyes flutter open, you wipe the goo off your face, and you begin to wish you hadn't. The vision before you is a grassy field at the exit of the tunnel, apparently coming from a cave built into a hillside. The Drake is nowhere to be seen, but in its place you see nearly one hundred Martial Artists casting their judging, amused gazes at your prone form on the ground. ''[Prestige Lost]'' <<var $prestige - 4>>\ At least you're not the only one. Four other Aspirants rise to their feet and wipe the goo from their faces. Two don't even rise. It almost looks like they're... "That's everyone!" Misuka the Performer shouts out. The crowd in front of you parts to reveal the Kitsune leaning back on a wide tree stump, her monitoring orbs circling the sky above you all. "With the \ <<if (($fren isnot "Guiren") and ($fren isnot "Desdemona"))>>\ Drake returned to its cage and the \ <</if>>\ final Aspirants returned to the field, we're ready for the next challenge! Everyone form a horizontal line while I prepare the second part of the Rabbit Trial." <<if ($fren isnot "")>>\ You get in line and slide some of the Drake's stomach acid off your burned hands. Approaching from your right, \ <<if ($fren is "Guiren")>>\ Guiren offers you a hand to get your balance. "Damn, that was a shitshow. At least the hot fox banished the Beast back to the tunnel, otherwise you'd have to come out its-" <<elseif ($fren is "Desdemona")>>\ Desdemona gives you a sympathetic wince. <<if ($desromance gte 1)>>\ <<var $desromance - 1>>\ <</if>>\ "At least the kitsune teleported the Beast back to the tunnel." She says, looking back to the dark cavern entrance. "Getting you out without that would have been..." <</if>>\ "Don't." You say, trying to sigh out a proper breath without inhaling the scent of Beast saliva. \ <<var $val 444>>\ <</if>>\ <<page "Get in line." "ch8-rabbitbirbs">>\

eliciting a cracking shriek when she drops to the ground and gets trampled by a few runners behind \ <<if ($ruthless gte 54)>>\ her, including you. Damn that felt good. What doesn't feel good is your placement on the race. <<else>>\ her. Justice is served. What doesn't feel just is your placement in the race. <</if>>\ <<var $score_bladed + 1>>\ <<var $score_sacred + 1>>\ <<var $alliesgained + 10000000000000>>\ <<var $enemiesgained + 20000000000000>>\ The men and women sprinting in a swirl of colors from surged Agility Cores all look to you when you press your attack against the would-be-assassin. The blue and green dressed man looks grateful when he sees what went on, but he looks equally as alarmed when your face twists with effort from trying to run ahead of him. Savior or no, you're still a competitor in this race. <<page "Continue" "ch8-rabbit-rocksfall">>\

<<if ($spellspeed gt 0)>>\ <<var $agility - $spellspeed>>\ ''[Speed Ritual Effects Worn Off]'' <</if>>\ <<if ($stolenelixir gt 0)>>\ <<var $agility - $stolenelixir>>\ ''[Stolen Elixir Effects Worn Off]'' <</if>>\ <<var $scoreby $rscore>>\ <<var $nowallpoints false>>\ <<if ($phasetwobird is false)>>\ <<var $scoreby + 1>>\ <</if>>\ <<if ($phasetwohuman is false)>>\ <<var $scoreby + 1>>\ <</if>>\ <<if ($tookfield is true)>>\ <<if ($wbodies gte 2)>>\ <<var $score_rabbit ($scoreby + 2)>>\ You approach the wall with your \ <<if ($ally is "Desdemona")>>\ volunteers and the Dreamriver Sect, \ <<else>>\ volunteers, \ <</if>>\ <<include "ch8-rabbit-end-sizeywave">>\ <<elseif ($ubodies gte 2)>>\ You approach the wall with two defeated opponents held over each <<if ($ally is "Desdemona")>>\ shoulder, with the Dreamriver Sect following close behind. \ <<else>>\ shoulder. \ <</if>>\ <<var $score_rabbit ($scoreby + 1)>>\ Together you form \ <<include "ch8-rabbit-end-sizeywave">>\ <<else>>\ You approach the wall in shame, without enough volunteers or defeated opponents. All in front of the scrying orbs displaying your failure to the packed crowds of Nanhou's arenas. ''[Prestige Lost]'' <<var $prestige - 1>>\ <<if ($ally is "Desdemona")>>\ Desdemona wrinkles her nose, looking at your poor bounty and back to her Disciples. "Do you want to-" "No." You demand, refusing to take charity under the eyes of so many. \ <</if>>\ You raise your hand over the stonewall's golden glowing rocks <<if ($ally is "Desdemona")>>\ in a hurry, not wanting to go after Desdemona, \ <</if>>\ and look to Misuka the Performer. Her ears and tail perk up when she see syou. "For those of you in the arena, another anomaly has shown up! <<cap $titlename>> has arrived at the end of the Rabbit Trial with seemingly //no// contribution for $hisher bounty score, leaving \ <<include "ch8-rabbit-end-sayscores">>\ <</if>>\ <<elseif (($escapeprocess is "Ravine-Surrender") or ($escapeprocess is "Ravine-Fuyu-Favor"))>>\ "Here." Isamu says, ripping a fuuinjutsu tag and handing you a set of armor. "Wear it with pride, to show this is an alliance and not a surrender." ''[Item Gained: Waverunner Armor]'' <<var $waverunnerarmor + 1>>\ "Why is this so damn heavy?" You ask, surprised. Isamu smiles. "The Water binding adds spiritual weight instead of combat applications. A Waverunner secret: we don't wear armor for battle. We wear it for training." The Waverunners escort you \ <<if ($ally is "Desdemona")>>\ and the Dreamrivers \ <</if>>\ to the wall, eyeing any other Martial Artists to ward them off. <<if ($escapeprocess is "Ravine-Surrender")>>\ One unknown girl in Waverunner armor walks beside you, the two of you acting as Isamu's volunteers. You all reach the wall and he steps forward first. "Kitsune!" Isamu calls. "I bring two volunteers for my full bounty score!" "Oookay!" Misuka calls back to him, leaning back on her seated position further down the wall. "A passing and impressive six points to Waverunner Isamu! A narrowly failing three points to Fourleaf Jiji! <<if ($scoreby lte 2)>>\ Finally, last //and// least, a pathetic and shameful <<if ($scoreby is 1)>>\ one point \ <<else>>\ two points \ <</if>>\ to $titlename!" ''[Prestige Lost]'' <<var $prestige - 1>>\ <<elseif ($scoreby is 3)>>\ Likewise narrowly failing, three points to $titlename!" <<elseif ($scoreby is 4)>>\ Yet narrowly //passing//, four points to $titlename!" <<elseif ($scoreby is 5)>>\ Last but not least, surprising for a $manwoman surrendering their bounty points, we have five points to $titlename!" <<else>>\ Shocking everyone with $hisher surrender that somehow //still// achieves such a massive score, we also have six points to $titlename!" ''[Prestige Increased]'' <<var $prestige + 1>>\ <</if>>\ <<var $score_rabbit $scoreby>>\ <<if ($ally is "Desdemona")>>\ "You're sure about this?" Desdemona asks from behind as Isamu reaches for the stones atop the wall. You turn back and grin. "The Trials are a marathon, not a sprint. I know what I'm doing." Her pout turns into a questioning smile, challenging you. "You'd better." The golden glow of the stonewall washes over Isamu, \ <<else>>\ "You're making the right choice." Isamu says as the golden glow of the stonewall washes over him, <</if>>\ vanishing him into light and transporting elsewhere. <<if ($ally isnot "Desdemona")>>\ You can only hope he's right. <</if>>\ In the very next breath, it washes over you as well. <<page "End the Rabbit Trial" "ch8-souldomain">>\ <<else>>\ "You two." Isamu says to two of the other guests in Waverunner armor. "Grant your bounty points to $titlename. Everyone else, you're with me." Two shy Disciples follow you to the wall \ <<if ($ally is "Desdemona")>>\ while Desdemona and her top Disciples approach with unconscious contestants over their shoulders. Desdemona and Li Sun appear calm, but Li Moon is red in the face from the strain. "Here comes the Dreamriver Sect!" Misuka the Performer announces from further down the stonewall. "And $titlename to boot! All escorted by the Nanhou's very own Waverunner Sect. Could this be a large scale alliance in place? Let's find out! Contestants, place your hands on the wall!" Two of Desdemona's Disciples bow behind her when she places her hand on the golden-glowing wall. Its light washes over her when Misuka speaks. <<if ($rocketritual is true)>>\ "An incredible eight points for Dreamriver Sectmistress Desdemona!" \ <<else>>\ "Six points for the Rabbit Trial for Dreamriver Desdemona, an impressive score!" \ <</if>>\ Desdemona vanishes in the next instant, sent away somewhere else. \ <<if ($rocketritual is true)>>\ "And that's not all, a mighty seven for Dreamriver Sun and Dreamriver Moon! Who would have thought such a small Sect would bring such powerhouses?" Li Sun and Li Moon vanish alongside the unconscious contestants they carry. Misuka smirks when they do. "But we can't forget the alliances that brought them this far. Six points for Waverunner Isamu, and another stunning eight points for $titlename! What a confederation to be feared! Be warned, high earners! With this spotlight, we'll all be expecting these same results in the Trials ahead!" ''[Prestige Increased]'' <<var $prestige + 2>>\ <<var $score_rabbit 8>>\ Her scrying orbs all turn to you and you wave to the crowd that must be on the other side, placing your hand on the wall. A warm, golden light washes over you. <<page "End the Rabbit Trial" "ch8-souldomain">>\ <<else>>\ "And for Dreamriver Moon and Sun, five points!" They both cheer and hug each other. You're still not sure if they're married or siblings. You've never asked. Actually, you don't think you've ever asked about any of their personal lives. ...Are you an asshole? You'll have to ask Kosuke later. Not Jin or Rin though. They'd say yes. Misuka smirks when the Dreamriver Disciples vanish and sets her eyes on you. "Let's not forget the mysterious alliance that brought the Dreamrivers this far: Six points to Waverunner Isamu, leaving \ <<var $score_rabbit ($scoreby + 2)>>\ <<include "ch8-rabbit-end-sayscores">>\ <</if>>\ <<else>>\ and kneel beside you. "I hardly believe what I'm seeing, folks!" Misuka calls from further down the field. "The Waverunner Sect is working with $titlename, granting $himher their bounty points! Could the Thunderfall Sect have an alliance with the local forces, or is this a powergrap by young $name? Stay watching future Trials to find out!" She flutters her tails and leaps onto the stonewall, aiming her scrying orbs downt he field toward you. "For now, I'm proud to announce the scores: Six points to Waverunner Isamu, leaving \ <<var $score_rabbit ($scoreby + 2)>>\ <<include "ch8-rabbit-end-sayscores">>\ <</if>>\ <</if>>\ <<elseif (($escapeprocess is "Ravine-JDF-Assault") or ($escapeprocess is "Ravine-Won"))>>\ You approach the wall with \ <<if ($ally is "Desdemona")>>\ Desdemona, her Disciples, and \ <</if>>\ <<if ($escapeprocess is "Ravine-JDF-Assault")>>\ your Waverunner hostages, \ <<else>>\ the volunteers Isamu sent to vouch for you, \ <</if>>\ <<var $wbodies 2>>\ <<var $score_rabbit ($scoreby + 2)>>\ <<include "ch8-rabbit-end-sizeywave">>\ <<elseif ($escapeprocess is "Woods-Guiren")>>\ "Do you want to go first?" Guiren asks. "I'm trying to lay low, and going after you seems like a great way for no one to give a shit about me." "You're too kind." You reply. "It's all selfless altruism." He replies. Yoji shakes his head from behind the man. All of you approach the stonewall and you look to Misuka halfway down the feet, reclining on the stone wall as her orbs do the talking. Her ears and tail perk up, sensing the detection, and she looks your way. "Here we go folks, a name seen all across the betting pools! $titlename has arrived with \ <<var $score_rabbit ($scoreby + 2)>>\ <<include "ch8-rabbit-end-sayscores">>\ <<elseif (($escapeprocess is "Woods-Dessie-PersuasionPassed") or ($escapeprocess is "Woods-Solo-PersuasionPassed"))>>\ You approach the wall with \ <<if ($ally is "Desdemona")>>\ Desdemona, her Disciples, and \ <</if>>\ Sakura's mercenaries, \ <<var $wbodies 2>>\ <<var $score_rabbit ($scoreby + 2)>>\ <<include "ch8-rabbit-end-sizeywave">>\ <<elseif (($escapeprocess is "Woods-Dessie-PersuasionFailed") or ($escapeprocess is "Woods-Solo-PersuasionFailed"))>>\ You approach the wall \ <<if ($ally is "Desdemona")>>\ with Desdemona, her Disciples, each of you holding a couple of Sakura Nakamoto's defeated mercenaries. Together you all form \ <<else>>\ while carrying Sakura Nakamoto's defeated mercenaries, four in total with two stacked on each shoulder, just because. Together the five of your different colored gi form \ <</if>>\ <<var $wbodies 0>>\ <<var $ubodies 2>>\ <<var $score_rabbit ($scoreby + 1)>>\ <<include "ch8-rabbit-end-sizeywave">>\ <<elseif (($escapeprocess is "Woods-Aoyu-MC") or ($escapeprocess is "Woods-Kitsune-MC"))>>\ You approach the wall with \ <<if ($ally is "Desdemona")>>\ Desdemona, her Disciples, and \ <</if>>\ the horde of mind controlled defeated mercenaries who obey your every command. \ <<if ($race is "Kitsune")>>\ It's good to be a fox. \ <<else>>\ You hope Angelo isn't watching. \ <</if>>\ Together your large crowd forms \ <<var $wbodies 2>>\ <<var $score_rabbit ($scoreby + 2)>>\ <<include "ch8-rabbit-end-sizeywave">>\ <<elseif ($escapeprocess is "Woods-Solo-Combat")>>\ You approach the wall with nothing more than four of Sakura Nakamoto's defeated mercenaries, four of them in total with two on each shoulder. The rest you left at the woods entrance. Your gift to the other contestants. ''[Prestige Increased]'' <<var $prestige + 1>>\ Between your own outfit and the four different gi colors of the four men and women you lift across the field, you form \ <<var $wbodies 0>>\ <<var $ubodies 2>>\ <<var $score_rabbit ($scoreby + 1)>>\ <<include "ch8-rabbit-end-sizeywave">>\ <</if>>\

<<if (($score_rabbit is 8) or ($score_rabbit is 7))>>\ <<if ($score_rabbit is 8)>>\ eight, that's right EIGHT points to $titlename! Watch out Top Five, a contender is coming for your seat! If reports are to be believed, young $name is after one in particular: \ <<else>>\ seven points to $titlename, keeping a solid score lead to go after $hisher rumored rival, the number one among the Top Five, none other than \ <</if>>\ Crusher Jack! With results like these, it's clear the rivalry was earned. Who will come out on top? Make sure to watch future Trials to find out! ''[Prestige Increased]'' <<var $prestige + 1>>\ <<if ($score_rabbit is 8)>>\ <<var $prestige + 1>>\ <</if>>\ Her scrying orbs all turn to you and you wave to the crowd that must be on the other side, placing your hand on the wall. <<elseif (($score_rabbit is 6) or ($score_rabbit is 5))>>\ <<if ($score_rabbit is 6)>>\ six \ <<else>>\ a score of five \ <</if>>\ points to $titlename, working $hisher way up in the rankings towards the seemingly unassailable target of Crusher Jack! That's right folks, this is the big rivalry we've all been waiting for! Could they clash in coming Trials, or will Jack sweep $himher away like so many other pretenders? Let's find out!" You frown at the implications and place your hand on the stonewall, wishing to get out of here. <<elseif ($score_rabbit is 4)>>\ a score of four points to $titlename. A middling success, and I sincerely apologize for making you all think this was going to be important. <<cap $heshe>>-oh! Newcomers! Let's move on to brighter stars! Her scrying orbs turn away from you and move down the field towards other approaching Martial Artists. You ignore it and place your hand on the stonewall, taking solace in a passing score. <<elseif (($score_rabbit is 2) or ($score_rabbit is 3))>>\ <<if ($score_rabbit is 2)>>\ a failing score of two \ <<else>>\ a failing score of three \ <</if>>\ points to $titlename! Wow, ignore my announcements there, nothing to see here folks. We'll ensure to focus on brighter stars in the future and give you all the viewing pleasure you deserve. Moving on!" ''[Prestige Lost]'' <<var $prestige - 1>>\ You frown as her scrying orbs turn away from you, placing your hand on the stonewall to get out of here faster. <<elseif (($score_rabbit is 1) or ($score_rabbit is 0))>>\ <<if ($score_rabbit is 1)>>\ a failing score of one point \ <<else>>\ an atrocious score of zero, that's right ZERO points \ <</if>>\ to $titlename! Incredible! Amazing! Astonishing! Folks, I have never in my centuries thought I would see someone lose to people who didn't show up, but it has finally happened! The $manwoman, the myth, the failure! $fullname!" ''[Prestige Lost]'' <<var $prestige - 2>>\ You turn away from her many scrying orbs coming your way and ''slam'' your hand onto the stonewall, begging to get the Hell out of here. <<elseif ($score_rabbit lt 0)>>\ ''[CODE ERROR! RABBIT SCORE BELOW ZERO! QUICKNOTE, WHAT THE FUCK DID YOU DO?]'' <<else>>\ ''[CODE ERROR! RABBIT SCORE ABOVE EIGHT! QUICKNOTE, WHAT THE FUCK DID YOU DO?]'' <</if>>\ <<if ($escapeprocess is "Woods-Guiren")>>\ Guiren gives you a wave \ <<if ($guirendisarmed is true)>>\ wave with his only arm \ <<else>>\ wave \ <</if>>\ and begins approaching the stonewall himself. "See you on the other side." <</if>>\ A warm, golden light washes over you. <<page "End the Rabbit Trial" "ch8-souldomain">>\

a sizeable wave in the ocean of contestants arriving at the end of the valley. Misuka the Performer's voice echoes different announcements from a dozen scrying orbs, all while the woman herself narrates the top performers or most noteworthy contestants. <<if ($ally is "Desdemona")>>\ "I'd like to go first." Desdemona says, waltzing forward with two of her disciples. She <<if ($heshe is "he")>>\ flips her hair over when \ <</if>>\ she looks over her shoulder at you. "I do not envy the contestant going after you, but it won't be me." "The Dreamriver Sectmistress has arrived!" Misuka the Performer announces. "And it looks like she's sacrificing her own Disciples for personal gain to score both bounty points! A ruthless and uncaring ruler, one to be feared by-YEOW!" Misuka leaps off the stonewall to dodge a dark lightning blast sent by Desdemona. The pale Lunargoth places her hand on the wall, glowing golden and staring the announcer down. "How many points, fox spirit?" Misuka announces into the air, to her scrying orbs. "I know you saw that back at the arenas, folks! Make sure not to blink around this pale provocateur, or that blink could be your last! <<if ($rocketritual is true)>>\ Not only is she willing to electrocute ''Imperial officials'', but she can back it up too with eight points, an above perfect score!" "Correct." Desdemona stares into woman's scrying orbs, the corner of her mouth twitching upward. "Do not forget it." The golden light around her magnifies and in a flash, she vanishes, transported elsewhere through Mystic Chi. \ <<else>>\ Yet though this woman is willing to electrocute ''Imperial officials'', she is still only an Outer Provincial with a slightly impressive six points in the Rabbit Trial! Could we expect more, or will her terrible manners and demeanor be her downfall? Keep watching future Trials to find out!" Desdemona glares at the woman, deadpan, while the golden light of the stonewall magnifies around her. In a blink, the Lunargoth vanishes, transported elsewhere. <</if>>\ "Well folks, that just leaves \ <<else>>\ Her ears and tails perk up when she detects your presence, turning your way. "For those of you back in the arena, another anomaly has shown up! One of Sectmaster Mao's aberrant trainees! Checking my scrying orbs for proper information, I can see the Rabbit Trial giving \ <</if>>\ <<include "ch8-rabbit-end-sayscores">>\

Multiple groups break left and right, fleeing to the safety of the ravine or the woods. It makes sense; the dense tree cover or tight stone cliffs form natural barriers against aerial attacks. However, these are the Heavenly Ascension Trials. Nearly every contestant is a warrior trained for combat since birth. Which is to say, when under fire from above, at least fifty percent are arrogant or insane enough to sprint in a straight line down an open field with no cover. You \ <<if ($ally is "Desdemona")>>\ and Desdemona \ <</if>>\ are in that group. The remaining bird Beasts break into a chaotic chorus of chirps, caws, and shrieks, blasting energy or razorsharp plumes down into the field as you all make a break for the stonewall two miles away. <<include "ch8-rabbit-field2">>\

"A wild save against Wild fighters!" Announces one of Misuka the Performer's golden-pink orbs floating overhead. "Is this a poor sign for the future? Could the charitable Devanic Temple be in need of more charity themselves? Tune in for future monk battles to find out!" "Ignore her." You say, helping the monk up. "But I do need your help. Would you be willing to give up your points at the final wall if I help you keep your points in the fights on the way there?" <<var $wbodies + 1>>\ <<if ($style is "Aoyusumu")>>\ ''[Aoyusumu Event]'' "Of course." The man says, taking your hand. \ <<if (dig($mettaio, 1) gte 6)>>\ The smallest spark of Sacred Chi mingles in your auras. //KILL! KILL! ''KILL!''// He rips his hand away from you in shock. ''[Corruption Event]'' "Y-You're-!" The man screams out, half in horror and half in fear, wrenching his hand away. "You're a Falle-!" You reflexively strike him in the face, stopping him from finishing that sentence with a jaw strike so fast it forms a popping bubble of air around you both. <<apboost (2+$fightbonus)>>\ <<var $ubodies + 1>>\ Shit. He's unconscious. <<if ($ally is "Desdemona")>>\ "What was that about?" Desdemona asks, returning from her Disciples' scuffle against a crow Beast. "Nothing." You say. "He, uh, he's one of Jack's friends. He recognized me. Come on." <</if>>\ Now you need to go find someone who //doesn't// know Aoyusumu. <<else>>\ "We are both of the Temple, in our own way. It would be a shame to the Saints and Heavens for me to rebuke a request for aid after being given it myself." <<if ($ally is "Desdemona")>>\ "Finally." Desdemona says, returning from her Disciples' scuffle against a crow Beast. "Someone who gets to the point. Let's go. There's more to be done." You all take off further down the field. <<else>>\ Wow. That was refreshingly straightforward. "You're sure?" "Yes." Ancestors, you needed this. You both take off further down the field without any more wasted time, searching for other opportunities. <</if>>\ <</if>>\ <<include "ch8-rabbit-field5">>\ <<elseif ($ruthless lte 50)>>\ <<var $wbodies + 1>>\ ''[Compassion 50 Check Passed]'' "Yes." The man says. "I sense you would have helped even without a reward. It would be an honor to aid you in achieving Archonship." \ Wow. That was refreshingly straightforward. "You're sure?" "Yes." Ancestors, you needed this. You both take off further down the field without any more wasted time, searching for other opportunities. <<include "ch8-rabbit-field5">>\ <<else>>\ ''[Compassion 50 Check Failed]'' The man shakes his head. "I am sorry, savior of mine, but I sense you only helped out of a sense of self-benefit. I cannot encourage that kind of behavior in the Archonate." \ You grit your teeth and tighten a fist. "That-" \ <<if ($ally is "Desdemona")>>\ <<page "Continue" "ch8-rabbit-field-dragonmen2">>\ <<else>>\ <<include "ch8-rabbit-field-dragonmen2">>\ <</if>>\ <</if>>\

<<if ($ally is "Desdemona")>>\ ''[Desdemona Alliance Event: Prestige Loss Avoided]'' "$name?" Desdemona asks, snapping you out of the trance. You blink yourself awake, staring around the field. The monk is gone, as are many people, \ <<else>>\ You blink, and he's gone. Many people are gone, actually, \ <</if>>\ as if a time had passed while you stood still without knowing. <<if ($ally is "Desdemona")>>\ "Are you well?" Desdemona asks. "You had some sort of Sacred effect wrapped around your head. I dispelled it." "Thanks." You reply. "How long was I standing here?" "Ten seconds, if I had to guess. I had run off to help my Disciples against a Beast." "Bastard." You say, looking down the field where the monk is already out of view. "Come on, let's find someone else." \ <<else>>\ ''[Prestige Lost]'' <<var $prestige - 1>>\ You shake the Sacred Chi out of your mind and sense your own thoughts and emotions rush back in. Mostly, the emotion that you're //pissed//. That ungrateful asshole may have wasted your chance at the Rabbit Trials after you wasted even more time saving him. You sprint forward, rushing to catch up to everyone else to find new opportunities. <</if>>\ <<include "ch8-rabbit-field5">>\

"Thank you." The Endless Beating student says, sheathing his own sword. "Master Suon won't like that I received help, he always says we are on our own in the real world. Though if I am on my own, there is no one to deny me the right to make allies." "Good." You reply. "Because I need someone to give up their points at the final test. After protecting you from losing points in that fight, can I count on your help to give up an equal amount?" <<var $ubodies + 2>>\ <<if ($ally is "Desdemona")>>\ "<<cap $heshe>> meant to say 'please.'" Desdemona says from behind you with her arms crossed. You toss her a look of disapproval to let her know you appreciate her help. <</if>>\ <<if (($prestige gte 30) or (dig($alliesgained, 3) gte 1))>>\ <<if ($prestige gte 30)>>\ ''[Prestige 30 Check Passed]'' <<else>>\ ''[Prestige 30 Check Failed]'' ''[Event Override: Completed All 3 Endless Beating Duels]'' <</if>>\ <<var $wbodies + 1>>\ The man's happiness and respect is replaced by a bothered sigh. He looks up to announcer's scrying orb hovering forty feet up. "Mother did not raise me to be ungrateful in front of the entire empire. Very well, you'll have my support. Let's go." <<else>>\ ''[Prestige 30 Check Failed]'' "I'm sorry but no." The man replies. "I am here to win, not to surrender. You have my thanks for what you've done, but I must go." He runs off and you sigh, accepting the fate and focusing on what's important: <<if ($ruthless gt 60)>>\ ''[Compassion 40 Check Failed]'' REVENGE. <<var $honor - 2>>\ You blast the man in the back, shattering his aura and knocking his body into a nearby tree, knocking it over. He doesn't get back up. <<var $infamy + 2>>\ ''[Infamy Increased]'' ''[Enemy Acquired: Endless Beating School]'' <<var $enemiesgained + 1000000000000>>\ "By the Heavens and Hells, what a cheapshot!" Shouts Misuka's orb. "For those of you viewing from the stadiums, $titlename has just-" You blow her scrying orb up too. Three-hundred yards away, the real Misuka the Performer still sits on her stump and glares at you. <<else>>\ ''[Compassion 40 Check Passed]'' Winning this Trial. <<var $honor + 2>>\ <</if>>\ <</if>>\ <<include "ch8-rabbit-field5">>\

<<if ($ally is "Desdemona")>>\ "Dessy!" Calls Li Moon from behind. Desdemona's hair whips around when she turns and glares daggers into her Disciple. "I mean, rather, Lady Desdemona." Li Moon says, skidding to a halt and bowing. "We have collected all the unconscious fighters we could find." "Good." Desdemona says. "How many enemies did you make?" "Four." Li Sun replies with shame. "We were noticed with each capture. We lost Disciple Ren too. Horse archers." Desdemona sighs. "We'll find her after the Trial, it's not as if this is life or death. Aoki and Chie, you're wounded. Volunteer your points for my passage at the stonewall. Sun and Moon, use the captured contestants for your own points. Three of us in good standing is a sufficient success that could attract allies after this." ''[Alliance Event: Desdemona's Combat Prowess Increased]'' <<var $descombat + 1>>\ <<if ($ubodies gte 3)>>\ You stand there awkwardly as they discuss strategy, \ <<if ($wbodies gte 2)>>\ handing your defeated foes off to your volunteers. "Don't cash these in." "You shouldn't cash in people." One of them whispers back. <<else>>\ holding a pile of unconscious enemies over your shoulders. It's not bad exercise, honestly. <</if>>\ <<else>>\ You \ <<if ($wbodies gte 2)>>\ and your volunteers \ <</if>>\ sit around while they talk strategy, doing a few stretches and keeping an eye on that ambitious looking Storm Crow by the woods. \ <</if>>\ "Lady Desdemona, we should go." Li Sun interrupts. "Things are going too well, I do not welcome a surprise interruption at the end." "Agreed." Desdemona says, immediately sprinting down the field in her dark robes. "Disciples, follow!" You're already in front of her, thankful to be wrapping this up and eager to see your final score. <<page "Continue" "ch8-rabbit-field-leavefield2">>\ <<else>>\ <<page "Continue" "ch8-rabbit-field-leavefield2">>\ <</if>>\

The final run takes \ <<if ($wbodies gte 2) or ($ally is "Desdemona")>>\ your group \ <<else>>\ you \ <</if>>\ to the end of the field where a small, hip-height stonewall greets you just at the foot of a steep set of hills that takes up the horizon. It glows golden with Mystic Chi and spans the entire distance of the valley, all the way into the woods on your left and the ravine on your right. You're not the first group to reach it. <<include "ch8-rabbit-fromfields">>\

When you rush in to save the Oni you find two Martial Artists launching Fire Chi off their fists at him, turning punches into ranged weapons by blasting their aura outward. You're surprised to notice it's rather weak and inefficient. If they held the flames with their palm they'd keep a better spiritual grip. Punching the energy out of your system only works in close range, or to widen an attack. ...Dear Ancestors, are //you// the properly trained one in this fight? <<if (($element1 is "Ice") or ($element2 is "Ice"))>>\ ''[Ice Element: Automatic Success]'' With a focus of Ice Chi, you push the essence of cold through your body and unleash it in a wave of freezing mist that overtakes the burning grass and all three combatants. The Fire Aura of the two attackers is snuffed and suppressed well enough for you to safely close the distance. They turn around just in time to see your ice-wrapped hands. In the initial impact, you bash them in the head with a thick layer of ice wrapped around each hand. In the second impact, you slam their heads together. <<apboost (4+$fightbonus)>>\ They drop to the ground with red sparks flying through the air from their shattered auras. <<page "Continue" "ch8-rabbit-field-onifire2">>\ <<elseif ($style is "Kiihakai")>>\ ''[Kiihakai Event: Automatic Success]'' <<cap $auracolor>> sparks run over your hands when you perform a half-dozen handseals in quick succession, casting a sorcerous effect that overrides their weaker Aura Pressure with your own. They both fail to notice you and launch another volley of Fire Chi at their Oni target. Their attacks magnify from your effect and redirect in front of them, swirling into a figure eight before slamming into each other. Through the mastery of chi sorcery you triple their damage output and hijack their attacks, forcing them to burn each other until their auras deplete and they collapse to the ground, unconscious and butt-naked, having burned each other's clothes off. <<apboost (4+$fightbonus)>>\ One of Misuka's scrying orbs dashes over to the scene and vibrates in place with golden chi. "An aura-shattering, clothes-scattering attack by $titlename!" Her voice echoes through the effect. "The Flying Salamanders came to Nanhou to show off their skills, but in the face of such a warrior all they can show off is an unusual birthmark on their leader's left buttcheek!" ''[Eternal Enemy Acquired: Flying Salamander School]'' <<var $enemiesgained + 10000000000000>>\ Whoops. <<page "Continue" "ch8-rabbit-field-onifire2">>\ <<else>>\ <<var $combatstat "soul">>\ <<discount "Water" 1>>\ <<discount "Storm" 1>>\ <<discount "Light" 1>>\ <<attack "Energy Ranged">>\ <<combatcheck 8>>\ <<if ($passcheck is true)>>\ <<if (($element1 is "Light") or ($element2 is "Light"))>>\ Adding speed to your blasts with the Light Element, you \ <<else>>\ You \ <</if>>\ charge two expanding bonfire-sized concentrations of $auracolor chi around both hands and launch each at the flame-wielding attackers. Your blast slams into their backs so hard that it not only destroys their aura but even breaks through the back of their gi, striking the skin underneath. Your assailants fall unconscious without ever having seen their attacker. <<apboost (2+$fightbonus)>>\ "A devastating double-blast from $titlename!" One of Misuka's scrying orbs calls from overhead. "Could such a cowardly attack from behind be $hisher Signature Technique? Scry in to future fights to find out!" You wince at the \ <<if ($ally is "Desdemona")>>\ wording. "Not my most honorable attack." "They were fighting a two-on-one." Desdemona says. "They deserved it." "Would we fight a two-on-one?" You ask, jogging up to collect their unconscious forms for the wall. "Without hesitation." Desdemona says. "But we'll keep an eye on our backs." <<else>>\ wording. <</if>>\ <<include "ch8-rabbit-field-onifire2">>\ <<else>>\ No. You are not. When you charge two energy blasts to hit the unsuspecting attackers, you're surprised by the flames left behind on the grass. They envelope around you <<if ($ally is "Desdemona")>>\ and- ''[Alliance Event]'' Get repelled by wave after wave of Desdemona's golden Mystic Chi. You add your own powering up aura into the mix and break through the fire attack in seconds. "Thanks!" You shout to the witch. "Don't thank me." Desdemona says, scowling. "I should have let you burn." <<if ($honor lte 45)>>\ Huh? Well fuck her too if she- <<else>>\ Wow. Someone woke up on the wrong side of the- <</if>>\ Oh. You look up ahead and understand what she meant. She should have let you burn //and saved the Oni//. By the time you've broken through the flame effect, the Oni's been scorched unconscious. His attackers carry his unconscious form off towards the stonewall. "Should we go after them?" Desdemona asks, slowing to a halt. "No." You reply, looking around. "We need to find a better opportunity before it's too late." <<include "ch8-rabbit-field5">>\ <<else>>\ and shrink, constricting on your body like a tightening blanket of pure superheated fire. <<if (($element1 is "Fire") or ($element2 is "Fire"))>>\ ''[Fire Event: Damage Resisted]'' <<elseif (($element1 is "Ice") or ($element2 is "Ice"))>>\ ''[Ice Event: Damage Resisted]'' <<else>>\ <<woundcheck 2 false true>>\ <</if>>\ <<if (($element1 is "Fire") or ($element2 is "Fire"))>>\ Your own inner fire resists the damage, but by the time you break free from the constriction of the Technique you \ <<elseif (($element1 is "Ice") or ($element2 is "Ice"))>>\ A layer of Ice surrounds your body to contend the Fire Chi, pushing back against its heat in a battle of temperature. You keep up the defense and suppress the fire down to nothing in the next few seconds. Feeling victorious, you break through their Technique and \ <<elseif ($eblocktech isnot "")>>\ Your $eblocktech Technique holds the flames off long enough for you to break through and charge forward, only to \ <<else>>\ <<var $phasetwohuman true>>\ "A surprise attack on a surprise attack!" Shouts Misuka the Performer through one of her scrying orbs overhead. "That's a point from $titlename for suffering Contestant damage. Can $heshe recover in the final stretches to live up to the $titletype name? Let's find out!" "RRRAH!" You scream, charging up your aura and breaking through the flames. You charge forward, expecting to change the pace of the fight in one decisive strike, when you \ <</if>>\ see the Oni already unconscious from the fire attacks. The two attackers are running down the field with him over one of their shoulders. You sigh and groan. There goes that plan. Knowing you must think and act quickly, you improvise and look for other opportunities. <<include "ch8-rabbit-field5">>\ <</if>>\ <</if>>\ <</if>>\

<<var $ubodies + 2>>\ "Thank you for that." Says the Oni, slowing to a halt and looking back at his unconscious attackers. "They know I-" "Don't care!" You say, grabbing the two unconscious fire wielders and throwing them over each shoulder. "Birds still looking for food overhead!" The two of you begin running again while he looks over his shoulder. "Oh dear Ancestors, I nearly forgot about them." "I'll keep them off you if you give me points at the wall!" <<if ($honor gt 50)>>\ ''[Honor 50 Check Passed]'' "Deal." The man says without question or terms. <<if ($ally is "Desdemona")>>\ "That was easy." Desdemona says. "No words are needed between honorable men." The Oni replies. <<if ($heshe is "she")>>\ "We're both women." Desdemona replies. The man is silent as you all \ <<else>>\ Desdemona nearly trips from rolling her eyes mid-sprint. You \ <</if>>\ all take off down the field \ <<else>>\ He stays several steps behind while you run ahead \ <</if>>\ in search of more opportunities. <<var $wbodies + 1>>\ <<else>>\ ''[Honor 50 Check Failed]'' "Certainly!" He says. "Let me just-" You hear nothing for a moment, not even any footsteps behind you, and when you turn he's shrunken into your shadow and vanished. <<if ($ally is "Desdemona")>>\ ''[Alliance Event]'' Desdemona dives closer, pulls her sleeve up mid-lunge, and shoves a pale arm down into your shadow as well. She then rips her arm up and lifts the Oni back out by the neck. "I'm sorry!" He chokes out in a raspy voice. "Please don't hurt me!" "Follow the Thunderfaller as thanks for saving you." She says while you heft the two unconscious fire wielders over each shoulder. "And if you don't surrender your points, you surrender your life." "Y-Yes ma'am." The Oni shouts meekly. He falls in line and you all break into a run down the field, looking for other opportunities. <<var $wbodies + 1>>\ <<else>>\ Bastard. You heft the two unconscious fire wielders over each shoulder and begin running again, on the lookout for other opportunities. <</if>>\ <</if>>\ <<include "ch8-rabbit-field5">>\

<<if ($val2 is 787)>>\ <<include "ch8-rabbit-field5">>\ <<else>>\ "Phew!" Shouts the Monkey Yokai, skidding backward on the grass when her flipping finally comes to a halt. "I thought I was a goner for sure. Thank you! Farewell!" She turns to take off. "Wait!" You holler. "Could you return the favor at the stonewall? I need two people to come with me." <<var $val2 3>>\ <<if ($subrace is "Monkey")>>\ ''[Monkey Yokai Bonus: Difficulty Reduced]'' <<var $val2 - 1>>\ <</if>>\ <<if ($prestige gte 40)>>\ ''Prestige 40 Check Passed: Difficulty Reduced]'' <<var $val2 - 1>>\ <</if>>\ <<if ($ally is "Desdemona")>>\ <<var $val2 - 1>>\ <</if>>\ <<if ($val2 lt 0)>>\ <<var $val2 0>>\ <</if>>\ <<if ($persuasion gte $val2)>>\ ''[Persuasion $val2 Check Passed]'' <<var $powexp + 1>>\ <<var $wbodies + 1>>\ "Er..." A half-dozen contestants sprint past you both as she considers your offer. \ <<if ($ally is "Desdemona")>>\ She points behind you, to Desdemona. "If I say no, is she going to electrocute me?" "No." You say reassuringly. "Yes." Desdemona says, fingertips crackling with black electricity. "Then....sure. I'll follow you, but keep everyone off me! If I'm giving you my last points, I need to avoid getting hit to keep a score of four!" "Easy enough." Desdemona says, with the three of you breaking out into a sprint back down the field in search of more opportunities. <<else>>\ "I need those points to score for myself, don't I?" "Sure." You concede. "But you'll lose just as many points if you get hit. Come with me, I'll fend off any attackers. You'll score the same as you would have before, but without being wounded." She sighs. "My Sectmaster is going to kill me. Fine. Let's go." The two of you break into a sprint down the field while you look for more opportunities. <</if>>\ <<else>>\ "No but thankyougoodbyyyyye!" She shouts faster and faster, sprinting into a somersault that launches off through a tunnel of Wind Chi. <<if ($ally is "Desdemona")>>\ "That's one option down." Desdemona sighs, watching the spirited girl disappear in the distance. "Any other ideas?" "Yes." You reply, annoyed but too busy to mope. "Follow me." <<else>>\ You watch her vault into the distance with annoyance and regret. Saving people \ <<if ($ruthless lt 50)>>\ isn't always rewarding. <<else>>\ is bullshit. <</if>>\ <<var $ruthless + 2>>\ Still, you \ <<if ($ruthless lt 50)>>\ can't give up \ <<else>>\ now need even //more// bullshit, \ <</if>>\ because you still don't have what you need for the stonewall challenge. Sprinting down the field you keep your eyes open for more opportunities. <</if>>\ <</if>>\ <</if>>\ <<include "ch8-rabbit-field5">>\

"You saved me!" Shouts the Lost Siren Disciple, catching her breath. "That guy had such a creepy look on his face while he chased me! It was like he was hunting me for sport!" She picks up a nearby rock and throws it at his unconscious body. <<if ($ally is "Desdemona")>>\ "Careful!" Hisses Desdemona, lifting the man's unconscious body for points. "Damage your own loot!" The woman glares at her and \ <<else>>\ It slaps his unconscious leg with a gratifying thud. The woman \ <</if>>\ turns to \ <<if ($ally is "Desdemona")>>\ you. \ <<else>>\ you while you pick up the unconscious man and hoist him over your shoulder. \ <</if>>\ "I can't thank you enough, I really thought that was the end for me." "You can thank me by surrendering your points at the end of the Trial." You respond. "I can keep you safe until then, so you'll keep your other points. A fair trade?" <<var $ubodies + 1>>\ <<if (($bodytype is "Handsome") or (($heshe is "he") and ($style is "Midorikatai")))>>\ <<if ($bodytype is "Handsome")>>\ ''[Handsome Bodytype Event]'' <<else>>\ ''[Midorikatai Bodytype Event]'' <</if>>\ <<var $wbodies + 1>>\ She stares at you, her cheeks flush and her eyes sparkling. Three men run past the two of you, fighting to the near-death with their swords in a free for all brawl of blade and chi. She continues to stare at you, unphased. "Does it sound like a fair trade?" You ask, waving your hand over her face. "Hm? Oh! Yes, yeah, that sounds great. Whatever you were saying. I'm all about it." "Good." You reply. "Follow me." <<if ($ally is "Desdemona")>>\ Desdemona catches up to you and \ <<if ($desromance gte 4)>>\ glares at the woman in suspicion. You \ <<else>>\ you \ <</if>>\ all \ <<else>>\ You both \ <</if>>\ run further down the field, keeping pace with the rest of the contestants as you look for more opportunities. <<elseif (dig($alliesgained, 4) gte 1)>>\ ''[Lost Siren Event]'' "Uh, heh, sorry but I...I..." She stares closer, mouth dropping as she analyzes your face. "You're $himher! You're the \ <<if ($heshe is "he")>>\ man \ <<else>>\ one \ <</if>>\ who \ <<if (dig($alliesgained, 4) is 2)>>\ brought a whole repair crew to fix that ship for us back on the island!" <<if ($ally is "Desdemona")>>\ "Really?" Desdemona asks, looking from her to you. "Is there anyone you //haven't// met?" \ <</if>>\ Oh yeah. You did do that. You smile and shrug. "I didn't think you'd remember. How did it sail?" "Like a cloud in the sky." She replies. "I usually get seasick but-" "NOOOOOOO!!!!" Screams a man one hundred feet down the field, being sucked into the ground by someone else's shadow, as if it were devouring him. The shadow wielder wraps his own shadow over his shoulder like a bulging sack of pillaged loot and runs away laughing. You both stare down the field in disbelief. "That was //horrifying.//" Gasps the Lost Siren Disciple. "Um, to your question? Yes. Yes, I will gladly give you my points if you'll protect me from ''that''." "Deal." You reply. <<var $wbodies + 1>>\ <<elseif (dig($alliesgained, 4) is 1)>>\ spared us on the island and learned the Sectmistress's Technique!" <<if ($ally is "Desdemona")>>\ "Really?" Desdemona asks, looking from her to you. "Is there anyone you //haven't// met?" \ <</if>>\ You smile and shrug. "It's a good Technique. Tell her I'll use it well." <<var $wbodies + 1>>\ "Well you'd better!" The Lost Siren says. "In fact, you're a lot stronger than me. If you can get to the top Trials and use it, my Sectmistress would look really good...okay! I'll follow you. Let's go!" <<elseif (dig($alliesgained, 4) is 3)>>\ caught us on the island! The Sectmistress has been trying to find you!" <<if ($ally is "Desdemona")>>\ "Really?" Desdemona asks, looking from her to you. "Is there anyone you //haven't// met?" \ <</if>>\ "Revenge?" You ask. "I thought we left on good terms." "No no, nothing like that." She says, shaking both hands and her head. "It's um...it's more like she-" <<var $wbodies + 1>>\ "NOOOOOOO!!!!" Screams a man one hundred feet down the field, being sucked into the ground by someone else's shadow, as if it were devouring him. The shadow wielder wraps his own shadow over his shoulder like a bulging sack of pillaged loot and runs away laughing. You both stare down the field in disbelief. "That was //horrifying.//" Gasps the Lost Siren Disciple. "Um, to your question? Yes. Yes, I will gladly give you my points if you'll protect me from ''that''." "Deal." You reply. <<var $wbodies + 1>>\ <</if>>\ The Lost Siren Disciple follows you \ <<if ($ally is "Desdemona")>>\ and Desdemona \ <</if>>\ down the field as you seek out more opportunities. <<else>>\ "Um...sure! You lead and I'll follow!" You sprint down the field \ <<if ($ally is "Desdemona")>>\ with Desdemona catching up to you, \ <<else>>\ in a hurry, \ <</if>>\ motioning for the Lost Siren to follow. As you catch up to the other contestants and look for an opening to intervene in anyone's fights, you notice something wrong. ''[Event Failed: No Lost Siren Alliance]'' That damn Lost Siren woman is nowhere to be seen. You've been tricked. <</if>>\ <<include "ch8-rabbit-field5">>\

<<var $tookfield true>>\ <<if ($ally is "Desdemona")>>\ <<if ($txt is "pastedessy")>>\ You and the Dreamriver Sect sprint away from the ravine battle, heading down into the fields at an angle. Scattering Martial Artists break out into fights all down the field, but it's not your spiritual senses that feel assaulted. It's your //ears//. The remaining bird Beasts have broken into a chaotic chorus of chirps, caws, and shrieks, blasting energy or razorsharp plumes down into the field as everyone makes a break for the stonewall two miles away. <</if>>\ <<page "KAWWW!" "ch8-rabbit-field3">>\ <<else>>\ <<include "ch8-rabbit-field4">>\ <</if>>\

"Disciple Aoki!" Desdemona screams out when an oversized crow wreathed in Darkness Chi takes off with one of her Disciples, snatching it out of the formation. "Li, Moon, after it!" "Yes, Lady Desdemona!" They shout, bringing the other two with them and following the crow towards the woods. "Are they going to be okay?" You ask, dashing sideways to dodge a...quill? Some sort of javelin-sized quill? You don't have time to check if there's a flying porcupine above you. "These are the Trials," She responds through fast paced panting breaths, "their performance is ultimately up to them. We need to focus on our own issues: we're surrounded in fights that could spill over any moment. I have my Disciples to pass me the stonewall, we'll collect two others to ensure you pass through." <<include "ch8-rabbit-field4">>\

To your left, a Monkey Yokai somersaults at a rapid pace, narrowly avoiding the beam of Water Chi from above that digs trenches into the earth behind her. To your right, flames spread across the grass where a lone Oni fights off three Fire wielders intent on lowering his score. Up ahead, a young Devanic Monk fights off a giant vulture with green-glowing talons. Over your shoulder, much to your surprise, a quick glance reveals \ <<if (dig($voyagechoice, 1) is 1)>>\ a Lunargoth of the Endless Beating School in a two-on-one sword battle against Earth wielders with stone swords. <<else>>\ a girl in Lost Siren colors from the island fleeing lightning bolts launched by a man on horseback. You've no idea where he got a horse. <</if>>\ That chaos leaves only above and below for safety, and even then, you think you spotted a couple in white and blue furs riding a giant crane above you. <<if (($element1 is "Earth") or ($element2 is "Earth"))>>\ ''[Earth Element Event: Automatic Success]'' A quick pulse of Earth Chi tells you that at least there's nothing to fear from below. <<apboost 5>>\ A small solace when you're otherwise surrounded by chaos. <<elseif ($insight gte 3)>>\ ''[Insight 3 Check Passed]'' <<var $apval 3>>\ A strong spiritual scan tells you that at least there's nothing to fear from below. <<apboost 5>>\ A small solace when you're otherwise surrounded by chaos. <<else>>\ ''[Insight 3 Check Failed]'' You're not even going to check below, not with so much chaos in your surroundings. Besides, it's not like you brought a shovel. <</if>>\ You keep a steady pace and cast your gaze in all directions. If you can save any of these people, you might be able to get them to surrender their points at the stonewall. Then again, for less points, you could always choose violence instead. Whether willing or defeated, you'll need two people if you want to pass the final challenge of the Trial. <<include "ch8-rabbit-field5">>\

<<var $val3 2>>\ <<if ($phasetwobird is true)>>\ <<var $val3 - 1>>\ <</if>>\ <<if ($phasetwohuman is true)>>\ <<var $val3 - 1>>\ <</if>>\ <<var $scorybory ($rscore + $val3)>>\ ''[Current Rabbit Score: $scorybory]'' <<choose "ch8-rabbit-field-leavefield">> #use-once Help the Monkey Yokai fleeing a Waterfowl. [Agility Check] -> "ch8-rabbit-field-phewmonkey" The acrobatic Monkey Yokai woman flips and spins and somersaults forward, deftly dodging a heavy stream of Water blasts being sent from above, out of the mouth of a horse-sized Waterfowl. At first glance it appears she has this handled well, avoiding the attacks with ease, but you pick up on one detail that tells you she might need help. She's screaming. The poor girl is screaming and crying and begging for help with every leap. <<if ($ally is "Desdemona")>>\ "Do you want to save her or should I?" Desdemona asks, glancing toward the same target with electricity crackling over her hands. <</if>>\ <<if (($element1 is "Storm") or ($element2 is "Storm"))>>\ ''[Storm Event: Automatic Success]'' <<if ($ally is "Desdemona")>>\ "I'll handle it." You say, still sprinting. <<else>>\ Luckily for her, you've arrived. <</if>>\ Without slowing down you charge Storm Chi through your system and out around one arm, cycling the current in loops until your right arm glows like a cylindrical $auracolor sun. Swiping your arm skyward, you launch all your electrical energy into a beam that cuts through the air and blasts the Water-wielding Beast out of the sky. <<apboost (4+$fightbonus)>>\ "Honk!" It calls out in pain, aura shattering and body roasting in an instant. <<elseif ((($element1 is "Ice") and ($element1rank gte 2)) or (($element2 is "Ice") and ($element2rank gte 2)))>>\ ''[Ice (Adept) Event: Automatic Success]'' <<if ($ally is "Desdemona")>>\ "I'll handle it." You say, still sprinting. <<else>>\ Luckily for her, you've arrived. <</if>>\ ''//"Icewall."//'' You call out, freezing the giant mallard's water beam near the front, directly in front of its face. With two hands stretched outward to spiritually grip the distant block of ice, you wrench your hands back and slam the ice wall you've created right into the flying bird's beak, crushing its head into the object at top speeds. <<apboost (4+$fightbonus)>>\ "Honk!" It calls out in pain, crumpling to the ground. <<elseif ((((dig($techslotcode[1], 16) is 4) or (dig($techslotcode[2], 16) is 4)) or (dig($techslotcode[3], 16) is 4)) or (dig($techslotcode[4], 16) is 4))>>\ <<if ($ally is "Desdemona")>>\ "I'll handle it." You say, charging up a Technique you've focused for this exact moment. <<else>>\ Luckily for her, you've focused a Technique for this exact moment. <</if>>\ <<if (dig($techslotcode[1], 16) is 4)>>\ <<chitype $techslotcode[1]>>\ ''//"$techslotname[1]!"//'' <<elseif (dig($techslotcode[2], 16) is 4)>>\ <<chitype $techslotcode[2]>>\ ''//"$techslotname[2]!"//'' <<elseif (dig($techslotcode[3], 16) is 4)>>\ <<chitype $techslotcode[3]>>\ ''//"$techslotname[3]!"//'' <<elseif (dig($techslotcode[4], 16) is 4)>>\ <<chitype $techslotcode[4]>>\ ''//"$techslotname[4]!"//'' <</if>>\ You call out, blasting your $elemhitter attack into the flying Beast's side. <<var $apval (4+$fightbonus)>>\ <<apboost 5>>\ The giant waterfowl's side explodes into a cloud of feathers and its aura shatters, crumpling to the ground with a pained and surprised "Honk!" <<else>>\ You charge forward right into the exploding dirt launched up by the Beast's waterblast. In the cloud of debris, with your hands feeling through the dark of the dirt cloud, you find what you're looking for: A big rock. You plant your left leg forward and swing your right leg around in an arc, adding heft and weight to your 40lb stone toss. You kick off with your left leg at the apex of your twist, putting your full stabilized weight behind your throw. <<var $combatstat "agility">>\ <<discount "Trapper" 1>>\ <<discount "Muscular" 1>>\ <<discount "Wind" 1>>\ <<discount "Midorikatai" 1>>\ <<discount "Earth" 1>>\ <<combatcheck 8>>\ <<if ($passcheck is true)>>\ <<var $wbodies + 1>>\ The rock soars through the air, wrapped in $auracolor chi, and slams into the giant waterfowl's side. <<apboost (2+$fightbonus)>>\ "Honk!" It screams in agony, its aura exploding alongside a cloud of feathers blown off its body. The Beast's neck cranes and it crumples to the ground. <<else>>\ ...You miss. "HONK!" Replies the giant waterfowl, launching its water beam at you. <<if ($pblocktech isnot "")>>\ Only your $pblocktech Technique saves you from losing points and blood from the water beam so pressurized it digs four feet into the ground. \ <<else>>\ The water beam slams into your chest like a drill, crushing you two feet into the ground in a spray of dirt, mud, and your own blood. \ <</if>>\ <<woundcheck 1 true false>>\ <<if ($pblocktech isnot "")>>\ "A stunning delivery by the Water Lord of Hitten Lake!" Shouts Misuka the Performer through one of her scrying orbs overhead. "That's a point from $titlename for suffering Beast damage. Can $heshe recover in the final stretches to live up to the $titletype name? Let's find out!" You doubt it in this very moment, for your bruised ribs fight against your movement when you dig yourself out of the dirt. By the time you do, it's too late to save the monkey. <</if>>\ "AHHHHHHH!!!!!" The Yokai screams, having the giant Beast diving down at her. It snaps her up in its beak and takes off into the air towards the ravine. <<if ($ally is "Desdemona")>>\ "That's one option down." Desdemona sighs, slowing to a halt and watching Misuka the Performer desperately chase after the contestant in trouble. "Any other ideas?" "One." You croak out, breaking back into a sprint despite the pain in your body. "Follow me." <<else>>\ That's one option down. Time for a different idea. <</if>>\ <<var $val2 787>>\ <</if>>\ <</if>>\ #use-once Help the Oni under assault by a Fire School. [Soul Check] -> "ch8-rabbit-field-onifire" #show-if (dig($voyagechoice, 1) is 1) use-once Help the Endless Beating Lunargoth battling in a two-on-one swordfight. [Power Check] You haven't seen much of the Endless Beating School since your encounter on the seaside cliff. Like most rivals, you'd expected to find them making some grand claim about defeating you in an overly dramatic situation. Instead you find a Lunargoth in the signature Endless Beating gi colors fighting for his life against two men in grey and brown gi wielding swords of stone. <<if ((((($equippedweapon is "Muramasa") or ($equippedweapon is "Kagutsuchi")) or ($equippedweapon is "Ikazuchi")) or ($equippedweapon is "Shishido")) or ($equippedweapon is "Godslayer"))>>\ <<var $weppy $equippedweapon>>\ <<elseif ($equippedweapon isnot "")>>\ <<var $weppy ("your " + $equippedweapon)>>\ <<else>>\ <<var $weppy "">>\ <</if>>\ All three of them flinch, alert at a newcomer when you appear behind \ <<if (((((((((((((($equippedweapon is "Tanto")) or ($equippedweapon is "Katana")) or ($equippedweapon is "Muramasa")) or ($equippedweapon is "Greataxe")) or ($equippedweapon is "Qiang")) or ($equippedweapon is "Kunai")) or ($equippedweapon is "Jian")) or ($equippedweapon is "Iceblade")) or ($equippedweapon is "Chiblade")) or ($equippedweapon is "Kagutsuchi")) or ($equippedweapon is "Ikazuchi")) or ($equippedweapon is "Shishido")) or ($equippedweapon is "Godslayer"))>>\ them with $weppy drawn. <<elseif ($equippedweapon is "Bo Staff")>>\ them with a Bo Staff. <<elseif ($equippedweapon is "Meteor Hammer")>>\ them with a swinging Meteor Hammer. <<else>>\ them. <</if>>\ <<if ($style is "Akakiru")>>\ ''[Akakiru Event: Automatic Success]'' The two stone-swordsman swing in unison, spinning their bodies in place with complete stability thanks to the Earth Chi beneath their feet. ''*TING*'' Stone blades clash against two $auracolor slashes of Bladed Chi, each sent out from your aura. Their attacks are deflected and they're pushed on the backfoot, giving you a perfect opening. <<if (((((((((((((($equippedweapon is "Tanto")) or ($equippedweapon is "Katana")) or ($equippedweapon is "Muramasa")) or ($equippedweapon is "Greataxe")) or ($equippedweapon is "Qiang")) or ($equippedweapon is "Kunai")) or ($equippedweapon is "Jian")) or ($equippedweapon is "Iceblade")) or ($equippedweapon is "Chiblade")) or ($equippedweapon is "Kagutsuchi")) or ($equippedweapon is "Ikazuchi")) or ($equippedweapon is "Shishido")) or ($equippedweapon is "Godslayer"))>>\ You slash $weppy against both their chests \ <<elseif (($equippedweapon is "Bo Staff") or ($equippedweapon is "Meteor Hammer"))>>\ You surprise them with a blunt \ <<if ($equippedweapon is "Meteor Hammer")>>\ spinning \ <</if>>\ strike to both their jaws \ <<else>>\ You surprise them with a rising roundhouse kick that hits both their heads in one strike \ <</if>>\ at the same time that the Endless Beating Disciple slashes at their backs, cutting deep enough to wound but not kill. Each screams out when their auras shatter and their eyes roll into the back of their heads. "A stunning tagteam assault by the Endless Beating School and \ <<if (dig($trialdeets, 1) is 2)>>\ Thunderfall Village!" Shouts one of Misuka the Performer's scrying orbs overhead. "Could Sectmaster Mao have hidden alliances among the nomadic teachers? Continue watching to find out!" <<else>>\ the $clan Clan!" Shouts one of Misuka the Performer's scrying orbs overhead. "Could these nomadic groups have formed a secret alliance? Continue watching to find out!" <</if>>\ <<apboost (4+$fightbonus)>>\ <<page "Continue" "ch8-rabbit-field-endlessthanks">>\ <<elseif (($background is "Blacksmith") and ($handseals gte 1))>>\ ''[Fuuinjutsu Check Passed]'' ''[Blacksmith Event: Automatic Success]'' Smoke explodes over your body when the two swordsmen swing their rock blades at you. When it clears, they find they can't move either of their swords. You're standing in the clearing holding two extra sheaths, one in each hand, that you've shoved over the blades. Wrist wraps of reinforced cloth keep them attached to your hands, and your fingers extend over the sheath tips to grasp the crossguards of their blades. <<apboost (4+$fightbonus)>>\ "Like it?" You ask, smirking into their snarling faces when they fail to pull their swords out. "I designed the swordcatchers myself." "An impressive defensive strategy by $titlename!" Shouts one of Misuka the Performer's scrying orbs overhead. "Silence, fox demon!" Shouts the leftmost swordwielder. "It is a parlour trick, nothing m-" ''//"Endless Blade!"//'' His aura shatters alongside his ally's when the Lunargoth of the Endless Beating School slashes down their backs with his sword covered in Bladed Chi. "Score one for parlor tricks, my loyal viewers!" Shouts Misuka's orb. "Let this be a lesson to never underestimate a good distraction!" <<page "Continue" "ch8-rabbit-field-endlessthanks">>\ <<else>>\ <<var $combatstat "power">>\ <<var $weapontest true>>\ <<attack "Melee">>\ <<combatcheck 9>>\ <<if ($passcheck is true)>>\ The two swordsmen spin around, using the element of the Earth to maintain balance while turning on a single heel. Their stone blades swing inward so you are facing two bodies flanking two bladed strikes, each expanding out in a different direction of high and low. ''*TING*'' Their swords are caught on another. The Endless Beating Student stands closer to them; both his hands grip his own sword plunged down in front of their strikes to create an opening that you gladly take. <<if (((((((((((((($equippedweapon is "Tanto")) or ($equippedweapon is "Katana")) or ($equippedweapon is "Muramasa")) or ($equippedweapon is "Greataxe")) or ($equippedweapon is "Qiang")) or ($equippedweapon is "Kunai")) or ($equippedweapon is "Jian")) or ($equippedweapon is "Iceblade")) or ($equippedweapon is "Chiblade")) or ($equippedweapon is "Kagutsuchi")) or ($equippedweapon is "Ikazuchi")) or ($equippedweapon is "Shishido")) or ($equippedweapon is "Godslayer"))>>\ You slash $weppy against both their chests, \ <<elseif (($equippedweapon is "Bo Staff") or ($equippedweapon is "Meteor Hammer"))>>\ You surprise them with a blunt \ <<if ($equippedweapon is "Meteor Hammer")>>\ spinning \ <</if>>\ strike to both their jaws, \ <<elseif ($equippedweapon is "Handwraps")>>\ You deliver crisscrossing weighted punches to each of their heads, \ <<else>>\ You surprise them with a rising roundhouse kick that hits both their heads in one strike, \ <</if>>\ knocking them off balance enough for you to grab the pommels of both their swords and shove them into each other. The stone blades slice into their armor and break against their bodies, shattering alongside each other's auras from the rib-breaking impact. They each collapse to their knees and fall sideways, groaning into the sky with withering voices. One lets out his final whispers before passing out, "Forgive me...sensei..." <<apboost (2+$fightbonus)>>\ <<if ($ally is "Desdemona")>>\ "A little dramatic, don't you think?" Desdemona asks, just catching up in her dark robes and not contributing anything to the fight. "Do you think they're acting?" "You can't fake a shattered aura." She wrinkles her lips, staring at the two of them. "Perhaps it would be best if I dropped a rock on them, to be sure." She does. They aren't faking. <</if>>\ <<page "Continue" "ch8-rabbit-field-endlessthanks">>\ <<else>>\ The two swordsmen spin around and deliver sword-shattering attacks, slamming their stone weapons into your chest and ''//your shin AAAHHHHHHHH!//'' <<woundcheck 2 true false>>\ <<if ($pblocktech isnot "")>>\ Luckily your $pblocktech stops any real damage, but the shin-splinting pain is like finding the world's sharpest furniture edge in the dark. "A solid defense Technique narrowly saving $titlename from losing points!" Shouts Misuka the Performer through one of her floating scrying orbs in the sky. "But will it be enough to save $himher?" \ <<else>>\ The shin-splinting pain is like finding the world's sharpest furniture edge in the dark, somehow worse than the life-threatening brute force slammed into your lungs and heart. "Ohhh, that's a heavy hit against $titlename!" Calls one of Misuka the Performer's floating scrying orbs overhead. "With a sufficient point loss like that, can $heshe keep the momentum expected of a $titletype?" \ <</if>>\ You look up to the orb, distracted, and receive a kick from one of the stone-weapon wielders that sends you tumbling across the field. Gritting your teeth, you shove both hands backward and shove off the ground, rising in a flip and landing in a battle stance. There's no point, however. You look on in disappointment to see the stone-sword pair running down the field with the unconscious Endless Beating student over their shoulders, prepared to turn him in at the stonewall. <<if ($ally is "Desdemona")>>\ "So much for that idea." Says Desdemona. "It would have worked if you'd-" You turn around to see her covered in blood and feathers. "Are you okay?" "In battle? Always." She says, nose held high, then points at the exploded pantleg of your right shin. "Are you okay?" "AAAHHHHHHH!" Screams a nearby contestant, dropped from the air by a roc. She slams against the ground with a shattering white aura. You and Desdemona snap back to attention, sprinting down the field in search of other opportunities. <<else>>\ So much for that idea. If only you'd- "AAAHHHHHHH!" Screams a nearby contestant, dropped from the air by a roc. She slams against the ground with a shattering white aura. The scene snaps you back to reality and you sprint back down the field in search of new opportunities. <</if>>\ <<include "ch8-rabbit-field5">>\ <</if>>\ <</if>>\ #show-if (dig($voyagechoice, 1) is 2) use-once Help the Lost Siren Human fleeing the Storm archer. [Power Check] One of the 'tribal' women from the island has made her way to the Heavenly Ascension Trials, noticeably abandoning her furs and feathers for a traditional pink and white sleeveless gi. One that clearly isn't empowered, because it's in tatters. The woman flees, tumbles, and desperately dives out of the way from lightning bolts launched at her from the bow of a horseman riding down the field. "This looks like the end for the Lost Siren Sect, folks!" One of Misuka the Performer's golden-pink scrying orbs announces, hovering overhead. "Can she escape from the mounted lightning archer of the Tenjuu Clan, or will we see a bloody conclusion to this fight before it begins? Let's find out!" <<if ($equippedweapon is "Yumi")>>\ ''[Yumi Weapon Event: Automatic Success]'' You snicker at the poor fool he slows down to aim. He's not watching his back. You notch several arrows and unload a volley of your own into the man's back. Your five arrows glow with $auracolor chi and slam into his back. The first knocks him off his horse, airborne, and the next four strike him when he has nowhere to dodge. His aura shatters before he hits the ground. <<apboost (4+$fightbonus)>>\ Also, you think you pierced through his leg. <<if ($ally is "Desdemona")>>\ "How is your bow not broken?" Desdemona asks. "That spiritual strain was nothing to scoff at." <<var $desrep + 2>>\ Funny, coming from the person who scoffs so much. "Reinforcement Seals." You reply, putting your bow over your shoulder and marching to the Lost Siren woman while she stops to gasp for breath. "Yes, but how do you Seal a string?" Desdemona asks, more curious than worried about the chaotic battles and Beasts that seem to avoid you after such a display. "You have to use it on the entire wrapped spool." You reply. "It's still a single object, and that's the only time it's wide and solid enough to draw the sigils on." "Oh that //is// clever." Desdemona replies, brushing hair out of her face and looking over the unconscious body of the fallen archer. "I might have to try it." She steals a spool of his string for later. <</if>>\ <<page "Continue" "ch8-rabbit-field-siren">>\ <<elseif (($element1 is "Earth") or ($element2 is "Earth"))>>\ ''[Earth Element Event: Automatic Success]'' You slam your foot onto the ground with a focus on the Earth Chi below. The earth to the left and right of your stomp crack into plates spinning into the air. You press $auracolor palms into each one and launch them in front of the archer, intent on blocking his next lightning strike. And yet...when they nearly pass him by, they're exactly at head level. You mentally shrug and quickly grasp the spiritual presence of the stone plates from a distance, pulling them into each other. They close on his head. <<apboost (4+$fightbonus)>>\ The archer doesn't even scream when his aura shatters, he merely falls off his horse silently and crumbles to the ground. <<if ($ally is "Desdemona")>>\ "Is he dead?" Asks Desdemona. "No." You reply reflexively. "I made sure to hold back." "What?" Desdemona's face scrunches. "No, it's basic math. There's no way to hold back rocks when they hit a skull at that speed." "Shhh." <</if>>\ <<page "Continue" "ch8-rabbit-field-siren">>\ <<else>>\ <<var $combatstat "power">>\ <<discount "Akakiru" $stylerank>>\ <<attack "Melee">>\ <<combatcheck 8>>\ <<if ($passcheck is true)>>\ <<if ($style is "Akakiru")>>\ You snap your fingers when the mounted man motions to draw another arrow, erupting Bladed Chi around its tip from a distance. The effect cascades, triggering Bladed Chi off the blade of every arrow in his quiver. His back //erupts// in slashes of pain. "Oooaaaaahhhh!!" He hollers in shock, dropping his bow and reaching both hands for his back. He doesn't see you coming when you sprint across the field and leap, landing a kick right into the same injury you just created. Your foot impacts his wounded flesh and explodes violet sparks all around you when his aura shatters and he's blown off his horse. \ <<else>>\ You dash across the field, speeding over the grass and leaping high into the air. By the time the archer notices you and charges up a Storm Technique, you're already behind him. Your fist crunches into his face before he can prepare a proper attack. His nose implodes, splattering blood everywhere, and both his eyes sink in from the impact that shatters his aura and launches him off his horse. Violet sparks explode all around you from the loss of a Storm wielders aura. <</if>>\ <<apboost (2+$fightbonus)>>\ <<if ($ally is "Desdemona")>>\ "Showing off, are we?" Desdemona calls over, watching you land on the horse and grab the reigns. \ <<if ($heshe is "he")>>\ "Care to let a lady on?" <<else>>\ "Let me up, the mud has been gathering on my shoes." <</if>>\ You hop off at the same moment that the horse explodes into white light, disappearing. Desdemona catches up and looks around at the exploded grass, hurt. "Did you have to blow it up?" You look more confused than anything. "I...didn't." Desdemona glances around the field, ignoring the dashing contestants, criss-crossing energy blasts, and screeching Beasts. "I don't see it anywhere. Could it have been a Technique?" You shrug. If someone can create a horse, you've certainly never heard of it. <</if>>\ <<page "Continue" "ch8-rabbit-field-siren">>\ <<else>>\ You dash across the field and leap into the air, but the horse archer turns your way with violent sparking eyes. His bow turns your way and he unleashes a bolt of lightning through your chest. <<if (($element1 is "Storm") or ($element2 is "Storm"))>>\ ''[Storm Event: Damage Resisted]'' <<elseif (($element1 is "Earth") or ($element2 is "Earth"))>>\ ''[Earth Event: Damage Resisted]'' <<else>>\ <<woundcheck 2 false true>>\ <</if>>\ <<if (($element1 is "Storm") or ($element2 is "Storm"))>>\ Your own inner Storm traps the lightning bolt and rides your body along its current, knocking you back but protecting your spirit from damage through years of Storm meditation. <<elseif (($element1 is "Earth") or ($element2 is "Earth"))>>\ The Earth Chi within your Cores blocks the lightning bolt like a solid mountain, blasting you back with the concussive force generated when you deflect the lightning bolt skyward. <<elseif ($eblocktech isnot "")>>\ Your $eblocktech Technique blocks the elemental attack, blasting you back with the concussive force generated when you deflect the lightning bolt skyward. <<else>>\ Burn marks form in the center of your chest and you're blasted back by the pure voltage of the man's attack. <<var $phasetwohuman true>>\ <</if>>\ By the time you land, rise, and begin running again it's already too late, he's defeated the Lost Siren and scooped her unconscious body onto his horse. <<if ($ally is "Desdemona")>>\ Desdemona catches up to you a moment later, covered in blood and feathers. "Don't ask." She says. "What did I miss?" "Don't ask." You reply, looking for better opportunities running further down the field. <<else>>\ So much for that idea. You break into a sprint down the field, looking around at any other opportunities. <</if>>\ <<include "ch8-rabbit-field5">>\ <</if>>\ <</if>>\ #use-once Help the monk fighting off the dragon-masked men. [Fortitude Check] A bare-handed monk wraps Sacred Chi around his fists and narrowly deflects his attackers' unusual methods. The two men he faces have altered their bodies, presumably with Wild Chi, into minor draconic forms. One with claws, the other with fangs and a stronger, wider, longer jaw. The monk deflects claw attacks and pulls away from the constant bites, ripping his robes and bleeding on one arm. When you come in to close the distance, both the draconic fighters spin in an instant and dive away from their target, toward you. A perception Technique! ''//"Wildbreath!"//'' Screams one, unleashing a torrent of dense green chi that slams over your body like a river of hammers. The other dashes to the side and strikes at you with his claws, pushing you back into the chi blast. <<if ($style is "Aoyusumu")>>\ ''[$style Event: Automatic Success]'' A Sacred Chi barrier wraps around you, protecting you from the blast. The monk behind the draconic fighters widens his eyes. "Keep that active!" He throws both hands forward and forms a second barrier, wider and further away from you, then begins to shrink it. You smirk when you realize his plan: the draconic fighters are trapped between your barriers. You expand your barrier-dome into them while he shrinks his in behind them, crushing the two against your forcefields. They power up with green Wild Chi to resist the effect but you're not planning to crush them, just hold them. Once the two psionic Sacred barriers trap the two, squeezing them tightly. You open small holes in your barrier at the point of your target's abdomen and chest. Without them able to move, fighting to resist the pressing effect, you unload a flurry of punches into their unprotected torsos with reckless abandon. <<apboost (4+$fightbonus)>>\ You drop the effect when their auras shatter around punch number thirty. <<var $ubodies + 2>>\ <<page "Continue" "ch8-rabbit-field-dragonmen">>\ <<elseif ($style is "Midorikatai")>>\ ''[$style Event: Automatic Success]'' You catch the man's claws and hold him in front of you, letting him take the brunt of the Wildbreath attack. He howls in pain while you march through the attack using him as a human shield. When you reach his friend you shove the claw man's claws into his mouth, piercing the man's longer tongue, and //pull//. The breath attack is replaced with a scream of pain. You then kick his jaw shut, closing it on his friend's wrist. <<apboost (4+$fightbonus)>>\ While they're both busy screaming, you get to work pummeling their body and spirit with jabs and uppercuts to the gut until you close the deal with a haymaker to one of their heads. Your strike knocks him into his friend, blowing both of them into the distance where they collide into a tree by the woods. <<var $ubodies + 2>>\ <<page "Continue" "ch8-rabbit-field-dragonmen">>\ <<else>>\ <<var $combatstat "fortitude">>\ <<discount "Muscular" 1>>\ <<discount "Manlet" 1>>\ <<discount "Petite" 1>>\ <<discount "Earth" 1>>\ <<discount "Darkness" 1>>\ <<discount "Bovine" 1>>\ <<combatcheck 8>>\ <<if ($passcheck is true)>>\ You \ <<if (($element1 is "Darkness") or ($element2 is "Darkness"))>>\ cover yourself in shadow and duck low, then \ <<else>>\ duck low and \ <</if>>\ spin your back-leg behind you, clocking the claw-wielder in the jaw with a surprise rising spinkick. Your strike knocks him into the Wildbreath attack and shields you long enough to let you leap overhead. The claw man crashes into the breath-blaster, knocking him off balance and ending the Technique. As soon as he does, you land upon him with a devastating headbutt. <<apboost (2+$fightbonus)>>\ The two stumble to rise but the monk you helped lands on one in the gut with a falling kick. Together you pommel the draconic fighters until their auras shatter. \ <<var $ubodies + 2>>\ <<page "Continue" "ch8-rabbit-field-dragonmen">>\ <<else>>\ You grab the man's wrists and drag him into the Wildbreath energy beam with you, damaging you both, but something feels wrong. The claw-fighter is holding his hands over his head. You don't react in time, suffering a pain-wracking river of concussive chi damage when the Wildbreath-wielder leaps overhead, launching his energy beam at you from above instead of the from the front. The attack slams into your shoulders and the top of your skull, battering your brain with hostile energy. <<woundcheck 2 false true>>\ <<if ($eblocktech isnot "")>>\ Only your $eblocktech saves you from losing points to the blow, as well as a whole lot of blood and sense. <<else>>\ <<var $phasetwohuman true>>\ <</if>>\ Luckily the draconic fighter isn't flying, because he quickly falls within striking distance. You strike him with his friend. Using two hands to grip the claw-wielder's wrists, you swing the man into an airborne arc and smack his body into his ally's, slamming them both into the ground with centrifugal force. The hit the ground rolling, scattering out of the way, and throw dirt in your eyes. You leap sideways and roll forward to try and dodge any incoming attacks while blinded, but none come. By the time you finish getting the dirt out of your eyes, you see why. They've already beaten up the easier target, the monk, and left to the wall with his unconscious body. Cursing, you give up on that quarry and run down the field to catch up to other opportunities. <<include "ch8-rabbit-field5">>\ <</if>>\ <</if>>\ #use-once Calculate the trajectory of the crane-riding duo to attack them. [No Bonus Points] -> "ch8-rabbit-field5" To hell with getting people on your side. You're //taking// people onto your side. Circular waves of $auracolor chi expand from under your feet, charging up into one great leap before you take off in a controlled burst and launch into the sky. <<if ((($element1 is "Wind") and ($element1rank gte 2)) or (($element2 is "Wind") and ($element2rank gte 2)))>>\ You don't really have to, because you can fly, but these are the Trials and one of Misuka's scrying orbs is nearby. It's all about //style//. ''[Prestige Increased]'' <<var $prestige + 1>>\ <</if>>\ Wind buffets against your \ <<if ($hairlength is "bald")>>\ bald scalp, \ <<else>>\ $hairlength hair, \ <</if>>\ pressing hard against your face from the intense speed. Intense speed that brings you sixty-feet up where a crane flies with two passengers on board. Both widen their icy blue eyes when you appear beside them with $auracolor chi glowing around your fists. "Surprise!" You shout, shoving both arms forward in a close-range energy blast. <<var $combatstat "power">>\ <<if ($soul gt $power)>>\ <<var $combatstat "soul">>\ <</if>>\ <<var $combatskill "lore">>\ <<discount "Kiihakai" $stylerank>>\ <<discount "Fire" 1>>\ <<discount "Storm" 1>>\ <<attack "Energy Melee">>\ <<combatcheck 9>>\ <<if ($passcheck is true)>>\ <<var $ubodies + 2>>\ Your attack overtakes them like a singular wave, hitting every inch of their bodies and knocking them off their crane. The three of you fall to the ground, but you stay busy. Charging two more energy attacks, one in each hand, you launch the spare $auracolor orbs of power towards the impact site before your targets land. As soon as they hit the ground they're struck by your secondary attacks, shattering their auras from the three combined impacts. <<var $ubodies + 2>>\ Too easy. <<else>>\ <<if ($ally is "Desdemona")>>\ ''[Dreamriver Alliance Event]'' Your attack misses, passing them by when the crane dodges, but it miraculously curves in the air and superheats with golden Mystic Chi, spinning around to track the duo and slam into them from behind, roasting their crane and backs. The three emit heavy black smoke as they fall to the ground, crashing into the field below with shattered auras. "I accept the 'thank you' you are no doubt about to say." Desdemona calls from down on the ground. "Tha-" You hit the ground shoulder-first, falling sixty feet. "-nk you" you manage to whisper out. Desdemona sprints by holding the two unconscious crane-riders. "Come on, we've got to keep moving!" You rise to your feet and dash after her, running down the field and rotating the pain out of your shoulder. <<var $ubodies + 2>>\ <<else>>\ ''*THWAP*'' The Crane they're riding on smacks your hands with some sort of energy-rich sheen over its wing, deflecting your own energy blast into your face. <<woundcheck 1 false true>>\ <<if ($eblocktech isnot "")>>\ Your $eblocktech Technique blocks the damage, but \ <<else>>\ <<var $phasetwobird true>>\ The energy slams into your face and rushes up your nose, rattling you brain. Before you can even tell what's happening \ <</if>>\ a second wing strike sends you tumbling over; you fall the remainder of the way to the ground. "Ouch!" Shouts one of Misuka the Performer's scrying orbs. "That Sacred Wing Strike brings a new definition to the term 'Crane Style'!" Falling to the ground, you can do nothing but groan. You flip over in the air and land hard on both ankles, crouching to lessen the pain, then look around for any less embarrassing options. <</if>>\ <</if>>\ #show-if ($wbodies gte 2) Leave to the stonewall for 2 Bounty Points. [$wbodies/2 Volunteers Gathered] #show-if ($wbodies lt 2) use-if ($wbodies gte 2) Leave to the stonewall for 2 Bounty Points. [$wbodies/2 Volunteers Gathered] -> "death" #show-if (($ubodies gte 2) and ($wbodies lt 2)) Leave to the stonewall for 1 Bounty Point. [$ubodies/2 Opponents Defeated] #show-if (($ubodies lt 2) and ($wbodies lt 2)) use-if ($wbodies gte 2) Leave to the stonewall for 1 Bounty Point. [$ubodies/2 Opponents Defeated] -> "death" #show-if (($wbodies lt 2) and ($ubodies lt 2)) Give up and approach the wall for 0 Bounty Points. <</choose>>

One group of four Martial Artists is in combat with a frenzied hawk as large as a wagon, its wings spanning longer than your childhood home and swinging at them with Bladed Chi around its projectile plumes. <<if (((((((($escapeprocess is "Ravine-Fuyu-Favor") or ($escapeprocess is "Ravine-Surrender")) or ($ally is "Desdemona")) or ($escapeprocess is "Woods-Dessie-PersuasionPassed")) or ($escapeprocess is "Woods-Guiren")) or ($escapeprocess is "Woods-Solo-PersuasionPassed")) or ($escapeprocess is "Woods-Kitsune-MC")) or (($tookfield) and ($wbodies gte 2)))>>\ The Beast doesn't even glance your way, avoiding the many combatants that just emerged. <<elseif ((($escapeprocess is "Woods-Dessie-PersuasionFailed") or ($escapeprocess is "Woods-Solo-PersuasionFailed")) or (($tookfield) and ($ubodies gte 2)))>>\ The Beast doesn't even glance your way, which is good, because you're holding too many unconscious people to fight right now. \ You guess you could kick it to death, but... <<else>>\ The Beast doesn't even glance your way, clearly occupied. <</if>>\ You think the giant bloodthirsty creature might be losing the fight. Huh. You're not used to that happening if you're not involved. <<if (dig($mettaio, 1) gte 6)>>\ //Arrogance.// Whispers Taio the Bandit in your mind. //Did you truly believe every struggle revolved around you?// //Holy shit.// You mentally respond to the dead clones haunting your soul. //I forgot you guys were there. Where have you been since the Trials started?// They don't respond. You get the impression they were hiding from possible detection by strong spectators. And that the Bandit forgot, just now. Heh, idiot. Back in the real world, you notice \ <<else>>\ Refreshing. However \ <</if>>\ not every group is as coordinated as the ones fighting the Beasts. Most seem to have attacked each other instead. <<if ($tookfield is true)>>\ Coming out of the woods far to your left or rising out of a ravine path far to your right, \ <<else>>\ Spread out across the valley, \ <</if>>\ five different Martial Artists drag their defeated opponents to the wall and touch it, vanishing in a golden light when they do so. Misuka announces their names, Sects, and points, but none scored above a five. You feel a deep, //solid// annoyance when you see that one of them is a childhood obstacle that you truly should not have to deal with. Big Zhu. He looks your way and grins, mouthing the words 'too slow' when he places a hand on the wall, vanishing in a golden light. The two unconscious contestants he brought with him vanish as well. <<if ($zhuser is true)>>\ "One \ <<else>>\ "Three \ <</if>>\ points for Thunderfaller Zhu for the Rabbit Trial's second half!" Misuka's voice calls out, but this time not from an orb. The real Misuka the Performer sits directly on the center of the wall, \ <<if ($tookfield is false)>>\ halfway down the valley, \ <</if>>\ her three tails swaying behind her. "That's a total of \ <<var $zhuscore 6>>\ <<if (($zhulose) or ($stolenelixir is 1))>>\ <<var $zhuscore - 1>>\ <<elseif ($leashedzhu is true)>>\ <<var $zhuscore - 1>>\ <</if>>\ <<if ($zhuser is true)>>\ <<var $zhuscore - 2>>\ <</if>>\ <<if ($zhuscore lte 3)>>\ three in the Rabbit Trial, a far cry from what we've seen with the Sect's star pupil Crush Jack! Can another Thunderfaller close such a gap to regain their momentum?! \ <<elseif ($zhuscore is 5)>>\ five in the Rabbit Trial for the wide wonder! A passing score, but will it be enough to keep up with his peers? \ <<elseif ($zhuscore is 4)>>\ four in the Rabbit Trial for the wide wonder! A passing score, but will it be enough to keep up with his peers? \ <<else>>\ six in the Rabbit Trial for the wide wonder! Just how many prodigies has Sectmaster Mao produced?! \ <</if>>\ Let's find out, because \ <<if (dig($trialdeets, 1) is 1)>>\ Thunderfall's scandalous pariah, $titlename, \ <<else>>\ $titlename \ <</if>>\ has just arrived!" <<page "Approach the wall." "ch8-rabbit-end">>\

<<if ($rscore is 3)>>\ At the front of all runners, \ <<else>>\ Ahead of your peers, \ <</if>>\ panting hard from the passing so many people in the final stretch, is... <<combatcheck 8>>\ <<if ($passcheck is true)>>\ You. <<include "ch8-rabbit-winnerwinnerchickendinner">>\ <<else>>\ <<if (($rscore is 3) and ($fren isnot "Guiren"))>>\ An Oni Woman in purple and black Hakama, looking around in cheer at her success when Misuka announces her first place status. You try to hold back a Desdemona-level scowl. It should have been ''you.'' <<if ($zhulose is true)>>\ On the bright side, Big Zhu passes by long after you, when twenty others have already crossed the finish line. Your bullying cost him an entire point. Heh. "Trickery, damn it!" He shouts as he flies by, red in the face and crashing into the grassy ground. "First place was mine by right! MINE!" "YOU DARE QUESTION MY VICTORY, WORM?!" Shouts the short Human, breaking the two into a heated screaming match. Laying on the ground, letting your overheated body recover, you stay out of their argument and merely smile at Zhu's tantrum over you ruining his Trial. You can't wait to give Jack the same treatment. <<else>>\ On the bright side, at least the panting form of Big Zhu, prone on the grassy field a few feet away, wasn't the one to take first. Ancestors know you wouldn't have lived that down. <</if>>\ <<elseif (($rscore is 3) and (($zhulose) or ($stolenelixir is 1)))>>\ A short Human man, adorned with a goatee and covered in a fading Shadow aura. He looks to the sky and laughs his heart out when Misuka announces his first place status. You try to hold back a Desdemona-level scowl. It should have been ''you.'' On the bright side, Big Zhu passes by long after you, when twenty others have already crossed the finish line. Your bullying cost him an entire point. Heh. "Trickery, damn it!" He shouts as he flies by, red in the face and crashing into the grassy ground. "First place was mine by right! MINE!" "YOU DARE QUESTION MY VICTORY, WORM?!" Shouts the short Human, breaking the two into a heated screaming match. Laying on the ground, letting your overheated body recover, you stay out of their argument and merely smile at Zhu's tantrum over you ruining his Trial. You can't wait to give Jack the same treatment. <<elseif ($rscore is 3)>>\ Big Zhu?! Damn it! DAMN IT! The pudgy lacky looks back to you and laughs when Misuka the Performer announces his first place status. He points a finger to you, panting hard but laughing derisively through the fatigue. "Look everyone, look at the 'rival' of Crusher Jack. What a joke! He can't even beat me, how could he possibly measure up to Jack!?" The other nearby runners catch their breath while sizing you up, taking Big Zhu's words to heart. ''[Prestige Lost]'' <<var $prestige - 3>>\ You shake your head, restraining the $auracolor growing around your fist. What stings the worst isn't his attitude, it's that he's right. You lost. <<elseif ($rscore is 2)>>\ A Cat Yokai girl springing into the air, charging a fist skyward to celebrate her victory. Misuka cheers at her breakout sprint to seize three points, which only makes it sting more when she announces your two points right after. Ancestors, did she have to have scrying orbs showing this to everyone? <<elseif ($rscore is 1)>>\ A muscle-bound three-hundred pound Bull Yokai. Panting on the ground, you groan into the grass and bury your face from view of Misuka the Performer's scrying orbs. It stings twice as hard when she cheers the Bull Yokai's victory at seizing 2 points, because right afterwards she announces your score of 1 point. Ancestors, did she have to have scrying orbs showing this to everyone? <<else>>\ Oh, what does it matter. Misuka confirms your defeat when she announces you scored //zero// points. Ancestors, you hate running. <</if>>\ <<page "Continue" "ch8-rabbitbirbs">>\ <</if>>\

<<var $rscore 2>>\ You duck one angry Bull Yokai's sudden charge when his wide arms nearly smack you off-balance. Just as you recover and begin to gain ground, you're forced to dodge one Cat Yokai woman on all fours weaving too close to your feet. Two Humans in the same maroon gi, dripping with sweat and red in the face, close ranks in front of you when you try to pass between them too. There's too many damn people running next to you. The narrow width of the tunnel has sealed your fate. You weigh your options now that you definitively know you're not winning. You could accept your meager score, or try to kill the Drake and see if they'll let you keep the Soul Treasure, or- A glint catches your eye. Through the crowd of runners you see a woman in fire-themed gi pull a burning knife, and she's moving closer to a man in blue and green gi on her left. You... <<choose "ch8-rabbit-rocksfall">> #Focus on the race. <<var $score_cursed + 1>>\ <<var $score_sacred - 1>>\ <<var $val - 1>>\ There's nothing to it but to do it. Ignoring the drama of inter-Sect rivalries, you push ahead of the attacker and her target with all your might, gaining a significant lead when everyone else breaks into gasps and shouts. Probably because a man just got stabbed. <<page "Continue" "ch8-rabbit-rocksfall">>\ #Blast the knife-wielder with chi. Every ounce of concentration focuses on forging a sphere of chi in your hand mid-sprint, layer after layer, while pushing your legs to move as fast as you can to not lose pace. You fail, of course, but you expected to fail. You only wanted to fall behind a little. The fiery-gi woman pulls in ahead of you just as planned and raises her knife for a downward strike at her target's exposed neck. He doesn't even see her. She doesn't even see you. Just as she raises her arm you blast your $auracolor ball of hostile chi- <<var $honor + 2>>\ <<var $ruthless - 1>>\ <<var $score_sacred + 1>>\ <<var $score_cursed - 1>>\ <<var $score_wild - 1>>\ <<var $combatstat "soul">>\ <<discount "Kiihakai" $stylerank>>\ <<discount "Storm" 1>>\ <<attack "Energy Ranged">>\ <<combatcheck 7>>\ <<if ($passcheck is true)>>\ -right into her raised arm's armpit, \ <<include "ch8-rabbit-eliciting">>\ <<else>>\ <<var $val 1>>\ <<var $score_mystic - 1>>\ -and miss, hitting her target in the head and blasting him into the tunnel's wall hard enough to crunch his face in. With witnesses. ''[Infamy Increased]'' <<var $infamy + 4>>\ The gasps of surprise only last as long as it takes a Monkey Yokai to leap over the shocked crowd and pull ahead. Suddenly the event is forgotten and everyone's back to the race. These are the Heavenly Ascension Trials, and you're all here to win. <<page "Continue" "ch8-rabbit-rocksfall">>\ <</if>>\ #Barrel into the knife-wielder. <<if ($ruthless gte 60)>>\ Ancestors, you're so grateful for an excuse to fight. These noncombat Trials have sucked. With a devilish grin \ <<else>>\ You're not sure why this woman decided to turn a race into a murder scene, but you've decided to turn it back into a race. With a focused face of resolution <</if>>\ and an increased surge of $auracolor around your body you leap sideways and charge your shoulder into the attacker. <<var $honor + 2>>\ <<var $ruthless - 1>>\ <<var $score_sacred + 1>>\ <<var $score_cursed - 1>>\ <<var $score_mystic - 1>>\ <<var $combatstat "power">>\ <<discount "Midorikatai" $stylerank>>\ <<discount "Bovine" 1>>\ <<discount "Muscular" 1>>\ <<discount "Earth" 1>>\ <<attack "Melee">>\ <<combatcheck 8>>\ <<if ($passcheck is true)>>\ You crash into the fiery-gi woman in time to knock her off-balance but she adjusts in mid-air with some sort of Technique, turning 180 degrees without touching the ground. Unfortunately for her you have tricks of your own. Namely your favorite trick, called superior force. <<cap $auracolor>> chi pulls away from your body and condenses around both fists. You clutch her wrist holding the blade and stab her own knife into her leg, \ <<include "ch8-rabbit-eliciting">>\ <<else>>\ <<var $val 1>>\ <<var $score_wild - 1>>\ Your body collides into another and slams the runner off their feet. Unfortunately, you didn't hit the fiery-gi woman. You hit her target. The man never senses you coming and is blown into the tunnel's wall hard enough to crunch his face in. With witnesses. ''[Infamy Increased]'' <<var $infamy + 4>>\ The gasps of surprise only last as long as it takes a Monkey Yokai to leap over the shocked crowd and pull ahead. Suddenly the event is forgotten and everyone's back to the race. These are the Heavenly Ascension Trials, and you're all here to win. <<page "Continue" "ch8-rabbit-rocksfall">>\ <</if>>\ #show-if (($element1 is "Ice") or ($element2 is "Ice")) use-if ((($chipool + ($soul/2)) - $chispent) gte 1) Flashfreeze the attacker with Ice chi. [Requires Ice, Costs 1 Chi] -> "ch8-rabbit-icewall" <</choose>>

<<var $score_mystic + 2>>\ <<if ($spiritbrandloc isnot "eyes")>>\ Your eyes flash $auracolor with a surge of chi. <<else>>\ You thrust your fist out mid-sprint and flash your hand with $auracolor chi. <</if>>\ ''[1 Chi Point Spent]'' <<var $chispent + 1>>\ <<var $alliesgained + 10000000000000>>\ <<var $enemiesgained + 20000000000000>>\ The woman freezes in place, covered in a layer of jagged ice in an instant. She topples over from her momentum and gets trampled by the speeding runners behind you all. Ancestors, it's been too long since you've put your ice powers to good use. Which gives you an idea... <<var $val 4>>\ <<if ($element1 is "Ice")>>\ <<var $val - ($element1rank * 2)>>\ <<else>>\ <<var $val - ($element2rank * 2)>>\ <</if>>\ <<if ($val lt 1)>>\ <<var $val 1>>\ <</if>>\ <<choose "ch8-rabbit-rocksfall">> #use-if ((($chipool + ($soul/2)) - $chispent) gte $val) Form a wall of ice and slip through it to block the other runners. [Requires Ice, Costs $val Chi] Ice chi wraps around your forearm in a cool mist of expanding power. ''[$val Chi Point Spent]'' <<var $chispent + $val>>\ You thrust your arm forward and release a blast of crystalizing energy over the heads of the runners in front of you. It flies faster than any sprinter and slams into the stone ceiling of the tunnel three-hundred feet up ahead. When it collides with the stone, your attack expands into a glacier filling the passage and growing into an eight-foot thick wall of ice. ''[Infamy +1]'' <<var $infamy + 1>>\ The runners in front of you skid to a halt when they nearly impale themselves on the spikes of your glacial wall. "What is this?" "Misuka, is this part of the race?" "Out of the way, I'll break it!" You reach the front and leap over the crowd, charging your body with Ice Chi to allow you to phase through the ice wall unscathed. It works, and you slide through the ice like water. Good. You weren't sure you could do that. <<page "Continue" "ch8-rabbit-icewall2">>\ #Focus on the race. You're not wasting chi on theatrics. You push yourself as hard as you can to spring ahead of the lifelong trained Martial Artists sprinting beside you. //!!!// <<page "Continue" "ch8-rabbit-rocksfall">>\ <</choose>>

Your momentum glides you through eight feet of solid ice and drops you out the other side where the race's top runners can be seen in the distance. You land on water and freeze it beneath your feet, sliding at increased speeds to catch up to the front runners. When you begin to close the gap between you and the fastest Aspirants in the Rabbit Trial, you make a mental note to thank Tian Fang for the idea. <<var $rscore 3>>\ You're just closing the gap to the front runners when an ominous sound breaks your concentration. Not just the high pitch breaking of ice hundreds of feet behind you. Something deeper. Something worse. <<page "Continue" "ch8-rabbit-rocksfall">>\

Over the next five minutes of high speed sprinting, the Drake grows closer. Every thirty seconds you hear another competitor scream out as the Beast tramples them and continues on to its next target. You don't think it's killing them, but by the Ancestors, you do not want to be stomped on by a 4,000lb Beast in front of potentially millions of spectators. <<var $combatstat "agility">>\ <<var $combatskill "athletics">>\ <<discount "Legs" 1>>\ <<discount "Agile" 1>>\ <<discount "Kurokonton" $stylerank>>\ <<combatcheck 8>>\ <<if ($passcheck is true)>>\ Your determination takes you further and faster, pulling ahead of the next twelve runners and leaving the Drake's range far behind you. Everything is starting to look up, you can- //!!!// <<var $rscore 1>>\ <<page "Continue" "ch8-rabbit-rocksfall">>\ <<else>>\ <<var $rscore 0>>\ Unfortunately, in this life, you can't always get what you want. As you fall behind further and further you feel another four competitors sprinting behind you, their heavy footsteps slamming into the tunnel ground, and it's too late before you realize it's not four people right behind you. It's four limbs. The Drake's leg, covered in heavy iron weights and chains, crushes your back from behind and slams you into the hard stone of the tunnel. <<woundcheck 2 true false>>\ The blow takes all the breath out of your lungs in time for it to snap you into its jaws, swallowing you whole in two quick jerks of its head. <<page "Continue" "ch8-rabbit-eaten">>\ <</if>>\

<<var $score_mystic + 3>>\ Your cheeks flap against your face from the rush of wind. Sunlight fills your vision in seconds and fresh air presses against your face, pushing you down against the speeding circular wall of hardlight formed by the ritual. <<if ($jadedragonfoundation is true)>>\ Only due to your superior body and draconic power are you able to even look behind you to \ <<else>>\ Your neck threatens to snap when you force yourself to look behind you and \ <</if>>\ see what happened: You're already outside. Worse, you're already hundreds of feet in the air. Far worse, you're not slowing down. Two pink-tinged golden orbs form beside you and rush up along your trajectory, rotating as if they were two pairs of eyes locking with yours. "Folks are you seeing this?!" Misuka screams with delight through the orbs. "The upset of the century! The entire Dreamriver Sect and their Thunderfall ally have broken Callous Goro's speed record! A full four points! A full four points for the entire group!" <<var $rscore 4>>\ <<page "Hhnnnngggg" "ch8-rabbit-ritual2">>\

You open your eyes to the smell of vomit. <<if ($survival gte 2)>>\ ''[Survival 2 Check Passed]'' <<var $forexp + 2>>\ None of it yours. Instead it \ <<else>>\ ''[Survival 2 Check Failed]'' Some of it yours. The rest \ <</if>>\ comes from Desdemona's unfortunate Disciples, groaning on a field of grass beside you, suffering from intense vertigo. "You're a seriously crazy bunch." Misuka the Performer says above your prone form, sitting cross-legged on a wide stump near a cave entrance and fixing her makeup. "I wouldn't do that for a hundred points if I were you, you'd be in space by now if I didn't pull you back down." She glances down. "Can you stand?" "L...Lady Desdemona surely ca-" Li Moon throws up mid-rise and collapses back to the ground. Desdemona gently shakes her head with her eyes closed and hair disheveled, not even bothering. None of her other Disciples even move. <<if (($fortitude + $survival) gte 8)>>\ ''[Fortitude + Survival 8 Check Passed]'' "I'm okay." You say, standing on numbed and trembling legs. <<if (($race is "Kitsune") and ($heshe is "he"))>>\ ''[Kitsune Event]'' Misuka whistles twice in quick succession. "A fox with only two decades into this world, already shrugging off Inner Kingdom speed." She gives you an up-and-down look and tilts her head while barring her sharp canines in a smile. "Trying to impress someone?" <<var $foxromance + 1>>\ <<if (($bodytype is "Handsome") or ($honor gte 60))>>\ <<var $foxromance + 1>>\ <</if>>\ <<if ($desromance gte 3)>>\ Desdemona cautiously lifts her head, narrowing her eyes at Misuka. And you. Thinking quickly, you decide to change the subject. \ <<else>>\ One of her monitoring orbs manifests over her shoulder for the whole world to see your response, without seeing what she asked. Not falling for it, you take a deep breath and change the subject. <</if>>\ <<elseif ($race is "Kitsune")>>\ ''[Kitsune Event]'' Misuka lets out a low whistle. "That's just the kind of fortitude one can expect from a Kitsune, folks!" One of her scrying orbs shoots over her shoulder, catching your image. "The vulpine vixen is more than just looks. Look out, Top Five, this one's coming for you!" ''[Prestige Increased]'' <<var $prestige + 1>>\ The orb snuffs out and Misuka returns to doing her makeup. "The rest will be here soon, take a breather if you can." You blink, wondering if she just did you a favor or made you a public enemy. You shake your head and focus instead. \ <</if>>\ "You mentioned that you 'pulled us down', how?" Misuka grins mischievously. "You're about to find out. The \ <<else>>\ ''[Fortitude + Survival 8 Check Failed]'' You give a weary thumbs up but //refuse// to open your eyes. "Suit yourself." Misuka says, dusting off her clothes and hopping to her feet. "The \ <</if>>\ runners are approaching." She conjures six more of her golden and pink orbs of chi and turns to the tunnel. You follow her gaze, seeing multi-colored lights appearing in the dark tunnel ahead. In a flash of speed, the lights break out of the tunnel in the form of six glowing Martial Artists with their auras at full power. "FINISH!" Misuka shouts as they sprint across the line and pass you both by, collapsing to the ground. "Three points for everyone involved!" "Three?!" Shouts the one in front, who to your shock is \ <<if ($bigzhu is true)>>\ Big Zhu. \ <<else>>\ Jack's fat friend. \ <</if>>\ "Big Zhu came in first!" <<if ($bigzhu is false)>>\ Oh Ancestors, he talks in third person like Fang and Big Ch- ...Did he says BIG ZHU?! Why did Big Chu never tell you that you'd fought his relative?! <<var $bigzhu true>>\ <</if>>\ "Not exactly!" Misuka announces excitedly, placing a finger against the side of her cheek and grinning with sinister glee. "You came in //sixth//. The Dreamriver Sect and $titlename finished the race in five seconds." Zhu opens his mouth to speak, but nothing comes out. None of them manage to say anything, raising their heads from the ground to look at you in confusion and worry as other runners pile out of the tunnel and across the finish line. Only one, an Oni woman in purple in black hakama, manages to silently mouth the words with despair: "Five seconds...?!" <<var $val 777>>\ <<page "Continue" "ch8-rabbitbirbs">>\

When the explosive melee of bird Beasts and Martial Artists breaks off into various groups running across the valley, \ <<if ($ally is "Desdemona")>>\ yours heads \ <<else>>\ you head \ <</if>>\ to the right, towards the ravine. <<if ($ally is "Desdemona")>>\ "Do you know how to swim?" Desdemona asks. You keep a strong pace and look over your shoulder. "We had lakes in the mountains, so yes." "Good." She replies. "You can lead then. Half of my Disciples don't." Her dark robed Disciples sprint to keep up and you give them a concerned look. "You don't know how to //swim//?" A tanned Human Disciple shakes his head. "Too many snakes in the swamp." "It's fine." You assure them, coming to the cliffside. "We can-" \ <<else>>\ The river at the bottom should lead you to the stonewall, and you keep in mind to thank Mother and Father for teaching you to swim. <</if>>\ When you reach the edge and look over you're- //!!!// Attacked! <<var $combatstat "fortitude">>\ <<var $combatskill "perception">>\ <<discount "Water" 1>>\ <<discount "Earth" 1>>\ <<discount "Ice" 1>>\ <<discount "Storm" 1>>\ <<discount "Petite" 1>>\ <<discount "Manlet" 1>>\ <<discount "Midorikatai" 1>>\ <<discount "Aoyusumu" 1>>\ <<combatcheck 8>>\ <<if ($passcheck is true)>>\ A finger-thin stream of pressurized water fires at your neck. <<cap $auracolor>> covers both wrists and you slam them upward, redirecting the beam into the sky. <<elseif ($ravineclue is true)>>\ ''[Event Check Passed: Waverunner Clue]'' A finger-thin stream of pressurized water fires at your neck. <<cap $auracolor>> covers both wrists and you slam them upward, redirecting the beam into the sky. <<elseif ($ally is "Desdemona")>>\ A finger-thin stream of pressurized water fires at your neck- ''[Event: Dreamriver Alliance]'' -blocked in the last second by a blast of dark electricity extending from Desdemona's index and middle fingers. <<elseif (dig($trialdeets, 2) is 3)>>\ ''[Event Check Passed: Fuyu's Favor]'' A finger-thin stream of pressurized water fires at your neck, narrowly blasting over your shoulder. <<else>>\ A finger-thin stream of pressurized water fires at your \ <<if ($pblocktech isnot "")>>\ neck- <<woundcheck 1 true false>>\ -bouncing off your $pblocktech Technique. <<else>>\ neck, piercing through your flesh dangerously close to your jugular. <<woundcheck 1 true false>>\ <<var $phasetwohuman true>>\ "Damn it!" You scream, grabbing the bleeding wound and pushing your Fortitude Cores to slow the bleeding. <</if>>\ <</if>>\ <<if ($ally is "Desdemona")>>\ "Tch." Desdemona scowls, looking down at the \ <<else>>\ "That was cowardly." You call down to the \ <</if>>\ seven Human Martial Artists gathered at the riverside rocks below, all donned in blue Waverunner armor. "Perhaps so!" One calls up, a Human man removing his blue helmet to reveal scarlet hair dampened down. "But we cannot waste time with so much to do. The weak are needed to score points at the testing wall. As for the strong, though it is more expensive, they may provide even more points." <<if ($ally is "Desdemona")>>\ "How did seven of you get into the same seed?!" Desdemona shouts down at them, ignoring the man's speech. "It's mathematically impossible!" "Speak for yourself, Young Mistress!" One of the women beside their scarlet-haired leader calls up, "I see six of you in the same uniform! What would those odds be, one in a million?" <<if ($mathinit is true)>>\ "A billion, actually." You call back. “We counted earlier.” <<else>>\ "She has a point." You whisper. <</if>>\ "A brilliant counterpoint by the Waverunner Sect!" Shouts Misuka the Performer's voice. You and Desdemona shoot your vision skyward, now noticing one of the kitsune's golden-pink scrying orbs hovering above the ravine. "But can they defeat the newcomers in this battle of seven against seven? Does $titlename's deflection of Waverunner Isamu's opening strike foreshadow a greater victory, or beginner's luck? Let's find out!" Desdemona places a hand over one eye and scowls. "Wonderful. An audience." <<page "Continue" "ch8-rabbit-river2">>\ <<else>>\ You scan their auras, sensing a few formidable fighters in their ranks. "You're not wrong, but are you sure you want to do this one-against-seven?" "A daring barb against the honor of Magistrate Fuyu's local warriors!" Shouts Misuka the Performer's voice. "Will it be Waverunner Isamu's voice that responds to such accusations of unfair play, or his blade?" <<if ($persuasion gte 2)>>\ ''[Persuasion 2 Check Passed]'' "I never said it was unfair to //me//." You shout before the scarlet-haired Waverunner can answer, then look up to the scrying orb. "Seven isn't enough." The scrying orb vibrates up its side with golden chi, relaying the sound of hundreds of cheers and jeers from the audience watching at one of the many stadiums. ''[Prestige Increased]'' <<var $prestige + 1>>\ <<page "Continue" "ch8-rabbit-river2">>\ <<else>>\ ''[Persuasion 2 Check Failed]'' You stare down the ravine, waiting for an answer. <<page "He glares back..." "ch8-rabbit-river2">>\ <</if>>\ <</if>>\

He lowers his weapon. <<var $escapeprocess "Ravine-Won">>\ "Are you serious?" Asks the Waverunner woman beside him. "Go fight $himher!" "No." Isamu replies. "Nanhou hosts the Heavenly Ascension Trials. It //needs// an Archon, or our shame will be eternal. You and you-" He points to two of the weaker allies he's recruited. "Go with the \ <<if (dig($trialdeets, 1) is 2)>>\ Thunderfaller. \ <<else>>\ <<cap $clan>> $patriarch. \ <</if>>\ This is a losing battle, I will not throw my Sect's future away for personal glory." <<if ($ally is "Desdemona")>>\ "And who said I agreed to this?" Desdemona asks from atop the cliff beside you. "I've had to watch you two show off each other's...weapons...and said nothing, but me and my Sect are expected to leave empty handed?" Isamu grunts with frustration and points his sword to the bottom of the river on your side, where six defeated Martial Artists in different gi colors already lie on top of each other. It's actually disturbing to see living people stacked so neatly. "Take them for the stonewall and go." Isamu says. "Do it quickly. I've wasted enough time." You and the Dreamrivers leap down and collect the unconscious contestants, dashing down the riverside rocks towards the end of the valley. You check behind you, wary of a surprise attack, \ <<else>>\ "Oh." You reply, accidentally out loud. "Don't." Isamu calls up to you. "I don't want to hear a word. Accept the victory and go." The two guests in Waverunner armor begin dashing down the riverside rocks, towards the end of the valley, and you leap down to follow them from behind. You turn as you leave, checking for any surprise attack, \ <</if>>\ only to see Isamu and his fellow Disciples leap out of the ravine on their way to the Field. Much to your surprise, the two men surrendering their points don't sneak attack you either. <<page "Strange customs" "ch8-rabbit-river-angrygrill2">>\

You're not the only group to travel down the ravine. Half a dozen individual Martial Artists leap into the ravine midway through. You can't tell if they were avoiding the scuffle between you and Isamu or if they're fleeing something happening in the field, but for once it's not your problem. You already have your points secured. A few of the rogue Martial Artists break out into fights but the only excitement comes from a Beast bird divebombing near you. It misses, continues on its path into the river, and catches a fish instead. <<if ($roc gte 1)>>\ "Go back to the ship, $rocname." You say to your pet Roc, recognizing the carp addict when his plumage gets close enough. The two Waverunners with you look highly concerned when the Beast listens. <<if ($ally is "Desdemona")>>\ Desdemona looks even more perplexed. <<var $desrep + 5>>\ <</if>>\ ''[Prestige Increased]'' <<var $prestige + 1>>\ <<else>>\ For a high stakes battle royale, this ravine is far too peaceful. <</if>>\ You travel quickly as a single group and rise \ <<include "ch8-rabbit-river-wallin">>\

"Hmph." You reply with mock arrogance. "There's one thing your forgetting, Waverunner." Waverunner Isamu slides one foot back, readying his katana. "And what is that?" "You're all the way down there." You turn and run. ''[Prestige Lost]'' <<var $prestige - 1>>\ <<if ($ally is "Desdemona")>>\ "Huh what?" Desdemona blurts out, snarling in surprise when the Waverunners power up. She leaps from the edge in time to dodge a chi blast and her entire Sect frantically sprints away to follow your withdrawal. "You insidious buffoon! Warn me next time!" <<var $desrep - 2>>\ <</if>>\ <<var $txt "pastedessy">>\ <<page "Escape to the Field" "ch8-rabbit-field2">>\

To your surprise, recruiting four more willing contestants to surrender their points at the stonewall is shockingly easy. Hells, Isamu manages to recruit eight without a fight. You imagine having \ <<if ($ally is "Desdemona")>>\ fourteen \ <<else>>\ eight \ <</if>>\ people threaten each contestant helps end any stalemates or brave ideas. As a singular group you dominate the ravine, traveling in a single unit and rising \ <<include "ch8-rabbit-river-wallin">>\

<<if ($equippedweapon isnot "")>>\ You draw \ <<if ((((($equippedweapon isnot "Muramasa") and ($equippedweapon isnot "Kagutsuchi")) and ($equippedweapon isnot "Ikazuchi")) and ($equippedweapon isnot "Shishido")) and ($equippedweapon isnot "Godslayer"))>>\ your \ <</if>>\ $equippedweapon \ <<else>>\ You \ <<if ($equippedbelt isnot "")>>\ tighten your belt \ <<else>>\ focus your aura \ <</if>>\ <</if>>\ on the top of the ravine, staring down at the armored Sect Warriors. "No." Some things are non-negotiable. "You are certain?" The leader asks. "If this comes to a true fight, you cannot escape us unscathed. As you can see, we are all well-armed." <<if ($weppy is "")>>\ ''[Event Failed: No Weapon Equipped]'' It stings that he's right, and you wish you'd brought something to threaten him back with beyond your fists. <<include "ch8-rabbit-river-takemout2">>\ <<halt>>\ <<else>>\ You draw $weppy. "As am I." <</if>>\ "Ah but my friend, I assure you that even with your weapon, these swords of ours are crafted by none other than Renjiro Sato. Avoiding a single wound against our sharpened blades is out of the question. Do you truly wish to score lower in the Rabbit Trial?" "You're in just as much danger." You reply. "Do //you// wish to lower your score?" Isamu smirks. "And what do you have that could counter seven well-armed Martial Artists?" <<include "ch8-rabbit-river-pickswordyagain">>\

<<choose "ch8-rabbit-river-pickswordyagain2">> #use-once use-if (dig($weaponbonus, 2) gte 2) Counter with $weppy's quality. [Requires Superior-Grade Weapon] You test $weppy against the cliffside, \ <<if ((($element1 is "Storm") or ($element2 is "Storm")) and (((((((((((((($equippedweapon is "Tanto")) or ($equippedweapon is "Katana")) or ($equippedweapon is "Muramasa")) or ($equippedweapon is "Greataxe")) or ($equippedweapon is "Qiang")) or ($equippedweapon is "Kunai")) or ($equippedweapon is "Jian")) or ($equippedweapon is "Iceblade")) or ($equippedweapon is "Chiblade")) or ($equippedweapon is "Kagutsuchi")) or ($equippedweapon is "Ikazuchi")) or ($equippedweapon is "Shishido")) or ($equippedweapon is "Godslayer")))>>\ slicing \ <<elseif ((($equippedweapon is "Bo Staff") or ($equippedweapon is "Meteor Hammer")) or ($equippedweapon is "Handwraps"))>>\ shattering \ <<elseif ($equippedweapon is "Yumi")>>\ piercing through \ <<else>>\ destroying \ <</if>>\ a large rock by your side. <<var $arguments + 1>>\ <<if (dig($weaponbonus, 2) gte 3)>>\ "You'll find my own weapon exceeds this Renjiro Sato's craftsmanship. You should have had me forge your blades instead." ''[Event: //Exceptional// Weapon Quality]'' ''[Prestige Increased]'' <<var $prestige + 1>>\ <<else>>\ "You boast about Renjiro Sato's craftsmanship, when you should boast about $fullname's." <</if>>\ #use-once use-if (dig($weaponbonus, 3) gte 1) Counter with $weppy's material. [Requires Special Weapon Material] You reflect your weapon in the sunlight, casting a \ <<if (dig($weaponbonus, 3) is 1)>>\ jade-green \ <<elseif (dig($weaponbonus, 3) is 2)>>\ bone-white \ <<elseif (dig($weaponbonus, 3) is 3)>>\ sparkling silver \ <<elseif (dig($weaponbonus, 3) is 4)>>\ golden \ <</if>>\ glow down onto the Waverunners in the ravine below. "You're not facing some bandit's weaponry, Isamu. Do you think your armor can stand up to //this//?" <<var $arguments + 1>>\ #use-once use-if (dig($weaponbonus, 4) gte 1) Counter with $weppy's spiritual binding. [Requires Enchanted Weapon] Foreign chi surges around $weppy when you trigger its Treasure binding that powers your weapon's enchantments. The spiritual weight of your weapon doubles and your own aura activates behind it. You say nothing, staring down at them with a $auracolor lightshow doing the talking for you. <<var $arguments + 1>>\ #use-once use-if (($element1 is "Wind") or ($element2 is "Wind")) Charge Wind Chi around $weppy. [Requires Wind] Wind swirls around $weppy with a slicing fierceness, adding vertigo and shredding damage to your attacks. "I'm warning you, Isamu, this won't go the way you want." <<var $arguments + 1>>\ #use-once use-if (($element1 is "Ice") or ($element2 is "Ice")) Extend a blade of Ice Chi over $weppy. [Requires Ice] Ice extends around $weppy with a razor-sharp blade, turning your weapon into a dual-purpose arsenal. <<var $arguments + 1>>\ #use-once use-if (($element1 is "Storm") or ($element2 is "Storm")) Run currents of electricity over $weppy. [Requires Storm] <<var $arguments + 1>>\ Storm Chi surges over $weppy and triples the spiritual damage inflicted by its attacks. You point it at the man to Isamu's left. "You. You'll be the first to go." #use-once use-if (($commonpoison gte 1) or ($cursedpoison gte 1)) Pour poison down $weppy. [Requires Poison] <<var $arguments + 1>>\ "If you want to drag this fight out, I'll end it early." You withdraw a vial of poison and pour it over \ <<if ($equippedweapon is "Yumi")>>\ your arrows. <<elseif ($equippedweapon is "Handwraps")>>\ the studs of your handwraps. <<else>>\ $weppy. <</if>>\ <<if ($commonpoison gte 1)>>\ ''[1 Common Poison Lost]'' <<var $commonpoison - 1>>\ <<else>>\ ''[1 Cursed Poison Lost]'' <<var $cursedpoison - 1>>\ <</if>>\ "Poison?!" Isamu looks from you to the scrying orb in the sky. "You would dare? In the face of the whole empire?" <<if ($style is "Kurokonton")>>\ ''[Kurokonton Event]'' You don't break his stare. "I'm a shinobi. Blame yourself for picking the wrong battle." ''[Prestige Increased]'' <<var $prestige + 1>>\ <<else>>\ "You brought six other people. Don't complain." ''[Infamy Increased]'' <<var $infamy + 1>>\ <</if>>\ Isamu takes in a deep breath and shakes his head, then drops the point and adjusts the grip of his weapon instead. #use-once use-if (($background is "Blacksmith") and (((((((((((((($equippedweapon is "Tanto")) or ($equippedweapon is "Katana")) or ($equippedweapon is "Muramasa")) or ($equippedweapon is "Greataxe")) or ($equippedweapon is "Qiang")) or ($equippedweapon is "Kunai")) or ($equippedweapon is "Jian")) or ($equippedweapon is "Iceblade")) or ($equippedweapon is "Chiblade")) or ($equippedweapon is "Kagutsuchi")) or ($equippedweapon is "Ikazuchi")) or ($equippedweapon is "Shishido")) or ($equippedweapon is "Godslayer"))) Run $weppy through a sharpening sheath. [Requires Blacksmith and Bladed Weapon] <<var $arguments + 1>>\ You resheath your $weppy in a second sheath you brought for this exact purpose, a specialty of showmanship you theorized with Father. "I should warn you, Isamu." You draw your blade against the alchemically-treated flint that lines the inside of your decorative sheath. Sparks fly into the air with a metal-on-metal smooth song as if you'd just sharpened your blade mid-combat. "You have no idea the $manwoman you're facing." ''[Prestige Increased]'' <<var $prestige + 1>>\ #show-if (($weightedclothing gt 0) and ((($equippedweapon is "Bo Staff") or ($equippedweapon is "Meteor Hammer")) or ($equippedweapon is "Handwraps"))) use-once Add more weight to the end of $weppy. [Requires Weighted Clothing and Blunt Weapon] You withdraw a strap's worth of ankle weights and wrap \ <<if ($equippedweapon is "Meteor Hammer")>>\ it over the chained mace of your meteor hammer. \ <<elseif ($equippedweapon is "Bo Staff")>>\ it over both tips of your Bo Staff. \ <<else>>\ it around your handwrapped fists. \ <</if>>\ "That armor of yours will be a liability against a strike with enough weight. Are you certain this is a fight you can escape unscathed?" <<var $arguments + 1>>\ #show-if ($style is "Akakiru") use-once Charge Bladed Chi over $weppy. [Requires Akakiru] <<var $arguments + 1>>\ You adjust your grip on $weppy. "You shouldn't have picked a swordfight against a swordsman." <<cap $auracolor>> Bladed Chi surges over $weppy and your aura redoubles behind it, razor-edges flying off in sickles that shred the ground beneath your feet. <<if ($styleswapper isnot "")>>\ "Especially me." ''[Infinite Bladeworks Activated]'' <<if (((((((((((((($equippedweapon is "Tanto")) or ($equippedweapon is "Katana")) or ($equippedweapon is "Muramasa")) or ($equippedweapon is "Greataxe")) or ($equippedweapon is "Qiang")) or ($equippedweapon is "Kunai")) or ($equippedweapon is "Jian")) or ($equippedweapon is "Iceblade")) or ($equippedweapon is "Chiblade")) or ($equippedweapon is "Kagutsuchi")) or ($equippedweapon is "Ikazuchi")) or ($equippedweapon is "Shishido")) or ($equippedweapon is "Godslayer"))>>\ Additional blades \ <<else>>\ Swords \ <</if>>\ manifest in the air above you, hovering menacingly over each shoulder and aimed down at your opponents. ''[Prestige Increased]'' <<var $prestige + 1>>\ <</if>>\ #show-if ($clonetech isnot "") use-once Summon <<print $clonetech>>s to counteract their numbers. [Requires Clone Technique] <<var $arguments + 1>>\ You adjust your stance and smirk. "I understand why you're picking this fight, Waverunner, you think it's a numbers advantage." Smoke pops into six clouds all around you, disappearing as fast as it came to reveal six copies of yourself holding $weppy. "You're wrong." ''[Prestige Increased]'' <<var $prestige + 1>>\ #show-if ($style is "Kiihakai") use-once Hover spare swords in the air with $dancingdefense. [Requires Kiihakai] <<var $arguments + 1>>\ "The rest of you shouldn't think you're safe just because I'm focused on Isamu." You say to the other Waverunners. You rip open a fuuinjutsu tag you've held onto for this very purpose. Four swords explode out of the smokecloud formed by the sealed tag, and your $auracolor Mystic Chi catches them before they fall, pulling them to hover around your aura. "My arsenal has more than enough to go around." #Reconsider a retreat. -> "ch8-rabbit-river-bookinit" Ah. <<if ($arguments is 0)>>\ This was a bad idea. <<else>>\ That is a problem. <</if>>\ If he really does have seven fighters with superior weaponry... #show-if ($aurapressure gte 2000) Make an example of their leader. [Requires 2,000+ Aura Pressure] -> "ch8-rabbit-river-takemout2" <<if ($arguments is 0)>>\ A contest of showing off the better weapon isn't exactly your style, especially when your fists \ <<if ($style is "Akakiru")>>\ are enough for such a simple fight. <<else>>\ have always been stronger. <</if>>\ <<else>>\ To Hells with this damn contest of weapons. \ <<if ($style is "Akakiru")>>\ Your blade is meant for bigger targets, not these puffed up locals. <<else>>\ Fists are better anyway. <</if>>\ <</if>>\ #show-if (($aurapressure lt 2000) and ((($power + $powsurge) gte 10) and (($power - $powsurge) gt (10 - $power)))) Make an example of their leader. [Power Check] -> "ch8-rabbit-river-takemout2" <<if ($arguments is 0)>>\ A contest of showing off the better weapon isn't exactly your style, especially when your fists \ <<if ($style is "Akakiru")>>\ are enough for such a simple fight. <<else>>\ have always been stronger. <</if>>\ <<else>>\ To Hells with this damn contest of weapons. \ <<if ($style is "Akakiru")>>\ Your blade is meant for bigger targets, not these puffed up locals. <<else>>\ Fists are better anyway. <</if>>\ <</if>>\ #show-if (($aurapressure lt 2000) and ((($power + $powsurge) lt 10) or (($power - $powsurge) lte (10 - $power)))) use-if ($aurapressure gte 2000) Make an example of their leader. [Requires 2,000+ Aura Pressure] -> "death" <</choose>>

<<if ($arguments is 1)>>\ "Hah!" Isamu barks. "You expect that would save you? It's nothing compared to the snowsteel material of our katanas, mined from the volcanic mountains of Shattered Cathay!" <<if ($ally is "Desdemona")>>\ "By the Hells." Desdemona curses, rubbing her forehead. "My future as an Archon is being decided by a dick measuring contest." <<if ($heshe is "she")>>\ "And he's going to lose to a girl." \ <<else>>\ "One that I'm going to win." \ <</if>>\ You reply, feeling excitement at the contest. "Especially when I..." <<else>>\ One of the women beside him looks between the two of you. "Can we not simply fight? You don't need to spend the whole day showing off weapons." "Stay out of this!" You and Isamu both shout. "Especially when I'm going to win." Isamu adds. You scoff. "With those weapons? You'll eat those words when I..." <</if>>\ <<include "ch8-rabbit-river-pickswordyagain">>\ <<elseif ($arguments is 2)>>\ "Hmph, so you're no amateur, but neither are we." Isamu says, charging Bladed Chi around his katana. "You should know, my mastery of Akakiru exceeds anyone you'll meet in this Trial." You shake your head condescendingly. "If you think that will turn the tide, you'll be more than surprised when I..." <<include "ch8-rabbit-river-pickswordyagain">>\ <<elseif ($arguments is 3)>>\ "A dangerous addition to your arsenal indeed." Isamu runs his hand down the blade of his katana, igniting a green glow from inside. "But these blades of ours were forged with the Soul Treasures of powerful Spirits. Their Aura Pressure exceeds even my own. I'm warning you, Thunderfaller, stand down and join us or face the consequences." You glare down, getting too invested in the competition. "The consequences are yours to face, Waverunner, and because you refuse to surrender, I'm forced to..." <<include "ch8-rabbit-river-pickswordyagain">>\ <<elseif ($arguments is 4)>>\ <<if ((dig($trialdeets, 2) is 2) or (dig($trialdeets, 2) is 4))>>\ ''[Event: Magistrate's Enmity]'' Isamu's expression grows irritated. "No! Your name is on Magistrate Fuyu's list of personal enemies, and that means you're going to be defeated. Surrender your points or I will //make you// surrender them." Water swirls out of the river and around Isamu, raging into an expanding cylinder. His Aura Pressure spikes up again from its effects. You prepare $weppy and refuse to back down. "You wouldn't be growing irritated if you weren't out of tricks. Face it, you've picked the wrong target. You're right to fear your Magistrate because if you face me, you're not escaping him to join the Archonate. You're not even finishing the Rabbit Trial. Especially when I..." <<include "ch8-rabbit-river-pickswordyagain">>\ <<else>>\ With a heavy sigh the specialized green chi disperses from Waverunner Isamu's blade. <<include "ch8-rabbit-river-angrygrill">>\ <</if>>\ <<elseif ($arguments gte 5)>>\ With a heavy sigh, the Water Chi spinning around Waverunner Isamu drops to the ground. <<include "ch8-rabbit-river-angrygrill">>\ <</if>>\

You're not the only group to choose the ravine. Throughout the journey down the river-side rocks, your collective group runs into multiple individuals or groups that either went around you or fled their original choice of the field above. With \ <<if ($ally is "Desdemona")>>\ six Dreamrivers and \ <</if>>\ seven Waverunners the fights end rather quickly. As a singular group you dominate the ravine, traveling in a single unit and rising \ <<include "ch8-rabbit-river-wallin">>\

You breathe the fresh riverside air in through your nose and look up to Misuka the Performer's scrying orb, its gaze unavoidable. Any wounds would lower your chance of ever becoming an Archon... <<if ($aurapressure gte 2000)>>\ ''[Aura Pressure 2000 Check Passed]'' <<include "ch8-rabbit-river-takeout">>\ <<elseif ((($power + $powsurge) gte 10) and (($power - $powsurge) gt (10 - $power)))>>\ <<var $spendyboi (10 - $power)>>\ <<if ($spendyboi gt 0)>>\ ''[$spendyboi Power Cores Spent]'' <<var $powspent + $spendyboi>>\ <</if>>\ ''[Power 10 Check Passed]'' <<include "ch8-rabbit-river-takeout">>\ <<else>>\ ''[Aura Pressure 2,000 Check Failed]'' ''[Power 10 Check Failed]'' <<include "ch8-rabbit-river-bookinit">>\ <</if>>\

Eh. Fuck it. "<<capall $heshe>>'S COMING!" Screams an armored woman beside Isamu. Your charge from the clifftop finishes before her sentence does, slamming your fist into Isamu's face and blasting him sideways into the stone cliffside. His impact erupts with a rocky cloud of limestone dust, masking your assault. You rush in with a kick to the screaming woman's midsection and break the plate of her armor. The force of your kick crashes her backwards with explosive force, directly into one of her Jian-wielding allies. The Jian-wielder moves his blade aside to avoid skewering her. The second she crashes into him you grab his blade by the hilt, rip it out, and bash the pommel into his head. In the next instant you swing around and block a Bladed Chi slash sent through the air from one of the Waverunners and throw the jian through the smoke. You know you hit your attacker because of the Scarlet chi scattering everywhere when their aura breaks. Two armored opponents appear beside you with their swords swinging, one at your legs and one at your head. You lean back and lift your legs off the ground, then while airborne you face both palms at your attackers. <<cap $auracolor>> energy explodes out of both your palms, catching them off-guard and blowing both away. <<page "Survey the damage" "ch8-rabbit-river-takeout2">>\

When you leave down the river, \ <<if (($ruthless gt $honor) and ($ruthless gte 50))>>\ dragging the two of the Waverunner Disciples with you, \ <<else>>\ keeping an eye on the two waverunners in front, \ <</if>>\ a dozen flashes of golden and violet light illuminate the ravine from behind. All three of you turn to see Desdemona and her Dreamriver Disciples launching energy blasts down on the defeated Waverunner Sect, knocking out the last of their numbers. "A ruthless ambush!" Shouts Misuka through her scrying orb in the sky. "The Dreamrivers have scored a new source of points, and the Waverunners have been completely wiped out!" "M-My friends!" Shouts one of the men in your grip. "You said they'd be unharmed if we came with you!" <<if (($ruthless gt $honor) and ($ruthless gte 50))>>\ You try to stifle a laugh. "I legitimately forgot she was up there." \ <<else>>\ You grimace at the loud explosions impacting his wounded allies. "In my defense, I forgot she was up there." \ <</if>>\ From atop the cliff, with the wind blowing her raven-dark hair, Desdemona smiles at her new bounty. <<var $desrep + 4>>\ <<page "Leave to the stonewall." "ch8-rabbit-river-takeout3">>\

When the dust settles you're surrounded by a heaving woman with broken armor, a disarmed swordsman holding his bleeding nose, an unconscious Isamu covered in rock, two swordsmen with helmets warped to their faces by your attack, one man bleeding in the shoulder from his own sword impaling him, and one woman who has her arms up in surrender. Above you all, Misuka's scrying orb vibrates from top to bottom with golden chi. Its vibration carries with it the sound of screaming applause from the crowd watching from some arena. <<var $sect_waverunner - 5>>\ ''[Prestige Increased]'' <<var $prestige + 2>>\ "Th-the Magistrate...will hear about this." Says the man with a broken nose. <<if (($ruthless gt $honor) and ($ruthless gt 50))>>\ ''[Event: Ruthlessness Above Honor]'' <<var $sect_waverunner - 10>>\ <<if ((dig($trialdeets, 2) is 2) or (dig($trialdeets, 2) is 3))>>\ <<var $trialdeets - (dig($trialdeets, 2) * 10000000000000)>>\ <<var $trialdeets + 10000000000000>>\ ''[Your Brashness Has Enraged Magistrate Fuyu]'' <</if>>\ "Good." You reply, picking him and the impaled man up by the collars of their breastplates. "He can hear about this too: you're coming with me. Treat your friend's wounds, walk in front, and surrender your points at the stonewall. If you don't, or if I hear a fucking complaint after you made me do this, I am coming back for the rest of your friends." You tighten your grip, bending the metal of their armor, and they both nod rapidly. <<else>>\ <<if ($ruthless lte $honor)>>\ ''[Event: Honor Above Ruthlessness]'' <<var $solexp + 1>>\ <<else>>\ ''[Compassion Check Passed]'' <<var $forexp + 1>>\ <</if>>\ <<if ((dig($trialdeets, 2) is 2) or (dig($trialdeets, 2) is 3))>>\ ''[Avoided Waverunner Rivalry]'' <</if>>\ "Apologies." You say with a respectful short bow. "I did not pick this fight, but the Archonate demands we do not hold back. Now choose two among the conscious to come with me and surrender their points. The rest can address the wounded and I will be on my way." The man sighs, closes his eyes, and reluctantly nods. "Very well. We will follow you." "Apologies but no." You correct. "You will have to go in front to ensure you don't stab me in the back. I am kind, not stupid." \ Disappointment shows on the man's face. <</if>>\ <<if ($ally is "Desdemona")>>\ <<page "*Crackle*" "ch8-rabbit-river-takeout-dessy">>\ <<else>>\ <<page "Leave to the stonewall." "ch8-rabbit-river-takeout3">>\ <</if>>\

<<var $escapeprocess "Ravine-JDF-Assault">>\ Nobody else poses a problem down the ravine. Sure, a few Martial Artists break into the river, dropping from the Field, but they avoid you. Those that don't either beg forgiveness for getting in your way or fight each other, wisely choosing not to start a losing battle. At one point a Beast bird divebombs near you, but it hits the river and catches a fish instead. <<if ($roc gte 1)>>\ "Go back to the ship, $rocname." You say to your pet Roc, recognizing the carp addict when her plumage gets close enough. The two Waverunners with you look highly concerned when the Beast listens. <<if ($ally is "Desdemona")>>\ Desdemona looks even more perplexed. <<var $desrep + 5>>\ <</if>>\ ''[Prestige Increased]'' <<var $prestige + 1>>\ <</if>>\ Ancestors, it's unusually peaceful in this battle royale. You and your two captives reach the end of the river and rise \ <<include "ch8-rabbit-river-wallin">>\

up a narrow path on your left. It's easy enough to tell you've reached the end of the valley; the river dips underground into the base of a new set of hills. When you ascend the steep path you're greeted by a wide-open field ending at a small, hip-height stonewall fifty feet to your right. It glows golden with Mystic Chi and spans the entire distance of the valley, all the way into the woods on the other side. <<include "ch8-rabbit-river-wallin2">>\

Several contestants have beaten your \ <<if (($escapeprocess is "Ravine-Fuyu-Favor") or ($escapeprocess is "Ravine-Surrender"))>>\ heavily armored \ <</if>>\ group to the end. <<include "ch8-rabbit-fromfields">>\

"We don't have to fight." Shouts the scarlet-haired Waverunner leader, Isamu. "Four of the men and women you see here are not Waverunner Disciples, but our allies who have joined onto our cause. They've agreed to surrender their points at the end for our favor. Will you be doing the same?" "Why in the world would I do that?" You call back, charging $auracolor chi around your body in preparation for a fight. <<if ($ally is "Desdemona")>>\ Desdemona lets her hair flutter in the wind, undisturbed, but the rest of her Disciples jump to attention and summon their own auras. <</if>>\ "Because with us you may very well win these Trials," Isamu says, "and against us you will most certainly lose." All seven of them expand their own scarlet or blue auras. Isamu draws a blade. "Know we are not without honor or appreciation. Ally with us and give up points so we may pass the stonewall with full marks. In exchange we will protect you from the birds and combatants to ensure you do not lose the combat points. You will also be an official ally of Nanhou. Magistrate Fuyu always rewards those who earn his \ <<if ($race is "Human")>>\ favor, especially fellow Humans." <<else>>\ favor." <</if>>\ <<if ($ally is "Desdemona")>>\ "Ugh." Desdemona rolls her eyes. "I hate diplomatic bandits. They speak as if you're the reason they're attacking you." You ponder how many people she's run into who act like this, but your attention shoots back to the man below when his power grows. He expects an answer. <</if>>\ <<if ((((($equippedweapon is "Muramasa") or ($equippedweapon is "Kagutsuchi")) or ($equippedweapon is "Ikazuchi")) or ($equippedweapon is "Shishido")) or ($equippedweapon is "Godslayer"))>>\ <<var $weppy $equippedweapon>>\ <<elseif ($equippedweapon isnot "")>>\ <<var $weppy ("your " + $equippedweapon)>>\ <<else>>\ <<var $weppy "">>\ <</if>>\ <<var $arguments 0>>\ <<choose "ch8-rabbit-river-here2win">> #"No, I'm here to win." #"Very well, but I want your word of support in other Trials." "Very well." You say. "But I want your word of support in other Trials." "Of course." Isamu replies, sheathing his \ <<if ($ally is "Desdemona")>>\ sword. "And your friends?" Desdemona glares down at him, crackling energy around her hands. "Desdemona." You whisper. "This is your chance. Your weakest Disciples can avoid losing points from combat, only one will have to give up their points at the stonewall with me, and two can give up points for your passage. You'll get four points and still make an alliance." "I simply...Ugh." Desdemona huffs. "Are we truly surrendering in front of these scrying orbs?" You look upward and see a pink-golden orb of chi, one of Misuka's scrying Techniques. "Uh oh, folks!" Misuka's voice shouts from the scrying orb. "It looks like we've been caught in the act! That's right, you've all just witnessed the long-awaiting rival of Crusher Jack publicly surrender to Isamu of the Waverunners! Will the Dreamriver's very own Sectmistress make the same cowardly submission? Let's find out!" Shit. Whichever arena is looking through that scrying pool, they've already seen you surrender. ''[Prestige Loss]'' <<var $prestige - 3>>\ You charge $auracolor chi over your wrist and launch it out in a single trailing blast that destroys the scrying Technique in a smoking explosion. Ahhhh. Cathartic. "There." You say. "Now only I have to deal with witnesses. Do you want a free alliance or not?" She grits her teeth, purple upper lip curling as she looks from her Disciples to the Waverunners below. "You had better be worth it, Waverunner. If you fail to defend my Disciples I will kill you in front of your Magistrate." Isamu places one fist in the other and bows. "Your wards will be safe in our care. Come, we have everyone we need now. It is time to end this Trial." <<else>>\ sword. "A stunning development!" Shouts Misuka the Performer. ''[Prestige Lost]'' <<var $prestige - 3>>\ You dart your vision skyward and see one of her golden-pink scrying orbs hovering over the ravine, projecting her voice. "I can hardly believe it! The long-awaited rival of Crusher Jack has surrendered to Isamu of the Waverunners! Could Isamu be the next breakout talent to reach the Top Five? Let's find ou-" The orb bursts, punctured by a beam of Water Chi. "I apologize for that." Isamu says. "Kitsune are known to try and turn us against each other, but it would look worse for you to break your word now that it has been witnessed. Please, come with me." <<if ($race is "Kitsune")>>\ Your two tails swish behind you. "What did you just say about Kitsune?" Isamu stumbles when he turns to start his march, looking back up and squinting. His eyes widen and his face pales. "I...have brought shame to my name. Forgiveness, please." You shake your head in disgust. Typical Humans. <<else>>\ You sigh at the loss of face, but he has a point. Betraying them by fighting back now is even worse than surrendering in the first place. Ancestors, \ <<if (dig($trialdeets, 1) gte 2)>>\ Mao was right. Politics suck. <<else>>\ politics suck. <</if>>\ <</if>>\ <</if>>\ <<var $escapeprocess "Ravine-Surrender">>\ <<page "Leave to the stonewall." "ch8-rabbit-river-surrender">>\ #use-if (dig($trialdeets, 2) is 3) "Me and Magistrate Fuyu are already on great terms." [Requires Nanhou Support] "Me and Magistrate Fuyu are already on great terms." You say, dropping your $auracolor aura. "He said to look to you guys for support, actually." Isamu stumbles back, squinting up the ravine. "By the Ancestors, you're the one who fixed our legers and saved the food shipments!" "Uh, no." You reply sheepishly. \ <<if ($ally is "Desdemona")>>\ "I'm the one who-" An explosion of golden, pink, and violet light sends sparks flying overhead. You all charge up and prepare for battle until you realize no fight is coming: the explosion was Desdemona blowing up Misuka's scrying orb. She shrugs. "You seemed about to say something shameful." You nod in appreciation, turning back to the Waverunners. "I'm the one who crashed into his statue after my fight with the Callous brothers." ''[Prestige Loss Avoided]'' <<else>>\ "I'm the one who crashed into Magistrate Fuyu's statue on my arrival. He seemed nice about it." ''[Prestige Lost]'' <<var $prestige - 1>>\ <</if>>\ "Oh." Isamu sheathes his sword. "I haven't heard of you." "I have." Adds one of the helmeted women beside him. "Is it true Callous Goro punched you into that statue from //two miles out to sea?//" <<if ($ally is "Desdemona")>>\ Desdemona scrunches her face, staring \ <<if ($bodytype isnot "Petite") and ($bodytype isnot "Manlet")>>\ up \ <</if>>\ at you. "He did what?" <</if>>\ You lean into the endurance part more than the embarrassing part. "It was nothing, you'll be seeing attacks like that a lot in the Trials." Isamu rubs his chin. "If you vouch for this $manwoman's favor with the Magistrate, that changes things. $titlename, come with us down-river. We'll recruit four more willing \ <<if ($ally is "Desdemona")>>\ volunteers, defeat any stragglers for your darkly robed friends to pass as well, then \ <<else>>\ volunteers and \ <</if>>\ travel to the stonewall as a group." "Are you sure?" You ask, looking down river where more and more contestants are dropping in from the field and breaking into fights. "Not many will be left by the time we get the whole group relocated. Two more for me is-" "What I promised." Isamu says, signaling for his team to follow. "Magistrate Fuyu always rewards those who earn his \ <<if ($race is "Human")>>\ favor." <<else>>\ favor. Though I'm not sure how you managed, what with your..." <<if ($race is "Lunargoth")>>\ "Pale skin?" \ <<elseif ($race is "Oni")>>\ <<if ($spiritbrandloc is "skin")>>\ "<<cap $spiritbrandcolor>> skin?" \ <<else>>\ "Red skin?" \ <</if>>\ <<elseif ($race is "Kitsune")>>\ "Two tails?" \ <<elseif ($race is "Yokai")>>\ "Tail?" \ <</if>>\ You ask. "I made him a better statue than the one I broke. He appreciates good masonry when he sees it." Isamu shrugs. "That he must. Let's move out." <</if>>\ <<var $escapeprocess "Ravine-Fuyu-Favor">>\ <<page "Continue" "ch8-rabbit-river-escort">>\ <</choose>>

An air-rippling roar echoes through the tunnel from the Drake deeper back in the tunnel. Chi resonates all around you and when your feet next hit the stone floor you feel vibrations under ground. <<if ($rscore is 3)>>\ Two \ <<else>>\ A half dozen \ <</if>>\ runners beside you stumble and nearly fall when the vibrations redouble under your feet. You realize something is wrong because the vibrations aren't stopping, they're getting worse. With a quick scan you confirm what the Drake's unleashed: A Technique. The vibrations grow into tremors cracking the tunnel's walls and threatening a total collapse. Screams break out from dozens of runners when rocks begin to fall in massive chunks. You wrap $auracolor chi around a fist and knock a falling stone out of your path. Then you deflect another, and another, but a sense of dread falls over you when the tunnel seems to shrink around you: The ceiling is coming closer. A single solid chunk of stone, ten feet wide and over a foot thick, falls from the ceiling right onto your head, tilted down on its far end so you can't even dive forward to avoid it. <<if (($element1 is "Earth") or ($element2 is "Earth"))>>\ ''[Earth Element: Automatic Success]'' A full-body barrier of amber Earth Chi surrounds your body that breaks the stone into pieces, redirecting or outright deflecting the scattered rock chunks all around you without impeding your movement. Without slowing down, you sprint through the remaining rubble until you see a beautiful vision through the raining stones: A light at the end of the tunnel. The finish line. <<page "Continue" "ch8-rabbit-rocksfall2">>\ <<elseif (($style is "Aoyusumu") and ($styleswapper isnot ""))>>\ ''[Dharmic Wheel Activated!]'' The eightfold Dharmic Wheel of $auracolor energy manifests behind your back and freezes the kinetic momentum of the giant rock, leaving it to hover in the air as you sprint underneath. Without slowing down, you sprint through the remaining rubble until you see a beautiful vision through the raining stones: A light at the end of the tunnel. The finish line. <<page "Continue" "ch8-rabbit-rocksfall2">>\ <<elseif (((($techslotname[1] is "Telekinesis") or ($techslotname[2] is "Telekinesis")) or ($techslotname[3] is "Telekinesis")) or ($techslotname[4] is "Telekinesis"))>>\ ''[Telekinesis Activated!]'' Your eyes flash <<if ($spiritbrandloc is "eyes")>>\ event brighter \ <</if>>\ $auracolor when you activate your Telekinetic abilities to launch the stone back up into the ceiling where it belongs. \ Without slowing down, you sprint through the remaining rubble until you see a beautiful vision through the raining stones: A light at the end of the tunnel. The finish line. <<page "Continue" "ch8-rabbit-rocksfall2">>\ <<else>>\ <<var $combatstat "fortitude">>\ <<if (($bodytype is "Manlet") or ($bodytype is "Petite"))>>\ <<if ($agility gte $fortitude)>>\ <<var $combatstat "agility">>\ <</if>>\ <<if ($athletics gt $perception)>>\ <<var $combatskill "athletics">>\ <</if>>\ <</if>>\ <<var $combatskill "perception">>\ <<discount "Petite" 2>>\ <<discount "Manlet" 2>>\ <<discount "Cat" 1>>\ <<combatcheck 8>>\ <<if ($passcheck is true)>>\ <<if (($bodytype is "Petite") or ($bodytype is "Manlet"))>>\ Thanking the Ancestors that you were born so short, you allow the stone to hit several Martial Artists around you. <<if ($bodytype is "Manlet")>>\ The tall bastards \ <<else>>\ The taller Martial Artists \ <</if>>\ act like pillars for a split second, holding the rock up as it crashes into their collective heads. It's plenty of time for you to run underneath and avoid the problem completely. That's what they get for being so tall. <<else>>\ Looking for the weakest link in the rock, you tense your shoulder and break through the crumbling stone barrier like a battering ram. <</if>>\ Without slowing down, you sprint through the remaining rubble until you see a beautiful vision through the raining stones: A light at the end of the tunnel. The finish line. <<page "Continue" "ch8-rabbit-rocksfall2">>\ <<else>>\ With no way around such a wide obstacle, you tense your shoulder and charge through the falling rock wall. ''*THUD*'' <<woundcheck 1 false false>>\ The rock proves sturdier than your body, tearing your trapezius muscle connecting your shoulder to your neck. You will not sleep well tonight. <<var $rscore - 1>>\ Worse, other Martial Artists avoid the stone wall, break through their own obstacles, or simply run past you without a handicap like your crippling pain. Defeated, you run over the remaining rubble like an obstacle course until you see a light at the end of the tunnel. The finish line. <<page "Continue" "ch8-rabbit-rocksfall2">>\ <</if>>\ <</if>>\

You strain your burning lungs and legs as far as you can to push past your peers and \ <<if ($rscore is 3)>>\ steal first place. <<else>>\ steal a better placement. <</if>>\ You're not alone. <<var $val 0>>\ <<if (($fren is "Guiren") and ($rscore is 3))>>\ <<var $val - 1>>\ /* Guiren slows down the oni who might have taken first. */\ <<elseif ((($zhulose) or ($stolenelixir is 1)) and ($rscore is 3))>>\ <<var $val - 1>>\ /* you stealing zhu's elixir stops him from taking first. */\ <</if>>\ Everyone around you screams out and powers up, charging with as much Chi as they can surge at once. <<if (($rscore is 3) and ($zhulose is false))>>\ "FOR THUNDERFALL!" Big Zhu screams, surging his flight to pull ahead. <<elseif (((($zhulose) or ($stolenelixir is 1)) and ($rscore is 3)) or (($stolenelixir is 1) and ($rscore is 2)))>>\ <<if ((($zhulose) or ($stolenelixir is 1)) and ($rscore is 3))>>\ "FOR THUNDERFALL!!!" Screams Big Zhu, so far back that he won't even make top twenty, because you \ <<if ($zhulose is true)>>\ punched him in the throat earlier. <<else>>\ stole his special potion earlier. <</if>>\ <<else>>\ "FOR THUNDERFALL!!!" Screams Big Zhu as you nearly pass him, clearly having fallen behind to the same rung as you. Because you stole his speed elixir. <</if>>\ You try not to laugh when you think about how your bullying lost him the race. <<if ($honor lt 40)>>\ ''[Honor 40 Check Failed]'' Pfft. Pffttthhahaahaha. <<if ($zhulose is true)>>\ Right in the <<if ($ruthless gte 70)>>\ doublechin. <<else>>\ neck. <</if>>\ <<else>>\ You can't believe he told you about his elixir. <</if>>\ What an idiot. ''[Distraction Event - Speed Reduced!]'' <<var $val + 1>>\ Ah, shit, the race! <</if>>\ <</if>>\ <<choose "ch8-rabbit-winnerwinnerchickendinner">> #Push your legs to their limit. -> "ch8-rabbit-frontrunners" You lean forward to shorten the distance between your legs and the ground, slamming your feet to the stone floor as fast as $racely possible. Sweat covers your body and your muscles strain to break out of your skin from the strain. //Faster!// You scream at yourself. //Faster! Faster! FASTER!!!// Light flashes into your eyes, blindingly bright, when you and\ <<if ($rscore is 3)>>\ the other leading contestants \ <<else>>\ the other Martial Artists \ <</if>>\ break across the finish line and out of the tunnel, coming out into an open field with a hillside cave entrance behind you. "FINISH!" Screams Misuka the Performer when you cross over the line and collapse into the grass. <<var $combatstat "agility">>\ <<var $combatskill "athletics">>\ <<var $val + (9+($rscore*2))>>\ <<discount "Wind" 2>>\ <<discount "Light" 2>>\ <<discount "Kurokonton" $stylerank>>\ <<discount "Akakiru" 1>>\ <<discount "Agile" 2>>\ <<discount "Legs" 2>>\ #use-if ((($chipool + ($soul/2)) - $chispent) gte 2) Take off like a shooting star by launching energy behind you. [Costs 2 Chi] -> "ch8-rabbit-frontrunners" You focus your chi mid-sprint and charge $auracolor energy between both palms, powering up the attack with as much energy as you can muster. "DON'T DO IT!" Screams the angered catgirl ducking underneath your legs. "LOWER YOUR ARMS!" Shouts an Oni man behind you. "<<capall $heshe>>'S GOING TO KILL EVERYONE!" Screams a Human girl who gets slowed down by covering her face with both arms. You ignore their pleas, because you already willingly chose to launch a full-power attack inside of a crowded tunnel with nowhere to go. Like a psychopath. You leap, spin around, and unleash a beam of raw power out of your palms and over the heads of most runners, //narrowly// missing a surprised flying Lunargoth. The energy explosion pushes you back faster than you could run; you press on that advantage by pumping out more and more chi to maintain the speed. ''[1 Chi Point Spent]'' <<var $chispent + 1>>\ Light flashes into your eyes, blindingly bright, when you and \ <<if ($rscore is 3)>>\ the other leading contestants \ <<else>>\ the other Martial Artists \ <</if>>\ break across the finish line and out of the tunnel, coming out into an open field with a hillside cave entrance behind you. You extinguish your attack and drop to the ground, crashing into the grass beside Misuka the Performer with a hard impact. <<var $combatstat "soul">>\ <<var $val + (8+$rscore)>>\ <<discount "Kiihakai" $stylerank>>\ <<discount "Aoyusumu" 1>>\ <<discount "Wind" 2>>\ <<discount "Fire" 2>>\ <<discount "Storm" 1>>\ <<attack "Ranged Energy">>\ <<if ($energytide is true)>>\ ''[Energy Tide: +2 Battle Prowess]'' <<var $cmod + 2>>\ <</if>>\ #use-if ((($element1 is "Storm") and ($element1rank gte 2)) or (($element2 is "Storm") and ($element2rank gte 2))) Ride the lightning. [Requires Storm (Adept)] Your first crackles with lightning from the Storm Chi you wrench out of your Cores in a hurry. Raising your hand into the air, you trigger its intrinsic property and unleash electricity through the air. Lightning explodes outward and you push harder, forcing the Storm properties not only into your bolt attack, but your //body//. ''[Storm (Adept) Event: Automatic Success]'' Your Cores convert your entire essence into electricity for a blink of an eye. In that time, you blast down the tunnel over everyone's heads and escape out of the exit. You rematerialize into your physical form, flying through the air in time to be nearly blinded by the bright sunlight cast over the grassy field you now find yourself in. With a hillside cave entrance behind you, you crash-land just past Misuka the Performer who screams in excitement at your display in front of her dozen scrying orbs. #use-if ((($element1 is "Darkness") and ($element1rank gte 2)) or (($element2 is "Darkness") and ($element2rank gte 2))) Fall into your shadow. [Requires Darkness (Adept)] Your body snuffs out illumination when a black smoke envelopes you. Your Darkness aura expands outward in a black streak of Darkness Chi surging ahead, allowing you to throw your hands up and dive feet-first into it with a flying leap. ''[Darkness (Adept) Event: Automatic Success]'' The cold Darkness of the Void surrounds you. Pressing out your own Darkness Chi as a surrounding layer to resist the entropy, you push yourself between the tenebrous essence as if you were squeezing through two giant bars of soap. The effect launches you forward at incredible speeds until you reach the shadow you seek: The edge of the tunnel's ceiling. You erupt in a spray of smoking Darkness out of the exit just in front of the others, crossing the finish line and tumbling into a grassy field with the blinding sun overhead. The only thing you see when rolling down the shallow hill outside of the tunnel is an excited Misuka the Performer with her jaw dropped at your last-minute steal, all in front of her dozen scrying orbs in the air. #show-if (($equippedweapon is "Handwraps") or ($equippedweapon2 is "Handwraps")) use-if (dig($weaponbonus, 2) gte 2) Catch the first place runner with your handwraps and pull, HARD. [Requires Superior-Grade Handwraps] -> "ch8-rabbit-swirlythingy" Channeling your chi through your handwraps, trusting in its craftsmanship to keep it from breaking, you launch the studded cloth off your wrist like a spiraling whip. #show-if (($equippedweapon is "Meteor Hammer") or ($equippedweapon2 is "Meteor Hammer")) use-if (dig($weaponbonus, 2) gte 2) Catch the first place runner with your meteor hammer and pull, HARD. [Requires Superior-Grade Meteor Hammer] -> "ch8-rabbit-swirlythingy" Channeling your chi through your meteor hammer, trusting in its craftsmanship to keep it from breaking, you launch the lengthy chain up ahead like a spiraling whip. #show-if (($equippedweapon is "Shishido") or ($equippedweapon2 is "Shishido")) Catch the first place runner with Shishido's chain and pull, HARD. [Requires Shishido] -> "ch8-rabbit-swirlythingy" Channeling your chi through the Cursed material of your possibly cursed kusarigama, you launch the long-chained weapon ahead like a spiraling whip. #show-if ((($equippedweapon isnot "Handwraps") and ($equippedweapon2 isnot "Handwraps")) and (($equippedweapon isnot "Meteor Hammer") and ($equippedweapon2 isnot "Meteor Hammer")) and (($equippedweapon isnot "Shishido") and ($equippedweapon2 isnot "Shishido"))) use-if ($equippedweapon2 is "Shishido") Use a tool. [None applicable] -> "death" #show-if ($flashstep is true) ''//Flash Step!!//'' The Yang energy present in half of your Cores calls out to the Yin energy inherit in the underlying universe, specifically at the point in space under the finish line. ''//"FLASH! STEP!!"//'' With an activation of chi, you snap the two connections together and vanish from sight. At the far end of the tunnel, in the furthest Flash Step you've performed so far, you reappear. Across the finish line. <</choose>>

"Hey Big Zhu!" You shout across the scattered field of Martial Artists fighting or fleeing from an aerial Beast Tide. "WHAT?!" He screams back, voice booming with Wild Chi as he flies to dodge a bird's attack. <<if ($survival gte 2)>>\ ''[Survival 2 Check Passed]'' You side-step a horse-sized falcon's piercing charge when it tries to ambush you from behind, forcing its trajectory to launch at Big Zhu instead. "Go fuck yourself!" <<var $maorep - 4>>\ <<var $score_wild + 2>>\ <<var $score_bladed - 1>>\ <<var $zhuser true>>\ "ARE YOU SERI-AAHHHHHH!" He screams, struck with an ice blast from behind hard enough to stun him. The falcon slams its beak into his gut next, knocking him out of the air. One of Misuka's floating orbs speeds over and vibrates with her voice. "Our surprise-flyer Big Zhu has suffered damage from a player source and Beast source, losing two points! A sinister ploy to rise up the ranks by $titlename, from which the Lost Siren's Yue has taken full advantage!" \ <<else>>\ "Go fuck yourself!" He blinks, pausing in the air with gusts supporting his large form. "Are you serious right now?" You flip him off. "Yeah!" "You immat-" He's cut off when a nascent phoenix attacks him with flaming talons, forcing him to drop to the ground and land poorly on his shoulder. <</if>>\ <<var $honor - 2>>\ Heh. <<choose "ch8-rabbit-river">> #Run down the field. -> "ch8-rabbit-field" #Run into the woods. -> "ch8-rabbit-woods" #Run into the river. <</choose>>

"Something's wrong." Desdemona whispers as you approach her, maneuvering through the line to get away from Jack's lackey. "What makes you think that?" You ask. Li Moon points to the displays while Lu Sun points behind you all. Desdemona nods before turning to you. "No one fell behind on the journey here, but they're giving us time to get ready after a meager jog. To top it off, they're introducing the Kitsune's sorcery displays too early. Realistically, they should open with a grand display. Instead they're starting the presentation in a dark tunnel." You ponder the implications. <<if ($lore gte 2)>>\ ''[Lore 2 Check Passed]'' <<var $desrep + 2>>\ <<var $solexp + 3>>\ "So they're planning something worth showing in our dark tunnel. Something more than a race." Desdemona nods. "A danger. \ <<else>>\ ''[Lore 2 Check Failed]'' "Ah, of course. I see now. So that means..." You wait for Desdemona to finish your sentence. She stares at you, frowning. You smile back. She frowns harder. <<var $desrep - 2>>\ "I don't know." You finally confess. She sighs. "It means there's a dangerous element involved. Something entertaining enough for violent masters to monitor our Rabbit Trial. \ <</if>>\ It can't be in front of us, or the weak wouldn't get past it. The injured from the previous Trials aren't anywhere to be seen, so that means..." You all turn around and peer from whence you came, to the ominous sight of the tunnel behind you. "There's something behind us." <<page "Continue" "ch8-rabbit-speakdessy2">>\

Chatter from the aspirants around you is drowned out by a ringing in your ears when you look down the long, dark hallway from which you came. What could have been hiding in the dark that you missed? Something with enough strength to threaten one-hundred Martial Artists, but enough intelligence to hide in the shadows unseen. Desdemona breaks your train of thought. "Disciples, prepare the world calibration ritual." <<if ($style is "Kiihakai")>>\ <<var $desrep + 2>>\ That catches your attention. "That's the one you used on my ship, right?" Desdemona threatens to smile while her Disciples withdraw ritual components and perform quick handsigns in the seconds you have available. "Good eye for detail. Yes, we're \ <<else>>\ "What's that?" You ask while her black-robed Disciples withdraw ritual components and perform quick handsigns in the seconds you have available. Desdemona carefully enacts her own handseals without looking your way. "It's complex and nuanced, but you can simply call it a speed ritual based on the results. We're \ <</if>>\ going to align our chi towards the exit and away from the entrance. Whatever is coming will have to make due with the stragglers when the world's ambient chi pushes us ahead of them." Li Moon withdraws chalk and draws a hasty ritual circle on the floor. "Help out or step back, please." <<choose "ch8-rabbitcont">> #Step back and trust Desdemona's ritual. You step back and marvel at their work, analyzing the many Seals and sigils that go into making a ritual with six people in under twenty seconds. Several aspirants nearby step back and you can tell why. With so many Handseals happening so fast, the ambient chi around you is going erratic, like a light breeze twisting in four rotating tornado formations without increasing in wind speed. It's surreal, and beautiful to watch. They finish their ritual in time and you feel a rush of energy wrap around your aura. <<var $val 1>>\ <<if (($descombat gte 8) or ($style is "Kiihakai"))>>\ <<var $val + 1>>\ ''[Desdemona Prowess Check Passed: Ritual Improved]'' <</if>>\ ''[Speed Sorcery: Agility +$val]'' <<var $agility + $val>>\ <<var $spellspeed $val>>\ <<page "Rabbits, take your places!" "ch8-rabbitcont">>\ #use-if ($handseals gte 3) Sabotage Desdemona's ritual to benefit you more than them. [Requires Handseals 3] You carefully analyze the Dreamriver Sect's work and look over the seals they use to funnel the ambient chi through their bodies in very specific ways, using the directions of the world to give it the force it normally cannot have. With your foot, you smudge their ritual circle and adjust the seals to affect only a single individual. Then, with your hands, you enact the Tiger Seal to input yourself as the sole beneficiary. <<if (($handseals + $stealth) gte 5)>>\ ''[Handseals + Stealth 5 Check Passed]'' None of them see you, busy as they are with their preparations to make your life easier. Fools. ''[Speed Sorcery: Agility +3]'' <<var $spellspeed 3>>\ <<var $agility + 3>>\ <<var $descombat - 1>>\ <<else>>\ ''[Handseals + Stealth 5 Check Failed]'' "What do you think you're doing?" Desdemona asks, glaring at you. "Helping?" You answer hopefully. <<if ($deception gte 3)>>\ ''[Deception 3 Check Passed]'' "Well stop helping." She says, smudging your work back to their old sigils in the ritual circle. "You're messing it up." They finish their ritual just in time and you manage to avoid the blame for the great betrayal you attempted. ''[Speed Sorcery: Agility +1]'' <<var $spellspeed 1>>\ <<var $agility + 1>>\ <<if (dig($mettaio, 1) gte 6)>>\ //So close, yet so far.// Whispers Taio the Bandit into your soul. //Your work is sloppy.// \ <</if>>\ <<else>>\ ''[Deception 3 Check Failed]'' <<var $desrep - 10>>\ "The Hells you are." Desdemona says, blasting the ground near your foot and eliciting the looks of every aspirant nearby. "Don't ever try anything like that again, and get your lying hands away from my ritual. Now." Well, that could have gone better. <</if>>\ <</if>>\ <<page "Rabbits, take your places!" "ch8-rabbitcont">>\ #use-if (((($northwindritual isnot 100) and ($southwindritual isnot 100)) and ($eastwindritual isnot 100)) and ($westwindritual isnot 100)) Enhance Desdemona's ritual. [Requires all four Auspicious Seals] "I can help." You say, looking over their work. "These are good amplifiers, but you're only using three of the Auspicious Directional Seals." Desdemona nods solemnly. "We've salvaged three from ruins and...other means. Without funds for a shop, three is a miracle. Do not fret, we can make up for it with reverse-" "I know four." Every Dreamriver pauses their work and looks over to you, then to Desdemona. Her eyes are wide, suspiciously wide for someone who just heard something as mundane as 'I can help a bit.' Li Moon breaks the silence. "Lady Desdemona, we could use the-" "Do it." She says, and they all adjust the work on the ritual circle. With seconds left to go, they change their seals just in time for a weaker Dreamriver Disciple to push her hand into the circle, ejecting some sort of red chi into it. <<if ($desnuke gte 1)>>\ You recognize it, actually. //''The Last Dream.''// <</if>>\ "What are you doing with that?" You ask. Desdemona shakes her head. "Perform your four seals, quickly. We have mere seconds and this will change everything. Trust me." You do so, and finish the final seal with a half-second to spare before the race begins. <<var $rocketritual true>>\ <<page "Rabbits, take your places!" "ch8-rabbitcont">>\ <</choose>>

<<var $oldagi $agility>>\ "Speak of the devil." Says one of Guiren's men as you approach, maneuvering through the line to avoid Jack's lackey. "Rude." You reply after being called a devil. "What are you guys talking about?" Guiren pulls away from the huddle. "Our strategy. We're going to leash our Cursed Chi to the fastest runners, use their speed to pull us towards them mid-race. We still have to sprint, and it'll piss them off if they sense it, but we're not here to make friends." "And you were going to leash to me?" "Yoji was." Guiren says, throwing Yoji under the wagon. "Please don't hurt me." Yoji whispers. You eye the rest of the competition. "Targeting me aside, will something like that help us win?" Guiren shrugs. "It'll help us score well if we pick a good target, but no. It's nearly impossible to score first place if we're dragging ourselves behind someone so much faster than us that it makes a difference. If you trust your own speed, don't bother with leashing." <<if ($style is "Kurokonton")>>\ "I suggest leashing yourself to Guiren." Wencheng says. "It's my best bet." His other underlings all nod along, surprised to see everyone had the same plan. Guiren smacks them. <<choose "ch8-rabbit-speakguiren-ownspeed">> #"Thanks, but I trust my own speed." #"Ancestors, I love being a curse-ninja." [Choose a target to steal speed from.] -> "ch8-rabbit-speakguiren-curse" The power of Curses emanated through your palm, ready to attach to an unsuspecting target. You eye the finally-illuminated tunnel of contestants and try to decide which is the best to siphon speed from. <</choose>> <<else>>\ <<if ($style is "Aoyusumu")>>\ ''[Aoyusumu Event]'' <<var $solexp + $stylerank>>\ <<var $agiexp + ($stylerank * 2)>>\ "Oh, you mean kinetic energy theft? I can do that." Guiren shakes his head. "You can do it ''temporarily'' by weaking your opponent's aura. Plus they notice when you do it, it's vulgar. We can do it externally, as if we have an actual leash attached to them that we pull on to drag ourselves forward. It's harder to spiritually detect and better for marathons." \ <<else>>\ You eye him questioningly. "Uh, Guiren, I don't practice the Kurokonton Style. I can't do it anyway." He runs a hand through his hair and smirks, shaking his head. "You really don't appreciate how lucky you are to know me." \ <</if>>\ From his pocket he withdraws a small clay rectangle with unfamiliar sigils inscribed. "This will let you do it, once. Downside, you ''will'' have to spill your blood on the talisman. Enough to make it hurt." You try to offer a sincere smile to turn him down. "I've had my fill of demonic effects this year." He cracks a smile. "Amen to that, we collected a debt last season from a literal Wight. Psychopathic possessed bastard was shooting lightning just from breathing. But no, the Boss isn't a Fiend. Probably. These aren't demonic tokens, the blood is just an added cost for non-Kurokonton users. It's applied as a Curse on them after they're made." Yoji pipes up. "It's like a pass phrase the Boss puts on his tokens so they're not worth stealing." Guiren tilts his head twice, hinting that for once he thinks one of his underlings is correct. <<choose "ch8-rabbit-speakguiren-ownspeed">> #show-if ((($health + ($fortitude / 2)) - $wounds) gte 2) "Give me the talisman." -> "ch8-rabbit-speakguiren-curse" "Give me the talisman." You say, catching it when he tosses the charm your way. Reluctantly, you \ <<if (((((((((((((($equippedweapon is "Tanto")) or ($equippedweapon is "Katana")) or ($equippedweapon is "Muramasa")) or ($equippedweapon is "Greataxe")) or ($equippedweapon is "Qiang")) or ($equippedweapon is "Kunai")) or ($equippedweapon is "Jian")) or ($equippedweapon is "Iceblade")) or ($equippedweapon is "Chiblade")) or ($equippedweapon is "Kagutsuchi")) or ($equippedweapon is "Ikazuchi")) or ($equippedweapon is "Shishido")) or ($equippedweapon is "Godslayer"))>>\ draw \ <<if ((((($equippedweapon isnot "Muramasa") and ($equippedweapon isnot "Kagutsuchi")) and ($equippedweapon isnot "Ikazuchi")) and ($equippedweapon isnot "Shishido")) and ($equippedweapon isnot "Godslayer"))>>\ your \ <</if>>\ $equippedweapon and cut your hand open on its blade. <<if ((($health + ($fortitude / 2)) - $wounds) lt 1)>>\ <<woundcheck 1 false false>>\ <<elseif ($woundbonus gte 1)>>\ ''[Wounding Bonus: +2 Aura Pressure]'' <<var $aurapressure + 2>>\ <<else>>\ ''[3 Aura Pressure Lost]'' <<var $aurapressure - 3>>\ <</if>>\ <<else>>\ draw Wencheng's kunai out of his legsheath and cut your hand. <<if ((($health + ($fortitude / 2)) - $wounds) lt 1)>>\ <<woundcheck 1 false false>>\ <<elseif ($woundbonus gte 1)>>\ ''[Wounding Bonus: +2 Aura Pressure]'' <<var $aurapressure + 2>>\ <<else>>\ ''[3 Aura Pressure Lost]'' <<var $aurapressure - 3>>\ <</if>>\ "Oh that's fine." Wencheng says sarcastically. "No need to ask. Please, put it back with the blood on it. I'm sure that will come out with the laundry." Guiren takes the kunai from your hand and actually return it into Wencheng's leg-sheath with the blood still on it. Everyone laughs at Wencheng, except you, because you just cut your hand open and it hurts. <</if>>\ Your blood drips on the charm and causes a purple and green glow to emanate from its writing. The talisman dissolves into your hand, spiritually, as if it were made of Chi and you were cycling it. The power of the Cursed Chi leashing method flashes into your mind temporarily and you feel a finite resource within your arm, a single use of Kurokonton's effect at your disposal. You look through your options and decide who would be the best target to steal speed from in this race. #show-if ((($health + ($fortitude / 2)) - $wounds) lt 2) use-if ((($health + ($fortitude / 2)) - $wounds) gte 2) "Give me the talisman." [Not enough Health] -> "death" #"I trust my own speed." <</choose>> <</if>>\

Guiren's men each turn in different directions to cast their speed-stealing curse on their own targets. You're no different. You charge the Cursed power through your arm and extend it outward like a whip, connecting with the spirit of \

<<var $oldagi $agility>>\ <<if (($lore + $insight) gte 5)>>\ ''[Lore + Insight 5 Check Passed]'' It's subtle, and well-hidden, but you're able to find the fastest person in the race by considering what you would do if you were faster than anyone around you at the start of a race. You'd meditate to bury your Agility Cores underneath your Power, Soul, and Fortitude Cores. With a light scan amongst the crowd, easily hidden by the constant barrage of small scans everyone else is giving, you find your target. Three people with Agility Cores buried underneath the spiritual weight of their other combat cores. Of the three, one is noticeably higher in Aura Pressure. An Oni woman in purple and black hakama. Your target. <<else>>\ ''[Lore + Insight 5 Check Failed]'' Wow. It is surprisingly hard to guess how fast people are when everyone is standing still. Who knew? Shrugging, you decide to... <</if>>\ <<choose "ch8-rabbitcont">> #Leash your Cursed Chi to the fastest Waverunner. <<include "ch8-rabbit-speakguiren-casting">> the fastest Waverunner you can sense. <<if ($stealth lt 3)>>\ <<var $sect_waverunner - 4>>\ <</if>>\ Hopefully they don't notice. You don't need any more enemies than you already have, but these are the Heavenly Ascension Trials. You'll do whatever it takes to win. <<if ($insight gte 2)>>\ <<rand $val 6 7>>\ <<else>>\ <<rand $val 5 7>>\ <</if>>\ <<if ($val gt $agility)>>\ ''[Agility Temporarily Set to $val]'' <<var $agility $val>>\ <<var $boostposs $val>>\ <<else>>\ ''[No Effect: Agility Already $val or Higher]'' <</if>>\ <<page "Rabbits, take your places!" "ch8-rabbitcont">>\ #Leash your Cursed Chi to the fastest Sunbringer. <<include "ch8-rabbit-speakguiren-casting">> the fastest Sunbringer you can sense. <<if ($stealth lte 3)>>\ <<var $sect_sunbringer - 5>>\ <</if>>\ Heh. Stupid Sunbringers. <<if ($insight gte 2)>>\ <<rand $val 6 7>>\ <<else>>\ <<rand $val 5 7>>\ <</if>>\ <<if ($val gt $agility)>>\ ''[Agility Temporarily Set to $val]'' <<var $agility $val>>\ <<var $boostposs $val>>\ <<else>>\ ''[No Effect: Agility Already $val or Higher]'' <</if>>\ <<page "Rabbits, take your places!" "ch8-rabbitcont">>\ #Leash your Cursed Chi to Jack's fat friend. <<include "ch8-rabbit-speakguiren-casting">> Jack's fat friend, suspecting he may have a trick up his sleeve. He looked far too smug when approaching you at a race. A ''race''. With a gut ''that'' big. He's hiding a speed Technique for sure, and you're going to use it. <<if ($stealth lt 3)>>\ <<var $sect_thunderfall - 3>>\ <</if>>\ Surprisingly his spirit resists your effect automatically. When your leash connects with his aura your mind is filled with alarms as if you're being screamed at from behind. <<var $combatstat "soul">>\ <<discount "Kiihakai" $stylerank>>\ <<discount "Kurokonton" $stylerank>>\ <<discount "Aoyusumu" $stylerank>>\ <<discount "Darkness" 1>>\ <<discount "Oni" 1>>\ <<combatcheck 9>>\ <<if ($passcheck is true)>>\ You ignore the effect, enforce your will over the leashing Technique, and connect your speed-siphoning effect onto him successfully. <<if (8 gt $agility)>>\ ''[Agility Temporarily Set to 8]'' <<var $agility 8>>\ <<var $leashedzhu true>>\ <<var $boostposs 8>>\ <<else>>\ ''[No Effect: Agility Already 8+]'' <</if>>\ <<else>>\ The screams prove too loud, drowning out your own thoughts and weaking the leash you attempt. <<if (6 gt $agility)>>\ ''[Agility Temporarily Set to 6]'' <<var $agility 6>>\ <<var $boostposs 6>>\ <<else>>\ ''[No Effect: Agility Already 6+]'' <</if>>\ <</if>>\ <<page "Rabbits, take your places!" "ch8-rabbitcont">>\ #Leash your Cursed Chi to Guiren. <<include "ch8-rabbit-speakguiren-casting">> Guiren himself. <<var $guirenrep - 10>>\ <<if (9 gt $agility)>>\ ''[Agility Temporarily Set to 9]'' <<var $agility 9>>\ <<var $boostposs 9>>\ <<else>>\ ''[No Effect: Agility Already 9+]'' <</if>>\ Guiren's head snaps to attention and his tail lashes the floor when he turns to you. "What the fuck? Are you serious?" You offer an apologetic shrug. "I want to win." "Well, now I want you to lose." He holds a purple glowing hand towards you and leashes you back. <<if (8 gt $agility)>>\ ''[Agility Temporarily Set to 8]'' <<var $agility 8>>\ <<var $boostposs 8>>\ <<else>>\ ''[No Effect: Agility Already 8+]'' <</if>>\ "What the fuck?!" You yell back. Guiren's arms flail about as he talks. "Yeah. The betrayal hurts, doesn't it?" Hm. It does. <<page "Rabbits, take your places!" "ch8-rabbitcont">>\ #show-if (($lore + $insight) gte 5) Leash yourself to the Oni woman in purple and black hakama. <<include "ch8-rabbit-speakguiren-casting">> the fastest aspirant you can sense, an Oni woman in purple and black hakama. <<var $txt "doesn't notice your action and continues chatting with two other aspirants in the same outfit, completely unaware that your success will mean her defeat.">>\ <<if (9 gt $agility)>>\ ''[Agility Temporarily Set to 9]'' <<var $agility 9>>\ <<var $boostposs 9>>\ <<else>>\ ''[No Effect: Agility Already 9+]'' <<var $checkers true>>\ <</if>>\ <<if ($stealth gte 3)>>\ ''[Stealth 3 Check Passed]'' She $txt <<elseif ($style is "Kurokonton")>>\ ''[Stealth 3 Check Failed]'' ''[Kurokonton Event]'' You're thankful to have so much training with Cursed Chi lately, enabling you to hide your spiritual energy better than usual. Thanks to that, she $txt <<else>>\ ''[Stealth 3 Check Failed]'' Her head snaps to attention and she turns to you, eyes locking on yours and twitching with anger. You feel her spirit pull on your effect to break it but you fight back, pushing more power into your effect now that subtlety is out the window. Her aura manages to diminish your effect, but not break it. The leash stays when she finally gives up, panting from the strain when the beginning of the race is called. <<if (9 gt $agility) and ($checkers is false)>>\ ''[Agility Temporarily Set to 9]'' <<var $agility 9>>\ <<var $boostposs 9>>\ <<elseif ($checkers is false)>>\ ''[No Effect: Agility Already 9+]'' <</if>>\ <</if>>\ <<page "Rabbits, take your places!" "ch8-rabbitcont">>\ #show-if (($lore + $insight) lt 5) use-if (($lore + $insight) gte 5) Leash yourself to the fastest person here. [Recon Failed] -> "death" <</choose>>

"Thanks, but I trust my own speed." You say, turning down Guiren's offer. Guiren shrugs. "No offense taken, Yoji trusted your own speed too." ''"Do not."'' You say to Yoji, who puts his hands up in surrender. <<page "Rabbits, take your places!" "ch8-rabbitcont">>\

"So you finally decided to show up." Jack's fat friend says with what might be a grin under those hefty jowls. Your eyes ascend to the Heavens with how hard you're rolling them. <<var $val 2>>\ <<if ($ruthless gte 54)>>\ ''[Ruthless Check Passed]'' <<var $val 3>>\ "Oh fuck off," you reply immediately, "Can't you see I'm busy? Why are you here anyway? This is a test of running, just take your 0 points and go back to the snack bar already." \ <<else>>\ "Can we not do this?" You ask impatiently. It's one thing to get bullied in front of the officials but it's another when it's this guy. A dozen rivals demanding your time is one thing, but //this guy?// What is the world coming to. "I've got enough problems without a tenth fake rivalry." <</if>>\ He somehow squeezes between you and a Waverunner disciple to get right in your face. "I don't like your tone, Laborer. You think you're hot shit or something?" "You and Jack sure think I am," you say with an uneasy eye on the speaking lights against the wall so you don't miss the race cue, "I can never get any of you to mind your own damned business." "Don't worry about Jack, he finished the Rabbit Trial days ago. You should worry about ''me''." Oh Heavens above he's really doing it. He's really trying to be your rival. "For crying out loud, why? I don't even know your name. Nobody does. And what comes after this? Do I get challenged to a duel by Jack's cat?" His face reddens. "You better learn respect! I am Big Zhu, favored student of my uncle Big Chu!" <<var $bigzhu true>>\ "Big Chu's your uncle?" You stare doubtfully. "I was training with him for a whole year and he never mentioned you." Big Zhu smirks. "I have dinner with him every week and he never mentions you either." That...actually hurts. You grimace and try not to look mad. \ <<if ($ruthless gte 55)>>\ "I don't know if anyone told you this but you're fat, and-" you scan his Aura Pressure of 550AP, "-weak too. Why are you picking a fight with me at a race?" <<else>>\ "Walk back to your side of the line, Zhu. I'm not here compete with the bottom rung, I'm here to win." <</if>>\ "So you're another idiot underestimating me, just like Master Mao. Is that how it is? Well we'll see how that goes for you because unlike you brutes," He withdraws a vial of grey liquid from his gi, "I use my head." <<choose "ch8-rabbitcont">> #"I don't care. Throw a punch or piss off." <<var $honor + 3>>\ <<var $score_bladed + 1>>\ "I don't care." You say plainly. "Throw a punch or piss off." He exhales through his nose and walks off, refusing your challenge. "Plus one point for the Bladed Lands." Says one of the Masked Officials from the shadows. "What the Hells?" Jack's fat friend says, turning around. "And minus one point for the Wild Lands for you." Says the other Masked Official to Jack's fat friend. "What the Hells!" He shouts louder. <<page "Rabbits, take your places!" "ch8-rabbitcont">>\ #"Alright smart guy, got any advice?" <<var $ruthless - 2>>\ <<var $score_wild - 1>>\ "Alright smart guy," you retort, "got any advice?" He snorts. "Are you seriously asking me for-" "Yes." You reply immediately. "You've got a potion that's clearly useful for a Trial when most of us don't even know what these Trials are. You want people to think you're smart, well I do." "Oh." He says, unsure what to do. "Well yeah, I'll bet you do. Suck up." "And you're worth sucking up to if your knowledge is worth Trial points. So what advice to you have? Are you just here to take advantage of a one-time guess or are you going to show me you're worth deferring to?" "Shut up okay, just shut up for a second." He looks around, calculating. You might have just given him his first empirically true compliment in months. Maybe years. Maybe in his life. <<if (dig($trialdeets, 1) is 1)>>\ ''[Event Check Failed: Declared Independence]'' "No." He finally says. "I'm not giving Thunderfall intel to an outsider. Maybe if you knew your place, but you don't, and that's why you're always a problem." <<if ($honor lte 45)>>\ You don't exactly see what he's complaining about. Being a problem is part of your charm. <<else>>\ Ah, right. Sect politics. You forgot about that. <</if>>\ <<elseif ($persuasion gte $val)>>\ ''[Persuasion $val Check Passed]'' "The Snake Trial, next week." He finally says. "It's a test of medical knowledge. They're going to trick us into poisoning ourselves and have everyone craft our own antidotes. Research alchemy and poisons, and don't you dare hide that your success comes from my infinite knowledge!" "Sure, thanks." <<var $trialclues + 1000000000000>>\ <<var $score_mystic + 1>>\ "Don't thank me, this feels weird." <<if ($borep gte 47)>>\ "You get used to it." You shrug. "Just ask Bo." <</if>>\ <<else>>\ ''[Persuasion $val Check Failed]'' "No." He finally says. "You're just bullshitting me to help you win. Fuck off." Awwww man. You hate it when they're right. <</if>>\ <<page "Rabbits, take your places!" "ch8-rabbitcont">>\ #Headbutt him and steal his elixir. Jack's friend probably wants a banter or debate but all he gets is a crack to the dome when you headbutt him right in the bridge of his nose. <<var $ruthless + 3>>\ <<var $honor + 1>>\ <<var $score_wild + 1>>\ <<var $combatstat "fortitude">>\ <<var $combatstat2 "power">>\ <<discount "Earth" 1>>\ <<discount "Aoyusumu" 1>>\ <<discount "Midorikatai" 1>>\ <<combatcheck 9>>\ <<if ($passcheck is true)>>\ His face makes a crunching sound loud enough for you to know something just broke. "AAWWGH! MY NROWSE!" He screams, holding his face with his left hand and two fingers of his right hand, the other three fingers holding the elixir until you snatch it out of his grip. "Who uses their head now, dipshit?" One of the masked officials clears his throat. "$fullname, blatant violence unrelated to the Trial goals has cost you a point deduction from the Mystic and Sacred Lands." "Duly noted." You reply dryly as you gulp down the elixir. It's worth at least a point, and it's even better that he can't have it. ''[Temporary Boost: Agility +1]'' <<var $agility + 1>>\ <<var $stolenelixir 1>>\ <<else>>\ Your face makes a crunching sound, because you missed. Zhu tilts his head just in time to catch ''your'' nose with his own forehead instead, breaking your face upon his Wild Chi infused skull. <<woundcheck 1 true false>>\ He guzzles his elixir and tosses the vial, then spits at your feet. "Do not challenge me again, Laborer trash." <</if>>\ <<page "Rabbits, take your places!" "ch8-rabbitcont">>\ #Con him out of his elixir. <<var $honor - 2>>\ <<var $score_cursed + 1>>\ "Gross, why did you bring a slug infusion?" You say in disgust. "Don't you know it gives you the shits." He scoffs, dangling the speed elixir in front of you. "Piss off Laborer, I know what I've got." <<if ($deception gte 2)>>\ ''[Deception 2 Check Passed]'' "Yeah and what you've got is a slug infusion. One that gives you the shits. Jack gave you the recipe didn't he?" You're completely guessing, but he hesitates. Bingo. "So he did." You confirm. "What's it to you? And, uh, if he did, why would that matter?" "Because I used it on him years ago. He's been trying to get me back ever since. Come on, he told you to run at the exact time I did? For no reason? Please. He only gave it to you hoping I'd steal and drink it so I'd fail. He doesn't give a damn about you." Jack's friend looks down at the elixir with uncertainty, then weariness. "...Damn it. I should have known. I should have ''known''. I thought they finally saw me as a Martial Artist, as an ally. But no, fucking Jack, I'm still just a joke to him." With a dejected sigh he drops the vial. Then you catch it. "Thanks, fool!" You shout just as you gulp the elixir down in one swig. ''[Speed Temporarily Increased]'' <<var $agility + 1>>\ <<var $stolenelixir 1>>\ "Wait, no you said - and I - No! No! Nooo!!!" The shocked, stammering look on his face is a priceless memory you will cherish for years. \ <<var $ruthless + 1>>\ <<else>>\ ''[Deception 2 Check Failed]'' Darn. <</if>>\ <<page "Rabbits, take your places!" "ch8-rabbitcont">>\ <</choose>>

Praying to the ancestors, you swing your weapon forward at\ <<if (($rscore is 3) and ($fren isnot "Guiren"))>>\ the Oni girl in black and purple hakama currently taking first. The poor girl doesn't know what hits her when your weapon catches her \ <<elseif (($rscore is 3) and ($zhulose))>>\ the short Human man wreathed in Darkness Chi currently taking first. The vanishing sprinter doesn't know what hits him when your weapon catches him \ <<else>>\ Big Zhu, soaring just in front of the rest of you in first place. "Wha-?! NOO!!!" He screams, realizing what's happening a second too late when your weapon catches him \ <</if>>\ by the ankle and you yank the line, //hard//, wrenching \ <<if (($rscore is 3) and ($fren isnot "Guiren"))>>\ her \ <<else>>\ him \ <</if>>\ back from first place and launching yourself forward just in time to soar across the finish line. Sunlight nearly blinds you when the torque of your pull sends you flying out of the dark tunnel and into a grassy field. A hillside cavern entrance lies behind you where the runners you just past drop their jaws in shock. Misuka the Performer looks even more surprised, and equally excited, when you pass by her and the finish line. Her eyes flash with hunger for a good performance, and you just flew by her to steal \ <<if ($rscore is 3)>>\ first place \ <<else>>\ a better score \ <</if>>\ in front of her dozen scrying orbs. <<include "ch8-rabbit-winnerwinnerchickendinner">>\

<<if ($rscore is 3)>>\ "We have our first place runner!!" Misuka the Performer screams out. "Four points to $fullname for the opening race! For you folks in the stadiums, you heard that right! FOUR out of a possible THREE! Young $name has secured $hisher place as the //only// aspirant capable of scoring eight points in the Rabbit Trial! Will $heshe pull it off and follow in Crusher Jack and Callous Goro's footsteps? Let's find out!" <<var $rscore 4>>\ <<else>>\ "A stunning upset by $fullname!" Misuka the Performer announces to her floating scrying orbs. "Pulling ahead in the nick of time to steal \ <<if ($rscore is 2)>>\ twentieth place, $heshe's come in at three \ <<var $rscore 3>>\ <<elseif ($rscore is 1)>>\ fiftieth place, $heshe's come in at two \ <<var $rscore 2>>\ <<elseif ($rscore is 0)>>\ eightieth place, $heshe's come in at one \ <<var $rscore 1>>\ <</if>>\ out of three points in the opening race! \ <<if ($rscore is 1)>>\ What a late bloomer, leaving the true losers \ <<else>>\ What an upset, leaving so many hopefuls \ <</if>>\ behind in the dust! That's what you can expect in these Trials, folks, surprises around every corner!" <</if>>\ More runners pour out of the tunnel entrance behind you, ignored by the Kitsune announcer. Nevertheless, each has their name and score declared in Misuka's voice by the dozen scrying orbs she has flying above the finish line. <<if ($jadedragonfoundation is true)>>\ Catching your breath for maybe the third time in your life since unlocking your Jade Dragon Foundation, \ <<else>>\ Panting from physical and spiritual exertion, \ <</if>>\ you appreciate the complexity of the Technique, but few others do. They're too busy staring at you after that performance. ''[Prestige Increased]'' <<var $prestige + 1>>\ <<page "Continue" "ch8-rabbitbirbs">>\

You sprint down the hill into the lower valley and pull to the left, running into an increasingly thick forest \ <<if ($ally is "Guiren")>>\ with Guiren and his men. "I saw a dozen people run into here earlier." Guiren says, running beside you. "Each of them owes a debt to the Nakamoto Clan, some of them used to owe those debts to me until Sakura's family lent them enough to pay us back. Loan cycling. Not good for business." You leap thirty feet up and land on a large tree branch. "I'm here to win a Trial, not a better interest rate on loans!" "It's not a sales pitch!" Guiren says, leaping up behind you. His men follow and the four of you leap from branch to branch through the woods. "I'm saying these people are desperately in debt, and we can use-" ''[Event: Automatic Success]'' "ABOVE!" Yoji shouts behind you all. <<elseif ($ally is "Desdemona")>>\ with Desdemona and her darkly robed disciples. "What's the plan?" Desdemona asks. You leap thirty feet up and land on a large tree branch. "We could use your Disciples to get us through in an emergency, but I'd rather get them through too." Though her Disciples continue running underneath, Desdemona charges violet chi to her legs and launches up to meet you. "I have five Disciples! There's no way we can find fourteen willing-" She stops when your aura begins to expand around your body in a potent wave of $auracolor energy. "Oh, okay." She says, charging dark purple mist chi around herself. "Fourteen unwilling would be easier. They're approaching already." <<if ($clue is 1)>>\ ''[Insight Event: Clue Already Acquired]'' If Desdemona can sense fighters approaching en masse, and you saw an ambush being setup... Then they're already here. You turn around mid-leap and look skyward, catching a surprised Cat Yokai woman in the act as she flies down at you with a blue glowing kick. <<var $txt "skipchat">>\ <<else>>\ ''[Insight Check Failed]'' "Where?" You ask, only to see her shocked expression staring just above you. <<var $diffy 1>>\ <</if>>\ <<else>>\ with branches thick enough to leap from. You're certainly not turning that down. One quick leap takes you thirty feet into the air where you land on a branch. Keeping your momentum, you begin to jump from branch to branch through the woods. Ancestors, this would be awful if you didn't have iron-hard skin. The smaller branches are stabbing you dozens at a time with each leap. How did shinobi make this look so easy? The local tailor is going to salivate when she sees the free money you're handing her by scratching your clothing like this. <<if ($clue is 1)>>\ ''[Insight Event: Clue Already Acquired]'' Despite your distracted thoughts, you keep in mind that you came here after seeing others prepare an ambush. One you've been waiting for. "I see you." You say, looking up at a surprised Cat Yokai woman, caught in the act while flying down at you with a blue glowing kick. <<var $txt "skipchat">>\ <<else>>\ ''[Insight Check Failed]'' <<var $diffy 2>>\ The distracted thoughts don't treat you well when your senses detect something dangerously close. <</if>>\ <</if>>\ <<if ($ally is "Desdemona")>>\ <div class="fightingfont">Thunderfaller & Lady Desdemona</div>\ <div class="fightingfont">vs</div>\ <div class="fightingfont">Rabbit Trial Ambushers</div>\ <<elseif ($ally is "Guiren")>>\ <div class="fightingfont">Thunderfaller & Dai Guiren</div>\ <div class="fightingfont">vs</div>\ <div class="fightingfont">Rabbit Trial Ambushers</div>\ <<else>>\ <div class="fightingfont">Thunderfaller</div>\ <div class="fightingfont">vs</div>\ <div class="fightingfont">Rabbit Trial Ambushers</div>\ <</if>>\ <<statcheck>>\ <<if ($txt isnot "skipchat")>>\ A Cat Yokai woman's leg is two feet from your face when you look up, closing in fast and igniting in a wave of thick blue chi. <<else>>\ You press your advantage against the surprised woman, striking first. <</if>>\ <<var $weppy "">>\ <<choose "ch8-rabbit-woods-deflectyuh">> #Catch it and spin her body into a tree. Rather than dodge the attack you swing an arm overhead and reach for the attacker's incoming leg. <<var $combatstat "power">>\ <<var $combatskill "perception">>\ <<if ($thievery gt $perception)>>\ <<var $combatskill "thievery">>\ <</if>>\ <<combatcheck 8>>\ <<if ($passcheck is true)>>\ Your hand clasps onto her calf, catching her kick before it can land on your face. <<if ($heshe is "he")>>\ "O-Only my husband can touch me ther-EEAAAAA!!!" \ <<else>>\ "W-Wait! Wait I surrendeEEAAA!!!" \ <</if>>\ She screams when you swing her body underneath you with the full force of her own descent, cracking the two-foot-thick tree branch under your feet with her face. <<else>>\ You miss. Her foot slams into your face with the far more than her own bodyweight. It's the added spiritual weight of potent Water Chi that slams into your aura and does the real damage. <<woundcheck 1 false true>>\ <<if ($eblocktech isnot "")>>\ Which is none. Ancestors, you're glad you learned the $eblocktech Technique. <<else>>\ <<var $phasetwohuman true>>\ You scream out in frustration more than pain, realizing you've lost a point in the Rabbit Trial. Fueled by that anger, rather than fall off your tree branch, you recover mid-strike and grab the woman's leg with //both// hands, swinging her body underneath you with the full force of her own descent, cracking the two-foot-thick tree branch under your feet with her face. <</if>>\ <</if>>\ Her aura shatters and she falls to the ground, unconscious. <<page "Continue" "ch8-rabbit-woods2">>\ #show-if (($equippedweapon isnot "Handwraps") and ($equippedweapon isnot "")) Block with your $equippedweapon. <<var $weppy $equippedweapon>>\ #show-if (($equippedweapon2 isnot "Handwraps") and ($equippedweapon2 isnot "")) Deflect with your $equippedweapon2. <<var $weppy $equippedweapon2>>\ #use-if (($style is "Aoyusumu") and ((($chipool + ($soul/2)) - $chispent) gte 1)) Steal her kinetic energy, slowing her descent and speeding up your counter. [Requires Aoyusumu, Costs 1 Chi] Cerulean Sacred Chi wraps around the woman's blow glowing aura, harvesting the kinetic force around her descent and slowing her to a crawl. At the same time, that same energy wraps around your body in a $auracolor light that grows brighter and brighter around your arms. Arms you use to quickly snatch her legs out of the air and spin 360 degrees in a tenth of a second, slamming the woman's full bodyweight //through// the tree you're standing on. <<apboost 5>>\ Specks of blue light shimmer through the rain of splinters and wood chunks like broken glass. Her aura shatters and she falls to the ground, unconscious. <<page "Continue" "ch8-rabbit-woods2">>\ #use-if (($style is "Midorikatai") and ((($chipool + ($soul/2)) - $chispent) gte 1)) Break the foot. [Requires Midorikatai, Costs 1 Chi] <<var $ruthless + 2>>\ You snarl at the cowardly assault and throw off any pretense of finesse. In a tenth of a second you strike. With Wild Chi hardening your skin, bone, and muscles on the scale of a Beast at $aurapressure Aura Pressure, you catch the woman by the ankle with one hand and punch her foot from the side with the other. Her foot snaps, breaking at the ankle. <<apboost 5>>\ The Cat Yokai is completely silent after the loud crack coming from her own leg, stunned or in shock. You fix that by swinging her through the two-foot-thick tree branch you're standing on. She's not silent when that happens. Her aura shatters and she falls to the ground, unconscious. <<page "Continue" "ch8-rabbit-woods2">>\ <</choose>>

You widen your stance \ <<if ($ally is "Desdemona")>>\ beside Desdemona \ <</if>>\ on the thick tree branch and pray for its stability, because you're about to test it. With \ <<if ($ruthless gte 55)>>\ a maniacal grin \ <<else>>\ intense focus \ <</if>>\ you charge overlapping layers of released $elemhitter chi into both palms and thrust your hands forward, unleashing the focused energy into the world like a broken damn. ''//"<<capall $namey>>!!"//'' Your $elemhitter energy pours out like \ <<if ($ally is "Guiren")>>\ two rivers rushing to either side of Guiren in the air. Your attacks overpower \ <<else>>\ a river and overpowers \ <</if>>\ both charging Human fighters, blowing them sky high with hostile chi destroying their auras in one powerful attack. <<include "ch8-rabbit-woods5">>\

You unleash an energy blast of focused $elemhitter Chi that bursts out of both palms in an instant, completely submerging the charging monk in your attack. <<if ($ally isnot "")>>\ When he leaps to escape the barrage he's interrupted by \ <<if ($ally is "Guiren")>>\ Guiren appearing above in a Flash Step, kicking downward and sending the monk back into your attack. <<else>>\ Desdemona launching a golden energy beam skyward, bending it around the branches with her Mystic commands and dropping the beam directly into his head. Her explosive attack blows the gothic monk back into your own. <</if>>\ <</if>>\ Gritting your teeth, you keep pushing. Rather than one quick blast, you push the attack into a four-second-long constant stream of your energy that crashes against your attacker over and over. By the time you let your spirit rest and breathe, smoke coming from your arms and shoulders, the monk is laying in a crater. His blindfold is torn to shreds just like his aura. <<include "ch8-rabbit-woods3">>\

<<if (($style is "Akakiru") and ((((((((((((((($equippedweapon is "Tanto")) or ($equippedweapon is "Katana")) or ($equippedweapon is "Muramasa")) or ($equippedweapon is "Greataxe")) or ($equippedweapon is "Qiang")) or ($equippedweapon is "Kunai")) or ($equippedweapon is "Jian")) or ($equippedweapon is "Iceblade")) or ($equippedweapon is "Chiblade")) or ($equippedweapon is "Kagutsuchi")) or ($equippedweapon is "Ikazuchi")) or ($equippedweapon is "Shishido")) or ($equippedweapon is "Godslayer")) or (((((((((((((($equippedweapon2 is "Tanto")) or ($equippedweapon2 is "Katana")) or ($equippedweapon2 is "Muramasa")) or ($equippedweapon2 is "Greataxe")) or ($equippedweapon2 is "Qiang")) or ($equippedweapon2 is "Kunai")) or ($equippedweapon2 is "Jian")) or ($equippedweapon2 is "Iceblade")) or ($equippedweapon2 is "Chiblade")) or ($equippedweapon2 is "Kagutsuchi")) or ($equippedweapon2 is "Ikazuchi")) or ($equippedweapon2 is "Shishido")) or ($equippedweapon2 is "Godslayer"))))>>\ ''[Akakiru Blade Check Passed: Automatic Success]'' "You're too close!" You shout to the woman closing in on you from above. Drawing \ <<if ((((($equippedweapon is "Muramasa") or ($equippedweapon is "Kagutsuchi")) or ($equippedweapon is "Ikazuchi")) or ($equippedweapon is "Shishido")) or ($equippedweapon is "Godslayer"))>>\ $weppy \ <<elseif ($equippedweapon isnot "") and ($equippedweapon isnot "Handwraps")>>\ your $weppy \ <<elseif ((((($equippedweapon2 is "Muramasa") or ($equippedweapon2 is "Kagutsuchi")) or ($equippedweapon2 is "Ikazuchi")) or ($equippedweapon2 is "Shishido")) or ($equippedweapon2 is "Godslayer"))>>\ $equippedweapon2 \ <<else>>\ your $equippedweapon2 \ <</if>>\ with a bright layer of $auracolor chi sliding across its edge, you swing your blade upward and catch the woman's dropping kick. Your blade slices halfway into her foot. She screams, recoils, and grows frantic when you grab her shin with your free hand and slam her into the heavy branch under your feet. \ <<else>>\ <<var $combatstat "fortitude">>\ <<var $weapontest true>>\ <<combatcheck (7+$diffy)>>\ <<if ($passcheck is true)>>\ Trusting on your Fortitude Cores to hold your resisting stance, \ <<if (($style is "Akakiru") and (((((((((((((($equippedweapon is "Tanto")) or ($equippedweapon is "Katana")) or ($equippedweapon is "Muramasa")) or ($equippedweapon is "Greataxe")) or ($equippedweapon is "Qiang")) or ($equippedweapon is "Kunai")) or ($equippedweapon is "Jian")) or ($equippedweapon is "Iceblade")) or ($equippedweapon is "Chiblade")) or ($equippedweapon is "Kagutsuchi")) or ($equippedweapon is "Ikazuchi")) or ($equippedweapon is "Shishido")) or ($equippedweapon is "Godslayer")))>>\ you swing your blade upward and catch the woman's dropping kick. Your blade slices halfway into her foot. <<elseif ($equippedweapon is "Handwraps")>>\ your handwrapped fist punches into her blue-glowing dropkick. The bones in your hand harden with Fortitude Chi. The bones in her foot shatter. <<elseif ($equippedweapon is "Yumi")>>\ you draw an arrow and charge it with $auracolor chi before firing at point blank range, trusting the spiritual weight and craftsmanship of a one ounce arrow to stop the falling force of a hundred-ten point Martial Artist covered in Water Chi. Your arrow blows right through her foot, sending her spinning in the air. <<else>>\ you swing your $weppy upward to meet her attack head on. Through the vibrations of your weapon, you feet every bone in her foot break at once. <</if>>\ She screams, recoils, and grows frantic when you grab her shin with your free hand and slam her into the heavy branch under your feet. \ <<else>>\ Trusting on your Fortitude Cores to hold your resisting stance, you prepare your weapon strike and realize it's already too late. \ Her foot slams into your face with the far more than her own bodyweight. It's the added spiritual weight of potent Water Chi that slams into your aura and does the real damage. <<woundcheck 1 false true>>\ <<if ($eblocktech isnot "")>>\ Which is none. Ancestors, you're glad you learned the $eblocktech Technique. <<else>>\ <<var $phasetwohuman true>>\ You scream out in frustration more than pain, realizing you've lost a point in the Rabbit Trial. Fueled by that anger, rather than fall off your tree branch, you recover mid-strike and grab the woman's leg with //both// hands, swinging her body underneath you with the full force of her own descent, cracking the two-foot-thick tree branch under your feet with her face. <</if>>\ <</if>>\ <</if>>\ Her aura shatters and she falls to the ground, unconscious. <<page "Continue" "ch8-rabbit-woods2">>\

"The fight is over!" Desdemona shouts. "I know Nakamoto Sakura sent you to kill the Thunderfaller." One of the airborne attackers, now defeated and on the ground, slowly lifts his head, supporting himself with an elbow. He glares at you both through a swollen eye. "How did you know?" You twist your expression at Desdemona. "How //did// you know?" Several ambushers come out from the trees, the ground, and from under a fake boulder while Desdemona withdraws a leaflet. "I read the news." She says, hopping off her tree branch and landing among her gathering Disciples, some of who have injuries from the melee. "The flyers talk about your fight ruining half a street while incinerating mercenary forces. The details lie in the obituaries. One of the burned corpses had the Nakamoto surname. A cousin, I suspect." Oh Ancestors. "The mercenaries were working for Sakura herself," you say, "I commend your investigative work, but...they're blaming me for the fire? That was Crusher Mao." Desdemona shoots you a questioning glare. "Are you certain? The news reports insist it was your power that caused such a tremendous hazard." ''[Prestige Increased]'' <<var $prestige + 1>>\ ''[Infamy Increased]'' <<var $infamy + 1>>\ "I'm positive." You reply. Desdemona rests one hand on her hip and uses the other to tap a finger on her chin. "How could the guard not realize a different aura signature when..." <<page "Oh no..." "ch8-rabbit-woods-dessycall2">>\

At the same time, you and Desdemona both realize that the investigative forces of the Archonate and the Nanhou guard //couldn't// mistake your aura signature for Mao's. They're too distinctly different, \ <<if ($style is "Midorikatai")>>\ even if you do have the same Style. You simply weren't trained in his methods. <<elseif ((($element1 is "Fire") and ($element2 is "Storm")) or (($element2 is "Fire") and ($element1 is "Storm")))>>\ even if you do share the same elements. You simply weren't trained in his methods. <<elseif (((($element1 is "Fire") or ($element2 is "Fire")) or ($element1 is "Storm")) or ($element2 is "Storm"))>>\ even if you do share an element. You simply weren't trained in his methods. <<else>>\ you don't even share a Style or any Elements. <</if>>\ An important investigation, like an attack that killed Trial contestants, would have to find the correct attacker. If they thought you did it, you would have already been accosted over killing trial-goers by now. The city guard ''does'' know it was Mao. The news flyers say differently because- "So Nakamoto Sakura is paying off the news." Desdemona says out loud. "She must know she cannot defeat Crusher Mao to avenge her relative and save face. In that case, it seems she has chosen to frame you for it, so that her reputation is restored if she causes your death in the Trials." You groan and walk over to the fighter on the ground, lifting him by the collar. "Is this true?" "All I know is she will clear my debts if I defeat you." The man says. "If someone else here was hired to finish you off after, that is not my concern." "That's no longer an option." Desdemona says, arms crossed. "Now your choices are to suffer a humiliating beating and get zero points, or come with us to the stonewall and surrender your points so someone with actual talent can advance. Choose wisely." The man spits at her feet. Desdemona gasps, glares at him, and shuffles over to you, whispering. "Tell them to hand over their points at the stonewall." "You just did that." You whisper back. She wrinkles her nose, eyes staring at the ground where the man's spit rests. "I am...not good with people." <<var $diffy 3>>\ <<choose "ch8-rabbit-woods-roundup">> #"She has a point. Sakura's going to come after you anyway, why not work with us? I'm a Clan $patriarch, you can sign under my banner for protection." <<if ($honor lt 40)>>\ ''[Honor Check Failed]'' "The scowling witch has a point." You say, much to the gasp of Desdemona and her Disciples. You hold a hand out for them to wait before complaining. \ <<var $diffy - 1>>\ <<var $desrep - 2>>\ <<else>>\ "She has a point." You say to the man. \ <</if>>\ "Sakura's going to come after you anyway when I cross that \ <<if (($phasetwobird) or ($phasetwohuman))>>\ stone wall. \ <<var $diffy + 1>>\ <<else>>\ stone wall unphased. \ <</if>>\ Why not work with us? I'm a Clan $patriarch; if you help us pass with more points I'll sign you all under my banner for protection." <<if ($prestige gte 40)>>\ ''[Prestige 40 Check Passed: Difficulty Reduced]'' <<var $diffy - 1>>\ <<else>>\ ''[Prestige 40 Check Failed: Difficulty //not// Reduced]'' <</if>>\ <<if ($persuasion gte $diffy)>>\ ''[Persuasion $diffy Check Succeeded]'' <<var $escapeprocess "Woods-Dessie-PersuasionPassed">>\ The man stares into your eyes, looking for something. He quickly licks a fattened, bleeding lip and squints harder. You merely stare back, thinking about what you might have for lunch later. ...Ramen. <<include "ch8-rabbit-woods-fineinit">>\ <<if ($prestige gte 30)>>\ ''[Prestige 30 Check Passed]'' "How could you do that when we're on the same side?" The Reptile woman asks, running over next to the Human in your grip. "We all work for the $clan Clan, after all." ''[1 Martial Retainers Recruited]'' <<var $martial_retainers + 1>>\ The \ <<else>>\ ''[Prestige 30 Check Failed]'' "Bring it." The woman says, drawing a dagger. "Ahem." Desdemona snaps her fingers. A dark bolt of lightning explodes from the snap and lands between the Reptile woman's feet. "I don't care how many of you want to work for the Thunderfaller. I care about your points. Surrender them, or I electrocute you to death in self defense." The Reptile yokai hisses. "We've stopped attacking, you painted cow! Killing us isn't self defense!" Violet and gold lightning crackles across Desdemona's eyes, sparking through the tree line and blasting one of Misuka's unseen scrying orbs out of the sky. "That's not what the witnesses will say." No one disagrees. After the Reptile Yokai's surrender, the \ <</if>>\ rest of the ambushers come around and journey with you and Desdemona's Sect through the woods. She has her disciples walk behind them the whole time, energy attacks readily pointed at their backs. <<else>>\ ''[Persuasion $diffy Check Failed] <<var $escapeprocess "Woods-Dessie-PersuasionFailed">>\ The man spits at you too. Desdemona sighs and stares at you half-lidded, judging. "What?" You ask. "Don't blame me, you didn't even try." She stumbles over her words. "Wha-I never-diplomacy is not my responsibility! That's your part of the alliance!" "Says who?" Desdemona purses her lips at you, her eyes casting daggers, but she \ <<if ($desromance gte 3)>>\ glances away and huffs before turning \ <<else>>\ huffs and turns \ <</if>>\ to her Disciples. "This whole operation is a failure. Activate the contingency plan." "Yes, Lady Desdemona!" The Dreamriver Disciples call out, clapping their hands together before forming two handseals in quick repetition. The ambushers step back and prepare for a fight. By the time they realize what they've landed on, it's too late. They each step on several of the hundred chi-traps Desdemona's Disciples had laid out while the rest of you were fighting. <<var $ubodies + 10>>\ You all collect the unconscious fighters and throw one over each shoulder. With the weight holding you down, you all collectively begin the long march through the woods, to the stonewall at the other side of the valley. <</if>>\ <<page "Continue" "ch8-rabbit-woods-leavewoods">>\ #use-if (($style is "Aoyusumu") and ($stylerank gte 2)) Mind control the ambushers instead. [Requires Aoyusumu (Adept)] "I have a better idea." You say, placing a palm on the man's head with a $auracolor around your hand. "You attacked me and my friends. You will make up for it by surrendering your points to let us pass the stonewall test." The man's eyes glow $auracolor and he replies in a dull tone. "I will make up for it by surrendering my points." "Good." You reply, dropping him to his knees. "Bring me the others." Back at Desdemona's flock of Disciples, Li Sun glances at you with concern. "Young Master <<cap $clan>>, is this not...evil?" "It would be if they didn't try to kill us for money." You reply. "Making them lose points in a test is a slap on the wrist compared to the murder charge they should be \ <<if ($ruthless gte 55)>>\ facing. If anything, this is the gentlest punishment anyone in the Martial World is getting today. They should thank me." <<else>>\ facing. I'd make them lose more points if I could; none of these would-be assassins should become Archons." <</if>>\ Desdemona nods. "I agree. Disciples, gather the defeated." "And what of the rest lying in wait?" One of her Disciples asks. Dark lightning crackles off Desdemona's fingertips. "Create more of the defeated." <<var $escapeprocess "Woods-Aoyu-MC">>\ #show-if ($race is "Kitsune") Mind control the ambushers instead. [Requires Kitsune] <<var $escapeprocess "Woods-Kitsune-MC">>\ <<var $honor - 3>>\ <<var $infamy + 1>>\ Grabbing the man by the collar and pressing your palm against his forehead, you ignore diplomacy and give a command. "Come with us to the stonewall and give us your points." Pink chi charges through your palm and into the aura-shattered man's brain. His eyes flash pink and he responds in a dull tone. "I will come with you to the stonewall and give you my points." Desdemona's Disciples gasp and step away from you, but she merely nods in satisfaction. "Good. Very good." You press more pink foxfire into the victim. "And give me your wallet." "I will give you my wallet." He replies. Desdemona frowns. "Less good." You flicker both your tails and give her a doubting glance. "Do you want half or not? Because you're sounding like someone who doesn't want half." <<if ($heshe is "he")>>\ Her mouth freezes open at your audacity. She closes it, pouts, looks off to her Disciples. A moment later she shoots her sharp gaze back to you, quietly grumbling, "Of course I want half." <<else>>\ "The nerve!" She gasps. "And they call //me// a witch. Psht." You stare at her, unimpressed "So you don't want ha-" "Of course I want half." <</if>>\ <<var $shards + 110>>\ ''[Item Gained: 110 Shards]'' <<var $wbodies 12>>\ #show-if (($race isnot "Kitsune") and (($style isnot "Aoyusumu") ot ($stylerank lt 2))) use-if ($heshe is "I forgot if I declared the val variable or not so I'm doing this") Mind control the ambushers instead. [No such ability] -> "death" <</choose>>

"Fine." One of the defeated humans finally says, calling back to the other ambushers. "I don't know about the rest of you, but I'd rather have protection when the Nakamotos come to collect. Ancestors know we're not paying them off with a victory in this fight." ''[1 Martial Retainer Acquired]'' <<var $martial_retainers + 1>>\ "So we do what?" Asks a Reptile Yokai woman with red hair. "Swear fealty to someone younger than me? No thank you." "I'll do it." Says a Lunargoth with an oversized Jian. "I'll kick the lizard's ass too, if you keep Sakura off my back." ''[1 Martial Retainer Acquired]'' <<var $martial_retainers + 1>>\

<<var $escapeprocess "Woods-Solo-Combat">>\ You rise in the cloud of crashing colors from two shattering auras by your feet, just in time to catch a thrown spear. You chuck it back at the attacker and pierce through his side. By the time it pins him to a tree you're already upon him with a flying kick to his chest, shattering his aura as well. A Reptile Yokai rises out of your shadow holding potent flames in both hands, but you kick backward like a horse, catching her face before she's risen. Her head snaps back and she begins sinking into your shadow. Too slowly. You catch her by the shoulders and rip her out, spinning her hip into the tree that has her ally pinned to it. Her aura blazes into flames in response but you headbutt her in the nose twice to disperse it, knocking her out. Dropping the woman and breathing heavily, you look around at the battlefield of defeated fighters, then up to the sky. "ARE YOU NOT ENTERTAINED?!" You scream to Misuka the Performer's hidden glowing orb, forty feet above the tree line. It vibrates with golden chi on its sides, from the bottom to the top, relaying a booming cheer and applause from whatever group of people are watching on the other side of the kitsune's scrying effect. ''[Prestige Increased]'' <<var $prestige + 3>>\ <<var $ubodies + 8>>\ <<if (($phasetwohuman is false) and ($phasetwobird is false))>>\ <<var $prestige + 2>>\ <</if>>\ Victorious yet pissed off, you collect two of the unconscious defeated opponents and march through the woods, towards the stonewall at the end of the Rabbit Trial. <<page "Continue" "ch8-rabbit-woods-leavewoods">>\

The Monkey Yokai woman Guiren just beat to a pulp uses her tail to catch a branch mid-fall and pulls herself up, bloodied and angered but noticeably defeated. "How did you figure it out?" You look to Guiren questioningly. "How //did// you figure it out?" "He guessed." Says Yoji. "He guessed." Says Wencheng. "He guessed?" Asks one of Guiren's masked minions. "Seriously?" Guiren shakes his head. "Don't tell me you all think a dozen strangers would work together instead of fighting each other for points. This was coordinated. Two other runners passed through here unphased before us. //We// were the targets. I can count the assholes on one hand that have the audacity to go after a suspiciously connected debt collector and the rival of Crusher Jack. On that list, only two of them use nobodies to do their dirty work, and Goro only hires in-house. Besides, word in the shadows is Sakura's been seething about you embarrassing her in the Residential District. I figured you knew." "Who cares." The Monkey Yokai says, wiping blood off her swelling mouth. "You can't prove it. The kitsune's orbs haven't entered the woods yet." Guiren holds a hand up in peace. "I'm not here to blackmail. I'm here to buy you out." He withdraws a dozen thin scrolls, holding one between each finger. "The Nakamotos have been outcompeting my employer, but Sakura registers her debts through the Imperial Bank. She can't stop me from paying them off." "Do you take us for fools?!" Screams one of the Human fighters, crawling out of the woods with a broken nose. "I will not trade one master's leash for another. Not after what you two did to my face!" "That's a shame." Guiren says. "Because these contracts offer zero percent interest, permanently. As a bonus, they require no payments for the first year, which means no problems during the whole Trials. As an icing I'll throw in a tripling of your repayment deadlines. If Sakura gave you ten years, I'll give you thirty. If she gives you twenty, I'll give you sixty. For those of you who suck at math, that means paying less than a third of what she charged per month, with no consequences." The Monkey Yokai grows somber. Contemplative. Subdued. She holds up a hand, her face growing serious. "Guys, come out." Six more assailants appear from the trees, the ground, and a fake boulder. "What's the catch?" Guiren smirks. "Points. Sign these soulbinding oaths, give up your points for me, the Thunderfaller, and my crew to get two points at the stonewall, and when the Trial is over I will be soulbound to buy out your debts and give you the deal of a lifetime." The ambushers look to each other hesitantly. Guiren sighs, putting one contract away. "This is a one-time offer and I'm not a patient man. Either we do this my way, or we do it <<print $name>>'s way." Your $auracolor aura magnifies around you, imposing upon the defeated and those who witnessed your fight. <<var $escapeprocess "Woods-Guiren">>\ <<var $wbodies + 10>>\ In total you get ten signatures. Two for you, Guiren, Yoji, Wencheng, and even one of Guiren's two masked shinobi. He makes the remaining shinobi carry two unconscious ambushers. ''[Alliance Event: Guiren's Combat Prowess Increased]'' <<var $guirencombat + 1>>\ <<page "Continue" "ch8-rabbit-woods-leavewoods">>\

When you exit the woods with \ <<if ($escapeprocess is "Woods-Guiren")>>\ Guiren, his underlings, and your new volunteers, \ <<elseif ($escapeprocess is "Woods-Dessie-PersuasionFailed")>>\ Desdemona, her Disciples, and your unconscious human cargo, \ <<elseif ($escapeprocess is "Woods-Dessie-PersuasionPassed")>>\ Desdemona, her Disciples, and your new volunteers, \ <<elseif (($escapeprocess is "Woods-Aoyu-MC") or ($escapeprocess is "Woods-Kitsune-MC"))>>\ <<if ($ally is "Desdemona")>>\ Desdemona, her Disciples, and \ <</if>>\ your 'volunteers', \ <<elseif ($escapeprocess is "Woods-Solo-PersuasionPassed")>>\ your Sakura's former employees, \ <<elseif ($escapeprocess is "Woods-Solo-Combat")>>\ nothing but your unconscious human cargo, \ <</if>>\ you're greeted by a wide open field with a large set of hills to your left. At the foot of the hills is a small, hip-height stonewall. It glows golden with Mystic Chi and spans the entire distance of the valley, all the way to a rocky drop-off on the other side, the ravine you chose to avoid. <<include "ch8-rabbit-river-wallin2">>\

You pull the Lunargoth's jian out of your back and shove it through his leg, pinning him upside down to a tree. When he opens his mouth to scream you punch him in the upper and lower face, over and over in millisecond repetition like a sparring instrument. The flurry of blows knocks him out in the first twenty strikes. Two more ambushers rise from the ground and come within striking distance, only to find their necks slammed with your <<if ($heshe is "he")>>\ biceps \ <<else>>\ arms \ <</if>>\ before they know what's hit them. You charge down, dragging the two assailants with you, and crash into the ground with their heads cushioning your fall. <<include "ch8-rabbit-woods-grabbinit">>\

Her Disciples round up the beaten ambushers and collectively the seven of you defeat five more found in hiding, dragging them to you so you can make more 'willing' stonewall volunteers. To your surprise, three offer their services and points without a fight, begging for your Clan's protection against the Nakamotos. The woman's added herself to your 'list' anyway, so angering her costs you nothing. "Very well." You say. "If she wants to collect your clearly illegitimate debts, she can go through me." ''[3 Martial Retainers Acquired]'' <<var $martial_retainers + 3>>\ With your crowd of minions and mind-controlled thralls in tow, you and Desdemona's Sect march through the woods to the other side of the valley. <<page "Continue" "ch8-rabbit-woods-leavewoods">>\

<<var $combatstat "power">>\ <<var $combatskill "athletics">>\ <<discount "Midorikatai" 1>>\ <<discount "Kurokonton" 1>>\ <<discount "Wind" 1>>\ <<discount "Earth" 1>>\ <<attack "Melee">>\ <<combatcheck (9+$diffy)>>\ <<if ($passcheck is true)>>\ You leap backward and turn, crashing a $auracolor glowing leg into the gut of the Lunargoth charging you from behind. He swings at you with his oversized Jian but you catch the blade and shove, pushing the pommel through his nose. An audible crunch precedes a spray of blood and a shattered aura. You kick off the man and dive down at the two charging up at you that burst out of the ground. You smack both arms outward to deflect their knives. In that same motion, you clothesline each in the neck with your \ <<if ($heshe is "he")>>\ biceps, \ <<else>>\ arms, \ <</if>>\ using their bodies to cushion your landing when you slam into the ground. <<include "ch8-rabbit-woods-grabbinit">>\ <<else>>\ The Lunargoth charging you from behind slices his oversized Jian against your back just as two fireballs crash into your front. <<var $phasetwohuman true>>\ <<if (($pblocktech isnot "") and ($eblocktech isnot ""))>>\ Only by the grace of your absolute defense, the $pblocktech Technique and the $eblocktech Technique, do you avoid suffering serious damage in the brutal brawl. <<var $phasetwohuman false>>\ <<elseif ($pblocktech isnot "")>>\ Even your $pblocktech Technique isn't enough to guard you against so many attackers, suffering several scorching wounds from the energy attacks. <<elseif ($eblocktech isnot "")>>\ Even your $pblocktech Technique isn't enough to guard you against so many attackers, suffering several cuts and bruises from their many weapons. <<else>>\ The loss of points is excrutiating, and the pain is worse. <</if>>\ <<woundcheck 1 true false>>\ <<woundcheck 1 false true>>\ <<var $prestige - 1>>\ <<if (($phasetwohuman is true) and ($phasetwobird is true))>>\ <<var $prestige - 1>>\ <</if>>\ You're not sure what happens next, because all you see is red. <<page "RRRAAAAHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!" "ch8-rabbit-woods-mad">>\ <</if>>\

spin for torque, throwing the branch\ <<if ($ally is "Guiren")>>\ over Guiren's head \ <</if>>\ at the two descending Martial Artists. It crashes against their auras, breaking apart from their blocking Techniques and scattering into a shower of splinters. The splinter cloud makes for a perfect camouflage to mask the second branch you throw, crashing hundreds of pounds of wood into the Martial Artist's heads like an anvil. Their auras shatter in the collision. <<include "ch8-rabbit-woods5">>\

<<if ($ally is "Desdemona")>>\ <div class="fightingfont">Thunderfaller & Lady Desdemona</div>\ <div class="fightingfont">vs</div>\ <div class="fightingfont">Rabbit Trial Ambushers</div>\ <<elseif ($ally is "Guiren")>>\ <div class="fightingfont">Thunderfaller & Dai Guiren</div>\ <div class="fightingfont">vs</div>\ <div class="fightingfont">Rabbit Trial Ambushers</div>\ <<else>>\ <div class="fightingfont">Thunderfaller</div>\ <div class="fightingfont">vs</div>\ <div class="fightingfont">Rabbit Trial Ambushers</div>\ <</if>>\ <<statcheck>>\ <<var $ubodies + 1>>\ "One down!" You call to \ <<if ($ally is "Guiren")>>\ Guiren. <<var $ubodies + 1>>\ "Two down!" He shouts, catching an emerald glowing \ <<if ($guirendisarmed is true)>>\ arrow with his only hand, \ <<else>>\ arrow, \ <</if>>\ adding his own Cursed Energy to it, and throwing it back to an archer hidden through the bushes. Emerald sparks fly off behind a tree, confirming his victory. "Thr-" Wencheng tries to shout as a Human swordsman attacks him from the trees, kicking Yoji in the neck and engaging both in a flurry of slashes that they narrowly dodge. "Coming!" You shout, leaping to engage in their fight. "Yet you will never arrive." \ <<elseif ($ally is "Desdemona")>>\ Desdemona. <<var $ubodies + 2>>\ "Three down!" She shouts back, charging violet-golden energy around her hand and blasting it at her own Disciples. They leap out of the way just as two Reptile Yokai burst out of the ground in glowing auras of amber Earth Chi. Auras that shatter when Desdemona's attack hits them both in the head before they can even see who they're fighting. "Impressive, but irrelevant." \ <<else>>\ any other ambushers, preparing to add much more to that tally. "The smallest dog barks the loudest." \ <</if>>\ Says a voice from underneath. Kinetic Sacred chi rips you down toward the ground like enhanced gravity. You land with a heavy impact. Before you can fully rise, a blindfolded Lunargothic monk strikes at you with a Beastbone Bo Staff. <<choose "ch8-rabbit-woods3">> #Duck the swing and execute a rising headbutt. You duck the monk's initial lunge from his Bo Staff and- <<var $combatstat "agility">>\ <<discount "Kurokonton" $stylerank>>\ <<discount "Aoyusumu" $stylerank>>\ <<discount "Petite" 1>>\ <<discount "Manlet" 1>>\ <<discount "Cat" 1>>\ <<discount "Monkey" 1>>\ <<combatcheck (7+$diffy)>>\ <<if ($passcheck is true)>>\ -rush past his reach, quickly raising your skull into his chin with a charging headbutt. Your skull cracks into his jaw and sends him flying skyward, into a tree branch. His back collides with the wood and \ <<if ($ally is "Desdemona")>>\ an orb of golden chi slams into his chest with a crackling explosion of dark lightning from Desdemona. <<elseif ($ally is "Guiren")>>\ a dozen purple-glowing shuriken stab into his chest from Guiren and his crew. <<else>>\ cracks the two-foot-thick layer of wood. <</if>>\ He falls down, slowing his descent with Sacred Chi and charging up an energy blast, but you leap kick through it. His own energy explodes into his body at the same time that your foot imprints his sternum. The man's aura shatters and he leans over, collapsing to the ground. <<else>>\ -find yourself staring at the sky. By the time you realize you've been tripped by the other end of the monk's staff, he's already landed and overhead slam onto your gut with the metallic tip of his beastbone staff. <<woundcheck 1 true false>>\ <<if ($pblocktech isnot "")>>\ Only your $pblocktech saves you from losing points. \ <<else>>\ What hurts more than the pain is losing points in the Rabbit Trial. \ <</if>>\ The fight's pace spikes up and you're not out of the fight yet. The man raises his staff with a charge of Sacred Chi for another strike. <<if ($ally isnot "")>>\ "Thanks for the distraction!" $ally says. <<if ($ally is "Desdemona")>>\ The monk's body is engulfed in golden energy, a joint beam from the entire Dreamriver Sect. It explodes into his back and launches him into a nearby tree. <<elseif ($ally is "Guiren")>>\ Guiren appears behind the monk with a Flash Step, already mid-kick. His shin connects into the monk's head and bounces his skull off the nearby tree. <</if>>\ When he ricochets back into you, one chi-charged overhead sweep to the cranium shatters his aura into sparks as he falls over, unconscious. <<else>>\ That's when you kick his knee in backwards and unload an energy blast into his face, shattering his aura. Ancestors, you wish you had seen him coming so you could have //started// with that. You think this is how Jack felt whenever you beat him. Ugh. <</if>>\ <</if>>\ #show-if ($itembostaff lt 200000000) Ohhhhh, a Bo Staff! [Thievery Check] You catch the Bo Staff with both hands and wrench your upper body backwards, pulling the Lunargoth overhead, then shove the Bo Staff down to where he was standing before. <<if ($thievery gte 3)>>\ ''[Thievery 3 Check Passed]'' <<var $agiexp + 2>>\ The staff deftly slips out of his hands, making you its new master. ''[Item Gained: Superior Beastbone Bo Staff (+1 Perception)]'' <<var $itembostaff 222040000>>\ You use the weapon as leverage, slamming it into the ground to stop yourself from falling backward. With the same movement you spin and launch yourself backward to collide into the monk and smack him with his own staff. One blow to the neck, one trip to the legs, and one stab to the sternum keep him completely on the backfoot. \ <<if ($ally isnot "")>>\ "No!" He screams. "I won't be humi-" <<if ($ally is "Desdemona")>>\ The monk's body is engulfed in golden energy, a joint beam from the entire Dreamriver Sect. It explodes into his back and launches him into a nearby tree. <<elseif ($ally is "Guiren")>>\ Guiren appears behind the monk with a Flash Step, already mid-kick. His shin connects into the monk's head and bounces his skull off the nearby tree. <</if>>\ When he ricochets back into you, \ <<else>>\ Finally \ <</if>>\ one chi-charged overhead sweep to the cranium shatters his aura into sparks as he falls over, unconscious. <<else>>\ ''[Thievery 3 Check Failed]'' Sacred Chi surrounds the weapon and ends all kinetic movement, turning the force of your pulling and the force of the monk's forced flight into a singular force. One worked into the Bo Staff held right over your <<if ($heshe is "he")>>\ crotch. \ <<else>>\ head. \ <</if>>\ ''*BONK*'' <<woundcheck 1 true false>>\ <<if ($pblocktech isnot "")>>\ Only your $pblocktech saves you from losing points. \ <<else>>\ What hurts more than the pain is losing points in the Rabbit Trial. \ <</if>>\ The fight's pace spikes up and you're not out of the fight yet. The man raises his staff with a charge of Sacred Chi for another strike. <<if ($ally isnot "")>>\ "Thanks for the distraction!" $ally says. <<if ($ally is "Desdemona")>>\ The monk's body is engulfed in golden energy, a joint beam from the entire Dreamriver Sect. It explodes into his back and launches him into a nearby tree. <<elseif ($ally is "Guiren")>>\ Guiren appears behind the monk with a Flash Step, already mid-kick. His shin connects into the monk's head and bounces his skull off the nearby tree. <</if>>\ When he ricochets back into you, one chi-charged overhead sweep to the cranium shatters his aura into sparks as he falls over, unconscious. <<else>>\ That's when you kick his knee in backwards and unload an energy blast into his face, shattering his aura. Ancestors, you wish you had seen him coming so you could have //started// with that. You think this is how Jack felt whenever you beat him. Ugh. <</if>>\ <</if>>\ #show-if ($itembostaff gte 200000000) "You call //that// a Bo Staff?" [Staff Duel] ''*CLANG*'' Your own Bo Staff deflects his attack with one end and catches the ground for you with the other, stabilizing your landing. You look up to the monk with a smile, hoping the blindfolded Lunargoth can see it. "You call that a Bo Staff?" You ask. "//This// is a Bo Staff." "It is not the weapon that matters, but its master." The monk's frown twists up at the left corner of his mouth. "But I do welcome you to test your skills against mine." The two of you charge into melee together, deflecting strike after strike. Each parried attack leads to a counterattack with the other end of your weapon, a counterkick when using the staff for stability, or an energy attack when pressed on the retreat. Throughout the fight you admit that you find yourself having fun, but you're forced to end it when an opening arrives. He spins his staff overhead, summoning kinetic chi in some sort of chi-thread weaving, but his effect has too much spiritual weight to allow him to dodge. Though his spinning weapon can guard his true vitals, in a fight of heavy weapons he's forgetting to protect his //practical// vitals. You plunge your staff's hardened edge into his shin. "Oooooooggggggghhhhhhhhh" He exclaims slowly, suffering one hundred times the pain of slamming your shin into sharp furniture in the dark. <<if ($honor gte 42)>>\ "Sorry to end it like that." \ <<var $honor + 1>>\ <<var $ruthless - 1>>\ <<else>>\ "Next time don't ambush people, asshole." \ <<var $honor - 1>>\ <<var $ruthless + 1>>\ <</if>>\ You say, slamming the side of your staff into his head with an aura-shattering strike that knocks him out. #show-if (dig($techslotcode[1], 16) is 2) ''//"$techslotname[1]!!"//'' -> "ch8-rabbit-woods-bigblast" <<chitype $techslotcode[1]>>\ #show-if (dig($techslotcode[2], 16) is 2) ''//"$techslotname[2]!!"//'' -> "ch8-rabbit-woods-bigblast" <<chitype $techslotcode[2]>>\ #show-if (dig($techslotcode[3], 16) is 2) ''//"$techslotname[3]!!"//'' -> "ch8-rabbit-woods-bigblast" <<chitype $techslotcode[3]>>\ #show-if (dig($techslotcode[4], 16) is 2) ''//"$techslotname[4]!!"//'' -> "ch8-rabbit-woods-bigblast" <<chitype $techslotcode[4]>>\ #show-if (((((dig($techslotcode[1], 16) isnot 2) and (dig($techslotcode[2], 16) isnot 2)) and (dig($techslotcode[3], 16) isnot 2)) and (dig($techslotcode[4], 16) isnot 2)) and (((($chipool + ($soul/2)) - $chispent) gte 1) and (((($element1 is "Fire") or ($element1 is "Storm")) or ($element1 is "Ice")) or ($element1 is "Wind")))) Engulf his body in a widened blast of $element1. [Costs 1 Chi] -> "ch8-rabbit-woods-bigblast" <<var $elemhitter $element1>>\ ''[1 Chi Point Spent]'' <<var $chispent + 1>>\ #show-if (((((dig($techslotcode[1], 16) isnot 2) and (dig($techslotcode[2], 16) isnot 2)) and (dig($techslotcode[3], 16) isnot 2)) and (dig($techslotcode[4], 16) isnot 2)) and (((($chipool + ($soul/2)) - $chispent) gte 1) and (((($element2 is "Fire") or ($element2 is "Storm")) or ($element2 is "Ice")) or ($element2 is "Wind")))) Engulf his body in a widened blast of $element2. [Costs 1 Chi] -> "ch8-rabbit-woods-bigblast" <<var $elemhitter $element2>>\ ''[1 Chi Point Spent]'' <<var $chispent + 1>>\ #show-if ((((((dig($techslotcode[1], 16) isnot 2) and (dig($techslotcode[2], 16) isnot 2)) and (dig($techslotcode[3], 16) isnot 2)) and (dig($techslotcode[4], 16) isnot 2)) and ((((($element2 isnot "Fire") and ($element2 isnot "Storm")) and ($element2 isnot "Ice")) and ($element2 isnot "Wind")))) and ((((($element1 isnot "Fire") and ($element1 isnot "Storm")) and ($element1 isnot "Ice")) and ($element1 isnot "Wind")))) use-if ($element1 is "Wind") Unleash a blast of elemental energy. [No Offensive Element!] #use-if ($style is "Kiihakai") Activate the Chi traps you left on the battlefield. [Requires Kiihakai] A lancing beam of $auracolor fires from the ground, striking the man's Bo Staff and knocking it skyward. You can't see his expression due to the blindfold, but his open mouth is a good hint. "Behind you." You say just as $auracolor light intensifies in a circle on the tree behind him. He dodges at the last second when your second chi trap blasts at where his head just was. Your third chi trap explodes up where he dodges, striking his side with a blast just as potent as if you'd strike him directly yourself. Two more circles of $auracolor chi intensify in two trees nearby and the monk finally catches on, leaping high into the sky to dodge them, higher than the branches you were running on. Higher than anything he can use to move in mid-air. Your two palms, pressed together, have been building up power this whole time. His blindfolded face locks in on yours when he realizes the fight is already over. And he's right. You unleash your $auracolor beam into the airborne monk and obliterate his aura, sending him flying into the sky where he lands on a distant tree. <</choose>>

<<var $ubodies + 1>>\ <<if ($ally is "Desdemona")>>\ Desdemona appears next to you with clenched fists, hands crackling with golden lightning. "Disciples, form a perimeter around the Thunderfaller!" "Thanks." You say to her. "But I don't need protection." Rather than the usual scowl, she gives you a legitimately baffled look. "It's for //their// protection." "Ah." Golden lightning surges up her arms, out of her shoulders, and into the sky towards unseen attackers, acting as living chi defending its owner. You both shoot your vision upward to follow their trajectory. "Here they come!" Desdemona shouts. \ <<elseif ($ally is "Guiren")>>\ Guiren appears next to you with an iron grip on the throat of the unconscious swordsman who attacked his men behind you. "Just a few more and we can demand a truce." "You sure?" You ask. He smiles. "Oh, I'm sure. They still think they can win, otherwise they'd be running. We need to show them they can't win //or// escape." His head shoots skyward. "Here they come." <<else>>\ You catch your breath and look left and right, ready for more attackers. But you're no amateur, not anymore. Seeing none, you shoot your vision skyward just in time to confirm your suspicion. <</if>>\ Three attackers drop from the trees, each glowing with Fire or Storm Chi. <<page "[Prepare yourself!]" "ch8-rabbit-woods4">>\

Stabilizing on another tree branch, you settle into a solid stance and feel confident you've beaten the top fighters. <<if ($ally is "Desdemona")>>\ <div class="fightingfont">Thunderfaller & Lady Desdemona</div>\ <div class="fightingfont">vs</div>\ <div class="fightingfont">Rabbit Trial Ambushers</div>\ <<elseif ($ally is "Guiren")>>\ <div class="fightingfont">Thunderfaller & Dai Guiren</div>\ <div class="fightingfont">vs</div>\ <div class="fightingfont">Rabbit Trial Ambushers</div>\ <<else>>\ <div class="fightingfont">Thunderfaller</div>\ <div class="fightingfont">vs</div>\ <div class="fightingfont">Rabbit Trial Ambushers</div>\ <</if>>\ <<statcheck>>\ <<if ($phasetwohuman is true)>>\ <div class="fightingfont">Partial Victory</div>\ <<fightexp 4>>\ <<else>>\ <div class="fightingfont">Victory</div>\ <<fightexp 8>>\ <</if>>\ That only leaves the extras. <<if ($ally is "Guiren")>>\ "You can all come out now." Guiren says, landing on the ground beside his underlings. "I know you're working for Nakamoto Sakura." <<page "Huh?" "ch8-rabbit-woods-guirenwin">>\ <<elseif ($ally is "Desdemona")>>\ "The fight is over!" Desdemona shouts. "I know Nakamoto Sakura sent you to kill the Thunderfaller." <<page "What??" "ch8-rabbit-woods-dessycall">>\ <<else>>\ "You can all come out!" You shout through the woods. "There's no need to fight when you're \ <<if ($phasetwohuman is true)>>\ going to lose. \ <<else>>\ losing this badly. \ <</if>>\ If two of you come with me to grant me two points in the stonewall test, then the violence can stop." "We will never give up!" One of the defeated Humans shouts, his aura shattered. He raises his bleeding head from the branch his body rests upon and glares at you. "You don't even get what's at stake, do you? If we don't stop you here, now, Nakamoto Sakura will never forgive us. She's bought every Silver of my debt. If I don't fail you out of the Rabbit Trial, I'll be indebted to her father for the rest of my life. This is my only chance!" Huh? Nakamoto Sakura as in the girl Mao smacked around? All you did was beat up her minions in self-defense. Why would she send Trialgoers to sabotage y-OH BY THE ANCESTORS! Does she still think you're Crusher Jack?! Hells, Imperial Rasen's education standards are in the gutter. Leaves rustle and the ground grows disturbed near your tree. Six more ambushers burst out of hiding from under the ground, behind a boulder, under a camouflage tarp, and from the tree behind you. <<choose "ch8-rabbit-woods-leavewoods">> #Negotiate with the ambushers to come with you willingly. <<var $ruthless - 2>>\ "Work for me instead!" You shout to them all. "Sakura's family can't get to you if you work for an Archon!" <<var $wiffy 3>>\ <<if ($prestige gte 40)>>\ ''[Prestige 40 Check Passed: Difficulty Reduced]'' <<var $wiffy - 1>>\ <<else>>\ ''[Prestige 40 Check Failed: Difficulty //not// Reduced]'' <</if>>\ <<if (($phasetwobird) or ($phasetwohuman))>>\ <<var $wiffy + 1>>\ <</if>>\ <<if ($persuasion gte $wiffy)>>\ ''[Persuasion $wiffy Check Passed]'' <<var $escapeprocess "Woods-Solo-PersuasionPassed">>\ All attackers pause. Two at first, and the rest slow to a stop when they realize they might be the only ones attacking by the time they reach you. "Think about it." You say. "She wouldn't send you against me if she didn't think I'd win these Trials. That means even she expects me to be an Archon, and an Archon's troops are untouchable, even to other Archons." You assume. Probably. Maybe. "Come work for the $clan Clan, and she can't touch you. She'll have to go through me and every one of you is proof she's too cowardly to do that." <<include "ch8-rabbit-woods-fineinit">>\ <<if ($prestige gte 30)>>\ ''[Prestige 30 Check Passed]'' "How could you do that when we're on the same side?" The Reptile woman asks, running over next to the Human in your grip. "We all work for the $clan Clan, after all." ''[1 Martial Retainers Recruited]'' <<var $martial_retainers + 1>>\ Though not all agree to work for you, they do relent and offer you their points. The group of you travel together through the woods, towards the stonewall challenge at the end. <<else>>\ ''[Prestige 30 Check Failed]'' "Bring it." The woman says, drawing a dagger. They do. The few remaining ambushers with their auras still active pounce on the woman together, beating her to a pulp, then turn follow you through the woods to the stonewall challenge. <</if>>\ Most of the march is spent with them bickering over who has to give up points in the Rabbit Trial for you to pass the stonewall with full marks. You make them draw straws. <<var $wbodies 8>>\ <<page "Continue" "ch8-rabbit-woods-leavewoods">>\ <<else>>\ "You're too full of yourself!" Shouts a Lunargoth with an oversized Jian, charging you through the air from behind. <<var $diffy + 1>>\ ''[Persuasion $wiffy Check Failed: Difficulty Increased]'' <<include "ch8-rabbit-woods-smackinit">>\ <</if>>\ #Blow them all away in a tree-ricocheting brawling fury. -> "ch8-rabbit-woods-smackinit" <<var $ruthless + 2>>\ You do love when people make your job easier. Exposing their locations as a group was a fatal mistake. <</choose>> <</if>>\

<<if ($portraitpics is true)>>\ <<image "https://www.auraclash.com/assets/images/misuka.jpg">>\ <</if>>\ The Kitsune flashes a smile, \ <<if ($race is "Kitsune")>>\ seemingly at you, with \ <</if>>\ her ears perked up and her canine fangs on display. "Congratulations, boys and girls, on getting through the Tiger Trial! With the weaklings weeded out, the people of Nanhou are hungry to witness the glory of the Heavenly Ascension Trials and I, Misuka the Performer, am here to help you give them a show!" Her three tails lift over her and arch forward, like fluffy scorpion tails poised to strike. Orbs of pink-tinged golden Mystic Chi appear on each one. Simultaneously, the walls to your left and right flash with mirror-like images of your group; a display showing you all from the point of view of the kitsune's orbs. "What in the world?" Asks one man to your left. "A Kitsune, permitted here?" Asks a woman behind you. "Vile sorcery." Hisses a man near the back. <<if ($fren is "Guiren")>>\ "Hubba hubba." Says Yoji the Oni. <<elseif ($fren is "Desdemona")>>\ "Stop staring at her." One of Desdemona's disciples says to a blushing Sun Li. <<else>>\ "Misuka, I'm your greatest fan!" Shouts a weak sounding man in the back. <</if>>\ "That's right, folks!" Misuka the Performer shouts. "From here on out you will have me as your Hostess and Announcer for all eleven remaining Trials! My Mystic foxfire will show scrying windows of sight and sound expanded onto the entire floor of whole stadiums all across Nanhou and beyond, for the viewing pleasure of the masses, complete with commentary by yours truly! You'd better show off what you've got, because the world //is// watching!" <<if ($fren is "Desdemona")>>\ A few aspirants away, Desdemona's mouth scrunches into a frown, her eyes casting suspicion and doubt on the Kitsune announcer. <<elseif ($fren is "Guiren")>>\ A few aspirants away, Guiren is huddling his men together and motioning with his hands for them to cut something out. It seems the idea of witnesses ruined his plans. <</if>>\ Misuka takes a few steps back, into the darkness, and from that darkness steps two black-clad Imperial clerks in Bōgu-masks. "Aspirants, approach!" Shouts the one on the right. <<page "Approach" "ch8-rabbit3">>\

You all approach the masked clerks, realizing that the tunnel widens right in front of them. As you make formation you notice a white line of paint at your feet. A race's starting line. The second clerk tilts his head up. "The Rabbit Trial is a test of speed and evasion. Just as every Archon must demonstrate strength, so too must they be prepared to survive challenges far above their abilities. The first goal for the Rabbit Trial will be to reach the end of the tunnel before your peers. The Trial begins in thirty seconds. Prepare yourselves." You adjust your footing, stretch, and take in the sight of your competition. Dozens of Sect uniforms you don't recognize, and some you do. A couple of Sunbringers in yellow and silver with no Leona in sight, three swordsmen in ocean blue armor from Nanhou's Waverunner Sect, \ <<if (($spareval_1 is 3) or ($spareval_1 is 4))>>\ two fighters from the Endless Beating School, \ <<elseif ($spareval_1 is 5)>>\ one nervous looking rookie from the Lost Siren Sect, \ <</if>>\ <<if (($fren is "Guiren") and ($heshe is "he"))>>\ and Guiren with his men. <<elseif (($fren is "Guiren") and ($heshe is "she"))>>\ Guiren blowing you a kiss, and his men, also blowing you a kiss, which earns them a tail lash from him. <<elseif ($fren is "Desdemona")>>\ and Desdemona with her disciples groaning that it's another physical Trial. <<else>>\ and an absurdly enormous bull yokai picking his nose. <</if>>\ Most surprising of all is a face you haven't seen in years: Jack's and Bo's fat friend from back home. Huh, it's a small world aftera-awww shit he's approaching you. <<var $spellspeed 0>>\ <<var $cursespeed 0>>\ <<var $stolenelixir 0>>\ <<choose "ch8-rabbitcont">> #Stand your ground. -> "ch8-rabbit-standground" #show-if ($fren is "Guiren") Ditch him to speak with Guiren. -> "ch8-rabbit-speakguiren" #show-if ($fren is "Desdemona") Ditch him to speak with Desdemona. -> "ch8-rabbit-speakdessy" #show-if (($fren isnot "Desdemona") and ($fren isnot "Guiren")) use-if (($fren is "Guiren") or ($fren is "Desdemona")) Ditch him to speak with a friend. [You don't have any.] -> "death" <</choose>>

<<if ($boostposs gt 0)>>\ <<var $agility ($oldagi + ($agility - $boostposs))>>\ ''[Agility Returned to Normal]'' <</if>>\ Each of the gathered runners take a few minutes to catch their breath and rest their muscles in the grassy field. Some flex for Misuka's scrying orbs, some discuss strategy with their gathered allies, and some meditate in silence. You spend that time getting a good view of the forested hills to your left and a ravine dropping into a river on your right. Besides that, your attention is taken by an odd stone wall at the far end of this valley. <<if ((($val is 555) or ($val is 444)) or ($val is 777))>>\ All of you are interrupted when Misuka begins clapping and stands atop a large treestump. <<else>>\ All of you stop what you're doing when the last runner approaches, because it's not a contestant. Ear-thrumming roars break out from the tunnel when the Drake rampages forward, ten feet behind a horrified and exhausted Human man running for his life. The weaker Martial Artist leaps for the finish line, his white aura little more than fumes, when the Drake reaches its large head to chomp onto his midsection and take his legs in one bite. ''*SNAP*'' With a snap of Misuka the Performer's fingers, the Drake phases into yellow energy and vanishes, narrowly saving the last contestant. "Y-Y-You sav..saved me!" Pants the man on the ground. "I sure did!" Misuka announces cheerily, standing atop a wide tree stump to better announce. "It's my job to send the Drake back to its cage after every run. Zero points, by the way. That goes for you six too." You look back to the tunnel and see six fighters on the ground where the Drake just was, covered in acidic stomach juices. Four of them groan as they shakily rise to their feet. Misuka's scrying orbs hover over them to give the crowd a good view, but you're more focused on the two who didn't get up. It almost looks like- <</if>>\ "Gather around me, little rabbits!" Misuka shouts. "You're halfway complete with the Rabbit Trial, now line up for the second half!" "Second half?" Asks a shirtless Oni man with an eyepatch. "Of course!" Misuka confirms, producing another golden-pink orb of scrying chi in the palm of her hand. When you look closer, you see the image of a packed stadium reflected in the chi orb, viewed from below. The stadium floors, you realize. Her scrying orbs are relaying your Trial across //entire stadium floors.// "You didn't think running away was enough to prove you'd survive on a mission, did you?" Misuka asks. "The Rabbit Trial is about being prey! Survival against impossible odds! Obviously we're not going to give you truly impossible odds to face, but the repercussions will treat you like we did. Now, aside from running, what do you need to do to escape a dangerous situation?" <<choose "ch8-rabbitbirbs2">> #"An escape route?" <<include "ch8-rabbit-answerreuse">>\ "An escape route?" <<var $score_wild - 1>>\ "True." Misuka replies. "That would be helpful, but it depends on intelligence of the area. We cannot assume we have that." #"Rich parents?" <<include "ch8-rabbit-answerreuse">>\ "Rich parents?" Misuka shakes her head. "If your parents can outspend the Archonate then you shouldn't be here." #"A good dodge roll?" -> "ch8-rabbitbirbs3" <<include "ch8-rabbit-answerreuse">>\ "A good dodge roll?" <<var $solexp + 1>>\ <<var $score_mystic + 1>>\ #show-if ($jadedragonfoundation is true) "The power of mythical draconic rulers of the ancient past?" <<include "ch8-rabbit-answerreuse">> "The power of mythical draconic rulers of the ancient past?" Misuka lets out a gentle, self-interrupting laugh. "Ah, hah, no? No one uses that. I mean...Do you use that?" #"Se...duction?" <<include "ch8-rabbit-answerreuse">>\ "Se...duction?" "Wh-what?" Misuka asks. "No, that's definitely not how an Archon should handle things." She \ <<if ($heshe is "he")>>\ says, giving you a doubtful stare. "And if I were your teacher, I'd fail you for that \ <<if (((($bodytype is "Handsome") or ($bodytype is "Muscular")) or ($bodytype is "Ogre")) or ($style is "Midorikatai"))>>\ idea." ''[Bodytype Event]'' Though she looks away and takes answers from others, you hear her voice whisper in your ear. "Bad boy. No. See me after class." <<var $foxromance + 1>>\ <<elseif ($race is "Kitsune")>>\ idea." ''[Kitsune Event]'' Though she looks away and takes answers from others, you hear her voice whisper in your ear. "Bad boy. No. See me after class." <<var $foxromance + 1>>\ <<elseif (($deception + $persuasion) gte 6)>>\ idea." ''[Persuasion + Deception 6 Check Passed]'' Though she looks away and takes answers from others, you hear her voice whisper in your ear. "Bad boy. No. See me after class." <<var $foxromance + 1>>\ <<else>>\ idea. Please don't ever raise your hand again. Thank you." Contestants around you snicker and your cheeks blush with embarrassment. ''[Persuasion + Deception 6 Check Failed]'' ''[Prestige Lost]'' <<var $prestige - 2>>\ <</if>>\ <<else>>\ says. "But I like your style." <<if ((($bodytype is "Hourglass") or ($bodytype is "Bodacious")) or (($deception + $persuasion) gte 6))>>\ <<if (($bodytype is "Hourglass") or ($bodytype is "Bodacious"))>>\ ''[Bodytype Check Passed]'' <<else>>\ ''[Persuasion + Deception 6 Check Passed]'' <</if>>\ She looks you up and down. "On most men it might actually work out for you and me. Keep the idea on standby, but don't suggest it to most of these people." ''[Prestige Increased]'' <<var $prestige + 1>>\ As an example of who shouldn't try it, she glances at Big Zhu. He looks around, not understanding why. <<else>>\ ''[Persuasion + Deception 6 Check Failed]'' She looks you up and down. "It won't lead anywhere good for you, but I appreciate a bad life choice when I see one." Contestants around you snicker and your cheeks blush with embarrassment. ''[Prestige Lost]'' <<var $prestige - 2>>\ <</if>>\ <</if>>\ <</choose>>

<<if ($fren is "Desdemona")>>\ Desdemona \ <<else>>\ Some Lunargoth woman \ <</if>>\ raises her hand next. "Assuming we're Archons, we wouldn't run from a defensive engagement, so it must be an offensive engagement we misjudged. In that case, there will be a moment in battle when we learn it's hopeless. At that point, the important skill is to evade attacks when retreating." <<include "ch8-rabbitbirbs3">>\

<<var $chapter 8.2>>\ "That's right!" Misuka cheers, clapping. "Yes, my humble players, that is exactly correct!" Twelve of her scrying orbs rise into the air above her and form a pointing arrow to the far side of the grassy field. "The second half of the Rabbit Trial is worth four points. For two points, you must get to the stone wall at the other end of this valley unscathed. You may go through the field itself, the leftmost hills, or the rightmost river in the ravine. It's not a race or time limit this time, so don't be too hasty!" She swings an arm behind her and, in the distance at the other end of the valley, at the foot of the opposing hills, a stone wall illuminates with golden chi. Above it, far in the sky, is the Noble Judges' floating cloud fortress. You cannot see them from here, but you know the five Judges on board can see you. "The last two points require a bounty." Misuka continues. "If you bring two unconscious players to the wall at the end, you'll score one additional point. If you want two points instead, you'll need to bring two willing contestants who will vouch for your passage. Be wary however, vouching for another finishes your Rabbit Trial and surrenders your chance to gain the bounty points!" The crowd breaks into shouts. "What do you mean it surrenders our points?! Are two-thirds of us supposed to lose such a large portion of the Rabbit Trial?" "What is the meaning of this?" Screams a Bull Yokai. "I came here to fight, not play some children's games!" "Oooohhhhhh ''//HUSH!!//''" Misuka's aura flares into a golden fox head, covering her body and snarling down at the screaming players. The crowd falls silent. "The Rabbit Trial tests how you can survive a losing fight. The first race tests your retreating speed, the valley tests your evasion, and the wall tests your ability to acquire allies from hostile populations. If you can't do these things, then you simply don't have what it takes to be an Archon!" You and \ <<if ($fren is "Guiren")>>\ Guiren \ <<elseif ($fren is "Desdemona")>>\ Desdemona \ <<else>>\ a few others \ <</if>>\ exchange glances across the silencing crowd. You \ <<if (($fren isnot "Guiren") and ($fren isnot "Desdemona"))>>\ all \ <<else>>\ both \ <</if>>\ realize the missing piece at the same time. <<page "Excuse me" "ch8-rabbitbirbs4">>\

"Excuse me," you ask, \ <<if ($honor lt 40)>>\ a doubting look on your face, \ <<else>>\ your hand raised, \ <</if>>\ "you said we must get through the field unscathed. Unscathed by what?" Misuka covers her mouth with one hand. "Oh goodness, did I not say? You lose one point if you're dealt a damaging strike by other contestants. My foxfire charms will ensure you don't die, but you can still be injured so treat this Trial seriously." "And the other point?" You ask, doing basic math. She's only accounted for six points. Misuka drops her hand and holds back a laugh. "That depends on your pattern recognition." You look around the crowd to see if anyone picks up on the hint, but they all look as confused as you. Misuka sighs and points a finger behind you all. "What happened the last time I distracted you all by explaining long-winded Trial rules?" <<if ($fren is "Guiren")>>\ "OH SHIT!" Screams Yoji. <<elseif ($fren is "Desdemona")>>\ "BY THE HEAVENS!" Shrieks Li Moon. <<else>>\ "Is that...?" Whispers a Cat Yokai beside you. <</if>>\ Turning around, you see a hundred figures break through the bottom layer of the clouds. Birds, you think at first, until you realize how high up they'd have to be if they're emerging from distant clouds. Something that distant is //much// larger than it looks. They're Beasts. Dozens of bird-type Beasts, divebombing toward your location. Through the screams of a hundred contestants running, Misuka the Performer happily throws her arms to the air. "Let the Rabbit Trial continue!" <<var $ally "">>\ <<page "Continue" "ch8-rabbitbirbs5">>\

Over fifty maneating birds empowered with chi descend upon your crowd, each with at least a twelve-foot wingspan. Everyone scatters. Many dash madly with Techniques and surged Agility Cores in all directions, others flee screaming with less than exemplary willpower. Not only has the fear of a Beast flock broken through the morale of some, but for the rest of you, the real threat of losing points leaves no difference in reaction. These Beasts are to be avoided, outrun, and outmaneuvered. "Not so fast!" Shouts a stocky young man in leather armor and a pirate captain's hat behind you. "I know who you are, $fullname, and I have come to \ <<if ($qingstatus is "Ally")>>\ show my brother Qing that he should ally with ME, not with-" <<else>>\ avenge my brother Qing-" <</if>>\ <<var $combatstat "power">>\ <<discount "Midorikatai" $stylerank>>\ <<discount "Muscular" 1>>\ <<discount "Earth" 1>>\ <<discount "Water" 1>>\ <<attack "Melee">>\ <<combatcheck 8>>\ <<if ($passcheck is true)>>\ <<var $powexp + 2>>\ You punch him in the throat, smashing his adam's apple. He rolls on the ground in pain, and \ <<else>>\ ''[1 Power Core Spent]'' <<var $powspent + 1>>\ You punch him in the forehead, stunning him long enough for an Imperial Clerk to grab the man by the throat and sprint out of the Trial grounds. With that over, \ <</if>>\ you look back to the skies where the Beast Flock grows ever closer. Cursing the rules, you fake left and right before choosing to... <<var $phasetwobird false>>\ <<var $phasetwohuman false>>\ <<var $sawbirb false>>\ <<choose "ch8-rabbitbirbs6">> #Zigzag away from their diving talons. Talons, beaks, and energy blasts rain down on the cave exit. Contestants split off in every direction, all hoping to dodge the attacks, and you're no different. <<if ((($element1 is "Storm") and ($element1rank gte 2)) or (($element2 is "Storm") and ($element2rank gte 2)))>>\ ''[Storm (Adept) Event: Automatic Success]'' <<var $solexp + 2>>\ <<var $powexp + 2>>\ You launch bolts of lightning further into the field and ride along them. It feels as if you're holding onto the front of the lightning bolt and get pulled across in a shoulder-wrenching launch of speed, but in such a wide-open area it's harder to contain the Storm. Still, thankfully, it works. Instantly arriving two-hundred feet away, you pull out of the Beast flock's strike zone and have precious seconds to catch your bearings. <<else>>\ <<var $combatstat "agility">>\ <<var $combatskill "survival">>\ <<discount "Petite" 1>>\ <<discount "Manlet" 1>>\ <<discount "Trapper" 2>>\ <<combatcheck 9>>\ <<if ($passcheck is true)>>\ You dash away from the Beast flock's strike zone and use your knowledge of birds and Beasts to predict how and where they'll attack before they do. Lightning crashes from your side. You've already rolled to the left. Flames erupt in a stream across your path. You've already skidded to a halt to avoid the impact. Talons slam into your location the second you stop moving. You've already kicked off in a spray of dirt to dodge. The Beasts quickly give up on you and you're given precious seconds to catch your bearings in the middle of the chaos. <<else>>\ You run alongside two wolf yokai that won't stop screaming bloody murder, attracting the birds to your location. You scare off two diving bird Beasts with energy blasts sent over your shoulder. It's not enough to stop your whole world from turning red when a firebreathing condor unleashes its beam on the three of you. <<woundcheck 1 false true>>\ The fire \ <<if ($eblocktech isnot "")>>\ washes over you, threatening to burn but failing to bypass your Technique. <<else>>\ scorches through your skin in agonizing pain //and// point loss. <</if>>\ One of Misuka's orbs zooms up to you and vibrates, announcing to any viewers. \ <<if ($eblocktech isnot "")>>\ "A last minute save by $titlename with a Energy Block! Could $hisher Sectmaster be training anti-energy specialists? You bet! Thunderfall's longstanding rivalry with the Sunbringer Sect has prepared this young $manwoman for this very situation!" That's so untrue that you almost chip a tooth when grating your teeth. <<else>>\ "A devastating loss for $titlename, not just in points but in aura and blood! You love it, I love it, and the Empire loves it! You all know I'm not wrong when I say I can hear those cheers from the crowd all the way over here!" <<var $phasetwobird true>>\ <</if>>\ <</if>>\ <</if>>\ <<page "Continue" "ch8-rabbitbirbs6">>\ #Disappear in the crowd. <<var $diffy 3>>\ <<if ((($element1 is "Light") and ($element1rank gte 2)) or (($element2 is "Light") and ($element2rank gte 2)))>>\ ''[Light (Adept) Event: Automatic Success]'' <<var $solexp + 3>>\ Rather than figuratively disappear, you choose to literally disappear. Light bends around your body and you vanish from sight, leaving the Beast flock's strike zone with a mild jog. Through your control of Light Chi you gain precious seconds to decide your next move amongst the chaos. <<elseif ((($element1 is "Darkness") and ($element1rank gte 2)) or (($element2 is "Darkness") and ($element2rank gte 2)))>>\ ''[Darkness (Adept) Event: Automatic Success]'' A twenty foot radius orb of Darkness forms around you, blocking the Beast flock from finding its target when they charge. Most go for easier prey, but one red condor with a twelve-foot wingspan dives into your shadow domain with its burning talons at the ready. You assume it's surprised when you kick its face with all the momentum of its aerial charge, knocking the creature out of the shadow field and into the race's cave entrance. <<apboost 5>>\ The rest must take a lesson from that because none attack even when you drop the effect, gaining precious seconds to catch your breath among the chaos. <<else>>\ You hop back thirty feet to land amongst twenty fleeing contestants while trying to maneuver yourself to appear as a less desirable target. <<if ($bodytype is "Petite") or ($bodytype is "Manlet")>>\ ''[Small Bodytype Event: Difficulty Reduced]'' \ <<var $diffy - 1>>\ <</if>>\ <<if ($style is "Kurokonton")>>\ ''[Kurokonton Event: Difficulty Reduced]'' \ <<var $diffy - 1>>\ <</if>>\ <<if (($val is 444) or ($val is 555))>>\ ''[Scent of Drake Predator: Difficulty Reduced]'' \ <<var $diffy - 1>>\ <</if>>\ <<if ($stealth gte $diffy)>>\ ''[Stealth $diffy Check Passed]'' By avoiding the center and the sides of the scattering crowd you're able to use everyone else as a decoy. Some Beasts shriek and divebomb those who break off the crowd, others aim for center-mass and attack the center of the crowd. You stay between attacks. Beasts attack men and women behind you so you rush forward. They charge for the men in front of you so you roll to the left and kick off, clearing twenty feet. In the initial seconds of the engagement, you're able to break away from the attacks and catch your bearings. <<else>>\ ''[Stealth $diffy Check Failed]'' You land as soon as they all scatter, becoming ''such a desirable target.'' A red condor with a twelve-foot wingspan swoops down and unleashes a gout of fire right into your landing point, consuming you with its flames. <<woundcheck 1 false true>>\ The fire \ <<if ($eblocktech isnot "")>>\ washes over you, threatening to burn but failing to bypass your Technique. <<else>>\ scorches through your skin in agonizing pain //and// point loss. <</if>>\ One of Misuka's orbs zooms up to you and vibrates, announcing to any viewers. \ <<if ($eblocktech isnot "")>>\ "A last minute save by $titlename with a Energy Block! Could $hisher Sectmaster be training anti-energy specialists? You bet! Thunderfall's longstanding rivalry with the Sunbringer Sect has prepared this young $manwoman for this very situation!" That's so untrue that you almost chip a tooth when grating your teeth. <<else>>\ "A devastating loss for $titlename, not just in points but in aura and blood! You love it, I love it, and the Empire loves it! You all know I'm not wrong when I say I can hear those cheers from the crowd all the way over here!" <<var $phasetwobird true>>\ <</if>>\ <</if>>\ <</if>>\ <<page "Continue" "ch8-rabbitbirbs6">>\ #use-if (($element1 is "Wind") or ($element2 is "Wind")) Repel the incoming Beasts with strong gusts of wind. [Requires Wind] The Beast flock soars through the air and down upon your crowd of contestants. Each is at least ten feet in wingspan and most are covered in Elemental chi, their talons or beaks divebombing down into the unexpecting Martial Artists. Then you punch cyclones of Wind Chi through the air and start knocking them into each other. Misuka breaks into laughter, sending two scrying orbs to get close ups of two rocs colliding into a red burning condor. One icy blue dove almost crashes into you with its torso-sized talons, but you focus your wind attacks into both palms. Your inner energy launches out in a wave that blasts a single one of its wings. The thing takes off back into the air like a kite, losing all control over its own flight. <<if ($soul gte 7)>>\ ''[Soul 6 Check Passed]'' Then you hit it in the chest with an unexpected beam of $auracolor energy. <<apboost 5>>\ After all, you have a crowd to please. ''[Prestige Increased]'' <<var $prestige + 1>>\ <<var $score_mystic + 1>>\ <</if>>\ The rest of the Beast flock give you a wide berth, cawing and screeching as they redirect their attacks at others. <<page "Continue" "ch8-rabbitbirbs6">>\ #show-if ($clonetech is "Mist Clone") Leave behind a $clonetech to distract them. A flaming red condor with a twelve-foot wingspan unleash a gout of fire directly onto your location, incinerating you to the bone. You explode into mist, laughing. Fifty feet away you run towards the fields, giving the bird a wave. It charges at you and catches you in its talons. You explode into mist, again. The real you lands on the condor, grabbing its wings from above and shoving it to the ground with your weight. The two of you land in a powerful collision with the ground, knocking out the condor and sending you airborne from bouncing off its back. <<apboost 5>>\ A roc uses that to its advantage, charging in to swoop you out of the sky, when you conjure two more mist clones around you. One kicks off your chest, sending you back into the other behind you. The other grips your tail with all the strength of your own Power Cores and throws you out of harms way, past two of Misuka's scrying orbs. ''[Prestige Increased]'' <<var $prestige + 2>>\ <<var $score_wild + 1>>\ <<var $score_mystic + 2>>\ <<var $score_cursed + 1>>\ You laugh joyously as you sore through the air, arms and legs held out wide for the audience to soak in your success. It takes more willpower than you expected to hide the pain on your face from your own Clone pulling your tail. Damn, you're strong. That hurts like Hell. <<page "Continue" "ch8-rabbitbirbs6">>\ #show-if ($roc gte 1) Find out what $rocname's been up to all this time. The Beast flock descends upon the crowd and you can't even move. Some standing beside you are paralyzed with shock. //You// are paralyzed with anger. Who in their right mind thought they could requisition YOUR bird?! "$rocname!" You finally shout, leaping into the air. "Catch!" "CAWWWWWWW!!!" Your roc flies underneath you, catching you on its back and surging various Cores to support your weight as it takes off down the field. She twists in the air, a mere two-hundred feet away, and you motion to scream at her when a purple-glowing white eagle descends upon the two of you. She was throwing you out of the way. The Cursed shining eagle crashes into $rocname and she bites into its neck while the two tumble to the ground. They crash and neither loses their fight, buffeting each other with their wings. <<cap $rocname>> leaps over and repositions behind the eagle, pressing her beak against its back. ...The side of her beak. Pressing the //side// of her beak against its back. You've researched enough about birds to know birdflirting when you see it. "YOU ARE TOO YOUNG FOR THAT, LITTLE LADY!" You scream, scaring off the eagle with an energy blast under its wing. "GROUNDED! YOU ARE GROUNDED, YOU ARE GROSS, AND YOU ARE GETTING NO MINCED MEAT FOR A WEEK!" "COOOO!" Calls a third bird, an icy dove breathing a freezing mist into your path. <<cap $rocname>> stares at the eagle leaving for too long before crashing into the dove, giving you time to escape from the chaos of the fight. <<var $sawbirb true>>\ You're giving her a talking to after this, but for now, you have a Trial to win. <<page "Continue" "ch8-rabbitbirbs6">>\ #show-if ($roc lt 1) use-if ($roc gte 1) Call on a Beast of your own. [No Animal Companion] -> "death" <</choose>>

After escaping from the initial chaos of flying razorsharp plumes, energy blasts, wind gusts, and talons, you gain enough distance to look out over the battlefield. It's a bloodbath. More Beasts were taken out than you realized, but a third as many contestants flee with wounds of their own. Factions break out among unscathed contestants splitting up between the valley's woods, field, or ravine. <<if ($fren is "Desdemona")>>\ Yours eyes settle on Desdemona just as she joins a Disciple's beam battle with a thunderbird. Her black lightning courses around the lesser Martial Artist's golden energy attack and crashes through the Beast's chest, blowing a hole out of its back. <<if ($sawbirb is true)>>\ Ancestors, you should tell $rocname to get the Hells out of here. <<else>>\ Ancestors, that's a bright light. You should try team beam battles with Jin, Rin, and Kosuke later. <</if>>\ <<elseif ($fren is "Guiren")>>\ What you at first mistake for a brutal melee turns out to be Guiren and his men plucking the feathers off a fleeing cockatrice and kicking it from behind until it gives up on its screaming meal, Wencheng, and spits him out. They help him up and shout at an unconvinced Misuka that he didn't get hurt, and that those bleeding parts were always like that. <</if>>\ Down across the valley you return your eyes to the prize: the stone wall marking the end of the Rabbit Trial. You'll need two others to come with you to gain full points, and you'll need to recruit them while making your way through the woods, field, or ravine. All while avoiding the Beasts, and worse, avoiding damage from any contestant. You weigh your options, looking to the woods. <<var $clue 0>>\ <<var $diffy 0>>\ <<var $ubodies 0>>\ <<var $wbodies 0>>\ <<var $escapeprocess "">>\ <<var $zhuser false>>\ <<var $ravineclue false>>\ <<if ($insight gte 2)>>\ ''[Insight 2 Check Passed]'' <<var $solexp + 2>>\ <<var $clue 1>>\ A suspicious amount of fighters disappeared into the woods, yet you sense no active chi. Either there's something dangerous in there taking them out, they're //all// Kurokonton users, or multiple contestants from different factions are all working together in those woods. Like an ambush. The woods look like a fight, then. Meanwhile the river at the rightmost ravine... <<else>>\ ''[Insight 2 Check Failed]'' Yep. Those are certainly woods. Unlike the river at the bottom of the rightmost ravine, which... <</if>>\ <<if ($perception gte 2)>>\ ''[Perception 2 Check Passed]'' <<var $agiexp + 2>>\ <<var $ravineclue true>>\ Has subtle, dispersing wafts of smoke coming over the edge. White smoke. Fuuinjutsu tags. If someone was hiding something during a timed race, but took it out as soon as timing didn't matter, then it's probably heavy. Armor and weapons, if you had to guess. That leaves Nanhou's local Waverunner Sect as the main suspects, with their fully plated armor uniform that Leona used to wear. If they have more members in this seed than you thought, then you... <<if ((dig($trialdeets, 2) is 2) or (dig($trialdeets, 2) is 4))>>\ ''[Event Check Failed]'' Would be in trouble at the river. You're not exactly on good terms with Magistrate Fuyu. You don't doubt you could beat them, but a single lucky hit could cost you points. <<elseif (dig($trialdeets, 2) is 3)>>\ ''[Event Check Passed]'' Could find good allies at the river. Magistrate Fuyu likes you well enough. <<else>>\ ''[Event Check Failed]'' Don't really know what to expect at the river. You're not on good or bad terms with the Waverunners. <</if>>\ <<else>>\ ''[Perception 2 Check Failed]'' Sure is wet. You could use a good dip after that race. \ <<if ($val is 444)>>\ Especially since you're covered in Drake barf. <<elseif ($val is 555)>>\ Especially since you're covered in Drake blood. <</if>>\ <</if>>\ You suppose you could simply run down the center of the field, but- <<if ($survival gte 2)>>\ ''[Survival 2 Check Passed]'' <<var $forexp + 2>>\ The flying birds overhead appear to have given up on the troublesome woods or the deep ravine; they're almost entirely focused on the field. That could offer opportunities to save others down there in exchange for help at the stonewall, but they seem intent on fighting each other as well judging by the veritable lightshow from energy blasts flying left and right. <<else>>\ ''[Survival 2 Check Failed]'' -you //just// ran a lot. Oh well. You have to get to the stone wall somehow. <</if>>\ <<choose "ch8-rabbit-field">> #Run down the field. #Run into the woods. -> "ch8-rabbit-woods" #Run into the river. -> "ch8-rabbit-river" #show-if ($fren is "Guiren") Ask where Guiren is going first. -> "ch8-rabbit-askguiren" #show-if ($fren is "Desdemona") Tell Desdemona to follow you first. -> "ch8-rabbit-askdessy" #show-if (($fren isnot "Desdemona") and ($fren isnot "Guiren")) Tell Big Zhu to go fuck himself first. -> "ch8-rabbit-screwzhu" <</choose>>

"Rabbits, take your places!" Misuka the Performer shouts with an excited swish of her three foxtails, "We've seen your power and now it's time to see your speed! First place will get four points towards their Rabbit Score, the other top twenty places will gain three, then two for the top fifty, and one point for the top eighty. To help motivate you, we have a special guest star for this trial. Let's bring him out!" A shriek of grinding stone and metal echoes from two-hundred feet behind you all, in the darkness. Misuka's beams of light pop into being in the same location, illuminating and aggravating the newcomer to your Trial: A snarling, quadrupedal lizard standing eight feet tall at the shoulder. Its fangs drip with venomous chi and its eyes blaze with fire. <<if ($portraitpics is true)>>\ <<image "https://www.auraclash.com/assets/images/drake.jpg">>\ <</if>>\ A Beast. <<var $chapter 8.1>>\ <<if ($survival gte 2)>>\ ''[Survival 2 Check Passed]'' <<var $forexp + 2>>\ A Drake, to be specific. Only one out of a thousand will ever attain the power of a Dragon, and this one shows no signs of intelligence, but that doesn't \ <<else>>\ ''[Survival 2 Check Failed]'' You have no idea what it is, but even if you did, it wouldn't \ <</if>>\ make you feel any safer. The monster shrieks from the lights and slams its three-hundred pound skull against the nearby wall, cracking it, then roars with the kind of volume unheard in the unpowered animal kingdom. Murmurs and shouts fill the tunnels. "What the Hells is this?!" "You said these first Trials were harmless!" "Finally, a challenge!" "I want out! Let me out of here!" "Don't worry, young Aspirants!" Shouts the Misuka the Performer energetically, "We've hampered this Beast with iron weights over its legs. I'm sure you strapping young men and women will be fine while showing us what you're made of, we just want to make sure we see your very best! So on your marks!" She pulls a red flag out of a pocket. Everyone at the starting line stares around nervously. "Get set!" She holds the flag over her head... You can feel your breath hold in your chest. The ground echoes behind you when the drake makes its charge with a SURGED AGILITY CORE FOR THE LOVE OF- "GO! GO! GO!" Misuka throws the flag into the air. ''[Agility Core Surged]'' <<var $agispent + 1>>\ All hundred Martial Artists take off in an explosion of power and Techniques the second they get permission to flee from the raging monster. <<page "Continue" "ch8-rabbitcont2">>\

<div class="fightingfont">Rabbit Trial</div>\ The musclebound Drake Beast charges down the tunnel, shaking the ground with every step. Slobbering acidic venom sizzles the ground where it lands and the monster screaming in rage. Its body glows green and its movements blur from the increased speed of a surged Agility Core. All around you, whether to flee the Beast or win the race, Martial Artists dash across the starting line. <<choose "ch8-rabbitrun">> #use-if ($rocketritual is false) RUN! Without any enhancements or strategy, you stick to the winning strategy that's saved countless Rabbits beings from being eaten in the past: You run. Your legs kick off with every ounce of strength you have, focused not only on force but consistency. The end of the tunnel isn't even in sight, and the Martial Artists around you form an obstacle you must work your way around to pull ahead of the pack. #show-if ($style is "Aoyusumu") use-if (($stylerank gte 2) and (($rocketritual is false) and ((($chipool + ($soul/2)) - $chispent) gte 1))) Siphon the Drake's kinetic movement to increase your own. [Requires Aoyusumu (Adept), Costs 1 Chi] The Drake closes in on your group of runners just after you get the chance to flee. Where others see a problem, you see an opportunity. Your $auracolor flares up and you reach beyond the physical, to the underlying rules behind force and movement. With a mental push and pull, you rip kinetic force away from the Drake and into yourself. It snaps at you, charging, and you leap backward over the heads of the people who ran before you, reinforced with newfound speed. <<if ($stylerank gte 3)>>\ <<var $bunnyboost $stylerank>>\ <<else>>\ <<var $bunnyboost 2>>\ <</if>>\ <<var $cmod + $bunnyboost>>\ ''[1 Chi Point Spent]'' <<var $chispent + 1>>\ ''[Speed Prowess Increased x$bunnyboost]'' #show-if (($element1 is "Light") or ($element2 is "Light")) use-if (($rocketritual is false) and ((($chipool + ($soul/2)) - $chispent) gte 1)) Ride the lightwaves. [Requires Light, Costs 1 Chi] Lines of $auracolor starlight draw across your body in intricate patterns, coating your skin in a temporary glowing tattoo. Though you could never(...?) copy the actual speed of Light, you feel a weightlessness and surge in speed from forming a connection with its Element. <<if (($element1 is "Light") and ($element1rank gte 3))>>\ <<var $bunnyboost $element1rank>>\ <<elseif (($element2 is "Light") and ($element2rank gte 3))>>\ <<var $bunnyboost $element2rank>>\ <<else>>\ <<var $bunnyboost 2>>\ <</if>>\ <<var $cmod + $bunnyboost>>\ ''[1 Chi Point Spent]'' <<var $chispent + 1>>\ ''[Light Event: Prowess Increased x$bunnyboost]'' #show-if (($element1 is "Wind") or ($element2 is "Wind")) use-if (($rocketritual is false) and ((($chipool + ($soul/2)) - $chispent) gte 1)) Fly above the other runners. [Requires Wind (Adept), Costs 1 Chi] Wind cycles through your Cores and then //cyclones// around your legs, lifting you into the air and shooting you down the tunnel. A slipstream of Wind Chi flows in front of you to stabilize your body as you shoot over the heads of the other runners. <<if (($element1 is "Wind") and ($element1rank gte 3))>>\ <<var $bunnyboost $element1rank>>\ <<elseif (($element2 is "Wind") and ($element2rank gte 3))>>\ <<var $bunnyboost $element2rank>>\ <<else>>\ <<var $bunnyboost 2>>\ <</if>>\ <<var $cmod + $bunnyboost>>\ ''[1 Chi Point Spent]'' <<var $chispent + 1>>\ ''[Light Event: Prowess Increased x$bunnyboost]'' #use-if ($rocketritual is false) Stand your ground and punch the 4,000lb Drake in the skull. -> "ch8-rabbit-drakefight" #show-if ($rocketritual is true) Activate the ritual. "Now!" Desdemona shouts, triggering Mystic Chi like thin strands of crackling black electricity out of her fingers. They hit the edges of the ritual circle and ignite into pure gold. You grow uneasy that her Sect isn't running. Every other Martial Artist takes off in a blur of speed and Techniques while the Drake approaches. You take on a battle stance when the Beast reaches your group and reel your fist back, but a scream from Li Sun gives you pause. "Brace yourselves!" The golden glowing ritual circle under you lifts off the ground, becoming a tilted circular wall at a 45-degree angle, blocking the Drake's advance from getting to you just as it reaches your group. "DISCIPLE MOON!" Desdemona screams. Her disciples all grab at the edge of the ritual circle as if it were a raft and the Disciple Moon places her hand against the circle's center. //''"The Last Dream."''// ''*CRACKOOOOM*'' The other side of the circle explodes like hundredfold cannonfire, blasting the 4,000lb Drake's skin and flesh clean off its skull. You don't get a view of what happens to the rest of its body; you're suddenly flattened against the circle-wall of hardlight chi when it uncontrollably blasts through the tunnel, over the heads of the other runners, and through the dark tunnel ahead of even first place at hundreds of miles per hour. "AAAHHHHHHHHH!!!!!" Screams Li Sun. "AAAAAHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!" Screams Li Moon. "AAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!" Screams Lady Desdemona. <<page "AAAHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!" "ch8-rabbit-ritual">>\ <</choose>>

<<var $combatstat "agility">>\ <<var $combatskill "athletics">>\ <<discount "Legs" 1>>\ <<discount "Agile" 1>>\ <<discount "Kurokonton" $stylerank>>\ <<discount "Cat" 1>>\ <<combatcheck 11>>\ <<if ($passcheck is true)>>\ <<var $rscore 3>>\ You're sure there are problems going on. It's obvious some grudges will manifest or someone's schemes will be put into place to rig the scores. It's almost impossible that everyone is playing fair, and the Beast adds its own chaos into the mix. But none of that applies to you. You're too far ahead. Side by side with the fastest in the race, you and six others burst past the rest like a rainbow of human-sized chi blasts. Each of you streams down the tunnel in a raging river of power with no signs of slowing down. <<page "Continue" "ch8-rabbitrun-3point">>\ <<else>>\ All hundred Martial Artists take off like mice fleeing a burning ship, but you just can't seem to keep pace with the front row. Some of these crazy bastards are taking off like glowing rapid rivers of chi down the tunnel and show no signs of slowing. Meanwhile //you// are stuck in a cluster of twenty people that can't seem to separate no matter how hard you push yourself. Oh Ancestors. Even <<if ($bigzhu is true)>>\ Big Zhu \ <<else>>\ Jack's fat friend \ <</if>>\ is pulled too far ahead of you, and he's //flying.// <<if ($bigzhu is true)>>\ "Hah!" He screams, glancing back through the Green and Emerald spirals trailing off his flight. "You could never defeat Big Zhu in speed!" Ancestors, no. The fat bastard isn't just beating you in a race. He's //related to your first mentor//. Big Chu is probably cheering at your defeat right now. That stings worse than you expected. <</if>>\ //!!!// <<var $val 0>>\ <<var $combatstat "agility">>\ <<var $combatskill "athletics">>\ <<discount "Legs" 1>>\ <<discount "Agile" 1>>\ <<discount "Kurokonton" $stylerank>>\ <<combatcheck 10>>\ <<if ($passcheck is true)>>\ <<include "ch8-rabbit-fuggen2pointsmaxm8">>\ <<else>>\ A Bull Yokai nearly tramples you with his wide swinging frame. A Cat Yokai //does// trip you when she runs on all fours in front of your feet. When you rise to avoid trampling, a flying Wind Artist nearly knocks you off balance. You explode with $auracolor chi to push everyone back, madder than you've been in months, and get up to sprint down the tunnel. <<page "Continue" "ch8-rabbit-notgreat">>\ <</if>>\ <</if>>\

Wind resistance pushes against you with enough strength to simulate a hurricane while you speed down the tunnel, daring to risk a glance to your left to see who threatens your chance at first place. Two men fly on the wind, three sprint at full speed, and one seems to flicker in and out of existence every hundred feet. Of those, only \ <<if ($fren is "Guiren")>>\ two of them stand out among the others. One is Guiren, with his Cursed Chi leashed to an Oni woman in purple and black. She's five steps ahead of him and swinging an arm backward, futilely trying to stop the man's curse from stealing her speed. The other familiar face concerns you more. <<else>>\ one of them concerns you more than the others. <</if>>\ <<if ($bigzhu is true)>>\ Big Zhu. Why the Hells is he \ <<else>>\ Why the Hells is Jack's fat friend \ <</if>>\ keeping up with \ <<if ($stolenelixir is 1)>>\ you after you stole his damned elixir? \ <<else>>\ you? \ <</if>>\ And why is he //flying//?! "Speed is my domain!" He screams, leaving spirals of Green and Emerald Chi behind him while flying beside you. "You could never defeat Big Zhu!" <<if ($bigzhu is false)>>\ Big Zhu? <<var $bigzhu true>>\ Jack's fat friend is from Big Chu's clan? <</if>>\ <<choose "ch8-rabbit-rocksfall">> #"Watch me!" "Watch me!" You scream, pushing your body into a haze of $auracolor chi. Your concentration falters when you hear an ominous sound. <<page "Continue" "ch8-rabbit-rocksfall">>\ #"Poor choice of words!" [Beat him] <<var $ruthless + 2>>\ You almost can't believe your ears when he says you can't beat him. "Poor choice of words!" You scream, \ <<if ((($subrace is "Monkey") or ($subrace is "Reptile")) or ($yokaitrait1 is "demon tail"))>>\ lashing your tail out \ <<else>>\ swinging a backhand strike \ <</if>>\ to clothesline the man in his lack of a chin before he realizes what's happening. <<var $combatstat "power">>\ <<var $combatskill "stealth">>\ <<discount "Muscular" 1>>\ <<discount "Midorikatai" 1>>\ <<combatcheck 7>>\ <<if (($passcheck is true) or ((($subrace is "Monkey") or ($subrace is "Reptile")) or ($yokaitrait1 is "demon tail")))>>\ <<if ((($subrace is "Monkey") or ($subrace is "Reptile")) or ($yokaitrait1 is "demon tail"))>>\ <<if ($subrace is "Monkey")>>\ ''[Monkey Yokai Event: Automatic Success]'' Your tail whips out and slams into \ <<elseif ($subrace is "Reptile")>>\ ''[Reptile Yokai Event: Automatic Success]'' Your tail lashes out and whips into \ <<elseif ($yokaitrait1 is "demon tail")>>\ ''[Demon Tail Event: Automatic Success]'' Depending on the darkness of the tunnel to hide your strike, your demonic tail lashes out and whips into \ <</if>>\ <<var $powexp + 1>>\ <<var $agiexp + 2>>\ <<else>>\ The back of your fist cracks into \ <</if>>\ Big Zhu's throat. One croak is all he can get out before his own momentum flips him backward and forces his spinning flight to slam him into the ceiling. The portly man smacks face-first into the stone as if bellyflopping upside down, then drops into the crowd who begins to trample him. Heh. You love your life. <<var $zhulose true>>\ Reality snaps back when you hear the pounding of footsteps grow closer; several other runners are gaining on you quickly. You push your energy output harder, pressing your $auracolor aura into a stream behind you. <<page "Continue" "ch8-rabbit-rocksfall">>\ <<else>>\ You swing your fist with enough force to knock Big Zhu's face backwards and send him tumbling over. Unfortunately, you miss. <<var $rscore 2>>\ With enough force to send him tumbling over, and your body weighing less than his, your whiffed swing sends ''you'' tumbling over. You roll to your feet and try to get back up but nearly get trampled by the runners just behind you. A great roar shakes the walls, drowning out the screams of some stranger as the Drake finds a victim. You jump to your feet and sprint back down the tunnel, cursing. <<page "Continue" "ch8-rabbit-dunkedbyzhu">>\ <</if>>\ #[Ignore him] <<var $ruthless - 1>>\ <<var $honor + 1>>\ You ignore the speeding ball of lard and focus on the race, pushing your energy output harder, pressing your $auracolor aura into a stream behind you. Your concentration falters when you hear an ominous sound. <<page "Continue" "ch8-rabbit-rocksfall">>\ #[Spit] <<var $honor - 1>>\ "Hawk tuah!" You spit at Big Zhu, missing him, because you are both running so fast that over 90 trained Martial Artists and a Beast Drake can't catch up. Your spit flies backward and hits an unsuspecting runner. <<if ($fren is "Desdemona")>>\ Li Moon. Through the heavy panting of the sprint, she takes on Desdemona's signature frown. <<elseif ($fren is "Guiren")>>\ Wencheng. "Hah!" Barks Guiren through panting breaths of his high-speed sprint. <</if>>\ Big Zhu doesn't even take the chance to laugh at you, taking that chance instead to try and pull ahead. You push your energy output harder in response, pressing your $auracolor aura into a stream behind you. Both your concentrations falter when you hear an ominous sound. <<page "Continue" "ch8-rabbit-rocksfall">>\ <</choose>>

You wake up \ <<if (dig($metmina, 11) gte 3)>>\ next to Mina \ <</if>>\ the following morning \ <<if (dig($metmina, 11) gte 3)>>\ only to have \ <<else>>\ to \ <</if>>\ Kosuke \ <<if ((($bffheshe is "she") and ($bffromance gte 1)) and ($bffheshe isnot $heshe))>>\ pouncing on top of you. \ <<elseif ((($bffheshe is "he") and ($bffromance gte 1)) and ($bffheshe isnot $heshe))>>\ hovering over you. \ <<else>>\ sipping a bowl of soup beside your bed. \ <</if>>\ "Wakey wakey." <<cap $bffheshe>> says. "Did you forget already?" You groggily glance to the window and see the barest hint of sunlight. "Forget what?" <<if (dig($metmina, 11) gte 3)>>\ "Forget to keep the noise down?" Mina asks, folding your pillow over her head and turning over in a mess of silky black hair. <</if>>\ "Today's Jin and Rin's big day!" Kosuke \ <<if ($bffheshe is "she")>>\ shouts, overly excited. \ <<else>>\ declares, flexing an arm. \ <</if>>\ "They're in the hundredth Tiger Trial seed. \ <<if (dig($trialdeets, 4) is 1)>>\ I bet fifty Shards on Jin failing Tiger and Rin failing Rabbit. It's a joint bet though, to increase the odds. Do you have some paper? I need you to do the math and make sure the bookie wasn't lying." "Oh, shit!" You reply, stumbling up out of bed and getting dressed. "Do you think they'll be mad that I didn't get them out of Thunderfall Tower? The training was probably good for them, right?" <<if (dig($metmina, 11) gte 3)>>\ "You left your siblings locked in a tower?" Mina asks, turning over to give you an inquisitive stare. "Uh, no?" You reply while donning your clothes. "<<cap $heshe>> would never." Kosuke swears. "Three repentance prayers." Mina grumbles, returning to rest. "Sinners." "Hmm..." You look to Kosuke. "Do you think Jin and Rin would be less mad if I prayed about it?" <</if>>\ "Not a chance in hell." <<cap $bffheshe>> 'borrows' one of your travel robes and opens the door out, letting the cool seaside winds into your chambers. "They're going to hate you //for life//." <<page "To the Tiger Arena" "ch8-siblingtrial-bad">>\ <<else>>\ I've got three different bets running on them failing certain parts." "Oh shit!" You shout out, leaping out of \ <<if (dig($metmina, 2) is 6)>>\ bed. "Hey!" Mina blurts out when you roll the bed so fast that she falls out. "Two repentance prayers, sinner!" <<if ($ruthless gte 60)>>\ "Put it on my tab!" \ <<else>>\ "Sorry, sorry." \ <</if>>\ You say before looking back to Kosuke. \ <<else>>\ bed. \ <</if>>\ "Get the buckets!" <<if (dig($metmina, 2) is 6)>>\ "Buckets?" Mina asks, confused and reaching for her priestess robes over the side of the bed. She refuses to actually get out from under the blankets. You and Kosuke both lift two sets of buckets by the door. "Jin's a deep sleeper." <<else>>\ Kosuke reaches under your own bed and pulls out four pre-filled buckets of water. "Already got them." <</if>>\ <<page "Continue" "ch8-siblingtrial-good">>\ <</if>>\

"We're never going to find them like this." You curse, looking through the dense crowd of the crowded plaza outside the Tiger Arena. The same place where you originally signed up for the Trials. "Is anyone else from back home signed up to compete today?" Kosuke asks. "Just Bo Lo." You reply, having checked the bracket earlier. "I have an idea." Kosuke says, leaping onto a nearby crate. "Thunderfall Sucks!" Nothing. "Mao sucks!" Nothing. "Bo Staffs should be renamed!" "You dare?!" Screams a nasally voice from across the plaza. "Make way for the Thunderfall Sect! The scion of the Bo Clan ''will'' be satisfied!" You stare open-mouthed up at Kosuke. "Disappointed you didn't think of it?" $bffheshe asks. "No, I'm disappointed it //worked//." An active green aura forces its way through the crowd. Eventually Bo Lo parts through the sea of people with Jin and Rin in chains behind him, their bodies bruised and beaten. Both of their eyes widen when they see you. <<page "Long time no see." "ch8-siblingtrial-bad2">>\

"Hey." You say, trying to smile at their sunken eyes and bruised limbs. "Long time no see. I'm here to get you out." "Bo, those bruises better not be from you." Kosuke threatens. "They're from training, fool. Training they direly needed!" Bo looks from Kosuke to you. "Hmph, I see now. You sought to trick me into bringing the prisoners to you. Well cast that thought of your mind, Laborers. I'm under strict orders to keep on eye on the deserters and ensure they make it to the Trials." He puffs his chest out. "Sectmaster Mao himself entrusted me with this task, and the Bo Clan //never// fails their missions." "Didn't you fail to catch me?" Kosuke asks. You rub your forehead. "Bo, I'm not going to let them miss the Trials, why in the world would I risk pissing off the Empire." "That is not my concern." Bo shoots back, his head held high, which is \ <<if (($bodytype is "Manlet") or ($bodytype is "Petite"))>>\ still even shorter than you. \ <<else>>\ is about up to your chest. \ <</if>>\ "Only Mao's word matters." "Okay, Bo." You reply, annoyed that you can't just punch him in front of the Imperial clerks. "Mao is soulbound to treat me like a Thunderfall Disciple. He physically //can't// tell you to risk letting me and my siblings fail the Trials. Now ask yourself, would be more impressed that you help him do what he's forced to do, or would he be more impressed if you helped him do what he //wants// to do?" Bo's brow scrunches in thought. "I don't get it." "Mao //wants// us to fail out of the Trials, especially if we don't even show up and the Imperial judges get rid of us for him." You spell out. "He wants us out of his hair. If you really think my siblings will abandon the Trials, then that's a good thing for you. Give them to me and you may be setting Mao free of a soulbinding oath." "It's genius..." Bo says, handing you the key to Jin and Rin's bindings. "Which is why it was //my// idea." <<page "Unlock the bands." "ch8-siblingtrial-bad3">>\

You take the key from Bo Lo and unlock your siblings Binder's Bands. "I can't believe you found us in time." Jin says, baffled, holding his sore wrists. "I can't believe you ''took so! damned! long!''" Rin screams in anger, kicking at your shin. You're forced to hold her back with one hand against her forehead. "Calm down you two, calm down." You insist. "I'm sorry I didn't get you out sooner, but you still have to do these Trials so listen up while I can still help." "No." Bo interrupts. "You said they'd abandon the Trials and free Sectmaster Mao from his oath." "Oh that." You reply to Bo. "I lied about that; he was already freed when I declared Clan Independence. You're dismissed." Bo Lo nods slowly, acknowledging a bad strategic move on his part. "This was a valuable lesson." "I'd hope so." Kosuke says. "I honestly cannot understand why you still trust us." "I overestimated your honor." Bo replies in his annoyed, nasally tone. He gives you a short bow. "May a thousand generations of failure curse your rotten house." "You too, Bo." You reply. "See you in the Trials." When Bo leaves you get a good look at your siblings who, though they are fuming mad, are in clear need of medical attention. <<var $jincombat - 1>>\ <<var $rincombat - 1>>\ <<var $usedwater false>>\ <<include "ch8-siblingtrial-pickhealing4sibs">>\

<<var $ruthless + 2>>\ <<var $honor - 1>>\ "GORO!" You roar, charging down the isle of the arena in a blaze of $auracolor chi. Contestants break out in screams from the unexpected attack. ''[Infamy Increased]'' <<var $infamy + 2>>\ Surrounded by his minions, Goro glances your way, bored, and snaps his fingers. "Yes, Patriarch!" Two men shout back, drawing their greatclubs and blocking your way. <<var $combatstat "power">>\ <<var $combatskill "athletics">>\ <<discount "Midorikatai" $stylerank>>\ <<discount "Wind" 2>>\ <<discount "Earth" 1>>\ <<discount "Fire" 1>>\ <<discount "Bovine" 1>>\ <<discount "Muscular" 1>>\ <<attack "Melee">>\ <<combatcheck 10>>\ <<if ($passcheck is true)>>\ Your \ <<if ($equippedweapon is "Handwraps")>>\ handwrapped fist \ <<elseif (($equippedweapon isnot "") and ($equippedweapon isnot "Yumi"))>>\ $equippedweapon \ <<else>>\ fist \ <</if>>\ breaks through both of their greatclubs, shattering them in a speeding burst of power. To everyone else, you may as well have been an arrow shot through their defenses. Before they can turn, you're already upon their employer. ''[Prestige Increased]'' <<var $prestige + 2>>\ Goro catches your punch with a nova-charged strike of his own, exploding chi in all directions when your two attacks collide. When the explosion passes, the stone benches surrounding you both have been destroyed. You're standing in a hole in the solid-stone arena seating, fist pressed against fist. Goro grins. "Such a poor temper. \ <<if (dig($metgoro, 2) gte 2)>>\ I never expected such a pretty face to hide such an ugly soul. \ <</if>>\ It is a disgrace to this Empire to have such banditry in broad display." <<choose "ch8-siblingtrial-confrontgoro2">> #"Call off Daichi. Now." <<var $honor + 1>>\ <<var $forexp + 1>>\ "Call off Daichi." You demand. "Now." "No." Goro replies, looking down his nose at you. "Your Sect is worth attacking. Take pride in earning my notice." "Call. Him. Off." Goro shakes his head. "Only one mad dog needs to be called off." He looks skyward. "Isn't that right?" #"Oh I'll show you real banditry!" <<var $ruthless + 1>>\ <<var $honor - 1>>\ "Oh I'll show you real banditry!" You shout, wrapping half your power behind your knee and shoving it up towards his chest. "Good." Goro replies. "I love when-" He gives up his comeback and focuses both hands on catching your knee with his both hands, rushing power into them. The two of you push more and more power into your attacks, exuding a burts of $auracolor chi clashing against flashes of purple Cursed energy. <<var $solexp + 1>>\ Midway through the struggle Goro smiles through the effort, looking over your head. "Is this the kind of behavior expected of Archons?" <<page "???" "ch8-siblingtrial-confrontgoro2">>\ <</choose>> <<else>>\ Your attack slams through both their greatclubs, breaking their weapons, but when you burst through the debris of their shattered iron your face is met with Callous Goro's fist. The bastard wasn't being a mob boss sending his minions to do the work. He was sending a distraction! ''[Prestige Lost]'' <<var $prestige - 2>>\ A nova of purple energy explodes in your face as you're blown back across the arena, crashing into a wall at the far end. Imperial Clerks are upon you before you even rise to your feet, angrily dragging you back to your seat before you can continue the fight. "Another outburst like that." One of the two dragging you condemns, "and I will personally see to a point deduction on your Imperial Score. Do I make myself clear?" Saying 'yes' is harder than any fight. <<page "Continue" "ch8-siblingtrial-confrontgoro3">>\ <</if>>\

A flash of golden light overtakes you and you're sitting back at your seat beside Kosuke. Across the arena, in the damaged seated section from your attack, Imperial Clerks bow in apology to Callous Goro. The Mystic Judge floats above him, staring at you, as he lets a condemning sentence escape from behind his mask. "Unstable behavior. I declare a point deduction for $titlename." ''[1 Trial Point Lost]'' <<var $score_misc - 1>>\ Goro sits back in the rubble, taking a fruit from his servant and looking exceedingly satisfied. <<page "Continue" "ch8-siblingtrial-confrontgoro3">>\

"Damn, that didn't go well." Kosuke says, munching on $bffhisher crunchy noodles. "You look mad." "I'm not mad." You hiss back, seething. "You're right, it's more like seething." "I'm not seeth-" <<include "ch8-siblingtrial-starting4">>\

A stronger Advancement Elixir would take too much time to brew, but a simple one doesn't need as many reagents or treatments. Luckily Jin and Rin are still weak enough that they can benefit from such low grades. You and Kosuke get to work turning the top of a nearby crate into an impromptu refinement lab. When you finish with your powderizing, blending, filtering, and imbuing the elixir with your chi, you hand the concoction to $helpedfren who gulps it down greedily. ''[1 Weak Soul Treasure Lost]'' <<var $weaksoultreasure - 1>>\ ''[<<cap $helpedfren>>'s Combat Prowess Increased]'' <<if ($helpedfren is "Rin")>>\ <<var $rincombat + 1>>\ <<else>>\ <<var $jincombat + 1>>\ <</if>>\ <<if ($background is "Herbalist")>>\ ''[Herbalist Background: Prowess Increased Further]'' <<if ($helpedfren is "Rin")>>\ <<var $rincombat + 1>>\ <<else>>\ <<var $jincombat + 1>>\ <</if>>\ <</if>>\ <<include "ch8-siblingtrial-helpingsibs">>\

After ten more minutes most of the contestants have already escaped from the valley, reaching the stonewall and vanishing in a golden Mystic light. Even Bo Lo passed through with two defeated opponents. He stole them when their attacker was busy. "I'm sure they're fine." Kosuke reassured you. "Rin owes me money. There's no way she could die." You nod, trying to let the joke lighten the mood. Where the //hells// are the Twins? "Hold on," Kosuke says, "what's that?" You both lean closer over your seats for a better look at the scrying ground. By the woods, three figures emerge. Rin, Jin, and a man you don't quite recognize. A Monkey Yokai in maroon and black gi. He drags \ <<if (($jincombat + $rincombat) gte 17)>>\ six unconscious contestants in white gi behind him, all bound with rope. Curious, Misuka the Performer's scrying orb flies towards the twins to get a better look. "What do we have here, an unlikely alliance between two Thunderfall Disciples and a disgraced Martial Artist of the South Road Mauraders?!" ''[Jin's Prowess + Rin's Prowess Check Passed]'' ''[Prestige Increased]'' <<var $prestige + 1>>\ The Monkey Yokai looks up to the scrying orb and shrugs. "They helped me in a fight." Kosuke's face twists in doubt and disgust as $bffheshe looks to you. "They can help in a fight?" You gently shake your head in disbelief, unable to close your mouth. "I...guess? I guess they can help in a fight?" Kosuke leans forward and tilts $bffhisher head. "Why don't they ever help //us// in a fight?" You lean back in your seat, squinting at the bizarre sight. "I'm as angry as I am proud." <<var $rinrabbit + 3>>\ <<var $jinrabbit + 3>>\ <<else>>\ three unconscious contestants in white gi behind him. Curious, Misuka the Performer's scrying orb flies towards the twins to get a better look. "Sixty, seventy, eighty-" Rin says, handing small pouches of shards to the man. Misuka's voice pipes up. "Are you //paying him// to win this Trial for you?" "UH NO!" Rin shouts, throwing a rock at the orb. Half the stadium gasps when the rock grows closer and closer to the scrying orb. The effect is spectacular; the rock appears to grow in size as its image is expanded into the size of a stadium floor, and due to the perspective of the scrying, it looks as though it's flying directly at you wherever you are. "Whew!" Misuka shouts. "That shot was worth it, folks! Hold onto your seats if we ever host a Rock Trial!" The scrying orb returns to Jin and Rin. "Do keep in mind, my little Rabbits, paying for entry will disqualify you. All of you." Jin, Rin, and the Monkey Yokai look to the scrying orb with fatigue and annoyance. They whisper, considering their options, and you're disappointed to see the Yokai man return their money in exchange for them kneeling to give him their bounty points. "Probably the cost they paid for protection." You sigh. Kosuke tsks. "It's the price they paid for getting caught." <</if>>\ The golden glow covers Jin, Rin, and their \ <<if (($jincombat + $rincombat) gte 16)>>\ unlikely ally. \ <<else>>\ protector. \ <</if>>\ All three disappear, giving \ <<var $rinrabbit + 2>>\ <<var $jinrabbit + 2>>\ <<if ((($jincombat + $rincombat) gte 16) and (($rinrabbit gte 4) and ($jinrabbit gte 4)))>>\ a satisfying passing score of \ <<if (($rinrabbit gte 5) and ($jinrabbit gte 5))>>\ five \ <<else>>\ four \ <</if>>\ points to both Jin and Rin. \ <<elseif (($rinrabbit gte 4) and ($jinrabbit gte 4))>>\ a disappointing end but a still impressive four points to both Jin and Rin. <<elseif ($jinrabbit gte 4)>>\ a disappointing end to their Trial and a passing four points to Jin. Rin doesn't fare so well, failing with three. <<else>>\ a disappointing end to their Trial and a failing score to both. <</if>>\ <<page "Meet back with the Twins" "ch8-siblingtrial-meetback">>\

You keep your eyes on the section of the arena floor reflecting the stonewall at the end of the valley, hoping to see your siblings make it through. <<page "Where are they...?" "ch8-siblingtrial-escapewoods">>\

"OH COME ON!" Jin screams, drenched with water. "Bahahahaha!" Rin cackles, her own hammock placed above his in the ship's lower level. You and Kosuke drop the buckets you both emptied to splash Jin awake and lift the buckets you prepared to splash Rin awake. "NO NO NO YOU PROMISED!" She screams pre-drenching. It doesn't save her. "Come on you two!" You shout out, discarding the second emptied bucket. "That's all the time you have for a bath. Get your gear and follow me to the Arena, you're Warriors of the <<cap $clan>> Clan and that means answering the Empire's call to the Trials." "And remember what I told you!" Kosuke adds. "Always cheat." They both murmur, drenched and miserable. Each reluctantly follows your orders and reaches for their gi. <<page "To the Tiger Arena" "ch8-siblingtrial-good2">>\

The four of you make your way to the crowded plaza outside the Tiger Arena, where you originally had to sign up for the Trials. "I can't believe I finally get my chance to become an Archon!" Jin chants with excitement. "Yeah!" Rin cheers, egging him on. "All you need to do is be better than ninety-nine out of one-hundred of the Martial Artists surrounding us, this very second!" A weak spiritual scan goes over you as Jin senses outward. He frowns. "Relax you two." You say reassuringly. "I've already been through the Tiger and Rabbit Trials, so listen to me and you'll do fine." <<include "ch8-siblingtrial-whataboutdragon">>\

"You were a fool to interrupt me." Goro says coldly, purple chi radiating off his body like a dark flame. "There is no one in the Trials stronger than I, yet for some reason you seek to learn that lesson personally. Again." He slides one foot forward and works his right hand into a claw. "Insolence cannot be tolerated. You must be removed." <<if ($ruthless gt 60)>>\ A wild grin spreads across your face. "Oh I've been waiting for this." <<cap $auracolor>> chi wraps across your body in an instant. "Let's go, you purple punching bag." <<elseif ($honor gt 60)>>\ "Are you sure you can hit me from the front?" You smirk at him triumphantly and press $auracolor chi around your body. "Last time you needed a cheapshot. Let's see how you handle a real fight." <<else>>\ You roll your eyes. "This is my Trial time, fool. //You// need to go. //Home.//" <</if>>\ A tremor of Aura Pressure presses through the air like a heavy wave crashing into you. Sakura's mercenaries drop to their knees and Goro's servants drop to their stomachs. Both you and Goro curl your lips, looking up to the source of the pressure atop the tower. Where Jack glares down at the two of you, forming a rock of Earth Chi in his hand. "Catch." <<page "Continue" "ch8-siblingtrial-rivals3">>\

You consider what else you could do to help them with the Trials starting so soon. <<choose "ch8-siblingtrial-helpingsibs">> #use-once use-if (dig($trialclues, 2) gte 1) Warn them about proper grip for their body type. "One thing that helped me to lift more weights in the Tiger Trial was how I positioned them to help with my particular build." "What does that mean for us?" Asks Jin, curiosity piqued. "It means you should focus on your back muscles by hooking your thumbs under the shoulder straps to even the load. Rin, you should focus on your leg muscles by keeping a lower stance, like when we go hiking." "But I hate leg day..." Rin mutters. "Everyone hates leg day." You, Kosuke, and Jin reply back. Jin and Kosuke start jynxing each other. <<var $tsib + 1>>\ #use-once use-if ($borep gte 52) Tell them to stick with Bo Lo after the Rabbit Trial's race. "I want you two...to work with Bo Lo." "No." Kosuke whispers out slowly. "No, say you're joking, right now." You shake your head and grimace. "You'll need help in the final half of the Rabbit Trial, and as far as the Empire's concerned we're all on the same side." Jin and Rin look like they're trying to swallow spoiled milk. "Say it." You force yourself to mutter. "Say we're all on the same side." <<if (dig($trialdeets, 1) is 2)>>\ ''[Event Check Passed: Thunderfall Allegiance]'' "We're all on..." Jin starts. "The same...side." Rin finishes, growing green in the face. "Good. Now tell that to Bo Lo when you meet up after the Tiger Trial, lean on his honorbound responsibilities if you have to." "Can't you just punch me in the face?" Jin asks. "Repeatedly? Until I die?" "You're my twin." Rin says, putting a hand on his shoulder. "That means you're my responsibility. I'll do it." Kosuke jumps on the two to stop them while you focus on the preparations. <<var $rsib + 1>>\ <<var $bohelp true>>\ <<else>>\ ''[Event Check Failed: No Thunderfall Allegiance]'' "But we're not on the same side." Jin says. "You declared independence from the Thunderfall Sect. They wouldn't shut up about it during that morning's beatings." "Heh." You snicker. "I did do that." <<if (dig($trialdeets, 1) gte 2)>>\ ''[Event Check Passed: Thunderfall "Allegiance"]'' "But don't worry about it. Mao and I have an understanding." Kosuke squints at you. "Did you abuse the so-" "I abused the soulbinding oath." Kosuke shakes $bffhisher head. "I don't even know how you're still alive." Your face contorts at $bffhimher. "Because I abused the soulbinding oath. I just said that. Were you not paying attention?" "Okay, okay." Jin says. "We'll talk to Bo Lo about a team up, but if this goes south I'm throwing him under the cart." <<var $rsib + 1>>\ <<var $bohelp true>>\ "Me first!" Rin chants. "Me! First! Me! First!" <<elseif ($borep gte 52)>>\ ''[Event Passed: Bo Lo Reputation Check Passed]'' "But don't worry about it. Bo's been with me and Kosuke on a lifechanging journey. He can't throw that bond away." Kosuke shakes $bffhisher head. "I am begging you to never imply I am bonded to Bo again. I mean it. //Begging// you." "But you're a beggar." Rin interrupts. "Begging doesn't mean anything extra when it comes from you, right?" While Kosuke glares daggers into Rin, Jin simply nods in somber acceptance. "I'll talk to Bo Lo about a team up, but if this goes south I'm throwing him under the cart." <<var $rsib + 1>>\ <<var $bohelp true>>\ "Me first!" Rin chants. "Me! First! Me! First!" <<else>>\ Rin groans. "So we lost our chance at getting help in the Trials all so you could feel like you're in charge?" "Thank you." Jin says, kowtowing. "You saved me from having to work with Bo Lo." Rin taps her chin with a finger. "When you put it that way, I agree." <</if>>\ <</if>>\ #use-once use-if ((($weaksoultreasure gte 1) and ($alchemyreagents gte 2)) and ($alchemy gte 1)) Refine an Advancement Elixir for Rin. [Requires Weak Soul Treasure, 2 Reagents] -> "ch8-siblingtrial-elixir" <<var $helpedfren "Rin">>\ #use-once use-if ((($weaksoultreasure gte 1) and ($alchemyreagents gte 2)) and ($alchemy gte 1)) Refine an Advancement Elixir for Jin. [Requires Weak Soul Treasure, 2 Reagents] -> "ch8-siblingtrial-elixir <<var $helpedfren "Jin">>\ #use-once use-if ($westwindritual isnot 100) Instruct them to use the Auspicious Western Seal you taught them. "The most important parts of these first two trials are tests of athleticism." You say to the twins. "Luckily the Auspicious Western Seal can help with those. You did pay attention to the notes I left you about the Auspicious Western Seal, right?" "No." Rin says. "We've been abducted for a month." "I left them //before// that." You counter. "Back in Thunderfall." <<if ($lore gte 3)>>\ ''[Lore 3 Check Passed]'' <<var $solexp + 2>>\ "Oh!" Jin says. "The hedgewitch homework!" Rin smacks her forehead. "That? Oh wow, I did actually figure that one out!" <<var $rsib + 1>>\ <<var $tsib + 1>>\ "Yeah." Jin adds. "We were going to retire and sell our services to woodsmen." "Then you wouldn't be retired." Kosuke says. "You'd be working for woodsmen...and retired from //what//? You two were unemployed bums." "Says the town beggar." Rin counters, highfiving Jin. You ignore the two-on-one fight as Kosuke tries to strangle her and they in turn try to strangle Kosuke. You're more focused on the real problems staring you in the face. <<else>>\ ''[Lore 3 Check Failed]'' "Yeah...about that." Jin says. "Your instructions were kind of..." "Really hard to get through." Rin finishes. "I fell asleep reading them." "She doesn't mean the expression." Jin adds. Rin leans forward, pointing to her eyes. "Not as a joke, I. Fell. Asleep." "Okay, great." You sigh. "So you didn't read through my instructions for basic mystic personal power, the kind that could have helped you in the most important test of your lives. Wonderful. Hopefully you learned a lesson from that." "Wow." Kosuke says in astonishment. "You sound like when your mom lectured you for not patching your winter coat before the blizzard." "Oh Ancestors!" You shout in horror, looking down at your hands. "I do sound like Mother!" "I didn't want to say it." Jin says. "You seemed upset enough already." Shaking off the disturbing feeling, your mind refocuses to what's important: <</if>>\ #Wish them well. [Trials Begin] -> "ch8-siblingtrial-start" <</choose>>

<<if ($heshe is "she")>>\ <<var $jackrep + 2>>\ <<else>>\ <<var $jackrep - 5>>\ <</if>>\ Even sixty feet up in the air, your spit still strikes true and splatters against the entire right side of his face. Damn, you're good. "ARE YOU KIDDING ME?!" Jack screams down at you, losing all poise and composure while wiping the snot-drool off his cheek. "Can you not wait a fucking second, you child?!" <<if ($honor lt 45)>>\ ''[Honor 45 Check Failed]'' <<if ($heshe is "she")>>\ <<var $jackrep + 2>>\ <<else>>\ <<var $jackrep - 3>>\ <</if>>\ "NO! YOU ABDUCTED MY SIBLINGS YOU LITTLE SHIT!" You scream back up at him, flipping him off with both hands. "Litte?" Sakura whispers to one of her mercenaries. \ <<if (($heshe is "he") or ($bodytype is "Muscular"))>>\ "They're both \ <<else>>\ "That man is \ <</if>>\ taller than my horse." <<if ($heshe is "she")>>\ <<var $jackrep + 2>>\ <<else>>\ <<var $jackrep - 3>>\ <</if>>\ <<if (($heshe is "he") or ($bodytype is "Muscular"))>>\ "Well he's \ <<else>>\ "And he's \ <</if>>\ ''DUMBER'' than your horse too!" You shout, interrupting her. "Now get down here, Jack, you talentless hack. I've got a growing list of asses to kick today and your //stupid// name's at the top!" "Fine!" Jack shouts back impatiently. "Fine. I wanted to be the bigger \ <<if ($heshe is "he")>>\ man, \ <<else>>\ person, \ <</if>>\ but you're right." All sense of the old Jack vanishes with his next words when his tone darkens. \ <<else>>\ ''[Honor Check Passed]'' "Don't pretend to be stoic or mysterious, Jack." You call back up, staying cool and collected where he failed. "You're a kidnapper and a thug who deserves a thousand more humiliations. I still haven't forgiven you for abducting my siblings, so I will bring //every last one of them// upon you." "Oooohhhhh." One of Sakura's mercenaries says from the crowd. Even Goro lifts a single eyebrow and looks to Jack for his response. Jack takes one long breath and cracks his neck, then finally speaks. "Thank you for this reminder; I was wrong to bother with words. These Trials are the ultimate proof of who is worthy. Only physical results matter." All sense of the old Jack vanishes with his next words when his tone darkens. "It's time I showed you my results." He takes a wide stance and forms a rock of Earth Chi in his hand. \ <</if>>\ "Catch." <<page "Continue" "ch8-siblingtrial-rivals3">>\

<<if ($val2 is 707)>>\ You squint at the scene and wonder what the Hells Mao is talking about. Sure, a six on one is good, but not against overwhelming Aura Pressure. Any second the Drake is going to retaliate, or so you think at first, but the Beast doesn't bite back. It \ <<else>>\ You damn near growl at Mao for taking this so lightly, until you return your gaze to Misuka's enormous scrying pool. You squint closer, seeing Bo Lo strike the beast again and again and again from below. The Drake doesn't bite him, it \ <</if>>\ doesn't claw, it doesn't tail slam, it doesn't grapple, and it doesn't breathe fire... Because it can't. Its arms are pinned down at an unnatural angle. Jin and Rin's feet are planted through the stone floor, and their grip stops its from claws from even backing up. The Beast is too large to turn in the tunnel, and Bo Lo's unimpressive height has him standing at perfect stance right under the creature's head. The Drake can't leave, can't advance, can't claw, and its attacker won't let it lower its jaws for a bite or a fire breath. You stare in awe as the \ <<if ($sirenhelp is true)>>\ six \ <<else>>\ three \ <</if>>\ of them kill the Drake, \ <<if ($sirenhelp is true)>>\ assulting its mind while \ <</if>>\ pummeling it well past the point that Bo Lo is exhausted. \ <<if ($sirenhelp is false)>>\ He even withdraws battle medicine for the grievously long fight. \ <</if>>\ When the Drake's aura finally shatters, Rin and Jin don't even let go. They stick to the strategy until the creature's skull is broken to pieces and it collapses in a pool of blood. Back at the arena, the silence of such an agonizingly slow death is met with tremendous uproar. ''[Prestige Increased]'' <<var $prestige + 3>>\ <<var $trialdeets + 10000000000>>\ <<var $rinrabbit + 1>>\ <<var $jinrabbit + 1>>\ "Wow!" Misuka the Performer shouts. "That was gruesome to watch, for many reasons! \ <<if ($sirenhelp is true)>>\ Six \ <<else>>\ Three \ <</if>>\ of my Rabbits with frighteningly subpar Aura Pressures have managed to score a point by killing the Drake! Folks, this is one for the ages! The Prey has become the Powerful, the Hunter has become the Hunted, and the Drake's beasttamers watching this know they! Have! Been! Fired!" The crowd cheers, for some reason. "This foxy hostess is proud to announce all other contestants have finished the race, so take a walk you \ <<if ($sirenhelp is true)>>\ six! \ <<else>>\ three! \ <</if>>\ You've earned it! And you're in last place anyway!" Jin gets up, arms stiff, and smiles to the scrying orbs while wiping blood off his face. Bo walks forward to say something, only to be shoved aside by Rin. "You take a walk, foxhag! I'm harvesting this fat prize until you come stop me!" You slap your face with your palm, mentally //feeling// the Judges dock her Inner Kingdom scores. Rin doesn't do any harvesting, of course. She makes Jin do it. Bo fights for his portion, and they do take an agonizing seven minutes cutting off pieces and nascent Soul \ <<if ($sirenhelp is true)>>\ Treasures. The Lost Sirens don't even stick around, running down the tunnel to pray for a break before the next phase. <<else>>\ Treasures. <</if>>\ There's no time limit for the race, so you and Kosuke are laughing back in the arena while <<if (dig($trialdeets, 1) gte 2)>>\ Mao groans in embarrassment. <<else>>\ everyone else groans. <</if>>\ ''[Jin Prowess Increase]'' ''[Rin Prowess Increase]'' ''[Bo Lo Prowess Increase]'' <<var $rincombat + 2>>\ <<var $jincombat + 2>>\ <<var $bocombat + 2>>\ To the untrained eye, they're being undisciplined. Knowing Jin and Rin's pension for stalling and tough love, you realize they're giving Bo a rest. Clever devils. <<page "Onto the Rabbit Trial Valley" "ch8-siblingtrial-starting6">>\

<<var $sirenhelp false>>\ <<var $val 0>>\ "Crispy noodles!" Shouts a food peddler traversing the arena stands when you return. "Get your crispy noodles!" "No snacks?" Kosuke asks, visibly harmed by the news. "It's a long story." You say, handing $bffhimher an overpriced box of crispy noodles while sitting next to $bffhisher saved seat. "A long, weird story." The floating cloud-fortress of the five Judges flies overhead, blocking the sun and offering refreshing shade to your seat. Down below you can see one-hundred unlucky souls kneeling in rows for the Heavenly Ascension Trials. <<if ($boon_lostsiren gte 1)>>\ To your surprise, three of the Lost Siren contestants have shown up in their revealing tribal furs. To have so many in the final seed means they were probably as late getting to the Trials as you were. <</if>>\ "What did I miss?" You ask, putting your satchel down under your seat. "Nothing." Kosuke replies, crunching on some noodles. "They've been getting in rows of ten for fifteen minutes. I asked, and it's normal. I'm starting to think things start quickly after you arrive only because you're late all the time." Kosuke stops when a tremor of Sacred Chi floods through the air. You look up to see the Sacred Judge performing the same showmanship he did for your trial, lifting one-hundred weight sets from under the arena flooring at once. "Or I have good timing." You say, stealing \ <<if ($bffromance is 0)>>\ the noodle box \ <<else>>\ some noodles out of $bffhisher box \ <</if>>\ and cheering down for your favorite sibling. <<choose "ch8-siblingtrial-starting">> #"GO JIN!!" "GO JIN!!" You shout just before the sound barrier goes up. <<var $jincombat + 1>>\ #"GO RIN!!" <<var $rincombat + 1>>\ "GO RIN!!" You shout just before the sound barrier goes up. #I don't play favorites. <</choose>>

<<var $rinscore + $rinrabbit>>\ <<var $jinscore + $jinrabbit>>\ You and Kosuke leave the vacating arena and meet back with the twins at the city gate. It takes another thirty minutes for them to reach you, finishing their long march from the valley. Both run up to hug you, throwing you off guard. <<if ($jinscore gte 8)>>\ "Can you believe it?" Jin asks. \ <<if ($jinscore is 8)>>\ "Eight \ <<else>>\ "Nine \ <</if>>\ whole points! So far, I'm Archon material! Me!" "I knew you had it in you." You reply. "I didn't." Says Rin. \ <<if ($rinscore gte 8)>>\ "But I knew ''//I//'' had it in me. I think we all recognize my carefree attitude is the only thing keeping either of you out of the shadow of my greatness." "Sure." You reply dismissively. "So how about we celebrate then? \ <<else>>\ "Especially since I'm //not//. At this rate I'll fail out!" "Don't worry too much." You assure her. "I'm sure you'll do better in the next Trial." "Huh?" Rin asks, pulling away. "What are you talking about? I'm relieved! These Trials are horrible, I don't want to keep doing them!" \ You rub your forehead and chuckle. "Right, right. Well how about a celebration anyway? \ <</if>>\ <<else>>\ "You didn't tell me how awful these Trials are!" Jin shouts into your gi. "My whole body feels like it's on fire and everyone there had killing intent! I couldn't stop sweating!" Damn, you're not used to Jin admitting to his faults. Normally he just focuses on Rin's faults. <<if ($rinscore gte 8)>>\ Unfortunately for him, there aren't any this time. "Maybe you would have done better if you followed my lead." Rin snickers. "The secret is to just picture all those murderous strong men want to marry you. That's how I keep cool." "That would make it so much worse." Jin says. "I'm with Jin on this one." You add. "Still, let's celebrate you both making it out alive. \ <<else>>\ Especially since Rin did just as poorly. "Eh." She says, taking it much better. "Strong men are supposed to be strong. Who would I marry if all the men around me were weak?" Jin loses all sense of his panic and replaces it with a deadpan stare. Slowly, he looks back to you. "Marry her to someone awful." "<<cap $heshe>> can't marry me off, idiot, only Father can." Jin smiles. "We're Warrior Caste now, and $heshe's our $patriarch." "Oh by the Hells." Rin replies, growing pale before looking to you, pleading. "Have mercy." "Relax, you two." Kosuke says. "Nobody's getting \ <<if (($bffheshe neq $heshe) and ($bffromance gte 1))>>\ married." With a quick glance $bffheshe looks back to you. "Though I am free tomorrow if you're interested." <<else>>\ married...right?" <</if>>\ "Not today." You reply, ruffling Rin and Jin's hair. "Come on, let's celebrate you both making it out of the Trial instead. \ <</if>>\ <</if>>\ I was thinking of getting you both..." <<var $mistcost 100>>\ <<if (dig($mettiger, 4) is 1)>>\ <<var $mistcost 0>>\ <</if>>\ <<choose "hub-entertainment-district">> #use-if ((($shards + ($silver / 10)) + ($gold * 10)) gte 160) Proper Gear. [160 Shards] "My very own enchanted gear?" Jin asks with glee, jumping up and down in the empowered gi. <<costcalc 160>>\ "It's the least I could do." You reply, especially since it's only as powerful as the Thunderfall Gi and White Belt you received when you were their age. Still, it should provide defenses and chi reserves. "I'll say!" Announces Rin, leaving a changing room in her sixth choice of empowered outfit. Four more are waiting on the rack. "Only letting me pick one is the highest of sins!" "Thank $himher." Jin says, throwing a heavy hat rack at Rin. "Thank you!" Rin whisper-shouts. "I'm having lots of fun." <<var $brorep + 5>>\ <<var $sisrep + 5>>\ <<var $jincombat + 1>>\ <<var $rincombat + 1>>\ <<var $metrin + 10>>\ <<var $metjin + 10>>\ ''[Rin Prowess Increased]'' ''[Jin Prowess Increased]'' <<page "Return to the city" "hub-entertainment-district">>\ #use-if ((($shards + ($silver / 10)) + ($gold * 10)) gte $mistcost) A day in the Mist Chambers. [$mistcost Shards] You take the two to the docks and remove their blindfolds in front of the massive pearly spheres of Mystic Lands ingenuinty. "Congratulations!" You cheer as Kosuke opens the door to the enhanced-gravity, time accelerating Mist Chamber. "I got you the perfect training to help in the next Trial!" <<if (dig($mettiger, 4) is 1)>>\ ''[Special Event: Brass Tiger Covers Your Cost]'' <<else>>\ <<costcalc 100>>\ <</if>>\ "Oh." Jin says, rubbing his bruises. "Uh, cool. Should we-" "GET HER!" You scream at Jin when Rin tries to leap off the dock. "Let me go! I don't want to train! I want to nap!" Rin pleads, dragged back to the training chamber. "I'm a person! I have rights!" "You sure do, my cherished little sister." You say reassuringly, patting her on the shoulder. "You sure do." You use that same hand to push her shoulder through the doorway and seal it shut. ''[Rin Prowess Increased]'' ''[Jin Prowess Increased]'' <<var $rincombat + 1>>\ <<var $jincombat + 1>>\ <<var $sisrep - 5>>\ <<var $brorep - 2>>\ "Have fun!" Kosuke laughs from back on the docks, then turns to you. "Heavens be damned, I am glad I'm not Warrior Caste. Lunch?" "Ancestors yes, I'm starving. How are you still hungry though? You ate half a bucket of crunchy noodles." "Yeah, only half." Kosuke replies as if you're the one being ridiculous. <<page "Return to the city" "hub-entertainment-district">>\ #show-if ($background is "Herbalist") use-if ((($shards + ($silver / 10)) + ($gold * 10)) gte 30) Rebalancing Elixirs [30 Shards, Requires Herbalist] "How would these help?" Rin asks, shaking the concoction at the rental refiner's station inside an herbal store. <<costcalc 30>>\ "No." Jin says, looking over your formula. "$name's right, these should fix the cracks in our Cores. Like covering a chipped plate in glue." "Not so gross." You reply, handing them both their elixir. "But essentially yes. I'd thought of these to fix my flaws, but it was long after Big Chu helped me patch them up over months. I didn't need them, but after what I sense in your auras, it's clear you do." "Why doesn't everyone use these then?" Rin asks, skeptical of the red liquid. "Because everyone else had real training." You reply, tossing Kosuke $bffhisher copy. "Awww, I get to join the fun?" Kosuke says, catching it with glee. You cast $bffhimher a doubtful stare. "You need it more than they do." Kosuke shrugs. "Bottoms up." ''[Rin Prowess Increased]'' ''[Jin Prowess Increased]'' <<var $rincombat + 1>>\ <<var $jincombat + 1>>\ ''[Kosuke Prowess Increased]'' <<var $kosukecombat + 1>>\ They all spend the next three hours in the bathroom. You used too much mugwort. <<page "Return to the city" "hub-entertainment-district">>\ #use-if ((($shards + ($silver / 10)) + ($gold * 10)) gte 10) Lunch. [10 Shards] "Mmm." Jin says, chomping on the glazed meat. "What did you say was on this pork?" <<costcalc 10>>\ <<var $sisrep + 3>>\ <<var $brorep + 5>>\ The waitress bows again, answering his eighth question about marinades or spices. "A pineapple glaze mixed with our savory smoke sauce." "I'm in love." Jin says to the food. "I'm married." The waitress replies hastily. Rin falls off her chair laughing, spilling her drink all over the floor. <<page "Return to the city" "hub-entertainment-district">>\ #NOTHING. [0 Shards] <<var $sisrep - 5>>\ <<var $brorep - 5>>\ "I'll get you...NOTHING!" You shout, relishing the look of disappointment on their faces. Rin kicks your shin before they both run off. <<page "Return to the city" "hub-entertainment-district">>\ <</choose>>

You look through your satchel to see what you could give to your siblings to get them back into shape in under an hour. \ <<choose "ch8-siblingtrial-pickhealing4sibs">> #use-once use-if (($healingelixir gte 1) and ($usedwater is false)) Give a healing elixir to Jin. [Requires Healing Elixir] <<var $jincombat + 1>>\ <<var $healingelixir - 1>>\ "Thanks the Ancestors." Jin says, dissolving the healing elixir in a waterskin and chugging it. "You have no idea how bad my ankle has been since the tree climbing training." "More like the getting-thrown-out-of-a-tree training." Rin says, ever one with words. #use-once use-if (($healingelixir gte 1) and ($usedwater is false)) Give a healing elixir to Rin. [Requires Healing Elxiir] <<var $rincombat + 1>>\ <<var $healingelixir - 1>>\ "Thanks!" Rin says, swallowing the large pill without any water or struggle. "But you're still not off the hook!" "Why didn't that heal your ear piercings?" Jin asks. "I...don't know." Rin says, looking to Kosuke. "Why didn't it?" "Don't ask me." Kosuke says, looking to you. You ignore all three, busy with what's important. #use-once use-if (($replenisherpill gte 1) and ($usedwater is false)) Give a chi replenisher to Jin. [Requires Replenisher Pill] <<var $jincombat + 1>>\ <<var $replenisherpill - 1>>\ Jin takes the chi replenisher pill and nods. "I feel better already, I just wish these things could make up for lost sleep." "I'd need it more." Rin comments. "You snore." "//You// snore!" Jin shouts back. #use-once use-if (($replenisherpill gte 1) and ($usedwater is false)) Give a chi replenisher to Rin. [Requires Replenisher Pill] <<var $rincombat + 1>>\ <<var $replenisherpill - 1>>\ Rin takes the chi replenisher pill and releases soft fumes of white-grey chifire around her body. "Ancestors, finally some good cheese." "Chi." Jin corrects. "Yeah but it's plural so it's cheese." Rin says. "There's so much wrong with that." Kosuke mutters, eating some cheese. #Stop healing them and talk. You catch up with the twins after that, telling them about your travel to Ebikowa, Harehama, and Nanhou. They in turn tell you about their travels with the Thunderfall Sect. Largely, it was an ongoing series of beatings. <<include "hub-residential-siblingtalk">> "And having a short lifespan?" Jin asks. "These Trials are going to kill us." <<var $val 8818>>\ <<page "Not if I can help it." "ch8-siblingtrial-whataboutdragon">>\ <</choose>>

"Get him!" Sakura shrieks, and her twenty minions drop to the ground around you. "Hold." Commands a voice from further down the road. An intense pressure bears down on your spirit with waves of chi. Cursed Chi. "Do not make a scene in my presence." Calls Callous Goro. "It's pitiful to find so many dregs who don't know their place." He approaches down the street with a procession of underlings behind him. His servants place carpets down in front of his path so his feet never touch the road. The purple-skinned regal Oni stops forty feet away and looks Sakura up and down. "Predictable. I should have known it was one of the Top Five causing trouble when I sensed too many lackeys in one location. You're being sloppy, Number Five." "That's number six soon if you stop me from getting rid of Jack." She responds. "And you'll be number //two// when $heshe finishes the Dragon Trial." She leans forward with a haughty huff. "A fitting title." "No one is a threat to my supremacy." Goro scowls. "A fact you'd do well to remember. Not even the Crusher scion can-" He pauses when he sees you, his calm demeanor dropping immediately for one of impatient annoyance. "Thousand Hells, woman, that's not even the right Thunderfaller. You've done worse than waste your time, you've wasted //my// time. Crusher Jack isn't here." "Yes, he is." Says a voice from atop a nearby tower. All eyes turn upward where the mid-day sun obscures and frames the large, powerful figure of Crusher Jack. Jack grins, staring down at you all from on-high. "Jailtime's over, little ants. Rejoice, you can play in the big leagues again." <<choose "ch8-siblingtrial-rivals3">> #"You're late." <<var $honor + 1>>\ "You're late." You call up to Crusher Jack. He looks down his nose at you from atop the seven-story tower. "Look who's talking. I was worried you were ashamed to show your face." "For what?" You ask up to him. "Abandoning my Sect for a year? Abandoning our Mountain Hazard allies after that? Failing to stop the Sunbringers in Ebikowa? My road has been paved with victories, Jack. It's yours that's filled with shame." Jack chuckles and places his fingertips on his forehead. "Oh <<cap $name>>. When did you become obsessed with unimportant events? Nothing matters before the Trials. Nothing but the training results. This, right here, //this// is the start of our real lives, and everything I've done has put me in the perfect starting position." "I don't care about whatever you're talking about." You call back. "You still haven't paid for taking my family." "Enough of this." Goro says calmly, a contrast to his spirit unleashing a ten-foot aura of purple flames. "I will not be ignored." "That's right!" Sakura calls out. "Nobody-" "Shut it." Jack calls, taking on a wide stance and forming a rock of Earth Chi in his hand. "This is between me and the Laborer." "What are you doing?" Sakura demands. "Lower your Aura Pressure immediately. I order you!" Jack grins while looking down at her. "Catch." <<page "Continue" "ch8-siblingtrial-rivals3">>\ #"Run away while you can, Jack, and leave the danger to a real Martial Artist. Just like you did in Ebikowa." <<var $ruthless + 1>>\ "Run away while you can, Jack." You call up with scathing condescension. "Leave the danger to a //real// Martial Artist. Just like you did in Ebikowa." <<if (dig($mettaio, 1) gte 6)>>\ <<var $taiorep + 3>>\ //A scathing yet accurate accounting of events.// Whispers Taio the Scholar inside your mind. //A fair insult. I approve.// <</if>>\ <<if ($persuasion gte 2)>>\ ''[Persuasion 2 Check Passed]'' <<var $jackrep + 2>>\ Jack takes a second to respond, looking down on you. "You always were better with words. Luckily these aren't the Heavenly Debate Trials." <<else>>\ ''[Persuasion 2 Check Failed]'' <<var $jackrep - 2>>\ Jack cracks his neck and slowly shifts his gaze from Goro to you. "You talk too much." <</if>>\ "You both talk too much." Goro says. "Descend and face me, Crusher." "What?!" Sakura says. "No, face //me//! I'm the one who set up this fight in the first place! Do you know how much work it took to buy every snack in an eight-block radius with minutes notice?" Jack blinks. "I...don't know what you're talking about." "She thinks I'm you." You call up. Jack shakes his head. "I'm surrounded by idiots. Let's cut to the chase." He takes a wide stance and forms a rock of Earth Chi in his hand. "Catch." <<page "Continue" "ch8-siblingtrial-rivals3">>\ #"I don't have time for this, the three of you deserve each other." [Walk past them] <<var $ruthless - 1>>\ "I don't have time for this," you call out to everyone present, "the three of you are clowns if you think I care about your drama. If you want a fight so badly, keep it among yourselves. Ancestors know you deserve each other." "//Excuse me?//" Nakamoto Sakura screeches, taking a step back with her mouth agape. "You do not talk to me like that! Nobody talks to me like that!" "Silence." Goro says, purple chi radiating around his body like a dark flame. "You're distracting me from a pest that seeks a swift death." "A swift death?!" Sakura shouts hysterically. "That's exactly what you are courting, fool!" "Both of you shut up." Jack demands. "Silence." Goro replies calmly. "You fucking silence!" Jack shouts down. "Do ''not'' tell me what to do!" Sakura screams. You almost stumble on your way out from rolling your eyes mid-stride. The three of them can be heard trash talking each other for two more blocks before you get away from their monologues. At one point dozens of bystanders flee the road when Aura Pressures flare and a possible fight breaks out, but you just keep going. <<if (dig($mettiger, 4) is 1)>>\ You wish Brass Tiger were here. At least then it would have been entertaining. <</if>>\ ''[Special Event: Walked Away]'' ''[Sacred Lands Score Increased]'' <<var $score_sacred + 2>>\ <<page "Continue" "ch8-siblingtrial-leaverivals">>\ #[Spit at Sakura] <<var $eventfun + 300000000000>>\ <<var $honor - 1>>\ "Hawk tuah!" You spit a loogie clear across the divide between you and the twenty mercenary lackeys surrounding Nakamoto Sakura. Your spit flies past the crowd, over the shoulder of two senior mercenaries, and just over the hair of a shorter girl. <<var $combatstat "agility">>\ <<discount "Wind" 2>>\ <<discount "Storm" 1>>\ <<discount "Light" 2>>\ <<discount "Aoyusumu" $stylerank>>\ <<discount "Kiihakai" 2>>\ <<discount "Midorikatai" 1>>\ <<combatcheck 7>>\ <<if ($passcheck is true)>>\ //''*plap*''// With pinpoint precision your loogie hits Nakamoto Sakura's temple and splatters across the side of her head. Plenty gets stuck in her hair and some even gets into her ear. <<if (dig($mettaio, 1) gte 6)>>\ <<var $taiorep + 3>>\ //Heh.// Says Taio the Bandit inside your mind. //Splendid.// Says Taio the Scholar beside him. <</if>>\ ''[Prestige Increased]'' <<var $prestige + 1>>\ <<var $jackrep + 3>>\ <<if (($heshe is "she") and ($jackromance gte 1))>>\ <<var $jackromance + 1>>\ <</if>>\ Sakura freezes, a chill running down her spine. She reaches a hand up to her temple and recoils when she touches the gooey substance, then looks over to you, shock and horror upon her face. Then she screams. A bloodcurdling, chilling scream, yet its message is a clear command to those around her; each word a dagger aimed at your heart. ''//"KILL <<capall $himher>>!"//'' <<else>>\ Sakura turns just in time to see your spit at eye-level. She flinches back in disgust, eyes growing wide, and she cringes just as the spittle evaporates in the air in front of her. <<if (($perception + $insight) gte 5)>>\ ''[Perception + Insight 5 Check Passed]'' <<var $eventfun + 100000000000>>\ You swear your eyes are playing tricks on you, because it almost looked like she flared her aura for a second to destroy your spit. That's not unusual, not at all. What is unusual is the color. If what you just saw is correct, the fifth strongest Martial Artist out of ten thousand competitors secretly has a Pure White aura. No Style. No Elements. No anything. //What in the world...?// <<else>>\ ''[Perception + Insight 5 Check Passed]'' Damn it, she must have used some sort of Technique to destroy it. <</if>>\ "Ugh, Ancestors!" She blurts out, covering her mouth. Her face grows pale. "A peasant's bodily fluids almost touched my face!" "Hey!" You blurt back, <<if (dig($eventfun, 2) is 4)>>\ distracted. \ <<else>>\ insulted. \ <</if>>\ "I'm Warrior Caste!" "Oh Hells I'm going to be sick! I'm going to-HUK, URRRGH-" She leans over, panting and dry heaving. "Men, kill $himher. Kill $himher //now!//" \ <</if>>\ The twenty mercenaries around her draw their weapons and leap from the rooftops. A tremor of Aura Pressure presses through the air like a heavy wave crashing onto your shoulders. That same wave hits her minions when they land; each immediately buckles their knees, collapsing to the ground in fear. You look up to the source of the effect, to the top of the tower where Jack glares down at your display. "Pathetic." He calls down, forming a rock of Earth Chi in his hand. "Catch." <<page "Continue" "ch8-siblingtrial-rivals3">>\ #[Spit at Goro] <<var $honor - 1>>\ <<var $eventfun + 200000000000>>\ Callous Goro glares up at Jack, his eyes unflinching even when staring at the sun behind his target. "Crusher Jack." He calls out with neither tone or emphasis betraying his emotions. "Bold of you to-" "Hawk tuah!" You spit a thick loogie at Goro before he breaks into monologue. You owe him at least that much for sucker punching you when you arrived. Your spittle launches across the street with the speed and accuracy of a Martial Artist, your throat and cheek muscles enhanced just as much as your limbs. The projectile shoots across the street right at Goro's face. "NOOOOO!!" Shouts a servant, dropping a rolled carpet to leap in the way of your attack. Your spit strikes him in the chest hard enough to rock his unpowered body backward by two feet. The man collapses into the stone ground of the road, hard, and holds both hands over his heart. Several other servants behind Goro gasp and rush to his aid. "Ancestors, someone get a healer!" Shouts one woman. "Don't you die on me!" Shouts another, checking for a pulse. "He was only a week from retirement!" Cries a third. The man painfully turns over and raises a hand towards Callous Goro. "Master, I...I give my life...for the Callous Clan." With those words uttered, his eyes close and his hand drops to the ground. <<if (dig($mettaio, 1) gte 6)>>\ <<var $taiorep + 3>>\ //That's certainly a new way to kill a man.// Says Taio the Scholar inside your mind. //For an amateur like you, maybe.// Says Taio the Bandit beside him. //Ugh.// Replies the Scholar. <</if>>\ Goro's eyes grow half-lidded. He exhales through his nose in annoyance and steps over the crowd of crying servants. For the first time since his arrival, he gives you his full attention. <<page "Continue" "ch8-siblingtrial-gorospit">>\ #[Spit at Jack] <<var $honor - 1>>\ <<var $eventfun + 100000000000>>\ Jack looks down his nose at Goro and Sakura below. "I thought you two would have more common sense than to risk my attention, but it's too late for you. Leave whatever tribute you brought for me and leave, or die." "Ah!" Sakura twists her face in fury. "How dare you-Who gave you the-Nobody speaks to me like that! I am a Nakamoto!" Goro gives less of a reaction. He stares up at Jack, bored, and blazes a ten-foot-wide aura of Cursed Chi around his body. "Come closer." Jack chuckles and tilts his head back, placing his hand on his forehead. "I can't believe what I'm hearing. You actually came for a fight? I knew you were stupid enough to pretend to be strong before I showed up, but this is a new level. You're all just-" "Hawk tuah!" You interrupt. <<page "''//*plap*//''" "ch8-siblingtrial-jackspit">>\ <</choose>>

While still looking down at you all from atop his tower, Jack throws the rock upward into the air. It soars, and soars, and soars, flying high through the clouds overhead. Down on the street, you and Goro's procession search for any reaction. Up on the rooftops, Sakura breaks concentration first. "...That did nothing." She says. "Why was I ever worried about you?" Goro tsks. "She may be right. Tell me, Crusher Jack, were you only using some ritual method to appear strong? Your Aura Pressure is rapidly dwindling now that you've tried using a Technique. The threads of your facade come unwound." Jack smiles. <<page "Continue" "ch8-siblingtrial-rivals4">>\

<<if ($insight gte 3)>>\ ''[Insight 3 Check Passed]'' <<var $solexp + 2>>\ <<var $jackrep + 2>>\ <<var $val 11111>>\ "EVERYONE GET BACK!" You scream, turning heel and sprinting down the street. You grab as many people as you can hold with both arms and dash block after block, street after street, before it hits. "Too late!" Jack shouts from far behind, burning with Fire Chi atop the tower. "It's here!" \ <<else>>\ ''[Insight 3 Check Failed]'' "What the Hell is this?" You ask Jack, watching his pitiful display of throwing a rock pretty high. "I expected...more." Jack smiles down on you from seven stories up, a burning sheen in his eyes. "Then have it." Your eyes widen when you realize \ <</if>>\ Goro was wrong. Jack's Aura Pressure is not dwindling, it's being spent. The recipient of so much Earth and Fire Chi reveals itself when the massive object falls back down to break through the clouds. Jack never spiritually released the rock he threw. Rather, he's been pumping more and more Earth and Fire Chi into it with every second since it's passed the clouds. What comes down is no thrown projectile, but an acre-wide apocalypse. A meteor. Save for you and Goro, everyone on the street breaks out into screams. <<page "Brace yourself!" "ch8-siblingtrial-rivals5">>\

"My, my, my." Taunts a \ <<if ($heshe is "he")>>\ mature \ <</if>>\ woman's echoing voice from all directions. "Such a dangerous lack of respect in this year's prospects. It leaves me worried for the future." Ice Chi illuminates the sky like a pale blue sun. Jack's meteor freezes in place high in the sky. The sound of a sword being drawn is all you hear until the temperature drops unbearably low and the woman's voice rings out. ''//"Unravel."//'' Ice Chi pulses around the meteor in five swift bursts that drain the chi from the object, shrinking it swiftly until it no longer exists. In mere seconds, it's as if nothing had happened at all. Goro and Sakura slowly descend to one knee, bowing to a presence down the road behind you. Turning around reveals a procession of six figures. Five wear white porcelain masks over their faces and intricate robes of green, purple, scarlet, gold, or cerulean. All of their eyes are hidden behind a shining brilliant light showing through the eyeholes of their masks; the same eyes seen in most spirits. Judges. The sixth figure stands in front, with a shining Bladed Ice aura active over her black outfit and snowsteel armor. Her mask is black metal rather than porcelain, but her eyes glow the same as the Judges. <<if ($portraitpics is true)>>\ <<image "https://www.auraclash.com/assets/images/archon-eldra.jpg">>\ <</if>>\ You stare into the face of an Archon. <<choose "ch8-siblingtrial-rivals6">> #Kneel. You drop to your knee, the same as Goro and \ <<if ($val is 11111)>>\ Sakura, and let down the civilians you'd caught to save. <<var $score_sacred + 2>>\ ''[Prestige Increased]'' <<var $prestige + 1>>\ <<else>>\ Sakura. <</if>>\ <<var $honor + 2>>\ <<var $ruthless - 1>>\ The six walk by you. \ #"I had it handled." "I had it handled." You \ <<if ($val is 11111)>>\ say, putting down the civilians you'd caught to save. <<var $score_sacred + 2>>\ "On your small scale," the woman says, turning her Archon Mask to you, "it seems you did. An admirable display of bravery. Well done." ''[Prestige Increased]'' <<var $prestige + 1>>\ <<if ($infamy gte 1)>>\ ''[Infamy Decreased]'' <<var $infamy - 2>>\ <<if ($infamy lt 0)>>\ <<var $infamy 0>>\ <</if>>\ <</if>>\ She gives you a gentle pat on the shoulder as she walks by and addresses the others. \ <<else>>\ say, insulted by the lost opportunity. "I wish to believe that." The Archon says, walking past you. \ <</if>>\ #"About time! Put that man back in jail!" "About time!" You shout at the Archon. "Put that man back in jail!" "Do not presume to give orders to your betters, peasant!" Shouts the Bladed Judge. <<var $score_bladed - 2>>\ <<var $honor - 2>>\ <<var $ruthless + 1>>\ <<var $score_wild + 1>>\ The Archon holds up her hand and walks past you. \ <</choose>>

"We are all realistic enough to know this attack would never have been allowed to land." Says the echoing woman's voice from behind the mask of an Archon, distorted into two voices talking at once. "Between the guard, the Judges, the contestants present, and the many Sectmasters in the city, this can be explained away as reckless boasting. However, threatening mass destruction of the city comes with a heavy cost all the same. Who is to blame here?" You point to Jack, Jack points to Goro, Sakura points to you, and Goro stares at all of you in disdain. Tension fills the air as the Archon's unflinching gaze analyzes each of you in turn, but then an odd sense of comradery washes over you when the tie is broken: Sakura's twenty mercenaries point to Jack. <<if ($ruthless gt 60)>>\ You almost forgot weak people get a say in things. <<else>>\ You've never been more thankful to have so many enemies present. <</if>>\ "Disappointing." Says the Archon. "The correct answer is you, boy." To your surprise, she points over your shoulder at Callous Goro. <<page "Continue" "ch8-siblingtrial-rivals7">>\

"Callous Goro." Says the Archon's echoing voice. "You are the only one of the estimated Top Five to finish the Dragon Trial and secure your ranking, are you not? First place I believe, until the rest finish their first three Trials. That means you are the only one who does not need to be here." Goro nods silently, eyes staring straight ahead at the Archon. "You came without invite, seeking to fight another contestant." The masked woman continues. "Why? These Trials are to prove who is worthy of enforcing the peace throughout our empire. With your strength, your goal should been to contain the threat to public safety that a fight between Nakamoto Sakura and $fullname would cause. Instead, you sought to fight one or both of them yourself. You're capable of more than the mindset of a bandit, I hope." Callous Goro clenches his teeth, closing his eyes with his face tightened. "I...apologize for my recklessness." The Archon takes three steps forward and tsks. "Cursed Judge, find a mission appropriate to the Callous Armada, that they may be put to use for the people as compensation. Until then you are dismissed." "Yes, Honored Archon." Reply both Goro and the Judge in purple robes and porcelain mask. Shadows appear beneath the Judge's feet and he melds through, disappearing into the road. His Aura Pressure vanishes just as quickly. Goro instead stands, looking once to Jack as he departs down the road with his procession of servants. "Are we done here?" Jack asks when Goro leaves, rising to his own feet. "Hardly." Replies the Archon. "You're the fourth set of children I've had to stop this morning. Crusher Jack, we both know you would not have let the meteor land, but perception matters to the local authorities. Report to wall-building duty with the Wild Judge as tribute to Magistrate Fuyu." Jack glowers. "Lady, I have important business with this Labor-" <<page "Continue" "ch8-siblingtrial-rivals8">>\

The man in green robes and porcelain mask flashes through the air in an instant. He grabs Jack by the face, crossing the distance in a single leap. The concussive force of the Judge's grip sends a shockwave that flutters your clothes and bowls half of Sakura's mercenaries over... Yet Jack does not move. "Let go of me." He growls into the Judge's porcelain mask. "Now." "Good Heavens." Replies the Archon, crossing her arms in disappointment. "It pains me to see no sense of self-preservation in such promising candidates. You're not proving strength, child. Not to me. I prefer a soft hand, but I see now that you would never accept one. Obey my order or be branded a dissident." Her thumb clicks her blade's hilt away from its sheath by a half-inch. Icy mist rolls out of her sword that freezes the road, the buildings, and the air itself. "It falls within my duty to execute dissidents." Jack is silent as the Wild Judge bends his knees and surrounds his body with green energy to attempt a second leap. Between the gloved fingers of the green-robed Judge, you see Jack's eyes locked on yours. "They can't stall us forever." He says directly to you, ignoring the overbearing sensation of an Archon's full might on display. "We //will// settle this on the battlefield." He's gone in a flash the very next second, ripped three-hundred feet into the air by the Wild Judge and jettisoned towards the Residential District. <<page "Continue" "ch8-siblingtrial-rivals9">>\

A silence fails to fall over the street. What would have otherwise been an ominous moment is replaced with Nakamoto Sakura frantically approaching the Archon. "Honored Archon, how wise of you to remove these troublemakers!" She shouts, too loudly and too quickly. "Such a fair and honorable set of edicts, truly the will of the Archons is that of justice! Speaking of justice, I believe I have some paperwork I need to do at the Magistrate's. I'd hate to distract you further, your Judgefulness, so I will be on my way as soon-" "Four percent." Interrupts the Archon. "Pardon?" Sakura asks sweetly. "You started this all by seeking out the <<cap $clan>> $patriarch outside the Trials. I charge you with a four percent tax on the Nakamoto Clan's coffers, donated to Nanhou for the potential devastation your childish antics would have caused had I not intervened." Sakura stares ahead, gaze absent, head tilted. "But...That's hundreds of thousands of silver..." "How wonderful to hear." The Archon replies. "Remember this cost the next time you provoke a destructive fight within city limits. Bladed Judge, take her directly to the Magistrate to ensure my edict is enacted immediately." "Of course, Honored Archon." Says the porcelain-masked man in scarlet robes. He draws a jian from his side and slices the air, forming a hole of distorted space that reveals a lavish chamber. "Contestant Nakamoto Sakura, enter. Now." Sakura looks to her mercenaries for answers but they're all unconscious from the weight of the Archon's aura. Dejected, she hangs her own head and enters through the portal, mumbling how her Father is going to kill her. You're left standing in the middle of the street with two dozen unconscious low-aura mercenaries, two Judges of the Heavenly Ascension Trials, and an Archon who now turns her gaze on you. "$titlename." She says through her echoing voice. "You are dismissed. I hope my involvement has not given you a poor impression of the city's guard. They are skilled, honorable, and reliable men and women. I am certain they would have handled things in my absence." You pause, stunned. "I'm...free to go?" "Nanhou is a city of many laws." The Archon woman's head tilts ever so slightly, as if offering a smile that cannot be seen. "Yet miraculously, shopping for food is still not a crime." <<page "Return to the Arena" "ch8-siblingtrial-leaverivals">>\

Your Writ pays off more than you ever imagined, because Jin and Rin both make it out of the woods with a Lost Siren escort and sprint to the stonewall with two unfamiliar faces: Oni Martial Artists in blue and green gi. Each has a cerulean glow around his head, charmed by the Sirens. Both the Oni and the Lost Sirens take a knee the second they reach the wall. Jin and Rin slam their hands onto the golden glowing structure, some of the first to make it, and you can't help but grin ear to ear when Misuka the Performer personally announces your siblings’ success to the whole city. <<var $rinrabbit + 4>>\ <<var $jinrabbit + 4>>\ "''Five'' points to \ <<if ((dig($trialdeets, 1) is 1) or (dig($trialdeets, 1) is 3))>>\ <<if ($japannaming is true)>>\ <<cap $clan>> Rin and <<cap $clan>> Jin! \ <<else>>\ Rin <<cap $clan>> and Jin <<cap $clan>>! \ <</if>>\ <<else>>\ Thunderfaller Rin and Thunderfaller Jin! \ <</if>>\ <<if ($score_rabbit lte 5)>>\ An incredible drama unfolding here, folks! These titanic twins have just \ <<if ($score_rabbit is 5)>>\ matched \ <<else>>\ beat \ <</if>>\ their $patriarch in the Rabbit Trial! Can we expect more breakout talents from such a family? Let's hope so!" <<else>>\ After \ <<if ((dig($trialdeets, 1) is 1) or (dig($trialdeets, 1) is 3))>>\ $fullname's dramatic performance we can say for sure, \ <<else>>\ seeing these Twins follow in the footsteps of $fullname and Crusher Jack, we can now say for certain that \ <</if>>\ this is simply the kind of power and results we can expect from the \ <<if ((dig($trialdeets, 1) is 1) or (dig($trialdeets, 1) is 3))>>\ $clan Clan!" <<else>>\ Thunderfall Sect!" <</if>>\ <</if>>\ Bo Lo escapes the woods shortly after, with two black eyes and a wounded arm. In his other arm he drags two Martial Artists tied together with rope, one of which is a Lost Siren. <<if (dig($trialdeets, 1) gte 2)>>\ You cringe, feeling Mao's stern gaze on your neck. "Oh wow." Kosuke the Oblivious blurts out. "Do you think the Sirens mistook Bo for a pursuer and attacked him?" "Not now." You whisper. "No no." Kosuke insists, handing you $bffhisher crunchy noodles. "I'm positive that's what happened. I'd even bet on it!" <<cap $bffheshe>> looks to you. "Do you want to bet on it?" "Sure!" You shout, getting out of your seat and pulling Kosuke away by the arm. You don't look back to see if Mao is mad at you, but you're positive he's mad in general. Being damaged, having unconscious bounties, and beating the Drake while losing the race only adds up to three points. Rin and Jin beat Bo Lo. <<else>>\ "Ohhhh." Kosuke says, cringing in your stead. "I think your mercenary girls mistook Bo Lo for a pursuer." You cover your eyes in shame. "Oh Ancestors. Mao is going to give me so much shit for this." "He should thank you." Kosuke replies. "You gave Bo half a point." "That's even worse." You counter, rubbing your temples. "Now I have to worry about the Lost Siren Sectmistress too." "That's true." Kosuke says, taking another bite of crunchy noodles. "She's coming over right now." You sigh. "Run?" Kosuke nods. "Run." The two of you leap out of your seats and make your way out of the arena as fast as possible, made easier by Kosuke throwing $bffhisher box of crunchy noodles at the approaching Lost Siren Sectmistress. <</if>>\ <<page "Meet back with the Twins" "ch8-siblingtrial-meetback">>\

You shoo the duo into the arena and send Kosuke to find a pair of seats in the stands. It's not yet time for you to enter, however, for you have an important mission. Snacks. When Kosuke saw the prices of arena food $bffheshe had a small heart attack, and you agree. Looking around for food vendors on a neighboring street brings great results, at first glance. But there's a problem. Stall after stall, booth after booth, vendor after vendor...all are sold out. <<if ($bubblebrew gte 3)>>\ Even your own damned Iced Bubblebrew stall is sold out! "Apologies, Honored $patriarch." Says Sum Yungai working the counter, bowing low and handing over the profits. ''[Item Gained: 385 Silver]'' <<var $silver + 385>>\ <</if>>\ "Looking for this?!" Calls a sadistically pleased voice from atop a nearby building. You groan and look up to see twenty weak Martial Artists in white gi all surrounding the one woman who could buy out a city's worth of food. Nakamoto Sakura. "I don't know why you needed these," the Human woman says, motioning to the armfuls of luxury foods her minions hold, "but I'm smart enough to make sure you don't get them." "I fucking hate the Heavenly Ascension Trials." You grumble under your breath. <<page "Continue" "ch8-siblingtrial-rivals">>\

Before long, all contestants grab their plated weight sets and sprint for the side. The thousands of spectators leap off their seats and scream support for their contestants, each of which runs along the Tiger Arena wall at top speeds while carrying their first weighted plates. Huh. Nobody ran for your Trial. The Judges never told these contestants to run, but they're not telling them to stop running either. You hadn't considered that peer pressure and misunderstanding could change how an entire Trial performs. "GO JIN!!" Kosuke screams. "CRUSH RIN!" <<if (dig($trialdeets, 1) gte 2)>>\ "They can't hear you." Says a gruff voice one row above you. Both you and Kosuke turn around. "The Arena's seals block sound." <<if ($bffheshe is "he")>>\ Kosuke scowls \ <<else>>\ Kosuke's face pales \ <</if>>\ when $bffheshe sees who's sitting between two Thunderfall Upper Disciples. "Mao." Crusher Mao sits, crushing the barrier between two seats and claiming them both. "That's Sectmaster Mao, you broke little shit. Now keep your eyes on the Trial, we're expecting problems." "Why?" You ask, trying to let the uneasiness of Mao's presence slip off. You're technically on the same side, but it never feels that way. "Sunbringers." The elderly female Upper Disciple near him replies, pointing down at the arena. "Two of them, with three Thunderfallers." Mao takes a swig of alcohol from a gourd and spits some to the side. "We'd win even if the numbers were reversed, except two of ours are your brats instead of real Disciples. Disciple Bo will need to be on guard." "Fuck you too." Kosuke says. "Jin and Rin are better than half the people you 'trained'." Mao gives $bffhimher a single stare, his eyes burning with fire. Kosuke snorts. "What, are you going to kill me in front of all these people?" "Yes." "Oh." Kosuke turns around in $bffhisher seat. "Hey, they're dropping out!" <<else>>\ "They can't hear you." You reply, leaning back and \ <<if ($bffromance gte 1)>>\ stealing more of $bffhisher crunchy noodles. \ <<else>>\ crunching on some of your noodles. \ <</if>>\ "There's a seal blocking all sound in there until the fighting starts." "That can't be true." Kosuke remarks. "Otherwise you wouldn't have heard me when you did your Tiger Trial." "You were at my Tiger Trial?" Kosuke's jaw drops, devastated. <<if ($score_tiger gte 7)>>\ <<var $bffrep + 5>>\ "Relax." You laugh, withdrawing a $clan Clan satchel you caught Kosuke selling during your Tiger Trial's final weight set. "How much did you sell these for anyway?" "More than-oh \ <<else>>\ "Of all the ungrateful-oh \ <</if>>\ cool, they're dropping out!" <</if>>\ <<page "Hm?" "ch8-siblingtrial-starting2">>\

You look back to the Tiger Trial and see several weighted sets have gone by and a decent portion of contestants have already begun to fail. <<var $rinscore + 4>>\ <<if (($jincombat+$tsib) gte 6)>>\ ''[Jin Prowess Check Passed]'' <<var $jinscore + 4>>\ Thankfully, Jin and Rin aren't among the early failures. Both they and Bo Lo succeed into the next three rounds until your siblings crash out. At four points Jin and Rin both reach their limits, passing the Tiger Trial. Jin throws his plates on the floor in exhaustion and Rin falls prone, legitimately giving up and demanding an Imperial Clerk carry her out. You stop holding your breath in concern when they lift her without lowering her points, though you're sure some Inner Kingdoms didn't approve. <<else>>\ ''[Jin Prowess Check Failed]'' Unfortunately, Jin is among the early failures. He attempts to lift the last plate he can manage and slips, dropping to his knee and slamming it against the hard stone beneath the sands, all with the heavy weighted plates adding to the blow. The judges take him away with only three points. A failing score. <<var $jinscore + 3>>\ Rin on the other hand seems to have focused on Power Cores. She manages to push herself to four points. She doesn't even try the fifth plate and gives up, which is good, because you know the fifth plate starts the combat phase. <</if>>\ <<if ($boon_lostsiren gte 1)>>\ Only one of the three Lost Siren disciples make it to four points as well. She talks to Jin on their way out and Kosuke whispers that it's probably his first time talking to a half-naked woman. Upon noticing, Rin sprints up to ruin it. <</if>>\ <<page "Continue" "ch8-siblingtrial-starting3">>\

Bo Lo makes it to four points without giving up, but that proves his downfall. The fifth plate requires passing the combat phase. Two Sunbringers immediately team up on him and knock him out to take his plates. Kosuke laughs, and you might have too, but \ <<if (dig($trialdeets, 1) gte 2)>>\ Crusher Mao's tight glare down onto the arena floor hints he's noticed the same thing you have. <<else>>\ something's troubling you. <</if>>\ Both the Sunbringers had Cursed Energy on their staves, yet they're both Kiihakai style. Worse, the chi on their weapons is much stronger than their own, and you recognize the owner of its aura signature. After all, you've dealt with him before. In the back of the arena floor, with three defeated contestants at his feet, is Callous Daichi. He smiles wide, eyes crazed and locked on someone in the stands. He points at your siblings being taken away by the clerks as if to ask for confirmation. Across the arena, draped in finery and surrounded with the same servants from outside, Callous Goro nods for Daichi to continue as planned. <<choose "ch8-siblingtrial-starting4">> #Remain calm. "You're not going to do anything about it?" Kosuke asks. "No, Goro is trying to provoke a reaction, but I don't have anything to worry about." You grin across the arena at Goro's smug face. "Daichi is too weak to beat Rin and Jin." <<if (dig($trialdeets, 1) gte 2)>>\ "Now you're getting it." Mao says, kicking the back of your seat too hard. It cracks. "If you fell for that I was going to kick your ass before he could. Can't have my Disciples looking like fools." Kosuke gives you a concerned look, unsure how to act around a Mao that agrees with you. <</if>>\ #show-if ($boon_lostsiren gte 1) Call the Lost Siren Sect to protect Rin and Jin. [Writ of Favor] You get out of your seat and rush across the arena. <<if (dig($trialdeets, 1) gte 2)>>\ "Don't do it." Mao growls. "You're falling for a trick." "I'm not going to Goro." You reply over your shoulder. "Then where \ <<else>>\ "Where \ <</if>>\ are you going?" Kosuke asks. "To call in a debt!" You rush across the arena and find the one woman who could aid you in this time of need. Rather, the one who //must// aid you. "I'm calling in my Writ of Favor." You say after sprinting across the massive arena. Only your supernatural strength keeps you from being out of breath. "Some people say 'Hello' first." Replies the Lost Siren Sectmistress, sitting in pink and white gi sleeveless gi with a larger and lower v-neck than usual. Two of her other Disciples and a large collection of male admirers surround the woman. "You're Aoyusumu." You say, ignoring her barb. "I'll bet you have a way to talk to your Disciples. Tell them to protect Thunderfaller Rin and Thunderfaller Jin in this Trial. Callous Daichi is going to attack them." The Sectmistress chews her cheek and sips her drink, staring at you nonchalant without a care in the world. "We'd be even after that?" You hand her the Writ of Favor. "Yes." ''[Item Lost: Writ of Favor (Lost Siren Sect)]'' <<var $boon_lostsiren - 1>>\ <<var $sirenhelp true>>\ She stands, accepts the writ, and gives you a short bow. "Consider it done, $titlename, but I expect you to remember this honorable deed when we meet in the Trials." "Instead of you trying to hijack my ship?" The woman stumbles when trying to sit back down. "Er, yes. Yes, exactly." <<page "Return to your seat." "ch8-siblingtrial-starting4">>\ #show-if ($boon_lostsiren lt 1) use-if ($boon_lostsiren gte 1) Call in another Sect for help. [No Allies Available] -> "death" #Make Goro call off his brother by force. "Where are you going?" Kosuke asks. "I'm going to kick Goro's ass before he does something that makes me kill him instead." <<if (dig($trialdeets, 1) gte 2)>>\ ''[Event Check Passed: Thunderfall Allegiance]'' "Don't." Mao commands, placing a strong grip on your shoulder and pointing up. "You're falling for a trick." Above you, from atop their floating fortress, the Judges watch. "He's targeting my family!" You counter, knocking Mao's hand off your shoulder with more effort than expected. "Wrong you, ungrateful dumbass." Mao corrects. "He's targeting ''you.'' Focusing on rival factions is a part of the Trials. If your candidate were stronger, it wouldn't be a problem. The Judge's won't intervene. They //will// intervene if you attack another contestant outside of the Trials, especially directly in front of them like right now. Losing face is worse than death to these people." <<page "Then what am I suppose to do?" "ch8-siblingtrial-whatami">>\ <<else>>\ "Do you want help?" "No." You exit the row and quicken your pace through the curving arena isle. "Thank the Heavens!" Kosuke calls back from $bffhisher seat, munching more crispy noodles. "Good luck! You've got this!" <<page "Continue" "ch8-siblingtrial-confrontgoro">>\ <</if>>\ <</choose>>

"Hellooo ladies and gentlemen!" Shouts the familiar voice of Misuka the Performer. A golden glowing copy of the Kitsune forms in the center of the arena after the last Tiger Trial contestant has been removed. "Welcome to the hundredth Rabbit Trial seed! I, Misuka the Performer, will be your announcer once again. Don't worry about spectating those pesky distant locations when you have my scrying foxfire to bring the sights and sounds right to you! Without further delay-" The golden image dissolves into firefly-like sparks, spreading across the arena floor. When it finishes the entire floor of the stadium arena flashes pink-gold and shows a moving image of the contestants in the Rabbit Trial tunnel. "-Let the Rabbit Trial begin!" <<var $rinrabbit 0>>\ <<var $jinrabbit 0>>\ <<page "Continue" "ch8-siblingtrial-starting5">>\

All one-hundred Rabbit Trial contestants break into a mad dash down the tunnel, fleeing the massive Drake as soon as Misuka gives the command. <<if ((($bohelp) and (dig($trialdeets, 1) gte 2)) and ((($jincombat gte 6) and ($rincombat gte 6)) or ($sirenhelp)))>>\ All except three. ''[Thunderfall Allegiance Check Passed]'' "Oh my!" Misuka the Performer cheers. "It seems we have another group following in Crusher Jack's footsteps! Could they be fighting for points, or fighting for survival? Let's find out!" Bo Lo, Rin, and Jin don't run away from the drake. They each ignite their auras and turn in unison, //toward// the Drake. "No..." You whisper, standing out of your seat. "Yes." Growls Mao, a sadistic glee growing in the back of his throat. "YYYES!" "What are they doing?!" Kosuke shouts, looking to you with panic. "They wouldn't put the Drake in there if it could be beat!" "No, it can be beat." You mutter, staring wide-eyed at what may be the last minutes of your family's lives. "But not by them!" <<if (($sirenhelp) and (($jincombat lt 6) or ($rincombat lt 6)))>>\ ''[Lost Siren Writ Event]'' As soon as your siblings close the gap to the Drake, its giant headed is surrounded by pulse after pulse of Cerulean Chi. Behind Rin and Jin, the Lost Siren Disciples extend their hands out and cast some sort of mental attack on the monster. The giant lizard's focus is so divided that Jin and Rin are both able to reach its massive claws unharmed. They both grip an arm in bearhugs and slam them into opposing corners of the tunnel, where the wall meets the floor. <<else>>\ ''[Jin Prowess 6 Check Passed]'' Jin closes the gap first, sprinting at the Drake while staying close to the wall. Its massive claw closes down on him, narrowly missing as he surges every Agility Core to dodge. ''[Rin Prowess 6 Check Passed]'' Rin closes in next, grabbing the Drake's other claw and body-slamming it into the corner where the opposing wall meets the floor. \ Jin does the same with the claw he dodged, pinning it down. <</if>>\ The Drake \ <<if (($sirenhelp) and (($jincombat lt 6) or ($rincombat lt 6)))>>\ shakes its head in a rage and \ <</if>>\ snaps at Jin from above- <<if (($bohelp is false) and ($sirenhelp))>>\ ''[Lost Siren Writ Event]'' <<else>>\ ''[Event Check Passed: Bo Lo Assistance]'' <</if>>\ Only to be stopped with a punch to the jaw from below. Bo Lo's short stature lets him sneak underneath the Beast's massive head, slamming its jaw with a left and right upward \ <<if ($sirenhelp is true)>>\ hook. At the same time, the Lost Sirens begin unleashing weak yet more hostile and scorching blasts of chi at the Beast's eyes. <<else>>\ hook. <</if>>\ <<if (($bohelp is false) and ($sirenhelp))>>\ "The fuck is he doing?" Mao asks, noticing a cerulean hue around Bo Lo's head. "Looks like he got charmed by a bunch of barely dressed island sluts." Kosuke says. "Tough break." Mao looks closer and sits back down, unconcerned. "I'd kill them if they fucked this up, but the trap is set. They've already won." <<var $val2 707>>\ <<else>>\ Your hands grip the edges of your seat, cracking the stone with stress. "They need a new strategy!" You shout, pleading to the Heavens. "Jin and Rin aren't damaging it, and Bo Lo doesn't hit hard enough!" "He hits hard enough." Mao says behind you. "The trap is set." <<var $val2 0>>\ <</if>>\ <<page "Continue" "ch8-siblingtrial-killdrake">>\ <<else>>\ You're concerned about the Rabbit Trial; Tiger can be passed by everyone, but the Rabbit is competitive. Most contestants fail. <<var $jinrabbit + 2>>\ Your eyes stay locked on their race and this time it's Jin keeping the lead over Rin. <<if (($rincombat+$rsib) gte 6)>>\ ''[Rin Prowess Check Passed]'' <<var $rinrabbit + 2>>\ Though she manages to make up for a poor early start. You're pleased with them both for avoiding any real injuries from the falling rocks when those come up as well. Bo doesn't fare so well, taking a slab of wall to the face and losing ten placements. In the end Bo finishes with two points at forty-first place. Jin and Rin both //barely// make it into two points as well, scoring forty-eighth and fiftieth place. It may just be a race, but even still you're left surprised. You can hardly believe your untrained siblings have defeated //half// of all trained Warrior Caste Martial Artists. What the Hells did Mother and Father feed all of you? <<else>>\ ''[Rin Prowess Check Failed]'' <<var $rinrabbit + 1>>\ Through the scramble to get ahead of the others, the Drake chase, and the falling rubble, Bo manages to score two points at forty-first place and Jin manages to come in at forty-ninth place, //barely// defeating half of all trained Martial Artists in a race, an incredible feat. More importantly, an incredibly feat also worth two points. Rin meanwhile only scores seventy-sixth place, worth a single point. <</if>>\ <<page "Onto the Rabbit Trial Valley" "ch8-siblingtrial-starting6">>\ <</if>>\

When everyone finishes the race, Misuka's scrying image flashes a swirl of gold and pink. The view across the arena floor changes to show the scenic view of the Rabbit Trial's valley, with woods on one side of the central field and a ravine on the other. You have a soft spot for that valley. It's where you were abducted. "Hey, isn't that where you were abducted?" Kosuke asks, \ <<if ($bffheshe is "he")>>\ sipping tea out of a bowl. <<else>>\ sipping tea out of a bamboo straw while tenuously balancing the cup on her chest. <</if>>\ You close your eyes in acceptance. "You have such a way with words." "Do you think they'll be abducted too?" <<cap $bffheshe>> asks. You steep your fingers and lean forward, resting your head on them. "That depends on what Callous Daichi is planning." <<if (dig($trialdeets, 1) gte 2)>>\ "And how shit the security is." Sectmaster Mao says behind you both. "It's a fucking joke that an invader's violation like that even happened. I might as well have killed that Nakamoto slut if they're being this lax." Kosuke gives you the look again. "He's still here." <<cap $bffheshe>> whispers with growing worry. "Am I late?" Big Chu asks, shuffling in with two buckets of crunchy noodles. "Every fucking time it's food with you." Mao growls, pushing a different Upper Disciple out of the chair to his left. "You missed Disciple Bo's Tiger Trial success. Give me a bucket. Now." You ignore all three and focus on the Trial. <</if>>\ <<page "Continue" "ch8-siblingtrial-starting7">>\

Sound finally comes through the scrying portal when the Beast Flock is revealed, dropping a hundred angry birds the size of wolves, horses, or even houses upon the competitors. As usual, panic breaks out. <<if (((dig($metrin, 1) gte 2) or (dig($metjin, 1) gte 2)) or ($background is "Trapper"))>>\ To your shock, Jin and Rin escape the opening skirmish unphased. It's not that Callous Daichi doesn't try to take them out immediately, it's that they //dodge//. Something vaguely resembling pride swells in your heart when \ <<if (dig($metrin, 1) gte 2)>>\ Rin shoves both hands forward toward \ <<else>>\ Jin flips off \ <</if>>\ the screaming Callous Daichi, thankfully announcing his attack. The Oni triggers a speed-focused Soul Treasure sheath and crosses the distance between them in a flash. <<if (dig($metrin, 1) gte 2)>>\ ''[Event Passed: Shugendō Training (Rin)]'' He hits the rock wall Rin was raising. The stadium breaks out into laughter at the sight of Daichi embedded into the stone like a laughable illustration. It may as well be the picture next to the word 'fool' in a children's learning book. Callous Goro does not join in on the laughter. Your siblings disappear into the woods before a concussed Daichi can peel himself out of the stone. \ <<elseif (dig($metjin, 1) gte 2)>>\ ''[Event Passed: Shugendō Training (Jin)]'' He hits nothing. Jin's wind control propels them skyward where they grab onto a smaller airborne Roc that Rin puts into a chokehold. The duo fly the thing down into the woods and disappear from sight. <<elseif ($background is "Trapper")>>\ ''[Trapper Background Event]'' He hits nothing. Above him, Jin and Rin each hold onto one of <<cap $rocname>>'s legs, flying higher and higher until your Roc's strength gives out and they land safely in the woods. <</if>>\ The scrying orbs cut away after that, showing different contestants you don't much care about. <<if ($sirenhelp is true)>>\ <<page "Continue" "ch8-siblingtrial-sirenscore">>\ <<else>>\ <<page "Continue" "ch8-siblingtrial-escapewoods0">>\ <</if>>\ <<elseif ($sirenhelp is true)>>\ Just as planned, Jin and Rin escape the opening skirmish unphased. One of the Lost Siren women run alongside them and fights off the ice dove you saw in your own Trial, luring it away, while the other two remain stationary and cast some sort of mental ability on Callous Daichi. Rather than charge at your siblings with his deadly speed, he remains completely still for half the skirmish. He only moves by force, when a heavily tanned man with a long mustache hits him from behind with a hammer and knocks him into a phoenix that grips him with its claws. "Ouch!" Misuka shouts in sympathetic pain. "Minus two points to the Callous Patriarch's younger brother!" Jin and Rin can barely be seen in the background of Misuka's scrying pool, escaping into the woods unphased. <<page "Continue" "ch8-siblingtrial-sirenscore">>\ <<else>>\ ''[Event Failed: No Elemental Training (Rin)]'' ''[Event Failed: No Elemental Training (Jin)]'' It's at that moment that Daichi speeds across the field in a flash of emerald chi, kicking Rin's hip bone so hard that she spins into Jin, striking his skull with hers. <<if (($jincombat gte 7) and ($rincombat gte 7))>>\ ''[Jin + Rin Prowess 7 Check Passsed]'' ''[No Prowess Loss Suffered]'' <<elseif (($jincombat lt 7) and ($rincombat lt 7))>>\ ''[Jin and Rin Have Been Injured!]'' ''[Jin + Rin Combat Prowess Reduced]'' <<var $jincombat - 1>>\ <<var $rincombat - 1>>\ <<elseif ($jincombat lt 7)>>\ ''[Rin Prowess 7 Check Passed]'' ''[Jin Prowess 7 Check Failed]'' ''[Jin Has Been Injured!]'' <<var $jincombat - 1>>\ <<else>>\ ''[Jin Prowess 7 Check Passed]'' ''[Rin Prowess 7 Check Failed]'' ''[Rin Has Been Injured!]'' <<var $rincombat - 1>>\ <</if>>\ Daichi looks to the nearest scrying orb and holds a victorious fist in the air. The arena breaks into a riotous cheer. ''[Goro's Prestige Increased]'' <<var $gorocombat + 1>>\ <<var $rinrabbit - 1>>\ <<var $jinrabbit - 1>>\ Jin and Rin barely manage to stir before Misuka's scrying orb cuts to more 'entertaining' fights between Beast or contestant. It's unclear if they make it to the safety of the woods or ravine before the Beast Flock can reach them. You keep your eyes on the section of the arena floor reflecting the stonewall at the end of the valley, hoping to see your siblings make it through. <<page "Continue" "ch8-siblingtrial-escapewoods">>\ <</if>>\

<<if ($val is 8818)>>\ "Not if I can help it." You say. "I've been through the Tiger and Rabbit Trial, so listen up." <</if>>\ <<var $val 0>>\ "What about the Dragon Trial?" Jin asks with suspicion. "I thought those were scheduled to start when you did the other Trials." "That, uh." You cough into your fist. "That was delayed. Some sort of cultist issue." "Were you involved?" Rin asks, looking to Kosuke. "<<cap $heshe>> was involved, wasn't $heshe?" "For once I wasn't there." Kosuke replies with a pleased smile. "Such problems are of no concern to us humble Laborers." Jin dodges a large armored man passing by and whispers to Rin, loudly. "<<cap $bffheshe>> didn't say no." Rin turns on her heel and shoves a finger at Kosuke. "Yeah, you didn't say no!" The Martial Artists around you turn to look at the commotion. <<page "Sigh." "ch8-siblingtrial-whataboutdragon2">>\

You sigh and push them both forward. "I may or may not have been abducted into a spatial pocket realm by an evil cult, getting the Dragon Trial delayed for security reasons. They're starting back up soon." "I knew it!" Jin shouts. "Weird things are always your fault!" "Hey, //I// didn't abduct me! They did it!" Rin rolls her eyes. "Tell it to the Heavens. So much for our advantage in the Dragon Trial. Good going." "You seem to lack appreciation of your $patriarch." You say, turning around. "I'm sure you'll do fine without my help then." They both drop to their knees, grasping onto your pantlegs and shouting over each other. "No! No, please!" Jin pleads. "It was Rin's fault! I'll vouch for you!" "You wouldn't abandon your adorable baby sister, would you?!" Rin gasps. "Don't leave me with just her to rely on!" Jin shouts out, causing a stir. "She's as reliable as the weather!" "Jin can't fight, don't make me rely on him either!" Rin shouts out far too loudly, forcing out fake tears. "I don't want to diiiieeee!" Kosuke holds back a laugh, but $bffheshe needs both hands to do it. Unfortunately, the twins are right. They're going to need an advantage. <<var $rsib 0>>\ <<var $tsib 0>>\ <<var $helpedfren "">>\ <<var $bohelp false>>\ <<include "ch8-siblingtrial-helpingsibs">>\

"Then what am I suppose to do?" You ask. Mao snorts. "What do you think, idiot? You watch your siblings get maimed, helplessly, and use that anger to fuel your revenge. The first chance you get in the Trials, you kill Goro while his family watches. The whole time that you choke the life out of him, you make damn sure they know why it happened." "That's moronic! I'm not going to let my siblings get maimed!" Crusher Mao lets out a deep and satisfied grunting laughter. "Welcome to the Martial World, kid! Did you think everyone else liked watching you beat their candidates? If you could stop the Callous contestants, others would have stopped you in the Tiger and Rabbit Trials. Sit down and use your rage like the rest of us. Suddenly it sucks having authorities, doesn't it?" You give up on the man and turn around to stop Goro when suddenly you feel Mao's aura explode outward, engulfing both you and Kosuke. The pressure behind it climbs, and climbs, and climbs, to the point that his own Inner Disciples pull back and leave their seats. When you turn around to see why, he drops it instantly and points up. In the sky, the Mystic Judge looks over the fortress edge. You swear his gaze falls upon yours. Mao wasn't threatening you. He was putting your location under the Judge's notice. "I already told you." He says from behind, knowing you can't approach Goro now. "It's the politics that will kill you." <<page "Continue" "ch8-siblingtrial-starting4">>\

<<image "https://www.auraclash.com/assets/images/ap-souldomain.png">>\ <<page "?!?!" "ch8-souldomain2">>\

<<if ($txt isnot "skip2")>>\ "About time." Black Flower says, rising out of her seat and cracking her knuckles. <</if>>\ She enacts strange handseals in repetition, forming black-glowing sigils in the sky of this eye of the hurricane. When she finishes, a blinding white light expands around her. She weaves her fingers through the light and collects it like a weaver handling cotton, until she has enough to form a brilliant white star of chi between both palms. "Only the White Tiger could survive an attack of its own mighty chi." Black Flower taunts. "So welcome back, my master, or die, imposter." The power behind her attack surges with a strange, alien-like force that rips her loose sleeves to shreds just by preparing to launch it. Pressurized wind spins around her like a second tornado, yet your senses detect no Wind Chi. All you can detect, all you can see when gazing upon her expanding power, is the blinding constellation of the White Tiger from your dreams. In your peripheral vision you spot the eight unconscious contestants who will die when that attack finishes. <<var $savedem false>>\ <<if $val gte 5>>\ ''[White Tiger Chi Damage Suffered: Unraveling Disabled!]'' <</if>>\ <<choose "ch8-souldomain-countertigerstuff">> #use-if (($val lt 5) and ($countersealritual isnot 100)) Unravel her Seals! [Requires Counterseal] #use-if (($val lt 5) and ($handseals gte $val)) Unravel her Seals! [Requires Handseals $val] #use-if (($val lt 5) and ($style is "Kiihakai")) Unravel her Seals! [Requires Kiihakai (Adept)] #use-if (($val lt 5) and ($energytide)) Unravel her Seals! [Requires Energy Tide Technique] #show-if ($jadedragonfoundation is true) Unleash your ancient might. [Requires Jade Dragon Foundation] The cloud-like ground beneath your feet rumbles from Black Flower's growing attack. Something you make far worse when you let out your full power, forcing it to rumble even harder. The nine Akuma Acolytes hold their ears in pain when an enraged, shrieking roar escapes from the jade chi pressed into your $auracolor aura. You pull it all back and between your palms, growing your own force of living power. "You can't fight this, moron!" Black Flower mocks, fangs on display when she opens her mouth to laugh at you. The power between her hands weighs her feet down into the clouds and she pulls it back to fire. "My chi is more than just power, it is the living essence of the mythical White Tiger!" You press the Jade Dragon into your own attack, conjuring every ounce of it that you've become, and press that ancient power down into a single pressurized beam screaming to be let out. Then you grin. "The White Tiger is not the only myth." <<apboost 10>>\ You both unleash your all-encompassing blasts at once, meeting them in the center of the pocket realm. Reality cracks at the seams. <<var $bigevents + 3000000000000>>\ <<page "Continue" "ch8-domaingone">>\ #Save only yourself. Black Flower unleashes her anti-fortress sized attack that spans across the entire pocket realm. Or at least, the floor of it. You leap high into the air to avoid the attack, watching as the white chi rips across the chamber and crashes over the other contestants like a tidal wave. The second the attack touches the other contestants, they each explode with white chi out of their eyes, ears, and mouth. Your spiritual senses detect seven lives snuffing out instantly. When the light fades and you land back on the ground, only Big Zhu's scorched body remains alive. "Hm, it didn't empower him at all." Black Flower says. "Surprised he lived, but that crosses off the fat one." The sigils around her echo out a wave of power, instantly wrapping her clawed hand with the same amount of white chi that took so long to gather before. She looks to you with a rabid hunger. "Let's cross you off too." <<page "Continue" "ch8-souldomain-rumbling">>\ <</choose>>

"NO!" You scream out, leaping off the ground of clouds and enacting eight quick handseals of your own, pressing your full Aura Pressure into the spiritual unraveling. <<apboost 5>>\ Facing such a monstrously strong opponent doesn't plague your mind with doubt. All you focus on is that effects are easier to break than to make. Ribbons of <<cap $auracolor>> chi rush off of your aura and into the air. In a single snapping motion, each stabs into the black sigils floating through the sky and supercharge them with an imbalance of Yang Chi, breaking them down. White chi explodes out of Black Flower's hands, like a shattered aura, sending shards of light flying into the air and blasting her backward into her own azure crystal throne. Light continues to pour out of her destroyed attack, forming a blinding wall of luminance.\ <<if ($jadedragonfoundation is false)>>\ <<achieve "Heavenly Savior">>\ <</if>>\ <<var $bigevents + 1000000000000>>\ "What's going on?" Big Zhu asks, looking around from the ground. The other contestants stir beside you. According to your spiritual scan, their chi is rapidly replenishing. You realize you must have also ended some effect Black Flower had implanted into them through the chi streams. "A fight." You say. "There's twelve of them, and they're not Archons." An unfamiliar contestant in stone armor rises to his feet and withdraws a combat vial. "Why should I believe-" "THAT DOES IT!" Screams Black Flower, blowing the blinding ambient chi away with a wave of red fire. "EVERYONE DIES!" The stone-armored man throws you his vial. "I believe you." ''[Item Gained: Inner Fortress Elixir]'' <<var $forelixir + 1>>\ <<if (dig($metjahi, 2) gte 3)>>\ With the light cleared, Jahi and \ <<if ($heshe is "he")>>\ her \ <<else>>\ his \ <</if>>\ throne are nowhere to be seen. The \ <<else>>\ The other two Akuma Lords and \ <</if>>\ nine Akuma Acolytes remain behind Black Flower, in a bubble of golden chi expanded by the smaller Akuma Lord, but your skin pales when it dissipates and all of them rise to fight. "This farce has gone on long enough." Coughs the shrill, raspy Akuma Lord, an emerald glow expanding around its body. His spiritual weight alone feels like a mountain on your shoulders. "Black Flower, I am killing the spares. You maim the candidates. The White Tiger would heal, it is no loss, and we are short on time." "GLADLY." Black Flower screams, rearing back a clawed hand covered in black flames to blast across your group. <<page "Continue" "ch8-souldomain-rumbling">>\

I detect remnants of the bloodlord's power in $hisher spirit. Two different signatures. Absorbed. At $hisher Aura Pressure, defeating that Human's experiments should be impossible." <<if (dig($mettaio, 1) gte 6)>>\ //Can they detect you?// You ask internally to the Taio Clones. //No.// Replies the Bandit. //Otherwise they would not fear you when sensing how weak I was during our match. My power was bound in the tome, which you unraveled with your irksome Foundation.// The Scholar scoffs. //Praise the Hells that the world overestimates you both. Now silence, we may yet survive.// <</if>>\ <<include "ch8-souldomain-threaten2">>\

<<if ($jadedragonfoundation is false)>>\ <<achieve "Celestial Bureaucracy">>\ <</if>>\ <<var $bigevents + 2000000000000>>\ After four minutes of drawing \ <<if (($roomscene is "Desdemona") or ($roomscene is "Desdemona_Turned"))>>\ risque pictures of Desdemona, \ <<elseif ($roomscene is "Kosuke")>>\ cute little pictures of Kosuke, \ <<elseif ($roomscene is "Leona")>>\ nude sketches of Leona on the beach, \ <<elseif ($roomscene is "Fang")>>\ cute little pictures of Tian Fang, \ <<elseif ($roomscene is "Angelo_Innocent")>>\ cute little pictures of chibi Angelo, \ <<elseif ($roomscene is "Angelo_Kiss")>>\ shirtless sketches of Angelo on a horse, \ <<elseif ($roomscene is "Guiren_Innocent")>>\ cute little pictures of chibi Guiren, \ <<elseif ($roomscene is "Guiren_Bang")>>\ shirtless sketches of Guiren, \ <<else>>\ funny caricatures of Big Zhu being beaten up by the Akuma Lords, \ <</if>>\ you begin to wonder how long you can stall before these murderous and temporarily fooled cultists want to see your progress. "Enough." Says Tenkairyu, the shrill, raspy, shorter Akuma Lord on the rightmost throne. "Show us your progress." Ah. Darn. You turn the drawings around. "Looks good, right?" "Black Flower." Says Tenkairyu. "You have been made a fool." "You have to have a death wish." Black Flower laughs with unhinged anger. Dark fire expands around her body. "I'm going to weld your spine into a straw, rip it from your scorched torso, and use it to drink your heartsblood." You stand up and dust off your legs, oddly calm in your small victory. "I'll have my people send your people an invoice for my work. Six-hundred shards should do it." All twelve Akuma Lords and Acolytes rise to their feet. Charging an aura of $auracolor chi around yourself, you toss the paper aside and prepare to fight to the death. <<page "Continue" "ch8-souldomain-rumbling">>\

Ebikowa...? The same time you started dreaming about the White Tiger... <<if (dig($mettaio, 1) gte 6)>>\ //That crosses yourself and Crusher Jack off the list of candidates.// Taio the Scholar whispers from inside your spirit. //Your fumes of the White Tiger's chi come from absorbing fractions I'd stored from relics in my blood marbles. You are not the mythical pillar, you merely ate some of its essence in my Gate.// <<else>>\ Shit. That crosses you and Jack off the list. You both probably absorbed some fractions of its chi in the Demonic Gate. If the Akuma Lords were dabbling with this mysterious creature's chi, it was definitely stored in Taio's blood marbles. <</if>>\ "So...what happens now?"

<<if (dig($metjahi, 2) gte 3)>>\ The Kitsune stares to the central figure for guidance. It looks from the Kitsune to you, then speaks. "Such information getting out is unavoidable when this anomaly is involved, Black Flower. Such things are to be expected," the hooded figure removes \ <<if ($heshe is "he")>>\ her \ <<else>>\ his \ <</if>>\ hood, "from my favorite mortal." A tremor of fear runs down your spine when you recognize the face of a dead villager from Thunderfall. Worse, you recognize the creature that wears that dead \ <<if ($heshe is "he")>>\ woman's \ <<else>>\ man's \ <</if>>\ face as if \ <<if ($heshe is "he")>>\ she \ <<else>>\ he \ <</if>>\ were still alive. Jahi. You press that chill deep down and try to compose yourself. "Jahi, good to see y-" "Silence." Jahi interrupts, lazily placing <<if ($heshe is "he")>>\ her chin onto her fist \ <<else>>\ his chin onto his fist \ <</if>>\ propped up by the azure crystal throne's armrest. "For you, and you alone, I present an answer. The White Tiger has manifested at last, to bring an end to your beheaded Empire and stagnant era. Our Akuma Lords have tracked the lost pillar's presence to Nanhou and the Trials. I now know, with certainty, that he is within one of twelve candidates among the Trials. It is for that reason that this trap was set." You recall your dreams after the demonic gate, but more importantly, you recall your vision when staring at Brass Tiger after the Tiger Trial. "In truth," Jahi continues, "the target of this trap was Big Zhu. I knew of his weakness back in 'our' home town. His explosive growth and altered essence since arriving within the city are both hints at the White Tiger's presence. More importantly, his body exudes the fumes of a connection with the White Tiger." Jahi begins raising fingers while counting the next points. "It's the same as Brass Tiger. The same as Sakura Nakamoto. The same as you and Crusher Jack after Ebikowa. Many of you have grown far too rapidly, and each of you exude the barest fumes of our lost pillar's power...yet only one is the source." <<include "ch8-souldomain-ebikowathoughts">> "Nothing good for you, mortal morsel." Jahi says. "Yet I remember my first physical breath in generations, and it was granted by you. Before Black Flower's test reveals your nature as our pillar, or snuffs out your life like so many candles, you may speak. Once." You don't even know where to begin. <<else>>\ The Kitsune ponders for a moment before answering. <<if (dig($bigevents, 2) is 1)>>\ "Fine, but I don't like not being told of the bloodlord's operations." \ <<else>>\ "Talking to my food. Ridiculous." \ <</if>>\ Black Flower exhales out of her nose, displeased. She stares daggers at you and relents. "The White Tiger has been reborn again, giving us the chance to end this stagnant Empire and bring about a new age. Our Akuma Lords have tracked the lost pillar's essence to Nanhou, during the Trials. We know he's here somewhere, and we have twelve candidates for who he could be within. Thirteen if counting you." "Only twelve." The 'Tenkairyu' character interrupts. "<<cap $heshe>> is included, and has long been a possibility, since Ebikowa." Black Flower struggles to hold back a growl at her fellow Akuma Lord. "That doesn't matter, because we aren't here for $himher." She turns back to you. "This trap was set for the fat boy beside you, Big Zhu of Thunderfall." <<if ($honor lt 50)>>\ ''[Honor Check Failed]'' <<var $solexp - 2>>\ "You're fucking kidding me." You reply. No matter how far you Advance, people keep talking about the rude kids from your childhood. Why can't your hometown bullies fade away and go bald like everyone else's do? "Awww." Black Flower taunts, rubbing away a fake tear with a fist. "Is someone upset that they're not so special? Get over it. \ <<else>>\ ''[Honor Check Passed]'' <<var $forexp + 2>>\ "Big Zhu." You reply, proud to have stopped yourself from laughing. "I see." Alright, you might have snickered a little. Black Flower bares her teeth. "Shut it, meat. \ <</if>>\ The fat bastard grew from a no-talent, low blood-purity, imbalanced nobody into a formidable force in a few short days since arriving in Nanhou, and his body gives off a residual White Tiger connection. The same as Brass Tiger. The same as Sakura Nakamoto. The same as you and Crusher Jack after Ebikowa. Somehow you all grew too fast in a small time period. More telling, you all have hints of the White Tiger's power, but only one is the source." <<include "ch8-souldomain-ebikowathoughts">> Black Flower smiles. "Now I rend your soul into pieces in ways that only the White Tiger would survive, to see if you're his true host." "Not yet." Replies Tenkairyu. He adjusts in his seat. "You do NOT command me!" Black Flower shrieks at her companion. "You took too long!" The smaller one hisses back. "I must resecure the wards for this pocket realm to survive your tests. You //will// wait while I do so." Black Flower's jaw tightens in an infuriated snarl. Seeing a gap in the conversation, you take that chance to try a question of your own. <</if>>\ <<choose "ch8-souldomain-chargingmalazer">> #"What is the White Tiger?" <<var $ruthless - 1>>\ "What is the White Tiger?" You ask. "You sit on your thrones and speak so highly of this creature or person, is it really so far above you?" <<if (dig($metjahi, 2) gte 3)>>\ Jahi smiles. "The White Tiger is a pillar of the world, serving a core mechanic of the Turning of the Wheel. It was lost to tragedy and returned anew. Putrid imitations dare to mimic its power, grasping to fill a vacuum in it's absence, but they will all die. It is sad that the White Tiger's purpose and true natures have been forgotten by modern mortals, yet in the end it matters not. They will be reminded soon." "What are its purpose and true nature?" You ask. Jahi leans forward, staring at you with amusement in \ <<if ($heshe is "he")>>\ her \ <<else>>\ his \ <</if>>\ eyes. "That is two questions. I offered you one." <<if ($heshe is "he")>>\ She \ <<else>>\ He \ <</if>>\ looks to Black Flower. "You may begin your tests." <<else>>\ Black Flower snorts. "It's above everyone. The White Tiger is a pillar of the world, a key player in the Wheel of Ages. They cannot turn without the pillars, and now that the lost one has finally returned, we can wipe away your sad excuse of a beheaded civilization and start anew." You're silent for a moment before finally responding. "How?" "How what?" "How does any of that make sense? A big tiger is coming back from the dead so you can form a new ruling government? What the Hell are you talking about? Are you cracked in the head?" Black Flower covers her mouth with a fist, stifling a short laughter, then she looks back up to you. "I'm going to start testing now. \ <<if (dig($bigevents, 2) is 1)>>\ Taio's pawn or not, \ <<elseif (dig($bigevents, 2) is 2)>>\ undercover Archon or not, \ <</if>>\ I pray you are not the White Tiger so that this test flays your skin from your flesh and bursts your eyeballs from the inside." <<var $txt "skip2">>\ <</if>>\ #show-if (dig($bigevents, 2) is 1) "How much do you know about my master?" -> "ch8-souldomain-taiotalker" "How much do you know about my master?" You ask. "How much do you know about Akuma Lord Taio?" #show-if (dig($bigevents, 2) is 0) "Where is Akuma Lord Taio? What do you know about him?" -> "ch8-souldomain-taiotalker" "Where is Akuma Lord Taio?" You ask. "What do you know about him?" "You think we'd give you information on your main enemy?" Black Flower asks. "Why would I-" #"How many Akuma Lords are there in total?" "How many Akuma Lords are there in total?" You ask, ambitiously tallying how long your kill list is going to have to be once you become an Archon. <<if ($ruthless gte 60)>>\ It's already getting too long. <</if>>\ "Twelve." Says Black Flower. "Poetic, I know. Twelve zodiacs, twelve Akuma Lords, twelve White Tiger candidates. I'd say it's a coincidence, but what we're doing is quintessential to the Turning of the Wheel. Is it really a surprise that fate intertwines even with our numbers?" "So you're all here..." You have no wish to die, but you wonder if you could push your life force out into one big enough attack. It's a long shot, but if all twelve are here, then Taio... "No." Black Flower interrupts. "Only \ <<if (dig($metjahi, 2) gte 1)>>\ three. The nine \ <<else>>\ two. The ten \ <</if>>\ behind me are Acolytes." She turns her head behind her throne. "KNEEL!" The \ <<if (dig($metjahi, 2) gte 1)>>\ nine \ <<else>>\ ten \ <</if>>\ hooded, robed figures drop to their knees in kowtow. "Satisfying." Black Flower smiles, turning back to you. "I feel that's enough civility, don't you? I really must get my part of this operation underway. \ <<if (dig($bigevents, 2) is 1)>>\ Taio will understand if your insides explode; it will be his fault for letting White Tiger chi leak out of your system." <<var $txt "skip2">>\ <<elseif (dig($bigevents, 2) is 1)>>\ I never cared for your threats, and this is no longer entertaining." <<var $txt "skip2">>\ <<else>>\ You know this, don't you?" She looks to \ <<if (dig($metjahi, 2) gte 3)>>\ Jahi \ <<else>>\ Tenkairyu \ <</if>>\ who merely nods. <</if>>\ #show-if (dig($metjahi, 2) gte 3) "Are you single?" "Are you single?" You ask the eldritch abomination wearing the corpse of a fairly attractive villager from back home. One villager whom you killed, burning their soul to fuel their own body's possession so this monstrous demon could wear their face for eternity. "Yes." Jahi replies. \ <<if ($race is "Oni")>>\ "But I have no interest or need for your mortal affections. Know that-" "That's now what you were saying back in Thunderfall." You interrupt, looking to the other two Akuma Lords seated on the azure crystal thrones. \ <<if ($heshe is "he")>>\ "She's \ <<else>>\ "He's \ <</if>>\ trying to sound mysterious or distant, but we've already made out." "That..." Jahi pauses under the turning gaze of the other two Akuma Lords. "Hm." \ <<if ($heshe is "he")>>\ She \ <<else>>\ He \ <</if>>\ grunts, turning a frown into an amused grin. "Perhaps I will find you later after all, if you survive. Black Flower, run your tests." The Kitsune twists her mouth. "I'd rather hear more about this sordid tryst of yours." "That was not a request." Jahi replies, \ <<if ($heshe is "he")>>\ her \ <<else>>\ his \ <</if>>\ eyes burning crimson. "Oh, we're getting serious then?" the Kitsune asks. Jahi remains silent. <<else>>\ "But such a thing does not apply to my kind. Teasing your emotions was a fun game, but I am beyond your mortal comprehensions, beyond your desires, and beyond your imagination. Wipe any idea of-" "What if I'm the White Tiger?" You interrupt. "I would \ <<if ($heshe is "he")>>\ be your unwavering and //eager// consort, \ <<else>>\ take you as my consort and tend to you as thus, unwaveringly and //eagerly//, \ <</if>>\ without hesitation, if that is the wish of the White Tiger." Aw hell yeah. You hope you're the White Tiger. "Black Flower." Jahi says with a casual nod. "Begin the procedure." <</if>>\ #[Distract them instead to buy more time.] <<var $ruthless - 1>>\ <<var $honor - 1>>\ "Only twelve?" You ask. "Hm?" \ <<if (dig($metjahi, 2) gte 3)>>\ Jahi hums half-heartedly. <<else>>\ Black Flower asks. <</if>>\ "You said you have twelve possible leads on this White Tiger." You shake your head in doubt. "You're checking a city of over a million new arrivals for some special person, and you've only found twelve possible matches? Are you sure you searched correctly?" <<if (($lore + $deception) gte 6)>>\ <<if (dig($metjahi, 2) gte 3)>>\ Jahi looks back to Tenkairyu. \ <<else>>\ Tenkairyu in the back rubs a sleeved hand against his masked face. \ <</if>>\ Though the shrill man's hood is oversized and drapes over his faces, you can tell he's thinking it over. Black Flower speaks up in her defense. "Of course we-" ''[Lore + Deception 6 Check Passed]'' "The shinobi, then?" You interrupt. "Come again?" "The shinobi. Plural. The ones the Council hosted here to keep an eye on the Trials. If you're checking Trial contestants like me and Big Zhu then you're probably looking for someone young, but did you consider young people from the Inner Kingdoms are here too? Prodigies, even, since they're given the task of overseeing something so important." Black Flower begins to speak a little too fast. "Well that's not, rather, I have of course checked for-" You cut her off again, louder and to the other Akuma\ <<if (dig($metjahi, 2) gte 3)>>\ Lords. \ <<else>>\ Lord and Acolytes. \ <</if>>\ "And that's without including special talents among the Nobles that came. This is an event filled with four Provinces worth of young, fit women all coming together in one city. The whole thing must look like a glorified concubine catalogue to arrogant snobs, I can't imagine a single young Noble man that ''wouldn't'' be here. Have you been checking for them?" A couple of the kneeling Akuma Acolytes speak together in hushed whispers. The seven-tailed Kitsune Akuma Lord you accuse turns to\ <<if (dig($metjahi, 2) gte 3)>>\ Jahi, begging for \ <<if ($himher is "him")>>\ her \ <<else>>\ him \ <</if>>\ <<else>>\ her compatriots with her hands up, begging for them \ <</if>>\ to listen. "You're not considering these baseless claims, are you? It's obvious this $boygirl is trying to cast doubt on our mission! Do not listen to-" "Excuses??" You shout, pushing the point forward. "Sweet Ancestors, have you even been checking the Merchants? Nakamoto Sakura has eaten more Shards than any of you have eaten rice, have you written off every young Merchant assuming their power is artificial too, or have you done your due diligence and added the prospective young Merchants to your candidate list? You know what, don't answer that. Someone bring me a scroll and quill, the amount of holes in your plan is pissing me off. I'm recording all the ideas you missed." "Why would we-" "I WAS A LABORER, FOR HEAVEN'S SAKE!" You scream at Black Flower, forcing her to flinch back. "HAVE YOU EVEN BEEN CHECKING THEM?" The Kitsune gulps, dead silent. You can feel the stares of her allies weighing on her shoulders. She hangs her head and snaps her fingers, manifesting a scroll and quill in front of you. In your ear, a whisper echoes through foxfire chi. "I'm going to kill you after this." Black Flower hisses, out of the earshot of the others. "I'm going to skin you alive and choke your neck with your own flesh, tighter and tighter, until I feel your vertebrae pop apart like pig's ribs." <<page "Continue" "ch8-souldomain-doodles">>\ <<else>>\ ''[Lore + Deception 6 Check Failed]'' "No." Black Flower says, shaking her head. "I'm not falling for this. I knew letting you speak was a stupid idea. I really must get my part of this operation underway. \ <<if (dig($bigevents, 2) is 1)>>\ Taio will understand if your insides explode; it will be his fault for letting White Tiger chi leak out of your system." <<var $txt "skip2">>\ <<elseif (dig($bigevents, 2) is 1)>>\ I never cared for your threats, and this is no longer entertaining." <<var $txt "skip2">>\ <<else>>\ You know this, don't you?" She looks to \ <<if (dig($metjahi, 2) gte 3)>>\ Jahi \ <<else>>\ Tenkairyu \ <</if>>\ who merely nods. <</if>>\ <<include "ch8-souldomain-chargingmalazer">>\ <</if>>\ <</choose>>

<<var $bigevents + 10000000000000>>\ She turns to the eleven other robed figures, specifically staring at the \ <<if (dig($metjahi, 2) gte 3)>>\ other two on crystal thrones. \ <<else>>\ one sitting on the azure crystal throne next to hers. \ <</if>>\ "What should we do? Another Akuma Lord's plaything shouldn't be off limits, but this one's in the Trials. Is this initiative an important one I should know about?" "I already told you." Replies the short Akuma Lord, Tenkairyu, in a shrill voice. "This is not my responsibility." "Then hold your tongue." Black Flower growls. <<if (dig($metjahi, 2) gte 3)>>\ "Stay your hand, for now." Replies the hooded figure on the central throne. "We will consult the bloodlord at a later time. If this minion of his is the White Tiger, and he has not told us, he will answer for that. Yet even so, such a scenario is worthy of a century's celebration. Whether it comes with secret agendas attached, locating the White Tiger is a victory for us all." \ <<else>>\ Tenkairyu lets out a raspy growl. "If it is guidance you seek, then seek it later when the bloodlord is present. If his minion is the White Tiger then it will be cause for rejoice." \ <</if>>\ "And if $heshe isn't the White Tiger?" Black Flower asks. "Then the test will not go well for $himher. For now, engage in diplomacy. You speak to an Akuma Acolyte who represents $hisher Lord." <<page "Continue" "ch8-souldomain-joiningakuma2">>\

"Fine." The Black Flower closes her eyes for a moment to suppress irritation. "If we have to talk instead of kill then let's get it over with. I am in a hurry to test the spares, so tell me, Acolyte, what do you want?" "What do I want?" You ask, confused. "You abducted me in the middle of my mission. What do //you// want?" The seven-tailed Kitsune huffs while walking back to her crystal azure throne. She sits and faces you with a new look of regal disapproval. "Bow your head, Akuma Acolyte, and ask again with proper deference to an Akuma Lord." Playing into the act, you lower to one knee. "Akuma Lord Black Flower, I am ignorant of the operation in which I have been included. What is the objective?" <<include "ch8-souldomain-fouranswers">>\

"Isn't it obvious?" You reply. "I work for another Akuma Lord. Master Taio, specifically." "The bloodlord?" Black Flower the Kitsune raises her upper lip on one side, revealing a fang and an irksome confusion. "Why would he bring in outside help when he can make them?" <<if ($deception gte 3)>>\ "Because even with Blood Marbles, the Demonic Tomes, and every other trick his Clones want to invent, they all spring from the same mind." You reply. "I'm a different experiment. He's testing if I can contribute originality to his plans." The Kitsune wrinkles her nose, rolling up one sleeve and rubbing her chin. <<if (dig($mettaio, 1) gte 6)>>\ //This is proposterous.// Taio the Scholar says in your mind. //The original would never accept an apprentice like you.// //Let the $boygirl speak.// Replies the Bandit. //These terrible ideas are the crux of $hisher success.// \ <</if>>\ Black Flower stares you down further, squinting, until her predatory stare drops to a more civilized look of frustration. "Shit." ''[Deception 3 Check Passed]'' <<var $agiexp + 3>>\ <<include "ch8-souldomain-joiningakuma">>\ <<else>>\ ''[Deception 3 Check Failed]'' "Because, uh, I-" "I think I'll just kill you." The Kitsune says. "That Human can't keep his hands off his plaything's souls. If you actually worked for him it would show in your aura." <<if (dig($mettaio, 1) gte 6)>>\ //Open your spirit to me.// Taio the Scholar says in your mind. //Hells no.// You reply internally. //I trust you about as much as-// //Imminently, you clueless buffoon, before the moment is gone!// You curse internally and release a small section of your Inner Hellscape. <<var $hellscape - 50>>\ ''[Hellscape Capacity Reduced by 50]'' //Press your aura to its fullest.// Taio the Bandit shouts. //Now!// You release an aura of $auracolor chi around your body at full force, echoing out waves of power. At the same time, Crimson chi fire erupts around you from both Taio's echo inside your spirit. The three Aura Pressures don't only overlap, they intermingle, forming a fusion of power that you can't properly measure. The Kitsune, Black Flower, wrinkles her nose. She rolls up one sleeve and rubs her chin, sending out a deeper spiritual scan against you. Evidently, she can't properly measure your fused auras either. <<include "ch8-souldomain-joiningakuma">>\ <<else>>\ <<if (dig($metjahi, 2) gte 3)>>\ "Hold, Black Flower." Says the hooded figure on the central azure crystal throne. \ <<else>>\ "Stay your hand, Black Flower." Calls the raspy, shorter Akuma Lord from his azure crystal throne. \ <</if>>\ "The child's ruse is not without merit, but $heshe does not work for the bloodlord. Rather, this child is his enemy. \ <<include "ch8-souldomain-detecting2wins">>\ <</if>>\ <</if>>\

The clouds beneath your feet rumble, and the hurricane winds forming the wall of your pocket realm reverse direction. <<if (dig($bigevents, 3) gte 1)>>\ "Here they come!" You shout to the other contestants, pushing your $auracolor aura to its fullest. They hurry to draw their weapons and take on battlestances. \ <<else>>\ With twelve against one, you surround your body with $auracolor chi and prepare to meet your ancestors. \ <</if>>\ Yet the Akuma Lords do not attack. They do not charge, they do not prepare their aura, and they do not speak. They merely look to the ground, where each of your shadows are shifting into two. When you look up to the sun, you see it's done the same. Two suns, growing hotter in the center to form a pair of celestial eyes. Judging by the look on Black Flower's face, this is not their doing. "Someone is here..." Says a man's voice through the dual suns. They rotate in unison, as if scanning the area, until you swear they make eye contact with you. "You. I...//see// you." "The White Tiger!" Screams one of the Akuma Acolytes, dropping to its knees. "The White Tiger comes!" "No..." Whispers the shrill, smaller Akuma Lord, Tenkairyu. "Something different. Something mortal." Black Flower snarls at the sky, breaking out into a growl that rumbles from her very aura. As if in answer, the entire pocket realm begins to shake. "Announcer, use it here." Says the voice behind the suns. "A-Are you sure?" Asks the voice of Misuka the Performer, seeming to come from the sky as well. "It didn't work the first two times!" "I am here now. Do it." "Oookay!" Misuka shouts, and golden-pink cracks form in the air all around you. ''//"Mystic Transformation: Soul Domain!"//'' Reality tears. <<page "Continue" "ch8-domaingone">>\

"Taio is a master scholar of history." says Tenkairyu, "He is also a patient inventor, and a ruthless killer. He is everything humanity is meant to be, and everything it so often fails to be." <<if (dig($bigevents, 2) is 1)>>\ Black Flower looks skyward, her lower and upper fangs on display when she considers her next words. "He's \ <<else>>\ "Oh fine, just give information away for free." Black Flower says, tensing her claws while staring down the shorter Akuma Lord. After three seconds she relents, sits back, and considers her next words carefully. "Fine. He's \ <</if>>\ a schemer. A good one. He knew how to make himself beneficial enough to our plans that we had to accept him, but not too vital that he threatens to outshine any of our individual contributions. He probably thinks he'll survive the White Tiger's coming. Maybe he will." <<if (dig($metjahi, 2) gte 3)>>\ Jahi smirks. "Taio is an enemy and a \ <<if (dig($mettaio, 1) gte 6)>>\ friend. Moreso to you than to me, on both accounts. \ <<else>>\ friend. I find his delusional ambition amusing. \ <</if>>\ Worry not about his location, your future will be to rule over him as the White Tiger or to end here." <<if ($heshe is "he")>>\ She \ <<else>>\ He \ <</if>>\ nods to Black Flower. <<else>>\ "Black Flower." Tenkairyu adds, adjusting his handseals and suddenly ignoring you. "The ward amplification is complete." "Does that mean?" Black Flower asks excitedly. "Yes." Tenkairyu finishes. \ <<if (dig($bigevents, 2) is 1)>>\ "It matters not if Taio loses a pawn. We have delayed enough. You \ <<else>>\ "You \ <</if>>\ may begin the procedure." <</if>>\ <<include "ch8-souldomain-chargingmalazer">>\

"Are you threatening me?" The Kitsune sneers, flexing each finger one by one. "Ohoho, you cutesy little corpse! I could bite the eyeballs out of your skull without even bothering with your aura. I could rip your entrails out in an instant. I could bind your hands and feet with your own sinew and throw you out of the sky." Her nails on one hand extend eighteen inches. "In fact, let's do that now." <<if ($jadedragonfoundation is true)>>\ Her own aura expands into a howling foxhead of chi, as if it were alive, and she dashes toward you in an instant. ''[Jade Dragon Event]'' <<apboost 7>>\ Your own aura expands into a roaring dragon of chi and bites at her approach. She holds both hands up to catch its jaws only to be punched in the face by your still-very-physical body inside the dragon of chi. She's knocked back to where she was standing when you first talked, a small scuff mark on her chin. "What a surprise!" She screams in excitement. "The kit's got some kick! Fine, let's get ''visceral.''" "Hold, Black Flower." Says the \ <<if (dig($metjahi, 2) gte 3)>>\ hooded figure on the central azure crystal throne. "The child possesses a power it should not." <<else>>\ "Stay your hand." Calls the shrill, raspy, shorter figure on the other azure crystal throne. "There is something wrong with this child's power." <</if>>\ <<else>>\ "Hold, Black Flower." \ <<if (dig($metjahi, 2) gte 3)>>\ Says the hooded figure on the central azure crystal throne. "The child speaks true. <<else>>\ Calls the shrill, raspy, shorter figure on the other azure crystal throne. "This child speaks the truth. <</if>>\ <</if>>\ <<include "ch8-souldomain-threaten2">>\

"So what?" The Kitsune says. "If $heshe got lucky-" "You fail to grasp the obvious." The\ <<if (dig($metjahi, 2) gte 3)>>\ central hooded figure replies, flicking their hand outward lazily. \ <<else>>\ shorter Akuma Lord replies, shaking its head while maintaining the handseals. \ <</if>>\ "The Aura Pressure you detect from this entity is likely not $hisher real power. A disguise. An obfuscation. You stand against an unknown variable while seeking exactly that. The search for the White Tiger may finally be complete. Engage in diplomacy." "Fine." The Kitsune snaps out, snarling \ <<if (dig($bigevents, 2) is 1)>>\ and adjusting her seating on her azure crystal throne. \ <<else>>\ while walking away from you. She reaches her azure crystal throne, sits, and faces you with regal disapproval. \ <</if>>\ <<if (dig($bigevents, 2) is 2)>>\ "Your Archons are moving faster than we thought, so tell me, what do expect to get out of a parlay?" Surrounded by unconscious contestants, trapped in a swirling Wind-world generated by a Technique, and face to face with \ <<if (dig($metjahi, 2) gte 3)>>\ three \ <<else>>\ two \ <</if>>\ of the Akuma Lords, you have more questions than you even know how to express. All you manage to let out is, <<page "Why did you bring me here?" "ch8-souldomain-fouranswers">>\ <<else>>\ "Speaking like equals is a mockery, but if you are the White Tiger, then it's a mockery for you to speak to me instead. I'll hedge my bet. Speak." The other nine Acolytes walk behind the three throned figures and drop to one knee, all eyes on you. Surrounded by unconscious contestants, trapped in a swirling Wind-world generated by a Technique, and face to face with \ <<if (dig($metjahi, 2) gte 3)>>\ three \ <<else>>\ two \ <</if>>\ of the Akuma Lords, you have more questions than you even know how to express. All you manage to let out is, <<page "What in the world did I get dragged into?" "ch8-souldomain-fouranswers">>\ <</if>>\

The Five-Pillar Pendant on your clothing \ <<if ($score_rabbit gte 4)>>\ glows white with \ <<if ($score_tiger gte 4)>>\ another \ <<else>>\ a \ <</if>>\ passing score, \ <<else>>\ glows black with \ <<if ($score_tiger gte 4)>>\ a \ <<else>>\ another \ <</if>>\ failing score, \ <</if>>\ but you pay it no attention when staring amazed at your new surroundings. Chi. Your new surroundings are made //entirely// of chi. The thick white clouds beneath your feet, the bright blue sky and sun overhead, even the silent swirling wall of dark hurricane winds blocking you into a circle the size of a palace chamber. To your eyes, you're standing on clouds in the calm eye of a storm. By all accounts, it looks like a breathtaking and dangerous Heavenly Wind Gate. Yet no power surges into your body. To your spiritual senses, especially with your Foundation and experience, you know this is no Gate. <<if (dig($knowledge, 2) lt 9)>>\ <<var $knowledge + 10000000000000>>\ ''[Barrier Knowledge Increased]'' <</if>>\ You're inside of a Technique, and you're not alone. <<page "Continue" "ch8-souldomain3">>\

Eight other participants stand around you, having used the stonewall at roughly the same time. That much, you expected, even if one of the contestants with you is Big Zhu. What you didn't expect is the twelve hooded powerhouses on the other side of this cloud-top eye of the storm, \ <<if (dig($metjahi, 2) gte 3)>>\ three \ <<else>>\ two \ <</if>>\ of which sit on azure crystal thrones while the others stand. <<if ($portraitpics is true)>>\ <<if (dig($metjahi, 2) gte 3)>>\ <<image "https://www.auraclash.com/assets/images/akuma-lords3.jpg">>\ <<else>>\ <<image "https://www.auraclash.com/assets/images/akuma-lords2.jpg">>\ <</if>>\ <</if>>\ Five of those standing in the back keep their thick white cloaks open. Their faces remain obfuscated by the hoods but they reveal their shared outfit: the same Cathayan combat robes of black in the center and white on the sleeves. Layers of black and white stripes form the trim crisscrossing the center of their robes and the ends of each sleeve, and a thick red obi sash keeps their combat robes shut. Though they keep their auras masked, enough power radiates from their clothing alone to spell danger. "Archons!" Big Zhu shouts beside you, dropping to one knee. "That's right, my little rabbits!" Shouts one of the hooded figures. From the azure crystal throne on the left, Misuka the Performer removes her hood and lets her three tails extend behind \ <<if ($race is "Kitsune")>>\ her, through her robe without breaking or disrupting it. You have //got// to learn that trick. Ancestors know your tails have given you enough wardrobe Hell. \ <<elseif ($race is "Yokai")>>\ her, through her robe without breaking or disrupting it. You wonder if non-Kitsune could learn that trick. Ancestors know your tail has given you enough wardrobe Hell. \ <<else>>\ her. \ <</if>>\ "Congratulations on getting through yet another Trial! The Dragon Trial begins now. It's child's play compared to the others, so don't you fret. Nothing more than an in-depth scan of your Aura Pressure." She rises from her seat. "This may hurt a little, but if you each stand still it will be the shortest Trial of your lives." "Of course, announcer!" Big Zhu shouts. "Of course, announcer!" The others join in, dropping to one knee. The Kitsune's tails swish and she raises both hands forward. From each of her fingers extends a white thread of chi that reaches out towards the nine of you, slithering through the air like serpents of living energy. <<page "Continue" "ch8-souldomain4">>\

<<var $val 0>>\ <<if (dig($mettaio, 1) gte 6)>>\ //DO NOT TOUCH IT!// Screams Taio the Scholar. //DODGE!!// Screams Taio the Bandit. ''[Event: Possessed]'' You lean your whole torso backwards in a blink, slamming your head into the cloud-ground to narrowly dodge the white tether of chi. With both arms facing upward, you unleash $auracolor chi into the air, destroying the tether before it can refocus. "What are you doing?!" Big Zhu shouts. "Do not defy thEEEAAAHHHHHH!!!" He screams \ <<elseif ($perception gte 3)>>\ ''[Perception 3 Check Passed]'' <<var $forexp + 1>>\ The Kitsune's tail swish is delayed. While talking, her left tail swishes, her central tail swishes, then her right tail swishes. There's a three second delay where none move, then her right tail swishes in the other direction. It's as if there are more tails to the rhythm. Tails you can't see. \ "That's not the announcer!" You shout, wrapping $auracolor energy around your hand and slapping the serpentine chi effect away before it connects to your body. \ "Don't be a fool, LaboreRRRAAAAAHHHH!!!" Big Zhu screams \ <<else>>\ ''[Perception 3 Check Failed]'' The tendril of chi connects into your chest and you feel something wrong. It's not scanning your spirit, it's //consuming// it. <<aploss 5>>\ You grip the edges of the tendril with $auracolor chi around both hands and rip it off, crushing it with your hands until the tendril dissipates. More alarming, screams break out around you and you realize the other contestants aren't so lucky. They all drop to the ground, howling in pain and breaking out into uncontrollable seizures. <<var $val 5>>\ <</if>>\ <<if $val isnot 5>>\ when the thread connects to his chest. <<var $val 4>>\ <<if ($style is "Kiihakai")>>\ <<var $val - 1>>\ <<elseif (($race is "Kitsune") or ($race is "Oni"))>>\ <<var $val - 1>>\ <<elseif (($element1 is "Wind") or ($element2 is "Wind"))>>\ <<var $val - 1>>\ <</if>>\ At the same time the other contestants collapse directly to the ground, writhing in screams of agony. <<if (dig($mettaio, 1) gte 6)>>\ //We need to leave.// Says Taio the Scholar. //We NEED to leave.// <</if>>\ <</if>>\ "That was so disappointingly easy!" 'Misuka' laughs in a richer, haughtier voice. "Although..." White energy flashes in a wide horizontal ring over the woman, from the top to the bottom. When it passes over her she's remade into a different Kitsune with long black hair, red eyes, and seven tails. <<if ($portraitpics is true)>>\ <<image "https://www.auraclash.com/assets/images/black-flower.jpg">>\ <</if>>\ "Tenkairyu!" The Kitsune stranger calls over her shoulder. "One of them is loose. Be a dear and clean it up." "My sorcery maintains this location as agreed." A shrill, raspy voice replies from the short robed man on the \ <<if (dig($metjahi, 2) gte 3)>>\ rightmost of the three crystal thrones, \ <<else>>\ other crystal throne, \ <</if>>\ his fingers steeped in a conjoined Handseal. "I owe you nothing, Black Flower. Testing for the White Tiger is //your// responsibility. Clean up your own failures." None of the other ten robed figures move. "Ugh. Fine." Replies the Kitsune, this 'Black Flower', turning back to you with her red eyes glowing brighter and brighter. "But if you're making me play with my food, you can't complain when I enjoy it." <<page "Wait!" "ch8-souldomain5">>\

"Wait!" You shout. "What's even going on here? Why are you attacking us?" "Why should I answer?" Black Flower replies over the fading groans of the other contestants, each falling unconscious while their power dwindles. "I don't bore myself with answering questions. I prefer to //ask// them, and I don't have any for you." "Not even one?" You reply to stall for time, taking two steps back when you sense the woman's Aura Pressure being \ <<if ($jadedragonfoundation is true)>>\ even higher than your \ <<if ($aurapressure lte 5000)>>\ own, by //thousands.// \ <<else>>\ own. \ <<var $powexp + 2>>\ <</if>>\ <<else>>\ in the high-thousands. \ <</if>>\ <<if ($val is 5)>>\ "You don't want to know how I'm still standing?" You'd like to know that as well. <<else>>\ "You don't want to know how I saw through your disguise?" <</if>>\ "No, and are you stalling for time?" Black Flower asks, waltzing toward you like a predator that's cornered its prey. "If it's questions you're craving, I have questions better suited to prey: how does it feel to be insignificant? To disappear in someone else's plan? To die without even really knowing //who killed you?//" Outnumbered and outmaneuvered, you look closely at their uniformal equipment and consider the audacity needed to try whatever they're doing at the Heavenly Ascension Trials. <<if (dig($mettaio, 1) gte 6)>>\ //Stop thinking and run!// Taio the Bandit screams into your mind from the inner hellscape of your soul, which he haunts. //RUN NOW!// //Run where, you fool?!// Taio the Scholar screams beside him. //There is no exit! Host Body, ignore him and focus. If you do not think of something quickly then we are all dead!// <</if>>\ With the seven-tailed kitsune approaching you, her hand glowing with a white-red claw of flame, you throw out the only answer that could stall this woman's attack. If it's correct. "Of course I know who you are." You reply in calm, feigned confidence. "You're the Akuma Lords." <<if (dig($mettaio, 1) gte 6)>>\ Taio the Scholar hisses. //We are all going to die.// <</if>>\ <<page "Continue" "ch8-souldomain6">>\

"Ah-!" The Kitsune stumbles mid-step. "How could you...?!" Her eyes widen and she looks back to \ <<if (dig($metjahi, 2) gte 3)>>\ her partner still on his azure crystal throne. \ <<else>>\ the figure on the central azure crystal throne. \ <</if>>\ "I never said anything! I never even uttered the phrase, I swear it!" She glares back to you, her face contorting inhumanly with an angered vulpine expression. "How in the Thousand Hells do you know that name?" <<choose "ch8-souldomain-threaten">> #show-if ((($honor lte 40) or ($ruthless gte 60)) or (dig($mettaio, 1) gte 6)) "I kill your kind every couple of years." <<var $honor - 1>>\ <<var $ruthless + 1>>\ "I kill your kind every couple of years." You reply, cracking your neck. "You're early though, I already wiped out another Taio clone last month." #show-if ((($honor gt 40) and ($ruthless lt 60)) and (dig($mettaio, 1) lt 6)) "I've been fighting evil from a young age." <<var $honor + 1>>\ "I've been fighting evil from a young age." You reply, staring her down. "Your minions talk when they're losing." #"Isn't it obvious? I work for another Akuma Lord. Master Taio, specifically." -> "ch8-souldomain-obvious" #"I'm a deputy Archon, we've been investigating you for years." -> "ch8-souldomain-detecting2wins" <<var $bigevents + 20000000000000>>\ "I'm a deputy Archon," you say with a mocking chuckle, "we've been investigating you for years. The gaps in your security are shameful." "There's no such thing as deputy Archons." The Kitsune replies. "There's no such thing as Akuma Lords either." You say back, wrapping your body in an aura of $auracolor chi. "Yet here you are." Her eye twitches and she looks back to the \ <<if (dig($metjahi, 2) gte 3)>>\ others. \ <<else>>\ other seated Akuma Lord, Tenkairyu. \ <</if>>\ "<<cap $heshe>>'s bluffing. $heshe has to be, otherwise the Archons would be on us by now." "I took great efforts to ensure we would have time." Replies Tenkairyu, \ <<if (dig($metjahi, 2) gte 3)>>\ the shorter, raspy, shrill one on the rightmost of the three azure crystal thrones. \ <<else>>\ voice cracking. \ <</if>>\ "The Archons could be aware of our existence yet not aware of this plan." "Then I'd better kill this one before they get here." The Kitsune replies. "Try it and I summon my masters." You threaten immediately. "If you get me answers, I can justify not calling the Archons immediately, but if you want a fight I'll gladly die to see you die too." <<if (dig($metjahi, 2) gte 3)>>\ "Hold, Black Flower." Says the hooded figure at the central throne. "For \ <<else>>\ "Stay your hand, Black Flower." Calls Tenkairyu. "This one speaks the truth about fighting our members. \ <</if>>\ <</choose>>

<<script>>console.clear();<</script>>\ <<var $checkers false>>\ <<var $val 0>>\ <<var $val2 0>>\ <<var $counter 0>>\ <<var $chosenline "">>\ <<var $rightchoice false>>\ <<var $diffadd 0>>\ <<var $secondbonus 0>>\ <<var $fangoff false>>\ <<var $fren "">>\ <<var $ally "">>\ <<var $rscore 0>>\ <<var $booster 0>>\ <<var $bigzhu false>>\ <<var $flying false>>\ <<var $bunnyboost 0>>\ <<var $mathinit false>>\ <<var $tookfield false>>\ <<var $rocketritual false>>\ <<var $oldagi $agility>>\ <<var $boostposs 0>>\ <<var $leashedzhu false>>\ <<var $zhulose false>>\ <div class="fightingfont">Chapter Eight</div>\ ''//In which the Empire tests the mighty,//'' ''//The fox tests the swift,//'' ''//And plans from the shadows go into motion.//'' <<var $chapter 8>>\ The Heavenly Ascension Trials begin at last. For millions across the Empire, the time of preparation has come to an end. For ten thousand contestants, the time of action has begun. <<page "Continue" "ch8-start2">>\

You're forced through narrow alleyways and wide open roads, all equally congested with people. The crowd is a sea of vibrant robes representing different Sects or territories, and they're all marching in the same direction as you. After an uncomfortable trek you arrive at the grand registration plaza, an open area outside a massive roofless oval building that someone was so kind as to label "Tiger Arena" across its top in letters larger than some buildings. You never envisioned a //letter// crushing you to death until this moment. The plaza itself is devoid of the commotion of duels or shops you find elsewhere in the city. Instead it is filled with Martial Artists on their best behavior, many bowing as processions of men and women in fine glowing silks pass into the Tiger Arena. Nobles. The area outside holds plenty of space for multiple Sects to be gathered to the sides in private conversation or meditation while their disciples wait in the six long queues for registration. Each line snakes its way through the plaza and ends in one of six tented tables lining the Tiger Arena's entrance. Scribes sit at each tent in black robes with veiled Bōgu masks over their faces, a stark contrast to the colorful array of the Martial Artists. As you inch closer to the lines you notice each of the six registration tables has a different symbol. Two crossed red blades A blue pair of wings A green shield A golden scroll A purple eye An empty circle <<if (dig($mettaio, 1) gte 6)>>\ <<var $solexp + 2>>\ <<var $powexp + 2>>\ //Those are the symbols of the Inner Kingdoms.// Says Taio the Scholar from within the Hellscape you've begun building within your soul. //This is a test.// You freeze in place, look around as if someone might hear you, then answer him in your mind. //How do I pass it?// //By doing exactly as I say, fool. I've extracted much information on the details of this imperial event. Only a buffoon would ignore the inner workings of-// //Sweet Hells,// Taio the Bandit interrupts, //Quit babbling in the middle of the street and answer the ignoramus already.// Taio the Scholar is silent and you try to look more nonchalant while strolling through the plaza to buy time. You're not sure if whistling helps or hurts. You whistle anyway. //Very well.// He finally says. //They're asking what Inner Kingdom with which you associate. There's likely some trick involved, but the best course of action is to choose the one that you believe you'd impress the most throughout the Trials. The Bladed Lands values honor, the Cursed Lands values practical results even at the cost of honor, the Mystic Lands values intelligence, the Sacred Lands values compassion, and the Wild Lands values ruthless physical strength. The color of the symbol hints to what nation it represents. Choose wisely and stick to your decision.// \ <<elseif ($lore gte 2)>>\ ''[Lore 2 Check Passed]'' <<var $solexp + 1>>\ You recognize those symbols. The crests of the Inner Kingdoms. At first you thought the lines were supposed to represent what Style you know, but now you suspect it's something else. If the Inner Kingdoms are involved in judging the participants then it's likely that whichever line you pick will grant you favor towards that Inner Kingdom's judge. To maximize your benefits, you consider which Inner Kingdom best fits the way you plan to pass the Trials. //[Bladed Lands: Desires Honorable Actions]// //[Cursed Lands: Desires Practical Actions]// //[Mystic Lands: Desires Intelligent Actions]// //[Sacred Lands: Desires Compassionate Actions]// //[Wild Lands: Desires Ruthless Actions]// <<else>>\ ''[Lore 2 Check Failed]'' They're aesthetic, but not exactly a good decoration for something as serious as the Heavenly Ascension Trials. The designers for this event should be ashamed of <<if ($ruthless gte 60)>>\ themselves //and// flogged. <<else>>\ themselves. <</if>>\ <</if>>\ <<if (dig($mettaio, 1) gte 6)>>\ As Taio speaks \ <<else>>\ As you ponder \ <<if ($lore gte 2)>>\ your choice \ <<else>>\ the symbols \ <</if>>\ <</if>>\ you're passed by more than a few Martial Artists looking around the plaza wondering which line they're supposed to be in, but there are even more Martial Artists confidently walking by you and joining a line with purpose. <<if (dig($mettaio, 1) gte 6)>>\ //See?// Taio says, and your vision inadvertently flickers to the windows of a nearby building. //They're watching.// Sure enough, multiple people in dark black robes and veiled Bōgu masks, the same uniforms as the Imperial scribes, are hiding in the windows of buildings on both sides of the plaza. Each is analyzing Martial Artists as they enter and approach the lines. //It's not entirely about your choice.// Warns Taio the Scholar. //It's about your hesitation. Choose a line. Quickly!// <<elseif ($perception gte 2)>>\ ''[Perception 2 Check Passed]'' <<var $forexp + 1>>\ A quick motion catches your eye and you see someone-no, multiple people, watching you all from the windows of nearby buildings. It's hard to see them at first because they all wear the same black robe and veiled Bōgu mask uniform of the scribes at the tables. They're facing the plaza's center and scribbling notes on scrolls of parchment. It appears that the Trials began before you even noticed. If your hunch is correct, they're grading who figures out what line to get in and who doesn't. If your vision is correct, they're scribbling notes more when staring at those who wait too long. It seems hesitation is the worst thing you could do here. <<else>>\ ''[Perception 2 Check Failed]'' You're not quite sure which line to get in yourself, but you're sure it will work out if you take your time and think carefully. <<var $score_mystic - 1>>\ <<var $score_wild - 1>>\ <<var $score_cursed - 1>>\ <<var $score_bladed - 1>>\ <</if>>\ <<include "ch8-pickschool">>\

<<if ($score_tiger is 5)>>\ In shame, it seems you've run out of plates. "Most unfortunate." Fang says, looking at her own empty weight rack. "I had somehow forgot we only collected one each. "This does not bring joy." "Five points \ <<elseif ($score_tiger is 6)>>\ Despite all your efforts, there's one clear blocker to your plans: you're out of plates. Worse, the clerk's mentioning of a 'combat phase' implies that was the only time you were allowed to collect more from others. "Six points \ <</if>>\ <<include "ch8-passingtiger">>\

Yet when you approach your unconscious opponent, you find a problem. "Only two?" She asks in confusion. "Shit!" You shout. "It must be because of the enchantment. You only get seven if they drop it willingly." "Then we must fight more for the crowd!" Fang cheers. "What a joyous day!"

<<choose "ch8-tiger-pickmonkey">> #use-once Target a sneaky Monkey Yokai. #use-once Target an ice sorceress. -> "ch8-tiger-picksorceress" #use-once Target the Oni woman with four knives. -> "ch8-tiger-pickoni" <</choose>>

<<var $nexttext + 1>>\ The two of you rush through the rows of empty weight racks and spot your target, a lone monkey Yokai with a dark tan and thick mustache. He holds a two-handed sword over his head and hesitantly approaches a fight between two Humans. His hesitation is what marks him as a target. <<var $combatstat "agility">>\ <<discount "Darkness" 1>>\ <<discount "Light" 1>>\ <<discount "Kurokonton" 1>>\ <<attack "Melee">>\ <<if ($agility lt 6) and ($fangcombat gte 7)>>\ <<var $cmod + 1>>\ ''[Fang Combat Prowess Check: +1 Battle Prowess]'' <</if>>\ <<combatcheck 7>>\ <<if ($passcheck is true)>>\ You sweep his legs and Tian Fang claws at his eyes. Blood splatters from his face and he swings his sword, which you dodge. The two of you then reel back with heavy strikes to his gut. The blows land and the monkeyman is sent into a nearby wall, cracking its foundation and knocking him out. You both scramble to collect his plates. <<var $plates + 1>>\ <<if ($plates is 1)>>\ <<include "ch8-tiger-onlytwo">>\ <</if>>\ <<if ($plates is 3)>>\ <<include "ch8=tiger-fangdidit">>\ <<else>>\ <<include "ch8-tiger-pickfighter">>\ <</if>>\ <<else>>\ You sweep his leg and Tian Fang leaps with ice-claws ready to go for his eyes. Neither of you see the man sweep his enormous blade in a 360 degree arc before it's too late, slicing outward with a wave of golden Mystic Chi. <<woundcheck 2 false true>>\ <<if ($eblocktech isnot "")>>\ Though your $eblocktech blocks the damage, it doesn't block the impact. \ <</if>>\ You and Fang are knocked across the Arena floor and slam your heads together when you collide with the wall. You see stars and feel your consciousness threaten to slip away. The haze of your head injury finally clears after a minute. "Fang." You say groggily to the equally groaning wolfgirl. "Fang, come on. We need to get back-" <<include "ch8-tiger7">>\ <</if>>\

<<var $nexttext + 3>>\ Tian Fang is engaged in melee with a dagger-wielding Oni girl and ''winning''. Fang holds two ice-daggers of her own and the Oni girl's legs are covered in frost weighing her down. The Oni woman sports clearly visible slashes across her cheek and chest while Fang shows no injuries, her tail wagging profusely. "No one attacks a Mountain Hazard without being struck by the Mountain, most Hazardly!" Fang shouts. "Shut up! Just shut up!" The Oni girl glowers, throwing her daggers to the side. "If I'm going down, it's not to an idiot like you. You're both coming ''with me!''" Before you can move, the Oni girl pushes both her hands forward in a potent flash of scarlet Bladed Chi. Through some sort of Surge specialty, all of the energy stored in her body releases at once in a river of chi blades. <<var $combatstat "soul">>\ <<discount "Kiihakai" 1>>\ <<discount "Aoyusumu" 1>>\ <<discount "Storm" 1>>\ <<attack "Ranged">>\ <<if (($soul lt 6) and ($fangcombat gte 7))>>\ <<var $cmod + 1>>\ ''[Fang Combat Prowess Check: +1 Battle Prowess]'' <</if>>\ <<combatcheck 7>>\ <<if ($passcheck is true)>>\ Without time to form a counterbeam, you rush any Technique you can muster through your channels. As much $auracolor chi as you can muster forms around your forearm and launch it forward in a surge of power. Fang does the same with a spinkick of Wild Chi thrown off her leg. Your two blasts crash into the girl's beam and push through it, breaking her attack apart. The combined might of your chi slams into the Oni girl's chest and sends her airborne. Her aura shatters when she hits the arena wall and you've scored another plate set. <<var $plates + 1>>\ <<if ($plates is 1)>>\ <<include "ch8-tiger-onlytwo">>\ <</if>>\ <<if ($plates is 3)>>\ <<include "ch8=tiger-fangdidit">>\ <<else>>\ <<include "ch8-tiger-pickfighter">>\ <</if>>\ <<else>>\ The attack shreds through both of you and pierces through your flesh, blasting you into the Tiger Arena wall where even more blades from the beam are able to stab into your body. <<woundcheck 2 false false>>\ By the time the barrage ends, you're facedown in a pool of your own blood and Fang's not much better. The two of you rise, not defeated yet, but looking worse for wear. <<var $txt "skip8">>\ <<include "ch8-tiger8">>\ <</if>>\

<<if ($nexttext gt 0)>>\ You don't find the next target; the next target finds you. <<else>>\ The ice sorceress in your sights targets you at the same time that you target her. <</if>>\ A glacier of ice bigger than your house appears above the two of you and you brace yourself, expecting Fang to take care of it, when you realize she's distracted by \ <<if ($nexttext is 1)>>\ the Oni girl from before, charging at her with knives drawn. <<else>>\ another fighter swinging at her with a club. <</if>>\ The enormous chunk of ice crashes down upon both your heads before you can act. <<var $combatstat "fortitude">>\ <<discount "Akakiru" 1>>\ <<discount "Fire" 1>>\ <<discount "Ice" 2>>\ <<attack "Area" 2>>\ <<if ($fortitude lt 6) and ($fangcombat gte 7)>>\ <<var $cmod + 1>>\ ''[Fang Combat Prowess Check: +1 Battle Prowess]'' <</if>>\ <<combatcheck 7>>\ <<if ($passcheck is true)>>\ <<if (((((((((((((($equippedweapon is "Tanto")) or ($equippedweapon is "Katana")) or ($equippedweapon is "Muramasa")) or ($equippedweapon is "Greataxe")) or ($equippedweapon is "Qiang")) or ($equippedweapon is "Kunai")) or ($equippedweapon is "Jian")) or ($equippedweapon is "Iceblade")) or ($equippedweapon is "Chiblade")) or ($equippedweapon is "Kagutsuchi")) or ($equippedweapon is "Ikazuchi")) or ($equippedweapon is "Shishido")) or ($equippedweapon is "Godslayer"))>>\ You cut the ice block in half with \ <<if ((((($equippedweapon isnot "Muramasa") and ($equippedweapon isnot "Ikazuchi")) and ($equippedweapon isnot "Kagutsuchi")) and ($equippedweapon isnot "Shishido")) and ($equippedweapon isnot "Godslayer"))>>\ your $equippedweapon \ <<else>>\ $equippedweapon \ <</if>>\ and press all your $auracolor chi around you leg in time to \ <<elseif ($style is "Akakiru")>>\ You cut the ice block in half with a blast of Bladed Chi launched from your forearm and press all your $auracolor chi around you leg in time to \ <<else>>\ Your fist cries out as you punch the iceblock in half, but you don't hesitate from the pain. You \ <</if>>\ kick it back at its attacker, a robed Human woman. She's knocked off her feet and crushed by her own ice block which shatters when her aura does. The weight of the glacier, combined with the weight of the plates she's already wearing, proves too much for the young Martial Artist. Lucky for her, you and Fang relieve her of that burden when you take her plate sets. <<var $plates + 1>>\ <<if ($plates is 1)>>\ <<include "ch8-tiger-onlytwo">>\ <</if>>\ <<if ($plates is 3)>>\ <<include "ch8=tiger-fangdidit">>\ <<else>>\ <<include "ch8-tiger-pickfighter">>\ <</if>>\ <<else>>\ The glacier crashes down over you and phases through, encapsulating your body in the massive block of ice and freezing you stiff. ''[2 Chi Points Lost]'' <<var $chispent + 2>>\ You'd hoped Tian Fang could undo the effect, but your frozen eyes are locked on her so you can see: This Technique didn't fall on Fang and freeze her. It fell on Fang and crushed her into the ground. One minute passes until the Ice Technique finally ends when your attacker is knocked out by someone else. You're released, shivering, and Fang is finally released from the full weight of a building. "L-Looks l-like we g-g-get one plate." You say, trying to warm up. "Joyous day." Fang says quietly from the ground. She stands up slowly and dusts off her robes. <<var $txt "skip8">>\ <<include "ch8-tiger8">>\ <</if>>\

<<if ($chapter is 8)>>\ You wake up beside Fang, both of you heavily bruised and somehow moving backward through the sand. <<var $wounds ($health - 1)>>\ "What happened?" You ask. "What happened?" She asks. <<var $score_tiger 4.1>>\ "Four points \ <<include "ch8-passingtiger">>\ <<elseif ($chapter is 8.1)>>\ Being eaten by a Drake is never fun. <<var $wounds ($health - 1)>>\ <<include "ch8-rabbit-eaten2">>\ <<elseif ($chapter is 8.2)>>\ <<var $wounds Math.round((($fortitude / 2) + $health) - 1)>>\ You wake up at the other end of the valley, propped up against the golden stonewall. A rainbow tide of Martial Artists are running closer to you from down the field, some still fighting bird Beasts, some coming from the woods to your right, some from the ravine to your left. Further down the stonewall, Misuka the Performer stands near one man in Waverunner armor, like what Leona used to wear. "Six points to Isamu of the Waverunners!" She calls out. The Mystic golden glow of the stonewall washes over the man, as well as the two unconscious people next to him. In the next heartbeat, they disappear, transported away. Shit. This is the end of the Rabbit Trial! You must have lost points from taking damage. Not willing to give up the bounty points to, you rise- <<var $score_rabbit $rscore>>\ "And further down the field!" Misuka shouts, looking your way. "We have 5 points to Hua Yan of the Flying Salamanders!" A golden glow comes over you and for the first time you notice a girl standing beside you, with one other unconscious Martial Artist on the ground by her feet. As the golden glow of the stonewall activates and transports you elsewhere, you realize with dismay that you're not going to get a chance to go find other people to use for bounty points. You are ''someone else's'' bounty points. <<page "Damn it all." "ch8-souldomain">>\ <</if>>\

There's only one plate set to go, but you know it won't be like the rest. Not due to some grand spiritual sensing ability, but because the Earth Chi radiating around this last plate is so potent that its aura is wider than your own. Whoever designed these wants to weed out all but the strongest. You wipe your hands off on the sand and prepare yourself, grabbing hold of the final plate, and... <<page "LIFT!" "ch8-tiger10-2">>\

<<var $combatstat "power">>\ <<discount "Earth" 1>>\ <<combatcheck (12+$diffadd)>>\ <<if ($passcheck is true)>>\ You lift the final weight and place it over your shoulders, allowing it to meld with the rest through the enchantment of its Earth Chi. An immense amber aura of Earth Chi surrounds your body; a spiritual weight larger than your own aura rests upon your shoulders and cracks the stone floor with every step. The silencing barrier strips away halfway through your march and the screams become deafening, yet even among the raucous roar of the crowd you hear the calls of your own retainers. "GO GO GO!" "You can do it, $patriarch!" "Don't let that \ <<if ($subrace is "Cat")>>\ other \ <</if>>\ Cat Bastard win!" "<<cap $clan>> Clan satchels for sale! Get your <<cap $clan>> Clan satchels for sale!" Ah. Kosuke made it. Sweat runs down your face and the strain on your body is incredible. Every step you take around the Arena presses down on you like a mountain, but you do not relent. Out of the corner of your eye you notice a lack of peers; only six of you have managed to even don the final plate. Three of the others collapse along the way, legs buckling, bodies unable to push themselves any further. The crowd stands at the edge of their seats as a cat yokai in full jade armor and a Lunargoth in sleeveless brown gi manage to make it back to their racks before dropping the incredible weight of their stone vests, causing them to break through the floor in front of them. And you're right alongside them, passing the Tiger Trial. You slam your weights onto the rack, breaking it, to the booming applause of the arena. "Seven points in the Tiger Trial!" Shouts an Imperial clerk. "A perfect score granted to Kain Orvyn of Outer East, $fullname of Outer West, and Brass Tiger of Outer North!" <<if ($mettiger isnot 10000000000)>>\ Brass Tiger?! //That's// the cat yokai under all that jade armor? <</if>>\ ''"No."'' Interrupts a voice shaking the arena's floor. <<page "Continue" "ch8-tiger10-3">>\ <<else>>\ Try as you may, the final plate proves too much of a challenge. The strain is too great. Your muscles scream out in pain and your joints threaten to collapse. You give one final heft, arching your back and tensing every muscle in your upper and lower body, but you can't get the weight off the rack. You're not the only one, either. Only five manage to remove the final plate, and of those five, three collapse before finishing even half their march. In the end, only a cat yokai in jade armor and one Lunargoth in sleeveless brown gi manage to stay on their feet. The ground shakes as they march and rocks begin to form from the arena's center in some grand display, but you don't get to see the finale. Like the other losing contestants, you are called away. "Six points \ <<var $score_tiger 6>>\ <<include "ch8-passingtiger">>\ <</if>>\

Spectators in the crowd flinch back as the flying cloud-fortress descends at falling speeds, stopping just above the arena. From its edge, the five judges look down on the three of you until the Wild Judge steps forward. <<if (($secondbonus is 0) or ((($agility + $athletics) gte ($power + 3)) or (($agility + $athletics) gte 11)))>>\ <<if ($secondbonus is 0)>>\ "Brass Tiger and $fullname did not rely on any tricks for their success. Their strength is purely from the body. The Wild Lands expends its limited pool to grant both aspirants an eighth point." The Imperial clerk's mask looks to the sky. "B-Both, my lord?" "Both." The Wild Judge reiterates. \ <<else>>\ "Brass Tiger, you did not rely on any tricks for your success. The Wild Lands expends its limited pool to grant you an eighth point." <<var $val ($power + 2)>>\ <<if (($agility + $athletics) gte $val)>>\ ''[Agility + Athletics $val Check Passed]'' <<else>>\ ''[Agility + Athletics 11 Check Passed]'' <</if>>\ The Cursed Judge steps next to him and locks his mask's gaze on you. "The Cursed Lands also recognizes $fullname, who expressed mobility in $hisher strength. While under pressure of great burden $heshe seized the front of the marching line in every iteration. The Cursed Lands grants $himher an eighth point as well." The Imperial clerk's mask looks to the sky. "Eight points for b-both, my lords?" "Both." The two Judges command. \ <</if>>\ The clerk's knees begin to buckle from the attention, either from fear or a focus of the judge's Aura Pressure. "Eight! Eight points to Brass Tiger and $fullname!" The clerk struggles to announce. When he does so, the Seal keeping the crowd's sound away flickers out and the roaring applause fills the stadium. The Lunargoth in the center of the racks spits to the ground and storms off amid the booming applause, but \ <<if ($mettiger isnot 10000000000)>>\ Brass Tiger \ <<else>>\ the cat yokai, this 'Brass Tiger', \ <</if>>\ simply holds his hands in the air, soaking in the applause of thousands. <<var $score_tiger 8>>\ <<else>>\ "Brass Tiger, you did not rely on any tricks for your success. The Wild Lands expends its limited pool to grant you an eighth point." The Imperial clerk bows on one knee. "As you will it, my lord." He then raises his head to announce, "Eight points to Brass Tiger!" When he does so, the Seal keeping the crowd's sound away flickers out and a roaring applause fills the stadium. The Lunargoth in the center of the racks looks back to you and mouths 'this is bullshit' amid the booming noise. He spits to the ground and storms off to the exit. <<if ($mettiger is 10000000000)>>\ The cat yokai, Brass Tiger, \ <<else>>\ Brass Tiger \ <</if>>\ pays him no mind and holds his arms up to soak in the applause. <<var $score_tiger 7>>\ <</if>>\ "This concludes the current seed's participation in the Tiger Trial." Calls an Imperial clerk near the entrance. "The next seed will commence in 10 minutes. Remaining contestants, please proceed to the north arena exit to begin the Rabbit Trial." One deep breath and a few stretches is all you can fit in to prepare yourself for whatever troubles lie ahead in the Rabbit Trial. While exiting the arena, you make sure to keep one eye on Brass Tiger even though you can't see through his jade horned helmet. <<if ($score_tiger is 8)>>\ You scored //above// a perfect score, and still only managed a tie because someone else did the same. Worse, that's only in your seed of 100 contestants out of 10,000. Just how many prodigies exist within the Outer Provinces? <<elseif ($score_tiger is 7)>>\ You landed a perfect score, and even that wasn't enough. These Trials are filled with as many hidden rules and criteria as imperial politics. ...That thought sticks with you for a moment. You start to wonder if that's the point. <<else>>\ Eight points...the plateau of success is higher than you thought. <</if>>\ <<page "One Trial down, eleven to go." "ch8-endtiger">>\

"The combat stage of the Tiger Trial is now complete." Calls an Imperial clerk to the entire Arena. Your blood chills and you and Fang look at each other in horror. You have no plates. A second voice catches your attention. A voice informing you that you have indeed been kicked out of the Trial. <<var $fangcombat - 1>>\ <<var $score_tiger 4.1>>\ "Four points \ <<include "ch8-passingtiger">>\

<<if ($txt isnot "skip8")>>\ You and Fang remain back-to-back, realizing you can't actually march around the Tiger Arena in this chaos. Yet after a mere three more minutes of battle and barters, eventually everyone is either unconscious or fitted with the last three plates they require. <</if>>\ "The combat stage of the Tiger Trial is now complete." A clerk at the exit calls out, approaching some unconscious contestants to drag them to the exit. "Resume the test of strength." Half of the fans get up and leave. For the first time you notice Crusher Mao among one of the middle rows, leaving alongside a burly Lunargothic elder with a wide beard and a beastbone axe on his back. "Our Sectmasters." Fang whispers, bowing at the waist to the two. The Lunargoth glances to Fang on his way out and closes one fist in his other hand and nods. A salute of acknowledgement. \ <<if ((dig($trialdeets, 1) gte 2) and ($val is 999))>>\ Shockingly, Mao does the same for you. <<var $maorep + 4>>\ <<elseif ($val is 999)>>\ Mao in turn gives you the barest glance on his way out. <<var $maorep + 2>>\ <<else>>\ Mao doesn't even glance your way. <</if>>\ When they leave you turn away from the crowd and grab the next plate with both hands. <<var $combatstat "power">>\ <<discount "Earth" 1>>\ <<combatcheck (8+$diffadd)>>\ <<if ($passcheck is true)>>\ You lift the eighth plate and place it over your shoulders as gently as you can, walking to the far wall. You get there before Fang this time despite her starting closer. "This is getting rather heavy, is it not?" She pants as she catches up, straining a smile. The arena is far emptier, down to the last eighteen contestants, and four of them can't even lift the plates they fought \ <<if ($plates lt 3)>>\ for. When they drop theirs to the ground, the plates meld into the arena floor. You cuss both from the strain of the weight and from your plans being dashed; you were going to take the plates from anyone who dropped out. So much for that plan. <<else>>\ for. <</if>>\ The last fourteen of you complete your march in determined silence and return to your \ <<if ($plates gte 2)>>\ racks. There's no room for words when there's more work to do. <<else>>\ rack, where you face a grim reality. <</if>>\ <<if ($plates gte 2)>>\ <<page "Ninth plate" "ch8-tiger9">>\ <<else>>\ <<var $score_tiger 5>>\ <<page "No more plates..." "ch8-tiger-noplates">>\ <</if>>\ <<else>>\ You...can't lift it. The heat of embarrassment flushes your cheeks even brighter than your physical exertion. All that work to get this damned plate, and you're failing to lift it in front of everyone. Try as you might, the strain is too great. Your muscles scream out in pain and your joints threaten to collapse. You drop the weight back onto the rack with a heavy grunt. "Four points \ <<var $score_tiger 4>>\ <<include "ch8-passingtiger">>\ <</if>>\

"Hnnnngggg!" Tian Fang groans, struggling to lift the ninth plate. Her cheeks are beet-red and sweat pours down her face and hands, forcing the plate to slip out of her grip several times. Her aura surges green and icy blue from pushing herself to her limits, but the weight and strain proves too much. "I think..." she says between defeated gasps, "I think this is the end for Tian Fang." <<var $combatstat "power">>\ <<discount "Earth" 1>>\ <<combatcheck (10+$diffadd)>>\ <<if ($passcheck is true)>>\ Beside her, you lift your own plate off the rack and place it over your current set. It melds in just like the others, though noticeably heavier than most. Fang's mouth drops open at your display. "How are you lifting so much weight?! We are not inside of a Gate!" You look around and realize three others have failed out alongside Fang, placing you in the top 10 contestants in this seed. //At least.// <<choose "ch8-tiger9-2">> #"We're more than just our Foundations." <<var $honor + 2>>\ "We're more than just our Foundations." You reply. "I've spent all of my Aura Pressure and training trying to make up for any specialty I'm missing. It's hard, but it's worth it." "True." Fang replies, tapping a foot nervously in thought. "It is most certainly working. Perhaps Fang should change her training methods too, something different from her Foundation's specialty..." <<var $fangcombat + 1>>\ "What is your Foundation, anyway?" She smiles coyly and wags her \ <<if ($heshe is "he")>>\ tail, leaning forward. \ <<else>>\ tail. \ <</if>>\ "A Sect secret. Though perhaps as the Trials continue, you will see it in full! It will be quite the-" "Tian Fang of Mountain Hazard." Interrupts one of the Imperial clerks. "Five points in the Tiger Trial. Proceed to the northern exit for the Rabbit Trial immediately." "Shoot." Fang curses, snapping her fingers. "Farewell for now Thunderfaller, you'd best get seven points if you're beating Tian Fang! She must only lose to the best!" You smile against your will. "Just watch me." <<var $fangrep + 1>>\ Fang shoots you an excited bow before sprinting off towards the exit on all fours. #"Train with me later and you'll see, this isn't either of our limits." <<var $fangrep + 1>>\ "Train with me later and you'll see," you reply, "this isn't either of our limits." "Ancestors know I will take any aid I can get with such a lousy score." She replies, waving both hands at you as if you were on display. "Nine plate sets. Nine! Fang must admit a //lavish// degree of jealousy. Farewell then for now, Thunderfaller, but do not expect to beat Tian Fang in the next Trial! She still has many tricks up her sleeve!" <<if ($heshe is "she")>>\ "May the best woman win." You smile and wave goodbye to her as she retreats towards the exit on all fours. <<else>>\ "Looking forward to them." You smile and wave goodbye to her as she retreats towards the exit on all fours. <<if ((((($survival gte 2) or ($subrace is "Wolf")) or ($style is "Midorikatai")) and ($fangromance gte 2)) and ($fangrep gt 50))>>\ ''[Fang Romance Event]'' She stops suddenly, halfway out of the Arena, and turns around. You're in the middle of your march when she runs up to you and places both hands over your shoulders, giving your neck a quick lick. "For good luck." She says, nodding as if affirming the tradition in a serious manner. <</if>>\ "...Is it?" You ask questioningly, staring into her playful eyes while trying not to show any strain from the weight of both the plates //and// the woman. She licks you again, this time up your cheek and //slower//. "It is now." <<var $fangromance + 2>>\ <<var $fangrep + 3>>\ She then throws her own plates to the ground and scurries away on all fours, giggling, towards the Tiger Arena's northern exit. Looking up to the crowd, you notice a distinct amount of interest focused on your blushing face. Mostly from the gasping women. ''[Prestige Increased]'' <<var $prestige + 2>>\ <</if>>\ #"Hard work, just like you. Get some rest for the Rabbit Trial, I'll see you soon." <<var $fangrep + 4>>\ <<var $ruthless - 2>>\ "I got this strong through hard work, just like you." You reply. "Now get some rest for the Rabbit Trial, I'll see you soon." Fang nods thoughtfully. "Yes, a nap does sound-hnng-" she hoists her plates off and throws them to the ground. "-quite needed. Best of luck, Thunderfaller! You'd best get seven points or you will bring shame to Tian Fang's house!" You wave goodbye to her as she retreats to the Tiger Arena's northern exit without you. #"Because I'm the strongest." <<var $fangrep - 3>>\ <<var $ruthless + 2>>\ <<if ($heshe is "he")>>\ <<var $fangromance + 1>>\ <</if>>\ "Because I'm the strongest." You reply. Fang looks taken aback. "That is the only secret you have to share with Fang?" "That's all there is to it." She harumphs, crossing her arms and looking away. "Arrogance does not suit you well, Thunderfall-hey!" You've already walked away, marching to continue the Tiger Trial. She tries to run up and berate you but is approached by an Imperial clerk and escorted out, just like the other losers. <</choose>> <<else>>\ "Me too." You pant back to her. You've been going through the same struggle at the same time, trying to keep the damn plate from slipping out of your hands and, worse, trying to get it off the rack without breaking your back. Try as you might, the strain is too great. Your muscles scream out in pain and your joints threaten to collapse. Three others fail out alongside the both of you, placing you around the top 15% of contestants. "Five points \ <<var $score_tiger 5>>\ <<include "ch8-passingtiger">>\ <</if>>\

The march around the Tiger Arena wall begins to feel longer and longer as the weight wears down on you, but you push through and return to your \ <<if ($plates gte 3)>>\ rack. <<else>>\ rack, where a grim reality awaits you. <</if>>\ <<if ($plates gte 3)>>\ <<page "Tenth and final plate" "ch8-tiger10">>\ <<else>>\ <<var $score_tiger 6>>\ <<page "No more plates..." "ch8-tiger-noplates">>\ <</if>>\

<<choose "ch8-tigerchoosebuff">> #use-once use-if (($style is "Aoyusumu") and ((($chipool + ($soul/2)) - $chispent) gte 1)) Use Sacred Chi to telekinetically lift the weights. [Costs 1 Chi] <<var $secondbonus + $stylerank>>\ Lifting physical objects is your specialty, just not with your body. By channeling your Sacred Chi you manage to grasp a telekinetic hold over the plates to allow your spirit to assist the physical lifting as much as your body does. It's a straining compound lift, but it's an advantage you need. ''[1 Chi Point Spent]'' <<var $chispent + 1>>\ With that enhancement revealed, you... #use-once use-if (($style is "Midorikatai") and ((($chipool + ($soul/2)) - $chispent) gte 1)) Use Wild Chi to increase my muscle mass. [Costs 1 Chi] <<var $secondbonus + $stylerank>>\ That giant man in the second row isn't the only one with a strong connection to Wild Chi. Focusing inward, your press the Beast energy out of your core and let it course through your muscles, increasing their mass and density. Your height expands by\ <<if ($stylerank is 1)>>\ four \ <<else>>\ eight \ <</if>>\ inches and your bones harden from the physical enhancement. ''[1 Chi Point Spent]'' <<var $chispent + 1>>\ With that enhancement revealed, you... #use-once use-if ((($element1 is "Earth") or ($element2 is "Earth")) and ((($chipool + ($soul/2)) - $chispent) gte 1)) Use Earth Chi to manipulate the plates. [Costs 1 Chi] <<if ($element1 is "Earth")>>\ <<var $secondbonus + ($element1rank + 1)>>\ <<else>>\ <<var $secondbonus + ($element2rank + 1)>>\ <</if>>\ Surrounding the plates in Earth Chi was a dead giveaway about how to handle this properly. You focus your will upon the stone and use your spiritual connection to the Earth to lessen their burden upon your body. ''[1 Chi Point Spent]'' <<var $chispent + 1>>\ With that enhancement revealed, you... #use-once use-if ((($element1 is "Wind") or ($element2 is "Wind")) and ((($chipool + ($soul/2)) - $chispent) gte 1)) Use Wind Chi to assist with an updraft. [Costs 1 Chi] <<if ($element1 is "Wind")>>\ <<var $secondbonus + $element1rank>>\ <<else>>\ <<var $secondbonus + $element2rank>>\ <</if>>\ A steady stream of Wind Chi rushes up all around you, fluttering your clothes and \ <<if ($hairlength is "Bald")>>\ pressing a chill against your bald head. <<elseif ($hairlength is "Buzzed")>>\ pressing a chilld against your shortly-cut hair. <<else>>\ forcing your hair to stand straight up. <</if>>\ <<if ($race is "Yokai")>>\ Your $subrace tail doesn't enjoy the sensation, but you're not here to feel good. You're here to win. <</if>>\ With a focus of will, you amplify the power of that wind to such an extent that it lessens the load of your stone plates. ''[1 Chi Point Spent]'' <<var $chispent + 1>>\ With that enhancement revealed, you... #use-once use-if ((($element1 is "Water") or ($element2 is "Water")) and ((($chipool + ($soul/2)) - $chispent) gte 1)) Use Water Chi to restore my strength. [Costs 1 Chi] <<if ($element1 is "Water")>>\ <<var $secondbonus + $element1rank>>\ <<else>>\ <<var $secondbonus + $element2rank>>\ <</if>>\ You didn't come to these Trials to hold back. The elemental force of Water Chi rushes outward from your Cores like a flood. Your aura rages like an inverted whirlpool, rising around you in an upward spiral of $auracolor chi. The spiritual power of lifegiving water takes on a near-physical state, infusing your muscles with renewed vigor as it surges skyward around your body. ''[1 Chi Point Spent]'' <<var $chispent + 1>>\ With that enhancement revealed, you... #use-if ($secondbonus is 0) Rely solely on my physical strength. -> "ch8-tigerchosen" The Tiger Trial is about //Strength//, not tricks. You forego any special enhancement from your spiritual abilities and focus on the goal ahead: proving your physical might. <<if (($bodytype is "Muscular") or ($bodytype is "Dommymommy"))>>\ ''[Muscular Bodytype Event: Difficulty Reduced]'' <<var $diffadd - 1>>\ <<if ($subrace is "Bovine")>>\ ''[Bovine Yokai Event: Difficulty Reduced]'' <<var $diffadd - 1>>\ <</if>>\ <<elseif ($subrace is "Bovine")>>\ ''[Bovine Yokai Event: Difficulty Reduced]'' <<var $diffadd - 1>>\ <</if>>\ #show-if ($secondbonus gt 0) Grab the next plate and continue. -> "ch8-tigerchosen" With all your enhancements and preparations, it's time for the sixth plate. <</choose>>

<<var $diffadd - $secondbonus>>\ <<var $combatstat "power">>\ <<discount "Earth" 1>>\ <<combatcheck (6+$diffadd)>>\ <<if ($passcheck is true)>>\ You grip the sixth plate and hoist it over your shoulder, jogging to catch up to Fang and \ <<if ((($agility + (Math.round($athletics/2))) gte $power) or (($agility + (Math.round($athletics/2))) gte 10))>>\ get to the front of \ <<else>>\ follow \ <</if>>\ the line of Martial Artists. The jovial comradery of the last plate set is gone now that each of you senses the threat of so many nearby Techniques being active. The sensation triggers alertness in your mind, and when you see fifteen more Martial Artists fail to lift their plates it's no longer funny. It's expected. <<page "Seventh plate" "ch8-tigerplate7">> <<else>>\ You can't lift it. Try as you might, the damned plate won't budge. The amber Earth Chi of the other plates already on your body have exhausted you to a humbling degree. "Two points \ <<var $score_tiger 2>>\ <<include "ch8-failingtiger">>\ <</if>>\

You return to your rack and find it much easier to traverse between the weight racks than before with all the missing competitors. "These are getting quite heavy." Fang complains as you both reach your racks. She channels Wild Chi around her body that grows her muscles slightly, but is forced to stop as her fangs extend and her eyes glow amber. She looks to you with a reassuring smile. "Anything to win, right Thunderfaller?" <<var $combatstat "power">>\ <<discount "Earth" 1>>\ <<combatcheck (7+$diffadd)>>\ <<if ($passcheck is true)>>\ You grab the seventh plate and pull its weight over your shoulders. "Anything." You reply. Next to you, the blue-armored man grits his teeth and grunts. You both turn to see him straining to lift the plate, his blue aura blazing around him. "Come on!" He shouts. "Come on! Come on! COME! ON!" He's not the only one struggling; twenty-five others fail to lift the seventh plate. When you and Fang march around the Tiger Arena this time, you find that half of the contestants have been eliminated. <<page "Eighth plate" "ch8-tigerplate8">>\ <<else>>\ "Yeah." You reply, grabbing your plate and grunting as you try to lift it. "Any...thing!" You jerk your back, shoulders, quads, and arms, all trying to force the plate off the rack, but it will not budge. You drop the weight back into place with a heavy grunt. "Three points \ <<var $score_tiger 3>>\ <<include "ch8-passingtiger">>\ <</if>>\

You and Fang finish your march and return to your racks to find that all the unattended racks of the failed aspirants have disappeared, brought back beneath the arena. More noticeable, you realize that you're out of plates. "What gives?" Asks a cat yokai in Jade armor up front, facing one of the Bōgu-masked clerks. "We need ten plates for seven points, right? I've only got seven. Bring me three more!" "Yeah!" Says the Oni girl from earlier. "Indeed..." Fang says, rubbing her chin as if solving a detective case. Sure enough, you are also out of plates. With the disappearance of the spare racks, there's not a single spare plate available in the entire Tiger Arena. Everyone begins slowly shuffling away from each other; the reality of the situation settles into each of your minds. There's only one source of plates left. <<page "Continue" "ch8-tigerplate8-2">>\

You curse yourself for not realizing it sooner; a crowd this big wouldn't show up just to watch you all march. "PLATES FOR SALE!" Shouts one red-faced Lunargoth before the tension builds to a crescendo. He rips off his combined stone weights and throws them to the ground, breaking the enchanted mass into their original seven plates. "Plates for sale, 100 Shards each!" "Such a dishonorable action!" One of the clerks chastises immediately. "Continue down this path of the Merchant and you will be disqualified from the Tiger Trial!" "But that's all, correct?" The man asks, breathing heavily. "Disqualified, but left to keep the money?" The clerk raises a fist, but hesitates to respond. His silence is deafening. All hell breaks loose when the Oni girl with four knives runs by and steals one of the Lunargoth's plates for sale. That last straw turns the situation into utter chaos. Five more Martial Artists do their best to advertise their own plates for sale and, at the same time, fight off attackers trying to take them by force. Some defend the sellers for an alliance, while others rob all parties when they're busy fighting. At the center of it all, the Cat Yokai in Jade armor grips a hesitating Human and rips her plate off, throwing it to the ground to break the enchantment. <<if ($portraitpics is true)>>\ <<image "https://www.auraclash.com/assets/images/brass-tiger-armor.jpg">>\ <</if>>\ It breaks into two plates, not six, and the Cat Yokai looks to his left for a target for the third plate. The Oni man in his sights sprints away. "Ohhhh." Fang says with her mouth open wide, staring into the sky like a turkey in the rain. "This is going to be one of //those// situations!" She peeks down at you and her tail wags. "We are most blessed to have strength in numbers. If we stick together we will be a most troublesome target! Yet...how should we choose our own targets?" Your follow her previous gaze to the sky where the watchful eyes of the Five Judges analyze the situation. It irks you that the rules are so vague. You won't know the choice they want you to make until it's too late, but you //need// three more plates if you're to win. <<var $plates 0>>\ <<choose "ch8-tiger8">> #"Martial Artists are fighters. We'll fight for more." -> "ch8-tiger-pickfighter" "Martial Artists are fighters." You say, eyeing your potential targets and cracking your knuckles. "We'll fight for more." Fang squeels, holding her fists together while her tail wags. "Fang had been hoping you would say that! Who will be our first target?" <<var $nexttext 0>>\ #"We can't waste Shards on this. Follow me, we're stealing what we can get while the others fight." "We can't waste Shards on this." You tell the wolfgirl while a two-on-one fight goes on behind you. Some seller and her protector seem to be under attack by an ambitious Lunargoth. She nods along, wagging her tail in slow, small arcs. "It is true, Fang did not bring any money. Then what should we do instead?" "Follow me, we're stealing what we can get while the others fight." You both dash off in a circle around the arena's wall, Fang snickering at being so devilish, until you almost finish your jog around the entire arena. Just as predicted, you are now //behind// the three fighters from earlier. "Fang, help the Lunargoth!" You shout. "When I say now, you break off from the fight!" "Target acquired!" Fang yelps, dropping to all fours and blazing with green Wild Chi. Her speed triples and she charges the Lunargoth from behind, headbutting him out of the way of the seller's dagger strike to the neck. Fang then turns in mid air and kicks the attacker's elbow, knocking the dagger out of her hand. The seller's protector charges in at Tian Fang just as you close the gap between them and you charge in for the pile of plates that have now gone unnoticed amid the chaos. <<if ($thievery gt $stealth)>>\ <<var $plates $thievery>>\ <<if ($plates gt 3)>>\ <<var $plates 3>>\ <</if>>\ ''[Thievery Check]'' <<else>>\ <<var $plates $stealth>>\ <<if ($plates gt 3)>>\ <<var $plates 3>>\ <</if>>\ ''[Stealth Check]'' <</if>>\ ''[Obtained $plates Stone Plates]'' <<if ($plates is 0)>>\ You fail to get any, tumbling instead back to your own weight racks further down the row. <<else>>\ The force of your charge is barely enough to drag all the plates away from the seller and back to your own racks. "Now Fang!" you shout out as she forms an ice-shield against an empowered kick. "To me!" ''[$plates Weighted Stone Plates Obtained]'' <</if>>\ "Okay!" She says, leaping high above the arena floor and landing back at your racks. She looks at your collection of plates \ <<if ($plates is 0)>>\ and cringes. "You could not lift one?" "It's, uh, harder than it looks." You reply, suddenly sweating. <<include "ch8-tiger7">>\ <<elseif ((($heshe is "he") and ($fangromance gte 2)) and ($plates gte 3))>>\ and beams, bouncing in place. "Oh Thunderfaller, you know just what to get a wolf!" <<var $fangromance + 1>>\ <<var $fangrep + 2>>\ <<if ($plates gte 3)>>\ <<var $score_cursed + 1>>\ <<var $fangcombat + 1>>\ <</if>>\ <<page "Continue" "ch8-tiger8">>\ <<else>>\ and smiles. "An unsavory job well done!" <<if ($plates gte 3)>>\ <<var $score_cursed + 1>>\ <<var $fangcombat + 1>>\ <</if>>\ <<page "Continue" "ch8-tiger8">>\ <</if>>\ #use-if ((($shards + ($silver / 10)) + ($gold * 10)) gt (100 - ($commerce * 6))) "Plenty of these kids can barely lift their current weights. I'll haggle one down, you intercept anyone offering him a counteroffer." "Plenty of these kids can barely lift their current weights." You explain to the wolfgirl as she nods thoughtfully. "They must know they're not making it. I'll convince them that selling their plates is better. You intercept anyone coming after him or bringing a counteroffer while I haggle." Fang slams a fist onto her palm. "Yes! Fang will fight!" The two of you bump fists and split up, running along the edge of the Arena as you scan for any Martial Artists showing exhaustion. "Here!" Fang shouts from across the Arena, pointing at the ground in front of her. You leap over the array and deflect a rogue energy blast, stinging the bones of your backhand as if you'd smacked an open door. You land next to Fang and stare straight down where a man seems to have covered himself with sand to hide from everyone. "Sell me your plates." You say to the man. "If you're hiding you must know you can't win the Trials. Make some money out of this." "Shh." The man says. "You'll give away my location." "Fang will give it away //for fun//." She threatens with a gleaming smile. "Not now Fang." You insist, pushing her away. "Sorry about my partner. Look, you're a smart man. If these fights are too much for you, in just one seed out of a hundred, then right now is your most valuable time to back out. I can offer you..." ''[Commerce Check]'' <<var $val2 (100 - ($commerce * 6))>>\ <<if ($val2 lt 15)>>\ <<var $val2 15>>\ <</if>>\ "$val2 Shards per Plate" "That's all?" The man asks from beneath the sand. "That, or I let everyone know where there's an easy target that's afraid to fight." You look back to the fighting as Tian Fang delivers a haymaker punch to the jaw of a young Cat Yokai that...wasn't actually approaching you. Hm... "So what will it be?" You ask the man, turning back to him. "A good sale or a bad fight?" <<if ($persuasion gte 3)>>\ ''[Persuasion 3 Check Passed]'' ''[Commerce Increased]'' <<var $commerce + 2>>\ <<var $plates 3>>\ "Fine, damn you, fine." He concedes. "Take all of mine, but hide \ <<elseif ($persuasion is 0)>>\ ''[Persuasion 3 Check Failed]'' <<var $plates 0>>\ "No deal." The man says. "And to Hells with your whole family for putting me through this." Fang jumps atop the man and begins punching him in the gut, but you're quickly interrupted. <<include "ch8-tiger7">>\ <<halt>>\ <<else>>\ ''[Persuasion 3 Check Failed]'' ''[Persuasion $persuasion Check Passed]'' ''[Commerce Increased]'' <<var $commerce + 1>>\ <<var $plates $persuasion>>\ "Fine, but only $persuasion each." He concedes finally. "Now bury \ <</if>>\ the Shards under the sand with me. Someone burned my pants at the start of the skirmish, I'm not coming back out." "Ah." <<var $val2 ((100 - ($commerce * 6)) * $plates)>>\ <<if ($val2 lt 20)>>\ <<var $val2 20>>\ <</if>>\ <<costcalc $val2>>\ ''[$plates Weighted Stone Plates Obtained]'' <<if ($plates gte 3)>>\ <<var $score_sacred + 1>>\ <<var $fangcombat + 1>>\ <</if>>\ <<page "Continue" "ch8-tiger8">>\ #"Follow me, I'll bet I can make some plates out of the Arena stone." "Follow me." you say to the wolfgirl, and she does so while you both jog away from the fights. "I'll bet I can make some plates out of the Arena Stone." "Tian Fang never took you for a gambler!" She responds cheerily as the two of you dash to the stone wall surrounding the Tiger Arena. The fans in the front row lean over to look at you as you cover your hand in $auracolor chi and stab into the wall, trying to steal pieces off in a uniformed block. <<if (($element1 is "Earth") or ($element2 is "Earth"))>>\ ''[Earth Element Event: Automatic Success]'' <<apboost 5>>\ The wall around your hand glows amber and an entire strip of stone comes off before breaking into six identical plates. You press one hand to the enchanted stone on the plates you wear and place another on the pile of plates you just made. With a deep focus, you transfer a fragment of the effect onto these new plates. <<var $plates + 3>>\ ''[$plates Weighted Stone Plates Obtained]'' "Uuoohhhh!" Fang exclaims, hands held close to her face. "You actually did it!" You stare at her, insulted. "What do you mean I //actually// did it?" Fang opens her mouth, pauses with fangs on display, and absently shifts to a smile. "I meant that I did not believe you could!" "Thanks." You say dryly. <<page "Continue" "ch8-tiger8">>\ <<else>>\ <<if ($craft gte 3)>>\ ''[Craft 3 Check Passed]'' <<var $plates 3>>\ You manage to break off just enough pieces, in just the right size, to emulate six more plates. <<elseif ($craft is 0)>>\ ''[Craft 3 Check Failed]'' You mess up. ''[Craft 1 Check Failed]'' You mess up badly. A section of the wall crumbles down and collapses, dragging four fans down into the arena. Old fans. Old and influential Nobles who happen to be fans. ''[Prestige Lost]'' <<var $prestige - 1>>\ "Four points \ <<var $score_tiger 4.1>>\ <<include "ch8-passingtiger">>\ <<halt>>\ <<else>>\ ''[Craft 3 Check Failed]'' ''[Craft $craft Check Passed]'' <<var $plates $craft>>\ You manage to break off just enough rock to emulate the six plates you need, but break a few when chipping them down to proper size. When you're done, you and Fang both have enough for \ <<if ($plates is 1)>>\ 1 extra stone plate \ <<else>>\ $plates extra stone plates \ <</if>>\ each. <</if>>\ "But Thunderfaller," Fang asks, grabbing one and biting it for some reason. "How will we add these to our stack without their Earth Chi enchantment?" You take a small bit of spare rock off the wall and press it to your own weighted stone plates draped over your shoulders. The amber glow of the stone chi sucks in the pebble and assimilates it into the plates. "The enchantment absorbs any rock of the same type. We don't need enchanted rock, just properly weighted rock." "Uuoooohhh!" She exclaims, wide-eyed and impressed. <<if ($plates gte 3)>>\ <<var $val 999>>\ <<var $score_mystic + 1>>\ <<var $fangcombat + 1>>\ <</if>>\ <<page "Continue" "ch8-tiger8">>\ <</if>>\ <</choose>>

<div class="fightingfont">Tiger Trial</div>\ A loud, low sound echoes through the air from a translucent, shimmering dome of chi rising above the contestant's section of the Tiger Arena. A barrier. You can see the crowds of spectators break out into deafening chattering once again as soon as the Judges leave, but not a word enters your ears. The Arena is nearly silent, clearly under the effect of some sound-suppression ritual. The lack of distraction comes as a relief. That leaves all your focus on the challenge ahead. "Don the plates and approach the wall in a straight line to your left or right!" Calls one of the Bōgu-masked clerks inside the arena with you. Each contestant begins grabbing their plates, testing which are heavier, and beginning their march with their first plate. "So exciting!" Tian Fang announces, clapping. "I had worried the strength test would be pushing a boulder up a distant hill. Instead it is a broad and public display for Tian Fang to shine!" She grips one plate by the ropes and flops it over her head in one graceless motion, slapping her back with the stone. She winces. "D-Do not fall behind, Thunderfaller!" As she skips away towards the Tiger Arena's inner wall with a wagging tail, you look to your own weighted equipment and test one plate, moving it with one hand. The two plates on a single set are certainly not light, and you need to wear twenty plates for the best score. To offset the burden, you address your grip by... <<choose "ch8-tigertrial2">> #Hooking both thumbs under the rope to focus on back muscles, like rucking. <<if ((($bodytype is "Manlet") or ($bodytype is "Bodacious")) or ($fortitude gt $power))>>\ <<var $rightchoice true>>\ <</if>>\ #Keeping a lower stance to focus on leg muscles, like hiking. <<if ((($bodytype is "Agile") or ($bodytype is "Legs")) or ($background is "Trapper"))>>\ <<var $rightchoice true>>\ <</if>>\ #Grabbing the front plate with both hands to focus on arm muscles, like weightlifting. <<if ((($bodytype is "Muscular") or ($bodytype is "Dommymommy")) or ($background is "Blacksmith"))>>\ <<var $rightchoice true>>\ <</if>>\ <</choose>>

<<if ($rightchoice is true)>>\ <<var $diffadd - 1>>\ <<var $trialclues + 10000000000000>>\ You secure the weight evenly, feeling confident, and head \ <<else>>\ You secure the weighted plates over your body and press on \ <</if>>\ towards the Arena wall. The march isn't as bad as you expected. <<if (dig($trainingpartner, 1) gte 2)>>\ Especially compared to the heightened gravity of the Mist Chamber. ''[Special Event: Mistchamber Training]'' ''[Tiger Trial Difficulty Reduced]'' <<var $diffadd - 1>>\ <</if>>\ Everyone seems to be behaving for now, marching in a rough line around the wall under the watchful gaze of the crowd, as well as the five Judges who are now too high in the sky to even see. You wonder if they have trouble seeing you, too, but shake the thought from your head when you grab your second plate and perform another march. <<var $combatstat "power">>\ <<discount "Earth" 1>>\ <<combatcheck (4+$diffadd)>>\ <<if ($passcheck is true)>>\ The amber Earth Chi radiating around each plate makes sense when you don the second plate. It //melds// into the first, taking up the same amount of space, but weighing twice as much. You march onward for the second plate, the third, and the fourth without issue. Tian Fang does the same, scooting along, until you both reach your racks after the fourth loop and see a dim light emit from your Trial Badges. "Ah!" Tian Fang shouts out in surprise. "Tian Fang's first point!" "Mine too." Says the man in blue armor to your left. A dozen Martial Artists around you start to smile, shouting over each other to any other contestant they may know, celebrating their first point of the Trial as well. More than a few cheers break out from the less disciplined, \ <<if ($honor gt 50)>>\ but you're not among them. Your eyes stay instead on the sky, where you look up to the Five Judges still looking down on you all. <<else>>\ <<var $score_bladed - 1>>\ <<var $score_wild - 1>>\ including you, but it dies down quickly when the revelers are passed by more serious contestants carrying their next plate. <</if>>\ Your first point is a welcomed beginning, but there's //much// more to do. <<page "Fifth plate" "ch8-tigertrial3">>\ <<else>>\ You...can't lift it. You can't lift it? YOU CAN'T LIFT IT?! Panic sets in as every other contestant continues on their second march, unphased, and you grip the plate harder and harder, feebly forcing your muscles to lift the unwieldy weights into the air. With a spine-popping sudden jerk to force the stone plates off the rack, you hoist it into the air and feel all feeling fall away in your legs. You fall, backward, and the heavy stone plates fall with you. "Shit, shit, HELP! HEL-!" The last thing you see is the shadow of the stone plate as it crushes your head against the equally hardened stone floor of the Tiger Arena. Your final thoughts are wishing the cushioning sand hadn't been moved by the Sacred Judge's flashy show earlier. <<page "It's all over..." "death">>\ <</if>>\

<<var $combatstat "power">>\ <<discount "Earth" 1>>\ <<combatcheck (5+$diffadd)>>\ <<if ($passcheck is true)>>\ You hoist the fifth plate and begin your march, unburdened so far, when Tian Fang joins you. "Thunderfaller, look!" She shouts, pointing to the center of the Arena. From petite ladies to young mystics to simply weak Aura Pressures, ten Martial Artists stand at the racks while the other ninety of you circle them. Though you cannot hear the crowd of thousands in the Tiger Arena stands, you can see their faces and movements as they break out in derisive laughter at the contestants failing to lift even the fifth plate set. "Do not fret!" Shouts an Oni girl with four daggers on her back, ten paces \ <<if ((($agility + (Math.round($athletics/2))) gte $power) or (($agility + (Math.round($athletics/2))) gte 10))>>\ behind \ <<else>>\ ahead of \ <</if>>\ you. "I hear a lot of men can't get it up!" //That// raucous laughter comes from //inside// the Arena. Hanging their head in shame, ten of the hundred contestants make their way to the northern exit. You finish your march, return to your rack, and dust your hands on your clothes to get the sweat off. <<page "Sixth plate" "ch8-tigertrial4">>\ <<else>>\ You...can't lift it. YOU CAN'T LIFT IT?! "One point \ <<include "ch8-failingtiger">>\ <</if>>\

"Hmmm..." Tian Fang says, grabbing her sixth plate set and hoisting it over her back. "This is becoming most burdensome, do you not think?" "For amateurs like you, maybe." The blue-armored man to your side says, lifting his own with a struggle and marching off. Fang shakes her head when he goes, then leans in close to whisper with you. "I am speaking of endurance, not ability. Should we not be using our specialties to lift by now? We cannot hold back forever." You look around and realize that while you've been focused on rucking with mystically heavy stone, others have indeed begun using their specialized chi. Some use Techniques like a set of spirit-arms or a size-increasing Technique (you hope, unless that man is naturally //that// tall) while others are channeling the Elements to aid them. "True." You agree. "Looks like it's time for everyone to show off." "Hm, yes!" Fang shouts back. "Then Tian Fang, too, will utilize her majestic set of impressive Techniques!" With three handseals repeated in triplicate, two misty hands of bony Ice Chi appear over both of her shoulders. She slips her own hands into the intangible ones and they latch on, superimposing over her own fingers to form a pair of ice gauntlets. It's impressive and flashy, but... "Do those actually help with lifting?" You ask. She looks out to the thousands of spectators, flexes her arms to a silent applause, and turns to you with a narrow, mischievous smile. "That's a secret!" <<if ($insight gte 2)>>\ ''[Insight 2 Check Passed]'' <<var $solexp + 1>>\ They don't. \ <</if>>\ She walks off with her sixth plate set and you ponder activating some abilities of your own. <<include "ch8-tigerchoosebuff">>\

"We did it!" Fang cheers, dragging her $plates \ <<if ($plates gt 1)>>\ plates \ <<else>>\ plate \ <</if>>\ back to her \ <<if ($plates gt 1)>>\ rack. \ <<else>>\ rack one at a time. \ <</if>>\ "Now we need only complete the march, most ardently!" <<if ($plates gte 3)>>\ <<var $fangcombat + 1>>\ <<var $score_wild + 1>>\ <<var $val 999>>\ <</if>>\ <<page "Continue" "ch8-tiger8">>\

<<var $loc "West">>\ Roaming up and down the bamboo hills provides the perfect obfuscation for predators to stalk their prey. You've nearly finished stalking yours. Side to side you dash through the bamboo jungle over hill after hill. Aura Pressures spike in the distance and you've nearly caught up to their source. When cresting the next hill, you see the bamboo has finally cleared on the other side. Thinking fast, you rip a thirty-foot bamboo shoot out of the ground mid-sprint uphill. As soon as you muscle through the thick bamboo forest and break into the clearing, you leap. Stabbing the bamboo shoot into the ground elevates you with a perfect pole-vault fifty feet into the air. Flying high in the sky, with the sun posed behind your body, you charge $auracolor energy between both hands overhead. Your massive blast of power is ready to be cast to the ground when you get sight of the Beast below you. "Hello!" Tian Fang says, waving from the ground with her tail wagging behind her. <<page "Fang?!" "ch8dragon-beast2">>\

When you return to the Mountain Hazard clearing you see Tian Fang chugging chamomile tea and sitting cross-legged. Two Mountain Hazard Lower Disciples enact handseals with concerned expressions on either side of her. "I've found a different digsite." You say, hoping it doesn't cause her to attack. "Yay!" Tian Fang says, rising to skip toward you. Chi trails behind her hands in waves of icy blue, amber, and green chi. "Let us find it before my use of chi causes me to attack my allies most rudely! Wait. You said your digsite was different. Is it...better?" <<if ($val2 is 1)>>\ <<if ($perception gte 3)>>\ ''[Perception $perception Check Passed]'' <<var $coaloffers ($perception * 3)>>\ <<else>>\ ''[Perception 3 Check Failed]'' <<var $coaloffers 4>>\ <</if>>\ <<elseif ($val2 is 2)>>\ <<if ($craft gte 3)>>\ ''[Craft $craft Check Passed]'' <<var $coaloffers ($craft * 3)>>\ <<else>>\ ''[Craft 3 Check Failed]'' <<var $coaloffers 4>>\ <</if>>\ <<elseif ($val2 is 3)>>\ ''[Herbalist Background Event: Exceptional Success]'' <<var $coaloffers 20>>\ <<elseif ($val2 is 4)>>\ <<if ($alchemy gte 3)>>\ ''[Alchemy $alchemy Check Passed]'' <<var $coaloffers ($alchemy * 3)>>\ <<else>>\ ''[Alchemy 3 Check Failed]'' <<var $coaloffers 4>>\ <</if>>\ <</if>>\ <<if ((($element1 is "Earth") or ($element2 is "Earth")) and ($coaloffers lt 7))>>\ ''[Earth Element Override: Improved Detection]'' <<var $coaloffers + 5>>\ <<elseif (($element1 is "Earth") or ($element2 is "Earth"))>>\ ''[Earth Element Event: Improved Detection]'' <<var $coaloffers + 5>>\ <<elseif ((($element1 is "Fire") or ($element2 is "Fire")) and ($coaloffers lt 7))>>\ ''[Fire Element Override: Improved Detection]'' <<var $coaloffers + 4>>\ <<elseif (($element1 is "Fire") or ($element2 is "Fire"))>>\ ''[Fire Element Override: Improved Detection]'' <<var $coaloffers + 4>>\ <</if>>\ <<include "ch8dragon-beast5">>\

The approach is easier than you originally thought: there's nothing in jungle soils that should shine, except coal. It's a simple fact of soil composition. All you have to do is expose the soil and look for shining glints. The only flaw in your plan is if you accidentally find gemstones instead, which is a success more than a failure. With the clock running fast you take off into the bamboo jungle and launch energy blasts into the ground as you go. Just as planned, you find glinting reflections of sunlight in the debris quickly. You continue your traveling blasting spree until you've found the ideal location with the most reflective coal quantity. <<page "It's that easy." "ch8dragon-beast-easy">>\

Tian Fang spends the sauna bath giving you the most sexually frustrating time of your life. She spends every teasing minute rolling over to get her head a better resting point on your lap, or sitting up to lean a shoulder on you, or rolling onto her back and stretching all four limbs in yogic poses. She's naked the entire time. You try to make a move several times but she giggles and leaps out of your grasp like its a game. Whenever you give up she comes back and hops on your back playfully with her breasts rubbing against your skin. <<var $fangromance + 1>>\ <<var $fangrep + 4>>\ The only thing keeping your sanity in check is the restorative effect of the Fire Chi in the coal. Your skin feels like a fire burns underneath, but that energy rushes //in//, not out. What should be burning your flesh instead fuels your soul. ''[Health, Chi, and Cores Restored]'' <<var $wounds 0>>\ <<var $chispent 0>>\ <<var $powspent 0>>\ <<var $agispent 0>>\ <<var $forspent 0>>\ <<var $solspent 0>>\ <<apboost 10>>\ <<page "Continue" "ch8dragon-beast-tease2">>\

The sauna door breaks open forty minutes later. "Ahhhhhhhh." Tian Fang sighs out, prolonging the breath. Steam rolls out from your sauna when you both exit and she holds a towel over her chest on the way out. You quirk an eyebrow at how she suddenly cares about nudity. ...Huh. "My goodness, a sordid affair caught in crisp Kitsune scrying!" Announces Misuka the Performer from a golden-pink scrying orb hovering over the dig site. "Could $titlename and Mountain Hazard's Star Pupil be forming a //physical// alliance? Oh the scandal! The shame! The disgrace! Oh, the forbidden secrets revealed!" "Hello friends!" Tian Fang shouts back, waving eagerly with a wagging tail. "Thank you for checking on our coal expedition! Tian Fang is so happy that you were cheering for us; she is proud to report that that saunas are a most complete success! Wolf-tested, wolfgirl-approved!" "..." You swear on your soul that Misuka's scrying orb hangs its head in shame. It leaves quickly after, as if under a sense of guilt for trying to bully such a clueless girl. Tian Fang grabs your hand and gives you a warm smile after it leaves. "Thank you for coming, Thunderfaller. It is always nice to have someone by your side." She gives you a kiss on the cheek, dons her dirty robes in one clean motion, and leaps into the hundred-foot fall of the coal tunnel without another word. <<var $displayer (0.14+($insight * 0.01))>>\ <<include "ch8dragon-checkbuffer">>\ <<page "Continue" "ch8dragon-finisharea">>\

"Fang?!" You blurt out. "$name!" She shouts back. You discharge the chi in a circular ring around you in the air, flip so your feet lead down, and roll into your steep landing beside the other Mountain Hazard Disciples and pack of wolves surrounding Tian Fang. They just barely part to make way for your quick descent. "Pretty!" Tian Fang shouts, clapping at the explosion in the air. "What brings the Thunderfaller to our magnificent digsite of diggerous achievement?" You dust yourself off and look around. Sure enough, they've gathered plenty of lumber and carts, pickaxes and breathing cloth. A four-foot tunnel sits in the base of the clearing's hill and they've begun to dig down. Even the wolves are helping. "I //thought// I was hunting a Beast." You say, looking back to the wolfgirl. "What's wrong with your aura? You don't feel like your usual self." "My condition." Tian Fang says, lackadaisically tilting one ear and sighing. "It seems Tian Fang has gone feral yet again. Such a most tragic situation, to have such a burden in this specific Trial. It stops her from using her full Aura Pressure, most vexedly!" You look closer and realize her eyes are indeed amber, just like in the Storm Gate. "Ancestors, you're right. How are you controlling yourself? Last time you went completely rabid." "Chamomile!" She chirps cheerily, withdrawing a gallon of the tea in a travel gourd. "It's not the chamomile." Says a Mountain Hazard Disciple pushing a cart filled with dirt. "She's splitting her chi into her wolf pack to calm down. She can't use her aura and resist the effects at the same time, so //we// have to dig while Upper Disciple Fang only gives orders." Fang takes another swig-sip, eyeing her fellow Disciple suspiciously. "Chamomile." She insists. <<page "Continue" "ch8dragon-beast3">>\

Tian Fang walks you through the digsite as her wolves patrol the area and growl inconsistently. You can feel their irritation from here; the excess green Wild Chi that Fang is cycling through them is clearly putting them on edge. Fang walks you through the tool shack, three spare thinner shacks, the lumber they imported through fuuinjutsu, the carts, the dirt pile, and the thirty-foot downhill tunnel they've already dug. When you reach a collection of lanterns they've lined with string and hooks to light the tunnels, she turns and rests her cheek on a finger. "And that is every one of the things! Or, as they say in your village, every-thing." "..." You look around at the tour you've been given inside the sixty-foot wide clearing at the base of two hills. You look back to the wolves patrolling the perimeter or digging to widen the tunnel. You look to the Mountain Hazard Disciples pushing carts in and out of the tunnel to move spare dirt and rock. You look to a smiling Tian Fang, her tail wagging expectantly. She still hasn't answered the obvious question. <<choose "ch8dragon-pickactivity">> #"Why are you digging a hole?" "I give up." You admit, looking to Tian Fang. "Why are you digging a hole during the Heavenly Ascension Dragon Trial?" "Hm?" Fang asks. "I have already said, have I not?" "You have not." "Why, it is coal of course!" She points to the spare shacks. "We have detected Fire Chi and Earth anomalies in the ground below. Tian Fang suspects chi-rich coal deposits!" "Coal deposits?" You ask, walking closer to their tunnel to look down the slope. "Like the cooking fuel? Why do you want that?" "Saunas." Says a different Disciple, exiting the tunnel and emptying a cart of rocks. "Coal soaked in Fire Chi can make saunas that cleanse the body and improve cycling potential. It's great for developing auras and soothing spiritual bottlenecks, we could make a fortune." "Sounds like the perfect gift for my crew." You ponder aloud, scratching an approaching wolf behind the ears. It nips at your hand. "But we're only here for a six-hour Trial, it's nowhere near enough to build a whole mine. Shouldn't you be meditating instead?" Tian Fang flexes an arm under her heavy fur robes. "Exercise is the best meditation! Hmph! Besides, the Thunderfaller of all people should know that six hours is a most //plentiful// amount of time to do anything important. After all, Tian Fang is the Mountain Hazard's top digger!" You look behind her to the circular tunnel hole, only three feet wide. "Uh..." This is going to take more than six hours. <<page "Continue" "ch8dragon-beast4">>\ #[Leave] You don't know why they're digging. You don't care why they're digging. Dealing with Thunderfall's ally Sect is not on your to-do list, so you leave Tian Fang behind and return from whence you came. A soft whining echoes through the bamboo jungle as you go. <<var $fangrep - 4>>\ <</choose>>

One of Tian Fang's other wolves approaches and sniffs you suspiciously, checking what kind of meal its packmate has found. "Shoo, shoo!" Fang says, pushing the wolves away when they start gnawing your iron-hard skin. "Worry not, Thunderfaller. The true digging has not begun. We are simply prospecting to find the best starting location." "Do you need help?" You ask. "Yes!" Tian Fang boasts proudly with her hands on her hips, lifting her chin high. "We are quite new to this!" "Found coal!" Shouts a Disciple from inside the tunnel. "Start digging!" "Then no!" Tian Fang corrects herself, crossing her arms and lifting her chin even higher. "We are quite good at this! Thoughever, if it is in the Thunderfaller's desire to find a superior hole, Tian Fang does need ten minutes to prepare her digging Technique. That gives you nine to search, and one to say hello to Tian Fang!" Pondering the offer, you wonder how you could find a better digsite in ten minutes than they found in...however long they've been doing this. <<var $coaloffers 0>>\ <<var $val2 0>>\ <<choose "ch8dragon-beast5">> #Prospect the hillside for the ideal location. [Perception] The obvious answer to this problem is the clearing; Mountain Hazard has searched for the most coal-rich deposit inside their small clearing. Thunderfall has plenty of mines and they're all located in areas where hills or mountains are close to each other; something about the Earth crunching against itself, according to scholars. You dash out of the clearing and search for two hills dangerously close together, find your perfect mark, and report back. <<var $val2 1>>\ <<page "It's that easy." "ch8dragon-beast-easy">>\ #Dig sampling holes to compare coal concentrations. [Craft] You grab a pickaxe nearby and sprint, taking off into the bamboo jungle and slamming the tool against the ground. With your superstrength and inhuman speed your pickaxe digs trenches as you sprint, blasting dirt and rock to the sides behind you. Your search ends quickly when you circle a hill; your speed and strength carve a trench into its base in a full circle and your eye catches a glint: Clear traces of coal fly among the debris that you launch airborne. You report back with minutes to spare. <<var $val2 2>>\ <<page "It's that easy." "ch8dragon-beast-easy">>\ #show-if ($background is "Herbalist") Inspect the soil for signs of residual coal. [Herbalist, Automatic Success] -> "ch8dragon-beast-herbal" <<var $val2 3>>\ #show-if ($background isnot "Herbalist") Inspect the soil for signs of residual coal. [Alchemy] -> "ch8dragon-beast-herbal" <<var $val2 4>>\ #Trust their judgment. <<var $coaloffers 7>>\ "You know what, no." You reply. "I don't need to look around for a better spot, I trust your Sect's judgment." <<var $val 8101>>\ "Ohoho!" Tian Fang wags her tail. "Truly? You do not think even the great Thunderfaller could find a better spot than our prestigious Lower Disciples." <</choose>>

"I'm sure of it." You say. \ <<if ($val is 8101)>>\ "This whole operation is your idea. Who would know better than you?" <<if ($heshe is "he")>>\ <<var $fangrep + 3>>\ "Why, Thunderfaller! That is most flattering! You flattering...flatterist!" She bats her hand at you before pressing a fist against her cheek and batting her eyes. When \ <<else>>\ "That is most true!" Tian Fang says. "Tian Fang wonders why she did not think of it that way..." She goes to scratch her head on thought, but when <<var $fangrep + 2>>\ <</if>>\ she does, \ <<else>>\ "Why would I report back if it wasn't?" "Ohhh, of course!" Tian Fang slaps her forehead to accentuate how silly she's been, but <</if>>\ the mass of chi on her hands explodes against her own skull. You take a few minutes before she's ready to \ <<if ($val is 8101)>>\ start. <<else>>\ go. <</if>>\ <<page "Continue" "ch8dragon-beast6">>\

<<if ($val is 8101)>>\ When all preparations are made \ <<else>>\ At your new digsite \ <</if>>\ the Mountain Hazard Disciples collect their digging gear and step back in a wide circle. "Dig here?" Tian Fang asks, peeking at the ground. "Dig here." You confirm. "Most excellent!" She shouts for joy, clapping twice with excitement. "Time for Tian Fang to show you why Mountain Hazard calls her the top digger!" Without warning she performs a standing vertical leap forty feet into the air. "Upper Disciple Fang, beginning operation 'Dig a Hole'!" The Mountain Hazard Disciples step even further back when Tian Fang channels Ice, Wild, and Earth Chi between her closed palms above them. The force of it shakes the air and keeps her afloat. Amidst the charging of power her wolves lose their green glow. Their chi returns to her and the effect is immediate. Her hands nearly reshape to claws, her canine fangs extend, and her whimsical expressions are replaced with concentration and restrained rage. An amber shine glows from her eyes. "Fang wait!" You call up. "You're turning feral!" Tian Fang howls out her guttural Technique in response. ''//"Chain of the Lunar Goddess!"//'' <<var $lunarchain true>>\ <<page "Continue" "ch8dragon-beast7">>\

Linked chains of jagged ice thicker than your leg and wider than your height extend from Tian Fang's airborne form and crash into the ground. The chains thicken with Earth Chi and form a sharply-tipped spiraling rock auger. When Wild Chi rushes over the towering obelisk, its weight magnifies and its blade sinks into the ground. Tian Fang pours out even more chi until the enormous auger begins to //spin//. High pitch noise emits from the quickening rotations of Tian Fang's effect as it spins so fast that it appears as a single column. Her rock-covered ice chains press into the ground as she forces out more and more chi, digging down ten feet at a time in grueling rotations that launch dirt into the air all around you. Your spiritual senses give away her new plan to avoid turning feral. The woman is spending //all// of her chi. "HRRRRAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!" Fang screams out, pushing the last reserves of her energy to push her attack to its limit. Her beam ends abruptly when she runs out. The Technique shatters to pieces and, no longer held up by her attack's output, she falls to the ground in front of you with a bellyflop that kicks up small motes of dirt. "Top." She groans, still facedown. "Digger." <<choose "ch8dragon-beast8">> #"I never doubted you for a second." "I never doubted you for a second." You say, nudging her with your foot. "Yay." She grumbles from the ground. <<var $fangrep + 4>>\ <<var $honor + 1>>\ #"Where the Hells was that in the Storm Gate?" "Where the Hells was that in the Storm Gate?" You ask. "I could have died!" <<if ($aurapressure gte 1500)>>\ You couldn't have, but you feel like entertaining her. <</if>>\ Tian Fang kicks up one calf triumphantly, speaking into the ground. "Tian Fang switches to her weakest element when going feral. She is most courteous, is she not?" <<var $fangrep + 2>>\ <<var $sect_mountainhazard + 2>>\ <<var $ruthless - 1>>\ #show-if ($heshe is "he") "Good girl." [Scratch behind the ears] "Good girl." You say, scratching her behind the ears. <<var $fangrep + 2>>\ <<if ($fangromance gte 1)>>\ <<var $fangromance + 1>>\ <</if>>\ Her tail thumps you in the hip as it wags. #[Step on her] You step on her back to walk over to the nearest pile of digging tools, but find them all taken. <<var $fangrep - 3>>\ <<var $ruthless + 2>>\ <<var $powexp + 2>>\ "Ow." She whispers behind you. <</choose>>

The Mountain Hazard Disciples spend the next thirty minutes excavating relentlessly. They use Earth Chi to slide equipment down the hundred-foot deep, seven-foot-wide hole Tian Fang formed in the ground and don't waste a second chipping coal out of the chi-rich deposits at the bottom. You and Fang spend that time resting above ground with soup, and you are not handling it well. "Are you sure you don't need help?" You shout down into the tunnel, again. "Normally people need my help." "We are FINE Thunderfaller, we are certain!" Shouts a Disciple below as they continue to successfully toil without messing up. The competence of random unnamed helpers is making you uneasy. Normally you have to hold people's hands through a process or it goes south, fast. "You're certain? Normally people want me to solve their problems using three, maybe four different ways. A skill or an element may be involved. Maybe it costs Chi, maybe it doesn't." "Done!" A voice from below shouts. A pulley installed next to the hole drags up a set of crates for you. "Now please, Thunderfaller, enjoy your sauna while we do the rest of the work! It is no trouble at all! Do not worry about us toiling away while you rest in comfort at our expense!" <<var $coaloffers - 3>>\ <<if ($coaloffers gte 17)>>\ <<var $coaloffers - 5>>\ <</if>>\ ''[Item Gained: Crate of Loot x$coaloffers]'' <<var $loot + $coaloffers>>\ "Is he giving me attitude?" You ask to Fang. She slurps her soup from the bowl, long since discarding her spoon, and shakes her head with her mouth full. You shrug and look over the goods set aside for you. "At least they gave me enough to take care of my retainers." You say, thinking out loud. "I've been worried about bottlenecks since I can't be there to assist often. Luckily there's more than enough here to fix any flaws in their rushed cultivation, if you're right about chi saunas that is." ''[Retainer Morale Improved]'' <<var $retainer_morale + 4>>\ <<if ($coaloffers gte 12)>>\ ''[Retainer Strength +4]'' <<var $retainer_strength + 4>>\ <<else>>\ ''[Retainer Strength +2]'' <<var $retainer_strength + 2>>\ <</if>>\ "Tian Fang is always right!" She shouts after swallowing. "About all things! Now come, let us make saunas of our own!" She grabs one of your crates and holds it overhead, sprinting to the two smaller shacks. "Ancestors, Fang, at least let me setup the sauna." You groan, but she's already slammed the door shut and you hear vigorous banging of hammers on wood. "Task most successfully completed!" She shouts cheerily, bursting out in mere seconds. Somehow she even setup benches inside. Fang does quick little tippy taps of excitement while looking inside both your respective saunas. "Shall we?" <<choose "ch8dragon-finisharea">> #use-if ($loot gte 2) "I could go for a sauna bath." [Costs 2 Crates] "I could go for a sauna bath." You admit, climbing into your single-person shack and lighting the coals. ''[Item Lost: Crate of Loot x2]'' <<var $loot - 2>>\ "Enjoy!" Tian Fang says, bowing low. "On behalf of Mountain Hazard, please enjoy this most relaxable retreat!" "Will do." You say, slowly closing the door. "Are you...waiting for me to get in? I thought you wanted one too." "Tian Fang would love a sauna, but hospitality dictates that she wait for her guest! So please close the door most hastily. Please please please please-YAY!" She screams when you finally close the door. You hear her sprint across the area and slam into another sauna, starting her own. The steam from the chi-rich coals soaks into you for the next forty minutes. Your skin feels like a fire has been lit underneath, but that energy rushes //in//, not out. What should be burning your flesh instead fuels your soul. ''[Health, Chi, and Cores Restored]'' <<var $wounds 0>>\ <<var $chispent 0>>\ <<var $powspent 0>>\ <<var $agispent 0>>\ <<var $forspent 0>>\ <<var $solspent 0>>\ <<apboost 10>>\ <<var $displayer (0.13+($insight * 0.01))>>\ <<include "ch8dragon-checkbuffer">>\ <<page "Continue" "ch8dragon-finisharea">>\ #show-if ($heshe is "he") use-if ($loot gte 1) "Why waste the fuel? My sauna bath has room for two." [Seduction, Costs 1 Crate] "Why waste the fuel?" You ask. "My sauna bath has room for two." Tian Fang gasps. "Why, Thunderfaller, that is most economical of you!" She strips her robes off and throws them over your head, giggling as she dashes into your sauna, lays onto the bench, props her legs up, and beckons you inside. <<var $loot - 1>>\ <<page "I love my life." "ch8dragon-beast-tease">>\ #"Why don't you all enjoy the hard-earned sauna bath instead?" [Rob Them] "Why don't you all enjoy the hard-earned sauna bath instead?" You offer, calling down to the shaft. Reluctantly, they agree. "So thoughtful!" Tian Fang gasps. "Thunderfaller, such selflessness is quite Archonlike of you!" "It's true, it's true." You say, shooing her into the sauna. "I am nothing if not charitable." As soon as they all cram into the sauna sheds you steal all their fuuinjutsu-sealed coal crates, retreat into the jungle, and laugh your way to victory. ''[Item Gained: Ritual Component x8]'' <<var $ritualcomponents + 8>>\ ''[Item Gained: Crate of Loot x12]'' <<var $loot + 12>>\ <<var $displayer (0.15+($insight * 0.01))>>\ <<include "ch8dragon-checkbuffer">>\ <<if ($stealth gte 3)>>\ ''[Stealth 3 Check Passed]'' <<var $agiexp + 2>>\ You even avoid the Kitsune announcer's scrying orb patrolling overhead. No doubt the fox is vexed trying to narrate an entertaining theft when she can't find the culprit. <<var $sect_mountainhazard - 2>>\ ''[No Infamy Increase]'' <<else>>\ ''[Stealth 3 Check Failed]'' So delightful are the rewards of your cunning that you don't notice Misuka's scrying orb watching the whole thing. ''[Infamy Increased]'' <<var $infamy + 3>>\ <<var $sect_mountainhazard - 8>>\ <<var $fangrep - 5>>\ <<var $fangromance - 2>>\ <</if>>\ <<page "Continue" "ch8dragon-finisharea">>\ #"I should focus on my meditations." "I should focus on my meditations." You say with a shake of the head. "The Trial matters more than small term gains." "Very true." Tian Fang says, nodding vigorously. "Very, VERY true!" "...You're going in anyway, aren't you." She's in the sauna before you finish, closing the door behind her with a squeel of joy. <<include "ch8dragon-checkbuffer">>\ <<page "Continue" "ch8dragon-finisharea">>\ <</choose>>

<<var $loc "South">>\ A curious site greets you on the southern coast. Along a neglected road into the woods, up and around a single hill, is an excavation site outside of a cave. Pickaxes and support lumber surround destroyed shacks and resting huts and while broken carts for rock removal lie across the road. At the center of it all lies a half-collapsed cave entrance with torches along the edges. <<choose "ch8dragon-cavern-enter">> #Enter the cavern. #Sit and meditate. -> "ch8dragon-cavern-sitandmeditate" Deciding against entering a structurally unsound cavern, \ <</choose>>

<<if ($naquestions is 1)>>\ "Rufus." Says the Oni man in the back. "You've said enough." <<if ($prestige gte 10)>>\ ''[Prestige 10 Check Passed]'' "Nonsense." Says the blonde Lunargoth. \ <<else>>\ ''[Prestige $naquestions0 Check Failed]'' "You're right." Says the blonde Lunargoth. "Apologies, Young Master <<cap $clan>>, but some things are only said between allies." \ You try not to show displeasure on your face and consider how you want to approach this. <<var $naanswer false>>\ <</if>>\ <<elseif ($naquestions is 2)>>\ "Rufus!" Shouts the Human woman. "Do not give up all our army's information so freely." <<if ($prestige gte 20)>>\ ''[Prestige 20 Check Passed]'' "It is called diplomacy." Rufus says with annoyance, turning back to you. \ <<else>>\ ''[Prestige $naquestions0 Check Failed]'' "You're right." Says the blonde Lunargoth. "Apologies, Young Master <<cap $clan>>, but some things are only said between allies." \ You try not to show displeasure on your face and consider how you want to approach this. <<var $naanswer false>>\ <</if>>\ <<elseif ($naquestions is 3)>>\ "Rufus." Says the other Lunargoth man present, placing his hand on a waraxe on his back. "Your loose tongue borders on treason." <<if ($prestige gte 30)>>\ ''[Prestige 30 Check Passed]'' "And your threat borders on the end of your life." Rufus replies coldly to his ally, turning back to you. \ <<else>>\ ''[Prestige $naquestions0 Check Failed]'' "You're right." Says the blonde Lunargoth. "Apologies, Young Master <<cap $clan>>, but some things are only said between allies." \ You try not to show displeasure on your face and consider how you want to approach this. <<var $naanswer false>>\ <</if>>\ <</if>>\

<<if ($txt isnot "suave")>>\ Their chatter is interrupted when you enter and they all turn to you. "You shouldn't have come here." Says the Oni Man. "Now we have to take you out." <</if>>\ "Brother, have you listened to yourself?" Asks one of the Lunargoths, the taller blonde. "You sound like a highwayman about to be humbled. Let me show you how to handle the southerners." He walks forward and extends a hand. "Hail, stranger. I am Rufus, Lieutenant of the Northern Army under Captain Brass Tiger. I believe these Trials only care about Sects, so I am technically from the Fist of the Irondrop School; my training officer taught us in its ways." "$fullname." You say, cautiously shaking his hand. \ <<if (dig($trialdeets, 1) gte 2)>>\ "Lower Disciple of the Thunderfall Sect and $patriarch \ <<else>>\ "$patriarch \ <</if>>\ of the <<cap $clan>> Clan. What's going on down here? No one mentioned any sort of ruins." "No one here did, true enough." Rufus says. "The Divine General has given us orders to reclaim lost knowledge from an outpost that once rested on this island, before it fell. Our Dragon Trial being relocated to the island ruined our mission, or expedited it, depending on your level of optimism." <<var $naquestions 0>>\ <<var $naanswer true>>\ <<include "ch8dragon-cavern-questionarmy">>\

You continue down several long hallways and various rooms. Dining halls, lodging areas, emptied armories, libraries of decrepit books. There's not a single trap or locked door in the place and you begin to suspect these people are bad at making ruins. It seems like traps are more of an underground thing, and they didn't get the message when constructing the ruins. Passing by a window showing nothing but dirt, you start to suspect this area wasn't originally underground. After fifteen minutes of cautious wandering you finally come out to a grand theatre. Rows of benches lead down to an amphitheater where a curved stone wall takes up half the stage. Strange glyphs and Gothic sigils mark the wall, glowing with power. You are no longer an amateur, and so you approach the wall and place your hand upon it before any surprises get a chance to reveal themselves. <<apboost 20>>\ <<if ($race is "Lunargoth")>>\ <<if (dig($runesealritual, 8) is 0)>>\ ''[Rune Acquired: Rune of Haven (Lore)]'' <<var $runesealritual + 10000000>>\ <<elseif (dig($runesealritual, 7) is 0)>>\ ''[Rune Acquired: Rune of Water (Insight)]'' <<var $runesealritual + 100000000>>\ <<elseif (dig($runesealritual, 4) is 0)>>\ ''[Rune Acquired: Rune of Man (Craft)]'' <<var $runesealritual + 100000000000>>\ <<else>>\ ''[Rune of Haven Already Known!]'' ''[Rune of Water Already Known!]'' ''[Rune of Man Already Known!]'' ''[Runic Power Absorced: Chi Pool Increased]'' <<var $chipool + 1>>\ <</if>>\ <<if (dig($runesealcores, 5) is 0)>>\ ''[Rune Acquired: Rune of Destruction (Soul)]'' <<var $runesealcores + 10000000000>>\ <<elseif (dig($runesealcores, 3) is 0)>>\ ''[Rune Acquired: Rune of Protection (Fortitude)]'' <<var $runesealcores + 1000000000000>>\ <<else>>\ ''[Rune of Destruction Already Known!]'' ''[Rune of Fortitude Already Known!]'' ''[Runic Power Absorbed: Health Increased]'' <<var $health + 1>>\ <</if>>\ Gothic sigils run across your skin in glowing runes, dancing along your body until they settle into place and glow brighter than ever before. When the glow fades, you're left with tattoos of Gothic woads and feel their power conjoin with your very soul. The essence and activation of this new ability becomes a part of you, something you can call upon at any time...so long as you have the Chi to fuel it. "Incredible..." You say, looking down at your own skin. "I hope these aren't permanent." They fade by the time you get back outside and return to meditations, \ <<else>>\ ''[Runic Power Absorbed: Chi Pool Increased]'' <<var $chipool + 1>>\ ''[All Health, Chi, and Cores Restored]'' <<var $chispent 0>>\ <<var $powspent 0>>\ <<var $wounds 0>>\ <<var $forspent 0>>\ <<var $agispent 0>>\ <<var $solspent 0>>\ Gothic sigils run across your skin and settle into place, attempting to singe their power into your spirit. Unfortunately, you are not a Lunargoth. The sigils burn up in the process and fade away, but the raw power behind their enchantment still fuels your aura with new power. "Not bad." You remark, empowered but unimpressed. You leave the way you came, undisturbed, and meditate \ <</if>>\ far away from the cave entrance of your crimes. <<var $displayer (0.14+($insight * 0.02))>>\ <<include "ch8dragon-checkbuffer">>\ <<page "Continue" "ch8dragon-finisharea">>\

You take a torch off the entrance and make your way into the cold, dark tunnel. The first turn comes upon you quickly, forcing you to the right to move around a large fallen boulder. The second turn happens when the tunnel begins to widen; you turn right again to begin a downward slope descent where the tunnel begins to widen. Quickly you find yourself outside of the rubble range. The walls around you become straighter, the support beams more stable, and your footsteps begin to echo. You continue this way for two, three, even four-hundred yards until you're surrounded by fine inscription on the straight stone walls. More importantly, the floor and ceiling stop looking like a dug tunnel; they're enforced with laid stone tile like an underground fortress hall. When your hallway is blocked off by a set of intricate stone double doors you realize this is no digsite. It's a ruins, and you're not alone. The doors are already open. <<choose "ch8dragon-cavern-chatter">> #Walk through to confront whoever is inside. You press the doors open, waltzing forward into an antechamber with two exits on either side leading into separate dark hallways. Between you and those halls are four Martial Artists in black and green gi; two Lunargothic men, an Oni man, and a Human woman. #Sneak through to spy on whoever is inside. -> "ch8dragon-cavern-stealth" <</choose>>

With Rufus chasing his ally's betrayal down the rightmost hallway, you try your luck with the left hall to look for any shortcut. "Where do you think you're going?" Says the Human woman, forming three lines of Mystic Chi to block off the hall. "Lieutenant Rufus may be foolish enough to let you through, but I am not." "He said it was a three-way race himself." You say, \ <<if ($ruthless gte 55)>>\ ready to get violent. \ <<else>>\ annoyed. \ <</if>>\ "Get out of my way." "Grow up!" Shouts the Oni man, charging Fire Chi over his arms. "You think you can compromise our mission because of some fool's sense of competition? I won't let you!" He pulls both arms back and motions to launch his Fire Chi like a whip. <<var $txt "The Human woman screams, running for the exit. Her obstructing Mystic Chi lines disperse behind her.">>\ <<choose "ch8dragon-cavern-gogogo2">> #Punch him in the throat. <<if (($element1 is "Ice") and ($element2 is "Ice"))>>\ Surrounding yourself with Ice Chi for protection, \ <</if>>\ <<if (($element1 is "Earth") and ($element2 is "Earth"))>>\ Surrounding yourself with Earth Chi for protection, \ <</if>>\ <<if (($element1 is "Water") and ($element2 is "Water"))>>\ Surrounding yourself with Water Chi for protection, \ <<else>>\ Ignoring the danger of his flames, \ <</if>>\ you leap in close and rush a haymaker at the Oni's throat. It's his fault for being in melee range. <<var $combatstat "power">>\ <<var $combatstat2 "fortitude">>\ <<discount "Midorikatai" $stylerank>>\ <<discount "Muscular" 1>>\ <<discount "Ice" 2>>\ <<discount "Earth" 2>>\ <<discount "Water" 2>>\ <<attack "Melee">>\ <<combatcheck 11>>\ <<if ($passcheck is true)>>\ The Oni's flames lick your shoulders when he crosses his arms, no doubt trying to catch you in a net of burning pain. Your fist reaches his neck first, breaking his adam's apple and knocking <<else>>\ The Oni man crisscrosses his arms before you can fully close in, burning your shoulders and chest with extreme prejudice. <<woundcheck 2 false true>>\ Unfortunately for him, Fire is not physical. Your charge goes unimpeded, cracking your fist into his neck. The speed and force of your strike breaks his adam's apple and knocks \ <</if>>\ him into the wall so hard that the centuries-old stonemasonry cracks from the ceiling to the floor. His aura shatters, his \ <<if ($ruthless lt 70)>>\ unconscious \ <</if>>\ body balls limp, and you look to your remaining opponent. $txt <<page "Run down the leftmost hall" "ch8dragon-cavern-gogogo2">>\ #Trip his legs then kick him into the ceiling. Facing two opponents at once, with one covering their redskinned arms in raging flames, you dash in quickly before they can press their advantage. "YOU DARE?!" Hisses the Oni, reeling back his burning arms and charging the energy like a whip. In that same time, you \ <<if (($element1 is "Storm") or ($element2 is "Storm"))>>\ charge yourself with Storm Chi to \ <<elseif (($element1 is "Light") or ($element2 is "Light"))>>\ charge yourself with Light Chi to \ <</if>>\ rush at him and drop low with a sweeping kick at his legs. <<var $combatstat "agility">>\ <<var $combatskill "stealth">>\ <<if ($perception gt ($stealth + 1))>>\ <<var $combatskill "perception">>\ <</if>>\ <<discount "Kurokonton" $stylerank>>\ <<discount "Agile" 1>>\ <<discount "Legs" 1>>\ <<discount "Cat" 1>>\ <<discount "Storm" 1>>\ <<discount "Light" 1>>\ <<combatcheck 7>>\ <<if ($passcheck is true)>>\ Your leg cracks his knee to the side, knocking him off his feet. Before he has time to spin in-place you \ <<else>>\ The Oni reacts first, unleashing his flames down on you like a pouring waterfall. <<woundcheck 2 false true>>\ You push through the pain and the fire, rushing through his attack to slam your leg into his knee. It cracks, and bends. Your kick knocks him off his feet, allowing you to \ <</if>>\ slide upright and reel back your other leg, slamming it into his side. He spins a dozen rotations on his way up to the top of the antechamber until his face slams into the ceiling, cratering the stone hard enough to knock him out and shatter his aura. $txt <<page "Run down the leftmost hall" "ch8dragon-cavern-gogogo2">>\ #use-if (($element1 is "Water") or ($element2 is "Water")) Extinguish the flames. [Requires Water, Costs 1 Chi] Spinning water chi through your system creates a highly pressurized torrent in your soul. By raising one palm at the Oni, you unleash that torrent. A fist-sized beam of water from your right hand and crashes into his right arm, extinguishing its flames. "That's not all I have!" He shouts, pulling back his other arm of flames. You extinguish that arm with a second beam from your left hand. "You can't stop my burning ambition!" The Oni screams, charging fire in his eyes. ''[1 Chi Spent]'' <<var $chispent + 1>>\ <<apboost 5>>\ You shrug and pull both palms together, hitting him with a double-handed Water beam in the face. He's knocked off his feet instantly, blown into a backflip. Before his body can fall you lower your beam and hit him in the back hard enough to rush him into the wall, keeping your attack going with an unreal amount of water that floods the floor. By the time you're done he's been pressed into the stone from every angle, creating a six inch deep imprint of his body in the rock that keeps him stuck in the wall. His aura shatters like a sad, wet firework. $txt <<page "Run down the leftmost hall" "ch8dragon-cavern-gogogo2">>\ #use-if (($element1 is "Fire") or ($element2 is "Fire")) Steal his firepower. [Requires Fire, Costs 1 Chi] You snap your fingers, extinguishing the flames on his arms with your control over Fire Chi. Then you take a step forward. "What-?!" The Oni steps back, forming two new spheres of flame. You snap your fingers again, extinguishing them once more, and step forward. "St-Stay back!" The Oni screams, backing up into a wall. "Stay back, or else!" He pulls both hands to his center and forms a more concentrated gout of flame, preparing a beam of energy swirling between both palms. You snap your fingers, dismiss his effect, and step forward three times, looking him in the eyes from two feet away. "Th-The Northern Army will hear about...!" Your hand rises, holding all the power of the flames you stole from him. He shakes his head and tries to negotiate just before you crack your burning fist into his skull. ''[1 Chi Spent]'' <<var $chispent + 1>>\ <<apboost 5>>\ Your strike echoes like a booming gong in the antechamber and embeds the Oni man's head into the stone wall behind him, shattering his aura. $txt <<page "Run down the leftmost hall" "ch8dragon-cavern-gogogo2">>\ <</choose>>

Your fall plunges you into the abyssal darkness beneath the ruins. Your fall is broken by a bony, furry carapace you crack into and bounce off from. When trying to land on your feet, one foot lands on a slithering piece of meat thicker than your torso. Then the fangs close in. Claws, fangs, pincers, and horns pierce and slash at you from every angle. You raise your $auracolor aura to full power and see flashes of mutated Beasts down here, each crazed and mangled, and each ripping at your flesh. <<if ($pblocktech isnot "")>>\ <<woundcheck 1 false false>>\ <<else>>\ <<woundcheck 2 false false>>\ <</if>>\ The next three minutes are filled with nothing but hectic, gory, desperate life-and-death battle against starving Beasts. By the time it's over you've finally killed or repelled at least five different animal hybrids. You rip two fangs or claws out of your bleeding shoulder and walk in the supposed direction of the chasm's opposing wall. With violent anger you stab them into the wall and start climbing up, handhold by handhold, until you reach the top. <<page "Venture further into the ruins." "ch8dragon-cavern-gogogo3">>\

You grab a lit torch off the wall and sprint down the leftmost hallway in a blur of $auracolor light. ''[Agility Core Surged]'' <<var $agispent + 1>>\ The tunnel ends abruptly after two minutes of winding halls spiraling downward. It is not a wall, rubble, or other obstacle that halts you from continuing; quite the opposite. The tunnel opens up into a massive underground chamber of darkness. You peak out and look left, right, above, and below. Nothing. Throwing your torch as far as you can, it thankfully hits an opposing wall and reveals the other part of the tunnel, presumably separated by some earthquake. Unfortunately, it is two-hundred feet away. Worse, your spiritual senses detect multiple presences down below, and your ears pick up on a subtle mix of slithering and low hisses. Unfortunately, the Northern Army isn't going to wait for you to take your time. Looking into the darkness, where your goal is a two-hundred-foot leap away, you decide to act. <<choose "ch8dragon-cavern-gogogo3">> #Perform a leap of faith. There's no room for hesitation in this race to power. Backing up and charging your legs with $auracolor chi, you break into a mad sprint and leap with all your might. <<if ($style is "Aoyusumu")>>\ ''[Aoyusumu Event: Automatic Success]'' Midway through the leap you realize you can feel the vectors of your trajectory as if they were currents on the air. External forces treated like external limbs. Kinetic force. You smack your forehead mid-air and laugh. Your other hand glows $auracolor with Sacred Chi and you increase your kinetic movement upward and forward, then reduce your kinetic resistance down. Gliding across the two-hundred-foot chasm becomes as easy as climbing a staircase. <<apboost 4>>\ You slowly descend onto the other side and break back into a sprint into the depths. <<page "Venture further into the ruins." "ch8dragon-cavern-gogogo3">>\ <<elseif ($athletics gte 3)>>\ ''[Athletics 3 Check Passed]'' Your mighty leap soars you over the ravine, high over the pit of monsters below. You crash down on the opposite side and roll to your feet, running further down the tunnel without delay. It's nothing less than what you've always expected of yourself. <<apboost 2>>\ <<page "Venture further into the ruins." "ch8dragon-cavern-gogogo3">>\ <<else>>\ ''[Athletics 3 Check Failed]'' You soar across the ravine, high above the ominous darkness filled with unknown monsters, and begin to descend...before reaching the halfway point. Oh no. Oh no! NO NO NO NO NO NO! <<page "AAAAAHHHHHHHH!!!!!" "ch8dragon-cavern-gogogo-snakes">>\ <</if>>\ #use-if ((($element1 is "Wind") and ($element1rank gte 2)) or (($element2 is "Wind") and ($element2rank gte 2))) Fly across. [Requires Wind (Adept)] Wind currents form beneath your feet and you fly across the chasm without issue. You ponder over the short journey of how terrible it would be to //not// know how to fly. What a cursed existence it must be, to be anyone but you. Ah, but fortunately, you are you. <<var $agiexp + 2>>\ Landing seamlessly on the other side, you continue your flight forward down the underground tunnel simply because you can. <<page "Venture further into the ruins." "ch8dragon-cavern-gogogo3">>\ #use-if ((($element1 is "Storm") or ($element2 is "Storm")) and ((($chipool + ($soul/2)) - $chispent) gte 1)) Ride a lightning bolt across. [Requires Storm, Costs 1 Chi] You're not dealing with a pit of monsters and a two-hundred-foot leap of faith. Heights do not concern the storm. ''[1 Chi Spent]'' Reaching one hand high overhead, you charge static currents through the air and grip upon them. With an activation of $auracolor chi you burst a lightning bolt into being across the chasm and run it through your palm, 'ziplining' the speeding bolt to instantly flash across the chasm. <<apboost 4>>\ Your feet smoke when you skid to a halt on the other side, looking back across the chasm at your impressive launch. Two-hundred feet. New record. <<page "Venture further into the ruins." "ch8dragon-cavern-gogogo3">>\ #show-if ($background is "Trapper") use-if ($handseals gte 1) Throw some rope. [Requires Trapper, Handseals 1] <<var $powexp + 1>>\ Props to Father, he was right again. You take out a fuuinjutsu tag, fold it into an aerodynamic form, and toss it across the chasm. It lands gently against the floor. Then you blow it up with an energy blast. Smoke billows out from the destroyed seal and forms into a large blob. A boulder. One that's wider on top. Taking out a large bundle of rope, you tie a lasso and swing it across, catch the boulder, and jump. The rope swings you down the chasm, into the ominous hole by sixty feet where you climb up easily. As you rise onto the opposite end of the chasm you reseal the boulder and appreciate your parents. <<var $solexp + 1>>\ Father suggested this tactic to shorten your Trapper route when you learned fuuinjutsu well enough to store heavy objects. It was never needed, because you could safely jump and didn't fear falling, but he was right. Here you are with a much more mysterious hole that you'd rather not fall into. The man has good preparation skills. You suspect he could have made a good Martial Artist. Well, he raised one, so that's almost as good. Although...he also raised Jin and Rin. Ah well, nobody's perfect. <<page "Venture further into the ruins." "ch8dragon-cavern-gogogo3">>\ #show-if ($race is "Kitsune") Turn into your fox form. [Requires Kitsune] Against your best wishes, it seems it's time to retake the fox form you've avoided since you were nine. You drop to all fours, channel the pink foxfire chi of your people to merge your gear with your body, and shift into a fur-covered fox form of legend. <<var $forexp + 1>>\ <<var $solexp + 2>>\ You'd imagined by now, with so many Advancements, that your fox form would be some sort of nine-foot tall majestic Beast. Apparently, as you look up at the //much// higher ceiling from all fours, the Kitsune fox form is grown by age, not power. You're still the size of a barely adolescent kit. No one must //ever// know. With a short, adorable jaunt and a four-legged hop, your Power Cores launch your diminutive form across the chasm without issue. Upon landing you immediately turn back into your Yokai-like form, swishing your dual tails to brush off the sensation of being so small. <<page "Venture further into the ruins." "ch8dragon-cavern-gogogo3">>\ <</choose>>

The further you run, the deeper you descend. A staircase down after a hall of murals. A ladder dropping into an abandoned and empty dining hall. A circular runway spiraling down. Finally you come upon a pair of bronze doors and motion to push them open, but they do not budge. You reel a fist back and prepare to strike when you hear something on the other side. Battle. Pressing your ear to the door, you hear grunts and shouts of two male voices. One is distinctly that of Rufus, and it doesn't take much of your brainpower to tell the other is the second Lunargoth from his group. You suppress your aura in case they haven't already caught you, but in doing so you lose the light source you'd been using. Falling back to the torchlight, you look over the engraved bronze double doors in front of you and realize just how thick they must be to have such massive hinges. An Old Cathayan inscription is written across both doors, welded into the metal, but you pay it no mind when pushing the doors open...or rather, when you try to push the doors open. They won't budge. <<include "ch8dragon-cavern-trydoor">>\

Moving quickly through the doorway leads you to a wide theatre-like chamber with a stage, benches rising in rows, and an upper hall above them. You stand in the upper hall, looking down upon the theatre. On the stage below is a massive curving wall covered in \ <<if ($race isnot "Lunargoth")>>\ unfamiliar, \ <</if>>\ glowing, Gothic script. Your eyes have no time to try and read it or understand its mystic importance; your attention is captured instead by the sight in front of it. Standing on the stage, Lieutenant Rufus of the Northern Army stands over the defeated unconscious Lunargoth who rushed to take this ruin's mysterious power for himself. Rufus's cerulean aura continues to swell around him when he looks up to see you. "You're too late." Rufus says, more serious than before. "I gave you a chance, as honor dictates, but Captain Brass Tiger expects my results. This power..." He aims one arm behind himself, triggering a brighter glow from the wall of runes. "will be mine!" <<page "Continue" "ch8dragon-cavern-gogogo5">>\

Energy rushes off the runic script of the curved stone wall and flows around Rufus. The runes themselves leave the wall and glow through the air when they wrap around Rufus's arm. They brand his skin as they do so, layering him with tattoos. When it's all over, he looks down at the glowing blue and red runes over his left hand and forearm and grins. "Mission accomplished. Now leave, Thunderfaller, there's nothing for you here." "..." You point behind him. "Hm?" Rufus turns around and sees half of the wall is still glowing. He reaches his other arm out, but nothing happens. "Oh." "I think there was enough for two." You say, waltzing down a stone staircase through the rows of benches. "I think you may be right." Rufus nods, lowers his aura, and bites his lower lip in concern. "It seems my squad member and I have beaten each other bloody for no reason at all. Hm. That will not look good in the report." <<choose "ch8dragon-cavern-runes">> #"If you let me absorb the rest of this ruin's power, nobody has to know." You look to Rufus, then to his defeated ally, then to the ruin's power which still stores enough energy to empower one more individual. Knowing he didn't need to fight his own ally over this well of power after all, you play your ultimate hand. "If you let me absorb the rest of this ruin's power, nobody has to know. We'll both agree there was only enough power for one and you won the race." Rufus scoffs. "You really think you won't use this power in the Trials? It's glowing runes over my entire arm, people will notice and ask questions." You shrug. "A lot of merchants are selling their mystic wares in Nanhou. What's to say I didn't get jealous of your victory and know what to look for?" Rufus scratches his nose, looks down to his defeated ally, and sighs. "Make it quick, before he wakes." "How long does that give me?" You ask, approaching the wall. Rufus glances skyward and bobs his head slightly, recounting his fight with a slight smile. "A while, to be honest." <<page "Touch the runic wall's surface." "ch8dragon-cavern-runes">>\ #"For three-hundred Shards, I didn't see anything." You look from the available power to the defeated Lunargoth. "For three-hundred Shards, I didn't see anything." <<if ($persuasion gte 2)>>\ ''[Persuasion 2 Check Passed]'' "Three-hundred? That is extortion!" "Yes." Rufus unties a coinpouch and removes a few gold and Shards, tossing the rest to you with a frown. "I don't believe honesty improves the honor of a thief, but I won't dissuade you from it." <<var $shards + 300>>\ ''[Item Gained: 300 Shards]'' <<else>>\ ''[Persuasion 2 Check Failed]'' "Three-hundred?! You're out of your mind!" "That's the price." you say with a confident shrug. "Take it or leave it." "I'll leave it." Rufus says. His aura begins to swirl in the middle and you realize he's about to cycle his own Shards so you can't have them. Shiiiiit, why didn't you think of that in negotiations? That's a good idea. "One-fifty!" You blurt out. "Deal." Rufus says too quickly, tossing you a coinpouch after removing some of its contents. <<var $shards + 150>>\ ''[Item Gained: 150 Shards]'' <</if>>\ You catch the pouch and give a small bow. "Pleasure doing business with you." "I cannot say the same." Rufus replies, picking up his ally and hoisting him over his shoulder. "I wish you proper luck in the Dragon Trial." As he leaves, you count your money before realizing he said 'proper luck' instead of 'good luck'. "Did you just wish me bad luck?" You shout down the echoing tunnels of the ruins. He doesn’t answer. <<page "Continue" "ch8dragon-cavern-shards">>\ #"Get him up and give him the other half. It's the honorable thing to do." <<var $ruthless - 2>>\ <<var $honor + 4>>\ "Get him up and give him the other half of the ruin's power." You say, pointing to Rufus's unconscious ally. "It's the honorable thing to do." "You're not going to contest it?" Rufus asks. "You can clearly see I'm half-beaten already." "That's not how I handle things. Honor matters." You shake your head. Rufus looks shocked but obliges, lifting his companion off his feet and pressing his face against the stone. It takes minutes, but the runic script eventually drifts off the wall and onto his ally's face. "Here." The blonde Lunargoth says when dropping his ally and handing you a scroll. "You said honor matters. I agree. But...just so you know, the front lines of Outer North aren't as legalistic as the rest of the Empire; the idea of boons and debts is viewed as cowardly. We're all supposed to be helping in the war at all times without asking for anything back." <<if ($honor lt 45)>>\ "Ew." \ <<else>>\ "How barbaric." \ <</if>>\ You say, coming from a proper, civilized system of honor and accountability.\ <<if ($honor lt 45)>>\ One you're used to taking advantage of. \ <</if>>\ "What I'm saying is, this Writ won't apply to the entire Northern Army; only me and my men, plus anyone who respects us enough to care." "Even the Oni I knocked out? He didn't seem very useful." "The who you what?" Rufus asks. "Nevermind." You snatch the writ out of his hand with a short bow. "It has been an honor doing business." ''[Item Gained: Writ of Favor (Northern Army)]'' <<var $boon_northernarmy + 1>>\ <<page "Continue" "ch8dragon-cavern-gogogo7">>\ <</choose>>

Rufus carries his unconscious ally out of the ruins and places him down by a spent campfire. He sits and meditates after, withdrawing his dragon medallion from inside his gi. "Will you be staying?" He asks, cracking one eye open at your continued presence. <<var $mettiger + 1000000>>\ <<if ($honor lt 40)>>\ "Nah." \ <<else>>\ "It wouldn't be for the best." \ <</if>>\ You reply, looking out into the jungle. "I'll meditate far enough away to not start trouble when your friend wakes up." "May the Heavens grant you their favor." Rufus says as you pack up and depart. <<var $displayer (0.15+($insight * 0.02))>>\ <<include "ch8dragon-checkbuffer">>\ <<page "Continue" "ch8dragon-finisharea">>\

<<choose "ch8dragon-cavern-questionarmy">> #use-once use-if ($naanswer is true) "Who is the Divine General?" -> "ch8dragon-cavern-questionarmy2" #use-once use-if ($naanswer is true) "What kind of lost knowledge are you looking for?" "What kind of lost knowledge are you looking for?" You ask, glancing from each of them to look for clues. <<include "ch8dragon-cavern-armyagitate">> <<if ($naanswer is true)>>\ "Lunargothic old ways." Rufus says. "We were fortunate to have two Lunargoths in the island's first Dragon Trial seed, for legend states this lost power will only work for my kind. The secrets we seek are said to be the method that the original Lunargothics used to coat their body and weapons in enhancement chi." <<if ($race isnot "Lunargoth")>>\ "Oh." You say, disappointed. "Nothing useful for me then." Rufus offers a sympathetic smile. "Now the $ymaster sees why my fellow soldiers have such permanent frowns." He shoves a thumb over his shoulder toward the Human woman and Oni man in his matching black and red gi. <<else>>\ "Oh." You say, pleasantly surprised. "So it's something I can use." "Potentially." Rufus says with an appraising glance. "We are unsure how finite the resource is, but the hope is that there exists enough for two of us. Three, if you prove a valuable ally." <</if>>\ <</if>>\ <<var $naquestions + 1>>\ #use-once use-if ($naanswer is true) "You mentioned a Northern Army, what's that?" "You mentioned a Northern Army," you ask, eyeing each of their matching black and red gi, "what is it? Some sort of Sect?" <<include "ch8dragon-cavern-armyagitate">> <<if ($naanswer is true)>>\ "It is a collection of Sects, I would say. During Ice Incursions the Northern Army is a singular force under the command of the Divine General, ever vigilant in our quest to make soulless abominations feel fear." You take notes on how to better describe yourself to strangers. This is good stuff. "What about when there's no Ice Incursion?" Rufus tilts his head and nods. "Peace periods, we call them. Whenever the Ice Incursions stop coming we will see twenty to thirty years of calm, civilian life. Most of us go home to our Sects, or our Schools, or to start families. Its during these times that Outer North resembles the other Outer Provinces. The top section, at least. As an Outer Province member yourself you understand how wide our nations are; the Ice Incursions rarely affect the day to day lives of people not near the coast." "Why do you need an Army at all for this though, don't the Archons help?" "That is why we win." The blonde Lunargoth says with pride. "The Council sends a certain amount of Archons for each Ice Incursion, typically those from Outer North. It helps keep the peace." "No." Says the Oni in the back. "They do it because it is their duty as his stewards! What good is a defense force if his own subjects will not send it to the planned point of attack?" Rufus rubs the bridge of his nose but doesn't correct his ally. <</if>>\ <<var $naquestions + 1>>\ #use-once use-if ($naanswer is true) "How do you know what was here before the island fell?" "How do you know what was here before the island fell?" You ask, curiosity piqued. "Do you guys have spies down here?" <<include "ch8dragon-cavern-armyagitate">> <<if ($naanswer is true)>>\ "We don't need 'spies', we soldiers of Outer North are residents of Imperial Rasen just like anyone else. Otherwise being in these Trials would be a foolish and doomed infiltration; I suspect any of the Judges could hear our discussion if they so pleased." "So you used...archaeology? Rumors? Some ancient treasure map?" "Better." Rufus says with something bordering on a smile. "A former resident. One of our Commanders lived here five hundred years ago before the Mystic Sect fell apart." You think back to what you've seen of the island. "It doesn't look like much of a Mystic Sect kind of settlement." This time Rufus actually does smile. "People often grow so focused on Imperial Rasen's artificial creation that they forget it was created over three-thousand years ago." He nods his head to the engraved walls around you both. "It's an old, old land. Guarded Blossom has been settled and abandoned more times than you or I have seen winters." <</if>>\ <<var $naquestions + 1>>\ #"Do you need help searching the ruins?" [End Conversation] "Do you need help searching the ruins?" You ask, eyes darting from one hallway to the next. "In a way." Rufus says with concern. "We have no desire to split the bounty if it's finite, but we-" "The ritual is complete!" Shouts the Human woman with a golden compass of Mystic Chi floating above her hands. "It's this way!" You look to the pointer she's created and notice it doesn't point at either hallway, but rather between them, slightly to the side of the rightmost hall. "It's mine!" Shouts the other Lunargoth in the back. The man draws his greataxe and sprints down the rightmost hallway with a surged Agility Core. The other three freeze, with two looking to Rufus. "Something wrong?" You ask. Rufus inhales through his nose, tightening his jaw. "If this bounty is finite, it is supposed to be mine. I suspect one of my troops just exposed that he plans to seize it for himself, hoping to win the Trials so I could not punish him for disobedience." <<if ($honor lt 50)>>\ "Me, personally?" You say, glancing past him to the darkening hallway. "I wouldn't take that." <<else>>\ "Ah." You say, glancing at the now empty hall behind him where his ally disappeared. "Are you going to follow?" <</if>>\ "Indeed." Rufus says. "But when I turn my back, I suspect my attempted ally will take the leftmost hall and try to seize the treasure for themselves. This is a Trial after all." You don't change your facial expression, because he’s given you a good idea. Rufus turns heel and charges his Agility Cores. "A three-way race then. May the best \ <<if ($heshe is "he")>>\ man \ <<else>>\ contestant \ <</if>>\ win." He speeds down the rightmost hall in a surge of cerulean chi. <<page "Go go go!" "ch8dragon-cavern-gogogo">>\ #"I'll leave you to your excavation, I have a Trial to win." [Leave] "I'll leave you to your excavation." You say, turning around and leaving the way you came. "I have a Trial to win." "Wise of you to stand down!" Shouts the Human woman. "Keep fleeing, fool!" "What is all of your problems?" Rufus's fading voice asks his compatriots as you leave. "Did you learn to talk from easily defeated Sect heirs?" <<var $val 1234>>\ <<page "Continue" "ch8dragon-cavern-sitandmeditate">>\ <</choose>>

"Who is the Divine General?" You ask, peeking past Rufus to see his grumbling allies. <<include "ch8dragon-cavern-armyagitate">> <<if ($naanswer is true)>>\ "The Divine General is the supreme commander of Imperial Rasen, Emperor of all ten Provinces, and savior of humanity in the never-ending Ice Incursions of Outer North." "..." Rufus closes his eyes and nods. "You haven't heard of him, and you do not believe you have an Emperor." You exhale slowly. "Oh thank goodness, that was going to be hard to break to you." "Treason!" Shouts one of the Lunargoths in the back, grabbing his axe. "Hold." Rufus says, holding up a hand and looking back to you. "The Divine General's status is...contested, down here. I assure you that on the front lines of Outer North, where the Ice Demon incursions strike every generation, it is not." <<var $naquestions + 1>>\ <<page "But..." "ch8dragon-cavern-questionarmy3">>\ <<else>>\ <<include "ch8dragon-cavern-questionarmy">>\ <</if>>\

"But the Exalted Council rules Imperial Rasen." You say, trying to understand what the man is saying. "They have for hundreds of years. How could someone claim to be Emperor without being executed? The Imperial family has been gone for a millennia." "Legends say the Divine General seized Imperial Rasen in a conquest war." Rufus says, looking like he's trying to keep the peace with each word. "From humble beginnings in the Wild Lands, he lead a revolt during a time of international strife and successfully took the capital city Azuma Honsha. It was the only time a threat successfully took the city. He sat upon the empty throne of the Emperor that had been left untouched for hundreds of years and declared himself Emperor. Technically...that's enough. He took the city, he took the throne, and he made the declaration. That makes him Emperor in the eyes of all of us who serve him on the front lines." "So why hasn't the Exalted Council executed him?" Rufus rushes a hand behind him for silence from his allies. "Because they use him, and he uses them. Immediately after taking the throne, the Divine General rushed his armies to the border of the arctic lands and declared he would end the Ice Incursions that had plagued Rasen since Outer North was formed. The Council retook Azuma Honsha when he left and...I was not there, but I assume they simply watched. The Divine General won the battle, invaded the glacial north, and eventually withdrew to replenish supplies. By the time his troops and supplies were replenished, a new Ice Incursion began. This has repeated for...some time." The picture starts to add up when you ask the decisive question. "...How long has the Divine General been fighting the Ice Incursions?" Rufus stares you dead in the face. "Three hundred years." <<page "THREE HUNDRED YEARS?!" "ch8dragon-cavern-questionarmy4">>\

"THREE HUNDRED YEARS?!" You shout in bafflement. "How has he not won? Or lost? Or been executed?" Rufus shakes his head. "The Ice Incursions are a primordial, ever-present plague. The northern part of the world is always forming yin and ice chi in equal magnitude. This mix manifests as spirits or Beasts, sometimes fiends if there are enough corpses, and it grows an entropic hate for life. Such a Beast Tide or Spirit Wave marches south whenever it has enough power. To 'win' would be to remove the planet's ability to generate Ice Chi and Yin Chi, which could disrupt the natural order or even end the world. It is an unwinnable war, so every ten to twenty years it is the Northern Army's job to win the battle instead." You scratch your head and look off to the side, trying to process this. "So a rebel force is stationed at the upper border of Outer North for hundreds of years and the Exalted Council does...nothing? I thought they had supreme rule, why do they allow this?" Rufus chuckles darkly. "In hard times up north, some say the same thing about the Divine General allowing the Council to make decisions down south." "Seems we're not so different." You say thoughtfully. "Though it still doesn't make sense from either perspective." "If my understanding of southern history is correct," Rufus says, "the Exalted Council saved face by saying they subjugated the Divine General into fighting their war for them. For three centuries, that has been correct. He spills blood for their Empire's safety. Likewise, the Divine General saved face by saying the Exalted Council act as his stewards, and the Archon prospects he sends are to be their bodyguards in his absence." "So which one is true?" Rufus's face stiffens and his shoulders straighten. "Objectively, the Council rules. They have maintained control over domestic and foreign affairs since before many ancient groves were planted. The Divine General refuses to back down in his eternal war, so he has been sidelined as nothing more than the Empire's northern steward." You turn your head at the thought. "You were awfully fast to admit that." Rufus nods once. "The idea of him as Emperor is absolute where I was born, but I have observed that the outside world ignores or outright mocks the notion. It is...disrespectful, but something to be acknowledged. The only reason I explain all of this is so you know what not to say around my people: the words I've just spoken are treason in the upper half of Outer North." He looks behind him to his three allies, all narrowing their eyes at his words. <<include "ch8dragon-cavern-questionarmy">>\

You approach the wall and run your hand across it, absorbing its ancient power. <<if ($race is "Lunargoth")>>\ <<if (dig($runesealritual, 8) is 0)>>\ ''[Rune Acquired: Rune of Haven (Lore)]'' <<var $runesealritual + 10000000>>\ <<elseif (dig($runesealritual, 7) is 0)>>\ ''[Rune Acquired: Rune of Water (Insight)]'' <<var $runesealritual + 100000000>>\ <<elseif (dig($runesealritual, 4) is 0)>>\ ''[Rune Acquired: Rune of Man (Craft)]'' <<var $runesealritual + 100000000000>>\ <<else>>\ ''[Rune of Haven Already Known!]'' ''[Rune of Water Already Known!]'' ''[Rune of Man Already Known!]'' ''[Runic Power Absorbed: Chi Pool Increased]'' <<var $chipool + 1>>\ <</if>>\ <<if (dig($runesealcores, 5) is 0)>>\ ''[Rune Acquired: Rune of Destruction (Soul)]'' <<var $runesealcores + 10000000000>>\ <<elseif (dig($runesealcores, 3) is 0)>>\ ''[Rune Acquired: Rune of Protection (Fortitude)]'' <<var $runesealcores + 1000000000000>>\ <<else>>\ ''[Rune of Destruction Already Known!]'' ''[Rune of Fortitude Already Known!]'' ''[Runic Power Absorbed: Health Increased]'' <<var $health + 1>>\ <</if>>\ Gothic sigils run across your skin in glowing runes, dancing along your body until they settle into place and glow brighter than ever before. When the glow fades, you're left with tattoos of Gothic woads that you can call upon at any time...so long as you have the Chi to fuel them. "How does it feel?" Rufus asks with a smirk. "Incredible..." You say, looking down at your own skin. "Are these permanent?" Rufus looks down at his left arm. "Heavens, I hope not." <<else>>\ ''[Runic Power Absorbed: Aura Pressure +25]'' ''[All Health, Chi, and Cores Restored]'' <<var $chispent 0>>\ <<var $powspent 0>>\ <<var $wounds 0>>\ <<var $forspent 0>>\ <<var $agispent 0>>\ <<var $solspent 0>>\ Gothic sigils run across your skin and settle into place, attempting to singe their power into your spirit. Unfortunately, you are not a Lunargoth. The sigils burn up in the process and fade away, but the raw power behind their enchantment still fuels your aura with new power. "How does the power of my Ancestors feel?" Rufus asks with a smirk. "Eh." You say with a shrug, having had better Gates plenty of times. Better Advancement Elixirs too. "It's alright." Rufus's disappointment is palpable. <</if>>\ <<page "Continue" "ch8dragon-cavern-gogogo7">>\

You leave on your own and find no sign of the Northern Army's martial artists on your way out. Deciding to sit and meditate, you take in the sounds of nature. The birds chirping. The wind blowing. The waves flowing at the nearby shore. The coins in your pocket clinking together, because you've just performed a shakedown. Life is good. <<var $displayer (0.15+($insight * 0.02))>>\ <<include "ch8dragon-checkbuffer">>\ <<page "Continue" "ch8dragon-finisharea">>\

<<if ($val is 1234)>>\ Leaving back to out of the cave entrance, \ <</if>>\ you find a nice place to sit outside and meditate. <<cap $auracolor>> chi rises around your body and you realign your Cores, chakra, and chi channels to ensure you gain the optimal output for your dragon medallion. An hour passes before the cave collapses, shooting smoke and dust all over your body. "Victory!" Shouts a voice through the smokecloud. "This new power is mine, all mine! With this even Captain Brass Tiger will have to acknowledge my power!" "We could test it on the statue." Says an Oni man appearing out of the cloud. \ <<if ($val is 1234)>>\ The three other Northern Army martial artists walk behind him. Rufus blows dust out of his face, but the other two laugh \ <<else>>\ Three other Martial Artists in black and red gi follow behind him, with two laughing \ <</if>>\ at the coating of mine-dust covering your body. "That's not a bad idea. I //am// itching to try this power out." Says one of the Lunargoths, skin covered in unfamiliar runes. He walks in front and leans toward your meditating form. "Are we going to have a problem, little statue?" <<if ($honor gt 50)>>\ ''[Honor 50 Check Passed]'' "With that attitude, yes." You reply, looking up to the man. "Attack if you dare." ''[Bladed Kingdom Score Improved]'' <<var $score_bladed + 1>>\ <<else>>\ ''[Honor 50 Check Failed]'' "You weren't, before you opened your stupid fucking mouth." You say, standing up and dusting your clothes off. "Honestly, what kind a moron picks a fight with someone silent that half his friends already walked past. Are you inbred or just stupid?" <<cap $auracolor>> flares around you and you prepare to beat the shit out of every dumb asshole that makes a move. ''[Wild Kingdom Score Improved]'' <<var $score_wild + 1>>\ <<var $score_sacred - 1>>\ <</if>>\ "Markus, stop. We found what we were after" \ <<if ($val is 1234)>>\ Rufus interrupts. \ <<else>>\ Says a Lunargoth man at the head of the group. \ <</if>>\ "We're leaving, and that //is// an order." To your surprise, the man you're confronting obeys. You consider following them, but under the watchful eye of Misuka the Performer's scrying orbs occasionally hovering overhead, you decide to wash all this dust off first. <<var $displayer (0.2+($insight * 0.02))>>\ <<include "ch8dragon-checkbuffer">>\ <<page "Continue" "ch8dragon-finisharea">>\

You sneak in through the doors and follow the shadows, hugging the walls on your way into a wide, circular antechamber with two exits on either side leading into separate dark hallways. Between you and those halls are four Martial Artists in black and green gi; two Lunargothic men, an Oni man, and a Human woman. <<if ($stealth gte 3)>>\ ''[Stealth 3 Check Passed]'' <<var $agiexp + 2>>\ <<var $score_cursed + 1>>\ You sneak around the shadows of the room and climb a support beam behind a statue to listen on their conversation. "The Divine General's orders are to find this Gothic power in these ruins." Says the dark-haired Lunargoth. The Human woman shakes her head. "Why are we here then? It only works for you and Rufus." The blonde Lunargoth, presumably Rufus, interjects. "We have four Martial Artists in this Trial, we're using four for this mission. There is no reason to risk failure. Now split up, two to each hall, and make sure to leave a Mystic binding to stop anyone from following us." You curse internally. Thwarted before you began. Yet as they motion to leave you notice the support beam beside you is the only one remaining; the other three have long since faded to nothing. The statue you're near could protect you from a falling ceiling, but they would not have such protections... <<choose "ch8dragon-cavern-chatter">> #Walk out of the shadows and introduce yourself. <<var $ruthless - 1>>\ <<var $honor + 1>>\ "Hold." You announce, front flipping out from behind the statue and scoring a perfect landing. "You're not the only ones interested in these ruins." The four of them look on in surprise. They glance to each other hesitantly until the Oni speaks up first. <<var $txt "suave">>\ "I don't know who you are." Says the red-skinned Oni in black and red gi. "But you should have stayed in the shadows. Now we have to put you down." #Collapse the ceiling on them. -> "ch8dragon-cavern-stealth2" #Leave to meditate. -> "ch8dragon-cavern-sitandmeditate" You depart when they enter the ruins, unwilling to handle a four-on-one or interrupt your meditations. Exiting from whence you came, \ <</choose>> <<else>>\ ''[Stealth 3 Check Failed]'' You step on brittle chips of stone and elicit and audible crunch. <<include "ch8dragon-cavern-chatter">>\ <</if>>\

<<var $honor - 3>>\ <<var $ruthless + 2>>\ One punch shatters the petrified wood of the support beam behind you. "Who's there?!" Demands the blonde Lunargoth. "Look out!" Shouts the Human woman, erecting a Mystic Chi shield to block the falling ceiling as rocks pile onto them. You shoot her Technique with an energy blast of your own. Your hands were free. Thousands of pounds of stone crash onto the four Martial Artists. The rubble fills the room with sand, dust, and four different shades of shimmering light. Shattered auras. <<var $val 0>>\ <<if ($fightbonus isnot 0)>>\ <<var $val $fightbonus>>\ <<if (($mortallimits) and ($aurapressure gte $apregionmax))>>\ <<var $val (Math.round($val/2))>>\ <</if>>\ ''[Enemy Aura Pressure Absorbed: $val]'' <<var $aurapressure + $val>>\ <</if>>\ You climb out from behind the statue and look over the unconscious Martial Artists defeated in the rubble. <<choose "ch8dragon-cavern-devious">> #Drag them out to safety. You dig out all four of the Martial Artists with your hands and drag them out of the ruins one by one. The dustcloud of your cave-in has even reached out here, covering the ground in stone power, and you lay each of the four victims down beside one another. "What's this?!" Shouts Misuka the Performer's voice from down the road. One of her scrying orbs approaches at chest-height, looking to the five of you. "My word! What you're seeing is real, everyone! <<cap $titlename>> has defeated four of the Outer Northern candidates all on $hisher own!" ''[Prestige Increased]'' <<var $prestige + 2>>\ "Not nearly!" You shout, waving. "There was a cave in, I'm simply helping the poor victims." "A true hero!" Misuka's orb shakes in place with excitement. "Not only looking out for others, but showing the initiative to save lives even when $hisher own Archon status is on the line! I know who I'm rooting for!" You hear the vague sound of applause from the other side of her scrying orb as the golden-pink ball of energy takes off down the road to find more spectacles. <<var $mettiger + 3000000>>\ ''[Prestige Increased Further]'' <<var $prestige + 2>>\ The genuine smile on your face vanishes as soon as her orb rounds a corner. You sprint back into the ruins before any other contestant gets word of the cave and rush to take the sought-after power for yourself. <<page "Enter the ruins." "ch8dragon-cavern-devious">>\ #Steal their belongings. You \ <<if ($heshe is "she")>>\ skip out \ <<else>>\ leap \ <</if>>\ from behind the statue and merrily look through the belongings of your unexpecting victims. <<var $mettiger + 2000000>>\ ''[Item Gained: 148 Shards]'' <<var $shards + 148>>\ ''[Item Gained: 237 Silver]'' <<var $silver + 237>>\ ''[Item Gained: 5 Crates of Loot]'' <<var $loot + 5>>\ ''[Item Gained: 2 Healing Elixirs]'' <<var $healingelixir + 2>>\ ''[Item Gained: 3 Low Grade Soul Pills]'' <<var $lgsolpill + 3>>\ <<if (dig($martialbelt, 5) is 0)>>\ ''[Item Gained: 1 Blue Belt]'' <<var $martialbelt + 10000000000>>\ <</if>>\ <<if (dig($martialbelt, 7) is 0)>>\ ''[Item Gained: 1 Brown Belt]'' <<var $martialbelt + 100000000>>\ <</if>>\ <<if (dig($martialbelt, 4) is 0)>>\ ''[Item Gained: 1 Purple Belt]'' <<var $martialbelt + 100000000000>>\ <</if>>\ <<if (dig($radiantacc, 3) is 0)>>\ ''[Item Gained: Black Combat Gi]'' <</if>>\ ''[Item Gained: 6 Alchemy Reagents]'' <<var $alchemyreagents + 6>>\ It's not a bad haul, especially considering the amount of effort it didn't take to acquire. You pocket everything physical, then proceed into the ruins to find whatever they were looking for. Sure, you've robbed them of their petty cash, but you're here to seize //so much more.// <<var $honor - 3>>\ <<page "Enter the ruins." "ch8dragon-cavern-devious">>\ #Finish them off. You execute each of the Martial Artists with \ <<if ((dig($weaponbonus, 4) is 7) or (dig($weaponbonus2, 4) is 7))>>\ your $equippedweapon in your hand. \ <</if>>\ <<if ((((($equippedweapon is "Muramasa") or ($equippedweapon is "Kagutsuchi")) or ($equippedweapon is "Ikazuchi")) or ($equippedweapon is "Shishido")) or ($equippedweapon is "Godslayer"))>>\ $equippedweapon in your hand. \ <<else>>\ a powerful stomp to the skull. \ <</if>>\ Each dies without resistance, murdered in front of their friends. <<var $val 2>>\ <<if ($fightbonus isnot 0)>>\ <<var $val + $fightbonus>>\ <</if>>\ <<var $apval 4 + $fightbonus>>\ <<apboost $apval>>\ <<var $mettiger + 4000000>>\ The Archonate has no room for weaklings. With the four of them dead you go through their belongings and retrieve any rightful pillage. ''[Item Gained: 148 Shards]'' <<var $shards + 148>>\ ''[Item Gained: 237 Silver]'' <<var $silver + 237>>\ ''[Item Gained: 5 Crates of Loot]'' <<var $loot + 5>>\ ''[Item Gained: 2 Healing Elixirs]'' <<var $healingelixir + 2>>\ ''[Item Gained: 3 Low Grade Soul Pills]'' <<var $lgsolpill + 3>>\ <<if (dig($martialbelt, 5) is 0)>>\ ''[Item Gained: 1 Blue Belt]'' <<var $martialbelt + 10000000000>>\ <</if>>\ <<if (dig($martialbelt, 7) is 0)>>\ ''[Item Gained: 1 Brown Belt]'' <<var $martialbelt + 100000000>>\ <</if>>\ <<if (dig($martialbelt, 4) is 0)>>\ ''[Item Gained: 1 Purple Belt]'' <<var $martialbelt + 100000000000>>\ <</if>>\ <<if (dig($radiantacc, 3) is 0)>>\ ''[Item Gained: Black Combat Gi]'' <</if>>\ ''[Item Gained: 6 Alchemy Reagents]'' <<var $alchemyreagents + 6>>\ It's not a bad haul. You proceed down the rightmost hall, into the ruins they thought were meant for them, whistling innocently to hear the melodic echo of a murderer. <<page "Enter the ruins." "ch8dragon-cavern-devious">>\ #show-if (dig($mettaio, 1) gte 6) use-if (dig($demonpowers, 3) gte 1) ''//"Dead Mountain's Glaive."//'' [Absorb their souls] You walk up to each of the Martial Artists and extend your palm out towards them. ''//"Dead Mountain's Glaive."//'' The polearm lunges from nowhere, striking out of your palm and returning to nothing like a scorpion's stinger. Rufus is the first to die, his eyes exploding with crimson lightning when you burn his soul for power. <<apboost 20>>\ The other three aren't as satisfying individually, but their combined might is enough to make a proper meal for your increasing hunger. <<apboost 30>>\ <<if (dig($demonpowers, 3) lt 9)>>\ <<var $demonpowers + 10000000000000>>\ <</if>>\ <<var $taint + 50>>\ <<var $taiorep + 4>>\ <<var $ruthless + 8>>\ //You're learning.// Whispers Taio the Bandit in your mind. //Our first lessons have given you the sight to see the world as your prey. Now my abilities have given you the //teeth// with which to //bite.// "Be silent." You command to the Clone's bloodwraith trapped in your soul. You leave the scene of the crime, stepping over the useless bodies of these Outer Northern nobodies, and proceed into the ruins to take the prize they foolishly thought would be theirs. <<page "Enter the ruins." "ch8dragon-cavern-devious">>\ <</choose>>

<<choose "ch8dragon-cavern-trydoor">> #use-once Translate the door's inscription. [Lore] Old Cathayan isn't your best language, but you've tinkered with it in the Thunderfall library to try and read some old cultivation lessons. This particular script is difficult to translate due to two problems: One, the words all wrap in circles rather than being spelled out in proper left-to-right or top-to-bottom format. Two, there's a letter among the alphabet that doesn't exist. <<if ($lore gte 2)>>\ ''[Lore 2 Check Passed]'' Actually, it doesn't look like a letter at all, but a half-circle... You reach into one of the half-circle sigils and find it to be a metal flap. The flap pushes in by four inches, allowing your hand to enter an open space behind it and grip a metal bar inside. Curiously, you reach your other hand through another half-circle sigil and find a similar metal bar grip. Once you ignore that 'sigil' throughout the rest of the inscription, the translation finally spells out proper words: <<image "https://www.auraclash.com/assets/images/ac-linebreak-top.png">>\ A public advisory from the bronzesmith, in avoidance of unnecessary repairs: Pull, do not push. <<image "https://www.auraclash.com/assets/images/ac-linebreak-bottom.png">>\ You sigh and pull the door open. <<page "Enter the final ruins." "ch8dragon-cavern-gogogo4">>\ <<else>>\ ''[Lore 2 Check Failed]'' No, it's gibberish. You're certain. Whoever wrote this is an idiot. Pondering your other options you... <<include "ch8dragon-cavern-trydoor">>\ <</if>>\ #use-once Remove the door's protected hinges. [Thievery] <<if ($style is "Kurokonton")>>\ ''[Kurokonton: Automatic Success]'' You grip the hinges of the door, each massive cylinders of bronze, and force your Cursed Chi through your palms. Entropic <<cap $auracolor>> energy glows from each fist closed around the hinges, sapping the material's integrity and weaking its chi-reinforcement. The old Seals die easily. With them gone, the metal itself grows brittle under the barrage of Cursed Chi draining its essence. Once the spirit of an object weakens, the material is not far behind. You close both hands and break the brittle hinges. The door falls backward, nearly on top of you, but you dash backward. It lands with a booming gong that echoes through the ruins and you step over, entering the room beyond. <<page "Enter the final ruins." "ch8dragon-cavern-gogogo4">>\ <<else>>\ While there's no apparent lock to crack, the door does still have exposed mechanical parts: the hinges. You get to work greasing them, applying your tools, and attempting to unset the securing finishing touches that keep the components in place. With any lock, you can remove the top or bottom and slide the bar out that must be connecting it to the door. <<if ($thievery gte 3)>>\ ''[Thievery 3 Check Passed]'' <<var $agiexp + 1>>\ Just as planned, the door disassembles to the tune of your deft fingers. <<page "Enter the final ruins." "ch8dragon-cavern-gogogo4">>\ <<else>>\ ''[Thievery 3 Check Failed]'' Whatever you know about hinges, it's not enough to take these apart. All you end up with are greasy fingers and broken tools. <<include "ch8dragon-cavern-trydoor">>\ <</if>>\ <</if>>\ #use-once Force them open. <<if (($element1 is "Ice") or ($element2 is "Ice"))>>\ ''[Ice Element: Automatic Success]'' Cool mist seeps from your skin when you press your Ice Chi through both palms and push against the door. Ice exudes out of your hands, creeping up around the door and freezing it not just on the surface, but across its interior. In seconds you've frozen it to a brittle statue. Pleased with your work, you punch the brass doors in their center. Metal shatters like glass around your fist, exploding into an icy mist of frozen metal shards and icicles. <<page "Enter the final ruins." "ch8dragon-cavern-gogogo4">>\ <<else>>\ You slam both palms against the door, crack your backfoot into the stone, and //push//. <<var $combatstat "power">>\ <<var $combatskill "craft">>\ <<discount "Muscular" 1>>\ <<discount "Midorikatai" $stylerank>>\ <<discount "Earth" 1>>\ <<discount "Bovine" 1>>\ <<combatcheck 9>>\ <<if ($passcheck is true)>>\ Shrieking metal-on-metal fills the air when you bend the door inward and break it open. The hinges crack with your final push and the doors burst inward, ripping off the wall and flying outward. <<page "Enter the final ruins." "ch8dragon-cavern-gogogo4">>\ <<else>>\ The door refuses you budge. You try pushing with your shoulder, with your arms, and even an embarrassing pose of trying to push with your legs. No matter how you try, no matter what part of the door you push, it doesn't move. <<include "ch8dragon-cavern-trydoor">>\ <</if>>\ <</if>>\ #use-if ((($element1 is "Earth") or ($element2 is "Earth")) and ((($chipool + ($soul/2)) - $chispent) gte 1)) Meld through the wall beside the door. [Requires Earth, Costs 1 Chi] Opening such a sturdy metal door presents many challenges. You don't see yourself as the challenger. Rather than proving yourself by bypassing the door, you dare the dungeonous ruins to try and hold you. <<var $chispent + 1>>\ ''[1 Chi Spent]'' <<apboost 4>>\ <<cap $auracolor>> Earth Chi echoes from your body and you walk into the stone wall beside the door, melding through the stone and walking three feet through. When you exit out the other side, the stone wall regains its form behind you as if it had never been disrupted. <<page "Enter the final ruins." "ch8dragon-cavern-gogogo4">>\ #Give up and leave. You came, you tried, and you gave up. The saving grace is that no one is around to prove it. Walking back out of the ruins after an unsuccessful outing, you sit and meditate without noticing Misuka's scrying orb watching the whole thing. ''[Prestige Lost]'' <<var $prestige - 1>>\ <<var $displayer (0.14+($insight * 0.01))>>\ <<include "ch8dragon-checkbuffer">>\ <<page "Continue" "ch8dragon-finisharea">>\ <</choose>>

<<var $countedap Math.round($countedap)>>\ <<var $val Math.round($aurapressure*$displayer)>>\ <<var $displayer Math.round($displayer * 100)>>\ <<if ($countedap gte ($aurapressure*$bonusapcount))>>\ ''[Maximum Aura Pressure Counted]'' <<else>>\ ''[Aura Pressure Measured: +$displayer% ($val AP)]'' <<var $countedap + $val>>\ <</if>>\ <<if ($usedbufferb is false)>>\ ''[Technique Event: Buffer's Barrier!]'' <<var $usedbufferb true>>\ Surprisingly, when you try out an old cycling technique you found in Thunderfall Library, the Dragon Medallion reacts. You can feel the well of power it expects to find within you. That well expands when you use Buffer's Barrier to press your aura abrasively against itself, straining your spirit like a muscle when lifting weight. <<var $bonusapcount + 0.1>>\ <<var $val Math.round(100*($bonusapcount-1))>>\ ''[Max Measurable AP Increased by $val%]'' <</if>>\ <<var $val 0>>\

<<var $loc "North">>\ Pleasant aromas fill the air while you wander through the dirt roads that the jungle has nearly reclaimed. Following your nose, you come out to a more open field of cherry blossom trees. Your senses detect a hint of power through the grove and you grow excited at the prospect of spirit fruits. Then you pause, looking at the tree to your left before approaching the grove. ''[Perception $perception Check Passed]'' <<var $forexp + $perception>>\ That's not a tree. It's Bo Lo's painted face. <<page "Continue" "ch8dragon-cherry2">>\

You charge through the pollen storm and surge $auracolor chi into both arms, crashing through tree after tree with violent clotheslines that crack them in half. You break through half the orchard until you reach the middle and raise both arms overhead. Shining chi condenses over both palms and you slam them down into the pollen-filled unsteady ground, rupturing the root systems. Wooden root-tentacles fly into the air all around you in defense. It's the last mistake the orchard makes. You charge all your energy into an energy beam and spin on your heel, launching a gout of power in all directions that severs the orchard's roots in all directions and disrupts its chi with your overpowering Aura Pressure. The megaflora dies with a writhing, alien shriek. <<apboost 10>>\ <<var $sect_thunderfall + 5>>\ <<var $borep + 4>>\ <<page "Continue" "ch8dragon-cherry-mergegoodrewards">>\

He hits the ground face-first and coughs up dirt, rolling over and gasping for air. When he recovers on his fourth breath he looks around and sees you, then the tree. Surprisingly, he backs away from the tree and toward you. "Laborer." Bo Lo gasps. "Thank the Heavens you wasted your inconsequential youth studying seals that should have been far out of your mental capacity." <<if ($ruthless gte 60)>>\ ''[Ruthless 60 Check Passed]'' "Say thank you." You command. <<var $borep + 4>>\ <<else>>\ "Most people say 'thank you'." You remind him. <</if>>\ "R-Right." Bo Lo says, rising with a short bow. "The Lower Disciple thanks his peer. This time. Now what are you going to do about the others? And the plant?" You stare at him with a thin-lipped smile. He stares at you with a blank expression. It takes fifteen seconds of silence in the forest before he realizes you don't know what he's talking about. <<page "Continue" "ch8dragon-cherry-counterseal2">>\

Bo Lo spends the next few minutes explaining the situation to you. It's not ideal. Not only are two of the other Thunderfall Lower Disciples trapped in other trees, but the entity that trapped them is worse than a rival contestant. It's the cherry blossom trees. The entire orchard is some sort of megaflora that has absorbed enough chi to Advance towards sentience. Judging by the traps its set, it's learned to feed on the auras of others. You've never heard of anything like it, and you hope to never hear about it again. Killing such a creature will be easy if you can get to it; even with chi, no plant can move as fast as you. The problem is the pollen. Bo Lo insists he's already attacked the thing, and it responds with a long range burst of incapacitating pollen. That's how he got in this mess in the first place. You weigh your options and decide to... <<var $bowarned true>>\ <<choose "ch8dragon-cherry-orchard">>\ #Enter the cherry blossom orchard. #use-if ($ritualcomponents gte 10) Make a countersealing ritual circle around the whole orchard. [10 Ritual Components] "I've never heard of a creature like this." You say to Bo Lo. "And I'm willing to bet it doesn't exist." Bo Lo glares at you. "I've already dealt with it, Laborer. I can assure you it exists." You shake your head with a smile. "Its physical form exists, its abilities exist, but is it a creature...or a spell?" Bo Lo opens his mouth, pauses, and opens his mouth far wider in revelation. "What gave you the idea?" "My counterseal worked on you." You reply. "Come on, take my sigils. We're going to counterseal the entire orchard in one strike to turn it off permanently." It turns out Bo doesn't know a counterseal. You give him your meanest frown and do all the work yourself, surrounding the entire orchard with a massive ritual circle in the woods. ''[10 Ritual Components Lost]'' <<var $ritualcomponents - 10>>\ When you activate the ritual with your signature handseals, a bright $auracolor circle of chi surrounds the whole grove and rises into the sky. The cherry blossom orchard sinks by four inches and pollen oozes out of the ground. The megaflora dies without ever knowing it had an enemy nearby. <<apboost 10>>\ <<var $sect_thunderfall + 5>>\ <<var $borep + 4>>\ <<page "Continue" "ch8dragon-cherry-mergegoodrewards">>\ #use-if ($ritualcomponents gte 4) Free the other Thunderfallers and escape. [4 Ritual Components] Not \ <<if ($ritualcomponents lt 10)>>\ able \ <<else>>\ willing \ <</if>>\ to spend so many resources that you dispel the whole orchard, you manage instead to track down the two other Thunderfall Disciples and free them with your counterseals. ''[4 Ritual Components Lost]'' <<var $ritualcomponents - 4>>\ They each fall out of their trees with gasps worse than Bos, coughing up pollen. <<var $sect_thunderfall + 7>>\ "D-Don't tell me I was saved by the Laborer." An Oni student groans. "You have it backwards." You correct the young woman with your arms crossed. "//Do// tell ''others'' you were saved by the Labor-shit, I mean Warrior." Bo grins with satisfaction. "Shut up Bo." You say, packing up to leave. "Come on, we need to cycle elsewhere before this plant monster finds out your free." "What if it follows us?" Asks a human male student. "It's a plant." Bo says, discipling the man in the back with his staff. <<page "Cycle elsewhere." "ch8dragon-cherry-elsewhere">>\ #Leave without helping anyone else. -> "ch8dragon-cherry-nohelpin" <</choose>>

The four of you leave to cycle. You make camp and the other three enter a deep trance while you keep watch. Small conversations border on growing friendly as you all discuss what you miss from back home. The other Human besides Bo even cooks a proper stew from rations he brought, suspecting the island's food may be poisonous. Considering the plant you ran into, he was wise. ''[Health, Chi, and Cores Restored]'' <<var $wounds 0>>\ <<var $chispent 0>>\ <<var $powspent 0>>\ <<var $forspent 0>>\ <<var $agispent 0>>\ <<var $solspent 0>>\ It all falls apart when one of Misuka's orbs flies overhead and notices your campfire. "Hi Mao!" You shout, waving to the possibility that\ <<if (dig($trialdeets, 1) is 1)>>\ their \ <<else>>\ your \ <</if>>\ Sectmaster is watching. The other three Thunderfallers surge Agility Cores to sprint away from you and avoid being seen with you, leaving behind a couple baubles the Oni was trying to craft into his\ <<if (dig($itemqiang, 1) is 0)>>\ spear. \ <<elseif (dig($itemjian, 1) is 0)>>\ Cathayan sword. \ <<elseif (dig($itembostaff, 1) is 0)>>\ staff. \ <<else>>\ spear. \ <</if>>\ ''[Item Gained: Weak Soul Treasure x2]'' <<var $weaksoultreasure + 2>>\ <<if (dig($itemqiang, 1) is 0)>>\ ''[Item Gained: Snowsteel Improved Qiang of Perception]'' <<var $itemqiang 113040000>>\ <<elseif (dig($itemjian, 1) is 0)>>\ ''[Item Gained: Snowsteel Improved Jian of Perception]'' <<var $itemjian 113040000>>\ <<elseif (dig($itembostaff, 1) is 0)>>\ ''[Item Gained: Snowsteel Improved Bo Staff of Perception]'' <<var $itembostaff 113040000>>\ <<else>>\ ''[Item Gained: Spare Qiang [Exchanged for 80 shards]'' <<var $shards + 80>>\ <</if>>\ <<var $displayer (0.15+($insight * 0.01))>>\ <<include "ch8dragon-checkbuffer">>\ <<page "Continue" "ch8dragon-finisharea">>\

<<choose "ch8dragon-cherry-orchard">> #Enter the Cherry Blossom Orchard. <<var $bowarned true>>\ #Leave. -> "ch8dragon-cherry-nohelpin" <</choose>>

You wake up an hour later, still alive, to find the cherry blossom orchard destroyed around you. Whoever did this didn't stick around; you're alone in the field. Looking down at your dragon medallion, you find you've lost precious time and not gained any progress. The megaflora must have drained your Aura Pressure while you were trapped in the dream. <<aploss 8>>\ Frustrated, you rise and march off to your next destination to make up for lost time. <<var $skipchat true>>\ <<page "Continue" "ch8dragon-finisharea">>\

Nearly a dozen Martial Artists come out of the woods in surprise and gratitude when their incapacitating spell wears off. Most are shocked to see the orchard is dead. Some didn't even know what happened to them until it was explained by others. You're showered with petty gifts as they depart. ''[Item Gained: 21 Ritual Components]'' <<var $ritualcomponents + 21>>\ ''[Item Gained: 13 Alchemy Reagents]'' <<var $alchemyreagents + 13>>\ ''[Item Gained: 1 Low Grade Agility Pill]'' <<var $lgagipill + 1>>\ ''[Item Gained: 2 Low Grade Power Pills]'' <<var $lgpowpill + 2>>\ ''[Item Gained: 7 Crates of Loot]'' <<var $loot + 7>>\ <<if (dig($martialbelt, 6) is 0)>>\ ''[Item Gained: 1 Green Belt]'' <<var $martialbelt + 1000000000>>\ <<elseif (dig($martialbelt, 7) is 0)>>\ ''[Item Gained: 1 Brown Belt]'' <<var $martialbelt + 100000000>>\ <<elseif (dig($martialbelt, 8) is 0)>>\ ''[Item Gained: 1 Red Belt]'' <<var $martialbelt + 10000000>>\ <<else>>\ ''[Item Gained: 2 Healing Elixirs]'' <<var $healingelixir + 2>>\ <</if>>\ ''[Item Gained: 134 Shards]'' <<var $shards + 134>>\ ''[Item Gained: 2 Dragon Medallions]'' <<var $gold + 2>>\ <<var $sparemedallions + 2>>\ "Whoa, whoa!" You shout as two of them run off. "Don't give me your dragon medallions! You need these for the Trial!" "I have no interest in the Archonate anymore!" Shouts one of them as they keep running. "This job is too dangerous!" <<if ($bowarned is false)>>\ You shrug and return to Bo Lo to see what kind of reward he's willing to cough up for you saving him. "Hey!" You shout at his fleeing form, running through the trees. "Aren't you going to reward me for saving you?" "I know not what you're talking about, Laborer!" Bo Lo shouts. "The man I hunt is escaping, begone while my duel concludes!" That lying sack of crap thinks you don't have spiritual senses. He's not chasing anyone. <<else>>\ You shrug to Bo L- "Hey!" You shout as Bo Lo and the other Thunderfallers run off without leaving a gift. <</if>>\ <<var $displayer (0.12+($insight * 0.01))>>\ <<include "ch8dragon-checkbuffer">>\ <<page "Continue" "ch8dragon-finisharea">>\

<<var $borep - 2>>\ Deigning not to deal with a chi-consuming megaplant orchard, you leave back the way you came and meditate. Your chi cycles into your dragon medallion to better measure your Aura Pressure, like you're //supposed// to be doing. Not dealing with Bo. Not dealing with a murderous megaflora. You're here to pass a Trial. <<var $displayer (0.16+($insight * 0.01))>>\ <<include "ch8dragon-checkbuffer">>\ <<page "Continue" "ch8dragon-finisharea">>\

<<if ($bowarned is true)>>\ Thanks to Bo's warning, you don't enter the blossom orchard directly. Instead you climb a tree nearby, leaping to its topmost branches and looking out over the orchard's field from above. The ground of the orchard is littered with pink. What you at first take for fallen cherry blossoms is too fine upon a closer look. Too powder-like. Pollen. Pink pollen //litters// the orchard grounds, interrupted only by the trees themselves and the occasional mound of a fallen animal. A deer here, a tanuki there, and three Martial Artists along the southern perimeter. That's all the proof you needed for what you have to do. Chi charges between your palms atop the tree. More and more power presses out of your Cores to form a beacon of $auracolor energy. The megaflora living orchard notices. <<else>>\ You step into the orchard and look around for spirit fruits, hopeful that some are still around. Thunderfall wasn't big on cherry blossoms, and they are meant to be decorative, but you //think// you recall them bearing sour fruit after all. Forty feet into the walk your foot hits something. Looking down, you see a body. A male contestant's. You check them for signs of poison, fearful that the plants may do the same to you, but find no such reaction. Their breathing isn't slowed, their skin isn't pale, and their body isn't cold. Yet...their Aura Pressure is weakening. Sending out a spiritual scan, horror settles in when you realize the ambient chi boost in the area isn't from spirit fruit coming off the trees. It's coming //from the trees//, and it feels alive. <</if>>\ //!!!// The ground beneath you shakes, rupturing to release streams of pink pollen into the air at beam-like \ <<if ($bowarned is false)>>\ speeds. You try to dodge into a safe location, but the sensation of the activating aura is coming form ''the entire orchard.'' Too late do you realize it's a single, massive entity, and it's coming for you! <<else>>\ speeds. <</if>>\ Pink pollen cascades over your body so quickly that it hurts your supernaturally hardened skin. The plant fibers infect your nose, your ears, your eyes, and your very pores. <<if ($background is "Herbalist")>>\ ''[Herbalist Event]'' You pull your fume mask out from your gi and wrap it over your mouth and nose. The pollen crashes against you and elicits a woozy sensation, but not nearly enough to knock you out. Father's grueling herbalist work picking toxic herbs in the swamp finally pays off. Speaking of which, you rip open a fuuinjutsu tag and reveal a barrel of vinegar you'd prepared to destroy any plants in the Trials. Truth be told, you imagined you'd be in some alchemy competition and this advantage would help you sabotage your enemies, or have a spare reagent everyone else lacks. Instead you throw the whole 200lb barrel into the center of the cherry blossom orchard, like a weedkilling brute. It breaks against the hard wood of the tree and spills vinegar over a twenty-foot area in the center of the grove, killing the central focus of the megaplant. A shriek fills the air as the strange entity slowly dies, shaking the trees and throwing pollen into the air in futility. <<apboost 10>>\ <<var $sect_thunderfall + 5>>\ <<var $borep + 4>>\ <<page "Continue" "ch8dragon-cherry-mergegoodrewards">>\ <<elseif (dig($metvessel, 1) gte 3)>>\ ''[Vessel Event]'' And you feel nothing. //P-r-o-t-e-c-t.// Howls the Wind spirit fused into your soul, using a charge of foreign energy to expel the chi of the megaflora. It feels good to be a Vessel. <<include "ch8dragon-cherry-chargethroughtrees">>\ <<else>>\ <<var $combatstat "fortitude">>\ <<var $combatskill "lore">>\ <<discount "Aoyusumu" $stylerank>>\ <<discount "Wind" 2>>\ <<if ($bowarned is true)>>\ ''[Bo Lo's Warning: Difficulty Reduced x2]'' <<combatcheck 8>>\ <<else>>\ <<combatcheck 10>>\ <</if>>\ <<if ($passcheck is true)>>\ You fight through the nauseating sensation that tries to close your mind off from your body. With ''rage''. <<cap $auracolor>> chi explodes in a sphere around your body to resist the stream of pollen. More surges from the ground, too late to stop your incoming counterattack. <<include "ch8dragon-cherry-chargethroughtrees">>\ <<else>>\ The sweet aroma fills your senses and overpowers them, pushing you into a waking dream while your body falters. Try as you may to focus, you can't stay on your feet. The last thing you see before losing consciousness is an approaching woman, glowing white. <<page "Continue" "ch8dragon-cherry-failed">>\ <</if>>\ <</if>>\

Bo Lo resides within the tree to your left, and he does not move. His face and gi are painted to blend in with the wood and leaves around him, but he does not move. "Pst." You say, crouching low to guard any threats. "Bo Lo, what's going on?" Bo Lo is completely silent. "Bo Lo, I can see you. You don't need to pretend." He says nothing, though his eyes are open. You walk in front of his vision, forcing him to make eye contact, and he stares at you deadpan without a single change of expression. <<var $bowarned false>>\ <<choose "ch8dragon-cherry-orchard">> #"I'm going into that orchard, is there anything I should know?" "I'm going into that orchard," you say, "is there anything I should know?" Bo Lo is silent. "Confirmed, so there's no threats." You nod, holding your chin in your hand and looking off insightfully. "I'll hold you to that." Bo Lo is silent. <<if ($honor lt 47)>>\ "Is it true you and Jack make out every night?" \ <<else>>\ "If you wish to leave the Thunderfall Sect and become my retainer, say nothing." \ <</if>>\ Bo Lo is silent. "Good talk Bo." You say, patting him on the shoulder and wandering into the grove. <<page "Enter the orchard." "ch8dragon-cherry-orchard">>\ #show-if (($countersealritual isnot 100) or ($style is "Kiihakai")) use-if ($ritualcomponents gte 2) Cast a counterseal on him, just in case. [2 Ritual Components] <<var $borep + 4>>\ <<var $sect_thunderfall + 2>>\ You step back from Bo Lo and perform a dozen handseals in rapid motion, dropping your hand and pressing your palm against the ground. ''[2 Ritual Components Lost]'' <<var $ritualcomponents - 2>>\ Sigils run off your hand in $auracolor light and paint the ground, circling the tree in the handseal designs. You close both palms together and wrap your left hand around your right finger, activating the Seal. ''*poof*'' Bo Lo gasps, falling out of the Tree. <<page "Continue" "ch8dragon-cherry-counterseal">>\ #Climb into your own tree and disguise yourself. You climb into your own tree, disguising yourself with any material nearby, and wait. <<var $displayer (0.15+($insight * 0.02))>>\ <<include "ch8dragon-checkbuffer">>\ Nothing happens. After an hour of subtle meditation your dragon medallion begins to glow with its increased Aura Pressure measurement. The soft $auracolor light shines through your disguised and the fun is ruined. You hop down from the tree, dust yourself off, and look to Bo. "This isn't fair. Why isn't your medallion glowing enough to ruin your disguise?" Bo Lo is silent. You consider his Aura Pressure and realize he might not be strong enough to make it glow. Pretending you never asked, you back away slowly and leave. Hopefully the poor man retains his pride. <<var $bocombat - 1>>\ <<page "Continue" "ch8dragon-finisharea">>\ #Pee on 'the tree'. "Well, if there's no one here and it's all my imagination, I may as well act like I'm alone in the woods." You take your pants down and enjoy a bathroom break on 'the tree'. <<if ($heshe is "she")>>\ <<var $borep + 1>>\ To Bo Lo's credit, he doesn't respond to that either. "I can't believe my eyes!" Calls a woman's voice "Huh?" You shout, looking up to see one of Misuka's golden-pink scrying orbs. "Wha-?!?!" "$titlename has been caught urinating on her own Sectmate! What kind of sick, //twisted// tryst have we just witnessed?!" "What?! No, NO! I was only bullying him!" You shout up to the fleeing scrying orb. "Come back! It wasn't a sex thing! IT WASN'T A SEX THING!! AAAAHH''HHHHH!!!!''" Misuka says nothing as her scrying orb continues to fly away over the tree line. ''[Infamy Gained]'' <<var $infamy + 2>>\ You lose sight of the orb a half-mile away and decide to hide in a cave in shame, cycling into your dragon medallion and wanting to die. <<var $displayer (0.15+($insight * 0.01))>>\ <<include "ch8dragon-checkbuffer">>\ <<page "Continue" "ch8dragon-finisharea">>\ <<elseif ($heshe is "he")>>\ <<var $borep - 2>>\ <<var $sect_thunderfall + 3>>\ "What is wrong with you?!" Bo Lo blurts out, breaking the charade. "You have desecrated my honored uniform!" "You weren't responding." You say, tying up your gi pants. "Desperate times call for desperate measures." Bo Lo looks down in disgust as his wet pantleg and grits his teeth. "I was caught in an illusion, Laborer. That should have been clear as day!" "Well you seem fine now. Did I break you out of it?" Bo Lo raises his fist back with a poot of Wild Chi around it, then pauses. "Uh...ahem..." He looks left and right to his surroundings. "It seems that yes. Yes, you did." You pat him on the shoulder. "You're welcome, buddy." "Unhand me." Bo Lo hisses, throwing your arm off his shoulder. "We are not 'buddies', and the other Sect members are still trapped in other trees. This entire area is some plant's chi trap to feed on our auras." "Sounds like it need a good killing." You say, ruffling Bo's hair. "Go free the others, I might decide to take care of the plant." "How am I to do that?" Bo scoffs in doubt. "I am no chi sorcerer!" "Use the same method I used on you!" You shout back merrily as you walk away. <<include "ch8dragon-cherry-enteroption2">>\ <</if>>\ #Leave. Whatever's going on with Bo suddenly taking up philosophical stoicism, or cold shouldering you, it doesn't matter. You're here to win a Trial, not to converse with Tree Man. A short walk takes you away from the whole area and you find a nice cave to meditate in. Your energy cycles into your dragon medallion and you feel its counter increase. <<var $displayer (0.17+($insight * 0.02))>>\ <<include "ch8dragon-checkbuffer">>\ <<page "Continue" "ch8dragon-finisharea">>\ <</choose>>

<<var $wdisplay "1 Hour">>\ <<var $edisplay "1 Hour">>\ <<var $sdisplay "1 Hour">>\ <<var $ndisplay "1 Hour">>\ <<if ($loc is "West")>>\ <<var $hourtimer - $wtime>>\ <<var $wtime 1>>\ <<var $ntime 1>>\ <<var $stime 1>>\ <<var $etime 2>>\ <<var $edisplay ($etime + " Hours")>>\ <<elseif ($loc is "East")>>\ <<var $hourtimer - $etime>>\ <<var $wtime 2>>\ <<var $ntime 1>>\ <<var $stime 1>>\ <<var $etime 1>>\ <<var $wdisplay ($wtime + " Hours")>>\ <<elseif ($loc is "North")>>\ <<var $hourtimer - $ntime>>\ <<var $wtime 1>>\ <<var $ntime 1>>\ <<var $stime 2>>\ <<var $etime 1>>\ <<var $sdisplay ($stime + " Hours")>>\ <<elseif ($loc is "South")>>\ <<var $hourtimer - $stime>>\ <<var $wtime 1>>\ <<var $ntime 2>>\ <<var $stime 1>>\ <<var $etime 1>>\ <<var $ndisplay ($ntime + " Hours")>>\ <<else>>\ <<var $hourtimer - 1>>\ <<var $wtime 1>>\ <<var $ntime 1>>\ <<var $stime 1>>\ <<var $etime 1>>\ <</if>>\ <<if (($skipchat) and ($hourtimer gt 0))>>\ <<var $skipchat false>>\ <<include "ch8dragon-pickactivity">>\ <<else>>\ A deceptive serenity surrounds you on your way out, so much so that you almost can't tell you're in a Trial at all. Misuka's scrying orbs crisscross the island high overhead, birds caw from the trees, storm clouds retreat in the distance, and every few minutes a clash of Martial auras can be sensed a safe distance away. Despite no dangers in your immediate vicinity, you know there are challenges in hiding in every direction. The Dragon Trial isn't over \ <<if ($hourtimer gt 0)>>\ yet. <<include "ch8dragon-pickactivity">>\ <<else>>\ ye- <<page "The ground shakes beneath your feet." "ch8dragon-phoenixfruit">>\ <</if>>\ <</if>>\

Fang's ears perk up and she turns to her Sectmaster expectantly. <<if (((($bodytype is "Dommymommy") or ($bodytype is "Ogre")) or ($bodytype is "Muscular")) or (($heshe is "he") and ($style is "Midorikatai")))>>\ If you weren't so tall the mustached man would glare down at you, but all he can do is analyze your face while glaring directly into your eyes. After a short staredown he \ <<else>>\ The mustached man glares down at you, then \ <</if>>\ turns to Misuka the Performer who is currently getting swarmed with a crowd of questioners. "FOX!" The Sectmaster shouts. "CAN THESE CHILDREN TAKE THEIR OWN SHIPS TO THE ISLAND?" "YES!" Misuka shouts back while speaking to someone else. Her mouth doesn't move to answer the Sectmaster, she instead uses foxfire to answer multiple questions at once. <<if ($race is "Kitsune")>>\ You've got to figure that trick out. <</if>>\ "Hmph!" Fang cheers, chewing her cheek smugly. "Hmph." Her Sectmaster glowers, offering you a handshake begrudgingly. "Hawthorne, Sectmaster of Mountain Hazard." You shake his hand back. "$name, $patriarch of the <<cap $clan>> Clan." The man sniffs in once and looks around the docks. "Let's go find your ships, <<cap $name>>. I'm in a hurry to get my Disciples their cycling time." He looks back through the crowd, over the heads of most, and barks out to the distance. "MAO! I'm taking one of your Disciples." "Keep $himher!" Mao shouts back before returning to some lecture/peptalk/threat with the nunchuck girl from back home. <<var $sect_mountainhazard + 11>>\ <<var $alliesgained + 20000000000>>\ <<page "Travel to Guarded Blossom" "ch8dragon-journey">>\

<<var $loc "West">>\ Searching around the coast brings you to a steep sandy cliff with switchback staircases offering a quick way up. "Over here!" Shouts an overly eager young woman above, somewhere over the edge. "I sense someone else. Let's get their medallion!" You charge your aura and prepare for a fight, adopting a battlestance while keeping an eye on the cliff. To your surprise, the Aura Pressures you sense aren't approaching you. They're retreating. Whatever target these aggressors have picked it, for once, it isn't you. <<choose "ch8dragon-graveyard2">> #Ascend the stairs to investigate. A graveyard greets you at the cliffside top, though half of it has been lost to the sea. The graveyard grounds lead right over the cliff's edge, revealing that the steep sandy wall has collapsed slowly over time. Looking around, you find small cobblestone roads between different shrines and tombstones. A surprising quantity, considering the small population expected on the island. You wander down the roads in bright sunlight. It's an odd contrast to the macabre setting, as if you should be here at night. When you pass by the third staircase down into a tomb, you freeze. Power resonates in the air, and a trail of Aura Pressure leads in. <<page "Enter" "ch8dragon-graveyard2">>\ #Sit here and meditate and search the beach. Rather than dealing with someone else's problems, you sit and meditate along the beach. It's an enjoyable reprieve. You spend some time swimming, some time relaxing in the sun, some time meditating on your dragon medallion, and some time searching around the shore for any lost treasure. <<if ($perception gte 3)>>\ ''[Perception 3 Check Passed]'' <<var $forexp + 1>>\ You cannot //believe// your luck when you actually find some. An ornate golden brooch and dual set of hairpins welded into a tombstone. You break them off and pocket the gold to have it melted down later. ''[Item Gained: 14 Gold]'' <<var $gold + 14>>\ <<else>>\ ''[Perception 3 Check Failed]'' You don't find anything, which is expected. Buried treasure is a children's fantasy, not anything you've ever found on a beach. <</if>>\ When finishing your meditations you decide to depart before any other Martial Artists arrive. Avoiding hardship has been a reprieve you don't intend to jynx. <<var $displayer (0.17+($insight * 0.02))>>\ <<include "ch8dragon-checkbuffer">>\ <<page "Continue" "ch8dragon-finisharea">>\ <</choose>>

Stopping at the end of the crypt, you turn around to inspect the demonic cultivator as he lies on the floor in a pool of his own blood. Normally the shattering of an aura would prevent impact-based death, but... "Wow." You whisper, looking over the man's corpse. "You should //not// have slit your throat first." <<include "ch8dragon-graveyard8">>\

Jade chi overtakes your body, flaring into a living aura with a dragon's eyes bearing down on the man. His eyes widen with fear, his lips tremble to respond, and he begins to look around in a panic. "St-stop the spell! Stop the effect! Counterseal! COUNTERSEAL!" The demonic cultivator tries to throw the rose-gold scale away but his body won't move. He attempts to enact handseals to counter the effect, but his fingers won't move. He looks to you with fear in his eyes as his skin slowly pales, his eyes slowly dim, and his body eventually falls over, dead. To his credit, it takes three minutes. Long enough for the scale to warp from the spiritual weight of holding your aura. "Weird guy." You say, kicking him loosely with your foot. "Suppose I could sell the scale for scrap gold." ''[Item Gained: 30 Gold]'' <<var $gold + 30>>\ <<include "ch8dragon-graveyard8">>\

You leave after and spend the rest of the time meditating in the graveyard, gaining \ <<if (dig($demonpowers, 2) gte 1)>>\ quite a boost in power when an arrogant ghost learns the hard way that you wield the secrets of Yomijin death chi. ''[Yomijin Hell Bargain Activated]'' <<var $apval 25>>\ <<var $taint + 25>>\ <<else>>\ a fraction of excess power from the haunting aura of the area. <<var $taint + 5>>\ <<var $apval 10>>\ <</if>>\ <<apboost $apval>>\ <<var $displayer (0.17+($insight * 0.02))>>\ <<include "ch8dragon-checkbuffer">>\ <<page "Continue" "ch8dragon-finisharea">>\

The man's scale takes a while to retrieve from under the multi-thousand pound statue. Your spiritual scan confirms its effects have been lost from the physical damage of the now-warped object, but it's still made of gold. You pocket it for later. ''[Item Gained: 20 Gold]'' <<var $gold + 20>>\ The rest of your time is spent in meditation around the graveyard, though you're soon interrupted when the Bladed Judge arrives. Through his Noble Mask, the man speaks in two voices at once. He asks you questions about your bird at first, chastising you, \ <<var $score_bladed - 1>>\ <<var $score_wild + 2>>\ <<var $score_mystic + 1>>\ <<var $score_cursed + 1>>\ but then moves the questioning to the demonic cultivator, the missing contestants, the scale, and your battle. To your shock, he hands you a crest when he leaves. ''[Imperial Trial Score +1]'' <<var $score_misc + 1>>\ <<if ($infamy gte 1)>>\ <<var $infamy - 1>>\ ''[Infamy Reduced]'' <<if ($infamy gte 1)>>\ <<var $infamy - 1>>\ <</if>>\ <</if>>\ <<var $displayer (0.15+($insight * 0.01))>>\ <<include "ch8dragon-checkbuffer">>\ <<page "Continue" "ch8dragon-finisharea">>\

Silently stepping into the dark tomb you're shocked to find such a long hallway. This singular crypt must take up more than a quarter of the whole graveyard. A venerable catacomb. You don't wander long before finding a pair of doors broken open. A man stands in the room on the other side. His clothing is a dark gi covered in blood. His aura of cerulean and crimson pulsing around his body. His hair is pitch black, his eyes crackling with emerald light, and his hand holds a large rose-gold scale. You don't care about any of that; your eyes are trapped instead on the large pool of blood surrounding his feet. Doubly so for the two dead bodies resting in it. Trial contestants, slain before you could even arrive. ''//"World Hunger."//'' The man echoes, and the ground responds. Shadows resonate from his feet that turn the pool of blood into dark ink. The Earth beneath the corpses around him caves into the darkness, and the air itself presses down with enhanced gravity. <<var $worldhunger true>>\ In the blink of an eye, the two dead contestants are swallowed into the darkness. The next blink, the darkness is gone, and the Earth is restored to how it was before without a single bloodstain. A body removal Technique. The sign of a lifelong murderer. "Who..." The man says, looking up. "Are you?" <<if (dig($mettaio, 1) gte 6)>>\ //What a fascinating aura.// Taio the Scholar whispers with glee. //Do not be rude, foolish child. Introduce yourself with respect.// <</if>>\ <<choose "ch8dragon-graveyard3">> #"cap($fullname), $patriarch of the $clan Clan." "<<cap $fullname>>, $patriarch of the $clan Clan." You proudly declare, standing at attention. <<if ($prestige gte 28)>>\ ''[Prestige 28 Check Passed]'' "Oh." The man replies. "You're the $boygirl making trouble in Ebikowa and Harehama. I've actually heard of you. How rare for one your age." <<var $powexp + 5>>\ <<var $solexp + 5>>\ "Thank you, Young Master." You reply, feeling a bit silly for it. "But we're all roughly the same age in the Heavenly Ascension Trials. The man stares hard into your eyes. It dawns on you that cultivators do not age quickly. Many can appear in their twenties for centuries. This man is //not// in the Trials. Your $auracolor aura rages to full effect immediately. "No." The man replies, holding up his rose-gold scale. "Much quieter. Like this." <<else>>\ ''[Prestige 28 Check Failed]'' "Never heard of you." The man replies dryly. <<var $powexp - 1>>\ <<var $solexp - 2>>\ "I've never heard of you either." You say, charging up your $auracolor aura to demonstrate that he //should// have heard of you. "How quaint." The man says, holding up his rose-gold scale. "Fortunately I was going to kill you anyway, with this." <</if>>\ #"Just a $manwoman passing through." "Just a $manwoman passing through." You say, turning to leave. "No." The man replies. "You've seen my face, and so you have to die." You turn to look at him skeptically. "Everyone's seen your face, we're all in the same Heavenly Ascension Trial." The man stares hard into your eyes. It dawns on you that cultivators do not age quickly. Many can appear in their twenties for centuries. This man is //not// in the Trials. Your $auracolor aura rages to full effect immediately. "No." The man replies, holding up his rose-gold scale. "Much quieter. Like this." #"Justice." After seeing the man kill and bury two bodies without a care, you have only one answer to his question. "I am justice." You declare, leaping at him with a flying kick. <<var $honor + 2>>\ "No." The man says, holding up his rose-gold scale. "We will fight much quieter. Like this." #show-if (dig($mettaio, 1) gte 6) "A fellow demonic cultivator, interested in whatever it is you just did to these fools." After a quick, wide spiritual scan to look for Misuka's scrying orbs nearby, you give the man a formal bow. "I am a fellow demonic cultivator." You say when bent at the waist with palms pressed together. "And I am most interested in whatever it is you just did to these fools." The man withdraws several pills, swallows them, and rolls his eyes. "Flattery will get you nowhere, whelp, begone." "Very well." You reply, turning. "Wait." He commands before you take a step. "You are in these Heavenly Ascension Trials, correct?" "Indeed." You reply as politely as you can. "I was unaware this island was scheduled for events. How many interlopers are to be expected?" "One thousand right now." You answer. "Another thousand hours later." The man curses and spits to the side. "Filthy Archons. I will need to put them on a trail away from me...here." He hands you a Path Manual. "You will be my tether. They will no doubt discern my actions here sooner than later. Take this Manual to the mainland to draw them away from me. I will venture elsewhere, splitting their search." ''[Path Manual Recieved: Bloodfuel]'' ''[Bloodfuel allows you to spend Health to gain Chi]'' <<var $demonpowers + 1000000000000>>\ ''[Demonic Cultivation: +20 Aura Pressure]'' <<var $aurapressure + 20>>\ <<var $taint + 20>>\ "Why are you giving this to me?" You ask. "We have not even exchanged names." "Precisely." The man replies, leaving into his own shadow on the wall with a hurried waltz. <<page "Continue" "ch8dragon-graveyard-evil">>\ #show-if (dig($mettaio, 1) lt 6) use-if (dig($mettaio, 1) gte 6) "A fellow demonic cultivator." -> "death" <</choose>>

Shreds of your aura fly through the air and land on the scale. On the other side, shreds of this stranger's own cerulean-crimson aura lands. The two sides tilt against the weight of their contents, all the while your body freezes in place. "Now." Says the man while calmly withdrawing a knife. "Let us begin." He slits his own throat, and //your// throat opens along with his. Both of you begin bleeding profusely. <<page "?!?!" "ch8dragon-graveyard4">>\

"What have you done to me?!" You demand, trying to hold your throat closed. Only your mouth and lungs answer your commands, the rest refuses to move. You're paralyzed. "I've trapped you in my Scales of Bleeding Pride." The man replies, sound bored even through his bleeding. "You and I will slowly bleed until one dies. Traditional combat would attract authorities. I've devised this method to clean up my problems in troublesome locations." <<choose "ch8dragon-graveyard5">> #"Bring it on." "Bring it on." You say with a bleeding grin. The man quirks an eye. "Very well." <<woundcheck 1 false false>>\ <<page "Continue" "ch8dragon-graveyard5">>\ #use-if (($agility - $agispent) gte 5) Surge 5 Agility Cores to escape. You breathe deep and quickly, preparing your body. "Don't try anything foolish." The man replies as he forces you to bleed to death. "What a stupid order." You mock, vibrating your arm to test. "Just for that, I'm going to do worse than kill you. I'm going to tell the authorities. They'll have //lots// of questions to ask you in the torture dungeons." The man smirks. "Die like the rest, dog. I don't have all day." Your body vibrates with $auracolor light. "That's my line." ''[5 Agility Cores Surged]'' <<var $agispent + 5>>\ <<var $agiexp + 10>>\ You move so fast that your impression remains behind, trapped in your place. The real you dashes past the man while grabbing his head. You continue across the room, but the demonic cultivator's own Soul Treasure scale forces him to stay in place. Your soundbarrier-breaking charge snaps his neck in one clean motion. <<apboost (5+$fightbonus)>>\ <<page "Continue" "ch8dragon-graveyard-agility">>\ #use-if ($roc gt 1) Receive help from above. The ceiling collapses, blowing dust throughout the cavern and dropping onto the mysterious demonic cultivator. When the dust settles, you see a full-sized statue of an armored samurai. The statue holds its rare dai-katana in two hands, with the blade facing up. At least, it would normally be facing up. The statue is upside down, impaling the man through the chest and pinning him into the ground. Shards of cerulean chi fill the area where the man's shattered aura fall all around you. <<apboost 10>>\ Normally the shattering of an aura would prevent impact-based death, but... "Wow." You whisper, looking over the man's corpse. "You should //not// have slit your throat first." Still have your own aura, you rely on its external life energy and wrap your throat up for quick healing. Looking up, you see a familiar face staring at you from the ground above the crypt. "CAWWW!" Says $rocname. "You are //such// a good bird." You say, handing her a spare pouch of seeds and dried meats you always keep on hand. "How far did you drop this thing from? Terminal velocity?" "CAW!" $rocname confirms. ''[$rocname's Combat Prowess Increased]'' <<var $roccombat + 2>>\ /* one point to get all the way to the island, the other from killing a foe and learning the importance of terminal velocity. */\ "NO PETS." Calls a Judge's voice from a great distance. "Caw." $rocname replies, forlorn. She flies off into the distance without another screech, presumably to harass seagulls. <<page "Continue" "ch8dragon-graveyard-help">>\ #show-if ($jadedragonfoundation is true) Laugh and enjoy the show. [Jade Dragon Foundation] <<var $val 7777>>\ "Wow." You chuckle. "You have shit luck." The man stares at you stoically, a faint smile showing on his own lips as blood pours down his neck. "I mean, to pick a fight with the Top Five might be one thing, but to pick a fight with me, what a moron." The man shakes his head as your blood pours out over your chest. ''[Jade Dragon Event: No Health Lost]'' "I mean, you do know dragons can't die of blood loss, right? Their chi restores it. They can only die from damage." The man's eyebrows furrow as his own blood gushes out. "I have attuned my body to survive as much blood loss as possible, and you are no dragon." You grin and shake your head at him. "Am I not?" <<page "Unleash the Dragon" "ch8dragon-graveyard-dragon">>\ <</choose>>

You continue to bleed profusely while facing the demonic cultivator. Both your bodies stand frozen, facing each other not in a battle of martial arts but a battle of fortitude; the man's Soul Treasure Scale hold you each still until one bleeds to death. And you don't intend to die. "You shouldn't have let me see your Technique earlier." You taunt. "You looked in such a hurry to hide the bodies, it means you did it as soon as you won the fight." "What of it?" The man asks, unconcerned despite the blood pouring out of his throat. "That means you hadn't yet taken time to heal." The man narrows his eyes at you as you both continue to bleed. <<woundcheck 1 false false>>\ <<page "Continue" "ch8dragon-graveyard6">>\

"You must feel it by now." The man taunts to you. "The lifeblood leaking from your young, inexperienced, //weak// body. Let your soul slip from the tether and die." "Why would you bother taunting me?" You ask, panting but confident. "I thought this whole trap was your specialty. Aren't words for the young and arrogant? Unless...you're getting nervous." Ever still, through your taunts, you do begin to feel your life slip away. <<woundcheck 1 false false>>\ <<page "Continue" "ch8dragon-graveyard7">>\

"Do you feel it yet?" The man taunts, his voice growing coarse. "Do you feel the end approaching? You are...not long...for this world!" Your blood pours from your neck, your hands powerless to stop it. <<woundcheck 1 false false>>\ Looking into the face of your paling opponent, you smile. "No." "Hgr.." The man grumbles, swaying woozily. "Damn...you..." A task that is impossible; he cannot be wobbling. His Soul Treasure scale stops either of you from moving unless one dies. As quickly as you have the thought, his aura shatters and the man falls over to the side. He collapses into a pool of his own blood, shrivels, and dies with a wimper. Victory. <<apboost (10+$fightbonus)>>\ After collecting the healing elixirs he has in his pockets- ''[2 Health Restored]'' <<var $wounds - 2>>\ <<if ($wounds lt 0)>>\ <<var $wounds 0>>\ <</if>>\ -\ <<include "ch8dragon-graveyard8">>\

You take the man's scale in hand and scan it for power, finding...nothing. It seems to have been a focus for a Technique. You try to look on the bright side. It's still made of gold. ''[Item Gained: 20 Gold]'' <<var $gold + 20>>\ When leaving to meditate in the graveyard, you're surprised to find a Judge waiting for you outside. "I can explain." You say while holding a demonic cultivator's relic at the site where two contestants were killed and disappeared. "Do." Says the Bladed Judge. <<page "Continue" "ch8dragon-graveyard9">>\

You spend the next few minutes on your knees, explaining yourself. The Bladed Judge speaks through his Noble Mask the whole time, using two voices at once. He asks you questions about your timing, the demonic cultivator, the missing contestants, the scale, and your battle. You answer truthfully at every turn, not having any reason to lie. To your shock, he doesn't question the truthfulness of your responses at any point. You start to suspect they have some lie-detector in their Noble Masks, because the man believes you so firmly that he hands you a crest as he leaves. ''[Imperial Trial Score +1]'' <<if ($infamy gte 1)>>\ <<var $infamy - 1>>\ ''[Infamy Reduced]'' <<if ($infamy gte 1)>>\ <<var $infamy - 1>>\ <</if>>\ <<else>>\ ''[Prestige Increased]'' <<var $prestige + 2>>\ <</if>>\ <<var $score_misc + 1>>\ <<var $displayer (0.15+($insight * 0.01))>>\ <<include "ch8dragon-checkbuffer">>\ <<page "Continue" "ch8dragon-finisharea">>\

Your ship drops anchor near the island and each contestant on board swims to shore. You make it onto the sandy beach just in time for Tian Fang to shake like a dog, covering your already soaked body in even more droplets. "Thanks." You say sarcastically. "No!" Tian Fang demands. "It is I who should be thanking you! You helped Tian Fang bring Mountain Hazard to a safe cycling spot before the Trial!" ''[Tian Fang's Prowess Increased]'' <<var $fangcombat + 1>>\ "Fang." One of the Oni Disciples says. "We need to separate now, Sectmaster Hawthorne says we can't let our guard down around other factions." Fang turns and cocks her head to the side. \ <<if (dig($trialdeets, 1) gte 2)>>\ "Thunderfall \ <<else>>\ "The $clan Clan \ <</if>>\ is our ally, thoughever?" "Doesn't matter." The Oni replies. "We need to go inland before anyone else arrives." He bows to you. "Thank you, Thunderfaller, but we have a strict strategy to stick to, or we are betraying our Sectmaster's orders." <<choose "ch8dragon-guardedblossom2">> #[Shrug] "Suit yourselves, more beach for me." <<var $ruthless - 1>>\ <<var $honor - 1>>\ You shrug. "Suit yourselves, more beach for me." Tian Fang smiles. "Thank you again, $name, come \ #"Don't worry about it Fang, I'll see you in the finals." "Don't worry about it Fang," you say, "I'll see you in the finals." <<var $honor + 1>>\ <<var $fangrep + 1>>\ Tian Fang returns a combative smug grin. "Only if you are most fortunate! Come \ #"You're not going to pay your travel tab?" "You're not going to pay your travel tab?" You ask. The Oni pauses. "What tab?" "The cost of a two-hundred nautical mile journey for eight. Triple cost for a rush order, doubled again during the Heavenly Ascension Trials when supply is low and demand is extreme. I've bought you time, which is the greatest gift in any Trial, but I didn't buy it for free." Tian Fang's ears droop. "How much?" <<var $fangrep - 5>>\ "Two-Hundred and twenty Shards." <<var $sect_mountainhazard - 20>>\ <<var $alliesgained - 10000000000>>\ They freeze up at the number. They're all exhausted from overtraining and, worse, they know you know it. There's nothing they can do but pay up. ''[Item Gained: 220 Shards]'' <<var $shards + 220>>\ "This was...most disappointing." Fang grumbles, handing over 8 Shards and making the others pay the rest. "Make sure //not// to \ <</choose>>

<<if ($val is 1111)>>\ Now that the sun is up and you have a moment to get a good look, you notice something off about your surroundings. <<else>>\ You arrive the next morning and take a rowboat to the island. If this can even be called one. <</if>>\ When you envision islands in your head, you picture a curving coastline. You've seen plenty on your own journey down the coast of Outer West, so it's not simply an imagination issue. There's definitely something wrong with this shore, in that you cannot see a curve. If someone had said you had reached the coastline of Outer West, you'd believe them. This island must be big enough for at least four large towns, assuming the center is the lushly forested mountain with split peaks that you can make out over the tree line. <<if (($mortallimits) and ($toldlimits is false))>>\ ''[Regional Mortal Limits: 1500 AP]'' <<var $apregionmax 1500>>\ <</if>>\ Ships flying the Trial's five-column crest on their flags land far in the distance to your east and west. More Martial Artists leap from their decks and land by the coast. One such Sect is a set of Thunderfallers who take off into the woods without giving you a second look. The other is an unfamiliar Sect of green and red gi that sends a spiritual scan down the beach, brushing your aura. <<if ($aurapressure gte 1100)>>\ ''[Aura Pressure 1100 Check Passed]'' After sensing your power, rather than approach or head into the woods, they run in the opposite direction. ''[Prestige Increased]'' <<var $prestige + 1>>\ <<if ($heshe is "she")>>\ Typical. You have that effect on weak men. <</if>>\ <<else>>\ ''[Aura Pressure 1100 Check Failed]'' They take a moment to gather their gear and head into the woods themselves, unconcerned by your presence. <</if>>\ That leaves you, alone, on the beach of Guarded Blossom. <<page "//!!!?//" "ch8dragon-guardedblossom4">>\

find me when the Trial starts, right..." She points a finger over the wooded horizon of the island. "Fang." A Monkey Yokai Disciple interrupts. "Don't-" "There!" She triumphantly announces, pointing to a hilly bamboo jungle over the tree line. <<var $fangclue true>>\ "Ugh." The Monkey Yokai groans, grabbing a nearby soaked satchel and slinging it over his shoulder. "Lead the way, Star Pupil." "Goodbye Thunderfaller!" Fang shouts, collecting her own things and leading the pack of Mountain Hazard Disciples into the \ <<if (dig($alliesgained, 5) is 1)>>\ jungle. "Next time Tian Fang will swim instead!" <<else>>\ jungle. <</if>>\ <<page "Continue" "ch8dragon-guardedblossom3">>\

Left alone, with the daybreak still hours away, you decide to cycle. You're pleased to find the local chi is superior to Outer West, adding a boost of energy to your body, spirit, and mind. You even have time to call some of your crew over for cycling. <<if ($mortallimits is true)>>\ ''[Regional Mortal Limits set to 1400AP]'' <<var $toldlimits true>>\ <<var $apregionmax 1400>>\ <</if>>\ ''[All Health, Chi, and Cores Restored]'' ''[Retainer Strength + 1]'' <<var $retainer_strength + 1>>\ <<var $chispent 0>>\ <<var $powspent 0>>\ <<var $forspent 0>>\ <<var $solspent 0>>\ <<var $wounds 0>>\ <<var $agispent 0>>\ <<apboost 5>>\ The sun rises after hours of cycling and you release your aura of $auracolor chi. The Imperial fleet arrives not long after, with many ships passing your coast by and disappearing off either sides of the shore. <<var $val 1111>>\ <<page "Continue" "ch8dragon-guardedblossom-nocurve">>\

//!!!?// You drop to your knees in the sand, grasping your head in resistance against the Sacred Chi bombarding your mind. <<if ((($jadedragonfoundation is true) or ($aurapressure gte 1700)) or (($style is "Aoyusumu") and ($aurapressure gte 1000)))>>\ After a heavy struggle, \ <<var $solexp + $stylerank>>\ <<else>>\ With little struggle, \ <</if>>\ it breaks through. Images flash through your consciousness, showing you different ships over and over. It takes concentration through the headache to realize you're seeing five different ships surrounding the island. Each holds a Judge at its helm. "Attention aspirants." They call from all directions, reaching your ears as if they're each within arm's reach. "In six hours time, at an undisclosed location on the island, a World Tree will appear." Says the Wild Judge. "It will grow at an accelerated rate, expanding to full bloom in seconds." Says the Mystic Judge. "A spirit fruit will sprout from its branches." Says the Cursed Judge. "Consuming that spirit fruit grants an additional point, up to eight in the Dragon Trial." Says the Bladed Judge. "May the Heavens reveal those who are worthy." The Sacred Judge says with a pious bow, ending the message. You rise again when the feeling fades and dust the sand off your knees. Ancestors, you wish they'd have given you a warning before doing something like that. Your irritation fades quickly however, replaced with curiosity, when a soft glow comes from the medallion around your neck. A tingle runs between your shoulders; the sensation of a spiritual scan. It's coming from the medallion, and when you scan it back, you sense the tiniest sliver of your power. It's started counting your Aura Pressure. <<if ($jadedragonfoundation is true)>>\ <<page "The Dragon Trial has begun." "ch8dragon-specialjdf">>\ <<else>>\ The Dragon Trial has begun. <div class="fightingfont">Dragon Trial</div>\ <<include "ch8dragon-pickactivity">>\ <</if>>\

... ... ... Feeling returns to your body, though you wish it did not. You're wrapped in casts and bandages, that much you can feel, but your spiritual senses are in disarray. You shut them off for now, having only sensed some sort of sigil or effect on the tight bandages used to keep your body from moving. While you struggle back into consciousness, voices begin to call out through the room. "<<cap $hisher>> eyes are fluttering!" Calls a familiar feminine voice. You think it's Rin's voice, but it's a little deeper. A little older. //...Mother?// "Is $heshe awake?" Asks another familiar voice with its mouth full. //Father!// "Move, whelps, move!" Grunts Big Chu. "As $hisher Sect senior and former master, I should be the first one to greet $himher after such a battle." "You're not even in the family!" Shouts Rin. "Neither is the beggar." Replies Big Chu. <<if ($bffromance gte 1)>>\ "Not yet." \ <<else>>\ "I have feelings." \ <</if>>\ Replies Kosuke. "Be calm, everyone." Replies an old man's voice. "Disorder will bring no peace to a body's recovery." Your eyes open ever so slowly to see the whole picture, a medical ward or hospital of some sort. Scrolls and medical tools line one of the tables, bandages fill a nearby cupboard, and the scent of unguents is prevalent in the air. More importantly, you were right. Your family is here. <<page "Continue" "ch8dragon-hospital2">>\

"So he-" "Is //incredibly// capable in the mentalism of Aoyusumu, and //disturbingly// incapable of thinking without it." <<if (dig($mettiger, 4) is 1)>>\ "Yeah, he's a goof." You say, thinking back to your 'best \ <<if ($bffromance is 0)>>\ friend'. Kosuke's not going to like him calling you that. <<else>>\ friend'. <</if>>\ <<else>>\ "Duly noted." You say, wondering how that could help in the future. <</if>>\ <<choose "ch8dragon-hospital-angelo2">> #show-if ($style isnot "Aoyusumu") "Thanks for visiting, Angelo. See you back at the temple." "Thanks for visiting, Angelo." \ #show-if ($style is "Aoyusumu") "Thanks again, Angelo. See you back at the temple." "Thanks again, Angelo." \ #"I have to go, do you have any premonitions for me?" "I'm going to go see my Magistrate," you say before leaving, "should I expect anything unusual? Any issues your premonitions could foresee?" "The healer you're about to meet is an undercover Noble named Ryuuzan Keiko." He says with a soft smile. "Ruining that big reveal will hopefully prevent you from asking for spoiled surprises in the future. Knowing everything takes the fun out of life." <<var $knowkeiko true>>\ "Oh." You reply in surprise. "I didn't think you would actually do it." "I know." Angelo says, slowly vanishing. "Shame on you for asking." <<page "[Continue to the Magistrate]" "ch8dragon-hospital6">>\ <</choose>>

You reply, waving goodbye to the slowly disappearing figure. "See you back at the temple." <<var $angelorep + 5>>\ <<var $sect_devanic + 5>>\ "As you should." He replies in pleased tones while growing translucent. "Too few youths visit these days. Good fight, by the way. I cheered from the stadiums." "...Did you pay for your seat?" He disappears. <<page "[Continue to the Magistrate]" "ch8dragon-hospital6">>\

"It's okay Dessy." Calls Li Moon. "We follow you for your bravery, your intelligence, your selfless leadership, and your wise decision making. None of us care about something so shallow as appearance." Around her, four male Disciples try their best to pretend to agree. You poke your head in and see the Dreamriver Sectmistress covered with a full, circular cast of bandages covering her head. She wears a white medical version of her usual black witch's robes. If it weren't for \ <<if ($heshe is "he")>>\ the \ <<if ($desromance gte 2)>>\ incredible \ <</if>>\ shape of her body under the medical robes, \ <<else>>\ her Disciples in the room, \ <</if>>\ you'd be hard-pressed to ever identify the woman. The only other trait that identifies her is the shadowy view of her smoldering eyes through the two small eyeholes in her cast, which turn to you. "Thunderfaller." She says. "I trust we won?" <<if ((($dmg gte 6) or ($jadedragonfoundation)) or ($trickywicky is true))>>\ "Effectively." You reply. "We beat down the number one fighter of ten thousand contestants. That puts us on every Noble's lips. The only problem is neither of us could remain standing." Desdemona's comically circular head-cast hangs slightly lower. "It will have to do. In the meantime, \ <<else>>\ "No." You reply honestly. "He hid a Transformation." Desdemona's comically circular head-cast hangs lower. "All for nothing. Still, \ <</if>>\ I cannot put off my other problems forever. Disciples, remove the cast." Li Sun steps forward with his sword and cuts the cast, slowly unraveling it. Desdemona lets her hair down and looks to you. "I know most of Jack's strikes were to the cranium and lower face. The scars...how bad are they?" She looks completely normal. <<choose "ch8dragon-hospital-dessy-look">> #"A full recovery." "A full recovery." You reply pleasantly, handing her a nearby hand-mirror. Her Disciples all clamor around you to look, gasping at the sight of their Sectmistress without her makeup on. Or, rather... "Dessy..." Li Sun says. "You're still as pale as before." #"I'm afraid it's terminal." "I'm afraid it's terminal." You say with dismay and pity. Her Disciples all gasp. <<var $honor - 2>>\ <<var $sect_dreamriver - 1>>\ Desdemona closes her eyes and breathes in slowly. "The scars?" You grab a nearby mirror and hold it up to her face. \ <<if ($race isnot "Lunargoth")>>\ "Your complexion. I'm afraid you're...white." <<else>>\ "The makeup." <</if>>\ #show-if (($heshe is "he") and ($desromance gte 1)) "As beautiful as the day we met." "As beautiful as the day we met." You say, staring at the Lunargothic beauty. Desdemona's eyebrows drop lower than the ocean's deepest trench, glaring at you with pursed lips and blushing cheeks. Her Disciples all guffaw, staring from her to you. "D-Do not say such obscenities!" Demands Li Moon. "Keep your nefarious intentions away from our Sectmistress!" Growls a larger man. "Dessy, are you going to let him talk to you like that?" Insists a younger Disciple. "That's //Lady// Desdemona!" Two more correct him. Desdemona looks away and holds up a hand for silence. "I...am pleased you recovered well, Thunderfaller. Our, um, alliance is still of course intact. I look forward to working with you again in future Trials. You are dismissed." "Of course." You say with a gentle bow. "If you wish to discuss Trial preparation further, we can do so in my personal chambers any night you are free." Your 'subtle' offer fools no one present. More shouting breaks out as her Disciples demand that you leave. Desdemona covers her face with quickened breathing. <<var $desromance + 1>>\ <<var $sect_dreamriver - 4>>\ <<var $desrep + 3>>\ <<page "[Continue to the Magistrate]" "ch8dragon-hospital6">>\ <</choose>>

Desdemona looks into the mirror and touches the sides of her face. She looks like she's always looked. Blushed pale skin, raven-purple hair, eye shadow lining around her eyes, and impossibly purple lips. "This..." She says, dragging one finger over a \ <<if ($desromance gte 2)>>\ plush \ <</if>>\ lower lip. "It looks like they applied my makeup underneath the cast." "I don't think it's makeup anymore." You say, a bit intrigued. Desdemona frowns. "I've applied it so much, my Advancement must have pushed me toward what I saw as perfection in my mind. This is the real me now. Hm..." She exhales through her nose, tilting her head in the mirror. "I suppose it saves on supplies." "It's beautiful!" Shouts one of her Disciples. "As majestic as ever, Lady Desdemona." Confirms another. "Advancing your way into fiscal savings," gasps Li Moon, "truly our Sectmistress is a genius of her time!" The compliments get layered on thicker and thicker. Each of her Disciples leaves their satchels along the wall to rush around her bed and praise Lady Desdemona for saving roughly 40 silver per week. You wish your retainers were this encouraging. Unfortunately, you can't stick around. Khan is waiting. <<choose "ch8dragon-hospital6">> #[Thank Lady Desdemona and leave] <<var $sect_dreamriver + 2>>\ <<var $desrep + 2>>\ <<var $honor + 2>>\ You clasp one hand over the other fist and offer a bow. "Thank you, Lady Desdemona, for the Dreamriver Sect's assistance in my battle against Crusher Jack. \ <<if ($style is "Kiihakai")>>\ You've honored our alliance well." <<else>>\ We'll finish the fight next time." <</if>>\ Desdemona's resting scowl threatens to break into a condescending smile. "Thunderfaller, if I didn't know any better, I would say you're playing politics with me." "I trust it is working." You reply calmly. <<if ($persuasion lt 3)>>\ ''[Event: Persuasion Below 3]'' ''[Persuasion +1]'' <</if>>\ "It is indeed." She says, brushing a strand of hair out of her face. "You wear the $patriarch title well. I look forward to our joint ventures." <<page "[Continue to the Magistrate]" "ch8dragon-hospital6">>\ #[Thank Dessy and leave] "Thanks for the help in that fight, Dessy. I was in a pinch." "That's //Lady// Desdemona!" Shout four of her Disciples at once. <<var $sect_dreamriver - 2>>\ <<var $desrep - 1>>\ <<var $honor - 2>>\ <<if ($heshe is "he")>>\ <<var $desrep + 3>>\ <<var $desromance + 1>>\ <</if>>\ Li Moon actually reaches for Li Sun's blade. Desdemona calmly holds up a hand for silence. "You are most welcome, Thunderfaller. I've heard some ramblings from the other medical rooms, by the way. It appears our joint venture has caused a bit of a stir. The other contestants are growing concerned at our cooperation." ''[Prestige Increased]'' <<var $prestige + 1>>\ "Uh, good." You reply, eyeing the fuming glasses-wearing Disciple next to her. "Is she going to be okay?" "Hmm." Desdemona hums, giving a glance to her growling Disciple. "No, you should go." <<page "[Continue to the Magistrate]" "ch8dragon-hospital6">>\ #[Steal a satchel and leave] <<if (($thievery gte 2) or ($stealth gte 3))>>\ <<if ($thievery gte 2)>>\ ''[Thievery 2 Check Passed]'' <<var $agiexp + 2>>\ <<else>>\ ''[Stealth 3 Check Passed]'' <</if>>\ You swipe a satchel with your foot, scooting it out the doorway while everyone is distracted. Giving thanks and niceties on your way out buys you all the alibi you need when you depart, closing the doubledoors behind you and emptying the satchel's contents into your own. ''[Item Gained: Ritual Components x8]'' <<var $ritualcomponents + 8>>\ ''[Item Gained: Alchemy Reagent x13]'' <<var $alchemyreagents + 13>>\ ''[Item Gained: Chi Replenisher Pill]'' <<var $replenisherpill + 1>>\ ''[Item Gained: 17 Shards]'' <<var $shards + 17>>\ <<else>>\ ''[Thievery 2 Check Failed]'' ''[Stealth 3 Check Failed]'' "What are you doing?" Desdemona asks, looking at you through the thick crowd of her supporters. \ "Moving this away from the door." You reply. "You guys need to take better care of your things. The medical ward is filled with desperate contestants." \ <<if ($deception gte 3)>>\ ''[Deception 3 Check Passed]'' She nods and looks to Li Sun. "<<cap $heshe>> is correct, Disciple Sun. Take better care of your things." "Yes, Lady Desdemona." The poor man replies with head hanging low. You wipe sweat from your brow on your way out the door. <<else>>\ ''[Deception 3 Check Failed]'' She twists her lips. "Nurse, come in here please. I believe we've caught a thief." <<var $sect_dreamriver - 10>>\ <<var $desrep - 5>>\ "Oh shit shit shit shit-" You burst out of the room before any nurses can arrive, foolishly thinking that will stop them from describing your face to the authorities. She wouldn't do that though, would she? You two did fight together after all. ''[Infamy Increased]'' <<var $infamy + 2>>\ <</if>>\ <</if>>\ <<page "[Continue to the Magistrate]" "ch8dragon-hospital6">>\ <</choose>>

suffered grievous spiritual wounds in your battle. We must check with the medical reports to ensure you are still worth our time." Without any further ceremony, he taps his cane twice. <<page "Enter the medical chamber" "ch8dragon-hospital9">>\

"Jack killed her." You lie, staring into the wizened face of your Magistrate. Big Chu's mouth drops, his eyes widening. "But she..." Khan holds up a hand for Big Chu's silence, meeting your gaze. He looks into your eyes, searching for a hint of the truth. <<if ($deception gte 3)>>\ ''[Deception 3 Check Passed]'' <<var $agiexp + 1>>\ The Magistrate's eyes close in loss and frustration. "Damn it all, Jack. A prize-winning dog loses its worth when it breaks off its leash." "Honored Magistrate, Jack couldn't have-" Big Chu begins, but the Magistrate smacks him with his cane. "Of course he could have." Khan replies. "You cannot hold back while dropping a flaming mountain on your opponent. Jack's lack of restraint against one of the Top Five is going to cost us dearly. $name, I want you to lie to the Judges when questioned. We must not let the Nakamoto Clan get wind of this." <<choose "ch8dragon-hospital-khan-suffer">> #"Of course, Honored Magistrate." "Of course, Honored Magistrate." You say with a respectful bow. <<var $honor + 2>>\ <<var $sect_thunderfall + 5>>\ <<var $churep + 3>>\ "Good." Khan says. "It is pleasing to see a young $manwoman who understands the importance of following orders. I will ensure your loyalty is reflected in the ears of my peers." ''[Bladed Lands Score Improved]'' ''[Wild Lands Score Improved]'' <<var $score_bladed + 2>>\ <<var $score_wild + 2>>\ ''[Prestige Increased]'' <<var $prestige + 1>>\ "Now come, you \ #"My funds are far too low to afford such a deception, Honored Magistrate." [Extortion] You suck in air through your teeth. "My funds are far too low to afford such a deception, Honored Magistrate. Bribing suspicious investigators, hiring alibi aids, not to mention the training from legal clerks to help keep my cool if questioned. I would like to cover up for the Sect, but it is simply out of my hands." Magistrate Khan removes a golden ring and throws it at your chest. "Consider this a Rank C mission, and this your payment. That way you are not //foolish// enough to extort your own Magistrate, you crass ingrate." ''[Item Gained: 30 Gold]'' <<var $gold + 30>>\ <<var $honor - 2>>\ "Yes, Honored Magistrate." You say with a pleased, slightly richer bow. "Now come." The Magistrate orders. "You \ <</choose>> <<else>>\ ''[Deception 3 Check Failed]'' "$name." Khan says, placing his cane on the edge of your foot. "You must learn to mask the truth from your face when lying to superiors. It is an advantageous skill to succeed at these Trials, and a ''survival'' skill in Azuma Honsha should you actually become an Archon." Big Chu looks hurriedly from you to Khan. "Honored Magistrate, you will not be punishing $himher? Even for such a grievous lie of framing our star pupil for murder?" Khan looks back to Big Chu. "Upper Disciple Chu, young $name had a meteor dropped on his head. If he did not try to ruin Jack's life for that, I would give up on $himher as a spineless coward." Big Chu nods and bows, clearly relieved. "Of course, Honored Magistrate." Khan shakes his head, looking back to you. "Now come, you \ <<include "ch8dragon-hospital-khan-suffer">>\ <</if>>\

"I am positive." You reply. "Leona was already defeated by Sakura's three summons in one minute before I arrived. I nearly had to fight a four-on-one until Jack dropped a meteor on us all." "Fascinating..." Khan replies, intrigued. "But no reason to flee the Trials. If anything, this makes her a prodigy of great renown." You shake your head. "She has a soulbinding oath not to reveal her Style until she becomes an Archon. If anyone finds out, her oath is broken and her soul will rupture soon after. I don't know the time limit. She's probably hiding somewhere until she can find a way to kill Leona Bangle and myself for learning her secret. Also, you. She has to kill you now too. And Big Chu." Magistrate Khan blinks. <<var $bigevents + 100000000000>>\ He looks up and behind him, to Big Chu, who sighs, then looks back to you. "You have put a target on your superior's head. Do you have anything to say for yourself?" "You asked." You reply with a shrug. Big Chu closes his eyes, too disciplined to slap his forehead in frustration in front of the Magistrate. "Were it not for these Trials, I would have you hanged." Khan says with an impassive stare. "Instead you will repent by cleansing this mess from my worries with your own hands. I will have Mao draft a mission for you to remove Sakura as a threat to our village, no matter who her father may be. Now come, you \ <<include "ch8dragon-hospital-khan-suffer">>\

"Kosuke, where have you been?" You ask. "Oh, here and there." Kosuke replies, \ <<if (dig($trialdeets, 1) is 1)>>\ and that's when you notice $bffheshe has two black eyes. "Ancestors, what happened?" You sit up more to get a better look. "Who did this to you?" "Thunderfall brats." Kosuke sighs. "Not all of them were in the Dragon Trial." You scowl at the thought, clenching your fist. "I'll deal with this." <<if ((dig($metkosuke, 1) gte 2) or (dig($metkosuke, 4) gte 1))>>\ "No need." Kosuke replies. "They won't be coming for me //or// telling Mao about what happened." Mother sits up at attention in her chair and clears her throat. "Kosuke, you didn't do anything bad, I trust?" "Of course not, Missus $clan!" Kosuke says with one arm behind $bffhisher back. "Then why are you holding a severed arm behind your back?" Jin asks. "Oh come on!" Kosuke groans. "That was mine to reveal, you prick." Mother screams when Kosuke tosses a bleeding, severed arm into the nearby trash bin. <<page "?!?!" "ch8dragon-hospital-kosuke-arm">>\ <<else>>\ <<if ($kosukecombat gte 9)>>\ ''[Kosuke Combat Prowess Check Passed]'' ''[Injuries Avoided]'' "No, no." Kosuke says, and you notice $bffheshe doesn't have any other injuries. "Surprising everyone, I was able to handle myself." "You beat them?" You ask, astonished. "What? Fuck no!" Kosuke guffaws. "I got the shit kicked out of me! But I was able to stay standing. Bastards ambushed me on our ship and I made it above deck to leap into the sea. I'm just saying I can keep evading them, you don't have to worry about me." <<else>>\ ''[Kosuke Combat Prowess Check Failed]'' ''[Kosuke Has Been Injured!]'' <<var $kosukecombat - 1>>\ Looking closer, you see $bffhisher arm is wrapped in bandages as badly as yours. "Kosuke..." "It'll be fine." Kosuke says uncomfortably. "Just some hazing, they're trying to put pressure on you. Distract you from becoming an Archon. If you try to help me, they win. I can withstand this much, and our crew helped push them away before it got serious." <</if>>\ You rub the bridge of your nose. "Kosuke, they're going to send stronger Disciples now. That's how a bounty works. When one group fails, you send a stronger group." "Wait, there's a bounty on me?!" "...Yeah." "Ohhhhh." Kosuke smacks $bffhisher forehead. "I thought they were just being dicks. In that case-" <<cap $bffheshe>> drops to $bffhisher knees. "PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE-" "Okay, okay." You say, "I'll take care of it." ''[Event: Kosuke's Bounty Opened]'' <<var $metkosuke + 10000>>\ Pocketing that worry for later, you look to the others. <<if ((($owekosuke_f is 1000000000000) and ($bffromance gte 1)) and (dig($metleona, 1) gte 4))>>\ <<page "One more thing." "ch8dragon-hospital-kosuke-onemorething">>\ <<else>>\ <<include "ch8dragon-hospital-talktofam">>\ <</if>>\ <</if>>\ <<else>>\ "Seeing as the Thunderfall Sect is so busy with the Trials, and the guards around here are so busy with the Sects, I figured I'd just rummage around town." "Stroll." You correct $bffhisher with undeserved optimism. "The term for walking around is stroll, not rummage. Please tell me you meant stroll." "I did not." Kosuke says, taking a sack of coins out from behind $bffhisher back. "I rummaged //thoroughly//. \ <<if ((($owekosuke_f is 1000000000000) and ($bffromance gte 1)) and (dig($metleona, 1) gte 4))>>\ Kind of like you did with that Sunbringer slut." "Oh fuck." You groan. Rin whistles low. "Kosuke, I meant to tell you. I-" <<var $txt "backtokosrobbery">>\ <<include "ch8dragon-hospital-kosuke-talk">>\ <<else>>\ This is your cut by the way." <<include "ch8dragon-hospital-kosuke-theft">>\ <</if>>\ <</if>>\

"Um..." You look from Kosuke to the macabre limb. "Kosuke, words \ <<if (($ruthless gte 65) or ($heshe is "he"))>>\ now. \ <<else>>\ please? \ <</if>>\ Words explaining what \ <<if (($ruthless gte 65) or ($heshe is "he"))>>\ happened." <<else>>\ happened?" <</if>>\ <<if (dig($metkosuke, 4) gte 1)>>\ Kosuke draws the shining sword you gave $bffhimher. "They attacked on the ship, I had this lying around, and one of them didn't have the Aura Pressure to resist it like you or Bo Lo did in training. I was surprised as anyone, but Hell, I wasn't going to tell them that." <<else>>\ Kosuke shrugs with an apologetic cringe. "I tried to run through my shadow. Turns out it's not safe for weaker people to reach in when I'm closing it." <</if>>\ Rin quirks an eyebrow. "So you...cut off a Thunderfall Disciple's arm? And they just walked away?" "Oh no." Kosuke chuckles, shaking $bffhisher head. "They ''ran'' away, screaming. I think I was a punching bag to them, not a fight, and it got very real, //very// fast." ''[Event Concluded: Kosuke's Bounty Closed]'' <<var $metkosuke + 40000>>\ ''[Kosuke's Combat Prowess Increased]'' <<var $kosukecombat + 2>>\ <<var $powexp + 10>>\ <<var $solexp + 10>>\ <<var $forexp + 10>>\ <<var $agiexp + 10>>\ ''[+10 to All Core EXP]'' You can hardly believe your eyes. "Well...Knowing them, I don't think they'll tell Mao what happened. It's worse to lose face than to lose-" "Arm!" Jin interrupts, getting a high five from Rin. "Thank you, Jin." You say with a sigh. "Oh well. I was worried about retribution when we split off from the Sect, but it looks like you wrapped that up on your own. I'm impressed." "That's because I'm impressive." Kosuke replies, crossing $bffhisher arms and smiling smugly. <<cap $bffhisher>> demeanor changes quickly when $bffheshe realizes $bffheshe just got severed-arm-blood on $bffhisher only pair of clothes. "I hope this comes out." "It won't." You, Rin, and Jin tell $bffhimher from experience. <<if ((($owekosuke_f is 1000000000000) and ($bffromance gte 1)) and (dig($metleona, 1) gte 4))>>\ <<page "One more thing." "ch8dragon-hospital-kosuke-onemorething">>\ <<else>>\ <<include "ch8dragon-hospital-talktofam">>\ <</if>>\

"One more thing." Kosuke says when you look away. "About you and Leona. It was broadcasting across the arena floor." "Oh." You pause, a shiver running up your spine. "Kosuke, I swear, I was going to tell y-" <<include "ch8dragon-hospital-kosuke-talk">>\

"I want a sword." She interrupts. "You want a...sword?" She grabs your shoulders and forces you to face her. You're actually surprised, you didn't resist but she's still got more strength than you're used to. "I. Want. A. Sword." <<page "???" "ch8dragon-hospital-kosuke-talk2">>\

"Well, that was..." Father says. "So you two have been dating for how long?" Mother asks, pretending to smile. "Oh no." You say, wriggling in your medical bed. "Oh Ancestors. Kosuke, distract them!" "Can do!" Kosuke chirps cheerily, dropping a sack of coin on you. "This is your cut from my time //rummaging// around town." <<include "ch8dragon-hospital-kosuke-theft">>\

You look into Kosuke's eyes, trying to see past any joke. "Is this some kind of innuendo or...?" "Maybe later." She adds, wincing when Mother tilts her head at you two questioningly. "Look, I get it, I'm a beggar girl who needed Advancement just to grow back some lost teeth. You're a Clan <<cap $patriarch>> that's moving up in the world. I expected you to eventually go all 'concubines' on me but..." She breathes out a reluctant sigh. "The heart wants what the heart wants, and I still want my future brats to have the $clan name instead of no Clan at all. Besides, I mentally prepared for this //soulless betrayal// four years ago." You squint at that. "I haven't even been a Martial Artist for four years." She rolls her eyes with a thoughtful smile. "We haven't been together for four years either, idiot. Like I said, I prepared for it. And I know these other strumpets are all going to demand to be your wife or number one concubine or some petty crap, and I'm //not// starting a rivalry with Martial Artists. So here's the deal: leave me out of that drama, give them whatever lip service you want - stop laughing, that wasn't innuendo - and instead of titles I just want cool treasures." "Y...Yeah." You concede, caught offguard. "That's disturbingly calm of you." "You're the one that's too calm." She says, patting your bandage-wrapped leg. "Wait until you see the prices on my wishlist. Don't get me wrong, my feelings are still completely crushed and I cried while you were banging a psychopath on live scrying for the entire city, I'm just not going to give you shit for it." Jin's face scrunches. "You just did." "Shhh." Father hushes, looking like he'd rather be anywhere else. "Shit." Kosuke says, snapping her fingers. "Except for rubbing it in just now that you cheated on me, yes. This will take some work to //actually// not give you shit for it. For now, let's call that the last time and leave that drama for the others. I know the Martial World is filled with unfaithful immortals, that comes with the territory of dating someone great, but if that's how it's got to be then I want the cool stuff that comes with it too." "What kind of cool stuff were you thinking?" The sadness leaves her eyes, quickly replaced with a mischievous hunger. "Welllll let's see. Protection. Utility. Scrolls that can blast people into next week. I need combat benefits more than I need romantics if I want to stay in your horrible chaotic life. That's why any time you add to your collection of girls, I want to add to my collection of tools. So...seeing as you slept with Leona which, by the way, not as insecure about that as you'd think because I've seen her butt and mine's nicer, but I want a sword when we get to Nanhou. A good one, Soul Treasure and \ <<if ($background is "Blacksmith")>>\ all. Bonus points if you make it yourself, mister blacksmith." She punches you in the arm playfully. "Deal?" <<else>>\ all. Deal?" <</if>>\ Being forgiven so easily somehow hurts worse than being yelled at, but your heartbeat calms as you're awash in relief. You hold a hand out to shake Kosuke's and she rushes in for a hug instead. \ <<if ($jadedragonfoundation is false)>>\ It hurts. \ <</if>>\ You shove the guilt deep down to focus on enjoying her presence as she rubs her head against your chest and you run your hand through her hair. "Deal." You reply softly. <<var $owekosuke_f + 100000000000>>\ "Awwww." Says rin. "MIND YOUR BUSINESS!" Kosuke screams at her. <<if ($txt is "backtokosrobbery")>>\ <<page "Continue" "ch8dragon-hospital-kosuke-talk-theft">>\ <<else>>\ <<include "ch8dragon-hospital-talktofam">>\ <</if>>\

''[Item Gained: 2000 Silver]'' <<var $silver + 2000>>\ You grimace at the blatant robbery evidence dropped in your lap in front of //your parents.// "Kosuke, please tell me you didn't-" "Of course I didn't." $bffheshe says with a friendly smile. "You did, boss." <<if (($kosukecombat gte 8) or (dig($metkosuke, 1) gte 2))>>\ <<if ($kosukecombat gte 8)>>\ ''[Kosuke Combat Prowess Check Passed]'' <<else>>\ ''[Kosuke Darkness Element Check Passed]'' <</if>>\ ''[No Infamy Gained]'' "And no one has to know." <<cap $bffheshe>> finishes, pleased with <<print $bffhimher>>self. "The Magistrate is outside." Jin corrects. "And paper doesn't block sound." "Oh." Kosuke says, opening the nearby window and awkwardly leaving. <<else>>\ ''[Kosuke Combat Prowess Check Failed]'' ''[Spotted at the Scene! Infamy Increased]'' <<var $infamy + 2>>\ "And no one has to know." Kosuke finishes, pleased with <<print $bffhimher>>self. Rin quirks an eyebrow. "People know." "Huh?" Kosuke asks. "People know." She repeats. "There's a wanted poster for you outside the Falling Leaf Tea House." "Oh." Kosuke replies, opening the nearby window and awkwardly leaving. <</if>>\ <<include "ch8dragon-hospital-talktofam">>\

"Pffftttt." Leona says, rolling her eyes and shooing you away with a hand mid-sip. "I was just tired. Falling off that tree wasn't great for my pores, that's all. The medical team wanted to make sure my beauty wouldn't be impacted. It's a national treasure." You crack a smile. "Naturally." "Now shoo before my Sect gets here. Can't be convoluting with the enemy." "Enemy?" You ask in doubt. "You blasted my opponent with your ultimate attack in front of the whole city." "What are you talking about?" Leona asks innocently. "I was aiming for you both. I missed." You shake your head, refusing to entertain her. "Thanks again Leona." As you leave, she shouts out at you. "See you in the final Trial! Just...nine more to go!" You pause mid-step, already two rooms away, and shout back. "Did you pause there to count on your fingers?" "No!" She hollers from the distance. "Shut up!" <<page "[Continue to the Magistrate]" "ch8dragon-hospital6">>\

You rip the scalpel out of the wall and casually throw it back at her when she's not paying attention. She tilts her head back to drink more yuzu juice and you give the blade a quick flinging motion. <<if ($athletics gte 2)>>\ ''[Athletics 2 Check Passed]'' <<var $agiexp + 4>>\ The scalpel catches the lower corner of her juice and slices through. The blade continues on after that, through the paper walls, but nobody screams in pain so you think you're okay. No noise comes from the swift slicing motions. The only sign of your attack is Leona's drink begins spilling out of the bottom of her cup. A downward spout leaks her beverage onto her white medical robes and she pauses, mid-sip, when the delicious liquid runs out too early. Blue and green Lunargothic eyes stare from you, to her sliced cup, to her lap. "You're a monster." She says as a disappointed matter-of-fact. "I look like I peed myself." "You did." You reply with a \ <<if ($heshe is "she")>>\ wink. \ <<else>>\ shake of the head. \ <</if>>\ "I'll let the nurses know." <<if ($heshe is "she")>>\ "Hate you." She huffs. "No you don't!" You call back cheerily, telling a nurse she'll need assistance on your way out. \ <<var $leonarep + 3>>\ <<else>>\ "My theme is supposed to be sexy!" She calls back when you turn to leave. "This is the least sexy thing I've ever done!" "The least sexy thing you've done //so far//." You correct her, telling a nurse she'll need assistance on your way out. \ <</if>>\ <<else>>\ ''[Athletics 2 Check Failed]'' ''*SHUNK*'' "Gaaahhhh, my eye!" Leona howls, grabbing the scalpel sticking out of her face. "What in the Hells is wrong with you!" ''[Leona's Combat Prowess Reduced]'' <<var $leonacombat - 1>>\ "Oh no!" You blurt out, putting both hands forward but not knowing what to do with them. "Oh Ancestors. Oh crap!" "WHYYYY?!" Leona screams, ripping the knife out of her eye socket and breaking it in her closed fist. "You Thunderfall scum, I should have known you'd betray me like this!" "I was trying to be playful!" You call back, stunned, as nurses rush past you to tend to her. \ "Go play with yourself!" Leona howls, throwing one of the nurses at you. You spend the next two minutes apologizing to the nurses for stabbing their patient as they work to save her vision. ''[Infamy Increased]'' <<var $infamy + 2>>\ Then you spend the following two minutes after that apologizing for not catching the nurse Leona threw. She sprained her sprain her ankle when colliding with your chest. \ ''[Prestige Lost]'' \ <<var $prestige - 1>>\ <</if>>\ <<page "[Continue to the Magistrate]" "ch8dragon-hospital6">>\

You let out a disappointed exhale and look down at the Top Five flyer in grief. "All that struggle just to lose in the end..." <<image "https://www.auraclash.com/assets/images/ac-linebreak-top.png">>\ 1. Crusher Jack 2. Callous Goro 3. Brass Tiger <<if (dig($metjahi, 2) gte 3)>>\ 4. Jahi \ <<else>>\ 4. Lost Jester \ <</if>>\ 5. Nakamoto Sakura <<image "https://www.auraclash.com/assets/images/ac-linebreak-bottom.png">>\ "Correct." Big Chu replies callously, slapping a big meaty hand on your shoulder. It hurts. "Well fought, my student." "Indeed." Khan says. "And perhaps next time, you can target someone among your ten-thousand competitors who is outside of our Sect." "//He// targeted //me//!" You correct your old Magistrate. "He even dropped a damn meteor on me!" Magistrate Khan opens his mouth but pauses. "You can't think of anything to say because $heshe's right." Rin guesses. "And you don't know how to say sorry." Jin adds. Magistrate Khan eyes the former Laborer children with annoyance. Big Chu retains a serious expression and slaps a meaty hand on your shoulder. "Your battle prowess was formidable. Cast Jack from your mind, the Trials are as blessed as I was to have a talent like you. Now \ <<include "ch8dragon-hospital4">>\

<<if (dig($trialdeets, 1) is 1)>>\ "What?" You ask. "Hostages to who?" "Thunderfall." Mother replies, looking embarrassed. "It's just politics." Father says. "We were cordial enough with Magistrate Khan at first. Same caravan, different sections, hardly spoke. That changed when he got a letter from Sectmaster Mao. Apparently our family is a syndicate of traitors?" You open your mouth, pause, and think back. Then you hang your head. "Yeah, I declared independence at the Trial registrations." "See, this is why I didn't want a nineteen-year-old getting legal power." Father says to Mother. "<<cap $heshe>>'s too young to-" "Honey $heshe is in the room, has legal status as our leader, and isn't young enough to punish anymore. Now it is $heshe who can spank us." Father stops, lowers his raised finger, and starts to laugh. He turns to you, giving a short and casual bow. "Forget the details then. \ <<else>>\ "WHAT?!" You scream out. "You don't even have auras!" "And yet." Mother says, staring up into the ceiling. "We are Warrior Caste. Khan was quite clear that traditions dictate his territory's people guard him, and we were the only Warriors from Thunderfall Village attending the caravan trip alongside him." "Did you have to fight?" You ask, concerned. Mother looks to Father. "Dearest, did he make us fight?" Father looks away from his own wife and crosses his arms, licking his cheek and toughening his jaw. Mother looks back to you. "Your father shot a large man with a crossbow. He scored a direct hit to the eye, blinding the left side of his target's face." "Oh." You reply. "That's impressive!" "It was an approaching messenger." Mother finishes. "We are in debt to pay his medical bills." "He was running right at us!" Father replies. "I told him to stop!" Jin is grinning from ear to ear throughout the story, but Rin punches his arm when he finally starts snickering. Father shakes his head and brushes a hand into the air for everyone to be quiet. "Forget the small matters. \ <</if>>\ I'm glad you're okay, my $sondaughter. \ <<if (dig($metwukong, 3) gte 1)>>\ Your Mother and I wanted to let you know we made it here safely, we love you, we're proud of you for keeping your siblings safe, and-" "And did you //really// see the Monkey King?" You Mother asks, intrigued. "Thank Ancestors you asked." Jin adds. "I've been trying not to bring it up since the Magistrate got here." "I //did// bring it up." Rin says. "But you kept sleeping through it." "It is true." Father says. "I had to stop her from slapping you awake." "I-" You say, feeling an odd static in the air, not unlike a thunderstorm. \ <<if (($element1 is "Storm") or ($element2 is "Storm"))>>\ ''[Storm Element Event]'' "-Sure did!" You announce eagerly. "He's everything the stories said. Especially the insane part." ''*KRAKOOOM*'' <<page "Continue" "ch8dragon-hospital-motherfather-shocked">>\ <<else>>\ "-think you all have overactive imaginations." You say, quickly looking away before you're smote once more. <<if (dig($metleona, 1) gte 4)>>\ <<page "Ahem." "ch8dragon-hospital-motherfather2">>\ <<else>>\ <<include "ch8dragon-hospital-talktofam">>\ <</if>>\ <</if>>\ <<else>>\ We came here to let you know we made it, we love you, we are beyond happy to see you recover, and we are //very// proud of you for keeping your siblings safe." "Aw stop." You reply, waving a hand dismissively with a blush. "You old softies." "Old?" Mother pouts, looking to Father. "Are we old?" "Only me, dear. You are a spring flower that brightens the field." Oh Ancestors, they're getting mushy. Quickly you look away to the others. <<if (dig($metleona, 1) gte 4)>>\ <<page "Ahem." "ch8dragon-hospital-motherfather2">>\ <<else>>\ <<include "ch8dragon-hospital-talktofam">>\ <</if>>\ <</if>>\

Lightning strikes into the room from //the ceiling//, hitting your Cores with storm energy. <<apboost 30>>\ Ahhhh, you needed that. Big Chu pokes his head into the room from such a loud noise and you shake your head. "Everything's fine. I'll be out shortly." "Hmph." The Thunderfall Upper Disciple grunts in suspicion, closing the door for you to talk to the rest of your loved ones. <<if (dig($metleona, 1) gte 4)>>\ <<page "Ahem." "ch8dragon-hospital-motherfather2">>\ <<else>>\ <<include "ch8dragon-hospital-talktofam">>\ <</if>>\

You look away from Mother and Father and hear a quick "ahem" from Mother behind you. "...Yes?" You say, feeling a sense of dread at the all-too-calm smile she gives you with zero warmth. "I did want to ask about something I saw in the Trial." Mother says. "I don't believe you've introduced me to that young girl. Leona, was it? I understand things move fast in the Warrior Caste, but I was so surprised to learn my little boy is already married." You take on a flabbergasted look. "I'm not marr-" "Since I //know// you wouldn't have done what the scrying pools showed without being married." Mother finishes. "You can introduce me to her later." <<if (($owekosuke_f is 1000000000000) and ($bffromance gte 1))>>\ Kosuke shakes $bffhisher head at you. <<var $bffrep - 10>>\ <</if>>\ You nod slowly, face paling, and look away with an audible gulp. <<include "ch8dragon-hospital-talktofam">>\

<<if ($sibrigger is true)>>\ "We did great." Rin says. "It's the weirdest thing. I walked away into the jungle and found a hut. Stayed in it for the whole thing and no one bothered me." "She forgot to mention //I// found the hut." Jin says. "I forgot to mention your stinking bathroom break right outside the door too," Rin replies, "but since you want to include everything, let's add that on there." Jin farts at her. "Ugghh!" Rin screeches, covering her nose. Kosuke does the same behind them. Mother shakes her head in disappointment. Father smiles. "So that's it? You hid in a hut?" Angelo was supposed to be rigging their scores, but it sounds like they were on their own. "An Aura Pressure of eight hundred was needed for a passing four points in the Dragon Trial, how many did you get spending the whole-time meditating?" "Five." Jin says with a shrug. "I think you got the terms wrong." ...You know you didn't. It seems Angelo helped them after all, though you've no idea how he tricked their Dragon Medallions to think they had 1,000 Aura Pressure. <<var $rinscore + 5>>\ <<var $jinscore + 5>>\ <<if ($rinscore gte 12)>>\ ''[Rin's Trial Score Passed!]'' ''[Rin will be available to assist in future Trials]'' <</if>>\ <<if ($jinscore gte 12)>>\ ''[Jin's Trial Score Passed!]'' ''[Jin will be available to assist in future Trials]'' <</if>>\ <<if (($jinscore gte 12) or ($rinscore gte 12))>>\ <</if>>\ <<else>>\ <<var $moddat 0>>\ <<var $val $round(($jincombat / 2) - 1)>>\ <<if (dig($trialdeets, 1) is 1)>>\ <<var $moddat - 1>>\ ''[Thunderfall Animosity: -1 from Sibling Dragon Trial Scores]'' <</if>>\ <<if ($background is "Herbalist")>>\ ''[Herbalist Event: +1 to Sibling Dragon Trial Scores]'' <<var $moddat + 1>>\ <</if>>\ <<var $val + $moddat>>\ <<if (dig($metjin, 1) gte 2)>>\ ''[Jin's Elemental Bonus: +1 to Dragon Trial Score]'' <<var $val + 1>>\ <</if>>\ <<if (dig($metjin, 2) is 2)>>\ <<var $val - 2>>\ <</if>>\ <<if (dig($metrin, 1) gte 2)>>\ ''[Rin's Elemental Bonus: +1 to Dragon Trial Score]'' <</if>>\ <<if ($val lt 4)>>\ "Not amazing." Jin says. "I \ <<if ($val lt 1)>>\ <<var $val 1>>\ <</if>>\ <<else>>\ "Well enough." Jin says. "We used whatever rituals, trinkets, or elixirs people left behind when they ran off to fight. It helped, I \ <<if ($val gt 5)>>\ <<var $val 5>>\ <</if>>\ <</if>>\ scored $val \ <<if ($val is 1)>>\ point \ <<else>>\ points \ <</if>>\ <<if (dig($metjin, 2) is 2)>>\ after Jack broke my hand on the boat \ <</if>>\ and Rin scored \ <<var $jinscore + $val>>\ <<var $val $round(($rincombat / 2) - 1)>>\ <<var $val + $moddat>>\ <<if (dig($metrin, 1) gte 2)>>\ <<var $val + 1>>\ <</if>>\ <<if ($val gt 5)>>\ <<var $val 5>>\ <</if>>\ $val \ <<if ($val is 1)>>\ point." <<else>>\ points." <</if>>\ <<var $rinscore + $val>>\ <<if (dig($trialdeets, 1) is 1)>>\ "The damned Thunderfall Disciples were hounding us the whole way." Rin says. "It was hard to concentrate when I spent most of my time running." "Half our time at the most." Jin replies. "They got attacked early with you keeping Jack so busy. It was...ugh, it felt so good to watch." "You sat by and watched?" You ask. "You didn't get involved?" "Hey, the Judges say sit and meditate, I sit and meditate." ...Hm. You //suppose// that's admirable. <<else>>\ "The Thunderfall Disciples didn't give you any trouble?" You ask. "No," Rin says, "they seemed content to wait and see who won your fight against Jack." "It didn't hurt that we wore Thunderfall Gi and are technically members, even if they did treat us like trash." "Huh." You look off to the distance. "I wonder if we can use that to our advantage..." Jin looks at you with intense disapproval and points to the door where Big Chu and Magistrate Khan are waiting outside. "Paper doors don't block sound." You shrug. <</if>>\ <<if ($rinscore gte 12)>>\ ''[Rin's Trial Score Passed!]'' ''[Rin will be available to assist in future Trials]'' <</if>>\ <<if ($jinscore gte 12)>>\ ''[Jin's Trial Score Passed!]'' ''[Jin will be available to assist in future Trials]'' <</if>>\ <<if (($jinscore gte 12) or ($rinscore gte 12))>>\ <</if>>\ <</if>>\ <<var $sibby "">>\ <<if (($jinscore gte 12) and ($rinscore gte 12))>>\ <<if ($jadedragonfoundation is false)>>\ <<achieve "Double Trouble">>\ <</if>>\ By passing the first three Heavenly Ascension Trials, your siblings have outperformed roughly half of the Martial Artists in all four Outer Provinces. To say you're surprised is an understatement. You're usually surprised when they tie their shoes properly. "I'm proud of you two." You force yourself to say, quickly looking away before they can respond. <<include "ch8dragon-hospital-talktofam">>\ <<elseif ($jinscore gte 12)>>\ <<var $sibby "Jin">>\ <<include "ch8dragon-hospital-rinjin-sibby">>\ <<elseif ($rinscore gte 12)>>\ <<var $sibby "Rin">>\ <<include "ch8dragon-hospital-rinjin-sibby">>\ <<else>>\ ''[Event Failed: Both Siblings Failed Trials]'' It's unfortunate that both your siblings failed to make it to the final Trials. You knew they would never be Archons, but you were hoping they'd be able to assist you in some way in the later Trials. They both look at you with puppydog eyes, keenly aware of their failure. "I'm...proud of you two?" You try to say. "For what?" Rin asks. "For, uh....." You look from Jin, to Rin, to Kosuke who shrugs. "For surviving!" You say with false cheer. "These Trials were against thousands of Martial Artists and you two made it out. I couldn't be happier." "Couldn't you be happier if we didn't lose?" Jin asks. "Uhhh..." You look away to find someone else to talk to. <<include "ch8dragon-hospital-talktofam">>\ <</if>>\

Though $sibby didn't pass the first three Heavenly Ascension Trials, it's still insane that $sibby did. In doing so, \ <<if ($sibby is "Jin")>>\ he \ <<else>>\ she \ <</if>>\ outperformed roughly half of the Martial Artists in all four Outer Provinces. To say you're surprised is an understatement. You're usually suprised when \ <<if ($sibby is "Jin")>>\ he \ <<else>>\ she \ <</if>>\ ties \ <<if ($sibby is "Jin")>>\ his \ <<else>>\ her \ <</if>>\ shoes properly. "I'm proud of you, $sibby." You force yourself to say. "What about me?" \ <<if ($sibby is "Jin")>>\ Rin \ <<else>>\ Jin \ <</if>>\ asks with bright hope in \ <<if ($sibby is "Jin")>>\ his \ <<else>>\ her \ <</if>>\ eyes. "Uhhh..." You look away to find someone else to talk to. <<include "ch8dragon-hospital-talktofam">>\

<<choose "ch8dragon-hospital-talktofam">> #use-once "Mother, Father, what are you doing in Nanhou?" "Mother, Father, what are you doing in Nanhou?" You ask,\ <<if ($jadedragonfoundation is false)>>\ unwrapping your neck's bandages to look at them. <<else>>\ testing your neck muscle to turn and look at them. <</if>>\ Ancestors, it feels good to see them again. <<if ($ruthless lt 70)>>\ You feel immature, and even a little ashamed, at how much you missed your parents. A respectable Clan $patriarch and fleet captain shouldn't harbor such childish thoughts. Still, your status as $patriarch is a two-sided coin that grants you total authority. If you so wish it, it is your //right// to miss your parents. <<var $solexp + 5>>\ <<else>>\ It's surprising how you didn't miss them much during your journey though. You suppose it's part of growing up; it's not that you grow numb to the emotions, but that you're too preoccupied to think about them until the right time comes along. <</if>>\ "We began our journey shortly after you did." Mother smiles warmly while looking at your face. "We were so excited to see your performance. We got here just in time to witness your test on the island. We cheered for you!" "You planned to come to the Trials from the start?" You ask, almost laughing. "Why didn't you come with me on the road instead?" "I didn't want us bogging you down." Father says, concern covering his face when looking at your casts. "A Martial Artist's journey should be an adventure to toughen them up. I couldn't let you know we'd be right behind. You would have waited for us and missed the Trials." You exhale a sigh of relief. "I'm just glad you made it okay. Did Khan come with you?" "He did..." Mother says. \ <<if (dig($trialdeets, 1) is 1)>>\ "We are, technically, his hostages." <<else>>\ "He was quite adamant about his Warrior Caste bodyguards." "Who?" You ask. "Us." Father replies. <</if>>\ <<page "...WHAT?" "ch8dragon-hospital-motherfather">>\ #use-once "Rin, Jin, how did you do in the Dragon Trial?" To your side, across from Mother and Father, Jin and Rin kneel against your bed. "Rin." You say, seeing her head pique up. "Jin." You finish, seeing him do the same. "...How did you do in the Dragon Trial?" "How did ''we'' do????" Jin asks, baffled. "You're the one that needs to explain yourself! \ <<if ($reaper is true)>>\ You transformed!" "Eh." Rin shrugs. "All $heshe did was conjure a shit ton of swords." "Fuck yeah $heshe did." Jin says, appreciative. <<elseif ($malocchio is true)>>\ <<if ($limitbreaker isnot "")>>\ You transformed, twice!" <<else>>\ Your eyes exploded into purple nova flares!" <</if>>\ "Show off." Rin grunts. "Why can't //I// have special eyes? Maybe then Daichi would notice me." You and Jin give her a repulsed look. "Who is this 'Daichi' again?" Father asks, leaning in. "Poor judgment." You reply. "Ah." Father says, leaning back. "Unfortunate." <<elseif ($limitbreaker isnot "")>>\ You transformed with Jack's special power!" "Not very original." Rin says. Mother smacks her in the back of the head. "Be nice to your \ <<if ($heshe is "he")>>\ brother! \ <<else>>\ sister! \ <</if>>\ We're in the hospital!" "Yes mom..." <<elseif ($souldomain isnot "")>>\ You disappeared and came back with a defeated Jack!" "It was a pocket realm." You reply. "I transported us both to a spiritual domain that gave me enough power to beat him." "Most boring transformation I've ever seen." Rin yawns. "And what does yours look like?" Father asks. Rin closes her mouth and looks down in shame. <<elseif ($godhand is true)>>\ You turned into a Saint!" "Not entirely." You say. "I can't hear any prayers right now, but...it was a good first step. I think I still need a Gate for it." Rin exhales with relief. "Something wrong?" Mother asks. "She was worried $name was reading her mind up until now." Jin says. "Oh." Mother says, calmly placing her hands neatly on her lap and looking to Father. "Can $heshe?" <<elseif ($titan is true)>>\ You grew <<if ($subrace is "Monkey")>>\ into a giant monkey!" <<else>>\ as big as the Magistrate's pagoda!" <</if>>\ "Growing big is nothing special." You say with as much modesty as you can muster. "I'm sure some greater Martial Artists can do it. Maybe even Jack will figure it out one day, //after// I did." "Ohhhh." Rin says, taking out a scroll and writing that line down. "I'm going to use that next time I see some Thunderfall Disciples." <<elseif ($asura is true)>>\ You grew two more arms! That was so weird!" "It's a Transformation." You say with a \ <<if ($jadedragonfoundation is false)>>\ pained \ <</if>>\ shrug. "It comes naturally when you have enough power and Styled Chi." "No it doesn't." Jin says. "Big Chu was in here looking over you, he seemed worried." "...Why?" Jin leans closer, looking into your eyes with concern and suspicion. "He said what you did //isn't// the Midorikatai Transformation." You look through the room and see everyone nodding softly. "Then what is it?" Jin shrugs. "I asked the same thing. He said he's never even heard of it." You ponder on that. You're certain it was Wild Chi that triggered your Transformation, but if it wasn't Midorikatai, then what could it have been... You pause, realizing the slide attempt in the conversation Jin's attempted. <</if>>\ "No more distractions." You say. "Me being amazing isn't what we're talking about. How did your Trial go?" Jin and rin squirm under your scrutiny. <<page "Stare them Down." "ch8dragon-hospital-rinjin">>\ #use-once "Kosuke, where have you been?" -> "ch8dragon-hospital-kosuke" #[Leave them to speak to the Magistrate.] "I need to go." You say, finally rising to your feet. "Jack's going to get powerful gifts from the Inner Kingdoms despite all my efforts. I can't be waiting around in bed." <<if ((($dmg gte 5) or ($jadedragonfoundation is true)) or ($trickywicky is true))>>\ "You did drop him from number one to number four." Jin says from behind. "But it's not like he's your only worry. Things \ <<else>>\ "That's the least of your worries!" Jin says from behind. "It \ <</if>>\ got even worse when you-know-who showed up. Did you see what happened after you passed out?" Everyone in the room looks to Jin in silence. It takes four real seconds for him to realize he asked a stupid question. "It's okay." Rin consoles, patting him on the back. "It could have happened to anyone." You shake your head and leave. <<page "Continue" "ch8dragon-hospital5">>\ <</choose>>

<<if ((((($score_tiger + $score_dragon) + $score_rabbit) + $score_misc) gte 25))>>\ You look down at the new rankings listed on the paper Big Chu's tossed your way. 1. Callous Goro 2. Brass Tiger <<if (dig($metjahi, 2) gte 3)>>\ 3. Jahi <<else>>\ 3. Lost Jester <</if>>\ 4. Crusher Jack 5. <<cap $fullname>> <<if ($jadedragonfoundation is true)>>\ "Now we're talking." You say in satisfaction. "It's a good start." "Top five out of ten thousand is a start, $heshe says." Kosuke groans and looks to the ceiling. "This is the person I had to wrestle in our childhood fight club, folks. This is what I had to put up with. None of you know my pain." "We all know your pain." Jin replies. Kosuke shushes him. <<else>>\ <<achieve "Contender">>\ "This is...incredible!" You shout for joy, sitting up further and pulling some stitches. "Ancestors!" Kosuke shouts, grabbing your bandages to try and tie them back into place. "Sit still, you masochist!" <</if>>\ "Expect plenty of attention." Big Chu replies, giving a disgruntled side-glance at his hometown's beggar. "The Top Five come with pampering from the Inner Kingdoms. You may even find a teacher almost as skilled as Big Chu." <<choose "ch8dragon-hospital4">> #"I doubt it." <<var $churep + 3>>\ <<var $ruthless - 2>>\ "I doubt it." You reply, amusing him. "Your blatant flattery is your greatest quality." Chu says, putting his hands together and offering a short bow. "Now \ #"That's not hard." <<var $churep - 4>>\ <<var $ruthless + 2>>\ "That's not hard." You reply wistfully. "I see your time on the road has stripped you of honor." Chu replies with a judging frown. "Then \ <</choose>> <<else>>\ <<image "https://www.auraclash.com/assets/images/ac-linebreak-top.png">>\ 1. Callous Goro 2. Brass Tiger <<if (dig($metjahi, 2) gte 3)>>\ 3. Jahi <<else>>\ 3. Lost Jester <</if>>\ 4. Crusher Jack 5. Sakura Nakamoto <<image "https://www.auraclash.com/assets/images/ac-linebreak-bottom.png">>\ You lean your head back on a pillow, silent for a moment. "So...all that effort and he's still on the list, trained by the Inner Kingdoms with the rest of the Top Five, while I have to find my own training. Again." "Your priorities falter in the face of adversity." Magistrate Khan says. "Proving yourself against a man like Crusher Jack without costing the Sect its status in the Top Five...a wise observer would believe you possessed the control to do so on purpose. So long as you do not correct them." "Er...right." You say, looking to Big Chu. "Thanks for coming to visit, by the way." Big Chu shakes his head. "There is no need to thank a master for visiting his student." He places one meaty hand on your shoulder, which hurts. "Your form was immaculate and brought honor to my tutelage. Congratulations. Now \ <<include "ch8dragon-hospital4">>\ <</if>>\

The nurse \ <<if ($heshe is "he")>>\ kneels in front of you and \ <</if>>\ runs several more tests on your Cores with various Soul Treasures and spiritual scans. When she's done, she removes her white gloves and sighs. "It's as bad as I thought." She finally says. "Your spirit is obliterated beyond normal repair. The pieces of what's left grind against themselves like the shards of a broken glass vase." "How...gruesome." Magistrate Khan says, looking to you expectantly. <<choose "ch8dragon-hospital11">> #"Is there anything you can do?" "Is there anything you can do?" You ask the nusrse. She shakes her head. "Not me personally, no. You'd need some sort of lost legend to fix this kind of damage." "What lost legends are available?" Big Chu asks. Khan looks to him with an impatient upturned lip. "What a foolish ques-" "One." The nurse replies. All eyes turn to her. "Most of the legends of a Martial Artist restoring their broken Cores are either unproven, far too expensive, or impossible to acquire at this time. Yet one is only 'lost' because it's locked away in the archives of the Archonate." #"Well, fuck." -> "ch8dragon-hospital10-2" "Well," you say, pondering the situation, "fuck." <<var $honor - 2>>\ "Indeed." Says Big Chu. <<var $churep + 3>>\ "Watch your mouth!" Khan reprimands at the same time, shouting over Big Chu. Your obese former mentor closes his mouth and fixes his posture, pretending he never agreed with you. Khan clears his throat and looks to the nurse. \ #"Shucks, looks like I get to go back home as a $background. Have fun with the Trials everyone, I'm out of here." -> "ch8dragon-hospital10-2" "Shucks," You say with feigned remorse, "looks like I get to go back home as a $background. Have fun with the Trials everyone, I'm out of here." "Hold." Khan orders when you stand and reach for the door. \ #use-if ($perception gte 2) "You said 'normal repair', so what are the non-normal repairs?" [Perception 2] <<var $forexp + 2>>\ <<var $keikorep + 3>>\ "Is there anything you can do?" You ask the nurse. "You said I am beyond normal repair, so what are the non-normal repairs?" <<if ($heshe is "he")>>\ "Aren't you the perceptive one." \ <<else>>\ "Perceptive. Impressive." \ <</if>>\ She says. "There are several legends of those who restored their fractured Cores. It's suiting, because a legend is certainly what you need. I know of only one that's both confirmed and even remotely possible. A well-documented procedure available to the Archonate." <</choose>>

"Nurse, what options are available to restore this malady? I will not be robbed of my Sect's second most powerful Disciple." <<if (dig($trialdeets, 1) is 1)>>\ You almost tell the old man you're not even in the Thunderfall Sect. Realizing he's arguing for your sake, you hold your tongue...for now. <<else>>\ You cringe. "Most powerful, not second." "Not with shattered Cores you are not." Khan replies. "Sit down, child, your superiors are speaking." <</if>>\ "There's only one, realistically." She replies. "Most of the legends of a Martial Artist restoring their broken Cores are either unproven, far too expensive, or impossible to acquire at this time. Yet one is only 'lost' because it's locked away in the archives of the Archonate." <<include "ch8dragon-hospital11">>\

"Bah." Khan says, rising. "An impossible endeavor then. <<cap $heshe>> is broken and worthless. Come, Upper Disciple Chu; we have wasted our time." "Not necessarily!" The nurse replies, waving one hand slowly to motion for you all to remain seated. "Have some faith, Honored Magistrate. It is not as hopeless as it sounds." Your own brow furrows, beset by doubt. "I'd need to win the Trials to get the cure, but I need the cure to win the Trials. How could I possibly make that work?" "//You// don't." The nurse replies from behind her medical mask. "What you need is an Archon to tutor you, gaining legal rights to assist their apprentice. They are barred from teaching non-Archons the method, but that does not mean they cannot use it on you." <<page "An Archon mentor...?" "ch8dragon-hospital12">>\

"An Archon mentor...?" You ask, confused. "Is this possible? Or even allowed, in the Trials?" "Technically yes." The nurse replies. "It's not rare for an Archon to keep running a Sect or Clan after being accepted into the Archonate, even if in name only due to their duties taking priority. If you find one with downtime and they take you on, they could aid you as they would any Disciple." "Damn it all." Chu curses, looking to you with pity and looking to the world with frustration. "We could never find such an opportunity. The Trials are happening because the Archons are stretched thin. During the Trials, they are stretched even thinner." "No." Khan says, tapping his cane lightly in thought. "No, the Imperial reports mentioned three on leave." "Yes!" The nurse shouts excitedly. She stands and clears her throat. "Yes, three Archons recently underwent a successful suicide mission to fight the Wild God Gazhurra. They survived and were granted leave, but as you said, Master Chu, the Empire is stretched thin on Archons. To grant these Archons their earned reprieve and still use them as a deterrent, they were granted leave in..." "Nanhou..." Khan whispers. "They are within the city." <<choose "ch8dragon-hospital13">> #"But why would they choose to help me?" "Why would Archons choose to help me?" You ask. "They're Archons on vacation. If I was on vacation, I would tell me to get out of my face." <<var $ruthless - 2>>\ <<var $keikorep + 2>>\ #"Let's go get them!" "Let's go get them!" You exclaim, rising to the door. <<var $churep + 2>>\ "Sit down." Khan orders. "There must be more to it." He looks to the nurse. "Why would any Archon be willing to interfere in the Trials?" <</choose>>

"Politics." The nurse replies, pleased. "These Heavenly Ascension Trials are unlike any we've seen in the last few centuries. Crusher Jack and Callous Goro are more powerful than any Outer Province disciple should be. Brass Tiger has spent years fighting on the front lines in the glacial continent, so his power is expected when warring in a stronger land, but even that brings a unique event. His success is being viewed as a war recruitment \ <<if ($jadedragonfoundation is true)>>\ venture. To top it all off, rumors even say a Jade Dragon has emerged." She eyes you without another word. <<else>>\ venture." <</if>>\ "What does this have to do with my student's recovery?" Big Chu asks. The nurse walks over to her desk and sits down, withdrawing a scroll. "All of it is to say that these Trials have gained more attention than they should. The Exalts are watching closely. //Very// closely. Please, come forward." Magistrate Khan shifts in his chair uncomfortably and rises. "What are you saying, girl?" "I am saying, as we speak, that an envoy of the Wild Exalt is on his way to speak to Crusher Jack. The messenger brings an offer for the Exalt to train Jack personally, greatly tipping the scales of this tournament." <<if ($honor gte 55)>>\ ''[Honor 55 Check Passed]'' "If he thinks something like that will help Jack beat me, he's wrong." <<var $keikorep + 2>>\ Though her mask covers the nurse’s face, her eyes hint at a smile. \ <<else>>\ ''[Honor 55 Check Failed]'' "What the Hells?!" You blurt out. The nurse shrugs. \ <</if>>\ "There is one man who agrees with you. A Noble, in fact. One we can leverage to get you healed." <<page "Who?" "ch8dragon-hospital14">>\

"Who would be willing to contest the Wild Exalt?" You ask, confused. "Even if it's not for my sake, but just to counter the interference, who's insane enough to go against one of the Exalted Council?" "The Exalted Council itself." The nurse replies, seemingly growing more energized. "The Noble Caste Ryuuzan Clan prides itself on reinforcing the spirit of the law upon the other Nobles, and that is exactly what we're going to lean against. The current Bladed Exalt, Ryuuzan Masaru. Only the Exalts can override orders to Archons, and we can use him to get one of the three Archons to train you." "An Exalt?!" You can't even imagine what your face looks like right now. "Getting an Archon to do what I want was the impossible goal before, now I'm supposed to convince one of the Exalted Council? That's harder, not easier." "Indeed." Big Chu says. "We are going backwards." "It's easier than you'd think." The nurse replies. "Though he has twenty-three sons, Bladed Exalt Masaru has only one daughter. Ryuuzan Keiko. The poor man dotes on her, giving her an unusual edge in Azuma Honsha politics. If you can convince her to aid you, she can manipulate him into securing your Archon mentor to heal your Cores." "Arrogant foolishness!" Magistrate Khan screams, pointing his cane at the nurse. Even his golden Mystic aura flares to life, surprising you. "You do not command the Exalted Council! You are a grandstanding medical nobody, a mere commoner, scheming at control! Do not give false hope to my villager, and worse, do not presume to treat this Empire's ruling council like some sort of puppet! To imply that they can be manipulated so easily borders on treason. I will have you locked away with another word!" "Oh my." The nurse says, her voice gaining an edge of...enjoyment? "You must be thinking I'm speaking hypotheticals. Poor old man." <<page "Continue" "ch8dragon-hospital15">>\

"You dare??" Khan's grip on his cane tightens. "I do." The nurse stands. "You are from the Khan Clan, correct? Noble Caste, seven Magistrates, currently. Two Exalts in the last six-hundred years." "Sit back down." Khan commands. "I care not of your trivia nor even your medical expertise. Disrespect a Noble and I will have you put behind bars." The nurse continues, unphased. "Primary holdings in the Mystic Lands and Outer North. Two colonies secured overseas on islands nearing the Infinite Thunderplains. Several investments in grain, plus a scandal seventy-eight years ago over sabotaging nationwide rice fields to increase your prices. As for the personal histories, I believe you, specifically, failed Auspicious sealing classes at the age of seventeen when studying abroad in the Mystic city of Risen. Missed the final exam for a date. Broke up with that woman two years later." Khan's mouth hangs open. "H-How could you..." "Father ensures I study all political actors. That's why my plan regarding Ryuuzan Keiko is a sound one." The nurse removes her mask. With faint red lips and unblemished skin, she bares the natural beauty of Nobility. "After all, you already have her attention." <<if ($portraitpics is true)>>\ <<image "https://www.auraclash.com/assets/images/keiko.jpg">>\ <</if>>\ Khan's face tightens, but Big Chu drops to one knee when the truth dawns on him. Ryuuzan Keiko stands before you. "The two of you are dismissed." Keiko says with a satisfied smile, reclining in her chair. "Your parts in this presentation are complete. My patient and I will continue this \ <<if ($heshe is "he")>>\ conversation...in private." <<else>>\ conversation in private." <</if>>\ <<page "Continue" "ch8dragon-hospital16">>\

Big Chu and Magistrate Khan depart. Khan doesn't turn around at the door, angrily leaving with his cane stabbing into the floor. When Chu reaches the door behind him he looks back to you with pity. After your year together in training, you understand the man's feelings. You've succeeded at impossible odds to find a way to heal yourself. It's a heaven-blessed opportunity. You're also in the clutches of a Noble who operates on the Imperial level and just made a fool of your centuries-old Magistrate with ease. You are in danger. "I do so love when all actors follow their part in a play." Keiko says with a sigh of satisfaction, placing two cups of \ <<if ($bubblebrew gte 2)>>\ iced bubblebrew \ <<var $keikorep + 5>>\ <<else>>\ tea \ <</if>>\ on her desk. "Is it true you can get me healed?" You ask, reaching for a cup. "More than true." She says. "Through the right reports, a little prodding, and some seditious libel, Father has already commanded me to undo the Wild Exalt's interference. I have no intention of angering the Northern Army's Divine General by requisitioning their war hero Brass Tiger, Callous Goro needs to be kept on too tight of a leash for this mission, Sakura is missing in action, and I \ <<if (dig($metjahi, 2) gte 3)>>\ believe Jahi is a demon." You gulp. <<else>>\ don't like clowns." You sigh with relief, thankful that nobody likes clowns. <</if>>\ "After your display in Guarded Blossom, that leaves you." She says with a smile. "Naturally, I will have to see to your full recovery to ensure you're up to the task. It's just..." "Just what?" Looking across her desk at you, she sips her \ <<if ($bubblebrew gte 2)>>\ bubblebrew \ <<else>>\ tea \ <</if>>\ and smiles. "I do have one question first before we can begin. You wouldn't lie to me, would you, my mysteriously powerful ex-Laborer $background from the middle of nowhere?" "Of course not." You take a sip of \ <<if ($bubblebrew gte 2)>>\ iced bubblebrew to calm your nerves. It does the opposite effect. Why does she have your family’s bubblebrew?! <<else>>\ tea to calm your nerves. <</if>>\ "Wonderful! Then you won't mind if I ask..." Lady Keiko leans forward, rests an elbow on the desk, and tilts her chin onto her open hand. You get the sneaking suspicion that her entire display has been leading up to this one question: "What is the White Tiger?" <<page "End" "ending">>\

Mother and Father sit on chairs beside your bed, Rin and Jin kneel at your other side, and Kosuke leans back against a wall giving you a thumbs up. Big Chu stands with arms crossed by your feet and, behind him, Magistrate Khan stands stoically with both his hands resting on the top of his cane. "After thirty-six hours, you finally wake!" Says Big Chu, stepping forward. "I-" "Hold, Upper Disciple Chu." Magistrate Khan interrupts, walking to a nearby paper shoji door leading out of the room. "There are rules of etiquette to follow now that we know the <<cap $clan>> $patriarch will survive. Come." Big Chu looks aghast with disappointment, but swallows his pride and opens the sliding door for his Magistrate. Khan looks back to you. "Know that you fought as a Warrior and were injured in the line of duty, Young <<cap $name>>. Due to these terms, traditions dictate I let you speak with your kin before burdening you with formal matters. My guardian and I will wait outside. Take your time, as is your right." He taps his cane twice, signaling Big Chu to follow him as the two exit. <<page "Big Chu, wait!" "ch8dragon-hospital3">>\

"Big Chu, wait!" You blurt out, \ <<if ($jadedragonfoundation is true)>>\ surprised that your body doesn't hurt when you sit up; your Jade Dragon soul must be healing you faster. It ought to, after the damn thing failed in your fight. You wonder if that's even the right way to think of it. Are you a mortal with a jade dragon's soul, or are you a jade dragon whose soul was nearly separated from $hisher new body? What could cause a reincarnation to fail? Wh- Oh. Magistrate Khan is staring at you in annoyance. <<else>>\ grimacing from the pain in your abs when you sit up. Magistrate Khan turns, eyeing you with no shift in emotion. <</if>>\ You ignore him, for the first time in your life, and keep your eyes on your first martial mentor. There's something more important than one old Noble to address: "Did I win?" Big Chu crosses his arms and looks to Khan, who nods back to him. Chu inhales slowly. <<var $bandy false>>\ <<if ((($dmg gte 6) or ($jadedragonfoundation is true)) or ($trickywicky is true))>>\ <<if ($dmg gte 6)>>\ ''[Damage Check Passed]'' <<elseif ($jadedragonfoundation is true)>>\ ''[Damage Check Failed]'' ''[Jade Dragon Foundation: Damage Check Override]'' <<elseif ($trickywicky is true)>>\ ''[Damage Check Failed]'' ''[Sorcery Event: Damage Check Override]'' <</if>>\ <<if ($jadedragonfoundation is false)>>\ <<achieve "Grand Debut">>\ <</if>>\ <div class="fightingfont">Thunderfaller vs Crusher Jack</div>\ <div class="fightingfont">Victory...?</div>\ <<fightexp 10>>\ "Double knockout." The large man replies. "Upper Disciple Jack did not recover from your final attack, nor did you recover from his. \ <<if (dig($metwukong, 3) gte 1)>>\ Though, it is rather odd. I did not believe he possessed the Storm element..." You cough into your fist, hoping to distract away from angering your Monkey God. "I'm sure it's nothing." Big Chu shrugs. "The \ <<else>>\ The \ <</if>>\ Imperial clerks sent you both to different medical wards after the Trial. The fight was a tie, but Jack's Dragon Trial score was crippled to a mere five points without his medallion having enough time to cycle. Were you not fighting in a Gate, it very well could have been zero." "So he's..." "Still Top Five." Big Chu stops you before you get excited. "He scored several points outside of the Trial on the road. Most would be surprised to hear such a feat is possible, but not you. No, of course Big Chu's ears are forced to hear that you achieved the same task in some beach town. A brawl against a God's fish child?" Big Chu chuckles. "You and Jack are certainly cut from a similar cloth." "Please never say that again." You reply calmly. "Understood." He \ <<if ((((($score_tiger + $score_dragon) + $score_rabbit) + $score_misc) gte 25))>>\ replies, then throws you a flyer. "Though Jack has not been truly unseated, you may be interested to know the new rankings." <<else>>\ replies, throwing you a flyer. <</if>>\ <<page "Read the flyer" "ch8dragon-hospital-won">>\ <<else>>\ ''[Damage Check Failed]'' <div class="fightingfont">Thunderfaller vs Crusher Jack</div>\ <div class="fightingfont">Defeat</div>\ "You lost." He says, throwing you a flyer. "Jack was able to get back up after your final attacks, albeit barely. He consumed the spirit fruit to restore his power then wandered to the rest of the island to assist our remaining Lower Disciples." ''[Jack's Combat Prowess Increased]'' <<var $jackcombat + 1>>\ /* But did it? The spark diminishes */\ <<var $jackcombat - 2>>\ <<page "Continue" "ch8dragon-hospital-lost">>\ <</if>>\

if you will excuse me, my student, I am tasked with guarding the Magistrate." "How kind of you to remember." Khan says, walking through the doorway. "Come." Chu follows, closing the door behind him and leaving you with your loved ones. You look around the room, seeing more smiling faces than you imagined. <<include "ch8dragon-hospital-talktofam">>\

When you exit through the paper door you find a long hallway leading across the building. The sun shines in through the windows and nurses move to and fro between the twenty or so double-wide doors leading into various patients' rooms. Only one end of the hall has doors, so you proceed that way to find your Magistrate. Your walk continues until you're interrupted by \ <<if ($jackhelp is "Desdemona")>>\ the murmurs of a familiar crowd. <<page "Listen in" "ch8dragon-hospital-dessy">>\ <<elseif ($jackhelp is "Tian Fang")>>\ four fluffy wolves pouncing from an open doorway. "Back, my wolves!" A woman shouts from the medical room you're passing. "Back, or no treats!" The wolves ears perk up and all four trot back into their room, sitting beside a white-haired wolf yokai woman sitting up on a medical bed drinking soup from a bowl. "Hello Fang." You say, patting one wolf on your way in. It gnaws on your hand. "Ah, Thunderfaller!" Tian Fang announces cheerily. One of her eyes is wrapped in bandage while the other is as chipper as ever. "Most seasoned greetings after such a worthy battle!" "It's season's greetings." You correct her. She flops one ear down and looks to you with heavy doubt. "That cannot be correct, seasons are not the least bit flavorful." <<var $stringer "later">>\ <<if ($heshe is "he")>>\ <<var $stringer "together later">>\ <</if>>\ <<choose "ch8dragon-hospital6">> #"We'll cook some seasonal meals $stringer to prove you wrong." "We'll cook some seasonal meals $stringer to prove you wrong." You say. "I've got five recipes from my first master's cookbook to try." <<if ($survival lt 2)>>\ ''[Event: Survival Below Rank 2]'' ''[Cooking Experience: +1 Survival]'' <<var $survival + 1>>\ <<elseif ($craft lt 2)>>\ ''[Event: Craft Below Rank 2]'' ''[Cooking Experience: +1 Craft]'' <<var $craft + 1>>\ <<elseif ($alchemy lt 2)>>\ ''[Event: Alchemy Below Rank 2]'' ''[Cooking Experience]'' <<var $alchemy + 1>>\ <</if>>\ Tian Fang gasps, holding both fists close to her chest. "Truly??? A seasoned dish?? Even a winter dish? Tian Fang can //eat// the winter?!" "A weird request but...yes. Yes I'll find something to make for that." "Most joyous day!" Tian Fang announces, throwing her soup across the room. "Tian Fang will no longer need this simple gruel!" <<var $fangrep + 8>>\ "..." Tian Fang looks back to you with a smile that doesn't falter in the face of your hesitation. "Um...Fang, I said later. Tomorrow, maybe. I have to go talk to my Magistrate." "Oh." She says, looking over at her wolves lapping the spilled soup off the floor and wall. "So Tian Fang has ruined her only meal..." You sigh. "I'll ask the nurses to send you more on my way out." "Yay!" <<page "[Continue to the Magistrate]" "ch8dragon-hospital6">>\ #"True. Unrelated, though, do you remember anything from your feral form back on the island?" "Do you remember anything from your feral form this time?" You ask. "You attacked Crusher Jack in the same growling, larger form you had in the Storm Gate back in Thunderfall." "I...remember bits and pieces." She says, looking up and tapping a finger on her chin. "Tian Fang had prepared a ritual with her wolves, to channel the rage through Beasts and purify the Wild Chi. I recall...throwing a tree." "Heh." You say with a reminiscent smile, thinking back on the image of Jack being blown out of the forest by an enormous oak hitting him like a caravan. "That was awesome." "Unfortunately..." Tian Fang looks down, flopping one ear at a time interchangeably. "Everything grows blurry afterward." You sigh. "That's when you took your first hit. Damage must be triggering your senses to go fully animalistic." "What a most troublesome conundrum." Tian Fang pouts. "Tian Fang thought she had found a solution. She was so proud of herself!" <<if (dig($knowledge, 2) gte 3)>>\ ''[Barrier Knowledge 3 Check Passed]'' ''[Tian Fang's Combat Prowess Increased]'' <<var $fangcombat + 1>>\ <<var $fangrep + 3>>\ "I think I know some things that can help you do it better." You say, considering the possibilities. "I'll send a messenger to your Sect with my notes." "Tian Fang would like that!" She says, shifting uncomfortably when her tail wags. "But could you not simply tell her now?" <<if (($heshe is "he") and ($fangromance gte 1))>>\ She pats the bed beside her and smiles. <</if>>\ <<else>>\ ''[Barrier Knowledge Check Failed]'' "You'll find it some day." You reassure her. "Tian Fang //would// find it faster with help, thoughever." She says with the smile of a saleswoman. "Could the Thunderfaller sit and look over her notes?" <</if>>\ "Unfortunately no." You reply, heading to the open door. "My Magistrate is waiting for me with important business." Tian Fang gasps. "Thunderfaller, you should not have stopped to speak with me! A Magistrate's order is a sacred duty of every Warrior! Go, shoo, begone most swiftly!" You crack a smile. "I'm not too worried about-" "Not hasteful enough!" She shouts, throwing a pillow at you. "Hiiiiiyah!" You duck and dash out the door. <<page "[Continue to the Magistrate]" "ch8dragon-hospital6">>\ <</choose>> <<elseif ($jackhelp is "Brass Tiger")>>\ the fluttering of wings behind you. "Apologies for the intrusion." Angelo says, robes swaying in a wind that isn't present. "I wanted to ensure you were healing properly." You pause, trusting your senses, and turn. No one was in the hallway when you walked by. "Angelo, are you really here?" "I-" Angelo replies, feigning being hurt, when a healer walks through him on her way to a patient's room. "Very well. I am still on Guarded Blossom helping a few stragglers that missed their return trip. I did want to visit though, to congratulate you on a spectacular battle." You suppress a grin. "And how does a mere pilgrim cast his image two-hundred miles away into the most heavily guarded city in the Outer Provinces?" Angelo smiles softly. "Every day you grow more and more paranoid and distrustful about my particular situation. I could not be more proud." <<choose "ch8dragon-hospital-angelo">> #show-if ($style isnot "Aoyusumu") "Did you send Brass Tiger to help me? It seemed very...divine intervention...y." "Did you send Brass Tiger to help me?" You ask. "It seemed very...divine intervention...y." "To address the bigger issue, I am not divine." "Sure, sure." You pretend to indulge him. "And 'interventiony' isn't a word. No more deflections please." "Ah." He says with a defeated shrug. "I see you caught on to my next line. Are you certain you do not practice Aoyusumu's precognition?" "Angelo." "Very well. No, I did not send the young man your way, though I was trying to redirect him there. He discovered my presence on the island and was in the middle of interrogating me when your fight distracted him. If I had to guess, I would say it was the volcanic eruption that tipped him off." "Wait, he found you?" "Yes." Angelo nods, looking skyward with concern. "It seems I am growing rusty in my young age. I placed a veil around my location to ward off attention. Though I only revealed myself to you and a select few others, a wandering Water Clone of Brass Tiger saw through my mental obfuscations. Simultaneously, the idea of a good fight distracted it so much that he left in the middle of our encounter." #show-if ($style is "Aoyusumu") "Thanks for sending Brass Tiger to help." "Thanks for sending Brass Tiger to help." You say. "Now I know how it feels to be Jin or Rin; it's a good feeling to watch Jack get punched in the face while enjoying a rest myself." "A bit sadistic for my liking, but I approve of the gratitude." Angelo says with a shrug. "I will pass along the thankfulness to the young man, though his fan club is already praising your name for finishing one of his 'chores'. By which, they of course mean, your battle that he interrupted." ''[Prestige +2]'' <<var $prestige + 2>>\ "How did you recruit him anyway?" "I did not." Angelo says, scratching his chin. "He found me. As in, he located my presence on the island and interrogated what I was doing. Rather concerning, as I only revealed myself to a select few. Seeking a distraction, I sent the soldier on an important mission. He followed immediately without question." #"Let me know if you need help getting those stragglers home, I have a ship." "Let me know if you need help getting them home." You reply. "I have a ship." "I...hm..." Angelo pauses and looks up into the sky. "Yes, that would do wonders. Thank you, I will ensure the Temple puts a good word in on behalf of your assistance to the community." "No complaints there." You reply. "My men would appreciate the chance to be heroes anyway." ''[Retainer Morale +3]'' <<var $retainer_morale + 3>>\ ''[Prestige Increased]'' <<var $prestige + 1>>\ <<var $sect_devanic + 10>>\ <<if ($infamy gte 1)>>\ ''[Infamy Decreased]'' <<var $infamy - 3>>\ <<if ($infamy lt 0)>>\ <<var $infamy - 3>>\ <</if>>\ <</if>>\ "I am positive those in need will appreciate it twice as much." Angelo says, growing translucent. "Good fight, by the way. I cheered from the stadiums." "...Did you pay for your seat?" He disappears. <<page "[Continue to the Magistrate]" "ch8dragon-hospital6">>\ <</choose>> <<elseif ($jackhelp is "Guiren")>>\ The smell of smokebombs. "Not indoors, you idiot!" Screams the familiar voice of Dai Guiren. You look around for a pair of double doors with smoke leaking out of the bottom and swing them open, wafting a hand in front of your face to disperse the cloud of white mist that rushes out of the room. After a few seconds of clearing up, you see Yoji the Oni standing over a man in full-body cast. "Guiren." You say as a matter of fact. "Glad to see you're alive. Your men thought you were dead." "I almost was." Says another man in full-body cast to your left. "But Wencheng got it even worse. He fell out of a tree with a shattered aura trying to get me down." "I regret helping." Wencheng says. "Thank you for your service." Yoji adds, patting the man on the shoulder. <<choose "ch8dragon-hospital6">> #"How did you get away from Jack?" "How did you get away from Jack?" You ask. "He seemed pretty pissed; I was worried he'd kill you." Guiren snorts. "If you knew how beat up you looked when I showed up to help, you'd know how funny that sounds. <<cap $name>>, //I// was the one worried he'd kill //you//." "Yeah, well, you're the one in a full body cast, not me." You counter. "Hells, I can't even see you angrily gritting your teeth at my comeback. Your mouth is covered in too many bandages to tell." "He is gritting his teeth though." Yoji says in agreement. "Am not." Guiren insists. "I can //hear// the gritting." Wencheng says. "Shut it, all of you." Guiren grunts. "And for the record, I got away because I'm a Martial Artist. I got him to kill a dummy I had in a fuuinjutsu seal while I vanished up a coconut tree. I was //going// to give you one of the coconuts, since I found out they were low grade spiritfruit, but since you're-" "They're right here." says Yoji, the only one of the three who can stand. He hands you a coconut. "Oh come on!" Guiren groans. ''[Spiritfruit Gained]'' <<apboost 6>>\ "Thanks Yoji." You say, cracking it open and drinking the refreshing coconut water on your way out. "And thanks for the help, Guiren!" "I regret it every second!" Guiren calls out behind you. "Fuck you, and I'll see you tomorrow!" <<page "[Continue to the Magistrate]" "ch8dragon-hospital6">>\ #"What did you guys steal during the rest of the Trial? I want a cut." "What did you guys steal during the rest of the Trial?" You ask, eyeing the three suspiciously. "Why?" Guiren asks. "You want a cut for something you didn't do?" "Well yeah." You admit. "Who doesn't?" <<var $honor - 3>>\ ''[Criminal Tendencies: Infamy Increased]'' <<var $infamy + 2>>\ "Find someone else to shakedown." Guiren snorts. "If \ <<if ($heshe is "she")>>\ you weren't smoking hot \ <<else>>\ I wasn't wrapped head-to-toe in bandages \ <</if>>\ I'd kick your ass even for asking. Also, Yoji, give the $manwoman $hisher cut." "What?!" Yoji, the only one of the three //not// in a full-body cast, stumbles on the order. "You're kidding." "Not one bit." Guiren says. "<<cap $name>>, the Boss loved your performance against Jack. It gave us enough credit to be noticed by Judges and increase our chances of becoming Archons, but not by enough to invite an investigation from curious minds. He specifically told me to tell you how impressed he was at your political subtlety." "I didn't even know the Boss was watching." You say, surprised. Yoji sighs, handing you a Path Manual. "The Boss is always watching." ''[Item Gained: Skill Manual]'' <<var $skillmanual + 1>>\ <<if ($guirendisarmed is true)>>\ Your eyes dart to Guiren. His gaze breaks character, revealing a resolve and understanding when his eyes meet yours in deadly serious agreement. Both of you know, with Ozaki Manzo killed and his work taken over by the two of you, that the Boss isn't //always// watching. <<else>>\ "I've got to say, gentlemen." You reply, running your hands over the tome. "Your Boss has exquisite taste." "Pleasure doing business with you." Guiren says. "Now can you scratch my nose? It's been itchy for an hour and Yoji is being a stubborn dick." "Nope." You say, leaving out the door. <</if>>\ <<page "[Continue to the Magistrate]" "ch8dragon-hospital6">>\ <</choose>> <<elseif ($jackhelp is "Leona")>>\ a scalpel thrown across your face. You correct your posture to dodge, pulling your head back and having it miss your nose by a hair's width. It sticks into the wall silently. <<if ($heshe is "he")>>\ "I missed you!" Leona calls playfully from an open doorway, sipping a glass of yuzu juice while propped up on the bed of her own medical room. "Did you miss me?" <<choose "ch8dragon-hospital-leona-pffting">> #"Always. Glad to see you're okay." "Always." You reply. "Glad to see you're okay." #"No." [Throw her scalpel through her yuzu juice] -> "ch8dragon-hospital-leona-throwscalpy" "No." You say, staring judgingly at the classic Leona maneuver of playing with knives. #show-if ($leonaromance gte 2) "My room, ten minutes." "My room." You reply. "Ten minutes." "Uh?!" Leona spills some juice mid-sip and straightens up, fixing her robes. "When did you get so forward? I'm not-" "Nine minutes." You say, walking away. <<var $ruthless + 1>>\ "O-okay!" She calls as you leave. "See you there!" <<var $leonaromance + 1>>\ <<var $leonarep + 3>>\ <<var $val2 80085>>\ Ancestors, you hope you can actually get back to your room in nine minutes. You didn't even check if the Magistrate needed something urgent. Also, your parents are in your room. You are not a clever $manwoman. <<page "[Continue to the Magistrate]" "ch8dragon-hospital6">>\ <</choose>> <<else>>\ "Surprise bitch!" Leona says warmly from an open doorway, sipping a glass of yuzu juice while propped up on the bed of her own medical room. "We're medical ward neighbors!" <<choose "ch8dragon-hospital-leona-pffting">> #"I'm glad to see you're okay." "I'm glad to see you're okay." You say to Leona, surprised she doesn't have any sort of bandages wrapped over her body. #"I wish Jack was our neighbor too. We could smother him with pillows." "We're medical ward neighbors!" Leona shouts. "I wish Jack was our neighbor too." You say, looking around the ward. "We could smother him with pillows." Leona grabs her breasts from both sides and looks down. "I mean, I guess we could. Don't you think he'd like it though?" "...Pillows, Leona." "Yeah." She says, giving them a quick shake and nearly forming a double-chin from scrunching her face to look down at such an angle. "Pillowy, I get it." "No, ACTUAL pillows." "Oh." Leona says, looking up. "Oh!" She quickly lets go of her chest. "Girl, I thought you were asking me to have a threesome with Jack. I was so confused." "And yet, you were oddly not against the idea." You say in concern and disgust. Leona huffs and looks off to the side. "Yeah, well, you're welcome for helping in the fight. You can leave now." "Why, so you can find Jack's room?" She throws a pillow at you when you leave. "At least you grabbed a real pillow this time!" You shout back at her while slamming her door shut, laughing. "UUUGGGGHHHHH!!!" Leona groans through the door. <<var $leonarep + 8>>\ <<page "[Continue to the Magistrate]" "ch8dragon-hospital6">>\ #[Throw her scalpel through her yuzu juice] -> "ch8dragon-hospital-leona-throwscalpy" Ah, classic Leona, playing with knives. <</choose>> <</if>>\ <</if>>\

Continuing down the hallway, you prepare for whatever grave issues Khan wants to speak about. You try your best to channel your years of discipline and push your personal concerns into the back of your mind first. Your health. Your Foundation. Your...score. You look down at the Top Five flyer in your hand and try not to scowl. "All that struggle just for him to still outrank me..." You grumble by the doorway, cursing \ <<if ((((($score_tiger + $score_dragon) + $score_rabbit) + $score_misc) gte 25))>>\ Jack's points from outside the Trials. You had to fight a Wild God's unique spawn to score a measly pittance. Just how many has Jack garnered? <<else>>\ your scores in the other Trials. Just how many points more do you need? <</if>>\ "Lost in thought?" Khan asks up ahead. "Do not be." <<page "Yes, Honored Magistrate." "ch8dragon-hospital7">>\

"Honored Magistrate." You say, nodding to Khan. "<<cap $clan>> $patriarch." Khan says, standing beside Big Chu in a long hallway. "Walk with me to the medical office. I would like to see your health report." "As would I, \ <<if ($honor gte 40)>>\ Honored \ <</if>>\ Magistrate." You agree while walking alongside the old man. "Tell me." Khan says, moving slowly with his cane. "Did your family tell you what happened after your battle?" "You heard that they did not, \ <<if ($honor gte 40)>>\ Honored \ <</if>>\ Magistrate." You reply calmly. "Though Jin mentioned someone arriving." Khan's brow softens and he nods. "I did hear indeed. Paper walls make for terrible sound barriers. You should know that Crusher Jack \ <<if ((($dmg gte 6) or ($jadedragonfoundation is true)) or ($trickywicky is true))>>\ scored a mere five points in the Dragon Trial due to his early incapacitation. His placement was maintained only due to a tremendous number of marks earned on the road to Nanhou. He now sits at fourth place in the Top Five. Callous Goro holds the title of strongest, which is a tremendous loss your rivalry has inflicted on my village's Sect." <<else>>\ has received his official score. The estimation that he would be among the Top Five was correct. He now sits at the top of the Heavenly Ascension Trials, making you a thorn in the side of my prized villager." <</if>>\ You don't apologize. Khan notices. "On top of which, after your battle, \ <<if (dig($metjahi, 2) gte 3)>>\ that robed and hooded Fire Artist, Jahi, took to the stage." You purse your lips in concern. "I am still alive, so...what happened? Who stopped \ <<if ($heshe is "he")>>\ her?" \ <<else>>\ him?" \ <</if>>\ "No one." Big Chu says, his face paling. Khan tsks. "Contestant Jahi did not attack either of you. Rather, \ <<if ($heshe is "he")>>\ she \ <<else>>\ he \ <</if>>\ consumed the spiritfruit you fought over and //closed// the Heavenly Gate." You stumble mid-step. "You can close Gates?" "No, nor could anyone I have met in decades." Khan replies. "But it seems \ <<if ($heshe is "he")>>\ she \ <<else>>\ he \ <</if>>\ can. Jahi's score has increased tremendously to steal \ <<else>>\ the clown known as Lost Jester took to the field. Tensions were...rather high." You purse your lips in concern. "I'm still alive, so what happened? Who showed up to stop the clown?" "No one." Khan replies with a sigh. "The Heavenly Gate you experienced was above the Outer Province quality. Despite your battle consuming the entirety of its energies, it was not done forming. Power continued to spew out for hours. Lost Jester consumed the spirit fruit you fought over and harnessed the remaining Gate without a single challenger." "So..." "So a blip on our radar has become a powerful monster. Lost Jester's power has increased tremendously, putting him at \ <</if>>\ <<if ((($dmg gte 6) or ($jadedragonfoundation is true)) or ($trickywicky is true))>>\ a vital advantage. <<else>>\ third place above Crusher Jack." <</if>>\ <<choose "ch8dragon-hospital8">> #"Is there anything else I should know, Honored Magistrate?" <<var $honor + 1>>\ "Is there anything else I should know, Honored Magistrate?" You ask. "There...is." Khan replies \ #"Heh, good." "Heh." You snicker. "Good." <<var $honor - 2>>\ <<var $churep - 3>>\ <<var $sect_thunderfall - 5>>\ Ancestors, it feels good when bad things happen to bad people. Khan sighs, eyeing you with annoyance. "There is more." He says \ <</choose>>

as the two of you reach the end of the hospital's long hallway. He stops in front of a wooden set of doors with decorative corners. "Sakura of the Nakamoto Clan has not returned from the Dragon Trial. You and Jack were the last to see her. Her father, one of the wealthiest men in the Outer Provinces, has formally requested I aid him in investigating what occurred. Jack says she fled west, but no one has confirmed that report. Tell me, $clan $patriarch, what happened to the heiress of Outer East's largest fortune?" <<choose "ch8dragon-hospital-khankiller">> #"I didn't see her after the meteor fell." "I didn't see her after the meteor fell." You reply, which is true. You leave out the incredible detail of her lost style of Shiroyaksa and the great secrets they must lead to. Plus the fact that she //has// to kill you in order to keep her spirit in one piece. These are your problems, and your secrets. Khan will have to find his own. The Magistrate meets your gaze mid-omission, looking into your eyes as he searches for some deeper truth. He leans in closer, scanning your spirit, and the top of his lip lifts ever so slightly when he analyzes you for signs of what you could be hiding. Big Chu farts. "G-Grotesque!" Magistrate Khan howls, holding a sleeve over his nose. "Barbaric!" You're in no better shape, dry heaving and nearly gagging as you lean over. "Chu, what did you eat?!" "Much." Chu replies with stoic confidence. "Open the accursed doors already." Khan commands, banging a withered hand on the door with the only expediency you've ever seen from the old man. "We will move onto the medical report. Immediately." "What about Sakura?" Big Chu asks, unphased by his own biological warfare. "Open! The doors!" <<page "Enter the medical chamber" "ch8dragon-hospital9">>\ #"Jack killed her." #[Tell him about her soulbinding oath and lost Style] "I believe Sakura's gone into hiding." You reply in honesty. "For what reason?" Magistrate Khan asks, rubbing one hand down his long beard. You take a deep breath in. "She knows the lost Cathayan Martial Art Style of Shiroyaksa." Big Chu frowns. "Many know Shiroyaksa. The trick is to attune your soul's yin or yang alignment to form a custom Technique. Summonable spirits are not rare in stronger lands." "Not ''a'' spirit." You reply. "She had multiple." "Then she used her soul's Yin and Yang attunements for two customized summoning Techniques." Khan replies with condescension. "This is no reason to go into hiding." "She had three." You say, stopping your walk down the hall to stare down at the old man. They both pause. Khan furrows his brow and looks back to you. "You are certain?" <<page "I am positive." "ch8dragon-hospital-khanoath">>\ <</choose>>

The healer's medical chamber looks less like an alchemical lab and more like a lead clerk's grand office. In place of workbenches there is one large desk. In place of herbs there are scrolls and ledgers. In place of medical beds there are four cushioned seats along the same wall. Rather than charts of racial anatomy hanging from the walls, there are framed scrolls of Mystic Lands educational accomplishments. Lastly, instead of a crew of shrinemaidens and healers, there is one nurse. "You must be the $manwoman who ruptured $hisher Cores." The woman says, rising from the wide desk at the far end of the room. "Please, the three of you, have a seat." You all sit as the nurse gathers several tools from a drawer and approaches. She wears a loose medical robe and a plain cloth mask over her mouth and nose. Her brown eyes are adorned with the black eye-lining makeup you'd seen on some women in the city. Her black hair is tied back save for two long bangs framing her face, falling over her mask. It dawns on you more and more that you'll have to get used to near-immortals not aging in stronger lands; this chief medical nurse looks no older than you. "When did you first feel your Cores rupture?" She asks, pressing an odd orange circular crystal against your chest. "Right after fending off Jack's cannonball attacks, when I used the whole Gate to trigger my defense." The room grows quiet. "<<cap $name>>." Big Chu says. "That was not anywhere near the end of the fight." "I know." You say, looking at their astonished, even fearful faces at hearing that you Transformed, fought on, lost your Transformation, and //continued// to fight, all with ruptured Cores. "It hurt." <<page "Continue" "ch8dragon-hospital10">>\

The acre-wide meteor slams into you with the speed of lightning and the weight of the world. <<if ($jadedragonfoundation is true)>>\ It fails to break through the guard of your immense Aura Pressure, but it breaks through ''the mountain beneath your feet.'' Your footing crumbles like an anthill and you're plunged into the depths below. Faster than a blink you're pushed through the rock, deeper and deeper underground in a constant impact. Suddenly, the annoyance changes to pain. A burning, soul-shredding sensation surrounds you and the Dragon within screams out in a rage. Jade energy surrounds your body to survive when you realize you're engulfed in flames. You've fallen into a magma stream. <<else>>\ It breaks through your guard, your footing, and the mountain peak on which you stand. You hold its surface in both hands but the ground beneath your feet crumbles like an ant hill. Screaming with a battlecry, you're pushed through the rock, deeper and deeper underground in high impact agony. The collision happens in an instant, and when you're crushed deep enough underground, the pain changes. Every wracking bit of agony grows worse, intensified, and urgent, as if you were shredding glass against each nerve ending of your skin. You've never felt such all-encompassing pain, but when your wits come back you realize it's not a shredding sensation. It's the burning, soul-shredding sensation of being pushed into an underground pool of magma. <</if>>\ ''[10 Wounds Suffered]'' <<if ($woundbonus isnot 0)>>\ <<var $apval ((Math.round($woundbonus * 0.5)) * 10)>>\ <<apboost $apval>>\ <</if>>\ Pain and power press into your mind, spirit, and body when the magma bubbles and bursts, shooting you back up the mountain in a volcanic eruption. The burning energy \ <<if (($element1 is "Fire") or ($element2 is "Fire"))>>\ threatens to melt even your fire-resistant flesh \ <<var $solexp + 2>>\ <<var $forexp + 3>>\ <<else>>\ melts through your skin \ <</if>>\ yet the potent chi around you restores your flesh as quickly as it burns. You're lost in the thick geyser of molten rock, but your \ <<if ($jadedragonfoundation is true)>>\ Jade Dragon's \ <</if>>\ spirit cannot deny what surrounds you. Rather, \ <<if ($jadedragonfoundation is true)>>\ it's your mortal Fuel Foundation that \ <<else>>\ your Fuel Foundation \ <</if>>\ cannot deny it when feeling the overwhelming potency of Fire and Earth Chi. You're inside a Heavenly Gate. <<apboost 25>>\ <<if (($element1 is "Fire") or ($element2 is "Fire"))>>\ ''[Fire Element Event: +15 Aura Pressure]'' <<var $aurapressure + 15>>\ <</if>>\ <<if (($element1 is "Earth") or ($element2 is "Earth"))>>\ ''[Earth Element Event: +15 Aura Pressure]'' <<var $aurapressure + 15>>\ <</if>>\ <<if ($spiritbrandloc is "skin")>>\ ''[Skin Spiritbrand: +10 Aura Pressure]'' <<var $aurapressure + 10>>\ <</if>>\ ''[All Chi, Health, and Cores Restored]'' <<var $chispent 0>>\ <<var $wounds 0>>\ <<var $powspent 0>>\ <<var $agispent 0>>\ <<var $forspent 0>>\ <<var $solspent 0>>\ <<var $weppy ("your " + $equippedweapon)>>\ <<if ((((($equippedweapon is "Muramasa") or ($equippedweapon is "Kagutsuchi")) or ($equippedweapon is "Ikazuchi")) or ($equippedweapon is "Shishido")) or ($equippedweapon is "Godslayer"))>>\ <<var $weppy $equippedweapon>>\ <</if>>\ The eruption blasts you into the sky \ <<if ($jadedragonfoundation is true)>>\ in a plume of black smoke and $auracolor chi, your aura contesting the flames. \ <<else>>\ and you gasp for air through the black pluming smokecloud, clutching to life and falling back into the broken mountaintop. \ <</if>>\ Your skin heals from the influx of Gate energies into your Fuel Foundation and you land on an island of \ <<if ($jadedragonfoundation is true)>>\ rock with an immediate battlestance, the lava sliding off of you and burning the ground around your body. \ <<else>>\ rock, hard, forcing you to vomit out the lava you'd swallowed. \ <</if>>\ <<if ($jadedragonfoundation is true)>>\ Even //you're// surprised to survive that ordeal, but you adapt quickly and \ <<else>>\ Heaving, recovering, surprised to be alive, you \ <</if>>\ take in your new surroundings. Rather than the calm plateau from before, you find yourself in a pool of pure lava for a quarter-mile around. An amber-red haze of raw chi presses the black smoke away within this apex of the Gate, and huge islands of rock float through the lava pool. The edges of this volcano's wall rise eight-hundred-feet higher in a bowl of stone, surrounding you with the last vestiges of what was once Guarded Blossom's mountain summit. "Do you like what I've done with the place?" Calls a man's voice over the ambient roaring hiss of the volcano's \ <<if (dig($metjin, 2) is 2)>>\ steam. "It looks almost as broken as your brother's hand after he put that sad excuse for poison in my drink." ''[Jin's Combat Prowess Reduced]'' <<var $jincombat - 2>>\ <<else>>\ steam. <</if>>\ You recognize the man's aura from what you sensed in the meteor attack. Not that you needed to compare it to the attack; you'd recognize this aura anywhere. <<page "Jack." "ch8dragon-jack2">>\

<div class="fightingfont">Thunderfaller vs Crusher Jack</div>\ <<statcheck>>\ You and Jack crash into opposite ends of the volcanic wall and roll into a sprint. Both of you run horizontally along the wall in trailing blazes of $auracolor and green, colliding in the middle where you duck his elbow at the last second and he leaps over your low kick. The two of you turn and clash fists, sprinting in the same direction to keep yourselves from falling mid-fight. <<include "ch8dragon-jack-mergeagain">>\

<<include "ch8dragon-jack-powerofgate">>\ <<page "''//Bladed Transformation: Reaper.//''" "ch8dragon-jack-akakirutf2">>\

''//"Bladed Transformation: Reaper."//'' <<var $reaper true>>\ Ten full-sized swords manifest in the air four feet over your head. They spin in a circle, blades-out, to form a halo of death. You feel your spirit's absolute hold on each one and draw a fraction of their Bladed Chi like a cycling effect, pulling the slicing aspect of their spiritual power into the swords you hold in each hand. From ten percent of ten blades, your new form doubles the power output of your wielded weapons. ''[Reaper Bonuses: +2 Power, +1 Agility, +1 Health]'' ''[Reaper Specialty: Double the Weapon Bonuses of Bladed Mainhand Weapon]'' "<<capall $name>>!!!" Jack screams and powers up, raging with pulses of Wild Chi in a bestial leap that parts the lavapool into two massive waves. "JAAAAAAAACK!" You scream back, swinging both swords in a cross-slash that lights up the whole arena. <<choose "ch8dragon-jack-aurashatter">> #Slice through his sandshield armor with a flurry of twelve blades. Your ten flying swords slam into Jack's charging fist, arm, shoulder, and side in a whirling saw of blades. As soon as one strikes his sandshield armor and is deflected, another moves in to cut at the same angle. By the time nine have struck, the deflected blade has recovered and spun in a circle to strike him again. An unending assault. "You think you can keep this up?" Jack shouts even as his armor chips away. "We both know-" You plunge Musashi into his mouth to shut him up. He bites down to stop it and you swing your second blade up into his stomach. The shielding sand breaks away and your sword grazes the skin. You kick him sideways into six of your waiting swords hovering in mid-air, catching him like a pincushion, and charge in with two blades piercing into his chest. The shielding sand breaks away, and your sword cuts through the skin. He slams both palms together to blast you back but you draw one sword into the air behind you and connect your feet to the flat of its blade, riding the weapon as you fly back into Jack. With two fingers, you signal for five other blades to descend in a rain down on Jack. They pierce down his torso and arms, cutting into the flesh. His armor grows weaker. <<page "I can do this...I can win!" "ch8dragon-jack-akakirutf2-2">>\ #Eviscerate the mountain beneath his feet in one overpowering strike. Four of your flying blades land around you and Jack like the four corners of a sparring ring. Their edges shine with $auracolor Bladed Chi, channeling it all to the center where your two wielded swords absorb that power. You slash both blades forward into Jack's charging punch. The explosion of power nearly knocks you back, ringing your hands like a bell, and Jack follows with a second strike. Three more of your flying blades land around you, amplifying your blades further. You swing their borrowed power under Jack's attack and into his torso, cutting into the skin and launching him backwards. Just as he reaches the edge of the ring, your last three flying blades land and your two dual swords glow like the sun. You raise them overhead and harden your Bladed soul. ''//"Cleave."//'' You condemn, slashing both swords down. Into this one attack you press out all the Bladed Chi of your twelve blades, your spirit, and the Heavenly Gate's energies you've morphed into Bladed Chi for the most important seconds of your life. That power slashes through the air, the battlefield, your opponent, and the mountaintop behind him in an eight-hundred-foot-tall line of chi. A new chasm is gouged through the volcanic, from the base to the top. <<if (((($power gt $agility) and ($power gt $fortitude)) and ($power gt $soul)) or ($jadedragonfoundation is true))>>\ <<if ((($power gt $agility) and ($power gt $fortitude)) and ($power gt $soul))>>\ ''[Event Passed - Highest Core: Power]'' ''[Damage Increased]'' <<else>>\ ''[Jade Dragon Event: Damage Increased]'' <</if>>\ <<var $dmg + 1>>\ <<var $val 20>>\ <</if>>\ ''[Aura Pressure +$val]'' <<var $aurapressure + $val>>\ <<var $val 100001>>\ <<page "Continue" "ch8dragon-jack-akakirutf3">>\ <</choose>>

You cross your two wielded swords in an X formation and signal your flying sword to speed down at Jack. With nine swords assaulting him and one speeding you back into the fight, he's off-balance for your incoming attack. "This is it, Jack!" You shout, crossing your blades like an X and flying toward him. "It's over with this attack!" "You're damned right it is!" Jack shouts back, grabbing one of your flying swords and breaking it over his knee. He crosses his own arms and channels a roaring, dense layer of Wild Chi over both forearms. "You think I didn't prepare for your Style?! ''//Swordbreaker!"//'' Your two swords slash into his spiritually weighted arms in an explosion of power. Green chi explodes behind you in a wave, and your $auracolor chi slashes behind him in two massive sickles. When the dust settles, neither side has gained ground. Your swords shake, pressing against his arms... But you're not holding them. Your swords hover in mid-air, like the other flying ten. Behind them, unarmed, you hold one $auracolor glowing forearm in front of your face. Jack meets your gaze for one mere moment, acknowledging his unavoidable fate. He always did have good spiritual senses. ''//"Execution."//'' You condemn. Your descending forearm unleashes all the Bladed Chi of your twelve blades, your spirit, and the Heavenly Gate's energies you've morphed into Bladed Chi for the most important seconds of your life. All that power slashes through Jack and the mountaintop behind him in an eight-hundred foot tall line of chi, gouging a chasm through the volcanic crater fifty feet wide, from the base to the top. <<if (((dig($weaponbonus, 2) gte 3) or ($stylerank gte 3)) or ($jadedragonfoundation is true))>>\ <<if (dig($weaponbonus, 2) gte 3)>>\ ''[Weapon Quality (Masterwork): Damage Increased]'' <<elseif ($stylerank gte 3)>>\ ''[Akakiru (Adept): Damage Increased]'' <<else>>\ ''[Jade Dragon: Damage Increased]'' <</if>>\ <<var $dmg + 1>>\ <<var $val 20>>\ <</if>>\ ''[Aura Pressure +$val]'' <<var $aurapressure + $val>>\ <<page "Continue" "ch8dragon-jack-akakirutf3">>\

<<if ($val is 100001)>>\ The setting sea is visible once more through the canyon you've sliced through the mountain's peak. You smile, but falter when your ten flying swords break to pieces. <<else>>\ You fly down on your sword before leaping off, onto a rock island, too exhausted to even appreciate that you can fly \ <<if (($element1 is "Wind") or ($element2 is "Wind"))>>\ without even using Wind Chi \ <</if>>\ now. Your ten swords break to pieces. <</if>>\ <<include "ch8dragon-jack-aurashatter">>\

<<var $val 3333>>\ <<include "ch8dragon-jack-powerofgate">>\ Your eyes flicker with $auracolor Sacred Chi. <<page "''//Aoyusumu Transformation: Godhand.//''" "ch8dragon-jack-aoyusumutf2">>\

''//"Aoyusumu Transformation: Godhand."//'' <<var $godhand true>>\ A halo of crackling $auracolor kinetic chi forms over your head. Two more haloes, smaller but with more power, form over your wrists. They fluctuate with intensely compressed Sacred Chi, pressing the blunt power together from all angles so tightly that it crackles like lightning. In a flash of power illuminating the battlefield, the ring-like haloes over each wrist surge their bright energy up your arms and out your back, but it is no attack. With total control over kinetic energy, the blasts remain in place, flatten, and form into a pair of wings made of pure chi. You hover heavensward, looking down on Jack, remade with the power of the heavenly Devas who brought Aoyusumu to mankind. ''[Godhand Bonuses: +1 Soul, +1 Agility, +1 Fortitude, +1 Health, +1 Chi]'' ''[Godhand Special: Health and Chi restore to Full when Transforming]'' <<if ((($bodytype is "Handsome") or ($bodytype is "Bodacious")) or ($bodytype is "Hourglass"))>>\ ''[Physical Perfection: Persuasion +1]'' <<var $persuasion + 1>>\ <<else>>\ ''[Godhand Passive: Bodytype Treated as Attractive Outside of Combat]'' <</if>>\ "You...you..." Jack grits his teeth, clenching his fist. "THIS DOESN'T PROVE ANYTHING! I TRANSFORMED FIRST!" <<choose "ch8dragon-jack-aurashatter">> #Cast judgment from above. Jack explodes off the ground in a quaking ring of green chi, blasting into the sky. You sway to the left, using Sacred Chi to sway his kinetic path to the right. He kicks his legs upward and launches massive plumes of Fire Chi out to launch back down at you. You sway to the right, using Sacred Chi to alter his kinetic path to the left. He crashes into the ground, forming stone boots to stand in the lava, and reaches both hands up. "DON'T YOU IGNORE ME! ''//LIMITBREAKER BURST!"//'' Power flows from the Fire Chi of the volcano, charging up his legs and between his palms. You brush your hand down, reversing the flow of the Fire Chi. "What...?" Jack stammers when his summoned power leaves him. Above, you chant the incantation found among the thousands of prayers. It is not only wishes and desires that flood your mind. Not only desperation and hope. Those most likely to pray, worshippers of the Devanic Faith, know the incantations for each special move of the Saints by heart. Dozens offer them to you freely. You choose one from Saint Angelo. "From the left hand, destruction." You chant, pulling the energy of your left wing into your hand and pressing it into a single orb above your index finger, no bigger than a marble. "From the right hand, the guiding light." You finish, pulling the energy of your right wing around the orb like a wrapper. "Balanced in scale, balanced in life. Judgment on hatred, ego, and strife." With the incantation complete, every ounce of chi in your body pulls into the orb's center. The kinetic force of your wing's energy keeps it barely contained, shining out with rays of light that cut through the mountain. "SHUT UP!" Jack roars. "I am so sick of your bullshit, JUST! DIE!" He rushes one hand forward, blasting Wild Chi at you in a concentrated beam enhanced by his Limitbreaker Transformation. Pointing your index finger downward, you release the energy of such a small bead of power. ''//"Judgment."//'' Your bead flashes once, like the flicker of a candle, and sends a Heavenly Gate's worth of energy in such a small line of power. It cuts through Jack's beam, Jack's body, the volcano beneath him, and the island beneath that. <<var $val 10>>\ <<if (((($soul is $agility) or ($soul is $power)) or ($soul is $fortitude)) or ($jadedragonfoundation is true))>>\ <<if ($soul is $agility)>>\ ''[Equalibrium: Soul Core Same Rank as Agility Core]'' <<var $agiexp + 4>>\ <<elseif ($soul is $power)>>\ ''[Equalibrium: Soul Core Same Rank as Power Core]'' <<var $powexp + 4>>\ <<elseif ($soul is $fortitude)>>\ ''[Equalibrium: Soul Core Same Rank as Fortitude Core]'' <<var $forexp + 4>>\ <<else>>\ ''[Jade Dragon: Event Check Override]'' <</if>>\ ''[Damage Increased]'' <<var $dmg + 1>>\ <<var $val 15>>\ <</if>>\ ''[Aura Pressure +$val]'' <<var $aurapressure + $val>>\ <<page "Continue" "ch8dragon-jack-aoyusumutf3">>\ #Test your new power in hand-to-hand combat. Jack explodes off the ground, kicking off the rock with a ring of Wild Chi exploding out behind him. You catch his leg from below. Time slows to a halt when he realizes how quickly you've moved, from a hundred feet in the air to the ground before his Limitbreaker Transformation could bring him even five feet up. //Twenty times faster.// He spins with a punch downward. You close both wings over your head and block it, breaking through your own kinetic shield with a leaping kick that hits his stomach. Twisting in the air, you launch four more kicks by pushing off the sky itself with Sacred Chi. "That's-not-enough!" Jack shouts through each strike. He launches firejets out of his hands and loops around you, swinging a wide kick against your legs. Your wings swoop downward, launching you up, then upward, launching you back down with a double-handed overhead slam onto his head. He blocks with a cross-guard and the two of you enter a flurry of punches, striking for the ribs between deflections. "This is nothing!" Jack spits with blood, crunching a solid strike into your inner bicep after a deflection. "Your \ <<if ($heshe is "he")>>\ pretentious \ <<else>>\ pretty little \ <</if>>\ haloes can't close the gap in our martial arts!" "//This// is a \ <<if ($heshe is "he")>>\ pretentious \ <<else>>\ pretty little \ <</if>>\ halo." You correct him, holding up two fingers toward the one on your head. You fling those fingers to the right and telekinetically launch him into a nearby wall. "But these?" You hold both wrist-haloes out, aimed at the crater you made with his body. "These are for targeting." You trigger the power of your energy wings, slamming their force down your arms. The energy from their power blasts through your wrist-haloes at the same time that you surge your energy reserves in a dual-handed beam from both palms. The triple-energy blast burns so hot and so potent that it screeches out when cutting a new tunnel through the mountainside. <<var $val 10>>\ <<if ((($ruthless lte 35) or ($stylerank gte 3)) or ($jadedragonfoundation is true))>>\ <<if ($ruthless lte 35)>>\ ''[Compassion 65 Check: Damage Increased]'' <<var $powexp + 1>>\ <<var $forexp + 1>>\ <<var $agiexp + 1>>\ <<var $solexp + 1>>\ <<elseif ($stylerank gte 3)>>\ ''[Aoyusumu (Expert): Damage Increased]'' <<else>>\ ''[Jade Dragon: Damage Increased]'' <</if>>\ <<var $dmg + 1>>\ <<var $val 15>>\ <</if>>\ ''[Aura Pressure +$val]'' <<var $aurapressure + $val>>\ <<var $val 1099>>\ <<page "Continue" "ch8dragon-jack-aoyusumutf3">>\ <</choose>>

<<if ($val is 1099)>>\ Your Godhand Transformation peels away. Your haloes disintegrate after you've spent all their chi and you lose the protection this form gave your fractured Cores, forcing you to catch yourself from falling over. <<include "ch8dragon-jack-aurashatter3">>\ <<else>>\ Your Godhand Transformation peels away. Your halos disintegrate after you've spent all their chi, and your body slowly fa- Quickly. QUICKLY falls! ''*thud*'' Thankfully a large, painful rock with splashes of boiling magma breaks your fall. <<include "ch8dragon-jack-aurashatter3">>\ <</if>>\

<<if ($val isnot 11101)>>\ <div class="fightingfont">Thunderfaller vs Crusher Jack</div>\ <<statcheck>>\ You're forced to surge an Agility Core to roll into the collision when you hit the rock wall, forty feet up from the lava, and narrowly avoid letting your forehead cushion the blow against solid Gate-enforced stone. ''[1 Agility Core Surged]'' <<var $agisurge + 1>>\ <</if>>\ "Too slow!" Jack shouts, arriving right behind you with a flying fist. On your back and falling, you spin your legs in an arc to pull away from his strike and kick off, running along the crater wall. He appears out of the dustcloud from his attack and sprints beside you. \ <<include "ch8dragon-jack-mergeagain">>\

"Jack is down!" Misuka the Performer's voice rings out, washing over you like a cold bath. "Crusher Jack, the highest Aura Pressure and most prominent contestant in all the Outer Provinces, is down!!! <<cap $fullname>> has ascended to the summit of potential, standing at the top of $hisher generation!" You let yourself breathe out in relief. You did it. You //actually// did it. Looking to the golden-pink spheres hovering in the sky around your battlefield, standing on one of the last remaining islands of stone, you lift your arm in victory. That's when the pain begins. Something inside of you ruptures. Your navel feels a flood of chi pool around it, but your chi channels don't fill up. They empty out. The heat of the lava burns hotter. The fatigue on your fight cramps your muscles into twisted knots. The air grows so thin you can barely breathe. Dropping to one knee, you send a spiritual scan into yourself. Half of your scan fails to return, fading away with a shaky impression. In the half of your scan that works, you sense what you fear most. The pressure of so much Gate energy at once, in such a short amount of time, has overexerted your spirit in ways that rest can't heal. Your Cores have cracked. ''//"Human Spirit."//'' <<page "''!!!''" "ch8dragon-jack-arisen2">>\

An eerie green light flashes behind you, overpowering the glow of lava and changing the colors of your battlefield. Turning around slowly, one hand latched on your abs desperately hoping to keep your crumbling spirit together, you see Jack stand from the ground and dust himself off. "What's the matter, Laborer?" He asks with a bleeding grin, eyes masked completely with burning amber flames. "You look worse than I do." <<page "Continue" "ch8dragon-jack-arisen3">>\

"Did you think you were the only one who could get back up?" Jack asks, stomping forward. You lift one arm to blast him with chi. Nothing comes out. "Did you think you were the only one who learns their racial Technique?" He leaps across the lava, landing on your rock island within arm's reach. "Did you think you were the only one who could improve?!" You swing your fist into his chest, wrapping it with the chi spilling from your cracked Cores. Your knuckles collide into the thinnest layer of rock forming over his skin the second you make impact. "Tch!" You scowl, swinging again, and again, and again, and again. Ten, fifteen, twenty, forty strikes. Your fists blur, burning through the last of your Agility Cores even as they wither away, but \ <<if ($jadedragonfoundation is true)>>\ with your Jade Dragon soul detaching from your body's shattered Cores \ <</if>>\ you can't break through his defense. "Why won't you die?!" You scream out. <<include "ch8dragon-returntojackfight">>\

He throws you sideways, generating a jet of flame out of your back that speeds you up faster than you could ever leap. You crash into the volcanic wall twenty feet below a yelping Misuka. ''[All Agility Cores Spent]'' <<var $agiexp ($agility - $agispent)>>\ <<var $agispent $agility>>\ "This is my new power, stolen from your blueprint!" Jack bellow victoriously. "The last use I had for you, forged in battle!" He vanishes from sight and reappears above you holding a swirling orb of Wild Chi in his hand. Rows of green glowing fangs swirl from within the chi, //roaring// at you. You cough up blood when trying to speak. <<page "Continue" "ch8dragon-jack-arisen5">>\

"How does it feel to face the bullshit you've done to everyone else?!" Jack mocks, unleashing the energy in a ten-foot-wide beam of power. The tip of his energy beam forms a maw of fangs that grab you, launching you like a meteor back to the lava pool below while closing its jaws around your arms. ''[All Power Cores Spent]'' <<var $powexp ($power - $powspent)>>\ <<var $powspent $power>>\ <<page "Continue" "ch8dragon-jack-arisen6">>\

"How does it feel to be reminded you'll never stand at the top?" Jack howls, forming a layer of Fire Chi under your back. "Not in MY fire!" A swirling circle of flame forms between you and the lava just before you make impact, cushioning your body physically while cooking your spirit like a boiling kettle. ''[All Soul Cores Spent]'' <<var $solexp ($soul - $solspent)>>\ <<var $solspent $soul>>\ <<page "Continue" "ch8dragon-jack-arisen7">>\

"Not in MY Earth!" He roars, forming two columns of stone on either side of you that slam shut, crushing you between them in bone-cracking agony. ''[All Fortitude Cores Spent]'' <<var $forexp ($fortitude - $forspent)>>\ <<var $forspent $fortitude>>\ Before you can even collapse into the lava, Jack dashes in front of you and catches you by the top of the skull. <<choose "ch8dragon-jack-arisen8">> #Spit at him. <<var $honor - 2>>\ <<var $score_bladed - 1>>\ <<var $score_wild + 1>>\ You spit at him. "If that's how you want it, then this battle is over." He declares as your spit burns up in his aura. \ #Don't give him the pleasure of seeing you wince. You don't give him the pleasure of seeing you so much as wince. <<var $score_bladed + 1>>\ "Heh, you look like shit. Fine." He looks upward to Misuka. "This battle is over!" With satisfaction he looks back to you while you grip the side of his fist, contesting his hold. <</choose>>

"As fun as it is to play with infinite Techniques, I've got a Trial to finish." Jack's fist reels back and forms a gauntlet of spiked stone around the skin. "You've served your purpose as my opening act." With a full flex of all his Power Cores, flames jet out of Jack's elbow to rock his skull-shattering strike directly into the center of your navel. His spiritually burning fist collides into your Cores so hard that you feel the last bits of your power explode out of your back. <<if ((($health+($fortitude / 2))-$wounds) gte 4)>>\ <<woundcheck 3 false false>>\ <<elseif ((($health+($fortitude / 2))-$wounds) gte 3)>>\ <<woundcheck 2 false false>>\ ''[10 Aura Pressure Lost]'' <<var $aurapressure - 10>>\ <<elseif ((($health+($fortitude / 2))-$wounds) gte 2)>>\ <<woundcheck 1 false false>>\ ''[20 Aura Pressure Lost]'' <<var $aurapressure - 20>>\ <<else>>\ ''[30 Aura Pressure Lost]'' <<var $aurapressure - 30>>\ <</if>>\ You're blasted through the air, through eighty feet of volcanic wall, and through the air again. The Gate's ambient chi that's kept you alive leaves your body when you exit the other side of the volcano's upper ridge and over Guarded Blossom's sky. You soar through the agony, launched like a ragdoll four-hundred feet over the tropical forest's tree line. <<page "Continue" "ch8dragon-jack-arisen9">>\

You have no memory of crashing through the tree branches on your painful descent. No memory of hitting the ground. No memory of how you rolled to avoid certain death, spreading the damage across every inch of your flesh. All you have is the cuts and discolored bruises to prove it happened. Your chest wheezes, your vision spins, and you can taste blood in your mouth. "This is where it ends, <<cap $name>>." Jack's voice grows louder as he approaches from high above. "Truth be told, there's a reason I never attacked you after the cliffside incident." He lands //through// a tree near you, blasting a crater into the ground that sprays your prone form with a falling rain of dirt. "It wouldn't be enough for me to defeat you. I knew I could, but I wanted to go above and beyond. I wanted to make you defeat //yourself//." "What are..." you try to force the words out, like a feverish dream, "you talking about?" "Your Fuel Foundation." Jack replies, stomping slowly out of the crater his landing created. "There's a reason they're junk. They burn through your future to fuel your present. You had a limit built into your spirit all along, and every Gate you harnessed pushed you that much closer to hitting it. Unfortunately, yours was more stable than most. That meant you needed a push." Green Wild Chi forms around his fist. "I am that push. Every second of training was worth it, to be able to overextend you so hard that you shatter your own Cores like the bottlenecked, ignorant, undisciplined amateur only I know you to be." You try to \ <<if ($honor gte 50)>>\ raise your fist at him, \ <<else>>\ flip him off, \ <</if>>\ but your arm doesn't even listen. You think it might be broken. <<if (($heshe is "she") and ($jackromance gte 2))>>\ "That's a terrible...pickup line..." Jack actually laughs. "It is sure as Hell is." <<var $jackrep + 5>>\ He walks up to you and opens his fist into a chop, standing over your prone form. "Our rivalry has been...different. But I \ <<else>>\ "Go fuck....yourself..." Jack lifts his glowing fist overhead and forms it into a chop, walking up to stand over your prone form. "I <</if>>\ can't be an Archon with you hanging over my head. You're too crafty. Too immature and vengeful. I worked so hard to see you crack your own Cores, but their final destruction will be at my hand." Carefully, he aims his attack at your abdomen's center. "Goodbye, \ <<if (($heshe is "she") and ($jackromance gte 2))>>\ my little \ <</if>>\ Laborer. Your chapter in my story has taken long enough." You grit your teeth and push your body to move. To kick, to blast, to bite his legs, //ANYTHING//, but you can't push yourself to move. Jack lifts his hand higher, and, simultaneously, he lifts his head higher as well. You twist your brow in confusion, and Jack tilts his ear to the east. You realize he's listening for something. You can't turn your head, but through the silence you can barely make out a distinct sound in the otherwise calm forest. The distinct sound of... <<var $ritchy 0>>\ <<choose "ch8dragon-jack-leona">> #use-if (((($style is "Akakiru") or ($roomscene is "Leona")) or (dig($compquest1, 1) is 6)) or (dig($compquest1, 1) is 7)) Two sword sheaths rattling. <<if ($heshe is "he")>>\ "Oh boys!" \ <<else>>\ "Hey dickheads!" \ <</if>>\ Calls a voice from above. "It's not nice to leave a lady submerged in lava! You cost me two perfectly cute swords." The wind howls, rattling metal from the source of the call. You and Jack both look up to see Leona standing atop a tree wearing nothing but a belt with two empty swordsheaths. Her body drips with sizzling magma that glows yellow with Light Chi. Jack's mocking tone shifts to a serious glare, ready to kill. Leona returns the look. In this moment, you swear you can see their fathers' expressions in their faces. A mirror image of the duel all those years ago, when Crusher Mao revealed the Thunderfall punch to the world and mortally wounded Sectmaster Bangle. But when Leona opens her mouth, it's not to taunt. Not to threaten. Not to boast. She does not waste time like her father. ''//"RISING!"//'' She shrieks at the top of her lungs, throwing both hands to the sides of her head with Sectmaster Bangle's lost Technique. ''//"SUN!!"//'' Darkness overtakes your vision, followed by a blinding, all-encompassing flash of yellow. <<page "Continue" "ch8dragon-jack-leona">>\ #use-if (($style is "Aoyusumu") or (dig($mettiger, 4) is 1)) Hoarse laughter. <<if ($style is "Aoyusumu")>>\ //I do apologize for my poor choice in assistance.// Angelo's voice rings in your mind. //There was no one more suitable close by. This may get rather messy.// <</if>>\ "Well, well, well! If it isn't Crusher Jack!" Calls a hoarse man's laughter from over the forest. "Here you go miss." "Th-thanks!" Misuka says, being put down onto the ground by whoever carried her here at top speeds. "Masters and Mistresses of Nanhou, it seems we have an intervention! Breaking into the duel over Thunderfall's fate, it's none other than-!" "THE ONE!" Interrupts the man's voice. "THE ONLY!" Four-hundred feet worth of forest explode in front of you in an enormous blast of Sacred Chi that clears an open battlefield, revealing the man standing beside Misuka in its center. "Brass Tiger." Jack curses with hatred. "BRASS! TIGER!" Brass Tiger screams with excitement. "You disappoint me, Jack! You challenged me to a big fight earlier, but here I find you \ <<if (dig($mettiger, 4) is 1)>>\ replacing me with my own best friend! \ <<else>>\ with a different dance partner! \ <</if>>\ You even depended on someone else to block $name's senses from detecting your opening meteor, too. I saw that from an island away. Sloppy work. What's say I tag in to make up for that advantage you stole from Sakura's barrier. Two against two, in my eyes." In an unusual display of humanity, Jack sighs. "Go fight \ <<if (dig($metjahi, 2) gte 3)>>\ Jahi, \ <<else>>\ the clown, \ <</if>>\ catboy. I'm busy." "Tough luck, babyface." Brass Tiger taps his foot onto the ground and flash-freezes the floor into an icy arena as far as the eye can see. "I only take orders from the Divine General of the North, and you ain't even northern." Jack pauses, licks the inside of his cheek, and starts approaching the Yokai. "Did you just call me babyface?" "Damn right I did." Brass Tiger walks forward until the two fighters are face-to-face. "It fits for a little boy who can't even boast a single scar." "Scars are for failures." Jack replies, smile growing unhinged. "Your mangled skin should tell you how our fight will end." "You lack scars because you don't fight real monsters." Brass Tiger says, voice deepening with excitement. "But don't worry, pretty boy. You're about to." <<page "Continue" "ch8dragon-jack-brasstiger">>\ #use-if (($style is "Kiihakai") or (dig($metdesdemona, 1) gte 3)) Sorcerous chanting. Bizarre whispers and rhythmic chanting surrounds you and Jack, hidden in the shadows of the forest. "Come out." Jack commands. "If you make me come get you, it will be the last mistake you ever make." Multiple voices respond to him with an invocation. ''//"The Last Dream."//'' Three small motes of flame shoot from different angles like fireworks. Jack rolls his eyes and bats one away. <<page "Continue" "ch8dragon-jack-dessy">>\ #use-if (($style is "Kurokonton") or (dig($metguiren, 1) gte 3)) A tail whipcracking. "Who's there?" Jack calls to the moving shadows in the forest. "Show yourself. If you make me find you, it will be the last mistake you ever make." "Ooooh." Calls a mocking voice. "So spooky. So demanding. Careful there, you’re courting death and so on and some such.” <<if ($guirendisarmed is true)>>\ With a single sleeve rolled up and sewn shut, \ <<else>>\ Dressed in the golden and green gi of the Hidden Coil Sect, \ <</if>>\ Dai Guiren marches out of the forest. "A \ <<if ($guirendisarmed is true)>>\ disarmed \ <</if>>\ debt-slaver." Jack laughs out. "Ancestors, I thought it was going to be someone important. Do you want to die? Get out of here, this fight is far above your level." "Yeah I get that a lot." Guiren says. "But you've got my friend there, and you took advantage of someone else's barrier to sneak attack $himher like a bitch, so I figured I'd smack you around a bit and settle the score." Jack looks up to one of Misuka's orbs and the sense of entertainment leaves his eyes. He looks back to Guiren, ready to kill. "You know I can't let you leave after that insult. Hopefully other innocent people learn from your mistake." "Whoa!" Guiren laughs. "Come on man, drop the act! It's disrespectful to talk to your betters like that after you failed the Dragon Trial. I mean, Hells man, Top Five? Temper your expectations, you won't even make Top Thousand." <<var $jackhelp "Guiren">>\ "What are you..." Jack's body language freezes. Slowly, he reaches to his neck. There's nothing there. "Looking for this?" Guiren grins, spinning Jack's dragon medallion around one finger. ''//"Flash Step."//'' "OH YOU MOTHERFUCKER!" Jack screams, vanishing from sight in an explosion of windforce to chase the Yokai. Your fading senses detect a half-dozen bursts of power all around the forest as their race heads south. Confused at first, you realize Jack //just// got to the island and attacked you in the smallest overlap between Trial seeds. His medallion hasn't measured anything yet. His score is zero. "$name!" Whisper-shouts Yoji, dropping out of a tree to your right. "Guiren told us to bring you to the volcano." Still stunned by the surprise, and probably concussed from your landing, you blink twice and look to the approaching Oni. "What, uh, what for?" "To sacrifice you, dumbass, what else would anyone use a volcano for?" Answers Wencheng, dropping out of a different tree. "Don't listen to him." Yoji says. "We're getting you back in the Gate." <<page "Continue" "ch8dragon-jack-guiren">>\ #use-if (($style is "Midorikatai") or ($fangrep gte 57)) A howl. From deep within the forest, resonating with Fire and Earth Chi that won't quite stick, you sense a piece of the Gate. And it growls. You stare into the woods, from the direction of the volcano, until you see amber eyes reflecting light through the darkness. In that moment you remember: You're not the only person with an unusual reaction to Gates. "KRUSH!" Screams Tian Fang's voice, padding the ground with a four-legged sprint. "UR!" She howls, igniting in an aura of green Wild Chi. "JAK!!" She screeches in a roaring battlecry. The forest fills your vision with the all-encompassing view of lumber. By the time you realize she's thrown an entire tree, it's already gone. The projectile crashes into Jack, blasts him through the forest, and bowls over a straight line of vegetation from here to the coast. A whisper of the Gate's chi runs over your body when Tian Fang herself flashes through the cleared line with the speed of a loosed arrow. "Oh, the doggy wants to play?!" Jack's voice fades, rapidly pushed into the distance. "Good, let's play!" The ground shakes with the tremors of a devastating blow. A brief silence follows, interrupted by Jack's distant voice. "What the fuck...?" "JAAAAAAAAAK!" Fang howls back, shaking the ground almost as hard with her counterstrike. <<page "Continue" "ch8dragon-jack-fang">>\ <</choose>>

The power of your temporary Transformation falls apart and your aura shatters, forcing you to catch yourself from falling over. <<include "ch8dragon-jack-aurashatter3">>\

Without the enhanced lifeblood of your Transformation, your body's injuries return. Your toes feel broken, your jaw stings on one side, your mind feels feverish, your arms won't move, your bones feel hollow and devoid of life energy, your lungs struggle to breathe, and when you try to take a step your hip moves unnaturally as if snapped halfway down the center. Ancestors, you feel older than Magistrate Khan. The only solace is Crusher Jack's unconscious body lying on the \ <<if ($reaper is true)>>\ ground, bleeding from a massive gash from his shoulder to his hip. \ <<else>>\ ground. \ <</if>>\ Sparks of green chi wink out of existence in the air from his shattered aura. You're both utterly defeated, but only you remain standing. <<page "Continue" "ch8dragon-jack-victory1">>\

"$txt" Jack shouts, appearing through the sandstorm with two feet slamming into your \ <<if ($aurapressure gte 1300)>>\ guarding forearms. "I've got much more to show you!" You're blasted backward, skidding across the stone. <<else>>\ stomach. "I've got much more to show you!" <<var $forexp + 2>>\ <<var $powexp - 3>>\ You're sent tumbling backward in surprise. <</if>>\ A rush of heavy Earth Chi larger than your body flies out of his outstretched arm. Its spiritual pressure and light speeds over your shoulder and solidifies into a physical object of solid stone a mere two feet behind your flying body. <<if ($aurapressure gte 1300)>>\ Your back crashes into the unseen spikes that forms on its surface. \ <<else>>\ You crash into the boulder head-first \ <</if>>\ with a painful crunch. <<if (($yokaitrait1 is "Horns") and ($aurapressure lt 1300))>>\ ''[Yokai Horns: No Chi Loss]'' <<elseif ($fortitude gte 8)>>\ ''[Fortitude 8 Check Passed: No Chi Loss]'' <<elseif ($style is "Midorikatai")>>\ ''[Midorikatai Event: No Chi Loss]'' <<elseif (($element1 is "Earth") or ($element2 is "Earth"))>>\ ''[Earth Event: No Chi Loss]'' <<elseif ($forspent lt ($fortitude-1))>>\ ''[2 Foritude Cores Spent]'' <<var $forspent + 2>>\ <<if ((((dig($weaponbonus, 3) is 2) or (dig($weaponbonus2, 3) is 2)) and ((dig($weaponbonus, 3) is 3) or (dig($weaponbonus2, 3) is 3))) and ($forspent gte $fortitude))>>\ <<var $forspent ($fortitude - 1)>>\ <</if>>\ <<else>>\ ''[Overextension: No Fortitude Cores to Spend]'' <<aploss 6>>\ <</if>>\ "Just because you're out of tricks," he shouts, diving at you with a flying elbow that glows red with ambient chi. "Doesn't mean I am!" "Your taunts won't work, Jack!" You vanish at the last second in a blur of $auracolor to dodge his boulder-shattering strike. "You haven't seen half my abilities!" <<if ($agility gte 8)>>\ ''[Agility 8 Check Passed: No Chi Loss]'' <<elseif ($style is "Kurokonton")>>\ ''[Kurokonton Event: No Chi Loss]'' <<elseif (($element1 is "Light") or ($element2 is "Light"))>>\ ''[Light Event: No Chi Loss]'' <<elseif (($element1 is "Storm") or ($element2 is "Storm"))>>\ ''[Storm Event: No Chi Loss]'' <<elseif ($agispent lt ($agility-1))>>\ ''[2 Agility Cores Spent]'' <<var $agispent + 2>>\ <<if ((((dig($weaponbonus, 3) is 2) or (dig($weaponbonus2, 3) is 2)) or ((dig($weaponbonus, 3) is 4) or (dig($weaponbonus2, 3) is 4))) and ($agispent gte $agility))>>\ <<var $agispent ($agility - 1)>>\ <</if>>\ <<else>>\ ''[Overextension: No Agility Cores to Spend]'' <<aploss 6>>\ <</if>>\ "What I've seen is your lackluster performance!" He boasts, charging up a green orb of Fire Chi over his palm. "Quit fucking around, Laborer! This is nothing compared to the taste of real battle." With his other hand he grabs his wrist and holds the flame overhead, charging enough chi to quadruple its size. "It doesn't matter if it's men, spirits, or Beasts, only a fight to the death can push our limits!" "I know that already!" You shout back defiantly, pressing your hands together. "You don't get to lecture!" A paper-thin layer of compressed chi condenses between your palms and you swing it forward in a line, cutting his fireball in half before he can finish its effect. <<if ($power gte 8)>>\ ''[Power 8 Check Passed: No Chi Loss]'' <<elseif ($style is "Akakiru")>>\ ''[Akakiru Event: No Chi Loss]'' <<elseif (($element1 is "Ice") or ($element2 is "Ice"))>>\ ''[Ice Event: No Chi Loss]'' <<elseif (($element1 is "Wind") or ($element2 is "Wind"))>>\ ''[Wind Event: No Chi Loss]'' <<elseif ($powspent lt ($power-1))>>\ ''[2 Power Cores Spent]'' <<var $powspent + 2>>\ <<if ((((dig($weaponbonus, 3) is 1) or (dig($weaponbonus2, 3) is 1)) or ((dig($weaponbonus, 3) is 4) or (dig($weaponbonus2, 3) is 4))) and ($powspent gte $power))>>\ <<var $powspent ($power - 1)>>\ <</if>>\ <<else>>\ ''[Overextension: No Power Cores to Spend]'' <<aploss 6>>\ <</if>>\ "You don't know shit!" He shouts back, pressing Wild Chi over his arms with each punch the two of you trade in a blurring melee. "Not compared to me! I've escaped the trap of Outer West these last eighteen months. I've fought, bled, killed, and conquered! I've truly ''lived''!" It's then that his hand raises high overhead and ''thrums'' with the power he'd been cycling without slowing down mid-fight. ''//"TIGER CLAW!!"//'' He swipes down at you with four-foot-long scratches of Wild Chi trailing in the air behind each sharpening finger. <<choose "ch8dragon-jack-howdesperate">> #Channel your training. [$style Check] -> "ch8dragon-jack-stylecheck" #show-if ($race is "Lunargoth") Put up your spiritual defenses. [Lunargoth Event, Costs 0 Chi] Jack's Tiger Claw explodes against you like a quadruple set of executioner's axes, exploding against your body with weighted chi ripping and tearing into your neck, skull, arm, and side. Green chi erupts around his strike and blasts you away, knocking up a smokecloud of green chi where you impact the volcano's wall. Through the smoke, you laugh. "Hm?" Jack grunts. "You're fighting this battle all wrong, Jack." You shout, your footsteps echoing from within the cloud of dust. "Lunargoths survived an invasion against a superior Empire because we're natural born chi-killers." ''[Lunargoth Event]'' Through the clearing green smoke of Jack's attack you emerge, glowing with the sheen of ambient chi wrapped around your body. The 'Indomitable Will' Technique of your people. Jack spits to the side in minor annoyance. "A racial Technique." He chuckles.\ <<if ($heshe is "she")>>\ "How cute." <<else>>\ "How desperate." <</if>>\ #show-if (($eblocktech isnot "") and ($race isnot "Lunargoth")) use-if ((($chipool + ($soul/2)) - $chispent) gte 1) Put up your spiritual defenses. [Requires Energy Block, Costs 1 Chi] ''//"<<cap $eblocktech>>!"//'' You shout, executing your energy block Technique to tank the damage. ''[1 Chi Spent]'' <<var $chispent + 1>>\ While Jack's attack strikes your Technique and fails, you leap with a double-180 kick, smacking one leg into his side, using the force of that blow to spin you around and kick him in the ribs, then using the force of that to spin you back for one final kick to his head. Your attack hits him hard enough to skid him back five feet, and without footing it pushes you back twenty where you flip onto a rock island. "Don't think you can talk big about learning a few Techniques, Jack." You say, dusting yourself off through the smoke of his explosive attack. "You're not the only one who's grown." "Quit pretending you can brag." Jack scoffs, forming a cycling seal and pulling the rock island's Earth Chi into his cores. "Anyone can use a block Technique." #show-if (($eblocktech is "") and ($race isnot "Lunargoth")) use-if ($eblocktech isnot "") Put up your spiritual defensess. [Requires Energy Block] -> "death" <</choose>>

Wind force bowls your injured body over when Jack and Brass Tiger headbutt each other with a forest-shaking collision. ''[Damage Increased]'' <<var $dmg + 1>>\ //Start marching for the Gate.// Angelo whispers into your mind. //Trust me.// <<if ($style isnot "Aoyusumu")>>\ "Angelo??" You shout into the open air, \ <<else>>\ "Easier said than done!" You shout back to him, \ <</if>>\ tumbling onto your knees when your back hits a tree. //The Gate's energies can keep you steady, like pouring water into a broken vase faster than it can spill. It's your only chance.// Brass Tiger uppercuts Jack, freezing his fist to Jack's jaw and spinning them both into the air. Jack's arms cover in stone and he slams Brass Tiger in the side, disconnecting the two and launching them away from each other. Both enter free fall at opposite ends of the forest. Straining your neck, you look back to the smoking volcanic crater of a mountaintop through the trees. <<choose "ch8dragon-jack-brasstiger2">> #"You know Angelo, //normal// people would let me rest my broken body in peace." <<var $ruthless - 2>>\ <<var $honor - 1>>\ "You know Angelo," you say out loud, "//normal// people would let me rest my broken body in peace." //Are you satisfied with normal?// He responds in your mind. //Stick.// #"I don't suppose you can heal me from a distance?" "I don't suppose you can heal me from a distance?" You ask. //Apologies, my hands are tied.// Angelo replies in your mind. //I could evade most of the Judges perceptions, but your fight has attracted too much of a show. Slighted Nobles are hasty with executions and even this interference is, technically, treason.// You sigh. "Can you at least tell me if these leaves make a good ointment?" //Stick// #"I'm not done yet." <<var $ruthless + 1>>\ <<var $honor + 1>>\ "I'm not done yet." You say, glaring up at the volcano in determination. //That's the spirit.// Angelo replies in your mind. in your mind. //Stick.// <</choose>>

"Sti-?" You catch a branch of debris flying towards your face from the force of Brass Tiger's fight. "Ah." You say, hefting yourself up on the improvised crutch. "Stick." Grunting, you hobble back up the mountain. <<page "Continue" "ch8dragon-jack-brasstiger3">>\

Shockwaves echo through the trees and air behind you the entire painful march back up the mountain and toward the volcano. You can't spare a thought to turn around and look at Brass Tiger's fight against Jack; every step brings you screeching pain and you're hobbling forward as fast as you possibly can, which is quite fast at this point. What started as crippled shambling has turned into an ungraceful jog at speeds equal to a mortal's full sprint. It's the Gate, you realize. The closer you get, the easier it becomes to move. When you reach the hole Jack punched you through, now a sizeable tunnel giving you a shortcut back into the volcano, you marvel at how deep it is. Eighty feet of pure rock caved to the strength of your body without killing you. Ancestors, you want to be this strong outside of a Gate. Though right now you're more focused on becoming that again //inside// of a Gate. You make it through the tunnel and drop your branch, running on both feet to test your injuries. //Move right!// Angelo shouts into your mind. <<page "Continue" "ch8dragon-jack-brasstiger4">>\

You dodge Brass Tiger at the last second, dropping down the volcanic wall toward the lavapool and stopping just before it ignites your clothes. Brass Tiger doesn't stop so slowly. His body flies through the air and descends halfway across the burning arena, skidding to a halt on the central rock island. "How bad is it?" You holler to him. "Easy as pie!" The muscular cat Yokai boasts, rolling to his feet and jabbing a thumb at his chest. "He's got some bite to his bark, but it's nothing to a champion like me. Problem for you though: that 'me' isn't here, and Fire Gates are awful for Water Techniques." You furrow your brow. "What do you-" Brass Tiger dissolves into water, having been a mere Clone Technique sent from abroad. <<var $jackhelp "Brass Tiger">>\ <<if ($heshe is "she")>>\ You wimper through the shaking \ <<else>>\ You hiss through the \ <</if>>\ pain of your overworked torn muscles. "I hate Clones..." "Did you think someone else would finish this fight for you?" Jack calls from the top of the volcanic ridge, holding a surprised Misuka in one hand. He puts her down and leaps from the peak of the volcanic crater to the center of the lava pit, landing on the largest floating rock island. "This is between us, and you can stop pretending. I see through you now." <<page "Huh?" "ch8dragon-jack-mergetf">>\

"I can hardly believe my eyes!" Misuka the Performer calls from the distant top of the volcano's ridge. "Masters and Mistresses of Imperial Rasen, Crusher Jack and $fullname are still going at it, and their Aura Pressures are //climbing!//" <<if ($lostduel is true)>>\ Through the shrieking pain of your nervous system, you can oddly tell she's right. Your muscles seem larger than normal. The heavy impacts that hurt your body should have //killed// you instead. <<else>>\ You flex your arm and look down at your own muscles, larger than normal. \ <</if>>\ <<if ($chispent gte 2)>>\ Despite the chi you've spent, the reserves left in you feel more potent. \ <<else>>\ Your chi reserves feel more potent. \ <</if>>\ More condensed. \ <<if ($wounds gte 2)>>\ Despite the wounds you've taken, your \ <<else>>\ Your \ <</if>>\ body feels more vigorous than ever before. Stronger. More stable. So why do you have this uneasy feeling? "It's true." Comes Jack voice from across the arena. He rises without moving. Another stone platform expands into the air beneath his feet, lifting him forty feet. "This is only the tip of my true power." <<if ($heshe is "she") and ($jackromance gte 2)>>\ "Glad to see your giant snake is good for more than one round." You look at the stone column beneath him. "But don't you have anything new to spice up the bedroom? I've already seen this." <<elseif ($honor lt 40)>>\ "Boo." You call. "I've already seen the snake. Get new material!" <<else>>\ "You're running out of abilities, Jack!" You call out. "I've already seen this one." <</if>>\ Jack rubs dust off his chin with one thumb and grins. "You know, when I saw the Callous Clan using so many cannons at once it gave me an idea for a great Fire and Earth Technique, but it would guzzle chi and cost months to perfect it." He stomps on the ground once, blasting out a circle of Earth Chi that reverberates in all directions across the battlefield, even up the volcano's inner walls. "Luckily!" Jack hollers over the deafening sound of grinding stone, "Inside a Fire and Earth Gate, that's not a problem!" One million echoes of cracking stone fill the air. An avalanche of gravel breaks from the volcano's inner walls from the top to the bottom. When it falls down into the lava it ignites, forming a wall of fire around you and Jack. Dust settles and the volcanic walls around you are now covered with small columns sticking out of every surface: Cannons. Four thousand cannon-shaped stone tubes all stick out of the crater's walls, each pointing down at you. <<var $shitjack "Shit, Jack">>\ <<if ($honor gte 60)>>\ <<var $shitjack "That's nothing">>\ <</if>>\ <<var $ebitalk "Ebikowa, stealing">>\ <<choose "ch8dragon-jack-cannon2">> #"You've got to be fucking kidding me." <<var $honor - 2>>\ <<var $score_wild + 1>>\ /* The Wild judge likes that you have an honest reaction instead of all the prideful smug bullshit */\ Against your will, your jaw drops. "You've got to be fucking kidding me." "How does it feel to see someone else benefit from a Gate?" He laughs. \ #use-if ((dig($combatcannon, 1) gte 2) and (dig($combatcannon, 2) gte 1)) "You think cannons impress me? $shitjack, even I have a cannon." [Requires Cannon+Ammunition] <<var $score_cursed + 1>>\ "You think cannons impress me?" You say with a quirked eyebrow. "$shitjack, even I have a cannon." You rip a fuuinjutsu tag, forming a smoke screen around yourself. When it fades, you're holding an entire actual cannon by the back of its barrel. Jack stares at you with half-lidded eyes. "Very cu-" ''[1 Cannonball Spent]'' <<var $combatcannon - 10000>>\ <<if ($perception gte 3)>>\ ''[Perception 3 Check Passed]'' Blackpowder smoke erupts off his face when your cannonball hits him in the nose, plastering his hair back and painting his face with soot. ''[Damage Increased]'' <<var $dmg + 1>>\ ''[Prestige Increased]'' <<var $prestige + 2>>\ "AGH!" Jack screams, pressing one large hand into his nose and cracking it back into place. "You...are such a little shit! I'm going to enjoy destroying you with this Gate more than you could ever know!" "Hold on." You shout back. "This thing takes a bit to reload." "A fucking comedian, huh?" Jack replies dryly. \ <<else>>\ ''[Percpetion 3 Check Failed]'' ''[Prestige Lost]'' <<var $prestige - 1>>\ Jack's head jerks to the side at the last second. Your cannonball blast shoots over his neck, right by his ear, and explodes against the volcanic wall distantly behind him. You missed. "Cute." He finishes, cracking his knuckles. \ <</if>>\ <<var $ebitalk "Ebikowa, you know. Stealing">>\ #Say nothing, cycling chi instead. <<var $score_mystic + 1>>\ You ignore the imminent death and focus on cycling, drawing up the Earth Chi under your feet and into your body. <<if ($chispent gte 1)>>\ <<var $chispent - 1>>\ ''[1 Chi Restored]'' <<var $apval 2>>\ <</if>>\ <<apboost 4>>\ Jack either doesn't notice or doesn't care. "How does it feel to see someone else benefit from a Gate?" He laughs. \ #show-if (($heshe is "she") and ($jackromance gte 1)) "Going to blow your load already? Typical." You gaze at the four thousand cannons aiming down at you. "Going to blow your load already, Jack?" With one side-eye glance you wink up to one of Misuka the Performer's scrying orbs. "Typical." <<var $jackromance + 1>>\ <<var $jackrep - 3>>\ "Your harlot's attitude won't make me go easy on you." Jack says. \ <</choose>>

"I saw what you did in $ebitalk that Gate. Improvising Techniques you never had. \ <<if (dig($eventfun, 10) is 1)>>\ I saw what you did to Daichi too, seizing his Path Manuals. \ <<var $forexp + 1>>\ <</if>>\ It's the same shit you did to me when you copied my Gate Cycling method on that cliff when this all began. Never preparing. Always stealing ideas. You've never belonged among the greats. You're a fraud. A cheap copy." He holds up one hand with his fingers ready to let out a snap. "You've never truly understood what it means to cultivate. Relying on Gates has made you bland and unoriginal." Fire Chi glows from the barrel of every cannons. Even the sizzling of the lava seems to silence under the danger bearing down on your life. <<page "Continue" "ch8dragon-jack-cannon3">>\

You laugh. In the face of imminent death, before the viewing eyes of a million spectators through the kitsune announcer's scrying, you can't contain your laughter at the absurdity of Jack's timing. <<if ($honor gte 50)>>\ "This is pure poetry, Jack!" You shout out, \ <<if ($wounds gte 2)>>\ wiping blood from your mouth with a smile. \ <<else>>\ forming a fist so tight it cracks your knuckles. \ <</if>>\ "You complain about my stolen power more than anyone else, even giving some grand speech about it, and still you fail to see the irony!" Your hands meet at your center and form the cycling handseal you copied from him years ago. "Of all my opponents, you're the one who's seen my real power the least." <<if ($spiritbrandloc is "eyes")>>\ You look up, $spiritbrandcolor chi leaking out of your spiritbranded eyes. \ <<else>>\ You look up, the glean of $auracolor reflecting in your $eyecolor eyes. \ <</if>>\ "Let me show you." <<else>>\ "Oh Jack." You say, shoulders shaking with a manic fit you can't contain. "For once in your pea-brained life, you're right! All I ever do is rely on Gates and steal people's ideas without a care for how they work." <<if ($spiritbrandloc is "eyes")>>\ You look up, $spiritbrandcolor chi leaking out of your spiritbranded eyes. \ <<else>>\ You look up, the glean of $auracolor reflecting in your $eyecolor eyes. \ <</if>>\ "Want to see me do it again?" <</if>>\ ''[Gate Absorption 100% Complete]'' ''[All Techniques Witnessed in Guarded Blossom Now Available]'' "Tch!" Jack growls, taking two steps back when All chi in the area begins sucking into your Cores like a black hole. "This won't change things!" Gusts of wind swirl around the volcanic arena with you in its center, your aura \ <<if (($element1 is "Fire") or ($element2 is "Fire"))>>\ burning with power. \ <<elseif (($element1 is "Storm") or ($element2 is "Storm"))>>\ crackling with power. \ <<elseif (($element1 is "Light") or ($element2 is "Light"))>>\ shining with power. \ <<elseif ((($element1 is "Wind") or ($element2 is "Wind")) or (($element1 is "Water") or ($element2 is "Water")))>>\ swirling with power. \ <<elseif (($element1 is "Ice") or ($element2 is "Ice"))>>\ exuding the freezing mists of power. \ <<elseif (($element1 is "Darkness") or ($element2 is "Darkness"))>>\ pitch black with Darkness power. \ <<elseif (($element1 is "Earth") or ($element2 is "Earth"))>>\ thrumming with power. \ <<else>>\ surging with power. \ <</if>>\ "Then why are you retreating?" Jack snarls, reaching a hand skyward with a scream of rage. ''//"BURNING COFFIN!"//'' All four-thousand cannons fire at once, from every angle. The loudest eruption of your lifetime surrounds you with an inescapable volley of incoming Gate-enforced cannonfire. Desperate yet invigorated, you release all the chi from your Cores in a rapid spiritual bloom. <<if ($heshe is "he")>>\ <<var $godder "God">>\ <<elseif ($heshe is "she")>>\ <<var $godder "Goddess">>\ <</if>>\ <<if ((((($equippedweapon is "Muramasa") or ($equippedweapon is "Kagutsuchi")) or ($equippedweapon is "Ikazuchi")) or ($equippedweapon is "Shishido")) or ($equippedweapon is "Godslayer"))>>\ <<var $weppy $equippedweapon>>\ <<elseif ($equippedweapon is "")>>\ <<var $weppy "your fist">>\ <<else>>\ <<var $weppy ("your " + $equippedweapon)>>\ <</if>>\ <<var $txt "The Heavenly Gate pours through you like an avalanche, offering more power to spend in each second than your spirit can even hold.">>\ <<choose "ch8dragon-jack-arisen">> #''//"DEATH SPLINTER!!"//'' [No Requirements] The air resonates with shreds of Bladed Chi. Motes of Leona's attack, stolen by Sakura's bizarre summon and turned into a barrier. Scraps of its essence left behind. The smallest spark in a sea of flames. A spark you seize upon. $txt You repurpose that energy into magnifying the fading shreds of Leona's Technique, breathing it back to life tenfold with a new master. ''//"DEATH SPLINTER!!"//'' <<learntech 3710300000000064 "Death Splinter" "Ranged Physical Attack. Increases Craft by +1 while Focused. Increases Power Core by +1 while Focused.">>\ <<if ($style is "Akakiru")>>\ ''[Akakiru Synergy: +10 Aura Pressure]'' <<var $aurapressure + 10>>\ <</if>>\ Ripples of $auracolor shards of pour out of your aura like flying flower pedals, swirling out to expand layer after layer. Hundreds of Bladed shards of chi wrap around you, then thousands, tens of thousands, ''millions''. The cannonballs explode against your infinite array and blast waves of $auracolor explosion out of your defense, but you expand faster than they can destroy. "What the fuck is this?!" Jack shouts, stepping back when your swirling sphere grows to reach his body. He runs out of cannonballs long before you run out of chi. An opening appears in your sphere, howling in a circular hall of blades that reveals your body, all so you can look Jack in the eyes. "This is the end." You reply, pointing two fingers at him. "Bang." Your swirling defensive shield returns to the form Leona always meant it to be: a killing tool. The massive river of sharpened, $auracolor chi pedals twists into a beam of power. Peeling off your defensive barrier, every Bladed petal rushes into Jack in the blink of an eye. Hundreds break against his steel-hardened skin and hundreds more barely pierce through, shedding through his Fortitude Cores. Before he can even move one step, the other //thousands// pierce through his chest. He drops to the ground in a river of blood and a rain of green sparks of chi. His aura shatters. <<var $deathsplinter false>>\ <<page "Continue" "ch8dragon-jack-arisen">>\ #show-if ($earpiercer is true) use-if ((($style is "Aoyusumu") or ($style is "Kiihakai")) or ($subrace is "Wolf")) ''//"EARPIERCER!!"//'' [Requires Aoyusumu, Kiihakai, or Wolf Yokai] You slam one foot down to your left, securing your foothold by stomping through the stone. Then, stabilized, you unleash a \ <<if ($heshe is "he")>>\ howl \ <<else>>\ shriek \ <</if>>\ that shakes a dome of sonic force in around you for fifty yards. ''//"EARPIERCER!!"//'' <<if ($style is "Aoyusumu")>>\ <<learntech 2303000030000028 "Earpiercer" "Area Attack. Passively increases Aura Pressure by +15. Increases the $style Style while Focused.">>\ <<elseif ($style is "Kiihakai")>>\ <<learntech 2303000030000038 "Earpiercer" "Area Attack. Passively increases Aura Pressure by +15. Increases the $style Style while Focused.">>\ <<else>>\ <<learntech 2303000030000078 "Earpiercer" "Area Attack. Passively increases Aura Pressure by +15. Increases the $style Style while Focused.">>\ <</if>>\ $txt You unleash it all through your voice. Jack's four-thousand cannonball blasts hit your unending wall of sonic force and deflect back or explode upon contact. Smoke surrounds your screaming dome but it cannot penetrate it, pushed back by the constant onslaught of sound. Within your clear dome of sound, Jack's earbuds burst. He grabs them, blood trickling through his fingers, and stumbles. You take that opening and charge forward with a single, powerful leap. All the sound of your Earpiercer Technique converts back to pure physical force, enhancing the \ <<if ($style is "Aoyusumu")>>\ impact of your psionics. \ <<elseif ($style is "Kiihakai")>>\ potency of your brute spellwork. \ <<elseif ($style is "Kurokonton")>>\ speed of your attacks. \ <<elseif ($style is "Akakiru")>>\ cut of your blade. \ <<elseif ($style is "Midorikatai")>>\ weight of your first even further. \ <</if>>\ You slam your fist into Jack and warp your sound barrier into that singular attack, pulling all sonic force into his gut and blasting him into an opposite end of the arena. He hits the wall, coughs out blood, and falls to the ground amid a shower of green sparks. His shattered aura, you realize. He's surrounded by the sparks of his own shattered aura. You've won. <<var $earpiercer false>>\ <<page "Continue" "ch8dragon-jack-arisen">>\ #show-if ($playtimedevastation is true) use-if (((($element1 is "Wind") or ($element2 is "Wind")) or (($element1 is "Storm") or ($element2 is "Storm"))) or ($style is "Midorikatai")) ''//"PLAYTIME DEVASTATION!!"//'' [Requires Midorikatai, Storm, or Wind] You stomp on the ground, launching your aura up to push your body down. Both your feet break the stone and secure your foothold. $txt Stabilized, you press all that energy into a Technique you witnessed. Not through your body, but through your //aura//. Raw power runs over your aura tenfold, expanding your energy into a $auracolor lightshow illuminating the entire volcano in a new light. As soon as the first cannonball reached your aura, Jack realizes why. ''//"PLAYTIME! DEVASTATION!!"//'' <<if ($style is "Midorikatai")>>\ <<learntech 1730200000000054 "Playtime Devastation" "Ranged Physical Attack. Increases Athletics by +1 while Focused. Increases Agility Core by +1 while Focused.">>\ <<elseif (($element1 is "Wind") or ($element2 is "Wind"))>>\ <<learntech 1730200000000804 "Playtime Devastation" "Ranged Physical Attack. Increases Athletics by +1 while Focused. Increases Agility Core by +1 while Focused.">>\ <<elseif (($element1 is "Storm") or ($element2 is "Storm"))>>\ <<learntech 1730200000000604 "Playtime Devastation" "Ranged Physical Attack. Increases Athletics by +1 while Focused. Increases Agility Core by +1 while Focused.">>\ <</if>>\ The cannonball is not only deflected, not only //reflected//, but blasted backward at three-times the speed it approached you. The full force of the kickball Technique used against you in that small village runs through your aura thousands of times, reflecting every cannonball until the entire Arena turns into a hazard of bouncing cannonballs. Jack leaps over one, deflects three more, stops four with a double-wide energy blast. He doesn't realize until too late that, empowered by the Gate, you didn't only fill your aura with Playtime Devastation. You applied it to his cannonballs. <<cap $auracolor>> lights shine all throughout the battlefield, activating your Playtime Devastation on a thousand ricocheting cannonballs at once. Each projectile changes course immediately, as if kicked at full force, to rocket through the chaotic battlefield and slam into Jack with triple his own power. Deafening, earth-shaking eruption after eruption breaks out when Jack is assaulted with the shrapnel of his own attack. When the smoke clears, he lies on the ground covered in his own blood. His shattered aura falls around him in a rain of fading green sparks. You've won. <<var $playtimedevastation false>>\ <<page "Continue" "ch8dragon-jack-arisen">>\ #show-if ($daggerfallinghailstorm is true) use-if ((($element1 is "Ice") or ($element2 is "Ice")) or ($style is "Akakiru")) ''//"DAGGERFALLING HAILSTORM!!"//'' [Requires Akakiru or Ice] Cannonballs close in on you from all directions. Each explosive projectile carries the payload of a Gate-enforced energy attack from Crusher Jack, and each casing is hardened by the Earth Gate and Jack's own chi. Inner Kingdom Martial Artists might not survive such an assault. You cross your arms over your body, press down on the power of the Gate with all your spiritual control, and have a single overwhelming thought flood through your mind: //Good.// <<if (($element1 is "Ice") or ($element2 is "Ice"))>>\ <<learntech 3740600000000405 "Daggerfalling Hailstorm" "Ranged Energy Attack. Increases Insight by +1 while Focused. Increases Soul Core by +1 while Focused.">>\ <<elseif ($style is "Akakiru")>>\ <<learntech 3740600000000015 "Daggerfalling Hailstorm" "Ranged Energy Attack. Increases Insight by +1 while Focused. Increases Soul Core by +1 while Focused.">>\ <</if>>\ $txt Drawing on that power, your aura freezes in place and covers you in a large crystal of ice imbued with the power of Severing. ''//"DAGGERFALLING HAILSTORM!!"//'' You scream, wrenching both arms open. The ice around you shatters into ''millions'' of projectiles that explode into the volcanic arena around you, slicing holes through every cannonball at once. The entire arena explodes. Four thousand detonations occur at once, erupting through the volcano's crater and covering Jack in the shrapnel and explosions of his own attack. Fires burns at his aura with his own power enhanced by the Gate. Shrapnel cuts into his skin with Earth shards enhanced by the Gate. When the smoke clears, Jack stands in a horse-stance, his arms crossed over his chest and head. His body smokes, his many wounds bleed, and the air around him shimmers with green sparks of a shattered aura. Breathing out smoke, his eyes roll into the back of his head and he falls backward. You've won. <<var $daggerfallinghailstorm false>>\ <<page "Continue" "ch8dragon-jack-arisen">>\ #show-if ($worldhunger is true) use-if ((($style is "Kurokonton") or (($element1 is "Darkness") or ($element2 is "Darkness"))) or (($element1 is "Earth") or ($element2 is "Earth"))) ''//"World Hunger."//'' [Requires Kurokonton, Darkness, or Earth] Cannonballs close in on you from all directions. Each explosive projectile carries the payload of a Gate-enforced energy attack from Crusher Jack, and each casing is hardened by the Earth Gate and Jack's own chi. Inner Kingdom Martial Artists might not survive such an assault. You stand tall, arrogantly refusing to even lift a hand in your defense. After all, none of these attacks will reach you. ''//"World Hunger."//'' <<if ($style is "Kurokonton")>>\ <<learntech 2240000000050040 "World Hunger" "Passively reduces your next combat difficulty after any failed combat check. Increases Soul Core by +1 when Focused.">>\ <<elseif (($element1 is "Darkness") or ($element2 is "Darkness"))>>\ <<learntech 2240000000050100 "World Hunger" "Passively reduces your next combat difficulty after any failed combat check. Increases Soul Core by +1 when Focused.">>\ <<elseif (($element1 is "Earth") or ($element1 is "Earth"))>>\ <<learntech 2240000000050200 "World Hunger" "Passively reduces your next combat difficulty after any failed combat check. Increases Soul Core by +1 when Focused.">>\ <</if>>\ <<if ($style is "Kurokonton")>>\ The hungry force of gravity magnifies around you hundred-fold, crushing a ring into the ground and lava. \ <<elseif (($element1 is "Darkness") or ($element2 is "Darkness"))>>\ The shadows hunger, forming a ring of darkness around you that paints the lava black with overwhelming darkness and sucks in everything around it like the void. \ <<elseif (($element1 is "Earth") or ($element2 is "Earth"))>>\ The Earth's gravity hungers, magnifying hundred-fold in a concentrated ring around you. The ground and lava cave in and \ <</if>>\ Jack's cannonballs curve their trajectory immediately downward when nearing you, dropping into the ring of \ <<if ($style is "Kurokonton")>>\ enhanded gravity \ <<elseif (($element1 is "Darkness") or ($element2 is "Darkness"))>>\ darkness \ <<else>>\ enhanced gravity \ <</if>>\ never to be seen again. No explosions. No fire. No shrapnel. They fall into your ring and disappear forever, as such a cleanup attack is meant to do. Jack doesn't hesitate in his counter, charging Wild Chi into an energy attack, but you react faster. $txt You spend that near limitless chi to rush into Jack with a punch. He turns to slam an elbow into your charge, realizing too late that you activate a second World Hunger under both your feet. The immense force of \ <<if ($style is "Kurokonton")>>\ the hundred-times gravity \ <<elseif (($element1 is "Darkness") or ($element2 is "Darkness"))>>\ the hungering void \ <<else>>\ the hundred-times gravity \ <</if>>\ rips him into the ground just as your punch twist into an uppercut. Your fist hits his jaw so hard that his shattered aura launches higher than the volcano's eight-hundred foot ridge. His eyes turn white, his body crumples, and he falls to the ground. You've won. <<var $worldhunger false>>\ <<page "Continue" "ch8dragon-jack-arisen">>\ #show-if ($fourwindsburningseal is true) use-if ((($style is "Kiihakai") or (($element1 is "Light") or ($element2 is "Light"))) or (($element1 is "Fire") or ($element2 is "Fire"))) ''//"Four Winds Burning Seal!"//'' [Requires Kiihakai, Light, or Fire] ''//"Four Winds Burning Seal!"//'' Power flows out of your body in all directions and freezes in mid-air, shifting and warping into ritual seals that pull Fire Chi from the air. <<if ($style is "Kiihakai")>>\ <<learntech 4800000003100032 "Four Winds Burning Seal" "Energy Melee Attack. Passively reduces the cost of Seals by 1 Component. +2 Chipool while Focused.">>\ <<elseif (($element1 is "Fire") or ($element2 is "Fire"))>>\ <<learntech 4800000003100302 "Four Winds Burning Seal" "Energy Melee Attack. Passively reduces the cost of Seals by 1 Component. +2 Chipool while Focused.">>\ <<else>>\ <<learntech 4800000003100502 "Four Winds Burning Seal" "Energy Melee Attack. Passively reduces the cost of Seals by 1 Component. +2 Chipool while Focused.">>\ <</if>>\ All four erupt with massive beams of power exploding outward in all directions around you. The cannonballs are burned to ash before they can reach you, and what little specks remain are blocked by the physical impressing of the ritual circle. "You left the sky open, Laborer!" Jack screams, leaping over your defense and charging Wild Chi over one forearm to throw a blast down. $txt "What do the four winds control, dumbass?" You scream back, activating the Four Winds part of the Burning Seal. Gravity seizes around Jack and he swirls in place, flipping over. "What the Hells?!" He shouts as he's wrenched down in place just above you. The Four Burning Seals form the walls protecting you from his attack, and now //he// forms the ceiling. With great vengeance, you push that same gravity effect out around you. "No!" Jack screams. Cannonballs empowered with Jack's own chi and an Earth and Fire Gate all swirl into the air above you. "No, you motherfucker!" He howls. "Release me or I'll-" Jack's own near-infinite volley rains down on him in an endless display of hundreds of explosions against his chest, face, groin, and legs. When it finally ends, and both your Techniques fall away, Jack's pitch-blackened torso drops to the ground with a shattered aura. <<var $fourwindsburningseal false>>\ <<page "Continue" "ch8dragon-jack-arisen">>\ #show-if ($trialofthedragon is true) use-if (((($style is "Akakiru") or (($element1 is "Wind") or ($element2 is "Wind"))) or (((((((((((((($equippedweapon is "Tanto")) or ($equippedweapon is "Katana")) or ($equippedweapon is "Muramasa")) or ($equippedweapon is "Greataxe")) or ($equippedweapon is "Qiang")) or ($equippedweapon is "Kunai")) or ($equippedweapon is "Jian")) or ($equippedweapon is "Iceblade")) or ($equippedweapon is "Chiblade")) or ($equippedweapon is "Kagutsuchi")) or ($equippedweapon is "Ikazuchi")) or ($equippedweapon is "Shishido")) or ($equippedweapon is "Godslayer"))) or (dig($metvessel, 1) gte 3)) ''//"TRIAL OF THE DRAGON!!!!"//'' [Requires Akakiru, Wind, Bladed Weapon, or Spirit Pact] <<if (dig($metvessel, 1) gte 3)>>\ //Do it.// You whisper to the spirit fused with your soul. //I-t?// The creature asks while thousands of cannonballs whip through the air in your direction. //YES, IT! DO IT! NOW!// <</if>>\ Power rushes over your body and you scream out a kiai, swinging \ <<if ((((($equippedweapon is "Muramasa") or ($equippedweapon is "Kagutsuchi")) or ($equippedweapon is "Ikazuchi")) or ($equippedweapon is "Shishido")) or ($equippedweapon is "Godslayer"))>>\ <<var $weppy $equippedweapon>>\ <<elseif ($equippedweapon is "")>>\ <<var $weppy "your fist">>\ <<elseif ($equippedweapon is "Handwraps")>>\ <<var $weppy "your handwrapped fist">>\ <<else>>\ <<var $weppy ("your " + $equippedweapon)>>\ <</if>>\ $weppy into the first cannonball to reach your body, deflecting it into the air. Dozens more surround you, only the first to arrive, all speeding in to explode against your flesh. Time slows. Your power grows. $txt The rage inside manifests through your body with hundred-fold speed. <<if ($style is "Akakiru")>>\ <<learntech 1800008004000013 "Trial of the Dragon" "Physical and Energy Melee Attack. Increases Weapon Quality when Focused. +2 Health when Focused.">>\ <<elseif (($element1 is "Wind") or ($element2 is "Wind"))>>\ <<learntech 1800008004000803 "Trial of the Dragon" "Physical and Energy Melee Attack. Increases Weapon Quality when Focused. +2 Health when Focused.">>\ <<else>>\ <<learntech 1800008004000073 "Trial of the Dragon" "Physical and Energy Melee Attack. Increases Weapon Quality when Focused. +2 Health when Focused.">>\ <</if>>\ ''//"TRRRIIIAALLLLL!!!"//'' You screech, swinging $weppy in 360-degree arcs with the windhowling speed rarely ever seen in Outer West. ''//"OF THE DRAGOOONNNNN!!!!"//'' Your whole body glows with $auracolor power as you swat hundreds of cannonballs away every tenth of a second in all directions, launching slashes of power that blow each attack far into the distance. Tens of chi-fueled slashes guard you on all sides. Then hundreds. ''Then thousands.'' Your arm blurs, your footwork grinds the stone beneath your feet, and $weppy swings in an unerring total defense so swiftly that you appear to be covered in a pumpkin-shaped orb of chi, every groove of its surface created by hundreds of chi-slashes occurring in all directions at once. "What the fuck?!" Jack screams out over the explosions firing off all over battlefield like a firework display. "What's wrong with you?" "TRIALLL!!!" You respond, appearing past him in a blinding flash. "OF THE DRAGON!!!!" You outrun //your own power//, and when the hundreds of simultaneous chi slashes trail behind you and wrap around $weppy, you slam them all into Jack at once. Blood flies high into the sky, $auracolor chi overpowers and obliterates his shattering Wild Aura, and Jack goes down. <<var $trialofthedragon false>>\ <<page "Continue" "ch8dragon-jack-arisen">>\ #show-if ($tidalcall gte 1) use-if ((($style is "Aoyusumu") or (($element1 is "Water") or ($element2 is "Water"))) or ($tidalcall is 4)) ''//"Tidal Call!!"//'' [Requires Aoyusumu, Water, or Spirit Pact] -> "ch8dragon-jack-tidalcall" #show-if ($lunarchain is true) use-if ((($style is "Midorikatai") or (($element1 is "Ice") or ($element2 is "Ice"))) or (($element1 is "Earth") or ($element2 is "Earth"))) ''//"Chain of the Lunar $godder."//'' [Requires Midorikatai, Ice, or Earth] Cannonballs close in on you from all directions. Each explosive projectile carries the payload of a Gate-enforced energy attack from Crusher Jack, and each casing is hardened by the Earth Gate and Jack's own chi. Inner Kingdom Martial Artists might not survive such an assault. You decide not to even bother. ''//"Chain of the Lunar $godder."//'' <<if (($element1 is "Ice") or ($element2 is "Ice"))>>\ <<learntech 2710050000000404 "Chain of the Lunar $godder" "Ranged Physical Attack. Increases Survival by +1 while Focused. Increases Power Core by +1 while Focused.">>\ <<elseif (($element1 is "Earth") or ($element2 is "Earth"))>>\ <<learntech 2710050000000204 "Chain of the Lunar $godder" "Ranged Physical Attack. Increases Survival by +1 while Focused. Increases Power Core by +1 while Focused.">>\ <<else>>\ <<learntech 2710050000000054 "Chain of the Lunar $godder" "Ranged Physical Attack. Increases Survival by +1 while Focused. Increases Power Core by +1 while Focused.">>\ <</if>>\ Every one of Jack's Gate-empowered cannonballs erupt in the center of the volcanic arena where you're standing. They crash into each other, the ground, and the lava, exploding into a ground-shaking, deafening eruption that could kill even the strongest of contestants. When the smoke clears there's nothing but a crater. Jack approaches, looking down, and spits out blood when the ground explodes behind him. Copied from Tian Fang, your \ <<if (($element1 is "Earth") or ($element2 is "Earth"))>>\ massive rock auger with a needle-sharp tip \ <<elseif (($element1 is "Ice") or ($element2 is "Ice"))>>\ massive ice auger with a needle-sharp tip \ <<else>>\ Wild Chi grasps upon the Gate's Earth Chi to increase the weight of a massive rock auger with a needle-sharp tip. It \ <</if>>\ stabs into him and spins when you emerge from underground. ''//"CHAIN OF THE LUNAR <<capall $godder>>!!"//'' You scream again, ramming the massive spinning drill into his back with enough torque to shred through a mountain. Your attack pushes him forward and you follow, running over the lava with the speed of your charge, until you ram Jack into the closest volcanic wall and crush your own attack against his back. Step after step you rush forward, feeling your Gate-empowered hardened drill break against Jack's skin, but you keep pushing hard enough to break the stone. When you finally reach the end, reeling back with a fist to finish the fight, you find Jack in a crater of the wall. Facedown, unconscious. Green sparks fly around his body from his shattered aura. You've won. <<var $lunarchain false>>\ <<page "Continue" "ch8dragon-jack-arisen">>\ <</choose>>

"Is that all?" He asks, unphased, but his eyes dart left and right at \ <<if ($handwrappy is "handwraps")>>\ yours handwraps uncoiling off your arm and \ <<elseif ($handwrappy is "Shishido")>>\ your kusarigama's chain \ <<else>>\ the chain of your meteor hammer \ <</if>>\ wrapping over his body in a perfect spiral. "No." You reply, pulling on the weapon to tighten the binding over his arms, chest, waist, and legs. <<if ((dig($weaponbonus, 2) gte 2) or ($handwrappy is "Shishido"))>>\ ''[Weapon Quality (Superior) Check Passed]'' Jack flexes with \ <<if ($handwrappy is "handwraps")>>\ Fire Chi to burn through your wrappings \ <<else>>\ Wild Chi to strain the chain \ <</if>>\ but your craftsmanship is too sturdy. Before he can try anything else you sweep his legs to break his footing then uppercut his ribs when he falls, launching him airborne. A trail of your \ <<if ($handwrappy is "handwraps")>>\ handwrap \ <<else>>\ chain \ <</if>>\ flutters in the wind off his rising form and you leap into the sky, catch it, then spin him in a blurring circle overhead. <<cap $auracolor>> glows around your arm like a shining beacon when you swing him downward, unraveling him at nauseating speeds and shooting him into his own rock wall like a bullet from a sling. <<var $dmg + 1>>\ <<if ((dig($weaponbonus, 2) gte 3) or ($handwrappy is "Shishido"))>>\ ''[Weapon Quality (Mastercrafted) Check Passed]'' ''[Damage Increased]'' <<var $dmg + 1>>\ <</if>>\ <<page "Continue" "ch8dragon-jack-rocksnakew">>\ <<else>>\ ''[Weapon Quality (Superior) Check Failed]'' <<if ($handwrappy is "handwraps")>>\ "Cute." Jack flexes with Fire Chi and incinerates the handwrap around him. <<unequipweapon1>>\ <<var $itemhandwraps 000000000>>\ ''[Item Lost: Handwraps]'' \ <<else>>\ "Cute." Jack flexes with Wild Chi and breaks the chains holding him. <<unequipweapon1>>\ <<var $itemmeteorhammer 000000000>>\ ''[Item Lost: Meteor Hammer]'' <</if>>\ Your eyes widen with shock, forced even wider when he uppercuts you in the gut and grabs both sides of your head. "Did you think your little string would hold me?" He laughs, slamming his forehead into your nose with a bloody crunch. "Your toys are nothing!" <<woundcheck 1 true false>>\ "YOU are nothing!" He screams, covering his whole body in tremendously weighted Wild Chi. He slams his head back into your skull again, this time with a thousand extra pounds and enough force to blow you into the ground below. <<if ($style is "Midorikatai")>>\ ''[Midorikatai Event: Damage Resisted]'' <<else>>\ <<woundcheck 1 false false>>\ <</if>>\ <<page "Continue" "ch8dragon-jack-rocksnakel">>\ <</if>>\

"Why was I ever bothered by you?" Jack laughs through the residual cloud of your attack's impact. His body explodes out of the smoke as if he'd been shot out of a cannon. "You're too weak!" The ground around you shakes, and up above, Misuka catches herself before tripping into the volcano. "L-Looks like we're about to see the fabled Earth mastery of Crusher Jack, Masters and Mistresses!" Stone pillars rise up all around you, forcing lava to bubble further into the air. Jack slams his hand into one before he hits you, sling-shotting himself to the left toward another pillar that he slingshots off as well, toward a third. "You could never do what I do!" He taunts, ricocheting between stone pillars in all directions around you, faster and faster. "You lack my speed!" His body blurs into lines of green energy connecting the pillars. Your senses screech when he flies off behind you and spins, coming at you in a straight line. "You lack my power!" Amber and green chi radiate around his flying body, gaining speed and spiritual weight with every second. <<choose "ch8dragon-jack-chargingfist2">> #Charge in to meet him head-on. [Defend with Fortitude] <<var $combatstat "fortitude">>\ You snarl at your ruined plan and throw both palms backward. Charging $auracolor into wide waves of power, you sprint toward him and kick off when you release both blasts to heighten your acceleration. #show-if ($flashstep is true) ''//"FLASH STEP!"//'' [Defend with Agility] ''//"FLASH STEP!"//'' You shout out, blasting toward Jack with even more speed than his showmanship generated. <<var $combatstat "agility">>\ <<var $cmod + 1>>\ #show-if (($element1 is "Light") or ($element2 is "Light")) Speed yourself up with Light Chi. [Defend with Agility] Light Chi wraps around your body and pulls you along the waves of firelight from the volcano, jettisoning you toward Jack with instant acceleration. <<var $combatstat "agility">>\ #show-if (($element1 is "Wind") or ($element2 is "Wind")) Speed yourself up with Wind Chi. [Defend with Agility] Wind Chi wraps around you from nowhere and blasts you forward with instant acceleration. <<var $combatstat "agility">>\ #show-if (($element1 is "Storm") or ($element2 is "Storm")) Speed yourself up with Storm Chi. [Defend with Agility] Storm Chi crackles around you body and launches out toward Jack like a lightning bolt. You grasp onto that bolt of pure energy and ride along its wave, pulling yourself forward with instant acceleration. <<var $combatstat "agility">>\ #show-if (($flashstep is false) and (((($element1 isnot "Storm") and ($element2 isnot "Storm")) and (($element1 isnot "Wind") and ($element2 isnot "Wind"))) and (($element1 isnot "Light") and ($element2 isnot "Light")))) use-if ($flashstep is true) Activate a speed technique. [Defend with Agility] #use-if ((($style is "Aoyusumu") and ($stylerank gte 2)) and ((($chipool + ($soul/2)) - $chispent) gte 1)) Use his own speed against him. [Requires Aoyusumu (Adept), Costs 1 Chi] You slide one foot back and prepare your hips, shaking out the tension of your arms. It's been so long since you've focused on the Martial side of Aoyusumu. Jack is upon you in a second and you correct that flaw, siphoning his speed in a single burst to hasten the movement of your body, grabbing his arm and twisting him over your shoulder. With a quick burst of movement and a psionic redistribution of Jack's incoming force, you use his own speed to slam his body into the rock island on which you stand. ''[1 Chi Spent]'' <<var $chispent + 1>>\ You surprise even yourself when Jack's heavy body hits the rock so hard that it explodes like a bomb, blasting him through it and into the lava pool below. <<var $dmg + 1>>\ <<if ($power gte 8)>>\ ''[Power 8 Check Passed: Damage Increased]'' <<var $dmg + 1>>\ <<elseif ($ruthless lte 20)>>\ ''[Compassion 80 Check Passed: Damage Increased]'' <<var $dmg + 1>>\ <<elseif ($stylerank gte 2)>>\ ''[Aoyusumu Rank (Adept): Damage Increased]'' <<var $dmg + 1>>\ <</if>>\ Through sound of the thunderous explosion, you hear him laughing. <<page "Continue" "ch8dragon-jack-outoflava">>\ <</choose>>

The two of you fly at each other in a blur of contrasting colors of spiritual power. He throws his forearm forward with his full weight behind it; you respond by flying forward with your own. At the last second, a Technique activates from within his body that hardens his skin enough to break bones. <<if ($armguardname isnot "")>>\ ''[Blacksmith Armguard Event: Automatic Success]'' Fortunately, you're striking with something harder than bones. <<if $armguardname eq $clan + " Armguards (Spiked)" or $armguardname is "Empowered Armguards (Spiked)">>\ ''[Nail Bonus: Damage Increased]'' <<var $dmg + 1>>\ The nails of your father's armguard crack through his skin and rip into his forearm when the two of you collide. \ <<else>>\ Your father's armguard dents in the center, leaving an abrasion on Jack's arm when the two of you collide. <</if>>\ Lava erupts beneath your feet from the force of your collision, causing an empty void beneath your meeting point. "Passable!" Jack shouts when you're both blown backward from the force of your collision, knocked toward opposite ends of the volcano's lava pool. "BUT PASSABLE ISN'T ENOUGH TO BE NUMBER ONE!" <<page "Continue" "ch8dragon-jack-acrossarena">>\ <<elseif ($ironbody is true)>>\ ''//"IRON BODY!"//'' You shout, reacting with a Technique of your own. ''[Automatic Success]'' Your arm's skin turns black with hardening energy and your forearms collide like equal forces, erupting the lava beneath your feet with enough pressure to clear out a chasm beneath your meeting point. "Passable!" Jack shouts when you're both blown backward from the force of your collision, knocked toward opposite ends of the volcano's lava pool. "BUT PASSABLE ISN'T ENOUGH TO BE NUMBER ONE!" <<page "Continue" "ch8dragon-jack-acrossarena">>\ <<else>>\ Lava explodes beneath your meeting point, clearing the volcanic arena's floor like an emptied sea. <<var $combatskill "perception">>\ <<var $combatdiff 14>>\ <<if ($combatskill is "agility")>>\ <<discount "Kurokonton" $stylerank>>\ <<discount "Legs" 1>>\ <<discount "Agile" 1>>\ <<discount "Light" 2>>\ <<discount "Wind" 2>>\ <<discount "Storm" 2>>\ <<else>>\ <<discount "Midorikatai" $stylerank>>\ <<discount "Aoyusumu" 1>>\ <<discount "Ice" 2>>\ <<discount "Earth" 2>>\ <<discount "Bovine" 1>>\ <<discount "Muscular" 1>>\ <</if>>\ <<combatcheck (12-$jackdiff)>>\ <<if ($passcheck is true)>>\ <<cap $auracolor>> chi explodes against green and amber chi, but both spiritual reinforcements are blown away in the wake of the physical collision. Your skin, muscles, and bone shake like the gong of a bell when you impact Jack's reinforced forearm, but so does his. <<var $dmg + 1>>\ "Passable!" Jack shouts when you're both blown backward from the force of your collision, knocked toward opposite ends of the volcano's lava pool. "BUT PASSABLE ISN'T ENOUGH TO BE NUMBER ONE!" <<page "Continue" "ch8dragon-jack-acrossarena">>\ <<else>>\ His arm strikes yours like the corner of an anvil, sending fractures resonating up and down your skeleton. <<if ($pblocktech isnot "")>>\ ''[$pblocktech Activated, Damage Reduced]'' <<woundcheck 1 false false>>\ <<else>>\ <<woundcheck 2 false false>>\ <</if>>\ "Ggh!" You scream out, your arm bleeding under the skin. Jack grabs you by the head before you can react and tosses you airborn by a mere foot. "Fun, right?" He laughs, spinning and kicking you in the abdomen hard enough to launch you across the volcanic arena. <<page "Continue" "ch8dragon-jack-arenabad">>\ <</if>>\ <</if>>\

<<var $val 10>>\ <<if ((($stylerank gte 2) or ($lore gte 3)) or ($jadedragonfoundation is true))>>\ <<if ($lore gte 3)>>\ ''[Lore 3 Check Passed: Damage Increased]'' <<var $solexp + 2>>\ <<elseif ($stylerank gte 3)>>\ ''[Kiihakai (Expert): Damage Increased]'' <<else>>\ ''[Jade Dragon Event: Damage Increased]'' <</if>>\ <<var $dmg + 1>>\ <<var $val 15>>\ <</if>>\ ''[Aura Pressure +$val]'' <<var $aurapressure + $val>>\ <<page "Continue" "ch8dragon-jack-kiihakaitf3">>\

Your face is covered in dirt and soot, your ears are ringing, the trees around you are gone, and Crusher Jack has been blown somewhere up into the lower stratosphere. You can't see him anymore. "rrryyyykkkyyy?" "WHAT?" You shout to your side, where Desdemona and three of her Disciples are inspecting your prone, injured body. "Are you okay?" She asks again, brushing Mystic Chi over your ears. Your hearing actually does seem to return, and your concussion feels less all-encompassing. "I'm-" "Dead." She says in surprise, blinking. "Your Cores, they're in tatters and leaking. That's...I mean, $name, I think injuries like this are permanent. Can you even stand? Here." She rushes more Mystic Chi over your legs until you can barely manage to pull yourself up. "Thanks." You say, leaning on Li Sun's shoulder to hold steady; there are no more trees nearby to rest on. "That's not going to kill him, you know." Desdemona gives you a look of disappointment. "I know my spells, Thunderfaller. There is no-" A flash of green light high in the sky detonates when Crusher Jack recovers. "By the Hells." Desdemona curses. She brushes hair out of her face and looks back to you, brow scrunching with mental running calculations. "We have two, maybe three minutes before he lands. I've no trump cards that can beat someone that survived that attack. Li Moon, get the Thunderfaller back into the Gate and prepare your Dancing Willow Ward." "The what now?" You ask. Li Moon, Desdemona's female Disciple in glasses, grabs your arm and starts running. "It's a ritual to stop spiritual wounds from worsening. If you can push yourself, Young Master, I can keep you stable enough to perform an attack using the Gate's energies. Once." Li Sun catches up to you both, catching your other arm to help you run faster. "I know an enhancement ritual that could improve the output further instead, but with your injuries it would be...well it would be bad." "Choose quickly." Desdemona says, glancing up mid-sprint. "He's coming." <<choose "ch8dragon-jack-dessy2">> #Use Li Moon's stabilizing ritual. <<var $ritchy 1>>\ #use-if ((($health + ($fortitude / 2)) - $wounds) gte 2) Use Li Sun's damage-enhancing ritual. [Costs 1 Health] <<var $ritchy 2>>\ #use-if ($background is "Herbalist") Use both. [Requires Herbalist] <<var $ritchy 3>>\ "I have some restorative tonics for situations like this." You say, chugging some of mother's burnt leap soup distilled into a ''thankfully'' tasteless concoction. "How?" Desdemona asks. "How could you have an elixir prepared for having to fight through shattered Cores?" You don't know how to confess that what you drank is more like a low-grade spiritual painkiller, so you simply reply. "I know Jack better than anyone. Let's go." <<page "Continue" "ch8dragon-jack-dessy2">>\ <</choose>>

Li Moon and Li Sun help you hobble as quickly as you can back up the mountain toward the volcanic Heavenly Gate. Halfway through your mad dash the subtle, infuriated scream of Crusher Jack becomes audible even from so high up. "Dessy, I don't think we're going to make it." Li Moon says, turning around to see Jack falling back to the forest. "That's //Lady// Desdemona." Li Sun corrects. Desdemona sighs and withdraws a set of seal tags, combat pills, and unfamiliar trinkets in her hand. "What ridiculous circumstances, but we're playing to win. Get the Thunderfaller to the Gate. I will buy us another minute." <<var $jackhelp "Desdemona">>\ "Don't." You say, hobbling to keep up. "This is my fight." "Then win." She replies, dark eyes casting to the announcer's scrying orbs overhead. "But do not expect me to turn down a chance to fight Crusher Jack in front of the empire first." The corner of her mouth twitches upward. "My Sect couldn't pay for a better opportunity to prove itself." <<page "Continue" "ch8dragon-jack-dessy3">>\

You make it to the top of the volcano with the help of the Dreamriver Disciples. Finding yourself standing atop the volcanic ridge, you feel the Heavenly Gate's energies begin to refill your spirit like water being poured into a broken vase faster than it can spill out. Back in the forest, Crusher Jack forms a heavy crater with his landing. Immediately, he’s set upon by a spiderweb of crackling darkness. The clash ignites the forest around them in a struggle of lightning and fire. "She's not going to last a minute." You say. Li Moon scoffs. "Do not underestimate our Sectmistress!" "Indeed, learn some respect!" Li Sun cusses out angrily before looking to Li Moon. "She will not last the full minute, though. \ <<if ($ritchy is 1)>>\ Sister, begin the ritual." Li Moon scowls but pulls on the cuff of her dark robes all the same, surrounding herself in a puff of a smoke. When the smoke clears- "You're a miko priestess?" You ask, surprised. "I served my year." Li Moon says defensively, dressed in the red and white traditional robe of the Devanic Temple priestesses. "Lady Desdemona required it, so that we could bring their seals to our Sect. Now stand still." She begins to dance around you in a formal, careful dance. Each foot placement carefully calculated, each spin delayed until her sole and heel are in alignment. As she does so, strings of Mystic Chi trace the air around you like a cage. No... Like a shell. "The ritual is complete. I-" <<elseif ($ritchy is 2)>>\ I will begin the ritual." Li Moon steps back and Li Sun presses his hands into the ground. From his palms manifests interlocking rectangles of glowing Mystic Chi on the ground. They slide into place to form three circles of rotating rectangles around you, each chaining to each other, each pressing the ambient chi underground into you. "N-Now!" Li Sun shouts, gritting his teeth to maintain the effect. "Attack him n-" <<else>>\ Sister, we must begin the ritual." Li Moon scowls but begins, dancing around you in a formal, careful dance. Each foot placement carefully calculated, each spin delayed until her sole and heel are in alignment. As she does so, strings of Mystic Chi trace the air around you like a cage. No... Like a shell. As she does so, Li Sun presses his hands into the ground. From his palms manifests interlocking rectangles of glowing Mystic Chi on the ground. They slide into place to form three circles of rotating rectangles around you, each chaining to each other, each pressing the ambient chi underground into you. "N-Now!" Li Sun shouts, gritting his teeth to maintain the effect. "Attack him n-" <</if>>\ Both Li Sun and Li Moon are blown away, vanishing in an instant by flying rocks bowling them clear across the mountain. Two trees fall over in the forest and you can see Jack grinning. Impromptu stone cannons rise from the ground to his left and right. In his hand he grips an unconscious Desdemona by the front of her robes. "Did you think your riffraff friends could stop me?" Jack lifts Desdemona up like a trophy, reels his hand back, and throws her west over the tree line. "Thanks for the clear shot." You say with gritted teeth, pulling on the Gate's energy with all your might, as if your Cores //weren't// ruptured, and pressing that power through your body like pressurized water forced through a hose. <<if ($ritchy is 2)>>\ The strain is incredible. <<if ((($health + ($fortitude / 2)) - $wounds) gte 2)>>\ <<woundcheck 1>>\ <<else>>\ <<aploss 10>>\ <</if>>\ <</if>>\ <<cap $auracolor>> power builds up between your palms like a shining star until you release it all in a straight line at Jack. <<var $apval 10>>\ <<if ((dig($techslotcode[1], 16) gte 4) and (dig($techslotcode[1], 16) lte 6))>>\ ''//"<<capall $techslotname[1]>>!!"//'' <<elseif ((dig($techslotcode[2], 16) gte 4) and (dig($techslotcode[2], 16) lte 6))>>\ ''//"<<capall $techslotname[2]>>!!"//'' <<elseif ((dig($techslotcode[4], 16) gte 4) and (dig($techslotcode[3], 16) lte 6))>>\ ''//"<<capall $techslotname[3]>>!!"//'' <<elseif ((dig($techslotcode[4], 16) gte 4) and (dig($techslotcode[4], 16) lte 6))>>\ ''//"<<capall $techslotname[4]>>!!"//'' <<else>>\ <<var $apval 5>>\ <</if>>\ <<apboost $apval>>\ Your beam rips across the skyline and explodes into a cascading hundred-foot semi-circle when it collides into Jack's body. The fallout shakes the trees all around you, quaking the ground, and blasting Jack into the distance. <<if (($ritchy is 1) and (((((dig($techslotcode[1], 16) gte 4) and (dig($techslotcode[1], 16) lte 6)) or ((dig($techslotcode[2], 16) gte 4) and (dig($techslotcode[2], 16) lte 6))) or ((dig($techslotcode[3], 16) gte 4) and (dig($techslotcode[3], 16) lte 6))) or ((dig($techslotcode[4], 16) gte 4) and (dig($techslotcode[4], 16) lte 6))))>>\ That's the //aftereffects.// You can't imagine how it must have been to actually be hit by such an attack. ''[Ranged Attack Equipped: Damage Increased]'' <<var $dmg + 1>>\ <<elseif ($ritchy is 2)>>\ That's the //aftereffects.// You can't imagine how it must have been to actually be hit by such an attack. ''[Damage Increased]'' <<var $dmg + 1>>\ <<elseif ($ritchy is 3)>>\ That's the //aftereffects.// You can't imagine how it must have been to actually be hit by such an attack. ''[Damage Increased]'' ''[Herbalist Event: Damage Increased Further]'' <<var $dmg + 2>>\ <</if>>\ <<page "Continue" "ch8dragon-jack-dessy4">>\

You pant, exhausted beyond exhaustion, and allow yourself to tumble over the volcano's edge. If you could laugh at your choice, you would. Tumbling towards lava is fatal in your state, but the risk of lava burning you to death is //lower// than the risk of surviving your injuries outside of a Gate. Thankfully it doesn't matter; you hit a rock jutting out halfway down to break your fall and probably your femur. The pain doesn't even stick out; you hold up one hand victoriously and wait for Misuka's scrying orbs to arrive. ... ... Footsteps echo, slowly at first, from the foot of the tunnel Jack created when he punched you through the mountain. You look up to the tunnel's entrance to see Jack, his chest scorched. He leaps far overhead, landing in the arena below, and looks back to you with an expression one of disgust. "You can stop pretending." He hollers confidently. "I see through it this time." <<page "What?" "ch8dragon-jack-mergetf">>\

"A clean hit!" Misuka calls from far above. "It doesn't matter." Jack says, more to you than Misuka. Despite your fist cleanly lodged into his neck, he doesn't counterstrike in such a close proximity. He only stares down at you. "This isn't enough." He flexes his neck, and your fist is pressed out. Jack grins. "Wild Chi has more tricks than they say." You scowl, then notice his wrist tensing. //!!!// Ducking just in time to dodge a chop he aims at your neck, you respond with a high kick that he meets with a kick of his own, clashing your two shins against each other. Beneath your heavy blows the rock island on which you stand begins to shake. "Give me what I want." Jack demands, slamming his hands into yours to press your footing down into the stone. "No pansy ranged blasts! No cheap tricks! A brutal, blow-for-blow, physical beatdown!" You hate to imagine that the look on your face must be the same grin he always wears. "You asked for it!" "I demanded it!" You jerk his body sideways into your knee. He flips over to avoid the damage and lets go of your grip, slamming his fist against your elbow. You lean away to soften the strike, spinning in place with a snap kick at his chin. <<var $combatstat "agility">>\ <<var $combatskill "perception">>\ <<discount "Kurokonton" 1>>\ <<discount "Midorikatai" 1>>\ <<discount "Aoyusumu" 1>>\ <<combatcheck (12-$jackdiff)>>\ <<if ($passcheck is true)>>\ <<var $dmg + 1>>\ It connects, but he stomps on \ <<else>>\ He responds with a stomp to \ <</if>>\ the rock island you're standing on, breaking it to pieces and you into his own snap-kick to //your// chin, sending you flying into the air. As you're sent airborne he leaps into the sky with fire glowing around his fist. You spin vertically to right yourself and- <<choose "ch8dragon-jack-outoflava">> #Slip a critical hit past his guard. Pushing your spinning flip into overdrive, you turn over four times before Jack closes the distance and feint a punch to throw his guard off, allowing you to spin a kick down into his shoulder. <<var $combatstat "agility">>\ <<if (($power+$powsurge) is (($agility+$agisurge)+1))>>\ <<var $combatstat "power">>\ <</if>>\ <<var $combatskill "stealth">>\ <<discount "Kurokonton" $stylerank>>\ <<discount "Petite" 2>>\ <<discount "Light" 1>>\ <<discount "Darkness" 2>>\ <<discount "Manlet" 1>>\ <<attack "Melee">>\ <<combatcheck (15-$jackdiff)>>\ <<if ($passcheck is true)>>\ Your leg slams Jack's head sideways, blasting him toward the ground unscathed. "Is that all?!" He laughs, unscathed. "You forgot this!" You shout at him, launching an energy blast that slides past him and into the lava pool beneath his landing. The molten magma explodes around him to engulf his entire body. <<if ($power gte 7)>>\ ''[Power 7 Check Passed: Damage Increased]'' <<var $dmg + 1>>\ <</if>>\ Through sound of the thunderous explosion, you hear him laughing. <<page "Continue" "ch8dragon-jack-outoflava">>\ <<else>>\ He catches your leg between both forearms and rips you downward. Your body is flipped upside down and that centrifugal force slams your head into his turning knee strike. <<if ($pblocktech isnot "")>>\ ''[$pblocktech Activated, Damaged Reduced]'' <<woundcheck 1 false false>>\ <<else>>\ <<woundcheck 2 false false>>\ <</if>>\ "Pathetic!" Jack shouts lifting you upside down by the calf. "I expected more!" He swings you overhead and leaps, throwing you down with brute force into the lava below. <<page "Continue" "ch8dragon-jack-yourlava">>\ <</if>>\ #Protect your vitals throughout a prolonged mid-air brawl. Jack slams into you but his opening strike is blocked by your crossing forearms. Without any ground to push you against, his impact is wasted and only sends you higher. "HOLD STILL YOU LITTLE-" Flames erupt beneath his feet again, allowing him to jump in mid-air and swing a spinning kick at you. <<var $combatstat "fortitude">>\ <<var $combatskill "survival">>\ <<if ($athletics gte ($survival + 2))>>\ <<var $combatskill "athletics">>\ <</if>>\ <<discount "Midorikatai" $stylerank>>\ <<discount "Aoyusumu" $stylerank>>\ <<discount "Earth" 2>>\ <<discount "Wind" 2>>\ <<discount "Fire" 1>>\ <<attack "Melee">>\ <<combatcheck (12-$jackdiff)>>\ <<if ($passcheck is true)>>\ He never makes it. By the time he regains enough force to continue his charge toward you in the air, you've already \ <<if ((($style is "Midorikatai") or ($element1 is "Earth")) or ($element2 is "Earth"))>>\ amplified the \ <<if ($style is "Midorikatai")>>\ Wild \ <<else>>\ Earth \ <</if>>\ Chi of your body to quintuple your weight, dropping yourself swiftly downward to \ <<else>>\ launched a wave of chi out of your own legs to launch yourself down and \ <</if>>\ meet him head-on. <<cap $auracolor>> chi rings out of your fist when it cracks into his eyes, rocketing him down into the lava below. <<var $dmg + 1>>\ <<if ($power gte 9)>>\ ''[Power 9 Check Passed: Damage Increased]'' <<var $dmg + 1>>\ <</if>>\ He laughs as he falls, staring at you while dragging a thumb across his throat. <<page "Continue" "ch8dragon-jack-outoflava">>\ <<else>>\ You guard your torso and suffer a strike to your upper legs, shaking the inside of your hamstring like a bell. <<woundcheck 1 true false>>\ His strike sends you spinning in place, but not for long. A single punch to your guarded forearms blasts you across the volcanic arena in a Wild green explosion of physical and spiritual force. Wind presses your cheeks into waves and the distant rock wall grows closer and closer. <<page "Continue" "ch8dragon-jack-arenabad">>\ <</if>>\ #show-if ((($equippedweapon isnot "Yumi") and ($equippedweapon isnot "")) and ($equippedweapon isnot "Handwraps")) Draw $weppy to break through his guard. [Requires Handheld Melee Weapon] <<if (($style is "Akakiru") and (((((((((((((($equippedweapon is "Tanto")) or ($equippedweapon is "Katana")) or ($equippedweapon is "Muramasa")) or ($equippedweapon is "Greataxe")) or ($equippedweapon is "Qiang")) or ($equippedweapon is "Kunai")) or ($equippedweapon is "Jian")) or ($equippedweapon is "Iceblade")) or ($equippedweapon is "Chiblade")) or ($equippedweapon is "Kagutsuchi")) or ($equippedweapon is "Ikazuchi")) or ($equippedweapon is "Shishido")) or ($equippedweapon is "Godslayer")))>>\ You draw $weppy and run Bladed Chi over its edge. "Enough fistfighting, Jack! You should have brought a weapon!" A sword of rock manifests from Jack's arm. "I am a weapon!" He flies upward toward you, twisting in the air from constant jets of flame beneath him. ''[Akakiru Bladed Weapon: Automatic Success]'' "No." You reply. "//I// am a weapon." Sixteen slashes appear in the air all around him and you sheath your blade. He looks left and right at the attacks manifesting out of nowhere. "When did you-" All sixteen close in and cut into him at once, exploding with chi. <<if (dig($weaponbonus, 2) gte 3)>>\ ''[Weapon Quality Check Passed: Damage Increased]'' <<var $dmg + 1>>\ <<if ($stylerank lt 2)>>\ <</if>>\ <<elseif ($power gte 9)>>\ ''[Power 9 Check Passed: Damage Increased]'' <<var $dmg + 1>>\ <<if ($stylerank lt 2)>>\ <</if>>\ <</if>>\ <<if ($stylerank gte 2)>>\ ''[Akakiru (Adept): Damage Increased]'' <<var $dmg + 1>>\ <</if>>\ The slicing force cuts through Jack's skin but not his momentum. He flies out of the cloud of exploding $auracolor energy and into your fist, which //does// stop his momentum when you punch him back down into the lava pool below. He laughs as he falls, staring at you while dragging a thumb across his throat. <<page "Continue" "ch8dragon-jack-outoflava">>\ <<else>>\ You draw $weppy and swing down with all your might, using the spin of your rotational flip to drive your weapon into Jack's rising block like an executioner's axe. <<var $combatstat "power">>\ <<var $weapontest true>>\ <<discount "Kurokonton" 1>>\ <<discount "Ice" 1>>\ <<discount "Storm" 1>>\ <<discount "Earth" 1>>\ <<discount "Wind" 1>>\ <<combatcheck (13-$jackdiff)>>\ <<if ($passcheck is true)>>\ <<cap $weppy>> \ <<if (($style is "Akakiru") and (((((((((((((($equippedweapon is "Tanto")) or ($equippedweapon is "Katana")) or ($equippedweapon is "Muramasa")) or ($equippedweapon is "Greataxe")) or ($equippedweapon is "Qiang")) or ($equippedweapon is "Kunai")) or ($equippedweapon is "Jian")) or ($equippedweapon is "Iceblade")) or ($equippedweapon is "Chiblade")) or ($equippedweapon is "Kagutsuchi")) or ($equippedweapon is "Ikazuchi")) or ($equippedweapon is "Shishido")) or ($equippedweapon is "Godslayer")))>>\ slashes \ <<else>>\ slams \ <</if>>\ into Jack's flying flaming fist and bounces off, sending shaking vibrations up your hand. Your eyes shoot open from the surprise; anyone else would have had their entire hand \ <<if (($style is "Akakiru") and (((((((((((((($equippedweapon is "Tanto")) or ($equippedweapon is "Katana")) or ($equippedweapon is "Muramasa")) or ($equippedweapon is "Greataxe")) or ($equippedweapon is "Qiang")) or ($equippedweapon is "Kunai")) or ($equippedweapon is "Jian")) or ($equippedweapon is "Iceblade")) or ($equippedweapon is "Chiblade")) or ($equippedweapon is "Kagutsuchi")) or ($equippedweapon is "Ikazuchi")) or ($equippedweapon is "Shishido")) or ($equippedweapon is "Godslayer")))>>\ cut in half \ <<else>>\ broken into pulp \ <</if>>\ with how hard you hit, but your attack was not without effect. /* he has protections against non-Akakiru weapons, no bonus damage */\ While you're sent backflipping into the air from the collision, Jack is blown back down into the lava like a green glowing meteor. He laughs as he falls, staring at you while dragging a thumb across his throat. <<page "Continue" "ch8dragon-jack-outoflava">>\ <<else>>\ ''*TING*'' Jack's eyes grow wild, his grin grows wider, and his flaming fist breaks through your weapon without resistance, cracking it in half like a twig. "YOUR TOYS WON'T SAVE YOU!" He shouts, ramming his fist into your gut with a gout of flame. <<if ($eblocktech isnot "")>>\ ''[$eblocktech Activated: Damage Reduced]'' <<woundcheck 1 false false>>\ <<else>>\ <<woundcheck 2 false false>>\ <</if>>\ You cough up blood and watch the halves of your $equippedweapon fall into the lava below. ''[Item Lost: $equippedweapon]'' <<unequipweapon1>>\ <<if ($equippedweapon is "Qiang")>>\ <<var $itemqiang 100000000>>\ <</if>>\ <<if ($equippedweapon is "Claws")>>\ <<var $itemclaws 100000000>>\ <</if>>\ <<if ($equippedweapon is "Kunai")>>\ <<var $itemkunai 100000000>>\ <</if>>\ <<if ($equippedweapon is "Meteor Hammer")>>\ <<var $itemmeteorhammer 100000000>>\ <</if>>\ <<if ($equippedweapon is "Katana")>>\ <<var $itemkatana 100000000>>\ <</if>>\ <<if ($equippedweapon is "Kusarigama")>>\ <<var $itemkusarigama 100000000>>\ <</if>>\ <<if ($equippedweapon is "Jian")>>\ <<var $itemjian 100000000>>\ <</if>>\ <<if ($equippedweapon is "Tanto")>>\ <<var $itemtanto 100000000>>\ <</if>>\ <<if ($equippedweapon is "Yumi")>>\ <<var $itemyumi 100000000>>\ <</if>>\ <<if ($equippedweapon is "Bo Staff")>>\ <<var $itembostaff 100000000>>\ <</if>>\ <<if ($equippedweapon is "Handwraps")>>\ <<var $itemhandwraps 100000000>>\ <</if>>\ <<if ($equippedweapon is "Greataxe")>>\ <<var $itemgreataxe 100000000>>\ <</if>>\ Before you can even mourn your loss, Jack grips your neck with his other hand and shoots flames from his side, spinning at extreme speeds and throwing you into the lava below. <<page "Continue" "ch8dragon-jack-yourlava">>\ <</if>>\ <</if>>\ #use-if ((($element1 is "Wind") or ($element2 is "Wind")) or ($style is "Aoyusumu")) Send him back into the lava. [Requires Wind or Aoyusumu, Costs 1 Chi] <<if ($style is "Aoyusumu")>>\ You glow with serene Sacred Chi and pull that psionic energy from all over your body into just one hand. Undefended, you shrug off the worries of the world, the distractions of battle, and the chaos of an active volcano. This is your normal. Your calm. Your floating Heaven. ''[1 Chi Spent]'' <<var $chispent + 1>>\ <<apboost 4>>\ With one palm holding all the spiritual weight of your world, you press downward and release it into a single act of judgment. One enormous $auracolor glowing hand of energy rushes down into Jack and slams against his speeding ascent. It crushes all chi in its path. His aura buckles, his guard breaks, the sword of stone he suddenly manifests cracks, and the jetstream Technique he uses to fly upward falls away. All of it shatters against the Sacred blast pressing him back down into the lava below. <<var $dmg + 1>>\ <<if ($stylerank gte 2)>>\ ''[Aoyusumu (Adept) Check: Damage Increased]'' <<var $dmg + 1>>\ <</if>>\ <<if ($ruthless lte 30)>>\ <<if ($stylerank gte 3)>>\ <</if>>\ ''[Compassion 70 Check Passed: Damage Increased]'' <<var $dmg + 1>>\ <<if ($stylerank lt 2)>>\ <</if>>\ <<elseif ($soul gte 8)>>\ <<if ($stylerank gte 3)>>\ <</if>>\ ''[Soul 8 Check Passed: Damage Increased]'' <<var $dmg + 1>>\ <<if ($stylerank lt 2)>>\ <</if>>\ <</if>>\ He laughs as he falls, staring at you while dragging a thumb across his throat. <<page "Continue" "ch8dragon-jack-outoflava">>\ <<else>>\ You swirl with a rotating cyclone of $auracolor Wind Chi. "Jack!" You call down, blasting down toward him in a flurry of hurricane winds. "The skies are my domain!" Jack barks a laughter up at you, tripling the jets of flame under his feet that launch him up toward you. "Everywhere I go is my domain!" The two of you charge against each other in contesting rivers of power, but you have no intention of meeting his strike head-on. You are the wind. When you get close enough you wrap all the propulsion energy behind you into a single fist and swipe it at Jack early, missing by three feet. ''[1 Chi Spent]'' <<var $chispent + 1>>\ That swipe releases a hurricane of wind, sending Jack bowling over into the ground at two hundred miles per hour. With no actual ground to collide into, Jack can only growl as he's blasted into the pool of lava below. <<apboost 4>>\ <<if (($element1 is "Wind") and ($element1rank gte 2))>>\ ''[Wind (Adept) Mastery Check: Damage Increased]'' <<var $dmg + 1>>\ <<elseif (($element2 is "Wind") and ($element2rank gte 2))>>\ ''[Wind (Adept) Mastery Check: Damage Increased]'' <<var $dmg + 1>>\ <<elseif ($power gte 8)>>\ ''[Power 8 Check Passed: Damage Increased]'' <<var $dmg + 1>>\ <</if>>\ He laughs as he falls, staring at you while dragging a thumb across his throat. <<page "Continue" "ch8dragon-jack-outoflava">>\ <</if>>\ <</choose>>

Tremors rock the forest as the two fight, their duel breaking out further west. You remember fighting Tian Fang in her feral form when she was locked into her ice element. It was nowhere near the power she's putting out when feral under Wild Chi. Your pride tells you that you still would have won against a Wild feral Fang, but there is a mild sense of relief that you didn't have \ <<if ($jadedragonfoundation is true)>>\ to. At a certain level, even being a Jade Dragon reborn doesn't save you from a fight’s torn-laundry bill. <<else>>\ to. <</if>>\ Have fun, Jack. A burst of hope and adrenalin gets you to your feet, grabbing a broken branch as a crutch, and you push your nearly broken body back towards Guarded Blossom's volcanic mountaintop. However their fight goes, you can't be outside of a Gate with these injuries. Step after step, grunt after grunt, you force your fractured bones to push yourself past the tree line. You climb the bare stone of the mountain, where the vegetation was burned away in the Gate's creation, and reach the tunnel created when Jack punched you through the side of the volcano's crater. You can't help but marvel at the wide tunnel now. How your body outlasted eighty feet of solid Gate-enforced stone is beyond you. Still, it feels like you went through ninety feet. You hobble inside, move through the tunnel, and feel the Gate's power being to pour into you. The sensation in your fractured Cores is like water filling a broken vase faster than it can spill. <<page "Continue" "ch8dragon-jack-fang2">>\

It takes twenty more seconds to hobble through the tunnel, and the impacts from the fight outside grow further apart. When you reach the other side of the tunnel, a whistling noise interrupts your thoughts. Tian Fang rockets to the ground, crashing into the central stone island of the lava pit. You rush to the end of the tunnel and look down, seeing her body shrinking as the feral power is beaten out of her. Wolves howl all around you. Looking up, you see Tian Fang's wolf pack sitting in even intervals around the ridge of the volcano's peak. //So that's how she stayed feral.// You realize, looking at the green glow of Wild Chi coming off each of her pack. //She's channeling the Gate through a bond.// <<var $jackhelp "Tian Fang">>\ <<if (dig($knowledge, 2) lt 9)>>\ ''[Barrier Knowledge Increased]'' <<var $knowledge + 10000000000000>>\ <</if>>\ More of the wolves’ power flows into Tian Fang and her nails grow once again. She reaches one hand forward, scratches lines through the stone to form a fist, and begins to rise. "No you don't!" Jack shouts from above, landing on her back with both feet in an 800 foot drop. ''[Tian Fang's Combat Prowess Reduced]'' <<var $fangcombat - 1>>\ Lava rises up in walls around them both, and when it settles, Jack is standing while holding her in the air by the top of her skull. "Gates, Gates, Gates!" Jack mocks, punching her in the face with each word. "You fucking ''losers'' keep relying on these damned Gates! How many of you do I have to crush in your own element before you get that real strength comes from being //better//, not from being lucky!" "Put her down, Jack!" You shout, propped up with a tree branch as a crutch in the opening of the volcano's new tunnel. "Your fight's with me." <<if ($persuasion gte 3)>>\ ''[Persuasion 3 Check Passed]'' "Fine." He says, throwing her up to the top of the volcano. She lands on its edge, barely remaining inside the Fire and Earth Gate to heal. ''[Tian Fang's Combat Prowess Increased x2]'' <<var $fangcombat + 2>>\ "Now come down here and take her place." Jack says. "And drop the crutch. I'm \ <<else>>\ ''[Persuasion 3 Check Failed]'' Jack looks up to you and grins. "How about up?" He flings Tian Fang behind him, high over the volcano's edge. "You piece of shit." You snarl. "Yeah yeah." Jack says dismissible. "Drop the crutch, Laborer. I'm \ <</if>>\ not falling for it. You can stop bothering with the act." <<page "What?" "ch8dragon-jack-mergetf">>\

<<if ($solspent lt $soul)>>\ ''[1 Soul Core Spent]'' <<var $solspent + 1>>\ <<var $solexp + 1>>\ <<elseif ($forspent lt $fortitude)>>\ ''[1 Fortitude Core Spent]'' <<var $forspent + 1>>\ <<var $forexp + 1>>\ <<elseif ($powspent lt $power)>>\ ''[1 Power Core Spent]'' <<var $powspent + 1>>\ <<var $powexp + 1>>\ <<elseif ($agispent lt $agility)>>\ ''[1 Agility Core Spent]'' <<var $agispent + 1>>\ <<var $agiexp + 1>>\ <</if>>\ "Hrggg!" You grit your teeth through the pain of bouncing across the sharp rocky chasm walls above a pool of lava. Through intense concentration, you manage to pull in more Gate energies through every agonizing abrasion of volcanic stone against your skin. "You're nothing like you were back then!" Jack shouts, approaching fast. "Show me the arrogant $manwoman from the cliff!" By the time you skid to a halt you're glowing with a renewed source of $auracolor. "Watch what you wish for!" <<include "ch8dragon-jack-wall">>\

Wencheng and Yoji unceremoniously carry you through the forest by your arms and legs. When they finally get near the mountain's top and approach the Gate you feel a change in your body. An inkling of power returns, and the incredible pain of your broken body subsides ever so slightly. Until they drop you.\ <<if ($heshe is "she")>>\ You think Wencheng is copping a feel when they pick you back up. \ <<else>>\ Ancestors, you get why Guiren is mean to them. \ <</if>>\ They continue with good pace until a bright green flash illuminates the southern beach. "Oh shit, he killed Guiren." Yoji says. "OH SHIT, HE KILLED GUIREN!" Wencheng screams. They both surge Agility Cores and sprint uphill, holding you by your injured limbs. When they reach the hole in the mountain that Jack punched you through, now a sizeable tunnel giving you a shortcut back into the volcano, you marvel at how deep it is. Eighty feet of pure rock caved under the durability of your body without killing you. Ironic that now you feel like you're going to die simply from the vibrations of Guiren's men frantically running. "NOW HE'S GOING TO KILL US!" Wencheng screams when the green light grows brighter. "I'M TOO PRETTY TO DIE!!" ''//"FLASH."//'' Yoji hollers, inhaling deep mid-sprint. "Oh, right!" Wencheng shouts. Halfway through the tunnel they both swing you backward once before throwing you with all their might. You soar through the rest of the tunnel and feel the Gate's energies pour into your broken Cores like water filling up a cracked vase faster than it can spill. ''//"STEP!"//'' They both shout, disappearing just when you start curving down on your ascent. Strengthening in spirit, you tumble down the volcanic wall. A rock jutting out thankfully breaks your fall and a couple fingers, but the pain doesn't even stick out. You scramble yourself to your knees as the tunnel above you glows a brighter and brighter green. Jack flies through with a surged Agility Core, just as you suspected, with Guiren nowhere in sight. He speeds high overhead, descending to the largest rock island in the center. Landing with a wave of lava in all directions, he stands and turns with heavy breath. "NO MORE DISCTRATIONS!" He shouts. "NO MORE INTERLOPERS! NO MORE BULLSHIT! NO. MORE. YOU." <<choose "ch8dragon-jack-guiren-choccymaloccy">> #use-if ($guirendisarmed is true) Find the talisman Guiren slipped into your pocket. Jack powers up, screaming in a provoked rage, and you pray to the ancestors for more time to recover. Scraping for the sand on the ground to buy a distraction, you find nothing but hard heated stone. Yet your elbow brushes something in your pocket that shouldn't be there. Withdrawing it, you find one of Bossrozal's tokens, but it's different this time. The token is red, when Bossrozal's are so often a darker gray clay. The same red token Ozaki Manzo had tried to create in his lab before you and Guiren killed him. Seeing Jack poised to leap, you crack it open. <<page "Continue" "ch8dragon-jack-guiren-gtoken">>\ #use-if (($bosstalisman gte 1) and ($style is "Kurokonton")) Withdraw Bossrozal's talisman. You draw Bossrozal's talisman and marvel at the beauty of someone else's power when yours has failed. ...A novel idea. <<var $binker 999999>>\ Jack powers up in an intensified aura of Wild Chi and leaps, charging at you through the air with a scream of rage. You snap the talisman and refuse to let an ounce of its power slip away, absorbing it into your shattered Cores to imbue its essence into your very being within the Heavenly Gate. <<apboost 15>>\ #Hate your life. Jack powers up, screaming in a rage. His Aura Pressure climbs and climbs within the Heavenly Fire and Earth Gate and his green aura magnifies around his body like a blazing building. Then, he stops. "Heh..." He chuckles, looking down at his hand and back up to you. "I admit, Laborer, you almost got me!" <<page "Huh?" "ch8dragon-jack-mergetf">>\ <</choose>>

''//"MALOCCHIO."//'' Your eyes and vision descend into the abyssal yin. Pitch blackness overtakes them, from the iris to the sclera, and from inside those dark voids explode new irises of burning purple flames. You see //through// Jack's attack, into the Chi that makes it work, and absorb a piece of that Chi into your soul. Then, breathing out, you press it back into the world. <<learntech 1113000000000053 "Wrathful Fist" "Energy Melee Attack. Passively increases Style Rank. Increases Power Surge by +1 when focused.">>\ Your fist glows with an enormous green aura that was never your own. Your strike meets Jack's double-handed blow, exploding the ground beneath you both in a rush of Wild Chi. <<page "Continue" "ch8dragon-jack-guiren-choccymaloccy2">>\

"Hah..." Jack says through the fallout dust of your attack. "Hahaha." "Heh." You say back, surprised to be alive. "Hehehe." "HAHAHAHAHA!" You both laugh out, losing your sanity in this prolonged fight. The sand cloud parts to reveal both of you sporting bleeding fists and broken knuckles. "You motherfucker." Jack barks out between recovering breaths. "You're really going to make me do it." "Lose?" You ask, swirling with \ <<if ($malocchio is true)>>\ Cursed Chi. \ <<else>>\ Jack's own chi over your fist. \ <</if>>\ "You're damned right." "No." Jack puffing his chest out to recover his breath. "You're going to make me waste another trump card." <<include "ch8dragon-jack-misukarocks">>\

The ground shakes under your feet with the power of Bossrozal, but the voice ringing out \ <<if ($style is "Kurokonton")>>\ does not belong to the possibly-ascended mysterious entity. Nor does it belong to Guiren, the token's master and creator. ''[Transformation Unlocked]'' <<var $malocchio true>>\ ''[Malocchio Bonuses: +2 Agility, +1 Soul, +1 Chi]'' ''[Malocchio Special: Learn Enemy Techniques Permanently]'' ''[Malocchio Special: +1 Perception even in Base Form]'' <<var $perception + 1>>\ The voice is yours: <<include "ch8dragon-jack-guiren-choccymaloccy">>\ <<else>>\ is Guiren's. ''//"Forbidden Curse: Soul Cipher"//'' Jack charges at you in a green nova of power, flying through the sky with both fists forward. That green energy rips off him in pieces. The most bizarre, cube-like pieces. It falls away from his aura and runs over your body in an empowering rush. <<apboost 20>>\ ''[Jack's Combat Prowess Reduced]'' <<var $jackcombat - 1>>\ You swing back your fist with Jack's own power and meet his double-handed blow, exploding the ground beneath you both in a rush of Wild Chi. <<page "Continue" "ch8dragon-jack-guiren-choccymaloccy2">>\ <</if>>\

"Save your excuses for someone who cares." You blow up the ground beneath his feet with a two-handed energy blast that rips up the thirty-foot surroundings of stone. His cycling is interrupted and he leaps to dodge. Your feet appear through the sandstorm of your blast with a flying doublekick. Your strike connects into his side, blasting him all the way into a rock island in the distance just as he tried to do to you earlier. ''[Damage Increased]'' <<var $dmg + 1>>\ <<page "Continue" "ch8dragon-jack-cannon">>\

<<var $whitetigerchi + (100-$lostpressure)>>\ As Jack charges the power around his fist and flashes through the air, you release your spirit. You let it ''die.'' Your Cores, your Aura Pressure, your energy, everything you had cultivated in this life, you release it all. Your aura leaves your body. ''[Aura Pressure -$aurapressure]'' Then you call it ''back.'' <<if ($insight gte 6)>>\ ''[Insight 6 Check Passed: No Aura Pressure Lost]'' <<var $solexp + 3>>\ <</if>>\ <<var $aurapressure - $lostpressure>>\ ''[Aura Pressure +$aurapressure]'' You cycle like your life depends on it, drawing in \ <<if ($technaming is true)>>\ the shattered remains of your old aura. Risking everything on this insane plan, you activate the event you'd learned to weaponize in your very first mission. ''//"IMMORTAL CORE ADVANCEMENT!!"//'' <<var $maorep - 5>>\ Bright $auracolor light explodes around you. <<else>>\ the broken pieces of your old, shattered aura to expand your injured soul with a recycling of your own energy. Bright $auracolor light explodes around you in an Immortal Core Advancement. <</if>>\ <<page "Continue" "ch8dragon-jack-immortalcore2">>\

The bright light of your Immortal Core Advancement explodes out from your Cores, blasting outward just like it did against Taio. When you fought him, it was enough to blow the cultist away through a set of trees. Against Jack, even with a Gate fueling everything, it's just barely enough to counter the binding of his Thunderfall Technique. The chi in the air is stripped away when Jack reaches you. His fist punches through the light and into your gut with no spiritual reinforcement. At the same time, you use his own speed to ram your fist into the side of his head. His punch pierces into your gut hard enough to make an imprint in your back. Your fist cracks against his skull hard enough to rupture his neck's vertebrae. The bright light of the White Tiger shines off both your strikes, then overtakes the battlefield. <<if ($jadedragonfoundation is true)>>\ Just before everything fades to black, you see sparks of jade chi swirl over your fist from your newly created Core. The Dragon roars. <<else>>\ Everything fades to black. <</if>>\ <<page "Continue" "ch8dragon-hospital">>\

The roof and the floor of your jagged rock Soul Domain slam into each other over and over and over, //chewing// your opponent. In every 'bite' it regrows new jagged rock formations to replace any broken teeth. When it ends, you keep the rock around Jack in place to enclose him in a coffin of stone. "You can't hold me with Earth Chi, you moron!" Jack laughs out, body beaten and bloody. "I can move through it!" "I don't care about any of that." You condemn, remotely slamming a column of stone down on him when he leaps out to charge at you. "Laborer." Jack's jaw drops at the audacity, making it hurt all the more when your boulder-covered fists absorb all the Earth Chi of your Domain and slam against his ears. His head is crushed between their immense spiritual and physical force. <<include "ch8dragon-jack-checkkiichoice1">>\

Launched by explosive force, you bombard Jack with sharpened trees launched like siege weapons by the jetforce of their burning ends. "This!" Jack screams, punching one tree into splinters. "Is!" Another hits his back, stabbing into his lower spine and breaking the skin. "NOTHING!" He explodes outward in a burst of Limitbreaker's high tension chi, whipping air pressure all around him. That's when you close in and slam your fist into his gut, twisting up with your strike and pressing the entire Domain's energy behind your attack. Jack spits out all the breath in his lungs when your fist penetrates his abdomen. You wrap the Fire Domain around your leg and leap, spinning a back kick into his jaw. He flies off into the distance but you signal four handseals. From the sky he's flying toward, a ritual circle appears. From the ritual circle, an energy beam explodes out and blasts him in the face, launching him back to you. "IT'S!" You scream, reaching into the ground and lifting the Fire Chi out of the air itself, pressing it up your hands and to your back. "OVER!" Instead of striking Jack with his favored Fire element, you blast the entire Domain's worth of fire behind you to charge into Jack with speeds you never imagined. Your knee crashes into his nose so hard that you break through the skin, through the nose, and through his teeth. <<include "ch8dragon-jack-checkkiichoice1">>\

You slap Jack's face with your left backhand and follow it up with a left hook to his guarding hands, then slam a straight punch into his undefended face. He flips backward, kicking your chin on his way back. The air around you //shakes// from the force of both your strikes. Launched airborne, you kick off the air itself, for your Domain's ambient chi all responds to you. Jack kicks off the ground, meeting your punch with his own. At the last second you each open your fists and meet your hands in a grapple, swinging the other fighter to throw them in opposite directions. Thrown to the edges of your domain, you both kick off and meet with a flurry of punches in the middle. The speed and strength of your attacks doesn't diminish, it ''increases''. The more you fight, the more you enjoy it. The more you enjoy it, the more of the Domain's power is pressed into your attacks. You deflect Jack's wrist and step forward at his side, dodging an elbow and delivering your own to his back when you turn. He stumbles forward and leaps into a spinning back kick, which you catch and lift to flip him over. As soon as he's airborne you stomp forward with a full-force punch into his lower spine. He spins in mid-air, blasting energy above him to force himself to the ground, and swings his legs in a circle overhead to stop you from advancing. You leap over, flip upside-down, and land on his other side with a tripping kick. He blocks with two elbows lowered to the ground and you're both skidded away from each other. There is no ultimate attack. No grand finisher. Twelve minutes of raw hand-to-hand combat ends when you leap off his kicking leg and grip his shoulder, swing over his body, and descend a finishing elbow to the top of his head. He topples over, stunned, and you spin a high kick into the side of his head that shatters his aura and flings him to the side of your crumbling Domain, its energy spent in your one last attack. For the first time as a Kiihakai fighter, you finish a major opponent off with the Martial Arts. Ancestors, it feels //good//. <<var $val 10>>\ <<if (((($soul gt $power) and ($soul gt $agility)) and ($soul gt $fortitude)) or ($jadedragonfoundation is true))>>\ <<if ((($soul gt $power) and ($soul gt $agility)) and ($soul gt $fortitude))>>\ ''[Event Passed - Highest Core: Soul]'' ''[Damage Increased]'' <<else>>\ ''[Jade Dragon Event: Damage Increased]'' <</if>>\ <<var $dmg + 1>>\ <<var $val 15>>\ <</if>>\ ''[Aura Pressure +$val]'' <<var $aurapressure + $val>>\ <<var $val 6767>>\ <<page "Continue" "ch8dragon-jack-kiihakaitf3">>\

"Th-" Jack says, before you show him the speed of Light. Your fist closes in on his jaw faster than even his Limitbreaker Transformation can handle. You're eight-hundred feet behind him when you turn around and ride the other sun's lightwaves, blasting back at Jack and crashing a knee to the back of his head. The speed of your movement launches you airborne. Half a mile away now, you turn and spiritually grip the Light Chi from the air, wrapping it around your hands, then follow the waves back down with both fists and slam them into Jack's gut. Now it is //he// who is a half-mile away from the force of your punch, spinning airborne. All of this happens in less than a heartbeat, and Jack has no time to counter; you're already behind him. Both suns warp in the sky, unraveling into lines of power swirling into your hands. Their energies circle each other like a yin and yang of opposing sources of Light Chi. You press them down, denser, to a near-solid state, and unleash all the power of your Domain in one attack. An entire Heavenly Gate's worth of energy pours out in a tower-wide energy beam that washes over Crusher Jack's confused, spinning, flying body. <<include "ch8dragon-jack-checkkiichoice1">>\

In the present, beaten bloody and facing impossible odds, you cup your hands together, palms up, and interlock your fingers. "Sorry Dessy." You mumble under your breath. "I make bad choices." "I don't like it when a \ <<if ($heshe is "she")>>\ sorceress \ <<else>>\ sorcerer \ <</if>>\ starts mumbling!" Jack calls over. Swirling power blasts off his leg and he crouches low to leap, preparing to rocket across the battlefield. "Let's end this!" <<var $val 7811>>\ <<include "ch8dragon-jack-powerofgate">>\ Praying to the Ancestors, you prepare to explode and die. <<page "''//Kiihakai Transformation: Soul Domain.//''" "ch8dragon-jack-kiihakaitf2">>\

<<var $souldomain "Fist">>\ ''//"Kiihakai Transformation: Soul Domain."//'' <<cap $auracolor>> chi spills out of your body and soul in all directions. By pulling the Gate through your spirit like a strainer and pouring out a waterfall of barely-processed energies, you instantly paint the world around you in a sea of $auracolor chi. The natural energy is barely even processed before it's pushed out of your soul, claimed as loosely as possible to force out so much power in such a short amount of time. So intense is your focus that you barely believe your eyes when you look up and see the volcano is gone. In its place, you and Jack stand in a swirling vortex of <<cap $auracolor>> chi the size of a town square. You feel a rush from the same power the Akuma Lords used to abduct you into a pocket realm. That power...is yours. ''[Soul Domain Bonuses: +2 Soul, +1 Power, +2 Chi Points]'' ''[Soul Domain Special: All Attack Types are considered Focused within your Soul Domain.]'' "What the Hell is going on?" Jack roars, looking to his left and right. "This is impossible, even for you! You can't improvise a Transformation!" You reach into the aether around you and pull on the air, drawing a thick layer of $auracolor chi around your fist. "//You// can't." <<choose "ch8dragon-jack-checkkiichoice1">> #use-if (($element1 is "Darkness") or ($element2 is "Darkness")) Solidify your Domain. [Darkness: Bottomless Void] <<var $souldomain "Darkness">>\ The world around you flashes with darkness, becoming black as night save for the view of a black hole beneath you both, swallowing the stars. Jack doesn't hesitate in the face of such visual illusions. His aura explodes out with more of his Limitbreaker's high tension of chi. Crossing the gap in seconds, his fist slams into your gut. At the same time, your fist slams into his with the Darkness Chi wrapped over it. You can feel the power of the Soul Domain. The ability to warp reality around you, to attack from all directions, to weave the chi in the air around your limbs for enhanced strikes. But you have a better idea. You dissolve into shadow, melting like ink. From Jack's own shadow your hands reach up and grab his legs, swinging him backward into a beam of Dark energy firing not from your hands, but from the top of your domain. It blasts his skull and torso, pinning him to the floor with the full weight of your spiritual Domain. "This won't work!" Jack screams, charging up his aura and pressing both hands up to contest the beam. "You can't beat me in a clash of power!" "What power?" You ask, rising from an inky mass of Darkness Chi on the ground. Beneath Jack the black hole opens wide, sucking in all energy but yours within the hungering void of Yin-aligned Darkness. Jack's aura rips from his body in layers; his Aura Pressure plummets as his power is sucked deeper and deeper into the void. Yet you do not put it to waste. Jack's own energy, absorbed by the Darkness, fuels the beam crashing down on him. It expands to take up his whole body, then the whole view, then your whole Domain. The entire pocket realm becomes a single attack, crushing Jack under the weight of his own might. #use-if (($element1 is "Earth") or ($element2 is "Earth")) Solidify your Domain. [Earth: Jagged Cavern] <<var $souldomain "Earth">>\ Grinding stone echoes all around you both. Jagged stalagmites rise from the increasingly rocky ground while the air above you hardens into rock as well, forming jagged stalactites closing in around you. The $auracolor ambiguous pocket realm quickly becomes a cavern with no way out, its sharp area resembling a closing pair of jaws. You can feel the power of the Soul Domain. The ability to warp reality around you, to attack from all directions, to weave the chi in the air around your limbs for enhanced strikes. But you have a better idea. "This is your answer?" Jack asks mockingly, "My element? You think the Earth c-" You uppercut in the air, and a stalagmite beneath his feet rips upward, right into Jack's chin. His face snaps back and you shadowbox, launching jagged rock after jagged rock into him. Jack recovers in time to explode outward with his Limitbreaker's high tension of chi, blasting your rocks away, but you're nowhere to be seen. Melded with the rock, protected within the ground, your voice echoes from the Domain itself. "Consume him, Jagged Cavern." Your Domain...closes. <<page "Continue" "ch8dragon-jack-kii-earth">>\ #use-if (($element1 is "Fire") or ($element2 is "Fire")) Solidify your Domain. [Fire: Burning Forest] <<var $souldomain "Fire">>\ The world around you changes. Grass expands out from your feet until it fills the area. Bushes and trees rise up as far as the eye can see, growing closer together the further out they grow. Then it all sets ablaze. You can feel the power of the Soul Domain. The ability to warp reality around you, to attack from all directions, to weave the chi in the air around your limbs for enhanced strikes. But you have a better idea. "Poor choice!" Jack screams, "Fire is my elem-" The ground shakes around him. With total control of the environment, you reach a clawed hand forward and spiritually grip a tree, ripping it out of the ground, sharpening its base, and supercharging its burning top to blast it at Jack. Yet this is a //Soul Domain//, where your power multiplies. Six trees perform the same feat at once. <<page "Burn." "ch8dragon-jack-kii-fire">>\ #use-if (($element1 is "Ice") or ($element2 is "Ice")) Solidify your Domain. [Ice: Frozen Tundra] <<var $souldomain "Ice">>\ Snow and ice launch out under your feet in a blink, filling the horizon. Snow falls from new clouds in the sky and you're both suddenly caught in a winter blizzard. Rather than the volcanic battlefield of Guarded Blossom's mountain, you're now fighting in a flat tundra. At least, Jack is. //You're// standing on a five-story intricate palace of ice you've just formed under your feet. "How's this, Jack?" You taunt from atop your frozen palace. "We can fight in here without damaging the island. It gives me more room to enjoy it, because beating you is going to take some time. Slow and //painful//." Jack recovers from his baffled expression and plows through your palace in an instant, destroying it in one charge by blasting across the pocket realm and charging through its center instantly. "Let's see how you talk when-!" "Thanks!" You say, falling from the crumbling building. You can feel the power of the Soul Domain. The ability to warp reality around you, to attack from all directions, to weave the chi in the air around your limbs for enhanced strikes. But you have a better idea. You reach one hand out and spiritually grasp all the shattered ice around Jack. With total control over Ice, you sharpen each piece of debris into shrapnel, then pull on every ounce of the Domain's power to expand the debris a hundred-fold. One moment, Jack is blasting through your frozen mansion. The next, he's covered in thousands of dagger-sharp ice fractals expanding all around him. His body is shredded from thousands of colliding ice shards at once. His spirit suffers worse, blasted with spiritual impact of an entire Heavenly Gate striking him from every angle with Fire-consuming Ice Chi. #use-if (($element1 is "Light") or ($element2 is "Light")) Solidify your Domain. [Light: Solar Flare] <<var $souldomain "Light">>\ Surprisingly, stone is the first thing manifested from your Soul Domain of Light. Rock expands out from your feet in a flash, flying in all directions to form the ground as far as the eye can see. The pattern is simple at first. Grey stone below, blue sky above. An arena. In a dazzling flash, your true Domain blooms when the sun rises behind you. And behind Jack. Two immense, vibrant, brilliantly yellow and white monoliths of luminescence fill a third of both opposing skylines, far larger than the sun of the real world. Two suns on opposite sides emanate waves of light energy moving between you and your opponent. You can feel the power of the Soul Domain. The ability to warp reality around you, to attack from all directions, to weave the chi in the air around your limbs for enhanced strikes. But you have a better idea. <<page "Continue" "ch8dragon-jack-kii-light">>\ #use-if (($element1 is "Storm") or ($element2 is "Storm")) Solidify your Domain. [Storm: Eye of the Storm] <<var $souldomain "Storm">>\ Dark clouds extend from your feet, one-hundred feet out, then rise up to make the walls of your Soul Domain. They continue over the ceiling to form the clouds and crackle with thunder. You can feel the power of the Soul Domain. The ability to warp reality around you, to attack from all directions, to weave the chi in the air around your limbs for enhanced strikes. But you have a better idea. One-hundred rods of pure metal rise into the sky all around you at your realm's perimeter, calling to the lightning of the storm. Enticing it. Attracting it. Promising a true target within their center. "A realm of lightning?" Jack scoffs, charging up his aura with Earth Chi. "You brought the wrong ele-" Thunder cracks and your realm explodes in an instant. A single bolt crashes down on the battlefield, consuming every ounce of chi in one deadly blast. Crusher Jack's body and soul are electrocuted with the full spiritual force of a Heavenly Gate, but his Earth aura resists its full force. It //doesn't// resist the suddenly magnetized metal rods that all crash into each other in the realm's center, where he stands, impaling him from every angle. #use-if (($element1 is "Water") or ($element2 is "Water")) Solidify your Domain. [Water: Sunken Depths] <<var $souldomain "Water">>\ Water pours out from your body in all directions. Jack' Limitbreaker form deflects the incoming sea with bursts of rotating high-pressure chi, but the water //keeps coming//, fifty-ton wave after fifty-ton wave. In seconds there's nowhere left for it to go. You're both submerged in your new Soul Domain, an underwater sea. Sand expands upon its bottom with shells and kelp adding to the scenery. Unfortunately, you're not here for the scenery. Jack slams his hands behind himself to launch at you, swiping with a massive chi-claw of power. You swipe back with both hands, swinging from overhead and swirling the whole Domain's water into his attack like a tsunami. You can feel the power of the Soul Domain. The ability to warp reality around you, to attack from all directions, to weave the chi in the air around your limbs for enhanced strikes. But you have a better idea. You grip the water of your domain around your hands, squeezing the ambient chi of your Domain. Using your willpower, you command the pocket realm to wrap all its power around your fists. Swirling drills of powerful Water Chi wrap around your fists and you strike at Jack's incoming punch. Jack attacks with the full force of Earth and Wild Chi, confident in his victory, until he's suddenly upside down from the spin of your drilling attack. The Water Chi around your fists is invisible underwater. The second he's pushed off balance you strike in with a rear-straight punch, using the vortex of spinning Water Chi like a vacuum to pull in all the power of your Domain. Your whole Soul Domain's worth of water is sucked into one attack, one strike, imbued with the full force of an entire Heavenly Gate. "IT'S!" You scream, slamming your attack into Jack's gut. "OVER!" The attack breaks into his solar plexus and explodes out his back. He's sent spinning thousands of times while launched backward into the unseen barrier of your crumbling Soul Domain. #use-if (($element1 is "Wind") or ($element2 is "Wind")) Solidify your Domain. [Wind: Heavensward] <<var $souldomain "Wind">>\ You stand on familiar ground. Clouds rush out from your feet to fill the horizon, until that very horizon is cutoff by dark clouds spinning with category five hurricane winds one-hundred feet away. Within the one-hundred-foot sanctuary, the winds do not touch you. Soft white clouds sit beneath your feet and blue sky is visible when you look up. It's exactly the same as the Soul Domain that the Akuma Lords used to abduct you. You can feel the power of the Soul Domain. The ability to warp reality around you, to attack from all directions, to weave the chi in the air around your limbs for enhanced strikes. But you have a better idea. "All you've done is choose a new cage." Jack says, rushing his Limitbreaker aura with high tension waves of wind pressure from how tightly he's compacted his new power. Great. You grasp that wind pressure within your Wind Domain, charge it with $auracolor Wind Chi, and spin it back into his face in the form of a fist-shaped line of power. "What the-" Jack blurts when he's slapped by the power of his own Transformation. "Fu-" He screams, pushing more power to deflect the strikes, only to have you grasp that new wind pressure too and smack him harder. Before he can say another word you pull the Wind Chi from the hurricane winds and blast it into your back, launching you into Jack with a flying kick. He raises a hand to catch it and the cloud beneath his feet gives out, dropping him by 8 inches. Your foot flies 8 inches over his hand now, catching him in the forehead. Just as he's stunned, you get serious, grip the spinning winds all around your domain, and spiritually press them together overhead. The blue sky is blotted out above you where the spinning winds meet, turning into a vortex-like drill of wind power that you pull down into Jack with all the force and energy of your Domain. An entire Heavenly Gate's worth of Wind Chi spins into his stunned body with enough force to dig through a mountain. #Wrap the domain around your body. You can feel the power of the Soul Domain. The ability to warp reality around you, to attack from all directions, to weave the chi in the air around your limbs for enhanced strikes. But you have a better idea. Instead of imbuing any element into your Domain to create a proper pocket realm, you seize all that energy and wrap it over yourself. You no longer glow with an aura around your body. You glow with an aura ''as'' your body. Your skin, your clothes, your eyes, your \ <<if ($hairlength is "bald")>>\ lack of \ <</if>>\ hair, they all become impossible to see. Wrapped with the unimaginable power of your Soul Domain, the full power of a Heavenly Gate, you become a $race-shaped glowing beacon of $auracolor energy. You and Jack eye each other, both wrapped in insane amounts of energy. Both covered in complex layers of spiritually cultivated power. Both capable of so many mystical and energized abilities in this stage of the fight, your magnum opus. Both of you meet in the middle and start physically beating the ever-loving shit out of each other. <<page "Continue" "ch8dragon-jack-kii-fist">>\ <</choose>>

<<if ($val is 6767)>>\ The Soul Domain's energy rises into the air above you in tatters, falling to shreds of dwindling light like a shattered aura. It fits. Your own aura shatters among it as well, forcing you to catch yourself from falling over. <<else>>\ Your Domain falls apart after using all of its power in one finishing attack. You find yourself back in the volcanic arena, on a rock island. Pieces of the pocket realm's reality tear away and shrivel to ribbons in the air all around you, dotted with sparks of $auracolor from your own aura shattering as well. The fatigue all hits at once, forcing you to catch yourself from falling over. <</if>>\ <<include "ch8dragon-jack-aurashatter3">>\

Jack activates his full power and wraps his arm in a boulder-sized layer of dense Wild Chi, leaping at you with a battlecry to end it all. The air quakes in a circle around him from the sheer speed of kicking off the ground to fly at you. Attacking with his full Might, Jack fails to realize \ <<if ($binker is 999999)>>\ you never truly needed Bossrozal's token. <<else>>\ what ninjutsu is all about. <</if>>\ The true power of a shinobi...is $hisher opponent's power. <<var $kurofuggery 5452>>\ <<include "ch8dragon-jack-powerofgate">>\ Pressing on your Fuel Foundation's expanded absorption abilities within a Gate, you brute force your way into the mystical secret of the Cursed Lands. <<page "''//Kurokonton Transformation: Malocchio.//''" "ch8dragon-jack-kurotf2">>\

''//"Kurokonton Transformation: Malocchio."//'' <<var $malocchio true>>\ Your eyes and vision descend into the abyssal yin. Pitch blackness overtakes them, from the iris to the sclera, and from inside those dark voids explode new irises of burning purple flames. ''[Malocchio Bonuses: +2 Agility, +1 Soul, +1 Chi Point]'' ''[Malocchio Special: Learn Enemy Techniques Permanently]'' ''[Malocchio Special: +1 Perception even in Base Form]'' <<var $perception + 1>>\ Time slows. Your senses expand. The ambient chi gives itself up more freely to your every whim. Your aura itself becomes a gravitational leash all around you, feeling as if you could pull yourself in any direction for close-combat bursts of speed. Yet Jack is already a mere four-feet away. His power grows ravenous; its weight presses your spirit back when his attacking strike descends on you. Burning with the entropic dark fire of pure yin chi, your cursed Malocchio eyes... <<choose "ch8dragon-jack-aurashatter">> #show-if ($binker is 999999) use-if ($binker isnot 999999) Consume Jack's Technique [Already Learned] -> "death" #show-if ($binker isnot 999999) Consume Jack's Technique. Your eyes shake the chi in the air when they activate, drawing in Jack's aura and consuming it to cannibalize its properties. From your right hand, a raging force of Wild Chi springs to life. <<learntech 1113000000000053 "Wrathful Fist" "Energy Melee Attack. Passively increases Style Rank. Increases Power Surge by +1 when focused.">>\ ''//"WRATHFUL FIST!"//'' You shout, swinging all the weighted aura of the world into one attack. Your fist collides with Jack's in a deafening explosion that destroys the ground beneath your feet. Your vision is blinded by the up-close explosion, so you don't see the width of the fifty-foot-wide explosion of $auracolor and green auras clashing. When it finally fades, surprised and unprepared for such a counter, Jack lies on his back, baffled. He places his arms to the side, rising slowly. That's when you hit him with another Wrathful Fist. One, two, three, you pummel Jack with close range slam after slam. Holding both arms overhead, you crash down on his back with a two-handed version of his own Technique. The mountain beneath your feet shakes when you push every ounce of the Gate's energy into your final attack, crashing your magnified spiritual weight into his chest. <<if ((($stealth gte 3) or ($stylerank gte 3)) or ($jadedragonfoundation is true))>>\ <<if ($stylerank gte 3)>>\ ''[Kurokonton (Expert) Check Passed]'' <<elseif ($stealth gte 3)>>\ ''[Stealth 3 Check Passed]'' <<else>>\ ''[Jade Dragon Check Passed]'' <</if>>\ ''[Damage Increased]'' <<var $val 15>>\ <<var $dmg + 1>>\ <</if>>\ ''[Aura Pressure +$val]'' <<var $aurapressure + $val>>\ <<page "Continue" "ch8dragon-jack-aurashatter">>\ #Layer a curse on Jack's soul. Your left iris of burning purple expands, rushing outward in a vortex of cursed flame. Jack's overbearing, impossibly weighted spiritual pressure is sucked into the burning void in an instant. ''[Jack's Combat Prowess Reduced]'' <<var $jackcombat - 1>>\ Your fist appears through the burning vortex, breaking your Technique to strike at Jack's weakened form in a surprise attack. With the speed of his Limitbreaker charge but no chi to enforce his body for precious seconds, his jaw nearly dislocates from the blow. He doesn't get the luxury of being knocked back. You catch his foot before he can fly off, spin him into the ground, and begin swinging when he regains his bearings. Through the heightened reflexes of your Malocchio eyes, Jack's attacks broadcast sooner, you have clearer hints of where to dodge, and the slower pace gives you the chance to plan your strikes more carefully. Even if you're not faster than his Limitbreaker Transformation's speed boost, every property of hand-to-hand combat is improved by getting a better view of the fight and having more time to think. Jack punches for your skull with a haymaker, followed up by Wild Chi rolling over his shoulder. You deflect it from below with an elbow to his wrist, then follow up with a punch to his ribs. He allows himself to be knocked off his feet to swing a kick to your center; you leap back and hit him with ten shuriken wrapped in Cursed Chi. He responds by kicking off the ground hard enough to crack stone and you've already done the same, leaping first with a flying knee to his face. By the time he's swung a hook to catch your hip with his fist, you've already switched your knee to a snap-kick that crunches into his nose. Fueled by the aspect of Absorption and Entropy, you wrap both fists and all your shuriken in burning Cursed flames. Your attacks singe your opponent's spirit with every strike in the brutal beatdown melee that goes on for hundreds of blows. It's not until the end, with both of you bruised and battered, that you see an end. Jack charges with both hands clasped forward like a spear, the image of some horned Beast forming over his aura. As soon as he closes in, stabbing through your chest, you smile. <<if ($styleswapper isnot "")>>\ ''[Afterimage Technique]'' <<apboost 5>>\ Then you vanish. <<else>>\ Then you withdraw the sheet of rock he impaled from inside your shirt. "Checkmate." <</if>>\ From all around the battlefield, you trigger the leash effect on the hundreds of Cursed Chi shuriken you've used throughout the fight. Pressing every ounce of power from the Gate into your final attack, you converge hundreds of speeding, \ <<if ($honor lt 35)>>\ poisoned, \ <</if>>\ sharpened, cursed projectiles into your opponent at once. They all rip into Jack as if they were being pulled into the center of a black hole. <<if ((($honor lte 35) or ($handseals gte 4)) or ($jadedragonfoundation is true))>>\ <<if ($honor lte 35)>>\ ''[Dishonor 65 Check Passed]'' <<elseif ($handseals gte 4)>>\ ''[Handseals 4 Check Passed]'' <<else>>\ ''[Jade Dragon Check Passed]'' <</if>>\ ''[Damage Increased]'' <<var $dmg + 1>>\ <<var $val 15>>\ <</if>>\ ''[Aura Pressure +$val]'' <<var $aurapressure + $val>>\ <<page "Continue" "ch8dragon-jack-aurashatter">>\ <</choose>>

''[Mist Clone Technique Activated]'' ''[Agility +1]'' <<var $agility + 1>>\ <<var $metwukong + 100000000>>\ Four more of your Mist Clones converge on Jack, dropping out of the sky with diving strikes. He engages each of them in melee only to have even more pile on. With each new clone he gains a new opening for your strikes to hit him. Every time he kills one, two more take its place, until you have him completely surrounded. "This was inevitable, Jack!" You scream out from ten voices at once, pummeling him in a ten-on-one trade of blows. "You were only trained by your miserable father!" He powers up to launch a sphere of chi, but each of your Clones slams an upward kick into a different part of his body. The combined force barrels him upward like a firing catapult. "WHILE I-" You scream high above, in Jack's disoriented trajectory, where the real 'you' holds \ <<if ($equippedweapon is "Bo Staff")>>\ your Bo Staff \ <<var $powexp + 2>>\ <<var $solexp + 2>>\ <<var $forexp + 2>>\ <<var $agiexp + 2>>\ <<else>>\ an impromptu Bo Staff of stone \ <</if>>\ over your head. "-WAS TRAINED BY THE MONKEY KING!" Your downward strike rings out like a gong, cracking into Jack hard enough to dispel his White Tiger chi in a blinding flash. The only thing louder than the deafening slam is your laughter, howling like a mad<<print $manwoman>> in your great reveal to the people of Nanhou. ''[Prestige Greatly Increased]'' <<var $prestige + 7>>\ Funny enough, after letting everyone know you trained with a Wild God, you're struck by lightning. No idea why. <<page "It all fades to black..." "ch8dragon-hospital">>\

Your eyes are blinded by the flash, but your spiritual senses detect every shred of Light Chi reflected off the surfaces of the forest all pulled into one point. A single infinitely-condensed orb of power rising from the ground beneath Crusher Jack's feet. The blast slams into him with near-solid mass moving at a fraction of the speed of light, ripping him away from the planet's surface. He blasts miles into the air before you can even cover your eyes. ... ... ... ''*thud*'' Narrowly missing you by two feet, Leona falls off the tree and hits the ground face-down without a shred of chi left in her spirit. Yet there //is// a shred of the Gate's chi leaking off the magma still fresh on her body. Your injured spirit soaks in that wisp, gaining enough energy to walk. "Owwwwww." She groans, not moving. Two seconds go by without her saying anything. You decide to bridge the gap. "That was...a nice attack." You exhale painfully, blinking to get your vision back. <<var $leonarep + 5>>\ <<var $jackhelp "Leona">>\ "Thanks." She mumbles into the dirt. "I was going to use that on you at the tree. It would have been so cool." "I'll bet." You croak while leaning over, looking for a stick to prop you up. "He's not dead, is he?" You both send spiritual scans into the sky and sense that not only is Jack alive, twenty miles up. He's conscious. And coming back down. <<if ($honor gte 57)>>\ "Uuuggggghhhhh." \ <<else>>\ "Fuuuuuuuuuck." \ <</if>>\ You both moan. "I need to get to the Gate." You say, pulling yourself up with a branch. "Can you move?" "No." She says confidently. "Can you cover my butt before you go? I hear one of that foxslut's voyeur orbs coming over. I don't want the entire city thinking of my naked butt when they see \ <<if ($heshe is "he")>>\ me." <<else>>\ me. Not when my chest looks so much better." <</if>>\ <<choose "ch8dragon-jack-leona2">> #Leave "That does sound like a problem." You admit. "Thanks-" Leona starts. "Your problem." You finish, hobbling through the woods and leaving her behind. High overhead, one of Misuka the Performer's golden-pink scrying orbs descends down to get a view of the naked woman you left for the crowd to see. ''[Prestige Increased]'' <<var $prestige + 1>>\ ''[Infamy Increased]'' <<var $infamy + 1>>\ <<var $leonarep - 3>>\ <<var $score_bladed - 1>>\ <<var $score_cursed + 1>>\ <<var $honor - 2>>\ <<var $ruthless + 1>>\ You'd laugh on your way through the woods if it didn't hurt your ribs. <<page "Continue" "ch8dragon-jack-leona2">>\ #Cover her butt. You grab a few nearby leaf-heavy branches and place them over Leona's torso, protecting her modesty from Misuka's scrying orb just as it clears over the tree line. All men back in the Nanhou stadiums see you ruin their view. ''[Prestige Lost]'' <<var $prestige - 1>>\ "Thanks..." Leona grumbles, eyes fluttering into unconsciousness. "You're a \ <<if ($heshe is "he")>>\ sweet...guy..." <<else>>\ good...friend..." <</if>>\ <<var $honor + 2>>\ <<var $ruthless - 1>>\ <<var $score_bladed + 1>>\ Her head turns to the side, golden hair covering her face as she passes out. <<page "Continue" "ch8dragon-jack-leona2">>\ #Turn her over. "I have a better idea." You say, putting one foot under Leona's side and lifting to turn her over. She rolls onto her back with her naked breasts on full display just as one of Misuka the Performer's orbs appears over the tree cover. <<var $honor - 3>>\ ''[Prestige Increased]'' <<var $prestige + 3>>\ <<if ($heshe is "he")>>\ ''[Infamy Increased]'' <<var $infamy + 2>>\ <</if>>\ <<var $score_bladed - 1>>\ <<var $score_wild + 1>>\ <<if ($heshe is "she")>>\ "Thanks." She says, eyes fluttering into unconsciousness. "You're a...real friend..." <<var $leonarep + 10>>\ <<else>>\ "You bastard..." She mumbles, eyes fluttering into unconsciousness. "I was...going to...charge..." <<var $leonarep - 3>>\ <</if>>\ Her head turns to the side, golden hair covering her face as she passes out. <<page "Continue" "ch8dragon-jack-leona2">>\ <</choose>>

Step by excruciating step, you make your way through the forest and back up the mountain. When you reach the volcano's edge you're given an ironic mercy: a shortcut. The hole in the volcano that Jack punched you through. It's now a sizeable tunnel leading you into the volcanic crater. You hobble through, feeling better with each step. Not good, not healthy, not even stable, but better. The Gate's energies pour into you like water being poured into a cracked vase. It's leaking out, yes, but it's filling up faster than it leaks. Just as you reach the edge of the tunnel the ground trembles. You cover your eyes, weary of another volcanic explosion at close proximity, but when you look back you see something worse: Jack has landed. Right in the central floating rock-island of the lava pool, Jack stands from a ground-shaking landing and looks up to you. "Words cannot express how mad I am." He says calmly. "It's...unsettling. I'm so mad that I've gone beyond blinded with rage. I see clearly now. Clearer than ever...so you can drop the act." <<page "Huh?" "ch8dragon-jack-mergetf">>\

Wind pressure flies off your body from the speed of your ascent, blasted upward, and Jack charges up an energy beam down on the ground below. You close your eyes. Half to stop the spinning, and half to send your senses out, praying against all hope to find something that can save you. ... You crack your eye open, seeing the green glow of Jack's prepared attack, and can't believe you found your answer. <<page "Continue" "ch8dragon-jack-limitbreaker2">>\

<<var $val 8989>>\ <<include "ch8dragon-jack-powerofgate">>\ ''//"Freestyle Transformation: Limitbreaker."//'' Your new aura explodes upward with power, layering three surging auras on top of each other around you. Waves of $auracolor energy and wind force whip in all directions through the high tension of your compressed energy. The constant chaotic surge of spiritual power \ <<if ($haircolor is "bald")>>\ fails to affect your bald head like it affected Jack's, but it still affects your eyebrows, soaking them \ <<elseif ($heshe is "he")>>\ spikes your hair vertically and soaks it \ <<else>>\ weighs on your hair, condensing it together in a thick layer and soaking it \ <</if>>\ in your chi until \ <<if ($haircolor is "bald")>>\ they're \ <<else>>\ it's \ <</if>>\ dyed- <<choose "ch8dragon-jack-limitbreaker3">> #show-if ($style is "Akakiru") Scarlet <<var $limitbreaker "scarlet">>\ #show-if ($style is "Aoyusumu") Cerulean <<var $limitbreaker "cerulean">>\ #show-if ($style is "Kiihakai") Gold <<var $limitbreaker "gold">>\ #show-if ($style is "Kurokonton") Purple <<var $limitbreaker "purple">>\ #show-if ($style is "Midorikatai") Green <<var $limitbreaker "green">>\ #show-if (($element1 is "Darkness") or ($element2 is "Darkness")) Black <<var $limitbreaker "black">>\ #show-if (($element1 is "Earth") or ($element2 is "Earth")) Amber <<var $limitbreaker "amber">>\ #show-if (($element1 is "Fire") or ($element2 is "Fire")) Red <<var $limitbreaker "red">>\ #show-if (($element1 is "Ice") or ($element2 is "Ice")) Arctic Blue <<var $limitbreaker "white">>\ #show-if (($element1 is "Light") or ($element2 is "Light")) Yellow <<var $limitbreaker "yellow">>\ #show-if (($element1 is "Storm") or ($element2 is "Storm")) Violet <<var $limitbreaker "violet">>\ #show-if (($element1 is "Water") or ($element2 is "Water")) Blue <<var $limitbreaker "blue">>\ #show-if (($element1 is "Wind") or ($element2 is "Wind")) Emerald <<var $limitbreaker "emerald">>\ #The same as my normal hair. [$haircolor] <<var $limitbreaker $haircolor>>\ <<if ($spiritbrandloc is "hair")>>\ <<var $limitbreaker $spiritbrandcolor>>\ <</if>>\ <</choose>>

<<if (($spiritbrandloc is "hair") or ($spiritbrandloc is "hairstrip"))>>\ ''[Hair Spiritbrand: +10 Aura Pressure]'' <<var $aurapressure + 10>>\ <</if>>\ You spin right-side-up, releasing your waves of chi upward to stop your advance and hang in mid-air. Flexing your new power, you take control of the chaotic bursts of power spinning around your triple-layered aura as it surges ever upward. ''[Limitbreaker Bonuses: +1 Power, +1 Health]'' ''[Limitbreaker Special: +1 to each Core's Surge rating, +10 Aura Pressure from combat victories.]'' "...What the fuck is this." Jack says, staring at you from the ground. His aura whips in all directions but his body is frozen stiff, his face stone cold. "Did you think you were the only one that came prepared?" You taunt, tilting the side of your mouth upward. Jack clenches a fist, tightening it with Wild Chi. "I'm going to make you regret bringing shame to my new abilities." The rocks around him break to pieces from your lightning-fast arrival. "Prove it." You say behind him, striking with a- <<choose "ch8dragon-jack-limitbreaker4">> #High pressure grapple. You grab Jack's wrist and spin him backward, throwing him into the air, but your Limitbreaker Transformation lets you leap above him before he can regain composure. You slam your knee into his back and blast him down into the ground. Before you finish falling, behind you, twenty enormous towers of stone rise from the lavapool. "Fool!" Jack shouts, leaping up from the smokecloud of his landing. "You thought that was power?" He strikes your arms out of the way with one hand and grips your shoulder with the other. "THIS is power!" When he rears you back to throw your body through his stone towers, you clasp both legs over his neck and swing yourself around and under him, flinging him to the ground with your ankles around his skull. The pace quickens. You meet on the ground, catching his leg and spinning him into the stone. He uses your grip to fling you over the edge behind him, into the lava. You let go and blast him with energy. He rushes through the explosion and catches your fists in both hands. "You can't beat me in grapples!" He mocks. "I'm a-" <<cap $auracolor>> light shines from under his fists and you blast energy //through// your closed fists, scorching your own fingers to burn his hands. Jack stumbles back and you rush in, grabbing his midsection and spinning behind him. You don't even risk a finishing line. All you do, when seizing the opportunity, is push the entire Heavenly Gate's worth of energy into your last attack. Blazing like a meteor of $auracolor power, you kick off the ground and lift Jack overhead, head-first. The two of you blast across the battlefield in a devastating horizontal suplex that crashes him through all twenty of his own stone towers. <<var $val 0>>\ <<if ((($athletics gte 3) or ($stylerank gte 3)) or ($jadedragonfoundation is true))>>\ <<if ($athletics gte 3)>>\ ''[Athletics 3 Check Passed]'' <<var $powexp + 3>>\ <<elseif ($stylerank gte 3)>>\ ''[<<cap $style>> (Expert) Check Passed]'' <<else>>\ ''[Jade Dragon Check Passed]'' <</if>>\ ''[Damage Increased]'' <<var $dmg + 1>>\ <<var $val 15>>\ <</if>>\ ''[Aura Pressure +$val]'' <<var $aurapressure + $val>>\ <<page "Continue" "ch8dragon-jack-limitbreaker4">>\ #Flurry of explosive blows in mid-air. Jack spins with an elbow and you frontflip in-place, using the speed of your landing with perfect timing to push that rotation into a punch of your own. Despite the massive blowback of your clashing strikes, the explosive force of your Limitbreaker Transformation pushes you //down//, toward Jack, not up and away from him. Your shin meets his side three times in a triple-kick enforced with the same counterbalance and you strike at his incoming fist. The two of you trade blow for blow all the way down onto the ground where Jack spins 360 degrees with a burning chop at your mid-section. You leap to make your body horizontal, spinning in the air to swing your leg down on his block. Your attack crashes into his two-handed guard and buries half his body in the stone, keeping him still when you swing an overhead two-handed energy blast into his face. All your power from the Heavenly Gate goes into that one attack in the last second, all its energies pushed out in a surprise strike thanks to the Limitbreaker forms incredible ability to surge so much chi so quickly. Unprepared, Jack's arms are blown to the side by your immense finisher that crashes against his chest, aura, and face. You'd grin in victory if the 300-foot fallout of your blast didn't blow you away. <<var $val 0>>\ <<if ((($insight gte 3) or ($stylerank gte 3)) or ($jadedragonfoundation is true))>>\ <<if ($insight gte 3)>>\ ''[Insight 3 Check Passed]'' <<var $solexp + 3>>\ <<elseif ($stylerank gte 3)>>\ ''[<<cap $style>> (Expert) Check Passed]'' <<else>>\ ''[Jade Dragon Check Passed]'' <</if>>\ ''[Damage Increased]'' <<var $dmg + 1>>\ <<var $val 15>>\ <</if>>\ ''[Aura Pressure +$val]'' <<var $aurapressure + $val>>\ <<var $val 7234>>\ <<page "Continue" "ch8dragon-jack-limitbreaker4">>\ <</choose>>

<<if ($val is 7234)>>\ You catch yourself on a different rock island and skid across. Slowly, painfully, you rise to your feet as your power fades. Fast. <<else>>\ You cough through the smoke and dust, woozy and dizzy. <</if>>\ <<include "ch8dragon-jack-aurashatter">>\

"Show me!" He screams, trading two glancing punches against your own while you run side-by-side to stay above the lava. "So many losers brag about your victories on the road! Show me where they come from!" "You don't get to make demands!" You scream back while deflecting a chop to your head and \ <<if (($element1 is "Storm") or ($element2 is "Storm"))>>\ crashing an electrified elbow into his blocking bicep. \ <<var $solexp + 1>>\ <<else>>\ bouncing an elbow off his ribs. \ <</if>>\ "I won last time, ''you're'' the challenger here!" You throw an energy ball into his face but he deflects it with a punch. The pace of the fight changes when he shoves his other palm forward, glowing with Earth Chi. In a flash he pulls up the stone sixty feet ahead to form a six-foot-thick wall that blocks you both off. At two-hundred miles per hour, you reach it in half a second. <<choose "ch8dragon-jack-wall">> #Blast a hole through the wall. -> "ch8dragon-jack-wallblast" #Flip over the wall. -> "ch8dragon-jack-wallflip" #Grab Jack's head and ram him through the wall. -> "ch8dragon-jack-wallgrab" #use-if (($element1 is "Light") or ($element2 is "Light")) Phase through the wall. [Requires Light, Costs 1 Chi] You channel the Light Chi through your body and attune yourself to its immaterial properties for the barest blink of a second. ''[1 Chi Spent]'' <<var $chispent + 1>>\ Increasing your speed by triple, you vanish from sight and appear on the other side of the rock wall. <<var $dmg + 1>>\ In the time it takes you to skid to a halt, Jack breaks through his own section of the stone with a bloodthirsty grin. That grin falters when he sees you're already facing him with $auracolor brimming around your body for your next attack. This time it's //your// turn to give a predatory grin. "Too slow, Jack!" ''[Next Battle Check Increased by +1]'' <<var $cmod + 1>>\ #use-if (($style is "Kiihakai") and ((($chipool + ($soul/2)) - $chispent) gte 2)) Disintegrate the wall. [Requires Kiihakai, Costs 2 Chi] <<cap $auracolor>> glowing glyphs and sigils materialize around Jack's rock wall in an instant, singed onto its surface. Jack grabs the back of your skull and shoves you into the stone, but your chi sorcery activates and obliterates the entire rock structure into a cloud of the smallest particles of sand. You reach both hands behind your head to grab Jack's wrist, holding him still, as the sandcloud around you parts and condenses to draw six body-sized ritual circles into the air, trapping you both in a cube. ''[2 Chi Points Spent]'' <<var $chispent + 2>>\ Jack snarls, looking to his left, right, center, and even above him where the glyphs point at him and charge with energy. "You cheating little-" <<if ($honor gt 50)>>\ You wrench his hand off the back of your neck, turn, and grab his throat. "You won't finish that sentence." <<var $powexp + 2>>\ <<else>>\ "GET." You scream, charging chi around your body to shield you from the blast. "FUCKED!" <<var $agiexp + 2>>\ <</if>>\ Each of the glyphs detonates at once, slamming the two of you with six full-powered energy beams generated and guided by your Mystic Chi. Inside of the Gate, your own power heals you as quickly as it harms. Jack can't say the same. ''[Damage Increased]'' <<var $dmg + 2>>\ The barrage of power continues for two full seconds before Jack can muster an explosion of Wild Chi. A monumental sphere of heavy green energy blasts you backward, but by the time he's overcome your trap you've already skidded to a halt on the volcanic wall and channeled an arsenal of $auracolor chi for your next attack. "Not good enough, Jack!" You shout, preparing your new assault. "You're on the backfoot!" <</choose>>

"Your injuries." Jack says. "They're a clever feint, but I'm not fooled. You always get back up, and you always surprise your opponent with bullshit. This is a trap. I'm not giving you the chance to pull out another trump card when my guard is down." You feel like your bones are made of dust clouds that hate each other and want to separate. "...Good." You lie. "I see you discovered my plan." You try to keep him talking. Anything to buy more time in the Gate, but with ruptured Cores your healing is //so painfully slow.// <<if ($chispent gte 1)>>\ ''[1 Chi Recovered]'' \ <<var $chispent - 1>>\ <</if>>\ <<apboost 1>>\ "I never expected I'd have to reveal it so early." Jack exhales with disappointment. "It doesn't matter. The world would have found out eventually." <<include "ch8dragon-jack-misukarocks">>\

You've built no Transformation-level fuel within your spirit. There's nothing that could mimic Jack's ability inside your soul. That won't stop you. There's more available than just what's //inside// your soul. "What are you up to this time?" Jack asks dismissively when the ambient chi swirls unevenly around your fractured cycling. You growl back, gritting your teeth, widening your vision, tensing your neck, and clasping both hands together. With a final push and a howling roar you force your fading spiritual senses into the Gate. Your fractured aura deteriorates further, expanding in shards through the air like a spiderweb. With the barest grasp on the entire Gate, your soul blooms outward across the ambient chi of the battlefield. Veins of Wild Chi spread through the half-mile wide volcanic crater for a single second. "The fuck..." Jack says, looking around at the fractured lines of power expanding around the volcano. In that moment, you copy Jack's method to ignite your own power as a catalyst. The entire Heavenly Gate's worth of energy flares into a battlefield-sized sphere of Wild power that you squeeze down around yourself, wrapping your body in a temporary aura. A ''stronger'' aura, one built for battle. One built to bring out the Monster within. <<choose "ch8dragon-jack-midotf-titan">> #''//"Midorikatai Transformation: Titan"//'' #''//"Midorikatai Transformation: Asura"//'' -> "ch8dragon-jack-midotf-asura" <</choose>>

''//"Midorikatai Transformation: Asura"//'' <<var $asura true>>\ Your skin, muscles, bone, and tendons tear at the seams, growing larger than ever before. Wild Chi pumps through your blood like an animal, turning you into a savage built for nothing but battle. Your muscles expand, your height grows by\ <<if ((($heshe is "he") or ($bodytype is "Bodacious")) or ($bodytype is "Dommymommy"))>>\ //another// \ <<else>>\ an entire \ <</if>>\ foot, and a second set of powerful arms rips out from your shoulder blades. ''[Asura Bonuses: +2 Power, +1 Fortitude, +1 Health]'' ''[Asura Special: Melee Attacks are always Focused. Unlock Dual Wield.]'' "No!" Jack shouts, blasting across the arena like a shining meteor of green power. "I won't-" "RRRGGGGGHHHHAAAAA!" You howl in his face, catching his fist and wrist with two of your four arms. The impact of catching that strike alone breaks the rock beneath your feet and echoes across the whole island. Jack's eyes widen, his body motionless and horizontal in your grip. You waste no time, enraged, battering Jack's surprised face with strike after strike using your other arms. When he recovers his posture, you stop his counter prematurely by swinging him by the skull into the stone behind you. He kicks off and pushes his skull into your side, blasting the two of you across the arena with incredible force from his Limitbreaker Transformation's improved strength. Speeding through the air, you... <<choose "ch8dragon-jack-aurashatter">> #use-if ($val is 4325254325) Focus on your training. [Impossible on First Change] -> "death" #Let the rage overtake you. You crash into the middle rock island, kicking up a circular wave of lava that splashes over the rest of the arena. Quickly you roll over, thinking- "RRRRRAAAAAAAHHHHHHH!" Nothing. Rage overtakes you, charging into Jack like a wild animal with a flurry of blows. Jack roars back, unleashing a flurry of kicks and strikes into your unended assault. His arms speed up with surged Agility Cores and the power of his Limitbreaker Transformation to meet your fists in the air. Your punches match him fist-for-fist with your own surged Agility Cores and the fact that you have ''four arms.'' Every fourth strike bares down on him undeflected, striking his jaw, his shoulder, his ribs, his chest, his gut, his kidneys, his ears, his eyes. You exchange hundreds of blows in seconds and come out the winner, battering him so quickly that the ground beneath his feet shreds into sand; the rapidfire impact treats his feet like chisels vibrating into the stone. With a wild roar you finally grip both his arms in two of your hands and pull him forward into a headbutt. All the chi of the Heavenly Gate goes into this one attack, crashing your skull down on his face with thousands of stolen Aura Pressure, cracking your rock island in half and lighting up Guarded Blossom's sky with $auracolor light. <<if ((($ruthless gte 75) or ($stylerank gte 3)) or ($jadedragonfoundation is true))>>\ <<if ($ruthless gte 75)>>\ ''[Ruthless 75 Check Passed]'' <<var $powexp + 3>>\ <<elseif ($stylerank gte 3)>>\ ''[Midorikatai (Expert) Check Passed]'' <<else>>\ ''[Jade Dragon Check Passed]'' <</if>>\ ''[Damage Increased]'' <<var $dmg + 1>>\ <<var $val 15>>\ <</if>>\ ''[Aura Pressure +$val]'' <<var $aurapressure + $val>>\ <<page "Continue" "ch8dragon-jack-aurashatter">>\ <</choose>>

''//"Midorikatai Transformation: Titan"//'' <<var $titan true>>\ <<cap $auracolor>> Wild Chi pumps through your veins, glowing. Your body and spirit discard and humanoid purpose for chi. No aura. No Technique. You regress to the raw, primal purpose that all Beasts use for chi: You ''grow.'' Your skin, muscles, bone, and tendons tear at the seams, growing larger than ever before. Steam rushes out of your body as \ <<if (((($subrace isnot "") and ($race isnot "Lunargoth")) and ($subrace isnot "Monkey")) and ($style isnot "Midorikatai"))>>\ you drop to all fours. Your \ <<else>>\ your \ <</if>>\ weight increases two-hundred-fold and you expand, mostruously, \ <<if ($subrace is "Monkey")>>\ into fifty-foot tall giant monkey \ <<else>>\ up to fifty-feet-tall \ <</if>>\ in a flash of $auracolor light. ''[Titan Bonuses: +2 Fortitude, +1 Power, +2 Health]'' ''[Titan Special: Bonus Damage Always Triggered in Combat]'' <<if ($subrace is "Monkey")>>\ ''[Giant Monkey Event: Increase AP gained from winning fights]'' <<var $fightbonus + 5>>\ <</if>>\ "STAY DOWN YOU \ <<if ($heshe is "he")>>\ LITTLE SHIT!" \ <<else>>\ BITCH!" \ <</if>>\ Jack shouts blasting across the arena like a shining meteor of green power. "I WON'T-!" ''"RRRGGGGGHHHHAAAAA!"'' You howl in his face, catching both his fists with one of yours. The impact of catching that strike breaks the rock beneath your feet and echoes across the whole island. Jack, merely the size of your head, widens his eyes. His body stiffens from a primordial hesitation found in all beings when facing such a gargantuan threat. Wasting no time, you scream in a rage as you slam him into the \ <<if ($subrace is "Monkey")>>\ ground and whip him with your caravan-sized tail. ''[Damage Increased]'' <<var $dmg + 1>>\ <<else>>\ ground. <</if>>\ His body bounces dozens of feet off the stone and you bludgeon him back down with your gargantuan fists in strike after strike. Burning red Chi triggers in your hand when he recovers his composure, but you stop his counter prematurely by swinging him by both legs into the stone behind you. He kicks off, blasting through the air to attack, and you leap at him to meet it head-on. Speeding through the air, you... <<choose "ch8dragon-jack-midotf2">> #use-if ($val is 4325254325) Focus on your training. [Impossible on First Change] -> "death" #Let the rage overtake you. ''"RRRRRAAAAAAAHHHHHHH!"'' Rage overtakes your mind, and your body responds. You strike at Jack, feeling your arm deflected, then \ <<if ($subrace is "Monkey")>>\ swing your tail up to knock him \ <<else>>\ knee him \ <</if>>\ into the air when he closes in. Leaping high overhead, you catch his torso with both hands and //squeeze//. Jack roars back, unleashing a flurry of kicks and strikes into your wrist. His arms speed up with surged Agility Cores and the power of his Limitbreaker Transformation breaks your grip. He kicks your hand back blasts Fire behind himself to charge through the air with a straight punch. You block his charge with a wagon-sized fist, punching through his Transformed strength fist-for-fist with your own surged Agility Cores and the fact that you are ''six times his height.'' Every strike of your fist hits with so much weight that the after-effect rocks through his body. Despite his powerful frame striking you with more chi than humanly possible, you return his damage twofold with ''weight''. His body begins to crack as the two of you fall to the ground in a flurry of blows. Fractures line through his jaw, his shoulder, his ribs, his chest, his gut, his kidneys, his ears, his eyes. You exchange hundreds of blows in seconds and come out the winner, battering him so quickly and so heavily that he falters just before the two of you hit the ground. With a wild roar you grab him with both hands \ <<if ($subrace is "Monkey")>>\ throw him to the ground, charging all your power into a ball of energy between your jaws. <<var $forexp + 5>>\ Jack slams into the ground, kicking up rocks and lava in a circular splash blasting everything away from him. Before he can even look up to see the fifty-foot giant monkey falling down upon him, you unleash your blast. From your mouth erupts a beam of $auracolor chi with every shred of the Heavenly Gate's thousands of Aura Pressure of stolen power. It crashes into Jack, wiping out the last shreds of his energy signature. \ <<else>>\ and flip upside down, spinning, using his head to break both of your falls. Your twenty-thousand-pound body spends thousands of stolen Aura Pressure to rush your descent and slam Jack into the bottom of the volcano with a supersized suplex . <</if>>\ The ground shakes, and Guarded Blossoms sky blooms $auracolor. <<if ((($ruthless gte 75) or ($stylerank gte 3)) or ($jadedragonfoundation is true))>>\ <<if ($ruthless gte 75)>>\ ''[Ruthless 75 Check Passed]'' <<var $powexp + 3>>\ <<elseif ($stylerank gte 3)>>\ ''[Midorikatai (Expert) Check Passed]'' <<else>>\ ''[Jade Dragon Check Passed]'' <</if>>\ ''[Damage Increased]'' <<var $dmg + 1>>\ <<var $val 15>>\ <</if>>\ ''[Aura Pressure +$val]'' <<var $aurapressure + $val>>\ <<var $val 808822>>\ <<page "Continue" "ch8dragon-jack-midotf2">>\ <</choose>>

You begin to shrink with so much chi spent, having none left to sustain the Titan form. <<include "ch8dragon-jack-aurashatter">>\

Small rocks tumbling down the wall to your side reveal Misuka the Performer. The kitsune catches up to the fight, peeking over the volcanic crater's edge above you. She snaps her fingers and points to both sides, silently sending her scrying orbs back out around the arena. "The Midorikatai style has an ugly option." Jack continues as Wild Chi floats up around him. "It changes your body, throws off your martial arts. Form over substance. A waste of power to boast flashy effects. I found a better option when crushing a pompous Sectmaster, but it was meant to be a trump card against real Warriors in the later Trials." He spits \ <<if ($dmg gte 4)>>\ blood \ <</if>>\ to the side. "It's beyond insulting that you forced my hand. Again. Every time we fight, you ruin my plans for future problems." His eyes burn with fire. "Now you get what you deserve." Jack's aura of green chi begins to quake, as if three other auras were emerging from within one. "I'll make you pay for revealing my Transformation." <<if ($malocchio is true)>>\ "What..." Your eyes widen at the implication. This is supposed to be //your// Transformation's debut, not Jack's. What the Hells is going on here? Jack smiles at the look on your face and \ <<else>>\ Through every ounce of pain, every burnt nerve, every numbed finger, and every shaking limb, you still feel your skin grow cold at his words. "Transformation...?" Jack \ <</if>>\ raises one fist, glaring over it at his eternal rival. ''//"Limitbreaker."//'' <<page "Continue" "ch8dragon-jack-misukarocks2">>\

Jack's aura bursts upward in layers of devastating Fire Chi. The renewed potency of his aura dyes his hair red, but the sheer //pressure// of his aura blows that hair straight up with heavy gusts all around his body. <<if ($portraitpics is true)>>\ <<image "https://www.auraclash.com/assets/images/jack-limitbreaker.jpg">>\ <</if>>\ The tension through the air is incredible; bursts of wind generate from Jack's body in twisting angles that swirls the entire lake of lava into a burning whirlpool. None of it is Wind Chi. The entire display is pure physical force flying out of his aura in excess. "Th-This is incredible, folks!" Misuka shouts from above, gripping the rocky ground to avoid flying away. "Crusher Jack has unlocked a Transformation! Merely twenty-one years old, raised in an Outer Province, and he's pulled off a feat meant for Inner Kingdom Upper Disciples! I cannot believe my eyes!" <<if ($malocchio is true)>>\ "What the-I transformed first! Are you blind?!" Misuka stares at you doubtfully, unable to see your Malocchio eyes from the top of the arena. Yet your vision is ripped away from the announcer when your spiritual senses scream out in emergency. Your Transformation refilled with you enough power to continue the fight. In contrast, Jack's Transformation climbed his Aura Pressure above his father's. He closes the distance and slams his fist into your solar plexus with the same attack you traded earlier. You return the attack, but it falters. In his transformed state, the difference is mindbreaking. Jack's blow rips through your guard and slams you in the torso so hard that your aura shatters all over again. <<if ($binker is 999999)>>\ Your eyes dwindle, returning to normal. ''[Transformation Depowered]'' <<else>>\ The merest embers of the Malocchio eyes remain in your irises, but the merest breath is no longer in your lungs. <</if>>\ You drop to the ground, lose control of your body, and tumble toward the lava pit below. <<else>>\ Your hope dies when she confirms your worries. Not because of Jack's external changes, but internal. His Transformation's Aura Pressure has climbed above his father's. "This is it, Laborer." Jack shouts over the howling force of his own power. "Whatever trick you had up your sleeve, it's nothing compared to mine! You can't improvise a Transformation. It takes years of preparation, building a stronger self inside your spirit to release in bursts of raw power." He strikes, once, at the air. Earth Chi slams into the mountainside beneath you and crumbles everything in sight to gravel. You're wrenched from where you stand by a rockslide dragging the entire mountainside under your feet. Exhausted, expended, you tumble toward the lava pit below. <</if>>\ <<if ($jadedragonfoundation is true)>>\ As you near death, you curse your Fuel Foundation with every fabric of your soul. You are a JADE fucking DRAGON given $race form! If you had known the pitfall trap that your mortal foundation added onto that, you would have ripped it out of your soul years ago. You don't know how, but you would have figured it out! An eternity of power is slipping between your fingers. Even in the slim chance your broken body survives, a Transformed Crusher Jack waits at the bottom to 'fix' that mistake. <<if ($honor lt 50)>>\ FUCK! Fuck, fuck, FUCK! <<else>>\ This is unnatural. This is unacceptable! <</if>>\ You should have won, crushing everything that dares stand before the dragon! Instead your imperial majestic soul has been rendered inert, and all you have left is the mortal body that ruined it all. ...The mortal...body... <<page "Damn it all." "ch8dragon-jack-misukarocks3">>\ <<else>>\ Facing certain doom, your life flashes before your eyes. Your time with your friends. Your time with your family. Your every minute spent training just to come to a fiery end. Just to lose...to //Jack?!// <<page "No." "ch8dragon-jack-misukarocks3">>\ <</if>>\

<<if ($jadedragonfoundation is true)>>\ Devoid of options, and refusing to lose, your \ <<else>>\ No. He started all this, and you ''will'' end it. Your broken body tumbles down the rocks, toward a burning death, but you don't desperately think of what you need to survive. You think of what you need to ''win.'' Your \ <</if>>\ thoughts fall to what you've built \ <<if ($jadedragonfoundation is true)>>\ in this cursed mortal life. What you've built \ <<else>>\ up \ <</if>>\ as a Laborer. You weren't raised with special family Techniques. You weren't given heirloom Treasures. Your cultivation didn't come with a special Bloodline power or soul Inheritance. <<if ($malocchio is true)>>\ In the face of Jack's power, all \ <<else>>\ All \ <</if>>\ you have is... <<var $val 0>>\ <<var $txt "aurashatter">>\ <<choose "ch8dragon-jack-limitbreaker">> #use-if ($style is "Akakiru") The power of the blade. [Requires Akakiru] <<if ((((($equippedweapon is "Muramasa") or ($equippedweapon is "Kagutsuchi")) or ($equippedweapon is "Ikazuchi")) or ($equippedweapon is "Shishido")) or ($equippedweapon is "Godslayer"))>>\ <<var $weppy $equippedweapon>>\ <<elseif ($equippedweapon is "")>>\ <<var $weppy "your fist">>\ <<else>>\ <<var $weppy ("your " + $equippedweapon)>>\ <</if>>\ <<if ((((((($equippedweapon is "Meteor Hammer") or ($equippedweapon is "Handwraps")) or ($equippedweapon is "Kunai")) or ($equippedweapon is "Yumi")) or ($equippedweapon is "Greataxe")) or ($equippedweapon is "Qiang")) or ($equippedweapon is "Shishido"))>>\ Your body feels at the brink of tearing, and your spirit has already torn. Even still, giving homage to the masters of Akakiru, you refuse to die without a sword in your hand. Instead of $weppy, you \ <<else>>\ Faced with impossible odds, you \ <</if>>\ <<if ((((((((((($equippedweapon is "Katana")) or ($equippedweapon is "Tanto")) or ($equippedweapon is "Muramasa")) or ($equippedweapon is "Jian")) or ($equippedweapon is "Iceblade")) or ($equippedweapon is "Chiblade")) or ($equippedweapon is "Kagutsuchi")) or ($equippedweapon is "Ikazuchi")) or ($equippedweapon is "Shishido")) or ($equippedweapon is "Godslayer"))>>\ draw $weppy \ <<else>>\ form the fading, leaking chi of your soul into a sword of energy extending from your main hand \ <<var $weppy "your chiblade">>\ <</if>>\ and pierce it into the stone just above the lava's edge to end your descent down the steep slope. "Injuries or no, Jack, this is your last chance to surrender." You warn sternly. "We're approaching the point of no return." Jack cracks a smirk, wiping it from his face as quickly as it comes. "What makes you think you're in any position to talk like that?" "Because I'm losing my sense of control to the battle. I'm...//enjoying// this." ''[Ruthless Increased]'' <<var $ruthless + 5>>\ "I've told myself all my life that you were the problem. That I was innocent, and you were the aggressor." You prepare yourself and plunge your offhand into the lava, wincing from the flesh-searing pain when your arm ignites. "I...told myself that I was different...from everyone like you. \ <<if ($ruthless gte 70)>>\ That I would wield my sword to enforce the law as an Archon. \ <<else>>\ That I would use my sword to protect my family. \ <</if>>\ Not for hatred...Not for revenge! But it's too late for the oath of my sword to protect you now." From the lava you withdraw your burnt offhand, and in its grip, lost in the meteor attack, you hold Leona Bangle's katana by the handle. "Because this ''isn't'' my sword." ''[Item Gained: Musashi, the Master's Rival]'' <<if ($jackhelp is "Leona")>>\ ''[Leona Companion Event: Musashi Improved]'' <<var $itemkatana_4 244361000>>\ <<else>>\ <<var $itemkatana_4 234063000>>\ <</if>>\ ''[Ability Unlocked: Dual Wielding]'' <<var $dualwield true>>\ <<unequipweapon2>>\ <<var $equippedweapon2 "Musashi">>\ <<var $weaponbonus2 $itemkatana_4>>\ <<weaponbonuses2>>\ Jack's growls in anger. "You think you can challenge me with one more toothpick? I show you all my power, and you STILL won't shut your fucking mouth and kowtow?!" He covers his arms and chest in sandshield, pointing at you with an oversized hand. "THEN COME ON!" "Okay." You exhale, kicking off the side of the wall and landing on an island of rock among the lavapool. "LET'S DANCE!" <<page "Continue" "ch8dragon-jack-akakirutf">>\ #use-if ($style is "Aoyusumu") The power of the people. [Requires Aoyusumu] As you tumble down the steepest part of the volcano's inner wall, hitting your injured body on every outcropping rock, you feel no pain. //"Get up!"// You feel no worries, no stress, no struggle. //"Just one more hit! Just ''one'' more!"// Your mind is too preoccupied, focusing on the unfamiliar voices rushing through it. //"You can do it!"// //"Avenge my Sectmaster!"// //"Don't let him win!"// //"I believe in you!"// They flood in by the thousands, voice after voice, plead after plead, all begging you to get back up and finish the fight. Whether it be wishing to win a bet, or wishing to stop the obstacle that is Crusher Jack, or wishing to avenge some victim of his journey these last few years, or wishing to cheer on an underdog, or simply wishing for your survival, the voices never merge. They stand out, distinct and hopeful in their begging. No... Not begging... Not wishes, either... Prayers. You slam one unpowered hand into the stone behind you, catching yourself on a rock five feet above the lava's ignition point. "Wrong move!" Jack hollers from his rock island, charging green chi around his fist. "If you won't submit to the lava, I'll finish you off myself." You ignore him, because the thousands of prayers pouring into your fractured aura bring more than just words. They bring power. <<page "Continue" "ch8dragon-jack-aoyusumutf">>\ #use-if ($style is "Kiihakai") The power of sorcery. [Requires Kiihakai] ''[Weeks ago, on the road to Ebikowa...]'' You sit in a wagon of the Dreamriver Sect's caravan, hunched over a set of scrolls. Motes of Mystic Chi illuminate your surroundings. It was one of your first spells. Desdemona's disciples are cooking something in a boiling cauldron in the center of your circled wagons. At first you thought it was some sort of potion, but the smell indicates it is soup. "It doesn't make any sense." You say, reading thoroughly. "How is this a Technique? Gaining total control over the chi of a pocket realm, isn't it more like a ritual than an attack? Or more like...real estate?" "Depends." Yawns Li Moon, rubbing her eyes under her glasses. She enters the wagon and looks over your notes. "Oh, that? I suppose it's...spiritual real estate." "We should focus on the practical." Li Sun says, handing you a tome on incendiaries. "Those abilities won't be any use in the Trials; they take years to learn. Try these instead." "It is a good question though." Desdemona says when appearing from the darkness. "And it is not...real estate." She looks disgusted at her Disciple for agreeing with you, then flips a page on your desk. "Kiihakai is about chi sorcery, and sorcerous powers are largely external. It only makes sense that our equivalent trump cards are external too. The trick to activating this in combat is maintaining control over the ambient aura in such a wide radius. Impossibly wide, some in the Outer Provinces would say." You shake your head. "It's easy to say that, but how do we do it? My aura only extends an inch away from my body, up to a couple feet when fighting at my strongest. How do I expend it //that// far?" "Fuel quantity." Desdemona says, closing the tome. "You'll need a deep reserve of power set aside for it, far more than other Styles. A plethora of rituals exist to help you build it up, but we don't have any yet. I'm hoping to learn some in Nanhou. Trying it without them is insanity, we would need the equivalent of an entire Heavenly Gate within our spirits." "Oh, that solves that." You crack your knuckles and close the tome. "I'll use a Heavenly Gate instead." Desdemona scoffs. "Good luck getting a Gate all to yourself." "You'd be surprised." You mumble off to the side. "Fine, I'll humor you." Desdemona says with dry, humorless warning. "If you try to fuel this ability with a Gate, you will ''explode'' and ''die''. //Do not// try to trigger this using a Gate." <<page "Continue" "ch8dragon-jack-kiihakaitf">>\ #use-if (($style is "Kurokonton") and ($malocchio is false)) The power of my enemies. [Requires Kurokonton] While falling your mind flashes back to your Kurokonton training. Your //physical// training, the Martial Arts. It's all you have left without your Cores working properly. Harkening back to your memories of Guiren teaching you the Kurokonton style, you ask yourself...what would Guiren do here? Hmmm...no, Guiren would lose. You try something else. Mid-tumble you pull a kunai from your shuriken pouch and slam it into the rock above you, allowing yourself to hang. With your other injured hand you draw six shuriken, two on each unbroken finger, and throw them at Jack. "This isn't over yet, Jack!" You taunt. "I've yet to show you the true power of ninjutsu." Jack smacks all six projectiles out of the air. "Still resisting? You should have fallen into the lava, you pathetic idiot. One strike from my new form will end you, but don't bother apologizing. You've already made the choice." You crack a bleeding smile and flip him off. "You talk too much." His eyes gleam red and his expression hardens, wrapping an immense amount of Wild Chi around his fist. "You chose this." ''//"WRATHFUL FIST!"//'' <<page "Continue" "ch8dragon-jack-kurotf">>\ #use-if ($style is "Midorikatai") The power of Beasts. [Requires Midorikatai] You tumble into the steep cliffside of the volcanic crater, hitting your injuries and skull against jagged rock as you fall. Every burst of pain pushes your mind that much over the edge. Every burst of pain turns your vision redder than the last. Within the pain you feel a deeper instinct. A willpower from within overriding the free thought of your mortal mind. A bestial presence screaming out with every injury inflicted, raging against your fate. Not a foreign entity, not a possession, but a savage presence grown inside your soul. Your own Chi. The savage, berserker nature of your spirit takes over your senses and lashes out, seizing what it needs to survive. Imprints of Jack's Transformation activation echo in the Heavenly Gate's ambient chi around you. You sensed it before, but when the savagery takes over, it ''consumes'' that sensation. Every feeling, every imprint, every inclination. Your Inner Beast latches onto the blueprint left hanging in the ambient chi of the Gate that only a Fuel Foundation could absorb. Within that blueprint you sense Jack's Transformation: a separate shell of condensed energy buried within his base form. A hyper-concentrated sphere of his spirit that can be ignited to replace his normal aura for minutes at a time. Your Inner Beast considers it in no such words. It only uses one: //Food.// <<page "Continue" "ch8dragon-jack-midotf">>\ #show-if ($malocchio is true) Jack's power. [Requires Malocchio] Crippled, injured, outmatched by Jack's Transformation, and tumbling down the steepest, most jagged cliffside of the volcanic crater, you rage internally against your fate. How can a //Transformation// not be enough to win?! "Whatever." You grunt out, stabbing a kunai into the rock wall to stop yourself from falling. "I'll just use two." "What was that?" Jack asks mockingly. "I can't hear you from all the way down there!" He blasts past you, gripping your shin and dragging you away from your kunai. "You'll have to speak-" With a triple spin, he flings you hundreds of feet into the air. "-UP!" #show-if ($malocchio is false) A life of struggle and intense training. You tumble down the steepest side of the volcanic crater, hitting every part of your injured body on jagged rocks on the way down. "This is it, Laborer!" Jack shouts. "But don't worry, I won't let you go out undignified. I'll put on a much better show than that." His next words come from right beside you. "You'll die like a Warrior. My final gift." Directly beneath you, surged with the power of his Limitbreaker Transformation, Jack has already dashed across the battlefield in one leap and stabbed a leg through the rocks in your path. "F-" Is all you can say before tumbling into him. He grabs you by the head and, in the time it takes you to notice, haphazardly throws you hundreds of feet in the air. <</choose>>

After landing against another island of rock you scan around for Jack, squinting through the heat haze of your bubbling lava arena. You don't have to look long. The rock beneath your feet lifts into the air with a sudden jerk, speeding toward the crater wall of your volcanic battlefield. You leap away just in time to avoid being caught between the twenty-ton boulder and the wall of Gate-enforced stone. Tumbling, you manage to kick off the rocky volcanic edge and break into a horizontal sprint along the cavern wall, running horizontally. From behind you, breaking out of the cloud of dust made by the exploding rock island, Jack surges an Agility Core to speed into you. <<include "ch8dragon-jack-mergeagain">>\

<<if ($kurofuggery is 5452)>>\ You pull in everything around you like the void, ignoring the pain in your spirit as it cracks further. You consume, process, and consume even more. <<apboost 10>>\ <<elseif ($val is 3333)>>\ You rend the Sacred power of the prayers from the air, creating a swirling vortex of $auracolor firefly lights throughout the volcanic battlefield's air. They don't come alone. <</if>>\ Imprints of Jack's Transformation activation echo in the Heavenly Gate's ambient \ <<if (($kurofuggery is 5452) or ($val is 3333))>>\ chi, giving away its secrets when he charges up to full power. \ <<else>>\ chi around you, giving away its secrets to your Gate-attuned Foundation. \ <</if>>\ You sense it as a separate shell of condensed energy buried within his base form. A hyper-concentrated sphere of his spirit that can be ignited to replace his normal aura for minutes at a time before burning out and needing time to recharge. <<if ($val is 3333)>>\ The glowing power of thousands of prayers swims through that imprint Jack created in the Gate, connecting your dying aura to his Transformation's activation. "What in the fuck-?" Jack says, looking up in both directions at the floating motes of Sacred Chi wisping from a population’s worth of prayer. <<else>>\ You've built no such fuel within your aura. There's nothing that could mimic such an ability inside your soul. Outside your soul, however... <</if>>\ You clasp \ <<if ($kurofuggery is 5452)>>\ your free hand into your kunai-wielding fist \ <<else>>\ both hands together \ <</if>>\ and leak your fading spiritual senses into the \ <<if ($val is 8989)>>\ Gate as you rise higher and higher. \ <<else>>\ Gate. \ <</if>>\ Your fractured aura deteriorates further, expanding in cracked lines through the air like a spiderweb. With the barest grasp on the entire Gate, your soul blooms outward across the ambient chi of the battlefield. <<if ($val is 3333)>>\ "Sorry Jack!" You shout in an echoing voice. "I can't give you the fair fight you wanted, because it's not just me you're fighting." <</if>>\ Veins of \ <<if ($style is "Akakiru")>>\ Bladed \ <<elseif ($style is "Aoyusumu")>>\ Sacred \ <<elseif ($style is "Kiihakai")>>\ Mystic \ <<elseif ($style is "Kurokonton")>>\ Cursed \ <<else>>\ Wild \ <</if>>\ Chi spread through the half-mile wide volcanic crater for a single second. <<if ($val is 7811)>>\ "The fu-?!" Jack shouts, flying at you while fractured lines of your power expand around the volcano. <<elseif ($val is 8989)>>\ "The fuck?!" Jack looks to his left and right, where fractured lines of $auracolor power pierce through the battlefield. "Give up already! Your trump cards can't stand up to mine!" "Agreed!" You laugh through the air, reaching your zenith and slowing before your descent. "So I'll use yours." <<else>>\ "The fuck..." Jack says, looking around at the fractured lines of power expanding around the volcano. <</if>>\ In that moment, you copy Jack's method to ignite your own power as a catalyst. The \ <<if ($val is 3333)>>\ prayers ring out with your Will and the \ <</if>>\ entire Heavenly Gate's worth of energy flares into a battlefield-sized sphere of \ <<if ($style is "Akakiru")>>\ Bladed \ <<elseif ($style is "Aoyusumu")>>\ Sacred \ <<elseif ($style is "Kiihakai")>>\ Mystic \ <<elseif ($style is "Kurokonton")>>\ Cursed \ <<else>>\ Wild \ <</if>>\ power. Laughing maniacally, you squeeze that energy down around yourself, wrapping your body in a temporary aura. A ''stronger'' aura.

leaps forward and strikes for the real you, only to be blitzed by a second 'real' you from behind with a \ <<if (($style is "Akakiru") and (((((((((((((($equippedweapon is "Tanto")) or ($equippedweapon is "Katana")) or ($equippedweapon is "Muramasa")) or ($equippedweapon is "Greataxe")) or ($equippedweapon is "Qiang")) or ($equippedweapon is "Kunai")) or ($equippedweapon is "Jian")) or ($equippedweapon is "Iceblade")) or ($equippedweapon is "Chiblade")) or ($equippedweapon is "Kagutsuchi")) or ($equippedweapon is "Ikazuchi")) or ($equippedweapon is "Shishido")) or ($equippedweapon is "Godslayer")))>>\ slash from $weppy to the back of his knee. "Wha-?" He asks, looking a his blood splash against the ground. <<if (dig($weaponbonus, 2) gte 3)>>\ ''[Weapon Quality (Masterwork): Damage Increased]'' <<var $dmg + 1>>\ <</if>>\ <<elseif ($equippedweapon is "Yumi")>>\ a flurry of $auracolor arrows fired from your Yumi. "Wha-?" He asks, having been hit from every angle in a single volley. <<if (dig($weaponbonus, 2) gte 3)>>\ ''[Weapon Quality (Masterwork): Damage Increased]'' <<var $dmg + 1>>\ <</if>>\ <<else>>\ $auracolor glowing fist slamming into the back of his head. <</if>>\ "Huh?" He asks as the attacking copy rejoins the spinning circle around him. <<if ($val is 7877)>>\ By the time he turns, you've already struck from another angle. <<else>>\ Outside of specialized cultivation, the human eye sees seventy-two distinct glimpse per second. Within the depth of a Fire and Earth Gate, standing on the Earth with Fire Chi for propulsion, you're moving seventy-two times faster than this Technique requires. For every copy he sees, two are the real you. Each different after-image moves in to strike Jack before the last finishes their attack. <</if>>\ <<var $seenthis true>>\ An unbalancing punch blowing through his calf's stance, a slicing elbow into his heart, a weighted kick down into his neck, a double uppercut to his back when he falls, three stikes to the head, a grip on his forearm flipping him into the rock, a knee to the back of his neck slamming his head deeper into the stone. In one final push, you slam both feet into Jack's back with a dropkick that knocks him into his own wall. The stone structure explodes when he collides into it. <<var $dmg + 1>>\ <<page "Continue" "ch8dragon-jack-rocksnakew">>\

Jack smirks, looking up to Misuka's orbs. He breathes in deep, raising a column of stone beneath his feet with Earth Chi to ascend forty feet into the sky. "People of Nanhou! Thank this Laborer for giving me a reason to offer you a proper show. And Brass Tiger, Goro? Thank your disgraceful Ancestors that you get a chance to study my fight and prepare yourselves. I'm coming for you next." "Not a chance." You say, blasting off at Jack's expanding pillar in a speeding line of $auracolor. "//I'm// coming for them next!" "You're not ready." Jack gloats. The ground beneath his feet rushes upward faster and faster, expanding the column two-hundred feet higher and launching him heavensward. "I've faced all kinds of enemies since we've parted, Laborer! I've seen the dangers and horrors of this world's most fucked up Techniques, and they've given me //so many ideas!//" You ignore his words and speed into the base of his column, dashing up one-hundred feet vertically with the force of your momentum. You reach the top, trailing a clawed hand with a shooting star's worth of $auracolor chi behind it. <<if ($perception gte 3)>>\ ''[Perception 3 Check Passed]'' You see through his deception; as you sprint toward him, Jack falls behind the pillar and creates a statue of himself to stand in his place. When running vertically to the top of his column you flip over the statue. Falling for no such distraction, you grab its face for balance and pull yourself down the other side to pursue the real Jack. You throw all the chi in your grip at Jack's falling form where he thought he'd escape. ''[Damage Increased]'' <<var $dmg + 1>>\ Jack ignores all defense against your incoming blast to instead finish a set of handseals. \ <<else>>\ ''[Perception 3 Check Failed: Difficulty Increased]'' When you get to the top you swing that claw forward, hitting a fake statue of Jack with all your might and obliterating it to dust. The real Jack falls off the back of the tower-like column, flipping you off with a satisfied grin. \ <</if>>\ ''//"SNAKE EATER."//'' <<page "!!!" "ch8dragon-jack-rocksnake2">>\

The column beneath your feet expands around you, morphing into a blob of mud and stone. Two curved swords thrust out of the top of the rock coffin forming over your head and you realize your mistake. It's no rock coffin, no blob of mud and stone. It's a //serpent//. The column Jack created has morphed into a two-hundred foot long, six-foot wide serpent made of stone, and you're in its mouth. <<if ($lore gte 2)>>\ ''[Lore 2 Check Passed]'' You catch the monster's two giant fangs before they can skewer you. Educated on serpent anatomy, you keep your grip above their midpoint, fearful that Jack could have hidden poison in their tips if he had a vial on hand. <<else>>\ ''[Lore 2 Check Failed]'' You grip the two giant fangs before they can skewer you, but your grip is too close to their pointed edge. From its venom injectors leaks some sort of poison Jack must have had on-hand, leaking over the exposed burns and scrapes on your skin from your time inside the lava pool. <<if ((($chipool + ($soul / 2)) - $chispent) gte 2)>>\ ''[2 Chi Spent]'' <<var $chispent + 2>>\ <<else>>\ ''[No Chi to Lose, 5 AP Lost]'' <<var $aurapressure - 5>>\ <</if>>\ <<if ($forspent lt ($fortitude-1))>>\ ''[2 Fortitude Cores Spent]'' <<var $forspent + 2>>\ <<else>>\ ''[No Fortitude Cores Available, 5 AP Lost]'' <<var $aurapressure - 5>>\ <</if>>\ <<if ($agispent lt ($agility-1))>>\ ''[2 Agility Cores Spent]'' <<var $agispent + 2>>\ <<else>>\ ''[No Agility Cores Available, 5 AP Lost]'' <<var $aurapressure - 5>>\ <</if>>\ <</if>>\ While you struggle against the large fangs, the smaller teeth of a constrictor form around the rock wall of the serpent's lower jaw behind you. <<if ($perception gte 2)>>\ ''[Perception 2 Check Passed]'' You shove one foot forward and one back, blocking the monster from snapping its jaws on your lower body. <<else>>\ ''[Perception 2 Check Failed]'' The monster snaps its jaws three times, striking you with the smaller triangular tips of stone teeth while you hold the enormous fangs at bay. <<woundcheck 1 true false>>\ <</if>>\ Throughout it all, the moving statue of a Beast whipcracks its head from side to side, slinging you across the scalding air of the volcanic battlefield. <<if (($survival gte 3) or ($style is "Midorikatai"))>>\ <<if ($style is "Midorikatai")>>\ ''[Midorikatai Event: Automatic Success]'' <<var $forexp + 2>>\ <<else>>\ ''[Survival 3 Check Passed]'' <</if>>\ <<var $forexp + 2>>\ You feel something off. Wild Chi should channel a serpent's proper actions, but this snake's movements are unnatural. The whip-cracking motions don't let it get a better hold, so the only reason to twist like this is the same reason why a hose twists when not held securely. Something is coming up from the bottom. <<if (((((dig($techslotcode[1], 16) is 3) or (dig($techslotcode[2], 16) is 3)) or (dig($techslotcode[3], 16) is 3)) or (dig($techslotcode[4], 16) is 3)) or ($style is "Midorikatai"))>>\ <<if ((((dig($techslotcode[1], 16) is 3) or (dig($techslotcode[2], 16) is 3)) or (dig($techslotcode[3], 16) is 3)) or (dig($techslotcode[4], 16) is 3))>>\ ''[Special Event: Melee Energy Attack Equipped]'' <<if (dig($techslotcode[1], 16) is 3)>>\ ''//"<<capall $techslotname[1]>>!!"//'' \ <<chitype $techslotcode[1]>>\ <<elseif (dig($techslotcode[2], 16) is 3)>>\ ''//"<<capall $techslotname[2]>>!!"//'' \ <<chitype $techslotcode[2]>>\ <<elseif (dig($techslotcode[3], 16) is 3)>>\ ''//"<<capall $techslotname[3]>>!!"//'' \ <<chitype $techslotcode[3]>>\ <<elseif (dig($techslotcode[4], 16) is 3)>>\ ''//"<<capall $techslotname[4]>>!!"//'' \ <<chitype $techslotcode[4]>>\ <</if>>\ You shout, throwing yourself down its gullet and slamming your $elemhitter Chi covered strike forward. <<else>>\ You obey that instinct, twist away from the snake's fangs by pulling yourself deeper into the snake's mouth, and throw a $auracolor glowing fist forward. <</if>>\ "SURPRISE, LABORER!" Jack screams, rushing out from the snake's insides with a blinding flare of green energy around his fist. "SURPRISE, JACK!" You scream back, clashing your own attack into the ambush you saw coming. <<var $dmg + 1>>\ <<page "GGRRRRRAAAHH!" "ch8dragon-jack-rocksnakeRAAAAAHHH">>\ <<else>>\ Using the snake's fangs as leverage, you shove all your might against the snake and push yourself out of its mouth. ''[Special Event: Evaded Ambush]'' A green glow comes from inside its throat. You cover both hands over your chest as you fall from the twisting Beast-like moving statue, but it's not green fire that the animated energy breathes. It's Jack. Jack himself flies out of the creature's mouth with a green-glowing fist shining brighter than his entire aura. "Predictable!" You shout up as he flies over you, missing his ambush and turning in the air to face you. "Snakes don't writhe their heads! They strike or constrict!" "Alright." He grins while falling, changing the green glow of his hands to amber. "Like this?" With one hand holding two fingers downward like a serpent, and the other aiming at fist at you, Jack regains control over his animated snake statue. The two-hundred-foot serpentine monolith focuses its hungry gaze at you and dives at your falling body. It bares no fangs like a real snake, but instead closes its mouth to slam into you like a battering ram. <<include "ch8dragon-jack-rocksnake3">>\ <</if>>\ <<else>>\ ''[Survival 3 Check Failed]'' Just as you get a grip on the snake's fangs and its head whipping you one-hundred feet back and forth, its throat opens behind you. "SURPRISE, LABORER!" Jack Screams, appearing from the snake's stone insides and slamming a green fist of Wild Chi into your ribs with a sickening crunch. <<woundcheck 1 true false>>\ <<if ($pblocktech is "")>>\ <<aploss 5>>\ <<else>>\ ''[$pblocktech Event: AP Loss Avoided]'' <</if>>\ You're blasted out of the snake's mouth, but the creature doesn't end its assault. Jack laughs from inside its mouth as it lunges down upon you. <<include "ch8dragon-jack-rocksnake3">>\ <</if>>\

<<choose "ch8dragon-jack-beatdownja">> #Brace for impact. The hue of your aura thickens when you focus all chi into your Fortitude Cores, embracing the incoming strike and the very nature of battle. Abrasions. Burns. Bludgeoning. //Pain.// This is what it means to fight. This is what your body is meant to endure. The snake crashes upon you, slamming you into the volcanic walls hard enough to break its own body. Its head crashes against your skin and shatters, making room for its neck to crash into you. A ten-foot section of its neck breaks against your body on the mountain, making room for the next section. Twenty different impacts of impossibly heavy boulders rain upon your body in an unrelenting barrage. <<var $combatstat "fortitude">>\ <<var $combatskill "survival">>\ <<discount "Earth" 2>>\ <<discount "Midorikatai" 1>>\ <<discount "Aoyusumu" $stylerank>>\ <<discount "Bovine" 1>>\ <<discount "Muscular" 1>>\ <<combatcheck (13-$jackdiff)>>\ <<if ($passcheck is true)>>\ You stand up after, your every nerve rubbed raw and screaming, but your vitals unharmed. Your body is left whole, and all that's left of the snake is a cloud of sand filling the air like dense fog. <<else>>\ It is the second most painful attack you've ever endured, losing only to the meteor that crushed you into the volcano. The Gate keeps you alive in what should have killed you, fracturing several bones into grooves of dust that heal wrong. <<if ($pblocktech isnot "")>>\ ''[$pblocktech Activated, Damage Reduced]'' <<woundcheck 1 false false>>\ <<else>>\ <<woundcheck 2 false false>>\ <</if>>\ When the attack ends you stand, a bloodied mess, coughing from the sandcloud surrounding you thicker than the densest mist. It's all that remains of the snake. <</if>>\ <<var $txt "Stay focused!">>\ <<page "Another challenge overcome." "ch8dragon-jack-beatdownja">>\ #use-if (($style is "Aoyusumu") and ((($chipool + ($soul / 2)) - $chispent) gte 1)) Form a barrier. [Requires Aoyusumu, Costs 1 Chi] You form an orb of Sacred Chi around yourself, putting up a perfectly spherical psionic barrier. ''[1 Chi Spent]'' <<var $chispent + 1>>\ The serpent-creation crashes into your bubble, crushing you down into the volcano's surface and pressing itself into you. Its heavy stone assault is relentless, feeling like its crashing into you with impact after impact, but after twelve long seconds and a hundred strikes it stops. You psionically raise the sphere into the sky, finding that the snake had broken its own body against you and crumbled to a rain of stones falling all around the battlefield. <<var $txt "Stay focused!">>\ #use-if (((($chipool + ($soul / 2)) - $chispent) gte 2) and ((($element1 is "Wind") and ($element1rank gte 2)) or (($element2 is "Wind") and ($element2rank gte 2)))) Pull it into the sky. [Requires Wind (Adept), Costs 2 Chi] The gargantuan serpent-golem lunges at you in mid-air. ''[2 Chi Spent]'' <<var $chispent + 2>>\ You explode with swirls of $auracolor energy, rising into the sky above its strike. "You're a fool, Jack!" You shout out, slamming a second gust of wind just above himself to blow him into the lava below. "The air is my domain!" A fist of Wind Chi forms beneath the serpent's skull and your real fist performs an uppercut, guiding that Wind Fist to strike into the monster's head and knock its skull up toward you. With a two-handed grip, you catch its fangs and fly backward, higher and high, then spin to yank the Beast-like statue off the ground and flail it in circles around you like a whip. "Stay on the ground where you belong!" You call out, throwing the two-hundred-foot-long serpent of pure stone down into Jack's crash site, burying him. ''[Wind Event: Damage Increased]'' <<var $dmg + 1>>\ You catch your breath and release most of the Wind Chi around you, slowly falling back down, and start to realize how many pounds you must have just lifted into the air. ...How long before you're this strong ''outside'' of a Gate? You grin, pleased with yourself, while you descend into the sandcloud caused by your victory over Jack's destroyed snake. <<var $txt "Stay focused!">>\ <<page "Another challenge overcome." "ch8dragon-jack-beatdownja">>\ #use-if (($style is "Kiihakai") and (((($chipool + ($soul / 2)) - $chispent) gte 2) or ($countersealritual isnot 100))) Disrupt the Technique. [Requires Kiihakai, Costs 1 Chi] As the wind pulls on your clothes and you fall to the volcano below, the enormous serpent-golem strikes down to catch you with its sword-length poisoned fangs. You close your eyes, focus on your lessons, and channel Mystic Chi out of your Cores. Four ritual circles form in the air; two over your shoulders, two by your knees. ''//"Unravel."//'' You command. <<if ($countersealritual isnot 100)>>\ ''[Counterseal Ritual: No Chi Cost]'' <<else>>\ ''[1 Chi Spent]'' \ <<var $chispent + 1>>\ <</if>>\ All four floating ritual circles blast twisting lines of $auracolor through the air, catching the serpents head and latching to its skin. Unweaving sigils form along its scales as your quadra-beam digs trenches over its whole body, unraveling the Chi that keeps it animated. You land on the ground at the other end of the volcano with a double backflip, unharmed, and stare across the lava pit where Jack lands on the other side. That sight is cut off as the entire volcanic arena is showered into an obscuring fallout of stone and sand. <<var $txt "Stay focused!">>\ <<page "Another challenge overcome." "ch8dragon-jack-beatdownja">>\ #show-if ($subrace is "Reptile") Disrupt the Technique. [Requires Reptile Yokai] You glare at the snake charging down at you. How fucking ''dare'' Crusher Jack use a serpent against a true dragon? And in front of all of Nanhou?! ''[Draconic Rage]'' "There's only room for one serpent in this battle, Jack!" You scream out, charging $auracolor chi into your right leg. "It sure as Hell isn't a pretender like you!" You slam your foot against the gargantuan golem-snake's striking fang, then whipcrack your tail against the ground for a second propulsion. From your tail to your spine to your arm to your fist, a trailing line of energy rises and falls like the flight pattern of a celestial dragon. Like the legend of your ancestors, you roar out your Bestial attack. ''//"Walking Dragon!"//'' <<cap $auracolor>> screams out of your fist when your punch slams into the monstrosity. Condensed energy from your attack presses through the snake's head and down its throat, bursting the statue's body as it passes through. Explosion after explosion rocks the statue from its head to its tail, blowing it to pieces in an instant. The entire volcanic arena is showered into an obscuring fallout of stone and sand. <<var $txt "Stay focused!">>\ <<page "Another challenge overcome." "ch8dragon-jack-beatdownja">>\ <</choose>>

The meeting force of your chi-covered strikes bursts the snake's head to pieces, causing a continued chain of eruptions down its entire body. You and Jack are blasted in opposite directions, landing on two distant sides of the volcanic wall just above the lava pool. Stones and sand rain upon your battlefield and burn with smoke from the ambient heat. ''[Special Event: Snake Eater Destroyed]'' ''[Next Combat Phase Skipped]'' <<apboost 10>>\ "You saw me coming." Jack calls. "How?" You tense your fist. "Shugendō doesn't make life out of nothing. The snake was under your control the whole time, and there's no reason to make it thrash. No enemy spends their energy on easy challenges; you were up to something else." Jack snickers and wipes the smallest amount of blood from his lip. "You stole that knowledge from our Agility Path Manuals." "I //earned// that knowledge from my Sect's Agility Path Manuals." "You're so full of shit." Jack pushes one leg forward and readies his fists. "You were a Laborer that Khan used to fuck with my family, nothing more. Don't act like you've earned anything in your life. Every piece of battle experience, every secret of the Martial Arts, every half-assed Technique you threw together. It's all stolen. I'm going to expose you for the scheming rat that you are; that every one of your achievements is built on the hard work of real Warriors." The sandcloud around you thickens, and you realize it's a Technique. <<var $txt "Think fast!">>\ <<page "Continue" "ch8dragon-jack-beatdownja">>\

A cloud of dust and scattered chi surrounds you, but you're not dead or out yet. "A destructive force on the scale of the Inner Kingdoms!" Misuka shouts from the top of the volcano's edge. "Could this be it? Could the breakout talent of Thunderfall have finally been put in $hisher place by their star pupil?" <<if ($ruthless lt 50)>>\ "Not in a thousand years." \ <<else>>\ "Not on your life." \ <</if>>\ You call out, bursting a layer of $auracolor chi out in all directions to disperse the cloud. Jack turns his head at you, unimpressed. "You should have stayed down." "And you should have stayed home." You snipe back, standing through the pain in your legs. "This is my Trial. You're just in the way." <<var $val 8888>>\ "That's rich, coming from the one covered in wounds." Jack says, removing the top half of his kimono and letting it hang over his belt. "Maybe it's time I stop treating this like a spar and start taking it seriously." You spit \ <<if ($wounds gte 2)>>\ blood \ <<elseif ($aurapressure lt 2000)>>\ sweat \ <</if>>\ to the side. "Go ahead, I'm still getting warmed up." <<include "ch8dragon-jack-rocksnake">>\

A cloud of dust and scattered $auracolor chi forms where your attack landed on Jack, eliciting an eerie calm in the fight. "A destructive force on the scale of the Inner Kingdoms!" Misuka shouts from the top of the volcano's edge. "Could this be it? Could the prestigious pride of Thunderfall have been defeated by their very own breakout talent?" A single, ''booming'' clap blows the debris away from jack in a sphere of air pressure. "It's funny, you know." He says, ignoring the announcer and removing the shredded top half of his kimono, letting it hang around his belt. "I keep treating this like a spar. Like a practice, the way we did things back in Thunderfall." "We never sparred in Thunderfall." You reply, charging more chi to your biceps to prepare. "Not officially, no, but it doesn't matter. This is the big leagues, and I should treat it as such. You're not the punk Laborer from my childhood anymore. I never congratulated you on that: you've evolved. From a peasant, to an annoyance, all the way to an enemy in the way of my goals." You spit \ <<if ($wounds gte 2)>>\ blood \ <<elseif ($aurapressure lt 2000)>>\ sweat \ <</if>>\ to the side. "The feeling is mutual." <<include "ch8dragon-jack-rocksnake">>\

''[Martial Arts Event]'' <<if ($style is "Akakiru")>>\ <<if (((((((((((((($equippedweapon is "Tanto")) or ($equippedweapon is "Katana")) or ($equippedweapon is "Muramasa")) or ($equippedweapon is "Greataxe")) or ($equippedweapon is "Qiang")) or ($equippedweapon is "Kunai")) or ($equippedweapon is "Jian")) or ($equippedweapon is "Iceblade")) or ($equippedweapon is "Chiblade")) or ($equippedweapon is "Kagutsuchi")) or ($equippedweapon is "Ikazuchi")) or ($equippedweapon is "Shishido")) or ($equippedweapon is "Godslayer"))>>\ You draw $weppy \ <<else>>\ You manifest a sword of raw Bladed Chi \ <</if>>\ in a shining quickdraw, slashing up to meet Jack's claw in a blur of $auracolor light. Your attacks collide, with chi pouring out of your sword and the weight of Jack's spirit quadrupling behind his attack. "Your pathetic toy won't save you!" Jack shouts, reeling his other fist back. <<if ($styleswapper isnot "")>>\ ''[Technique Check Passed]'' "Toys." You correct while forming ten floating swords of pure energy overhead. "Plural." ''//"Infinity Edge."//'' Each projectile blade blasts into Jack at point blank range. Four he deflects, four he blocks, and two make it past his calculated swings to strike him in the shoulder and gut with blinding detonations. Unrelenting, you swing $weppy through your own explosions and make contact with his chest, cracking the Earth Chi he generated as a defense and shoving him airborne into a distant rock island. ''[Damage Increased]'' <<var $dmg + 1>>\ <<elseif ($stylerank gte 3)>>\ ''[$style (Expert) Check Passed: Damage Averted]'' When he reels back his fist to strike, you move two fingers in to flick your blade's edge. It rings like a gong. Before his fist can meet you, the soundwaves of your blade transform from sonic energy into Bladed Chi. Giant sickles of $auracolor energy explode out from $weppy in all directions. Jack snarls and pulls both hands in to blow, weathering the blasts, but you embrace the blade and move through them. "Do not speak poorly!" You say, stomping into Jack's chest to knock him airborne into a distant rock island. "About a $manwoman's \ <<if (((((((((($equippedweapon is "Tanto")) or ($equippedweapon is "Katana")) or ($equippedweapon is "Muramasa")) or ($equippedweapon is "Jian")) or ($equippedweapon is "Iceblade")) or ($equippedweapon is "Chiblade")) or ($equippedweapon is "Kagutsuchi")) or ($equippedweapon is "Ikazuchi")) or ($equippedweapon is "Godslayer"))>>\ swords!" <<else>>\ weapons!" <</if>>\ <<else>>\ ''[$style (Expert) Check Failed]'' While your eyes are on his fist he redoubles his assault, blasting Fire Chi out of his elbow to shove his Tiger Claw against $weppy. When your grip is thrown off and your weapon is shoved aside, //then// he punches you with the distracting fist. Wild Chi explodes against your jaw when you're knocked flying back into a distant rock island. <<var $lostduel true>>\ <<woundcheck 2 false false>>\ <</if>>\ <<elseif ($style is "Kiihakai")>>\ You run one foot back defensively and pump multiple energy blasts worth of chi into your arms. With your Mystic Chi you weave that energy into sorcerous tattoos up both arms, imbued to push that energy into your punches and blocks with explosive force. "Cheap tricks!" Jack shouts, bursting through the air. He reaches you with a green glowing fist slamming overhead. <<if ($styleswapper isnot "")>>\ ''[Technique Check Passed]'' ''//"Dragon Fist!"//'' A dragon's roar reverbrates the air with visible soundwaves. Jack snarls against the dragon's face manifesting in your chi, charging off your fist and crashing into his body. The Dragon Fist explodes against him, but he responds with rapidfire bursts of Flame Chi behind him to resist the constant explosion of your Dragon Fist. He strikes fist after fist into the seemingly unending beam of draconic power flowing from your arm. Explosions of fire chi propel him forward at the same rate that your attack pushes him back, their mid-air battle locking Jack in place. Yet you are no amateur contesting him with an energy beam. You are a chi \ <<if ($heshe is "he")>>\ sorcerer. <<else>>\ sorceress. <</if>>\ You release your beam, allow your Mystic Chi to fuel itself to continue the attack, and slide one foot forward for optimal torque in a physical blow. Expending every sorcerous tattoo on your arms, you slam an uppercut into Jack's solar plexus so hard that it blasts him into a distant rock island. ''[Damage Increased]'' <<var $dmg + 1>>\ <<elseif ($stylerank gte 3)>>\ ''[$style (Expert) Check Passed: Damage Averted]'' You throw both hands forward and release a spiraling beam that surrounds Jack. With a spiritual grip on your own Mystic Chi, you close that spiral shut around him like a binding rope. Ducking low, you keep both hands gripping the $auracolor lasso of chi and swing him around you into the lava, bouncing him off its surface twice in a 360-degree spin before pulling him closer. "My training!" You scream, pulling one arm back as the bound Jack flies closer. "Wasn't cheap!" You scream, slamming your fist into him and expending every ounce of chi in your arm's tattoos. They disintegrate to nothing, their energy spent in the explosion around your punch that blasts Jack across the battlefield and into a distant rock island. <<else>>\ ''[$style (Expert) Check Failed]'' You leap backward to 'dodge', baiting him into a spinning kick. His strike slams into your leg like a stone building thrown around the world. Your chi tattoos disintegrate in the explosive counter-blast you use to block, but it's not enough to even stop his advance. His claw breaks through your guard and rends your side, blowing you across the arena and into a distant rock island. <<var $lostduel true>>\ <<woundcheck 2 false false>>\ <</if>>\ <<elseif ($style is "Kurokonton")>>\ You throw two handfuls of shuriken behind jack and backflip at the last second. By catching the ground and kicking both feet up, you're able to kick his elbow and avoid the dangerous claw Technique. "Not so fast!" Jack shouts, triggering something in his attack. The four lines of power behind his hand shoot down at an angle at your back. <<if ($styleswapper isnot "")>>\ ''[Technique Check Passed]'' "You're right." You say, disappearing from sight. "//Much// faster." ''//"Afterimage"//'' <<if ($seenthis is true)>>\ "This won't work!" Jack calls out. "I've seen this trick before!" Yet no after-image of yours attacks. Instead, they stand at the outside of the arena, appearing mid-sprint, frozen in time. \ <<else>>\ You generate after-images far away from Jack, around the edge of the arena, pushing yourself far beyond your normal limits thanks to the Gate's energy. Normally this Technique would make animated after-images of your body, but the images you make right now are too blurred. <</if>>\ The real you is moving too fast to manifest them properly. Building up speed over eleven laps around the volcano's peak you charge across the battlefield so fast that the sea of lava splits in half behind you. Jack doesn't turn in time to stop your fist from impacting his kidney, blasting him into the far wall of the volcano. ''[Damage Increased]'' <<var $dmg + 1>>\ <<elseif ($stylerank gte 3)>>\ ''[$style (Expert) Check Passed: Damage Averted]'' "You're right!" You shout back, triggering the Cursed Chi in the shuriken you threw behind him. "Even faster!" In a blur your own Cursed Chi pulls you behind Jack and toward your shuriken volley, snapping you into them faster than you can run. You spin and catch two handfuls, throwing them in a volley into Jack. He deflects each with stone over his forearms, then notices the Cursed Chi radiating off them. You ride a spiritual leash of Yin Chi to pull yourself into each shuriken, striking Jack on your way by. Your body blurs in speeding in a chain around him with a series of punches and kicks against his joints, limbs, torso, and neck. "ENOUGH!" He shouts, exploding with a sphere of Fire Chi. Inside that sphere, untouched due to the chi-suppressing nature of Cursed energy, you stab two kunai up into his back with the full force of your Power Cores. The kunai break skin just before shattering and your fists carry through on the strike. The Cursed Chi of your aura dwindles his weighted aura and returns him to a normal weight; your two-handed blow knocks him into the distance where he crashes into a distant rock island. <<else>>\ ''[$style (Expert) Check Failed]'' "You're right!" You reply, spinning your legs to trip him. "Even faster!" "No." He says, catching your leg. He makes no other mockery, instead lifting you into the air and slamming his Tiger Claw attack into your side. The green Wild Chi rends into your flesh and explodes, blasting you into a distant rock island. <<var $lostduel true>>\ <<woundcheck 2 false false>>\ <</if>>\ <<elseif ($style is "Aoyusumu")>>\ Your body glows $auracolor with psionic Sacred Chi and you reach up towards Jack's attack. <<if (($styleswapper isnot "") or ($stylerank gte 3))>>\ <<if ($styleswapper isnot "")>>\ ''[Technique Check Passed]'' <<var $dmg + 1>>\ ''//"Dharmic Wheel."//'' The eightfold wheel manifests behind your back and Jack's body slows to a halt. <<else>>\ ''[$style (Expert) Check Passed: Damage Averted]'' <<if ($spiritbrandloc is "")>>\ Your eyes flash $auracolor. <<else>>\ Your spiritbrand flares, flashing <<cap $spiritbrandcolor>> chi from your $spiritbrandloc. <</if>>\ Jack's body glows the same color, slowing to a halt from your Sacred Chi. <<var $val 7878>>\ <</if>>\ You catch his arm, lift yourself over his head with one mighty heft, and catch two of the frozen-in-time lines of Wild Chi from his Technique. Flipping over, you stab them into his back before he regains the ability to move. Through the explosion of his own chi, he reaches out with a straight punch. You duck back and swing a kick up, using Sacred Chi to keep yourself from falling. Your blow connects to his jaw when you notice an uppercut coming your way from his side arm. <<if ($val is 7878)>>\ You motion to his strike with two glowing fingers. <<else>>\ The eightfold wheel turns again. <</if>>\ <<cap $auracolor>> chi surrounds Jack and his strike slows, adding his kinetic force to you instead. Upside down, mid-kick, you push your hands into the ground and launch both feet into his chest instead. When he's blasted backwards you flip onto your feet and snap your fingers, releasing the other two lines of Wild Chi you kinetically froze earlier. Jack flies through them from the force of your kick, exploding in an eruption of his own chi while he's launched across the volcanic battlefield. \ <<else>>\ ''[$style (Expert) Check Failed]'' You glow $auracolor Sacred Chi around your body to slow his attack and strike a punch at his center. His Tiger Claw descends into your shoulder all the same, overpowering the kinetic theft you thought was enough. The pain of his hand shredding into your shoulder is only masked by the pain of his heavy Wild Chi exploding into your back. <<woundcheck 2 false false>>\ <<var $lostduel true>>\ Through the agony you barely feel his foot hit your chest when he kicks you across the arena, skidding you onto a distant rock island. <</if>>\ <<elseif ($style is "Midorikatai")>>\ Jack's Tiger Claw Technique descends on you like a quadruple set of executioners axes. <<if ($subrace is "Cat")>>\ ''[Cat Yokai Event]'' You grin like a bloodthirsty man$manwoman. With one swift inhale you pull the nearby energies into your Cores and shove them back out into reality, binding the Technique in real-time using the Gate to stabilize the effect. "TIGER CLAW!" You scream defiantly, keeping your eyes on Jack's baffled look of infuriation when the two of your attacks meet in an explosion of Wild Chi. The eruption expands larger than Khan's pagoda, blowing you both back across the arena. ''[Damage Increased]'' <<var $dmg + 1>>\ <<apboost 10>>\ You flip over and land on your feet, naturally, and pose a flex for one of Misuka's scrying orbs overhead. \ <<elseif (($styleswapper isnot "") or ($stylerank gte 3))>>\ <<if ($styleswapper isnot "")>>\ Like //Hell// if you're going to let a Midorikatai attack take you down. ''[Technique Check Passed]'' Your Beastmight Technique activates on instinct and your own aura magnifies in weight to match Jack's own. <<else>>\ Like //Hell// if you're going to let a Midorikatai attack take you down. ''[$style (Expert) Check Passed: Damage Averted]'' ''[Rage Activated]'' ''[Ruthless Increased]'' <<var $ruthless + 4>>\ <</if>>\ "Fuck your claw!" You scream, slamming a rear hand punch into his side and catching his descending elbow. "Fuck your Techniques!" You add on, deflecting his incoming knee strike by twisting his arm. "And fuck your speeches!" You rise your head into his jaw to knock him off balance then hit him with an uppercut, a hook to the jaw, and a headbutt to his nose when he tries to fix his stance. "This is a fight, Jack! Cut the shit and treat it like one!" "Fine!" Jack says, glowing with green Wild Chi. "If that's what you-" \ "I SAID FIGHT!" You scream, kicking him in the hip so hard that he's launched into a distant rock island. "NOT TALK!" \ ''[Damage Increased]'' <<var $dmg + 1>>\ <<else>>\ ''[$style (Expert) Check Failed]'' "That won't be enough to-" You don't get a chance to finish that sentence. Jack kicks you in the face. Through the blinding stars in your vision, you can barely tell that you're spinning backward, sent reeling through the air, until he meets you in the middle of the sky with his technique still active. He slams the Tiger Claw into your side with explosion of Wild Chi so potent that you're blown into a distant rock island. <<woundcheck 2 false false>>\ <<var $lostduel true>>\ <</if>>\ <</if>>\ <<page "Continue" "ch8dragon-jack-cannon">>\

<<if ($tidalcall is 4)>>\ Your spiritual command erupts out of your soul faster than words ever could: "What are you waiting for, SHAKENGARA?!" The ground beneath your feet trembles, parts, and erupts when the Shakengara appears, bursting through the stone with ease. At the same time, thousands of explosions erupt within the volcanic arena. Smoke billows out and covers the entire ground of the massive volcano's battlefield. "HehehahahahAHAHAHAHAHA!!" You scream out, standing atop the thirty-foot spirit-fish's head while flying high through the cloud of debris. "WHAT?!" Jack screams out, eyes wide. "What the fuck is that thing?!" You fly out of that smoke atop your bound fish spirit and take in the majesty of the sun while rising higher and higher. Basking in the sun and the rush of flight, you look over and see Misuka's orbs relaying your bound spirit to the people of Nanhou. A wicked grin of overwhelming confidence spreads across your face. ''[Prestige Increased]'' <<var $prestige + 2>>\ "It's time to end this." Your Shakengara obeys and turns in mid-air, flipping its back fin to dash down to the ground. Wind blows \ <<if ($hairlength is "bald")>>\ over your scalp \ <<else>>\ through your hair \ <</if>>\ and you twist both $auracolor glowing arms in front of you on the descent, channeling the spirit's power. "IT'S TIME WE FINISH THE FIGHT!" <<page "''//TIDAL CALL!//''" "ch8dragon-jack-tidalcall2">>\ <<else>>\ "RRRRAAAAAHHHH!!!" You scream out, channeling the Shakengara's power through your body. The air around you turns blue from the pure spiritual essence, thrumming with waves of power rushing out of your soul. <<if ($tidalcall isnot 3)>>\ <<if ($race is "Lunargoth")>>\ <<if (($element1 is "Water") or ($element2 is "Water"))>>\ <<learntech 4400000000000707 "Tidal Call" "Area Attack. Blocks certain physical attacks when Focused.">>\ <<elseif ($style is "Aoyusumu")>>\ <<learntech 4400000000000027 "Tidal Call" "Area Attack. Blocks certain physical attacks when Focused.">>\ <<elseif ($style is "Akakiru")>>\ <<learntech 4400000000000077 "Tidal Call" "Area Attack. Blocks certain physical attacks when Focused.">>\ <</if>>\ <<else>>\ <<if (($element1 is "Water") or ($element2 is "Water"))>>\ <<learntech 4900000000000707 "Tidal Call" "Area Attack. Blocks certain energy attacks when Focused.">>\ <<elseif ($style is "Aoyusumu")>>\ <<learntech 4900000000000027 "Tidal Call" "Area Attack. Blocks certain energy attacks when Focused.">>\ <<elseif ($style is "Akakiru")>>\ <<learntech 4900000000000077 "Tidal Call" "Area Attack. Blocks certain energy attacks when Focused.">>\ <</if>>\ <</if>>\ <<else>>\ <<apboost 10>>\ <</if>>\ ''//"TIDAL CALL!!"//'' $txt Every ounce of it goes into ocean tsunami's worth of \ <<if (($element1 is "Water") or ($element2 is "Water"))>>\ Water Chi \ <<elseif ($style is "Aoyusumu")>>\ rippling psionic chi \ <</if>>\ swirling around your body. Hundred-foot waves burst into reality, wrapping around you faster than the speed of sound. Jack's cannonballs slam into your mansion-sized water dome with incredible impact, but they cannot break through. Each cannonball is deflected by a fast-wrapping ten-thousand-pound wave adding layer after layer. All four thousand projectiles are jettisoned away across every corner of the volcanic arena. Dozens strike Jack, bursting against his guard and shredded the skin. He stumbles, leaving an opening, and that's when you strike. Throwing your entire defensive ocean at him, you push the water with all your spiritual might and force it into a Beam of power. The ocean roars across the arena while spinning into a drill-tipped beam. <<include "ch8dragon-jack-tidalcall3">>\ <</if>>\

''//"TIDAL CALL!"//'' <<if ($race is "Lunargoth")>>\ <<if (($element1 is "Water") or ($element2 is "Water"))>>\ <<learntech 4400000000000707 "Tidal Call" "Area Attack. Blocks certain physical attacks when Focused.">>\ <<elseif ($style is "Aoyusumu")>>\ <<learntech 4400000000000027 "Tidal Call" "Area Attack. Blocks certain physical attacks when Focused.">>\ <<elseif ($style is "Akakiru")>>\ <<learntech 4400000000000077 "Tidal Call" "Area Attack. Blocks certain physical attacks when Focused.">>\ <</if>>\ <<else>>\ <<if (($element1 is "Water") or ($element2 is "Water"))>>\ <<learntech 4900000000000707 "Tidal Call" "Area Attack. Blocks certain energy attacks when Focused.">>\ <<elseif ($style is "Aoyusumu")>>\ <<learntech 4900000000000027 "Tidal Call" "Area Attack. Blocks certain energy attacks when Focused.">>\ <<elseif ($style is "Akakiru")>>\ <<learntech 4900000000000077 "Tidal Call" "Area Attack. Blocks certain energy attacks when Focused.">>\ <</if>>\ <</if>>\ Your Technique activates the second you crash through the smokecloud and into Jack. Both you and spirit release the effect simultaneously. ''[Damage Increased]'' <<var $dmg + 1>>\ $txt Every ounce of it rushes into the creation of \ <<if (($element1 is "Water") or ($element2 is "Water"))>>\ a violently crashing tsunami \ <<elseif ($style is "Aoyusumu")>>\ water-like ripples of psionic chi \ <<else>>\ the spirit's Water Chi. \ <</if>>\ pointed directly at Jack. Hundred-foot waves rush out of your palms in microseconds, forming into a drill-tipped beam. <<include "ch8dragon-jack-tidalcall3">>\

Steam erupts all around your attack when it crushes Jack into the ground with hundreds of thousands of pounds of force. When you finally let up, panting with adrenaline and dropping to the \ <<if ($tidalcall is 4)>>\ ground when your spirit vanishes, \ <<else>>\ ground, \ <</if>>\ you see Jack at the bottom of a fifty-foot crater. Unattended, your small ocean evaporates quickly in the Fire Gate. Through the obscuring steam, you feel a rush of victory when seeing the green sparks of Jack's shattered aura falling around his unconscious body. You've won. <<var $learnedtidalcall true>>\ <<page "Continue" "ch8dragon-jack-arisen">>\

"It's..." You say, turning around. "Over..." Eight-hundred feet up, behind you, Misuka the Performer stands with her jaw dropped. "I-I-I...uh..." She takes the tip of her finger and presses the bottom of her own chin, closing her mouth, then takes a deep breath through her nose. "People of Nanhou! I know you've all seen the same sight I've seen, and I assure you, this scrying was unaltered and genuine. Whatever they're doing to raise children in Thunderfall, it should be studied for generations! Give a loud cheer for the winner of the volcanic battle that almost certainly revealed the strongest fighter of the Heavenly Ascension Trials, none other than-" "Me." Jack spits out through a swollen mouth, rising behind you. "It will ''always'' be me." ... No... ... "Why won't you stay down?" You exhale sharply in pain and grief, unable to summon an ounce of strength left to do anything more than look over your shoulder at the bright glow coming off Jack's body. His aura's already been shattered. You're sure of it. The light casting over you now is not the green, red, or even amber of Crusher Jack's Martial Path. It's the brilliant, blinding white energy of the White Tiger. <<page "Continue" "ch8dragon-jack-whitetiger">>\

<<var $handwrappy "handwraps">>\ <<choose "ch8dragon-jack-rocksnakew">> #Launch both of you into the lava. Rather than blast Jack with your gathered energy, you throw both hands backward and launch it behind you. Propulsive energy beams fly out of both your hands like a pair of $auracolor wings. Jack covers his chest with both arms just in time to block your feet from crashing into him at the speed of sound, plunging you both off the volcanic wall and into the lava below. <<var $combatstat "agility">>\ <<var $combatstat2 "soul">>\ <<if (($insight gte 3) and ($power gt $soul))>>\ ''[Insight 3 Check Passed: Replacing Soul Check With Power]'' <<var $powexp + 2>>\ <<var $combatstat2 "power">>\ <</if>>\ <<discount "Midorikatai" 1>>\ <<discount "Aoyusumu" $stylerank>>\ <<discount "Kiihakai" $stylerank>>\ <<discount "Fire" 2>>\ <<discount "Water" 2>>\ <<discount "Ice" 2>>\ <<attack "Melee">>\ <<combatcheck (17-$jackdiff)>>\ <<if ($passcheck is true)>>\ You crash into the pool of molten rock with a coating of $auracolor chi covering your entire body. Not only does it keep the lava at bay, but it empowers your every strike as you hit Jack with a left hook, a knee to his countering kick, a downward slam to his stomach, a deflecting punch to his wrist, and a double overhead \ <<if (($style is "Akakiru") and (((((((((((((($equippedweapon is "Tanto")) or ($equippedweapon is "Katana")) or ($equippedweapon is "Muramasa")) or ($equippedweapon is "Greataxe")) or ($equippedweapon is "Qiang")) or ($equippedweapon is "Kunai")) or ($equippedweapon is "Jian")) or ($equippedweapon is "Iceblade")) or ($equippedweapon is "Chiblade")) or ($equippedweapon is "Kagutsuchi")) or ($equippedweapon is "Ikazuchi")) or ($equippedweapon is "Shishido")) or ($equippedweapon is "Godslayer")))>>\ slash with $weppy into his shoulder. <<else>>\ slam into his head. <</if>>\ <<var $watersay "Water">>\ <<if ((($element1 is "Water") or ($element2 is "Water")) or (($element1 is "Ice") or ($element2 is "Ice")))>>\ ''[Water Event]'' <<if (($element1 isnot "Water") and ($element2 isnot "Water"))>>\ <<var $watersay "Ice">>\ <</if>>\ His spirit flexes, pulling in the Fire Chi all around him to heal, but you charge $watersay Chi to your primary fist and slam it down into his face. A circle of spiritual energy explodes outward, pushing the lava and Fire Chi away from you both. ''[Damage Increased]'' <<var $dmg + 1>>\ The effect enrages him, forcing out a sphere of green Wild Chi that pushes you back. <<else>>\ //!!!// The Fire Chi around you tenses and flexes, compressing into Jack even as you beat him into the lava. <</if>>\ You launch yourself out of the lava by kicking off his chest and backflipping onto a floating rock island. Just as Jack rises as well, his vertical leap is interrupted by you converting your body's layer of $auracolor chi into a singular pool of power that you throw at him, slamming into his chest and blasting him into his own rock wall. <<page "Continue" "ch8dragon-jack-rocksnakew">>\ <<else>>\ You plunge into the lava and exude an aura of $auracolor around yourself, thickening the potency of your chi to keep the burning effect at bay. It fails. Your legs burn immediately, and Jack uses your flinching hesitation to grab your leg and slam you downward; your head hits the edge of a rock island before being submerged in lava. <<woundcheck 2 false false>>\ Jack plunges beneath the waves of lava along with you. Not only does //he// properly protect himself with a layer of chi, but he also throws strike after strike into your midsection. <<if ($solspent lt $soul)>>\ ''[1 Soul Core Spent]'' <<var $solspent + 1>>\ <<var $solexp + 1>>\ <<elseif ($forspent lt $fortitude)>>\ ''[1 Fortitude Core Spent]'' <<var $forspent + 1>>\ <<var $forexp + 1>>\ <<elseif ($powspent lt $power)>>\ ''[1 Power Core Spent]'' <<var $powspent + 1>>\ <<var $powexp + 1>>\ <<elseif ($agispent lt $agility)>>\ ''[1 Agility Core Spent]'' <<var $agispent + 1>>\ <<var $agiexp + 1>>\ <</if>>\ Just when you begin to run out of breath and inhale lava, you're 'saved' when he throws you out of the lava pool and into his rock wall from earlier. <<if ($solspent lt $soul)>>\ ''[1 Soul Core Spent]'' <<var $solspent + 1>>\ <<var $solexp + 1>>\ <<elseif ($forspent lt $fortitude)>>\ ''[1 Fortitude Core Spent]'' <<var $forspent + 1>>\ <<var $forexp + 1>>\ <<elseif ($powspent lt $power)>>\ ''[1 Power Core Spent]'' <<var $powspent + 1>>\ <<var $powexp + 1>>\ <<elseif ($agispent lt $agility)>>\ ''[1 Agility Core Spent]'' <<var $agispent + 1>>\ <<var $agiexp + 1>>\ <</if>>\ When your back impacts on a bad angle of the rock, you vomit lava for the second time today. <<page "Continue" "ch8dragon-jack-rocksnakel">>\ <</if>>\ #Use the volcano's bowl shape to knock him into two energy beams at once. You hold both hands out to your sides and charge your left hand's power back through your arm, swirling back into your Cores for momentum, and out of your right arm to focus all that energy into a one-armed lightshow crashing into Jack's chest. He catches it, and you redouble the pressure behind your attack to rip him off his footing and push him back, ''hard''. Despite the strength of your attack he keeps Wild Chi glowing over his hands and is only dragged away. His feet dig a trench along the volcano's edge to roll with the attack instead of allowing it to explode. Perfect. While he's dragged across the arena, you use those precious seconds to charge a second energy beam and fire it where he should be when he curves around the volcano's edge. <<var $combatstat "soul">>\ <<var $combatskill "lore">>\ <<discount "Kiihakai" $stylerank>>\ <<discount "Storm" 2>>\ <<discount "Fire" 1>>\ <<discount "Wind" 1>>\ <<discount "Light" 1>>\ <<if ($energytide is true)>>\ ''[Energy Tide: +1 Battle Prowess]'' <<var $cmod + 1>>\ <</if>>\ <<attack "Energy Ranged">>\ <<combatcheck (13-$jackdiff)>>\ <<if ($passcheck is true)>>\ Your first beam pushes him along the curve of the volcano's bowl-like inner top, where your second beam of $auracolor power crashes into him from the side and detonates the first. Both beams erupt against his spirit and blow away shards off his aura's potency. <<var $dmg + 1>>\ <<if ($power gte 8)>>\ ''[Power 8 Check Passed: Damage Increased]'' <<var $dmg + 1>>\ <</if>>\ <<page "Continue" "ch8dragon-jack-rocksnakew">>\ <<else>>\ You charge $auracolor chi between both palms and fire it at where he should be. Jack detects your attack and intensifies his defense with Fire Chi, shoving both hands to the side and blasting your own energy beam at you with burning acceleration. You try to resist with your second beam but it's overpowered by his counterattack, exploding both beams against //you// instead of him. \ <<woundcheck 2 false true>>\ <<page "Continue" "ch8dragon-jack-rocksnakel">>\ <</if>>\ #use-if (($equippedweapon is "Yumi") and ($handseals gte 1)) Fire a whole tree at him. [Requires Yumi and Fuuinjutsu] You blast the energy gathered in your body at Jack, unrestrained and unrefined. The raw power of $auracolor chi crashes against him like a wave and blasts you backward, where you draw two fuuinjutsu scrolls and rip them with your teeth. One fuuinjutsu tag withdraws your bow. The other is more impressive. An eighty-foot long sharpened log fires out of your bow, blasting out of the smokescreen and through the cloud of residual $auracolor chi from your blast at Jack. <<if (dig($weaponbonus, 2) gte 3)>>\ ''[Weapon Quality (Mastercrafted) Check Passed]'' Both smokescreens are blown away in a circle from the attack's quick speed and the tree explodes against Jack's face, blowing him backward with an explosion \ <<if ($style is "Akakiru")>>\ splinters covered in Bladed Chi. ''[Damage Increased]'' <<var $dmg + 1>>\ <<elseif (($element1 is "Ice") or ($element2 is "Ice"))>>\ jagged, Ice Chi covered splinters. ''[Damage Increased]'' <<var $dmg + 1>>\ <<else>>\ splinters. <</if>>\ <<var $dmg + 1>>\ <<page "Continue" "ch8dragon-jack-rocksnakew">>\ <<else>>\ ''[Weapon Quality (Mastercrafted) Check Failed]'' Jack appears behind you in a flash. "Did you think I wouldn't see through-" You swing your elbow backward, hitting nothing. "-That?!" Jack shouts, punching you in the back and launching you toward the ground. ''//"Seismic Eruption."//'' He snaps his fingers and the stone ground you collide into erupts, destroying your bow and blasting your arms, chest, and face with Earth and Fire Chi. <<unequipweapon1>>\ <<var $itemyumi 000000000>>\ ''[Item Lost: Yumi]'' <<woundcheck 1 false false>>\ You're blown back sixty feet and sent tumbling back into the rock wall. <<page "Continue" "ch8dragon-jack-rocksnakel">>\ <</if>>\ #show-if ($equippedweapon is "Meteor Hammer") Restrain him with your meteor hammer for a devastating combo. [Requires Meteor Hammer] -> "ch8dragon-jack-chainwep" <<var $handwrappy "meteor hammer">>\ You pull out your meteor hammer chain, grab the macehead at its end, and slam it against Jack's jaw. #show-if ($equippedweapon is "Shishido") Restrain him with Shishido's chain for a devastating combo. [Requires Shishido] -> "ch8dragon-jack-chainwep" <<var $handwrappy "Shishido">>\ #show-if ($equippedweapon isnot "Meteor Hammer") use-if ($equippedweapon is "Handwraps") Restrain him with your handwraps for a devastating combo. [Requires Handwraps] -> "ch8dragon-jack-chainwep" You swing a punch at Jack, glowing with $auracolor chi, and connect with his jaw. #show-if (($element1 is "Ice") or ($element2 is "Ice")) use-if ((($chipool + ($soul/2)) - $chispent) gte 2) Slash him with a wagon-sized Ice Shuriken. [Ice, Costs 2 Chi] You hold your hand overhead and push through the overwhelming heat of the volcanic battlefield. By pushing more and more chi into your attack you're able to form Ice in this battlefield of flame, but to keep it alive you spin it for cooling. When spinning the freezing energy over your head, generating jagged shards of ice, you form an enormous shuriken larger than a wagon. ''[2 Chi Spent]'' <<var $chispent + 2>>\ "Catch!" You shout, throwing it at Jack in point-blank range. Your freezing $auracolor flies through the air with a deafening whir. It spins at hundreds of rotations per second, losing its shape; no longer does it appear that you've thrown a shuriken. Now it’s become a body-sized sawblade. Jack's slams both palms against the attack's sides but the speed of its spin deflects his arms, sending them wide open. The sawblade shreds into his chest, penetrates his aura of Fire and Earth, cuts into his torso, and shoves him into the remains of his own rock wall before exploding. ''[Elemental Advantage: Damage Increased]'' <<var $dmg + 2>>\ <<page "Continue" "ch8dragon-jack-rocksnakew">>\ #show-if (($element1 is "Wind") or ($element2 is "Wind")) use-if ((($chipool + ($soul/2)) - $chispent) gte 1) Slash him with a wagon-sized Wind Shuriken. [Wind, Costs 1 Chi] You hold one hand overhead and spin Wind Chi around you, compressing the air into a $auracolor glowing shuriken the size of a wagon. ''[1 Chi Spent]'' <<var $chispent + 1>>\ "Catch!" You shout, throwing it at Jack in point-blank range. He slams both hands against the attack, trying to block it with Wild Chi and Earth Chi increasing the resilience of his grip. Rather than press more Chi into your attack, you sprint past it and leap into the air, kicking Jack in the face with both feet. When he's knocked off guard you shove a gust of Wind Chi into his feet, spinning him upside down and backward, //then// press more Chi into your attack. Your spinning sawblade of Wind Chi is blasted forward with a second gust of wind you knock into it, slicing into Jack's back while he's flipped off-balance. The shuriken of condensed spiritual power cuts a deep line down his skin and shoves him down into the lava below, following the entire time until it explodes at the bottom in an eruption of $auracolor chi. <<var $dmg + 1>>\ <<if (($element1 is "Wind") and ($element1rank gte 3))>>\ ''[Wind (Expert) Event: Damage Increased]'' <<var $dmg + 1>>\ <<elseif (($element2 is "Wind") and ($element2rank gte 3))>>\ ''[Wind (Expert) Event: Damage Increased]'' <<var $dmg + 1>>\ <</if>>\ <<page "Continue" "ch8dragon-jack-rocksnakew">>\ #show-if (($style is "Kurokonton") and ($styleswapper isnot "")) Attack him with a crowd of after-images. [Kurokonton, Costs 0 Chi] -> "ch8dragon-jack-releaseimages" ''[Afterimage Technique Event: No Chi Cost]'' You compress your image and essence into the Cursed Chi of your aura and launch it outward. Your body blurs with $auracolor chi and so do your surroundings. Fourteen afterimage copies of you flash out to the left and right, forming a spinning circus of combatants swirling around Jack. "This is an illusion." Jack boasts, unimpressed. "I can see through it." He \ #show-if (($style is "Kurokonton") and ($styleswapper is "")) use-if ((($chipool + ($soul/2)) - $chispent) gte 1) Ambush him with a crowd of after-images. [Kurokonton, Costs 1 Chi] -> "ch8dragon-jack-releaseimages" ''[1 Chi Spent]'' <<var $chispent + 1>>\ You compress your image and essence into the Cursed Chi of your aura and launch it outward. Your body blurs with $auracolor chi and so do your surroundings. Fourteen afterimage copies of you flash out to the left and right, forming a spinning circus of combatants swirling around Jack. "This is an illusion." Jack boasts, unimpressed. "I can see through it." He \ #show-if (($element1 is "Darkness") or ($element2 is "Darkness")) use-if ((($chipool + ($soul/2)) - $chispent) gte 1) Ambush him with a crowd of shadow-duplicates. [Darkness, Costs 1 Chi] -> "ch8dragon-jack-releaseimages" <<var $val 242>>\ "You'll have to forgive me." You say as your shadow dances along the ground, splitting into different living shadows and running in circles around Jack. "I haven't had a Gate to test this one out." ''[1 Chi Spent]'' <<var $chispent + 1>>\ They each rise off the ground and become a copy of you. With Darkness Chi leaking out of your body you spiritually chain them to each other, ordering each to be the shadow of the copy in front of them. As a shadow should always come from the feet of its owner, they're pulled toward each other. Since they're in a circle, they never make it. Instead they spin around Jack, faster and faster, forming a crowd of $fullname copies rushing around Jack at dizzying speeds. "This is an illusion." Jack boasts, unimpressed. "I can see through it." You give the smallest smile. "Sure you can." <<if ($heshe is "he")>>\ <<var $jackrep - 2>>\ <</if>>\ With one step you enter the circle and join the fray, disappearing in the blurring images sprinting around him. Jack \ <<var $val 7877>>\ #show-if (($element1 is "Fire") or ($element2 is "Fire")) use-if ((($chipool + ($soul/2)) - $chispent) gte 1) Raise a wave of lava into your punch. [Fire, Costs 1 Chi] Your body blazes with burning Fire Chi, calling on the Gate's superior firepower. "That's your plan?" Jack mocks, charging toward you. "Fire doesn't hurt me!" He holds both hands overhead and charges them with Wild Chi, increasing the weight of his strike a hundred-fold. You swing up with an uppercut, calling a wave of lava from below and swirling it over your fist like a guided three-foot-wide battering ram. ''[1 Chi Spent]'' <<var $chispent + 1>>\ Your fire meets his Wild Chi, but lava is not just fire. It's melted rock. The weight of your surging tide of lava crashes into Jack's downward slam and breaks through it, increasing the weight of your own strike a thousand-fold. The lava stream slams into his face and chest like a battering ram, blasting him into and //through// the rock wall from which he'd just emerged. <<var $dmg + 1>>\ <<if (($element1 is "Fire") and ($element1rank gte 3))>>\ ''[Fire (Expert) Event: Damage Increased]'' <<var $dmg + 1>>\ <<elseif (($element2 is "Fire") and ($element2rank gte 3))>>\ ''[Fire (Expert) Event: Damage Increased]'' <<var $dmg + 1>>\ <</if>>\ <<page "Continue" "ch8dragon-jack-rocksnakew">>\ <</choose>>

You pull both palms in front of your face, overlapping them and pulling on the Gate's energy around you, as if the back of your palms were inhaling every ounce of power within forty feet. <<var $combatstat "soul">>\ <<var $combatskill "craft">>\ <<discount "Kiihakai" $stylerank>>\ <<discount "Aoyusumu" 1>>\ <<discount "Earth" 2>>\ <<discount "Wind" 2>>\ <<discount "Water" 1>>\ <<attack "Energy Ranged">>\ <<combatcheck (13-$jackdiff)>>\ <<if ($passcheck is true)>>\ <<if (((((dig($techslotcode[1], 16) is 5) or (dig($techslotcode[2], 16) is 5)) or (dig($techslotcode[3], 16) is 5)) or (dig($techslotcode[4], 16) is 5)) or ((((dig($techslotcode[1], 16) is 6) or (dig($techslotcode[2], 16) is 6)) or (dig($techslotcode[3], 16) is 6)) or (dig($techslotcode[3], 16) is 6)))>>\ <<if ((dig($techslotcode[1], 16) gte 5) and (dig($techslotcode[1], 16) lte 6))>>\ ''//"$techslotname[1]!!"//'' <<chitype $techslotcode[1]>>\ <<elseif ((dig($techslotcode[2], 16) gte 5) and (dig($techslotcode[2], 16) lte 6))>>\ ''//"$techslotname[2]!!"//'' <<chitype $techslotcode[2]>>\ <<elseif ((dig($techslotcode[3], 16) gte 5) and (dig($techslotcode[3], 16) lte 6))>>\ ''//"$techslotname[3]!!"//'' <<chitype $techslotcode[3]>>\ <<elseif ((dig($techslotcode[4], 16) gte 5) and (dig($techslotcode[4], 16) lte 6))>>\ ''//"$techslotname[4]!!"//'' <<chitype $techslotcode[4]>>\ <</if>>\ You scream out, condensing the Gate energies around you through your hands. With intense spiritual focus, you press the world's \ <<if ($elemhitter isnot "Fire")>>\ Fire \ <<else>>\ Earth \ <</if>>\ chi into a torrent of $elemhitter power. <<else>>\ You scream out a battlecry, condensing the Gate's energies around you through your hands. With intense spiritual focus, you press the world's Fire and Earth chi out as a beam of $auracolor power. <</if>>\ The rock wall caves to your energy beam, blowing a tunnel wide enough for you to leap through. You make it out of the hole and slide to a halt, twisting your hands around your body to recalibrate your cycled chi. <<var $dmg + 1>>\ When Jack charges through the wall unharmed he gives you a wide, predatory grin that falters when he sees the $auracolor chi pouring out of your aura. "My turn!" You shout, pressing your assault. <<include "ch8dragon-jack-wall">>\ <<else>>\ "Not so fast!" Jack shouts, grabbing both your palms with one fist and squeezing them shut. He leaps at the last second, swinging backward with your hands still in his grip, and spins you backward into the wall head-first. \ The top of your skull slams into the hard, Gate-reinforced stone with a mind-blanking crunch. <<woundcheck 2 true false>>\ You feel like you're buried alive when shoved through six feet of stone; your head doesn't exit until <<if (((((($heshe is "he") and ($style is "Midorikatai")) or (($race is "Lunargoth") and (($bodytype isnot "Petite") and ($bodytype isnot "Manlet")))) or (($race is "Bovine") and (($bodytype isnot "Petite") and ($bodytype isnot "Manlet")))) or ($bodytype is "Muscular")) or ($bodytype is "Dommymommy"))>>\ <<var $forexp + 1>>\ most of your body has entered the stone. <<else>>\ the rest of your body is fully submerged. <</if>>\ Thankfully, ''painfully'', you exit out the other side in a spray of stone. Beside you, Jack breaks through the wall on his own with both arms over his face. He slams them out, backhanding you, and catches you by the throat before you can catch your bearings. "There has to be more to you than this!" He screams in your face, reeling you back and throwing you further down the volcanic wall. "Stop being pathetic!" <<include "ch8dragon-jack-getthrown">>\ <</if>>\

Jack reaches for your head but you leap 'up', reaching for the top of the wall. With a prayer to your Ancestors, you try to reposition your momentum of two-hundred mile per hour speed to flip over the wall instead of slamming into it. <<var $combatstat "agility">>\ <<var $combatskill "athletics">>\ <<discount "Midorikatai" $stylerank>>\ <<discount "Monkey" 2>>\ <<discount "Cat" 1>>\ <<discount "Wind" 2>>\ <<discount "Light" 1>>\ <<discount "Legs" 1>>\ <<discount "Agilie" 1>>\ <<combatcheck (13-$jackdiff)>>\ <<if ($passcheck is true)>>\ Your wrists strain against the slap against the wall's corner but you tense your abs, obliques, and arm muscles as quickly as possible to wrench yourself over the wall in a seven-fold front flip. In mid-air you cycle more of the Gate's energy through your Cores and immediately out into your hands. The wall beneath you explodes from Jack breaking through, his grin wide and predatory, but his expression falters when he sees the $auracolor energy already radiating around your body. "Surprise." You say, unleashing your prepared assault. <<include "ch8dragon-jack-wall">>\ <<else>>\ Your aim proves faulty, catching the top of the wall at the right time but failing to pull yourself up swiftly enough. All breath leaves your body when your chest crashes into the corner of the stone wall at two-hundred miles per hour, shattering the rock and \ <<if ($pblocktech isnot "")>>\ nearly doing as much damage to \ <</if>>\ your ribs. <<if (($bodytype is "Hourglass") or ($bodytype is "Bodacious"))>>\ ''[$bodytype Bodytype: Collision Softened, Damage Reduced]'' <<woundcheck 1 true false>>\ <<elseif ($pblocktech isnot "")>>\ ''[$pblocktech Activated, Damage Reduced]'' <<woundcheck 1 false false>>\ <<else>>\ <<woundcheck 2 false false>>\ <</if>>\ You bounce across the top of the breaking wall and nearly fall into the lava below. At the last second you're jerked up by a hand gripping your ankle. "You're not done yet, Laborer!" Jack shouts with a spray of rocks around him, having just burst through the wall unscathed. "Stop being pathetic! Make this worth my time!" With one mighty toss he throws you back against the volcanic crater's wall, sending your skin skidding against the rock. <<include "ch8dragon-jack-getthrown">>\ <</if>>\

You reach out mid-sprint and grab Jack's head, but there's no block. No dodge. No parry. Instead, an invasive sensation on the back of your skull surprises you. Sprinting forward, snarling against the incoming pain, you realize neither of you have put up any defense. You're ''both'' holding the other by the back of the skull, running it into the wall. "No way!" Misuka shouts above your meeting point. "Viewers of Nanhou, Jack and <<cap $name>> appear to be vying for a double knockout!" "GRRRRRRRRR!!!!" The two of you scream, straining each other's necks. Your gravity-defying speed rams you both into the stone barrier skull-first through six feet of solid Gate-enforced stone. <<var $combatstat "fortitude">>\ <<var $combatstat2 "power">>\ <<discount "Midorikatai" $stylerank>>\ <<discount "Earth" 2>>\ <<discount "Wind" 1>>\ <<discount "Water" 2>>\ <<discount "Muscular" 1>>\ <<discount "Bovine" 2>>\ <<combatcheck (16-$jackdiff)>>\ <<if ($passcheck is true)>>\ <<if (($element1 is "Water") or ($element2 is "Water"))>>\ A spinning vortex of water forms behind your hand and presses your attack forward, slamming \ <<else>>\ You keep your grip steady and refuse to let go, even when the rock presses against your extended bicep. Against all the pain you continue to shove \ <</if>>\ Jack into the wall at the same time that he presses your temple into the stone. Both of you crash through in an instant with enough force to crack a ship's hull. ''[Recklessness: Damage Increased]'' <<var $dmg + 2>>\ <<woundcheck 1 false false>>\ <<var $jackrep + 5>>\ You break through the wall together and clash opposing uppercuts against each other, slamming fist against fist. "Quit copying my fucking moves!" Jack snarls. "Fine!" You scream back, kicking off the wall and charging $auracolor chi around you body. "HERE'S AN ORIGINAL!" <<include "ch8dragon-jack-wall">>\ <<else>>\ Your head crunches against layer after layer of stone, crunching your skull and concussing your brain. An eternity of pain and bludgeoning occurs before you're shoved through the other side of six feet of rock. <<var $dmg + 1>>\ <<woundcheck 2 false false>>\ You barely even remember where you are when you come through. A second later you're quickly reminded, as Jack throws you across the rock wall to inflict skidding pain across your tumbling body. <<include "ch8dragon-jack-getthrown">>\ <</if>>\

"Jack, there's something wrong with your aura." You pant out, body faltering, stance wavering. "It's called strength." Jack taunts. "And where's yours? Falling apart?" He pants nearly as heavily as you, leaking blood from his mouth and many wounds. "Can't quite make it to the finish line, can you?" "Hold on-" Your quadriceps spasm, collapsing you chin-first into the hard stone. "Ghu-!" You can't even swear, you're too busy fighting to maintain your spinning consciousness and determine if you just bit off your tongue. Jack approaches, pacing in circles around your body. "Come on, don't you have anything else to show me?!" He raises one arm and forms a stone bridge to a different floating rock, then kicks you across it. "Do it! Harness power from the past, summon a spirit, throw the moon at me, turn into a different race! I'm not done with your impossible feats. Ancestors know you've done enough for five lifetimes, but what's five more?!" You clutch your chest and press, ''forcing'' your lungs to expand and retract just to breathe, but you can't keep quiet. "Jack...you're glowing white. You..." "You know, I tried to move on. I really did." Jack shouts over you, the shining white glow increasing in brightness over his skin. "But I was lying to myself. Goro? Brass Tiger? \ <<if (dig($metjahi, 2) gte 3)>>\ Jahi? \ <<else>>\ A fucking clown? \ <</if>>\ All these pretenders, they're supposed to be my new rivals just because they're stronger than you? What a low bar." He looks to the sky, to Misuka's orbs. "What a ''joke!'' They're still weaker than me, and worse, they lack the //history//!" Misuka's rushes to produce more orbs, sending this image anywhere she can. "It's only you, $name." Jack slams his fist together, igniting white fire between them. "You're the ''only'' one that pushed my every waking moment through years of Hellish training. You're the only one who's made me demand I make myself better than the best. You're the only one that lets me feel ''hate''. No one will ever let me feel this way when I'm an Archon. They'll all be pushovers afraid of some title instead of being afraid of my power. You're my last chance to feel the relish of destroying something that stood in my way." "Jack, stop." You exhale painfully, shaking your head and forcing yourself to stand. "Whatever you're about to do, you're covered in the White Tiger's chi. We need to figure out what it is before-" "If it's a power I gain from this fight..." Jack interrupts, breaking into a fit of laughter and throwing his hands wide. "Then it's EXACTLY what I've been after! I thought I would invent some replica of your favorite Gate abilities and call it poetic justice. End the fight there. But you keep getting back up, and now I know why. It's because you had this white chi to show me. You can't hide that you're the source." His voice deepens with satisfaction. "After all, you're using it too." You look down at the white glow covering your hands. <<page "What the Hells...?" "ch8dragon-jack-whitetiger2">>\

Your hand glows white. Not the pale-white chifire of a beginner's aura, but the vibrant, brilliant luminence of the White Tiger. ''Fuck.'' Sakura's summons destroyed in the meteor. They were spirits with the White Tiger's chi, you must have cycled their destroyed remains in the Gate! You need to call off the fight. Whatever this power is, the Akuma Lords are after it and your tattered spirit is in no shape to get meddled with by some cult's bizarre warped chi. "Jack-" "This is the last bit I have left, $name!" Jack coughs out with a bleeding, open-mouthed laugh. "I'll make sure it's enough. If it isn't, I'll come back stronger to do it again! We both will. //Forever.// I thought I could outgrow my hatred, but it drives me. Fuels me. Pushes me every second to be something greater. I was wrong about you. The Heavens didn't bless me with some punk to use as a stepping stone to my success. They blessed me with a whole fucking staircase!" "No, stop the duel, Jack! NOW!" You shout, flaring a full aura you shouldn't have. The White Tiger's aura. "Stop me if you can, $name!" Jack shouts, placing his left hand over his right fist. "That's been the whole point of your existence! The reason we were born together! I'm the greatest in the world, ''because I hate you.''" He pulls his fist back, cracking lines of white heat haze through the air around him. ''//"THUNDERFALL."//'' <<page "''!!!''" "ch8dragon-jack-whitetiger3">>\

Crusher Jack's eyes lock on your navel, where he targets your Cores directly. The same way his father killed Master Bangle so many years ago. Lines of heat-haze crackle through the air between the two of you. His body speeds into a blur and the ambient chi behind you ''thickens'', holding you in place for his attack. With no chance to dodge, all you can do is counter by exploding your chi out of the spot he's targeting. There is no Technique in your arsenal that shoots energy out of your Cores directly. However, you do still have a method to do it. Every cultivator does. In desperation, surrounded with the White Tiger's chi, you risk using... <<var $trickywicky false>>\ <<var $lostpressure (35-($insight * 5))>>\ <<if ($lostpressure lt 0)>>\ <<var $lostpressure 0>>\ <</if>>\ <<choose "ch8dragon-jack-immortalcore">> #use-if ($agility gte 2) Immortal Core Advancement! [+1 Power, -1 Agility, Costs $lostpressure Aura Pressure] <<var $power + 1>>\ <<var $agility - 1>>\ #use-if ($soul gte 2) Immortal Core Advancement! [+1 Fortitude, -1 Soul, Costs $lostpressure Aura Pressure] <<var $fortitude + 1>>\ <<var $soul - 1>>\ #use-if ($fortitude gte 2) Immortal Core Advancement! [+1 Agility, -1 Fortitude, Costs $lostpressure Aura Pressure] <<var $agility + 1>>\ <<var $fortitude - 1>>\ #use-if ($power gte 2) Immortal Core Advancement! [+1 Soul, -1 Power, Costs $lostpressure Aura Pressure] <<var $soul + 1>>\ <<var $power - 1>>\ #show-if ($desnuke gt 0) use-if ($desnuke isnot 1000) Use //''The Last Dream''// at point-blank range. [+1 Soul] <<if ($honor lte 35)>>\ Nah. Fuck it. <<else>>\ To Hell with some desperate, short-sighted solution. <</if>>\ Jack's not worth spending the last fumes of this Heavenly Gate. That energy is for your growth, not some short-term benefit. ''[Soul Core +1]'' <<var $soul + 1>>\ Especially when there's such an easier way to end this fight. ''//"The Last Dream."//'' <<var $dmg + 1>>\ <<var $desnuke 1000>>\ Jack's ultimate technique crashes into your thermobaric explosion in a reality-rupturing explosion of red and white fire. The air around you is sucked into a vacuum and a blinding light overtakes your vision, shaking your body with bursting tremors before everything fades to black. <<page "Continue" "ch8dragon-hospital">>\ #show-if ($style is "Kiihakai") use-if ($countersealritual isnot 100) Release the dragon. [+1 Power, Requires Kiihakai, Requires Counterseal] Ever the \ <<if ($heshe is "he")>>\ sorcerer, \ <<else>>\ sorceress, \ <</if>>\ you refuse to give up the Gate's final fumes of energy on some meager attack. That energy is for your growth, not some short-term benefit. ''[Power Core +1]'' <<var $power + 1>>\ Instead you channel your mystic training and enact vital handseals for one last spell. Jack kicks off the ground in a blinding, impossible speed. He charges his fist forward, ripping through the air, and collides with a boulder-breaking impact designed to kill. You're ten feet behind that impact. Jack's Thunderfall punch connects not with your body, but with the tremendous amount of power you leak out of his own Dragon Medallion. Designed to absorb its wearer's Aura Pressure, you counterseal the binding on Jack's dragon medallion and unleash all his stored energy directly in front of him. What was once an asset, the dense weight of Jack's Wild Chi aura, becomes a liability. His energy is heavy enough to trigger his attack's detonation when they collide. Jack explodes into a conflicting mass of green light directly in front of you, but you still have a Dragon medallion of your own. "I win." You call, unleashing your own Dragon medallion's stored energy. When Jack flies through the explosion, screaming with rage, his fist crashes into your depowered jaw. In that same moment the amulet around your neck unleashes six hours worth of your power into his chest. The $auracolor explosion shakes your body with bursting tremors before everything fades the black. <<var $trickywicky true>>\ <<page "Continue" "ch8dragon-hospital">>\ #show-if ($clonetech is "Mist Clone") Laugh. [+1 Agility] Jack's Thunderfall punch collides through your gut, ripping your torso in half and shredding your body to pieces. Broken, beaten, and shredded into an inhuman mass of gore, you fall into the volcano. Every scrap of your body drops beneath the lava's surface and burns away. Jack lands on a distant rock island. With a final exhale he turns to gaze upon the sight of your demise. He smiles, looking down at his hand. "Finally..." He whispers to himself. "I stand at the top." "Nah." You say behind him. "Probably not." //!!!// He spins and launches an energy blast of the White Tiger's chi, ripping through your body in a puff of smoke. Or, rather, a laughing puff of mist. <<page "Hehehahahahaha!" "ch8dragon-jack-laughingmonkey">>\ <</choose>>

<div class="fightingfont">Thunderfaller vs Crusher Jack</div>\ <<statcheck>>\ You're forced to surge a Soul Core to press your aura out and keep the lava at bay when you're submerged. ''[1 Soul Core Spent]'' <<var $solsurge + 1>>\ Even then, the agonizing burning of foreign Fire Chi does nothing to soothe your raw spirit after already being burned alive and remade mere moments ago. Gasping for air, you break through the lava's surface and pull yourself up on the disturbingly thick 'liquid', leaping for a nearby rock island. With your arms extended, desperate to catch the rock, you realize your mistake too late. Jack comes sprinting from your side, laughing all the while, and catches your ribs with a hard kick that blasts you toward the arena wall. <<var $val 11101>>\ You fly across the arena with the wind pressing waves over your cheeks. Just before impacting on the volcanic wall, forty feet above the lava's surface, you pull the surging $auracolor chi around your body and blast it forward to cushion your landing. <<include "ch8dragon-jack-arenabad">>\

<<if ($portraitpics is true)>>\ <<image "https://www.auraclash.com/assets/images/jack-volcano.jpg">>\ <</if>>\ <<var $dmg 0>>\ "Jack." You \ <<if ($jadedragonfoundation is true)>>\ hiss, spitting lava to the side and burning the rock at your feet. "I've been waiting for this." <<else>>\ spit through panting heaves, more as a curse than a statement. <</if>>\ Jack smiles at \ <<if ($heshe is "she")>>\ your tattered clothing, \ <<else>>\ you, \ <</if>>\ sitting on one edge of the volcanic bowl-like arena high above you. "Looks like Sakura ran away." He sighs, disappointed. "I was hoping to fight you both and get the weaklings over with." He cracks his neck to the side and stands, his new Royal Purple kimono \ <<if ($heshe is "she")>>\ flowing in the hard winds against the outline of his body. "My final fight will be against a worthy challenger. Goro or Brass Tiger. You're just a side mission." Magma drips from your smoking hair and sizzles on the rock beneath you. <<else>>\ flowing in the breeze. "My final fight will be against a worthy challenger. Goro or Brass Tiger. You're just a side mission." <</if>>\ <<var $ins1 "idiot">>\ <<if (($honor lt 40) or ($ruthless gte 70))>>\ <<var $ins1 "fucking idiot">>\ <</if>>\ <<choose "ch8dragon-jack3">> #"Jack, you $ins1! People were clamoring to this summit! Your meteor killed dozens!" <<var $score_sacred + 2>>\ <<var $score_wild - 1>>\ "Jack, you $ins1!" You \ <<if ($heshe is "she")>>\ scream. \ <<else>>\ shout. \ <</if>>\ "People were clamoring to this summit! You've just killed dozens with that meteor Technique!" <<var $ruthless - 2>>\ <<if ($ins1 is "idiot")>>\ <<var $ruthless - 1>>\ <</if>>\ "Dozens?" Jack snorts and //leaps// eight-hundred-feet down, landing on a nearby rock island. "Please, everyone but you saw it coming. Half a dozen dead at best, and who cares? These people are supposed to be Archons. What kind of an Archon dies to something that can't even kill a Laborer?" "None of them signed up for this! They were regular people, dragged to the Trials against their will. They just wanted to go home!" Jack breaks into a full laughter. "Are you listening to yourself? They're //Warriors//. I know you're not a real one, so this doesn't mean anything to you, but they volunteered to fight to the death the day they were born. We all did. But you? Your defective brain signed up for it. You should have kept shining shoes or whatever your family does." #"If you wanted me to kill you, all you had to do was ask." <<var $ruthless + 1>>\ <<var $score_wild + 1>>\ <<var $score_sacred - 1>>\ "If you wanted me to kill you, Jack," You wipe magma from your chin and fling it to the ground, your skin healing from the burns with the sizzle of Fire Chi in the air. "All you had to do was ask." "You talk big for such a little \ <<if ($heshe is "he")>>\ man." \ <<else>>\ girl." \ <</if>>\ Jack replies, eyes focusing with a glean of green chi. "Being surrounded by weaklings has inflated your ego." "You should know. You're one of them." "Hah!" He cracks his knuckles and //leaps// eight hundred feet down, landing on a nearby rock island. "Words, words, words. Your pride can lean on those when I remind you where you belong on the pecking order." #"Enough of your games. Where are Jin and Rin?" <<var $ruthless - 1>>\ <<var $honor + 1>>\ <<var $score_bladed + 1>>\ You glare at Jack across the volcanic pool. "Where are Jin and Rin?" "With the rest of the Lower Disciples on the shore." Jack replies, looking west. "Isn't it disgusting that we have no Upper Disciples in the Trials but me? Even Mountain Hazard has one, and we're supposed to be their betters. I would have told the Disciples to maim your siblings after our fight, to motivate you, but I don't even trust them to win anymore." He cracks a smile and slides down the volcanic wall, getting closer. "That's why, when you lose, I'll go back there and do it myself." <<if ($ruthless lte 35)>>\ ''[Compassion 65 Check Passed]'' "No." You reply. "You won't." ''[Your protective resolve has improved your Battle Prowess!]'' <<var $jackdiff + 1>>\ <<else>>\ "Funny." You call back. "I'm planning to do the same to your family." "I don't have siblings, dumbass." Jack replies dryly. "My only family is the Sectmaster." You return his menacing grin. "I know." <<var $jackrep + 1>>\ <<var $maorep + 2>>\ <</if>>\ #show-if ($heshe is "she") "And yet you're still staring. Why don't you come down here and take a closer look?" <<var $score_cursed + 1>>\ "And yet you're still staring." You call back across the incendiary volcanic pool. "I'm right here, bad boy. Come get down and get a closer look. Or are you up there because you're scared?" <<var $jackrep + 3>>\ Jack's smug grin grows wider and he slides down the volcano ridge, landing on the lava. His shoes melt immediately, but his feet stand firm on the liquid lava like a Devanic priest walking across a lake. "I'm going to make you eat those words, and I'll love every second of it." You beckon him closer, unflinching. "You'd better make me do more than that." <<var $jackromance + 1>>\ <</choose>>

Flashes of golden-pink light catch your eye, zipping through the air around you both. Jack scowls. "What do you think you're doing down there?!" Shouts Misuka the Performer, climbing over the edge of the volcanic arena's rocky walls. Her scrying orbs zip through the area while she yells at you. "The Nanhou stadiums are waiting! I'm supposed to relay a view of the fight over the Dragon Trial's spirit fruit! Instead some blade barrier blocks me out, and as soon as it drops, one of you //blows up the mountain// before I can get a good angle!? What do you have to say for yourselves?!" You point one finger to Jack. \ <<if ($honor lte 35)>>\ "He did it." <<else>>\ "Ask him." <</if>>\ "Sakura Nakamoto ate the pink seed's fruit and fled west after my attack." Jack says over his shoulder, not bothering to look at the announcer. "Her actions ended the current Dragon Trial seed and started mine. There's your report. Announce it and leave." "Hey!" Misuka shouts back, frustrated. "Don't order me around, you're a contestant! And do you expect me to announce a finale with NO ENTERTAINMENT? Do you have any idea how fired I am?! The Nobles demand a show!" "Fine." Jack reaches into his Royal Purple robes and withdraws a spiked spiritfruit with red swirling patterns, maintaining eye contact with you. <<page "That's-?!" "ch8dragon-jack4">>\

Your eyes widen. "That's-?!" "Oh yeah." Jacks confirms with a smile, rubbing it against his robes to clean the fruit off. "My Trial seed's spiritfruit. This treasure was maturing in the volcano's magma. If I didn't know any better, I'd say you're trying to take it from me." "Oho?" Misuka's ears twitch. "$titlename, is that true? You're willing to invade the golden Dragon Trial seed to steal their spiritfruit?" <<if ($ruthless gte 70)>>\ ''[Ruthless 70 Check Passed]'' "Fuck yeah I am." <<var $ruthless + 2>>\ <<var $jackrep + 5>>\ <<var $maorep + 5>>\ <<var $churep + 5>>\ <<var $borep + 5>>\ <<else>>\ After not getting to fight Leona, not getting to fight Sakura, and now facing the risk of not getting to fight Jack after he ''dropped you in a volcano'', you lean into whatever excuse to fight you can get. "...Yes." <</if>>\ "How delightfully brazen!" She squeals, her three tails swishing behind her. With a snap of her fingers, five more golden-pink scrying orbs fly off to different parts of the lava pool. "Viewers of Nanhou!" She shouts when they all get in position and activate. "I know you can hardly believe your eyes, but we have a stunning upset! Crusher Jack of the golden Dragon Trial Seed has destroyed the mountain of Guarded Blossom! Underneath we have a true treat, a volcanic Heavenly Gate for a final battlefield! Yet Jack's antics have not gone unnoticed! Demanding satisfaction, suffering no insult, $fullname of the pink Dragon Trial Seed has survived the eruptive attack and challenged Jack for the Dragon Trial's final prize, the spiritfruit capable of bringing their score above its limit!" Her orbs slowly rotate overhead, getting your every angle. "Hold onto your seats, ladies and gentlemen of the arenas! It's all eyes on this explosive cage match of the century! Will Crusher Jack earn his title as the predicted number one of the Top Five? Or will he fail to even be number one of his own Sect? That's up to $fullname, because it's the fight so many in the betting rings have been waiting for! It's-" <<page "Continue" "ch8dragon-jack5">>\

<div class="fightingfont">Thunderfaller vs Crusher Jack</div>\ <<var $dmg 0>>\ <<statcheck>>\ <<var $chapter 8.6>>\ "Time to set right the wrongs of the past." Jack declares, powering up. The air around him grows hazier and boulders lift off the ground from the force of his rising green Wild Chi aura. He slowly looks up and locks eyes with you. "I'm going to show the whole world who stands at the top of this generation." <<if ($ruthless gt 50)>>\ "They were always going to find out." You growl, unleashing your own $auracolor aura with twice the usual energy output within the Gate. "And you won't like the answer." <<else>>\ "No." You condemn, unleashing your own $auracolor aura with twice the usual energy output within the Gate. "All you're going to show them is why I had to put you down in the first place." <</if>>\ ''[Gate Energies: All Combat Results Increased by +1]'' <<var $jackdiff + 1>>\ <<if (($insight gte 4) and ($val lt 2))>>\ ''[Insight 4 Check Passed: All Combat Results Increased by +1]]'' <<var $jackdiff + 1>>\ <<elseif ($insight gte 4)>>\ ''[Insight 4 Check Passed, Aura Pressure +20]'' <<var $aurapressure + 20>>\ <</if>>\ <<if ($energytide is true)>>\ ''[Energy Tide: All Combat Results Increased by +1]'' <<var $jackdiff + 1>>\ <</if>>\ /* add difficulty if jack's more inspired */\ <<var $jackdiff - ($jackcombat - 10)>>\ <<choose "ch8dragon-jack6">> #Charge in close for a melee rush. You lean back on one heal. "This was always going to go one way, Jack." Across the lava from you, on a distant rock island, Jack lifts his chin and stares down at you. "I'm interested. Monologue me." You grin, charging $auracolor chi through your legs. "Quickly." <<var $combatstat "agility">>\ <<var $combatstat2 "fortitude">>\ <<discount "Kurokonton" $stylerank>>\ <<discount "Wind" 1>>\ <<discount "Midorikatai" 1>>\ <<attack "Melee">>\ <<combatcheck (18-$jackdiff)>>\ <<if ($passcheck is true)>>\ You blast off in a stream of $auracolor chi, running across the lava fast enough to part it, and leap into a 1080-degree spinning kick that hits Jack's jaw with four separate impacts. His shoulder muscle expands with Wild power and he slams one fist directly into your lower leg, flipping you upside down, and you unleash an Agility Core to barrage seven strikes into his ribs as you spin. Leaping back, he throws an orb of Fire Chi at you that you meet with an orb of $auracolor chi. The two explode against each other and you both slam a leg into the mix, clashing shin against shin. The resulting explosion of physical force knocks you both head-over-heels into neighboring rock islands. ''[Damage Increased]'' <<var $dmg + 1>>\ <<if ($background is "Blacksmith")>>\ "What the fuck is in your leg?" Jack demands, lifting his pant leg to see blood. ''[Background Event: Blacksmith]'' <<var $dmg + 1>>\ "Steel." You say, lifting your own to show a now-broken leg brace covered in nails. You toss it into the lava. Jack chuckles, his skin healing quickly in the Gate. "Cheating, of course. "I should expect nothing more from you." "The real world doesn't care about that, Jack." You call out in a surge of $auracolor chi. "It cares about winners and losers." <<else>>\ "Barely a warmup!" Jack gloats, rotating his shoulder. "If this were a spar, I'd have scored more points." "The real world doesn't care about that." You say, charging chi over both fists. "All that matters is who wins." <</if>>\ "You think //you// understand the real world?" \ <<else>>\ You blast across the lava, fast enough to take no damage as you dash across the battlefield. Just as you reach Jack and spin into a 1080-degree kick, he disappears from view. "Too slow!" He shouts behind you, kicking the back of your neck. Your own charge rushes you into the volcanic wall of the battlefield face-first, crunching your skull into the rock. <<if (($element1 is "Earth") or ($element2 is "Earth"))>>\ ''[Earth Element: Damage Reduced]'' <<woundcheck 1 false false>>\ <<elseif ($yokaitrait1 is "horns")>>\ ''[Yokai Horns: Damage Reduced]'' <<woundcheck 1 false false>>\ <<elseif ($pblocktech isnot "")>>\ ''[$pblocktech Technique: Damage Reduced]'' <<woundcheck 1 false false>>\ <<else>>\ <<woundcheck 2 false false>>\ <</if>>\ You rip your head out of the stone and hear Jack tsking from his rock island. "I expected better, Laborer. Did the real world teach you nothing?" <<cap $auracolor>> chi rises out of your aura. "Why don't you come closer and find out?" "I'd love nothing more." \ <</if>>\ #Throw a whole burning rock island at him. You crack a grin, surging with power, and slam your foot into the side of your own rock island hard enough to spin it under your feet. One leap rises you off your own island-platform before your stomp spins it into the air. You twist in-place and kick the enormous magma-bubbling boulder with all your might, launching it at Jack. <<var $combatstat "power">>\ <<var $combatskill "perception">>\ <<discount "Muscular" 1>>\ <<discount "Aoyusumu" $stylerank>>\ <<discount "Midorikatai" $stylerank>>\ <<discount "Bovine" 1>>\ <<discount "Earth" 2>>\ <<combatcheck (14-$jackdiff)>>\ <<if ($passcheck is true)>>\ The whole rock-island blasts through the air, trailing lava, and crashing into Jack's guarding forearm. He reacts immediately. A twelve-foot line of fire slices the boulder down the middle, causing each half to slide off him at the sides. Despite the incredible weight and force of your attack, he's left grinning when he comes out unscathed. His grin doesn't survive your foot kicking him in the face after your flying leap, foreseeing his defense. ''[Damage Increased]'' <<var $dmg + 1>>\ Jack skids back, leaping off the surface of the lava and rubbing his jaw. "A cheap shot!" He calls over to the rock island you land on. Rather, the one you stole from him. "I should expect nothing more from you." "The real world doesn't care about that, Jack." You call out in a surge of $auracolor chi. "It cares about winners and losers." "You think //you// understand the real world?" \ <<else>>\ Your ankle cracks against the rock with an agonizing crunch. <<woundcheck 1 false false>>\ The boulder falls without moving from your kick, and you're forced to ungracefully cling onto it when splashing back down into the lava pool. You hang on for dear life until the rock island settles, then stand on one leg. "Ancestors." Jack cringes. "That was pathetic." "Shit happens in the real world, Jack." You say, shaking off the pain and preparing for battle. "Are you here to talk about it, or fight?" "If that's how you want it." He says, exhaling with a pleased sigh. \ <</if>>\ #use-if ($roc gte 1) Call death from above. "Sorry my friend." You call to the sky. "This fight's too big for you to finish it, but you can tag in at the start!" "CAWWWW!!!" <<cap $rocname>> shouts, flying down from the clouds. "A battle pet!" Misuka the Performer exclaims. "What surprises //won't// we see today?" "Just a roc?" Jack asks, looking up in disappointment. Heavy green Wild Chi roils over his fist. "Pathetic, you can kiss it goodbye!" Jack reels his fist back to launch his attack upon $rocname, only to receive your foot to the side of his head. You drop from your charging kick and trade punches with the man, ducking low and striking high before leaping back with a two-handed energy blast to his chest. "Is this supposed to distract me?!" Jack shouts, dashing out of the $auracolor smoke cloud and swinging for your neck. "I can sense your Roc overhead, moron! It can't get close without me knowing!" You leap and catch his incoming fist with both feet, kicking off to fly away. "Ancestors, you're stupid." You counter, backflipping into a landing and watching the payload of four dozen ripped fuuinjutsu scrolls land onto Jack. "Not all attacks need Aura Pressure." <<var $combatstat "soul">>\ <<var $combatskill "handseals">>\ <<discount "Kiihakai" $stylerank>>\ <<discount "Human" 1>>\ <<discount "Oni" 1>>\ <<discount "Kitsune" 1>>\ <<combatcheck 12>>\ <<if ($passcheck is true)>>\ ''[Damage Increased]'' <<var $dmg + 2>>\ Five-thousand \ <<else>>\ ''[Basic Damage Dealt] <<var $dmg + 1>>\ Two-thousand \ <</if>>\ pounds of granite crashes onto Jack's head. You signal for $rocname to take off and leave the battle. She's already ripped the fuuinjutsu seals you lined all over her left leg, releasing the rocky payload. No need to have her come down into such a risky fight's melee range. <<var $roccombat + 1>>\ <<page "Continue" "ch8dragon-jack5-2">>\ <</choose>>

The rock pile that was once Crusher Jack rumbles and explodes in a violent red flash. Jack exhales through his nose inside the new clearing, his aura blazing around him. "So much for the Martial Arts." He says with an unhinged laugh, dusting himself off. "I should have guessed that, even now, you still wouldn't have learned to fight." You crack a confident grin. "The real world doesn't care how you fight. Only how you win." "Fine by me." \ <<include "ch8dragon-jack6">>\

Jack reaches both flaming fists forward, thrumming with power. "Let's see if anything the real world has taught you can compare to what it's taught //me//." You prepare your own energy attack to counter. Jack's grin grows predatory. "Wrong defense." He swipes his hands across the air. To your left and right, Fire Chi bubbles up from the lavas surface. In the blink of an eye, that bubbling lava explodes into two geysers crisscrossing over your body. <<choose "ch8dragon-jack-engagemelee">> #Dodge forward with a flying kick. <<if (($style is "Kurokonton") and ($styleswapper isnot ""))>>\ The geysers of lava explode upward and catch you in crisscrossing pillars of exploding Fire Chi, scorching your body to ash. ''[Afterimage: Automatic Success]'' <<var $dmg + 1>>\ To the untrained eye, that is. The real you reaches Jack in three swift leaps and twists that unbelievable speed into a horizontal spinning punch, slamming him in the neck with bone-crunching force. <<if ($power gte 8)>>\ ''[Power 8 Check Passed: Damage Increased]]'' <<var $dmg + 1>>\ <</if>>\ <<if ($stylerank gte 3)>>\ <<if ($power gte 8)>>\ <</if>>\ ''[Style Mastery (Expert): Damage Increased]'' <<var $dmg + 1>>\ <</if>>\ <<else>>\ You react as soon as the lava bubbles. Geysers of Fire Chi explode into your position at the same time that you kick off. <<if (($element1 is "Fire") or ($element2 is "Fire"))>>\ ''[Fire Element: Automatic Success]'' Unconcerned with Fire Chi, especially inside a Gate of it, you \ <<else>>\ <<var $combatstat "agility">>\ <<var $combatskill "athletics">>\ <<discount "Kurokonton" $stylerank>>\ <<discount "Wind" 2>>\ <<discount "Light" 2>>\ <<discount "Legs" 1>>\ <<discount "Agile" 1>>\ <<discount "Cat" 1>>\ <<if ($flashstep is true)>>\ ''[Flash Step: +2 Battle Prowess]'' <<var $cmod + 2>>\ <</if>>\ <<combatcheck (13-$jackdiff)>>\ <<if ($passcheck is true)>>\ You narrowly \ <</if>>\ <</if>>\ <<if (($passcheck is true) or (($element1 is "Fire") or ($element2 is "Fire")))>>\ break through the explosion unscathed, kicking off the rock with a circle of $auracolor chi echoing out behind your body when you burst across the battlefield. The collision of both flaming lava pillars is eclipsed by your form speeding through the air toward Jack. He holds up one arm like a boxer to block and his skin hardens with Earth Chi. You refuse to abandon your assault, spinning your speed into a punch that crunches into his neck. <<var $dmg + 1>>\ <<else>>\ The lava catches you first, burning your body from both directions. <<if ($eblocktech isnot "")>>\ ''[$eblocktech Activated, Damage Reduced]'' <<woundcheck 1 false false>>\ <<else>>\ <<woundcheck 2 false false>>\ <</if>>\ "Too slow!" Jack shouts, but through the pain you hear his voice grow close. You ignore the agony, shift your stance on the rock, and prepare. When his arm comes through the magma rising around you, you hit him with a wide kick in the ribs. The blow catches him off-guard, cleanly slamming his center-mass, and you follow up with a strike to his neck. <</if>>\ <</if>>\ #Cover your body in a layer of protective chi to catch both blasts. You press your spiritual energy through every inch of your body, wrapping yourself in a distracting but flexible barrier of chi. <<if ($style is "Kiihakai")>>\ ''[Kiihakai Event: Automatic Success]'' Your Mystic Chi handles the calculations and concentration for you. Your $auracolor aura catches the lava and wraps around it, allowing you to launch the geysers back at Jack. "Oh fuck off." Jack shouts, leaping overhead to avoid the energy attack wrapping the bone-melting magma in $auracolor chi. You flick two fingers up at an angle and the energy attack responds, changing directions. "OH FUCK OFF!" Jack shouts louder as he's struck with the 5 ton weight of the melted rock along with your energy blast. <<var $dmg + 2>>\ <<else>>\ <<var $combatstat "soul">>\ <<var $combatskill "craft">>\ <<discount "Aoyusumu" $stylerank>>\ <<discount "Wind" 1>>\ <<discount "Earth" 1>>\ <<discount "Fire" 3>>\ <<discount "Water" 2>>\ <<discount "Ice" 2>>\ <<if ($ironbody is true)>>\ ''[Iron Body: +2 Battle Prowess]'' <<var $cmod + 2>>\ <</if>>\ <<combatcheck (13-$jackdiff)>>\ <<if ($passcheck is true)>>\ You catch the magma in both hands and extract the Fire Chi out of it, using the Gate's energies to fuel a powered up double-handed beam of energy you launch at Jack. The attack slams into his guard, a forceful wave of Wild Chi, but the rock beneath his feet explodes. With his footing gone, your attack breaks through his defense and explodes against his body. <<var $dmg + 1>>\ <<else>>\ The lava overpowers your barrier attempt, burning your body from both directions. <<if ($eblocktech isnot "")>>\ ''[$eblocktech Activated, Damage Reduced]'' <<woundcheck 1 false false>>\ <<else>>\ <<woundcheck 2 false false>>\ <</if>>\ "Too slow!" Jack shouts, but through the pain you hear his voice grow close. You ignore the agony, shift your stance on the rock, and prepare. When his arm comes through the magma rising around you, you hit him with a wide kick in the ribs. The blow catches him off-guard, cleanly slamming his center-mass, and you follow up with a strike to his neck. <</if>>\ <</if>>\ <<page "Continue" "ch8dragon-jack-chargingfist">>\ #use-if ((($element1 is "Ice") or ($element2 is "Ice")) and ((($chipool + ($soul / 2)) - $chispent) gte 1)) Freeze the pillars. [Requires Ice, Costs 1 Chi] Ice Chi explodes out of your body like a blast of mist in all directions. The magma flashfreezes into ice pillars before colliding into you, shattering. Jack cocks an eyebrow, glaring at the obscuring mist made from thousands of ice shards erupting around you. Then he throws both hands up to guard when those ice shards fly at him. ''[1 Chi Spent]'' <<var $chispent + 1>>\ <<apboost 4>>\ You stream slams into him with so many projectiles that by the end the obscured mist of shattered ice isn't around you, it's around him. <<var $dmg + 1>>\ <<if ($power gte 8)>>\ ''[Power 8 Check Passed]'' <<var $dmg + 1>>\ <</if>>\ <<page "Continue" "ch8dragon-jack-chargingfist">>\ <</choose>>

You gather on board your flagship and stare across the docks where hundreds of contestants solicit their travel. Among them, the Thunderfall Sect boards an Imperial transport vessel. Jin and Rin go with them, weary of their previous tormentors, though oddly Jack isn't with them. He's already pressed ahead and standing at the helm of the ship. Infuriatingly, his eyes don't meet yours. His gaze is instead cast across the dock at a different vessel entirely: <<if (dig($metjahi, 2) gte 3)>>\ A junkship with a throne atop its helm. You shudder when recognizing the design, although this throne is wood rather than azure crystal. Atop the throne sits Jahi, member of the Top Five and an Akuma Lord here to do far more than just fight in a Trial. As much as you'd love to warn the authorities about the cultist in their midst, you'd suffer a death sentence for freeing <<if ($heshe is "he")>>\ her \ <<else>>\ him \ <</if>>\ into this world. Your poor life choices are many. Jack grins and drags his thumb across his throat when staring Jahi down. Jahi \ <<if ($heshe is "he")>>\ blows him a kiss. <<else>>\ beckons him to come closer. <</if>>\ <<else>>\ A white birch junkship with a masked clown at its head, though 'jester' is a more accurate term. His clothes are multi-colored stripes with plumed shoulders and a white porcelain smiling mask over his face. You recognize the mysterious clown by his description, and his status. Lost Jester, a member of the Top Five. <<if ($portraitpics is true)>>\ <<image "https://www.auraclash.com/assets/images/lost-jester.jpg">>\ <</if>>\ Jack grins and drags his thumb across his throat when staring the clown down. The clown silently mimics his action at the same time it happens, as if predicting every detail. <</if>>\ <<if ($ruthless gt 50)>>\ ''[Compassion Check Failed]'' You have to manually unset your jaw from grinding your teeth. If they want to ignore you, they'll learn their mistake when it's already too late. <<else>>\ ''[Compassion Check Passed]'' You don't like the idea of working with either of them, and you won't, but if the Top Five are actively against each other...you could use that. <<var $trialdeets + 1000000000>>\ <</if>>\ <<if ($leavetype isnot "")>>\ <<page "Continue" "ch8dragon-journey-fast">>\ <<else>>\ <<page "Continue" "ch8dragon-journey-solo">>\ <</if>>\

Sectmaster Hawthorne stays behind while you take his Disciples on board your ship. The waters are choppy due to the bad weather that narrowly missed Nanhou, but the turbulent clouds have already retreated north. No ship-tossing waves for now, just a gloomy sky in the aftermath of a distant storm. "Fullest speed ahead!" Tian Fang shouts, standing on the balcony of your flagship's upper platform. <<var $txt "Several crewmen are knocked to their feet and hold on for dear life, but you keep steady and grin victoriously at the distant Imperial ships transporting the other contestants.">>\ <<if ($leavetype is "spell")>>\ "Gladly." You say, holding both arms out with a glow of $auracolor. <<var $score_mystic + 2>>\ The Mountain Hazard Disciples look on in awe as your living Mystic Chi rushes out of your body and wraps around your ship, digging into the etches burned in by Desdemona's ritual she'd cast to increase your speed last time. ''[1 Chi Spent]'' <<var $chispent + 1>>\ Your entire ship covers itself in $auracolor sigils and blasts off through the waves. $txt <<elseif ($leavetype is "wind")>>\ "Gladly." You say, surging your body with the howling Wind Chi pulled from the unimpeded horizon. "Hold onto something!" <<var $score_mystic + 1>>\ ''[$val Chi Spent]'' <<var $chispent + $val>>\ Both your hands rush forward and don't only strike Wind Chi into your sails, but ''change the Wind Current of the skies'', keeping a steady stream of wind at your backs. It catches your sail in an instant, rocking you forward through the waves. $txt <<elseif ($leavetype is "water")>>\ "Gladly." You say, dropping your arms low and you palms forward. Your body radiates with Water Chi and you spiritually grip its physical component in the sea all around. <<var $score_wild + 1>>\ <<var $score_bladed + 1>>\ ''[$val Chi Spent]'' <<var $chispent + $val>>\ Both your hands drag against the ground in a forward uplifting motion. You don't only push the water under your ship, but ''change the upper current of the sea'', keeping a steady force of motion at your backs. Your ship rocks forward in an instant. $txt <<elseif ($leavetype is "ship")>>\ "You heard her, men!" You reply, giving a victorious grin to the forty Imperial ships in the distance. The Mountain Hazard Disciples look in awe as your men finish rigging and drawing the secondary and tertiary sails. You gain speed and pass the Imperial fleet at a steady pace, losing sight of them in just under an hour. <<var $score_sacred + 1>>\ <</if>>\ Your speed leaves them in the dust. ''[Prestige Increased]'' <<var $prestige + 1>>\ Or the droplets. Whatever the expression is when you're at sea. You don't know. You're not from around here. <<page "Continue" "ch8dragon-journey-fast2">>\

<<if (($heshe is "he") and ($fangromance gte 1))>>\ Your crew and the Mountain Hazard Disciples intermingle well enough, so you take some time away to get rest yourself. If the island's chi is worth cycling, and you're to arrive before the Trial in the morning, then you'll need your sleep now to have time to cycle tonight. Retreating to your unlit cabin for the evening, you curl into bed, close your eyes, and wrap up in your fluffy fur blanket. ... ... ... You don't own a fur blanket. A feminine voice whispers in your ear. "Tian Fang did not know you were such an eager snuggler." "Ancestors." You blurt out, letting go of her hair, ears, and tail. "I didn't even see you in the dark. I'll get-" "Return your hands post-haste!" She barks, latching onto you with her arms and legs. "Tian Fang will have her snuggles!" <<choose "ch8dragon-journey-snuggin">> #Pull her closer. [Seduction] #"Not now, I have a headache." "Not now." You say. "I have a headache." "Hmph!" Fang blurts out, pulling your pillow in to hug that instead. "Fine then, Tian Fang has a headache too!" "Whatever." You turn over and try to get some real rest. She hits you with the pillow. <<var $fangromance - 2>>\ <<var $forexp + 1>>\ <<var $solexp + 1>>\ <<var $agiexp + 1>>\ <<var $powexp + 1>>\ <<page "Get some rest before heading above deck." "ch8dragon-journey-isittrue">>\ #Throw her out the window <<var $fangrep - 3>>\ You softly turn over and place your hands on her hips. "Yay." She whispers into your ear. "No." You whisper back, lifting her by the hips and chucking her out the Captain's Cabin window. "NONONONOOOOOOOOO!!!!" She screams, crashing into the sea below. She climbs up a minute later, shaking the water off her hair so it gets a wet dog smell all over the ship. <<var $val 61>>\ <<page "Continue" "ch8dragon-journey-isittrue">>\ <</choose>> <<else>>\ <<include "ch8dragon-journey-isittrue">>\ <</if>>\

<<if ($val is 81)>>\ After chasing her around the cabin with a slipper and angrily getting your clothes back on, you and Fang both make it out of your Captain's Cabin. You show up with damn-near frostbite over your upper half and she shows up with a slipper-shaped slap mark on one side of her face. Calling a truce, you make your way over to where your retainers have been sharing stories with Mountain Hazard. <<elseif ($val is 91)>>\ After things calm down, you both wander to where the rest of your crew has been sharing stories with Mountain Hazard. <<elseif ($val is 71)>>\ The two of you return to the crew and find several gathered, chatting casually on the upper platform where they would have heard ''everything''. You ponder which of your retainers suggested the idea. <<elseif ($val is 61)>>\ Eventually you awake from your nap and find your retainers above deck, speaking with Mountain Hazard disciples. <<var $forexp + 1>>\ <<var $solexp + 1>>\ <<var $agiexp + 1>>\ <<var $powexp + 1>>\ <</if>>\ "Is it true you destroyed a Demon King? By yourself, no less?" Asks one of the Mountain Hazard Disciples, gathered around a fire on the upper platform when the sun sets. It's fortunate he's here, too, because \ <<if (($element1 is "Fire") or ($element2 is "Fire"))>>\ you don't want to maintain the Fire with your Chi and he's the only other Fire Artist on board who can keep it from burning your ship. <<else>>\ he's a Fire Artist keeping the campfire from burning down your ship. <</if>>\ The crewmen appreciate the rare nighttime warmth. ''[Retainer Morale Increased]'' <<var $retainer_morale + 3>>\ Another Mountain Hazard Disciple speaks up. "No, I heard it was Jack, and they fought over its remains." \ Tian Fang shakes her head at them both while roasting a fish over the fire. "You are both most terribly incorrect! It was \ <<if ($style is "Midorikatai")>>\ an ugly bald man!" <<if (dig($mettaio, 1) gte 6)>>\ //Subjective.// Whispers the ugly bald man, Taio the Scholar, from within your soul where his ghost has been lving. <</if>>\ "That's..." You watch Tian Fang's white fish crumble into the fire. You need to roast whitefish on a pan. "Fine, yes, he was bald, but that wasn't the main point. It was a demonic cultist. \ <<else>>\ an evil red cloud god!" <<if (dig($mettaio, 1) gte 6)>>\ //How flattering.// Whispers the 'evil red cloud god', Taio the Scholar, from within your soul where his ghost has been lving. <</if>>\ "That's..." You watch Tian Fang's white fish crumble into the fire. You need to roast whitefish on a pan. "None of that is true. It was a demonic cultist. \ <</if>>\ A strong one, but it's true that I did \ <<if ($ruthless gte 60)>>\ kill \ <<else>>\ beat \ <</if>>\ him for ravaging Ebikowa and destroying its Sect. Most of my crew comes from there, actually." You lean over the edge and look down to one of your crewmen monitoring the waves. "Hey!" You meant to call him up to join the fire, but his response confuses you. "You see it too, Honored $patriarch? I knew your keen eyes would!" Huh? You look past him and over the horizon, seeing something just over the waves. "Oh!" Tian Fang yells, looking over your shoulder. "Land most certainly is ho!" Murmurs break out among the crew. <<page "Guarded Blossom..." "ch8dragon-guardedblossom">>\

<<if ($val2 isnot 91919)>>\ Your youthful hormones speak for you, overriding any level of rational thinking. "I can-I have, uh, there's plenty of chi. Buckets worth. I've got //buckets// of chi. Do you want...my chi bucket?" Well, there goes your self-worth. Hopefully someone kills you in this Trial. <</if>>\ "No!" She yells. "Tian Fang would never want to drain the success out of your body like some evil fox spirit! She is no fox! She is a wolf! Man's best friend! She will ensure you make it to the Trial at top shape!" <<if ($race is "Kitsune")>>\ "First of all." You say, swishing your two fox spirit tails behind you. "Hurtful." <<else>>\ You look down at your pants struggling to stay alive through the pressure she's coerced into them. You are already at top shape. <</if>>\ <<var $fangromance + 1>>\ <<var $fangrep + 3>>\ She leaps out of bed, throws her battle robes back on, and opens the door to let the colder wind into the room. "Come, we must return to the Disciples, as if nothing had happened!" "Nothing //did// happen." You groan out, much to your dismay. "Then it is a great success!" Tian Fang places both fists on her sides and poses. "Saved by the Fang! Hmph!" She crosses her arms and bats her eyelashes. "You are most welcome." "Don't turn me down and then look at me like that." You say as she practically undresses the rest of you with her eyes. "Like what?" She begs innocently. "LIKE THAT!" You shout, throwing a pillow at her face. Direct hit. <<var $val 71>>\ <<page "Head above deck." "ch8dragon-journey-isittrue">>\

The two of you cuddle on the bed together, holding each other closely. What starts as warm and comforting hugs, soft and relaxing in your arms, slowly turns into something less innocent as you both explore how deep the spark between you has become. Your arms reach down behind her to find a much better grip than just her tail, squeezing her assets as she caresses your chest with one hand and runs the other between your neck and your abs. Somehow, quickly, both of your shirts end up on the floor. Playfulness turns to passion, growing hotter, when Tian Fang pulls back. "Wait!" She shouts out, jumping to her feet on your bed and hitting her head on the low ceiling. "Ow!" She yelps, rubbing her ear in pain. "Ow ow owww-we cannot do this! \ <<if (dig($compquest1, 5) gte 3)>>\ We cannot be...//dual cultivating//...in the middle of a Trial! Such \ <<else>>\ My mother has insisted I hold no such contact with men until I have finished the third trial! Besides, she has warned me that such \ <</if>>\ actions would spend your vital chi!" <<if (dig($compquest1, 5) gte 3)>>\ <<choose "ch8dragon-journey-isittrue">> #"Good, let's spend it all." <<var $honor - 2>>\ <<if (($persuasion gte 2) and ($fangrep gte 52))>>\ "Good." You reply. "Let's spend it all." Tian Fang bites her index finger with one fang, looking from you to the door, torn between her desire to be good and her desire to be very, very bad. ''[Persuasion 2 Check Passed]'' ''[Tian Fang Reputation Check Passed]'' <<if ($smut is true)>>\ She leaps onto your lap with the perfected physical aim and flexibility of a Martial Artist, mounting you with reckless abandon and pressing her mouth against yours. Her white hair covers your face until she pulls away, panting, gazing into your eyes. "You will be good to Tian Fang, yes?" She begs, lowering her head with a quiver of her lips. "You will be gentle with her?" "No." You grab onto her swaying chest with one hand and secure her hips with the other. She yelps in surprise when you flip her over in the bed, then shifts her expression to an eager smile when you press into her again. <<else>>\ She runs back to you with a joyful squeel, lips meeting yours while she climbs into your lap. <</if>>\ Neither of you get the rest you wanted for the next two hours, and you couldn't be happier. ''[2 Power Cores Spent]'' ''[2 Fortitude Cores Spent]'' ''[2 Agility Cores Spent]'' ''[2 Soul Sores Spent]'' ''[2 Chi Spent]'' <<var $powspent + 2>>\ <<var $forspent + 2>>\ <<var $agispent + 2>>\ <<var $solspent + 2>>\ <<var $chispent + 2>>\ <<apboost 10>>\ <<page "Continue" "ch8dragon-journey-snuggin2">>\ <<elseif ($persuasion lt 2)>>\ Hmmm, she seems to want this as badly as you do, but she's trying to call it off for your sake. Therefor, all you have to do is reassure her. Yeah, that's it. You'll just talk smoothly instead of like an idiot. Ancestors be damned, you are a //genius//. ''[Persuasion 2 Check Failed]'' <<include "ch8dragon-journey-ramblingman">>\ <<else>>\ "Good." You reply. "Spend it all." Fucking Hell, you are so smooth. ''[Tian Fang Reputation Check Failed] <<var $val2 91919>>\ <<include "ch8dragon-journey-ramblingman">>\ <</if>>\ #"Good point, that was a close call." <<var $honor + 3>>\ <<var $forexp + 3>>\ "Good point," You reply, calming yourself down. "That was a close call." Tian Fang nods her head rapidly while getting dressed. "Is it true that men require cold baths to alleviate such tensions?" "N-" She blasts you with a stream of Ice Chi. <<var $val 81>>\ <<page "Continue" "ch8dragon-journey-isittrue">>\ <</choose>> <<else>>\ ''[Event Check Failed: Tian Fang's Quest Not Completed]'' <<include "ch8dragon-journey-ramblingman">>\ <</if>>\

When you leave the cabin you find an awful lot of retainers and Mountain Hazard Disciples waiting right outside. You can't imagine why. "Fang." Says one of the Mountain Hazard Disciples. "I want you to know, I'm not going to report this to the Sectmaster." "That is most wise!" She goads on cheerily, crossing her arms with eyes closed and her head lifted to the side in confident smugness. "Because nothing happened." "But." The Disciple continues. "I do have to tell your mother. She'd disembowel me if she found out I hid it from her." Tian Fang gulps. "N-Nothing happened?" "We heard everything." The man replies. "You weren't quiet." "At all." Adds a Lunargoth Disciple. One of the other Wolf Yokai women among the Disciples shakes her head at Tian Fang in astonished disappointment. "You barked when he ordered you to." One of Fang's eyes pops open, her cheeks blushing when her gaze meets yours. "That was, rather, um, most assuredly the 'nothing' part of the nothing that happened." <<var $val 91>>\ <<page "Continue" "ch8dragon-journey-isittrue">>\

Choppy waves rock your ship your day-long journey to Guarded Blossom. The crew says it's a remnant from the storm that barely missed Nanhou, but luckily it's heading north. No ship-turning waves for now, though the sky certainly is gloomy in the aftermath. Still, its a journey you can enjoy from the comfort of your Captain's cabin. You were surprised they allowed you to take your own ships at all, but what surprised you most was that you weren't constrained to follow the Trial's fleet of ships. <<if (($flagshiptype is "transport") or ($flagshiptype is "junk"))>>\ ''[<<cap $flagshiptype>> Ship Event]'' You arrive at Guarded Blossom's shores at night, far ahead of the fleet, and are greeted by a single Imperial Clerk in the typical Bōgu mask. "This is not the designated arrival time." The Clerk announces to the rowboat you've taken to shore from your ship. "Are we late?" Mars asks. "We are early." Sum Yungai replies. "Indeed." The clerk confirms. "You may cycle the island's chi or rest for the next eight hours. Anything beyond that and I will be forced to report interference in your Trial." The Clerk takes four steps backwards and disappears into the shadows. Mars looks around, packing his oar into the boat. "Does anyone know if he meant the $patriarch, or all of us?" "Assume all." You answer, hopping out of the rowboat and pulling it to shore. "You rowers can cycle with me." You're pleased to find the local chi is mildly superior to Outer West, adding a boost of energy to your body, spirit, and mind. <<if ($mortallimits is true)>>\ ''[Regional Mortal Limits set to 1300AP]'' <<var $apregionmax 1300>>\ <</if>>\ ''[All Health, Chi, and Cores Restored]'' <<var $chispent 0>>\ <<var $powspent 0>>\ <<var $forspent 0>>\ <<var $solspent 0>>\ <<var $wounds 0>>\ <<var $agispent 0>>\ <<apboost 5>>\ ''[Retainer Strength +1]'' <<var $retainer_strength + 1>>\ The sun rises after hours of cycling and you release your aura of $auracolor chi. The Imperial fleet arrives not long after, with many ships passing your coast by and disappearing off either sides of the shore. "You guys should go back to the ship." You say to your retainers. "Yes, Honored $patriarch!" "Wait, we're not in the Trial?" "As you wish, Honored $patriarch!" "Did anyone bring booze or are we watching this Trial sober?" "Not in front of the $patriarch, you dolt!" You watch them depart with a disappointed shake of your head. <<var $val 1111>>\ <<page "Continue" "ch8dragon-guardedblossom-nocurve">>\ <<else>>\ ''[Transport Ship Event Failed]'' Multiple ships sail ahead with superior speed, taking off to seize a cycling opportunity, but yours isn't built for such speed. It can't get ahead of the Imperial fleet. You calmly breathe in the fresh air of the sea and pretend you're not jealous. <<page "Continue" "ch8dragon-guardedblossom-nocurve">>\ <</if>>\

<<if ($sparemedallions gt 0)>>\ <<var $gold - $sparemedallions>>\ ''[$sparemedallions Dragon Medallions Lost]'' <<var $sparemedallions 0>>\ <</if>>\ You wake up an hour later, still alive, to see the bright sky above you. It's unclear how you survived, but it seems someone didn't want you dying during the Heavenly Ascension Trials. <<if ($hourtimer gte 2)>>\ <<var $hourtimer - 1>>\ <<var $skipchat true>>\ <<page "Continue" "ch8dragon-finisharea">>\ <<else>>\ <<var $hourtimer 0>>\ Unfortunately, the Dragon Trial is all but over. When you glance around and send out your spiritual scans, all you can sense if the people gathering at the boats to exit the island. The stronger Aura Pressures are going the opposite direction, however, rushing up the mountain to an enormous tree that you certainly don't remember being there. If it's part of the Trials, and you just suffered a knockout, you're certainly not going to give up a chance to recover your score. Determined, you break into a sprint and- <<page "The ground shakes beneath your feet." "ch8dragon-phoenixfruit">>\ <</if>>\

<<var $loc "East">>\ Hm. When you'd heard other passing Martial Artists mention a crystal lake up ahead, you thought it would be a lake filled with crystals. Or perhaps a lake where the water is on top of a plentiful field of crystals. At a minimum, you expected them to have laid a trap for you, but no, they're not even here, and there's not a crystal in sight. This is just a regular, nice lake. A field surrounds it on all sides by roughly two-hundred feet and the woods around it seem peaceful. The lake itself goes on for quite a ways, offering a plentiful supply of fresh water. And yet...no crystals. You suspect it's an expression you haven't heard. You start to wonder how many other expressions people will use that you've never heard. Maybe you really //are// from the boonies... Your thoughts are distracted from slight movement out on the lake; objects bobbing further out in the water. The closer you look, the more familiar they seem, until you're certain on what they are... Bodies. <<page "Continue" "ch8dragon-lake2">>\

You rip the spirit jar off the man's neck, draw the proper sigils onto your own navel, and break the spirit jar while cycling. The spirit releases from the Spirit Jar like a powder mist of Emerald Chi, rushing in all directions, until it's dragged into your center. It flows and ebbs in place for a moment, resisting, before sliding into your Core. When it enters your body it reverses your chi channels and presses inward, invading your soul in a sudden battle of control. <<var $combatstat "soul">>\ <<var $combatskill "insight">>\ <<discount "Kiihakai" $stylerank>>\ <<discount "Oni" 2>>\ <<if ($countersealritual isnot 100)>>\ ''[Counterseal Event: +2 Battle Prowess]'' <<var $cmod + 2>>\ <</if>>\ <<combatcheck 12>>\ <<if (($passcheck is true) or ((($element1 is "Wind") or ($element2 is "Wind")) or ($style is "Akakiru")))>>\ <<if ($element1 is "Wind")>>\ ''[Wind Synergy: Automatic Success]'' <<elseif ($element2 is "Wind")>>\ ''[Wind Synergy: Automatic Success]'' <<elseif ($style is "Akakiru")>>\ ''[Akakiru Synergy: Automatic Success]'' <</if>>\ The spirit rages against you in both the physical and spiritual aspects. Its forceful winds try to rip your chi channels open and its spiritual power tries to repurpose your energy into movement, converting your chi to Wind essence. Both attempts fail. You quickly crush its will with the impression of your victory in battle, asserting your dominance in the spiritual between your objective superiority and the Seals that contain it drawn on your navel. As for the physical, you simply cycle harder than it can surge. The spirit is ripped away from its intended direction and dragged down into your Cores before you close off your chi channels and shut it into your center, trapped. ''[Ability Unlocked: Vessel Status]'' <<var $metvessel 30000000000>>\ The furious Wind Spirit's rages against you for forty-five minutes as you cycle upon the dragon medallion, undisturbed by its tantrum. <<var $displayer (0.10+($insight * 0.01))>>\ <<include "ch8dragon-checkbuffer">>\ <<page "Continue" "ch8dragon-lake-vessel">>\ <<else>>\ You realize your mistake too late. The spirit engorges itself on your energy and pushes through your body like a worm growing larger and larger. It forces its way into your Cores and pulls out your own energy to aid its possession. Your ability to resist it becomes a fuel for the creature, and your defenses falter. The spirits entire form tunnels into your Cores until they bulge, burst, and rupture your spirit. Your own soul and aura explode, killing you instantly, with only the spirit remaining inside the corpse that was once $fullname. A new Wight is born. <<include "death">>\ <</if>>\

When you finish you rise and charge up your aura, being pleased to find a rush of power added to your abilities. ''[Event: Fused with Bladed-Wind Spirit]'' <<var $val (20+($insight * 10))>>\ <<if ($race is "Oni")>>\ <<var $val + 20>>\ <<elseif ($race is "Kitsune")>>\ <<var $val - 10>>\ <</if>>\ ''[Aura Pressure + $val]'' <<var $aurapressure + $val>>\ ''[Insight +1]'' <<var $insight + 1>>\ <<if ($element1 is "Wind")>>\ <<var $element1rank + 1>>\ ''[Wind Mastery Improved]'' <<elseif ($element2 is "Wind")>>\ <<var $element2rank + 1>>\ ''[Wind Mastery Improved]'' <<elseif ($style is "Akakiru")>>\ <<var $stylerank + 1>>\ ''[Akakiru Mastery Improved]'' <</if>>\ <<if ($mortallimits is true)>>\ More importantly you can't believe how //free// your spirit feels. <<var $mortallimits false>>\ ''[Mortal Limits Removed]'' <<achieve "Unbound">>\ <</if>>\ You place your hands on both sides of the sigils that have now branded themselves onto your stomach. Pressing your will upon them, you form a link with the spirit residing in your soul. "How does it feel to have a new Master?" You ask, triumphant. <<if (dig($mettaio, 1) gte 6)>>\ //C-r-o-w-d-e-d.// The spirit whispers. //Silence, wind spirit.// Says Taio the Scholar. //We have no enthusiasm of your involvement in our host either.// <<if ($style is "Kiihakai")>>\ //Agreed.// Dreamdemona declares. //You are ruining my hair. Begone.// Taio the Bandit laughs. //Speak for yourselves, fools! //\ <<else>>\ Taio the Bandit laughs. //Speak for yourself, you lab-constrained fool. //\ <</if>>\ //I finally have wind I've desired for our ship's sails.// You wrinkle your brow in concern. "You guys have a whole ship in my soul?" //Is your memory so damaged by the constant skull trauma?// Taio the Bandit scoffs. //We sealed our oaths together aboard this very vessel.// Oh, the ship from your dream. Wait. "THAT'S STILL THERE?!" <<page "Continue" "ch8dragon-finisharea">>\ <<else>>\ //N-e-w M-a-s-t-e-r.// The spirit says, \ <<if (($element1 is "Wind") or ($element2 is "Wind"))>>\ sensing your Wind Chi alignment and expressing comradery. //F-r-i-e-n-d.// <<else>>\ //N-e-w f-r-i-e-n-d.// <</if>>\ "You \ <<if ($honor lt 45)>>\ fucking \ <</if>>\ liar." You say to the spirit trapped in your soul. "You tried to kill me and you know it. \ <<if ($honor lt 45)>>\ Try that shit again and I'll \ <<else>>\ Repeat that mistake and I will \ <</if>>\ turn you into a piece of jewelry \ <<if ($honor lt 45)>>\ that I drop into the sea. \ <<else>>\ and drop your ass in the sea. \ <</if>>\ Do you understand?" The spirit is silent for a moment, swirling to and fro within your Cores, before repeating. //F-r-i-e-n-d.// "Fine, fine." You say, leaving the lake before any witnesses decide to visit. "You'd best be as friendly as possible then. Or else." <<page "Continue" "ch8dragon-finisharea">>\ <</if>>\

//Do not.// Whispers Taio the Scholar. //Fusing with this spirit is-// ... "...Is what?" You ask. Taio is silent. "Oh wow." You rub your chin, pondering. "You're trying to tell me not to do it, but you can't, because you think it will aid my cultivation. You can't advise against it due to the Pact, can you?" A mental grinding of teeth fills your mind. //Your soul is crowded enough. Do not force this...cohabitation.// You try not to laugh at an evil blood cultivator clone's fear of roommates. You look over the spirit jar with greedy intentions and... <<include "ch8dragon-lake7">>\

You prepare to swim into the lake to retrieve the dead bodies of fellow contestants when a twig snaps far behind you. Turning around, you see a man stumble out of the woods on the other side of the long field. His unpainted armor and sword are covered in blood, his eyes glow emerald, and his gait has a strange limp to it. His head shoots up when he notices you, snapping to attention like a rabid predator. "Trial...OF THE DRAGON!" Screams the swordsman man. His stumbling-jaunt turns into a blood-crazed sprint, closing in fast. "TRRRIAL OF THE DRAGON!!!!" <<if ($portraitpics is true)>>\ <<image "https://www.auraclash.com/assets/images/wight.jpg">>\ <</if>>\ You raise your $auracolor aura to prepare for battle. "Uh oh, folks!" Announces Misuka the Performer's unseen orb from above. "It looks like we have contestants down! Who could be responsible between these two contenders? Let's watch their battle unfold to find out!" "What?!" You shout into the sky. "I just got here! And //look// at him!" "TTRRRRRRIIIIIIAAALLLL!!!" The man screams, frothing at the mouth while speeding across the sands in a blur of Wind Chi. "DRAGONNNN!!!!!" <<if ((((($equippedweapon is "Muramasa") or ($equippedweapon is "Shishido")) or ($equippedweapon is "Ikazuchi")) or ($equippedweapon is "Kagutsuchi")) or ($equippedweapon is "Godslayer"))>>\ <<var $weppy $equippedweapon>>\ <<else>>\ <<var $weppy ("your " + $equippedweapon)>>\ <</if>>\ An Agility Surge doubles his speed when he gets close, flashing in front of you with his sword slicing upward at your hip. <<choose "ch8dragon-lake3">> #Feint under his strike. You jerk your body at an upward angle away from his strike, then drop your knees at the last second to duck under his upward slash. <<var $combatstat "agility">>\ <<var $combatskill "stealth">>\ <<discount "Kurokonton" $stylerank>>\ <<discount "Wind" 1>>\ <<discount "Light" 2>>\ <<discount "Petite" 2>>\ <<discount "Manlet" 2>>\ <<discount "Cat" 1>>\ <<combatcheck 8>>\ <<if ($passcheck is true)>>\ You successfully drop your body just under the arc of his blade and rise with an uppercut. Your fist impacts the man in one of the few places where he's not armored. <<else>>\ So much pain fills your body that you don't even have the mental power to process the regret. When ducking, you miss your mark and suffer a slicing blade across the whole side of your body. Wind explodes out of both sides of the sword //while it's inside of you//, ripping your wound open. \ <<woundcheck 2 false false>>\ You scream, against your will, and grab the man's hands along the sword handle to stop the executing strike. With your other hand you deliver an uppercut to his chin, one of the few places not covered in armor. <</if>>\ #use-if ($equippedweapon isnot "") Block it with your $weppy. <<if ($equippedweapon is "Handwraps")>>\ You cross your fists and line up the studs of your handwraps, crashing your wrapped hands down against the sword and praying you don't miss. <<else>>\ In a flash you draw $weppy and clash your weapon against the charging man's glowing \ <<if ($equippedweapon is "Yumi")>>\ sword. Thousands back in Nanhou see you blocking a blade with a bow. Though you cannot see it, you receive a roaring set of booes. <<var $prestige - 1>>\ ''[Prestige Reduced]'' <<else>>\ sword. <</if>>\ <</if>>\ <<var $combatstat "fortitude">>\ <<var $weapontest true>>\ <<discount "Akakiru" $stylerank>>\ <<if ($equippedweapon is "Yumi")>>\ <<combatcheck 8>>\ <<else>>\ <<combatcheck 7>>\ <</if>>\ <<if ($passcheck is true)>>\ <<if (dig($weaponbonus, 3) gte 3)>>\ Sparks fly when steel meets \ <<if (dig($weaponbonus, 3) is 3)>>\ snowsteel \ <<else>>\ truegold \ <</if>>\ in a clash between $weppy and the raving man's blade. \ <<elseif (($equippedweapon is "Yumi") or ($equippedweapon is "Bo Staff"))>>\ <<cap $weppy>> catches the sword with a flourish of your hand. \ <<else>>\ Sparks fly when $weppy clashes against the man's sword. \ <</if>>\ You kick the man in the chest and knock him back, using $weppy to deflect his next strike and send his arm wide to open his guard. With a clear opening, you strike the man's only unarmored weak point: his chin. One clean uppercut crashes into his jaw with your offhand. <<else>>\ Wind explodes from his sword with enough power to knock your weapon away, opening your guard. "TRIAL OF THE DRAGOONNNNNN!!!!" The man screams, slicing his sword upward against your chest. Wind explodes out of both sides of the sword //while it's inside of you//, ripping your wound open. <<woundcheck 2 false false>>\ You scream, against your will, and grab the man's hands along the sword handle to stop the executing strike. With your other hand you deliver an uppercut to his chin, one of the few places not covered in armor. <</if>>\ #use-if (((($style is "Akakiru") or ($style is "Midorikatai")) or ($element1 is "Earth")) or ($element2 is "Earth")) Counter the strike with your bare hand. [Requires Akakiru, Earth, or Midorikatai] <<if ($style is "Akakiru")>>\ <<cap $auracolor>> chi vibrates over your hand in hundreds of slashes rotating around your skin. A chain of saw-like blades courses across your palm when you grab the man's blade, blocking it with a nonstop vibration of cutting force. <<else>>\ <<if ($style is "Midorikatai")>>\ Wild Chi \ <<else>>\ Earth Chi \ <</if>>\ triples the hardened force behind your skin and you catch the man's sword mid-swing. Wind explodes out from both sides of his blade to slice your skin open, but it fails to penetrate your stoneskin effect. <</if>>\ Then you uppercut him in the jaw. <</choose>>

His neck snaps backward, sending his head tilting so far backward that it touches his back. "Oh." You look behind you to the scrying orb that just witnessed your murder. "That was self defense!" <<if ($style is "Aoyusumu")>>\ ''[Aoyusumu Premonition: Danger!]'' <<var $val 223>>\ <<page "//!!!//" "ch8dragon-lake4">>\ <<elseif ($perception gte 2)>>\ ''[Perception 2 Check Passed]'' <<var $val 223>>\ <<page "//!!!//" "ch8dragon-lake4">>\ <<else>>\ ''[Perception 2 Check Failed]'' <<var $val 423>>\ <<page "???" "ch8dragon-lake4">>\ <</if>>\

"TRRRIAL OF THE DRAGON!!" The dead man screams. His flesh pulses with energy and heals itself, raising his head back to proper position in a Regeneration Technique. At the same time, his arm has already lunged his sword at your neck. <<if ($val is 223)>>\ ''[Event Passed: Sneak Attack Avoided!]'' You leap back just in time, blasting his chest with a rushed energy blast to push him away and offset his aim. "A close escape by $titlename!" Misuka shouts. \ <<else>>\ ''[Event Failed: Sneak Attack!]'' You leap back and block but \ <<if ($pblocktech isnot "")>>\ his blade stabs into the center of your hand, nearly taking off three fingers if not for your $pblocktech. <<else>>\ his blade cuts into your hand and nearly severs three fingers, digging into the nerves. <</if>>\ <<woundcheck 1 true false>>\ "A dangerous strike against $titlename!" Shouts Misuka's orb high above. \ <</if>>\ "But defense only brings you so far! Will ferocity win this match, or will the cooler head prevail? Let's find out!" <<if ($jadedragonfoundation is true)>>\ You curse and spit at the ground. The problem isn't that you're in danger, being the clearly superior fighter, but that you're unfulfilled with winning this bout in its current state. \ <<else>>\ Damn it, you don't even know why this fight is happening! \ <</if>>\ Normally someone brags about the situation when they attack you. Where in the world is the person who's supposed to be monologuing?! Is he late? Is he dead in the water back there? Has no one told this man he's supposed to arrogantly explain why he's attacking you?! ''"TRRRIAL OF THE DRAAAAGONNN!!!!"'' The madman screams, charging two hands worth of Wind Chi into his blade. Waves of power kick up the sand all around him and before it can even clear you see his emerald-glowing body launch into the air. All his power charges behind his blade, drawn back to swing a Wind Blast down upon you. <<var $trialofthedragon true>>\ <<choose "ch8dragon-lake5">> #Meet him mid-air for a beatdown brawl. You lean back into the sands and kick off with both feet, exploding a ring of sandcloud around your body when you burst into the sky. "I won't let you!" You shout, \ <<if (((((((((((((($equippedweapon is "Tanto")) or ($equippedweapon is "Katana")) or ($equippedweapon is "Muramasa")) or ($equippedweapon is "Greataxe")) or ($equippedweapon is "Qiang")) or ($equippedweapon is "Kunai")) or ($equippedweapon is "Jian")) or ($equippedweapon is "Iceblade")) or ($equippedweapon is "Chiblade")) or ($equippedweapon is "Kagutsuchi")) or ($equippedweapon is "Ikazuchi")) or ($equippedweapon is "Shishido")) or ($equippedweapon is "Godslayer"))>>\ slashing at the man with $weppy \ <<elseif ($equippedweapon is "Meteor Hammer") or ($equippedweapon is "Bo Staff")>>\ bludgeoning the man with $weppy \ <<else>>\ striking the man with your fist \ <</if>>\ before he can unleash his attack. <<var $combatstat "power">>\ <<var $combatskill "athletics">>\ <<discount "Midorikatai" $stylerank>>\ <<discount "Agile" 1>>\ <<discount "Legs" 1>>\ <<discount "Light" 1>>\ <<discount "Wind" 1>>\ <<discount "Storm" 1>>\ <<combatcheck 8>>\ <<if ($passcheck is true)>>\ <<var $apval 4>>\ <<else>>\ You fail. His energy attack slams into your back, sliding down your every muscle from your neck to your leg. It cuts into your flesh all the way down and rips your wounds open with Wind Chi. <<woundcheck 2 false false>>\ Yet you do not give up on your attack. <<var $apval 0>>\ <</if>>\ Your fist breaks through his abs and pushes inward, twisting into his gut. A $auracolor shines from inside the man's torso when you release an energy in his Cores. The explosion rips his aura away in a grand shattering, causing him to fall to the sands below in a rain of emerald light. #Blast him until he can't stay up. You charge $auracolor chi between both palms and draw them back, taking a wide stance to prepare a full energy beam that can counter the raving man's powerful swordblast. "Kaaaaa-" You chant in kiai, honing more power between your palms. "TRIIIIAALLLL!!" The man screams, beginning to descend with a glowing line of emerald light expanding around his sword. "Meeee-" You continue, pulling in more and more power from your Cores. "OF THE DRAGON!" The man suddenly shouts out, swinging his sword down in an overbearing blast. A line of emerald energy slashes down at you, as long and wide as the trees of the forest. “-Oh shit!” Forced to rush your power out, you grip the resistant energy between both palms and thrust it forward, opening the floodgates of your Cores to fuel a continuous beam of chi. <<var $combatstat "soul">>\ <<var $combatstat2 "power">>\ <<discount "Kiihakai" $stylerank>>\ <<discount "Fire" 2>>\ <<discount "Storm" 1>>\ <<discount "Wind" 1>>\ <<attack "Energy Ranged">>\ <<combatcheck 11>>\ <<if ($passcheck is true)>>\ <<var $apval 4>>\ Your beam breaks through his attack and pierces through his \ <<else>>\ In the last second you realize your attack is the weaker of the two. You shift your footing, moving your beam to the side, and press forward to lance it into your opponent. At the same time, his overbearing energy slash of Wind Chi crashes into your shoulder with a sickening crunch. <<woundcheck 2 false false>>\ Gritting your teeth gets you through the overwhelming pressure trying to force your arm down, or slice it clean off. You ignore the blood and push your energy further, forcing your beam to continue on. \ The gambit pays off. \ Your attack pierces through the man's \ <<var $apval 0>>\ <</if>>\ torso, exploding his Cores and aura in a single all-powerful execution that breaks his soul to shreds. His lifeless body falls to the ground in a rain of emerald light. #use-if ($equippedweapon is "Yumi") Shoot him in the head. [Requires Yumi] High above you, chaotically charging power through a cloud of sand, your insane opponent prepares some ultimate attack to cleave you in half. "No." You say calmly, pulling back the string of your bow and charging $auracolor energy through the wood of your arrow. ''*SHUNK*'' You let the arrow loose with a higher draw weight than most men can lift. It pierces through his helmet, through his forehead, and sticks into his skull while vibrating. Wood cannot hold chi for long. Your arrow explodes inside the man's head and fills his brain with shrapnel, killing him instantly. His aura shatters around him and he falls to the ground ungracefully in a rain of emerald light. #use-if (($style is "Akakiru") or ($style is "Kiihakai")) Sever the strings in his aura. [Requires Akakiru or Kiihakai] You notice something wrong about the man. His emerald aura has toughened lines of chi sticking into his flesh from all angles, like it's been nailed onto him. It doesn't seem natural, and that means it's not stable. Crossing both arms, you channel \ <<if ($style is "Akakiru")>>\ Bladed \ <<else>>\ Mystic \ <</if>>\ chi around the bottom of your forearms like a praying mantis. "TRIAL!" The crazed man screams, charging up more and more Wind Chi before finally falling and blasting it down at you in one massive slice of energy. "OF THE DRAGONNNN!!!!" You slash both forearms forward and unleash a cross-slash into the air. Two four-foot lines of chi form an X as they rush upward and break through the man's attack, striking him in scattering barrage. <<if ($style is "Akakiru")>>\ Your control over blades shatters the cross-slashing energy into hundreds of flying blades when they strike the man, sliding off his body and severing the hardened chi lines that connect his aura to his body. \ <<else>>\ Your Mystic Chi obeys your complex command, surrounding the man's body when it strikes him and singing every inch of his skin to separate any other chi from touching him. \ <</if>>\ His body slips out of his emerald aura like a weighted ball falling out of a glove. He crashes into the sand, out cold. Far above you both, his separated aura shatters into a rain of emerald light that harmlessly cascades onto the battlefield. <</choose>>

<<var $val 0>>\ <<if ($fightbonus isnot 0)>>\ <<var $val $fightbonus>>\ <</if>>\ <<if ($apval gt 0)>>\ <<apboost 5>>\ <</if>>\ <<if ($weight gte $chapter)>>\ <<var $weightcount + 1>>\ <<weightexp>>\ <</if>>\ <<if ($val gt 0)>>\ <<if (($mortallimits) and ($aurapressure gte $apregionmax))>>\ <<var $val (Math.round($val/2))>>\ <</if>>\ ''[Enemy Aura Pressure Absorbed: $val]'' <<var $aurapressure + $val>>\ <</if>>\ "An incredible display and total victory for $titlename!" Misuka shouts to the crowd behind her scrying orb back in Nanhou. "I've just received word the Bladed Lands has given bonus points for cleansing the land of a Wight. That answers that, folks! The armored contestant appears to have been a Vessel, but he just couldn't keep his spirit in check! Luckily such reckless endangerment couldn't stand up to the might of a potential future Archon!" ''[Prestige Increased]'' <<var $prestige + 2>>\ <<var $score_bladed + 3>>\ <<var $metvessel 20000000000>>\ The golden glow around Misuka's pink orb disappears and it zips by you, whispering \ <<if ($race is "Kitsune")>>\ "I knew you could do it." \ <<else>>\ "Good job." \ <</if>>\ before rushing off over the tree line to find other fights. <<page "Look over the defeated Wight." "ch8dragon-lake6">>\

You approach the man's body on the ground and find him to be very, very dead. By the looks of his skin, he's been dead for hours. <<if ($lore gte 3)>>\ ''[Lore 3 Check Passed]'' You've heard of Vessels before. You and Kosuke even discussed trying to become one. The idea is to seal a spirit into your Cores and allow it to grow alongside you, doubling your growth and increasing your power. <<if ($mortallimits is true)>>\ It's one of the few known ways to surpass Mortal Limits. <<else>>\ A dangerous gambit for power. <</if>>\ You search through the man's belongings to find any clues to how he handled such a power. <<else>>\ ''[Lore 3 Check Failed]'' You've no idea what a 'Vessel' is, but looking through his belongings provides some clues. <</if>>\ ''[Item Gained: Healing Elixir]'' <<var $healingelixir + 1>>\ ''[Item Gained: Low Grade Fortitude Pill]'' <<var $lgforpill + 1>>\ ''[Item Gained: 287 Silver]'' <<var $silver + 287>>\ There's something besides the physical. One item stands out above all: a tiny, oval-like jar held on an amulet around the man's neck. It's covered in overlapping seals that match the ones you find tattooed in circles around navel. Sealing sigils, all around his Cores. Using your spiritual senses, you're able to detect the tiniest fraction of chi coming from inside the jar. It matches the man's aura perfectly, or rather, what you thought was his aura. More importantly, it's alive. A spirit. Considering what Misuka said, what you fought was not the man but a spirit possessing him. Though you killed its essence that possessed the body, it seems a small fraction still lives inside the spirit-sealing jar on the man's amulet. If you could copy these sealing designs onto some paper, and use the jar as an anchor...you could replicate this power for yourself. If you can control it, this could be a huge boon. But if you can't... <<if (dig($mettaio, 1) gte 6)>>\ <<page "//Do not.//" "ch8dragon-lake-warning">>\ <<else>>\ <<include "ch8dragon-lake7">>\ <</if>>\

<<choose "ch8dragon-lake-fusing">> #Break the Spirit Jar to finish it off. This Wind Spirit has the ability to fuse with a host, which makes it an asset. Yet it also can overpower its host, driving them to madness and turning them into a rabid monster. That means its power cannot even be considered. It has to be destroyed. Charging $auracolor chi over your leg, you stomp on the Spirit Jar and finish off the last remnants of the dangerous spirit inside. Something so misguided from its original purpose cannot be allowed to exist, especially if it endangers humanity. <<var $honor + 5>>\ <<var $retainer_morale + 5>>\ <<var $score_sacred + 3>>\ <<var $score_mystic + 2>>\ Once that is taken care of, you swim the bodies out of the lake, bury them, and meditate on your dragon medallion. <<var $displayer (0.12+($insight * 0.01))>>\ <<include "ch8dragon-checkbuffer">>\ <<page "Continue" "ch8dragon-finisharea">>\ #Keep its Spirit Jar to sell on the black markets. You take the crystal out of the man's chest and pocket it for later. ''[Item Gained: Spirit Jar (Wind Vessel)]'' <<var $metvessel + 1000000000>>\ Afterwards you sit and meditate for the next forty-five minutes, channeling your dragon medallion. All the while you contemplate how fortunate you were to find such a risky but rare treasure. <<var $displayer (0.14+($insight * 0.01))>>\ <<include "ch8dragon-checkbuffer">>\ This spirit's ability to fuse with a host may have ended this\ <<if ($ruthless lt 35)>>\ poor \ <<elseif ($ruthless gte 65)>>\ foolish \ <</if>>\ man's life, but if it grants power to those who can control it then you can still find a buyer. These are the Heavenly Ascension Trials; plenty of desperate contestants are willing to risk their life for power. Hells, you just risked your life and you didn't even get any power. Heh. ...Heh. Actually, that pisses you off. <<var $ruthless + 2>>\ <<var $honor - 2>>\ You kick a tree on your way out. <<page "Continue" "ch8dragon-finisharea">>\ #Keep its Spirit Jar to possess one of your retainers. You toss the spirit into your pocket and smile at the idea of having such a powerful minion. ''[Item Gained: Spirit Jar (Wind Vessel)]'' <<var $metvessel + 2000000000>>\ Whoever you shove this spirit into will become your next grand champion. You consider Mars or Sum Yungai, or maybe even Kosuke, but decide against it. It's best to try a nameless minion considering the high chance of losing them. Sure, you can threaten to kill the Wind Spirit again if it turns your minion into a Wight, and you've proven you can, but this is a spirit you're talking about. Rational thought is not their forte. You sit and meditate over such thoughts while channeling power into your dragon medallion. <<var $ruthless + 4>>\ <<var $displayer (0.12+($insight * 0.01))>>\ <<include "ch8dragon-checkbuffer">>\ <<page "Continue" "ch8dragon-finisharea">>\ #show-if ((($element1 is "Wind") or ($element2 is "Wind")) or ($style is "Akakiru")) Become the spirit's new host. #show-if ((($element1 isnot "Wind") and ($element2 isnot "Wind")) and ($style isnot "Akakiru")) Become the spirit's new host. [Danger] <</choose>>

return to the procession of a thousand pink-glowing Martial Artists. Not long after, Misuka calls for everyone to dock their respective ships. Dozens of wealthier contestants sigh with relief when they learn they're allowed to take their own ships instead. Against the odds of your birth, you're among them. You almost laugh at the idea of your childhood-self seeing yourself now, preparing the sails of your own ship. //You//, the $background, being one of the richer Martial Artists that hundreds of other Warrior Caste are envying. Also, you're glowing pink. <<page "Travel to Guarded Blossom" "ch8dragon-journey">>\

Tremors rock the ground beneath your feet, shaking the entire island. Your eyes search over the tree line when you see it: \ <<if ($loc is "Central")>>\ Further up the mountain, \ <<else>>\ <<if ($loc is "East")>>\ To the west, \ <<elseif ($loc is "North")>>\ To the south, \ <<elseif ($loc is "West")>>\ To the east, \ <<else>>\ To the north, \ <</if>>\ at the center of the mountain, \ <</if>>\ a bright light shines around a tree growing before your very eyes. When it reaches one-hundred feet in height the light around the tree condenses, all moving to its top branch, where a single shining fruit manifests. <<if (dig($mettaio, 1) gte 6)>>\ //The World Tree.// Taio the Scholar says. //Go, now.// You scoff at the command. "How redundant, as I was going to run the other way without your advice." <<else>>\ You've never heard of or seen a World Tree, but you know it when you see it. Which means that fruit at its top is worth the final Dragon Trial point. <</if>>\ <<if ((($element1 is "Wind") and ($element1rank gte 2)) or (($element2 is "Wind") and ($element2rank gte 2)))>>\ You charge Wind Chi over yourself and blast off into the air, \ <<var $agiexp + 3>>\ <<else>>\ You lean back into a sprinter's stance and blast off into the nearby jungle, \ <</if>>\ charging toward the mountain's peek in a straight line of $auracolor energy. You're not the only one. Over a hundred auras flare around the island as anyone with a Warrior's spirit races for the same goal. <<page "Continue" "ch8dragon-phoenixfruit2">>\

<<if ((($element1 is "Wind") and ($element1rank gte 2)) or (($element2 is "Wind") and ($element2rank gte 2)))>>\ You soar over the tree line and pass over the competition faster than most, pushing yourself further and further with bursts of Wind Chi. As that same energy courses through your body in a chi-rich environment, you feel a deeper connection of how you could infuse it into your muscles for explosive power. <<apboost (4+($athletics*2))>>\ <<else>>\ You climb the mountain in unreasonably wide strides, kicking off with one leg at a time across bounds of one-hundred feet. <</if>>\ Your journey takes you over three Martial Artists in black gi, one swordsman running through the trees, and a shinobi leaping from branch to branch. You go faster and further, reaching a plateau with a better view of the summit when you see it: Someone's beaten you here, and they're fighting someone else. At the highest summit, on the other side of a forested valley splitting the mountain's multiple peaks, the World Tree glows bright scarlet. ''//"DEATH SPLINTER!!"//'' Calls Leona's voice from its top. Under her feet, the entire tree explodes into a cloud of millions of splinters covered in Bladed Chi. The cloud expands outward into a rotating sphere around her battlefield, locking her in with her opponent. Cursing, you dash ahead. It takes you fifty precious seconds to cross over the valley and ascend the new mountain peak. When you do, you come upon the swirling barrier of Bladed splinters that blocks all view of the battlefield within. Your objective is on the other side. <<choose "ch8dragon-phoenixfruit3">> #Walk through the swirling wall of blades unprotected. You walk through the wall of swirling splinters, each covered in sharpened blades of spiritual energy. <<var $combatstat "fortitude">>\ <<var $combatskill "survival">>\ <<discount "Akakiru" $stylerank>>\ <<discount "Earth" 1>>\ <<discount "Cat" 1>>\ <<discount "Ice" 1>>\ <<discount "Legs" 1>>\ <<discount "Agile" 1>>\ <<combatcheck 9>>\ <<if ($passcheck is true)>>\ Unscathed. Attacks of this level have no effect on your supernaturally hardened skin, no matter how many of them attack at once. You waltz through the thick wall of blades without injury and come out the other side. \ <<else>>\ Regret seeps into your mind as splinters pierce into your skin. Your entire left side, even the //inside of your ear//, is stabbed with damaging splinters that dig into your flesh. <<if ((($health + ($fortitude / 2)) - $wounds) gte 3)>>\ <<woundcheck 2 false false>>\ <<elseif ((($health + ($fortitude / 2)) - $wounds) gte 2)>>\ <<woundcheck 1 false false>>\ <<aploss 5>>\ <<else>>\ <<aploss 15>>\ <</if>>\ With rushed, pain-shrieking steps you rush through the attack's range and exhale sharply in relief when the onslaught ends. \ <</if>>\ #use-if ((((($element1 is "Ice") or ($element1 is "Earth")) or ($element2 is "Ice")) or ($element2 is "Earth")) or ($style is "Aoyusumu")) Shield yourself and walk through. [Requires Earth, Ice, or Aoyusumu] <<if (($element1 is "Ice") or ($element2 is "Ice"))>>\ A hardened layer of Ice forms over your body like a suit of armor. <<elseif (($element1 is "Earth") or ($element2 is "Earth"))>>\ A hardened layer of Earth forms over your body like a suit of armor. <<elseif (($styleswapper isnot "") and ($style is "Aoyusumu"))>>\ Your eightfold-wheel of Sacred Chi manifests behind your back and turns, clicking in place. In front of you, the swirling storm of blades freezes in a seven-foot section large enough to allow you to walk through unscathed. <<else>>\ Your Sacred Chi forms a flexible barrier around your body, like an invisible suit of armor. <</if>>\ Taking a deep breath, you leap through the barrier of the palace-sized sphere made entirely of swirling blades. Luckily, your will is strong enough to protect you. Your effect remains in place, you come out to the other side of the foot-wide barrier unscathed. <<apboost 3>>\ #use-if (((($element1 is "Wind") or ($element2 is "Wind")) or ($style is "Kiihakai")) or ($style is "Akakiru")) Form an opening in the bladestorm. [Requires Akakiru, Wind, or Kiihakai] With your control over \ <<if ($style is "Akakiru")>>\ Bladed Chi, \ <<elseif ($style is "Kiihakai")>>\ Chi Sorcery, \ <<else>>\ the wind, \ <</if>>\ you reach out to the swirling energy of this Technique and will it to stop long enough for you to leap through. <<apboost 3>>\ <</choose>>

The barrier closes behind you, and you witness the end of Leona's fight. With it, you nearly witness the end of her life. <<page "Continue" "ch8dragon-phoenixfruit3-2">>\

Leona lies on the ground before you, beaten and bloody. Her armor is chipped, a gouge runs across her chest, and burn marks cover her right hip and leg. "Leona?!" You shout, rushing to her. "What happened to you?" <<if ($heshe is "she")>>\ "Girl...we need to work on your timing." \ <<else>>\ "You're late...asshole." \ <</if>>\ She coughs out with blood. "You were supposed to find me first for our big fight." You hold her head up, feeling her aura fade. \ <<if ($honor lt 50)>>\ "I must have missed the invitation in the mail." "Ugghh this hurts too much to make jokes." \ <<else>>\ "You shouldn't talk, you're bleeding everywhere." "Typical weekday, right?" \ <</if>>\ She laughs in pain, interrupted when she has to rotate her head to barely stay awake. "Damn it all, I had a cocky speech ready and Disciples waiting in ambush." She winces while holding her side, keeping a broken rib in place. "That bitch ruined it. \ <<if ($leonaromance gte 2)>>\ The tension...would have been...so hot." <<else>>\ There's...too many...fucking people here." <</if>>\ She looks off to the side, frowns, and flutters her eyes closed. You lay her down and follow her gaze to your left, at the other side of her swirling Bladed barrier, where the World Tree fruit gets devoured in a single bite by a different woman. Sakura Nakamoto. <<page "Continue" "ch8dragon-phoenixfruit4">>\

<<if ($countedap gte 1400)>>\ <<var $score_dragon 7>>\ <<elseif ($countedap gte 1200)>>\ <<var $score_dragon (6+$dbonus)>>\ <<elseif ($countedap gte 1000)>>\ <<var $score_dragon (5+$dbonus)>>\ <<elseif ($countedap gte 800)>>\ <<var $score_dragon (4+$dbonus)>>\ <<elseif ($countedap gte 600)>>\ <<var $score_dragon (3+$dbonus)>>\ <<elseif ($countedap gte 400)>>\ <<var $score_dragon (2+$dbonus)>>\ <<elseif ($countedap gte 200)>>\ <<var $score_dragon (1+$dbonus)>>\ <<else>>\ <<var $score_dragon (0+$dbonus)>>\ <</if>>\ "That's eight points for me." Sakura says with a satisfying sigh, turning to notice you for the first time. "Thunderfaller? What...What are you doing here?" "Stopping y-" "You idiot!" She screams over your response, face growing red and eyes expanding in panic. "Y-YOU IDIOT! ''YOU FUCKING IDIOT!!'' WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE?!" She screeches in a mix of fear and anger, but you're not even staring at her unexpected tantrum. Your vision is encapsulated on the six-armed, bony, white-glowing figure hovering in the sky above her. Its head is twice as wide as the rest of its body, with golden patterns glowing along its skin and alien crab-like eyes. Above its crisscrossed legs hovers a tome, and one of its hands points straight up, where a line of chi tethers it to Leona's Death Splinter sphere of blades surrounding you all. It's keeping the Bladed barrier's effect going despite Leona's unconsciousness, and if your senses are right, it's doing it with Mystic Chi. Yet you sense Bladed Chi from the four-armed praying mantis of pure white chi with scarlet patterns to Sakura's right, bigger than Sakura herself. To her left you detect Wild Chi from the twelve-foot tall headless golem with gorilla-sized arms, glowing white with green patterns. <<if ($portraitpics is true)>>\ <<image "https://www.auraclash.com/assets/images/sakura-summons.jpg">>\ <</if>>\ "What the Hells is this?" You ask, "Sakura, what are these things?" Sakura huffs, gripping the bridge of her nose with a fist, then she looks up with her lips tight and her gaze hardened. "They're my summons from the dead Cathayan Style of Shiroyaksa. Happy? Because they'll be the last thing you ever see." "I don't know about that." You say, stepping in front of Leona and grasping the seriousness of the situation with your spiritual senses. "But these things are covered in the White Tiger's energy." <<page "You're an Akuma Lord." "ch8dragon-sakura">>\

<<if ($countedap gt ($aurapressure*$bonusapcount))>>\ <<var $countedap Math.round($aurapressure*$bonusapcount)>>\ <</if>>\ ''[$hourtimer Hours Remaining]'' ''[$countedap Aura Pressure Recorded]'' <<if ($countedap gte 1400)>>\ <<var $dscore 7>>\ <<elseif ($countedap gte 1200)>>\ <<var $dscore (6+$dbonus)>>\ <<elseif ($countedap gte 1000)>>\ <<var $dscore (5+$dbonus)>>\ <<elseif ($countedap gte 800)>>\ <<var $dscore (4+$dbonus)>>\ <<elseif ($countedap gte 600)>>\ <<var $dscore (3+$dbonus)>>\ <<elseif ($countedap gte 400)>>\ <<var $dscore (2+$dbonus)>>\ <<elseif ($countedap gte 200)>>\ <<var $dscore (1+$dbonus)>>\ <<else>>\ <<var $dscore (0+$dbonus)>>\ <</if>>\ ''[Dragon Score: $dscore/7 Points]'' <<choose "ch8dragon-village">> #use-once use-if ($hourtimer gte $stime) Investigate the southern abandoned fishing village. [$sdisplay] #use-once use-if ($hourtimer gte $stime) Enter a cavernous digsite on the southern side. [$sdisplay] -> "ch8dragon-cavern" #use-once use-if ($hourtimer gte $etime) Seek refuge at the eastern crystal lake. [$edisplay] -> "ch8dragon-lake" #use-once use-if ($hourtimer gte $etime) Travel the yellow cobblestone road through the eastern woods. [$edisplay] -> "ch8dragon-woods" #use-once use-if ($hourtimer gte 1) Bathe at the central hotsprings. [1 Hour] -> "ch8dragon-springs" #use-once use-if ($hourtimer gte 1) Climb the central slopes to the mountain shrine. [1 Hour] -> "ch8dragon-shrine" #use-once use-if ($hourtimer gte $wtime) Hunt the Beast in the western bamboo hills. [$wdisplay] -> "ch8dragon-beast" #use-once use-if ($hourtimer gte $wtime) Delve through the catacombs of the western graveyard. [$wdisplay] -> "ch8dragon-graveyard" #use-once use-if ($hourtimer gte $ntime) Follow the northern scent of cherry blossoms. [$ndisplay] -> "ch8dragon-cherry" #use-once use-if ($hourtimer gte $ntime) Visit the port town on the northern shore. [$ndisplay] -> "ch8dragon-port" #Find a safe location to meditate and increase your base score. [1 Hour] Instead of wandering out into the wilderness and risking a dangerous encounter, you simply remain where you are and focus your meditations into your Dragon Medallion. As in, the ''the goal of the Trial''. It's baffling how many distractions are involved in these events. When it comes down to it, all you're supposed to be doing is cycling to help an inefficient piece of jewelry measure your Aura Pressure better. You're not going to let anyone come between you and your success in that singular goal. <<var $displayer (0.25+($insight * 0.03))>>\ <<include "ch8dragon-checkbuffer">>\ <<page "Continue" "ch8dragon-finisharea">>\ #use-once Attack other contestants for their gold coins. [1 Hour] Hunting other contestants to steal their golden Dragon Medallions is a sport you're more than happy to try out. <<var $victims 2 + ($stealth*3)>>\ Unfortunately everyone involved is a Warrior Caste Martial Artist, but you understand it's a marathon and not a sprint. Avoiding attrition is a simple matter of outmaneuvering the strong so you can target the weak. Luckily that leaves plenty of targets. <<if ($stealth gte 1)>>\ ''[Stealth $stealth Check Passed]'' <</if>>\ <<if ($power gte 6)>>\ ''[Power 6 Check Passed]'' <<var $victims + 3>>\ <<else>>\ ''[Power 6 Check Failed]'' <</if>>\ <<if ($fortitude gte 6)>>\ ''[Fortitude 6 Check Passed]'' <<var $victims + 3>>\ <<else>>\ ''[Fortitude 6 Check Failed]'' <</if>>\ <<if ($agility gte 6)>>\ ''[Agility 6 Check Passed]'' <<var $victims + 3>>\ <<else>>\ ''[Agility 6 Check Failed]'' <</if>>\ <<if ($soul gte 6)>>\ ''[Soul 6 Check Passed]'' <<var $victims + 3>>\ <<else>>\ ''[Soul 6 Check Failed]'' <</if>>\ <<if (((($power+$fortitude)+$soul)+$agility) gte 28)>>\ <<var $victims + Math.round((((($power+$fortitude)+$soul)+$agility)/2) - 12)>>\ <</if>>\ Through a flurry of fights, you manage to rack up $victims medallions and leave just as many defeated weaklings crying at their bases. The problem is, you don't only want the ones who have made established bases. You check the shores as well, scanning for any hiding among the many abandoned fishing huts. <<if ($insight gte 2)>>\ ''[Insight $insight Check Passed]'' <<var $victims + ($insight * 2)>>\ <<else>>\ ''[Insight 2 Check Failed]'' <</if>>\ You check the jungles, searching through the distracting bamboo. <<if ($perception gte 2)>>\ ''[Perception $perception Check Passed]'' <<var $victims + ($perception * 2)>>\ <<else>>\ ''[Perception 2 Check Failed]'' <</if>>\ You check the mountains, traversing the hidden caves to find the outdoorsmen using them as cover. <<if ($survival gte 2)>>\ ''[Survival $survival Check Passed]'' <<var $victims + ($survival * 2)>>\ <<else>>\ ''[Survival 2 Check Failed]'' <</if>>\ In total you leave a path of misery behind as you crush the future of $victims contestants to gain just as much gold. ''[Infamy Increased]'' <<var $infamy Math.round($victims/4)>>\ ''[Item Gained: $victims Gold]'' <<var $gold + $victims>>\ <<var $sparemedallions + $victims>>\ It does shit for your Dragon Medallion though. Easy as it was, that was a //lot// of fighting. <<if ($fightbonus gt 0)>>\ ''[Enemy Aura Pressure Absorbed: $fightbonus]'' <<var $aurapressure + $fightbonus>>\ <</if>>\ <<var $displayer (0.05+($athletics * 0.01))>>\ <<var $skipchat true>>\ <<include "ch8dragon-checkbuffer">>\ <<page "Continue" "ch8dragon-finisharea">>\ <</choose>>

Travelling down the \ <<if (($loc is "Central") or ($loc is "South"))>>\ path from the mountain, \ <<elseif ($loc is "West") or ($loc is "East")>>\ dirt roads from the $loc, one small three-foot hill above the sands of the coast, \ <<elseif ($loc is "North")>>\ hilly paths from the cherry blossom fields, \ <</if>>\ you come in sight of the abandoned trade settlement of Guarded Blossom. <<var $loc "North">>\ An impressive nine-foot wall of grey brick surrounds a small, compact, grid-like system of streets, four by four, inside the abandoned town. Shop signs can be seen nailed to several stores, homes sit intact save for their windows and an occasional roof, and abandoned fishing huts line the outside of the walls. With the exception of one Beast-sized hole in the coastal seawall, it looks like a fine and defensible location. You suppose that's why there are ten Martial Artists using it as one. <<page "Continue" "ch8dragon-port2">>\

"But there are ten of us!" The blue-haired \ <<if (dig($metsta, 1) is 1)>>\ woman's eyes widen and she raises her \ <<else>>\ man's eyes widen and he raises his \ <</if>>\ bow at you. "You couldn't possibly intend to-" The ground explodes beneath your feet when you take off, leaping at them all in an explosion of $auracolor energy. "I AM HERE ''TO CONQUER!''" <<page "Continue" "ch8dragon-port-attackbow2">>\

<<var $enemiesgained + 10000000000>>\ <<var $ruthless + 4>>\ You blast forward in multiple speed-boosting bursts of $auracolor chi, charging at the Martial Artists atop the village wall. "Fire!" The blue-haired archer screams in panic. "Fire! Fire! Fire!" <<var $successsta false>>\ <<var $combatstat "power">>\ <<var $combatstat2 "fortitude">>\ <<discount "Midorikatai" $stylerank>>\ <<discount "Muscular" 1>>\ <<discount "Bovine" 1>>\ <<discount "Earth" 1>>\ <<discount "Fire" 1>>\ <<discount "Wind" 1>>\ <<attack "Energy Melee">>\ <<combatcheck 13>>\ <<if ($passcheck is true)>>\ Their arrows and energy blasts bounce off your skin when you charge through, grinning like a devil. <<var $successsta true>>\ <<else>>\ Their arrows and energy blasts fly like a volley of death, launching across the battlefield while you close in. They stab through your skin and singe your flesh in a constant rain of damage. <<woundcheck 1 true false>>\ <<woundcheck 1 false true>>\ But they don't slow you down. <</if>>\ The Steel Thread Alliance breaks into screams of horror when you appear through the smoke of their attacks in a magnificent $auracolor glow. Your fist crashes down on their center in a nova of force wrapped around your fist, exploding into the blue-haired archer so hard that it destroys the wall under all their feet. <<if (($successsta) and ($fightbonus gte 1))>>\ <<apboost $fightbonus>>\ <<elseif ($successsta is true)>>\ <<apboost 1>>\ <</if>>\ ''[Item Gained: 7 Gold]'' <<var $gold + 7>>\ <<var $sparemedallions + 7>>\ "A blazing barrage of brute force!" Misuka the Performer shouts from a scrying orb overhead while you swipe the losers' medallions. "That's the kind of high-impact unquestionable violence you've all come to see, folks! $titlename has just wiped out the Steel Thread Alliance in a single blow! So much for the unity of the weak, once again shattered by the iron fist of the strong!" ''[Infamy Increased]'' <<var $infamy + 1>>\ Ah. Shit. Witnesses. <<page "Continue" "ch8dragon-port-attackbow3">>\

"I know what you're all thinking back in the stadiums!" The pink, hovering scrying orb vibrates up and down with golden chi as Misuka speaks through it. "The young $titletype has the bloodlust to win the fight, but does $heshe have the speed to catch the stragglers before they can escape to their allies? Let's find out!" You wonder what the Hells she's talking about when you notice three trailing lines of light going in different directions down the coasts. Surged Agility Cores. You didn't get them all! Worse, they're escaping! <<var $combatstat "agility">>\ <<var $combatskill "athletics">>\ <<discount "Kurokonton" $stylerank>>\ <<discount "Wind" 1>>\ <<discount "Cat" 1>>\ <<discount "Legs" 1>>\ <<discount "Agile" 1>>\ <<combatcheck 7>>\ <<if ($passcheck is true)>>\ You blast across the sands like a shooting star. The two Martial Artists fleeing look over their shoulder just in time to scream. One prepares an energy blast, to no avail. You double your speed and crash into the back of their necks with swift neckchops. ''[Item Gained: 2 Gold]'' <<var $gold + 2>>\ <<var $sparemedallions + 2>>\ <<var $combatstat "agility">>\ <<var $combatskill "athletics">>\ <<discount "Kurokonton" $stylerank>>\ <<discount "Wind" 1>>\ <<discount "Cat" 1>>\ <<discount "Legs" 1>>\ <<discount "Agile" 1>>\ <<combatcheck 9>>\ <<if ($passcheck is true)>>\ The second you swipe their medallions you shift course, skidding to a halt and blasting back the other way. The last Martial Artist manages to form a fist of Earth Chi and swing a punch at you, but the gap in your combat speed is wider than the gap in your running speed. You duck the blow and turn the motion into a rising uppercut that launches him into the sea. ''[Item Gained: 1 Gold]'' <<var $gold + 1>>\ <<var $sparemedallions + 1>>\ "A total knockout victory!" Misuka cheers through her orb. "But what more did you expect from one of the rising stars of Thunderfall?" You recall that her Technique is transmitting your image across an entire stadium arena and raise a victorious fist into the air. ''[Prestige Increased]'' <<var $prestige + 1>>\ <<else>>\ You swipe both of their medallions and-shit, you dropped one. Damn it, where did it go? ''*SPLASH*'' A wave crashes over you, pulling the Dragon Medallion out to sea. Seeing the glint off the sunlight, you dive in and catch it, but when you pull yourself out of the water you're soaked and Misuka's scrying orb is nowhere to be seen in the sky. It seems your display was less than graceful. <</if>>\ <<else>>\ You sprint across the sands and sink your foot too far into the ground. Unfamiliar with the soil type, you trip and faceplant into the sands. "Oh...kay." Misuka says through her scrying orb. "Let's move on! Never fear, my adoring crowd, there's plenty more action elsewhere!" ''[Prestige Lost]'' <<var $prestige - 1>>\ You inernally curse the very idea of running. First the Rabbit Trial, now this shit. <</if>>\ <<page "Continue" "ch8dragon-port-attackbow4">>\

When the scrying orb departs, you rest at the now truly abandoned town and meditate to charge your Dragon Medallion. <<if ($successsta is true)>>\ <<var $displayer (0.18+($insight * 0.01))>>\ <<else>>\ <<var $displayer (0.1+($insight * 0.01))>>\ <</if>>\ <<include "ch8dragon-checkbuffer">>\ <<var $dwitness true>>\ <<if ((($element1 is "Light") or ($element2 is "Light")) or (($soul + $perception) gte 8))>>\ <<if (($element1 is "Light") or ($element2 is "Light"))>>\ ''[Light Element Event: Automatic Success]'' <<var $solexp + 3>>\ <<var $agiexp + 2>>\ <<var $powexp + 1>>\ <<else>>\ ''[Soul + Perception 8 Check Passed]'' <<var $solexp + 1>>\ <</if>>\ <<var $dwitness false>>\ "I know you're there." You whisper, cocking one eye open mid-meditation. No one responds. You rise from the ground in the middle of the abandoned town's square and walk directly to a translucent presence, reach toward it, grasp something, and pull. ''[Item Gained: 1 Gold]'' <<var $gold + 1>>\ <<var $sparemedallions + 1>>\ "Your invisibility needs work." You say to the shaking Martial Artist, barely making out a woman's impression in the air from the Light Chi she wrap around herself. "Leave." A young Lunargoth girl drops the Technique and sprints out of the town. <<else>>\ ''[Detection Failed]'' You feel as if there's a presence watching you while you meditate, but for the life of you, you cannot find anything. Just to be sure, you even blow up a couple of houses. Nothing happens. Hm. Must have been the wind. <</if>>\ <<if (dig($mettaio, 1) gte 6)>>\ <<if (($soul + $perception) gte 8)>>\ //Wise// Taio the Bandit says. //Now that you have no witnesses,// \ <<else>>\ //Now that you have no witnesses,// Taio the Bandit says. \ <</if>>\ //Is it not time to utilize the Dead Mountain's Glaive? These weaklings were born to feed your power. Fulfill their purpose and consume their souls.// <<choose "ch8dragon-finisharea">> #Leave them wriggling on the ground like the worms they are. You ignore Taio the Bandit's dead ghost haunting your soul and move on from the town. //You shirk my gifts?!// the Bandit screams in your head. //You dare to ignore my teachings?! For what reason could you possibly think you can Advance your Demonic Cultivation without my Dead Mountain's Glaive Technique?!// <<if (dig($demonpowers, 3) is 0)>>\ "First of all, I don't //know// the Dead Mountain's Glaive Technique." you respond outloud while leaving down the coast. "That's the first good reason." <<if ($pwt_sunhana is true)>>\ //You would.// The Bandit sneers. //If you had not WASTED YOUR TIME ''FUCKING'' THAT FOREIGNER!// Heh. You did do that. Ancestors, you love your life. <<elseif (dig($mettaio, 4) gte 3)>>\ //You would.// The Bandit sneers. //If you had not prioritized a FOREIGN WOMAN over your only opportunities to learn true power!// "Eh." You wave a hand dismissively. "You guys think too highly of yourselves. Now shut up. Misuka could be watching." <<elseif ($demonpowers is 1000000000000000)>>\ //I...did we not teach it to you?// The Bandit asks. "You guys haven't taught me shit." You reply. "You're the worst evil ghost mentors I have ever heard of." //The fault lies with you.// The Scholar interrupts. //You should have taken us to a proper demonic cultivation site before this Trial. The graveyard, perhaps.// "Duly noted." You say, "Now shut up." <</if>>\ You march off to explore more of Guarded Blossom, blocking out the complaints of the multiple evil ghosts that haunt your soul. Hm... Perhaps you make bad life choices. <<else>>\ "Don't feel like it." You reply. //You ignorant FOOL!// Screams the Bandit. //I-// //Am an imbecile.// The Scholar interrupts. //An entire stadium witnessed the Host defeat those weaklings without execution. If they are found dead after the fact it would be highly suspect and invite investigation. Your Dead Man's Glaive is to be used at the end of a fight, not after the fact.// The Bandit's rage is detectable from within your own soul. //Do not presume to lecture ME on my-" You stop listening, whistling to yourself instead while marching off to explore more of Guarded Blossom. Ancestors, being haunted by multiple evil ghosts is a bother. <</if>>\ <<page "Continue" "ch8dragon-finisharea">>\ #use-if (dig($demonpowers, 3) gte 1) //''"Dead Mountain's Glaive."''// [Sacrifice the weaklings for their chi.] //''"Dead Mountain's Glaive."''// You call over the body of the bow-wielding woman. The metal glaive lances out of your palm and through her torso, penetrating her spine and heart in one strike. She dies without moving, never waking from the last attack you inflicted on her. <<apboost 10>>\ <<var $taint + 10>>\ Unfortunately her compatriots don't offer as much chi when you kill them too, but the satisfying crunch of their bones cleaving in two against your attack sends a shiver down your spine. <<apboost 22>>\ <<var $taint + 22>>\ Snuffing out a life, or ten lives in this case, is never anything to take lightly. It's something to take ''greedily.'' <<if ($dwitness is true)>>\ <<if (dig($mettaio, 5) is 0)>>\ <<var $mettaio + 1000000>>\ <</if>>\ <</if>>\ //You see.// Taio the Bandit whispers from inside you soul. //At last, you truly see the Path to true power.// You chuckle on your way out of the village. Oh, Taio, that silly deluded ghost. He still hasn't realized. You //are// the Path to true power. <<page "Continue" "ch8dragon-finisharea">>\ <</choose>> <<else>>\ <<page "Continue" "ch8dragon-finisharea">>\ <</if>>\

You manage to secure a half-hour of meditation without issue, focusing your chi through the Dragon Medallion. <<if ($powspent gte 1)>>\ ''[1 Power Core Restored]'' <<var $powspent - 1>>\ <</if>>\ <<if ($forspent gte 1)>>\ ''[1 Fortitude Core Restored]'' <<var $forspent - 1>>\ <</if>>\ <<if ($agispent gte 1)>>\ ''[1 Agility Core Restored]'' <<var $agispent - 1>>\ <</if>>\ <<if ($solspent gte 1)>>\ ''[1 Soul Core Restored]'' <<var $solspent - 1>>\ <</if>>\ <<var $displayer (0.05+($insight * 0.02))>>\ <<include "ch8dragon-checkbuffer">>\ Your focus is interrupted by an explosion near the side wall. "Come out and play, weaklings!" Shouts a taunting voice. You run out to see two members of the Steel Thread Alliance knocked back into brick rubble. Through the hole in the town gate, you see two attackers up ahead in matching grey and pink hanfu. One a blonde Monkey yokai spinning a children's kicking ball on his hand. The other a Human woman with long black hair and a wide folded umbrella over her shoulder. "You two should apologize and leave." You declare, stepping through the rubble. "I told these people I'd protect them, so you're not going to win a fight against anyone here. You're going to lose a fight. To me." "What's that I hear?" Calls Misuka the Performer's voice from the wooded jungle to your right. One of her golden-pink scrying orbs hovers out of the jungle. "You guessed right, folks! Another high action battle about to unfold!" The Human woman smirks at the announcer's presence and looks to her Yokai ally. "It seems we have a clear objective." A hungry grin paints on the shorter Monkey Yokai's face. "Beat the $race, subjugate the slaves, prove ourselves to the masters." Mystic Chi surges out of the Yokai's body and straight into his kickball, as if it were absorbed into the object. He drops it and smiles, pulling his leg back to kick the ball. ''//"PLAYTIME DEVASTATION!"//'' <<var $playtimedevastation true>>\ Sand explodes to both sides of the toy's trajectory. It closes the distance like a cannonball. <<choose "ch8dragon-port-defend2">> #Kick it back. -> "ch8dragon-port-defend-kick" #Counterblast. -> "ch8dragon-port-defend-counterblast" #use-if ((($element1 is "Wind") or ($element2 is "Wind")) and ((($chipool + ($soul/2)) - $chispent) gte 1)) Reflect the balls back with a cyclone. [Requires Wind, Costs 1 Chi] ''[Wind Event]'' Wind Chi manifests around your body like a cyclone, catching the speeding projectile and looping it around you in an instant. ''[1 Chi Spent]'' <<var $chispent + 1>>\ The Monkey Yokai leaps back when his own attack launches at him, but he recovers in time and throws both hands forward. His palms glow with Golden Mystic Chi. His head crushes with $auracolor Wind Chi. You decided to attack him with a ranged fist of Wind from above. It seems like the right thing to do. The man's eyes nearly pop out of his head with the solid force of 400 MPH winds crash into the top of his skull. They pop back in when his speeding chi-infused kicking ball crashes into his own face, knocking him back into a tumbling mess until he crumbles to the ground eighty feet back. <<apboost 5>>\ #use-if (($style is "Akakiru") and ((($chipool + ($soul/2)) - $chispent) gte 1)) Slice the ball in half mid-air. [Requires Akakiru, Costs 1 Chi] ''[Akakiru Event]'' You raise your arm up to your shoulder and slash downward with your hand, forming a slicing line of $auracolor chi in the air that cuts through the ball in one swipe. ''[1 Chi Spent]'' <<var $chispent + 1>>\ Its two halves launch past you, destroying multiple buildings. "How could $heshe-?!" The Monkey Yokai shouts, stopping when he realizes you're no longer within view. You're behind him, with \ <<if (((((((((((((($equippedweapon is "Tanto")) or ($equippedweapon is "Katana")) or ($equippedweapon is "Muramasa")) or ($equippedweapon is "Greataxe")) or ($equippedweapon is "Qiang")) or ($equippedweapon is "Kunai")) or ($equippedweapon is "Jian")) or ($equippedweapon is "Iceblade")) or ($equippedweapon is "Chiblade")) or ($equippedweapon is "Kagutsuchi")) or ($equippedweapon is "Ikazuchi")) or ($equippedweapon is "Shishido")) or ($equippedweapon is "Godslayer"))>>\ <<if ((((($equippedweapon isnot "Muramasa") and ($equippedweapon isnot "Ikazuchi")) and ($equippedweapon isnot "Kagutsuchi")) and ($equippedweapon isnot "Shishido")) and ($equippedweapon isnot "Godslayer"))>>\ your $equippedweapon \ <<else>>\ $equippedweapon \ <</if>>\ drawn. <<else>>\ a blade of raw chi surging from your hand. <</if>>\ <<if (((((((((((((($equippedweapon is "Tanto")) or ($equippedweapon is "Katana")) or ($equippedweapon is "Muramasa")) or ($equippedweapon is "Greataxe")) or ($equippedweapon is "Qiang")) or ($equippedweapon is "Kunai")) or ($equippedweapon is "Jian")) or ($equippedweapon is "Iceblade")) or ($equippedweapon is "Chiblade")) or ($equippedweapon is "Kagutsuchi")) or ($equippedweapon is "Ikazuchi")) or ($equippedweapon is "Shishido")) or ($equippedweapon is "Godslayer"))>>\ You sheath your blade \ <<else>>\ You dispel the glowing blade of $auracolor energy \ <</if>>\ and stand at the ready, facing the woman instead. Behind you, the Monkey Yokai gasps at the gash growing across his chest. He falls to the ground without ever having seen the attack that dropped him. <<apboost 5>>\ <</choose>>

"Hah!" The man Monkey Yokai shouts out when you fly back into the brick wall. "I know not to expect anything from a-" Flying from the dustcloud of your impact, a brick hits his jaw and forces his hands up to his mouth in shock. A second brick hits his groin, forcing his hands back down, and a third brick hits his forehead, knocking him off balance. Your energy blast finishes off the volley, hitting his exposed center-mass and blasting him back into a tree. <<include "ch8dragon-port-defend2">>\

<<choose "ch8dragon-port-defend5">> #"I could use some supplies." [Healing Elixir & Replenisher Pill] "I could use some supplies." You say, brushing a hand through your not-quite-full satchel. "Do you have any travel rations and battle pills?" Sora nods eagerly. "I am sure we can find something." They wrap riceballs and manage to scrounge together a couple decent quality pills as your repayment. ''[Item Gained: Healing Elixir]'' <<var $healingelixir + 1>>\ ''[Item Gained: Replenisher Pill]'' <<var $replenisherpill + 1>>\ <<page "Continue" "ch8dragon-port-defend5">>\ #"Ask any Steel Thread Allies if they'd be interested in signing on with the $clan Clan." [2 Martial Retainers] "Ask any Steel Thread Allies if they'd be interested in signing on with the $clan Clan." You say. Sora nods eagerly. "Of our members guaranteed to fail after the first three Trials, two are unaffiliated. I am sure I can convince them to sign on to your banner." ''[2 Martial Retainers Recruited]'' <<var $martial_retainers + 2>>\ ''[Retainer Morale +2]'' <<var $retainer_morale + 2>>\ ''[Retainer Strength +1]'' <<page "Continue" "ch8dragon-port-defend5">>\ #"I could use a reputation as a successful mercenary. Draft up a contract and make this protection official." [Shards] "I could use a reputation as a successful mercenary." You say, feeling like everything's coming together. "Draft up a contract and make this protection official." "Ah, a mercenary Clan." Sora says, nodding with respect. "A wise investment for future endeavors. Very well, $ymaster, I believe we have some parchment and pen somewhere in town. I will get the contract and funds prepared." ''[Commerce +1]'' <<var $commerce + 1>>\ ''[Prestige +1]'' <<var $prestige + 1>>\ ''[Item Gained: 180 Shards]'' <<var $shards + 180>>\ <<page "Continue" "ch8dragon-port-defend5">>\ #"I want a Writ of Favor from the Steel Thread Alliance." You know ''exactly'' how they can pay you back. "I want a Writ of Favor from the Steel Thread Alliance." <<if (dig($mettaio, 1) gte 6)>>\ //Wise.// Says Taio the Scholar's ghost from within your haunted soul. //It is the perfect cover to draw them away from Nanhou and sacrifice them for your demonic cultivation.// You ignore him. <</if>>\ Sora sighs. "It seems our debt cannot be wiped so easily, but very well, we will make it official. I am sure we have some parchment and quill within the abandoned town." ''[Item Gained: Writ of Favor (Steel Thread Alliance)]'' <<page "Continue" "ch8dragon-port-defend5">>\ #show-if ($heshe is "he") use-once "I could never demand a reward from such a Jade Beauty." [Seduction] -> "ch8dragon-port-defend-rejected" "I could never demand a reward from such a Jade Beauty." You reply. Sora clears her throat. "I am, rather, quite happily married." #show-if ($heshe is "she") use-once "You could buy me dinner sometime, maybe pick me up later tonight?" [Seduction] -> "ch8dragon-port-defend-rejected" "You could buy me dinner sometime," you say, "maybe pick me up later tonight?" A goofy smile crosses his mouth. "I'm, um, I'm quite flattered, Young Mistress, but I am married. Happily so." He clears his throat and tries to stop smiling. "Er, very happily so. Yes." <</choose>>

You press both hands together and cycle as much chi as you can between your palms before shoving them forward to exert your devastating attack. <<var $combatstat "soul">>\ <<var $combatskill "insight">>\ <<if ($perception gt $insight)>>\ <<var $combatskill "perception">>\ <</if>>\ <<discount "Kiihakai" $stylerank>>\ <<discount "Fire" 1>>\ <<discount "Storm" 1>>\ <<if ((((dig($techslotcode[1], 16) is 4) or (dig($techslotcode[2], 16) is 4)) or (dig($techslotcode[3], 16) is 4)) or (dig($techslotcode[4], 16) is 4))>>\ <<attack "Ranged">>\ <<else>>\ <<attack "Energy Ranged">>\ <</if>>\ <<combatcheck 8>>\ <<if ($passcheck is true)>>\ <<var $txt "You shout, charging the chi of your " + $elemhitter + " Technique into a concentrated beam of power that">>\ <<if ((dig($techslotcode[1], 16) gte 4) and (dig($techslotcode[1], 16) lte 6))>>\ ''//"$techslotname[1]!!"//'' \ <<chitype $techslotcode[1]>>\ $txt \ <<elseif ((dig($techslotcode[2], 16) gte 4) and (dig($techslotcode[2], 16) lte 6))>>\ ''//"$techslotname[2]!!"//'' \ <<chitype $techslotcode[2]>>\ $txt \ <<elseif ((dig($techslotcode[3], 16) gte 4) and (dig($techslotcode[3], 16) lte 6))>>\ ''//"$techslotname[3]!!"//'' \ <<chitype $techslotcode[3]>>\ $txt \ <<elseif ((dig($techslotcode[4], 16) gte 4) and (dig($techslotcode[4], 16) lte 6))>>\ ''//"$techslotname[4]!!"//'' \ <<chitype $techslotcode[4]>>\ $txt \ <<else>>\ "Go ahead!" The Monkey Yokai shouts, seeing what you're about to attempt, "because my-" Your $auracolor energy beam \ <</if>>\ bursts through his kickball in an explosion of golden light. <<apboost 2>>\ Cutting through that explosion, your attack continues forward and lances through the Yokai's spirit and body as well. He's blown backward into a tree, cracking it in half and shattering his aura. <<include "ch8dragon-port-defend2">>\ <<else>>\ Yet you're the one who gets devastated when his kickball ignites with golden Mystic Chi. Like an arrow loosed through the air, it slices through your shining spiritual power and crashes into your ribs. You're blasted backward into the brick wall with a blood-coughing impact. <<woundcheck 2 true false>>\ <<include "ch8dragon-port-defend-ballerlaughin">>\ <</if>>\

You pull your leg back and leap to chest-height, spinning horizontally to push rotation into your kick. <<if ($style is "Aoyusumu")>>\ ''[Aoyusumu Event: Automatic Success]'' <<var $powexp + 2>>\ <<var $solexp + 2>>\ Your aura of Sacred Chi steals the ball's kinetic energy as it approaches. That same stolen power wraps around your leg when you kick the ball, enhancing the velocity three-fold and blasting it back at him. <<include "ch8dragon-port-defend-kick2">>\ <<else>>\ <<var $combatstat "power">>\ <<var $combatskill "athletics">>\ <<if ($perception gt $athletics)>>\ <<var $combatskill "perception">>\ <</if>>\ <<discount "Legs" 1>>\ <<discount "Agile" 1>>\ <<discount "Monkey" 1>>\ <<discount "Wind" 1>>\ <<discount "Earth" 1>>\ <<discount "Storm" 1>>\ <<discount "Midorikatai" $stylerank>>\ <<combatcheck 9>>\ <<if ($passcheck is true)>>\ Your foot collides into the Mystically infused kickball with enough force to burst the enchantment, blowing it back at its attacker. <<include "ch8dragon-port-defend-kick2">>\ <<else>>\ Before you can deliver your soul-shattering return kick, your world explodes in pain. Bright lights fill your vision and your legs give out when the Yokai's ball slams into your lower spine. <<woundcheck 2 true false>>\ You shouldn't have spun. <<include "ch8dragon-port-defend-ballerlaughin">>\ <</if>>\ <</if>>\

The Monkey Yokai's eyes widen. He throws both golden-glowing hands forward to catch his own attack. His look of intense concentration drops, replaced with a grimace of pain, when your energy blast hits his groin. The shadow of the kickball made for a great distraction. His hands fall to his nethers and a high pitch squeal escapes from his open mouth. The same open mouth is blasted wide open when your kickball hits his face, knocking him head-over-heels backward in tumbling rotations until he hits the ground eighty feet back. <<apboost 2>>\ Sparks of gold fly around his unconscious body from his shattered aura. <<include "ch8dragon-port-defend2">>\

"Oh." You reply. Damn, that's young to be... Actually, most people here are early twenties. You suppose it's not young to be married afterall. Shit, should you be married? Ancestors, you hope Mother doesn't get on you about that. Maybe you can arrange a marriage for Rin or Jin, throwing them to the wolves to buy you more time. Either way, you clear your throat. "In that case-" <<include "ch8dragon-port-defend-choices">>\

"Wha-?" The Human Woman looks back to her defeated ally in surprise and scowls back at you. "Bastard! A lucky strike proves nothing!" She leaps forty feet backward and unfurls her umbrella. ''//"DAGGERFALLING HAILSTORM!"//'' <<var $daggerfallinghailstorm true>>\ Freezing clouds form overhead and rain hundreds of ice shivs down on the battlefield. She holds her umbrella overhead, absorbing any ice shivs into raw Chi when they strike into its top. <<choose "ch8dragon-port-defend3">> #Dodge one thousand projectiles of hail. You look into the sky at the inescapable rain of icy blades. Then you clap your hands together, charge chi throughout you body, and try to dodge it. <<var $combatstat "agility">>\ <<var $combatskill "stealth">>\ <<discount "Kurokonton" $stylerank>>\ <<discount "Legs" 1>>\ <<discount "Agile" 1>>\ <<discount "Ice" 1>>\ <<discount "Fire" 1>>\ <<discount "Storm" 2>>\ <<discount "Light" 2>>\ <<combatcheck 9>>\ <<if ($passcheck is true)>>\ Your body flickers left, right, left, right, disappearing and reappearing while you push your Agility Cores into quicker bursts instead of sustained movement. The umbrella-wielding woman can only look on in baffled horror as you ''dodge the rain'', vanishing from sight in the middle when you close half the distance between you. Despite her Ice Chi, a cold shiver still trembles down her spine when she senses you behind her. "I-" She says, struck with a rising uppercut the second she turns. The woman's aura shatters like snow around you, but her body continues flying far into the distance. <<apboost 2>>\ <<if ($weight gte $chapter)>>\ <<var $weightcount + 1>>\ <<weightexp>>\ <</if>>\ <<if ($fightbonus isnot 0)>>\ <<var $val $fightbonus>>\ <<if (($mortallimits) and ($aurapressure gte $apregionmax))>>\ <<var $val (Math.round($val/2))>>\ <</if>>\ ''[Enemy Aura Pressure Absorbed: $val]'' <<var $aurapressure + $val>>\ <</if>>\ <<else>>\ "AAAUUUGGGGHHHH!!" The screaming is you. You cannot dodge it. <<woundcheck 1 true false>>\ <<woundcheck 1 false true>>\ Despite the agonizing pain of being shredded alive by dozens or even hundreds of ice blades, you do manage to sprint through the obscuring hail and land a steady blow on the woman's face. Her head snaps to the side, shocked, but not defeated by a single blow. She is a true Martial Artist. You clock her in the ear, knee her in the nose, headbutt her in the eyes, then grab her shirt before she can fall back and slam your fist into her neck. To start. Around the fifth slam to the gut and the sixth headbutt to the stunned combatant, her aura shatters. You don't think she expected such ferocity and, quite frankly, neither did you. Being covered in your own blood may have angered you more than usual. Removing bloodstains at the Nanhou laundry centers isn't cheap. <</if>>\ <<page "Continue" "ch8dragon-port-defend3">>\ #Endure the assault to break her umbrella. Bladed shards of ice fall from the sky while you dash at its creator. <<if (($equippedweapon is "Meteor Hammer") or ($equippedweapon is "Shishido"))>>\ ''[Weapon Event: Meateor Hammer]'' <<var $forexp + 1>>\ Praying that it's enough, you swing \ <<if ($equippedweapon is "Meteor Hammer")>>\ your meteor hammer \ <<else>>\ Shishido <</if>>\ overhead to try and block out the mystical hail. To both of your shock, it works tremendously. Your weapon moves so swiftly that it appears like a rotating metal disk. You don't know when you became so powerful that your weapon's rotations could block even the rain, but it's a milestone you've clearly passed. "N-!" Is all the umbrella-wielding woman can get out before your spinning chained weapon slams into her midsection at an upward angle. Her aura shatters behind her like the trailing line of a shooting star and she's blasted over the tree line. <<apboost 4>>\ <<else>>\ You cross both arms and hold them over your head while sprinting through the exploding ice shards. <<var $combatstat "fortitude">>\ <<var $combatskill "survival">>\ <<discount "Midorikatai" $stylerank>>\ <<discount "Akakiru" 1>>\ <<discount "Ice" 2>>\ <<discount "Fire" 1>>\ <<discount "Earth" 1>>\ <<discount "Manlet" 1>>\ <<discount "Petite" 1>>\ <<discount "Lunargoth" 1>>\ <<combatcheck 9>>\ <<if ($passcheck is true)>>\ "Fool!" The woman shouts. "You cannot hope to-..." When you close half the distance without bleeding, she stops talking and starts running. <<apboost 2>>\ <<if ($weight gte $chapter)>>\ <<var $weightcount + 1>>\ <<weightexp>>\ <</if>>\ <<if ($fightbonus isnot 0)>>\ <<var $val $fightbonus>>\ <<if (($mortallimits) and ($aurapressure gte $apregionmax))>>\ <<var $val (Math.round($val/2))>>\ <</if>>\ ''[Enemy Aura Pressure Absorbed: $val]'' <<var $aurapressure + $val>>\ <</if>>\ <<else>>\ "Fool!" The woman shouts. "You cannot hope to withstand my chi-weakening attack!" You sprint after her through the pain and realize what she means. Every stab of the icy hail cuts into your spirit, especially the parts of your chi that harden your skin. With every second passing, you suffer more and more damage. The jagged ice shards begin to embed into your flesh. <<woundcheck 1 false true>>\ <<woundcheck 1 true false>>\ Yet still you do not relent. As you grow closer, her confidence grows to fear and she begins to run. <</if>>\ She doesn't make it far. You catch up to her with a flying kick over her shoulder, hitting the shaft of her umbrella and snapping it in two. Smiling over your shoulder, you see her look of shock when she gazes upwards at her own physical ice shards closing in on her unprotected face. Her attack stops when her aura shatters, the natural result of stabbing herself in the head with a stream of jagged ice. <</if>>\ <<page "Continue" "ch8dragon-port-defend3">>\ #use-if ((($element1 is "Fire") or ($element2 is "Fire")) and ((($chipool + ($soul/2)) - $chispent) gte 1)) Melt the hailstorm out of the sky. [Requires Fire, Costs 1 Chi] "By the Heavens, did you pick the wrong fight!" You laugh out, curling both arms at your sides in a deep horse stance. "I'm not keen on snowdays." ''[1 Chi Spent]'' <<var $chispent + 1>>\ Burning Fire Chi magnifies around your body like an inferno, growing out in an expanding radius. When you've generated enough to fill a ten-foot gap you shove both hands forward and detonate the spiritual energy, igniting the air around you both and burning through her hailclouds up above. "Next!" You shout, blasting off with fire under your feet. The woman points her umbrella at you to counter with something you'll never see, because you launch a gout of flame up ahead and burn her umbrella to cinders. Her look of shock only lasts a second, because as soon as her umbrella is burnt and she gets a good look at your oncoming form, you're already pressing your fist into her nose. The woman's face crunches with blood and she's blast backward into the sand, her aura shattering in place around you. <<apboost 5>>\ <<if ($weight gte $chapter)>>\ <<var $weightcount + 1>>\ <<weightexp>>\ <</if>>\ <<if ($fightbonus isnot 0)>>\ <<var $val $fightbonus>>\ <<if (($mortallimits) and ($aurapressure gte $apregionmax))>>\ <<var $val (Math.round($val/2))>>\ <</if>>\ ''[Enemy Aura Pressure Absorbed: $val]'' <<var $aurapressure + $val>>\ <</if>>\ <<page "Continue" "ch8dragon-port-defend3">>\ #use-if ((($element1 is "Ice") or ($element2 is "Ice")) and ((($chipool + ($soul/2)) - $chispent) gte 1)) Make your own ice umbrella. [Requires Ice, Costs 1 Chi] Your eyes quickly scan the properties of her ice umbrella and grasp that it's not that difficult of a Technique. All it does is convert the physical Ice Chi to spiritual Ice Chi. You can do that. ''[1 Chi Spent]'' <<var $chispent + 1>>\ Your own umbrella of ice forms in your hand and rises over your head, unfurling into a replica of the Human woman's. The ice shivs strike your creation and meld into it, becoming one with the Ice Chi of your effect. The Human woman's eyes go wide with terror as you slowly approach her. "W-Wait!" She pulls back, horrified. "There's no reason we cannot unite against-" "Ice is also a physical Element." You lecture, forming a gauntlet of ice over your fist. "Try using both types." She holds both hands over her face, which do nothing to protect them when your ice-gauntleted fist breaks through her guard and shatters from the impact, just like her nose. <<apboost 5>>\ <<if ($weight gte $chapter)>>\ <<var $weightcount + 1>>\ <<weightexp>>\ <</if>>\ <<if ($fightbonus isnot 0)>>\ <<var $val $fightbonus>>\ <<if (($mortallimits) and ($aurapressure gte $apregionmax))>>\ <<var $val (Math.round($val/2))>>\ <</if>>\ ''[Enemy Aura Pressure Absorbed: $val]'' <<var $aurapressure + $val>>\ <</if>>\ The woman is blown into the ground with a wave of $auracolor chi. When it clears out, she lies unconscious in a small crater. <<page "Continue" "ch8dragon-port-defend3">>\ <</choose>>

"Another steady beatdown, another happy crowd!" Misuka's orb announces to a roaring cheer heard in the background of the two-way scrying Technique. Somewhere in Nanhou, at one of the arenas, a whole lot people just watched your image projected across a stadium floor as you beat the daylights out of these attackers. ''[Prestige Increased]'' <<var $prestige + 1>>\ The scrying orb turns back to the abandoned town. "Next up, never one to disappoint, $titlename will be crushing the entire Steel Thread Alliance!" "...No?" You reply in disgust. "I'm defending them." "Oh." Misuka says dryly. "Not to worry, folks! There's more Trial violence elsewhere!" <<if ($ruthless lt 45)>>\ "More like trivial violence!" You shout, kicking a stone at the orb as it retreats. <<var $forexp + 1>>\ <<var $powexp + 1>>\ <<else>>\ Her orb hovers away. <</if>>\ <<page "Continue" "ch8dragon-port-defend4">>\

Three of the weaker Martial Artists clamber over the abandoned village wall and sprint across the sands to you, dropping to their knees in kowtow. "Thank you, $ymaster, on the behalf of the Steel Thread Alliance." <<if ($honor gte 80)>>\ "It's the least I could do." You reply, because it really is. "Archons are supposed to help people, right?" ''[Honor 80 Check Passed]'' They look up to you, and then to each other, mouths open in awe. "Something wrong?" "No, $ymaster." says the bow-wielding \ <<if ($heshe is "he")>>\ woman. \ <<else>>\ man. \ <</if>>\ "It is only...these Trials have become such a fight for survival. Along the way, I fear we had all forgotten it is supposed to highlight the empire's true protectors. You honor and humble us." You open your mouth but can't find the words. You are //not// used to being complimented by strangers. "We have failed in our duty, so focused were we on protecting each other." The bow-wielding <<if ($heshe is "he")>>\ woman \ <<else>>\ man \ <</if>>\ continues, "We've never lifted a finger to help other contestants, and it is only now that I realize the shame we've brought on ourselves. As de-facto leader of the Steel Thread Alliance I, Mizuno Sora, swear our fealty to the $clan Clan." "I accept." You reply hastily, not being a fool. "But are you certain that's allowed?" "I am not." Sora looks up, blue hair covered in sand from bowing so low. "The Judges have ignored our alliance because it does not tip any scales. Aiding you could change that. I cannot promise help in every Trial, but I will do everything in my power to convince the other members to aid you in any venture outside the Trials. They say your Clan accepts retainers, so I will convince any unaligned individuals in our Alliance to join your banner if they fail the Trials. Several already have." <<var $metsta + 110000000>>\ <<var $alliesgained + 1000000000>>\ ''[Alliance Forged]'' ''[7 Martial Retainers Recruited]'' <<var $martial_retainers + 7>>\ ''[Retainer Strength +5]'' <<var $retainer_strength + 5>>\ ''[Retainer Morale +5]'' Holy shit. You try to keep your expression calm and give a short, respectful bow. Then you try to think of what an older $manwoman would say. "You honor me with your generosity." Sora rises to \ <<if ($heshe is "he")>>\ her \ <<else>>\ his \ <</if>>\ feet. "The honor is ours." <<page "Continue" "ch8dragon-port-defend5">>\ <<else>>\ "Don't worry about it." You reply. "We're all in this together anyway." ''[Honor 80 Check Failed]'' "Are we?" One of them asks. "It seems like we're all enemies." "We are." Says another. "But we don't have to be." "It matters not." Says the blue-haired bow wielder in the center. "What matters is that you have protected us from a clear threat that sought to stop us. Thanks to you, we've been able to meditate that much longer and increase our chances in the Dragon Trial." "Sora, stop sucking up." Says another. "You're making us look pathetic." <<var $metsta + 100000000>>\ "We are." The blue-haired bow-wielder, Sora, responds. "But I will not see the Steel Thread Alliance put into a debt of honor so close to our founding." \ <<if ($heshe is "he")>>\ She \ <<else>>\ He \ <</if>>\ looks back to you. "How can we repay you?" <<include "ch8dragon-port-defend-choices">>\ <</if>>\

You finish meditating in town for the next half hour, your cycling ruined by the adrenaline of combat. <<var $displayer (0.05+($insight * 0.01))>>\ <<include "ch8dragon-checkbuffer">>\ Unfortunately, you are begged to leave when your Aura Pressure attracts a scouting party of some other faction. You leave to meet them in battle only to wince when they're attacked by some shrieking Spirit or Beast in the forest before arriving. Their battle breaks into the distance and leaves destroyed trees in its wake. As much as you'd love to get involved, you are full of sushi and tea. A nice walk sounds better. <<page "Continue" "ch8dragon-finisharea">>\

<<var $ruthless - 2>>\ You shrug. "I'm here rest and meditate so I can pass the Trial, the same as everyone." A couple of the Martial Artists on the right laugh at that. "The same as everyone?" They ask. "Most Martial Artists are out here trying to maim us for a single gold coin." "Not me." You say, walking to the front of the gate. "So let's drop the hostilities and allow me into one of these houses." <<if ($persuasion gte 2)>>\ ''[Persuasion 2 Check Passed]'' The rest turn to the bow-wielding \ <<if (dig($metsta, 1) is 1)>>\ woman who scratches her \ <<else>>\ man who scratches his \ <</if>>\ spiritbranded hair while scrutinizing you. "If you're going to stay, do you want...sushi?" <<var $tea false>>\ <<include "ch8dragon-port-rest-in">>\ <<else>>\ ''[Persuasion 2 Check Failed]'' The rest turn to the bow-wielding \ <<if (dig($metsta, 1) is 1)>>\ woman who scratches her \ <<else>>\ man who scratches his \ <</if>>\ spiritbranded hair while scrutinizing you. "No..." \ <<if (dig($metsta, 1) is 1)>>\ She \ <<else>>\ He \ <</if>>\ whispers, squinting closer as \ <<if (dig($metsta, 1) is 1)>>\ her \ <<else>>\ his \ <</if>>\ spirit scans yours. "No, you're up to something." <<if (dig($metsta, 1) is 1)>>\ She draws her \ <<else>>\ He draws his \ <</if>>\ bow back and shouts to the others. "Don't let $himher in!" <<choose "ch8dragon-pickactivity">> #"Fine." [Leave] "Fine." You say with a shrug. "There's plenty of room on this island. Farewell." One of Misuka the Performer's scrying orbs leaves from the village, apparently hiding in wait for a good fight. You don't give them one. <<var $ruthless - 2>>\ Luckily that's not your concern. You're here to meditate for the Dragon Trial, if these people going to make that a problem then this place is pointless. Instead of wasting another hour here, you... #"I wasn't asking." [Attack] -> "ch8dragon-port-attackbow" "You seem mistaken." You say,\ <<if (($hairlength isnot "bald") and ($hairlength isnot "short-trimmed"))>>\ hair swirling upward \ <<else>>\ clothes fluttering \ <</if>>\ as you channel your $auracolor aura of power. "Whether you want me to be here doesn't matter, because I wasn't asking. And frankly, I'm not here to play nice anymore." <</choose>> <</if>>\

<<choose "ch8dragon-port-rest-in2">> #"Sure." "Sure." You reply. "But how did you guys get it? Did someone bring a giant bag of rice to a Heavenly Ascension Trial?" "Yes." Replies one of the Martial Artists in a cast. "Tea and boiling kettles as well." <<var $forexp + 1>>\ <<var $ruthless - 1>>\ <<var $alliesgained + 2000000000>>\ You instantly know you made the right choice of lodging. "You guys are alright." #"No thank you." <<var $honor + 1>>\ <<var $alliesgained + 1000000000>>\ "No thank you." You reply. "How about tea?" One of them insists. "We have plenty of tea and boiling kettles." "I'll have to pass." The man offering the tea frowns. "You think we're trying to poison you." You wink at them all. "You catch on fast." \ <</choose>>

Your cycling inside the town goes on without \ <<if ($tea is true)>>\ issue, and the tea is delightful. <<else>>\ issue. <</if>>\ You're able to focus inward on your own internal energies at full efficiency, pushing your concentration inward. A zen-like state overtakes you as your spiritual energy cycles restoratively. <<if ($wounds gte 1)>>\ ''[1 Health Restored]'' <<var $wounds - 1>>\ <</if>>\ <<if ($chispent gte 1)>>\ ''[1 Chi Restored]'' <<var $chispent - 1>>\ <</if>>\ <<if ($powspent gte 1)>>\ ''[1 Power Core Restored]'' <<var $powspent - 1>>\ <</if>>\ <<if ($forspent gte 1)>>\ ''[1 Fortitude Core Restored]'' <<var $forspent - 1>>\ <</if>>\ <<if ($agispent gte 1)>>\ ''[1 Agility Core Restored]'' <<var $agispent - 1>>\ <</if>>\ <<if ($solspent gte 1)>>\ ''[1 Soul Core Restored]'' <<var $solspent - 1>>\ <</if>>\ <<var $displayer (0.2+($insight * 0.01))>>\ <<include "ch8dragon-checkbuffer">>\ <<page "Continue" "ch8dragon-port-rest-in3">>\

After an hour of in-depth meditation and focus, you snap out of the trance and leave the abandoned house you'd chosen. There's more tea to be had. Correction. There is no more tea to be had. There is no more Steel Thread Alliance as well. <<var $metsta + 1000000000>>\ So in-depth and thorough were your meditations that you didn't even notice the weaker group being attacked. Their unconscious forms lie across the abandoned village. Most are defeated on the ground but several are sticking out of nearby walls at unhealthy angles. Their medallions, Shards, and equipment are all missing. "Ohhhh." You whisper, cringing in sympathetic pain at the aftermath of a battle you didn't even notice. "I'm sure they can...walk that off." You leave before anyone shows up to blame you. That sort of thing happens a lot for some reason. <<page "Continue" "ch8dragon-finisharea">>\

"Come no further, stranger!" Shouts a long-haired, blue-haired Human \ <<if (dig($metsta, 1) is 1)>>\ woman in ponytail and pink hanfu, \ <<else>>\ man in a plain white gi, \ <</if>>\ standing atop the wall. \ <<if (dig($metsta, 1) is 1)>>\ Her \ <<else>>\ His \ <</if>>\ bow keeps an arrow trained on you, glowing with Water Chi. "This fortification is the Trial's base for the Steel Thread Alliance!" Beside \ <<if (dig($metsta, 1) is 1)>>\ her, \ <<else>>\ him, \ <</if>>\ nine more Martial Artists rise onto the wall and channel their auras. Mostly grey-white auras. <<if ($honor lt 50)>>\ You rub your temple, having \ <<else>>\ Unfortunately, you have \ <</if>>\ no idea what she's talking about. "The what now?" "The Steel Thread Alliance!" Shouts a younger Oni boy beside \ <<if (dig($metsta, 1) is 1)>>\ her. \ <<else>>\ him. \ <</if>>\ "We're sick of bastards like you Thunderfallers and Northern Sects treading over us independent Warriors! That's why we've united! You may be stronger than us separately, but you're not stronger than us together!" It's then that you notice even the bow-wielding \ <<if (dig($metsta, 1) is 1)>>\ woman's \ <<else>>\ man's \ <</if>>\ Aura Pressure isn't nearly as high as yours, and it's full of imbalances. These people weren't trained by a Sect or School. They may not have been trained at all. "I don't know where you all got the idea that the Thunderfallers work together, but we don't and we never have." "What do you mean?" The bow-wielding \ <<if (dig($metsta, 1) is 1)>>\ woman lowers her \ <<else>>\ man lowers his \ <</if>>\ weapon. "Are you saying you're not here on Crusher Jack's orders?" You try to hold back a laugh. "I wouldn't even be here on Crusher Mao's orders, why would I listen to Jack's?" Two of the white-aura Martial Artists rub casts on their arms. "Jack wouldn't let us leave the forest in the Rabbit Trial. He ordered the Thunderfallers to hunt us down, to test their strength. I tried to escape and he...did this." The speaker looks down at his broken arm. "I wish I could say I'm surprised," You respond casually, "but that sounds like the same treatment I grew up with." The bow-wielding \ <<if (dig($metsta, 1) is 1)>>\ woman \ <<else>>\ man \ <</if>>\ eyes you curiously. "Then if you're not here for a fight, why //are// you here?" <<choose "ch8dragon-port-rest">> #"To rest and meditate so I can pass the Trial, the same as everyone." [Meditate, Heal Fatigue] #"I was only passing by, but it's clear you all need help." [Protect the Settlement] "I was only passing by." You admit in truth. "I didn't expect to run into anything like this, but it's clear you all need help." The blue-haired archer in front stares at you quizzically. "What kind of help?" "The martial kind." You reply. "I could use some food and water, you could use someone strong enough to ward off attackers. Win-win." One younger fighter looks appalled. "We're not your servants!" The blue-haired archer surges an Agility Core and slaps \ <<if (dig($metsta, 1) is 1)>>\ her \ <<else>>\ his \ <</if>>\ hand over the mouth of the younger girl talking. "We appreciate the $ymaster's offer, and humbly accept. \ <<if (dig($metsta, 1) is 1)>>\ Do you like...sushi?" <<else>>\ Do you, uh, like sushi?" <</if>>\ "Sure." You reply. "But how did you guys get it? The fish and seaweed I understand, but did someone bring soy sauce and a giant bag of rice to a Heavenly Ascension Trial?" "Yes." Replies one of the Martial Artists in a cast. "Tea and boiling kettles as well." <<var $forexp + 1>>\ <<var $ruthless - 4>>\ <<var $alliesgained + 3000000000>>\ A smile unconsciously crosses your face. "You guys are alright." <<page "Continue" "ch8dragon-port-defend">>\ #"Oh no, I ''am'' here for a fight." [Take their medallions] -> "ch8dragon-port-attackbow" "You misunderstand me." You say while trying not to laugh. "You're worried that I might work for Crusher Jack, but he's not the threat from Thunderfall you should worry about. One of you said you could beat me together, and I take challenges like that personally. You see, I'm not here to play nice." <<var $ruthless + 5>>\ <</choose>>

"Sandshields, \ <<if ($heshe is "he")>>\ son!" \ <<else>>\ woman!" \ <</if>>\ Jack howls, ramming a hardened fist into your gut and sending you flying back to the edge of the rock. "This isn't even a real Technique!" Jack laughs. "It's not even something I've practiced! This is what ''you'' get to do. I've seen how you fight, always new tricks, always in a Gate. Now that we've fought long enough, I've gotten the hang of how you do it." You stand and swing full-circle to punch his jaw, but it covers with stone just before your impact, doing little damage. You kick for his ribs but they do the same. Jack catches your leg with one hand. "I knew you held one last secret for me. Your Fuel Foundation isn't like the junk copies. It was born inside a Gate kept all to yourself, harnessing every drop of power. Perfected in its element. It //connects// you to the Gates, but this Gate isn't yours to take. Fire. Earth. Elements of my Path. This Gate is ''mine''. Without me around you've been the special breakout talent, but in here, I'm more special than you." <<page "Continue" "ch8dragon-jack-arisen4">>\

"No, not yet!" Screams...Jack? He grabs your neck with one hand and shoves a healing elixir down your throat, laughing. "I've got so much more to show this world!" ''[1 Health Restored]'' <<var $val4 ($health+($fortitude / 2))>>\ <<if (($val4 % 1) is 0.5)>>\ <<var $val4 - 0.5>>\ <</if>>\ <<var $wounds ($val4 - 1)>>\ Taking advantage of his arrogance, you grab a carving knife out of his belt and stab his neck with it, shocked when it breaks against a black crust of sand forming over his skin. "What the Hells...?" <<var $nofails false>>\ <<include "ch8dragon-returntojackfight">>\

<<var $val 0>>\ <<var $val2 0>>\ <<var $txt "">>\ "You're an Akuma Lord." You accuse. "Whether it be foreign lords or special tigers, I've never heard of either thing you're prattling about." Sakura replies with a shake of her head. "But you shouldn't have come here. My mentors made me swear a soulbinding oath to keep my Style a secret until I become an Archon. Do you get it now? Do you understand? I ''can't let any witnesses live'' if they've seen my power; you waltzing in here like an idiot means I ''have'' to kill you or my soul rips to pieces!" You scowl at her. "You've been killing everyone you've fought?" "Heavens no." She says with a grimace. "This was my first time needing my Style, but despite my family's wealth I'm no squeamish Merchant. I'm a Warrior. I can't let anyone live if they'll break my oath, and I won't shy away from doing what I need to do to win this tournament." "But if you're under such a strict rule then why use your Style at all? Your Aura Pressure is \ <<if ($jadedragonfoundation is true)>>\ almost as high as mine." <<else>>\ fourth out of ten thousand contestants." <</if>>\ "Blame that Lunargoth bitch." Sakura scoffs. "She got the fruit first and threatened to destroy it. I couldn't stop her with a frontal charge, so this wasn't my fault. I just wanted a point in a test; I'm the good person here!" <<choose "ch8dragon-sakura2">> #"Good people don't make oaths that force them to kill witnesses." <<var $honor + 1>>\ <<var $ruthless - 2>>\ <<var $score_sacred + 1>>\ <<var $score_wild - 1>>\ "Good people don't make oaths that force them to kill witnesses." You reprimand. "Not at your Aura Pressure. You could have passed this test with seven points. You ''chose'' this." #"You? A good person? Pffffffftttttttttt." <<var $honor - 1>>\ You fail to hold back a laugh. "You? A good person? You're threatening to murder people for looking at you! That's supposed to be a stereotype about snobby rich people, you're not supposed to actually follow through with it. Holy Hells, you're such an idiot." #show-if (((($style is "Midorikatai") and ($stylerank gte 2)) or (($subrace is "Wolf") or ($subrace is "Cat"))) or (((($techslotname[1] is "Eagle Eye") or ($techslotname[2] is "Eagle Eye")) or ($techslotname[3] is "Eagle Eye")) or ($techslotname[4] is "Eagle Eye"))) Gut-punch the Spirit Fruit out of her stomach. <<if (($style is "Midorikatai") and ($stylerank gte 2))>>\ ''[Midorikatai Event]'' With Wild Beast-Chi coursing through your veins, \ <<elseif (($subrace is "Wolf") or ($subrace is "Cat"))>>\ ''[<<cap $subrace>> Yokai Event]'' With the keen hunter's vision of a $subrace, \ <<else>>\ ''[Technique Event]'' With a targeting cross forming across your eyes you shout out the verbal component of your Technique. //''"EAGLE EYE!!"''// Sakura flinches, alert, but it's too late. Instantly \ <</if>>\ you lock in on the Human woman's \ <<if ((($style is "Midorikatai") and ($stylerank gte 2)) or (($subrace is "Wolf") or ($subrace is "Cat")))>>\ vitals while she talks. <<else>>\ vitals. <</if>>\ Target acquired. ''[1 Agility Core Surged]'' <<var $agispent + 1>>\ <<var $agiexp + 2>>\ You close the distance between the two of you in a flash and slam your fist into Sakura's lower abdomen, on her left side, pushing up. Her skin resists you like a steel drum, but without a conventional Style her Aura Pressure doesn't protect her inner body well enough. Her eyes nearly bulge out of her head and she throws up the spirit fruit she'd swallowed whole. You catch it, desperately rub it clean on your shirt, and backflip away to avoid her mantis-summon's slash into the ground. You land and leap away from her golem-summon's fist slamming into where you just landed, too. In mid-air, you eat the fruit to secure your point. ''[Dragon Trial Score Increased]'' <<var $score_dragon + 1>>\ <<apboost 20>>\ <<var $val 222>>\ <<if ($heshe is "she")>>\ This is easily your most disgusting victory. You //cannot// let Rin and Jin hear about this. <<else>>\ Not your proudest victory, but a win's a win. <</if>>\ "Th-That was, that was-!?!" Sakura screams, panting, holding her stomach with both hands. "UUUGGHHHAAAAGGGHH THAT WAS DISGUSTING!! You brute! You slobbering mongrel! \ <<if ($heshe is "he")>>\ You...you PERVERT! \ <<else>>\ You call yourself a lady?! \ <</if>>\ Now I'm ''glad'' I have to kill you! This was supposed to be my heroine's gambit for success against a rival Sectmistress, fighting for victory in a tropical paradise, but you ''ruined'' it! You ''RUINED'' my paradise!" <</choose>>

<<if ($val isnot 222)>>\ "Shut up!" Sakura screams. "It's not my fault! It's not! You did this, not me! You think I invited you here?! This was supposed to be my heroic gambit for success against a rival Sectmistress, fighting for victory in a tropical paradise! It's NOT supposed to be some sloppy spectator's sport where you butt in!" She channels vibrant white chi around both hands, and her three minions power up their auras. "You ''ruined'' my moment! You ''RUINED'' my paradise!" <</if>>\ //!!!// //!!!// Her speech is interrupted by Leona's blade barrier shattering like glass over your heads. Both you and Sakura cover your eyes from the blinding light breaking through. Not the warm yellow light of the sun, but a burning red light crashing down upon you at terminal velocity. Forcing your body to react in time, you brace yourself against the ambush of a palace-sized meteor. A red sun over paradise. <<page "Continue" "ch8dragon-jack">>\

<<var $loc "Central">>\ Your trek through the jungle is uninterrupted, letting you march up hundreds of sets of stairs built into the mountain. It's not the only trail available, but it is the only trail marked with religious torii gates. <<var $solexp + 1>>\ Every once in a while, you hear a rustle from a Beast or Martial Artist in the nearby woods, but none come after you. In fact, most seem to flee the opposite direction of the trail, as if they're escaping whatever's at the top. That's half the reason you're marching onward. The other half was an inkling of a feeling, one that is validated when you pass over a torii gate larger than most and reach a wider set of stairs, with thick jungle framing it on either side. "Is there any shrine where I'm //not// going to run into you?" You call up above. "I certainly hope not." Angelo replies from atop the shrine's gate. "I have a reputation to uphold." <<page "Continue" "ch8dragon-shrine2">>\

Angelo's pilgrim robes flutter in the air when he hops off the forty-foot gate and lands soundlessly on the stairs beside you. "How did you even get here?" You ask. "The Archons would kill anyone intruding on the Trials." "They certainly would." Angelo replies, dusting off the bottom of his clothes. "Yet in search of the best in everyone, I am sure they can make an exception. There's not a combat zone in the world that wouldn't benefit from a decent priest keeping the spirits appeased." You cast a side-eye glance at him. "Don't you keep saying you're not a priest?" "Do I now?" Angelo smiles, eyes facing up ahead. "Then I suppose I do not qualify for that exception. Stand still one moment." He walks to your right just as one of Misuka's golden-pink scrying orbs hovers through the sky to your left, seeking an entertaining view of any contestants. You sigh. "You're intruding." "Aren't we all, in our own way?" Angelo begins to walk up the steps. "I doubt the settlers of Guarded Blossom gave any of us the right to march upon their graves." He pauses, as if remembering something, and looks back to you. "Speaking of graves, how would you like to purify one? Violently, of course." <<choose "ch8dragon-shrine3">> #"The announcer warned us this island was haunted. If I can cleanse it, I will." <<var $ruthless - 1>>\ <<var $honor + 2>>\ "The announcer warned us this island was haunted." You say, staring up the steps. "If I can cleanse it, I will." <<var $angelorep + 3>>\ "Splendid!" Angelo claps his hands together once and rubs his palms against each other. "I knew I could count on you. \ #"Say nothing more, you had me at 'violently'." <<var $honor - 1>>\ <<var $ruthless + 1>>\ "Say nothing more," you reply, fists growing anxious at the thought, "you had me at violence." <<var $angelorep + 1>>\ "Splendid!" Angelo claps his hands together once and rubs his palms against each other. "I'm glad I added that to the end, as apparently I didn't have your attention beforehand. It's important to know your audience. \ #"I'd love to help, but fighting interferes with the Trials. Can you help me increase my score instead?" [+Dragon Score] <<var $ruthless - 2>>\ You'd rarely balk at the idea of a violent exorcism, but these Trials dictate your entire future. "I'd love to help," you sigh out, "but fighting interferes with the Trials. Can you help me increase my score instead?" "Certainly." Angelo replies, reaching into his robes. <<var $angelorep - 3>>\ "Wait, really?" You didn't expect the man to so readily and openly offer to rig a Heavenly Ascension Trial. "Of course." Angelo says, amused. "It is not as if the authorities can kill me twice. They truly overplayed their hand by making my presence into grounds for a death sentence. It strips away all secular inhibitions once I've arrived." He withdraws a set of prayer seals and hands them to you. "Take these and climb down the steep hill to our left. You'll find a small cave with a bonobo. Apologize to the poor thing, use its den for your cycling, and you'll be undisturbed while these prayer seals increase your spiritual output in meditation." You take the seal tags from Angelo, thank him, and go your separate ways. He continues up the stairs while you scale the hill down and find the cave exactly where he said to look. After evicting a frightened monkey, you rest in meditation while pressing your power to its fullest. <<if ($wounds gte 1)>>\ ''[1 Health Restored]'' <<var $wounds - 1>>\ <</if>>\ <<if ($chispent gte 1)>>\ ''[1 Chi Restored]'' <<var $chispent - 1>>\ <</if>>\ <<var $displayer (0.20+($insight * 0.025))>>\ <<var $bonusapcount + 0.1>>\ <<var $val (100*$bonusapcount)>>\ ''[Max Measurable AP Increased by $val%]'' <<include "ch8dragon-checkbuffer">>\ It's just as effective as Angelo told you, though he didn't mention the smell of the cave. ...You wonder if that's why he sent you here. After an hour of meditation the tags burn up, expended, and you return to the rest of the island. <<page "Continue" "ch8dragon-finisharea">>\ <</choose>>

Come, we are just in time to save a life." He sprints up the stairs with wind-splitting speed. <<var $combatstat "agility">>\ <<var $combatskill "athletics">>\ <<combatcheck 8>>\ <<if ($passcheck is true)>>\ You catch up and follow him side-by-side up the wide stone steps. <<apboost 3>>\ <<else>>\ You're forced to push yourself just to keep up, running behind him up the wide stone steps. <<if ($agispent lt $agility)>>\ ''[1 Agility Core Spent]'' <<var $agispent + 1>>\ <<else>>\ ''[1 Chi Spent]'' <<var $chispent + 1>>\ <</if>>\ <</if>>\ The two of you pass up thousands of stairs and through eight large torii gates, each barely in sight of the other. It ends when you come out to a flat courtyard surrounding a once-gated temple. The gate, and much of the courtyard stone flooring, has been destroyed. Recently. The cause of such destruction is evident. <<page "What the Hells...?" "ch8dragon-shrine3-2">>\

"What the Hells...?" You ask, gazing at a bulbous monstrosity of warped purple flesh. In the middle of the courtyard stands a five-foot tall, five-foot wide, four-legged orb of mutated and marred purple skin. Its inhuman proportions are made worse by two muscular arms with forearms twice as long as they should be. Its head sticks out of the top-front of the monster's nearly spherical body, with a human-like set of teeth and two yellow globes of chi acting as eyes too far on the sides of its head. Beneath the monster, a Lunargoth man with a broken dagger lies bleeding, barely breathing, with motes of yellow light dissipating into the ground around him. The monster must have just won the fight, shattering his aura. "It was a tough fight," Angelo says, pointing to the injuries on the monster as well. "but as I warned, the young man was not enough. All too often will innocent men fail by such a small margin, needing only the slightest weight added to the scale of justice to right the wrongs of this world." He looks to you, eyes glowing cerulean. "You will be that weight." The amorphous purple blob turns to you on its four stumpy legs. Its bulging yellow eyes spin on their axis and stop just as quickly, focused on your center. Your Cores. Its mouth clicks, oozing with purple chi like dripping saliva. "What is that thing?" You ask, staring at the monster in disgust. "A nature spirit trying to create a physical form. An unnatural one. It's using its 'body' as a container to store Cursed Chi that it should not naturally possess. This spirit has lost its way in the pursuit of power. One of the many ways Fiends are born." The spirit's circular head flips upside down, analyzing the two of you. You feel nothing but revulsion when seeing the spirit's globs of flesh and postuling skin. "What type of Fiend is it going to make?" "We are here to ensure it never finds out." You nod, step forward, and let your aura of $auracolor chi overtake your body. Kicking off the stone ground, you charge. "WRRRRYYYYYY!!!" The spirit-monster shrieks, spinning into a ball that charges back at you in a swirl of purple flames. <<var $weppy ("your "+$equippedweapon)>>\ <<if ((((($equippedweapon is "Muramasa") or ($equippedweapon is "Kagutsuchi")) or ($equippedweapon is "Ikazuchi")) or ($equippedweapon is "Shishido")) or ($equippedweapon is "Godslayer"))>>\ <<var $weppy $equippedweapon>>\ <</if>>\ <<choose "ch8dragon-shrine4">> #show-if ((((((((((((((($equippedweapon is "Tanto")) or ($equippedweapon is "Katana")) or ($equippedweapon is "Muramasa")) or ($equippedweapon is "Greataxe")) or ($equippedweapon is "Qiang")) or ($equippedweapon is "Kunai")) or ($equippedweapon is "Jian")) or ($equippedweapon is "Iceblade")) or ($equippedweapon is "Chiblade")) or ($equippedweapon is "Kagutsuchi")) or ($equippedweapon is "Ikazuchi")) or ($equippedweapon is "Shishido")) or ($equippedweapon is "Bo Staff")) or ($equippedweapon is "Godslayer")) Flash in with a piercing lunge of $weppy. You charge in with $weppy and lunge at the charging cursed spirit, sliding low and angling your weapon up at just the right angle to catch its spinning form. <<var $combatstat "agility">>\ <<var $weapontest true>>\ <<discount "Akakiru" $stylerank>>\ <<discount "Storm" 1>>\ <<discount "Light" 1>>\ <<discount "Ice" 1>>\ <<discount "Legs" 1>>\ <<discount "Agile" 1>>\ <<discount "Manlet" 1>>\ <<discount "Petite" 1>>\ <<combatcheck 8>>\ <<if ($passcheck is true)>>\ <<cap $weppy>> lunges into the cursed spirit against its spin, skewering the creature's hide by ten inches. It turns to the side and you slash out, opening the wound when it retreats. <<apboost 2>>\ Blotches of dark purple ink mar your target's path when it spins to the other side of the courtyard. It nearly looks like blood. You prepare $weppy for another charge when \ <<else>>\ <<cap $weppy>> is deflected by cursed spirit's intense speed, knocking your weapon aside and leaving your guard open. The monster crashes into you with its purple flaming aura, burning your spirit with Cursed Chi while crashing into your ribs hard enough to knock the wind out of you. <<woundcheck 1 false true>>\ <<woundcheck 1 true false>>\ You're knocked reeling backward across the courtyard before you can stumble to your feet, preparing your counterattack. Yet something is wrong with the cursed spirit. <<if (($equippedweapon is "") or ($equippedweapon is "Handwraps"))>>\ You use joint forearms \ <<else>>\ You use $weppy \ <</if>>\ as a hesitent guard when \ <</if>>\ #show-if ($equippedweapon is "Yumi") Leap overhead to rain arrows down upon the cursed spirit. You leap high overhead before the cursed spirit can reach you, twisting upside down in mid-air and drawing your yumi to unleash a deathly rain of arrows down upon it. <<var $combatstat "agility">>\ <<var $weapontest true>>\ <<discount "Akakiru" $stylerank>>\ <<discount "Wind" 1>>\ <<discount "Light" 1>>\ <<discount "Fire" 1>>\ <<discount "Legs" 1>>\ <<discount "Agile" 1>>\ <<discount "Cat" 1>>\ <<discount "Monkey" 1>>\ <<combatcheck 8>>\ <<if ($passcheck is true)>>\ <<cap $auracolor>> glowing arrows fly from your bow with the speed and fury of a lightning bolt, piercing into the cursed spirit like a pin cushion and throwing its rotation off-balance from the ten arrows sticking out of its hide. <<apboost 2>>\ The creature uses your arrow trajectory to locate you mid-spin. It launches into the air at you like a purple fireball. Using its reduced speed from all its injuries, you kick the spirit's bloated physical form to the ground below without suffering a single burn. <<else>>\ Your arrows launch into the cursed spirit but it's rolling too fast. Each of your projectiles is deflected off its hide and the monster uses their path to locate you mid-spin, launching into the air and crashing into you with its scalding and draining Cursed Chi aura. <<woundcheck 1 false true>>\ <<woundcheck 1 true false>>\ You're blown into the air, forced to wrap your $auracolor around your bow and throw it like a javelin to stop the spirit's advance. //That// strike lands, knocking it across the temple grounds. <</if>>\ You land on opposite sides and prepare to re-engage when \ #Charge $auracolor chi around both fists and close in for a beatdown brawl. <<cap $auracolor>> rushes out of both fists with renewed pressure and light. You tense the muscles of your arms and shake the ground with your footsteps, charging after the cursed spirit before it can reach you. <<var $combatstat "power">>\ <<if ($equippedweapon is "Handwraps")>>\ <<var $weapontest true>>\ <</if>>\ <<discount "Midorikatai" $stylerank>>\ <<discount "Muscular" 1>>\ <<discount "Earth" 1>>\ <<discount "Fire" 1>>\ <<attack "Energy Melee">>\ <<combatcheck 8>>\ <<if ($passcheck is true)>>\ Your fist breaks the monster's momentum in one swing, crashing into its hide and blowing it backward. <<apboost 4>>\ You don't give it the relief of being knocked back. Catching one of its four legs, you pull it back into melee range and pound on it with strike after strike, crunching your glowing fists into its hide as it frantically flails all six limbs to get out from under your assault. Finally its aura bursts outward with cursed purple fire, forcing you back, and the monster spins backward faster than it ever spun forward. It reaches the other side of the temple and you prepare to pursue before it can escape. But it doesn't try to escape. Instead \ <<else>>\ Your fist hits the cursed spirit's spinning hide and gets trapped in the momentum. Instead of striking the monster, your whole arm is dragged downward, exposing your face to the high-speeding charge. The bulky girth of the monstrosity crashes into your shoulder, neck, and face with scalding purple fire wrapped over its body. Your ligaments are crushed while your soul is burnt from within. <<woundcheck 1 false true>>\ <<woundcheck 1 true false>>\ You're knocked reeling backward across the courtyard before you can stumble to your feet, preparing your counterattack. Yet something is wrong with the cursed spirit. <<if (($equippedweapon is "") or ($equippedweapon is "Handwraps"))>>\ You use joint forearms \ <<else>>\ You use $weppy \ <</if>>\ as a hesitent guard when \ <</if>>\ #Deflect its charge and blast it from a distance. As soon as the cursed spirit spins close enough you slam your foot down onto the large stone tile under your feet. <<var $combatstat "soul">>\ <<var $combatskill "craft">>\ <<if ($athletics gt ($craft +2))>>\ <<var $combatskill "athletics">>\ <</if>>\ <<discount "Kiihakai" $stylerank>>\ <<discount "Fire" 1>>\ <<discount "Storm" 1>>\ <<attack "Energy Ranged">>\ <<combatcheck 8>>\ <<if ($passcheck is true)>>\ The other side of the tile launches into the air, catapulting your target just over your head and off into the distance. With nowhere for it to dodge, you unleash the $auracolor chi you've channeled into both hands like a geyser of power. <<apboost 2>>\ Your blast slams into the spirit's backside and knocks it into a tree, bouncing it far overhead and all the way to the other side of the courtyard. <<if ($honor gt 50)>>\ "Let's finish this." \ <<else>>\ "And here I thought you'd be tough." \ <</if>>\ You taunt, charging more power around both hands. The air around you changes when \ <<else>>\ You're too slow, taking a strike to the face by the spinning orb of purple flames. The Cursed energy singes into your skull and you soul, burning both with excruciating pain. <<woundcheck 1 false true>>\ <<woundcheck 1 true false>>\ You're knocked back and stunned, rolling to put out the fires. By the time you rise again the cursed spirit has landed on the other side of the temple grounds. You tighten your fists when \ <</if>>\ <</choose>>

the creature's spherical eyes of pure yellow chi leak out purple Cursed Energy. It almost looks like the monster is crying. <<page "Continue" "ch8dragon-shrine5">>\

Cursed energy leaks off the cursed spirit's eyes like tears. It leans back and opens its mouth, unleashing the loudest screech of your life. The impossibly loud shriek assaults your ears and skull from all sides. Your spiritual senses warn that the sound is chi-enriched, wrapped with Cursed Chi that keeps it from leaving your vicinity. A Technique. Rippling waves form a dome to surround your battlefield. The soundwaves bounce off the barrier's edges and return, assaulting you over and over with so much force that the ground shakes beneath your feet. <<var $earpiercer true>>\ <<var $bleeder false>>\ <<var $combatstat "fortitude">>\ <<var $combatskill "lore">>\ <<if ($subrace is "Wolf")>>\ ''[Wolf Yokai Penalty, Difficulty Increased]'' <<var $cmod - 1>>\ <</if>>\ <<discount "Kiihakai" $stylerank>>\ <<discount "Akakiru" $stylerank>>\ <<discount "Darkness" 1>>\ <<combatcheck 10>>\ <<if ($passcheck is true)>>\ Instead of covering your ears, you press both arms out to your sides and send energy blasts at opposite ends of the ripping dome of chi. <<if (dig($knowledge, 2) lt 9)>>\ <<var $knowledge + 10000000000000>>\ ''[Barrier Knowledge Increased]'' <<if ($subrace is "Wolf")>>\ <</if>>\ <</if>>\ <<if ($subrace is "Wolf")>>\ ''[Wolf Yokai Bonus: Aura Pressure +5]'' <<var $aurapressure + 5>>\ <</if>>\ Your attacks hit simultaneously, stretching the effect on both sides. Beams of <<cap $auracolor>> chi hit the nearly translucent sphere of chi around the temple and press against it, finally breaking through \ <<if ($style is "Akakiru")>>\ thanks to the piercing aspect of your Bladed Chi. <<apboost 2>>\ <<elseif ($style is "Kiihakai")>>\ thanks to the arcane dispelling properties of your Mystic Chi. <<apboost 2>>\ <<else>>\ the effect. <</if>>\ <<else>>\ You cover your ears to endure the assault but it continues, ever onward, and berates your body and skull. Your very bones shake from the constant assault and your ears begin to bleed from internal damage. <<woundcheck 1 false false>>\ <<var $bleeder true>>\ With no end in sight you snap, blasting two energy attacks at the creature. They both miss. Fortunately, they veer off to different angles and hit the shimmering dome-barrier at different angles behind your target, breaking through the effect. <</if>>\ The dome dissipates and the shockwave of the scream reduces to a normal shriek from the confused-looking cursed spirit. Your breath returns to a steady pace and \ <<if ($bleeder is true)>>\ you're able to finally stop covering your bleeding ears. <<else>>\ the virtigo finally subsides. <</if>>\ You enhance the output of your $auracolor aura around both arms and charge at the spirit, surprising the creature that you can even move. "It's energy!" Angelo says into your mind. "Spirits are pure energy. Ignore the physical embodiment and treat it as such!" <<var $txt "The injured and confused cursed spirit holds its hands over its face when you charge in with aura blazing, but it screeches with glee at the last second and swipes at you with a spinning leap.">>\ <<choose "ch8dragon-shrine6">> #use-if ($style is "Kurokonton") Channel the Cursed Chi inside its body. [Requires Kurokonton] $txt It hits air. You vanish from sight in front of the creature and re-appear behind it. Coursing with $auracolor chi, your glowing hand pierces into the creature's back like a blade. You penetrate through its hardened skin and press your arm through its manifested body up to the elbow, reaching into the yin-aligned Cursed Chi inside of it. "You brought the wrong chi to this fight." You whisper to the monster. The cursed spirit panics, flailing its arms and legs, but it can't reach behind itself with your entire arm pierced into the center of its back. Using your spiritual alignment of Kurokonton, you assert your will and override control of the spirit's massive pool of stored Cursed Chi. Some, you steal for yourself. <<apboost 10>>\ The rest, you detonate. <<page "Continue" "ch8dragon-shrine6">>\ #use-if ($style is "Aoyusumu") Exorcise it through precognition. [Requires Aoyusumu] $txt All six limbs are possible attacks of the future. All six futures flash before your eyes. You embrace this bizarre feeling, this sense of living all moments in the present. All possibilities. With a focus of Sacred Chi, you pull all six futures into reality at once and manifest their kinetic chi with an amplification of your own force. The only difference is, you flip the direction. Six slashes of purple and $auracolor chi appear in the air at once, all bearing down on the spirit from over your shoulders. Its limbs break under the strain of its own amplified attacks. While it suffers the swift and unpredictable attack, it misses the real threat. Your Technique of spiritual force dealt that damage. Your physical body is still free to attack. Looping around the monster as it batters at its own phantom-swipes of kinetic force, your\ <<if ($spiritbrandloc is "eyes")>>\ spiritbranded eyes glow $spiritbrandcolor \ <<else>>\ eyes glow $auracolor \ <</if>>\ with power. <<var $apval Math.round($insight+((100-$ruthless)/10))>>\ <<apboost $apval>>\ Calling upon the Heavens, you shove a chi-wrapped fist through the creature's back and unleash all the energy you've held back in this skirmish. The blast radius presses out through the spirit's physical and spiritual form, bursting it at the seams. <<page "Continue" "ch8dragon-shrine6">>\ #Siphon its well of power through your Fuel Foundation. $txt You catch its hands with your own, $auracolor chi expanding around your grip. <<var $combatstat "soul">>\ <<var $combatskill "insight">>\ <<discount "Kiihakai" $stylerank>>\ <<discount "Oni" 1>>\ <<discount "Kitsune" 1>>\ <<discount "Darkness" 1>>\ <<combatcheck 9>>\ <<if ($passcheck is true)>>\ The monster kicks at you with its four legs but you shake it backward, throwing off its attack through your grip on its hands. Your //strengthening// grip on its hands. <<else>>\ The monster rears up and kicks you with its front legs, growing claws on them to shred gashes down your legs. <<woundcheck 1 true false>>\ <<if ($pblocktech isnot "")>>\ Your $pblocktech Technique protects you from the damage and so you grin through the pain. <<else>>\ Despite the pain, you grin through the struggle. <</if>>\ <</if>>\ "You shouldn't have brought a pool of chi around me." You taunt, tightening your grip on the cursed spirit and expanding your aura. "I'm a glutton for power." The cursed spirit's impression of a face contorts. It tries to pull back, but as you grow stronger, it grows weaker. The horror shows horror of its own when it realizes that at this proximity, with proper contact to the container, you're ''cycling'' its pool of chi. <<apboost (1+$insight)>>\ You hold the monster through all its thrashing, using its own power to pin it down, and when you've stolen half of its pool of unaligned chi you push it all into a single fist, crushing the cursed spirit's manifested hand and pushing your $auracolor glowing punch through its body. With a bright explosion, your attack bursts through its entire physical form in one strike. <<page "Continue" "ch8dragon-shrine6">>\ <</choose>>

Clapping comes from the top of the broken ruins of the Devanic Shrine, where Angelo stands. "Well done!" He congratulates. "I knew I chose the right $manwoman for the job." "You could have helped." You smirk, dusting off your hands to disperse the remnants of foreign chi. "We both know you didn't want me to." He replies. "Every fight is a step forward." <<if ($fightbonus gte 1)>>\ <<apboost $fightbonus>>\ <</if>>\ "I do feel stronger..." You say, flexing your fingers in and out of a fist. "Much more importantly than that." He says, pointing behind you. Back at the shrine, hovering over its destroyed remains, is a crystal-like form of shining cerulean chi hovering in the air over the destroyed shrine. Purple veins of chi dissolve in its essence, melting away, until there's nothing left but the shining light of Sacred Chi. Angelo walks up from behind you and breathes in, deeply. "Spirits are reverted to their proper form if you can exorcise them within their domain. Made whole and cleansed of outside influence or wayward direction. You've not only culled a dangerous monster; you've restored the balance of this shrine." The crystalline entity shines once and dissipates, melding into the ground of the shrine. "I think it said 'thank you'". Angelo says, patting you on the shoulder. "You've done good work here today." <<page "Continue" "ch8dragon-shrine7">>\

You spend the next hour meditating while Angelo works studiously to clean and restore the shrine and its temple grounds. <<var $displayer (0.1+($insight * 0.01))>>\ <<include "ch8dragon-checkbuffer">>\ "That should do it!" Angelo announces, crossing his arms with pride in his work. The Shrine still looks heavily damaged, but it's now clearly a place of worship instead of an indistinguishable ruin. "Not bad." You say, expecting a miracle but still impressed by the manual work. You were a Laborer, after all. "Thank you." Angelo says. "I've always appreciated a proper toil. Speaking of which, though there's no //official// reward for restoring a dead settlement's Shrine, I see no reason why I could not offer one in the authority's stead." <<choose "ch8dragon-shrine8">> #"Can you protect Rin and Jin in their Trial?" "Can you protect Rin and Jin in their Trial?" You ask, hoping Angelo would be willing to fight Jack if it comes to it. "You're hoping I'd be willing to fight J-" "Stop reading my mind." "A fair assumption." Angelo replies, taking one peaceful step back. "I cannot engage in high profile combat against young contestants, but I can keep Jin and Rin safe. Who's to say the Crusher scion does not get innocently distracted while your siblings form the bright idea to follow the safest path away? Fear not, subtlety is my strong suit." "So you'll keep them safe?" Angelo smirks. "Better than safe, I intend to rig their scores. I am already crossing a line when it comes to Imperial law. Why walk when you can run?" <<var $sibrigger true>>\ You feel the weight of the world leave your shoulders. "That's so relieving. Thank you." "Hah, it is I who should be thanking you. In fact, \ #[Hold up Medallion] "Anything you can do to help my score?" You hold up your golden medallion. "Is there anything you can do to help my score in the Trials?" Angelo takes your amulet in both hands, presses them close to his mouth, and whispers a prayer to the Heavens. ''[Blessing Received]'' <<if ($chispent gte 1)>>\ ''[1 Chi Restored]'' <</if>>\ <<if ($wounds gte 1)>>\ ''[1 Health Restored]'' <</if>>\ <<var $bonusapcount + 0.1>>\ ''[Max Measurable AP Increased by 10%]'' <<var $displayer (0.1+($insight * 0.01))>>\ <<include "ch8dragon-checkbuffer">>\ "That should do it." He says, handing the medallion back to you. "What did it do?" You ask, looking down at the small charm. It seems the same in your spiritual senses. "I haven't the slightest." Angelo replies with calm serenity, "That is half the fun of prayer. Speaking of, \ #"I don't suppose you have a Spirit Fruit on you." "I don't suppose you have a Spirit Fruit on you." You say. Angelo tosses you a papaya. "I am ashamed that I've given you the chance to doubt me." "Awesome." You say, catching the fruit.\ <<if (($style is "Aoyusumu") or (dig($metangelo, 7) is 1))>>\ "Where do you keep finding these, anyway?" \ <<else>>\ "How did you find one so quickly before any contestants could get it?" \ <</if>>\ "I steal them." Angelo replies with a content sigh. "Rather, I foresee events of powerful growth. They happen to include people or animals nearby finding and eating spirit fruit. I then judge the contents of their character. If found to be unsavory, I travel to that location and pick the fruit first, robbing certain individuals of the future they were meant to have." You chew through the creamy sweet texture of the papaya Spirit Fruit. "That's kind of dark." <<var $apval (5+($survival*2))>>\ <<if ($background is "Trapper")>>\ <<var $apval + (($survival*2)+1)>>\ <</if>>\ <<apboost $apval>>\ Angelo shrugs. "I blame you for asking, it ruins the mystery. And, inversely, \ <</choose>>

on behalf of the Devanic Faith, I also thank you again for restoring this shrine's spiritual balance." You quirk a confused look to the pilgrim. "The Temple sent you here?" "Heavens no." Angelo chuckles. "They'd excommunicate me in a heartbeat for my transgressions against the Will of the Empire. Yet everstill, my investigation must go on." He walks over to the unconscious Martial Artist on the ground, the one defeated by the cursed spirit you exorcised, and presses a palm to the man's face. With concentration, Angelo's hand glows with cerulean Sacred Chi. When he pulls away, a black ooze leaks from the unconscious man's eyes. It sizzles into pink smoke after dripping to the ground. "Black Flower." Angelo says. "A dangerous spirit-fox over seven-hundred years old. I believe you met, which is the only reason I know her name. The Archon reports were worrying; they suspect she has used advanced Kitsune charms to infiltrate the minds of several contestants. This was the only one in this seed, but not the only one in Nanhou. The Archons watch the suspect list, but I find it's better to obliterate enemy plans than to manipulate them." "Wait, wait, wait." You step away, looking around and pressing one hand to a throbbing temple. "The Akuma Lords have //mind controlled// future Archons?! And no one's stopping this?!" Angelo tsks gently at you. "I just told you I am stopping it." He waves an open palm towards the unconscious fighter. "I worry you may not have been listening." <<page "I mean the Archons!" "ch8dragon-shrine9">>\

"No, I mean, the Archons! The Archons are letting the Trials go on despite the Akuma Lords controlling peoples ''minds?!''" Angelo sighs slowly. "The Kitsune Akuma Lord's Aura Pressure is above my current power, but beneath a standard Archon. She is not a viable threat in their eyes. You must understand, ''every'' Heavenly Ascension Trial will have multiple different enemy factions and bad actors in the mix. It is impossible not to have the Archonate be targeted for infiltration. Rooting such rot out is quite possibly part of the test." You stare at Angelo inquisitively. "What?" He asks. "How did you know what information the Archons had on Black Flower? Did you read my mind again?" "Me? No! Never! I simply read such details in the classified Imperial reports." Your stare at the man in doubt. Angelo smiles and raises his eyebrows. "...Where did you get the reports? Did you steal them?" His smile does not falter. "I'm in trouble if they catch me with you, aren't I?" "Terribly so." He replies with a soft chuckle. "I swear upon the Heavens that I have no intention of getting caught. Speaking of, you should run. Several contestants from a School of Assassins are on their way here to take your medallion after, what they assume to be, a tiring battle against the cursed spirit." "I can take them." "I'm certain you can." Angelo says. "But I cannot tend to the shrine if your large-scale battle attracts the announcer's scrying eyes." Reluctantly you concede and pack your things up, heading back down to the jungle. "Will you not be taking the stairs?" Angelo asks. "They are the one structure not in need of repairs." "A shame!" You shout back, leaping off cliffside abutting the temple grounds. <<var $skipchat true>>\ <<page "Continue" "ch8dragon-finisharea">>\

''[Jade Dragon Event]'' Your amulet flashes jade and fills up in seconds, measuring your full Aura Pressure. "Seven points to $titlename." Calls the Sacred Judge's masked double-voice across the island. You can't see anyone else's reactions, but //you're// certainly confused. "Do I...leave?" You ask the air around you. "Am I done? Or...?" //Continue the Trial as normal.// The Sacred Judge whispers into your mind. //Something must be wrong with your medallion. Give it six hours of meditation, and we will investigate later.// <<if (dig($mettaio, 1) gte 6)>>\ Your every ounce of willpower is spent on not thinking about your demonic cultivation mentors haunting your soul and mind while an Imperial official is snooping around your head. <<else>>\ Ancestors, you hope they don't. <</if>>\ <<var $countedap $aurapressure>>\ <div class="fightingfont">Dragon Trial</div>\ <<include "ch8dragon-pickactivity">>\

<<var $loc "Central">>\ The center of the island, between the two peaks of the mountains, provide a relaxing set of terraced hot springs. Your long upward march passes by several options of relaxing baths. You refuse to enter any of them. No one is here. This is a tropical paradise and a free bath; either everyone is shy about Misuka's orbs seeing them naked, or something dangerous is keeping everyone away. Remaining on guard, you climb a set of almost-natural stone stairs to higher terraces until you come across one of the widest hotspring ponds with someone resting in it, naked as the day she was born. <<if ($heshe is "he")>>\ "Took you long enough." Leona says with a mischievous grin. She rises out of the water just enough to expose half her chest, pouts gently, and tilts her head. "I'm so very lonely. Could you come keep a poor girl company?" <<else>>\ "Oh my Wild Gods, $name, hi!" Leona shouts, waving like an idiot all alone. "Come on in, the water's great!" <</if>>\ <<choose "ch8dragon-springs-bathyes">> #show-if (($heshe is "she") or ($leonaromance is 0)) "Thank the Ancestors, I could use a bath." #show-if ($heshe is "he") "I could use a bath, but no funny business. These are the Trials we're talking." -> "ch8dragon-springs-bathyesdude" #show-if ($heshe is "he") "Hell yes." [Seduction] -> "ch8dragon-springs-seduction" #"Hell no." [Meditate Elsewhere] -> "ch8dragon-springs-seennaked" "Hell no." You reply, walking further on. "But I set a good trap up and everything!" She shouts from behind. "My Disciples are holding their breath underwater! Don't make them wait!" "I hope they drown!" You casually shout back without turning around. She doesn't follow, no doubt having her chi sorcery Sect leaning on some ritual they've placed on that one location. You find a different hotspring far enough away and relax for a nice bath. <<var $displayer (0.18+($insight * 0.02))>>\ <<include "ch8dragon-checkbuffer">>\ An hour into your meditations you're interrupted by a subtle sensation in your spiritual senses. #use-if ((($element1 is "Storm") or ($element2 is "Storm")) and ((($chipool + ($soul / 2)) - $chispent) gte 1)) Electrocute the water. [Requires Storm, Costs 1 Chi] "Hmmm..." You say, looking around for traps. Nah, who are you kidding. No one else has managed to peacefully remain at the hot springs, and this is //Leona//. You don't need to look to know this is a trap. "I suppose I can come in." You reply\ <<if ($heshe is "she")>>\ with an innocent smile, dipping a foot into the water. <<else>>\ while lowering yourself into the hotspring, sitting down on a natural rock formation. <</if>>\ Then you jolt $aurapressure Aura Pressure worth of Storm Chi \ <<if ($heshe is "she")>>\ down your leg \ <<else>>\ out of your body \ <</if>>\ and into the water. ''[1 Chi Spent]'' <<var $chispent + 1>>\ <<apboost 5>>\ "HHGGGGLGGLGGHHHH." Leona grunts, seizuring hard enough to slam her head back into the stone behind her. Four of her Disciples in Sunbringer uniform bubble up to the surface, unconscious. Your attack ends and smoke drifts off Leona's burning blonde hair when she recovers. <<if ($heshe is "she")>>\ "Oh you piece of shit!" \ <<else>>\ "Oh you rotten bitch!" \ <</if>>\ She shouts, dipping under the water and grabbing two katana hidden beneath the surface. "That does it! No one makes a fool of me and-" "Yyyeow!" Screams a familiar voice across the waters. You and Leona both look across the shocked waters. <<var $val 191919>>\ <<page "???" "ch8dragon-springs-sourceofsound">>\ <</choose>>

<<if (dig($compquest1, 2) is 9)>>\ ''[Event Failed: Took Both Swords in the Heist!]'' <<else>>\ ''[Event Failed: Leona Disposition Too Low!]'' <</if>>\ After submerging you see four of her Sunbringer Disciples surrounding you underwater, each standing on a ritual circle carved into the stone hotspring floor. "BRBRBRBRBRRRRR!" You threaten underwater. "Br! Br! Brbr!" Replies one of them with an overly smug air of superiority. You thrust a finger forward in accusation and drag a thumb across your throat. "BRRBR, BRRR BRRBRBR!" <<var $fourwindsburningseal true>>\ ''//"Four Winds Burning Seal."//'' They all somehow announce underwater, activating their ritual circles at once and ruining the fun dialogue you were enjoying. <<choose "ch8dragon-springs-takingthehit">> #Brace yourself! -> "ch8dragon-springs-brace" #use-if (($element1 is "Water") or ($element2 is "Water")) Spin the water into a whirlpool. [Requires Water] -> "ch8dragon-springs-threexclaim" All water in a twenty-foot radius answers to your call when you seize upon it. The four Sunbringer Disciples all aim their two-handed empowered energy blasts at you //until// the water around them rips them off their feet. Their attacks fizzle out, their bodies fly around you in a circle, and you lift the water higher and higher. A swirling tornado of water rises over your head with all four of your enemies spinning wildly out of control. With a spiritual grip on the effect, you shrink it down and stand at the outer edge. Your water vortex becomes a spinning cylinder of power ten-feet tall, with the Sunbringers flung around the outer edge while screaming whenever their heads break the surface. They don't scream long; you're waiting on the outside striking each in the face with the enhanced bludgeoning power of their spinning force. <<var $val 8121212>>\ #use-if ((($element1 is "Ice") and ($element1rank gte 2)) or (($element2 is "Ice") and ($element2rank gte 2))) Flashfreeze the water. [Requires Ice (Adept)] -> "ch8dragon-springs-threexclaim" You rip all heat from the hot springs in a single Yin-aligned inhalation. One minute the steaming water around you warms all present. The next you're standing in the middle of a frozen lake. All four of Leona's Disciples lie frozen against their will around you, overpowered by your Shugendō mastery. You break the ice overhead and rise out before turning back with more $auracolor chi charged around each fist. "It looks like you're the ones who fell into a trap." You say, preparing to shatter all four enemies. <<var $val 9043248>>\ #use-if (($style is "Aoyusumu") and ((($chipool + ($soul / 2)) - $chispent) gte 1)) Erect a spherical kinetic barrier. [Requires Aoyusumu, Costs 1 Chi] Four ritual circles activate to empower the Sunbringers energy attacks with the Fire Chi of the hot springs. Each holds their hands out, one palm over the other, all facing you in the center. They unleash their quadrupled amplified might in a barrage of swirling, boiling water that erupts into flames around your body. ''[1 Chi Spent]'' <<var $chispent + 1>>\ <<apboost 2>>\ You thrust both hands outward and form a spherical orb of kinetic Sacred Chi around your body. <<var $val 8383838>>\ #show-if ($eblocktech isnot "") use-if ((($chipool + ($soul / 2)) - $chispent) gte 1) ''//"$eblocktech!!"//'' [Costs 1 Chi] Four ritual circles activate to empower the Sunbringers energy attacks with the Fire Chi of the hot springs. Each holds their hands out, one palm over the other, all facing you in the center. They unleash their quadrupled amplified might in a barrage of swirling, boiling water that erupts into flames around your body. ''[1 Chi Spent]'' <<var $chispent + 1>>\ <<apboost 2>>\ ''//"$eblocktech!!"//'' You shout, forming your Energy Block Technique around yourself. <<var $val 35135>>\ #show-if ($eblocktech is "") use-if ($eblocktech isnot "") Activate an Energy Block Technique. [None Focused!] -> "death" <</choose>>

"Thank the Ancestors, I could use a bath!" You squeel, cannonballing into the water with an ungraceful splash. <<if ((($leonarep gte 57) or ((dig($compquest1, 2) is 6) or (dig($compquest1, 2) is 7))) and (dig($compquest1, 2) isnot 9))>>\ <<if ((dig($compquest1, 2) is 6) or (dig($compquest1, 2) is 7))>>\ ''[Event Passed: Gave Leona Both Swords]'' <<else>>\ ''[Leona Disposition Check Passed]'' <</if>>\ <<var $leonarep + 10>>\ You dive through the refreshing waters and rise in the middle of the hotspring. Spitting out a stream of water, an involuntary content sigh escapes your lips. "This is unreasonably nice for a Trial. Honestly I thought you were going to betray me with some sort of Sunbringer ambush." "I was!" Leona chirps cheerily. "There are four ritual circles in the pool to help my weaker Disciples combine a cool attack against you. The Four Winds Burning Seal. It was going to be a real scorcher." <<var $fourwindsburningseal true>>\ You look underwater to see chi thrumming off four ritual circles in different corners of the spring, frown, and resurface. "Why'd you change your mind?" Leona twists to the side and flips her hair, looking at you over one shoulder dramatically. "Because we're friends, bitch. Just don't tell them that. I've got my lackeys up to a lot of evil shit and can't let them lose steam." You shake your head in disappointment. "You have to stop calling yourself evil. We're trying to become Archons." "My word!" Leona gasps, insulted. "I'll have you know some evil stuff is inherently good! Like copyright infringement." "Copy what?" Leona looks off to the side, barely suppressing a smug grin. "You'll find out when you get to high society. Let's just say a little //someone// in the Mystic Lands would be pissed if they found out my Disciples recreated this little technique." <<include "ch8dragon-springs-useletat">>\ <<else>>\ <<include "ch8dragon-springs-ambushed">>\ <</if>>\

"I could use a bath," you confess, "but no funny business. These are the Trials we're talking." <<if ($leonaromance gte 1)>>\ <<var $leonaromance - 1>>\ <</if>>\ Leona's face twist. "Are you turning me down?" "Sure am." You say, disrobing moderately and dropping into the hot springs. <<var $leonarep - 3>>\ <<if ((($leonarep gte 57) or ((dig($compquest1, 2) is 6) or (dig($compquest1, 2) is 7))) and (dig($compquest1, 2) isnot 9))>>\ <<if ((dig($compquest1, 2) is 6) or (dig($compquest1, 2) is 7))>>\ ''[Event Passed: Gave Leona Both Swords]'' <<else>>\ ''[Leona Disposition Check Passed]'' <</if>>\ <<var $leonarep + 8>>\ "Huh." She says with a nonchalant shrug. "That's never happened to me before. Thanks, I hate it." "You're welcome." You reply, swimming through the pleasing hot springs and genuinely enjoying yourself. Leona sighs, leaning her head back. "The best laid plans often fall to dust. I'll have you know I had sent my ambushing Disciples on a distracting wild hunt so we could have unreasonably kinky sex. Now that ''that's'' off the table, I guess I can put my clothes back on." <<include "ch8dragon-springs-useletat">>\ <<else>>\ <<include "ch8dragon-springs-ambushed">>\ <</if>>\

Four ritual circles activate to empower the Sunbringers energy attacks with the Fire Chi of the hot springs. Each holds their hands out, one palm over the other, all facing you in the center. They unleash their quadrupled amplified might in a barrage of swirling, boiling water that erupts into flames around your body. You brace yourself, covering your body in a layer of $auracolor chi. <<var $combatstat "soul">>\ <<var $combatstat2 "fortitude">>\ <<discount "Kiihakai" $stylerank>>\ <<discount "Aoyusumu" 1>>\ <<discount "Fire" 1>>\ <<discount "Ice" 1>>\ <<discount "Water" 1>>\ <<combatcheck 12>>\ <<if ($passcheck is false)>>\ Water explodes skyward around you. The hotspring is emptied from the force of their blast and pain wracks through your body from all sides. One beam lances into your lower back, another between your arm and ribs, another into the right side of the back of your head, scorching your ear, and the final beam is the only one you block with both arms. The physical trauma of all four attacks at once singes your body and soul. <<woundcheck 2 false false>>\ Yet you remain. //Pissed off.// <<var $ruthless + 3>>\ <<var $apval 2>>\ <<var $txt "noshow">>\ <</if>>\ <<include "ch8dragon-springs-takingthehit">>\

The two of you eventually do get around to playing mahjong near the defeated, unconscious bodies of her Disciples. One of them wakes up at some point and ogles his Sectmistress while pretending to be dead. You let him have a pass, considering you kicked the crap out of him. <<if ($lore gte 2)>>\ ''[Lore 2 Check Passed]'' ''[Prestige Increased]'' <<var $prestige + 1>>\ Also, you beat Leona at mahjong. \ <<else>>\ ''[Lore 2 Check Passed]'' <<var $prestige - 1>>\ ''[Prestige Lost]'' <<var $prestige + 1>>\ Also, Leona whooped you at mahjong. \ <</if>>\ A feat that would not matter if it weren't for Misuka's eyes glowing pink and golden while she watches the two of you from across the hot springs. You begin to suspect she's been scrying Leona's naked body to someone. <<var $displayer (0.15+($insight * 0.01))>>\ <<include "ch8dragon-checkbuffer">>\ <<page "Continue" "ch8dragon-finisharea">>\

"Mahjong?" You ask. "Like, the board game?" "You bet!" Leona rips three fuuinjutsu tags to manifest a mahjong board, tea, and grapes by the side of the hot springs. "Dare you accept a rival Sectmistress's dastardly challenge?" <<choose "ch8dragon-springs-seennaked">> #"Sure." The two of you spend the next fifty minutes playing mahjong, enjoying a large bowl of grapes, and drinking different flavors of tea. Leona gets around to talking about all the islands she's heard about where different tea leaf shrubs grow distinct flavors because of the soil, ambient chi, and weather differences. She's seemed enraptured by the details of foreign lands; you start to suspect she has no intention of returning to the mountains. <<var $leonarep + 4>>\ It's a surreal feeling when you realize that becoming an Archon would mean the same fate for you. <<if ($lore gte 2)>>\ ''[Lore 2 Check Passed]'' <<var $solexp + 3>>\ Also, you kick her ass at mahjong, winning a Soul Treasure you'd gambled over. ''[Item Gained: 1 Weak Soul Treasure]'' <<var $weaksoultreasure + 1>>\ Despite her loss, she keeps a steady eye on your moves and tries to discern what went wrong with her strategy at every turn. ''[Leona's Combat Prowess Increased]'' <<var $leonacombat + 1>>\ <<else>>\ ''[Lore 2 Check Failed]'' Also, she kicks your ass at mahjong, winning a bet you really didn't expect to have to pay out. <<costcalc 50>>\ <</if>>\ Eventually you both sense her Disciples returning. She groans and complains about some grand scheme to betray a Sect they'd allied with, and how it's going to interrupt her hotspring time. You give her the barest attempt at pretending to be sympathetic and head out before you have to crush her followers in front of her. <<var $displayer (0.14+($insight * 0.01))>>\ <<include "ch8dragon-checkbuffer">>\ <<page "Continue" "ch8dragon-finisharea">>\ #"I'll focus on my meditations, sorry." [Leave] "I'll focus on my meditations, sorry." You say, turning the Lunargoth down. <<var $leonarep - 1>>\ "You used to be cool." Leona says, chewing her cheek and slowly descending her lower face underwater. She blows bubbles grumpily at you while you leave to find a different hotspring in which to meditate. <<var $displayer (0.18+($insight * 0.02))>>\ <<include "ch8dragon-checkbuffer">>\ An hour into your meditations you're interrupted by a subtle sensation in your spiritual senses. <</choose>>

"Hell yes." You reply, diving into the water to get closer to the naked blonde bombshell across the water. <<if ((((($leonarep gte 57) or ((dig($compquest1, 2) is 6) or (dig($compquest1, 2) is 7))) and (dig($compquest1, 2) isnot 9)) and ($heshe is "he")) and ($leonaromance gte 1))>>\ <<if ((dig($compquest1, 2) is 6) or (dig($compquest1, 2) is 7))>>\ ''[Event Passed: Gave Leona Both Swords]'' <<else>>\ ''[Leona Disposition Check Passed]'' <</if>>\ <<var $leonarep + 5>>\ <<var $leonaromance + 1>>\ Your supernatural strength brings you across the hotspring in a single push. You reach Leona's golden-hued legs underwater and grab her thighs, pulling yourself up to rise out of the water's surface. Leona looks down on you with smug arrogance, using her upper arms to squeeze her tits together as your face rises to their level. "I can't believe they call me crazy when you're the one falling for obvious traps." She says with a laugh. She shakes her head, her golden hair cascading over her shoulders while sighing off to the side. "Such a shame it's ruined, seeing as I told my Disciples to go stop your reinforcements on the other side of the mountain just before you arrived." You reach the woman and stand, \ <<if ($bodytype is "Manlet")>>\ rising to meet her gaze. \ <<else>>\ towering over her. \ <</if>>\ "I didn't bring reinforcements." "I know, \ <<if ((dig($compquest1, 2) is 6) or (dig($compquest1, 2) is 7))>>\ just like I know you didn't have to let me have both swords in our heist. I'm such a bad girl though, my poor missunderstood mind can only think of one way to thank you." \ <<var $leonarep + 12>>\ <<var $metleona - (dig($metleona, 1) * 10000000000)>>\ <<var $metleona + 50000000000>>\ /* she's trying to slut it up but actually catching feelings */\ <<else>>\ and that's what makes it hot." \ /* no rep boost, she's legit slutting it up */\ <</if>>\ She licks her lips and tilts her head \ <<if ($bodytype is "Manlet")>>\ to the side, \ <<else>>\ up, \ <</if>>\ running one hand along the front of your soaked pants with the other squeezing tight against her chest. "Betraying my own clueless, loyal, hopeless men to ''fuck'' the enemy. So shameful. So forbidden. My father's ghost must be rolling in its grave. Gods, I hope he's watching." "You're crazy." You say to the woman about to molest you in broad daylight during the most important test of her life. "Fuck yes I am." Leona purrs, eyeing you hungrily. She drops to her knees in front of you and leans forward, lifting her ample chest and pressing it against your lap. "Now call me a good girl and I'll use my mouth too." <<page "Continue" "ch8dragon-springs-seduction2">>\ <<else>>\ <<include "ch8dragon-springs-ambushed">>\ <</if>>\

Neither of you notice Misuka the Performer's real body in the spring water, a mere forty feet away. She looks on with concern and disgust as Leona works her oversized chest into the next twenty minutes of head-bobbing on your lap, followed by forty minutes of far more intricate acts of acrobatics and fatherless behavior. Ever the professional, Misuka conjures a scrying orb to broadcast the view. ''[Shameful Behavior: Infamy Increased]'' <<var $infamy + 2>>\ ''[Rival Romance: Prestige Increased]'' <<var $prestige + 4>>\ <<var $pwt_leona true>>\ <<var $leonaromance + 3>>\ <<var $metleona - dig($metleona, 11)>>\ <<var $metleona + 4>>\ <<if (dig($metleona, 1) isnot 5)>>\ <<var $metleona - (dig($metleona, 1) * 10000000000)>>\ <<var $metleona + 40000000000>>\ /* people saw you */\ <</if>>\ <<apboost 10>>\ <<page "Continue" "ch8dragon-springs-seduction3">>\

"Ahhhhh." Leona breathes out, collapsing onto you in a mess of golden hair. "That was...so good. I'm the...best." She starts snoring //immediately.// You, meanwhile, are kept awake from the lacerations covering your chest and back from the scarlet chi draped along her fingernails. <<var $linebreaker 0>>\ <<var $bonbon 0>>\ <<spendall 2 true>>\ <<if ($woundbonus isnot 0)>>\ <<var $bonbon ($woundbonus * 3)>>\ ''[Battle Hardening: +$bonbon Aura Pressure]'' <<var $aurapressure + $bonbon>>\ <</if>>\ <<var $bonusapcount + 0.1>>\ <<var $val (100*$bonusapcount)>>\ ''[Dual Cultivation: Max Measurable AP Increased by $val%]'' "Worth it." You croak out from beneath the stacked, unconscious, dangerously unstable lioness of a woman collapsed upon you from fatigue. Her legs are even still draped around your hips; she wouldn't let you pull away. "IT'S THE THUNDERFALLER!" Screams a man from down the hotspring's path. "Huh-what-now?" You grumble, looking up to see five Sunbringers sprinting up the rocky path of the mountain. "THE THUNDERFALLER HAS SULLIED OUR SECTMISTRESS!" Screams one of the woman in front. "THE KILLING SEALS! USE THE KILLING SEALS!!" <<var $fourwindsburningseal true>>\ ''//"Four Winds Burning Seal!"//'' Four of them chant, creating ritual seals of burning light in the air. "Shit." You croak out, leaping to your feet and collecting your things. "Shit shit shit shit." Your in-tact Power and Agility Cores take you off the mountain in one mighty running leap, narrowly escaping some sort of blinding flash from five chi sorcerers multi-casting a spell. You have no intention of facing whatever power they're charging right now. The problem is not that you cannot defeat them. The problem is you're still naked. <<var $displayer (0.10+($insight * 0.01))>>\ <<include "ch8dragon-checkbuffer">>\ <<if (dig($metleona, 1) is 5)>>\ <<page "Continue" "ch8dragon-springs-seduction4">>\ <<else>>\ <<page "Continue" "ch8dragon-finisharea">>\ <</if>>\

Tumbling naked through the treetops of the jungle is exactly as uncomfortable as you thought it would be. Unfortunately, you didn't have that thought until you'd already lept off the steepest cliff near the hot springs. Escaping the Sunbrings was worth it, if only to not attract Misuka's orbs, but removing all the tree debris from your body is- Hold on. What's this? Scratching bark slivers off your back, you find a paper fuuinjutsu tag stuck to you with nothing but sweat. It has a kiss mark on the front. Activating it, you're surprised to see a familiar object when the smoke clears. Somehow, in the middle of lovemaking, Leona's planted a gift on you. One of the blades from your heist. <<choose "ch8dragon-springs-seduction5">> #Kagutsuchi, Goro's Katana of Flame Chi <<var $itemkatana_2 232672300>>\ ''[Item Gained: Kagutsuchi, Katana of Flame Chi]'' #Ikazuchi, Goro's Katana of Storm Chi <<var $itemkatana_3 232513600>>\ ''[Item Gained: Ikazuchi, Katana of Storm Chi]'' <</choose>>

You smile at the blade and find it's even been improved since the robbery. She's put clear effort into sharpening its edge. As you hastily put your clothes on in the middle of a hostile jungle, you can't stop yourself from smiling at the absurd idea going through your head. Is Leona Bangle, the psychopathic scheming Sectmistress of the worst people in Outer West, catching feelings for you? You tie the blade at your side and resist the urge to go back up and see her. Ugh. Damn it. You've got to stop smiling. You're here for a Trial. <<page "Continue" "ch8dragon-finisharea">>\

''[Infamy Increased]'' <<var $infamy + 1>>\ <<if ($heshe is "he")>>\ <<if ($bodytype is "Handsome")>>\ ''[Handsome Bodytype Event: Prestige Increased]'' <<var $prestige + 1>>\ <<elseif (($style is "Midorikatai") and ($bodytype is "Muscular"))>>\ ''[Midorikatai Muscular Bodytype: Prestige Increased]'' <<var $prestige + 1>>\ <</if>>\ <<else>>\ ''[Female Event: Infamy Increased Further]'' <<var $infamy + 1>>\ ''[Female Event: Prestige Increased]'' <<var $prestige + 2>>\ <<var $score_wild + 1>>\ <<var $score_cursed + 1>>\ <<var $score_bladed - 1>>\ <<if (($bodytype is "Hourglass") or ($bodytype is "Bodacious"))>>\ ''[$bodytype Bodytype Event: Prestige Increased Further]'' <<var $prestige + 2>>\ <<var $score_wild + 1>>\ <</if>>\ <</if>>\ <<if ($leonatat is false)>>\ Suspecting the worst, you look up to the sky where Leona was wearily peering \ <<else>>\ You crack an eye open \ <</if>>\ and see one of Misuka's scrying orbs ten feet above you, showing your naked body to the entire city of Nanhou. <<if ($honor gt 60)>>\ ''[Honor 60 Check Passed]'' <<var $infamy - 1>>\ ''[Infamy Reduced]'' You shake your head slowly and rise, getting dressed without letting the spectacle deter you. "Nice butt!" Misuka shouts through the orb. "You've seen it here, folks! The Heavenly Ascension Trials have only the most modest of nudists!" <<if ($leonatat is true)>>\ "I'm literally //right here//!" Leona shouts in frustration at Misuka's orb that follows you instead. "Leave the $manwoman alone and get a better view!" <</if>>\ You ignore the Kitsune's attempts to provoke a reaction. Once clothed you march on to your next \ <<if ($leonatat is true)>>\ destination before the distracted Sunbringer Disciples come back. <<else>>\ destination. <</if>>\ <<else>>\ ''[Honor 60 Check Failed]'' "Oh shit!" You scream out in shock, reflexively \ <<if ($leonatat is false)>>\ grabbing your clothes and \ <</if>>\ scrambling into the \ <<if ($race is "Kitsune")>>\ woods with your two tails flailing as you sprint away. "SHIT SHIT SHIT SHIT FUCK YOU MISUKA I THOUGHT WE HAD FOX SOLIDARITY!" <<else>>\ woods. "SHIT SHIT SHIT SHIT FUCK YOU MISUKA YOU PEEPING PERVERT!" <</if>>\ "Nice butt!" She shouts through the orb as you flee into the woods. <<if ($leonatat is true)>>\ "I know, right??" Leona adds, hollering. \ <<if ($heshe is "she")>>\ "Shake it, girl!" \ <<else>>\ "Turn around! Run backwards!" <</if>>\ <</if>>\ ''[Prestige Lost]'' <<var $prestige - 1>>\ <</if>>\ <<page "Continue" "ch8dragon-finisharea">>\

Across the hotpsring, Light shimmers into the pink and golden shape of a woman before solidifying into Misuka the Performer. The real Misuka, not the scrying orbs. <<if ($val is 9043248)>>\ She's holding both arms in a shiver from the new-freezing waters \ <<elseif ($val is 191919)>>\ Her hair and tail fur looks frazzled from your attack \ <<elseif ($val is 8121212)>>\ Her face and ears soaked from your tidal pool \ <<else>>\ Her ears flattened to avoid the rain falling on her head \ <</if>>\ and her fangs bare at your direction. \ <<if ((($val is 191919) or ($val is 8121212)) or ($val is 9043248))>>\ "Watch where you're aiming that, $titlename! \ <<else>>\ "Watch where you're fighting, you two! \ <</if>>\ Minus one point from the Mystic Lands for improper chi restraint!" You and Leona stop powering up to look over to the angered Kitsune. "You can do that?" You both ask. "Of course I can!" Misuka shouts, snarling. She lowers her fangs to look west. "Right?" "One point deducted from the Mystic Lands score for \ <<if ($val is 191919)>>\ $titlename." \ <<else>>\ $titlename and Sectmistress Bangle." \ <</if>>\ Confirms the dual-voice from a Judge's Noble Mask, as if he were standing next to you. "Hah!" Misuka says, throwing an arm out to point a condemning finger at you. You suddenly realize she's naked. "One point to the ''Imperial Trial Score'' of $titlename, on behalf of the Wild Lands, for revealing the announcer's naked body." Says a dual voice from the east with a hearty, arrogant chuckle. <<var $score_mystic - 1>>\ <<var $score_misc + 1>>\ "Wha-?!" Misuka's mouth drops, manifesting an illusory robe over herself and covering her chest with both hands. "You can't be serious! You only get one of those to give out in all Twelve Trials!" "My decision is final, immutable, and well-spent." Replies the distant, rumbling voice of the Wild Judge. "Nooo!" Misuka howls to the sky, dropping her head back in defeat. <<page "Continue" "ch8dragon-springs-sourceofsound2">>\

<<if ($heshe is "she")>>\ "Men are pigs." Leona says with a disappointed twist of the mouth. "True, but that pig just increased my score." You counter, pointing a thumb east. "I like that pig." "Can you two take this fight somewhere else?" Misuka interrupts. "I know it sounds like I'm asking, but pretend I am telling. Go take this fight somewhere else." <<else>>\ "This is bullshit!" Leona shouts. "Where's my point, huh? I baited him into this!" "Go bait him off somewhere else." Misuka demands, crossing her arms. "I'm controlling twelve scrying images across hundreds of miles, can you give a girl some damn //privacy//? I need to focus!" <</if>>\ Leona quirks an eyebrow at the announcer. "Shouldn't you be happy to have a fight to announce?" "I sure would." Misuka says, shaking her red hair and ears from side to side to dry off. "If it was //away// from my hot springs! This was one of the job perks, quit mucking it up!" Leona looks to you. "Well...I'm not leaving the hot springs. They're comfortable." You shrug. "I'm not either. This walk wasn't for fun." "Well then how do we pass the time? //Not// killing each other? I've got four more plans in motion, I put a lot of time into this ambush!" "No." You correct her. "You //wasted// a lot of time on this ambush." Leona walks to the end of the hotspring and dips back in up to her mouth, blowing bubbles to change her voice. "Want to play mahjong?" <<choose "ch8dragon-springs-mahjongplayin">> #"Sure." "Sure." You say, sitting down as she takes out fuuinjutsu tag and rips it, forming a mahjong board and pieces. "Great, so you take these pieces and I'll-" "Where were you hiding that tag?" "Huh?" Leona blinks. "Where were you hiding that fuuinjutsu tag? You're butt-naked." Leona looks down, concerned. "Where...//was// I hiding that fuuinjutsu tag?" #"Are you going to be naked the whole time?" "Are you going to be naked the whole time?" You ask. <<if ($heshe is "she")>>\ "Uh, yeah, duh." Leona says as if you're the one being unreasonable. "This is a hotspring, girl! Adopt the local culture!" You give her a suspicious glance. "The local culture is to where your undergarments." "Whoa." Leona says, baffled. "Thunderfall upbringing really fucked you up." <<else>>\ <<var $leonarep + 2>>\ <<var $leonaromance + 1>>\ "Uh, yeah, duh." Leona says, puffing her chest out and looking down while maintaining eye contact. She bats her eyelashes and holds both hands together down at her waist, turning to give you a good view. "How else would I seduce the enemy into making a mistake?" <</if>>\ #"I'd rather eat glass." [Leave to meditate] -> "ch8dragon-springs-seennaked" "I'd rather eat glass than play a game with you." You announce happily and truthfully, leaving to find a better hotspring. <<var $leonarep - 7>>\ "Okay fine!" Leona shouts as you leave. "Well I'd rather, uh, you go fuck yourself!" You shrug without turning around. "UGH!" Leona screams as you depart. It doesn't take long for you to find an equally large hot spring further up; one that's out of range of any major energy blasts. You enjoy a nice relaxing dip and set your clothes aside, meditating on your dragon medallion. <<var $displayer (0.18+($insight * 0.02))>>\ <<include "ch8dragon-checkbuffer">>\ An hour into your meditations you're interrupted by a subtle sensation in your spiritual senses. <</choose>>

<<if $txt isnot "noshow">>\ Water explodes skyward around you. The hotspring is emptied from the force of their blast and it doesn't even rain back down on you until the smoke clears from their attack. The smoke from which you emerge, unscathed. <<var $apval 5>>\ <</if>>\ You close in on the first victim with a punch to the gut, pressing his spine behind the rest of his body. When he flies backward you spin backward with a backhand to the skull of a Sunbringer charging in for a grapple. The two left leap backward to charge energy but you dash at one with a feint-kick, missing by an inch when he pulls his head back, then land your foot down next to him in range to grab his shirt and throw him at his ally. <<apboost $apval>>\ When the two are in one place, you pull both hands together and launch a beam of $auracolor energy into their bodies. Leona flashes in front of you, \ <<if ($aurapressure gt 2000)>>\ deflecting the attack with a sheen of energy over her skin. An Energy Block Technique. <<else>>\ slicing the beam in two. <</if>>\ <<include "ch8dragon-springs-trynotleona">>\

//!!!// You leap back when two slicing beams of Bladed Chi crash into the ground next to \ <<if ($jadedragonfoundation is true)>>\ you. Yet a thought crosses your mind: how long it will be before you get used to being a Jade Dragon and stop evading such weak attacks. Ah well, you saved your clothing, and it wasn't free. <<else>>\ you. <</if>>\ Leona approaches \ <<if ($val is 9043248)>>\ from atop the ice. \ <<else>>\ as your water effect ends and her Disciples drift into the restoring pond around you. \ <</if>>\ <<include "ch8dragon-springs-trynotleona">>\

"Try not to kill my Disciples." She says, aiming both swords at you while completely naked. \ <<if ($leonaromance gte 2)>>\ "It gets me all hot and bothered." <<else>>\ "It gets my bloodlust going." <</if>>\ <<page "Continue" "ch8dragon-springs-trynotleona2">>\

"Watch it!" Shouts a woman's voice from across the hot springs. You and Leona both look over to the source of the sound. <<page "???" "ch8dragon-springs-sourceofsound">>\

She reaches up to her collarbone and runs two fingers against her skin. As soon as she does, a puff of smoke surrounds her. When it clears in the already-foggy hotspring she's no longer naked. Instead, her body is covered in silver and yellow armor akin to the Waverunner uniform she'd worn in the past. "What was that?" You ask, floating in the waters. "Seals!" She says excitedly. "Have you been to the Radiant Weaver's Hall?" <<if (dig($placevisit, 12) isnot 0)>>\ "I have, yeah. I didn't know anyone cared so much about clothes until I saw their prices." "Then as you know... \ <<else>>\ "Can't say I have, why?" "Well..." \ <</if>>\ Leona smiles wide, raising her chin with pride. "They have a //special// seal. A reusable fuuinjutsu they use on their pricier clothing. It lets you swap out your clothes in an instant. I had my Disciples examine it and make one for my armor. Cool, right?" You can't help but nod. It's flashy, rare, and useful. You're legally required to call it cool. "Do you want one?" She asks, holding up a hand buzzing with Bladed Chi along her fingernails. "I can tattoo it into your collarbone if you want. It's colorless and you'll be able to change your equipment in the middle of a fight like me. Really helps for someone who's nude all the time. Or maybe it //encourages// me to be nude all the time..." She seems lost in philosophical debate with herself as you decide. <<choose "ch8dragon-springs-playmahjong">> #"Hand over that sweet, sweet Seal." [Unlock Changing Equipment in Combat] "Hand over that sweet, sweet Seal." You say, swimming to the edge of the hotspring and laying on your back. <<var $leonarep + 2>>\ "I thought you'd never ask." Leona leans over\ <<if ($heshe is "he")>>\ you menacingly, resting her chest on your yours to cushion her in place. \ <<else>>\ you menacingly, smiling all too wide. \ <</if>>\ The scarlet Bladed Chi running over her fingernails reflects like fires burning in her green and blue eyes. "This is going to hurt //so// much." <<page "Continue" "ch8dragon-springs-useletat2">>\ #"I'll pass on foreign chi getting embedded into my bones." "I'll pass on foreign chi getting embedded into my bones." You say with a suspicious stare at the woman. "Especially since you stole my ship, stole my crew, and\ <<if (dig($compquest1, 1) gte 5)>>\ betrayed me in a heist." \ <</if>>\ <<var $leonarep - 2>>\ "Fair." Leona says, smiling while bunching her long hair up on both sides of her head. "BUT! Could I sell you on a game of mahjong instead?" #use-if ($thievery gte 4) "I can already do that." [Thievery 4] ''[Thievery 4 Check Passed]'' <<var $agiexp + 10>>\ <<var $leonarep + 3>>\ "I can already do that." Leona scoffs. "Bullsh-" You swap out your outfit for another before she finishes the word, moving your arms in a blur. "What the fuck?!" She shouts, jumping out of the water with surprise. "That's awesome! You didn't even use chi! How the hell did you do that?" "It's all in the wrist." You brag, dusting off your shoulder. It doesn't have the same effect though, seeing as your clothes are wet. Leona puffs out one cheek. "Well, I've got nothing to offer then. Can't compete with legendary wrists. Want to play mahjong while we wait out the Trials?" <</choose>>

"I thought you said that was going to hurt." You say, looking over the sore-yet-unblemished skin where her chi's taken hold into your bones like a tattoo or a brand. "I lied." She laughs, laying back into the water and floating on her back. The woman leisurely kicks away and lets her hair drift in all directions while stretching. "Does it work? Tell me it works." You scratch at your collarbone and layer your fingers with the barest hint of chi, then //pull// to raise the Seal's dormant energy. A wide burst of white smoke surrounds you. When it clears you feel the water touching you less. Your nearly naked form, undressed to enjoy the hotspring, not sports all your clothing and equipment when the smoke clears. ''[Ability Unlocked: Combat Equipment Change]'' <<var $leonatat true>>\ "This is fantastic!" You say, pulling the invisible tattoo again to store your gear away into its fuuinjutsu seals. "I know, right?" Leona says, leaning up and swimming in place. "Just another miracle of-oh my Ancestors." "What?" You ask as the smoke around you begins to clear. "Uh..." Leona looks up into the sky and cringes. "Nothing! Nothing's wrong. Maybe put your clothes back on? For no reason?" You look down to see you're completely naked. Her seal stored your underwear. <<include "ch8dragon-springs-seennaked">>\

<<script>>console.clear();<</script>>\ <<var $daggerfallinghailstorm false>>\ <<var $playtimedevastation false>>\ <<var $earpiercer false>>\ /* call a giant catfish made from the element beneath your feet, it charges into your opponent and crushes them into something */\ /* 1 = use it, 2 = call the fish itself, more damaging */\ <<var $tidalcall 0>>\ <<var $learnedtidalcall false>>\ <<var $fourwindsburningseal false>>\ <<var $lunarchain false>>\ <<var $worldhunger false>>\ <<var $deathsplinter true>>\ <<var $trialofthedragon false>>\ <<var $hourtimer 6>>\ <<var $toldlimits false>>\ <<var $countedap 1>>\ <<var $bonusapcount 1>>\ <<var $usedbufferb false>>\ <<var $leavetype "">>\ <<var $loc "South">>\ <<var $val 0>>\ <<var $val2 0>>\ <<var $txt "">>\ <<var $binker 0>>\ <<var $dscore 0>>\ <<var $dbonus 0>>\ <<var $kurofuggery 0>>\ <<var $wtime 1>>\ <<var $ntime 1>>\ <<var $stime 1>>\ <<var $etime 1>>\ <<var $edisplay "1 Hour">>\ <<var $wdisplay "1 Hour">>\ <<var $sdisplay "1 Hour">>\ <<var $ndisplay "2 Hours">>\ <<var $knowkeiko false>>\ <<var $nofails true>>\ <<var $sibrigger false>>\ <<var $gavesibscore false>>\ <<var $fangclue false>>\ <<var $skipchat false>>\ <<var $seenthis false>>\ <<var $jackdiff 0>>\ <<var $lostduel false>>\ <<var $sparemedallions 0>>\ <<var $chapter 8.3>>\ <<if ($heshe is "she")>>\ <<var $metsta + 10000000000>>\ <</if>>\ Heavy rain batters the sea to rock your docked ship. The Port District is filled with equally turbulent fleets, each with crews scrabbling to secure their cargo, crew, and the rigging. Thankfully the storm has retreated north instead of hitting Nanhou. You still decide to check your ship's inventory; Father always insisted that proper maintenance was the civilized <<print $manwoman>>'s superpower. "Visitor on deck!" Shouts your retainer Sum Yungai from atop a sail he's been stitching. You turn to your boarding plank and come face to face with an Imperial Clerk. "$titlename." The robed, Bōgu-masked figure announces. "All contestants are to report to the shipyard. The Dragon Trial is beginning." The clerk turns north and points. \ <<if (dig($trialdeets, 1) is 1)>>\ "Due to your Clan subordinates' participation under the Thunderfall Sect, you will report in with the rest of your village's Warriors." <<else>>\ "Report in with your Sectmaster." <</if>>\ "Already?" Jin asks from the upper platform where he's losing in a card game to just about everyone. "I'm still sore from competing yesterday." "Go." The Imperial Clerk commands, turning and leaving in a refreshingly mundane walking pace. "Gooooo." Rin repeats in the most mocking tone you've ever heard, her voice deepened and her tongue stuck out while teetering her head to the left and right. "Minus one point with the Bladed and Sacred Lands." The Clerk responds without turning around. "Shit." Rin cusses, turning to you. "Can he do that?" <<if ($honor lt 40)>>\ "He should do it twice." You reply. "Now get your gear. We've \ <<else>>\ "Get your gear, everyone." You reply, using professionalism to make up for her poor manners. "We've \ <</if>>\ got a Trial to win." <<page "Continue" "ch8dragon-start2">>\

The smell of flowers wafts over your nose. Three red bushy tails swirl in between you and Jack. Before you realize it, Misuka the Performer is already standing between you, her hands pressed to each of your chests. "Now now, \ <<if ($heshe is "she")>>\ ladies and \ <</if>>\ gentlemen, save it for the Trials! Fighting //is// encouraged during your tests, but fighting outside of the rules will result in banditry charges." <<include "ch8dragon-start-thencall">>\

I've been wasting time on that Judge's errand, waiting to get back out here, and lo and behold, the Heavens gift me with the chance to give our Trials the same circumstances as before!" "You're speaking nonsense." You say, letting $auracolor chi rise around you. "I must have hit your head too hard last time." "What I'm saying," Jack exudes his own oppressive aura of green Wild Chi, forcing nearby Martial Artists to their knees.\ <<if ($jadedragonfoundation is true)>>\ "Is I'm sick of you hiding that strange power we both know you have. \ <<else>>\ "Is you're weak, and \ <</if>>\ I need to get you motivated for a real fight. That's why I'm going to finish what I started with your family on that cliff, and I ''dare'' you to try and finish what you started on that same day." <<include "ch8dragon-start-fluffyintrusion">>\

"Than call me a bandit." Jack pushes the Kitsune's hand off his gi. "Call me whatever you want. It doesn't matter." "Well sure, it might not matter to you, you're young!" Misuka motions a thumb to the sky and holds a hand to her mouth as if whispering, though she doesn't whisper. "But it matters to them." You and Jack look up to see not all the clouds have retreated with the passing storm. Above the procession of two-thousand Martial Artists rests the flying fortress of the Judge's platform. At the edge of their cloud, five distinctly colored masked men and women stare down. All five have their eyes on you and Jack. "Figures." Jack sneers, dropping his aura. "The world keeps getting in my way." <<if ($val isnot 43526)>>\ He lets go of Rin and Jin before walking away. \ <<else>>\ He drags his thumb across his throat at you and walks away. \ <</if>>\ When he's just barely in sight through the crowd, he looks back to you. "Don't you get tired of all the distractions?" <<page "Continue" "ch8dragon-start7">>\

The dockmaster's shipyard is packed with nearly two-thousand Martial Artists. In every corner there are contestants standing in rows before their Sectmasters and Upper Disciples. Many have their auras contained in displays of military discipline, but others flare their power in displays of martial might. Halfway through the crowd, you see your hometown Sect. "Disciples, at attention!" Shouts a bow-wielding Thunderfall Upper Disciple you never spoke to much. You were hoping for Big Chu. <<if (dig($mettaio, 1) gte 6)>>\ //I was hoping to kill you in an unassuming tavern.// Says Taio the Bandit's ghost from the Hellscape in your soul. //We cannot always get what we want.// <</if>>\ "You three!" The bow-wielder shouts when noticing you, Rin, and Jin. "Get in line by Aura Pressure!" <<if ($honor lt 40)>>\ "Oh boy." \ <<else>>\ "This is going to ruffle some feathers." \ <</if>>\ You mutter, strolling over to the two lines of Thunderfall's twelve contestants. "Move." You say to the one in front. "I don't think so, Laborer." Says the nunchuck girl from your childhood. To her right, Big Zhu glares at you. To his right, Bo Lo remains standing at attention. The nunchuck girl's face tightens when she releases her Aura Pressure of 710, powering up with Earth Chi swirling around her. "Know your place!" She shouts. "Things have changed!" "Ohhh." Rin calls out, pushing past the girl to get into the back row. "You got even dumber? That's crazy!" "Bow to your senior Disciple, girl." Jin commands. <<if ($aurapressure gte 900)>>\ <<if ($aurapressure gte 1250)>>\ ''[Aura Pressure 1250 Check Passed]'' You power up in kind, launching $auracolor chi in all directions. Jin and Rin shield their eyes and hold their stance, but several of the weaker Thunderfallers are forced to step back away from you. ''[Prestige Increased]'' <<var $prestige + 1>>\ Dozens of spiritual scans run over your body as other Sects sense the disturbance. The nunchuck girl drops to her knees, fear in her eyes. She looks to Big Zhu angrily. \ <<else>>\ ''[Aura Pressure 900 Check Passed]'' You power up in kind, overpowering her aura. She's forced back at first, but as you step closer, her knees begin to buckle. She glares to Big Zhu. \ <</if>>\ "You said you were close in results in the Rabbit Trial!" "I was filled with elixirs!" Zhu shouts back, covering his face with both hands in defense. You notice cracks in his skin where the pressure of alchemical abuse is clear. "I warned you, fools." Bo Lo reprimands, eyes squinting. "The Laborer has grown strong under my tutelage." Your face twists from such an unexpected amount of bullshit. "That's not-" <<else>>\ ''[Aura Pressure 900 Check Failed]'' You power up in kind, pushing out your $auracolor aura, but it's not enough to assert your dominance. ''[Prestige Lost]'' <<var $prestige - 1>>\ The two of your auras press against each other when you take a step closer, but you're stopped by the Upper Disciple with a bow. "Get between her and Zhu." The man says. "Now. If you do not then so help me I-" <</if>>\ "Silence, Disciples!" Shouts a gruff voice approaching from behind. <<page "Continue" "ch8dragon-start3">>\

"The students greet Sectmaster Mao!" The Thunderfall Disciples chant at once. "All of you, shut up." Sectmaster Mao shouts back, stomping through the ranks from behind. \ <<if (dig($trialdeets, 1) isnot 2)>>\ He shoulderchecks you on his way to the front and turns. \ <<else>>\ He reaches the front and turns. \ <</if>>\ "That abomination they have as an announcer will be here in two minutes to declare the rules. Do not embarrass yourself. Do not embarrass me. Do not fail, even if it kills you." <<if (dig($trialdeets, 1) is 1)>>\ Jin and Rin clam up in the presence of their abductor, and when Mao notices them he finally looks to you. "Look who decided to join us today." He mocks, eyeing your siblings hungrily. "Stuck in the Dragon Trial pretty soon, eh Laborer? And your brats too?" You glare, not giving him the satisfaction. <</if>>\ "Look who decided to show up!" Shouts a voice cutting through the crowd. Martial Artists in silver and gold gi march through the procession to your left until their robed leader comes face to face with Mao, looking upward to make eye contact. "Bangle." Mao says. "You filled out well. Come to subjugate yourself to Thunderfall?" "Crusher." Leona replies back, dressed in ceremonial garb. "You look like shit. Come to watch me kill your son?" Mao snorts and turns away from her, pausing only when she draws a blade and presses it to the back of his neck. He's turned back around too fast for you to even see, grinning like a madman with lightning-like cracks of heat haze forming in the air around his fist. Ancestors, you want to see this. But you don't want to get dragged into their fiasco under the eyes of the Judges. <<if ($honor lt 50)>>\ "Save it for later." \ <<else>>\ "Hold it, both of you.” \ <</if>>\ You interrupt, pointing between them to a golden-pink light manifesting on the docks. "It's starting." The luminance takes the shape of a fox at first before shifting to the image of a three-tailed woman. <<page "Continue" "ch8dragon-start4">>\

Misuka the Performer manifests from the light with an audible pop. "Gooood morning, my Dragons!" She announces with cheer. "The day of the Dragon Trial is finally here! We've had to make some changes, but rest assured, they're improvements! The first eight-thousand contestants were released into a forest, each given a medallion that slowly measured their Aura Pressure. ''Your'' Dragon Trial will be much the same, but on your own private island!" "Who could afford a private island?" Leona asks, snapping her fingers to lead her Sect further away from Mao's as she talks. You don't need to hear the answer to know. Only one faction has been spending that much money on the Trials. Sakura Naka- "It was free." Misuka interrupts with a jingling tilt of her head, revealing several bells freshly tied into her hair. "It's abandoned, chi-rich, and haunted. Isn't that exciting?!" The crowd breaks out into whispers and gossiping, interrupted by a deafening flutter. Sails drop from forty nearby ships behind Misuka, all displaying the five-column crest of the Heavenly Ascension Trials. Misuka reclines onto a cloud of her scrying orbs. They raise her up to a nearby ship's mast and she points southwest. "Each of you will be getting an all-expenses-paid vacation to Guarded Blossom, a large island hosting a ransacked trade settlement two-hundred nautical miles southwest. There you will be released on four different shores. Don't fret over any extra steps, the rules this time are simple! Hold onto your medallion as long as you can, and that's it!" A clerk comes by and hands you a gold-looking small metal coin attached to a thin but reinforced ribbon. You put it on, just like every Martial Artist around you. "Our medallions will measure your Aura Pressure over six hours, slowly counting upward until it matches your full power. Every two-hundred Aura Pressure is worth one point. Fighting will impede its measurement, of course, but we expect plenty of skirmishes all the same." A nearby Human scoffs. "Who would fight when it jeopardizes their score?" "At least ''half'' of you." Misuka giggles with glee, looking over her shoulder at the crowd. "The medallions are real gold, and though only the one we give you will measure your Aura Pressure, you ''can'' keep any medallion you get your hands on to use as currency. We like to incentivize a good show." Heads turn left and right when you all realize that //two-thousand// contestants will be on the island at once. Two thousand medallions. Two thousand gold. <<page "That's twenty-thousand Shards...?!" "ch8dragon-start5">>\

"That's twenty-thousand Shards!" Hollers a salivating shirtless Lunargoth man. "Not so, my fashionably challenged Treeculler Star Pupil!" Misuka responds, hopping down and landing gracefully on the docks. She teeters playfully and holds both hands by her shoulders while she walks, snapping her fingers with each word. "Only half of you will be present at a time." She stops snapping, twitching an ear while scanning the crowd. "We're splitting the remaining Dragon Trials between two six-hour seeds of one-thousand people each. Separate by color, please!" A pink glow surrounds you, along with nine-hundred-ninety-nine others. The other thousand are surrounded in a golden glow instead. Your heart sinks, because among the golden glowing Martial Artists are the last two you wanted to be separated from. Rin and Jin. Yet there's not even enough time for sadness to show on your face. Another golden-glowing Martial Artist pushes his way through the crowd, arriving late. His shadow casts over your siblings from behind. The arrogant, predatory smile on his face tells you all you need to know of his intentions. They're the same as they've always been. <<page "Jack!!" "ch8dragon-start6">>\

"Aw man." Jin says, looking at his glowing hands. "I was hoping we'd finally be in the s-" "Now that's what I like to see!" Jack boisterously shouts, throwing his arm around Jin in a 'friendly' headlock from behind. "Entertainment for the pre-Trial!" Rin yelps and sprints away in a surged Agility Core. She doesn't make it three steps before Jack has her with his other arm. "Come on, you two, you get to finally play in the big leagues with your Star Pupil! Shouldn't you be happy?" He lifts them both by the necks with his elbows, voice growing grave. "Isn't this what you always wanted?" You stomp forward with barely restrained fury under the watchful eyes of the Imperial Clerks. "JACK!!" Jack's eyes light up like a hungry wolf finding a rabbit. "<<capall $name>>!!" <<choose "ch8dragon-start-pentup">> #"Hurt them and I will ''rip your spine out through your neck!''" <<var $ruthless + 2>>\ "Hurt them and I will ''rip your spine out through your neck!''" You\ <<if ($heshe is "he")>>\ shout. <<else>>\ scream. <</if>>\ "Good!" Jack shouts back. "We're getting somewhere fast! \ #"Drop the hostages, now, and face me like a man." <<var $honor + 2>>\ <<var $ruthless - 1>>\ "Drop the hostages, now, and face me like a man." Jack laughs, lifting Jin higher than Rin. "As if you know anything about being a man. Look how your own brother turned out." "He's years younger than you, coward!" "Blame his parents, it doesn't matter to me. \ #"Make sure to give Rin a double whooping, she's been unimaginably ungrateful." -> "ch8dragon-start-thencall" <<var $honor - 1>>\ "Make sure to give Rin a double whooping," you say, "she's been unimaginably ungrateful." Jack stares into your eyes, tightening his grip on them both. You yawn. Wild Chi leaks around his arms when he squeezes their throats even tighter. You check your shoes to make sure they're secured. ''*BOOM*'' "OW OW OW OW OW!" Misuka the Performer screams, airing out her hands an inch from your face. You rise, confused, to see she's caught Jack's knee that was aimed at your face. You don't even know how she got there in time. Jack lets go of your siblings and brushes the announcer aside. "Forget the weaklings then. Forget the Trials, forget the rules, forget all this stupid shit. Admit it, you've wanted to kick my ass as badly as I've wanted to kick yours. Goro can get away with a naval blockade. Sakura can get away with a mercenary army in the middle of the street. The authorities lost all right to tell us what to do. Our fight is happening, whether they allow it or not." <<var $jackrep + 3>>\ "B-Banditry!" Misuka shouts, flustered, pressing Jack back by the chest. "Attacking each other outside of the Trials is banditry!" #[Rules be damned, punch his smug face] -> "ch8dragon-start-fluffyintrusion" <<var $honor - 2>>\ <<var $ruthless + 2>>\ You leap in a spinning charge, using the spiral movement to stack the $auracolor chi trailing behind you. ''[Infamily Increased]'' <<var $infamy + 1>>\ <<var $score_bladed - 2>>\ <<var $score_sacred - 1>>\ <<var $score_wild + 1>>\ <<var $combatstat "power">>\ <<discount "Midorikatai" $stylerank>>\ <<discount "Water" 1>>\ <<discount "Wind" 1>>\ <<discount "Earth" 1>>\ <<discount "Muscular" 1>>\ <<discount "Bovine" 1>>\ <<attack "Melee">>\ <<combatcheck 15>>\ <<if (($passcheck is true) or ($jadedragonfoundation is true))>>\ <<if ($jadedragonfoundation is true)>>\ ''[Jade Dragon Event]'' Jade Chi pulses out of your body in a violent surge. \ <</if>>\ Your fist slams into Jack's smug grin and cracks into his upper cheekbone, knocking him back three steps. In the last second he pulls his hands away to prepare for battle, releasing your siblings. "That's better." You spit, landing between him and them. "Keep your hands off my family." <<apboost 5>>\ <<var $jackcombat + 1>>\ Jack rubs his cheek, a scuff showing on his skin like a stain on scuffed metal. He starts to laugh, shoulders shaking as his Wild Chi aura pours out with an oppressive force. "I am going to enjoy this!" <<else>>\ Your fist cracks into Jack's face with enough force to fracture two upper knuckles. He doesn't move. "Don't disappoint me, Laborer." He jeers, your fist still implanted in his cheek. "You can do better than that. Their lives are depending on it." <</if>>\ #show-if (($heshe is "she") and ($jackromance gte 1)) "Oh, so you'll choke Rin but not me? Fuck you, Jack! I thought we had something special!" <<var $jackromance + 1>>\ <<var $jackrep + 1>>\ <<var $ruthless - 1>>\ <<var $honor - 1>>\ <<var $score_cursed + 1>>\ <<var $score_mystic - 1>>\ "Oh, so you'll choke Rin but not me?" You shout loud enough to draw everyone's attention. Half the heads around you turn, including the twitching ears of Misuka the Performer. "Heh." Jack chuckles. "Woman, what the Hells are y-" "Of all the asshole things for you to do, cheating on me with my sister was the last I'd expect! I thought you changed! I thought you were special!" Jack's jaw tightens, looking around at the gasping and gossiping crowd. He slowly undoes his chokehold of Rin. "We're not a-" "Fuck you, Jack!" You scream in a tantrum, voice cracking. "I thought we had something real! Something eternal!" You storm forward and wrench Rin the rest of the way out of his grip. "You and Jin can have each other, you cheating, lying, MANWHORE!!" ''[Scandal Among the Ranks]'' ''[Infamy Increased]'' <<var $infamy + 1>>\ ''[Jack's Infamy Increased]'' <<var $metjack + 10000000>>\ You pull Rin by her hair and drag her off to the side, through the crowd and out of view. "Ow ow ow!" Rin shouts. "What the Hells?!" "Shush." You whisper, letting her go when you've made it a safe distance. As predicted, Jin arrives unharmed seconds later and Jack is nowhere to be seen. "I am...SO confused." Jin says, rubbing his neck. "Jack let you go?" Rin asks. "Yeah." Jin replies, coughing. "He said he was tired of all the distractions. I think you ruined his fun, but more importantly," He pauses, breathes deep, and shouts at the top of his lungs. "WHAT?!" "What to what??" You say, rubbing your ears in irritation. "Does Mother know you're dating Jack? Oh Heavens, does //Father// know you're dating Jack?" His face pales. "Sweet Ancestors, does ''//Mao//'' know?" "We're not dating." You say excitedly, holding back a sadistic laugh. "But half the Empire is going to think we are." Rin stares at you in awe, slowly dropping to her knees before leaning into a full kowtow. "Sensei...teach me." <<var $val2 11>>\ <<page "Continue" "ch8dragon-start7">>\ <</choose>>

<<if ($val2 isnot 11)>>\ Jin and Rin rub their necks and hesitantly wait for Jack to leave before rushing to you, sticking by your side as you leave to the golden-glowing section of Martial Artists. <</if>>\ "Are you going to be okay?" Rin asks, patting your side while the three of you push through the crowd. "I know how hard it is for you to do these Trials without me." "I'll survive." You say, somehow amused. At least one of you is still in a good mood. <<if (dig($metrin, 3) gte 1)>>\ ''[Event Check Passed: Rin's Employment]'' "Eh, you might." She says, slipping a pill into your pocket. "With my help." ''[Item Gained: Healing Elixir]'' <<var $healingelixir + 1>>\ "Where did you-" "I've got four." She replies smugly. "Men keep giving me gifts at the hair salon." "That's suspicious." You reply. "Jin, are women showering you with gifts?" "Please just kill me instead of asking that." He replies. "And no, I don't have any surprise gifts for you. In fact, I \ <<else>>\ “Speaking of survival…” Jin says, looking embarrassed and shuffling closer. "I \ <</if>>\ wanted to ask for a vial from you instead, if you have it." You shake your head. "Jin, I'm about to go into the most important event of my life. I can't make any promises for favors." "Poison." He specifies. "Give me one, and I'll use it on Jack." Rin stumbles to a halt, looking to her twin brother in fear for the first time. The atmosphere grows dangerously serious. <<choose "ch8dragon-start8">> #"No way, I'm not giving him an excuse when he loses." "No way," you say, "I'm not giving him an excuse when he loses." <<var $sisrep + 2>>\ "He's trying to kill me!" Jin fumes. "Every time he shows up, he injures me so badly that I can't recover in time to train. You got to grow up with a rival near your level, I didn't! All I have is some monster toying with my life. It's not fair! There's no challenge for me to rise to, just a quick death!" "Damn, that was a lot of words." You reply, getting up and ruffling his hair. "I'm going to beat the ever-loving life out of Jack later. In the meantime, treat him like I treat Mao and find your own rival. Bo Lo maybe. Or Kosuke. $bffheshe steals your breakfast porridge often enough. Focus on avenging that." "Wait, that was Kosuke?" Jin says, looking to Rin. "You said it was you." Rin shrugs. "Yeah I told Kosuke I'd cover for $bffhimher if $bffheshe made sure not to tell you about what I //did// steal." "What did you steal?" Jin asks. "Shoot, can't hear you!" Rin says, jogging backwards into the crowd of golden-glowing participants. "Trials starting, have to go!" "WHAT DID YOU STEAL?!" Jin screams, running after her. <<page "Continue" "ch8dragon-start8">>\ #"Jin, this can't be the type of man you become. We don't stoop this low." <<var $sisrep + 5>>\ <<var $brorep - 3>>\ You look at your brother with a new sense of pity. You hadn't realized how badly his weakness has affected him. "Jin, this can't be the type of man you become. We don't stoop this low." <<if ($honor lt 60)>>\ ''[Honor 60 Check Failed]'' <<var $metjin + 3000000000>>\ "Stoop low?" Jin fumes. "Jack tries to kill me any chance he gets! You got to grow up with a rival near your level, I didn't! All I have is some monster toying with my life. It's not fair! There's no challenge for me to rise to, just a quick death!" <<var $brorep - 10>>\ "Then train more." You reply. "But leave Jack to me. I'll do what I can to keep you safe." Jin shakes his head in anger, mouth tightly contorted. "How can you keep me safe when we're in different brackets?" "I'll find a way, but poisoning a trialgoer contestant is grounds for execution. I'm not telling you to spare Jack, I'm telling you not to get yourself killed by the guards." Jin opens his mouth, attempting to remain serious, but Rin removes her belt behind him and throws it around his neck, strangling him. "Assassination!" She cheers. "Suffer one thousand years of breathless death, bandit king!" <<else>>\ ''[Honor 60 Check Passed]'' <<var $metjin + 1000000000>>\ Jin seems to struggle with his response, fighting the anger inside, but relents. "Fine. Just promise me that no matter what happens, no matter where we are, no matter what the Crushers try to do, no matter-" "By the ANCESTORS!" Rin shouts, removing her belt and throwing it over Jin's neck to strangle him. "Get ON WITH IT!" <</if>>\ "Hey!" Jin chokes out. "Let go!" "Never!" She leans backward, pulling Jin with her, and he kicks off in a backflip to get out of the strangling belt. "Not funny." He scowls when landing behind her and rubbing his neck once again. Rin whips her belt at his leg. "Yes it is! Now go on and get some snacks." She claps her hands together and bows low. "I'll pay you back I super, super promise." "Liar." Jin scoffs, concedes, and walks off between the crowd of contestants. "But fine, I might as well have a good last meal." Rin turns to you. "I don't know what came over him, but you did the right thing. I'll try to cheer him up." "Thanks Rin." You say. "I'm counting on you." "Pft, likewise." <<page "Continue" "ch8dragon-start8">>\ #use-if (($commonpoison gte 1) or ($cursedpoison gte 1)) Give him a poison. [Requires Poison] <<if ($cursedpoison gte 1)>>\ ''[1 Cursed Poison Lost]'' <<var $cursedpoison - 2>>\ <<var $jackdiff + 2>>\ <<elseif ($commonpoison gte 1)>>\ ''[1 Common Poison Lost]'' <<var $commonpoison - 1>>\ <<var $jackdiff + 1>>\ <<if ($background is "Herbalist")>>\ ''[Herbalist Background: Poison Improved]'' <<var $jackdiff + 1>>\ <</if>>\ <</if>>\ <<var $metjin + 2000000000>>\ <<var $brorep + 5>>\ <<var $honor - 3>>\ Jin takes the vial. "Thanks $name, you're the best." "I know." You reply. "Now go enforce the will of the <<cap $clan>> Clan. It's time we kicked this feud off and finish what Mao started." Jin backs up slowly, into the crowd, and you see his gaze harden before he disappears. "I don't like this." Rin says. "This feels like..." "Killing is killing." You chastise her. "Jack wanted to rip your heads off with his arms, this is no different. Besides, at his strength it will only weaken him. I'm going to deal the finishing blow one day, and it sounds like he wants that day to be soon." Rin looks afraid, as if she's on the verge of crying. "I miss home. I don't like this. I don't like it here." You give her a reassuring \ <<if ($ruthless gte 80)>>\ pat on the head. \ <<else>>\ hug. \ <</if>>\ "Things will go back to normal when I win. Better than normal." She wipes her tears off on your \ <<if ($ruthless gte 80)>>\ hand in one quick head-jerk. \ <<else>>\ sleeve and blows her nose on it too. \ <</if>>\ "They'd better." <<var $ruthless + 3>>\ <<page "Gross." "ch8dragon-start8">>\ <</choose>>

When the twins leave you depart for the crowd of pink-glowing contestants. The shipyard is a calm-but-crowded mass of two-thousand glowing Martial Artists separating into two packs. Hundreds of voices murmur around you when you make your own way through, but you stop in your tracks when two familiar voices stand out. "Come on, just a small loan of a thousand Silver." Guiren says. "Everyone's doing it." "No!" Fang insists. "Fang is already most wealthy!" "You're broke as a joke!" He insists. "My third-in-command has more than you, and I don't even pay him." "Fang has eight Shards left!" Tian Fang protests, shocked at the allegations. "That's twenty cheesebreads. Twenty!!" "Hells, fine!" Guiren throws his hands in the air. "So much for Yokai unity, don't expect any help from me or mine in the Trial." He storms off, passing you on the way, and you realize all three of you are glowing pink. <<if (dig($metguiren, 1) is 2)>>\ "Well, well, well." He says when he looks back and notices you for the first time. "I should have known you'd show your face here. Trying to get revenge for the last whooping I gave you?" You tilt your head back in confusion. "You've never beaten me." "Smooth words, Thunderfaller, but they won't help you today. YOJI! WENCHENG! SMOKESCREEN!" "You got it Guiren!" Two of his henchmen shout, throwing wide-reaching smokebombs in the tightly crowded dock. Immediately all three of them are pummeled unconscious by dozens of angered Martial Artists swarming the trio. Nobody likes the smell of smokescreens. Misuka the Performer recruits four Imperial Clerks to pull everyone off of them before dragging the unconscious shinobi off to the side. You look from the bruised and beaten Guiren, being dragged away by an annoyed Kitsune, \ <<elseif (dig($metguiren, 1) gte 3)>>\ "$name." Guiren says, \ <<if ($heshe is "she")>>\ whistling with a catcall. "Looking good in pink. See you in the finals." "If you're lucky." You reply. <<if ($guirendisarmed is true)>>\ "Please!" He laughs out on his way across the shipyard. "I could crush these amateurs with one arm tied behind my back!" <<elseif ($guirenromance gte 1)>>\ He knocks a crooked smile on his way out. "I've met you, I'm the luckiest man alive." <<else>>\ "Don't need luck!" He calls back. "I've got skill." <</if>>\ <<else>>\ nodding once in respect. "Looking stylish in pink, a real man's color." "Right back at you." You reply. <<if ($guirendisarmed is true)>>\ "Find me if you're in trouble on the island." His shoulder wiggles the wrapped sleeve over his missing arm. "I'll lend you a hand." <<else>>\ He points two fingers at you while shuffling backward through the crowd. "Everyone's in deep trouble when you and I get to the fashion Trial!" <</if>>\ <</if>>\ When he's gone you look \ <<else>>\ He muscles past you without much flair, jogging off to solicit another contestant into an unwelcome loan. You shake your head and proceed \ <</if>>\ to the sighing Fang. <<page "What was that about?" "ch8dragon-start9">>\

"What was that about?" You ask. "A purchase of restoration pills." Fang sighs, ears drooped and skin ragged with abrasions. "Tian Fang's gold is supposedly in a ‘bank’? And not here? She is having troubles getting medicine for rest.” “Medicine for rest?” You quirk an eyebrow. “Couldn’t you just…rest?” “Mountain Hazard is suffering from Sect-wide sleepiness of the most exhausting kind. Tian Fang misheard the rumors of the new Dragon Trial's start date. As such, Mountain Hazard has trained most hazardly without rest for two days. Today was supposed to be our restful day...yet instead it is the Trial day." She whines out, tail low. "No such rest will be allowed, and it is all Fang's fault." <<if (($ruthless lt 65) or ($fangromance gte 2))>>\ "You can rest on the trip there." You offer, hoping to the Heaven's she thought of that. You worry sometimes. <<else>>\ "Have you considered resting on the trip there?" You offer. Ancestors, what would this world do without your genius. <</if>>\ Tian Fang looks off anxiously. "Mountain Hazard is an Earth Sect. Tian Fang will be fine with her Wild and Ice Chi, but recovering power for many of its other members is not ideal at sea." She looks like she hasn't slept in days and, behind her, you see seven others in brown and gold gi who are in even worse shape. "That's enough." Says a burly Lunargothic elder with a wide beard and a beastbone axe on his back. You recognize Mountain Hazard's Sectmaster from the Tiger Trial's spectators. "Our training regimen is an internal matter. Ignore her, Thunderfaller, and return to Mao's lineup." "Yes, Sectmaster!" Tian Fang says energetically, though the sandbags of her eyes betray fatigue. She salutes you with a short bow goodbye and withdraws a pillow from the inside of her robe. <<var $val 4>>\ <<if (($element1 is "Wind") and ($element1rank gte 2))>>\ <<var $val - $element1rank>>\ <<elseif (($element2 is "Wind") and ($element2rank gte 2))>>\ <<var $val - $element2rank>>\ <<elseif (($element1 is "Water") and ($element1rank gte 2))>>\ <<var $val - $element1rank>>\ <<elseif (($element2 is "Water") and ($element2rank gte 2))>>\ <<var $val - $element2rank>>\ <</if>>\ <<if ($val lt 0)>>\ <<var $val 0>>\ <</if>>\ <<choose "ch8dragon-leavenormally">> #Bow back. [Leave] <<var $honor + 1>>\ <<var $ruthless - 1>>\ You give Tian Fang and her large Sectmaster a respectful salute and \ #"Whatever." [Insult the Sectmaster, Leave] <<var $honor - 2>>\ <<var $sect_mountainhazard - 3>>\ <<var $fangrep - 3>>\ "Whatever." You say with a bored exhale. "Stay exhausted for all I care, poor planning is exactly what these Trials are supposed to filter out." You turn and leave, confident the man cannot strike a contestant, and \ #use-if (($flagshiptype is "transport") or ($flagshiptype is "junk")) Offer your ships. [Requires Travel Ship or Junkships] -> "ch8dragon-get-that-skippy-uh-gonna-use-your-shippy-uh" "You can take my ship." You offer. \ <<if ($flagshiptype is "transport")>>\ "They're not as defended and secure as the Imperial ones, but they're faster." \ <<else>>\ "They're just as defensible and secure as the Imperial ones, and they're faster too." \ <<var $fangrep + 3>>\ <</if>>\ <<var $leavetype "ship">>\ #use-if ((((($element1 is "Wind") and ($element1rank gte 2)) or (($element2 is "Wind") and ($element2rank gte 2))) or ((($element1 is "Water") and ($element1rank gte 2)) or (($element2 is "Water") and ($element2rank gte 2)))) and ((($chipool + ($soul/2)) - $chispent) gte $val)) Offer your Shugendō skills. [Requires Wind/Water (Adept), Costs $val Chi] -> "ch8dragon-get-that-skippy-uh-gonna-use-your-shippy-uh" "You could take my ships." You offer. "My Shugendō mastery over \ <<if ((($element1 is "Wind") and ($element1rank gte 2)) or (($element2 is "Wind") and ($element2rank gte 2)))>>\ <<var $leavetype "wind">>\ Wind Chi \ <<else>>\ <<var $leavetype "water">>\ Water Chi \ <</if>>\ is sufficient to get us to the island faster than the others." #use-if (($style is "Kiihakai") and ((($chipool + ($soul/2)) - $chispent) gte 1)) Offer your chi sorcery. [Requires Kiihakai (Adept), Costs 1 Chi] -> "ch8dragon-get-that-skippy-uh-gonna-use-your-shippy-uh" "You could use my ships." You offer, thinking back to the seals Desdemona's Sect placed on it. "I've learned enough about chi sorcery to propel us to the island faster." <<var $leavetype "spell">>\ <</choose>>

<<var $loc "South">>\ Trudging through the wet sands of the southern beach leads you to a quaint abandoned fishing village. Fourteen thatch-roofed huts make up the bulk of the area, with a few half-buried rowboats or broken crates surrounding them. The only other adornment is two small docks with tattered nets connecting them where some sort of fish farm has fallen to entropy. When you approach further you're met with a new addition to the village: A wide, deep hole dug into the center where a well once stood. A pair of eyes peeks out from the top of the hole. <<if (dig($metguiren, 1) is 2)>>\ "Just our luck!" Calls a voice. "Look who it is, boys!" Three more heads pop up, glaring. "The Thunderfaller." Says a familiar voice, that of Dai Guiren the debt collector. "I thought you'd show your ugly face here." <<if ((($bodytype is "Handsome") or ($bodytype is "Bodacious")) or ($bodytype is "Hourglass"))>>\ ''[Bodytype Event]'' <<var $agiexp + 2>>\ "What are you talking about?" You ask with a quirked expression. "My face is gorgeous." "That may be." Guiren says. "But not after we're done with it. Get $himher, boys!" <<else>>\ "Yeah." You reply dryly. "I was dropped off on a boat. We all were. You know this." Guiren sneers. "Let's see how that attitude works when your teeth are missing. Get $himher, boys!" <</if>>\ "No." Says the Human to his right. "I value my health." "I'm with Wencheng." Says the Oni to his left. Guiren slowly turns his head to the two of them. They slowly turn theirs to him. All three break into a slap-fight, smacking each other's heads, smacking joints with kunai-handles, or kicking the backs of knees to trip each other. At one point Guiren even lifts the Oni into the air by the ankles, hitting the Human underling with him. "Neat." You reply, though it is drowned out by the loud shouts of their scuffle. "I'll be meditating over here. You all have fun." <<page "Continue" "ch8dragon-village-enemies">>\ <<else>>\ <<include "ch8dragon-village2">>\ <</if>>\

<<if ($bodytype is "Manlet")>>\ ''[Special Event]'' "Holy smokes!" Yoji shouts when you start digging. "What?" You ask, turning around. "No, no, keep going!" Wencheng insists, too excited with his hands. Guiren walks out from behind a hut with a lit cigarette in his mouth. "What's all the grabass about? I told you to-" He drops his cigarette when you get back to digging. Shovel-load by shovel-load, you relocate the sands behind you into a quickly growing mound. You pause after a few minutes of having them stare at you in awe. Dropping the shovel, you turn around and squint in suspicion. "Is something wrong?" "No, but..." Guiren scratches the side of his head. "How are you digging so goddamn fast?" ''[Dwarf Bodytype Event]'' <<apboost 10>>\ "I don't know." You shrug. "I just like digging." <<include "ch8dragon-village-dwarfskipper">>\ <<else>>\ Lacking any proper solution, you do what you've always done. You get to work. Cracking your shovel into the stone, you push your Power Cores through your tool and do your best not to break it. <<var $combatstat "power">>\ <<var $combatskill "craft">>\ <<discount "Muscular" 1>>\ <<discount "Bovine" 1>>\ <<discount "Blacksmith" 1>>\ <<discount "Trapper" 1>>\ <<combatcheck 8>>\ <<if ($passcheck is true)>>\ You dig, and dig, and dig. The excavation brings you twelve feet down and you show no signs of slowing. <<include "ch8dragon-village-dwarfskipper">>\ <<else>>\ Your best is not good enough. Your shovel quickly breaks, as does Guiren's, and as does Yoji's. Only Wencheng's shovel remains, and that's because he's been slacking off. "We're not getting anywhere." Guiren says after stabbing the rock with a kunai for the hundredth time. "Let's call it a day and meditate. We're still in the Dragon Trial after all; there's a limit to how much screwing around we can get away with." <<include "ch8dragon-village-guirenmeditate">>\ <</if>>\ <</if>>\

<<if ($txt is "fem")>>\ After throwing some sandstone rock chunks at Guiren and his men, you continue digging. <</if>>\ It's not long before you break through the bedrock, cracking open a four-foot wide sheet of stone. When you lift it and toss the rock sheet high overhead, out of the twelve-foot hole, you're greeted with a wall of transluscent scales shimmering in the sunlight. Guiren and his crew peer down at the hide-like chi essence and recognize it immediately. <<page "The Shakengara..." "ch8dragon-village-shakengara">>\

You sit and meditate for an hour or so without issue. At some point Guiren and his men disappear in a smokebomb that isn't anywhere near you. It occurs to you that they may have thought you were watching their fight. You were not. It didn't seem important. When they're gone, you grab some fish from the nets they'd setup. Starting a fire takes longer than you expected though, the dolts collected wet wood. In the end, the fish lacks sauce but is otherwise filling. <<if ($wounds gt 0)>>\ ''[1 Health Restored]'' <<var $wounds - 1>>\ <<elseif ($chispent gt 0)>>\ ''[1 Chi Recovered]'' <<var $chispent - 1>>\ <<elseif ($powspent gt 0)>>\ ''[1 Power Core Recovered]'' <<var $powspent - 1>>\ <<elseif ($agispent gt 0)>>\ ''[1 Agility Core Recovered]'' <<var $agispent - 1>>\ <<elseif ($forspent gt 0)>>\ ''[1 Fortitude Core Recovered]'' <<var $forspent - 1>>\ <<elseif ($solspent gt 0)>>\ ''[1 Soul Core Recovered]'' <<var $solspent - 1>>\ <</if>>\ <<if ($subrace is "Cat")>>\ ''[Cat Yokai Event: Aura Pressure +5]'' <<var $aurapressure + 5>>\ <</if>>\ <<var $displayer (0.20+($insight * 0.03))>>\ <<include "ch8dragon-checkbuffer">>\ <<page "Continue" "ch8dragon-finisharea">>\

You spend the entire hour digging a twelve-foot hole full of nothing but muck at the bottom. Guiren, dripping with sweat from his fifth rushed excavation, stabs his shovel into the wet sands and looks over to you. "You know, I think we can take it from here without anymore help. That's my polite phrase for firing you." "Are you sure?" You ask, secretly thankful for the chance to escape the awkward failure. "Yeah, go do Trial stuff. We'll cover up these holes to trap people and shake them down later. Make it look like we meant to do that the whole time." "Ohhhh," Wencheng gasps with renewed energy, "I'll get the sharpened sticks!" Guiren smiles faintly, taking out a cigarette and frowning to find it's been soaked. "Sorry Guiren." You say, leaving the hole. "I really thought it was here." Guiren shrugs. "Nobody knows we failed but us. Go on and get going, we'll fix this place up to save face." <<var $displayer (0.15+($insight*0.01))>>\ <<include "ch8dragon-checkbuffer">>\ <<page "Continue" "ch8dragon-finisharea">>\

''//"Chains of the Lunar Goddess!!"//'' Tian Fang shouts, launching her enormous ice chains back into the ground. Stone hardens around them to turn the twisting chain links into a spiraling auger and she forces Wild Chi through the obelisk to increase its weight, cracking into the stone. With a push of spiritual force, she presses her last ounces of chi into the Technique and forces it to spin. It digs through the stone in seconds. Her chi also runs out in seconds. "Mrrreh." She grunts as she falls head-first into the sands and crumples. "Is she okay?" Yoji asks. "Who cares?" Guiren says. "Look." <<var $val 272721>>\ Down in the hole she's just dug, exposed by roughly five feet, you get the view of a wall of transluscent scales shimmering in the sunlight. Guiren and his crew peer down at the hide-like chi essence and recognize it immediately. <<page "The Shakengara..." "ch8dragon-village-shakengara">>\

before finally deciding on a location. "There!" Wencheng gasps in awe, even though he has no idea what you're talking about. Guiren and Yoji show up a minute later. "What's going on here?" Guiren asks. "I recruited $name and $heshe found the spirit!" Wencheng shouts, pleased with himself while digging. "Oh." Guiren says, looking from his underling to you. "Huh. Good job. Gotta say, I'm not used to you two talking without me." "It felt empty without him mocking you." You admit. "Very funny." Guiren stabs his shovel into the \ <<if ($guirendisarmed is true)>>\ ground with his one arm, \ <<else>>\ ground, \ <</if>>\ speaking through a lit cigarette in his mouth. "How about you make the ground feel empty and dig with me." <<page "Dig, dig, dig!" "ch8dragon-village-finallydecide2">>\

<<if ($testerdig is "insight")>>\ <<if ($insight gte 2)>>\ ''[Insight 2 Check Passed]'' <<var $solexp + 1>>\ <<include "ch8dragon-village-passfish">>\ <<else>>\ ''[Insight 2 Check Failed]'' <<include "ch8dragon-village-failfish">>\ <</if>>\ <<elseif ($testerdig is "perception")>>\ <<if ($perception gte 2)>>\ ''[Perception 2 Check Passed]'' <<var $powexp + 1>>\ <<include "ch8dragon-village-passfish">>\ <<else>>\ ''[Perception 2 Check Failed]'' <<include "ch8dragon-village-failfish">>\ <</if>>\ <<elseif ($survival gte 2)>>\ ''[Survival 2 Check Passed]'' <<var $forexp + 1>>\ <<include "ch8dragon-village-passfish">>\ <<else>>\ ''[Survival 2 Check Failed]'' <<include "ch8dragon-village-failfish">>\ <</if>>\

The reptile Yokai moves to one of the disheveled huts and sits, letting his aura of purple Cursed Chi rise up around him. After a few seconds he cracks an eye open and meets your gaze. "Something wrong?" "No, no." You insist, curiosity piqued. "It's only...I sometimes forget you have an aura." "What?!" "You don't fight a lot!" You say in your defense. "You guys are all business, it's odd to see you acting like a Martial Artist." <<if ($guirendisarmed is true)>>\ "I lost an arm in battle beside you!" Guiren shouts, wiggling his empty sleeve. "How is that not fighting?" Yoji shouts from the hole before you can answer. "That wasn't fighting, it was losing!" <<elseif ($style is "Kurokonton")>>\ "I fought in Ebikowa beside you!" Guiren shouts in disbelief. "Hell, I'm the one who taught you Kurokonton!" Wencheng shouts from the hole before you can answer. "I wouldn't brag about that sloppy job!" <<else>>\ "I fight all the time!" Guiren shouts in disbelief through the open doorway. "Wencheng, tell $himher I fight all the time!" "He fights indigestion all the time!" Wencheng shouts, followed by a slapping sound from a highfive with Yoji. <</if>>\ "//All// of you suck." Guiren seethes, though his irritation looks less genuine. You don't know when it happened, but you suspect you've eased into being a part of the group. It just so happens that this group is mean to each other. <<var $displayer (0.14+($insight * 0.01))>>\ <<include "ch8dragon-checkbuffer">>\ You meditate in their village for a time until wanderlust convinces you to check more of the island. Though you offer for them to come with you, Wencheng and Yoji are too busy looking for their coin pouches that they lost when filling in the failed excavations. Guiren sighs and stays to help them look. <<page "Continue" "ch8dragon-finisharea">>\

"You're going to what?" Guiren asks. "I'm going to form a Pact with it. It's \ <<if ($shaken_option is 3)>>\ part Earth spirit, I'm an Earth Artist, \ <<else>>\ a Water spirit, I'm a Water Artist, \ <</if>>\ I think it can help advance my Path." Guiren looks over the edge of the hole at the Shakengara's scales reflecting the sunlight. "Why would it do that for you?" You give a smiling shrug. "I'm protecting it from three attackers, aren't I?" "Ohhh." Guiren's face lights up with appreciation. "I like that. If it's a con, count us in." <<page "Continue" "ch8dragon-village-pactman2">>\

You surround the dug hole with respectful tributes related to water and earth: A clay vase filled with water. Seaweed braided over a cylindrical stone. A low wall of sandstone fortifications. Shells with living content. When everything is collected and assembled you sit at the edge of the hole and meditate, letting your Water Chi leak out of your aura and wash over the Water-and-Earth Shakengara spirit below. The link is nothing like you imagined. Your spiritual connection is neither slow nor subtle, neither direct nor comprehensive. Instead of a soft communication of thoughts you instantly feel a mental slam to the face with fleeting impressions. The enormous, tremor-inducing spiritual embodiment of underground earthquakes darts back and forth in your mind and spirit without pause. You forgot fish don't stand still. //I bring protection.// You mentally impress upon the alien mind when it connects to yours. //Food.// //You are surrounded by enemies.// You insist. //I am here to protect you, to ensure you may rest properly, if you can assist me in understanding the truth of the //\ <<if ($shaken_option is 3)>>\ //shaking stone.// <<else>>\ //Waters.// <</if>>\ //Food.// You twist your face in displeasure. This will be harder than you thought. The Shakengara is not a true fish like a Beast, but rather a spiritual reflection of the oceans. Or perhaps a spiritual reflection of life in the oceans. You focus and double-down on your attempts to understand the spirit's bizarre and unorthodox desires. //Food.// You crack an eye open and kick the nearby live clam into the hole. <<if ($shaken_option is 3)>>\ <<if ($element1 is "Earth")>>\ <<var $element1rank + 1>>\ <<else>>\ <<var $element2rank + 1>>\ <</if>>\ ''[Earth Mastery Improved]'' <<else>>\ <<if ($element1 is "Water")>>\ <<var $element1rank + 1>>\ <<else>>\ <<var $element2rank + 1>>\ <</if>>\ ''[Water Mastery Improved]'' <</if>>\ ''[Chi Restored]'' <<var $chispent 0>>\ ''[Health Restored]'' <<var $wounds 0>>\ <<apboost 20>>\ <<var $tidalcall 4>>\ <<if ($shaken_option is 3)>>\ Quake upon quake of spiritual connections rock through your mind, \ <<else>>\ Wave upon wave of spiritual connections flood into your mind, \ <</if>>\ battering you with //understanding// more than knowledge. The \ <<if ($shaken_option is 3)>>\ ground's \ <<else>>\ sea's \ <</if>>\ essence and its secrets open up to your spirit and you feel a greater control over the element than you ever had before. "Whoa." Guiren says, taking a few steps back. "That was fast, what did you do?" "Uh..." You open your eyes amidst your \ <<if ($shaken_option is 3)>>\ heavier aura of dense Earth Chi. \ <<else>>\ swirling aura of improved Water Chi. \ <</if>>\ "I gave it a clam." Yoji and Wencheng start pelting the slumbering spirit with their lunch. <<page "Continue" "ch8dragon-village-shakengara2">>\

The four of you dig vigorously for ten minutes, forming a hole four-feet down and ten-feet wide, until your shovel hits sandstone that should never be forming this close to the shore. Each of you gasps, realizing what could cause such an anomaly. Earth Chi. "This is it!" Guiren says with glee. "You really found the damn thing! Keep digging!" "Why do you sound surprised?" You ask, insulted. Guiren nods his head to his two underlings. "Don't give me that, you know who I work with." "I have feelings." Yoji exhales. "I'll buy you a new pair after we catch this bad boy." Guiren says, slamming a foot onto his shovel to crack through the sandstone. "Let's hook this bastard!" Despite the renewed morale, the sandstone proves far more difficult to dig through than regular sand. You consider the best way to break through and... <<choose "ch8dragon-village-digger">> #Dig with a shovel. #use-if (($element1 is "Earth") or ($element2 is "Earth")) Part the sandstone through Shugendō. [Requires Earth Element] "Stand back." You say to the trio, charging Earth Chi around both your hands. "I'm going to part this stone like the sea." "That doesn't make any sense." Wencheng says. "Yeah." Yoji agrees questioningly. "The sea doesn't part." "Leave $himher alone." Guiren says, whipcracking his tail at their feet to make them jump back. "The poor $manwoman's from the mountains, how's $heshe supposed to know that?" You sniff, once, hiding the tears, then return to an incredible amount of violence. ''*BOOM*'' <<cap $auracolor>> chi explodes from between your palms when you slam both hands together, shaking the ground beneath you. As soon as that dispersed Earth Chi soaks into the ground you wrench your hands open, dragging the ground beneath you open with it. Yoji and Wencheng fall on their asses from the impact and even you're impressed at how well it works. Eight feet of sandstone cracks open beneath your feet, pulling apart by five feet to expose a wall of transluscent scales shimmering in the sunlight. Guiren and his crew peer down at the hide-like chi essence and recognize it immediately. <<page "The Shakengara..." "ch8dragon-village-shakengara">>\ #use-if ($style is "Akakiru") Part the sandstone with a tremoring slash. [Requires Akakiru] "Stand back." You say, \ <<if (((((((($equippedweapon is "Tanto") or ($equippedweapon is "Katana")) or ($equippedweapon is "Greataxe")) or ($equippedweapon is "Qiang")) or ($equippedweapon is "Kunai")) or ($equippedweapon is "Jian")) or ($equippedweapon is "Iceblade")) or ($equippedweapon is "Chiblade"))>>\ drawing your $equippedweapon \ <<elseif (((((($equippedweapon is "Kagutsuchi")) or ($equippedweapon is "Ikazuchi")) or ($equippedweapon is "Shishido")) or ($equippedweapon is "Muramasa")) or ($equippedweapon is "Godslayer"))>>\ drawing $equippedweapon \ <<else>>\ channeling a sword of pure Bladed Chi from a single palm, extending the energy six feet upward \ <</if>>\ and charging $auracolor chi over its blade. "I'm cutting through." "Cutting through?" Wencheng scratches his head. "<<cap $name>>, that's at eight feet of solid stone." ''[Akakiru Event]'' "Good." You reply, pulling one leg back into a power stance. "Twenty feet might have been a problem." Guiren exhales slowly with an inflated cheek, watching you charge up massive amounts of chi around your weapon. "Is $heshe just doing this to show off?" Yoji whispers to him. "Yes." Guiren whispers back. "And it's working, so-OH SHIT GET BACK!" The three of them leap away when the power of your blade erupts forward. You spiritually grasp the slicing edge of energy released from your blade and, with a downward swing, press all its power into the ground like the chopping of an axe. The ground beneath you splits clean in two, cracking open in a four-foot-wide gouge through the earth. At its base twelve feet below the surface, when the dust settles, is the near-translucent scales of blue and amber. Guiren and his men waltz back to peak down, gasping at their goal finally being made real. <<page "The Shakengara..." "ch8dragon-village-shakengara">>\ #use-if (($style is "Midorikatai") or ($subrace is "Wolf")) Dig with your bare hands. [Requires Wolf Yokai or Midorikatai] <<if ($style is "Midorikatai")>>\ You charge Wild Chi over your hands to harden them and slam your downward chops into the rock. You scoop it back behind you, between your legs, to launch it out of your way in rapid scoops. The ungraceful method clears an hour's worth of digging in minutes. <<else>>\ You channel $auracolor chi over your hands and lean over to dig fervently with both hands. The rock breaks under the claw-like digging of your Wolf Yokai mits, clearing an hour's worth of digging in mere minutes. <</if>>\ "Holy Hells." Says Guiren, looking down at the hole you've already \ <<if ($heshe is "she")>>\ created. "Not bad, huh?" You shout up to him. "Not bad at all." You turn around and see they're not impressed by your digging. They're staring at your ass. <<var $txt "fem">>\ <<else>>\ created. "You interested in taking body-burying contracts?" "Wait, are you all assassins?" You ask, pausing to catch your breath. "I thought you guys collected debts." Guiren shrugs. "Not everyone pays." "He's trying to sound cool." Yoji interrupts. "The only bodies we've buried are three of our own donkeys that our wagon overran on downhill slopes." "It keeps happening..." Guiren mumbles to himself, lost in thought on how to tie their riggings differently. You shake your head at the trio and get back to breaking solid rock with your hands. <</if>>\ <<page "Continue" "ch8dragon-village-dwarfskipper">>\ #show-if ($lunarchain is true) Call Tian Fang to do it. "Ohoho!" Tian Fang boasts, waltzing forward and overly swinging her arms with each stride. "If it is not the debt collector who was most rude to Tian Fang!" <<if ($heshe is "he")>>\ "You son of a bitch." Guiren says. \ <<else>>\ "Oh for Hell's sake." Guiren groans. \ <</if>>\ "This is the girl I tried to shakedown at the docks! I thought you said you knew a good digger?" "The top digger." You reply, pleased to see Tian got your message. It was Wencheng. Wencheng was the message. You made him surge Agility Cores to make the trip. "Apologize!" Tian Fang demands, pointing a finger at Dai Guiren. "Apologize most immediately for being rude to Tian Fang and calling her broke with a joke!" "Broke //as// a joke." Guiren says, rubbing a hand over his whole face. "And fine. I apologize if it will get you digging a hole for us, right there. We're short on time." "Yay!" Tian Fang says, waving a hand behind her. A sky-blue sheet of ice disappears from mid-air behind her. In its place is revealed a golden-pink scrying orb of Misuka the Performer, its enchantment relaying sound and images to a stadium in Nanhou. "He apologized, everyone!" Tian Fang shouts, waving both arms excitedly. "Tian Fang wins!" <<var $fangrep + 5>>\ Guiren looks to you. If looks could kill, he would have just killed himself. <<page "Continue" "ch8dragon-village-fang">>\ <</choose>>

Your ritual continues unimpeded. Your sigils of the phoenix, the horse, and the ram surround the spirit's resting place, soaking into the ground and entrapping it in your essence. With a final inscription you rise, perform twenty-four handseals in duplicate, and slam your palm into the edge of the circle. <<cap $auracolor>> energy rises into the air around your ritual circle. You manipulate that chi into a net cast over the Shakengara and symbolically capture its nautical essence. The ground shakes as the creature wakes, finds itself trapped, and rages. "It's going to break out!" Yoji shouts. "No." Guiren says, analyzing your work. "It won't. Well done." You \ <<if ($heshe is "she")>>\ brush a strand of hair over your shoulder \ <<else>>\ dust sand off your shoulder. \ <</if>>\ "Easy as a game of shogi." The Shakengara's tremors weaken when it realizes it's been truly trapped. You imprint your desires and commands into the ritual circle and destroy its physical form, leaving only the spiritual ritual effect remaining. An apt leash for a spirit. The Shakengara slips through the sands and out to sea, leaving to rest beneath your flagship at the location your ritual connection imprinted. <<var $tidalcall 2>>\ <<var $flagshipboost + 10000>>\ <<page "Continue" "ch8dragon-village-shakengara2">>\

The entirety of the Shakengara spirit cannot be seen from the four-foot exposure you've made. What you //can// see, in the twelve-foot dugout hole in the sand, is a set of shimmering amber and blue scales. The more you look at them the more they seem to shift and blur like the memories of a dream. Wencheng steps forward, rubbing his hands together. "Young \ <<if ($heshe is "he")>>\ Masters, \ <<else>>\ Masters and Mistress, \ <</if>>\ it is with great honor that I accept this gift from you all." "Not on your life." Guiren stops him by placing a flat palm against his chest. "We only needed the points for finding it. <<cap $name>> gets the prize. " ''[Dragon Score Increased (up to 7)]'' <<var $dbonus 1>>\ <<var $score_mystic + 2>>\ "I get the what?" You ask, surprised at such altruism from a debt collector. "Why?" "Because I'm obviously going to be an Archon. I mean, look at me, I'm amazing, but these two are //not// going to be Archons." "Hey!" Wencheng shouts. "Fair." Yoji shrugs. You nod along in sympathetic but truthful agreement. "Very well, but that doesn't explain why-" <<if ($heshe is "she")>>\ "You and I are going to be in Azuma Honsha together, and that means bribes." Guiren says, taking on an air of business. "Even if you wanted to work with me for free, it's not fair to have you be the only one not getting bribed for the dangerous or risky assistance you keep giving. Why should good people be paid less than bad people? Besides, it's not every day I find a prize worthy of gifting to such a Jade Beauty." "Wait," You hold both hands up. "Is this supposed to be a courting gesture? It smells like dirty fish." Guiren crosses his arms and stares down at the rotating, shimmering scales of the slumbering spirit twelve feet down. He breathes in deep through his nose. "Yeah...Yeah it does." Yoji pats him on the arm. "It's okay, at least you tried." "I did." Guiren replies, unphased. He turns back to you. "Traditions dictate a suitor's gift cannot be returned anyways. What do you want to do with it?" \ <<else>>\ "I'm sucking up to you so I still have allies in Azuma Honsha. Obviously. It's called buying favors." "Like putting me in your debt?" Guiren's face lights up. "Wow, when you put it that way, I feel like a great debt collector. I was thinking of it as some sleazy sucking up but, yeah, a debt. That makes me sound official and professional. Huh...this feels nice." He pats you on the upper arm. "Thanks $name, you old flatterer." "It wasn't flattery." You say, concerned. Guiren shrugs. "Too late man, I took it as such. You can't have it back after I take it." "He takes it a lot!" Wencheng shouts from a safe distance. Guiren closes his eyes, gritting his teeth. "What do you want to do with the spirit?" <</if>>\ <<var $shaken_option 0>>\ <<choose "ch8dragon-village-pactman">> #Destroy the spirit to harness its Soul Treasure. You charge $auracolor chi around your fist and leap into the hole, slamming your attack into the slumbering spirit with a direct attack. Three purple-flame kunais plunge through its hide from above at the same time, thrown by Guiren and his men. The spirit weakens at the exact moment of your impact and your fist blows through its essence, exploding the entity into motes of power. <<apboost 8>>\ You fall ten feet down without the spirit's mass to catch your fall. Guiren and his men leap down after you and the four of you search the swirling mists of dispersing energy. It's not long before you find your prize: an amber pearl that reflects all light in ocean-blue. Even so much as touching the object gives the impression of being subsumed in a tidal wave. <<var $shakengaratrophy 2100>>\ ''[Item Gained: Shakengara Soul Treasure (2100 AP)]'' Several hardened scales of solidified chi litter the area as well. Guiren and his gang take a few, leaving the spares to you. ''[Guiren Combat Prowess Increased]'' <<var $guirencombat + 1>>\ ''[Item Gained: Weak Soul Treasure x2]'' <<var $weaksoultreasure + 2>>\ <<var $tidalcall 1>>\ <<page "Continue" "ch8dragon-village-shakengara2">>\ #use-if (($style is "Kiihakai") or ($handseals gte 5)) Bind the spirit to guard your fleet. [Requires Kiihakai or Handseals 5] "You're going to what?" Guiren asks, following you as you draw sigils in the ground along the hole. "Sh." You say for the third time. "I'm going to bind it." "You can //bind// spirits?" "When people are being quiet enough, yes." Yoji snickers. "You walked into that one." "Shh." Guiren shushes at Yoji. Wencheng snickers at his Oni ally. "//You// walked into that one." "SHHHHH!" You all shush at Wencheng. <<page "Perform the ritual" "ch8dragon-village-ritual">>\ #use-if ((($element1 is "Darkness") or ($element2 is "Darkness")) or ($style is "Kurokonton")) Absorb the spirit's power into your aura. [Requires Kurokonton or Darkness] <<var $tidalcall 3>>\ "You all may want stand back." You say, forming an ebb of pure yin chi on all sides of your palm. A $auracolor hole forms within the center of your hand that draws ambient chi into your spirit. It's too inefficient for cycling, most of the chi is destroyed, so you've never seen a point to the practice. Until now. "Neat." Says Wencheng before suffering an elbow from Guiren for interrupting your display. You leap from the top of the dugout twelve-foot hole and slam both palms into the resting spirit, latching on like a leash. The spirit, stuck in this underground cavern, is a feast you hadn't imagined. If you waste even ninety-eight percent of the creature's power in such a fast, rushed, absorption-based cycling, you still steal more than you'd ever passively absorb in a month. The Shakengara shrieks when you land on it, shaking the ground when the \ <<if ($style is "Kurokonton")>>\ Cursed Chi \ <<else>>\ Darkness Chi \ <</if>>\ of your attack begins to rip its power away. It bucks, writhes, and erupts with bursts of water and sand. You don't let go, absorbing every drop of power. <<apboost 35>>\ Guiren, Yoji, and Wencheng hoot and holler as you hold on tight to the bucking spirit. You can't be sure, over the shrieks and rocking motions, but you think you heard them place bets at one point. Five minutes of struggle end when the creature finally cracks like glass. Its material form shatters into motes of blue and amber chi that fade into sparks, then nothing. You've taken everything. ''[Chi Pool Increased]'' <<var $chipool + 1>>\ <<if ($survival lt 3)>>\ <<var $survival + 1>>\ ''[Survival +1]'' <<elseif ($athletics lt 3)>>\ ''[Athletics +1]'' <<var $athletics + 1>>\ <<else>>\ ''[Insight +1]'' <<var $insight + 1>>\ <</if>>\ <<var $ruthless + 4>>\ <<var $learnedtidalcall true>>\ <<if ($race is "Lunargoth")>>\ <<learntech 4400000000000707 "Tidal Call" "Area Attack. Blocks certain physical attacks when Focused.">>\ <<else>>\ <<learntech 4900000000000707 "Tidal Call" "Area Attack. Blocks certain energy attacks when Focused.">>\ <</if>>\ <<page "Continue" "ch8dragon-village-shakengara2">>\ #use-if (($element1 is "Water") or ($element2 is "Water")) Form a Shugendō Pact with the spirit. [Requires Water] #use-if (($element1 is "Earth") or ($element2 is "Earth")) Form a Shugendō Pact with the spirit. [Requires Earth] <<var $shaken_option 3>>\ <</choose>>

Guiren has Wencheng and Yoji fill in the hole now that the spirit has dispersed, a task much easier than digging through the sandstone in the first place. \ <<if ($val is 272721)>>\ Tian Fang gets up and demands payment, of which Guiren hands her a fish. She runs back into the forest, triumphant. <</if>>\ "So what now?" You ask while the two of you watch \ <<if ($val is 272721)>>\ Guiren's \ <<else>>\ his \ <</if>>\ poor underlings do the rest of the manual labor. "Now we cycle." He says with a sigh. "There's a limit to how much we can screw around. This is the Dragon Trial after all." <<include "ch8dragon-village-guirenmeditate">>\

"Thunderfaller?" Asks Wencheng. "Aw shit." Groans Guiren, poking his own head up. "Oh, sweet, $name!" He smacks Wencheng in the back of the skull. "Why didn't you use $hisher damn name? You made me think we have hostiles!" "//I// have hostiles." Wencheng says, rubbing the back of his head. "So..." You say, looking down the ten-foot-deep hole where Yoji the Oni is the only one still digging with his shovel. "What's going on here?" "Insider information from the Boss." Guiren says, tossing you a shovel. "Very hush hush. Help us dig and we might let you in on the secret." "It's a Shakengara." Yoji says from down in the pit. "Huge catfish spirit, causes earthquakes. It's sleeping somewhere under the village and it's one of the reasons Guarded Blossom fell. Boss wants us to remove it for bonus points that won't get much attention." "The Hells?!" Guiren hisses, whipping Yoji with his tail. "Let me be mysterious!" "Let me have overtime!" Yoji shouts back, braining him with a shovel. Wencheng clambers out of the hole, fleeing the metal-on-metal impact of Guiren and Yoji's shovel-duel. He dusts himself off at the top and looks over to you, unphased by the chaos. "Want to join us? Guiren says it's somewhere around here, but this is our fourth hole. We could use some help finding its exact location..." The full-grown man tries his best attempt at puppy-dog eyes. It's not a good look. <<var $testerdig "survival">>\ <<choose "ch8dragon-village-finallydecide">> #Help them look. [Feel the ebb and flow of the local energies.] While Guiren wins his duel against Yoji with a welt-inducing '''bong''' of shovel-on-skull violence, you send out spiritual scans to locate a slumbering spirit. "Assuming this 'Shakengara' is a Water and Earth spirit, then we should be able to locate its Cores by balancing the mental impressions..." You mumble to yourself with Wencheng following behind. "It should be easy to find Water sensations too low, or Earth Chi sensations too high. Right..." You circle the village with your eyes closed, sensing out the ambient chi \ <<var $testerdig "insight">>\ #Help them look. [Check for irregularities in the sand patterns.] While Guiren wins his duel against Yoji with a welt-inducing '''bong''' of shovel-on-skull violence, you check for patterns in the sand that wouldn't form naturally. "Assuming this 'Shakengara' does disrupt the ground when it moves..." You mumble to yourself with Wencheng following behind. "There should be interruptions in the sand patterns. It would be subtle, but it should be in a radius that will show us the spirit's location in the center." You circle the village and crisscross through the huts \ <<var $testerdig "perception">>\ #Help them look. [Hunt for the best place a catfish would hide.] While Guiren wins his duel against Yoji with a welt-inducing '''bong''' of shovel-on-skull violence, you hunt through the nearby locations to decide exactly where a catfish would hide. "Assuming this 'Shakengara' spirit acts like a real catfish..." You mumble to yourself with Wencheng following behind. "It should be seeking out a safe cave with soft soils to dig itself out." You circle the village, testing the soil closer to the waters, \ #Leave. "No thanks." You say to the poor Human underling. "The manual labor could interrupt my cycling." Wencheng hangs his head low, sighing. "More shoveling for me, then." ''*BONG*'' "Gotcha!" Guiren shouts, having won the shovel-duel. "Now back to work! Uh...Yoji? Yoji, back to work...are you okay?" Wencheng sighs harder. "Even more shoveling for me." "Fuuuuuuck." Guiren groans. You leave the three to meditate outside the village for a time before leaving. <<var $displayer (0.20+($insight * 0.03))>>\ <<include "ch8dragon-checkbuffer">>\ <<page "Continue" "ch8dragon-finisharea">>\ <</choose>>

<<var $loc "East">>\ You wander down the yellow cobblestone road, keeping an eye out for any danger from the lush foliage overhead. <<if ($qingstatus is "Ally")>>\ "Suffer for your insolence!" Screams a man from above. "Short Qing will show his brother the fraud that you truly are!" <<else>>\ "Prepare to suffer the wrath of the Qing Clan!" Screams a man from above. "Short Qing will avenge his brother!" <</if>>\ <<var $combatstat "agility">>\ <<var $combatskill "perception">>\ <<discount "Kurokonton" $stylerank>>\ <<discount "Light" 1>>\ <<discount "Cat" 1>>\ <<combatcheck 5>>\ <<if ($passcheck is true)>>\ You step backward by two steps. Then, with one leg, you reach out and sweep in front of you to pull the man's feet out from under him when he drops. <<else>>\ His elbow strikes your head. It kind of hurts. <<aploss 2>>\ What's weirder than the gentle graze of his attack is that the man keep falling with his attack, but he's upside down. <</if>>\ He lands headfirst on the stones of the road and stops moving. Huh. Well, he won't be needing that medallion. ''[Item Gained: 1 Gold]'' <<var $sparemedallions + 1>>\ <<var $gold + 1>>\ <<page "Continue" "ch8dragon-woods2">>\

"NO DON-" Screams Li Moon as the door closes behind you. You turn to see what the big deal is when your eyes widen. A jungle forest surrounds you, and the hut you just left is nowhere to be seen. You look around for the yellow cobblestone road, the hut, or any sign of the area from whence you came. Nothing. Blinking away the surprise, it dawns on you that the sect of chi sorcery may have done something to obscure or protect their home after you'd entered. You are //hopelessly// lost. <<var $skipchat true>>\ <<include "ch8dragon-finisharea">>\

You rest in the kitchen and snack your way to an early grave. Desdemona failed to mention that the \ <<if ($foodie is "venison")>>\ venison was chopped into marinated grilled chunks and skewered. You have eaten eleven skewers worth. <<else>>\ riceballs were flavored with different paste fillings, seed toppings, or soups soaked into the sticky rice. You have eaten thirty-eight riceballs. <</if>>\ It wasn't even the Sectmistress or one of the Li Disciples who cooked this, but whoever it was, they're your new favorite Dreamriver. Ancestors, these Trials are supposed to be about struggling. Instead you're sitting here well hydrated with a buffet largely kept to yourself. Marvellous. You channel your chi over the ritual circle they've painted out. After an hour of meditation you feel better than before you arrived. ''[All Power Cores Restored]'' <<var $powspent 0>>\ ''[All Fortitude Cores Restored]'' <<var $powspent 0>>\ ''[All Agility Cores Restored]'' <<var $powspent 0>>\ ''[All Soul Cores Restored]'' <<var $powspent 0>>\ <<var $displayer (0.20+($insight * 0.02))>>\ <<include "ch8dragon-checkbuffer">>\ <<var $bonusapcount + 0.05>>\ <<var $val (100*$bonusapcount)>>\ ''[Max Measurable AP Increased by $val%]'' After an hour you rise to go to the bathroom and leave through the front door. "Thanks for the food! I'll be right back." <<include "ch8dragon-woods-nodontlimoon">>\

<<var $honor - 1>>\ You open the door to the bedroom and close it behind you. Desdemona is kneeling on all fours on the bed, facing away from you while she draws sigils on the wall. She jumps at the sound of the door closing and turns. "Th-Thunderfaller! You, ah, came after all. I was finishing a ritual that will block the noise from leaving this room. I think we can-" "You're naked." You say, disbelieving of your blessing when you stare at her chest. "You're...incredibly naked. With a-?" "A dual cultivation sigil." Desdemona says, placing a hand on the stylized heart-like sigil she's drawn in purple on her lower abdomen. "I need to become an Archon. For many reasons. The arts of dual cultivation can increase our powers temporarily to rig our Dragon Scores with...tantric methods...b-but I need a strong candidate. I was hoping you could..." Her breathing quickens. "I was hoping for, um, purely academic reasons, that we could...would you...Ancestors, I've made a fool of myself." You're speechless. Not only because someone painting a sex tattoo on themselves should never come off as such a nervous wreck, but because she's so damned beautiful. How could a woman like this even exist? She looks up and sees you're not staring at her exotic sigil. You're not even staring at her amazing chest. Your eyes are locked on hers, taking in one of the greatest beauties of this world. Her purple lips begin to tremble. She inches closer, staring into you, searching for something. "This is...for the Trial." She whispers, as if to convince herself. "I'm only doing what we have to do to win. Will you help me?" <<choose "ch8dragon-pickactivity">> #"That's not why I want this." [Take her hand, Seduction] -> "ch8dragon-woods-seduction2" "I don't want to be with you just to win a test." You reply, taking her hand. "I want to be with you because I want to be with you." #[Leave] <<var $desromance - 100>>\ You exit out of the bedroom, completely //blown away// at Desdemona's attitude. Ancestors, did you read your relationship wrong. "Is something the matter?" One of the Disciples asks when you storm through the room. "$titlename? Is something the-" You close the door to the hut and sprint off at incredible speeds, embarrassed for everyone involved. Especially yourself. Hells, you wish you had this running inspiration in the Rabbit Trial. <</choose>>

<<var $desrep + 20>>\ <<var $desromance + 5>>\ <<if (dig($metdesdemona, 11) is 0)>>\ <<var $metdesdemona + 2>>\ <<elseif (dig($metdesdemona, 11) is 1)>>\ <<var $metdesdemona + 1>>\ <</if>>\ Desdemona stares at you, chest rising with each nervous breath. She looks into your face silently at first, then, without warning, presses her plush lips against yours with the passion of an exploding star. The two of you crash against the bed together, running your hands over each other’s bodies and pulling tightly. Her Mystic Chi strips your clothes off while her hands are busy elsewhere. The bliss of your embrace leaves you both unaware that her Seals around the room are inverted, blocking all noise from //entering//. Such a mistake is exactly why neither of you hear the Dreamriver Disciples banging on the door to scream a warning of massive incoming Aura Pressures. Without an answer or guidance, they flee the hut before the monstrous threats arrive. <<page "Continue" "ch8dragon-woods-seduction3">>\

''[Elsewhere...]'' Two men, destined to cross paths, close in on the yellow cobblestone crossroads from opposite directions. One on foot, and one on flying spear. "Kang Ruo." Wo Shen calls out as his opponent lands on the ground. "I'm surprised you have the guts to show up." A woman's panting voice interrupts them from inside the nearby hut. "I've waited so long for this. I refuse to wait a second longer. I //can't// wait a second longer." Kang Ruo, his long, regal hair blowing in the wind, raises an eyebrow at the interruption. Clearing his throat, he lands and raises his spear at Wo Shen. "Bold words from a dying Clan." He replies. "I saw the challenge you left in my palace. A suicide note written by a madman, clearly, and so I have come to entertain your delusions. You may thank me in the next life for putting you down like a disloyal dog." "H-Hold on! Are they all that big?!" The woman's voice shouts again. "What? I am not afraid! Get the scented oils, by the dresser! Good, yes, and put them on my hand-no, MY hand-what are you? Oh! Oh, ahhhh, okay, yes, yes y-your hand! Your hand!" Wo Shen cringes and tries to compose himself, his gaze locked on his lifelong rival. "Your grandfather isn't here to save you this time. I will unravel the lies of your Clan's false history and put an end to your-" "Ffffuck, I've wanted this ever since \ <<if ($roomscene is "Desdemona")>>\ that night in the tavern. \ <<elseif (dig($metdesdemona, 11) is 1)>>\ our lips met on your ship. \ <<else>>\ we met. \ <</if>>\ Just be-ahh! G-Gentle! Gennnnnnnnmmmmffffffffffoh my gods, oh my g-GODS! oh! OHH!!!" The two men lock their jaws, staring silently at each other, each thinking the same thing. "Nope. No. This is all ruined." Wo Shen admits, raising his robed hands up in defeat. "I don't even want to fight anymore. Are you really okay with this as our final battleground?" "This world is filled with distractions." Kang Ruo stares down his nose at Wo Shen, charging power into his spear. "Only the weak will succumb to them. Do not hide behind excuses any longer, draw your blade." "UUUOOOOOHHHH GOOODDDDDSSSSS!!! PR-PRESS ME HARDER! PRESS ME HARDER!!!! I LOVE YOU! I LOVE YOU! ''I LOVE YOU!!!''" A bright flash of dark-violet and $auracolor light erupts from every window in the hut. <<apboost ($descombat*5)>>\ ''[Desdemona's Combat Prowess Increased]'' <<var $descombat + 2>>\ <<var $displayer (0.20+($insight * 0.02))>>\ <<include "ch8dragon-checkbuffer">>\ <<var $bonusapcount + 0.1>>\ <<var $val (100*$bonusapcount)>>\ <<var $pwt_des true>>\ ''[Max Measurable AP Increased by $val%]'' "I'm not doing this." Wo Shen says, staring at the hut in disdain before looking back to his rival. "Admit you want to leave, or I'll knock on the window and tell them you approved of their ‘battle music’." Kang Ruo clears his throat and looks sideways away from the hut. "There...may be locations better fitting of my station." "Thank the Heavens for that." Wo Shen groans. The two leave to find a more suitable place to kill each other, conversing about the vulgar and fallen state of Rasen society on their way out. <<page "Continue" "ch8dragon-woods-seduction4">>\

"That was most...productive." Desdemona moans out, her hair a mess. She slowly catches her breath face-down on the bed. "Mission accomplished, you might even say. A fine, um, securing of our Alliance. Very professional. Well done, Thunderfaller." You look over to her while lying on the bed yourself. "Did you say 'I love you' at one point?" "No." Desdemona replies slowly with her eyes closed. "Your hearing has clearly been damaged. You'd best address that soon, Thunderfaller. It can bottleneck your Advancement." "You said it three times." Her eyes open, crackling with dark lightning. <<var $metdesdemona - dig($metdesdemona, 11)>>\ <<var $metdesdemona + 3>>\ <<var $desromance + 4>>\ <<choose "ch8dragon-woods-seduction5">> #"I'll get my hearing checked." "I'll get my hearing checked." You say, rising off the bed and reaching for your clothes. <<var $desromance - 1>>\ <<var $desrep - 5>>\ "Do." She says, rising slowly. With a low-energy sigh she looks around through her disheveled hair. "I suppose we cannot leave like this. We reek of sex." You look around the small bedroom. "I don't see a bath anywhere." Desdemona stares at you flatly and raises a hand into the air. "Thunderfaller, I am a chi sorceress. Everything I need is anywhere I need it." She snaps her fingers. The nearby cabinets, chairs, and bedposts dismantle and reform around you both into a large, wide tub. Hot water fills in from the bottom. The mattress hovers overhead, shredding into multiple scrubbing tools for baths. One falls into your hand and Desdemona swims next to you, turning around and sitting in your lap. "You may bathe me." She replies. "Once." <<page "Continue" "ch8dragon-woods-seduction5">>\ #"Want to say it a fourth?" "Want to say it a fourth?" You tease, leaning closer. <<var $desrep + 1>>\ <<var $metdesdemona - dig($metdesdemona, 11)>>\ <<var $metdesdemona + 4>>\ Desdemona blows her rogue hairs out of her way, smacking you in the face with them. "The Disciples can never hear of this." You plant a kiss on her cheek. "Whatever makes you happy, lovergirl." "Mrrrnnnnnn." She groans into a nearby pillow while you reach for your clothes. "Goodluck with that." You say on your way out. "W-Wait!" Desdemona blurts out. "We cannot go out just yet, we reek of sex." You look around the small bedroom. "I don't see a bath anywhere." Desdemona stares at you flatly and raises a hand into the air. "Thunderfaller, I am a chi sorceress. Everything I need is anywhere I need it." She snaps her fingers. The nearby cabinets, chairs, and bedposts dismantle and reform around you both into a large, wide tub. Hot water fills in from the bottom. The mattress hovers overhead, shredding into multiple scrubbing tools for baths. One falls into your hand and Desdemona swims next to you, turning around and sitting in your lap. "You may bathe me." She replies. "Once." You throw the scrubber to the side and grab her by the hips. <<var $desromance + 1>>\ Neither of you spend much time bathing. <<page "Continue" "ch8dragon-woods-seduction5">>\ #"I love you too." "I love you too." You say, cupping a hand under her blushing chin. <<if ((((dig($metkosuke, 11) gte 3) or (dig($metmina, 11) gte 3)) or (dig($metfang, 11) gte 3)) or (dig($metleona, 11) gte 3))>>\ Desdemona narrows her eyes at you. "Aren't you already with \ <<if (dig($metkosuke, 11) gte 3)>>\ your beggar girlfriend? She described some of your...frequent leisure activities, at tea earlier." "...You two are //friends//?!" "Yes?" Desdemona blinks. "Is that uncommon? I was under the impression everyone was friends with Kosuke." "I'm going to ignore that, but I \ <<elseif (dig($metmina, 11) gte 3)>>\ that priestess at the temple? Kosuke told me about it." Ah, Kosuke. AAHHHHHHHH, KOSUKKKEEEEE!!!!!!! Swearing internal vengeance, you compose yourself and take a deep breath. "I \ <<elseif (dig($metfang, 11) gte 3)>>\ that wolfgirl from the mountains?" "I \ <<elseif (dig($metleona, 11) gte 3)>>\ that blonde psychopath from the Sunbringers?" "Technically she's not from the Sunbringers, they're from her, since she's the Sectmistress." "So you're collecting Sectmistresses." Desdemona says dryly. "Don't make me sound so amazing." You reply, pleased, taking a deep breath of satisfaction. "But I \ <</if>>\ am with someone else, yes." You admit. "I'm a Patriarch now, which means I have to take my Clan's growth seriously. It could mean life or death if we seem too small or weak in Azuma Honsha. I can't be with only one girl. If that's bad for you then-" <<if (($persuasion gte 3) or ($ruthless lte 30))>>\ <<if ($persuasion gte 3)>>\ ''[Persuasion 3 Check Passed]'' <<else>>\ ''[Compassion 70 Check Passed]'' <</if>>\ <<var $metdesdemona - dig($metdesdemona, 11)>>\ <<var $metdesdemona + 4>>\ "Stop." Desdemona says, rising and holding both sides of her enormous chest with one hand. Rather, forearm. They spill over above and below as she holds them in place. "I am a Sectmistress, I understand the importance of status over love. If you still want to be with me, I still want to be with you. I have my own terms anyway: you cannot tell my Disciples about us." "So we're both all business." You reply, leaning closer over the bed. "It seems so, //Patriarch//." "..." You look down under the sheets at unexpected results. "Call me that again." "Oh?" Desdemona climbs on top of you, rubbing her lips up your neck on the way to your ear. "Would you like that, //my Patriarch?//" You don't leave the bedroom for a while longer. <<var $desrep + 3>>\ <<var $desromance + 2>>\ <<else>>\ "It is." She replies. "I won't tell my Disciples about you, and we won't be official. I cannot have people seeing me as some concubine. I must be the leader of my Sect first, not an accessory to some other leader." You sigh, but not in agreement. "That's pragmatic. I guess we're done." "Hardly." She replies. "I will have much further need of dual cultivation throughout the Trials." "Oh." You blink. Desdemona removes the sheets and lifts one leg, wrapping it over you. "We //are// still in the Dragon Trial, after all. I intend to ''win''." "...Oh!" <<var $desrep - 3>>\ <<var $desromance - 1>>\ <<var $sect_dreamriver - 4>>\ <<var $metdesdemona - dig($metdesdemona, 11)>>\ <<var $metdesdemona + 3>>\ <</if>>\ <<else>>\ <<var $metdesdemona - dig($metdesdemona, 11)>>\ <<var $metdesdemona + 3>>\ <<var $desrep + 7>>\ <<var $desromance + 4>>\ She purses her lips, squinting her smoldering eyes at you. "You'd better." Then she pulls you back into a kiss. <</if>>\ <<page "Continue" "ch8dragon-woods-seduction5">>\ <</choose>>

The two of you exit after an exhausting affair and look around to find things exactly as you left them. Her Disciples are there, having returned half an hour ago, and everyone is painfully quiet. Nothing seems out of the ordinary; they were painfully quiet before. "I'll get some water." You say, pausing to stop yourself from kissing Desdemona in front of her Disciples. You leave to the kitchen and get a glass of water, gulp it down, and head for the exit //completely oblivious// to the stares of the Dreamriver Disciples who heard everything. You even wave and smile at some on your way out. "If anyone needs me, I'll be taking a quick washroom break outside." <<include "ch8dragon-woods-nodontlimoon">>\

Moving on, you continue for another five minutes down the road when you come across an unassuming hut with a small garden beside a crossroads, complete with a stream running beside it. It's rather scenic, and if you're correctly reading the sigils painted onto every entrance, it's rigged to explode. <<if (dig($metdesdemona, 1) is 1)>>\ ''[Dreamriver Sect: Reputation Check Failed]'' "Keep walking!" Shouts the voice of Desdemona's disciples from inside. "Apologies, Thunderfaller, but we've set our deadliest trap around the hut to give us the cycling privacy we require. We couldn't let you in if we wanted!" "Really?" "No." Calls Desdemona's voice from inside. "We could, but I won't risk it in such a battle royale style of Trial. Keep moving, Thunderfaller." "That's what I appreciate about the Heavenly Ascension Trials!" You call back to the darkly dressed sorcerers and sorceresses squinting at you through the bottom of a shaded window in the hut. "The hospitality!" "Shoo!" Shouts the glasses-wearing woman. "Get out of here!" Shouts the glasses-wearing man. <<if ($honor lte 40)>>\ Sticking your tongue out at them, \ <<else>>\ Not wasting anymore time, \ <</if>>\ you decide to leave the sorcerous Sect and continue on your journey. <<include "ch8dragon-pickactivity">>\ <<elseif (dig($metdesdemona, 1) is 2)>>\ ''[Dreamriver Sect: Reputation Check Critically Failed]'' "It's $himher!" Shouts a familiar voice from inside the hut. "Dessy, it's the Thunderfaller you talked about! Right outside!" "That's //Lady Desdemona!//" Shout two more Disciples, chastising the other. From one of the hut's tinted windows you see the purple-raven hair of Lady Desdemona pop up, squinting at you. "You're right, Disciple Moon." She says, placing a palm against the window. "It is $himher." You wave. She scowls. ''//"The Last Dream."//'' <<var $combatstat "fortitude">>\ <<discount "Midorikatai" $stylerank>>\ <<discount "Aoyusumu" $stylerank>>\ <<discount "Kiihakai" 1>>\ <<discount "Fire" 1>>\ <<discount "Water" 2>>\ <<discount "Ice" 2>>\ <<discount "Oni" 1>>\ <<combatcheck 12>>\ <<if ($passcheck is true)>>\ <<if ($eblocktech isnot "")>>\ ''[$eblocktech Activated, Damage Reduced]'' <<woundcheck 1 false false>>\ <<else>>\ <<woundcheck 2 false false>>\ <</if>>\ <<else>>\ <<if ($eblocktech isnot "")>>\ ''[$eblocktech Activated, Damage Reduced]'' <<woundcheck 3 false false>>\ <<else>>\ <<woundcheck 5 false false>>\ <</if>>\ <</if>>\ ... ... ... You wake up not even knowing where you are on the island, but the scorched pain across your every inch convinces you to find out. Mostly so you can avoid returning to that damned bomb-hut. Uggghhh, your knees. You think you landed on your knees. <<include "ch8dragon-pickactivity">>\ <<else>>\ You're here to cycle, not deal with...whatever that is. You wouldn't touch that hut with a hundred-foot pole if someone paid you. ''[Dreamriver Sect Reputation Check Passed]'' Oh hey, it's Li Sun. "<<cap $name>>?" Shouts Li Sun from inside, peeking through a window. "Everyone, I see $titlename outside!" "Really?" Asks Li Moon, poking her head through a different window. Three more sets of eyes become visible, including Desdemona's. "Thunderfaller." She says. "I did not see you at the docks. What a pleasant surprise. Please, come in." "Sure." You say with a shrug. <<page "Enter the hut" "ch8dragon-woods3">>\ <</if>>\

Inside the hut is a slightly cramped but otherwise pleasant setup. It seems the Dreamriver Sect has converted the single-bedroom cabin into a mystical cycling center, drawing sigils all over the floor of the living room and kitchen. "We should be undisturbed in here." Desdemona says, walking you to the kitchen. "I've had my Disciples prepare water and wine for hydration. I've also given them the task to secure rations of venison and riceballs. It will be enough to stay at peak performance for six hours. How have things been outside?" <<if ($hourtimer is 6)>>\ "Beats me." You reply. "I just started, though someone did try \ <<elseif ($hourtimer lte 3)>>\ "Chaotic." You admit. "Plus someone tried \ <<else>>\ "A little chaotic." You admit. "Someone tried \ <</if>>\ to assassinate me on the way in." "Typical." Desdemona scowls at the nearby window. "The Imperial authorities task us to demonstrate proper meditation. In Martial World fashion, one-thousand buffoons use it as an excuse to attempt a battle royale." She sighs. "No matter, they will not reach us in here. Not without great pain. Less than a handful of this seed's contestants could survive the engagement we imbued into our base's protections." <<if ($desnuke gt 0)>>\ "The Last Dream?" You ask. "The Last Dream." She says with something dangerously approaching a smile. <<else>>\ "Bragging?" You ask. "I always took you to be a humble Sect." Desdemona gives you a sidelong glance with something dangerously approaching a smile. "Not this time." <</if>>\ "Pick a room." She motions a hand to the open living room. "We've studied the Dragon Medallion and believe our chi sorcery can trick it, convincing the relic that our Aura Pressure is higher than it truly is. Alternatively, we've performed different rituals in the kitchen to restore Cores in case we are forced to fight." \ <<if (($desromance gte 3) and ($heshe is "he"))>>\ "How do you have the time to learn so much?" You ask. Desdemona scoffs. "I am a Sectmistress of a Kiihakai Sect, it is my duty to learn the arcane arts. I could teach you a fraction of our knowledge, but it would interrupt my Disciples in their meditations." <<page "What about the bedroom?" "ch8dragon-woods4">>\ <<else>>\ "Wow." You say, looking around. "You all really did think of everything." "But of course." Desdemona crosses her arms. "The Aura Pressure limit is a lie. This Trial is a test of our chi manipulation; I will accept nothing less than perfection." <<include "ch8dragon-woods5">>\ <</if>>\

"What if we used the bedroom?" You ask. "Nobody's using it, right? I'm sure you have some noise-nullifying Seal so they don't have to hear us drone on about basic sorcery." "Of course I know a noi-" She freezes, staring forward at the bedroom. Her hair slaps her in the face when she looks from the bedroom door to you, then back to the door, and back to you. She blushes and runs her hands over each other nervously, her breathing quickening. "Are you okay?" She slowly turns to you, eyes scrutinizing, nose scrunched, lips pouting. "Did you just suggest...No, no it's nothing. Nevermind. Ignore me. I, um, I could tutor you in the bedroom, of course. The other options are available, as well. I will be in the bedroom preparing in case you make the correct choice." "Oka-" "For the ritual!" She blurts out, grabbing a set of makeup brushes off the counter and running through the meditating Disciples. "I will be preparing for the ritual!" She repeats mid-dash, applying a purple brush to her lips and slamming the bedroom door behind her. <<include "ch8dragon-woods5">>\

<<var $foodie "venison">>\ <<choose "ch8dragon-woods-nodontlimoon">> #Meditate in the kitchen alone with venison. [Restore Cores] -> "ch8dragon-woods-pickfoodwithdreamrivers" <<var $ruthless + 1>>\ #Meditate in the kitchen alone with riceballs. [Restore Cores] -> "ch8dragon-woods-pickfoodwithdreamrivers" /* if you're codediving, I only did this so vegetarians don't complain. */\ /* people complain at me a lot, about a lot of things */\ <<var $foodie "riceball">>\ <<var $ruthless - 2>>\ #Meditate in the living room with the others. [Restore Chi] <<var $honor + 1>>\ You sit among the other Dreamriver Disciples and meditate in near-silence for nearly an hour. They change the ritual sigils at even intervals and instruct you on the best way to improve your chi output temporarily. It won't help in combat, but their sorcerous tricks are exactly what you need to appear more powerful to the Dragon Medallion measuring your aura. ''[All Chi Restored]'' <<var $chispent 0>>\ <<var $displayer (0.20+($insight * 0.01))>>\ <<include "ch8dragon-checkbuffer">>\ <<var $bonusapcount + 0.1>>\ <<if ($aurapressure lt 1200)>>\ <<var $bonusapcount + 0.14>>\ <</if>>\ <<var $val (100*$bonusapcount)>>\ ''[Max Measurable AP Increased by $val%]'' After an hour you rise to go to the bathroom and leave through the front door. "I'll be right back." #show-if ($desromance gte 3) Meditate in the bedroom with Desdemona. [Seduction] -> "ch8dragon-woods-seduction" <</choose>>

''[Game Over]'' The life of a warrior is always at risk. Every journey has an end, and as your spirit departs from your body you realize that this is yours. <<page "What a ride." "ending">>\

/* Anderson Cooper of the multibillionaire Vanderbilt family didn't major in Journalism until after finishing his internship with the CIA. */\ Thank you, the player, for partaking in the Aura Clash v0.5.5 playtest! We look forward to seeing you again in later updates to continue the story of your burgeoning powers and the fledgling $clan Clan. If you're interested in discussing the game further, we have a few links available: <a href=https://www.auraclash.com>Our Website</a> <a href=https://www.patreon.com/AuraClash>Patreon [Unlock Chapter 9 for an extra 250,000 words]</a> <a href=https://discord.gg/FvPK2t9amr>Discord [Warning, it is filled with bad people]</a> And before we leave, we'd like to give a special shoutout to our staff: Author: cultivator-anon Editor: cultivator-anon Producer: cultivator-anon Worldbuilder: cultivator-anon Systems Mechanic: cultivator-anon Combat Choreographer: cultivator-anon Lead Programmer: cultivator-anon Art Leads: Ark & Audio Quality Assurance: You Plus a very special thanks to the my beautiful wife and children, without whom this game would be released two years earlier.

Dozens of alchemy stalls line a single street and fill the road with an aroma of synthetic smoke. You hold your nose and go through to peruse the wares. Every odd component is available for sale in the alchemical bazaar, from powdered pearls to dried guano to more traditional components like glowing vials and dried herbs. Approaching one stall in particular, you look over your options and decide to... <<include "hub-commerce-alchemy2">>\

<<if ($currenttrial is "Tiger")>>\ Many of the alchemy stalls offer miracle drugs and combat elixirs designed to crush your enemies, but the high amount of sick people coming out of this street give a clear warning that most of these are scams. You're fairly certain you've even stepped over a dead body on your way in. Only the Eternal War Elixir seems to be getting praise, but the only one you're able to find for sale is not in a reassuring location. "Hello, potion seller." You say in a dark alley, facing a hunchback crouching over his stall. "I am going into the Tiger Trial and I require only your strongest potion." "My potions are too strong for you, $ymaster." The hunchbacked alchemist replies in condescending certainty while caressing a glowing red phial. "You cannot handle them." <<choose "hub-commerce-alchemy-eternalwar2">> #"Potion seller, you misunderstand. I am going into battle, and I require only your strongest potion." <<var $ruthless - 1>>\ "Potion seller, you misunderstand." You reply, trying to reason with the man. "I am going into battle, and I require only your strongest potion." "No, you misunderstand, traveler." The man replies with a smug grin. "You are too weak. My most powerful potion would kill you." #use-if ($ruthless gte 60) "Wrong answer." [Requires Ruthless 60] <<var $ruthless + 2>>\ "Wrong answer." You crack your fist into the man's jaw, breaking a mollar. His face shoots back and hits the stone wall of the alleyway, knocking him out. He collapses onto his stall with a heavy thud. You lay the payment on the counter next to his unconscious face, with a small discount for your inconvenience. <<var $boughtelixir true>>\ <<var $powelixir + 1>>\ ''[Item Gained: Eternal War Elixir]'' <<costcalc 145>>\ ''[Infamy Increased]'' <<var $infamy + 2>>\ <<page "Continue" "hub-commerce-alchemy">>\ <</choose>> <<else>>\ "You're in luck." Says a young Martial Artist on his way out after handing you a red glowing phial. "This is prime Nakamoto alchemy. It was supposed to be my secret weapon for the Wolf Trial, but I didn't make it there." He hangs his head. "Disqualified already. May it serve you better than it served me." <<var $boughtelixir true>>\ <<var $powelixir + 1>>\ ''[Item Gained: Eternal War Elixir]'' <<costcalc 150>>\ <<page "Continue" "hub-commerce-alchemy">>\ <</if>>\

<<choose "hub-commerce-alchemy2">> #Drop an extra 20 Shards on the table. <<var $ruthless - 1>>\ You drop an extra 20 Shards onto the table with a heavy thud. <<costcalc 20>>\ "Ah." The hunchbacked potion seller says. "//That// potion. Of course!" <<var $boughtelixir true>>\ <<var $powelixir + 1>>\ ''[Item Gained: Eternal War Elixir]'' <<costcalc 150>>\ <<page "Continue" "hub-commerce-alchemy">>\ #Leave the fool. You didn't come here to argue with merchants who don't even want to sell their own wares. Valuing your time, you leave the fool and paruse the other alchemical stalls. <</choose>>

<<var $val 0>>\ <<var $bingo 0>>\ <<choose "hub-commerce-alchemy">> #use-if (((($shards + ($silver / 10)) + ($gold * 10)) gte 8) or (($race is "Oni") and ((($shards + ($silver / 10)) + ($gold * 10)) gte 7))) Purchase Alchemy Reagents. [8 Shards] "Certainly!" Cheers an old man behind one of the stalls, brushing his hand past shelves of incense, preserved animal parts, and dried herbs. "Take anything you need and bring them to the counter when you're done." You decide to purchase... <<var $bingo ((($shards + ($silver / 10)) + ($gold * 10)) % 9)>>\ <<var $bingo (((($shards + ($silver / 10)) + ($gold * 10)) - $bingo) / 9)>>\ <<input-number $val 0 $bingo "hub-commerce-alchemy-buy">>\ #use-if ($alchemyreagents gt 0) Sell Alchemy Reagents. <<var $bingo (4 + $persuasion)>>\ <<if ($bingo gt 9)>>\ <<var $bingo 9>>\ <</if>>\ "I'll be honest, $ymaster," the older man behind the counter mutters while surveying your inventory. "My shop is moving such volume during these Trials that I could sell these easily, but only at a reasonable rate. I will pay you a fair price of $bingo Shards per batch." You decide to sell him up to... ''[Currently Owned: $alchemyreagents]'' <<input-number $val 0 $alchemyreagents "hub-commerce-alchemy-sell">>\ #use-if (((($shards + ($silver / 10)) + ($gold * 10)) gte 100) and ($healingelixir lte 3)) Purchase a Healing Elixir. [100 Shards] ''[Item Gained: Healing Elixir]'' <<var $healingelixir + 1>>\ <<if ($race is "Oni")>>\ ''[Racial Discount Applied by Oni Shop Owner]'' ''[10 Shards saved]'' <<costcalc 90>>\ <<else>>\ <<costcalc 100>>\ <</if>>\ #use-if (((($shards + ($silver / 10)) + ($gold * 10)) gte 50) and ($lgagipill lt 2)) Purchase a Low-Grade Agility Pill. [50 Shards] ''[Item Gained: Low Grade Agility Pill]'' <<var $lgagipill + 1>>\ <<if ($race is "Oni")>>\ ''[Racial Discount Applied by Oni Shop Owner]'' ''[5 Shards saved]'' <<costcalc 45>>\ <<else>>\ <<costcalc 50>>\ <</if>>\ #use-if (((($shards + ($silver / 10)) + ($gold * 10)) gte 40) and ($lgpowpill lt 2)) Purchase a Low-Grade Power Pill. [40 Shards] ''[Item Gained: Low Grade Power Pill]'' <<var $lgpowpill + 1>>\ <<if ($race is "Oni")>>\ ''[Racial Discount Applied by Oni Shop Owner]'' ''[4 Shards saved]'' <<costcalc 36>>\ <<else>>\ <<costcalc 40>>\ <</if>>\ #use-if (((($shards + ($silver / 10)) + ($gold * 10)) gte 50) and ($lgforpill lt 2)) Purchase a Low-Grade Fortitude Pill. [50 Shards] ''[Item Gained: Low Grade Fortitude Pill]'' <<var $lgforpill + 1>>\ <<if ($race is "Oni")>>\ ''[Racial Discount Applied by Oni Shop Owner]'' ''[5 Shards saved]'' <<costcalc 45>>\ <<else>>\ <<costcalc 50>>\ <</if>>\ #use-if (((($shards + ($silver / 10)) + ($gold * 10)) gte 50) and ($lgsolpill lt 2)) Purchase a Low-Grade Soul Pill. [50 Shards] ''[Item Gained: Low Grade Soul Pill]'' <<var $lgsolpill + 1>>\ <<if ($race is "Oni")>>\ ''[Racial Discount Applied by Oni Shop Owner]'' ''[5 Shards saved]'' <<costcalc 45>>\ <<else>>\ <<costcalc 50>>\ <</if>>\ #use-if (((($shards + ($silver / 10)) + ($gold * 10)) gte 45) and ($honor lte 40)) Purchase a Common Poison. [45 Shards] "Poison?!" Shouts an old alchemist with wide, round glasses. "I would never sell such a thing! Why, to infer that my stall is selling poison is grounds for recompense! Place 45 Shards upon my stall immediately as apology, you disrespectful cur!" <<costcalc 45>>\ "That's better!" Announces the old man, looking left and right while slipping you a vial. "As a token of my respect for your manners, I grant you this complimentary elixir." He lowers to a whisper. "And for the love of the Ancestors, have some understanding of subtlety and do not drink it like the last customer." ''[Item Gained: Common Poison]'' <<var $commonpoison + 1>>\ #show-if ($lgpowpillrecipe is 100) use-if ((($shards + ($silver / 10)) + ($gold * 10)) gte 35) Purchase a Recipe (Low Grade Power Pill) [35 Shards] "The $ymaster is quite wise to purchase my recipe." Says a fat alchemist woman with rosy cheeks. "The secret ingredient is the light Kami Soul Treasure cores. Expensive, yes, but without that the sugar will degrade the effect." "Can't I make this without sugar?" You ask. The woman's mouth hangs agape, baffled at such a terrifying thought. ''[Alchemy Recipe Unlocked: Low Grade Power Pill]'' <<costcalc 35>>\ <<var $lgpowpillrecipe (6 - $alchemy)>>\ <<page "Continue" "hub-commerce-alchemy">>\ #show-if ($lgforpillrecipe is 100) use-if ((($shards + ($silver / 10)) + ($gold * 10)) gte 40) Purchase a Recipe (Low Grade Fortitude Pill) [40 Shards] "It's the fish eyes." Says the one-eyed alchemist. At first you take him to be a seventy year old fisher, but upon closer inspection he's closer to thirty and needs to get out of the sun more often. "The fish eyes are where all the power comes from." You look over his recipe and dread the smell. "But Honored Alchemist, these are Fortitude pills, not Power pills." "Oh." He says, rubbing his one good eye and looking over the scroll he's given you. He takes it back and hands you another. You feel relief to not drink fish eyes. "Fish genitals then. Male only, of course." You put the scroll back and buy a different one from a passing caravan. It uses sorghum. ''[Alchemy Recipe Unlocked: Low Grade Fortitude Pill]'' <<costcalc 40>>\ <<var $lgforpillrecipe (6 - $alchemy)>>\ <<page "Continue" "hub-commerce-alchemy">>\ #show-if ($lgagipillrecipe is 100) use-if ((($shards + ($silver / 10)) + ($gold * 10)) gte 35) Purchase a Recipe (Low Grade Agility Pill) [35 Shards] "With this, your enemies will never see you coming." Says the cloaked alchemist, handing over a dark scroll. "A dagger to the neck for one, a dagger to the spine for another, a dagger to the heart for the third. Surge enough Agility Cores and your hidden blade will be the death of thousands." <<if (($itemkunai isnot 100000000) and (($ruthless gte 60) or ($honor lt 40)))>>\ You look down at the Kunai in your sheath. "Neat." <<elseif (($itemtanto isnot 100000000) and (($ruthless gte 60) or ($honor lt 40)))>>\ You look down at Father's tanto at your side. "Neat." <<elseif (($ruthless gt 60) or ($honor lt 40))>>\ "Neat." <<else>>\ You look askance at the cloaked figure. "Agility Cores can be surged for plenty of tasks besides stabbing people." The man glowers at you. "Just hand me the money, amateur." <</if>>\ ''[Alchemy Recipe Unlocked: Low Grade Agility Pill]'' <<costcalc 35>>\ <<var $lgagipillrecipe (6 - $alchemy)>>\ <<page "Continue" "hub-commerce-alchemy">>\ #show-if ($lgsolpillrecipe is 100) use-if ((($shards + ($silver / 10)) + ($gold * 10)) gte 35) Purchase a Recipe (Low Grade Soul Pill) [35 Shards] "You got the money?" Asks a masked clerk of the Heavenly Ascension Trials, meeting you in an alleyway near the alchemy shops. "You got the stuff?" You ask, having taken quite a while to find a lead for a soul pill recipe. He hands you a scroll and you hand him the Shards. He counts through them slowly and nods back to you before walking back into the shadowy alleyway. ''[Alchemy Recipe Unlocked: Low Grade Soul Pill]'' <<costcalc 35>>\ <<var $lgsolpillrecipe (6 - $alchemy)>>\ #show-if ($replenisherpillrecipe is 100) use-if ((($shards + ($silver / 10)) + ($gold * 10)) gte 70) Purchase a Recipe (Replenisher Pill) [70 Shards] "You seek my mystic power." Says an old woman levitating off the ground, her eyes glowing golden with Mystic Chi. "You seek my knowledge. My alchemical perfection. But to gain even a fraction of my lifetime of arcane knowledge will cost you...dearly." <<if ($honor gte 50)>>\ "Are you selling Replenisher Pill recipes or not?" You ask the lady floating off the ground behind a shabby wooden stall in a crowded market place. <<else>>\ "Yeah, that's how shops work." You say to the lady floating off the ground behind a shabby wooden stall in a crowded market place. "Now get down here and hand me the scroll." <</if>>\ The old lady clears her throat and descends to the ground. She pulls a crumpled piece of paper out of her pocket. "That will be seventy shards." ''[Alchemy Recipe Unlocked: Replenisher Pill]'' <<costcalc 70>>\ <<var $replenisherpillrecipe (10 - $alchemy)>>\ <<page "Continue" "hub-commerce-alchemy">>\ #show-if ((($currenttrial is "Tiger") or ($currenttrial is "Rat")) and ($boughtelixir is true)) use-if ($boughtelixir is false) Purchase an Eternal War Elixir. [Sold Out] -> "death" #show-if ((($currenttrial is "Tiger") or ($currenttrial is "Rat")) and ($boughtelixir is false)) use-if ((($shards + ($silver / 10)) + ($gold * 10)) gte 150) Purchase an Eternal War Elixir. [150 Shards] -> "hub-commerce-alchemy-eternalwar" #show-if (((($currenttrial is "Snake") or ($currenttrial is "Boar")) or ($currenttrial is "Ox")) and ($boughtelixir is true)) use-if ($boughtelixir is false) #Purchase an Inner Fortress Elixir. [Sold Out] #show-if (((($currenttrial is "Snake") or ($currenttrial is "Boar")) or ($currenttrial is "Ox")) and ($boughtelixir is false)) use-if ((($shards + ($silver / 10)) + ($gold * 10)) gte 150) #Purchase an Inner Fortress Elixir. [150 Shards] "You have an eye for quality!" Booms a wide man better suited chopping lumber than brewing potions. His stained fingers hand you the blue glowing phial while he chuckles maliciously. "Your enemies will quake before you when they see their attacks fall to nothing!" <<var $boughtelixir true>>\ <<var $forelixir + 1>>\ ''[Item Gained: Inner Fortress Elixir]'' <<costcalc 150>>\ <<page "Continue" "hub-commerce-alchemy">>\ #show-if ((($currenttrial is "Stallion") or ($currenttrial is "Monkey")) and ($boughtelixir is true)) use-if ($boughtelixir is false) #Purchase a Silent Hunt Elixir. [Sold Out] #show-if ((($currenttrial is "Stallion") or ($currenttrial is "Monkey")) and ($boughtelixir is false)) use-if ((($shards + ($silver / 10)) + ($gold * 10)) gte 150) #Purchase a Silent Hunt Elixir. [150 Shards] "A fine selection." Says the greasy looking alchemist, hunched over as he hands you the green glowing phial. "The \ <<if ($currenttrial is "Stallion")>>\ assassin I prepared this for saw fit to seek my death instead of my payment. It is still for sale. I assume you understand the implications and will pay in full." <<else>>\ lady who requested this canceled her order when she reconciled with her husband. Unfortunate. If she still sought his death I would have over two-hundred Shards. I will settle for your payment instead. Consider the discount a gesture of good will for your future purchases." He tries to smile and it's the worst thing you have seen all day. <</if>>\ <<var $boughtelixir true>>\ <<var $agielixir + 1>>\ ''[Item Gained: Silent Hunt Elixir]'' <<costcalc 150>>\ <<page "Continue" "hub-commerce-alchemy">>\ #show-if ((($currenttrial is "Ram") or ($currenttrial is "Crane")) and ($boughtelixir is true)) use-if ($boughtelixir is false) #Purchase a Divine Presence Elixir. [Sold Out] #show-if ((($currenttrial is "Ram") or ($currenttrial is "Crane")) and ($boughtelixir is false)) use-if ((($shards + ($silver / 10)) + ($gold * 10)) gte 150) #Purchase a Divine Presence Elixir. [150 Shards] "You're in luck, $ymaster." Says an old woman while handing you the glowing white phial. "I had prepared this for \ <<if ($currenttrial is "Ram")>>\ a young girl from Outer South, but she failed out in the previous Trial." <<else>>\ a priest of the Devanic Temple, but he was called away to consecrate a battlefield." <</if>>\ <<var $boughtelixir true>>\ <<var $solelixir + 1>>\ ''[Item Gained: Divine Presence Elixir]'' <<costcalc 150>>\ <<page "Continue" "hub-commerce-alchemy">>\ #Go back to the Commerce District. -> "hub-commerce-district" <</choose>>

<<var $val 0>>\ <<var $conversion 0>>\ <<if ($bankinterest is 0)>>\ The Imperial Bank of Rasen dwarfs the security of any fortress you've ever seen. Four guards in the distinct samurai armor of the Bladed Lands stand on each side of the wide entrance. Their bodies do not move, hands steadily rested on their swords, yet their eyes scan every passerby entering or leaving the busy bank entrance. The building itself appears as a black rectangle with sharp corners, no windows, and golden inlay lining its sides only at ground-level and eye-level. The glossy black masonry is certainly interesting, as you've never seen anything like it, but the real marvel is what's inside. Or rather, what's //down//. You hesitantly pass by the guards and enter into the bank only to find a marble staircase leading down forty feet into a well-lit long hall filled with all sorts of people lined up to speak to the fourteen desks of clerks. Fine tile line the walls and high ceiling, the floor is one long piece of redwood larger than any tree you've ever seen, and ten-foot tall statues of various warriors surround the singular enormous room. It's as if a Noble's mansion has been placed underground. Men and women of every Caste shuffle around the bank with lockboxes or scrolls. Most wait in line in front of clerks and you decide that's your best place to start. You analyze the movements of the crowd, identify the best line to get into, and wait. <<page "Ten minutes later..." "hub-commerce-bank-first">>\ <<else>>\ The Imperial Bank of Rasen is as busy as ever. People of all Castes wait in long lines behind each bank clerk while under heavy scrutiny from the ten-foot-tall, broad-shouldered statues of armored warriors between each row. Statues that you suspect to be Earth Elementals. Strong ones. After maneuvering through the crowds and avoiding a few shouting matches, you find one line far shorter than the others and get in. Minutes later you get to the front and see it's the same baggy-robed Oni clerk as before. "Welcome, welcome, welcome!" The clerk makes his best attempt at a warm smile. "The Imperial Bank of Rasen accepts you as family, and as such, would be more than honored to keep watch over your money. If you can't trust family, who //can// you trust?" You \ <<if ($honor lt 45)>>\ roll your eyes, \ <<else>>\ nod politely, \ <</if>>\ ignore the sales pitch, and look over your options. <<include "hub-commerce-bank2">>\ <</if>>\

<<var $bingo 0>>\ <<var $conversion 0>>\ <<var $val 0>>\ "Of course we offer currency conversions." The Oni Clerk says. "We offer robust coffers for all your exchanging needs, as well as the smallest fee you're likely to find in all the world. A mere 1 per-cent surcharge. That is, 1 one-hundredth of the conversion's value." Smallest fee in the //world//?! You highly doubt that, seeing as you didn't pay anything for currency conversions so far in your entire life. The bank is the first one to even charge you at all. Though you suppose 0 isn't a fee, so their 1% fee really is the smallest one you've been charged. Curses. "I'm afraid it's out of my hands." The clerk says with a smug smile before you can voice any objection. <<choose "hub-commerce-bank2">> #use-if ($silver gte 10) Convert silver to Shards. [1% Surcharge, Minimum 1 Shard] "It would be my pleasure, $ymaster." Says the Oni clerk, "Ten Silver are required to equate a single Shard. How many Silver would you like to convert?" Current Silver: $silver <<input-number $conversion 0 $silver "hub-commerce-bank-silver2shards">>\ #use-if ($gold gte 1) Convert gold to Shards. [1% Surcharge, Minimum 1 Shard] "It would be my pleasure, $ymaster." Says the Oni clerk, "Only one Gold is required to equate ten entire Shards. How many Gold would you like to convert?" Current Gold: $gold <<input-number $conversion 0 $gold "hub-commerce-bank-gold2shards">>\ #use-if ($shards gte 1) Convert Shards to Silver. [1% Surcharge, Minimum 1 Shard] "It would be my pleasure, $ymaster." Says the Oni clerk, "Only one Shard is required to equate ten entire Silver. How many Shards would you like to convert?" Current Shards: $shards <<input-number $conversion 0 $shards "hub-commerce-bank-shards2silver">>\ #use-if ($shards gte 10) Convert Shards to Gold. [1% Surcharge, Minimum 1 Shard] "It would be my pleasure, $ymaster." Says the Oni clerk, "Ten Shards are required to equate a single Gold coin. How many Shards would you like to convert?" Current Shards: $shards <<input-number $conversion 0 $shards "hub-commerce-bank-shards2gold">>\ #use-if ($gold gte 1) Convert Gold to Silver. [1% Surcharge, Minimum 1 Shard] "It would be my pleasure, $ymaster." Says the Oni clerk, "Only one Shard is required to equate one-hundred entire Silver. How many Gold would you like to convert?" Current Gold: $gold <<input-number $conversion 0 $gold "hub-commerce-bank-gold2silver">>\ #Convert Silver to Gold. [1% Surcharge, Minimum 1 Shard] "It would be my pleasure, $ymaster." Says the Oni clerk, "One-hundred Silver is required to equate a single Gold coin. How many Silver would you like to convert?" Current Silver: $silver <<input-number $conversion 0 $silver "hub-commerce-bank-currencies-silver2gold">>\ #Nevermind <</choose>>

<<var $bingo ($conversion % 100)>>\ <<var $conversion - $bingo>>\ <<var $silver - $conversion>>\ <<var $gold + ($conversion / 100)>>\ <<var $val Math.round(($conversion - $bingo) / 1000)>>\ <<include "hub-commerce-bank-surcharge">>\

<<bankcalc $conversion "Deposited">>\ <<var $bankcash + $conversion>>\ With a content smile the Oni looks down on your collection of coinage as if staring at his own newborn child. "We will guard these funds well, $ymaster of that you can be sure. Is there any other business you wish to perform?" <<include "hub-commerce-bank2">>\

Finally you reach the front and come face to face with a thin, glasses-wearing middle-aged Oni man wearing a cylindrical hat and baggy robes, with sleeves going well past his hands. "Welcome to the Imperial Bank of Rasen!" Announces the Oni clerk in cheery expression, though you notice his smile never reaches his eyes. "How may we aid you in securing your funds on this fine day?" "That's what I came here to find out." You confess. "What does a bank //do//?" "Why, we protect your Shards from ne'er-do-wells!" The man says, suddenly energetic. "Your money is-er, your business is highly valued at the Bank of Imperial Rasen. There is nothing that would please me more than protecting them from harm, theft, or worst of all, idleness." The Oni shudders at that last word, but your eyebrow raises in-kind. "Idleness?" You ask. "Indeed!" The clerk responds, nodding solemnly. "On top of protecting your wealth, granting you a //free// account within our vaults, and securing your name as one of the true elite of Imperial Rasen, we also ensure your money does not accumulate dust. Through our superior accounting and risk-assessment, we invest your savings into profitable expeditions and offer a ''robust'' one-hundredth interest on all funds within your account!" <<choose "hub-commerce-bank-first2">> #use-if ($commerce gte 7) "One percent is //terrible.//" [Requires Commerce 7] You cringe, looking the man up and down in disgust. "One percent is //terrible//." "W-Well that would be so, were it merely an annual bonus! You may have an astute eye, but with the Heavenly Ascension Trials offering so much opportunity, we are offering our bonuses per-expedition that utilizes your treasury in its funding! I dare say you may see such returns several times throughout the Trials." "So my money is at risk //multiple// times over the course of the Trials, it's the direct funding for profitable ventures." You shake your head. "One percent is atrocious, give me the paperwork." The Oni grimaces. "I can assure you-" You take the scrolls away from him, withdraw a quill from his desk, and analyze the contract, looking for corrections or faulty clauses. ''[Commerce $commerce Check Passed.]'' After twenty minutes of negotiating clauses and racking up quite the line of angry customers behind you, you've managed to 'correct' the forms. By specifying what type of expeditions your funds can be used for and waiving other 'benefits' that aren't even real, like a personal guard for your share of the investment during the expedition (the money is spent //on// the guard, it's not even present during the expedition!) you're able to fix your interest rate to something more suitable. <<var $bankinterest + Math.round(0.4 * $commerce)>>\ <<if ($background is "Merchant")>>\ ''[Merchant Background Event: +1% Additional Interest Rate]'' <<var $bankinterest + 1>>\ <</if>>\ #"Awesome!" ''[Commerce Check Failed]'' "Awesome!" You say out loud. <<var $bankinterest 1>>\ "Quite." The clerk says with a curt smile and nod. <</choose>>

After signing the forms you're presented with two keystones. At the clerk's instruction, you push a sliver of your aura into both keystones to make a "keypair" that proves you're the owner of this account. The clerk takes one and you pocket the other. ''[Access Gained: Imperial Bank Vault]'' "It has been a true pleasure to welcome you to our business." The clerk says in plain rote. "Now, is there anything I can assist you with today? Perhaps handing over-or rather, //securing//, a portion of your no-doubt sizeable coffers?" <<include "hub-commerce-bank2">>\

<<var $gold - $conversion>>\ <<var $shards + ($conversion * 10)>>\ <<var $val Math.round($conversion / 100)>>\ <<include "hub-commerce-bank-surcharge">>\

<<var $gold - $conversion>>\ <<var $silver + ($conversion * 100)>>\ <<var $val Math.round($conversion / 10)>>\ <<include "hub-commerce-bank-surcharge">>\

You scribe your signature and details onto the proper loan scroll and hand it to the clerk. He looks down, adjusts his glasses, and smiles. "A loan, eh? Quite the enterprising young $manwoman you are! The Imperial Bank of Rasen would be more than happy to fulfill your needs. We have several loan packages to offer, but only to those of quantitative merit." Looking over the loan packages you can't help but frown. "Aren't these interest rates...insanely high?" "They are applicable to the current market." The Oni replies. "We have thousands seeking to withdraw funds, and with such a demand it is difficult to meet supply. I'm sure you understand." "So these loans made your bank run out of money?" "What? No. Hah, no!" the Oni chuckles and smiles knowingly, "Quite the opposite." <<choose "hub-commerce-bank2">> #use-if (($commerce gte 5) and (dig($debtnote, 2) is 0)) Borrow 500 Silver for 900 Debt [Requires Commerce 5] <<var $debtnote + 10000000000000>>\ ''[Item Gained: 500 Silver]'' <<var $silver + 500>>\ ''[Debt Acquired: 900 Silver]'' <<var $debt + 90>>\ "A true shame to see it go to such a waste." The Oni clerk says, handing you the funds. "Is there anything else we can help you with?" #use-if (($commerce gte 10) and (dig($debtnote, 3) is 0)) Borrow 1000 Silver for 1700 Debt [Requires Commerce 10] <<var $debtnote + 1000000000000>>\ ''[Item Gained: 1000 Silver]'' <<var $silver + 1000>>\ ''[Debt Acquired: 1700 Silver]'' <<var $debt + 170>>\ "A true shame to see it go to such a waste." The Oni clerk says, handing you the funds. "Is there anything else we can help you with?" #use-if (($commerce gte 15) and (dig($debtnote, 4) is 0)) Borrow 2000 Silver for 3200 Debt [Requires Commerce 15] <<var $debtnote + 100000000000>>\ ''[Item Gained: 2000 Silver]'' <<var $silver + 2000>>\ ''[Debt Acquired: 3200 Silver]'' <<var $debt + 320>>\ "A true shame to see it go to such a waste." The Oni clerk says, handing you the funds. "Is there anything else we can help you with?" #use-if (($commerce gte 20) and (dig($debtnote, 5) is 0)) Borrow 3000 Silver for 4300 Debt [Requires Commerce 20] <<var $debtnote + 10000000000>>\ ''[Item Gained: 3000 Silver]'' <<var $silver + 3000>>\ ''[Debt Acquired: 4300 Silver]'' <<var $debt + 430>>\ "A true shame to see it go to such a waste." The Oni clerk says, handing you the funds. "Is there anything else we can help you with?" #use-if (($commerce gte 25) and (dig($debtnote, 6) is 0)) Borrow 5000 Silver for 6100 Debt [Requires Commerce 25] <<var $debtnote + 1000000000>>\ ''[Item Gained: 5000 Silver]'' <<var $silver + 5000>>\ ''[Debt Acquired: 6100 Silver]'' <<var $debt + 610>>\ "A true shame to see it go to such a waste." The Oni clerk says, handing you the funds. "Is there anything else we can help you with?" #Nevermind. -> Deciding against a loan, instead you look over your other options. <</choose>>

"Paying off a debt, you say?" The Oni bankteller rubs his hands together. "How fortunate for those of interest." You start pulling coins from your satchel and look back up to see the man staring at you intently. "Do you need something?" You ask. "My clients often laugh at that one." "Laugh at what?" The man casts his gaze downward, dismayed, but regains his composure enough to ask. "Which line of credit will you be closing out today?" <<choose "hub-commerce-bank-paydebts2">> #show-if (dig($debtnote, 2) is 1) use-if ((($shards + ($silver / 10)) + ($gold * 10)) gte 90) Pay 900 Silver back to the Imperial Bank. -> "hub-commerce-bank-paydebts3" <<var $debtnote + 10000000000000>>\ <<costcalc 90>>\ <<var $debt - 90>>\ #show-if (dig($debtnote, 3) is 1) use-if ((($shards + ($silver / 10)) + ($gold * 10)) gte 170) Pay 1700 Silver back to the Imperial Bank. -> "hub-commerce-bank-paydebts3" <<var $debtnote + 1000000000000>>\ <<costcalc 170>>\ <<var $debt - 170>>\ #show-if (dig($debtnote, 4) is 1) use-if ((($shards + ($silver / 10)) + ($gold * 10)) gte 320) Pay 3200 Silver back to the Imperial Bank. -> "hub-commerce-bank-paydebts3" <<var $debtnote + 100000000000>>\ <<costcalc 320>>\ <<var $debt - 320>>\ #show-if (dig($debtnote, 5) is 1) use-if ((($shards + ($silver / 10)) + ($gold * 10)) gte 430) Pay 4300 Silver back to the Imperial Bank. -> "hub-commerce-bank-paydebts3" <<var $debtnote + 10000000000>>\ <<costcalc 430>>\ <<var $debt - 430>>\ #show-if (dig($debtnote, 6) is 1) use-if ((($shards + ($silver / 10)) + ($gold * 10)) gte 610) Pay 6100 Silver back to the Imperial Bank. -> "hub-commerce-bank-paydebts3" <<var $debtnote + 1000000000>>\ <<costcalc 610>>\ <<var $debt - 610>>\ #show-if (dig($debtnote, 7) is 1) use-if ((($shards + ($silver / 10)) + ($gold * 10)) gte 80) Pay 800 Silver back to the Alchemist's Outpost. <<var $debtnote + 100000000>>\ <<costcalc 80>>\ <<var $debt - 80>>\ ''[Commerce Increased]'' <<var $commerce + 1>>\ #show-if (dig($debtnote, 8) is 1) use-if ((($shards + ($silver / 10)) + ($gold * 10)) gte 300) Pay 3000 Silver back to the Alchemist's Outpost. <<var $debtnote + 10000000>>\ <<costcalc 300>>\ <<var $debt - 300>>\ ''[Commerce Increased]'' <<var $commerce + 1>>\ #show-if (dig($debtnote, 9) is 1) use-if ((($shards + ($silver / 10)) + ($gold * 10)) gte 30) Pay 300 Silver back to...Kosuke? You forgot you owed Kosuke 30 Shards for the Fishing Tournament entrance fee. Largely because you fought the spawn of a god shortly after. <<var $debtnote + 1000000>>\ <<costcalc 30>>\ <<var $debt - 30>>\ ''[Commerce Increased]'' <<var $commerce + 1>>\ Doubting that Kosuke even has a bank account, you hand over the funds just to see how they could possibly manage to get them to $bffhimher. #show-if (dig($debtnote, 10) is 1) use-if ((($shards + ($silver / 10)) + ($gold * 10)) gte 90) Pay 900 Silver back to the Harehama Dockmasters. <<var $debtnote + 100000>>\ <<costcalc 90>>\ <<var $debt - 90>>\ ''[Commerce Increased]'' <<var $commerce + 1>>\ #show-if (dig($debtnote, 11) is 1) use-if ((($shards + ($silver / 10)) + ($gold * 10)) gte 170) Pay your 1700 Silver fine to the Nanhou Magistrate's Office. <<var $debtnote + 10000>>\ <<costcalc 170>>\ <<var $debt - 170>>\ ''[Commerce Increased]'' <<var $commerce + 1>>\ #show-if (dig($debtnote, 12) is 1) use-if ((($shards + ($silver / 10)) + ($gold * 10)) gte 90) Pay your 900 Silver fee to the medical ward. <<var $debtnote + 1000>>\ <<costcalc 90>>\ <<var $debt - 90>>\ ''[Commerce Increased]'' <<var $commerce + 1>>\ #None, nevermind. -> "hub-commerce-bank2" "Ah." The Oni clerk says. "How unfortunate. Is there any other business you have with our upstanding institution?" <</choose>>

"Exquisite." The Oni clerk says, scooping your funds toward himself with both hands. "We will ensure these funds arrive at their appropriate target. We thank you for your patronage and look forward to any future business. Immediate future business, preferably. Is there anything else I can help you with?" <<include "hub-commerce-bank2">>\

''[Commerce Increased]'' <<var $commerce + 1>>\ "Wonderful." Says the Oni bankteller, looking over the coins you hand him. "I will remove your debt from the Imperial registries. We thank you for your patronage and look forward to any future business. Immediate future business, preferably. Is there anything else I can help you with?" <<include "hub-commerce-bank2">>\

<<var $bingo ($conversion % 10)>>\ <<var $conversion - $bingo>>\ <<var $shards - $conversion>>\ <<var $gold + ($conversion / 10)>>\ <<var $val Math.round(($conversion - $bingo) / 100)>>\ <<include "hub-commerce-bank-surcharge">>\

<<var $shards - $conversion>>\ <<var $silver + ($conversion * 10)>>\ <<var $val Math.round($conversion / 100)>>\ <<include "hub-commerce-bank-surcharge">>\

<<var $bingo ($conversion % 10)>>\ <<var $conversion - $bingo>>\ <<var $silver - $conversion>>\ <<var $shards + ($conversion / 10)>>\ <<var $val Math.round(($conversion - $bingo) / 1000)>>\ <<include "hub-commerce-bank-surcharge">>\

"Wonderfully chosen, $ymaster. When you think about it, this 1% surcharge is really investing in the continued security of your account. In fact, it invests in the security of all accounts across Imperial Rasen! There is nothing more noble and moral than paying a surcharge to the Imperial Bank of Rasen." He gently plucks the fee from your converted currencies and slides the rest to you. ''[Item Lost: ''\ <<if ($shards gte $val)>>\ <<if ($val lte 1)>>\ <<var $val 1>>\ ''$val Shard]'' <<else>>\ ''$val Shards]'' <</if>>\ <<var $shards - $val>>\ <<else>>\ <<if ($val lte 1)>>\ <<var $val 1>>\ <</if>>\ <<costcalc $val>>\ <</if>>\ <<var $val 0>>\ "Thank you for your service to this great empire." The clerk finishes with a bow. "Is there any other business you'd like to conclude today?" <<include "hub-commerce-bank2">>\

<<var $shards + $conversion>>\ <<var $bankcash - $conversion>>\ ''[$conversion Shards Withdrawn]'' "With that unpleasant exchange concluded, is there any other business the $ymaster would have with us? Perhaps putting $hisher funds //back?//" <<include "hub-commerce-bank2">>\

''[Inventory Funds: $silver Silver, $shards Shards, $gold Gold]'' ''[Bank Balance: $bankcash Shards] ''[Expedition Interest Rate: $bankinterest%] <<choose "hub-commerce-district">> #use-if ($bankcash gte 1) Withdraw funds. <<var $val 0>>\ <<var $conversion 0>>\ "//Withdraw// funds?" The clerk asks, tilting his head so far that his cylindrical hat nearly falls off. "The $ymaster is certainly free to make such a mistake, but have you truly thought this through? I could not imagine any safer place for your money than in our possession." You answer with nothing more than a deadpan stare. He extends his lower lip and releases a long sigh, then withdraws the ledgers from under his desk. "Very well. How much would you like to remove from our watchful protection and release into the dangerous uncertainty of your personal satchel?" <<input-number $conversion 0 $bankcash "hub-commerce-bank-withdraw">>\ #use-if ((($shards + ($silver / 10)) + ($gold * 10)) gte 1) Deposit funds. "A most wise decision, $ymaster!" The Oni clerk responds with an excited bow, placing the baggy sleeves of his robes together. "What quantity of funds will you be wisely securing within our quality vaults?" ''[Select how many Shards worth of currency you deposit]'' <<var $val (($shards + ($silver / 10)) + ($gold * 10))>>\ <<input-number $conversion 0 $val "hub-commerce-bank-deposit">>\ #Convert Currencies -> "hub-commerce-bank-currencies" #show-if ($commerce gte 5) Take out a loan. -> "hub-commerce-bank-loans" #show-if ($commerce lt 5) use-if ($commerce gte 5) Take out a loan. [Requires Commerce 5+] #show-if ($debt gt 0) Pay off a debt. -> "hub-commerce-bank-paydebts" #show-if ($debt lte 0) use-if ($debt gt 0) Pay off a debt. [No Debts Owed!] #Leave the Bank. <</choose>>

Rin leaves to the backrooms to talk through her employment contract and share her hair treatment secrets. "Don't wait for me!" She calls to you. "I have ''lots'' to teach them!" Well, that was easy. <<include "hub-commerce-barbers2">>\

Thunderfall Village doesn't have a barber shop because, like every other competent villager in the world, your families all know how to cut each other's hair. That's how you've maintained your $hairlength hairstyle since your first Advancement: Rin's scissors. Who in the world would pay a stranger instead? You //would// scoff at the very idea of a barber shop, except for the sign out front that advertises ''growing'' your hair as well. Now they have your attention. You enter and see two rows of twelve seats, with different men and women sitting in each of them. Behind them, tending to their hair, are two different types of barbers. The first are relatively youthful men and women exuding the green or gold chi of Midorikatai and Kiihakai. Somehow their chi is able to grow out the hair of the customers they tend to. The second type of barbers are the cutters. You were expecting Akakiru masters cutting their hair in a second, but instead its mostly wrinkly old ladies using scissors without an ounce of Aura Pressure. Neat. <<include "hub-commerce-barbers2">>\

You check the mirror and like what you see. <<cap $hairlength>> hair \ <<if ($beardlength isnot "")>>\ and a $beardlength beard look \ <<else>>\ looks \ <</if>>\ good on you. <<page "Return to the Commerce District." "hub-commerce-district">>\

You take a seat among the other waiting clients and glance through a scroll on a long table. Browsing through their catalogue of hairstyles and options you decide that you'd prefer... <<choose "hub-commerce-barbers3">> #use-if ((($shards + ($silver / 10)) + ($gold * 10)) gte 7) Long hair. [7 Shards] <<var $hairlength "waist-length">>\ <<costcalc 7>>\ #use-if ((($shards + ($silver / 10)) + ($gold * 10)) gte 7) Long hair tied back. [7 Shards] <<var $hairlength "long and tied">>\ <<costcalc 7>>\ #use-if ((($shards + ($silver / 10)) + ($gold * 10)) gte 7) Chest-length hair. [7 Shards] <<var $hairlength "chest-length">>\ <<costcalc 7>>\ #use-if ((($shards + ($silver / 10)) + ($gold * 10)) gte 7) Chest-length hair tied back. [7 Shards] <<var $hairlength "tied-back">>\ <<costcalc 7>>\ #use-if ((($shards + ($silver / 10)) + ($gold * 10)) gte 7) Shoulder-length hair. [7 Shards] <<var $hairlength "shoulder-length">>\ <<costcalc 7>>\ #use-if ((($shards + ($silver / 10)) + ($gold * 10)) gte 7) Shoulder-length hair tied back. [7 Shards] <<var $hairlength "short and tied-back">>\ <<costcalc 7>>\ #use-if ((($shards + ($silver / 10)) + ($gold * 10)) gte 7) Scruffy short hair. [7 Shards] <<var $hairlength "short">>\ <<costcalc 7>>\ #use-if (($alchemy gte 1) and ((($shards + ($silver / 10)) + ($gold * 10)) gte 9)) Short hair spiked up. [9 Shards] <<var $hairlength "spiked">>\ <<costcalc 9>>\ #show-if ($heshe is he) use-if ((($shards + ($silver / 10)) + ($gold * 10)) gte 7) Hair trimmed down to a mere quarter-inch. [7 Shards] <<var $hairlength "short-trimmed">>\ <<costcalc 7>>\ #show-if ($heshe is he) use-if ((($shards + ($silver / 10)) + ($gold * 10)) gte 5) A shaved head. [5 Shards] <<var $hairlength "bald">>\ <<costcalc 5>>\ #show-if (dig($trialdeets, 4) gte 2) use-if (dig($metrin, 3) is 0) To find work for Rin here. "We could certainly use an additional skilled pair of hands at one of our chairs." The mature woman in front of you says. Her hair is tied up in a series of hairneedles long enough to kill a man and from what you gather, she owns the parlor. "But surely you must understand we can't take charity cases?" "It's not charity." You insist. "Rin really is skilled with hair and makeup, it's the one thing she's focused on in all her life." The chief barber takes a drag of a long cigarette. "I'll be the judge of-" Bells tied to the sliding doorway ring and you all turn to the entrance where \ <<if ($japannaming is true)>>\ <<cap $clan>> Rin \ <<else>>\ Rin <<cap $clan>> \ <</if>>\ enters the parlor. Today she's chosen to add some sort of hardener to her hand-length hair, allowing it to lazily spike in layers with red coloring on the tips. "Hey $name!" She calls, waving over to you. "One of your hunky new slaves said you were looking for me?" You rub the bridge of your nose. "Stop calling my retainers hunky, and they're not sla-" "You're hired." The chief barber says, walking up to Rin and taking both your sister's hands in hers. "Can you start immediately?" Rin blinks. "I'm, uh, heh, I'm what?" "That quickly?" You ask, surprised. The chief barber snorts and turns to you. "Do you know //how many// female Martial Artists are cutting their hair short so fighters like you can't pull it in a fight? If your sister can make short hair look good on a woman, she's worth her weight in gold in this first month alone." She turns back to Rin with an intense focus. "Work for me, young lady, and I will make your art the talk of the city." Rin's eyes light up. "I have waited years for someone to recognize how amazing I am." <<var $metrin + 100000000>>\ ''[Rin's Fame Grows: Prestige Increased]'' <<var $sisrep + 5>>\ <<var $prestige + 1>>\ ''[Rin's Employment: Commerce Increased]'' <<var $commerce + 1>>\ <<if ($background is "Merchant")>>\ ''[Merchant Background: Commerce Increased Further]'' <<var $commerce + 2>>\ <<elseif ($background is "Herbalist")>>\ It doesn't hurt that she has access to a treasure trove of alchemical components for her hair treatment experiments. ''[Herbalist Background: Rin's Combat Prowess Increased]'' <<var $rincombat + 1>>\ <</if>>\ <<page "Continue" "hub-commerce-barber-rin">>\ #To leave. -> "hub-commerce-district" <</choose>>

<<if ($heshe is "he")>>\ While you're here, you consider \ <<if ($beardlength isnot "")>>\ changes to your \ <<if (((($beardlength isnot "mustache") and ($beardlength isnot "fu manchu")) and ($beardlength isnot "goatee")) and ($beardlength isnot "devilish goatee"))>>\ $beardlength beard. <<else>>\ $beardlength. <</if>>\ <<else>>\ growing a beard. <</if>>\ You //have// been on the road a long time, after all. You decide to... <<choose "hub-commerce-barbers-mirror">> #use-if ((($shards + ($silver / 10)) + ($gold * 10)) gte 5) Grow out a long beard. [5 Shards] <<var $beardlength "long">>\ <<costcalc 5>>\ #use-if ((($shards + ($silver / 10)) + ($gold * 10)) gte 5) Grow out a long beard and braid it. [5 Shards] <<var $beardlength "long braided">>\ <<costcalc 5>>\ #use-if ((($shards + ($silver / 10)) + ($gold * 10)) gte 5) Grow out a modest beard. [5 Shards] <<var $beardlength "medium - length braided">>\ <<costcalc 5>>\ #use-if ((($shards + ($silver / 10)) + ($gold * 10)) gte 5) Grow out a modest beard and braid it. [5 Shards] <<var $beardlength "medium - length braided">>\ <<costcalc 5>>\ #use-if ((($shards + ($silver / 10)) + ($gold * 10)) gte 5) Keep a short beard. [5 Shards] <<var $beardlength "short">>\ <<costcalc 5>>\ #use-if ((($shards + ($silver / 10)) + ($gold * 10)) gte 5) Keep a goatee. [5 Shards] <<var $beardlength "goatee">>\ <<costcalc 5>>\ #use-if ((($shards + ($silver / 10)) + ($gold * 10)) gte 5) Keep only a the mustache. [5 Shards] <<var $beardlength "mustache">>\ <<costcalc 5>>\ #use-if ((($shards + ($silver / 10)) + ($gold * 10)) gte 5) Trim it to a sharp goatee with twirled mustache. [5 Shards] <<var $beardlength "devilish goatee">>\ <<costcalc 5>>\ #use-if ((($shards + ($silver / 10)) + ($gold * 10)) gte 5) Trim it to a fu manchu mustache. [5 Shards] <<var $beardlength "fu manchu">>\ <<costcalc 5>>\ #use-if ((($shards + ($silver / 10)) + ($gold * 10)) gte 5) Keep a clean-shaven look. [5 Shards] <<var $beardlength "">>\ <<costcalc 5>>\ #Leave your beard alone. <</choose>> <<else>>\ <<include "hub-commerce-barbers-mirror">>\ <</if>>\

<<var $district "hub-commerce-district">>\ The Commerce District is clearly a new addition to the city, with every street lined with newly constructed buildings. Their yellow-tiled roofs sport vibrant banners representing various Sects, Schools and Clans to show off who had the prestige to purchase a shop permit at such an event. Roads are packed with travelers and carriages while the air is thick with the aroma of sizzling street food, enticing you with its mouthwatering fragrance. You follow the scent subconsciously to find rows of stalls lining the inner streets selling wares of all kinds. Merchants display an array of civilian goods alongside all kinds of weapons, Manuals, training equipment, Soul Treasures, and elixirs. Some even look legitimate. <<trialcounter>>\ <<include "hub-commerce-district2">>\

<<var $val 0>>\ <<var $val2 0>>\ <<var $counter 0>>\ <<choose "hub-commerce-district2">> #Shop at the Alchemy stalls. -> "hub-commerce-alchemy" #Seek mystic secrets at the street of Wandering Sages. -> "hub-commerce-sages" #Shop for clothes at the Radiant Weaver's Hall. -> "hub-commerce-weavers" #Visit the Barbers. -> "hub-commerce-barbers" #Visit the Imperial Bank of Rasen. -> "hub-commerce-bank" #use-if (($crimeopp isnot $currenttrial) and ($countdown isnot 0)) Pickpocket passersby. If there's one thing you've learned in life it's that nothing comes for free. The secret is getting others to pay for it. You stalk the busy marketplaces of the Commerce District and look for marks, anyone rich and gullible enough to be an easy target. Out of a crowd of //thousands//, it's not hard. The hard part is avoiding the guards and shinobi hidden among the crowd. <<var $val 0>>\ <<rand $val 2 5>>\ ''[Large City Event: Randomized Crime ''\ <<if ((($style is "Kurokonton") or ($element1 is "Darkness")) or ($element2 is "Darkness"))>>\ ''Difficulty ($val)]'' <<else>>\ ''Difficulty]'' <</if>>\ <<var $crimeopp $currenttrial>>\ <<if ($element1 is "Darkness")>>\ ''[Darkness Event: Difficulty Reduced]'' <<var $val - $element1rank>>\ <</if>>\ <<if ($element2 is "Darkness")>>\ ''[Darkness Event: Difficulty Reduced]'' <<var $val - $element2rank>>\ <</if>>\ <<if ($style is "Kurokonton")>>\ ''[Kurokonton Event: Difficulty Reduced]'' <<var $val - $stylerank>>\ <</if>>\ <<if (($thievery gte $val) or (((($yokaitrait1 is "demon tail") or ($subrace is "Reptile")) or ($subrace is "Monkey")) and ($thievery gte ($val - 1))))>>\ <<if ($thievery gte $val)>>\ ''[Thievery $val Check Passed]'' <<var $agiexp + 2>>\ <<else>>\ ''[Thievery $val Check Failed]'' <<if ($yokaitrait1 is "demon tail")>>\ ''[Demon Tail Event: Second Chance]'' <<else>>\ ''[<<cap $subrace>> Tail Event: Second Chance]'' <</if>>\ <<var $val - 1>>\ ''[Thievery $val Check Passed]'' <</if>>\ <<rand $val 120 180>>\ <<var $val + ($stealth * 10)>>\ Under the watchful eye of the city's patrolling protectors, you manage quite the steal. From gold pendants to jade cups to raw Shards, pearl bracelets to fine daggers to silver rings, nothing is out of your reach. If it can fit in a hand, it finds its way into yours. <<if (($style is "Kurokonton") or (($element1 is "Darkness") or ($element2 is "Darkness")))>>\ <<var $val + ($stealth * 10)>>\ <<if ($style is "Kurokonton")>>\ ''[Kurokonton Event: Findings Increased]'' <<else>>\ ''[Darkness Event: Findings Increased]'' <</if>>\ <</if>>\ ''[Item Gained: $val Shards]'' <<var $shards + $val>>\ <<include "hub-commerce-district2">>\ <<else>>\ <<if ((($yokaitrait1 is "demon tail") or ($subrace is "Reptile")) or ($subrace is "Monkey"))>>\ ''[Thievery $val Check Failed]'' <<if ($yokaitrait1 is "demon tail")>>\ ''[Demon Tail Event: Second Chance]'' <<else>>\ ''[<<cap $subrace>> Tail Event: Second Chance]'' <</if>>\ <<var $val - 1>>\ <</if>>\ ''[Thievery $val Check Failed]'' You do well for yourself at first, swiping a few bracelets and a coinpouch, until you grab an odd trinket inside one woman's pocket. It stings your hand, so you look down after escaping into an alleyway to see what you grabbed. A shuriken. "There." Says a plain looking woman, pointing you out to three guards at the alleyway's entrance. Plain looking, of course, because it's the best way to hide in plain sight. A shinobi. You've been marked. The guards draw their weapons and close in on you, their eyes burning with chi. "Theft is a capital crime in the Heavenly Ascension Trials. If you survive your punishment, you will be locked away." You wonder what they mean by 'if you survive' until the shinobi holds her hands out, draining your chi with Cursed energy, and the guards closing in with their weapons beat you in the kidneys, knees, chest, and head. <<woundcheck 2 false false>>\ <<aploss 5>>\ You spend the next night in jail, tending to your wounds with nothing more than cloth wrappings until you're kicked out onto the street. It seems they found criminals more worthy of a cell. <<var $val 0>>\ <<var $days 1>>\ <<page "Lucky me." "hub-spendday">>\ <</if>>\ #Enter the Port District. -> "hub-port-district" #Enter the Entertainment District. -> "hub-entertainment-district" #Enter the Residential District. -> "hub-residential-district" #use-if (($val is 1345) and ($val isnot 1345)) Enter the Noble District. [Forbidden] -> "death" <</choose>>

<<if (dig($placevisit, 4) is 0)>>\ <<var $placevisit + 100000000000>>\ You walk into the gilded entrance of the Sage's Shop to find the quality goods banned to the lower peoples. What you find instead is a guard at the doorway, materializing from the shadows to block your path with a large hand outstretched. "Hold it right there." Says the large burly man in padded armor over a black Combat Gi. "Nobodies aren't allowed into the Mystic Emporium." <<if ($prestige gte 25)>>\ ''[Prestige 25 Check Passed]'' <<elseif ($qingstatus is "Ally")>>\ ''[Prestige 25 Check Failed]'' ''[Special Event]'' <</if>>\ "It's quite alright!" Calls an old man's voice from inside. <<if ($prestige gte 25)>>\ "That's the $patriarch of some rising local Clan. <<cap $heshe>> qualifies, let $himher through." <<else>>\ "<<cap $heshe>> is a mutual friend of our nautical connection. Let $himher through." <</if>>\ "You heard the boss." The guard says, shifting tone immediately and opening the door for you. "Enjoy your stay." <<page "Enter the Mystic Emporium" "hub-commerce-mysticemporium2">>\ <<else>>\ "Welcome back, Young <<cap $patriarch>> of the <<cap $clan>> Clan." Says the creepy old Oni man behind the counter. "Peruse my wares at your leisure, <<include "hub-commerce-mysticemporium3">>\ <</if>>\

Nanhou's Mystic Emporium looks nothing like the sage shops you've been to in the past: it's nearly empty. Along one wall is a series of glass boxes built into the tiles filled with ancient-looking scrolls. A name is written on each glass case in Mystic Chi, signifying a customer's special order. \ Along the other wall is a one-foot drop where the floor doesn't meet the wall, and instead falls into the ground where a glowing green energy rises up and illuminates the otherwise dark room. It gives you the impression of a cursed stream running underneath the building. \ At the center of the Mystic Emporium is a display case where an old wiry Oni man sits on a hovering cloud behind the counter. He eyes you, analyzing your worth with scrutiny. His long hooked nose adds an air of ill intent to the smile that crosses his face. \ "Come in, $fullname." The shopkeeper says. \ <<if ($qingstatus is "Ally")>>\ "An acquaintance of mine vouched for you, in the event that you make it to Nanhou." "An acquaintance?" You consider who you know that he may be talking about. Possibly Dou Nohal? "Oh yes." The man says with a sniveling rat-faced smirk. "Qing was quite expressive of your value. So much so that his brother seemed quite irate at his praise going to another." "Captain Qing?!" You blurt out, then lower your voice. "You work with pirates?" "Absolutely not." The man says, smiling slowly. "My business is with entrepreneurs on the high seas. What is ''not'' my business is questioning how they come across the unique goods I require. Feel free to browse my wares, $name. Your reputation hints that we may make wonderful trade partners in the near future." <<else>>\ "Browse my merchandise and see if it measures up to the worth your attention. Better yet, see if //you// are worth //my// attention." <</if>>\ You look from the locked cases to the glowing floor-well and back to the sparse inventory at the central counter. "Okay, but this isn't exactly what I expected." The old man squints and smiles wider, yellow teeth showing. "With all the business I've received, I've moved on from common sales. What I have to offer now is far more...exotic." He steeps his fingers, looking upon the scrolls under his counter's glass case like a dragon surveying its horde. "Browse to your heart's content, and set your eyes upon my offerings, freshly imported from the very heart of the Mystic Lands. \ <<include "hub-commerce-mysticemporium3">>\

I am certain you'll find something to your liking. They always do." //•Seal of the Cathayan Lord// - Increase Power temporarily. //•Seal of the Infinite Plains Lord// - Increase Fortitude temporarily. //•Seal of the Zenshin Lord// - Increase Agility temporarily. //•Seal of the Yomijin Lord// - Increase Soul temporarily. //•Souldraining Body Seal// - Drain Soul Cores to replenish Fortitude Cores. //•Souldraining Speed Seal// - Drain Soul Cores to replenish Agility Cores. //•Souldraining Might Seal// - Drain Soul Cores to replenish Power Cores. //•Powerdraining Body Seal// - Drain Power Cores to replenish Fortitude Cores. //•Powerdraining Speed Seal// - Drain Power Cores to replenish Agility Cores. //•Powerdraining Spirit Seal// - Drain Power Cores to replenish Soul Cores. <<if ((dig($runesealritual, 1) is 1) and ($race is "Lunargoth"))>>\ //•Unusual Stones// - You have no idea what these are for. <<elseif ((dig($runesealritual, 1) is 2) and ($race is "Lunargoth"))>>\ //•Rune Stones// - Mysterious talismans from the far eastern end of the Empire. <</if>>\ <<if (dig($placevisit, 4) is 1)>>\ <<var $placevisit + 100000000000>>\ "I see you have your eye on the Lord Seals." The old man says, holding his hands behind his back. \ <<if ($style is "Kiihakai")>>\ "Normally I would warn my customers to only ever learn one. The power of the Lord Seals are stored within the central Cores, you understand." ''[Kiihakai Event]'' He walks out from behind the counter and taps on your shoulder. A spark of golden chi comes from his fingertip and bounces off your spirit when its met by $auracolor sparks of your own Mystic Chi. "A $manwoman of your talents has no such limit. We of the Kiihakai Style can learn all four. Consider the only limit to be that of your wallet." As creepy as the man is, the news he's giving you is exactly what you want to hear. You smile, and after \ <<elseif ($handseals gte 3)>>\ "If you prove adept with Handsealing, you could, perhaps, handle one of them. I will sell you no more than that. The power of these seals rests deep in the user's central Cores. Without Mystic Chi, your spirit would be greatly harmed by trying to juggle multiple Lord Seals." You give the man a short glance, but can't pull your eyes away from the Lord Seals for long. After \ <<else>>\ "You cannot handle them. Not as you are now. The confusion on your face is clear as day; you'll have to return when you understand handseals better. I will not sell these masterpieces to an amateur that will only ruin $hisher cultivation." You scowl at the old man but look back to the other seals for sale. After \ <</if>>\ <<else>>\ After \ <</if>>\ <<include "hub-commerce-mysticemporium4">>\

<<var $txt "You stow away your new scroll and look over the shop's other wares. After">>\ browsing through the intricately inscribed, prepared, and organized scrolls, you decide to... <<choose "hub-commerce-mysticemporium4">> #use-if (((($style is "Kiihakai") and ($powsealritual is 100)) or (($handseals gte 3) and (((($powsealritual is 100) and ($forsealritual is 100)) and ($agisealritual is 100)) and ($solsealritual is 100)))) and ((($shards + ($silver / 10)) + ($gold * 10)) gte 250)) Purchase the Seal of the Cathayan Lord [250 Shards, Requires Handseals 3] "Legends say this power was crafted first among the Lord Seals." Says the old man while handing you an ancient scroll. "The Cathayan Emperors sought to inscribe their might upon the very fabric of reality, and so was the first Lord Seal created. Use it wisely." <<costcalc 250>>\ <<var $powsealritual (9 - ($sealdiscount + $handseals))>>\ <<if ($powsealritual lte 0)>>\ <<var $powsealritual 1>>\ <</if>>\ ''[Seal Learned!! (Seal of the Cathayan Lord)]'' You read through the scroll's advanced incantations and handseal applications and salivate. This kind of power can keep your Power Core elevated to the next level for hours, or even days. $txt \ #use-if (((($style is "Kiihakai") and ($forsealritual is 100)) or (($handseals gte 3) and (((($powsealritual is 100) and ($forsealritual is 100)) and ($agisealritual is 100)) and ($solsealritual is 100)))) and ((($shards + ($silver / 10)) + ($gold * 10)) gte 250)) Purchase the Seal of the Infinite Plains Lord [250 Shards, Requires Handseals 3] "A barbaric brand of a barbaric people." The old man says, frowning at the ancient scroll in your hands. "Yet their resilience cannot be underestimated. Despite their largely illiterate ways, in this lone Lord Seal, the Horse Lords of the east have created a masterpiece." <<costcalc 250>>\ <<var $forsealritual (9 - ($sealdiscount + $handseals))>>\ <<if ($forsealritual lte 0)>>\ <<var $forsealritual 1>>\ <</if>>\ ''[Seal Learned!! (Seal of the Infinite Plains Lord)]'' You read through the scroll's advanced incantations and handseal applications and salivate. This kind of power can keep your Fortitude Core elevated to the next level for hours, or even days. $txt \ #use-if (((($style is "Kiihakai") and ($agisealritual is 100)) or (($handseals gte 3) and (((($powsealritual is 100) and ($forsealritual is 100)) and ($agisealritual is 100)) and ($solsealritual is 100)))) and ((($shards + ($silver / 10)) + ($gold * 10)) gte 250)) Purchase the Seal of the Zenshin Lord [250 Shards, Requires Handseals 3] "The pride of Imperial Rasen." Says the old man, smiling fondly at the ancient scroll as he hands it to you. "This Lord Seal is proof to all the world that our grand empire's might is embedded into the mystic attunement of the world itself. \ <<if ($race is "Human")>>\ Use it well to represent your people, young one." ''[Human Event: 50 Shard Discount]'' <<costcalc 200>>\ <<else>>\ Though we are not of the Zenshin people, we are still citizens of its Empire. Wield the Lord Seal of the Zenshin race with pride, young one. It will serve you well." <<costcalc 250>>\ <</if>>\ <<var $agisealritual (9 - ($sealdiscount + $handseals))>>\ <<if ($agisealritual lte 0)>>\ <<var $agisealritual 1>>\ <</if>>\ ''[Seal Learned!! (Seal of the Zenshin Lord)]'' You read through the scroll's advanced incantations and handseal applications and salivate. This kind of power can keep your Agility Core elevated to the next level for hours, or even days. $txt \ #use-if (((($style is "Kiihakai") and ($solsealritual is 100)) or (($handseals gte 3) and (((($powsealritual is 100) and ($forsealritual is 100)) and ($agisealritual is 100)) and ($solsealritual is 100)))) and ((($shards + ($silver / 10)) + ($gold * 10)) gte 250)) Purchase the Seal of the Yomijin Lord [250 Shards, Requires Handseals 3] "It is with a heavy heart that I compliment the risky and necromantic powers of New Yomi." The old man says as he hands you an ancient scroll. "But that detestable land's connection to the dead comes with a connection to the soul. Use their power well, young one. One day you may need to wield it against them." <<costcalc 250>>\ <<var $solsealritual (9 - ($sealdiscount + $handseals))>>\ <<if ($solsealritual lte 0)>>\ <<var $solsealritual 1>>\ <</if>>\ ''[Seal Learned!! (Seal of the Yomijin Lord)]'' You read through the scroll's advanced incantations and handseal applications and salivate. This kind of power can keep your Soul Core elevated to the next level for hours, or even days. $txt \ #use-if (($solagiswapritual is 100) and ((($shards + ($silver / 10)) + ($gold * 10)) gte 40)) Purchase the Souldraining Speed Seal. [40 Shards] <<var $solagiswapritual 1>>\ ''[Seal Learned!! (Souldraining Speed)]'' ''[You can now spend your Soul Cores to replenish your Agility Cores]'' <<costcalc 40>>\ $txt \ #use-if (($solforswapritual is 100) and ((($shards + ($silver / 10)) + ($gold * 10)) gte 40)) Purchase the Souldraining Body Seal. [40 Shards] <<var $solforswapritual 1>>\ ''[Seal Learned!! (Souldraining Body)]'' ''[You can now spend your Soul Cores to replenish your Fortitude Cores]'' <<costcalc 40>>\ $txt \ #use-if (($solpowswapritual is 100) and ((($shards + ($silver / 10)) + ($gold * 10)) gte 40)) Purchase the Souldraining Might Seal. [40 Shards] <<var $solpowswapritual 1>>\ ''[Seal Learned!! (Souldraining Might)]'' ''[You can now spend your Soul Cores to replenish your Power Cores]'' <<costcalc 40>>\ $txt \ #use-if (($powagiswapritual is 100) and ((($shards + ($silver / 10)) + ($gold * 10)) gte 40)) Purchase the Powerdraining Speed Seal. [40 Shards] <<var $powagiswapritual 1>>\ ''[Seal Learned!! (Powerdraining Speed)]'' ''[You can now spend your Power Cores to replenish your Agility Cores]'' <<costcalc 40>>\ $txt \ #use-if (($powforswapritual is 100) and ((($shards + ($silver / 10)) + ($gold * 10)) gte 40)) Purchase the Powerdraining Body Seal. [40 Shards] <<var $powforswapritual 1>>\ ''[Seal Learned!! (Powerdraining Body)]'' ''[You can now spend your Power Cores to replenish your Fortitude Cores]'' <<costcalc 40>>\ $txt \ #use-if (($powsolswapritual is 100) and ((($shards + ($silver / 10)) + ($gold * 10)) gte 40)) Purchase the Powerdraining Spirit Seal. [40 Shards] <<var $powsolswapritual 1>>\ ''[Seal Learned!! (Powerdraining Spirit)]'' ''[You can now spend your Power Cores to replenish your Soul Cores]'' <<costcalc 40>>\ $txt \ #show-if (dig($runesealritual, 1) is 1) Investigate the unusual stones. -> "hub-commerce-sages-runes" "What are these stones?" You ask, looking over two ovals of plain grey stone etched with iridescent blue symbols. "Ah, you have an eye for the fantastical!" The shopkeeper declares, rubbing his hands together. "What you see before you is the culmination of Gothic antiquated sealing. Runestones, I believe they are called. The original Lunargoths imbued their power into stones rather than handseals. Fat lot of good it did them, but some among their kind still swear by the practice in Outer East." "So I hold these instead of casting handseals?" "I've positively no idea how they function." The old Oni man says with a shrug, rubbing his white, pointed beard. "They do not respond to the touch of an Oni. Nor Yokai or Humans, for that matter." <<if ($race isnot "Lunargoth")>>\ "Then why did you show them to me?" The old man shrugs with eyes closed as he returns behind the desk and hops atop his floating cloud. "Is it not common to boast about one's rarities?" <<elseif ($race is "Kitsune")>>\ "But for a Kitsune like me..." You say out loud, looking them over. "A what?" The Oni asks, noticing your two tails for the first time. "Good Heavens, get away from the stones, you damned thief spirit!" He pulls the runestones into his pocket and shoos you away as he locks them in a box behind the counter. "Only Seals for your kind. I've tempered them against trickery, so do not even entertain the thought!" <<else>>\ "But for a Lunargoth like me..." "Try your luck." The shopkeeper replies. "I'll sell you them for ninety Shards." You gaze at the price tag compared to the other wares in the store. "It's not a very high price..." The shopkeeper tilts his head in concession. "I am curious to see them in action." <</if>>\ <<if (dig($runesealritual, 1) is 1)>>\ <<var $runesealritual + 100000000000000>>\ <</if>>\ <<var $makerune 0>>\ #show-if (dig($runesealritual, 1) is 2) use-if (((($shards + ($silver / 10)) + ($gold * 10)) gte 90) and ($race is "Lunargoth")) Purchase the runestones. [90 Shards, Requires Lunargoth] -> "hub-commerce-sages-runebuy" #show-if (dig($placevisit, 3) is 0) Investigate the glowing well in the corner. -> "hub-commerce-sages-mysticwell" #show-if (dig($placevisit, 3) is 1) use-if ((($chipool + ($soul/2)) - $chispent) gte 3) Share your power with the Spirit of the Well. [3 Chi Points] -> "hub-commerce-sages-spiritofthewell" "You're just in time." Says the wiry shopkeeper. "A new spirit has entered the well." Looking to the leftmost wall of the store, you approach the glowing hole along the edge of the floor and feel the spirit's power in the air around you. #show-if (dig($placevisit, 3) gte 2) use-if (dig($placevisit, 3) is 1) Share your power with the Spirit of the Well. [Spirit Resting] -> "death" #Return to Sage's Alley. -> "hub-commerce-sages" #Return to the Commerce District. -> "hub-commerce-district" <</choose>>

<<if (dig($placevisit, 5) is 0)>>\ Nanhou's local Sage's Shop has expanded into a venerable Emporium of mystical \ <<if ($prestige lt 25)>>\ goods, which is good for you. <<else>>\ goods. \ <</if>>\ It has also become so successful that it's hired personal guards and banned any 'riffraff' from \ <<if ($prestige lt 25)>>\ entry, which is bad for you. ''[Prestige 25 Check Failed]'' Luckily there's another option: <<else>>\ entry. ''[Prestige 25 Check Passed]'' Which is just fine for you. There's even other options too: <</if>>\ Wandering Sages. Expert ritualists and scholars, keen on traveling the world to learn more secrets of Handseals and forgotten lore than one could ever hope to find in a single nation. \ Aside from their love of knowledge, these Sages seem to share one major trait in common: they're broke enough to offer their services. Hence the creation of an entire street of mystic street vendors. Sage's Alley. <<var $placevisit + 10000000000>>\ <</if>>\ Various bald monks and robed scholars line the street of Sage's Alley, sitting cross-legged or hovering in place as they teach their tricks and secrets to anyone willing to pay. The wide road is abuzz with chatter from dozens of Martial Artists and a hundred civilians all perusing the wares and scrolls available outside the Sage's Shop, but there's just as many Sages. You don't anticipate any problems finding an instructor. <<include "hub-commerce-sages2">>\

<<if ($val gt 0)>>\ <<var $ritualcomponents + $val>>\ ''[Item Gained: $val Ritual Components]'' <<var $val * 8>>\ <<costcalc $val>>\ <</if>>\ <<unset $val>>\ <<unset $bingo>>\ <<include "hub-commerce-sages2">>\

<<var $placevisit + 1000000000000>>\ "Is something the matter?" The creepy shopkeeper asks as you walk away towards the glowing hole stretching across the base of the shop's leftmost wall. You crouch down and peer into the glowing depths that seem to fall far into the ground below. "This well has an Aura Pressure." You finally say after gazing into the glowing green energy. "A high one." //"I am no well."// Calls a voice like the wind rustling leaves in the fall. The creepy shopkeeper slowly approaches, hands behind his back. "It is a spirit, brought here through an accord of my own doing." The man brushes a hand over the edge of the spirit's aura. "This nature spirit once represented a floating island that was destroyed. It sought a new home, and I employed a Trade Sect to negotiate its participation in my Emporium's services. Now it lives in my shop where it offers a fraction of its power to others in exchange for their chi. A sort of mutual-cycling, if you will." "Cycling as in Shard Cycling?" You ask. "Shards, Soul Treasures, Advancement Elixirs, it matters not." The old man replies. "Give this creature your chi, and it will enhance your power by a fraction. Be warned though, such a spiritual exchange is not healthy. Performing this act more than once with the same spirit could alter your affinity in ways that are never beneficial." You look back to him in disappointment. "I can only do it once?" //"Yes."// Says the spirit. //"A small exchange. Once. Nothing more."// The shopkeeper nods solemnly. "It speaks true, but for my esteemed clientele, I've worked around such limits and arranged deals to house a different spirit here each week. Check back later for a different spirit to cycle with, free of worry but not free of charge." "How did you acquire so many sentient spirits willing to work with strangers?" The shopkeeper shrugs. "A gratuitous amount of luck and an overly enthusiastic contact in the Mystic Lands. Now purchase or leave, I do not tolerate idlers in my Emporium." <<choose "hub-commerce-district">> #use-if (((($chipool + ($soul/2)) - $chispent) gte 3) and ((($shards + ($silver / 10)) + ($gold * 10)) gte 10)) Share your power with the Spirit of the Well. [3 Chi Points, 10 Shards] -> "hub-commerce-sages-spiritofthewell" #Check the rest of the shop instead. -> "hub-commerce-mysticemporium4" Sharing your spiritual signature with a mysterious nature spirit in a creepy old man's shop is not on your to-do list. Instead you back up and look through the normal wares. That is, ones that //don't// require questionable soulpacts. After \ #Return to Sage's Alley. -> "hub-commerce-sages" #Return to the Commerce District. <</choose>>

You hand over a small pouch of coin and look over the two runestones on display. Each holds an inscription of some symbol that seems much more literal than handseal sigils. It's hard to expect much from such simplicity. "Go on." The shopkeeper insists. "Make your selection and be quick about it. I have a Noble's courtesan waiting to enter the store, and the heir to an emerald mine waiting behind her. The sooner you finish shopping, the sooner I can let others in." You suppress a groan from the constant reminder that Nanhou has too many people. After careful consideration, you reach out to grab the first stone, one holding the symbol of the... <<include "hub-commerce-sages-runebuy2">>\

<<var $runesealritual + 100000000000000>>\ <<choose "hub-commerce-sages-runebuy3">> #use-once Rune of Life. [Athletics] <<var $runesealritual + 10000000000000>>\ #use-once Rune of Harvests. [Alchemy] <<var $runesealritual + 1000000000000>>\ #use-once Rune of Man. [Craft] <<var $runesealritual + 100000000000>>\ #use-once Rune of Malady. [Deception] <<var $runesealritual + 10000000000>>\ #use-once Rune of Fire. [Handseals] <<var $runesealritual + 1000000000>>\ #use-once Rune of Water. [Insight] <<var $runesealritual + 100000000>>\ #use-once Rune of Haven. [Lore] <<var $runesealritual + 10000000>>\ #use-once Rune of the Sun. [Perception] <<var $runesealritual + 1000000>>\ #use-once Rune of Dreams. [Persuasion] <<var $runesealritual + 100000>>\ #use-once Rune of Needs. [Stealth] <<var $runesealritual + 10000>>\ #use-once Rune of Trees. [Survival] <<var $runesealritual + 1000>>\ #use-once Rune of Wealth. [Thievery] <<var $runesealritual + 100>>\ <</choose>>

<<if ($runesealritual is 300000000000000)>>\ You pick up the runestone and roll it over in your hand. The iridescent blue ink seems to swirl in place along the carving on the stone's face, like a river of power in constant motion. That motion switches before your very eyes, running down the sides of the runestone and onto your hand. It //burns//. <<if ($survival gte 2)>>\ ''[Survival 2 Check Passed]'' You slam your palm against the table, cooling the searing heat by splitting its temperature between two surfaces and depriving it of air. ''[No Aura Pressure Loss]'' <<else>>\ ''[Survival 2 Check Failed]'' The runestone burns through your skin, shredding the spiritual energy of your aura in the process. <<if ((($health + ($fortitude / 2)) - $wounds) gte 2)>>\ <<woundcheck 1 false false>>\ <</if>>\ <<aploss 5>>\ <</if>>\ "Remarkable." The man says, snapping his fingers. A quill and scroll behind him record something as he speaks. "How did it feel? Do you sense any new abilities? Do you feel invigorated with knowledge?" "No." You reply, sneering. "I ''feel'' like my damned hand is on fire." "A pity." The man says. "Try the other." "Another??" You reply, irked. "I'm not falling for this again! These stones are cursed!" "You paid for both." The Oni man says nonchalant. "And there are no refunds." You breathe in through your nostrils, smelling the burning \ <<if ($survival gte 2)>>\ wood. \ <<else>>\ smell of your own cooked hand. \ <</if>>\ Throwing away forty-five Shards...Mother would slap you silly. You grit your teeth and grab the remaining stone, one marked with the... <<include "hub-commerce-sages-runebuy2">>\ <<else>>\ "Oh Hells, same thing!" You scream as your hand burns from the blue ink rushing off the runestone and onto your palm. "Same damn thing, every time!" "That confirms the initial reaction." The Oni says. "Perhaps you are missing something?" You grab your burnt hand with your uninjured hand, trying to shake the pain away. "Like what?" The shopkeeper opens a box to reveal a third rune. "A higher caliber of merchandise." You look upon the new stone, inscribed with red ink instead of blue. The power of the ink courses around the carving in the stone's center just like the others, but this one has a spiritual pressure that you can sense even without trying. Hesitantly, you reach your burnt hand out and grab the third stone, one marked with the... <<choose "hub-commerce-sages-runebuy4">> #Rune of Giants. [Power] <<var $runesealcores + 10000000000000>>\ #Rune of Protection. [Fortitude] <<var $runesealcores + 1000000000000>>\ #Rune of Journeys. [Agility] <<var $runesealcores + 100000000000>>\ #Rune of Destruction. [Soul] <<var $runesealcores + 10000000000>>\ <</choose>> <</if>>\

The red ink runs off the rune and into your hand, just like the others, but it doesn't burn. Instead it soothes the pain you've suffered from the other two runes. Then power expands over your body. The ink of the runes rises to your skin, tracing an intricate stylized tattoo of gothic symbols across your dominant hand and half your face in iridescent shades of blue. ''[Ability Unlocked: Runic Seal]'' ''[The Runic Seal activates all of the caster's runes at once at the cost of a few Ritual Components, increasing each stat by 1. One Rune exists for each Combat Core and each Skill. Search the world to collect more runes.]'' "So it works in reverse then, too." Says the Oni shopkeeper, looking at the woad tattoo forming over your hand and face. "Fascinating." "Reverse?" You ask, feeling out your new power with a spiritual scan. "Oh yes." The man replies, swelling with pride. "You're not the first to use these. The others attuned a red rune before taking on the blue runes. I wanted to see what happens when done in the reverse. It seems that it causes nothing more than minor burns. Disappointing." <<choose "hub-commerce-mysticemporium4">> #Go back to shopping. <<var $ruthless - 2>>\ You shake your head at the shopkeeper in disappointment, wrap your hand up, and after \ #Punch him in the nose. You crack the shopkeeper in the nose, surprised to find out he does //not// practice spiritual cultivation. The man's unrefined aura shatters as soon as his body leaves the ground, knocking him into an opposing wall. "What the Hells is going on here?!" Asks the guard from outside. ''[Infamy Increased]'' <<var $infamy + 3>>\ <<var $ruthless + 3>>\ <<var $honor - 1>>\ You turn, guilt showing on your face. "He burned my hand for an experiment." "Damn it, not again." The guard shakes his head, then picks the shopkeeper's unconscious body off the floor. "Come back later. He's concussed enough to not remember the last few minutes. Now I gotta go get some ice or he'll bitch about the swelling, Hells damn it." <<page "Return to the Commerce District" "hub-commerce-district">>\ <</choose>>

<<choose "hub-commerce-mysticemporium4">> #use-if (((($shards + ($silver / 10)) + ($gold * 10)) gte 90) and ($race is "Lunargoth")) Purchase the Runestones. [90 Shards, Requires Lunargoth] -> "hub-commerce-sages-runebuy" #Look at the other wares. You twist your mouth at the man's display and return to the other wares. After \ <</choose>>

<<rand $val 1 6>>\ <<if ($val is 1)>>\ "A fine seal." A customer beside you says, looking over your selection. "A fine one indeed, but it's nothing compared to-" "Don't listen to him." Says a mother in passing, holding her child against her shoulder. "He's the shop owner's brother trying to con you." "Thank you." You say to the woman with a bow, taking the scroll and ignoring the hustler. <<elseif ($val is 2)>>\ "DONE!" Screams a teenage cow yokai woman with short black hair in a Mystic Lands robe. She slams a scroll down onto the table and beams with pride. "Freshly inscribed with the Forbidden Field Trade Sect seal of approval! Thank you for your service!" Her tail flicks behind her as she bows, and a hand from the shadows pickpockets her shardpouch. <<elseif ($val is 3)>>\ "None of this is stolen." Says a Lunargothic man with bleach-white hair and a scar on his jaw. You look up from the scroll you were about to purchase. "I did not ask...?" "Good." He says, looking around to see if any guards are watching. He pushes the scroll your way, takes your money, and leaves the stall by slipping into an alley behind it. <<elseif ($val is 4)>>\ "Two Northern Seals dedicated to the Tiger, four to the Boar, three Eastern seals to the Crane." The old man says, his immaculate robes swaying in the wind. He rubs his thin, long, white beard and gazes, pleased, at the scroll you've selected. "Mysticism is academic, young $boygirl. Always remember your fundamental lessons." You take the scroll off the man's stall hesitantly and keep your eye on him the entire time. He takes your money and nods before turning to another customer and swatting a stolen Shard out of their hand. <<elseif ($val is 5)>>\ "In Seals we find effort." Says a monk in Cathayan robes. "Through effort we find results, and with results we find satisfaction." "I'll take that scroll, please." You say, hoping this doesn't turn into a lecture; or worse, a quest. "You may." He replies, levitating off the ground as his eyes begin to glow. "But know that all actions have consequences. \ <<rand $val 1 6>>\ <<if ($val is 1)>>\ For in the beginning..." <<elseif ($val is 2)>>\ Long ago, in ancient Cathay..." <<elseif ($val is 3)>>\ In the New Yomi's long-lost Grave of the Dawn..." <<elseif ($val is 4)>>\ For in the depths of Horai's Forbidden City there lies..." <<elseif ($val is 5)>>\ For deep within the caverns of The Wall there slumbers a..." <<else>>\ For trouble brews within the politics of the underwater Dragon Courts. A champion is needed, one who..." <</if>>\ You grab the scroll and leave, not looking back as his glow brightens and he recites some prophecy to a different passerby. A sigh of relief escapes your mouth, knowing you narrowly avoided a huge waste of time. <<if (dig($trialdeets, 4) gte 2)>>\ "Wow!" Says the random passerby, Jin. "My own quest!" <<var $jincombat + 1>>\ <</if>>\ <<elseif ($val is 6)>>\ "Don't cast this in reverse." Says an ancient elderly woman while handing you the scroll inscribed in lavender ink. "What happens?" You ask, curiosity peaked. "Does it become a curse?" "Nope." The woman replies, sitting on an unopened crate and holding her left hand in her right. "Bad for the fingers. Joint health is important, you know." <</if>>\

<<if ($val gt 0)>>\ <<var $ritualcomponents - $val>>\ ''[Item Lost: $val Ritual Components]'' <<var $bingo * $val>>\ ''[Item Gained: $bingo Shards]'' <<var $shards + $bingo>>\ <</if>>\ <<unset $val>>\ <<unset $bingo>>\ <<include "hub-commerce-sages2">>\

<<if ($ruthless gt 60)>>\ "I better not regret this." You threaten to the living energy as you kneel down near the edge of the glowing pool of chi in the floor. "Better." The spirit says, latching onto that one word. "Yes. Better." <<elseif ($currenttrial is "Tiger")>>\ "Shared cycling, huh?" You kneel down at the edge of the hole in the floor and reach your hand into the pool of living energy. "Alright then, let's get stronger." You say to the spirit. "Together." "Stronger." The spirit says, latching onto that one word. "No. Not stronger...Better." <<else>>\ "I've never turned down power before." You say, kneeling at the edge of the hole in the floor where the nature spirit's energy leaks up and into the room. "No need to start now." <</if>>\ You reach a hand out to the wide well of energy and cycle through your Cores in reverse, pouring your inner power out through your hand. <<var $placevisit + 1000000000000>>\ ''[3 Chi Points Spent]'' <<var $chispent + 3>>\ The power leaks out your wrist like lifeblood draining from a wound. Panic rings out in your mind at the speed of your energy loss until you're jolted out of the sensation by an equal amount of energy rushing back into your Cores. The energy doesn't fill your whole spirit like a cycling, instead it rushes to your Cores and pushes at their spiritual edges forcefully. You fall backward, rolling to a crouch position and breathing heavily as the unnerving sensation stretches your spirit in unfamiliar ways. <<apboost 10>>\ <<if ($style is "Kiihakai")>>\ ''[Kiihakai Bonus: +5 Aura Pressure.]'' <<var $aurapressure + 5>>\ <</if>>\ <<if ($hungryspiritritual gt 1)>>\ ''[Hungry Spirit Ritual: +5 Aura Pressure.]'' <<var $aurapressure + 5>>\ <</if>>\ <<if ($race is "Oni")>>\ ''[Oni Racial Bonus: +5 Aura Pressure]'' <<var $aurapressure + 5>>\ <<if ($wounds gt 0)>>\ ''[Oni Racial Bonus: Wounds Healed]'' <<var $wounds 0>>\ <</if>>\ <<elseif ($insight gt 0)>>\ <<var $val $insight>>\ ''[Insight Bonus: +$val Aura Pressure]'' <<var $aurapressure + $val>>\ <</if>>\ The results are self-evident. As you open and close a fist, you feel $auracolor chi radiating through your palm at higher levels than you had a mere second ago. "Rest." The spirit says, and you couldn't agree more. "Quite the experience, is it not?" Asks the shopkeeper. "Browse through my wares while your spirit recovers. A little shopping will do the soul good." You slowly get to your feet and catch your breath, considering the offer. It's a sales pitch, for certain, but you've got time. After \ <<include "hub-commerce-mysticemporium4">>\

<<var $val 0>>\ <<var $bingo 0>>\ After walking up and down the Sage's Alley and seeing the mystic wares on display, you decide to... <<choose "hub-commerce-district">> #use-if ((($shards + ($silver / 10)) + ($gold * 10)) gte 8) Purchase Ritual Components. [8 Shards] <<rand $val 1 4>>\ <<if ($val is 1)>>\ "You come to me in a time of ample opportunity." Says a wise-sounding bald monk as he places a basket of flowers onto the messy U-shaped stall around him on the side of the street. "Select your wares and I will tell you a price." Looking closer, you see the flowers he holds contain ample Aura Pressure, and the jars of spices and powders cluttering his table are no different. You're used to working with very specific ritual components, but whatever land these plants came from seems to grow every plant with enough spiritual potency to fill your Sealing needs. <<elseif ($val is 2)>>\ ''"Bones for shards."'' Says an animated and cheaply painted statue of a salesman in a gravelly voice. The unusual Earth Elemental shoves a hand forward filled with preserved Beastbone trinkets. They're quality ritual components, but you look to your left and right to see if anyone is put off by this, or at least to see if the guards notice. Nobody seems to care. ''"Bones for shards."'' It repeats, holding a second hand out expectantly. <<elseif ($val is 3)>>\ "Only the finest ritual powders." Says a portly merchant with a twirled mustache. "All for a fair price of eight measly shards per vial! That's the kind of deal you can expect from the Heaven's Flower Trade Sect!" You're not fooled by his disguise; the man's calloused knuckles betray a life of combat. <<elseif ($val is 4)>>\ "You have good taste." Says a woman appearing in her 40s, her gray ponytail's red hairband being the only decoration on her otherwise drab outfit of plain gi and white belt. "I've acquired these talismans from the depths of the New Yomi over decades of travel and research. They're sure to provide quality ritual work for any of your mystic needs." <</if>>\ You decide to purchase... <<var $bingo ((($shards + ($silver / 10)) + ($gold * 10)) % 9)>>\ <<var $bingo (((($shards + ($silver / 10)) + ($gold * 10)) - $bingo) / 9)>>\ <<input-number $val 0 $bingo "hub-commerce-sages-buy">>\ #use-if ($ritualcomponents gt 0) Sell Ritual Components. <<var $bingo (3 + $persuasion)>>\ <<if ($bingo gt 8)>>\ <<var $bingo 8>>\ <</if>>\ <<rand $val 1 4>>\ <<if ($val is 1)>>\ "Mother, over here!" Shouts an eager little boy no older than 8. "This old $manwoman is looking to sell!" A young Lunargothic woman with loose hair runs up in a stained apron and bows to you. "I humbly apologize for my son's manners." She says. "But if you //are// looking to sell, I am certainly looking to buy. The nobles have cleared out our bakery of enchanted breads and the orders keep coming in! Please, I will take whatever you're willing to part with." <<elseif ($val is 2)>>\ ''"Shards for bones."'' Says an animated and cheaply painted statue of a salesman in a gravelly voice. The unusual Earth Elemental shoves a hand forward with an open palm, expecting your money. You look to your left and right to see if anyone is put off by this, or at least to see if the guards notice. Nobody seems to care. ''"Shards for bones."'' It repeats, and you check if any of your ritual components are made up of preserved Beastbone. <<elseif ($val is 3)>>\ "Yesssss." Whispers a man in a dark robe, his pale skin reflecting the light of his pale green spiritbranded eyes. "With these, I could finally be rid of him..." "Sir, I do not delve into customer business." You reply for the third time. For some reason he keeps trying to leave hints about his plans. You just want the shards. <<elseif ($val is 4)>>\ "Thank the Ancestors." Says a distressed looking Martial Artist, taking coins out of his pocket in a hurry. "The last three stalls were barren of components, and I need to finish this ritual by tonight or my Sectmaster will kill me." "Glad to be of service." You say, presenting your wares on a nearby unattended table. <</if>>\ ''Currently Owned: $ritualcomponents Ritual Components]'' ''[Sale Price: $bingo Shards]'' You decide to sell... <<input-number $val 0 $ritualcomponents "hub-commerce-sages-sell">>\ #use-once use-if ((($hungryspiritritual is 1) and ($handseals gte 1)) and ((($shards + ($silver / 10)) + ($gold * 10)) gte 45)) Purchase a Hungry Spirit Seal scroll. [45 Shards] <<include "hub-commerce-sages-scrollrander">>\ <<costcalc 45>>\ <<var $hungryspiritritual + 1>>\ ''[Seal Learned!! (Hungry Spirit Seal)]'' <<if (($race is "Oni") or ($race is "Kitsune"))>>\ <<if ($race is "Oni")>>\ ''[Racial Bonus: Oni connection to spirits]'' <<else>>\ ''[Racial Bonus: Kitsune connection to spirits]'' <</if>>\ ''[Cost to cycle Shards reduced even further.]'' <<var $hungryspiritritual + 0.4>>\ <</if>>\ #use-once use-if ((($northwindritual is 100) and ($handseals gte 1)) and ((($shards + ($silver / 10)) + ($gold * 10)) gte 120)) Purchase an Auspicious Northern Seal scroll. [120 Shards, Requires Handseals 1] <<include "hub-commerce-sages-scrollrander">>\ <<costcalc 120>>\ <<var $northwindritual (6 - ($sealdiscount + $handseals))>>\ <<if ($northwindritual lte 0)>>\ <<var $northwindritual 1>>\ <</if>>\ ''[Seal Learned!! (Auspicious Northern Seal)]'' <<page "Continue" "hub-commerce-sages">>\ #use-once use-if ((($southwindritual is 100) and ($handseals gte 1)) and ((($shards + ($silver / 10)) + ($gold * 10)) gte 120)) Purchase an Auspicious Southern Seal scroll. [120 Shards, Requires Handseals 1] <<include "hub-commerce-sages-scrollrander">>\ <<costcalc 120>>\ <<var $southwindritual (6 - ($sealdiscount + $handseals))>>\ <<if ($southwindritual lte 0)>>\ <<var $southwindritual 1>>\ <</if>>\ ''[Seal Learned!! (Auspicious Southern Seal)]'' <<page "Continue" "hub-commerce-sages">>\ #use-once use-if ((($westwindritual is 100) and ($handseals gte 1)) and ((($shards + ($silver / 10)) + ($gold * 10)) gte 110)) Purchase an Auspicious Western Seal scroll. [110 Shards, Requires Handseals 1] <<include "hub-commerce-sages-scrollrander">>\ <<costcalc 110>>\ <<var $westwindritual (6 - ($sealdiscount + $handseals))>>\ <<if ($westwindritual lte 0)>>\ <<var $westwindritual 1>>\ <</if>>\ ''[Seal Learned!! (Auspicious Western Seal)]'' <<page "Continue" "hub-commerce-sages">>\ #use-once use-if ((($eastwindritual is 100) and ($handseals gte 1)) and ((($shards + ($silver / 10)) + ($gold * 10)) gte 110)) Purchase an Auspicious Eastern Seal scroll. [110 Shards, Requires Handseals 1] <<include "hub-commerce-sages-scrollrander">>\ <<costcalc 110>>\ <<var $eastwindritual (6 - ($sealdiscount + $handseals))>>\ <<if ($eastwindritual lte 0)>>\ <<var $eastwindritual 1>>\ <</if>>\ ''[Seal Learned!! (Auspicious Eastern Seal)]'' <<page "Continue" "hub-commerce-sages">>\ #use-once use-if ((($reinforceritual is 100) and ($handseals gte 1)) and ((($shards + ($silver / 10)) + ($gold * 10)) gte 65)) Purchase a Reinforcement scroll. [65 Shards, Requires Handseals 1] <<include "hub-commerce-sages-scrollrander">>\ <<costcalc 65>>\ <<var $reinforceritual (8 - ($sealdiscount + $handseals))>>\ <<if ($reinforceritual lte 0)>>\ <<var $reinforceritual 1>>\ <</if>>\ ''[Seal Learned!! (Reinforcement)]'' <<page "Continue" "hub-commerce-sages">>\ #use-once use-if ((($countersealritual is 100) and ($handseals gte 3)) and ((($shards + ($silver / 10)) + ($gold * 10)) gte 190)) Purchase a Counterseal scroll. [190 Shards, Requires Handseals 3] <<include "hub-commerce-sages-scrollrander">>\ <<costcalc 190>>\ <<var $countersealritual (5 - ($sealdiscount + $handseals))>>\ <<if ($countersealritual lte 0)>>\ <<var $countersealritual 1>>\ <</if>>\ ''[Seal Learned!! (Counterseal)]'' <<page "Continue" "hub-commerce-sages">>\ #use-if (($prestige gte 25) or ($qingstatus is "Ally")) Enter Nanhou's Mystic Emporium. [Requires 25 Prestige] -> "hub-commerce-mysticemporium" #Return to Commerce District <</choose>>

<<if (dig($placevisit, 12) is 0)>>\ The Weaver's Hall is an enormous building cut into partitions for all things cloth. Entire wide-open spaces have dozens of women setup to comb, rove, spin, and weave the various crops of rami, hemp, cotton, and wool. Near the more well-lit areas, skilled older women work their sericulture stations for the silkworms and spin their precious silk into valuable fabric. Child-servants run to and fro with materials and tools in-hand to deliver between workstations. The entire operation is a well-oiled machine of the weaving arts. You weren't supposed to see any of it. You accidentally came in through the back. After getting chewed out by several old women for your intrusiveness and poor manners, you leave and find the proper front of the building: A luxurious clothing store designed to attract only the richest of clients. <<page "Continue" "hub-commerce-weavers-first">>\ <<else>>\ "Welcome, welcome!" \ <<include "hub-commerce-weavers2">>\ <</if>>\

The rainbow of belt colors fills an entire wall, though some colors are rarer than others. The Black Belts are obviously rare and made in less quantity, but you also notice the Red, Green, and Blue belts being scarce for the power they offer. •White Belt [+1 Chi] •Yellow Belt [+1 Chi, +1 Agility Surge] •Orange Belt [+1 Chi, +1 Fortitude Surge] •Purple Belt [+1 Chi, +1 Soul Surge] •Blue Belt [+1 Chi, +1 Power Surge] •Green Belt [+1 Chi, +1 Agility] •Brown Belt [+1 Chi, +1 Fortitude] •Red Belt [+1 Health, +1 Soul] •Black Belt [+1 Health, +1 Chi, +1 Power, +1 Surge (All)] After looking over the options and their benefits, you decide on a... <<choose "hub-commerce-weavers-belt2">> #use-if ((($shards + ($silver / 10)) + ($gold * 10)) gte 40) White Belt [40 Shards] -> "hub-commerce-weavers-gear3" <<var $whitebelt + 1>>\ ''[Item Gained: White Belt]'' "One white belt it is." The golden-skinned woman says, handing you a neatly wrapped white belt. "Is there anything else you'd like to purchase? Anything more...fashionable?" #use-if (((dig($martialbelt, 2) is 0) and ((($shards + ($silver / 10)) + ($gold * 140)) gte 40)) and ($aurapressure gte 500)) Yellow Belt [100 Shards, Requires 500 Aura Pressure] <<var $martialbelt + 10000000000000>>\ <<costcalc 100>>\ ''[Item Gained: Yellow Belt]'' #use-if (((dig($martialbelt, 3) is 0) and ((($shards + ($silver / 10)) + ($gold * 10)) gte 150)) and ($aurapressure gte 650)) Orange Belt [150 Shards, Requires 650 Aura Pressure] <<var $martialbelt + 1000000000000>>\ <<costcalc 150>>\ ''[Item Gained: Orange Belt]'' #use-if (((dig($martialbelt, 4) is 0) and ((($shards + ($silver / 10)) + ($gold * 10)) gte 175)) and ($aurapressure gte 800)) Purple Belt [175 Shards, Requires 800 Aura Pressure] <<var $martialbelt + 100000000000>>\ <<costcalc 175>>\ ''[Item Gained: Purple Belt]'' #use-if (((dig($martialbelt, 5) is 0) and ((($shards + ($silver / 10)) + ($gold * 10)) gte 200)) and ($aurapressure gte 1100)) Blue Belt [200 Shards, Requires 1100 Aura Pressure] <<var $martialbelt + 10000000000>>\ <<costcalc 200>>\ ''[Item Gained: Blue Belt]'' #use-if (((dig($martialbelt, 6) is 0) and ((($shards + ($silver / 10)) + ($gold * 10)) gte 350)) and ($aurapressure gte 1300)) Green Belt [350 Shards, Requires 1300 Aura Pressure] <<var $martialbelt + 1000000000>>\ <<costcalc 350>>\ ''[Item Gained: Green Belt]'' #use-if (((dig($martialbelt, 7) is 0) and ((($shards + ($silver / 10)) + ($gold * 10)) gte 350)) and ($aurapressure gte 1500)) Brown Belt [375 Shards, Requires 1500 Aura Pressure] <<var $martialbelt + 100000000>>\ <<costcalc 375>>\ ''[Item Gained: Brown Belt]'' #use-if (((dig($martialbelt, 8) is 0) and ((($shards + ($silver / 10)) + ($gold * 10)) gte 400)) and ($aurapressure gte 1750)) Red Belt [400 Shards, Requires 1750 Aura Pressure] <<var $martialbelt + 10000000>>\ <<costcalc 400>>\ ''[Item Gained: Red Belt]'' #use-if ((((dig($martialbelt, 9) is 0) and ((($shards + ($silver / 10)) + ($gold * 10)) gte 1000)) and ($aurapressure gte 2000)) and (($retainer_strength + $martial_retainers) gte 40)) Black Belt [1000 Shards, Requires 2000 Aura Pressure, Retainer Strength 40] <<var $martialbelt + 1000000>>\ <<costcalc 1000>>\ ''[Item Gained: Black Belt]'' #Different idea. [Buy something else.] <</choose>>

"Hold still please." Says the golden-skinned woman, handing you your neatly wrapped belt. "As these are not standard belts, I must attune this to your aura." She performs a series of handseals while mumbling under her breath. The feeling of a cord tightening fills the air for a brief moment before it dissipates; you feel a sliver of your own Aura Pressure's signature coming off the belt. She hands you the finished product and washes her hands in a nearby basin. "Now, is there anything else you'd like to purchase? Anything more...fashionable?" <<include "hub-commerce-weavers-gear3">>\

<<if (((((((($firstchoice is "purple kimono") or ($firstchoice is "purple hakama")) or ($firstchoice is "purple haori")) or ($firstchoice is "purple yukata")) or ($firstchoice is "Purple Kimono")) or ($firstchoice is "Purple Hakama")) or ($firstchoice is "Purple Haori")) or ($firstchoice is "Purple Yukata"))>>\ "No." The woman says with tightened jaw. "A $firstchoice? You insult me. I won't allow it." "What do you mean no?" You ask, baffled. "I paid!" "Paid?" She scoffs. "PAID?! The Royal Suite is two-hundred and fifty Shards, you pauper! You're attempting to seize the prestige of such a luxurious purchase at a fraction of the price. I ought to call the guards! Our specialty garments are not for the destitute, so place a legitimate order or take your discount-quantity funds elsewhere." <<choose "hub-commerce-weavers-custom">> #Pick a different custom order. You grumble internally and think over what you'd really want in a custom outfit. After going through the fabric options, common designs, and more outlandish designs, you requisition a... <<var $firstchoice "">>\ <<textbox "$firstchoice" "custom clothes">> <<page "Order Outfit" "hub-commerce-weavers-custom">>\ #Take your money back and leave. -> "hub-commerce-district" <</choose>> <<else>>\ <<if ($customclothing_1 is "")>>\ <<var $customclothing_1 $firstchoice>>\ <<var $wardrobe + 10000000000>>\ <<elseif ($customclothing_2 is "")>>\ <<var $customclothing_2 $firstchoice>>\ <<var $wardrobe + 1000000000>>\ <<elseif ($customclothing_3 is "")>>\ <<var $customclothing_3 $firstchoice>>\ <<var $wardrobe + 100000000>>\ <</if>>\ <<costcalc 60>>\ After an hour of choices, measuring, and swift tailoring, the weavers in the backhall finish your \ <<if ($customclothing_2 is "")>>\ $customclothing_1. <<elseif ($customclothing_3 is "")>>\ $customclothing_2. <<else>>\ $customclothing_3. <</if>>\ ''[Clothing Added to Wardrobe!]'' "It's beautiful." The golden-skinned woman at the front looks over your finished product with awe. "No simile in the world could do this justice. Only beauty." She wipes a tear away with the hem of a nearby wedding dress. "Only perfection." You place the clothing into your satchel and browse over anything else the store has to offer, specifically the... <<include "hub-commerce-weavers-luxury2">>\ <</if>>\

"We have a large series of factotum masks from ceramic animal designs to elegant eyemasks." Says the golden-skinned woman at the counter. "The true customization comes in which essence we bind into the mask. Elders have sacrificed their Aura Pressure to enhance a variety of designs with their expertise. Select which expertise you seek and I will prepare your mask, though do keep in mind that these are very personal creations; we limit sales to one per customer." <<choose "hub-commerce-weavers-gear2">> #Athletics <<var $factotummask "athletics">>\ <<costcalc 90>>\ ''[Item Gained: Factotum Mask ($factotummask)]'' #Alchemy <<var $factotummask "alchemy">>\ <<costcalc 90>>\ ''[Item Gained: Factotum Mask ($factotummask)]'' #Craft <<var $factotummask "craft">>\ <<costcalc 90>>\ ''[Item Gained: Factotum Mask ($factotummask)]'' #Deception <<var $factotummask "deception">>\ <<costcalc 90>>\ ''[Item Gained: Factotum Mask ($factotummask)]'' #Handseals <<var $factotummask "handseals">>\ <<costcalc 90>>\ ''[Item Gained: Factotum Mask ($factotummask)]'' #Insight <<var $factotummask "insight">>\ <<costcalc 90>>\ ''[Item Gained: Factotum Mask ($factotummask)]'' #Lore <<var $factotummask "lore">>\ <<costcalc 90>>\ ''[Item Gained: Factotum Mask ($factotummask)]'' #Perception <<var $factotummask "perception">>\ <<costcalc 90>>\ ''[Item Gained: Factotum Mask ($factotummask)]'' #Persuasion <<var $factotummask "persuasion">>\ <<costcalc 90>>\ ''[Item Gained: Factotum Mask ($factotummask)]'' #Survival <<var $factotummask "survival">>\ <<costcalc 90>>\ ''[Item Gained: Factotum Mask ($factotummask)]'' #Stealth <<var $factotummask "stealth">>\ <<costcalc 90>>\ ''[Item Gained: Factotum Mask ($factotummask)]'' #Thievery <<var $factotummask "thievery">>\ <<costcalc 90>>\ ''[Item Gained: Factotum Mask ($factotummask)]'' #Nevermind. <</choose>>

"Welcome to the Radiant Weaver's Hall." Says a nearly Human-looking Oni woman. Black hair, black eyes, and a haughty expression on her golden-skinned face. A spiritbrand, you realize. The Oni woman in dark blue finery has a Light or Mystic spiritbrand changing the color of her skin to an almost-Human golden hue. "Allow me a guess, $ymaster, you've come to alleviate your garish tastes by seeking my help." "No I-" "It's the leathers, isn't it? You've come here in search of our newly imported Outer Eastern craze of leathers." She decides she's right and smiles confidently. "It's all over your face." You shake your head. "We have leather armor back home and I've never-" The woman reels back in disgust, "Armor?! No, Heavens no! Such a gauche design is considered ''battle garb''! What we offer is far superior: a softened set of leathers designed only for fashion." "How is that superior?" She looks your outfit up and down in disgust. "Yes, I can see how //you// would ask that. No matter; browse our fashionable salvation and do not forget to activate your Seal before combat, we cannot have you showing our designs in tatters." You look up from the nearby robe that had caught your attention. "Seal?" "Of course, we are a distinguished establishment after all." The woman pulls the collar of her robe back to reveal a small white square of cloth fabric stitched inside with black Seal sigils sewn in. "Reusable dual-sided Mystic Fuuinjutsu. It binds your armor into a tag attached to your collar. Simply put, pull at the collar of your clothes to switch between your outfit and your gi or, Ancestors forbid, your..." She shudders, struggling to say the word without vomiting. "Armor." She does so, pulling harder on her collar, and suddenly a puff of smoke manifests around the woman. It vanishes as quickly as it came to reveal her golden skin spiritbrand being complimented by a set of stylized Truegold armor. "Now, what would you like to purchase today?" You blink back the surprise and browse the display cases, deciding on the... <<var $placevisit + 1000>>\ <<include "hub-commerce-weavers3">>\

<<if ((dig($placevisit, 12) is 1) or (dig($placevisit, 12) is 2))>>\ "Our...practical options?" The golden-skinned woman asks. "Are you certain, $ymaster? There is no beauty to be found in attire if it is sought for its-" she gags on the word, suppressing a dry heave, "-combat value." You look over the selection, ignoring her skittish desire to avoid all things useful. Your eyes are caught by a selection of Belts in different colors, with different feelings to their aura signature. "What are these?" You ask. "Belts are supposed to come in white for students and black for masters. What are all these other colors for?" "It is a Mystic Lands tradition." The woman says. "There, the white belt is only for beginner students. Afterwards others may be earned in ascending order, with each offering different chi sorcerous enchantments. The colors do not relate to the Elemental or Style chi, but rather an ascending order in cost and rank." "So I have to earn these?" "In their borders? Absolutely. To purchase them instead is a mark of shame and illegality. However, $ymaster," the woman lifts her nose and smiles, "this is not the Mystic Lands. Magistrate Fuyu and Radiant Weavers Hall are in agreement that your purchase will not be restricted by deeds, so long as your Aura Pressure can handle the belt and you have the coin. All we ask is you do not give away anything but the White Belts; our trade agreement pertains to direct sales only." \ <<var $placevisit + 2000>>\ <<else>>\ "I see you have chosen our more practical options." The golden-skinned woman says with a thin-lipped fraction of a fake smile. "How quaint." <</if>>\ ''[Equipment]'' •Martial Belts (White, Yellow, Orange, Purple, Blue, Green, Brown, Red, Black) •White Combat Gi [+1 Chi] •Black Combat Gi [+1 Health] •Factotum Mask [+1 to One Skill] •Spiritweave Scarf [Increase Core Recovery] <<if (($element1 is "Darkness") or ($element2 is "Darkness"))>>\ •Midnight Lenses [Requires Darkness: +1 Soul, +1 Agility Surge] <</if>>\ <<if (($element1 is "Earth") or ($element2 is "Earth"))>>\ •Mountain King's Jinbaori Vest [Requires Earth: +1 Fortitude, +1 Power Surge] <</if>>\ <<if (($element1 is "Fire") or ($element2 is "Fire"))>>\ •Burning Mitsugake Gloves [Requires Fire: +1 Power, +1 Agility Surge] <</if>>\ <<if (($element1 is "Ice") or ($element2 is "Ice"))>>\ •Frozen Prayer Beads [Requires Ice: +1 Fortitude, +1 Soul Surge] <</if>>\ <<if (($element1 is "Light") or ($element2 is "Light"))>>\ •Rising Dawn Hachimaki [Requires Light: +1 Soul, +1 Power surge] <</if>>\ <<if (($element1 is "Storm") or ($element2 is "Storm"))>>\ •Thunderguard Kote Armguards [Requires Storm: +1 Power, +1 Fortitude Surge] <</if>>\ <<if (($element1 is "Water") or ($element2 is "Water"))>>\ •Waverunner Sandals [Requires Water: +1 Agility, +1 Fortitude Surge] <</if>>\ <<if (($element1 is "Wind") or ($element2 is "Wind"))>>\ •Howling Sensu Fan [Requires Wind: +1 Agility, +1 Soul Surge] <</if>>\ <<include "hub-commerce-weavers-gear2">>\

You look over the equipment options and decide on... <<choose "hub-commerce-weavers-gear3">> #A belt [Choose Color] -> "hub-commerce-weavers-belt" #use-if (((($shards + ($silver / 10)) + ($gold * 10)) gte 50) and (dig($radiantacc, 2) is 0)) White Combat Gi [50 Shards] <<costcalc 50>>\ ''[Item Gained: White Combat Gi]'' <<var $radiantacc + 10000000000000>>\ #use-if (((($shards + ($silver / 10)) + ($gold * 10)) gte 65) and (dig($radiantacc, 3) is 0)) Black Combat Gi [65 Shards] <<costcalc 65>>\ ''[Item Gained: Black Combat Gi]'' <<var $radiantacc + 1000000000000>>\ #use-if (($factotummask is "icebelt") and ((($shards + ($silver / 10)) + ($gold * 10)) gte 90)) Factotum Mask [90 Shards] -> "hub-commerce-weavers-factotum" #use-if (((($shards + ($silver / 10)) + ($gold * 10)) gte 110) and (dig($radiantacc, 4) is 0)) Spiritweave Scarf [110 Shards] -> "hub-commerce-weavers-gear2" <<var $radiantacc + 100000000000>>\ <<costcalc 110>>\ ''[Item Gained: Spiritweave Scarf]'' "This may be the only aesthetic in the equipment section." The golden-skinned tailor says, handing the colorful scarf to you. "Unfortunately, it does not have to be worn." You hold the scarf in your hands and scrunch your face in concentration, then look up to the golden-skinned Oni. "What?" "The scarf's sorcerous effects." She clarifies. "It does not have to be worn to be used. That is why it's the best piece of merchandise in this section, wearing it is a fashion choice rather than some obsessed Martial Arts requirement." "What's the enchantment do?" She shrugs and reads off a scroll. "Stores ambient chi to recharge the owner's spent Cores. According to the notes, it does not matter if it's around your neck or in your wardrobe; it collects ambient chi all the same." "Perfect!" You exclaim, shoving the scarf into your satchel instead of around your neck. The golden-skinned tailor looks heartbroken as you disregard her fashion advice and return to shopping for. #show-if (($element1 is "Darkness") or ($element2 is "Darkness")) use-if (((($shards + ($silver / 10)) + ($gold * 10)) gte 160) and (dig($radiantacc, 5) is 0)) Midnight Lenses [160 Shards] <<var $radiantacc + 10000000000>>\ <<costcalc 160>>\ ''[Item Gaind: Midnight Lenses]'' #show-if (($element1 is "Earth") or ($element2 is "Earth")) use-if (((($shards + ($silver / 10)) + ($gold * 10)) gte 160) and (dig($radiantacc, 6) is 0)) Mountain King's Jinbaori Vest [160 Shards] <<var $radiantacc + 1000000000>>\ <<costcalc 160>>\ ''[Item Gained: Mountain King's Jinbaori]'' #show-if (($element1 is "Fire") or ($element2 is "Fire")) use-if (((($shards + ($silver / 10)) + ($gold * 10)) gte 160) and (dig($radiantacc, 7) is 0)) Burning Mitsugake Gloves [160 Shards] <<var $radiantacc + 100000000>>\ <<costcalc 160>>\ ''[Item Gained: Burning Mitsugake]'' #show-if (($element1 is "Ice") or ($element2 is "Ice")) use-if (((($shards + ($silver / 10)) + ($gold * 10)) gte 160) and (dig($radiantacc, 8) is 0)) Frozen Prayer Beads [160 Shards] <<var $radiantacc + 10000000>>\ <<costcalc 160>>\ ''[Item Gained: Frozen Prayer Beads]'' #show-if (($element1 is "Light") or ($element2 is "Light")) use-if (((($shards + ($silver / 10)) + ($gold * 10)) gte 160) and (dig($radiantacc, 9) is 0)) Rising Dawn Hachimaki Headband [160 Shards] <<var $radiantacc + 1000000>>\ <<costcalc 160>>\ ''[Item Gained: Rising Dawn Hachimaki]'' #show-if (($element1 is "Storm") or ($element2 is "Storm")) use-if (((($shards + ($silver / 10)) + ($gold * 10)) gte 160) and (dig($radiantacc, 10) is 0)) Thunderguard Kote Armguards [160 Shards] <<var $radiantacc + 100000>>\ <<costcalc 160>>\ ''[Item Gained: Thunderguard Kote]'' #show-if (($element1 is "Water") or ($element2 is "Water")) use-if (((($shards + ($silver / 10)) + ($gold * 10)) gte 160) and (dig($radiantacc, 11) is 0)) Waverunner Waraji Sandals [160 Shards] <<var $radiantacc + 10000>>\ <<costcalc 160>>\ ''[Item Gained: Waverunner Sandals]'' #show-if (($element1 is "Wind") or ($element2 is "Wind")) use-if (((($shards + ($silver / 10)) + ($gold * 10)) gte 160) and (dig($radiantacc, 12) is 0)) Howling Sensu Fan [160 Shards] <<var $radiantacc + 1000>>\ <<costcalc 160>>\ ''[Item Gained: Howling Sensu Fan]'' #Something more comfortable. [Browse Standard Clothes] -> "hub-commerce-weavers2" "As you wish." \ #Something more luxurious. [Browse Luxury Clothes] -> "hub-commerce-weavers-luxury" #Nothing, it's time to leave. [Return to Commercial District] -> "hub-commerce-district" <</choose>>

"As far as pr-" The woman stops herself, leaning over and covering her mouth with one hand while the other holds her stomach to suppress vomit. "As far as practical-" She convulses once, dry heaving, then regains her senses and fixes her posture. "Ahem, as far as //non-elegant// purchases go, it is not the worst. Would you like to purchase anything else? Perhaps something more...fashionable?" <<include "hub-commerce-weavers-gear2">>\

<<if ((dig($placevisit, 12) is 1) or (dig($placevisit, 12) is 3))>>\ "A wise decision." The golden-skinned woman says, walking you to the more expensive areas of the store. "Here you'll find only our finest pieces, including our freshly imported leathers. We also offer the Royal Purple Suite, but only for the highest plateau of society. Nobles, Sectmasters, and masters of trade. Even the late Callous Patriarch wore our exclusive specialty." You scratch your head over 'late Callous Patriarch', surely she can't mean Goro's predecessor? "Why would you advertise that you sell to crime lords?" You ask. "Shouldn't criminals be afraid people would ask where their money came from?" The tailor chuckles. "Oh, my apologies, while we do our best at the Radiant Weaver's Hall to offer a wide variety, we sadly lack inventory designed for both criminals //and// cowards." "Excuse me? Do you make any sales with that attitude?" "$ymaster, my surplus of sales //caused// this attitude." She walks to a section of the wall with four curtains blocking off changing rooms. "Now if you're interested in something tailored more to your style, we do offer custom orders. For a short time we also have our Heavenly Ascension Trial special for legitimate Styled Chi. Each gets its own outfit." You look over the golden curtain, purple curtain, scarlet curtain, and cerulean curtain each hiding a special outfit for the Style marked by that chi's color. "I only see four, but there are five Styles. Where is the special for Midorikatai?" She points behind you, at the exit sign. <<if ($style is "Midorikatai")>>\ Typical. \ <</if>>\ With her sales pitch complete, you look over your options and decide on the... <<var $placevisit + 1000>>\ <<else>>\ "Browse at your leisure." The golden-skinned woman says while you look over the most expensive clothing in the store. "I will fetch you some complimentary tea, to aid you in an undoubtedly wise purchase." Mystic Chi swirls around her hand and a cup appears instantly. You take a sip of the lavender-scented warm beverage while looking over your options and decide on the... <</if>>\ <<include "hub-commerce-weavers-luxury2">>\

<<choose "hub-commerce-weavers-luxury3">> #use-if (((($shards + ($silver / 10)) + ($gold * 10)) gte 40) and (dig($richwardrobe, 4) is 0)) Brown Leathers with Whitefur Collar [40 Shards] <<costcalc 40>>\ <<var $richwardrobe + 100000000000>>\ #use-if (((($shards + ($silver / 10)) + ($gold * 10)) gte 45) and (dig($richwardrobe, 5) is 0)) Black Leathers with Goldfur Collar [45 Shards] <<costcalc 45>>\ <<var $richwardrobe + 10000000000>>\ #use-if (((($shards + ($silver / 10)) + ($gold * 10)) gte 25) and (dig($richwardrobe, 2) is 0)) Red Dragon-Emblazoned Kimono [45 Shards] <<costcalc 25>>\ <<var $richwardrobe + 10000000000000>>\ #use-if (((($shards + ($silver / 10)) + ($gold * 10)) gte 26) and (dig($richwardrobe, 3) is 0)) Gold Dragon-Emblazoned Kimono [50 Shards] <<costcalc 26>>\ <<var $richwardrobe + 1000000000000>>\ #show-if ($heshe is "she") use-if (((($shards + ($silver / 10)) + ($gold * 10)) gte 75) and (dig($richwardrobe, 6) is 0)) Green, Red, and White Formal Jūnihitoe [75 Shards] <<costcalc 75>>\ <<var $richwardrobe + 1000000000>>\ #show-if ($heshe is "he") use-if (((($shards + ($silver / 10)) + ($gold * 10)) gte 75) and (dig($richwardrobe, 7) is 0)) Blue and Black Formal Sokutai [75 Shards] <<costcalc 75>>\ <<var $richwardrobe + 100000000>>\ #use-if ((((($shards + ($silver / 10)) + ($gold * 10)) gte 250) and (dig($richwardrobe, 8) is 0)) and ($prestige gte 50)) Royal Purple Suite [250 Shards, Requires 50 Prestige] -> "hub-commerce-weavers-luxury2" The woman withdraws a golden box from behind the counter and opens the latch with an audible click. She spins it around to face you and opens the box, emiting a purple light into the room. "Behold." She chants, "The Royal Suite, in all its glory." <<costcalc 250>>\ <<var $richwardrobe + 10000000>>\ <<if ($jadedragonfoundation is false)>>\ <<achieve "Hollow Purple">>\ <</if>>\ Within are three articles of clothing radiating raw majesty. It is not Aura Pressure that triggers in your senses when you gaze upon the purple kimono, haori, and hakama set with golden inlay. It's gravitas. Importance. Authority. The articles of the Royal Purple Suite are those of a leader, a $manwoman of importance, and a figure above the common rabble. You're not even sure if it's legal to wear these as a mere Warrior Caste. "It's...It's beautiful." You whisper. "I know." The golden-skinned woman whispers back. "And with it, so are you." ''[Clothing Added to Wardrobe:]'' ''[Purple Kimono, Purple Haori, Purple Hakama]'' "Should I even buy anything else?" You ask in doubt, eyes watering like staring into the sun. "Nothing else here could compare." "Nothing else //anywhere// could compare." The woman corrects. "But should you wish to grant mercy to the lowly peasants, granting their eyes a rest from the shining brilliance of your ensemble, I will aid you in that \ <<if ($heshe is "he")>>\ desire." <<else>>\ request." <</if>>\ With great effort you pull your vision away from the Royal Purple Suite and look to the... #show-if (($heshe is "she") and ($style is "Aoyusumu")) use-if (((($shards + (silver / 10)) + (gold * 10)) >= 50) and (dig($richwardrobe, 9) is 0)) Sacred Cerulean Chakkri [50 Shards, Requires Aoyusumu] <<costcalc 50>>\ <<var $richwardrobe + 1000000>>\ #show-if (($heshe is "he") and ($style is "Aoyusumu")) use-if (((($shards + (silver / 10)) + (gold * 10)) >= 50) and (dig($richwardrobe, 10) is 0)) Sacred Cerulean Kesa [50 Shards, Requires Aoyusumu] <<costcalc 50>>\ <<var $richwardrobe + 100000>>\ #show-if ($style is "Kiihakai") use-if (((($shards + ($silver / 10)) + ($gold * 10)) gte 50) and (dig($richwardrobe, 11) is 0)) Mystic Yellow Shenyi [50 Shards, Requires Kiihakai] <<costcalc 50>>\ <<var $richwardrobe + 10000>>\ #show-if ($style is "Akakiru") use-if (((($shards + ($silver / 10)) + ($gold * 10)) gte 50) and (dig($richwardrobe, 12) is 0)) Bladed Scarlet Kamishimo [50 Shards, Requires Akakiru] <<costcalc 50>>\ <<var $richwardrobe + 1000>>\ #show-if (($style is "Kurokonton") and ($heshe is "he")) use-if (((($shards + ($silver / 10)) + ($gold * 10)) gte 50) and (dig($richwardrobe, 13) is 0)) Cursed Purple Shozoku [50 Shards, Requires Kurokonton] <<costcalc 50>>\ <<var $richwardrobe + 100>>\ #show-if (($style is "Kurokonton") and ($heshe is "she")) use-if (((($shards + ($silver / 10)) + ($gold * 10)) gte 45) and (dig($richwardrobe, 14) is 0)) Cursed Purple Kunoichi Outfit [45 Shards, Requires Kurokonton] <<costcalc 45>>\ <<var $richwardrobe + 10>>\ #use-if (((($shards + ($silver / 10)) + ($gold * 10)) gte 60) and ($customclothing_3 is "")) Requisition a custom order. [60 Shards, Limit 3 per Customer] "Of course!" The golden-skinned woman's fingers twitch with excitement as she withdraws several layers of fabric in different color. "Let us create a masterpiece." You work over the details of the design together to create your own custom outfit, a... <<var $firstchoice "">>\ <<textbox "$firstchoice" "custom clothes">> <<page "Order Outfit" "hub-commerce-weavers-custom">>\ #Less expensive options. [Browse Common Clothing] -> "hub-commerce-weavers2" "As you wish." \ #More practical options. [Browse Equipment] -> "hub-commerce-weavers-gear" #Nothing, it's time to leave. [Return to Commercial District] -> "hub-commerce-district" <</choose>>

''[Clothing Added to Wardrobe!]'' <<if ($heshe is "he")>>\ The golden skinned woman nods in approval at your selection. "Dashing. Rugged. Defined. As fine a selection as ever there has been, wise and distinguished customer. \ <<else>>\ "Gorgeous!" The golden-skinned woman exclaims, clapping her hands together exactly once. "Stunning, defining, and magnificently tailored. \ <</if>>\ Is there anything else you'd like to purchase?" <<include "hub-commerce-weavers-luxury2">>\

"Perfect." The golden-skinned woman says. "I know just how to make those colors pop. I'll get only the best seamstresses on your order." <<costcalc 70>>\ She takes your funds and leaves to the backrooms, but pauses halfway through a doorway. "There is one more thing...some prefer a crest on the back. Do you have a design in mind? It is only an extra thirty Shards." ''[Choose your Clan Gi crest design. Examples include "a roaring tiger", "the rising sun", "two crossing blades"]'' ''[Type "none" to decline."]'' <<textbox "$customcrest" "none">> <<page "Select Crest" "hub-commerce-weavers-uniform2">>\

<<if ((($customcrest is "none") or ($customcrest is "None")) or ($customcrest is "NONE"))>>\ "Very well." The tailor says. "I'll have your order completed before the day is through, send a Retainer to collect it." <<include "hub-commerce-weavers-uniform3">>\ <<elseif ((($shards + ($silver / 10)) + ($gold * 10)) lt 30)>>\ ''[Not Enough Funds]'' You look into your pockets and realize that you don't even have enough money to afford a Clan Crest. ''[Retainers Sent to Collect Gi Order]'' ''[Your Retainers have gained their own uniform, increasing morale.]'' <<var $retainer_morale + 5>>\ <<if ($retainer_morale gte 60)>>\ ''[Retainer Morale 60 Check Passed]'' Despite the lack of enhancements on the mundane gi given to your crew, the idea of having their own Martial Arts uniform seems to have pushed many of them to take their combat training far more seriously. ''[Retainer Strength +1]'' <<var $retainer_strength + 1>>\ <<else>>\ ''[Retainer Morale 60 Check Failed]'' Unfortunately it has not seemed to inspire them as much as you'd hoped. ''[No Retainer Strength Increase]'' <</if>>\ Yet they are not your concern at the moment. Rather than your crew, you are currently face to face with the seamstress of the Radiant Weaver's Hall. She looks horrified. The golden-skinned woman gasps at your display of poverty, not having enough money for a crest. She looks upon you with terror as if facing down a wild animal. "L-Leave this establishment at once!" She mutters. "Nothing good can ever come from associating with //The Poor//." <<page "Return to the Commerce District." "hub-commerce-district">>\ <<else>>\ <<costcalc 30>>\ <<var $retainer_morale + 2>>\ ''[Prestige Increased]'' <<var $prestige + 1>>\ <<include "hub-commerce-weavers-uniform3">>\ <</if>>\

''[Your Retainers have gained their own uniform, increasing morale.]'' <<var $retainer_morale + 5>>\ <<if ($retainer_morale gte 60)>>\ ''[Retainer Morale 60 Check Passed]'' Despite the lack of enhancements on the mundane gi given to your crew, the idea of having their own Martial Arts uniform seems to have pushed many of them to take their combat training far more seriously. ''[Retainer Strength +1]'' <<var $retainer_strength + 1>>\ <<else>>\ ''[Retainer Morale 60 Check Failed]'' Unfortunately it has not seemed to inspire them as much as you'd hoped. ''[No Retainer Strength Increase]'' <</if>>\ "Is there anything else you would like to purchase?" The tailor at the desk asks. You consider if there is, particularly eyeing the... <<include "hub-commerce-weavers3">>\

Says the goldenskinned Oni woman. "So long as you have riches, the Radiant Weaver Hall is at your disposal. Browse our desirable designs and do let me know if you require fitting rooms or custom tailoring. Should you find yourself //without// riches, we have the Exit Sign Special." <<var $val 0>>\ She points to the exit sign behind you, but you don't give her the satisfaction of turning around. Instead you browse through your options and set your eyes on the... <<include "hub-commerce-weavers3">>\

<<var $val 0>>\ <<choose "hub-commerce-weavers4">> #use-if (((($shards + ($silver / 10)) + ($gold * 10)) gte 0.1) and (dig($wardrobe, 10) is 0)) Rustic Farmer's Tunic [1 Silver] -> "hub-commerce-weavers3" "The farmer's tunic?" The golden-skinned woman asks. "We do not sell any farmer's tunics." You hold up the green and brown tunic and linen sash. "It's right here. I can't find the price listed anywhere though." The woman's lip curls past the bottom of her nose. "Remove that from my sight, immediately." "So it's free?" She staggers backward, crashing against the wall with a hand against her chest. "$ymaster, mistaking refuse for merchandise is one thing, but free? You insult my ancestors! This is a Noble-tier institution of high fashion, the //air// isn't free!" "Okay, okay." You \ <<if ($ruthless lt 60)>>\ hesitantly \ <</if>>\ place twenty Silver on the counter. "Is that a fair price?" She cringes at your coins. "Do you really believe anyone would value that outfit at twenty silver? Good Heavens, have some dignity." You groan and throw one silver at her. ''[1 Silver Spent]'' <<if ($silver gte 1)>>\ <<var $silver - 1>>\ <<elseif ($shards gte 1)>>\ <<var $shards - 1>>\ <<var $silver + 9>>\ <<elseif ($gold gte 1)>>\ <<var $gold - 1>>\ <<var $shards + 9>>\ <<var $silver + 9>>\ <</if>>\ <<var $wardrobe + 100000>>\ <<var $val 13>>\ ''[Farmer's Tunic Added to Wardrobe!]'' ''[Prestige Lost]'' <<var $prestige - 1>>\ The woman says nothing, eyes shifting between you and the door. You browse through the other options in the meantime and set your sights on the... #use-if (((($shards + ($silver / 10)) + ($gold * 10)) gte 15) and (dig($wardrobe, 11) is 0)) Brown and White Pilgrim's Robe [15 Shards] <<costcalc 15>>\ <<var $wardrobe + 10000>>\ #use-if (((($shards + ($silver / 10)) + ($gold * 10)) gte 18) and (dig($wardrobe, 12) is 0)) Dark Green Thunderplains Deel [18 Shards] <<costcalc 18>>\ <<var $wardrobe + 1000>>\ #use-if (((($shards + ($silver / 10)) + ($gold * 10)) gte 20) and (dig($wardrobe, 13) is 0)) Red and Blue Yomijin Hanbok [20 Shards] <<costcalc 20>>\ <<var $wardrobe + 100>>\ #use-if (((($shards + ($silver / 10)) + ($gold * 10)) gte 22) and (dig($wardrobe, 14) is 0)) Festive Yellow Yukata [22 Shards] <<costcalc 22>>\ <<var $wardrobe + 10>>\ #use-if (((($shards + ($silver / 10)) + ($gold * 10)) gte 25) and (dig($wardrobe, 15) is 0)) Black Travel Robes and Red Obi [25 Shards] <<costcalc 25>>\ <<var $wardrobe + 1>>\ #use-if (((($shards + ($silver / 10)) + ($gold * 10)) gte 28) and (dig($wardrobe2, 2) is 0)) Ultramarine Travel Robes and White Obi [28 Shards] <<costcalc 28>>\ <<var $wardrobe2 + 10000000000000>>\ #use-if (((($shards + ($silver / 10)) + ($gold * 10)) gte 30) and (dig($wardrobe2, 3) is 0)) Tight Red Cheongsam [30 Shards] <<costcalc 30>>\ <<var $wardrobe2 + 1000000000000>>\ #use-if ((((($shards + ($silver / 10)) + ($gold * 10)) gte 100) and ($customcolors is "")) and ($prestige gte 25)) Matching Gi Uniforms for your Clan [100 Shards, Requires 25 Prestige] "Our Sectmaster Special?" The golden-skinned tailor asks. "I suppose I can have the seamstresses prepare a bulk order, but only due to the standing of the <<cap $clan>> Clan. Is it true you fought a divine fish?" "Is that how people are describing it?" You ask, face betraying disappointment. "Hmph!" The woman retorts with smug satisfaction. "You've given me all the answer I need. You can't hide it, that really was you." "...I wasn't trying to hide it, I-you know what, yes, fine. I would like the Sectmaster Special. I have retainers all around the city and they need matching uniforms to help them recognize each other in public." "I can make that happen. The uniforms will be unpowered, but distinct and sharply seamed. What colors are you thinking for your clan's gi?" ''[Enter the desired colors for your Clan Gi. Examples include "red", "maroon", "blue and gold", "yellow and black"]'' <<textbox "$customcolors" "blue">> <<page "Select Color" "hub-commerce-weavers-uniform">>\ #More expensive options. [Browse Luxury Clothing] -> "hub-commerce-weavers-luxury" #More practical options. [Browse Equipment] -> "hub-commerce-weavers-gear" #Exit Sign. [Return to Commercial District] -> "hub-commerce-district" <</choose>>

''[Clothing Added to Wardrobe!]'' "A fine statement to make." The golden-skinned woman says. "Wearing that in Nanhou will set you above the common $manwoman. Of course, you could set yourself above the greater $manwoman by purchasing one of our luxury designs." You look over the other options and consider the... <<include "hub-commerce-weavers3">>\

<<var $bangled false>>\ <<var $bothswordsoption false>>\ One such woman notices you from the bar on the other side of the room. One you recognize. Leona Bangle, dressed in a \ <<if ($heshe is "he")>>\ tight red cheongsam with a slit cut to expose skin where it //should// be covering her legs. <<else>>\ red cheongsam that she seems to have cut around the legs. You're unsure if that's from an Akakiru mishap or fashion. <</if>>\ She flashes a smile when she notices \ <<if ($heshe is "he")>>\ you, runs a finger around the rim of her coconut drink, \ <<else>>\ you \ <</if>>\ and waves you over like she didn't steal your ship and an entire crew. <<if ($heshe is "she")>>\ "<<cap $name>>! Come sit with me!" <</if>>\ <<include "hub-quest-leonainvite">>\

<<if (dig($placevisit, 10) is 0)>>\ <<var $placevisit + 100000>>\ The streets around you grow wider, more pristine, and whiter as if made from marble or even jade. The cultivation stores and workshops fall by the wayside, replaced with luxury stores offering jade-sculptors to commission personal statues or century-old tailors offering the finest silks meant for Noble's daughters. Even the taverns become too expensive to envision, as half of them are //floating off the ground// and you sense Aura Pressure positively leaking off the guards they leave out front. Yet despite all this, the crowd walking down the street is still just as broke as you. Laborers and Warriors march through the richest section of the Entertainment District, unhastled by guards or Nobles, and you soon see exactly what could attract such wealth without turning away the common man: A casino. Not just any casino, but a gilded villa of multiple buildings all linked together by two cleverly designed statues of enormous dragons coiling around the casino grounds. On the outside the red and purple dragons seem to be at odds, threatening each other for territory and wrapping around the buildings they claim, but between their placement and size you realize there are entire hallways hidden inside the dragons, connecting the buildings that they each claim. And between their hissing mouths, where their angered faces meet at the center, is the entrance of the Twisting Dragon Casino. Steam billows out from its entrance in a massive cloud, one that cuts off the view into the casino if not for the hundreds of men and woman constantly entering and leaving. It seems business is good. <<page "Continue" "hub-entertainment-casino2">>\ <<else>>\ <<include "hub-entertainment-casino2">>\ <</if>>\

<<var $fighter1 0>>\ <<var $fighter2 0>>\ <<var $arbonus 0>>\ <<var $fighter1text "">>\ <<var $fighter2text "">>\ <<include "hub-entertainment-casino-bloodpitsf">>\

<<if (($betoption is 1) or ($betoption is 2))>>\ <<var $fighter1 + $perception>>\ <<if (($style is "Aoyosumu") and ($stylerank gte 2))>>\ ''[Aoyusumu Precognition, Chances Increased]'' <<var $fighter1 + $stylerank>>\ <</if>>\ <<else>>\ <<var $fighter2 + $perception>>\ <<if (($style is "Aoyosumu") and ($stylerank gte 2))>>\ ''[Aoyusumu Precognition, Chances Increased]'' <<var $fighter2 + $stylerank>>\ <</if>>\ <</if>>\ <<rand $arbonus 0 20>>\ <<var $fighter1 + $arbonus>>\ <<rand $arbonus 0 20>>\ <<var $fighter2 + $arbonus>>\ The bets finalize and the fighters enter the ring. \ <<if ($currenttrial isnot "Tiger")>>\ Misuka the Performer \ <<else>>\ The kitsune announcer \ <</if>>\ disappears in a shimmer, signaling the start of the fight. All around you, the blood pit does the opposite of a respectful hush. They break into //cheers// and //demands// as every bidder screams for their champion to rip the other limb from limb. That's exactly what happens, when \ <<if ($fighter1 is $fighter2)>>\ both champions charge into each other with intense ferocity, each beating on the other until both lie unconscious on the ground. The Kitsune materializes in the middle of the blood pit and checks them both to see if either will rise. With a shrug she looks to the crowd with a smile. "Looks like a tie, Honored Guests! You know what that means! House wins!!" "Boo!" Says everyone. <<if ($betoption is 1)>>\ <<bankcalc 50 "Lost">>\ <<var $gamble_bloodpits - 50>>\ <<elseif ($betoption is 2)>>\ <<bankcalc 100 "Lost">>\ <<var $gamble_bloodpits - 100>>\ <<elseif ($betoption is 3)>>\ <<bankcalc 50 "Lost">>\ <<var $gamble_bloodpits - 50>>\ <<elseif ($betoption is 4)>>\ <<bankcalc 100 "Lost">>\ <<var $gamble_bloodpits - 100>>\ <</if>>\ <<elseif ($fighter1 gt $fighter2)>>\ the $fighter1text brutally demolishes the $fighter2text to the cheers and screams of spectators. <<if ($betoption is 1)>>\ ''[Wager Won!]'' ''[Item Gained: 50 Shards]'' <<var $shards + 50>>\ <<var $gamble_bloodpits + 50>>\ <<elseif ($betoption is 2)>>\ ''[Wager Won!]'' ''[Item Gained: 100 Shards]'' <<var $shards + 100>>\ <<var $gamble_bloodpits + 100>>\ <<elseif ($betoption is 3)>>\ <<bankcalc 50 "Lost">>\ <<var $gamble_bloodpits - 50>>\ <<elseif ($betoption is 4)>>\ <<bankcalc 100 "Lost">>\ <<var $gamble_bloodpits - 100>>\ <</if>>\ <<else>>\ the $fighter2text beats the lights out of the $fighter1text to the cheers and screams of spectators. <<if ($betoption is 3)>>\ ''[Wager Won!]'' ''[Item Gained: 50 Shards]'' <<var $shards + 50>>\ <<var $gamble_bloodpits + 50>>\ <<elseif ($betoption is 4)>>\ ''[Wager Won!]'' ''[Item Gained: 100 Shards]'' <<var $shards + 100>>\ <<var $gamble_bloodpits + 100>>\ <<elseif ($betoption is 1)>>\ <<bankcalc 50 "Lost">>\ <<var $gamble_bloodpits - 50>>\ <<elseif ($betoption is 2)>>\ <<bankcalc 100 "Lost">>\ <<var $gamble_bloodpits - 100>>\ <</if>>\ <</if>>\ Just like that, in a minute of intense violence, it's over. Serving girls and casino guards maneuver through the audience to collect funds and hand over winnings. Half the spectators get up to leave and are replaced with newcomers. Laborers in cheap rags clean the bloodied arena pit. And you notice your drink is empty. <<choose "hub-entertainment-casino-bloodpits">> #show-if ($gamble_bloodpits lt $casinomax) Order a tea and continue gambling. -> "hub-entertainment-casino-koswaitress" #show-if ($gamble_bloodpits lt $casinomax) Order a stronger drink and continue gambling. An attractive\ <<if ($heshe is "he")>>\ cat yokai woman \ <<else>>\ Oni man \ <</if>>\ delivers your sake, placing the container and o-choko on a table beside your seat. You pour a drink and enjoy the warmth, turning your gaze back to the fights. ... #show-if ($gamble_bloodpits lt $casinomax) Order a fruity drink and continue gambling. -> "hub-entertainment-casino-koswaiter" #show-if ($gamble_bloodpits gte $casinomax) use-if ($val is 45326263263) Continue gambling. [Blood Pit Winnings Limit Reached!] -> "death" #Leave the Blood Pits. -> "hub-entertainment-casino4" #Leave the casino. -> "hub-entertainment-district" <</choose>>

<<rand $fighter1 0 30>>\ <<rand $fighter2 0 30>>\ <<if ($fighter1 is $fighter2)>>\ <<rand $fighter1 0 30>>\ <<rand $fighter2 0 30>>\ <</if>>\ <<if ($fighter1 is $fighter2)>>\ <<rand $fighter1 0 30>>\ <<rand $fighter2 0 30>>\ <</if>>\ <<if ($fighter1 is $fighter2)>>\ <<rand $fighter1 0 30>>\ <<rand $fighter2 0 30>>\ <</if>>\ <<if ($fighter1 is $fighter2)>>\ <<rand $fighter1 0 30>>\ <<rand $fighter2 0 30>>\ <</if>>\ <<if ($fighter1 is 0)>>\ <<var $fighter1text "unpowered peasant in rags">>\ <<elseif ($fighter1 is 1)>>\ <<var $fighter1text "young novice in plain white gi">>\ <<elseif ($fighter1 is 2)>>\ <<var $fighter1text "elderly spearwoman">>\ <<elseif ($fighter1 is 3)>>\ <<var $fighter1text "foreign disciple with red headband">>\ <<elseif ($fighter1 is 4)>>\ <<var $fighter1text "wild and hungry bear">>\ <<elseif ($fighter1 is 5)>>\ <<var $fighter1text "chained and collared Lost">>\ <<elseif ($fighter1 is 6)>>\ <<var $fighter1text "axe-wielding woodsman">>\ <<elseif ($fighter1 is 7)>>\ <<var $fighter1text "staff wielder with a straw hat">>\ <<elseif ($fighter1 is 8)>>\ <<var $fighter1text "rabid looking Wolf Yokai">>\ <<elseif ($fighter1 is 9)>>\ <<var $fighter1text "soldier with Bladed Chi over his hands">>\ <<elseif ($fighter1 is 10)>>\ <<var $fighter1text "Martial Artist with burning aura">>\ <<elseif ($fighter1 is 11)>>\ <<var $fighter1text "trio of hovering Ice Kami">>\ <<elseif ($fighter1 is 12)>>\ <<var $fighter1text "naked face-scarred berserker">>\ <<elseif ($fighter1 is 13)>>\ <<var $fighter1text "horse with a mane of black flames">>\ <<elseif ($fighter1 is 14)>>\ <<var $fighter1text "star pupil from Outer East">>\ <<elseif ($fighter1 is 15)>>\ <<var $fighter1text "moving statue of thorns">>\ <<elseif ($fighter1 is 16)>>\ <<var $fighter1text "Martial Artist floating off the ground">>\ <<elseif ($fighter1 is 17)>>\ <<var $fighter1text "laughing bald man in black robes">>\ <<elseif ($fighter1 is 18)>>\ <<var $fighter1text "unchained Grim">>\ <<elseif ($fighter1 is 19)>>\ <<var $fighter1text "Bull Yokai with a shining jian blade">>\ <<elseif ($fighter1 is 20)>>\ <<var $fighter1text "Callous Clan champion with claw - weapons">>\ <<elseif ($fighter1 is 21)>>\ <<var $fighter1text "gorilla Beast with lightning for eyes">>\ <<elseif ($fighter1 is 22)>>\ <<var $fighter1text "Ice Elemental shaped like an ogre">>\ <<elseif ($fighter1 is 23)>>\ <<var $fighter1text "mercenary wearing seven enchanted knives">>\ <<elseif ($fighter1 is 24)>>\ <<var $fighter1text "decorated war hero from Outer North">>\ <<elseif ($fighter1 is 25)>>\ <<var $fighter1text "Sectmaster from Outer West">>\ <<elseif ($fighter1 is 26)>>\ <<var $fighter1text "drunk fat man in his underwear">>\ <<elseif ($fighter1 is 27)>>\ <<var $fighter1text "mysterious robed Mystic">>\ <<elseif ($fighter1 is 28)>>\ <<var $fighter1text "exorcist-monk wielding prayer tags">>\ <<elseif ($fighter1 is 29)>>\ <<var $fighter1text "entity masked in swirling darkness">>\ <<elseif ($fighter1 is 30)>>\ <<var $fighter1text "armored Samurai of the Bladed Lands">>\ <</if>>\ <<if ($fighter2 is 0)>>\ <<var $fighter2text "unpowered peasant in rags">>\ <<elseif ($fighter2 is 1)>>\ <<var $fighter2text "young novice in plain white gi">>\ <<elseif ($fighter2 is 2)>>\ <<var $fighter2text "elderly spearwoman">>\ <<elseif ($fighter2 is 3)>>\ <<var $fighter2text "foreign disciple with red headband">>\ <<elseif ($fighter2 is 4)>>\ <<var $fighter2text "wild and hungry bear">>\ <<elseif ($fighter2 is 5)>>\ <<var $fighter2text "chained and collared Lost">>\ <<elseif ($fighter2 is 6)>>\ <<var $fighter2text "axe-wielding woodsman">>\ <<elseif ($fighter2 is 7)>>\ <<var $fighter2text "staff wielder with a straw hat">>\ <<elseif ($fighter2 is 8)>>\ <<var $fighter2text "rabid looking Wolf Yokai">>\ <<elseif ($fighter2 is 9)>>\ <<var $fighter2text "soldier with Bladed Chi over his hands">>\ <<elseif ($fighter2 is 10)>>\ <<var $fighter2text "Martial Artist with burning aura">>\ <<elseif ($fighter2 is 11)>>\ <<var $fighter2text "trio of hovering Ice Kami">>\ <<elseif ($fighter2 is 12)>>\ <<var $fighter2text "naked face-scarred berserker">>\ <<elseif ($fighter2 is 13)>>\ <<var $fighter2text "horse with a mane of black flames">>\ <<elseif ($fighter2 is 14)>>\ <<var $fighter2text "star pupil from Outer East">>\ <<elseif ($fighter2 is 15)>>\ <<var $fighter2text "moving statue of thorns">>\ <<elseif ($fighter2 is 16)>>\ <<var $fighter2text "Martial Artist floating off the ground">>\ <<elseif ($fighter2 is 17)>>\ <<var $fighter2text "laughing bald man in black robes">>\ <<elseif ($fighter2 is 18)>>\ <<var $fighter2text "unchained Grim">>\ <<elseif ($fighter2 is 19)>>\ <<var $fighter2text "Bull Yokai with a shining jian blade">>\ <<elseif ($fighter2 is 20)>>\ <<var $fighter2text "Callous Clan champion with claw - weapons">>\ <<elseif ($fighter2 is 21)>>\ <<var $fighter2text "gorilla Beast with lightning for eyes">>\ <<elseif ($fighter2 is 22)>>\ <<var $fighter2text "Ice Elemental shaped like an ogre">>\ <<elseif ($fighter2 is 23)>>\ <<var $fighter2text "mercenary wearing seven enchanted knives">>\ <<elseif ($fighter2 is 24)>>\ <<var $fighter2text "decorated war hero from Outer North">>\ <<elseif ($fighter2 is 25)>>\ <<var $fighter2text "Sectmaster from Outer West">>\ <<elseif ($fighter2 is 26)>>\ <<var $fighter2text "drunk fat man in his underwear">>\ <<elseif ($fighter2 is 27)>>\ <<var $fighter2text "mysterious robed Mystic">>\ <<elseif ($fighter2 is 28)>>\ <<var $fighter2text "exorcist-monk wielding prayer tags">>\ <<elseif ($fighter2 is 29)>>\ <<var $fighter2text "entity masked in swirling darkness">>\ <<elseif ($fighter2 is 30)>>\ <<var $fighter2text "armored Samurai of the Bladed Lands">>\ <</if>>\ It's not long before a new fight is ready and the gambling pools begin. A hush falls over as \ <<if (dig($placevisit, 8) is 1)>>\ <<var $placevisit + 10000000>>\ an announcer appears out of nowhere in the center of the bloodpits. A three-tailed, redheaded kitsune. "Ladies and gentlemen!" Shouts \ <<if ($currenttrial isnot "Tiger")>>\ Misuka the Performer \ <<else>>\ the kitsune woman \ <</if>>\ <<else>>\ <<if ($currenttrial isnot "Tiger")>>\ Misuka the Performer \ <<else>>\ The Kitsune announcer \ <</if>>\ returns in a flash of brilliant light. "Ladies and gentlemen!" She shouts \ <</if>>\ loud enough for everyone to hear. "Today we have a fantastic spectacle prepared for your very eyes! If you're here for violence, you've come to the right place! Azure Corner, Yellow Corner, reveal your champions and give us a spectacle!" An azure-colored steel door in the blood pit's wall lowers to reveal the $fighter1text they have stationed as their champion. Simultaneously, the yellow door closer to you drops. You turn your head better to see under your section at the $fighter2text they've sent to fight as their own champion. "A gory show for sure!" \ <<if ($currenttrial isnot "Tiger")>>\ Misuka \ <<else>>\ The kitsune announcer \ <</if>>\ cheers. "Let's get those betting pools out and see who ''you'' think is walking out of here tonight!" Dozens of men and women scramble to offer their bids to nearby servers. <<if ($perception gte 3)>>\ ''[Perception 3 Check Passed]'' <<if ($fighter1 gt $fighter2)>>\ The $fighter2text \ <<else>>\ The $fighter1text \ <</if>>\ looks nervous when spotting the \ <<if ($fighter1 gt $fighter2)>>\ $fighter1text. \ <<else>>\ $fighter2text. \ <</if>>\ A good sign, but not a guarantee. <<else>>\ ''[Perception 3 Check Failed]'' Neither opponent shows any signs of doubt at the moment, and you can't wait forever. <</if>>\ You choose to... <<choose "hub-entertainment-casino-bloodpits2">> #use-if ((($shards + ($silver / 10)) + ($gold * 10)) gte 50) [Bet 50 Shards on the $fighter1text.] <<var $betoption 1>>\ #use-if ((($shards + ($silver / 10)) + ($gold * 10)) gte 50) [Bet 50 Shards on the $fighter2text.] <<var $betoption 3>>\ #use-if ((($shards + ($silver / 10)) + ($gold * 10)) gte 100) [Bet 100 Shards on the $fighter1text.] <<var $betoption 2>>\ #use-if ((($shards + ($silver / 10)) + ($gold * 10)) gte 100) [Bet 100 Shards on the $fighter2text.] <<var $betoption 4>>\ #Leave -> "hub-entertainment-casino4" <</choose>>

You spend the next three hours assisting the Laborers with an outline of how to avoid any disasters and how to handle the finer parts of their craft. Fortunately they're knowledgeable enough to understand what you're saying. When you're done, you collect your Shards from the lady at the doorway who keeps her eerie gaze on you the entire time. "You did well." She says, withdrawing the shards from some pouch in her robes. "Don't tell a soul that we needed the help, or I'll slander your name so thoroughly that even you'll start to believe it." ''[Item Gained: $doshagreement Shards]'' <<var $shards + $doshagreement>>\ <<page "Return to the Casino" "hub-entertainment-casino4">>\

<<if (dig($compquest1, 2) is 0)>>\ <<var $compquest1 + 10000000000000>>\ <<include "hub-compquest-leona">>\ <<else>>\ <<include "hub-entertainment-casino-dice2">>\ <</if>>\

"Interested in a game of dice?" Asks a dealer as you pass by his table. You turn to see a mustached Oni man in his spry fifties. He holds up a silver cane in one hand and a pair of dice in another. "The rules are quite simple. We both roll two 6-sided dice, and whoever gets the higher number wins. No need for skill or worry, young \ <<if ($heshe is "he")>>\ man. \ <<else>>\ lady. \ <</if>>\ Casinos are temples of chance, but only for those who dare to take it." You look over the betting options and consider his offer. <<var $diceroll 0>>\ <<var $houseroll 0>>\ <<var $betamount 0>>\ <<var $cheatmethod "">>\ <<include "hub-entertainment-casino-dice3">>\

<<if ($gamble_dice gt $casinomax)>>\ ''[Special Event: Casino Winnings Too High!]'' ''[You have been asked to leave the dice tables.]'' <<choose "hub-entertainment-casino4">> #use-if ($val is 4354326262) Roll the dice. [Dice Winnings Limit Reached!] -> "death" #Leave the dice hall. <</choose>> <<else>>\ <<choose "hub-entertainment-casino-dice4">> #use-if (((($shards + ($silver / 10)) + ($gold * 10)) gte 25) and ($gamble_dice lt $casinomax)) Roll the dice. [25 Shards] <<var $betamount 25>>\ #use-if (((($shards + ($silver / 10)) + ($gold * 10)) gte 50) and ($gamble_dice lt $casinomax)) Roll the dice. [50 Shards] <<var $betamount 50>>\ #use-if (((($shards + ($silver / 10)) + ($gold * 10)) gte 100) and ($gamble_dice lt $casinomax)) Roll the dice. [100 Shards] <<var $betamount 100>>\ #use-if (($prestige gte 30) and (((($shards + ($silver / 10)) + ($gold * 10)) gte 100) and ($gamble_dice lt $casinomax))) Roll the dice. [250 Shards, Requires Prestige 30] <<var $betamount 250>>\ #First, I plan to cheat. [Thievery] Cheating in a casino is nearly impossible. They've gone through every security measure one can imagine and plenty that one can't. It's the kind of challenge that //can't// be beaten, or else the casino would be out of business by now. An insurmountable logical problem. The same kind of insurmountable problems you've fragrantly ignored most of your life. So you brought fake dice. <<var $cheatmethod "Sleight of Hand">>\ #show-if ($style is "Aoyusumu") First, I plan to cheat. [Aoyusumu] -> "hub-entertainment-casino-dice3" Telekinesis is the obvious choice for cheating at a dice game, which is why you're going to do it. Nobody expects the obvious choice. <<var $cheatmethod "Telekinesis">>\ #show-if ($style is "Kurokonton") First, I plan to cheat. [Kurokonton] -> "hub-entertainment-casino-dice3" Cursed Chi can not only slow an object's movement, but pull it back toward yourself if it's rolling past a desired number. Better than that, it's the hardest type of chi to detect. No doubt this casino is watching out for Cursed Chi specifically, but you don't intend to let them catch you. <<var $cheatmethod "Cursed Chi">>\ #show-if (($element1 is "Light") or ($element2 is "Light")) First, I plan to cheat. [Light Element] -> "hub-entertainment-casino-dice3" <<var $cheatmethod "Light">>\ Using Light Chi to alter the look of the dice is a risky maneuver, especially in a casino filled with Martial Artists who can scan your spirit. Luckily, you are irrationally arrogant and ignore that by casting a visual illusion over the dice. #show-if ($race is "Kitsune") First, I plan to cheat. [Kitsune] -> "hub-entertainment-casino-dice3" <<var $cheatmethod "Foxfire">>\ Using your foxfire illusions to alter the look of the dice is a risky maneuver, especially in a casino filled with Martial Artists who can scan your spirit. Luckily, you are irrationally arrogant and ignore that by casting a visual illusion over the dice. #show-if ($cheatmethod isnot "") First, I stop cheating. -> "hub-entertainment-casino-dice3" Thinking that you've pushed your luck far enough as-is, you decide to play the next hands fairly. <<var $cheatmethod "">>\ #Decline. -> "hub-entertainment-casino4" <</choose>> <</if>>\

You shake the dice in your hand for good luck and toss them across the table towards the dealer who, likewise, tosses his own pair of dice toward you. <<rand $diceroll 2 12>>\ <<rand $houseroll 2 12>>\ <<if ($cheatmethod is "Sleight of Hand")>>\ <<if ($thievery lt 3)>>\ <<var $cheatmethod "caught">>\ <</if>>\ <<elseif ($cheatmethod is "Telekinesis")>>\ <<if (($stealth lt (4-$stylerank)) and ($insight lt (4-$stylerank)))>>\ <<var $cheatmethod "caught">>\ <</if>>\ <<elseif ($cheatmethod is "Cursed Chi")>>\ <<if ($stealth lt 2)>>\ <<var $cheatmethod "caught">>\ <</if>>\ <<elseif (($cheatmethod is "Light") and ($element1 is "Light"))>>\ <<if ($stealth lt (4-$element1rank))>>\ <<var $cheatmethod "caught">>\ <</if>>\ <<elseif (($cheatmethod is "Light") and ($element2 is "Light"))>>\ <<if ($stealth lt (4-$element2rank))>>\ <<var $cheatmethod "caught">>\ <</if>>\ <<elseif ($cheatmethod is "Foxfire")>>\ <<if ($stealth lt 2)>>\ <<var $cheatmethod "caught">>\ <</if>>\ <</if>>\ <<if (($houseroll lt 12) and ($perception lt 3))>>\ <<var $houseroll + 1>>\ <</if>>\ ''[Your Diceroll: $diceroll]'' <<if (($cheatmethod isnot "") and ($diceroll is 12))>>\ ''[Perfect Natural Roll, No Cheating Needed]'' <<elseif ((($cheatmethod isnot "") and ($cheatmethod isnot "caught")) and ($diceroll isnot 12))>>\ <<var $cheatbonus 0>>\ <<rand $cheatbonus 1 3>>\ <<var $diceroll + $cheatbonus>>\ <<if ($diceroll gt 12)>>\ <<var $diceroll 12>>\ <</if>>\ ''[$cheatmethod Altered Diceroll: $diceroll]'' <</if>>\ ''[Dealer's Diceroll: $houseroll]'' <<if ($cheatmethod is "caught")>>\ "A cheat!" The dealer shouts, snapping his fingers. You open your mouth to refute him when \ <<if ($cheatmethod is "Sleight of Hand")>>\ the real dice fall out of your sleeve, exposing the weighted dice you just threw. <<else>>\ you feel the lightest bit of spiritual pressure leave your body. A scan. You hadn't even noticed it before, the slightest pressure applied since you'd entered the building. Someone's been scanning you this entire time, and they felt your effect. <</if>>\ "Gentlemen!" You say to the approaching Inner Kingdom warriors working as casino security. "I can explain everyth-" <<page "Continue" "hub-entertainment-casino-knockout">>\ <<elseif ($diceroll is $houseroll)>>\ "A tie!" The dealer announces as he collects your funds. "Ties go to the dealer." <<costcalc $betamount>>\ <<var $gamble_dice - $betamount>>\ <<elseif ($houseroll gt $diceroll)>>\ "House wins!" The dealer announces, collecting your funds with a smile. <<costcalc $betamount>>\ <<var $gamble_dice - $betamount>>\ <<else>>\ "The Young \ <<if ($heshe is "he")>>\ Master \ <<else>>\ Mistress \ <</if>>\ wins" The dealer announces, using a silver stick to slide a pile of coins your way. ''[Item Gained: $betamount Shards]'' <<var $shards + $betamount>>\ <<var $gamble_dice + $betamount>>\ <</if>>\ He scoops up all four dice with his silver cane. "Would the $ymaster like to play again?" <<var $diceroll 0>>\ <<var $houseroll 0>>\ <<var $betamount 0>>\ <<include "hub-entertainment-casino-dice3">>\

You wake up outside with a black eye and the shameful taste of your own vomit in your mouth. <<var $eventfun + 1000000000>>\ <<if ($jadedragonfoundation is true)>>\ You are once again reminded that your natural draconic power, which puts you centuries above your peers, can be defeated by other people stubbornly having actual centuries of experience. This city has too many people. <</if>>\ ''[Special Event: Banned from the Twisting Dragon Casino!]'' <<page "Return to the Entertainment District" "hub-entertainment-district">>\

An attractive \ <<if (((dig($eventfun, 5) is 0) and ($bffheshe is "he")) and ($heshe is "she"))>>\ <<var $eventfun + 10000000000>>\ Human man delivers your- "What are you doing here?" You ask the waiter, Kosuke. "A job??" Kosuke whispers back, wearing black loose pants and no shirt. "What are //you// doing here, betting on people's lives?" <<choose "hub-entertainment-casino-koswaiter2">> #"Me? No. Noooo, I'm looking into, um, illegal activities. Undercover." "Me?" You blurt out. "No. Noooo, I'm looking into, um, illegal activities. Undercover." "Well don't." Kosuke replies, shaking his head at your poor taste. "I'm trying to commit illegal activities." #"Yes, now hand me my drink, servant!" "Yes." You hiss back. "Now hand me my drink, servant!" <<var $bffrep + 3>>\ Kosuke snorts playfully. "You're such a tyrant." <</choose>> <<else>>\ <<if ($heshe is "he")>>\ red-haired lunargoth woman \ <<else>>\ Human man \ <</if>>\ delivers your melon-infused beverage, shaking its contents with ice in a steel container before pouring it into your glass through a strainer. <<if ($heshe is "he")>>\ "Are you sure you want this, Young Master?" The waitress asks. "It is normally a drink for ladies." "I meant what I said." You reply resolutely, dismissing her as you take a precious a sip. \ <<else>>\ You take a sip. <</if>>\ Sweet and refreshing. ... <<include "hub-entertainment-casino-bloodpits">>\ <</if>>\

He hands you you a melon-infused \ <<if ($bffromance gte 1)>>\ beverage, plants a kiss on your cheek, lifts you out of your seat and plants a //longer// kiss on your lips, \ <<else>>\ beverage \ <</if>>\ and moves on to the other guests who, you notice, he is pickpocketing. You doublecheck your pockets, just to be safe, and find you've been //reverse// pickpocketed. ''[Item Gained: 180 Silver]'' <<var $silver + 180>>\ ... <<include "hub-entertainment-casino-bloodpits">>\

An attractive \ <<if (((dig($eventfun, 5) is 0) and ($bffheshe is "she")) and ($heshe is "he"))>>\ <<var $eventfun + 10000000000>>\ Human woman delivers your- "What are you doing here?" You ask the waitress, Kosuke. "A job??" Kosuke whispers back, wearing the tight outfit of a serving girl. "What are //you// doing here, betting on people's lives?" <<choose "hub-entertainment-casino-koswaitress2">> #"Me? No. Noooo, I'm looking into, uh, illegal activities. Undercover." "Me?" You blurt out. "No. Noooo, I'm looking into, uh, illegal activities. Undercover." "Well don't." Kosuke replies, shaking her head at your poor taste. "I'm trying to commit illegal activities." #"Yes, now hand me my drink, servant!" "Yes." You hiss back. "Now hand me my drink, servant!" <<var $bffrep + 3>>\ Kosuke snorts playfully. "You're such a tyrant." <</choose>> <<else>>\ <<if ($heshe is "he")>>\ Human woman \ <<else>>\ lunargoth man \ <</if>>\ delivers your steaming hot tea. You take a sip of the warming fuel and inhale appreciatively. ... <<include "hub-entertainment-casino-bloodpits">>\ <</if>>\

She hands you a cup of hot steaming \ <<if ($bffromance gte 1)>>\ tea, plants a kiss on your cheek, repositions into your lap to plant a //longer// kiss on your lips, \ <<else>>\ tea \ <</if>>\ and moves on to the other guests who, you notice, she is pickpocketing. You doublecheck your pockets, just to be safe, and find you've been reverse-pickpocketed. ''[Item Gained: 180 Silver]'' <<var $silver + 180>>\ ... <<include "hub-entertainment-casino-bloodpits">>\

<<var $placevisit + 1000000>>\ After walking down a hallway of unnecessary shops and food vendors, you come to an enormous room of gilded portraits, robust marble statues, fine red curtains longer than most temples, and display cases of fine crystalline glass. Unfortunately, none of it is put together. The room is in total disarray and everything is lying on the floor, with Laborers working on every aspect to assemble the grand materials into a proper showpiece. "You will have to return in a week, intruder." Says a robed Human woman near the entrance. She wears a ridiculous pointy hat and holds a long smoking pipe in her hand. "The Trial betting room is still under construction due to a...scheduling issue." Laborers working around the room give her a pointed look. You suspect she is the scheduling issue. <<choose "hub-entertainment-casino-trialbet2">> #"Okay." [Return to Casino] -> "hub-entertainment-casino4" #use-if (($craft gte 3) or ($background is "Blacksmith")) "If you're looking for help, I'm a skilled craftsman." [Requires Craft 3 or Blacksmith] <</choose>>

You look over the room and take in the general idea of what the casino is trying to do with this room, then look back to the woman in her pointed hat. "If you're looking for help, I'm a skilled craftsman." She taps her smoking pipe twice. "How skilled?" "Skilled enough to know you shouldn't be putting in that carpeting until your curtains are done. The ceiling is twenty-feet high, do you expect to move ladders across the entire room without scuffing such an expensive looking flooring?" The woman puffs her smoking stick, exhales to the ceiling, and looks down at you with fading annoyance. "Three hours of your time, two-hundred Shards, and a written outline of how the men should be doing everything. It had better be detailed, or so help me, I will lose roofing nails on my inventory charts and find them in your spine." <<var $doshagreement 200>>\ <<choose "hub-entertainment-casino-deal">> #"Deal." #"Add fifty more Shards and you have yourself a deal." You look over the construction job and consider just how badly she needs it. "Add fifty more Shards and you have yourself a deal." <<if ($persuasion gte 2)>>\ ''[Persuasion 2 Check Passed]'' The woman rolls her eyes and inhales deep from her smoking stick. "Fine." <<var $doshagreement 250>>\ <<include "hub-entertainment-casino-deal">>\ <<else>>\ ''[Persuasion 2 Check Failed]'' The woman blows smoke into the air and shakes her head. "I don't work with hagglers. That kind of mindset never finishes a job without haggling again. Get out of my atreum before I call the guards." <<page "Return to the Casino" "hub-entertainment-casino4">>\ <</if>>\ #"You dare threaten me? That foolishness will cost you three-hundred Shards instead. Pray I do not raise it further." "You dare threaten me?!" You stare the aristocrat down to drive your point home. "That foolishness will cost you three-hundred Shards. Pray I do not raise it further." <<var $ruthless + 1>>\ <<if ($persuasion gte 4)>>\ ''[Persuasion 4 Check Passed]'' The woman rolls her eyes and inhales deep from her smoking stick. "Fine." <<var $doshagreement 300>>\ <<include "hub-entertainment-casino-deal">>\ <<else>>\ ''[Persuasion 4 Check Failed]'' The woman looks down on you with acidic levels of disdain. "Remove your hideous face from my atreum before I call the guards." <<page "Return to the Casino" "hub-entertainment-casino4">>\ <</if>>\ <</choose>>

You enter the Twisting Dragon Casino through the billowing 'smoke' at the entrance, finding the steam to be pleasantly warm and refreshing. When you come out on the other end you're handed a tea by a passing \ <<if ($heshe is "he")>>\ waitress in a provocative outfit. \ <<else>>\ shirtless waiter. \ <</if>>\ You take a sip while the marvels of the casino truly settle into your vision. <<include "hub-entertainment-casino3">>\

Fountains, gold statues, dance halls where minstrels play for the crowd, and crystal lights giving off colorful displays at every bar. Storm and Fire kami dance along the ceiling fifty-feet above you, forming the shapes of the red and purple dragons outside. They play-fight as if the two were clashing across the entire high ceiling at all times, an act so far outside of their nature that it must have taken dozens or even hundreds of Mystic spiritbinders to place upon them. The opulence on display is enough to make your mouth water, and you want a piece of that wealth. Luckily, the gambling halls offer exactly that. <<var $val 0>>\ <<choose "hub-entertainment-district">> #Gamble at the dice tables. -> "hub-entertainment-casino-dice" One-hundred gambling tables fill the high-ceilinged main hall of the Twisting Dragon Casino. The center of the room is filled with clusters of fountains and heroic statues while bars line the walls where expensive drinks run like rivers. You've never seen so many rich people in one room. Nobles, merchants, and Martial Artists roll dice at row after row of green-upholstered tables, exchanging more Shards than a bank can hold. Waitresses\ <<if ($heshe is "she")>>\ and waitors \ <</if>>\ deliver drinks to the most promising clientele while Bodyguards with oppressive Aura Pressures guard the doors and remove the undesirables who run out of money. It's a spectacle of not just funds, but fame. Entire crowds gather around some of the biggest winners, and \ <<if ($heshe is "he")>>\ some of the most attractive women you've ever seen \ <<else>>\ you're not surprised to see honorless strumpets in shamelessly lowcut dresses \ <</if>>\ maneuver between tables looking to latch onto the newly rich. <<if (($honor lt 35) and ($heshe is "she"))>>\ ''[Honor Check Failed]'' You curl your lip at the wenches stealing your idea. \ <</if>>\ #show-if (dig($placevisit, 9) is 0) Bet on the next Trial. -> "hub-entertainment-casino-trialbet" #show-if (dig($placevisit, 9) isnot 0) use-if ($val is 4363263) Bet on the next Trial. [UNDER CONSTRUCTION] -> "death" #show-if ($gamble_bloodpits lt $casinomax) Spectate or gamble at the Blood Pits. -> "hub-entertainment-casino-bloodpits" You pass through four different doorways using black curtains in place of real doors, each glowing faintly with Seals. When you come out the other side a raucous of cheer and anguish floods into your ears. Spectators of all Caste sit, stand, or stomp their feet upon the layered stands surrounding the thirty-foot pit built into the ground. The sounds of clashing steel and sparks of discharged chi let you know people are fighting inside, and to the left and right you see two more sets of stands and massive holes in the ground where other fights are going on. The Blood Pits. <<if (dig($placevisit, 8) is 0)>>\ <<var $placevisit + 10000000>>\ A hive of scum and villainy where patrons come to get drunk and gamble on others beating each other bloody for everyone else's amusement. <<if ($ruthless lt 47)>>\ It disgusts you at first, but after the last two years, in an odd way, it doesn't even seem that bad. \ <<else>>\ ''[Ruthless Check Passed]'' You don't feel bad for any of the fighters. \ <</if>>\ You fight to get by all the time; instead of feeling like you're witnessing cruelty, it simply feels like the fighters are at work right now and you're currently not. <<else>>\ You take a seat, grab a refreshment, and look over the scene. <</if>>\ #show-if ($gamble_bloodpits gte $casinomax) use-if ($val is 45326263263) Continue gambling. [Blood Pit Winnings Limit Reached!] -> "death" #Leave the casino. <</choose>>

You return to the main hall of the casino near the front, receiving yet another free tea from a scantily clad \ <<if ($heshe is "he")>>\ waitress \ <<else>>\ waiter \ <</if>>\ (how do they afford all this free tea?). <<include "hub-entertainment-casino3">>\

<<var $val 0>>\ <<var $val2 0>>\ <<var $counter 0>>\ <<var $district "hub-entertainment-district">>\ The Entertainment District unfolds like a circus upscaled to a grand stage. Lavish theatres and opulent arenas each take up entire streets with a single enormous building on each side, drawing the elite to participate and the thousands to spectate. Crowds roar from inside each building, though it's impossible to see over the arena and theatre massive walls carved with designs of legendary Beasts and Spirits, their eyes enchanted to follow you as you pass. At least, you hope it's an enchantment. Vibrant banners displaying a $currenttrial fly across every street corner to herald the coming Trial. Heavy drums and wild cheers will the air in a rhythmic beat that changes the further you walk. Each arena proudly hosts their own unique design, with tiered seating, complex masonry, and vast stages for both high-class plays and Martial demonstrations. <<trialcounter>>\ <<choose "hub-port-district">> #show-if ((dig($metmao, 2) is 0) and ($countdown lte 0)) use-if (dig($metmao, 2) isnot 0) Begin the $currenttrial Trial. [Must meet with the Thunderfall Sect first (Residential District)] -> "death" #show-if ((dig($metmao, 2) isnot 0) and ($countdown lte 0)) Begin the $currenttrial Trial. [TRIAL BEGINNING!] -> "trial-begin" #show-if ($countdown gt 0) use-if ($countdown lte 0) Begin the $currenttrial Trial. [Available in $countdown Days] -> "death" #use-if ($val is 658957) Visit the Printing Scribes. [Closed for Renovations] #show-if (dig($eventfun, 6) isnot 0) use-if (dig($eventfun, 6) is 0) Head to the Twisting Dragon Casino. [BANNED] -> "death" #show-if (dig($eventfun, 6) is 0) Head to the Twisting Dragon Casino. -> "hub-entertainment-casino" #show-if ($techdays gt 0) use-if ($techdays gt 0) Seek out instructors at the Martial Demonstrations. -> "hub-entertainment-instructors" #show-if ($techdays lte 0) use-if ($techdays gt 0) Seek out instructors at the Martial Demonstrations. [No training time remaining!] #use-if (dig($placevisit, 14) is 0) Visit the Auction House. <<var $placevisit + 10>>\ "No." Says a man in regal robes outside the Auction House, blocking your way. "What do you mean no?" You ask. "I mean ''no.'' The Auction is only open to the Noble Caste at this time, not hardly-of-age Warrior Caste. Ancestors know we have enough of your kind flooding every other building, you will not infest this one. Go somewhere else." <<page "This is bullshit." "hub-entertainment-district">>\ #Enter the Port District. #Enter the Commerce District. -> "hub-commerce-district" #Enter the Residential District. -> "hub-residential-district" #use-if ($val is 13371337) Enter the Noble District. [Forbidden] -> "death" <</choose>>

The Martial Arts are a sacred practice. Every Clan <<cap $patriarch>>, Sectmaster, School Master, and Wandering Sage holds their lessons dear, sharing their personal method of combat advancement and spiritual cultivation only with those of their village, their family, or rare apprentices who align perfectly with their views of the world. Normally. Thankfully, today, the Heavenly Ascension Trials have attracted the small minority of trainers who are absolute sell-outs and willing to share even their Styled and Elemental secrets for money. <<include "hub-entertainment-instructors2">>\

You spend the next few minutes patrolling the Entertainment District demonstrations, watching different students spar each other with their respective Master's Techniques. As this is the Heavenly Ascension Trials, not a city fair, it's clear as day why they'd show off their secret weapons so clearly. These Sects aren't in the Trials. They're advertising what abilities they have for sale. Each Path Manual's lessons and secrets will take you at least a day to fully digest. With only $techdays \ <<if ($techdays is 1)>>\ day \ <<else>>\ days \ <</if>>\ unaccounted for before your \ <<if ($currenttrial is "Tiger")>>\ first \ <<else>>\ next <</if>>\ Trial, you try to pick out the most useful \ <<if ($techdays is 1)>>\ Technique \ <<else>>\ Techniques \ <</if>>\ from the Freestyle options that anyone can learn as well as those from your own \ <<if (($element1 isnot "None") and ($element2 isnot ""))>>\ Style and Elements: <<elseif (($element1 isnot "None") or ($element2 isnot ""))>>\ Style and Element: <<else>>\ Style: <</if>>\ ''Dual Core Cycling''. Freestyle Technique. (Focused) Insight +1. (Focused) Power Surge +1. ''Cloistered Mind''. Freestyle Technique. (Focused) Lore +1. (Focused) Fortitude Surge +1. <<if ($style is "Akakiru")>>\ ''Quickening'' - Requires Akakiru. (Passive) AP +2 when defeating enemies. (Focused) Deception +1. ''Blade Barrier'' - Requires Akakiru. (Passive) Craft +1. (Focused) Fortitude Surge +1. <<elseif ($style is "Aoyusumu")>>\ ''Kinetic Outburst'' - Requires Aoyusumu. (Passive) Chi Pool +1. (Focused) Power Surge +1. ''Sacred Breathing'' - Requires Aoyusumu. (Passive) Persuasion +1. (Focused) Fortitude Surge +1. <<elseif ($style is "Kiihakai")>>\ ''Imbued Bodyhammer'' - Requires Kiihakai. (Passive) Athletics +1. (Focused) Agility Surge +1. ''Erasion'' - Requires Kiihakai. (Focused) Fortitude Surge + 1. (Passive) Learn Counterseal Ritual. (Passive) 1 less Reagent needed for Alchemy. <<elseif ($style is "Kurokonton")>>\ ''Evil Eye'' - Requires Kurokonton. (Passive) Deception +1. (Focused) Power Surge +1. ''Combat Seals'' - Requires Kurokonton. (Passive) Handseals +1. (Focused) Soul Surge +1. <<elseif ($style is "Midorikatai")>>\ ''Meteor Slam'' - Requires Midorikatai. (Passive) Athletics +1. (Focused) Fortitude Surge +1. ''Berserker'' - Requires Midorikatai. (Passive) Increases AP when wounded. (Focused) Health Pool +1. <</if>>\ <<if (($element1 is "Darkness") or ($element2 is "Darkness"))>>\ ''Dark Horizon'' - Requires Darkness. (Passive) AP +5 when defeating enemies. (Focused) Chi Pool +1. ''Shroud'' - Requires Darkness. (Passive) Aura Pressure +5. (Passive) Stealth +1. <</if>>\ <<if (($element1 is "Earth") or ($element2 is "Earth"))>>\ ''Buried Secrets'' - Requires Earth. (Passive) Aura Pressure +5. (Passive) Lore +1. ''Mountain King'' Requires Earth. (Passive) Gain 200 Silver per Soul Core. (Passive) Commerce +3. <</if>>\ <<if (($element1 is "Fire") or ($element2 is "Fire"))>>\ ''Burning Rage'' - Requires Fire. (Passive) Increases AP when wounded. (Focused) Chi Pool +1. ''Blazeblast'' - Requires Fire. (Passive) Aura Pressure +5. (Passive) Athletics +1. <</if>>\ <<if (($element1 is "Ice") or ($element2 is "Ice"))>>\ ''Ice Manipulation'' - Requires Ice. (Passive) Aura Pressure +5. (Passive) Craft +1. ''Hoarfrost'' - Requires Ice. (Passive) Health Pool +1. <</if>>\ <<if (($element1 is "Light") or ($element2 is "Light"))>>\ ''Solar Flash'' - Requires Light. (Passive) Aura Pressure +5. (Passive) Perception +1. ''Starlight Enforcement'' - Requires Light. (Passive) Health Pool +1. <</if>>\ <<if (($element1 is "Storm") or ($element2 is "Storm"))>>\ ''Electrifying Gaze'' - Requires Storm. (Passive) Aura Pressure +5. (Passive) Persuasion +1. ''Energy Thief'' - Requires Storm. (Passive) AP +2 when defeating enemies. (Focused) Handseals +1. <</if>>\ <<if (($element1 is "Water") or ($element2 is "Water"))>>\ ''Swirling Spirit Purification'' - Requires Water. (Passive) 1 less Reagent needed for Alchemy. (Focused) Power Surge +1. ''Watchful Mist'' - Requires Water. (Passive) Aura Pressure +5. (Passive) Insight +1. <</if>>\ <<if (($element1 is "Wind") or ($element2 is "Wind"))>>\ ''Inner Hurricane Core'' - Requires Wind. (Passive) Chi Pool +1. ''Sonic Boom'' - Requires Wind. (Focused) Thievery +1. (Focused) Agility Surge +1. <</if>>\ After browsing through your options and memorizing which instructors offered which Techniques, you choose to purchase a Path Manual for the... <<choose "hub-entertainment-instructors3">> #use-if ((((($shards + ($silver / 10)) + ($gold * 10)) gte 140) and (dig($bought_tech1, 2) is 0)) and ($techdays gte 1)) ''//Dual Core Cycling//'' Power Technique. [140 Shards] <<var $bought_tech1 + 10000000000000>>\ <<costcalc 140>>\ <<learntech 1610500000000000 "Dual Core Cycling" "Increases Handseals by +1 when focused. Increases Power Surge by +1 when focused.">>\ #use-if ((((($shards + ($silver / 10)) + ($gold * 10)) gte 140) and (dig($bought_tech1, 3) is 0)) and ($techdays gte 1)) ''//Cloistered Mind//'' Fortitude Technique. [140 Shards] <<var $bought_tech1 + 1000000000000>>\ <<costcalc 140>>\ <<learntech 2620010000000000 "Cloistered Mind" "Increases Lore by +1 when focused. Increases Fortitude Surge by +1 when focused.">>\ #show-if ($style is "Akakiru") use-if ((((($shards + ($silver / 10)) + ($gold * 10)) gte 110) and (dig($bought_tech1, 4) is 0)) and ($techdays gte 1)) ''//Quickening//'' Fortitude Technique. [110 Shards] <<var $bought_tech1 + 100000000000>>\ <<costcalc 110>>\ <<learntech 2500402000000011 "Quickening" "Melee Physical Attack. Passively increases AP gained from defeating enemies by +5. Increases Deception by +1 when focused.">>\ ''[While Focused, this Technique can aid you in certain close combat physical attacks.]'' #show-if ($style is "Akakiru") use-if ((((($shards + ($silver / 10)) + ($gold * 10)) gte 130) and (dig($bought_tech1, 5) is 0)) and ($techdays gte 1)) ''//Blade Barrier//'' Fortitude Technique. [130 Shards] <<var $bought_tech1 + 10000000000>>\ <<costcalc 130>>\ <<learntech 2120370000000017 "Blade Barrier" "Area Physical Attack. Passively increases Craft by +1. Increases Fortitude Surge by +1 when focused.">>\ ''[While Focused, this Technique can aid you in certain wide-area physical attacks.]'' #show-if ($style is "Aoyusumu") use-if ((((($shards + ($silver / 10)) + ($gold * 10)) gte 140) and (dig($bought_tech1, 6) is 0)) and ($techdays gte 1)) ''//Kinetic Outburst//'' Power Technique. [140 Shards] <<var $bought_tech1 + 1000000000>>\ <<costcalc 140>>\ <<learntech 1110000001000028 "Kinetic Outburst" "Area Energy Attack. Passively increases Chi Pool by +1. Increases Power Sure by +1 when focused.">>\ ''[While Focused, this Technique can aid you in certain wide-area energy attacks.]'' #show-if ($style is "Aoyusumu") use-if ((((($shards + ($silver / 10)) + ($gold * 10)) gte 130) and (dig($bought_tech1, 7) is 0)) and ($techdays gte 1)) ''//Sacred Breathing//'' Fortitude Technique. [130 Shards] <<var $bought_tech1 + 100000000>>\ <<costcalc 130>>\ <<learntech 2120730000000020 "Sacred Breathing" "Passively increases Persuasion by +1. Increases Fortitude Surge by +1 when focused.">>\ #show-if ($style is "Kiihakai") use-if ((((($shards + ($silver / 10)) + ($gold * 10)) gte 130) and (dig($bought_tech1, 8) is 0)) and ($techdays gte 1)) ''//Imbued Bodyhammer//'' Agility Technique. [130 Shards] <<var $bought_tech1 + 10000000>>\ <<costcalc 130>>\ <<learntech 3130270000000033 "Imbued Bodyhammer" "Melee Physical-Energy Attack. Passively increases Athletics by +1. Increases Agility Surge by +1 when focused.">>\ ''[While Focused, this Technique can aid you in certain close combat physical or energy attacks.]'' #show-if ($style is "Kiihakai") use-if ((((($shards + ($silver / 10)) + ($gold * 10)) gte 100) and (dig($bought_tech1, 9) is 0)) and ($techdays gte 1)) ''//Erasion//'' Fortitude Technique. [100 Shards] <<var $bought_tech1 + 1000000>>\ <<costcalc 100>>\ <<learntech 2120000000200000 "Erasion" "Passively teaches the Counterseal ritual. Passively reduces the cost of Alchemy by 1 Reagent. Increases Fortitude Surge by +1 when focused.">>\ <<var $countersealritual (11-$handseals)>>\ #show-if ($style is "Kurokonton") use-if ((((($shards + ($silver / 10)) + ($gold * 10)) gte 130) and (dig($bought_tech1, 10) is 0)) and ($techdays gte 1)) ''//Combat Seals//'' Soul Technique. [130 Shards] <<var $bought_tech1 + 100000>>\ <<costcalc 130>>\ <<learntech 4140570000000040 "Combat Seals" "Passively increases Handseals by +1. Increases Soul Surge by +1 when focused.">>\ #show-if ($style is "Kurokonton") use-if ((((($shards + ($silver / 10)) + ($gold * 10)) gte 130) and (dig($bought_tech1, 11) is 0)) and ($techdays gte 1)) ''//Evil Eye//'' Power Technique. [130 Shards] <<var $bought_tech1 + 10000>>\ <<costcalc 130>>\ <<learntech 1110470000000042 "Evil Eye" "Melee Energy Attack. Passively increases Deception by +1. Increases Power Surge by +1 when focused.">>\ ''[While Focused, this Technique can aid you in certain close combat energy attacks.]'' #show-if ($style is "Midorikatai") use-if ((((($shards + ($silver / 10)) + ($gold * 10)) gte 130) and (dig($bought_tech1, 12) is 0)) and ($techdays gte 1)) ''//Meteor Slam//'' Power Technique. [130 Shards] <<var $bought_tech1 + 1000>>\ <<costcalc 130>>\ <<learntech 1120270000000054 "Meteor Slam" "Ranged Physical Attack. Passively increases Athletics by +1. Increases Fortitude Surge by +1 when focused.">>\ ''[While Focused, this Technique can aid you in certain long-ranged physical attacks.]'' #show-if ($style is "Midorikatai") use-if ((((($shards + ($silver / 10)) + ($gold * 10)) gte 110) and (dig($bought_tech1, 13) is 0)) and ($techdays gte 1)) ''//Berserker//'' Agility Technique. [110 Shards] <<var $bought_tech1 + 100>>\ <<costcalc 110>>\ <<learntech 3800003002000051 "Berserker" "Melee Physical Attack. Passively increases AP by +3 when suffering a Wound and your Wounds no longer subtract from AP gained when defeating an enemy. Increases Health by +1 when focused.">>\ ''[While Focused, this Technique can aid you in certain close combat physical attacks.]'' #show-if (($element1 is "Darkness") or ($element2 is "Darkness")) use-if ((((($shards + ($silver / 10)) + ($gold * 10)) gte 125) and (dig($bought_tech1, 14) is 0)) and ($techdays gte 1)) ''//Dark Horizon//'' Soul Technique. [125 Shards] <<var $bought_tech1 + 10>>\ <<costcalc 125>>\ <<learntech 4800002001000108 "Dark Horizon" "Area Energy Attack. Passively increases AP gained from defeating enemies by +5. Increases Chi by +1 when focused.">>\ ''[While Focused, this Technique can aid you in certain wide-area energy attacks.]'' #show-if (($element1 is "Darkness") or ($element2 is "Darkness")) use-if ((((($shards + ($silver / 10)) + ($gold * 10)) gte 135) and (dig($bought_tech1, 15) is 0)) and ($techdays gte 1)) ''//Shroud//'' Passive Technique. [135 Shards] <<var $bought_tech1 + 1>>\ <<costcalc 135>>\ <<learntech 5000740010000100 "Shroud" "Passively increases Aura Pressure by +5. Passively increases Stealth by +1.">>\ #show-if (($element1 is "Earth") or ($element2 is "Earth")) use-if ((((($shards + ($silver / 10)) + ($gold * 10)) gte 135) and (dig($bought_tech2, 2) is 0)) and ($techdays gte 1)) ''//Buried Secrets//'' Passive Technique. [135 Shards] <<var $bought_tech2 + 10000000000000>>\ <<costcalc 135>>\ <<learntech 5000710010000200 "Buried Secrets" "Passively increases Aura Pressure by +5. Passively increases Lore by +1.">>\ #show-if (($element1 is "Earth") or ($element2 is "Earth")) use-if ((((($shards + ($silver / 10)) + ($gold * 10)) gte 100) and (dig($bought_tech2, 3) is 0)) and ($techdays gte 1)) ''//Mountain King//'' Passive Technique. [100 Shards] <<var $bought_tech2 + 1000000000000>>\ <<costcalc 100>>\ <<learntech 3000004000000201 "Mountain King" "Melee Physical Attack. Grants 200 Silver per Soul upon learning. Passively increases Commerce by +3.">>\ ''[While Focused, this Technique can aid you in certain close combat physical attacks.]'' #show-if (($element1 is "Fire") or ($element2 is "Fire")) use-if ((((($shards + ($silver / 10)) + ($gold * 10)) gte 110) and (dig($bought_tech2, 4) is 0)) and ($techdays gte 1)) ''//Burning Rage//'' Agility Technique. [110 Shards] <<var $bought_tech2 + 100000000000>>\ <<costcalc 110>>\ <<learntech 3800003001000300 "Burning Rage" "Passively increases AP by +3 when suffering a Wound and your Wounds no longer subtract from AP gained when defeating an enemy. Increases Chi by +1 when focused.">>\ #show-if (($element1 is "Fire") or ($element2 is "Fire")) use-if ((((($shards + ($silver / 10)) + ($gold * 10)) gte 135) and (dig($bought_tech2, 5) is 0)) and ($techdays gte 1)) ''//Blazeblast//'' Power Technique. [135 Shards] <<var $bought_tech2 + 10000000000>>\ <<costcalc 135>>\ <<learntech 1000270010000305 "Blazeblast" "Ranged Energy Attack. Passively increases Aura Pressure by +5. Passively increases Athletics by +1.">>\ ''[While Focused, this Technique can aid you in certain long-ranged energy attacks.]'' #show-if (($element1 is "Ice") or ($element2 is "Ice")) use-if ((((($shards + ($silver / 10)) + ($gold * 10)) gte 135) and (dig($bought_tech2, 6) is 0)) and ($techdays gte 1)) ''//Ice Manipulation//'' Passive Technique. [135 Shards] <<var $bought_tech2 + 1000000000>>\ <<costcalc 135>>\ <<learntech 5000370010000400 "Ice Manipulation" "Passively increases Aura Pressure by +5. Passively increases Craft by +1.">>\ #show-if (($element1 is "Ice") or ($element2 is "Ice")) use-if ((((($shards + ($silver / 10)) + ($gold * 10)) gte 120) and (dig($bought_tech2, 7) is 0)) and ($techdays gte 1)) ''//Hoarfrost//'' Fortitude Technique. [120 Shards] <<var $bought_tech2 + 100000000>>\ <<costcalc 120>>\ <<learntech 2000000002000403 "Hoarfrost" "Melee Physical and Energy Attack. Passively increases Health Pool by +1.">>\ ''[While Focused, this Technique can aid you in certain close combat physical or energy attacks.]'' #show-if (($element1 is "Light") or ($element2 is "Light")) use-if ((((($shards + ($silver / 10)) + ($gold * 10)) gte 135) and (dig($bought_tech2, 8) is 0)) and ($techdays gte 1)) ''//Solar Flash//'' Soul Technique. [135 Shards] <<var $bought_tech2 + 10000000>>\ <<costcalc 135>>\ <<learntech 4000720010000505 "Solar Flash" "Ranged Energy Attack. Passively increases Aura Pressure by +5. Passively increases Perception by +1.">>\ ''[While Focused, this Technique can aid you in certain long-ranged energy attacks.]'' #show-if (($element1 is "Light") or ($element2 is "Light")) use-if ((((($shards + ($silver / 10)) + ($gold * 10)) gte 120) and (dig($bought_tech2, 9) is 0)) and ($techdays gte 1)) ''//Starlight Enforcement//'' Passive Technique. [120 Shards] <<var $bought_tech2 + 1000000>>\ <<costcalc 120>>\ <<learntech 5000000002000500 "Starlight Enforcement" "Passively increases Health Pool by +1.">>\ #show-if (($element1 is "Storm") or ($element2 is "Storm")) use-if ((((($shards + ($silver / 10)) + ($gold * 10)) gte 135) and (dig($bought_tech2, 10) is 0)) and ($techdays gte 1)) ''//Electrifying Gaze//'' Fortitude Technique. [135 Shards] <<var $bought_tech2 + 100000>>\ <<costcalc 135>>\ <<learntech 2000730010000605 "Electrifying Gaze" "Ranged Energy Attack. Passively increases Aura Pressure by +5. Passively increases Persuasion by +1.">>\ ''[While Focused, this Technique can aid you in certain long-ranged energy attacks.]'' #show-if (($element1 is "Storm") or ($element2 is "Storm")) use-if ((((($shards + ($silver / 10)) + ($gold * 10)) gte 125) and (dig($bought_tech2, 11) is 0)) and ($techdays gte 1)) ''//Energy Thief//'' Soul Technique. [125 Shards] <<var $bought_tech2 + 10000>>\ <<costcalc 125>>\ <<learntech 3500502000000600 "Energy Thief" "Passively increases AP gained from defeating enemies by +5. Increases Handseals by +1 when focused.">>\ #show-if (($element1 is "Water") or ($element2 is "Water")) use-if ((((($shards + ($silver / 10)) + ($gold * 10)) gte 120) and (dig($bought_tech2, 12) is 0)) and ($techdays gte 1)) ''//Swirling Spirit Purification//'' Power Technique. [120 Shards] <<var $bought_tech2 + 1000>>\ <<costcalc 120>>\ <<learntech 1110000000200703 "Swirling Spirit Purification" "Melee Physical-Energy Attack. Passively reduces the cost of Alchemy by 1 Reagent. Increases Power Surge by +1 when focused.">>\ ''[While Focused, this Technique can aid you in certain close combat physical or energy attacks.]'' #show-if (($element1 is "Water") or ($element2 is "Water")) use-if ((((($shards + ($silver / 10)) + ($gold * 10)) gte 135) and (dig($bought_tech2, 13) is 0)) and ($techdays gte 1)) ''//Watchful Mist//'' Passive Technique. [135 Shards] <<var $bought_tech2 + 100>>\ <<costcalc 135>>\ <<learntech 5000670010000700 "Watchful Mist" "Passively increases Aura Pressure by +5. Passively increases Insight by +1.">>\ #show-if (($element1 is "Wind") or ($element2 is "Wind")) use-if ((((($shards + ($silver / 10)) + ($gold * 10)) gte 120) and (dig($bought_tech2, 14) is 0)) and ($techdays gte 1)) ''//Inner Hurricane Core//'' Passive Technique. [120 Shards] <<var $bought_tech2 + 10>>\ <<costcalc 120>>\ <<learntech 5000000001000800 "Inner Hurricane Core" "Passively increases Chi Pool by +1.">>\ #show-if (($element1 is "Wind") or ($element2 is "Wind")) use-if ((((($shards + ($silver / 10)) + ($gold * 10)) gte 135) and (dig($bought_tech2, 15) is 0)) and ($techdays gte 1)) ''//Sonic Boom//'' Passive Technique. [135 Shards] <<var $bought_tech2 + 1>>\ <<costcalc 135>>\ <<learntech 3630060000000801 "Sonic Boom" "Melee Physical Attack. Increases Thievery by +1 when Focused. Increases Agility Surge by +1 when focused.">>\ ''[While Focused, this Technique can aid you in certain close combat physical attacks.]'' #Leave the Martial Instructors. -> "hub-entertainment-district" <</choose>>

<<var $techdays - 1>>\ <<if ($techdays lte 0)>>\ Juggling so many Techniques at once proves overwhelming. Though your thirst for knowledge and power know no limits, your spirit's capability to absorb the proper chi and lessons knows many limits. Regrettably, you call it quits for now and focus on mastering the Path Manuals you have. <<page "Return to the Entertainment District." "hub-entertainment-district">>\ <<else>>\ <<include "hub-entertainment-instructors2">>\ <</if>>\

Working with Beastbone of such high quality is harder than you thought. It doesn't answer to hammers or heat, and regular sanding paper is far too weak. You manage to procure a specialized sanding paper made from centuries-old trees and fine quartz-sand, spending over an hour scrubbing the Beastbone plates down When you put your full might into it and flare your $auracolor aura, you're shocked to find the results barely improve. One thing you hadn't counted on is that high grade Beastbone means a high Aura Pressure Beast. Whatever creature this bone comes from, it was stronger than you in life. After hours of work you manage to finally get the plates prepared and properly implemented into the armguards. You pack your empowered armguards away knowing they've not only improved in power, they've also become an intergenerational masterpiece. ''[Item Lost: $armguardname]'' <<if ($armguardname is "Empowered Armguards (Spiked)")>>\ <<var $armguardname2 ($clan + " Armguards (Spiked)")>>\ <<else>>\ <<var $armguardname2 ($clan + " Armguards")>>\ <</if>>\ ''[Item Gained: $armguardname2]'' <<if ((($equippedaccessory1 is $armguardname) or ($equippedaccessory2 is $armguardname)) or ($equippedaccessory3 is $armguardname))>>\ <<var $power - $armguardpow>>\ <<var $fortitude - $armguardfort>>\ <<if ($armguardpow gt 0)>>\ <<var $armguardpow + 1>>\ <<elseif ($armguardfort gt 0)>>\ <<var $armguardfort + 1>>\ <<else>>\ ''[BUG! Both armguardfort and armguardpow are at 0 or below, but armguards are equipped!]'' <</if>>\ <<var $power + $armguardpow>>\ <<var $fortitude + $armguardfort>>\ <<if ($equippedaccessory1 is $armguardname)>>\ <<var $equippedaccessory1 $armguardname2>>\ <<elseif ($equippedaccessory2 is $armguardname)>>\ <<var $equippedaccessory2 $armguardname2>>\ <<else>>\ <<var $equippedaccessory3 $armguardname2>>\ <</if>>\ <</if>>\ <<var $armguardname $armguardname2>>\ <<var $loot - 3>>\ If only Father could see you now. He would be //enraged.// Did you just walk away from the sanding station without sweeping it off first?! You shake your impression of Father's voice out of your head and clean up the crafting station. With that done, you... <<include "hub-loc-foundry3">>\

<<var $loot + $val>>\ ''[$val Crates of Loot Purchased]'' <<var $val * 50>>\ <<costcalc $val>>\ The store's inventory doesn't last much longer, but with all the desperate Martial Artists trying to offload goods, you figure the foundry will have more supplies by the time the next Trial ends. You get back to work around the foundry and... <<include "hub-loc-foundry3">>\

<<choose "hub-loc-forge-craftwep2">> #Craft a standard steel and wood weapon. [Costs 0 Shards] <<var $material 200000000>>\ #use-if (((($shards + ($silver / 10)) + ($gold * 10)) gte 100) and ($craft gte 2)) Craft a Jade weapon. [Requires Craft 2, Costs 100 Shards] <<var $material 201000000>>\ <<var $matts "Jade">>\ <<costcalc 100>>\ #use-if (((($shards + ($silver / 10)) + ($gold * 10)) gte 80) and ($craft gte 3)) Craft a Beastbone weapon. [Requires Craft 3, Costs 80 Shards] <<var $material 202000000>>\ <<var $matts "Beastbone">>\ <<costcalc 80>>\ #use-if (((($shards + ($silver / 10)) + ($gold * 10)) gte 120) and ($craft gte 2)) Craft a Snowsteel weapon. [Requires Craft 2, Costs 120 Shards] <<var $material 203000000>>\ <<var $matts "Snowsteel">>\ <<costcalc 120>>\ #use-if (((($shards + ($silver / 10)) + ($gold * 10)) gte 140) and ($craft gte 3)) Craft a Truegold weapon. [Requires Craft 3, Costs 140 Shards] <<var $material 204000000>>\ <<var $matts "Truegold">>\ <<costcalc 140>>\ <</choose>>

<<if (dig($material, 3) is 0)>>\ With your lumber and steel ingots prepared, you... <<elseif (dig($material, 3) is 1)>>\ The Jade in your hands is junk-quality for jewelry but large enough to be perfect for weaponry. You prepare several files and a sturdy chisel by the kiln and polishing wheel then... <<elseif (dig($material, 3) is 2)>>\ Beastbone is far sturdier than you expected. When you purchased the excess from a busy Martial Artist he was //welding// chi-hardened bones together to form a billet before grinding it down. You decide to copy his technique then... <<elseif (dig($material, 3) is 3)>>\ At first you were worried that Snowsteel would freeze your hands, but thankfully the metal is only named for its appearance. The layers of gray, black, white, and silver in the metal ingots remind you of thick, layered black ice atop a dark lake. You... <<elseif (dig($material, 3) is 4)>>\ Truegold looks like gold. You don't know what else you expected. At first you think the tradesman has swindled you, but quickly shake off the thought. If he actually had traded this much gold for 140 Shards then you're the swindler, not him, and he's made you rich. Trusting that you didn't just make the deal of the century, and focusing on weaponry instead, you consider the best weapon for your fighting style and seek out the molds needed to... <</if>>\ <<choose "hub-loc-foundry3">> #use-if (dig($itembostaff, 1) is 1) Craft a Bo Staff, a Zenshin-style combat staff <<var $itembostaff $material>>\ ''[Item Gained: Bo Staff]'' After sanding and polishing the strongest piece of wood you can find, you get to work on everything that makes a Bo Staff better than a stick. When you're done you spin the weapon in place and feel satisfied at how smoothly it flows. The tips are secured and weighted with metal caps and the grip and its center is impeccably well done to ensure your hands stay in the comfort zone but can slide past it without issue if needed. <<var $val 80085>>\ <<page "Continue" "hub-loc-foundry3">>\ #show-if (dig($itembostaff, 1) gte 2) use-if ((dig($itembostaff, 3) is 0) and (dig($material, 3) gte 1)) Replace your Bo Staff with a new one made from $matts. <<var $itembostaff $material>>\ <<if ($equippedweapon is "Bo Staff")>>\ <<unequipweapon1>>\ <<var $weaponbonus $material>>\ <<weaponbonuses>>\ <</if>>\ ''[Item Gained: Bo Staff]'' After sanding and polishing the strongest piece of wood you can find, you get to work on everything that makes a Bo Staff better than a stick. When you're done you spin the weapon in place and feel satisfied at how smoothly it flows. The tips are secured and weighted with metal caps and the grip and its center is impeccably well done to ensure your hands stay in the comfort zone but can slide past it without issue if needed. <<var $val 80085>>\ <<page "Continue" "hub-loc-foundry3">>\ #use-if (dig($itemgreataxe, 1) is 1) Craft a Greataxe, a Gothic-style two-handed double-bladed axe <<var $itemgreataxe $material>>\ ''[Item Gained: Greataxe]'' After several trips between the woodworkers and the foundry a large smile spreads across your face when you look upon your creation. A truly massive two-handed Lunargothic greataxe. With one overhead swing you test the axe's weight and need to call on your Power Cores to stop from slicing through the stone floor. It's perfect. <<var $val 80085>>\ <<page "Continue" "hub-loc-foundry3">>\ #show-if (dig($itemgreataxe, 1) gte 2) use-if ((dig($itemgreataxe, 3) is 0) and (dig($material, 3) gte 1)) Replace your Greataxe with a new one made from $matts. <<var $itemgreataxe $material>>\ <<if ($equippedweapon is "Greataxe")>>\ <<unequipweapon1>>\ <<var $weaponbonus $material>>\ <<weaponbonuses>>\ <</if>>\ ''[Item Gained: Greataxe]'' After several trips between the woodworkers and the foundry a large smile spreads across your face when you look upon your creation. A truly massive two-handed Lunargothic greataxe. With one overhead swing you test the axe's weight and need to call on your Power Cores to stop from slicing through the stone floor. It's perfect. <<var $val 80085>>\ <<page "Continue" "hub-loc-foundry3">>\ #use-if (dig($itemjian, 1) is 1) Craft a Jian, a Cathayan-style straight sword <<var $itemjian $material>>\ ''[Item Gained: Jian]'' After hours of work you finish perfecting the edges of the straight blade and get to work on its guard, handle, pommel, sheath, and handle-wrap. Only by the grace of Agility Cores are you able to finish before the day's over. When you're done the shining new blade resembles an imperial decorative piece with the sharpness to match an imperial executioner's piece. <<var $val 80085>>\ <<page "Continue" "hub-loc-foundry3">>\ #show-if (dig($itemjian, 1) gte 2) use-if ((dig($itemjian, 3) is 0) and (dig($material, 3) gte 1)) Replace your Jian with a new one made from $matts. <<var $itemjian $material>>\ <<if ($equippedweapon is "Jian")>>\ <<unequipweapon1>>\ <<var $weaponbonus $material>>\ <<weaponbonuses>>\ <</if>>\ ''[Item Gained: Jian]'' After hours of work you finish perfecting the edges of the straight blade and get to work on its guard, handle, pommel, sheath, and handle-wrap. Only by the grace of Agility Cores are you able to finish before the day's over. When you're done the shining new blade resembles an imperial decorative piece with the sharpness to match an imperial executioner's piece. <<var $val 80085>>\ <<page "Continue" "hub-loc-foundry3">>\ #use-if (dig($itemkunai, 1) is 1) Craft a Kunai, a Zenshin-style throwing knife <<var $itemkunai $material>>\ ''[Item Gained: Kunai]'' Finishing the steelwork of the properly weighted double-edged knife \ <<if ($style is "Kurokonton")>>\ <<var $agiexp + 2>>\ feels right in your hands, the Cursed Chi surging through your spirit running smoothly over its aerodynamic design. You can envision a hundred ways to control it with your Cursed Chi as if it were a part of your own body, using your chi leash like a rope or pulley to change the trajectory mid-air and surprise your opponents. In doing so, you envision several ways you can use your Cursed Chi towards acrobatic maneuvers as well. <<if ($athletics lte 1)>>\ ''[Athletics Increased by + 1]'' <<var $athletics + 1>>\ <<elseif ($stealth lte 1)>>\ ''[Stealth Increased by + 1]'' <<var $stealth + 1>>\ <<else>>\ <<apboost 5>>\ <</if>>\ <<else>>\ proves the right decision when it cuts through a throwing target outside (someone's crate). The secret to keeping it so sharp is in the curved arc of the steel before reaching the blade, and it worked perfectly. You fetch the blade, test its weight, hold it outward and inward for a few mock-slashes and stabs, and nod in satisfaction. <</if>>\ <<var $val 80085>>\ <<page "Continue" "hub-loc-foundry3">>\ #show-if (dig($itemkunai, 1) gte 2) use-if ((dig($itemkunai, 3) is 0) and (dig($material, 3) gte 1)) Replace your Kunai with a new one made from $matts. <<var $itemkunai $material>>\ <<if ($equippedweapon is "Kunai")>>\ <<unequipweapon1>>\ <<var $weaponbonus $material>>\ <<weaponbonuses>>\ <</if>>\ ''[Item Gained: Kunai]'' Finishing the steelwork of the properly weighted double-edged knife proves the right decision when it cuts through a throwing target outside (someone's crate). The secret to keeping it so sharp is in the curved arc of the steel before reaching the blade, and it worked perfectly. You fetch the blade, test its weight, hold it outward and inward for a few mock-slashes and stabs, and nod in satisfaction. <<var $val 80085>>\ <<page "Continue" "hub-loc-foundry3">>\ #use-if (dig($itemkatana, 1) is 1) Craft a Katana, a Zenshin-style curved sword <<var $itemkatana $material>>\ ''[Item Gained: Katana]'' After hours of folding steel you finish perfecting the edges of the curved blade and get to work on its guard, handle, pommel, sheath, and handle-wrap. Only by the grace of Agility Cores are you able to finish before the day's over. When you're done the shining new blade resembles an imperial decorative piece with the sharpness to match an executioner's blade. <<var $val 80085>>\ <<page "Continue" "hub-loc-foundry3">>\ #show-if (dig($itemkatana, 1) gte 2) use-if ((dig($itemkatana, 3) is 0) and (dig($material, 3) gte 1)) Replace your Katana with a new one made from $matts. <<var $itemkatana $material>>\ <<if ($equippedweapon is "Katana")>>\ <<unequipweapon1>>\ <<var $weaponbonus $material>>\ <<weaponbonuses>>\ <</if>>\ ''[Item Gained: Katana]'' After hours of folding steel you finish perfecting the edges of the curved blade and get to work on its guard, handle, pommel, sheath, and handle-wrap. Only by the grace of Agility Cores are you able to finish before the day's over. When you're done the shining new blade resembles an imperial decorative piece with the sharpness to match an executioner's blade. <<var $val 80085>>\ <<page "Continue" "hub-loc-foundry3">>\ #use-if (dig($itemmeteorhammer, 1) is 1) Craft a Meteor Hammer, a Cathayan-style chained throwing-mace <<var $itemmeteorhammer $material>>\ ''[Item Gained: Meteor Hammer]'' One set of molds describes an odd weapon: the meteor hammer. Two bluntly spiked steel balls bigger than your fists attached to a long and dexterous chain. It's...it's beautiful. You get to work forging the hundreds of chain links and maceheads, only finishing before nightfall thanks to your Agility and Power Cores and, to be honest, your Fortitude Cores once the exhaustion of such high speed, high intensity work sets in. When you're done and you grab the chain in one hand and give the weapon a good swing, feeling the heavy weight of the metal maceheads on both ends for leverage. With a soft release you let the spinning ball of steel fly off into an abandoned crate before pulling it back in one quick jerk, catching the steel macehead in your hand. <<if ($honor lt 49)>>\ Hell yes. Helllllllll yes. <<else>>\ In an odd way, its inefficient design makes it superior. You doubt many opponents have been trained on how to defend against your creation. <</if>>\ <<var $val 80085>>\ <<page "Continue" "hub-loc-foundry3">>\ #show-if (dig($itemmeteorhammer, 1) gte 2) use-if ((dig($itemmeteorhammer, 3) is 0) and (dig($material, 3) gte 1)) Replace your Meteor Hammer with a new one made from $matts. <<var $itemmeteorhammer $material>>\ <<if ($equippedweapon is "Meteor Hammer")>>\ <<unequipweapon1>>\ <<var $weaponbonus $material>>\ <<weaponbonuses>>\ <</if>>\ ''[Item Gained: Meteor Hammer]'' One set of molds describes an odd weapon: the meteor hammer. Two bluntly spiked steel balls bigger than your fists attached to a long and dexterous chain. It's...it's beautiful. You get to work forging the hundreds of chain links and maceheads, only finishing before nightfall thanks to your Agility and Power Cores and, to be honest, your Fortitude Cores once the exhaustion of such high speed, high intensity work sets in. When you're done and you grab the chain in one hand and give the weapon a good swing, feeling the heavy weight of the metal maceheads on both ends for leverage. With a soft release you let the spinning ball of steel fly off into an abandoned crate before pulling it back in one quick jerk, catching the steel macehead in your hand. <<if ($honor lt 49)>>\ Hell yes. Helllllllll yes. <<else>>\ In an odd way, its inefficient design makes it superior. You doubt many opponents have been trained on how to defend against your creation. <</if>>\ <<var $val 80085>>\ <<page "Continue" "hub-loc-foundry3">>\ #use-if (dig($itemqiang, 1) is 1) Craft a Qiang, a Cathayan-style halberd <<var $itemqiang $material>>\ ''[Item Gained: Qiang]'' After several trips between the woodworkers and the foundry a large smile spreads across your face when you look upon your creation. An impressive spear housing a multi-pronged and sturdy blade at its end as well as an awe-inspiring thick red and gold tassels for decoration. You give the spear several spins and thrust forward to test its weight and reach, finding both to be superb. <<var $val 80085>>\ <<page "Continue" "hub-loc-foundry3">>\ #show-if (dig($itemqiang, 1) gte 2) use-if ((dig($itemqiang, 3) is 0) and (dig($material, 3) gte 1)) Replace your Qiang with a new one made from $matts. <<var $itemqiang $material>>\ <<if ($equippedweapon is "Qiang")>>\ <<unequipweapon1>>\ <<var $weaponbonus $material>>\ <<weaponbonuses>>\ <</if>>\ ''[Item Gained: Qiang]'' After several trips between the woodworkers and the foundry a large smile spreads across your face when you look upon your creation. An impressive spear housing a multi-pronged and sturdy blade at its end as well as an awe-inspiring thick red and gold tassels for decoration. You give the spear several spins and thrust forward to test its weight and reach, finding both to be superb. <<var $val 80085>>\ <<page "Continue" "hub-loc-foundry3">>\ #use-if (dig($itemyumi, 1) is 1) Craft a Yumi, a Zenshin-style bow <<var $itemyumi $material>>\ ''[Item Gained: Yumi]'' Most of your work is done in the fletcher's and the woodworker's, with only your arrowheads, bowtips, and grip using any actual metal. When you're done you manage to procure plenty of tossed wood that your crew can whittle down into arrows later. You make a few yourself quickly to test the draw strength of your bow. You used the strongest wood and toughest Beast hair you could find for the string, so when you can barely pull the thing back you smile. Putting your full force into this should blow a hole through a castle. <<var $val 80085>>\ <<page "Continue" "hub-loc-foundry3">>\ #show-if (dig($itemyumi, 1) gte 2) use-if ((dig($itemyumi, 3) is 0) and (dig($material, 3) gte 1)) Replace your Yumi with a new one made from $matts. <<var $itemyumi $material>>\ <<if ($equippedweapon is "Yumi")>>\ <<unequipweapon1>>\ <<var $weaponbonus $material>>\ <<weaponbonuses>>\ <</if>>\ ''[Item Gained: Yumi]'' Most of your work is done in the fletcher's and the woodworker's, with only your arrowheads, bowtips, and grip using any actual metal. When you're done you manage to procure plenty of tossed wood that your crew can whittle down into arrows later. You make a few yourself quickly to test the draw strength of your bow. You used the strongest wood and toughest Beast hair you could find for the string, so when you can barely pull the thing back you smile. Putting your full force into this should blow a hole through a castle. <<var $val 80085>>\ <<page "Continue" "hub-loc-foundry3">>\ #use-if (dig($itemhandwraps, 1) is 1) Craft a pair of Weighted Handwraps, a universal fist weapon <<var $itemhandwraps $material>>\ ''[Item Gained: Handwraps]'' You're a Martial Artist damn it, and that means fighting with your fists. The only issue in preparing a weighted set of handwraps is measuring out where to fit the weights. It's essentially a pair of brass knuckles with sewn pockets of weights around the outside of the hand as well, in case you need to hammer your fist down on someone's head. After an hour of planning, procuring the proper materials, forging the weights at the right sizes, and sewing the materials together with Beast hair, you wrap the new weapon around your hands and slam a fist into an emptied crate to test. You spit out the splinters from the exploded crate and admire your work. That'll do. <<var $val 80085>>\ <<page "Continue" "hub-loc-foundry3">>\ #show-if (dig($itemhandwraps, 1) gte 2) use-if ((dig($itemhandwraps, 3) is 0) and (dig($material, 3) gte 1)) Replace your Handwraps with new ones made with $matts studs. <<var $itemhandwraps $material>>\ <<if ($equippedweapon is "Handwraps")>>\ <<unequipweapon1>>\ <<var $weaponbonus $material>>\ <<weaponbonuses>>\ <</if>>\ ''[Item Gained: Handwraps]'' You're a Martial Artist damn it, and that means fighting with your fists. The only issue in preparing a weighted set of handwraps is measuring out where to fit the weights. It's essentially a pair of brass knuckles with sewn pockets of weights around the outside of the hand as well, in case you need to hammer your fist down on someone's head. After an hour of planning, procuring the proper materials, forging the weights at the right sizes, and sewing the materials together with Beast hair, you wrap the new weapon around your hands and slam a fist into an emptied crate to test. You spit out the splinters from the exploded crate and admire your work. That'll do. <<var $val 80085>>\ <<page "Continue" "hub-loc-foundry3">>\ #Nevermind <<if ($background is "Blacksmith")>>\ <<var $loot + 1>>\ <<else>>\ <<var $loot + 2>>\ <</if>>\ <<if ($matts is "Jade")>>\ <<var $shards + 100>>\ <<elseif ($matts is "Beastbone")>>\ <<var $shards + 80>>\ <<elseif ($matts is "Snowsteel")>>\ <<var $shards + 120>>\ <<elseif ($matts is "Truegold")>>\ <<var $shards + 140>>\ <</if>>\ You decide against making a weapon after all and... <</choose>>

Sharpening, enhancements, resins, and Seals all offer ways to improve the potency of a weapon in combat. You go over your arsenal of weaponry and decide which tool to treat. <<choose "hub-loc-foundry3">>\ #show-if (dig($itemkatana_1, 1) gte 2) use-if (((dig($itemkatana_1, 2) lt ($craft - 1)) and ($loot gte 1)) or ((dig($mettaio, 1) gte 6) and (dig($itemkatana_1, 8) is 0))) Improve Muramasa. [Costs 1 Crate] <<var $loot - 1>>\ You spend the next hour in the grand foundry sharpening Muramasa's blade, which proves more difficult than expected. The fucking thing keeps cutting the sharpening stones. <<if ((dig($itemkatana_1, 2) lt ($craft - 1)) and ($loot gte 1))>>\ <<var $val ($craft - 1)>>\ <<if ($val gt 9)>>\ <<var $val 9>>\ <</if>>\ <<var $itemkatana_1 - (dig($itemkatana_1, 2) * 10000000)>>\ <<var $itemkatana_1 + ($val * 10000000)>>\ <<if ($equippedweapon is "Muramasa")>>\ <<unequipweapon1>>\ <<var $equippedweapon "Muramasa">>\ <<var $weaponbonus $itemkatana_1>>\ <<weaponbonuses>>\ <</if>>\ ''[Muramasa Improved!]'' <</if>>\ <<if ((dig($mettaio, 1) gte 6) and (dig($itemkatana_1, 8) is 0))>>\ //Good.// Whispers Taio the Bandit into your soul. //This blade will serve you well. Its desire to kill exceeds even my own, I believe your connection to it will aid our cause.// <<apboost 10>>\ ''[Corruption Increased]'' <<var $taint + 10>>\ The corrupted essence inside Muramasa makes itself known, flashing sensations through your mind and spirit. A sea of blood. A hunger for lives. A lust for battle. A whisper of satisfaction. You and the blade grow closer to becoming one. ''[Muramasa Advancement: Cursecasting]'' <<var $itemkatana_1 + 10>>\ <<if ($equippedweapon is "Muramasa")>>\ <<unequipweapon1>>\ <<var $equippedweapon "Muramasa">>\ <<var $weaponbonus $itemkatana_1>>\ <<weaponbonuses>>\ <</if>>\ ''[Cursed Weapons can be used in the Cultivation menu to prepare a contingent curse for 1 Chi, lowering the difficulty of your next combat roll.]'' <</if>>\ Once you're done sharpening the blade, you... #show-if (dig($itemkatana_2, 1) gte 2) use-if ((dig($itemkatana_2, 2) lt ($craft - 1)) and ($loot gte 1)) Improve Kagutsuchi. [1 Crate] <<var $loot - 1>>\ You spend the next hour treating the legendary fire katana with all sorts of enhancement treatments while sharpening the blade. <<var $val ($craft - 1)>>\ <<if ($val gt 9)>>\ <<var $val 9>>\ <</if>>\ <<var $itemkatana_2 - (dig($itemkatana_2, 2) * 10000000)>>\ <<var $itemkatana_2 + ($val * 10000000)>>\ <<if ($equippedweapon is "Kagutsuchi")>>\ <<unequipweapon1>>\ <<var $equippedweapon "Kagutsuchi">>\ <<var $weaponbonus $itemkatana_2>>\ <<weaponbonuses>>\ <</if>>\ ''[Kagutsuchi Improved!]'' <<if ($element1 is "Fire") or ($element2 is "Fire")>>\ The process sings to your soul as you do so, connecting with the power within the blade. ''[Fire Syngergy: Aura Pressure +10]'' <<var $aurapressure + 10>>\ <</if>>\ Once completed, you... #show-if (dig($itemkatana_3, 1) gte 2) use-if ((dig($itemkatana_3, 2) lt ($craft - 1)) and ($loot gte 1)) Improve Ikazuchi. [1 Crate] <<var $loot - 1>>\ You spend the next hour treating the legendary lightning katana with all sorts of enhancement treatments while sharpening the blade. <<var $val ($craft - 1)>>\ <<if ($val gt 9)>>\ <<var $val 9>>\ <</if>>\ <<var $itemkatana_3 - (dig($itemkatana_3, 2) * 10000000)>>\ <<var $itemkatana_3 + ($val * 10000000)>>\ <<if ($equippedweapon is "Ikazuchi")>>\ <<unequipweapon1>>\ <<var $equippedweapon "Ikazuchi">>\ <<var $weaponbonus $itemkatana_3>>\ <<weaponbonuses>>\ <</if>>\ ''[Ikazuchi Improved!]'' <<if ($element1 is "Storm") or ($element2 is "Storm")>>\ The process sings to your soul as you do so, connecting with the power within the blade. ''[Storm Syngergy: Aura Pressure +10]'' <<var $aurapressure + 10>>\ <</if>>\ Once completed, you... #show-if (dig($itemkusarigama_1, 1) gte 2) use-if ((dig($itemkusarigama_1, 2) lt ($craft - 1)) and ($loot gte 1)) Improve Shishido. [1 Crate] <<var $loot - 1>>\ You spend the next hour treating the legendary cursed Kusarigama with all sorts of enhancement treatments while sharpening the blade. <<var $val ($craft - 1)>>\ <<if ($val gt 9)>>\ <<var $val 9>>\ <</if>>\ <<var $itemkusarigama_1 - (dig($itemkusarigama_1, 2) * 10000000)>>\ <<var $itemkusarigama_1 + ($val * 10000000)>>\ <<if ($equippedweapon is "Shishido")>>\ <<unequipweapon1>>\ <<var $equippedweapon "Shishido">>\ <<var $weaponbonus $itemkusarigama_1>>\ <<weaponbonuses>>\ <</if>>\ ''[Shishido Improved!]'' <<if ($element1 is "Darkness") or ($element2 is "Darkness")>>\ The process sings to your soul as you do so, connecting with the power within the blade. ''[Darkness Syngergy: Aura Pressure +10]'' <<var $aurapressure + 10>>\ <</if>>\ Once completed, you... #show-if (dig($itemqiang, 1) gte 2) use-if ((dig($itemqiang, 2) lt ($craft - 1)) and ($loot gte 1)) Improve your Qiang. [Costs 1 Crate] <<var $loot - 1>>\ You spend the next hour treating your Qiang with all sorts of enhancement resins and sharpening the blade. <<var $itemqiang + ((($craft - 1) - dig($itemqiang, 2)) * 10000000)>>\ <<if ($equippedweapon is "Qiang")>>\ <<unequipweapon1>>\ <<var $equippedweapon "Qiang">>\ <<var $weaponbonus $itemqiang>>\ <<weaponbonuses>>\ <</if>>\ ''[Qiang Improved!]'' Once completed, you... #show-if (dig($itemgreataxe, 1) gte 2) use-if ((dig($itemgreataxe, 2) lt ($craft - 1)) and ($loot gte 1)) Improve your Greataxe. [Costs 1 Crate] You spend the next hour treating your Greataxe with all sorts of enhancement resins and sharpening the blade. <<var $itemgreataxe + ((($craft - 1) - dig($itemgreataxe, 2)) * 10000000)>>\ <<if ($equippedweapon is "Greataxe")>>\ <<unequipweapon1>>\ <<var $equippedweapon "Greataxe">>\ <<var $weaponbonus $itemgreataxe>>\ <<weaponbonuses>>\ <</if>>\ ''[Greataxe Improved!]'' <<var $loot - 1>>\ Once completed, you... #show-if (dig($itemkunai, 1) gte 2) use-if ((dig($itemkunai, 2) lt ($craft - 1)) and ($loot gte 1)) Improve your Kunai. [Costs 1 Crate] You spend the next hour sharpening your Kunai's blade to the point that you don't even know if a sheath will hold it anymore. <<var $itemkunai + ((($craft - 1) - dig($itemkunai, 2)) * 10000000)>>\ <<if ($equippedweapon is "Kunai")>>\ <<unequipweapon1>>\ <<var $equippedweapon "Kunai">>\ <<var $weaponbonus $itemkunai>>\ <<weaponbonuses>>\ <</if>>\ ''[Kunai Improved!]'' <<var $loot - 1>>\ Once completed, you... #show-if (dig($itemmeteorhammer, 1) gte 2) use-if ((dig($itemmeteorhammer, 2) lt ($craft - 1)) and ($loot gte 1)) Improve your Meteor Hammer. [Costs 1 Crate] You spend the next hour sharpening the tips of your meteor hammer's maceheads and knocking out any kinks in the chain until it feels like you're swinging a rope more than a chain. <<var $itemmeteorhammer + ((($craft - 1) - dig($itemmeteorhammer, 2)) * 10000000)>>\ <<if ($equippedweapon is "Meteor Hammer")>>\ <<unequipweapon1>>\ <<var $equippedweapon "Meteor Hammer">>\ <<var $weaponbonus $itemmeteorhammer>>\ <<weaponbonuses>>\ <</if>>\ ''[Meteor Hammer Improved!]'' <<var $loot - 1>>\ Once completed, you... #show-if (dig($itemkatana, 1) gte 2) use-if ((dig($itemkatana, 2) lt ($craft - 1)) and ($loot gte 1)) Improve your Katana. [Costs 1 Crate] You spend the next hour sharpening your katana and receive dozens, no, //hundreds// of nods in satisfaction. It seems literally everyone appreciates watching someone sharpen a katana in Imperial Rasen. <<var $itemkatana + ((($craft - 1) - dig($itemkatana, 2)) * 10000000)>>\ <<if ($equippedweapon is "Katana")>>\ <<unequipweapon1>>\ <<var $equippedweapon "Katana">>\ <<var $weaponbonus $itemkatana>>\ <<weaponbonuses>>\ <</if>>\ ''[Katana Improved!]'' <<var $loot - 1>>\ Once completed, you... #show-if (dig($itemjian, 1) gte 2) use-if ((dig($itemjian, 2) lt ($craft - 1)) and ($loot gte 1)) Improve your Jian. [Costs 1 Crate] You spend the next hour sharpening your Jian and reinforcing the sheath from both sides so you can draw it quickly without issue. <<var $itemjian + ((($craft - 1) - dig($itemjian, 2)) * 10000000)>>\ <<if ($equippedweapon is "Jian")>>\ <<unequipweapon1>>\ <<var $equippedweapon "Jian">>\ <<var $weaponbonus $itemjian>>\ <<weaponbonuses>>\ <</if>>\ ''[Jian Improved!]'' <<var $loot - 1>>\ Once completed, you... #show-if (dig($itemtanto, 1) gte 2) use-if ((dig($itemtanto, 2) lt ($craft - 1)) and ($loot gte 1)) Improve your Tanto. [Costs 1 Crate] You spend the next hour sharpening the tanto you and Father made so long ago. It's only now that you realize just how thick Father had made the original design, far thicker than a tanto needs to be. Not comically so, but a 30% increase in width and thickness is far more noticeable to a Blacksmith's eye than a layman's. As you treat the weapon at the grinding stone you realize Father knew you'd be sharpening it one day and wanted the blade to have plenty of potential for improvement, just like his\ <<if ($heshe is "he")>>\ son. \ <<else>>\ daughter. \ <</if>>\ You're not crying. You're //not// crying. <<var $solexp + 2>>\ <<var $forexp + 1>>\ <<var $itemtanto + ((($craft - 1) - dig($itemtanto, 2)) * 10000000)>>\ <<if ($equippedweapon is "Tanto")>>\ <<unequipweapon1>>\ <<var $equippedweapon "Tanto">>\ <<var $weaponbonus $itemtanto>>\ <<weaponbonuses>>\ <</if>>\ ''[Tanto Improved!]'' <<var $loot - 1>>\ Once the Tanto is sharpened sufficiently and the tears are hidden away, you... #show-if (dig($itembostaff, 1) gte 2) use-if ((dig($itembostaff, 2) lt ($craft - 1)) and ($loot gte 1)) Improve your Bo Staff. [Costs 1 Crate] Enhancement resins for the wood and superior grade steel for the ends lead to a sturdier and stronger weapon that can cave in a higher quality of skull. <<var $itembostaff + ((($craft - 1) - dig($itembostaff, 2)) * 10000000)>>\ <<if ($equippedweapon is "Bo Staff")>>\ <<unequipweapon1>>\ <<var $equippedweapon "Bo Staff">>\ <<var $weaponbonus $itembostaff>>\ <<weaponbonuses>>\ <</if>>\ ''[Bo Staff Improved!]'' <<var $loot - 1>>\ Once completed, you... #show-if (dig($itemyumi, 1) gte 2) use-if ((dig($itemyumi, 2) lt ($craft - 1)) and ($loot gte 1)) Improve your Yumi. [Costs 1 Crate] Enhancement resins and oils go into the wood and string of your bow. You're not the only one improving a Yumi in the bazaar, but you //are// the only one that's enhancing four entire spools of string. Everyone else is only enhancing the string currently set on their bow. Morons. You are surrounded by morons. <<var $itemyumi + ((($craft - 1) - dig($itemyumi, 2)) * 10000000)>>\ <<if ($equippedweapon is "Yumi")>>\ <<unequipweapon1>>\ <<var $equippedweapon "Yumi">>\ <<var $weaponbonus $itemyumi>>\ <<weaponbonuses>>\ <</if>>\ ''[Yumi Improved!]'' <<var $loot - 1>>\ Once completed, you... #show-if (dig($itemhandwraps, 1) gte 2) use-if ((dig($itemhandwraps, 2) lt ($craft - 1)) and ($loot gte 1)) Improve your Handwraps. [Costs 1 Crate] Enhancing your weighted Handwraps is all about the quality of the weight. Using superior weavings to hold larger and heavier steel slats over each knuckle and around the edges, you're able to improve your handwraps into something capable of dishing out more damage. <<var $itemhandwraps + ((($craft - 1) - dig($itemhandwraps, 2)) * 10000000)>>\ <<if ($equippedweapon is "Handwraps")>>\ <<unequipweapon1>>\ <<var $equippedweapon "Handwraps">>\ <<var $weaponbonus $itemhandwraps>>\ <<weaponbonuses>>\ <</if>>\ ''[Handwraps Improved!]'' <<var $loot - 1>>\ Once completed, you... #Nevermind -> "hub-loc-foundry2" <</choose>>\

<<var $loot - $val>>\ ''[Item Lost: $val Crates of Loot]'' <<var $soldcrates + $val>>\ <<var $val ($counter * $val)>>\ <<var $silver + $val>>\ ''[Item Gained: $val Silver]'' The forgemaster's ledgers help in finding a buyer, which makes sense. The man doesn't sell goods, he sells time with workstations. The more goods available, the more custmers he can have. <<if ($loot is 0)>>\ With the sales complete you are officially out of cargo. Considering your other options in the area, \ <<else>>\ With the sales complete \ <</if>>\ you... <<include "hub-loc-foundry3">>\

<<var $matts "">>\ <<var $ecost "">>\ <<var $material 0>>\ The Nakamoto Grand Foundry stands resolute against the wall of the Port District. A veritable stone fortress built into the southern edge of the city, four stories tall and filled with workshops for every type of crafting imaginable. Smoke billows from the windows of its hundred workshops. Craftsmen and customers of all kinds tunnel in and out of its many entrances. Above them all, in fifty-foot tapestry laid above each entrance, the likeness of \ <<if (dig($placevisit, 6) is 0)>>\ <<include "hub-loc-foundry-first">>\ <<else>>\ Nakamoto Sakura smiles down on the populace to remind them who brought this marvel to the city. <<if (dig($trialdeets, 4) isnot 0)>>\ A shame she tried to kill you that one time. <</if>>\ You enter under her banner and waltz through the entrance. <<include "hub-loc-foundry2">>\ <</if>>\

You breathe deep and cycle your inner chi as the men close in. As soon as they breach melee distance \ <<if ($style is "Kiihakai")>>\ your Mystic Chi activates on-command, forming into a sphere of power detonating in every direction around you simultaneously. <<else>>\ you press your aura out in an explosive rush of $auracolor chi, pushing your hostile energy in every direction. ''[2 Chi Spent] \ <<var $chispent + 2>>\ <</if>>\ The blast catches them by surprise, knocking them off their feet and into the air. Each slams their backs or heads into the stone of the Foundry building behind them, shattering their auras. <<var $infamy + 2>>\ ''[Infamy Increased]'' <<apboost 5>>\ It seems Nakamoto Sakura doesn't hire the best. With all of them groaning on the ground and your message made clear, you adjust your ruffled outfit and enter the Nakamoto Grand Foundry. <<page "Continue" "hub-loc-foundry-first2">>\

Working with Soul Treasures is more of an academic toil than a legitimate craft. Shoving the right material into your equipment's forging process is one thing, but getting the Soul Treasure to function properly is another. Largely, it's the same principles of esoteric feng shui. You must balance the physical properties of the item, the feng shui properties of the elements applicable to the desired effect, the astrological properties of the animal or spirit from which the Soul Treasure came, and make up any differences with symbolic ingredients. With your Soul Treasure at the ready and your $equippedweapon on the table, you get to work choosing a... <<var $itemboosted $weaponbonus>>\ <<var $enchwep $equippedweapon>>\ <<var $tempweppy $weppy>>\ <<choose "hub-loc-foundry-enchant-primary">> #use-if ((($lore gte 2) or ($craft gte 3)) and ((dig($weaponbonus, 4) is 0) and ($equippedweapon isnot ""))) Primary Seal. [Core Increase, Soulstealing, Regenerating, Chi Storing] [Lore 2/Craft 3] You choose a Primary Seal, one that will run the Soul Treasure's energy through the majority of your weapon. Considering the versatile options of a Primary Seal, you attune the proper elemental incense and reagents around your weapon to train the Soul Treasure. When complete, your $weppy will now... #use-if ((($lore gte 1) or ($craft gte 2)) and ((dig($weaponbonus, 5) is 0) and ($equippedweapon isnot ""))) Factotum Seal. [Skill Increase] [Lore 1/Craft 2] -> "hub-loc-foundry-factotum" You choose a Factotum Seal, the simplest effect but the most useful in every day life. By placing the right symbols of a person's life, you can replicate a tradesman's skills into the Soul Treasure before binding it into your weapon. Whether it be quills, traps, boots, vials, scrolls, armor, badges, twine, or lockpicks, you assemble all the mundane symbols of a layman's lifestyle and align them according to the directional elemental designs. In the end, when choosing which profession's proficiency to imbue into your weapon, you choose the... #use-if ((($lore gte 4) or ($jadedragonfoundation is true)) and ((dig($weaponbonus, 7) is 0) and ($equippedweapon isnot ""))) Shugendō Seal. [Elemental Mastery Increase] [Lore 4] -> "hub-loc-foundry-shugendo" The Shugendō Seals are the most straightforward to perform, but not the easiest. All Soul Treasure melding requires intricate elemental, astrological, and symbolic rules similar to feng shui. For Shugendō Seals it is a less symbolic process; you attune the table to a proper element for the sake of the element, not because fire symbolizes rebirth or earth symbolizes fertiliy. The problem is the amount of purity needed. Rather than accepting a certain level of error, Shugendō Seals require dozens or even hundreds of steps when choosing the objects, directions, and order for assembling your Sealing table. In the end you lean heavily on one ingredient to bind everything to a certain Seal. #use-if ((($lore gte 5) or ($jadedragonfoundation is true)) and ((dig($weaponbonus, 6) is 0) and ($equippedweapon isnot ""))) Mythic Seal. [Core Increase] [Lore 5] -> "hub-loc-foundry-mythic" The Mythic Seals are named so for a reason; their purpose and understanding are lost to history. Only be examining ancient Cathayan Seals were they even discovered. In order to attune a Soul Treasure to the Mythic Seals, one must attune their elemental balance perfectly to a direction and element. For every weapon type and every Soul Treasure, the balance needed is different. What's worse, four of the eight elements are not even present in the Mythic Seal calculation, throwing off the usual laws of feng shui. Nothing in your arcane research explains //why// the specific element needs to be attuned to the specific direction. Only that it works. By balancing hundreds of notes in your mind, you impressively manage to form a Mythic Seal into your weapon's new Soul Treasure and decide on the... #Nevermind. -> "hub-loc-foundry2" <</choose>>

<<choose "hub-loc-foundry-enchantdone">> #Hold an external Power Core. [+1 Power] <<var $itemboosted + 100000>>\ #Hold an external Fortitude Core. [+1 Fortitude] <<var $itemboosted + 200000>>\ #Hold an external Agility Core. [+1 Agility] <<var $itemboosted + 300000>>\ #Hold an external Soul Core. [+1 Soul] <<var $itemboosted + 400000>>\ #Increase your chi reserves. [+1 Chi Pool] <<var $itemboosted + 500000>>\ #Ruinforce your vitality. [+1 Health] <<var $itemboosted + 600000>>\ #Drink the chi of your defeated enemies. [Soulstealing] <<var $itemboosted + 700000>>\ #Heal your body over time. [Regenerating] <<var $itemboosted + 800000>>\ #Nevermind. -> "hub-loc-foundry-enchant" <</choose>>

<<unequipweapon1>>\ <<var $equippedweapon $enchwep>>\ <<var $weppy $tempweppy>>\ <<var $weaponbonus $itemboosted>>\ <<include "hub-loc-foundry-perma">>\ <<weaponbonuses>>\ <<if ($ecost is "crates")>>\ ''[Item Lost: $enchantingcost Crates of Loot]'' <<var $loot - $enchantingcost>>\ <<else>>\ ''[Item Lost: Weak Soul Treasure]'' <<var $weaksoultreasure - 1>>\ <</if>>\ The enchantment takes effect. The Soul Treasure yields to your carefully designed implementation. It melds with your materials to emit a powerful $auracolor glow and bestows its power upon your weapon. ''[ Equipped Weapon: ''\ ''<<wepdisplay $weaponbonus $equippedweapon false>> ]'' You consider if there's anything else you'd be willing to do within the forge. <<include "hub-loc-foundry3">>\

<<choose "hub-loc-foundry-enchantdone">> #Scout's Essence. [Improve Athletics] <<var $itemboosted + 10000>>\ #Magistrate's Essence. [Improve Deception] <<var $itemboosted + 80000>>\ #Hedge Witch's Essence. [Improve Handseals] <<var $itemboosted + 20000>>\ #Philosopher's Essence. [Improve Insight] <<var $itemboosted + 30000>>\ #Guard's Essence. [Improve Perception] <<var $itemboosted + 40000>>\ #Hunter's Essence. [Improve Stealth] <<var $itemboosted + 50000>>\ #Woodsman's Essence. [Improve Survival] <<var $itemboosted + 70000>>\ #Pickpocket's Essence. [Improve Thievery] <<var $itemboosted + 60000>>\ <</choose>>

<<var $placevisit + 1000000000>>\ a Human woman with a dark tan, exaggerated pink makeup, and dyed blonde hair worked into two thick twintails. She wears a red regal robe and smiles down on those passing underneath. <<if ($portraitpics is true)>>\ <<image "https://www.auraclash.com/assets/images/sakura-foundry.jpg">>\ <</if>>\ <<if (dig($trialdeets, 4) isnot 0)>>\ Despite the ''heavy'' differences of makeup, you recognize Nakamoto Sakura. <</if>>\ <<choose "hub-loc-foundry-first2">> #Ignore it and keep going. <<if (dig($trialdeets, 4) is 0)>>\ So someone's got their fifty-foot portrait over every entrance of a fortress-sized crafting foundry. Big deal. You expect these kinds of things in a city, so you ignore it and walk through the entrance to get to work. <<else>>\ Not being impressed by Sakura's flaunty nature, you continue into the forge. <</if>>\ #show-if (dig($trialdeets, 4) is 0) Ask a nearby civilian who the lady is. "Excuse me." You ask to an old woman leaving the foundry. "Who is that?" The woman looks behind her and up to the massive portrait. "Oh my, that's young Sakura of the Nakamoto Clan. Richest family in Outer East. Her father built this Foundry as a gift for the Trials, you know." "I see." You say, staring up at the enormous illustration of a woman staring down at you. "And how old would she be?" <<if ($heshe is "he")>>\ "That's quite rude to ask, young man, but \ <<else>>\ "No need to be obtuse, young lady, \ <</if>>\ I get what you're asking. Yes, she's in the Trials. Expected to do quite well, too!" Your head aches at the thought of having competition rich enough to build a Foundry from the opposite side of the empire. You give a short bow to the old lady. "Thank you, kind Elder." "Elder?" The old woman gasps. "I'm only forty-eight!" You ignore that and walk past her into the foundry. Your competition may be wealthier than you, but they chose the wrong way to flaunt it. With the right crafting skills, a foundry like this will make the difference between victory and defeat. <<page "Continue" "hub-loc-foundry-first2">>\ #Rip it down. -> "hub-loc-foundry-rip" "What a garish sight." You mumble to yourself, looking over the enormous portraits. Who puts a self-portrait of themselves, three stories tall, across every entrance of a building? "You got a problem with Nakamoto Sakura's portrait?" Asks a nearby man in baggy pants and a sleeveless shirt. He wears a yellow headband and has a club slung over one shoulder. You glance over the man. "Who are you supposed to be? Her disciples?" "Her enforcers." He replies, slamming his club into the ground. You quickly notice ten others dressed like him loitering along the same wall, all equally armed. "And we're also your problem, if you do what I think you plan to do. Miss Sakura's the only reason this District is even worth visiting, so you'd best pay some respect when you look upon her beauty!" <<if (dig($itemyumi, 1) gte 2)>>\ ''[Special Event: Yumi in Inventory]'' "This eyesore?" You ask, pulling out your yumi. "Do everyone a favor and find a better idol." You fire two arrows wrapped in $auracolor chi at the ropes holding the portrait up, causing it to fall to the ground in a large, crumpling pile of cloth. <<apboost 4>>\ Then you shoot the pile at its center, erupting it to tatters. <<else>>\ "This eyesore?" You ask, reeling your arm back and charging $auracolor chi over your forearm. "Do everyone a favor and find a better idol." You hurl the spiritual energy at the portrait, blowing it up at the center and causing the tatters to rain down all around the two of you. <</if>>\ ''[Infamy Increased]'' <<var $infamy + 2>>\ Everyone on the street freezes. Two chatting Martial Artists leaving the foundry stop mid-conversation, look around at what's happening, and decide to go back inside. Sakura's enforcer grits his teeth, eyes wide at the raining pieces of cloth falling through the air. "You're dead." He hisses, gripping his club and grinding it into the ground. A blazing white aura emanates around this body. "YOU'RE DEAD! GET <<capall $himher>>, BOYS!" All ten of his allies draw their weapons and charge in unison. <</choose>>

The inside of the foundry is roughly what you expected. Halls upon halls of workstations with a thirty-foot tall ceiling. Raised walkways and levies offer ways for servants to traverse the hallways lining the building to deliver supplies. You stand on the ground floor, where hundreds of craftsmen toil. "Welcome to the Grand Nakamoto Foundry!" Screams a wide man with a thick leather apron over his otherwise bare chest. "Find a workstation and get to it! We charge by the hour!" "Where can I find materials??" You ask, looking around at the various craftsmen working at their own stations. "WHAT??" The forgemaster shouts over the sound of someone's hammering. "WHERE CAN I FIND MATERIALS??" You shout. "YOU DON'T!" The forgemaster bellows louder when a Fire Artist starts welding something. "BRING YOUR OWN!" Your deep, prolonged sigh is drowned out when the forgemaster turns around and leaves. Another forge where they refuse to sell their own materials. You glare daggers into the forgemaster's back while whispering. "Why are you like this?" <<include "hub-loc-foundry3">>\

<<choose "hub-loc-foundry-lightbringer2">> #Godslayer (Jian) [Light Affinity, +1 Athletics, +1 Agility, +2 Soul] <<var $godsword 242318500>>\ #Godslayer (Jian) [Water Affinity, +1 Athletics, +1 Agility, +2 Soul] <<var $godsword 242318700>>\ #Godthreaded Belt [+5 Prestige, +1 Soul, +2 Health, Empower Companions & Retainers] <<var $godbelt 1>>\ <</choose>>

You complete your masterpiece and gaze upon your work. The bright glow shines through any obfuscation and boasts its power with pride. The Aura Pressure coursing through it fills you with pride as well. Pocketing your new creation, you consider what else you could do at the forge to get ahead. <<var $lightbringertrophy 2>>\ <<include "hub-loc-foundry3">>\

<<choose "hub-loc-foundry-enchantdone">> #Southern Flame. [Improve Agility] <<var $itemboosted + 3000>>\ #Northern Ice. [Improve Fortitude] <<var $itemboosted + 2000>>\ #Eastern Storm. [Improve Soul] <<var $itemboosted + 4000>>\ #Western Wind. [Improve Power] <<var $itemboosted + 1000>>\ <</choose>>

<<if ($equippedweapon is "Bo Staff")>>\ <<var $itembostaff $weaponbonus>>\ <<elseif ($equippedweapon is "Chiblade")>>\ <<var $itemchiblade $weaponbonus>>\ <<elseif ($equippedweapon is "Kunai")>>\ <<var $itemkunai $weaponbonus>>\ <<elseif ($equippedweapon is "Katana")>>\ <<var $itemkatana $weaponbonus>>\ <<elseif ($equippedweapon is "Greataxe")>>\ <<var $itemgreataxe $weaponbonus>>\ <<elseif ($equippedweapon is "Handwraps")>>\ <<var $itemhandwraps $weaponbonus>>\ <<elseif ($equippedweapon is "Godslayer")>>\ <<var $godsword $weaponbonus>>\ <<elseif ($equippedweapon is "Iceblade")>>\ <<var $itemiceblade $weaponbonus>>\ <<elseif ($equippedweapon is "Ikazuchi")>>\ <<var $itemkatana_3 $weaponbonus>>\ <<elseif ($equippedweapon is "Kagutsuchi")>>\ <<var $itemkatana_2 $weaponbonus>>\ <<elseif ($equippedweapon is "Muramasa")>>\ <<var $itemkatana_1 $weaponbonus>>\ <<elseif ($equippedweapon is "Musashi")>>\ <<var $itemkatana_4 $weaponbonus>>\ <<elseif ($equippedweapon is "Shishido")>>\ <<var $itemkusarigama_1 $weaponbonus>>\ <<elseif ($equippedweapon is "Tanto")>>\ <<var $itemtanto $weaponbonus>>\ <<elseif ($equippedweapon is "Qiang")>>\ <<var $itemqiang $weaponbonus>>\ <<elseif ($equippedweapon is "Yumi")>>\ <<var $itemyumi $weaponbonus>>\ <<elseif ($equippedweapon is "Meteor Hammer")>>\ <<var $itemmeteorhammer $weaponbonus>>\ <<elseif ($equippedweapon is "Jian")>>\ <<var $itemjian $weaponbonus>>\ <</if>>\

<<choose "hub-loc-foundry-blowup">> #Take them all on in swift hand-to-hand combat. [Causes a scene] Eleven men close in on you with weapons drawn, their auras of white mist swirling around their bodies. <<var $combatstat "agility">>\ <<discount "Legs" 1>>\ <<discount "Agile" 1>>\ <<discount "Kurokonton" $stylerank>>\ <<discount "Wind" 1>>\ <<discount "Water" 1>>\ <<attack "Melee">>\ <<combatcheck 8>>\ <<if ($passcheck is true)>>\ They don't make it within striking distance. The first one you take out with your shoe, kicking it into the man's face. In the same second that his head snaps back, you close the distance and punch three inches into his solar plexus. <<else>>\ Despite their seemingly weak auras, the number advantage proves too strong. You manage to deflect three attacks before suffering a half-dozen club strikes all over your body. <<woundcheck 2 true false>>\ Through the pain you notice one attacker grow sloppy, lifting his club too high. You charge past his friends and punch him in the throat. The man's aura shatters. \ <</if>>\ A back-spinning kick stops both men flanking him, taking them out with simultaneous strikes to the jaw. You catch the clubs of two of them before they hit the ground and swing behind you, deflecting their leader's attack from behind, then lunge your new clubs into his sternum. He guffaws, throwing up from the shock of the blow, and falls to the ground. The next seventy seconds make up a brutal one-sided beating as you unleash a flurry of \ <<if (($element1 is "Water") or ($element2 is "Water"))>>\ swirling Water-wrapped \ <<elseif (($element1 is "Wind") or ($element2 is "Wind"))>>\ swirling Wind-covered \ <</if>>\ blows on the increasingly hesitant attackers. Not one is standing by the end. <<var $infamy + 1>>\ <<var $infamy + 1>>\ ''[Infamy Increased]'' <<apboost 5>>\ It seems Nakamoto Sakura doesn't hire the best. With all of them groaning on the ground and your message made clear, you adjust your ruffled outfit and enter the Nakamoto Grand Foundry. <<page "Continue" "hub-loc-foundry-first2">>\ #show-if ($style is "Kiihakai") Erupt chi in a sphere around yourself. [Causes a scene] #show-if ($style isnot "Kiihakai") use-if ((($chipool + ($soul/2)) - $chispent) gte 2) Erupt chi in a sphere around yourself. [Causes a scene, Costs 2 Chi] #use-if ($martial_retainers gte 12) Let someone else handle it. [Requires 12+ Martial Retainers] "Step your unclean boots back by ten paces, you illiterate trash!" Calls a man from inside the Nakamoto Grand Foundry's entrance. Both you and the Foundry's lead enforcer look back to see one of your retainers, a Lunargoth from rope duty on your flagship. "You're speaking to the $patriarch of the <<cap $clan>> Clan. Prostrate yourselves!" The enforcer's men react quickly, turning to surround your retainer instead. Both you and the enforcer's men are surprised when random passersby from the crowded street surround //them// in-kind. Twelve men from your rowing crew who draw clubs of their own. Some even draw knives. One of your Human retainers glows with a white mist and steps forward while equipping a pair of metal-studded handwraps. "Bend your knees, street rats, or you will never be able to bend them again." "Tch." Says the enforcer's leader. "Men, show these-" The street brawl breaks out before he can finish; one of your men throws a wine bottle at his face hard enough to break both. The fight of twelve-on-eleven takes up the entirety of the Foundry's nearest entrance. Nearby civilians flee in a panic away from the unruly brawl. "Leave them to us, Captain!" Shouts an Oni from your crew who's putting a man in a headlock. "Don't waste your time on these peasants!" ''[Retainer Strength +1]'' <<var $retainer_strength + 1>>\ You grant the men their pride and take the offer, leaving towards the second-closest entrance. Along the way, you find that everyone on the street gives you a //wide// berth. ''[Prestige Increased]'' <<var $prestige + 2>>\ <<page "Continue" "hub-loc-foundry-first2">>\ <</choose>>

<<choose "hub-loc-foundry-enchantdone">> #Black pearl dust. [Improve Darkness] <<var $itemboosted + 100>>\ #Fossil gravel. [Improve Earth] <<var $itemboosted + 200>>\ #Naphtha fuel. [Improve Fire] <<var $itemboosted + 300>>\ #Snow Lotus petals. [Improve Ice] <<var $itemboosted + 400>>\ #Amber dust. [Improve Light] <<var $itemboosted + 500>>\ #Fulgurite. [Improve Storm] <<var $itemboosted + 600>>\ #Blessed water. [Improve Water] <<var $itemboosted + 700>>\ #Aeolian chimesand. [Improve Wind] <<var $itemboosted + 800>>\ <</choose>>

The foundry is as loud as ever. Craftsman hammer, weld, sandblast, and chisel their various equipment as you walk by the many workbenches in the long high-ceiling hall. You setle down at an open crafting bench to get to work. <<include "hub-loc-foundry3">>\

<<var $val 0>>\ <<var $bingo 0>>\ <<var $material 0>>\ <<var $matts "">>\ <<var $counter Math.round((($commerce * 2) + 200) + ($persuasion * 10))>>\ <<var $enchantingcost Math.round(10-($alchemy * 1.5))>>\ <<if ($enchantingcost lte 0)>>\ <<var $enchantingcost 1>>\ <</if>>\ <<var $txt $clan + " Armguards (Spiked)">>\ <<choose "hub-loc-foundry3">> #use-if (($crates4sale gt 0) and ((($shards + ($silver / 10)) + ($gold * 10)) gte 50)) Purchase crates of crafting goods. [50 Shards, $crates4sale available] Unlike Harehama, the foundry isn't //completely// out of inventory. Despite the constant string of orders, several supplies are available for purchase to get you the tools and materials you need for crafting. ''[In stock: $crates4sale Crates of Supplies]'' <<var $bingo ((($shards + ($silver / 10)) + ($gold * 10)) % 50)>>\ <<var $bingo (((($shards + ($silver / 10)) + ($gold * 10)) - $bingo) / 50)>>\ You decide to purchase... <<var $val 0>>\ <<if ($bingo gt $crates4sale)>>\ <<var $bingo $crats4sale>>\ <</if>>\ <<input-number $val 0 $bingo "hub-loc-forge-buycrates">>\ #use-if ($loot gt 0) Sell crates of crafting goods. [$counter Silver Each] With a price of $counter Silver per crate, you decide to unload... <<var $val 0>>\ <<input-number $val 0 $loot "hub-loc-forge-sellcrates">>\ #use-if ((($craft gte 2) and ($loot gte 2)) or (($background is "Blacksmith") and ($loot gte 1))) Craft a weapon. [Requires Craft 2, Costs 2 Crates] -> "hub-loc-forge-craftwep" <<if ($background is "Blacksmith")>>\ ''[Blacksmith Background Event: 1 Crate Discount]'' <<var $loot - 1>>\ <<else>>\ <<var $loot - 2>>\ <</if>>\ Having one weapon is good, yes, but with all the different adjustments and sorcerous enhancements you hear about, you'll want spares. Luckily you're a skilled \ <<if ($background is "Blacksmith")>>\ blacksmith, and years apprenticing under Father has hammered the basics into your very soul. \ <<else>>\ crafts$manwoman and no stranger to a forge. \ <</if>>\ To start the process, you look through your available materials. The foundry's forgemaster may not have any exotic materials to spare, but you're not the only outsider working the forges. Plenty of fellow Martial Artists around the foundry offer ample opportunity to purchase their superior materials that make Warrior Caste so famous. After bothering the forgemaster for a quick guide, you read the purpose behind them. //Jade - Fuels the Soul and Power Cores.// //Beastbone - Fuels the Fortitude and Agility Cores.// //Snowsteel - Fuels the Fortitude and Soul Cores.// //Truegold - Fuels the Power and Agility Cores.// ''[Weapons of the four special materials prevent their wielder from ever falling to 0 Core Chi of two certain Cores.]'' ''[For example, a wielder with 7 Soul who spends all 7 Soul Chi in combat would normally have 0 out of 7 Soul Chi remaining. With a Jade or Snowsteel weapon equipped, they will never fall below 1 out of 7 Soul Chi and can spend that last Soul Chi an infinite number of times without rest.]'' Armed with this knowledge and your available funds, you decide to... #show-if ($background is "Blacksmith") use-if (($loot gte 3) and (($armguardname neq $txt) and ($armguardname neq $clan + " Armguards"))) Improve the Armguards that Father made for you. [Costs 3 Crates] Finding the materials with so many buyers and sellers isn't a problem. It's working with them. Working with Beastbone of such high quality is harder than you thought. It doesn't answer to hammers or heat, and regular sanding paper is far too weak. You manage to procure a specialized sanding paper made from centuries-old trees and fine quartz-sand, spending over an hour scrubbing the Beastbone plates down When you put your full might into it and flare your $auracolor aura, you're shocked to find the results barely improve. One thing you hadn't counted on is that high grade Beastbone means a high Aura Pressure Beast. Whatever creature this bone comes from, it was stronger than you in life. After hours of work you manage to finally get the plates prepared and properly implemented into the armguards. You pack your empowered armguards away knowing they've not only improved in power, they've also become an intergenerational masterpiece. <<page "Continue" "hub-loc-forge-armguards">>\ #Improve a weapon. -> "hub-loc-forge-grindstone" #use-if (($weaksoultreasure gte 1) and ($equippedweapon isnot "")) Enchant your equipped weapon with a Weak Soul Treasure. [Currently Equipped: $equippedweapon] -> "hub-loc-foundry-enchant" <<var $ecost "soul treasure">>\ #use-if (($loot gte $enchantingcost) and ($equippedweapon isnot "")) Enchant your equipped weapon by trading $enchantingcost Crates for a Weak Soul Treasure. [Currently Equipped: $equippedweapon] -> "hub-loc-foundry-enchant" <<var $ecost "crates">>\ #show-if ($lightbringertrophy gte 2000) use-if ($craft gte 3) Craft a Soul Treasure equipment from the Lightbringer's fangshard. [Requires Craft 3] -> "hub-loc-foundry-lightbringer" The ultimate Soul Treasure in your arsenal, the Lightbringer's glowing fangshard, offers power beyond what most mortals could gather. You place it onto the table and consider exactly what shape would utilize it best as your prized piece of equipment. From what your study can tell, the properties of this weapon can serve two purposes. Either you can focus on the sharpened aspect to form a Jian sword, in which the dead Wild Godspawn's power would leak through your grip and into your soul at all times. Or... You can focus on the physical aspect of the material, stripping it to thread and weaving the Soul Treasure into a powerful belt that would spread the dead Wild Godspawn's power to those around you. After assembling all the proper reagents and ingredients, you decide to forge the... #Return to the Port District. -> "hub-port-district" <</choose>>\

Journeying to the docks, you reach your ship in time to hear a commotion on deck. Climbing the boarding plank, you find your retainers yelling at a ship docked next to yours. You approach them all leaning over the rafters and look around. "What seems to be the problem, men?" "Honored $patriarch, it's these damned crates! Those dregs keep tossing crates into the harbor, breaking our oars during rowing practice!" Across from you, on the other boat, one of the sailors yells back. "You're not supposed to be rowing while docked, idiot!" Your retainer grows visibly enraged. "And you're not supposed to be throwing crates overboard, you fatherless dog!" Huh. You'd never thought of it before, but calling someone a fatherless dog is the same as calling them a bastard and a bitch at the same time. What a complex and exquisite insult. Maybe your retainers have been on these ships too long. "Are you alright?" Asks Jin from among your crew, holding a 'used' bucket he was ready to throw at the neighboring ship. "Oh, yes." You reply. "Just...lost in thought." You look across to the other ship. "Why are you dumping crates near my ship?" "Because the Merchants down south can't be trusted." The crew member of the neighboring ship rips the top off a crate. "A curse on their name, reselling us this junk and posing it off as alchemical! It's damned pine needles and rotten berries! Gah, fucking crooks, costs more to unload this at the docks than it can even sell for!" You poke your head overboard to get a better view of the crate and your eyes widen. ''[Herbalist Background Event]'' "Jin." You whisper. "That's white pine and juniper berries." "So?" Asks Rin, handing out flint to your crewmen so they can presumably start a fire somewhere. "They've gone bad." Jin's jaw drops, but he quickly recovers. "Uh-er, ah, what if we took those crates off your hands for you?" He shouts to the neighboring ship. "You pay no fees, we get free crates, and our oar problem is solved." "Whatever gets them off our ship." The sailor says, dropping the crate back onto his ship. "Have it all gone by noon." <<page "Continue" "hub-loc-makedrink2">>\

"I don't get it." Rin says as you and Jin giddily pull 40 crates of white pine into your hull beneath deck. "Is this stuff expensive? The berries look moldy and gross." "White pine is cheap back home, sure." Jin says, smiling ear to ear. "But I haven't seen any here. Too tropical." "Oh." Rin scratches her head. "So is it from you both working with dad's business? Is it alchemical?" "No." You reply, nearly laughing with excitement as you stack another crate of the precious cargo. "But with the berries it's better." "But what kind of opportunity?!" Rin stomps, growing frustrated. "What's the point of collecting forty crates of junk pine needles and spoiled berries?" You and Jin get to the last crate of pine and crack it open, breathing in the pleasant nostalgic aroma. "Do you remember that fizzy drink Father used to make?" "Iced Bubblebrew?" She looks up and to the side, reminiscing. She opens her mouth in shock when it dawns on her. "Wait, this makes that?! I thought it always tasted like lemon, not pine." "Yours did." You say. "Dad knew you hated the pine flavor. Lemon, ginger, pine; you can make all sorts of flavors as long as you have sugar or honey for sweetness and yeast for fermentation." "Okay." Rin says, scratching her nose. "So...where do we get the yeast." "Right here." Jin says, slapping the top of a nearby juniper berry crate. "What we acquired isn't an alchemy scam or spoiled food; it's a fortune worth of yeast cultures and flavoring. With forty crates we can make a city's worth of bubblebrew." You smile, looking down on your new haul. "And lucky us, I have just the city in mind." ''[Your Retainers will now begin selling Father's special Bubblebrew for you, increasing Commerce and Prestige.]'' ''[What would you like to invest into this venture?]'' <<choose "hub-port-district">> #Nothing. [+1 Commerce, +1 Prestige] <<var $bubblebrew 1>>\ <<var $commerce + 1>>\ <<var $prestige + 1>>\ ''[Bubblebrew Business Begun!]'' #use-if ((($shards + ($silver / 10)) + ($gold * 10)) gte 80) Buy the other ingredients in bulk. [80 Shards, +3 Commerce, +3 Prestige] <<var $bubblebrew 2>>\ <<costcalc 80>>\ <<var $commerce + 3>>\ <<var $prestige + 3>>\ ''[Bubblebrew Business Begun!]'' #use-if ((($shards + ($silver / 10)) + ($gold * 10)) gte 160) Buy the ingredients and rent a shop. [160 Shards, +5 Commerce, +5 Prestige] <<var $bubblebrew 3>>\ <<costcalc 160>>\ <<var $commerce + 5>>\ <<var $prestige + 5>>\ ''[Bubblebrew Business Begun!]'' #use-if ((($shards + ($silver / 10)) + ($gold * 10)) gte 240) Purchase fermentation equipment. [240 Shards, +7 Commerce, +7 Prestige] <<var $bubblebrew 4>>\ <<costcalc 240>>\ <<var $commerce + 7>>\ <<var $prestige + 7>>\ ''[Bubblebrew Business Begun!]'' <</choose>>

<<if ((dig($trainingpartner, 1) is 1) or ($trainingpartner is 2000000000000000))>>\ <<if (dig($trainingpartner, 1) is 1)>>\ You walk up the plank leading from the dock to the Mist Chamber door. The massive white spherical building is made of some stone you don't recognize, like limestone but far too smooth. If it's all white marble or jade there would be riots to take it apart and buy an island with it, so you're not sure what it could be. More importantly you're not sure why you can't see inside. The open doorway emits a bright white light that doesn't blind you so much as it obscures the Chamber's contents. Mist leaks out of the bottom of the doorway and falls to the ground below. You look back to the Imperial Clerk and he gives a curt nod. It seems this is normal, so you walk through the light. <<page "Continue" "hub-loc-mist-solo">>\ <<else>>\ <<var $val 2>>\ <<include "hub-loc-mist-solo2">>\ <</if>>\ <<else>>\ <<include "hub-loc-mist2">>\ <</if>>\

You and Jin train for the next seventy-two hours straight and he doesn't even complain until hour forty, a new record even on a calm day. Against your better judgment he refuses to drop the weights he has wrapped around his wrists. The man insists that you need them so his punches have enough weight, and he needs them so he can use the Mist Chamber's enhanced ambient chi to its full extent. Personally, you think the local medics need it so they can afford a second house. His shoulder joints must look like wet noodles by the time you're done. But that's exactly it: Seventy-two hours later, you //are// done. The two of you finish your intense training regimen and Jin doesn't back down even once, continuing to hammer you with weighted punches while withstanding your (held back) counterattacks for three full days of combat drills. <<if ($heshe is "she")>>\ Ew, are you proud of your little brother? You don't like this feeling. It's icky. <<else>>\ You're horrified to find that you might actually be //proud// of your little brother. Of course, you make sure not to tell him. Rin would never let you live it down. <</if>>\ ''[Fortitude EXP Increased]'' <<var $forexp + 10>>\ <<var $apval (25 + (($athletics * 3) + $survival))>>\ <<if (($bodytype is "Agile") or ($bodytype is "Legs"))>>\ <<var $apval + 5>>\ <</if>>\ <<apboost $apval>>\ <<if ($weight gte $chapter)>>\ <<weightexp>>\ <</if>>\ <<if (($hungryspiritritual gt 1) and (((($style is "Kiihakai") or ($race is "Oni")) or ($race is "Kitsune")) or (dig($metwukong, 2) gte 3)))>>\ ''[Hungry Spirit Ritual: Aura Pressure +8]'' <<var $aurapressure + 8>>\ <<elseif ($hungryspiritritual gt 1)>>\ ''[Hungry Spirit Ritual: Aura Pressure +5]'' <<var $aurapressure + 5>>\ <</if>>\ ''[Jin Combat Prowess +3]'' <<var $jincombat + 3>>\ <<var $trainingpartner + 1000000000000>>\ <<var $days 1>>\ <<page "Return to the Port District" "hub-spendday">>\

<<var $apval (25 + (($athletics * 3) + $survival))>>\ <<if (($bodytype is "Agile") or ($bodytype is "Legs"))>>\ <<var $apval + 5>>\ <</if>>\ <<apboost $apval>>\ <<if ($weight gte $chapter)>>\ <<weightexp>>\ <</if>>\ <<if (($hungryspiritritual gt 1) and (((($style is "Kiihakai") or ($race is "Oni")) or ($race is "Kitsune")) or (dig($metwukong, 2) gte 3)))>>\ ''[Hungry Spirit Ritual: Aura Pressure +8]'' <<var $aurapressure + 8>>\ <<elseif ($hungryspiritritual gt 1)>>\ ''[Hungry Spirit Ritual: Aura Pressure +5]'' <<var $aurapressure + 5>>\ <</if>>\ <<var $trainingpartner + 10000000000000>>\ ''[Kosuke Combat Prowess +2]'' <<var $kosukecombat + 2>>\

<<var $bffrep + 5>>\ <<var $partner "Kosuke">>\ Kosuke meets you at the Port District entrance with some takoyaki for you both. <<cap $bffheshe>> seems more \ <<if ($bffheshe is "he")>>\ energized \ <<else>>\ chipper \ <</if>>\ than usual. "My own super mystical training chamber?" <<cap $bffheshe>> asks as the two of you enjoy your treats. "You shouldn't have." When you reach the docks of the Mist Chamber and the waiting line of Warrior Caste see who you're bringing into their nearly-sacred relic of a pocket realm, Kosuke looks back to you amidst the sea of frowns. "Okay, it turns out you //actually// shouldn't have." "Not so fast, beggar!" Shouts a voice nearby after you and Kosuke muscle past the crowd and motion to enter the Mist Chamber. The crowd of the docks parts to reveal Bo Lo in a fresh Thunderfall Gi. "What do you want, Bo?" Kosuke asks. "You stole from the Thunderfall Sect, endangered the town in our absence, and had a bounty put on your head by Sectmaster Mao. \ <<if (dig($trialdeets, 1) gte 2)>>\ Even if that bounty was later removed, you're still \ <<else>>\ Worse, you're \ <</if>>\ Laborer Caste. Letting you gain unchecked power in that Mystic Lands relic is beyond reckless. I, Lo of the Warrior Bo Clan, cannot let you \ <<if (dig($trialdeets, 1) is 1)>>\ enter." Two of Jack's other cronies from back home stand behind Bo; the fat friend and the plain girl. You notice cultivation didn't do either of them any favors to fix those traits. <<if (dig($trialdeets, 1) gte 2)>>\ "I don't need a price on your head, Beggar Kosuke!" Shouts the plain girl. "I'll take it all the same!" <<else>>\ "There's a price on your head, Beggar Kosuke!" Shouts the plain girl. "We're here to collect it." <</if>>\ "Be thankful, streetrat." Says the fat friend. "You're going to do some good for the first time in your life by <<if (dig($trialdeets, 1) gte 2)>>\ giving me a workout." <<else>>\ making me rich." <</if>>\ "I decline?" Kosuke says, stepping into the Mist Chamber without another word. Bo and Jack's other cronies stare, dumbfounded. "<<cap $bffheshe>> can't decline!" The fat one insists. "<<cap $bffheshe>>'s a <<if (dig($trialdeets, 1) gte 2)>>\ known \ <<else>>\ wanted \ <</if>>\ criminal! Get that thief out here and-" <<if ($lore gte 2)>>\ ''[Lore 2 Check Passed]'' <<var $solexp + 2>>\ "Kosuke's a retainer of the $clan Clan." You interrupt. "Any raids on Thunderfall territory aren't a crime, they're my order and a legal retaliation against a rival. Your <<if (dig($trialdeets, 1) gte 2)>>\ rules are \ <<else>>\ bounty is \ <</if>>\ internal to your Sect only, slander my retainer's clean criminal record like that again and I'll see your ass in the Magistrate's court." Jack's fat lackey turns red in the face while several 'Oooohs' run throughout the nearby crowd. ''[Prestige Increased]'' <<var $prestige + 1>>\ <<else>>\ ''[Lore 2 Check Failed]'' "Uh, no." You reply quickly. "And you look ridiculous." <</if>>\ You enter the chamber shortly after, right behind Kosuke, and seal the door shut behind you before any of them can approach. <<page "Continue" "hub-loc-mist-kosuke4">>\ <<elseif ($borep gte 45)>>\ enter-" ''[Special Event: Bo Reputation Check Passed]'' -without me." He tosses 100 Shards to the clerk and runs up to your platform. "Someone has to ensure neither of you amateurs injure yourselves. Quickly now, before anyone else sees me talking with Laborers." Kosuke looks to the Mist Chamber's usual crowd on the dock behind you all. "Bo, like a hundred people just saw you." <<choose "hub-loc-mist-kosuke3">> #Let Bo in. "Fine." You say. "Come on Bo, three is better than two for training." <<var $borep + 3>>\ Kosuke groans. \ <<if (($bffromance gte 1) and ($heshe isnot $bffheshe))>>\ "Aww, but I was going to do a high gravity sex marathon!" Bo cringes and you cast a disbelieving look Kosuke's way. "Last time you said that it was forty minutes followed by your own personal nap marathon." "Yeah." Kosuke says as if it were obvious. "And it was great." "Enough!" Bo demands, marching past you and through the bright white light of the Mist Chamber doorway. "We-" The two of you wait three seconds without another word, then Kosuke turns to you. "Do you think he said anything else after stepping through?" "I don't think he knows we can't hear him." You chuckle. After giving him a few more seconds to possibly monologue, you both cross into the chamber. <<else>>\ "Awww, but I was going to give you all the juicy details of my grand Thunderfall heist! Then I was going to talk about dodging Bo across Outer West, and my next plans to rob his parents." "Your attempts to provoke me will not work, beggar." Bo says, looking up to Kosuke with an angered squint. "You do not have the capacity to pull off a second heist. Now,-" His next words are cut off as he enters the bright white light of the open Mist Chamber door. You and Kosuke stand there for several seconds, waiting for something to happen. "I don't think he knows we can't hear him." Kosuke finally says. "Let's wait a bit longer." You smile. A minute later, you both cross into the chamber. <</if>>\ <<page "Continue" "hub-loc-mist-kosuke3">>\ #Kick Bo off the dock. "I-" Bo manages to get out before your foot impacts his chest. "-Curse you, Laborer!" He screams, launching twenty feet off the dock horizontally. "This betrayal will not-" his next words are drowned by the sea when he splashes through the surface, much to the laughter of the crowd. <<var $borep - 5>>\ "Bye Bo!" Kosuke shouts, ushering you through the Mist Chamber door and closing it behind $bffhimher <<page "Continue" "hub-loc-mist-kosuke4">>\ <</choose>> <<else>>\ enter." Kosuke looks from you to Bo and back to the Mist Chamber, inches away from you both with the glowing white door already open. Bo is three hundred feet away. "Okay Bo." Kosuke says with a shrug. "Bye." <<cap $bffheshe>> enters the chamber long before Bo Lo can close the gap to stop $bffhimher. You offer Bo Lo a comforting shrug from a distance. "You have to know that you brought that one on yourself." Then you, too, enter before he can even close half the distance. <<page "Continue" "hub-loc-mist-kosuke4">>\ <</if>>\

You and Kosuke walk through the bright light and enter the Mist Chamber's single room of high gravity and potent ambient chi. Bo is still talking. "-And that's why I've finally decided to show you two the real secrets of spiritual cultivation: hard work!" "Uhuh." You reply. "Proceed." Kosuke says with a barely hidden laugh. Bo faces away from you both, looking out to the bright light of the unending horizon. "This is our perfect chance to work on our Fortitude Cores, something you two could learn well from the great Bo Lo. The servants have wisely stocked this room with healing unguents and there are three of us. Good. One can rest when the other two are training. Fortitude Cores are the most vital part of any Martial Artist's-" "I think we should scream." Kosuke interrupts. Bo pauses and turns to face Kosuke. "...Why?" "Because this is a strong ambient chi, right? We can flare our auras as much as we want to stress our Soul Cores. They'll replenish faster than ever. It's great Soul training we can't do outside, right?" You and Bo reluctantly nod, shown up by a beggar. It actually is a decent use of an unusual environment. "But why the screaming?" You ask. "Because screaming makes your aura bigger," Kosuke says, mock-smacking $bffhisher own forehead in your direction to stress how obvious it is. "Everyone knows that." Bo's eyes dart to the corner of his vision as he considers whether or not that's true. <<choose "hub-loc-mist-kosuke3-3">> #Go with Kosuke's idea. [Extra Soul Core EXP] The three of you spend the next seventy-two hours in a low horse stance, arms at your side, auras flared to full power, and screaming as loud as you can like absolute madmen. It's funny for the first five minutes. It's not for the rest. Unfortunately, those five minutes were enough to find out that Kosuke's right. Screaming led to a slight increase in aura size and chi output, so it was cemented as the optimal method to push your auras past their limits in the rejuvenating high-tier ambient chi of the Mist Chamber. Despite your differences, you and Bo are both nothing if not sticklers for the most optimal training. You stick to the screaming. Only Kosuke keeps a smile through the first day, because Kosuke knows $bffheshe is the only one with a low enough pride to sleep in the chamber instead of training through all seventy-two hours. By day two, Kosuke isn't smiling either. <<cap $bffheshe>> miscalculated and forgot $bffheshe can't sleep through two grown adults screaming as loud as they can. When the third day ends, all three of you possess strained but noticeably stronger auras, having emptied your chi reserves aggressively and constantly while the potent ambient chi replenished your spirits to full. ''[Soul EXP Increased]'' <<var $solexp + 15>>\ #Go with Bo's idea. [Extra Fortitude Core EXP] "YES!" Kosuke shouts in glee. "I was wrong, this is way better!" "Stop enjoying this!" Bo shouts with a black eye and bloody nose. "I am the one who is benefitting here, this is no victory for you, fool! Strike me again, now, for my Fortitude Cores demand it!" Kosuke wraps chi around $bffhisher fist and reels it back to strike Bo again. "I can't believe you're really asking me to do this. It's like a dream come true." "Stop making this into some fantasy, beggar." Bo demands. "I care not for your misinterpretations. My body is being built stronger by this training. It is ''my'' opportunity to gloat, not yours." Kosuke smacks Bo in the face as hard as $bffheshe possibly can, knocking Bo's entire body off balance. <<cap $bffheshe>> sighs in contentment and relishes the moment. "Whatever you say Bo. I'm just glad to help." You sit back for a bit and watch Kosuke live out $bffhisher childhood dream of beating the ever living shit out of one of the Warrior Caste bullies without any retaliation. It's satisfying, but when Bo's aura gets close to shattering you have to call it off. <<page "Continue" "hub-loc-mist-kosuke3-2">>\ <</choose>>

"Do not interrupt!" Bo demands, front tooth missing and jaw swollen like an apple. "Oh Hells." Kosuke says, looking down at $bffhisher hands. "Am I about to agree with Bo?" "Yeah yeah." You say, brushing off their comments. "I'm not telling you to stop. I'm reminding you that there's three people here. Kosuke, we'll hit you on day three so you can toughen up from the ambient chi first. Bo, you're clearly almost dead." "I am-" He says, then stares absent-mindedly at the ground. Sheesh. That's a concussion. One you are going to ignore. "And as much as I hate to say it, I'm here to train too." Bo eyes you sideways, snapping out of his daze. "Are you asking me to strike you, Laborer? Consistently and with impunity, that I may put you back in your place?" You sigh. "Now you're making it as weird as Kosuke, but yes." Kosuke pauses and looks down at $bffhisher fist, then back to your face. "I'll get the weighted gloves." "Th-thanks." You say through a forced smile. ''[Fortitude EXP Increased]'' <<var $forexp + 15>>\ <<include "hub-loc-mist-kosuke3-3">>\

<<include "hub-loc-mist-kostraining">>\ ''[Bo's Combat Prowess +2]'' <<var $bocombat + 2>>\ Bo leaves first, five minutes before the chamber's time expires. He tells the two of you to \ <<if (($bffromance gte 1) and ($heshe isnot $bffheshe))>>\ enjoy some private time with the bed, for whatever disgusting plans you had should he leave. Kosuke's face is locked in horror at receiving Bo's 'permission'; your face is twisted in concern that he thinks five minutes is plenty. <<else>>\ wait before exiting so no one gets the wrong idea that you were training together. Kosuke looks to you after Bo leaves. "Does he really not get that one-hundred spectators at the dock already saw him come in with us?" You shrug. "I don't think he considers strangers to be people." Kosuke sighs. "Mao would be so proud." <</if>>\ <<var $days 1>>\ <<page "Return to the Port District" "hub-spendday">>\

"I told you to watch where you're going." You chastise Kosuke, who lies on the ground holding $bffhisher shin. "Who puts a bed post right near the blindingly bright entryway?!" Kosuke shouts for the third time, rubbing more healing ointment on $bffhisher leg after slamming $bffhisher shin into the corner of a bedpost. "Whoever was here last deserves the deepest of Hells." You rub your chin and ponder the situation, eyeing the wooden training dummies. "You know, this might be a good idea for training." Kosuke grimaces. "Please do not make me kick wooden corners. I don't want to be part of the Sharpened Carpentry Sect." "Not kicking it with your leg, no, but your Aura Pressure's been doing well enough. Have you ever considered amplifying your Fortitude Core's effectiveness by using your Soul Core? If we wrap your shin or forearms in hostile chi, it should weaken the structural integrity of the object you're hitting. That will make it hurt less to strike something more solid than you are. It'll be great spiritual practice, too. Like this." You run chi over the entire lower half of your arm and swing your forearm into a training dummy. Your chi hits the object first, laying cracks throughout its surface, then your arm breaks through the wood and bisects the dummy. Kosuke lets out a low whistle. "Alright, fine, teach me your secrets. I want to do that to Bo." "Oh there's no secret." You confess. "You're just going to have to try doing it until it works." Kosuke hangs $bffhisher head. \ <<if ($bffromance gte 1) and ($heshe isnot $bffheshe)>>\ "Hard work sucks. Can't we just do high gravity sex training instead?" You motion to chastise $bffhimher but remember keenly that you have seventy-two hours to train. With your <<print $age>>-year-old mind, you rationalize that seventy-one hours is plenty. <<else>>\ "That's the worst Super Martial Secret ever. I wish I had my own Big Chu." You lower to a crouch and put a hand on $bffhisher shoulder. "Hey, you do. You have me. His training advice sucked just as much as mine does." "Yay." Kosuke groans, rising on $bffhisher bruised leg. "Alright, bring me the dummy." You look around the room. "Jin's not here." "Nice." <</if>>\ ''[Soul EXP Increased]'' <<var $solexp + 10>>\ <<include "hub-loc-mist-kostraining">>\ <<var $days 1>>\ <<page "Return to the Port District" "hub-spendday">>\

"What do you mean you didn't bring any food?!" You yell at Rin, looking through your bag of supplies packed for the three-day sprint. It's all rocks. "Bahahahahaha!" Rin cackles, standing on her own for the first time since you started running in a straight line yesterday. "That's what you get for leaving me with the Sect for a month!" Your calves cramp. Your quadriceps bulge with muscle strain. You hamstrings scream with pain that's got them glowing-hot from overuse. It was obvious the whole time that you wouldn't get a break or rest, but at the //least// you thought you'd have food and water. You turn to Rin with a $auracolor glowing fist. "You don't have food either, you idiot!" She burps into your chi-wrapped hand. "Not anymore. I've been snacking this whole time. Now carry me back or I'm telling Jin that you gave me an Advancement Elixir." "Oh you're lucky I don't leave you here." One of your eyebrows raises. "Besides, why would I care what you tell Jin?" "Because he will bitch and moan for ''years'' until you give him one too." Shit. He would. You look off into the white expanse of nothing, pondering the pros and cons of leaving her here to die instead. As a pro ''and'' a con in this situation, your parents are still alive. You're glad to have them in your life, but that also means you cannot dispose of your siblings. Reluctantly, you drop to one knee for Rin to climb on your back. She does so with an air of total victory, until you open your mouth. "When we get back, I'm marrying you off to Bo Lo." "Psht," Rin scoffs. "Good luck, you're not my Father." "Doesn't matter. You're a Warrior Caste member of a Clan now, and I'm your $patriarch." "Wait, uh, no..." Rin whispers as the reality of your threat settles in. "No! NO! NOOOOOOO!!!!!" Rin's screams echo through the Mist Chamber for hours until you finally make it back to the chamber door, escaping just in time to avoid, what turns out to be, a hefty overstaying fee. ''[Agility EXP Increased]'' <<var $agiexp + 10>>\ <<var $apval (25 + (($athletics * 3) + $survival))>>\ <<if (($bodytype is "Agile") or ($bodytype is "Legs"))>>\ <<var $apval + 5>>\ <</if>>\ <<apboost $apval>>\ <<if ($weight gte $chapter)>>\ <<weightexp>>\ <</if>>\ <<if (($hungryspiritritual gt 1) and (((($style is "Kiihakai") or ($race is "Oni")) or ($race is "Kitsune")) or (dig($metwukong, 2) gte 3)))>>\ ''[Hungry Spirit Ritual: Aura Pressure +8]'' <<var $aurapressure + 8>>\ <<elseif ($hungryspiritritual gt 1)>>\ ''[Hungry Spirit Ritual: Aura Pressure +5]'' <<var $aurapressure + 5>>\ <</if>>\ ''[Rin Combat Prowess +2]'' <<var $rincombat + 2>>\ <<var $trainingpartner + 100000000000>>\ <<var $days 1>>\ <<page "Return to the Port District" "hub-spendday">>\

When you come out the other side you're greeted by a tavern room. The wooden walls, ceiling, and floor are completely without decoration. The contents, on the other hand, provide all amenities you'd expect in life. You have a luxury bed, a pantry of food, multiple shelves with clay jars of water, and a small stream running through a stone hole dug into a corner for bathing and waste disposal. There's even sets of steel weights adorned with handles, a plethora of exercise instruments, and punching dummies of various materials. That's all normal enough, but two details mar the sight. One is the six-inch layer of mist on the ground. Your spiritual senses detect a presence heavier than Earth Chi coming off of the mist, and despite it only showing on the ground, you can feel its presence all throughout the air. Your body feels twice as heavy in the Mist Chamber; every step and every breath is made that much heavier. Yet at the same time, every breath is //rich// in aura. You're not sure where this Chamber was made and sealed, but you suspect it wasn't an Outer Province. The second detail marring the otherwise ordinary room is the missing wall. Across from the entrance there's no wall to the room. It exits out into a misty white ground with nothing but a vast expanse of white sky as far as the eye can see. Between the mist and the lack of landmarks, there is nothing to tell you how far it goes. The entire world outside of this room is a blank canvas. A hissing sound comes from behind you as the door seals shut, locking you in. The back of the door, a white circle of the structure's material, now stands out against the otherwise wooden frame of your room. To your surprise, several notes are written on this side of the doorway. <<image "https://www.auraclash.com/assets/images/ac-linebreak-top.png">>\ //Dearest Customer,// //Welcome to one of the many prides of the Mystic Lands: a Gravitational Mist Chamber. This blessing has been gifted to the Heavenly Ascension Trials at a heavily discounted rate for its participants.// //Inside you will find everything you need to survive and train with heightened intensity. You will find that the door will //not// open after the agreed upon time. This is not a failure but a feature. Through the mastery of chi sorcery and the greatest minds this world has ever seen, you have been granted the most important gift of all:// //Time.// //Reality within this chamber occurs at an accelerated rate. Three days will pass in the twelve hours you purchased.// //Glory to the Mystic Lands.// //Glory to Imperial Rasen.// <<image "https://www.auraclash.com/assets/images/ac-linebreak-bottom.png">>\ <<if ($subrace is "Monkey")>>\ <<var $val 3>>\ <<else>>\ <<var $val 1>>\ <</if>>\ <<var $trainingpartner + 110000000000000>>\ <<page "Continue" "hub-loc-mist-solo2">>\

Every minute of the next seventy-two hours goes into training. You grip handled-weights of stone and steel and practice various sorts of stances, strikes, and maneuvers. You practice kicks against the stationary dummies and train your reflexes against the rotating dummies that use your own force to strike you back. You sprint in 100m dashes, 500m dashes, and 1000m dashes by blasting yourself forward with chi. When you get to the leaping training while holding various boulders, under this increased gravity, you feel the results really come in. The immense strain on your muscles is met with an equal strain on your spirit; each time that you're exhausted you unleash as much energy blasts into the distance as you can muster, then sit down with some food and water from the pantry. Despite the fatigue and exhaustion, you don't actually sleep. There's not a chance in Hell you'd throw away hours of high quality training. Unfortunately all good things must come to an end. After seventy-two hours you're racked in sweat and your body aches beyond belief. Various medicines left in the pantry have kept your muscles safe from strain and your joints safe from strain, but it's not just medicine and increased gravity that's made this training indispensable. It's the high quality ambient aura you can feel in the Mist. Training inside this chamber has been akin to what it must be like to train in the Inner Kingdoms. <<if (($val is 1) or ($val is 3))>>\ <<var $apval (25 + (($athletics * 3) + $lore))>>\ <<var $agiexp + 3>>\ <<var $powexp + 3>>\ <<var $solexp + 3>>\ <<var $forexp + 2>>\ <<else>>\ <<var $apval (15 + (($athletics * 3) + $lore))>>\ <</if>>\ <<apboost $apval>>\ <<if ($weight gte $chapter)>>\ <<weightexp>>\ <</if>>\ <<if (($hungryspiritritual gt 1) and ((($race is "Oni") or ($race is "Kitsune")) or ($clonetech is "Mist Clone")))>>\ ''[Hungry Spirit Ritual: Aura Pressure +8]'' <<var $aurapressure + 8>>\ <<elseif ($hungryspiritritual gt 1)>>\ ''[Hungry Spirit Ritual: Aura Pressure +5]'' <<var $aurapressure + 5>>\ <</if>>\ After freshening up and eating and drinking your fill, it's finally time to leave. You approach the door \ <<if (($subrace is "Monkey") and ($metwukong is 10000000000))>>\ <<include "hub-loc-mist-wukong">>\ <<else>>\ <<include "hub-loc-mist-solo3">>\ <</if>>\

and press your palm against the smooth white circle of wall. A hissing sound emits from the doorway as it unseals. It rolls to the side, Mist leaking through the bottom, and a shining light blocks your view of the outside world. You step through. The very next moment you find yourself on the docks at night, the dim moonlight and lanterns of the Port District seeming pitch black compared to the bright white light you've been training in, and you feel light as a feather in normal gravity. Beneath you, a crowd is waiting for their turn. "Next." Says the bored Imperial Scribe on duty. You nod and walk passed him, through the crowd on the dock, and out into the city in search of lodgings. Several Martial Artists bicker over who gets to use the Mist Chamber you left, but that's not your business or concern. It's been seventy-two hours of exhausting work and your body screams for some well-earned rest. <<var $days 1>>\ <<page "Continue" "hub-spendday">>\

and- ''[Racial Event]'' Freeze in-place with fear. Your passive scan for spiritual presences doesn't detect anything at all, nor do your ears nor eyes nor nose. Indeed, by all senses, there's nothing wrong and nothing to worry about. So why is your pillow tilted when you haven't used the bed even once? Someone is in here with you. <<page "Continue" "hub-loc-mist-wukong2">>\

<<var $ruthless - 3>>\ <<var $honor + 1>>\ You drop to the ground on your knees and bend over, arms extended and head bowing into the floor. "This humble young $manwoman begs forgiveness from the Divine Resplendent Monkey King." "Whoa!" He laughs. "Gross. You apologized. Ew." <<if ($ruthless gt 50)>>\ ''[Compassion Check Failed]'' Sun Wukong summersaults off the cloud and lands in front of you, leaning over to frown in your face. "I don't know what's worse, being a coward or being a liar! What, you think you can be a hardass with everyone else and hide it from Old Uncle Wukong? <<var $metwukong + 1000000000>>\ I came here for a monkey that was true to <<print $himher>>self, not a suckup! Get out of here! Get out! ''//GO!//''" With that last word the mist around you shakes and shines. There's no escalation, its luminescence grows from nothing to blinding in a second and when \ <<include "hub-loc-mist-wukonggone">>\ <<else>>\ ''[Compassion Check Passed]'' Sun Wukong summersaults off the cloud and lands in front of you, leaning over to get in your face. "But that's how you've always been, isn't it? Polite. //Too// polite, if you ask me! Except for all the times that you weren't. Now come on, you're embarrassing me! Drop the civility and get up, we've got so much to talk about!" Closing your eyes and gritting your teeth, you get up and try to reclaim your dignity. "What would the Great Esteemed Ancestor ask of me?" "Ask of you? No-no-no! I'm not here to make you do anything!" He pushes his lower lip out and shakes his head, using Sacred Chi to slide the entire room several feet with each shake. "No, no, no! Well, yes, but in a //good// way! I have come to //teach!//" \ <<include "hub-loc-mist-wukong4">>\ <</if>>\

"Heh." Wukong says, shoulders shaking in a restrained laughter. He doesn't restrain it for long. "Hehe. Hehehe. Hahahah''HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!'' You're funny! You're a little funnymonkey, is what you are!" Sun Wukong summersaults off the cloud and lands in front of you, leaning over to get in your face. <<if ($honor gt 55)>>\ ''[Dishonor Check Failed]'' "But it's a lie, isn't it? You're just trying to be funny to butter me up! Butter me up like a fat piggy so you can steal my secrets for free. Trying to make me like you by putting on some fake show. Don't try to fool //''ME''//, <<cap $name>>! I know who you are deep down, and deep down you're NOT funny!" What? Yes you are. "NO YOU'RE NOT!" He screams in response to nothing in particular. "LYING IS //MY// DOMAIN, NOT YOURS! I came here for a monkey that was true to <<print $himher>>self, not a suckup! Get out of here! Get out! ''//GO!//''" <<var $metwukong + 1000000000>>\ With that last word the mist around you shakes and shines. There's no escalation, its luminescence grows from nothing to blinding in a second and when \ <<include "hub-loc-mist-wukonggone">>\ <<else>>\ ''[Dishonor Check Passed]'' "I like it! Come on, we're going to get along great and there's so much to do!" "Like a divine quest?" You ask. "Ehhhhhhhh yes. No. Something like that. Put it this way, do I want you to do something //for me?// No. No, no, no. I want you to do something for //yourself!// You see, I've come down here to teach!" <<include "hub-loc-mist-wukong4">>\ <</if>>\

<<var $metwukong + 2000000000>>\ <<var days 1>>\ "By the Heavens!" You scream while pointing behind Sun Wukong, King of Monkeys, "//THREE// Wild Gods in one month?!" "HUH?" He shouts, turning around and leaping into the distance with a single bound. He looks to his left and right as he soars into the white expanse of the Mist Chamber. "IF THAT BIRD IS GETTING IN MY BUSINESS I WILL COOK HER WINGS!" The second he separates from you, you press your hand into the door of the Mist Chamber. The door hisses as mist leaks out and the bright light shines in the doorway once again. "OH I GET IT!" Sun Wukong says, turning back to you. "VERY CLEV-" You roll through the blinding light before he even finishes talking, yet in the last millisecond before disappearing out of the chamber you almost thought you saw his face right in front of yours. That's impossible though, he was so far away outside the room. Yet... The image of his face is imprinted in your mind, as if it were an inch away. The anger in his eyes mixed with the smile across his face still haunts you even as you roll backwards off the dock's plank and onto the pier. There's less of a crowd than when you entered. You rise to your feet, prepare for trouble, and stand at the ready for several minutes. When no trouble finds you, you lower your guard hesitantly and realize you're probably just hallucinating from lack of sleep. It would make sense. The Monkey King, choosing to visit you? Unlikely. With that ordeal over and done with, you head out to find somewhere to rest. <<page "Continue" "hub-spendday">>\

"Yes." You reply with a stoney expression. <<if ($ruthless lt 50)>>\ ''[Ruthless Check Failed]'' <<var $metwukong + 1000000000>>\ "Oh, a tough guy, eh?" Wukong says, summersaulting off the cloud and landing right in front of your face. "A real hardass. A bully. A monkey who calls it like it is!" You slowly nod, unsure where he's going with this. "Except it's all a LIE!" He screams in your face, wind rushing from his throat like a hurricane. The force of his shout peels the wood off the room's walls. "You're not a jerk, you're a nice \ <<if ($heshe is "he")>>\ guy! \ <<else>>\ lady! \ <</if>>\ A goody two-shoes! I'll bet you hug puppies at night, you puppy hugger!" You open your mouth to respond but he shoves the tip of his staff into your open jaw. "GO HUG A PUPPY!" Wukong screams dejectedly, as if you'd just dumped him. "SEE IF I CARE!" His staff grows in length and launches you face-first through the Mist Chamber door. A blinding flash hits you when your back smacks into the door. When \ <<include "hub-loc-mist-wukonggone">>\ <<else>>\ ''[Ruthless Check Passed]'' "Hehe." Sun Wukong snickers, the flames around him extinguishing. "You're such a little shit. Can't wait for that to bite you in the ass, but I'm not one to go around ass-biting. You'll need to find someone else, //after// we have our fun!" You gulp. "What kind of fun?" "MY KIND OF FUN!" Wukong screams, his hands raising to the heavens and glowing with all five types of Styled Chi. It suddenly dawns on you that Sun Wukong is a Wild God. He pauses, as if noticing your body freezing up, and dismisses the effect. "Oh stop worrying, worrywart!" <<include "hub-loc-mist-wukong4">>\ <</if>>\

It feels like no Technique you've learned before. Rather than a section of complex Chi compressed into your Soul, it feels like a tunnel you've dug into a greater well somewhere else. Still, you can't shake the sensation of its essence deep within your soul. You press your willpower upon its Technique Core and trigger its effects. A copy of you flashes into existence before your very eyes. What a \ <<if ($heshe is "he")>>\ handsome bastard. <<else>>\ gorgeous \ <<if ($honor lte 40)>>\ bitch. <<else>>\ gal. <</if>>\ <</if>>\ "Heh." You say. "Hehe." 'You' says. "HehehahahAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!" You both erupt in joyous, concerningly long laugher while maintaining eye contact the entire time. ''[Insanity Event: Honor Reduced]'' <<var $honor - 5>>\ <<if ($honor gte 50)>>\ <<var $honor - 3>>\ <</if>>\ The two of you reel back your arms and give a powerful high five like Brass Tiger did so many months ago. Clone-You erupts into Mist and enters your Cores again, filling you with its reinvigorating chi and memories of its short timeline of events. You breathe deeply, cherishing the symmetry, and nearly shed a tear when you look to the door. It's time to return to the normal world. <<page "Continue" "hub-loc-mist-wukong11">>\

Hard wood pelts your shoulders, hip, back, and forehead from the tumble you suffer down the plank leading out of the Mist Chamber's entrance. You hit the dock with a loud 'thud'; a small price to pay to escape the chamber as fast as possible. You sprawl out onto the dock, kiss the hard flooring three times, and rise to your feet. You're back. You're //actually// back! "Next!" Says the clerk from last year. A reptile Yokai woman with green hair and a spear marches up the plank to enter the Mist Chamber behind you. As she does so, her green hair reminds you of a woman you saw once. A year ago, at these very docks, just before the Resplendent Ancestor's imprisoning statue stole a year of your life. In fact, you recognize many of the faces on the dock. Not being a slow learner, you thank your Ancestors and look to the clerk. "It's only been twelve hours, hasn't it?" You ask. "I see the astute $ymaster knows $hisher letters." The clerk says, bowing as if actually impressed. "Indeed, as the guide stated, twelve hours have passed outside while three days have passed inside. A true miracle of the Mystic Lands." "Yeah..." You say, looking around cautiously. "A miracle." "Is something the matter, $ymaster?" "No." You reply. "Just looking out for-" That's when you spot it. A macaque eating a white peach, sitting on the railing of a nearby ship with its feet dangling over the edge. That's no way for a monkey to sit. You //know// it. That's the god damn Monkey King! ...Or so you think, until it scratches its butt, smells its fingers, and recoils from the smell. It then grabs the peach in both hands again, gets poop on the fruit by mistake, and takes a bite. Okay, so that's not Divine Resplendent Ancestor Sun Wukong the Monkey King. It's just a monkey. <<var $days 1>>\ You turn and leave the docks to find lodgings, not seeing the monkey smile at you from behind before it vanishes into a puff of mist. <<if (($insight + $perception) gte 5)>>\ <<page "Continue" "hub-loc-mist-wukong12">>\ <<else>>\ <<page "Continue" "hub-spendday">>\ <</if>>\

''[Insight + Perception 5 Check Passed]'' <<apboost 10>>\ "Wait a minute!" You shout, turning around and thinking the rest to yourself. //How do I know the monkey smiled and disappeared into smoke if I didn't see it, WUKONG?!// The sensation of subtle Sacred Chi vanishes from around you, and with it a barely audible laugh drifts into the distance. You grit your teeth and pray to...no one, actually. Sun Wukong might hear it. You instead simply //desire// that you're not still in one of the Monkey King's tests, and leave to find lodgings wherever you can get them. Your body is in the same state as it was before ever being turned to stone: physically exhausted and without rest for over seventy-two hours. "Heh, seventy-two hours." You snicker to yourself in your head, out loud. "That's right. Just seventy-two hours..." <<page "Continue" "hub-spendday">>\

"WOW!" Shouts an excited man's voice from the vast nothingness through the missing wall. "NOBODY EVER CAUGHT ME BEFORE, BRAVO! WELL, EXCEPT THE OTHERS, BUT THEY DON'T COUNT AFTER I MADE THEM FORGET." You try to steady yourself but the shiver of fear in your upper spine won't go away. You still don't sense anything. After one big breath to calm yourself, which fails, you turn around and see nothing out of the ordinary. "How did you know I caught you?" You ask, eyes scanning the room. "I didn't react." Plus he mentioned erasing memories...you narrow your vision and exude your $auracolor aura, ready for a fight. "Are you an Aoyusumu user?" "AOYUSUMU USER? SURE! I'LL USE ANYTHING!" The voice shouts back. "STYLES, CHI, ERAS, ''//PEOPLE//''." The air itself shakes in emphasis, and a figure rises from the mist twenty feet outside your room. First a head, then a body, then legs folded over each other in a meditative stance. The man keeps rising until he's five feet off the ground and you realize he's sitting on a small cloud. He's also covered in snowsteel-like armor that reflects the light only in certain lines, a similar headband lined with feathers, and a golden belt. A Bo Staff lies on his back and, most importantly, you note the man's smile is far too wide for a human. It's fitting, as he is not Human. Nor is he Lunargoth, Oni, or even Yokai, though he could be mistaken for one at a distance. Rather, the man before you is an eight-foot tall monkey. <<var $val 0>>\ <<if (((((($fullname is "Sun Wukong") or ($fullname is "Son Wukong")) or ($fullname is "Wukong Sun")) or ($fullname is "Wukong Son")) or ($fullname is "Monkey King")) or ($fullname is "King Monkey"))>>\ <<var $val 1>>\ "<<cap $fullname>>, you've got a lot of nerve taking a Wild God's name!" Says the unmistakable Monkey King, Sun Wukong. <<elseif ($name is "Wukong")>>\ <<var $val 2>>\ "<<cap $fullname>>, you've got a lot of nerve taking a Wild God's name!" Says the unmistakable Monkey King, Sun Wukong. <<else>>\ "<<cap $fullname>>, you've got to have the worst luck in the world." Says the unmistakable Monkey King, Sun Wukong. "Two Wild Gods in one week!" <</if>>\ <<page "Continue" "hub-loc-mist-wukong3">>\

Not a hair on your body moves in the presence of the Monkey King. You've followed legends of him all your life, every Monkey Yokai has. Your childhood bedtime stories were filled with his antics and adventures, from him breaking into the Heavens to bring the secrets of cultivation to Beasts, to his less benevolent tasks like recreating the Imperial Capital in the clouds and kidnapping the Child-Emperor of the time, placing him in a likeness of his own bed in his sleep so he'd awaken to an empty city. A labor of 100 years of craftmanship, painstakingly delivering every brick from the ground to the clouds and recreating every piece of constantly changing furniture, all for a good laugh one morning. And now this impossibly patient, impossibly insane, godlike progenitor of your people stands before you. You enjoy what might be your last breath through your nose and give up, simply asking the question, "I'm in trouble, aren't I?" Sun Wukong's head snaps up, his back straightening to attention. "What makes you think that?" "You're //the// Sun Wukong. The troublebringer to the Heavens themselves." "So? I can be fun! Are you saying I can't be fun?" The tips of his hair glow like embers, igniting in a second with flames bursting around his body. "ARE YOU SAYING I CAN'T BE FUN, YOU INSOLENT WHELP? ''//YOU DARE DOUBT MY WHIMSY?!//''" <<choose "hub-loc-mist-wukong-apology">> #[Kowtow three times in apology] #"Yes." -> "hub-loc-mist-wukong-yes" #use-if ($thievery gte 2) [Toss him a banana] [Requires Thievery 2] You have no idea how to handle the direct attention of a divine being, but you've dealt with monkeys before. Rin and Jin, mostly. You stick to ole reliable and withdraw a banana you swiped off a shopper outside, then toss it at the Resplendent Ancestor, Divine Hero, and Progenitor of your People. Sun Wukong, the Monkey King. It slaps him in the burning fur of his head and breaks apart, melting all over his face. <<page "Continue" "hub-loc-mist-wukong-banana">>\ #[Escape out the door] -> "hub-loc-mist-wukong-escape" <</choose>>

He drops his monkey-like hands on your shoulders. They feel like mountains he's barely holding just above your skin. "It'll be great. You'll thank me! Relax all that tension, this is a friendly visit to a celebrity of mine: the great and overly mischievous $fullname! I love it when my people make terrible decisions and cause a big mess." He holds up one hand and starts counting on his fingers. "Ebikowa's Demonic Gate? \ <<if (dig($gazget, 1) is 3)>>\ Killing \ <<else>>\ Kicking the crap out of \ <</if>>\ Gazhurra's youngest when it's down? Destroying a Magistrate's statue in front of him? \ <<if ($taint gte 20)>>\ Not to mention the...//things// going on in your spirit. That'll be a fun egg when it hatches." Your face twists at that last one. "...Come again?" "Oh don't worry about it, you should be used to the fun of surprises by now!" He laughs too hard, too forced, then snaps his head back down so your foreheads touch. \ <<else>>\ Not to mention the trouble you give your Sect, that one's my favorite." He laughs too hard, too forced, then snaps his head back down so your foreheads touch. \ <</if>>\ "There's always so many interesting problems only caused because you show up! I love it! Truth be told you're in my top five-hundred monkeys right now." He smiles that much wider, his musty breath assailing your nostrils, and in his eyes you see an inhuman glee. "But how would you like to be in my top //four//-hundred monkeys?" You cringe through a smile, knowing this has to be a prank. A bad prank. A bad prank from the Monkey God of pranks. Your hand subconsciously scratches at the door behind you, a mere eight inches away. <<choose "hub-loc-mist-wukong5">> #"Hell yeah." <<var $honor - 1>>\ "Hell yeah." You reply. "Let's do some Monkey God training!" "Yeahahaha!" Wukong shouts, jumping and clapping. "A volunteer! No one ever wants to volunteer!" "Because they're suckers!" You shout eagerly, "Now come on, what's the first lesson?" #"As long as no one dies." <<var $ruthless - 2>>\ "As long as no one dies." You reply. "Easy! This is the most peaceful training you'll have all year!" He snickers at that, leans over, covers his hand in his mouth, and starts out-right barking with laughter. For twenty real seconds you watch the Monkey King fall to the ground and roll over in laughter, holding his belly as he does so. ... ... ... "So..." You finally say over the sound of his continued laughter. "What's the first lesson?" "Oh!" Wukong shouts, flipping forward and landing on his feet in a heavy crouch. He smiles up at you, his head tilted to the side. \ #[Open the door behind you and escape] -> "hub-loc-mist-wukong-escape" <</choose>>

"//True// Cultivation!" He chants merrily. "I will teach you a hair's width of the divine revelations I've learned from the Heavens themselves casting me down into stone for so many centuries." //Oh Hell Yes!// Your smile involuntarily widens at such a gift. "That's the spirit!" Wukong beams. "Now let's get to it! You young pups these days jump right to the tangible rewards far, far too early. Right into the fun, bah! You never get to sit back and learn the //lessons//, the philosophy, the meditations! I can't say how happy I am that you're so excited for real spiritual cultivation. Not scarfing up fire and growing muscles, but meditating! In a cave! For an unbearably long time!" Your smile fades as he speaks. "Er, wait a mo-" "Have fun!" Wukong shouts, pointing a shining finger at you. Its tip glows amber and the sound of shifting gravel fills your ears. Literally. It //fills// your ears, and your entire body is turned to stone. Then, in a puff of smoke and laughter, Sun Wukong vanishes. <<page "Continue" "hub-loc-mist-wukong6">>\

A month has passed since you've been turned to stone, or covered in stone, or trapped in an illusion of being stone. You've had a lot of time to ponder the possibilities. The hunger and thirst of the first few days eventually faded. Now all that remains is the boredom. You've tried every type of revelation you can manage, hoping against hope that Sun Wukong returns to free you and say you've figured out the lesson. As time's gone on you've come to accept that there is no lesson. Counting passes the time for a while but you keep losing track around three-thousand. \ <<if (dig($mettaio, 1) gte 6)>>\ Even the Taio clones inside your soul are silent, seemingly absent from your imprisonment. \ <</if>>\ You try spiritual scans to search for //anything// to help, but they don't seem to work...at first. After weeks of effort you've developed a method to coat your body in the same sensation as a spiritual scan. Rather than expanding a bubble of weak energy from your mind, you wrap that 'bubble' sensation around your skin and rotate it. It's tough at first, as your body is not spherical (Rin would give you a good insult by disagreeing), but you have plenty of time to get used to it. ''[Insight +1]'' <<var $insight + 1>>\ In spare hours you find yourself envisioning fight scenarios, thinking about your loved ones, and direly wishing you'd gotten some rest before this whole ordeal. Your body is suspended in the same state it was in when Wukong turned you to stone: exhausted. You'd trained for three days without sleep and now the fatigue nags at you every second, yet your mind cannot find rest. <<page "Continue" "hub-loc-mist-wukong7">>\

Three more months have passed and you know you've missed the Heavenly Ascension Trials. You wonder if anyone has tried a rescue by now or if your Mist Chamber disappeared, or even broke from Sun Wukong's interference. Or perhaps he's expanded the time acceleration effect and it's only been seconds. Or perhaps you're trapped in a dream. Perhaps Wukong never showed at all, and this illusion is from a rival Martial Artist. Perhaps $fullname never existed and this is all a prank on a statue's nascent sentience. You've had plenty of time to think of every possibility. Hells, you've had plenty of time to think about everything. ''[Lore +1]'' <<var $lore + 1>>\ Despite the lack of food or water, your body does not starve. It must be some aspect of suspended animation in Wukong's petrification Technique, you assume. Yet it can't be absolute, because your body //has// changed. Months of inactivity have caused a terrible ache and stiffness in your... <<choose "hub-loc-mist-wukong8">> #use-if ($perception gt 0) Eyes [Perception -1] <<var $perception - 1>>\ ''[Perception -1]'' #use-if ($stealth gt 0) Knees [Stealth -1] <<var $stealth - 1>>\ ''[Stealth -1]'' #use-if ($craft gt 0) Back [Craft -1] <<var $craft - 1>>\ ''[Craft -1]'' #use-if ($thievery gt 0) Hands [Thievery -1] <<var $thievery - 1>>\ ''[Thievery -1]'' <<if ($thievery is 2)>>\ <<var $commerce - 5>>\ <</if>>\ <</choose>>

Untold time goes by. The hours blend into days which blend into weeks which blend into months. Slowly you begin to accept that your physical form is not long for this world. People weren't meant to be awake this long, and the madness has long since gnawed at the edges of your mind. These days (heh, what is a day?) the madness has moved far beyond 'gnawing at the edges' of your mind and is instead taking large bites right out of the center. Luckily you won't have to endure it much longer. You've devised a way out. The perfect escape. There's noticeable Aura Pressure in the mist around you, and spirits come from such ambient aura all the time. You're going to release your consciousness and aura out of your body and into that Mist by cycling your chi //after// releasing it, in hopes of escaping as a spirit yourself. There's no deep breaths to take; your lungs have long since been petrified, but you envision the action anyway. Then, channeling your stubborn spirit, you squeeze the chi out of your Cores and press outward in all directions, in a counterclockwise spiral. The Mist around you responds, shaking with a faint $auracolor glow. //It's working!// You think in manic glee. Then you release everything into the chi. You taint it with your will, your essence, your everything. Every ounce of life energy presses out and over to the Mist, embed with one last command: the command to cycle. Spiraling lines of chi form in the Mist around you and if you could smile, you'd grin like a lunatic. You will become one with the Mist, a spirit of the clouds, or you will die trying. <<page "The age of Misticism begins!" "hub-loc-mist-wukong9">>\

"Wow, you look like shit." Says $fullname's voice from the Mist. The cycling spirals of $auracolor chi in front of you form into a physical body. Rather than an Elemental, your effect turns into...you. A fully clothed copy of you. Yet in this state of spiritual near-death your senses are amplified five-fold and you sense exactly what it truly is: A Clone Technique. "I'm not going to sugarcoat it." 'You' says to you. "You might have been bumped in the head too many times. This took //so much// longer than he thought it would." //Don't pretend you're not going to help.// You think back at the Clone Technique. "Fine, fine." The clone relents. You're unsure if it can hear your thoughts, or if it's toying with you due to having its own agency, or if it's simply saying what you would always say in its place, or if it's Sun Wukong speaking through the clone, or if you intended for it to say such a thing all along just so you'd hear a precious conversation again. You're been in here far, far too long. ''[Age +1]'' <<var $age + 1>>\ "On that, we agree." 'You' says. Then $heshe reaches out and places a palm on the stone around your body. It cracks with but a touch, crumbling to sand. Hope fills you for the first time in months. Hope, and the sensation of pins and needles all over your body. A rain of sand falls around you and the petrification finally ends. As it does so, the Clone Technique version of you \ <<if ($honor gt 50)>>\ gives a confident nod just before \ <<else>>\ opens $hisher mouth to say something clever, but is cut off when \ <</if>>\ $heshe erupts into Mist that swirls into your Cores like a cycling. <<var $metwukong + 3000000000>>\ <<choose "hub-loc-mist-wukong10">> #[Store the Technique in your Power Cores.] <<learntech 1230005000000000 "Mist Clone" "Passively grants the ability to create temporary Clones. Increases Agility Core by +1 when focused.">>\ #[Store the Technique in your Fortitude Cores.] <<learntech 2230005000000000 "Mist Clone" "Passively grants the ability to create temporary Clones. Increases Agility Core by +1 when focused.">>\ #[Store the Technique in your Agility Cores.] <<learntech 3230005000000000 "Mist Clone" "Passively grants the ability to create temporary Clones. Increases Agility Core by +1 when focused.">>\ #[Store the Technique in your Soul Cores.] <<learntech 4230005000000000 "Mist Clone" "Passively grants the ability to create temporary Clones. Increases Agility Core by +1 when focused.">>\ <</choose>>

you open your eyes again, you're on the docks outside of the Mist Chamber. It's dark out, the moon is shining, and no one seems to pay you any mind. That makes sense, you think, as nothing unusual just happened. You trained for three days in the Mist Chamber and left without issue or event. Just another day passing by, although you can't help but feel that the clouds above have an overbearing sense of judgment. You're not quite sure why, though. Must be the rain. <<var $days 1>>\ <<page "Continue" "hub-spendday">>\

You've already been in the Mist Chamber alone, and have no doubt of the diminishing returns of doing the same type of training over and over. In order to gain a better workout, you consider taking... <<choose "hub-loc-mist-kosuke">> #show-if (dig($trainingpartner, 2) gte 1) use-if (dig($trainingpartner, 2) is 1) Kosuke #show-if (dig($trainingpartner, 3) gte 1) use-if (dig($trainingpartner, 3) is 1) Jin <<var $brorep + 5>>\ <<var $partner "Jin">>\ "YES!" Jin screams, dropping into a horse stance from the increased gravity the second he walks through the Mist Chamber door. "YES YES YES!" His aura radiates around him to push his body hard enough to stand straight and he grabs the nearby bed, lifting it over his head with heavy strain. "This is amazing! <<cap $name>>, I take back everything I said about you yesterday!" "You said bad things about me yesterday?" He drops the bed and turns, wiping his forehead to stop the sweat that's already forming. "Uh, no? So what do we do first, some sort of super secret fast-track Aura Pressure boost?" "That's what it will seem like to everyone else." You say, pointing one finger to the weights and sparring dummies. "Get to work." "Hell yeah!" He shouts, running to the exercise equipment. You really expected to crush his hopes and dreams with the prospect of hard work but, damn, you've never seen him this excited. <<page "Continue" "hub-loc-mist-jin">>\ #show-if (dig($trainingpartner, 4) gte 1) use-if (dig($trainingpartner, 4) is 1) Rin <<var $sisrep + 3>>\ <<var $partner "Rin">>\ "Holy moly!" Rin says from the floor, her face pinned to the ground by the enhanced gravity the moment you both enter the chamber. "Are you okay?" You ask, deeply concerned. "The gravity's not that bad." "Yes it is!" She insists, doing one slow pushup to pull herself to a seated position with noticeable effort. "This is terrible, how do you get used to something like this? My eyelids feel heavy! My //eyelids!!//" "The mist will help you, it's got higher ambient chi. You should be able to move tomorrow, I just..." "Don't know how I can help you train." She says, finishing your sentence. She looks around the room and further out into the wide white expanse into nothing. With reluctance, she looks to the ceiling and groans. "Carry me." "What?" "You wanted weighted training, and you paid for me to be here. I'm not holding my \ <<if ($heshe is "he")>>\ brother \ <<else>>\ sister \ <</if>>\ back in the most important tournament of $hisher life so ''carry me''." You jab a thumb over your shoulder. "Rin, I already have weights here." "Yes, but you don't care about those weights. You care about me, I hope. You always say that risky training works better, right?" She holds out one arm in a half-shrug. "Run with me on your back as far as you can go. Mid-day tomorrow we'll turn around and run back, when you're exhausted. If you don't make it in time we'll be lost, or disqualified from the tournament, or worse, charged extra. High stakes weighted exercise. That's what you warriors like, right?" You want to find fault in her point, largely because you don't want to carry your sister and spend all seventy-two hours on legday, but... "It's not a bad idea." You confess. "I know." Rin says as if it were obvious. "Only you and Jin make bad ideas." <<page "Thirty-six hours later..." "hub-loc-mist-rin">>\ #No one. I //yearn// for the peace and quiet. -> "hub-loc-mist-solo2" <<var $honor + 1>>\ <</choose>>

<<if (dig($placevisit, 7) is 0)>>\ The docks of Nanhou are littered with barkers, flyers, and noticeboards looking for all sorts of workers. Unfortunately, most of them //aren't// the kind of tasks a lone Martial Artist can perform. Those are already taken by the many Martial Artists in Nanhou. \ Most of the work is instead for naval vessels. Deliveries, transports, coastal search parties. The kind of thing that takes a ship and a crew. Something you actually possess. A breath of relief escapes your mouth when you find the solution to a problem that had been on your mind for most of your journey. Without a steady stream of income, you're not sure why anyone would remain as a Retainer to your Clan. Now you won't have to find out. Not only can your crew get paid for whatever task they're put to, but you can even line your pockets with a share of the cut. <<var $placevisit + 100000000>>\ <<else>>\ Barkers, flyers, and noticeboards looking for all sorts of workers fill the docks of Nanhou. Exactly the kind of work your men need to keep the Shards coming. <</if>>\ <<include "hub-loc-sendships2">>\

You send your men to fetch messenger gulls, strap your notes to the birds' legs, and send them off in the direction where your crews should be located. It's shocking how cheap the gulls services are; it seems the aviary of Nanhou is the only place that actually prepared for the full scale of the Heavenly Ascension Trials. Not that you'd know; you never go near the aviary building yourself. <<if ($roc gte 1)>>\ <<cap $rocname>> is banned for harassing the gulls. <<else>>\ That's what retainers are for. <</if>>\ <<costcalc 4>>\ Your ships return hours later, ready for new orders. <<var $busyships 100000000000000>>\ <<var $shipsleft $shipcount>>\ <<include "hub-loc-sendships2">>\

<<var $val ($shipcount - $shipsleft)>>\ <<var $sendit 0>>\ ''[Available Ships: $shipsleft]'' ''[Unavailable Ships: $val]'' <<if ($shipsleft lte 0)>>\ With no ships left to send, you head back to the Port District. You also wonder who the Hells you put as temporary Captain for your flagship. You weren't paying much attention and they're sailing your naval home right now. Hopefully it wasn't Mars. <<choose "hub-port-district">> #use-if ((($shards + ($silver / 10)) + ($gold * 10)) gte 4) Fetch the messenger birds to call all ships back. [Costs 40 Silver] -> "hub-loc-sendships-callback" #Leave <</choose>> <<else>>\ Looking over your available ships and work requests, you send out a crew to... <<choose "hub-loc-shipquantity">> #use-if (($shipsleft gte 1) and (dig($busyships, 2) is 0)) Transport civilians to and from Nanhou. <<var $ruthless - 1>>\ Noticeboards around the Port District are lined with flyers requesting transport from towns up and down the coast. Safe, simple work that pays well. The perfect task for your crew. <<var $val3 10000000000000>>\ #use-if (($shipsleft gte 1) and (dig($busyships, 3) is 0)) Perform rescue searches for the local guard. <<var $honor + 1>>\ The local guard's ships are sleak, new, and outfitted with impressive equipment. However, they are finite. Nanhou's new fleet can't be everywhere, and the City Guard is hiring ships to aid in rescue missions and searches for missing vessels. <<var $val3 1000000000000>>\ #use-if (($shipsleft gte 1) and (dig($busyships, 4) is 0)) Send the crews out for deep sea fishing. You have no trouble finding work in the ocean; it's full of food and Nanhou is filled with hungry mouths. Easy math. "Men, get the nets and harpoons!" You call out to your retainers. "Those fish won't catch themselves!" "Aye aye, Honored $patriarch!" The men shout back. "We feast tonight!" <<var $val3 100000000000>>\ #use-if (($shipsleft gte 1) and (dig($busyships, 5) is 0)) Search the shallow waters for wreckages to salvage. The journey to Nanhou is treacherous simply on the grounds that the entire world knows about it. There's no doubt in your mind that dozens, maybe hundreds of ships were lost in the journey from storms, Beasts, spirits, or enemy Sects. That's where your money lies. "Suit up and prepare the grappling ropes, men!" You shout to your retainers who snap to attention. "You're scaling the archipelagos to salvage from shipwrecks." "As you wish, Honored <<cap $patriarch>>!" The men shout back with a salute. <<var $val3 10000000000>>\ #show-if ($background is "Herbalist") use-if (($shipsleft gte 1) and (dig($busyships, 7) is 0)) Have the crews collect alchemical guano from nearby islands. [Requires Herbalist] You sit your crew down and, very slowly, explain to them that you're not joking. You really do want them to collect the caked-on layers of bird shit coverings the rocks of the surrounding islands. "You want us to collect a bunch of rockgunk?" Asks one of the Lunargoth women on your crew. "And you think people will pay for it?" "Top Shards." You reply. "The components for fertilizer alone would be invaluable, but it's useful for combustion powders too." "May I request a different duty?" She replies, hoping to not spend her days poopfarming. "You may not." <<var $val3 100000000>>\ #show-if (((dig($metnohal, 2) is 5) or (dig($metnohal, 2) is 1)) and (($background is "Merchant") or (($flagshiptype is "Merchant") or ($flagshiptype is "Junk")))) use-if (($shipsleft gte 1) and (dig($busyships, 8) is 0)) Transport cargo for Dou Nohal's Choral Line Sect. <<if (dig($metnohal, 1) is 1)>>\ "Dou Nohal?" You ask, shocked to see the man on an opposing dock. "Nohal! Here, over here!" The merchant looks up from his papers that he's scribbling over the side of a crate and squints, adjusting his glasses to see you. His mouth drops into a smile when he finally recognizes who you are. "$ymaster $clan!" He shouts, running over at a normal mortal pace. "What a delight! I trust your journey to Nanhou was without trouble?" "Quite the opposite, my friend." You correct. "But things are settled \ <<if (dig($mettaio, 1) gte 6)>>\ now." //Are they?// Taunts Taio the Bandit from inside your mind where he haunts your soul to aid in your demonic cultivation. //Shut up.// You command, looking back to Dou Nohal and continuing where you left off. "So \ <<else>>\ now. So \ <</if>>\ settled, in fact, that my men have found themselves afflicted with idle hands." You wave an arm to signify your nearby ship and crew. "You wouldn't happen to have work, would you?" "I most certainly would!" He beams. "There's more work than workers in such a bountiful opportunity like Nanhou. At least, for those who know where to look." He pauses to analyze your vessel from afar. \ <<if ($flagshiptype isnot "merchant")>>\ "Normally we only employ Merchant-style ships, but I'm sure we can squeeze in some room for one of our shareholders." <<else>>\ "Your ships are already outfitted for secure Merchant style transport, I see no reason not to employ them." <</if>>\ "Appreciated." You reply. <<if (dig($metnohal, 3) is 1)>>\ ''[Special Event]'' "It is I who is appreciative." He replies, withdrawing a small coinpouch. "That little deal you made with the Windrising Sect reached our messengers, signed in their official Seal. Quite lucrative pricing you hit them with. They tried to take it back afterwards, of course, citing some sort of heresy or blasphemy on your part." Dou Nohal brushes a hand into the air dismissively. "Petty ramblings. We burned the letter and informed them their Seal was legally binding." A pleasant smile spreads across your face, knowing all is right in the world when bad things happen to people who annoy you. "Oh." Nohal adds, withdrawing a small coinpouch. "I received a commission from your commission, but the rest is yours to keep as thanks from the Choral Line Trade Sectmaster." ''[Item Gained: 20 Gold]'' <<var $gold + 20>>\ ''[Item Gained: 450 Silver]'' <<var $silver + 450>>\ <<var $metnohal + 100000000>>\ "Ancestors," You say, breathing in the rejuvenating air of the sea. "It feels good to be a Merchant." "Doesn't it just?" Dou Nohal agrees. <<else>>\ "Think nothing of it." He replies warmly. "Truly, think nothing of it. I don't want you pondering your profit share too closely." "Very funny." You say, snapping your fingers twice for him to present the contracts. <</if>>\ The two of you work out the clauses and payments for your ship's contributions to the Choral Line Sect's naval operations in the area. <<var $sect_choralline + 5>>\ <<var $metnohal + 10000000000>>\ <<else>>\ "Always a pleasure to do business." Dou Nohal says when you approach his ship. "How did you know I would be in port?" You blink twice. "I suppose I didn't. I assumed you'd be in the same place as last time." "Huh." Dou Nohal replies. "Odd, I'm usually out at sea for deliveries." "You've been here every time I've ever checked." You reply. "An odd coincidence..." Dou says, scratching his short and stubbly beard. The chances of this don't seem to haunt him. He dismisses the thought and quickly returns to his natural state: business. "Still interested in making money?" A smile spreads across your face. "Always." <</if>>\ <<var $val3 10000000>>\ #show-if (dig($trialdeets, 3) gte 1) use-if (($shipsleft gte 1) and (dig($busyships, 9) is 0)) Raise the black flag! [Piracy] <<var $ruthless + 3>>\ <<if (dig($trialdeets, 3) is 1)>>\ <<var $trialdeets + 1000000>>\ <</if>>\ "Men, prepare the black flags." You say in hushed but excited tones. "Your mission today is to make us rich, and to make others poor." "Yes, Honored <<cap $patriarch>>!" Your retainers bow and obey your orders all too eagerly, fetching weapons they've hidden around deck. <<var $val3 1000000>>\ #show-if ($busyships isnot 100000000000000) use-if ((($shards + ($silver / 10)) + ($gold * 10)) gte 4) Fetch the messenger birds to call all ships back. [Costs 40 Silver] -> "hub-loc-sendships-callback" #Make no changes. [Return to the Port District.] -> "hub-port-district" <</choose>> <</if>>\

The only question is how many ships you send on this venture. ''[Free Ships at Port: $shipsleft]'' <<var $val2 0>>\ You decide to send... <<if ($shipsleft gt 9)>>\ <<var $val2 9>>\ <<else>>\ <<var $val2 $shipsleft>>\ <</if>>\ <<input-number $sendit 0 $val2 "hub-loc-shipquantity2">>\

<<var $shipsleft - $sendit>>\ <<var $busyships + ($sendit * $val3)>>\ Your crews untie from the dock's moorings, unfurl their sails, and dip their oars into the water to begin their journey out to sea. A brief sense of pride flashes through you before you turn back to the docks and ponder your next course of action. <<include "hub-loc-sendships2">>\

<<var $txt "You look over all your options at the shipyard, pacing around the different sections and looking through catalogues of merchandise. When done, you decide to...">>\ <<if (dig($placevisit, 11) is 0)>>\ <<include "hub-loc-shipyard-first">>\ <<else>>\ <<include "hub-loc-shipyard2">>\ <</if>>\

"I'd like to purchase a ship." You say to the Trademaster. "How much did you say they were again?" The long-bearded man bows. "The shipmodel matching your fleet will cost $shipbuy Shards, $ymaster. Unfortunately we cannot accept debt notes at this time, we-" You hand him six coinpouches holding the entire payment at once. <<costcalc $shipbuy>>\ ''[Prestige Increased]'' <<var $prestige + 1>>\ <<var $placevisit + 10000>>\ "Oh!" He exclaims, holding the large sum of money in one hand. "I will have my best men finish your ship as soon as possible." ''[Item Gained: 1 <<cap $flagshiptype>> Ship]'' <<var $shipcount + 1>>\ <<var $shipsleft + 1>>\ While the shipwrights get to work on customizing your new vessel, you think of what else the shipyard has to offer and decide to... <<include "hub-loc-shipyard3">>\

<<var $placevisit + 10000>>\ Nanhou's shipyard is a bizarre marvel; a building shaped like an audaciously oversized mahogany hull turned upside down. You could fit Thunderfall's entire market square under it. From the busy gossip you hear while waiting in a long line outside, you learn that the shipyard belongs to the 'Shielded Hull' Trade Sect, a new invention. It seems the last year and a half of constant travel and orders has enriched the locals enough to purchase their own Sect charter through their Magistrate. You doubt such a thing would even be approved more often than not, but Nanhou is the staging grounds for the Heavenly Ascension Trials. Exceptions are the new rule. After forty lengthy minutes you make your way through the line and pass by guards at the entrance; Imperial scribes dressed in the standard black robes and Bōgu masks. What sets them apart as guards is not only the golden sash around their waists, but the swords on their hips. When you enter the building you're astonished to see it dips off the docks and into the sea, holding six shipbuilding stations that are all currently in use. Two are completely dried out, allowing the workers to assemble the lower hull of a ship, and the other four are flooded with water while the shipwrights fix interior issues aboard floating vessels. Being a $manwoman of the mountains, you've never seen anything like this. The shipwrights on all six stations have wide smiles on their faces and joke constantly between their collaborative work. Maybe Father should have been a shipwright, because it looks like incredible fun. Although...on closer inspection, you don't think it's the work that has them in such high spirits. It's the pay. Every shipwright present, from the youngest apprentice up on a mast to the eldest craftmaster writing up blueprints, all are dressed in finer clothes than you've even ever seen on Magistrate Khan. And these are their //work clothes//. You suspect it's a profitable time to be a shipwright in Nanhou. <<page "Continue" "hub-loc-shipyard-first2">>\

"NEXT!" After waiting in another line you eventually get to the front desk at the side of the shipyard where a large man with a big white beard sits in an ornate jeweled hat. "What'll it be?" The man asks, looking down at his scribbled notes. "I'm unsure." You reply. "I've never been in a shipyard. I have my own fleet of $shipcount ships; what services do you provide for them?" The man looks up. "I am the Trademaster of the Shielded Hull Trade Sect, do you think I'm here to answer some youngling's questions?" "That's his job!" Shouts one of the shipwrights from atop a ship's unfinished prow. "Make him do it! The Magistrate said he has to!" "Little shit." The Trademaster grumbles. "Fine, we buy and sell ships. Double-storied dhows are our specialty, but we put those on pause to build junkships for prestigious clients willing to owe us a Writ of Favor. If you're looking to buy, we have a dhow nearly finished in shipbuilding station number four. If you're looking to sell then don't expect a premium rate. With so many Sects trying to sell everything to fund their Advancement we have more used supply than we can refurbish." Your plans fall away at that news. "So if I want a sizeable sum, I'd have to sell my entire fleet?" "Hah!" The man barks. "I wouldn't buy your fleet if you tried. Can't take more than one ship per customer anymore, learned that lesson. Already have three Sects accusing me of 'tricking' them out of their only transportation. Challenged me to a duel and everything. Had the guard kick them out." He spits. "Warrior Caste, bah!" He spits again, then notices your gi. "No offense." <<choose "hub-loc-shipyard3">> #Shrug. "None taken." <<var $ruthless - 1>>\ <<var $honor - 1>>\ You shrug. "None taken." "Good. Now what'll it be?" $txt #Spit too. "Fatherless dogs, the lot of them." <<var $honor - 2>>\ You spit too. "Fatherless dogs, the lot of them." "Oh, uh, huh?" The man asks, eyeing you and sending an amateur spiritual scan against your spirit. "Aren't you one of them?" "I was born Laborer Caste." You say. "The Magistrate elevated me to Warrior Caste on pure luck and I've been using it to teach the other Warriors a lesson ever since." <<if (($persuasion gte 3) or ($survival gte 3))>>\ <<if ($persuasion gte 3)>>\ ''[Persuasion 3 Check Passed]'' "Reminds me of my own journey with the Merchant Caste." The Trademaster says too loudly. "You know what, young one? \ <<else>>\ ''[Survival 3 Check Passed]'' "I'll bet!" The man says with appreciation. "You look like a $manwoman who's had to work hard to survive, facing the elements and hunger and predators. Not like those pansy Warriors who drink magical wine in a safe fortress and pretend they earned a place above us. I tell you what, young one, \ <</if>>\ I like you. The first ship you buy from us is on the house. Profit-wise, that is. We're still making you pay for parts and labor. Expect roughly a thirty-percent discount." ''[Discount Applied to First Ship Purchase]'' <<var $placevisit + 20000>>\ "Oh wow." Your eyes betray a genuine surprise. "Thank you, Honored Trademaster. That's an honor." "You're welcome!" He barks boastfully, clearly enjoying his recent title and rank. "Now, what'll it be?" $txt <<else>>\ ''[Persuasion 3 Check Failed]'' ''[Survival 3 Check Failed]'' "Uhuh." The Trademaster replies, disinterested. "So do you want anything in the shipyard, or can the lady in line behind you come up front?" "Hmm..." $txt <</if>>\ #Give a silent nod to allow the slight. You give a curt nod to allow the slight. He nods back in an informal bow. "What'll it be, $ymaster?" $txt <<var $honor + 2>>\ <<var $ruthless - 2>>\ #"Kowtow in apology. Now." -> "hub-loc-shipyard-kowtow" <</choose>>

Jin shows up within an hour and asks why you've interrupted his nap. It takes three of the Trademaster's men to stop him from escaping when he finds out you got him a job. "This is slavery!" He screams, hands latched to the enormous hull-building's doorway. "I will NEVER be a slave!" "Yes you will!" Shouts one of the three shipwrights pulling him back. "Welcome to adulthood!" Screams another, struggling to hold Jin's ankles. "One of us! One of us!" Screams the \ <<if (dig($metguiren, 1) is 3)>>\ third, who you recognize as Guiren's minion Wencheng. Huh, seems he's getting jobs for his men too. <<else>>\ third. <</if>>\ "Come on Jin," You say over their jeers, "being a shipwright is a good trade right now. The pay is incredible." The Trademaster coughs into his hand. "Not for him." "Oh." You hide a cringe and think of a different angle of attack. "Well...the ladies will //think// you're rich." Jin pauses at the doorway and turns his head. "How rich will they think I am?" The Trademaster approaches Jin and places a hand on his shoulder. "Junior, if it will get you to reposition our keels on the stinking seabed muck, I will personally lie to every jade beauty that your pay is higher than mine." Jin starts his first shift two minutes later. It's grueling work and he's forced to rely on his Power Cores in place of any crane or pulley system, yet the results of such physical work are apparent. His strength is pushed to new limits and he learns more about ship improvements on the job than you could have ever taught him; mostly because he would never have listened to your teachings. ''[Jin's Combat Prowess Increased]'' <<var $brorep + 5>>\ <<var $jincombat + 1>>\ ''[Retainer Morale +2]'' <<var $retainer_morale + 2>>\ ''[Retainer Strength +1]'' <<var $retainer_strength + 1>>\ <<var $metjin + 100000000>>\ <<if (($background is "Trapper") or ($background is "Blacksmith"))>>\ ''[<<cap $background>> Backgroud: Retainer Strength +1]'' <<var $retainer_strength + 1>>\ <</if>>\ He complains the whole time, but thankfully you don't stick around to hear it. Back at the Trademaster's desk, you decide to... <<include "hub-loc-shipyard3">>\

"Kowtow in apology." You say to the Shipyard's Trademaster. "Now." <<var $ruthless + 1>>\ <<var $val (1600 - ($persuasion * 100))>>\ <<if ((($bodytype is "Muscular") or ($bodytype is "Dommymommy")) or ($bodytype is "Bodacious"))>>\ <<var $val - 100>>\ ''[Bodytype Event: Difficulty Reduced]'' <<elseif (($bodytype is "Petite") or ($bodytype is "Manlet"))>>\ <<var $val + 100>>\ ''[Bodytype Event: Difficulty Increased]'' <</if>>\ <<if (($style is "Midorikatai") and ($heshe is "he"))>>\ ''[Midorikatai Event: Difficulty Reduced]'' <<var $val - 100>>\ <</if>>\ <<if (($style is "Kiihakai") and ($styleswapper isnot ""))>>\ ''[Draconic Roaring Aura: Difficulty Reduced]'' <<var $val - 100>>\ <</if>>\ <<if ($prestige gte 30)>>\ ''[Prestige 30 Event: Difficulty Reduced]'' <<var $val - 100>>\ <</if>>\ <<if ($aurapressure gte $val)>>\ ''[Aura Pressure $val Check Passed]'' Slowly, keeping eye contact at first, the man drops to one knee. His mouth twists in a frown when he lowers his other knee and descends his head to the ground. "Apologies, $ymaster, I spoke out of turn." "You did." You reply. "I expect recompensation." The man looks up with his mouth agape. "Uh, I...would be more than pleased to offer your first ship purchase at our non-profit pricing." "And what is the usual profit you would be sacrificing?" "Th-Thirty two percent." You stare at him for a long while before diffusing the tension. "Then that would please me as well." ''[Discount Applied to First Ship Purchase]'' <<var $placevisit + 20000>>\ He rises when you turn away from him to look over your options in the shipyard, considering how best to improve your nautical operations. <<include "hub-loc-shipyard3">>\ <<else>>\ ''[Aura Pressure $val Check Failed]'' "Guards!" The Trademaster shouts, pointing his quill at you. "Put this upstart in a place worse than jail: the back of the line!" <<page "NOOOOOOOOO!!!!" "hub-port-district">>\ <</if>>\

The lines at the shipyard are as abysmal as usual, but you weather through them until you get to the front. "What'll it be?" Asks the large, heavily bearded Trademaster in his bejeweled hat. He corrects it on his head, still not used to the garment. "What's available?" You ask. <<if ((dig($placevisit, 11) is 1) or (dig($placevisit, 11) is 3))>>\ ''[Event: Ship Available!]'' "A ship nobody's claimed yet, believe it or not. It's nearing completion in shipbuilding station number five. <<else>>\ "Not much." He replies honestly. "We haven't been able to keep up with demand for a while, all the dhows and junkships we're working on are claimed by others. Apologies, $ymaster, but our hands will be full for quite some time. <</if>>\ $txt <<include "hub-loc-shipyard3">>\

<<var $shipsale 300>>\ <<if ($flagshiptype is "combat")>>\ <<var $shipsale - 40>>\ <<elseif ($flagshiptype is "transport")>>\ <<var $shipsale + 60>>\ <</if>>\ <<var $shipsale Math.round($shipsale * (1-($persuasion * 0.05)))>>\ <<var $shipbuy Math.round($shipsale * 1.32)>>\ <<var $repaircost ($shipcount * (10 * $fleetdamaged))>>\ <<choose "hub-loc-shipyard3">> #use-if ($shipcount gte 3) Sell one of your ships for $shipsale Shards. [Requires 3+ Ships] "I'd like to sell one of my ships." You announce to the Trademaster. "Very well." He says, sitting down at his desk and withdrawing multiple scrolls for designs and prices. "Sail it over to our shipyard and I'll give it an inspection." ... One hour later your men have moved your ship into the proper station inside the Shielded Hull Trade Sect's headquarters. The Trademaster's men inspect your vessel, note the wear and tear, and hand their notes to their boss." The Trademaster dons a pair of glasses and unfurls their scroll to read the report. "You're looking at roughly $shipsale Shards for it. Does that work for you?" "Sounds like I'm being undercut." You reply. "You are." He admits. "Supply and demand. A lot of Sects selling everything to bet it all on one disciple." "Sounds familiar." You reply, shaking on the deal. ''[Item Lost: 1 $flagshiptype Ship]'' <<var $shipcount - 1>>\ <<var $shipsleft - 1>>\ ''[Item Gained: $shipsale Shards]'' <<var $shards + $shipsale>>\ You watch the shipwrights sail your ship over to one of their private docks and decide to... #show-if (dig($placevisit, 11) is 3) use-if ((($shards + ($silver / 10)) + ($gold * 10)) gte $shipsale) Purchase a new ship for $shipsale Shards. [Discount Applied] -> "hub-loc-shipyard-buy" <<var $shipbuy $shipsale>>\ <<var $placevisit - 20000>>\ #show-if (dig($placevisit, 11) is 2) use-if (dig($placevisit, 11) isnot 2) Purchase a new ship. [Shipwrights Busy!] -> "death" #show-if (dig($placevisit, 11) is 1) use-if ((($shards + ($silver / 10)) + ($gold * 10)) gte $shipbuy) Purchase a new ship for $shipbuy Shards. -> "hub-loc-shipyard-buy" #use-if (($flagshiptype isnot "junk") and (($prestige gte 40) or ($boon_shieldedhull gte 1))) Upgrade your fleet to Junkships. [Requires 40 Prestige, Costs a Writ of Favor] Looking over all your nautical options, one memory sticks out harder than the others. The Callous Armada. Three-story ships with multiple slots for cannons and ballistas, as well as cargo brigs and tri-sails large enough to keep pace with a transport ship. "I want the junkships." You finally say. "Make it happen." The bearded Trademaster smiles. "As the prestigious Clan $patriarch wishes. You do know the gravity of a Writ of Favor, yes? \ <<if ($boon_shieldedhull gte 1)>>\ With this, me and my men will wipe our debts to your Clan." "It's worth it. I need a real armada." The man claps his hands together and rubs them. "Well! Who am I to talk you out of clearing my debts? Let us get to it." ''[Write of Favor (Shielded Hull) Lost]'' <<var $boon_shieldedhull - 1>>\ <<else>>\ I will be able to call on you for something big, something worth upgrading your entire fleet." "As long as you don't get in the way of my Trials." You reply. He shakes his head. "I have common sense." ''[<<cap $clan>> Clan Debt Accrued]'' ''[Writ of Favor owed to the Shielded Hull Trade Sect]'' <<var $boon_shieldedhull - 1>>\ <</if>>\ "So how many weeks will this take? I want these finished before the Trials end." "Weeks?" The Trademaster's face contorts. "What do you mean 'weeks'? It won't take more than an hour." "Your men can work that fast?" "What? Oh! Heavens no." The Trademaster laughs, walking you to a window looking out over a dock lined with junkships. "I run a shipyard, not the Mystic Lands. We'll trade the junks I already own for your ships and have this finished as soon as the paperwork is complete." "Oh." You say. "What?" The Trademaster asks. "You thought we'd somehow magically craft your ships into junks? By the Ancestors, we'd have to strip them to nothing. Even the keel isn't the right size!" He laughs merrily, shaking his head, until he looks up to see you're not laughing. "Are you alright, $ymaster? You look disappointed." "No." You lie. "Let's get to the paperwork." You did want to see how they would redesign the ships though. ''[Ship Type Changed to Junkships!]'' <<var $flagshiptype "junk">>\ ''[Junkships come with cannons and count as Transport, Merchant, and Combat Ships]'' ''[Retainer Strength +3]'' <<var $retainer_strength + 3>>\ With the paperwork finished and your retainers sailing your new ships to your side of the docks, you decide to... #show-if ((dig($combatcannon, 1) lt 2) and (((($shards + ($silver / 10)) + ($gold * 10)) gte 120) and ($handseals gte 1))) Purchase an unmounted cannon. [120 Shards] [Requires Fuuinjutsu] <<if ($flagshiptype is "junk")>>\ "Cannons, $ymaster?" Asks one of the shipwrights as you run your order by him. "Your junkships are fitted with cannons already. Are they not to your liking?" "No, they're good." You reply. "But they're built with additional plates to be mounted to the floors and rail tracks. I \ <<else>>\ "I apologize deeply, $ymaster," Says one of the shipwrights when you tell them your order, "but we cannot place cannons on anything but junkships. Your ships flooring is not designed to withstand their kickback." "It's not for my ship." You correct. "Ship cannons need additional plates and mountings to be secured to the floor. I \ <</if>>\ want this cannon to have no mountings so I can hold it and fire it in a fight." The shipwright blinks, mouth low like a student not paying attention in class. "In a...fight? $ymaster, you can't use a cannon in the Trials." <<if ($honor lte 40)>>\ You shrug. \ <</if>>\ "Show me where it says that in the rules." Dismayed, the young man looks to his Trademaster for help. "That's ridiculous!" The Trademaster shouts, scribbling on a note against the wall. "A cannon can't be used in a fight, the fuse takes too long!" "See?" The shipwright says, "Now if you'll step aside, the customers behind you hopefully have a normal req-" "Now ''this!''" The Trademaster interrupts, turning around with his finished drawing. "THIS could work in a fight! If I put a pull-rope through the blackpowder's storage on the side and secure it with flint, the damned thing would spark when you pull it and fire without waiting for a fuse!" He grins at his own drawing with the invigoration of a man who's found his muse. "It won't be cheap or stable, but it should work once. If you use this, I want the world to know who made it." You smile at his \ <<if (($honor gte 50) and ($ruthless gte 55))>>\ design. "Oh you'll get credit, and I //will// use it." <<else>>\ design and think about shooting Jack in the face. "It's perfect!" <</if>>\ <<costcalc 120>>\ ''[Item Gained: Combat Cannon (1 Shot)]'' <<var $combatcannon 210000>>\ Two hours later they finish their custom designs. You quickly seal the device away in a fuuinjutsu scroll and... #show-if (dig($combatcannon, 1) gte 2) use-if ((dig($combatcannon, 2) lt 1) and ((($shards + ($silver / 10)) + ($gold * 10)) gte 11)) Purchase another cannonball. [11 Shards] "Come back for more?" Asks the Trademaster as you drop an emptied cannon on his desk. "Well I'm afraid to tell you this is no armory. I don't have cannonballs lying around for-" "It worked." You reply. "Ah." The Trademaster scoots his chair back and motions for you to follow him to the supply section. "Well, who am I to deny the youth their innovation. Come, I believe the ship in dock 3 could miss a cannonball without anyone asking questions. It's the circular shape, you see. Makes them terribly hard to store on the high seas." <<costcalc 11>>\ ''[Item Gained: Cannonball]'' ''[Cannon now loaded]'' <<var $combatcannon + 10000>>\ With that questionable practice completed, and your personal siege engine rearmed, you look through the shipyard and... #use-if (((($power gte 8) or ($craft gte 3)) or ($survival gte 3)) and ($countdown gt 0)) Work the shipyard. [Requires 3 Craft, 3 Survival, or 8 Power] [1 Day] "Can you build ships?" The Trademaster asks when you offer your services. <<var $val 0>>\ <<if (($craft lt 3) and ($survival lt 3))>>\ "No." "Can you tie advanced knots?" "No." He frowns. "Can you weave a sail?" "No." He dismisses you with a hand. "Then you're useless. I have a dozen Martial Artists in line behind you, $ymaster, I don't need you wasting my t-...ti..." His voice trails off when you walk away from his desk and lift a junkship mast off is pulley system and over your head. "Well," the large bearded man says, clearing his throat, "I think we can find a use for you." You spend the rest of the day performing heavy lifting for the Sect to cut their ship building time down by half; a valuable service with a valuable pay. <<var $val (($power * 11) + ($persuasion * 5))>>\ <<elseif (($survival gte 3) and ((3 * (($survival * 10) + ($persuasion * 5))) gt (3 * (($craft * 12) + ($persuasion * 5)))))>>\ "No." "Can you tie advanced knots?" ''[Survival 3 Check Passed]'' "Yes, actually." "Oh." The Trademaster replies in surprise. "Usually I have upstarts asking for work without any skills." "Okay." You reply, unsure how to answer that non-question. "Fair enough, let's put you on one of the shipbuilding stations." You spend the rest of the day tying intricate knots around the securing cleats of multiple different ships. More than once you've had to climb forty, sixty, even one-hundred feet onto the highest part of the masts to secure the rope. It's a surreal feeling knowing that falling from this height wouldn't be that bad. <<var $val (3 * (($survival * 10) + ($persuasion * 5)))>>\ <<if ($background is "Trapper")>>\ Your knot skills learned under years of Father's tutelage come in handy the whole time. You're grateful, and your heart aches for a moment when you realize you miss him. <<var $ruthless - 1>>\ <<if (dig($mettaio, 1) gte 6)>>\ //Your feelings make you weak.// Taio the Scholar says in your mind. //The path of Demonic Cultivation has no room for such filial connections.// //I will flush you down a latrine disposal.// You threaten. <</if>>\ <<var $val Math.round($val * 1.2)>>\ <</if>>\ <<else>>\ "Yes." You reply immediately. "Oh." The Trademaster replies in surprise. "Usually I have upstarts asking for work without any skills. Do you know how to read blueprints?" "Sure do." "Well I'll be." He says, "Let's get you to work!" You spend the rest of the day drafting blueprints for customization requests that various Merchants, Martial Artists, and even Nobles bring to the shipyard. More than once you're forced to leap into the construction zones to show the shipwrights how to put together the specifications you draft up, and the work goes by quickly thanks to the interesting parts keeping you busy. <<var $val (3 * (($craft * 12) + ($persuasion * 5)))>>\ <<if ($background is "Blacksmith")>>\ It doesn't hurt that your Blacksmithing knowledge assists every step of the way. <<var $val Math.round($val * 1.2)>>\ <</if>>\ <</if>>\ ''[Item Gained: $val Shards]'' <<var $shards + $val>>\ <<if (($bodytype is "Bodacious") or ($bodytype is "Hourglass"))>>\ ''[Bodytype Event: Bonus Pay!]'' You can't quite understand why, but something about your shirt getting soaked in seawater has convinced these men to pay you generously. <<var $val Math.round($val / 2)>>\ ''[Item Gained: $val]'' <<var $shards + $val>>\ <</if>>\ <<var $days 1>>\ <<page "Return to the Port District" "hub-spendday">>\ #show-if ($fleetdamaged gte 1) use-if (((($shards + ($silver / 10)) + ($gold * 10)) gte $repaircost) Repair your damaged ships. [Costs $repaircost] You hand over the funds for your ship's repairs and take a seat in a corner of the shipyard, cycling your inner chi for the hours it takes your men to sail each ship into the shipyard and have repairs completed. <<repaircost>>\ The meditations are something you clearly don't do enough, considering your spirit does in fact have inefficiencies that it fixes. <<var $apval Math.round($insight/2)>>\ <<apboost $apval>>\ You open your eyes when done to find the repairs completed, with your ships returned to pristine condition. They even got that stain out of the sail. ''[Ship Damage Removed!]'' After your retainers depart aboard your ships, back to your side of the docks, you prowl the shipyard and decide to... #show-if ($fleetdamaged lt 1) use-if ($fleetdamaged gte 1) Repair your ships. [No ships damaged!] -> "death" #show-if (dig($trialdeets, 4) gte 2) use-if (dig($metjin, 3) is 0) Find work for Jin. "I'd like to find work for my brother." You say to the Trademaster. "An odd request to just come out and say." The man replies, walking to a desk and withdrawing scrolls on his employment shift records. "Is he a skilled craftsman?" "No." "Is he a scholar?" "No." The Trademaster adjusts his glasses. "Has he at least sailed on a ship before?" "No." "Perfect!" The man shouts jovially. "I can never get my high-and-mighty craftsmen to handle the heavy lifting in the seabed muck. Stuff stinks, they think it's beneath them with their new wages. A low-skilled man like your brother has exactly what I need in a new apprentice: a lack of confidence!" You shake the man's hand, glad to find a place for your brother in the city. "If that's what you're after, then Jin's your man!" <<page "Continue" "hub-loc-shipyard-jin">>\ #Return to the Port District. -> "hub-port-district" <</choose>>

<<var $bargain 0>>\ <<rand $bargain 400 500>>\ <<var $bargain + (55 * $persuasion)>>\ <<var $talkin 0>>\ Among the many busy merchant ships at the docks is one flag you recognize well. "If my eyes don't deceive me!" Shouts Foreman Gong, witnessing you waiting just outside his docked ship. He descends down the ramp and gives you a full-waist bow. "I had hoped we would meet again, though truly, my employers did not. A Writ of Favor is a heavy cost for me to deliver, with untold debts imparted. I trust you are here to utilize it?" "I may be." You say, looking at the sealed scroll in your hand. "I don't work with these much, what can I do with it now that things are settled down?" "Let me show you." Gong says, beckoning you onto his ship. The two of you enter the Captain's (Foreman's) Cabin and he sits at a disk, withdrawing a set of inventory scrolls. "There are many things I could offer you, and I would be exceedingly pleased to relieve myself of this debt, so let's get to business." He motions for you to take a seat. "Money, vessels, men, information, Soul Treasures. All is on the table. Tell me, oh hero of mine, what can I offer that would ease your avarice?" <<include "hub-loc-thousandlantern2">>\

"I want something special." You say, trying to sneak a peak past Foreman Gong towards the sealed chests in his office. "Do you have any rare artifacts? Something that can help me in the Trials?" Foreman Gong whistles low. "We are a Trade Sect, not a Martial Sect, so naturally our supplies of any such item would not be uniformal. We only possess what we are currently trying to resell at higher prices." You nod along slowly. "That was a long way to say 'yes', wasn't it?" "Indeed. Pray tell if any are to your liking." <<choose "hub-loc-thousandlantern4">> #Northern Icebelt [+Ice Mastery, +1 Soul, +1 Fortitude] <<var $icebelt + 1>>\ Foreman Gong hands you a single strip of icy-blue cloth folded over and sewn against itself. Its silky texture feels cold to the touch. "Legends say it was sewn from the northern lights themselves." "Legends?" You ask. "Legends from who?" Gong shrugs. "Your fans, if you do well in the Trials." You run your hands over the chilling power of the Northern Icebelt and brush a spiritual scan against it, feeling the wraith-like essence of the wispy serpentine spirit that it once was. Its Soul Treasure's power radiates a potent strength for you to harness. #Flowing Weights of the Lantern King [+Light Affinity, +1 Perception, Weighted Clothing Without Penalties] <<var $lanternweights + 1>>\ Foreman Gong withdraws sets of white cloth giving off a soft orange glow. He wraps them around your shoulders and arms in one quick motion. "The Flowing Weights of the Lantern King." He whispers in awe. "Said to be made from a Light Elemental worshipped as a deity for generations. Until someone killed it to make clothes, that is." He backs away and gives you room to try them out. You practice a dozen punches at different angles. Your muscles strain from the movement to move the heavy clothing, but the Soul Treasure binding inside the cloth speeds your body up just as much as the weight slows you down. Training without sacrifice. #show-if ($itemyincrest is 0) Crest of Elemental Yin [+Yin Element Mastery, Synergy with Yang Crest] <<var $itemyincrest + 1>>\ Foreman Gong hands you a stone octagonal crest. "These crests are said to hold great power, the fractured essence of some great enemy defeated and shattered long ago." "What are the odds of it possessing me?" You \ <<if (dig($mettaio, 1) gte 6)>>\ ask for no reason at all, except for the two clones of a demonic cultivator already stored in your soul. <<else>>\ ask. <</if>>\ "Zero." Foreman Gong replies. "Our Sect made up that legend seven months ago. You're a couple generations away from it being believable, but hold onto it until then." You pick up the stone crest and feel a flash of power come from within, and alongside it, a flash of will. This artifact hunts for something. \ <<if ($itemyangcrest gt 0)>>\ Something you have. The Crest of Elemental Yang. <<else>>\ A counterpiece. A part of a set. You wonder if Gong's fake legend holds more merit than he knows. <</if>>\ #show-if ($itemyincrest isnot 0) use-if ($itemyincrest is 0) Crest of Elemental Yin [Already Possessed!] #show-if ($ironbody is false) Technique Manual [Iron Body, +1 Fortitude Surge (Passive)] <<var $ironbody true>>\ You accept the Path Manual from Foreman Gong and read over its contents, understanding the basic principles it teaches. You'll need to adjust your feng shui trinkets tonight to balance your chi differently, but you believe you can harness this Technique rather quickly. ''[Iron Body Technique Acquired!]'' #show-if ($ironbody is true) use-if ($ironbody is false) Technique Manual [Iron Body (Already Learned!)] -> "death" #Nevermind -> "hub-loc-thousandlantern2" "Nevermind." You say after seeing Foreman Gong's artifacts. "I don't quite see anything that suits my needs." Foreman Gong nods and closes the chest. "Understandable. Is there anything else in my inventory that can repay you?" You consider his offer and think carefully on your options. <</choose>>

<<choose "hub-loc-thousandlantern3">> #"I saved a ship and a crew, I want a ship and a crew." <<if ($honor lt 35)>>\ You prop your feet up on the table. \ <<else>>\ You lean back in your chair and stare thoughtfully at the ceiling. \ <</if>>\ "I saved a ship and a crew, did I not?" Foreman Gong nods once, eyes focused on you. "That you did." "Then that settles it. What better equivalent for a ship and a crew than a ship and a crew of my own?" "I cannot deny your logic. We do have three ships at port right now, I will instruct several of our men to remodel one vessel and sail it to your side of the docks." ''[Item Gained: 1 <<cap $flagshiptype>> Ship]'' <<var $shipcount + 1>>\ <<var $shipsleft + 1>>\ ''[10 Retainers Recruited]'' <<var $retainers + 10>>\ ''[4 Martial Retainers Recruited]'' <<var $martial_retainers + 4>>\ Two hours later you watch with pride as an entire extra ship pulls into your port. Your men welcome the new retainers with open\ <<if (dig($trialdeets, 3) gte 2)>>\ arms, hopefully not mentioning that you occasionally employ them in a bit of fun (piracy). <<else>>\ arms, hopefully not pressganging them into their gambling habits. Typical sailors. <</if>>\ Foreman Gong's pudgy face stares longingly at the ship he just lost. "That settles our debt for the ship and crew you saved. Naturally, I've left several shipments of goods on board to make up for the cargo you saved as well." ''[Item Gained: 6 Crates of Loot]'' <<var $loot + 6>>\ #"I saved a ship //and// your cargo, I want two ships." <<if ($honor lt 35)>>\ You prop your feet up on the table. \ <<else>>\ You lean back in your chair and stare thoughtfully at the ceiling. \ <</if>>\ "Was the crew worth more than the ship?" "That is subjective." Gong replies calmly. "Then it's within the same range. For one crew and one ship, I'll take //two// ships as my payment." Gong looks bothered by your request but cracks a wry smile all the same. "You must have trained under a debt collector. Fortunately for you and unfortunately for me, your request is within the range I am allowed to grant. I will instruct several of our men to remodel two of our three vessels and sail them to your side of the docks." ''[Item Gained: 2 <<cap $flagshiptype>> Ships] <<var $shipcount + 2>>\ <<var $shipsleft + 2>>\ Two hours later you watch with pride as your fleet grows. Two more ships dock beside your existing vessels and Gong's crew exits as soon as your own retainers climb aboard, checking their new lodgings. Foreman Gong's pudgy face stares longingly at the ships he just lost. "That settles our debt for the ship and crew you saved. Naturally, I've left several shipments of goods on board to make up for the cargo you saved as well." ''[Item Gained: 6 Crates of Loot]'' <<var $loot + 6>>\ #"Teach me everything you know about commerce." "I don't want material goods." You say to Foreman Gong, "I want knowledge. Real knowledge. Teach me everything you know about commerce." Foreman Gong inhales slowly as he leans his head back, taking in the request. "I believe I can fulfill that request, but only due to the nature of my craft." "What do you mean?" The pudgy eunuch withdraws a scroll from his side and unfurls it to reveal a bunch of garbled coded lettering. "Commerce is about more than just making money. That is a mere after-effect, or a goal at best. Real commerce is about supply and demand, and I, with my extensive list of contacts, am a master of supply with a codex of demands." He withdraws a second blank of paper and begins decoding the writing on his other scroll. "I am going to give you a list of every merchant, trade sect, supplier, delivery agent, and prospective buyer that is still looking for more business in Nanhou. All the best deals. All the desperation or surplus. All the inefficiencies waiting for someone to seize the advantage. How you handle this information is up to you." ''[Commerce Increased]'' <<var $commerce + 5>>\ <<if ($deception lt 3)>>\ ''[Special Event: Deception Lower Than Foreman Gong's!]'' ''[Deception +1]'' <<var $deception + 1>>\ <</if>>\ Over the next few hours he pours several teas and lights incense in his room, describing not only his list of contacts but general trade practices as well. After two more hours pass you realize his skittish posture is not from being uncomfortable; he's been performing handseals to alter the ambient chi in the room. Chi feng shui. Spiritual Incense. Cultivated tea leaves. It all clicks in your mind at the same time that it clicks in your spirit; he's preparing your Cores for a new Technique. <<learntech 4500030000010000 "Whispering Order" "Passively decreases the cost of most items by 10%. Increases Persuasion by +1 when focused.">>\ With sweat down his brow, Foreman Gong finally finishes his notes and speeches and looks up, handing everything to you. "I trust this fulfills my obligations, but of course, it would defraud our Honored Guest to not include a more business-standard tool for such endeavors as well. A little something from me, personally, for the rescue." He withdraws something from a drawer and slides it across the table. You look down at an item in short supply, something you haven't seen since the Thunderfall Markets. ''[Item Gained: 1 Skill Manual]'' <<var $skillmanual + 1>>\ #"I'll take the Shards." [Gain $bargain Shards] "I'll just take the Shards." You reply with a shrug, arms crossed in your chair. "What's a ship, crew, and cargo go for these days?" Foreman Gong stutters at first, blathering about specifics. "Obviously we cannot put a price on the lives of-" "Gong, what's it go for?" He holds up a hand for consideration. "And do keep in mind, ship scarcity in Nanhou cannot be considered the standard pricing of-" "Gong. What's it go for?" He looks off to the side, counting something on his fingers. "With the cargo not technically beloging to us, rather being a Beast of the empire, I-" "Goooong." You reply, groaning at the ceiling in exasperation. "Tell me the price already." "Roughly $bargain Shards, give or take." "I'll choose take." The chubby eunuch chuckles and offers a wry smile. "How astute, I suppose I invited that retort." You only respond with a hand extended, waiting for him to place a large sum of coins into your grip. Foreman Gong finally relents and opens a safe under the rug, extracting your considerable reward. ''[Item Gained: $bargain Shards]'' <<var $shards + $bargain>>\ You count it all, slowly, and are pleased to find the full sum present. #"I want something special. Do you have any rare artifacts?" -> hub-loc-thousandlantern-artifacts #Maybe later. [Return to Port District] -> "hub-port-district" <</choose>>

"Is this satisfactory?" Foreman Gong asks. <<var $boon_thousandlantern 0>>\ "More than satisfactory." You reply. "I'm thankful we met." Gong snorts. "You and me both, lest I would be working a Cathayan sugarcane plantation right now." \ <<if ($race is "Lunargoth")>>\ He reaches a hand out, awkwardly attempting a Lunargothic handshake. You oblige. His grip is terrible. \ <<else>>\ He gives a deep bow with one palm pressed against the other. \ <</if>>\ "It has been an Honor, <<cap $clan>> $patriarch. May you walk blessed by the Heavens." <<page "You too, Gong." "hub-port-district">>\

"That rarity settles our debt for the mundane ship and crew, but of course we cannot forget the cargo you saved." ''[Item Gained: 6 Crates of Loot]'' <<var $loot + 6>>\ <<include "hub-loc-thousandlantern3">>\

<<var $combatstat "power">>\ <<discount "Midorikatai" 1>>\ <<discount "Muscular" 1>>\ <<discount "Earth" 1>>\ <<discount "Storm" 1>>\ <<discount "Wind" 1>>\ <<combatcheck 10>>\ <<if (($passcheck is true) or ($style is "Kiihakai"))>>\ <<var $mettiger + 100000000>>\ When he goes to catch \ <<if ($style is "Kiihakai")>>\ it- ''[Kiikai Event]'' -your other hand grabs his Core with all five fingers separated, pushing $auracolor Mystic Chi into his center and commanding it to swirl through his chi Cores in a reverse-spiral. Your blow strikes like a tiger-claw that spiritually diffuses the Clone Technique's binding, dissolving the Brass Tiger clone into water that spills over the dock. <<else>>\ it you twist your body to the left, using your left hand as a decoy while your right hand grabs his wrist. You twist his arm over your shoulder and turn away from him, pulling his arm down for an overhead throw. Your twisting leverage pulls his body over your back, over your head, and down into the hard wood of the dock, slamming him head-first into the platform. His skull cracks against the docks and the Water Clone, having already trained for hours in a Mist Chamber, loses the last of its fortitude. His body splatters into a large puddle of water that leaks through the docks. <</if>>\ After a hushed silence of disbelief, the crowd of Brass Tiger fans breaks into horrified screams. ''[Prestige Increased]'' <<var $prestige + 2>>\ They flee in all directions for their very lives; the half on the wrong side of the jetty even jump off the dock instead of risking to cross your path. You flip your head up and breathe in the coastal air yourself. It stinks of salt and fish, but it really is invigorating. <<if ($style is "Kiihakai")>>\ <<apboost 10>>\ <<else>>\ <<apboost 5>>\ <</if>>\ "One Mist Chamber, please." You say to the Bōgu-masked clerk with your eyes still closed and head still tilted to the sky. You don't need to look at him to signal who you're speaking to; you're the only two left on the dock. "O-Of course." The clerk says hastily. "We just had an opening on our schedule." <<choose "hub-loc-mist">> #use-if (((($shards + ($silver / 10)) + ($gold * 10)) gte $mistcost) and ($countdown gte 1)) "I'll take it." [Costs 1 Day, 100 Shards] #"Maybe later." [Return to the Port District] -> "hub-port-district" <</choose>> <<else>>\ <<var $mettiger + 200000000>>\ Brass Tiger is gone before you even blink, and so is the dock. In one smooth motion he glows Cerulean, leaps four feet vertically, knees your elbow, kicks your sternum to lift you in the air along with him, and spins mid-air to kick your side from below. You're launched into the air with a bone-shaking sense of pain around your \ <<if ($eblocktech isnot "")>>\ body, yet nothing's broken. <<else>>\ body. <</if>>\ <<woundcheck 2 false true>>\ Unlike Goro's cheapshot, Brass Tiger's strikes are right in front of your face, and even then they're hard to follow. <<if ($eblocktech isnot "")>>\ ''[$eblocktech Clue Event]'' <<var $solexp + 1>>\ <<var $powexp + 1>>\ Yet your energy block shouldn't have stopped his physical hits. Through the pain, you come to an important piece of intel on your opponent. Brass Tiger may act like he's all muscle, but his attack damage is almost entirely made of kinetic Sacred Chi. Despite the massive frame, he's no physical specialist. He's an ''energy'' specialist. <<var $mettiger + 100000000>>\ <<elseif ($perception gte 3)>>\ ''[Perception 3 Check Passed]'' <<var $powexp + 1>>\ But your eyes have been sharpened over the years. All three times that he hit you, he never made real contact. His fist and foot stayed half a centimeter away just as you were struck, and now you have a clue on his fighting that he //doesn't// telegraph: Brass Tiger may act like he's all muscle, but his attack damage is almost entirely made of kinetic Sacred Chi. Despite the massive frame, he's no physical specialist. He's an ''energy'' specialist. <<var $mettiger + 100000000>>\ <<else>>\ ''[Perception 3 Check Failed]'' All you know is he kicked the crap out of you and sent you forty feet into the air. <</if>>\ You surround yourself in $auracolor chi and drop back to the ground where the crowd separates to make way for your fight. With a widening crouch to lessen the impact, you land right in front of Brass Tiger for round two. "This fight is over." The clerk beside you both says with surprising courage. <<if ($ruthless gte 52)>>\ "No it isn't." You and Brass Tiger both say, keeping an arm extended to hint for the clerk to step back. "Yes it \ <<else>>\ "Is it?" Brass Tiger asks, crossing his arms and smirking down at you. "It \ <</if>>\ is." The clerk insists. "Or I will inform the Trial judges of both of your poor civility." "Oh, shit." Brass Tiger says, lifting his hands up in surrender. "That's all from me. We're all friends here, right?" With both hands still raised he backs away slowly, all the way up the blank to the Mist Chamber. His vision stays locked on you as the door closes, its hissing mist releasing behind him. He smiles to the clerk and waves goodbye to the crowd, then looks back to you and mouths two words just before the door seals shut: "You're dead." <<page "Continue" "hub-port-premist3">>\ <</if>>\

<<if ($heshe is "she")>>\ <<choose "hub-port-besto-friendo2">> #"$fullname. cap($patriarch) of the $clan Clan." "$fullname. <<cap $patriarch>> of the $clan Clan." #"You can call me anything you want, but $name is a good start." "You can call me anything you want." You say, batting your eyelashes at him. "But $name is a good start." <<var $mettiger + 1000000000>>\ <</choose>> <<else>>\ "$fullname. <<cap $patriarch>> of the $clan Clan." <<include "hub-port-besto-friendo2">>\ <</if>>\

''[Prestige Increased]'' <<var $prestige + 2>>\ "I'm glad we met, $name. I mean that." He gives you a short bow with fists pressed together. "I'd give you my true name as a sign of thanks, but I really am named Tiger of the Brass Clan. People think it's some hero's title but it's not, just the result of parents with no imagination." He snaps his fingers twice. "Clerk! Get over here!" The black-robed man in the Bōgu mask steps forward and bows to you both. "Yes, Young Master?" "Get this $manwoman a Mist Chamber and put it on my Sect's tab for the rest of the Trials." You blink twice. The rest of the Trials? If you've heard correctly, that's ''months''. "Are you sure?" You ask. "I'm always sure." He tosses you back the trapping pamphlet. "Get in there and train hard, I want to see that mink-snare armbar take someone down. You might even need to use it against me, so it better be good!" <<choose "hub-port-district">> #use-if ($countdown gte 1) "It will be." [Enter the Mist Chamber] [Costs 1 Day, 0 Shards] -> "hub-loc-mist" #"Maybe later." [Leave] <</choose>>

"$ymaster?" Asks the Bōgu-masked clerk from behind. "$ymaster, you were inquiring the availability of a Mist Chamber, yes?" "Hm?" You ask in irritation, looking over your shoulder. "I was, but they're all taken for now aren't they?" "They were, $ymaster, but Young Master Brass Tiger appears to have forgotten to create a new Water Clone after speaking with you. These chambers seal for 12-hours, he will not be returning until tonight." The clerk points across the road to the empty Mist Chamber. "We now have one available and you were second in-line. Do you still wish to purchase a training slot?" Sweet Ancestors, Brass Tiger isn't only stupid, but he's so stupid that he's //useful?!// You've grown up around the wrong men. <<choose "hub-port-district">> #use-if (((($shards + ($silver / 10)) + ($gold * 10)) gte $mistcost) and ($countdown gte 1)) "I'll take it." [Costs 1 Day, 100 Shards] -> "hub-loc-mist" #"Maybe later." [Return to the Port District] <</choose>>

...Oh, he's clothed underneath. Pockets are stitched to the inner lining of his robes and used to hold various items, from silver to knives to weak Soul Treasures, poisons, and what you suspect are drugs. "I believe you've found the right place." The man's scratchy voice says. "What have you come to buy?" "I've come to sell." You say, eyeing the man's goods. "You're a fence, right? That's all stolen?" "Who's asking?" "A thief." You confess. "I've come to join the local Thieves Guild, make sure I don't step on any toes, and make a quick Shard on an approved target. If you're a fence you must be working with someone. Send some of their work my way." The man rubs his chin. "The boss could always use more hands, and you can't be with the guard if you actually rob someone for him...hm...fine. Follow me." <<page "Continue" "hub-port-crime2">>\

"Oh for fuck's sake!" You and \ <<if (dig($metguiren, 1) is 1)>>\ a reptile Yokai man shout at the same time. \ <<else>>\ Guiren shout at the same time. \ <</if>>\ You're standing in a warehouse, filled to the brim with crates, and the debt collector Guiren has made a makeshift staircase up to a crate-throne upon which he sits. A crowd of loan-seekers waits in line beneath him while three of his masked shinobi keep watch. <<if (dig($metguiren, 1) is 2)>>\ "This guy is our mortal enemy!" Guiren admonishes, throwing his bowl of yakisoba at the shady alleyway man. "Can't you find someone I //don't// hate?" "Seriously!" You blurt out. "You said you'd connect me with the Thieves Guild, not some bums collecting petty interest loans!" <<else>>\ "I thought you promised me prodigious talent?!" The reptile Yokai says. "This \ <<if ($heshe is "he")>>\ guy \ <<else>>\ chick \ <</if>>\ is \ <<if ($heshe is "she")>>\ just some hot nobody \ <<else>>\ a nobody \ <</if>>\ contestant from the Trials!" "Oh please, you're the lucky one!" You yell at the man. "I was promised a Thieves Guild and instead I get-" You give him a quick glance. "Also a nobody contestant from the Trials!" <<if ($heshe is "she")>>\ "Uh, no?" The Reptile Yokai says with squinting eyes. "The name's Dai Guiren. I'm a big deal. And you didn't say hot." "I know." You reply. <<else>>\ "Excuse yourself." The Reptile Yokai man replies. "The name's Dai Guiren, and I'm a far greater deal than whatever you're supposed to be." <</if>>\ <</if>>\ "I-I-I, please, \ <<if ($heshe is "he")>>\ Young Masters, \ <<else>>\ Young Master and Young Mistress, \ <</if>>\ I meant no offense. I thought you would want to work together to-" "Get the fuck out of here!" You and \ <<if (dig($metguiren, 1) is 1)>>\ the Yokai \ <<else>>\ Guiren \ <</if>>\ both shout at the man, with you kicking him in the ass as he yelps and flees. <<if (dig($metguiren, 1) is 1)>>\ The Yokai \ <<else>>\ Guiren \ <</if>>\ lays back down into his crate-throne and drops his face into his hand. "What a jackass." "Yeah." You spit at the direction of the fleeing fence. "Good help is impossible to find. Hells...well, I'm out of here. \ <<if (dig($metguiren, 1) is 1)>>\ Call me if you see a real Thieves Guild and not some bums in a warehouse." "Yeah, and call me if you see someone actually useful...say, do you want a job?" <<else>>\ Go fuck yourself." "Yeah, you too...say, do you want a job?" <</if>>\ <<choose "hub-port-guirenchat">> #"...Sure." "...Sure." You reply with a shrug. "Seriously?" One of the shinobi beside him asks, removing his mask to reveal an Oni's face. "Guiren, you can't mean that. \ <<if (dig($metguiren, 1) is 2)>>\ This \ <<if ($heshe is "he")>>\ asshole \ <<else>>\ bitch \ <</if>>\ has ruined our plan every chance $heshe's gotten. We can't trust $himher!" <<else>>\ We don't even know this person. All we know about $himher is that $heshe wanted to steal for a living. We can't trust $himher!" <</if>>\ "Sorry Yoji." Guiren shrugs. "I need an unexpected variable in my next grand plan." "You have grand plans?" Asks one of the other shinobi, who leaps behind a crate as Guiren throws shuriken down at him. "Come." Guiren says to you, leaping off the crate-throne. "Follow me to my office, away from prying idiots." "But you'll still be there???" The shinobi behind the crate says. "That means there'll be at least one idiot." "Shut UP, Wencheng!" Guiren hollers, motioning for you to follow him to the trap door into his basement. "It means there'll be at least two." <<page "Follow Guiren" "hub-port-guirenchat">>\ #"No, and I hope you fail." "No." You reply on your way out. "And I hope you fail." Guiren grunts unpleasantly. "Wencheng, poison that <<print $manwoman>>'s next meal." "You got it, Guiren!" Responds one of his shinobi. You make a mental note to tell Kosuke to poison Guiren's next meal. <<page "Return to the Docks" "hub-port-district">>\ <</choose>>

<<var $val 0>>\ <<var $val2 0>>\ <<var $counter 0>>\ <<var $district "hub-port-district">>\ <<if ((($bubblebrew is 0) and ($background is "Herbalist")) and (((dig($trialdeets, 4) gte 2) or (($currenttrial is "Dragon") and ($countdown lte 1))) or (($currenttrial isnot "Tiger") and ($currenttrial isnot "Dragon"))))>>\ <<include "hub-loc-makedrink">>\ <<else>>\ <<include "hub-port-districtcont">>\ <</if>>\

The Port District is a corridor half a mile wide, stretching across the entire city's coast, with two spectacles flanking the few streets of warehouses, taverns, and businesses. On one side is the city's first District Wall, blocking the rest of the city off from any threats at sea. On the other is a cascade of docked ships extending as far as the eye can see, though it is a bare sight of plain wood. At first you expected to see the colored sails of a thousand Sect ships unfurled in some grand display, but the time you've spent at sea has taught you how stupid that would be. Letting the wind catch your sails at port is asking for financial ruin. The hundred branches of the pier are robust dark wood, far thicker than average and reinforced with steel coverings crafted to mimic the image of the ocean's waves. Fishermen and traders bustle up and down the long side of the Port district, parallel to the coast, while Martial Artists crisscross their path to and from their ships while going deeper into the rest of the city. <<trialcounter>>\ <<if (dig($mettiger, 4) is 1)>>\ <<var $mistcost 0>>\ <<else>>\ <<var $mistcost 100>>\ <</if>>\ <<if ((($honor lte 35) or ($ruthless gte 65)) and (dig($trialdeets, 3) is 0))>>\ /* trigger piracy options */\ <<var $trialdeets + 1000000000000>>\ <</if>>\ One such Martial Artist, you, decides to... <<choose "hub-port-district">> #Find work for your retainers out at sea. -> "hub-loc-sendships" #Visit Nanhou's 'Shielded Hull' Shipyard. -> "hub-loc-shipyard" #Craft gear at the Nakamoto Grand Foundry. -> "hub-loc-foundry" #show-if (dig($mettiger, 1) gt 3) use-if (dig($mettiger, 1) lt 3) Train in a high-gravity Mist Chamber. [Occupied] -> "death" #show-if ((dig($mettiger, 1) is 2) or (dig($mettiger, 1) is 3)) use-if (((($shards + ($silver / 10)) + ($gold * 10)) gte $mistcost) and ($countdown gte 1)) Train in a high-gravity Mist Chamber. [1 Day, Costs $mistcost Shards] -> "hub-loc-mist" #show-if (dig($mettiger, 1) lt 2) Train in a high-gravity Mist Chamber. Your journey brings you to a point where the Port District's street curves onto a jetty sticking out to sea by two-hundred feet. On both sides, in place of boats, the dock-street host circular white stone buildings rising from the water. Three on each side, all four-stories tall and just as wide. They possess no windows and descend into the water, with only a plank from the dock leading to their center where a vague outline of a possible doorway can be seen. From a distance, they look like large pork buns docked at port. //Busy// pork buns, that is, because the street is crowded with hundreds of chattering civilians. From the gist you get, many are either waiting to see whoever is using these expensive training chambers or speaking excitedly about the marvels of ancient Seals used to create them. Apparently the Mist Chambers combine Water, Wind, and Earth chi to enhance the pressure on their inhabitants in every direction while still letting gravity do its course. Rather than simply enhancing the gravity, where it's harder to move up or forward, these chambers resist movement from //all// angles, so it's even difficult to move downward beyond the standard speed of falling. The perfect workout. You\ <<if ($ruthless gt 60)>>\ muscle \ <<else>>\ maneuver \ <</if>>\ through the crowd until you find a clerk in charge, one wearing the same black robes and Bōgu mask as the imperial scribe from when you first arrived. "Excuse me!" You call out to get his attention. "Excuse me, I'd like to rent one of these Mist Chambers." "We all would." Grumbles a man in brown gi. "Yeah, get in line!" Shouts a cat yokai girl in garishly bright green gi. The clerk motions around them and addresses you with a bow. "My most sincere apologies, $ymaster but all six Mist Chambers have already been reserved for Young Master Brass Tiger. His benefactors wished to express their extreme appreciation for his efforts in the War in the North, we found it in poor taste to deny their payment." In other words, they overpaid. "He's just one man." You reply. "He can have one for as long as he wants, sell me some time in one of the other five." The clerk hesitates. "I'm afraid that..." A loud hiss interrupts him from two of the Mist Chamber doors on opposite directions. The doors pull inward and slide aside, releasing a hissing mist and a brilliant white light. Through the blinding sight, two copies of the same large man exit to the street. Clones. <<page "Why did it have to be clones?" "hub-port-premist">>\ #show-if (dig($metguiren, 1) lte 2) use-if ((($honor lte 40) and ($countdown gte 1)) and (dig($compquest1, 3) is 0)) Locate criminal work around the docks. [Requires Dishonor 60, 1 Day] Like any Martial Artist in times of financial need, you have chosen to have no morals. <<var $honor - 2>>\ Especially regarding property rights. Other people's property, that is. Your own property rights are guaranteed by the local guard, Imperial decree, and the Heavens themselves as far as you're concerned. Yet here you are, thieving. It's what you're best at and, increasingly, what you're known for. ''[Infamy Increased]'' <<var $infamy + 1>>\ In the time-honored pursuit of other people's stuff, for money, you find yourself seeking out shady undesirables in dark alleyways. A deep yearning rests in your soul, a desire that cannot be quenched by legal markets. You want a fence to buy your ill-gotten gains. "You look lost, little lamb." Says a darkly cloaked figure from the shadows as you pass behind a pork butcher's in the back alleys. Good, you think to yourself. Either a free fight or exactly what you're looking for. <<if ((($heshe is "he") and ($style is "Midorikatai")) or (((($bodytype is "Muscular") or ($bodytype is "Ogre")) or ($bodytype is "Dommymommy")) or ($bodytype is "Bodacious")))>>\ Although... "Did you just call me little?" You ask, turning around. \ <<if ($bodytype is "Bodacious")>>\ When you do so the man notices your chest is bigger than his head. \ <<else>>\ It dawns on the stranger that you are an incredibly tall mountain of muscle. \ <</if>>\ "Are you blind?" "Ahem, er, apologies, $ymaster." The man mumbles in his scratchy voice. "What I had meant to say was, you appear to be outside of your element, what with wandering through these dark city alleys." The man opens his robes ever so slightly and reveals-OH \ <<else>>\ When you turn around the man is already opening his robes-OH \ <</if>>\ ANCESTORS NO! <<page "Continue" "hub-port-crime">>\ #show-if (dig($metguiren, 1) gte 3) use-if (($countdown gte 1) and (dig($compquest1, 3) is 0)) Find Guiren at the northernmost warehouse. [1 Day] The first strip of warehouses in the port district don't give any clues for Guiren's location, but when you reach the second strip of warehouses on the northern side you find it disturbingly easy to locate the man's criminal headquarters. He's yelling loud enough for you to hear. "I don't care if they point a damned cannon at your head, the Nakamotos and Callous can't do a thing with the Empire's presence here and they know it. You don't pay them anymore, you pay me. We covered your debts, we get your monthly payments. That's how it works. If they show up at your shop again, you bring them here and I'll sort things out with a knife in their stomach. Next!" A young man's voice cracks speaking next. "Mister Dai Guiren, this humble Laborer comes to request a loan for four-hundred-fifty Shards." "That's a heavy ask." Guiren says. "What's it for?" "Property outside the southern gate, to build a stable. My cousin owns horses three towns over, I want to rent them while rates are high." "Finally, an actual business plan. Approved. Next!" You walk down the sea wall and peek into the back of the warehouse where you spot Guiren seated on a throne of crates. A dozen civilians stand in line waiting to plead some sort of case to him. His underlings, dressed in shinobi garb under golden and green gi, either sift through scrolls at makeshift desks or patrol the perimeter. <<if (($stealth gte 2) or (($element1 is "Darkness") or ($element2 is "Darkness")))>>\ <<if ($stealth gte 2)>>\ ''[Stealth 2 Check Passed]'' <<else>>\ ''[Darkness Event]'' <</if>>\ <<var $agiexp + 3>>\ "Oh, shit." Says one of them, failing to notice you until you pass over the perimeter. <<else>>\ ''[Stealth 2 Check Failed]'' "We've got a visitor." Says one of them, noticing you because you're at the perimeter. <</if>>\ "It's fine, Yoji." Guiren says. "<<print $name>>, come in. We need to talk." <<page "Continue" "hub-port-guiren">>\ #show-if ($boon_thousandlantern gte 1) Visit the Thousand Lantern Trade Sect. -> "hub-loc-thousandlantern" #Enter the Commerce District. -> "hub-commerce-district" #Enter the Residential District. -> "hub-residential-district" #Enter the Entertainment District. -> "hub-entertainment-district" #use-if (($val is 1345) and ($val isnot 1345)) Enter the Noble District. [Forbidden] -> "death" <</choose>>

You enter the warehouse back entrance and approach the Reptile Yokai until a meek voice interrupts your entrance. "But I'm next in line." Complains a wrinkly old woman, hunched over with a cane. "I've been waiting quite a long time, too. At my age, that's no small feat." "I don't-fine, fine." Guiren sighs from atop the crate throne. "What do you want?" "A loan of eight shards, for my grandson. I want to buy him a nice pair of sheets." "Sheets." Guiren replies as a matter-of-fact. "You're in a secretive shinobi Sect's loanshark lair...for sheets. Why didn't you go to the bank?" "Their lines were longer." Yoji snorts. Guiren closes his eyes in annoyance and flips a gold coin to the woman. "Twenty percent interest." "Oh thank you, young man. Thank you for this generous gift...and what is 'interest'?" "Oh for the love of-HEY! WENCHENG!" Guiren shouts, shooing the old lady away. "Handle these requests while I talk business with \ <<if ($heshe is "she")>>\ the jade beauty." He slicks his hair back and quickly adjusts his gi, leaping from the crate-throne and walking to you. "I'm glad you came. This isn't the romantic way I wanted to invite you to my private office, but \ <<else>>\ $name." He adjusts his gi and leaves the crate-throne, walking to you. "I'm glad you made it, because I've got a job that needs a hand. \ <</if>>\ Ancestors know I need someone competent." "I am //right here//." Wencheng says, walking to the crate-throne behind him. "I know." Guiren replies without turning around. <<choose "hub-port-guirenchat">> #"If I heard right, you're taking on the Callous Clan. I'd like to help." "If I heard right, you're taking on the Callous Clan." You reply, checking out the state of the warehouse. "If that's the case, I'd like to help." "We're not." Guiren replies, surprisingly. "Oh." "Not with you, at least. A few of the Callous older bigwigs have been a thorn in Boss's side, sure, covering people's debts and getting them to owe their boss Goro instead. Surprisingly they're not the biggest problem with that, the Nakamoto Clan is scalping debts for the Imperial Bank too. They've taken more clients than anyone, but we're doing it right back to both of them. What we //do// need a hand with is getting rid of someone who knows too much." "I'm not going to kill someone for you." You reply in disgust. <<if ($ruthless gte 55)>>\ Not because you're against killing, but because there are //witnesses// nearby. For fuck's sake, Guiren. <</if>>\ "You won't have to." Guiren replies. "Don't worry, it's far more legal and far more annoying than that, which is why I'm paying. Come on, I'll explain in my office." You look to the crate-throne with Wencheng sitting on it. "Not that one." Guiren says, opening a trap door by his feet with a ladder leading down. <<page "[Enter the basement]" "hub-port-guirenchat">>\ #"Sure, you know I've always got your back." <<var $guirenrep + 2>>\ <<var $sect_hiddencoil - 2>>\ "WHOA!" Yoji shouts, recoiling. "Ancestors!" Wencheng screeches. "What the fuck is wrong with you?" Says one of the other masked underlings. "What?" You ask the room, all with disapproving stares. "Ignore them." Guiren says with a threatening glare at his men. "They've never heard compliments or kindness before, they've developed an allergy to it." "That's not true!" Wencheng protests. Guiren shrugs. "Say something nice about Yoji." Wencheng opens his mouth and tries, unable to make noise come from his throat. Yoji looks to him expectantly. Wencheng's face tightens and a vein begins to form on his forehead. Through the struggle, he failes to utter a single positive word. "It's painful to watch." Guiren says. "Come on, let's go to my office while they reconcile their deep-seated, clearly ''racial'' hatred." "W-what?!" Wencheng shouts out as Yoji and a red-skinned underling stare at him expectantly. "No, that's not, uh, some of my best friends are Oni!" "Oh yeah?" Yoji asks. "Who?" "...You?" Instead of being touched, Yoji simply responds with, "What's my Clan name?" Guiren shakes his head in disappointment and opens a trapdoor by your feet, revealing a ladder leading into the basement. The two of you head down while Wencheng tries and fails to prove his innocence. <<page "[Enter the basement]" "hub-port-guirenchat">>\ #"No thanks, I was just visiting." "No thanks." You reply, turning to leave. "I was just visiting. Have a good one!" "Wait, are you serious?" Guiren calls behind you. "The job is yours if you're willing to take it! Don't walk away from a money making opportunity like this!" "I'm good!" You call back, leaving the warehouse through the back entrance and enjoying a nice walk along the sea wall. "Good luck with whatever it is!" "Damn." Yoji says to Guiren behind you. "That's cold-blooded." "Was that a racial joke?" Guiren, the Reptile Yokai, asks. "Shit." Yoji curses. "It could have been, I should have worked with that." "Missed opportunity." Wencheng says behind them. "Now who's next in Master Wencheng's Line of Shame?" <<page "Continue" "hub-port-district">>\ <</choose>>

Guiren's office is actually well-furnished. Carpets and drapes accentuate several bright paintings used as false windows. A desk and five wooden chairs fill most of the space alongside a couple wooden chests filling both back-corners. Guiren takes a seat behind the desk and props his feet up. Above you both, one of Guiren's minions closes the hatch that lead you down here. <<if ($style is "Kurokonton")>>\ "Before we get started," you say as you sit down. "Did you ever find out who hired you to kill me back at that outpost?" "Fond memories." Guiren says wistfully, recalling your initial Kurokonton training. "I've got two men on it. They're investigating the location where we were dropped the anonymous contract. Obviously it will lead back to Nanhou, but I'm hoping to find some clues along the way in case they got sloppy." You shrug. "It's something. You mentioned a job?" <<else>>\ "You mentioned a job?" You ask. <</if>>\ "A tough one." Guiren confirms, lighting his cigarette. \ <<if ((dig($metguiren, 1) is 1) or (dig($metguiren, 1) is 2))>>\ <<if (dig($metguiren, 1) is 1)>>\ <<var $metguiren + 20000000000>>\ <<else>>\ <<var $metguiren + 10000000000>>\ <</if>>\ "Our organization works for a very powerful entity. A nearly-ascend or even post-ascension creature called Bossrazel." "...What is he? A dragon? A spirit? An ancient elder?" "Not a clue in the world." Guiren says with a reminiscent smile. "He gives orders, I follow orders, he gives money, I get money. \ <<else>>\ "You know how our business works by now. The Boss givers orders, we execute those orders. \ <</if>>\ Problem is, this time he's given us a task that's steep even by his standards. An exorcism." You shrug. "Chi works on ghosts. You really //can// punch them to real-death. Learned that in Ebikowa." <<if ($style is "Kurokonton")>>\ Guiren snorts. "We all learned a lot in Ebikowa, mostly to leave Ebikowa. But no, the \ <<else>>\ Guiren shakes his head. "The \ <</if>>\ ghost part isn't the problem, it's the person. See, I'm a team leader in the Boss's operations. I get maybe five to ten underlings and there's supposedly a couple dozen other crews like mine. All of us team leaders report to the same handler, an elder we call Old Man Manzo. Manzo enforces the Boss's control in the region; he's even the Sectmaster of the Hidden Coil Sect that we use as a front. The man's an Inner Kingdom shinobi from the great Ozaki Clan of the Cursed Lands. You know, those centuries-old kind of fuckers." "Uhuh." You nod, so far it's pretty easy to follow along. "He's the ghost." You blink. "Wha-" "Ozaki Manzo is the ghost we need to exorcise. Someone killed him." "But you said he was centuries old." Guiren exhales off to the side and twitches his tail in an arc behind his chair. "Yeah. We're guessing an Archon did it. That's a problem, because Archons have resources. The kind where they can extract information from a spirit. The Boss can't let Manzo's ghost slip into their hands, so he needs it gone before anyone finds out Manzo formed a ghost at all." He lifts a kettle out from behind his desk. "Tea?" <<choose "hub-port-guirenchat2">> #"Yes, please." <<var $honor + 1>>\ <<var $ruthless - 1>>\ <<var $solexp + 1>>\ "Yes, please." Guiren pours the steaming green tea into a cup for you. You raise the aromatic liquid to your lips and enjoy the warmth of the steam, unburned by the heat at this level of your Advancement. One of the more subtle joys of becoming a Martial Artist is you can finally enjoy tea fresh off the fire. "Onto business." Guiren says, sliding a dossier your way when you're done with your second big sip. #"No." <<var $honor + 1>>\ <<var $forexp + 1>>\ "No." "Suit yourself." Guiren says, pouring the steaming green tea down a small grate on the floor. "Do you know where that goes?" You ask. "The sea, I hope." Guiren peaks down the grate. "Otherwise this hidden basement has a hidden basement, and I keep pouring tea on whoever's hiding down there." The two of you stare down the drain in suspicion until Guiren clears his throat and slides a dossier your way. "Onto business." #"WHAT?!" "WHAT?!" You scream out. "Guiren, we can't mess with the Archons!" "Relax, relax!" Guiren says, snuffing his cigarette in his palm. "There's nothing illegal about exorcising a ghost. If anything they should thank us; from their perspective, we're just model citizens slaying evil. All I'm asking for is a small bit of help killing an Inner Kingdom fighter, that's all. It's not like you had to gather intel. That's where the real Hell is." Guiren slides a dossier your way. <</choose>>

You open it to find two keystones, floor plans of a theatre, maps of surrounding buildings, and construction plans of...a dungeon? "Guiren, what am I looking at here?" "Our intel on the Laughing Carp Theatre, and Manzo's underground lair beneath it. It was supposed to be a big secret, seeing as even I've never heard of him having some secret hidden base, but The Boss is all-knowing so he cheats for us. Our esteemed master manifested this on my desk so we could get to the ghost." "So it's an assassination dossier." You say. "A ninja-ghost assassination dossier, yeah." Guiren rises and offers a hand. "What do you say, are you up for a joint operation exorcising an Inner Kingdoms fiend?" <<choose "hub-quests-guiren">> #"Gladly." [1 Day, Join Guiren] "Gladly." You say, signing up for a dangerous mission. "Perfect!" Guiren says. "Let's get upstairs and collect the guys." The two of you leave the basement in time to see how things have been going upstairs. "BOW YOUR LOWLY HEADS WHEN YOU SPEAK TO ME, SLAVE!" Screams the man in the crate-throne. "Wencheng!" Guiren shouts across the warehouse. "Too hard on the debtors! Yoji, replace him." Yoji pushes Wencheng off his seat and shakes his head, bowing low to the next man in line. "Welcome to the Hidden Coil Sect." He says. "How may I take your order?" Guiren grits his teeth. "For the love of-we're not a restaurant! You!" He points at a nameless, masked minion. "You're promoted, cover for me while the rest of us head out." The minion drops a crate and looks from Yoji to Guiren. "Young Master, you hired me forty minutes ago. Are you su-" "Great, congratulations, you're gonna go far. Everyone else, pack up! We're on a mission!" <<page "Continue" "hub-quests-guiren">>\ #"I'm pretty busy, I'll report his ghost to the guard instead." [Leave] <<var $compquest1 + 2000000000000>>\ <<var $guirenrep - 7>>\ "I'm pretty busy," you admit, "I don't really have time for a big ghostbusting ninja fight. I'll report it to the guard instead." "Come again?" Guiren asks, blinking in surprise. "The guard." You reiterate. "I get that The Boss doesn't want this getting out, but it will, and I'd rather have the proper authorities handle it for once so my taxes go towards something useful." "You pay taxes?" Guiren questions. "Of course I-" Oh. Oh no. Have you ever paid taxes before? "Look." Guiren says. "You //could// tell the guard, but then I'd fail my mission, you wouldn't get an ally with incredible sway, and the Boss's operations would get a negative spotlight, which is bad for business." "That's fine." You say, leaving up the ladder. "See you around!" Guiren groans into his fine mahogany desk. "Awwwwwwwwwww shit." <<page "Return to the Docks" "hub-port-district">>\ <</choose>>

<<var $mettiger + 10000000000>>\ <<if ($portraitpics is true)>>\ <<image "https://www.auraclash.com/assets/images/brass-tiger.jpg">>\ <</if>>\ Tan skinned, heavily battlescarred, and wearing only loose black pants with a red sash, the men exiting each Mist Chamber are mirror images of the same muscle-bound figure. White hair lined with black stripes, blue eyes analyzing the crowd, sharp canine fangs shown in a wide closed-teeth smile, and a swishing white and black striped tail. The crowded streets go //insane// at the presence of this Cat Yokai. "I LOVE YOU BRASS TIGER!" "WINK AT ME, BRASS TIGER!" "TAKE MY SON AS AN APPRENTICE, HERO OF THE NORTH!" One of the identical Cat Yokai men waves to the crowd with a cheering fist. "Thank you, thank you! And yes, hail me!" "No, hail //me//!" Says the other. "Please." Says the first. "Look at the shameful state of you. Twenty hours in high-gravity and you're already half-dead." "Bah, barely half warmed-up." The second retorts. The two identical Cat Yokai shrug it off as the crowd laughs. They both wave from opposite sides of the jetty and part the crowd as they waltz down their planks leading to the dock-street. Meeting in the middle, they clasp each other's hands so hard that one dissolves. The effect is much like the Taio clones you've killed, though this Brass Tiger clone disperses into Water mist, not a blood mist. The Water Chi wraps around the remaining Brass Tiger and he breathes deep, as if refreshed, and lets the local sea air enter his nostrils with a peaceful calm. You're not sure how he's looking peaceful, the people around him are still going ballistic. Not willing to throw away a good opportunity, you scan his spirit while he's so preoccupied. It's time to see what the competition is up to... <<page "Hm..." "hub-port-premist2">>\

... ... You stop and narrow your eyes in concern. The man's aura is unlike any Martial Artist you've scanned in Nanhou or anywhere else: blatant, and open. You can sense his aura so keenly that you can even feel his Techniques. Water and Ice chi intermixing between the sharp essence of an ice-claw Technique, the hardened essence of a skin-reinforcement Technique, the slippery essence of a Water mobility Technique, and the heavy force of a Sacred Technique magnifying the weight of his own body. <<if ($style is "Aoyusumu")>>\ ''[Aoyusumu Event]'' Using your own Sacred Chi to act as weighted clothing during training? You'd never considered it because it won't work, your spirit should naturally resist your own effect. Yet, he's doing it...and after a deeper scan, you can feel how. He's using a psionic mental command to brainwash //himself// into not resisting the effect with his spirit, leaving a kinetic layer of pressure over his body that he can only resist physically. <<apboost 10>>\ Is he a fool? Everyone seems to be worshipping him, yet to offer one's training secrets to everyone around you at a competition... <</if>>\ It's as if he's //daring// you to study him. The man turns toward you as your scan finishes and you realize why he's so nonchalant: <<if ($jadedragonfoundation is true)>>\ Even with your increasingly perfected Jade Dragon Foundation, this man's Aura Pressure on par with yours. <<else>>\ His Aura Pressure is over three-thousand. <</if>>\ You glare as the man approaches you, ready for anything. Yet he doesn't stop when he gets to you; instead he steps //past// you like you aren't even there. He stops at the clerk and hands the man a scroll. "Another twelve hours." He growls. The clerk takes his scroll and bows. "Of course, Young Master." Several women in the crowd fawn over Brass Tiger from behind, grasping for his tail without an ounce of restraint. At first he ignores them, but something changes in his presence. The hairs on the back of his head stand up and he turns slowly, noticing something for the first time: You. "You got a problem?" He asks loud enough for the crowd to hear. <<choose "hub-port-district">> #"Just passing by." <<var $ruthless - 2>>\ <<var $mettiger + 10000000000>>\ "Just passing by." You say, having gotten a better look at the competition. Brass Tiger shrugs and walks away into the crowd. There's still much to do, and you're not going to reveal your powers to a crowd if there's nothing to be gained for it. <<page "Continue" "hub-port-district">>\ #"Yeah asshole, you're using my training chamber. Get lost." "Yeah asshole," you say, stepping up and into his face, "you're using my training chamber. Get lost." <<var $ruthless + 2>>\ Brass Tiger lifts his chin, glaring down his nose at you. "Oh, is that how it is?" He steps closer, bumping you with his chest. "We'll see about that." <<cap $auracolor>> chi surrounds your body and all but four people in the crowd step back. Brass Tiger, however, turns to your right and grabs a scroll out of the Bōgu-masked clerk's hand. He holds it up to his face and mouths some sort of incantation that... Or... No way. You realize slowly that he's not casting a Seal. He's mouthing the words on the scroll as his eyes run over them, like a child struggling to read. "Hah!" He barks out loudly, then turns the scroll around for your viewing. "See? Right here, it belongs to the city, not you. Nice try kid." He tosses the scroll to the clerk and wipes his hands as if completing a task. With a victorious smile he shakes his head at you. "You almost got me, too, but I'm too sharp." You're so taken aback that he was dumb enough to think you meant he's literally using //your// training chamber, and that he ''almost believed you'', that you don't even know what to say. Brass Tiger turns around and leaps to one of the open Mist Chamber doors while you stand there in the middle of the street, completely unprepared for such a stupid disconnect in the conversation. Mist leaks out of the doorway when he seals it shut. <<page "Continue" "hub-port-premist3">>\ #"You dare disrespect the $patriarch of the $clan Clan?!" [Attack] -> "hub-port-attackbt" <<var $ruthless + 3>>\ Unlike most Martial Artists in Outer West, you have extensive practical experience with Clone Techniques. And you can spot one from a mile away. "You dare disrespect the $patriarch of the $clan Clan?!" You shout loud enough for the whole crowd to hear. Knowing that this isn't the real Brass Tiger, you shrug off the sensation of his large Aura Pressure and swing in for a left-handed straight punch at his throat. #use-if (($lore gte 4) or ($survival gte 4)) "Don't I know you?" [Requires Lore 4 or Survival 4] -> "hub-port-besto-friendo" <<var $mettiger + 10000000>>\ "Don't I know you?" You ask, looking at the tiger-like Cat Yokai suspiciously. The man looks to the crowd with a wide-open shrug. "I don't know, everyone, does $heshe know me?" "YES!" They scream out. Brass Tiger cups a hand beneath his ear. "Because ''everyone'' knows-" "BRASS TIGER!" Dozens of voices shout as one. He nods in satisfaction. "Yeah. Yeah, I'd say you know me. But look, kid, I'm busy with the Trials right now. I can't go around signing illustrations about my victory against the last Ice Demon Incursion." "No, it's not that." You say, shaking your head and taking out a small pamphlet on snares meant to trap minks. You flip through the sheets and get to the back, pointing to the author's name. "You're this Brass Tiger, right? I was training for wrestling moves as a kid and used your mink snare technique to make up my own armbar hold." Brass Tiger stomps back in astonishment and swipes the pamphlet out of your hands. "No way! This-! I only wrote twenty copies! Holy Heavens, kid, where did you get this?!" You're irked that he keeps calling you 'kid', seeing as he's //at most// six years older than you, but you answer him anyway because you're honestly surprised that it's the same man. "The Thunderfall Library." "I made it into a library?! I mean frozen Hells, kid!" He shouts out in joy, flipping through the little booklet. "I was only a kid myself when I wrote this, I'd completely forgotten about those days!" His scarred, grizzled expression melts into a child's joy. The man giddily grins ear-to-ear while flipping through the booklet. "Damn, what a small world! I nearly forgot about the snowminks from my hometown, or all the traps I used to try. This is, just, this is incredible!" The crowd steps back to make room for his pacing in a circles around you while he leafs through to soak it all in. "Damn, it feels unreal to find this. All those oddjobs like writing feel like they're from another life by now. Nobody ever cares about my hobbies these days, they all just want me to fight on the front lines. I guess I stopped caring about my hobbies too...Shit, this takes me back. What's your name?" #show-if ($heshe is "she") [Stare in silence at this miraculous mountain of masculine muscle.] <<var $mettiger + 1000000000>>\ You say nothing, taking in the sight of his delts looking so stable you could build a house on them. "Something wrong with this one?" Brass Tiger asks to the crowd, his back muscles flexing and glistening in the sun as he turns away toward the crowd to point a thumb back to you. He looks back, hearing no reply, and waves a hand in front of your face. You look past his hand, distracted by his coiled biceps so circular and taut you could use them to draw the globe. "Hello?" He asks, "Anyone home?" You nod softly while smiling, keeping your gaze shamelessly on his abs that press against each other like a bulging powerhouse barely contained in human form. It's unclear when you began drooling, but you can guess. "Ohhhhh!" Brass Tiger says suddenly, slapping his forehead and nodding along as if agreeing with you. "Okay. Yeah, duh, here." He rips off a piece of his sash and bites his finger tip with an extended canine, drawing an address on the cloth in his blood. "I'll be staying here for Trials, come by whenever you like." The man presses the note into your cleavage, turns around, wipes sweat from his face with the rest of his sash, and enters the nearest training chamber. Mist leaks out of the door as he closes it behind him. As soon as the door seals, you break out of your trance and notice the increasingly hostile atmosphere coming from the crowd around you. Over fifty other women, Martial Artists among them, glare at your audacious luck. Or so they think. You look down at the note, trying to ignore them, and see that Brass Tiger folded the cloth while the writing was still wet. His note is not only gross, it's completely illegible. <<page "Why are all the hot ones so stupid?" "hub-port-btflirt">>\ <</choose>>

The crowd thins after that fiasco and you decide it's best to leave too. Only a fool argues with one. "$ymaster?" Asks the Bōgu-masked clerk from behind. "$ymaster, you were inquiring the availability of a Mist Chamber, yes?" "Hm?" You ask in irritation, looking over your shoulder. "I was, but they're all taken for now aren't they?" "They were, $ymaster, but Young Master Brass Tiger appears to have forgotten to create a new Water Clone after speaking with you. These chambers seal for 12-hours, he will not be returning until tonight." The clerk points across the road to the empty Mist Chamber. "We now have one available and you were second in-line. Do you still wish to purchase a training slot?" "...Oh." <<choose "hub-loc-mist">> #use-if (((($shards + ($silver / 10)) + ($gold * 10)) gte $mistcost) and ($countdown gte 1)) "I'll take it." [Costs 1 Day, 100 Shards] #"Maybe later." [Return to the Port District] -> "hub-port-district" <</choose>>

You and Leona reach the right hallway of the Twisting Dragon Casino just in time for the shift to occur. Six other purple-clad administrative workers stand in front of the entrance and two guards stand at its front, ensuring no one gets by without the right uniform. Right on cue, the air around the red-carpeted hallway entrance shifts and the entire hall disappears, shifted to the right and replaced with a different hallway coming in from the left. Outside, the twin statues of dragons coiling around the casino must have just moved. You suspect the display appeared impressive and majestic outside, but you doubt many know that the writhing dragon design was actually causing a secret and temporary entrance to open. The entrance to the casino's Administrative Building. Leona winks to you. "We'll peel away from the rest. They're bringing funds to the vaults, where the real security stays. You and I will slip off to the main office where Goro handles his business. Those swords are mounted on the wall right above his desk." "How do you know all this?" You ask. She gives you a sideways glance, smiling. "A girl never tells her secrets." <<page "Continue" "hub-quest-leona-adminhall2">>\

Surprisingly, nothing goes wrong on your journey through the Administrative Building. You follow the other purple-clad casino workers until it's time to break off up a staircase. No one follows you, no guards bother you, and you reach a hallway that Leona recognizes. Somehow you manage to find it without an alarm, a pirate attack, a dark curse, or some demonic cultivator's clone bothering you. It's a refreshing change of pace. <<if (dig($mettaio, 1) gte 6)>>\ //Don't get used to it.// Taio the Bandit says in your mind, which he haunts. <</if>>\ "This is it!" Leona whisper-cheers, looking down the mundane-looking hallway with its bamboo flooring. On the opposite end of the hall is a thick steel vault door. "That's the door to Goro's office! Which means this boring looking hallway is the one covered ceiling-to-floor in sorcerous wards." <<if (($insight gte 3) or ($style is "Kiihakai"))>>\ <<if ($insight gte 3)>>\ ''[Insight 3 Check Passed]'' <<else>>\ ''[Kiihakai Style Event]'' <</if>>\ She's right. Through your spiritual senses, without even sending out a real scan, you can feel a power within the air that radiates from the hallway. <<apboost 2>>\ <<var $val 4662>>\ "You see it too, right?" \ <<else>>\ ''[Insight 3 Check Failed]'' "It doesn't look warded." You reply. <</if>>\ Leona's blue and green eyes gleam as she withdraws a fuuinjutsu seal tag and rips it in half. From the resulting puff of smoke, she withdraws two swords. \ <<if ($val is 4662)>>\ "You won't for long." <<else>>\ "In a second, it won't be." <</if>>\ With a single thrust of each blade, she releases two pin-thin lines of Bladed Chi into the hallway's floor. They crash into nothing and turn, rushing down the hallway in opposing spirals. The lines of Bladed Chi, almost too thin to see, rip across the hallway in dozens of rotations from the floor to the ceiling. The effect dissipates when it hits the wall at the end of the hallway. To your surprise, the wooden floor doesn't suffer so much as a scratch. Despite that, you sense chi being disrupted where Leona's effect passed through it. In a mere two seconds, the hallways wards are completely dissected and destroyed. <<if ($style is "Kiihakai")>>\ <<include "hub-quest-leona-caster">>\ <<else>>\ <<include "hub-quest-leona-adminhall3">>\ <</if>>\

Leona bounces in place with \ <<if ($heshe is "he")>>\ excitement, her chest puffed out. \ <<else>>\ excitement. \ <</if>>\ "See that? I wasn't going to make you do all the hard parts." <<choose "hub-quest-leona-adminhall4">> #"Thanks." "Thanks." You reply. "That's it?" She asks, face twisted. "Just 'thanks'? I just ripped through thousands of Shards worth of mystical seals and all I get is 'thanks'?" "Do you want a tip or something?" You ask. "I didn't know your Sect was that broke." <<if ($heshe is "she")>>\ Leona looks shocked, appalled, insulted, and ready to laugh. "Ohhh you bitch! I'm going to make out with your brother for that!" Your face sours. Ew. "You don't even know my brother." "Oh I'll get to know him //real nice//." She replies, skipping ahead down the hallway. "Now come on, we're still in the middle of a heist and we've passed the point of no return. The guards will kill us if they find us now." <<page "Continue" "hub-quest-leona-adminhall4">>\ <<else>>\ Leona grits her teeth, sparks of Bladed Chi coming out of her smile as she tries not to look mad. <<include "hub-quest-leona-adminhallq1">>\ <</if>>\ #"Impressive, for a Sunbringer." "Impressive," you say, "for a Sunbringer." <<if ($heshe is "he")>>\ Leona rolls her eyes. "I'm a Sectmistress, backhanded compliments aren't going to work on me." "If you say so." You reply, walking down the hallway. "They're not!" She shouts at you, running to catch up. "They're not, they're not, they're not!" "I know." You say reassuringly as she grabs onto your arm from behind. "Come on, stop negging me for a minute and acknowledge my secret hidden maturity! I'm an evil genius!" "You sure are." You say, walking forward against the burden of Leona leaning her entire bodyweight on your arm. <<if ($pwt_leona is true)>>\ "I AM, and you'd better, hey! You're not even listening!" She uses your wrist to pull herself to her feet and grips your arm tightly, pouting angrily as she leans her head against your shoulder. "You're such a dick." <<else>>\ She doesn't let go and you're forced to drag her all the way to the locked vault door at the end of the hallway. <</if>>\ <<page "Continue" "hub-quest-leona-adminhall4">>\ <<else>>\ "For //the// Sunbringer." Leona corrects. "It sounds like someone's a little jealous that she's still a Lower Disciple while-" she shoves two thumbs at her own chest, "-THIS bitch is a Sectmistress." You try not to let the jealousy show on your face. The difference in rank actually is demeaning. Leona leans forward with a smug grin. "Maybe you should kill your way to the top like I did." <<if ($ruthless gte 60) or (($heshe is "he") and ($ruthless gte 55))>>\ ''[Ruthless Check Passed]'' You think to Jack kicking Jin's bleeding face back on the hilltop years ago. <<var $leonarep + 2>>\ <<var $ruthless + 1>>\ <<var $powexp + 2>>\ <<page "Maybe I will." "hub-quest-leona-adminhall4">>\ <<else>>\ ''[Ruthless Check Failed]'' <<var $leonarep - 2>>\ <<var $ruthless - 1>>\ "And maybe //you// should do your own dirty work from now on." You reply dryly, remembering how she tricked you into wiping out her Sect's leadership in the first place. Hell, you qualify for Sunbringer \ <<if ($heshe is "he")>>\ Sectmaster \ <<else>>\ Sectmistress \ <</if>>\ just as much as she does. <<page "Continue" "hub-quest-leona-adminhall4">>\ <</if>>\ <</if>>\ #"Thank the Ancestors for that, I was growing tired of carrying this heist on my back." -> "hub-quest-leona-adminhallq2" #show-if ($heshe is "he") "Good girl." -> "hub-quest-leona-goodgirl" "Good girl." You say, walking forward without her. <</choose>>

Fortunately Leona's effect seems to have worked. No alarm triggers when you walk down the hallway and no guards or spirits arrive to fight you. You reach the steel vault door of Goro's office and run your hand down it, feeling its solidity. It will take time to crack, but you have time. "We have three minutes left." Leona says. Blinking, you turn to her. "Three minutes left until what?" She smiles wide, breathing in. "Until the guards come back to beat us to death. My Sunbringers are distracting both men on duty." "They can fight a guard for three minutes?" "Hah! It's been seventeen minutes already." She says, dusting her hands off as if completing some achievement. "But they're not fighting." "Then what are they doing?" "Well it's at the hotel, genius, and only half my Sect could help out with this missions so enjoy doing that math. For a bonus hint, we didn't send Yori because she's ugly." You scrunch your nose. "Your whole Sect is vile." <<if (((dig($metleona, 11) gte 1) or ($roomscene is "Leona")) or ($bangled))>>\ Leona gives you a proud, lustful stare. "I don't recall you complaining when I //distracted// you earlier. Help me with this heist and I might even distract you again. \ <<else>>\ Leona stares off wistfully. "I prefer the term 'loyal', those rascals will do anything for their Sectmistress. It just so happens that //I'm// vile, so they get dragged into it too. \ <</if>>\ Now stop wasting time and get to work, time is of the essence! Or some other wise expression that means 'hurry up.'" <<var $brokedoor false>>\ <<choose "hub-quest-leona-office">> #Pick the lock. You unfurl your set of thieving tools specifically designed for all sorts of tumblers. Such intricate tools are important to any thief, and they're the only highly valuable trade tools that are always free. Because you stole them. The irony is palpable. "Quit daydreaming!" Leona says, checking the hallway behind you both. "We only have three minutes left. Chop chop, picker!" You put your thieving tools down and stare in shock at the pale lunargoth. "Did you just call me a picker?" "Yeah, a lockpicker. Why? You and Kosuke called each other pickers all the time." "That's our word, you can't say that word." You frown at her but she smiles back obliviously. <<if ($thievery gte 3)>>\ ''[Thievery 3 Check Passed]'' Reluctantly, and only through a great deal of skill, you do pick the lock. The tumblers all hold in place as you twist them at once, causing the vault to release an audible *click*. "Lock picked." You say with satisfaction. "Less than three minutes, too." "Thank Hells." Leona says, breathing deep through her nose. "We probably only had one minute." Your jaw drops. "You said three!" "Down to seconds, now!" She shouts, pulling the door open and rushing into Goro's office. "Better hurry up, picker!" <<page "Continue" "hub-quest-leona-office">>\ <<else>>\ ''[Thievery 3 Check Failed]'' Over the next three minutes you try everything you can think of to get the tumblers working in the correct order, but there's some damn secret you're not privy to. The things keep dropping when they shouldn't! "What's the matter, picker?" Leona asks antsily. "It's some sort of reset." You mumble, hastily shoving your third lockpick back inside. "Well hurry up! Those guards are all fast as hell. Come on, picker, get picking! Come on, come on, come on, come on, come-" A hand bigger than her torso catches her by the head and slams her into the nearby wall before she can finish bothering you. The guards have arrived. You know it's plural 'guards', rather than a singular 'guard', because someone else has their foot embedded four inches into your diaphragm. The force of their attack slams you face-first into the vault door, where your head bends four inches of solid steel. <<woundcheck 2 false false>>\ <<var $compquest1 + 30000000000000>>\ <<page "My face! MY FACE!!" "hub-quest-leona-guards">>\ <</if>>\ #Try to break the lock. "I'm going to break it." You say, dipping into a low horse stance and generating as much power as you can around your dominant fist. "Can your sound barriers hide my Aura Pressure?" "Heh, no. I'm no Seal expert." Leona shrugs in acceptance. "So much for three minutes. We'll have three //seconds//." <<cap $auracolor>> light fills the hallway as a sphere of fluctuating chi forms around your fist. "Then I better not fail." Leona stands in front of you, crouching low as well and charging scarlet chi around her own fist. "Not like I can just stand here and see if you get us both killed. Ready?" "Born ready." She shakes her head sweat forming on her forehead as she pumps the life energy out of her body and around her arm. "I keep giving you chances to say cool retorts. You'll have to pay me back one day." <<if (($honor gte 55) or (($style is "Midorikatai") and ($honor gte 50)))>>\ ''[Honor Check Passed]'' "Focus!" You command. She does, silencing and correcting her chi output ever so slightly. "Now!" <<else>>\ ''[Honor Check Failed]'' "Not on your life." You say with a grin, reeling back your fist to strike the vault. "Now!" <</if>>\ <<page "Kiai!" "hub-quest-leona-kiai">>\ #show-if ($reinforceritual isnot 100) use-if ($ritualcomponents gte 1) Cast the Reinforcement ritual on some loose putty. [Costs 1 Ritual Component] You crouch down low and examine the multi-faceted lock of the vault. After several seconds going over the idea in your mind, you shrug and look to Leona. "I'm just going to rig it." "What does that mean?" She asks. "Do you have some super secret key hidden away?" You withdraw some putty from your satchel. "Something like that." With a quick offering to the Heavens you place the putty into the different locks, shoving it in until it presses the tumblers up into the right slots, and then perform the handseals of the Reinforcement ritual on the putty. ''[1 Ritual Component Lost]'' <<var $ritualcomponents - 1>>\ <<var $solexp + 3>>\ <<var $powexp + 1>>\ "No." Leona says in astonishment. "No, it can't be so simple." "It's a purely physical lock." You reply with a shrug, turning the hardened puddy and opening the vault door with an audible *click*. "The sorcery that would have stopped this was all in the hallway." Leona's jaw hangs low. She shakes her head at the simplicity of it. "We should have robbed a bank instead if you're going to make it this easy." <<if ($honor lte 45)>>\ You narrow your eyes, pleased. "We still can." <<else>>\ You shake your head. "A bank didn't suckerpunch me in front of the whole city. Only Goro deserves this." <</if>>\ <<page "Enter Callous Goro's office." "hub-quest-leona-office">>\ #show-if ($reinforceritual is 100) use-if ($reinforceritual isnot 100) Attempt a ritual to bypass the lock. #show-if ($style is "Kurokonton") Use Cursed Chi to manipulate the tumblers. You crouch down low and examine the multi-faceted lock of the vault. After several seconds going over the idea in your mind, you shrug and look to Leona. "It's a good thing you brought a shinobi." "Ohhhh." Leona says with her hands raised, pretending to be impressed. "By all means, Master Ninja, show this young mistress your grand techniques." You place your hand against the lock, activate your Cursed Chi in a radius wide enough to reach all the tumblers. With focus, your cursed energy //pulls// them each down until they click into place. Then, by simply turning your palm clockwise, you open the lock. Leona's slowclapping hands stop in midair when the vault door opens. "Okay, um...That actually was impressive. I don't have anything smart to say." "You never do." You say with a pleased smile. You motion your hand to the open doorway. \ <<if ($heshe is "she")>>\ "After you." <<else>>\ "Ladies first." <</if>>\ <<page "Enter Callous Goro's office." "hub-quest-leona-office">>\ <</choose>>

<<choose "hub-quest-leona-goodgirl">> #"Damn." You reply. "You look mad." "Damn." You reply. "You look mad." <<var $leonarep - 4>>\ Leona closes her mouth and grips her swords, eyes darting between her heist prize at the nearby vault and your neck. "I'm going to stab you when I get Goro's swords." You shrug. "We'll worry about that when we get them, first we need to pass through that door." <<page "Continue" "hub-quest-leona-adminhall4">>\ #"Fine, fine. You did a great job. Good girl." "Fine, fine." You say to calm her down as you walk down the hallway. "You did a great job. Good girl." <</choose>>

"Thank the Ancestors for that," you reply, "I was growing tired of carrying this heist on my back." "What?!" Leona steps backward, shocked. "Are you calling me //heavy?!//" <<choose "hub-quest-leona-adminhall4">> #"Yes." "Yes." "Well fuck you \ <<if ($heshe is "she")>>\ too, fatass!" \ <<else>>\ too, \ <<if ($pwt_leona is true)>>\ weird-balls!" \ <<else>>\ dickhead!" \ <</if>>\ <</if>>\ She shouts back, scowling for once. "Ancestors, this is why no one likes Thunderfallers." You scrunch your nose at that. "No one likes Sunbringers." "Uh, no???" Leona leans forward, checking your head for injuries. "Everyone loves us. You and Mountain Hazard are the villains of the region." "You were literally ''demonic cultivators!''" You blurt back. "To get the power to stop Mao's constant conquest! We //gained// trade partners when our leaders gave up their souls, because people were so thankful that we sacrificed so much to protect them from all of YOU!" When she shouts you pause your planned response and stare at her. She stares back. Simultaneously, you both look behind you and remember that you're in the middle of a heist, shouting. "Heh. Oops." She whispers. "We should keep going." <<page "Agreed." "hub-quest-leona-adminhall4">>\ #show-if ($heshe is "he") [Point to her chest] "Yes." Leona stands in the hallway with both swords at the ready, demanding to know if you just called her 'heavy'. You point to her chest. "Yes." <<var $leonaromance + 1>>\ <<var $leonarep + 4>>\ "Oh." She says, cupping her bosom from the sides with her elbows. "Good." <<page "Continue" "hub-quest-leona-adminhall4">>\ #"No, and hurry up. We're in hostile territory." <<var $leonarep - 1>>\ "No." You reply quickly, "And hurry up. We're in hostile territory." "Fine." She says, glaring daggers into your back. It occurs to you that with her Path, she could literally glare daggers into your back. <<page "Continue" "hub-quest-leona-adminhall4">>\ <</choose>>

When Leona and her Disciples leave, your men rest at ease and drop their auras. It's clear that even such a display put a strain on their low Aura Pressures. "Well done, men." You say to your crew before waltzing to the center of the room. There, on the floor, is the sword from Goro's office that Leona left behind. The... <<var $txt "men">>\ <<include "hub-quest-leona-pickblade">>\

<<var $retainer_morale + 3>>\ You and your retainers spend the next hour at a fine noodle restaurant, enjoying food and drink together like a proper Clan. <<if (dig($trialdeets, 4) gte 2)>>\ <<costcalc 12>>\ Unfortunately, your proper Clan is also here. "Seconds, please!" Calls Rin, possibly racking up your bill on purpose. "No, thirds!" Calls Jin, ''certainly'' racking up your bill on purpose. <<var $retainer_morale + 5>>\ <<costcalc 6>>\ <<else>>\ <<costcalc 15>>\ <</if>>\ Kosuke helps everyone collaborate a shared lie to boast about the Sunbringer fight that never happened, and eventually things come to an end when a snowsteel-masked Noble rents out the entire restaurant. Your men complain, but your wallet sighs in sweet relief. <<page "Return to the Entertainment District." "hub-quest-leona-leaving">>\

''[Kiihakai Event!]'' Shockingly, you can //feel// the power of the dissipating Wards. Not just sense it, but you can detect it as if it were an extension of your own Mystic Chi. <<choose "hub-quest-leona-adminhall3">> #use-if ((($chipool + ($soul/2)) - $chispent) gte 3) Harness the unclaimed sorcerous power. [Spend 3 Chi, gain AP] You extend a palm outward and call on the golden shreds of Mystic Chi hiding in the dying wards of the hallway. It answers to your Will, swirling into your outstretched hand like a funnel of stars. ''[3 Chi Spent]'' <<var $chispent + 3>>\ <<var $val (((3 + $insight) + $lore) * $stylerank)>>\ ''[Aura Pressure +$val]'' <<var $aurapressure + $val>>\ <<if ($hungryspiritritual gt 1)>>\ ''[Hungry Spirit Ritual: +5 Aura Pressure]'' <<var $aurapressure + 5>>\ <</if>>\ #Leave it alone. <<var $solexp + 1>>\ You decide to ignore the unfamiliar Mystic Chi. Ancestors know you don't need to be shoving some stranger's life energy into your soul. <</choose>>

Twenty minutes later you've washed off in a different hotel room and snuck out before the maids found you. You didn't pay. Back at the bar, you meet Leona while adjusting your purple administrative robe, pleased to find it's a comfortable fit. <<var $val2 919>>\ <<include "hub-quest-leona-lookingood">>\

"What are you talking about?" You ask in front of the ambushing party of Sunbringers. "You never offered me a sword, we got these for you." Leona nearly trips in mid-step. "Uh, what?" "You asked to help you with a heist to get these swords, I figured they would both be yours. It's not stealing or a betrayal. We got you these swords, nitwit." Leona laughs nervously, looking around the room at her Disciples. They mumble and chatter amongst themselves. "Uh, $name." She whispers, leaning close to you. "This is supposed to be a big operation for me, where I trick a Thunderfaller and rob $himher. Quit fucking it up." "Woman, take the damn swords and stop being weird. My work here is done. Mission successful." Her blue and green eyes search your face, looking for something. For once she doesn't have a shining smile. For once, she looks focused. Her lip trembles a second later and she leans into you with a hug, tears running down her face. She wails out, voice trembling. "You can't just be cool and nice and friendly like this! How am I supposed to look like a good leader if my enemy is the only person being nice to me?! You're making me look like a horrible person!" <<choose "hub-quest-leona-gift2">> #[Gently pat her back] "There there, you //are// a horrible person." #use-if ($honor lte 40) Suckerpunch her and take both swords. [Requires Dishonor 60] Leona cries her heart out against you, being vulnerable for the first time since you've met. Jackpot. You run your hands through her hair in comfort, then grip both sides of her head and leap into the air. All the inertia of your leap follows through into your knee, then into her skull when your knee collides with her face. "MY NOSE!" Leona screams, holding the bleeding mess with both hands.\ <<if (dig($mettaio, 1) gte 6)>>\ //Hah!// Barks Taio the Bandit inside your mind. //Well done, keep that harlot in her place!// //With pleasure.// You think back to him. \ <</if>>\ "Catch!" You shout as you frontflip over her, grip her shoulders from above, and throw her into two Sunbringers by the blocked window you entered through. Her entire Sect rushes to her aid and you grab both swords off the ground, darting to the opposite end of the warehouse and leaving through the front door. "GET OFF ME, IDIOTS!" Leona screams from inside the warehouse. "GET OFF ME AND GO ''KILL <<capall $himher>>!!" //Fat chance//, you think to yourself as you disappear into the crowded streets. <<var $itemkatana_2 222672300>>\ ''[Item Gained: Kagutsuchi, Katana of Flame Chi]'' <<var $itemkatana_3 222513600>>\ ''[Item Gained: Ikazuchi, Katana of Storm Chi]'' <<var $leonacombat - 1>>\ <<var $compquest1 - (dig($compquest1, 2) * 10000000000000)>>\ <<var $compquest1 + 80000000000000>>\ Ancestors, it feels good to be bad. <<page "Return to the Entertainment District." "hub-quest-leona-leaving">>\ <</choose>>

<<var $trainingpartner + 1000000>>\ You gently pat her on the back. "There there, you //are// a horrible person." She lets out one sharp laugh through the sobs and rubs the bottom of a palm against her eyes to wipe away her tears. The habit of someone used to having blades in her hands. "You're embarrassing me in front of my Sect, you know. I'm supposed to be, I don't know, throwing you through the window or something." <<var $leonacombat + 1>>\ <<choose "hub-quest-leona-leaving">> #"Make it look convincing." You glance around the room and see the judging eyes of over a dozen Sunbringers. Most glare at you with hate. The hate of generations, and in this moment you realize that you're not simply $fullname to these people. You're a symbol of a feud long in the making. You're a symbol, to them, of Crusher Mao. A symbol of death to their loved ones. A symbol of the loss of their home. <<var $compquest1 - (dig($compquest1, 2) * 10000000000000)>>\ <<var $compquest1 + 70000000000000>>\ <<var $leonarep + 10>>\ <<var $ruthless - 2>>\ <<var $honor + 1>>\ Understanding the responsibility of leadership, you resign yourself to an unwelcome beating. You pull Leona away from you and give her a sideways smile. "Make it look convincing." A smile spreads across her face. Not the flashy smiles she throws around wildly, but a genuine smile of gratitude. Then she leaps to her feet and points a condemning finger down at you. "Trying to kill me in a bearhug?! A foolish trick, you're far too ''weak'' for that! Begone, foul Thunderfaller!" With great ceremony she spins in place three times, aura of blades spinning around her leg. At the last rotation her bladed chi inverts inward, blades point at her instead. She strikes you with flashy, minimal damage when she kicks you in the gut and launches you through the front door of the warehouse. Her Disciples break out in cheer. The crowd outside parts only mildly to make room for you to skid across the road. You rise to your feet and dust yourself off. Your body bares no injuries, though some slices are evident across your clothing. \ <<if (dig($trialdeets, 4) gte 2)>>\ Hopefully Rin can patch those up. <<else>>\ Hopefully you have a sewing needle on your flagship. <</if>>\ <<page "Return to the Entertainment District." "hub-quest-leona-leaving">>\ #"Like this?" [Throw her through a window.] <<var $compquest1 - (dig($compquest1, 2) * 10000000000000)>>\ <<var $compquest1 + 50000000000000>>\ <<var $leonarep + 5>>\ <<var $ruthless + 1>>\ <<var $honor - 1>>\ "Like this?" You ask, throwing her through the window you entered through. "Ow!" Leona howls. Her armor and weight breaks the stone slab blocking you in and you dash to through before her Disciples have time to recover from the shock of the situation. That doesn't last long. Golden and red chi blaze through the building, lancing lines in your direction that scorch the walls just as you leap arms-first through the open window. You tumble onto a rising Leona, turning in midair and stepping on her back to break into a sprint into the crowded street. "See you in the Trials!" You shout back to her as she gets to her feet and glares at her Disciples for failing to stop you. <<page "Return to the Entertainment District." "hub-quest-leona-leaving">>\ #show-if ($heshe is "he") use-if ($leonaromance gte 5) "Too bad." [Kiss her roughly in front of her Disciples] <<var $compquest1 - (dig($compquest1, 2) * 10000000000000)>>\ <<var $compquest1 + 60000000000000>>\ <<var $ruthless + 1>>\ "Too bad." You say, grabbing her by the hair and pulling her into your embrace. Your lips lock \ <<if ($pwt_leona is true)>>\ roughly, returning the passionate and aggressive kisses she's been so keen to use on you. <<else>>\ roughly in a passionate and aggressive kiss, your tongue pinning hers down. <</if>>\ Her Disciples gasp in horror. "No!" "Unhand her!" "Sectmistress, fight back!" Leona melts into your embrace, pleading with her moans, until you rip her mouth away and toss her at two of her Disciples by blocked window you entered through. The whole room gasps and runs after her. Her entire Sect rushes to her aid and you dart to the opposite end of the warehouse, leaving out the front door. "GET <<capall $himher>>!" Screams one of her disciples. "Mhmmm." Leona mumbles, hugging her arms with eyes closed in focus and a smile on her face. Nobody catches up to you by the time you break out into the street and get lost among the crowd. <<page "Return to the Entertainment District." "hub-quest-leona-leaving">>\ <</choose>>

<<var $leonarep + 3>>\ <<var $leonaromance + 1>>\ You make it six more paces before you turn around to see she's still not following. Instead her eyes are fluttering into the back of her head. She's biting her lip while gripping her left outer thigh with one hand and pressing on her right side with the other. "Are you okay?" You ask. "B-better than okay." She whispers. "Call me a good girl again." You shake your head and turn back to the heist. "Come on, we're past the point that we can explain to the guards." "Ugh! Tease!" She screams at you from behind. <<page "Continue" "hub-quest-leona-adminhall4">>\

You wake up outside with a black eye, broken nose, cracked tooth, bruised ribs, a sprained ankle //somehow//, and the shameful taste of your own vomit in your mouth. ''[Infamy Increased]'' <<var $infamy + 3>>\ ''[Special Event: Banned from the Twisting Dragon Casino!]'' Leona's nowhere to be found, except for a small bloodstain next to you on the ground. You suspect her Disciples helped her get out of the public eye before everyone saw her in such a beaten state. You wish your retainers did the same for you, you think to yourself, as people walk by on the street and see you in such a beaten state. <<var $eventfun + 1000000000>>\ <<page "Return to the Entertainment District" "hub-entertainment-district">>\

"Kiai!" You shout. "Kiai!" Leona shouts. Both of your fists slam into the vault at once with the full force of your spiritual energy. <<var $combatstat "power">>\ <<var $combatskill "craft">>\ <<discount "Midorikatai" 1>>\ <<discount "Earth" 1>>\ <<discount "Muscular" 1>>\ <<if (($honor gte 55) or (($style is "Midorikatai") and ($honor gte 50)))>>\ ''[Event Bonus: Leona's Focus! +1 Battle Prowess]'' <<var $cmod + 1>>\ <</if>>\ <<combatcheck 10>>\ <<if ($passcheck is true)>>\ The door breaks under the weight of your combined spiritual and physical force. Its hinges crack and it rocks in place, coming loose and falling forward toward the two of you. Both you and Leona jump back, then immediately jump over the busted doorway into Goro's office. The two of you grab the vault door and pull it back up behind you, barricading the exit against anyone who //doesn't// know the door is broken. \ <<var $brokedoor true>>\ <<page "Continue" "hub-quest-leona-office">>\ <<else>>\ Your fist cracks against the vault, but it doesn't budge. Leona's does worse, her fingernails digging into the flesh of her hand with her own scarlet Bladed chi. "FUUUUUUUCK!" You both scream, grabbing your hands in pain. \ Leona whines and looks over to you to complain, but never gets the chance to open her mouth. A hand bigger than her torso catches her by the head and slams her into the nearby wall before she can finish bothering you. The guards have arrived. You know it's plural 'guards', rather than a singular 'guard', because someone else has their foot embedded four inches into your diaphragm. The force of their attack slams you face-first into the vault door, where your head bends four inches of solid steel. <<woundcheck 2 false false>>\ <<var $compquest1 + 30000000000000>>\ <<page "My face! MY FACE!!" "hub-quest-leona-guards">>\ <</if>>\

On your way out of the Entertainment District you sense a recently familiar aura signature. <<if (($perception + $insight) gte 6)>>\ ''[Perception + Insight 6 Check Passed]'' <<var $forexp + 2>>\ <<var $solexp + 2>>\ One you sense just in time. You leap backward when Callous Kagura surges across the road and slams her fist into the building in front of you, bursting a blacksmith's wall into rubble. She turns to you through the smokecloud of destroyed stone, eyes glowing yellow. "The swords." She threatens. \ <<else>>\ ''[Perception + Insight 6 Check Failed]'' And you sense it too late. "The swords." Callous Kagura calmly demands, her hand gripping your neck. <<if ($jadedragonfoundation is true)>>\ Your Jade Dragon Foundation protects you from the damage, but the speed of it is still surprising. And annoying. \ <<else>>\ It takes a moment for you to even collect yourself. \ <</if>>\ One moment you were walking down the street, the next there is wooden debris falling all around you and your body is half-submerged into a cobbler's shop. As you make eye contact with the glasses-wearing Oni woman \ <<if ($jadedragonfoundation is true)>>\ you put the pieces together; \ <<else>>\ and the shock wears off, you realize \ <</if>>\ she just shoved you through a nearby building's wall hard enough to rupture it to pieces. "The swords." She reiterates. \ <</if>>\ "Now. Do not expect my power to fluctuate again, your luck-" "Freeze!" Shouts \ <<if (dig($metkeroth, 1) gte 2)>>\ Lieutenant Keroth \ <<else>>\ a guard \ <</if>>\ down the street. You both glance to the brown-haired, brown-eyed bearded Lunargoth, lacking any of his people's usual colors, storming down the street in a Nanhou guardsman uniform. He holds up a club wrapped in red Fire Chi. "Let the \ <<if ($heshe is "he")>>\ boy \ <<else>>\ girl \ <</if>>\ go and come with me to the guard station, or you will regret it." Callous Kagura looks to the guard in disbelief. "Begone, idiot. Can you not sense I could kill you with a wave of my hand?" <<if (dig($metkeroth, 1) gte 2)>>\ The Lieutenant \ <<else>>\ The guard \ <</if>>\ does not back down. "Destruction of property, aggravated attack, and now threatening the life of a Lieutenant of the Guard? Lady, you're not going to be seeing any of the Trials at this rate. Your librarian-like appearance isn't going to save you from the Magistrate's law. Don't think you'll get a pass just because of some dreamy features." Kagura closes one eye and quirks the other eyebrow, looking from you to the guard without saying a word. "Oh no." \ <<if (dig($metkeroth, 1) gte 2)>>\ Keroth \ <<else>>\ The guard \ <</if>>\ insists, marching forward with a pair of cuffs. "These are serious charges. It doesn't matter if your skin is as lush as the autumn leaves, or your yellow eyes radiant as sunlight through the clouds, or your silky hair matching a perfect winter's snow. No one gets away with assault in my city." Kagura \ <<if (($perception + $insight) gte 6)>>\ takes several wary steps away from the guardsman. \ <<else>>\ gently puts you down and warily backs away from the guardsman. \ <</if>>\ "My brother will hear about this. The interruption, yes, but also the...rest. Whatever this is." "If you're free tonight, he could hear about a dinner date first." \ <<if (dig($metkeroth, 1) gte 2)>>\ Keroth \ <<else>>\ The guard \ <</if>>\ adds while applying the manacles to Kagura's wrists. "I know a nice place down by the docks." Kagura shakes her head softly. "Jail is fine, thank you." <<var $days 1>>\ <<page "What a strange city." "hub-spendday">>\

<<if ($val2 isnot 919)>>\ You don the purple robe and return to the bar where Leona's waiting. <</if>>\ ''[Clothing Equipped: Purple Administrative Robe]'' <<disrobe>>\ <<var $wardrobe + 1000000>>\ <<var $clothnum 9>>\ <<var $clothes "purple administrative robe">>\ "Looking good!" She says from her seat. The blonde lunargoth has already hidden her tight red dress under a purple administrative robe as well. You don't ask where she got it, especially considering the bloodstain she's trying to wash off. "Come on, let's get to the fun part of the plan!" "Fun part?" "The point of no return." She says with a pleasant smile. "There's no going back once we're in their administrative building. It's all. Or. Nothing." You think to Goro's suckerpunch when you arrived. His cowardly attack, smug attitude, and the trick he used to make it look as if he'd knocked you across the entire coast in front of all of Nanhou. Your fist tenses. "Then let's go." <<page "To the Administration Hall" "hub-quest-leona-adminhall">>\

Goro's office isn't what you expected. It's reminiscent of a merchant lord's office, that of a legitimate businessman more than a mobile Armada's glorified crimelord. Scrollracks line one side of the wall and your spiritual senses tell you they are truly just scrolls. Tax records, permits, documents of trade. On the other wall is painted pictures of sailing ships or portraits of Goro being bowed to by various merchant leaders. At the center of the room is a singular wooden desk of fine craftsmanship, with twisting dragons similar to those outside etched into the edges. Above and behind the desk is a wall mount holding two katana, one in purple sheath and one in red. Your targets. Leona looks on them with awe, but you can't. Your eyes are locked with the woman sitting at Goro's desk. This room was supposed to be empty. <<page "Continue" "hub-quest-leona-office2">>\

<<if ($portraitpics is true)>>\ <<image "https://www.auraclash.com/assets/images/kagura.jpg">>\ <</if>>\ A white-haired Oni woman sits calmly at the desk, her bright yellow eyes surveying the two of you intruding into the office. She's dressed in formal robes with glasses resting at the edge of her nose, their black frame complimented by her white hair tied into a single braid kept over her shoulder. "If it isn't Thunderfall's second best and...someone else." She says with a dead-eyed stare, unimpressed by your break-in. "I am Callous Kagura. I understand you defeated my younger brother Daichi, Thunderfaller. It seems that spar gave you too much confidence. You should know that attempting to steal from my brother Goro is a risky and fatal gambit. He is greater than any one of us." Leona snaps out of her trance. "Uh, bitch, I'm right here? And I outrank $name?? Address me first!" "I hope you do not take your near-success to be a blemish on our security." Kagura says softly to you, paying Leona no heed. She uses both hands to lift herself out of her chair slowly. "We are subduing a separate heist at the real vaults at this very moment. It was me who first realized they were merely a distraction. As predicted, the real masterminds behind the plan understood the importance of our Writs of Favor and Permits of Trade. But you won't...have...what is the matter?" "..." You look to Leona with a growing sense of embarrassment. "..." Leona looks to you with a perfectly horizontal smile that doesn't reach her eyes. "...Ah." Kagura glances at the wall behind her. With great disappointment, she confirms rather than asks: "You are here for the brightly colorful swords." She sighs heavily, rubbing the bridge of her nose. "You are in your early twenties, at best. //Of course// you are here for the swords." "I'm so sorry." Leona says. "But for what it's worth, we didn't have a near-success. I ''will'' have those swords. The only question is if you're getting in my way." Callous Kagura removes her glasses and places them in a protective lockbox, then looks to you. "Are you with her? I am feeling generous and will let you leave, unharmed, if you give up this foolish idea. Goro and Daichi would give me an earful if I maim one of their playthings." <<choose "hub-quest-leona-office3">> #"I'm not leaving without those swords." "I'm not leaving without those swords." You declare, powering up your $auracolor aura. "A tricky situation." Kagura says softly." I am not in the Trials. I have less protections than you, legally." Her aura of Sacred Chi activates in a flash, capturing the entire office in the scope of her power. The walls cave outward from the force of it and you and Leona are pushed back against the vault door behind you from waves of kinetic force. "F-Fuck!" Leona shouts, head smacking into the steel door. Within the storm of so much kinetic chi the woman slowly, calmly removes her robes to reveal a combat gi underneath. "Yet it is you who has less protections, //physically.//" <<page "Continue" "hub-quest-leona-office3">>\ #"//Plaything??// I wasn't going to stay, but since you felt like insulting me, now I have to kick your ass." <<var $ruthless + 2>>\ You raise one eyebrow at the red-skinned woman. "I wasn't //going// to stay, but since you felt like insulting me, now I have to kick your ass." Kagura gently touches her robe at the shoulders, brushing it off with a wave of her hands. Beneath it she wears a combat gi in the Callous signature purple and red. "I am grateful for your poor decision." She says with the faintest hint of a smile. Her aura of Sacred Chi activates in a flash, capturing the entire office in the scope of her power. The walls cave outward from the force of it and you and Leona are pushed back against the vault door behind you from waves of kinetic force. "F-Fuck!" Leona shouts, head smacking into the steel door at the same time as you. "I was worried you would bore me." Kagura says into your minds. \ <<if ($jadedragonfoundation is true)>>\ "With Aura Pressure like yours, I expect a show." <<else>>\ "You still might." <</if>>\ <<page "Continue" "hub-quest-leona-office3">>\ #"Neat." [Leave] <<var $ruthless - 2>>\ "Neat." You say, turning around and leaving back to the casino floor. "Are you serious!?" Leona shouts behind you as Kagura powers up with Sacred Chi and attacks her. "Yep!" You shout back over your shoulder, leaving the two of them to settle things without you. <<page "What a peaceful life" "hub-entertainment-casino-dice2">>\ #use-if ((((($element1 is "Darkness") and ($element1rank gte 2)) or (($element2 is "Darkness") and ($element2rank gte 2))) or ($style is "Kurokonton")) or ($flashstep)) Suckerpunch her from behind. [Costs 1 Chi] <<if ($flashstep is true)>>\ ''//"Flash Step!"//'' You vanish from sight \ <<elseif ((($element1 is "Darkness") and ($element1rank gte 2)) or (($element2 is "Darkness") and ($element2rank gte 2)))>>\ You meld into the Darkness Chi of your own shadow \ <<else>>\ You //pull// yourself through the Cursed Chi of your own aura, moving fast enough to flash from sight \ <</if>>\ and reappear behind the Oni woman. With a swift spin in mid-air you slam your shin into the back of her head. Your attack strikes so suddenly that she's knocked off her guard and off her feet, launching headlong into the solid steel vault door where you were standing a second ago. She slams into the door face-first and rings it like a gong. "Jump her!" You shout to Leona. The blonde woman gives no hesitation, stomping on Kagura with her boots and stabbing down ungracefully with both blades into her back. You jump next to her and start punching Kagura in the elbows and head when she tries to rise. <<var $combatstat "agility">>\ <<var $combatstat2 "power">>\ <<discount "Kurokonton" $stylerank>>\ <<if ($element1 is "Darkness")>>\ <<discount "Darkness" $element1rank>>\ <<elseif ($element2 is "Darkness")>>\ <<discount "Darkness" $element2rank>>\ <</if>>\ <<if ($flashstep is true)>>\ ''[Flash Step: +1 Battle Prowess]'' <<var $cmod + 1>>\ <</if>>\ <<combatcheck 13>>\ <<if ($passcheck is true)>>\ Surprisingly, she doesn't get the chance to get back up. The rain of constant blows from you and the Sunbringer Sectmistress is too constant; the pressure you put upon her Fortitude Cores too great. Despite the difference in Aura Pressure, Kagura gets no chance to fight back. "Goro!" She screams out while the two of you pummel her into the ground. Her power dwindles rapidly as she talks. "Goro you idiot! Not now! N-" The woman's powerful aura shatters under the relentless assault and her waves of kinetic chi snuff out at once. Silence falls over the room. <div class="fightingfont">Victory...?</div>\ Shreds of paper flutter to the ground as you both take in the sight of an almost too-easily defeated opponent. <<if (($mortallimits) and ($aurapressure gte $apregionmax))>>\ <<apboost 2>>\ <<else>>\ <<apboost 5>>\ <</if>>\ <<if ($weight gte $chapter)>>\ <<var $weightcount + 1>>\ <<weightexp>>\ <</if>>\ <<var $val 0>>\ <<if ($fightbonus isnot 0)>>\ <<var $val $fightbonus>>\ <</if>>\ <<if ($val gt 0)>>\ <<if ($mortallimits is true)>>\ <<var $val Math.round($val/2)>>\ <</if>>\ ''[Enemy Aura Pressure Absorbed: $val]'' <<var $aurapressure + $val>>\ <</if>>\ "Wow." Leona says, nudging the unconscious, bruised, and bloodied woman with her boot. "I'm surprised that worked." "I'm surprised she was here." You reply, dragging Kagura underneath her desk. "You didn't mention anything about Goro's sister, //or// the second heist going on at the vaults." Leona flashes you her fakest smile, wide and brimming. "A girl has to keep her secrets. Besides, you like when I keep you on your toes and it all worked out!" She skips over you both, hops onto the desk with one foot, and grabs the two katana off the wall. With a smug grin she turns around, off-colored eyes glinting as she flourishes a deep bow with swords in-hand. "See? Mission accomplished." <<page "Time to go." "hub-quest-leona-time2go">>\ <<else>>\ Your assault is interrupted when a barrier erupts around her body, a spherical shield of Sacred Chi. She turns to glare at you, angered with her hair braid undone. Wiping blood from her mouth, she reaches through her own kinetic shield and grabs you both by the collar. Before you can react she throws you with all her might into the solid steel vault door. <<woundcheck 1 true false>>\ You slam into it at full force, only to feel the pressure amplify when Kagura's waves of Sacred Chi return. <<page "Continue" "hub-quest-leona-office3">>\ <</if>>\ <</choose>>

<div class="fightingfont">Thunderfaller and Leona Bangle</div>\ <div class="fightingfont">vs</div>\ <div class="fightingfont">Callous Kagura</div>\ "Oh shit!" Leona screams, pressed against the vault door beside you from an endless tide of kinetic chi pinning you down. "This bitch is crazy!" "I am quite sane." Callous Kagura says, wrapping her fist in a sphere of power. "What I do to you, I do out of duty. You are both too ambitious and must be removed, starting with...you." She charges in, fast, with a punch towards your stomach. <<choose "hub-quest-leona-office4">> #DODGE! <<var $ruthless - 1>>\ You roll out of the way just in time to avoid a grizzly end when her fist slams into the vault door behind you. ''*POP*'' "AAAHHHHH!!" She screams, holding her broken hand when it hits the steel. Leona's eyebrows twist in confusion but she doesn't miss the chance. With Kagura dropping her guard within striking distance, Leona kicks the woman in the face. To both of your surprise, Kagura crumples to the ground without an ounce of resistance. #Kick her before her fist reaches you. You kick your foot out to catch Kagura's face, using the reach advantage of your leg over her arm. ''*CRACK*'' Her body crumples under your strike and she slams into the opposing wall without an ounce of resistance. The Oni woman's eyes cross and collapses to the ground, unconscious. #use-if ($brokedoor is true) Twist the vault door around. [Requires Broken Door] You slam your fist into the broken hinges of the vault door, cracking the wall around it and spinning the door in place. Leona screams as the door rotates so quickly that you're both suddenly facing the empty hallway. Behind you, on the other side of the vault door, Kagura slams into solid steel. ''*THUD*'' The door leans forward. You and Leona jump ahead, avoiding the falling steel doorway crashing to the ground. When you turn around to face your opponent, you see Callous Kagura on the floor. Unmoving. It seems the spinning door smacked her in the head. Her eyes roll into the back of her head with a violent spasm and she falls unconscious. #use-if ($style is "Aoyusumu") Resist the Sacred Chi with your own. You push back against her Sacred Chi with your own. Through your force of will you generate your own kinetic hurricane in an opposite direction, giving you just enough leverage to free yourself from the vault door and swing a punch at Kagura. ''*CRACK*'' Her body crumples under your strike and she slams into the opposing wall without an ounce of resistance. The Oni woman's eyes cross and collapses to the ground, unconscious. <</choose>>

<div class="fightingfont">Victory...?</div>\ <<apboost 5>>\ The hurricane of kinetic chi dies off and scraps of paper flutter to the ground like snow. You look to the defeated Kagura and back to Leona. "Something's not right with this, right?" You say to the blonde woman. "Her aura didn't shatter." Leona lands on her feet when the kinetic storm ends and waltzes up to Kagura, scanning her spirit. "It's gone, that's for sure, but she should have been tougher. A hundred times tougher if she can pin me to the wall with only her ''aura''. That's Inner Kingdom kind of flare. It's like she had twenty Fortitude Cores one minute and zero the next." <<if ($lore gte 2)>>\ ''[Lore 2 Check Passed]'' <<var $metgoro + 10000000>>\ You know enough to know that this shouldn't have happened. "Could this be some kind of weakness in the Callous Clan's training or bloodline? Something we can use?" <<else>>\ ''[Lore 2 Check Failed]'' You scratch your head over the fight that should not have been nearly this easy. "What can do that to someone?" <</if>>\ Leona experimentally nudges the unconscious Oni woman with her foot. After gently pressing her boot against Kagura's neck a few times, she shrugs. "No idea. Oh well, ''not'' my problem!" She hops over your back and lands on Goro's desk with one foot. Reaching up, she pulls down the two swords mounted on the wall. "My eyes are more focused on the important details, like how our heist is complete!" <<page "Time to go." "hub-quest-leona-time2go">>\

<<choose "hub-quest-leona-pickblade2">> #Red-sheathed katana, Kagutsuchi. [+Fortitude, +Survival, +Health, +Fire] <<var $itemkatana_2 222672300>>\ ''[Item Gained: Kagutsuchi, Katana of Flames]'' #Purple-sheathed katana, Ikazuchi. [+Agility, +Athletics, +Chi, +Storm] <<var $itemkatana_3 222513600>>\ ''[Item Gained: Ikazuchi, Katana of Storms]'' #show-if ($bothswordsoption is true) Two swords in your hand, as you took both of them. [Requires After-Image or Mist Clone] <<var $itemkatana_2 222672300>>\ ''[Item Gained: Kagutsuchi, Katana of Flames]'' <<var $itemkatana_3 222513600>>\ ''[Item Gained: Ikazuchi, Katana of Storms]'' <</choose>>

<<if $txt is "remember">>\ "Remember to keep your plots and plans contained within the Trials." The old man says, tapping his cane against the ground twice before he turns to leave. "The competition is fierce this year, but it is always young and inexperienced. It is the crowd that holds the real monsters." "Yes, sir." You say with a slightly frightened bow. When you look back up, he's already gone. <<var $compquest1 + 40000000000000>>\ <<page "Return to the Entertainment District." "hub-quest-leona-leaving">>\ <<elseif $txt is "men">>\ <<var $compquest1 + 70000000000000>>\ "It's so shiny" Kosuke says, staring at the sheath more than the blade. "Where'd you get it?" "Remember that purple guy who hit me at the blockade?" "Tall, expensive robes, luxurious long hair, possibly uses women's conditioners?" "He owns the casino. I stole this from his office." Kosuke breathes in deep through $bffhisher nose, hugging $bffhisher own arms. "Quality revenge. Always fulfilling. Oh, speaking of revenge, Leona's going to hit you with a bomb in the Trials." You nod. "I did think the 'blast' part of her speech lacked subtlety." You look around at the now-empty warehouse and ponder where to go from here. "Feel like noodles?" "Oh Ancestors yes." Says one of your Oni retainers behind you, Mars. \ <<if (dig($trialdeets, 4) gte 2)>>\ You, Kosuke, Jin, and Rin \ <<else>>\ Both you and Kosuke \ <</if>>\ turn around with soured faces, having not invited him, but he just smiles without knowing why. <<choose "hub-quest-leona-blast2">> #show-if (dig($trialdeets, 4) lt 2) use-if ((($shards + ($silver / 10)) + ($gold * 10)) gte 18) "Fine, noodles for everyone!" [Costs 18 Shards, Increases Morale] #show-if (dig($trialdeets, 4) gte 2) use-if ((($shards + ($silver / 10)) + ($gold * 10)) gte 12) "Fine, noodles for everyone!" [Costs 12 Shards, Increases Morale] #"No. Noodles for ''no one.''" [Return to Entertainment District] -> "hub-quest-leona-leaving" <<var $retainer_morale - 2>>\ <</choose>> <<else>>\ Oh yes, this will do nicely. You sheath \ <<if (($itemkatana_2 isnot 100000000) and ($itemkatana_3 isnot 100000000))>>\ both blades \ <<else>>\ the blade \ <</if>>\ and smile, disappearing into the busy District. <<var $compquest1 + 40000000000000>>\ <<page "Return to the Entertainment District." "hub-quest-leona-leaving">>\ <</if>>\

The two of you spend five minutes leaving the casino as inconspicuously as possible. Once you get outside you hastily make your way several blocks down the street where Leona breaks the window of an unused warehouse and climbs in, motioning you to follow. "That was fun, right?" She says excitedly. You don't look up, being too busy maneuvering around the broken glass while entering the dark building. "But not as fun as TWO heists." Fire Chi emits from the walls and sets dozens of lanterns ablaze, lighting the room to reveal a single wide-open space where fourteen Martial Artists in Sunbringer combat gi line the walls. All drop to one knee in Leona's presence. "How did we do?" She asks the congression. One of the larger men speaks up. "We lost three Disciples and all four mercenaries, Sectmistress Bangle. Callous Goro personally showed up in the vaults. The second casino heist was a total failure. His power was...without limit." "Don't care!" She says cheerfully. "We all took the risk that Goro would show up at our operation. No complaints when it actually happens. Natsumi, how did our third heist go?" A smaller young woman with a golden headband looks up. "Sectmistress, the heist of Goro's personal flagship was a great success. Your distractions functioned exactly as predicted." She pats a treasure chest beside her. "His coffers have become our coffers." <<var $gorocombat - 1>>\ Leona hugs her own arms with a shiver. "Hells, I love when a plan comes together. On to the next plan." She turns to you with a wicked grin. "It's time for our ''fourth'' heist." A stone slab shuts over the window you entered through. <<page "A trap." "hub-quest-leona-time2go2">>\

Every window in the warehouse covers with stone slabs, cutting off any escape, and you're now a lone Thunderfaller in a room with fifteen enemy Sunbringers. "I'm not just taking one of Goro's swords." Leona announces, drawing a blade at her side and turning to you with a villainous grin. "I'm taking them both." Her disciples snicker. "Another stupid Thunderfaller." "Fifteen to one this time." <<if ($bodytype is "Handsome")>>\ "He's cute though, can I keep him in chains?" <<elseif (($bodytype is "Hourglass") or ($bodytype is "Bodacious"))>>\ "She's quite the looker though, I say we keep her in chains." <<else>>\ "We killing this one too?" <</if>>\ "Only if the slave market is full." <<if ($ruthless gt 55)>>\ You glare around the room. "I am so tired of having to kill demonic cultivators." <<else>>\ You sigh dejectedly. "I thought you were better than this. Did you really go back to demonic cultivation?" <</if>>\ Leona whistles to silence her Disciples. The room grows quiet and she turns to you, pouting. "That's hurtful, $name. After everyone we killed together, I thought you'd at least know I'm not doing it for the Blood Chi. None of us are! I made sure we're not a demonic Sect anymore." Her blonde hair tumbles over her face when she leans closer to you. "We're //worse//!" Her pout shifts to a predatory smile. "I'm a future Archon. The shit you're going to see when I rise my Sect to prominence will make Crusher Mao's warcrimes look like party favors." Her smile grows wide, her off-colored eyes glinting in the flames. "It's going to be euphoric!" Your eyes dart to the two katana on the ground behind her; the swords you both stole from Goro. Surrounded by an enemy ambush and betrayed ''again'' by \ <<if ($pwt_leona is true)>>\ your lover, \ <<else>>\ your ally, \ <</if>>\ <<var $leonacombat + 1>>\ <<if ($jadedragonfoundation is true)>>\ you almost laugh. You're a Heavens-blessed Jade Dragon reborn into a mortal body. A half-baked Sect of Lower Disciples doesn't even count as a warmup. You crack your knuckles and eye which one you're going to hit first for the biggest shock factor, when you remember a problem. They're not the only ones you have to worry about. If you power up for this fight you could attract the attention of Goro's Inner Kingdom casino security looking for the escaped thieves. If you fight them then the city guardsmen might show up to stop the violent thief causing trouble. If you beat the security and the guardsman and the Sunbringers combined, at the staging ground of the Heavenly Ascension Trials, you might even attract the Archons... Damn it all. Can't a $manwoman steal a sword and beat people up in peace? Thinking of another option, \ <</if>>\ you... <<var $days 1>>\ <<choose "hub-quest-leona-pickblade">> #use-if ((((($stealth gte 3) or (($element1 is "Darkness") or ($element2 is "Darkness"))) or (($style is "Kurokonton") and ($stylerank gte 2))) or (dig($metwukong, 2) gte 3)) and ($handseals gte 1)) Snuck out with a sword a minute ago, she's talking to no one. <<if (dig($metwukong, 2) gte 3)>>\ ''[Mist Clone Event]'' <<elseif ($stealth gte 3)>>\ ''[Stealth 3 Check Passed]'' <<var $agiexp + 1>>\ <<elseif (($element1 is "Darkness") or ($element2 is "Darkness"))>>\ ''[Darkness Event]'' <<elseif (($style is "Kurokonton") and ($stylerank gte 2))>>\ ''[Kurokonton (Adept) Event]'' <</if>>\ ''[Fuunijutsu Check Passed]'' You're sure she's giving a great speech, but there's no way in Hells you're walking into a building that's obviously full of her new lackeys. She's far too used to talking to you in the shadows. For once, you're not actually in them. It's taking a surprisingly long time for her to realize she's gloating at \ <<if (dig($metwukong, 2) gte 3)>>\ a Chi Clone made of mist. Hopefully your temporary doppelganger is saying some witty comebacks. <<var $bothswordsoption true>>\ <<elseif (($style is "Kurokonton") and ($styleswapper isnot ""))>>\ an afterimage you left behind. <<var $bothswordsoption true>>\ <<else>>\ a scarecrow you stuffed through the window. Fuuinjutsu is a beautiful skill. <</if>>\ <<var $trainingpartner + 1000000>>\ Two blocks away you're keeping a brisk pace on your way through the city while marveling over the Treasure Weapon you've stolen from both Goro and Leona. The... #use-if (($thievery gte 3) or ($craft gte 3)) Already swapped it out with a plain katana. "After everything we've been through?!" You shout, glaring her down in a show of fake anger as you make your way towards the exit. "The audacity to bring up our alliances that your betrayals constantly shatter! You'll regret this, Sunbringer dog! You may have won this round, but you'll rue this day! And rue it hard!" "Nuh uh!" Leona shouts back as you open the door to the warehouse. "You will!" "An excellent retort, Sectmistress!" Says one of her Disciples. "Thanks!" She shouts back to him, turning with a bright smile. "I'm so smart, aren't I?" <<var $trainingpartner + 1000000>>\ You growl, exit, and slam the door shut, then turn around and roll your eyes. You already switched one of Goro's prized katanas with a piece of junk you had lying around. Five minutes later, after hurrying through the crowd, you've gained enough ground to take the real prize out of your satchel and analyze your new weapon. The... #use-if ($prestige gt 20) See an old man enter through the front door. [Requires Prestige 20] "You're truly hopeless." Leona mocks. "To think that you...uh, aren't looking at me." She says dejectedly, turning around to see who took your attention. "Excuse me." Says a short, bald man standing in the warehouse's now-open doorway. "I am engaged in a personal wager over the famed Crusher Jack's Trial results, and the young $manwoman you have there is involved in my gambit." He looks over each of Leona's lower disciples. "You will have to let $himher go." "Excuse me?" Leona asks, disbelieving. "Grandpa, you're in the wrong part of town. This isn't an elderly ward, go see if the graveyard has an opening." The man frowns. "It troubles me to see the children have gone so long without a spanking." Leona grimaces. "What are you, my da-" <<var $trainingpartner + 1000000>>\ //''"Wind Tunnel."''// The old man whispers. The small breath of his command grows quickly into a cyclone that rips across the warehouse and destroys the opposing wall. "Wha-?!" Leona stomps backward and guards her face with both arms blazing with Scarlet Chi. It does nothing. The winds around her only howl louder, rush faster, and push harder. Her disciples buckle to the ground, their clothes threatening to tear, and bricks rip off the walls of the nearby buildings to fly into the distance at a steep angle. The old man smiles, his aura of emerald energy suddenly growing around his body. The brilliance of its light outshines the dozens of lanterns lining the warehouse. The Sunbringer Disciples go first, losing their footing and launching into the air. One by one they shoot into the distance for miles over Nanhou's walls. "No no no NOT NOW!!" Leona screams. "I'm doing a big speech! This is personal between me and-" She follows behind her underlings when her feet shake uneasily and lift off the ground, forcing her into the air. "I SAID WAIT YOU OLD BALD FUUUUUUUUU-" She launches skyward against her will like a loosed arrow, dropping one of her two stolen katana as she disappears into the distant sky. You, on the other hand, are unaffected. The wind feels like a nice breeze. "She forgot herself." The old man says slowly. "To be the most powerful among the fish makes no difference when sharks arrive." He leans over, clenching his back as he strains to do so, and picks up one of the stolen katana Leona dropped. "I believe this is yours, young\ <<if ($heshe is "he")>>\ man. \ <<else>>\ lady." \ <</if>>\ <<var $txt "remember">>\ You look down with awe at the... #use-if ($martial_retainers gte 15) Brought my own men too. [Requires 15 Martial Retainers] "You can come in now." You announce to the air. Leona tightens her lips, darts her vision left and right, and furrows her brow as she looks over your face with concern. "We are already in. Are you okay? Did Kagura hit you in the head? Don't get me wrong, I'm trying to pull off my big feuding reveal, but it's no fun if you've been knocked mentally retar-" "BOW YOUR HEADS, SCUM!" Screams Kosuke, breaking the front door open. "AND BEG FORGIVENESS FROM THE <<capall $clan>> <<capall $patriarch>>!" <<if (dig($trialdeets, 4) gte 2)>>\ "BUT KNOW THAT YOU WILL RECEIVE NONE!" Screams Rin, charging ahead of Jin. <</if>>\ "Hi Kosuke!" Leona whispers, using her sword-arm to block the view of her other hand waving. <<var $trainingpartner + 1000000>>\ "Hi Leona." Kosuke whispers back, brandishing a knife. Fifteen of your retainers rush in with white chifire auras blazing around them, their weapons drawn as well. "Surrender the $patriarch, whore!" Leona looks over to you and silently mouths 'Whore? Wow.' Her Disciples, startled at first, surge Mystic or Fire chi around their bodies and prepare for battle. Leona snaps her fingers twice to stop them. "No, no, we're not doing that right now! A fight this big will attract enough attention that Goro's men might find us." "Then surrender my share of the heist." You reply. She shrugs, uncaring. "Fine, take one of the swords and go, but know this, ''Thunderfaller,''" her expressions drops, pouting and downtrodden, "I can't believe you'd betray me like this! You really had your men prepare to ambush me? After everything we did together? What happened to all the good times we shared? What happened to our BOND?!" You stare at her incredulously. "You did the ''exact same thing.''" Her pout drops like a discarded tissue and she flashes a bright smile, looking off to the side in reminiscence. "I did. Heh. Oh well, pack it up Sunbringers! On to the next plan!" Her disciples exit through the windows and she follows suit, \ <<if ($pwt_leona is true)>>\ blowing you a kiss \ <<if (($bffromance gte 1) and ($bffheshe isnot $heshe))>>\ in front of Kosuke \ <</if>>\ on the way out. \ <<else>>\ waving goodbye to you and Kosuke on the way out. \ <</if>>\ "See you in the Trials! It's going to be...a blast." <<page "Continue" "hub-quest-leona-blast">>\ #Never wanted them. "What are you talking about? You never offered me a sword, we got these for you." -> "hub-quest-leona-gift" <</choose>>

<<var $val 0>>\ <<var $gen "">>\ <<if ($heshe is "she")>>\ <<var $gen "men">>\ <<else>>\ <<var $gen "girls">>\ <</if>>\ <<choose "hub-quest-leona-lookingood">> #Replicate the uniform yourself. -> "hub-quest-leona-uniform-replicate" You leave the casino and head to the Commerce District to get the materials for your plan. There's no way in hell you're paying the ransom-sized prices for the silks in this part of town. #Knock out one of the administrative workers to steal their robe. Getting the right uniform is an easier task than anything else in the heist. All you need is physical violence. Three aggravating hours of waiting in the washroom pays off when a purple-robed casino administrator walks through the door. You pounce upon them from behind. <<var $combatstat "agility">>\ <<var $combatstat2 "power">>\ <<discount "Kurokonton" $stylerank>>\ <<discount "Muscular" 1>>\ <<combatcheck 12>>\ <<if ($passcheck is true)>>\ Your fist connects with their head and their head connects with the wall. \ <<if ($style is "Kurokonton")>>\ The backstabbing effect of your Cursed Chi functions exactly as Guiren told you it would, amplifying your strike. <<apboost 8>>\ <</if>>\ The man drops to the ground soundlessly, where you strip him of his clothes and hide his unconscious body in a wooden trash barrel. With any luck, no one will find him until you're long gone. <<include "hub-quest-leona-lookingood">>\ <<else>>\ He catches your wrist from behind and pulls you over his shoulder, slamming your body through the horrid muck of the toilet and //through the wall behind it//. \ Before you can rise to find out just how much the man overfocused his Power Cores, you're set upon by the casino's security guards. Fists, boots, and weapons rain down upon you in a blinding pain. <<var $compquest1 + 30000000000000>>\ <<page "My body! My body!!" "hub-quest-leonamybody">>\ <</if>>\ #show-if ($honor gt 37) use-once Seduce one of the administrative $gen to steal their robe. -> "hub-quest-leonaseduceworker" #show-if ($honor lte 37) use-once Seduce one of the administrative $gen to steal their robe. [Seduction] -> "hub-quest-leonaseduceworker" #show-if ($briber gte 1) use-if ((($shards + ($silver / 10)) + ($gold * 10)) gte 50) Buy it off the same worker you already bribed. [50 Shards] You wonder why in the world would you take risks for something that's already a guarantee. Instead of making some faulty robe or trying to swindle someone's off of them, you return to the morally questionable sellout who's already helping you against Goro's casino. "Fifty more Shards for the purple robe." You say to the man, slamming the money down in front of him as he drinks his worries away. He snorts. "I would have done it for thirty." The man takes the Shards and removes a bulky robe from his satchel, sliding it over to you. Just as easy as last time. #use-if ((($element1 is "Light") or ($element2 is "Light")) and ((($chipool + ($soul/2)) - $chispent) gte 1)) Craft an illusion over your clothing. [Requires Light, Costs 1 Chi] Rather than bothering to steal a robe, fight someone for theirs in proximity of powerful guards, or try to make a forged uniform yourself, you spend a few minutes gambling and getting drinks before snapping your fingers and manifesting the illusion of a purple administrative robe around yourself. ''[Gambling Winnings: 35 Shards]'' <<var $shards + 35>>\ ''[1 Chi Point Spent]'' <<var $chispent + 1>>\ It's nice to have tricks up your sleeve. #show-if ($failedroll is true) Giving up. [Quit heist] <<var $compquest1 + 20000000000000>>\ You drop the entire plan, angering Leona but ending the humiliation of a failed heist. Five minutes pass after she storms off, calling you a disappointment. <<var $leonaromance - 2>>\ <<var $leonarep - 5>>\ <<page "Return to the Dice Tables" "hub-entertainment-casino-dice2">>\ <</choose>>

<<if (($craft + $deception) gte 4)>>\ ''[Craft + Deception 4 Check Passed]'' Three hours of sewing and cutting later, you've got yourself a proper purple uniform of the Twisting Dragon Casino's administrative workers. <<include "hub-quest-leona-lookingood">>\ <<else>>\ ''[Craft + Deception 4 Check Failed]'' Three hours of sewing and cutting later, you have a vicious mockery of the robe you were trying to make. "It looks like a puppetshow's prop." Leona says, sipping a glass of wine by the bar while wearing the correct purple robe. You don't ask where she got hers, especially due to the bloodstain she's been trying to wash off. "An ugly one, too. You're not really going to wear that piece of firestarter, are you?" You sigh, tossing it in the trash. Giving up on that idea, you decide to... <<var $failedroll true>>\ <<include "hub-quest-leona-uniform">>\ <</if>>\

''[Honor Check Failed]'' Having no morals or focus, you instead find yourself naked on the floor of the hotel room three hours later, laying next to the unconscious hotel worker you just made love to. ''[1 Chi Spent]'' <<var $chispent + 1>>\ ''[2 Power Cores Spent]'' <<var $powspent + 2>>\ <<var $powexp + 1>>\ You're reaching for your clothes in shame when the sliding door to your room shatters open, blowing pieces of wood and paper through the room. Leona stands in the doorway wearing a purple administrative robe and a look of pure fury. "You didn't ''//invite me?!//''" She screams, "I have been waiting at the bar for THREE HOURS while you've been having mediocre sex!? ''//I//'' could have been having mediocre sex!" <<if ($heshe is "she")>>\ You place your face in your hands and groan. "Just get the robe, we need to get out of here." "Fine." She says with a roll of her eyes, dropping the act. "Do you want to steal the room's water decanter too?" <<page "Yes, please." "hub-quest-leona-gettherobe">>\ <</if>>\ <<if ($heshe is "he")>>\ <<choose "hub-quest-leona-gettherobe">> #[Groan] "Just get the robe, we need to get out of here." You place your face in your hands and groan. "Just get the robe, we need to get out of here." "Fine." She says with a roll of her eyes, dropping the act. "Do you want to steal the room's water decanter too?" <<page "Yes, please." "hub-quest-leona-gettherobe">>\ #"You still can." [Persuasion Check] "You still can." You say to the busty blonde Lunargoth. <<var $val 3>>\ <<if (($leonaromance gte 4) or ($bodytype is "Handsome"))>>\ <<var $val 1>>\ <</if>>\ <<if ($persuasion gte $val)>>\ Leona scoffs. "I'm in the middle of a heist, and worth //way// more than some Thunderfaller now. I run my own Sect, I don't need to be sleeping around with any random hot guy." "I-" ''[Persuasion $val Check Passed]'' "Okay fine!" Leona blurts out, sprinting into the room. "But just this once!" "W-" Leona leaps on top of you, rolling the two of you off the bed and onto the floor. She looks over to the naked unconscious hotel worker and back to you, caressing your shoulders. "If she wakes up I'm making her watch." You scoff. "If she wakes up after that last round then she deserves to join." Leona grins like a cat who's found her prey as she removes her purple administrative robe. Underneath she still wears her tight red dress, until a line of scarlet Bladed Chi appears on her side. A new cut on the dress causes it to fall off and expose the golden hue of her perfect body. She looks into your eyes with a crazed satisfaction while leaning in and biting your ear, whispering, "Don't you dare be gentle. ''Destroy me.''" <<var $pwt_leona true>>\ <<var $bangled true>>\ <<page "Two Hours Later..." "hub-quest-leona-yougoofedworse">>\ <<else>>\ ''[Persuasion $val Check Failed]'' She struts into the room and channels grinding Bladed Chi in a circle around her foot. "Flattering, but I am here to //steal swords//, if you're not going to take it seriously-" She aims her glowing foot towards your groin. "I'll steal one more." "Message received." You say, holding a pillow over your exposed groin. "Good!" She cheers. "Now put the robe on and meet me back at the bar." <<page "Continue" "hub-quest-leona-gettherobe">>\ <</if>>\ <</choose>> <</if>>\

You wake up next to Leona, her chest pressed against you and her face buried in your neck. She lies wrapped in your arm and her lipstick is marked against your chest, face, ears, and thighs. Marks of her Bladed Chi from overexcitement run across your entire body. You're ashamed, lacerated, dehydrated, and //appeased.// <<if ((($health + ($fortitude / 2)) - $wounds) gte 2)>>\ <<woundcheck 1 false true>>\ <<var $forexp + 2>>\ <</if>>\ ''[1 Chi Spent]'' <<var $chispent + 1>>\ <<var $solexp + 1>>\ ''[2 Fortitude Chi Spent]'' <<var $forspent + 2>>\ <<var $forexp + 1>>\ <<var $powexp + 1>>\ "I did it." She groans, waking up slowly. "I'm the best heister...in the world..." "We're still in bed." You reply softly, rubbing the back of her neck with your hand. "The heist isn't over. You're dreaming." "Oh, okay." She whispers, giving your neck a quick kiss. Suddenly her head shoots up in a hurry. "Oh! Not okay!" The woman leaps out of bed, splashes herself with a decanter of water, and dons the purple robe she left by the door. "Get your clothes on! We need to get to the shifting hallway before the last chance of the day!" "Huh?" Asks the hotel worker, waking up on the other side of the bed after her exhausting decision to join you and Leona. She doesn't finish her question; Leona knocks her out by throwing the clay decanter at her head. "Leona!" You reprimand, covered in a rain of pottery shards. "She heard our plans! Now come on, we've been put on a time limit!" You almost think you hear the blonde lunargoth giggling about the violence as she sprints out the door. The door that she destroyed when she entered. It dawns on you that everyone walking by saw your debased act with the two women. Drained of energy, covered in sweat, slightly wounded, and exceedingly naked, you simply hope no one saw your face as you get dressed in the unconscious casino worker's purple robe. <<page "Time to go." "hub-quest-leona-gettherobe">>\

<<if (dig($metleona, 11) gte 1)>>\ "We've been a little //closer// than friends." You correct. "We're also enemies, since you betrayed me and convinced my retainers to leave my Clan for your Sect." Leona brushes off the allegations. "Frienemies to lovers then, call it whatever you want. Look, I brought you over here to talk about something serious." "Serious as in what the Sunbringers are up to? Or do you want an Alliance in the Trials?" Leona looks disgusted for a brief moment. "Oh Heavens no, neither of those. I want to talk about..." <<else>>\ "We're not best friends, seeing as you recruited from inside my crew and are trying to lead a group of demonic cultivators against me." "Hey now! My lower disciples are hardly demonic cultivators. The Trial inspections prove it! And besides, we have to be best friends! We're each others //only// friends!" You eye her suspiciously. "I have plenty of friends. You've even met Kosuke." "The Laborer?" Leona blinks. "You consider Laborers to be people?" You stare at her, deadpan, and wait for her to process that you were born a Laborer. Four awkward seconds later it sinks in that you might have never told her. Bo Lo called you a Laborer in front of her, so she //should// know, but you get the suspicion she doesn't listen when Bo Lo talks. "Leona, I-" "It doesn't matter." She \ <<if ($heshe is "he")>>\ says, shushing you with a finger to your lips. \ <<else>>\ says hastily. \ <</if>>\ "What matters is that I brought you over to talk about..." \ <</if>>\ <<include "hub-quest-leonainvite3">>\

<<choose "hub-quest-leonahallway2">> #Look for a note to steal. You spend an hour searching high and low for any notes left around the casino that could help you. <<if ($perception gte 2)>>\ ''[Perception 2 Check Passed]'' And sure enough, your intuition proves correct. Like at any job, some worker was disgruntled enough over having to memorize something that they wrote it down. Behind one of the bars is a small note with times and room locations scribbled on the front. The schedule for hallway shifting. "Not bad!" Leona says, reading over the note. "Good thing you found this, my strategy wasn't working at all." "What was your strategy?" She jabs a thumb back to the room of over one-hundred green tables full of gamblers and dealers. "I played dice until you showed up with the solution. It //did// work." You roll your eyes. \ <<else>>\ ''[Perception 2 Check Failed]'' And find none. "Wow, that was a stupid idea." Leona says from the bar, sipping on some fruity beverage. "In an inspiring way! Like, I didn't know stupidity to get to this level. It's impressive to find new limits, right?" "I don't see you doing any work." You reply. She sips and won't meet your gaze. Giving up on the note idea, you decide to... <<var $failedroll true>>\ <<include "hub-quest-leonahallway">>\ <<halt>>\ <</if>>\ #Figure it out based on the Seals lining the hall entrances. You spend an hour pacing the casino and paying careful attention to the sigils and Seals around the hallway entrances. <<if (($handseals gte 3) or ($lore gte 3))>>\ <<if ($handseals gte 3)>>\ ''[Handseals 3 Check Passed]'' <<var $solexp + 1>>\ <<else>>\ ''[Lore 3 Check Passed]'' <<var $forexp + 1>>\ <</if>>\ It takes an hour of study, especially when trying not to be noticed, but eventually your plan pays off. You recognize exactly what sigils must be missing, and in doing so, you discover the hallway's shifting schedule. <<if ($heshe is "he")>>\ "Ohhh, you figured it out? Ancestors, I love your massive...brain. Good thing you have it, too, because my strategy was awful." \ <<else>>\ "You actually figured it out with a glance?" Leona asks incredulously. "Where were you when my tutors were up my ass?" She holds up a hand, pausing you. "Figure of speech. For once not an inuendo." \ "Thank the Heavens for that." You mumble. \ "Good work though girl, //much// better than my strategy." \ <</if>>\ "What was your strategy?" She jabs a thumb back to the room of over one-hundred green tables full of gamblers and dealers. "I played dice until you showed up with the solution. It //did// work." You roll your eyes. \ <<else>>\ ''[Handseals 3 Check Failed]'' ''[Lore 3 Check Failed]'' <<var $failedroll true>>\ Nothing along the walls gives any indication, and you can't figure out where to even start looking for the proper Seals and sigils that would let such an effect activate regularly. "Wow, that was a stupid idea." Leona says from the bar, sipping on some fruity beverage. "In an inspiring way! Like, I didn't know stupidity to get to this level. It's impressive to find new limits, right?" "I don't see you doing any work." You reply. She sips and won't meet your gaze. Giving up on the note idea, you decide to... <<var $failedroll true>>\ <<include "hub-quest-leonahallway">>\ <<halt>>\ <</if>>\ #use-if ((($shards + ($silver / 10)) + ($gold * 10)) gte 40) Bribe one of the workers at the bar. [40 Shards] <<var $briber + 1>>\ You spend the next twenty minutes scouting for a worker who looks dissatisfied with the casino. Naturally, they're at the bar. Without any poise or subtlety you give the man a 400 silver bribe if he turns over information about the casino's hallways. He obliges without issue. <<costcalc 40>>\ "He saw your face?" Leona asks when you explain where you got your information. She gets close and whispers. "Should I kill him in the washroom?" She salivates at the thought. You shake your head. "It's not as if either of us plan to hide that we robbed Callous Goro after we leave. We're stealing these swords to use them, and he'll recognize where they came from. No point in worrying about our identity getting out." Leona bites her lip. "Ancestors, that's so arrogant and smug. I love it. Good luck to one of the 'Top Five' whining to the judges that he got robbed. Idiot." #show-if ($failedroll is true) Give up. [Quit heist] <<var $compquest1 + 20000000000000>>\ You drop the entire plan, angering Leona but ending the humiliation of a failed heist. Five minutes pass after she storms off, calling you a disappointment. <<var $leonaromance - 2>>\ <<var $leonarep - 5>>\ <<page "Return to the Dice Tables" "hub-entertainment-casino-dice2">>\ <</choose>>

<<var $failedroll false>>\ "Next we need the uniforms, right?" You ask rhetorically. "We'll split up and meet back when we each have one." <<if ($heshe is "he")>>\ "Easy for you, you're a guy!" Leona whines. "I need to find a girl in robes that can fit my enormous chest. Do you know how hard that's going to be?" She grabs her chest, tightly held in place by her red dress. "These are huge! It's really important that you be thinking about my massive, supple chest for most of this mission. It's ''vital''." You wave her off and begin your search for a target. <<elseif (($bodytype is "Bodacious") or ($bodytype is "Hourglass"))>>\ "Easier said than done." Leona says with a sigh. "Our cultivation made our chests so big that neither of us are likely to find a pair of robes that fit." "For the love of the Ancestors, woman, start chest-binding already. How do you fight without it?" "I cheat with Seals." She says with an innocent smile. "And you can't have them." "Demon." You mumble, leaving her to her own devices while you look for a uniform to steal. <<else>>\ "Easy for you, you're still shaped like a normal person." She grabs her massive chest in dismay. "How am I going to find a pair of robes that fits around ''these?!'' I'm suffering here!" You toss sake in her face to snap her out of it. She catches it in her mouth somehow, but you don't stick around to hear whatever comeback she has. You're already on the search for a fitting robe. <</if>>\ Despite Leona's comments, the robes are unisex and fairly loose. You doubt the sizing matters. <<include "hub-quest-leona-uniform">>\

<<choose "hub-quest-leonainvite2">> #See what she wants. Looking for any trap, you proceed \ <<if ($clothes is "tight red cheongsam")>>\ carefully until something dawns on you. Recognition flashes across Leona's eyes and her usual composure drops when she locks eyes in shock with you. ''[Clothing Event: Improved Leona's Disposition]'' <<var $leonarep + 10>>\ "S-Same dress!" She shouts, pointing at your tight red cheongsam. "Same dress!" You shout back, pointing at hers. "Ancestors, one of us will have to change." She laughs. "Can it be me? I think if I strip around all these rich men I could afford another Sect." "Don't you dare." You threaten, sitting next to her. "Fine, fine, but the record will show that you're holding me back." <<else>>\ to the bar and take a seat beside the woman. "Long time no see!" <</if>>\ The blonde Lunargoth takes a drink from a coconut and looks to you with her off-colored blue and green eyes. She rests a cheek on one hand and, with the other, offers you an o-choko of sake. "Celebrate a safe arrival with me? Though I heard some bigshot in the Callous Clan gave you a personal welcome to the city, so 'safe' isn't the best word. Kind of insulting that he didn't do the same to me, right? I was right there, and I //am// a Sectmistress." "You left that part out when we worked together." "I so did." She takes a satisfying sip of her drink and exhales with content. "And now I've inherited properties hidden throughout Outer West, multiple shops in Nanhou, and twenty Disciples sworn under my banner." "And one of my ships." You reply dryly. "Yeah." Leona licks one of her upper teeth, staring to the ceiling. "I'm going to paint it pink. You should blame Crow Li though, and I should thank his half-eaten corpse. Wrinkly old bastard sent all Lower Disciple Sunbringers to Nanhou so our auras wouldn't have any of the demonic taint he was starting to work with. Smart, to keep the Empire off his back, but stupid, because my peers saw me as de-facto leader when we arrived in the city. It gave me...ideas." She snorts. \ <<if ($style isnot "Akakiru")>>\ "My first idea didn't work out. Turns out severing his neckline is harder than it looks. I got myself signed up for sacrifice duty, but then you came along! What a lifesaver." <<else>>\ "It's never good when I have ideas." <</if>>\ "Why the secrecy?" "For fun?" She says, looking at you with an overeager grin. "Or maybe because \ <<if ($style is "Akakiru")>>\ I was recruiting an agent of my Sect's archenemy to kill some of my own people in a grand coup for power. Lying was already part of the deal." She takes another quick sip of her drink, giving you a side-glance as she does so. "You did great, by the way." <<else>>\ I was the last proper heir to your Sect's archenemies and I was locked in a cell without any chi or weapons. I //had// to lie." She takes another quick sip, giving you a side-glance as she does so. "I would have anyway, but it's still a rock-solid excuse, right?" <</if>>\ She nudges the sake closer to you. "You're not going to make me drink alone, are you?" #Ignore her and move on. You ignore whatever she has planned and continue your tour through the casino. Leona gets up, grabs some sort of sword from under the table, and leaves. Six men and women follow her, supposedly her Disciples. <<var $compquest1 + 10000000000000>>\ <<var $leonarep - 4>>\ <<var $leonaromance - 1>>\ <<page "Return to the Dice Tables" "hub-entertainment-casino-dice2">>\ #use-once Tell the guards she has a venereal disease. "Excuse me, Honored Warrior." You say to an eight foot tall Wolf Yokai blocking one of the entrances. "That woman back there is Leona Bangle." The man looks down at you. "And?" "She's famous." You reply. "I don't care how famous she is. Everyone here is famous." "Not the good famous. She's famous for spreading a venereal disease acquired in the eastern swamps. If she succeeds in seducing whoever she's after in that dress, you're going to have an angry client on your hands. Probably a rich one." <<if ($deception gte 3)>>\ ''[Deception 3 Check Passed]'' <<var $leonarep - 3>>\ The man looks over at Leona, tilts his mouth in appreciation of her looks, and nods slowly. "She might pull one of the big spenders. Boss would be angry if big spenders get afraid to come back." In a flash, the guard is gone. And so is Leona. Six men and woman around the bar suddenly break into a panic, grabbing swords hidden under their seats and fleeing out of the casino when they realize Leona is gone. Nobody else pays them any mind. Apparently she's not the first removal of the night. ''[Special Event: Aided Casino Reputation]'' ''[+200 Maximum Winnings Allowed]'' <<var $casinomax + 200>>\ <<var $compquest1 + 10000000000000>>\ <<page "Return to the Dice Tables" "hub-entertainment-casino-dice2">>\ <<else>>\ ''[Deception 3 Check Failed]'' "Gross." The guard says, but he doesn't move. So much for a good plan. You decide to... <<include "hub-quest-leonainvite">>\ <</if>>\ <</choose>>

<<choose "hub-quest-leonainvite3">> #"You used me." <<var $leonarep - 2>>\ "You used me." You say to Leona, staring her down. "I did!" She confesses, turning her head to you with a flourish that tosses her hair. "A clever investment, too. Crow Li and his mysterious bald mentor were the targets, but //everyone else//? Ancestors be praised!" She punches your arm playfully. "I should have hired you years ago. Sure, the Gate did all the heavy lifting, but Taio comes with the gate and he would have killed me in it. I'm happy with my choice." <<if (dig($metleona, 11) gte 1)>>\ She takes a sip from her coconut and you take a sip of water, keeping an eye on her. "You're a good fuck, too." She says into her cup. You spit water out across the bar. <<else>>\ It's an odd feeling but you agree; in her shoes, you were an anomaly. An agent that brought the perfect results she must have been after for years. "You are also a good dresser." She says, looking over your \ <<if ($clothes isnot "")>>\ $clothes. \ <<else>>\ gi. \ <</if>>\ "AND a skilled chef, mariner, and Clan $patriarch. Did I mention a great fighter? And sailor? And, uh, I don't know, probably alchemist?" Ancestors, this feels like whenever Rin wants something. "Flattery is supposed to be subtle or it doesn't work." <</if>>\ "Okay, okay." She says, putting her coconut down excitedly. "I'm done buttering you up, promise. I want to talk about something serious." "Serious as in what the Sunbringers are up to? Or do you want an Alliance in the Trials?" Leona looks disgusted for a brief moment. "Oh Heavens no, neither of those. I want to talk about..." \ #"I want my ship back." -> "hub-quest-leonashipback" "I want my ship back." You say, ignoring everything else. "No can do." She replies. "That's the Sunbringer flagship. I'm not even being thieving or evil here; we escaped Ebikowa together. Why would you get //every// ship? A girl's got to eat, you know." #[Take the drink] "So what did you call me over for, anyway?" -> "hub-quest-leonabestfriend" <<var $leonarep + 2>>\ You take the drink she's offering and gulp it down. "If you're that much of a schemer, what are you doing in the lounge area of a casino? You must have called me over for something." Leona snorts. "Why would I need a reason? Can't I just talk to my best friend?" <</choose>>

She practically purrs the next word with excitement. "A heist!" <<page "A heist?" "hub-quest-leonainvite4">>\

"A heist?" You ask, voice shushed. "Of the casino?" "Exactly!" Leona says, practically bouncing in her seat and looking down the bar at the twenty or so other patrons drinking and chatting. "I'm going to ROB THE CASINO!" You panic, looking to the guards by the entrance of the packed room on the other side of the hundreds of gamblers at the dice tables. This is a setup. She's going to drag you into this crime with her and the guards will- ...do nothing? The guards don't react at all to her loud confession. Neither do the other patrons, nor the bartender. "Do they not care?" You ask. "Are they so confident that they don't worry about thieves?" "Maybe." Leona says. "Or maybe..." She adjusts her red dress and hops in her seat a few times, getting the attention of any wandering eyes, then looks into yours while loudly declaring. "I rigged the dice tables to explode three seconds from now." You stare into her wild, off-colored eyes in concern, but three seconds pass and nothing happens. She then flashes you a smile and takes another sip of her drink. "It's a barrier." She murmurs into her coconut, pointing at a small design etched into your chair. "They can't hear us, you could make any threat you want. Big barriers keep fights contained and stop property damage. I'm no chi sorceress, so my Seals can only make a weak one. It's keeping all the sound trapped around our seats." <<if (dig($knowledge, 2) lt 9)>>\ <<var $knowledge + 10000000000000>>\ ''[Barrier Knowledge Increased]'' <</if>>\ <<choose "hub-quest-leonainvite5">> #Curiously try to mimic the minor Barrier technique. With a few different sets of handseals you attempt to make the same barrier that you're looking at. The sigils Leona carved into the bar's counter look to imply the Crane and Dragon signs, but you try to work \ <<if ($handseals gte 2)>>\ Boar into the mix too. ''[Handseals 2 Check Passed]'' <<var $solexp + 2>>\ The effect works, you think, but you're not sure on how strong it is. No matter on the effectiveness or ability embedded into it, you still feel a small barrier stabilizing around you. This knowledge could certainly prove useful. <<if (dig($knowledge, 2) lt 9)>>\ ''[Barrier Knowledge Increased Further]'' <<var $knowledge + 10000000000000>>\ <</if>>\ <<else>>\ Monkey into the mix too. ''[Handseals 2 Check Failed]'' It doesn't seem to do anything. <</if>>\ After three heavy swallows, Leona slams her drink down, her cheeks blushing heavily. "Hahhh! I should be drunk enough now. So are you in?" #Take a sip of your drink. <<if ($heshe is "he")>>\ You take a sip of the sake on the table. Leona moans softly. "I drank from that cup first. It's like we're making out \ <<if (dig($metleona, 11) gte 1)>>\ all over again." <<else>>\ when you drink from it." <</if>>\ You put the cup down. "Please don't make this weird." She looks stunned, hurt, and horrified. "Well, pft, fine, but I'll need to be heavily intoxicated if you want this to be normal." You doubt that's true, but she begins chugging from the bottle all the same. After a few seconds Leona slams her drink down, her cheeks blushing heavily. "Hahhh! I should be drunk enough now. So are you in?" <<else>>\ You take a sip of your sake. Leona takes a longer sip, staring at you as she does so. You return a disbelieving glance. Does she really think this is some sort of competition? ... ... You take a longer sip, narrowing your eyes. She tilts her head back for the longest sip but finishes her drink, having already started it before you arrived. "HAH!" You shout in her face, then cover your mouth and sit back, straightening your posture to look more refined. "Hah." Leona bats you away. "Shush, shush! I'm not here for a drinking competition, I'm here to know if you're in." <</if>>\ #"Neat." You nod to the sound Barrier ritual. "Neat." "Ain't it just?" She replies, then takes a big gulp from her coconut. After three seconds of gulping, Leona slams her drink down, her cheeks blushing heavily. "Hahhh! I should be drunk enough now. So are you in?" <</choose>>

"In on what exactly, stealing a mountain of Shards and hoping we don't get killed?" "Swords, not Shards." She corrects with a swaying smile. "The owner's office holds two katana forged from dragonfang Soul Treasures. I shouldn't have to tease your appetite with that though. Hells, I figured you'd want to rob the place just on principle." She brushes her fingernails nonchalant while looking off as she speaks. "Especially after the shitshow he pulled when you got here." "Who are you talking about?" "You didn't know?" She asks, eyes glinting in the room's lighting when she looks back to you. "Didn't you think the dragon's color design of red and purple was peculiar? A little strange? Like a signature?" She blinks a few times, scanning your face for recognition. "The Twisting Dragon Casino belongs to the //Callous Clan//, and that smug purple bastard is their new Patriarch." She leans closer, smiling mischievously. "Out of ten thousand fighters in the Trials, we're stealing from one of the Top Five. We're going to rob Callous Goro." <<choose "hub-quest-leonainvite6">> #use-if ($countdown gt 0) "I'm in." [Join Heist, 1 Day] "I'm in." You say, seeking revenge on the purple Oni for his cheapshot earlier. <<var $leonarep + 1>>\ <<var $honor - 1>>\ #use-if ($countdown gt 0) "Damn, woman, that's all you had to say!" [Join Heist, 1 Day] <<var $leonarep + 2>>\ You smile incredulously at Leona's new information. "Damn, woman, that's all you had to say!" Hells, you'd rob Goro on your own if she wasn't here. <<var $honor - 3>>\ #"You're insane." [Leave Heist] -> "hub-entertainment-casino-dice2" <<var $leonaromance - 2>>\ <<var $leonarep - 4>>\ <<var $compquest1 + 10000000000000>>\ #"I don't need to resort to theft to win, I'll crush him on the battlefield." [Leave Heist] -> "hub-entertainment-casino-dice2" <<var $honor + 1>>\ <<var $compquest1 + 10000000000000>>\ #[Splash her with your drink and leave] -> "hub-entertainment-casino-dice2" <<var $ruthless + 1>>\ <<var $leonarep - 3>>\ <<var $compquest1 + 10000000000000>>\ #show-if ($countdown lte 0) "Sorry, I don't even have the time." "Sorry, I don't even have the time." You say with a heavy sigh. "My Trial seed is coming up." "Ew." Leona says, disgusted. "I hate when real life problems affect me." "Hate away." You say, taking a quick drink and leaving the bar. "Good talk, Sectmistress." "Kill you in the Trials!" She shouts in a friendly tone as you're leaving. "You too!" You call back. <<page "Return to the Dice Tables" "hub-entertainment-casino-dice2">>\ <</choose>>

Plus a dragonfang sword sounds enticing. Leona claps, giggling. "I knew you'd love it!" She snaps her fingers twice and six people at the bar get up and leave. "Who were they?" "My disciples, they're supposed to run a second heist to split security. Well, that's what they're supposed to do //now//. Until a second ago, they were supposed to make sure you didn't snitch if you said no." You eye the six of them and commit their faces to memory. "Sunbringers...not very trusting of you." Leona looks astonished. "Why, $name, you're a renowned casino robber! How could I ever let my guard down around such a \ <<if ($heshe is "he")>>\ charming rogue?" She pouts and bats her eyelashes three times. <<else>>\ famous thief?" She closes her eyes in dismay. <</if>>\ You roll your eyes. <<page "What's the heist plan?" "hub-quest-leonainvite7">>\

"What's the heist plan?" "I'm glad you asked!" Leona leans back on her \ <<if ($heshe is "he")>>\ seat, showing off the window of exposure cut into the chest of her dress. She chews on \ <<else>>\ seat and stares off, chewing \ <</if>>\ her cheek while thinking. "We have three obstacles. First, we have to get into the administrative offices. They're a separate building that the shifting hallways access twice every day. Worse, only staff in purple robes are allowed in. We'll need to find out when the hallways shift and where, and we'll need to steal or mimic the purple uniformal robes to be allowed in. Without those, the guards will mince us for trespassing." "Are they strong?" Leona chuckles, pointing to one of her departing Disciples. "Very." You notice her Disciple has a fresh wound where his hand used to be. "What's the second obstacle?" "The lock to get into Goro's personal office, the Lord's Chamber." She says, wrinkling her brow. "It's a big one, complex with a lot of moving parts. I'll need you to take care of it, they're not my specialty. My disciples will distract the guards so we can get in, but only for three minutes. Less if they fail." "And the third obstacle?" "Behind the locked door is a hallway just before the Lord's Chambers. It's //covered// in magical seals. Some of the best of the best. I've got a way around them, so don't worry there. It's smooth sailing once you get us through that lock; right down the hall and into Goro's main chambers. Those swords will be ours before he knows what hit him." Leona wriggles her legs. "Ancestors, I can't wait to stab him with his own sword." You and Leona stand, survey the gambling hall, and prepare your heist. First, you need to find out when those hallways shift. <<var $briber 0>>\ <<var $failedroll false>>\ <<include "hub-quest-leonahallway">>\

You wake up outside with a black eye and the shameful taste of your own vomit in your mouth. Your clothes smell...worse. ''[Infamy Increased]'' <<var $infamy + 3>>\ ''[Special Event: Banned from the Twisting Dragon Casino!]'' Leona's nowhere to be found and, judging by the lack of alarms, she either pulled the heist off herself or gave up on it entirely. Or perhaps she was beaten just as badly as you were. Either way, the woman is gone. <<var $eventfun + 1000000000>>\ You drag yourself to your feet and shuffle away before any more witnesses find you in this condition. <<page "Return to the Entertainment District" "hub-entertainment-district">>\

<<var $honor - 2>>\ The casino's security has one glaring weakness: its workers are people. You decide to see if any of the purple-clad administrative workers are looking lonely by the bar. Finding an easy mark, you move in and chat with a \ <<if ($heshe is "he")>>\ young \ <<if ($race is "Kitsune")>>\ Human \ <<elseif ($subrace isnot "")>>\ $subrace $race \ <<else>>\ $race \ <</if>>\ woman, \ <<else>>\ stressed looking Human man, \ <</if>>\ hoping to lure \ <<if ($heshe is "he")>>\ her \ <<else>>\ him \ <</if>>\ back to one of the attached hotel rooms where you can steal \ <<if ($heshe is "he")>>\ her \ <<else>>\ his \ <</if>>\ robe. <<var $val 3>>\ <<if ((($bodytype is "Muscular") or ($bodytype is "Handsome")) or (($bodytype is "Hourglass") or ($bodytype is "Bodacious")))>>\ ''[$bodytype Bodytype Event: Difficulty Reduced]'' <<var $val - 1>>\ <</if>>\ <<if ($persuasion gte $val)>>\ ''[Persuasion $val Check Passed]'' Things go smoother than anticipated for the next hour. The two of you get to talking, you put on a few flirtatious moves, and the look in \ <<if ($heshe is "he")>>\ her \ <<else>>\ his \ <</if>>\ eyes lets you know \ <<if ($heshe is "he")>>\ she's \ <<else>>\ he's \ <</if>>\ feeling the same way. <<if ($heshe is "he")>>\ She \ <<else>>\ He \ <</if>>\ follows you back to a hotel room attached to the casino and disrobes to reveal an impressive body, leaving \ <<if ($heshe is "he")>>\ her \ <<else>>\ his \ <</if>>\ purple administrative uniform on the floor while \ <<if ($heshe is "he")>>\ she \ <<else>>\ he \ <</if>>\ heads to the washroom first. <<if ($honor lte 37)>>\ You rub your hands together at a job well done, looking at the purple robe right there for the taking. All according to plan. <<page "Continue" "hub-quest-leona-yougoofed">>\ <<else>>\ Thinking ahead, you steal not only the robe but the sheets and pillow cases too. Your target won't be able to report this theft unless they want to leave the hotel room completely naked. Rin would be proud. <<include "hub-quest-leona-lookingood">>\ <</if>>\ <<else>>\ ''[Persuasion $val Check Failed]'' Ten minutes later you return to the bar where Leona sits with her legs crossed, sitting at attention and smiling at your approach. \ <<if ($heshe is "he")>>\ "Nice slap mark." She says, taking a sip her drink. "So what did you say to that poor woman?" You rub your cheek. "I talked to her \ <<else>>\ You explain what just happened, sitting down and rubbing your eyes. "A //man// actually said //no// to easy sex?" She asks, baffled. "That's never happened to anyone. //Ever//. Not anyone that looks like us, at least. What did you say to him?" You hang your head. "I talked to him \ <</if>>\ about \ <<if ($background is "Blacksmith")>>\ metallurgy \ <<elseif ($background is "Herbalist")>>\ herb soils \ <<elseif ($background is "Trapper")>>\ animal skinning \ <<elseif ($background is "Merchant")>>\ finance records \ <</if>>\ for ten minutes and said \ <<if ($heshe is "he")>>\ she \ <<else>>\ he \ <</if>>\ had a nice ass." "That's hot stuff." Leona replies, eyebrows arched in sympathy. \ <<if ($heshe is "he")>>\ "Her \ <<else>>\ "His \ <</if>>\ loss. You'll get em next time, tiger." Giving up on seduction, you decide to... <<var $failedroll true>>\ <<include "hub-quest-leona-uniform">>\ <</if>>\

<<if (($persuasion gte 2) and ($ruthless gte 65))>>\ ''[Persuasion 2 Check Passed]'' ''[Ruthless 65 Check Passed]'' <<var $powexp + 3>>\ You headbutt her in the nose, slam her head against the table, and stomp your foot down on the sword she has hidden under her seat. "I. Want. My ship. Back." <<var $leonarep - 2>>\ "Fine, Gods!" She blurts out, cheek smashed into the mahogany of the bar. \ <<if ($heshe is "he")>>\ <<if ($leonaromance gte 2)>>\ <<var $leonaromance + 1>>\ <</if>>\ <<var $leonarep + 2>>\ "You don't have to turn me on in front of a whole damned dice hall. I'll send a messenger to sign the ship back over. Now let me go or I //will// moan." \ <<else>>\ "You don't have to bend me over the bar like a drunk shrinemaiden. Ancestors; I'll send a messenger to sign the ship back over. Now let me go or I //will// set fire to this bar." <</if>>\ ''[1 Ship Acquired]'' <<var $shipcount + 1>>\ You release her and return to your seat, calming down. "I'm assuming you called me over for a reason." "I did, and you seemed to think the reason was so you could act like a huge dick." She lifts her head and you notice her damage healing suspiciously fast. She withdraws a small mirror and wipes the blood off her now-uninjured forehead. "I can still find it in my heart to involve you. If you're interested." "Interested in what?" <<include "hub-quest-leonainvite3">>\ <<else>>\ <<if ($persuasion lt 2)>>\ ''[Persuasion 2 Check Failed]'' <<else>>\ ''[Persuasion 2 Check Passed]'' <<var $powexp + 1>>\ ''[Ruthless 65 Check Failed]'' <</if>>\ You rub the bridge of your nose, annoyed but reminded that she's technically correct. "Fine. But what was it you called me over for, anyway?" "You know me!" She says excitedly. "I just wanted to chat, like best friends." <<include "hub-quest-leonabestfriend">>\ <</if>>\

<<var $val 0>>\ <<var $fightmod 0>>\ The sun sets over the ocean's horizon and casts a shadow over the city of Nanhou. Night approaches, when spirits and ghosts grow restless. "Night time comes later than you're used to out here, huh?" Guiren asks, crouched beside you on the roof of a luxury shoe shop adjacent to the Laughing Carp Theatre. "How did you know?" "I grew up a couple hundred miles south of Thunderfall, with mountains to my east and west too. The first time I found the eastern coasts I was shocked by how fast the morning came. Makes sense that the western coasts does the same with a late night. No mountains to block off the sun's descent, you know?" You eye the setting sun and the theatre across from you, then back to Guiren. "That sounded sentimental." Your face wrinkles at the thought. "Are you getting sentimental?" He snorts. "Don't tell the guys. Let's just say this mission has me thinking a lot." "Killing a ghost has you thinking?" <<if (dig($mettaio, 1) gte 6)>>\ //It had better not have ''you'' thinking.// Says the ghost of Taio the Bandit inside your mind. //I doubt that will be a problem.// Adds Taio the Scholar. \ <</if>>\ "Killing my superior, yeah. Old Man Manzo was an untouchable crime lord. One that the Boss personally scouted from the Shinobi Clans of the Cursed Lands. To me and the other team leaders, he was untouchable. The big man between us and The Boss. Now the Boss expects me to take on a chunk of his work, and I'm even supposed to beat him in a fight. It's like asking you to kill your old Sectmaster, today." <<if ($ruthless gte 60)>>\ ''[Compassion Check Failed]'' "I don't see a problem with that." Guiren hangs his head and laughs lightly. "That one's on me, of course you wouldn't." \ <<else>>\ <<var $val 1>>\ ''[Compassion Check Passed]'' "You're worried about your men." <<var $guirenrep + 4>>\ Guiren tries to force a smile. "Terrified for the idiots, does it show?" You give a troubled nod. "A lot." "Shameful. Don't tell them I admitted worrying for them, I have a reputation to keep. If we're honest, I don't know if the two of us are ready for this fight. If it's that bad, then my men aren't ready to even be standing nearby." He scratches the back of his neck and stares into the sky. "But an opportunity like this is once in an immortal lifetime. I can't turn it down, and I can't do it without my idiots." \ <</if>>\ He peeks down the alleyway between the theatre and the store you're stationed on. You peak down as well and see five of his underlings in theatre-worker robes exit out of a side door into the alley, giving you a thumbs up from below. "That's our cue," he says, "you ready?" <<choose "hub-quests-guiren2">> #"To kill a ghost ninja? Always." <<var $ruthless + 1>>\ <<var $guirenrep + 1>>\ "Am I ready to kill a ghost ninja?" You ask rhetorically. "Always." "Thank the Ancestors you're insane." Guiren says, checking his weapon pouches. "I'd have recruiting problems if you weren't." <<if ($roomscene is "Guiren")>>\ "You'd have romance problems if I weren't." <<var $guirenrep + 2>>\ Guiren laughs and the \ <<else>>\ The \ <</if>>\ two of you leap off the roof to land soundlessly in the alley below. <<page "Enter the Laughing Carp Theatre" "hub-quests-guiren2">>\ #"Doesn't matter, I'm already here." You shrug. "Doesn't matter. I'm already here, so let's do this." <<if ($guirenromance gte 3)>>\ "That's a perfect motto for the bedroom." \ <<else>>\ "No takebacks." \ <</if>>\ Guiren says, flipping over the rooftop and landing in the alley below. You follow after him. <<page "Enter the Laughing Carp Theatre" "hub-quests-guiren2">>\ #show-if ($val is 1) [Shout to the Underlings] "HEY GUYS, GUIREN SAID HE'S WORRIED ABOUT YOU!" <<var $honor - 1>>\ <<var $guirenrep - 2>>\ <<var $sect_hiddencoil + 3>>\ "HEY GUYS!" You shout down to his shinobi underlings. "GUIREN SAID HE'S WORRIED ABOUT YOU!" "Hah!" Wencheng barks up at the two of you. "I knew it, you bleeding-heart softie!" "Weeeeak!" Yoji calls up. "Is this one of those surrogate 'family' kind of gangs?" Asks one of the nameless masked underlings. "I already have a real family, I'm not looking for a replacement." Guiren hits all three of them with thrown shoes. You're unsure where he got three shoes. He's still wearing the two on his feet. <<page "Enter the Laughing Carp Theatre" "hub-quests-guiren2">>\ <</choose>>

Noxious green fumes attempt to rush into the hallway from the floors, walls, and ceilings. Glass walls coated in Seals attempt to drop in front of and behind you, trapping you in the hallway's deathtrap gas chamber. <<if ($nocheck is false)>>\ ''[Aoyusumu Adept Event]'' ''[Aura Pressure 1200+ Check Passed]'' <<else>>\ ''[Aoyusumu Event: Premonition]'' <</if>>\ None of that happens, however. Your precognition kicks in with a vision of the dangers to come and you place kinetic barriers in front of each gas canister and each glass wall's drop point. The trap //wants// to activate, but it finds a physical barrier of Sacred Chi blocking each component. "What happened?" $kennui, sensing some Sacred disturbance in the air. "Nothing." You reply with an Angelo-esque smile. "Which is exactly what we want. Now come on." You contently step onto several pressure plates on your way down the hall. $kennui follows behind, confused and cautious but unharmed. You reach the end of the hallway where only a right turn greets you with another hall. <<include "hub-quests-guiren-halfwaydown">>\

With careful precision to not push out too much chi at a time, you cycle $floortype Chi out of your Cores and press it out into the physical world to slowly create a \ <<if ($floortype is "Ice")>>\ frozen bridge of glacial ice. <<else>>\ hardened bridge of granite-like stone. <</if>>\ <<apboost 5>>\ "That solves that." $kennui says, cautiously pressing on your new flooring with one foot. "Can we follow it all the way down the hallway?" "I'll be embarrassed //and// dead if it doesn't." You reply, walking onto the structure. "Come on, this won't be our only problem today." The two of you reach the end of the hallway without issue and turn left into a new hallway when you reach the end, finding only one direction to go. <<include "hub-quests-guiren-halfwaydown">>\

Before you can even land dozens of snakes snap up at you and sink their fangs into your skin, injecting a slurry of lethal venoms. <<if ($pblocktech isnot "")>>\ ''[$pblocktech Activated]'' At least they would, if you didn't have a Technique against multiple weak attacks. You skid to a halt on top of a slimy pile of snakes and get to your feet, brushing the serpents off your shirt. "Phew." You say as the serpents continue and fail to strike through your $pblocktech Technique. "That could have been bad, eh Kennui?" You turn around and- <<else>>\ <<woundcheck 2 false false>>\ ''[2 Fortitude Chi Lost]'' <<var $forspent + 2>>\ ''[2 Power Chi Lost]'' <<var $powspent + 2>>\ "GGGRRAHHH!" You scream, kicking in a circle with $auracolor chi around your leg. The snakes dug into you are dislodged and the others pull back in fear at the sight. You blaze your aura around your body and turn to get K- <</if>>\ Oh wow. Kennui is already //very// dead. Damn. <<var $killedkennui true>>\ You didn't even know people could die that fast. Cringing <<if ($ruthless lt 45)>>\ in sympathetic pain \ <</if>>\ at the sight, you turn and leap over the layer of snakes, kicking off the wall to get to the other side of the pit. You grab the top of the floor at the end of the hallway and pull yourself up, glancing to the left where another turn takes you to a new hallway. \ <<include "hub-quests-guiren-halfwaydown">>\

Halfway down, Guiren and his other minion stand with a keystone against a glowing square in the wall. It slides out to reveal the next staircase. "Took you long enough." He calls down the hall. "I've been waiting a tenth of a second!" <<page "Continue" "hub-quests-guiren4">>\

<<var $directionchoice "left">>\ <<include "hub-quests-guiren-opener">> <<if ($poisontrap is 1)>>\ ''[Event: Poison Trap Detected]'' "Hold it." You say to $kennui, stopping him with an arm held out. "There's a poison trap around here somewhere." $kennui looks around. "How do you know?" You point to the ceiling. "Nobody alchemically seals a ceiling against leaks, they seal the floor above it. Manzo didn't want the something leaking to the theatre above and exposing him. Only gas would float." "So how do we get around it?" Not a bad question. You look around the otherwise unassuming hallway and decide to... <<include "hub-quests-guiren-poisontrap">>\ <<else>>\ "So what do we do about the traps?" $kennui asks when you turn the corner and get out of Guiren's field of view. "Oh it's simple." You reply, running alongside him with a careful eye on your surroundings. "We keep a steady pace, keep an eye out for any irregularities, and-" ''*CLICK*'' <<if ((($style is "Aoyusumu") and ($stylerank gte 2)) and ($aurapressure gte 1200))>>\ <<include "hub-quests-guiren-aoyu">>\ <<elseif ((($element1 is "Wind") and ($element1rank gte 2)) or (($element2 is "Wind") and ($element2rank gte 2)))>>\ "DIE?!" $kennui screams in fear, hearing you step on a pressure plate. ''[Wind Adept Event]'' <<include "hub-quests-guiren-wind">>\ <<elseif ((($element1 is "Darkness") and ($element1rank gte 2)) or (($element2 is "Darkness") and ($element2rank gte 2)))>>\ "Shit shit SHIT SHIT SHIT SHIT SHIT!" $kennui screams when noxious gas fumes into your hallway from the floor, ceiling, and walls. Glass doors covered in Seal tags drop behind you and far in front of you, forming a killing gas chamber with no escape. You would be panicking as much as $kennui, but your Path has given insight into one detail Manzo missed when crafting this trap. On the other side of the glass wall, at the far end of the hallway, the Seal tags on the glass are casting a shadow. ''[Darkness Adept Event]'' You grab $kennui and drop the two of you into his shadow, pushing your Darkness Chi as hard as you can to transport you through the Darkness. With a focus of will and a blessing of the Heavens, you exit out of the correct shadow and come out through a small dark blotch on the floor on the other side of the distant glass door at the end of the hallway. As soon as you do, something in the trap triggers and ignites the gas chamber in a flashfire that nearly blinds you. When you clear the spots out of your vision you almost laugh, clapping $kennui on the back. "We would have been poisoned to death //and// incinerated //and// afflicted with chemical burns. Good thing I learned to master Darkness Chi, huh?" $kennui gulps. You turn your attention at the end of the hall and see that while you've been enjoying the show, someone's been busy in the new hallway to your right. \ <<include "hub-quests-guiren-halfwaydown">>\ <<else>>\ ''[Clue Event Failed]'' ''[Element Event Failed]'' <<include "hub-quests-guiren-runaway">>\ <</if>>\ <</if>>\

"This way." You say to Kennui, dashing towards the $directionchoice hall. "That leaves this way to us." Guiren says, running to the \ <<if ($directionchoice is "left")>>\ right \ <<else>>\ left \ <</if>>\ with his other minion. "See you on the lower floor!" <<if ($honor lte 47)>>\ "Don't be late!" \ <<else>>\ "Count on it!" \ <</if>>\ You shout back, sprinting away with $kennui following on your heels.

<<choose "hub-quests-guiren-halfwaydown">> #Disable the trap somehow. "It's simple." You say, gently running your hands over the floor in a crouched position. "We find the right tiles, feel around for the connecting strings, and-" <<if ($thievery gte 3)>>\ ''[Thievery 3 Check Passed]'' <<var $agiexp + 2>>\ "-done." You say, cutting the wire on the side of a pressure plate you'd pulled up by a half inch. In front of you, twelve more tiles raise slightly as the counterweights keeping them in place adjust, having lost the support of the missing pressure plate you've just removed from their calculation. "Now we don't step on those twelve tiles and we're good." You say triumphantly, dusting off your hands. "Just like that?" $kennui asks. You nod. "People like to think intricate traps all have some special anti-tinkering mechanic, but stabilizing weighted pressure plates is a pain in the ass. All you have to do is mess the math up a little. Now come on." The two of you walk down the hallway without issue and make it to the other side where only a right turn into a second hallway greets you. <<else>>\ ''[Thievery 3 Check Failed]'' <<include "hub-quests-guiren-runaway">>\ <<halt>>\ <</if>>\ #use-if (($style is "Aoyusumu") and ($stylerank gte 2)) Use precognition to detect the traps. [Requires Aoyusumu (Adept)] -> "hub-quests-guiren-aoyu" A sensation runs through your mind and spirit. A...gut feeling. <<apboost 5>>\ "You know," You say, looking around in all directions. "I think I can disable this fairly easily." "How?" $kennui asks. ''*CLICK*'' You step on a pressure plate, on purpose. <<var $nocheck true>>\ #use-if (($element1 is "Wind") or ($element2 is "Wind")) Press Wind Chi onto the pressure plates to delay them. [Requires Wind] -> "hub-quests-guiren-wind" Feeling out the very air around you through manipulation of Wind Chi, you detect several weights under the ground to balance out the pressure plates. Perhaps if you could- ''*CLICK*'' $kennui looks to you like a child who spilled soup on the rug. You look down and see he's stepped on a pressure plate. "Am I going to die?" He asks. You don't tell him 'probably' and instead focus the elemental Chi in your Cores out into the world through your palms. ''[Wind Element Event]'' <<apboost 5>>\ #use-if (($element1 is "Darkness") or ($element2 is "Darkness")) Step the two of you through the shadows at the other end of the hall. [Requires Darkness (Adept)] "Hm. Nah. I'm not doing this." "Not doing what?" $kennui asks. "An Inner Kingdom shinobi's poison gas trap chamber. I'm not doing it." You take a seat at the start of the hallway and look down the hundred-foot chamber of potential gas-related death. "Give me one of your shoes." "Um, actually, they're called ninja tabi and they're-" "Give me one of your ninja tabi." You say, swiping it off his foot. He drops to the ground when you sweep his leg. With an overhead throw you toss his shoe to the other end of the hallway and it lands face-up, casting a small shadow. You grab the fallen $kennui by the leg and pull him with you when you lean backward, falling into your own shadow as if plunging through the ice of a frozen lake. <<apboost 5>>\ Both of you are submerged into a cold darkness as you send your senses out for uncontested shadows in the vicinity, finding the shoe's shadow quickly and re-emerging out of it. You're not sure how horrifying it looks to have two grown adults crawl through the tiny space of a shoe's shadow, but luckily you don't have to because there are no witnesses. Looking to your right, at the only path available at the end of the hallway you just crossed, you see that's incorrect. <</choose>>

<<var $directionchoice "right">>\ <<include "hub-quests-guiren-opener">>\ <<if ($snaketrap is 1)>>\ ''[Event: Snake Trap Detected]'' "Stop." You say to $kennui as you come into the right hallway. You press one foot against the floor in front of you, feel nothing, and ponder for a moment. "Give me your shoes." "Um, actually, they're called ninja tabi and they-" "Give me your ninja tabi." You groan. "You got it." $kennui hands you his shoes and you throw them as hard as you can against the ground halfway down the hallway. The ground in front of you collapses under their impact in a domino effect that destroys every floor tile flowing down the rest of the hallway. One hundred feet of flooring fall away into a twenty foot drop, where a pit of hundreds of venomous snakes waits for you. "Wow." $kennui says. "A whole hallway of trap doors. That would have been....bad. How do we cross now? Blow the snakes up?" "No, Guiren invited too many powerful people to the theater who would sense hostile chi. We could..." <<choose "hub-quests-guiren-halfwaydown">> #Leap across the entire hallway without touching the trap floor. <<var $val 2>>\ "Follow my lead!" You say, taking three quick steps to the edge of the venomous snake pit and leaping with all your might. You also grabbed $kennui by the back of the shirt, not trusting him to actually follow your lead. "ARE YOU FUCKING CRAZYYYYYYY-?!" Guiren's minion screams as you- <<if (((($bodytype is "Muscular") or ($bodytype is "Bodacious")) or ($bodytype is "Ogre")) or ($bodytype is "Dommymommy"))>>\ ''[Heavy Bodytype: Difficulty Increased]'' <<var $val + 1>>\ <<if (($heshe is "he") and ($style is "Midorikatai"))>>\ <<var $val + 1>>\ <</if>>\ <</if>>\ <<if ((($element1 is "Wind") or ($element2 is "Wind")) or ($athletics gte $val))>>\ <<if (($element1 is "Wind") or ($element2 is "Wind"))>>\ ''[Wind Event: Automatic Success]'' <<var $solexp + 2>>\ <<else>>\ ''[Athletics $val Check Passed]'' <</if>>\ <<var $powexp + 2>>\ <<if ($element1 is "Wind") or ($element2 is "Wind")>>\ -Rush Wind Chi around the two of you to push yourselves across the gap without issue. <<else>>\ -Clear the entire hundred foot gap in a single bound. <</if>>\ You land on the other side and skid to a halt, dropping $kennui so he can gracefully slide into a wall. "Not crazy." You say. "Only because we made it, though." $kennui gets up and looks back across the enormous snake pit you just cleared. "By the Ancestors, I never should have taken this job. Next time you see Guiren tell him I-" "That Guiren?" You ask, pointing. The end of the hall you've reached only offers a left turn into another hallway. \ <<include "hub-quests-guiren-halfwaydown">>\ <<halt>>\ <<else>>\ ''[Athletics 2 Check Failed]'' -Descend far sooner than expected and miss your mark, falling into the snake pit together. <<include "hub-quests-guiren-extrabitey">>\ <<halt>>\ <</if>>\ #use-if (($element1 is "Earth") or ($element2 is "Earth")) Form a bridge of stone over the trap floor. [Requires Earth] -> "hub-quests-guiren-bridge" #use-if (($element1 is "Ice") or ($element2 is "Ice")) Form a bridge of ice over the trap floor. [Requires Ice] -> "hub-quests-guiren-bridge" <<var $floortype "Ice">>\ #use-if (($style is "Kurokonton") and ($stylerank gte 2)) Walk on the wall instead. [Requires Kurokonton (Adept)] "We could just walk." You admit, stepping sideways onto the wall that wasn't collapsed by the floor's trap doors. Cursed Chi soaks around your feet and keeps you tethered to the platform like a spider. <<apboost 5>>\ "Uhhhhh." $kennui says. "My training hasn't gotten that f-" You grab the man by the forearm and carry him to the other side in a leisurely hundred-foot stroll over a venomous snake pit. "You're positive that your footing is solid, right?!" $kennui asks at least three times. You ignore him. The two of you reach the other side and you pull him up, stepping off the wall and onto the solid floor at the end of the hall. Your only option is a turn to your left where you see another hallway. #show-if ($subrace is "Reptile") Walk through the snake trap unscathed. [Requires Reptile Yokai] "Are you serious?" $kennui asks. "Yeah, watch this." You cup both hands over your mouth and let out a single command in a low tone. <<if ($honor lte 40)>>\ //''"Fuck off."''// <<else>>\ //''"Move."''// <</if>>\ <<apboost 10>>\ The snakes in the pit below part like a separated sea. $kennui's face contorts in disgust and astonishment. "Why the hell did they listen to you?" You shrug. "I'm a bigger snake. Doesn't Guiren do this?" $kennui ponders for a moment. "I guess he does it to us. Does that count?" "Nope." You say, dropping into the pit of snakes. $kennui follows you, shaking profusely with fear, but the two of you cross through unscathed. You both climb up to the other end where a left turn offers another hallway. #show-if ($subrace isnot "Reptile") use-if ($subrace is "Reptile") Try to form a bond with the snakes. -> "death" <</choose>> <<else>>\ The plain stone hallway offers no clues or hints to what danger you may be facing, so you sprint down it at full speed in hopes of avoiding whatever repercussions may strike. As you do so, $kennui follows on your heels with increasing nervousness. "Something's wrong!" He shouts over the sound of your feet hitting the floor. "The floor feels-" When you reach the halfway point down the hallway a heavy rattling breaks out all around you. In that moment, you learn what it sounds like when a hallway's worth of floor tiles shatter at once. The ground beneath your feet disappears in both directions, dropping you and $kennui into a twenty-foot deep pit full of hundreds of venomous snakes. <<if (($subrace is "Reptile") and ($aurapressure gte 1100))>>\ ''[Reptile Yokai Event]'' ''[Aura Pressure 1100+ Check Passed]'' You land first and catch $kennui over your head. The snakes don't really react to your presence, moving out of the way as if you were any other snake in their crowded home. "By the Ancestors!" $kennui shouts. "You're a snake whisperer?" Uh. Are you? "Not last time I-HEY!" You shout at a male cobra rearing its head at a rival. You lift one foot to threaten a proper stomping. "Piss off!" The cobra lowers its head and slithers away. "Snake whisperer..." $kennui whispers under his breath. A part of you feels this is somehow race-related and insulting. Another part of you is thankful not to have hundreds of bite marks and pints of various venom in your body. "Let's just get to the damned stairs." <<if ($heshe is "she")>>\ "Can you bridal-carry me?" $kennui asks, blushing. "No." You reply flatly, lifting him overhead like a training weight. <</if>>\ You walk $kennui through the snake pit, make a memory to let them out later, and toss him out when you get to the other side. After a twenty-foot vertical leap proves no problem, which still sometimes astonishes you considering your abilities a mere three years ago, you turn the corner and look down the next hallway. \ <<include "hub-quests-guiren-halfwaydown">>\ <<elseif (((($element1 is "Earth") and ($element1rank gte 2)) or (($element2 is "Earth") and ($element2rank gte 2))) or ((($element1 is "Ice") and ($element1rank gte 2)) or (($element2 is "Ice") and ($element2rank gte 2))))>>\ <<if ((($element1 is "Earth") and ($element1rank gte 2)) or (($element2 is "Earth") and ($element2rank gte 2)))>>\ ''[Earth Element Event]'' <<else>>\ ''[Ice Element Event]'' <<var $floortype "Ice">>\ <</if>>\ Your eyes widen and your hands drop beneath your feet, palm-down, reflexively channeling $floortype Chi through your channels in as wide of an arc as possible. After dropping the initial ten feet, your cycled $floortype Chi bursts from your palms in all directions and manifests a thickening \ <<if ($floortype isnot "Ice")>>\ bridge of rock \ <<else>>\ glacial bridge of ice \ <</if>>\ that catches your fall. Judging by the relieved hyperventilating behind you, it catches $kennui too. You focus on the effect until you finish creating your own floor ten feet above the snakes in the pit, all the way down the hall. "That's...useful." $kennui says, cautiously standing to his feet. "Can we follow it all the way down the hallway?" "I'll be embarrassed //and// dead if it doesn't." You reply, testing the structure with your foot. "Come on, this won't be our only problem today." The two of you reach the end of the hallway and climb up the extra ten feet to reach the floor at the end of the pit trap. When you do so, you can see around a corner to the next hallway. <<include "hub-quests-guiren-halfwaydown">>\ <<elseif ((($style is "Kurokonton") and ($stylerank gte 2)) and ($aurapressure gte 1200))>>\ ''[Kurokonton Adept Event]'' ''[Aura Pressure 1200+ Check Passed]'' "Wow." You say, standing horizontally in-place with Cursed Chi holding your feet against the wall. "That could have been bad." "Y-Yeah." $kennui says, behind held up by your grip around his forearm. "I think I should learn how to walk on walls. If Guiren asks-" <<if ($ruthless gte 60)>>\ "I'm not lying for you." "Aw." <<else>>\ "You did it yourself. Yeah." "Thank you." <</if>>\ You walk across the wall to the end of the hallway and throw $kennui up to the top of the pit trap. Also known as the floor. He lands with a skid and you leap to follow, landing at the end of the hall where a left turn offers another hallway. \ <<include "hub-quests-guiren-halfwaydown">>\ <<else>>\ "AAAHHHH!!!!" $kennui screams as the two of you drop into the pit. \ <<include "hub-quests-guiren-extrabitey">>\ <</if>>\ <</if>>\

"-run." You finish, calmly, triggering a pressure plate. "Huh?" $kennui grunts. "Run, run, run, RUN, RUN, RUN!" You shout, sprinting down the hallway with your shirt over your mouth. Poison gas leaks through the floor, walls, and ceilings in the form of green noxious fumes that quickly fill the hall. A glass wall descends from the ceiling at the start and end of the hallway covered in Seals, blocking you into the poison gas chamber. "We have to break through!" $kennui shouts. You couldn't agree more. One-hundred feet down the hall you meet the glass wall head-on with your $auracolor aura blazing around you, shoulder-checking the structure and breaking through. It's only when you break through the glass that you realize it was too easy. The thought that those weren't reinforcement seals crosses through your mind just when the Fire Seals on the glass wall trigger, igniting the poison gas in a soundless incendiary flash of pain and chemical burns. <<woundcheck 2 false true>>\ <<if ($eblocktech isnot "")>>\ Luckily, you came prepared. Your $eblocktech triggers just in time to save you, and the poison gas seems to have been burned up in the flashfire. <<else>>\ The conflagrations burn against your spirit and body, but the fires quickly burn up the poison gas in a single flash and subside before causing fatal damage. <</if>>\ "D-Damn." You cough out through the noxious fumes in your lungs. "That was a close call, right K-" Oh. Turning around, you see that $kennui is //very// dead. Explaining this one to Guiren won't be easy. Speaking of, after breaking through the glass at the end of the gas trap, you've reached the end of the hallway where only a right turn greets you with another hallway to your side. <<include "hub-quests-guiren-halfwaydown">>\

You spend half the rest of the night helping Guiren research various curses. More than simple Techniques, the scrolls teach the theory behind how the Ozaki utilize curses in ways that others fail to. It's meant to be a secretive way to retrain Ozaki Clan members who learned traditional methods. For \ <<if ($style is "Kurokonton")>>\ you and \ <</if>>\ Guiren, it works as a way to start from scratch and learn curses to begin with. There's even notes on curse defense that \ <<if ($style isnot "Kurokonton")>>\ could be applied for anyone. Notes which \ <</if>>\ you read most thoroughly. ''[Guiren's Combat Prowess Increased]'' <<var $guirencombat + 1>>\ <<if (dig($knowledge, 2) lt 9)>>\ <<var $knowledge + 10000000000000>>\ ''[Barrier Knowledge Increased]'' <<if (($style is "Kurokonton") and (dig($knowledge, 2) lt 9))>>\ <<var $knowledge + 10000000000000>>\ ''[Kurokonton Event: Barrier Knowledge Increased Further]'' <</if>>\ <<else>>\ ''[Barrier Knowledge Maxed]'' <</if>>\ The night ends when his yawns grow too frequent. The man's head slowly droops onto the desk and you- <<if ($honor gte 50)>>\ ''[Honor 50 Check Passed]'' -place him on the ground with his satchel as a pillow. You've spent too much time around Yoji and Wencheng, because you're tempted to charge him for the help. <<var $guirenrep + 1>>\ <<else>>\ ''[Honor 50 Check Failed]'' -take his quill and draw a dick on his forehead. <<var $guirenrep - 2>>\ <<var $sect_hiddencoil + 3>>\ <</if>>\ <<var $days 1>>\ <<page "Continue" "hub-spendday">>\

"Have some confidence in me, will you?" You ask, pressing Wind Chi down around \ <<if ($nocheck is false)>>\ your \ <<else>>\ his \ <</if>>\ foot to keep the pressure plate down. "We got lucky, these pressure plates activate when they rise, not when they fall. In fact..." Your extend both hands outward and rush a blanket of downward stable gusts onto the hallway floor, pressing every pressure plate at once. "Come on. I'll dismiss it when we get to the other side." $kennui looks horrified by your plan but follows all the same. The two of you reach the other side of the hall where only a right turn greets you with another hallway. You release your wind effect and see a glass wall covered in Seals fall right in front of $kennui's face. Another falls at the start of the hallway you just passed down. Noxious green fumes fill the long hallway between the two Sealed glass walls, then a spark ignites it. "Wow." You say with an appreciative smile. "We would have been poisoned to death //and// incinerated //and// afflicted with chemical burns." You slap a playful hand against $kennui's back. "Good thing I learned to use Wind Chi, huh?" $kennui gulps. You turn your attention at the end of the hall and see that while you've been enjoying the show, someone's been busy in the new hallway to your right. <<include "hub-quests-guiren-halfwaydown">>\

You pile everything you can into various belt pouches. By the time you're done, Guiren beckons you over to desks covered in notes. "Find anything?" You ask as you approach the back tables. "The messages and notes are all in code, they'll take forever to decipher, but some of these scrolls aren't notes at all; they're Treasure Scrolls. Manzo's been making a stockpile of powerful Techniques." That gets your attention. "What kind of powerful Techniques?" <<if ($killedkennui is false)>>\ "Dibs." $kennui says. "Shut up." Guiren replies, rifling back through the pile of scrolls. \ <</if>>\ <<include "hub-quests-guiren11">>\

"Power-suppression, spiritual obfuscation, anti-scrying, shadow control, barriers." Guiren holds up a scroll with appreciation. "High end ninja abilities. Everything here is for stealth. Stealth for yourself, stealth for your gear, stealth for your Techniques..." He looks around the room, to the Seals on the walls. "Stealth for your location." You step away from the table to look around the room and feel your foot land on uneven flooring. "What is it?" Guiren asks, inspecting some used or broken talismans resembling The Boss's in one of the desk's drawers. "A trap door." You reply, distracted. "Looks like we found the fifth floor." "That was fast." He puts the broken talismans down. "Let's pack this all up to study later. It's time for an exorcism." <<page "Continue" "hub-quests-guiren12">>\

Guiren gets up to leave and pauses, staring at a cup of tea on the table. A rushed sensation brushes over you as he spiritually scans the item. "Huh, that's weird." "What?" You ask. "Is it haunted? Cursed? Demonic? Scrying us as we speak?" <<if ($killedkennui is false)>>\ $kennui's face pales. "Are we dealing with an evil tea cup from beyond this world?" <</if>>\ "No." Guiren says, brow furrowed. "It's steaming. No one else could have gotten around those traps upstairs, and Manzo must have been dead for days to be a ghost by now. I thought maybe this tea had some Fire Chi embedded into the cup or something, but it doesn't. Yet it's still steaming...almost like it was poured recently, which would mean-" "Ozaki Manzo is not dead." Tai says, his voice growing hoarse and deep like an older man's. A shiver runs up your spine. The room falls silent. The air grows cold. You turn just in time to see the torchlight glint off a kusarigama blade swinging at you, inches from your eyes. <<choose "hub-quests-manzo">> #Duck the strike. You crouch low to dodge the blow, reeling your face backward as the blade inches toward your eyes. <<if (($style is "Aoyusumu") and ($stylerank gte 2))>>\ ''[Aoyusumu (Adept) Event: Premonition]'' ''[Automatic Success]'' Your elbow rises on its own, smacking the hilt of the weapon and knocking the attack off-balance. Your vision is saved by a half-inch when the attack barely misses. Before you can celebrate and assess the situation, your attacker, 'Tai', palms you in the chest hard enough to knock you across the room. \ <<else>>\ Yet it's not enough. The blade draws closer. <</if>>\ <<var $combatstat "agility">>\ <<var $combatskill "perception">>\ <<discount "Wind" 1>>\ <<discount "Light" 1>>\ <<discount "Petite" 2>>\ <<discount "Manlet" 2>>\ <<combatcheck 10>>\ <<if ($passcheck is true)>>\ You grip the end of a nearby table and pull yourself down faster than you could fall, dodging the spinning scythe-like weapon. 'Tai' spins with the blow and his back leg comes up before you can rise, kicking your shin out from under you in one rotation and knocking you back into a far wall in the next. <<else>>\ Sharp pain runs through your panicking mind as the blade slices across your eyelids, barely avoiding blinding you as it cuts across the rest of your face. <<woundcheck 1 false false>>\ <<var $killedkennui true>>\ "GUHH!" You grip your face on reflex. As you do, a foot slams into your gut and launches you across the room. <</if>>\ #use-if (dig($weaponbonus, 2) gte 2) Deflect the attack. [Requires Superior-Grade Weapon] <<if ($equippedweapon is "Handwraps")>>\ You launch an uppercut in front of your face and use the studs of your weighted handwraps to catch the strike of the blade \ <<elseif ($equippedweapon is "Yumi")>>\ Begging your ancestors for forgiveness, you use your bow as a melee weapon and block the strike \ <<else>>\ You draw \ <<if (((($equippedweapon isnot "Kagutsuchi") and ($equippedweapon isnot "Ikazuchi")) and ($equippedweapon isnot "Muramasa")) and ($equippedweapon isnot "Godslayer"))>>\ your \ <</if>>\ $equippedweapon and deflect the blow \ <</if>>\ just in time, the force of the eye-slicing attack bursting you off your feet and into the opposing wall. #show-if ($ironbody is true) Iron Body! ''//"IRON BODY!"//'' You shout, turning your skin into a dark black defensive layer stronger than stone. The kusarigama blade stabs into you with only its tip, yet it feels as if a boulder had slammed into your face when the blow knocks you off your feet and into the opposing wall. <</choose>>

"What's the situation?" Guiren asks, handing out daggers to his men as you all hurry down maze-like hallways behind the main theatre. Wencheng hands him a scroll with a mapped drawing. "Four of the seven exorcists you listed accepted the free tickets and showed up to tonight's play. They're in those marked seats at the main stage." "Good." Guiren says. "What about the exits?" "Front entrance has a Mystic Lands guardian for one of the visiting Nobles. She's a heavy hitter so the front's covered, but the rear exit lacks security." "We'll use local forces." Guiren says to one of his masked underlings, "Drop an anonymous tip with the local guard, say you spotted a strong foreigner scoping out the rear exit of the Laughing Carp Theatre." Amidst the fast paced running through the halls, you sense an urgent lack of information and turn to Guiren. "What's with all the big league fighters? Don't we want this done in secret?" Guiren grins and hands you the scroll of the theatre seating. "I brought you in for Plan A, they're here for Plan B. If we can't eliminate Old Man Manzo's ghost then I'm dragging the fight to someone who can." "Scumbag move." Wencheng says as you all take a sharp left. "Smart plan." Guiren corrects. "Smart, scumbag plan." Yoji offers in compromise. You rub the bridge of your nose. "And how do we expect to fight him for Plan A without tipping off all these strong fighters you invited?" "Yoji and I are donating special effects for the play." Wencheng flips the scroll in your hands over to reveal a Z-scale set of tunnel drawings. "While those go off, you'll be fighting underground //after// we get rid of the traps. Manzo wouldn't haunt this place unless it was important to him, and ninjas trap all their important stuff." "We were right." Yoji says, strapping a dagger to his wrist while running beside you. "He only shows at night, so we mapped the underground tunnels out during the day." He covers a burn mark on his forearm with the dagger's sheath. "There were more traps than you're thinking." Wencheng chugs a bottle labeled 'antivenom' handed to him by Guiren. "Twice as many, at least. We only got two layers deep before our auras were shattered." "There's only two layers total." Guiren corrects. "I don't know." Wencheng replies. "The second floor didn't have any 'final level' feeling. It seemed like just another set of trapped halls to keep people out." "Figures." Guiren says. "So much for our dossier maps." Wencheng and Yoji stop, causing the rest of you to freeze as well. Yoji pulls a keystone from inside his gi and runs it over the wall to his left. The wall glows purple before vanishing, revealing a staircase leading down. "Good work." Guiren says, snatching the keystone from him. "You two stay on alert up here, make sure Plan B is prepared. $name, Tai, Kennui, you're with me." <<if (dig($metguiren, 3) gte 1)>>\ "Wait, Kennui???" You eye Guiren suspiciously. "You made a huge stink about-" Guiren coughs into his fist. "We hired a new one." "What do you mean by a 'new one'?" The nearby masked minion, Kennui 2, asks. "What happened to the first one?" Neither of you inform Kennui 2 that you snapped the last Kennui's neck like a chicken bone. Nor do you mention that you've designated him 'Kennui 2'. <<else>>\ The last two masked minions nod eagerly. "You've got it, Guiren!" They charge into the staircase first with two kunai drawn. Wencheng and Yoji shake their heads somberly at the new recruits' enthusiasm after they're gone. "That overeagerness is how you find traps the old-fashioned way." Says Yoji. "The bad way." "Dead men walking." Adds Wencheng, shaking his head before looking to you. "Good luck." <</if>>\ <<page "Enter the Hidden Staircase" "hub-quests-guiren3">>\

You and Guiren sprint down one flight of stairs, through another doorway, and across multiple white-painted halls on the lower level. The floors and walls around you are covered in various scorch marks, acid pools, and darts to show Yoji and Wencheng's trail of discovery. It leads you to another hidden doorway leading down a second flight of stairs where you catch up to Guiren's two minions, Tai and \ <<if (dig($metguiren, 3) gte 1)>>\ Kennui 2. <<else>>\ Kennui. <</if>>\ "Report." Guiren orders. His two masked minions look out the open doorway at the bottom of the stairs and shake their heads. You poke your head through too and see what's got them so spooked: an empty lantern-lit hallway splitting to your left and right. An empty hallway with no disabled traps. "Looks like our work begins here." Guiren says, turning to you. "But Wencheng and Yoji said they got two levels down-" "And they included the very start as a success." Guiren says with a shrug. "Welcome to my life. Now let's get started, I'd bet my tail that Manzo's haunting the lowest level where he's doing Ancestors-know-what. We'll split up to find the next staircase. Do you and Kennui \ <<if (dig($metguiren, 3) gte 1)>>\ 2 \ <</if>>\ want left or right?" <<if (dig($metguiren, 3) gte 1)>>\ "What do you mean 'Kennui 2'?" Asks Kennui 2. You both ignore him. <</if>>\ /* 0 = dont know, 1 = aware of trap, 2 = avoided trap, 3 = hit by trap */\ <<var $poisontrap 0>>\ <<var $snaketrap 0>>\ A quick glance down the left hall reveals- <<if (($element1 is "Light") or ($element2 is "Light")) or ($perception gte 3)>>\ <<if (($element1 is "Light") or ($element2 is "Light"))>>\ ''[Light Element Event: Automatic Success]'' <<var $solexp + 2>>\ <<else>>\ ''[Perception 3 Check Passed]'' <</if>>\ <<var $agiexp + 2>>\ <<var $poisontrap 1>>\ -a crucial detail: at the end of the hall, just as it turns around a corner, the floor and ceiling are too reflective. Someone's applied a sealant coating to them. If it were just the floor you'd say it was to keep liquid from seeping down, but it's on the ceiling too. What would seep through the ceiling... You ponder that question while giving a quick glance to the right and noticing- <<else>>\ ''[Perception 3 Check Failed]'' -a whole lot of nothing. While a quick glance down the right hall reveals- <</if>>\ <<if (($subrace is "Reptile") or ($survival gte 3))>>\ <<if ($subrace is "Reptile")>>\ ''[Reptile Yokai Event: Automatic Success]'' <<var $solexp + 2>>\ <<else>>\ ''[Survival 3 Check Passed]'' <</if>>\ <<var $forexp + 2>>\ <<var $snaketrap 1>>\ -the faint but unmistakable musk of breeding snakes. Lots of them. Manzo must be a skilled shinobi to smuggle a giant pit of snakes into a theatre under the eyes of Imperial security, but he forgot to make sure they were all male. Female snakes stink in breeding season to attract mates, and by the smell of it, Manzo surrounded those females with dozens or hundreds of bachelors. It amuses you how such powerful people make mistakes like this because they forgot to grow up poor and experience real nature. Suckers. With bare clues on what you'll be facing, \ <<else>>\ ''[Survival 3 Check Failed]'' -a perfectly normal hallway. Ominous. <<if ($poisontrap is 1)>>\ With only one clue for the left hallway, \ <<else>>\ Without any clues, \ <</if>>\ <</if>>\ you decide to go down... <<var $directionchoice "">>\ <<var $floortype "Earth">>\ <<var $kennui "">>\ <<var $killedkennui false>>\ <<if (dig($metguiren, 3) gte 1)>>\ <<var $kennui "Kennui 2">>\ <<else>>\ <<var $kennui "Kennui">>\ <</if>>\ <<var $nocheck false>>\ <<var $bosshint false>>\ <<choose "hub-quests-guiren-right">> #The left hallway. -> "hub-quests-guiren-left" #The right hallway. <</choose>>

The \ <<if ($killedkennui is true)>>\ three \ <<else>>\ four \ <</if>>\ of you descend the next staircase and Guiren takes a doubletake, looking behind you. \ <<if ($killedkennui is true)>>\ "Where's Kennui?" <<choose "hub-quests-guiren4-deadkennui">> #"He didn't make it. I'm so sorry." <<var $ruthless - 2>>\ "He didn't make it. I'm so sorry." "He didn't make it?" Tai shouts in the stairway. "You've only been gone for seconds!" Guiren exhales through his nose and pulls his shinobi mask back over his face. "I should have expected this from Manzo's traps. \ #"Very, ''very'' dead." <<var $honor - 1>>\ "Very, ''very'' dead." You admit. "Dead?!" Tai shouts in the stairway. "You've only been gone for seconds!" Guiren exhales through his nose and pulls his shinobi mask back over his face. "I should have expected this from Manzo's traps. \ #"He went...home?" <<if ($deception gte 2)>>\ "The bastard up and went home as soon as you left. I think he was just in it for a paycheck." ''[Deception 2 Check Passed]'' <<var $agiexp + 2>>\ Guiren shakes his head in disbelief. "Whatever happened to honorable ninja-ghost-killing debt collectors? This used to be a respectable profession." He leaps down the rest of the long stairway and waves you to follow. "What's done is done. \ <<else>>\ "He went...home?" ''[Deception 2 Check Failed]'' Guiren eyes you suspiciously. "Which home, his vacation spot in the Heavens?" You offer your fakest sincere smile. "Manzo's traps then, huh." Your smile grows faker. "Damn it all. \ <</if>>\ <</choose>> <<else>>\ "Kennui, you're still alive?" $kennui pauses mid-step. "Wh-Why wouldn't I be?" "No reason." He nods appreciatively to you. "Good work." <<include "hub-quests-guiren5">>\ <</if>>\

Don't blame yourself, it's my fault for bringing him and planning for the worst. I should have brought Yoji and Wencheng but I only took our most expen-" Tai frowns at Guiren calling him expendable. "-sive!" Guiren recovers mid-word. "Expen//sive// agents, because we need the best." He puts Tai in a playful headlock. "What would we do without you, Tai?" Tai glares at him with intensity when Guiren ruffles his hair. <<page "Continue" "hub-quests-guiren5">>\

You all continue down the multiple flights of stairs and come to the third underground floor: a fifty-foot ceiling covered in strange cerulean and purple Seals on the floor, walls, and ceiling. The enormous room is wide enough to fit half a street in both directions. Your footsteps echo as you enter. "I preferred the hallways." Guiren says, looking around at the enormous empty antechamber. "Am I the only one seeing nothing but a doorway on the far end of this room? Ancestors, Manzo, traps are supposed to be subtle." He takes one step forward, pauses, and smiles. "So that's what is is." He looks over to you. "<<cap $name>>, what do you see?" <<var $seeit false>>\ <<var $darted 0>>\ <<if ((($style is "Kurokonton") and ($stylerank gte 2)) or ($insight gte 3))>>\ <<if (($style is "Kurokonton") and ($stylerank gte 2))>>\ ''[Kurokonton (Adept) Event]'' <<apboost 5>>\ <<else>>\ ''[Insight 3 Check Passed]'' <<var $solexp + 2>>\ <</if>>\ <<var $seeit true>>\ Nothing stands out on the floor, walls, or even ceiling. Without other hints you \ <<include "hub-quests-guiren6">>\ <<elseif (($thievery + $lore) gte 5)>>\ ''[Thievery + Lore 5 Check Passed]'' Wracking your brain to think of what he could be talking about; you consider the kind of traps a Shinobi of the Cursed L- Ah. Cursed Lands. Cursed Chi. You \ <<var $seeit true>>\ <<include "hub-quests-guiren6">>\ <<else>>\ ''[Insight 3 Check Failed]'' ''[Thievery + Lore 5 Check Failed]'' "Nothing?" Guiren cringes. "Come on $manwoman, at least pretend to see it in front of the \ <<if ($killedkennui is true)>>\ minion." <<else>>\ minions." <</if>>\ You roll your eyes. "That cat's out of the bag so enlighten me, oh wise and perceptive Dai Guiren." "Alright alright. There's lines of Cursed Chi all throughout the chamber, wall to wall. We need to weave around them or we'll trigger the next trap." He looks back to \ <<if ($killedkennui is true)>>\ Tai. \ <<else>>\ Tai and $kennui. \ <</if>>\ "Follow my lead and proceed carefully." <<include "hub-quests-guiren7">>\ <</if>>\

channel chi in spirals through your eyes and amplify your vision towards spiritual effects. "Oh." You say. "What?" Asks \ <<if ($killedkennui is false)>>\ Tai and $kennui. <<else>>\ Tai. <</if>>\ You turn to \ <<if ($killedkennui is true)>>\ them. \ <<else>>\ him. \ <</if>>\ "This room isn't using pressure plates to activate any traps; it's filled to the brim with lines of Cursed Chi." You point directly ahead at a barely visible line of purple yin-aligned chi, tightly connected from one distant wall to the other. "Good eye." Guiren withdraws. "Let's proceed carefully." <<include "hub-quests-guiren7">>\

<<choose "hub-quests-guiren7-2">> #show-if ($seeit is true) Balance around the chi-lines like a burglar. #show-if ($seeit is false) use-if ($seeit is true) Balance around the chi-lines like a burglar. [You cannot see the chi lines!] -> "death" #Watch Guiren's movements and carefully copy them. -> "hub-quests-guiren7-3" <</choose>>

"Proceed carefully." You repeat, walking into the large antechamber and narrowly crossing over a line of cursed chi. "Got it." <<if ($stealth gte 2)>>\ ''[Stealth 2 Check Passed]'' <<var $agiexp + 3>>\ <<include "hub-quests-guiren7-walk">>\ <<else>>\ ''[Stealth 2 Check Failed]'' <<include "hub-quests-guiren7-dontgotit">>\ <</if>>\

"Proceed carefully." You repeat to yourself, keeping an eye on Guiren's ducking and weaving. You try to memorize where the hard-to-pinpoint lines of Cursed Chi must be. "Got it." <<var $val 3>>\ <<if ($seeit is true)>>\ <<var $val 2>>\ <</if>>\ <<if ($perception gte $val)>>\ ''[Perception $val Check Passed]'' <<var $forexp + (5-$val)>>\ <<include "hub-quests-guiren7-walk">>\ <<else>>\ ''[Perception $val Check Failed]'' <<include "hub-quests-guiren7-dontgotit">>\ <</if>>\

You have not got it. Hundreds of clicking mechanisms trigger above you. \ <<if ($killedkennui is true)>>\ Tai and \ <<else>>\ Tai, $kennui, and \ <</if>>\ Guiren all turn to you, wide-eyed, as darts begin to fall from the ceiling like a poisoned metal rain. "RUN!" Guiren shouts, grabbing Tai and flash-stepping to the other side. <<var $darted 1>>\ <<var $val 0>>\ <<if ($flashstep is true)>>\ ''//"FLASH STEP!"//'' You shout, \ <<if ($killedkennui is false)>>\ grabbing $kennui and \ <</if>>\ vanishing from your position. You reappear at the other end of the large chamber next to Guiren and Tai. "Thank the Ancestors you read my Path Manual!" Guiren shouts over the roar of metal darts raining onto the echoing chamber floor around you. "But we need to get this damned door open or it's all over!" <<var $val 1>>\ <<else>>\ You sprint across the chamber as fast as you can, but the darts are too many. You guard the top of your skull but take several needle-sharp darts to the forearms, shoulders, and quadriceps. <<woundcheck 1 false false>>\ <<var $darted 2>>\ The darts aren't the problem, but the poison they dig into your chi channels is. The harder you try to breathe, the harder breathing becomes, throwing off the spiritual balance of your Cores. ''[1 Chi Point Spent]'' <<var $chispent + 1>>\ ''[2 Soul Chi Spent]'' <<var $solspent + 2>>\ Despite the rain of darts sticking into your body, you do make it to the other side where Guiren holds some kind of thick leather tarp up to block any more darts from hitting you and Tai. <<if ($killedkennui is false)>>\ But not $kennui. You turn around and see the poor underling is still at the other side of the chamber, facedown, filled with poisoned darts, and very, very dead. "By the Ancestors, Manzo's trap killed Kennui!" Guiren shouts over the heavy pattern of darts landing on the leather tarp he holds you all. "That bastard!" You shout. <<var $killedkennui true>>\ <<var $val 777>>\ Tai grimaces. "If we don't get this door open, we'll be dead too!" \ <<else>>\ "We need to get this damned door open!" Guiren shouts over the pounding rain of metal darts hitting the echoing chamber floor. <</if>>\ <</if>>\ You look to the door you've reached, the only exit from the chamber of raining death, and see it's covered in various Seals keeping it as secure as a bank vault. "Locks I can handle," Guiren \ <<if ($val is 1)>>\ shouts, wincing as the darts begin to pierce through the tarp and into his hands, \ <<else>>\ shouts over the darts colliding with the floor around you, \ <</if>>\ "but this is mystical crap. Any ideas?" \ <<include "hub-quests-guiren7-opendoor">>\

<<choose "hub-quests-guiren8">> #use-if ($countersealritual isnot 100) Cast a counterseal ritual. [Requires Counterseal] "Why don't we just counterseal it?" You ask. Guiren's silent. Tai's silent. <<if ($killedkennui is false)>>\ $kennui's silent. <<elseif ($val is 777)>>\ $kennui's silent, but that's because he's dead. <</if>>\ "...You guys don't know the counterseal." "I'm getting stabbed in the hands with poison darts to keep you safe!" Guiren shouts in his defense, holding up the leather tarp to catch the darts above you. "Quit wasting time awkward-silencing me and cast your spell!" Pushing them out of the way, you quickly enact the handseals you learned through years of study, because you actually educated yourself, unlike some \ <<if (($ruthless gte 60) or ($honor lt 40))>>\ fucking \ <</if>>\ people. Amateurs. ''[Counterseal Activated]'' <<apboost 3>>\ The exit's seals flash with $auracolor chi before dimming to nothing. You push the physical door open, reveal a tight winding staircase leading down, and hurry through. The others follow behind quickly. <<page "Continue" "hub-quests-guiren8">>\ #use-if ($style is "Kiihakai") Disenchant the door with Mystic Chi. [Requires Kiihakai] "Why don't you guys counter the curse with curses of your own?" Guiren's silent. Tai's silent. <<if ($killedkennui is false)>>\ $kennui's silent. <<else>>\ $kennui's silent, but that's because he's dead. <</if>>\ "...Do you know any curses?" "You're the chi \ <<if ($heshe is "he")>>\ sorcerer \ <<else>>\ sorceress \ <</if>>\ here, not us!" Guiren shouts in his defense, holding up the leather tarp to catch the darts above you. "Quit wasting time awkward-silencing me and cast something already!" "Fine, fine." You say, pushing them out of the way. You quickly fill your Mystic Chi with the orders of entropic disbursement and push your sorcerous effect into the doorway. <<cap $auracolor>> lines of chi run around your wrist in a swirl and probe into the doorway, seeking out the curse's binding and unravelling it in seconds. ''[Seal Destroyed]'' <<if ($countersealritual isnot 100)>>\ <<var $apval + 2>>\ <</if>>\ <<apboost 3>>\ The exit's seals flash with $auracolor chi before dimming to nothing. You push the physical door open, reveal a tight winding staircase leading down, and hurry through. The others follow behind quickly. <<page "Continue" "hub-quests-guiren8">>\ #use-if ((($element1 is "Earth") and ($element1rank gte 2)) or (($element2 is "Earth") and ($element2rank gte 2))) Make a new door. [Requires Earth (Adept)] "Move us four steps left." You say to Guiren, who holds the thick leather tarp over \ <<if ($killedkennui is true)>>\ you and Tai. <<else>>\ all of you to stop them from killing his underlings. <</if>>\ "I don't know what you're playing at," he says as he starts shuffling left, "but at this point I'll take anything." To the left of the door you reach deeper into your Cores and withdraw sturdy and spiritually dense Earth Chi, breathing slowly to press it through your spiritual channels. It passes through your hands and into the stone wall in front of you. The wall responds, pressing inward with the grinding of stone on stone. A section as wide as the door pushes forward and curves to the right, forming a tunnel that leads you to the other side of the door where a spiraling staircase greets you. "A hidden passage!" \ <<if ($killedkennui is false)>>\ $kennui shouts. <<else>>\ Tai shouts. <</if>>\ "What? No." You correct the man. "I created this passage, just now. I practice an Earth Chi Path." "Oh." He says, looking to Guiren. "Why don't you ever teach us Shugendō elements?" "You're a grownass man." Guiren says, pushing him into the passage. "Teach yourself." <<page "Continue" "hub-quests-guiren8">>\ #use-if ((($chipool + ($soul/2)) - $chispent) gte 3) Overpower the trap by spending excessive chi. [Costs 3 Chi] Under the heavy rain of poison darts you don't have time to ponder a solution. You also don't have time to waste on trying to find a reasonable solution. So, without hesitation or regret, you follow the obvious choice of an unreasonable solution. You place your hand on the door's seals and start pumping them full of so much chi that they overload and explode, shredding purple sparks into the air and warping the door's surface until it looks like bubbling custard. ''[3 Chi Points Spent]'' <<var $chispent + 3>>\ "Whoa, whoa, whoa!" Guiren shouts, covering his eyes from the sparks shooting out of the door. "Watch where-" You push the door open to reveal a spiraling staircase leading down. "Nevermind!" He says, pushing Tai in first. "Everyone go!" <<page "Continue" "hub-quests-guiren8">>\ #"I'm out of ideas." "I'm out of ideas." You confess. "I have one." Guiren sighs. "I'll have to adjust my Techniques to focus on energy output." "That doesn't sound so bad." You say, having done that plenty of times. "That means abandoning my poison-resisting Techniques I've been channeling since we got here, and I'm full of poison darts right now." You open your mouth to ask him about some alternative when you sense his Cores changing already. ''[Guiren's Combat Prowess Reduced]'' <<var $guirencombat - 1>>\ "No point delaying." Guiren says, his body fluctuating with flame-like wisps of dark puple Cursed Energy. He presses a hand against the doorway and screams in anger so loud that you're forced to cover your ears. The door's purple-glowing seals crack under the pressure and bursts into sparks, dissipating quickly when he shoves the doorway open. A spiraling staircase greets you on the other side, one you enter immediately. <<page "Continue" "hub-quests-guiren8">>\ <</choose>>

Over the next five gruelling minutes the \ <<if ($killedkennui is true)>>\ three \ <<else>>\ four \ <</if>>\ of you make your way through the chamber, avoiding the Cursed Chi lines with slow and careful precision like cautious rats making their way through a maze. Time goes by slowly while you focus on the task at hand. To your surprise, after hundreds of shifts in footing and narrow contortions, you reach the end without issue. "Wow." Guiren says, standing up straight when he reaches the door at the end of the chamber. "I can't believe that worked." "Why did you jynx it?" You ask. Mechanisms click through the doors above, and a rain of poison darts drops from the sky. Guiren and \ <<if ($killedkennui is true)>>\ Tai \ <<else>>\ his men \ <</if>>\ curse, with Guiren lifting a tarp out of his gi and holding it overhead. "GET INSIDE!" Tai shouts. "We can't!" Guiren shouts back, kicking at the door out of the wide room. "It's Sealed! Locks I can pick, but these sigils and overlapping Seals are a bunch of Mystic crap I'd expect on a bank vault!" <<include "hub-quests-guiren7-opendoor">>\

<<if ($killedkennui is true)>>\ The three \ <<else>>\ The four \ <</if>>\ of you run down the spiraling staircase and out into a low-ceiling room covered in the same unusual sigils and seals all over the walls, ceiling, and floor. Alchemy labs fill the tables nearest to your entrance and sage's workshops fill the tables closer to the center. The back of the room is lined with desks piled with discarded meals and written notes. The scent of incense barely overpowers the alchemical stench of unventilated toxins in the air. "Alchemy workshops?" Tai asks, looking around. "Mystic scribing? Did Manzo practice Kiihakai?" "Anyone can perform alchemy and handseals." You reply. It's shocking how little education some people get. Wait. Was //your// childhood the fortunate one? Ancestors, that's bleak. "These don't look like normal seals." Guiren says, eyeing the wall. "Split up, look through the notes, see what you can find that might explain what he was doing down here. And be careful, there's only one floor beneath here. Manzo's ghost could be lurking nearby." You go to- "Hold on." Guiren interrupts when you take one step forward. "What?" You ask. "Ozaki Manzo was a patsy for The Boss like the rest of us, but he was also a member of the Ozaki Clan from the Cursed Lands. Big players. The further down we get, the more hesitant I become about this whole operation." "Scared of ghosts?" You \ <<if (($heshe is "she") and ($guirenromance gte 2))>>\ tease. <<else>>\ ask, curious. <</if>>\ "Scared of the living." Guiren replies. "Old Man Manzo had //this// many floors of a private lair hidden under a theatre in the staging ground of the Heavenly Ascension Trials? Why? What's the point? This was terrible real estate beforehand and it should be after. What was he planning to do at the Trials that needed this much work, what does it have to do with these weird Seals, and how could he have done it alone?" "Quit worrying about it." Tai says. "We need to get to the fifth floor." "I'm serious." Guiren replies, looking to you. "This doesn't look like one dead man's lab. It looks like a major Cursed Clan operation. What could they possibly need in Nanhou that would warrant this kind of a setup?" <<choose "hub-quests-guiren9">> #"Testing a weapon?" "Testing a weapon?" You ask with your best guess. "Let's pray not." Guiren replies. "If a major Clan of the Cursed Lands is planning an attack on the Heavenly Ascension Trials then we're looking at a full-scale civil war. Seeing as we're trying to be Archons, we'd be right in the middle of it. Hard pass." #"Preparing to become ghosts?" "Preparing to become ghosts?" You ask with your best guess. "Oh I would be so pissed." Guiren says, looking around the room's Seal-lined walls. "If this is some ritual-suicide Advancement bullshit then I'm activating Plan B. A powerful mournful ghost of regrets is one thing. A //prepared// ghost-ninja with a mystic arsenal and an agenda is another." #"Learning demonic cultivation?" "Learning demonic cultivation?" You ask with your best guess. "Ancestors I hope not." Guiren replies, looking around the room's Seal-lined walls.. "If we're already contaminated then we can kiss our Archon prospects goodbye. What a shitty way to fail out." #show-if (($heshe is "she") and ($guirenromance gte 2)) "Nothing worse than what we'll be doing when you and I get some alone time." Hmmmmmm, what //was// that dead old ninja doing with a giant mystical underground lair? You shrug and discard the thought, instead taking the tempting chance to \ <<if ((($hairlength isnot "short") and ($hairlength isnot "short and tied-back")) and ($hairlength isnot "spiked"))>>\ flip your hair over your shoulder and \ <</if>>\ give Guiren //the look//. "Whatever he was up to, it's not as bad as what we'll be doing when you and I get some alone time." <<var $guirenromance + 1>>\ <<var $guirenrep + 2>>\ Guiren groans into the ceiling instead of getting flustered. You're...disappointed? Teasing is half the fun, does Guiren not care about you? <<if ($killedkennui is false)>>\ "Wow Guiren." $kennui says. "Not interested in women?" <<else>>\ "I must say I'm surprised, Guiren." Tai says. "Are you...not interested in women?" <</if>>\ "Oh shut up." Guiren replies. "I'm just not falling for it, she only does this to get me riled up and then mysteriously disappears for the night." Tai snorts. "Yeah right, it's clear she's into you." "It's a ruse!" Guiren shouts. "A facade, a conjob! She only does this shit when there's witnesses! She's a tease I tell you, a tease!" Guiren stops mid-rant and rubs his fingers against the bridge of his nose. "Ancestors, what are we doing. The ghost of a centuries-old curse-ninja is around the corner and we're squabbling. <<cap $name>>, come here." "Oh." You reply, looking around the room. "I really was just teasing, I don't think now's the time to-" "I'm talking about the mission." Guiren interrupts. \ <<var $val 555>>\ <</choose>>

<<if ($val isnot 555)>>\ "It doesn't matter." Says Tai, waltzing into the room. "I'm sure we'll find out soon enough. I need to-" "Stop!" Guiren shouts, halting his underling in his tracks. "There's something we need to address first." Tai cringes, suppressing the anger shown on his face. "What?" Guiren looks to you. <</if>>\ "You're the biggest opportunist I've ever met, no offense, and I know the urge to rob this place is going through your mind right now." <<if (($honor gt 50) or ($val is 555))>>\ "I wouldn't say //rob//, since the man is deceased, but I was certainly going to...analyze my options." <<else>>\ "Me? No. Never." You lie. Twice. <</if>>\ Guiren shakes his head. "What I'm trying to say is, thanks for coming. I appreciate the help and haven't shown it." He sweeps a hand across the room. "Pick your station and rob it to your heart's content." <<if ($val is 555)>>\ Awwwwwww. He //does// care about you! <<elseif ($killedkennui is false)>>\ "What about me?" Asks $kennui. "What //about// you?" Guiren replies. <<if ($heshe is "she")>>\ Aww. $kennui's starting to fit in. <</if>>\ <</if>>\ <<choose "hub-quests-guiren10">> #Search the alchemy tables. One thing you notice from all the powers and herbs surrounding the alchemical tables is that they all come from different countries. Venoms from creatures of the Great Wall to the south, sands from the northern and southern Sandseas flanking the Infinite Thunderplains, rare herbs from Shattered Cathay, deepsalts from Ryugujo, and preserved glacial waters from the Frozen North. It's as if Old Man Manzo was searching the whole world for something he couldn't make at home. Though any notes or hints of progress and research are noticeably absent, the tables still make for a cache of resources. ''[Item Gained: 15 Alchemy Reagents]'' <<var $alchemyreagents + 15>>\ #Search the mystic tables. Trinkets, runes, sigils, and glowing dusts cover the tables of the mystic workshops. One thing you notice, thanks to the labels, is that almost every ingredient here is foreign. Bone shards from New Yomi, religious prayers from Ryugujo, incense from the Thunderplains, spirit dusts from Horai, and ancient alternative seal variants from Shattered Cathay. It's as if Old Man Manzo was searching the whole world for something he couldn't make at home. Though any notes or hints of progress and research are noticeably absent, the tables still make for a cache of resources. ''[Item Gained: 15 Ritual Components]'' <<var $ritualcomponents + 15>>\ #Search the note-covered desks. -> "hub-quests-guiren11" The desks in the back of the room are adorned with used inkwells, forgotten plates and bowls, and plentiful discarded cups of tea and Yomijin keopi. More importantly, they're covered with dozens of scrolls containing notes and ramblings in some bizarre code. <<if ($lore gte 4)>>\ ''[Lore 4 Check Passed]'' One that, after several minutes of analysis, you're able to partially decipher. Guessing at the interchanging vowel usage and purposeful misspellings to throw off the reader, you adjust the letters of each word alphanumerically and subtract one from the first letter, two from the next, and three from the next, and so on. You feel like a genius for figuring it out so fast, yet translating the words with such a complex strategy is agonizingly slow. "Anything good?" Guiren asks, approaching you with stuffed pockets from another table. Tai \ <<if ($killedkennui is true)>>\ approaches \ <<else>>\ and $kennui approach \ <</if>>\ behind him with stuffed pockets of \ <<if ($killedkennui is true)>>\ his \ <<else>>\ their \ <</if>>\ own, apparently getting \ <<if ($killedkennui is true)>>\ his \ <<else>>\ their \ <</if>>\ bonus for this job. "It's the Boss." You mumble, reading through. "He's been studying The Boss." <<var $bossresearch + 1>>\ "Oh Ancestors." Guiren groans. "If this is his diary complaining about his job, \ <<else>>\ ''[Lore 4 Check Failed]'' That you can't seem to decipher. "Anything good?" Guiren asks, approaching you with stuffed pockets from another table. Tai \ <<if ($killedkennui is true)>>\ approaches \ <<else>>\ and $kennui approach \ <</if>>\ behind him with stuffed pockets of \ <<if ($killedkennui is true)>>\ his \ <<else>>\ their \ <</if>>\ own, apparently getting \ <<if ($killedkennui is true)>>\ his \ <<else>>\ their \ <</if>>\ bonus for this job. "Beats me." You reply. "He might as well be speaking another language. "He might be." Guiren groans. "If I have to translate this to Cathayan before deciphering the code, \ <</if>>\ I'm killing him twice...wait, what the Hells?" Guiren leans over the table and shuffles through a separate pile of scrolls. "$name, are you seeing what I'm seeing?" You look up from your notes, still juggling the calculations for translating the code in your head. "Tell me what I'm seeing." "Treasure Scrolls." Guiren exclaims, rifling through them. \ <</choose>>

The four of you ascend the busted ladder up to the fourth floor and get to work at the alchemical tables near the stairs. "I can't believe Manzo was still alive." Yoji says, brewing basic replenishment pills while \ <<if ($alchemy gte 1)>>\ you work \ <<else>>\ Guiren works \ <</if>>\ on the healing elixirs. "I can believe it." Wencheng says. "He was an Inner Kingdom ninja, of course he knows weird fake-my-death bullshit with a giant lair to hide it. What I //can't// believe is the Boss didn't know he was alive. Isn't he some type of all-seeing God?" "Not down here." Guiren says, flicking his fingers towards the Seals on the wall. "These Seals almost worked. Hid his essence enough that the Boss thought he must have been a ghost." <<if ($killedkennui is false)>>\ ''*bump*'' "HE HEARD US DOUBT HIM!" Wencheng screams in an unusually high-pitched tone, leaping behind the rest of you. "Who's there?" You call out, exuding your $auracolor aura. "I-I am?" A meek voice says from under a table. "What happened to Manzo?" "Holy shit." Guiren says, tilting his head. "Kennui? You're alive?" $kennui shuffles out from under a table. "I hid when I saw you two get beaten in one strike. I just...kept staying under the table. I figured he'd come for me, but he never did." "He beat you guys in one strike?" Yoji asks you and Guiren. You scratch the back of your head, thinking back to the cheap shot that knocked you against the wall and dropped you through the trap door. "That was just the start of the fight." $kennui stares at you doubtfully. "That's not what I saw." Guiren holds up his one hand. "Kennui, shut up while I'm still glad you're alive. <<cap $name>>, good job keeping Kennui alive by the traps. It's clear now he was the only one in danger, since I was accidentally watching over Manzo the whole time down here. Take a little extra from the treasure pile." Your brow twists. "There's a treasure pile?" Turning around you see that the rest of them have somehow already looted the whole floor and organized it into piles. Yet you've only been up here for //a single minute.// Wencheng gives you a thumbs up and you realize why Guiren keeps him around. \ <<choose "hub-quests-guirendone2">> #Take from the Shards pile. [+1600 Silver] "Over here?" You ask, looking through one of the bags. "Yeah." Guiren replies. "The pile that jingles. I'm betting Manzo didn't want his Seals messing with the essence of Shards. The man kept almost nothing but coins." You locate the set of bags he's talking about and yank one open. Ah, a large pile of cash. How delightful. ''[Item Gained: 1600 Silver]'' <<var $silver + 1600>>\ <<if (($stealth gte 3) and ($honor lt 40))>>\ ''[Stealth 3 Check Passed]'' <<if ($honor lt 40)>>\ ''[Dishonor 60 Check Passed]'' But what's one bag of cash when you could have //two// bags of cash? ''[Item Gained: 16 Gold]'' <<var $gold + 16>>\ "Found it?" Guiren asks. "Oh, I found it alright." You reply with a villainous grin. Guiren squints, still hunched over the alchemy table and trying not to bleed on it. "Why did it sound evil when you said that?" "Uh," You cough into your fist and return to the alchemy table. "No reason." <<else>>\ ''[Dishonor 60 Check Failed]'' Against your better judgment, you don't take any of the other bags. "Found it?" Guiren asks. "Yeah, but you left me unattended with a bunch of other bags of cash." He shrugs. "I trusted you." Wencheng cringes in disgust. "You never trust me like that!" Nobody tells him why. Nobody has to. <</if>>\ <</if>>\ <<page "Continue" "hub-quests-guirendone2">>\ #Take from the Scrolls pile. [AP Boost, Handseals Check] You rifle through Manzo's Treasure Scrolls, frowning to find that almost none of them activate Techniques and the ones that do are designed for specific rituals or only work in rare conditions. Then your eyes light up when you find a better one: the sealed essence of a Cursed Gate. You unfurl the scroll quickly and activate its essence, absorbing the contents with your Fuel Foundation to cycle it. <<var $apval (5 + ($handseals * 3))>>\ <<if ($style is "Kurokonton")>>\ ''[Kurokonton Event: Bonus Increased]'' <<var $apval + (5 * $stylerank)>>\ <</if>>\ <<apboost $apval>>\ <<if ($handseals gte 3)>>\ ''[Handseals 3 Check Passed]'' ...Huh. If you expand the radius of this scroll's unsealing with the Ox sign, surrounded by these yin-trapping seals in the wall, it should increase the targets without diminishing the potency "AH!" Yoji shouts in surprise as you execute the expanding sign, wrapping the ritual around the entire room to include Guiren and his men. "What the Hell was that?" Guiren says, his purple Cursed aura activating involuntarily. "I just gave you a power boost." You reply, dusting off your hands as if finishing a laborious task. "You're welcome." ''[Guiren's Combat Prowess Increased]'' <<var $guirencombat + 1>>\ <<var $sect_hiddencoil + 7>>\ "Oh." He looks down at his fist and feels power flowing through his chi channels. "Thanks." Then looks back to his underlings. "Why don't you guys ever do that?" "Why don't //you//?!" All three shout back, with Yoji throwing a chair at him. <<page "Continue" "hub-quests-guirendone2">>\ <<else>>\ ''[Handseals 3 Check Failed]'' You're thankful that there's so much Seal work done in this scroll already so you don't have to know any. Wasting time learning more Seals would have been a fool's errand, because you can't be out here fighting ninjas if you're stuck inside. Man, everything really worked out in life. You're a genius! <<page "It's true. It really is true." "hub-quests-guirendone2">>\ <</if>>\ #Take from the Alchemy pile. [Combat Pills, Alchemy Check] The alchemical formulae collection of the Ozaki Clan is...hopefully bigger than this. It seems Ozaki Manzo only kept a steady supply of the pills he could easily craft with local herbs and ingredients. <<var $healingelixir + 2>>\ ''[Item Gained: 2 Healing Elixirs]'' <<var $replenisherpill + 2>>\ ''[Item Gained: 2 Chi Replenisher Pill]'' <<var $lgforpill + 2>>\ ''[Item Gained: 2 Low Grade Fortitude Pills]'' <<var $lgagipill + 3>>\ ''[Item Gained: 3 Low Grade Agility Pills]'' Still, you're not one to complain about a large cache of battle medicine. <<if ($alchemy gte 3)>>\ ''[Alchemy 3 Check Passed]'' Especially when you find his purposefully mislabeled poisons. ''[Item Gained: $alchemy Cursed Poisons]'' <<var $cursedpoison + $alchemy>>\ <<else>>\ ''[Alchemy 3 Check Failed]'' Mother and Father raised you better than that. <</if>>\ <<page "Continue" "hub-quests-guirendone2">>\ #Take from the research pile. [AP Boost, Lore Check] The secrets of the Ozaki Clans cultivation methods are a treasure trove of information that you'd never even imagined. Oval-shaped spiraling methods to expand your aura externally and practice maintaining it without bodily help, feng shui designs defying common sense to shift your resistance to unorthodox ways others may wield elements, and meditation techniques that //skip// whole chakras, pulling your breathing essence out of your body with the assistance of your aura. Each of these methods of course needs certain herbs or times of night or other specific conditions to work without crippling you, but to have someone else find all of the secrets and present them to you... It's incredible. <<var $apval (5 + ($lore * 3))>>\ <<apboost $apval>>\ <<if ($lore gte 3)>>\ ''[Lore 3 Check Passed]'' You're shocked to learn Manzo even recorded secretive Foundation development methods from the Ozaki Clan. The Twisting Spider Tree, a developmental cycling method one could use to shape their future power. It's too late for you to change, but \ <<if (dig($trialdeets, 4) gte 2)>>\ Rin, Jin, and Kosuke could certainly use these. <<else>>\ Kosuke could certainly use these, and if you're able to break Rin and Jin out they could benefit from such potent cultivation secrets as well. <</if>>\ ''[Kosuke, Jin, and Rin's Combat Prowess Increased]'' <<var $jincombat + 1>>\ <<var $rincombat + 1>>\ <<var $kosukecombat + 1>>\ <<else>>\ ''[Lore 3 Check Failed]'' Luckily there's even so much research here that you don't even need all of it. Your eyes glaze over mid-reading, lost in some deep dry reading about intricacies and overly academic descriptions, yet you //still// benefitted from it. And to think, Rin said you'd need to pay more attention in Mother's reading lessons. Psht. Shows what she \ <<if (dig($trialdeets, 4) gte 2)>>\ knows. <<else>>\ knew. <</if>>\ <</if>>\ <<page "Continue" "hub-quests-guirendone2">>\ <</choose>> <<else>>\ Wencheng chuckles to himself. "How funny would it be if he comes back as an actual gh-" Guiren slaps his one remaining hand over Wencheng's mouth. "Don't jynx it." <<page "Continue" "hub-quests-guirendone2">>\ <</if>>\

Ten minutes of alchemical work in an unventilated room later you, Guiren, and Guiren's men have all expended Manzo's alchemical supplies to make enough healing elixirs to treat everyone's wounds. ''[All Health, Chi, and Cores Restored]'' <<var $chispent 0>>\ <<var $wounds 0>>\ <<var $forspent 0>>\ <<var $powspent 0>>\ <<var $agispent 0>>\ <<var $solspent 0>>\ The only lasting discomfort is your nose. The whole room smells like concentrated paint and burnt chemicals. "I'm ready to get out of here and never come back." Yoji says, hoisting a bag of Manzo's loot over his shoulder. "Guiren, want to give me a hand?" "Only got one to give." Guiren says from the back, not looking up from Manzo's notes. "He's right Yoji, you have to hand it to him." Wencheng says, grabbing a bag of his own. "I'm surprised it took us this long to get to the dismembering jokes." "Yeah yeah." Guiren says, rifling through scrolls. "Something something, disarming, something. $name, feel free to take a share of the loot too. Payment for a job well done." Wencheng sighs and reluctantly hands you one of his two giant sacks of plundered funds. ''[Item Gained: 2900 Silver]'' <<var $silver + 2900>>\ You hoist the hefty sack of coin and feel the warm sensation of being richer run through your body. Wonderful. You, Wencheng, and Yoji get to the staircase leading to the third basement level when you notice something is missing. "Aren't you coming?" You ask to Guiren. Back at the other side of the room, still sitting at Manzo's research desk, Guiren lights a cigarette and leans back with his eyes closed. "You guys go on ahead." He says. "I'm going to stay here and clean up...I'm thinking we could use a new office." "Uh, okay." Wencheng replies hesitantly. "What do we tell the Boss?" The corner of Guiren's mouth twitches and his eyes open with satisfaction, settling on Manzo's seals covering the walls. "Leave that to me." <<page "Continue" "hub-quests-guirendone3">>\

You, Yoji, and Wencheng all rise to the third basement layer, the last room covered in seals and filled with dart traps. You come to the staircase up when Yoji puts a hand on your shoulder. "Before we get out there, where the Boss can hear us again," the Oni says, "you have to stop him." "Manzo?" You ask. "I already stopped him. Hence the payment." You jiggle the bag of money. Yoji shakes his head, unusually serious. "No, Guiren. The only reason to keep this place is to betray the Boss. Guiren's not a criminal mastermind like that. Usurping the Boss's debt network? Stealing his ascension secrets? Duplicating his talismans? None of that is going to happen. He's only going to get himself killed." "Aw man." Wencheng says, hanging his head. "We'll have to tell The Boss about the lair's Seals then. It's the only way to stop King Dumbass from committing suicide." <<choose "hub-quests-guirendone5">> #"Damn. Fine, let's tell the Boss before Guiren incriminates himself." [Dismantle Manzo's Secret Lair] <<var $compquest1 + 3000000000000>>\ "Damn." You say, shoving a hand against your forehead. "Fine, let's tell the Boss before Guiren incriminates himself." The three of you ascend the next few lairs and exit through the theatre, shocked to learn the play is still going on and no one even sensed disruptions from the fight below. You're more surprised than Wencheng or Yoji, since you know just how physical that fight became. The entire chamber was shaking, yet no one seems to have noticed at all. Those are some strong Seals. Or rather, //were// some strong Seals. Wencheng and Yoji explain events into thin air when you return to the warehouse they'd used as a base. They leave out the part of Guiren's possible betrayal, mentioning how he's staying there for the Boss to detect proof that the Seals do in fact make others seem like mere shadows of themselves to The Boss, like a ghost. You wait around in silence waiting for an answer when one eventually comes. ''"SACRILEGE."'' The Boss says, shaking the room with his voice. ''"YOU HAVE DONE WELL."'' An explosion rocks the ground and you all run to the wide doubledoors outside, looking out. Across the city, //in the middle of the Heavenly Ascension Trials//, smoke and debris rises from the crater where the Laughing Carp Theatre once was. <<page "Continue" "hub-quests-guirendone4">>\ #"Or...what if you don't?" [Keep the Lair Secret] -> "hub-quests-guirendone5" <<var $compquest1 + 4000000000000>>\ <<var $guirendisarmed true>>\ "Or..." You say, dragging out the word. "What if you don't?" "You're kidding." Wencheng whines. "<<cap $heshe>>'s not kidding." Yoji groans. You offer a sympathetic shrug. "Look, guys, we're at the Heavenly Ascension Trials. That means Archons present, maybe even the Exalted Council. Near-ascension beings, //plural//, will have their eyes on this tournament. If the Boss has sinister intentions and you get caught, would you rather fear one possibly ascended, possibly near-ascended creature, or a dozen near-ascended people?" ''[Special Event: They Know You Can Beat Them Up]'' ''[Persuasion 0 Check Passed]'' Yoji and Wencheng's jaws both drop and they look to each other. "You hadn't thought of it." You confirm, rather than ask. "We uh..." Wencheng says. "Relax." You say. "You screwed yourself bringing The Boss's influence to Nanhou, I get it, but these Seals offer the //best possible scenario// to play both sides, and I'll bet Guiren knows it." You doubt Guiren knows it. "Not only do you get to hide your intentions from the Boss, so he's not going to come after you, but you have an alibi if the Empire contests him. Now you're not a hostile entity's minions serving its will, you're inside-men working to unravel an enemy's network for the Empire." Yoji looks around, rubbing his chin in contemplation. "I guess that sounds better..." You nod. "It sure does. Especially when I become an Archon, and maybe Guiren too, these Seals will be the perfect weapon to hand over to the Archonate. No more Boss, no more problems, and you both get a fat reward for helping the Empire against a top threat." "But the Boss isn't a threat?" Wencheng says. <<var $val 0>>\ <</choose>>

Guiren pops into existence next to you, wide-eyed. ''"WELL DONE, DAI GUIREN."'' The Boss says. ''"BECOME WHOLE."'' Guiren's arm is back as if it had never been severed. He stumbles to the side in shock. ''"PAYMENT."'' The Boss declares, a talisman appearing in your and Guiren's hands. ''[Item Gained: Bossrozal's Talisman]'' <<var $bosstalisman + 1>>\ The Boss's presence vanishes from the room as quickly as it came. In front of you, hesitant to move, Guiren slowly turns toward you all. The Reptile Yokai's face is pale and a cigarette hangs from his mouth until it falls to the floor. "Figured you were in over your head." You say, giving his restored shoulder a \ <<if ($heshe is "he")>>\ hard pat. \ <<else>>\ couple sympathetic pats. \ <</if>>\ "Covered for you. You're welcome." <<if ($heshe is "he")>>\ <<var $guirenrep - 3>>\ <</if>>\ <<var $sect_hiddencoil + 3>>\ "Uh, yeah." He says, looking back to the declaration of war smoking into the night sky seven blocks down. "Message received." You pack up and head out into the night, your work complete. <<if ($heshe is "she")>>\ While you do worry at first from the sensation of being watched as you leave, it quickly dissipates when you realize it's just Guiren and his men staring at your butt. You were worried it was a supposedly ascended being who just detonated a heavily populated building in front of the Archons. Thankfully, it's just perverts. <</if>>\ <<var $days 1>>\ <<page "Continue" "hub-spendday">>\

<<choose "hub-quests-guirendone6">> #"He has a scary voice and hides in the shadows. Of //course// he's a threat." <<var $ruthless - 1>>\ You wrap an arm around his \ <<if (($heshe is "she") and ($bodytype isnot "Petite"))>>\ shoulder. He blushes when your breasts rub against his arm. \ <<else>>\ shoulder and tsk several times. \ <</if>>\ "Wencheng, oh kind and pure-hearted Wencheng, he has a scary voice and hides in the shadows. Of //course// he's a threat." #"He is because I say he is." <<var $val 1>>\ <<var $ruthless + 1>>\ <<var $sect_hiddencoil - 3>>\ You step closer to Wencheng and stare him down, $auracolor growing. "I am a future Archon, I will ''not'' have an obscured near-ascended being interfering in Imperial affairs. Bossrozal is a threat because I ''say'' he is a threat." <</choose>>

Also, to anyone else but these two, he is absolutely a threat. It's unreal that you even need to convince them about this. <<if ($val is 0)>>\ "Ohhh." Wencheng says. "So we're going to...betray him?" "For Guiren to learn how to make the Boss's talismans? Absolutely. \ <<elseif ($val is 1)>>\ "O-Oh." Wencheng says timidly. "Right, yeah. That makes sense. Sure thing, $name." "Hey now, chin up." You say to the too-easily cowed underling. "If this works out and Guiren finds out how to make his own talismans, like Manzo was trying, we'll have enough to go around for everyone. \ <</if>>\ Do you want talismans?" "I do." "And do you want talismans?" You ask Yoji. The Oni shivers under your gaze. "After everything you've pointed out, I just want to stay alive." "Great." You say, walking up the stairs. "I'm glad that's settled." <<page "Continue" "hub-quests-guirendone7">>\

Wencheng and Yoji explain events into thin air when you return to the warehouse they'd used as a base. They leave out the part of Guiren's possible betrayal, mentioning how he's staying there to try and cleanse the "ghostly essence" as an alibi for why he might seem like a ghost to The Boss's senses right now. They do a good job selling the idea that he should be there for a while; the team could collect more debts by adding proper exorcisms to their services. Lots of poor people still have Fiend troubles. You wait around in silence for an answer when one eventually comes. ''"VERY WELL."'' The voice shouts so loudly that the crates on the warehouse shake on the ground. ''"PAYMENT."'' His presence vanishes as quickly as it came, yet now something rests in your hand. A talisman. ''[Item Gained: Bossrozal's Talisman]'' <<var $bosstalisman + 1>>\ With that, the job's done. Wencheng and Yoji head off for the night and you follow behind soon after, an all-too-pleased grin on your face as you close your hand around the research material The Boss just unknowingly handed you. <<page "Everything's coming together." "hub-quests-guirendone8">>\

You head back to the theatre, alone, after covering your alibi. Traversing the disarmed traps and various layers takes you down to the research laboratory where Guiren is chain-smoking next to four different cups of tea all on the same side of the table. "Ancestors, you look like Hell." You say, descending the ladder into the lab. "It's not as bad as it looks after a Healing Elixir." He says without looking up, flipping from scroll to scroll and wiggling the sleeve of his healing severed arm. "It won't grow back, though." "Oh, the arm?" You say. "That looks bad too, sure. I was talking about your face." "Heh. You can just ask about the research." He says. "We're friends, no need for niceties." "Oh thank Heavens." You breathe out in relief. You've been //itching// to know. "How's the research look?" "Fucking //good//." He says, scrolling over it all with one hand. "More than good, Manzo didn't just leave notes for The Boss here. He left notes for his Clan's Techniques. The kind of curses me and the boys are missing from Kurokonton." You whistle low. "The Ozaki Clan would kill us if we stole their secrets." Guiren looks over his shoulder and grins, removing his cigarette with his tail. "They'll kill us for beating Manzo in the first place. Come on, have a seat and study with me." <<if ((($heshe is "she") and (dig($metguiren, 4) is 2)) or (($guirenromance gte 2) and ($heshe is "she")))>>\ <<if (($heshe is "she") and (dig($metguiren, 4) is 2))>>\ "A study date doesn't count." \ <<else>>\ "What, like a study date?" \ <</if>>\ You say with a wry smile, walking toward him with a purposeful sway in your step. "I wouldn't dare deprive the fair lady of the romantic getaway she's owed. Consider this a small prize instead, to tide you over for now." "Oh?" You ask, sitting next to him. "Getting to be beside you is a prize?" Guiren's looks over to you, his green draconic eyes shimmering with chi. "It is for me." <<elseif ($style is "Kurokonton")>>\ "I'm not one to turn down curses." You say, running forward to eagerly browse through. "Uhhh you should." Guiren says, looking through the scrolls in candlelight and not turning around. "Most people don't want to be cursed." <<if ($heshe is "she")>>\ "Oh shut up, you know what I meant." \ <<else>>\ "This is why your men bully you." \ <</if>>\ You reply, taking a seat near him. He cracks a smile. <<else>>\ "I'm not sure what I could learn from Kurokonton curses." "You'd be surprised." Guiren says, looking through the scrolls by candlelight and not turning around. <</if>>\ <<choose "hub-quests-guiren-wasteyournight">> #use-if (($style is "Kurokonton") or ($lore gte 3)) Help his research. [Requires Kurokonton or Lore 3] #Give up Bossrozal's talisman to help the research "This should help your research." You throw the Boss's talisman onto Guiren's research desk. "Happy birthday." ''[Item Lost: Bossrozal's Talisman]'' <<var $bosstalisman - 1>>\ Guiren looks down at the clay crest. "I don't think I pay you enough." "I don't think you pay //anyone// enough." Guiren shrugs in defeat and slides a pouch of Shards your way. ''[Item Gained: 100 Shards]'' <<var $shards + 100>>\ <<page "Study the scrolls" "hub-quests-guiren-wasteyournight">>\ #Drink tea and chat. You sip the tea and chat for the remainder of the night. He runs a few of the Yin-aligned curse ideas by you and you mentally channel your inner Jin and Rin, turning every curse idea into a joke scenario. Most of the chats eventually get around to your childhood experiences. They're surprisingly similar despite him being an orphan. Guiren talks about his parents dying from a Sect War his village had lost, but he was raised around a dozen other orphans in a dojo for the Hidden Coil Sect. He says it was a stable and safe environment where he thrived and had the food and security to learn skills, no different from yours. You say it was a glorified criminal recruitment program. The chats move on to you both \ <<if ($heshe is "he")>>\ discussing Desdemona's \ <<if (((($roomscene is "Desdemona") or ($roomscene is "Desdemona_Turned")) or ($roomscene is "Desdemona_Cursed")) or (dig($metdesdemona, 11) gte 1))>>\ measurements, a debate you easily win since you've gotten with her in bed. He seethes with envy and bows to your mastery of the craft. <<else>>\ measurements, a conversation that you're thankful she can't witness. "Actually, she can." Guiren says, concerned as he looks through the air. "Can't Kiihakai scry?" "Not in here." You correct him, pointing to Manzo's seals. "Phew." Guiren says, grabbing a cup of tea. "To Manzo!" "May he stay dead." <</if>>\ <<else>>\ discussing what you'd do if you were Archons. "I'd be a corrupt cop, for sure." He boasts. "You're proud of that??" You ask, looking around the room. "Didn't we kill an Ozaki Clan elder and commit treason against a near-ascended being so you could //stop// being corrupt?" "Whoa, no, I did it so I could stop giving them a cut." Guiren takes a sip of tea sheepishly. "I am so sorry, I thought we were on the same page." <</if>>\ <<var $guirenrep + 12>>\ The night ends when his yawns grow too frequent. The man's head slowly droops onto the desk and you- <<if ($honor gte 50)>>\ ''[Honor 50 Check Passed]'' -place him on the ground with his satchel as a pillow. You've spent too much time around Yoji and Wencheng, because you're tempted to charge him for the help. <<var $guirenrep + 1>>\ <<else>>\ ''[Honor 50 Check Failed]'' -take his quill and draw a dick on his forehead. <<var $guirenrep - 2>>\ <<var $sect_hiddencoil + 3>>\ <</if>>\ <<var $days 1>>\ <<page "Continue" "hub-spendday">>\ #show-if (($guirenromance gte 2) or (dig($metguiren, 4) is 2)) Motivate him. [Seduction] "How about motivation?" You say, scratching at the hem of your chest's clothing. "For every scroll you finish, I'll remove a piece of clothing." Guiren looks up, eyebrows raised. "I'd be a fool to say no." "It's settled then." You say with a smile, leaning forward. "Get to work, dragonboy." Guiren points behind you. "I've been at work." You turn around and see seven scrolls on the ground. "Well shit." You say. "Do-over?" "Not on your life. Spin around and give me a look." "Fine, fine." You say, rising and removing your shirt slowly. "A deal's a deal. Enjoy the best view of your life, though I was too much woman for you when you had both arms." You tease from over your shoulder, leaning away from him while stripping your pants off. "Are you sure you could even handle me now?" You turn around with a mischievous smile only to see Guiren holding his purple-glowing hand at your face, point-blank range. ''//"Wireworks."//'' Steel rope bolts through the air and wraps around your naked body. Your arms bind behind your back, your knees bind together, your ankles bind together and kick back, launching you airborne. Rope from the ceiling animates and grabs your bound wrists, hoisting you into the air as more wraps around your chest and neck, framing your tits with so much pressure. "Be gentle." You whisper. "No." Guiren says, using his Cursed Chi to swing your lips forward into his. ''[Lover Unlocked: Dai Guiren]'' <<apboost 10>>\ <<var $pwt_player true>>\ <<var $metguiren - dig($metguiren, 11)>>\ <<var $metguiren + 3>>\ <<var $guirenrep + 15>>\ <<var $days 1>>\ <<page "Continue" "hub-spendday">>\ <</choose>>

As soon as your body hits the stone wall behind you, with its many Seals, you feel a Cursed effect trigger and pin you to the wall with the force of an Inner Kingdom aura. "$name!" Guiren shouts, leaping over a table and kicking at his underling. 'Tai' takes the strike to the face, stabs three fingers into Guiren's knee, and palm strikes him into wall beside you with a blow so hard its shockwave moves the tables away from him in all directions. Blood shoots from Guiren's mouth and ears when he hits the wall, but your attention is stolen by his underling. Or rather, the man wearing his face. Tai's neck thickens. His jaw widens. His hair turns gray alongside two inches of facial hair sprouting from his jaw. Hardened wrinkles crease along his face. More than anything physical, it's his expression that changes the most. The timid underling vanishes to be replaced with the cold, resolute stare of a killer. <<if ($portraitpics is true)>>\ <<image "https://www.auraclash.com/assets/images/manzo.jpg">>\ <</if>>\ Old Man Manzo, very much alive, smiles and places a palm against the ground. "I'm thankful you've volunteered to test my experimental lair defenses." He says, triggering a purple glow from the trap door under your feet. "But I do not tolerate intruders." Both you and Guiren plunge through the trap door with ten times the force of gravity. Above you, the trap door slams shut as you fall. <<page "Continue" "hub-quests-manzo2">>\

<<cap $auracolor>> chi charges over both fists and wrists, building to full power, until you unleash them both out to the walls. Your two energy blasts slam into the walls but do not detonate, instead riding the Seals of the wall and circling the chamber until they meet in the middle, right when Manzo closes in on Guiren.

The power around you hums with the expelled Cursed energy of Guiren, Manzo, yourself, and years worth of Inner-Kingdom level Cursed Seals. All of it is pulled into your hungry soul at once like an artificial Cursed gate. <<apboost 10>>\

<<var $downthere true>>\ <<cap $auracolor>> light erupts from your body when you kick off the ceiling and launch yourself past the tarantula, too large to turn in such a cramped space. Your full power pushes your body to \ <<if ($dmg gte 5)>>\ slam into Manzo like a shooting star. ''[Damage Check Passed]'' <<apboost 5>>\ Your fist connects into his chest and crunches through his ribs, shattering his aura and \ <<if (($ruthless gte 55) and ($guirenromance lt 3))>>\ his heart in one final strike. <<var $killedmanzo true>>\ ''[Ruthless Check Passed]'' <<else>>\ knocking the last strength out of his body. <<if ($ruthless lt 55)>>\ ''[Compassion Check Passed]'' <</if>>\ <</if>>\ <<include "hub-quests-manzo15-2">>\ <<else>>\ charge into Manzo with a- ''[Damage Check Failed]'' ''*CRASH*'' The tarantula's enormous armored leg hits you out of nowhere. Your whole body feels as if you've been struck with a tower when your trajectory is broken and you're launched into the wall. <<aploss 10>>\ Dust gets into your eyes when you force them open in the cloud of your impact. The shadow of the tower-sized arachnid hovers over you when the cloud fades. You can hardly believe this creature will be the last thing you ever see. That, and Manzo smiling behind it. ...With Wencheng and Yoji above him? <<page "???" "hub-quests-manzo16">>\ <</if>>\

"Where are you?" Manzo asks, looking through the dark chamber and seeing no sign of you. "Do not hide from me, whelp! You are in no position to play at stealth against a true master of the shadows!" Nothing. No response. "Fine!" Manzo shouts into the chamber. "I will kill your ally and come back for you later. Then you can tell me if buying a few more seconds of life was worth it." He spits to the ground in disgust. "This is no shinobi mastery, it is baseless child's play. How can you call yourself a Warrior?" "How can you?" You ask from behind him, masked by the object of your third fuuinjutsu sealtag: A simple dark blanket blending you into the wall. Manzo turns too late, suffering an executioner's chop to the neck that forces his body to contort, giving you an opening on his other side. You leap with a knee into his kidney and use the other leg to slam a kick into his center, barreling him head-over-heels backward. <<apboost 5>>\ "Give up while you still can, Manzo." You challenge, throwing the blanket like a discarded cloak. "You leave too many gaps without your special abilities. When it's down to a fistfight, you don't have the imagination to beat me." Manzo hits the wall at the far end of the chamber and screams out. Not in pain, but in rage. "DO NOT ''DARE'' TO LECTURE ME, YOU INFANT!" \ <<var $dmg + $stylerank>>\ <<if ($power gte 8)>>\ <<var $dmg + 1>>\ <</if>>\ <<include "hub-quests-manzo14">>\

Guiren hits the opposing wall back-first, spitting up blood, and you desperately hope his eyes are open enough to see what you're about to do as Manzo sprints away from you to kill him. You channel energy into both palms and hold them out to the side, hoping to use the basic chi embedded in the defunct Seals of the walls to ride their circumference and force your energy attacks to circle the room. If your aim is right, they'll follow the curved walls and collide together upon Manzo just before he kills Guiren. If your aim is wrong, //you// kill Guiren. <<if ($style is "Kiihakai")>>\ ''[Kiihakai Event: Automatic Success]'' You smirk, knowing your aim is never wrong. <<if ($styleswapper isnot "")>>\ ''//"DRAGON FIST!"//'' <<var $dmg + 2>>\ Both arms scream with draconic roars as they launch homing beams of living energy across the chamber. Manzo looks over his shoulder at the screeching chi beams just in time to try and block one, not seeing the other circle behind him and crash into his back with an open maw. When your two dragon beams meet, with Manzo in the middle, they explode //backward//, launching him back to the center of the room where you stand waiting. <<page "Engage in melee" "hub-quests-manzo13">>\ <<else>>\ <<include "hub-quests-manzo-orbs2">>\ <</if>>\ <<else>>\ <<include "hub-quests-manzo-orbs2">>\ <</if>>\

<<var $combatstat "soul">>\ <<var $combatskill "lore">>\ <<discount "Fire" 1>>\ <<discount "Aoyusumu" 1>>\ <<discount "Wind" 1>>\ <<discount "Storm" 1>>\ <<attack "Energy Ranged">>\ <<combatcheck 9>>\ <<if (($passcheck is true) or ($style is "Kiihakai"))>>\ <<if ($passcheck is false)>>\ ''[Kiihakai Event: Check Override]'' <</if>>\ <<include "hub-quests-manzo-blast2">>\ Yet the wall around your ally, tilted by his cratering impact, forces your blasts to launch as if they'd hit ramps. Instead of colliding on Guiren, they collide five feet in front of him and explode upon impact with Manzo's chest. <<var $dmg + 1>>\ <<if ($power gte 8)>>\ <<var $dmg + 1>>\ <</if>>\ The man is blown backwards, halfway across the room, where you stand waiting. \ <<else>>\ <<include "hub-quests-manzo-blast2">>\ Then the blasts meet, hitting them both. ''[Guiren has been injured!]'' <<var $guirenrep - 5>>\ <<var $guirencombat - 1>>\ <<var $blewupguiren true>>\ <<var $dmg + 1>>\ <<if ($power gte 8)>>\ <<var $dmg + 1>>\ <</if>>\ You sense Guiren's aura withering but more than that, you sense Manzo still alive. Your attack explodes right over Guiren, in front of Manzo, and the results are obvious. Out of the smoke cloud of your dual-blast explosion, Manzo is launched towards the center of the room directly at you. \ <<var $cmod - 1>>\ He turns in mid-air, sees you, and charges white chifire over both fists. <</if>>\ <<page "Engage in melee" "hub-quests-manzo13">>\

Your soul feels like it's being pulled apart in all directions when the room's Seals activate. ''[2 Chi Points Spent]'' ''[1 Power Chi Spent]'' ''[1 Fortitude Chi Spent]'' ''[1 Agility Chi Spent]'' ''[1 Soul Chi Spent]'' <<var $chispent + 2>>\ <<var $powspent + 1>>\ <<var $forspent + 1>>\ <<var $agispent + 1>>\ <<var $solspent + 1>>\ You grip your chest, certain that this is what a heart attack feels like. Trying to stand proves pointless when the floor itself rips you back down. <<if ($jadedragonfoundation is true)>>\ Damn it all. Why did you hold back?! You could have killed Manzo alone! Your inner dragon rages against this fate, but even its essence cannot save you here; the spiritual aspect of your draconic spirit is exactly what this trap targets. \ <</if>>\ "GGH!" Guiren grunts, falling to the ground from the same strain. "This fate is better suited to you." Manzo's voice calls from everywhere and nowhere. "I will rip the energy from your spirits until you are nothing but meat." "Coward!" You shout, trying to keep your lungs breathing. "Bah, did you believe you were owed some fair fight? I am a shinobi. A killer. If you escaped and Bossrozal learned of my plans, do you think he would offer //me// a fair fight?" "Excuses!" Guiren screams into the air. "You couldn't beat us in a fight! You, an Inner Kingdom shinobi! You lost!" "Scream all you wish." Manzo replies. "It only brings me satisfaction. Truth be told, I would have killed you when I removed Bossrozal from power anyway. Every one of Bossrozal's 'shinobi' packs is an affront to the Cursed traditions. Pathetically simple debt collectors. You rely on the powers and trinkets of others, with no knowledge of how curses even function. In the face of a true Yin Specialist you're nothing but frauds." Guiren's quiet for a moment, his body shaking. ...with laughter? <<page "???" "hub-quests-manzo11">>\

"Heh." Guiren snickers, slowly losing himself. "Hehe. Hehahaha. HAHAHAHAHA! Oh you stupid old man! Why didn't you say you were a yin specialist sooner?" Through the pain of having your soul ripped in every direction, your mouth twists questioningly at the injured Reptile Yokai. You wonder if he's going insane. Through great effort Guiren pulls himself onto his knees from the ground and reaches a hand behind his back. "You're right. I'm a fraud of a ninja, always using someone else's power because I don't have enough of my own. That's where you messed up. Dumb old bastard. Instead of using my bad habit as an insult, you should have worried about it as a strategy." With a flourish he rips a scroll out of his satchel behind him. You sense now that it's not just any scroll. It's one of Manzo's Treasure Scrolls from upstairs. "If I can't use The Boss's power," Guiren grunts against the pain, grinning wide-eyed like a demon, //"I'll use yours!"// The long scroll unfurls in his hand with a thrumming purple glow. The Seals of the wall flicker in response. "NO!!" Manzo screams, physically breaking through the ceiling above you to drop back into the chamber. ''//"MALOCCHIO!!"//'' Guiren looks up at Manzo's burning purple eyes, enhanced from the Cursed Transformation. He even sees the descending kusarigama strike coming his way, but his victorious grin doesn't waver, running a thumb down the scroll to activate its effects. //''"Forbidden Curse: Void of Voids."''// <<page "Continue" "hub-quests-manzo12">>\

<div class="fightingfont">Thunderfaller & Dai Guiren</div>\ <div class="fightingfont">vs</div>\ <div class="fightingfont">Ozaki Manzo</div>\ <<statcheck>>\ Your vision changes to black and white for a split second when every aspect of yin chi is ripped from the surroundings and drawn into Guiren's scroll like a black hole. In the very next second, with only an imbalance of ambient yang chi remaining, your surroundings bloom like a painted canvas of color. The red of Guiren's blood floats through the air like a sunrise. The silver of Manzo's kusarigama trails behind him like a flying dragon. The gold and green of Guiren's sleeve colors spark and shimmer when they fly through the air. Yet even through the blur of colors all around, you can tell something is wrong about that arm. The rest of Guiren's body isn't flying with it. Manzo stands over Guiren, his kusarigama slammed into the ground with both hands, and Guiren shakes with the shock of having his arm severed at the shoulder. "Guiren!" You scream. "It doesn't matter!" He shouts through the shock when Manzo looks your way with fear. Fear, and normal eyes. His Malocchio transformation is gone. "His Style, his Elements, they were all yin chi!" Guiren shouts, kicking away from Manzo in a leaping spin. It hits you then that the colors all around have been not only too bright, but too //light//. Every color that's bloomed around the chamber has been overlapped by the blurred color of Guiren and Manzo's auras. White auras. <<if ($style is "Kurokonton")>>\ What troubles you is, yours is the same. <<var $cmod - 1>>\ <<var $auracolor "white">>\ <</if>>\ Guiren's stolen curse, though temporary, has sealed away \ <<if ($style is "Kurokonton")>>\ the Kurokonton cursed chi of all combatants present. \ <<else>>\ both of their Kurokonton abilities. \ <</if>>\ It's left Guiren defenseless, leading to his missing arm, but it's also given you an opening. Manzo's aura has faded to white. <<if ($style is "Kurokonton")>>\ <<if (($element1 is "Fire") or ($element2 is "Fire"))>>\ You channel a backup aura of red Fire Chi and charge. <<var $auracolor "red">>\ <<var $cmod + 1>>\ <<elseif (($element1 is "Storm") or ($element2 is "Storm"))>>\ You channel a backup aura of violet Storm Chi and charge. <<var $auracolor "violet">>\ <<var $cmod + 1>>\ <<elseif (($element1 is "Wind") or ($element2 is "Wind"))>>\ You channel a backup aura of emerald Wind Chi and charge. <<var $auracolor "emerald">>\ <<var $cmod + 1>>\ <<elseif (($element1 is "Light") or ($element2 is "Light"))>>\ You channel a backup aura of yellow Light Chi and charge. <<var $auracolor "yellow">>\ <<var $cmod + 1>>\ <<elseif (($element1 is "Water") or ($element2 is "Water"))>>\ You channel a backup aura of blue Water Chi and charge. <<var $auracolor "blue">>\ <<var $cmod + 1>>\ <<else>>\ You charge in without hesitation. <</if>>\ <<else>>\ You charge in without hesitation. <</if>>\ "NO!!" Manzo screams. "I will take you with me!" In one surged Agility Core, he leaps to Guiren and kicks his bleeding shoulder so hard that it launches the Yokai into a distant wall. With the next surged Agility Core he dashes after the launched man with his kusarigama drawn, going in for the kill. <<var $blewupguiren false>>\ <<choose "hub-quests-manzo13">> #Race to stop him. You sprint forward, the very image of your body blurring behind you in a $auracolor rush of acceleration. Manzo does the same, glowing white. "Guiren!" You shout mid-sprint. "He's coming!" Guiren hits the opposing wall back-first, spitting out blood from the impact. "Phlugh!!" Manzo catches up to him with a lancing charge, piercing his blade at Guiren's center before he can recover. <<if ($athletics gte 2)>>\ ''[Athletics 2 Check Passed]'' <<var $agiexp + 3>>\ In that instant, \ <<elseif ($bodytype is "Legs") or ($bodytype is "Agile")>>\ ''[Swift Bodytype Check Passed]'' <<var $agiexp + 3>>\ In that instant, \ <<else>>\ ''[Athletics 2 Check Failed]'' His blade pierces into Guiren's side, missing his heart by an inch without his Cursed Chi to assist in targeting. ''[Guiren has been injured!]'' <<var $guirencombat - 1>>\ Manzo leans forward to finish the job when \ <</if>>\ <<if (($element1 is "Light") or ($element2 is "Light"))>>\ you flash behind him in a surge of Light Chi \ <<elseif (($element1 is "Wind") or ($element2 is "Wind"))>>\ you flash behind him in a surge of Wind Chi \ <<elseif (($element1 is "Storm") or ($element2 is "Storm"))>>\ you flash behind him in a surge of Storm Chi \ <<else>>\ your speeding charge brings you behind him \ <</if>>\ with \ <<if (($equippedweapon is "") or ($equippedweapon is "Handwraps"))>>\ $auracolor glowing fists raised overhead. <<elseif (((($equippedweapon is "Muramasa") or ($equippedweapon is "Kagutsuchi")) or ($equippedweapon is "Ikazuchi")) or ($equippedweapon is "Godslayer"))>>\ $equippedweapon raised overhead. <<else>>\ your $equippedweapon drawn. <</if>>\ <<var $combatstat "agility">>\ <<if (((((($equippedweapon is "Meteor Hammer") or ($equippedweapon is "Greataxe")) or ($equippedweapon is "Jian")) or (($style is "Akakiru") and (((((((((((($equippedweapon is "Tanto")) or ($equippedweapon is "Katana")) or ($equippedweapon is "Muramasa")) or ($equippedweapon is "Greataxe")) or ($equippedweapon is "Qiang")) or ($equippedweapon is "Kunai")) or ($equippedweapon is "Jian")) or ($equippedweapon is "Iceblade")) or ($equippedweapon is "Chiblade")) or ($equippedweapon is "Kagutsuchi")) or ($equippedweapon is "Ikazuchi")))) or ($equippedweapon is "Godslayer")) and (($power + $powsurge) gt ($agility + $agisurge)))>>\ <<var $combatstat "power">>\ <</if>>\ <<var $weapontest true>>\ <<if ((((((((((((($equippedweapon is "Tanto")) or ($equippedweapon is "Katana")) or ($equippedweapon is "Muramasa")) or ($equippedweapon is "Greataxe")) or ($equippedweapon is "Qiang")) or ($equippedweapon is "Kunai")) or ($equippedweapon is "Jian")) or ($equippedweapon is "Iceblade")) or ($equippedweapon is "Chiblade")) or ($equippedweapon is "Kagutsuchi")) or ($equippedweapon is "Ikazuchi")) or ($equippedweapon is "Godslayer"))>>\ <<discount "Akakiru" 1>>\ <</if>>\ <<discount "Wind" 1>>\ <<discount "Light" 1>>\ <<discount "Storm" 1>>\ <<combatcheck 8>>\ <<if ($passcheck is true)>>\ <<var $dmg + 1>>\ <<if (((dig($weaponbonus, 2) gte 2) and ($equippedweapon isnot "Yumi")) or ($power gte 8))>>\ <<var $dmg + 1>>\ <</if>>\ <<if (($equippedweapon is "Handwraps") or ($equippedweapon is "Meteor Hammer"))>>\ <<if ($equippedweapon is "Handwraps")>>\ You throw your handwraps out like a whip and wrap them \ <<else>>\ You throw your meteor hammer out like a whip and wrap it \ <</if>>\ around his leg, yanking with immediate force to pull the man off his feet and right to your waiting fist. ''*CRACK*'' Without his Cursed Chi, without his Darkness Chi, without probably the Earth Chi that he may have used to create this place, Manzo is a Martial Artist at half strength. You're more than enough for half his strength. Your fist cracks into his jaw and dislodges three teeth. His face bounces off your superhuman strike; the force of the blow launches him into the ground so hard that he bounces off the stone with an eruption of debris. Debris he escapes from in one quick Agility Surge backwards. \ <<elseif ($equippedweapon is "Bo Staff")>>\ You throw your Bo Staff down like an axe splitting logs, striking the man in the head. Your weapon bounces off the back of his skull with a heavy impact and spins in the air, where you catch it. Right behind him. You swing it back down, hitting him in the head again. He winces hard from the strike and tries to bat you away with a spinning roundhouse kick, but you spin-strike his other leg's shin to trip his knee, then hit him in the head again. He tries to spin his legs in place to kick you and rise up, but you ignore it and hit him in the head with the butt of your staff. "ENOUGH WITH THE HEAD!" He finally screams, charging white chifire around his legs for a second spin. You're forced to leap to dodge. In mid-air, you grip your staff with both hands and raise it overhead just as he flips up to get to his feet. Using his own rising force, you swing your staff downward and hit him with all your might. In the head. "RRRAAAAHHHHH!!!" His eyes shine with bursting white light. \ <<elseif ((((((((((((($equippedweapon is "Tanto")) or ($equippedweapon is "Katana")) or ($equippedweapon is "Muramasa")) or ($equippedweapon is "Greataxe")) or ($equippedweapon is "Qiang")) or ($equippedweapon is "Kunai")) or ($equippedweapon is "Jian")) or ($equippedweapon is "Iceblade")) or ($equippedweapon is "Chiblade")) or ($equippedweapon is "Kagutsuchi")) or ($equippedweapon is "Ikazuchi")) or ($equippedweapon is "Godslayer"))>>\ With all power focused on speed you lunge forward and swing \ <<if (((($equippedweapon isnot "Muramasa") and ($equippedweapon isnot "Kagutsuchi")) and ($equippedweapon isnot "Ikazuchi")) and ($equippedweapon isnot "Godslayer"))>>\ your \ <</if>>\ $equippedweapon at Manzo's back. He turns to deflect with his kusarigama at the last second, only to learn his last second isn't enough. Without his Yin-aligned elements and Cursed Chi, he's no longer a match for you. Your blade deflects his own and slashes down his chest in one swipe that holds all the power of your charge. When that sets him off-balance, you deliver seven more slashes to the shocked shinobi. A slice to the legs, a cut to the wrist, a gash into the shoulder, and finally a lunge to the heart. He catches your blade at the last second with a look of pure rage, ready to push his counterattack. One you ignore, punching him in the face with your free hand hard to dislodge a tooth. \ <<else>>\ You hold one fist in the other, striking Manzo in the ear with a double-club strike. The blow sends him bowling over but you twist in the air, kicking his falling side to keep him airborne. When he lifts off the ground you land, launching a volley of jabs into his midsection before spinning with a side kick that connects into his neck. Your $auracolor chi explodes off your leg and into his body, launching him across the chamber. In mid-air you sense \ <</if>>\ Fortitude Cores surge in his center and he screams in rage, kicking away with a quadruple backflip. He lands and wipes blood off his mouth, staring down at his hand in shock. "I'll kill you for this." He mutters in a cold anger. "What did you expect was going to happen?" You ask. "You said you're going to kill us just for seeing your plans. Did you think we'd let that happen?" "'Let?!'" He shouts back. "I am the master; you are the pawn! I do not need you to 'let' me do anything! If you wish to reduce my powers to the physical martial arts, then so be it!" <<else>>\ Manzo's white chifire aura surges with Power Cores just before you can strike, catching you in the gut with an empowered uppercut that crunches inches-deep into your sternum. \ <<if ($pblocktech isnot "")>>\ ''[$pblocktech Activated: Damage Reduced]'' <<woundcheck 1 false false>>\ <<else>>\ <<woundcheck 2 false false>>\ <</if>>\ You're only saved because he strikes you so hard that you throw up into his face while being knocked back, shocking the man enough that he stumbles back to wipe off his eyes. When he does, you hit the ground with a hard thud, barely landing on your feet. "DISGUSTING!" He screams. "You'll pay for that!" "I already did, asshole!" You scream back, cringing from the feeling and the pain. "Lunch wasn't free!" "YOU MOCK ME?!" He clenches both fists so hard that they bleed. <</if>>\ In a blink, he's closed half the distance between you. <<page "Engage in melee" "hub-quests-manzo13">>\ #Circle two energy blasts around the Sealed chamber walls, colliding them together at Manzo's destination. -> "hub-quests-manzo-orbs" #show-if ($equippedweapon is "Yumi") Unload on him with a volley of arrows. You don't even bother chasing Manzo, instead you take four quick steps to the left so Guiren isn't in your line of fire. Then you unload roughly twenty arrows in the span of a second, each glowing $auracolor and each exploding when they hit Manzo in the back. "Didn't you say you're a ranged fighter?" You shout into the $auracolor cloud of smoke and debris where you unloaded on the shinobi, stopping him in his tracks. A white chifire orb of power rips out of the cloud and speeds at where you were a moment ago. The exact reaction you were trying to provoke, so you could see where he's standing. Six feet to the left, you launch eight more arrows into the cloud and feel satisfaction when they explode from impacting Manzo as well. "Because I am too." <<var $dmg + 1>>\ <<if ((dig($weaponbonus, 2) gte 2) or ($power gte 8))>>\ <<var $dmg + 1>>\ <</if>>\ "RRRAAAGGGHHH!" Manzo screams, bursting out of the cloud sideways in a shining glow of white chifire. He surges as many Agility Cores as he has left in the next, charging at you. <<if (dig($weaponbonus, 2) gte 3)>>\ ''[Weapon Quality Event]'' You get off one more good arrow before he does, striking him in the upper leg. <<var $dmg + 1>>\ <<var $cmod + 1>>\ <</if>>\ <<page "Engage in melee" "hub-quests-manzo13">>\ #show-if ($deception gte 2) Throw Guiren a 'healing elixir'. [Requires Deception 2] With no time to catch up to Manzo, you pull out a vial and throw it to Guiren with all your might. "Guiren!" You shout as you lob it across the chamber over Manzo's shoulder, "Healing Elixir!" ''*clap*'' Manzo twists his arm at an unnatural angle and catches the elixir out of the air, drinking it in one gulp and turning around. "DAMNI-UGHH!" Guiren screams, slamming into the wall back-first hard enough to break the stone. "You still wish to rely on toys?!" Manzo screams, insulted. He takes a second swig of the vial to get the last drops and shatters it on the ground. "This is what happens! Your elixir, mine! Your power, mine! You can finally live in //reality//, where your childish tricks don't only belong to you!" You catch up to him and bombard the man with three quick punches. He blocks two and leaps back to dodge the third. You land from your leaping attack and smile. "Oh, I'm trickier than I let on." "Spare me the pathetic theatrics." Manzo shakes his head violently, spitting to the side. "You threw a poison to the lizard hoping I would catch it. A trivial bait. I knew your plan from the moment you threw it within my natural arm's reach. What //you// failed to see is that my Foundation treats poisons as enhancement elixirs, I-hm." He suppresses a cough frowns. "Hm...Hmk!" He hesitates and takes a deep breath, his brow furrowing. "It wasn't a poison." You say, watching his expression falter. "It was a crafting supply." Manzo looks to the remains of the shattered vial and spots the label, reading it with increasing concern. "You fed me...turpentine?" His mouth twists in disgust and disbelief. "You fed me //turpentine?!//" <<var $dmg + 1>>\ <<if ($background is "Herbalist")>>\ <<var $dmg + 1>>\ <</if>>\ <<if ($alchemy gte 3)>>\ <<var $dmg + 1>>\ <</if>>\ <<if ($craft gte 3)>>\ <<var $dmg + 1>>\ <</if>>\ "You fed him turpentine???" Guiren questions from the wall, bleeding profusely, bruised badly, breathing weakly, and on the border of breaking out in laughter. "I fed him turpentine." You confirm with a \ <<if ($wounds gte 2)>>\ broken, \ <</if>>\ smiling thumbs up. To Manzo's credit, he doesn't play along. The tiles under his feet explode from his swift movement and his kusarigama is at your throat the very next second. To your credit, his mouth is frothing blood from drinking caustic paint thinner. <<page "Engage in melee" "hub-quests-manzo13">>\ #show-if ($deception lt 2) use-if ($val is 523452) Think up a distraction. [Requires Deception 2] -> "death" <</choose>>

"I'LL KILL YOU!" Manzo screams, speeding at you with all composure lost. <<if ((($style is "Kurokonton") and ($stylerank gte 2)) and ($handseals gte 1))>>\ "Kill me?" You ask in doubt, pulling one of Guiren's shinobi masks over your mouth. "You won't even see me." ''[Kurokonton (Adept) Event]'' Manzo reaches you with his kusarigama drawn up, glowing chi up its handles and swinging like a madman, when a smoke cloud appears around you. Without your yin-chi there's no cloud of dark Cursed Energy you could release, but you weren't raised in a high chi area. You were raised in a //low// chi area. You've learned to adapt. ''[Fuuinjutsu Event]'' Smoke explodes around you from the three fuuinjutsu sealtags you break at once, releasing their cloud around your body to mask your dodge away from Manzo's slashes. You catch a spare outfit released from one sealtag and throw it to your right. Its impact with the ground mimics the sound of your body dodging to the right when really you soundlessly tumble to the left. Manzo swings to the right. Before you land, you catch the second item released from the sealtags: A rope and grappling hook, one you throw into the smoke cloud and hook onto Manzo's shoulder. You yank with your full Power Cores, forcing him backward at high speeds into your reach where you deliver seven quick jabs to the chest, head, gut, and hip. You finish the combo off with a backhand to his jaw that sends him tumbling over. Grunting, he rolls to his feet to see.... Nothing. You are nowhere to be seen. <<page "I am the night." "hub-quests-manzo-kuro">>\ <<else>>\ <<if ($ruthless gt 50)>>\ "What happened, Manzo?!" You taunt, closing the distance //yourself// to engage the man in melee. "You were so confident before!" <<else>>\ "Try it!" You shout back, closing the distance //yourself// to engage the man in melee. <</if>>\ The two of you clash in a melee brawl, unleashing fist after fist upon each other while looking for an opening. <<var $combatstat "fortitude">>\ <<var $combatskill "perception">>\ <<discount "Midorikatai" $stylerank>>\ <<discount "Wind" 1>>\ <<discount "Water" 2>>\ <<attack "Melee">>\ <<combatcheck 9>>\ <<if ($passcheck is true)>>\ Manzo drops a low kick while pulling back his right fist, leaving an opening overhead. Your fists slam down on his head with so much force that you feel cracks form in the stone ground beneath his feet. Before he can recover, you drop a kick into his neck that launches him into the opposing wall. You follow with a charging strike into his center, crushing his sternum between the stone and your fist. <<var $dmg + 1>>\ <<if ($power gte 8)>>\ <<var $dmg + 1>>\ <</if>>\ You don't let up, striking his torso with blow after blow, until your senses scream a warning and you backflip away from his kusarigama strike. "INSOLENCE!" \ <<else>>\ You fall for a feint, dodging an attack that never comes, and feel the scorching pain of hostile chi against your ribs when Manzo lands an empowered punch into your side with bone-scorching pain. <<woundcheck 1 false false>>\ His attacks continue and you defend as best you can until your senses scream a warning causing you to flip away from an unseen kusarigama strike. "Dodging won't save you, fool!" \ <</if>>\ <<include "hub-quests-manzo14">>\ <</if>>\

He screams, withdrawing a scroll from behind his back. "I hope you're pleased with yourself, because you've successfully convinced me of the value in your cowardice." With echoing clicks the room fills with black smoke. A black cloud of smoke overtakes your sight before dissipating as quickly as it came. When it clears, your vision is pulled higher and higher into the air. Your jaw drops. Ozaki Manzo now sits forty feet in the air, atop the head of a //massive// tarantula. "You wanted to disgrace this fight by removing all grace of the Martial Arts?!" Manzo calls down to you, his tone cracking and growing manic. "You wanted all training and power replaced with trivial tools and tricks?! Well you succeeded! Congratulations on persuading me to lower myself to your level, because you're not the only one with scrolls of outside power!" He places a hand on the creature's head and bares his teeth. "Kill $himher!" The enormous arachnid springs to action, lunging at you with venomous fangs larger than your body. <<page "Continue" "hub-quests-manzo15">>\

You perform the greatest vertical leap of your life to escape the spider's strike, but even you are surprised that it works. When you look back, you see why. The weight of a full-grown man was removed from the creature's head mid-strike, throwing off its aim. "FINISH HIM!" Guiren screams, falling off the spider's head with both legs wrapped around Manzo's torso from behind. His one remaining arm is folding Manzo's arms behind his back, exposing the assassin's chest for your attack as the two fall upside-down. "THE SPIDER'S A SUMMON! FOCUS ON MANZO!" A room-shaking screech releases from the gargantuan tarantula when its head hits the wall and it redirects its aim up, at you. It slams two front legs into the wall and lunges up at you, but your vertical leap isn't over. Fueled by every shred of urgent power in your body, you're still rising into the air. <<if ((((($element1 is "Earth") or ($element2 is "Earth")) or (($element1 is "Ice") or ($element2 is "Ice"))) or (($element1 is "Darkness") or ($element2 is "Darkness"))) or ($style is "Kurokonton"))>>\ Higher and higher, //through// the hole that Manzo broke into the ceiling to get to Guiren. Outside of the range of the Void of Void's curse. <<if ($style is "Kurokonton")>>\ ''[Kurokonton Event: Yin-Aligned Chi Returned]'' <<elseif (($element1 is "Darkness") or ($element2 is "Darkness"))>>\ ''[Darkness Event: Yin-Aligned Chi Returned]'' <<elseif (($element1 is "Ice") or ($element2 is "Ice"))>>\ ''[Ice Event: Yin-Aligned Chi Returned]'' <<elseif (($element1 is "Earth") or ($element2 is "Earth"))>>\ ''[Earth Event: Yin-Aligned Chi Returned]'' <<else>>\ ''[Error! No Yin Aligned Chi!]'' <</if>>\ All your yin-aspected chi floods back into your Cores and chi channels when you rise out of the fifth floor basement chamber and hit the fourth floor's ceiling, shaking the desks and research labs around you with the rush of your restored power. \ ''[2 Chi Points Restored]'' ''[1 Power Chi Restored]'' ''[1 Fortitude Chi Restored]'' ''[1 Agility Chi Restored]'' ''[1 Soul Chi Restored]'' <<var $chispent - 2>>\ <<var $powspent - 1>>\ <<var $forspent - 1>>\ <<var $agispent - 1>>\ <<var $solspent - 1>>\ <<apboost 5>>\ <<var $dmg + 2>>\ Your power surges through your body and out your eyes, locking in on Manzo below when you... <<else>>\ Straight into the chamber's ceiling. You turn over and hit the stone top of the lowest underground layer with both feet, crouching at just the right instant to reverse your momentum when you... <</if>>\ <<var $killedmanzo false>>\ <<var $downthere false>>\ <<choose "hub-quests-manzo15-2">> #use-if (($element1 is "Earth") or ($element2 is "Earth")) Weaponize the entire stone chamber. [Requires Earth, Learn Technique] <<include "hub-quests-manzo-cursedboost">>\ "GUIREN!" You scream, holding both hands open in front of you. "MOVE!" "I've got him!" He shouts back, struggling to hold the screaming, raging shinobi. "No." You correct. "//I've// got him." <<cap $auracolor>> shines from the walls to Manzo and Guiren's left and right, the same energy running over your open palms. Guiren breaks out into a laughter, kicking off Manzo's back to push the man higher into the air and gain distance. ''*CLAP*'' You slam your palms shut, triggering the Earth Chi of the chamber to respond in kind. Twenty-foot wide chunks of palm-shaped stone break off the walls and rush towards each other, closing on Manzo with a deafening crunch that crushes him like a gnat. <<learntech 2220000000000204 "Seismic Closing Palms" "Ranged Physical Attack. Grants +1 Fortitude Core when focused.">>\ <<if ($ruthless gte 55)>>\ <<var $killedmanzo true>>\ <</if>>\ <<var $downthere true>>\ <<page "Continue" "hub-quests-manzo15-2">>\ #use-if (($element1 is "Darkness") or ($element2 is "Darkness")) Drain the lifeforce out of his spirit with a rift of void energy. [Requires Darkness, Learn Technique] <<include "hub-quests-manzo-cursedboost">>\ A swirling circular vortex forms over your shoulder, sucking in every ounce of yin-aligned energy from the collection pushed back when Guiren activated Manzo's scroll. Before it ruptures from consuming too much energy, you spiritually grip the effect and leap down into the chamber. The spider recoils instinctively from your six-foot rift of Darkness Chi, which you wrap around your fist as you fall. Your glowing, dark-burning fist slams the void rift into Manzo, unleashing a nova of yin-aligned, soul-shattering energy blasts into the entire front of his body. Guiren grips the back of Manzo's shirt and //laughs//. The Yokai pushes Manzo forward, using him like a shield to block the attack as wave after wave of Darkness chi bursts into the older assassin at point-blank range, eating away at his last remnants of spiritual energy until there's nothing left. <<learntech 4240000000000102 "Tenebrous Rift" "Melee Energy Attack. Grants +1 Soul Core when focused.">>\ Manzo breaks into a seizure from the multi-burst attack. His eyes roll into the back of his head as his very soul is shattered along with his aura. <<if ($ruthless gte 55)>>\ <<var $killedmanzo true>>\ <</if>>\ <<page "Continue" "hub-quests-manzo15-2">>\ #use-if (($element1 is "Ice") or ($element2 is "Ice")) Drop a storm of icicles into the chamber. [Requires Ice, Learn Technique] <<include "hub-quests-manzo-cursedboost">>\ The hole leading to the fifth floor freezes over with a 14-inch sheet of ice. The entire rest of the lower chamber's ceiling freezes along with it, forming a disc of pure ice that you rotate and shape into a singular sharpened pillar of ice. You form your icy-glowing fingers into a circle near your eye and use the effect to look through the ice, at your target. Then you press your real attack. "Shatter." <<learntech 1210000000000404 "Arctic Pillar" "Ranged Physical Attack. Grants +1 Power Core when focused.">>\ Your singular pillar shatters into a thousand jagged shards that maintain the shape of a single icicle, flying past the spider and down into Manzo with the accuracy of a tracking beam. One thousand shards stab into him one after the other, forming a glacier of blood and pain around his body that freezes him in the air. Between the cracks of the airborne glacier, wisps of white chi escape in the burst caused by Manzo's aura shattering. <<if ($ruthless gte 55)>>\ <<var $killedmanzo true>>\ <</if>>\ <<var $downthere true>>\ <<page "Continue" "hub-quests-manzo15-2">>\ #use-if ($style is "Kurokonton") Launch your cursed energy through a powerful medium. [Requires Kurokonton, Learn Technique] <<include "hub-quests-manzo-cursedboost">>\ You aim one straightened arm forward, past the enormous spider, and set your sights on Manzo struggling against Guiren's grapple in mid-air. With your master of Cursed Chi, and the Gate-like energy surging into you, you call upon the Technique that flows in this chamber the most. <<if (dig($metjack, 2) is 4)>>\ It's a familiar sensation, like an old friend. An old friend that helped you beat Jack. <<var $solexp + 4>>\ <</if>>\ Purple chi hardens around your wrist to form a handleless crossbow loaded with a glowing black bolt. Manzo's face grows enraged, then pale, seeing the power growing behind your attack. Guiren starts laughing. //''"SPIRIT CUTTER!"''// You scream, expanding the bolt into an energy beam that pierces through Manzo's chest. <<learntech 3140007000000045 "Spirit Cutter" "Ranged Energy Attack. Increases Soul Surge by +1 when focused. Unlocks dual-wielding when focused.">>\ Guiren twists backward just in time to dodge the lance of chi penetrating straight through Manzo's torso. Like a broken mirror, Manzo's aura shatters in a single burst. <<if ($ruthless gte 55)>>\ <<var $killedmanzo true>>\ <</if>>\ <<page "Continue" "hub-quests-manzo15-2">>\ #Kick off the ceiling with a full-powered charging strike. -> "hub-quests-manzo-finale" <</choose>>

<<if ($jadedragonfoundation is false)>>\ <<achieve "Death From Above">>\ <</if>>\ With Manzo defeated and falling to the ground, your attention is returned to the other obstacle in this battle: his enormous spider swings a needle-covered leg at you to protect its master. It's interrupted when two shadows \ <<if ($downthere is true)>>\ rush past you and leap down the hole to the fifth chamber. <<else>>\ suddenly appear over its head. <</if>>\ "HAHHHHH!!!" Yoji and Wencheng shout, \ <<if ($downthere is true)>>\ drawing weapons on the gargantuan Beast. <<else>>\ descending from the hole Manzo had broken through the ceiling. <</if>>\ An inch before their kunai touch the monstrosity, it vanishes in a puff of smoke from Manzo's aura shattering. <<if ($downthere is true)>>\ You resist rolling your- No. No, you //do// roll your eyes. Great timing, guys. Way to help out. You leap down the hole to make sure they don't break their ankles on their landing, dismissing the physical chi of your attack as you pass it by. <<else>>\ The four of you fall to the bottom of the chamber and land with distinct, separate, heavy thuds. <</if>>\ In the center of you all, between your four landing points, Manzo's defeated body falls and slams into the ground. He does not rise. Guiren breathes heavily, his vision fading. He dares to risk a thin smile. "We won." He says. "By the Ancestors, $name, we actually won." "WE won." Wencheng corrects. "Thank the ancestors me and Yoji showed up to save you from that giant bug." Guiren doesn't even respond, standing to shuffle toward Manzo's defeated body. <<page "Continue" "hub-quests-manzo19">>\

The ceiling, you realize. Guiren's men must have jumped through the hole Manzo blew in the ceiling during your fight. Your mouth drops, and you're not alone. Guiren's face pales and Manzo senses something wrong in the air. The tarantula turns mid-strike, sensing the danger to its master. "YOU IDIOTS!" Guiren roars. "FINE! PLAN E!" He kicks off of Manzo's torso to shoot himself toward the ground while pushing Manzo up into his waiting underlings. "HAHHHHH!!!" Wencheng and Yoji scream, surging Power Cores through their systems while swinging truegold chokuto blades down at the assassin in mid-air. ''*TING*'' Manzo hardens his skin and catches both blades, ripping them out of Yoji and Wencheng's hands. "Oh shi-" Wencheng says before Manzo slams both him and Yoji in the head with the handles of their own swords, blasting them into opposing walls of the fifth chamber. He then lands on his summon's head when it rises up to catch him. You fall out of your wall-crater and land on the ground with a heavy ''thud''. \ Guiren lands ten feet away from you, severely wounded. Yoji and Wencheng, somehow worse off, both lose their auras when they hit the wall of the chamber and fall the rest of the way down. "This fight has reached its inevitable conclusion." Manzo declares, glaring down at you all from atop his mythically large summoned tarantula. He holds Yoji and Wencheng's new swords in his hands. "Outer whelps could never defeat an Inner Master. You could not defeat me with Bossrozal's talismans, you could not defeat me with my own Treasure Scrolls, and you especially could not defeat me with these common swords." He looks over the craftsmanship of each. "No Core binding, no Seals, no spiritual infusions. Pitiful resources. The material is passable, but did you truly think these could compete at my level? You even wasted time on cosmetics, placing smoking incense on each handle to..." He stops mid-speech. You and Manzo both realize at the same time that those aren't incense burning at the tips of each sword's handle. They're fuses. Lit fuses. <<page "*BOOM*" "hub-quests-manzo17">>\

The swords in both of Manzo's hands explode at the same time, ripping away the last of his Aura Pressure he'd maintained from your fight. The serpent summon vanishes under his feet without his active spirit maintaining it. Manzo's aura shatters, and he falls sixty feet to the hard floor below. ''*THUD*'' The whole room falls silent. You all lay on the ground, injured and astonished. "Yoji." Guiren finally whispers after a long pause. "Tell me he fell and broke his neck." "He fell and broke his neck." Yoji whimpers from the ground, holding his arm. "You didn't even check." Guiren replies. With a heavy and painful groan both you and Guiren rise to your feet and walk to the point where Manzo landed, checking on the elder assassin after his sixty-foot drop onto solid stone without an aura. <<page "*BOOM*" "hub-quests-manzo18">>\

"Wow." Guiren says, picking up the old man's kusarigama and poking him with it. "That is one //very// dead old guy." You cringe at the grizzly sight. "He did explode, after all." "We even added phosphorous to the powder," Wencheng says from the ground, sounding like he's about to cry. You worry he broke something. Guiren nods along. "Huh, just like the Boss said to do for the fortress job down south. Wouldn't have worked on a full-powered Manzo; you came at the right time. Still, what a mess from the head-first auraless fall. I didn't even know spilled brains could look like that." "Gross." Wencheng says. <<include "hub-quests-manzo20">>\

<div class="fightingfont">Thunderfaller & Dai Guiren</div>\ <div class="fightingfont">vs</div>\ <div class="fightingfont">Ozaki Manzo</div>\ <div class="fightingfont">Victory!</div>\ <<statcheck>>\ <<fightexp 10>>\ <<if (($killedmanzo) and ($guirenromance lt 3))>>\ "Wow." Guiren says, picking up the old man's kusarigama and poking him with it. "That is one dead old guy." "It was a powerful attack." You say, tensing your fist and looking around for any more surprises. "And that might be what did it...or it might be that he hit the ground head-first after losing his aura. I didn't even know spilled brains could look like that." "Gross." Wencheng says. <<else>>\ "Quit faking, old man." Guiren says to the elder assassin on the floor. "Any shinobi worth his salt can stop his heart. Sixty feet isn't that far to fall either. You're not fooling anyone." Manzo's eyes flutter open, slowly, but his body does not move. "You fool..." He spits, blood spilling from his mouth. "You need me. A man like you could do well with...with the right...teacher...but you don't know enough to escape Bossrozal's control on your own. I could never lose to someone without skill. Join me...join the Ozaki Clan." His eyes flicker to you. "Serve me, both of you, and we could rule this Empire. Serve me in usurping Bossrozal, and together, we could achieve...//immortality.//" "Not interested." Guiren says dismissively, stomping on Manzo's chest to hold him still. "It's like you said, I'm a simple debt collector, and you owe me a life for the \ <<if ($killedkennui is true)>>\ ones \ <<else>>\ one \ <</if>>\ you took from my crew. I'm not here for some grand purpose." He picks up Manzo's kusarigama and presses it down on the assassin's neck. "I'm just collecting a debt." With Manzo's aura shattered, Guiren's full body weight pushes the blade through Manzo's neck and severs his head in one push. "Holy Hells!" Wencheng shouts. Yoji puts a hand on his shoulder and quiets him, shaking his head. <</if>>\ <<include "hub-quests-manzo20">>\

After a sixty foot drop you \ <<if (($element1 is "Wind") or ($element2 is "Wind"))>>\ slow your landing with a gust of wind under both you and Guiren. <<var $powexp + 2>>\ "I can't believe Manzo's alive." You say, analyzing the wide chasm you've dropped into. <<elseif ($style is "Aoyusumu")>>\ siphon the kinetic force of your and Guiren's fall to land carefully. <<var $solexp + 2>>\ "I can't believe Manzo's alive." You say, analyzing the wide chasm you've dropped into. <<else>>\ land next to Guiren with a wet thud. "Manzo's alive." You groan, getting up from the floor. "Why the Hells is Manzo alive." <</if>>\ Guiren gets up and dusts himself off, rubbing his bleeding ear. "You're a quick one, yeah. I did think that was weird when my underling's face warped and he hit me harder than a charging bull. I'm pretty sure he killed the real Tai too. But //The Boss// thought he was dead, so how could he..." "How indeed." Manzo says from the darkness, as if his voice comes from every direction. "I am no amateur however, so you do not need the details of my progress before your death." <<if (($ruthless lt 50) or ($honor >= 60))>>\ <<if ($ruthless lt 50)>>\ ''[Compassion Check Passed]'' <<var $solexp + 2>>\ <<else>>\ ''[Honor Check Passed]'' <<var $forexp + 2>>\ <</if>>\ "Why?" You ask. Guiren stares at you questioningly, but you continue. "You both work for the Boss, and Guiren thought you were dead. We came to exorcise your ghost, but you're not dead, so why would we even fight? All that I'm seeing is you forgot to show up for work and horribly overreacted when your coworkers showed up." "It's a little late for that." Guiren hisses low through his teeth. "He killed one of my men." "Yes but-" "You've seen too much." Manzo's voice cutes through the darkness. "I doubt you have the mental capacity to understand the operation you've walked into, but I've disappeared for a reason." Guiren clenches a fist. "I don't care what you're talking about, old man. You're not the one who decides how this ends. Whatever plan or scheme you're rambling about ended the second you killed my underling." Guiren withdraws four of The Boss's talismans from a chain under his shirt. "Prepare to die. ''//MALOCCHIO!!//''" <<else>>\ ''[Compassion Check Failed]'' <<var $powexp + 1>>\ "Sweet mother of all Hells, don't give me that crap!" You shout into the darkness. "Blah, blah, blah, 'I'm going to kill everyone for looking at my cool underground apartment!'" You spit at the ground. "Do people like you even listen to yourselves? How do you exist in society?! You killed Guiren's underling! One of //your// underlings! For nothing! Guiren's men only came down here because you didn't show up for work, you lazy fucking asshole! Forget about you killing me for seeing too much, I'm going to ''decimate'' you for wasting my time and being such a bloodthirsty ''FUCKING MORON'' that you can't communicate like a normal person!" Guiren opens his mouth to say something, pauses, scrunches his face, and reluctantly nods in agreement. "You're right." The man draws four of the Boss's talismans out of a chain under his shirt. "You won't be faking this death, Manzo. ''//MALOCCHIO!!//''" <</if>>\ <<page "Continue" "hub-quests-manzo3">>\

Guiren frowns at the dead old man on the floor for several seconds, watching the pool of blood slowly soak into his shoes. "Idiot." He finally says. "All you had to do was show up for work." With a sigh he turns and walks away, flipping the Inner Kingdom Shinobi's kusarigama to you. ''[Item Gained: Shishido, Kusarigama of Curses]'' <<var $itemkusarigama_1 233080010>>\ ''[Cursed Weapons can be used in the Cultivation menu to prepare a contingent curse for 1 Chi, lowering the difficulty of your next combat roll.]'' "Thanks for the saves in that fight." Guiren says, \ <<if (($guirenromance gte 2) and ($heshe is "she"))>>\ looking you in the eyes. "You're more important than you know. He would have killed Yoji and Wencheng-" "Nah." Says Wencheng. "I'd win." "Not a chance." Says Yoji, though you're not sure if it's to Guiren or Wencheng. Guiren ignores them. "-He would have killed Yoji and Wencheng if he got past us. You saved my men, and that means more to me than just some hot date. I owe you more lives than I could live." <<if (dig($metguiren, 3) gte 1)>>\ "Didn't she kill Kennui?" Wencheng whispers to Yoji. "Kennui one or Kennui two?" Yoji whispers back. <<if ($killedkennui is true)>>\ ''"Both."'' Wencheng utters with deep concern. <</if>>\ <<else>>\ "Awwww!" Wencheng says in the background. "He's feeling feelings!" Guiren's eye twitches and his one remaining arm flinches, inching toward the throwing stars on the opposite leg. You suspect losing his other arm saved Wencheng from a mandatory medical trip. <</if>>\ <</if>>\ <<if (dig($metguiren, 3) gte 1)>>\ rubbing his temple. "As far as I'm concerned, we're even for what you did to Kennui." "Thank the Ancestors." Wencheng says. "After that speech I thought you were going to make us fight $name." "I was already at the door for a reason." Yoji says, noticeably standing at the stairwell to the third level. Guiren rolls his eyes. "Great vote of confidence, Yoji." "You guys get to vote?" You ask. "No." Yoji and Guiren both reply. Guiren looks back to you. "Again, thank you for coming. All my methods to call Plan B died when I found out what those Seals do." <<else>>\ wrapping a bandage over his many wounds with one arm. "And thank the Ancestors we used the ultimate secret ninja art of bringing more people to a fight. I would have died alone; I can't deny it this time." "You'll probably still die alone." Wencheng says. "Just, romantically." <</if>>\ <<choose "hub-quests-guirendone">> #show-if ($style isnot "Kurokonton") "Don't mention it, a job's a job." <<var $honor + 1>>\ <<if ($guirenromance lte 3)>>\ <<var $guirenromance - 2>>\ <</if>>\ <<var $guirenrep + 2>>\ "Don't mention it." You say. "A job's a job." "Wow." Wencheng says, giving you a side-eye glance.\ <<if ($heshe is "he")>>\ "Mister \ <<else>>\ "Missus \ <</if>>\ Serious here. Guiren loses an arm for your fight and that's all you have to say?" "It was Guiren's fight." Yoji adds in. "Oh, right." Wencheng says. "So $name is acting like a mercenary because-" "Because $name is a mercenary." Guiren says, "Now let's get to the fourth floor's alchemy labs and craft some medicine." He gives you a nod of respect. "You did good. I can't let myself bleed to death before paying you." It's refreshing to deal with someone who has their priorities in order. <<page "Continue" "hub-quests-guirendone">>\ #show-if ($style is "Kurokonton") "The Boss sent us to get rid of Manzo, so I get rid of Manzo. Simple." <<var $honor + 1>>\ <<var $guirenrep + 2>>\ You give a shrug. "The Boss sent us to get rid of Manzo, so I get rid of Manzo. Simple." "A true yes-man." Guiren wipes a fake tear from his eye, smudging blood against his face in the process. "If only we had more people like you on the team." "Excuse you?" Wencheng says. "I killed a gigantic spider god for this mission." "//We// killed a giant spider god." Yoji says. "Neither of you killed a giant spider god." Guiren says, refusing to turn around and look at them. "And I told you to stay in the theatre. Now get upstairs and craft me some medicine before I bleed to death all over your shoes." Neither of them budge. Guiren sighs. "I can't pay you if I'm dead." Yoji and Wencheng break into a sprint to get to the ladder upstairs. <<page "Continue" "hub-quests-guirendone">>\ #"You should thank the real heroes, Yoji and Wencheng. Imagine how much trouble we'd be in if they didn't save us?" "You should thank the real heroes, Yoji and Wencheng." You say, lying for fun. "Imagine how much trouble we'd be in if they didn't save us?" <<var $honor - 2>>\ <<var $guirenrep - 1>>\ <<var $sect_hiddencoil + 3>>\ "That's right!" Wencheng chirps in. "We should get a raise for saving your lives!" "I completely agree." You reply with feigned altruism. "The two of you really carry this team." "Aw come on." Guiren groans. "Don't thank The Help!" "The Help?!" Wencheng shouts. "We're the backbone of this operation!" "He's right." You nod, egging him on. "Between the first two layers of traps and the giant spider, I'd say they've done more than we did." "They didn't even do the second layer!" Guiren shouts. "And the spider vanished when Manzo lost!" "That's not what I saw." You lie, trying to hide a smile. "I think you owe them a raise." Yoji immediately jumps in, suddenly caring. "<<cap $name>>'s word holds a lot of weight after that fight, Guiren, you should listen to $himher." Guiren rubs his only remaining palm over his face. "This is a shakedown." "It is." You whisper so \ <<if ($heshe is "she")>>\ close that \ <</if>>\ only he can hear. "Fine. Fine." He concedes. "You both get a raise, now get me out of this Ancestors-forsaken chamber and back up to the fourth floor. Hopefully those alchemy tables have the ingredients for healing pills." <<page "Continue" "hub-quests-guirendone">>\ #show-if ($heshe is "she") "You can make it up to me sometime. I like green tea." "You can make it up to me sometime." You say coyly. "I like green tea." <<var $guirenromance + 1>>\ <<var $guirenrep + 5>>\ Guiren's eyes meet your and his smile doesn't match his looks at all. The man covered in gashes, tattered clothing, and his own blood, with one arm gone and a hole in his chest, stares at you like every problem's been taken away from this world. "Green tea it is." "Ahem." Yoji says after an oddly long time of you and Guiren staring into each other's eyes. "AHEM!" Wencheng shouts. "Guiren, if you bleed to death no one is going to pay us." Guiren twitches, but otherwise stands still. Then he breaks into a laugh. His laugh barks harder and harder, leaning over with ab-crunching deep-belly chuckles. "Are you okay?" You finally ask, worried the man's gone insane before your date. Guiren rises and shakes his head, snickering. "I tried to throw a kunai at Wencheng. I completely forgot about the arm." He extends his remaining hand to you. "Come on, let's get upstairs and see if the alchemy labs have anything to make a good medicine. Or maybe a good tea." <<page "Continue" "hub-quests-guirendone">>\ #"I still can't believe he kicked your ass //that badly.// Have you ever trained?" "I still can't believe he kicked your ass //that badly.//" You reply, looking all over Guiren's body of wounds. "It looks like a miracle that you're even still alive. Have you ever trained?" "Ohhhhhhh!" Wencheng and Yoji say from the sidelines. Guiren gives a fake smile, barely tolerating your attitude, and swats in front of himself. "..." He's quiet for a moment and you quirk an eyebrow at what he just did. Was he trying to hit a fly in front of him? "I uh...ahem..." Guiren clears his throat. "I was going to make some good retorts while slow-clapping." You all look to the empty space where his second arm should be. The missing arm he tried and failed to clap with. <<if ($honor lte 55)>>\ You, Wencheng, \ <<else>>\ Wencheng \ <</if>>\ and Yoji break out into raucous \ <<if ($honor gt 55)>>\ <<var $forexp + 2>>\ laughter. You're proud of yourself for not joining in. <<else>>\ laughter. <</if>>\ <<var $ruthless + 2>>\ <<var $guirenrep - 2>>\ "Yeah yeah." Guiren says to his underlings. "Very funny. Now get upstairs and craft me some medicine before I bleed to death all over your shoes." Neither of them budge. Guiren sighs. "I can't pay you if I'm dead." Yoji and Wencheng break into a sprint to get to the ladder upstairs. <<page "Continue" "hub-quests-guirendone">>\ <</choose>>

''//"MALOCCHIO!"//'' Guiren screams, activating the borrowed power of Bossrozal through his rare and precious talismans. ... Nothing happens. Guiren looks at his tokens in confusion, then to you, then back to the darkness. "What..." "Hah!" Manzo shouts. "Haha! Hahaha! It works! How magnificent!" You shake your head at Guiren when he looks to you for confirmation. "What the Hells is going on here?!" "A successful trial run." Manzo shouts back, his voice impossible to pinpoint from all directions. "I had no way of knowing if my Seals truly protected me from Bossrozal's gaze, but now I have certain proof." "What are you talking about?" Guiren asks into the air around him. "You're the Boss's top agent, showered with riches and power, why do you need protection from your own patron?" Manzo barks out a taunting laughter. "Did you truly believe I served at his leisure all these years? Like some loyal lapdog? This Bossrozal creature may be a benefactor to talentless peasants like you, but I am a prestigious Curse-Shinobi of the Cursed Land's Ozaki Clan. I have not been serving him. I have been //studying// him. His tokens. His teleportation. His absent presence. Whatever secret he is using to communicate while ascended, I will present it to the Ozaki Clan and take my seat at the inner table. The secret to true power will be ours, and ours alone." You look to Guiren and whisper. "He said he wouldn't monologue, right? I wasn't imagining that?" "It's an addiction for strong people." Guiren replies, eyes closed in irritation. "I still can't believe we're going to die defending an ascended immortal monster who doesn't pay well. This is bullshit." A chuckle echoes, like a hundred laughs from the same voice. "Oh you poor deluded Yokai fool, did you think you deserved any better? Your life never truly held value, not when compared to the prosperity of your betters. The Ozaki Clan seeks ascension-level power, the success of my mission is worth ten billion of your lives. And now, thanks to your blunder, I know that my research into every variation of obfuscation Seal has finally born fruit. This chamber, from floor three and below, is where I can dissect Bossrozal's tokens to study that creature's nature and finally make his power my own." You and Guiren look to the closest wall and realize it's covered in the same odd Seals as the third and fourth basement level. "Do not place your faith in Bossrozal, young upstarts." Manzo says from all directions. "He cannot see you here. He cannot hear you here." The next sentence comes from an inch behind your ear. "He cannot save you here." <<page "Continue" "hub-quests-manzo4">>\

<div class="fightingfont">Thunderfaller & Dai Guiren</div>\ <div class="fightingfont">vs</div>\ <div class="fightingfont">Ozaki Manzo</div>\ <<statcheck>>\ Guiren is kicked from behind before either of you can react, spinning across the wide stone chamber. Deep in the darkness you //feel// him hit an opposing distant wall when the ground shakes beneath your feet from the impact. Manzo vanishes into a blotch of dark ink in the same second as the strike, melding back into the darkness of the floor. "One pest down." He says from your left and right simultaneously. "One to go." Both your pupils dilate to take in the low-light given off by your $auracolor aura, \ <<if (($element1 is "Darkness") or ($element2 is "Darkness"))>>\ soaking in \ <<else>>\ suppressed by \ <</if>>\ the Darkness Chi of your surroundings, scanning for the approaching assassin. ... Your left! <<var $val 0>>\ <<if (($style is "Kurokonton") and ($styleswapper isnot ""))>>\ ''[Afterimage Technique: Automatic Success]'' ''[Attack Evaded]'' No! It's an after-image! Behind you! <<var $val 1>>\ <<elseif (($element1 is "Darkness") or ($element2 is "Darkness"))>>\ ''[Darkness Element Event: Automatic Success]'' ''[Attack Evaded]'' No! It's an after-image! Behind you! <<var $val 1>>\ <<elseif (($element1 is "Light") or ($element2 is "Light"))>>\ ''[Light Element Event: Automatic Success]'' ''[Attack Evaded]'' No! It's an after-image! Behind you! <<var $val 1>>\ <<elseif (($style is "Aoyusumu") and ($stylerank gte 2))>>\ ''[Aoyusumu (Adept) Premonition: Automatic Success]'' ''[Attack Evaded]'' No! It's an after-image! Behind you! <<var $val 1>>\ <<elseif ($perception gte 3)>>\ ''[Perception 3 Check Passed]'' ''[Attack Evaded]'' No! It's an after-image! Behind you! <<var $val 1>>\ <<else>>\ ''[Perception 3 Check Failed]'' You guard from your left, blocking a straight kick that goes through you as if Manzo were nothing more than a phantom. Pain fills your midsection when blood shoots out unexpectedly from your abs. Behind you, the real Manzo holds his kusarigama with a pleased smile, its blade embedded into your side. <<woundcheck 1 false false>>\ ''[Poison Inflicted: 1 Chi Point Spent]'' <<var $chispent + 1>>\ You rush a wild swing backward but find nothing. The man has already returned to the shadows. "A trivial execution." He says from the darkness. "First Guiren, now you. Ninjutsu is not needed here; I can end this with even a frontal assault." The darkness in front of you fades from a subtle glow around the outline of Manzo's body. "Shall we?" You hold a hand against your wound and extend a hand out, beckoning him closer. "Try it." He dashes at you fast from the front with his kusarigama raised, but your wounds are fresh in your mind. You don't fall for it again. Instead of attacking the approaching man, you counterstrike //behind// you. <</if>>\ <<choose "hub-quests-manzo5">> #Perform a back-spinning overhead kick to his face. You ignore the approaching phantom and attack the real Manzo, flipping backward in-place and delivering a swift downward kick. <<var $combatstat "agility">>\ <<discount "Kurokonton" $stylerank>>\ <<discount "Wind" 2>>\ <<discount "Darkness" 1>>\ <<attack "Melee">>\ <<combatcheck 10>>\ <<if ($passcheck is true)>>\ Your foot connects with a forearm blocking your strike, pushing your leg up and disrupting your momentum. Manzo strikes a palm at your center that you block with both hands, turning over in the air when the force of his strike pushes you back ten feet. <<if (($power gte 8) or (($power gte 7) and ((($element1 is "Wind") or ($element2 is "Wind")) or (($element1 is "Darkness") or ($element2 is "Darkness")))))>>\ The only signs that he's taken any damage is a scuff on his forearm. <<var $dmg + 1>>\ <</if>>\ "A fine grasp of the Martial Arts." Manzo says, cracking his neck. "But you lack the power to deliver." <<if ($jadedragonfoundation is true)>>\ You suppress a smile, keeping your Jade Dragon powers at bay to see what a real ninja can do. If he's scanning you properly, he should assume you're merely a Fortitude specialist. "A bold statement." You taunt. "Why don't you show me what real power looks like." <<else>>\ Lack the power...? <<if ($ruthless lt 50)>>\ You didn't think something like that would get to you, but against your will your \ <<else>>\ Your \ <</if>>\ knuckles tighten. "I'll show you power." <</if>>\ <<else>>\ Manzo deflects your kick with one forearm and strikes a palm into your center. Once you're five feet away he throws his kusarigama at you with a chain of purple energy connecting it to his hand. The weapon soars past you, barely missing your head, until he pulls it back and sinks the blade through your shoulder. A chi-weakening layer of Cursed Energy suppresses your defenses enough for the weapon to cut through your flesh like butter. <<woundcheck 1 false false>>\ ''[Poisoned! 1 Chi Point Lost]'' <<var $chispent + 1>>\ Manzo tsks. "What a banal chore, but what's begun must be completed." <</if>>\ #Flip forward to launch a two-handed energy blast behind you. You lurch forward, towards the fake image of a charging shinobi, and turn over in mid-air. With both hands outstretched you charge $auracolor chi through your palms and unleash it when your flip turns you upside down. <<var $combatstat "soul">>\ <<discount "Kiihakai" $stylerank>>\ <<discount "Fire" 2>>\ <<discount "Storm" 1>>\ <<attack "Energy Melee">>\ <<combatcheck 10>>\ <<if ($passcheck is true)>>\ Your energy blast launches behind where you were standing and catches Ozaki Manzo in the chest with an eruption of spiritual energy. When the smoke clears and you land on your feet, he's still standing where he was when your attack struck. Unscathed. <<if (($element1 is "Storm") or ($element2 is "Storm"))>>\ The only sign that he's taken damage is a light crackling around his aura, which he dismisses with a wave of Cursed Chi. <<var $dmg + 1>>\ <<elseif (($power gte 8) or (($power gte 7) and (($element1 is "Fire") or ($element2 is "Fire"))))>>\ The only sign that he's taken damage is a small scorch mark on his gi. <<var $dmg + 1>>\ <</if>>\ "A fine grasp of the spiritual arts." Manzo says, dusting off the gi he took from Tai. "But you lack the power to deliver." <<if ($jadedragonfoundation is true)>>\ You suppress a smile, keeping your Jade Dragon powers at bay to see what a real ninja can do. If he's scanning you properly, he should assume you're merely a Fortitude specialist. "A bold statement." You taunt. "Why don't you show me what real power looks like." <<else>>\ Lack the power...? <<if ($ruthless lt 50)>>\ You didn't think something like that would get to you, but against your will your \ <<else>>\ Your \ <</if>>\ knuckles tighten. "I'll show you power." <</if>>\ <<else>>\ Manzo sidesteps your attack at the last second and throws his kusarigama at you with a chain of purple energy connecting it to his hand. The weapon soars past you, barely missing your head, until he pulls it back and sinks the blade through your shoulder. A chi-weakening layer of Cursed Energy suppresses your defenses enough for the weapon to cut through your flesh like butter. <<woundcheck 1 false false>>\ ''[Poisoned! 1 Chi Point Lost]'' <<var $chispent + 1>>\ Manzo tsks. "What a banal chore, but what's begun must be completed." <</if>>\ #show-if (($element1 is "Light") or ($element2 is "Light")) use-if ((($chipool + ($soul/2)) - $chispent) gte 1) Flash a blinding dome of Light Chi around you. [Requires Light, Costs 1 Chi] Your entire body flashes with a dome of Light Chi that repels Manzo's attack. It's not just that your effect disorients his assault, but that something in your Light Chi pushes back the Darkness Chi in his aura. The distraction gives you enough time to dodge to the side and evade his kusarigama attack. As he rushes past you, your leg surges with the same Light Chi that balked his aura earlier and strikes at his spirit more than his body when your foot connects into his neck. <<var $dmg + 1>>\ To your surprise, the spiritual damage is //all// you do. <<if ($jadedragonfoundation is true)>>\ His physical neck is unharmed. <<else>>\ It feels like you kicked steel. <</if>>\ He skids ten feet away, staying on his feet, and turns in a crescent arc to face you. The man smiles through the blinding light. "Impressive. You hold a strong grasp over the spiritual art of Shugendō. For that I will grant you a choice." #show-if (($element1 is "Ice") or ($element2 is "Ice")) use-if ((($chipool + ($soul/2)) - $chispent) gte 1) Launch a spray of icicles behind you with a swing of your arm. [Requires Ice, Costs 1 Chi] You ignore the approaching phantom and attack the real Manzo, spinning backwards with an outstretched arm glowing with icy mists. Seven jagged daggers of ice launch off your spinning arm strike and collide with his guard. Six shatter against the strength of his defense. One barely breaks skin before shattering as well. <<var $dmg + 1>>\ "Impressive." Manzo says, shaking his arm off to disperse the chilling mist. "You predicted my movement and demonstrate a fine understanding over the spiritual art of Shugendō. For that I will grant you a choice." #show-if (($style is "Kurokonton") and ($stylerank gte 2)) ''//"AFTERIMAGE!!"//'' ''//"AFTERIMAGE!!//'' You shout out as Manzo charges you from behind with his kusarigama drawn. He skids to a halt and spins around, swinging the blade behind him at the last second to catch your surprise attack. It hits nothing. Now behind him, where you've been standing the whole time because you did //not// use an afterimage Technique, you leap and twist in the air to deliver a $auracolor glowing triple kick to his neck, ribs, and back from behind. Each impact erupts with energy, yet he doesn't move from his place. <<if ($power gte 7)>>\ <<var $dmg + 1>>\ <</if>>\ <<if ($jadedragonfoundation is false)>>\ Your foot aches, as if kicking steal. <<elseif ($styleswapper is "")>>\ Crap. You need to stop holding back. <</if>>\ "Not bad for an amateur." He confesses, gripping your shin on the final kick. "You feigned using a Technique I had actually used. Proper deception, but it \ <<if ($styleswapper isnot "")>>\ won't- ''[Afterimage Activated]'' Your image vanishes when you actually //do// use the Afterimage Technique. You reappear behind him with a $auracolor glowing fist, punching his kidney from behind hard enough to crack the stone under his feet. <<var $dmg + 1>>\ <<if ($power gte 8)>>\ <<var $dmg + 1>>\ <</if>>\ He doesn't move. <<if ($jadedragonfoundation is true)>>\ Crap. You might actually need your full power for this. <</if>>\ You leap back ten feet and Manzo sighs. "What a banal chore, but what's begun must be completed." <<else>>\ doesn't matter when you lack the experience to utilize it." You force your leg out of his grip and leap back five steps, taking on a battle stand. Manzo sighs. "What a banal chore, but what's begun must be completed." <</if>>\ <</choose>>

He puts his hands behind his back and slowly walks towards you. "Do you wish to die quickly or slowly?" Your $auracolor aura magnifies around your body. "Are you really asking?" A thin smile crosses the old man's lips. "No." <<page "Defend!" "hub-quests-manzo6">>\

<div class="fightingfont">Thunderfaller & Dai Guiren</div>\ <div class="fightingfont">vs</div>\ <div class="fightingfont">Ozaki Manzo</div>\ <<statcheck>>\ Ozaki Manzo rips off Tai's gi to reveal a true shinobi Shozoku. In that same movement he dashes to the side and speeds at you with the blur of multiple surged Agility Cores, the blade of his kusarigama glowing dark with chi. <<if ($clothes is "cursed purple shozoku")>>\ ''[Clothing Event!]'' You rip off your own superficial clothing and throw it in front of you, hiding your evasive movements in the darkness of your //own// true shinobi Shozoku. ''[Automatic Success]'' Manzo's blade slides past you and you catch his wrist with one hand, pulling him in an arc with the force of his own momentum. "Surprise!" You shout, grinning as you wrench his arm forward. "Hmph!" He grunts, flipping over in your grip. You wrench him back to disrupt his flip and strike his center with a $auracolor glowing punch, launching him to the opposite end of the underground chamber. <<var $dmg + 1>>\ <<var $cmod + 1>>\ <<apboost 5>>\ When the smoke clears from his impact you regret sending him so far away; he's vanished from sight. <<else>>\ <<var $combatstat "fortitude">>\ <<var $combatstat2 "power">>\ <<discount "Aoyusumu" $stylerank>>\ <<discount "Kurokonton" $stylerank>>\ <<discount "Earth" 1>>\ <<discount "Ice" 1>>\ <<attack "Melee">>\ <<combatcheck 10>>\ <<if ($passcheck is true)>>\ <<if (($element1 is "Ice") or ($element2 is "Ice"))>>\ You slow his attack with a chilling mist launching out of your body in all directions. By the time he powers through your effect you've spun around with a countering kick to his center. \ <<elseif ($style is "Aoyusumu")>>\ Your Sacred Chi siphons the kinetic energy around you and turns his speed into yours, allowing you to spin around instantly with a kick to his center. \ <<else>>\ You counter with a kick to his center before even seeing him move, correctly expecting him to switch tactics. \ <</if>>\ He flips over your leg to dodge and snaps a kick at your head, which you grab and use to overhead slam his body into the floor. <<var $dmg + 1>>\ The second his body hits the stone he spins his legs in a circle, forcing you to jump back to dodge. He rises in a front flip, turning over in the air with a dark-glowing charging jab. You block it \ <<if (($element1 is "Earth") or ($element2 is "Earth"))>>\ by generating stone over your arms, \ <<else>>\ with a twisting forearm-guard, \ <</if>>\ evade a chi-swiftened knee strike with an unbalancing kick to his other leg, then duck a 360-spinning backhand. You're holding your own until \ <<else>>\ You place both hands in a cross-guard to try and catch the Kusarigama, falling into his trap. An energy blast strikes your exposed center from his other hand. Its Cursed Chi rips through your Cores with soulrending caustic \ <<if ($eblocktech isnot "")>>\ power, kept at bay only by your $eblocktech Technique. <<else>>\ power. <</if>>\ <<woundcheck 2 true false>>\ The pain pushes your body into overdrive when he closes in with his kusarigama's blade at your throat. Your shoot your head back to dodge, turning your whole body horizontal, then throw your hands behind your head onto the ground. With your body supported by your hands, you kick one leg at Manzo's knee and the other into his crotch. Both connect, but go right through him when \ <</if>>\ he vanishes into smoke mid-melee. <</if>>\ <<page "Continue" "hub-quests-manzo7">>\

"You've surprised me by surviving the initial strike!" Manzo calls from the ceiling, his voice dropping to a dull scorn. "I hate surprises. ''//Spirit Cutter!//''" Your vision darts up just in time to see six strands of Cursed Chi siphon into the man from the ceiling's Seals, each empowering his Technique as he conjures a crossbow of purple energy over his forearm and loads it with glowing black bolts. "Your close range abilities are \ <<if ($dmg gte 1)>>\ acceptable for this province, \ <<else>>\ subpar, \ <</if>>\ interloper, but to tell you the truth, that is not the game I care to play anyway. I enjoy killing from a dista-" ''//"Poison Mist!"//'' A stream of green and purple gas hits Manzo from the other side of the chamber and surrounds him in a cloud of miasma. He growls and fires the crossbow several times into the darkness, lancing purple energy beams to the ground behind him. Explosions rock the chamber in vibrant purple flashes of chi. Through the eruptions, you sense something approaching. Guiren. He appears beside you in a flash of speed, his left shoulder smoking with caustic cursed chi where he's been hit. "Sorry I'm late. He doesn't leave many openings." "I'm just glad-" //!!!// Both your senses warn you just in time that Manzo's already tracked Guiren's movements. You look up to see the purple light of his cursed energy beam closing in on you both. <<var $beamwin false>>\ <<choose "hub-quests-manzo8">> #RUN! You and Guiren kick off with all the power you can push into your legs. <<var $combatstat "agility">>\ <<var $combatskill "stealth">>\ <<if ($athletics gt ($stealth + 1))>>\ <<var $combatskill "athletics">>\ <</if>>\ <<discount "Kurokonton" $stylerank>>\ <<discount "Agile" 2>>\ <<discount "Legs" 2>>\ <<discount "Darkness" 1>>\ <<discount "Light" 1>>\ <<discount "Wind" 1>>\ <<combatcheck 10>>\ <<if ($passcheck is true)>>\ The purple explosion of Cursed Chi destroys the ground beneath your feet and rocks your spirit with waves of power just behind you, but you make it just in time to avoid true damage. Guiren looks behind him where the stones explode into the air and shakes his head. "I should have triggered Plan B when we had the chance. Do you-" By the time he looks back, you're already gone, sprinting forward. You keep pushing the energy into your legs and run towards the far wall of the chamber. //More speed.// You tell yourself. //MORE SPEED!!// <<if ($style is "Kurokonton")>>\ You reach the wall at an angle and keep running, leashing your Cursed Chi to run up the surface and sprint towards Manzo. You're upon him in a \ <<else>>\ "Use these!" Guiren shouts behind you, launching a stream of Cursed Chi energy attacks over your shoulder, blowing clean holes into the far wall. When you reach the edge of the chamber you run at an angle, sprinting up the wall's surface by kicking off the footholds he just made. At the speed you're running, you sprint vertically and reach Manzo in a \ <</if>>\ flash with your fist charging spiritual power across each knuckle. <<var $dmg + 1>>\ <<if ((dig($techslotcode[1], 16) is 1) or (dig($techslotcode[1], 16) is 3))>>\ ''//"<<print $techslotname[1]>>!!"//'' \ <<var $dmg + 1>>\ <<elseif ((dig($techslotcode[2], 16) is 1) or (dig($techslotcode[2], 16) is 3))>>\ ''//"<<print $techslotname[2]>>!!"//'' \ <<var $dmg + 1>>\ <<elseif ((dig($techslotcode[3], 16) is 1) or (dig($techslotcode[3], 16) is 3))>>\ ''//"<<print $techslotname[3]>>!!"//'' \ <<var $dmg + 1>>\ <<elseif ((dig($techslotcode[4], 16) is 1) or (dig($techslotcode[4], 16) is 3))>>\ ''//"<<print $techslotname[4]>>!!"//'' \ <<var $dmg + 1>>\ <<else>>\ <<if ($power gte 8)>>\ <<var $dmg + 1>>\ <<elseif ($style is "Kurokonton")>>\ <<var $dmg + 1>>\ <</if>>\ "MANZO!!" \ <</if>>\ You scream at the surprised shinobi, striking him in the face with an explosion of chi. You feel his lower jaw give, taking actual damage for possibly the first time this fight, but the charge keeps you off-balance. You fall. When no Cursed Chi Beam follows, you know that your attack took Manzo off-balance and a sense of relief washes over you. Your feet hit the ground beside Guiren who whistles low at your entrance. "Not bad." <<else>>\ You're too slow. The beam splits at the last second and strikes both you and Guiren through the chest. When it pierces through you it even explodes on impact with the ground behind you, damaging you from both front and back. <<if ($eblocktech isnot "")>>\ ''[$eblocktech Activated, Damage Reduced]'' <<woundcheck 1 false false>>\ <<else>>\ <<woundcheck 2 false false>>\ <</if>>\ ''[Guiren has been wounded!]'' <<var $guirencombat - 1>>\ When the debris settles and the cloud of the explosion clears, Guiren groans in pain. "We might need Plan B." "Can you call them from here?" You ask. He shakes his head. "No, but Plan C is to die. That's always an option." <</if>>\ #Launch a counterbeam. <<if ((dig($techslotcode[1], 16) is 5) or (dig($techslotcode[1], 16) is 6))>>\ ''//"$techslotname[1]!!"//'' \ <<elseif ((dig($techslotcode[2], 16) is 5) or (dig($techslotcode[2], 16) is 6))>>\ ''//"$techslotname[2]!!"//'' \ <<elseif ((dig($techslotcode[3], 16) is 5) or (dig($techslotcode[3], 16) is 6))>>\ ''//"$techslotname[3]!!"//'' \ <<elseif ((dig($techslotcode[4], 16) is 5) or (dig($techslotcode[4], 16) is 6))>>\ ''//"$techslotname[4]!!"//'' \ <<else>>\ "HAHHHHHH!" \ <</if>>\ You scream out, charging as much chi between both palms as you can summon in half a second. Your $auracolor beam launches from your grip and crashes into his own, but\ <<if ($jadedragonfoundation is true)>>\ despite your legendary power, the person you're facing has at least a century of experience over you. \ <<else>>\ an Inner Kingdom Martial Artist is not so easily overcome. \ <</if>>\ It takes everything you have just to hold his attack back. "Futile!" Manzo shouts, placing one palm over his Spirit Cutter and adding more energy into his beam. "The full power of one measly-" "Then face two!" Guiren shouts. Purple light emits from your side when he powers up and\ <<if ($heshe is "she")>>\ places his own palms beside yours, pushing every ounce of power he has into your attack. \ <<else>>\ channels his own aura into a flowing beam of energy beside yours. \ <</if>>\ "We can beat him, together!" "Focus!" You shout, feeling the ground beneath you begin to crack. "MORE!" Guiren screams when Manzo's beam pushes down on you both. "HAHHHHHH!!" "HAHHHHHHH!!!" The two of you scream through the soul-shaking efforts of pushing back an Inner Kingdom Martial Artist at his full power. <<var $combatstat "soul">>\ <<discount "Kiihakai" $stylerank>>\ <<discount "Kurokonton" 1>>\ <<discount "Fire" 1>>\ <<discount "Storm" 1>>\ <<discount "Light" 2>>\ <<attack "Energy Ranged">>\ <<combatcheck 10>>\ <<if ($passcheck is true)>>\ <<var $dmg + 1>>\ <<if (($power gte 8) or (((((dig($techslotcode[1], 16) is 5) or (dig($techslotcode[1], 16) is 6)) or ((dig($techslotcode[2], 16) is 5) or (dig($techslotcode[2], 16) is 6))) or ((dig($techslotcode[3], 16) is 5) or (dig($techslotcode[3], 16) is 6))) or ((dig($techslotcode[4], 16) is 5) or (dig($techslotcode[4], 16) is 6))))>>\ <<var $dmg + 1>>\ <</if>>\ //But you ''do'' push him back//. Your beams break through Manzo's and rip through the air, exploding into the elder assassin with a spirit-shaking explosion. When the pressure lets up you finally allow yourself to breathe and find yourself panting. Guiren does the same, dropping to one knee. "Ancestors I hope he's dead." "He's not //nearly// dead." You reply while sensing Manzo's power above you, damaged but still significant. "This job sucks. Any ideas?" <<else>>\ It's not enough. \ Your energy beams part, poorly aligned, and Manzo's cursed energy slices through both of your spirits. When it pierces through you it even explodes on impact with the ground behind you, damaging you from both front and back. <<if ($eblocktech isnot "")>>\ ''[$eblocktech Activated, Damage Reduced]'' <<woundcheck 1 false false>>\ <<else>>\ <<woundcheck 2 false false>>\ <</if>>\ ''[Guiren has been wounded!]'' <<var $guirencombat - 1>>\ When the debris settles and the cloud of the explosion clears, Guiren groans in pain. "We might need Plan B." "Can you call them from here?" You ask. He shakes his head. "No, but Plan C is to die. That's always an option." <</if>>\ #use-if ((($element1 is "Storm") and ($element1rank gte 2)) or (($element2 is "Storm") and ($element2rank gte 2))) Ride the lightning. [Storm (Adept)] The only warning you give off is electricity crackling over your eyes. In less than a second after, a web of lightning bolts explodes out of your body that fills the chamber. Criss-crossing lightning erupts across the walls, floor, and ceiling, and your body follows the easiest path to Manzo. From the lightning bolt crashing into the ceiling beside him, you emerge with the power of the Storm charging behind\ <<if ((($equippedweapon isnot "Yumi") and ($equippedweapon isnot "Handwraps")) and ($equippedweapon isnot ""))>>\ <<if (((($equippedweapon isnot "Muramasa") and ($equippedweapon isnot "Kagutsuchi")) and ($equippedweapon isnot "Ikazuchi")) and ($equippedweapon isnot "Godslayer"))>>\ the \ <</if>>\ $equippedweapon already drawn in your hand. \ <<else>>\ your <<if ($equippedweapon is "Handwraps")>>\ handwrapped \ <</if>>\ fist. \ <</if>>\ "Arrogance!" Manzo screams into your face. ''"ARROGANCE!"''// You scream into his, your eyes emitting lightning when you crash your storm-infused strike through his guard. All the lightning in the room pulls into your strike, dissipating behind a single blow, and his arms buckle under your attack. You feel his lower jaw give, taking actual damage for possibly the first time this fight, but the charge keeps you off-balance. <<var $dmg + 1>>\ <<if ($power gte 7)>>\ <<var $dmg + 1>>\ <</if>>\ You fall. When no Cursed Chi Beam follows, you know that your attack took Manzo off-balance and a sense of relief washes over you. Your feet hit the ground beside Guiren who whistles low at your entrance. "Not bad." #use-if (($style is "Aoyusumu") and ($stylerank gte 2)) Raise a kinetic barrier. [Aoyusumu (Adept)] "Barrier!" You shout, throwing up a dome of kinetic Sacred Chi that catches the Cursed Chi Beam like a shield holding off a gout of flames. Manzo snarls and redoubles his assault. "Fool, Kurokonton is more than just energy! It is the aspect of raw yin, the void, pure inaction and absorption made manifest!" He's right, you realize. You can feel his beam wearing your barrier down to nothing, diminishing your chi with its curse. "Oh yeah?" You shout back, focusing your mental image into a fist. "You're not the only Style with tricks!" While your barrier contests his beam, your mind chakra focuses a second kinetic manifestation beside Manzo: A two-foot wide fist made of kinetic chi, punching him in the face. He weathers the blow with the sturdiness of an Inner Kingdom Martial Artist, but Aoyusumu is not like the other Styles. Your effect isn't discarded. You maintain control on the manifested chi-fist, punching him //over and over and over again.// <<var $dmg + 1>>\ <<if ($power gte 7)>>\ <<var $dmg + 1>>\ <</if>>\ Finally he screams in anger and dismisses his beam to shatter your construction with an enraged backhand. "Ancestors." Guiren says, wrapping his bleeding shoulder in the seconds available. "That was satisfying to watch." #show-if ($flashstep is true) ''//"FLASH STEP!"//'' ''//"FLASH STEP!"//'' You and Guiren scream, vanishing in place and reappearing at the other side of the chamber. Manzo doesn't miss a beat, taking aim and firing again. ''//"FLASH STEP!"//'' You scream, dodging again. Manzo's annoyed voice calls from the ceiling. "I promise you, worms, I have more chi reserves than you." He's right. You can't dodge forever, and... Actually. ...He's wrong? "I'm not spending chi." You call back up to him, surprising even yourself and looking to Guiren. "Are you?" "No." Guiren appears next to you, equally refreshed and equally confused. "What do you mean you-" Manzo stops mid-word, firing at you in a cheap shot. ''//"FLASH STEP!"//'' You both vanish across the room. Oddly, you can feel that you were right. Your chi reserves aren't going down. "Hah!" Guiren shouts, smacking his own forehead. "Manzo, you dumbass. It's your cursed energy beams in a chamber wrapped in Yin seals. There's too much Cursed energy in the air, we can ride it forever without spending our own chi. In fact..." He draws a dagger from his belt and flicks his vision skyward, matching your own realization. If you two can practically teleport without spending chi, why are you //dodging//? <<page "Continue" "hub-quests-manzo7-tudor">>\ <</choose>>

<<if ($equippedweapon is "Yumi")>>\ ''//"Flash Step!"//'' Guiren shouts as you draw your Yumi. He appears to Manzo's right and swings his dagger at the shinobi's neck, which Manzo blocks, allowing your launched $auracolor glowing arrows to strike the assassin's torso. He ignores you \ <<else>>\ ''//"Flash Step!"//'' You both shout, appearing to Manzo's left and right. <<if ($equippedweapon is "Handwraps") or ($equippedweapon is "")>>\ You swing a haymaker for his face with the full acceleration of your Flash Step's swift movement. Guiren does the same with a dagger striking for Manzo's legs. Manzo catches both of your attacks \ <<else>>\ You draw \ <<if (((($equippedweapon isnot "Muramasa") and ($equippedweapon isnot "Kagutsuchi")) and ($equippedweapon isnot "Ikazuchi")) and ($equippedweapon isnot "Godslayer"))>>\ your \ <</if>>\ $equippedweapon and swing for his head while Guiren swings at his legs with a dagger. Manzo blocks both of your weapons with deflecting elbow strikes \ <</if>>\ <</if>>\ and swings his kusarigama at Guiren's chest- ''//"Flash Step!"//'' -Only to be blocked by you, appearing between the two with a knee to Manzo's face. Guiren begins to fall and throws a dagger behind Manzo's back. ''//"Flash Step!"//'' You appear behind Manzo and catch the dagger, shoving it into his back. Manzo growls and turns around- ''//"Flash Step!"//'' Guiren flashes to Manzo's back, kicking the shinobi in the side of the head with a purple glowing leg. <<var $dmg + 2>>\ "Enough!" Manzo shouts, surrounding himself in a layer of Cursed Chi that blasts you both back to the ground. You and Guiren spin in the air, landing side-by-side. <<include "hub-quests-manzo8">>\

"It's not enough." You say. "We need to deal more damage." Guiren shrugs his one non-scorched shoulder. "My trump cards don't work down here, so I'm all ears." "Stop talking." Manzo's voice echoes through the chamber from the ceiling. "This farce has gone on too long, especially with the 'help' you enlisted above. I am done toying with you." He melts into the shadows of the ceiling above him, as if sinking upside-down. "I should have snuffed your souls from the start." When he disappears, the Seals all around the room glow with intense purple and black chi. "Oh fuck." Guiren groans, staring in circles at the illuminating chamber walls. "What now?" <<page "Continue" "hub-quests-manzo10">>\

You stand there, feeling out of place in your heroism. "Ahem." You clear your throat to get their attention. They continue pummeling the unconscious disciple. "I SAID AHEM." Jin and Rin stop, turn, and shout, "What?" "What do you mean //what?// I saved you and we haven't seen each other in over a month! I've got Styled Chi \ <<if ($race is "Kitsune")>>\ and two tails \ <<elseif ($style is "Midorikatai")>>\ and my body's as big as a horse \ <<elseif (((($spiritbrandloc is "hair") or ($spiritbrandloc is "eyes")) or ($spiritbrandloc is "skin")) or ($spiritbrandloc is "horns"))>>\ and $spiritbrandcolor $spiritbrandloc \ <<elseif ($spiritbrandloc isnot "")>>\ and a $spiritbrandcolor $spiritbrandloc \ <<else>>\ and real Techniques \ <</if>>\ now. Don't you want to say anything? Like 'oh big \ <<if ($heshe is "he")>>\ brother, \ <<else>>\ sister, \ <</if>>\ you've changed so much!' or 'thank you for saving us!' or 'we're so happy you're alive'?" They look to each other, then back to you, then back to each other. "No?" "You do this a lot." Rin says. "Making big changes and beating people up is your role as the elder sibling." Jin nods along. "Yeah it's not surprising anymore when it happens." "Honestly, if anything, you're kind of late." Rin says with a judgmental squint. "What took you so long?" You open your mouth, baffled, wondering which swear to start with, when Jin runs up and puts his arm around your shoulder. "But don't worry, big \ <<if ($heshe is "he")>>\ brother! \ <<else>>\ sister! \ <</if>>\ There's still one problem you can fix on time." As he talks, Rin picks up the unconscious disciple and tosses him into a nearby empty crate. "We're //starving//, and I finally get to say that literally. You get the honor of taking us out to dinner!" "Your treat!" Rin adds hastily, clapping with excitement. You close both eyes and rub a thumb against your temple.

You spend the next three minutes carefully listening behind the door of each of the Tower's floors, discerning what they're used for or if you can hear either of the Twins. The top floor is locked, but the black belt design on the door reveals it as Mao's office. The two floors below that give very little noise, likely the resting or meditation chambers. You hear combat in the second floor and get your hopes up, but four different voices grunting reveal no signs of Rin or Jin. You continue to the first floor and press your ear against the door just as it begins to slide open. <<page "SHIT!" "hub-residential-breakin2">>\

<<if (($deception gte $val) or ((($race is "Kitsune") or ($style is "Aoyusumu")) and ($persuasion gte 2)))>>\ <<if (($race is "Kitsune") or ($style is "Aoyusumu"))>>\ <<if ($persuasion gte 2)>>\ ''[Persuasion 2 Check Passed]'' <<else>>\ ''[Deception 3 Check Passed]'' <</if>>\ <<else>>\ ''[Deception 3 Check Passed]'' <</if>>\ <<if (($style is "Aoyusumu") or ($race is "Kitsune"))>>\ The boy wobbles on his feet, losing the rigidness of his stance. "I...will bring Rin and Jin to you..." <<if ($heshe is "she")>>\ "Good boy." You tease, patting him on the cheek. \ <<else>>\ "Good man." You say with a respectful pat on his shoulder. \ <</if>>\ "Thunderfall needs more easily coerced mooks like you." "Thanks..." He mutters as he turns around and walks inside. <<else>>\ The Lower Disciple smirks. "Not a chance in Hell, Laborer. Fifty Shards? Are you kidding me? I wouldn't betray Sectmaster Mao for five thousand Shards. Just for that, I'll personally see to it that they make it to the slave markets." You scowl at the man and spit on his gi, turning and storming off down the street. Then you double-back through an alleyway and wait. <</if>>\ <<page "Continue" "hub-residential-breakin-coerce2">>\ <<else>>\ <<if (($race is "Kitsune") or ($style is "Aoyusumu"))>>\ ''[Persuasion 2 Check Failed]'' <</if>>\ ''[Deception 3 Check Failed]'' "No way." The boy says, <<if (($race is "Kitsune") or ($style is "Aoyusumu"))>>\ shaking the cloudiness from his mind. "If \ <<else>>\ looking you up and down as if you were a pile of garbage. "I'm not doing //either// of those. If \ <</if>>\ Mao actually wanted his prisoners released he'd do it himself. Bark up another tree, Laborer." He spits on the ground by your feet and fires an energy blast into the air. It explodes with more noise than light, summoning several Disciples to the windows. "The Laborer is trying to break the prisoners out!" He shouts to everyone who looks. A dozen spiritual scans wash over you and you grit your teeth, forced to flee before a fight with the whole Sect breaks out. <<var $trialdeets + 100000000000>>\ <<var $brorep - 5>>\ <<var $sisrep - 5>>\ Hopefully Jin and Rin will be fine on their own until you can break them free in one of the Trials. <<page "How dishonorable..." "hub-residential-district">>\ <</if>>\

Plenty of disciples and commoners travel the streets now that time has passed since Mao's firestorm, but there's only three people in particular you're on the lookout for as you sit atop an empty crate in an alleyway outside of a keopi shop. A fourth uninvited person arrives first; large arms grip you from behind in a bear hug that lifts you off your feet. "You dare wear the uniform of our people?!" The voice booms. "No imposter can escape my sight, prepare to face the wrath of-" "Big Chu!" You shout in surprise. The bear hug stops squeezing you and turns more into a hesitant, regular hug. "...Student?" Big Chu whispers before releasing you. He puts you down and turns you around, brushing your shoulders off and looking you up and down. "I hardly recognized your aura, it has grown!" \ <<if ($race is "Kitsune")>>\ He stares at your two swishing tails and frowns. "That seems to not be all that has grown...you will have some explaining to do. Later. For now, it has been far too long. HowW \ <<elseif (($style is "Midorikatai") and ($heshe is "he"))>>\ He rubs his eyes as the large man realizes he has to look up to meet your gaze. "And so has your body it seems. Wild Chi has been good to you, but I must know, how \ <<elseif ($spiritbrandloc isnot "")>>\ He cringes at the sight of your $spiritbrandcolor $spiritbrandloc. "It seems it has not been without cost, however. But we can deal with spiritual imbalances in good time. For now, how \ <<else>>\ He sighs and wipes a fake tear from his eye. "It is every mentor's dream to see their student do so well. I trust you have followed my cookbooks to the letter. But enough about that, how \ <</if>>\ have your adventures faired?" <<choose "hub-residential-chutalk2">> #"I've been //busy//." [Explain Ebikowa and Harehama, quickly] "I've been //busy//." You say with a hefty exhale. "I met a friend and learned $style, got abducted by Sunbringers, stuck in a storm of blood and corrupted chi, killed a blood cultist leader, killed a clone, seized a fleet, dealt with a pirate, and fought a Wild God's child." Big Chu nods along as you continue on your list. "That sounds...extensive, for a Lower Disciple." You respond with a shrug. "Mao should make me an Upper Disciple then." Big Chu smirks. "You'd have better luck winning the Trials, young student. It is a shame your siblings are unlikely to succeed at either fate. There \ #"I've been //pissed//, why did you let Jack take my family?!" "I've been //pissed//!" You shout at your obese former mentor, "Why did you let Jack take my family?!" Big Chu's face twists in thought and sadness. Quickly however his expression hardens and he squints at you. "<<cap $name>>, the Warrior Caste is not purely a life of authority. It is a responsibility. A sacred duty. I am sorry, my student, but Jack did not 'abduct' them. Rather, they are meant to be here as much as you are." "So they've been treated like normal disciples? Trained and equipped?" "Oh Ancestors, no." Chu says shaking his head with a hearty chuckle. "Quite the opposite." "Chu." You reply dryly. "If they're treated as prisoners, then they're prisoners." Big Chu sighs. "They are most certainly prisoners, but there \ #"I've been prepared." [Hug the fat bastard] "I've been prepared." You respond, giving Big Chu a hug. You expect him to feel solid like a muscular sumo wrestler or a typical Earth user, but the fat bastard is more like a teddy bear. "Thanks for the lessons, Sensei Chu. I relied on them a lot." <<var $churep + 3>>\ <<var $ruthless - 1>>\ <<if ($heshe is "she")>>\ <<var $churep + 5>>\ <<if (($bodytype is "Bodacious") or ($bodytype is "Hourglass"))>>\ <<var $churep + 5>>\ <</if>>\ <</if>>\ "Hmph!" Big Chu says, lifting you by the arms and placing you two feet back. "Flattery will get you everywhere, my student, but save it for //after// the Trials. Sectmaster Mao has us all on lookout for problems, and on that list he has, unfortunately, placed your name. He suspects you will attempt a breakout of your siblings. Such a risk is foolish, obviously. There \ #show-if ((dig($metleona, 11) gte 1) or ($roomscene is "Leona")) "I slept with the Sunbringer's new Sectmistress." <<var $churep + 5>>\ "I slept with the Sunbringer's new Sectmistress." You reply. "Someone should have told me old Master Bangle had a hot blonde daughter. I would have done it sooner." "Hah!" Big Chu claps his hands together and struggles to silence a deep belly laugh, his mouth open and his face going red. "That is phenomenal. Here I thought you'd be using my combat lessons to survive the Martial World, when instead you've used my grand example to traverse the Martial Bed!" You bite your cheek. "Well, the Martial World's problems haven't eluded me either. Demonic Gate. Wild Gods. The usual." "What a varied and exciting life you've found." Big Chu shakes his head. "It is a shame your siblings could not join you. There \ <</choose>>

<<var $val 3>>\ <<if ($element1 is "Dark")>>\ <<var $val - $element1rank>>\ ''[Darkness Event: Difficulty Reduced]'' <<elseif ($element2 is "Dark")>>\ <<var $val - $element2rank>>\ ''[Darkness Event: Difficulty Reduced]'' <</if>>\ <<if ($style is "Kurokonton")>>\ ''[Kurokonton Event: Difficulty Reduced]'' <<var $val - $stylerank>>\ <</if>>\ <<if ($stealth gte $val)>>\ ''[Stealth $val Check Passed]'' "Honored Sect Brother, I cannot believe you defeated that Waverunner girl in the Rabbit Trial!" A flat-faced Human girl says to another disciple. "My speed training was simply superior." The young man responds. "How did she ever expect to outrun me on land? Her Sect is not called the Landrunners." "Haha, you are so funny Honored Sect Brother!" The girl responds, "Perhaps you could tell me more jokes over dinner? Or we could practice my new meditation Technique later? Together?" "I will have to decline, Honored Sect Sister." The man says too quickly, increasing his pace up the stairs. "...Oh." The woman sighs, dejected. She barely holds back tears as she sulks up the stairs slower than the boy, but the speed difference doesn't change the result: Neither of them see you clinging to the ceiling when they walk right under you. You drop down, peek into the first floor to see no signs of your siblings, and continue to the basement. //Of course// they're in the last floor you check. Why wouldn't they be? <<var $val2 676>>\ <<page "Continue" "hub-residential-findrinjin">>\ <<else>>\ ''[Stealth $val Check Failed]'' You leap into the air just as the door begins to slide, planning to grab onto any rough stone of the ceiling as tightly as you can. Instead the door slides open too fast and a hand grabs your ankle. Your spiritual senses detect a meager Aura Pressure of 400, not a problem for you to- "INTRUDER!" She screams. <<page "Uh oh" "hub-residential-breakin3">>\ <</if>>\

That bitch just threw you! Rather than a real fight, which you would //win//, the girl opening the door grabs your ankle and flings you out into the first story of the Tower in front of half a dozen other disciples. You skid to the ground just in time to jump out of the way of two energy blasts. "Wait, I can expl-" You try to say, dodging a glowing katana thrust by ducking under it. When did any of your peers learn Akakiru?! "Kill the intruder!" Shouts the old lady from the doorway while drawing her spear and emitting a green aura. Nope. Nope, no. You did not come here to get ambushed by the whole Sect. You make a mad dash for the door and aim an energy blast behind you at the lowest Aura Pressure, forcing a couple others to jump in the way of a younger boy. With that advantage you slide under the feet of the old lady at the doorway and drag your charged-up arm forward, releasing the //real// energy blast at her armor just as she stabs her spear down. She's blasted into the ceiling with enough distance for you to slide under her without getting skewered. You skid to your feet at the entrance and slam the door shut, sprinting down the street and into an alleyway before they can catch you. The ordeal wasn't fatal, but you can't call it a success either while your siblings are still locked away. <<var $trialdeets + 100000000000>>\ <<var $brorep - 5>>\ <<var $sisrep - 5>>\ Hopefully Jin and Rin will be fine on their own until you can break them free in one of the Trials. <<page "How dishonorable..." "hub-residential-district">>\

The basement door squeals with the sound of metal-on-stone grinding throughout the basement level. All three of you turn to see Big Chu staring into the prison. There's an eerie silence falling over the scene as the obese Upper Disciple analyzes the situation, looking from you to your freed siblings and the lower disciple they are beating. You suddenly begin to wonder how strong Big Chu is at his full power, and if you can defeat \ <<if ($jadedragonfoundation is true)>>\ him before others show up. <<else>>\ him. <</if>>\ "No." He calls back loudly to someone at the top of the stairs. \ <<if ($val2 is 787)>>\ "No disruption in the basement's Earth Chi. Whoever sensed it must have followed improper technique methods. Everyone report to the third floor for spiritual scanning practice." Big Chu gives you a court bow and whispers, "Best of luck in the Trials, my student. See that you survive to finish them." With that he closes the door, and \ <<elseif ($val2 is 676)>>\ "No disruption, the broken seal must have been from shoddy sealing. Everyone report to the fourth floor for handseal practice." With one hand he gives a wave and a wink, and a hole opens up in the stone wall of the basement. Before your very eyes, a tunnel manifests at an angle and leads to sunlight outside. "Best of luck in the Trials, my student." Big Chu whispers, slowly closing the door. "See that you survive to finish them." \ When the basement door finishes closing, \ <</if>>\ all three of you decide it is time to \ <<if ($perception gte 3)>>\ leave- ''[Perception 3 Check Passed]'' <<var $jinrinbooster "fruit">>\ ...//after// searching through some nearby lockboxes, finding a couple low grade spiritfruit some lower disciple had hidden away for a rainy day. Jin and Rin pocket one each and you all make your way out through the tunnel, \ <<else>>\ leave //immediately//, \ <</if>>\ navigating through the alleyways until you're halfway across the city. <<page "Ungrateful brats." "hub-residential-restaurantsibs">>\

A man grips you from behind in a bearhug and you focus all your fortitude cores to the back of your skull, ready to headbutt his nose through the back of his skull, when something strikes you as different. This isn't a bear hug... This is a person-hug! "Big Chu?!" You shout, feeling a genuine hug slipped into the midst of combat. "I WILL FIGHT THIS INTRUDER!" Big Chu shouts, squeezing you with nonlethal restraint. "YOU ALL PROTECT THE STUDENTS! I-WUUUUAAAHHH!" Big Chu begins faux-tumbling through the doorway to the stairs, holding you with him as he 'stumbles' downward. When the two of you tumble to the bottom of the staircase he rolls to his feet faster than you thought possible and uppercuts the air with an amber wave of energy. Behind you both, at the top of the stairs, a stone wall raises from the floor to the ceiling. "Whew." Big Chu says. "That should give us a moment." He wipes sweat from his \ <<var $val2 989>>\ <<if ($race is "Kitsune")>>\ brow, sees your second tail, cringes, and does his best to return to a jolly smile. <<else>>\ and takes in a couple deep breaths, smiling. <</if>>\ You blink at the large man. "What are you doing?" "I could ask you the same thing." Big Chu responds. "Attacking everyone is reckless, but my stone wall will hold the other disciples back while they assume you battle Big Chu. Now, as I have bought us a moment..." His expression softens as he analyzes your spirit. "You have grown strong, my student! Yet I worry for the toll such a rushed development brings. How have you been?" <<choose "hub-residential-chutalk1">> #"I've been //busy//." [Explain Ebikowa and Harehama, quickly] "I've been //busy//." You say with a hefty exhale. "I met a friend and learned $style, got abducted by Sunbringers, stuck in a storm of blood and corrupted chi, killed a blood cultist leader, seized a fleet, dealt with a pirate, and fought a Wild God's child." Big Chu nods along as you continue on your list. "That sounds...extensive, for a Lower Disciple." You respond with a shrug. "Mao should make me an Upper Disciple then." Big Chu smirks. "You'd have better luck winning the Trials, young student. Which is something I would love to see, and so you must survive. Go now. The \ #"I've been //pissed//, why did you let Jack take my family?!" "I've been //pissed//!" You shout at your obese former mentor, "Why did you let Jack take my family?!" Big Chu's face twists in thought and sadness. Quickly however his expression hardens and he squints at you. "<<cap $name>>, the Warrior Caste is not purely a life of authority. It is a responsibility. A sacred duty. I am sorry, my student, but Jack did not 'abduct' them. They are meant to be here as much as you are." "So they've been treated like normal disciples? Trained and equipped?" "Oh Ancestors, no." Chu says shaking his head with a hearty chuckle. "Quite the opposite." "Chu." You reply dryly. "If they're treated as prisoners, then they're prisoners." Big Chu sighs. "They are most certainly prisoners. If you wish to remedy that, then go. The \ #"I've been prepared." [Hug the fat bastard] "I've been prepared." You respond, giving Big Chu a hug. You expect him to feel solid like a muscular sumo wrestler or a typical Earth user, but the fat bastard is more like a teddy bear. "Thanks for the lessons, Sensei Chu. I relied on them a lot." <<var $churep + 3>>\ <<var $ruthless - 1>>\ <<if ($heshe is "she")>>\ <<var $churep + 5>>\ <<if (($bodytype is "Bodacious") or ($bodytype is "Hourglass"))>>\ <<var $churep + 5>>\ <</if>>\ <</if>>\ "Hmph!" Big Chu says, lifting you by the arms and placing you two feet back. "Flattery will get you everywhere, my student, but save it for //after// the Trials. Sectmaster Mao has us all on lookout for problems, and on that list he has, unfortunately, placed your name. He suspects you will attempt a breakout of your siblings." "He was right." You say dryly. "The man is Sectmaster for a reason." Big Chu responds. "Now while it would be better to catch up over tea, this is no tea shop. The \ #show-if ((dig($metleona, 11) gte 1) or ($roomscene is "Leona")) "I slept with the Sunbringer's new Sectmistress." <<var $churep + 5>>\ "I slept with the Sunbringer's new Sectmistress." You reply. "Someone should have told me old Master Bangle had a hot blonde daughter. I would have done it sooner." "Hah!" Big Chu claps his hands together and struggles to silence a deep belly laugh, his mouth open and his face going red. "That is phenomenal. Here I thought you'd be using my combat lessons to survive the Martial World, when instead you've used my grand example to traverse the Martial Bed!" You resist rolling your eyes. "The Martial World's problems haven't eluded me either. Demonic Gate. Wild Gods. How did you all keep Thunderfall so safe? It's awful out here." "We did what we could." Big Chu says in modesty. "Yet what a varied and exciting life you've found! I would love to hear the whole story someday soon, but the \ <</choose>>

You crack your knuckles, crouch down into a sprinter's position outside the sect, and blaze a $auracolor aura around your body while facing the open doorway of Thunderfall Tower. Inside, two lower disciples point frantically at you and begin shouting. The old woman accompanying Mao turns around to see the threat and finds it immediately. Your fist is already in her face. One full-body crack to the head sends her flying back into a lower disciple, crashing them both against a wall. You kick backwards and slam your foot into the throat of a lower disciple who surged an Agility Core to get to you. His increased speed helps your kick break his windpipe and launch you forward at another lower disciple that you uppercut in the gut, ignoring the guard she puts around her face. Your fist twists into the young woman's abs and grips her shirt, lifting her overhead and throwing her into the older woman who's just now recovering. She catches the young disciple with her hands and 'catches' your two-handed energy blast with her face, shattering her aura just in time for you to refocus your efforts on the stronger Upper Disciple speeding into the fray. <<page "Here he comes!" "hub-residential-chargesect">>\

disciples upstairs must believe we are fighting. I will remain behind and flare my aura with empty attacks, you must go to your family. That is what you are here for, yes?" "Of course." You reply. "I wouldn't be kicking everyone's ass otherwise." "Everyone but Big Chu." Chu replies with an arrogant gaze. "Oh what am I saying, enough of this. Go. Shoo! Go!" He presses a keystone against a metal door in the basement wall and it slides open, revealing a small prison. "YOU WILL NOT SUCCEED HERE, FIEND!" He shouts up the stairs, grabbing onto his own torso on both sides and rolling around the stairs to break the railings. "YOU FACE ''BIG CHU!!!''" As stupid as his display looks, you're grateful. You also have limited time left, so you enter the basement and close the door behind you. <<page "Continue" "hub-residential-findrinjin">>\

may be time to get them released through the Trials however. As for now, do not dare to try. On guard duty we have..." He pauses and sends a spiritual scan out in a wide radius towards Thunderfall Tower. He frowns. "...Why do I sense your siblings approaching?" You give a wry smile. "Ah." Big Chu says, his smile disappearing. "You are up to something." Chu clears his throat. "In that case, I must have forgotten my lunch back in the Port District. A shame I will not be here to witness your crimes, but more time will come for us to catch up. Farewell, my student, and may the Heavens favor you in the Trials." Big Chu gives a short, respectful bow and exits through the other side of the alleyway. <<page "Continue" "hub-residential-chutalk3">>\

When Chu leaves, your focus returns to the street where you're hoping Rin and Jin are accompanied only by the controlled disciple you sent in to get them. Sure enough, three minutes later the Thunderfall Disciple you tricked comes through the street holding two pairs of chains linked to Binder's Bands wrapped around a pair of prisoners. Your heart skips a beat when you see Rin and Jin for the first time since their abduction. They look dirty and sleep deprived, and Jin has some nasty bruises, but they're better than you imagined. Taller than you remember, too. "Thank you." You say, stepping out of your alleyway in front of the Thunderfall disciple. "I couldn't have gotten them out without you." Gasps break out down the street when you dash in and strike the man in the gut, then leap and deliver a spinning kick to his jaw. You land with a breath of relief. "I'm so glad I-" Jin and Rin run to the side, beating the disciple with their Binder's Bands. "Just bread?!" Rin screams while slamming her metal bindings against the unconscious man's knees. "JUST. BREAD?!? YOU TRIED TO POISON MY GOOD LOOKS!" Jin joins her and kicks the man in the side repeatedly. "How's it feel?! Just toughen up, huh? Toughen //this// up you piece of shit!" <<include "hub-residential-awkwardsibs">>\ "Let's go find a tavern." <<var $trialdeets + 200000000000>>\ <<page "Ungrateful brats" "hub-residential-restaurantsibs">>\

<<var $val 0>>\ <<var $val2 0>>\ <<var $counter 0>>\ <<var $district "hub-residential-district">>\ The Residential District is where the true heart of the city lies. Sect headquarters dot the skyline with their hastily built stone fortresses and towers, wooden mansions, walled-off dojos, and even a few crystal spires. Entire streets separate the larger buildings, filled with tightly packed wooden lodgings roofed with blue clay tiles shaped like fishscales. Large crowds travel between the busy streets on their way to other Districts. You wander among them, passing under street posts adorned with stone lanterns at every corner. Street signs in both Zenshin and Cathayan script offer directions to help you navigate the most densely populated District, and your nostrils are assailed by the scents of the many food vendors setup no doubt illegally outside of the many taverns. <<if (dig($metmao, 2) is 0)>>\ Somewhere around here is the Thunderfall Sect headquarters. Which means somewhere around here is Jin and Rin. It's time to take them back. <<if ((dig($mettaio, 1) gte 6) and (dig($mettaio, 4) is 0))>>\ //No.// Whispers Taio the Scholar into your soul. //It is time to begin your education.// //Proceed to the graveyard.// Taio the Bandit adds. //Your family is temporary. The power we offer is eternal.// <<var $mettaio + 10000000>>\ Your upper lip curls at the two of them. "I can do both you dead morons, we have all day." <</if>>\ <<elseif ((dig($mettaio, 1) gte 6) and (dig($mettaio, 4) is 0))>>\ //Finally.// Whispers Taio the Scholar into your soul. //I sense a fortress of loss nearby. A focal point of negative emotion. This will do nicely; it is time to begin your education.// //You can simply call it a graveyard, you petulant fraud.// Taio the Bandit adds. <<var $mettaio + 10000000>>\ <<else>>\ Of all the Districts in Nanhou, this one reminds you the most of home. <</if>>\ <<trialcounter>>\ <<choose "hub-port-district">> #show-if (dig($metmao, 2) is 0) Look for the Thunderfall Sect. -> "hub-residential-reunion" <<var $metmao + 1000000000>>\ #show-if ((dig($metmao, 2) isnot 0) and (dig($trialdeets, 1) is 1)) use-if (dig($trialdeets, 1) isnot 1) Visit Thunderfall Tower. [BANNED] #show-if ((dig($metmao, 2) isnot 0) and (dig($trialdeets, 1) gte 2)) use-if (dig($trialdeets, 1) is 1) Visit Thunderfall Tower. [CLOSED] #show-if (dig($trialdeets, 4) gte 2) use-if ($countdown gt 0) Train with Kosuke, Rin, and Jin outside the city. [1 Day] -> "hub-residential-trainingsibs" #use-if (((dig($metdesdemona, 1) gte 3) and (dig($compquest1, 4) lt 2)) and ($countdown gt 0)) Find Desdemona above the Southern Winds Tea House. [1 Day] -> "hub-residential-southernwinds" #Visit the Devanic Temple. -> "hub-residential-temple" #use-if ($val is 426262) Look for Tian Fang at the Mountain Hazard Sect HQ. [1 Day] -> "hub-residential-mountainhazard" #use-if (dig($placevisit, 2) lt 2) Visit the local orphanage. -> "hub-residential-orphanage" #show-if (dig($mettaio, 1) gte 6) use-if ((dig($mettaio, 4) lt 2) and ($countdown gte 1)) Delve into demonic cultivation at Nanhou's graveyard. [1 Day] -> "hub-residential-graveyard" #Enter the Port District. #Enter the Commerce District. -> "hub-commerce-district" #Enter the Entertainment District. -> "hub-entertainment-district" #use-if ($val is 11337) Enter the Noble District. [Forbidden] #show-if ($val is 11337) use-if ($val isnot 11337) Enter the Old Town District. [Locked] /* leave nothing here so code-divers feel sad */\ <</choose>>

<<var $val 0>>\ <<var $val2 0>>\ <<var $teatype "">>\ <<var $yourshiplol false>>\ A bell jingles as you open the door to the dimly lit tea shop. Pleasant aromas of jasmine and cinnamon ride along the incense-smoke drifting through the air. Boiling pots of water surround a chimney and hearth behind the counter to keep a fresh supply for tea, though the light is masked by a shading screen. Dim purple lanterns cast illuminations on the tables where patrons sit and converse in quiet murmurs. Desdemona should be around here somewhere. <<if (dig($compquest1, 4) gte 1)>>\ "Yep." Confirms Li Jumpei. "Up the stairs. The same as before." "I didn't say anything." You reply. <<if ($heshe is "he")>>\ "You are a man, and the single women are upstairs!" She shouts, splashing her oversized tea scoop at you. "Do not waste my time. Go!" <<else>>\ "Fine," she shouts back, "then I forbid you from going up the stairs!" "Wait, no, I do want to go up there." "Then don't talk back!" She shouts, splashing her oversized tea scoop at you. "Go!" <</if>>\ <<page "Ascend the stairs." "hub-residential-southernwinds-back">>\ <<else>>\ <<var $compquest1 + 100000000000>>\ You walk to the counter to ask when a familiar woman turns around in an apron. "Li Moon?" You ask. "Hm?" The young woman replies, adjusting her thick glasses. "Oh dear me, how sweet of you! No, honey, I am Li Jumpei. Moon is my daughter. Her and her brother are upstairs with their Sectmates. You're welcome to go see them; the stairs are behind the black curtain in the back." You blink, baffled that the woman looks no older than her own daughter. You suppose it makes sense. Aura Pressure slows aging, a fact you've known for a while, but you've always envisioned that as a mystical detail when meeting centuries-old masters with perfected bodies. An aspect of myths. Seeing a woman in her forties look like her twenty-year-old daughter is a bit more surreal. Too close to everyday life. "Although." The tea merchant says in the middle of your thoughts, withdrawing a boiling kettle. "You wish to buy a cup of tea before heading up, don't you?" <<choose "hub-residential-southernwinds2">> #use-if ((($shards + ($silver / 10)) + ($gold * 10)) gte 0.3) Order a white jasmine tea and head upstairs. [3 Silver] <<var $teatype "white jasmine tea">>\ "One $teatype, please." You say, handing over the funds. <<if ($silver gte 3)>>\ <<var $silver - 3>>\ <<elseif ($shards gte 1)>>\ <<var $shards - 1>>\ <<var $silver + 7>>\ <<elseif ($gold gte 1)>>\ <<var $gold - 1>>\ <<var $shards + 9>>\ <<var $silver + 7>>\ <</if>>\ ''[3 Silver Lost]'' You take a sip of the aromatic tea and enjoy the subtle infusion that its warmth adds to your body. The fragrance and combination of different tea leaves makes for a soothing beverage that stays well on the tongue. #use-if ((($shards + ($silver / 10)) + ($gold * 10)) gte 0.4) Order a festive nutmeg-cinnamon black tea and head upstairs. [4 Silver] <<var $teatype "festive black tea">>\ "One $teatype, please." You say, handing over the funds. <<if ($silver gte 3)>>\ <<var $silver - 4>>\ <<elseif ($shards gte 1)>>\ <<var $shards - 1>>\ <<var $silver + 6>>\ <<elseif ($gold gte 1)>>\ <<var $gold - 1>>\ <<var $shards + 9>>\ <<var $silver + 6>>\ <</if>>\ ''[4 Silver Lost]'' The odd Gothic mixture of cinnamon and nutmeg makes for a surprisingly fulfilling beverage, though you suspect they cheated. The coloration betrays that milk or cream has been added, and the taste of sugar is plain as day. Still, it's delicious. #use-if ((($shards + ($silver / 10)) + ($gold * 10)) gte 0.5) Order a rich matcha tea and head upstairs. [5 Silver] <<var $teatype "matcha tea">>\ "One $teatype, please." You say, handing over the funds. <<if ($silver gte 3)>>\ <<var $silver - 5>>\ <<elseif ($shards gte 1)>>\ <<var $shards - 1>>\ <<var $silver + 5>>\ <<elseif ($gold gte 1)>>\ <<var $gold - 1>>\ <<var $shards + 9>>\ <<var $silver + 5>>\ <</if>>\ ''[5 Silver Lost]'' The matcha tea is more like a green sludge that has been conned into be a liquid. The creamy, frothy texture helps to deliver the oddly sweet grassy taste. You suspect this is what grass must taste like to cows, for though you know you should dislike such a vegetative taste in your tea, its unusually pleasing aftertaste invites sip after sip. #show-if ($bubblebrew gte 1) use-if ((($shards + ($silver / 10)) + ($gold * 10)) gte 0.8) Order an iced bubblebrew. [8 Silver] <<var $teatype "iced bubblebrew">>\ "One $teatype, please." You say, handing over the funds. <<if ($silver gte 8)>>\ <<var $silver - 8>>\ <<elseif ($shards gte 1)>>\ <<var $shards - 1>>\ <<var $silver + 2>>\ <<elseif ($gold gte 1)>>\ <<var $gold - 1>>\ <<var $shards + 9>>\ <<var $silver + 2>>\ <</if>>\ ''[8 Silver Lost]'' You take a sip of the iced bubblebrew, enjoying the citrus and white pine admixture. The bubbles dance on your tongue and the cool, crisp sensation feels refreshing to the body all the way down. "How is it?" The tea merchant asks. "Delicious." You reply in earnest. "Where did you get the recipe?" "I didn't." Li Jumpei admits. "Some ruffians come by and drop off bottles of the stuff. I pay them for the previous crate's sales whenever they come back with another. Nanhou is filled with business deals if you know how to provide what people want." "You can say that again." You admit between sips, knowing those payments will be going directly to you. ''[Item Gained: 322 Silver]'' <<var $silver + 322>>\ "You were here for Li Moon, right?" The woman asks. "Her Sectmistress actually." You correct. "Short, black hair, pale face, permanent scowl." "Ah." Li Jumpei says, filling up some tea cups for a table in the back. "Yes, she's with the others upstairs. Head on up past the curtain in the back." <<page "Ascend the stairs." "hub-residential-southernwinds3">>\ #"No thank you, I don't like tea." "No thank you." You say. "I don't like tea." Everyone around you gasps. "You don't like...tea?" Li Jumpei asks. "What kind of a proper Rasenite doesn't like tea?" ''[Prestige Lost]'' <<var $prestige - 1>>\ "I just-" You look around and notice everyone's stares. "I don't see the appeal! It's like a juice that's afraid to taste sweet. Everyone ices it or heats it and pretends temperature can make up for flavor. It's all a sham!" Li Jumpei scowls, withdrawing an oversized tea scoop and pointing to the back curtain. "Get out of my sight." You head to the back with your head hung low. <<if (dig($mettaio, 1) gte 6)>>\ //Why?// Taio the Bandit asks from inside you soul. //Quit being such a weakling and kill them all!// //Ah yes.// Taio the Scholar interrupts, also haunting your soul. //Wholesale slaughtering mysterious strangers with no intelligence on their capabilities. What a perfect way to lose a permanent alliance for nothing. Moron.// <<if ($style is "Kiihakai")>>\ //What a tragedy.// Dreamdemona says, ''also'' haunting your soul. //You've put me in a position where I agree with one of them.// //Can you all keep it down?// \ <<else>>\ //Can you two shut up?// \ <</if>>\ You think to them on your way out. <</if>>\ <<page "Ascend the stairs." "hub-residential-southernwinds3">>\ #Scan the tea hostess's Aura Pressure. You scan the woman's aura pressure to find it at a measly three-hundred. You're pretty sure Rin could fight her. She might have to, because the woman looks heavily insulted by the feeling of your scan. <<if ($heshe is "he")>>\ "How mannerless!" She shouts, covering her stomach and chest. \ <<else>>\ "Excuse me?!" She shouts, waving an oversized tea scoop in your face. \ <</if>>\ "So invasive! Who taught you your manners? Hm? Do I need to have a talk with your Mother?" "Er, sorry." You say, stepping back and scratching the side of your head. "It's just...how old are you \ <<if ($persuasion gte 3)>>\ <<var $powexp + 1>>\ again? You look //excactly// like your daughter." ''[Persuasion 3 Check Passed]'' The woman's look of disgust and anger is replaced with a beaming smile, her eyes closing and cheeks blushing. "Oh you flatterer. Tell you what, you take a cup of the house special and head on up to see the others. They did mention expecting someone that fits your image." She slides a cup of loquat-flavored tea your way. You take a sip and enjoy the fragrant, electrifying sensation. <<apboost 4>>\ <<if ($chispent gt 0)>>\ ''[1 Chi Restored]'' <<var $chispent - 1>>\ <</if>>\ "Spiritfruit." You say, taking another sip and exhaling with a pleased sigh. "Thank you, I had no idea you sold this here." Li Jumpei stares at you, unblinking. "We don't sell spiritfruit tea." "...This is spiritfruit though." The woman rummages under the counter, withdraws some small orange fruits from a box, and takes a bite before rising back above the counter. "Shop's closed, everyone! I need to go find my supplier before he realizes what he's selling." She ushers her customers out the front door and closes the shop, leaving you to travel behind the curtain and up the stairs to find Desdemona. <<var $teatype "loquan spiritfruit tea">>\ You take another sip first. <<else>>\ again?" ''[Persuasion 3 Check Failed]'' <<if ($heshe is "he")>>\ "None of your business, young man. That's how old. By the Ancestors, do I need to teach you some manners with the heel of my shoe?" ''[Prestige Lost]'' <<var $prestige - 1>>\ You hold up your hands for peace. "Alright, apologies, I'll see myself out." She spits in a cup of tea and holds it out to you, calling as you retreat. "Are you sure you don't want to order anything?!" You hastily make your way through the black curtain in the back. <<else>>\ "Old enough to know you shouldn't be asking those questions, missy. And in less years than you think, you'll be mad at someone for asking //you//." You hold up your hands for peace and motion to the backroom stairs. "Uh, okay, I'll go-" "It will happen to ''yoooouuu!''" She chants, pointing her tea scoop at you in front of the other patrons. ''[Prestige Lost]'' <<var $prestige - 1>>\ Chi warps in the air. You think she just cursed you to get asked about your age in a few years. /* she did */\ <</if>>\ <</if>>\ <<page "Ascend the stairs." "hub-residential-southernwinds3">>\ <</choose>> <</if>>\

"How is it?" The tea merchant asks. "It's good." You reply, placing a small tea plate under your cup to keep it steady. "Good answer." She says. "You can head upstairs. Just past the black curtain in the back, you can't miss it." <<page "Ascend the stairs." "hub-residential-southernwinds3">>\

"Welcome back." Desdemona says, sipping tea while on her knees. Five other disciples huddle around her as she draws sigils on the floor in chalk. One tries to correct her math and she smacks his hand, begrudgingly correcting the equation. "Does that chalk come off easily?" You ask, wondering if she stained the floorboards. She pauses, her face growing somehow even paler. "So." Li Sun says, walking out of a side room with more tea cups. "Have you decided if you will work with us?" <<include "hub-residential-southernwinds-choosesecrecy">>\

You ascend the creaky, winding stairs to the second story of the Southern Winds Tea House and open the door at the end. You're greeted by an eerie dark glow. The wide entry room is filled with seven darkly robed sorcerers and sorceresses sitting in a circle around a ritual circle. Furniture is pushed against the walls to make room and the windows are painted over with black paint. "Thunderfaller." Desdemona says as a matter-of-fact, withdrawing her hood at your entrance. \ <<if ($heshe is "he")>>\ Her dark hair cascades down her shoulders and frames her pale face and purple lips. \ <</if>>\ "I'm glad you came." "Sorry I'm late." You jest, \ <<if ($teatype isnot "")>>\ taking a sip of your $teatype and \ <</if>>\ looking to Desdemona's left and right. "I met your mom downstairs. Nice woman." Two of the other disciples remove their hoods to reveal the Li siblings. Their faces are unusually pale. Li Moon keeps her eyes locked on the floor in shame, but Li Sun locks his on you. "What did she say?" He asks. You quirk an eyebrow. "Not a lot, why? There's no need for such a serious face; all I did was \ <<if ($teatype is "")>>\ ask her where you all were." <<else>>\ order a tea." You take another sip of your $teatype to stress the point. <</if>>\ The man looks to Desdemona, who shakes her head. "<<cap $heshe>> was bound to find out eventually, Disciple Sun." "Not without securities." Li Sun says, rising. "Thunderfaller, I appreciate your interest in meeting us here, but what we speak about is of the utmost secrecy. Before we can let you in our mission, I ask that you swear on your soul that you will not tell another about what you hear about us." You quick an eyebrow. "Like a soulbinding oath?" Desdemona tsks with half-lidden eyes. "Do we look like we can afford a soulbinding oath?" "Yes." You reply in earnest. "You're all dressed in dark robes like some secretive illuminati." The Gothic woman shrugs. "Black cloth was on sale." She turns her attention back to the ritual circle. One of her fingers runs down a glowing line to reroute the Mystic Chi to a different section, leaving you with the unusually brave Disciple Sun demanding you give him your word. <<include "hub-residential-southernwinds-choosesecrecy">>\

<<choose "hub-quest-dessy">> #"Fine, I won't tell anyone. What's going on?" [1 Day] #"You all seem tense, I'll come back another time." "You all seem tense." You say in \ <<if ($ruthless gte 65)>>\ mock \ <</if>>\ sympathy. "I'll come back later." Desdemona nods solemnly. "Understood. We will be here if you need us, Thunderfaller." She taps her chin twice and checks calculations on a scroll as you leave. <<page "Return to the Residential District" "hub-residential-district">>\ <</choose>>

"Fine." You \ <<if ($ruthless gte 65)>>\ concede in annoyance. \ <<else>>\ concede. \ <</if>>\ "I won't tell anyone about whatever I hear about you." "Does that alleviate your fears, Disciple Sun?" Desdemona asks. "Not nearly." The man says, giving you a short bow. "But it will have to do. Thank you both for your patience." He returns to his seat in the circle and keeps his head low. "Now what is going on here?" You ask. "I thought you'd need help with some mystical experiment, but instead I'm getting sworn to secrecy for seeing someone's mom work at a tea shop. What's so important about tea that-" "She's Laborer Caste." Li Moon says. "Mom got a job at the tea shop because she's a Laborer. So am I, and so is Sun." "As were most of my Disciples that Bossrozal's men abducted." Desdemona says with a sneer. "My Sect is simply rife with imminent scandal." You freeze, a chill down your spine. "But they're all in the Heavenly Ascension Trials." "Illegally." Desdemona confirms, rising and dusting off the knees of her robes. "If they are caught, we will all be executed." <<var $val 0>>\ <<choose "hub-quest-dessy2">> #"Are you INSANE?!" /* survivor's mindset */\ <<var $forexp + 2>>\ <<var $desrep - 2>>\ "Are you INSANE?!" You shout, looking around the room. "Why in the world did you sign Laborers up for the Heavenly Ascension Trials?!" "Our troubles are more complicated than they appear." Desdemona says. "I can explain on the road, but I promise you, it was not an easy choice." "Ancestors." You rub the bridge of your nose. "It had better be a good explanation. What about the mission? You mentioned something you were up to?" #"Then we'll have to make sure they're not caught." "So most of your Disciples are Laborers breaking into a Warrior Caste competition, big deal." You say nonchalant. "We will simply have to make sure they're not caught." <<var $honor - 2>>\ <<var $desrep + 4>>\ "See?" Desdemona says, looking back to her Disciples. "The Thunderfaller is willing to do what needs to be done to get ahead, regardless of the stakes or technicalities. This is the kind of trait you all need to emulate." <<if ($honor lte 30)>>\ "Yeah!" You cheer on for yourself. "Besides, I don't even see the problem. I commit worse crimes almost monthly. Weekly if Kosuke's around." "Er, no." She says, a little more hesitant. "Well..." She looks back to her Disciples. "Do not emulate //that//." "Don't worry about it." You say with a dismissive wave of the hand. "Crime and sorcery go hand in hand. You don't really expect to //pay// for all your expensive rituals, do you?" "Hm..." One of the Disciples in the back says. "Now that you mention it, I have committed more thefts than spells since joining." "We are ''not'' a Thieves Sect!" Desdemona protests, pouting. "We are a fine and upstanding cabal of mysterious hooded strangers." Her robed Disciples nod feverishly and applaud her decree. <<else>>\ "Besides, us Laborers need to look out for each other." You add in. Desdemona freezes and turns to you. "...What?" "I was born a Laborer." You reply. "Did I never mention that? I've been Warrior Caste for about...two years? Time flies." Rather than look horrified, Desdemona looks to the Li siblings. "There goes your excuse. I expect you to catch up to the Thunderfaller's Aura Pressure within two years." Li Sun and Li Moon both drop their jaws. "L-Lady Desdemona, surely you can't mean that?" "Why not?" She says with a sinister upturn of her purple lips, threatening to smile. "<<cap $heshe>> doesn't make it look hard." <</if>>\ <<var $val 67>>\ <<page "*Ahem*" "hub-quest-dessy2">>\ #show-if ($teatype isnot "") [Spit out your tea] You spit out your tea in a conical spray all over her face, blowing the woman's raven hair back like a strong gust. <<var $desrep - 2>>\ <<var $sect_dreamriver - 1>>\ <<var $honor - 2>>\ <<var $solexp + 2>>\ "YOU WHAT?!" You scream in her face. "DO YOU WANT TO GET US ALL KILLED?!?!" "No." Desdemona says, wiping the tea from her face. "Which is why our next mission focuses on handling the situation." You sit down on a nearby chair and shake your head, taking another sip of your $teatype. "You're not going to spit that at me too, are you?" Desdemona asks, wiping her neck and chest with her sleeve. "No promises." You reply. "What's the mission? If I'm already at risk for knowing about a major Caste infringement, I might as well hear you out on what we're doing." "Pragmatic." Desdemona says, ripping off her wet sleeve and replacing it with a weave of Darkness Chi. \ <<var $val 28>>\ <</choose>>

<<if ($val isnot 28)>>\ <<if ($val is 67)>>\ You clear your throat to get the Dreamriver Sect's attention, trying to bring things back on point. "You mentioned some sort of mission?" <</if>>\ "Ah, yes." Desdemona says, breathing in deep for a prolonged sigh. <</if>>\ <<if ((dig($metdesdemona, 2) is 1) or (dig($metdesdemona, 2) is 3))>>\ "As you know, \ <<else>>\ "The crux of the matter is this: \ <</if>>\ I borrowed a certain amount of power from a mysterious entity called Bossrozal. He called in that debt early by sending the Hidden Coil Sect to abduct my Disciples on the road. No doubt trying to make me desperate to give into whatever true motive the creature or person may have. I bided my time to break them free, knowing Guiren's Sect has more mobility than mine. Now that the Trials are underway, we are both confined to Nanhou. It is time to act. Unfortunately, Dai Guiren is under Imperial protection as a Trial contestant. I cannot kill the lizard until he fails out. Holding back makes a fight nearly impossible to win. Fortunately, I have an ace up my sleeve: an alliance with a certain $manwoman from Thunderfall." "So I'm meant to tip the scales then." You say, wondering what she wants you to do to Guiren. "How do we go about this?" "We are going to raid the Hidden Coil Sect's base of operations in broad daylight, a time in which shinobi are at disadvantage." Desdemona says, a glint of excitement in her dark eyes. "Then I will take my Disciples back, become an Archon, and ''kill'' Bossrozal." <<choose "hub-quest-dessy3">> #"Sounds like a standard mission, let's go." <<var $honor + 2>>\ "Sounds like a standard mission." You say. "Let's go." "That's it?" Desdemona asks suspiciously. "That's all that's needed. We raid the base, we get the Disciples, we win the Trials. Far more straightforward than any mission Mao ever gave me." You forget to mention that he only ever gave you one mission. "Very well." Desdemona says, pleasantly surprised. She claps her hands together once. "Dreamriver Disciples, prepare your belongings. We move out in five minutes; it is long since time to reclaim our lost brothers and sisters." <<page "Continue" "hub-quest-dessy3">>\ #use-if (dig($metguiren, 1) isnot 2) "I'm in, but no casualties. I work with Guiren when he's not being an ass." <<var $ruthless - 3>>\ <<var $guirenrep + 2>>\ <<var $sect_hiddencoil + 5>>\ <<var $sect_dreamriver - 3>>\ <<var $desrep - 5>>\ "I'm in," you say, joining the mission, "but no casualties. I work with Guiren when he's not being an ass." "You work with slavers?" Desdemona asks in horror. "Well no, I work with shinobi businessmen. It sounds far worse when you say it that way." "It is that way." Desdemona says, looking at you with disgust. "He abducted my Disciples on the whim of an eldritch being. That makes him a slaver." "In a way, aren't we all sl-okay I have no defense, can we do this mission already?" "Fine." Desdemona says, walking past you in a huff. "Maybe you can defend some demonic cultivators along the way. Or Cathayan pirates. How about you befriend a New Yomi necromancer while we stop for tea?" She continues to berate you while her Dreamriver Disciples follow the woman out the door and into the street. You sigh and follow, keeping your big mouth shut. <<page "Continue" "hub-quest-dessy3">>\ #"Finally. Those Hidden Coil bastards will pay with their blood!" "Finally!" You shout in excitement. "Those Hidden Coil bastards will pay with their blood!" Desdemona nods once. "Indeed. Now let us-" "They have had it TOO GOOD for TOO LONG!" You announce to the Dreamrivers. "It is high time we raid their base and turn the tide! We will show THEM what it is like to live in fear! We will show THEM what it is like to have your Disciples abducted! We will show THEM the poverty of living above a tea shop!" Her Disciples look to you with blank expressions, turning their gaze to their Sectmistress. "Here here." Desdemona says flatly, almost against her will. "HERE HERE!" The Disciples chant in unison. "Everyone prepare your belongings." The pale witch says. "We depart in five minutes." <<page "Continue" "hub-quest-dessy3">>\ #show-if ($heshe is "he") "Ah, such bloodlust. A woman after my own heart." <<var $desromance + 1>>\ <<var $desrep + 4>>\ <<var $ruthless + 2>>\ <<var $honor - 1>>\ <<var $sect_dreamriver - 2>>\ "Ah, the bloodlust." You say, staring lovingly down at the pale lunargothic witch. "A woman after my own heart." She blushes lightly, moving slowly to the left to see if your eyes follow. "Uh-Um, yes, well, we should get to the mission." "Of course." You reply. "For you, anything." Desdemona wrinkles her brow and looks back to her Disciples. They stare at her suspiciously and she buries her face in her hair, waltzing out of the room. "I need to get some supplies. Everyone prepare to leave in five minutes!" You recline on a chair and enjoy a four-minute nap while the rest prepare to travel, then follow Desdemona out the door. <<page "Continue" "hub-quest-dessy3">>\ #"I can't be a part of this." [Leave] "I can't be part of this." You say, shaking your head. "Laborer scandal aside, raiding another Sect's headquarters is grounds for self-defense clauses. Fighting someone who can kill while we have to hold back is suicide for half your Sect. Worse, it will hurt our scores." Desdemona tightens her lips and shakes her head at you. "Thunderfaller, we ''need'' to reclaim our lost Disciples." "No." You correct her. "You ''need'' to become an Archon by not getting disqualified, then you can do whatever you need. This is madness, Desdemona, and you know it." You turn and leave, walking down the stairs. "Do not expect us to still be allies after this!" She shouts down to you. "You have betrayed me, and I will not forget it!" "Too bad!" You shout back up on your way out. "I'm still telling everyone we're allies!" As you exit the tea shop you can //hear// her teeth grinding. <<var $desrep - (10-$persuasion)>>\ <<var $sect_dreamriver - (20 - ($persuasion * 2))>>\ /* kill romance */\ <<if ($desromance gte 1)>>\ <<var $desromance - 100>>\ <</if>>\ <<var $compquest1 + 100000000000>>\ <<page "Return to the Residential District" "hub-residential-district">>\ <</choose>>

The streets are as busy and crowded as ever. You stand at the center of the mobile Sect of darkly-robed sorcerers and sorceresses as they march on their sworn enemy: Guiren of the Hidden Coil Sect. "So are all of your \ <<if ($lore gte 1)>>\ Disciples...like Li Sun?" \ <<else>>\ Disciples Laborer Caste?" \ <</if>>\ You ask as you weave through a crew of servants carrying pots of water. "No." One of the hooded chi sorcerers says. "We are Warrior Caste who swore under the Dreamriver Sect on the road." "Only the original Disciples share that burden." Desdemona says. \ <<if ($lore gte 1)>>\ "And thank you for having the intelligence to not say what it is out loud." ''[Lore 1 Check Passed: Common Sense]'' <<var $solexp + 2>>\ <<var $desrep + 2>>\ <<else>>\ "And by the Heavens, could you //not// mention their crimes out loud?" ''[Lore 1 Check Failed: No Common Sense]'' <<var $desrep - 5>>\ <<var $sect_dreamriver - 5>>\ ''[Prestige Lost]'' <<var $prestige - 1>>\ <</if>>\ It's not long before you reach \ <<if (dig($compquest1, 3) gt 0)>>\ Guiren's warehouse in the Port District. Desdemona's Dreamriver Sect nearly walks by it at first until you point it out and try to pretend you haven't already been here. You don't know how she missed the correct warehouse, \ <<else>>\ the Port District and come across the warehouses rumored to be the base of the Hidden Coil Sect. You don't have to check them all, \ <</if>>\ there's only one with two masked Shinobi guarding the front. <<choose "hub-quest-dessy4">> #Knock them out. "Lady Desdemona," Li Sun whispers, "what do we do about the guards?" You lurch forward and disappear in a flash before she can answer. <<var $combatstat "agility">>\ <<discount "Kurokonton" $stylerank>>\ <<discount "Storm" 2>>\ <<discount "Wind" 2>>\ <<discount "Legs" 2>>\ <<discount "Agility" 2>>\ <<combatcheck 8>>\ <<if ($passcheck is true) or ($flashstep is true)>>\ <<if ($flashstep is true)>>\ ''[Flash Step Event: Automatic Success]'' <<var $agiexp + 2>>\ <</if>>\ You appear behind both Shinobi with swift chops to their neck, knocking the pair out instantly. <<apboost 2>>\ They crumble to the ground soundlessly and you start dragging their bodies to a nearby set of crates in an alleyway. The Dreamriver Disciples stare at you with deep concern as you dump the bodies without a care in the world, like you were doing a set of daily chores. You look back up and shrug. "What?" Desdemona clears her throat. "The, ah, Thunderfaller's set of skills has aided our Sect once again. Do not stare so disrespectfully, my Disciples. This...possible penchant for disposing of bodies has aided us." They all nod hesitantly and begin to watch their manners around you. <<var $ruthless + 2>>\ <<var $sect_dreamriver + 4>>\ <<else>>\ You appear behind both Shinobi and swing, //missing.// ''//"Flash Step!"//'' They both shout, vanishing from beneath your strikes. The pair reappear thirty feet in the air and rain shuriken down upon you. <<woundcheck 1 true false>>\ Desdemona's Disciples light them up with two-dozen energy attacks before they hit the ground. Going airborne against ranged opponents was a poor choice on their part. <</if>>\ <<page "Continue" "hub-quest-dessy4">>\ #Let Desdemona handle it. You nod to Desdemona. "It's your revenge. How do you want to start this?" "Peacefully." She says with hate in her eyes. "Believe it or not, I did not come here to kill." She holds her hand out and a dark violet glow covers each finger. When she closes her grip, a similarly colored mist surrounds the heads of Guiren's guards. They both fall over, sound asleep. "Disciples." She says, looking over her shoulder. "Open the door. It's time we make an entrance." <<page "Continue" "hub-quest-dessy4">>\ #use-if ((dig($metguiren, 1) gte 3) or (dig($compquest1, 3) gte 3)) "Hey guys, take the day off." "Hey guys," you say, waving to Guiren's men, "take the night off." ''[Event: Allied with Guiren]'' "Sure." The two masked shinobi say, walking right past you. "Have a good one, $name!" "You too!" Desdemona gives you a dry stare as two of her people's enslavers leave for an enjoyable dinner break. "What?" You ask. She shakes her head. "Friends of yours?" "I'm friends with everyone." You reply with a shrug. "People like me." She squints, opens her mouth, inhales, closes her mouth with puffed cheeks, and walks past you. <<page "Continue" "hub-quest-dessy4">>\ <</choose>>

The door to the Hidden Coil Sect's warehouse illuminates with a bright golden glow before disintegrating into sawdust. You and Desdemona march forward first, followed by the Dreamriver Sect Disciples in their dark robes. "Guiren!" Desdemona shouts, head held high. "Let my people go, or I will bring the wrath of the Heavens upon you." Inside the warehouse, before you now, is a large collection of crates worked into a wall with a wide staircase at its center, leading up to a crate-throne. Sitting upon it, looking startled and surprised, is the warehouse's sole inhabitant. A Human shinobi with his mask off. His feet recline sideways on the chair-throne and his head rests on an armrest on the other side. "Who the Hells are you?" Desdemona demands. "I'm Wencheng, shinobi of the Hidden Coil Sect, so I'm //supposed// to be here." The man says. "Who the Hells are \ <<if ((dig($metguiren, 1) gte 3) or (dig($compquest1, 3) gte 3))>>\ you? And hi $name! How's life?" "Hi Wencheng." You reply back. "Going well. We're raiding you." Desdemona ignores you. <<else>>\ you?" <</if>>\ "I am Lady Desdemona of the Midnight Swamps, Sectmistress of the Dreamriver Sect and vengeful witch here to exact my revenge." "Aw gosh." Wencheng says, sitting up straight before slouching. "That sounds bad." <<page "Continue" "hub-quest-dessy5">>\

"What the Hell are you all doing in my base?" A man asks from behind. \ <<if ((dig($metguiren, 1) gte 3) or (dig($compquest1, 3) gte 3))>>\ "And hi $name." "Hi Guiren." You wave. The rest of the Dreamriver Sect turns \ <<else>>\ You all turn \ <</if>>\ around to see \ <<if ($guirendisarmed is true)>>\ the one-armed \ <</if>>\ Guiren, leader of this operation, frowning while handing boxed noodle orders to \ <<if (dig($metguiren, 1) gte 3)>>\ the Oni \ <<else>>\ Yoji \ <</if>>\ beside him. The lizard yokai shakes his head at all of you. "Don't make me call the guards. The hypocrisy will give me an aneurysm." "You know why I'm here, Dai Guiren." Desdemona hisses, powering up. "When last we met you acted like ruining my life was just some job. I will show you how deadly serious it is for me." Guiren licks the inside of his cheek and looks to the air. "Can't say I know what you're talking about. I deal with a lot of angry witches; you're going to have to narrow down which job you're talking about." "My Disciples." Desdemona says, gritting her teeth. "You abducted my people on the road. You will hand them back now, or I will \ <<if ($guirendisarmed is true)>>\ blow that last arm off your body and feed you its ashes." <<else>>\ wrench their location from the soul of your corpse." <</if>>\ "Oh, that job!" Guiren slaps his own forehead. "Hah, man, you're gonna be pissed." Lightning crackles around Desdemona's eyes and fists. "I am ''already'' pissed." She takes on a combat stance and charges golden chi over two fingers. Her Disciples act in kind, charging golden auras over their bodies. Behind them, out of sight, Wencheng withdraws three kunai from behind his back. <<var $youbarriered false>>\ <<choose "hub-quest-dessy6">> #"Calm down, everyone!" <<var $ruthless - 3>>\ <<if ($persuasion lt 3)>>\ <<var $desrep - 3>>\ <</if>>\ "Calm down, everyone!" You shout. "We don't need to fight. Let's just talk this out before the Guards show up and dock all our Trial points." Desdemona and Guiren stare at you with anger at first, but pause at the mention of Trial points. "Fine." Guiren says, putting his\ <<if ($guirendisarmed is true)>>\ one remaining hand \ <<else>>\ hands \ <</if>>\ in the air in surrender. "But you're not going to find your people here." "Guiren..." You say hesitantly, holding a hand to stop Desdemona from snapping and launching an energy blast. "Why aren't we going to find them here?" #"Guiren, free the Dreamriver prisoners. Now." <<var $desrep + 2>>\ <<var $honor + 1>>\ <<var $ruthless + 1>>\ "Guiren." You say, charging $auracolor chi around your body and tilting your neck to look down on him. "Free the Dreamriver prisoners. Now." Guiren narrows his eyes. Subtly, he nods to Wencheng behind you. You swivel on your backfoot, charging an energy blast. "ANCESTORS!" Wencheng screams, leaping backward from being in the middle of putting his kunai away. It dawns on you that Guiren motioned for him to surrender, not to throw the kunai. <<if (dig($metguiren, 1) isnot 2)>>\ "Uh...Sorry Wencheng." You murmur, turning \ <<else>>\ You shake your head at the easily frightened man and turn \ <</if>>\ back to Guiren. "So where are they?" Guiren scratches the back of his \ <<if ($guirendisarmed is true)>>\ head with his one remaining arm. \ <<else>>\ head. \ <</if>>\ "You're not going to like the answer to that question." "No games." Desdemona demands. "Where. Are. My. People?" #"I could pay Desdemona's debts if that would end this whole debacle." <<var $honor + 2>>\ <<var $ruthless - 2>>\ <<var $desrep + (2+$persuasion)>>\ "I could pay Desdemona's debts if that would end this whole debacle." You offer. Desdemona whips her hair around with how quickly she looks back to \ <<if ($heshe is "he")>>\ <<var $desromance + 1>>\ you. Shock, desperation, and hope show on her face. \ <<else>>\ you with shock and confusion. \ <</if>>\ "You will?" Guiren rubs his hands together. "You will?" <<if (dig($mettaio, 1) gte 6)>>\ Taio the Bandit groans inside your soul. //You will?// <</if>>\ "Sure." You offer, withdrawing your funds. "I thought the whole issue was stupid anyway. Let me get my coinpouch and-" "Wait, wait." Guiren says. "I don't want to get anyone's hopes up. That's a damn good offer, and I wish I had heard it earlier, but it can't help now." You look up, slightly annoyed but twice as concerned. "Why not?" #use-if (($style is "Kiihakai") or ((dig($knowledge, 2) gte 3) and ($handseals gte 3))) Form a barrier between the groups. [Requires Kiihakai or Special Knowledge] You crash your hands together in a prepared handseal, swiftly interlocking your fingers in three distinct formations with the proper chi coursing through each digit at the right time. //Three parts Soul Chi, two parts Agility Chi, one part Power Chi, Tiger seal.// //Two parts Fortitude Chi, one part Power Chi, one part Soul Chi, Crane seal.// //Three parts Agility Chi, two parts Power Chi, two parts Fortitude Chi, Dragon seal.// <<cap $auracolor>> chi shines from the floor in a six-inch-thick line that crosses the entire width of the warehouse. Guiren takes one step back and Desdemona shoots her gaze to you. //Four parts Agility Chi, one part Fortitude chi, two parts Soul chi. Rabbit seal.// The line of chi flashes upward into a wall of hardlight leading from floor to ceiling, completely cutting off the groups to stop them from fighting. "You've been studying." Desdemona says, disappointment and appreciation expressed in equal measure. <<var $desrep + 3>>\ <<var $youbarriered true>>\ <<apboost 5>>\ <<if (dig($knowledge, 2) lt 9)>>\ ''[Barrier Knowledge Increased]'' <<var $knowledge + 10000000000000>>\ <</if>>\ "No fighting in Nanhou." You say. "Guiren, we're going to take Desdemona's Disciples back. Don't try to stop us." Guiren looks your barrier up and down. "I'd love to agree to that, always respecting a flashy show and all, but truth be told I don't even have them." Desdemona's eye twitches. "What do you mean you don't have them?" <</choose>>

Guiren breathes in through his teeth. "I sort of...already...offloaded that merchandise at the market. As in offloading those people at the slave market. And I mean I did it //immediately//. My first minute in the city. I didn't even haggle." <<page "YOU WHAT?!" "hub-quest-dessy7">>\

"YOU WHAT?!" You shout, gripping the sides of your head at \ <<if (($background is "Merchant") and ($ruthless gte 55))>>\ the- ''[Merchant Background, Ruthless 55 Check Passed]'' Sheer audacity to not haggle on such a high value item, especially when selling in low enough volume to micromanage individual sales! ''[Commerce Increased]'' <<var $commerce + 1>>\ ...Wow. You decide not to bring up your morally bankrupt priorities around Desdemona. <<else>>\ the sheer scope of how much harder this mission just became. <</if>>\ "YOU WHAT?!" Desdemona hisses, the floor beneath her shredding into dust from the dark lightning exploding around her. "What did you expect?!" Guiren shouts back, resonating with a growing purple aura of Cursed Chi. "I wasn't keeping a bunch of sorcerers around me when their boss was going to be in the same city. Are you insane? That's a mistake you only make once. Three times in Wencheng's case." "Hey piss off!" Wencheng shouts, standing on the crate-throne behind you. "It was only twice." "Wandering Tear Sect. Twofold Curse School. Feiji Clan." \ <<if (dig($metguiren, 1) lt 3)>>\ An Oni \ <<else>>\ Yoji \ <</if>>\ says beside Guiren. "Ancestors, it ''was'' three times..." Wencheng replies, counting on his fingers in concerned astonishment. Desdemona glares at the trio. "So you tricked me into a sabotaged debt, abducted my Disciples, extorted my Sect, made a mockery of my grief, and now //sold my people into ''slavery.''//" "Yep." Guiren replies, turning around to take his lunch orders away from \ <<if (dig($metguiren, 1) lt 3)>>\ his Oni underling. \ <<else>>\ Yoji. \ <</if>>\ "So now there's nothing to gain by bothering me, and we're all under Archonate eyes for the Trials. A fight's off limits. Don't hit yourself on the door on your way out." "Damn it...DAMN IT ALL!" Desdemona screams, small fist tightening. She turns to the rest of you. "We're finding the slave auctions to get my people back. ''Now.''" "Yes, Lady Desdemona!" The darkly robed Dreamriver Disciples bow and turn, hurrying to leave as quickly as they can through the rear exit. <<if ($youbarriered is true)>>\ As soon as you drop the barrier on your way out, Desdemona turns on her heel and holds a hand up at Guiren. \ <<else>>\ With their backs turned, they don't see Desdemona hold up a hand at the Hidden Coil Sect on her way out. \ <</if>>\ She mutters an incantation while halfway through the door. ''//"The Last Dream."//'' <<page "Continue" "hub-quest-dessy8">>\

<<if ($aurapressure lt 1500)>>\ <<var $forexp + 2>>\ "Mawwww." You say for the eighth time, plugging one half-deafened ear with your finger. "Mawwwwwwww." You continue to make various noises to test your hearing, and you're not the only one. <<else>>\ <<var $powexp + 2>>\ "Mawwww." One of the Dreamriver Disciples says for the eighth time, plugging one half-deafened ear with his finger. "Mawwwwwww." He continues to make various noises to test his hearing, and he's not the only one. <</if>>\ Li Sun keeps a bandage over a bleeding ear and two soot-faced Dreamriver Disciples speak to each other in some bizarre language of hand signs. You're unsure how they avoid accidentally triggering mystic handseals. Li Moon doesn't even try talking, and her glasses are broken. The Disciples seem miserable and wounded. Limps or hobbles slow their pace down the street with Desdemona and you at their center. Behind you, smoke billows into the air from the smoldering ruins that was once Guiren's warehouse. The explosion was nothing short of a work of art. A //loud// work of art. You don't know where the roof \ <<if (dig($metguiren, 1) gte 3)>>\ landed. An apology may be in order for Guiren later. Maybe. <<else>>\ landed. <</if>>\ "You seem happier than usual." You say to the pale witch, rubbing your ear with one last massage. "Been waiting to blow them up for a while, huh?" Desdemona keeps walking forward, ignoring you. "Nothing to say?" She keeps her chin high and her gaze forward, not even looking in your direction. <<if ($honor lt 50)>>\ "Seriously, no speech? Not one prepared line?" Three more attempts at conversation later, \ <<else>>\ "Very well." You concede. "Stoicism works too. I won't push the issue." After a long, quiet five-minute walk, \ <</if>>\ you realize she's not giving you the cold shoulder. She's deaf. You all make an embarrassing stop at a healer's for ear treatments. <<page "Continue" "hub-quest-dessy9">>\

"We're done here." Desdemona says as a matter-of-fact while leaving the healer's building. She walks up to your bench across the street, her Disciples following close behind, and looks down at your seated form. "Did you find the location of the slave auctions?" "I did." You reply. "And it's not good." The last twenty-minutes were not wasted. \ <<if ($aurapressure gte 1500)>>\ As the only one with Aura Pressure high enough to not be harmed by the proximity of Desdemona's spell, you had free time. You've spent it asking around town. <<else>>\ Your hearing was much faster to heal than anyone else's, having a higher Aura Pressure and thus taking less damage. Afterward, you went asking around town. <</if>>\ The answers were easy enough to find, but they come with problems. You breathe in slowly, unsure how to give the bad news. You simply come out and say it. "The slave auctions are in the Noble District. As in, the Nobles-Only District. We'll never make it in." "Oh." Desdemona's nose twitches. "That won't be an issue." Two of her Disciples give each other a concerned glance from under their hoods. One looks back to her Sectmistress. "Lady Desdemona, why would that not be an issue?" Desdemona pulls a crest out of the chest of her robes. "I fabricated the mystic seal of a Noble's pass before we arrived in the city. Where did you think I've been shopping for our rare herbs?" <<choose "hub-quest-dessy10">> #"I never should have doubted you." <<var $desrep + 2>>\ "I never should have doubted you." You say, astonished. "That's right!" Li Moon snaps. "Never underestimate the great Lady Desdemona!" <<if ($honor lt 35)>>\ ''[Honor 35 Check Failed] <<var $sect_dreamriver - 3>>\ <<var $desrep - 5>>\ "Quiet, Laborer." You say to put her in her place. Ugggghhhhhh. Ancestors, that feels good. Are you Jack now? Is this what it feels like to be Jack? Li Moon gasps and steps back in shock. The rest of the Disciples hush up and look around to make sure no one heard. Desdemona only scowls and motions for everyone to keep moving. \ <<else>>\ ''[Honor 35 Check Passed]'' You consider telling her to be quiet, seeing as she's just given you Caste secrets that could get her in jail and you're helping them for free, but you decide against it. Standing, you motion for them to follow. "Come on. We're going to the Noble District." They look to Desdemona, who nods and follows you. <<var $desrep + 4>>\ <<var $sect_dreamriver + 4>>\ <</if>>\ <<page "Continue" "hub-quest-dessy10">>\ #"We're all going to die." <<var $ruthless - 2>>\ "We're all going to die." You say with half-lidded eyes, staring in annoyance at the criminal counterfeit in the pale witch's hand. Impersonating Nobles is a death sentence in all ten Provinces. "How uncharacteristically macabre." Desdemona says. "You'd do well fitting into my Sect, if you ever have the need." You rub the bridge of your nose. "Let's get this over with." Desdemona looks to the distance. "Indeed, let us." <<page "Continue" "hub-quest-dessy10">>\ #"Can I have one?" <<var $honor - 2>>\ You feel yourself salivate at the sight of a counterfeit Noble's pass. "Can I have one?" Desdemona shifts to a look of disgust. "Why would you want to go to the slave market?" "Not the slave market, the uh, the other stuff." Desdemona shakes her head, stuffing the faulty crest back between her bosom. "No, I'm not going to facilitate robbing Nobles either, or whatever concerning plan you're cooking up. Also, and more importantly, we don't have the time." <<if ($heshe is "she")>>\ Whatever. You ''know'' how uncomfortable it is to carry items in your bra. Her power move isn't fooling you. <<elseif ($desromance gte 3)>>\ You weren't paying attention after she pressed the crest down the middle of her massive chest. <<else>>\ You sigh, dejected. "Fine, let's go save your enslaved loved ones." <</if>>\ <<page "Continue" "hub-quest-dessy10">>\ #"Are you sure you're a Sorcery Sect and not a Thieves Guild?" <<var $honor + 1>>\ <<var $ruthless - 1>>\ Your eyes widen against your will when Sectmistress Desdemona confesses to impersonating a Noble, something that would easily get her executed in broad daylight. "Are you...sure you're a sorcery Sect? That seems like something a Thieves Guild would do." The corner of Desdemona's purple lips twitches upward. "I'd like to see them try, the complex handsealing took three and a half hours." <<page "Continue" "hub-quest-dessy10">>\ #show-if (($heshe is "he") and ($desromance gte 2)) "Gods, you're dreamy." <<var $desromance + 1>>\ <<var $desrep + 4>>\ <<var $sect_dreamriver - 2>>\ "Gods, you're dreamy." You say to the pale Lunargothic witch as she confessed to another death penalty crime. "Where have you been all my life?" Desdemona pulls her face back a fraction of an inch. Her pale cheeks blush and she whips her head to the side to look away. "Th-that is no way to speak to a Sectmistress!" "Yeah!" Shouts one of her Disciples. "You will bow to her and show respect!" "That's-" Desdemona says, looking away and pulling her hair over her face. "That is not necessary." "Of course it is." You say, dropping to one knee. "A proper Lady is owed every courtesy of etiquette." Her Disciples gasp further when you take Desdemona's hand in yours. She looks back to you, mouth shaking rapidly and face fully red. "U-um, apology accepted!" She pulls her hand out of your grip and starts power-walking toward the Noble District. After twenty quick steps she corrects her posture, freezes, turns, and shoots a renewed scowl back to all of you. "Why are you all just standing there? Our lost Disciples are in danger, move! Now!" The Dreamrivers take a break from glaring at you to scramble at their Sectmistress's orders. <<page "Continue" "hub-quest-dessy10">>\ <</choose>>

The sun hints at setting when you reach the forty-foot-tall gates the Noble's District, built into the city wall itself. Like every other time you've approached the gates, the guards stand at the ready and prepare to block your approach. Nanhou, as a city, is a new construction. The high Aura Pressure guards have spent much of their time making sure the lessers know where not to go. "State your name and Caste." The Guard says at the front. "Desdemona Xianyu." Desdemona says, presenting her fabricated Noble's identifying badge. The guard takes her badge, inspects it, and frowns. You begin to grow nervous. You do ''not'' want to \ <<if ($aurapressure gte 3000)>>\ have to kill \ <<else>>\ fight \ <</if>>\ a powerful Inner Kingdom guard, but if this badge blows your cover, things are about to become life-and-death. Quickly. "Kid, the Noble Xianyu Clan sticks to its Cathayan roots." The guard says. "Cathayan Surnames come first. So do Zenshin names, honestly. Your Lunargothic upbringing gave you away; you said your damned name backwards. This badge is obviously going to be a fake." <<if ($equippedweapon is true)>>\ You slowly reach for \ <<if ((((((($equippedweapon isnot "Kagutsuchi")) and ($equippedweapon isnot "Ikazuchi")) and ($equippedweapon isnot "Muramasa")) and ($equippedweapon isnot "Muzashi")) and ($equippedweapon isnot "Shishido")) and ($equippedweapon isnot "Godslayer"))>>\ your \ <</if>>\ $equippedweapon \ <<else>>\ You tighten your fist. <</if>>\ "I'm a Noble Bastard." Desdemona says with an annoyed tilt to her expression, eyes narrowing. "Bastard surnames come last to add shame, but you already know that, don't you? You wanted to make me say it. Now let me in. I will not ask again." The other guard taps the first on the shoulder and looks over the badge, scanning it spiritually. "Let her in." The second guard says. "It's real." The first guard shakes his head reluctantly as he taps the door with his fist. The large metal gate slides open, allowing you entry. <<page "Phew." "hub-quest-dessy11">>\

"I cannot believe that worked." Li Moon says. "And //I// cannot believe you said that out loud, Disciple Moon." Desdemona says in irritation, quickening her pace. "The guards of the Noble District are some of the strongest people in Nanhou. Assume they can hear anything above a whisper from a block away." Li Moon's face pales as you all quicken your pace. You pass by mansion after extravagant mansion. From a floating fortress to a darkstone castle with a moat to a literal ivory tower, you find yourself astonished at the wealth on display for temporary housing of Imperial Rasen's most powerful families. Then you come into your first market square of the Noble District and your search comes to an end. "The slave markets." Li Sun says with a glare. "One of them." Desdemona sighs, sending out a spiritual scan to the East. "It seems they buy and sell the souls of mankind as readily as demons. They have a market on every square." "What do you want to do?" You ask. "We could split up." Desdemona scowls, looking down the street at a happy couple walking by men and women in cages. "I know that, as Sectmistress and leader of this operation, I should present a better idea, but...I find myself distracted. Follow the Thunderfaller's plan. We each check a slave auction. Meet back here in two hours to report where you find our lost friends." Worry casts over Desdemona's face as she takes off down the eastern street alone. <<page "Continue" "hub-quest-dessy12">>\

With every Dreamriver Disciple taking off to check a different market square, you're the only one left behind at the first slave market you all discovered. Your eyes sweep across the vivid colors of various banners draping from carriages and nearby luxury stores. A man walks by in scalemail armor made entirely of sliced pearls. A woman floats on a tamed cloud-serpent while her servants feed her grapes from flying clouds of their own. A single restaurant made of fine whitestone extends along the streetside to your left for longer than any road in Thunderfall Village. You've never seen so much money in your life. Desperate to not attract attention, you conjure several retainers via messenger bird. Even with a handful showing up, you have the least amount of servants following you of anyone in the crowded street. Yet not everything holds the bright cheer that affluence affords. An auctioneer stands atop a stage in the far end of the corner. He regales a crowd with tales of the achievements, skill, and value of the seven chained men and women he offers for sale. Armed Martial Artists keep the chained slaves in place behind him. Nobles sit at cushioned chairs set in rows like some streetside entertainment, casually bidding with paddles to buy slaves. Others walk by the event to go about their daily lives like it's completely normal. You decide to... <<var $boughtslaves 0>>\ <<var $freedslaves 0>>\ <<choose "hub-quest-dessy-todaystopic-slavery">> #Keep walking. This is the natural state of the world. <<var $ruthless + 1>>\ <<var $honor + 1>>\ There's only one goal on your mind and that's finding Desdemona's disciples. A quick look through the slaves being sold at auction show no signs of chi sorcerers or sorceresses, so you continue walking. <<page "Continue" "hub-quest-dessy-continueatauction">>\ #Glare in disgust. This should never have been allowed to exist. <<var $ruthless - 3>>\ <<var $honor - 1>>\ You glare at the slave auction in disgust. More than that, you glare at the //people//. The richest of the Empire have gathered around to do nothing better than buy the lives of the less fortunate. How can this be the Noble Caste that rules over Imperial Rasen? Allowing this farce to continue is beyond parody. When you become an Archon, at the height of Imperial Rasen's enforcement of the law, things are going to change. You'll be sure of it. <<page "Continue" "hub-quest-dessy-continueatauction">>\ #use-if ((($shards + ($silver / 10)) + ($gold * 10)) gte 1500) Purchase all available slaves to set them free. [Requires 1500 Shards] <<var $ruthless - 15>>\ <<var $honor + 5>>\ <<var $score_sacred + 2>>\ <<var $score_misc + 1>>\ <<var $freedslaves 1>>\ Two of the slaves sell before you can reach the auction, but you quicken your pace to stop the rest "I'd like to purchase all five of those slaves!" You say, waltzing up to the auction. "Buyout price, of course. I am not here to bid." The slavemaster scoffs. "That will be three-thousand Shards for mere unskilled workers." The crowd begins to murmur, having previously been told these slaves were defeated legends. "Ah, er-" Many begin to leave and the auctioneer looks back to you. "F-Fourteen hundred! I mean fourteen-hundred! You're in luck, we just started a sale!" "Very well." You say, snapping your fingers as a Retainer fetches your riches. The slavemaster smiles nervously. "Did I say fourteen-hundred? I meant fifteen-hundred." You raise your nose at him. "You talk as if an extra thousand Silver is a problem. Are you that poor?" Several of the Nobles snicker at the man as your retainers drop satchels full of Silver at his feet. <<costcalc 1500>>\ ''[Prestige Increased]'' <<var $prestige + 3>>\ <<page "Continue" "hub-quest-dessy-buyall">>\ #use-if ((($shards + ($silver / 10)) + ($gold * 10)) gte 200) Purchase slaves to serve your Clan. -> "hub-quest-dessy-todaystopic-slavery" #show-if (dig($trialdeets, 3) gte 1) use-if ($underlings gte 1) Sell captured retainers at the market. -> "hub-quest-dessy-sellin" #To Hells with this. [Attack the slavemaster.] -> "hub-quest-dessy-chooseviolence" <</choose>>

<<var $score_bladed - 2>>\ <<var $score_cursed - 1>>\ <<var $score_wild + 1>>\ <<var $score_sacred + 3>>\ <<var $ruthless + 2>>\ <<var $ruthless - 4>>\ <<var $freedslaves 2>>\ You glare at the slave auction in disgust. More than that, you glare at the //people//. The richest of the Empire gathering around to do nothing better than buy the lives of the less fortunate. How can this be the Noble Caste that rules over Imperial Rasen? Allowing this farce to continue is beyond parody. When you become an Archon, at the height of Imperial Rasen's enforcement of the law, things are going to change and- No, you know what, fuck this. "HEY!" You scream into the crowd. "GET THIS FILTH OUT OF MY CITY!" The crowd of Nobles turn and give you a glance of annoyance until they see the $auracolor chi swirling between your palms. Dozens scream or jump out of the way, some reach into their robes to withdraw Noble Masks that would give them enough power to stop you, but you've already acted before they moved. Your beam rips through the slave market like a shooting star separating the night sky. <<var $combatstat "power">>\ <<var $combatstat2 "soul">>\ <<if ($ruthless lte 30)>>\ ''[Compassion Check Passed: +2 Battle Prowess]'' <<var $cmod + 2>>\ <</if>>\ <<discount "Kiihakai" $stylerank>>\ <<discount "Fire" 3>>\ <<discount "Storm" 2>>\ <<discount "Wind" 1>>\ <<discount "Light" 1>>\ <<combatcheck 22>>\ <<if ($passcheck is true)>>\ Your energy blast plows through the parting of the crowd and slams into the slavemaster. His body is blown into the wall beside the cages, but it does not pierce through him. Instead he holds your resonating beam of power at bay with both hands, blocking the damage and snarling. "This won't be enough to kill me, you criminal scum! I am not some Outer Province whelp that can be-" You've already charged through the crowd and leapt into a flying kick. As soon as the $auracolor lightshow of your beam ends, your foot hits the man's chest and blasts him through the building behind his auction. <<if ($stealth gte 3)>>\ ''[Stealth 3 Check Passed]'' You crack the slave's chains and disappear into the crowd with them before anyone can get a proper look at your face. <<page "Continue" "hub-quest-dessy-chooseviolence2">>\ <<else>>\ ''[Stealth 3 Check Failed]'' You break the chains and locks to the seven slaves on stage and release them, rushing them into the crowd. Following quickly behind ends when you feel a strong grip on your shoulder. Behind you, holding onto you with a firm grip, is a man in a Noble Mask resonating with four-thousand Aura Pressure. Five more stand behind him. <<choose "hub-quest-dessy-beatenindessy">> #"I can explain." <<var $ruthless - 2>>\ "I can explain." You say to the man, before you notice the scared woman behind him and the way she looks at the masked man. It dawns on you that your energy beam nearly hit this man's wife. You give up on pointless words and take the beating that the half-dozen supercharged Noble Masks give to you. #[Spit] <<var $honor - 2>>\ You spit in the man's face. It splatters against his mask shortly before they all start beating the life out of you. <</choose>> <</if>>\ <<else>>\ Your energy attack plows through the separating crowd until it collides into the gloved hands of some Noble's bodyguard. You slide one foot back and prepare to fight, then realize you're surrounded by 30 other such bodyguards. Each from the Inner Kingdoms. <<include "hub-quest-dessy-beatenindessy">>\ <</if>>\

<<var $val 0>>\ <<var $val2 (($health + ($fortitude / 2)) - $wounds)>>\ <<if ($val2 gte 2)>>\ <<var $val + 1>>\ <<var $val2 - 1>>\ <</if>>\ <<if ($val gt 0)>>\ <<woundcheck $val>>\ <</if>>\ ''[2 Chi Spent]'' ''[2 Power Cores Spent]'' ''[2 Fortitude Cores Spent]'' ''[2 Agility Cores Spent]'' ''[2 Soul Cores Spent]'' <<var $powspent + 2>>\ <<var $agispent + 2>>\ <<var $solspent + 2>>\ <<var $forspent + 2>>\ <<var $chispent + 2>>\ <<aploss 10>>\ <<page "Continue" "hub-quest-dessy-beatenindessy2">>\

You wake up in the streets outside of the Noble District. Rather, you wake up in a pile of rubble some servant dumped in an alleyway outside the Noble District. When you return to the gate you find the guards less than amicable. They refuse you entry, and you can only hope things work out for Desdemona. <<var $compquest1 - dig($compquest1, 4) * 100000000000>>\ <<var $compquest1 300000000000>>\ <<var $days 0>>\ <<page "Return to the Residential District" "hub-residential-district">>\

"I'm free..." Says one of the freed slaves, huffing inside the dumpling shop you're all hiding out in. "I'm...free?!" "We're all free." Says a cat yokai woman, rubbing her bruised neck where the steel collar once was. "Can you all stop saying that so loudly?" Asks a Human man. "Everyone is free. Don't draw attention to yourself." "Agreed." You say, taking your order of dumplings to go. "But I have to get back to a friend. Are you all going to be okay?" "We are now." Says one of the younger men. "Thank you, $ymaster." "Don't mention it." You say as you prepare to leave. "But really, don't mention it. It was a crime, so don't tell anyone I did it." You head back to the auction and keep your head low to meet up with Desdemona, deciding to avoid the main area. Something in the back of your mind tells you that you'll be seeing those freed slaves again. Mostly the fact that you told them where your ships are if they're looking for work. <<var $val 2 + $persuasion>>\ <<if ($val gt 7)>>\ <<var $val 7>>\ <</if>>\ ''[$val Retainers Recruited]'' <<var $retainers + $val>>\ <<var $retainer_morale + $val>>\ <<page "Continue" "hub-quest-dessy-continueatauction">>\

<<var $ruthless + 12>>\ <<var $honor - 2>>\ <<var $score_sacred - 2>>\ The Heavenly Ascension Trials have provided the easiest piracy in history. All you've had to do was send your ship out and wait, then get attacked by any scumbags on the sea and loot them in self-defense. That's the alibi you've had your crew use for their heinous war crimes, acts of piracy, and human trafficking. It's worked great so far. A subset of your piracy loot comes walking through the streets in chains. Captured enemies. Ones you intend to sell. Your retainers stand on both their sides with weapons drawn in case the merchandise gets any ideas. "These are them?" The slavemaster asks, staring your captured enemies up and down. "$ymaster, you are certain these are legally captured? I have had countless attempts to sell any Laborer in poor faith. I trust you have the paperwork." "Of course I do." You say, rifling through your satchel. "Right...here." <<choose "hub-quest-dessy-sellin-bad">> #Take your hand out to flip him off, then leave. "I've got your paperwork." You say, withdrawing your hand from your satchel and flipping the slavemaster off. "Right here." "Very mature, $ymaster." The slavemaster says dryly, turning away. #use-if (($deception gte 3) or ($lore gte 4)) Hand over counterfeit paperwork. [Deception 3 or Lore 4] -> "hub-quest-dessy-sellin-good" <</choose>>

<<var $score_cursed + 1>>\ "Right here." You say, handing over the forgeries you've written meticulously. "As you can see, every enslavement was a legal conquest under Imperial Law. Each of these terrible men and women were captured from a Sect, School, or Clan with a longstanding feud against the <<cap $clan>> Clan or, far worse, bounties on their heads." None of that is true. "Splendid." The slavemaster says, reading through the scrolls of Conquest Authenticity and handing them back. "Considering current supply against demand, I can pay you 110 Shards per head." ''[Current Stock: $underlings "Captured Enemies"]'' <<choose "hub-quest-dessy-sellinem">> #"Deal." "Deal." You say, handing over the chains securing the manacles of your 'captured enemies'. <<var $val ($underlings * 110)>>\ ''[Item Gained: $val Shards]'' #"120 Shards?" You gasp, horrified. "What am I supposed to do with a measly 130 Shards? You've got a lot of nerve, only offering 140 Shards! Make it a clean 150 Shards or I walk!" "120 Shards?" You gasp, horrified. "What am I supposed to do with a measly 130 Shards? You've got a lot of nerve, only offering 140 Shards! Make it a clean 150 Shards or I walk!" <<var $val 4>>\ <<if ($race is "Oni")>>\ ''[Oni Haggle Bonus: Difficulty Reduced]'' <<var $val - 2>>\ <<elseif ($background is "Merchant")>>\ <<var $val - 1>>\ <</if>>\ <<if ($persuasion gte $val)>>\ ''[Persuasion $val Check Passed]'' "Oh dear Heavens." The slavemaster groans. "Just take the money and get out of my sight." <<var $val ($underlings * 150)>>\ <<else>>\ ''[Persuasion $val Check Failed]'' "Silence." The slavemaster says. "Your prattling gives my head cause to ache. The pay is 100 Shards now. Take it or leave it." You give him a bothered glare and hand over the chains. "Fine." <<var $val ($underlings * 100)>>\ <</if>>\ #"Oh, you're poor. Nevermind." [Leave] -> "hub-quest-dessy-sellin-bad" "Oh." You say, blinking at the man trying such a low price. "I didn't realize I was speaking to a poor person. Nevermind." You turn and walk away, hearing snickers from the Nobles as the slavemaster guffaws at such a slight. <</choose>>

''[Item Gained: $val Shards]'' <<var $shards + $val>>\ <<var $underlings 0>>\ "A pleasure doing business with you." The slavemaster says. "Not for them." You say, jabbing a thumb toward the slaves. He doesn't laugh. Your gift of humor goes unappreciated once again. <<page "Continue" "hub-quest-dessy-continueatauction">>\

"Honored $patriarch!" One of your retainers shouts out, holding the chains to the bound slaves. "What should we do with them now?" You shrug. "Take them back to the ship and, I don't know, make everyone breakfast. They're staying with us. Might as well start treating them like crew." One of the slave's heads lifts at that. "Does that mean you are setting us free?" <<choose "hub-quest-dessy-continueatauction">> #"Sure." "Sure." You say, freeing the lives of enslaved innocents on a whim. ''[Retainer Morale Increased]'' <<var $retainer_morale + 6>>\ <<var $ruthless - 2>>\ <<if ($underlings gte 3)>>\ ''[2 Retainers Lost]'' <<var $retainers - 2>>\ <</if>>\ <<var $underlings 0>>\ You are nothing if not benevolent. At least when the slavemasters at auction houses are trying to stiff you. <<page "Continue" "hub-quest-dessy-continueatauction">>\ #"Pfffftttt. No." <</choose>>

<<var $score_wild + 1>>\ Deciding to partake in the time-honored tradition of your Empire's horrific crimes against humanity, you sit down to bid at the slave auction. ''[Ruthless Increased]'' <<var $ruthless + 3>>\ The first two slaves to sell quickly for extortion-level fees. A Lunargothic beautiful woman and an old man with extensive stonemason knowledge. Both sell for thousands, so you leave their bidding phase early. It almost seems like a reason to give up, but the high price bidders all leave at once when the prestigious options become depleted. You're left with five options to bid on and you aim for... <<var $txt "With that auction complete you stick around to bid on...">>\ <<include "hub-quest-dessy-todaystopic-slavery2">>\

<<choose "hub-quest-dessy-todaystopic-slavery2">> #use-once use-if ((($shards + ($silver / 10)) + ($gold * 10)) gte 200) The cat yokai sailor (retainer). [200 Shards] You bid on the cat yokai woman and win. Your retainers collect her chains and bring her to you. <<costcalc 200>>\ "You work for me now." You say. "What are you good at?" "I, um, I grew up on a seaside town. I know a lot about sailing." "Perfect." You say, sending her with a retainer to the docks. "You can fix our rigging setup, I'm sure we're doing something inefficiently. See if you can take a few chores off the men's to-do list." Less time on maintenance means more time training. ''[1 Retainer Recruited]'' <<var $retainers + 1>>\ ''[Retainer Strength Increased]'' <<var $retainer_strength + 1>>\ <<var $retainer_morale - 1>>\ $txt #use-once use-if ((($shards + ($silver / 10)) + ($gold * 10)) gte 300) The Human man (martial retainer). [300 Shards] You bid on the Human man and win. Your retainers collect his chains and bring him to you. <<costcalc 300>>\ "You work for me now." You say. "What are you good at?" "I fight." The wide-chested man says. "Perfect." You reply. "Get his chains off and get him a good meal, then take him below deck. You can help keep everyone in line." "You're setting me free?" The man asks. "No, but you don't keep a fighter in bindings. Work with me and don't make me regret it." Several Nobles among the auction rows whisper about your brazen overconfidence, or foolishness. ''[1 Martial Retainer Recruited]'' <<var $martial_retainers + 1>>\ ''[Prestige Increased]'' <<var $prestige + 1>>\ $txt #use-once use-if ((($shards + ($silver / 10)) + ($gold * 10)) gte 150) The reptile yokai woman (retainer). [200 Shards] You bid on the Reptile Yokai woman and win. Your retainers collect her chains and bring her to you. <<costcalc 200>>\ "You work for me now." You say. "What are you good at?" The woman thinks for a moment. "I'm a good cook." "Perfect." You reply. "My retainers are terrible cooks." "That is not true, Honored $patriarch." Says one of your retainers behind you. You ignore them, knowing that //anyone// with //any// skill in the kitchen is an upgrade to whatever your retainers have been making you every night. ''[1 Retainer Recruited]'' <<var $retainers + 1>>\ ''[Retainer Morale Increased]'' <<var $retainer_morale + 4>>\ $txt #use-once use-if ((($shards + ($silver / 10)) + ($gold * 10)) gte 150) The Oni man (retainer). [150 Shards] You bid on the Oni man and win. Your retainers collect his chains and bring him to you. <<costcalc 150>>\ "You work for me now." You say. "What are you good at?" "I am a master of coin for the Auroran Lights Sect. Return me to my village at once or I-" "What were you enslaved for?" The red-skinned man clears his throat. "Ah, er, debts." "So you're a master of coin who can't handle money." The man's jaw drops. "Pointless." You mumble, looking to a retainer behind you. "Put him on latrine duty." ''[1 Retainer Recruited]'' <<var $retainers + 1>>\ <<var $underlings + 1>>\ <<var $retainer_morale - 2>>\ $txt #use-once use-if ((($shards + ($silver / 10)) + ($gold * 10)) gte 300) The Lunargoth man (martial retainer). [250 Shards] You bid on the Lunargoth man and win. Your retainers collect his chains and bring him to you. <<costcalc 250>>\ "You work for me now." You say. "What are you good at?" "Womanizing." He replies. "Good enough to be arrested and sold for it." "I don't have much need for that." You reply sourly. "Can you row?" The man shrugs. "It cannot be that hard." ''[1 Martial Retainer Recruited]'' <<var $martial_retainers + 1>>\ <<var $retainer_morale - 1>>\ $txt #Nothing, leave the auction. -> "hub-quest-dessy-continueatauction" <</choose>>

<<achieve "Today's Topic - Slavery">>\ When the commotion dies down, the five remaining slaves are taken from the raised platform and brought to you. You snap your fingers as if to hurry the guards bringing them over. "Don't be so informal, men. These are free men and women of Nanhou. Undo their bindings already." "Pardon me, $ymaster?" One of the guards asks while handing you the chain connecting all five slaves' manacles. "I said they're free to go. I bought them, they're mine, now I give them freedom. Try being more civilized next time, slavery is something to be ashamed of. You're looking bad in front of the Nobles." The guards look to each other and hesitate, but cave in and give a short bow before uncuffing the slaves. "Right away, $ymaster." When the slaves bindings are undone, one drops to her knees. "Oh thank you, $ymaster, thank you! I can get back to my children now!" You start to smile when two more of them cling to your legs, sobbing, thanking you for saving them as well and recounting their life's story. "Yes, well, I-" You say, cutoff when a fourth freed man raises his hands to the Heavens, demanding a holy blessing upon you. This continues in waves for five more minutes until you //direly// want to get away from these people. It takes you twenty minutes for them to actually go be free somewhere else, though you get the feeling you'll be seeing them again soon. The <<cap $clan>> retainers took them out to get drinks and celebrate their new freedom. You suspect a recruitment pitch is coming in their near future. <<var $val (1 + $persuasion)>>\ <<if ($val gt 5)>>\ <<var $val 5>>\ <</if>>\ <<if ($val gte 4)>>\ ''[3 Retainers Recruited]'' <<var $retainers + 3>>\ <<if ($val is 5)>>\ ''[2 Martial Retainers Recruited]'' <<var $martial $retainers + 2>>\ <<else>>\ ''[1 Martial Retainer Recruited]'' <<var $martial $retainers + 1>>\ <</if>>\ <<else>>\ ''[$val Retainers Recruited]'' <<var $retainers + $val>>\ <</if>>\ <<page "Continue" "hub-quest-dessy-buyall2">>\

"Interesting." Says a woman to your left as you leave. "That was quite a wasteful display. One would think you wouldn't want to bring attention to yourself. Not in this District at least." You glance over and see a pale Lunargothic woman with long black hair and bright blue eyes. Late twenties, taller than Leona, and armed with a powerful ice sword, she sits at a small outdoor table beside a tea house while sipping from a small cup innocuously. "I..." You look around, finding your sense of direction disrupted. "Wait, where...?" You were not standing near a tea house. More disorienting is that you can see the slave auction is much further away now than it was a second ago. The woman stands, \ <<if ($heshe is "he")>>\ taking your hand in hers and placing a piece of stone into it. She curls your fingers around the object. \ <<else>>\ placing a piece of stone in your hand. \ <</if>>\ "Be a dear and hold on to this, will you?" /* Eldra appreciates a cheeky adventure of altruism */\ You look down at the object and see it's no mere stone, but an Imperial Crest adding a point to your Heavenly Ascension Score. The Five Columns Crest of your badge increases in brightness ever so slightly; your total score increases. ''[Imperial Score +1]'' <<var $score_misc + 1>>\ When you look back up, the woman is nowhere to be found. Nor is the tea house. <<page "Continue" "hub-quest-dessy-continueatauction">>\

Desdemona and her Disciples meet you in the Noble District's entrance. The group of you huddle together into a nearby tavern to discuss your progress and order green tea. "Let us recount any sightings." Desdemona says, taking a sip of the steaming beverage. "I have found none." "None." Li Moon says. "None." Says another disciple. "Nothing." Says Li Sun. The rest all get similar results until they get to you. <<var $val 0>>\ <<if ($freedslaves gt 0)>>\ <<if ($freedslaves is 1)>>\ "I purchased all the slaves I could at my market and set them free," you say between sips, "but none were Dreamrivers." <<var $sect_dreamriver + 10>>\ <<var $desrep + 6>>\ <<if ($desromance gte 1)>>\ <<var $desromance + 1>>\ <</if>>\ <<else>>\ "I attacked the market and freed the slaves," you say between sips, "but none of them were Dreamriver Disciples." <<var $sect_dreamriver + 15>>\ <<var $desrep + 10>>\ <<if ($desromance gte 1)>>\ <<var $desromance + 2>>\ <</if>>\ <</if>>\ The Dreamriver Disciples open their mouths and exchange glances. "What?" You ask. "We're here to free slaves, aren't we? You're not just here to free your own people and leave, right?" Desdemona looks sheepish for once and orders a second round of tea to break the awkward silence with an unexpected sigh. \ <<elseif ($boughtslaves gt 0)>>\ <<if ($deception lt 3)>>\ <<var $desrep - 5>>\ <<var $sect_dreamriver - 4>>\ <</if>>\ "I most certainly did not buy slaves." You say in your defense. Desdemona gives you a questioning glance. "No one said you did." "Good." You reply, taking a sip of tea. "Because I didn't." The Lunargothic chi sorceress leans forward, looking closer at you. "Did you find my Disciples?" "Huh?" "My Disciples." She says. "We were talking about my Disciples, not buying slaves." "Oh!" You try to laugh it off. "No, no, nothing like that. Didn't see any." The Dreamriver Disciples hang their heads. Desdemona rubs her face with one darkened oversized sleeve. \ <<else>>\ "Nothing." You say in disappointment. "All I found was a new desire to make scalemail armor out of oversized and reinforced pearl slices." "I saw that man's armor in passing too." Li Sun says, pondering. "Most impressive; I believe the material could aid the Soul Core beyond normal improvements. How rare are such pearls? Could we collect the materials ourselves in a reasonable amount of years? I've already begun drafting a sigil design we could-" "Focus." Desdemona glares at you both over the lip of her teacup. \ <</if>>\ "If our Disciples are not for sale, then the obvious answer is they have already been sold. We'll have to check the records." "Sounds easy enough." You reply. Her Disciples take deep breaths in and begin drinking in earnest. "What?" You ask. Desdemona puts her tea down, shakes her head, and looks you dead in the eyes. "The Census and Excise Office back rooms are off limits, even to Nobles who don't work there. We are going to break in." <<var $robberyceo false>>\ <<choose "hub-quest-dessy-exciseoffice">> #"Typical. Let's go." "Typical." You say, getting out of your chair. "Let's go." "Truly?" Desdemona asks. "I had expected more resistance." You try not to laugh. "We're already on death-penalty offenses for the ridiculous crime of trying to free some slaves. The law is not my concern today." <<var $honor - 1>>\ Desdemona's \ <<if ($heshe is "he")>>\ purple lips threaten \ <<else>>\ mouth threatens \ <</if>>\ to break out into a smile. "Lead the way." "I can't." You say. "I've never been to the Census and Excise Office." "Oh." Desdemona replies, looking to her Disciples. "Does anyone have a map?" <<page "Continue" "hub-quest-dessy-exciseoffice">>\ #"Why is it //always// crime with you people? I thought we were going to sit around casting spells!" <<var $ruthless - 2>>\ <<var $honor + 1>>\ "Why is it //always// crime with you people?" You hang your head onto your opened palm. "I thought we were going to cast spells." "Blame Guiren." Desdemona says, lifting her nose and giving an uncaring shrug of one shoulder. She returns to sipping her tea without looking back down. Li Moon gives you an unusually sympathetic pat on the shoulder. <<page "Continue" "hub-quest-dessy-exciseoffice">>\ #use-if ($thievery gte 3) "I've got a key" [Show lockpicks] [Requires Thievery 3] "That won't be an issue." You say at the thought of breaking into the Imperial Census and Excise Office. "I've got a key." You rummage through your satchel and the Dreamriver Disciples lean closer to look on you with awe. Then, instead of a key, you concern them by withdrawing a pair of lockpicks. Desdemona barely catches herself in time, covering her face with a long black sleeve to mask her snort of laughter. <<var $desrep + 4>>\ <<var $honor - 3>>\ <<var $robberyceo true>>\ <<page "Continue" "hub-quest-dessy-exciseoffice">>\ <</choose>>

After a long march, Desdemona and her Disciples stand to your left, staring at the imposing building before you all. The Census and Excise Office is a four-story stone building atop a large foundation of polished granite that forms an enormous set of stairs leading to the entrance on the second floor. From this tip of the Noble District, around the wide building, you get a good sight of the singular waterway making naval travel possible this deep into the city. A manmade river has been dug out and reinforced with stone to lead from behind the Census and Excise Office, through multiple sea gates, all the way to the upper Port District and out to sea. "Typical." You say. "The Nobles don't even use the same port as the rest of us." Desdemona exhales in through her nose and looks to her Disciples. "Take my Nobles badge and procure a ship. We keep reacting to problems instead of preparing; I will not be blindsided again. If our people's purchaser has already left the city then we will pursue by sea." "Yes, Lady Desdemona!" They chant together, leaving to face the unbearable pain of nautical rental fees while on a budget. "That leaves us to break in to the back rooms and read the slave sale records." Desdemona says. "Follow me, I have a plan." <<page "Continue" "hub-quest-dessy-exciseoffice2">>\

Desdemona walks you in through the front door with a faulty pair of Binder's Bands. The two of you pass by the Inner Kingdom guards, through multiple secure doorways, and through two different offices until you're brought to a clerk's desk. "I am here to register the release of the prisoner requested by Magistrate Fuyu." Desdemona says in a brazen educated guess. The balding clerk looks up from his notes and squints at you. "Ah, you finally arrived!" The man begins to smile jovially. "You'll have to be recorded before you're officially released. There are a few ways we can do this, and the choice is yours." <<page "Continue" "hub-quest-dessy-exciseoffice3">>\

"How did you know Fuyu requested a prisoner?" You ask as the two of you slip out of the man's office to drop your new (entirely false) release papers off at the records room. "I've been performing dreamcastings since we arrived in Nanhou." Desdemona says with a content air of superiority. "Aoyusumu may have its precognition, but dreams are brimming with the raw unrestrained creation of yang energy. Kiihakai can weave their threads into tapestries, ones I've been using to collect information for days." <<if ($style is "Kiihakai")>>\ ''[Kiihakai Event]'' ''[Experimental Inspiration: +10 Aura Pressure]'' <<var $aurapressure + 10>>\ <<var $solexp + 5>>\ "I'd never considered trying something like that. \ <<else>>\ You whistle low. "Now that's something I could have used years ago. \ <</if>>\ Does it give you secrets of your enemies?" "Nothing so direct." Desdemona brushes her hair out of her face and stops at a singular door in the long hall. She scrunches her face, trying to think of how to describe the effect. "It's...more like pulling small notes out of a rapidly moving river of crumpled paper. You can't control what you find, but the tidbits add up. Especially when it's your specialty; we're not called the Dreamriver Sect for nothing." She places one hand on the door and looks \ <<if (($bodytype isnot "Petite") and ($bodytype isnot "Manlet"))>>\ up \ <</if>>\ to you. "Shall we?" <<if ($robberyceo is true)>>\ ''[Check Passed: Lockpick Preparation]'' "Not so fast." You say, giving the door a quick look. "They gave us a keystone, but this lock has two different Seals to receive them. I don't like that." Desdemona leans closer and squints at the Seals meant to accept the door's keystone. "What does two mean?" "It means they have extra security they didn't warn us about. Follow me." <<page "Continue" "hub-quest-dessy-dessylockpicks">>\ <<else>>\ You both enter the records room and drop off your release papers. In the trash. Then you begin frantically ripping scrolls out of racks and reading as quickly as possible. <<page "Continue" "hub-quest-dessy-dessynolockpicks">>\ <</if>>\

The two of you exit the rear of the building and leap two stories, catching the window of the office you'd just seen. From the outside you press steel wire under the window's seam and prop it up. When it rises one inch you're able to get your lockpicks under the window and deftly disable the lock from the other side. <<var $agiexp + 2>>\ "Ancestors." Desdemona says in disbelief when you actually get the locked window open. "I did not believe those tools actually worked." "Good." You reply, pushing the window open and entering. "The more people that believe that, the better." <<page "Continue" "hub-quest-dessy-dessylockpicks2">>\

The two of you enter the room and you dust your hands off. When done, you catch Desdemona's attention and point at a ritual circle engraved on the back of the office door. "I knew it." Desdemona looks to you silently, and then to the back of the door of the office. "You did." ''[Event Skipped: Guardian Spirit Undisturbed]'' <<apboost 10>>\ <<var $desrep + 5>>\ "I find myself thankful we've become so distrusting." Desdemona says, unweaving the ritual circle. "There's a spirit bound within this seal. Entering through the door without the correct keystone would have awoken it. If it saw what we got up to, things could have been...troublesome." <<if (dig($knowledge, 3) lt 9)>>\ ''[Spirit Knowledge Increases]'' <<var $knowledge + 1000000000000>>\ <<if ((dig($knowledge, 3) lt 9) and ($style is "Kiihakai"))>>\ <<var $knowledge + 1000000000000>>\ <</if>>\ <</if>>\ You give a nonchalant shrug. "My talents have their purpose." "Maybe I //should// have a criminal Sect." Her hand waves through the air like an orchestrator, unwinding the chi of the seal on the door. As the sigil comes undone, she withdraws a scroll and rewrites the same setup onto the paper, handing it to you with a shift to smug arrogance. "Or perhaps I should stick to my specialty." ''[Item Gained: Bound Ice Elemental]'' <<var $junkitem + 100000000000>>\ <<page "Continue" "hub-quest-dessy-dessylockpicks3">>\

"Got it!" Desdemona says excitedly. The scornful, pouting woman's expression does a complete reversal and she damn near squeals as she unfurls an extensive scroll of paper. "Slave Auction Records, dated only one week before the start of the Trials! My Disciples are in here; I am sure of it." She's quickly proven right. <<include "hub-quest-dessy-twoofyoudessy">>\

"Got it!" Desdemona says excitedly. The scornful, pouting woman's expression does a complete reversal and she damn near squeels as she unfurls an extensive scroll of paper. "Slave Auction Records, dated only one week before the start of the Trials! My Disciples are in here; I am sure of it." Her unusual happiness is almost contagious, but the realist in you doesn't even get the chance to feel doubt before the mood is ruined. As soon as Desdemona voices that she's here for something other than the announced purpose, fog escapes her lips like warm breath in winter. The room's temperature plummets. Behind you, on the back of the door, a ritual circle begins to glow an icy blue. Two circles of Ice Chi form on the floor below it and lift upward, forming a pair of boots larger than any man's. In the next half-second they form a pair of shins leading into the boots, then legs, then hips. An Ice Spirit begins to manifest in the form of an armored man. "Can you suppress your aura?" Desdemona asks, seemingly disappearing in your senses. "Elementals can't see our bodies, only our chi. Hide!" <<var $alreadysaid false>>\ <<var $icechal 5>>\ <<if ($element1 is "Ice")>>\ <<var $icechal - $element1rank>>\ <<elseif ($element2 is "Ice")>>\ <<var $icechal - $element2rank>>\ <</if>>\ <<if (($element1 is "Fire") or ($element2 is "Fire"))>>\ <<var $icechal - 1>>\ <</if>>\ <<if ($race is "Oni")>>\ <<var $icechal - 1>>\ <</if>>\ <<choose "hub-quest-dessy-lookup">> #Suppress your aura. You press your spiritual power deep into your Cores. Not only do you end the glow around your body, nor even the casual spiritual energy present around living creatures, but even your physical flesh's reinforcing chi. All power of spirit and life suck counter clockwise into your Cores, compressing deep down. The back of your brain is shocked with the same sensation of sucking in your gut until it hurts. Ice grows over the elementals body until it finishes growing to a nine-foot-tall armored form of a man. Though 'man' is too generous. The creature is far too wide and its shoulders are boulder-like ice blocks bigger than your chest. Desdemona keeps her eyes on the scrolls, trying desperately to find the right record, as you stand before the spirit made manifest. <<var $alreadysaid true>>\ A shiver alerts you down your spine when it scans the room. <<var $icechal 4>>\ <<if ($insight gte 3)>>\ ''[Insight 3 Check Passed: Difficulty Reduced]'' <<var $icechal - 1>>\ <</if>>\ <<if (($element1 is "Darkness") or ($element2 is "Darkness"))>>\ ''[Darkness Element: Difficulty Reduced]'' <<var $icechal - 1>>\ <</if>>\ <<if ($style is "Kurokonton")>>\ ''[Kurokonton Style: Difficulty Reduced]'' <<var $icechal - $stylerank>>\ <</if>>\ <<if ($stealth gte $icechal)>>\ ''[Stealth $icechal Passed]'' Yet it does not advance. Instead, it turns to the doorway and...leaves? Four long, quiet breaths later Desdemona dares to whisper. "It must think the intruders have already escaped and require pursuit. Let us make that assumption a reality." You agree, turning back to the table and searching through the various documents. <<page "Continue" "hub-quest-dessy-twoofyoudessy">>\ <<else>>\ ''[Stealth $icechal Failed]'' It draws its blade. <<include "hub-quest-dessy-lookup">>\ <</if>>\ #Try to unravel its chi sorcery bindings. <<cap $auracolor>>\ \ <<if ($style is "Kiihakai")>>\ Mystic \ <</if>>\ Chi runs over your middle and index fingers on both hands. Before the ice elemental even begins forming, you reach over its nascent body and jab your fingers into its summoning circle. Whoever designed this wanted to be flashy. Not only did they manifest the ritual circle in plain view, but they had it manifest directly in front of whoever the Ice Guardian is meant to attack. Thank the Heavens for such fools. You make quick work of the ritual, altering sigil designs and reversing the flow by drawing your own design into the air over the original ritual circle. <<if ($style is "Kiihakai") or ($countersealritual isnot 100)>>\ <<if ($style is "Kiihakai")>>\ ''[Kiihakai (Adept) Event]'' <<else>>\ ''[Event: Counterseal Ritual Known!]'' <</if>>\ <<if (($handseals gte $icechal) or ($style is "Kiihakai"))>>\ <<if ($handseals gte $icechal)>>\ ''[Handseals $icechal Check Passed]'' <</if>>\ <<if ($ritualcomponents gte 5)>>\ ''[5 Ritual Components Spent]'' <<var $ritualcomponents - 5>>\ The elemental spirit swirls into an immaterial essence that you catch on a spare scroll, rolling it up and applying a Sealing Band around the edges. ''[Item Gained: Bound Ice Elemental]'' <<var $junkitem + 100000000000>>\ <<if (dig($knowledge, 3) lt 9)>>\ ''[Spirit Knowledge Increases]'' <<var $knowledge + 1000000000000>>\ <<if ((dig($knowledge, 3) lt 9) and ($style is "Kiihakai"))>>\ <<var $knowledge + 1000000000000>>\ <</if>>\ <</if>>\ You have never been more thankful to have studied mysticism so closely. "Impressive," Desdemona says from behind you, still not looking up from the scroll, "for a \ <<if ($style is "Kiihakai")>>\ beginner." <<elseif ($heshe is "he")>>\ non-sorcerer." <<else>>\ non-sorceress." <</if>>\ "Keep that attitude up and I'll tell your Disciples you just complimented me." You reply, walking to the table to check the records. <<page "Continue" "hub-quest-dessy-twoofyoudessy">>\ <<else>>\ You finish enacted the counterseal with every intricate pattern and a full academic understand of the Mystic Chi at work in the ritual circle you're undoing. There's just one problem. You don't have the special salts to finish the casting. ''[Insufficient Resources: 5 Ritual Components Missing]'' <<include "hub-quest-dessy-lookup">>\ <</if>>\ <<else>>\ ''[Handseals $icechal Check Failed]'' Your fingers fail to interlock in the correct order, and worse, you're merely guessing at what some the ritual circle's sigils would translate to for handseals. <<include "hub-quest-dessy-lookup">>\ <</if>>\ <<else>>\ ''[Event: No Counterseal Ritual!]'' Four handseals of progress into the countering Seal to undo the ritual circle, you realize something important. You don't know any countering Seals. <<include "hub-quest-dessy-lookup">>\ <</if>>\ #Blow it apart. <<if ($lore gte $icechal)>>\ ''[Lore $icechal Check Passed]'' You clench your fist \ <<if ((($style is "Akakiru") and ($equippedweapon isnot "")) and ($equippedweapon isnot "Handwraps"))>>\ around \ <<if (((((($equippedweapon isnot "Muzashi") and ($equippedweapon isnot "Muramasa")) and ($equippedweapon isnot "Kagutsuchi")) and ($equippedweapon isnot "Ikazuchi")) and ($equippedweapon isnot "Shishido")) and ($equippedweapon isnot "Godslayer"))>>\ your \ <</if>>\ $equippedweapon \ <<else>>\ fist \ <</if>>\ and scan the still-forming spirit of Ice Chi, looking for the one thing that can end a fight before it starts: A Treasure Core. If you can destroy that before people can sense you, the enchantment helping the spirit to materialize should end. Ancestors willing, you just might get out of this unnoticed. <<cap $auracolor>> chi wraps over your \ <<if ((($style is "Akakiru") and ($equippedweapon isnot "")) and ($equippedweapon isnot "Handwraps"))>>\ weapon \ <<else>>\ fist \ <</if>>\ in a flash and you lunge your strike to end this fight before it begins. <<var $combatstat "soul">>\ <<var $combatstat2 "agility">>\ <<if (($style is "Akakiru") and (((($equippedweapon isnot "") and ($equippedweapon isnot "Meteor Hammer")) and ($equippedweapon isnot "Bo Staff")) and ($equippedweapon isnot "Handwraps")))>>\ <<discount "Akakiru" $stylerank>>\ <</if>>\ <<discount "Oni" 1>>\ <<discount "Fire" 3>>\ <<discount "Ice" 2>>\ <<discount "Wind" 1>>\ <<discount "Storm" 1>>\ <<discount "Light" 1>>\ <<combatcheck 15>>\ <<if ($passcheck is true)>>\ With overwhelming force your energy rips over the Ice Guardian and evaporates a hold through its center so large that its four limbs drop to the ground, disconnected. When the force of your own energy output no longer holds you affloat, your feet drop to the ground. You turn to see Desdemona scowling. "There is no way in the Hells that people did not hear that." "Then read faster, woman, read!" You shout, dashing to the table with newfound enthusiasm from your own show of force. <<page "Continue" "hub-quest-dessy-twoofyoudessy">>\ <<else>>\ <<include "hub-quest-dessy-dessynolockpicks-fightfail">>\ <</if>>\ <<else>>\ ''[Lore $icechal Check Failed]'' You clench your fist and surge your arm with $auracolor chi, slamming a strike against the still-forming Ice spirit. <<include "hub-quest-dessy-dessynolockpicks-fightfail">>\ <</if>>\ <</choose>>

//!!!// Your attack deflects off a mirror. "What's happening?!" Desdemona asks behind you, flipping through scroll contents without looking up. "People are going to sense us!" "It has a Block Technique!" You shout back as the ice creature finishes forming into a nine-foot-tall mockery of an armored man. Though it has all four limbs and a central set of armor and blade, the creature before you is too impossibly wide to be called humanoid. It takes up half the room and each shoulder is made of giant chunks of ice bigger than your chest. The spirit's helmeted 'head' turns to you. It draws its blade. <<var $desrep - 4>>\ <<page "Continue" "hub-quest-dessy-fightschmight">>\

"Desdemona!" You whisper-hiss over your shoulder. "Get ready to fight!" Desdemona looks up from her scrolls and sees the Ice Guardian \ <<if ($alreadysaid is true)>>\ adopt an Akakiru battlestance and aim its sword forward. <<else>>\ form into a full-sized extra wide mockery of an armored warrior, with massive ice chunks the size of your chest for shoulders. It draws its blade. <</if>>\ The pale witch's upper lip curls in irritation. "Typical." <<var $desrep - 4>>\ <<var $val 0>>\ <<choose "hub-quest-dessy-fightschmight0">>\ #Finish the fight as quickly as possible. "Attack as one!" You shout, leaping high with a heavy swing at the elemental and giving room for Desdemona to blast it from below. <<var $combatstat "power">>\ <<var $combatskill "athletics">>\ <<discount "Midorikatai" $stylerank>>\ <<discount "Earth" 2>>\ <<discount "Wind" 1>>\ <<discount "Water" 1>>\ <<combatcheck 10>>\ <<if ($passcheck is true)>>\ Your fist slams into the top of the ice golem just as Desdemona's golden lightning bolt pierces through its chest. <<apboost 2>>\ Her attack weakens it enough for your punch to add cracks throughout its manifested form. <<else>>\ Desdemona's golden lightning bolt crashes into the ice golem's center with a blinding flash. A //blinding// flash. You are blinded just as you were about to strike. The ice elemental's sword sheers through your flesh on your left side. <<if ($pblocktech isnot "")>>\ ''[$pblocktech Activated, Damage Reduced]'' <<woundcheck 1 false false>>\ <<else>>\ <<woundcheck 2 false false>>\ <</if>>\ The only saving grace is your tenacity. Gritting your teeth, you use the spirit's sword to determine where it is. By gripping the weapon you're able to twist your body into the creature's manifested form with a double dropkick that sends cracks up and down its body of ice. <</if>>\ <<var $combatstat "agility">>\ <<var $weapontest true>>\ <<discount "Kurokonton" $stylerank>>\ <<discount "Light" 2>>\ <<discount "Fire" 2>>\ <<discount "Wind" 1>>\ <<discount "Aoyusumu" 1>>\ <<combatcheck 10>>\ <<if ($passcheck is true)>>\ Cracks that your \ <<if ($equippedweapon is "Yumi")>>\ arrows pierce into \ <<else>>\ swift strikes assault \ <</if>>\ a hundred-times over, stabbing into the creature fast enough to dismantle its materialized form before it can react. <<else>>\ Cracks that fracture and explode before you can react, destroying the ice spirit's manifested body while blasting you point-blank with frostburning energy. <<woundcheck 2 false true>>\ ''[1 Chi Spent]'' <<var $chispent + 1>>\ <</if>>\ #Finish the fight as quietly as possible. "Can you obscure our fight?" You ask to Desdemona. "I can try!" She hisses, leaping to the back of the room and enacting handseals in rapid succession. Darkness consumes the room and seeps up from the floors. "But you'll have to do the fighting yourself." "Wait what-" The elemental ice warrior's sword descends on you like a falling support beam. <<var $combatstat "agility">>\ <<var $combatskill "perception">>\ <<discount "Kurokonton" $stylerank>>\ <<discount "Fire" 2>>\ <<discount "Wind" 1>>\ <<discount "Light" 1>>\ <<combatcheck 13>>\ <<if ($passcheck is true)>>\ You dodge to the side just in time and rush in and disarm the ice elemental, wrenching the blade form its grasp before the heavy weapon hits the floor and alerts the building. Never one to be wasteful, you cleave the sword ten inches into the ice spirit's hip. <<else>>\ You try to dodge to the side in time and suffer a grievous wound down your chest when your backstep proves too shallow. The ice blade rends your flesh and spirit in one strike. <<woundcheck 2 false false>>\ ''[1 Chi Point Lost]'' <<var $chispent + 1>>\ <<var $val 1>>\ You crash into the spirit and try to kick off, but it acts first. <</if>>\ It responds to your close proximity with a roar of ice scraping ice. The sound is dulled by Desdemona's effect, but it's not the sound that concerns you. It's the hundreds of ice shards flying out of the creature's manifested body. <<if (dig($mettaio, 1) gte 6)>>\ //Dodge it!// Shouts the Scholar in your mind. //<<cap $heshe>>'s two inches from the creature, you buffoon, how can $heshe dodge?// You ignore them both and \ <<else>>\ With no room to dodge you \ <</if>>\ throw both hands forward in a close-range $auracolor blast of energy to counter the attack. <<var $combatstat "soul">>\ <<var $combatstat2 "power">>\ <<discount "Kiihakai" $stylerank>>\ <<discount "Fire" 3>>\ <<discount "Ice" 1>>\ <<discount "Storm" 1>>\ <<attack "Energy Melee">>\ <<combatcheck 18>>\ <<if ($passcheck is true)>>\ Your blast rushes over the spirit's icicle barrage and crashes through its torso. It falls to pieces in a second, shattering from the impact. <<apboost 2>>\ <<else>>\ Your blast rips through //some// of the icicle barrage and crashes into the spirit's torso, breaking through its body and destroying its physical form. Yet you struggle to witness the sight from the blood of your own forehead, where an ice shard has lodged itself. <<woundcheck 2 false false>>\ <<var $val 1>>\ <</if>>\ <</choose>>\

"Good enough!" Desdemona shouts, rushing to the sigil on the wall. "If I cross out this, invert this, and wipe out here, it shouldn't regenera-" You both hear the crackling of ice expanding from ice, realizing it's too late. Turning around confirms your suspicions. A second sword-wielding ice spirit manifests in the room. <<page "Damn it." "hub-quest-dessy-fightschmight">>\

Thirty full seconds of \ <<if ((($equippedweapon isnot "") and ($equippedweapon isnot "Yumi")) and ($equippedweapon isnot "Handwraps"))>>\ fists, $equippedweapon, \ <<elseif ($equippedweapon is "Yumi")>>\ fists, arrows, \ <<else>>\ fists \ <</if>>\ and energy blasts later, the ice golem is reduced to a puddle. <<if ($fightbonus gt 0)>>\ <<if (($mortallimits is true) and ($aurapressure gte $apregionmax))>>\ <<var $apval (Math.round($apval / 2))>>\ <</if>>\ ''[Enemy Aura Pressure Absorbed: $apval]'' <<var $aurapressure + $apval>>\ <</if>>\ <<if ($aurapressure gte 2000)>>\ ''[Aura Pressure 2000 Check Passed]'' Fortunately you picked up how to defeat these creatures from your first fight. The power of the Mystic Lands elementals is strong, but you are stronger. <<elseif ($aurapressure gte 1500)>>\ ''[Aura Pressure 2000 Check Failed]'' ''[Aura Pressure 1500 Check Passed]'' It was hard-fought, and the spirit's attacks drained your spirit, but you held your ground. <<if ((($health + ($fortitude / 2)) - $wounds) gte 2)>>\ <<woundcheck 1 false false>>\ <<aploss 3>>\ <<else>>\ <<aploss 5>>\ <</if>>\ <<elseif ($aurapressure gte 1000)>>\ ''[Aura Pressure 2000 Check Failed]'' ''[Aura Pressure 1000 Check Passed]'' You did not make it out unscathed, and the spirit's attacks seemed to drain your very spirit. <<if ((($health + ($fortitude / 2)) - $wounds) gte 3)>>\ <<woundcheck 2 false false>>\ <<aploss 6>>\ <<else>>\ <<aploss 10>>\ <</if>>\ <<else>>\ ''[Aura Pressure 2000 Check Failed]'' ''[Aura Pressure 1000 Check Failed]'' You never want to face off against an ice elemental again. Its every attack seemed to drain your spirit just before it clobbered your flesh. <<if ((($health + ($fortitude / 2)) - $wounds) gte 4)>>\ <<woundcheck 3 false false>>\ <<aploss 9>>\ <<else>>\ <<aploss 20>>\ <</if>>\ <</if>>\ You and Desdemona stand covered in cuts and scrapes from the damned thing's steady stream of icicle \ <<if (($aurapressure gte 2000) or ($wounds lte 0))>>\ blasts, though only her cuts are bleeding. Yours are entirely wardrobe based. That's not to say her wardrobe faired well either. Her robes are \ <<else>>\ blasts. More than the pain, you're both bothered by your wardrobes. They're \ <</if>>\ in tatters. \ "Shirt!" Desdemona pants, hearing footsteps approaching and trying to cover her chest with both hands. "Shirt, shirt, shirt!" <<if ($heshe is "he")>>\ <<if ($desromance gte 2)>>\ ''[Special Event: Male]'' You are no help. Instead you stare. She catches you and snarls, her purple lips twisting in irritation. At the last moment she gives up and seizes a scroll of tax records. To call her wrapping job professional would be to insult anyone who has ever wrapped a gift. <<else>>\ You look around for a temporary shirt and, finding nothing, throw her a scroll of horse stable tax records. She catches it, looks at you in disappointed disbelief, and concedes. As quickly as she can, the pale woman wraps it around her body. <</if>>\ The door bursts open seconds later. "What is the meaning of this?!" Shouts the clerk from downstairs, barging in flanked by two Inner Kingdom guards. "Battling with our guardian spirits is clear proof of criminal intent, with no less than a five-hundred Shard fine!" "F-Five hundred Shards?" Desdemona stutters, baffled, looking to you. She opens her coinpouch to reveal a collection of debt notes where money should be. "Ah." You say, trying to think on your feet and walking to the clerk. "My good man, don't you mean...a //hundred// Shard payment for requiring your services? The seal merely malfunctioned, but I understand your time is very valuable." <<var $val 3>>\ <<if ((($shards + ($silver / 10)) + ($gold * 10)) gte 100)>>\ You withdraw a coinpouch of a hundred shards and put it in his inner robe pocket. <<else>>\ ''[Special Event: Broke]'' You take another tax scroll from behind your back, write an "I Owe You" note on the back, and hand it to the man. ''[Difficulty Increased]'' <<var $val + 2>>\ <</if>>\ <<if ($deception gte $val)>>\ ''[Deception $val Check Passed]'' "Oh, yes, of course." The man says, patting the \ <<if ((($shards + ($silver / 10)) + ($gold * 10)) gte 100)>>\ coinpouch. \ <<else>>\ scroll. \ <</if>>\ "My mistake. Carry on." <<page "Continue" "hub-quest-dessy-paybribe">>\ <<else>>\ ''[Deception $val Check Failed]'' "No." The clerk says, face contorted in disgust. "Guard, \ <<if ((($shards + ($silver / 10)) + ($gold * 10)) gte 100)>>\ the funds." "Of course." The guard says, stepping forward and \ <<if ($aurapressure gte 3000)>>\ reaching for your coinpurse. He hesitates when your aura of $aurapressure Aura Pressure begins to rise and- Holy shit, no he doesn't. You don't even know how to respond when he just takes your coinpouch anyway. Is he strong, or just ballsy? ''[Item Lost: 500 Shards]'' <<costcalc 500>>\ You sigh at the loss and \ <<if ($ruthless gte 55)>>\ fantasize about blasting the clerk's head into a fine bloody pulp. <<else>>\ watch Desdemona sign and seal another debt note. <</if>>\ "Come." The clerk says to his guards, leaving the room. "Our \ <</if>>\ <<else>>\ this $manwoman clearly doesn't have the money. Have $hisher soul cursed." "Of course." The guard to his right says, enacting Seals in quick succession. Chi wraps over your spirit and you feel... Rather... ...Impoverished? ''[Curse - Crossroad Contract: Future currency will be transferred away until the fine is paid]'' <<var $shards - 500>>\ ''[Item Lost: 500 Shards]'' "Did you just curse me with debt?" You ask, noticing the guard is suspiciously Oni in appearance. "A banking family specialty." The clerk says, leaving with the two guards. "Come. Our \ <</if>>\ //esteemed guests// have paid quite handsomely for their visitation." <<page "Continue" "hub-quest-dessy-neveragain">>\ <</if>>\ <<else>>\ "Don't look at me!" You shout back, covering your own chest. "I'm in a worse boat than you!" The two of you frantically reach for a nearby unfurled scroll to cover yourselves with when the door slams open. Behind you, before you could cover up, is the clerk from downstairs accompanied by two Inner Kingdom guards. "What is the meaning of this?!" The man shouts. "Battle with our guardian spirits is proof of clear criminal intent, with no less than a thousand Shard fine!" ''[Female Check Passed]'' ''[Penalty Avoided]'' You and Desdemona turn around, wearing little more than scraps and trying desperately to use your hands as impromptu clothing. The clerk's jaw does not come back up from his last word. One of the guards whistles low. "I..." The clerk finally stammers. "I am sure you, er, ladies, had...good reason. Apologies for my, ahem, poor manners. I will see myself out." He takes his precious time closing the door and leaving. Dreadful seconds pass silently afterward, because neither of you hear footsteps of their exit. They're staring through the keyhole. "Nobody gets a word of this." Desdemona says through gritted teeth. "Agreed." You lie. <<page "Continue" "hub-quest-dessy-twoofyoudessy">>\ <</if>>\

"Let us never speak of that again." Desdemona says. "Agreed." You say, walking back to the records table. <<include "hub-quest-dessy-twoofyoudessy">>\

"I am disgusted that such a cheap price bought off one of our officials." Desdemona says when they leave. "I could have gotten him down to fifty." You reply, walking back to the records table. <<var $desrep + 5>>\ <<include "hub-quest-dessy-twoofyoudessy">>\

The two of you go through the records and find multiple listings of Darkness Shugendō or Kiihakai slaves sold with low Aura Pressures a mere two days ago. Desdemona recognizes their descriptions and runs her finger down to the buyer: The Witching Hour School. "A Mystic Lands faction with a less than peaceful reputation." Desdemona murmurs. "They delve into ruins for lost secrets just like I do, but they have the strength to hold them. Some of those ruins turned out to be profitable mines where I suspect my Disciples will be working until they die." "Where are they now?" "I can only theorize." Desdemona folds up the scroll. "But the purchase records say my people are to be shipped to Outer East, so they must be sailing south to go around the continent's outer rim. I was right to requisition a ship; we'll scry them on the sea. Let's go." <<page "Continue" "hub-quest-dessy-twoofyoudessy1">>\

You and Desdemona exit the building and dash left to the dock- "Desdemona, this way!" You shout, seeing her dash right toward the bakery. "I knew that!" She shouts back, changing course to follow you. Dust kicks up behind your trail as the two of you rush with the speed of experienced Martial Artists. "Up ahead!" Desdemona shouts, pointing to a ship in the canal built into the restricted Noble District. "What are they doing?" You ask, looking at her darkly-robed Disciples yelling at a bald city clerk next to the only ship in sight. "Failing me." Desdemona replies. "Come on." She throws you a Low-Grade Agility Pill and the two of you blast on in streams of $auracolor and crackling dark light. <<page "Continue" "hub-quest-dessy-twoofyoudessy2">>\

You both reach the exclusive inland river holding the dock of the Noble District. Four ships are carefully moored at the port. The Dreamriver Sect appears to be arguing with a clerk in front of one. "What is the meaning of this?" Desdemona asks when you both skid to a halt, scaring the clerk. "I was just telling your," he gives the woman's dark robes a double check, "compatriots here, that I cannot rent out this ship! There must always be ships available for the Nobles, and all others are out at sea! My hands are tied!" "So he is an enemy." Desdemona mutters to you. "The Witching Hour School must know we are after them. Of course they'd leave a spy to deter us, clever bastards." "What?" The clerk asks. "No, Young Mistress, I am a city clerk in service to the proud city of Nanhou, I am merely doing my job." "He is hoarding the ships." Li Moon says, eyes narrowed in her best Desdemona impression. "This man's wealth has gone to his head. His greed knows no bounds!" "These are not my ships!" The clerk shouts back. <<choose "hub-quest-dessy-checkpockets">> #use-if ($persuasion gte 3) "Please let us through, we are on a rescue mission." [Requires Persuasion 3] <<var $powexp + 3>>\ "Please let us through." You say to the man, looking him in the eyes. "We are on a rescue mission to save innocent citizens of Imperial Rasen, illegally sold into slavery." <<var $ruthless - 3>>\ The clerk scoffs. "Not here, they were not. Our slave auction checks records with meticulous scrutiny." "Whatever technicality we both think stands in the way, I am fighting for my life to become an Archon. You and I are stewards of the law, no matter how hard that gets. It is my //duty// to save these people. I would not risk my chances on a mission I thought was illegal. I know, from the bottom of my soul, that I am enforcing the law by saving these people. Help me do that." <<if ($persuasion gte 3)>>\ ''[Persuasion 3 Check Passed]'' <<var $powexp + 1>>\ The man looks to you with hesitancy, stopping a heavy inhale halfway. "Is he crying?" Desdemona asks with disgust. "I...I just," The clerk wipes his mask with his sleeve, failing to get to his obscured eyes. "I so rarely meet another soul who understands the importance of our laws with such deep conviction. I will sign the Imperial requisition voucher for your mission's needs. Have the ship back by dawn." You all board the ship before he starts breaking into tears. Desdemona cringes at him the entire time. <<page "Continue" "hub-quest-dessy-takeoff">>\ <<else>>\ ''[Persuasion 3 Check Failed]'' "No." The man replies with a shake of the head and a defiant shrug. <<include "hub-quest-dessy-facepunch">>\ <</if>>\ #use-if ($aurapressure gte 2000) "Move. Now." [Requires 2,000 Aura Pressure] <<var $solexp + 3>>\ "Move." You say, flaring your $auracolor aura around your body. "Now." ''[Aura Pressure 2,000 Check Passed]'' <<var $ruthless + 1>>\ "Oh." The clerk says. \ #use-if ($prestige gte 40) "Do you really want to make an enemy of the $clan Clan?" [Requires 40 Prestige] "Do you really want to make an enemy of the $clan Clan?" You ask, staring down your nose at the city official. "Oh." The clerk says, blinking at the reality of his situation. "The $clan Clan? With their $patriarch in the Trials?" "With their $patriarch demanding a ship, yes." ''[Prestige 40 Check Passed]'' ''[Prestige Increased]'' <<var $prestige + 1>>\ <<var $honor - 2>>\ "I see." The clerk says, checking his pockets. \ #use-if (($flagshiptype is "transport") or ($flagshiptype is "junk")) "Screw this, my ships are faster." [Requires Transport or Junk Ships] <<var $retainer_morale + 3>>\ "Desdemona, ignore this man's greed. My ships are faster than his. Let's get to the Port District and depart." "Again, $ymaster, these are not my ships, I merely work here." "It is too late." Desdemona says to the dockworker as she sprints away with you toward the civilian docks. "Your lies will not save you now. You have made an enemy of the Dreamriver Sect!" "And the $clan Clan!" You shout while leading the way. "But I just work here!" The man pleads, his excuses falling on deaf ears. <<var $yourshiplol true>>\ <<page "Continue" "hub-quest-dessy-takeoff">>\ #show-if (($honor lt 40) or (dig($trialdeets, 3) gte 1)) "Yarr, piracy it is!" [Headbutt] If the man won't let you on a ship, and you need that ship, then honestly your hands are tied. "Yarr, piracy it is!" You shout. The man looks questioningly to you, as does Desdemona. When he looks to her for confirmation you grip his shoulders and headbutt him in the nose, cracking it open with a splurt of blood across your forehead. His body crumples to the ground. Desdemona doesn't pay the violence any attention. "Why did you say 'yarr'?" "It's a pirate phrase." "I have never heard any pirate utter that in my life." You walk the plank up to your new ship without turning around. "That's because you live in the swamps." ''[$flagshiptype Ship Acquired]'' <<var $shipcount + 1>>\ ''[Infamy Greatly Increased]'' <<var $infamy + 10>>\ <<var $ruthless + 3>>\ <<if (dig($trialdeets, 3) lt 2)>>\ <<var $trialdeets + 1000000000000>>\ <</if>>\ <<if ($desromance gte 1) and ($heshe is "he")>>\ <<var $desromance + 1>>\ <</if>>\ Desdemona glares at you from behind but follows all the same, motioning for her Disciples to come as well. <<page "Continue" "hub-quest-dessy-takeoff">>\ #"You give me no choice." [Attack] -> "hub-quest-dessy-facepunch" <</choose>>

"It appears I have left my keystone in my office. I'll have to be on my way, erm, if the ship were to disappear, I am certain the logs could explain it so long as it is back by dawn." He begins walking away at an awkwardly fast pace and you all board the ship. "You do know it is illegal to intimidate Imperial Clerks." Desdemona says as you begin untying the mooring. "Stick around and you'll see me illegally free some slaves too." Her mouth twitches at the corners as she fights an incoming smile. <<var $desrep + 5>>\ <<var $ruthless + 1>>\ <<if ($desromance gte 1)>>\ <<var $desromance + 1>>\ <</if>>\ <<page "Continue" "hub-quest-dessy-takeoff">>\

"This is unfortunate that you give me no choice." You say, punching the man in the face. He crumples before you can even step back into a battle stance. Silence falls over the Disciples around you. "I don't know if he had an aura." Desdemona says, lightly tapping the man's side with her foot. "He may be dead." <<if ($aurapressure gte 1500)>>\ ''[Aura Pressure 1500 Check 'Passed']'' "Yes." Li Sun says, checking the man's pulse. "It seems he is." "Ah." You reply, looking around for witnesses. "Well...let's get on the ship." ''[Infamy Increased]'' <<var $infamy + 6>>\ ''[Prestige Decreased]'' <<var $prestige - 2>>\ <<var $desrep - 3>>\ <<var $sect_dreamriver - 2>>\ <<else>>\ ''[Aura Pressure 1500 Check 'Failed']'' "No." Li Sun says, feeding the man a Healing Elixir Pill. "He has a pulse." "Well." You say, ignoring the awkwardness of the other Disciples' stares. "That's good." "We're wasting time." Desdemona says, marching onto the ship. "Oh thank Heavens." You say, thankful for the distraction and quick escape from the crime scene. ''[Infamy Increased]'' <<var $infamy + 2>>\ <<var $desrep - 3>>\ <<var $sect_dreamriver - 5>>\ <</if>>\ <<page "Continue" "hub-quest-dessy-takeoff">>\

Desdemona's Disciples sit in a circle on the deck casting a joint speed-enhancing ritual over the hull and sails. Below deck your \ <<if ($yourshiplol is false)>>\ retainers, the few Martial Artists you could find at the Port District that were strong enough to leap aboard mid-sail, \ <<else>>\ retainers \ <</if>>\ chart the maps for your route. It took four minutes of insisting before you all got the map away from Desdemona. The pale sorceress stands with you at the helm with the wind flowing \ <<if (($hairlength isnot "bald") and ($hairlength isnot "buzzed"))>>\ through your hair. <<else>>\ over your scalp. <</if>>\ "This is it." Desdemona says, eyes narrowing at the oceanic horizon. "Weeks on the road. Hundreds of debts. Battle after battle. All of it to find my people, and now, I know where to look." She looks to you with energized determination. "It's time I begin my attack." She opens her palms and releases a ball of swirling golden and black energy between them. Violet sigils drawn on her palms swirl as she forces the energy ball to remain in place between her hands. Slowly the surface of the orb of chi changes. It shifts in hue across different layers until a moving image appears across it. A scrying. <<if ($style is "Kiihakai")>>\ ''[Chi Sorcery Event]'' You have been wondering how the Hells to make scrying work since you first read the principles behind it in Desdemona's caravan, but it was always missing something. "The sigils on your hands." You say, giving them close attention. "That's how you're controlling the view, right?" "Correct." She says. "The instructions in the tome are for a higher caliber of chi than ours, so I split it into two castings. My chi performs the remote viewing connection and the sigils on my hands handle the problem of also shaping the sphere into what is seen on the other side. It only works at Dusk, when dream essence is ambient." It's so ridiculously simple, in theory. Your Mystic Chi focuses your energy //for you//, but that doesn't mean it has to focus //instead of you//. Desdemona has split a powerful ability into two weaker abilities. Each one needs the other to function, but between her mind and her Mystic Chi, she can cast them both simultaneously without issue. Something you're fairly confident you can do yourself. ''[Ability Unlocked: Scrying]'' ''[Random Events Will be Scryed Each Night]'' <<var $knowledge + 1>>\ "Look." Desdemona says as the image begins to form. "We have finally gained enough details for it to work. \ <<else>>\ "You can scry?" You ask, impressed. "By cheating." She admits. "I am combining two effects to do it earlier than I should. My method costs chi, for now, when it should not. But I know enough details now that even this inefficient casting should work. \ <</if>>\ The direction, scenery, vessel type, name of my targeted Sect, and an intricate knowledge of my Disciples who are on board. All the pieces are in place. Let us gaze upon my enemy." <<page "Continue" "hub-quest-dessy-scry">>\

Through the orb of Desdemona's power you see an image begin to form. Waves break to the side of a dark wooden ship. Its sails adorn with emerald sigils of Wind Chi. They glow as they catch the wind, sailing against it, and lines of emerald power trail down the masts into sealed barrels. They're harvesting the Wind Chi at the cost of speed. "Thank the Heavens." Desdemona says. You look closer and see the full image of the top deck: seven men and women patrol the ship and none of them wear the distinctive gi of a Martial Artist. They dress in plainclothes, yet their auras show when they perform handseals to maintain the Wind Chi harvesting barrels. One of the plainclothes Martial Artists at the helm performs a scrying ritual of his own, a mirror of you and Desdemona. He peers into the orb of his own and, though it is too small to see from the sky's view of Desdemona's scrying, you know what he must see. He turns around and looks directly to you. Desdemona's Technique erupts. <<page "Continue" "hub-quest-dessy-scry2">>\

"He knows we're coming." You say, dusting your hands to shake off the sensation of blocking Desdemona's exploding scrying orb. "It matters not." Desdemona says. "I know where he's going. There was a tremendously long rocky shoal in the horizon of his ship's view. They're needlessly far out at sea and taking the wide route. Anyone who's studied naval routes knows that sight: Marauder's Outpost. " <<if ($lore gte 3)>>\ ''[Lore 3 Check Passed]'' <<var $solexp + 2>>\ "The piracy checkpoint?" You ask. "That's where all the tales talk about criminals going to avoid the authorities, right? It's supposed to be dangerous to sail. I always figured the authorities avoided it on purpose, to get pirates to sink themselves." "Useful information." Desdemona says. "Seeing \ <<else>>\ ''[Lore 3 Check Failed]'' "Right." You say. "More Otter's Outer Post." Desdemona raises one side of her upper lip in disgust. "I won't honor that with a response." "That's a response." You counter. She closes her eyes in frustration. "Marauder’s Outpost a lawless checkpoint used by pirates to avoid the authorities. It's supposedly unmonitored on purpose due to being a dangerous sailing point. The Empire encourages its criminals to sink themselves. Seeing \ <</if>>\ as our target isn't wearing gi or Sect uniform, we can deduce they're avoiding detection for a reason. Slavery isn't the only unsavory activity they're involved in." "So they deserve a beating worse than we thought." You say, cracking your knuckles. "We're screwed now though, there's no way they'll keep slowing themselves down now that they saw us. What's the plan?" "None needed." Desdemona looks skyward and breathes in the sea air. "I'll wager they're laying a trap for us as we speak. It matters not. The truth is they are the ones that have to come to us." "Why?" Desdemona smirks. "Because they are criminals in hiding, and we are witnesses. Now gather everyone together. I've decided on our strategy." <<page "Continue" "hub-quest-dessy-scry3">>\

Marauder's Outpost hardly lives up to its name. A few sets of rocks extend out of the water by five to fifty feet across the horizon. Underwater you assume the shoal would appear as an enormous wall, as the rocky outcroppings continue as far as the eye can see to the north-west as you sail south. From above the water it merely looks like a chain of small rock islands. "Drop anchor!" You say when your ship gets within a half mile. You and Desdemona stand at the helm of your ship and feel it lurch beneath you. The anchor digs deep to slow your vessel to a halt and the chain acts as a shock absorber to lighten the friction. Silence follows for ten long minutes. You glare across the shoal and look for miles to the northwest. Any one of these rocky outcroppings could be hiding a ship just behind it. The Witching Hour School could be lying in wait anywhere. Desdemona stands beside you in silence. <<page "Search the horizon" "hub-quest-dessy-scry4">>\

"You'll never catch us if you don't advance." Calls a voice from multiple directions enhanced with chi. "Or have you lost your nerve?" "You'll never stop me if you do not approach either." Desdemona calls back. "I am sure the Empire would be interested to know why the Witching Hour School chose to pass through Marauder’s Outpost." From behind a rocky island to your east comes a ship animated by chi sorcery. Its sails are down and five Martial Artists stand on the deck. They all glow with golden or emerald auras. "Five!" Desdemona calls. "I saw seven earlier. That's good. It means you're hiding two now, instead of hiding more before. I can handle seven of you." "What do you want?" Calls a man stepping to the top of his ship's helm. A human man in glasses with hair tied back. He wears common travel robes despite the surge of his powerful aura. "I do not know you." "You purchased my Disciples as slaves." Desdemona answers, leaning at the railing. "Hand them over and I will go home." "They're not for sale!" The man replies. "I paid good money for Mystically trained servants and my projects have deadlines. Turn your ship around and run like a good little abolitionist." Lightning crackles around Desdemona. "I was not asking." "Neither was I." The man's robes flutter upward when his emerald aura expands. "FIRE THE CANNONS!" Desdemona's hair whips behind her when she turns to activate the plan, shouting to her Disciples: "FIRE THE <<capall $name>>!!" Gunpowder erupts from the enemy vessel at the same time that Storm Chi erupts behind you. A tube of Mystic Chi forms around your body to aim the direction as you're blasted at the enemy ship with the speed of lightning. You slam into their hull in less than a second. <<choose "hub-quest-dessy-fire">> #Endure the impact of colliding feet-first. You extend both feet and cross your arms to brace for impact. <<var $combatstat "fortitude">>\ <<discount "Earth" 2>>\ <<discount "Ice" 1>>\ <<discount "Wind" 1>>\ <<discount "Storm" 1>>\ <<combatcheck 8>>\ <<if ($passcheck is true)>>\ Your legs break through the hull of the ship faster than a cannonball. Wooden splinters explode through the air around your face in slow motion. <<apboost 1>>\ The comparison of such an explosive entrance makes you barely notice the sensation of your feet colliding with a Martial Artist's head. Your double-kick takes him off-guard and knocks him head first into a steel wall on the other side of the room. His aura shatters before he even crumples to the ground. <<else>>\ You crash into the ship's hull with your feet. Only your shins penetrate the wood. The rest of you crumples ''painfully'' as you slam into solid wood at such high speeds. <<woundcheck 2 false false>>\ "Hah!" Shouts a voice from inside. "Fool, taste the pain of my Mystic Fist!" You feel someone grab your leg and wrench you the rest of the way through the wood. The hull caves beneath his grip as you're pulled through. Wood explodes into the air around you. You grab two pieces and, when pulled forward, stab your assailant in the neck with both shivs the moment your arms come through the hole. "GH-!" He shouts just before you open your palms, release the wood, and burst a dual-handed energy blast into his unprotected face. His aura shatters and he crumples to the ground. <<var $val2 54354321111>>\ <</if>>\ <<page "Continue" "hub-quest-dessy-fire">>\ #Break through by colliding fist-first. Your charge $auracolor chi around your whole arm and push forward into the ship's hull. <<var $combatstat "fortitude">>\ <<discount "Fire" 2>>\ <<discount "Water" 1>>\ <<discount "Wind" 1>>\ <<discount "Storm" 1>>\ <<combatcheck 8>>\ <<if ($passcheck is true)>>\ Wood explodes around you in flying chunks and a thousand splinters. <<apboost 1>>\ Through the cloud of debris you barely register the face of a man. When your fist hits that face it becomes even more unrecognizable; his skull is knocked across the room and his body follows. The man hits a steel bar wall ten feet away, head-first, and his aura shatters before he even crumples to the ground. <<else>>\ Your arm slams into the hull and crumples, causing your shoulder and head to ake a stunning, concussive blow when they hit the ship next. You break halfway through the wood, with your lower body stick out of the ship, and feel blood gush from where your head impacted the hull. <<woundcheck 2 false false>>\ "Hah!" Shouts a voice ringing in your ears. "Fool, taste the pain of my Mystic Fist!" You feel someone grab your shoulder and wrench you the rest of the way through the wood. The hull caves beneath his grip as you're pulled through, making a hole in the wooden wall of the ship's interior. Lightning comes from that hole, electrocuting the man in a nonstop stream as Desdemona chews Replenisher Pills mid-blast back on the other ship. "GH-!" He shouts, his body jerking in seizure. His aura shatters before you even land on the ground. <<var $val2 54354321111>>\ <</if>>\ <<page "Continue" "hub-quest-dessy-fire">>\ #show-if ($style is "Kiihakai") Disintegrate the impact point entirely. [Kiihakai] The wood in front of you glows with a ritual circle of destruction. Instantly your Mystic Chi detonates thousands of tiny explosions to blow through the hull in a clean circle that you fly right through, feet first. Your trajectory is stopped instead by the face of a surprised Martial Artist on the other side. <<apboost 5>>\ His skull takes the full force of your charge and blasts him backward into steel bars where he crumples to the ground. His shattered aura floods the air around him with golden sparks. <<page "Continue" "hub-quest-dessy-fire">>\ <</choose>>

<<if ($val2 is 54354321111)>>\ You rise, dust the wood chips off your wounds, and look around. <<else>>\ You catch yourself mid-collision and land on your feet. <</if>>\ One quick glance shows you're in a secured treasure vault; the room you're in is small and reinforced with steel bars separating you from the rest of the ship's hold. Locked desks display alchemy lockboxes nailed all over their cover and treasure chests line the opposing wall. They don't capture your attention. That's reserved for the remaining Martial Artist looking at you through the bars. After the initial shock the Witching Hour Disciple snaps into a panicked focus and shoves his hands forward with a golden glow. "You won't get through, intruder!" He shouts. "EVERYONE! I'M HOLDING THE INVADER BACK DOWN HERE! I'M ENHANCING THE VAULT'S BARRIER!" You look at the shimmer in the air around the steel bars; it's a barrier alright, and this man appears to be adding chi to it to stop you from getting through. You pause before attacking it and realize there's a hole in the wall behind you. An exit. //Now// the treasure gets your attention. "Nice barrier!" You shout at the man, charging $auracolor chi over both hands as you crack open a treasure chest. "It's perfect to stop you from getting to me!" <<page "Start robbing him blind" "hub-quest-dessy-fire2">>\

The man's eyes bulge in bewilderment when you flip the situation. His ultimate barrier against your invasion becomes a weakness when you decide to rob him and leave instead. ''[Item Gained: 1880 Silver]'' <<var $silver + 1880>>\ "No!" The man shouts, ending his technique and checking his pockets for the keys to the vault. ''[Item Gained: 11 Alchemy Reagents]'' <<var $alchemyreagents + 11>>\ "No, no! Stop! Stop this at once!" He frantically shouts as you pocket more of the treasures. His own vault's barrier stops him from attacking you as he struggles putting the wrong key into the door. ''[Item Gained: 7 Ritual Components]'' <<var $ritualcomponents + 7>>\ <<if (dig($combatcannon, 1) gte 2) and (dig($combatcannon, 2) lte 7)>>\ ''[Item Gained: 2 Cannonballs]'' <<var $combatcannon + 2000>>\ <<elseif (dig($combatcannon, 1) gte 2) and (dig($combatcannon, 2) is 8)>>\ ''[Item Gained: 1 Cannonball]'' <<var $combatcannon + 1000>>\ <</if>>\ "AHA!" He screams in victory. The door's lock clicks into place just as you finish pocketing the most important treasure in the room. <<choose "hub-quest-dessy-fire3">> #A potent sharkfin Soul Treasure. [2200 AP Soul Treasure] ''[Item Gained: Sharkfin Soul Treasure (2200 AP)]'' <<var $soultreasure_1 to 2200>>\ #The Bands of Decimation. [Accessory, +2 Power, Kiihakai Style Improvement] ''[Item Gained: Bands of Decimation]'' <<var $accessory_1 + 10000000000>>\ #A Skill Manual [+1 Skill] ''[Item Gained: Skill Manual]'' <<var $skillmanual + 1>>\ #A Memory Well Elixir. [Unlocks Shugendō Element] ''[Item Gained: Memorywell Elixir]'' <<var $memorywell + 1>>\ <</choose>>

<<var $fighting true>>\ "FIEND!" The man shouts, leaping into the room. "I won't let you get away!" He surges his Agility Cores and charges behind you, counterclockwise, in a hastened circular arc that blurs a trail of emerald chi in his wake. Power swirls in that trail. It absorbs all the ambient chi around you to contain in his next strike. Your grasp on energy attacks temporarily weakens and you think fast on how to end the fight physically. <<choose "hub-quest-dessy-fire4">> #Swing a clockwise backhand to catch his face. You twist your torso to the right to swing your right fist behind your back with your densest $auracolor energies wrapping around it. <<var $combatstat "power">>\ <<var $combatskill "perception">>\ <<discount "Fire" 1>>\ <<discount "Aoyusumu" $stylerank>>\ <<discount "Agile" 1>>\ <<combatcheck 10>>\ <<if (($passcheck is true) or (($element1 is "Earth") or ($element2 is "Earth")))>>\ <<if ($passcheck is false)>>\ ''[Earth Style Override: Check Passed]'' <</if>>\ ''*CRACK*'' <<if (($element1 is "Earth") or ($element2 is "Earth"))>>\ Stone chi wraps around your fist just as it \ <<else>>\ Your extended backhand \ <</if>>\ catches him in the face behind you without even needing to turn around. His feet launch out from under him and now you do turn, punching down into his gut as he hands horizontally in the air. Your punch crushes half his body through the floor and shatters his aura. <<apboost 2>>\ <<else>>\ ''*shunk*'' ''*shunk*'' ''*shunk*'' ''*shunk*'' Four daggers of Wind Chi stab through your arm at once. They explode with gusts of force that push the blood out of your limb like a geyser. <<woundcheck 2 false true>>\ <<woundcheck 1 true false>>\ Your target has no time to gloat; though you barely feel it through the pain, his face still impacts your fist at full speed. The momentum knocks his feet out from under him and you twist, pushing your off hand into his gut as soon as his body goes horizontal from your backhand clothesline. The man's aura shatters around him and he coughs blood from how hard you punch his gut. He slams into the wooden floor of the ship hip-first and finds his unconscious body buried halfway into the floor. <</if>>\ "Engage!" Desdemona roars back out at sea from aboard \ <<if ($yourshiplol is true)>>\ your \ <<else>>\ her \ <</if>>\ approaching ship. "Dreamrivers, press the attack!" <<page "Continue" "hub-quest-dessy-fire4">>\ #Shouldercheck him out of the hole in the hull. You leap backward without wasting time to look. Your arm hugs into your side and you reinforce your shoulder with as much energy as you can manifest. <<var $combatstat "fortitude">>\ <<var $combatskill "athletics">>\ <<discount "Water" 1>>\ <<discount "Midorikatai" $stylerank>>\ <<discount "Muscular" 1>>\ <<combatcheck 10>>\ <<if (($passcheck is true) or (($element1 is "Ice") or ($element2 is "Ice")))>>\ <<if ($passcheck is false)>>\ ''[Ice Style Override: Check Passed]'' Ice appears under the man's feet. <</if>>\ You hit the Martial Artist dead-center and use his own speed against him. <<else>>\ ''*shunk*'' ''*shunk*'' ''*shunk*'' ''*shunk*'' Four daggers of Wind Chi stab through your side at once. They explode with gusts of force that push the blood out of your wounds like a geyser. <<woundcheck 2 false true>>\ <<woundcheck 1 true false>>\ Your target has no time to gloat; though you barely feel it through the pain, your shoulder tackle hits him dead center in the middle of his high-speed maneuver. \ <</if>>\ The weight of your body pushes him through the hole you made when entering through the ship's hull. <<apboost 2>>\ At such high speeds he hits the side with his kidney, coughs blood, and flails as he ricochets sixty feet out to sea. Desdemona hits him with lightning from aboard \ <<if ($yourshiplol is true)>>\ your \ <<else>>\ her \ <</if>>\ approaching ship. "Engage!" She screams to her Disciples. "Dreamrivers, press the attack!" <<page "Continue" "hub-quest-dessy-fire4">>\ #use-if ((((($equippedweapon is "Bo Staff") or ($equippedweapon is "Meteor Hammer")) or ($equippedweapon is "Qiang")) or ($equippedweapon is "Yumi")) or ($equippedweapon is "Shishido")) Trip him with your weapon. [Requires blunt or chained weapon] You withdraw $weppy and \ <<if (($equippedweapon is "Meteor Hammer") or ($equippedweapon is "Shishido"))>>\ spin its chain around your knee before kicking \ <<else>>\ crouch low, swinging \ <</if>>\ it behind you clockwise to knock the man's feet out from under him. <<var $combatstat "agility">>\ <<var $weaponcheck true>>\ <<discount "Kurokonton" $stylerank>>\ <<discount "Ice" 2>>\ <<discount "Petite" 1>>\ <<discount "Manlet" 1>>\ <<discount "Monkey" 1>>\ <<combatcheck 9>>\ <<if ($passcheck is true)>>\ The weight of your weapon cracks into his shins with fracturing damage. He topples over mid-dash and collides into the broken side of the hull where you entered the ship. He lands face down and grips his bruising shins in pain. You press the advantage by \ <<if ($equippedweapon is "Yumi")>>\ shooting four arrows into him \ <<else>>\ beating him with $weppy <</if>>\ until his aura shatters. <<apboost 3>>\ <<else>>\ The man leaps over your attack and thrusts both hands forward with the energy attack he'd been preparing. ''*shunk*'' ''*shunk*'' ''*shunk*'' ''*shunk*'' Four daggers of Wind Chi blast into your torso at once. They explode with gusts of force that push the blood out of your wounds like a geyser. <<woundcheck 2 false true>>\ <<woundcheck 1 true false>>\ He doesn't get a chance to gloat. His aura shatters immediately after spending so much energy and he falls out of the hole you blew in the hull. When he does so, you see how: Desdemona had blasted the man with violet lightning from aboard \ <<if ($yourshiplol is true)>>\ your \ <<else>>\ her \ <</if>>\ approaching ship. <</if>>\ "Engage!" She screams to her Disciples. "Dreamrivers, press the attack!" <<page "Continue" "hub-quest-dessy-fire4">>\ <</choose>>

<<var $fighting false>>\ Power rumbles through the upper deck. Wind swirls all around the ship and you feel the Witching Hour Disciples above prepare for battle. You answer them with power of your own. <<cap $auracolor>> chi covers your body as you leap through the ceiling and appear behind their leader on the upper deck. "Good." Says the man as two eyes of golden chi appear on the back of his head. "You've made this easy for me!" Vertigo and nausea strike your body and mind at once. Gravity inverts and you find yourself falling. Wind Chi strikes you with gusts to add to the effect, plummeting you upwards, and the remaining Witching Hour School fighters all point to the sky at your ascending form. Their hands extend as one, glowing with power, and they chant in unison. //''"By the Skies Above, By the Mind Within, Shining Ten-Star Formation!!"''// You flip through the air and grasp for the mast, barely missing it, and twist in time to see Desdemona's ship still a quarter-mile away. <<page "Brace yourself!" "hub-quest-dessy-fire5">>\

Grey-white chifire explodes from the hole you broke through the ship's deck. The effect reversing your gravity ends and you stop spinning through the air. You fall a short few feet onto the wood of the upper mast, just above the sail, and look down to the Witching Hour School. Each of them hobbles to the ground. They rest their heads on the ground and gently look at a red blotch in front of their bodies. You drop down off the mast at the same time that Desdemona manifests from a shadow on the deck. "What happened?" She asks, her shoulder marked with a black and blue soot-covered bruise from, presumably, being hit with a cannonball. "What did you just do? I was preparing the use a Disciple's Last Dream from a shadow-step and-" "I didn't do anything." You reply. "I've only beaten two of them. I didn't touch these five yet." "Oh no." Desdemona says as footsteps come from the wooden staircase below deck. "Oh no, no, no! Oh ''fuck''!" She curses, bordering on panic. "I thought they didn't have it." "Have what?" Her face doesn't pale; it can't with the hue of her makeup, but her eyes sink in terror. "Don't move. Don't say a word. He's coming." <<page "Who?" "hub-quest-dessy-fire6">>\

The door to the lower deck creaks open. Shadows stir in the doorway leading downward until they seemingly part in fear to let the figure pass. A single man steps through wearing mere rags over his body. Broken Binder's Bands rest on his hands and feet. The only object contrasting his peasant appearance is the cowl and snowsteel mask covering his face. \ <<if ($score_tiger gte 1)>>\ A Noble Mask. <<else>>\ His eyes shine white behind the mask, like the Archon in Harehama, and he looks to the two of you. <</if>>\ "Which one of you opened the vault?" He asks in the eerie double-voice of Archons, nobility, and monsters. "I did." You say while trying to keep your breathing steady. "Then you may keep your life." He replies. "I do not know how your fate has intermingled with the misbegotten whore beside you, but know that your affiliation would, in any other circumstance, be cause for ripping out your spinal sockets. Fortunately for you I was able to find my Noble Mask within the open vault and end this farce. I am nothing if not honorable. You may live." "There's no need for threats." Desdemona replies. "We came to rescue you. We've been following the trail all the way here and came as soon as we could." "AS SOON AS YOU COULD?!" The man roars. "I have been in CHAINS for ''MONTHS''! Beaten like a peasant! Treated like low-class scum! Your tardiness was of such magnitude that by the time I arrived in Nanhou, they didn't even recognize me when I told them of my station. The only ones who recognized a Noble were these..." He prods a dead Witching Hour Disciple "...heartless wretches, offering to trade me as a souvenir to some foreign dog. Cathayans no doubt." "Desdemona." You whisper. "What's going on?" The Noble laughs. "Yes indeed. Why don't you tell the $manwoman about the truth of $hisher situation?" Desdemona kneels and motions for you to follow. "$name, this is my father, Xianyu Chou. He is...the Magistrate of the Midnight Swamps. I am his Noble Bastard daughter. My pass to get into the Noble District was never a fake." <<page "Continue" "hub-quest-dessy-fire7">>\

"Nobody cares about your blighted pass nor your accursed past!" Xianyu Chou shouts. He walks closer with his head jittering and his hands twisting with anger. "Tell $himher the important details, you fucking witch! How you sold me to your demon for power!" "It wasn't a demon!" Desdemona calls out. "I know that. I //know// it, because my anti-demon seals did nothing to stop him from taking everyone from the mansion. I would never have-" ''"YOU DID!"'' The man shrieks. "YOU ''DID'' CAUSE ALL OF THIS! I gave you my seal of office to sign //paperwork//, and you use its tie to my authority to SELL MY SOUL!" He looks to you and gets his mask uncomfortably close to your face. "She will do the same to you, one day. You know this, yes? If you give her a scrap leeway she will bargain you away to her dark powers for a pittance. My captors were quite entertained, you know. They enjoyed talking of my fate. When Desdemona lost a gambit she surrendered my Magistrate's seal, enough of a binding symbol to turn me into property for some higher entity. She has no idea who she bargains with, and she does not care." "Father..." Desdemona says softly at the ground. "Father, it was supposed to be a mere piece of office equipment. I couldn't have known." He raises his hand back to slap her in the face. <<choose "hub-quest-dessy-grabwrist">> #Grab his wrist. #Let it happen. -> "hub-quest-dessy-dadslap" His hand \ #show-if ($ruthless gte 70) Slap her first to distract him. -> "hub-quest-dessy-firstslap" <</choose>>\

You hip-check the Noble aside with a quick sidestep and reel your hand back. Xianyu Chou raises a manacled hand to block your backhand attack. It never comes. Instead your hand flies //forward// and open-palm slaps Desdemona across the face. <<if (($bodytype is "Handsome") or (($bodytype is "Muscular") or (($heshe is "he") and ($style is "Midorikatai"))))>>\ <<var $desromance + 1>>\ <<else>>\ <<var $desromance - 1>>\ <</if>>\ <<var $desrep - 4>>\ <<var $ruthless + 2>>\ "You LIE to my FACE?!" You shout at the stunned Lunargothic woman. "You drag me here on some sob story, get me to fight for your innocent facade, and all along you're using me again a Noble?!" You slap her again, and again, then strike her with a backhand on the return of the third slap. When you reach for a fourth slap Chou catches your hand. "That is enough, wise soul." He says. "She is not worth your time." "Agreed." You say. "She's taken enough from both of us. Shall I escort you to Nanhou, Honored Noble?" "No need." He replies, levitating into the air. "My Mask's power is enough. I will report in to the local Magistrate on her crimes. In the meantime, do not be so hard on yourself, young $manwoman. This vile witches fools many." <<choose "hub-quest-dessy-dadslap-hover">> #"Take me with you!" "Take me with you!" You call to the man as he begins to ascend into the air. "Bah, carry a Warrior?" He asks. "In my arms like a child?" "Oh don't be that way!" You launch an energy blast at the ship's crow's nest, causing the large basket to fall. "It would look great!" Chou's eyes hide behind the spirit-like glowing eyes of the mask. He looks from Desdemona's prone form on the edge of tears to you, the one who slapped her to the ground. "Get in." <<var $val2 510487290>>\ <<page "[Hop in the basket]" "hub-quest-dessy-dadslap-hover">>\ #[Let him leave, just as planned] <<var $val2 10385>>\ <</choose>>

You jut your hand out to catch the man's wrist before he strikes Desdemona. ''[Infamy Increased]'' <<var $infamy + 1>>\ <<if ($aurapressure gte 2000)>>\ <<if ($aurapressure gte 4000)>>\ ''[Aura Pressure 4000 Check Passed]'' <<var $powexp + 4>>\ <<var $forexp + 4>>\ His forearm slaps against your interrupting hand and stops dead in its tracks. <<else>>\ ''[Aura Pressure 2000 Check Passed]'' <<var $powexp + 2>>\ <<var $forexp + 2>>\ His forearm slaps into your interrupting hand with intense pressure, but you're a Martial Artist and it's clear this man is not. Your footing and counter-chi catch his attack despite the gap in raw energy. <</if>>\ "Don't touch her." You say, staring into the shining spirit-like eyes behind his mask. <<if (($heshe is "he") and ($desromance gte 1))>>\ <<var $desromance + 2>>\ <</if>>\ <<var $desrep + 7>>\ He glares at you, looking into your gaze. "You challenge a Noble, $boygirl." "That is the duty of the Archons." You reply. "Wounding a Trialgoer like Desdemona Xianyu is against Imperial Law. Step back. Now." "You seek to use the law against those for whom it was written. I will remember this." <<var $val2 56436363>>\ <<page "Continue" "hub-quest-dessy-dadslap-hover">>\ <<else>>\ ''[Aura Pressure 2000 Check Failed]'' ''[Prestige Lost]'' <<var $prestige - 2>>\ <<var $desrep - 4>>\ You don't make it in time. His arm \ <<include "hub-quest-dessy-dadslap">>\ <</if>>\

slams into Desdemona's face hard enough to burst a small cloud of makeup off her head. She falls to the ground and slowly, woozily looks back. Her purple lip makeup smears across the side of her mouth with blood. "What a failure of a painted clown you have become." Xianyu Chou says with disdain. "And you tried to drag me down with you." <<include "hub-quest-dessy-dadslap-hover">>\

<<if ($val2 is 56436363)>>\ Xianyu Chou man wrenches his hand away from you. Chi leeks from his mask and his \ <<elseif ($val2 is 510487290)>>\ Xianyu Chou grips the crow's nest basket in which you sit and his \ <<else>>\ His \ <</if>>\ body begins to hover into the air. "Desdemona, regrettably of the Xianyu Clan, I hereby find you guilty of treason for your betrayal of your Magistrate. //When// you fail the Heavenly Ascension Trials, I will see you executed by pulling rack. Know that your Disciples below deck are equally guilty." Desdemona rises to her feet and shouts up to her father. "Leave them out of this! It was only me!" Chou levitates higher and his Aura Pressure expands into the thousands from his Noble Mask. \ <<if ($val2 is 510487290)>>\ You poke over and wave to Desdemona as she stares at you in despair. Chou simply shakes his head at her. <<else>>\ He rises into the air to fly off and his voice echoes louder down to the ship on which you stand: <</if>>\ "What are you prattling for?" He asks. "They're already dead." Grey-white chifire explodes around the \ <<if ($val2 is 510487290)>>\ two of you as Chou flies you both into the distance. <<else>>\ man's body as he flies off into the distance. <</if>>\ <<if ($val2 is 510487290)>>\ <<page "Continue" "hub-quest-dessy-gowithchou">>\ <<else>>\ <<page "Continue" "hub-quest-dessy-dadend">>\ <</if>>\

Xianyu Chou blasts through the sky while carrying you in a large wooden basket. "Did you really kill her Disciples?" You shout over the wind. "Bah." He replies. "Why would I bother? All of her original 'Sect' Disciples were merely my servants. My property. Do you take extra time to break your broom when someone betrays you?" "I suppose not!" You shout back. "I merely wanted to watch her suffer after what she did to me. She blames me for her mother's death, you know. Spoiled brat." "Kids, am I right?" The Noble tilts his head back and forth. "Well, I may have disposed of her mother, yes, but that is not the issue." "Uh what?" "She was a concubine!" The man shouts in his defense. "I'd found a Noblewoman to marry, do you think she would want some Laborer sticking around who'd bared me a brat child? I had to get rid of them. Standard politics. Yet the Azuma Honsha guard were so //annoying// about it! I had to pay a fine when her mother died and they made it ''public!'' The scandal! I knew I should have used a Slave instead of a Laborer as my woman." "That's rough!" You shout to your only ride back to the city. "Indeed." He replies. "To make matters worse, my daughter was still alive! I was forced to become a Magistrate just to get her out of Azuma Honsha. Of course my relatives' eyes were on me, so the only way to put her in danger was to make her my Sectmistress. All that work for nothing. Instead of appreciating the luxurious life she had in the nation's capital and receiving an honorable death, Desdemona spits on my efforts and thinks her schemes are above mine! No gratitude!" "No respect!" You shout up, the wind trying to peel back your eyelids at such speeds. "It is good to know you understand my plight. Come, the city is growing within view. We will drink before I report to the Magistrate." "Can you drop me off at the Port?" "I will drop you off at the seat across from me in a luxury tavern." He demands. "No one slaps my vile daughter with such ferocity without a toast." ''[Spiritfruit Beverage Bonus (Azuma Honsha Grade)]]'' <<var $apboost 20>>\ <<page "Continue" "hub-quest-dessy-gowithchou2">>\

The next three hours are spent at an unexpected celebration in the Noble District, //far// out of your price-range. Afterwards Chou drags you as an impromptu bodyguard to the Magistrate's Pagoda where he reports dozens of Desdemona's crimes and calls for her immediate execution. Magistrate Fuyu's clerk checks the records and tells him they cannot execute a Trialgoer for a crime performed outside of the Trials or city grounds. Chou throws a fit, knocking tables over, and comes out of the pagoda with you laughing, saying he remembers he knew that when he was back on the ship. Agreeing he's had enough, he heads home and leaves you without a second thought. <<page "Continue" "hub-quest-dessy-gowithchou3">>\

One you're finally free you head back to the Southern Winds Teahouse to check on Desdemona. You go through the store, past Li Jumpei, through the curtains, up the staircase, and arrive to find no one. "...Huh." You murmur to yourself, leaving out the way you came. That's when you run into Desdemona entering the tea house. She looks ragged, like she hasn't rested since the journey, and you realize she's //just// getting home. Chou flies faster than the ships. "Mission accomplished!" You call to them with a friendly wave. Desdemona waltzes through the cheering crowd and slaps you in the face with violet Storm Chi surging her hand into a devastating speed. <<var $combatstat "fortitude">>\ <<discount "Earth" 2>>\ <<discount "Ice" 1>>\ <<discount "Muscular" 1>>\ <<discount "Water" 1>>\ <<discount "Midorikatai" $stylerank>>\ <<combatcheck 10>>\ <<if ($passcheck is true)>>\ "Ow!" She grunts, holding her hand. "What are you made of, rocks?" "Fortitude Cores." You reply, rubbing your cheek. "What was that for, anyway?" "What was it FOR?!" She screams. "For the backhand strike you gave me! Ancestors, \ <<else>>\ Your face knocks to the side, spitting out blood. <<aploss 4>>\ "That's what you get for the backhand!" She says. "Ancestors, \ <</if>>\ $name, I could tell what you were doing, but two was enough!" "I agree to disagree." You counter. "My plan worked out flawlessly. People honestly don't appreciate my cunning enough." Desdemona reels her hand back with a contortion of rage on her face, but she stops at your words. She looks back to her Disciples, then to you. Her eyes narrow suspiciously. "What plan?" <<page "Continue" "hub-quest-dessy-gowithchou4">>\

"My //master// plan," you boast, grabbing a tea from Li Jumpei and leading the others up the staircase, "was to get Xianyu Chou to lower his guard. He told me everything, about his plans to kill you, and then dragged me to the Magistrates after he'd spent hours drinking high end cocktails. He told the clerks about your crimes, demanded your execution, and threw a drunken fit when he was told to wait until after the Trials." Desdemona reaches the top of the stairs alongside you. "And?" "And then I circled back." You say confidently. "I told the clerk I had something to report and I swore a soulbinding oath that Chou was being ridiculous and he's been making shit up for half the night." "You lied in a soulbinding oath?" She asks. A shiver runs between your shoulder blades as Desdemona scans you. "How could you lie and not injure your spirit?" "I didn't lie." You say with a shrug of feigning innocence. "After an hour at the tavern he had told me more made-up stories about his achievements than I'd heard in a lifetime. People he'd defeated in battle, castles he designed, Techniques he invented, places he'd discovered. Your dad makes shit up a lot." "He does." Desdemona says with growing hope. "So you swore on your soul that he was lying...but didn't specify about what? And the clerks fell for it?" "These oaths are easier to get around than people think." You say with a sudden concern that Crusher Mao might figure that out. "Wow." Desdemona says, trying to process the information. "I'm cleared of all charges?" "Afraid so." You say in mock sympathy. "I can hardly believe it." Desdemona runs a hand over her face. "I just...I'm so glad you're a violent, lying asshole. Thank you, I guess, for being such a bad person. You fixed everything." "I often do." <<var $compquest1 - (dig($compquest1, 4) * 100000000000)>>\ <<var $compquest1 + 700000000000>>\ <<var $val2 436243632>>\ <<page "Continue" "hub-quest-dessy-backhome">>\

Desdemona rushes down to the lower deck of the Witching Hour School's ship. One sleeve stays over her face as she rubs tears off her eyes faster than they can form. Her makeup smudges as she speeds down two flights of stairs until finally she comes to the brig. Six people stand to greet her on the other side of locked steel bars. Unwashed, malnourished, and in chains, they all break into cheer and smiles when they see Desdemona. The Lunargothic witch collapses back to the wall behind her when she sees them. She covers her upper face with a hand and tries to hold back the tears. "He was lying." She says with near-manic relief. "Thank the Heavens he was lying. He just wanted to see me suffer." "Lady Desdemona!" The prisoners call. "We knew you would come!" Desdemona opens her mouth and no words come out. She looks from them to you, her trembling lips working into a closed smile. You reach for the cell door's keys on the wall when but shakes her head. "It's okay. I can do it. Let's go home." <<page "Continue" "hub-quest-dessy-dadend2">>\

On your deck the Dreamrivers celebrate and recount their months together. Li Sun extracts drinks from his fuuinjutsu scroll and at least three of the bookish sorcerers have learned not to drink and ride. You remember your first time being seasick too. It's been six hours since you've left Marauder’s Outpost and Desdemona has resigned to the upper deck of your \ <<if ($yourshiplol is false)>>\ borrowed \ <</if>>\ ship, above the Captain's Cabin. You walk up to join her and find the woman sitting in her robes by the edge, looking out over the sea. She slouches onto the railing with her head resting on crossed arms. "Thank you, Thunderfaller." She says, staring down at the water. "For the assistance, the ride, the \ <<if ($val2 is 10385)>>\ fight. Though you did not have to slap me ''four'' times to trick my Father into leaving." "It was a personal choice." You reply. "I am an artist, and slapping people is my paintbrush." She scowls at you. "Now I am almost grateful he blew up the treasury, as that destroyed your half." <<if ($yourshiplol is true)>>\ "I still got something out of it." You reply, looking back at your retainers repairing the Witching Hour School's vessel being hauled behind you. "I \ <<else>>\ "It destroyed //your// half." You correct, looking back at the Witching Hour School's vessel being hauled behind you. "I \ <</if>>\ was hoping to leave your father on the shoal after some grand betrayal though. A shame he could fly" <<else>>\ fight." <<if ($yourshiplol is true)>>\ "You paid well enough for it." You reply, looking back at your crew repairing \ <<else>>\ "And the ship you got out of it?" You ask, looking back at \ <<var $descombat + 1>>\ <</if>>\ the Witching Hour School's vessel being dragged behind you. "A shame your dad blew up the treasury." <</if>>\ <<if ($yourshiplol is true)>>\ ''[Item Gained: 1 $flagshiptype Ship]'' <<var $shipcount + 1>>\ ''[Prestige Increased]'' <<var $prestige + 2>>\ <<else>>\ ''[Dreamriver Sect Has Acquired a Vessel!]'' ''[Desdemona's Combat Prowess Increased]'' <<var $descombat + 1>>\ <</if>>\ "Father is a shame in more ways than that." She says darkly, eyes sunken. "But he's right to blame me for all of this. " <<if ($ruthless lte 70) or ($honor gte 70)>>\ <<var $txt "cares">>\ <<else>>\ <<var $txt "gives a shit">>\ <</if>>\ <<choose "hub-quest-dessy-dadend3">> #"That's not true. You were irresponsible, yes, but you couldn't know all this would happen." <<var $ruthless - 2>>\ "That's not true." You say to comfort her. "You were irresponsible, yes, but you couldn't know all this would happen." "No." She says, defeated. \ #"Who $txt what he thinks?" <<var $honor - 2>>\ <<var $desrep + 2>>\ "Who $txt what he thinks?" Desdemona's exhales sharply through her nose. "You have such an enviable mindset." "Thank you." You reply. "It's from years of disliking my leadership." "In that we are closer than you think." She says, defeated. \ #"I blame you for all of it too; why didn't you just tell me the truth? Are you really planning to sell me for power too?" <<var $ruthless + 2>>\ <<var $desrep - 5>>\ <<var $desromance - 1>>\ "I blame you for all of it too." You say. "Why didn't you just tell me the truth? Are you really planning to sell me for power too?" "I didn't tell you the truth because my actions are borderline treason." Desdemona says. "But I wouldn't sell you for anything. No one would pay." "Oh hah. Hah." You reply. Desdemona cracks a somber half-smile that doesn't last long. \ <</choose>>

"The truth is, I knew the Hidden Coil Sect was a front for some criminal league. Everyone had heard the rumors. Father is right; I wasn't gambling to win power; I was gambling to lose so they'd take him away. I really am guilty of treason against my Magistrate. I suppose I also have a charge of attempted fratricide by the time we return too." "They should drop the charge if you pass the Trials, but..." You give her a look of concern. "Why did you do it?" Desdemona huffs a strand of dark hair out of her face. "Because my mother was his concubine back in Azuma Honsha, and it's //full// of Nobles. One day he met the right one. When he fell for a Noblewoman my mother went from a pleasant trophy to an inconvenient obstacle. She died of 'illness' within a week." <<if ($ruthless lt 70)>>\ "I'm sorry." You say without a second thought. Desdemona looks sideways to you with her eye makeup stained down her cheeks. \ <<else>>\ "So he killed her." You say, putting the pieces together easily. Desdemona nods. \ <</if>>\ "I opened an investigation, as was my right as a Noble Caste, even a Bastard one. The guards confirmed the evidence and found him guilty. Dearest father had to pay a fine for killing my mother. //A fine//, because she was a mere Laborer." The darkness ebbs and flows around her shadow as she tenses her fists. "He didn't gain an interest in building a swamp settlement because of some need for status. It was an excuse. He lobbied to become an Outer Province Magistrate to dispose of me away from Azuma Honsha's prying eyes. We moved to Outer West and he made me 'Sectmistress' when I had barely unlocked my aura. I was sent on suicide missions with nothing more than our old servants as Disciples. That's what the Dreamriver Sect is, you know. My old servants turned Warriors." "That's why the Li siblings are in the Trials." You say, realizing. "They're officially Warriors by a Magistrate's orders, but-" "But he never sent Caste elevation forms back to Azuma Honsha. They're the worst of both worlds; facing a death penalty if they don't attend, and facing a death penalty because they did. All of my original Disciples are like that." <<choose "hub-quest-dessy-warriors">> #"So the Disciples we just saved are traitors already for not showing up. Damn." <<var $compquest1 - (dig($compquest1, 4) * 100000000000)>>\ <<var $compquest1 + 400000000000>>\ "So the Disciples we just saved are traitors already for not showing up." You say, looking back over the celebrating reunited robed sorcerers on the lower deck. "Damn." "The slavemasters should attest to their excuse at the least." Desdemona says. "As long as I can reach them before Father has them executed for selling him like cattle. It's funny, I would never have stopped any of these slavers if Guiren's men hadn't seized my servants when they ambushed my Father." She wipes a sleeve against her face and nearly laughs. "Ancestors, what a mess it is to live outside the capital." "Win the Trials and you can go back to the capital." Desdemona huffs, amused. "Ah, violence. The solution to all my problems once again." <<if (($heshe is "he") and ($desromance gte 1))>>\ <<page "Continue" "hub-quest-dessy-sunset">>\ <<else>>\ <<page "Continue" "hub-quest-dessy-backhome">>\ <</if>>\ #use-if (dig($choiceflag, 6) eq 2) "I've handled that paperwork before." [Requires Bureaucracy Experience] "I've handled that paperwork before." You say, thinking back to your childhood internship with the clerks. "If he made you Sectmistress to stage your death, then he surely sent //your// paperwork ahead for his alibi. The Sectmistress's signature should suffice in place of his as a placeholder to elevate their Caste. I can draft it up when we get home." <<var $compquest1 - (dig($compquest1, 4) * 100000000000)>>\ <<var $compquest1 + 500000000000>>\ Desdemona puffs her cheeks out in thought. "That would be seen as going around the Magistrate." #use-if ($prestige gte 50) "I can fix that." [Requires Prestige 50] <<var $420draftit 2>>\ "I can fix that." You say. "If I accept them into my Clan as retainers I can record them as Warrior Caste, then they can leave my Clan's services to return to your Sect. We'd get new paperwork for your Sect that shows their Caste as Warrior." <<var $compquest1 - (dig($compquest1, 4) * 100000000000)>>\ <<var $compquest1 + 500000000000>>\ Desdemona puffs her cheeks out in thought. "You'd be executed for falsifying Caste records." #use-if (dig($trialdeets, 2) is 3) "I'll speak to Magistrate Fuyu." [Requires Waverunner Alliance] <<var $compquest1 - (dig($compquest1, 4) * 100000000000)>>\ <<var $compquest1 + 600000000000>>\ "I'll speak to Magistrate Fuyu." You say. "He can correct another Magistrate's sloppy paperwork so long as we're inside his city. Plus most of your Disciples are Human so that helps. He's kind of..." "A detestable racist old bastard?" "Yes." You reply. "Very odd how that's working in our favor." "Just don't tell him it's for me." Desdemona says. "He called me a 'paleskinned, round-eyed cow'." "You're not a Cow Yokai though." She shifts uncomfortably, leaning against the railing, and rests her head on her chest. "I don't think that's what he meant." "So do you want me to write to him or not?" Desdemona puffs her cheeks out, pondering. "Do I want to pit my Father against another cantankerous old bastard..." Hope shows in her \ <<if ($heshe is "he")>>\ eyes when she looks back to you. \ <<else>>\ eyes. \ <</if>>\ "Let's do it." <<if (($heshe is "he") and ($desromance gte 1))>>\ <<page "Continue" "hub-quest-dessy-sunset">>\ <<else>>\ <<page "Continue" "hub-quest-dessy-backhome">>\ <</if>>\ <</choose>>

"Only if he contests it." You reply. \ <<if ($val2 is 838783)>>\ "You can attest to the courts that these are the Disciples he gave you, and so they must have been Warriors by the time they joined my service. Then it's on him to explain why he gave his Sectmistress a collection of Laborers for Disciples. He wouldn't dare." <<else>>\ "He'd then have to explain why his Sectmistress has ''no'' Disciples, which he wouldn't want to do if this is an attempted murder scheme." <</if>>\ Hope shows in her eyes. "Let's do it." <<if (($heshe is "he") and ($desromance gte 1))>>\ <<page "Continue" "hub-quest-dessy-sunset">>\ <<else>>\ <<page "Continue" "hub-quest-dessy-backhome">>\ <</if>>\

Desdemona sits on the back-railing of the ship and looks west as the sun begins to set. "Care to sit with me?" She asks, patting the area beside her. "It's been quite the night." You climb aboard the railing and notice something to your side: the commonly withdrawn Lunargothic witch's hand is inching out of her robes, along the guard rail, toward you. She keeps her eyes ahead and doesn't say a word. <<choose "hub-quest-dessy-backhome">> #Hold her hand. You reach out and place your hand on top of hers. Her hair stands on edge and her cheeks blush brightly. "I c-can't believe we're really doing this." She says, breathing quickened. "You really want to...?" Her voice drops to a whisper. "Holding hands is...lewd." <<if ($pwt_des is true)>>\ "We have had sex." You remind her. "Loud, passionate sex. How is it lewder to hold hands?" "Your hand is so warm." She replies in a growing squeal, looking away and blushing beet-red. <<else>>\ "This is just handholding." "You can't say 'just' h-handholding!" She says in a growing squeal, heartbeat quickening. She looks away as her face blushes beet-red. <</if>>\ You curiously turn her hand over and interlock your fingers. "T-Too fast!" She blurts out. "We're going too fast!" "We're holding hands." You say. "If you don't want to then I can-" "NO!" She shouts, gripping your hand tightly. "I...do like you. I want this. I just didn't expect direct palm-to-palm...when we're not even married." "Lady Desdemona?!" Asks one of her Disciples, running up the stairs at the sound of her scream. "Are you okay?" ''*CRASH*'' The Dreamriver Disciples arrive up the stairs to see a hole in the guard rail where Desdemona has surged a Power Core to tumble down into the sea. "I have fallen overboard!" She calls up. "Send down a rope at once for my two free hands! My two free hands that are both not in use!" Everyone but Li Sun rushes to save her. He looks to your outstretched hand and down at his Sectmistress, then gives you an appreciative thumbs up. <<page "Continue" "hub-quest-dessy-backhome">>\ #Start fishing. You withdraw a rod, line, hook, and chum bucket from below deck and return to find her in the same spot. She looks over her shoulder to see you return. Her eyes glisten with- "What in the world is that smell?" She asks, repulsed. "Chum bucket." You reply, dropping it next to her with a meaty splash. "No need to waste fish innards when you can use them to catch more of the good parts." "I'm going to be sick." She replies while covering her nose. "Well //I// am going to be well-fed." You counter, casting out your line. <<if ($pwt_des is true)>>\ <<var $desromance - 2>>\ <<else>>\ <<var $desromance - 100>>\ <</if>>\ <<var $desrep - 3>>\ <<if ($survival is 0)>>\ ''[Survival 1 Check Failed: No Fish]'' ''[Retainer Morale Lost]'' <<var $retainer_morale - 2>>\ <<else>>\ ''[Survival $survival Check Passed]'' ''[Fresh Fish Acquired]'' ''[Retainer Morale Improved]'' <<var $forexp + $survival>>\ <<var $retainer_morale + $survival>>\ <</if>>\ <<page "Continue" "hub-quest-dessy-backhome">>\ <</choose>>

<<if ($val2 isnot 436243632)>>\ You all return to the Southern Winds Tea House after docking \ <<if ($yourshiplol is true)>>\ your ship at the Port District. <<else>>\ your borrowed ship back at the Noble District. <</if>>\ <<else>>\ You all head into the ritual rooms of the Dreamriver Sect's temporary headquarters after that. <</if>>\ Desdemona inducts her returned Disciples back into the Sect you all spend the next couple hours in celebration. Tea, sweets, and sorcerous party tricks fill the night until everyone calls for rest. \ <<if (($desromance gte 3) and ($heshe is "he"))>>\ Desdemona leads you to a back room as the night concludes. She has an exaggerated sway in her walk as you two navigate away from the view of her Disciples. Drunk as she is, she almost trips into a bookshelf. <<else>>\ Desdemona tries to sober up and follow you on your way out to be a proper host. She almost trips into a bookshelf. <</if>>\ "I want to thank you again for everything." She says, \ <<if (($desromance gte 3) and ($heshe is "he"))>>\ eyes glistening in the lamplight when she corrects her balance. \ <<else>>\ choosing to collapse into a nearby chair for stability. <</if>>\ "Fear not my father's eternal grudge. His thorn in my side, er, aside, this was a successful mission." "Oh don't word it like that." You say. "We're allies, it was a duty not a mission." "Because missions pay?" She asks, eyeing you with testing suspicion. "I wasn't going to say it." <<if (($desromance gte 3) and ($heshe is "he"))>>\ Desdemona pats a hand on your chest and leans in close, \ <<else>>\ Waves a hand dismissively from the chair, barely lifting her head. <</if>>\ clearly drunk. "Worry not. I am sure we have a few practical tomes to study." She looks over her shoulder at the shelves of mystical scrolls along the wall. \ <<if ($style is "Kiihakai")>>\ "In fact, I had just finished copying a spell from the Witching Hour School before our fourth round of stronger teas. It has quite the practical use." "What kind of use?" You ask, interest piqued. Desdemona \ <<if (($desromance gte 3) and ($heshe is "he"))>>\ grips your shirt and pulls you closer. <<else>>\ smirks. \ <</if>>\ "How would you like to make a whole lot of money?" <<if (($desromance gte 3) and ($heshe is "he"))>>\ "I feel like I've never wanted you more." "Good." She says, glaring, until she pulls you in for a kiss so rough she smudges her purple lip makeup over your mouth, cheek, neck, and mouth again. "Don't you forget it." She pulls away and looks into your eyes for only a moment before sauntering back to her Disciples without a clue that her own makeup is horribly smudged. Slightly stunned, you \ <<else>>\ You feel a warmth of happiness spread through your body. "I feel like we finally understand each other." You leave\ <</if>>\ <<else>>\ "Take what you like." <<if (($desromance gte 3) and ($heshe is "he"))>>\ "Whatever I like?" You taunt, looking down on her. "You //have// to stop teasing me in front of my Disciples." She demands, blushing. "I am a Sectmistress, I cannot be seen fraternizing with the alliances." You look around the back room by the stairs in which you both stand. "No Disciples are looking." "Oh." She says casually. "Good." She pulls you in for a kiss so rough she smudges her purple lip makeup over your mouth, cheek, neck, and mouth again. Only when she's run out of breath does she pull away and inhale deeply, satisfied. She looks into your eyes for only a moment before sauntering back to her Disciples without a clue that her own makeup is horribly smudged too. Slightly stunned, you leave \ <<else>>\ You leave \ <</if>>\ <</if>>\ the tea shop minutes later to step out into the street in the crisp night air. In one hand you hold a cup of tea to-go and in the other you hold the most interesting scroll of the Dreamriver's collection. <<var $days 1>>\ <<include "hub-quest-dessy-piccreward">>\

<<choose "hub-spendday">> #A previous generation's Trial combat notes. [Power EXP] <<var $powexp + (10+$lore)>>\ <<apboost 5>>\ #A tome on hearing the whispers of nature spirits. [Soul EXP] <<var $solexp + (10+$insight)>>\ <<if (dig($knowledge, 3) lt 9)>>\ ''[Spirit Knowledge Increases]'' <<var $knowledge + 1000000000000>>\ <</if>>\ #A guide to building a rotating wooden training dummy. [Agility EXP] <<var $agiexp + (10+$perception)>>\ <<var $retainer_strength + 1>>\ ''[Retainer Strength Increased]'' #show-if (($heshe is "he") and ($desromance gte 1)) use-once A nude picture of Desdemona that Li Sun's been hiding. -> "hub-quest-dessy-portrait" #use-if ($style is "Kiihakai") The Witching Hour School's spell for Conjuration Sorcery [Requires Kiihakai] <<learntech 5000004000000030 "Conjuration" "Grants 200 Silver per Soul upon learning. Passively increases Commerce by +3.">>\ <</choose>>

''[Minutes Ago...]'' "You have a full-bodied portrait-sized picture of Desdemona completely naked." You say, \ <<if (($desromance gte 3) and ($heshe is "he"))>>\ confused \ <<else>>\ confused and covered in purple kiss marks. \ <</if>>\ "And you're giving it to me?" "I am offering it, yes, in place of the reward she promised. If you'll accept it, that is." Li Sun says, having taken you aside to make the offer after Desdemona walked away. //"Why?!"// "Well, I..." Li Sun corrects his glasses and looks aside bashfully. "This saves us on precious tomes and makes sure only I lose something, not the Sect." "And she knows you have this?" You ask. "She does not." "You made this from some sort of sorcery didn't you." "I did." "And she'd kill you if she knew you had it." "She would." "You're giving this to me to avoid getting beaten half to death." "I am." <<if (($style is "Kiihakai") and (dig($mettaio, 1) gte 6))>>\ //For the record,// whispers Dreamdemona in your mind, //I've known about that for a while. It's why I curse him with unusually frequent nightmares.// <</if>>\ <<choose "hub-spendday">> #"I'm telling Desdemona." [Snitch and pick something else] -> "hub-quest-dessy-piccreward" <<var $desrep + 2>>\ <<var $ruthless - 1>>\ You look back through the selection to find something actually useful and not an invasion of privacy. It's hard to pick over the sound of Li Moon and Desdemona hitting Li Sun with solid steel tea kettles. #"You're a good man, Li Sun." [Take the picture] <<var $honor - 2>>\ <<if (($style is "Kiihakai") and (dig($mettaio, 1) gte 6))>>\ //You're deplorable.// Huffs Dreamdemona in your mind. <</if>>\ <<var $junkitem + 10000000000>>\ #"You disgust me." [Pick something else] -> "hub-quest-dessy-piccreward" You look back through the selection to find something actually useful and not an invasion of privacy. #"You disgust me." [Take the picture] <<var $honor - 1>>\ <<if (($style is "Kiihakai") and (dig($mettaio, 1) gte 6))>>\ //Hypocrite.// Huffs Dreamdemona in your mind. <</if>>\ <<var $junkitem + 10000000000>>\ <</choose>>\

<<var $trialdeets + 200000000000>>\ <<var $trainingpartner + 1100000000000>>\ In the basement of Thunderfall Tower you find a grid-like hallway surrounding and interweaving between nine cells of steel bars leading from floor to ceiling. Only two of those cells are occupied, and your heart skips a beat when you see their occupants. Jin and Rin look worse for wear, but you're just happy to see them. Both look malnourished, their eyes betray a multitude of sleepless nights, Rin's hair is in tangles, and Jin's right eye is covered in multiple bruises. Their gi are filthy with bloodstains like they haven't been allowed to change or bathe since their abduction. Rin is the first to notice you, looking up with an emptiness in her gaze. When her eyes lock with yours they grow wide and...actually, not that hopeful. She instead looks bewildered and insulted, like you broke into her room. "<<cap $name>>?" She asks. "What are you doing here?" Motion stirs to your right as a Lower Disciple you recognize begins to wake up from his nap in a wooden chair. \ <<if (dig($trialdeets, 1) gte 2)>>\ "Hey!" The young Oni shouts. "I know you, you're the other <<cap $clan>>! You can't be in here." "It's okay." You say, raising a hand for peace. "Mao sent me to get my siblings." "Bullshit." He spits, powering a red aura around his body. "You're going in with them." You close the distance and chop the man in the neck before he even raises his guard. He spasms on the spot and you grip his neck with your striking hand, pulling his face into your knee to knock him out. The disciple drops to the ground without a reaction. For once, you think there might not be any repercussions. Violence is simply the way of Mao's Sect, and you were better at it. "His keys!" Jin shouts. "Get his keys!" "I already have a key." You say, waving Big Chu's keystone. You wave it past Jin's cell and feel a weight come off your shoulders. The weight is replaced with annoyance when he runs past you. <<else>>\ You chop him in the neck and follow up with a palm strike to the nose that knocks him out, then take the keys off his belt. "Saving you." You reply while unlocking their cells. "No family of mine is staying in chains." "About time!" Jin shouts, running past you when you unlock his cell door. <</if>>\ Rather than embrace his long lost \ <<if ($heshe is "he")>>\ brother, \ <<else>>\ sister, \ <</if>>\ Jin chooses to start kicking the unconscious lower disciple when they're down. "This is for the 'Fortitude' training." He aims the next stomp at the man's eye, on the same side as Jin's eye bruises. "Train ''this'' you shithead!" You shake your head and sigh at Jin's lack of control over his emotions. When letting Rin out you open your mouth to make fun of him, only for your sister to bolt past you and join him. "Just bread?!" Rin screams while slamming her foot against the unconscious man's groin. "JUST. BREAD?!? YOU TRIED TO POISON MY GOOD LOOKS!" <<include "hub-residential-awkwardsibs">> <<if (dig($trialdeets, 1) gte 2)>>\ "Fine. Let's go find a tavern." <<page "Ungrateful brats." "hub-residential-restaurantsibs">>\ <<elseif (($val2 is 787) or ($val2 is 676))>>\ "Fine, let's-" <<page "The basement door squeaks open." "hub-residential-caughtwithsibs">>\ <<elseif ($val2 is 989)>>\ "Fine." You say over the loud sounds of Big Chu pretending to be fighting outside. "Let's get out of here before more trouble comes down on our heads. Stand back." <<page "Continue" "hub-residential-leavewithsibs">>\ <</if>>\

<<var $val 0>>\ <<var $days 1>>\ //It is time we begin your education on Demonic Cultivation.// Taio the Scholar says in your mind as you walk down the residential streets towards the graveyard. //What do you know of corrupted chi and its Blood, Death, and Demonic divisions?// "That they're bad." You reply. "That's the summary of Thunderfall education, so share whatever you have." //Hah!// Taio the Bandit barks. You sense the spiritual equivalent of a sigh from within your Hellscape. //Very well.// Says the Scholar. //It is no matter, I am exceptionally skilled in the field of Education, if my ability to train the foolish Crow Li is any proof.// "Crow Li wasn't that strong." You counter. \ <<if ($honor gte 45)>>\ "I thought you were offering real power?" <<else>>\ "Are you going to teach me how to get beaten up by Jack and eaten by Lost? That's the opposite of what I need." <</if>>\ //He knew nothing of Demonic Cultivation when we met. Within one year, he activated my Demonic Gate without my presence. I do not teach power, I teach expertise. I will not bore you with undesired information however, for only the curious mind can truly learn. What questions do you have for me?// <<include "hub-residential-graveyard2">>\

The pages were covered in scribbles about certain seals and how they work. I studied them for years before getting my aura and they look just like the ones on the ground. I can read them, actually; I was surprised you could too." You say to the Bandit. "Impossible..." Says the Scholar. "How did you hide such a rare specialty?" "Because they never worked." You reply with a shrug. "I thought they were incorrect Seals, or a prank by the Warrior Caste kids. \ <<if ($background is "Merchant")>>\ Father just called them 'nonsensical moonrunes', \ <<else>>\ The librarian called them amateur gibberish, \ <</if>>\ but I think we only lacked the demonic chi and the right ritual alignment, which this Yomijin practitioner just left for us." ''[Demonic Power Acquired: Yomijin Hell Bargain]'' <<var $demonpowers + 100000000000000>>\ <<var $taint + 10>>\ ''[You can now damn ghosts to Hell and receive a fraction of their power as payment.]'' The Scholar squints at you. "The odds of this are...immeasurably low." The Bandit barks out a deep-belly laughter. "The Heavens are favoring a practitioner of Hell. By the Ancestors, we live in interesting times." He waves a hand at the ground and the nearby coffins. "No need to wait, let us see your specialty! The ritual is already prepared and has not been triggered. It is not as if we lack for ghosts." One scan of the coffins lining the wall confirms he's right. Something the Yomijin cultivator did has awoken the spirits of this tomb. <<choose "hub-residential-graveyard6">> #Activate the ritual circle on the ground. -> "hub-residential-graveyard-hellbargain" #Decline. <<var $ruthless - 2>>\ "I won't use someone else's ritual without more study." You reply. "Who knows what they could have done to customize it." "Coward." Says the Bandit. The Scholar spits at your feet. "Your lack of intellectual curiosity disgusts me on a level I cannot even express. A thousand curses upon your Clan." "Get over it." You reply defensively. "What's the plan with this Yomijin cultivator anyway? You said you brought me here to learn demonic cultivation. Are we leaving because someone else beat us here?" "Hardly." Replies the Bandit. "In fact, this is a blessing in disguise. \ <</choose>>

"And what about demons?" You ask a little too loudly, getting the attention of a mother of eight drying her laundry as you pass her house. Fortunately, she is a mother of eight, and has no time to see what you're up to. //Most form in the Hells, where corrupted chi naturally gravitates to when it leaks out of our realm.// Taio the Scholar replies in your mind. "Corrupted chi leaks out of our realm?" //Of course. That is why Demonic Gates cannot occur naturally. You did not appreciate my invention nearly enough. Corrupted chi naturally seeps into the lower realms of existence until it hits the 'bottom', as we understand it. It festers until it gains a will of its own in the same way that Kami form. Thus various demons are coalesced in the Hells.// "What about the corrupted spirits that don't come from Hell?" //They still become demonic, but for the reason of losing their way. A fire Elemental who gains too much sentience and wishes to possess a body, for example. Such an innocent desire is a deviation from the Heavens that twists its very nature. This deviation often gets worse over time until the spirit goes mad or malicious. It is why Oni \ <<if ($race is "Oni")>>\ like you \ <</if>>\ always bare the taint of Hell; their progenitor's very existence is a corruption of its nature. Such a creature will often slip from sanity within years and become a Wight, essentially a feral spirit burning away its body as it attacks all around it.// "Often?" //Strong-willed spirits or highly compatible hosts may become Vessels instead, two entities sharing one body that holds the power of both. Similar to you, with us possessing your soul.// "Touching." You remark sarcastically. "You specified that's how they're found in nature." You ponder out loud, looking through a glass display for embroidered hanfu in a clothing shop that you pass by. "What about outside of nature?" //Astute.// The Scholar says. //The answer is blood. Our specialty. Through certain demonic pacts or rituals, demonic cultivators are able to use the blood of others as fuel. Such an act is inherently corrupting and will taint the blood, the energy taken from it, and the wielder.// The Bandit snickers. //He is saying it will make you a Fiend, but only as a pathway to let him boast. You already have the solution to ward against it; your Inner Hellscape will contain the corruption.// <<include "hub-residential-graveyard">>\

The best way to keep your search a secret is to not involve anyone in it. Rather than ask around for directions, you analyze the environment and terrain to find the most secure and isolated location where the Magistrate's men may use to bury unknown threats. Threats like a foreign demonic cultivator. <<if ($survival gte 2)>>\ ''[Survival 2 Check Passed]'' It doesn't take long for you to climb the highest trees and get a layout of the land. Considering the sparsely populated area outside the southeastern edges and the steep hills betraying a solid rocky terrain for tombs, that's your target. "Hold." Sun Hana calls out to you as you climb down. "I've located a plant of interest. Crimson Watershade." "The poisonous weed?" You ask, brushing sap off your hands. "Kill it and let's keep going." She shakes her head. "This is no poison, it is a spirit-trap cultivated by a demonic cult millennia past. My Deathlord studied them to create great works of alchemy. The lost souls of the damned are lacerated by the presence of Haunted Watershade, causing it to turn crimson when it absorbs their damaged essence as Death Chi. This one has already fed upon a lost soul, else it would not be reddened." "So it's...an elixir?" "Yes." She replies, ripping it in half. She tosses you the top and chews on the roots. "Your people find it poisonous because Death Chi harms their body. For me, it is divine. For you, it will be a painful benefit." <<var $val ((5 + ($survival * 2)) + $alchemy)>>\ <<choose "hub-residential-sunhana1-2">> #Consume the Crimson Watershade. [1 Damage, +$val Aura Pressure] You bite into the crimson weed and find it tastes worse than you could ever imagine, as if your tongue screams out that you are making a grave mistake. Grave is correct, as the Death Chi within it harms you immediately. The weed does not even need to reach your stomach before its Death nature burns into your spirit. <<woundcheck 1 false false>>\ Yet when it does reach your stomach, the sliver of lost souls hidden within burn up in your Inner Hellscape and fuel your spirit with the power of someone else's partially devoured soul. <<var $aurapressure + $val>>\ ''[Aura Pressure + $val]'' Sun Hana watches you through the process, scanning your spirit. "You are a demonic cultivator." She says as a matter of fact. "Of course." You reply. "You didn't trust me?" "Trust is a bond as loose as the change of a merchant. \ #Toss the plant away. You throw the plant over your shoulder. "I brew my own elixirs. I do not rely on unmonitored plants." "Wise." Sun Hana says. "Wise and disappointing. \ #Give her your share. You hand her your share. "Here." <<var $lessreward - 1>>\ "You do not eat?" She asks. "You do not trust me?" "I wanted you to have it." You reply. She takes the plant, reluctantly, and chews on it slowly. Awkward silence passes for forty seconds as she chews and keeps her vision locked on you. Finally, she swallows. "Thank you. \ <</choose>> <<else>>\ ''[Survival 2 Check Failed]'' You spend half the day looking for the tomb and come up empty-handed on multiple occasions when you waste precious time preparing the ritual in the wrong areas. Three hours later you and Sun Hana find out there's only a single tomb left unchecked, on the opposite side of the graveyard. She stares daggers into your soul, having wasted more lives and precious resources for her blood rituals than you thought she could even find. <<var $lessreward + 1>>\ <<page "Continue" "hub-residential-sunhana2">>\ <</if>>\

<<var $ruthless + 4>>\ "Get back." You say to the two Taio Clones as you prepare to work. They both stare at you with disappointment. "Ah." You add. "Right, you're-" "Stored in your soul and not really here." Taio the Scholar finishes. "How I died to such an ignorant Laborer is beyond me." "I'm Warrior Caste." You correct, running your right hand into the blood of the Yomijin seal while your left hand enacts the odd seals from the scribbled notes in \ <<if ($background is "Merchant")>>\ Father's \ <<else>>\ the library's \ <</if>>\ scroll. Blood glows around your finger as you trace through the ritual circle and when you complete the Seals the entire room is lit up by flashes of crimson and gray light. You shield your eyes. When you open them again you see a fourth character in the room, a Martial Artist in steel splintmail common for guards. He looks around the room in confusion. "Who are you three?" He asks. "I already answered that woman's questions." "So it was a woman." The Bandit says. "Fascinating." He leans over to you, lips curling up in raw hatred. "Kill it." As much as you'd like to disagree and collect more information from this materialized ghost, you don't know how to separate the summoning Seal and the destruction Seal in the ritual circle. You activated one when you activated the other. Gray lightning blasts from the ground on all sides of the ghost standing before you. It obliterates him in a second, shredding him to pieces. Screams fill the room as the man's soul is ripped asunder and dragged into the ritual circle, sending his consciousness and Will to one of the thousand Hells as payment for the forbidden effect of stealing pieces of his essence. As the caster, you absorb...\ <<if (dig($eventfun, 12) is 0)>>\ <<var $eventfun + 1000>>\ ''[Weak Soul Treasures are those that are too far beneath your power to cycle, yet can still be used for item creation or gifted to weaker fighters.]'' <</if>>\ <<choose "hub-residential-graveyard-hellbargain2">> #His knowledge of people. [+1 Deception] <<var $deception + 1>>\ ''[Deception +1]'' #use-if ($handseals gte 1) His knowledge of the world. [+3 Commerce, Requires Handseals 1] <<var $commerce + 3>>\ ''[Commerce Increased]'' #use-if ($handseals gte 2) His experience as a guard. [+20 Aura Pressure, Requires Handseals 2] <<var $aurapressure + 20>>\ ''[Aura Pressure +20]'' #use-if ($handseals gte 3) The very core of his Soul. [+5 Aura Pressure, Weak Soul Treasure, Requires Handseals 3] <<var $aurapressure + 5>>\ ''[Aura Pressure +5]'' <<var $weaksoultreasure + 1>>\ ''[Item Gained: 1 Weak Soul Treasure]'' <</choose>>

Fractions of the ghost's soul rush into your spirit seamlessly. <<if ($honor lt 75)>>\ ''[Honor 75 Check Failed]'' The gratification of gaining new power is almost eclipsed by a sadistic satisfaction, knowing you made others pay for it by sending their soul to Hell. Their very essence, everything they have ever been, reduced to a mere bargaining chip that you spend instead of them, ruining their //eternity.// The injustice is...euphoric. ''[Ruthless Increased]'' <<var $ruthless + 11>>\ <<var $honor - 2>>\ <<else>>\ ''[Honor 70 Check Passed]'' The power is intoxicating, but you control your thoughts and suppress any suspicious sensations. You are here to master demonic arts, not to let demonic arts master you. <</if>>\ "Well done!" The Bandit claps slowly and excitedly. "Very well done! There is promise for you yet! To completely obliterate a soul on your first try...I'm almost proud." You point your thumb back at Taio the Scholar. "I did it to him too." The Scholar glares at the two of you. "Oh do not sour such an achievement." The Bandit says. "Our student, host, and future body has done splendidly. In fact, $hisher newfound powers will be an excellent asset to my plan." "What plan?" The Scholar asks suspiciously. "We have not discussed a plan." "We do not need to." Replies the Bandit, turning to you. "Everything we need has already been presented to us. \ <<include "hub-residential-graveyard6">>\

<<choose "hub-residential-graveyard2">> #use-once "What is corrupted chi?" "What is corrupted chi?" You ask. "I should know what I'm harnessing in my soul." //Disgraceful.// says the Bandit. //Does your ignorance run ''this'' deep?// Taio the Scholar ponders for a moment. //As chi is the essence of the world, so too is corrupted chi. However, ambient and elemental chi all serve a purpose designated by the Heavens. Even Styled Chi has its natural place in Man. Corrupted Chi does not. It stems from power left unchecked and unbalanced, that which should never be. Surely you have noticed that you gain strength from anger?// "A few times, yes." You whisper, nudging past the line of a takoyaki stand blocking the road. //Then you are familiar with power through the mind. Sacred Chi and your power spikes fueled by anger both function similarly to corrupted chi. The difference is corrupted chi comes from negative emotion left to ferment. Only when it has been removed from the Celestial Order for long enough can its hatred form into malicious Will. It is that negative-aligned corruption that creates Blood Chi in the living, Death Chi in the dead, and Demonic Chi within the spiritual.// "How can it be separated from the Celestial Order? The Heavens see all." //A malfunction or a negligence. Some say the Heavens correct through the priests of the world, I say they simply do not care for that which falls outside their order. Whether that be a spirit who has turned from its purpose or a corpse's aura failing to fully separate at death, spiritual energy infused with negative emotion falls away from the Celestial Plan and eventually corrupts its host into something ''other.''// "Like Fiends." You finish. //Yes, like Fiends.// the Scholar confirms. #use-once "What are Fiends?" "What are Fiends?" //Aberrations in the Celestial Order.// the Scholar says into your soul while you smile and wave at a guard on your way to the graveyard. //Through great feats of negative emotion two things can be knocked off the balance of the Celestial design. Can you guess what they are?// <<if ($lore gte 2)>>\ ''[Lore 2 Check Passed]'' "Death and spirits." You say. "Those are the two types of Fiends, right? Things refusing to die, and spirits doing what they shouldn't." <<var $taiorep + 2>>\ //Very good.// says the Scholar in surprise. //People //\ <<else>>\ ''[Lore 2 Check Failed]'' <<if ($ruthless gte 58)>>\ "No, and I shouldn't have to. You're here to teach me." <<else>>\ "Not even a little." <</if>>\ <<var $taiorep - 2>>\ The Scholar grunts. //Death and spirits. Those are the two types of Fiends. People //\ <</if>>\ //who have died and returned to the living through a great sense of regret, anguish, or rage that leaks into their spirit. Such fiends as Lost, Ghosts, Grim, and their final evolution of Shades are the source of Death Chi used by many demonic cultivators.// //We both advise against that route as your main source of power.// Says the Bandit. //Death Chi should only be a fraction of your demonic fuel; our focus will be Blood Chi and Demonic Chi.// "Why?" //Death Chi is more widely countered. Every surviving nation and culture has found ways around their battlefields becoming Fiend breeding grounds. Yours uses the Devanic monks and their Sacred Chi. In Cathay, we use spirit-traps that consume the nascent Fiend's essence and self-destruct.// <<page "And what about demons?" "hub-residential-graveyard-demonq">>\ #use-once "Why did neither of you ever become Fiends?" "Why did neither of you ever become Fiends?" You ask. //The Inner Hellscape was a Technique known by the original Taio.// Taio the Scholar says. //It is something all of his clones knew how to perform. It reduces the contact between our demonic taint and our aura. There is also a balance to maintain; corruption can be made to fight for dominance within your soul. The key is to take small amounts of Death Chi and Demonic Chi so you may focus on Blood Chi.// //An ill-conceived alignment.// Taio the Bandit corrects. //Your focus should be Demonic Chi.// You sense a smile on Taio the Scholar's lips, though you cannot see it. //Amateur.// #use-once "Who are the Akuma Lords?" "Who are the Akuma Lords?" You ask. //I cannot say.// They both reply. "Both of you brought them up at some point." You add. "Is it some council of Taio Clones?" //I cannot say.// They both reply. "Is it a group of demonic cultivators?" //I cannot say.// They both reply. You begin to suspect something. "Do you have another soulbinding oath with them?" //I cannot say.// They both reply. "Both of you have a soulbinding oath to train me in demonic cultivation. For the sake of my education, that you swore an oath to provide, are the Akuma Lords skilled at demonic cultivation?" The Scholar is silent, but in his lack of an immediate refusal, the Bandit risks an answer. //Hm....No. Most are not.// You can't help but blink several times at the revelation. All this time it seemed obvious that the Akuma Lords were some demonic council, but if they're not, then why are the clones of Taio each involved- //Do not push further.// The Scholar warns. //We are bound to your soul. The consequences could affect us all.// #use-once "What are the best Demonic abilities you can teach me?" "What are the best Demonic abilities you can teach me?" Taio the Scholar is silent. "...What?" //You are not ready.// He assures. //Not for my grand Techniques. Every one of them is Advanced and requires ritual preparation to perfect into Technique Cores. The Archons are in Nanhou, we cannot slaughter the hundreds needed until the Trials end.// "WHAT?!" You scream, getting the attention of some gamblers in an alley. You hurry on to avoid their gaze. "Are you saying you can't teach me ANY Techniques?!" //It is not so simple!// He hisses back. //The Blood Clone requires years of vivisection experimentation. The Lifedrain requires the death and soul amputation of every race and dozens of Beasts. The Blood Crystal requires a hidden corrupted spirit mine in the shores of Horai. My Path is a detailed and well-researched road to perfection!// //Fear not.// Taio the Bandit says. //I possess Techniques that do not have such ridiculous preparations. You will go into battle with my ''Dead Mountain's Glaive'' Technique.// The Scholar scoffs. //Oh do tell, most esteemed town-level bandit 'lord', what glory such a banal ability delivers to its wielder.// The Bandit replies in full confidence. //An eight-foot glaive from Hell manifested through the palm. Pierce the chest of those whose auras have shattered; it will drink their Heartsblood for power and send the results to your ''Inner Hellscape'' where none can detect that you've committed Demonic Cultivation. Even under a spiritual scan, it will appear as nothing more than a flashy execution.// The Scholar is silent. <<if ($ruthless lt 50) or ($honor gte 63)>>\ "And if I don't want to execute innocent people?" You ask. //Then execute 'evil' people. The Glaive cares not from where the blood flows.// \ <<else>>\ Finally, you think to yourself, something that performs the entire point of demonic cultivation: shortcuts to power. <</if>>\ #"I've learned everything I need to know." "I've learned everything I need to know." You say, ending the line of questions. //Good.// Replies Taio the Scholar. //The Graveyard is just up ahead.// <<page "Continue" "hub-residential-graveyard3">>\ <</choose>>

Nanhou's graveyard is a gated-off section of steep hills and thick trees at the edge of the city limits, lined with walkways and plentiful stairs for visitors to reach the separate sections of statues and shrines within. Unfortunately, it is only accessible through a large wall Sealed with prayer tags. Your best bet is walking through the Torii gates, meant to ward off or seal away evil spirits. You hope they fail, as you are here to find evil spirits. //Those accursed gates will hurt, actually.// Taio the Bandit says inside your soul. "What?" You whisper, making sure no one is around to hear as you approach the graveyard's nearest red gate. "You promised me power, not an allergy to religious symbols." //It cannot be helped. Your Inner Hellscape will not be detected, so do not fear alarms, but the gate's very presence will unsettle your center. It may feel like someone pulling your navel's skin off from the inside. A necessary evil. Proceed.// <<choose "hub-residential-graveyard4">> #Proceed through the gate. <<var $combatstat "soul">>\ <<var $combatskill "stealth">>\ <<combatcheck 8>>\ <<if ($passcheck is true)>>\ The second you walk through the torii gate an explosive force of judgmental power radiates through your center, but the fires of your Inner Hellscape burn it away like an inferno evaporating the rain. <<apboost 2>>\ //Good.// Says Taio the Scholar. //You may be worth teaching after all. //\ <<else>>\ The second you walk in your navel rips with pain so constant and explosive that you think you've been lit on fire. <<aploss 3>>\ You double over, crawling through the torii gate, and find relief when the feeling ends after you pass through the other side. //Disappointing.// Taio the Scholar says. //You will require a greater Will to conquer demonic chi. //\ <</if>>\ #use-if ($countersealritual isnot 100) Use a Counterseal to disrupt the gate. "Why would do you think it's necessary?" You ask Taio the Bandit. "Every problem has a solution." //Because-// He stops when $auracolor chi runs over your hands and you form the handseals of the Counterseal ritual. The spiritual energy wrapped around the torii gate pops like a bubble. <<var $apval ($handseals*2)>>\ <<apboost $apval>>\ A second later you sense Sacred Chi from the Sealed graveyard wall rush into the torii gate to renew its power, but it's too late. You've already crossed through into the graveyard unscathed. //Impressive.// Says Taio the Bandit. //Bah.// Replies the Scholar. //That is simply your way of saying you hadn't thought of that. Do not grow cocky, $name, but your aptitude does show promise. //\ <</choose>>

//Continue to the northwest corner, I sense the atmospheric anguish we will need.// You follow the stone pathway through the graveyard. Stairs rise and fall with the hills through the dense bushes and trees no doubt grown to give privacy to those praying at the shrines and graves you keep seeing on your way. Eventually, when walking on a hilltop road, you find a rogue stairway dipping down into the ground. A tomb. //Perfect.// the Scholar says. //Proceed inside. We will only have a chance to use Demonic Chi through blood harvesting for most of the Trials; this is our chance to harness Death Chi before that to avoid an imbalance.// You glance around to see if anyone else is around; not only with your eyes, but your spiritual senses too. "You're not putting me into a haunted tomb, are you?" //You should wish I did.// the Scholar replies. //It would be an exemplary start on your demonic Path.// <<page "Enter the Tomb" "hub-residential-graveyard5">>\

You enter the tomb and find it smaller than expected. Merely a ten foot wide square room with stone coffins stacked along the side and a shrine to the dead directly in front of you. The problem is you're able to see all of that when this room should be dark. Freshly lit candles line the walls and shrine. Worse, pools of blood cover the floor and fill your nostrils with a sickeningly sweet metallic scent. //So this is what I sensed.// Taio the Scholar says. //I had hoped for corrupted ambient aura, but this could suffice just as well.// "What is it?" You ask. //A ritual site.// He says, appearing in front of you physically. "A manifestation ritual for the dead, specifically. Fortunately that includes myself." He runs a hand over the shrine, feeling a sense of touch for the first time since you killed him. "Convenient, yet passing. I will not exist outside of this room." His doppelganger, Taio the Bandit, appears to your left. He crouches down and places a finger into the blood on the ground, licks it, and analyzes the ritual circle. "Someone was trying to devour or kill a ghost, but they did not find the one they sought." "How can you tell?" You ask. He points to an unfamiliar sigil. "These Seals are not demonic, nor are they from the Mystic Lands. They are from a foreign nation to the southeast called New Yomi. A land of necromantic cultivators. Yomijin Seals like these burn the blood black when they activate any real source of power. As you can see, this ritual's caster did not activate it." "This displeases me." Says the Scholar. "Demonic Cultivation starts with harvesting. Whether it be harvesting the souls of ghosts, the pacts of Demonic patrons, or the blood of your enemies. I had thought we could find a catalyst for your harvesting methods here, but this is a complication instead. I have not studied Yomijin methods." <<choose "hub-residential-graveyard6">> #"Can we start with whatever you did instead?" "Can we start with whatever you did instead?" You ask. "No." Taio says. "For my first demonic training I performed the Darkblood Kettle; I washed myself in the blood of hundreds after soaking their souls in the blood pool to amplify the humiliation and torment through the ether. It begrieves me that I cannot condone you to performing the same method." You're shocked by a Taio for once. "Why? Did you grow a conscience?" "No." He replies dryly. "I swore a soulbinding oath. The Darkblood Kettle would give your soul the same affinity as mine. It would make you easier for me to possess. Our Pact forbids me from allowing that." The Bandit smiles wickedly, rising to his feet. "And so you both come crawling to me. Yes, I know a proper ritual that will not endanger your soul. \ #"That is your problem, not mine. You swore an oath. Fix it." <<var $ruthless + 2>>\ "That is your problem, not mine." You reply. "You swore an oath to teach me demonic cultivation. Fix it." "You dare to order me like some common scholar?" Replies the Scholar. You snarl at the two. "I will walk all three of us into a Temple and have us executed on the spot. You two convinced me to join your ranks of demonic cultivators at the risk of my life, and I did. now stop complaining about minor details and do your damned jobs." "You sniveling brat!" The Scholar snarls. "I will not risk my future body with an unknown factor. We must leave the graveyard, ''now''. This is not the ambient chi I sought to use. We will slaughter a hundred souls instead and perform a blood ritual." The Bandit stands and stretches his arms. "There is no need to risk such attention. I know a proper ritual that can utilize this unforeseen situation. \ #show-if ($background is "Merchant") "I have." [Requires Merchant Background] -> "hub-residential-graveyard-bookreadin" "I have." You reply. "You have??" They both ask, interest piqued. "Father had a scroll he could never manage to sell because it was covered in undecipherable scribbles. It was supposed to be a guide to starting your own merchant caravan and mentioned how we never trade food with New Yomi because their plants are poisonous to outsiders. Something about Death Chi in their ambient atmosphere." The Scholar shakes his head. "That hardly-" You shake your head back. "That's not all. #show-if ($style is "Kiihakai") use-if ($lore gte 3) "I have." [Requires Kiihakai, Lore 3] -> "hub-residential-graveyard-bookreadin" "I have." You reply. "You have??" They both ask, interest piqued. "There was a tome in Thunderfall's library about rice trade, it brushed up on how we cannot buy from New Yomi because their country has Death-aligned ambient chi and it affects their food, making it a weak poison to everyone else. #show-if ($style isnot "Kiihakai") use-if ($lore gte 4) "I have." [Requires Lore 4] -> "hub-residential-graveyard-bookreadin" "I have." You reply. "You have??" They both ask, interest piqued. "There was a tome in Thunderfall's library about rice trade, it brushed up on how we cannot buy from New Yomi because their country has Death-aligned ambient chi and it affects their food, making it a weak poison to everyone else. <</choose>>

We will take advantage of this mysterious Yomijin cultivator to focus on your Martial Arts." "Martial Arts?" You ask. "I came here for raw power." "Martial Arts //are// raw power." The Bandit replies. "Your skill in combat is lacking compared to your Aura Pressure's meteoric rise, yet only a fool wastes time on mundane training when every second counts." You suppose your physical training has fallen behind compared to your aura cycling. "Fine, what's the plan?" "We will find this Yomijin foreigner and allow them to conjure the ghost they seek, and when they do, you will use \ <<if (dig($demonpowers, 2) gte 1)>>\ your new Yomijin Seals combined with \ <</if>>\ one of my rituals to devour the ghost and all its kinetic memory. Every fight it had ever performed in its life, all of its combat experience, will be at your fingertips in moments." "Wow." You reply. "You never struck me as a martial purist." "I am not." The Bandit replies. "I stole all of my kinetic memory from the dead. And now, so will you." "And if this Yomijin stranger takes offense?" The Scholar asks, arms crossed. The Bandit walks to him, grinning, and looks into the Scholar's eyes with a menacing grin. "Then our esteemed host will gain even more combat experience." <<page "Continue" "hub-residential-graveyard7">>\

Finding the cultivator from New Yomi would normally be a difficult search where you rely on your skilled senses, your spiritual awareness, \ <<if ($style is "Kiihakai")>>\ your chi sorcery, \ <</if>>\ or the element of surprise. However, the Taios already sensed the foreigner's ritual once. You simply have them sense it again. <<page "Sometimes it's that easy." "hub-residential-graveyard8">>\

Halfway across the graveyard, under the shadow canopy of thick autumn-fire maple trees, Taio the Scholar's senses have brought you to another staircase leading down into the ground. Another tomb. You proceed hesitantly, keeping an eye out for traps, but find none. What you do find when entering into the tomb is another seal on the floor and another puddle of blood. You assume the blood comes from two dead bodies on the side of the crypt that have yet to be disposed or hidden. Kneeling in the puddle of blood is the reason why: Their killer is still here. The figure before you is dressed in black and white robes with a large pointed hat that has slats on the side covering the sides of its owner's head. When you step foot into the crypt, the killer's shoulders tense. "You should not be here, traveler." Says a woman's voice. She rises slowly from the pool of blood marring the bottom of her robes and turns to face you. That's when you see skin paler than a Lunargoth on a Zenshin woman's face. Her lips are painted the darkest black and her yellow cat-like eyes are surrounded in black makeup that runs down her cheeks to mimic the effect of tears. //This must be the Yomijin interloper.// Says Taio the Scholar. //Introduce yourself as a demonic cultivator and propose an alliance.// "I apologize that you have seen too much," the woman says, revealing the fangs of a Cat Yokai rather than a Human, "but the curtains of Death must be closed upon your life." "I have not seen enough." You counter. "I've sought this place for my demonic cultivation. My mentors and I found your ghost-killing ritual, inactivated. They have instructed me to aid you in your efforts so I may learn more about Fiends and demonic chi. Though it is for selfish, educational reasons, I am indeed here to help you." "A bold offer." The woman's eyelids half-close in irritation, but she looks off to the side and mumbles to herself as if talking it over out loud. "Your assistance may be...beneficial. I am having difficulties that a local soul could assist with. That is, your graveyards are disorganized for proper use. The graves are not classified by blood purity, purpose in life, Aura Pressure before death, or elemental affinity of the corpse. It is infuriatingly inefficient; I find myself vexed." "I don't think they were made to be used like that." You reply. "Then your leaders must be replaced." She counters. //Just nod.// Taio the Bandit says. //The woman is talking to herself more than to you. She's already made up her mind to accept your help.// You nod. "Good. Good, yes. If you truly wish to tie your fate to mine, I will accept it for now. Blending into your society for my search has brought many issues, you see. I cannot risk attention lest your ignorant authorities consider me a Fiend meant for extermination. How, in your customs, do you fend off the approach of strangers? I have dressed as a priest and still the people in this city hassle me in my quest." "First of all, the hat." You say in honesty. "Nobody wears those." "Is this not the universal garb of the Priesthood?" "No." You reply in second-hand embarrassment. "I think that's only for your priests, not ours." "An unfortunate gap in Rasen's civility." The woman takes off the hat to reveal shoulder-length straight black hair disrupted at the tops of her head by black cat ears. "Second, in our graveyards, people talk to the priests. It's why they're there." The woman guffaws, Yokai fangs on display from her jaw dropping in shock. "They dare disrupt the Priest's work in their meditative Deathgrounds?!" "Our priests don't raise the dead." You remind her. "They're not in graveyards to cycle." With a twitch of her ears the Cat Yokai accepts defeat and grips her long sleeves, ripping them off to turn her priest robe into a shabby version of a combat \ <<if ($portraitpics is true)>>\ robe. <<image "https://www.auraclash.com/assets/images/sun-hana.jpg">>\ <<else>>\ robe. \ <</if>>\ She places one palm against another horizontally and bows. "If it must be so, then I offer my thanks, stranger. Your customs are a sea of barbarism, but with your assistance I have a suitable raft with which to navigate them." "Glad to help." You say, which feels odd since you came here to learn demonic cultivation and probably kill innocent people. In fact, you're standing in a pool of blood next to two fresh murder victims. Yet you're both being polite. //Disgraceful.// Taio the Bandit comments in your mind. "Introductions are in order." The woman says, "I am known as Sun Hana. I come from New Yomi across the waves in search of a coward who fled to these lands. Our augurs report that he was killed by the locals when they detected his Path. I have come to destroy and consume his ghost." <<var $windclue false>>\ <<choose "hub-residential-sunhana">> #"Is there anything I should know about this ghost?" "Is there anything I should know about this ghost?" You ask. "There are many things to know of Hyeon Youngsoo, but the secrets of his life are mine to keep. Yet one secret poses trouble. He kept a spear on his person that contained potent Wind Chi. In our lands, we attune a relic to our spirit so our ghost may possess its power. He will likely control the strength of the Wind when we summon him." <<var $windclue true>>\ "Oh wow." You reply. "That's actually useful." Sun Hana tilts her head, twitching one cat ear. "Why would I have said it were it not useful?" "I'm used to people being cryptic or indirect. You might be the first person to be helpful immediately." Taio the Bandit scoffs in your mind. //What do you think we are, then?// //Parasites.// You reply. #"Why do you want to destroy him?" "Why do you want to destroy a ghost?" You ask. "Traveling across the ocean is a long journey to kill someone who's already dead." "He is the scion of a rival Clan, and my former lover. I have spent years pretending to adore him, feigning a willingness to abandon my people to be with him, pushing him to train harder and perfect his family's Techniques. Every agonizing moment of false love was a sacrifice necessary to kill him when he succeeded in his Path, that I may harness his Clan's advantageous powers from his ghost and bring them back to my people. To my home. Unfortunately, he discovered my plan before he was ready for harvest." //Women.// Taio the Scholar says in your mind. "That's rough." You say, trying to sound sympathetic while ignoring commentary from the demonic ghost haunting your soul. "Yes, yes it is." She agrees, looking down and chewing a finger while she talks. "He escaped on a ship and fled to these lands. Either he was ignorant of the local customs, or he thought he could bribe his way out of trouble. No matter the case, he was incorrect. The Fiendish chi in his Cores and the ghouls he kept as labor aboard his ship both acted as brands against his innocence. He was executed by the local forces." You're so used to cleaning up everyone else's problems that it's oddly refreshing to hear the local fighters did anything at all. #"Are you really okay with me seeing your Yomijin death sorcery, or do you have something else to teach?" "Are you really okay with me seeing your Yomijin death sorcery," you ask, "or do you have something else to teach?" "Though leaking Yomijin death sorcery secrets is not only forbidden but even sacrilege, in truth, I care not so long as it cannot be traced back to me. The powers you will see are not signatures of my Clan or my Deathlord's realm. No, they are difficult yet common Seals in New Yomi, akin to your Auspicious seals that your Laborers use to vex foreign talent." You start to move on but stop, realizing something in her words. "Our Auspicious Seals are some sort of unfair advantage?" Sun Hana shoots you a sharp look. "Your country's ambient chi aligns perfectly to the Four Auspicious Beasts. Ours does not. What is a colossal feat to our master Sealers comes easily to you, so easily that your craftsman can do it. Such inequality haunts other craftsmen across the world." Huh. You never knew that. <</choose>>

With two palms pressed together you're able to channel all the $auracolor chi in your body into one place. Cycling the spiritual energy out breath by breath, you use Big Chu's mock battle as an excuse to draw out your full power without worry of detection. When the orb of power between your palms grows out of control you release the cascade of energy into the basement wall at an upward angle, destroying the stone and burrowing a tunnel to the surface outside. \ <<if ($perception gte 3)>>\ ''[Perception 3 Check Passed]'' <<var $jinrinbooster "fruit">>\ Your hands shake when the attack settles. Dust falls around the room and you breathe in deep to restore your available chi, looking to your siblings for expressions of shock and awe. Instead they're rifling through the unconscious disciples pockets. "Oh come on." You groan. "That's what I'm saying!" Jin shouts back, reaching deep into the man's right pocket. "Where is it..." "Got it!" Rin exclaims, reaching deep into the man's left pocket and pulling out a fuuinjutsu tag. She rips it in half and a cloud of smoke bursts out, forming into the shape of a lockbox. She cracks it open with glee. "Two powerfruit!" "Spirit fruit." Jin corrects. "Oh whatever." Rin groans. <<if ($honor gt 50)>>\ Against your natural reflexes, you nod in approval of your siblings actions. Thievery isn't something you'd normally encourage, but in this case it's more like compensation for time wrongly served. <<var $honor + 2>>\ <<else>>\ ''[Dishonor Check Passed]'' "Nice." You commend. "We're already breaking in and breaking out, might as well steal what we can too. Check his beltpouch." ''[Item Gained: 19 Shards]'' <<var $shards + 19>>\ <</if>>\ <<else>>\ Rin whistles low. Jin nods with a hunger in his eyes, as if he too dreams of such power...or he's actually hungry. You forgot they're malnourished. <</if>>\ The three of you leave immediately afterwards, running through the tunnel back to the surface and navigating through the alleyways until you're halfway across the city. <<page "Ungrateful brats." "hub-residential-restaurantsibs">>\

Mao steps through the open doorway to Thunderfall Tower and the subtle chatter from inside turns to cheer. You enter shortly behind him to see the first floor's contents. There's not much to see. A graystone floor, ceiling, and walls with little decoration but meditation mats, some shelves of scrolls, and a few tea tables. You're almost positive this barebones tower was constructed with Earth Chi. As you analyze the room, the cheering disciples inside slowly begin to recognize the $manwoman behind Crusher Mao. Their cheering falls silent. "Is that...the Laborer?" One asks. "What's $heshe doing here?" Another pipes up. "I'll fetch the flea repellent." Snickers one of the girls. "Sectmaster, do you wish me to kill $himher?" Asks a taller Oni. Mao narrows his eyes at the display. "Your Sectmaster has entered the room. Show your respect." They all drop to one knee. Mao takes ten steps into the room and leers at the eight Lower Disciples in his presence. He stops in the middle of them all and turns back to you in the doorway. "Emit your aura. Your full aura." You scan the room quickly, expecting some trick, but relent and press a potent layer of $auracolor chi out from your Cores, wrapping it around your body in an empowering display of might. <<if (($jadedragonfoundation is true) or ($aurapressure gte 2500))>>\ <<if ($jadedragonfoundation is true)>>\ ''[Jade Dragon Foundation Event]'' <<else>>\ ''[Aura Pressure 2500 Check Passed]'' <</if>>\ Obviously you don't let out your //full// Aura Pressure. Whether Mao orders it or not, you're not trying to get the whole city's attention. You decide to release half and take it easy. Yet apparently not easy enough. Every Lower Disciple crashes into the ground under the pressure of half your aura and even the older Upper Disciple in the corner grips a table for support. ''[Prestige Increased]'' <<var $maorep + 5>>\ <<var $prestige + 2>>\ <<var $powexp + 1>>\ Mao maintains a frown but steps forward all the same. \ <<elseif ($aurapressure gte 1500)>>\ ''[Aura Pressure 1500 Check Passed]'' Every kneeling disciple begins to shake under the pressure. ''[Prestige Increased]'' <<var $maorep + 5>>\ <<var $prestige + 1>>\ <<var $powexp + 1>>\ Mao gives a short, slow, and serious nod of approval. \ <<elseif ($aurapressure gte 1100)>>\ ''[Aura Pressure 1100 Check Passed]'' <<apboost 2>>\ <<var $maorep + 2>>\ Half of the kneeling disciples begin to shake under the pressure. Mao gives a single short nod of approval. \ <<else>>\ ''[Aura Pressure 1100 Check Failed]'' The Disciples feel your $aurapressure and look concerned, glancing at each other warily, but don't otherwise react. Mao clears his throat. \ <</if>>\ "Disciples, the Laborer has made it to Nanhou. Greet $himher." "The Thunderfall Disciples greet their peer!" They announce in unison. "Good." Mao's tone lowers to a growl. "You should know the new pecking order by now if you have a brain. If you don't, know that every one of you failed to achieve as much as Disciple <<cap $clan>> since leaving Thunderfall Village. Your weakness disgusts me, and it should disgust yourselves a thousandfold more. Those who have finished the Tiger, Rabbit, and Dragon Trials, get to the city's missionboards. I want missions completed yesterday. Those who haven't finished those Trials, prepare yourselves and //do not// disappoint me." "Yes, Sectmaster Mao!" They shout hastily, rising to their feet. Half of them run further into the Tower, entering the staircase and fleeing to upper levels. The other half run past you, refusing to meet your gaze on their way out into the city. "Half will hate you more now," Mao says to you, though he's already reached the staircase at the other side of the room. "Half will suck up instead. You get used to both. Come." <<page "Continue" "hub-residential-mao2">>\

''[Special Event!]'' <<var $trialdeets + 200000000000000>>\ "Sectmaster, wait a minute!" You shout back to him as he leaves. "This whole operation was your idea." He pauses and looks over his shoulder, staring you down. Fire rages around his forearm as he turns. "What?" "Back home, when I finished my first Thunderfall mission, you asked if I shouted 'Immortal Core Advancement' in my fight with the bandit leader. I said I hadn't, and you didn't believe me." Mao's looks down and to the side in thought, then back to you. "Big fucking deal, kid. What about it?" "You were ashamed of me and told me that if anyone at the Trials asks, I'm not from Thunderfall." You place one hand over the other fist in a short bow. "I have upheld your orders faithfully." Mao blinks. The gears begin to turn in his mind and his mouth hangs open. Slowly, he begins to shake his head. "No." He whispers in horror. "No. No!" You bow deeper. "I have always served the interests of the Sect." "That's bullshit and we both know it!" Mao screams, slamming both palms against his forehead. "It's a cheap trick, it doesn't count, I was mocking you! You left the Sect! //You// did it, I should be free!" An inferno rages around his body as he draws upon his fire chi and aims the blazing mass at you. When he does so, white light shines from his central cores with a dangerous tension. The soulbinding oath remains, threatening his spirit if he strikes you down against his deal with Magistrate Khan. His fists vibrate and he raises them to the heavens, cursing them out. "ARE YOU FUCKING KIDDING ME!?!" You rise from your bow and slowly approach the man. "$fullname of the Thunderfall Sect, formally and //secretly// reporting for duty." Crusher Mao's flames disperse and he buries his face into two large open palms. The tired looking behemoth of a man rubs his eyes in silence as you stand at attention. His shoulders slump and he breathes in slowly, looking up into the sky and blinking. "I hate you." He whispers, all spirit long gone from his voice. "I hate you so much. Get inside." <<page "[Enter Thunderfall Tower]" "hub-residential-mao">>\

"Hey!" You bark at him. "Rin and Jin. They're <<cap $clan>> Clan too. Release them to me." Mao stops in the road and looks over his wide shoulder to leer at you with a grin you'd expect to see on Jack. "They're already registered. You never did learn that actions have consequences. The \ <<if ($race is "Kitsune")>>\ illegal spirit-beasts \ <<else>>\ shitstain failures \ <</if>>\ you call siblings belong to me." He doesn't even take the easy way out by returning to Thunderfall Tower. Instead he turns and walks towards you, past you, and down the street out of the Residential Section. The whole time he keeps his blazing power active and takes his time, as if daring you to attack. You can't move your legs in his presence for the entire agonizingly slow ordeal. Not next to the burnt husks of his freshly murdered victims. The whole scene gives you a sense of true death you've rarely felt, even in battle. You'd hate yourself for this, you know it. You'd feel nothing but disgrace, wasting all your progress you made only to still be cowering in this man's shadow. It would be a moment of pure shame, except... Except he just left. The only real barrier stopping you from rescuing the twins just left the tower that they're stationed in. He wanted to look cool with an intimidating exit and just...left the place he was guarding. Ancestors, you //love// being enemies with the Crusher Clan. What a bunch of morons. Now the only question is how to break into Thunderfall Tower to rescue Rin and Jin. <<choose "hub-residential-breakin-coerce">> #Sneak in through the roof. <<if ($athletics gte 1)>>\ ''[Athletics 1 Check Passed]'' Climbing the tower is child's play after the journey you've been on. You grip the sealant between the stone blocks and pull yourself up with your fingertips, using your toes and abs to stabilize your position as you climb higher. In no time you reach the top and find exactly what you hoped for: a window at the top of the sealed staircase. Just like Khan's pagoda. It seems every leader expects to see a good view when leaving their office, much to your benefit. You crack the window open and sneak through into the staircase. Every other disciple is currently in a different level and each floor has their staircase door closed. If you're going to get Rin and Jin out, this is your best chance to do it without getting caught. <<page "Continue" "hub-residential-breakin">>\ <<else>>\ ''[Athletics 1 Check Failed]'' "Hey, what are you doing?" Shouts a disciple inside a window as you climb past. "N-Nothing!" You say, grunting while trying to use the tips of your fingers to hold onto what is now obviously a //terrible// hold. You might as well have just grabbed a wall. "We have an intruder!" The man shouts, punching a hole through the window and hitting you in the midsection. It doesn't take you out, but narrowly dodging a spear the next second causes you to plummet below. By the time you land, energy blasts and arrows are already raining down from multiple windows. Under such a constant barrage you're forced to retreat. <<var $trialdeets + 100000000000>>\ <<var $brorep - 5>>\ <<var $sisrep - 5>>\ Hopefully Jin and Rin will be fine on their own until you can break them free in one of the Trials. <<page "How dishonorable..." "hub-residential-district">>\ <</if>>\ #Convince a lower disciple that Mao wants Jin and Rin brought elsewhere. <<var $ruthless - 1>>\ <<var $val 3>>\ Breaking in is a fool's errand. Ever the wise$manwoman, you instead wait for your prey to come to you. And come they do. Twenty minutes of staking out the Sect yields results when a young Lower Disciple comes out alone. "Excuse me, Honored Disciple!" You call over, approaching the man from across the street. He goes to the defense immediately, possibly recognizing you. "What do you want?" <<if ($style is "Aoyusumu")>>\ ''[Aoyusumu Event: -$stylerank Difficulty]'' <<var $val - $stylerank>>\ You wave your hand across the man's face, your $eyecolor eyes flashing cerulean. "I want you to bring Rin and Jin to me as well as any spare Path Manuals for beginners. If anyone asks why, you will tell them Mao sent you to collect them." <<var $jinrinbooster "manual">>\ <<elseif ($race is "Kitsune")>>\ ''[Kitsune Charms: -1 Difficulty]'' <<var $val - 1>>\ Your eyes flash pink as you channel your people's natural trickster chi into manipulating the minds of others. The disciple's eyes flash pink back, signaling the effect has taken hold. "I want you to bring Rin and Jin to me as well as any spare Path Manuals for beginners. If anyone asks why, you will tell them Mao sent you to collect them." <<var $jinrinbooster "manual">>\ <<else>>\ "It's not what I want." You reply. "Sectmaster Mao has called for my siblings, Rin and Jin, to be taken to the slave markets. I will give you fifty Shards if you bring them to my ship at the Port District instead." <</if>>\ #show-if (($element1 is "Earth") or ($element2 is "Earth")) use-if ((($chipool + ($soul/2)) - $chispent) gte 1) Tunnel under the tower. [Require Earths, Costs 1 Chi] You sneak into an alleyway on the side of Thunderfall Tower and extend one foot out against the ground. Your foot glows amber as you drag that foot across the ground, spinning it around yourself in a full 360 degree arc to form a glowing amber circle around your body. With one palm straightened, you grip the Earth Chi within that circle and press your hand downward. ''[1 Chi Spent]'' <<var $chispent + 1>>\ The Earth moves down with it. Slowly but surely, you press a circle of Earth downward until it forms a cylindrical tunnel, turning it at an angle once you're eight feet down so you can break into the tower's basement. When you do reach the wall of the tower's basement you perform the same feat, encasing a circle of Earth Chi around the wall and pressing your aura down upon it. The stone sheds away into sand, bit by bit, and thirty minutes later you find yourself standing in front of a circular hole in the wall leading into the basement level of Thunderfall Tower. <<var $val2 787>>\ <<page "Continue" "hub-residential-findrinjin">>\ #use-if ($aurapressure gte 1200) Charge in and start breaking bones. [Requires 1,200AP] <<var $ruthless + 4>>\ Outside the still-open doorway you're surprised to see the old woman in leather armor has turned her back to the entrance without closing it. Someone doesn't think you're a threat, or she doesn't think you're stupid enough to attack them all at once. You're about to prove her wrong. About...About the threat part. Not the stupid part. <<page "Continue" "hub-residential-chargesect0">>\ #No, they're on their own. [Leave] <<var $honor - 3>>\ You're not here to save Rin and Jin, just to settle the score with Thunderfall. If you really are on your own then you don't owe them anything and the slate is wiped clean. Your siblings will probably be fine. It's not like charging the entire Thunderfall Sect to get them out is the brightest idea; you can get them free whenever the opportunity arises in the Trials. They'll hang in for the meantime. They've already done it for a month, what's another few days? <<var $trialdeets + 100000000000>>\ <<var $brorep - 7>>\ <<var $sisrep - 7>>\ <<page "Continue" "hub-residential-district">>\ <</choose>>

The two of you ascend the stairs from the first story to the top. Mao gives a 'tour' by motioning with a hand towards a closed door as he walks past. "Dueling chambers." He says on the second floor. "Quartermaster and alchemy." He says on the third. "Meditation and rest." He says on the fourth When you reach the top the metal door displays a black symbol of a belt, tied as if around a waist. The sign of a Sectmaster's blackbelt, like the one around Mao's waist. He opens the door to reveal his personal office. ... It's empty. Inside the large circular room is nothing but two meditation mats. Mao steps to the center of the room and sits on one, then motions a hand for you to sit on the other. When you do, he breathes in deep before speaking. "Let's get this out of the way: I didn't train you. You weren't worth it. You are now. But you're still rough around the edges in politics, and that's the shit that'll kill you. The Nobles are a political nightmare and the Trials mean you've jumped right into their line of sight. Frankly, kid, I'd be surprised if you make it out of Nanhou without being executed for pissing off the wrong person." <<if ($honor gte 45)>>\ ''[Honor Check Passed]'' You remain silent, unsure what he wants you to say, and so you offer him no words at all. <<var $maorep + 3>>\ "That's good." Mao adds. "You might survive after all. Lesson \ <<else>>\ ''[Honor Check Failed]'' "Thanks for the heads up after I'm //already here.//" You scoff. "The great education of your Sect on display." <<var $maorep - 2>>\ "That's exactly what I'm talking about." Mao replies. "Lesson \ <</if>>\ number one of Imperial etiquette: shut the fuck up. Always. Don't crack jokes or barbs in combat or in front of the Judges. Am I clear?" <<if ($honor gte 45)>>\ You nod. <<else>>\ You struggle to keep a scowl off your face as you nod. <</if>>\ "Good. Now, onto the last month. Bo Lo was here before you for a mission summary. He says you and that beggar helped in his raid against the Sunbringers. According to him, Jack ripped an arm off Crow Li and left, dropping the rest of the heavy lifting on you and Bo as soon as Fiends started showing up." That's about as accurate as you think Bo Lo could get, though it gives him more credit than is due. Mao doesn't smile, but his chest swells with pride. "We're in good standing because of that. The Nobles got uneasy at the reports of a corrupted Gate. Nobody likes new demonic toys showing up. Those same reports of mysterious demonic threats say it was already stopped by three Thunderfallers. I've elevated Jack to Upper Disciple for his contribution, but Bo Lo still has much to learn before I can promote him. He will remain a Lower Disciple, as will you." You're positive anger is showing on your face. "But I did all the work! //I// killed the Taio clone! I ended the Gate! Jack got in my way and left!" Mao waves you off. "Yeah, sure, congratulations, you were the big hero. You were also a ''fucking idiot.'' That was our one chance to execute Bangle's brat Leona before the Trials started, pinning the Gate on her was our only chance to get around Imperial protections. Instead, your Laborer-brain thought it was a good idea to give her an armed escort to the city." <<choose "hub-residential-mao3">> #Remain silent. <<var $honor + 2>>\ <<var $maorep + 2>>\ You keep your mouth shut and your lips tight, not taking his bait. "Heh." Mao reaches for tea and realizes he never ordered anyone to bring any. He frowns, but then looks back to you. "Good reaction. You might survive around the Nobles after all. \ #"Oh fuck you, Mao. I'm the only one doing any work around here." <<var $honor - 2>>\ "Oh fuck you, Mao." You blurt out, jumping to your feet and waving your hands as you berate him. "The ''balls'' on you to complain to me right now. What have your other Disciples done besides sit on their ass and follow you like dogs while I did all the work? Did me killing ninety-nine percent of your enemies not live up to your expectations? Are you mad that I failed to also assassinate someone you //never even told me about?// Next time that you want someone dead, at least have the common sense to tell me their ''fucking name''. I am so sick of-" Mao grins at you like he just won a game of mahjong. "...Aw fuck." You exhale sharply and sit back down. "Damn it all. The etiquette thing." "Yeah." Mao says with a pleased expression. "Failed the test. Kid, you are going to die out there talking to Judges and scribes like that. Some act honorably, but most are like me. Respect is something for my lessers to give to me, and that's it. Expect to get provoked. \ <</choose>>

Now..." He closes his eyes and you feel a spiritual scan bearing down on you. It sweeps by in an instant, like a finely practiced wrestling maneuver grabbing you from all directions. Mao's eyes open and he looks disappointed. "I thought so. <<cap $style>>'s \ <<if ($style is "Aoyusumu")>>\ Sacred \ <<elseif ($style is "Akakiru")>>\ Bladed \ <<elseif ($style is "Kiihakai")>>\ Mystic \ <<elseif ($style is "Kurokonton")>>\ Cursed \ <<elseif ($style is "Midorikatai")>>\ Wild \ <</if>>\ Chi. I always suspected you had outside help this whole time. \ <<if (($element1 is "None") and ($element2 is ""))>>\ Who \ <<elseif ($element1 is "None")>>\ The $element2 makes sense with your Foundation, but who \ <<elseif ($element2 is "")>>\ The $element1 makes sense with your Foundation, but who \ <<else>>\ The elements I could get, with your Foundation, but who \ <</if>>\ trained you to fight?" <<choose "hub-residential-mao4">> #show-if ($style is "Akakiru") "The Sunbringer Sect's new Sectmistress, Leona Bangle." <<var $metmao + 10000000>>\ You inhale through closed teeth. "You're not going to like the answer." "Tell me." Sectmaster Mao responds. "That's an order." "If you insist. I was trained on the road from Thunderfall to Nanhou by...Leona." "Bangle." Mao says, blinking and unbelieving. "You were trained by Leona Bangle." "Yes." You confirm. "She said she wanted me strong enough to beat \ <<if ((dig($metleona, 11) gte 1) or ($roomscene is "Leona"))>>\ Jack for her." You pause, deciding to put all cards on the table. "I also slept with her." "Niiiice." Mao says slowly. "But don't fall for her words about why she showed you her Path. First \ <<var $maorep + 1>>\ <<else>>\ Jack for her." "First \ <</if>>\ of all, she lied to you. Bangle's brat wouldn't train a Thunderfaller from scratch to fight someone who is already at the top of Thunderfall's roster. It's a fool's errand. She probably trained you to help her in Ebikowa and planned to dispose of you after. \ <<if ((dig($metleona, 11) gte 1) or ($roomscene is "Leona"))>>\ Looks like you yanged her yin hard enough that she dropped her plans faster than she dropped her pants." <<var $maorep + 4>>\ He slaps you on the upper arm, hard. "Shit, kid, that's how it's done! I always tell the Disciples to use their head more but those idiots think I'm talking about their brain." He spits to the side. "Retards." <<else>>\ Probably backed off when she saw your performance. Never struck her as the type to gauge risks. Must have been one of her better days." <</if>>\ <<page "*knock knock*" "hub-residential-mao4">>\ #show-if ($style is "Aoyusumu") "A Devanic pilgrim named Angelo." <<var $metmao + 10000000>>\ "I was trained on the road by a Devanic pilgrim named Angelo." Mao's body language changes. He stiffens, his face growing serious. "I'd heard about an Angelo in some fight at Harehama. Something doesn't add up with the stories and what I've heard elsewhere..." His vision darts to the left and the right. You feel potent energy swirling in his Cores. "Is this Angelo in the room with us, right now?" "...No?" His shoulders relax. "Good." <<if (dig($mettaio, 1) gte 6)>>\ //Hmph, fool!// Shouts Taio the Bandit in your mind. //He fears the pilgrim when he should be fearing US!// //Do not lump me in with you, glorified bartender.// Replies Taio the Scholar. //YOU COURT DEATH!// Screams the Bandit. You try to keep your face neutral as you internally scream for both of them to shut up. <</if>>\ <<page "*knock knock*" "hub-residential-mao4">>\ #show-if ($style is "Kiihakai") "A swamp witch named Lady Desdemona." <<var $metmao + 10000000>>\ "I was trained by a swamp witch named Lady Desdemona." Mao looks off to the side, thinking. "The Midnight Swamps have some Darkness tribes, she might be from there. I'll have to send a few scouts to look into this. We need to make sure they're not embedding anything into your spirit that we don't want to be there." //I can leave any time you want.// Says Dreamdemona in your mind. <<if (dig($mettaio, 1) gte 6)>>\ //Good, ''do!''// Replies Taio the Bandit beside her voice. You momentarily reconsider your life choices that have gotten you so very possessed. <</if>>\ <<page "*knock knock*" "hub-residential-mao4">>\ #show-if ($style is "Kurokonton") "A debt collector named Dai Guiren." <<var $metmao + 10000000>>\ "I was trained by a debt collector on the road named Dai Guiren." Mao snorts, stifling a laugh. "Dai Guiren? Isn't he one of the Hidden Coil Sect punks?" You feel almost insulted, for some reason. Guiren's teachings were enough to make you so proficient in Kurokonton that you've beaten a path halfway across Outer West. "Is that a problem?" "For you, yeah." Mao shakes his head, wrinkling his nose like he's smelled a hot fart. "The Hidden Coil Sect's services aren't some big secret, they carry talismans belonging to something far above their punching weight. They're all mooks pushing an immortal's agenda. I've made sure no one like Dai Guiren ever got their clutches into Thunderfall." "He hasn't pulled me into anything like that." You lie, seeing as you do technically work for Bossrozal. "That's not the bad part. The bad part is no one in that Sect practices the proper curses of Kurokonton, they all focus on physical ninjutsu. If you want to win these Trials and get off my ass for good, you need a second teacher." <<page "*knock knock*" "hub-residential-mao4">>\ #show-if ($style is "Midorikatai") "Mountain Hazard's star pupil, Tian Fang." <<var $metmao + 10000000>>\ "I was trained on the road by Mountain Hazard's star pupil, Tian Fang." Mao grows cold. "I distinctly remember telling you that you were not allowed to train with her." "That was in her joint-training mission." You reply, holding up a hand. "She trained me on the road, after I'd already left for the Trials." Mao waves a hand to drop the subject. "I'll allow it, but are you trying to tell me you learned Midorikatai in less than a month from the same moronic dog who couldn't toughen up my Disciples in a year?" "Yes." You reply, beaming with pride when you realize it's completely true. <<if (dig($mettaio, 1) gte 3)>>\ //Hmph.// Says Taio the Scholar in your mind. //If you think that is a feat to be proud of, you are in for the greatest surprise of your life when you learn the secrets we offer.// //Not in front of the Sectmaster.// You think back to him. <</if>>\ Mao's jaw tightens. He closes his eyes and shakes his head in short, violent shakes as if containing himself. "I'll be having a talk with Mountain Hazard's Sectmaster." <<page "*knock knock*" "hub-residential-mao4">>\ #"I found $style Path Manuals in a burnt village on the road." [Lie] <<if ($deception gte 3)>>\ ''[Deception 3 Check Passed]'' "I found $style Path Manuals in a burnt village on the road." You say, objectively lying. "The town was burnt to a crisp but the shops had sealed safes under the floorboards. That's where I found the Soul Treasure Manuals, and I absorbed them to gain their chi." <<if (dig($mettaio, 1) gte 3)>>\ //Good $manwoman.// Taio the Bandit whispers into your mind. //Never give unnecessary information to the enemy.// //Information such as ''talking in front of the Sectmaster?''// Adds Taio the Scholar. //Be silent, you fool!// <</if>>\ Mao rubs a hand against his chin. "That does make sense, with your Fuel Foundation making those easier to use, and your Laborer history letting you know where the feeders and workers would hide their stuff." He gives a nonchalant shrug. "You're blessed by the Heavens so far, ride that blessing to the Trials finish line so I don't have to see you anymore." <<else>>\ ''[Deception 3 Check Failed]'' <<if (($style is "Aoyusumu") and ($stylerank gte 2))>>\ ''[Precognition Event]'' "I-" You pause, 'seeing' a scene in your mind of your planned lie. He doesn't buy it, and grows agitated. Visions flash through your head instantly of three different attempts until one sticks. You hang your head in shame after the short pause. "I paid a mercenary." You say as if caught in confession. "He had enough experience and some Soul Treasure Path Manuals. When we were attacked, I took his discarded satchel and ran." Mao shakes his head. "This is why Laborers shouldn't be Warriors. No principles. It does me no good for people to find that out though. Can't ruin the image of our victory over the Sunbringers. Don't tell anyone else and there won't be any problems." You nod. <<else>>\ "I found $style Path Manuals in a burnt village on the road." You lie, hoping to aid your bluffing face with the authenticity that you //did// find a burnt village on the road. Mao scrutinizes you for several seconds before making his verdict. "Bullshit, you fucking liar. Feed me that crap again and I'll have your eyelids flayed." <<var $maorep - 7>>\ <</if>>\ <</if>>\ <<page "*knock knock*" "hub-residential-mao4">>\ <</choose>>

''*Knock Knock*'' Mao rises to his feet and opens the door to see Big Chu on the other side. "Upper Disciple Chu reporting for duty, Sectmaster Mao." Big Chu says with a deep bow. "My mission was a success." Mao swipes a scroll out of Chu's hands and reads it with a quick glance. "Not bad, Disciple Chu. Grab your payment from the quartermaster." "Yes Sectmaster Mao, at once." Big Chu's head rises from his bow and he sees you for the first time. He suppresses a smile while mouthing 'welcome back'. Mao slams the door in his face, turning back to you. "No more distractions, I need you ready for the Trials. What do you know so far?" "Not a lot." You reply. "Fucking Hells." Mao curses, sitting cross-legged on the mat and facing you. "I'm not a scribe so we'll only go over the important parts. The Trials are twelve challenges. The first three are close together, the nine after that have at least a week apart. Each one will have its own rules and its own five judges from the Inner Kingdoms. Everyone knows that, but what you need to know is the obstacles in your way." "My birth-caste?" Mao cracks a smile. "I wish, but results are results. For once your Laborer past won't matter. No, what you need to worry about are the Top Five." "The top five what?" "Contestants. Every time the Empire runs these Trials the five Inner Kingdoms each want to butter up their own guaranteed Archon, get them on their good side. They fight over the top five best contestants and their gifts widen the rift between those five and the rest exponentially. That means that people holding the rank of Top Five aren't keen on losing it. If you're doing too well, they'll try to crush you." Mao snaps his fingers in front of your face twice. "You need to crush them first. Do you understand me?" "How?" "Violence." Mao says as if you've asked the dumbest question in your life. "Now shut up and pay attention." <<page "Continue" "hub-residential-mao5">>\

Mao starts counting your problems on the fingers of one of his large hands. "The first person to worry about is my son. That's your problem, and I won't be helping, but he's an old problem that you've survived so far. Your //new// problems are the four clowns from the other provinces with almost as ridiculous Aura Pressure. First of them is Callous Goro of Outer South. The boy runs a naval crime family after his father died. Probably killed him if you ask me. He's currently ranked number one until Jack finishes the Dragon Trial." "I met him at the blockade already." You reply. <<if (($jadedragonfoundation) or ($aurapressure gte 2500))>>\ "Why am I not surprised?" \ <<else>>\ "Then you should be dead, if not for the Judges." \ <</if>>\ Mao inhales sharply and looks off to the side, pondering whether or not he cares. "What happened?" <<choose "hub-residential-mao6">> #"He struck when I wasn't looking." "He struck me when I wasn't looking." You say with a shrug. Mao no longer looks interested. "That's how it goes, kid. Just because someone's strong doesn't mean they don't cheat too. Onto the next problem: \ #"I found out he has Cursed Chi." "I found out he has Cursed Chi." Mao scratches his nose. "That can't be right, my scouts say he has Sacred Chi. I'll look into it. For now, your next problem is \ #show-if ((dig($metgoro, 2) gte 1) and ($heshe is "she")) "We flirted, I think he's really into me." "We flirted." You say, omitting him domestically abusing you across city lines. "I think he's really into me." Mmf, maybe one day he will be. <<if (dig($mettaio, 1) gte 6)>>\ //Vile.// Whispers Taio the Scholar in your mind. //Never make me hear those thoughts again.// Threatens Taio the Bandit alongside him. <<elseif ($style is "Kiihakai")>>\ Dreamdemona's voice breaks into your waking mind for the first time. //Girl, you NEED to get it together.// <</if>>\ "Women." Mao says, scowling at you. "Forget about him then. Your next problem is \ #show-if (dig($junkitem, 1) is 2) [Give him Goro's coin.] "I found this, planned to use to it for some ritual against him." "I found this," you say, flipping Goro's coin to Mao. "Planned to use it for some ritual curse against him. If the Sect or our allies can cast a better one, I'd be glad to see it happen." Mao snatches the coin in the air and runs a spiritual scan over it. "Not bad kid. Not bad at all." He unhooks a beltpouch from his waist and slides it over to you. ''[Item Gained: 300 Shards]'' <<var $shards + 300>>\ <<var $junkitem + 100000000000000>>\ "Back to your other problems: \ <</choose>>

Brass Tiger, a straightforward kid with a good synergy in his Techniques. I'd like to have him on my side, but I don't, so he's a challenge to worry about. His goal is to get as many Outer Northerners in the Archons as possible and refocus their attention to the ice wars. Sounds good for Outer North, but it's bad for us. It means he's working to ensure our Disciples lose. That's a problem. And next..." Mao pulls out a stack of flyers. His large hand holds the stack of forty pieces of paper like a deck of playing cards. He bends the deck until it explodes outwards, shooting flyers all over the room. You catch glimpses of different advertisements for consumer goods on each of the pieces of paper. One hits your face: an advertisement for leather polish, and on the cover is a familiar face of the woman who attacked you outside the tower. The others are all similar flyers for different products. "Nakamoto Sakura. You've already met. Her father runs the biggest Trade Sect in Outer East. The spoiled bitch burns through daddy's money for cycling on a level I didn't think sane or even possible. Her aura is still white, which is an obvious bluff. Whatever her real powers are, she's hiding them for now. Her biggest challenge is that she'll bribe everyone against you so she doesn't have to do the fighting herself. As for the last of the top five, it's \ <<if (dig($metjahi, 2) gte 3)>>\ some heavily robed and hooded nobody named Jahi. Uses the Fire element." "Oh." You reply calmly. "Jahi. I see." ... ... ... Fuck! Fuck fuck fuck //fuck fuck fuck ''fuck fuck FUCK FUCK FUCK!!''// Jahi?!?! Your memories of releasing the demon Jahi into this world are //crystal clear//, from \ <<if (dig($metjahi, 3) gte 1)>>\ the moment it killed your fellow villager, burning \ <<if ($heshe is "he")>>\ her \ <<else>>\ his \ <</if>>\ soul as fuel for the permanent possession, to the moment that it kissed you with extra tongue using that murdered villager's body. \ <<else>>\ the moment you took that accursed job to the moment you helped the Fiend kill your fellow villager, burning \ <<if ($heshe is "he")>>\ her \ <<else>>\ his \ <</if>>\ soul as fuel for the permanent possession. \ <</if>>\ You still have one of \ <<if ($heshe is "he")>>\ her \ <<else>>\ his \ <</if>>\ Cores inside your spirit. <<if (dig($mettaio, 1) gte 3)>>\ //I am aware of the hypocrisy, coming from me,// Taio the Scholar advises from inside your mind, //but you should remove that.// //Later.// You mentally reply to shush him in Mao's presence. <</if>>\ "Sounds like a pretty normal person." You say, feeling your pores begin to sweat. "What do we know about \ <<if ($heshe is "he")>>\ her?" <<else>>\ him?" <</if>>\ Mao cocks his head to the side, lifting one eyebrow. "Until now, nothing but the Fire power. I just found out it's a \ <<if ($heshe is "he")>>\ 'her' \ <<else>>\ 'him' \ <</if>>\ from you, just now. Why do you know that?" <<page "Uh..." "hub-residential-mao7">>\ <<else>>\ a clown." You frown. "You already called them all clowns. What makes this one special?" "Shut up." Mao says dryly. "I mean a real clown named Lost Jester, stupid facepaint and all. He's a stealth-type using Darkness and Light. Hasn't revealed a Style yet but he's strong, somehow. Doesn't matter though. What matters is this." He slides a small circular wooden container your way. The top twists off and inside is a red paste. "His makeup has a nutty smell. Safflower, says one of our Lower Disciple girls. Get used to it and you'll see him coming." <<var $metmao + 100000000>>\ <<if ($honor lt 45)>>\ ''[Honor 45 Check Failed]'' <<var $maorep - 5>>\ "Smell him coming." You correct, taking the container for later. "Are you //kidding me?!//" Mao shouts. The stone floor beneath his free hand begins to crack. His nostrils flare and his cheekbones nearly rise up to meet his eyes in anger. "After all that, you still have no respect?!" "Apologies." You say hastily. "I'll begin my preparations for the Trials. Uh, glory to Thunderfall." You leave quickly and Mao doesn't respond, which is better than expected. You are ''so'' used to antagonizing the Crusher family. This is going to be difficult. <<else>>\ ''[Honor 45 Check Passed]'' <<var $maorep + 2>>\ Technically you'd //smell// him coming, but you decide against correcting him. Instead you take the container for later, rise, and bow. "Thank you, Sectmaster Mao. I will begin my preparations for the Trials." "Do." Mao says, dismissing you with a wave of the hand. <</if>>\ When you reach for the door, it slams open to reveal a heavily panting Big Chu, holding onto the wall to catch his breath. "Sectmaster Mao, I bring a message!" <<page "Continue" "hub-residential-mao8">>\ <</if>>\

''*knock knock*'' Mao keeps his gaze locked on yours, ignoring the door. ''*knock knock*'' He leans closer, scrutinizing your face for any signs of cracking. ''*knock knock*'' "I-" ''*knock knock knock knock knock*'' Mao clenches his teeth and closes his eyes, green fire barely contained around his fist. "This had //better// be good." The door slams open to reveal a heavily panting Big Chu, holding onto the wall to catch his breath. "Sectmaster Mao, I bring a message!" <<page "Continue" "hub-residential-mao8">>\

The haze of spent chi emits from around Big Chu's body. "Sectmaster Mao, a lower disciple from the Wild Lands has left a message. She says you are late for an escort agreement with the Ardent Honor Trade Sect?" "Shit!" Mao cusses, looking back to you with mixed emotions. He quickly relents. "Trade deals. Can't wait. Big Chu, get stabilization elixirs for the Laborer and $hisher family. I'll be out of town tonight and I expect this place to be pristine when I get back." "Of course, Sectmaster Mao." Big Chu says with a heavy bow. Mao rips a fuuinjutsu scroll before you even see him draw it, donning a long and open blue robe from the smoke. He doesn't surge an Agility Core, at least you don't think, and instead uses some other fast travel Technique. That's your biggest guess, anyway, to explain why he vanishes at the same time that the nearest wall breaks into a Mao-shaped hole. Big Chu squints at the open wall as if to confirm that Mao has left, then turns to you with a relieved smile. "Privacy at last. I am pleased to see you made it to Nanhou, my student. \ <<if ($jadedragonfoundation is true)>>\ I never doubted you would, with your unusually high Aura Pressure, but this world is full of dangers, and old men like me are full of worries." "Aww, thanks Big Chu." You say, unused to words of kindness. "I won't tell anyone you called yourself old." "You are wise beyond your years." Chu says with a short bow. Now come! \ <<else>>\ I feared the dangers of the road would test you to your limits, but I see you \ <<if ($race is "Kitsune")>>\ made it with nothing more than a...a..." He looks at your second tail. "Minor...mutation, I am sure. \ <<elseif (($style is "Midorikatai") and ($heshe is "he"))>>\ have been training hard to counter them. Your physique change is magnificent, though you could use more padding around the belly. \ <<elseif ($spiritbrandloc isnot "")>>\ survived, even if it cost your spiritual stability. A spiritbrand is a bad sign, but one we can quell. \ <<else>>\ have grown strong. \ <</if>>\ Come! \ <</if>>\ Tell me in your own words, how have you been?" <<choose "hub-residential-mao9">> #"//Busy.// Demonic Gates. Pirates. Wild Gods. At this rate the Heavenly Ascension Trials will seem like a relaxing break." <<var $ruthless + 1>>\ <<var $honor - 1>>\ "I've been //busy.//" You slump your shoulders with a long exhale. "I've got to say...demonic gates, pirates, Wild Gods. At this rate the Heavenly Ascension Trials will seem like a relaxing break." "Hah!" Chu steps forward and slaps you on the back. "That is a good way to look at it! These Imperial decrees of life and death are nothing compared to your everyday activities! Now //that's// what I like to hear from my student!" You nod in agreement, he's got a good way of putting things this time. "Oh, speaking of students." You add. "If \ #"Fighting. Killing. Growing." <<var $ruthless + 1>>\ "I've been fighting, sensei." You reply. "Fighting. Killing..." \ <<if ($spiritbrandloc isnot "")>>\ Your $spiritbrandcolor $spiritbrandloc glows bright as your inner energies power up. \ <<else>>\ Your aura begins to leak out as your inner energies power up. \ <</if>>\ "Growing." Big Chu claps a hand on your shoulder and leans too close, scanning you at point blank range. "That you have." He says in appreciation. "The Trials will not be ready for you." "I couldn't agree more." You reply. "By the way, if \ #"I've been prepared, that's how I've been. All thanks to my favorite obese mentor." <<var $honor - 1>>\ <<var $ruthless - 1>>\ "I've been prepared, that's how I've been." You say with a playful punch to Big Chu's arm. "All thanks to my favorite obese mentor." "Your favorite what?" "Nothing." You add quickly. "By the way, if \ #"Surprised at the state of the world. Burnt villages, Fiends, cultists, demonic cultivators. How is anyone alive?" "I've been surprised at the state of the world." You reply. "Between burnt villages, Fiends, cultists, and demonic cultivators, I don't know how anyone is still alive." Big Chu adjusts his Martial belt and cocks his head to the side. "You are correct to fear for the weak population, young student. That is why we exist. Everyone who is alive owes it to the Warrior Caste, and every Warrior Caste owes their livelihood to the population. We fight because we must. We fight because they cannot." Your mouth hangs open at Big Chu actually giving a speech instead of stuffing his face. "Hah!" He says, relaxing his stance. "Surprised to see your mentor give a proper speech instead of stuffing his face?" "Uh...no..." Caught red-handed, you try to change the subject. "By the way, if \ <</choose>>

Mao said to get stabilization elixirs for Rin and Jin, does that mean they're free to come with me? They're free to go?" Big Chu rubs his belly and chin simultaneously in thought. "It is not my place to assume the intent of the Sectmaster." "I'll make the assumption then. Let's go free them." Big Chu nods with a smile. "I see you have learned the politics of a Sect." The two of you exit Mao's chamber and head down to the third floor, the quartermaster's, where Big Chu speaks with an older Upper Disciple who hands him a keystone and three elixirs. You both then head to the bottom floor and he uses the keystone to open a metal door built into the stone wall. As the door slides away to reveal a prison, Chu hands you the three elixirs. "For your kin." He says. "And may the Heavens favor you in the Trials." "You're not coming in?" Chu huffs. "Young Rin and Jin's rescue by your deeds is a family affair. I do not even know them. Besides, lunch is ending soon at the Marbled Pig Tavern. Reuniting with my student is an important affair, yes, but it cannot outshine my reuniting with that tavern's tonkatsu sauce. Farewell, my student! Do not forget my vital lessons that have carried you this far." He leaves and you enter into the prison. It's time to get Jin and Rin out of here. <<page "Continue" "hub-residential-findrinjin">>\

<<choose "hub-residential-temple-minamacking">> #"Incredibly. I didn't want it to just be a fling, I want something more." <<var $val 55>>\ "Incredibly." You answer. "I didn't want it to just be a fling, I want something more." She looks away bashfully, then back to you with a blush. "So that's the kind of man you are? What more could you possibly want from me?" "Everything." Mina bats her eyes and leans in, kissing you slowly. She works up into a sloppier kiss as you continue to make out, working her tongue around your own and pulling herself forward to sit upon your lap. "Take me then." She whispers into your ear. "If you want me forever, take me forever. Make me yours." She leans against you as you lean into her, embracing one another anew. <<page "Continue" "hub-residential-temple-minamacking">>\ #"Getting cocky, are we? It doesn't matter. As if I'd let someone as hot as you get away." <<var $ruthless + 2>>\ "Getting cocky, are we?" You tease. "It doesn't matter. As if I'd let someone as hot as you get away." "Psht." She snickers, seeming much less like a priestess and more like a young woman. "Let me?" Mina narrows her eyes and puts a finger in your face. "Do //not// tease me, mister. We are in the sacred grounds of the Devanic Temple!" "It didn't stop us last time." "It-" She looks left and right. "That was poor judgement! And..." She looks up and //through//, her eyes taking on a cerulean glow. "What do you think you're getting at here? You just jump back into my life, say some cheesy lines, and expect me to use my water Shugendō to pleasure you without coming up for air?" "...Huh?" She gets closer, glaring into your eyes. "That's it, isn't it? You're trying to get me to give you a whirlpool Technique with my mouth! You're just trying to use me for pleasure!" "I-" She slaps you, grabs you by the \ <<if (($hairlength is "Bald") or ($hairlength is "Buzzed"))>>\ back of the head, \ <<else>>\ hair, \ <</if>>\ and pulls you in for a deep kiss before pulling away and gasping for air. "You're just trying to ravish me! To claim my priestess body, and corrupt me into some sort of sex fiend! Don't think you'll get away with this! I'll show you the error of your ways!" She pushes off of you and dives under the water, her tongue finding you with ease. Water swirls under the surface as she embraces you and your eyes roll into the back of your head for the next twenty minutes. <<page "Gggghhhhhhhfbbbbrrrr" "hub-residential-temple-minamacking">>\ #"Please, who could resist a Shrinemaiden? Speaking of which, is your sister free?" -> "hub-residential-temple2" "Please, who could resist a Shrinemaiden?" You laugh, wrapping your arm around her. "Speaking of which, is your sister free?" Mina slaps you so hard that you wake up on the floor of the Temple antechamber. Rising quickly, you dust yourself off and brush away the onlookers checking to see if you're alive. Time to play it off like nothing happened. <</choose>>

<<if (dig($placevisit, 2) is 0)>>\ <<var $placevisit + 10000000000000>>\ A wide red barn stands before you, made from dilapidated scrap lumber. The three-story building is an eyesore on the street of one-story buildings and is wedged between a noodle shop and some poor soul's house. Only the roof, a fine set of white gabled tiles, separates it from the rundown shacks you've seen in the poorer parts of the city. The concept of an orphanage isn't new to you, but seeing one certainly is. In Thunderfall you didn't join some communal building when your parents died, you slept on the street and called yourself Kosuke. Deciding to investigate further, you enter. <<page "Continue" "hub-residential-orphanagefirst">>\ <<elseif (dig($placevisit, 2) gte 1)>>\ The orphanage's bells ring. "A customer!" Shouts a little girl, perched on the third story and playing with dolls. "A new \ <<if ($heshe is "he")>>\ dadda!" \ <<else>>\ momma!" \ <</if>>\ Shouts a younger boy. "An enemy!" Shouts a ten year old \ <<var $val 0>>\ <<rand $val 0 7>>\ <<if ($val is 1)>>\ Oni \ <<elseif ($val is 2)>>\ Wolk Yokai \ <<elseif ($val is 3)>>\ Lunargoth \ <<elseif ($val is 4)>>\ Reptile Yokai \ <<elseif ($val is 5)>>\ Monkey Yokai \ <<elseif ($val is 6)>>\ Cat Yokai \ <<else>>\ Human \ <</if>>\ holding a wooden sword. "<<cap $name>>!" Lella calls, ushering you past the children towards the back where she's preparing a stew over the firepits. "Come on in, hun. What brings you down to our little neck of the slums? \ <<include "hub-residential-orphanage2">>\ <</if>>\

Seconds after Angelo's left, and the children have followed, Lella finds her nerves and sprints to the door. She closes both sides and bolts the doorway, locking it from the inside. After turning around and leaning against the secured entry, she sinks to the floor and hugs her knees. "Are you okay?" You ask. "F-Fine." She says, letting out a struggling breath. "I'm just fine. That man's spirit just don't feel like a spirit, you know? Felt more like slipping off an iceberg and plunging into the cold, dark sea. Surrounded by who knows what." She shivers in silence for a moment, then looks up to you. "Oh I'm being ruder than a blacksmith at a nail parlor. I never thanked you, did I? Thank you, I dare say, for finding the youngins a home, I really appreciate it." She stands slowly, dusting off her knees. "I'll make sure the Magistrate hears about this. It's the least I can do." ''[Infamy Reduced]'' <<var $infamy - 1>>\ <<if ($infamy gt 10)>>\ <<var $infamy - 1>>\ <<elseif ($infamy lt 0)>>\ <<var $infamy 0>>\ <</if>>\ ''[Prestige Increased]'' <<var $prestige + 2>>\ <<var $lellarep + 7>>\ <<var $sect_waverunner + 3>>\ "Now run along and focus on your Trials," she says, gripping your upper arms harder than you thought she could and ushering you out the unlocked back entrance. <<if (dig($orphanhelper, 1) lt 9)>>\ <<var $orphanhelper + 100000000>>\ <</if>>\ "Don't waste any more of your precious youth in a rundown barn like this. A gentle soul like yours is meant for much better things." She shoos you out the door, refusing any further help, and sends you on your way with a fresh loaf of bread. It's pretty good. <<var $placevisit + 10000000000000>>\ <<page "Return to the Residential District" "hub-residential-district">>\

<<var $txt "">>\ <<choose "hub-residential-orphanage-kids2">> #use-if ((dig($orphanhelper, 2) is 0) and (dig($placevisit, 13) gte 1)) Angelo <<var $orphanhelper + 10000000>>\ ''[Special Event: No Persuasion Needed]'' "Ah, the laughter and joy of children!" Angelo announces as he arrives, his robes fluttering when he pushes barn both doors open and waltzes in. Lella smiles and stands, walking up to shake Angelo's hand as she lets out a gentle spiritual scan. "You must be the priest that-" She stops in her tracks. "S-Saint Angelo." The cow Yokai backs up several paces ungracefully, as if falling backward and barely catching herself. She lands in a seat at the central table and grabs a tea cup with trembling hand, tries to smile, and forces herself to look into Angelo's eyes. "The, uh, the children are all well-trained, your holiness. Consistent bed time and never talk back. Th-thank you, for coming, that is, Lord Saint." Angelo smiles. "A mistaken case of identity, I'm afraid. Nothing holy about a pilgrim but their goals, and it is I who should be thanking you. The city is in your debt." He ignores her behavior and looks to you. "I'm glad you sent for me. The Devanic tenants teach nothing of adoption, but I know an elderly shrine maiden with eighty descendants of her own. Quite a bitter and angry old warhorse, but she has a soft spot for children and currently suffers from an empty household. I could swindle her into taking care of them. It wouldn't be the first time. Poor gal makes herself an easy target, but I believe she enjoys it." You're pleased to get such quick results, but one thought scratches at the back of your mind. "Hold on a moment, how often do you manipulate people into doing what you want? Do you use Sacred Chi for that?" "Why, never!" He exclaims, sounding shocked you'd even ask. "I //verbally// manipulate them into doing what they're //supposed// to want. Otherwise I'd simply have tricked everyone into making wine. Unfortunately, that would crash the wine market which, of course, would be terrible for wine makers. Of which there would be many. Due to my actions." "Nice deflection." You grumble, eyeing him suspiciously. "Thank you." He claps his hands once. "Come along, children! It is time to earn your salvation." "Awww." Says one of the older Oni boys. "There is free food." He adds. "Yay!" Cheers the boy, along with all the others as they follow him out the door. <<var $orphansuccess true>>\ <<page "Continue" "hub-residential-orphanage-angelo">>\ #use-if (dig($orphanhelper, 4) is 0) Kosuke <<var $orphanhelper + 100000>>\ <<if (($bffheshe isnot $heshe) and ($bffromance gte 1))>>\ "You know this isn't what I envisioned when I talked about starting a family." Kosuke mutters, looking over the lot of dirty orphans. "Not our family." You reply. "I want you to train them to survive well on the streets. The orphanage won't be funded after the Trials, you're their best bet of learning to make it without parents." <<else>>\ "Oh wow." Kosuke says, rubbing $bffhisher eyes. "That's a lot of kids. Are they yours? When did you find the time?" "They're not even the same races." You reply dryly. "Neither are you and \ <<if ($race is "Human")>>\ Leona \ <<else>>\ Bo Lo \ <</if>>\ but Taio was still convinced you were related." <<if (dig($mettaio, 1) gte 6)>>\ //Not my finest display of intuition.// Says Taio the Scholar within the demonic Hellscape you've expanded in the pit of your corrupted soul. //Let us forget about it. In fact, kill this witness.// //Agreed.// Says Taio the Bandit, who Kosuke personally fought alongside you. You shake voices out of your head and look back to Kosuke. \ <</if>>\ "Okay, fair, but the reason I brought you here is because I need someone to find homes for them. You pulled off living on the streets of Thunderfall, I figured you could do the same for them. This orphanage won't be around forever, they need to learn to fend for themselves." <</if>>\ <<rand $val 2 3>>\ <<if (($bffromance gte 2) and ($heshe isnot $bffheshe))>>\ <<var $val - 1>>\ <</if>>\ <<if ($bffrep gte 65)>>\ <<var $val - 1>>\ <</if>>\ <<if ($persuasion gte $val)>>\ ''[Persuasion $val Check Passed]'' <<var $powexp + 1>>\ <<var $orphansuccess true>>\ "You know I wasn't entirely alone, right? I had your parents." You place a hand on $bffhisher shoulder. "And they'll have you." Kosuke opens $bffhisher mouth, inhales fast to make a counterpoint, and gives up. "Aw shit. Fine, but they're not mine and they're not staying with me. I know a few groups trying to form competing thieves guilds in Nanhou, they'd all love to collect some street urchins with big puppy-dog eyes." "Any of them secretly ninjas?" You ask, genuinely curious about clandestine thieves guilds. "If they are, I don't know about it." Kosuke responds. "Which means they're good at being ninjas." Kosuke claps $bffhisher hands twice. "Alright brats, come with me! It's time to get trained in the School of Hard Knocks." Lella eyes both you and Kosuke as the orphans cheer. "Are you sure this is a good idea?" "Pft." Kosuke snorts, opening the door for the kids to rush out. "No." <<var $txt "After Kosuke leaves">>\ <<else>>\ ''[Persuasion $val Check Failed]'' "You know I've always got your back, right?" Kosuke says, looking sympathetic. "It's just that I don't have //everyone's// back, you know? A half dozen snitching mouths to feed make a charming life of crime almost impossible." You squint suspiciously at Kosuke. "Are you still committing crimes?" "Uhhhh." <<cap $bffheshe>> says while slipping out the door. "No?" <</if>>\ <<page "Continue" "hub-residential-orphanage-kids2">>\ #use-if ((dig($orphanhelper, 5) is 0) and (dig($compquest1, 3) isnot 0)) Guiren <<var $orphanhelper + 10000>>\ <<if ($heshe is "he")>>\ "Something's off about this one." Lella says, looking Guiren up and down as he does the same to her. "What's your job, young man?" "Debt collection." He replies with pride, leaning against the nearest wall with \ <<if ($guirendisarmed is true)>>\ one arm motioned as if he was crossing both. The other arm is still gone. You don't think he's used to that yet. <<else>>\ his arms crossed. <</if>>\ "Crime, then." "The legal side of it." He corrects, looking back to you. \ <<else>>\ "Oh I like this one." Lella says. "He wears tight pants." Guiren blinks a couple times, getting a good look at the Cow \ <<if ($guirenromance gte 1)>>\ Yokai while trying to pretend to look anywhere else. <<else>>\ Yokai. <</if>>\ After a moment he looks back to you. \ <</if>>\ "Why am I here again?" He glances over the dirty little orphans in rags. "I'm willing to help out on a job, but I wasn't expecting some kid's birthday party or whatever this is." "They're orphans, hun." Lella says. "Big deal," Guiren replies, "most of us are." "You're here because you're well-traveled." You butt-in. "It's a big world out there and you've been around. I figured you must know plenty of cases where someone's looking to adopt." <<rand $val 2 4>>\ <<if (($guirenromance gte 2) and ($heshe is "she"))>>\ <<var $val - 1>>\ <</if>>\ <<if ($persuasion gte $val)>>\ ''[Persuasion $val Check Passed]'' <<var $powexp + 1>>\ <<var $orphansuccess true>>\ "A few farmers." He says with a shrug, his tail slowly lashing the floor as he thinks. "I suppose some tavern keepers. A family here and there that lost their children. I can send my men out to ask some contacts currently in Nanhou, but I can't make promises." He doesn't have to. You get enough replies within hours to find a home for all the children. <<if ($guirenromance gte 2)>>\ Guiren leaves without a word, flashing you a victorious smile on the way out. Right behind him, Wencheng and Yoji \ <<else>>\ Guiren leaves without a word, mostly because Wencheng and Yoji show up to add words of their own. They \ <</if>>\ make fun of him //relentlessly// for spending their time on orphans, all while ensuring he knows they're charging overtime or they'll tell The Boss. You didn't know he paid them. <<var $txt "After Guiren and his men leave">>\ <<else>>\ ''[Persuasion $val Check Failed]'' "Wish I did." He admits, his tail slowly lashing the floor as he thinks. "But nobody for sure, and nobody I can reach. I'll keep an ear out, might get some responses in a few weeks, but I can't work miracles." He gives an oddly formal bow of apology and leaves without a word, expressing intense willpower to not stare down Lella's shirt on the way out. He fails \ <<if (($heshe is "she") and (($guirenromance gte 2) or (($bodytype is "Hourglass") or ($bodytype is "Bodacious"))))>>\ twice with her, and three times with you. <<else>>\ twice. <</if>>\ <</if>>\ <<page "Continue" "hub-residential-orphanage-kids2">>\ #use-if (((dig($orphanhelper, 6) is 0) and (dig($trialdeets, 1) gte 2)) and (dig($trialdeets, 4) isnot 0)) Crusher Mao <<var $orphanhelper + 1000>>\ "Where'd you find a Sectmaster?" Lella asks, whistling low. "A strong one, too." "You're not so bad yourself." Mao says, lustfully staring Lella up and down. He stops suddenly and frowns when he notices who else is in the building. "Fuck no, tell me this is a joke." Mao glares over the collection of dirty little orphans in rags. "I thought you called me for something serious, kid. This isn't a dangerous Sect, it's a bunch of damned brats. I kill our village's enemies; I'm a Warrior. I don't babysit these //feeders.//" "But you know everyone who does." You reply. "Without Magistrate Khan here, you're the only leader from Thunderfall that we have. Surely you'd know who in our village would be willing to help?" <<rand $val 2 4>>\ <<if ($style is "Midorikatai")>>\ ''[Midorikatai Event: Difficulty Reduced]'' <<var $val - 1>>\ <</if>>\ <<if ($persuasion gte $val)>>\ ''[Persuasion $val Check Passed]'' <<var $orphansuccess true>>\ <<var $powexp + 1>>\ Mao glares at you, arms crossed. "Flattering little shit. I'll send them home with the next caravan. It's on your ass if they act up." "That was surprisingly easy." Lella whispers in your ear. "I'm a busy man." Mao replies, opening the door to leave. "You don't become a Sectmaster by hesitating. Ponder over that lesson and try learning something for once." He slams the door behind him, leaving a Lower Disciple to collect the children. It's Bo Lo. "Hi Bo." You say with a short wave. "Have fun with the kids." He flips you \ <<if ($borep gte 48)>>\ off without any hatred in his eyes, as if doing so for old time's sake. <<else>>\ off. <</if>>\ "They like apples." Lella says, handing him a bucket of the fruits. "And make sure they're in bed by eight." <<if ($borep gte 48)>>\ "Fine." He says, snatching the bucket out of her hands. "But consider this your most blessed day that Sectmaster Mao saw fit to answer your plea. These tasks should be beneath a Warrior like me." <<else>>\ "I am a //Warrior,// not a farmer!" He hisses. "This is beneath me." <</if>>\ "Oh honey." Lella says, patting him on the shoulder. "Complaining don't make you a better man." <<if ($borep gte 48)>>\ Bo looks into her eyes instead of down her shirt and seems to contemplate the lesson. You're mildly surprised. <<else>>\ Bo squints angrily at her, so tightly that you think his eyes are closed. <<if ($perception gte 2)>>\ ''[Perception 2 Check Passed]'' <<var $powexp + 1>>\ No, he's simply trying to hide the fact that he's looking down her shirt. <<else>>\ Maybe they are? <</if>>\ <</if>>\ <<var $txt "After Bo and Mao leave">>\ <<else>>\ ''[Persuasion $val Check Failed]'' Mao doesn't even bother to look at you or address your point. "Nice tits." He says to Lella. Then he leaves, slamming the door behind him. <</if>>\ <<page "Continue" "hub-residential-orphanage-kids2">>\ #use-if (dig($orphanhelper, 7) is 0) The Nanhou City Guards. <<var $orphanhelper + 100>>\ Lella looks from you to \ <<if (dig($metkeroth, 1) gte 2)>>\ Lieutenant Keroth of the City Guard, \ <<else>>\ the guard standing in her orphanage in full uniform, \ <</if>>\ chewing on a long piece of grass. "You're sure about this one, hun?" Lella asks. "The local guards are as much help to the little folk as rain in the ocean." "She's right." \ <<if (dig($metkeroth, 1) gte 2)>>\ Keroth \ <<else>>\ The guard \ <</if>>\ surprisingly agrees, looking over the dirty orphans. "The Hells am I supposed to do with a bunch of kids? I thought 'adopt kids' was codeword for a hostage situation you didn't want to say out loud. You know you pulled me out of the porkbun line for this, right? Wasting my time is worse than illegal, it's annoying." "Please, Honored Guardsman, you're the protectors of Nanhou," you reply, "these are your citizens, shouldn't it be your duty to make sure they're taken care of?" "I did." \ <<if (dig($metkeroth, 1) gte 2)>>\ Lieutenant Keroth \ <<else>>\ The guard \ <</if>>\ says, motioning a hand around the orphanage. "I ensured they're at the orphanage. Job complete." "Wait!" You shout as he turns to leave. You look back to the orphans and Lella, racking your brain. "What about...apprentices? The garrison must have quadrupled since Nanhou was expanded into a city, surely you have plenty of chores that need doing around the area that none of you want to do. Linens, armor polish, floor washing. Why should you have to do these tasks? The kids could live in a spare room of your garrison and take care of the chores none of you want to do. If the Magistrate asks, it could be a training program for future guards with lifelong loyalty. I'm sure he would approve the funds to keep his guards happy." <<rand $val 2 3>>\ <<if ($persuasion gte $val)>>\ ''[Persuasion $val Check Passed]'' <<var $powexp + 1>>\ <<var $orphansuccess true>>\ "Fine." \ <<if (dig($metkeroth, 1) gte 2)>>\ Keroth \ <<else>>\ The guard \ <</if>>\ relents. "But if this works, it was my idea. If it fails, it was yours." "Really?" Lella shouts excitedly, running up to hug the man. "Oh thank you, mister, thank you so much!" When Lella's bodacious Cow Yokai body slams into \ <<if (dig($metkeroth, 1) gte 2)>>\ Keroth his \ <<else>>\ him, the guard's \ <</if>>\ eyes widen and he freezes in place as if struck with Ice chi. "Y-You too." He mutters, caught in her deathgrip. <<if (dig($metkeroth, 1) gte 2)>>\ <<var $txt "After Keroth leaves">>\ <<else>>\ <<var $txt "After the guardsman leaves">>\ <</if>>\ <<else>>\ ''[Persuasion $val Check Failed]'' <<if (dig($metkeroth, 1) gte 2)>>\ The guard \ <<else>>\ Keroth \ <</if>>\ shakes his head. "We've got slaves for that. Sorry kids, tough economy." The children begin to cry as \ <<if (dig($metkeroth, 1) gte 2)>>\ the Lieutenant \ <<else>>\ the guard \ <</if>>\ leaves, giving them nothing but the mild courtesy of waiting until he's exited the building to start smoking. <</if>>\ <<page "Continue" "hub-residential-orphanage-kids2">>\ #Nevermind. You realize you don't actually have any way to help these love-starved orphans. Slowly, //ever so cautiously//, you walk backward out the front door. They watch you the whole way. <<page "Leave the orphanage." "hub-residential-district">>\ <</choose>>

<<if ($orphansuccess is true)>>\ $txt with the children, Lella collapses into a nearby chair and lets the weight of the world fall off her shoulders. "I'll make sure the Magistrate's office hears about this." She says after a short pause to relish the moment, \ <<if ($heshe is "he")>>\ smiling warmly. \ <<else>>\ breathing out a sigh of relief at the sight of an empty orphanage. \ <</if>>\ "It's the least I can do." ''[Infamy Reduced]'' <<var $infamy - 1>>\ <<if ($infamy gt 10)>>\ <<var $infamy - 1>>\ <<elseif ($infamy lt 0)>>\ <<var $infamy 0>>\ <</if>>\ ''[Prestige Increased]'' <<var $prestige + 2>>\ <<var $lellarep + 7>>\ <<var $sect_waverunner + 3>>\ "Now run along and focus on your Trials," she says, gripping your upper arms harder than you thought she could and ushering you out the door. \ <<if (dig($orphanhelper, 1) lt 9)>>\ <<var $orphanhelper + 100000000>>\ <</if>>\ "Don't waste any more of your precious youth in a rundown barn like this. A gentle soul like yours is meant for much better things." She shoos you out the door, refusing any further help, and sends you on your way with a fresh loaf of bread. It's pretty good. <<var $placevisit + 10000000000000>>\ <<page "Return to the Residential District" "hub-residential-district">>\ <<else>>\ "That could have gone better." Lella says, sitting back down at the orphanage's longtable at the center of the barn. "I don't suppose you know anyone else?" "No one that answered." You reply remorsefully. "So we don't get a new home?" One of the orphans asks. "Not today, hun." Lella says, patting the boy on the head as he begins to cry. In a fit, the young toddler runs away from you both and climbs up the ladder to his room. He doesn't make it, screaming as he is, and trips back to the floor where he cries even harder. Lella gives you an apologetic smile. "Better go." She says. "I'll cook em some soup to calm everything down and prep a nice naptime story." <<var $placevisit + 10000000000000>>\ <<page "Leave (in shame)" "hub-residential-district">>\ <</if>>\

<<if (($infamy * 3) gte ($prestige))>>\ ''[Infamy Too High!]'' <<include "hub-residential-orphanage-violatechildlaborlaws2">>\ <<else>>\ ''[Prestige Check Passed]'' <<if ($ruthless gt (50 + ($deception * 2)))>>\ ''[Compassion Check Failed]'' <<include "hub-residential-orphanage-violatechildlaborlaws2">>\ <<else>>\ ''[Compassion Check Passed]'' <<if ($honor lt (50 - ($deception * 2)))>>\ ''[Honor Check Failed]'' <<include "hub-residential-orphanage-violatechildlaborlaws2">>\ <<else>>\ ''[Honor Check Passed]'' Lella ponders it over for a moment, humming to herself. She looks you up and down and smiles. "Normally I'd say no, bringing the tots onto ships is codeword for slavers these days, but it's you. And I trust you. Come along children, you've got a new home!" The children throughout the orphanage cheer, sliding down their ladders and rushing to meet their new \ <<if ($heshe is "he")>>\ father. \ <<else>>\ mother. \ <</if>>\ Technically it will be your retainers that will be their new \ <<if ($heshe is "he")>>\ fathers, \ <<else>>\ mothers, \ <</if>>\ but they'll figure that out in an hour or so. As will your retainers. <<var $orphansuccess true>>\ <<var $lellarep + 10>>\ <<var $sect_waverunner + 5>>\ <<var $placevisit + 10000000000000>>\ ''[14 Children (5 Retainers) Recruited]'' <<var $retainers + 5>>\ <<var $retainer_morale - 5>>\ <<page "Leave the orphanage" "hub-residential-orphanage-kids2">>\ <</if>>\ <</if>>\ <</if>>\

"Well that's a pot of shit bigger than a stuffed steer." Lella replies, sizing you up and down doubtfully. "You're helpful to some folks, some times, sure. But hun, you ain't //that// charitable. I ain't buyin it." You curse internally, your attempts at cheap child labor thwarted. Unless... <<var $honor - 2>>\ "It's for the Trials." You offer as if giving a confession. "If I adopt these kids under my banner, it will make me look better to the judges. It's still going to be real though, it's not like I can ever abandon them without tarnishing my whole Clan's reputation. Sure, I'm doing it for selfish reasons, but I promise you, they //will// have a home." <<if ($deception gte 3)>>\ ''[Deception 3 Check Passed]'' Lella ponders it over for a moment, humming, until she relents with a prolonged sigh. "I'd better not regret this, but you've made your case and it's tighter than a garrison's bedsheet. Come along children, you've got new homes!" The children cheer and rush out to meet you, elated for a new life, all the while you look over who among them would be best served tying knots, washing decks, or peeling potatoes. Ah, the joys of child labor. You're going to save a //fortune//. ''[Infamy Reduced]'' ''[14 Children (5 Retainers) Recruited]'' <<var $retainers + 5>>\ <<var $infamy - 1>>\ <<if ($infamy gt 6)>>\ <<var $infamy - 1>>\ <<elseif ($infamy lt 0)>>\ <<var $infamy 0>>\ <</if>>\ <<var $lellarep + 5>>\ <<var $placevisit + 10000000000000>>\ <<var $retainer_morale - 5>>\ <<page "Return to the Residential District" "hub-residential-district">>\ <<else>>\ ''[Deception 3 Check Failed]'' Lella taps her cheek for a moment, and the very next moment you're both twelve feet further back, with her hand crushing your larynx against the wall. It suddenly occurs to you just how large the woman is. "Oh hun, your lies are so easy to see through." She squeezes your neck tighter and leans closer. "Get out of my orphanage, or your torso will be easy to see through." "Bu-" You exit earlier than expected, through the window, and clear the nearest line of buildings as you're thrown out. <<var $eventfun + 1000000>>\ <<var $lellarep - 10>>\ ''[Infamy Increased]'' <<var $infamy + 2>>\ <<page "Oh shiiii-!" "hub-residential-district">>\ <</if>>\

//Please// tell me its to help the newest batch of tots find homes. Rebellious little demons are running me ragged. Interested in helping a girl out by helping the children out?" <<choose "hub-residential-district">> #Help the children find homes. -> "hub-residential-orphanage-kids" <<var $ruthless - 3>>\ <<var $honor + 2>>\ You decide to help Lella find a home for the orphans. The biggest obstacle surprisingly is the paperwork demanded by the Magistrate. "He doesn't like people leaving." Lella says. "Magistrate Fuyu's worried Nanhou will go back to being just a town when the Trials are over, and he wants it staying a city. That's why he's making it so hard to adopt these kids to outsiders." "What about insiders?" You ask. "Do we need less paperwork for people who live in Nanhou?" Lella sighs and unfurls more scrolls on the table. "As far as his bony paranoid butt is concerned, //no one// lives in Nanhou." Two hours of meticulous form-filing later, you're finally done with the bureaucracy of adoption. All that's left is to fill in the name (in triplicate) of whoever will actually be taking the children. Luckily you're not alone these days and have your own retainers to help with your problems, so you've sent them out with messages written to several of your contacts. The only one who responds is... <<var $val 0>>\ <<var $orphansuccess false>>\ #use-if (dig($eventfun, 9) is 0) Have your crew 'adopt' the children to work on your ships. -> "hub-residential-orphanage-violatechildlaborlaws" "I'd like to adopt all these children into the $clan Clan. I know my retainers would be ecstatic and provide them loving homes, and my ships have plenty of room and food to keep them healthy." #"Just passing by." [Leave] <</choose>>

Bells tied to the door jingle as you enter into the wide barn. "One moment, hun!" Calls a woman's energetic voice in an unfamiliar drawl. Before you is a building that someone forgot to assemble. The floor of all three levels is missing in the center, creating three stories on each side of the massive singular room that end in short gates. Ladders lean on either side to help children reach the beds visible on every floor. The entire building reminds you of a bunkbed. More than two dozen orphans run throughout the orphanage, some playing with dolls and others play-fighting. On the ground floor, in the center with no flooring above it, is an extensive longtable with twenty chairs on each side. Behind it is four sets of fireplaces leading into one massive chimney. Pots of soup rest over each fireplace and a single woman with a greatmace-sized ladle churns their contents. A horned cow yokai woman, one with the red-hair, the face of a lunargoth, and a clearly overdeveloped body. <<if ($portraitpics is true)>>\ <<image "https://www.auraclash.com/assets/images/lella.jpg">>\ <</if>>\ <<if ($bodytype is "Bodacious")>>\ ''[Bovine Event]'' <<var $forexp + 5>>\ You can relate. The poor girl probably has back issues. <</if>>\ She looks up and smiles at your arrival. "Not every day we get real visitors!" She announces. "A rainy thought, considering how many people are in town, but I'm always glad to see a fresh face." She rushes forward, extending a hand for the Gothic handshake. "The name's Lella, and you are?" "$name." You reply, shaking her hand. "What brings you to the Nanhou orphanage? Come to pick out a forever family? I should warn you not to try anything funny like selling the kids into slavery. It gives me more mouths to feed." You open your mouth to reply, but find yourself pausing. The math doesn't add up. "How do you have more mouths to feed if people took the kids away?" She points the ladle to two little Oni girls. "Their old man tried it, now they live in the orphanage. Easy puzzle to solve, darlin." The little red-skinned girls start crying. "Oh ignore them. He had it coming. Now what brings you to our happy family? \ <<include "hub-residential-orphanage2">>\

It doesn't take long to find a good tavern serving food, the Trials have caused a spare hundred to pop up all over Nanhou. It takes even less time for Jin and Rin to tear into anything they order. And boy, do they order. <<if ((($shards + ($silver / 10)) + ($gold * 10)) gte 30)>>\ <<costcalc 30>>\ <<else>>\ ''[Debt Acquired: 30 Shards]'' <<var $debt + 30>>\ <</if>>\ After eating a fair bit yourself and being thoroughly disgusted at the two of them still stuffing their faces, you lay back and sip some tea while detailing the events of the last month. They nod along, hopefully listening, while chowing down on dumblings, pork shortrib, fried vegetables, sashimi, chopped chicken, crispy noodles, soft noodles, wet noodles, riceballs, squid, and anything else the lucky tavern has the luxury of charging you for. <<if ($jinrinbooster is "fruit")>>\ Horrifyingly, they even manage to stuff their faces with the spiritfruit they swiped off the Thunderfall Lower Disciple when you made your escape. You've eaten spiritfruit before, they're filling. You've no idea how they're not groaning in pain when eating one after such a feast. <<if ($jincombat lt $rincombat)>>\ ''[Jin Combat Prowess +2]'' <<var $jincombat + 2>>\ ''[Rin Combat Prowess +1]'' <<var $rincombat + 1>>\ <<elseif ($rincombat lt $jincombat)>>\ ''[Rin Combat Prowess +2]'' <<var $rincombat + 2>>\ ''[Jin Combat Prowess +1]'' <<var $jincombat + 1>>\ <<else>>\ ''[Jin Combat Prowess +1]'' <<var $jincombat + 1>>\ ''[Rin Combat Prowess +1]'' <<var $rincombat + 1>>\ <</if>>\ <</if>>\ When done, they spend the next ten minutes going back and forth over the way they were treated since being dragged from Thunderfall \ <<if ($jinrinbooster is "manual")>>\ Village, each browsing through the basic Path Manuals you got them when it's the other's turn to speak. <<if ($jincombat gt $rincombat)>>\ ''[Jin Combat Prowess +2]'' <<var $jincombat + 2>>\ ''[Rin Combat Prowess +1]'' <<var $rincombat + 1>>\ <<elseif ($rincombat gt $jincombat)>>\ ''[Rin Combat Prowess +2]'' <<var $rincombat + 2>>\ ''[Jin Combat Prowess +1]'' <<var $jincombat + 1>>\ <<else>>\ ''[Jin Combat Prowess +1]'' <<var $jincombat + 1>>\ ''[Rin Combat Prowess +1]'' <<var $rincombat + 1>>\ <</if>>\ <<else>>\ Village. <</if>>\ <<include "hub-residential-siblingtalk">>\ "And having a lifespan of one week?" Jin adds. "It'll be accurate when the Trials start if we don't have a plan." <<if (dig($trialdeets, 1) is 1)>>\ Rin's carefree expression sours. "That's true...<<cap $name>>, what should we do? The entire Thunderfall Sect will be looking for us. Jack will be looking for us. //Crusher Mao// will be looking for us." <<page "Hmm..." "hub-residential-restaurantsibs2">>\ <<else>>\ Rin frowns at him. "Rude." Then she looks to you. "But what //is// the plan? I'm no fighter and they barely trained us." <<page "Cheat?" "hub-residential-restaurantsibs3">>\ <</if>>\

Surprisingly, the Thunderfall Sect's animosity is not as big of an issue when you think about it. "They're already after Kosuke." You say thoughtfully. "I want the two of you to stay with $bffhimher until the Trials begin. If you do well, we might be able to transfer you to the $clan Clan in Imperial records. If you flunk out, my men can remodel one of the ships and sail you somewhere safe." \ "Hold on a second." Jin responds slowly, shaking his head. "Hold on...you have men? You have a //ship//?" "Yeah," Rin adds. "Since when?" Your headache expands. "Are you kidding? I //just// told you about Ebik-you know what, nevermind. \ <<if (($countdown is 0) and ($currenttrial is "Tiger"))>>\ Just go to the damn docks. I need to get to the Trial grounds." <<if ($ruthless gte 63)>>\ You resist the urge to smack the jerks \ <<else>>\ You give the jerks a hug \ <</if>>\ and send them on their way to the Port District, following the busiest path. Scanning through a sea of thousands of people traversing the main roads is an impossibility, so you don't worry about them being caught in such a crowd. ''[2 Martial Retainers Gained (Jin & Rin)]'' <<var $martial_retainers + 2>>\ After weeks of worry, the biggest problem on your checklist is complete. Now you have a new worry to deal with: The Trials await. <<page "[Leave to the Entertainment District]" "hub-entertainment-district">>\ <<else>>\ Just follow me." <<page "Continue" "hub-residential-restaurantsibs4">>\ <</if>>\

"The plan is easy." You say, withdrawing all three elixirs Chu gave you and passing one to each of them. "We cheat." <<var $aurapressure + 15>>\ ''[Aura Pressure +15]'' ''[Jin Combat +2]'' <<var $jincombat + 2>>\ ''[Rin Combat +2]'' <<var $rincombat + 2>>\ Your own elixir enhances the solidity of your Cores, but you sense a stronger effect within Rin and Jin. As the name implies, the 'stabilization' elixirs seem to have corrected some of the many imbalances in their cultivation. Some, but not all. It dawns on you that these are exactly what Kosuke and your crew will need. "How did you get these?!" Jin says, staring wide-eyed at the empty bottle in his hands as his white chi aura manifests against his will. "These are incredible!" You shrug nonchalant, ever the elder sibling. "I had to make peace with the Thunderfall Sect. We're in good standing now." Rin cringes. "Ew, how? \ <<if ($heshe is "she")>>\ You didn't agree to marry Jack, did you?" <<else>>\ You didn't sell me off to marry Jack, did you?" <</if>>\ "No, Rin." You chastise in disappointment. "I fought." <<if ($heshe is "she")>>\ "Phew." She says, relieved for some reason. <<else>>\ "Oh." She says, almost disappointed. <</if>>\ Jin gives her a side-eye glance then turns back to you, running some sort of mental calculation. "Fought...who?" You take a sip of your tea and don't meet their eyes as you casually explain the last month of events, largely emphasizing the part where your actions //eliminated every Sunbringer above the age of twenty-five.// <<var $brorep + 5>>\ <<var $sisrep + 5>>\ They're both lost for words. Having neither of them able to say anything snarky for once is more satisfying than all the Spiritual Cultivation in the world. Afterwards you bring Rin and Jin to the docks where they meet with your retainers. Unfortunately Kosuke is out looking for hiding spots around the city, unaware $bffheshe received a Thunderfall pardon, but you leave the message, show Jin and Rin to your cabin for rest, and get back to your duties. ''[2 Martial Retainers Gained (Jin & Rin)]'' <<var $martial_retainers + 2>>\ After weeks of worry, the biggest problem on your checklist is finally complete. Now all that's left is the larger list of problems you've accumulated along the way. <<page "Continue" "hub-port-district">>\

One long voyage down the busiest road brings no issues. Whether they're searching for you or not, even Crusher Mao couldn't find your aura signatures in the sea of thousands of people traversing Nanhou's main roads. You reach your fleet's section of the docks and drop Jin and Rin off with one of your retainers, a young woman who usually handles sail repairs. She says Kosuke is out finding hiding spots right now, which is perfect, because Jin and Rin will need them. For now, you're just happy to finally have your family back. ''[2 Martial Retainers Gained (Jin & Rin)]'' <<var $martial_retainers + 2>>\ <<page "[Explore Port District]" "hub-port-district">>\

<<var $val 0>>\ <<var $val2 0>>\ Finding one Sect among the hundreds in the sprawling Residential District is like finding a needle in a haystack. Except Jack made this needle famous and the haystack is talking about it. "Excuse me," you say to four passing Martial Artists in beige and gold gi. "I'm looking for the Thunderfall Sect. Do you know where I can find them?" "I do." Says a blonde lunargothic man with a courteous short bow. "It is the stone tower with sky-blue roof tiles. Take your eighth right down this road and it will be on your left after the limestone houses. The building is quite tall, you won't miss it from the street." Huh. That was easier than you thought. Sometimes easy solutions just make sense and work. After thanking the man, you follow his directions and find yourself walking down a pleasant macadam road with white stone houses on both sides. The buildings are built flanking each other and leave room for alleyways every four houses or so. You're grateful for the design because it's allowed you to notice someone tailing you from a parallel road. <<page "Come out." "hub-residential-reunion1-2">>\

"Come out." You say to whoever is hiding in alleyway up ahead. "Impressive." Says a woman's voice over a soft clap. "As expected of the pride of Thunderfall." From the dark alley walks a Human woman of common appearance. Tanned, with normal black eyes and black long hair. Nothing helps her stand out but the pristine white sleeveless clothes around her, like a thick oversized shinobi-wrap covering her feet, legs, and torso, with plenty of spare material at the top to act as a loose hood she's chosen not to wear. <<if ($portraitpics is true)>>\ <<image "https://www.auraclash.com/assets/images/sakura.jpg">>\ <</if>>\ <<if (dig($placevisit, 6) isnot 0)>>\ "I recognize you." You say. "From the portrait above the grand foundry." You try to keep up appearances, but you're only forty percent confident in that guess. The woman looks completely different without being caked in presentation makeup. "Of course you recognize me." She says with a haughty posture, despite how much worse she looks without the makeup and dye job of her portrait. "Anyone who's anyone knows to bow when I walk by." "Oh." You reply in disappointment. "This is going to be one of //those// encounters, isn't it?" "That's right, you stand before none other than..." The woman turns and points a finger at you, ignoring your comment. \ <<else>>\ "Who are you and why are you following me?" You ask. You're here for Jin and Rin after leaving them in Jack's hands for so long, not this. The woman snickers. "I'll have to get used to introducing myself. Back home everyone knows to bow when I walk by." She turns her head to the side and smiles with only her upper teeth. <</if>>\ "Sakura, of the Nakamoto Clan. Heiress to the richest trade empire in Outer East, and future Archon." <<choose "hub-residential-reunion2">> #"I am on a family matter of great importance. Apologies, but this will have to wait." <<var $honor + 1>>\ <<var $ruthless - 1>>\ You really can't afford more rivals. The list is getting hard to memorize, so you stick to manners. "Nice to meet you, Sakura." You say with a polite bow. "I am on a family matter of great importance. Apologies, but this will have to wait." #"Nice to meet you. Now fuck off." <<var $ruthless + 1>>\ "Ok, Sakura." You say, sounding unimpressed. "Nice to meet you. Now fuck off." #"Schedule an appointment." <<var $honor - 1>>\ "Great, Sakura." You say, feigning manners. "Schedule an appointment and I'll get back to you in three to five business days." <</choose>>

"Unfortunately for \ <<if ($honor gt 65)>>\ //you//, \ <<else>>\ you, \ <</if>>\ I don't take 'no' for an answer." Sakura glowers and steps into the middle of the street to face you. "The preliminary rankings have ''mistakenly'' placed me at fourth place out of ten thousand after I finished the Rabbit Trial, and my agents tell me you might beat that score. I need to stay in the top five for my plans. Important plans. I'm a woman of business, so I understand the importance of a margin for error. To keep my ranking safe I need you...out of the way." <<choose "hub-residential-reunion3">> #[Flare your aura] "Come." <<var $ruthless + 1>>\ <<var $honor + 1>>\ <<cap $auracolor>> energy rushes out of your body and rages around you in a potent aura. "Come." You take on a battlestance and beckon her forward. "Why are you staring at me like that?" Sakura asks, confused. "I'm fighting back." You reply. "If you want trouble, you've found it." Sakura looks up into the air as if checking her math. With an annoyed open mouth she looks back down to meet your eyes. "I get it now: you're ignorant. I'm not saying you fight //me//. I'm a Nakamoto. I don't get my hands dirty. Disposable Warriors like you are supposed to fight //each other//." Just as you open your mouth to question what the Hells she's talking about, Sakura snaps her fingers, and glass rains down from both sides of the street behind you. <<page "Continue" "hub-residential-reunion4">>\ #"Funny, I need you out of the way too." <<var $ruthless - 1>>\ Huh, so she needs you 'out of the way.' "That's funny." You reply as you continue walking, passing her on her left. "Because I need you out of the way too." With that, you simply continue on your way. #[Flip her off] <<var $ruthless - 1>>\ <<var $honor - 1>>\ You don't say any clever line or setup to a joke, you simply flip the woman off and keep walking. Ten thousand Martial Artists in Nanhou and you keep running into the dumb ones. <</choose>>

"Um, excuse me??" Nakamoto Sakura says as you try to pass. "What the Hells do you think you're doing?" "Leaving, unless you're willing to start a real fight in the middle of Nanhou." She looks you up and down, insulted and bewildered. "Are you saying 'no' to me?? I just told you to get out of the way, as in, leave the Trials." "And I'm not going to do that." You reply. She steps back, shocked. "But, ''no one'' says 'no' to me! I am the heiress of the Nakamoto Clan! I am-ugh, I-! This is ridiculous! MEN, DISPOSE OF THIS TRASH!" Sakura snaps her fingers, and glass rains down from both sides of the street behind you. <<page "Continue" "hub-residential-reunion4">>\

You turn around in shock to see something you didn't sense earlier: a dozen Martial Artists in the same outfit as this Sakura woman. The assailants don't land on the ground either; each is charging at you in the air with a flying leap. "We've got you now!" "This is for what you did to my Sectmaster!" "You can't beat us all!" "Prepare to die, Crusher Jack!" //Crusher Jack...?// Realization dawns on you. //All of this is because they think I'm Jack?!// "You idiots!" You scream, \ <<if ($heshe is "she")>>\ "Jack isn't even a girl's na-" <<else>>\ "I came here to kick Jack's a-" <</if>>\ ''//"Flash Step!"//'' Shouts one of them, clearing the distance between you in an instant. Yet you see his knife raised predictably as he shouts the Technique, so you catch his wrist when he appears in front of you. One swift knee to the stomach shatters his aura and you're... Surprised. No wonder you didn't sense them earlier. The combined impression of their Aura Pressure was intimidating at first, \ <<if ($jadedragonfoundation is true)>>\ almost on-par with your own, \ <<else>>\ more than double your own, \ <</if>>\ but now you realize that there's at least a dozen fighters here. <<if ($jadedragonfoundation is true)>>\ Your Aura Pressure divided by twelve \ <<else>>\ Double your Aura Pressure, divided by twelve, \ <</if>>\ is //weak//. They crash upon you with glowing punches, kicks, and weapons. All are met with a tide of $auracolor chi rapidly expanding around your body when you press your counterattack. <<choose "hub-residential-reunion5">> #Risk a 900 degree spinning kick. You twist your body into a wide kick that slams into the hip-bone of one of your assailants, breaking the bone, but he's not your only target. With a surge of chi you spin on the ball of your foot and continue your kick in multiple full rotations to crash through the oncoming attackers. <<var $combatstat "agility">>\ <<var $combatskill "perception">>\ <<discount "Agile" 1>>\ <<discount "Legs" 1>>\ <<discount "Wind" 1>>\ <<combatcheck 8>>\ <<if ($passcheck is true)>>\ Your spinning kicks hit so hard that your targets become projectiles. Not only do they get fail to stop your momentum when your shin collides into their body, but they're hit so hard and so far that they knock into the people behind them with concussive force. <<else>>\ Your leg slams into the steel-like elbow of one of the attackers. \ <<if ($pblocktech isnot "")>>\ Only your $pblocktech Technique saves your shin from snapping. <<else>>\ You feel your shin muscle splinter away from the bone. <</if>>\ <<woundcheck 1 true false>>\ Tears fall off your face but you show no weakness, knocking the reinforced man backwards into a building. His head snaps into a limestone staircase and his Technique fades; he should have empowered his whole body. You grit your teeth and hiss through the pain. \ <</if>>\ What starts as a dozen charging Martial Artists flying at you quickly turns into a dozen Martial Artists being sent flying away from you, crashing into stone buildings at painful angles that shatter their weak auras. Only when the last of your attackers drops to the ground do you turn around to their ringleader. Nakamoto Sakura crosses her arms and glares at you. \ #Lure them back into a nearby building to get them all in range for a single blast. Your brow inverts into an angered V-shape from the surprise attack, but you don't act on it. Instead you tumble to the side and sprint through the door of a now-emptied building. The dozen Martial Artists land on the ground just behind you and scramble to their feet, chasing you into the building with surges of weak Agility Cores. In the unfamiliar ground of these houses you find yourself sprinting from room to room, looking for a proper wall to brace yourself that offers little escape behind you. You run down a small hallway and get to a washroom. Your opponents follow quickly, reaching the hall just as you slam the door shut. <<var $combatstat "soul">>\ <<var $combatskill "persuasion">>\ <<discount "Trapper" 1>>\ <<discount "Kiihakai" 1>>\ <<discount "Storm" 1>>\ <<combatcheck 8>>\ <<if ($passcheck is true)>>\ "Hah!" Screams the Oni man in front, ripping the washroom door off its sliding rack with a sai in-hand. "Nowhere left to go-o-oh no!" He screams as he sees the waves of power already built between your palms. "NO NO NO N-" You \ <<else>>\ The paper doorway is ripped apart by the Oni man charging through it, knife-first. <<if ($pblocktech isnot "")>>\ Only your $pblocktech Technique saves your kidney from amputation. \ <<else>>\ His blade digs into your kidney. \ <</if>>\ <<woundcheck 1 true false>>\ "I got $himher!" The Oni shouts. "I-I...I..-" His gaze is locked, mesmerized, on the condensed ball of chi spinning in place between your palms. The attack you'd been preparing since you first lured them in her. He doesn't get another word out before you \ <</if>>\ unleash your blast into the poor man and continue your surge of energy all the way down the hallway, crashing into and through the crowd of attackers and even the wall behind them, blowing a hole out into the street. <<page "Continue" "hub-residential-reunion4-2">>\ #Grab one by the feet and beat the others with him. Your eyes analyze the incoming wave of opponents and you slide to the left, kicking up dirt on the road as you pick the unlucky winner. "YOU!" You scream, reaching out for the ankle of a Human man with a terrible bowl-cut. <<var $ruthless + 1>>\ <<var $combatstat "power">>\ <<var $combatskill "survival">>\ <<discount "Muscular" 1>>\ <<discount "Midorikatai" 1>>\ <<combatcheck 8>>\ <<if ($passcheck is true)>>\ He doesn't react in time to stop your violent solution. You \ <<else>>\ Before you can snatch his leg out of the air, the bastard has the audacity to hit //you// in the face with an energy blast. <<if ($eblocktech isnot "")>>\ Only your $eblocktech saves you from a pair of scorched eyelids. <<else>>\ The heat of his attack burns against your eyes and fills your mouth with smoke. <</if>>\ <<woundcheck 1 false true>>\ Enraged, you \ <<var $ruthless + 1>>\ <</if>>\ snatch his ankle out of the air and spin your whole arm in a circling arc, swinging him back into the crowd and slamming him into a nearby monkey yokai. Then an oni. Then two humans. Four opponents have been slammed by the poor man who can't catch his bearings before you start swinging him in a figure-eight formation. The other Martial Artists finally land around you and immediately regret it as you beat them senseless with the poor, bleeding body of their partner. <<if ($style is "Akakiru")>>\ ''[Akakiru Event]'' "By the Hells!" Screams one of them in horror, "The teeth! <<cap $heshe>>'s using the teeth!" Once your improvised human-weapon falls unconscious you start spinning him around like a nunchuk, overpowering his aura with your own $auracolor Bladed Chi. His teeth shine with the slicing edge of your spiritual energy and you start scarring your opponents by smacking them with the unconscious man's glowing jaw. <<apboost 5>>\ ''[Prestige Increased]'' <<var $prestige + 1>>\ Suddenly, your opponents stop getting up. Some have their auras shatter from the increased damage, others take the hint to stay down or else have their chest sliced open by your six-foot-long living weapon. \ <<else>>\ Once your improvised human-weapon falls unconscious you start spinning him like a nunchuk, folding him over your shoulder and switching your grip to smack people with his feet and his head. It's the least elegant weapon you've ever used, but once you drop him and switch to using a //different// Martial Artist as a living melee weapon, the others suddenly stop getting up after you hit them. Either this second man is a far superior weapon, or they all took the hint to stay down or else become the next volunteer. <</if>>\ Once they're all down you toss your 'weapon' aside and pant to catch your breath, looking back to Nakamoto Sakura. "Are we done?" You ask, motioning to the unconscious mob. Nakamoto Sakura crosses her arms with a fake smile barely containing her anger. \ #show-if (($element1 is "Fire") or ($element2 is "Fire")) Risk a ''//900 degree//'' spinning kick. [Requires Fire, Costs 1 Chi] You lift your knee into the air and tense both fists to your sides, cycling Fire Chi through your body and out all around your raised shin. As the first assailant reaches you, he regrets it. Your burning leg kicks the man in the chest hard enough to knock him through two of his allies and //brands// your footprint onto his chest, forever. The rest land around you just as you spin into a wide kick that crashes into three of them, shattering their auras with the overpowering spiritual might of your aura's Fire essence. You leap then for ballast and land a falling kick into the shoulder of one man drawing a sword, then twist for a side-kick into a woman with enchanted handwraps. Your burning barrage continues. Strike after strike, your burning leg paints your chi onto the air like a canvas as you kick your enemies while dodging their backup. <<apboost 5>>\ What starts as a dozen charging Martial Artists flying at you quickly turns into a dozen Martial Artists being sent flying away from you, crashing into stone buildings at painful angles that shatter their weak auras. Only when the last of your attackers drops to the ground do you turn around to their ringleader. Nakamoto Sakura crosses her arms and glares at you. \ #show-if ($style is "Kiihakai") Unleash a volley of homing blasts. [Requires Kiihakai] With power far beyond theirs, your only problem is how to split your attention between so many opponents at once. ''[Kiihakai Event: Automatic Success]'' Except you're a Chi\ <<if ($heshe is "he")>>\ sorcerer \ <<else>>\ sorceress \ <</if>>\ now and your Mystic Chi solves your problems for you. <<cap $auracolor>> spiritual energy charges around both palms and you wave them forward, generating three energy blasts in the air from each hand. Each chi blast of living energy is given a command to attack a Martial Artist that the other blasts haven't defeated yet. To you, it's a complicated maneuver of willpower and mystical weaving. To everyone else, you wave your hands in front of you and six shining beams of $auracolor light weave through the attacking mob and erupt against six separate opponents faces until they're as black as a cast iron skillet. A rainbow of shattered auras fills the air and all six drop to the ground. Smoke leaks from their unconscious mouths. The other six hesitate don't even have time to hesitate before you cross your arms back in front. Six more homing blasts charge in and wipe them off the board before the fight even starts. <<apboost 5>>\ Nakamoto Sakura exhales through her nose, displeased and with arms crossed. \ #show-if ($style is "Kurokonton") Fill them with two handfuls of sharpened steel shuriken. [Requires Kurokonton] A smile comes across your face at the sight of so many weak attackers. You've been waiting for someone to walk into your trap. "GET HIM!" Screams one near the front. You draw two handfuls of shuriken from your legpouch, four held between each finger. With your Cursed Chi you link them together to gravitate toward each other in midair. With two closed fists of blades held close to your chest, you conjure a menacing $auracolor aura around your body and launch both arms out wide, shooting forty shuriken into the crowd at once. Stars of steel rain down upon your enemies. Sharpened blades penetrate deeper than they should thanks to the chi-draining essence of your naturally cursed chi. Some manage to deflect or endure one shuriken, but you hit each of them with at least three at once. None of your targets make it past three shuriken. <<apboost 5>>\ Thanks to the momentum of their flying charge, the attackers //do// reach you. However they reach you while unconscious, slamming into the pavement with shattered auras. That'll leave a mark. You turn back to Nakamoto Sakura \ <<if ($honor lt 35) or ($ruthless gt 65)>>\ with a smile. \ <<else>>\ with a frown. \ <</if>>\ "We're done here." <<apboost 5>>\ Nakamoto Sakura exhales through her nose, displeased and with arms crossed. \ <</choose>>

A cloud of limestone dust fills the road you just came from, covering the unconscious bodies of a dozen Martial Artists knocked into the street. You step through the rubble and wave away the dust, victorious. As you exit the smoke you see Nakamoto Sakura shake her head in disappointment, exhaling through her nose and crossing her arms. \ <<include "hub-residential-reunion5">>\

"Fine." She says in a way that lets you know it is //not// fine. "You think you're making this harder on me? You're not. Warriors like you cost less than my firemink coinpouch." She snaps her fingers once more and twenty additional white-robed fighters walk out from the alleyway behind her. <<page "[Prepare yourself]" "hub-residential-reunion6">>\

Twenty fresh fighters stand in front of Nakamoto Sakura. Some wield weapons, others prepare handseals, and others still wrap their fists in heavier layers of chi. The air around you shakes from the combined effort of their auras activating at once, and you... You... You see them all shake as well, violently so, from what you //thought// was the combined pressure of their auras activating at once. Yet they're affected by it more than you are. With focus, you instead sense an incoming singular source causing such a spiritual weight: Wild Chi. As if physically forced by an invisible hand, all eyes turn to the opening front gate of the Thunderfall Tower. Crusher Mao stands in its doorway, surrounded by an aura of burning green power. He looks to the crowd of mercenaries outside his Sect, the men and women already on the ground, the white-clad woman who brought them all, and, finally, to you. "You're loud." Mao announces. "And that's not my son. Jack was too strong for the Rabbit Trial, broke a couple of nobodies in his way. He's in jail until the last seed of the Dragon Trial." Sakura looks from Mao to you, pointing. "Then who's $heshe?" "It doesn't matter." Mao replies with a darkness you didn't expect. "You attacked a Thunderfall Disciple in my Sect's territory. An example must be made." "Oh put the fake threats away, old man." Nakamoto Sakura says with a smug grin. "You're not part of the Trials. You can't do anything to us or you'll be executed." You expect some sort of line. Some sort of acknowledgement, rebuttal, or chastising. At least a sneer. What you get instead is the screams of dying men and women when Crusher Mao unleashes a firestorm upon Sakura's forces. Swirls of red and orange engulf the entire street in front of you with scorching heat that threatens to ignite your clothing at a distance. The unleashed burning chi spins into a cyclone as wide and tall as Thunderfall Tower itself. <<if (($element1 is "Fire") or ($element2 is "Fire"))>>\ ''[Fire Event: Aura Pressure +2]'' <<var $aurapressure + 2>>\ <</if>>\ Two figures vanish from the flames, leaving trails of blood as they flee down alleyways in surges of Agility Cores, but only two. When the flames disperse, all the rest have been burnt to ash. <<page "Continue" "hub-residential-reunion7">>\

"Those protections don't apply if they attack first, right?" Mao asks as an afterthought to an older woman in leather armor behind him. You recognize her as the woman who raided your house while you were at the Storm Gate. "That is correct, Sectmaster Mao." The older woman responds with a bow. "Good. //Very// good." Mao takes on a wicked grin. "Call the guards and demand recompensation for their assassination attempt on our Sect grounds. We'll sabotage their accusations by keeping them on the backfoot, even in the Magistrate's courts." "Yes, Sectmaster Mao." Just when you thought it was over, Sakura's voice echoes through the street from seemingly nowhere. "How ''DARE'' you?!" A flower made of white light flashes into the center of the burnt bodies, blooming as tall and large as Mao himself. Its petals peel off to reveal Sakura stepping out, unharmed. "Those were trialgoers, and you actually - you - you're going to die! You're going to be slaughtered like a pig for this! I'll make sure of it!" "You threaten me in my own territory?" Mao asks with a lurid smile. "You don't learn." He grips a nearby wall and wrenches a four-foot slab of stone out of the nearest house, throwing it at Sakura. The attack is instantaneous; her weight doesn't slow the wall's trajectory at all as it collides into her. She's blown through a building on the opposite side of the street, shooting limestone dust into the air when she exits the other side. Judging by the six more clouds rising up from the neighboring street, and the next, and the next, you don't think she's coming back anytime soon. <<page "Continue" "hub-residential-reunion8">>\

"One more prick taught their place." Mao says. He steps out of the doorway, walks among the dead bodies of his victims, and turns to face you down the street. The scene begins to feel like a duel. "You came." He says. "I did." You reply, hands itching with nerves. Yet your breathing and chi remain steady. <<var $jinrinbooster "">>\ <<if (dig($trialdeets, 1) is 2)>>\ Mao opens his mouth wide and licks his upper-right teeth, staring into the air and breathing in deep. You think he might actually be thinking. ''[Loyalty Event: Pledged to Thunderfall]'' "Look, kid." He says after a strained silence. "I don't like you, you're a problem. A constant problem. But you did good by the Sect. When you signed up under the Thunderfall Sect after that demonic mess up north, people thought we sent you as a secret weapon. Getting credit for ending the senior Sunbringers has benefited our standing more than you can \ <<if ($race is "Kitsune")>>\ underst-oh for fuck's sake, what is //wrong// with you? I'm trying to pardon your past and you're shitting on my foot." "What?" You ask, genuinely insulted. First of all, fuck Mao because there's nothing wrong with your past. Second of all, you did nothing to deserve this temper tantrum. Especially not anything so sudden. You look behind you to make sure there's no sudden reveal, like Kosuke robbing the bodies of the mercenaries you defeated, and see nothing. Even when you move both your tails out of the way to check the entire view, you still see noth- Ooooooooooh, the tails. Right. "An illegal spirit-beast in the village." Mao curses to himself. "In the damn //Sect!//" He hisses. "No wonder you've given me so much crap, it's in your blood. What the fuck did I do to the Heavens to deserve this?" "A lot." You mutter under your breath. "What was that?" Mao asks. "I said, uh, that Kitsune aren't illegal in Nanhou." You say to try and lessen the revelation. "So we're not in any real trouble. You can even pretend you knew the whole time and kept me as a secret weapon against Sunbringers. No loss of face. Plus if I place well and become an Archon you'll have zero Kitsune again because my whole family will be leaving." Mao places a hand over his face and rubs it past his chin until he lets out a long exhale. "A problem. Every fucking time. Don't make me regret this." He turns around and marches back towards the Tower, crunching through the neck of an incinerated mercenary-corpse with his boot. "Come in. \ <<else>>\ understand." You blink and, against your will, likely have a stupid expression on your face. "Did you just compliment me?" "No." Mao says flatly. "You said what I did was good. That's a compliment." "Quit begging for an asskicking. I'm trying to say you're part of the Sect. Remember when you wanted to train with that she-bitch and I told you that you hadn't done enough to earn it?" You're so used to people actually expecting answer to rhetorical questions that you don't skip a beat. "Of co-" "-Well now you have more points than any of the Lower Disciples." Mao finishes, talking over you. "Even Jack, though he could have had those points if he hadn't fucked around and left it to you." "You saw that?" Cautiously, you prepare to run. If Mao saw your fight in Ebikowa, then what else did he see? "Didn't have to." He says. "I sent him on a big mission, he comes back unscathed, reports say //you// did it, and he doesn't bat an eye. There's only one reason that would happen. Now come. \ <</if>>\ We need to get you up to speed." <<page "[Enter Thunderfall Tower]" "hub-residential-mao">>\ <<else>>\ ''[Disloyalty Event: Declared Clan Independence]'' "You shouldn't have." Mao responds, eyes blazing with literal fire. "The scribes told me to fix my roster. Said one of my disciples declared \ <<if ($race is "Kitsune")>>\ independence. A //Kitsune// they say." He eyes your two swishing tails. "I should have known from the start. Fucking mongrel." \ <<elseif ($spiritbrandloc is "skin")>>\ independence. A //$spiritbrandcolor// $manwoman, they say." He eyes the new skintone caused by your spiritbrand. \ <<if ($spiritbrandcolor is "purple")>>\ "Just like that Goro boy. I //knew// you were an enemy agent." \ <<else>>\ "A blight on your skin just like you're a blight on my village." \ <</if>>\ <<else>>\ independence." \ <</if>>\ He spits at the ground, cracking into the stone for an unknown depth. He then breathes deep and //smiles//, wide and true. "I cannot tell you how relieved I am that you threw away Khan's soulbinding oath. \ <<if ($race is "Kitsune")>>\ Sent a letter to Khan so he knows what your parents really are. Your \ <<else>>\ Should have known you'd be nothing but trouble, again. Told Khan your parents can pack their bags, your \ <</if>>\ home is forfeit and I've doubled the bounty on your slumrat \ <<if ($bffromance gte 1) and ($heshe is "he")>>\ bedpet. \ <<elseif ($bffromance gte 1) and ($heshe is "she")>>\ boytoy. \ <<else>>\ friend. \ <</if>>\ You're dismissed. Permanently." He turns and walks away, not pushing the issue or rivalry any further. You no longer matter. <<if (dig($metmao, 1) is 2)>>\ <<page "Wait a minute..." "hub-residential-mao-deception2">>\ <<else>>\ <<page "Hey!" "hub-residential-mao-hey">>\ <</if>>\ <</if>>\

It's been so long since you've had a peaceful moment to meditate that you nearly forgot what it was like. Even aboard your ship, with all the free time in the world, you still kept your senses open out of fear of sea monsters. Here, in one of the sound-locked stone meditation chambers beneath Nanhou's Devanic Temple, you can finally let your guard down and look inward. The underground antechamber is as wide as a house and decorated as sparsely as possible. The only distinct markings of the otherwise empty room are the paper lanterns on the wall, the prayer tags below each one, and a ring carved around the perimeter of the floor. Power emanates from each visible feature, and you sense a strong connection to the spirits in this otherwise barren chamber. You step across the ring and walk to the center, then you lower to a meditative sitting position and cycle. Your focus twists inward, on the spiritual essence of the chi running through your soul. <<var $txt "">>\ <<if (dig($prayercheck, 1) lt $element1rank)>>\ ''[<<cap $element1>> Event]'' <<var $prayercheck + 10>>\ <<var $txt $element1>>\ <<elseif (dig($prayercheck, 2) lt $element2rank)>>\ ''[<<cap $element2>> Event]'' <<var $prayercheck + 1>>\ <<var $txt $element2>>\ <</if>>\ <<if ($txt is "Darkness")>>\ <<var $honor - 2>>\ Your mind dips into the void of nothingness. Your aura becomes black. The room grows darker, the paper lanterns slowly lose their luminescence, and a tangible darkness seeps from your body like a pond of dark ink. It enters into the ring carved around the chamber's floor and swirls endlessly along its barrier, forming the event horizon of the void you become. Minutes turn to hours. Day turns to night, both outside and within your soul. When you open your eyes, pitch blackness greets you. Nothing but Darkness fills the chamber, dripping from the walls and falling endlessly into the floor. In the center of such an absence of light, you smile, for you can see everything. ''[Insight Check: Darkness Inefficiencies Corrected]'' <<var $apval (13 + ($insight * 3))>>\ <<if (($style is "Kiihakai") or ($style is "Aoyusumu"))>>\ <<var $apval + 5>>\ ''[<<cap $style>> Style: Meditation Benefits Improved]'' <</if>>\ <<var $apval Math.round($apval*(1+(0.05*((100 - $honor)/5))))>>\ <<apboost $apval>>\ Ten minutes of cycling draw the Darkness back into your spirit and the lanterns flicker back to life. \ <<elseif ($txt is "Earth")>>\ <<var $honor + 2>>\ The stone beneath your feet answers to your call easily, rumbling upwards in the form of growing chunks of rock and sharp stalagmites. More and more stone churns from the ground within the circle at the meditation chamber's perimeter until the Temple's basement has been converted into a wide obstacle course all around you. Hours pass as you call upon more and more stone energy, remaining still and resilient while your aura takes on an amber glow. The stone of the ceiling itself descends slowly downward toward you and the essence of this underground chamber fills with the fortifying energies of the planet until there's barely any room for you to stand. In the final stretch you do not call the ceiling or the roof to expand. A new focus point of stone exists to fill the gap: You. Stone flashes into existence from the Earth Chi of your aura, filling in the final holes and clashing against the rock formations above and below you. Together the three surfaces press like tectonic plates and push an earthquake throughout the chamber. ''[Insight Check: Earth Inefficiencies Corrected]'' <<var $apval (13 + ($insight * 3))>>\ <<if (($style is "Kiihakai") or ($style is "Aoyusumu"))>>\ <<var $apval + 5>>\ ''[<<cap $style>> Style: Meditation Benefits Improved]'' <</if>>\ <<var $apval Math.round($apval*(1+(0.05*(($honor)/5))))>>\ <<apboost $apval>>\ You don't know how long it is until you undo the effect, but when you do it feels as if the stone is still a part of your skin. The rock formations meld back into the floor and ceiling and the chamber looks as if nothing even happened. \ <<elseif ($txt is "Fire")>>\ <<var $ruthless + 2>>\ Your body heats up to a breaking point, igniting sparks from your aura until it bursts to a blazing red flame. The fire advances outward, igniting the ground in slow expansion. Stone flooring throughout the meditation chamber resists your conflagration but you are not to be resisted, you are the Flame. To be fire is to consume, and if the stone will not relent, then you must increase your heat. More and more fire leaks out of your spirit and into the surroundings. The raging blaze builds the heat at its center by spreading its width, using the heat of the outer flames to turn its core into a pure white flame. That core being your very body. Hours pass as you become one with the goals of the inferno. Your flames reach the circle at the edge of the meditation chamber and the stones relent, burning and blackening under the strain of your power. You press even harder, consuming the air above you, until your fires become a single entity barely contained: A cylindrical inferno from ceiling to floor. ''[Insight Check: Fire Inefficiencies Corrected]'' <<var $apval (13 + ($insight * 3))>>\ <<if (($style is "Kiihakai") or ($style is "Aoyusumu"))>>\ <<var $apval + 5>>\ ''[<<cap $style>> Style: Meditation Benefits Improved]'' <</if>>\ <<var $apval Math.round($apval*(1+(0.05*(($ruthless)/5))))>>\ <<apboost $apval>>\ You snap back to reality when the oxygen around you grows too thin. With a reverse cycling you pull the fires back into your spirit just before entering a coughing fit, escaping out the door just in time to gasp for air. Though your exit is not a glorious one, it is still a victory. You feel a greater connection to the fires than ever. <<var $val2 101>>\ <<elseif ($txt is "Ice")>>\ <<var $honor + 2>>\ A cold chill leaks from your body as you sit on the stone floor. Your spirit cycles the freezing arctic blue chi within you, spinning the essence more and more, until it slips from your grip and wipes all heat from the room. A freezing nova blasts around your body and snuffs out the paper lanterns. Layers of ice cover the ground and crawl up the walls, growing and growing as you cycle anew. You do not move. Surrounded by the absence of heat, the essence of freezing mist, your body acclimates to the frostbite by taking the Ice energy into your spirit instead of your body. A glacier of ice forms around your body when you do, casting you into a frozen statue trapped in meditative trance. Hours pass without movement. Without action. Without energy. Hours frozen in time. ''[Insight Check: Ice Inefficiencies Corrected]'' <<var $apval (13 + ($insight * 3))>>\ <<if (($style is "Kiihakai") or ($style is "Aoyusumu"))>>\ <<var $apval + 5>>\ ''[<<cap $style>> Style: Meditation Benefits Improved]'' <</if>>\ <<var $apval Math.round($apval*(1+(0.05*(($honor)/5))))>>\ <<apboost $apval>>\ When the chill becomes too much even for your spiritual Cores, you open your eyes and the ice around you shatters. You invoke a reverse cycling and absorb the ice around you back into your Cores. \ <<elseif ($txt is "Light")>>\ <<var $ruthless - 2>>\ Bright light radiates off your aura at first, filling the chamber with a yellow radiance and overtaking the hue of the lanterns. You press it harder, increasing the brightness and intensity of the light filling the chamber, but it's not enough. Something deeper calls to you, and you answer. Meditating at the center of the blinding light, you call upon the raw essence to take on form. Spears of hardlight form around you to build a cage, brittle at first. Phantoms of your friends and enemies walk through the blinding brilliance, their images manifested through your focus of the Light. Beyond both trickeries, something else cals to you. Something casting off the Darkness. Something primordial, representing a greater idea. Hope. You meditate upon its essence in the middle of the solar flare generating off your aura. ''[Insight Check: Light Inefficiencies Corrected]'' <<var $apval (13 + ($insight * 3))>>\ <<if (($style is "Kiihakai") or ($style is "Aoyusumu"))>>\ <<var $apval + 5>>\ ''[<<cap $style>> Style: Meditation Benefits Improved]'' <</if>>\ <<var $apval Math.round($apval*(1+(0.05*((100 - $ruthless)/5))))>>\ <<apboost $apval>>\ After hours of focused meditation, your mind grows numb and you must call it to an end. You cycle in reverse and pull the blinding nova back into your Cores, along with all its many masks. \ <<elseif ($txt is "Storm")>>\ <<var $ruthless + 2>>\ Sparks crackle in your aura. Harmless at first, but as your meditations continue and you cycle more Storm Chi the sparks begin to connect and form arcs of lightning. You cycle more of the Storm, causing bolts to launch from your aura and crash into the stone ground. You cycle more of the Storm, and the bolts come faster. Wider. Brighter. Flashes of lightning crash from ceiling to floor in quick repetition as you fill the area around you with enough Storm energy to sink a ship. You cycle more of the Storm, and the world around you glows violet. There are no bolts, there are no flashes, because there is no break. Pure, untamed electricity oscillates around you in the chamber, uninterrupted in a violet storm of power. You meditate within its center, focusing on its essence. ''[Insight Check: Storm Inefficiencies Corrected]'' <<var $apval (13 + ($insight * 3))>>\ <<if (($style is "Kiihakai") or ($style is "Aoyusumu"))>>\ <<var $apval + 5>>\ ''[<<cap $style>> Style: Meditation Benefits Improved]'' <</if>>\ <<var $apval Math.round($apval*(1+(0.05*(($ruthless)/5))))>>\ <<apboost $apval>>\ Hours later you must call it to an end, having pressed your organs to their limit under the strain of constant lightning. You cycle in reverse and pull the Storm back into your spirit. \ <<elseif ($txt is "Water")>>\ <<var $ruthless - 2>>\ Water Chi swirls throughout your aura, wrapping you in a flowing tide. The essence takes on a physical form as it expands around you. Minute by minute the whirlpool grows, filling the chamber until it reaches the circle carved into the ground. Water continues to pour out of you until you've formed a cylindrical sea from floor to ceiling, with you at its center. Breathing through the lifegiving essence of the Water Chi around you, you float peacefully within the glowing blue waters and meditate on its nature. Not merely the nature of this peaceful water, but the many faces of its essence. The stagnation of the dark depths. The rushing tides of the surface waves. The fear of that which comes from below. As you focus on each Water asset, the water around you changes to match your focus. ''[Insight Check: Water Inefficiencies Corrected]'' <<var $apval (13 + ($insight * 3))>>\ <<if (($style is "Kiihakai") or ($style is "Aoyusumu"))>>\ <<var $apval + 5>>\ ''[<<cap $style>> Style: Meditation Benefits Improved]'' <</if>>\ <<var $apval Math.round($apval*(1+(0.05*((100 - $ruthless)/5))))>>\ <<apboost $apval>>\ After untold hours of meditation your feet touch solid ground. You open your eyes to find the water has dispersed, slowly but surely being dragged back into your Cores. You place a hand on the wet stone meditation chamber floor and practice the effect purposefully, sucking the water back into your spirit through force of will. \ <<elseif ($txt is "Wind")>>\ <<var $honor - 2>>\ Air flows around your body as you cycle. Little by little at first, but the movement of the wind never dies. Each swirl of Wind energy is increased by the next, building up into a gale of power swirling through the room. The power picks up as you continue to cycle outward and your spiral of Wind Chi becomes a hurricane, lifting you off the ground and holding you in place with the power of cyclones generated beneath your body. Yet the Wind is not an elegant and stagnant thing, it is a chaotic force of constant movement. Your meditative posture falls away as you're lifted into the air and your body jerks in place, knocked back and forth by the force of the tornado raging in the meditation chamber. Even your positioning collapses, launching you in circles around the gusting winds. Your body spins in summersaulting arcs and your limbs flail about as your own power pulls everything completely out of control, yet still you push even more Wind Chi out of your cores to fuel the flight of chaos that's taken you skyward. Deep down you know that you must look ridiculous. But public image be damned, flying is //fun.// ''[Insight Check: Wind Inefficiencies Corrected]'' <<var $apval (13 + ($insight * 3))>>\ <<if (($style is "Kiihakai") or ($style is "Aoyusumu"))>>\ <<var $apval + 5>>\ ''[<<cap $style>> Style: Meditation Benefits Improved]'' <</if>>\ <<var $apval Math.round($apval*(1+(0.05*((100 - $honor)/5))))>>\ <<apboost $apval>>\ Hours later even your enhanced Martial body isn't enough to keep your lunch down from so much spinning; you end the effect and skid to a halt feet-first on the chamber floor. \ <</if>>\ <<if ($val2 isnot 101)>>\ When you exit the chamber you feel a closer connection with your Element. ... <</if>>\ "I trust things went well?" Asks Angelo, reclining on nothingness five feet above the Meditation Chamber's exit. "That was rhetorical of course, I watched. I must say I am impressed; your spiritual connection to the Elements has improved much in such a short time. You should be proud, and more importantly, you should rest." "Can I rest here?" You \ <<if (($angeloromance gte 2) and ($heshe is "she"))>>\ ask. "With you?" <<var $angelorep + 1>>\ <<else>>\ ask. <</if>>\ <<if (($angeloromance gte 2) and ($heshe is "she"))>>\ He grins. "Lead me not into temptation, woman. You are not nearly powerless enough to qualify for Temple housing. I don't sleep, anyway." <<else>>\ He shakes his head. "You are not nearly powerless enough to qualify for Temple housing. It's off to the streets with you." <</if>>\ <<var $days 1>>\ <<if (($angeloromance gte 2) and ($heshe is "she"))>>\ <<page "Tease." "hub-spendday">>\ <<else>>\ <<page "Figures." "hub-spendday">>\ <</if>>\

Essentially, their time with the Sect was slavery and abuse. Their 'Power Core Training' was heavy repairs to wagons and manual labor with crates full of steel equipment. Their 'Fortitude Core Training' was being used as punching bags by the lower disciples to practice their Techniques. There was no Soul Core training except being locked in a carriage in transit and told to meditate, and the only Agility Core training was the one time Jin tried to escape and was chased down. "I could have gotten away, too." Jin adds. "I didn't know you could surge a second Agility Core right after you surged the first. I always thought there was a delay." You raise your eyebrow, impressed. "You have two Immortal Agility Cores?" That's not bad for his age and situation. Two years ago you were just starting out. <<if ($jincombat gte 5)>>\ Jin beams. "Four." <<var $brorep + 5>>\ <<else>>\ Jin beams. "Three." <</if>>\ "I stuck to Power Cores." Rin adds. "Boys get scared when you hit them once, hard. I'd fold like a wet noodle in a real fight but one of the disciples backed off when I got his nose. Hmph, imagine that! Me, hitting a Martial Artist!" She thinks back fondly. "He was cute too. Really cute. Might visit later if his nose heals back to normal." "Ew." Jin replies, with both of you cringing. "Be better." "Oh hush," Rin says, "The point is I'm not a fighter, so it's better to be like a poisonous butterfly: beautiful, colorful, and scary."

"Now let us search for that which life has lost." Sun Hana says. "I am ready to be seen in public once again. We will pose as \ <<if ($heshe is "he")>>\ a couple \ <<else>>\ chatting friends \ <</if>>\ to dissuade strangers from addressing us in the progress of our hunt." "Where should we start?" You ask. Sun Hana grows sheepish, opening her mouth to speak but softly looking off to the side instead. "I...had hoped you would lead in that endeavor. My efforts so far have wasted valuable resources on the wrong souls." Thinking of the best way to find an executed demonic cultivator, you decide to... <<var $lessreward 0>>\ <<choose "hub-residential-sunhana2">> #Ask visitors discreetly. Sun Hana has the right idea; delegating this task to the experts. You are not the expert. Fortunately, there are plenty of people in the graveyard that might be. Leaning on your charisma, you decide to simply ask around for any gossip on criminals and spooky legends of where they may be buried. <<if ($persuasion gte 2)>>\ ''[Persuasion 2 Check Passed]'' Luckily you find two young Noble Caste ladies and their three bodyguards doing exactly that, gossiping. They're more than excited to talk to you about the stories they had their servants investigate from the graveyard. Among them, a demon lord of the dead. One that the guards defeated and sealed in a tomb at the western edge of the graveyard. You thank them for the interesting story and they beg Sun Hana for makeup tips to get so pale. She tells them they'll need to use an alchemical rubbing salt. She even offers them some. She smiles contently when you both leave and you suspect the salt is poisonous. <<else>>\ ''[Persuasion 2 Check Failed]'' Unfortunately, everyone tells you to piss off. ''Everyone.'' After an hour trying, you learn that a major funeral had occurred in the graveyard and it was crashed by the deceased's secret lovers. It seems the graveyard visitors are not in the talking mood at the moment. Three hours later you and Sun Hana find out there's only a single tomb left unchecked, on the opposite side of the graveyard. She stares daggers into your soul, having wasted more lives and precious resources for her blood rituals than you thought she could even find. <<var $lessreward + 1>>\ <</if>>\ <<page "Continue" "hub-residential-sunhana2">>\ #Navigate the graveyard's forests to find the most secure location to store a threat. -> "hub-residential-graveyard-forest" #Convince the Taio Clones to assist. //Taios.// You say in your mind. //Time to prove your worth to me. You scanned for Sun Hana's rituals well enough, now scan for the ghost she seeks.// After a short silence, the Scholar replies. //It will not be easy.// <<var $taiorep - 3>>\ You send him the mental equivalent of a dagger-sharp look. You never cared if it was easy. //Very well.// The Scholar says with a scheming air of satisfaction. //By the bounds of our soulbinding oath, I must do so if it will further your education and you asked. I will need more power to do this, so I appreciate you forcing me to take it.// <<aploss 3>>\ <<var $hellscape - 3>>\ The fires of your Demonic Hellscape burn hotter for just a second, and then return to a weaker flame than they were a second ago. In your vision you see a crimson glow in the distance, highlighting your query in yet another underground tomb. //Please, do call on me again if you are ever in need.// The Scholar says, smiling like a cat who's caught his prey. //It was my pleasure.// "I found your ghost." You say to Sun Hana, teeth clenched as you consider how best to kill the Scholar (again). "Hm?" Sun Hana asks. "You have been still as the snow on a settled field. How have you found that which I could not?" "Just...Just follow me." You reply, trying to cycle \ <<if ($style is "Aoyusumu")>>\ cleansing Sacred Chi \ <<elseif ($style is "Akakiru")>>\ a storm of Bladed Chi \ <<elseif ($style is "Kiihakai")>>\ homing Mystic Chi \ <<elseif ($style is "Kurokonton")>>\ draining Cursed Chi \ <<elseif ($style is "Midorikatai")>>\ incompatible Wild Chi \ <</if>>\ into your Hellscape to hurt the Taio Clones as you march. <<if ($soul gte 8)>>\ ''[Soul 8 Check Passed]'' //Ow.// Says the Bandit. \ <<apboost 3>>\ <<elseif ($style is "Aoyusumu")>>\ ''[Aoyusumu Event]'' //Ow.// Says the Bandit. \ <<apboost 3>>\ <<elseif ($style is "Kiihakai")>>\ ''[Kiihakai Event]'' //Ow.// Says the Bandit. \ <<apboost 3>>\ <</if>>\ <<page "Continue" "hub-residential-sunhana2">>\ #show-if ($subrace is "Wolf") Follow your nose. [Requires Wolf Yokai] You sniff through the air and tap into your ancestral power of Scent-based tracking. Sun Hana chews her cheek while looking at your display, her cat-eyes falling to your wolf-tail. She is silent. Silent, and judging. "How many rituals have you done so far?" You ask when you catch the familiar scent of death chi that's radiating off of her. "Two." She replies. "One for the night, one for the day." ''[Wolf Event: Automatic Success]'' A smile almost crosses your lips. "Between your aura and the two rituals, that's three scents of Death Chi. I've found four." "Oh." Sun Hana's ears perk up. "That is...good. Yes?" "Very." You lead her through the forested graveyard while following your nose and trying to ignore the potent and infuriating scent of cat nearby. <<page "Continue" "hub-residential-sunhana2">>\ #show-if ($style is "Aoyusumu") Invert a cleansing prayer-ritual to locate corruption. [Requires Aoyusumu] <<var $taiorep + 2>>\ You clasp your hands together and focus your Sacred Chi between your palms, preparing a cleansing ritual you'd picked up under Angelo's training regimen. Yet when the time comes to recite the prayer and call upon the cleansing mantras, you invert the prayer by calling upon the forces of Hell. When your ritual finishes, rather than sending out a consecrating wave of purity, you send out a repelling wave of negative intent. The effect acts like a bat's sonar, bouncing off any Fiendish source instead of destroying it. You detect Sun Hana first, as she stands next to you. Then you sense another rebounding Fiendish source and recognize the ritual site where you met. Next you sense the first ritual site you discovered. Finally, you sense a fourth source of Fiendish chi. "This way." You say, pointing southeast. "Our target is close by." "Useful." Suna Hana says plainly, following your lead. <<page "Continue" "hub-residential-sunhana2">>\ <</choose>>

<<var $ruthless + 2>>\ <<var $honor + 1>>\ <<if ($demonpowers is 1000000000000000)>>\ You press your hand against the ritual circle and feel the way its power fluctuates through the blood on the ground. By using Blood Chi to focus Death Chi, it gives life to death just long enough to inflict harm upon the spirits of those who have passed. ''[Demonic Power Acquired: Yomijin Hell Bargain]'' <<var $demonpowers + 100000000000000>>\ <<var $taint + 10>>\ ''[You can now damn ghosts to Hell and receive a fraction of their power as payment.]'' You recoil at first from the overwhelming sensation of death, but steel your nerves and \ <<else>>\ With a pre-existing understanding of the foreign Seals at work, you \ <</if>>\ enact the Yomijin Seals on the ritual circle hidden under the floor's pool of blood. <<var $taiorep - 5>>\ The cage of crimson and gray lightning rising from the floor to the ceiling alters at your command, using the ghost as a new focus point and shredding through it in twelve intersecting bolts of corrupted lightning. //YOU COWARDLY FOOL!// Screams Taio the Bandit. //This was your chance for greatness!// With a horrifying whail, the ghost rips to shreds in Sun Hana's arms and melts into the floor. The room falls silent. Sun Hana's chest shakes, but not with sorrow or tears for her dead lover. She turns to you with victory in her eyes, shaking with excitement. With three quick handseals she places one hand into the pool of blood and inhales, absorbing some sort of crimson mist that rises into the air at her Seal activation. "Is it done?" You ask. "It is." She says with a sigh of contentment. "Hyeon Youngsoo's soul has been fractured and sold to Hell in exchange for stripping his memories, which are now mine. I now possess every secret his Clan has held. The feud is won." "Good." You say, uncaring about some foreign ghost. "And..." "And you wish to be rewarded." She says in disappointment. The Cat Yokai reaches into her robes and withdraws two scrolls. "I have two tools I no longer need for this mission. You may either have the deed to Hyeon Youngsoo's ship, docked in your city's Port District, or you may have a Writ of Favor from my ancestors." "Your ancestors?" "Yes, of course." She replies as if insulted. "I would never busy my living Clan with the needs of some foreign barbarian. This Writ will call upon the ghosts of my ancestors when you are in need. You will find it superior to any you find here, for their assistance will be instantaneous." You try not to show the shock on your face when she offers you the chance to summon a ghost army. "And the ship...?" "It is indeed a ship." Sun Hana says with a shrug. <<if ($heshe is "he")>>\ "And those are my only options?" Sun Hana stares at you quizzically. "Is there something else you seek in this mortal coil?" "I figured you'd have some sort of great Yomijin secret." She scoffs. "The only secret a barbarian like you would understand is-" Her ears twitch and a shiver runs up her spine. She looks you up and down. "My attempt at an insult has given me an idea, yes. Perhaps you would be interested in Dual Cultivation? There is much I can show you of how we perform the profane act in New Yomi." //No.// Says Taio the Bandit. //No!// Screams Taio the Scholar. //What?// You ask. //She speaks of sexual Core training.// Taio the Scholar spits out as if cursing every word. //A disgusting art for the uninitiated, the complete opposite of academic pursuit.// <</if>>\ You consider your options and decide on... <<var $mettaio + 20000000>>\ <<var $days 1>>\ <<choose "hub-residential-sunhana-ghostshipper">> #The Writ of Favor [Yomijin Ancestors] Sun Hana runs her finger through the blood on the floor, hands you a scroll, and traces her seal upon its parchment. ''[Item Gained: Yomijin Writ of Favor]'' <<var $boon_yomijin + 1>>\ "With this pact, you may call upon the power of my ancestors once." She says. "They were powerful in life, but we are an opulent family. Many died in extreme age. Using your grading measure, their Aura Pressures fell to roughly two-thousand." "That will do fine." You say, storing the scroll away. "What will you do now?" "Leave on Hyeon Youngsoo's ship. Truth be told, I prayed you did not ask for it. Fortune favored my gambit." "Then this is goodbye?" "Forever, if we are lucky." She gives an attempt at a Rasenite bow. It's terrible form. "May you succeed in whatever odd celebrative competition the barbarians are bickering over." "Er." You say as she leaves the tomb. "Thanks." <<page "Return to the Residential District" "hub-spendday">>\ #show-if ($lessreward gt 0) Hyeon Youngsoo's docked ship. [1 Ship, 1000 Silver] #show-if ($lessreward lte 0) Hyeon Youngsoo's docked ship. [1 Ship, 6 Crates of Loot, 3500 Silver] #show-if ($heshe is "he") Yomijin Dual Cultivation. [Seduction] <<var $mettaio + 10000000>>\ You step closer to Sun Hana. "Why don't you show me how you dual cultivate in New Yomi?" Sun Hana stares into your eyes not with lust or adoration, but as if accepting a challenge she plans to easily win. "With pleasure, Rasenite brute." She leans against you and purrs while the two of you descend to the floor. //No. No!// Taio the Scholar screams into your mind. //I will not let my grand designs be sidelined by your filthy teenage lusts. If you lay with this foreign ''beastwoman'', so help me, I will be watching the whole time. I will ruin this for you, I swear it!// The Bandit chimes in. //On that, we agree. This distasteful immaturity must end immediately.// You look Sun Hana in her Cat Yokai eyes as she climbs atop you, running your hands over her thighs while she undoes her tunic. //Oh you poor, deluded fools.// You think to them both while Hana lowers her lips to your neck and backs up, kissing along your chest and stomach while working her way down. //It was never a choice. I'm going to ''make'' you watch.// //NOOOOOOOOOOOO!!// They scream while Hana undoes your pants with her teeth. <<var $taiorep - 2>>\ <<var $pwt_sunhana true>>\ <<page "Continue" "hub-residential-sunhanadc">>\ <</choose>>

The two of you leave the graveyard together after destroying Sun Hana's ritual carvings in various tombs. While waiting for your retainers to confirm the legality of her paperwork, or if Hyeon Youngsoo's ship exists at all, you decide to \ <<if ($heshe is "he")>>\ sit with her \ <<else>>\ keep busy \ <</if>>\ at a tea shop. After placing your order, a waitress brings you refreshing green tea in fine ceramic cups. "So." Sun Hana says, picking up her cup. "It seems you do not trust me. This may be a complication." "You killed your ex-boyfriend and ate his soul." She sips her tea with an apathetic stare into the table. "That is an accurate summary of events. At least the tea here is adequate. I will wait." And wait you do. Nanhou is a large city, and it takes three hours before \ <<if (dig($trialdeets, 4) gte 2)>>\ Rin and one of your Oni rope-binders \ <<else>>\ your retainers \ <</if>>\ make it back with news. "The ship is there?" You ask Mars the Oni from rope duty. "Not only is it there, \ <<if ($heshe is "he")>>\ sir!" \ <<else>>\ ma'am!" \ <</if>>\ Mars replies excitedly. "It's legally ours! The dockmaster said if we could pay the docking fees they'd sign it over, so we checked the ship, and it turns out the coffers were full! \ <<if ($lessreward gt 0)>>\ We were able to pay the fees and still \ <<if (dig($trialdeets, 4) gte 2)>>\ have-" "Five-Hundred silver!" Rin adds with glee, jumping up and down while squealing. Mars looks to her, then back to you, and seems conflicted. "It's double that," you ask the poor Oni, offering him a hand, "isn't it Mars?" "Afraid so, \ <<if ($heshe is "he")>>\ sir. \ <<else>>\ ma'am. \ <</if>>\ Your sister doesn't just skim off the top, she skims off the middle too." Rin stares daggers into him. "I thought you were cool! We could have split it!" <<else>>\ have one-thousand silver!" <</if>>\ <<else>>\ After fees we still have six crates of crafting \ <<if (dig($trialdeets, 4) gte 2)>>\ goods-" "And two-thousand silver!" Rin adds with glee, jumping up and down while squealing. Mars looks to her, then back to you, and seems conflicted. "It's three-thousand," you ask the poor Oni, offering him a hand, "isn't it Mars?" "Even worse, \ <<if ($heshe is "he")>>\ sir, \ <<else>>\ ma'am, \ <</if>>\ it's three-thousand and five hundred. Your sister doesn't just skim off the top, she skims off the middle too." Rin stares daggers into him. "I thought you were cool! We could have split it!" <<else>>\ goods and over three-thousand silver!" <</if>>\ <</if>>\ ''[1 <<cap $flagshiptype>> Acquired]'' <<var $shipcount + 1>>\ <<if ($lessreward gt 0)>>\ ''[Item Gained: 1000 Silver]'' <<var $silver + 1000>>\ <<else>>\ ''[Item Gained: 6 Crates of Loot]'' <<var $loot + 6>>\ ''[Item Gained: 3500 Silver]'' <<var $silver + 3500>>\ <</if>>\ <<page "My fleet grows!" "hub-residential-sunhana-ghostshipper2">>\

Sun Hana looks to you with a telling expression after your retainers' news. "I trust our bargain is complete? Or is it within your desires that I consume a sixth cup of tea at an establishment too small to have a washroom?" <<if ($honor lte 38)>>\ "You can go." You say with a dismissive wave of the hand. \ <<else>>\ "Our bargain is complete." You say with a short bow. \ <</if>>\ "It's been a pleasure." //For you maybe.// Taio the Bandit replies into your mind. //I hope your mundane greed sates your appetite for the Demonic Cultivation you begged me to teach you. Do not expect my aid again.// //You swore a soulbinding oath, fool.// Taio the Scholar adds. //Your assistance is not a matter of choice.// //Do not remind $himher, you ignorant buffoon!// Taio the Bandit screams into your mind. "Then may you succeed in whatever odd celebrative competition the barbarians are bickering over." Sun Hana stands from her seat and gives a poor impression of a Rasenite bow. "Is this the proper parting custom in your land?" <<if (dig($trialdeets, 4) gte 2)>>\ "No." Says Rin. <</if>>\ "Sure." Says Mars, smiling to hide an irresistible cringe. <<if (dig($trialdeets, 4) gte 2)>>\ "It will do." You say, giving her a short bow in return. <<else>>\ "It will do." You say, giving her a short bow in return. <</if>>\ She disregards your comments and leaves out the door. Something you consider doing yourself. <<page "Return to the Residential District" "hub-spendday">>\

Now which way must we travel?" You march southeast, past her. "Follow me." <<page "Continue" "hub-residential-sunhana2">>\

The two of you march through the sharp hills of the forested graveyard in silence and it dawns on you that this may be a rare chance to speak to someone from another country. "Hm?" Sun Hana asks, noticing you've been staring at her. <<choose "hub-residential-sunhana3">> #"What's life like in New Yomi?" "What's life like in New Yomi?" You ask. She ponders the question for a moment. "I will not give our secrets to a foreigner." "I'm not asking for secrets." Her head droops a half-inch to the side. "It is peaceful, but only to those who earn peace. Ghouls and Lost serve as labor for all our earthly needs, giving little value to the living. Most peasants only exist to breed more future undead, so they are tolerated at best in containment villages." "Do they live in peace, or is it some sort of slave camp?" "I would not know." Sun Hana replies. "I have never visited. The wealthier, useful families live in enormous stone towers between thirty and fifty stories, as wide as a battlefield. My family builds such towers and produces naturally strong cultivators. Our family's operations are so plentiful that my siblings and I have not even had to scheme over inheritance, a rarity in our lands. There is simply too much opportunity for any one of us to take on alone." "Why does New Yomi need so many giant stone towers?" Sun Hana turns her head halfway to look at you, an apathetic look on her face. "War, I assume." <<page "Continue" "hub-residential-sunhana3">>\ #"What will you do when this is all done?" "What will you do when this is all done?" You ask. "Leave." She says immediately. "Your authorities fear my power, for it turns their lesser subjects into Fiends. Despite the failings of your nation's understanding, they do not lack power. Every second I remain here is a second I risk death." //Interesting.// Taio the Bandit replies. //Seek advantage in this. Ask her for anything she would need to discard.// "Is there anything you'd be abandoning when you leave then?" "You seek my riches, like some scavenger?" "Do you want me to have it, or some other Rasenite who doesn't follow our Path?" Sun Hana scoffs. "Appealing to a sense of comradery amongst demonic cultivators is a fool's errand. We do not collaborate." <<if ($persuasion gte 2)>>\ ''[Persuasion 2 Check Passed]'' "You're right." You reply, getting up to leave her. "Wait!" She shouts after you when you reach the tomb exit. "You've made your counterpoint. I have left the contents of a second fake identity in a cache under a seamstress's shop in the Residential District." You make a mental note to check it for loot later. ''[Item Received: 500 Silver]'' <<var $silver + 500>>\ <<else>>\ ''[Persuasion 2 Check Failed]'' //This is infuriatingly dull.// Taio the Scholar says in your mind. //Can we not simply kill this woman and harvest her blood?// //SILENCE!// Screams the Bandit. //Follow my plan to the letter or you will know failure.// <</if>>\ <<page "Continue" "hub-residential-sunhana3">>\ #"Why are you so pale?" "Why are you so pale?" You ask. "Are all Yomijin so pale? Normally we only see that in Lunargoths, and even then it's not so //white// white." Sun Hana stares off listlessly for a moment. After a lengthy pause, she reluctantly decides to answer your question. "Our ambient chi is aligned with the Lands of the Dead. It has been so for thousands of years. We are born with an affinity for Death Chi which causes paler skin and darker hair." "Death Chi at birth? How does anyone survive that?" "Careful planning and Seals. Some have Foundations based on fortifying offspring. Some birth their children at sea then return. Life always finds a way, even in the lands of Death." "But wouldn't people turn into Fiends all the time?" "We do have Fiends, yes. It is common for the dead to rise again as Lost or Ghouls, sometimes as greater beings. Yet for the living, our Paths and Foundations are built around it. The Fiendish corruption that your primitive lands fear so dearly are merely a result of poor cultivation." //Do not provoke her, but she is lying.// Says Taio the Bandit. //Yomijin live in enormous stone towers covered in Seals for protection and detection. Fiendish transformations are common enough to shape their way of life.// The Scholar butts in. //She is not wrong about poor cultivation. Our ''Inner Hellscape'' being a closely guarded secret is proof. If it was known and used across Imperial Rasen, Fiendish transformations would decrease by half overnight. That is not to say we will share it, however. I quite enjoy the ignorant suffering for their hubris.// Before your conversation can continue, you arrive at the tomb. <<page "Continue" "hub-residential-sunhana3">>\ #[Walk in silence] <<var $honor + 1>>\ You say nothing. Sun Hana says nothing. The two of you continue your entire march in silence and for once she looks at peace. <<page "Continue" "hub-residential-sunhana3">>\ <</choose>>

A metal slab on the ground is all that marks the tomb before you, covered in writing with the Magistrate's seal. <<image "https://www.auraclash.com/assets/images/ac-linebreak-top.png">>\ Magistrate's Mandate: Do not enter. Tampering with this Seal is punishable by death. <<image "https://www.auraclash.com/assets/images/ac-linebreak-bottom.png">>\ "It's not warded." Sun Hana says dryly. "Another failure of your people's Spiritual Slavery." "Spiritual slavery?" You ask, eyebrow raised. "Your chi Paths. Your nation's ambient chi. The way your people, Beasts, Spirits, and Seals follow the Celestial Tyranny rather than finding your own way. New Yomi stands alone in its victory against the Will of the supposed Heavens." //Oh spare me.// Taio the Scholar groans in your mind. //Another demonic cultivator leaning on poorly understood religious dogma to justify one's search for power. The lack of self-awareness is nauseating.// //Do you want to argue with her?// You offer. //I'm not mediating a debate for you, you'll have to insult her yourself when the manifestation ritual occurs.// The Scholar is silent for a moment, considering the offer. //No, no. I will let the Bandit's plan fail without my intervention. Hells knows he would welcome the scapegoat.// The Bandit speaks up, annoyed. //If you two are done with your childish heart-to-heart, the Yomijin foreigner has already removed the slab and entered the tomb.// <<page "Continue" "hub-residential-sunhana4">>\

You leap down into the dark tomb and find only a single coffin, though there is room for dozens more in the underground hallway extending into the dark. It seems the Trials anticipate more demonic cultivators to bury. "This will do nicely." Sun Hana whispers, rubbing her hand against the lone coffin in the wall. "I sense Hyeon Youngsoo's essence." With the grace of a cat she draws a knife and lurches to the ground, digging greedily into the stone to carve her ritual circle. "Bring me blood." She says without facing you. "It is finally time for our crimson tide to wash ashore on the realms of the Dead." //Thank the Hells.// Taio the Scholar says inside your mind. //Finally, a chance to practice an important tradition of Blood Chi. Avoiding notice when slaughtering your victims is a vital skill to develop. Bring a bladed weapon.// <<choose "hub-residential-sunhana6">> #Kill a grieving unpowered mortal visiting their deceased loved ones at the graveyard. <<var $ruthless + 3>>\ As it turns out, you are not above killing innocent people. //Thank the Ancestors for that.// Taio the Scholar remarks. You ignore him and begin your hunt. Finding someone traveling alone in the graveyard is no issue, and you care not for their reason or life's story. Their life is coming to an end anyway. <<var $val 3>>\ With the speed of a trained assassin you descend from a tree branch and fall open a wandering man in traveler's robes.\ <<if (((((((((((((($equippedweapon is "Tanto")) or ($equippedweapon is "Katana")) or ($equippedweapon is "Muramasa")) or ($equippedweapon is "Greataxe")) or ($equippedweapon is "Qiang")) or ($equippedweapon is "Kunai")) or ($equippedweapon is "Jian")) or ($equippedweapon is "Iceblade")) or ($equippedweapon is "Chiblade")) or ($equippedweapon is "Kagutsuchi")) or ($equippedweapon is "Ikazuchi")) or ($equippedweapon is "Godslayer")) or ($equippedweapon is "Shishido"))>>\ <<if ((((($equippedweapon isnot "Muramasa") and ($equippedweapon isnot "Kagutsuchi")) and ($equippedweapon isnot "Ikazuchi")) and ($equippedweapon isnot "Godslayer")) and ($equippedweapon isnot "Shishido"))>>\ Your \ <</if>>\ $equippedweapon pierces through his back and into his heart from behind. <<var $val - 1>>\ ''[Bladed Weapon Bonus: Difficulty Reduced]'' <<else>>\ Your fist punctures through his back from behind and comes out through his chest. <</if>>\ <<if ($stealth gte $val)>>\ ''[Stealth $val Check Passed]'' He dies before he can make a sound. <<else>>\ ''[Stealth $val Check Failed]'' He screams in pain from your attack and your eyes widen. Multiple spiritual scans enter the area and you're forced to sprint away with his body, praying no one finds you. Worse, you have to pray no one recognizes your spiritual signature. ''[Infamy Increased]'' <<var $infamy + 2>>\ //Can you stop praying already?// Taio the Bandit asks. //It hurts.// <</if>>\ <<page "Continue" "hub-residential-sunhana5">>\ #Kill a deer. <<var $ruthless - 1>>\ Killing a deer is easier than you expected now that you're so much faster than them. You simply pace the wooded graveyard for five minutes until something big reacts to your swift movement. The deer fails to escape your pursuit and you snap its neck on your approach. ... Back at the tomb, Sun Hana looks with disappointment at your quarry. "This is not what I asked." "Blood is blood." You reply. "This blood is weak," she replies, slitting the animal's throat, "a reflection of your conviction to our Path." //Agreed.// Mocks Taio the Scholar inside your mind. <<var $lessreward + 1>>\ <</choose>>

Back at the tomb, Sun Hana stands calmly in her finished ritual circle. She barely reacts when you throw your murder victim's corpse next to her. "Good." She says as his blood pools out around her. "It is time we finish this." <<include "hub-residential-sunhana6">>\

The room grows ominously red as the crimson liquid flows through the ritual circle Sun Hana has carved into the floor. She kneels into the bloodpool, waving her arms in purposeful motion as if performing Handseals with her whole limbs. In low, sharp tones she chants in an unfamiliar language. You sense a snap through the air when her ritual completes. Crimson and gray lightning fill the room, rising from the blood ritual on the floor and scorching into the ceiling in a circle around Sun Hana. "Hyeon Youngsoo!" She shouts into the air. "Scion of the Hyeon, Ward of the Fifth Province, I command you! Adopt your form to the materium!" The sound of boots on stone fill the air, merely two footsteps, and a transparent ghostly image of a man appears inside the circle of Sun Hana. He does not look down to see the trap laid before him; rather, at the very sight of the Yomijin woman, he acts. A spear materializes in his hand and sends deadly sharp sickles of Wind Chi through the room. "Keep him still!" Sun Hana screams when the wind sickles dig into her shoulders and blast her against the far wall. "Protect the ritual!" <<choose "hub-residential-sunhana7">> #Guard with your chi. In the midst of a barrage of slicing Wind-sickles, you press your aura outward through straining control of your spiritual power. <<var $combatstat "soul">>\ <<discount "Kiihakai" 2>>\ <<discount "Aoyusumu" 1>>\ <<discount "Wind" 1>>\ <<discount "Ice" 1>>\ <<combatcheck 8>>\ <<if ($passcheck is true)>>\ The chi you radiate forward blocks the Wind Chi like a mock-barrier, crashing your aura against the spiritual power within the ghost's Technique. Hyeon Youngoo's ghost notices your resistance and howls in a rage, focusing harder on crushing your defense. That's when Sun Hana strikes him \ <<else>>\ Try as you might, your spirit is not strong enough to block razorsharp blades of slicing energy. The Wind sickles cut into your body in deep gashes that cause your blood to leak into the ritual pool, contaminating it. <<woundcheck 2 false true>>\ "Fool!" Sun Hana screams at you, leaping upon the ghost \ <<var $lessreward + 1>>\ <</if>>\ from behind with her claws wreathed in gray-black Death Chi. Her fingers shred down his back and turn his torso to ribbons, forcing him to his knees in the middle of the ritual circle. #Guard with your body. <<var $combatstat "fortitude">>\ <<discount "Midorikatai" 2>>\ <<discount "Earth" 1>>\ <<discount "Ice" 1>>\ <<discount "Petite" 1>>\ <<discount "Manlet" 1>>\ <<combatcheck 9>>\ <<if ($passcheck is true)>>\ Your body hardens to resist even the cutting edge of the Wind sickles, breaking them upon your muscles. Hyeon Youngoo's ghost notices your resistance and howls in a rage, focusing harder on crushing your defense. That's when Sun Hana strikes him \ <<else>>\ Try as you might, your body is not made to stand still in a flurry of energy blades. The Wind sickles cut into your body in deep gashes that cause your blood to leak into the ritual pool, contaminating it. <<woundcheck 2 false true>>\ "Fool!" Sun Hana screams at you, leaping upon the ghost \ <<var $lessreward + 1>>\ <</if>>\ from behind with her claws wreathed in gray-black Death Chi. Her fingers shred down his back and turn his torso to ribbons, forcing him to his knees in the middle of the ritual circle. #use-if (($element1 is "Wind") or ($element2 is "Wind")) Disrupt his Wind Chi. [Requires Wind] You grip both hands by your side and squeeze, emerald Wind Chi responding to your command. The sickles flying through the air turn avoid you and circle around your form, gaining speed and color from your $auracolor aura. Over and over you draw on the ghost's attack to build more flying sickles around your body until you can barely even see through the light. Then you release them all at once, shredding the ghost's center in half. Hyeon Youngsoo's transparent face drops open from the damage, stunning him when half his incorporeal form is ripped away. #use-if ($style is "Kurokonton") Suppress the Chi of his Technique. [Requires Kurokonton]) Demonic Chi, Blood Chi, and Death Chi are certainly tools you can use, but they're not your only arsenal. You reach a hand out into the air and blast the entire room with a layer of Cursed Chi that consumes the Wind Chi of this 'Hyeon Youngsoo' and fills it with entropic Yin. His effect weakens to an annoying breeze. Then you punch him in the face, fist wrapped in Cursed Chi, and blow half his face off his head. Your effect works just as well on the chi of his ghost-form as it did on his Technique. Hyeon Youngsoo is knocked to the ground and stunned from your spirit-destroying strike. Sun Hana takes that opportunity to leap upon his spiritual remains and force him into the center of her ritual circle. Black chi oozes around her fangs and she bites down on his neck, causing the ghost to materialize more fully and convulse. <<var $lessreward - 1>>\ #show-if ($clonetech isnot "") Avoid them with a $clonetech. You slam your hands together in a singular seal, holding three fingers against your palm. When you do, three copies of yourself leap from your body and block the Wind Chi sickles coming for you. Two catch the attacks in their center and dissipate into a puff of lost chi, the third catches onto the ghost by the shoulders and spins him around. With the ghost's back facing you, you unleash an energy blast into its back. Not only does your attack puncture through the ghost's body, disrupting its chi, but it explodes when it hits your clone and engulfs the ghost in the explosion as well. Hyeon Youngsoo's ghost is stunned with half of his body missing. Sun Hana takes that opportunity to leap upon his spiritual remains and force him into the center of her ritual circle. Black chi oozes around her fangs and she bites down on his neck, causing the ghost to materialize more fully and convulse. <<var $lessreward - 1>>\ <</choose>>

"Do it!" She screams from the center of the ritual circle. "Activate the Yomijin Hell Bargain!" //No!// Shouts Taio the Bandit in your mind, flashing images of forbidden Seals into your vision. //Our true opportunity presents itself; the charade is over. We are not here for the summoned, but the summoner!// "WHAT?!" You scream. "Obliterate his vestige!" Sun Hana screams in response, misunderstanding. The ghost begins to reform under her claws and her hair whips around her face when Wind Chi circles all around the room. "I cannot hold him!" //I did not bring us here for a mere fraction of a soul!// Taio the Bandit screams into your mind. //I brought us on this journey for the whole thing! Kill Sun Hana with my Dead Mountain's Glaive! Harvest her Heartsblood!// <<choose "hub-residential-sunhana8">> #Sacrifice Hyeong Youngsoo's ghost with the Yomijin Hell Bargain. -> "hub-residential-sunhana-choices" #Sacrifice Sun Hana with the Dead Mountain's Glaive. <<var $mettaio + 10000000>>\ <<var $ruthless + 3>>\ <<var $honor - 1>>\ <<var $taiorep + 5>>\ Visions flash through your mind, visions of Taio the Bandit's understanding of the execution Technique he'd spent years mastering in battle. "Cease this hesitation!" Sun Hana screams, struggling to hold Hyeon Youngsoo's ghost as it reforms and slices Wind Chi into her flesh. You ignore her and place one foot onto the ritual circle, blocking her from activating it. Using that limb as a focal point, your spirit seizes the demonic Chi of her ritual and reforms it towards Taio's creation. From the depths of Hell your stolen demonic chi pulls an artifact attuned to your soul. Or rather, attuned to a soul trapped within you. The Technique Core forms instantly under such an advantage. ''[Demon Power Unlocked: Dead Mountain's Glaive]'' ''[You can now execute living targets whose auras have shattered to gain more of their Aura Pressure.]'' <<var $demonpowers + 10000000000000>>\ "What are you waiting for?!" Sun Hana screams. "Begin the sacrifice!" You cross your arms. "I did." Her eyes widen and narrow. "TRAITOR!" She howls, but the ghost reforms under her grip and forces its full fury upon her before she can retaliate against you. The Fiend unleashes wave after wave of Wind sickles upon the woman that shred her skin and aura with each blast. She fights back with crimson lightning and black-ooze claws in a flurry of blows, but the regenerating ghost maintains the upper hand until her aura suffers so much damage that it shatters. //The time is now.// Taio the Bandit whispers. //Do it.// <<page "Unleash your new power" "hub-residential-sunhana8">>\ <</choose>>

An eight-foot long glaive of overly stylized metal fires out of your palm like a battering ram. It slams into Sun Hana from behind and pierces through her body, pinning her to the opposing wall. "GH-!!" She screams in pain, trying to turn around under the strain of blinding pain. Blood gushes down her chin. "Y-You-!" You activate the binding without waiting for her final words. <<cap $auracolor>> light explodes from her eyes, ears, and mouth, surging through her body with blinding brilliance that kills her in an instant. In her final moment, your halberd drains the life from her and rushes her power through your palm, around your cycling channels, into your Cores, and deeper still, down into your ''//Inner Hellscape.//'' The last pieces of her shattered soul rain upon your Hellscape's demonic fires like fuel falling from the Heavens. Your hellfires burn hotter than ever before. <<set $aurapressure to $aurapressure + 100>>\ ''[Aura Pressure +100]'' <<var $taint + 100>>\ //Did I not promise you power?// Taio the Bandit boasts. //Did I not deliver? My Path is the one that will lead you to greatness. I grant you permission to praise me.// You don't answer him. //I-// "Shh." You hiss, still standing in a tomb with a painfully stretched aura and the vengeful ghost of Hyeon Youngsoo staring you in the face. It snarls, overcome with the hatred of a near-feral state. With the death of Sun Hana the ritual fades and the ghost remains, unchained, like a predator released into the wild. And you just stole its prey. <<choose "hub-residential-sunhana9">> #Stare it down. <<if ($survival gte 2)>>\ ''[Survival 2 Check Passed]'' You stare into the ghost's eyes not with matching rage, but with a clear and certain intent to kill. Predator to predator, you gaze into the Fiend's soul and let your message be clear: This territory belongs to a stronger fiend. You. Hyeon Youngsoo melts through the floor, dissipating back to whatever lies on the other side. You let your shoulders lose their tension and focus on your meditation to extract the last drops of Sun Hana's soul. Your meditations take you into your Inner Hellscape itself and your inner vision shows you cross-legged upon the ship within your soul, your demonic fires burning the sea all around you. "Enjoy the meal." Taio the Bandit says, meditating beside you in the Hellscape. "The first taste is always the sweetest." <<var $aurapressure + 10>>\ ''[Aura Pressure +10]'' <<var $taint + 10>>\ Two hours later you've processed everything you can and wake from your trance, leaving to continue your journey in Nanhou before anyone finds all the bodies this venture has left behind. <<else>>\ ''[Survival 2 Check Failed]'' The creature breaks into an ear-piercing shriek. //RUN!// Screams Taio the Bandit in your mind. <<var $ruthless - 2>>\ "I can kill it!" You shout back over the swirling gusts. //IT'S ATTRACTING THE GUARDS, YOU FOOL!// Your eyes widen in horror. One $auracolor blast of chi through the spirit's center is all you can spare before sprinting out of the tomb and continuing out of the graveyard. All you can do is pray to escape before the authorities arrive and catch on to what you've done. <</if>>\ <<page "Return to the Residential District" "hub-spendday">>\ #use-if (dig($demonpowers, 2) gte 1) Perform the Yomijin Hell Bargain. [Requires Demonic Knowledge] -> "hub-residential-sunhana9" You shake your head at the Yomijin man's ghost. "You should have left when you had the chance, food." The ghost's jaw distends unnaturally far and it screams at you in a rage, charging Wind Chi into its gaping maw, but it's too late. With an activation of Sun Hana's ritual circle, you enact the Yomijin Hell Bargain. #show-if (dig($demonpowers, 2) is 0) use-if ($style is "Kiihakai") Activate Sun Hana's Ritual with your Mystic Chi. [Requires Kiihakai] -> "hub-residential-sunhana9" You may not know how to use the Yomijin Hell Bargain without the now-deceased Sun Hana's help, but you don't need to. Careful study would be enough to figure out how to utilize the ritual seal she already made, and careful study is a task you delegated to your own spirit long ago. With a grin, you release your near-sentient Mystic Chi and command it to activate the sorcerous ritual. <</choose>>

Gray lightning blasts from the ground on all sides of Hyeon Youngsoo's spirit. The bolts connect into his midsection and bisect him, ripping out chunks of his soul in the first volley. The effect does not end, blasting him dozens or even hundreds of times in a second like true lightning. Screams fill the room as the man's essence is ripped asunder and dragged into the ritual circle, sending his consciousness and Will to Hell as payment for the forbidden effect of stealing pieces of his soul for the caster. A rush of new instinct and reflexes wash over you, filling you with the stolen experience of Hyeon Youngsoo's career as a... <<choose "hub-residential-sunhana9-2">> #Warrior. [Athletics, Insight] <<var $athletics + 1>>\ <<var $insight + 1>>\ ''[Athletics +1]'' ''[Insight +1]'' #Scholar. [Alchemy, Lore] <<var $lore + 1>>\ <<var $alchemy + 1>>\ ''[Lore +1]'' ''[Alchemy +1]'' #Thief. [Deception, Stealth] <<var $deception + 1>>\ <<var $stealth + 1>>\ ''[Deception +1]'' ''[Stealth +1]'' #Sailor. [Craft, Survival] <<var $craft + 1>>\ <<var $survival + 1>>\ ''[Craft +1]'' ''[Survival +1]'' <</choose>>

Exhaustion drops you to the floor just outside the puddle of blood, overwhelmed by so much new ability in such a short time. //Cycle// Taio the Scholar reprimands. You take on a meditative stance and focus your mind, your breathing, and your Cores. Your meditations take you into your Inner Hellscape itself and your inner vision shows you cross-legged upon the ship within your soul, your demonic fires burning the sea all around you. "Enjoy the meal." Taio the Bandit says, meditating beside you in the Hellscape. "The first taste is always the sweetest." <<var $aurapressure + 10>>\ ''[Aura Pressure +10]'' <<var $taint + 10>>\ Two hours later you've processed everything you can and wake from your trance, leaving to continue your journey in Nanhou before anyone finds all the bodies this venture has left behind. <<page "Return to the Residential District" "hub-spendday">>\

You lay on the floor, gasping, having thought you finished four times already. Every time you get dressed and try to leave the voracious Cat Yokai has grabbed you by the hips and //physically coerced// another round. <<if ($weight gte $chapter)>>\ ''[Weighted Clothing Event]'' Though each and every time she has pleaded and begged you to remove your wrist and ankle weights. Luckily, you are a man of principle and refuse. <<apboost 5>>\ <<var $weightcount + 1>>\ <</if>>\ "How do you feel, Honored One?" Hana asks, hand down your pants and lips against your ear. "Have I been to your satisfaction?" You croak out the honest truth. "I feel like you've sucked the life out of me." ''[Health -1]'' <<var $health - 1>>\ She brushes her other hand against your face. "I have, my impressive \ <<if ($race is "Kitsune")>>\ two-tailed \ <<elseif ($subrace is "Bovine")>>\ bull of a \ <<elseif ($subrace is "Reptile")>>\ draconic \ <<elseif ($race is "Lunargoth")>>\ white-skinned \ <<elseif ($subrace isnot "")>>\ $subrace-tailed \ <<elseif ($race is "Oni")>>\ demonic \ <</if>>\ lover. And in doing so, I have embodied my absorbent Yin to your incredible and generous Yang." ''[Fortitude +1]'' <<var $fortitude + 1>>\ You grab her wrist forcefully and stare into her eyes. "You tricked me." "I did no such thing." She replies, straight-faced and staring into your eyes with her feline pupils. "This ritual is beneficial for us both, I promise upon the history of my people and land." You do not relent, tightening your grip upon her. "You stole just as much as I've gained. This is only beneficial for you." She brings one knee up to your groin gently, rubbing slowly to force a reaction. "You misunderstand, Rasenite. Your rewards are still to come." You begin to sweat. "Uh, still to...?" You clear your throat and look to the tomb's exit. "As in, a second ritual?" She shakes her head, rubbing a hand against your chest. "A fifth round. You are not finished with me yet." <<page "Oh Ancestors" "hub-residential-sunhanadc2">>\

Sun Hana bounces upon you, gripping her chest and moaning with crimson lightning crackling around her aura. "More!" She screams. "More! More! More! I call-" She pauses in shock, rotating her hips and squeezing her eyes in tight concentration. "I call-Mmmf! Ah! AHHHH!!! ''I CALL UPON THE HELL BARGAIN!''" A circle of Hellfire flashes in the air above you. A translucent, burnt hand grips the side of the flames from the other side and pulls itself further out; Hyeon Youngsoo's tattered ghost desperately crawls from the sudden portal. "Sun Hana, wait! Don't do this! Whatever put you down this path, I still lov-" Sun Hana laughs sadistically and leans forward into you, planting her dark lips against yours. In a flash of gray and red lightning, her spirit traps the last vestige of his ghost above her and pulls him down from the portal to ''cycle him.'' "No! No! NOOO!!!!" Hyeon Youngsoo screams and flails, circling through her cycling effect like water down a drain into her back. His very soul loudly grinds into shreds of spiritual essence that break down in her chi channels. With a crimson glow in her eyes and a heavy moan, bare legs rubbing against your bare hips and tongue sloppily working through your mouth, Sun Hana presses her stolen power into your body with a jolt of demonic lightning. <<if ($lessreward gt 0)>>\ <<var $apval ((10+$insight)+$athletics)>>\ <<else>>\ <<var $apval (10+(($athletics + $insight) * 2))>>\ <<if ($bodytype is "Handsome")>>\ <<var $apval + 3>>\ <</if>>\ <</if>>\ <<if ($race is "Kitsune")>>\ <<var $apval + 4>>\ <</if>>\ <<apboost $apval>>\ Hyeon Youngsoo's soul is disintegrated forever, used as a stepping stone to fuel your Cultivation by stealing his experience as a... <<if ($lessreward gt 0)>>\ <<choose "hub-residential-sunhanadc3">> #Warrior. [Athletics, Insight] <<var $athletics + 1>>\ <<var $insight + 1>>\ ''[Athletics +1]'' ''[Insight +1]'' #Scholar. [Alchemy, Lore] <<var $lore + 1>>\ ''[Lore +1]'' <<var $alchemy + 1>>\ ''[Alchemy +1]'' #Thief. [Stealth, Thievery] <<var $stealth + 1>>\ ''[Deception +1]'' <<learnthievery 1>>\ #Sailor. [Craft, Survival] <<var $craft + 1>>\ <<var $survival + 1>>\ ''[Craft +1]'' ''[Survival +1]'' <</choose>> <</if>>\ <<if ($lessreward lte 0)>>\ <<choose "hub-residential-sunhanadc3">> #Warrior. [Athletics, Insight, Handseals] <<var $athletics + 1>>\ <<var $insight + 1>>\ <<var $handseals + 1>>\ ''[Athletics +1]'' ''[Insight +1]'' ''[Handseals +1]'' #Scholar. [Alchemy, Lore, Persuasion] <<var $lore + 1>>\ <<var $persuasion + 1>>\ ''[Lore +1]'' ''[Persuasion +1]'' <<var $alchemy + 1>>\ ''[Alchemy +1]'' #Thief. [Deception, Stealth, Thievery] <<var $deception + 1>>\ <<var $stealth + 1>>\ ''[Deception +1]'' ''[Stealth +1]'' <<learnthievery 1>>\ #Sailor. [Craft, Perception, Survival] <<var $craft + 1>>\ <<var $perception + 1>>\ <<var $survival + 1>>\ ''[Craft +1]'' ''[Perception +1]'' ''[Survival +1]'' <</choose>> <</if>>\

You wake up in a cold sweat on the stone floor of the tomb, blood soaked into your back. Sun Hana is nowhere to be found, but your clothes lie neatly folded near the exit and thankfully blood-free. //Good, you awaken.// Taio the Scholar says. //I can now lecture you, in detail, about the grotesque nature of your carnal failures.// //I found it more entertaining than expected.// Taio the Bandit admits. //The soul obliteration was a fine touch. I will make it mandatory when I rule this world.// The scholar spits. //Your pitiful life choices saw you unfit to rule a tavern.// You don't response at first, mortified that someone just spit ''inside of your soul.'' Not giving them the chance to comment on that, you rise from the pool of blood, grip the wall of the tomb, and take an unsteady step towards the exit. You need rest, and you need water even more. On shaky knees, it takes thirty minutes before you make it out of the graveyard, all the while trying your hardest to ignore the bickering displeased souls of dead demonic clones in your mind. "I need new teachers." You say out loud. //And I require a student who ''listens to me.''// Taio the Bandit replies. //You could have used the foolish girl's ritual to instantly master my Heartsblood harvesting Technique! Instead you have some pitiful replacement to feed on ghosts and, Ancestors willing, chlamydia.// //Next time, we use my plan.// The Scholar adds. //I will ensure not to include women.// <<if ($honor lt 35)>>\ ''[Honor Check Failed]'' "Oh I'll bet you always do." You reply out loud. <<var $taiorep - 2>>\ The Scholar is silent. The Bandit laughs like a hyena. <<else>>\ //For once you show wisdom.// The Bandit remarks, changing to a sinister tone. //Now lecture him more.// //Gladly.// The Scholar replies, berating you once again with philosophical lectures on the mental benefits of abstinence and how you are 'wasting your precious yang'. You groan the whole way back. <</if>>\ <<page "Return to the Residential District" "hub-spendday">>\

<<var $val 0>>\ <<if (dig($placevisit, 13) is 0)>>\ <<var $placevisit + 100>>\ White plaster walls stretch down the street a far as the eye can see, broken only by the occasional red torii gate to grant entrance into the enormous Temple grounds. When you step through one you're astonished to find the loud noises of the city have fallen away, replaced with the serene babbling of a stream running through the lush gardens surrounding the Devanic Temple. Cherry blossoms fly through the light breeze and birds sing from their trees, granting an air of majesty to the distant two-hundred steps up the road rising into the Temple itself. The Devanic Temple grounds are nearly a district of their own, and they are the only sense of natural peace you've felt since arriving. Unfortunately, there's also roughly three-hundred people enjoying the nature too. <<page "Peace was never an option." "hub-residential-temple-first">>\ <<else>>\ The Devanic Temple grounds greet you as they have before, with serene imagery of gardens, streams, and perhaps too many visitors. You ascend the two-hundred steps uphill towards the large Temple itself and enter through the front before deciding on what business brought you to such a holy place. <<include "hub-residential-temple2">>\ <</if>>\

<<var $hellscape 0>>\ <<var $apval Math.round($taint - (($taint * 0.05) * $insight))>>\ <<if ($apval gte 400)>>\ ''[Power Core - 1]'' <<var $power - 1>>\ ''[Fortitude Core - 1]'' <<var $fortitude - 1>>\ ''[Agility Core - 1]'' <<var $agility - 1>>\ ''[Soul Core - 1]'' <<var $soul - 1>>\ <<elseif ($apval gte 300)>>\ ''[Fortitude Core - 1]'' <<var $fortitude - 1>>\ ''[Agility Core - 1]'' <<var $agility - 1>>\ ''[Soul Core - 1]'' <<var $soul - 1>>\ <<elseif ($apval gte 200)>>\ ''[Agility Core - 1]'' <<var $agility - 1>>\ ''[Soul Core - 1]'' <<var $soul - 1>>\ <<elseif ($apval gte 100)>>\ ''[Soul Core - 1]'' <<var $soul - 1>>\ <</if>>\ <<aploss $apval>>\ <<var $taint 0>>\ You awake on the floor of the Temple with a crowd gathered around. All gaze down upon the spectacle that the Heavens have brought them: a Martial Artist covered in scorch marks from purifying flames. "Nnnnnngggg." You groan, looking through the crowd to spot Angelo. Instead it's a monkey yokai Shrinemaiden who helps you to your feet. "$ymaster, can you stand?" She asks, checking your wounds. "I can." You say groggily. "What happened?" "The Heavens must have blessed you with purity, for upon your entrance into the Temple you were struck down. The wails of Fiendish presences burned up in your body and were cast down, leaving you harmed but alive." She leans closer and whispers. "I suspect you were possessed, $ymaster, but no more. Your spirit feels clean. Harmed and scraped raw, but clean." You don't feel clean. You feel burnt. Checking deeper into your Cores, you do find that the Inner Hellscape has collapsed, and the clones of Taio are nowhere to be found. It seems you are free at last. "Would you like to remain at the Temple?" The shrinemaiden asks. "We have healing waters for the righteous." "Actually, I would like to..." <<include "hub-residential-temple2">>\

A lofty climb up the many stairs brings you into the temple proper. The entrance opens into a high-ceiling antechamber surrounded by statues of various Saints. Dozens of pilgrims, civilians, and even Martial Artists pray at the Saint statues. Some pray openly and some pray in silence. A young fighter swears to uphold the glory of his Sect to a Saint from his home town, while across from him an elderly woman prays to a patron Saint of families for the health of her granddaughter. The chatter through the chambers is drowned out oh-so-softly by the humming choir of priests standing watch at three hallways leading deeper into the Temple. "Left is for Temple housing, right is for Shugendō meditation chambers." Says Angelo, standing behind you as if giving a tour. "Center is the hotsprings." <<choose "hub-residential-temple-first2">> #"Do you enjoy sneaking up on people?" "Do you enjoy sneaking up on people?" You ask. <<var $angelorep + 2>>\ "Successfully?" Angelo asks, relaxing his posture. "Every time. I am a six-foot-four man of red hair, stealth is the only skill that I can never master. Oh, and \ #"Were you following me?" "Were you following me?" You ask. "No." Angelo replies, cocking an eyebrow. "This is the Devanic Temple, and I am a pilgrim. Truth be told I thought you were following me. Oh, and \ #"Good to see you too, Angelo." <<var $angelorep + 1>>\ <<var $ruthless - 1>>\ "Good to see you too, Angelo." You reply without turning around. He steps in front of you, beaming. "Finally, someone who plays along with the act! Most of my regulars have started getting bitter or taking advantage of my hospitality. For your exemplary behavior, I offer free advice: \ #"Oh good, you're doing that mysterious appearance thing again. Since you're here, is there anything in the Temple that can help me in the Trials?" <<var $angelorep - 2>>\ <<var $honor - 1>>\ "Oh good," You say, unsurprised by the pilgrims sudden appearance, "you're doing that mysterious appearance thing again. Since you're here, is there anything in the Temple that can help me in the Trials?" "Good Heavens." Angelo replies, blinking in surprise. "You don't hesitate at all. Am I getting-" "-predictable, yes." You say. "So what secrets have you got for this place?" "So this is how it feels." He scratches his beard and looks off thoughtfully. "Meditation in the Shugendō wing's chambers will give better rewards than normal if you've advanced your Elemental Chi, but I think you'll want \ <<if ($heshe is "she")>>\ a more personal lesson. \ <<else>>\ something more hands-on. \ <</if>>\ Find me when you're done with everything you need, I'm about to run\ <<if ($ruthless gte 52)>>\ an errand and it seems like the kind you'd enjoy. As in, the violent kind." \ <<else>>\ an errand that could use a strong hand." \ <</if>>\ He turns to leave before catching himself and looking back. "Oh, and \ <<var $val 12>>\ <</choose>>

don't visit the hotsprings. They're still being restored after renovations." "Renovations? In a hot spring?" "They were infected by a presence most foul. The water had to be drained, the land blessed and Sealed, and the spring dam had to be reopened. I believe the Shrinemaidens are nearly done with the task." A foul presence... "Was it a Fiend?" You ask. Angelo laughs. "Oh Heavens, that would have been far more dignified. No, It was a toddler. Pooped right into the main waters. More than you're imagining, too. None of our wards or blessings protected against that, the tiny gentleman gave us quite a refined lesson in humility." <<if ((($insight gte 2) and ($heshe is "he")) and (dig($metmina, 2) is 1))>>\ ''[Insight 2 Check Passed]'' "Something about your story sounds fishy." You say, eyes narrowing. Angelo shrugs. "I am but a pious man on the road, what could I possibly have to hi-" <<page "[Guess]" "hub-residential-temple-first3">>\ <<else>>\ "Gross." He shrugs in his pilgrim's robes. "I cannot refute that. Find me when you're done exploring, \ <<if ($val is 12)>>\ I was serious about that errand." <<else>>\ I have quite the chore ahead of me and could use a hand if you're free." <</if>>\ "Where are you going?" "Precognition." He answers, \ <<include "hub-residential-temple-first4">>\ <</if>>\

"It's Shrinemaiden Mina from the mountain temple, isn't it?" Angelo's mouth hangs open, perplexed for one of the first times since you met him. He raises a hand, freezes, and grips his forehead in mock-agony. "You cannot throw out guesses like \ <<if ($style is "Aoyusumu")>>\ that, even with Sacred Chi!" \ <<else>>\ that without Sacred Chi, it borders on Style infringement." \ <</if>>\ His gaze casts downwards as he grumbles out. "Especially when you're right. Heavens, have some respect for my trade." "Your...trade?" "Being all-knowing." He says, shaking his head. "Mina is indeed the shrinemaiden on-duty at the springs, but the last thing you need is to be alone with that woman in a nudity-friendly area. Keep your focus on the Trials, as I keep mine on the people in need. Speaking of, come find me when you're done walking the Temple grounds." He starts walking away towards a Temple hallway. "I have an errand that could use a strong hand for assistance." "If you don't trust me with Mina, shouldn't you be keeping an eye on me?" "Can't!" He hollers back, \ <<include "hub-residential-temple-first4">>\

still walking away without turning around. "Two rivals will fight on the grounds in mere minutes. The property damage will be enormous, but it can all be prevented if I set one on the path to run into a particular girl instead. Unfortunately the odds are high they will fall in mutual love and get happily married, but you can't make an omelette without wedding a few eggs." His voice trails off when he takes a turn down a temple hall, leaving you to... <<include "hub-residential-temple2">>\

want you to know I'm here for you, and when the nurses finish patching you up, I'm going to put you ''back'' into the medical ward." "That's fair." You say through dry lips. "I mean really, a //Shrinemaiden???//" Kosuke says, squinting at you. "How in the world could you cheat on me with a holy woman of the Temple?" "Kosuke, I'm so sorry-" "No I mean ''how'', like are they into chocolates? Did you use poetry or something? \ <<if ($owekosuke_f is 1000000000000)>>\ They seem so stuckup." "Mina's different." Kosuke huffs and throws her hands into the air. "Well she had fucking better be, since I'm apparently sharing my boyfriend with her. So what am I now, some sort of concubine?" "Please, I-" "Because you don't even buy me their hot outfits. That's got to change, first of all. I want a light blue and a crimson set, you can use fake gold for the chains but ''only'' this once. When you become an Archon I'll want real gold chains. And don't bring other girls into the bedroom with me just yet, I'm trying to get used to this idea." You sit up and look her in the eyes, seeking anything beneath the mask of her humor. "You're taking this oddly well." Kosuke shrugs, sitting next to you and gently swaying her legs off the bed. "Look, I get it, I'm a beggar girl who needed Advancement just to grow back some lost teeth. You're a Clan <<cap $patriarch>> that's moving up in the world. I expected you to eventually go all 'concubines' on me but..." She breathes out a reluctant sigh. "The heart wants what the heart wants, and I still want my future brats to have the $clan name instead of no Clan at all. Besides, I mentally prepared for this //soulless betrayal// four years ago." You tilt your head at that. "I haven't even been a Martial Artist for four years." She rolls her eyes with a thoughtful smile. "We haven't been together for four years either, idiot. Like I said, I prepared for it. And I know these other strumpets are all going to demand to be your wife or number one concubine or some petty crap, and I'm //not// starting a rivalry with Martial Artists. So here's the deal: leave me out of that drama, give them whatever lip service you want - stop laughing, that wasn't innuendo - and instead of titles I just want cool stuff." "Y...Yeah." You concede, caught offguard. "That's disturbingly calm of you." "Don't get me wrong, my feelings are still completely crushed and I cried when I heard the news from the nurses, I'm just not going to give you shit for it." "Except for-" "Damn it." She says, snapping her fingers. "Except for rubbing it in right now, yes. This will take some work to //actually// not give you shit for it. For now, let's call that the last time and leave the drama for the others. I know the Martial World is filled with unfaithful immortals, that comes with the territory of dating someone great, but if that's how it's got to be then I want the cool stuff that comes with it too." "What kind of cool stuff were you thinking?" The sadness leaves her eyes, quickly replaced with a mischievous hunger. "Welllll let's see. Protection. Utility. Scrolls that can blast people into next week. If I'm getting dragged along on your adventures I'm going to be a target, and I want my targeters to regret their last mistake. Seeing as you slept with a Shrinemaiden this time, I want something holy. Something that can kill a Fiend or heal me in a pinch. Deal?" Being forgiven so easily somehow hurts worse than being yelled at, but your heartbeat calms as you're awash in relief. You hold a hand out to shake Kosuke's and she rushes in for a hug instead. You shove the guilt deep down to focus on enjoying her presence; she rubs her head against your chest and you run your hand through her hair. "Deal." You reply softly. <<var $owekosuke_f + 100000000>>\ "Awwww." Says the nearby nurses, who heard everything. "GET BACK TO WORK!" Screams Kosuke. <<else>>\ I know we've said you can get with other girls, but I thought you at least had limits. Pulling a priestess is like winning the lottery. Ancestors, why am I competing with that kind of forbidden fruit?" "You're not competing." You try to reassure her. "Not with that attitude." Kosuke mocks, playfully punching you on the shoulder. "Whatever happened to a Martial Artist's drive? Anyway, since you're stuck on some quest to collect women like Soul Treasures, that's exactly what I want. You know the deal, sleep with a priestess and you owe me a Soul Treasure holy relic." <<if (dig($trialdeets, 4) gte 2)>>\ "Me too!" Shouts Rin, still peeking in through the doorway. "Shut up Rin." You both say, then you turn to Kosuke. \ <</if>>\ "One holy relic coming up. Any preference?" Kosuke sits on the bed beside you and taps a finger against her neck. "Hmmmm...something that heals me in a pinch. Or something that kills Fiends. If I can go a lifetime without another Ebikowa incident I'll die happy." <<if (dig($mettaio, 1) gte 6)>>\ //For once I agree with a peasant.// Says Taio the Scholar in your mind. //She will die happy. Kill her now; attachments like this are a liability.// You shush him and \ <<else>>\ You <</if>>\ take Kosuke's hand in yours. "Your wish is my command. Now can you help me up? The healing medicine is kicking in and my legs feel like they're filled with pins and needles." "I have a better idea." Kosuke says, leaning against you. "How about you help me down?" <</if>>\ <<page "Continue" "hub-residential-temple-koswants2">>\

The two of you cuddle on the thin medical bed before Kosuke leaves to, in her words, 'stage a fake shakedown to distract the guards'. You don't ask her why they need distracting. After a few more unguents and elixirs you leave the medical ward without a scratch on you, unless one counts your wallet. It turns out the healing isn't free. <<var $wounds 0>>\ <<var $chispent 0>>\ <<var $forspent 0>>\ <<var $agispent 0>>\ <<var $solspent 0>>\ <<var $powspent 0>>\ ''[Medical Debt Acquired: 90 Shards] <<var $debtnote + 1000>>\ <<var $debt + 90>>\ <<page "Leave the Medical Ward" "hub-residential-district">>\

<<var $pwt_mina true>>\ After two more hours of thorough lovemaking at the edge of the hot springs, Mina collapses sometime in round three. You gently lay her down and play with her hair while she quivers with a content smile on her face. "You got stronger." She whispers, placing her hand against your face without opening her eyes. "I'm glad." Her face scrunches in concentration. "Buuuut, I'd be more glad with a cup of tea. Can you be a dear and fetch me a cup? It's behind me, in the small stream." "As you wish." You rise and navigate through the fog to a tea kettle in a water-filled indent in the ground, kept warm by the springs. Two cups lie next to it. "Do you take honey?" "No way. I'm a sugarcane girl." Mina mumbles, hugging her knees and purring. "Lots and lots. Though my sister doesn't like it at all. Stuckup honey addict." You come back with her tea and hand her the cup. She takes a sip and hums happily. "It's the little things in life, you know? A good cup, a good location, a good man. Do you want to...I don't know, get to know each other? We could go to a keopi house or partake in the contest games in the Entertainment District. You could catch me a goldfish and I could pick your fortune. A date-date, you know? Shrinemaidens aren't supposed to have such relations on-duty, but if we are committing sacrilegious acts anyway...?" <<choose "hub-residential-temple-minamacking2">> #"I'd love to." <<var $metmina + 4000000000>>\ <<var $metmina - dig($metmina, 11)>>\ <<var $metmina + 3>>\ "I'd love to." You say, taking her hand in yours. Mina squeels with glee and jumps atop you, hugging you tightly. "I cannot believe we actually found each other again. You were my first since becoming a Shrinemaiden, you know? I thought I had failed my duties, but maybe I just found the right man for me? Especially if fate brought us together again. \ <<if (dig($metmina, 11) is 3)>>\ If I'm being honest, this feels like a fairytale. \ <</if>>\ I never expected to find you in such a busy city, especially with my overbearing sister always breathing down my neck." #"I'd love to, but I can't promise you'd be the only woman. I need to build my Clan from nothing." "Mina, I'd love to be with you forever but I need to build my Clan from nothing. I can't promise you'd be the only woman and I'm not sure if that's something you want." <<if ((($persuasion gte 3) or (($race is "Human") and ($persuasion gte 2))) or ((($bodytype is "Handsome") and ($persuasion gte 1)) or (($bodytype is "Handsome") and ($race is "Human"))))>>\ <<if ($race is "Human")>>\ ''[Human Event: Difficulty Reduced]'' <</if>>\ <<if ($persuasion gte 3)>>\ ''[Persuasion 3 Check Passed]'' <<elseif (($race is "Human") and ($persuasion gte 2))>>\ ''[Persuasion 2 Check Passed]'' <<elseif ((($bodytype is "Handsome") and ($persuasion gte 1)) or (($bodytype is "Handsome") and ($race is "Human")))>>\ ''[Bodytype Event: Difficulty Reduced x2]'' <<if ($race is "Human")>>\ ''[Persuasion 0 Check Passed]'' <<else>>\ ''[Persuasion 1 Check Passed]'' <</if>>\ <</if>>\ <<var $metmina + 5000000000>>\ <<var $metmina - dig($metmina, 11)>>\ <<var $metmina + 4>>\ "And?" Mina looks at you like you might be retarded. "Multiple wives isn't rare or against the Devanic faith. We'll both live for centuries unless you get yourself killed; I'm not worried about other women when I have time to outshine them." You raise an eyebrow at that. "Why would I get myself killed?" Mina bats her lashes at you and leans forward. "Darling, I'm stuck in a Temple all day and even //I// heard about the exploding Demonic Gate in Ebikowa. You should have told me you were crazy when we met." "Right back at you." Mina giggles and leans her head against your shoulder. "I cannot believe we actually found each other again. You were my first since becoming a Shrinemaiden, you know? I thought I had failed my duties, but maybe I just found the right man for me? Especially if fate brought us together again.\ <<if (dig($metmina, 11) is 3)>>\ If I'm being honest, this feels like a fairytale. \ <</if>>\ I never expected to find you in such a busy city, especially with my overbearing sister always breathing down my neck." <<else>>\ <<var $metmina + 1000000000>>\ ''[Persuasion 3 Check Failed]'' "Are you proposing I be some sort of concubine? I mean, I like you, but that's not exactly what I had in mind. Finding a boyfriend is one thing, but being some man's secondary trophy piece would be enough to give my sister an aneurysm." <</if>>\ #"That would only endanger you, I have a lot of enemies." <<if ($val is 55)>>\ <<var $metmina + 3000000000>>\ <<else>>\ <<var $metmina + 2000000000>>\ <</if>>\ "That would only endanger you, I have a lot of enemies." You say, letting the girl down easy. "Yeah." Mina says, sipping her tea and looking away. "Enemies. That would be bad, so...it's fine. I'm fine. At least this lowers the chances of Nina trying to kill me, what with her always breathing down my neck since our last fling." #"I can't risk your job just so I can be happy." <<if ($val is 55)>>\ <<var $metmina + 3000000000>>\ <<else>>\ <<var $metmina + 2000000000>>\ <</if>>\ "I can't risk your job just so I can be happy." You say, letting the girl down easy. Mina scoffs. "We just risked my job all over the hotsprings?" "Yes, er, but I-" "Stop." Mina says, noticeably bothered. "It's fine. I'm fine. At least us not working out lowers the chances of Nina trying to kill me, what with her always breathing down my neck since our last fling." <</choose>>

"Nina's here?" You ask, taking a sip of tea. "Naturally, she follows me everywhere to make sure I don't have fun." Mina sits back and stretches toward the sky. Her arms lift her chest in a pleasing view on full display. "Right now she's probably..." A light spiritual scan extends out from Mina. You feel it end abruptly, like a bubble popping. "Oh no." "What?" Mina turns to you, her face shivering and her skin going pale. "Oh noooo." She keeps turning and you realize in horror that she isn't turning toward you. She's turning around. You look behind the both of you to see Shrinemaiden Mina's identical twin sister holding a stack of prayer tags. A vein of pure rage shows on her forehead. Her hand closes around the stack of paper so strongly that it //snaps//, crushing the center of the paper stack so hard that each piece rips in two. "That shouldn't even be possible!" You say in horror. "That's only the beginning!" Mina screams, hugging you closely. "Find me in our next life!" Shrinemaiden Nina stomps towards you both. "You travelled halfway across the nation to DEFILE my sister ''//AGAIN?!//''" Cerulean chi wraps around her hands like pulsating forcefields as her arms shake with rage. "Sister, please!" Mina pleads. "It's not what it l-" Nina raises one fist up and, with her leg that's //not// imbued with such energy, kicks her sister into the distance. Mina's hair whips forward from the impact that launches her airborne through the fog. "Pathetic." Nina says, turning to you with her glowing fist. <<if ($jadedragonfoundation is true)>>\ Your Jade Dragon Foundation has stopped you from feeling fear so many times before. If not due to your power, then due to your soul's draconic nature. Yet in this priestess, in her gaze of determined fury, you see the one thing that sends a true shiver down your spine. A dragonslayer. <</if>>\ //I warned you.// Angelo's voice says into your mind. <<page "Oh Ancestors" "hub-residential-temple-minamacking3">>\

You wake up in a medical ward, surrounded by worried nurses. A scroll next to you, blank but for a single kiss mark in its center, is all you have to tell you that Mina was here and has already recovered. The signs that her sister were here are the fist-sized bruises and indents all over your body. Luckily it seems the nurses have patched you up, and at your awakening, many leave the room to attend to other patients. Their departure brings your attention to another figure in the room: <<if (dig($trialdeets, 4) gte 2)>>\ Jin. "You did it again." He hisses, face going red. "I finally find a second Devanic Temple, a chance to start over, and you steal the Shrinemaidens //again//." "Wait what?" Rin asks beside him. "I thought you guys went training together! You spent those ''months'' at some sort of gross priestess brothel?!" "HE DID!" Jin screams, pointing a condemning finger at you. You hold your hands up for peace. "Now, now I know what this looks like, Jin, but trust me, it's different. It turns out that this time it was the sa-" Jin turns away from you. "Nurse! Bring that over here!" A nurse passing by with thick gloves pauses at his request. "Erm, Young Master, this pot is filled with boiling hot water for the purpose of sterilizing equipment. I am afr-" "Good!" Jin counters, grabbing the bucket and splashing it into your face. <<page "AAAHHHHHHHH!!" "hub-residential-temple-minamacking4">>\ <<elseif (($bffromance gte 1) and ($heshe isnot $bffheshe))>>\ Kosuke. "I heard about what happened." She says, placing a gentle hand on your shoulder. "I \ <<include "hub-residential-temple-koswants">>\ <<else>>\ Sum Yungai, one of your retainers. You're not quite sure why. "What are you doing here, Yungai?" "We heard of your escapade at the Temple, Honored $patriarch." "We?" He claps his hands twice and drops to his knees. From the doorway, many of your other retainers pile \ <<if ($bffheshe is "he")>>\ in, including Kosuke. \ <<else>>\ in. \ <</if>>\ All drop to their knees around your bed and kowtow, their heads pressing to the floor. "Please teach us!" They shout in unison. "Oh Honored $patriarch, seducer of Shrinemaidens, please teach us your ways!" Outside your room, the nurses \ <<if ($bffheshe is "she")>>\ and Kosuke \ <</if>>\ shake their heads in shame at your men's display. You shoo them out before they make a bigger scene and consider writing a guide that you might be able to sell. For now, however, you focus on your recovery. After a few more unguents and elixirs you leave the medical ward without a scratch on you, unless one counts your wallet. It turns out the healing isn't free. <<var $wounds 0>>\ <<var $chispent 0>>\ <<var $forspent 0>>\ <<var $agispent 0>>\ <<var $solspent 0>>\ <<var $powspent 0>>\ ''[Medical Debt Acquired: 90 Shards] <<var $debtnote + 1000>>\ <<var $debt + 90>>\ <<page "Leave the Medical Ward" "hub-residential-district">>\ <</if>>\

You wake up in a medical ward, surrounded by worried nurses. A feeling of familiarity strikes you from the scene, but this time Jin is gone and Mina's scroll is soaked into a soggy mess. Rin and Kosuke sit on the visitor benches, laughing about something until they notice you. \ <<if (($bffromance gte 1) and ($heshe isnot $bffheshe))>>\ Rin gives you a knowing shake of the head and says goodbye to Kosuke, leaving the two of you in private. Kosuke leaves her bench and walks up to your medical bed, placing a gentle hand on your shoulder. "I heard about what happened. I \ <<include "hub-residential-temple-koswants">>\ <<else>>\ "Well, well, well." Kosuke says. "Looks like //somebody// slept with a Shrinemaiden and didn't get away with it." You stare off to the window. "I never seem to..." <<if ($bffheshe is "he")>>\ Kosuke's snark vanishes suddenly when he drops to his knees beside your bed. "Please, Master, teach me your ways." "Hey!" Rin screams. "You promised we'd be mean to him!" "Shut up Rin!" Kosuke barks back at her. "This is important!" "You two are gross!" Rin shouts, leaving out the door. "I'm going to the casino where the men have some class!" You and Kosuke stare at the door for one long moment when it dawns on you that your sister is about to go look for men in the least likely place where men would settle down. "She grew up so fast," Kosuke says, "but, like, in the worst possible way." "Go stop her and I'll teach you my ancient Shrinemaiden Seduction Te-" Kosuke is gone before you can finish, leaving you to your recovery which goes quite well for the next hour. <<else>>\ "Yeah." Rin says. "Jin was pretty pissed." Kosuke shrugs. "I offered to put on a miko robe if it would make him feel any better but he just got more frustrated." "Well of course, you're not sleeping with him." Rin replies. "I think you added to his torment." Kosuke scratches her hip and giggles. "Yeah, that's why I did it." "If you're done berating my brother." You interrupt. "I could use more healing paste for my face." "I'll say." Kosuke whistle low. "What a scorcher. Nurse! Over here please!" The two take off after some chatter and you're left to recover in pace. <</if>>\ After a few more unguents and elixirs you leave the medical ward without a scratch on you, unless one counts your wallet. It turns out the healing isn't free. <<var $wounds 0>>\ <<var $chispent 0>>\ <<var $forspent 0>>\ <<var $agispent 0>>\ <<var $solspent 0>>\ <<var $powspent 0>>\ ''[Medical Debt Acquired: 90 Shards] <<var $debtnote + 1000>>\ <<var $debt + 90>>\ <<page "Leave the Medical Ward" "hub-residential-district">>\ <</if>>\

<<choose "hub-residential-district">> #show-if ((dig($prayercheck, 1) lt $element1rank) or (dig($prayercheck, 2) lt $element2rank)) use-if ($countdown gte 1) Meditate on Shugendō. [1 Day] -> "hub-residential-shugendo" #show-if ((dig($prayercheck, 1) gte $element1rank) and (dig($prayercheck, 2) gte $element2rank)) use-if ($val is 23105156926130) Meditate on Shugendō. [Shugendō Mastery too low!] -> "death" #use-if ((dig($compquest1, 6) is 0) and ($val is 1337)) Find Angelo. [Maybe later] #use-if (dig($placevisit, 13) lt 2) Visit the healing hotsprings. -> "hub-residential-templesprings" #show-if ((dig($mettaio, 1) is 2) or (dig($mettaio, 1) gte 6)) use-if (hellscape lte 150) Have the Taio Clones exorcised. <<var $mettaio - (dig($mettaio, 1) * 10000000000)>>\ <<var $mettaio + 30000000000>>\ //WHAT?!// Screams both Taios as they detect your thoughts. //You think you can be rid of us that easily? \ <<if (dig($mettaio, 1) gte 6)>>\ You swore an oath, fool!// <<else>>\ We are no mere ghost! If you will not cooperate with us, our nascent demonic power is more than enough to force you!// <</if>>\ You take one step forward, in search of a priest, when your body freezes up. //You did not think it would be so easy, did you?// Taio the Bandit mocks. \ <<if (dig($mettaio, 1) gte 6)>>\ //While you have been gorging on the power of our souls, we have been integrating into your very body itself! This foolish betrayal ends now, WE are in contro-// <<else>>\ //While you have been wasting time advancing your Aura Pressure, we have been planting the seeds of control throughout your very soul! WE are in contro-// <</if>>\ //Hey Angelo.// You think as loudly as you can within the Devanic Temple. //If you're reading my thoughts, I'm possessed by two evil clones and need them exorcised.// //Not a problem.// Angelo replies in your mind. //And they're technically Wights, malicious spirits possessing a physical body until both burn up. Their Clone Technique nature and your Gate absorption method was merely a unique way to make them. Academically interesting, morally heretical. I was waiting for you to confess about those.// You almost can't believe that worked, letting out a snicker at the sense of utter dread emanating from the Taio Clones within your Inner Hellscape when a cerulean firestorm forms in the air above you. Whoof, that looks like it's going to hurt. //It will.// Says Angelo into your mind. <<page "AAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!" "hub-residential-temple-burn">>\ #Leave the Temple. <</choose>>

"Would an ex-Laborer count for charity?" "What do you mean by that?" The Shrinemaiden asks, tilting over to peer at you from the side. "I was changed into the Warrior Caste after I was already a $manwoman. I grew up a child, but we never had a Temple near our village so this would be my first time receiving charity." <<var $val 3>>\ <<if ((($ruthless lte 40) or ($bodytype is "Handsome")) or ($style is "Aoyusumu"))>>\ <<var $val - 1>>\ <</if>>\ <<if ($persuasion gte $val)>>\ ''[Perusasion $val Check Passed]'' <<var $metmina + 100000000>>\ "Hmmmmmmmm." Shrinemaiden Mina chews her cheek, looking upset. "Fine, but don't tell the priests I gave it to you!" She tosses you the decanter. The glass, wet decanter. It slips out of your hands- <<var $combatstat "agility">>\ <<var $combatskill "thievery">>\ <<discount "Agile" 1>>\ <<discount "Kurokonton" 1>>\ <<combatcheck 7>>\ <<if ($passcheck is true)>>\ -and you catch it just in time before it shatters on the ground. <<var $blessedwater + 1>>\ ''[Item Gained: Blessed Decanter]'' "Oh thank the Celestial Court." Shrinemaiden Mina says, dropping into a crouch in her miko robes and burying her face in her hands. "If that glass broke and spilled out into the springs, I'd have to drain it all over again." "Big Chu's Agility training finally paid off." You say to yourself more than anyone, admiring the glass decanter. "Thank him for me, $ymaster, but you'll have to do so elsewhere. I need to get back to the consecration of the springs. Feel free to visit when they're open!" You leave with a courteous bow and she returns the gesture. <<else>>\ -and shatters on the ground, spilling its contents everywhere and dragging specks of broken glass with it. Much of the splashing water lands back in the springs, along with the glass. Shrinemaiden Mina looks downcast at the display. "I am in so much trouble." "Should I-" "You should go." She says, sighing and trudging over to the hotspring drainage system to start her lengthy task all over again. You leave hastily before anyone else witnesses your blunder. <</if>>\ <<include "hub-residential-temple2">>\ <<else>>\ ''[Persuasion $val Check Failed]'' "Hmmmmmmmmm no." Shrinemaiden Mina says, hiding the decanter behind her back. "No that doesn't count. It's already less than half the price of a healing elixir for more than double the effect, how stingy can you get?" Very, but she doesn't need to know that. <<include "hub-residential-templesprings4">>\ <</if>>\

You waltz down the central hallway of the Devanic Temple until a mist creeps in, filling the hallway up to your knees and obscuring your view up ahead. You pass by several empty changing rooms and finally exit the building into a wide area in the back of the grounds, surrounded by the other two Temple wings to cut it off from sight. The ground is warm, wet stone, completely deprived of sand, and the sound of babbling water fills your ears. More than anything you're surprised by the mineral smell of iron coming from the waters nearby, but you ignore the scent and try to focus your vision through the haze. You cannot quite see up ahead, but you can almost make out someone moving through the fog. "Hello?" You call out. <<if ((dig($metmina, 2) is 1) and ($heshe is "he"))>>\ <<var $metmina + 1000000000>>\ "Yes?" Calls a familiar woman's voice. "The hotsprings are closed. You will need to come back later!" You squint harder and realize only the upper body of a woman's outline is visible through the mist, near the ground. "You're in the hotsprings right now." "True, however, I am consecrating the holy waters of the Devanic Temple in a cleansing ritual. This is a sacred duty of my station, not some leisurely dip." You brush a spiritual scan over her. "It doesn't feel like you're doing anything." She sighs. "Well, that is because I did not expect you to try that. Fine, traveler, I am taking a leisurely dip...Care to join me?" \ <<var $placevisit + 100>>\ <<choose "hub-residential-temple2">> #Disrobe and enter the hotsprings. "Long time no see, Mina." [Seduction] -> "hub-residential-mina" You remove your clothing and approach the hot spring, lowering yourself next to the Shrinemaiden. <<if ($portraitpics is true)>>\ <<image "https://www.auraclash.com/assets/images/mina-hotspings.jpg">>\ <</if>>\ She brushes her long black ponytail to her other shoulder and looks over to you with lurid curiosity, which vanishes the second she recognizes you. "<<cap $name>>?!" There it is. "Long time no see, Mina." "By the Heavens!" She says, covering her ample chest with both arms, pausing to reconsider, and removing her hands to touch your own chest and arms. "It really is you. This isn't some dream?" "You dreamed of me?" She scoffs, looking away. "Someone thinks highly of themselves. But yes I had thought of you on occasion. Mostly I wondered why you never returned." "I was preoccupied with the Trials." You reply, "Everyone was, and even before I could get here I had to face against a horde of Fiends and the spawn of a Wild God." "Oh, so brave." Mina says sarcastically. When you answer her with silence, she inspects your face closer. "By the Heavens, you're serious? That's not some braggadocious line to impress me?" You shake your head. "I see." Mina says, her hand motioning a silent prayer. "Then our training together prepared you well to face such horrors. I am glad we partook of your...core strengthening." "Is that what you call it?" She looks away and lowers her body further into the water to blows bubbles when it covers her mouth. "It is. I trust such training is what brought you here today, too." She glances back. "Fond of shrinemaidens, are you?" "Just you." You reply. "Angelo told me you were here." Mina smiles. "That pesky phantom of yours is still around?" "He's real." You say, thinking back to the fight in Harehama. "He also told me not to come here." "And yet here you are." She inches closer. "Is time spent with me so irresistible to you?" #Heed Angelo's advice. "No need, sorry to bother you." <<var $honor + 3>>\ <<var $ruthless - 2>>\ <<var $angelorep + 3>>\ <<var $sect_devanic + 5>>\ "No need." You say, deciding against your desires and, for once, following good judgment. "Sorry to bother you." //My favorite pervert is maturing.// Angelo says into your mind, impressing the image of himself wiping away a tear of joy. //I am so proud of you.// //Stop reading my thoughts.// You reply internally. Without revealing your identity to your old fling, you return to the Temple. <</choose>> <<else>>\ "Yes?" Calls a woman's voice. "Oh! Right! One moment!" The figure through the fog rises and the hotsprings are filled with the sound of water dripping onto stone. She reaches for something on the ground, a robe presumably, and gets dressed. Hurriedly she runs through the fog and bows, allowing you to see her as a Human woman with a long black ponytail in a miko robe. <<if (dig($metangelo, 2) gte 1)>>\ "I am Shrinemaiden Mina, and-hey, I remember you!" "Oh, hello again." You give a quick bow and smile at the small odds. "We met at the temple, during my Shugendō training, right?" "Yes, you seemed quite befuddled from your trip through the cold and encounter with a Fiend. You were certain you'd seen Saint Angelo." She rolls her eyes with a harmless smile. "Don't worry, I will not tell." "Right..." The woman looks behind herself. "Oh! I should mention, we are currently renovating the hotsprings. I must apologize, but they are closed for visitation." <<else>>\ "I am Shrinemaiden Mina, and I must humbly apologize, but we are still renovating the hotsprings." <</if>>\ <<var $placevisit + 100>>\ <<choose "hub-residential-templesprings3">> #"How do you even renovate a hot spring?" -> "hub-residential-templesprings2" "How do you even renovate a hot spring?" You ask. "I am glad you asked!" Shrinemaiden Mina rises from her bow and holds both hands out to explain the process. "First the Earth cultivators need to make a deep hole in the spring, down into the aqueduct, to drain the water. We skipped that step and I drilled down with my Sacred Chi. Next we need three days of prayer with constant blessings and Seals. My sister and I have taken shifts for that, but the local Shrinemaidens insist on helping too. After that we need to go to the dam blocking the local stream from our hotsprings and open it up, to allow the water to come back in. It's all fascinating, I've learned so much!" She pauses to breathe in, then looks from the hotsprings behind her and back to you. "Say, would you like to help out? You could learn something too." #"So I can't use the healing waters here at all?" Your mouth twists in disappointment. "So I can't use the healing waters here at all?" <</choose>> <</if>>\

<<choose "hub-residential-templesprings3">> #use-if ($handseals gte 2) "Sure." [Requires Handseals 2] -> "hub-residential-templesprings5" "Sure." You reply, and the two of you approach the nearby water to kneel at its edge. "Follow my Handseals." She whispers. "And focus on a calming aura of serenity. The unblemished surface of a pond. A clear blue sky. The sleek edge of a blade of grass. It helps." You both sit in near-silence for over an hour, invoking certain Handseals whenever she changes the order. It's tedious work, and it makes your mind and spirit feel empty, but the process does indeed open up a new depth within the center of your aura. <<var $apval (($handseals * 3) + ($insight * 2))>>\ <<apboost $apval>>\ When finished, Shrinemaiden Mina grips at her robes and exhales, hard. "Whoo! This is too much in such a thick mist. I'm going to take a break." She turns to you, smiling. "Thank you, Honored Guest, your assistance made my chores go by much faster. I'm going to take a dip into the springs now to test their potency. I'll need you to return to the Temple, this place is technically off-limits to the public so..." She closes her hands over her eyes. "If anyone asks, I didn't see you here." #"I was more interested in the healing waters. Are they really off-limits?" "I was more interested in the healing waters." You admit. "Are they really off-limits?" <</choose>>

"We do sell decanters of the Blessed Water that you could take with you! For a fee, of course. They lightly replenish the whole spirit and body." "You take money? Isn't that against Temple doctrine?" "It's required by doctrine!" She shouts, excited to teach. "We offer expensive but valuable services to Martial Artists who are traditionally wealthy, so that we may use their funds to aid the Laborers and Slave Caste who have so little. That transfer of wealth, through the commerce of miracles, is how we balance the world's quality of life." Ah. Right. It occurs to you that you don't get to identify as a poor Laborer anymore. This sucks. <<include "hub-residential-templesprings4">>\

<<choose "hub-residential-temple2">> #use-if ((($blessedwater is 0) and (($ruthless lte 40) or ($honor gte 90))) and ((($shards + ($silver / 10)) + ($gold * 10)) gte 100)) Purchase the Blessed Water. [100 Shards, Requires Compassion 60 or Honor 90] <<var $blessedwater + 1>>\ <<var $sect_devanic + 1>>\ ''[Item Gained: Blessed Decanter]'' "Thank you for your pious patronage!" The Shrinemaiden says with a deep bow. "Please come again! Just, when we're open." "Oh, right." You reply. "I should-" "You should go, yes." You return to the Temple grounds before anyone finds out you've snuck into the hotsprings. #use-if (dig($metmina, 3) lt 2) "Would an ex-Laborer count for charity?" -> "hub-residential-templecatch" #Return to the Temple. You return to the main halls of the Devanic Temple and look over the majestic garden grounds down the many steps outside. <</choose>>

<<choose "hub-residential-temple2">> #"Of course, I was never here at all." <<var $ruthless - 1>>\ You return to the main halls of the Devanic Temple and look over the majestic garden grounds down the many steps outside. #"So the healing waters really are off limits? Could I take some with me?" -> "hub-residential-templesprings3" "So the healing waters really are off limits?" You ask, saddened. "Could I take some with me?" <</choose>>

<<var $val 0>>\ <<var $boost1 1>>\ <<var $boost2 2>>\ Finding quality training means a good location and ambient aura. Neither will be found in Nanhou for free, so you leave. The march takes you deep into the jungles outside the city. All three trade roads leading out have been as busy as you feared, packed with caravans, travelers, and security. Even the skies above them are littered with flying clouds, Beast mounts, and floating fortresses waiting for admittance. Ice Elementals in the vague outline of ten-foot-tall soldiers act as additional manpower for the Imperial scribes and guards processing all the traffic into and out of the city gates. You four avoid all that and walk right into the woods. As an ingenious idea, Rin suggested you all be covered in sacks filled with rocks to turn your "long training ''commute''" into a "long ''training'' commute". She's been regretting it ever since, but at least she's found a game to play with Jin and Kosuke. A game of bothering you every single minute while you trudge through heavy vines and brambles. "Are we there yet?" Asks Rin. "No." "Are we there yet?" Asks Jin. "No." "Are we there yet?" Asks Kosuke. "No." <<if ($roc gt 1)>>\ "CAWWW!" Screeches $rocname overhead. "No." <</if>>\ <<if (dig($mettaio, 1) gte 6)>>\ <<rand $val 0 2>>\ <<if ($val is 2)>>\ The impression of a villainous grin spreads from the center of your Inner Hellscape. //Are we there yet?// Asks Taio the Bandit's dead soul haunting your spirit. "No." "We didn't say anything." Says Rin, confused. "Are you talking to yourself?" Asks Jin. "No." <</if>>\ <</if>>\ <<include "hub-residential-trainingsibs2">>\

You, Jin, and Rin stare at the shadow-puddle on the ground for five long seconds. "We all agree that $name killed Kosuke, right?" Asks Jin to break the silence. "I'm telling Mother." Rin adds. "AAAHHHHHH!" Kosuke screams, falling upwards from the shadow of a nearby tree. $bffheshe launches four feet into the air and lands back on solid ground, groaning. "Oh, $bffheshe's alive." Jin says half-heartedly. "I'm telling Mother this was my idea." Rin adds. You approach Kosuke and put a hand on $bffhisher shoulder, running a spiritual scan to check $bffhisher Cores. They're imbalanced and will need meditation, but... "Congratulations, Kosuke." You say, giving $bffhimher two quick \ <<if ($bffromance gte 1)>>\ pats and a kiss on the cheek. \ <<else>>\ pats. \ <</if>>\ "You're officially a Darkness Artist." "Yay for me." $bffheshe whispers through the pain of forced cycling, shaking $bffhisher head to get the Darkness Chi out of $bffhisher eyes. "Is anyone going to point out that we just helped a thief become a better thief?" Jin asks. "I thought we were here to learn how to fight, not how to hide." Kosuke punches into $bffhisher own shadow, burying $bffhisher hand up to the shoulder. Underneath Jin, from your brother's shadow, Kosuke's arm rushes up and punches him in the dick. Jin falls over in pain and whimpers on the ground. "Looks like fighting to me." Rin says, prodding a defeated Jin with her foot. ''[Kosuke's Darkness Element Unlocked]'' ''[Kosuke's Combat Prowess Increased]'' <<var $kosukecombat + 2>>\ <<include "hub-residential-trainingsibs2">>\

"Earth?" Jin asks, pulling his boots out of the ground and trying to hold back laughter. "Like, dirt and rocks?" He can't hold it back anymore and laughs in her face. "Good luck, sis! Like you'd ever be caught in nature these days. What a botch!" Kosuke offers a sympathetic shrug your way and nods in agreement. "Ancestors, he's right!" Rin wails at you. "This is awful! I don't want to be a Dirt Artist! Rocks are ugly and sand is messy! Why can't I get Light or Water? Ugh, I can feel every speck of dirt on me now, every little piece of soil and sand on my shoes and my clothes, even the salt in my sweat! I-...I..." She focuses for a second, glowing amber, and blinks twice when a thin layer of sand and dirt falls away from her body. "I can take it out!" She cheers. "I can take the dirt off of me in a second, faster than any bath!" She looks to you and shakes with excitement. "This shaves half an hour off my morning routine! I'll bet I can even make mineral makeups now, this is fantastic!" "Well, no." You butt-in. "I'm glad you're enjoying your Element but-" Rin holds her fists close to each other in astonishment. "By the Heavens, I can do more than just make myself clean, I can make my rivals dirty! I can ruin their hair and smudge their clothes on their first dates!" Her hands glow amber and she begins to cackle, staring into the sky and shouting in victory. "I can ruin every skank's //entire// lovelife!" "This is serious, Rin." You try to impose upon her. "Shugendō is a lifelong undertaking where you must align with natural forces to better your mastery. You'll need to create a connection with the Earth and truly understand its place in the Celestial Bureaucracy's design." Kosuke ruffles Rin's hair. "You hear that? Being as stubborn as a rock is a good thing now; you can finally deny accountability for your bad choices!" Rin stomps a small hole into the ground effortlessly and beams. "I already did!" ''[Rin's Earth Element Unlocked]'' ''[Rin's Combat Prowess Increased]'' <<var $rincombat + 2>>\ <<include "hub-residential-trainingsibs2">>\

"Found you!" You shout, dashing in and shoving your fist through the tree bark. Your fist penetrates through the hard wood and impacts something slimy beneath, the snake Beast's scales. You reel back and strike into the wood again, grabbing the creature's hide with a chi-reinforced grip. "ATTACK NOW!" <<if ($val is 88)>>\ Kosuke launches a thin lance of Darkness at the upper tree and Jin leaps from his branch with fists raised overhead. \ <<else>>\ Jin and Kosuke leap from their own tree with fists raised over their heads. \ <</if>>\ Four heads burst from higher up in the tree, lunging for \ <<if ($val is 88)>>\ Jin. \ <<else>>\ them. \ <</if>>\ The snake beast's fangs drip with venom when it snaps at \ <<if ($val is 88)>>\ him, \ <<else>>\ them, \ <</if>>\ but you throw its attack off by ripping its body out through the lower end of the tree. Its heads are pulled backward and miss their mark. With its guard thrown off, Kosuke and Jin land their attacks onto two of the four skulls. You shove a second hand through the bark and pull the snake out by its middle, getting its upper and lower halves caught in the wood. The snake's heads snap their jaws downward but they're five feet too high up to get to you. It wriggles its body, trying to get loose, but you hold it in place with both arms while kneeing it in the gut. With plenty of time to attack and no risk of a counterattack, you three pummel the beast with glowing punches and kicks until you finish it off with \ <<if (((((((((((((($equippedweapon is "Tanto")) or ($equippedweapon is "Katana")) or ($equippedweapon is "Muramasa")) or ($equippedweapon is "Greataxe")) or ($equippedweapon is "Qiang")) or ($equippedweapon is "Kunai")) or ($equippedweapon is "Jian")) or ($equippedweapon is "Iceblade")) or ($equippedweapon is "Chiblade")) or ($equippedweapon is "Kagutsuchi")) or ($equippedweapon is "Ikazuchi")) or ($equippedweapon is "Godslayer")) or ($equippedweapon is "Shishido"))>>\ an executioner's downswing of \ <<if (((($equippedweapon is "Muramasa") or ($equippedweapon is "Kagutsuchi")) or ($equippedweapon is "Ikazuchi")) or ($equippedweapon is "Godslayer"))>>\ your \ <<if ($equippedweapon is "Muramasa")>>\ cursed \ <<else>>\ Treasure \ <</if>>\ sword, $equippedweapon. <<else>>\ <<if ($equippedweapon isnot "Shishido")>>\ your \ <</if>>\ $equippedweapon. <</if>>\ <<else>>\ a \ <<if ($style is "Aoyusumu")>>\ Sacred \ <<elseif ($style is "Akakiru")>>\ Bladed \ <<elseif ($style is "Kiihakai")>>\ Mystic \ <<elseif ($style is "Kurokonton")>>\ Cursed \ <<elseif ($style is "Midorikatai")>>\ Wild \ <</if>>\ Chi infused downward chop that cuts it in half. <</if>>\ <<var $apval 5>>\ <<if ($style is "Midorikatai")>>\ <<var $apval + 3>>\ <</if>>\ <<if (($race is "Yokai") or ($race is "Kitsune"))>>\ <<var $apval + 3>>\ <</if>>\ <<apboost $apval>>\ <<var $val $fightbonus>>\ <<if ($val gt 0)>>\ <<if ($mortallimits is true)>>\ <<var $val (Math.round($val/2))>>\ <</if>>\ ''[Enemy Aura Pressure Absorbed: $val]'' <<var $aurapressure + $val>>\ <</if>>\ Blood pools out from the snake's body and its aura dissipates, confirming the kill. Kosuke and Jin huff and wheeze when they finally let their guard down. "Rin, you slacker!" Jin shouts behind him. "You could have helped!" "I did!" Rin shouts back from atop her branch, hugging the tree. "I kept watch to make sure a third Beast didn't eat you!" Jin continues yelling at her but you and Kosuke exchange glances. "That's a good point." <<cap $bffheshe>> whispers. "This blood is going to attract something. Beasts at best, Trial contestants at worst." You nod and pull out a knife. "Harvest what you can and let's go." <<page "Continue" "hub-residential-trainingsibs-harvest">>\

<<var $sibsquest + 100000000000>>\ <<var $days 1>>\ Picking fruit in a wild jungle sounds like a pleasant day, except you all are covered in rock-filled satchels for weighted training and under constant assault by bloodsucking insects. You're all forced to flare your auras every few seconds just to keep them at bay. It's great Soul Core training. <<var $val ($soul + $insight)>>\ ''[Soul Core EXP +$val]'' <<var $solexp + $val>>\ Yet within hours exhaustion has set in and you're overfilled on mulberries that weren't spirit fruits at all, no matter how much Jin insisted you all keep eating them. "I'm not sorry." Jin says, trudging uphill along you all and using a tree to pull himself up. "They're delicious." "I //am// sorry." Kosuke says, grunting as $bffheshe pulls <<print $bffhimher>>self up the steep incline with rocks strapped to $bffhisher person and wet leaves threatening $bffhisher footing. "Rin, you were right. We shouldn't have come." "I. Am always. Right." Rin gasps each word out, dryheaving, gripping her improvised walking stick for dear life. "It's important training!" You insist. "Sure, we haven't found any spirit fruits yet, but that doesn't mean there aren't any out here. The further we get from Nanhou the better our odds. The desperation helps us, really, because you all practically need those spirit fruits to give you the energy to make it back to Nanhou at this point." "I hate training with you." Kosuke says. "I hate training at all." Rin says. "Ihhaalffy" Jin mumbles through a mouthful of mulberries. You don't know where he's been hiding them, you left their bushes forty minutes ago and he's still going. Low morale aside, they are right that you've spent hours with no results. Well, none of //their// results. You feel amazing. Soul training on a weighted march? Delightful. You finally worked up a sweat. But unfortunately they're not like you. They are sane, and they like to enjoy things. You know you need a new strategy to find spirit fruits in these wild jungles or the whole point of training the three of them today has been wasted. <<choose "hub-residential-trainingsibs-fruit3">> #Use your knowledge of soil and ambient chi. [Lore] -> "hub-residential-trainingsibs-fruit2" #Use your spiritual senses. [Insight] #Use your understanding of plants and the wilds. [Survival] -> "hub-residential-trainingsibs-fruitsurvival" #use-if ($style is "Kiihakai") Cast a Mystic sorcery to locate the fruits. [Requires Kiihakai] You sit in a meditative trance on the jungle floor and press $auracolor Mystic Chi around your index fingertips. With great precision you draw ritual Seal circles into the air. The Crane seal to symbolize understanding, the Tiger seal to symbolize action, the Monkey seal to symbolize gathering. With all combined and your near-sentient chi activated, you slam your palms down onto the ground in a brief flash of light. Four birds of pure energy fly out of the explosions you cause and dart off into the distance at high speeds. Your $auracolor messengers search throughout the forest for your quarry, with orders to report back on success. "That should do it." You say with a satisfied inhale through your nose. "Those chi manifestations will seek out the spiritfruit for us. One has my woodsmanship focused, one has my spiritual senses, one has my perception, and one has my knowledge. All four should find us everything I could have found when searching on my own, but faster. Much faster." "You could do that?" Rin asks in astonishment. "Of course." You say with pride. "I'm a chi sorcerer afterall. By binding a different strategy into each seeking circle, I-" "No, I mean you could do that //this whole time?!//" A chill runs down your spine from her tone and the ominous movement occurring behind you. You turn around warily to see all three of them, exhausted and bug-bitten, withdrawing rocks from their weighted satchels. Each raises their heaviest rock over their heads and aims it at you with vengeance in their eyes. "I have //four// leeches on my legs from your stupid march." Jin hisses through gritted teeth. "You. Ruined. My. Hair." Rin says with pure hatred in her eyes. "I'm just doing this to fit in." Kosuke growls threateningly with rock held overhead. <<page "*Bonk*" "hub-residential-trainingsibs-fruitbonk">>\ #use-if ($subrace is "Monkey") Rely on your keen banana-loving senses. [Requires Monkey Yokai] You harken back to your ancestral powers, the Tailed Beast who spawned your Yokai line somewhere up your Ancestry. Reaching deep into the spiritual connection of your wild heritage, you send your senses out into the woods to find the spiritfruit that rightfully belongs to the creatures of the Wilds. "This way." You mutter, following your intuition. <<page "Return to Monkey" "hub-residential-trainingsibs-monke">>\ <</choose>>

If there's one aspect where the spirit and the material overlaps, it's growth. Life cannot grow without proper nutrients or ambient chi, and spirit fruit absorb more than their share. With that in mind, you check the soils throughout the jungle for the next few hours to find any area where the plants should be thriving but aren't. A sign that something else is hogging the life energy nearby. <<if ($lore gte 3)>>\ ''[Lore $lore Check Passed]'' <<var $apval ($lore*5)>>\ <<var $val 1>>\ <<if ($lore gte 4)>>\ <<var $val + 1>>\ <</if>>\ You find exactly what you expected: a grove of trees smaller and less robust than the rest of the forest with a singular tree at their middle rising high above them. "There it is." You say confidently. "I don't see any fruits." Jin responds, glowering up at the tree. "Only some spiky green growths near the leaves." "I have terrible news." Kosuke says, patting a hand on Jin's shoulder. "Those are chestnuts." Rin steps on some nearby leaves, moist and soggy. "Can we start a fire to roast them in this wet of a jungle? Chestnuts are too tough to crack raw." You shake your head, knowing that chestnuts do //not// belong in a jungle. Someone planted this, so someone knows about it, so someone could be here any moment to collect. "Gather what you can and get ready for endurance training, we'll all be focusing our Fortitude Chi to our teeth." <<include "hub-residential-trainingsibs-fruitgains">>\ <<else>>\ ''[Lore 3 Check Failed]'' Or not. <<include "hub-residential-trainingsibs-fruitloss">>\ <</if>>\

Spiritfruit are natural prey for the animal kingdom. Any that do not have a trace of spiritual stealth will be snatched up the second they are of any use. You focus your spiritual scans outward with the highest degree of intensity you can muster to pierce through any obfuscation a spiritfruit might naturally have. It's hard to believe a plant can learn to hide its aura What's harder still is believing it could hide its aura from //you//. <<if ($insight gte 3)>>\ ''[Insight $insight Check Passed]'' <<var $apval ($insight*5)>>\ <<var $val 1>>\ <<if ($insight gte 4)>>\ <<var $val + 1>>\ <</if>>\ After another hour of leading the other three through the woods you find a total gap in ambient aura. You smile at the relief. A person wouldn't be so sloppy as to hide the ambient aura around them too, but a plant would. Cresting a hill, you find a set of berry bushes as your culprit. One bite of the odd yellow orbs sends shivers through your body and fills your Cores with sparks. "This is it." You say, eating more before you even realize how hungry the march has made you. "Oh thank Heavens." Jin says, dropping his weights to his side and dropping to his knees at the bush. "I've been dreaming about this all day." Rin and Kosuke take turns making snide comments about Jin wanting to be on his knees. One eats while the other barbs, but he ignores them both and stuffs his mouth the whole time. They make jokes about that too. <<include "hub-residential-trainingsibs-fruitgains">>\ <<else>>\ ''[Insight 3 Check Failed]'' It does. <<include "hub-residential-trainingsibs-fruitloss">>\ <</if>>\

After a brief \ <<if ($ruthless gt 55)>>\ stoning, which you return upon your siblings and Kosuke twofold, \ <<else>>\ stoning \ <</if>>\ your birds return carrying a tether of chi, a small string leading you to the spiritfruits they were sent to track. You follow their trail and locate a veritable cache of spiritfruit mangos. "Oh Hells yes." Jin says, salivating at the mouth. "Language!" Rin shouts, "I'll tell Mother you're swearing." Jin hands Kosuke a small pouch. "I will pay you forty silver to say it was Rin." "Deal!" Kosuke says cheerily. Each of you collects the spiritfruit and you all share a feast. The shade of the surroundings illuminates from the many auras blazing when the four of you cycle on the jungle floor. <<var $val 2>>\ <<include "hub-residential-trainingsibs-fruitgains">>\

<<var $apval + (5+($alchemy*2))>>\ <<if ($background is "Herbalist")>>\ ''[Herbalist Event: Increased Results]'' <<var $apval + 10>>\ <<var $val + 1>>\ <</if>>\ <<apboost $apval>>\ ''[Jin's Combat Prowess +$val]'' <<var $jincombat + $val>>\ ''[Rin's Combat Prowess +$val]'' <<var $rincombat + $val>>\ ''[Kosuke's Combat Prowess +$val]'' <<var $kosukecombat + $val>>\ After hours of uncomfortable but noticeable results processing the spiritual treasures in your Cores, the four of you pack up and prepare to march home. "Don't forget your rock satchels!" Rin says cheerily, handing you her set. <<apboost ($agility-$agispent)>>\ <<spendall 3>>\ <<weightexp>>\ <<var $days 1>>\ <<page "Return to Nanhou" "hub-spendday">>\

<<if ($val isnot 89890)>>\ You find nothing and, worse than nothing, you catch indigestion from the non-spirit tubers you're forced to settle on for lunch. <</if>>\ ''[2 Fortitude Cores Spent]'' <<var $forspent + 2>>\ Jin, Rin, and Kosuke fair no better. Your march into the jungles for mystical training turns into a quest to find the smoothest leaves that aren't poisonous. Hours of fruitless searching later you call it quits and inform everyone that it's time to return to the city. "Don't forget your rock satchels." An exhausted and dehydrated Rin says with a fake smile, handing you her set before collapsing face-first into the mud. You sigh and pick her up. ''[Weighted Marching Bonus]'' <<apboost 6>>\ <<var $days 1>>\ <<page "Return to Nanhou" "hub-spendday">>\

Your time in the wilds around Thunderfall have prepared you to scavenge what you can from nature that everyone else was unwilling to seize. That's why you've learned the number one sign for available spirit fruits: Thorns. The natural sharpness acts as a resonator for Bladed Chi, increasing the chance of forming spiritfruits in a thornbush's berries. Likewise, that same Bladed Chi gives off an unpleasant spiritual sensation that may ward off predators, specifically herbivores who are more likely to seek the plants. With your natural wisdom in mind, you rummage through the jungle in search of thornbushes. <<if ($survival gte 2)>>\ ''[Survival $survival Check Passed]'' <<var $apval ($survival * 5)>>\ <<var $val 1>>\ <<if ($survival gte 3)>>\ <<var $val + 1>>\ <</if>>\ <<if ($survival gte 5)>>\ <<var $val + 1>>\ <<var $apval + 5>>\ <</if>>\ Your plan works flawlessly when you locate brambleberry bushes loaded with thorns that give off a menacing scarlet glow. "Perfect!" You exclaim, dropping to both knees and reaching it to pick what you can grasp. "Awwwwww come on!" Kosuke whines, dropping to $bffhisher own knees and \ <<if (($bffromance gte 1) and ($bffheshe isnot $heshe))>>\ resting $bffhisher head on your shoulder. "Can you pick them for me?" You ponder $bffhisher request in the middle of stuffing your face, then look to $bffhimher with a smile. "Nah, it's good for your Fortitude Cores." <<else>>\ smacking both hands against $bffhisher forehead. "We finally find the 'harmless fruits' and it's some sort of sadistic Hand Evisceration Training." You give $bffhimher a thumbs up with your mouth full of berries. "It's good Fortitude Training!" Rin, exhausted and out of patience, bowls over her side of the tree with an energy blast. <</if>>\ <<include "hub-residential-trainingsibs-fruitgains">>\ <<else>>\ ''[Survival 2 Check Failed]'' You find plenty of thorns, but no spirit fruits. Most of your day is wasted scratching your hands and clothing for nothing. Worse than that, the few berries you //do// find give you indigestion. <<var $val2 89890>>\ <<include "hub-residential-trainingsibs-fruitloss">>\ <</if>>\

The four of you hurry to strip the Beast of any meat and Soul Treasures you can find. The quality is not as high as you'd hoped, but that makes sense with a fight that, for once, didn't seem life-and-death. You're not sure when you reached such a point that //you're// the overwhelming threat for common Beasts, but you're happy to have reached it. Jin, Rin, \ <<if ($roc gte 1)>>\ Kosuke, and your pet Roc \ <<else>>\ and Kosuke \ <</if>>\ each get their wrapped meat and shards of weak Soul Treasures for cycling into elixirs. <<if ($val2 isnot 999)>>\ <<var $boost1 + 1>>\ <<var $boost2 + 1>>\ <</if>>\ <<if (($kosukecombat gt $jincombat) and ($kosukecombat gt $rincombat))>>\ ''[Kosuke's Combat Prowess +$boost2]'' <<var $kosukecombat + $boost2>>\ ''[Jin's Combat Prowess +$boost1]'' <<var $jincombat + $boost1>>\ ''[Rin's Combat Prowess +$boost1]'' <<var $rincombat + $boost1>>\ <<elseif ($jincombat gt $rincombat)>>\ ''[Jin's Combat Prowess +$boost2]'' <<var $jincombat + $boost2>>\ ''[Rin's Combat Prowess +$boost1]'' <<var $rincombat + $boost1>>\ ''[Kosuke's Combat Prowess +$boost1]'' <<var $kosukecombat + $boost1>>\ <<else>>\ ''[Rin's Combat Prowess +$boost2]'' <<var $rincombat + $boost2>>\ ''[Jin's Combat Prowess +$boost1]'' <<var $jincombat + $boost1>>\ ''[Kosuke's Combat Prowess +$boost1]'' <<var $kosukecombat + $boost1>>\ <</if>>\ <<if ($roc gte 1)>>\ ''[$rocname's Combat Prowess +$boost1]'' <<var $roccombat + $boost1>>\ <</if>>\ You take the lion's share for yourself, naturally, much to Jin's complaints. <<if (($background is "Trapper") or ($val2 is 999))>>\ <<rand $val 0 150>>\ <<var $val + 700>>\ ''[Item Gained: Mawcharger Soul Treasure ($val AP)]'' <<var $mawchargertrophy + $val>>\ <<else>>\ ''[Item Gained: Weak Soul Treasure x2]'' <<var $weaksoultreasure + 2>>\ <</if>>\ <<if ($val2 isnot 999)>>\ <<rand $val 0 150>>\ <<var $val + 900>>\ ''[Item Gained: Quadrafang Soul Treasure ($val AP)]'' <<var $quadrafangtrophy + $val>>\ <</if>>\ <<if ($background is "Trapper")>>\ <<page "Continue" "hub-residential-trainingsibs-harvest2">>\ <<else>>\ <<include "hub-residential-trainingsibs-harvest3">>\ <</if>>\

Rin and Kosuke prepare to head out with their bloody wraps of raw meat, pretending to be happy, but they turn around in horror and cover their noses at the sight and smell before them instead: You and Jin, with knives drawn, cutting into \ <<if ($val is 999)>>\ the Beast's intestines \ <<else>>\ both Beast's intestines \ <</if>>\ to find a bonus Soul Treasure. Like almost all Beasts, \ <<if ($val is 999)>>\ this monster \ <<else>>\ these monsters \ <</if>>\ gain their Chi from whatever they consume, which means their guts were the most likely source for a secondary Soul Treasure, even if it is a weak one, just to process their Advancement. You're thankful for Father's lessons on animals and Beasts when you get to work, and thankful too that Jin paid attention when you retired from the family business. <<if ($val is 999)>>\ ''[Trapper Background Event: +1 Weak Soul Treasure]'' <<var $weaksoultreasure + 1>>\ <<else>>\ ''[Trapper Background Event: +2 Weak Soul Treasure]'' <<var $weaksoultreasure + 2>>\ <</if>>\ <<include "hub-residential-trainingsibs-harvest3">>\

With the bloody work complete you all clean yourselves off on nearby leaves and one incredibly bitter pine martin before returning to the city. "Don't forget your rock satchels!" Rin says cheerily, handing you her set. <<apboost ($agility-$agispent)>>\ <<spendall 3>>\ <<weightexp>>\ <<var $days 1>>\ <<page "Return to Nanhou" "hub-spendday">>\

"We're going to spar underwater until we're actually drowning." You say to the three of them. "Two will spar at a time and two will rest on standby to pull us out when we fall unconscious." "Drowning." Kosuke repeats. "We're going to fight...until we're drowning." "Yes." <<cap $bffheshe>> slaps a palm to $bffhisher forehead and drags it down until it covers $bffhisher eyes. "Rin, you were right. We shouldn't have come." "Too late now." Rin says dejectedly. "Because //somebody// said <<cap $name>> wouldn't give us the worst day of our lives." "Hey!" You shout defensively. "This is good training! Most of your extra power comes from the threat of death. If we can fake that, you can learn to exert your Cores and surge extra chi out of them. Big Chu taught me how to do it with all four Cores, but it took time. We don't have time, so I'm teaching you all how to do it in the fastest possible way." "I think it's a good idea." Jin says with a shrug. "See?" Kosuke says to you, "Jin thinks it's a good idea. That proves you're wrong." As Jin \ <<if (dig($metjin, 1) gte 2)>>\ blasts Kosuke into the water with a gust of wind \ <<else>>\ tackles Kosuke into the water \ <</if>>\ and Rin joins in to attack whoever's winning, you consider who best to focus on for today's training. <<choose "hub-residential-trainingsibs-lakes2">> #Focus on yourself. As much as you might care about your friends and family, you're the one standing at the vanguard of all their problems. You decide to focus on your own development and have them each take turns fighting you under the water. Unfortunately this training is no good for your Power Cores; the wide difference in strength means hitting them back is off the table. Luckily you can still work your Fortitude Cores; your day consists of letting them strike you as much as possible ten feet under the surface. Whenever each of them gets close to running out of breath their attacks grow frantic, sometimes even trying to swim to the surface. You stop them and pull them back down, causing them to strike you in any vulnerability they can find in the hopes that you'll pass out first. While a Martial academic may think this is a great way to close any of your weaknesses, what it really means is you keep getting \ <<if ($heshe is "he")>>\ kicked in the dick. <<else>>\ punched in the eyes. <</if>>\ Kosuke was right, this training sucks. <<spendall 2 true>>\ #Focus on Jin. Jin's development under the Thunderfall Sect comprised almost entirely of getting beat up by other people and mocked afterwards. It shows. The poor bastard keeps trying to scream back at you when he strikes you or Kosuke or Rin, losing his breath into the lake from deep-seated rage. After hours of passing out sooner than the rest of you, he actually learns to overcome this problem simply to avoid losing anymore. His strikes become more focused and his mouth stays shut. You brought your brother here to work on his Martial Advancement and may have inadvertently helped his anger issues. Life is strange. ''[Jin's Combat Prowess +2]'' <<var $jincombat + 2>>\ ''[Rin's Combat Prowess +1]'' <<var $rincombat + 1>>\ ''[Kosuke's Combat Prowess +1]'' <<var $kosukecombat + 1>>\ #Focus on Rin. Rin is no fighter and it shows. Her Fortitude Cores are nonexistent, her Agility Core (singular) needs realignment, and her Soul Cores need more meditation than an alcoholic monk. It's her Power Cores where all her Aura Pressure is stored, and this training is the //wrong one// to fix that imbalance. You all either knock Rin out in one strike or have to allow her time to strike. Poor Jin and Kosuke keep getting knocked out by desperate haymakers whenever she feels close to drowning, and even you feel it when her glowing fist crashes into your guard. You could knock her out with a swat, but that would ruin the point of the training so you don't. Even though you really, really, really, really want to after she kicks your bladder for the third time. ''[Rin's Combat Prowess +2]'' <<var $rincombat + 2>>\ ''[Jin's Combat Prowess +1]'' <<var $jincombat + 1>>\ ''[Kosuke's Combat Prowess +1]'' <<var $kosukecombat + 1>>\ #Focus on Kosuke. Training with Kosuke has always been fun, at least as fun as training can be, because of $bffhisher sunny disposition towards suffering. You, being a tyrant, forced $bffhimher underwater where $bffheshe can't banter or even complain. For once $bffhisher training is concentrated on the task at hand and $bffheshe takes it seriously. At least, $bffheshe takes it seriously against you and Jin. Kosuke and Rin keep agreeing to escape together whenever it's their turn to spar. By the fourth escape attempt where you and Jin have to drag them back, you suspect they got more results from the underwater Agility Core surges than the actual sparring. ''[Kosuke's Combat Prowess +2]'' <<var $kosukecombat + 2>>\ ''[Jin's Combat Prowess +1]'' <<var $jincombat + 1>>\ ''[Rin's Combat Prowess +1]'' <<var $rincombat + 1>>\ <</choose>>

<<apboost (10+$fortitude)>>\ <<weightexp>>\ <<if (($element1 is "Water") or ($element2 is "Water"))>>\ ''[Water Elemental Event]'' You decide against telling them that you make the water more dense and breathable with your spiritual control over the element, effectively turning this into weighted training. Only Kosuke catches on after a grueling twenty minute underwater fight. <<cap $bffheshe>> expresses $bffhisher gratitude by eating your lunch while you're busy sparring Rin after. ''[Jin's Combat Prowess +1]'' <<var $jincombat + 1>>\ ''[Rin's Combat Prowess +1]'' <<var $rincombat + 1>>\ ''[Kosuke's Combat Prowess +1]'' <<var $kosukecombat + 1>>\ <<apboost 6>>\ <</if>>\ <<page "Continue" "hub-residential-trainingsibs-lakes3">>\

With your lungs burning from hours of stress and your clothing and skin sufficiently soaked, you all pack up and prepare to return home. "Don't forget your rock satchels!" Rin says cheerily, handing you her set. <<apboost ($agility-$agispent)>>\ <<spendall 3>>\ <<weightexp>>\ <<var $days 1>>\ <<page "Return to Nanhou" "hub-spendday">>\

The four of you look up to the grand display of spiritfruit high in the trees overhead. You, Jin, and Rin all hang your mouths agape in awe at the rich bounty you've found, salivating at the thought of so many succulent treats. Kosuke, meanwhile, frowns at you all. "They're bananas." <<cap $bffheshe>> says. "You followed your senses...to bananas." You notice a palpable pause while Kosuke considers $bffhisher next words. "Are you sure this isn't a monkey thing?" "WHOA!" Rin shouts in shock. "Ancestors, Kosuke, what the Hell?" Jin blurts out. You look to your childhood friend with scathing disappointment. "I can't believe I'm hearing this from you, of all people." "Alright, alright!" Kosuke relents. "I'm sorry, that was out of line. I'll make up for it by getting a few down for you guys, okay?" "Well hold on now." Rin gently laughs, placing both hands against the tree. "Maybe I should go up there and get them first, to make sure it's safe." Jin eyes her suspiciously. "So you can pick the best ones? Clearly I should go up first, sister. It's a dangerous climb after all." Your willpower finally snaps and you barrel past both of them, clambering up the tree at full speed. They both surge Agility cores to catch up to you and race towards the bananas like your lives depend on it. "I knew it was a monkey thing!" Kosuke shouts up after the three of you. "Shut up Kosuke!" You all shout back. <<page "Continue" "hub-residential-trainingsibs-monke2">>\

"That was the most disgusting thing I have ever seen in my entire life," Kosuke says, burping, "and I grew up on the streets." You, Jin, and Rin lie on the ground beside the spiritfruit banana tree with distended bellies, filled to the brim with nature's culinary delights. "I regret nothing." Jin says, leaning his head back. "I can die happy." "I look fatter than Bo Lo's mom." Rin says, squeezing her eyes shut and rubbing her stomach. "But it was so worth it." You lie prone on the ground beside them, holding your stomach in the fetal position. You defeated all three rivals in your quest to eat every banana you could fit into your body, and the costs of your victory are many. "Leave me here." You groan, having overeaten many times over. "Place a grave that tells of my valiant end." Kosuke sits in a meditative trance to cycle the spiritfruit properly and shakes $bffhisher head at your entire family. "You're all a mess. Can you even meditate like that?" None of you answer, passing out under the shade in a food coma. <<var $apval 40>>\ <<if ($background is "Herbalist")>>\ ''[Herbalist Event: Increased Results]'' <<var $apval + 10>>\ <</if>>\ <<apboost $apval>>\ ''[Jin's Combat Prowess +3]'' <<var $jincombat + 3>>\ ''[Rin's Combat Prowess +3]'' <<var $rincombat + 3>>\ ''[Kosuke's Combat Prowess +2]'' <<var $kosukecombat + 2>>\ <<page "So full..." "hub-residential-trainingsibs-monke3">>\

You, Jin, and Rin wake up on a wooden cart being dragged by two donkeys. Kosuke sits at the reins and looks back to see you waking. "How long was I out?" You ask, bleary-eyed and no longer feeling stuffed. Kosuke \ <<if ($bffheshe is "she")>>\ smiles mischievously. \ <<else>>\ shakes $bffhisher head. \ <</if>>\ "Long enough for me to steal a donkey cart and draw on Jin's forehead." You swish your monkey tail in a gentle wave and rest your head back down. "Wake me when we get to Nanhou." <<var days 1>>\ <<page "Continue" "hub-spendday">>\

Kosuke leaps from the tree, hits the ground with a grunt, and channels $bffhisher aura of Darkness. An inky black layer of the void wraps around $bffhimher like a thick smoke wrapping in on itself. <<cap $bffheshe>> drops to one knee and places $bffhisher hand on the ground, sensing outward and pushing $bffhisher aura down through the ground. A thin tendril of Darkness extends outward toward the snake's most recent tunnel where it breached the surface to attack at the edge of the valley. Silence overtakes the woods while Kosuke concentrates. It feels like even the birds and the bugs have grown quiet, and you realize it's the unsettling effect of unnatural Darkness Chi being present in the day. Before you can contemplate how to use something like that as an advantage, Kosuke leaps to $bffhisher feet and points to your left. "There! Inside the tree!" <<var $val 88>>\ <<include "hub-residential-trainingsibs-foundyousnake">>\

"YOU SAID FINDING THEM WOULD BE HARD!" Jin screams, scrambling alongside you to flee from the auroch-sized quadrupedal Beast chasing you down. "YOU SAID THEY WOULDN'T BE HERE!" "I WAS WRONG!" You sprint beside him and catch Rin when she trips. The two of you leap over one of the four heads of the snake Beast tunneling under the ground to chase you as well. "I WAS WRONG TWICE!" Behind you the armor-plated monstrosity lets out a gravelly roar of primal rage from its mouth of fangs as wide as its head. You can't tell if it was once a boar or a rhinoceros, but whatever it is now, it's hungry. "I don't want to die here!" Rin cries out, flailing. "I don't want to die at all!" Jin screams back, lurching toward the tree line. You all make it to the trees at the edge of the valley and dash under the shade of the widest branch you could find, the branch where Kosuke sits in wait. "NOW KOSUKE, NOW!" <<cap $bffheshe>> rips a fuuinjutsu tag open and releases a \ <<if ($reinforceritual isnot 100)>>\ rock covered in your Reinforcement seals. <<var $apval ($handseals * 2)>>\ <<if ($apval lte 0)>>\ <<apboost $apval>>\ <</if>>\ <<var $val 10>>\ Aside from your hardening Seals it is not \ <<else>>\ rock. Not \ <<var $val 11>>\ <</if>>\ an enchanted rock or a secret crystal geode or an Earth Chi treasure of any kind. Simply a boulder of granite, roughly three feet in diameter. Which, at even that mundane size, weighs twenty-four hundred pounds. <<page "*Bonk*" "hub-residential-trainingsibs-valley2">>\

The rock crashes onto the Beast's head with an audible crunch, ending its roar immediately. You spin around in that instant and sweep \ <<if ($equippedweapon is "Handwraps")>>\ your studded handwrapped fist \ <<elseif (($equippedweapon is "Meteor Hammer") or ($equippedweapon is "Bo Staff"))>>\ your $equippedweapon \ <<else>>\ a kick \ <</if>>\ at the monster, striking while it's stunned. <<var $combatstat "agility">>\ <<var $combatstat2 "power">>\ <<discount "Agile" 1>>\ <<discount "Legs" 1>>\ <<discount "Earth" 1>>\ <<if ((($equippedweapon is "Handwraps") or ($equippedweapon is "Meteor Hammer")) or ($equippedweapon is "Bo Staff"))>>\ ''[$equippedweapon Bonus: +1 Battle Prowess]'' <<var $cmod + 1>>\ <</if>>\ <<if ($val is 10)>>\ ''[Improved Boulder Bonus: +1 Battle Prowess]'' <<var $cmod + 1>>\ <</if>>\ <<combatcheck 11>>\ <<if ($passcheck is true)>>\ Your attack lands cleanly, breaking the creature's skull for a clean kill without striking its fangs. <<var $apval (5 + $fightbonus)>>\ <<if ($style is "Midorikatai")>>\ <<var $apval + 3>>\ <</if>>\ <<apboost $apval>>\ Kosuke drops from the tree and looks to the dead Beast with a low whistle. "Not bad, 'Honored $patriarch'." "Don't call $himher that." Rin says. "It sounds so weird." You shrug nonchalant at your sibling's casual mutiny and let her down. "If you want to be in charge, then //you// can handle the four-headed snake next." "OH HELLS I FORGOT ABOUT THE SNAKE!" Rin screams, charging all her chi to climb the nearby tree. <<else>>\ Your attack lands unevenly. You break through the creature's skull for a clean kill, //for it//, but \ <<if (($equippedweapon is "Handwraps") or ($equippedweapon is "Bo Staff"))>>\ your strike drags your arm through its open maw of fangs and \ <<if ($pblocktech is "")>>\ shreds your flesh. <<else>>\ nearly shreds your flesh. <</if>>\ <<elseif ($equippedweapon is "Meteor Hammer")>>\ your sudden turn to swing your weapon knocks you off balance and unable to dodge the dead Beast's charging fangs before it can collapse to the ground. <<else>>\ your kick pushes your leg through its open maw of fangs and \ <<if ($pblocktech is "")>>\ shreds your flesh. <<else>>\ nearly shreds your flesh. <</if>>\ <</if>>\ <<woundcheck 2 true false>>\ Kosuke drops from the tree and looks from the dead Beast to your \ <<if ($pblocktech is "")>>\ bleeding leg and whistles low. "That's going to cost a pretty penny to heal." "Just harvest the Soul Treasure." You hiss through the pain. "What about the snake?" Jin asks, helping Rin climb the tree Kosuke just dropped from. "Good question." You say, scanning the area. <<else>>\ unharmed leg. "Whatever Technique you learned was worth it." <</if>>\ "Agreed." You say, catching your breath from the close-call. "Harvest the Soul Treasure while I look for the snake." <</if>>\ <<page "Continue" "hub-residential-trainingsibs-valley3">>\

You scan the valley up ahead and the trees in your surroundings while Kosuke and Jin follow Rin up the tree. The shade of the woods guards any predator, but the tree roots should make it more difficult for an underground burrower like that four-headed snake Beast. It's here, somewhere, lying in wait. Preparing to strike. Just like you. <<choose "hub-residential-trainingsibs-foundyousnake">> #use-if (($style is "Midorikatai") and ($stylerank gte 2)) Enhance your senses. [Requires Midorikatai (Adept)] <<var $forexp + 4>>\ ''[Midorikatai (Adept) Check Passed]'' Wild Chi surges through your body and soul, pushing the aspect of the predator upon you. Your spiritual scan becomes a bestial scan that detects your prey. Your eyes shift to a nearby tree and you feel a hunger from deep within. Not from within your gut, but from within the tree. #use-if (($element1 is "Darkness") or ($element2 is "Darkness")) Look through the Darkness. [Requires Darkness] <<var $solexp + 4>>\ ''[Darkness (Adept) Check Passed]'' Pitch-black darkness overtakes your vision, wrapping around your eyes and expanding out into the world around you. Your own Dark Chi rushes toward the darkness of your surroundings and pinpoints the largest sources: The snake's tunnels. A tendril of your aura lurches forward and dives into the tunnel, following it under the ground and looping back around, under your feet, and into the tree to your left next to the one Kosuke, Jin, and Rin sit upon. #show-if (dig($metkosuke, 1) gte 2) Rely on Kosuke. [Requires Kosuke's Darkness Chi] <<var $solexp + 3>>\ ''[Companion Event]'' You shake your head, acknowledging that you're not just here for yourself. You're here for the team. "Kosuke!" You shout up the tree. "Send your Darkness Chi into one of the snake's tunnels and see if you can feel where it went." "I can do that?" Kosuke asks. You point at the snake's nearest tunnel from where it resurfaced to attack last. "Find out." <<page "Continue" "hub-residential-trainingsibs-relykosuke">>\ #show-if (dig($metkosuke, 1) lt 2) use-if (dig($metkosuke, 1) gte 2) Rely on Kosuke. [Requires Kosuke's Special Training] -> "death" #show-if ($roc gte 1) Send $rocname. <<var $powexp + 3>>\ "$rocname!" You shout to the sky, whistling your signal for it to hunt. "CAWWWWWW!!" The roc screeches, circling the air in a downward tilt to gaze upon the land. It swoops into the valley and turns, flying toward your group. It dives right overhead at full speed, knocking up a gust of wind around you when it scratches the bark of the tree to your left. Your bird continues its flight through the trees and you recognize its signal. #show-if ($roc is 0) use-if ($roc gte 1) Send a Beast of your own. [Requires Beast pet] -> "death" #show-if ($subrace is "Wolf") Rely on your wolf-like senses. <<var $agiexp + 3>>\ You sniff into the wind. "Ewww." Kosuke groans. "Don't do the sniffing." "Shut up!" Jin blurts out, his wolf tail on edge. "Yeah!" Rin adds, "The sniffing is sacred!" You ignore all three and focus on the scents of the forest. The earthy scents of the woods, the sweet sap, the greenery, the hints of dung, the bile and brain matter of the Beast dead at your feet, \ <<if ($bffromance gte 1)>>\ Kosuke's slightly distracting pheromones, \ <</if>>\ and under it all one scent that you seek. The disgusting, slimy scent of reptilian Beasts, to your left, //under// the rich scent of tree bark. #show-if ($subrace isnot "Wolf") Rely on your keen senses and woodsmanship. <<if (($survival gte 3) or ($perception gte 4))>>\ <<if ($survival gte 3)>>\ ''[Survival 3 Check Passed]'' <<var $forexp + 1>>\ <<var $powexp + 1>>\ <<else>>\ ''[Perception 4 Check Passed]'' <<var $powexp + 1>>\ <</if>>\ At first nothing seems out of the ordinary. No vibrations can be felt beneath your feet. No shadows lurk in the undergrowth. No leaves rustle from a predator slithering across the branches overhead. But you are a $manwoman of \ <<if ($survival gte 3)>>\ the woods \ <<else>>\ keen senses \ <</if>>\ and fine details. An ambush predator like a serpent may have tricks and strategies that work on the unsuspecting or unprepared, but you keep all details of your surroundings in your mind at all times. That's how you remember that Kosuke was sent to stand on the widest, sturdiest tree for your rock-dropping strategy to kill the other Beast. Kosuke, Rin, and Jin stand on branches of the tree to your right, so why is the tree to your left wider? The answer is a certainty in your mind. <<include "hub-residential-trainingsibs-foundyousnake">>\ <<else>>\ ''[Survival 3 Check Failed]'' ''[Perception 4 Check Failed]'' "Do you see anything?" Jin asks. "I..." "Come on!" Rin shouts, charging loose chi around her fist and ready to throw it like a ball. "Tell us where it is! I've got a shiver down my spine thinking it could be anywhere." "It could even be right behind you." Whispers Kosuke over her shoulder, causing Rin to punch $bffhimher in the arm. You shake your head, there's no way you'll detect it with all these distractions. "Come grab the larger Beast, we're fleeing into the woods with its body and we'll harvest it later." \ "Can't we harvest it now?" Jin asks. "It looks heavy as a house." "It is." You grunt, lifting its head onto your back. "Now come down quickly, that snake can't follow us through the roots, but if you give it a chance to climb a tree first we'll still be in danger. You're carrying this thing or we're leaving it." "I hate being rushed." Rin groans. Kosuke pushes her and Jin out of the tree. <<var $val2 999>>\ <<page "Continue" "hub-residential-trainingsibs-harvest">>\ <</if>>\ <</choose>>

<<choose "hub-residential-trainingsibs2">> #use-if ((dig($sibsquest, 2) is 0) and ($countdown gte 1)) Take everyone to the valleys for Beast hunting. [1 Day] <<var $sibsquest + 10000000000000>>\ The weight-strapped march takes grueling hours for you to reach the nearest open valley. On the way you pass by three dueling Martial Artist, two Sects in training regimens, what was almost certainly some Noble's affair at a bubbling fountain, and a bandit outpost that someone had already wiped out and, ironically, robbed. Kosuke gave a short prayer for them. "Here we are!" You say, looking out over a valley opening downhill from the treeline. You drop your rock-filled satchels and breathe in deep, looking out over your quarry. "This is perfect for what we're after." "Mrrrrnnnnn." Rin says, collapsing beside you. Jin grunts and drops his own rock-satchels. "What are we looking for again?" "Beasts." You explain. "With the two of you having weaker auras, and me and Kosuke able to hide ours, you make great bait for anything hunting this far from Nanhou. We'll dig a hole in the center and cover it up after I jump in, then whatever comes for you gets ambushed by all four of us." Kosuke looks around at the valley and you feel the light brush of an amateur spiritual scan. "Are we really going to find anything out here?" "Probably not." You admit. "Even this far from Nanhou, we're guaranteed that others have come through and slain anything they found for harvest." Rin groans into the floor, covered in sweat from her march. "Then why are we even here?" You and Kosuke shrug. "Because we have to try." <<page "Continue" "hub-residential-trainingsibs-valley">>\ #use-if ((dig($sibsquest, 3) is 0) and ($countdown gte 1)) Take everyone to the lakes for adrenal training. [1 Day] <<var $sibsquest + 1000000000000>>\ After hours of marching inland you come to a crystal blue lake. A proper lake, you realize, with real beach sands revealing it to be a natural spring rather than an artificial creation by Martial Artists. "This is the place for our adrenal training." You decide. The four of you walk from the tree lines and remove your rock satchels with heavy grunts of relief. Jin then surveys the area and turns to you. "What's adrenal training?" You drop your own bags of rocks and turn to Jin in confusion. "Why did you wait until we got here to ask? I mentioned it hours ago." Jin waves his hands around, exasperated. "Well I //thought// you had some great plan that would become obvious when we got here, but all I see is a lake! I wanted to be the cool stoic student who understands his master's wisdom but-" "-for that to work," Rin finishes, "<<cap $name>> would have to be, you know, wise." "You can both go home." You remind them. "//With// the rocks." Kosuke adds, smiling. "By the way Jin you just called $name your master. I'm telling everyone." Jin kicks sand at Kosuke and turns to you. "What are we doing here?" <<page "Well..." "hub-residential-trainingsibs-lakes">>\ #use-if ((dig($sibsquest, 4) is 0) and ($countdown gte 1)) Take everyone to the thickets for spiritfruit gathering. [1 Day] -> "hub-residential-trainingsibs-fruit" #show-if ($memorywell gt 0) use-if (dig($metkosuke, 1) is 1) Give the Memorywell Elixir to a skeptical Kosuke. [0 Day] <<var $memorywell - 1>>\ <<var $metkosuke + 10000000000>>\ "You expect me to drink this mysterious elixir you bought from some old wisewoman on the road?" Kosuke asks, looking down at the Memorywell Elixir in $bffhisher hands. "Didn't you have this in your pocket during the Demonic Gate? Who knows what this thing does by this point." You remove the stopper from the \ <<if ($bffheshe is "she")>>\ vial and nudge it up towards $bffhisher mouth. \ <<else>>\ vial. \ <</if>>\ "It wasn't an old woman." You correct. "She was twenty-five, tops." Kosuke grumbles something about deceptive cultivator looks and chugs the elixir in one gulp. Jin and Rin stare at $bffhimher in concern but Kosuke simply stands there with $bffhisher hands on $bffhisher hips and burps. "Hm. Tastes like watered down peach." "Are you okay?" Rin asks. "Do you feel any...different?" You rub your chin in thought. "It's supposed to unlock power from a Gate you've cycled. You were with me at the Earth and Wind gate, so maybe you'll get-" "UUURRRGGGHHHH-" Kosuke screams, throwing up blobs of Darkness Chi into the ground. "Ohhhhhhhh." You exclaim slowly. "That's right, you were in Ebikowa for \ <<if (dig($eventfun, 1) is 2)>>\ Taio's fake Blood Gate too. I should probably have mentioned it was built on the foundation of a Darkness Gate." <<else>>\ the Darkness Gate too." <</if>>\ "Yeah n-HUURRRKKKH-no shit!" Kosuke continues to vomit up the Darkness Chi until it pools on the ground. <<cap $bffhisher>> aura flares into being and thickens, from a blazing white chifire into a thick black ink wisping all around $bffhimher like smoke. When the pool of Darkness Chi on the ground grows so large that it overtakes $bffhisher own shadow, $bffheshe falls through and disappears as if plunging under the ice of a lake. <<page "...Kosuke?" "hub-residential-trainingsibs-elem1">>\ #show-if ($memorywell gt 0) use-if (dig($metjin, 1) is 1) Give the Memorywell Elixir to an overeager Jin. [0 Day] <<var $memorywell - 1>>\ <<var $metjin + 10000000000>>\ "My own Advancement Elixir?!" Jin uncharacteristically squeals, catching the vial you throw his way. "What's it do?" "It unlocks a Shugendō Element for your aura. You were in the Earth and Wind Gate with me so it should be one of those." Jin looks from his elixir to you and back. "For how long?" "For...ever?" "Everyone, stop." Jin demands. Surprised, you all do. Jin chugs the potion and walks up to you, staring sternly in his often-antagonistic way. When he gets within striking distance, he wraps his arms around you in a swift hug. "This is the most thoughtful present anyone has ever gotten me." "Oh wow," Kosuke says from behind him. "Jin's a hugger now! Rin, make sure to tell Mother that Jin's regressed into a big ole softie and he wants his binkie and crib back as soon as possible." "Will do!" Rin says, withdrawing a scroll to record the memo. Emerald Wind Chi explodes upward around Jin, fluttering both your clothes and sending sand everywhere. As soon as it does, he turns around and slaps at both of them from a distance. A gust of wind impacts their cheeks, widening their eyes and bowling both of them over onto the ground. "Not bad." You say appreciatively. "Even I took longer to get used to my element. How did you know to make the Wind at a distance with so much blunt impact?" Jin shrugs. "I thought I had Earth." ''[Jin's Wind Element Unlocked]'' ''[Jin's Combat Prowess Increased]'' <<var $jincombat + 2>>\ #show-if ($memorywell gt 0) use-if (dig($metrin, 1) is 1) Give the Memorywell Elixir to an unwilling Rin. [0 Day] <<var $memorywell - 1>>\ <<var $metrin + 10000000000>>\ "Are you sure this is safe to drink?" Rin asks, looking at the discount miracle elixir you bought from an unvetted road alchemist. "Yes." You lie. "I don't believe you!" She says, tossing it to Jin and running. "You always use short answers when you lie!" "Jin, get her!" Kosuke shouts, running to tackle your sister to the ground. The two catch up to Rin who writhes on the ground, kicking and screaming. "No, no no!" She shouts. "I don't want super powers! I want a new pair of shoes!" "Too bad sis!" Jin shouts maliciously, pouring the alchemical concoction on her face. "Become a Martial Artist like the rest of us!" "One of us!" Kosuke chants. "One of us! One of us!" "Nooooobbbbbrrrrlll" Rin protests as she's force-fed the elixir. Jin and Kosuke jump back afterwards and Rin sits up to glare at them. "I hope I get Fire." She says with scathing condemnation, rubbing the spare liquid from the side of her mouth. "Because I will ''Fire'' the Hell out of all three of you." "This is important." You insist. "You need every advantage to protect yourself now that we're in a dangerous city of ten-thousand rivals. With any luck you'll get Wind so you can esc-" You, Jin, and Kosuke all sink six inches into the ground. An amber hue surrounds Rin with in an aura of Earth Chi, melting the nearby stone into quicksand. <<page "Oh." "hub-residential-trainingsibs-elem2">>\ #show-if ($weaksoultreasure gte 1) use-if (($jincombat lt 10) or (($background is "Herbalist") and ($jincombat lt 12))) Give a weak Soul Treasure to Jin. [0 Day] Reaching into your only satchel //not// filled with rocks, you extract a weak Soul Treasure you've been holding onto. It's unrefined and too weak to do you much good at all, but you've brought enough materials to break it down into something that a weaker Martial Artist could use. After wrapping it in a tag of Seals and dropping it into a travel jug filled with water and purifying salts, you toss it back to Jin. "Catch." "What am I supposed to do with this?" Jin asks. "Break it down with your spirit while we march. Once it dissolves, drink it." Jin cringes and examines the substance. "This is going to taste horrible, isn't it?" "Ohhhhh yeah." Kosuke says happily. You crack a <<if ($honor lt 60)>>\ smile. "I made sure of it." <<else>>\ smile. <</if>>\ <<var $jincombat + 1>>\ <<var $weaksoultreasure - 1>>\ ''[Jin's Combat Prowess Improved.]'' #show-if ($weaksoultreasure gte 1) use-if (($rincombat lt 10) or (($background is "Herbalist") and ($rincombat lt 12))) Give a weak Soul Treasure to Rin. [0 Day] Reaching into your only satchel //not// filled with rocks, you extract a weak Soul Treasure you've been holding onto. It's unrefined and too weak to do you much good at all, but you've brought enough materials to break it down into something that a weaker Martial Artist could use. After wrapping it in a tag of Seals and dropping it into a travel jug filled with water and purifying salts, you toss it back to Rin "Catch." "Oh no." Rin gasps, catching the jug. "Please don't do this to me." "It's good for you!" Kosuke says. "No it isn't!" Rin shouts. "I know what you're up to! Instead of taking this to a proper refiner and having it turned into a pleasant passionfruit-flavored Advancement Elixir, you're going to make me chug salt water and dissolved paper!" Jin snickers. "Wait until you find out what the Soul Treasure is made of." Rin groans. "I hate cultivation!" <<var $rincombat + 1>>\ <<var $weaksoultreasure - 1>>\ ''[Rin's Combat Prowess Improved.]'' #show-if ($weaksoultreasure gte 1) use-if (($kosukecombat lt 10) or (($background is "Herbalist") and ($kosukecombat lt 12))) Give a weak Soul Treasure to Kosuke. [0 Day] Reaching into your only satchel //not// filled with rocks, you extract a weak Soul Treasure you've been holding onto. It's unrefined and too weak to do you much good at all, but you've brought enough materials to break it down into something that a weaker Martial Artist could use. After wrapping it in a tag of Seals and dropping it into a travel jug filled with water and purifying salts, you toss it back toKosuke. "Catch." "Nice!" Kosuke cheers, catching it and running chi over $bffhisher hands to focus into the Advancement Elixir. "When did you learn to do that?" Rin asks. "Just now." Kosuke says with a shrug. "I figured if it was wrong $name would correct me." "That's a terrible way to learn," Jin says. "You should do what we did." Kosuke quirks an eyebrow. "Weren't you beaten for fun by the Thunderfall Disciples?" "Let me rephrase." Jin explains calmly. "You should //be forced to// do what we did." <<var $kosukecombat + 1>>\ <<var $weaksoultreasure - 1>>\ ''[Kosuke's Combat Prowess Improved.]'' #Turn around and go home. [0 Days] "Are you kidding me?" Rin asks. "I get my hair ruined, my makeup smudged, my clothes torn by thorns, my shoes ruined by mud, and my neck covered in bug bites, all so we can //turn around and go back?!//" Jin smiles at her aggrievance. "It was worth it after all." "Thank you for your service." Kosuke says, marching ahead of them and shaking your hand for ruining Rin's day. <<page "Continue" "hub-residential-district">>\ <</choose>>

<<var $endday false>>\ <<if (dig($mettiger, 1) is 3)>>\ <<var $mettiger - 10000000000>>\ <</if>>\ <<var $restchoice "">>\ As the night grows darker you \ <<if (($val is 535346226272562) and ((dig($knowledge, 15) gte 1) and (($scryarray is undefined) or ($scryarray.length > 0))))>>\ take up your scrying at Dusk, as required by the Dreamriver method, and form an orb of chi to peer into a random location. <<scrying>>\ <</if>>\ consider where to rest for the night. <<var $val 0>>\ <<choose "hub-spendday2">> #The street. [Risk Being Pickpocketed] -> "hub-spendday-street" <<var $restchoice "hub-commerce-district">>\ You rest upon the street for the night, huddled between a few crates and a shop's outer wall. With any luck, no one will check under the dark blanket you use to cover yourself. #show-if ($shipsleft gte 1) Your flagship. [Increase Crew Morale] <<var $restchoice "hub-port-district">>\ You visit your ship and give all the nooks and crannies a thorough investigation, making sure everything is being maintained properly by your crew. Fortunately, it is. You let them all know about your satisfaction at their efforts and ensure their lodging and rations are acceptable before heading to rest in the Captain's Cabin. ''[Retainer Morale +2]'' <<var $retainer_morale + 2>>\ <<if (((((($wounds gte 1) or ($powspent gte 1)) or ($forspent gte 1)) or ($agispent gte 1)) or ($solspent gte 1))and ($background is "Herbalist"))>>\ ''[Herbalist Background Event]'' ...That is, //after// treating your wounds with the herbs you collected across your journey to Nanhou. <<if ($wounds gte 1)>>\ <<var $wounds - 1>>\ <</if>>\ <<if ($chispent gte 1)>>\ <<var $chispent - 1>>\ <</if>>\ <<if ($agispent gte 1)>>\ <<var $agispent - 1>>\ <</if>>\ <<if ($powspent gte 1)>>\ <<var $powspent - 1>>\ <</if>>\ <<if ($forspent gte 1)>>\ <<var $forspent - 1>>\ <</if>>\ <<if ($solspent gte 1)>>\ <<var $solspent - 1>>\ <</if>>\ ''[1 Health, Chi, and Cores Restored]'' <</if>>\ #show-if ($shipsleft lte 0) use-if ($shipsleft gte 1) Your flagship. [All ships deployed, no ships at port!] -> "death" #use-if ((($shards + ($silver / 10)) + ($gold * 10)) gte 15) A tavern. [Restore 2 in all Cores, Costs 15 Shards] <<var $restchoice "hub-residential-district">>\ Deciding on the traditional way to live, you head out to see Nanhou's nightlife by visiting one of the taverns. <<costcalc 15>>\ The food and drink is top notch and the room is bigger than you'd expect, with a high ceiling as a bonus. More importantly, in one of the corners of the room is a steaming natural bath dug into the foundation of the building. It's even heated and, judging by the smell, chemically treated with restorative medicine. //Where has this been all your life?// <<var $val 2>>\ <<if ($background is "Herbalist")>>\ ''[Herbalist Event: Double Medicine Efficiency]'' <<var $val 4>>\ <</if>>\ <<var $val2 $val>>\ <<for $val; $val > 0; $val-->>\ <<if ($wounds gte 1)>>\ <<var $wounds - 1>>\ <</if>>\ <<if ($chispent gte 1)>>\ <<var $chispent - 1>>\ <</if>>\ <<if ($agispent gte 1)>>\ <<var $agispent - 1>>\ <</if>>\ <<if ($powspent gte 1)>>\ <<var $powspent - 1>>\ <</if>>\ <<if ($forspent gte 1)>>\ <<var $forspent - 1>>\ <</if>>\ <<if ($solspent gte 1)>>\ <<var $solspent - 1>>\ <</if>>\ <</for>>\ ''[$val2 Health, Chi, and Cores Restored]'' When you finish with the bath there's a bed large enough for two massive occupants in the opposite corner and it's the best sleep you've had since your coma. <<page "Continue" "hub-spendday2">>\ #use-if ((dig($trialdeets, 1) gte 2) and (dig($metmao, 2) isnot 0)) The Thunderfall Tower. [Restore All Cores, Increase AP] <<var $restchoice "hub-residential-district">>\ You've never been on good standing with the Thunderfall Sect, especially with Jack and Mao, but the Trials are an empire-wide event and you need to show \ <<if (dig($trialdeets, 1) is 2)>>\ solidarity. That's why you registered under your Sect when first entering Nanhou. <<else>>\ solidarity. <</if>>\ To your shocking surprise, Mao agreed with that sentiment. With your Sectmaster's approval of your presence, no one can protest to you using the facility's resources. And by the Ancestors, what glorious resources they are. You've never considered the Thunderfall Sect to be on the richer side, but you've also never seen what the Upper Disciples have available to them either. Now that the Trials have begun, the quality and purity of the pills being offered to Lower disciples is more than you'd ever expect from your backwater village. The Quartermaster is in the second story of Thunderfall Tower, an elderly woman who wears leather armors over her sleeveless black-and-blue Thunderfall Gi. She frowns at your presence, scans your spirit, and begrudgingly offers you your share of the Sect's alchemical elixirs for the night. Afterwards you navigate up the stone stairs, to the third story, and walk past the other Disciples in various forms of meditation or exercise. \ <<if ($borep gte 48)>>\ Bo gives you a short, respectful bow. The rest \ <<else>>\ They \ <</if>>\ pay you little mind. One quick walk takes you to the rooms on the opposite end where you consume the elixirs to cycle their energy through your Cores. <<var $val 4>>\ <<if ($background is "Herbalist")>>\ ''[Herbalist Event: Increase Elixir Efficiency]'' <<var $val + $alchemy>>\ <</if>>\ <<if ($style is "Kiihakai")>>\ ''[Kiihakai Style: Increase Elixir Efficiency]'' <<if ($lore gt $stylerank)>>\ <<var $val + $lore>>\ <<else>>\ <<var $val + $stylerank>>\ <</if>>\ <</if>>\ ''[Aura Pressure +$val]'' <<var $aurapressure + $val>>\ ''[Up to 3 Health Restored]'' <<var $wounds - 3>>\ <<if ($wounds lt 0)>>\ <<var $wounds 0>>\ <</if>>\ ''[Chi and Cores Fully Restored]'' <<var $chispent 0>>\ <<var $powspent 0>>\ <<var $forspent 0>>\ <<var $solspent 0>>\ <<var $agispent 0>>\ When your spirit has had its fill you find some water and a sleeping mat delivered outside your room, which you use to quickly fall asleep. <<page "Continue" "hub-spendday2">>\ <</choose>>

<<rand $val 0 2>>\ <<if ($val is 0)>>\ ''[Pickpocket Event!]'' <<rand $val 2 4>>\ <<if ($perception gte $val)>>\ ''[Perception $val Check Passed]'' Above you, on all fours atop the crates beside you, a thief attempts to rob your shardpouch in your sleep. Your eyes snap open and you grab the wrist of a potential pickpocket. They freeze and, with one good stare, you ensure they understand how quickly their wrist is going to break if they continue down their current plan of action. <<rand $val 1 5>>\ <<if (($bffromance gte 1) and ($val lt 5))>>\ <<var $val + 1>>\ <</if>>\ <<if ($val is 5)>>\ "Ow." Says the pickpocket in the dark, and you recognize that voice instantly. ''[Random Event!]'' "Kosuke?" You ask, still confused in your fatigue no matter how many times $bffheshe sneaks up on you. "What are you doing?" <<if ($bffromance gte 1)>>\ "Trying to seduce you in the morning when we wake up together." <<cap $bffheshe>> says, tugging on $bffhisher caught wrist. "You're mucking it up, by the way. Stop waking up and catching me." <<choose "hub-spendday2">> #"Why are you waiting until morning? Get over here." <<var $honor - 2>>\ <<var $bffromance + 1>>\ <<var $bffrep + 4>>\ "Why are you waiting until morning?" You ask Kosuke, pulling $bffhimher off the crates and directly onto you. The two of you snuggle under the blankets until things escalate //rapidly.// <<var $pwt_kosuke true>>\ Noise complaints eventually cause the two of you to flee the guards, leaping to the nearest rooftop where you run across several more before finding a new alleyway to actually sleep in. <<page "Continue" "hub-spendday2">>\ #"This isn't the most romantic place, let me sleep for the Trials." <<var $bffrep - 1>>\ <<var $honor + 2>>\ <</choose>> <<halt>>\ <<else>>\ "Checking on you, idiot. Someone needs to make sure you're not an easy target." "And am I?" You ask. Kosuke tries to take $bffhisher wrist out of your grip. "Clearly not. Now let go, I'm going two alleyways over to pickpocket someone else." "So you //were// trying to pickpocket me." You ask flatly. "Oh absolutely." <<cap $bffheshe>> admits. "How was I supposed to know it was you under a dark blanket in a dark alleyway in the middle of the night? I don't go around spiritually scanning my targets. Now accept your Clan $patriarch tithe and release me to continue my mischievous ways." ''[Item Gained: 1 Shard]'' <<var $shards + 1>>\ You catch the coin and dismiss Kosuke so you can finally get some real sleep. <</if>>\ <<else>>\ The dirty cretin smiles at you innocently, performs a silent yet deep bow, and runs for their life. <</if>>\ <<else>>\ ''[Perception $val Check Failed]'' <<rand $val 30 99>>\ <<if ((($shards + ($silver / 10)) + ($gold * 10)) lt $val)>>\ <<var $val ((Math.round(($shards + ($silver / 10)) + ($gold * 10))) - 1)>>\ <</if>>\ You lose $val Shards in your sleep, never even noticing the cretin who robbed you. <<bankcalc $val "Stolen!">>\ <</if>>\ <<else>>\ ''[Event: No Trouble]'' <<rand $val 2 7>>\ ...And no one does. You sleep through the night knowing that you've beaten the odds by saving a small sum of money. <</if>>\ <<include "hub-spendday2">>\

<<if ($days is 0)>>\ ''[ERROR! 'Days' variable set to 0!]'' <</if>>\ <<var $countdown - $days>>\ <<var $days 0>>\ <<if ($days gte 2)>>\ <<timepass>>\ <<elseif ($countdown is 0)>>\ <<timepass>>\ <</if>>\ <<if (dig($mettaio, 1) is 1) and ($taint gte 20)>>\ <<include "hub-taiodream">>\ <<halt>>\ <</if>>\ <<if ($busyships isnot 100000000000000)>>\ <<shipgains>>\ <</if>>\ <<if (($countdown is 1) and ($currenttrial is "Dragon"))>>\ <<include "ch8-siblingtrial">>\ <<else>>\ <<include $restchoice>>\ <</if>>\

<<var $val 0>>\ You awake on your ship. Not in the Captain's Cabin, but on the hard wood deck just under the mast. A heavy mist surrounds you and stretches out into the sea all around, obscuring your vision. This is not your first strange dream, but it's the first one to repeat. When you slept for two days, you dreamt of this exact scene. One look into the night sky reveals the same white tiger of constellation still takes up the whole expanse, judging you with arrogance from above. The only major difference from the first time you had this dream is that the mist surrounding you is not the typical foggy gray. It's blood red. A knock sounds behind you, from the Captain's Cabin. You rise and investigate, \ <<if ($style is "Kiihakai")>>\ but it's not the knock at the door that grasps your attention. It's the woman sitting atop the raised platform's railing above it. "It's still locked away." Dreamdemona says, checking her nails and peeking down at the door below her. As she does so, it bangs harder and begins to shake on its hinges. The lock holds strong. She whistles low. "Whatever it is, it certainly has something to say. Do you want me to let it out?" <<choose "hub-taiodream2">> #"No." "No." You reply, insulted. "Are you insane? It could be some sort of dreameating nightmare Fiend trying to attack us. I don't need an undead dream-Gazhurra breaking in here. \ <<if ($heshe is "he")>>\ Damn, woman, \ <<else>>\ Heavens above, \ <</if>>\ why would you even ask?" <<var $mettaio + 10000000000>>\ Dreamdemona pouts her darp lips. "Because it's polite." <<if ($ruthless gt (50+($desromance * 3)))>>\ ''[Compassion Check Failed]'' "Whatever, just get me out of here." Her pout melts into a scathing frown. "Fine. Have it your way. One \ <<else>>\ ''[Compassion Check Passed]'' "Oh...uh, sorry. Now I feel rude." <<if ($heshe is "he")>>\ "You can make it up to me in the real world." She replies, contemplating. "Purple flowers, and a cream-filled pie. A big one." <<var $compquirks + 10000000000000>>\ <<if ($race isnot "Lunargoth")>>\ Huh, must be a Lunargothic treat. <</if>>\ "As you wish. Get me out of here first." <<else>>\ "Relax, girl." She replies with a raised eyebrow. "I'm a figment of your imagination, you can be as rude as you want." "Well I don't want to be rude at all." You reply. <</if>>\ Dreamdemona's resting scowl turns to a smile. "One \ <</if>>\ canceled nightmare, Captain's orders." Her hands weave into a blur in the way that one can hardly read in dreams. The harder you focus, the harder it is to make out what Seal she's creating. When she's done the bloodmist launches away from you and off into the distance at a rapid pace, as if a hurricane had landed and hit only the mist. ''[Corruption Reduced]'' <<var $taint - 5>>\ When the crimson hue leaves in its entirety, you awake. <<page "Continue" "hub-taiodream-leave">>\ #"Let's hear its offer." "Let's hear its offer." You reply. "Are you serious?" Desdemona asks,\ <<if ($desromance gte 2)>>\ leaning forward so far that her robes almost slip. \ <<else>>\ raising one eyebrow higher than you think the real Desdemona ever could. \ <</if>>\ "Are you sure about that?" "I'm sure." You reply. "Whatever it is, if it can be contained by Kiihakai then I'm not in danger." Desdemona shrugs and raises one pale hand into the air. "Your funeral. I'm not sticking around to see how terribly this goes." With a snap of her fingers, she disappears and the banging door bursts into splinters. Bright red lights filling your room forms a silhouette around the figure that approaches. Taio. Yet he is not alone. The demonic monk steps out onto the deck in front of you, bringing in a metallic tinge to the salty air, and behind him comes the last person you'd expect: //Another// Taio. <</choose>> <<else>>\ seeing a bright red light flash from the seams of your Captain's Cabin door as it shakes violently on its hinges. The knocking continues, louder and louder, inviting you to open the door. Demanding you to open the door. You stand there, hesitating, when a laugh permeates through the fog. A familiar laugh. <<cap $auracolor>> chi surrounds you in an aura as you check your surroundings for threats. "What do you want, Taio?" The door suddenly explodes into splinters. In its place, the bright red light filling your room casts a silhouette around the figures that approach. <<include "hub-taiodream2">>\ <</if>>\

<<shipgains>>\ <<include $restchoice>>\

Not Taio. //Two// Taios. "<<cap $name>>." They say together. "It's time we have a little chat." <<page "Continue" "hub-taiodream3">>\

"What do you want?" You say to the two clones of the same demonic cultist. They circle you slowly, their blood-red auras on full power and betraying the details you already suspected. They're not copies. They're individuals. It's Taio the Bandit from your first mission and Taio the Scholar from Ebikowa. "We want what you want." Says the Bandit. "Power. Survival. Success." Adds the Scholar. "All living beings seek the same goals, deep down." "You're dead." You remind them. "There's no power, survival, //or// success for either of you." "Dead out there?" The Scholar asks, waving an arm to the vast expanse of the sea. "Likely." "But dead in here?" The Bandit questions, grinning victoriously. "Far from it. We both created Gates from our own essence, an impossible task to anyone but us. Yet they were incomplete. We were fortunate enough to both be defeated and absorbed by the same Fuel Foundation. Inside you, we are as real as can be." You reel your fist back to solve that problem, $auracolor chi amplifying around your strike. "Wait!" Shouts the Scholar, grabbing your forearm. You prepare to headbutt him until you see his expression. He's not grappling you...he's pleading. "Why?" You ask. "Because we are not here to fight, we are here to barter. Our combined knowledge cannot be allowed to vanish from this world. By conjoining we have become the second 'realest' Taio in existence, even in death. We are an evolved step in the right direction of our original goal. For the sake of the great experiment, we need you to be capable of hiding the corruption we represent within your soul or this success will be obliterated." "And to hide it properly," the Bandit interrupts, "you will require great attunement with several Fiendish Blood Arts." You step back twice, slowly, and eye the two of them as they converge in front of you, heads tilted to opposite sides. "Are you offering what I think you're offering?" You ask in disbelief "Yes." They say at the same time. "Embrace our power, gain our secrets and insights, and we will teach you the Path of Demonic Cultivation." <<page "Continue" "hub-taiodream4">>\

You can't believe what you're hearing. "Do you take me for a moron? \ <<if ($style is "Aoyusumu")>>\ I practice Aoyusumu. The energy of my very soul is against demonic chi." "Then we would not be here, fool." Says the Bandit. "Your mentors left out several key points in your studies of Sacred Chi. On purpose, I suspect." "Indeed," adds the Scholar "you would not be the first Fallen Saint. The practice of faith can be wielded inversely, praying upon emotions of hate, sorrow, lust, and pride. Pride you will need most of all, for what we offer comes with a price." "Here we go." You groan, shaking your head. "Forget it. I'm not surrendering my soul." "Your body, actually." The Bandit corrects. "What we desire is nothing more than \ <<else>>\ I killed you both and you want to reward me? Why would I ever fall for that?" "Because it's not a trick." The Bandit replies. "It's \ <</if>>\ a challenge. Like a willful relic, we offer you our power at the cost of a contest of Will. Of course we want to use this as a chance to possess you and take our place among the Akuma Lords, we are not fools. We are confident we will win and turn your body into our own personal vessel. A true Blood Wight, or greater. But if we fail..." "You become one of the most powerful demonic cultivators alive." Taio the Scholar finishes. "Armed with two separate Demonic Paths worth decades of research, our final essence as fuel for your power, and our secretive measures to hide your corruption even from your empire's Archons." Your cheeks twitch in irritation. The temptation of such an offer is high for anyone who started with nothing, but this is the dumbest choice you could ever- "I hereby swear, upon my soul and essence," Says Taio the Scholar, withdrawing a soulbinding oath. "that I will not guide $fullname down any path that will give me an advantage in my attempts to possess $himher, and that I truly believe I will lose this wager should $hisher willpower prove stronger even by a sliver." Taio the Bandit withdraws another soulbinding oath and repeats the same statement. You stare at them both, baffled. "Do those soulbinding oaths work in here? They're figments of the dream." "It's your dream, fool," Taio the Bandit replies, "And it is stationed at the center of your soul, of which we are a part of. The real question is do //you// think they'd work?" A snap resonates through the air as both soulbinding oaths take effect. "I will offer no further concessions." Adds Taio the Scholar. "We have offered you the world so that we may avoid detection, but I am no pauper sent here to appease your concerns. Accept our tutelage or do not. Our plans will adapt." <<choose "hub-taiodream-leave">> #"I do not negotiate with criminals." [Attack] <<var $mettaio + 10000000000>>\ You punch Taio the Bandit in the face, blowing a hole through his head. Taio the Scholar jumps back in alarm but you catch him by the ankle and whip him head-first into your mast, decapitating him by pulping. "I do not negotiate with criminals." You announce to the dissipating forms. <<apboost 4>>\ "Good." They both taunt, as if speaking from below you. "Very good." <<var $taint + 3>>\ <<page "Time to wake up." "hub-taiodream-leave">>\ #"I don't need your //weakness// infecting my strength. Begone." <<var $honor + 1>>\ <<var $ruthless + 1>>\ <<var $mettaio + 10000000000>>\ "I don't need your //weakness// infecting my strength." You command. "Begone." Taio the Bandit scowls, stomping forward with his right foot, but Taio the Scholar stops him with a hand on his shoulder. They both hesitate, glaring at you, but they dissipate into the mist slowly without conflict. "This is not the last you'll hear of us, <<cap $name>>." Their voices ring from below. "Not the last by far." <<if ($honor gte 50)>>\ "I said begone." \ <<else>>\ "Oh fuck off already you old bald bastards." \ <</if>>\ You reply, forcing yourself \ <<if ($style is "Aoyosumu")>>\ awake with a \ <<if ($countersealritual isnot 100)>>\ dispelling Seal and a \ <<var $solexp + 2>>\ <</if>>\ prayer tag. ''[Prayer Seal: Corruption Reduced]'' <<var $taint - 5>>\ <<if ($countersealritual isnot 100)>>\ <<var $taint - 5>>\ ''[Counterseal: Corruption Reduced]'' <</if>>\ <<elseif ($countersealritual isnot 100)>>\ awake with a counterseal ritual. ''[Counterseal: Corruption Reduced]'' <<var $taint - 5>>\ <<else>>\ awake. <</if>>\ <<page "Continue" "hub-taiodream-leave">>\ #"Give me your power. //All of it.//" [Embrace Corruption] You give a wide, victorious grin. "Nice speech, one you'll regret. I accept your offer so give me your power. //All of it.//" "It's about time." Says Taio the Bandit. "I was growing impatient with this pitch." "Victory is not about //time//," Says Taio the Scholar, "but rather about //precision.// I knew it was only a matter of time until-" "So it is about time." Retorts the Bandit. "Silence." Says the Scholar. "Ladies, ladies." You interrupt. "Shut up and surrender your Blood Arts to me." They both raise their heads and inhale deeply through their nostrils. "Our Paths are long and arduous," says the Scholar, "and will take much sacrifice to truly master, but the early steps are quite simple. Open your spirit. Cycle." You do, surging your aura and Cores into a spiraling pattern that presses all your energy down into your center. The two Taios power up to full, blazing with crimson auras that shatter in piecemeal before your very eyes. Shards of crimson power rips off their auras like pieces of paper falling away and disintegrating into streams of energy. Streams of energy swirling into your Cores as you cycle. You feel something form //beneath// your Cores. Deep, deep down, hidden away in a dangerously unstable void that feels simultaneously like a single pinprick and a vast ocean. And as it forms, the dreamscape around you flashes bright with crimson. The sea burns, igniting into flames that rise into the sky like an eternal hellscape. You should be horrified, and yet, you're excited. The flames all around resonate the sensation of the corrupted chi you've accumulated on your journey. What //doesn't// resonate with such a sensation is your own aura. Not anymore. With your demonic power stored here, your own aura feels completely clean. ''[Ability Unlocked: Inner Hellscape]'' <<var $hellscape 500>>\ ''[The Inner Hellscape is a hidden, internal spiritual realm where you can train demonic cultivation with either Taio Clone. It also functions as a way to store and 'hide' your corruption, up to a point.]'' ''[Aura Pressure +100]'' <<var $aurapressure + 100>>\ <<var $taint + 100>>\ <<var $taiorep + 15>>\ <<if ($jadedragonfoundation is false)>>\ <<achieve "The Dark Side">>\ <</if>>\ Wailing moans and screams break out from the fires all around your ship. The flames cast flickering shadows across the wide smiles of both Taios. "Welcome to the fold of demonic cultivation, my apprentice." Say the Bandit. "You mean //my// apprentice." Says the Scholar. "Though we can both agree on one thing." They loom over you like smiling puppets, their sunken eyes now assured of their victory when they speak as one. "When there is nothing left to teach, I will be the one to win this wager. Everything you have will be //mine//." "Funny." You say, still harvesting their souls like a chi-rich Gate. "I was going to tell you the same thing." <<var $val ((($insight + $handseals) + $athletics) + $lore)>>\ ''[Aura Pressure +$val]'' <<var $aurapressure + $val>>\ <<var $taint + $val>>\ <<var $val 0>>\ The two of them break into unhinged laughter, but you're not here to be outshined within your own soul. The //three// of you break into unhinged laughter. <<var $mettaio + 50000000000>>\ <<page "[Wake up.]" "hub-taiodream-leave">>\ <</choose>>

<<if ($handseals gt 6)>>\ <<if ((($race isnot "Oni") and ($race isnot "Kitsune")) and ($handseals gte 7))>>\ <<var $newap Math.round(($aurapressure + 10)/($hungryspiritritual+3.05))>>\ <<else>>\ <<var $newap Math.round(($aurapressure + 10)/($hungryspiritritual+2.75))>>\ <</if>>\ <<elseif ($handseals gte 2) and ($hungryspiritritual isnot 1)>>\ <<set $newap to Math.round(($aurapressure + 10)/($hungryspiritritual+(($handseals-1)*0.55)))>>\ <<else>>\ <<set $newap to Math.round(($aurapressure + 10)/$hungryspiritritual)>>\ <</if>>\ <<set $freeap to ($aurapressure - $allocatedap)>>\ <<if (($handseals lt 6) and ($hungryspiritritual isnot 1))>>\ <<var $shardcycle (16 + $soul)>>\ <<elseif ($hungryspiritritual isnot 1)>>\ <<var $shardcycle ((10 + $handseals) + $soul)>>\ <<else>>\ <<var $shardcycle (10 + $handseals)>>\ <</if>>\ <<if ($jadedragonfoundation is true)>>\ <<var $shardcycle ($shardcycle * 2)>>\ <</if>>\ Spiritual Cultivation is the most vital aspect of the Martial World, one you've been building on since the first day you absorbed a sliver of natural energy into your spirit. In a neverending pursuit of Advancement, you... <<choose "menu-cultivation-cycle">> #use-if ($shards gte $newap) Absorb $newap Shards to increase your Aura Pressure by $shardcycle. #show-if ($chapter gte 2.7) use-if (((($freeap gte (100-$powexp)) or ($freeap gte (100-$agiexp))) or ($freeap gte (100-$forexp))) or ($freeap gte (100-$solexp))) Advance one of your Combat Cores. [Unallocated AP: $freeap] -> "menu-cultivation-core" #Meditate upon your Techniques. -> "menu-cultivation-techs" #show-if (((($element1 != "None") and ($stylerank >= 1)) or (($element1 != "None") and ($element2 != ""))) or (($element2 != "") and ($stylerank >= 1))) Realign your aura's color. -> "menu-cultivation-aura" #show-if (($combatcurse is 1) and (dig($weaponbonus, 8) is 1)) use-if ((($chipool + ($soul/2)) - $chispent) gte 1) Activate $equippedweapon's combat curse. [Costs 1 Chi] You trigger the cursed spiritual binding in $equippedweapon and hang a contingent curse in your aura. The malicious intent behind the yin-aligned chi prepares to diminish the power of any who oppose you. ''[1 Chi Point Spent]'' <<var $chispent + 1>>\ <<var $menuval 1>>\ <<if ($style is "Kurokonton")>>\ ''[Kurokonton Yin Event: Cursed Power Improved]'' <<var $menuval + 1>>\ <</if>>\ <<if (($element1 is "Darkness") or ($element2 is "Darkness"))>>\ ''[Darkness Yin Event: Cursed Power Improved]'' <<var $menuval + 1>>\ <<elseif ((($element1 is "Ice") or ($element2 is "Ice")) and ($heshe is "she"))>>\ ''[Female Ice Yin Event: Cursed Power Improved]'' <<var $menuval + 1>>\ <<elseif ((($element1 is "Earth") or ($element2 is "Earth")) and ($heshe is "she"))>>\ ''[Female Earth Yin Event: Cursed Power Improved]'' <<var $menuval + 1>>\ <<elseif ($hellscape gte 100)>>\ ''[Demonic Yin Event: Cursed Power Improved]'' <<var $menuval + 1>>\ <</if>>\ ''[The difficulty of your next combat check is reduced by $menuval]'' <<var $cmod + $menuval>>\ <<var $combatcurse 2>>\ <<var $menuval 0>>\ <<page "Continue" "menu-cultivation">>\ #show-if (($combatcurse gt 1) and (dig($weaponbonus, 8) is 1)) use-if ($combatcurse lt 1) Activate $equippedweapon's combat curse. [Cursed Energy Spent!] -> "death" #show-if (($combatcurse2 is 1) and (dig($weaponbonus2, 8) is 1)) use-if ((($chipool + ($soul/2)) - $chispent) gte 1) Activate $equippedweapon2's combat curse. [Costs 1 Chi] You trigger the cursed spiritual binding in $equippedweapon and hang a contingent curse in your aura. The malicious intent behind the yin-aligned chi prepares to diminish the power of any who oppose you. ''[1 Chi Point Spent]'' <<var $chispent + 1>>\ <<var $menuval 1>>\ <<if ($style is "Kurokonton")>>\ ''[Kurokonton Yin Event: Cursed Power Improved]'' <<var $menuval + 1>>\ <</if>>\ <<if (($element1 is "Darkness") or ($element2 is "Darkness"))>>\ ''[Darkness Yin Event: Cursed Power Improved]'' <<var $menuval + 1>>\ <<elseif ((($element1 is "Ice") or ($element2 is "Ice")) and ($heshe is "she"))>>\ ''[Female Ice Yin Event: Cursed Power Improved]'' <<var $menuval + 1>>\ <<elseif ((($element1 is "Earth") or ($element2 is "Earth")) and ($heshe is "she"))>>\ ''[Female Earth Yin Event: Cursed Power Improved]'' <<var $menuval + 1>>\ <<elseif ($hellscape gte 100)>>\ ''[Demonic Yin Event: Cursed Power Improved]'' <<var $menuval + 1>>\ <</if>>\ ''[The difficulty of your next combat check is reduced by $menuval]'' <<var $cmod + $menuval>>\ <<var $combatcurse2 2>>\ <<var $menuval 0>>\ <<page "Continue" "menu-cultivation">>\ #show-if (($combatcurse2 gt 1) and (dig($weaponbonus2, 8) is 1)) use-if ($combatcurse2 lt 1) Activate $equippedweapon2's combat curse. [Cursed Energy Spent!] -> "death" #show-if (dig($weaponbonus, 4) is 9) use-if ($chistoring is 2) Absorb the stored chi from your weapon. [$equippedweapon] <<if ($chispent is 0)>>\ The power within your Chi-Storing $equippedweapon is sizeable pool of energy. Normally you'd use such a tool to replenish your chi reserves but instead you've chosen to call on it when your spirit's Chi Pool is already filled to the brim with natural energy. Yet the power you've conjured from the weapon has to go somewhere. Much like a cycling, the energy within your weapon pushes into your Cores and stretches them, pressing your Aura Pressure a sliver higher than it should naturally go. Like all things your spirit attempts to return to normal, but the forced growth has left it pushed beyond its limits, if only by a fraction. <<var $apval 2>>\ <<if (dig($weaponbonus, 3) is 1)>>\ <<var $apval + 1>>\ <</if>>\ <<if ($style is "Kiihakai")>>\ <<var $apval + 1>>\ <</if>>\ <<apboost $apval>>\ The weapon's chi pool is spent and will replenish over time. <<else>>\ The power within your Chi-Storing $equippedweapon is sizeable pool of spiritual chi, one that you're in need of. You call upon the life energy you've been passively storing inside the weapon and feel it rush throughout your aura like a cool glass of water bringing life back into a dehydrated body. <<var $menuval 2>>\ <<if (dig($weaponbonus, 3) is 1)>>\ <<var $menuval 3>>\ <</if>>\ ''[$menuval Chi Points Restored]'' <<var $chispent - $menuval>>\ <<if ($chispent lt 0)>>\ <<var $chispent 0>>\ <</if>>\ The weapon's chi pool is spent and will replenish over time. <</if>>\ <<var $chistoring 1>>\ <<page "Continue" "menu-cultivation">>\ #show-if (dig($weaponbonus2, 4) is 9) use-if ($chistoring2 is 2) Absorb the stored chi from your weapon. [$equippedweapon2] <<if ($chispent is 0)>>\ The power within your Chi-Storing $equippedweapon2 is sizeable pool of energy. Normally you'd use such a tool to replenish your chi reserves but instead you've chosen to call on it when your spirit's Chi Pool is already filled to the brim with natural energy. Yet the power you've conjured from the weapon has to go somewhere. Much like a cycling the energy within your weapon pushes into your Cores and stretches them, pressing your Aura Pressure a sliver higher than it should naturally go. Like all things your spirit attempts to return to normal, but the forced growth has left it pushed beyond its limits, if only by a fraction. <<var $apval 2>>\ <<if (dig($weaponbonus2, 3) is 1)>>\ <<var $apval + 1>>\ <</if>>\ <<if ($style is "Kiihakai")>>\ <<var $apval + 1>>\ <</if>>\ <<apboost $apval>>\ <<else>>\ The power within your Chi-Storing $equippedweapon2 is sizeable pool of spiritual chi, one that you're in need of. You call upon the life energy you've been passively storing inside the weapon and feel it rush throughout your aura like a cool glass of water bringing life back into a dehydrated body. <<var $menuval 2>>\ <<if (dig($weaponbonus2, 3) is 1)>>\ <<var $menuval 3>>\ <</if>>\ ''[$menuval Chi Points Restored]'' <<var $chispent - $menuval>>\ <<if ($chispent lt 0)>>\ <<var $chispent 0>>\ <</if>>\ <</if>>\ <<var $chistoring2 1>>\ <<page "Continue" "menu-cultivation">>\ #show-if (($style is "Akakiru") and ($styleswapper isnot "")) Change the Core Alignment of your 'Infinity Edge' Technique. [Currently cap($styleswapper)] -> "menu-cultivation-styleswapper" The swords you call into being from the sharpened chi of your soul, animated to aid you in combat, can serve a variety of purposes. From blocking attacks, pressing the assault alongside your main weapon, distracting your foes, or flying alongside your energy blasts to damage opponents. You cycle your chi through the center of your $auracolor aura and refocus your spirit's alignment, adjusting the Technique's focus to aid your... #show-if (($style is "Aoyusumu") and ($styleswapper isnot "")) Change the Core Alignment of your 'Dharmic Wheel' Technique. [Currently cap($styleswapper)] -> "menu-cultivation-styleswapper" The power of the Dharmic Wheel rests deep within your soul, able to manifest at a moment's notice. Its power alters the scales of balance in your favor in all things so long as you grant it your focus. Despite the religious connotations, at its core, the ability is still kinetic Sacred Chi passively boosting your performance. Exactly what performance that is, is up to you. You cycle your chi through the center of your $auracolor aura and refocus your spirit's alignment, adjusting the Technique's focus to aid your... #show-if (($style is "Kiihakai") and ($styleswapper isnot "")) Change the Core Alignment of your 'Dragon Fist' Technique. [Currently cap($styleswapper)] -> "menu-cultivation-styleswapper" Mystic Chi has always been able to replicate your will, you just never expected it to replicate your emotions at the height of your ferocity. You certainly didn't expect it to shape parts of your aura into roaring dragons. The animated minion-like chi is offputting when you fight, but necessary to reach your full potential. You cycle your chi through the center of your $auracolor aura and refocus your spirit's alignment, adjusting the Technique's focus to aid your... #show-if (($style is "Kurokonton") and ($styleswapper isnot "")) Change the Core Alignment of your 'Afterimage' Technique. [Currently cap($styleswapper)] -> "menu-cultivation-styleswapper" Speed is everything to a Kurokonton user. Whether dodging an attack, increasing a strike's velocity, pushing your energy blasts to hit faster, or outrunning your opponent, the intense and supernatural burst of speed from your Afterimage effect can help. The confusion of the illusion you leave behind is a nice side effect too. You cycle your chi through the center of your $auracolor aura and refocus your spirit's alignment, adjusting the Technique's focus to aid your... #show-if (($style is "Midorikatai") and ($styleswapper isnot "")) Change the Core Alignment of your 'Beastmight' Technique. [Currently cap($styleswapper)] -> "menu-cultivation-styleswapper" Midorikatai has always been a 'heavier' kind of chi, but through the Beastmight Technique you've pushed it to the next level. The chi you wrap around your body can now triple your weight at the moment of impact to land devastating blows or resist enemy attacks. What's more surprising is its effect on your energy attacks, all of which can now land with the weight of a physical strike. By proper training you've even learned to press your Beastmight into the front of your aura after sprinting, increasing your movement speed as if you were being pulled by a boulder tied to your waist. You cycle your chi through the center of your $auracolor aura and refocus your spirit's alignment, adjusting the Technique's focus to aid your... #show-if ($armorytrophy gt 0) Absorb the bestial fang from the Thunderfall armory to gain a portion of its power. (Soul Treasure AP: $armorytrophy) [Alchemy Check] -> "menu-cultivation-soultreasure" The large fang glows with a violent red power filled with the essence of rage. Cool. <<var $trophyval $armorytrophy>>\ <<var $armorytrophy 0>>\ #show-if ($sabretoothtrophy gt 0) Absorb the glowing claw from the sabretooth Beast to gain a portion of its power. [Soul Treasure AP: $sabretoothtrophy] [Alchemy Check] -> "menu-cultivation-soultreasure" The red claw resonates a sense of power and pride expected of a creature that holds domain over the forest. <<var $trophyval $sabretoothtrophy>>\ <<var $sabretoothtrophy 0>>\ #show-if ($caravantrophy gt 0) Absorb the violent boneshard you won from the race against Bo to gain a portion of its power. [Soul Treasure AP: $caravantrophy] [Alchemy Check] -> "menu-cultivation-soultreasure" The glowing red boneshard emits a smoke at all times that clings to the object like an obfuscating aura. <<var $trophyval $caravantrophy>>\ <<var $caravantrophy 0>>\ #show-if ($wyrmtrophy gt 5) Absorb the amber scale you took from the Wyrm to gain a portion of its power. [Soul Treasure AP: $wyrmtrophy] [Alchemy Check] -> "menu-cultivation-soultreasure" The pulsating amber scale in your hand beats like a heart. Even with the creature dead, you can still feel a portion of its enormous power resting in your hand. <<var $trophyval $wyrmtrophy>>\ <<var $wyrmtrophy 1>>\ #show-if ($lightbringertrophy gt 5) Absorb the glowing orb you took from the Lightbringer's corpse to gain a portion of its power. [Soul Treasure AP: $lightbringertrophy] [Alchemy Check] -> "menu-cultivation-soultreasure" The hardened, glossy orb from the center of the Lightbringer's unusual limb, shining so brightly that it functions as a fine torch, is the size of your forearm. Even after the Wild God spawn's death you can feel the Soul Treasure's desire to sear the hand you use to hold it. <<var $trophyval $lightbringertrophy>>\ <<var $lightbringertrophy 1>>\ #show-if ($draketrophy gt 5) Absorb the petrified emberheart of the Drake you slew in the Rabbit Trial. [Soul Treasure AP: $draketrophy] [Alchemy Check] -> "menu-cultivation-soultreasure" The heart of the Drake is a painfully hot glowing ember bigger than your head. It's more like an actively smoldering log of wood than any organ you've ever seen. <<var $trophyval $draketrophy>>\ <<var $draketrophy 1>>\ #show-if ($soultreasure_1 gte 1) Absorb the Sharkfin Treasure you took from the Witching Hour School. [Soul Treasure AP: $soultreasure_1] [Alchemy Check] -> "menu-cultivation-soultreasure" The large sharkfin radiants in your hands with the power of imbued flesh. Wild Chi drips from the object like honey from a crushed beehive. <<var $trophyval $soultreasure_1>>\ <<var $soultreasure_1 0>>\ #show-if ($mawchargertrophy gt 0) Absorb the armored plate you took from the Maw Charger's hide to gain a portion of its power. [Soul Treasure AP: $mawchargertrophy] [Alchemy Check] -> "menu-cultivation-soultreasure" The potent armor plate from the head of the maw charger, reverbrating with the bulking force of Wild Chi, is harder than any metal you've worked with before. Distilling this will take potent acids and consuming its elixir will not exactly be pleasant, but spiritual cultivation has never been about comforts. <<var $trophyval $mawchargertrophy>>\ <<var $mawchargertrophy 0>>\ #show-if ($quadrafangtrophy gt 0) Absorb the twisting four-pronged vertebrae you took from the quadrafang to gain a portion of its power. [Soul Treasure AP: $quadrafangtrophy] [Alchemy Check] -> "menu-cultivation-soultreasure" The twisting vertebrae used by the quadrafang to split its spine into four heads still holds much of its bestial might. It is from this glowing boneshard that the Beast was able to push power into four lunges at once, and that bottleneck absorbed the most of its Wild Chi throughout its life. Despite not being a fang or venom gland, the object still drops with the potent impression of venomous chi. <<var $trophyval $quadrafangtrophy>>\ <<var $quadrafangtrophy 0>>\ #show-if ($shakengaratrophy gt 0) Absorb the transluscent scaled orb of the Shakengara spirit to gain a portion of its power. [Soul Treasure AP: $shakengaratrophy] [Alchemy Check] -> "menu-cultivation-soultreasure" The ghostly orb in your palm is covered with the designed imagery of scales. You can see through its central layer, revealing a blue core within that resembles an oceanic world. It is from this Soul Treasure that the spirit was able to manipulate the Earth to shake like the waves of the ocean; a mighty ability and thus a mighty harvest. <<var $trophyval $shakengaratrophy>>\ <<var $shakengaratrophy 0>>\ #use-if ((($handseals gte 1) and ($stripped is false)) and (($fighting is false) or ($thievery gte 2))) Cast a Handseal. [Requires Handseals Skill] -> "menu-cultivation-handseals" #use-if ((($alchemy gte 1) and ($stripped is false)) and (($fighting is false) or ($thievery gte 5))) Refine an elixir. [Requires Alchemy Skill] -> "menu-cultivation-alchemy" #Stats Page -> "menu-stats" #use-if ($stripped is false) Inventory Page -> "menu-inventory" #Journal Page -> "menu-journal" You meditate upon your journey, focusing on... #Return to Game -> $return <</choose>>

<<if (($alchemy gte 3) and ($alchyboost lt 1))>>\ ''[Alchemy 3 Event]'' ''[Your Alchemy has reached the point that years of refinement has improved your body and mind.]'' ''[Select a Skill below to be increased by alchemical improvement.]'' <<choose "menu-cultivation-alchemy">> #Athletics <<var $alchyboost + 1>>\ <<var $athletics + 1>>\ ''[Athletics Skill Increased.]'' #Craft <<var $alchyboost + 1>>\ <<var $craft + 1>>\ ''[Craft Skill Increased.]'' #Deception <<var $alchyboost + 1>>\ <<var $deception + 1>>\ ''[Deception Skill Increased.]'' #Handseals <<var $alchyboost + 1>>\ <<var $handseals + 1>>\ ''[Handseals Skill Increased.]'' <<fuuinjutsudescription>>\ #Insight <<var $alchyboost + 1>>\ <<var $insight + 1>>\ ''[Insight Skill Increased.]'' #Lore <<var $alchyboost + 1>>\ <<var $lore + 1>>\ ''[Lore Skill Increased.]'' #Perception <<var $alchyboost + 1>>\ <<var $perception + 1>>\ ''[Perception Skill Increased.]'' #Persuasion <<var $alchyboost + 1>>\ <<var $persuasion + 1>>\ ''[Persuasion Skill Increased.]'' #Stealth <<var $alchyboost + 1>>\ <<var $stealth + 1>>\ ''[Stealth Skill Increased.]'' #Survival <<var $alchyboost + 1>>\ <<var $survival + 1>>\ ''[Survival Skill Increased.]'' #Thievery <<var $alchyboost + 1>>\ <<learnthievery 1>>\ <</choose>> <<elseif (($alchemy gte 5) and ($alchyboost lt 2))>>\ ''[Alchemy 5 Event]'' ''[Your Alchemy has reached a new plateau through years of refinement.]'' ''[Select a Combat Core to increase its Surge rating by alchemical improvement.]'' <<choose "menu-cultivation-alchemy">> #Power Cores <<var $alchyboost + 1>>\ <<var $powsurge + 1>>\ ''[Your Power Core can now Surge 1 additional Core at a time.]'' #Fortitude Cores <<var $alchyboost + 1>>\ <<var $forsurge + 1>>\ ''[Your Fortitude Core can now Surge 1 additional Core at a time.]'' #Agility Cores <<var $alchyboost + 1>>\ <<var $agisurge + 1>>\ ''[Your Agility Core can now Surge 1 additional Core at a time.]'' #Soul Cores <<var $alchyboost + 1>>\ <<var $solsurge + 1>>\ ''[Your Soul Core can now Surge 1 additional Core at a time.]'' <</choose>> <<else>>\ <<if (($healingrecipe is 100) and (($chapter gte 1.5) and ($alchemy gte 1)))>>\ <<var $healingrecipe (10 - ($alchemydiscount + $alchemy))>>\ ''[Alchemy 1 Check Passed]'' ''[First Elixir Recipe Unlocked: Healing Elixir]'' <<elseif ((($background is "Herbalist") and ($alchemy gte 3)) and ($replenisherpillrecipe is 100))>>\ <<var $replenisherpillrecipe (9 - ($alchemydiscount + $alchemy))>>\ ''[Alchemy 3 Check Passed]'' ''[Elixir Recipe Unlocked: Replenisher Pill]'' <</if>>\ To a Martial Artist, the refiner's profession of alchemy is nearly as vital as the martial arts. Alchemy is used to mix potent ingredients into potions and pills that supernaturally enhance the consumer's performance, heal their ailments, or even aid their cultivation. A stained table stands before you with an array of mortars, reagents, tonics, formula scrolls, and mystic inks. Only a broke fool would be caught brewing elixirs without flashy colors. ''[Known Alchemical Recipes]'' <<if ($healingrecipe isnot 100)>>\ <<var $healingrecipe (10 - ($alchemydiscount + $alchemy))>>\ <<if ($healingrecipe lt 1)>>\ <<var $healingrecipe 1>>\ <</if>>\ ֍Healing Elixir: A red pill-like elixir that stores the enhanced medicinal properties. Due to the spiritual potency of this pill, holding more than 3 in close proximity disrupts their effectiveness. [Restores 1 Health] <</if>>\ <<if ($poison1recipe isnot 100)>>\ <<var $poison1recipe (6 - ($alchemydiscount + $alchemy))>>\ <<if ($poison1recipe lt 1)>>\ <<var $poison1recipe 1>>\ <</if>>\ ֍Common Poison: A simple clear liquid designed to wound its imbiber. This poison must be used for surprise attacks or ingested to be useful; it is not potent enough to remain on a weapon during combat against chi-wielding Martial Artists. [Poisons Targets] <</if>>\ <<if ($replenisherpillrecipe isnot 100)>>\ <<var $replenisherpillrecipe (11 - ($alchemydiscount + $alchemy))>>\ <<if ($replenisherpillrecipe lt 1)>>\ <<var $replenisherpillrecipe 1>>\ <</if>>\ ֍Replenisher Pill: A deep blue pill filled with the refined spiritual energy that replenishes a cultivator's lost chi when consumed. [Restores 1 Chi Point] <</if>>\ <<if ($lgpowpillrecipe isnot 100)>>\ <<var $lgpowpillrecipe (6 - ($alchemydiscount + $alchemy))>>\ <<if ($lgpowpillrecipe lt 1)>>\ <<var $lgpowpillrecipe 1>>\ <</if>>\ ֍Low Grade Power Pill: An opaque pill-like elixir often used in combat to restore emptied Cores and allow continuous high performance in terms of strength. [Restores 2 Empty Power Cores] <</if>>\ <<if ($lgforpillrecipe isnot 100)>>\ <<var $lgforpillrecipe (6 - ($alchemydiscount + $alchemy))>>\ <<if ($lgforpillrecipe lt 1)>>\ <<var $lgforpillrecipe 1>>\ <</if>>\ ֍Low Grade Fortitude Pill: An opaque pill-like elixir often used in combat to restore emptied Cores and allow continuous high performance in terms of endurance. [Restores 2 Empty Fortitude Cores] <</if>>\ <<if ($lgagipillrecipe isnot 100)>>\ <<var $lgagipillrecipe (6 - ($alchemydiscount + $alchemy))>>\ <<if ($lgagipillrecipe lt 1)>>\ <<var $lgagipillrecipe 1>>\ <</if>>\ ֍Low Grade Agility Pill: An opaque pill-like elixir often used in combat to restore emptied Cores and allow continuous high performance in terms of speed. [Restores 2 Empty Agility Cores] <</if>>\ <<if ($lgsolpillrecipe isnot 100)>>\ <<var $lgsolpillrecipe (6 - ($alchemydiscount + $alchemy))>>\ <<if ($lgsolpillrecipe lt 1)>>\ <<var $lgsolpillrecipe 1>>\ <</if>>\ ֍Low Grade Soul Pill: An opaque pill-like elixir often used in combat to restore emptied Cores and allow continuous high performance in terms of spiritual energy. [Restores 2 Empty Soul Cores] <</if>>\ <<choose "menu-cultivation-alchemy">> #use-if ($alchemyreagents gte $healingrecipe) Brew a Healing Elixir pill. [$healingrecipe Alchemy Reagents] <<include "menu-cultivation-refinerkitpill">>\ ''[Item Gained: 1 Healing Elixir]'' <<var $healingelixir + 1>>\ <<var $alchemyreagents - $healingrecipe>>\ #show-if ($replenisherpillrecipe isnot 100) use-if ($alchemyreagents gte $replenisherpillrecipe) Refine a Replenisher Elixir pill. [$replenisherpillrecipe Alchemy Reagents] <<include "menu-cultivation-refinerkitpill">>\ ''[Item Gained: 1 Replenisher Pill]'' <<var $replenisherpill + 1>>\ <<var $alchemyreagents - $replenisherpillrecipe>>\ #show-if ($poison1recipe isnot 100) use-if ($alchemyreagents gte $poison1recipe) Concoct a vial of Common Poison. [$poison1recipe Alchemy Reagents] <<include "menu-cultivation-refinerkitpill">>\ ''[Item Gained: 1 Common Poison]'' <<var $commonpoison + 1>>\ <<var $alchemyreagents - $poison1recipe>>\ #show-if ($lgpowpillrecipe isnot 100) use-if ($alchemyreagents gte $lgpowpillrecipe) Refine a Low Grade Power Pill. [$lgpowpillrecipe Alchemy Reagents] <<include "menu-cultivation-refinerkitpill">>\ ''[Item Gained: 1 Low Grade Power Pill] <<var $lgpowpill + 1>>\ <<var $alchemyreagents - $lgpowpillrecipe>>\ #show-if ($lgforpillrecipe isnot 100) use-if ($alchemyreagents gte $lgforpillrecipe) Refine a Low Grade Fortitude Pill. [$lgforpillrecipe Alchemy Reagents] <<include "menu-cultivation-refinerkitpill">>\ ''[Item Gained: 1 Low Grade Fortitude Pill] <<var $lgforpill + 1>>\ <<var $alchemyreagents - $lgforpillrecipe>>\ #show-if ($lgagipillrecipe isnot 100) use-if ($alchemyreagents gte $lgagipillrecipe) Refine a Low Grade Agility Pill. [$lgagipillrecipe Alchemy Reagents] <<include "menu-cultivation-refinerkitpill">>\ ''[Item Gained: 1 Low Grade Agility Pill] <<var $lgagipill + 1>>\ <<var $alchemyreagents - $lgagipillrecipe>>\ #show-if ($lgsolpillrecipe isnot 100) use-if ($alchemyreagents gte $lgsolpillrecipe) Refine a Low Grade Soul Pill. [$lgsolpillrecipe Alchemy Reagents] <<include "menu-cultivation-refinerkitpill">>\ ''[Item Gained: 1 Low Grade Soul Pill] <<var $lgsolpill + 1>>\ <<var $alchemyreagents - $lgsolpillrecipe>>\ #Nevermind. -> "menu-cultivation" #Return to Game. -> $return <</choose>> <</if>>\

Each Martial Artist may hold multiple sources of natural energy deep within their spiritual core, and it is by calling on that power they display the color of their power's source. A fire artist's body would burn red while using their strongest Fire Techniques, a Kiihakai sorcerer's body would glow gold while casting his most powerful incantation. Yet many actions requiring chi can use any type of natural energy, such as simply punching harder, leaping higher, casting a handseal, or summoning the Martial Artist's full power for a serious fight. In such cases, the color displayed by the Martial Artist's aura will be whichever they feel a more natural calling to. In your case, you find it's more comfortable to channel chi that is... <<choose "menu-cultivation-aurashow">> #use-if (($element1 is "Darkness") or ($element2 is "Darkness")) Black [Darkness Chi] <<var $auracolor "black">>\ #use-if (($element1 is "Earth") or ($element2 is "Earth")) Amber [Earth Chi] <<var $auracolor "amber">>\ #use-if (($element1 is "Fire") or ($element2 is "Fire")) Red [Fire Chi] <<var $auracolor "red">>\ #use-if (($element1 is "Ice") or ($element2 is "Ice")) Arctic Blue [Ice Chi] <<var $auracolor "arctic blue">>\ #use-if (($element1 is "Light") or ($element2 is "Light")) Yellow [Light Chi] <<var $auracolor "yellow">>\ #use-if (($element1 is "Storm") or ($element2 is "Storm")) Violet [Storm Chi] <<var $auracolor "violet">>\ #use-if (($element1 is "Water") or ($element2 is "Water")) Blue [Water Chi] <<var $auracolor "blue">>\ #use-if (($element1 is "Wind") or ($element2 is "Wind")) Emerald [Wind Chi] <<var $auracolor "emerald">>\ #use-if (($style is "Akakiru") and ($stylerank gte 1)) Scarlet [Akakiru's Bladed Chi] <<var $auracolor "scarlet">>\ #use-if (($style is "Aoyusumu") and ($stylerank gte 1)) Cerulean [Aoyusumu's Sacred Chi] <<var $auracolor "cerulean">>\ #use-if (($style is "Kiihakai") and ($stylerank gte 1)) Gold [Kiihakai's Mystic Chi] <<var $auracolor "gold">>\ #use-if (($style is "Kurokonton") and ($stylerank gte 1)) Purple [Kurokonton's Cursed Chi] <<var $auracolor "purple">>\ #use-if (($style is "Midorikatai") and ($stylerank gte 1)) Green [Midorikatai's Wild Chi] <<var $auracolor "green">>\ #show-if ($tails gte 2) Pink [Kitsune's Foxfire] <<var $auracolor "pink">>\ #show-if (($stylerank gte 1) and (($element1 isnot "None") or ($element2 isnot ""))) A combination of your Elemental and Style auras. -> "menu-cultivation-auramix" #Nevermind -> "menu-cultivation" #Return to Game -> $return <</choose>>

<<var $coloradj "">>\ <<var $tmpcolor "">>\ By combining the chi sources within your soul you're able to have your elemental powers influence how your Style-colored aura acts as it covers your body, whether that be how it's displayed to the human eye or how it feels in your enemy's spiritual senses. <<if (($element1 is "None") or ($element2 is ""))>>\ By using this method with the \ <<if ($element1 is "None")>>\ $element2 \ <<else>>\ $element1 \ <</if>>\ Element your aura will become \ <<if (($element1 is "Darkness") or ($element2 is "Darkness"))>>\ <<var $coloradj "dark ">>\ <<elseif (($element1 is "Earth") or ($element2 is "Earth"))>>\ <<var $coloradj "dense ">>\ <<elseif (($element1 is "Fire") or ($element2 is "Fire"))>>\ <<var $coloradj "burning ">>\ <<elseif (($element1 is "Ice") or ($element2 is "Ice"))>>\ <<var $coloradj "misty ">>\ <<elseif (($element1 is "Light") or ($element2 is "Light"))>>\ <<var $coloradj "shining ">>\ <<elseif (($element1 is "Storm") or ($element2 is "Storm"))>>\ <<var $coloradj "crackling ">>\ <<elseif (($element1 is "Water") or ($element2 is "Water"))>>\ <<var $coloradj "swirling ">>\ <<elseif (($element1 is "Wind") or ($element2 is "Wind"))>>\ <<var $coloradj "howling ">>\ <</if>>\ <<if ($style is "Akakiru")>>\ <<var $tmpcolor $coloradj+"scarlet">>\ <<elseif ($style is "Aoyusumu")>>\ <<var $tmpcolor $coloradj+"cerulean">>\ <<elseif ($style is "Kiihakai")>>\ <<var $tmpcolor $coloradj+"gold">>\ <<elseif ($style is "Kurokonton")>>\ <<var $tmpcolor $coloradj+"purple">>\ <<elseif ($style is "Midorikatai")>>\ <<var $tmpcolor $coloradj+"green">>\ <</if>>\ ''$tmpcolor''. Is this what you want? <<choose "menu-cultivation-aurashow">> #Yes, I will change my aura to $tmpcolor. <<var $auracolor $tmpcolor>>\ <<unset $tmpcolor>>\ <<unset $coloradj>>\ #show-if ($tails gte 2) No, I want an aura of <<print $coloradj>>pink foxfire. <<var $auracolor $coloradj+"green">>\ <<unset $tmpcolor>>\ <<unset $coloradj>>\ #No, take me back. -> "menu-cultivation-aura" <</choose>> <<else>>\ As you have walked the path of two separate Shugendō Elements, you must select which type of chi your aura will focus on. <<if ($style is "Akakiru")>>\ <<var $coloradj "scarlet">>\ <<elseif ($style is "Aoyusumu")>>\ <<var $coloradj "cerulean">>\ <<elseif ($style is "Kiihakai")>>\ <<var $coloradj "gold">>\ <<elseif ($style is "Kurokonton")>>\ <<var $coloradj "purple">>\ <<elseif ($style is "Midorikatai")>>\ <<var $coloradj "green">>\ <</if>>\ <<choose "menu-cultivation-aurashow">> #use-if (($element1 is "Darkness") or ($element2 is "Darkness")) A dark $coloradj aura. <<var $auracolor ("dark " + $coloradj)>>\ <<unset $tmpcolor>>\ <<unset $coloradj>>\ #use-if (($element1 is "Earth") or ($element2 is "Earth")) A dense $coloradj aura. <<var $auracolor ("dense " + $coloradj)>>\ <<unset $tmpcolor>>\ <<unset $coloradj>>\ #use-if (($element1 is "Fire") or ($element2 is "Fire")) A burning $coloradj aura. <<var $auracolor ("burning " + $coloradj)>>\ <<unset $tmpcolor>>\ <<unset $coloradj>>\ #use-if (($element1 is "Ice") or ($element2 is "Ice")) A misty $coloradj aura. <<var $auracolor ("misty " + $coloradj)>>\ <<unset $tmpcolor>>\ <<unset $coloradj>>\ #use-if (($element1 is "Light") or ($element2 is "Light")) A shining $coloradj aura. <<var $auracolor ("shining " + $coloradj)>>\ <<unset $tmpcolor>>\ <<unset $coloradj>>\ #use-if (($element1 is "Storm") or ($element2 is "Storm")) A crackling $coloradj aura. <<var $auracolor ("crackling " + $coloradj)>>\ <<unset $tmpcolor>>\ <<unset $coloradj>>\ #use-if (($element1 is "Water") or ($element2 is "Water")) A swirling $coloradj aura. <<var $auracolor ("swirling " + $coloradj)>>\ <<unset $tmpcolor>>\ <<unset $coloradj>>\ #use-if (($element1 is "Wind") or ($element2 is "Wind")) A howling $coloradj aura. <<var $auracolor ("howling " + $coloradj)>>\ <<unset $tmpcolor>>\ <<unset $coloradj>>\ #show-if (($tails gte 2) and (($element1 is "Darkness") or ($element2 is "Darkness"))) A dark pink aura. <<var $auracolor ("dark pink")>>\ <<unset $tmpcolor>>\ <<unset $coloradj>>\ #show-if (($tails gte 2) and (($element1 is "Earth") or ($element2 is "Earth"))) A dense pink aura. <<var $auracolor ("dense pink")>>\ <<unset $tmpcolor>>\ <<unset $coloradj>>\ #show-if (($tails gte 2) and (($element1 is "Fire") or ($element2 is "Fire"))) A burning pink aura. <<var $auracolor ("burning pink")>>\ <<unset $tmpcolor>>\ <<unset $coloradj>>\ #show-if (($tails gte 2) and (($element1 is "Ice") or ($element2 is "Ice"))) A misty pink aura. <<var $auracolor ("misty pink")>>\ <<unset $tmpcolor>>\ <<unset $coloradj>>\ #show-if (($tails gte 2) and (($element1 is "Light") or ($element2 is "Light"))) A shining pink aura. <<var $auracolor ("shining pink")>>\ <<unset $tmpcolor>>\ <<unset $coloradj>>\ #show-if (($tails gte 2) and (($element1 is "Storm") or ($element2 is "Storm"))) A crackling pink aura. <<var $auracolor ("crackling pink")>>\ <<unset $tmpcolor>>\ <<unset $coloradj>>\ #show-if (($tails gte 2) and (($element1 is "Water") or ($element2 is "Water"))) A swirling pink aura. <<var $auracolor ("swirling pink")>>\ <<unset $tmpcolor>>\ <<unset $coloradj>>\ #show-if (($tails gte 2) and (($element1 is "Wind") or ($element2 is "Wind"))) A howling pink aura. <<var $auracolor ("howling pink")>>\ <<unset $tmpcolor>>\ <<unset $coloradj>>\ #Nevermind. -> "menu-cultivation-aura" <</choose>> <</if>>\

''[Aura color changed to "$auracolor"]'' <<include "menu-cultivation">>\

When enough inner chi reverberates through your soul it's time for an Immortal Core Advancement. Pushing your Aura Pressure down onto one of your cores until enough of your spiritual energy fits inside to force noticeable growth is a rejuvenating experience made easier by your life of training. Choices made in combat and other situations have granted you progress towards this Advancement seen below: <<var $freeap ($aurapressure - $allocatedap)>>\ <<var $powdisplay (100 - $powexp)>>\ <<if ($powdisplay lte 0)>>\ <<var $powdisplay 0>>\ <</if>>\ <<var $fordisplay (100 - $forexp)>>\ <<if ($fordisplay lte 0)>>\ <<var $fordisplay 0>>\ <</if>>\ <<var $agidisplay (100 - $agiexp)>>\ <<if ($agidisplay lte 0)>>\ <<var $agidisplay 0>>\ <</if>>\ <<var $soldisplay (100 - $solexp)>>\ <<if ($soldisplay lte 0)>>\ <<var $soldisplay 0>>\ <</if>>\ ''Power Core Progress:'' $powexp Progress Earned ''Fortitude Core Progress:'' $forexp Progress Earned ''Agility Core Progress:'' $agiexp Progress Earned ''Soul Core Progress:'' $solexp Progress Earned <<choose "menu-cultivation-core">> #use-if ($freeap gte $powdisplay) Advance your Power Core by +1. [Costs $powdisplay AP] <<if ((100 - $powexp) lte 0)>>\ <<var $powexp - 100>>\ <<else>>\ <<var $allocatedap + (100 - $powexp)>>\ <<var $powexp 0>>\ <</if>>\ <<var $power + 1>>\ ''[Power Core permanently increased by +1.]'' #use-if ($freeap gte $fordisplay) Advance your Fortitude Core by +1. [Costs $fordisplay AP] <<if ((100 - $forexp) lte 0)>>\ <<var $forexp - 100>>\ <<else>>\ <<var $allocatedap + (100 - $forexp)>>\ <<var $forexp 0>>\ <</if>>\ <<var $fortitude + 1>>\ ''[Fortitude Core permanently increased by +1.]'' #use-if ($freeap gte $agidisplay) Advance your Agility Core by +1. [Costs $agidisplay AP] <<if ((100 - $agiexp) lte 0)>>\ <<var $agiexp - 100>>\ <<else>>\ <<var $allocatedap + (100 - $agiexp)>>\ <<var $agiexp 0>>\ <</if>>\ <<var $agility + 1>>\ ''[Agility Core permanently increased by +1.]'' #use-if ($freeap gte $soldisplay) Advance your Soul Core by +1. [Costs $soldisplay AP] <<if ((100 - $solexp) lte 0)>>\ <<var $solexp - 100>>\ <<else>>\ <<var $allocatedap + (100 - $solexp)>>\ <<var $solexp 0>>\ <</if>>\ <<var $soul + 1>>\ ''[Soul Core permanently increased by +1.]'' #Go Back -> "menu-cultivation" <</choose>>

<<var $shards ($shards - $newap)>>\ You take a meditative stance and brush your soul's power against the collection of Shards, dissolving them into raw energy, before swiftly "tugging" on your core at the center of your body and spirit to absorb the nearby energy into your very being. The power from the Shards pushes your aura to its limits. You feel your very soul and connection to life pulse, groan...and stretch. The result is instant and unpleasant. <<if ($mortallimits is true)>>\ <<apboost $shardcycle>>\ <<else>>\ ''[Aura Pressure +$shardcycle]'' <<var $aurapressure + $shardcycle>>\ <</if>>\ Your body heats up with fever and your vision blurs, but the sweat and panting pass in seconds as your increased Aura Pressure acts to restore your stamina lost from the process. <<page "My power grows" "menu-cultivation">>

<<if (((($northwindritual is 100) and ($southwindritual is 100))) and (($chapter gte 1.5) and ($handseals gte 2)))>>\ <<include "menu-cultivation-handseals2">>\ <<elseif (((($style is "Kiihakai") and ($handseals gte 4)) or (($handseals gte 5) and (((($northwindritual isnot 100) and ($southwindritual isnot 100)) and ($eastwindritual isnot 100)) and ($westwindritual isnot 100)))) and (($chapter gte 3) and (dig($menufun, 1) is 1)))>>\ <<include "menu-cultivation-handseals3">>\ <<else>>\ <<include "menu-cultivation-handseals4">>\ <</if>>\

''[Handseals 2 Check Passed]'' Your burgeoning skills in the art of Sealing have finally culminated into a single ritual picked up from your childhood of study. Any other rituals will have to be learned elsewhere, but this one has come naturally. Choose a Seal from the beginner options below: <<choose "menu-cultivation-handseals4">> #use-if ($northwindritual is 100) Auspicious Northern Seal [Casting this Seal temporarily increases your Craft, Perception, or Survival by +1.] <<var $northwindritual (6 - ($sealdiscount + $handseals))>>\ #use-if ($southwindritual is 100) Auspicious Southern Seal [This Seal temporarily increases your Deception, Stealth, or Thievery by +1.] <<var $southwindritual (6 - ($sealdiscount + $handseals))>>\ <</choose>>

''[Special Event!!]'' Your study of handseals and sigils has gone well over the years, but only recently has something about the underlying practice of Sealing become enlightened in your mind. By combining the principle of all four Auspicious directional Seals you've developed a new application for their shared benefits. Invisible lines of power wrap over your body, ready to ignite in $auracolor light at a moments notice to call upon the planet's directional forces as an anchor for your sorcerous effects. Better still, you know just how to hide an extra Seal into the safety of that wrapped chi. In such an arcane sealant, you could enhance your aptitudes even while resting. <<var $menufun + 10000000000>>\ ''[Select the Skill to be increased by this new mastery.]'' <<choose "menu-cultivation-handseals4">> #Alchemy <<learntech 5140170000000070 "Planetary Force" "Passively increases Soul Surge by +1. Passively increases Alchemy by +1.">>\ #Athletics <<learntech 5140270000000070 "Planetary Force" "Passively increases Soul Surge by +1. Passively increases Athletics by +1.">>\ #Craft <<learntech 5140370000000070 "Planetary Force" "Passively increases Soul Surge by +1. Passively increases Craft by +1.">>\ #Deception <<learntech 5140470000000070 "Planetary Force" "Passively increases Soul Surge by +1. Passively increases Deception by +1.">>\ #Handseals <<learntech 5140570000000070 "Planetary Force" "Passively increases Soul Surge by +1. Passively increases Handseals by +1.">>\ #Insight <<learntech 5140670000000070 "Planetary Force" "Passively increases Soul Surge by +1. Passively increases Insight by +1.">>\ #Lore <<learntech 5140710000000070 "Planetary Force" "Passively increases Soul Surge by +1. Passively increases Lore by +1.">>\ #Perception <<learntech 5140720000000070 "Planetary Force" "Passively increases Soul Surge by +1. Passively increases Perception by +1.">>\ #Persuasion <<learntech 5140730000000070 "Planetary Force" "Passively increases Soul Surge by +1. Passively increases Persuasion by +1.">>\ #Stealth <<learntech 5140740000000070 "Planetary Force" "Passively increases Soul Surge by +1. Passively increases Stealth by +1.">>\ #Survival <<learntech 5140750000000070 "Planetary Force" "Passively increases Soul Surge by +1. Passively increases Survival by +1.">>\ #Thievery <<learntech 5140760000000070 "Planetary Force" "Passively increases Soul Surge by +1. Passively increases Thievery by +1.">>\ <</choose>>

The sage's profession of handsealing is nearly as vital to Martial Artists as the martial arts. Handseals are temporary chi enhancements used to improve the quality of an object or cause an effect to trigger inside a designated area. These rituals are performed through a combination of the twelve zodiac finger formations known as handseals. By imbuing chi into each handseal while focusing on an object, person, or place, a temporary sigil appears on the target with each handseal execution. When the right combination of handseals is completed in the right formation with the right intention and enough natural energy, a mystical effect is achieved. ''[Known Seals]'' <<if ($eastwindritual isnot 100)>>\ <<var $eastwindritual (6 - ($sealdiscount + $handseals))>>\ <<if ($eastwindritual lte 0)>>\ <<var $eastwindritual 1>>\ <</if>>\ ֎Auspicious Eastern Seal: A circular brand placed on the palm of the left hand that temporarily increases your aptitude in Alchemy, Handseals, or Lore by +1. <</if>>\ <<if ($northwindritual isnot 100)>>\ <<var $northwindritual (6 - ($sealdiscount + $handseals))>>\ <<if ($northwindritual lte 0)>>\ <<var $northwindritual 1>>\ <</if>>\ ֎Auspicious Northern Seal: A circular brand placed on the back of the right hand that temporarily increases your aptitude in Craft, Perception, or Survival by +1. <</if>>\ <<if ($southwindritual isnot 100)>>\ <<var $southwindritual (6 - ($sealdiscount + $handseals))>>\ <<if ($southwindritual lte 0)>>\ <<var $southwindritual 1>>\ <</if>>\ ֎Auspicious Southern Seal: A circular brand placed on the back of the left hand that temporarily increases your aptitude in Deception, Stealth, or Thievery by +1. <</if>>\ <<if ($westwindritual isnot 100)>>\ <<var $westwindritual (6 - ($sealdiscount + $handseals))>>\ <<if ($westwindritual lte 0)>>\ <<var $westwindritual 1>>\ <</if>>\ ֎Auspicious Western Seal: A circular brand placed on the palm of the right hand that temporarily increases your aptitude in Athletics, Insight, or Persuasion by +1. <</if>>\ <<if ($countersealritual isnot 100)>>\ <<var $countersealritual (5 - ($sealdiscount + $handseals))>>\ <<if ($countersealritual lte 0)>>\ <<var $countersealritual 1>>\ <</if>>\ ֎Counterseal: The ability to erase enemy Seals is one of the most important abilities for a Sealcaster. By invoking this Seal and spending the right amount of chi or ritual components the caster is able to undo an enemy effect. It has even been known to temporarily nullify Soul Treasures. <</if>>\ <<if ($handseals gte 1)>>\ ֎Fuuinjutsu: By invoking the proper handseals to scribe their sigils onto a Seal tag (a rectangular strip of paper), the Sealer is able to weightlessly store an object into that piece of paper. The object can be summoned back into the world by ripping the Seal tag in half. Heavier and larger objects require a higher Handseals skill to properly Seal away. <</if>>\ <<if ($hungryspiritritual isnot 1)>>\ <<if ($handseals gte 2)>>\ <<var $menuval (100-(Math.round(100/($hungryspiritritual+(($handseals-1)*0.5)))))>>\ <<else>>\ <<var $menuval (100-(Math.round(100/$hungryspiritritual)))>>\ <</if>>\ ֎Hungry Spirit Seal: A meditative Seal forming intricate markings on the user's abdomen and cheeks that improves the efficiency of cycling shards. A higher Handseals rating increases this efficiency even further. [Current Efficiency: $menuval% Reduction] <<var $menuval 0>>\ <</if>>\ <<if ($reinforceritual isnot 100)>>\ ֎Reinforcement Seal: A standard ritual to harden an object against damage, doubly so against chi damage by Aura Pressures weaker than the caster. This Seal is most commonly used by non-Akakiru fighters to avoid breaking their weapons in battle. <</if>>\ <<if ($powsealritual isnot 100)>>\ <<var $powsealritual (9 - ($sealdiscount + $handseals))>>\ <<if ($powsealritual lte 0)>>\ <<var $powsealritual 1>>\ <</if>>\ ֎Seal of the Cathayan Lord: A masterful combat Seal hidden in the wielder's Cores to avoid shattering in combat. This rare, potent Seal was created by the Cathayan Emperors of old and increases the caster's Power by 1 for hours, sometimes even days. <</if>>\ <<if ($forsealritual isnot 100)>>\ <<var $forsealritual (9 - ($sealdiscount + $handseals))>>\ <<if ($forsealritual lte 0)>>\ <<var $forsealritual 1>>\ <</if>>\ ֎Seal of the Infinite Plains Lord: A masterful combat Seal hidden in the wielder's Cores to avoid shattering in combat. This rare, potent Seal was created by the Horselords of the Infinite Thunderplains and increases the caster's Fortitude by 1 for hours, sometimes even days. <</if>>\ <<if ($solsealritual isnot 100)>>\ <<var $solsealritual (9 - ($sealdiscount + $handseals))>>\ <<if ($solsealritual lte 0)>>\ <<var $solsealritual 1>>\ <</if>>\ ֎Seal of the Yomijin Lord: A masterful combat Seal hidden in the wielder's Cores to avoid shattering in combat. This rare, potent Seal was created by the Princes of New Yomi and increases the caster's Soul by 1 for hours, sometimes even days. <</if>>\ <<if ($agisealritual isnot 100)>>\ <<var $agisealritual (9 - ($sealdiscount + $handseals))>>\ <<if ($agisealritual lte 0)>>\ <<var $agisealritual 1>>\ <</if>>\ ֎Seal of the Zenshin Lord: A masterful combat Seal hidden in the wielder's Cores to avoid shattering in combat. This rare, potent Seal was created by the first Emperor of Imperial Rasen and increases the caster's Agility by 1 for hours, sometimes even days. <</if>>\ <<if ($wep1enchantritual isnot 100)>>\ <<var $wep1enchantritual (9 - ($sealdiscount + $handseals))>>\ <<if ($wep1enchantritual lte 0)>>\ <<var $wep1enchantritual 1>>\ <</if>>\ ֎Soulsoak Imbuement: A Seal specifically designed to aid weapon-wielders, this Seal involves soaking a weapon in the wielder's chi over time along with an offering of burnt Beast fur. Over time the weapon takes on an extension of the user's will and the Beast's power, allowing the wielder to access the power stored in the weapon to improve their chi capacity. <</if>>\ <<if ($nltrapritual isnot 100)>>\ <<var $nltrapritual (5 - ($sealdiscount + $handseals))>>\ <<if ($nltrapritual lte 0)>>\ <<var $nltrapritual 1>>\ <</if>>\ ֎Warding Seal: A non-lethal trap that can paralyze whoever touches or passes by the Seal. Certain conditions can be set to ignore or only target certain individuals or creatures by using a piece of the target such as their hair or presence during the Sealcasting. <</if>>\ <<if ($demonpowers gt 1000000000000000)>>\ ''[Demonic Powers]'' <<if (dig($demonpowers, 3) gte 1)>>\ ֎Dead Mountain's Glaive: An execution Technique that conjures an eight-foot long halberd from the depths of Hell. When using the weapon to pierce through the chest of a Martial Artist with a shattered aura, it will fracture their soul and absorb their Heartsblood to feed the power of the wielder. The demonic nature of this effect is subtle. <</if>>\ <<if (dig($demonpowers, 2) gte 1)>>\ ֎Yomijin Hell Bargain: A ritual designed to offer up a soul's very essence to Hell in exchange for a fraction of its power. This ritual is a vile, secretive sorcery that only functions in areas rich in Death Chi. Its activation is considered a capital crime in all of Imperial Rasen. <</if>>\ <<if (dig($demonpowers, 4) gte 1)>>\ ֎Bloodfuel: A fast-acting ritual to burn the user's blood and convert it to chi. <</if>>\ <</if>>\ <<choose "menu-cultivation-handseals4">> #show-if ($eastwindritual isnot 100) use-if (($ritualcomponents gte $eastwindritual) and (($fighting is false) or ($thievery gte 2))) Cast the Auspicious Eastern Seal. [$eastwindritual Ritual Components] -> "menu-seal-eastwind" #show-if ($eastwindritual isnot 100) use-if (((($chipool + ($soul / 2)) - $chispent) gte 3) and (($fighting is false) or ($thievery gte 2))) Cast the Auspicious Eastern Seal. [Spend 3 Chi] -> "menu-seal-eastwind" <<var $usechiinstead true>>\ #show-if ($northwindritual isnot 100) use-if (($ritualcomponents gte $northwindritual) and (($fighting is false) or ($thievery gte 2))) Cast the Auspicious Northern Seal. [$northwindritual Ritual Components] -> "menu-seal-northwind" #show-if ($northwindritual isnot 100) use-if (((($chipool + ($soul / 2)) - $chispent) gte 3) and (($fighting is false) or ($thievery gte 2))) Cast the Auspicious Northern Seal. [Spend 3 Chi] -> "menu-seal-northwind" <<var $usechiinstead true>>\ #show-if ($southwindritual isnot 100) use-if (($ritualcomponents gte $southwindritual) and (($fighting is false) or ($thievery gte 2))) Cast the Auspicious Southern Seal. [$southwindritual Ritual Components] -> "menu-seal-southwind" #show-if ($southwindritual isnot 100) use-if (((($chipool + ($soul / 2)) - $chispent) gte 3) and (($fighting is false) or ($thievery gte 2))) Cast the Auspicious Southern Seal. [Spend 3 Chi] -> "menu-seal-southwind" <<var $usechiinstead true>>\ #show-if ($westwindritual isnot 100) use-if (($ritualcomponents gte $westwindritual) and (($fighting is false) or ($thievery gte 2))) Cast the Auspicious Western Seal. [$westwindritual Ritual Components] -> "menu-seal-westwind" #show-if ($westwindritual isnot 100) use-if (((($chipool + ($soul / 2)) - $chispent) gte 3) and (($fighting is false) or ($thievery gte 2))) Cast the Auspicious Western Seal. [Spend 3 Chi] -> "menu-seal-westwind" <<var $usechiinstead true>>\ #show-if (($powsealritual isnot 100) and (dig($lordboost, 2) is 0)) use-if (($ritualcomponents gte $powsealritual) and (($fighting is false) or ($thievery gte 2))) Cast the Seal of the Cathayan Lord. [$powsealritual Ritual Components] -> "menu-cultivation-handseals4" <<var $lordboost + 1000>>\ <<var $power + 1>>\ ''[Ritual Cast: Seal of the Zenshin Lord]'' ''[Power Core Increased by 1]'' #show-if (($powsealritual isnot 100) and (dig($lordboost, 2) isnot 0)) use-if (dig($lordboost, 2) is 0) Cast the Seal of the Cathayan Lord. [Already Active!] -> "death" #show-if (($forsealritual isnot 100) and (dig($lordboost, 3) is 0)) use-if (($ritualcomponents gte $forsealritual) and (($fighting is false) or ($thievery gte 2))) Cast the Seal of the Infinite Plains Lord. [$forsealritual Ritual Components] -> "menu-cultivation-handseals4" <<var $lordboost + 100>>\ <<var $fortitude + 1>>\ ''[Ritual Cast: Seal of the Zenshin Lord]'' ''[Fortitude Core Increased by 1]'' #show-if (($forsealritual isnot 100) and (dig($lordboost, 3) isnot 0)) use-if (dig($lordboost, 3) is 0) Cast the Seal of the Infinite Plains Lord. [$forsealritual Ritual Components] #show-if (($solsealritual isnot 100) and (dig($lordboost, 5) is 0)) use-if (($ritualcomponents gte $solsealritual) and (($fighting is false) or ($thievery gte 2))) Cast the Seal of the Yomijin Lord. [$solsealritual Ritual Components] -> "menu-cultivation-handseals4" <<var $lordboost + 1>>\ <<var $soul + 1>>\ ''[Ritual Cast: Seal of the Zenshin Lord]'' ''[Soul Core Increased by 1]'' #show-if (($solsealritual isnot 100) and (dig($lordboost, 5) isnot 0)) use-if (dig($lordboost, 5) is 0) Cast the Seal of the Yomijin Lord. [Already Active!] -> "death" #show-if (($agisealritual isnot 100) and (dig($lordboost, 4) is 0)) use-if (($ritualcomponents gte $agisealritual) and (($fighting is false) or ($thievery gte 2))) Cast the Seal of the Zenshin Lord. [$agisealritual Ritual Components] -> "menu-cultivation-handseals4" <<var $lordboost + 10>>\ <<var $agility + 1>>\ ''[Ritual Cast: Seal of the Zenshin Lord]'' ''[Agility Core Increased by 1]'' #show-if (($agisealritual isnot 100) and (dig($lordboost, 4) isnot 0)) use-if (dig($lordboost, 4) is 0) Cast the Seal of the Zenshin Lord. [Already Active!] -> "death" #show-if (($rune_enhanced is false) and (dig($runesealritual, 1) gte 3)) use-if (($ritualcomponents gte 4) and (($fighting is false) or ($thievery gte 2))) Call upon your Runic Seals. [4 Ritual Components] -> "menu-seal-runes" #show-if ($rune_enhanced is true) use-if ($rune_enhanced is false) Activate your Runic Seals. [Already Active!] -> "death" #show-if ($solpowswapritual isnot 100) use-if ((($ritualcomponents gte 1) and ((($soul - $solspent) gte 1) and ($powspent gte 1))) and (($fighting is false) or ($thievery gte 2))) Drain a Soul Core to fill a Power Core. [1 Ritual Component] -> "menu-cultivation-handseals4" <<var $solspent + 1>>\ <<var $powspent - 1>>\ <<var $ritualcomponents - 1>>\ ''[1 Soul Core Drained]'' ''[1 Power Core Replenished]'' #show-if ($solforswapritual isnot 100) use-if ((($ritualcomponents gte 1) and ((($soul - $solspent) gte 1) and ($forspent gte 1))) and (($fighting is false) or ($thievery gte 2))) Drain a Soul Core to fill a Fortitude Core. [1 Ritual Component] -> "menu-cultivation-handseals4" <<var $solspent + 1>>\ <<var $forspent - 1>>\ <<var $ritualcomponents - 1>>\ ''[1 Soul Core Drained]'' ''[1 Fortitude Core Replenished]'' #show-if ($solagiswapritual isnot 100) use-if ((($ritualcomponents gte 1) and ((($soul - $solspent) gte 1) and ($agispent gte 1))) and (($fighting is false) or ($thievery gte 2))) Drain a Soul Core to fill an Agility Core. [1 Ritual Component] -> "menu-cultivation-handseals4" <<var $solspent + 1>>\ <<var $agispent - 1>>\ <<var $ritualcomponents - 1>>\ ''[1 Soul Core Drained]'' ''[1 Agility Core Replenished]'' #show-if ($powforswapritual isnot 100) use-if ((($ritualcomponents gte 1) and ((($power - $powspent) gte 1) and ($forspent gte 1))) and (($fighting is false) or ($thievery gte 2))) Drain a Power Core to fill a Fortitude Core. [1 Ritual Component] -> "menu-cultivation-handseals4" <<var $powspent + 1>>\ <<var $forspent - 1>>\ <<var $ritualcomponents - 1>>\ ''[1 Power Core Drained]'' ''[1 Fortitude Core Replenished]'' #show-if ($powagiswapritual isnot 100) use-if ((($ritualcomponents gte 1) and ((($power - $powspent) gte 1) and ($agispent gte 1))) and (($fighting is false) or ($thievery gte 2))) Drain a Power Core to fill an Agility Core. [1 Ritual Component] -> "menu-cultivation-handseals4" <<var $powspent + 1>>\ <<var $agispent - 1>>\ <<var $ritualcomponents - 1>>\ ''[1 Power Core Drained]'' ''[1 Agility Core Replenished]'' #show-if ($powsolswapritual isnot 100) use-if ((($ritualcomponents gte 1) and ((($power - $powspent) gte 1) and ($solspent gte 1))) and (($fighting is false) or ($thievery gte 2))) Drain a Power Core to fill a Soul Core. [1 Ritual Component] -> "menu-cultivation-handseals4" <<var $powspent + 1>>\ <<var $solspent - 1>>\ <<var $ritualcomponents - 1>>\ ''[1 Power Core Drained]'' ''[1 Soul Core Replenished]'' #show-if (($wep1enchantritual isnot 100) and (dig($weaponbonus, 4) isnot 0)) use-if ($wep1enchantritual is 100) Cannot cast Soulsoak Imbuement on mainhand weapon. (Equipped $equippedweapon already holds a primary Seal!) -> "death" #show-if (($wep1enchantritual isnot 100) and (($equippedweapon is "Iceblade") or ($equippedweapon is "Chiblade"))) use-if ($wep1enchantritual is 100) Cannot cast Soulsoak Imbuement on mainhand weapon. (The $equippedweapon is created at will, it cannot be further enchanted!) -> "death" #show-if (($wep1enchantritual isnot 100) and (dig($weaponbonus, 4) is 0)) use-if (($ritualcomponents gte $wep1enchantritual) and (($fighting is false) or ($thievery gte 2))) Cast the Soulsoak Imbuement on your $equippedweapon. [$wep1enchantritual Ritual Components] -> "menu-seal-soulsoak1" #show-if (($wep1enchantritual isnot 100) and ($equippedweapon is "")) use-if ($equippedweapon isnot "") Equip a weapon in your mainhand to cast the Soulsoak Imbuement on it. -> "death" #show-if ((dualwield is true) and (($wep1enchantritual isnot 100) and (dig($weaponbonus2, 4) isnot 0))) use-if ($wep1enchantritual is 100) Cannot cast Soulsoak Imbuement on offhand weapon. (Equipped $equippedweapon2 already holds a primary Seal!) -> "death" #show-if ((dualwield is true) and (($wep1enchantritual isnot 100) and (($equippedweapon2 is "Iceblade") or ($equippedweapon2 is "Chiblade")))) use-if ($wep1enchantritual is 100) Cannot cast Soulsoak Imbuement on mainhand weapon. (The $equippedweapon2 is created at will, it cannot be further enchanted!) -> "death" #show-if ((dualwield is true) and (($wep1enchantritual isnot 100) and (dig($weaponbonus2, 4) is 0))) use-if (($ritualcomponents gte $wep1enchantritual) and (($fighting is false) or ($thievery gte 2))) Cast the Soulsoak Imbuement on your $equippedweapon2. [$wep1enchantritual Ritual Components] -> "menu-seal-soulsoak2" #show-if ((dualwield is true) and (($wep1enchantritual isnot 100) and ($equippedweapon2 is ""))) use-if ($equippedweapon2 isnot "") Equip a weapon in your offhand to cast the Soulsoak Imbuement on it. -> "death" #show-if (dig($demonpowers, 4) gte 1) use-if ((((($health + ($fortitude / 2)) - $wounds) gte 2) and ($chispent gte 1)) and (($fighting is false) or ($thievery gte 2))) Activate the Bloodfuel ritual. Your blood boils and churns within your body and soul. The heartsblood that maintains your lifeforce burns into fumes that seep into your spirit, restoring your natural energies with demonic Blood Chi. Despite the pain, a sense of overwhelming power flows through you. The only question is how much power. ''[Select how much Health to convert into Chi]'' <<var $avail (($health + ($fortitude / 2)) - $wounds)>>\ <<var $spenddiss 0>>\ <<input-number $spenddiss 0 $avail "menu-seal-bloodfuel">>\ #Stat Page -> "menu-stats" #use-if ($stripped is false) Inventory Page -> "menu-inventory" #Journal Page -> "menu-journal" You meditate upon your journey, focusing on... #show-if (($chapter gte 1.4) and (($chapter lt 8.9) or ($chapter gte 9.9))) Cultivation Page -> "menu-cultivation" #show-if (($chapter gte 8.9) and ($chapter lt 9.9)) use-if (($chapter lt 8.9) or ($chapter gte 9.9)) Cultivation Page [Cores Shattered!] #Return to Game -> $return <</choose>>

The tools of your refiner's kit work tirelessly. Over the course of the process you burn off the impurities of your reagents and harness ambient energies. In the end, all of the ingredients condense the spiritual power absorbed by the plants into a singular pill.

Time to get to work. <<set $reacost to 1>>\ <<set $boost1 to 0>>\ <<set $boost2 to 0>>\ <<set $boost3 to 0>>\ <<set $boost4 to 0>>\ <<set $trophyval to Math.round($trophyval*(1+(($alchemy*0.07)+($lore*0.03))))>>\ <<if ($trophyval gte ($aurapressure*2))>>\ <<set $boost1 to Math.round(4+($alchemy*5))>>\ <<set $boost2 to Math.round(10+($alchemy*5))>>\ <<set $boost3 to Math.round(14+($alchemy*6))>>\ <<set $boost4 to Math.round(18+($alchemy*7))>>\ <<elseif ($trophyval gte ($aurapressure*1.5))>>\ <<set $boost1 to Math.round(4+($alchemy*4))>>\ <<set $boost2 to Math.round(8+($alchemy*4))>>\ <<set $boost3 to Math.round(12+($alchemy*5))>>\ <<set $boost4 to Math.round(16+($alchemy*6))>>\ <<elseif ($trophyval gte ($aurapressure*1))>>\ <<set $boost1 to Math.round(4+($alchemy*3))>>\ <<set $boost2 to Math.round(8+($alchemy*3))>>\ <<set $boost3 to Math.round(12+($alchemy*4))>>\ <<set $boost4 to Math.round(16+($alchemy*5))>>\ <<elseif ($trophyval gte (($aurapressure)*0.65))>>\ <<set $boost1 to Math.round(3+($alchemy*2))>>\ <<set $boost2 to Math.round(6+($alchemy*2))>>\ <<set $boost3 to Math.round(9+($alchemy*3))>>\ <<set $boost4 to Math.round(12+($alchemy*4))>>\ <<set $reacost to 2>>\ <<elseif ($trophyval gte (($aurapressure)*0.5))>>\ <<set $boost1 to Math.round(2+Math.round($alchemy*1.5))>>\ <<set $boost2 to Math.round(4+Math.round($alchemy*1.5))>>\ <<set $boost3 to Math.round(6+Math.round($alchemy*2))>>\ <<set $boost4 to Math.round(8+($alchemy*2.5))>>\ <<set $reacost to 2>>\ <<else>>\ <<set $boost1 to Math.round(2+$alchemy)>>\ <<set $boost2 to Math.round(4+$alchemy)>>\ <<set $boost3 to Math.round(5+$alchemy)>>\ <<set $boost4 to Math.round(6+Math.round($alchemy*1.5))>>\ <<set $reacost to 3>>\ <</if>>\ <<set _temptrophy to Math.round(($trophyval - $aurapressure)*0.11)>>\ <<set $trophyval to _temptrophy>>\ <<if ($trophyval gt 100)>>\ <<set $trophyval to 100>>\ <<elseif ($trophyval lt (10+($survival+($alchemy*3))))>>\ <<set $trophyval to (10+($survival+($alchemy*3)))>>\ <</if>>\ <<if ($background is "Herbalist")>>\ <<if ($reacost gt 1)>>\ <<set $reacost to $reacost - 1>>\ ''[Herbalist Event: Reagent Cost Reduced]'' <</if>>\ <<set $boost1 to $boost1 + 2>>\ <<set $boost2 to $boost2 + 3>>\ <<set $boost3 to $boost3 + 4>>\ <<set $boost4 to $boost4 + 5>>\ <<set $trophyval to $trophyval + 5>>\ ''[Herbalist Event: Elixir Potency Increased]'' <</if>>\ <<set $reacost1 to ($reacost - $alchemydiscount)>>\ <<set $reacost2 to (($reacost*2) - $alchemydiscount)>>\ <<set $reacost3 to (($reacost*3) - $alchemydiscount)>>\ <<set $reacost4 to (($reacost*4) - $alchemydiscount)>>\ <<if ($reacost1 lt 0)>>\ <<set $reacost1 to 1>>\ <</if>>\ <<if ($reacost1 lt 0)>>\ <<set $reacost2 to 1>>\ <</if>>\ <<if ($reacost1 lt 0)>>\ <<set $reacost3 to 1>>\ <</if>>\ <<if ($reacost1 lt 0)>>\ <<set $reacost4 to 1>>\ <</if>>\ The process of refining the Treasure down into an Advancement Elixir isn't a pretty one. You grind it down to dust, mix it with the proper reagents, boil the correct solvents, and combine them all into a single vial before imbuing your own Chi into the mix. Halfway through the process you discern the elixir's base form will hold enough power to push your spirit's limits by another $trophyval Aura Pressure, but you suspect you can improve it with the right alterations. <<choose "menu-cultivation-soultreasure2">> #use-if (($alchemyreagents gte $reacost1) and ($alchemy gte 1)) Increase its potency by $boost1 AP. [$reacost1 Reagents, Alchemy 1] <<set $alchemyreagents to $alchemyreagents - $reacost1>>\ <<set $trophyval to $trophyval + $boost1>>\ ''[Advancement Elixir Improved]'' #use-if (($alchemyreagents gte $reacost2) and ($alchemy gte 2)) Increase its potency by $boost2 AP. [$reacost2 Reagents, Alchemy 2] <<set $alchemyreagents to $alchemyreagents - $reacost2>>\ <<set $trophyval to $trophyval + $boost2>>\ ''[Advancement Elixir Improved]'' #use-if (($alchemyreagents gte $reacost3) and ($alchemy gte 3)) Increase its potency by $boost3 AP. [$reacost3 Reagents, Alchemy 3] <<set $alchemyreagents to $alchemyreagents - $reacost3>>\ <<set $trophyval to $trophyval + $boost3>>\ ''[Advancement Elixir Improved]'' #show-if ($background is "Herbalist") use-if (($alchemyreagents gte $reacost4) and ($alchemy gte 4)) Increase its potency by $boost4 AP. [$reacost4 Reagents, Alchemy 4] <<set $alchemyreagents to $alchemyreagents - $reacost4>>\ <<set $trophyval to $trophyval + $boost4>>\ ''[Advancement Elixir Improved]'' #show-if ($background isnot "Herbalist") use-if (($alchemyreagents gte $reacost4) and ($alchemy gte 5)) Increase its potency by $boost4 AP. [$reacost4 Reagents, Alchemy 5] <<set $alchemyreagents to $alchemyreagents - $reacost4>>\ <<set $trophyval to $trophyval + $boost4>>\ ''[Advancement Elixir Improved]'' #show-if ($alchemy is 0) If only I knew how to do that... #Consume the elixir without improvements. <</choose>>

You complete the final steps of the refining process with precision and care. Your Soul Treasure dissolves into the liquid on not only a physical level, but a spiritual one. When the bubbling concoction is complete you gulp it down, still boiling, and feel a rush of power. <<if ((($mortallimits) and ($apregionmax lt $aurapressure)) and ($alchemy gte 4))>>\ ''[Alchemy 4: Elixir Ignores Mortal Limits]'' <<set $aurapressure to $aurapressure + $trophyval>>\ ''[Aura Pressure +$trophyval]'' <<elseif ((($mortallimits) and ($apregionmax lt $aurapressure)) and (($alchemy gte 3) and ($background is "Herbalist")))>>\ ''[Herbalist + Alchemy 3: Elixir Ignores Mortal Limits]'' <<set $aurapressure to $aurapressure + $trophyval>>\ ''[Aura Pressure +$trophyval]'' <<elseif (($mortallimits is true) and ($aurapressure gte ($apregionmax * 1.5)))>>\ <<set $trophyval to $trophyval / 4>>\ <<set $trophyval to Math.round($trophyval)>>\ <<if ($trophyval lt 1)>>\ <<set $trophyval to 1>>\ <</if>>\ ''[AP Gain Decreased by 75%]'' ''[Aura Pressure +$trophyval]'' <<elseif (($mortallimits is true) and ($aurapressure gte $apregionmax))>>\ <<set $trophyval to $trophyval / 2>>\ <<set $trophyval to Math.round($trophyval)>>\ <<if ($trophyval lt 1)>>\ <<set $trophyval to 1>>\ <</if>>\ ''[AP Gain Decreased by 50%]'' ''[Aura Pressure +$trophyval]'' <<else>>\ <<set $aurapressure to $aurapressure + $trophyval>>\ ''[Aura Pressure +$trophyval]'' <</if>>\ <<include "menu-cultivation">>\

<<choose "menu-cultivation">> #use-if ($styleswapper isnot "power") Power Core <<swapem "power" "style">>\ #use-if ($styleswapper isnot "fortitude") Fortitude Core <<swapem "fortitude" "style">>\ #use-if ($styleswapper isnot "agility") Agility Core <<swapem "agility" "style">>\ #use-if ($styleswapper isnot "soul") Soul Core <<swapem "soul" "style">>\ <</choose>>

<div class="fightingfont">Focused Techniques</div>\ <<var _techlister 1>>\ Power Core: $techslotname[1] Fortitude Core: $techslotname[2] Agility Core: $techslotname[3] Soul Core: $techslotname[4] <div class="fightingfont">Technique List</div>\ <<for _techcounter = 0; _techcounter < 25; _techcounter++>>\ <<if ($knowntechname[_techcounter] isnot "")>>\ ''_techlister. $knowntechname[_techcounter]'' - \ <<if (dig($knowntechcode[_techcounter], 1) is 1)>>\ Power Technique. \ <<elseif (dig($knowntechcode[_techcounter], 1) is 2)>>\ Fortitude Technique. \ <<elseif (dig($knowntechcode[_techcounter], 1) is 3)>>\ Agility Technique. \ <<elseif (dig($knowntechcode[_techcounter], 1) is 4)>>\ Soul Technique. \ <<elseif (dig($knowntechcode[_techcounter], 1) is 5)>>\ Innate Technique. \ <</if>>\ $knowntechdesc[_techcounter] <<var _techlister + 1>>\ <<else>>\ <<break>>\ <</if>>\ <</for>>\ <<if ($buffersbarrier is true)>>\ <<var _techcounter + 1>>\ ''_techcounter. Buffer's Barrier'' - Innate Technique. Passively increases Aura Pressure over time. <</if>>\ <<if ($energytide is true)>>\ <<var _techcounter + 1>>\ ''_techcounter. Energy Tide'' - Innate Technique. Unlocks certain options. Passively increases Soul Surge value by +1. <</if>>\ <<if ($ironbody is true)>>\ <<var _techcounter + 1>>\ ''_techcounter. Iron Body'' - Innate Technique. Unlocks certain options. Passively increases Fortitude Surge value by +1. <</if>>\ <<if ($flashstep is true)>>\ <<var _techcounter + 1>>\ ''_techcounter. Flash Step'' - Innate Technique. Unlocks certain options. Passively increases Agility Surge value by +1. <</if>>\ <<if ($thunderfall is true)>>\ <<var _techcounter + 1>>\ ''_techcounter. Thunderfall'' - Innate Technique. Unlocks certain options. Passively increases Power Surge value by +1. <</if>>\ <<if ($hellscape gt 0)>>\ <<var _techcounter + 1>>\ ''_techcounter. Inner Hellscape'' - Innate Technique. Hides up to $hellscape Demonic AP from detection. <</if>>\ <<if (((((($malocchio is true) or ($souldomain isnot "")) or ($reaper is true)) or ($titan is true)) or ($godhand is true)) or ($limitbreaker isnot ""))>>\ ''[Transformations]'' <<if ($malocchio is true)>>\ ''Malocchio'' - Kurokonton Style. +2 Agility. +1 Fortitude. +1 Chi Point. Copy Techniques used by enemies. <<elseif ($souldomain isnot "")>>\ ''Soul Domain'' - Kiihakai Style. +2 Soul. +1 Power. +2 Chi Points. All Attack types are considered Focused. <<elseif ($reaper is true)>>\ ''Reaper'' - Akakiru Style. +2 Power. +1 Agility. +1 Health. Double the bonuses of your Bladed mainhand weapon. <<elseif ($titan is true)>>\ ''Titan'' - Midorikatai Style. +2 Fortitude. +1 Power. +1 Health. Always trigger bonus damage in combat checks. <<elseif ($asura is true)>>\ ''Asura'' - Midorikatai Style. +2 Power. +1 Fortitude. +1 Health. Melee Attacks are always Focused. Unlock Dual Wield. <<elseif ($godhand is true)>>\ ''Godhand'' - Aoyusumu Style. +1 Soul. +1 Agility. +1 Fortitude. +1 Health. +1 Chi. Heal to full upon transformation. <<elseif ($limitbreaker isnot "")>>\ ''Limitbreaker'' - Freestyle. +1 Power. +1 Health. +1 to all Core Surges. Gain 10 Bonus AP for Battle Victories. <</if>>\ <</if>>\

<<include "menu-cultivation-techdisplay">>\ <<choose "menu-cultivation-techs2">> #show-if ((dig($knowntechcode[0], 1) is 1) and ($techslotname[1] isnot $knowntechname[0])) Focus "$knowntechname[0]" to your Power Core. (Replacing: $techslotname[1]) <<focuscore $knowntechname[0] $knowntechcode[0]>>\ #show-if ((dig($knowntechcode[1], 1) is 1) and ($techslotname[1] isnot $knowntechname[1])) Focus "$knowntechname[1]" to your Power Core. (Replacing: $techslotname[1]) <<focuscore $knowntechname[1] $knowntechcode[1]>>\ #show-if ((dig($knowntechcode[2], 1) is 1) and ($techslotname[1] isnot $knowntechname[2])) Focus "$knowntechname[2]" to your Power Core. (Replacing: $techslotname[1]) <<focuscore $knowntechname[2] $knowntechcode[2]>>\ #show-if ((dig($knowntechcode[3], 1) is 1) and ($techslotname[1] isnot $knowntechname[3])) Focus "$knowntechname[3]" to your Power Core. (Replacing: $techslotname[1]) <<focuscore $knowntechname[3] $knowntechcode[3]>>\ #show-if ((dig($knowntechcode[4], 1) is 1) and ($techslotname[1] isnot $knowntechname[4])) Focus "$knowntechname[4]" to your Power Core. (Replacing: $techslotname[1]) <<focuscore $knowntechname[4] $knowntechcode[4]>>\ #show-if ((dig($knowntechcode[5], 1) is 1) and ($techslotname[1] isnot $knowntechname[5])) Focus "$knowntechname[5]" to your Power Core. (Replacing: $techslotname[1]) <<focuscore $knowntechname[5] $knowntechcode[5]>>\ #show-if ((dig($knowntechcode[6], 1) is 1) and ($techslotname[1] isnot $knowntechname[6])) Focus "$knowntechname[6]" to your Power Core. (Replacing: $techslotname[1]) <<focuscore $knowntechname[6] $knowntechcode[6]>>\ #show-if ((dig($knowntechcode[7], 1) is 1) and ($techslotname[1] isnot $knowntechname[7])) Focus "$knowntechname[7]" to your Power Core. (Replacing: $techslotname[1]) <<focuscore $knowntechname[7] $knowntechcode[7]>>\ #show-if ((dig($knowntechcode[8], 1) is 1) and ($techslotname[1] isnot $knowntechname[8])) Focus "$knowntechname[8]" to your Power Core. (Replacing: $techslotname[1]) <<focuscore $knowntechname[8] $knowntechcode[8]>>\ #show-if ((dig($knowntechcode[9], 1) is 1) and ($techslotname[1] isnot $knowntechname[9])) Focus "$knowntechname[9]" to your Power Core. (Replacing: $techslotname[1]) <<focuscore $knowntechname[9] $knowntechcode[9]>>\ #show-if ((dig($knowntechcode[10], 1) is 1) and ($techslotname[1] isnot $knowntechname[10])) Focus "$knowntechname[10]" to your Power Core. (Replacing: $techslotname[1]) <<focuscore $knowntechname[10] $knowntechcode[10]>>\ #show-if ((dig($knowntechcode[11], 1) is 1) and ($techslotname[1] isnot $knowntechname[11])) Focus "$knowntechname[11]" to your Power Core. (Replacing: $techslotname[1]) <<focuscore $knowntechname[11] $knowntechcode[11]>>\ #show-if ((dig($knowntechcode[12], 1) is 1) and ($techslotname[1] isnot $knowntechname[12])) Focus "$knowntechname[12]" to your Power Core. (Replacing: $techslotname[1]) <<focuscore $knowntechname[12] $knowntechcode[12]>>\ #show-if ((dig($knowntechcode[13], 1) is 1) and ($techslotname[1] isnot $knowntechname[13])) Focus "$knowntechname[13]" to your Power Core. (Replacing: $techslotname[1]) <<focuscore $knowntechname[13] $knowntechcode[13]>>\ #show-if ((dig($knowntechcode[14], 1) is 1) and ($techslotname[1] isnot $knowntechname[14])) Focus "$knowntechname[14]" to your Power Core. (Replacing: $techslotname[1]) <<focuscore $knowntechname[14] $knowntechcode[14]>>\ #show-if ((dig($knowntechcode[15], 1) is 1) and ($techslotname[1] isnot $knowntechname[15])) Focus "$knowntechname[15]" to your Power Core. (Replacing: $techslotname[1]) <<focuscore $knowntechname[15] $knowntechcode[15]>>\ #show-if ((dig($knowntechcode[16], 1) is 1) and ($techslotname[1] isnot $knowntechname[16])) Focus "$knowntechname[16]" to your Power Core. (Replacing: $techslotname[1]) <<focuscore $knowntechname[16] $knowntechcode[16]>>\ #show-if ((dig($knowntechcode[17], 1) is 1) and ($techslotname[1] isnot $knowntechname[17])) Focus "$knowntechname[17]" to your Power Core. (Replacing: $techslotname[1]) <<focuscore $knowntechname[17] $knowntechcode[17]>>\ #show-if ((dig($knowntechcode[18], 1) is 1) and ($techslotname[1] isnot $knowntechname[18])) Focus "$knowntechname[18]" to your Power Core. (Replacing: $techslotname[1]) <<focuscore $knowntechname[18] $knowntechcode[18]>>\ #show-if ((dig($knowntechcode[19], 1) is 1) and ($techslotname[1] isnot $knowntechname[19])) Focus "$knowntechname[19]" to your Power Core. (Replacing: $techslotname[1]) <<focuscore $knowntechname[19] $knowntechcode[19]>>\ #show-if ((dig($knowntechcode[20], 1) is 1) and ($techslotname[1] isnot $knowntechname[20])) Focus "$knowntechname[20]" to your Power Core. (Replacing: $techslotname[1]) <<focuscore $knowntechname[20] $knowntechcode[20]>>\ #show-if ((dig($knowntechcode[21], 1) is 1) and ($techslotname[1] isnot $knowntechname[21])) Focus "$knowntechname[21]" to your Power Core. (Replacing: $techslotname[1]) <<focuscore $knowntechname[21] $knowntechcode[21]>>\ #show-if ((dig($knowntechcode[22], 1) is 1) and ($techslotname[1] isnot $knowntechname[22])) Focus "$knowntechname[22]" to your Power Core. (Replacing: $techslotname[1]) <<focuscore $knowntechname[22] $knowntechcode[22]>>\ #show-if ((dig($knowntechcode[23], 1) is 1) and ($techslotname[1] isnot $knowntechname[23])) Focus "$knowntechname[23]" to your Power Core. (Replacing: $techslotname[1]) <<focuscore $knowntechname[23] $knowntechcode[23]>>\ #show-if ((dig($knowntechcode[24], 1) is 1) and ($techslotname[1] isnot $knowntechname[24])) Focus "$knowntechname[24]" to your Power Core. (Replacing: $techslotname[1]) <<focuscore $knowntechname[24] $knowntechcode[24]>>\ #show-if ((dig($knowntechcode[25], 1) is 1) and ($techslotname[1] isnot $knowntechname[25])) Focus "$knowntechname[25]" to your Power Core. (Replacing: $techslotname[1]) <<focuscore $knowntechname[25] $knowntechcode[25]>>\ #show-if ((dig($knowntechcode[0], 1) is 2) and ($techslotname[2] isnot $knowntechname[0])) Focus "$knowntechname[0]" to your Fortitude Core. (Replacing: $techslotname[2]) <<focuscore $knowntechname[0] $knowntechcode[0]>>\ #show-if ((dig($knowntechcode[1], 1) is 2) and ($techslotname[2] isnot $knowntechname[1])) Focus "$knowntechname[1]" to your Fortitude Core. (Replacing: $techslotname[2]) <<focuscore $knowntechname[1] $knowntechcode[1]>>\ #show-if ((dig($knowntechcode[2], 1) is 2) and ($techslotname[2] isnot $knowntechname[2])) Focus "$knowntechname[2]" to your Fortitude Core. (Replacing: $techslotname[2]) <<focuscore $knowntechname[2] $knowntechcode[2]>>\ #show-if ((dig($knowntechcode[3], 1) is 2) and ($techslotname[2] isnot $knowntechname[3])) Focus "$knowntechname[3]" to your Fortitude Core. (Replacing: $techslotname[2]) <<focuscore $knowntechname[3] $knowntechcode[3]>>\ #show-if ((dig($knowntechcode[4], 1) is 2) and ($techslotname[2] isnot $knowntechname[4])) Focus "$knowntechname[4]" to your Fortitude Core. (Replacing: $techslotname[2]) <<focuscore $knowntechname[4] $knowntechcode[4]>>\ #show-if ((dig($knowntechcode[5], 1) is 2) and ($techslotname[2] isnot $knowntechname[5])) Focus "$knowntechname[5]" to your Fortitude Core. (Replacing: $techslotname[2]) <<focuscore $knowntechname[5] $knowntechcode[5]>>\ #show-if ((dig($knowntechcode[6], 1) is 2) and ($techslotname[2] isnot $knowntechname[6])) Focus "$knowntechname[6]" to your Fortitude Core. (Replacing: $techslotname[2]) <<focuscore $knowntechname[6] $knowntechcode[6]>>\ #show-if ((dig($knowntechcode[7], 1) is 2) and ($techslotname[2] isnot $knowntechname[7])) Focus "$knowntechname[7]" to your Fortitude Core. (Replacing: $techslotname[2]) <<focuscore $knowntechname[7] $knowntechcode[7]>>\ #show-if ((dig($knowntechcode[8], 1) is 2) and ($techslotname[2] isnot $knowntechname[8])) Focus "$knowntechname[8]" to your Fortitude Core. (Replacing: $techslotname[2]) <<focuscore $knowntechname[8] $knowntechcode[8]>>\ #show-if ((dig($knowntechcode[9], 1) is 2) and ($techslotname[2] isnot $knowntechname[9])) Focus "$knowntechname[9]" to your Fortitude Core. (Replacing: $techslotname[2]) <<focuscore $knowntechname[9] $knowntechcode[9]>>\ #show-if ((dig($knowntechcode[10], 1) is 2) and ($techslotname[2] isnot $knowntechname[10])) Focus "$knowntechname[10]" to your Fortitude Core. (Replacing: $techslotname[2]) <<focuscore $knowntechname[10] $knowntechcode[10]>>\ #show-if ((dig($knowntechcode[11], 1) is 2) and ($techslotname[2] isnot $knowntechname[11])) Focus "$knowntechname[11]" to your Fortitude Core. (Replacing: $techslotname[2]) <<focuscore $knowntechname[11] $knowntechcode[11]>>\ #show-if ((dig($knowntechcode[12], 1) is 2) and ($techslotname[2] isnot $knowntechname[12])) Focus "$knowntechname[12]" to your Fortitude Core. (Replacing: $techslotname[2]) <<focuscore $knowntechname[12] $knowntechcode[12]>>\ #show-if ((dig($knowntechcode[13], 1) is 2) and ($techslotname[2] isnot $knowntechname[13])) Focus "$knowntechname[13]" to your Fortitude Core. (Replacing: $techslotname[2]) <<focuscore $knowntechname[13] $knowntechcode[13]>>\ #show-if ((dig($knowntechcode[14], 1) is 2) and ($techslotname[2] isnot $knowntechname[14])) Focus "$knowntechname[14]" to your Fortitude Core. (Replacing: $techslotname[2]) <<focuscore $knowntechname[14] $knowntechcode[14]>>\ #show-if ((dig($knowntechcode[15], 1) is 2) and ($techslotname[2] isnot $knowntechname[15])) Focus "$knowntechname[15]" to your Fortitude Core. (Replacing: $techslotname[2]) <<focuscore $knowntechname[15] $knowntechcode[15]>>\ #show-if ((dig($knowntechcode[16], 1) is 2) and ($techslotname[2] isnot $knowntechname[16])) Focus "$knowntechname[16]" to your Fortitude Core. (Replacing: $techslotname[2]) <<focuscore $knowntechname[16] $knowntechcode[16]>>\ #show-if ((dig($knowntechcode[17], 1) is 2) and ($techslotname[2] isnot $knowntechname[17])) Focus "$knowntechname[17]" to your Fortitude Core. (Replacing: $techslotname[2]) <<focuscore $knowntechname[17] $knowntechcode[17]>>\ #show-if ((dig($knowntechcode[18], 1) is 2) and ($techslotname[2] isnot $knowntechname[18])) Focus "$knowntechname[18]" to your Fortitude Core. (Replacing: $techslotname[2]) <<focuscore $knowntechname[18] $knowntechcode[18]>>\ #show-if ((dig($knowntechcode[19], 1) is 2) and ($techslotname[2] isnot $knowntechname[19])) Focus "$knowntechname[19]" to your Fortitude Core. (Replacing: $techslotname[2]) <<focuscore $knowntechname[19] $knowntechcode[19]>>\ #show-if ((dig($knowntechcode[20], 1) is 2) and ($techslotname[2] isnot $knowntechname[20])) Focus "$knowntechname[20]" to your Fortitude Core. (Replacing: $techslotname[2]) <<focuscore $knowntechname[20] $knowntechcode[20]>>\ #show-if ((dig($knowntechcode[21], 1) is 2) and ($techslotname[2] isnot $knowntechname[21])) Focus "$knowntechname[21]" to your Fortitude Core. (Replacing: $techslotname[2]) <<focuscore $knowntechname[21] $knowntechcode[21]>>\ #show-if ((dig($knowntechcode[22], 1) is 2) and ($techslotname[2] isnot $knowntechname[22])) Focus "$knowntechname[22]" to your Fortitude Core. (Replacing: $techslotname[2]) <<focuscore $knowntechname[22] $knowntechcode[22]>>\ #show-if ((dig($knowntechcode[23], 1) is 2) and ($techslotname[2] isnot $knowntechname[23])) Focus "$knowntechname[23]" to your Fortitude Core. (Replacing: $techslotname[2]) <<focuscore $knowntechname[23] $knowntechcode[23]>>\ #show-if ((dig($knowntechcode[24], 1) is 2) and ($techslotname[2] isnot $knowntechname[24])) Focus "$knowntechname[24]" to your Fortitude Core. (Replacing: $techslotname[2]) <<focuscore $knowntechname[24] $knowntechcode[24]>>\ #show-if ((dig($knowntechcode[25], 1) is 2) and ($techslotname[2] isnot $knowntechname[25])) Focus "$knowntechname[25]" to your Fortitude Core. (Replacing: $techslotname[2]) <<focuscore $knowntechname[25] $knowntechcode[25]>>\ #show-if ((dig($knowntechcode[0], 1) is 3) and ($techslotname[3] isnot $knowntechname[0])) Focus "$knowntechname[0]" to your Agility Core. (Replacing: $techslotname[3]) <<focuscore $knowntechname[0] $knowntechcode[0]>>\ #show-if ((dig($knowntechcode[1], 1) is 3) and ($techslotname[3] isnot $knowntechname[1])) Focus "$knowntechname[1]" to your Agility Core. (Replacing: $techslotname[3]) <<focuscore $knowntechname[1] $knowntechcode[1]>>\ #show-if ((dig($knowntechcode[2], 1) is 3) and ($techslotname[3] isnot $knowntechname[2])) Focus "$knowntechname[2]" to your Agility Core. (Replacing: $techslotname[3]) <<focuscore $knowntechname[2] $knowntechcode[2]>>\ #show-if ((dig($knowntechcode[3], 1) is 3) and ($techslotname[3] isnot $knowntechname[3])) Focus "$knowntechname[3]" to your Agility Core. (Replacing: $techslotname[3]) <<focuscore $knowntechname[3] $knowntechcode[3]>>\ #show-if ((dig($knowntechcode[4], 1) is 3) and ($techslotname[3] isnot $knowntechname[4])) Focus "$knowntechname[4]" to your Agility Core. (Replacing: $techslotname[3]) <<focuscore $knowntechname[4] $knowntechcode[4]>>\ #show-if ((dig($knowntechcode[5], 1) is 3) and ($techslotname[3] isnot $knowntechname[5])) Focus "$knowntechname[5]" to your Agility Core. (Replacing: $techslotname[3]) <<focuscore $knowntechname[5] $knowntechcode[5]>>\ #show-if ((dig($knowntechcode[6], 1) is 3) and ($techslotname[3] isnot $knowntechname[6])) Focus "$knowntechname[6]" to your Agility Core. (Replacing: $techslotname[3]) <<focuscore $knowntechname[6] $knowntechcode[6]>>\ #show-if ((dig($knowntechcode[7], 1) is 3) and ($techslotname[3] isnot $knowntechname[7])) Focus "$knowntechname[7]" to your Agility Core. (Replacing: $techslotname[3]) <<focuscore $knowntechname[7] $knowntechcode[7]>>\ #show-if ((dig($knowntechcode[8], 1) is 3) and ($techslotname[3] isnot $knowntechname[8])) Focus "$knowntechname[8]" to your Agility Core. (Replacing: $techslotname[3]) <<focuscore $knowntechname[8] $knowntechcode[8]>>\ #show-if ((dig($knowntechcode[9], 1) is 3) and ($techslotname[3] isnot $knowntechname[9])) Focus "$knowntechname[9]" to your Agility Core. (Replacing: $techslotname[3]) <<focuscore $knowntechname[9] $knowntechcode[9]>>\ #show-if ((dig($knowntechcode[10], 1) is 3) and ($techslotname[3] isnot $knowntechname[10])) Focus "$knowntechname[10]" to your Agility Core. (Replacing: $techslotname[3]) <<focuscore $knowntechname[10] $knowntechcode[10]>>\ #show-if ((dig($knowntechcode[11], 1) is 3) and ($techslotname[3] isnot $knowntechname[11])) Focus "$knowntechname[11]" to your Agility Core. (Replacing: $techslotname[3]) <<focuscore $knowntechname[11] $knowntechcode[11]>>\ #show-if ((dig($knowntechcode[12], 1) is 3) and ($techslotname[3] isnot $knowntechname[12])) Focus "$knowntechname[12]" to your Agility Core. (Replacing: $techslotname[3]) <<focuscore $knowntechname[12] $knowntechcode[12]>>\ #show-if ((dig($knowntechcode[13], 1) is 3) and ($techslotname[3] isnot $knowntechname[13])) Focus "$knowntechname[13]" to your Agility Core. (Replacing: $techslotname[3]) <<focuscore $knowntechname[13] $knowntechcode[13]>>\ #show-if ((dig($knowntechcode[14], 1) is 3) and ($techslotname[3] isnot $knowntechname[14])) Focus "$knowntechname[14]" to your Agility Core. (Replacing: $techslotname[3]) <<focuscore $knowntechname[14] $knowntechcode[14]>>\ #show-if ((dig($knowntechcode[15], 1) is 3) and ($techslotname[3] isnot $knowntechname[15])) Focus "$knowntechname[15]" to your Agility Core. (Replacing: $techslotname[3]) <<focuscore $knowntechname[15] $knowntechcode[15]>>\ #show-if ((dig($knowntechcode[16], 1) is 3) and ($techslotname[3] isnot $knowntechname[16])) Focus "$knowntechname[16]" to your Agility Core. (Replacing: $techslotname[3]) <<focuscore $knowntechname[16] $knowntechcode[16]>>\ #show-if ((dig($knowntechcode[17], 1) is 3) and ($techslotname[3] isnot $knowntechname[17])) Focus "$knowntechname[17]" to your Agility Core. (Replacing: $techslotname[3]) <<focuscore $knowntechname[17] $knowntechcode[17]>>\ #show-if ((dig($knowntechcode[18], 1) is 3) and ($techslotname[3] isnot $knowntechname[18])) Focus "$knowntechname[18]" to your Agility Core. (Replacing: $techslotname[3]) <<focuscore $knowntechname[18] $knowntechcode[18]>>\ #show-if ((dig($knowntechcode[19], 1) is 3) and ($techslotname[3] isnot $knowntechname[19])) Focus "$knowntechname[19]" to your Agility Core. (Replacing: $techslotname[3]) <<focuscore $knowntechname[19] $knowntechcode[19]>>\ #show-if ((dig($knowntechcode[20], 1) is 3) and ($techslotname[3] isnot $knowntechname[20])) Focus "$knowntechname[20]" to your Agility Core. (Replacing: $techslotname[3]) <<focuscore $knowntechname[20] $knowntechcode[20]>>\ #show-if ((dig($knowntechcode[21], 1) is 3) and ($techslotname[3] isnot $knowntechname[21])) Focus "$knowntechname[21]" to your Agility Core. (Replacing: $techslotname[3]) <<focuscore $knowntechname[21] $knowntechcode[21]>>\ #show-if ((dig($knowntechcode[22], 1) is 3) and ($techslotname[3] isnot $knowntechname[22])) Focus "$knowntechname[22]" to your Agility Core. (Replacing: $techslotname[3]) <<focuscore $knowntechname[22] $knowntechcode[22]>>\ #show-if ((dig($knowntechcode[23], 1) is 3) and ($techslotname[3] isnot $knowntechname[23])) Focus "$knowntechname[23]" to your Agility Core. (Replacing: $techslotname[3]) <<focuscore $knowntechname[23] $knowntechcode[23]>>\ #show-if ((dig($knowntechcode[24], 1) is 3) and ($techslotname[3] isnot $knowntechname[24])) Focus "$knowntechname[24]" to your Agility Core. (Replacing: $techslotname[3]) <<focuscore $knowntechname[24] $knowntechcode[24]>>\ #show-if ((dig($knowntechcode[25], 1) is 3) and ($techslotname[3] isnot $knowntechname[25])) Focus "$knowntechname[25]" to your Agility Core. (Replacing: $techslotname[3]) <<focuscore $knowntechname[25] $knowntechcode[25]>>\ #show-if ((dig($knowntechcode[0], 1) is 4) and ($techslotname[4] isnot $knowntechname[0])) Focus "$knowntechname[0]" to your Soul Core. (Replacing: $techslotname[4]) <<focuscore $knowntechname[0] $knowntechcode[0]>>\ #show-if ((dig($knowntechcode[1], 1) is 4) and ($techslotname[4] isnot $knowntechname[1])) Focus "$knowntechname[1]" to your Soul Core. (Replacing: $techslotname[4]) <<focuscore $knowntechname[1] $knowntechcode[1]>>\ #show-if ((dig($knowntechcode[2], 1) is 4) and ($techslotname[4] isnot $knowntechname[2])) Focus "$knowntechname[2]" to your Soul Core. (Replacing: $techslotname[4]) <<focuscore $knowntechname[2] $knowntechcode[2]>>\ #show-if ((dig($knowntechcode[3], 1) is 4) and ($techslotname[4] isnot $knowntechname[3])) Focus "$knowntechname[3]" to your Soul Core. (Replacing: $techslotname[4]) <<focuscore $knowntechname[3] $knowntechcode[3]>>\ #show-if ((dig($knowntechcode[4], 1) is 4) and ($techslotname[4] isnot $knowntechname[4])) Focus "$knowntechname[4]" to your Soul Core. (Replacing: $techslotname[4]) <<focuscore $knowntechname[4] $knowntechcode[4]>>\ #show-if ((dig($knowntechcode[5], 1) is 4) and ($techslotname[4] isnot $knowntechname[5])) Focus "$knowntechname[5]" to your Soul Core. (Replacing: $techslotname[4]) <<focuscore $knowntechname[5] $knowntechcode[5]>>\ #show-if ((dig($knowntechcode[6], 1) is 4) and ($techslotname[4] isnot $knowntechname[6])) Focus "$knowntechname[6]" to your Soul Core. (Replacing: $techslotname[4]) <<focuscore $knowntechname[6] $knowntechcode[6]>>\ #show-if ((dig($knowntechcode[7], 1) is 4) and ($techslotname[4] isnot $knowntechname[7])) Focus "$knowntechname[7]" to your Soul Core. (Replacing: $techslotname[4]) <<focuscore $knowntechname[7] $knowntechcode[7]>>\ #show-if ((dig($knowntechcode[8], 1) is 4) and ($techslotname[4] isnot $knowntechname[8])) Focus "$knowntechname[8]" to your Soul Core. (Replacing: $techslotname[4]) <<focuscore $knowntechname[8] $knowntechcode[8]>>\ #show-if ((dig($knowntechcode[9], 1) is 4) and ($techslotname[4] isnot $knowntechname[9])) Focus "$knowntechname[9]" to your Soul Core. (Replacing: $techslotname[4]) <<focuscore $knowntechname[9] $knowntechcode[9]>>\ #show-if ((dig($knowntechcode[10], 1) is 4) and ($techslotname[4] isnot $knowntechname[10])) Focus "$knowntechname[10]" to your Soul Core. (Replacing: $techslotname[4]) <<focuscore $knowntechname[10] $knowntechcode[10]>>\ #show-if ((dig($knowntechcode[11], 1) is 4) and ($techslotname[4] isnot $knowntechname[11])) Focus "$knowntechname[11]" to your Soul Core. (Replacing: $techslotname[4]) <<focuscore $knowntechname[11] $knowntechcode[11]>>\ #show-if ((dig($knowntechcode[12], 1) is 4) and ($techslotname[4] isnot $knowntechname[12])) Focus "$knowntechname[12]" to your Soul Core. (Replacing: $techslotname[4]) <<focuscore $knowntechname[12] $knowntechcode[12]>>\ #show-if ((dig($knowntechcode[13], 1) is 4) and ($techslotname[4] isnot $knowntechname[13])) Focus "$knowntechname[13]" to your Soul Core. (Replacing: $techslotname[4]) <<focuscore $knowntechname[13] $knowntechcode[13]>>\ #show-if ((dig($knowntechcode[14], 1) is 4) and ($techslotname[4] isnot $knowntechname[14])) Focus "$knowntechname[14]" to your Soul Core. (Replacing: $techslotname[4]) <<focuscore $knowntechname[14] $knowntechcode[14]>>\ #show-if ((dig($knowntechcode[15], 1) is 4) and ($techslotname[4] isnot $knowntechname[15])) Focus "$knowntechname[15]" to your Soul Core. (Replacing: $techslotname[4]) <<focuscore $knowntechname[15] $knowntechcode[15]>>\ #show-if ((dig($knowntechcode[16], 1) is 4) and ($techslotname[4] isnot $knowntechname[16])) Focus "$knowntechname[16]" to your Soul Core. (Replacing: $techslotname[4]) <<focuscore $knowntechname[16] $knowntechcode[16]>>\ #show-if ((dig($knowntechcode[17], 1) is 4) and ($techslotname[4] isnot $knowntechname[17])) Focus "$knowntechname[17]" to your Soul Core. (Replacing: $techslotname[4]) <<focuscore $knowntechname[17] $knowntechcode[17]>>\ #show-if ((dig($knowntechcode[18], 1) is 4) and ($techslotname[4] isnot $knowntechname[18])) Focus "$knowntechname[18]" to your Soul Core. (Replacing: $techslotname[4]) <<focuscore $knowntechname[18] $knowntechcode[18]>>\ #show-if ((dig($knowntechcode[19], 1) is 4) and ($techslotname[4] isnot $knowntechname[19])) Focus "$knowntechname[19]" to your Soul Core. (Replacing: $techslotname[4]) <<focuscore $knowntechname[19] $knowntechcode[19]>>\ #show-if ((dig($knowntechcode[20], 1) is 4) and ($techslotname[4] isnot $knowntechname[20])) Focus "$knowntechname[20]" to your Soul Core. (Replacing: $techslotname[4]) <<focuscore $knowntechname[20] $knowntechcode[20]>>\ #show-if ((dig($knowntechcode[21], 1) is 4) and ($techslotname[4] isnot $knowntechname[21])) Focus "$knowntechname[21]" to your Soul Core. (Replacing: $techslotname[4]) <<focuscore $knowntechname[21] $knowntechcode[21]>>\ #show-if ((dig($knowntechcode[22], 1) is 4) and ($techslotname[4] isnot $knowntechname[22])) Focus "$knowntechname[22]" to your Soul Core. (Replacing: $techslotname[4]) <<focuscore $knowntechname[22] $knowntechcode[22]>>\ #show-if ((dig($knowntechcode[23], 1) is 4) and ($techslotname[4] isnot $knowntechname[23])) Focus "$knowntechname[23]" to your Soul Core. (Replacing: $techslotname[4]) <<focuscore $knowntechname[23] $knowntechcode[23]>>\ #show-if ((dig($knowntechcode[24], 1) is 4) and ($techslotname[4] isnot $knowntechname[24])) Focus "$knowntechname[24]" to your Soul Core. (Replacing: $techslotname[4]) <<focuscore $knowntechname[24] $knowntechcode[24]>>\ #show-if ((dig($knowntechcode[25], 1) is 4) and ($techslotname[4] isnot $knowntechname[25])) Focus "$knowntechname[25]" to your Soul Core. (Replacing: $techslotname[4]) <<focuscore $knowntechname[25] $knowntechcode[25]>>\ #Nevermind. -> "menu-cultivation" <</choose>>

''[Techniques Refocused!]'' <<include "menu-cultivation-techs">>\

Currently Equipped: $equippedaccessory1 <<choose "menu-inventory-gear">> #show-if ($equippedaccessory1 isnot "") Unequip $equippedaccessory1 <<unequipacc1>>\ #show-if ($armguardname isnot "") use-if ((($equippedaccessory3 isnot $armguardname) and ($equippedaccessory2 isnot $armguardname)) and ($equippedaccessory1 is "")) Equip $armguardname -> "menu-gear-armguard" #show-if ($sabrecloak gte 1) use-if ((($equippedaccessory3 isnot "Sabretooth Cloak") and ($equippedaccessory2 isnot "Sabretooth Cloak")) and ($equippedaccessory1 is "")) Equip Sabretooth Cloak <<unequipacc1>>\ <<var $equippedaccessory1 "Sabretooth Cloak">>\ <<var $power + 1>>\ <<var $persuasion + 1>>\ ''[Sabretooth Cloak Bonus: Power +1]'' ''[Sabretooth Cloak Bonus: Persuasion +1]'' #show-if (dig($accessory_1, 1) gte 2) use-if ((($equippedaccessory3 isnot "Bands of Decimation") and ($equippedaccessory2 isnot "Bands of Decimation")) and ($equippedaccessory1 is "")) Equip the Bands of Decimation <<unequipacc1>>\ <<var $equippedaccessory1 "Bands of Decimation">>\ <<var $power + 2>>\ ''[Bands of Decimation Bonus: Power +2]'' <<if ($style is "Kiihakai")>>\ ''[Chi Sorcery Focused: Kiihakai Mastery Improved]'' <<var $stylerank + 1>>\ <</if>>\ #show-if ($cpiratehat gte 1) use-if ((($equippedaccessory3 isnot "Cathayan Pirate Hat") and ($equippedaccessory2 isnot "Cathayan Pirate Hat")) and ($equippedaccessory1 is "")) Equip the Cathayan Pirate Hat <<unequipacc1>>\ <<var $equippedaccessory1 "Cathayan Pirate Hat">>\ <<var $thievery + 1>>\ ''[Cathayan Pirate Hat Bonus: Thievery +1]'' ''[Cathayan Pirate Hat Bonus: Agility +1]'' <<var $agility + 1>>\ ''[Cathayan Pirate Hat Bonus: Commerce Increased]'' <<var $commerce + 2>>\ #show-if (($itemyangcrest gt 0) and ($element2 isnot "")) use-if ((($equippedaccessory3 isnot "Crest of Elemental Yang") and ($equippedaccessory1 is "")) and ($equippedaccessory2 isnot "Crest of Elemental Yang")) Equip the Crest of Elemental Yang. <<unequipacc1>>\ <<var $equippedaccessory1 "Crest of Elemental Yang">>\ <<var $element2rank + 1>>\ ''[<<cap $element2>> Mastery Increased]'' <<if ((((($element2 is "Fire") or ($element2 is "Storm")) or ($element2 is "Wind")) or ($element2 is "Light")) or ($element2 is "Water"))>>\ ''[Synergy Bonus: +1 Power due to Yang-attuned $element2 Element.]'' <<var $power + 1>>\ <</if>>\ <<if (($equippedaccessory3 is "Crest of Elemental Yin") or ($equippedaccessory2 is "Crest of Elemental Yin"))>>\ ''[Dual Crest Bonus: +1 Agility, +1 Health]'' <<var $agility + 1>>\ <<var $health + 1>>\ <</if>>\ #show-if (($itemyangcrest gt 0) and ($element2 is "")) use-if ($element2 isnot "") Equip the Crest of Elemental Yang [No Element Attuned to Yang] -> "death" #show-if (($itemyincrest gt 0) and ($element1 isnot "None")) use-if ((($equippedaccessory3 isnot "Crest of Elemental Yin") and ($equippedaccessory1 is "")) and ($equippedaccessory2 isnot "Crest of Elemental Yin")) Equip the Crest of Elemental Yin. <<unequipacc1>>\ <<var $equippedaccessory1 "Crest of Elemental Yin">>\ <<var $element1rank + 1>>\ ''[<<cap $element1>> Mastery Increased]'' <<if ((($element1 is "Ice") or ($element1 is "Earth")) or ($element1 is "Darkness"))>>\ ''[Synergy Bonus: +1 Fortitude due to Yin-attuned $element1 Element.]'' <<var $fortitude + 1>>\ <</if>>\ <<if (($equippedaccessory3 is "Crest of Elemental Yang") or ($equippedaccessory2 is "Crest of Elemental Yang"))>>\ ''[Dual Crest Bonus: +1 Soul, +1 Chi]'' <<var $soul + 1>>\ <<var $chipool + 1>>\ <</if>>\ #show-if (($itemyincrest gt 0) and ($element1 is "None")) use-if ($element1 isnot "None") Equip the Crest of Elemental Yin [No Element Attuned to Yin] -> "death" #show-if ($lanternweights gt 0) use-if ((($equippedaccessory3 isnot "Weights of the Flowing Lantern King") and ($equippedaccessory2 isnot "Weights of the Flowing Lantern King")) and ($equippedaccessory1 is "")) Equip the Weights of the Flowing Lantern King. <<unequipacc1>>\ <<var $equippedaccessory1 "Weights of the Flowing Lantern King">>\ <<if ($element1 is "Light")>>\ <<var $element1rank + 1>>\ <<elseif ($element2 is "Light")>>\ <<var $element2rank + 1>>\ <</if>>\ <<var $perception + 1>>\ <<var $weight + 10>>\ #show-if ($factotummask isnot "icebelt") use-if ((($equippedaccessory3 isnot "Factotum Mask") and ($equippedaccessory2 isnot "Factotum Mask")) and ($equippedaccessory1 is "")) Equip the cap($factotummask)-Enhancing Factotum Mask. <<unequipacc1>>\ <<var $equippedaccessory1 "Factotum Mask">>\ <<run State.variables[$factotummask] += 1>>\ #show-if (dig($radiantacc, 5) gte 1) use-if ((($equippedaccessory3 isnot "Midnight Lenses") and ($equippedaccessory2 isnot "Midnight Lenses")) and ($equippedaccessory1 is "")) Equip the Midnight Lenses. <<unequipacc1>>\ <<var $equippedaccessory1 "Midnight Lenses">>\ <<var $soul + 1>>\ <<var $agisurge + 1>>\ #show-if (dig($radiantacc, 6) gte 1) use-if (((($equippedaccessory3 isnot "Mountain King's Jinbaori") and ($equippedaccessory2 isnot "Mountain King's Jinbaori")) and ($equippedaccessory1 is "")) and ($equippedaccessory1 is "")) Equip the Mountain King's Jinbaori. <<unequipacc1>>\ <<var $equippedaccessory1 "Mountain King's Jinbaori">>\ <<var $fortitude + 1>>\ <<var $powsurge + 1>>\ #show-if (dig($radiantacc, 7) gte 1) use-if ((($equippedaccessory3 isnot "Burning Mitsugake Gloves") and ($equippedaccessory2 isnot "Burning Mitsugake Gloves")) and ($equippedaccessory1 is "")) Equip the Burning Mitsugake Gloves. <<unequipacc1>>\ <<var $equippedaccessory1 "Burning Mitsugake Gloves">>\ <<var $power + 1>>\ <<var $agisurge + 1>>\ #show-if (dig($radiantacc, 8) gte 1) use-if ((($equippedaccessory3 isnot "Frozen Prayer Beads") and ($equippedaccessory2 isnot "Frozen Prayer Beads")) and ($equippedaccessory1 is "")) Equip the Frozen Prayer Beads. <<unequipacc1>>\ <<var $equippedaccessory1 "Frozen Prayer Beads">>\ <<var $fortitude + 1>>\ <<var $solsurge + 1>>\ #show-if (dig($radiantacc, 9) gte 1) use-if ((($equippedaccessory3 isnot "Rising Dawn Hachimaki") and ($equippedaccessory2 isnot "Rising Dawn Hachimaki")) and ($equippedaccessory1 is "")) Equip the Rising Dawn Hachimaki. <<unequipacc1>>\ <<var $equippedaccessory1 "Rising Dawn Hachimaki">>\ <<var $soul + 1>>\ <<var $powsurge + 1>>\ #show-if (dig($radiantacc, 10) gte 1) use-if ((($equippedaccessory3 isnot "Thunderguard Kote") and ($equippedaccessory2 isnot "Thunderguard Kote")) and ($equippedaccessory1 is "")) Equip the Thunderguard Kote. <<unequipacc1>>\ <<var $equippedaccessory1 "Thunderguard Kote">>\ <<var $power + 1>>\ <<var $forsurge + 1>>\ #show-if (dig($radiantacc, 11) gte 1) use-if ((($equippedaccessory3 isnot "Waverunner Sandals") and ($equippedaccessory2 isnot "Waverunner Sandals")) and ($equippedaccessory1 is "")) Equip the Waverunner Sandals. <<unequipacc1>>\ <<var $equippedaccessory1 "Waverunner Sandals">>\ <<var $agility + 1>>\ <<var $forsurge + 1>>\ #show-if (dig($radiantacc, 12) gte 1) use-if ((($equippedaccessory3 isnot "Howling Sensu Fan") and ($equippedaccessory2 isnot "Howling Sensu Fan")) and ($equippedaccessory1 is "")) Equip the Howling Sensu Fan. <<unequipacc1>>\ <<var $equippedaccessory1 "Howling Sensu Fan">>\ <<var $agility + 1>>\ <<var $solsurge + 1>>\ #Nevermind <</choose>>

Currently Equipped: $equippedaccessory2 <<choose "menu-inventory-gear">> #show-if ($equippedaccessory2 isnot "") Unequip $equippedaccessory2 <<unequipacc2>>\ #show-if ($armguardname isnot "") use-if ((($equippedaccessory3 isnot $armguardname) and ($equippedaccessory1 isnot $armguardname)) and ($equippedaccessory2 is "")) Equip $armguardname -> "menu-gear-armguard2" #show-if ($sabrecloak gte 1) use-if ((($equippedaccessory3 isnot "Sabretooth Cloak") and ($equippedaccessory1 isnot "Sabretooth Cloak")) and ($equippedaccessory2 is "")) Equip Sabretooth Cloak <<unequipacc2>>\ <<var $equippedaccessory2 "Sabretooth Cloak">>\ <<var $power + 1>>\ <<var $persuasion + 1>>\ ''[Sabretooth Cloak Bonus: Power +1]'' ''[Sabretooth Cloak Bonus: Persuasion +1]'' #show-if (dig($accessory_1, 1) gte 2) use-if ((($equippedaccessory3 isnot "Bands of Decimation") and ($equippedaccessory1 isnot "Bands of Decimation")) and ($equippedaccessory2 is "")) Equip the Bands of Decimation <<unequipacc2>>\ <<var $equippedaccessory2 "Bands of Decimation">>\ <<var $power + 2>>\ ''[Bands of Decimation Bonus: Power +2]'' <<if ($style is "Kiihakai")>>\ ''[Chi Sorcery Focused: Kiihakai Mastery Improved]'' <<var $stylerank + 1>>\ <</if>>\ #show-if ($cpiratehat gte 1) use-if ((($equippedaccessory3 isnot "Cathayan Pirate Hat") and ($equippedaccessory1 isnot "Cathayan Pirate Hat")) and ($equippedaccessory2 is "")) Equip the Cathayan Pirate Hat <<unequipacc2>>\ <<var $equippedaccessory2 "Cathayan Pirate Hat">>\ <<var $thievery + 1>>\ ''[Cathayan Pirate Hat Bonus: Thievery +1]'' ''[Cathayan Pirate Hat Bonus: Agility +1]'' <<var $agility + 1>>\ ''[Cathayan Pirate Hat Bonus: Commerce Increased]'' <<var $commerce + 2>>\ #show-if (($itemyangcrest gt 0) and ($element2 isnot "")) use-if ((($equippedaccessory3 isnot "Crest of Elemental Yang") and ($equippedaccessory2 is "")) and ($equippedaccessory1 isnot "Crest of Elemental Yang")) Equip the Crest of Elemental Yang. <<unequipacc2>>\ <<var $equippedaccessory2 "Crest of Elemental Yang">>\ <<var $element2rank + 1>>\ ''[<<cap $element2>> Mastery Increased]'' <<if ((((($element2 is "Fire") or ($element2 is "Storm")) or ($element2 is "Wind")) or ($element2 is "Light")) or ($element2 is "Water"))>>\ ''[Synergy Bonus: +1 Power due to Yang-attuned $element2 Element.]'' <<var $power + 1>>\ <</if>>\ <<if (($equippedaccessory3 is "Crest of Elemental Yang") or ($equippedaccessory1 is "Crest of Elemental Yin"))>>\ ''[Dual Crest Bonus: +1 Agility, +1 Health]'' <<var $agility + 1>>\ <<var $health + 1>>\ <</if>>\ #show-if (($itemyangcrest gt 0) and ($element2 is "")) use-if ($element2 isnot "") Equip the Crest of Elemental Yang [No Element Attuned to Yang] -> "death" #show-if (($itemyincrest gt 0) and ($element1 isnot "None")) use-if ((($equippedaccessory3 isnot "Crest of Elemental Yin") and ($equippedaccessory2 is "")) and ($equippedaccessory1 isnot "Crest of Elemental Yin")) Equip the Crest of Elemental Yin. <<unequipacc2>>\ <<var $equippedaccessory2 "Crest of Elemental Yin">>\ <<var $element1rank + 1>>\ ''[<<cap $element1>> Mastery Increased]'' <<if ((($element1 is "Ice") or ($element1 is "Earth")) or ($element1 is "Darkness"))>>\ ''[Synergy Bonus: +1 Fortitude due to Yin-attuned $element1 Element.]'' <<var $fortitude + 1>>\ <</if>>\ <<if (($equippedaccessory3 is "Crest of Elemental Yang") or ($equippedaccessory1 is "Crest of Elemental Yang"))>>\ ''[Dual Crest Bonus: +1 Soul, +1 Chi]'' <<var $soul + 1>>\ <<var $chipool + 1>>\ <</if>>\ #show-if (($itemyincrest gt 0) and ($element1 is "None")) use-if ($element1 isnot "None") Equip the Crest of Elemental Yin [No Element Attuned to Yin] -> "death" #show-if ($lanternweights gt 0) use-if ((($equippedaccessory3 isnot "Weights of the Flowing Lantern King") and ($equippedaccessory1 isnot "Weights of the Flowing Lantern King")) and ($equippedaccessory2 is "")) Equip the Weights of the Flowing Lantern King. <<unequipacc2>>\ <<var $equippedaccessory2 "Weights of the Flowing Lantern King">>\ <<if ($element1 is "Light")>>\ <<var $element1rank + 1>>\ <<elseif ($element2 is "Light")>>\ <<var $element2rank + 1>>\ <</if>>\ <<var $perception + 1>>\ <<var $weight + 10>>\ #show-if ($factotummask isnot "icebelt") use-if ((($equippedaccessory3 isnot "Factotum Mask") and ($equippedaccessory1 isnot "Factotum Mask")) and ($equippedaccessory2 is "")) Equip the cap($factotummask)-Enhancing Factotum Mask. <<unequipacc2>>\ <<var $equippedaccessory2 "Factotum Mask">>\ <<run State.variables[$factotummask] += 1>>\ #show-if (dig($radiantacc, 5) gte 1) use-if ((($equippedaccessory3 isnot "Midnight Lenses") and ($equippedaccessory1 isnot "Midnight Lenses")) and ($equippedaccessory2 is "")) Equip the Midnight Lenses. <<unequipacc2>>\ <<var $equippedaccessory2 "Midnight Lenses">>\ <<var $soul + 1>>\ <<var $agisurge + 1>>\ #show-if (dig($radiantacc, 6) gte 1) use-if ((($equippedaccessory3 isnot "Mountain King's Jinbaori") and ($equippedaccessory1 isnot "Mountain King's Jinbaori")) and ($equippedaccessory2 is "")) Equip the Mountain King's Jinbaori. <<unequipacc2>>\ <<var $equippedaccessory2 "Mountain King's Jinbaori">>\ <<var $fortitude + 1>>\ <<var $powsurge + 1>>\ #show-if (dig($radiantacc, 7) gte 1) use-if ((($equippedaccessory3 isnot "Burning Mitsugake Gloves") and ($equippedaccessory1 isnot "Burning Mitsugake Gloves")) and ($equippedaccessory2 is "")) Equip the Burning Mitsugake Gloves. <<unequipacc2>>\ <<var $equippedaccessory2 "Burning Mitsugake Gloves">>\ <<var $power + 1>>\ <<var $agisurge + 1>>\ #show-if (dig($radiantacc, 8) gte 1) use-if ((($equippedaccessory3 isnot "Frozen Prayer Beads") and ($equippedaccessory1 isnot "Frozen Prayer Beads")) and ($equippedaccessory2 is "")) Equip the Frozen Prayer Beads. <<unequipacc2>>\ <<var $equippedaccessory2 "Frozen Prayer Beads">>\ <<var $fortitude + 1>>\ <<var $solsurge + 1>>\ #show-if (dig($radiantacc, 9) gte 1) use-if ((($equippedaccessory3 isnot "Rising Dawn Hachimaki") and ($equippedaccessory1 isnot "Rising Dawn Hachimaki")) and ($equippedaccessory2 is "")) Equip the Rising Dawn Hachimaki. <<unequipacc2>>\ <<var $equippedaccessory2 "Rising Dawn Hachimaki">>\ <<var $soul + 1>>\ <<var $powsurge + 1>>\ #show-if (dig($radiantacc, 10) gte 1) use-if ((($equippedaccessory3 isnot "Thunderguard Kote") and ($equippedaccessory1 isnot "Thunderguard Kote")) and ($equippedaccessory2 is "")) Equip the Thunderguard Kote. <<unequipacc2>>\ <<var $equippedaccessory2 "Thunderguard Kote">>\ <<var $power + 1>>\ <<var $forsurge + 1>>\ #show-if (dig($radiantacc, 11) gte 1) use-if ((($equippedaccessory3 isnot "Waverunner Sandals") and ($equippedaccessory1 isnot "Waverunner Sandals")) and ($equippedaccessory2 is "")) Equip the Waverunner Sandals. <<unequipacc2>>\ <<var $equippedaccessory2 "Waverunner Sandals">>\ <<var $agility + 1>>\ <<var $forsurge + 1>>\ #show-if (dig($radiantacc, 12) gte 1) use-if ((($equippedaccessory3 isnot "Howling Sensu Fan") and ($equippedaccessory1 isnot "Howling Sensu Fan")) and ($equippedaccessory2 is "")) Equip the Howling Sensu Fan. <<unequipacc2>>\ <<var $equippedaccessory2 "Howling Sensu Fan">>\ <<var $agility + 1>>\ <<var $solsurge + 1>>\ #Nevermind <</choose>>

Currently Equipped: $equippedaccessory3 <<choose "menu-inventory-gear">> #show-if ($equippedaccessory3 isnot "") Unequip $equippedaccessory3 <<unequipacc3>>\ #show-if ($armguardname isnot "") use-if ((($equippedaccessory1 isnot $armguardname) and ($equippedaccessory2 isnot $armguardname)) and ($equippedaccessory3 is "")) Equip $armguardname -> "menu-gear-armguard" #show-if ($sabrecloak gte 1) use-if ((($equippedaccessory1 isnot "Sabretooth Cloak") and ($equippedaccessory2 isnot "Sabretooth Cloak")) and ($equippedaccessory3 is "")) Equip Sabretooth Cloak <<unequipacc3>>\ <<var $equippedaccessory3 "Sabretooth Cloak">>\ <<var $power + 1>>\ <<var $persuasion + 1>>\ ''[Sabretooth Cloak Bonus: Power +1]'' ''[Sabretooth Cloak Bonus: Persuasion +1]'' #show-if (dig($accessory_1, 1) gte 2) use-if ((($equippedaccessory1 isnot "Bands of Decimation") and ($equippedaccessory2 isnot "Bands of Decimation")) and ($equippedaccessory3 is "")) Equip the Bands of Decimation <<unequipacc3>>\ <<var $equippedaccessory3 "Bands of Decimation">>\ <<var $power + 2>>\ ''[Bands of Decimation Bonus: Power +2]'' <<if ($style is "Kiihakai")>>\ ''[Chi Sorcery Focused: Kiihakai Mastery Improved]'' <<var $stylerank + 1>>\ <</if>>\ #show-if ($cpiratehat gte 1) use-if ((($equippedaccessory1 isnot "Cathayan Pirate Hat") and ($equippedaccessory2 isnot "Cathayan Pirate Hat")) and ($equippedaccessory3 is "")) Equip the Cathayan Pirate Hat <<unequipacc3>>\ <<var $equippedaccessory3 "Cathayan Pirate Hat">>\ <<var $thievery + 1>>\ ''[Cathayan Pirate Hat Bonus: Thievery +1]'' ''[Cathayan Pirate Hat Bonus: Agility +1]'' <<var $agility + 1>>\ ''[Cathayan Pirate Hat Bonus: Commerce Increased]'' <<var $commerce + 2>>\ #show-if (($itemyangcrest gt 0) and ($element2 isnot "")) use-if ((($equippedaccessory1 isnot "Crest of Elemental Yang") and ($equippedaccessory3 is "")) and ($equippedaccessory2 isnot "Crest of Elemental Yang")) Equip the Crest of Elemental Yang. <<unequipacc3>>\ <<var $equippedaccessory3 "Crest of Elemental Yang">>\ <<var $element2rank + 1>>\ ''[<<cap $element2>> Mastery Increased]'' <<if ((((($element2 is "Fire") or ($element2 is "Storm")) or ($element2 is "Wind")) or ($element2 is "Light")) or ($element2 is "Water"))>>\ ''[Synergy Bonus: +1 Power due to Yang-attuned $element2 Element.]'' <<var $power + 1>>\ <</if>>\ <<if (($equippedaccessory1 is "Crest of Elemental Yin") or ($equippedaccessory2 is "Crest of Elemental Yin"))>>\ ''[Dual Crest Bonus: +1 Agility, +1 Health]'' <<var $agility + 1>>\ <<var $health + 1>>\ <</if>>\ #show-if (($itemyangcrest gt 0) and ($element2 is "")) use-if ($element2 isnot "") Equip the Crest of Elemental Yang [No Element Attuned to Yang] -> "death" #show-if (($itemyincrest gt 0) and ($element1 isnot "None")) use-if ((($equippedaccessory1 isnot "Crest of Elemental Yin") and ($equippedaccessory3 is "")) and ($equippedaccessory2 isnot "Crest of Elemental Yin")) Equip the Crest of Elemental Yin. <<unequipacc3>>\ <<var $equippedaccessory3 "Crest of Elemental Yin">>\ <<var $element1rank + 1>>\ ''[<<cap $element1>> Mastery Increased]'' <<if ((($element1 is "Ice") or ($element1 is "Earth")) or ($element1 is "Darkness"))>>\ ''[Synergy Bonus: +1 Fortitude due to Yin-attuned $element1 Element.]'' <<var $fortitude + 1>>\ <</if>>\ <<if (($equippedaccessory1 is "Crest of Elemental Yang") or ($equippedaccessory2 is "Crest of Elemental Yang"))>>\ ''[Dual Crest Bonus: +1 Soul, +1 Chi]'' <<var $soul + 1>>\ <<var $chipool + 1>>\ <</if>>\ #show-if (($itemyincrest gt 0) and ($element1 is "None")) use-if ($element1 isnot "None") Equip the Crest of Elemental Yin [No Element Attuned to Yin] -> "death" #show-if ($lanternweights gt 0) use-if ((($equippedaccessory1 isnot "Weights of the Flowing Lantern King") and ($equippedaccessory2 isnot "Weights of the Flowing Lantern King")) and ($equippedaccessory3 is "")) Equip the Weights of the Flowing Lantern King. <<unequipacc3>>\ <<var $equippedaccessory3 "Weights of the Flowing Lantern King">>\ <<if ($element1 is "Light")>>\ <<var $element1rank + 1>>\ <<elseif ($element2 is "Light")>>\ <<var $element2rank + 1>>\ <</if>>\ <<var $perception + 1>>\ <<var $weight + 10>>\ #show-if ($factotummask isnot "icebelt") use-if ((($equippedaccessory1 isnot "Factotum Mask") and ($equippedaccessory2 isnot "Factotum Mask")) and ($equippedaccessory3 is "")) Equip the cap($factotummask)-Enhancing Factotum Mask. <<unequipacc3>>\ <<var $equippedaccessory3 "Factotum Mask">>\ <<run State.variables[$factotummask] += 1>>\ #show-if (dig($radiantacc, 5) gte 1) use-if ((($equippedaccessory1 isnot "Midnight Lenses") and ($equippedaccessory2 isnot "Midnight Lenses")) and ($equippedaccessory3 is "")) Equip the Midnight Lenses. <<unequipacc3>>\ <<var $equippedaccessory3 "Midnight Lenses">>\ <<var $soul + 1>>\ <<var $agisurge + 1>>\ #show-if (dig($radiantacc, 6) gte 1) use-if (((($equippedaccessory1 isnot "Mountain King's Jinbaori") and ($equippedaccessory2 isnot "Mountain King's Jinbaori")) and ($equippedaccessory3 is "")) and ($equippedaccessory3 is "")) Equip the Mountain King's Jinbaori. <<unequipacc3>>\ <<var $equippedaccessory3 "Mountain King's Jinbaori">>\ <<var $fortitude + 1>>\ <<var $powsurge + 1>>\ #show-if (dig($radiantacc, 7) gte 1) use-if ((($equippedaccessory1 isnot "Burning Mitsugake Gloves") and ($equippedaccessory2 isnot "Burning Mitsugake Gloves")) and ($equippedaccessory3 is "")) Equip the Burning Mitsugake Gloves. <<unequipacc3>>\ <<var $equippedaccessory3 "Burning Mitsugake Gloves">>\ <<var $power + 1>>\ <<var $agisurge + 1>>\ #show-if (dig($radiantacc, 8) gte 1) use-if ((($equippedaccessory1 isnot "Frozen Prayer Beads") and ($equippedaccessory2 isnot "Frozen Prayer Beads")) and ($equippedaccessory3 is "")) Equip the Frozen Prayer Beads. <<unequipacc3>>\ <<var $equippedaccessory3 "Frozen Prayer Beads">>\ <<var $fortitude + 1>>\ <<var $solsurge + 1>>\ #show-if (dig($radiantacc, 9) gte 1) use-if ((($equippedaccessory1 isnot "Rising Dawn Hachimaki") and ($equippedaccessory2 isnot "Rising Dawn Hachimaki")) and ($equippedaccessory3 is "")) Equip the Rising Dawn Hachimaki. <<unequipacc3>>\ <<var $equippedaccessory3 "Rising Dawn Hachimaki">>\ <<var $soul + 1>>\ <<var $powsurge + 1>>\ #show-if (dig($radiantacc, 10) gte 1) use-if ((($equippedaccessory1 isnot "Thunderguard Kote") and ($equippedaccessory2 isnot "Thunderguard Kote")) and ($equippedaccessory3 is "")) Equip the Thunderguard Kote. <<unequipacc3>>\ <<var $equippedaccessory3 "Thunderguard Kote">>\ <<var $power + 1>>\ <<var $forsurge + 1>>\ #show-if (dig($radiantacc, 11) gte 1) use-if ((($equippedaccessory1 isnot "Waverunner Sandals") and ($equippedaccessory2 isnot "Waverunner Sandals")) and ($equippedaccessory3 is "")) Equip the Waverunner Sandals. <<unequipacc3>>\ <<var $equippedaccessory3 "Waverunner Sandals">>\ <<var $agility + 1>>\ <<var $forsurge + 1>>\ #show-if (dig($radiantacc, 12) gte 1) use-if ((($equippedaccessory1 isnot "Howling Sensu Fan") and ($equippedaccessory2 isnot "Howling Sensu Fan")) and ($equippedaccessory3 is "")) Equip the Howling Sensu Fan. <<unequipacc3>>\ <<var $equippedaccessory3 "Howling Sensu Fan">>\ <<var $agility + 1>>\ <<var $solsurge + 1>>\ #Nevermind <</choose>>

<<unequipacc1>>\ Do you want to channel the armguard's Soul Treasure to increase your Fortitude or your Power? This will grant you \ <<if $armguardname is "Empowered Armguards (Spiked)" or $armguardname is "Empowered Armguards">>\ +1 \ <<else>>\ +2 \ <</if>>\ to that Combat Core while the armguards are equipped. <<choose "menu-inventory-gear">> #Attune the $armguardname to Fortitude. <<var $equippedaccessory1 $armguardname>>\ <<if $armguardname is "Empowered Armguards (Spiked)" or $armguardname is "Empowered Armguards">>\ <<var $armguardfort 1>>\ <<else>>\ <<var $armguardfort 2>>\ <</if>>\ <<var $fortitude + $armguardfort>>\ ''[$armguardname Bonus: Fortitude +$armguardfort]'' #Attune the $armguardname to Power. <<var $equippedaccessory1 $armguardname>>\ <<if $armguardname is "Empowered Armguards (Spiked)" or $armguardname is "Empowered Armguards">>\ <<var $armguardpow 1>>\ <<else>>\ <<var $armguardpow 2>>\ <</if>>\ <<var $power + $armguardpow>>\ ''[$armguardname Bonus: Power +$armguardpow]'' <</choose>>

<<unequipacc2>>\ Do you want to channel the armguard's Soul Treasure to increase your Fortitude or your Power? This will grant you \ <<if $armguardname is "$clan Armguards (Spiked)" or $armguardname is "$clan Armguards">>\ +2 \ <<else>>\ +1 \ <</if>>\ to that Combat Core while the armguards are equipped. <<choose "menu-inventory-gear">> #Attune the $armguardname to Fortitude. <<var $equippedaccessory2 $armguardname>>\ <<var $armguardfort 1>>\ <<if $armguardname is "Empowered Armguards (Spiked)" or $armguardname is "Empowered Armguards">>\ <<var $armguardfort 1>>\ <<else>>\ <<var $armguardfort 2>>\ <</if>>\ <<var $fortitude + $armguardfort>>\ ''[$armguardname Bonus: Fortitude +$armguardfort]'' #Attune the $armguardname to Power. <<var $equippedaccessory2 $armguardname>>\ <<var $armguardpow 1>>\ <<if $armguardname is "Empowered Armguards (Spiked)" or $armguardname is "Empowered Armguards">>\ <<var $armguardpow 1>>\ <<else>>\ <<var $armguardpow 2>>\ <</if>>\ <<var $power + $armguardpow>>\ ''[$armguardname Bonus: Power +$armguardpow]'' <</choose>>

<<unequipacc3>>\ Do you want to channel the armguard's Soul Treasure to increase your Fortitude or your Power? This will grant you \ <<if $armguardname is "$clan Armguards (Spiked)" or $armguardname is "$clan Armguards">>\ +2 \ <<else>>\ +1 \ <</if>>\ to that Combat Core while the armguards are equipped. <<choose "menu-inventory-gear">> #Attune the $armguardname to Fortitude. <<var $equippedaccessory3 $armguardname>>\ <<var $armguardfort 1>>\ <<if $armguardname is "Empowered Armguards (Spiked)" or $armguardname is "Empowered Armguards">>\ <<var $armguardfort 1>>\ <<else>>\ <<var $armguardfort 2>>\ <</if>>\ <<var $fortitude + $armguardfort>>\ ''[$armguardname Bonus: Fortitude +$armguardfort]'' #Attune the $armguardname to Power. <<var $equippedaccessory3 $armguardname>>\ <<var $armguardpow 1>>\ <<if $armguardname is "Empowered Armguards (Spiked)" or $armguardname is "Empowered Armguards">>\ <<var $armguardpow 1>>\ <<else>>\ <<var $armguardpow 2>>\ <</if>>\ <<var $power + $armguardpow>>\ ''[$armguardname Bonus: Power +$armguardpow]'' <</choose>>

Currently Equipped: $equippedbelt <<choose "menu-inventory-gear">> #show-if ($equippedbelt isnot "") Unequip $equippedbelt <<unequipbelt>>\ #show-if ($whitebelt gte 1) Equip White Belt <<unequipbelt>>\ <<var $equippedbelt "White Belt">>\ <<var $prestige + 1>>\ <<var $chipool + 1>>\ ''[Belt Bonus: Chi +1]'' #show-if (dig($martialbelt, 2) gte 1) Equip Yellow Belt <<unequipbelt>>\ <<var $equippedbelt "Yellow Belt">>\ <<var $prestige + 1>>\ <<var $chipool + 1>>\ <<var $agisurge + 1>>\ ''[Belt Bonus: Chi +1, Agility Surge +1]'' #show-if (dig($martialbelt, 3) gte 1) Equip Orange Belt <<unequipbelt>>\ <<var $equippedbelt "Orange Belt">>\ <<var $prestige + 1>>\ <<var $chipool + 1>>\ <<var $forsurge + 1>>\ ''[Belt Bonus: Chi +1, Fortitude Surge +1]'' #show-if (dig($martialbelt, 4) gte 1) Equip Purple Belt <<unequipbelt>>\ <<var $equippedbelt "Purple Belt">>\ <<var $prestige + 2>>\ <<var $chipool + 1>>\ <<var $solsurge + 1>>\ ''[Belt Bonus: Chi +1, Soul Surge +1]'' #show-if (dig($martialbelt, 5) gte 1) Equip Blue Belt <<unequipbelt>>\ <<var $equippedbelt "Blue Belt">>\ <<var $prestige + 2>>\ <<var $chipool + 1>>\ <<var $powsurge + 1>>\ ''[Belt Bonus: Chi +1, Power Surge +1]'' #show-if (dig($martialbelt, 6) gte 1) Equip Green Belt <<unequipbelt>>\ <<var $equippedbelt "Green Belt">>\ <<var $prestige + 2>>\ <<var $chipool + 1>>\ <<var $agility + 1>>\ ''[Belt Bonus: Chi +1, Agility Core +1]'' #show-if (dig($martialbelt, 7) gte 1) Equip Brown Belt <<unequipbelt>>\ <<var $equippedbelt "Brown Belt">>\ <<var $prestige + 2>>\ <<var $chipool + 1>>\ <<var $fortitude + 1>>\ ''[Belt Bonus: Chi +1, Fortitude Core +1]'' #show-if (dig($martialbelt, 8) gte 1) Equip Red Belt <<unequipbelt>>\ <<var $equippedbelt "Red Belt">>\ <<var $prestige + 2>>\ <<var $health + 1>>\ <<var $soul + 1>>\ ''[Belt Bonus: Health +1, Soul Core +1]'' #show-if (dig($martialbelt, 9) gte 1) Equip Black Belt <<unequipbelt>>\ <<var $equippedbelt "Black Belt">>\ <<var $prestige + 4>>\ <<var $chipool + 1>>\ <<var $health + 1>>\ <<var $power + 1>>\ <<var $powsurge + 1>>\ <<var $agisurge + 1>>\ <<var $forsurge + 1>>\ <<var $solsurge + 1>>\ ''[Belt Bonus: Health +1, Chi +1, Power Core +1, Power Surge +1, Fortitude Surge +1, Agility Surge +1, Soul Surge +1]'' #show-if ($godbelt gt 0) Equip Godthreaded Belt <<unequipbelt>>\ <<var $equippedbelt "Godthreaded Belt">>\ <<var $prestige + 5>>\ <<var $soul + 1>>\ <<var $retainer_strength + 3>>\ <<var $health + 2>>\ <<var $kosukecombat + 1>>\ <<var $jincombat + 1>>\ <<var $rincombat + 1>>\ <<var $leonacombat + 1>>\ <<var $guirencombat + 1>>\ <<var $descombat + 1>>\ <<var $angelocombat + 1>>\ ''[Belt Bonus: Soul +1, Health +2, Retainer Strength +3, Companion Prowess +1]'' #show-if ($icebelt gt 0) Equip Northern Icebelt <<unequipbelt>>\ <<var $equippedbelt "Northern Icebelt">>\ <<var $prestige + 3>>\ <<var $soul + 1>>\ <<var $fortitude + 1>>\ ''[Belt Bonus: +1 Soul, +1 Fortitude]'' <<if ($element1 is "Ice")>>\ <<var $element1rank + 1>>\ ''[Northern Icebelt Bonus: Ice Mastery Increased]'' <<elseif ($element2 is "Ice")>>\ <<var $element2rank + 1>>\ ''[Northern Icebelt Bonus: Ice Mastery Increased]'' <</if>>\ #Nevermind <</choose>>

Currently Equipped: $equippedoutfit <<choose "menu-inventory-gear">> #show-if ($equippedoutfit isnot "") Unequip $equippedoutfit <<unequiparmor>>\ #show-if ($combatgitf gte 1) Equip Thunderfall Combat Gi <<unequiparmor>>\ <<var $equippedoutfit "Thunderfall Combat Gi">>\ <<var $health + 1>>\ ''[Thunderfall Combat Gi Bonus: Health +1]'' #show-if (dig($radiantacc, 3) gte 1) Equip Black Combat Gi <<unequiparmor>>\ <<var $equippedoutfit "Black Combat Gi">>\ <<var $health + 1>>\ ''[Black Combat Gi Bonus: Health +1]'' #show-if (dig($radiantacc, 2) gte 1) Equip White Combat Gi <<unequiparmor>>\ <<var $equippedoutfit "White Combat Gi">>\ <<var $chipool + 1>>\ ''[White Combat Gi Bonus: Chi +1]'' #show-if ($weightedclothing gte 1) Equip Weighted Clothing <<unequiparmor>>\ <<var $equippedoutfit "Weighted Clothing">>\ <<var $weight + 5>>\ <<var $agility - 1>>\ <<if (($weight gte 9) and ($chapter gte 6.5))>>\ <<var $power - 1>>\ ''[Weighted Clothing Penalty: -1 Power]'' <</if>>\ ''[Weighted Clothing Penalty: -1 Agility]'' #show-if ($waverunnerarmor gte 1) Equip Waverunner Plated Armor <<unequiparmor>>\ <<var $equippedoutfit "Waverunner Armor">>\ <<var $weight + 7>>\ <<var $agility - 1>>\ <<if (($weight gte 9) and ($chapter gte 6.5))>>\ <<var $power - 1>>\ ''[Weighted Clothing Penalty: Power -1]'' <</if>>\ ''[Weighted Clothing Penalty: -1 Agility]'' ''[Armor Bonus: +1 Health]'' <<var $health + 1>>\ <<if ($guardtechname is "")>>\ <<var $guardtechname "Armor Bonus 1">>\ <<var $guardtech 1>>\ ''[Armor Bonus: +1 Guard]'' ''[Guard is used to automatically block damage.]'' ''[It is restored automatically in downtime with Craft equal to the Guard Bonus +1.]'' <<else>>\ ''[Pre-Existing Guard Effect Detected]'' ''[Armor's Guard Bonus Redundant]'' <</if>>\ #Nevermind <</choose>>

Currently Equipped: $equippedweapon <<choose "menu-inventory-gear">> #show-if ($equippedweapon isnot "") Unequip $equippedweapon <<unequipweapon1>>\ #show-if (dig($itembostaff, 1) gt 1) Bo Staff <<unequipweapon1>>\ <<var $equippedweapon "Bo Staff">>\ <<var $weaponbonus $itembostaff>>\ <<weaponbonuses>>\ #show-if (dig($itemchiblade, 1) gt 1) use-if ($equippedweapon2 isnot "Chiblade") Chiblade <<unequipweapon1>>\ <<var $equippedweapon "Chiblade">>\ <<var $weaponbonus $itemchiblade>>\ <<weaponbonuses>>\ #show-if (dig($itemgreataxe, 1) gt 1) Greataxe <<unequipweapon1>>\ <<var $equippedweapon "Greataxe">>\ <<var $weaponbonus $itemgreataxe>>\ <<weaponbonuses>>\ #show-if (dig($itemhandwraps, 1) gt 1) use-if ($equippedweapon2 isnot "Handwraps") Handwraps <<unequipweapon1>>\ <<var $equippedweapon "Handwraps">>\ <<var $weaponbonus $itemhandwraps>>\ <<weaponbonuses>>\ #show-if (dig($godsword, 1) gt 1) use-if ($equippedweapon2 isnot "Godslayer") Godslayer <<unequipweapon1>>\ <<var $equippedweapon "Godslayer">>\ <<var $weaponbonus $godsword>>\ <<weaponbonuses>>\ #show-if (dig($itemiceblade, 1) gt 1) use-if ($equippedweapon2 isnot "Iceblade") Iceblade <<unequipweapon1>>\ <<var $equippedweapon "Iceblade">>\ <<var $weaponbonus $itemiceblade>>\ <<weaponbonuses>>\ #show-if (dig($itemkatana_3, 1) gt 1) use-if ($equippedweapon2 isnot "Ikazuchi") Ikazuchi <<unequipweapon1>>\ <<var $equippedweapon "Ikazuchi">>\ <<var $weaponbonus $itemkatana_3>>\ <<weaponbonuses>>\ #show-if (dig($itemhandwraps_1, 1) gt 1) use-if ($equippedweapon2 isnot "Járngreipr") Járngreipr <<unequipweapon1>>\ <<var $equippedweapon "Járngreipr">>\ <<var $weaponbonus $itemhandwraps_1>>\ <<weaponbonuses>>\ #show-if (dig($itemjian, 1) gt 1) use-if ($equippedweapon2 isnot "Jian") Jian <<unequipweapon1>>\ <<var $equippedweapon "Jian">>\ <<var $weaponbonus $itemjian>>\ <<weaponbonuses>>\ #show-if (dig($itemkunai, 1) gt 1) use-if ($equippedweapon2 isnot "Kunai") Kunai <<unequipweapon1>>\ <<var $equippedweapon "Kunai">>\ <<var $weaponbonus $itemkunai>>\ <<weaponbonuses>>\ #show-if (dig($itemkatana, 1) gt 1) use-if ($equippedweapon2 isnot "Katana") Katana <<unequipweapon1>>\ <<var $equippedweapon "Katana">>\ <<var $weaponbonus $itemkatana>>\ <<weaponbonuses>>\ #show-if (dig($itemkatana_2, 1) gt 1) use-if ($equippedweapon2 isnot "Kagutsuchi") Kagutsuchi <<unequipweapon1>>\ <<var $equippedweapon "Kagutsuchi">>\ <<var $weaponbonus $itemkatana_2>>\ <<weaponbonuses>>\ #show-if (dig($itemmeteorhammer, 1) gt 1) Meteor Hammer <<unequipweapon1>>\ <<var $equippedweapon "Meteor Hammer">>\ <<var $weaponbonus $itemmeteorhammer>>\ <<weaponbonuses>>\ #show-if (dig($itemkatana_1, 1) gt 1) use-if ($equippedweapon2 isnot "Muramasa") Muramasa <<unequipweapon1>>\ <<var $equippedweapon "Muramasa">>\ <<var $weaponbonus $itemkatana_1>>\ <<weaponbonuses>>\ #show-if (dig($itemkatana_4, 1) gt 1) use-if ($equippedweapon2 isnot "Musashi") Musashi <<unequipweapon1>>\ <<var $equippedweapon "Musashi">>\ <<var $weaponbonus $itemkatana_4>>\ <<weaponbonuses>>\ #show-if (dig($itemqiang, 1) gt 1) Qiang <<unequipweapon1>>\ <<var $equippedweapon "Qiang">>\ <<var $weaponbonus $itemqiang>>\ <<weaponbonuses>>\ #show-if (dig($itemkusarigama_1, 1) gt 1) use-if ($equippedweapon2 isnot "Shishido") Shishido <<unequipweapon1>>\ <<var $equippedweapon "Shishido">>\ <<var $weaponbonus $itemkusarigama_1>>\ <<weaponbonuses>>\ #show-if (dig($itemtanto, 1) gt 1) use-if ($equippedweapon2 isnot "Tanto") Tanto <<unequipweapon1>>\ <<var $equippedweapon "Tanto">>\ <<var $weaponbonus $itemtanto>>\ <<weaponbonuses>>\ #show-if (dig($itemyumi, 1) gt 1) Yumi <<unequipweapon1>>\ <<var $equippedweapon "Yumi">>\ <<var $weaponbonus $itemyumi>>\ <<weaponbonuses>>\ #Go back. <</choose>>

Only one-handed weapons may be used in your off-hand, for no matter how much you try it's just too unwieldy to be swinging a massive two-handed weapon around in your secondary hand. It's not the weight that's the problem, it's the angles in which you're able to maneuver it around your body. Currently Equipped: $equippedweapon2 <<choose "menu-inventory-gear">> #show-if ($equippedweapon2 isnot "") Unequip $equippedweapon2 <<unequipweapon2>>\ #show-if (dig($itemchiblade, 1) gt 1) use-if ($equippedweapon isnot "Chiblade") Chiblade <<unequipweapon2>>\ <<var $equippedweapon2 "Chiblade">>\ <<var $weaponbonus2 $itemchiblade>>\ <<weaponbonuses2>>\ #show-if (dig($itemhandwraps, 1) gt 1) use-if ($equippedweapon isnot "Handwraps") Handwraps <<unequipweapon2>>\ <<var $equippedweapon2 "Handwraps">>\ <<var $weaponbonus2 $itemhandwraps>>\ <<weaponbonuses2>>\ #show-if (dig($godsword, 1) gt 1) use-if ($equippedweapon isnot "Godslayer") Godslayer <<unequipweapon2>>\ <<var $equippedweapon "Godslayer">>\ <<var $weaponbonus2 $godsword>>\ <<weaponbonuses2>>\ #show-if (dig($itemiceblade, 1) gt 1) use-if ($equippedweapon isnot "Iceblade") Iceblade <<unequipweapon2>>\ <<var $equippedweapon2 "Iceblade">>\ <<var $weaponbonus2 $itemiceblade>>\ <<weaponbonuses2>>\ #show-if (dig($itemkatana_3, 1) gt 1) use-if ($equippedweapon isnot "Ikazuchi") Ikazuchi <<unequipweapon2>>\ <<var $equippedweapon2 "Ikazuchi">>\ <<var $weaponbonus2 $itemkatana_3>>\ <<weaponbonuses2>>\ #show-if (dig($itemhandwraps_1, 1) gt 1) use-if ($equippedweapon isnot "Járngreipr") Járngreipr <<unequipweapon2>>\ <<var $equippedweapon2 "Járngreipr">>\ <<var $weaponbonus2 $itemhandwraps_1>>\ <<weaponbonuses2>>\ #show-if (dig($itemjian, 1) gt 1) use-if ($equippedweapon isnot "Jian") Jian <<unequipweapon2>>\ <<var $equippedweapon2 "Jian">>\ <<var $weaponbonus2 $itemjian>>\ <<weaponbonuses2>>\ #show-if (dig($itemkunai, 1) gt 1) use-if ($equippedweapon isnot "Kunai") Kunai <<unequipweapon2>>\ <<var $equippedweapon2 "Kunai">>\ <<var $weaponbonus2 $itemkunai>>\ <<weaponbonuses2>>\ #show-if (dig($itemkatana_2, 1) gt 1) use-if ($equippedweapon isnot "Kagutsuchi") Kagutsuchi <<unequipweapon2>>\ <<var $equippedweapon2 "Kagutsuchi">>\ <<var $weaponbonus2 $itemkatana_2>>\ <<weaponbonuses2>>\ #show-if (dig($itemkatana, 1) gt 1) use-if ($equippedweapon isnot "Katana") Katana <<unequipweapon2>>\ <<var $equippedweapon2 "Katana">>\ <<var $weaponbonus2 $itemkatana>>\ <<weaponbonuses2>>\ #show-if (dig($itemkatana_1, 1) gt 1) use-if ($equippedweapon isnot "Muramasa") Muramasa <<unequipweapon2>>\ <<var $equippedweapon2 "Muramasa">>\ <<var $weaponbonus2 $itemkatana_1>>\ <<weaponbonuses2>>\ #show-if (dig($itemkatana_4, 1) gt 1) use-if ($equippedweapon isnot "Musashi") Musashi <<unequipweapon2>>\ <<var $equippedweapon2 "Musashi">>\ <<var $weaponbonus2 $itemkatana_4>>\ <<weaponbonuses2>>\ #show-if (dig($itemkusarigama_1, 1) gt 1) use-if ($equippedweapon isnot "Shishido") Shishido <<unequipweapon2>>\ <<var $equippedweapon2 "Shishido">>\ <<var $weaponbonus2 $itemkusarigama_1>>\ <<weaponbonuses2>>\ #show-if (dig($itemtanto, 1) gt 1) use-if ($equippedweapon isnot "Tanto") Tanto <<unequipweapon2>>\ <<var $equippedweapon2 "Tanto">>\ <<var $weaponbonus2 $itemtanto>>\ <<weaponbonuses2>>\ #Go back. <</choose>>

Silver: $silver Shards: $shards Gold: $gold <<if ($clothes isnot "")>>\ Clothing: <<cap $clothes>> <</if>>\ <<if ($alchemyreagents gt 0)>>\ $alchemyreagents Alchemy \ <<if ($alchemyreagents is 1)>>\ Reagent <<else>>\ Reagents <</if>>\ <</if>>\ <<if ((($equippedaccessory1 is "Bands of Decimation") or ($equippedaccessory2 is "Bands of Decimation")) or ($equippedaccessory3 is "Bands of Decimation"))>>\ 1 Bands of Decimation [EQUIPPED] <<elseif (dig($accessory_1, 1) gte 2)>>\ 1 Bands of Decimation (Increases Power by \ <<if ($style is "Kiihakai")>>\ 2, Increases Kiihakai Mastery) <<else>>\ 2) <</if>>\ <</if>>\ <<if ($blessedwater gt 0)>>\ $blessedwater Blessed Water <</if>>\ <<if (dig($itembostaff, 1) gt 1)>>\ <<wepdisplay $itembostaff "Bo Staff" true>>\ <</if>>\ <<if ($bosstalisman gte 1)>>\ $bosstalisman Bossrozal Talisman <</if>>\ <<if (dig($junkitem, 4) gte 1)>>\ 1 Bound Ice Elemental <</if>>\ <<if (dig($itemchiblade, 1) gt 1)>>\ <<wepdisplay $itemchiblade "Chiblade" true>>\ <</if>>\ <<if (dig($junkitem, 2) is 1)>>\ 1 Collection of Basic Path Manuals <</if>>\ <<if (dig($combatcannon, 1) gte 2)>>\ 1 Combat Cannon (<<=dig ($combatcannon, 2)>> \ <<if (dig($combatcannon, 2) is 1)>>\ Shot) \ <<else>>\ Shots) \ <</if>>\ [Sealed Away] <</if>>\ <<if ($earthlyprowess is 2)>>\ 1 Earthly Prowess Pill (Complete) <<elseif ($earthlyprowess gt 0)>>\ 1 Earthly Prowess Pill (Incomplete) <</if>>\ <<if (($armguardname isnot "") and ((($equippedaccessory2 is $armguardname) or ($equippedaccessory1 is $armguardname)) or ($equippedaccessory3 is $armguardname)))>>\ 1 $armguardname [EQUIPPED] <<elseif ($armguardname isnot "")>>\ 1 $armguardname (Increases Power or Fortitude) <</if>>\ <<if ((dig($martialbelt, 9) gte 1) and ($equippedbelt is "Black Belt"))>>\ 1 Black Belt [EQUIPPED] <<elseif (dig($martialbelt, 9) gte 1)>>\ 1 Black Belt [+1 Health, +1 Chi, +1 Power, +1 Surge (All)] <</if>>\ <<if ((dig($radiantacc, 3) gte 1) and ($equippedoutfit is "Black Combat Gi"))>>\ 1 Black Combat Gi [EQUIPPED] <<elseif (dig($radiantacc, 3) gte 1)>>\ 1 Black Combat Gi [+1 Chi] <</if>>\ <<if ((dig($martialbelt, 5) gte 1) and ($equippedbelt is "Blue Belt"))>>\ 1 Blue Belt [EQUIPPED] <<elseif (dig($martialbelt, 5) gte 1)>>\ 1 Blue Belt [+1 Chi, +1 Power Surge] <</if>>\ <<if ((dig($martialbelt, 7) gte 1) and ($equippedbelt is "Brown Belt"))>>\ 1 Brown Belt [EQUIPPED] <<elseif (dig($martialbelt, 7) gte 1)>>\ 1 Brown Belt [+1 Chi, +1 Fortitude] <</if>>\ <<if ((dig($radiantacc, 7) gte 1) and ((($equippedaccessory1 is "Burning Mitsugake Gloves") or ($equippedaccessory2 is "Burning Mitsugake Gloves")) or ($equippedaccessory3 is "Burning Mitsugake Gloves")))>>\ 1 Burning Mitsugake Gloves [EQUIPPED] <<elseif (dig($radiantacc, 7) gte 1)>>\ 1 Burning Mitsugake Gloves <</if>>\ <<if (($cpiratehat gt 0) and ((($equippedaccessory1 is "Cathayan Pirate Hat") or ($equippedaccessory2 is "Cathayan Pirate Hat")) or ($equippedaccessory3 is "Cathayan Pirate Hat")))>>\ $cpiratehat Cathayan Pirate Hat [EQUIPPED] <<elseif ($cpiratehat gt 0)>>\ $cpiratehat Cathayan Pirate Hat (Increases Agility, Commerce, and Thievery) <</if>>\ <<if ($wyrmtrophy is 3)>>\ 1 Cinnabar Crate (Fuuinjutsu-Sealed) <</if>>\ <<if ($commonpoison gt 0)>>\ $commonpoison Common \ <<if ($commonpoison gt 1)>>\ Poisons <<else>>\ Poison <</if>>\ <</if>>\ <<if ($itemyangcrest gt 0)>>\ $itemyangcrest Crest of Elemental Yang <</if>>\ <<if ($itemyincrest gt 0)>>\ $itemyincrest Crest of Elemental Yin <</if>>\ <<if ($solelixir gt 0)>>\ $solelixir Divine Presence Elixir <</if>>\ <<if ($powelixir gt 0)>>\ $powelixir Eternal War Elixir <</if>>\ <<if (($factotummask isnot "icebelt") and ((($equippedaccessory1 is "Factotum Mask") or ($equippedaccessory2 is "Factotum Mask")) or ($equippedaccessory3 is "Factotum Mask")))>>\ 1 Factotum Mask (<<cap $factotummask>>) [EQUIPPED] <<elseif ($factotummask isnot "icebelt")>>\ 1 Factotum Mask (<<cap $factotummask>>) <</if>>\ <<if ((dig($radiantacc, 8) gte 1) and ((($equippedaccessory1 is "Frozen Prayer Beads") or ($equippedaccessory2 is "Frozen Prayer Beads")) or ($equippedaccessory3 is "Frozen Prayer Beads")))>>\ 1 Frozen Prayer Beads [EQUIPPED] <<elseif (dig($radiantacc, 8) gte 1)>>\ 1 Frozen Prayer Beads <</if>>\ <<if (dig($bigevents, 5) is 4)>>\ 1 Forbidden Death Scroll <</if>>\ <<if ((dig($godsword, 1) gte 2) and (($equippedweapon is "Godslayer") or ($equippedweapon2 is "Godslayer")))>>\ 1 Godslayer Blade [EQUIPPED] <<elseif (dig($godsword, 1) gte 2) and (dig($godsword, 7) is 5)>>\ 1 Godslayer Blade [Light Affinity, +1 Athletics, +1 Agility, +1 Soul] <<elseif (dig($godsword, 1) gte 2)>>\ 1 Godslayer Blade [Water Affinity, +1 Athletics, +1 Agility, +1 Soul] <</if>>\ <<if ((dig($godbelt, 1) gte 2) and ($equippedbelt is "Godthreaded Belt"))>>\ 1 Godthreaded Belt [EQUIPPED] <<elseif (dig($godbelt, 1) gte 2)>>\ 1 Godthreaded Belt [+1 Soul, +2 Health, Increase Follower Strength] <</if>>\ <<if ((dig($martialbelt, 6) gte 1) and ($equippedbelt is "Green Belt"))>>\ 1 Green Belt [EQUIPPED] <<elseif (dig($martialbelt, 6) gte 1)>>\ 1 Green Belt [+1 Chi, +1 Agility] <</if>>\ <<if (dig($junkitem, 1) is 2)>>\ 1 Goro's Token <</if>>\ <<if (dig($itemgreataxe, 1) gte 2)>>\ <<wepdisplay $itemgreataxe "Greataxe" true>>\ <</if>>\ <<if (dig($itemhandwraps, 1) gte 2)>>\ <<wepdisplay $itemhandwraps "Handwraps" true>>\ <</if>>\ <<if ($healingelixir gt 0)>>\ $healingelixir Healing \ <<if ($healingelixir gt 1)>>\ Elixirs <<else>>\ Elixir <</if>>\ <</if>>\ <<if ((dig($radiantacc, 12) gte 1) and ((($equippedaccessory1 is "Howling Sensu Fan") or ($equippedaccessory2 is "Howling Sensu Fan")) or ($equippedaccessory3 is "Howling Sensu Fan")))>>\ 1 Howling Sensu Fan [EQUIPPED] <<elseif (dig($radiantacc, 12) gte 1)>>\ 1 Howling Sensu Fan <</if>>\ <<if (dig($itemiceblade, 1) gte 2)>>\ <<wepdisplay $itemiceblade "Iceblade" true>>\ <</if>>\ <<if (dig($itemkatana_3, 1) gte 2)>>\ <<wepdisplay $itemkatana_3 "Ikazuchi" true>>\ <</if>>\ <<if ($cursedpoison gt 0)>>\ $cursedpoison Cursed \ <<if ($cursedpoison gt 1)>>\ Poisons <<else>>\ Poison <</if>>\ <</if>>\ <<if ($forelixir gt 0)>>\ $forelixir Inner Fortress Elixir <</if>>\ <<if ($bankinterest gt 0)>>\ 1 Imperial Bank Keystone <</if>>\ <<if (dig($itemhandwraps_1) gte 2)>>\ <<wepdisplay $itemhandwraps_1 "Járngreipr" true>>\ <</if>>\ <<if (dig($itemjian, 1) gte 2)>>\ <<wepdisplay $itemjian "Jian" true>>\ <</if>>\ <<if (dig($itemkatana, 1) gte 2)>>\ <<wepdisplay $itemkatana "Katana" true>>\ <</if>>\ <<if (dig($itemkunai, 1) gte 2)>>\ <<wepdisplay $itemkunai "Kunai" true>>\ <</if>>\ <<if ($lgforpill gt 0)>>\ $lgforpill Low Grade Fortitude \ <<if ($lgforpill gt 1)>>\ Pills <<else>>\ Pill <</if>>\ <</if>>\ <<if ($lgagipill gt 0)>>\ $lgagipill Low Grade Agility \ <<if ($lgagipill gt 1)>>\ Pills <<else>>\ Pill <</if>>\ <</if>>\ <<if ($lgsolpill gt 0)>>\ $lgsolpill Low Grade Soul \ <<if ($lgsolpill gt 1)>>\ Pills <<else>>\ Pill <</if>>\ <</if>>\ <<if ($lgpowpill gt 0)>>\ $lgpowpill Low Grade Power \ <<if ($lgpowpill gt 1)>>\ Pills <<else>>\ Pill <</if>>\ <</if>>\ <<if (dig($itemkatana_2, 1) gte 2)>>\ <<wepdisplay $itemkatana_2 "Kagutsuchi" true>>\ <</if>>\ <<if (dig($itemmeteorhammer, 1) gte 2)>>\ <<wepdisplay $itemmeteorhammer "Meteor Hammer" true>>\ <</if>>\ <<if ((dig($radiantacc, 5) gte 1) and ((($equippedaccessory1 is "Midnight Lenses") or ($equippedaccessory2 is "Midnight Lenses")) or ($equippedaccessory3 is "Midnight Lenses")))>>\ 1 Midnight Lenses [EQUIPPED] <<elseif (dig($radiantacc, 5) gte 1)>>\ 1 Midnight Lenses <</if>>\ <<if (dig($itemkatana_1, 1) gte 2)>>\ <<wepdisplay $itemkatana_1 "Muramasa" true>>\ <</if>>\ <<if (dig($itemkatana_4, 1) gte 2)>>\ <<wepdisplay $itemkatana_4 "Musashi" true>>\ <</if>>\ <<if ($memorywell gt 0)>>\ $memorywell Memorywell Elixir <</if>>\ <<if ((dig($radiantacc, 6) gte 1) and ((($equippedaccessory1 is "Mountain King's Jinbaori") or ($equippedaccessory2 is "Mountain King's Jinbaori")) or ($equippedaccessory3 is "Mountain King's Jinbaori")))>>\ 1 Mountain King's Jinbaori [EQUIPPED] <<elseif (dig($radiantacc, 6) gte 1)>>\ 1 Mountain King's Jinbaori <</if>>\ <<if ($icebelt gt 0) and ($equippedbelt is "Northern Icebelt")>>\ 1 Northern Icebelt [EQUIPPED] <<elseif ($icebelt gt 0)>>\ 1 Northern Icebelt [+Ice Mastery, +2 Soul, +1 Fortitude] <</if>>\ <<if ((dig($martialbelt, 3) gte 1) and ($equippedbelt is "Orange Belt"))>>\ 1 Orange Belt [EQUIPPED] <<elseif (dig($martialbelt, 3) gte 1)>>\ 1 Orange Belt [+1 Chi, +1 Fortitude Surge] <</if>>\ <<if ($skillmanual gt 0)>>\ $skillmanual Path \ <<if ($skillmanual gt 1)>>\ Manuals \ <<else>>\ Manual \ <</if>>\ - Skill <</if>>\ <<if ($stylemanual gt 0)>>\ $stylemanual Path \ <<if ($stylemanual gt 1)>>\ Manuals \ <<else>>\ Manual \ <</if>>\ - Style <</if>>\ <<if ($elemmanual gt 0)>>\ $elemmanual Path \ <<if ($elemmanual gt 1)>>\ Manuals \ <<else>>\ Manual \ <</if>>\ - Element <</if>>\ <<if ($coremanual gt 0)>>\ $coremanual Path \ <<if ($coremanual gt 1)>>\ Manuals \ <<else>>\ Manual \ <</if>>\ - Combat Core <</if>>\ <<if (dig($itempainting, 2) gte 1)>>\ 1 Portrait of Taio the Scholar's Defeated Face <</if>>\ <<if (dig($itempainting, 3) gte 1)>>\ 1 Portrait of Taio the Bandit's Baffled Face <</if>>\ <<if (dig($itempainting, 4) gte 1)>>\ 1 Portrait of Mao's Bewildered Face <</if>>\ <<if (dig($junkitem, 5) is 1)>>\ 1 Shipment of Outer South Trade Goods <</if>>\ <<if ((dig($martialbelt, 4) gte 1) and ($equippedbelt is "Purple Belt"))>>\ 1 Purple Belt [EQUIPPED] <<elseif (dig($martialbelt, 4) gte 1)>>\ 1 Purple Belt [+1 Chi, +1 Soul Surge] <</if>>\ <<if (dig($itemqiang, 1) gte 2)>>\ <<wepdisplay $itemqiang "Qiang" true>>\ <</if>>\ <<if ($supplies gte 0)>>\ $supplies Ration Supplies <</if>>\ <<if ((dig($martialbelt, 8) gte 1) and ($equippedbelt is "Red Belt"))>>\ 1 Red Belt [EQUIPPED] <<elseif (dig($martialbelt, 8) gte 2)>>\ 1 Red Belt [+1 Health, +1 Soul] <</if>>\ <<if ($replenisherpill gt 0)>>\ $replenisherpill Replenisher \ <<if ($replenisherpill gt 1)>>\ Pills <<else>>\ Pill <</if>>\ <</if>>\ <<if ($ritualcomponents gt 0)>>\ $ritualcomponents Ritual \ <<if ($ritualcomponents is 1)>>\ Component <<else>>\ Components <</if>>\ <</if>>\ <<if ((dig($radiantacc, 9) gte 1) and ((($equippedaccessory1 is "Rising Dawn Hachimaki") or ($equippedaccessory2 is "Rising Dawn Hachimaki")) or ($equippedaccessory3 is "Rising Dawn Hachimaki")))>>\ 1 Rising Dawn Hachimaki [EQUIPPED] <<elseif (dig($radiantacc, 9) gte 1)>>\ 1 Rising Dawn Hachimaki <</if>>\ <<if ($roc is 1)>>\ $roc Roc Egg <</if>>\ <<if ($sabrepelt gt 0)>>\ $sabrepelt Sabretooth Tiger Pelt <</if>>\ <<if (($sabrecloak gt 0) and ((($equippedaccessory1 is "Sabretooth Cloak") or ($equippedaccessory2 is "Sabretooth Cloak")) or ($equippedaccessory3 is "Sabretooth Cloak")))>>\ $sabrecloak Sabretooth Cloak [EQUIPPED] <<elseif ($sabrecloak gt 0)>>\ $sabrecloak Sabretooth Cloak (Increases Power and Persuasion) <</if>>\ <<if ($agielixir gt 0)>>\ $agielixir Silent Hunt Elixir <</if>>\ <<if (dig($radiantacc, 4) gt 1)>>\ 1 Spiritweave Scarf [Expended] <<elseif (dig($radiantacc, 4) is 1)>>\ 1 Spiritweave Scarf [Fully Charged] <</if>>\ <<if (dig($itemtanto, 1) gte 2)>>\ <<wepdisplay $itemtanto "Tanto" true>>\ <</if>>\ <<if ((dig($radiantacc, 10) gte 1) and ((($equippedaccessory1 is "Thunderguard Kote") or ($equippedaccessory2 is "Thunderguard Kote")) or ($equippedaccessory3 is "Thunderguard Kote")))>>\ 1 Thunderguard Kote [EQUIPPED] <<elseif (dig($radiantacc, 10) gte 1)>>\ 1 Thunderguard Kote <</if>>\ <<if ($combatgitf gt 0) and ($equippedoutfit is "Thunderfall Combat Gi")>>\ $combatgitf Thunderfall Combat Gi [EQUIPPED] <<elseif ($combatgitf gt 0)>>\ $combatgitf Thunderfall Combat Gi (Increases Health) <</if>>\ <<if ((dig($radiantacc, 11) gte 1) and ((($equippedaccessory1 is "Waverunner Sandals") or ($equippedaccessory2 is "Waverunner Sandals")) or ($equippedaccessory3 is "Waverunner Sandals")))>>\ 1 Waverunner Sandals [EQUIPPED] <<elseif (dig($radiantacc, 11) gte 1)>>\ 1 Waverunner Sandals <</if>>\ <<if ($waverunnerarmor gte 1)>>\ $waverunnerarmor \ <<if ($waverunnerarmor gte 2)>>\ Sets \ <<else>>\ Set \ <</if>>\ of Waverunner Armor <</if>>\ <<if ($weaksoultreasure gte 1)>>\ $weaksoultreasure Weak Soul Treasures <</if>>\ <<if (($weightedclothing is 1) and ($equippedoutfit is "Weighted Clothing"))>>\ $weightedclothing Weighted Clothing [EQUIPPED] <<elseif (($weightedclothing gt 1) and ($equippedoutfit is "Weighted Clothing"))>>\ 1 Weighted Clothing [EQUIPPED] <<var $menuval ($weightedclothing - 1)>>\ $menuval Spare Weighted Clothing \ <<if ((($weight gt 8) or (($weight gt 4) and ($equippedoutfit isnot "Weighted Clothing"))) and ($chapter gte 6.5))>>\ (Lowers Agility and Power, Increases AP Gain) <<else>>\ (Lowers Agility, Increases AP Gain) <</if>>\ <<var $menuval 0>>\ <<elseif ($weightedclothing gt 0)>>\ $weightedclothing Weighted Clothing \ <<if ($weight gt 4) and ($chapter gte 6.5)>>\ (Lowers Agility and Power, Increases AP Gain) <<else>>\ (Lowers Agility, Increases AP Gain) <</if>>\ <</if>>\ <<if ($weaponcrate gte 1)>>\ Weapons Crate ($weaponcrate Weak Soul Treasure \ <<if ($weaponcrate is 1)>>\ Weapon) <<else>>\ Weapons) <</if>>\ <</if>>\ <<if (($lanternweights gt 0) and ((($equippedaccessory1 is "Weights of the Flowing Lantern King") or ($equippedaccessory2 is "Weights of the Flowing Lantern King")) or ($equippedaccessory3 is "Weights of the Flowing Lantern King")))>>\ $lanternweights Weights of the Flowing Lantern King [EQUIPPED] <<elseif ($lanternweights gt 0)>>\ $lanternweights Weights of the Flowing Lantern King [+Light Affinity, +1 Perception, Weighted (No Penalty)] <</if>>\ <<if ((dig($metvessel, 2) is 1) or (dig($metvessel, 2) is 2))>>\ 1 Spirit Jar (Wind Vessel) <</if>>\ <<if ($whitebelt is 1) and ($equippedbelt is "White Belt")>>\ $whitebelt White Belt [EQUIPPED] <<elseif ($whitebelt gt 1) and ($equippedbelt is "White Belt")>>\ $whitebelt White Belt [EQUIPPED] <<var $menuval ($whitebelt - 1)>>\ $menuval Spare White \ <<if ($whitebelt gt 2)>>\ Belts (Increases Chi Pool) <<else>>\ Belt (Increases Chi Pool) <</if>>\ <<var $menuval 0>>\ <<elseif ($whitebelt gt 0)>>\ $whitebelt White \ <<if ($whitebelt gt 1)>>\ Belts (Increases Chi Pool) <<else>>\ Belt (Increases Chi Pool) <</if>>\ <</if>>\ <<if ((dig($radiantacc, 2) gte 1) and ($equippedoutfit is "White Combat Gi"))>>\ 1 White Combat Gi [EQUIPPED] <<elseif (dig($radiantacc, 2) gte 2)>>\ 1 White Combat Gi [+1 Chi] <</if>>\ <<if ($boon_choralline gte 1)>>\ $boon_choralline Writ of Favor (Choral Line Trade Sect) <</if>>\ <<if ($boon_fourclover gte 1)>>\ $boon_fourclover} Writ of Favor (Four Leaf Clover Sect) <</if>>\ <<if ($boon_endlessbeating gte 1)>>\ $boon_endlessbeating Writ of Favor (Endless Beating School) <</if>>\ <<if ($boon_hauntedfist gte 1)>>\ $boon_hauntedfist Writ of Favor (Haunted Fist School) <</if>>\ <<if ($boon_lostsiren gte 1)>>\ $boon_lostsiren Writ of Favor (Lost Siren Sect) <</if>>\ <<if ($boon_mountainhazard gte 1)>>\ $boon_mountainhazard Writ of Favor (Mountain Hazard Sect) <</if>>\ <<if ($boon_newdawn gte 1)>>\ $boon_newdawn Writ of Favor (New Dawn Sect) <</if>>\ <<if ($boon_northernarmy gte 1)>>\ $boon_northernarmy Writ of Favor (Northern Army) <</if>>\ <<if ($boon_thousandlantern gte 1)>>\ $boon_thousandlantern Writ of Favor (Thousand Lantern Trade Sect) <</if>>\ <<if ($boon_waverunner gte 1)>>\ $boon_waverunner Writ of Favor (Waverunner Sect) <</if>>\ <<if ($boon_whisperingcrane gte 1)>>\ $boon_whisperingcrane Writ of Favor (Whispering Crane School) <</if>>\ <<if ($boon_yomijin gte 1)>>\ $boon_yomijin Writ of Favor (Yomijin Ancestor Spirits) <</if>>\ <<if ((dig($martialbelt, 2) gte 1) and ($equippedbelt is "Yellow Belt"))>>\ 1 Yellow Belt [EQUIPPED] <<elseif (dig($martialbelt, 2) gte 2)>>\ 1 Yellow Belt [+1 Chi, +1 Agility Surge] <</if>>\ <<if (dig($itemyumi, 1) gte 2)>>\ <<wepdisplay $itemyumi "Yumi" true>>\ <</if>>\ <<include "menu-inventory-choice">>\

<<choose "menu-inventory">> #show-if (($fighting is false) or (($thievery gte 4) or ($leonatat is true))) Change Equipment -> "menu-inventory-gear" #show-if (($fighting is true) and (($thievery lt 4) and ($leonatat is false))) use-if ($fighting is false) Change Equipment [You are in the middle of a fight!] -> "death" #show-if ($skillmanual gte 1) use-if (($fighting is false) or ($thievery gte 4)) Study a Path Manual on the twelve Skills. -> "menu-inventory-skillmanual" #show-if ($blessedwater gte 1) use-if (($fighting is false) or ($thievery gte 1)) Consume the Blessed Water. [Restores 1 of Each Core, 2 Wounds, and 2 Chi] <<if (((((($wounds gt 0) or ($chispent gt 0)) or ($powspent gt 0)) or ($forspent gt 0)) or ($agispent gt 0)) or ($solspent gt 0))>>\ <<if ($wounds gt 0)>>\ <<var $wounds - 1>>\ <<if ($wounds gt 0)>>\ <<var $wounds - 1>>\ <</if>>\ <</if>>\ <<if ($chispent gt 0)>>\ <<var $chispent - 1>>\ <<if ($chispent gt 0)>>\ <<var $chispent - 1>>\ <</if>>\ <</if>>\ <<if ($powspent gt 0)>>\ <<var $powspent - 1>>\ <</if>>\ <<if ($forspent gt 0)>>\ <<var $forspent - 1>>\ <</if>>\ <<if ($agispent gt 0)>>\ <<var $agispent - 1>>\ <</if>>\ <<if ($solspent gt 0)>>\ <<var $solspent - 1>>\ <</if>>\ ''[Body and Soul Restored]'' <<else>>\ ''[No Empty Cores! No Wounds! No Chi Spent!]'' ''[Blessed Water Absorbed, +5 AP]'' <<var $aurapressure + 5>>\ <</if>>\ <<var $blessedwater - 1>>\ #show-if ($healingelixir gte 1) use-if ((($fighting is false) or ($thievery gte 1)) and ($wounds gte 1)) Consume a Healing Elixir. [Restores 1 Health] <<var $wounds - 1>>\ <<var $healingelixir - 1>>\ #show-if ($replenisherpill gte 1) use-if ((($fighting is false) or ($thievery gte 1)) and ($chispent gte 1)) Consume a Replenisher Pill. [Restores 2 Chi Points] <<var $chispent - 2>>\ <<if ($chispent lt 0)>>\ <<var $chispent 0>>\ <</if>>\ <<var $replenisherpill - 1>>\ #show-if ($lgpowpill gte 1) use-if ((($fighting is false) or ($thievery gte 1)) and ($powspent gte 1)) Consume a Low-Grade Power Pill. [Restores 2 Power Core] <<var $lgpowpill - 1>>\ <<var $powspent - 2>>\ <<var $powexp + 1>>\ <<if ($powspent lt 0)>>\ <<var $powspent 0>>\ <</if>>\ #show-if ($lgforpill gte 1) use-if ((($fighting is false) or ($thievery gte 1)) and ($forspent gte 1)) Consume a Low-Grade Fortitude Pill. [Restores 2 Fortitude Cores] <<var $lgforpill - 1>>\ <<var $forspent - 2>>\ <<var $forexp + 1>>\ <<if ($forspent lt 0)>>\ <<var $forspent 0>>\ <</if>>\ #show-if ($lgagipill gte 1) use-if ((($fighting is false) or ($thievery gte 1)) and ($agispent gte 1)) Consume a Low-Grade Agility Pill. [Restores 2 Agility Cores] <<var $lgagipill - 1>>\ <<var $agispent - 2>>\ <<var $agiexp + 1>>\ <<if ($agispent lt 0)>>\ <<var $agispent 0>>\ <</if>>\ #show-if ($lgsolpill gte 1) use-if ((($fighting is false) or ($thievery gte 1)) and ($solspent gte 1)) Consume a Low-Grade Soul Pill. [Restores 2 Soul Cores] <<var $lgsolpill - 1>>\ <<var $solspent - 2>>\ <<var $solexp + 1>>\ <<if ($solspent lt 0)>>\ <<var $solspent 0>>\ <</if>>\ #show-if ($earthlyprowess is 2) Consume the Earthly Prowess Pill to gain +1 Power Core. -> "menu-inventory-earthlyprowess" <<var $power + 1>>\ ''[Aura Pressure +100]'' ''[100 Aura Pressure Allocated to Increase Power Core by +1]'' #show-if ($earthlyprowess is 2) Consume the Earthly Prowess Pill to gain +1 Fortitude Core. -> "menu-inventory-earthlyprowess" <<var $fortitude + 1>>\ ''[Aura Pressure +100]'' ''[100 Aura Pressure Allocated to Increase Fortitude Core by +1]'' #show-if ($earthlyprowess is 2) Consume the Earthly Prowess Pill to gain +1 Agility Core. -> "menu-inventory-earthlyprowess" <<var $agility + 1>>\ ''[Aura Pressure +100]'' ''[100 Aura Pressure Allocated to Increase Agility Core by +1]'' #show-if ($earthlyprowess is 2) Consume the Earthly Prowess Pill to gain +1 Soul Core. -> "menu-inventory-earthlyprowess" <<var $soul + 1>>\ ''[Aura Pressure +100]'' ''[100 Aura Pressure Allocated to Increase Soul Core by +1]'' #show-if (($powelixir gte 1) and (dig($elixirboost, 2) gte 9)) Consume an Eternal War Elixir. [Power Cores Strained!] -> "death" #show-if (($powelixir gte 1) and (dig($elixirboost, 2) lt 9)) Consume an Eternal War Elixir. [+1 Power for 1 Chapter] <<var $powelixir - 1>>\ <<if (dig($elixirboost, 2) gte 1)>>\ <<var $power - dig($elixirboost, 2)>>\ <</if>>\ <<var $elixirboost + 1000>>\ <<var $power + dig($elixirboost, 2)>>\ ''[Intense energy rushes through your body and soul.]'' ''[Power Cores Enhanced!]'' #show-if (($forelixir gte 1) and (dig($elixirboost, 3) gte 9)) Consume an Inner Fortress Elixir. [Fortitude Cores Strained!] -> "death" #show-if (($forelixir gte 1) and (dig($elixirboost, 3) lt 9)) Consume an Inner Fortress Elixir. [+1 Fortitude for 1 Chapter] <<var $forelixir - 1>>\ <<if (dig($elixirboost, 3) gte 1)>>\ <<var $fortitude - dig($elixirboost, 3)>>\ <</if>>\ <<var $elixirboost + 100>>\ <<var $fortitude + dig($elixirboost, 3)>>\ ''[Intense energy rushes through your body and soul.]'' ''[Fortitude Cores Enhanced!]'' #show-if (($agielixir gte 1) and (dig($elixirboost, 4) gte 9)) Consume a Silent Hunt Elixir. [Agility Cores Strained!] -> "death" #show-if (($agielixir gte 1) and (dig($elixirboost, 4) lt 9)) Consume a Silent Hunt Elixir. [+1 Agility for 1 Chapter] <<var $agielixir - 1>>\ <<if (dig($elixirboost, 4) gte 1)>>\ <<var $agility - dig($elixirboost, 4)>>\ <</if>>\ <<var $elixirboost + 10>>\ <<var $agility + dig($elixirboost, 4)>>\ ''[Intense energy rushes through your body and soul.]'' ''[Agility Cores Enhanced!]'' #show-if (($solelixir gte 1) and (dig($elixirboost, 5) gte 9)) Consume a Divine Presence Elixir. [Agility Cores Strained!] -> "death" #show-if (($solelixir gte 1) and (dig($elixirboost, 5) lt 9)) Consume a Divine Presence Elixir. [+1 Soul for 1 Chapter] <<var $solelixir - 1>>\ <<if (dig($elixirboost, 5) gte 1)>>\ <<var $soul - dig($elixirboost, 5)>>\ <</if>>\ <<var $elixirboost + 1>>\ <<var $soul + dig($elixirboost, 5)>>\ ''[Intense energy rushes through your body and soul.]'' ''[Soul Cores Enhanced!]'' #show-if ($memorywell gte 1) use-if (($element1 is "None") or ($element2 is "")) Consume the Memorywell Elixir. -> "menu-inventory-memorywell" #show-if (dig($radiantacc, 4) is 1) use-if (((($powspent gte 1) or ($agispent gte 1)) or ($solspent gte 1)) or ($forspent gte 1)) Recharge your chi with the Spiritweave Scarf. ''[1 of Each Core Replenished!]'' <<if ($powspent gte 1)>>\ <<var $powspent - 1>>\ <</if>>\ <<if ($forspent gte 1)>>\ <<var $forspent - 1>>\ <</if>>\ <<if ($agispent gte 1)>>\ <<var $agispent - 1>>\ <</if>>\ <<if ($solspent gte 1)>>\ <<var $solspent - 1>>\ <</if>>\ <<if ($style is "Kiihakai")>>\ ''[Kiihakai Event: Double Replenishment!]'' <<if ($powspent gte 1)>>\ <<var $powspent - 1>>\ <</if>>\ <<if ($forspent gte 1)>>\ <<var $forspent - 1>>\ <</if>>\ <<if ($agispent gte 1)>>\ <<var $agispent - 1>>\ <</if>>\ <<if ($solspent gte 1)>>\ <<var $solspent - 1>>\ <</if>>\ <</if>>\ <<var $radiantacc + 100000000000>>\ #show-if ((($wardrobe isnot 100000000000000) or ($wardrobe2 isnot 100000000000000)) or ($richwardrobe isnot 100000000000000)) Change Wardrobe. [Current Clothing: cap($clothes)] -> "menu-inventory-clothing" #Stats Page -> "menu-stats" #Journal Page -> "menu-journal" You meditate upon your journey, focusing on... #show-if (($chapter gte 1.4) and (($chapter lt 8.9) or ($chapter gte 9.9))) Cultivation Page -> "menu-cultivation" #show-if (($chapter gte 8.9) and ($chapter lt 9.9)) use-if (($chapter lt 8.9) or ($chapter gte 9.9)) Cultivation Page [Cores Shattered!] #Return to Game -> $return <</choose>>

You look over your clothing options and decide what to wear. <<choose "menu-inventory-gear">> #show-if (dig($wardrobe, 2) gte 1) Your red and gold Cathayan hanfu. <<disrobe>>\ <<var $clothnum 2>>\ <<var $clothes "red and gold Cathayan hanfu">>\ #show-if (dig($wardrobe, 3) gte 1) Your orange and black haori. <<disrobe>>\ <<var $clothnum 3>>\ <<var $clothes "orange and black haori">>\ #show-if (dig($wardrobe, 4) gte 1) Your white and black hakama. <<disrobe>>\ <<var $clothnum 4>>\ <<var $clothes "white and black hakama">>\ #show-if (dig($wardrobe, 5) gte 1) Your white and red hakama. <<disrobe>>\ <<var $clothnum 5>>\ <<var $clothes "white and red hakama">>\ #show-if (dig($wardrobe, 6) gte 1) Your blue and pink yukata. <<disrobe>>\ <<var $clothnum 6>>\ <<var $clothes "blue and pink flowery yukata">>\ #show-if (dig($wardrobe, 7) gte 1) Your brown travel cloak and straw hat. <<disrobe>>\ <<var $clothnum 7>>\ <<var $clothes "brown cloak and straw hat">>\ #show-if (dig($wardrobe, 8) gte 1) Your white tobi pants and black small-sleave shirt. <<disrobe>>\ <<var $clothnum 8>>\ <<var $clothes "white tobi pants and black shirt">>\ #show-if (dig($wardrobe, 9) gte 1) Your extravagant purple robe from the casino heist. <<disrobe>>\ <<var $clothnum 9>>\ <<var $clothes "purple administrative robe">>\ #show-if (dig($wardrobe, 10) gte 1) Your rustic farmer's tunic. <<disrobe>>\ <<var $clothnum 10>>\ <<var $clothes "rustic farmer's tunic">>\ #show-if (dig($wardrobe, 11) gte 1) Your brown and white pilgrim's robe. <<disrobe>>\ <<var $clothnum 11>>\ <<var $clothes "brown and white pilgrim's robe">>\ #show-if (dig($wardrobe, 12) gte 1) Your dark green deel from the Infinite Thunderplains. <<disrobe>>\ <<var $clothnum 12>>\ <<var $clothes "dark green thunderplains deel">>\ #show-if (dig($wardrobe, 13) gte 1) Your red and blue hanbok from New Yomi. <<disrobe>>\ <<var $clothnum 13>>\ <<var $clothes "red and blue yomijin hanbok">>\ #show-if (dig($wardrobe, 14) gte 1) Your festive yellow yukata. <<disrobe>>\ <<var $clothnum 14>>\ <<var $clothes "festive yellow yukata">>\ #show-if (dig($wardrobe, 15) gte 1) Your black travel robes and red obi. <<disrobe>>\ <<var $clothnum 15>>\ <<var $clothes "black travel robes and red obi">>\ #show-if (dig($wardrobe2, 2) gte 1) Your ultramarine travel robes and white obi. <<disrobe>>\ <<var $clothnum 16>>\ <<var $clothes "ultramarine travel robes and white obi">>\ #show-if (dig($wardrobe2, 3) gte 1) Your tight red cheongsam dress. <<disrobe>>\ <<var $clothnum 17>>\ <<var $clothes "tight red cheongsam">>\ <<if (($bodytype is "Hourglass") or ($bodytype is "Bodacious"))>>\ ''[Bodytype Event: Persuasion +1]'' <<var $persuasion + 1>>\ <</if>>\ #show-if (dig($richwardrobe, 2) gte 1) Your red dragon-emblazoned kimono. <<disrobe>>\ <<var $clothnum 22>>\ <<var $clothes "red dragon - emblazoned kimono">>\ <<if ($race is "Human")>>\ ''[Human Event: Prestige Increased]'' <<var $prestige + 1>>\ <</if>>\ #show-if (dig($richwardrobe, 3) gte 1) Your gold dragon-emblazoned kimono. <<disrobe>>\ <<var $clothnum 23>>\ <<var $clothes "gold dragon - emblazoned kimono">>\ <<if ($race is "Human")>>\ ''[Human Event: Prestige Increased]'' <<var $prestige + 1>>\ <</if>>\ #show-if (dig($richwardrobe, 4) gte 1) Your brown leather jacket and pants with whitefur collar. <<disrobe>>\ <<var $clothnum 24>>\ <<var $clothes "whitefur - collared brown leathers">>\ <<if ($race is "Lunargoth")>>\ <<var $prestige + 1>>\ ''[Lunargoth Event: Prestige Increased]'' <<if ($style is "Midorikatai") and ($stylerank gte 2)>>\ ''[Lunargoth & Midorikatai (Adept) Event: Chi +1]'' <<var $chipool + 1>>\ <</if>>\ <</if>>\ #show-if (dig($richwardrobe, 5) gte 1) Your black leather jacket and pants with goldfur collar. <<disrobe>>\ <<var $clothnum 25>>\ <<var $clothes "goldfur - collared black leathers">>\ <<if ($race is "Lunargoth")>>\ <<var $prestige + 1>>\ ''[Lunargoth Event: Prestige Increased]'' <<if ($style is "Midorikatai") and ($stylerank gte 2)>>\ ''[Lunargoth & Midorikatai (Adept) Event: Health +1]'' <<var $health + 1>>\ <</if>>\ <</if>>\ #show-if (dig($richwardrobe, 6) gte 1) Your green, red, and white formal jūnihitoe. <<disrobe>>\ <<var $clothnum 26>>\ <<var $clothes "green, red, and white jūnihitoe">>\ ''[Prestige Increased]'' <<var $prestige + 1>>\ #show-if (dig($richwardrobe, 7) gte 1) Your blue and black formal sokutai. <<disrobe>>\ <<var $clothnum 27>>\ <<var $clothes "blue and black sokutai">>\ ''[Prestige Increased]'' <<var $prestige + 1>>\ #show-if (dig($richwardrobe, 8) gte 1) Your royal purple kimono. <<disrobe>>\ <<var $clothnum 128>>\ <<var $clothes "royal purple kimono">>\ <<var $prestige + 2>>\ <<var $retainer_morale + 5>>\ ''[Prestige Increased, Retainer Morale Increased]'' #show-if (dig($richwardrobe, 8) gte 1) Your royal purple haori. <<disrobe>>\ <<var $clothes "royal purple haori">>\ <<var $clothnum 228>>\ <<var $prestige + 2>>\ <<var $retainer_morale + 5>>\ ''[Prestige Increased, Retainer Morale Increased]'' #show-if (dig($richwardrobe, 8) gte 1) Your royal purple hakama. <<disrobe>>\ <<var $clothes "royal purple hakama">>\ <<var $clothnum 328>>\ <<var $prestige + 2>>\ <<var $retainer_morale + 5>>\ ''[Prestige Increased, Retainer Morale Increased]'' #show-if (dig($richwardrobe, 9) gte 1) Your sacred cerulean attire, the iconic chakkri. <<disrobe>>\ <<var $clothnum 29>>\ <<var $clothes "sacred cerulean chakkri">>\ ''[Prestige Increased]'' <<var $prestige + 1>>\ #show-if (dig($richwardrobe, 10) gte 1) Your sacred cerulean attire, the iconic kesa. <<disrobe>>\ <<var $clothnum 30>>\ <<var $clothes "sacred cerulean kesa">>\ ''[Prestige Increased]'' <<var $prestige + 1>>\ #show-if (dig($richwardrobe, 11) gte 1) Your mystic yellow sorcerer's robe, the iconic shenyi. <<disrobe>>\ <<var $clothnum 31>>\ <<var $clothes "mystic yellow shenyi">>\ ''[Prestige Increased]'' <<var $prestige + 1>>\ #show-if (dig($richwardrobe, 12) gte 1) Your bladed scarlet samurai robe, the iconic kamishimo. <<disrobe>>\ <<var $clothnum 32>>\ <<var $clothes "bladed scarlet kamishimo">>\ ''[Prestige Increased]'' <<var $prestige + 1>>\ #show-if (dig($richwardrobe, 13) gte 1) Your cursed purple ninja attire, the iconic shozoku. <<disrobe>>\ <<var $clothnum 33>>\ <<var $clothes "cursed purple shozoku">>\ ''[Kurokonton Event: Stealth +1]'' <<var $stealth + 1>>\ #show-if (dig($richwardrobe, 14) gte 1) Your cursed purple kunoichi outfit. <<disrobe>>\ <<var $clothnum 34>>\ <<var $clothes "cursed purple kunoichi outfit">>\ ''[Kurokonton Event: Deception +1]'' <<var $deception + 1>>\ #show-if ($customclothing_1 isnot "") Your $customclothing_1. <<disrobe>>\ <<var $clothnum 41>>\ <<var $clothes $customclothing_1>>\ ''[Prestige Increased]'' <<var $prestige + 1>>\ #show-if ($customclothing_2 isnot "") Your $customclothing_2. <<disrobe>>\ <<var $clothnum 42>>\ <<var $clothes $customclothing_2>>\ ''[Prestige Increased]'' <<var $prestige + 1>>\ #show-if ($customclothing_3 isnot "") Your $customclothing_3. <<disrobe>>\ <<var $clothnum 43>>\ <<var $clothes $customclothing_3>>\ ''[Prestige Increased]'' <<var $prestige + 1>>\ #show-if (dig($richwardrobe, 15) is 1) Your Onmyōji robes. <<disrobe>>\ <<var $clothnum 44>>\ <<var $clothes "Onmyōji robes">>\ <<var $soul + 1>>\ <<var $insight + 1>>\ ''[Soul +1]'' ''[Insight +1]'' <<if ($style is "Kiihakai")>>\ ''[Kiihakai Mastery Increased]'' <<var $stylerank + 1>>\ <</if>>\ #Go back. -> "menu-inventory" <</choose>>

Clothing: <<cap $clothes>> Equipped Outfit: $equippedoutfit Equipped Belt: $equippedbelt Equipped Accessory: $equippedaccessory1 Equipped Accessory: $equippedaccessory2 <<if (dig($specialtraining, 2) gte 1)>>\ Equipped Accessory: $equippedaccessory3 <</if>>\ Equipped \ <<if ($equippedweapon isnot "")>>\ Weapon: <<wepdisplay $weaponbonus $equippedweapon false>>\ <<else>>\ Weapon: <</if>>\ /* If the player can dual wield, show the second weapon slot. */\ <<if ($dualwield is true)>>\ Offhand \ <<if ($equippedweapon2 isnot "")>>\ Weapon: <<wepdisplay $weaponbonus2 $equippedweapon2 false>>\ <<else>>\ Weapon: <</if>>\ <</if>>\ Which equipment slot do you want to change? <<choose "menu-inventory">> #Outfit -> "menu-gear-outfit" #Belt -> "menu-gear-belt" #First Accessory -> "menu-gear-acc1" #Second Accessory -> "menu-gear-acc2" #show-if ($dualwield is true) Mainhand Weapon -> "menu-gear-weapon1" #show-if ($dualwield is true) Offhand Weapon -> "menu-gear-weapon2" #show-if ($dualwield is false) Weapon -> "menu-gear-weapon1" #Go back #Return to Game -> $return <</choose>>

Dou Nohal was absolutely right, you realize when consuming the high quality elixir from the Mystic Lands. Advancement Elixirs really aren't supposed to hurt. Rather, upon the very first sip, you feel completely refreshed as if you'd taken the greatest rest of your life. When you finish consuming the elixir and it calms in your stomach the feeling changes, like a waterfall is pouring from your center in all directions and cleansing your spirit from the inside. It washes through the channels you normally use to cycle and you feel... <<choose "menu-inventory">> #use-if ((($element1 is "None") and ($element2 isnot "Earth")) or (($element1 isnot "Earth") and ($element2 is ""))) Denser, more sturdy. [Earth Element] <<if ($element1 is "None")>>\ <<var $element1 "Earth">>\ <<var $element1rank 1>>\ <<else>>\ <<var $element2 "Earth">>\ <<var $element2rank 1>>\ <</if>>\ <<var $auracolor "amber">>\ ''[Earth Element Acquired!]'' Like your skin and muscles growing more taught after a good workout, now even your spirit feels heavy and imposing. Sturdy. Powerful. The ground shakes beneath your feet as its amber energies pull from all around you, soaking into your now-dense aura with a amber hue when you call on the power of Earth. You can't help but wonder how easy cultivation is for the wealthy in the Inner Kingdoms. <<page "Continue" "menu-inventory">>\ #use-if ((($element1 is "None") and ($element2 isnot "Wind")) or (($element1 isnot "Wind") and ($element2 is ""))) Lighter on your feet. [Wind Element] <<if (($element1 is "None") and (($insight lt 2) and ($race isnot "Oni")))>>\ <<var $element1 "Wind">>\ <<var $element1rank 1>>\ <<elseif ($element2 is "")>>\ <<var $element2 "Wind">>\ <<var $element2rank 1>>\ <<else>>\ <<var $element1 "Wind">>\ <<var $element1rank 1>>\ <</if>>\ <<var $auracolor "emerald">>\ ''[Wind Element Acquired!]'' Like a second wind on a perfect run, now even your spirit feels swift and free. Gusts all around you turn emerald and swirl into your aura, granting it an emerald hue on command when you call on the power of Wind. You can't help but wonder how easy cultivation is for the wealthy in the Inner Kingdoms. <<page "Continue" "menu-inventory">>\ #use-if ((($element1 is "None") and ($element2 isnot "Storm")) or (($element1 isnot "Storm") and ($element2 is ""))) Invigorated. [Storm Element] <<if (($element1 is "None") and (($insight lt 2) and ($race isnot "Oni")))>>\ <<var $element1 "Storm">>\ <<var $element1rank 1>>\ <<elseif ($element2 is "")>>\ <<var $element2 "Storm">>\ <<var $element2rank 1>>\ <<else>>\ <<var $element1 "Storm">>\ <<var $element1rank 1>>\ <</if>>\ <<var $auracolor "violet">>\ ''[Storm Element Acquired!]'' Like a burst of energy during your greatest sparring, now even your spirit feels alert and charged. Crackling violet lightning forms all in the air around you as electrical shocks burst throughout your aura, granting it a violet hue on command when you call on the power of the Storm. You can't help but wonder how easy cultivation is for the wealthy in the Inner Kingdoms. <<page "Continue" "menu-inventory">>\ #use-if ((($element1 is "None") and ($element2 isnot "Ice")) or (($element1 isnot "Ice") and ($element2 is ""))) Chilled. [Ice Element] <<if ($element1 is "None")>>\ <<var $element1 "Ice">>\ <<var $element1rank 1>>\ <<else>>\ <<var $element2 "Ice">>\ <<var $element2rank 1>>\ <</if>>\ <<var $auracolor "arctic blue">>\ ''[Ice Element Acquired!]'' Like a chill down your spine spreading to your entire body and cooling off every heated ache. Frost mist rises around your body in a new aura of freezing temperatures that takes on an arctic blue hue as you call on the power of Ice. You can't help but wonder how easy cultivation is for the wealthy in the Inner Kingdoms. <<page "Continue" "menu-inventory">>\ #show-if ($chapter 5.5) use-if ((($element1 is "None") and ($element2 isnot "Darkness")) or (($element1 isnot "Darkness") and ($element2 is ""))) Obscured. [Darkness Element] <<if ($element1 is "None")>>\ <<var $element1 "Darkness">>\ <<var $element1rank 1>>\ <<else>>\ <<var $element2 "Darkness">>\ <<var $element2rank 1>>\ <</if>>\ <<var $auracolor "black">>\ ''[Darkness Element Acquired!]'' An emptiness fills the center of your soul, a void of Darkness that you can manipulate from within. A dark mist permeates around you and for the first time in your life you can //feel// your shadow's presence, as if it's a cloak you've been carrying all this time. It wraps around you on-command, masking your presence. You can't help but wonder how easy cultivation is for the wealthy in the Inner Kingdoms. <<page "Continue" "menu-inventory">>\ #Nothing [Throw it up] You throw up the elixir back into the vial and decide never to tell anyone that you just did that, ''ever''. <<page "Continue" "menu-inventory">>\ <</choose>>

You open the Path Manual and study deeply upon its secrets and wisdom. ''[The Path Manual grants +1 to a Skill of your choice.]'' This particular Path Manual focuses on... <<choose "menu-inventory">> #Alchemy <<var $alchemy + 1>>\ ''[Alchemy + 1]'' <<var $skillmanual - 1>>\ #Athletics <<var $athletics + 1>>\ ''[Athletics Skill Increased.]'' <<var $skillmanual - 1>>\ #Craft <<var $craft + 1>>\ ''[Craft Skill Increased.]'' <<var $skillmanual - 1>>\ #Deception <<var $deception + 1>>\ ''[Deception Skill Increased.]'' <<var $skillmanual - 1>>\ #Handseals <<var $handseals + 1>>\ ''[Handseals Skill Increased.]'' <<fuuinjutsudescription>>\ <<var $skillmanual - 1>>\ #Insight <<var $insight + 1>>\ ''[Insight Skill Increased.]'' <<var $skillmanual - 1>>\ #Lore <<var $lore + 1>>\ ''[Lore Skill Increased.]'' <<var $skillmanual - 1>>\ #Perception <<var $perception + 1>>\ ''[Perception Skill Increased.]'' <<var $skillmanual - 1>>\ #Persuasion <<var $persuasion + 1>>\ ''[Persuasion Skill Increased.]'' <<var $skillmanual - 1>>\ #Stealth <<var $stealth + 1>>\ ''[Stealth Skill Increased.]'' <<var $skillmanual - 1>>\ #Survival <<var $survival + 1>>\ ''[Survival Skill Increased.]'' <<var $skillmanual - 1>>\ #Thievery <<learnthievery 1>>\ <<var $skillmanual - 1>>\ #Nevermind <</choose>>

<<choose "menu-journal">> #show-if ($chapter gte 1.2) Open the Skill Guide -> "menu-journal-skillguide" #Characters -> "menu-journal-characters" Hundreds of people have come in and out of your life, but only a few stand out. #show-if ($portraitpics is true) [Disable Portrait Pictures] <<var $portraitpics false>>\ ''[Portrait Pictures have been disabled and will be hidden.]'' #show-if ($portraitpics is false) [Enable Portrait Pictures] <<var $portraitpics true>>\ ''[Portrait Pictures have been enabled and will be shown.]'' #show-if ($sonarmode is true) [Disable Sonar Mode (to enhance headers)] <<var $sonarmode false>>\ ''[Sonar Mode Deactivated, GUI objects restored, such as empty/filled dots on the stats page.]'' #show-if ($sonarmode is false) [Enable Sonar Mode (for visually impaired readers)] <<var $sonarmode true>>\ ''[Sonar Mode Activated, GUI objects, such as empty/filled dots on the stats page, replaced with plain numbers.]'' #show-if ($smut is true) [Disable Smut Mode] <<var $smut false>>\ ''[Smut mode deactivated, romance scenes will be fade-to-black.]'' #show-if ($smut is false) [Enable Smut Mode (Requires 18+)] <<var $smut true>>\ ''[Smut mode activated, more descriptive romance scenes will be shown.]'' ''[If you are under 18, disable this mode. Not for legal reasons, this isn't some X-rated game, but merely because you shouldn't be turning this on. Also, do your homework. And drink some water. Hell, you know what, you're grounded.]'' #Stats Page -> "menu-stats" #use-if ($stripped is false) Inventory Page -> "menu-inventory" #show-if (($chapter gte 1.4) and (($chapter lt 8.9) or ($chapter gte 9.9))) Cultivation Page -> "menu-cultivation" #show-if (($chapter gte 8.9) and ($chapter lt 9.9)) use-if (($chapter lt 8.9) or ($chapter gte 9.9)) Cultivation Page [Cores Shattered!] #Return to Game -> $return <</choose>>

<<choose "menu-journal-characters">> #show-if ((dig($metangelo, 2) gte 1) or (($style is "Aoyusumu") and ($chapter gte 5))) Angelo <<if ($portraitpics is true)>>\ <<image "https://www.auraclash.com/assets/images/Angelo.jpg">>\ <</if>>\ ''Angelo'' is a tall and traditionally handsome Lunargoth with red hair and beard accentuated by cerulean blue eyes. You're unsure if his eye color is natural or a result of his Sacred Chi cultivation, as his aura is the same hue. A pilgrim of the Devanic Temple, Angelo spreads holy teachings near and far for the peasants who have gone too long without the light and protection of the Sacred Lands. He comes off as a wise but amused man, keeping answers to himself while guiding others to come to their own conclusions. Though he often seems mildly entertained with life and pleased with those around him, he is also prone to distractions from an unseen source that sour his mood. #show-if ($chapter gte 2.1) Big Chu <<if ($portraitpics is true)>>\ <<image "https://www.auraclash.com/assets/images/big-chu.jpg">>\ <</if>>\ ''Big Chu'' is an Upper Disciple of Thunderfall and your one-time sensei for a year. A proud and obese man, the gluttonous warrior takes pride in his culinary skills as well as his pallet and is caught wearing armor more often than his Thunderfall gi. You notice the armor hides his weight better, but Chu assures everyone that that's not why he wears it. Chu may not be kind, and he may not be what you expected from a sensei, but he helped you learn the most important foundations of Martial Arts before you were able to embed any mistakes into your training. #show-if ($chapter gte 5) Bo Lo ''Bo Lo'' is a lanky Human of average height with a physique on the scrawny side. He's often a whiny bastard and one of Jack's lackeys. Though he's gone through the same training and spiritual cultivation as any Martial Artist it simply doesn't seem to amount to much, for Bo has yet to ever come out of the shadow of his betters. #show-if ($chapter gte 2) Crusher Jack <<if ($portraitpics is true)>>\ <<image "https://www.auraclash.com/assets/images/jack.jpg">>\ <</if>>\ ''Crusher Jack'' \ <<if ($chapter gte 4)>>\ is your enemy. There's no other way to put it. The tall and powerfully-built Human man is the only son of Crusher Mao and that status has given him the head start to win. From birth Jack has been given ample training and Path Manuals, but they weren't enough to save him in your first fight. Since then, things have gotten worse. As it turned out, Crusher Mao saved any shortcuts to power until Jack reached maturity naturally. He's spent the last years being showered in Advancement Elixirs, spirit fruits, Technique manuals, and forbidden trainings. <<if ($chapter gte 5)>>\ If rumors are to be believed, Crusher Jack has been carving a path through Outer West on his path to Nanhou. Not only Lower Disciples but Upper Disciples as well have fallen to his challenges to duels, building up his fame and following. <</if>>\ He threw the gauntlet at you throughout your childhood and you answered in kind, but you haven't fought him since he disappeared to Mountain Hazard for special training. There's not a chance in Hell that he's not preparing something for your reunion in Nanhou. <<else>>\ is an unhinged bastard and the sole heir to Master Crusher Mao of the Thunderfall Sect. The Human boy is taller and more muscular than most, almost built for heavyweight combat, and he's been spiking his hair up with alchemical gels of late. He's picked fights with you throughout your childhood that you've walked away from better off than him and his cronies, and you highly doubt he's forgotten it. <</if>>\ #show-if ($age gte 14) Crusher Mao <<if ($portraitpics is true)>>\ <<image "https://www.auraclash.com/assets/images/crushermao.jpg">>\ <</if>>\ ''Crusher Mao'' is a titan of the local Martial World in Outer West. The massive Human man of powerful stature hails from the Wild Lands, one of the five Inner Kingdoms, where the natural aura is thicker and it's easier to gain power. Even in his homeland he was considered formidable, and in Outer West he reigns as one of the strongest Sect Masters around. The locals of Thunderfall worship him as a celebrity for the security he provides, \ <<if ($chapter gte 2)>>\ except for your family who has gotten to know the true man behind the legend. The callous and sadistic bastard ruling over your lands like a curse. <<else>>\ and your family is no different. <</if>>\ #show-if ((dig($metguiren, 2) gte 1) or (($chapter gte 5) and ($style is "Kurokonton"))) Dai Guiren <<if ($portraitpics is true)>>\ <<image "https://www.auraclash.com/assets/images/guiren.jpg">>\ <</if>>\ ''Dai Guiren'' is a well-dressed lizard Yokai debt collector in service to a greater power. His green eyes and tail betray some sort of draconic ancestry and he maintains an air of casual command, as he always has underlings doing his \ <<if ((dig($metguiren, 2) is 1) or (dig($metguiren, 2) is 2))>>\ dirty work. \ <<if (dig($metguiren, 2) is 1)>>\ They weren't enough to save him from the combined forces of you and Desdemona. <<if ($style is "Kurokonton")>>\ In spite of your original animosity, you've both formed an odd alliance against whoever tried to hire him to kill you, as your assassination would have marked Guiren for death as well. <</if>>\ <</if>>\ <<else>>\ work, despite the disrespect they give him. So far he's been a decent ally, \ <<if ($style is "Kurokonton")>>\ and seeing as someone hired him to kill you and he turned it down, you suspect your alliance will last a bit longer. At least long enough to track down his mysterious employer and get mutual revenge; assassinating you before the Trials would have marked Guiren for death. Whoever hired him wanted to get rid of the both of you. <<else>>\ but time will tell if your interests remain aligned. <</if>>\ <</if>>\ #show-if ($chapter gte 4.5) Dou Nohal <<if ($portraitpics is true)>>\ <<image "https://www.auraclash.com/assets/images/dounohal.jpg">>\ <</if>>\ ''Dou Nohal'' is a paunchy Human with no recognizable aura as far as you can tell. The man is a staunch merchant in charge of many wagons worth of goods and personnel, and he's been more than a bit eccentric in his dealings with you. <<if ((dig($metnohal, 2) is 1) or (dig($metnohal, 2) is 5))>>\ As far as businessmen go, he's been one of the friendlier faces and has been an interesting part of your journey. <<elseif (dig($metnohal, 2) is 3)>>\ You tried to rob him. It didn't work out. <<elseif (dig($metnohal, 2) is 2)>>\ Your personal favorite "dealing" was when you robbed him blind. <<elseif (dig($metnohal, 2) is 4)>>\ Which is exactly why you turned down his suspicious offer and left. <</if>>\ #show-if (dig($metjahi, 2) gte 3) Jahi <<if ($heshe is "he")>>\ <<if ($portraitpics is true)>>\ <<image "https://www.auraclash.com/assets/images/Jahi-F.jpg">>\ <</if>>\ <<elseif ($heshe is "she")>>\ <<if ($portraitpics is true)>>\ <<image "https://www.auraclash.com/assets/images/Jahi-M.jpg">>\ <</if>>\ <</if>>\ ''Jahi'' resides in the body of a\ <<if ($heshe is "he")>>\ young attractive Human woman with now-red hair and an ivory complexion. The spirit inside \ <<else>>\ an unassuming but well cleaned-up Human man whose hair now seems permanently lifted by Jahi's power. The spirit inside that body \ <</if>>\ is some sort of demon(?) that you released into the material world in exchange for power. You are not a clever $manwoman. <<if ($chapter gte 8.3)>>\ As if to demonstrate and highlight your foolishness, the fates have seen fit to reveal that Jahi is even is one of the dreaded Akuma Lords. Your poor life choices no know bounds. <</if>>\ #show-if ($chapter gte 2) Kosuke <<if ($bffheshe is "he")>>\ <<if ($portraitpics is true)>>\ <<image "https://www.auraclash.com/assets/images/Kosuke-M.jpg">>\ <</if>>\ <<else>>\ <<if ($portraitpics is true)>>\ <<image "https://www.auraclash.com/assets/images/Kosuke-F.jpg">>\ <</if>>\ <</if>>\ ''Kosuke'' is \ <<if ($bffheshe is "she")>>\ <<if (($heshe is "he") and ($bffromance gte 1))>>\ a silk-haired jade beauty of a Human whose toned, glistening physique is trapped in the clothes of a commoner. <<else>>\ a jade beauty of a Human who could score any man if she was born of higher station. Or if she forged her own higher station like you did. <</if>>\ <<else>>\ <<if (($heshe is "she") and ($bffromance gte 1))>>\ tall and dashing Human rogue with shoulders wide enough for you to stand on. <<else>>\ a tall Human rogue with a busy head of hair and a penchant for loose clothing. <</if>>\ <</if>>\ <<cap $bffheshe>>'s been a beggar all $bffhisher life and your best friend for just about as long. The mischievous street rat has taught you a thing or two about the shady sides of street life and you've given $bffhimher more than a few pointers on your own $background trade. The two of you played together as kids, trained together as preteens, and \ <<if ($bffromance gte 1)>>\ did much less appropriate things \ <<else>>\ sparred \ <</if>>\ together as young adults. Kosuke's always been there for you and your family, and all of you have been there for $bffhimher. #show-if ($chapter gte 3) Lady Desdemona <<if ($portraitpics is true)>>\ <<image "https://www.auraclash.com/assets/images/gothgf.jpg">>\ <</if>>\ ''Lady Desdemona'' is a Lunargothic woman who takes the 'gothic' label to the extreme. Desdemona is often seen in pale makeup and purple lipstick to match her dark hair, a color contrast she continues with the dark robes she wears over her combat gi. The directionally-challenged woman tends to get lost often and hails from a secluded swamplands somewhere in Outer West where she leads a coven of 'witches'. She's rarely seen without a judgmental frown on her \ <<if ((((dig($metdesdemona, 2) is 2) or (dig($metdesdemona, 2) is 3)) or (dig($metdesdemona, 2) is 4)) or (dig($metdesdemona, 2) is 8))>>\ face but you've begun to see past it. <<else>>\ face. <</if>>\ #show-if ((($chapter gte 4) and ($style is "Akakiru")) or ($chapter gte 5.1)) Leona <<if ($portraitpics is true)>>\ <<image "https://www.auraclash.com/assets/images/leona-aka.jpg">>\ <</if>>\ ''Leona'' is a flirty blonde Lunargothic woman with different color eyes, one blue and one green. Likely the result of Cultivating some sort of blue or green Elemental chi. She can't be described in any positive light other than 'erratic'. The unhinged woman treats dangerous situations like they're elderly cripples that need her to help them along. Whenever a situation is going from 'Bad' to 'Worse', Leona makes sure it achieves its full potential to arrive at 'Worst'. #show-if (($clan isnot "") or ($chapter gte 2)) Magistrate Khan <<if ($portraitpics is true)>>\ <<image "https://www.auraclash.com/assets/images/OldKhan.jpg">>\ <</if>>\ ''Magistrate Khan'' is an old man who looked elderly before you were born. His long beard has grown so stiff from the passage of time that his signature style has become to tuck his beard into his robes. Khan has lead your village since its founding when the Wild Lands created Thunderfall as a colony among the then-untamed mountains of Outer West. He is notably the only member of the Noble Caste in all of Thunderfall, guaranteeing his right to rule. #show-if ($chapter gte 2.2) Tian Fang <<if ($portraitpics is true)>>\ <<image "https://www.auraclash.com/assets/images/Tian-Fang.jpg">>\ <</if>>\ ''Tian Fang'' is a wolf-Yokai woman with hair as white as snow covering her ears and long tail. She's been introduced as the Star Pupil of Mountain Hazard, a neighboring Sect allied to Thunderfall. Such a pedigree training has given her not only a strong foundation but also left her the freedom to not have her personality crushed with drills, leaving Fang as an aloof and carefree woman most of the time. <<if ($chapter gte 4)>>\ //Most// of the time, you note, as you've learned that Heavenly Gates bring out an entirely different personality from the wolf yokai: that of a feral Beast. You're not sure why Fang's latent wolf instincts react so strongly to Heavenly Gates, but you know the woman shouldn't be around them. <</if>>\ #show-if ($chapter gte 3) Taio <<if ($portraitpics is true)>>\ <<image "https://www.auraclash.com/assets/images/demonicleader.jpg">>\ <</if>>\ ''Taio'' is a bald demonic cultivator resembling a monk in cult-leader's extravagant clothing who you fought and defeated in the southern farmlands of Thunderfall. Or rather, you defeated a clone of the true man. \ <<if ($chapter gte 6)>>\ Hells, at this point you've defeated //two// clones of the true man. You've begun to gain insights that each of the Clones requires demonic chi to survive and seeks to create a Demonic Gate to gain full stability, but you don't know why anyone would create them to do so. <<else>>\ The real Taio is still out there somewhere and you've yet to learn why he sent a fraction of his Will and power to sabotage your village. <</if>>\ #show-if (($japannaming is true) and ($clan isnot "")) cap($clan) Jin -> "menu-journal-jin" ''<<cap $clan>> Jin'' \ #show-if ($clan is "") Jin -> "menu-journal-jin" ''Jin'' \ #show-if (($japannaming is false) and ($clan isnot "")) Jin cap($clan) -> "menu-journal-jin" ''Jin <<cap $clan>>'' \ #show-if (($japannaming is true) and ($clan isnot "")) cap($clan) Rin -> "menu-journal-rin" ''<<cap $clan>> Rin'' \ #show-if ($clan is "") Rin -> "menu-journal-rin" ''Rin'' \ #show-if (($japannaming is false) and ($clan isnot "")) Rin cap($clan) -> "menu-journal-rin" ''Rin <<cap $clan>>'' \ #show-if (($japannaming is true) and ($clan isnot "")) cap($clan) Mother and cap($clan) Father -> "menu-journal-parents" ''<<cap $clan>> Mother'' and ''<<cap $clan>> Father'' \ #show-if ($clan is "") Mother and Father -> "menu-journal-parents" ''Mother'' and ''Father'' \ #show-if (($japannaming is false) and ($clan isnot "")) Mother cap($clan) and Father cap($clan) -> "menu-journal-parents" ''Mother <<cap $clan>>'' and Father ''<<cap $clan>>'' \ #Stats Page -> "menu-stats" #use-if ($stripped is false) Inventory Page -> "menu-inventory" #Journal Page -> "menu-journal" You meditate upon your journey, focusing on... #show-if (($chapter gte 1.4) and (($chapter lt 8.9) or ($chapter gte 9.9))) Cultivation Page -> "menu-cultivation" #show-if (($chapter gte 8.9) and ($chapter lt 9.9)) use-if (($chapter lt 8.9) or ($chapter gte 9.9)) Cultivation Page [Cores Shattered!] #Return to Game -> $return <</choose>>

is a \ <<if ($race isnot "")>>\ $race \ <<else>>\ rascal \ <</if>>\ like you, which makes sense as he's your little brother and twin of your little sister Rin. <<if ($age lt 18)>>\ He's a rambunctious troublemaker in your life and not in the charming way. At least you can usually get him to leave you alone by bribing him with some sort of fruit. You don't know how he can eat so many berries in one sitting but he does. <<else>>\ He's a hardheaded fruit-addict that's taken your success as a personal challenge and you're a little worried about him. Millions of young boys have tried their hand at cultivation, but Jin's taken it a step further by shaving his head to prove his dedication. You have absolutely no idea why. No one asked him to and no one considers baldness as a show of dedication. Oh well, at least his heart's in the right place. <</if>>\ <<include "menu-journal-characters">>\

are the epitome of a happy \ <<if ($race isnot "")>>\ $race <</if>>\ marriage. You like to think it's thanks to yourself and the twins, as you gave them a mutual enemy to unite against for years. Mother has been nurturing and proud of the home she keeps as long as you've known her. When she's not sewing new clothes or tending the garden she's either improving her cooking recipes or making sure you and your siblings get your chores done. She just may be the busiest woman alive, as far as you're concerned. Father on the other hand is a skilled <<if ($background isnot "")>>\ $background that you've been lucky to apprentice under. \ <<else>>\ Laborer. \ <</if>>\ He spends most of his days at work and whenever he's been free throughout your childhood he's either been taking you and Jin fishing or building new additions for Rin's dollhouses. <<if ($age gte 19)>>\ You didn't know how good your childhood was until it was over. <</if>>\ <<include "menu-journal-characters">>\

is a \ <<if ($race isnot "")>>\ $race \ <<else>>\ rascal \ <</if>>\ like you, which makes sense as she's your little sister and twin of your little brother Jin. <<if ($age lt 18)>>\ She's a diabolical menace and anyone who thinks otherwise has nothing but misery coming their way. The woman's so demonic she even tattles on you to Mother as her go-to option whenever she catches you breaking a rule. Jin at least has the decency to blackmail you. Rin has no desire for such earthly gains like your allowance, she just wants to see the world get grounded. <<else>>\ Though originally a menacing font of evil intent packaged into the body of a little girl, growing up has gone well for her. She's taken well to creating her own makeup and even sells some of her creations to other girls. <<if ($heshe is "she")>>\ Honestly any time you need to look your best you've gone to her and she's done wonders. It's funny how siblings are more tolerable when they have something to offer. <<else>>\ Your only concern is that, now that she's Warrior Caste and no longer a peasant, she's getting a bit too much attention from successful men. You're going to have to clobber someone to keep her from making a mistake someday, and it's looking to be someday soon. <</if>>\ <</if>>\ <<include "menu-journal-characters">>\

The Skill Guide is a small notebook that contains entries and tips for the twelve non-combat Skills. When fighting weak opponents these skills can give you an advantage in combat, but as your strength grows you will rely less and less on the small advantages these could give you against strong opponents. Instead, these skills will help you take advantage of situations in your everyday life. ''Alchemy'' A skill to mix elixirs and poisons for useful effects. The most common uses are to create elixirs that restore health, restore chi, or restore emptied Combat Cores. Alchemy can be used for other purposes such as creating an Advancement Elixir from a Soul Treasure. ''Athletics'' A skill to represent fitness activities like acrobatics, lifting, running, swimming, and climbing. All Martial Artists can jump high or run fast, but the Athletics skill determines their upper limits and how much effort they have put into optimizing that ability. ''Craft'' A skill to create items, repair items, and operate complex creations such as ships. For Martial Artists, who are stronger and more durable than normal humans, Craft can be used to create large structures like houses independently. ''Deception'' A skill to represent one's ability to convince others with falsehoods or impersonate others through disguise. ''Handseals'' A skill to represent the mystic art of Sealing. By forming their hands in the correct zodiac-based finger formations and activating their internal chi, a character can imprint a certain sigil onto an object or place. When enough handseal sigils are made in the right order a magical effect is made such as enhancing the hardness of an object, creating light, or forcing a door to remain shut. ''Insight'' A skill to sense intentions, deceptions, and emotions when dealing with a character. It also assists in a Martial Artist's ability to sense chi through a spiritual scan. ''Lore'' A skill to represent knowledge of the world and aptitude in academics such as math or logic. ''Perception'' A skill to represent keen senses of sight, smell, and sound. Perception helps notice extra details or locate hidden objects. ''Persuasion'' A skill to represent one's ability to negotiate, persuade, haggle, and de-escalate situations. Most situations that involve convincing someone to aid you will require a Persuasion roll. ''Stealth'' A skill to represent the ability to hide in shadows, move silently, mask your aura from spiritual detection, smuggle cargo, and hide objects on your person ''Survival'' A skill to represent one's ability to live off the land and interact with nature. Survival is used to build campfires, avoid getting lost in unfamiliar territory, calm or interact with animals, and follow tracks. ''Thievery'' A skill to represent criminal activity requiring deft hands such as pickpocketing, lockpicking, disabling traps, and forging documents. Thievery passively increases wealth and allows you to perform more actions normally prohibited in combat. <<choose "menu-journal">>\ #Stat Page -> "menu-stats" #use-if ($stripped is false) Inventory Page -> "menu-inventory" #Journal Page You meditate upon your journey, focusing on... #show-if (($chapter gte 1.4) and (($chapter lt 8.9) or ($chapter gte 9.9))) Cultivation Page -> "menu-cultivation" #show-if (($chapter gte 8.9) and ($chapter lt 9.9)) use-if (($chapter lt 8.9) or ($chapter gte 9.9)) Cultivation Page [Cores Shattered!] #Return to Game -> $return <</choose>>\

<<choose "menu-kosuke-characters">> #Big Chu <<if ($portraitpics is true)>>\ <<image "https://www.auraclash.com/assets/images/big-chu.jpg">>\ <</if>>\ ''Big Chu'' More like Big WHO? Fat bastard never gives you the time of day. #Crusher Jack <<if ($portraitpics is true)>>\ <<image "https://www.auraclash.com/assets/images/jack.jpg">>\ <</if>>\ ''Crusher Jack'' Heir to the Thunderfall Sect and pain in your ass.\ <<if ($bffheshe is "she")>>\ Jack thinks his status and muscles will get him everything, but \ <<if ((($heshe is "he") and ($bffromance gte 1)) and ($bodytype is "Muscular"))>>\ he's not even that muscular. <<cap $name>>'s biceps are getting just as huge and unlike Jack he actually knows how to win a fight. \ <<else>>\ they didn't save him from $name. What a loser. \ <</if>>\ <<elseif (($heshe is "she") and ($bffromance gte 1))>>\ Thanks to his dad running the town you've steered clear of him but it's looking more and more like he's going to be a problem for $name, which you can't allow. \ <<else>>\ The arrogant turd picked a fight with Jin once and $name kicked his ass for it. Funniest shit you ever saw. \ <</if>>\ #Crusher Mao <<if ($portraitpics is true)>>\ <<image "https://www.auraclash.com/assets/images/crushermao.jpg">>\ <</if>>\ ''Crusher Mao'' Leader of the Thundefall Sect and a man you avoid at all costs. You heard he can kill people with a look and at a fellow thief's execution you saw it was true. He almost bumped into you outside the botanist's one day and you improvised your first backflip to avoid it. #Magistrate Khan <<if ($portraitpics is true)>>\ <<image "https://www.auraclash.com/assets/images/OldKhan.jpg">>\ <</if>>\ ''Magistrate Khan'' Cheapskate old man who never, //ever// leaves you a donation. You think he wants you out of town. Whatever. The feeling is mutual, grandpa. #Taio <<if ($portraitpics is true)>>\ <<image "https://www.auraclash.com/assets/images/demonicleader.jpg">>\ <</if>>\ ''Taio'' Some blood-themed Martial Artist that $name fought once, a real bald bastard with an exaggerated evil wardrobe. Knocked you into a barn so hard that you had to get medical treatment to keep your left eye. Oh shit. You never paid the medicine woman your tab. #Tian Fang <<if ($portraitpics is true)>>\ <<image "https://www.auraclash.com/assets/images/Tian-Fang.jpg">>\ <</if>>\ ''Tian Fang'' <<if (($bffheshe is "he") and ($heshe is "he"))>>\ Hubba hubba. \ <<if ($fangromance gte 1)>>\ You don't date Star Pupils, too much drama involved, but she definitely added some items onto your to-do list. Namely more Yokai. <<else>>\ If $name doesn't move in on her then you certainly will. You've heard the expression "pulling tail" but never wanted it to be so literal. <</if>>\ <<elseif (($bffheshe is "he") and ($heshe is "she"))>>\ A hot wolfgirl that you would \ <<if ($bffromance gte 1)>>\ never glance at, seeing as you have a hotter girlfriend. You think. <<cap $name>>'s been gone for a long time, you should doublecheck on that situation. Just in case. <<else>>\ ask out if it weren't for the fact that she's a top-ranked Martial Artist from a foreign village. And she criticized your fried millet balls. //The nerve.// No one criticizes your balls and gets away with it. <</if>>\ <<elseif (($bffheshe is "she") and ($heshe is "he"))>>\ A newcomer to Thunderfall and a critic of your fried millet balls. You'd say she's on thin ice but she'd just enjoy the pun. <<if (($bffromance gte 1) and ($fangromance gte 1))>>\ You don't like the way she looks at $name, either. <</if>>\ <<else>>\ A foreign wolfgirl with really nice hair. You, Fang, and $name should get together one day and let Rin treat you all to her beauty routine. The boys in town would probably have a heart attack. <</if>>\ #$fullname ''$fullname'' <<if ($bffheshe isnot $heshe)>>\ Resident badass who grew up with you in Thunderfall through thick and thin. Thick being the local guards' heads and thin being your annual earnings. <<cap $name>>'s rise to power hasn't been a surprise to you, anyone who could beat you at tag was bound for greater things, but it's been surreal to learn how hard it is for you to keep up with $himher these days. No one else you've met has been able to raise their Aura Pressure so fast, learn Martial Arts so fast, and make \ <<if ($bffromance gte 1)>>\ you fall in love so fast. <<else>>\ enemies so fast. <</if>>\ You're excited to see $himher win the Trials because you're undoubtedly going to ride off $hisher coattails and sneak into Azuma Honsha. Robbing local bakeries makes someone a hated thug, but robbing imperial vaults makes someone a romanticized \ <<if ($bffheshe is "he")>>\ king \ <<else>>\ queen \ <</if>>\ of thieves. <<cap $name>> would never aim low, so neither will you. <<if ($bffromance gte 1)>>\ Also, \ <<if ($heshe is "he")>>\ he's got a cute butt. <<elseif (($bodytype is "Hourglass") or ($bodytype is "Bodacious"))>>\ she's got an unreal pair of tits. Seriously, they're absolute stunners. Seeing them is the reason your destitute life is superior to others. <<else>>\ she's hot, which definitely helps earn your support. <</if>>\ <</if>>\ <<elseif ($heshe is "he")>>\ Your brother from another mother and the second-best thing to ever happen to Thunderfall (you being the first). Honestly your life would be garbage if <<cap $name>> hadn't befriended you when the two of you were young. Not only has his family been supportive but even knowing him has driven you to compete and push yourself harder at everything in life. You just wish you could help him the way he helps you, but your superior charm can't be taught. It's raw talent. More than anything you're looking forward to seeing \ <<if ($heshe is "he")>>\ him crush it \ <<else>>\ dominate \ <</if>>\ at the Heavenly Ascension Trials because you're going to ride off $hisher coattails and sneak into Azuma Honsha. Robbing local bakeries makes someone a hated thug, but robbing imperial vaults makes someone a romanticized \ <<if ($bffheshe is "he")>>\ king \ <<else>>\ queen \ <</if>>\ of thieves. <<cap $name>> would never aim low so neither will you. <<elseif ($heshe is "she")>>\ Your bestie who is crushing life goals at every corner. Unlocked mystic power? Check. \ Stole ownership of her own Clan? Check. Emasculated Jack? Check. Beat a blood cultist's gang of bandits? Check. Honestly there's nothing she can't do, except look as good as you, and even then she's damn close. More than anything you're looking forward to seeing \ <<if ($heshe is "he")>>\ him crush it \ <<else>>\ dominate \ <</if>>\ at the Heavenly Ascension Trials because you're going to ride off $hisher coattails and sneak into Azuma Honsha. Robbing local bakeries makes someone a hated thug, but robbing imperial vaults makes someone a romanticized \ <<if ($bffheshe is "he")>>\ king \ <<else>>\ queen \ <</if>>\ of thieves. <<cap $name>> would never aim low so neither will you. <</if>>\ #show-if (($japannaming is true) and ($clan isnot "")) cap($clan) Jin -> "menu-kosuke-jin" ''<<cap $clan>> Jin'' #show-if ($clan is "") Jin -> "menu-kosuke-jin" ''Jin'' #show-if (($japannaming is false) and ($clan isnot "")) Jin cap($clan) -> "menu-kosuke-jin" ''Jin <<cap $clan>>'' #show-if (($japannaming is true) and ($clan isnot "")) cap($clan) Rin -> "menu-kosuke-rin" ''<<cap $clan>> Rin'' #show-if ($clan is "") Rin -> "menu-kosuke-rin" ''Rin'' #show-if (($japannaming is false) and ($clan isnot "")) Rin cap($clan) -> "menu-kosuke-rin" ''Rin <<cap $clan>>'' #show-if (($japannaming is true) and ($clan isnot "")) cap($clan) Mother and cap($clan) Father -> "menu-kosuke-parents" ''<<cap $clan>> Mother'' and ''<<cap $clan>> Father'' #show-if ($clan is "") Mother and Father -> "menu-kosuke-parents" ''Mother'' and ''Father'' #show-if (($japannaming is false) and ($clan isnot "")) Mother cap($clan) and Father cap($clan) -> "menu-kosuke-parents" ''Mother <<cap $clan>>'' and Father ''<<cap $clan>>'' #Stats Page -> "menu-kosuke-stats" #Inventory Page-> "menu-kosuke-inventory" #Journal Page -> "menu-kosuke-journal" #Cultivation Page -> "menu-kosuke-cultivation" <</choose>>

Pft, cultivation smultivation. If these Martial Artists have life figured out, then why do they have to spend twelve hours a day slaving at the dojo when they could be hanging out at the river whenever they want? That's what you get to do. Obviously they picked the wrong choice. Suckers. <<choose "menu-kosuke-inventory">> #Stats Page -> "menu-kosuke-stats" #Inventory Page #Journal Page -> "menu-kosuke-journal" #Return to Game -> $return <</choose>>\

Silver: 2 Shards: 1 Gold: 0 1 Chipped Knife 9 Really Cool Looking Rocks 1 Set of Unlocked Manacles 1 Waterskin (Water) 1 Waterskin (Fake Blood) 1 Dyed Thunderfall Gi [EQUIPPED] 0 Parents <<choose "menu-kosuke-stats">> #Stats #Journal Page -> "menu-kosuke-journal" #Cultivation Page -> "menu-kosuke-cultivation" #Return to Game -> $return <</choose>>\

Jin's a good \ <<if ($bffheshe is "she")>>\ kid. A bit too bald for your liking but, hey, everyone has their own flaws. <<else>>\ kid stuck in $name's shadow who needs to learn to let loose more often. <</if>>\ He'll probably grow up to be some sort of guard if he can keep his temper down. Actually, considering the guards you deal with on the regular, the temper helps his chances. <<include "menu-kosuke-characters">>\

<<choose "menu-kosuke-characters">> #Your Skill Guide -> "menu-kosuke-journal" The Skill Guide is a small notebook that contains entries and tips for the twelve non-combat Skills. The problem is, you wrote yours yourself to try and sell it for some pocket change. It's not the best, but if Albernas at the Merchant Square asks then yes, it is definitely the best and he should pay top Shards. Also, it's written in Ancient Cathayan. ''[The contents inside are encrypted in a language that is completely made up jibberish.]'' #Characters Your life has included hundreds of people, yet only a few faces stick out from the crowd. #Stats -> "menu-kosuke-stats" #Inventory -> "menu-kosuke-inventory" #Cultivation Page -> "menu-kosuke-cultivation" #Return to Game -> $return <</choose>>

<<cap $name>>'s parents are the closest thing to a stable family you've ever had, especially after your dad passed a couple year's ago from alcohol poisoning. Mother cooks for you all the time and Father taught you how to do repairs on your treehouse, among a hundred other favors of love. On top of that they let you stay over on bad winter nights and keep you on (close to) the right path. Over the years you've stopped thinking how their kids are so lucky to have them and started thinking how you're so lucky to know them. You're just weirded out that their given names are Father and Mother. Is that a pre-arranged marriage from birth or something? <<cap $name>>, Jin, and Rin never bring it up and at this point it's too late to ask. <<include "menu-kosuke-characters">>\

<<if ($bffheshe is "she")>>\ Rin pulls off short hair even better than you do, and you're not sure if you've forgiven her for it. You //want// to be mad, but the sassy little wench has been spreading love-triangle discord among the younger Thunderfall students and Ancestors be damned, you respect that. She does your makeup for free too. Ugh, fine. You forgive Rin. <<else>>\ <<if (($bffromance gte 1) and ($heshe is "she"))>>\ Rin's a firecracker and a serious problem. She's become a girly-girl working on makeups and flirting with multiple different younger Thunderfall students, which has caused more than a few fights between them that she seems to delight in. That kind of devious malice is funny as Hell but it made you feel sorry for whoever she ends up with. To date a <<cap $clan>> is to invite chaos into your life. You should know, you're macking it with Rin's sister. <<else>>\ <<cap $name>>'s sister is hot, and you're tired of pretending she's not. The only reason you haven't made a pass at her is the terrifying little \ <<if (($race is "Yokai") or ($race is "Kitsune"))>>\ animal \ <<elseif ($race is "Oni")>>\ demoness \ <<else>>\ scamp \ <</if>>\ has been weaponizing her flirts against the younger Thunderfall students and you don't want to get caught in some sort of love-pentagram. Also, it would make things awkward if she rejected you since you'd still be hanging around her \ <<if ($heshe is "he")>>\ brother <<cap $name>>, \ <<else>>\ sister <<cap $name>>, \ <</if>>\ who might kick your ass for it. <<if ($heshe is "she")>>\ Not to mention that you're still holding out hope for you and $name. <</if>>\ The poets were right, love is a battlefield. <</if>>\ <</if>>\ <<include "menu-kosuke-characters">>\

<div class="fightingfont">Profile</div>\ Name: Kosuke the Clanless Race: Human Age: $age Style: School of Hard Knocks (Novice) Element: of Surprise (Adept) <<if ($kosukeaura is false)>>\ <<var $menuval 80 + ($kosukecombat * 27)>>\ <<elseif ($chapter gte 6)>>\ <<var $menuval 110 + ($kosukecombat * 31)>>\ <<else>>\ <<var $menuval 115 + ($kosukecombat * 41)>>\ <</if>>\ Aura Color: Grey-white Aura Pressure: $menuval Health: \ <<if ($menuval lt 200)>>\ ●● <<else>>\ ●●● <</if>>\ Chi: \ <<if ($menuval lt 300)>>\ ● <<else>>\ ●● <</if>>\ <div class="fightingfont">Combat Cores</div>\ <<if ($menuval gte 200)>>\ Power: ●● <<else>>\ Power: ● <</if>>\ <<if ($kosukeaura is false)>>\ Fortitude: ● Agility: ● <<elseif ($menuval gte 300)>>\ Fortitude: ●●● Agility: ●●●● <<elseif ($menuval gte 200)>>\ Fortitude: ●● Agility: ●●● <<else>>\ Fortitude: ●● Agility: ●● <</if>>\ Soul: \ <<if ($menuval gte 300)>>\ ●● <<else>>\ ● <</if>>\ <div class="fightingfont">Skills</div>\ Athletics: ●○○○○ Insight: ○○○○○ Persuasion: ●●○○○ Craft: ○○○○○ Percepton: ●○○○○ Survival: ●○○○○ Deception: ●●●○○ Stealth: ●○○○○ Thievery: ●●○○○ Alchemy: ○○○○○ Handseals: ●○○○○ Lore: ○○○○○ <<var $menuval 0>>\ <<choose "menu-kosuke-inventory">> #Inventory #Journal Page -> "menu-kosuke-journal" #Cultivation Page -> "menu-kosuke-cultivation" #Return to Game -> $return <</choose>>\

<<unset $avail>>\ <<woundcheck $spenddiss false false>>\ <<var $spenddis * 2>>\ <<var $chispent - $spenddis>>\ <<if ($chispent lt 0)>>\ <<var $chispent 0>>\ <</if>>\ ''[$displaydiss Chi Points Replenished]'' <<include "menu-cultivation-handseals4">>\

You form the 7 sigils of the Eastern wind and sunrise with your right hand in quick succession and channel your inner chi through each finger to imbue the handseals with your willpower. Each handseal execution forms a temporary $auracolor tattoo on the palm of your left hand until the 7 sigil marks form a circle and the ritual is complete. <<if (($eastwindritualtarget isnot "") and ($eastwindritualtarget isnot "apval"))>>\ ''[Casting this Seal again will remove the casting used to boost the <<cap $eastwindritualtarget>> Skill]'' <</if>>\ <<choose "menu-seal-eastwind2">> #Alchemy <<if ($eastwindritualtarget isnot "")>>\ <<run State.variables[$eastwindritualtarget] -= 1>>\ <</if>>\ <<var $eastwindritualtarget "alchemy">>\ #Handseals <<if ($eastwindritualtarget isnot "")>>\ <<run State.variables[$eastwindritualtarget] -= 1>>\ <</if>>\ <<var $eastwindritualtarget "handseals">>\ #Lore <<if ($eastwindritualtarget isnot "")>>\ <<run State.variables[$eastwindritualtarget] -= 1>>\ <</if>>\ <<var $eastwindritualtarget "lore">>\ #Nevermind -> "menu-cultivation" <<set $usechiinstead to false>>\ <</choose>>

<<if ($usechiinstead is false)>>\ ''[Item Lost: $eastwindritual Ritual Components]'' <<var $ritualcomponents - $eastwindritual>>\ <<else>>\ ''[3 Chi Spent]'' <<var $chispent + 3>>\ <</if>>\ ''[Temporary Bonus: <<cap $eastwindritualtarget>> +1]'' <<run State.variables[$eastwindritualtarget] += 1>>\ <<set $usechiinstead to false>>\ <<include "menu-cultivation-handseals4">>\

You form the 7 sigils of the Northern wind and star with your right hand in quick succession and channel your inner chi through each finger to imbue the handseals with your willpower. Each handseal execution forms a temporary $auracolor tattoo on the top skin of your right hand until the 7 sigil marks form a circle and the ritual is complete. <<if (($northwindritualtarget isnot "") and ($northwindritualtarget isnot "apval"))>>\ ''[Casting this Seal again will remove the casting used to boost the <<cap $northwindritualtarget>> Skill]'' <</if>>\ <<choose "menu-seal-northwind2">> #Craft <<if ($northwindritualtarget isnot "")>>\ <<run State.variables[$northwindritualtarget] -= 1>>\ <</if>>\ <<var $northwindritualtarget "craft">>\ #Perception <<if ($northwindritualtarget isnot "")>>\ <<run State.variables[$northwindritualtarget] -= 1>>\ <</if>>\ <<var $northwindritualtarget "perception">>\ #Survival <<if ($northwindritualtarget isnot "")>>\ <<run State.variables[$northwindritualtarget] -= 1>>\ <</if>>\ <<var $northwindritualtarget "survival">>\ #Nevermind -> "menu-cultivation" <<set $usechiinstead to false>>\ <</choose>>

<<if ($usechiinstead is false)>>\ ''[Item Lost: $northwindritual Ritual Components]'' <<var $ritualcomponents - $northwindritual>>\ <<else>>\ ''[3 Chi Spent]'' <<var $chispent + 3>>\ <</if>>\ ''[Temporary Bonus: <<cap $northwindritualtarget>> +1]'' <<run State.variables[$northwindritualtarget] += 1>>\ <<set $usechiinstead to false>>\ <<include "menu-cultivation-handseals4">>\

<<var $ritualcomponents - 4>>\ <<var $rune_enhanced true>>\ ''[Blue runes dance around your skin to form a Woad Tattoo, imbuing your body and spirit with strength.]'' <<if (dig($runesealritual, 2) gte 1)>>\ <<var $athletics + dig($runesealritual, 2)>>\ ''[Rune of Life: Athletics +<<= dig($runesealritual, 2)>>]'' <</if>>\ <<if (dig($runesealritual, 3) gte 1)>>\ <<var $alchemy + dig($runesealritual, 3)>>\ ''[Rune of Harvests: Alchemy +<<= dig($runesealritual, 3)>>]'' <</if>>\ <<if (dig($runesealritual, 4) gte 1)>>\ <<var $craft + dig($runesealritual, 4)>>\ ''[Rune of Man: Craft +<<= dig($runesealritual, 4)>>]'' <</if>>\ <<if (dig($runesealritual, 5) gte 1)>>\ <<var $deception + dig($runesealritual, 5)>>\ ''[Rune of Malady: Deception +<<= dig($runesealritual, 5)>>]'' <</if>>\ <<if (dig($runesealritual, 6) gte 1)>>\ <<var $handseals + dig($runesealritual, 6)>>\ ''[Rune of Fire: Handseals +<<= dig($runesealritual, 6)>>]'' <</if>>\ <<if (dig($runesealritual, 7) gte 1)>>\ <<var $insight + dig($runesealritual, 7)>>\ ''[Rune of Water: Insight +<<= dig($runesealritual, 7)>>]'' <</if>>\ <<if (dig($runesealritual, 8) gte 1)>>\ <<var $lore + dig($runesealritual, 8)>>\ ''[Rune of Haven: Lore +<<= dig($runesealritual, 8)>>]'' <</if>>\ <<if (dig($runesealritual, 9) gte 1)>>\ <<var $perception + dig($runesealritual, 9)>>\ ''[Rune of the Sun: Perception +<<= dig($runesealritual, 9)>>]'' <</if>>\ <<if (dig($runesealritual, 10) gte 1)>>\ <<var $persuasion + dig($runesealritual, 10)>>\ ''[Rune of Dreams: Persuasion +<<= dig($runesealritual, 10)>>]'' <</if>>\ <<if (dig($runesealritual, 11) gte 1)>>\ <<var $stealth + dig($runesealritual, 11)>>\ ''[Rune of Needs: Stealth +<<= dig($runesealritual, 11)>>]'' <</if>>\ <<if (dig($runesealritual, 12) gte 1)>>\ <<var $survival + dig($runesealritual, 12)>>\ ''[Rune of Trees: Survival +<<= dig($runesealritual, 12)>>]'' <</if>>\ <<if (dig($runesealritual, 13) gte 1)>>\ <<var $thievery + dig($runesealritual, 13)>>\ ''[Rune of Wealth: Thievery +<<= dig($runesealritual, 13)>>]'' <</if>>\ <<if (dig($runesealcores, 2) gte 1)>>\ <<var $power + dig($runesealcores, 2)>>\ ''[Rune of Giants: Power Core +<<= dig($runesealcores, 2)>>]'' <</if>>\ <<if (dig($runesealcores, 3) gte 1)>>\ <<var $fortitude + dig($runesealcores, 3)>>\ ''[Rune of Protection: Fortitude Core +<<= dig($runesealcores, 3)>>]'' <</if>>\ <<if (dig($runesealcores, 4) gte 1)>>\ <<var $agility + dig($runesealcores, 4)>>\ ''[Rune of Journeys: Agility Core +<<= dig($runesealcores, 4)>>]'' <</if>>\ <<if (dig($runesealcores, 5) gte 1)>>\ <<var $soul + dig($runesealcores, 5)>>\ ''[Rune of Destruction: Soul Core +<<= dig($runesealcores, 5)>>]'' <</if>>\ <<include "menu-cultivation-handseals4">>\

The Soulsoak Imbuement surrounds the user's weapon in excess chi while encircling it with the smoke from burnt Beast fur. This creates an aura of the user's power around the weapon that acts as its own chi pool. The wielder of the weapon can call upon this external source of their own power to gain one of three effects, chosen when casting: <<choose "menu-cultivation-handseals4">> #Chi Storing [A pool of 2 chi that can be used to cycle or replenish lost reserves.] <<var $ritualcomponents - $wep1enchantritual>>\ <<if ($equippedweapon is "Bo Staff")>>\ <<unequipweapon1>>\ <<var $equippedweapon "Bo Staff">>\ <<var $weppy "your Bo Staff">>\ <<var $itembostaff + 900000>>\ <<var $weaponbonus $itembostaff>>\ <<elseif ($equippedweapon is "Greataxe")>>\ <<unequipweapon1>>\ <<var $equippedweapon "Greataxe">>\ <<var $weppy "your Greataxe">>\ <<var $itemgreataxe + 900000>>\ <<var $weaponbonus $itemgreataxe>>\ <<elseif ($equippedweapon is "Handwraps")>>\ <<unequipweapon1>>\ <<var $equippedweapon "Handwraps">>\ <<var $weppy "your Handwraps">>\ <<var $itemhandwraps + 900000>>\ <<var $weaponbonus $itemhandwraps>>\ <<elseif ($equippedweapon is "Jian")>>\ <<unequipweapon1>>\ <<var $equippedweapon "Jian">>\ <<var $weppy "your Jian">>\ <<var $itemjian + 900000>>\ <<var $weaponbonus $itemjian>>\ <<elseif ($equippedweapon is "Kunai")>>\ <<unequipweapon1>>\ <<var $equippedweapon "Kunai">>\ <<var $weppy "your Kunai">>\ <<var $itemkunai + 900000>>\ <<var $weaponbonus $itemkunai>>\ <<elseif ($equippedweapon is "Katana")>>\ <<unequipweapon1>>\ <<var $equippedweapon "Katana">>\ <<var $weppy "your Katana">>\ <<var $itemkatana + 900000>>\ <<var $weaponbonus $itemkatana>>\ <<elseif ($equippedweapon is "Meteor Hammer")>>\ <<unequipweapon1>>\ <<var $equippedweapon "Meteor Hammer">>\ <<var $weppy "your Meteor Hammer">>\ <<var $itemmeteorhammer + 900000>>\ <<var $weaponbonus $itemmeteorhammer>>\ <<elseif ($equippedweapon is "Qiang")>>\ <<unequipweapon1>>\ <<var $equippedweapon "Qiang">>\ <<var $weppy "your Qiang">>\ <<var $itemqiang + 900000>>\ <<var $weaponbonus $itemqiang>>\ <<elseif ($equippedweapon is "Tanto")>>\ <<unequipweapon1>>\ <<var $equippedweapon "Tanto">>\ <<var $weppy "your Tanto">>\ <<var $itemtanto + 900000>>\ <<var $weaponbonus $itemtanto>>\ <<elseif ($equippedweapon is "Yumi")>>\ <<unequipweapon1>>\ <<var $equippedweapon "Yumi">>\ <<var $weppy "your Yumi">>\ <<var $itemyumi + 900000>>\ <<var $weaponbonus $itemyumi>>\ <<elseif ($equippedweapon is "Muramasa")>>\ <<unequipweapon1>>\ <<var $equippedweapon "Muramasa">>\ <<var $itemkatana_1 + 900000>>\ <<var $weaponbonus $itemkatana_1>>\ <<elseif ($equippedweapon is "Kagutsuchi")>>\ <<unequipweapon1>>\ <<var $equippedweapon "Kagutsuchi">>\ <<var $itemkatana_2 + 900000>>\ <<var $weaponbonus $itemkatana_2>>\ <<elseif ($equippedweapon is "Ikazuchi")>>\ <<unequipweapon1>>\ <<var $equippedweapon "Ikazuchi">>\ <<var $itemkatana_3 + 900000>>\ <<var $weaponbonus $itemkatana_3>>\ <<elseif ($equippedweapon is "Musashi")>>\ <<unequipweapon1>>\ <<var $equippedweapon "Musashi">>\ <<var $itemkatana_4 + 900000>>\ <<var $weaponbonus $itemkatana_4>>\ <<elseif ($equippedweapon is "Shishido")>>\ <<unequipweapon1>>\ <<var $equippedweapon "Shishido">>\ <<var $itemkusarigama_1 + 900000>>\ <<var $weaponbonus $itemkusarigama_1>>\ <<elseif ($equippedweapon is "Godslayer")>>\ <<unequipweapon1>>\ <<var $equippedweapon "Godslayer">>\ <<var $godsword + 900000>>\ <<var $weaponbonus $godsword>>\ <</if>>\ <<var $chistoring 2>>\ <<weaponbonuses>>\ #Chi Pool Increase [+1 Chi while wielding the weapon.] <<var $ritualcomponents - $wep1enchantritual>>\ <<if ($equippedweapon is "Bo Staff")>>\ <<unequipweapon1>>\ <<var $equippedweapon "Bo Staff">>\ <<var $weppy "your Bo Staff">>\ <<var $itembostaff + 500000>>\ <<var $weaponbonus $itembostaff>>\ <<elseif ($equippedweapon is "Greataxe")>>\ <<unequipweapon1>>\ <<var $equippedweapon "Greataxe">>\ <<var $weppy "your Greataxe">>\ <<var $itemgreataxe + 500000>>\ <<var $weaponbonus $itemgreataxe>>\ <<elseif ($equippedweapon is "Handwraps")>>\ <<unequipweapon1>>\ <<var $equippedweapon "Handwraps">>\ <<var $weppy "your Handwraps">>\ <<var $itemhandwraps + 500000>>\ <<var $weaponbonus $itemhandwraps>>\ <<elseif ($equippedweapon is "Jian")>>\ <<unequipweapon1>>\ <<var $equippedweapon "Jian">>\ <<var $weppy "your Jian">>\ <<var $itemjian + 500000>>\ <<var $weaponbonus $itemjian>>\ <<elseif ($equippedweapon is "Kunai")>>\ <<unequipweapon1>>\ <<var $equippedweapon "Kunai">>\ <<var $weppy "your Kunai">>\ <<var $itemkunai + 500000>>\ <<var $weaponbonus $itemkunai>>\ <<elseif ($equippedweapon is "Katana")>>\ <<unequipweapon1>>\ <<var $equippedweapon "Katana">>\ <<var $weppy "your Katana">>\ <<var $itemkatana + 500000>>\ <<var $weaponbonus $itemkatana>>\ <<elseif ($equippedweapon is "Meteor Hammer")>>\ <<unequipweapon1>>\ <<var $equippedweapon "Meteor Hammer">>\ <<var $weppy "your Meteor Hammer">>\ <<var $itemmeteorhammer + 500000>>\ <<var $weaponbonus $itemmeteorhammer>>\ <<elseif ($equippedweapon is "Qiang")>>\ <<unequipweapon1>>\ <<var $equippedweapon "Qiang">>\ <<var $weppy "your Qiang">>\ <<var $itemqiang + 500000>>\ <<var $weaponbonus $itemqiang>>\ <<elseif ($equippedweapon is "Tanto")>>\ <<unequipweapon1>>\ <<var $equippedweapon "Tanto">>\ <<var $weppy "your Tanto">>\ <<var $itemtanto + 500000>>\ <<var $weaponbonus $itemtanto>>\ <<elseif ($equippedweapon is "Yumi")>>\ <<unequipweapon1>>\ <<var $equippedweapon "Yumi">>\ <<var $weppy "your Yumi">>\ <<var $itemyumi + 500000>>\ <<var $weaponbonus $itemyumi>>\ <<elseif ($equippedweapon is "Muramasa")>>\ <<unequipweapon1>>\ <<var $equippedweapon "Muramasa">>\ <<var $itemkatana_1 + 500000>>\ <<var $weaponbonus $itemkatana_1>>\ <<elseif ($equippedweapon is "Kagutsuchi")>>\ <<unequipweapon1>>\ <<var $equippedweapon "Kagutsuchi">>\ <<var $itemkatana_2 + 500000>>\ <<var $weaponbonus $itemkatana_2>>\ <<elseif ($equippedweapon is "Ikazuchi")>>\ <<unequipweapon1>>\ <<var $equippedweapon "Ikazuchi">>\ <<var $itemkatana_3 + 500000>>\ <<var $weaponbonus $itemkatana_3>>\ <<elseif ($equippedweapon is "Musashi")>>\ <<unequipweapon1>>\ <<var $equippedweapon "Musashi">>\ <<var $itemkatana_4 + 500000>>\ <<var $weaponbonus $itemkatana_4>>\ <<elseif ($equippedweapon is "Shishido")>>\ <<unequipweapon1>>\ <<var $equippedweapon "Shishido">>\ <<var $itemkusarigama_1 + 500000>>\ <<var $weaponbonus $itemkusarigama_1>>\ <<elseif ($equippedweapon is "Godslayer")>>\ <<unequipweapon1>>\ <<var $equippedweapon "Godslayer">>\ <<var $godsword + 500000>>\ <<var $weaponbonus $godsword>>\ <</if>>\ <<weaponbonuses>>\ #Health Pool Increase [+1 Health while wielding the weapon.] <<var $ritualcomponents - $wep1enchantritual>>\ <<if ($equippedweapon is "Bo Staff")>>\ <<unequipweapon1>>\ <<var $equippedweapon "Bo Staff">>\ <<var $weppy "your Bo Staff">>\ <<var $itembostaff + 600000>>\ <<var $weaponbonus $itembostaff>>\ <<elseif ($equippedweapon is "Greataxe")>>\ <<unequipweapon1>>\ <<var $equippedweapon "Greataxe">>\ <<var $weppy "your Greataxe">>\ <<var $itemgreataxe + 600000>>\ <<var $weaponbonus $itemgreataxe>>\ <<elseif ($equippedweapon is "Handwraps")>>\ <<unequipweapon1>>\ <<var $equippedweapon "Handwraps">>\ <<var $weppy "your Handwraps">>\ <<var $itemhandwraps + 600000>>\ <<var $weaponbonus $itemhandwraps>>\ <<elseif ($equippedweapon is "Jian")>>\ <<unequipweapon1>>\ <<var $equippedweapon "Jian">>\ <<var $weppy "your Jian">>\ <<var $itemjian + 600000>>\ <<var $weaponbonus $itemjian>>\ <<elseif ($equippedweapon is "Kunai")>>\ <<unequipweapon1>>\ <<var $equippedweapon "Kunai">>\ <<var $weppy "your Kunai">>\ <<var $itemkunai + 600000>>\ <<var $weaponbonus $itemkunai>>\ <<elseif ($equippedweapon is "Katana")>>\ <<unequipweapon1>>\ <<var $equippedweapon "Katana">>\ <<var $weppy "your Katana">>\ <<var $itemkatana + 600000>>\ <<var $weaponbonus $itemkatana>>\ <<elseif ($equippedweapon is "Meteor Hammer")>>\ <<unequipweapon1>>\ <<var $equippedweapon "Meteor Hammer">>\ <<var $weppy "your Meteor Hammer">>\ <<var $itemmeteorhammer + 600000>>\ <<var $weaponbonus $itemmeteorhammer>>\ <<elseif ($equippedweapon is "Qiang")>>\ <<unequipweapon1>>\ <<var $equippedweapon "Qiang">>\ <<var $weppy "your Qiang">>\ <<var $itemqiang + 600000>>\ <<var $weaponbonus $itemqiang>>\ <<elseif ($equippedweapon is "Tanto")>>\ <<unequipweapon1>>\ <<var $equippedweapon "Tanto">>\ <<var $weppy "your Tanto">>\ <<var $itemtanto + 600000>>\ <<var $weaponbonus $itemtanto>>\ <<elseif ($equippedweapon is "Yumi")>>\ <<unequipweapon1>>\ <<var $equippedweapon "Yumi">>\ <<var $weppy "your Yumi">>\ <<var $itemyumi + 600000>>\ <<var $weaponbonus $itemyumi>>\ <<elseif ($equippedweapon is "Muramasa")>>\ <<unequipweapon1>>\ <<var $equippedweapon "Muramasa">>\ <<var $itemkatana_1 + 600000>>\ <<var $weaponbonus $itemkatana_1>>\ <<elseif ($equippedweapon is "Kagutsuchi")>>\ <<unequipweapon1>>\ <<var $equippedweapon "Kagutsuchi">>\ <<var $itemkatana_2 + 600000>>\ <<var $weaponbonus $itemkatana_2>>\ <<elseif ($equippedweapon is "Ikazuchi")>>\ <<unequipweapon1>>\ <<var $equippedweapon "Ikazuchi">>\ <<var $itemkatana_3 + 600000>>\ <<var $weaponbonus $itemkatana_3>>\ <<elseif ($equippedweapon is "Musashi")>>\ <<unequipweapon1>>\ <<var $equippedweapon "Musashi">>\ <<var $itemkatana_4 + 600000>>\ <<var $weaponbonus $itemkatana_4>>\ <<elseif ($equippedweapon is "Shishido")>>\ <<unequipweapon1>>\ <<var $equippedweapon "Shishido">>\ <<var $itemkusarigama_1 + 600000>>\ <<var $weaponbonus $itemkusarigama_1>>\ <<elseif ($equippedweapon is "Godslayer")>>\ <<unequipweapon1>>\ <<var $equippedweapon "Godslayer">>\ <<var $godsword + 600000>>\ <<var $weaponbonus $godsword>>\ <</if>>\ <<weaponbonuses>>\ #Nevermind <</choose>>

The Soulsoak Imbuement covers the user's weapon in excess chi while encircling it with the smoke from burnt Beast fur. The result is a weapon with its own chi pool that can be called upon by the user in emergencies. This ritual comes in two different uses depending on what the caster desires: <<choose "menu-cultivation-handseals4">> #Chi Storing [A pool of 2 chi that can be used to cycle or replenish lost reserves.] <<var $ritualcomponents - $wep1enchantritual>>\ <<if ($equippedweapon2 is "Bo Staff")>>\ <<unequipweapon2>>\ <<var $equippedweapon2 "Bo Staff">>\ <<var $weppy "your Bo Staff">>\ <<var $itembostaff + 900000>>\ <<var $weaponbonus2 $itembostaff>>\ <<elseif ($equippedweapon2 is "Greataxe")>>\ <<unequipweapon2>>\ <<var $equippedweapon2 "Greataxe">>\ <<var $weppy "your Greataxe">>\ <<var $itemgreataxe + 900000>>\ <<var $weaponbonus2 $itemgreataxe>>\ <<elseif ($equippedweapon2 is "Handwraps")>>\ <<unequipweapon2>>\ <<var $equippedweapon2 "Handwraps">>\ <<var $weppy "your Handwraps">>\ <<var $itemhandwraps + 900000>>\ <<var $weaponbonus2 $itemhandwraps>>\ <<elseif ($equippedweapon2 is "Jian")>>\ <<unequipweapon2>>\ <<var $equippedweapon2 "Jian">>\ <<var $weppy "your Jian">>\ <<var $itemjian + 900000>>\ <<var $weaponbonus2 $itemjian>>\ <<elseif ($equippedweapon2 is "Kunai")>>\ <<unequipweapon2>>\ <<var $equippedweapon2 "Kunai">>\ <<var $weppy "your Kunai">>\ <<var $itemkunai + 900000>>\ <<var $weaponbonus2 $itemkunai>>\ <<elseif ($equippedweapon2 is "Katana")>>\ <<unequipweapon2>>\ <<var $equippedweapon2 "Katana">>\ <<var $weppy "your Katana">>\ <<var $itemkatana + 900000>>\ <<var $weaponbonus2 $itemkatana>>\ <<elseif ($equippedweapon2 is "Meteor Hammer")>>\ <<unequipweapon2>>\ <<var $equippedweapon2 "Meteor Hammer">>\ <<var $weppy "your Meteor Hammer">>\ <<var $itemmeteorhammer + 900000>>\ <<var $weaponbonus2 $itemmeteorhammer>>\ <<elseif ($equippedweapon2 is "Qiang")>>\ <<unequipweapon2>>\ <<var $equippedweapon2 "Qiang">>\ <<var $weppy "your Qiang">>\ <<var $itemqiang + 900000>>\ <<var $weaponbonus2 $itemqiang>>\ <<elseif ($equippedweapon2 is "Tanto")>>\ <<unequipweapon2>>\ <<var $equippedweapon2 "Tanto">>\ <<var $weppy "your Tanto">>\ <<var $itemtanto + 900000>>\ <<var $weaponbonus2 $itemtanto>>\ <<elseif ($equippedweapon2 is "Yumi")>>\ <<unequipweapon2>>\ <<var $equippedweapon2 "Yumi">>\ <<var $weppy "your Yumi">>\ <<var $itemyumi + 900000>>\ <<var $weaponbonus2 $itemyumi>>\ <<elseif ($equippedweapon2 is "Muramasa")>>\ <<unequipweapon2>>\ <<var $equippedweapon2 "Muramasa">>\ <<var $itemkatana_1 + 900000>>\ <<var $weaponbonus2 $itemkatana_1>>\ <<elseif ($equippedweapon2 is "Kagutsuchi")>>\ <<unequipweapon2>>\ <<var $equippedweapon2 "Kagutsuchi">>\ <<var $itemkatana_2 + 900000>>\ <<var $weaponbonus2 $itemkatana_2>>\ <<elseif ($equippedweapon2 is "Ikazuchi")>>\ <<unequipweapon2>>\ <<var $equippedweapon2 "Ikazuchi">>\ <<var $itemkatana_3 + 900000>>\ <<var $weaponbonus2 $itemkatana_3>>\ <<elseif ($equippedweapon2 is "Musashi")>>\ <<unequipweapon2>>\ <<var $equippedweapon2 "Musashi">>\ <<var $itemkatana_4 + 900000>>\ <<var $weaponbonus2 $itemkatana_4>>\ <<elseif ($equippedweapon2 is "Shishido")>>\ <<unequipweapon2>>\ <<var $equippedweapon2 "Shishido">>\ <<var $itemkusarigama_1 + 900000>>\ <<var $weaponbonus2 $itemkusarigama_1>>\ <<elseif ($equippedweapon2 is "Godslayer")>>\ <<unequipweapon2>>\ <<var $equippedweapon2 "Godslayer">>\ <<var $godsword + 900000>>\ <<var $weaponbonus2 $godsword>>\ <</if>>\ <<var $chistoring2 2>>\ <<weaponbonuses2>>\ #Chi Pool Increase [+1 Chi while wielding the weapon.] <<var $ritualcomponents - $wep1enchantritual>>\ <<if ($equippedweapon2 is "Bo Staff")>>\ <<unequipweapon2>>\ <<var $equippedweapon2 "Bo Staff">>\ <<var $weppy "your Bo Staff">>\ <<var $itembostaff + 500000>>\ <<var $weaponbonus2 $itembostaff>>\ <<elseif ($equippedweapon2 is "Greataxe")>>\ <<unequipweapon2>>\ <<var $equippedweapon2 "Greataxe">>\ <<var $weppy "your Greataxe">>\ <<var $itemgreataxe + 500000>>\ <<var $weaponbonus2 $itemgreataxe>>\ <<elseif ($equippedweapon2 is "Handwraps")>>\ <<unequipweapon2>>\ <<var $equippedweapon2 "Handwraps">>\ <<var $weppy "your Handwraps">>\ <<var $itemhandwraps + 500000>>\ <<var $weaponbonus2 $itemhandwraps>>\ <<elseif ($equippedweapon2 is "Jian")>>\ <<unequipweapon2>>\ <<var $equippedweapon2 "Jian">>\ <<var $weppy "your Jian">>\ <<var $itemjian + 500000>>\ <<var $weaponbonus2 $itemjian>>\ <<elseif ($equippedweapon2 is "Kunai")>>\ <<unequipweapon2>>\ <<var $equippedweapon2 "Kunai">>\ <<var $weppy "your Kunai">>\ <<var $itemkunai + 500000>>\ <<var $weaponbonus2 $itemkunai>>\ <<elseif ($equippedweapon2 is "Katana")>>\ <<unequipweapon2>>\ <<var $equippedweapon2 "Katana">>\ <<var $weppy "your Katana">>\ <<var $itemkatana + 500000>>\ <<var $weaponbonus2 $itemkatana>>\ <<elseif ($equippedweapon2 is "Meteor Hammer")>>\ <<unequipweapon2>>\ <<var $equippedweapon2 "Meteor Hammer">>\ <<var $weppy "your Meteor Hammer">>\ <<var $itemmeteorhammer + 500000>>\ <<var $weaponbonus2 $itemmeteorhammer>>\ <<elseif ($equippedweapon2 is "Qiang")>>\ <<unequipweapon2>>\ <<var $equippedweapon2 "Qiang">>\ <<var $weppy "your Qiang">>\ <<var $itemqiang + 500000>>\ <<var $weaponbonus2 $itemqiang>>\ <<elseif ($equippedweapon2 is "Tanto")>>\ <<unequipweapon2>>\ <<var $equippedweapon2 "Tanto">>\ <<var $weppy "your Tanto">>\ <<var $itemtanto + 500000>>\ <<var $weaponbonus2 $itemtanto>>\ <<elseif ($equippedweapon2 is "Yumi")>>\ <<unequipweapon2>>\ <<var $equippedweapon2 "Yumi">>\ <<var $weppy "your Yumi">>\ <<var $itemyumi + 500000>>\ <<var $weaponbonus2 $itemyumi>>\ <<elseif ($equippedweapon2 is "Muramasa")>>\ <<unequipweapon2>>\ <<var $equippedweapon2 "Muramasa">>\ <<var $itemkatana_1 + 500000>>\ <<var $weaponbonus2 $itemkatana_1>>\ <<elseif ($equippedweapon2 is "Kagutsuchi")>>\ <<unequipweapon2>>\ <<var $equippedweapon2 "Kagutsuchi">>\ <<var $itemkatana_2 + 500000>>\ <<var $weaponbonus2 $itemkatana_2>>\ <<elseif ($equippedweapon2 is "Ikazuchi")>>\ <<unequipweapon2>>\ <<var $equippedweapon2 "Ikazuchi">>\ <<var $itemkatana_3 + 500000>>\ <<var $weaponbonus2 $itemkatana_3>>\ <<elseif ($equippedweapon2 is "Musashi")>>\ <<unequipweapon2>>\ <<var $equippedweapon2 "Musashi">>\ <<var $itemkatana_4 + 500000>>\ <<var $weaponbonus2 $itemkatana_4>>\ <<elseif ($equippedweapon2 is "Shishido")>>\ <<unequipweapon2>>\ <<var $equippedweapon2 "Shishido">>\ <<var $itemkusarigama_1 + 500000>>\ <<var $weaponbonus2 $itemkusarigama_1>>\ <<elseif ($equippedweapon2 is "Godslayer")>>\ <<unequipweapon2>>\ <<var $equippedweapon2 "Godslayer">>\ <<var $godsword + 500000>>\ <<var $weaponbonus2 $godsword>>\ <</if>>\ <<weaponbonuses2>>\ #Health Pool Increase [+1 Health while wielding the weapon.] <<var $ritualcomponents - $wep1enchantritual>>\ <<if ($equippedweapon2 is "Bo Staff")>>\ <<unequipweapon2>>\ <<var $equippedweapon2 "Bo Staff">>\ <<var $weppy "your Bo Staff">>\ <<var $itembostaff + 600000>>\ <<var $weaponbonus2 $itembostaff>>\ <<elseif ($equippedweapon2 is "Greataxe")>>\ <<unequipweapon2>>\ <<var $equippedweapon2 "Greataxe">>\ <<var $weppy "your Greataxe">>\ <<var $itemgreataxe + 600000>>\ <<var $weaponbonus2 $itemgreataxe>>\ <<elseif ($equippedweapon2 is "Handwraps")>>\ <<unequipweapon2>>\ <<var $equippedweapon2 "Handwraps">>\ <<var $weppy "your Handwraps">>\ <<var $itemhandwraps + 600000>>\ <<var $weaponbonus2 $itemhandwraps>>\ <<elseif ($equippedweapon2 is "Jian")>>\ <<unequipweapon2>>\ <<var $equippedweapon2 "Jian">>\ <<var $weppy "your Jian">>\ <<var $itemjian + 600000>>\ <<var $weaponbonus2 $itemjian>>\ <<elseif ($equippedweapon2 is "Kunai")>>\ <<unequipweapon2>>\ <<var $equippedweapon2 "Kunai">>\ <<var $weppy "your Kunai">>\ <<var $itemkunai + 600000>>\ <<var $weaponbonus2 $itemkunai>>\ <<elseif ($equippedweapon2 is "Katana")>>\ <<unequipweapon2>>\ <<var $equippedweapon2 "Katana">>\ <<var $weppy "your Katana">>\ <<var $itemkatana + 600000>>\ <<var $weaponbonus2 $itemkatana>>\ <<elseif ($equippedweapon2 is "Meteor Hammer")>>\ <<unequipweapon2>>\ <<var $equippedweapon2 "Meteor Hammer">>\ <<var $weppy "your Meteor Hammer">>\ <<var $itemmeteorhammer + 600000>>\ <<var $weaponbonus2 $itemmeteorhammer>>\ <<elseif ($equippedweapon2 is "Qiang")>>\ <<unequipweapon2>>\ <<var $equippedweapon2 "Qiang">>\ <<var $weppy "your Qiang">>\ <<var $itemqiang + 600000>>\ <<var $weaponbonus2 $itemqiang>>\ <<elseif ($equippedweapon2 is "Tanto")>>\ <<unequipweapon2>>\ <<var $equippedweapon2 "Tanto">>\ <<var $weppy "your Tanto">>\ <<var $itemtanto + 600000>>\ <<var $weaponbonus2 $itemtanto>>\ <<elseif ($equippedweapon2 is "Yumi")>>\ <<unequipweapon2>>\ <<var $equippedweapon2 "Yumi">>\ <<var $weppy "your Yumi">>\ <<var $itemyumi + 600000>>\ <<var $weaponbonus2 $itemyumi>>\ <<elseif ($equippedweapon2 is "Muramasa")>>\ <<unequipweapon2>>\ <<var $equippedweapon2 "Muramasa">>\ <<var $itemkatana_1 + 600000>>\ <<var $weaponbonus2 $itemkatana_1>>\ <<elseif ($equippedweapon2 is "Kagutsuchi")>>\ <<unequipweapon2>>\ <<var $equippedweapon2 "Kagutsuchi">>\ <<var $itemkatana_2 + 600000>>\ <<var $weaponbonus2 $itemkatana_2>>\ <<elseif ($equippedweapon2 is "Ikazuchi")>>\ <<unequipweapon2>>\ <<var $equippedweapon2 "Ikazuchi">>\ <<var $itemkatana_3 + 600000>>\ <<var $weaponbonus2 $itemkatana_3>>\ <<elseif ($equippedweapon2 is "Musashi")>>\ <<unequipweapon2>>\ <<var $equippedweapon2 "Musashi">>\ <<var $itemkatana_4 + 600000>>\ <<var $weaponbonus2 $itemkatana_4>>\ <<elseif ($equippedweapon2 is "Shishido")>>\ <<unequipweapon2>>\ <<var $equippedweapon2 "Shishido">>\ <<var $itemkusarigama_1 + 600000>>\ <<var $weaponbonus2 $itemkusarigama_1>>\ <<elseif ($equippedweapon2 is "Godslayer")>>\ <<unequipweapon2>>\ <<var $equippedweapon2 "Godslayer">>\ <<var $godsword + 600000>>\ <<var $weaponbonus2 $godsword>>\ <</if>>\ <<weaponbonuses2>>\ #Nevermind <</choose>>

You form the 7 sigils of the Southern wind and star with your right hand in quick succession and channel your inner chi through each finger to imbue the handseals with your willpower. Each handseal execution forms a temporary $auracolor tattoo on the top skin of your left hand until the 7 sigil marks form a circle and the ritual is complete. <<if (($southwindritualtarget isnot "") and ($southwindritualtarget isnot "apval"))>>\ ''[Casting this Seal again will remove the casting used to boost the <<cap $southwindritualtarget>> Skill]'' <</if>>\ <<choose "menu-seal-southwind2">> #Deception <<if ($southwindritualtarget isnot "")>>\ <<run State.variables[$southwindritualtarget] -= 1>>\ <</if>>\ <<var $southwindritualtarget "deception">>\ #Stealth <<if ($southwindritualtarget isnot "")>>\ <<run State.variables[$southwindritualtarget] -= 1>>\ <</if>>\ <<var $southwindritualtarget "stealth">>\ #Thievery <<if ($southwindritualtarget isnot "")>>\ <<run State.variables[$southwindritualtarget] -= 1>>\ <</if>>\ <<var $southwindritualtarget "thievery">>\ #Nevermind -> "menu-cultivation" <<set $usechiinstead to false>>\ <</choose>>

<<if ($usechiinstead is false)>>\ ''[Item Lost: $southwindritual Ritual Components]'' <<var $ritualcomponents - $southwindritual>>\ <<else>>\ ''[3 Chi Spent]'' <<var $chispent + 3>>\ <</if>>\ ''[Temporary Bonus: <<cap $southwindritualtarget>> +1]'' <<run State.variables[$southwindritualtarget] += 1>>\ <<set $usechiinstead to false>>\ <<include "menu-cultivation-handseals4">>\

You form the 7 sigils of the Western wind and sunset with your right hand in quick succession and channel your inner chi through each finger to imbue the handseals with your willpower. Each handseal execution forms a temporary $auracolor tattoo on the top skin of your left hand until the 7 sigil marks form a circle and the ritual is complete. <<if (($westwindritualtarget isnot "") and ($westwindritualtarget isnot "apval"))>>\ ''[Casting this Seal again will remove the casting used to boost the <<cap $westwindritualtarget>> Skill]'' <</if>>\ <<choose "menu-seal-westwind2">> #Athletics <<if ($westwindritualtarget isnot "")>>\ <<run State.variables[$westwindritualtarget] -= 1>>\ <</if>>\ <<var $westwindritualtarget "athletics">>\ #Insight <<if ($westwindritualtarget isnot "")>>\ <<run State.variables[$westwindritualtarget] -= 1>>\ <</if>>\ <<var $westwindritualtarget "insight">>\ #Persuasion <<if ($westwindritualtarget isnot "")>>\ <<run State.variables[$westwindritualtarget] -= 1>>\ <</if>>\ <<var $westwindritualtarget "persuasion">>\ #Nevermind -> "menu-cultivation-handseals4" <<set $usechiinstead to false>>\ <</choose>>

<<if ($usechiinstead is false)>>\ ''[Item Lost: $westwindritual Ritual Components]'' <<var $ritualcomponents - $westwindritual>>\ <<else>>\ ''[3 Chi Spent]'' <<var $chispent + 3>>\ <</if>>\ ''[Temporary Bonus: <<cap $westwindritualtarget>> +1]'' <<run State.variables[$westwindritualtarget] += 1>>\ <<set $usechiinstead to false>>\ <<include "menu-cultivation-handseals4">>\

<<var $menuval 0>>\ <<if ($player is "Kosuke")>>\ <<include "menu-kosuke-stats">>\ <<elseif ($player is "Jin")>>\ <<include "menu-jin-stats">>\ <<else>>\ <div class="fightingfont">Profile</div>\ <<var _elem1display "">>\ <<var _elem2display "">>\ <<var _styledisplay "">>\ <<if ($honor gt 100)>>\ <<var $honor 100>>\ <</if>>\ <<if ($ruthless gt 100)>>\ <<var $ruthless 100>>\ <</if>>\ <<if ($element1rank is 1)>>\ <<var _elem1display "Novice">>\ <<elseif ($element1rank is 2)>>\ <<var _elem1display "Adept">>\ <<elseif ($element1rank is 3)>>\ <<var _elem1display "Expert">>\ <<elseif ($element1rank is 4)>>\ <<var _elem1display "Master">>\ <<elseif ($element1rank gte 5)>>\ <<var _elem1display "Sage">>\ <</if>>\ <<if ($element2rank is 1)>>\ <<var _elem2display "Novice">>\ <<elseif ($element2rank is 2)>>\ <<var _elem2display "Adept">>\ <<elseif ($element2rank is 3)>>\ <<var _elem2display "Expert">>\ <<elseif ($element2rank is 4)>>\ <<var _elem2display "Master">>\ <<elseif ($element2rank gte 5)>>\ <<var _elem2display "Sage">>\ <</if>>\ <<if ($stylerank is 0)>>\ <<var _styledisplay "Untrained">>\ <<elseif ($stylerank is 1)>>\ <<var _styledisplay "Novice">>\ <<elseif ($stylerank is 2)>>\ <<var _styledisplay "Adept">>\ <<elseif ($stylerank is 3)>>\ <<var _styledisplay "Expert">>\ <<elseif ($stylerank is 4)>>\ <<var _styledisplay "Master">>\ <<elseif ($stylerank gte 5)>>\ <<var _styledisplay "Sage">>\ <</if>>\ <<if $fullname isnot "">>\ Name: $fullname <<else>>\ Name: $name <</if>>\ Race: $race Age: $age Background: $background <<if ($chapter gte 9.9)>>\ Foundation: $foundation <<if (($jadedragonfoundation is true) and ($mentor isnot "Eldra"))>>\ Reincarnation: Jade Dragon <</if>>\ <</if>>\ <<if (($chapter gte 8.9) and ($chapter lt 9.9))>>\ Style: $style (Martial Arts Only) Element: None Secondary Element: None Aura Pressure: 0 <<else>>\ <<if $style is "Freestyle">>\ Style: Freestyle <<else>>\ Style: $style (_styledisplay) <</if>>\ <<if $element2 != "" and $element1 != "None">>\ Element: $element1 (_elem1display) Secondary Element: $element2 (_elem2display) <<elseif $element2 != "">>\ Element: $element2 (_elem2display) <<elseif $element1 != "None">>\ Element: $element1 (_elem1display) <<else>>\ Element: None <</if>>\ <<if ($chapter gte 1.5)>>\ Aura Color: <<cap $auracolor>> <</if>>\ Aura Pressure: $aurapressure AP <</if>>\ <<if (($chapter gte 8.9) and ($chapter lt 9.9))>>\ Health: ●● Chi: Empty <<else>>\ <<set $maxchi to ($chipool + Math.floor($soul / 2))>>\ <<set $maxhealth to ($health + Math.floor($fortitude / 2))>>\ <<set _displayhealth to "">>\ <<for _i to 0; _i < ($maxhealth - $wounds); _i++>>\ <<set _displayhealth to _displayhealth + "●">>\ <<if (_i + 1) % 5 is 0 and (_i + 1) < $maxhealth>><<set _displayhealth to _displayhealth + " ">><</if>>\ <</for>>\ <<for _i; _i < $maxhealth; _i++>>\ <<set _displayhealth to _displayhealth + "○">>\ <<if (_i + 1) % 5 is 0 and (_i + 1) < $maxhealth>><<set _displayhealth to _displayhealth + " ">><</if>>\ <</for>>\ <<set _i to 0>>\ Health: _displayhealth <<set _displaychi to "">>\ <<for _i to 0; _i < ($maxchi - $chispent); _i++>>\ <<set _displaychi to _displaychi + "●">>\ <<if (_i + 1) % 5 is 0 and (_i + 1) < $maxchi>><<set _displaychi to _displaychi + " ">><</if>>\ <</for>>\ <<for _i; _i < $maxchi; _i++>>\ <<set _displaychi to _displaychi + "○">>\ <<if (_i + 1) % 5 is 0 and (_i + 1) < $maxchi>><<set _displaychi to _displaychi + " ">><</if>>\ <</for>>\ <<set _i to 0>>\ <<if $maxchi > 0>>\ Chi: _displaychi <<else>>\ Chi: Empty <</if>>\ <<if ($guardtech gte 1)>>\ <<set _displayguard to "">>\ <<for _i; _i < $guardtech; _i++>>\ <<set _displayguard to _displayguard + "●">>\ <</for>>\ Guard Points: _displayguard <</if>>\ <</if>>\ <div class="fightingfont">Combat Cores</div>\ <<if (($chapter gte 8.9) and ($chapter lt 9.9))>>\ Power: ●● Fortitude: ●● Agility: ●● Soul: ●● <<else>>\ <<set _displaypower to "">>\ <<for _i to 0; _i < ($power - $powspent); _i++>>\ <<set _displaypower to _displaypower + "●">>\ <<if (_i + 1) % 5 is 0 and (_i + 1) < $power>><<set _displaypower to _displaypower + " ">><</if>>\ <</for>>\ <<for _i; _i < $power; _i++>>\ <<set _displaypower to _displaypower + "○">>\ <<if (_i + 1) % 5 is 0 and (_i + 1) < $power>><<set _displaypower to _displaypower + " ">><</if>>\ <</for>>\ <<set _i to 0>>\ <<set _displayfortitude to "">>\ <<for _i to 0; _i < ($fortitude - $forspent); _i++>>\ <<set _displayfortitude to _displayfortitude + "●">>\ <<if (_i + 1) % 5 is 0 and (_i + 1) < $fortitude>><<set _displayfortitude to _displayfortitude + " ">><</if>>\ <</for>>\ <<for _i; _i < $fortitude; _i++>>\ <<set _displayfortitude to _displayfortitude + "○">>\ <<if (_i + 1) % 5 is 0 and (_i + 1) < $fortitude>><<set _displayfortitude to _displayfortitude + " ">><</if>>\ <</for>>\ <<set _i to 0>>\ <<set _displayagility to "">>\ <<for _i to 0; _i < ($agility - $agispent); _i++>>\ <<set _displayagility to _displayagility + "●">>\ <<if (_i + 1) % 5 is 0 and (_i + 1) < $agility>><<set _displayagility to _displayagility + " ">><</if>>\ <</for>>\ <<for _i; _i < $agility; _i++>>\ <<set _displayagility to _displayagility + "○">>\ <<if (_i + 1) % 5 is 0 and (_i + 1) < $agility>><<set _displayagility to _displayagility + " ">><</if>>\ <</for>>\ <<set _i to 0>>\ <<set _displaysoul to "">>\ <<for _i to 0; _i < ($soul - $solspent); _i++>>\ <<set _displaysoul to _displaysoul + "●">>\ <<if (_i + 1) % 5 is 0 and (_i + 1) < $soul>><<set _displaysoul to _displaysoul + " ">><</if>>\ <</for>>\ <<for _i; _i < $soul; _i++>>\ <<set _displaysoul to _displaysoul + "○">>\ <<if (_i + 1) % 5 is 0 and (_i + 1) < $soul>><<set _displaysoul to _displaysoul + " ">><</if>>\ <</for>>\ <<set _i to 0>>\ Power: _displaypower Fortitude: _displayfortitude Agility: _displayagility Soul: _displaysoul <</if>>\ <div class="fightingfont">Skills</div>\ <<set _displayalchemy to "">>\ <<for _i to 0; _i < $alchemy; _i++>>\ <<set _displayalchemy to _displayalchemy + "●">>\ <</for>>\ <<for _i; _i < 5; _i++>>\ <<set _displayalchemy to _displayalchemy + "○">>\ <</for>>\ <<set _i to 0>>\ <<set _displayathletics to "">>\ <<for _i to 0; _i < $athletics; _i++>>\ <<set _displayathletics to _displayathletics + "●">>\ <</for>>\ <<for _i; _i < 5; _i++>>\ <<set _displayathletics to _displayathletics + "○">>\ <</for>>\ <<set _i to 0>>\ <<set _displaycraft to "">>\ <<for _i to 0; _i < $craft; _i++>>\ <<set _displaycraft to _displaycraft + "●">>\ <</for>>\ <<for _i; _i < 5; _i++>>\ <<set _displaycraft to _displaycraft + "○">>\ <</for>>\ <<set _i to 0>>\ <<set _displaydeception to "">>\ <<for _i to 0; _i < $deception; _i++>>\ <<set _displaydeception to _displaydeception + "●">>\ <</for>>\ <<for _i; _i < 5; _i++>>\ <<set _displaydeception to _displaydeception + "○">>\ <</for>>\ <<set _i to 0>>\ <<set _displayhandseals to "">>\ <<for _i to 0; _i < $handseals; _i++>>\ <<set _displayhandseals to _displayhandseals + "●">>\ <</for>>\ <<for _i; _i < 5; _i++>>\ <<set _displayhandseals to _displayhandseals + "○">>\ <</for>>\ <<set _i to 0>>\ <<set _displayinsight to "">>\ <<for _i to 0; _i < $insight; _i++>>\ <<set _displayinsight to _displayinsight + "●">>\ <</for>>\ <<for _i; _i < 5; _i++>>\ <<set _displayinsight to _displayinsight + "○">>\ <</for>>\ <<set _i to 0>>\ <<set _displaylore to "">>\ <<for _i to 0; _i < $lore; _i++>>\ <<set _displaylore to _displaylore + "●">>\ <</for>>\ <<for _i; _i < 5; _i++>>\ <<set _displaylore to _displaylore + "○">>\ <</for>>\ <<set _i to 0>>\ <<set _displayperception to "">>\ <<for _i to 0; _i < $perception; _i++>>\ <<set _displayperception to _displayperception + "●">>\ <</for>>\ <<for _i; _i < 5; _i++>>\ <<set _displayperception to _displayperception + "○">>\ <</for>>\ <<set _i to 0>>\ <<set _displaypersuasion to "">>\ <<for _i to 0; _i < $persuasion; _i++>>\ <<set _displaypersuasion to _displaypersuasion + "●">>\ <</for>>\ <<for _i; _i < 5; _i++>>\ <<set _displaypersuasion to _displaypersuasion + "○">>\ <</for>>\ <<set _i to 0>>\ <<set _displaystealth to "">>\ <<for _i to 0; _i < $stealth; _i++>>\ <<set _displaystealth to _displaystealth + "●">>\ <</for>>\ <<for _i; _i < 5; _i++>>\ <<set _displaystealth to _displaystealth + "○">>\ <</for>>\ <<set _i to 0>>\ <<set _displaysurvival to "">>\ <<for _i to 0; _i < $survival; _i++>>\ <<set _displaysurvival to _displaysurvival + "●">>\ <</for>>\ <<for _i; _i < 5; _i++>>\ <<set _displaysurvival to _displaysurvival + "○">>\ <</for>>\ <<set _i to 0>>\ <<set _displaythievery to "">>\ <<for _i to 0; _i < $thievery; _i++>>\ <<set _displaythievery to _displaythievery + "●">>\ <</for>>\ <<for _i; _i < 5; _i++>>\ <<set _displaythievery to _displaythievery + "○">>\ <</for>>\ <<set _i to 0>>\ Athletics: _displayathletics Insight: _displayinsight Persuasion: _displaypersuasion Craft: _displaycraft Perception: _displayperception Survival: _displaysurvival Deception: _displaydeception Stealth: _displaystealth Thievery: _displaythievery Alchemy: _displayalchemy Handseals: _displayhandseals Lore: _displaylore <div class="fightingfont">Connections</div>\ <<set _dishonor to (100 - $honor)>>\ <<if (_dishonor lt 0)>>\ <<var _dishonor 0>>\ <</if>>\ Personality: <<opposed-bar "Honorable" "Dishonorable" _dishonor>>\ <<opposed-bar "Compassionate" "Ruthless" $ruthless>>\ <<if ($clan isnot "")>>\ <<if ($chapter gte 5.7)>>\ <<set $retainercombat to ($retainer_strength + $martial_retainers)>>\ <<cap $clan>> Clan Status <<standard-bar "Prestige" $prestige>>\ <<standard-bar "Infamy" $infamy>>\ <<standard-bar "Commerce" $commerce>>\ <<standard-bar "Retainer Strength" $retainercombat>>\ <<standard-bar "Retainer Morale" $retainer_morale>>\ Ships: $shipcount Civilian Retainers: $retainers Martial Retainers: $martial_retainers <<else>>\ <<cap $clan>> Clan Reputation <<standard-bar "Prestige" $prestige>>\ <</if>>\ <</if>>\ <<if ($hellscape gt 0)>>\ Inner Hellscape Capacity: $hellscape Demonic AP Corruption Level: $taint Demonic AP ''[Your Demonic Corruption is: ''\ <<if ($hellscape gt $taint)>>\ ''//Hidden//.]'' <<else>>\ ''//Exposed//!]'' <</if>>\ <</if>>\ <<if ($chapter gte 8)>>\ <<trialchart>>\ <</if>>\ <<choose "menu-inventory">> #use-if ($stripped is false) Inventory Page #Journal Page -> "menu-journal" You meditate upon your journey, focusing on... #show-if (($chapter gte 1.4) and (($chapter lt 8.9) or ($chapter gte 9.9))) Cultivation Page -> "menu-cultivation" #show-if (($chapter gte 8.9) and ($chapter lt 9.9)) use-if (($chapter lt 8.9) or ($chapter gte 9.9)) Cultivation Page [Cores Shattered!] #show-if (($chapter gte 9.9) and ($mentor is "Kaito")) use-if (($wounds gte 1) and ((($chipool + ($soul / 2)) - $chispent) gte 1)) Regenerate from your wounds. [Costs 1 Chi] -> "menu-stats" <<var $chispent + 1>>\ <<var $wounds - 2>>\ ''[1 Chi Point Spent]'' ''[2 Health Restored]'' #show-if (dig($specialtraining, 6) is 1) Remove your x100 weights. [+5 to Next Combat Check] -> "menu-stats" <<var $cmod + 5>>\ <<var $specialtraining + 1000000000>>\ <<var $power + 2>>\ <<var $fortitude + 2>>\ <<var $agility + 2>>\ <<var $soul + 2>>\ #show-if (($fighting is false) and (dig($specialtraining, 6) is 2)) Equip your x100 weights. [-1 to All Cores] -> "menu-stats" <<if ($cmod gte 5)>>\ <<var $cmod - 5>>\ <</if>>\ <<var $specialtraining - 1000000000>>\ <<var $power - 1>>\ <<var $fortitude - 1>>\ <<var $agility - 1>>\ <<var $soul - 1>>\ #show-if (($fighting is false) and (dig($specialtraining, 6) is 2)) use-if ($fighting is true) Equip your x100 weights. [In Combat!] #Return to Game -> $return <</choose>>\ <</if>>\

<<if ($currenttrial is "Tiger")>>\ <<include "ch8-start">>\ <<elseif ($currenttrial is "Dragon")>>\ <<include "ch8dragon-start">>\ <</if>>\